Calling all TNs
Comments
-
I too believe it is all a crapshoot. My best friend has weighed between 300-400lbs most of her life. I have never been overweight (although I am pushing it!). She has never had a health issue.I too also believe that the environment affects your DNA. We could speculate all day what causes it, but there will always be someone who doesn't follow "the rules".
Laurajane- i am praying that the Halaven continues to work and gets you far and beyond that 6 week mark! Thanks for updating us on MBJ. I hope she is able to log on soon.
We had a similar story a few years ago here in KC to the Josh Powell case. The father took his kids on an unsupervised ( he was allowed) visit and they were never heard from again. He was arrested, but kept telling the police he had hid the kids with an out of state relative. Yeah, he hid them- in a field after he killed them. He finally admitted what he had done and that he wanted to mentally torture the kids' Mom as long as he could- this went on for years. Very tragic.
0 -
Sometimes the world is just a crazy crazy place. How absolutely awful about those poor kids. It breaks my heart.
I too believe its probably all a combo of DNA, genes, environmental factors. I am overweight. Really trying hard to exercise and eat better. I strongly believe that stress / grief and a combo of the above brought on my cancer. We moved to florida 7 years ago, never really wanted to, my mom had moved down and my grandparents were here. Mom passed away in '06 unexpectantly, and I was left to care for my aging grandparents, no other relatives to help. I went into a very deep depression. I think it just killed my immune system and started this crap! Anyway, that's my theory and I'm sticking to it.
On a funny note, that I think you ladies will appreciate. I got a phone message from my MO's office at 7:30 this morning. The message started like this... Good Morning, this is Shay from Dr. Lobo's office, we need you to come in as soon as possible ....
After I picked my heart up off the floor and changed my pants, I listened to the rest of the message. Turns out they needed some paperwork signed so they could get paid for the neulasta shots I was given way back in June so I stopped by before work, Shay was very funny, the first words out of her mouth were OMG! I'm so sorry, I realized what I said after I hung up. We had a good laugh, and I let her know that "Dr. Lobo" and "ASAP" are not to be said in the same sentence ever again, unless it's an emergency.
0 -
There are so many different types of cancer, I don't think there is any single or simple answer. Genetics, lifestyle, environment, hormone/metabolism, virus/immune suppression - one or more or all of them factor in. You can drive yourself crazy trying to find a root cause and constructing some kind of intervention that may or not work. Eat right, stay fit, sleep well, enjoy life, all things in moderation....that's my opinion.
0 -
Bak, That is just a terrible thing that happened. So sad for those poor children - wish that man had just taken his own life instead if that is what he wanted to do. I will never understand why people want to hurt and also want to throw their lives away.
McCrimmon, I think stress and genetics have a lot to do with developing cancer. I also blame the BC pills I took off and on. And then I wonder about the fact that I started getting mammograms when I was 19- I don't think I had them every year but that was so long ago (I'm 51) that probably the radiation exposure was much more then. It doesn't make me feel very good to know that the doctor who had the brand new mammo machine in his office was later found to have disciplinary problems with his medical license. Who knows if his mammo machine was properly serviced and regulated? I deal with a very stressful person in my life and I'm going to have to find ways to reduce my stress. I also come from a family with lots of different cancers - esophageal, colon, prostate, and my sister had breast cancer.
Also - my sister had not been in to the oncologist for months but they called her and left a message that they needed to see her right away. She was freaking out - when she got there, it was something mundane - and she later realized that there would be no test or bloodwork or anything they could have had an issue with because she hadn't even there - so she was laughing at herself for getting so worked up. My oncologist told me yesterday to not eat sugar - and he also told me that because I had the 5-10% of ER receptors that I won't be out of the woods for recurrence after 5 years like most TNBC because an estrogen positive cell could pop up after 5 years of the anti-hormonal treatment. :-((
0 -
I have a question about sugar. I'm trying to cut out processed, refined sugar like you would find in ice cream, cookies..... But what about natural sugars found in fruit like bananas and grapes. They are both pretty high in sugar content.
I was on BC pills for a long time too, now I hate that I was. We've had some cancers in my family as well, both grandmothers and my grandfather. Don't really have the aunts or uncles so I'm not sure about that. There was a woman who used to come on this thread, I talk to her by phone or email regulary, but the forum is just too much for her. Years ago the gyno she had told her that she had stage IV cervical cancer and needed to have all of these tests done. She was 19 at the time, completely freaked out and did everything he told her. One day at an appt the nurse pulled her aside and told her, between you and me, go find another Dr. He's doing all of this to make more money. She never had any kind of cervical cancer!!! Sadly, she was too young to go after him legally, she just wanted to get away from him and didn't think of anything else. I thought Drs are supposed to swear an oath to care for people not screw them over to make money for themselves?? It's a crazy world, you have people like that who only think of themselves and they are perfectly healthy, then you have good people dealing with life threatening deseases, or children starving....
I feel like I'm rambling today, sorry.
0 -
Ks - My husband is / was one of those kinds of smokers. He could have a couple of cigarettes if we were out having a couple of drinks and that was it. He wouldn't bother with them again until we were drinking. He was once a full time smoker but years ago when we moved into our house he just decided he didn't want to smoke anywhere in the new house and kicked me out to the garage. I was always so envious that he could just stop like that.
I chose to quit last year right before we were going on vacation with other people and I just made up my mind that I didn't want to be the only smoker and make people wait for me to finish my cigarette, etc.... Surprisingly the first 3 or 4 days were the worse then I had no problems. I had quit in the past but always went back. I guess it was just my time.
0 -
Interesting! I've never been overweight, always ate pretty good and have always been very fit dur to landscaping all of these years. I think stress is why I got it. My husband died unexpectedly, and I still don't think I've really gotten over that. Then my dad who was one of my best friends, then my unexpected pregnancy that had to be aborted then my mom passed. A couple of weeks after my mom died I felt the lump. I don't know I know other people have been through a lot more stress but I truly believe this all accumulated to my FC. I also believe finally getting out of the mentally abusive relationship goes hand in hand as to why this Halavan might be working. On that note I think I'll meditate today. I've also been craving sugar more than I ever have in my life. I wonder if it's the cancer that's being killed is what's really craving it. I'm going to try and stay away from it today.I've been eating ice creme, cookies like every night. I've always craved salty foods never sugar. Weird isn't it? I get to babysit my grandson tonight or tomorrow so my daughter and son in law can go on a date. I'm looking forward to it. I'm so happy that I feel good and comfortable enough to do this. We will have fun. I hope you all have a great day.
0 -
Yay for babysitting! Laura don't belittle your stress, I don't know how I would have gotten thru what you have, you really are an amazing, strong woman. I'm so sorry to hear of your losses. Again, I can only speak for myself but I do believe my FC started with my mother's downfall. She did die unexpectantly but had lost her leg due to diabetes almost a year before she passed. She had spent the last two years of her life in and out of the hospitals (mostly in) trying to save it. She died of a heart attack a little under a year of her amputation. None of us expected it. I think those years of watching her suffer were too much for me and FC just happened. Like the Perfect Storm.
I think if you want some ice cream you should have it. I know it sounds like I'm crazy but during treatment I sort of wanted my cancer cells to be active just so they would suck up the chemo and die. At least that's what I would envision. Once Chemo ended I started trying to be strict on sugar...
0 -
LJ, I'm so sorry for all your losses. You really went through so many in such a short time. I was close to my father, too. He passed away in late 2006 and I still miss him so much. I was so lucky to have a father like him who was there for me always.
Have fun with your grandson! Little children are so much fun- I don't have any grandchildren, but my sister does, so I "borrow" them. When I didn't have any hair and wore a wig, the 5 year old told me I had pretty hair!
Heather,
This doctor with the mammography machine probably needed to pay for it - I think that is why I had so many so young. I have always had fibrocystic stuff going on so that was his rationale for having me have early mammograms.
I think high glycemic fruits and vegetables are probably not good, either, but not sure. I don't know if it is the insulin surges that need to be avoided or what. I am going to try to limit insulin surges by eating more brown bread and rice, less potatoes, etc. I only eat fish, eat pretty healthy, have never really been overweight and used to be pretty fit for most of my life until maybe the last five years. I have one more chemo treatment next Friday and then I'm finished so I will start focusing on my exercise, meditation, and diet program.
0 -
I'm interested in learning a bit more about meditation. Do you know where I should start? I know nothing now.
I've pretty much cut out white potatoes. Sometimes I make a large pot of Lentil soup and the recipe calls for 2 white potatoes so I figure the small amount I get in a serving isn't too bad. Other than that it's brown rice, wheat bread, wheat pasta, sweet potatoes and lots of beans as far as carbs go.
0 -
McCrimmon- I'm so saddened by the horrible loss of your mother. What a painful couple of years watching her suffer. On a different note, the whole sugar thing is so fascinating. I just received a very interesting post from Babs and I'm hoping she will repost it on here. The whole Metformin thing is fascinating. I'm going to see if my onc will prescribe it. I had thought about it a while back but then forgot about it. It sure makes sense to me. I guess I'm fearful of every bite of sugar feeding my cancer but then what you said about keeping it active makes sense too. I want it to be eating up this Halavan like crazy. Thank you.
Ks Mathews- I am so sorry about the loss of your BF. How tragic.
I'm going to do something productive today. I'm not sure what but it's going to be something. LOL.0 -
Hi beckyv - I just finished my last DD Taxol last week. I'm done with chemo!!!
I did the 4 DD AC and 4 DD T, with a Neulasta shot the day after each chemo.
AC was miserable for me. I felt queasy from day #3 to #10, but then felt okay, except for fatigue. Taxol was sooo much better! I had NO queasiness, but fatigue is definitely still a problem, and it seems to accumulate. I did have bone pain, with aches and pains all over, but this subsided as the days went by. I have MS, so my symptoms were surely increased due to it, with my weak areas (legs, especially) suffering more. I have MS fatigue, so chemo fatigue just piled on more. You may not feel it as much. I developed neuropathy in my fingers and toes after the 3rd Taxol, but it is subsiding a little more each day. I seem to have more energy each day, also. I felt better a lot sooner with each T cycle, and by the last one, I felt good by day #5! I am doing more each day, and just rest when the fatigue hits. Now, my concerns are mostly cosmetic...bald head and face, and funky nails.
If you are doing well on AC, you may do very well with Taxol. Talk to your MO and the nurses, if any symptoms arise. They can usually find a way to help you handle them. Be kind to yourself and get plenty of rest, if you need it.
Afterall, your mission is to get through those 16 weeks and to be on that cruise ship in June!!! Enjoy! ~ Shar
P.S. I'm feeling good now (end of week #16) and ready to go fishing...just waiting for Spring!
0 -
Here is the post that was written today by a husband about Metformin on the Boards:
****ladies, I found this discussion and I need to weigh in here and tell you a story about Metformin and it's effect on breast cancer-at least one type.
My wife, as of Christmas of 2011, was given 'a few months' to live. She was first diagnosed in 2008, no chemo worked but radiation shrunk the IBC affected area enough for surgery. In 2009 it came back. Over the next two years, nothing worked and we are on our 3rd oncologist, who told us a few days after Christmas that we were looking at a 'few months maybe' and that there wasn't anything left to try.
I put her on Metformin myself (I was desperate) and a few days later convinced her oncologist to prescribe it after handing him about 100 pages of all the preclinical studies that you can all find with a google search.
They now call her 'The Miracle' at the cancer center. Her Inflammatory Breast Cancer was very advanced skin mets, had crossed over her chest, begun to crawl up her throat and into the soft tissue in her throat and was literally choking her. A month later, it is in retreat.
She is her2+, and her oncologist believes that this may be important, he's organizing a trial (it's a university hospital, that's how we ended up here.) and has a handful of women on it already, although they aren't presenting much in the way of skin mets, so they have to wait for scans to see if it's working for them as well as for my wife.
You have to understand, she's had every chemo there is-and got next to no response from any of them, other than her spread has been slow, so I supposed given that she's got IBC that means they were working to some extent, but not well enough. Last year, Christmas '10 her first oncologist told her to 'accept reality' and that there was nothing more to do for her. I found a TDM-1 trial that would accept her (a miracle given how heavily pre-treated she'd been) but it didn't work. Then they sent us to our current oncologist, and she was on RAD 001 for awhile, and it seemed to work a bit for awhile and then stopped.
All hope was lost just six weeks ago. It's been a miracle. What was nasty, dark purple and swollen hard skin is now pink, healing, and soft skin. She's had an open wound for over a year (thanks to post Avastin flareup) that is now visibly shrinking, scabbing around the edges.
She IS on carboplatin and gemzar as well, but her doctor thinks (and I think too, as none of the other nasty chemos did anything positive for her-and she literally had every single thing that was FDA approved) that the metformin is the key.
It may not work for everyone, it may have something to do with the her2 status, but it is absolutely worth a chance if you can.
For what it's worth, she's had very little side effects other than she does tend to 'crash' a bit about 30-45 minutes after eating a meal. We both think, actually, that she's kind of always been that way but it's a little more noticeable now. A little fruit juice or an apple or something and she's fine. She is not diabetic although we both believe that something was up with her blood sugar before given the fact that the metformin is working so well and the 'crashes'. She is in the normal range and they are monitoring her very closely.
I just wanted you to know. I am telling everyone I can. This drug hasn't been pushed because there's no money in it but it just may be the answer for you! I know it was for us. I'm not exaggerating, a noted her2 specialist had given up and sent us home with a bag of morphine for Christmas. Now he's calling her 'the miracle'.
Please look into it.
Chris
0 -
I think stress caused my recurrence. My mom died, my favorite uncle was murdered 4 months later, and my brother died 2 months after that at age 52. I read a study that said while they couldn't link stress as causing cancer, there does seem to be a link in high stress causing it to return. My husband spent years trying to protect me, but life happens.
I awoke with the feeling of razor blades in my throat again today. I had escaped colds all winter.
I hope everyone has a good weekend! If I'm feeling better by tomorrow, my 12 year old and I are going to see "The Woman in Black".0 -
soo..what do you guys think of Tommy Jordan? just loved that video!
I think that stress can play a part of cancer or any kind of illness...
I wish I could take Metformin but the onc says no....I'm going to ask my BS when I see him...if "Mom" won't let me..maybe "Dad" will....lol
0 -
OB,
That is terrible that you lost your loved ones so close together and I cannot imagine how horrible it would be to lose a loved one to murder.
I just noticed the signs for The Woman in Black yesterday and wondered about it. I am looking forward to being able to go to movies again. Hope you are feeling better tomorrow.
Heather, A great resource for guided imagery mediation is Bellaruth Naperstack. Look her up on the internet. She has a great website and you can get a free daily guided mediation by signing up for the newsletter. The social worker at the hospital gave me a CD from her series for mediation during chemo. When I go to the social worker, usually we do a guided imagery mediation. I am a workaholic, running around like in a frenzy type personality (at least in my head) so I usually come in there in a frenzy and she helps me learn how to calm myself. I really never realized how much I need to slow down. It is my understanding that the more one learns to practice it, the better it works as a coping mechanism.
I better get back to work; the Halaven is starting to kick my butt. I've got some more work to finish before I'm free for the weekend.
0 -
I hope I am posting right as I am unsure what to do yet.
Thank you guys for all your posts on vomiting and nausea. It really made me feel better. I will be taking Emend although it is another name here in New Zealand so that is another comfort. Its only Saturday and Tuesday seems to be coming around mighty quick. I've been trying to drink lots of water but it made me wonder why they don't give you something to make you thirsty, though that is easier said than done. Can you advise on any food to stay away from and did you have trouble eating and drinking. Did you also get the metallic taste in your mouth. I am 65kg but loose weight easily when I am worried. I am also a smoker and wished to hell I don't but I don't seem to be able to give it up at the moment. Is the fatigue so bad that you can't work. So many questions to ask you, so thank you all so much.
Annie
0 -
I'm not sure if I am posting this in the right area, but if not, could one of you redirect me?
I am looking for information on any promising clinical trials for metastatic triple negative breast cancer. This is her 3rd recurrance.
She can't have anymore adramyacin, taxol, or carboplatinum as she has reached her limit.
She is currently using vinoreblin and capecitabile but doesn't hold much hope for their effectiveness.
She lives in Italy, but any informtion you have is SO welcome.
Thanks!
0 -
Cocker Spaniel,
I did have a metallic taste with chemo but it lasted only a few days each time. I ended up with heartburn after about the 3rd cycle so I avoided anything spicy . I finally had to take Prevacid for heartburn, but was able to come off it once finished with the chemo. I worked pretty much throughout except for 5-8 days during each cycle (I had TAC chemo every 3 weeks - not sure what type you are getting.) The doctor told me when my white blood cell counts were low to wash any fruits in soapy water. I found I craved fruits and vegetables during chemo and eating them kept me from having to take laxatives.
From what I've read during the past year, everyone is so different in their reactions to chemo. My sister had the very same chemo and never had nausea but got mouth sores. I never had mouth sores, but had nausea. I drank at least 1.5 L of water the day before and 3 L the day of chemo. Sometimes I went back in the next day to get fluids through my port so I would feel better. I stayed with my sister during my TAC chemo and she brought me food when I was in bed during the first few days after each chemo. If you are not getting adriamycin you may have less fatigue - or if you are getting two drugs at a time instead of 3. Good luck and always remember you can't ask too many questions. After being a patient for a year and depending on others, it feels good to be able to help someone else in some way.
0 -
Annie..wouldn't try to give up smoking right now...after you are done with chemo will be soon enough....why stress out even more? Plus..chances are the cigs won't taste the same as b-4 anyway...I like wine..alot..but to tell you the truth wine just didn't taste right during chemo even through I had a little....be sure that that that give you an Icy or ice chips during the adriamycin push...that helps with mouth sores...if they don't offer them ASK for them..you are the patient here...ok??? As far as food goes..you will probably want comfort foods...eat them if you want too..chemo is no time to diet...you can lose the weight after you are done and ready to exercise and all that stuff....the best advice given to me was to NOT eat my favorite foods because I would associate them with chemo...so..I didn't...
I used to love bratwurst..but not anymore..we would have it sometimes pre-diagnosis..I can barely choke it down now...I just associate with that time...
I just took water, pop, books, crossword puzzles etc. to chemo...have your friends and family stop in..it's not that bad..really kinda boring if you are just sitting around...remember you get to LEAVE...make yourself comfortable, take your emend and when you are done get the heck out of there for two weeks... the first time is the freaky time..after that you know what is going on.
Sorry to talk soo much..lol...I'm feeling it for some reason
0 -
Annie, my tastebuds were screwed up during chemo - things just didn't taste right. And I was unable to taste salt, which drove me nuts. I'd add more salt, but all it would do was increase the metallic taste. I was able to taste citrus (orange, lemon, lime), mustard, and vinegar; so I ate a lot of things with that just so I could taste something. Funny story - During chemo, I went to a party at my nephew's in-laws, and among the snacks was a bowl of citrus-flavored Starburst jelly beans. I ate, went back, ate, and finally just swiped the whole bowl and took it into another room. My brother and his wife just looked at me, then cracked up when I whined, "I can't help it. I just want to taste something!" Guess what they got me for Christmas? LOL0
-
Me again. You all talk about nausea and not the vomiting but do you get it really bad, I mean really bad. As it gets nearer to Tuesday I get more and more doubtful about how I will feel. Freaking out again I suppose. There are so many things to think of. Will I get sick with infection. Do you wear a mask when you go out. Will the fatigue be bad. God this is overwhelming. I'm drinking so much water I could sink a battle ship but my veins don't seem to be getting puffy so will they get the nedle in. When I went for a blood test the nurse had to get it outmy finger and it still flaming hurts. Is there anyone out there as scatty and dotty as me. What a life for a crust of bread. Will it ever be over. Will the chemo work if its already spread. My mind is one heap of questions. Sorry guys just my worried ramblings but oh so very grateful to you all.
Annie
0 -
Me again. You all talk about nausea and not the vomiting but do you get it really bad, I mean really bad. As it gets nearer to Tuesday I get more and more doubtful about how I will feel. Freaking out again I suppose. There are so many things to think of. Will I get sick with infection. Do you wear a mask when you go out. Will the fatigue be bad. God this is overwhelming. I'm drinking so much water I could sink a battle ship but my veins don't seem to be getting puffy so will they get the nedle in. When I went for a blood test the nurse had to get it outmy finger and it still flaming hurts. Is there anyone out there as scatty and dotty as me. What a life for a crust of bread. Will it ever be over. Will the chemo work if its already spread. My mind is one heap of questions. Sorry guys just my worried ramblings but oh so very grateful to you all.
Annie
0 -
Hi Annie - I understand how you feel. I most people are scared before their first chemo....I know I was. But it wasn't half as bad as I expected it to be. Everyone reacts differently...some have a lot of side effects...some have very few. The first treatment was the scariest for me, but after that I knew what to expect. I didn't really have nausea...just a queasy feeling sometimes. Fatigue was manageable and no infections. My best advice is to take this one day at a time, and tell your onc about any se's you have....there's a lot they can do to help you with them. Also you might want to ask for something to help with anxiety...I took Ativan, and it helped me a lot. Wishing you the best of luck!0
-
Spica16 - thanks so much for the information. I have my 2nd AC next week and going into with a much better frame of mind than the first. I am ready to get this over with and move on - so my cruise in June is such an incentive to stay positive and hopefully keep the SEs away!!!!
0 -
Cocker-Spaniel- it is very normal to feel like you are before your first treatment. I was the same way. I had myself so worked up and full of anxiety that I already was feeing nausea before I even started the chemo. My first round was so much easier than what I was expecting - very little SE - just a bit of "foggy head" and naseua -but so very manageable. I did not have to miss any work. I really believe the right frame of mind will help alleviate some of the SEs - I am heading into AC #2 on Tuesday and feel so much stronger in mind and hopefully in body to handle it. You can do this - you will do this and you will stay strong!!
0 -
Hi guys! Popping in to say hi. I think I'm turning into a huge lurker. I come here and read the boards at least once a week, particularly this thread. You're in my thoughts all the time, but I just don't post much.
Annie: No, you're not the only one who has felt like the world was ending... like there would be no tomorrow... and that you would never be the same. Nor are you the only one (by far) who has felt total terror at what is happening. When I was dx, I was horrified. I couldn't sleep. I researched and read almost 24/7 for a month. Everyone here kept telling me to try to relax... eat, sleep, take deep breaths... but I was still scared. After my bilat mx (a bit over a month from dx), I was somewhat better for a couple weeks, then got really scared again because I was starting 4 rounds of TC. If you posted what chemo you're taking, I didn't catch it, so remind me.
I haven't heard anyone mention Claritan and Aleve for the nausea. Many of us used this... started a day or two prior to our chemo... and it really worked. But on to address your questions...
First things first... everyone reacts differently to chemo. What I experienced and what others experienced may be completely different for you. Oh, and there's a great little thread called "Anyone on Just Taxotere and Cytoxan" that really helped me. No new posts there but lots of good info.
- Nausea? For me, not too bad. I remember having my first chemo and wondering, "Is this it? I don't feel anything. Is this what I've been fearing??" I went shopping after my first chemo. I felt fine that day. The days that followed, I felt strange... not real hungry, but hungry, etc. But it wasn't bad.
- Vomiting? I personally never did, not once that I recall.
- Hospitalization.. sick with infection? For me, yes, once. I didn't have Neulasta after my first chemo for white blood counts. Onc wasn't sure I needed it (I was 43). Well, I did. My counts dropped to 500 and I was in the hospital for 3 days or so. But that was it. After that, I had Neulasta after each treatment and counts were fine. No, I chose not to go many places while I was doing chemo. After being in the hospital with neupogenic fever, I did try to wear a mask especially during days 8-12 after treatment. It was hard for me to breathe through the mask though... like, I felt like I was suffocating... so I prefered not to go out.
- Fatigue? Hmmm.... let me think. It wasn't bad. I mean, yes I remember a few times being more tired than normal and it was a weird kind of tired... tired but couldn't rest kinda tired. But I wasn't my normal "I can go like the Energizer Bunny" kinda normal. I was weak... quite a bit... but it was totally doable.
- Veins and such? Are you getting a port? I didn't have one. Again, I had 4 rounds of Taxotere and Cytoxan. My veins were "ok". When my counts dropped and I was in the hospital, they were horrible, but they never had a problem getting one for my treatments.
- Drinking water? Yes, water is good, but there is such a thing as drinking too much. You want to drink plenty of water prior to chemo so they can get a vein easily. You want to drink plenty of water after treatment to get the chemo out of your system and avoid bad side effects. Get something besides water too... flavored water might taste good... other ladies can help me out in this area with suggestions.
- Metalic taste? Well, let me put it to you this way... for me, I had "A" taste in my mouth, but I don't know how to describe it. I remember feeling like my mouth had a "coating" on it that wouldn't come off. It was the strangest thing. I think it was a precursor to thrush, which I almost got but didn't really.
- Hair loss? Unfortunately, yes. While I was in the hospital, I began losing my hair. We cut it all the week after. My hair was long and straight, down to my thigh. This was hard for me, and I was scared it wouldn't grow back, but my onc smiled and told me it would, and she was right.
The thing to remember is you are INDIVIDUAL. You will experience some side effects, but they will be different from mine. The MOST important thing you can do for yourself is tell yourself your mind is making this MUCH worse than the actual event will be. If you can get yourself to breathe and relax, then you'll be able to eat and sleep and drink... which are the other things you really need to do. Your first treatment Tuesday will be long gone by this time next week... that helped me through a lot of things. And you'll find, truly, it wasn't as bad as you thought. The ladies here are totally WONDERFUL to help. We feel what you feel, cry with you, dance with you, and comfort you. We've ALL been there, so you don't have to pretend with us. You can be YOU... yell... vent... curse... cry... be silly... whatever you feel at the time. You're in good company.
Laurajane: So good to hear from you! I continue to pray for you. Tell MBJ I'm so sorry to hear she's having to go through this and she's in my prayers. I wish I were closer.. my husband repairs computers and might have been able to help her with her other computer.
I'm almost a year and a half from dx. I just had a small revision... fat grafting. I think the results will make me done for now. I continue seeing the onc every 2-3 months. So far, all is fine, and I have no reason to feel it will be different. Chemo markers last July were, I think, 32 and dropped to 21 in September. I don't know what they are now.. just went in last week. Still seeing a pulmonologist for lung nodules, which are believed completely seperate from BC and probably Histoplasmosis. I get another CT in March.
Wishing you all good health today...
0 -
Windy sea- I've also done the gamut on chemos. I've tried them all at least once and many I've tried in different forms like carboplatin/ Gemzar, Cisplatin /cetuximab, abraxane and a couple other taxols etc. I'm currently getting Halavan and it's working for me right now. It has helped a lot of other woman too. You can research online for clinical trials just google it. Wishing you success in this battle.
Annie, BeckyV, and others just starting chemo- I hope the other ladies on here have helped answer your questions. I'm hoping that your chemo days are soon behind you with no or few SE's. You can get through this. Wishing all of you success also with your battles against this beast.
It was a joy watching my 2 1/2 yr old grandson last night. He loves to hear me tell him stories and keeps asking me "what else grandmaa" in this cute southern twang elongating the maaa part. Its so cute. I of course can't help myself and always have surprizes for him. We watched lady in the tramp while he curled up in my lap. My daughter and her husband had a great time too, on their date. I'm so happy that I am feeling better now. I never dreamed I could feel this good again. The pain pills are working just fine. I wish I didn't need them and I still don't have any use in my left arm. The tumors have wrapped around my nerves which I found out from the CT is what is causing so much of my pain. But that is ok. I'm so happy to be here. The sun is shining today and we had a light snow. My hellebores are blooming in my garden and I have a smile on my face. it's so nice having coffee with all of you this morning and I hope you all have a great day. I'm going to a comedy club tonight with some friends and I'm looking forward to laughing my petunias off.0 -
Hey guys... I've decided I'm not a lurker in here.... I'm a *skimmer*. I skim over everything really fast and seldom post anymore.
WRT "Woman in Black"... I saw it yesterday... loved it. Classic Gothic horror. Radcliffe was excellent in the role.
Cheers
0 -
Annie, I found that my GI system did better with low fiber foods, I also took a stool softener everyday for about a week after chemo. The metallic taste, will leave a few weeks, after you've finished treatment. I always gained weight, on chemo. Some of the pre chemo meds, cause you to retain water. When I was dx 8 years ago, I too smoked, and I remember wishing I could smoke, while I was having my infusion! Don't beat yourself up over that now.
For me, the worst days were 2-5. Feels a bit like the GI flu. Some people can and do, work through chemo. I would not have been able to. Drink what you are comfortable with. I use to pick up a big Vanilla milkshake to take to infusion, along with some peanut butter crackers. Just try to stay hydrated. Try to take in at least 2 ounces an hour. Rest and nutrition arethe only tools you have in your kit, so try to make your calories count and rest often. You can do this... We're all in your pocket!
Karen0
