Starting chemo July 2014
Comments
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Momtooyoung and mommy mel, I'm 42. I'm older than you gals but I still consider myself too young to get this and with young kids (8 and 6)it's harder to accept,at least for me it is. I think there's quite a few of us in the 30s and early 40s and with/without young kids just on this thread. it's astonishing really. it's all relative i guess. i wish i was 52...if i was 52, i wish i was 62, etc. I have a long road ahead of me and honestly i need to take it 1 step at a time becasue if i see the big picture, it gets all too much. 1 step at a time and I thank G for these boards to help me along with all the support and advice.
have a great friday everyone!
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Well I broke down today and shaved the head.... hair was thinning too much it made me look sick lol.
Before
After
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Uow tooyang , you look just beautiful !
I'm so sorry that you are going through this again . I know how hard is to take care of the children mine is 2 so she doesn't understand and demands me all the time. I don't know if it's easier or harder. Hope your kids are doing good with it.
Let's do this together!! we all can do this we are sisters from experience ..,,,
To better days ahead ...,
XO
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too young mom - beautiful pic!
I'm 50 and feel too young to be dealing with this crap. I'm so thankful that my daughters are in their 20's and self- sufficient. My heart goes out to all of the young women and moms dealing with this and raising kids. You all deserve a standing ovation!
Each and every one of you are in my thoughts and prayers daily.
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I found this today my son wrote when he was 14, thought I would share with all of you, still brings Tera to my eyes, our children are so strong !
Hey mom youve done so much for me for 14 years and i appreciate it so i wrote this song please tell me what you think
The real hero - lil'MRC
15 years when she had me
All on her own so she really couldent handle me
I was a little hell raiser a little brat
Always up to no good could you imagine that?
I thank my momma that she had mee
And all the extra stuff that she gave me
So imma try to pay you back the best i can
And the way I think ill do it is with a piece of paper and pen.
Never met my dad, didnt really care
But now some part of me feels unusually bare
Tryin to be the man, the boy in charge
But despite my efforts i wasnt that large
Verse 2:
Then sumthing bad happened
But you still kept your heart open
You had gotten cancer
What you had done for it still deserved an anwser
You was always there for me
Never left me alone beacause you cared for me
And im gonn try to pay you back as best I can
And the way i think ill do it is with a piece of paper and pen
Chorus:
Momma you mean so much to me
And i thank you for always providing for Me
And i know i wasnt the best child
Always being a hooligan cause i was wild
You were always there for me
and never left Me alone beacause you care for me
Verse 3:
So now your over your cancer as we repent
I never understood your illness to its full extent
You lost a big part of you and there isnt much you can do
All the nurses and surgeons did their best for you
And your still with us here today
And thats worth any price that i could ever pay
Your are a unbreakable soul, always staying strong
You went through so much agony for so long
I could never understand the pain you were going through
All i could do is hope you make it through
Chorus x2
Verse 4:
So the lord must have anwsered my prayer
Beacause thank the heavens your still there
I would have been lost without you
Even after all the nasty shit i put you through
Youve been through so much pain and suffering
It made me sad to see you in the hospital wing
And imma pay you back as best i can
And the way ill do it is this paper and pen
Chorus
Outro:
So i wrote this song
About the real hero
The person who endured more pain then i can possibly imagine
She is the toughest person i know
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Started Chemo July 18 2014 Been a rough last 5 days, I didn't know it would hit me that fast. The stomach cramps and diarrhea very bad the last 5 days. But this rash on my chest and acne on my chin is awful too. Did anyone here have the taxotere rash? I 'm wondering if it means I'm allergic and shouldn't continue with Taxotere, is taxol any better with rashes? I have 3 square spots that showed up a few days after chemo from the previous week port surgery where they put the ekg stickers.... very weird.
it's encouraging to read all your stories too. I don't feel so alone. Sometimes it's hard when some family or friends just seem to ignore or forget about you.
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Started July 18 2014 taxotere, perjeta and herceptin
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Too Young... that is incredibly sweet! What a LUCKY mom you are!
We've got two kids as well: two girls, 14 and 17. I've had a port implanted this week and my first chemo this morning (feeling blah but ok so far...just fuzzy and icky-ish). The 14- y.o. has been a gem. Really. She's cottoned on to the notion that there's a big difference between "want" vs. "need." She's running out with my spouse to get some Baskin Robbins for me as I type! The 17 y.o, not so much! It's been a real struggle to deal with her since my diagnosis. We've even had her speak to a counselor, but her strategies continue to be maladaptive, and her behavior is emotionally malicious from time to time.
I just had chemo this morning, and she was texting complaints about something we'd asked her to do all morning. Being blamey and whiny. While I was in the chemo suite. Her attitude really has gotten poisonous this week.
I'm hoping I'm going to be ok with side effects. So far, just fatigue, fuzzy-headedness, and a bad taste in my mouth. It's early hours though.... Any advice about how to get a nasty teenager too reign it back a little in the meantime?
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Dancingdiva,
Know you are not alone! I also have young children..two daughters 9 and 7 and I was diagnosed not even one month past my 39th bday. Its been hard for me but I just try and remember to just put one foot in front of the other. Don't look back or forward just stay in the moment and take each day in stride...good and bad.
All the ladies on here are amazing and I have learned so much already from everyone. We are all in this together and we will all support each other.
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Fayette37, do you pay for the 17yo's cellphone? You can always take that away..... Then, she won't text you anymore whiny complaints!
My 15yo daughter is upset because we've put off driving lessons, but some of that is her own fault. (She's chosen to play two varsity sports, and the practice/game times make it difficult to schedule other activities.) But, she's otherwise been OK.
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I can't help with the kids :-)
But Rosemamma - I also had a horrible rash from taxotere. My MO prescribed a short course of oral steroids, cleared it right up. We will do a lower dose preventative course next cycle. Apparently the rash hits ~20% of us...
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Thanks RainDew
I'm wondering if Taxol is any better with rashes. Althought I'm sure that one comes with a whole other set of SE
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ChaosRains, Here's a photo of your new hat. I should get it in the mail this Monday.
Shirley
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Too_Young,
You look beautiful!!
Shirley
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ladytdf,
Glad you like it!
Shirley
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Ladies,
This is the list I have of ladies requesting hats. If I left your name off, let me know. I will be making basic beanie style caps, unless you have requested another style, (such as the brimmed hat ChaosRains asked for).
If you want another style let me know a.s.a.p. Look at the website below for other styles. (You will have to copy and paste; I don't know how to make it link.)
http://www.crochetforcancer.org/chemo-cap-patterns/crochet-patterns-videos/
JenKay
Lady1234
Mumford
Maidentired
WalleGator
dancing diva (Red Heart hat with flower-2)
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Elaine: I'm going to think about the cell phone. And a lot of other things! There need to be some consequences laid out...and it's been a tough summer to try to mete out discipline while dealing with surgeries, recovery, and now chemo. But something needs to happen--for her sake as much as ours!
I'm feeling improved after a half-nap now, but don't really have any appetite. They've prescribed some AWESOME anti-nausea medicine that seems to be working, though. (How did people even survive chemo without these miracle pills. Nurse said the inventors should get a Nobel Prize... for PEACE! Agree!)
I feel like I'm holding my breath for other side effects, though I know I need to take it a day, even an hour, at a time.
Thanks for being here, ladies. xx
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Too_young: you're gorgeous!
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Slappy-squirrel, i'd really like one in the style you made for ChaosRains, if it's not too much extra trouble
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So, Today I woke up with a sore throat and a 100.4 fever. My onc's office called me back about something else right after I took my temperature, and told me to take it again in an hour. It was still 100.1 but they said since I was already on antibiotics from the lovely UTI that popped up yesterday I was ok as long as I didn't feel worse and my fever stayed below 101. Phew! I was NOT excited about the idea of another trip to the ER.
Went back to sleep for 4 hours and now my temp is back to normal, although I still feel crappy, but at least now it seems to be just "normal crappy" instead of "worrying crappy". LOL.
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July 25
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too young: I plan to shave my head pretty soon. Hopefully, I'll look as good as you!
Fayette, JenKay: I always feel bit better after I lie down for a bit. Glad to hear you got 4 hours of extra sleep, JenKay! I can't take those kinds of naps in the middle of the day.
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TooYoung! you look awesome. That song is amazing. tears to my eyes.
Quite a few people have told me that teenagers get upset...it's their way too deal. Not sure why, but it's normal.
I don't feel good and it's not even the SE. The side of my neck feels swollen, my shoulder, my armpit, my boob where surgery was, under my boob. The strap from driving the car super annoys me.
Did anybodies lymph nodes react to the TX??
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man, I'm off here one day and we have so many new people and I missed alot! Today is day 9 for me since chemo and I feel normal! I was so happy when I woke up because I didn't feel like I was having an out of body experience and I could make my brain work. Other than diarrhea, which I'll get to in a minute, I feel so good. I had all my energy back and ate some real food and actually tasted it. My tongue doesn't feel like it's been burned off anymore and I didn't rinse my mouth with Biotene 20 times.
About insurance companies, my oncology office's billing lady called me last week and said she wanted to enroll me in a couple of copay card programs and I didn't know what that was. She said that Neulasta and one of my other drugs, not sure if it's the Perjeta or Herceptin, but the actual drug company pays whatever the insurance company won't. I was like woooooooohooooooo! They want these new drugs to work so they are willing to help pay for them. I would suggest that you contact the billing person in your onc office or call the drug companies direct. I got 2 little cards in the mail that look like credit cards to use when I get the chemo.
So, on another note, I have to share this cause you all are my home girls but you may want to brace yourselves as this is definitely TMI but I have to tell someone!!
Ok, here goes and I can't even believe I'm sharing this but I'm going to. So, I travel all around the world and I am very involved in overseas missions, especially to Africa where I go every year. So yesterday I went to the bathroom (can you guess what's coming?!) and there were parasites in my poop!!! GROSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! I almost fainted! I never look at my poop but I have had the worst stomach cramps and the onc office keeps asking me what my poop looks like so I looked! I freaked out and called my primary dr who had me bring in a stool sample to send out to be tested. Well, I don't need a test because I have eyes and I know what I saw. Now, don't you feel so much better now!! hahaha, anyways I took 2 tablets that supposed to kill off anything else that's in my gut. Who knew chemo would kill any little buggers in you. I just watched an episode of monsters inside me too. So sorry if that's disgusting but it is comic relief. Wonder if anyone can top that???? any one dare share something worse?
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It's just shocking! So far it's 100% beautiful minus hair.0 -
Well, I've now had my first chemo session, I took the Claritin and Carnation Instant Breakfast (another suggestion I received) the day before, the day of my neulasta shot, and for a couple days after. I don't know if it was the antihistamine effect of the Claritin or the extra protein from the breakfast drink, or a placebo effect from hoping so hard they'd work, but I never had to take even one Tylenol for bone pain. I woke 2 nights to a vague aching sensation in my legs but after moving around in the bed a bit I went back to sleep again. I don't even care if it was a placebo effect, I wasn't in pain and that's what mattered to me. I plan to follow the same routine with my second round.
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Thank you all for the wonderful comments.
As to teenagers they do use anger to deal with cancer of a parent. Both my children sooo different, my son at 19 big strong tough guy broke down and cried it cam back and in a second was yelling at me mad at me, I didn't tell him the right way....really I was calm and factual I asked him what was I to do light you candles....?
My daughter 12 refused to hear it, I told her my cancer came back she said no it didn't, and I going to bed.....
As we all go through this differently with emotions and SE are family members differ as well on how they handle the ups downs and unexpecteds.
Pink ninja : Eeeek my worst fear, I think you win
I am 2 days out of 2nd Docetaxol so far little achy and some nasty heart burn but other then that no horrific break out rash this time soo woo hoo for that
my DH has made me my mean green juice consisting of kale, cucumber, apples, oranges, ginger, celery all put rough the juicer.... I am not a super healthy eater but wow in the morning a cold glass of this is palatable and belive it is helping keep SE at bay. 0 -
Chaos, I just realized I did not respond. I'm very sorry to hear about the news of your husband's uncle. 1 day at a time...
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Regarding developing lymphedema with the removal of only 2 nodes. My surgeon said I'd have a 3-5% chance of developing it, that it could develop months post op, should not have blood pressures or vaccinations or IV's in that arm, to try and avoid trauma and cuts, etc. I was given exercises to do to prevent developing lymphedema.
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Oh my girls! What a time we're having! Pinkninja, I think yours takes the cake, but may I weigh in with mine?
4am this morning, DH is standing by the bed telling me the dog has encountered a skunk. Poor DH has been having trouble with the stress of the cancer and its stress, and hasn't been eating well and sleeping regularly. He eats lunch at work and isn't hungry for dinner, then gets up in the middle of the night and eats. So he was doing that, and dog wanted out, and there was the skunk. So we've been dealing with that all day, with 102° heat out there, of course I wasn't doing anything, because I was curled up in a fetal position in bed. But the whole house has been disrupted. And poor dog is not happy, he's going to get washed again when the sun goes down.
Some bone pain today, and lots of nausea that seems not to be responding to anti nausea meds. Rumbly in the tumbly.
All my best to all.
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