Illinois ladies facing bc
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Congrats Carol!!! I remember that last tx. It was so exciting, but it stunk to still feel bad the following week. It's only up from here!!
Buddy1 - sorry you are having such a rough time. I remember that my constipation and heartburn did not come on that soon. I do remember that I had a general feeling of yuckiness after the first couple of txs - that got better as time went on. Hang in there!
Glad you are having a great time, Blackjack - you deserve it!!
Girls - please say some prayers for my dear sister. She had emergency surgery last night on one of her eyes as the retina detached. She had this happen to her other eye 6 years ago and the surgery could not help it, so she has been blind in one eye for 6 years. Now, the same thing is happening to her good eye. Her Dr. is very optimistic as he is doing things a bit differently this time around, but it is just so hard to imagine that she could be totally blind. She is in her mid 50s and her kids are all grown up so that is good, but she is very active and it would be very hard for her to become dependent. Thanks for the prayers.
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Connie....that is stunning news and I will definitely keep your sister in my thoughts and prayers. Like most people I imagine, I move through my day.....everyday, barely thinking about the wonderful attribute of sight....we could throw in hearing here too, and frankly while I THINK I could adjust if need be....it is almost beyond me to comprehend not having my ability to see.
Rain pounded us late yesterday and through the night....sunny today. Will be cooler....but the sun is here so I can deal with it.
I'll be checking in later . See you then.
Prayers 'n Hugs,
Jackie
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The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.
Robert Louis Stevenson0 -
Good morning ladies - I'm hoping that I don't get kicked off the internet as I try to post this. Continuing to have major problems; ready to switch providers if tech can't fix it later today.
Connie - prayers & best wishes to your sister. This happened to my MIL a few years ago & it was scary. Luckily her vision was okay - I really hope the same happens for your sis.
Carol - yahooo!!! So glad that chemo is done. What a celebration.
JulieChicago - Please keep us posted on what's happening with the abdomen.
BlackJack - Have a wonderful time
Sorry I'm not responding to everyone - I'm afraid to write much. Came here last night & got a "server error" right after I typed a long message.
So hello & hugs to everyone else here.
Job hunt is moving along. I think I'm going to bite the bullet & pursue full-time. Doesn't seem to be much part-time stuff out there that suits me.
Miss you all!! Take care - Juliet
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CONNIE - Wow... that's a tough pill to swallow... hugs and healing wishes to your sister. Keep us posted.
CAROL - Yeah for you! YOU DID IT! Woo-Hoo for you! Hopefully we can get together for lunch sometime b/4 you start back to work.
Little C - Would like to do lunch with you too! Hope you're doing well. Check in if you get a chance.
Donna - Not that you have a chemo regiman... you will be able to take control and kick cancer's ass! How far is Crete from Rush? Have you discussed with your Dr - the possibility of only having Neulasta IF/when you need it? If I knew then - what I know about, I would have only taken the Neulasta IF my white cell count dropped. I am convinced that I would been have been fine WITHOUT taking it all. I don't want to scare you, but my worst s/e's were from the Neulasta. I think more and more Oncs. are opting this alternative. Just fyi...
Buddy - Welcome... hope you're feeling better. You've been hit hard... lots of water and lots of rest. Best wishes.
JulieB - How are you doing?
JuliaA - How's the job hunt?
bj - Cld you... your phone isn't working. Soak up that Vit D! And bring some of it back for us.
EVERYONE - Hi there! Have been very bored lately... not many work projects, not nice enough to work outside, can only swiffer my wood floors - so many times a day... kind of in a rut... need to pull myself out of it. Trying to figure out what I want to do with my spare time. Can't wait for summer. My gal pal across the road is about 1/2 way done with having a huge in-ground pool built. I suspect I will be spending many sunny days there this summer... I'll just slip into my bikini, throw a towel over my shoulder, hop on my bike and jump in!
Because I've been a lazy butt lately, I have quite a few errands to do today...AND THE "Y"... I have to admit the "Y" has been my life saver.
Have a great day.
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Donna....maybe not for the squeamish, but I used Neupogin to keep my white blood cell count going and it helps defeat some of the tiredness as well. People do talk about some bone pain but I never noticed much. The only thing I had to do was to take a fast-acting Tylenol Gel Cap about 20 minutes before I gave myself the shot. I always did it right before bed. It worked out well for me.....I was going through V.A. so that is why I gave myself the shots. I have heard others say the Neulasta is or can be difficult on you for side effects...I heard many people complain so it is a bit difficult.
Laura...nice to see you at last. I was wondering where you were.
Talk to ya'll later.
Jackie
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Hi everyone....
Carol.....YAY!!!! When you start to feel better.....that's it! All uphill now.....rads tho boring and a big PITA, will be a cakewalk!
Connie...prayers going out to your sister! Give her an extra hug from all of us! Keep up posted...
BJ.....how are the cabana boys???????
Donna.....now you have your plan....it gets so much easier for so many of us when we knew exactly WHAT and WHEN. Not pleasant...but it will be over quickly. Can't you get the neulasta to take home? You can give yourself the inj's and save a trip to Rush. My ins. wouldn't cover it (and know, I don't know why!) so I had to drive to Delnor but it's only 15 min from home. Usually oncs don't give neulasta until its proven that your counts drop...some don't!!!!
Buddy1....hopefully with the new routine of your meds chemo will be a bit easier to "swallow". Hang in there...it will be over soon. You are kicking some cancer butt!
Laura.....I could use a maid...let me know your rates!!!!! lol
Juliet....good luck with the job hunt! Things are tight out there right now but I have my fingers crossed for you....
DH home this week...so off to lunch we go....again. I am so looking forward to my lean cuisines next week.....
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buddy1...You might try sucking on some lemon drops for your nausea or sipping a little Crystal light. I often found that lemon flavors helped me with the nausea. I'm so glad you told your onc about your problems as there are lots of different anti-nausea meds out there and not just "one kind fits all." Hang in there. You will find what works for you.
Carol...Hey,Hey,Hey!!! Good for you! You did it!
Connie, so sorry to hear about your sister. I will add her to my prayer list and I'm convinced that those prayers work!
Laura, if you're really bored, I have some floors that need swiffered! You could just drive down for the day! LOL
Well, I have to get busy writing questions. I'll check in later.
Hello to all of you. I hope you're having a great Wednesday.
Rita
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Hi All!
Thanks for the good info.About Neulasta, it sounds like a challenging drug and am goin to have to see how it all goes ? I trust Rush and what they will say on it all as they are pretty well versed in this process more than me. Also, i will be bringing the shot home and done by hubby, IN fact think they are ordering it for me thru my Drug prescrition card.
Laura.. will find out on the s'/e's and use Neualsta only if then but i doubt it cause how do you know your blood count won't change between treatments?
Yes Wendy... AM glad the waiting is over and April 8th is around the corner!!! Sounds like the Neulasta is the pain literally!!!!
Jackie..Is the Neupogin something i should ask on?
Well.. hope all is well with all and anyone who had treatments today!!!
Healing Hugs,
Donna
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Ok....needn't have worried if Dh can give you your injection....I gave them to myself....Denny could have done it, but since I was a medical corpsman in the Army I just felt it not to be a problem for me. I think the difference with Neulasta and Neupogin is the Neulasta is given once and the Nueupogin is one a day for five days starting the day after your chemo treatment. I got tired of doing it, but had no problems at all.....once I was told to take the Tylenol gel cap 20 mins before the shot. I think Neupogin is older than Neulasta in treatment regimens. I mentioned the Neupogin because I knew it could be done at home if you didn't mind giving it to yourself. I wasn't aware that you could also get Nuelasta given at home as well. That is great....and if you have se's.....you now know there is a second drug you can ask for---provided you don't mind a shot every five days.
Hmmm, April 8 is the day I go to Marion and see my Oncologist ( I think ). They were waiting to get a replacement Dr. totally certified...and I assume he has reached that stage.....or???? else I don't know what I will do there. Things change ( where is my flexibility when I really, really want it ) and the thought of having to deal with someone else is not a super happy one, but hopefully, this Dr. too will be able to inspire in me the huge confidence I had in the other. Anyway.....we will see how it all goes.
Drove to Germantown ( my old PCP was there ) to pick up the parts for Dh's truck. He once again took my car so I'm a fish out of water. Tomorrow is a day off so he can fix that darn truck and give me my car back.
Plans still going forward to go Sunday night for friends and family nigh at Sears and get my stove. I can't believe I've been months w/o an oven....using toaster oven mainly. It was sometime before Thanksgiving when I discovered this loss. I will be so glad to put the toaster oven away. Just hope I remember when the new stove comes that I CAN cook in the oven now.
Chemo flavors.....I used lots of things....had to switch to Kool Aid because I just couldn't do water. Cherrry, Orange, Lime were all good. I also used Luigi's Lemom ices. Extraordinary.
Will check back in later.
Jackie
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Carol,
Congratulations!!! You are DONE. And yes, this one will be easier knowing that it was the last. Give yourself 3 weeks to get over the effects and then start concentrating on HEALING. No more of that crappy decadron either! Then look back and understand how strong you were-are!!
-julieb
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Just wanted to tell you all.....Nicki got her Tykerb and Xeloda approved!!!!! $50 copay each month for each but wooooooohooooooo!!!! Humana gave in ! They are being overnighted and she can start tomorrow, kicking cancer's butt!
Thanks for all your help!
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Carolberry - was thinking of you this week and wanted to say Yippee! you are done with your chemo! You did it and things will get better.
Connie-sorry to hear about your sister. Hope the surgery goes well and I will keep her in my prayers.
Bustersmom-Good luck with the job hunt!
Hugs to everyone!
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Thanks Jackie! My DH has also been a paremedic and fireman for the last 30 years and is a pro at the medical stuff. In fact, one of our three goldens has monthly injections needed for her allergies and he does that too! I will be prescibed Zyrtec, will that help for the shot also? All i can do is wait and see how it all feels and goes.
Washed two of my wigs out.. goin to be more red than my brownish red now. Wierd!!the wiig style does look more mangaeable than my own hair. Weird to think that this will be happening!!!
Good for you Carol...to know it is all done!!!Let us know how the final days are for tips to after the last treatment!!Be curious myself/ Enjoy and celerate!!!
Hugs and healing thoughts,
Donna
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Thanks for all the good wishes. My sister is doing well. The surgery went perfectly and she can see some for now. She was told she wouldn't be able to see for a couple of days - she could see the eye chart at the Dr. yesterday, but couldn't not read the letters. The Dr. seems very hopeful.
I also gave myself Neupogen shots. I was in a clinical trial and that was one of the requirements. 6 days a week for 15 weeks. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.
Have a great day everyone!
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Connie...so glad to hear that your sister is doing well! YEA!
I had the neulasta shots. I was so worried abouto them because I'd heard such horror stories but had no problems at all.
We're still waiting for our little guy to arrive. The doctor keeps saying, "Any time!"
Wendy, thanks for the updates on Nicki. I'm so glad that the drugs were approved.
Hi Michele101...always love to see a post from you, gal!
WendyTY is having her last reconstruction surgery today so we won't be walking. Dave came home sick from work already today with the sore throat, etc. and I have a long list of errands to do!
I'll check back later.
Rita
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Connie...great news about your sister. Hope she continues on with the good start she has made.
Hmmm, Rita,,,,you need to go walking with the soon to be momma. Seriously though, I'll be sending positive vibes to WendyTY and that Dave feels better very soon. . Hopefully, our weather will go back quickly to those really nice days we were having.
Furnace repair ( Denny thinks he can do this ) is on the list today along with the truck. Sure hope the truck is ok......we need two vehicles. If not....the MG Midget will come out of moth balls way sooner than anticipated.
Talk to ya'll after work.
Prayers 'n Hugs,
Jackie
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We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world.
-- Helen Keller0 -
Good morning ! Does anyone know if carboplatin is now being replaced for Adrymician. A friend told me her Onc wont use the Adrymician anymore He will only use the Carboplaitn. It has less side effects.
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carbo and adriamycin
that sounds odd to me...it would not be across the board, but it would be according to all the pathology report information for each patient...I would guess.
google it..adriamycin vs. carboplatin breast cancer
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Glad to hear Rita, on neulasta may not be so bad, depending!!
Good luck for your little guy coming!!!!
Hugs and good Thoughts!
Donna
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Sitting in a deli in Scotsdale. Hotel charges $10/day for Internet and my DH being conservative in his spending suggested we eat here and snatch the Internet. Lots of news. Connie, so glad the sister is okay. Sounds like everyone is having a good spell.
I am loving this vacation. The place is fantastic. Rita and all you gambling ladies: You would love this place as there are casinos all over the place. I prefer the pool with the book!
Glad to hear all my Illinois ladies are doing well!
Susan
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Hey kater,
I looked at the article about carboplatin, and I think there must be more recent info out there. Some doctors are using it more now, but I haven't done any research lately.
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I did some checking Re: carboplaitin and it seemed to have about the same side effects as Adriamycin/Cytoxin.....I sort of think maybe it is what the Dr. just feels is a better preference for his patients. Having said that....my A/C was a little difficult but then that may have been because of the combination of the two together. I think for some....it all goes down hard but is something that has to be done. And of course....you just don't know how bodies are going to react. It's not predictable.....so you just have to go for it and make sure you are staying in good contact with your care-givers so that any meds that may not work well are changed quickly to something better. There are very good meds to take care of the se's now....but they may require a change to something else or a little adjustment.
Zap/Susan.....Your vacation sounds delightful. I think I too would be by the pool with a book. I am not much of a gambler......when I lose $5.00 I'm done. I'm not too generous with myself but I work hard for my money and giving it away to those machines tends to irritate me......not enough left then for my kitties.
Jackie
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The above mentioned article was written in 1990, so it's way to old. Adriamycin and carboplatin do have some major differences, and the cardiac toxicity of adriamycin is one. There was a study more recently that found carboplatin's efficacy may be better. Some docs I think, would like to move away from adriamycin because of the cardiac problems, even though only a very small percentage of people are affected. That is why we have the MUGA scan before starting tx with adriamycin.
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I had adriamycin, and I don't believe that I had a MUGA scan
I had echoes done but I thought that was when I was on Herceptin?
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Hi Mich....I had the MUGA scan before I started the chemo, but I don't recall any but the one.....and if I had anything done to check the condition of my heart afterward....no one said. Probably a good question to ask...if I could only remember to do that. Yep...I know I should write it down---but I may not remember to look at notes at the right time. That is one of the things I'm not rel good with....sigh!!!
Jackie
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Hi Michele.....echo scan or MUGA depending on which your doctor prefers.
Jackie...I also had only the one MUGA before I started my 4 ac txs. My doctor waits for symptoms before repeating the test. I think that is just fine with me, but some doctors do a repeat when the adriamycin is finished. I'm looking forward to some lovely deck sitting weather, and hope it comes soon. If we aren't short of breath, we probably have nothing to worry about, so I'm just thinking good thoughts. I'm forgetful too....just getting older I think.
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Snow for this weekend?????? Blech.RE: Carbo and A.....my onc came back from San Antonio bc meeting and said NO A for you! Carbo only cuz I was having Herceptin. Too much of a chance for cardiac problems. I got 3 echos as well but that was due to the H. When he can, my onc does not give A anymore due to cardiac problems and the extremely small, tiny chance that it can cause leukemias down the road.....waaaaaaay down the road. It turns out that his practice had 2 patients develop leukemias in the past so he was trying to avoid the A when it was possible, but according to your path, he still gives it. I think he considers A the BIG GUN. That being said...it also depends on where in the country you live! CA has pretty much stopped using A, using Cytoxen or Carbo along with one of the Tax's but in the E...they still use pretty much the A. That being said....I think both chemos are good...in fact, the more I read the more I think that Taxotere was the more important one anyway. But what do I know!!!!
Susan...good to hear from you! Yep....$10/day is the usual charge for internet. Crazy. Last vacay I just used my iPod touch with it's wifi, which the hotel had. Couldn't post on this forum but could on others. My iPhone doesn't let me post on this forum either....strange.
BJ....how are the cabana boys?
Smerf....interesting re: having a MUGA before you started AC. Was that the usual protocol at your onc's for AC users?
Been an interesting week around here with DH home.....very interesting. Hope he never retires........
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I'm sitting here LOL about Wendy's comment "hope he never retires!" Dave came home sick from work yesterday with a cold. OMG! Men must have a terribly low pain tolerance. He laid on the couch all morning and acted so pathetic! (My hat goes off to you nurses on this thread!) I finally escaped to do some errands that needed to be done. It took longer than I thought so I called and found that he had walked to the mailbox down the lane but was just so tired after the trip down the lane that he was back on the couch. Oh, I'm just not use to being down and out with a cold. I could NEVER be a nurse. Give me 30 active 8th graders any day!!! Anyway, he got up and went to work today, still with the sniffles and hoarse voice so I hope he makes it through O.K. It looks like this will be a good weekend weather-wise to recoup! Brrr........snow???? Yikes, I want spring!
The A was the reason that I did CMF. Most of the women on my mother's side had (and still do have) heart problems and my onc didn't want to take that chance with my odds so high anyway.
Well, I am off to write some more questions this morning and then run the errands that I did not get finished yesterday.
Catch you all later.
Rita
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