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Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin

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Comments

  • Donalee
    Donalee Member Posts: 106
    edited July 2008

    Cupcake,

    I hope all goes well with the port! And you get some answers!

    Okay, so I'm at the gym today. I get on the treadmill and feel like running. My heart rate shoots way up so I settle for an uphill walk. My left eye starts this spasming, then my bottom lip starts it too! While I'm sweating, my eye are running so bad I can hardly see. HAhahaha, I laugh when I think what I must look like! Oh well, I stayed on for 40 minutes! Yeah!!!  I'm thinking SE's from herceptin. My left eye twitches almost constantly since I started. Anyone else experience these SE's?

  • AlyMarie
    AlyMarie Member Posts: 192
    edited July 2008

    Everybody, what about a nurse case manager for Cupcake?  My elderly mother has one of those.  She goes to her appointments with her and asks questions and gathers info. etc. to make sure everything gets taken care of.  My mother is in SO much better health now because of it.  Surely there are things like that in everybody's area.  They can be expensive, but in a situation like this I'd think it's worth it?

  • KristyAnn
    KristyAnn Member Posts: 131
    edited July 2008

    Hi Everyone,

     Anyone else have fingernail discolorations on TCH? I have finished 4 of 6 treatments and have noticed alternating rings of color- light(normal color) and a dark red/purple - in concentric rings going from the cuticle to about half way out my fingernails- they dont hurt or anything and I keep my nails covered in Nail Envy which makes a hard surface so I havent noticed thinning or flaking. I head taxotere can cause nail changes but I never really found any details on that they might look like...... any ideas?

    I treadmill a lot and I have noticed I am more impacted by heat and sweating while on TCH- I put the treadmill under the ceiling fan and have a box fan blowing in my face from about 6 feet away- lately Ive noticed I like to turn down the central AC when Im going to walk. Earlier in the treatment cycle I actually walked outside and it is not tolerable now- of course this is Texas and its hot, but I just dont tolerate heat very well right now it seems- wondered if that might be from the TCH drugs.

    Kristy

  • AlyMarie
    AlyMarie Member Posts: 192
    edited July 2008

    Oh and Kay I meant to tell you, I postponed my chemo until Monday.  It didn't seem wise to have it on the Thursday before a long weekend, knowing that by Saturday I'll be ill and probably needing fluids.  I'd rather have it at the start of the week when I can go over to the hospital and get help during the week when I know I'll need it.

  • TF80209
    TF80209 Member Posts: 83
    edited July 2008

    Donalee: The eye twitches might be from Taxotere, not Herceptin. I found the majority of my SEs were caused by Taxotere. Soon after I started developing blocked tear ducts, my left eye twitched. It drives you nuts, doesn' t it? The twitches soon evolved to constant tearing -- something to look forward to. Any time I tried to walk outside in the cold my eyes would be gushing. The blocked tear ducts eventually went away 3 months after chemo ended. I could sense the symptoms were reversing themselves.

    Kristy: Fingernail changes. Yep, had those too (thanks taxotere). I found a picture on a website that described the changes as like bulleyes under the nail and that is why mine looked like. Sounds like your symptoms are similar. My nails never got completely covered or fell out. The parts that were discolored stayed discolored and when they grew out they were kind of bent and prone to splitting.

    I'm not sure if TCH is causing your intolerance to heat. I'm in chemopause and seem to get cold flashes twice as often as hot flashes. I think I'm tolerating the heat of summer better this year than in past years. The cold flash switching to a hot flash is a pain though.

    Terri.

  • KristyAnn
    KristyAnn Member Posts: 131
    edited July 2008

    Thanks Terri,

    The bullseye description sounds like a match for my nails too- fortunately not too dark so I am the only one noticing them- hopefully the growth will keep up and they will grow out when treatments are finally finished (TCH finishes Aug 7- Herceptin keeps going and going and going of course).

    Kristy

  • shelbaroni
    shelbaroni Member Posts: 350
    edited July 2008
    Donalee; I too am eye-twitching. Started yesterday, mostly the right eye, but sometimes the left. And I was on the treadmill this morning, too. I used to be comfortable at a 10 minute mile, but now I need to slow to a 12 minute mile. I feel like I'm breathing at 11,000 feet on the first day of a ski trip. The nurse told me I'm anemic, which could account for a lot of that. Do what you can, knowing the chemo's beating you up. All you can do is the best you can do, right?

    Nan, I looked at the tee shirts. Those are really great. 

    My lips are all blistery again. I wish the schmuck with the blowtorch would stay away from my mouth.
  • AlyMarie
    AlyMarie Member Posts: 192
    edited July 2008

    Shel, are you rinsing a whole bunch of times a day with warm salt water?  That's what I was told to do to keep the mouth sores and blisters at bay.  Has worked for me so far!

  • shelbaroni
    shelbaroni Member Posts: 350
    edited July 2008

    Aly; I think last treatment I progressed beyond salt water. They leveled me up to a space age proprietary mixture of antibiotic, antifungal, cortisone, and benzocaine. I've started that, to avoid the kind of opportunistic bacterial and yeast infections that like to breed in warm, moist, dark caverns full of tissue with little to no immune support (i.e., my mouth). However, this fruit-flavored goo does nothing for my lips. So I'm using a benzocaine gel. I would shoot them up with Novocaine if I had a dentist who would sneak me a few free ampules:) Now my fingers are starting to peel, so the hand rash is probably next. And after being constipated for 5 days, I am now in an Olympic qualifying heat for the Toilet Triathlon (poop, wipe, and flush). Who knows, I might make it to Beijing yet.

  • Poppy_Spruce
    Poppy_Spruce Member Posts: 85
    edited July 2008

    Shel: Did you catch my post about the New Chapter iron supplements? I used them in conjunction with Alive! Multi-Vitamins w/o Iron...both available at Whole Foods. I don't know if I was just lucky, but it kept anemia at bay for me.

    Aly: Glad to hear that you decided to reschedule. I was so caught up in Cupcake that I forgot to mention that. We will be thinking and praying for you. You are on a weekly course now aren't you?

    Kristy Ann:I remember the blocked tear ducts - and now that I think about it, I am not sure when it went away, but here I am, eight months later, and my eyes don't run anymore.

    My nails got weak and ridgey, and sometimes I notice that they get deep blue/purple. It goes away and I don't have any numbness so I am thinking that this is evidence of Herceptin'seffect on the heart.

     I know a few ladies have said it, but there seems to be a culmulative effect of Herceptin for me - at least that is what I am hoping and that it isn't the tamoxifen. These last three treatments have really wiped me out. Sometimes I feel like I am wearing a wet, jean jumpsuit. My last MUGA was normal, but the lowest reading yet...I have dropped about 8% since pre-chemo. Normal or not, I would think that I would start to feel that.

  • AlyMarie
    AlyMarie Member Posts: 192
    edited July 2008

    Nan...no I think I'm going back to the 3 week cycle now.  I was so sick last time (and am still not completely recovered) it seemed pointless to just do weekly treatments and be constantly sick with no relief.  Of course, if it turns out that this was just a virus (and I'll never know for sure) then maybe I'm making the wrong decision.  I just don't know at this point. :o(  I have a "sample" in at the doctor right now to check and see if I have a bacterial infection in my gut or something which would explain the unending diarrhea and probably the vomit fest I had last Monday night.  Hopefully those results will be back before I have to make the final decision on Monday - weekly, or every 3 weeks.

  • lwy
    lwy Member Posts: 116
    edited July 2008

    hi ladies, 

    just checking in after a long absence. I tried to read through all the posts, so many new ladies. i'm sorry that our club keeps growing.

    for those of you going through chemo, hang in there. it gets better. i started chemo the exact same day as Cindy, and like her, I'm done with everything except the aromasin and zoladex shots.

    cindy- how are you? i read that your colonoscopy and EGD went well. i'm glad you are doing okay. have you heard at all from katymom? i emailed her awhile ago and haven't heard back.

    Leslie 

  • suemed8749
    suemed8749 Member Posts: 210
    edited July 2008

    OK, I know this is pretty minor in the big picture of miserable side effects, but I woke up this morning (after tx 5) with these fluid-filled bags on top of my normal black circles under my eyes. This on my magenta-flushed face. My son wanted to know who punched me out - if he should take care of somebody for me. Pretty chivalrous 13-yr-old. I mentioned my attractive new look to my PS as he was injecting 50 cc's into my ever-expanding foob, and he merely replied, "Yes, I see that." He was also pretty chivalrous.


    So I sit here lop-sided, bald, neon pink, and puffy-eyed. My cats don't notice.

    Sue

  • cupcake7
    cupcake7 Member Posts: 321
    edited July 2008

    Thanks Alymarie and Donalee for thinking of me.  It was a very hard day.  I feel like a rag doll that was tied on the back of a pick up truck and drug down a gravel road.  Been on that wild roller coaster ride all day.  First I woke up at 3:30 am anxious for the port surgery.  Then they called me at 9:00 when I am all pumped up to go that they wanted to reschedule me.  I whinned so much they decided to keep me on and bump someone else.  I just couldn't go through this night of no sleep again.  Ok got there went up bravely to the check in desk and the nice lady behind the glass said, "that will be $1,000.00 for your co-pay".  I was so caught off guard that I just lost it and started to cry. ( seems like I am so fragile these days and go to pieces at a drop of a hat)   I don't carry that kind of cash around...all the other test the last two weeks has been $50.00. I'm thinking we pay $800.00 a month for insurance and then get hit out of the blue on this one.  I read the insurance papers , but who can make out what is what...I sure can't.  I went to the member services and they looked it up on the computer and yep that was the co-pay...many more tears cause I needed to get this done today.  So the kind lady said ok we will bill you for it.  I was a wreck by this point and I won't have to worry about leaking tear ducs cause they are going to be all dried up before I even start Chemo!  2 hours later I got the port put in, but my body feels like I had worked a 48 hours shift!  I drug home and the oc called and the MRI did not exactly show the tumor, but she think she sees it behind these huge lymph nodes.  She finally gave me a dx...Locally Advanced Breast Cancer stage IIIA.  At least 4 lymph nodes if not more involved.  So ok gals help me figure this one out.  Anyone in here with this dx or similar?  The reason they want to do chemo first aggressively is if they operated right now with the mass so large they may not get  all the cancer, and they also want to get those cells that are out there in the body floating around. I ask her flat out if we are at the point of trying to control this tumor or get rid of the cancer and she said her goal was to get rid of it.  

  • AlyMarie
    AlyMarie Member Posts: 192
    edited July 2008

    Cupcake - just a quick one tonight.  Sorry to hear about your dx but you should know that stage IIIA is sill very "cureable"!  I don't know if you remember that wonderful woman I met when I was on my way to my first treatment, but she was stage IIIA and she is just fine now.  Just finished her last chemo treatment.  You have the advantage already in that it hasn't spread anywhere else in your body!  I'm sure there will be a host of information coming from the women on this site later on but in the mean time KEEP YOUR CHIN UP!!!  We are all praying for you!!  I'm sending you HUGE hugs and am so sorry to hear you had such a difficult time today.

  • Donalee
    Donalee Member Posts: 106
    edited July 2008

    Cupcake,

    OmGod! I hate insurance companies!!! I can't believe these rediculous co-pays! I too pay 800.00 a month then have all these co-pay bills. I would have cried too.I'm glad you finally got a diagnosis. It will make things easier to understand now. I totally see why your gettig chemo now before the surgery. I was sitting next to a woman at one of my treatments who was getting chemo before surgery. She had just finished one round and her tumor already was shrinking fast. This will result in a much more successful surgery. I hope you start feeling better.

    Hugs!!!

    Donalee

  • gramma23
    gramma23 Member Posts: 482
    edited July 2008

    Hi! I am new to this site although I have been on some of the other topics. I am taking the same combo of meds that you are and I start July 9 & 10. I will do the Herceptin on 9th and then on 10th get the chemo drugs. I guess since I have allergies they want to see how I do with each thing before combining them. I am really dreading it but I think I have everything ready except some scarfs. I just don't think I can do a wig even though I work in the public and I do plan on trying to work. I was off 2 1/2 weeks from surgery and they act like they are in charge around there. I am the shift leader but I really don't care. I guess they are just trying to take some pressure off me but it feels like I am being pushed out. I guess with all this going on with my health my emotions are a little on edge. I am almost 61 in Aug. they are a lot younger than me.

    I have been reading the posts and I hope I can be prepared for whats coming

    Carolyn

  • cupcake7
    cupcake7 Member Posts: 321
    edited July 2008

    Very curable, music to my ears Aly.  I will go into the stage III sight and lurk around in there for a bit to see what is going on, but this section is my home. I will also go back and check the post before you went in too Aly.  Does she still post?

     Thank you so much for your replies, and welcome gramma23.  Looks like I will be one day ahead of you so will be posting here often of how you are doing.  I have a supervisor personality and have been one for years so I know what you are feeling of saying you felt like you were being pushed out.  That would have been my response too.  Whatever your job it is time for you to let go of it and concentrate on you, hard as it may be cause being a supervisor you could be co-dependent too, and think of others before yourself.

    After taking some Tylenol PM and getting a good nights sleep last night I feel really good today.  The port feels a little strange, but doesn't hurt much so not taking anything for it.  Yes Donalee I do feel so much better today and here I am  going off bouncing like Tigger the Tiger with a big WHOO HOO for this beautiful day praising the Lord for being with me yesterday.  It was a tuff climb up the hill yesterday, but the view from the top today is awesome.....

  • shelbaroni
    shelbaroni Member Posts: 350
    edited July 2008
    Cupcake; You may or may not recall one of my last responses to you related that I was praying for clarity in your case and that you would know what needed to be done and why. Although the answer may not be what we all wanted to hear, I thank God that you're finding out what's actually going on. What I am praying for now, besides your physical safety and emotional rest, is for someone to be there to walk every step of this with you. It really sounds like The System is beating you up very badly--shows you how sick our health care delivery system is! I can't imagine "walking the lonesome valley" of breast cancer all by myself. Does your HMO have a Patient Advocate program of any kind...nurses who will explain things and walk you through procedures and benefits, etc.? My prayer is that God give you a person through which He can guide you, educate you, calm you, and make you every bit whole. And yes, today I am thankful with you.

    Gramma--welcome to Camp Chemo--none of us wanted to get sent here, but there's a lot of Kum-by-AAA by the campfire, if you catch my drift. Hopefully you'll meet our head counselor, Cindy, soon. She'll love you up and show you around. Nan, our camp nurse, will hold your head and tell you what to take when you feel yukky. Aly and Donalee will probably be the first to jump in there and throw an arm around you when you feel blue. And then there's Terri and Mary and lots of others who gather round and can give you a lot of helpful hints, because they've been there. And then there's me. I usually joke around a lot. But I can hold my own in the prayer closet too. So welcome to our little world. Hope it makes the process a little more tolerable.It has for me.
  • gramma23
    gramma23 Member Posts: 482
    edited July 2008

    Thank you both for the uplifting words. I do get down for just a short time but I know Jesus is my Savior and no matter what I go through he will be there with me. It is hard for people who have never had this to say or do things but I know they don't mean to be ugly. I have a woman that works in the office next to where I work that has gone through this and also a couple at our main branch and they called to let me know if there is anything I need just to let them know. I am glad I have this support here too. My husband is a worrier about this too but is totally there for me. My youngest son tries to be comforting but the other 2 kids just try not to bother me I guess. they have there own problems. I do have my 2 oldest grandsons living with me and I really enjoy them. they would do anything for me if I let them know. they are 20 & 18. work,school & girls keep them busy. :)

    I am just really dreading the chemo but I am going in with a good attitude and see what happens!

    Carolyn

  • cupcake7
    cupcake7 Member Posts: 321
    edited July 2008

    Thank you Shell I had forgotten, but your right He did answer and although not what I was hoping for it is some direction and at least it is better than the unknown which is a very scary place to be.  Thank you for the prayers on that. You are soooo funny Camp Chemo with the Kum- by- yaaa... lol.   Yes for sure I need to rest because I know He is there.  I am just one of His kids that takes a thump on the head to listen sometimes. And for that support person you were talking about...I have Jesus.  Like you Carolyn Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.  Yesterday morning I claimed John 14:13 and ask for me not to get sick through the surgery as I always do when put out.  Everywhere I read, talked to, and even the Dr. said I would be put out, but  with twilight meds.  I was not put out at all so no nausea..even being upset and feeling some discomfort not one tummy roll.  Now here is the beautiful part.  At one point I got a little anxious and ask Jesus to come and hold my hand and I visualized Him being near me and then I felt a hand on mind that was sticking out of the blue sheet.  I turned my head and peeked out and it was the nurse at that very moment reached down and held my hand.  I told her later, when she wheeled me out to the car, and she just gasp.  "I am a Christian too, and although I can't say anything in the operating room I pray for my patients".  She also said she was thankful I told her that knowing how God was using her.  My devotional passage today was Psalms 50:15..I did call upon Him in my trouble and he delivered me and I glorified Him by telling this story.  This cancer did not come upon me until it passed His Desk first so although I don't understand it all I can rest it is all in His hands, and I claim the very first passage when this all began and it is Jeremiah 42:11 with the king of Babylon being this cancer.

  • LaurieD
    LaurieD Member Posts: 4
    edited July 2008

    One thing no one here seems to have mentioned is using "cold mitts" to prevent nail changes from taxotere.

    At the cancer center where I went for chemo, when I had my taxotere infusion, the nurse would bring me cold mitts to wear. I would wear latex gloves (to protect my hands from direct cold), then a very cold "gel" mitt that had been in the fridge, and a nylon mitt that went over that. I would wear them only during the taxotere infusion. (They used to have the patient put her fingers in ice water but the mitts work much better.)

    The cold mitts work great! I had no nail changes, discoloration, or nail damage. Now I'm on herceptin only, my nails are fine. Completely normal and hard.

    Do other cancer centers use the cold mitts?

    Laurie

  • AlyMarie
    AlyMarie Member Posts: 192
    edited July 2008

    Laurie I don't think the cold mits and cold caps are generally used in the U.S.  Seems to be just the UK and Canada.  I think what I read about the cold caps was that studies showed that if you had any cancer cells in your scalp, the cold cap would prevent the chemotherapy drugs from getting to them and killing them.  I'm not sure about the cold mits, haven't really heard about them.

    Aly.

  • Joia
    Joia Member Posts: 25
    edited July 2008

    My chemo nurse at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston told me that they studied the effectiveness of cold caps a few years back and abandoned the studies when the caps appeared useless. If they ever published anything to that effect, I couldn't find it online.

  • AlyMarie
    AlyMarie Member Posts: 192
    edited July 2008

    Cupcake...I'm not very good with Bible verses.  My husband has a degree in Theology and knows sooooo much about sooooo much.  What I know about God is very simplistic in the way it comes to me and sometimes it's much later on before I see His work in my life.

    About 4 years ago or so I found myself in some serious trouble.  The going to prison kind of trouble. Someone who called himself my friend had used my naive and trusting (and stoooopid!) nature against me.  Long story short, I lost my job of nearly 13 years, the feds took my home (which I had just moved out of to move in with Shaun) and everything I owned and I found myself facing Federal charges that carried a 24-30 month prison term.

    I was formally charged in the middle of November.  Two weeks later I found out I was pregnant.  I hardly knew what to think.  In the middle of this nightmare, a baby?  On the way home from the doctor after I found out, I happened to look off to the side and up in the sky there was a break in the cloud cover and through that circular opening, rays of sunshine were pouring down, just like something you'd see in some kind of Biblical painting.  I looked at that and I cried and I said "Ok God, OK". 

    The next 9 months were difficult, to say the least.  Fighting the charges, dealing with a bad lawyer, trying to put my life back together and somehow trying to be happy about my pregnancy. The day I found out I was having a little girl was the most amazing day.  Ever since I was a child I dreamed of having a little girl that I would name Molly Amey (after my mother).  That little girl growing inside me kept me from giving up.  The day she was born my husband (still my boyfriend at that time) wept and thanked me for bringing her into his life.

    Three weeks later and thanks to a probation officer with a heart of gold who fought for me, I walked away from the judge's bench with a 5 month sentence on a plea agreement.  When Molly was 3 months old I reported to Federal prison.  It was the hardest 5 months of my life.  Shaun came every single day and brought Molly.  That little girl lit up that prison visiting area.  The officers waited to see her every day.  One wanted to see what outfit she would be wearing.  She smiled and laughed at people waiting in line to visit loved ones.  She made them smile in probably one of the most depressing places on earth.  One day, near the end of my sentence as I walked into the visiting room, I turned and looked at Molly and as she saw me she grinned and bounced and got so excited.  I looked around and *everybody* on that side of the visiting room was looking at her and smiling.  I even heard when I moved to a new unit that some of the women on that floor would wait and look out their windows every day to see Shaun come with that tiny little baby.  They said "OH!  You're the one who's husband comes with the baby every day!" I believe this little girl has been here for a reason from the very moment she was conceived.

    Now I'm battling breast cancer.  Why I had to get breast cancer I don't know yet.  For goodness sake, haven't I been through enough already?  I do know that one day I will understand.  I know that because I can look back now to that very day with the rays of sunshine streaming down through the clouds and everything is perfectly clear.  God knew this was coming and THAT was why Molly came when she did.  Not just because I needed her during that time of my life, but because chemo induced menopause would have kept me from having the little girl that He has always known I wanted.  He gave her to me and I see.  I don't know Bible verses, but I see. 

    All of us will get through this and I believe there will be clarity for each and every one of us.  I don't know when and I don't know how, but I know there will be.  We just have to try and keep looking.  Sometimes it's hard to see. 

    I don't know what you all think of my long rambling story but I wanted to write it.  Maybe it'll give somebody some hope, I don't know.  You are all such amazing women and I pray for health and healing for all of you.

  • LaurieD
    LaurieD Member Posts: 4
    edited July 2008

    Well, I don't know about cold caps but I highly recommend the cold mitts for protecting your nails when you are infused with taxotere.

    Laurie

  • cinrae123
    cinrae123 Member Posts: 211
    edited July 2008

    Hello girls,,,,,,,,,,,,,and a Happy Fourth of July to you all.

    Cupcake and Gramma,,,,,,,,beautiful read.  You will be fine,,,,,,I feel it.

    Shel,,,,,,,,,,thats funny,,,,,,,,,camp counselor.  lol  I just pop in from time to time to see how all you wonderful ladies are doing,,,,,,,,,,and to give you encouragement about that light at the end of the tunnel.  Funny you say that though about the camp counselor because I always said that when I retire I would like to live at a campground and be the campground greeter.  lol

    Aly,,,,,,,,,,omg ,,,,,,,,,your story was amazing.  I'm glad all your legal problems turned out ok. And I am glad that Molly gave some brightness to the other inmates and to yourself of course.  Thats wonderful. I'm not a super religious person,,,,,meaning I dont go to church,,,,,,,but I do believe in God.  I do believe in a higher power,,,,,,,,,and that our lives are planned out by God.  Sometimes we go thru things that we just cant understand,,,,,,but I truly believe things happen for a reason.  Sometimes it sucks big time,,,,,,but things always work out for the best.  I think that your lil Molly was an angel from God for you.  What a blessing.

    You know,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I think I have said this before somewhere,,,,,,,,,but I dont dwell on the reoccurance thing.  I did chemo, radiation,,,,,,,did everything that was suggested to me.........I live for today.  I know that once we have been diagnosed with cancer........there will always be that lil black cloud hanging over us as in,,,,,,,,,,,,will I have a reoccurance?  I refuse to let that lil black cloud hang over me for long,,,,,,,,,,I love sunny days,,,,,,,,so I blow that black cloud away.

    Let me just say that I am very proud of all you ladies.  Once you get thru all of this,,,,,,you will be patting yourselves on the back and saying,,,,,,,,,,,,wayyyyyyyyy to go.

    One important thing to do is,,,,,,,,let your doctor know every single side effect you have so that they can help you manage the side effects.  Take care of yourselves,,,,,rest when you need the rest..........let people help you........bitch and moan and groan because we have earned that right.  I know when I was going thru chemo,,,,,,,,,;this board was so much help for me.  My family and friends were extremely supportive,,,,,,,,,,,,,but they didnt understand everything,,,,,,,because they had never been there themselves.  So its nice to share with others going thru the same thing as you. Helped me out greatly.

    Liz,,,,,,,,,so glad to hear from you.  I am doing well thank you.  Sounds as if you are too.  I havent heard from Katymom either.  I think its good news that we have all gotten on with life after BC right?  So hopefully she is ok and just busy as a bee.

    So there is life after this journey girls.  But I like to come back here from time to time and give words or encouragement.  God knows I needed that last year too.

    Cold mitts?  wow never heard of those.  I didnt have any ill effects in the nail and hand department,,,,,,,,,,,but I wonder if that helps people?  Cool if it does.

    Nan our nurse has been a great help also.  Good job girlie.

    Ok,,,,,,,,,,off to make some dinner.

    Take care ladies,,,,,,,,,,and I am sending you good vibes.

    Cindy

  • cinrae123
    cinrae123 Member Posts: 211
    edited July 2008

    wowaaaaaaaaaaaaaa   sorry bout the long post.  Sheesh,,,,once I get to typing nothin stops me.  lol  My family says I talk to much,,,,,,,,,,,,,are they right?  nahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh   lol

    Cindy

  • shelbaroni
    shelbaroni Member Posts: 350
    edited July 2008
    Laurie--I've heard both sides of the story about the cold caps, yea and nay, but this is the first I've heard of the mitts. We had dinner recently with a pharmaceutical executive from Copenhagen, and apparently the cold caps are currently being used in Denmark with some degree of success. So maybe they've changed the protocol? Anyway, with the mitts, it sounds very risk-free and easy and cheap. All it could possibly do is not work. So if you have a chance, give it a whirl. I'm going to ask if it's available to me. What the heck? I don't care if there have been a slough of double-blind studies--if it works, it works.

    Cindy--Talk away! Everyone loves it.

    Aly--What a woman you are! Even though your life has not exactly been a pleasure cruise, I am assured that you have used every single moment of it to forge the person you are today. I know that sounds like paliative pablum...but every time I have read the biography of someone I deeply admire, it's the hard times that create their stellar qualities, not the lollipops and roses. Jesus spent 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness being tempted and tried by Satan (Luke 4). Though Luke gives more details of this time, I like the account in Mark 1:12-13, because of its phrasing. "And immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness." In other words, how many of us choose our wilderness experiences. They're thrust upon us. And then, at the end of the testing, "...the angels were ministering to Him." So we know several things about testings in our lives: 1) We don't choose them or their timing--we're just along for the ride, BUT 2) There is a finite end to it, just like there was a beginning. And 3) As happened with Jesus, whose public ministry began as soon as He emerged from the wilderness, that testing will create in us something that we could have never been without it. But all of this is just confirmation to the truth that you're already living. Thank you so much for sharing your story.

    Cupcake--I really love your story about Jesus holding your hand through the presence of your Christian nurse. It's possible that He will provide help for you through this maze in the form of a person, as well. And when all else fails, there's always Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God,to those who are called according to His purpose." He is able and willing to take all those things that really suck and turn them around to do a mighty and wonderful work in your life, beyond all you could possibly imagine. Notice He said "ALL things". He didn't say just the fun stuff.
  • SuzinLA
    SuzinLA Member Posts: 1
    edited July 2008

    Hey there. I'm seeing a top oncological nutritionist and wanted to share a few things:

    - Probiotics - YES

    - GREEK Yogurt - YES ... drop the other stuff. Greek yogurt has a lot more protein and a lot less carbs and sugar.  She said to have some every day, which I do most days.

    - I got HORRIBLE mouth sores and chemical taste in my mouth... best things have been ALTOIDS Sours - they have a couple of flavors.  But Sympt-X Glutamine I got on second round - specifically good for this and for GI issues.  I got mine at the Positive Appearance Center at the Breast Cancer Center at St. John's in Santa Monica (LA).   

    - Relief Band (available from Magellan's (store and website and catalog), expensive but worth it - around $120) has been the best thing for my nausea, aside from smoking medical marijuana which has been amazing for nausea and back pain, and acupuncture which has really helped as well for overall immune system stuff and nausea 

    My second round has gone SO much better than my first round. I have round 3 on Monday. Crossing my fingers that this next one goes as well... 

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