More Tips (and a Shopping List) for Getting Through Chemo
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Bwahahahaha! ROCK ON!!
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STILL bumping!
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Bumping for the awesom ladies of Aug '10
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Bumping for the awesome ladies of Aug '10
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BUMP for Sept.!
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This is a fantastic resource. I just got my oncotype today with a score of 31 so I will be starting my chemo in 2 weeks. It will be TC 4 treatments 3 weeks apart. I am scared and all the side affects are scary but is still comforting to be armed with information. I may need a uhaul though. I want to have everything I might need on hand and duplicates so some things to keep in my car. I work at home but I want to be able to go out and run errands if I need to. I hope my counts don't keep me stuck home. I also worry about what to do for 5 hours during treatment I like the idea of bringing movies. I ma making my husband sit with me the first time but seems like it would be ok after that to just let him drop me off then pick me up at the end. It is only four times though but he is ADHD and he may make things uncomfortable for everyone.
anyway thanks to everyone who is sharing their tips I hope to add some to the list if I think of any.
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Bless you for this list!
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kaskopitke ~ We have our brilliant bc sistah ROCK to thank for this amazing list.
Carrol2 ~ Bringing movies is a great idea, it certainly helps to pass the time!
Best of luck to you in your tx ladies!
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Thanks nico1012 I am getting my first TC ocotber 5th. The place I picked to do it has nice private rooms with dvd players. Not looking forward to it but can;t wait until it's over.
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JUST MAKE FRIENDS WITH OTHER CHEMO PATIENTS. CONVERT THE WARD INTO A PARTY HALL INSTEAD OF A MISERABLE PLACE AND ACTUALLY LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING FRIENDS INSTEAD OF DREADING THE CHEMO
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I am pretty sure I am going to have to have chemo. I am pre menopausal, have DCIS and IDC, but stage 3. Recovering for lumpectomy, SNB. This list is great!! Thank you so, so much, all of you who compiled it. It somehow makes the prospect of chemo less frightening.
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Nico, nico, nico -- youse a sweetheart.
To everyone starting chemo, in the throes of chemo: I'm thinking about you! I was doing some housecleaning the other day and ran across the little scarf-hat thingies I wore, and it took me back to such a place. I am healthy (so far as I know) though, 2 years after chemo, I'm still adjusting. It's not bad. It's just a process. Be patient with yourself. Be kind to yourself.
Much, much love.
PS I really like Pema Chodron's book "When Things Fall Apart." It has changed my life, it really has. I think we are often motivated by either love or fear and I've tried to go forward being motivated by the former rather than the latter (that is, love of life vs. fear of chemo, fear of cancer).
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plan a fun activity with a friend for after day 7 - gives you a little light at the end of the tunel
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Bumping for the Oct. chemo starters.
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Because I'm a bit more paranoid, I did get a Vio-light from Walmart. (It holds 4 toothbrushes, electric ones as well) It's a disinfecting contraption for my toothbrushes. I put them in it when I'm done brushing and it disinfects them so each time I use one, I know it's clean and hopefully bacteria free.
Tori
DE COLORES!
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Great idea, ToriGirl! Anything we can do to keep those nasty bugs away helps us stay healthier during this journey. Hand sanitizer is the obvious one, a new shower curtain is a great idea from Rock, sani-wipes for surfaces and flushing twice are also good ideas.
Nico
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I received a 2nd opinion yesterday re: need for chemo. Because I have other chronic disease issues---asthma & celiac disease the thought of needing chemo has been unbearable. I have a 9 year old & own a business so am wondering how debilitating this will be & what days will be the worst post infusion. I am normally a very active person & need to exercise to control my asthma.I guess from what I am reading each person handles this differently. The first medical oncologist I saw seemed to indicate that "working " women can have chemo on a Friday, recover on the weekend & resume their regular lives come Mon. This sounds very unrealistic to me??? Please help.
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fetaalfredo well depending on what you do for a living i cold see being able to do that, although it would not be easy. I could do a desk job if i had to maybe by tuesday and if i did not have a long commute. But luckily i work at home. none of my se effects so far have been that bad and they do last aobut a week then after that just very tired.
if you need chemo to be sure you are rid of cancer then you need it no matter what i suppose unless the health risk out weigh that.
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Boo! Did I scare you, Nico?
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Rock- Thank you for all the suggestions!! I will be starting TC 4 tx by the end of next week (Happy Halloween to me!) I will be having my "chemo teaching" appt. with a NP on Mon. Your list will help me ask more specific questions to make sure i am prepared!! Hope you have a great day !!
Tiffany
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Scared me witless, Rock! Almost forgot to bump! LMAO
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Rock
Thanks so much for the tips. I am starting today at 2:00 pm. I am scared but having the tips will help to get me thru it. I it is also great to be forwarned as to what can be expected. Thanks again!
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BTW my cuticles got very dry. I just tried this product and it's geat and inexpensive: Hoofer's Choice: http://www.sallybeauty.com/Cuticle-Cream/SBS-705060,default,pd.html
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I start chemo on Nov. 1st. Thank you all for the wonderful information. I don't know how I would get through it without these pointers!
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Thinking of all of you who are starting chemo. There really is no way to be completely prepared the experience, is there? But you're not alone, you really aren't.
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holy cow! i knew chemo would be uncomfortable but wow! i would have never thought about some of the things you have mentioned here! thank you so much for the helpful info!! it's good to be prepared. i start chemo in about 3 weeks
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A bump for the Nov. chemo starters.
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Bump
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You know what's strange? It has now been a little over 2 years since I finished chemo. I think about cancer every day. But chemo and being bald and the fatigue and all that . . . it feels like a long time ago. But it has taken nearly evey bit of two years for me to say that.
I guess my point is: Be patient with yourself, not only as you go through chemo but in the year or two that follows.
Rooting for you. When I do think of chemo, I always pause to think for a moment of all the people going through it. We're rooting for you!
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Thanks so much for this list-I am getting my chemo bag ready today since I start weekly Taxol tomorrow Nov. 18th. I am now stage IV and am really scared-first dx in 1991 with stage II had lumpectomy-radiation and CMF then 5 years of tamoxifin and 5 years NED then the markers started going up and went with 5 years of armidex then rises again-went on aromasin in April 2010 for 3 months and still rising then went on Falsodex injections and had a big rise so now it is the chemo starting with Taxol and hopeing for NED or dropping markers again. Realize I am really lucky to be here for almost 20 years and got to see my kids grow up and my 2 grandchildren-this list made it a lot easier for me so a big thank you to all who compiled it. I will be thinking of you tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. pst. Blessings to all
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