March 2011 chemo-lounge
Comments
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colodisney - Congrats on your graduation! Very nice ending.
mdg - I think you should buy some bras while VS has them on sale and then you can exchange for a different size if necessary after surgery. Sorry for your hip pain but glad you're getting it checked for peace of mind. (Bet it's related to your workouts!)
Kay - Hair!!! You've outdone yourself!
For the general convo re: lashes and brows, I don't have a one. Just lucky I guess.
Lilylady - So glad your surgery's scheduled and it sounds like your docs have come up with a solid plan (even though all the details can't be nailed down just yet). I'm so happy for you.
Stilts - I take 5,000 units of D3 daily. My family doc pointed out my D3 level was low probably a year or year and half ago. I do wonder if it was am early bc indicator -- so frustrating...
Speaking of frustrating, I didn't have Tx #6 today. Onc felt that I needed to postpone a week since I'm fighting an infection, on a new (second) antibiotic, and based on my extreme reaction including fatigue from Taxotere #1. For a minute I was really disappointed but then I thought "trust the process", and I hope to do better with the next round after time to build up my strength. He's going to reduce my dose, thank goodness. So now my target graduation date will be August 5. I keep saying to myself "it is what it is..." I will enjoy this week. Starting yesterday, I am feeling worlds better than I did the past 3 weeks. So that's my silver lining. Take care everyone and enjoy the weekend.
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It's the weekend, yeah! So happy for Maxine, colodisney, and others finishing or getting close. Three months ago it never seemed like we would be at that finish line.
Thanks for the song, Kay. That was perfect! I was looking at my legs out in the sun to see if any hair there, nope, not yet. I did notice that I have some odd, longer hairs on my head. Kind of remones me of the random ones I get on my chin and over my lip - at least they are blonde, eye roll...
Maria, DH and I made piza for dinner tonight, inspired by you! Used whole wheat crust from Whole Foods, it was yummy!
I rode this morning, so good to see my horse, it had been two weeks. I got jelly legs quickly, though. When does that go away? The cankles are much better. I took the diuretic two nights in a row and was elevating my feet. I'm anxious to we what happens tomorrow when I haven't taken meds in couple days. Hoping it's over. I haven't started tamoxifen yet, waiting to see on the swelling. We had a great time yesterday, it was fun to see my friends and hang with Dd. Glad it's the weekend, I'm ready for some down time. I hope everyone feels minimal SE's and has a good one!0 -
Penny,
Yes, I have heard about the study that says those who use aspirin have a lower recurrence rate. Maybe because it reduces inflammation. Couldn't hurt to take a low dose, could it?
Barbara, pizza and horses are both very therapeutic, aren't they?
I have a fever this morning, not high enough to call about yet though. I think it has to do with this nasty vein in my arm. Am taking antibiotics for it though, so I hope it works. I sure don't want to delay surgery.
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Jules, hope you're feeling better. Take good care of yourself.
Heard a song on the oldies show this morning and it really reminded me of you Kymn. You have had a hard time with all the SE's and you've battled and now you're looking to get that last one finished. I forget exactly when you're getting it, but I want to play this on the juke box for you and your last treatment. (I would have saved it for just before your treatment, but my chemo brain would probably have forgotten it then,)
Hit Me With Your Best Shot by Pat Benatar
Hit Me With Your Best Shot lyrics
Songwriters: Schwartz, Eddie;
Well you're the real tough cookie with a long history
Of breaking little hearts, like the one in me
That's okay let's see how you do it
Put up your dukes, let's get down to it
Hit me with your best shot
Why don't you hit me with your best shot?
Hit me with your best shot
Fire away
You come on with a come on, you don't fight fair
But that's okay, see if I care
Knock me down, it's all in vain
I'll get right back up on my feet again
Hit me with your best shot
Why don't you hit me with your best shot?
Hit me with your best shot
Fire away
Well you're a real tough cookie with a long history
Of breaking little hearts, like the one in me
Before I put another notch in my lipstick case
You better make sure you put me in my place
Hit me with your best shot
Come on, hit me with your best shot
Hit me with your best shot
Fire away
Hit me with your best shot
Why don't you hit me with your best shot?
Hit me with your best shot
Fire away0 -
kymn, glad you checked in; I was wondering how you've been.
Kay, perfect jukebox tune!
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Questions- Is the vit D that you are talking about over the counter? Is it just vit D or D-3. Do they sell 50000 over the counter?
Thanks for any input, Lee
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Leeann. The Vit D 50,000 units I take once weekly is RX only.
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This is the research paper on aspirin, although there are probably others. I am going to print it and discuss it with the onc next time.
http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/28/9/1467.fulljules - take care and watch your temperature., don't want to get hit with an infection badly on the last stage.
silia - dissapointing to wait, but just enjoy the week - its only one and better than getting really sick with the infection.
love the song Kay
Barbara - glad you got to go out for a ride, very therapeutic. People have said that the fitness comes back quite quickly, so hopefully we won't be all wobbly and out of breath after a few weeks. I need to get back to boxing, its great for my stress levels and I haven't been able to for the last 6 weeks, and still have a chest infection so need to wait another week or so.
Re hair - I will have to start watching for facial hair first I reckon, before the chemo they would just seem to spring up overnight, one minute nothing then you look in a mirror at work and oh my god its an inch long!
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Penyy,
Of all the hair that has started to grow the facial hair has far outpaced the rest. I hate the crap. I was just at the point of going to try waxing before I got BC. Went to some laser places but they said light hair/fair skin doesn;t usually work well. There is a prescription drug out there that reduces the rate of growth-forget the name of it. Am full menopause since late last summer-guess that means my hormones are way out of whack, -I will look in the mirrow here at home and then when I go in the bathroom at work I will have found a big wiry one. It is so embarrassing.
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I am taking regular over the counter D3 5000 units daily plus an extra 5000 units 3 X weekly so it totals 50,000U per week. The Rx Vitamin D is D2..there seems to be some debate over whether D3 is preferable to D2.
My ONC really encouraged a baby aspirin daily unless your platelet count gets low which fortunately mine hasn't....
Facial hair #1 has appeared and been plucked away !!!
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Haven't posted in a while. I've been having extreme, stabbing bone, joint, muscle and even skin pain. I didn't have that while taking the AC. Been scrambling for the last 5 weeks to try and get it under control. After duragesic patches, celebrex and some new narcotic called nucynta , we are finally making some progress! I have not been functional with the pain and it lasts 11 days....so, suffice it to say, I'm glad we are finally getting somewhere.
I also developed a blood clot in my shoulder along the catheter line from the arm port. That landed me in the hospital over night, but we caught it early. I noticed a line of spider veins on my shoulder while getting ready for bed. The next morning I noticed how the larger veins were standing out more on that side than on the other....then I knew for sure something wasn't right. They had me come in for an ultrasound.and that's all she wrote! I gave mself heparin shots for a week and have been taking coumadin. I was finally able to stop the heparin shots after my protime reached the right numbers.
I can see the finish line! One more taxol treatment in 1 week and I get to cross it! Then I wait a month and have my mastectomy.
My hair has started to grow on the taxol...leg hair and I can feel some really short hair on my hair. Back to shaving my legs!
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Kay....HUGS....thanks you.
sorry hvaent been around much girls have been so tired and with the little time i am up and have energy....well you all know.....think of you all often cant wait to get back to my normal self.
hugs to all
kymn
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djls
So sorry to hear you're having so much pain. The taxol has given me a surprising amount too but mine doesn't last anywhere as long as that. It lasts about 3 days and there are 2 nights that are really bad sleep wise. And even oxy doesn't seem to dull it. I can only imagine how exhausting it would be to have it drag on that long. But you're almost there! I just had my last on thursday and whatever pain I have right now is sooo much easier because I know I'm not stepping up for more in 2 weeks. Hang on, you're almost through the worst of it (my mastectomy, while not fun, was a breeze compared to chemo).
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So sorry that some are having a rough time. Jules, very glad you are being treated and monitored. Are you feeling better? Kymn, you've had such a tough time... Your amazing ability to stick with it, despite everything, is so inspiring to me. Thanks for being you! Djls, yikes you've had your hands full. My challenges with my current chemo pale in comparison. I'm also going to have the Mx after chemo. Bikenyc, thanks for emphasizing that chemo's harder. That is consoling to me. Wishing all a good week.
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Djls - OMG, you have had some issues! So sorry that's happened to you, I hope you are feeling better soon. Gentle hugs.
Kymn - not to worry, we are here when you need us. You only have one more and you are kicking cancer's a@@!
Jules - yes, be careful as Penny advised. YOu don't want anything to delay you at this point. Riding is so therapeutic, I love my "pony"! He's got such a sweet personality.
Lily - I started carrying tweezers in my purse because those dang hairs on the face disappear when I get home (before BC anyway). Now I don't need to, but assume it will come back. I keep looking for them.
Penny - boxing sounds like so much fun! I'm afraid to try it until I'm out of reconstruction. That is probably something like riding in that you don't want to start that while you are in treatment. As I was doing it before, I keep on going though.
I started tamoxifen today, took half a pill this am, going to take the other half tonight. I've heard that it helps to keep the level more constant in your body and may reduce the SE's. We'll see. I'm seeing PS again tomorrow - another fill?? Take care, hope everyone has a good Monday. I have a "case of the Mondays" here in big D...
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Thanks everyone so much for your concern... my temp is normal and I'm feeling much better. Even the nasty vein in my arm is beginning to look better. Antibiotics must be doing their thing.
DH and I have a horse trip planned for the 4th of July weekend. We are going with another couple to the mountains of NC where it's always nice and cool, even in July. And I am going to take my horse and RIDE! I figure it will be my last chance to take a trip before my lumpectomy re-do and radiation.
Regarding the hair, I miss the hair on my head, my eyelashes and eyebrows, which are thin. But I don't miss shaving legs, underarms, and waxing the old mustache, which thankfully has been nowhere in sight for the last couple of months. With my age and dark hair, it's really been coming in the last few years. Hoping it won't be back...wishful thinking I know.
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I hope everyone is having a good Monday. I am really tired today, we had bad storms so didn't get much sleep. Tomorrow is treatment #5 for me, then only 1 to go! Wish me luck. I hope all of you have a SE free week.
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Good luck ksmatthews...you are almost done. Hope your SE are minimal.
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Thank you Jules! I went and bought bland food today, and got my meds refilled. Ate really good tonight to make up for the nxt 4 days or so.
Karen
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Hi ladies. Sorry for being MIA for the last several weeks. I can't believe I only have one more chemo tx to do. Yay!!! After chemo no 4, I ended up with low WBC and hospitalized for 5 days. That totally sucked. I hated being in the hospital and away from my two little girls.
They gave me a Neupogen shot and that helped getting my WBC count back up. I got my 5th tx almost 2 weeks ago, and I had the Neulasta shot a couple of days later. Hopefully the shot will keep me from the hospital this time around. I was bracing myself for even more SE but so far so good. I can't beleive that my chemo journey is getting close to the end. I'm excited for it being over, but now I'm starting to have anxiety about the next step which is surgery. I'm also sad to see my eyebrows go. They have been holding on very well until 2 days ago.
Hugs to everyone.
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youngmama--I'm right there with ya! I'm only a week out of TX5 and it's looking good. If it was an option, I think I'd do TX6 next week instead of the week after--just to get it done.
It's going so well, but I need to call the primary nurse today. I've had a cough which is not unusual. I've had a cough after each TX which I am guessing is the herceptin. It comes and it goes. But this time I have some green production coming off my chest. No fever, so I'm not in a panic to get to emerg.
My son has been barking like a seal for a couple of weeks which may be where it comes from. Of course, I know nothing and he has ignored me when I tell him that burning the candle at both ends won't cure a cold (who can tell an 18yo boy-man anything?!) He's graduating from high school and it has been party,party,party all month. I made him go to the dr last week and now he's on antiobiotics.
My WBC has been consistently high all through so I hope I have what it takes to keep it from taking off. But I will do ANYTHING to not have my last TX delayed. It will be done on July 6th come he(( or high water!0 -
I hope everyone is feeling well and good luck to anyone in the chair today or this week. May your SE's be few and your WBC be many (LOL)
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Supersally-How is the stuff from Tarte that you bought at Sephora for eye lashes and brows working? I am thinking of getting some.
Thanks!
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Hi girls...I have also been MIA for over a week. Just trying to get done at school (finally finished last Wed, but still may have a few odds/ends to attend to). My last chemo was June 3, so I am a little over two weeks out. I have white (gray?) fuzz on top. Noticed Sunday that I have little hairs on my legs! They were visible in the sun. Leg/arm pit hair was blonde pre-chemo, so easy to go quite awhile without shaving. Lashes are hanging on; both onc and nurses said if I hadn't lost them by the end of treatment, I probably wouldn't. But I know lots on here said up to 3 weeks after chemo they disappeared. My eyelashes were always pale and my best friend is mascara. They are thin and seem to be missing a few of the inner lashes close to my nose but mascara hides it so far. I never have had much for eyebrow color but I don't really notice any loss there (yet!) Brows are covered by my wig anyway, but I don't know how much longer I will wear it, except when in public. I don't wear it at all at home. I have some biker scarves and the Buffs that I mostly wear around the house. If I'm alone I'll go topless, but don't really yet in front of DS (15). More me than him, I'm sure. Just dont want to freak him out, but it is me that is more freaked out I think!
Thinking of you Maria, as you prepare for surgery Thursday. Please let us know how you are when you feel up to it. Kymn, glad to see you back! To the rest, I echo supersally's wishes for no SE's and good blood counts!
I see the RO on Thursday. Does anyone recommend questions I should ask? I feel so unprepared, compared to chemo.
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Colodisney - I think it is working. It's hard to tell, but my lashes seem to be stronger and they aren't falling out. Latisse works, I know from lots of people, but Tarte being all natural seemed like a good choice. I'm 5 weeks PFC, can't remember when I started using it, at least 3 weeks ago??
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supersal, would you mind mentioning again what product from the Sephora Tarte line you are using for your lashes?
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MrsM - No problem, it's called Tarte MulteplEYE Lash Enhancer and costs $65. It comes with a little brush (more like lip gloss brush than spiral brush from mascara) and you just brush it on 2X/day at the lash line. They also sell a mascara and a conditioner. I'm using the conditioner, too, and my lashes do seem to be stronger.
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supersally -- thanks for the chuckle -- "may your SEs be few and wbcs be many" -- that's great!
Hectic work week but the good news is I'm getting through it (it's the little victories in life...)
Psyching myself up for Tx #6 on Friday. Then only 2 more to go.
Wanting a kick-butt song for our jukebox but coming up empty. Any suggestions?!
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Hey gals! I have been reading but with work and all have not had much time to chat and hang out in the lounge much. I am now getting ready for surgery again this week..I have my TE's removed and my real implants put in. Surgery is Thursday. I am not as nervous as I was for BLMX which is good but I am bummed my DH can't take me to surgery. My cousin is going to take me which I am grateful for her offer. I am trying to get things ready here as I won't be able to drive for 3 weeks! Boo! I am going to go crazy in this house..I guess I will have tons of time to chat with you gals!
It is so nice to hear many of you finishing up and on the last treatment or two! We have all come so far! As far as big news...I shaved my legs today! That has not happened since March I believe. That is big news. Also the rash seems to have stayed away which is great news as it would cancel my surgery if it came back. I just started using Lattise faithfully (I used it a little during chemo) so I hope it helps lashes grow. I have not really lost them yet but I do have one spot that is missing a few lashes and it has been like that for a while so I know lashes don't seem to be growing.....hopefully Latisse will speed that up before they all start falling out. Brows are still thinning and falling out...so yep, I am still connecting the dots - LOL! Oh well...no one has been able to tell as I still have enough hair there I guess. Though I kept my hair during chemo, I did have some shedding and my hair is much thinner, but I noticed lots of shorter hairs growing in. I also have some gray curly one's here and there and some that are straight. At least there is new hair growth which is nice. I guess things are getting back to normal. I have hair on my arms again. The hair on arms and legs seems much finer and lighter in color...I wish it would stay that way! We will see.
For those of you that have not had surgery yet...PM any of us gals that had surgery before chemo if you have questions....I know many of you are getting to the surgery phase. I had a lumpectomy and a BLMX so I can share experiences from both if it helps.
Just wanted to pop in.....I hope you are all feeling good and doing well. I want to think of a good song to play on the jukebox...can't think of anything great right now though.......
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Good luck with your surgery, Maria! Please let us know how you are doing. Also, how are you going to manage to not drive for three weeks? That's a long time.
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