March 2011 chemo-lounge
Comments
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Lilylady: I read about latisse here on the boards. I asked my med onc about it..she had never prescribed it before. She looked into it for me and agreed to write the Rx. I think some of the gals on the cold caps thread have used it..I know I for sure read about it there probably among other places on here. See if you can find some threads where it has been discussed. I decided to try it but I waited a few weeks until after I started chemo figuring it would take a few weeks before anything shed anyway. From what I read eyelashes have a shelf life of a few months. I figured if I started now it may stimulate growth before they all drop. I have read a lot of gals continue to lose all lashes after chemo because they all last about the same length of time so if you are on a cycle where they all grew at the same time and fell out at the same time it may continue this way. That scares the crap out of me that this could continue post chemo! I am totally guessing on this...I googled around and can't find much about lashes. I do know they grow slower than hair on the head and so do brows. I will keep you posted. Ask your med onc. It can't hurt. Thanks for the positive comments on the hair. I knew I would lose some, but I was not prepared to see it all.... All of this is stressful. I just want to feel and look normal, but I don't know what normal is anymore!
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Good Morning ladies well its another snowy spring day here in alberta lol one day this has to stop I just know it I so long for the day that i see leaves on the trees again and wake up to birds chirrping outside. am feeling so much better, my world is back in line must be all the endporphins lol. I see most of you are sleeping in this sunday good for you
I took a sleeping pill last night around ten and woke up at 730 feeling fully refreshed what a difference it makes when you have a good nght sleep.oh maria was noticing on roll call you missed my drink of choice lol only cause i was hoping I could scrounge one up hehehe. its rye and diet, i know not very creative but im a good ol canadian girl. Also FECx3 and Dx 3. i prolly didnt know what I was having when I joined up on this fab thread.
Hope you all are having a great sunday morning will check in again a bit later
hugs to you all
Kymn
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So fantastic to hear how well lilylady and kymn are doing today! (kymn, I especially enjoyed your comment "he's my SOB!") Maria, you are so diligent with your cold caps I KNOW you'll hold onto your hair. On Friday my onc nurse was asking if anyone on bco was using cold caps and I was telling her about you and how you were having a bit of shedding and she agreed that's natural... Vicki, thanks for chiming in - we always benefit from guest visits. Hugs to all. Maria, I'll take a Bailey's whenever you have a free minute - yum! Heading out for a walk now with dp...
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We are a busy group of ladies. It takes me forever to catch up and I then I forget who said what. I couldn't bare to stop by the first few days after chemo. Some of you are just too peppy for how I was feeling. Glad to have made it to day 5.
Anyone having vision problems? My eyes just don't seem to be focussing. I thought my headaches were caused by the stress and I now I am second guessing myself.
someone asked about a water bottle a way back. I have a Camelback water bottle that is BPA free that I carry everywhere with me.
Also my hair just does not feel healthy. Is this for real or just in my head?
I had the shot and no severe reactions to it, yay!
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Hi All,
I have been following this thread for quite a while now and was unable to join in - did not get a conifirm for the site until 2 days ago. Anyway, I want to thank you all for the company and for the wonderful advice from you and from the February ladies. It has certainly been a great comfort to me. I am a fairly recent transplant from the East Coast to CA and I don't really have friends that I feel comfortable confiding in.
I was diagnosed in January - found out that the tumor was there on my prior mammo (Dec.2009) but on followup ultrasound it appears radiologist did not focus on it and instead looked at a benign growth and gave me the all clear. Since I am Her2+++ I am fortunate that it did not grow very rapidly in that time as it is against chest wall. As a result I am having the Chemo first - kind of glad to get this part over with. I have not been staged (although 2 oconogists say Stage 1 but can't be certain since I did not have SNB - did not want to wait an additional 2 weeks for chemo and treatment would be the same regardless of outcome. I am on TCH - 4 rounds, possibly 6 and completed the first on March 9. Surgery to follow, then rads. Will be on Herceptin for a year - now weekly and then every 3 weeks following TCH. Side effects were not that bad, again I believe it is because of some great advice I got here. Took Claritan on Days 1,2 and 3 to prevent Neulasta pain and at about Day 7 got only spasms in lower back that went away with 1 ibuprophen. For first 7 days or so had loss of appetite and was tired and some heartburn but all very doable. Hope the same holds true for #2 coming us this Wednesday, March 30. Have always hated to take any meds - would avoid but with this I followed all instructions - Decadron, Emend, Zofran and believe that worked. Worst SE (Day 10) was a very bad face rash - angry red and welts coupled with a cold sore on lip - seems like I just erupted - very unsightly and I was self conscoious enough that I did not want to be seen. Oncon doc and nurses said they have never seen it before and I am at a major med center. Anyone have this?
BTW - have also been reading the TCH thread and have seen some of your posts there (SpecialK and LilyLady - maybe more?).
Lily - been thinking of you and you have my prayers.
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Herbnstan,
I could have written your comments. I could not focus on the computer this morning. Could see the letters and the screen, but somehow couldn't focus and actually read it. I am relieved to hear someone else say the same thing. I have not heard that as an SE. Also, having headahes and second guessing myself on them. ChrissW, I am also having chemo first, partly because of where the tumor is. I am now happy about it as well. It will be nice to actually know the chemo worked and shrunk the tumor. Maria, very impressed with how you can keep up with everyone. I am having a hard time keeping things straight. LilyLady, glad you're back. You're in my prayers as well. Absolutely sucks about the ins. co. I have had some issues with insurance as well. It sucks that they think they can decide what you do or do not need. It is quite a shocker to me. So nice to see the group growing. We are quite the crew. Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone. TTYL
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If you don't have energy to read all the posts, you can still chime in with your quick update. I've done that sometimes. We love to hear from each one of you!
If headaches, are you getting AC treatment? I wrote about how the C caused headaches for me so they dripped it slower and it helped. Not sure it will apply for you...
Re shrinkage my larger mass is palpable and for treatment 2 on Friday onc said that it had shrunk and feels like 1cm and it had been 2.7 cm. Exciting to know it's helping so quickly! I can't avoid the Mx afterwards but since I'm going thru this it great to experience positive results. Sending good thoughts to all. PS. I'm always happy when readers chime into our conversation. /p>0 -
Well I did it, had DH shave the head today. I barely even cried I cant believe I am the same woman who came to these boards in Jan crying my eyes out everyday wow we grow so much so quickly I never new I had such strenght . guess I should change my avatar lol. not sure I am quite that strong yet lol
Have a good evening all
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Siia-so excited to hear that yours has shrunk already. I am afraid to touch mine-it has only been 5 days since tx1 but since the ins co has me under a deadline I need that puppy to go down quick. When I shower I just kind of turn my head to the side and give it a quick swipe. I can say it doesn't feel like it is still growing now. Since it is in my chest I get these twinges that I swear is more chest muscle moving out of the way-sometimes hard enough they double me over. None of those for 2 days now.
Chrissy we are very similar-TCH X 6 with weekly H. I see yours is touching the chest wall also. Glad you joined us-this is a great group.
Kay-the neo-chemo group is growing daily. Has your onc said how he will measure your progess? My chemo days are scheduled when the onc will be in so I will get a "feel" every week. Already have a PET sched at 7 weeks.
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KYmn, oh my gosh!!!! Good for you!!! Didn't we start chemo the same time?? I figure today is day 11 and so far nothing but I have 2 wigs, 3 scarves, 2 hats, and several of the head coverings- turbans maybe? My second treatment is Friday and I have a friend on call for the buzz. We don't even have clippers or anything in the house that would do the job.
So, bet all those endorphins from yesterday gave you all that strength and fortitude, huh?! I am so proud of you. Are you feeling okay about it? Sorry dumb question. You knew it had to be done but you did it on your terms. Way to go girl!!!0 -
lilylady,
Sending positive vibes that your tumor is shrinking! Less pain is a great sign. I had a repeat PET at 8 weeks into treatment (looking at ovary and some nodes, with significant improvement). My insurance did not want to pay (for PET), but my onc worked his magic and got it approved. Insurance companies have many layers of appeal processes, etc. Focus on getting better, not insurance company BS.
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Kymn: Got ya all set up on the roll call...just ordered you a diet and rye! Wow on the hair shaving! I am glad you got it over with. I feel like such a wimp now....doing cold caps and whining about shedding.....(I am going to hide in the corner now with my cocktail so no one notices me.....)
Silia: Bailey's on the way! Thanks for the positive words on the cold caps and hair. I just can't even comb it today....yes it is after 9pm and I have not combed my hair yet today! I am too scared.....it still looks like a full head of hair and my first chemo was 3/2. I guess it must be working on some level. I am not going to think about it tonight........ So glad the tumor is shrinking! That's awesome!!!!
herbnstan: Glad you are feeling good on day 5. I hope next time around you are feeling more "peppy". I was much more peppy on my second round than my first round. I don't have any headaches....yet!
Lilylady: Sending "shrinking and destroying" vibes your way. We will all "will it to shrink" too!!!! Saying a prayer now.....
ChrissyW: Glad you could join us. Glad you got through #1 OK. I too took the claritin this time around and have done much better than my first chemo. I have a few more days to worry about but hopefully I have gotten off easy this time. We will also get you through the surgery...many of us have already done that so we are here to support you!
I am still feeling good after chemo...keep waiting to feel bad. Yesterday I was fine other than getting a bit tired last night around 10pm which is no big deal. Today I felt fine.....baked chocolate muffins (a healthy version) and made dinner. I hope this continues. Last time my worst day was Tuesday...with bone pain. I HOPE it doesn't hit. My hubby leaves to go out of town tomorrow for the next 3 days so I will be a single mom til Wed night.....crossing fingers no SE make a late appearance as I have no one to help. I am going to remain positive...."no SE" are coming my way, right?
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I am on AC. I am going to try asking them to slow it down and see if that helps the headaches. I am not sure how they are going to measure progress, but I believe the doc will "feel" me too. I know she measured it with a tape measure before the first treatment. I hope she will say it has shrunk some next time. I might also get another MRI at some point, but I guess I don't really like to ask too many questions. I'm kind of a no news is good news person. I'll deal with what I have to, but don't give me too much to worry about to far ahead of time. I am on day 7 I guess. I had the first treatment on Monday. I think it has shrunk some. I think the MRI said it was 4.5 cms, but she measure 6.5 on what she measured. We'll see, hoping for the best. It's also against my muscle? Hoping to shrink it away from that so the surgeon can get good margins.
The worst is over now Kymn. I think I have that in my near future some where. My daughter (she's 13) bought me a scarf today. When I tried to put it on, she said I looked like I was from the Pirates of the Carribean. I guess I am not much of a scarf person, but I'll have to learn to be. I think I'm even less of a wig person.
I am so happy to be part of this group. (Well, you know what I mean) It is much easier to go through it together. Have a good night everyone.
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Kymn, clipping the hair is hard, but I think your head will be more comfortable as it continues to come out. I had very thick hair, and if I hadn't clipped it, every drain in the house would be clogged by now. Glad you got things worked out with your DH. I have been feeling such guilt for putting my husband through all this. He is 16 years older than me, and I worry the stress will affect his health.
Maria, I'm sure your hair will do great. I'm so jealous of the ladies doing cold caps. They were not offered to me. Right now, my hair resembles a reverse Friar Tuck. I have a short little cap of hair on my crown, bald everywhere else. I have 2 wigs and tons of hats scarves and head coverings. Yesterday my DH and I went to a local restaurant, and 2 of the waitresses commented that I was wearing my hair a little different and they liked it. I had to confess to them it was a wig. Then later, my sister-in-law said " I thought you clipped your hair off?" She was also surprised it was a wig, so I'm feeling really good that the wig doesn't scream ""cancer".
Isn't American insurance a bitch? I don't get mine through an employer, I pay for it totally out of my own pocket. It has a high deductible, and there are some things it won't cover. We are assuming I'm stage III, because although I had a PET scan, bone scan and a CAT scan of my lungs, my wonderful BS couldn't get them to cover a CAT scan of my liver.
I made it through my second TAC with fewer side effects than the first, and am feeling great this morning. The only new wrinkle was a booming head ache 3 days after. I'll have to mention it to my oncologist when I see him this week.
Silia, such good news that your tumour is shinking and the chemo is working for you. It gives me hope because my BS will have to go back after my chemo and take more tissue out because my lumpectomy had one bad margin. I hope he won't have to take much more tissue because I was a B cup, not much to work with there. I don't know what will happen if the margin isn't clean next time, masectomy?
Forgive me, I forgot who mentioned the Gala head covering. I got one too...very cute.
Good luck to all of the ladies who will be sitting in the chair this week. Please add my cocktail of choice, a glass of merlot.
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Good morning to everyone in the March chemo lounge. You are on my mind and in my prayers.
Kym, am glad you and DH are on the same page again. I wanted to mention that I've been married over 20 years, but my DH was never capable of making dinner reservations and lining up a babysitter when our son was little. If I want a night out, it's usually up to me to make it happen. Ditto for vacations~all up to me to plan, cooordinate schedules, budget, make reservations, you name it-its just not in hubby's ablities to do that. Hmmm....yet there are other things he does better than I, so I keep him around. Lol.
I'm gearing up mentally for my 3rd round of chemo on Wednesday. Kay from Philly, I hesitate to learn too many specifics myself. I worry that I'll get scared or some frightening bit of information will stick in my mind and try to root itself and not let go. Some women know all the technological and medical details and terminology of their case. At first I thought I'd be like that , but I want to protect myself from too much fear.
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Good morning, all. Kymn, glad to hear you're feeling better. DH and I buzzed our heads yesterday too! The anticipation was WAY worse than the reality. He thinks I should go out as-is but insists that if I wear a hat, make sure it isn't too big...so that I don't look like I've lost weight and really look sickly!
Regarding headaches, I concur. I'm on A/C, and they slowed the drip Thursday...hardly any headaches.
Hangover much less on round 2. I hope it lasts, although I do feel fuzzy in the head. Writing on the computer isn't as easy as it should be.
mdg: could you add my drink to the list? Gin and tonic for me. A real one would be more fun than a virtual one...
Thinking of all of you facing the next round this week...
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Hello again, my March chemo lounge buddies.......I am getting ready for the second round of TC this Thursday. I have been catching up on the posts here and saw some of you experienced the same I did. I had 3 consecutive shots of Neupogen (6 days after chemo) and on the night I had the second Neupogen I woke up at 3:30 in the morning with a pain in my lower back like I had never experienced before. I could hardly speak or even breathe. I was chalking it up to the Taxotere but it looks more and more like it was the Neupogen, then? I took 3 Tylenol Extra Strength which helped a little bit. I learned the following day tat I can take Oxycodone for it if it happens again. The only thing keeping me grounded right now is that when I come home this Thursday from the chemo longe, I will be half-way done with this!!!
And my hair started falling off yesterday.......
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Had round two of AC last Thursday. On Saturday I could feel my scalp aching and there was a lot of hair in my hand when I washed it so we buzzed it off. I feel ok about it. My head is cold today!
Also, I mentioned the intense headaches to the onc and he said he had no idea what could be causing them. I am going to insist they slow the drip next time. Thanks for the tip!
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MDG-could you please print the chocolate muffin recipe-the weight is falling off of me and that sounds tasty. I am still trying to figure out what is healthy. Stood at Krogers studying milk yesterday and ended up with what I always buy. They had some milk that said organic hormone free but it also said ultra pastuerized and the expiration date was May 30-has to be something real funky in milk that lasts for 2 months. Warm chocolate muffin and a big glass of milk.....yuuuumm
Kym-glad you took charge of the hair and you guys did it together. Don't ever doubt your strength-no one gets as far into this as you have without a steel core.
Kay- of all the scarf descriptions Pirates of the Carribean sounds the sexiest. I ordered my free Gaila but haven't purchased anything else yet. My dog has a basket with all her scarves in it-I'm sure she would be glad to share if i get desperate. Only problem is when I take that basket down she goes nuts because she knows she is going somewhere.
Maxine-do you have a sleeping hat? I keep seeing all these little jersey close fitting things because your head gets cold at night? Do you still use shampoo on your head? I am so hoping I don't have a bumpy head. I find shaved head men attractive but some of them are so lumpy it takes away from it.
Divine Mrs M-I have chemo Weds also but am only getting 1 thing-the H. It is my designer drug so hoping it gets right to the spot. This will be my first time for accessing my port.Last week the BS had left all kinds of tubing hanging off of it.
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Congrats to all you shaving your heads! Its kinda of freeing, right? I was way too vain and insecure about my looks, maybe now I will find a new and different style that i wouldnt have tried before, if it hurries and grows back. Funny thing..I am 4 weeks out of chemo and my eyelashes are falling like crazy, only have about 4 sticks left on one side.
Had CT scans today (at my insistence) my friend is an radiology doc and he read them with me and he says they look pretty normal. Yeah!
I think I am in the same program as a lot of you , with the chemo first, then surg and rads. My docs all say I responded very well to them chemo and tumors have shrunk considerably. MX on thurs with recon. Every new hurdle brings me such great anxiety, like you Nora I am soo impatient and just want to move along. My mom invited me for Sun. dinner (which never happens as my parents are in their 80's) and I felt like I was being given my last meal! Will want some coctails waiting when I get out of surg LOL
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Good Morning ladies, hope no one has a hangover this fine Monday morning. Woke up to more snow here sigh will it ever end. I am sooooo tired of scraping and brushing off my car.
Husk yes I am ok with the head shaving, I surpirised myself as I was in tears for months over loosing my precious hair and now that it is gone its like well whatever now im GI Jane so what lol. I am sure those endorphins helped lol and the fact that DH loves the shaved look on me he thinks I look HOT. lol. Who knew?? I wanted to shave it off before the clumping started I think mentallly that would have been much harder on me, I wanted to be the one to decided when it was to go.
Mdg dont you dare say you feel like a wimp, look at all the extra effort you are having to go through to keep your hair, you are a trooper in my books. Aslo the cold cap wasnt an option for me here.
Kay from Philly I really was too worked up over the whole hair loss thing glad its over and dont have to dwell on that anymore.
Jules I didnt clip it lol I shaved it right off
. I too had very long thick hairDivine Mrs M your right about men they are better at other things lol, I hate changing light bulbs and unclogging the toilet lmao
Lily Lady thank you for the encouraging words you are so kind and thoughtful to everyone here on the boards. I hope you are having a wonderful day.
Maxine my DH thinks I should go comando too all the time he loves it but I think at work Im going to stick to the wig
Ana YEAH half way done thats awsome cant wait till I hit that marker two more to go till I get there.
Colodisney doesnt the shower feel weird on your head now? You can feel every single drop lol it made me laugh
Hope you are all having a great monday, hugs to all heading to chair this week, hope no one has a hangover this morning.
Kymn
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Just got off the phone with the ins co. Bad enough they don't want to pay for chemo-they don't even want me to have a "pre" bag with the Emend and steroids and other goodies in it. Also found out the guy they use on their end for the peer to peer review isn't even an onc. How retarded is that? The guy who basically is saying if I Iive or die is just a plain old MD. I was on the phone for over 2 hrs and all I found out is every single thing I will go for will have to be appealed. They say that is standard practice for Stage IV. The lady who is handling my claim seems very nice but how can you deliver the kind of message she does and still have the nerve to ask "How was your weekend dear?" Well lets see Barb-I have been told I have a body filled up with rotting cancer, I can't get you guys to pay for it and everything I eat runs right thru me. How does that stack up with your weekend dear?
Sorry dear friends to let the ugly out but heading to the folks for a little Law and Order therapy (better than the Golden Girls) so they can see I am still the same old me. They will remain in the dark on the bad stuff til I either turn yellow or my sister gives it away. They think the scan was inconclusive and we will know more when we get the next one.
Carberry-best of luck on your surgery. I can't get enough of the "my tumour shrunk" news. I feel like this whole thing is in thirds-surgery, chemo, rads. Most of the ladies have the surgery first so i am jealous that they are 1/3 thru. Good for you-- after Thursday you are 2/3 of the way thru.
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OMG Lilylady that is just so wrong, come to canada and let them treat you here. That absolutley makes me furious. I just dont even know what to say right now, just that I am with you in your anger over this.
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lilylady- just not fair that not only do we have to fight for our lives but fight the damn insurance companys too. Who has time for all that crap? SSDI called today and want me to do the physical for application. So I have to travel to closest lg city an hr away to see a doc I never heard of before. I just want 1 year to recover and re-group before returning to work. I've worked 35 yrs paying into the system for everyone else to be sick, now its my turn. They say cancer is not a good enough reason to collect SSDI. Dont get me started.......
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Well Lounge Lizards,
I hope everyone is doing ok for a Monday. I've had a pretty good day, weather turned cold here yesterday. Also pollen is bad now too. I had to take the dog to the vet for her allergies today, $300 later, she's not itching. If it's not one thing it's another!
I'm feeling well. I feel really good and then suddenly I'm exhausted. I'm not sleeping well either. Guess I'll go back to the Ambien.
Kymn and Huskerkkc, we started chemo on the same day, 3/17. I'm ACX4, and no hair loss yet. Maybe because you are on a different regimen of treatment yours is already going Kymn? I gave the ones "down there" a tug to see if anything was even loose as I hear those go first, and nothing. I got my super cute pixie cut last week and I'm loving it. It's so easy. I get complimented on it every day, by people that don't even know me.
What does PFC stand for? Anyone know? I go on the hair thread and everyone there uses that term, which would be useful if I knew what it meant.
I hope everyone is feeling ok today. So sorry Lily for the fight with the insurance, that just sucks!
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PFC- post final chemo, thats when we start wishing for hair again
.also have seen post f&&cking chemo, but I am a southern ladie, we do not cuss.
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carberry - good luck for thursday - well on the way to getting sorted out now.
lilylady - this is so wrong - I mean , we are not talking Africa here, but America, what on earth happens to people who have no insurance? Keep fighting them and don't let them win.
Will write more after tomorrow - I seem to hit the wall at days 4-5 on the TAC.
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KayfromPhilly: I am LOL at the Pirate's of the Caribbean thing...just picturing you in the lounge with a patch over one eye saying "arghhh!". I guess there must be some trick to the scarf thing...everyone doesn't know what to do with them. I hope the tumor shrinks really small and disappears!
Jules: I also feel guilty about ruining my husband's life. I remember the day I got diagnosed I just kept saying "I am sorry...so sorry I am doing this to you" over and over again. He was like "you aren't doing anything to me"....I feel guilty like I am stealing some kind of normal life from my family. It stinks. As far as the cold caps...thanks. Most places don't really "offer" them. My doc did mention them but I had already read about them. I don't think I would have really jumped on board the way it was presented by my doc. When I decided to do it she said "there's only a 50% success rate".....which is completely inaccurate. They all still seem to think that "it's just hair and it will grow back" even if they actually have the cold caps there and available in their office. They don't get it......whatever! I told them when I was done with chemo with hair I would be the "poster child" for their office and be the person patients can call and talk to about my experience. Right now they have a freezer and caps in the office in the chemo room and me and 1 other patient are the only two people using them. Seems like a sin.....seems wrong to me. OK - I am done on my soapbox for the night. Glad you are feeling better too!
Divine: Good luck on Wed! Knock it out sister! You will be one treatment closer to being done!
Maxine: I am adding your gin and tonic...the first round is on me! Oh how I would love to drink a real gin and tonic with you and I don't even like gin.......at this point any alcohol sounds good!
AnaM: I had that same bone pain on day 6 after my first chemo. For my second round I took claritin and aleve starting the day after chemo (when I got neulasta shot) and am still taking it. I am going to take it for 1 more day (6 days post chemo) and this time I had zero body aches and so far no bone pain. Last time the bone pain hit on day 6 after chemo...if I get through tomorrow I am good. Lots of ladies posted that claritin is suppose to help...I asked my doc if I could take it and she said OK. It worked! See if you can try something different for the next round...talk to your doc. I hope you are feeling better today!
Lilylady: I will get you some recipe for chocolate muffins. The recipe was not sweet and chocolaty enough...I am making up my own recipes at this point...thinking about starting a cooking blod or writing a cookbook based on safe foods for BC patients based on the Anti Cancer book. Right now I struggle each day with what is OK for me to even eat.....I can send what I have to you but you will have to add in more cocoa and sweetener I am sure. The texture was good though.....it was not all dense and odd for no real oil. That's awful on the insurance thing....should I call my Italian relatives and get someone to talk to them??? (LOL!). Sometimes you just want to say "look, having cancer sucks and you are making it even more sucky".......I almost said that to the idiot at the cancer center that could not get my medical records sent to my surgeon after 4 days of phone calls from me.....I can't imagine how frustrated you are! UGH!
Supersally: I am on TC x 4 and the hair down south started taking a hike around day 13 after chemo. It shed for about 5 days....75% is gone now and I am 27 days after my first chemo now. (sorry if this is TMI for some....)
Colodisneylover: I hope the headaches are getting better and gone....
Carberry: glad the scans are good. You have MX on Thursday? Good luck! I had a BLMX in Jan. It was not as bad as I thought. I have recovered very well! If you have questions after, PM me.....I will be thinking about you and sending good thoughts on Thursday!
Kymn: LOL at how quickly the men turn....now that you have the shaved head....he's all about it. Whatever...they are men....simple, neanderthol creatures.....but we love them anyway!
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Good evening ladies,
Oh LilyLady, I hate that you are having to fight the insurance company, after years of paying and them taking your money, they are having to appeal? It is just not right. Maybe we could all band together and write that insurance companies letters.
Carberry, thinking of you as you go into surgery on Thursday. I also had my blmx in January and had immediate reconstruction.
Kymn, I did something dumb today, I bought the natural hair color without ammonia (lasts only 28 days) to cover my gray. I figured if I had hair for one more week at least I wouldn't be gray. Anyway, when I washed the dye out, my hair started coming out in clumps. LOL, I thought ammonia free would be ok. I had my first chemo tx 11 days ago. So, this weekend will be the time where I do the buzz cut.
I return to work on Wednesday, I'm so excited. I've had an awesome past few days. I feel normal again. I have to learn to remember and cherish the good days, b/c the days following chemo aren't so great. I did work out today waa-hoo
Maria, thank you so much for keeping up with the lounge, you are awesome.
good night ladies, many hugs, min
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After all the hours on the phone today with the insurance co and still no idea on wether I will be getting chemo on Weds I have made some decisions. I am going back to work next Monday-which is when the knee doc had me returning. I believe I can get more done for myself if I am actually in the building. This is against what the onc wants but if I can work now while the weather is still moderate I need to do it.I might need those disability months down the road way worse.
I have contacted some people at the corporate office at Ford. They are the biggest corporate sponsor of the Komen foundation in the US. How embarassing would it be for them that one of their employees is being denied treatment? Or that the insurance co they have contracted with to cover their employees is trying to bargain down my treatments to less than the accepted standard practice. For crying out loud they want me to say it is OK not to get drugs that will help me tolerate SEs
I am the plant managers pet electrician. His wife died of cancer 5 years ago, brain mets from breast cancer, so he will be on my list of people to visit first next week. I am sure he has contacts I never dreamed of. There is also a lady at work- who Ford pays- and her ony job is to liase with the local Komen people.
It is 2am and again I am not sleeping because I can't get my brain to turn off but I always feel better once I have a plan. I am going to ask them for something to help with that on Weds-providing I am actually going to get treated.
CANCER SUCKS!!!!
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