Stop Smoking Support Thread
Comments
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kal,
Glad to hear chemo is done!! Hope your side effects aren't too rough!
I know what you mean when you actually do the math and figure out how early you started smoking and how much time has gone by. It's just staggering!
I have a niece that just turned 8. I can't even imagine her smoking in just a couple of years....
I sent you a congrats on your 5 months on the previous page but, will say again.... Well Done!!!!
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YEAH Basia....
Things should start to improve rapidly from here on out!! You're doing so well! Glad the thought of going out into the cold worked as encouragement to not go buy a pack. Guess this crazy cold winter in the NE is good for something after all!
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Way to go Basia! It wasn't that long ago that you wouldn't have let yourself get that low on cigarettes. Snow storm coming, time to go to the store for milk, bread, toilet paper and cigarettes. Karen
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Jennifer:
Yes, it is nice and I do think they get more excited than we do. My oncologist gave me a big hug when I told him I quit. I have the (((((huggiest))))) (is that a word) doctors! My PS gives me a big hug everytime I see him.
Yes, exchange is in 8 days and I cannot wait!!!
I had a chest xray yesterday for my 6 month check up with the breast surgeon and I don't have an oncologist appointment until June. Boy was I blessed!
Jan
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Hi Everyone,
Im still here... barely... Im still feeling like crap from TX. I had a talk with my Dr and would like to hear your opinions... I did 5 of 6 TCH and want to stop. I have lost 8 pounds in a week from not eating, everything is discusting! I have managed to eat a couple of bananas this past week.
Dr said he has no info if the 6th tx is the magic number, but studies are based on 6, and would like me to get as close to 6 as possible. He offered to reduce my dose by 25% if I did the last one. I just dont know.... I have been soooo sick. Been at the Dr getting iv fluids the past 2 days.
I love the fact that weight is going down, but as soon as I eat, it will go right back on anyway. Nurse seems to think its nausea, but it is taste. I cant describe it, not really bitter, not bland (Bland I could do) just totally discusting awful taste and smell. I cant even cook my boyfriend dinner. I now feel the need to carpetfrest the house because I am smelling these old food smells. I really want to stop the TC and just continue on with the Herceptin for the rest of the year. Your opinions?
BTW, I did slip once, and was sorry I did. I didn't get a rush, or a good feeling. I really believe I am done now with cigarettes. I managed to go to the grocery store last night to get a couple things to try and eat and there was a girl who had gotten out of the car next to ours and walked past us. The smell was awful coming from the girl who walked by. I told my boyfriend I smelled how bad it was, and after loading the bags I said, I still smell it... turned and her friend was sitting in the car smoking. It was lingering so bad. I smell it on buildings now and I know who the smokers are. Im embarrassed that I smelled THAT bad for all these years. It really is repulsive. So Im not counting that slip, it didnt help, didnt enjoy it, it didn't matter.
I now have just over 2 weeks under my belt.
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Way to go Basia! And {{{SWEET}}}! Good for you but also so sorry about you feeling so lousy. I didn't hasve to do chemo so I cna't help you there but maybe 5 is enough.
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sweet - I was on a trial for TCH x 4 versus x6 If you are truly feeling this bad I don't see how finishing one more tx is really going to make a huge difference. You will still be getting Herceptin until the one year mark and for HER2+ cancers the primary reason we Stage 1 zero node girls are getting chemo is in the first place is so that we can be treated with Herceptin. If I had been HER2- I was told that I would have not been offerred chemo...
Hope that helps!
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(((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))) sweet!!!
I'm so sorry you are going through such a terrible time. I was HER2- and didn't need any chemo so I cannot even imagine how bad you feel, but know that I feel bad for you!!!
You are a very very strong person and I'm sure whatever you decide will be the right choice for you.
Prayers for a fast recovery!!!!
Jan
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Michelle and Jan, Thank you.
Michelle, do you know what the results of the 4 x 6 was? My onco only said the trial was done with 6. I know I should be hitting this with everything I can, but Damn.... I feel like the chemo is killing me. Why put us through the T and C if it's the H that we need? I dont understand.
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The Trail is still on going so no results as of yet...
Basically my understanding is that Herceptin has not been tested/approved to be given alone for early stage cancers so in order to be treated w/ Herceptin you must have chemo...it just protocol. Unless you are Stage 4 and HER2+++ then they will start with the Herceptin only and save chemo for when Herceptin no longer is effective or a progression is shown. This is just my understanding based on what I have read on the various threads...
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sweet ,I didn't have chemo so I can't speak to that, I am sorry you are feeling so lousy. Is there anything they can give you so the disgusting taste isn't there? Are you able to drink, like flavored water or sports drink, popsicles, so you don't dehydrate? Karen
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Karen,
Nothing they can do. The nurses seem to think I should JUST EAT anyway. They have no clue how bad this is. I can not even force myself to eat. and believe me.... I want to eat.... Im starving.... I want so many things that sound good, and when I try, it goes in the trash and my brain gets embedded with how bad it tasted and I don't want to ever eat it again. So now I am being extremely cautious of what I try to eat so I dont ruin my favorite things. As soon as I know for sure that my taste is back to 100%, I am getting a huge grilled chicken ceaser salad!!!
Michelle, thank you for the info. Im leaning twords not doing the last tx. I just cant do this again.
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Aw Crap Sweet!
SO glad to hear from you but, so sorry to hear you are feeling so lousy!! I was getting ready to send out a search party looking for you!
I just went back and checked my notes from my first appt with my onc. The recommendation for me, if I chose to do chemo, was 4 treatments of Taxotere/Cytoxen over a period of 12 weeks.
I had a fairly large tumor (2.5 cm) but am HER- with a fairly low oncotype. Don't know if that played in there at all.
I found this thread http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/699548 that may give you and idea on what some others did/did not do.
Don't sweat it on one small slip especially given the circumstances. Just work on feeling better!!
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sweet, easy for them to sayy "eat anyways", they weren't the ones with the disgusting taste. My godmother had to have most of her stomach removed 6 years ago due to cancer, it left her with a small pouch of a stomach. She was encouraged to eat many small meals. But when that pouch was filled, she could not force anything more in without feeling like she was going to vomit. On visits to the Dr. and I use that term very loosely, he would get on her if she dropped weight. She would patiently explain she could not force food down when she was full. This happened nearly all visits. I asked her once why she didn't get upset with him, she said she just tuned him out, she knew she was doing her best. She generally got to talk to the NP, a young woman, who she really liked because she listened to what my godmother had to say and would problem solve with her. That was the key difference, she listened. Karen
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Karen,
Yes.... God Bless those nurse practitioners!!!
Each and every one of them that I have had has always taken the time to listen and discuss any issues I have been having without EVER making me feel rushed or like I was unimportant. Unlike some of the doctors I have had the misfortune of having in the past.
I'm shopping for a new GYN for myself and a first GYN for my daughter. With my history, I feel I need an actual MD but, for her, I am looking at nurse practioners.
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Hi ladies: I got good news on my CT Scan today; no evidence of spread of the ovarian cancer. I'm having staging surgery 3/16 and after that, I know more what additional treatment is needed. Thanks for the thoughts of prayers as I went through the days of waiting on scan results.
Sweet: hang in there. You are right to not eat your favorite dishes now. Some things that made me sick during chemo, I know I'll never eat again.
Barbara: Glad your brother is doing better. He sounds like a typical man!
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Great news Bama!!!!
Hope your treatment is minimal..
Jan
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Bama, great news, i'm so happy for you. Karen
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Awesome news Bama!!!
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Bama so happy for you. and Congrats to all with anniverseries. I can't believe how much your support and guidiance is just spreading. Since I secretly quit so goes my DH. he started using my patches. He's at 3 week me at 4 tomorrow.
Sweet- The 6th chemo was not has bad as the one before them to me. I really was done around 4 and felt like you do ...just leave me alone. so I know how you feel.
Taste- One woman gave me some advice. eat and drink the things that you normally would not be thrilled to eat or drink. like i drank blueberry juice cuz orange juice suddenly turned me off. I had a lot of yogurt and puddings with fruit, My mouth got sores from the chemo so I rinsed with ulcerease before eating food. I am assuming you have compazine which I found I had to take at day 5 after chemo to day 10 for some weird reason so I could eat anything. I always felt like I had the flu. so I wanted soups but didn't like the taste. hang in there whatever you decide,
I feelt so bad for you having to get IV's for fluid- just remember whatever you decide will be the best for you. I'll just pray for in the meantime.
Seaside, O2B, barbara , vj and everyone else have a great week. Daylight saving time is soon and gardening time is here. getting ready to plant arugula, spinish, roamaine and sugar snap peas.
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malleme:
Congratulations on 4 weeks and the same to your DH at 3. It is a wonderful feeling and the support and non judgemental encouragement you get here is wonderful!
Keep up the good work...Seaside can add your quit date to the list is it's not there already.
Jan
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Bama,
Prayers have been answered!! Just sooooo happy for the good news! Sending wishes for strength as you go through, what we ALL pray will be, the last challenge you have to deal with!! You so deserve some peace!
Thinking of you today and every day!!
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Sweet...
Know that you are in my thoughts tonight! It really is not fair what you have had to endure!! Hoping that you are feeling a bit better and have some insight as to what your next step will be as far as your chemo! God knows, none of it is easy but, geeez, sometimes I just think some people just get dealt a hand that is really rough!
Malleme had some good ideas... Also, is it possible that the really yucky taste could be from your forks and spoons... I have a friend who's mom is going through chemo and she said that her mom could not stand to eat from metal forks/spoons because it caused a metalic taste to the food. SO she has been using plastic and that seems to help.
Sending you a really BIG hug!!! Hope all is well with you tonight!
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Basia..... Today is your 1 MONTH quit-aversary!! Soooo proud of you!!!
Keep it going!
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Linda603 and dsgirl,
So sorry that I fell a bit behind but, hoping that you are doing well!!
Happy 4 month (Mar 4) and 3 month (Mar 3) quit-aversary to you both!!
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Dutchy,
Haven't heard from you in quite awhile. Not wanting to be a nag BUT (gonna be anyway), I am really hoping everything is OK... Please check in, if only to let us know that you are doing all right!
Miss you!
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Happy quits, gals!! Sweet, I hope you start being able to eat soon. That really sucks. {{{BAMA}}} so happy you are clear!!! Prayers still going up!
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Thanks Seaside! It is getting easier
Sweet, what does your onc say about not taking tx #6? I had a hard time with #4, #5 was easier and I slept for days after #6. For all you know, #6 may go easy on you. I gained over 10 pounds because of the nasty taste in my mouth, I kept eating to cover up the taste, which worked sometimes and encouraged more eating. Now that I am done, I am working hard to get rid of this weight.
Bama, great news!
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Congratulations to all the anniversary quitters!!!!
Sweet: Still praying!
Jan
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I am finally able to eat, after 13 pounds lost. (Watch them all go back on now) Some things are still a little iffy, so I will wait anouter day or 2 before I go get that grilled chicken Caesar salad I have been craving. LOL
I have decided to go ahead and do the final treatment with a 25% reduction of meds. I will have to deal with the side effects 1 LAST time.
I have had my 8 year old grandson for the weekend, and enjoying him so much! I dont even want him to go home tonight. Im thinking of making this a every weekend thing. He says he loves here because there is peace and quiet. haha. (I think it's because he gets all the attention and gets spoiled) His house can be a little crazy sometimes too. Oh, this is my daughters son, (shes the smoker) As soon as I got him in the house, I immediately put him in the tub to wash the smoke smell off of him, and washed his coat and his CLEAN cloths that smelled like smoke. So be proud ladys, I sat at my daughters smoke filled house and wasnt even tempted to bumm one. I AM SO DONE WITH SMOKING!
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