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Anyone starting Chemo in Feb?
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Hi to everyone,
I thought I'd check in, "live from the bar", since they have wireless access here. So far, so good, with three cherry popsicles down, I'll be here another hour and then off to work.
I'll check back later tonight or tomorrow, but I'm hoping the rest of the Wednesday group is doing well!
Wendy0 -
Steph --
Your exactly two weeks behind me -- I just had my third dose dense AC on Tuesday this week, and will also be doing the dose-dense taxol. I'm not using a port -- I've got good veins and outstanding chemo nurses. I starting losing my hair at 14 days past the first treatment and had it buzzed so that I could get the wig shaped at the same time. My hairdresser did it for free.
I'm impressed with your working full-time and with two little ones. I've got a six-year old who keeps us busy and a husband with a more than full-time job. My job has pretty good disability and I also have a concurrent diagnosis of depression, so I'm taking FMLA and short-term disability, which should cover me through the end of radiation. I'll decide what I'm doing then.
Feel free to check in with us. It's hard being the lead-off on the a cruise -- you're stupposed to know everything! I'm also going to pm you to talk about chemo and kids to compare our they are doing.
-- Hillary0 -
HEY ALL COUNT MY HUBBY IN HIS 1ST CHEMO WAS FEB 9,2007 8 ROUNDS, THEN RADIATION AND TAMOXIFIN, HE HAS HAD A MASTECTOMY ALSO HE IS 37. pLEASE COUNT US IN LADIES AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL ,hIS IS STAGE 2 LYMPHATIC INVASION WITH POSITIVE NODES. HIS TREATMENT IS EVERYOTHER FRIDAY. WE WILL KEEP YOU POSTED.
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The bar keeps filling up this week:
BettyeE joined us on Tuesday in time to say hello.
Ongoing or still to come:
Wednesday: Marsha, Wendy, Mary, TinkC
Also, Linnie's MRI!
Thursday: Twink, Alyson, Leah
Friday: Maisy, Kksbaby's husband
Bettye -- Welcome
Maryjo and Kksbaby -- welcome on behalf of your mother and husband, respectively. What are their names?
-- Hillary
P.S. On another note (and sorry to be so graphic), I just got the first case of hemorhoids in my life! If I use senokot-S, it turns into diarrhea. I'm going to try duculox, which is what I used when pregnant. Any suggestions/comments?0 -
Good morning all
I have just lost my reply!!!
I am for the bar this morning, don't want to go today. Wendy you are great being able to go straight to work afterwards. Hope it has gone well for Marsha, Mary and Tink - you may still be at the bar.
Yes, my students are being angels. We often complain about teenagers but they can show real understanding and compassion. I teach what would be grades 8 and 12. I have two senior classes. They didn't complain when I said I couldn't do an outing we had planned - they are working out how they might be able to do it themselves in their own time.
My ipod is charging at present - need something to help me pass the 4-5 hours I will be spending at the bar. Also have some embroidery that I have started - hope to get some more done today but I realy should be getting things organised for what we call ERO - Education Review Office. They will be in our school next week. This worries me a bit as I don't seem to have got my head around things this year. I am Head of the Social Sciences Faculty - have about 20 teachers in the faculty. So much paper work. Never mind they just have to take what I have because I just haven't the energy to do more. Normally at this time I would be spending every waking hour organising things.
Must ask the onc when I see him about the shots for the blood,I saw one of his juniors yeaterday and promptly forgot to ask.
Leah and Twink will think about you tonight as you head for the bar Thursday US time.
Alyson0 -
Hillary - I'll look forward to talking with you about chemo and kids. If I get too tired as the treatments progress, I will probably take some time off. I am also considering time off for radiation, as I understand it can be tiring as well.
I am kind of anxious about treatment #2 tomorrow - just trying to get mentally prepared. The receptionist at the office upset me today because she tried to re-schedule my 1:00 pm treatment for a new patient (like what am I with just one treatment under my belt?) I told her that my husband and I had already arranged our schedules based on the pre-set appt. time and she still said try to come early. Then she called back and apologized and said to come at my scheduled time. I think someone must have gotten on her case - as if we don't have enough to worry about without being harrassed about treatment times! I am probably overreacting.
Well, I'll keep you posted and I hope all who had recent treatment are starting to feel better!0 -
Good Morning, uh, Afternoon with the time change.
Quick note: Worrier that I am and not getting to sleep last night despite body heaviness which I interpreted to be fatigue while my mind continued to race, I thought of a million things I should have said or done, or shouldn't have, in many areas of my life and one of them that weighed heavily, get this...is that I didn't want any of you to think I was a flake not checking in Monday night after my chemo. I did try posting a message twice at intervals and got the now familiar "some kind of error or expired or page is gone" message, and since the last attempt was late, I gave up, then of course yesterday was a run to this dr.'s then to that dr's then clean the house before I ran out of steam. So please don't think I am a flake because I am not, although I admit I am not half the "super woman" I was before this unscheduled cruise...
Gosh, this wasn't quick, was it? More later, Thinking good healing thoughts for today's barflies, Marsha, Wendy, Mary, TinkC. Love to all from Sybil who finally had to give in and take something to sleep last night and woke up groggy...0 -
LOL Sybil of course you are not a flake. You have a life other than chemo!!! And I lost the remote control the other night and finally realized I was holding it. Geez........
Just popped in real quick to let you know I was done. Smooth as silk for me but the girl in the next chair (on her last of 6 a/c) puked for a solid 5 minutes as they were giving her pre chemo anti-naseau. Me and the other lady had our ivs going and had ordered breakfast. Man, just the sounds she was making.........told th tech to hold my bagel and cream cheese order for a bit. They finally gave her something for her nerves (they called it anticapatory naseau) and she promptly went to sleep and we ate our food while watching Dr. Phil. Karen after seeing this, I SO feel for you and your naseau/liquids situation. Can they give you a saline drip the day before and day of your chemo?
Broads are coming over in a few minutes.....better ice down the beer...........hugs & kisses..Marsha
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called it anticapatory, hell I can't spell it, means she made herself sick worrying about getting the chemo.. Geeezzzzz...........chemo brain here...Marsha
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Wendy, you gave me a great idea: I'll call the cancer center where I go, since it's brand new they may have wireless access... THANKS...
Wishing you all to do as well as possible. Day e after chemo#3, never felt better... had my neulasta shot this morning, went for a long walk and I am not killing myself but staying busy. No nausea, slept like a baby thanks to Ativan, drink all day...
Looking forward to hear from Marsha and her mates all at the bar today...
Love to all,
Catherine0 -
Marsha, sorry, I had not seen your note... glad it went well for you, but poor lady next to you... tough!
I was in a section of 4, with a lovely very young looking lady, who turns out is 30 (way too young anyway to be in such a place). We talked a little and she is a psychologist in another very good hospital, here, working with patients with brain tumors... she did not want to be treated among her patients and by colleagues/friends so she came to where I am and had the same surgeon (the most highly recommended in town, turns out, which I knew nothing about, met her by chance, referred by the imaging center). She was pregnant at time of dx and had to renounce having the baby... talk about grief and bad luck. A darling of a young lady, very articulate, but in need of tons of comforting. I hope she'll visit this site for help since there are so many very young women here, too, unfortunately.
Go easy on the beer with the broads...
Hugs,
Catherine0 -
Hillary, same post script here (first time ever in my life, to the point that I called the onc office and tried to describe the phenomenon to the nurse for diagnosis... being around dogs all the time, the only image that came to me to explain the situation was the feeling of a big tick stuck down there, to what the nurse said:"please do not pull it out!!" (giggling, of course)... I had the bad idea of eating very spicy guacamole... but Vicodin at time of surgery is the primary culprit, I believe. They recommended Witch Hazel on pads for comfort and the : (in)famous preparation with hydrocortisone in it (over the counter). The tick did not fall off yet, but I am more comfortable... you have all my sympathy... who needs those bobos...
Hugs,
Catherine0 -
Hillary; I have not tried the Senokot, but it seems that is the preference of most. For me, any laxative I have ever tried was overkill until I used the Wal Mart "Equate" brand vegetable laxative. It really works for me. I have had to go to 2 tablets every night as the constipation is a real "pain"...pun intended. It's inexpensive, so if the dulcolax is too strong also, you might give it a try.
Well...here's one to add to the remote story. I am coming down the hall, telling my friend I can't leave until I find my cell phone...duh...it's stuck to my ear, trying to multitask by talking to my office and leave the house. I just hope I can continue to blame it on "chemo brain" and not "ditzy brain"0 -
Hi all!
Welcome ksbaby and hubby. Check in often.
I wish I could offer some help on the "restroom" problems, but I seem to be the only one affected with the opposite problem. Let's just say immodium has become my best friend.
There were a couple of posts regarding Catherine's tips on how to save your posts. Its very simple. When typing your reply, occaisionally highlight everything you've typed and hold down ctrl and C at the same time. If you lose your post, click in the reply box and hit ctrl V. That will paste everything that you've copied. Try it, you'll like it!
Marsha, sorry I missed you this morning. We had a good time on chat and Cat and I agree we need to figure out how to get together in Oct! BTW...have fun at BNO tonight. I'm thinking seriously of copying the concept.
Sybil, you are NOT a flake! I'm day 6 today since my last tx, and only put in a 6 hour day today and came home and crashed for 2 hours. For some odd reason, me and smells and food are not getting along today. Not nausea, just uncomfortable. I mention this because as we go thru this journey, each day and how we respond will be different. I dont think any of our school teachers are taking role and grading us on our promptness, ok!
Oh! I wanted to share this with you all, it really touched me. I've been very free with my dx and tx information. I hope it will encourage other women to not put off those darn mamos. Well, when I came to work this morning, our security guard met me at the door with a pink bracelet. She is probably the one person in the office that I didnt have a one on one with to bring them in the loop; yet she took it upon herself to go online and purchase a little gift for me. Turns out she lost her 80 y/o mom to b/c and she and her 7 sisters are very involved in the cause. They make frequent purchases from a specific website that donates all of their proceeds to b/c research. This may seem like no big deal to you, but think about this - this is a person who our entire daily conversation consists of "good morning, and have a nice day/night" took time out of her schedule to make sure I knew that I was in her thoughts and prayers. It was touching and humbling. I wear a lot of swarovski cystal, and had been eyeing one of their bracelets; but I'm now the (very proud) owner of a plastic pink bracelet, and I couldnt be happier. It truly is the little things that matter sooo much!
Hugs to all, and best to those at the bar. Talk to you soon!0 -
Sybil -- I think that you did tell us that you made it back OK. Either that, or I'm losing my remote!
Marsha -- I may get a private room with individual TV and VCR, but we don't get served food! How lucky can you get. Sorry you had to deal with anticipatory nausea from a suite-mate.
Caryn -- Another example to save posts is to actually write them in a text file on your harddrive. That allows you to scroll back and look at older posts you want to respond to.
Caryn -- I have your problems, too, if I take too much senokot-S. It seems to vary from one end to the other, with no happy medium!
Finally, I've been touched by the little things that vague acquintances have been doing. I'm not religious at all, but I'm being prayed for by my evangelical christian neighbor, my orthodox jewish pediatrician, and my presbyterian fellow mom from day care.
Is there a specific Feb Chemo cruisers chat time? I'd love to talk "in real time"!
We still need to hear from Wendy, Mary, Tink and Linnie (MRI).
Virtual hands tomorrow to Twink, Alyson, Leah.
Hope everyone from last week are fully recovered!
-- Hillary0 -
Hi, Carynn, you must be more queazy like we were after #2... small cold snacks help (peanut butter, hard boiled eggs, avocados, cold meat or cold salmon, humus... yogurt is my life saver -- plain, low fat no sugar, especially in between meals = calcium+proteins, also crackers of all kinds and raw almonds -- no salt no oil). I am not much in salads, but fix soups with tons of veggies (leaks, carots, turnips, broccoli, garlic, colard or mustard greens, some beef or chicken, or even smoked sweet german sausage, I cook all this in chicken broth with thyme, dill seeds and dry dill leaves, and a can of black beans or red beans with the juice... very nutritious and gives you plenty of minerals and liquid...)
You look even 10 years younger on your new pic... nice! I bet you do not have time left to walk (preferably before lunch... this is also to me what makes me feel best, stomachwise, surgery pain wise and mindwise). Today is day 2, and I never felt better (the decadron effect?)... getting ready for Neulasta pain tomorrow, but I got the claritin to try... my eyes have been red and watery for two weeks or so, and my nose running...
I love your story, I certainly believe strongly in the smallest thing... You want to hug this woman...
Don't work to hard... take care,
Hugs,
Catherine0 -
Hi everybody --
Glad to hear you're all doing well.. with the odd 'pain in the ...um....ass"? (sorry, couldn't resist).
I had a fantastic day...well sort of. The weather here is spring-like -- that was the good part. I had 6 separate meetings starting at 9AM and concluding at 5PM -- that was the bad part.
I am soooo ready to belly up to the bar tomorrow and get AC#3 done with.
Marsha and Carryn -- the remote and cellphone stories reminded me of my day yesterday...
I had my appointment with the surgeon / breast specialist who diagnosed the cancer. I left work a little early so that I could get to the gym before the appointment since the doc's office is in the same building as the gym. I got part way there and realized I didn't have my iPod nor my little workout cap. I actually considered going without then thought about how the wig would feel after an hour long workout...nah, that's not going to do. I went by the house to pick up the hat and iPod, left forgeting the pod and had to run back in for that, then headed for the gym. Got all my stuff into the locker, changed out of my work clothes and realized I'd forgotten my shoes. I had a choice -- workout in high heels or sock feet or run back home to fetch the shoes. I opted for the latter...but didn't feel like changing back into my work clothes so ran home in my workout clothing and high heels....such a sight! I'd like to blame the chemo...but I suspect that wouldn't fly. I'm just a little more distracted than usual.
Ah well... this too shall pass and I'll be back to normal, just forgetful of names.
I'll check in tomorrow after my cocktail hour.0 -
Marsha, Too bad about your next door neighbor during treatment - I feel bad for her and bad for you. Sounds like you were a good sport about it, though!
Catherine, Sorry to hear about the young lady you met today. It sounds like she is compassionate, intelligent, and way too young for this. I hope she makes a connection here, too.
Carynn, I loved your story. I have friends and family that are wearing the LIVESTRONG bracelets during my 12 weeks of chemo, in support of me. I have been touched by that, as well as the many people (some who I rarely see) who have asked to bring over dinners. These things comfort me so much and really help me to feel that I can get through this.
Twink, I loved your workout story! Kudos to you for not just skipping it! I worked out this morning, too. First time this week but it felt good.
My update for today: it was uneventful and that was fine with me. I went to work for a few hours afterwards and then to a short meeting. I am pretty wired right now but my slight headache is almost gone. I'll take something to help me sleep tonight and hope it works. I hope all of you who are signed up for tomorrow have a good day!!! I'll be thinking of you!
Wendy0 -
Quote:
Remember I switched to DD now so add me to tomorrow's (thursday) list of partygoers. I've felt really good this past 2 weeks so here's hoping #3 is more of the same!
The bar keeps filling up this week:
BettyeE joined us on Tuesday in time to say hello.
Ongoing or still to come:
Wednesday: Marsha, Wendy, Mary, TinkC
Also, Linnie's MRI!
Thursday: Twink, Alyson, Leah
Friday: Maisy, Kksbaby's husband
Take Care All, Pat0 -
Hi Everyone,
Just a update on whats been going on in my cruise. Tuesday I have to have surgery to replace the expander in my righr breast. Then on Thursday I go for round 3 of my chemo. The expander has sprung a leak and so they have to go in and replace it. It will be a out pt surgery so I should be back home on Tuesday night. I have been doing great and working 9 to 2 everyday. My job has been really good to me and letting me work when I want which makes it nice just to get out and have life almost normal. Good luck to all of you as you go and have your treatment today and tomorrow. You will be in my prayers!
Theresa0 -
Morning Cruisers - sounds like we're all doing pretty well after our bar trips. Good luck to those heading out today.
Just wondering - can I interest anyone in a piece of pineapple upside down cake without the pineapple?
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Hi, just checking in after chemo yesterday. Well to start with Tuesday. New interventional radiologist was able to be port accessed (which was good as I have a fever from a cold and he would not put a new one in if the old one wouldn't work). He also left it accessed for Wed. Everything went pretty smoothly for #2. Pretty wired with the Decadron so didn't sleep really well. Neulasta today. So just resting and going to watch some movies and catch up with DVR shows today. I'm gonna play it lazy after my last week. Hope everyone is well and tolerating your trips to the bar. Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers and again I truly truly appreciated all your kind words and thought re: my dear sweet brother!!
Mary0 -
Hey ladies...feeling a little icky after # 3 yesterday. Was fine till about 1:30 this morning and had indigestion bad and a stomach that felt totally empty. Woke up at 5 am and ate yogurt and donuts and feeling some better now. I have to remember to put food on my stomach every few hours or I get the major queasies. Mary, going in for my Neulasta around noonish, then accupuncturist and home to movies also. We signed up for Netflex and just got first shipment. I am taking it easy for sure! Hugs all, Marsha
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Hillary, go to the chatroom from this site. Put in your user name. Access granted, then click on the first room listed. Can't remember name. The click "enter room. Not just Feb Chemo cruisers but a whole room full of delightful women just like us. Different stages of tx etc. I go in in the morning coffee crowd. Same group most mornings, the night time is SO busy I can't keep up! Carynn started joining and we are having fun. Lots of laughter, hugs, support. When soomeone comes in with questions or newbie or whatever, we drop the joking and help each other out. Support trumps laughs every time!! Hope to see you there! Marsha
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Had my 2nd treatment yesterday and so far so good. The phenegran totally knocks me out so I slept for the rest of the day. Thank goodness my mom was able to keep our 21 month old, he's so busy at this age! Feeling a little tired today but I'm at work and doing good, so far so nausea yea! I just take phenegran as needed for nausea. Next week we get to find out if we are having a boy or girl, I'm so excited about that! In some ways being PG while going through this is such a blessing because I feel like I can focus more on the baby than on the treatments.
You ladies are so awesome and I have spent most of the morning trying to catch up on the past 2 days of messages.
I pray everyone has an uneventful trip to the bar today! Thank you for those of you who were holding my hand yesterday I could truly feel your presence and it was so peaceful to know that others were going through the same thing!0 -
Theresa, sorry to hear about the surgery. Wish you the best to get it behind you and resume your treatment. We'll be thinking of you.
Marsha, sorry to read that you are icky.
#3 AC went amazingly well so far, I hope it is not going to be too much worse. Day 3 today, Neulasta pain is kept at bay by Tylenol, Emend control the queazyness for now, if it gets worse tomorrow, I'll try the Kytril (did not touch it so far) as "daytime anti-nausea". A dear French friend who lives here brought me huge, beautiful fresh mangoes, and I tried some in yogurt this morning, first thing, and liked it. I felt like having scrambled eggs and toasted surdough bred, and I feel OK. I just feel like taking it easy today, like you: we joined Netflix a month ago, and we love it... works great and the choice is pretty good, I have almost 40 movies lined up in the queue, American ones, French, Russian, Spanish (Almodovar's Volver)... Last night with my sweet hubby, we copiously cried together over "My dog Skip" (as good a way as any to let it go...). Adorable, and, obviously, very moving little film. The doggy is terrific. BTW, for those who love dogs, I just read "The dogs who found me" by Ken Foster, really liked it.
It is grey here today, unusual in Denver, and there is drizzle reminding me of Brittany's prevailing weather... so, dogs and people are kind of dosing off at home this morning...
Wishing you all to go through the day as gracefully as possible and live your normal lives.
Hugs to all,
CatherineH0 -
Sorry I haven't checked in lately. I enjoy reading everyone's posts but haven't felt up to writing. Not much sleep lately.
I went for the breast MRI yesterday and it was a non-event. Of course, now is the dreaded waiting period for the results which should be in tomorrow or Monday.
I'm looking forward to A/C #4 next Tuesday so that I'm 50% done.
Wishing everyone a good day today,
Linnie0 -
Hi all, just checking in after a long while. I have been reading though. NOt much sleep here either. I am doing a different regime than most of you: navelbine and Herceptin and it doesn't affect me too badly most of the time. A little fatique for a couple of days and some just below the surface nausea, but if I keep something in my stomach, it's gone. That means I have to eat continually. Uh oh!!
Yesterday was #3, I had a great nurse for a change and it was going well till the end of second cocktail. I started to get a bad cramp in my stomach which traveled all the way down to my intestines. I went home and it got worse all night. (since we're talking about this) I went to the bathroom ( alot!) and it felt a little better. About 3 hours later I went again ( a lot!) but not diarhea.
and it got better. But today, I am still feeling yucky and crampy. I hope it gets better soon. I've been at work all day. I did take two of those senokot-s the night before, do you think that had anything to do with this? And I had been rather constipated till then.
Well, this was rather personal and graphic wasn't it? Well, so much for checking in...0 -
Hi everyone, just got back from #3 and it was actually FUN today! There were 2 ladies having their LAST chemo treatments and for each one, just when the infusion is completed all the nurses, lab techs, office people come around the patient and cheer and blow bubbles into the air. Of course all the other patients chime in whooping and hollering and clapping as well. The patient is given a colorful "certificate of chemo completion" and her nurse writes good wishes on it. One of the ladies gave me a handmade lap quilt with flowers and butterflies and on one corner was embroidered "God Bless You". I do take this as a blessing because this was the first time I met her. When I came in I took the chair next to her and she introduced herself to me and reached over and picked up this blanket handed it to me and said, "this is for you". I thought maybe she was giving them to everyone so I looked around but no one else had one. Now this is a newly made quilted blanket, nicely detailed and beautiful pattern/colors. I thanked her and asked "why?" to which she responded "because I'm celebrating since this is my last day and I want you to have it". This is a NEW blanket. I was flabbergasted that I would be given this until I looked on the corner where it's embroidered "God Bless You". And HE has.
Pat0 -
Just a fast note to celebrate my first nausea free day in a VERY long time. Yahoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Karen
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