March 2011 chemo-lounge
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lilylady- my son goes to Akron univ. and we try to visit Ohio when we can, I am sooo jealous that you have flowers coming up. Here in upstate NY we still have some snow piles, but like you tomorrow is supposed to warmer. SSDI just called me and wants me to have a psych evaluation...ha ha boy are they gonna have a party! I worked all through chemo and now thought I needed some time off to get through the surgery and rads, but she said cancer does not qualify for SSDI. Guess this weekend will definitely be a coctail wknd.
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Timerdog: based on the description of your doctor's writing, it sounds like "DC" is the same thing as Taxotere and Cytoxan, or "TC." Hope this helps.
-Karen
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Hi Trish - The "docetaxel" and "cyclophosphamide" is actually a T and C
T is the class of drugs (Taxanes) of which docetaxel is one.So you are on the same as alot of people.
They tend not to do the OncotypeDX in Australia - just put us on the chemo anyway (mind you I am a 3a so would want it anyway.)
Don't worry - after the first one you will realise its all very doable - you can keep living your life most of the time- and its not long till May.
DivineMrsM - smells bother me too - my husband was cleaning the cooker and the cleaning products make me heave - Do you think I can use that as an excuse never to clean again?0 -
MDG- I am in southwest Ohio-a little village called Seven Mile. I am about 45 minutes north of Cincinnati. Miami University in Oxford Ohio is 10 minutes away. I do have a Detroit connection however-I work for Ford Motor Co.
I played the cancer card on 2 of my brothers-I had a huge load of mulch dumped today and they are going to come help me spread it on Fri/Sat. Luckily I have 3 wheelbarrows. The flowers always look so much better when the mulch is fresh.
The Onc told me today there is a world wide shortage of adriamycin so at this place they are now using Epirubicin which costs 20 times more than the A. He said the A is the generic version. I told him us BC women were worth it-just like the L'Oreal commercial.
Anybody else not doing Neulasta?
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Hi everyone:
Going for round 2 tomorrow, because of my reaction to adriamycin they are switching me to another cocktail ( I know it starts with a T but i dont remember which one). Have to admit I am a bit nervous...
Penny...thats a great thought...smells are bothering me alot...maybe i will never clean again
Anyone else having trouble with favorite foods/drinks not tasting the same. I am "addicted" to my diet pepsi-now I cant stand the taste of it. guess it will be tea for me.
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Kymn: Just wanted to wish you luck tomorrow. As most of us have learned it was pretty uneventful the day of but it causes so much anxiety! I am dreading my second round next Wednesday. Keep focused on the goal which is getting done and slamming the door on BC. July will be a good month for you!
Lilylady: I use to live in Cinci....I have been to Miami before too so I know the general area. Now I am in Detroit but I lived in Cinci for 9 years. My best friends and a few other close friends still live down there so I try to go and visit once or twice a year. Usually over 4th of July or Labor Day. I love Cinci. It's a nice area. I have not been playing the cancer card...hummm, will have to hold out for something good. You are lucky you are not getting neulasta...ick! That kicked my butt last time. Dreading that more than the chemo quite honestly. I will be cursing neulasta in about 10 days....
luvtotrav: Good luck tomorrow. Maybe they will give you a "green" cocktail for St Patty's Day?!?!?!
Good luck to all our girls having a cocktail tomorrow!!!
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Hi Ladies. So sorry I haven't kept up with you for a few days! After many rugged days I feel half back to normal. I don't know if it's me or all of us, but after you get over the stomachache, your bones are achy and either your tired or you are up every 2 hours at night peeing. I will #1 be so glad when this is over for all of us. Yes I only have one more of this chemo left than on to something else before surgery, but whoa what a ride it has been . Ha. For you ladies that have not lost you hair, I cried the day I had mine buzzed off. But I couldnt stand being awake at night with it itching and getting the lint roller out for the shedding. I dont thinkwe ever get used to the idea of not having it but after awhile we just accept it's for a good reason so we can get rid of this awful cancer. NO it's not fair but a wig does help you feel half normal in public, my neighbor whos a hairdresser taught me to take a scarf and tie it around the top of the wig and it looks kinda cute.. A good website to check out alot cheaper is the wig emporium.com. I hope all of you that dont feel well get back to normal soon. Take care and have a strawberry daiquiri on me.0
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Hi March Ladies! I am a January girl. Just finished #4 of 6 TCH. I thought I was the only one not doing neulasta. Have not had it yet. This is the first round that I am tired and achy. Hoping you all have a next good round!
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Hi Lilylady. I have not been given or even mentioned to about a shot like that. I didn't even know what it was until I read it on here, So much wisdom on these pages I do not think I could have made it through all this without all of the suggestions and help of everyone who's been on our side of the fence. Taske care and best of luck.
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MDG-I hope on your next visit to Cinti you can come sit on my patio (shady so as not to burn our heads). I mix a mean pitcher of fruity Sangia for summertime sipping. Even if we meet up somewhere in town. By Labor Day I will be getting over my last treatment and looking forward to removing whatever is left of my bomb.
Anniemomofthree-I have looked you up and read your posts because I will be getting the same mix. I am so happy to be getting the TCH-I think. Seems less horrible....says the lady who hasn't has any yet!!!
Kym-I hope everybody is right and the anxiety ahead of time is worse than the actual deed. I will be looking forward to you posting your thoughts.
Sure do wish I had my bathroom on the same floor as my bedroom. 120 year old house=1 bath first floor only. So, it will be down the hall, down the steps, down another hall and thru 2 rooms to get to the toilet-all with a German Shepherd and a 17lb cat in hot pursuit!! I can see their brains whirling "Greatest game ever Mom-midnight bathroom runs-do snacks come with this?."
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Ok, waaay TMI, but....I thought the hair on my head would be the first to go, but seems as if my bikini maintenance is compliments of chemo today. The hair upstais can't be far behind, but I was a little surprised for this early warning hair loss. Guess that's one upside.
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Migallen - I vaguely recall that you asked a while back whether I was "back at work" for a full day the day after my chemo. Sorry I didn't answer sooner! I definitely wasn't. I'm fortunate to work from home (self-employed) and the upside is that I can try to manage my work commitments. Here's how my first chemo played out for me:
Received first AC treatment on Fri, Mar 4
Felt blah, achy, woozy, lethargic rest of Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon and took at regular intervals the steroids and anti-nauseau drugs as recommended by onc.
By Tues I didn't need to take any drugs so that was good.
Mon and Tues and I did some virtual work (telecons, etc.) but definitely NOT full days -- would not have been up for that! The complicating piece for me is that I got a full-blown period (which I thought I was done with for good...) and a massive sinus flair up at the same time as the chemo #1 so it's a little tricky for me to know which aspect was causing how I was feeling.
I am one of the few (it seems) that doesn't get Neulasta. Based on what I'd heard here re: se, I told my onc that I can avoid crowds since I mostly work from home and would like to not take. He said okay but we both know if my wbc count isn't high enough, he'll make it get it going forward...
I feel very fortunate re: se! Mostly am tired and taking lots of naps. Felt nauseous but did not vomit. If I can keep on this track as I continue with 3 more AC treatments and the 4 Taxotere treatments, I will consider myself blessed (but am betting I won't get off that easily!!)
I'm trying to be very intentional re: what I eat because I DON'T want to experience the constipation described by many here. I focused on eating fiber - flax muffins (have a great recipe if anyone's interested), homemade cruciferous veggies in veggie broth (made by dp), Cedarlane cheese quesadilla, oatmeal, prune juice, scrambled egg, fruit smoothie. Nothing tastes right but it's kept me normal.
I can't drink my morning lattes right now and even when I tried a small glass of red wine recently, couldn't enjoy it. Smells are also ruined for me. I had shopped for great smelling candles (my addiiton) because I thought I'd have surgery first and would enjoy them a lot. Switched to chemo first and have put them in a closet for 6 months.
No hair (up or down) has started to come out yet but Friday is my 2 week mark. I am scheduled to have my hair buzzed off Friday evening. I think my wig will work well but betting I'll mostly wear a hat when in the house. BTW my onc nurse specifically said to NOT get razored because they'd want me to avoid any cuts on my scalp. I mention this but realize that some hear have a shiny razored scalp so maybe that concern is overstated.
Sorry for the length of this but have been meaning to take time and share my story so far in case it's of value to anyone reading here. BEST OF LUCK to everyone on the verge of starting chemo. We can and will get through this and put it in it's proper perspective -- as simply an annoying speedbump in the long and healthy story of our lives!
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Lilylady: Oh that sounds so nice......I could use a good sangria! I am also laughing at the bathroom trip. When I had my two dogs it was nuts going to the bathroom....I was beginning to call the bathroom the "family room" since everyone had to be in there at once. Some days I just wanted to poop in peace, ya know? LOL!
Bikenyc: I started shedding down below on Tuesday but no signs of anything else sheding but I am using cold caps so I don't know what to expect. At this rate I will have a Brazilian in a few days.....that will only interest my husband. Oh yes, I feel so sexy with TE, brazilian and scars everwhere.....oh joy! How can men still have interest in that right now??? Men......
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I took the plunge 2 days ago and had my stylist shave my head, not down to the skin, but about 1/2 inch long. On the way there, I kept telling myself not to get all emotional and cry while she was taking it off. Then, while she was shaving it, I couldn't do anything but laugh. Really. My husband said I looked cute. I don't totally hate it, but my head is cold, so I wear a hat or scarf almost all of the time.
After she shaved my head, my stylist shaped up my wig. All the stylists in the salon said the wig was really cute. I was going for "not totally hideous", but it looks pretty natural. Last night, after my shower, the bottom of the tub had tons of little stubble on it, so I guess my hair is coming out pretty fast now. Down below too. Hope I don't loose my eyebrows.
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Maybe we should add NTH to the abbreviation list (not totally hideous). Says volumes. About the eyebrows Jules-I saw a posting somewhere where the lady said she loved drawing on her own. That way she could have "happy", "crappy", "crazed", "mad", ect. She said she used them as early warning signals to co-workers and family-check the eyebrows before approaching. I think losing the nose hairs will bother me more-somehow they are connected to having a constant runny nose??? Gee, Iguess no one will be buying me one of those fancy nose and ear hair trimmers for Xmas.
MDG-I also saw on a chemo prep list somewhere to buy a big comfy dog bed for the bathroom for those times when you can't leave the area. I got a mental image of me and the pets all curled up together...Since i have been off work for 3 weeks (never in my adult life have I ever been off work that long) since i have been off I can't ditch the little buggers. Tried to soak in the tub last night and the dog leaned against the door and cried the whole time while the cat came in with me and pushed my pepsi and book into the tub while i was undressing.
I am thinking about Kym getting started today-sure hope it goes well for her.
Silia-I would love a copy of the flax muffin recipe-can youpost it if you get time please.
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Lilylady- we are on the same regime! Without neulasta.
I think! Just read your post..thanks for the wake-up laughs! My lab has been with me on every part of this journey...esp the bathroom part. Never thought/heard of a dog bed for me. He would simply move right in there himself and stake it out himself. There is, now, so much action in there. It is the hot spot in the house!
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I am LOL at the pets in the bathroom.....I remember locking mine out when I just wanted privacy...nothing like hearing whimpering outside the door which really translates in to English as "Mommy, let me in please!!! I need you!!!". Now that we are in a larger house and I have a huge mega master bath, I have no dogs! Oh well...in my tiny little house with the tiny little bathroom it was cozy having two dogs (50 and 60 lbs) jammed in there with me while I went to the bathroom. All of you are making me want another dog..that along with the fact that my 4 year old wants one. He still asks about our beloved Sadie that died almost 2 years ago and wants her to come back. I think he finally realizes she can't come back but now he wants another dog just like her. With BC and all I am not sure I can be mommy to a high energy, super smart and crazy border collie right now. Maybe in the fall when I am done with all of this. It sure would be nice to have a little fur-kid in the house again. Oh how I miss my pups.......
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I am going to do some searching today on what I can eat to keep the counts up-although it may not be foods that are appetizing to a chemo person. The whole onc appt went by so fast-I have a call in to the nurse to answer more questions.
I am just so glad the whole thing is finally in motion. I had decided to tell my folks last nite about the whole BC thing-had fixed a nice dinner and had just served up the dessert when my older brother stormed in and announced "Can you believe it-LB (a girl my age that lived next door growing up) just died of FBC!! She was only 53 (my age). Then he preceded to rant and rave about the whole medical sytem ect. I looked it up later and found out she died of lukemia but he really blew my whole plan. Going to try again tomorrow. Today is for me-beautiful outside. I have already hung out sheets and blankets to line dry. Going to shut this dang computer down and have a BC free day.
Happy St Patricks Day-lets all have a glass of green beer
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I am one week past my first treatment of AC. It went pretty well, much better than I expected. I was completely wired from the steroids on Thursday night and Friday. On Saturday I crashed and was in bed all day feeling like I had a bad case of the flu. Sunday was pretty much of the same. Monday I felt much better and each day this week I have felt better. I did not really notice much pain from the Neulasta shot. The worst side effects I have noticed are the metal taste in my mouth, fatigue and feeling tired but unable to sleep more than about 4 hours a night, and no real appetite. Constipation did hit but easy to remedy. I have not noticed any hair loss yet but am expecting it about a week from now. I am ready with my wig and some scarves I bought. I hope you are all doing well. Happy St. Patrick's Day!
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Speaking of dogs, I just found that one of our 3 had some liquid diarrhea throughout the living room (I was out for a couple of hours). Since dp isn't home, I had to clean it up myself. I know they say we're to stay away from our pets' feces and urine but what the heck - I had to do something before the other dogs and the 2 cats made a further mess. I washed my hands at regular intervals. Hoping I don't catch something...
lilylady and others - Here's the flax muffin recipe. It comes from an awesome book "Hungry for Health" by Susan Silberstein, PhD. and is filled with 150+ recipes. You might want to check the entire book out. I use all organic items for this recipe.
Carrot Flax Muffin recipe:
1 C freshly ground flaxseeds
7/8 C millet flour
1 tsp baking powder (aluminum free)
1 tsp baking soda
1/3 C maple syrup
1/2 C water
1/2 C unsweetened applesauce
1/4 C walnut oil
2/3 C grated carrots
1 tsp allspice
Preheat oven to 375F. Combine maple syrup, water, applesauce, oil and carrots. In a separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients well. Stir into wet ingredients. Spoon batter into oiled muffin tin. Bake for 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted into muffin center comes out clean. Cool on rack. Yields 8 muffins
NOTE: In a University of Toronto study of women due for bc surgery, tumor size reduced after only one month on daily flaxseed muffins.
It occurs to me that the combining of my dog story and my recipe is in poor taste. Apologize for that!
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Hi ladies, just wanted to let you know I am home ,first round done 5 to go. it was fine, everything ran smooth. I only got teary a couple of times but mostly just chatted with nurse and DH. I am feeling a bit tired right now but other than that not too bad. Hope it all goes this smoothly. sure gladd to be on the road of finishing this. if everything goes well my last treatment will be June30. One day before canada day that would be nice.
Ok going to have a nap now just wanted to let you all know thanks for all your support to get me here and get my through first treatment. will let you know how i am feeling later. Hope you are feeling well today
Kymn
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Lilylady: Ugh...what a mess. I remember telling my family. I found out about the BC on Dec 8th and did not tell my family until early January because of the holidays. I had my lumpectomy and SNB on Dec 23rd and showed up to family holidays on Dec 24/25th without them knowing anything. It was so hard to keep the secret until the time was right. I just couldn't tell them at xmas. I was agonizing over telling them and it was the worst to call them one by one or see them and share the whole story. I wish you good luck..I just wanted you to know I know how you feel. Once you tell them, you will feel better. Be prepared to be emotional...my mom cried. It was hard to tell her....HUGS! As far as diet, I am on neulasta (boo) but I am trying to eat good amounts of iron each day and taking good multi vitamins plus magnesium and B complex. Talk with your doc about what you can take, but eating foods rich in iron can't hurt.
Kymn: Congrats on one session being done! I hope you feel well in the coming days.
Silia: ewwww!! My dog did that before.....ick! I am so glad it was not on one of your yucky chemo days...that would be the worst. Sorry you had to clean that up.....gotta love the fur kids!
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Kymn, glad to know hou are back! I am still in the chair. Holy cow what a parade of professional people!
/>Lots of prep work before I could begin. Anti-nausea, Pepcid, benedryl, and decagon (steroid). Finally started actual chemo at 11:30. Taxol started at 1 pm so won't be done until at least 4pm. But all good so far, a little groggy and a touch of a headache.
Funny thing, because I am on a trial they required me to take a PG test, even though I am pre-menopausal, still having fairly regular periods including today, AND I hads my tubes tied 15 years ago!!! You'll be glad to know that I am NOT pregnant!!! Or at least my husband will be glad to know!!0 -
Huskerkkc: Too funny! I had to have a PG test before my port placement. It was embarassing as my brother took me....the nurse says "any chance you could be pregnant?". I was thinking to myself...I just had a BLMX recently and what would give you the idea that I felt like having sex at all...but my brother was in the room and I felt strange with him there. Now had my hubby been there, I would have said it and then said "ask him, he hasn't been getting lucky lately so NO there is no chance I am pregnant". I too had to have the pregnance test....we texted DH as he was traveling and told him I was not PG for a joke. Come to think of it, I had 3 pregnancy tests in the last three months due to my surgeries...I never had this many pregnancy tests even while we were trying to get pregnant. Lord!
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So no chemo for me today.....nurse started me on fluids. drew my labs and than the onc came in..seems the last results said her neu 2 negative....that makes me 2 for 4 for tests for her neu 2 positvie so we had to discuss that. And since I had an allergic reaction to the adriamycin we had to change my cocktail. Finally decided on T C H.. but since the Carboplatin takes a while it was too late to start today. Will go back tomorrow morning. Great another day off from work. I think it is funny that they told me to bring lunch.
lilylady i can so relate about the pets....my puppy wont even let me go to the bathroom by myself ever....prob should point out that at 8mos he is 100 lbs ...he is not very subtle about what he wants
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Silia,
Thank you so much for posting the recipe -- it looks delicious, I'm going to get the ingredients and bake me some!
Kymn....the anticipation before the treatment was the worst. Now that you know what to expect, hopefully next TX you'll be cool, calm and relaxed. Not knowing is always what makes any of us nuts!
Lilylady....ohhhh, how I wish I had a pet, but I don't! After my chemo is done (last TX is May 9), I'm going to treat myself and see about getting little dog from a good friend who heads a dog rescue foundation. She always tells me she'll find the perfect dog for me and my lifestyle.....so hopefully a sweet little dog will be my post-chemo gift to myself! AND my grandchildren will love it!
Good luck to all of you/us as we continue through with our journey. I'm on day #11 from my 1st TX and I have to say, the chemo-goddesses have been shining down on me and I've hardly had any SEs at all. That's NOT to say I don't expect things will change, but so far, I've been really lucky and feel good -- taste buds off a bit, expect hair (cut in a Pixie/Joan of Arc 'do) will start to shed soon, but I've got some pretty scarves and cute hats and will just make a new fashion statement with them. What else can we do, right?
Anyway, hope you're all enjoying a wonderful St. Patty's Day and hope the SEs continue to diminish for all of you as we head into the weekend~
Aloha~
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sorry your still there husk that sucks. i hope it all goes as smoothly as mine did. will let you know tomorrow how Ii am feeling. feeling optomistic at this point
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Huskerkkc - I had to take a pregnancy test since I'm on a trial too - I burst out laughing when they told me, as I'm 47, and had my tubes tied 6 years ago after my twins (fourth and fifth children) were born.
Hope you're home and resting by now.
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mdg, They wanted to do a PG test when I had my lumpectomy and also when I had the MRI but I refused. Because of the trial, I couldn't refuse, but I guess it's good to know for sure.
Kymn, I got home at 5:00. Had a little episode with only about 10 minutes to go. I got a little sensation of pressure in my chest and a little shortness of breath. It wasn't a big deal but they told me to tell them if anything changed from before and I have had arrythmia in the past. So she stops the chemo and calls the onc, who tells me "You're a school counselor right? You worry to much. You are fine. You are more anxious than my 'normal' patients. Is it the hair loss? Is it the chemo? Is it the triple negative?" Yes, yes, and yes, I said. He asked if I was on an anti-depressant and I said no, but I do take one Ativan at night (anxiety, not depression). He said he could put me on Efexor (sp?) and that would not only help my depression (which I guess he just diagnosed right there on the spot, not that he is a therapist or anything), but would also help with hot flashes and mood swings when I go through chemo-menopause. I told him no thanks, I was just reporting a symptom that the nurse had said should be mentioned. I really knew I was fine, but you never know. I told him if it happened again next time I'd ask for the meds. The clinical trial nurse came in too, because if I was having a heart episode she was the one that said I was heart-healthy! The onc asks both of them, "Why am I here again?" and the nurse says "because she was having chest pains!" and rolls her eyes at the trial nurse (meant clearly for the doctor's statement, not me).
When he left I told the nurse that I didn't appreciate him treating me like an idiot. She said, "Don't worry about it; you're in tune with your body and symptoms and you should have reported it and I have to tell him. It might just be from the steroids too; they'll make your heart jump sometimes." Later he came back and asked me about my mother and said again, "You'll be fine. One more chemo under your belt and you'll know what to expect and not be so anxious."
Geez, I was fine all day! I was really pleased at the no pain with the port, no reactions, no bad taste, no nothing. But right now I'm not too impressed with him. My mom, a retired nurse, said that sometimes foreign male doctors have trouble relating to women, especially those that have done their homework and research. they are much more comfortable with the women who have no questions and just go along with whatever they say. We'll see how the next session goes but I will not be patronized.So yes, I'm feeling fine! I am woman, here me roar! (if you are old enough to know that song!)
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I am happy to say that Chemo #1/4 is DONE! Yeah, no green food coloring though everyone was in a St. Patty's Day mood. The onc's nurse had a flashing green shamrock pin on, it was nice. There was a St. Patty's Day tree decorated outside the infusion room. It went very well, actually it was pretty anti-climactic. I feel really tired, which could be the benedryl, the after-effects of pre-anxiety, or all those combined. It actually went pretty fast thanks to my BFF who came and chatted with me about everything under the sun and my DH, of course. Onc said he will not give me a Neulasta shot unless I need one after blood draws for the next couple weeks. He said he likes to hold off on first chemo, then go ahead with 2-4 if necessary. I'm comfortable with that approach.
Silia - thanks so much for posting the flax muffin recipe. I can't wait to try it. Fiber is good! I have a tip for you - buy some latex/or other if allergic gloves at the drug store or grocery store. I wear rubber gloves to clean up any doggie messes. Yes, we love them but the projectile diarrhea is not good. I'm proud of you for being able to do it, that smells so bad when not on chemo it almost makes me sick, ick!
Kymn - I'm glad it went well for you today. I'm anxiously waiting to see what side effects I develop, if any knock on wood.
Huskerkkc - So sorry you had that experience with the doc! It's so stressful to be in that chair anyway and when they come in and tell you you need MORE meds and are condescending.,..Next time let the "crazy cancer bitch" side of you take him on! I'm reading "Crazy, Sexy Cancer" and she talks about the inner cancer bitch we need to let out some times when appropriate. I'm glad you are not experiencing any other side effects. Other than fatigue and random burping, weird feeling in my throat (pre--nausea??) I feel fine. FWIW, I take Zoloft and Xanax since my cervical cancer dx 2 years ago, and they have really helped a LOT this time. My therapist prescribed them for me though, based on our talk therapy, not an insolent onc trying to "move" me along inappropriately.
I'm off to rest and take some anti-nausea meds. Take care all
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