Starting chemo July 2014
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it must have been meltdown Tuesday for sure... I had one as well- after my chemo treatment at which I received good news... meltdowns have no rhyme or reason sometimes!
So for the good news only having to do 4 dense dose AC now instead of 7 so one more after this then on to Taxol! Figured dates out on my calendar and if everything stays on schedule my last chemo will be December 30th, a great way to end the year!
I got my genetic testing back- I do not have the brca1or2 mutations, I do however have mutations of ATM and STK11 genes, still have to meet with genetic counselor so not sure what that means exactly but was relieved not to have brca!
Shirley, I received your hat today! It was misdelivered to a neighbor and they dropped it off so was waiting for me after chemo yesterday- thank you! Hope you are recovering from your hysterectomy well!
Off to get my neulasta shot will check back later!
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Thank you for the shout out Pinkninja, but I'm actually on AC every two weeks, so this is my week off. I've had two treatment so far, July 16th and July 30th. I hope all of you Wednesday ladies do well. My SEs were similar to last time, except can't seem to shake mild nausea this time and I just feel kinda weak. First round, I was in a fog for a week, and this time it only lasted a few days, so I'm grateful because I hate being in the fog the most.
Hugs to all,
Kelly
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Big hugs to everyone else who are having treatments today! I'm going in in an hour. Woo hoo!
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As many prayers and good thoughts as possible traveling to chemo day ladies. The BIG positive...It's one more behind you.
Here is another dill pickle tidbit. Never throw out pickle juice. Take a swig. It will stop leg cramps in a few quick minutes! My understanding, BTW, is that we need to drink more water and electrolyte fluids because we really lose a lot with all the GI se's.
Big day today. I get a visit from grandchildren from Seattle! and I think I'm up to it. I really didn't want them to see me so sick. The youngest is 5 and I think it would scare her. They had to spend the last couple days running around Las Vegas with their parents because I just wasn't ready. The water park is rather grand and the kid's museum is terrific and very interactive. I'm certain it was a good time. They can swim in our pool (I'll sit in the shade) and we'll go to the ice cream parlor for lunch.
This is Inky. He is one of the studio cats. He came to us as a very little kitten when Hubby scooped him out of the pool. He has a brother that I will introduce at another time. You will never be more loved by an animal than by one that knows you saved its life.
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Good morning, ladies. Cheek gals, praying for you that you have an easy infusion, and mostly no SEs!
I think I'm past the rough part, and it only took two weeks this time! Seems the SEs are lasting longer this time, though starting about the same time so they are overlapping each other. Day 1&2 are ok, day 3 hits bottom, day 4-13 gas and big D, day 12-14 meltdown and emotional bottom. Now day 16, still no energy but at least I don't feel awful.
Coyote, you've been in my thoughts as well. I'm not as independent as I once was – heck, I don't even have a car, since I never go anywhere. But yes, I ran my own business for 18 years, and you don't do that without an independent streak and a sense of responsibility. And it's hard to ask for help.
Boxofrockstar, thinking of you and your test today, hoping you pass with flying colors.
Pinkninja, thanks for the uplifting reminder of the the race we have – and remember the cloud of witnesses that surround us.
Have a good Wednesday, sisters, I'll peek in from time to time.
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this is how I came to chemo today. Lots of people smiling which is always a good thing!
So glad several if you are feeling better.
Grandbaby visits are the best! I had all 4 last week and all of the family at the beach and it was a good time.
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ChaosRain: congrats on being able to do less chemo, that's great news!
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Pinkninja -- you go, girl! Love that wig!
Coyote -- I know what you mean about scaring children with one's sickness. I shaved my head yesterday, but have not let my autistic twins see me without my chemo wig. They aren't very verbal, and I can't explain to them why Mommy is bald. They thrive on consistency, not change. So, I just take off the wig after they go to bed.
Best wishes to all the other ladies getting treatment today! I had AC #2, and (based on a fairly crude measurement) my oncologist thinks that since AC #1, my tumor shrunk by 1 cm.
Good to hear that some of you ladies are feeling better! To all those still feeling rocky -- hope you feel better soon.
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hi ladies!!
Coyote I think you nailed it - at least for me. I am very used to being in control and nothing about this is in my control - I cried for days last week and haven't been checking in here because I've been in a very dark place. Somehow the emotional aftermath of infection and postponed chemo really got me down - mostly because I couldn't DO anything. Awful, helpless feeling.
Good news today - am cleared for chemo next week. Whew. So I will join anyone else going on Monday for round 2.
Everyone with chemo today (it's a lot of us!!) good luck!!
Be well everyone. Such a kick ass group of ladies.
Peace.
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Pinkninja you rock! I love the pink wig! Raindew, I'm glad your doing better! I have my 2nd dose of AC next wed. The big d hit me hard today but other than a little nausea, I'm better! I never imagined how emotionally draining this whole thing could be either. Good luck to all the ladies getting infusions today.
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I just
had my first treatment of AC today and had my own private room with a gorgeous
view – woot woot! The time wasn't so bad except being stuck 3 can I say 3
times to try and get the IV needle in…ugggh.
The nurse viewed my veins then immediately asked if I had a port. My
answer “No, because I asked for one and was told I only needed it if my veins
were bad. Also added “My MO stated you
guys were good (with a wink)”. She
immediately sent an email to my MO within 10 mins of starting my appointment
stating I needed a port before my next infusion -- she is on my side the patient! The RN picked out 5 veins to choice from – go
figure 5 my heart sunk at that time and anxiety was in high gear. I could just
feel mental I was slumping over. She was
so apologetic and really cared how I felt. I have to say I loved her she
made the ride so much easier. She stayed with me during the AC infusion
so she would be on top of any issues that may occur. She showered me with warm blankets, a heating
pad and a makes sure my recliner was in a relaxed position. She (as much as I)
wanted those veins to pop out. Loved her! I was so scared they wouldn't find a good vein
but the third time was the charm. The
first one – to short, second one – bubbled and hurt like the dickens, third one
just – right. And away we go ready for
AC. She got me water, ice for my nails,
cranberry juice, and made sure I ate. She was so motherly like.Right
now, I am so amped – my guess the steroids. I know we are all different
but would like your input on how to stay ahead of the SEs. I had anti-nausea meds with my IV (emend sp?)
and took Decardon and Zofran pills before the chemo started, which I am also
scheduled to take Thursday and Friday (twice a day). They also provide a
prescription for Compazine for ongoing treatment of nausea.What I
have in my SE goody bag right now:1.
Water and lots of it,2.
Dry mouth mouth wash,3.
Ready to make magic mouth wash,4.
Jell-O and flavored popsicles ready and ice cubes – I picked that up from
one of the earlier post on this forum. I
think Puffin posted or linked to the recipe.5. Others……
Also,
when you are able if you can pop into the August 2014 thread and provide some
encouragement or tidbits for that group it would be great. As we are all just starting out? I know
several of them are following this thread also.Everyone with chemo this week are in my prayers and (it's a
lot of us!!) good luck!!0 -
Yikes, ladyb, that sounds rough! Glad you had a good nurse to help you through. It makes such a difference. Last time I went, I was really freaked out about the Adriamycin push, and while the nurse was doing it, she told me all about her mayonaise phobia. It was so random and funny.
Love the pink wig! I need to get to the wig shop.
Today was not so bad at all - no fun, but not nearly as bad as last time. I took a Zofran beforehand (not sure if I was supposed to, as I was fasting, but I figured what the hell) and I really think it helped. Then I saw my OB and baby sounds perfect and is measuring right on track, which is always great to hear.Anyone going in tomorrow? I'll be shooting up around 11...
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box, I' m going tomorrow instead of today. since I had the port placed yesterday everything had to be moved down a day.
The port placement was alright. I took 2 ativans, there was lots of tugging and pushing and the nurse held my hand. Today it's a little sore.So not sure I want to use it for chemo tomorrow. I still have bandages one it and I prob won't take it out, so if I don't use Emla on it, I don't want to use it.
I can feel the needle near my bottom neck, inside. Is that wierd?
Since I survived the port thing for an hour, I figured I can do the bloodtest this morning no prob. And it was was!!!! I high 5'd myself.
So I asked onc about dose dense. He was on the fence with it. But I want it, he'll do it. What the hell should I do ? Is everyone who is doing dose dense doing it also for Taxol? And most importantly if u had the choice, why did u pick DD?
pink, I need to get your wig ASAP!!!!!
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Love the pink wig too. Wish there was a like button. Haven't posted in awhile.
Day 1 and 2 was good. 3 was tiring, heartburn, cramping. Day 4&5 was very fatigue..in bed, can't get up along with bad bone aches. Popping Tylenol like candy. Day 6 and now is good, except for some tender D. So pretty lucky overall. Only other thing is that MO said my nausea will be like when I was pregnant. Well, she is right. Every time I'm hungry, I get nauseous. I've gained so much weight in the past week. I snack all the time. I gained 55 lbs first pregnancy and 45 lbs the second time. My body thinks it's pregnant! Anyone else eating like a house?
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i was extremely hungry day 1-7. Felt EXACTLY like u said , pregnant in every way. Hunger, indigestion, smells, cravings...
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Day 16 gloriously uneventful.
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pinkninija- absolutely love the pink wig!!!
Pinkninija and Jenkay -today we all had the same chemo...though no perjeta for me. I asked my MO if I can't get it...and she said my insurance won't pay for it. Said there is no evidence yet...(trials going on) that it works in a adjuvant setting....studies were for neo-adjuvant treatments. I would still take it if it was paid for!!! Apparently there was a study with lapatanib in a adjunvant setting with Herceptin...and there was no evidence it affected outcome. It's a different drug than perjeta. My MO also shot down getting a PETScan to scan for mets. Said finding metastasis early vs late doesn't effect outcome... And if there isn't mets, then you are exposing yourself to radiation. Said she would rather have me testing individual organs/areas to find primary cancer such as getting your ovaries/uterus screened every 6 months, getting colonoscopies, etc. But if I feel any symptoms of possible mets then she would recommend a PETScan.
FallenMirage - seems we had the same sched of symptoms for my first round. By days 6 I was just about back to feelig normal....hoping my 2nd round goes that way again. And hope you feel back to normal soon!
Hmm...lots of melts down. Perhaps I would have had one if it wasn't for having an amazing fiancé...he calms me down. If I could keep it together with his mom's obnoxious comments...I think I'm keeping my meltdowns at bay for now.
My cold caps are working, but still losing hair. I would say my worst day I lost @100hairs...good days I lose @30 hairs. I started to keep a bag with my hair to see how much I do lose each month.
Ok off to bed...exhausted...that Benedryl supersedes any steroids!!!
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Had an awesome time at the Look Good Feel Better class, so much fun,
learned I was wearing my wig wrong and now no longer need the bangs
trimmed. Lew took my picture when I came home, so I've changed my photo on the site to show my new look.Labs drawn today, passed
everything so it's a go for tomorrow's chemo. Have my list of questions
ready and my bag is packed, port cream ready, bag of flavored ice chips
and my homemade popsicles ready to go into the cooler.Have also started my dexa so may be back on at 3!
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I agree! It is so much like being pregnant, including the bloating! I was craving Fritos and French onion dip. YUCK!
Boxofrockstar - glad baby is doing well and you got through it. I hated those glucose tests!
Goodnight ladies, sweet dreams! And no SE' s.
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Pinkninja- love the wig! I've been sticking with turbans the last couple of days because it's just too freakin' hot for a wig, and I'm still trying to figure out how to tie scarves in a flattering way. I've attached a pic of me and my mom at the hospital today with the turban she just made me
Puffin- on the same note, I'm looking forward to the look good feel better class a lot. Last one I scheduled 3 days after chemo, and was just too clobbered to make it. This one's scheduled a few day BEFORE, so there should be no problems there
good luck tomorrow 
And Coyote, yes on the control issues. I'm fiercely independent and the type of person that gets sick maybe once a year, so having to kind of let go and just deal was/is pretty hard and a big source of stress for me. On the upside, I feel like I'm learning a new kind of patience, both with myself and others, and learning to take a little more time and try to enjoy the process of... Everything, like even making myself a simple breakfast in the morning. Trying to do everything in a more attentive manner, I suppose, and live in the moment, which is something I've never been able to do very well. Sounds kind of weird, I know, but it's what's working for me right now
As for chemo today, things went pretty smooth for the most part. I had a reaction to the second medicine (um, the carboplatin? I'm too tired to keep things straight) where I got a nasty hot flash, everything went white and I felt like I was either going to pass out or throw up (the nurses were rooting for throwing up instead of passing out, I managed to avoid either
). They stopped the infusion, put a bag of antihistamines into me, and then started it back on a slower drip. Success! After I was recovered two different people that were keeping other patients company came over to check on me and tell me they know something was wrong when my smile went away, and that they were glad to see it back. That made my day My Onc gave me a bunch of neupogen shots to administer myself starting on Friday, so hopefully after the fatigue kicks in around then and then goes away I'll be feeling alright.. Fingers crossed. I'm a little worried about the bone pain but I'm stocked with meds. What is it that everyone's taking to help avoid that?
Oh! It was my nurse's birthday today, and when I told her it was my mom's birthday too she snuck us both a peice of her cake
Anyway, here's my mom and me at the hospital, me wearing one of the turbans she made me. Much love to you ladies!
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Jenkay you are beautiful and so is your mom! Glad you are ok after the reaction. I take Claritin for bone pain. So far it helps except for intense jaw pain. Not sure if that was from the shot or me clenching my teeth in my sleep? But vicodin took care of that. The cap is lovely. I just ordered one like it and a couple pre-tied scarves from Amazon. Can't sleep so glad to hear from you on here!
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I was right, up at 3 from the dexa
JenKay: take your wig and scarves with to you Look Good class, they'll show you new ways of tying them. Regular Claritin worked for me for the bone pain, I start it the day before the neulasta shot and several days after.
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Puffin - it's 3 am and the dexa had kept me up all night. I have my first round of chemo at 10 this morning and I'm still WIDE awake!!! Will my body ever adjust to the dexa or is this my new normal?
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I take my dexa pills the day before, the day of and the day after chemo, and I get an IV dose prior to the chemo. Last round I was back sleeping normal hours within a day or 2 after the dexa pills. Last time I was able to take an hour nap morning and afternoon which helped.
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Mags, I sure think your cousing and my mom could hang out kkkkkk😊
Coyote I think you got it right is do tuff to need people doing things for you... In my case I was for 3,5 hrs with my 2,5 years old dealing a car for my mom I was so exhausted but she can't speak english very well so I have no choice... Than she fop me of at home with no food for me or for the baby and goes to diner with a couple that are visiting us , baby needs a bath and my hubby was coming late yesterday so I was just drain and with no help I did what I must but in reality I really just want to lay on bed and cry...,
Well today is another day and I'm constipated again I'm try senna
Jenkay you look good and mom too
Pinkninja you are awesome just love the wig
Puffin, I'm also looking for the look good feel better I have my schedule for the 11 you look very nice !
Lol
Have a good day ladies with no SEs hopefully
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dancing diva -- I'm on dense dose for a variety of reasons -- remember, I'm doing neoadjuvant chemo (before the operation) because of the size, placement, and aggressiveness of my cancer tumor (grade 3). My surgeon thinks that he'll get better surgical outcomes and I'll have more options (lumpectomy or mastectomy) if we shrink the tumor first. (So, far, MO thinks it shrunk about 1 cm. after one round of AC). Doing dense dose guaranteed that I'd take Neulasta, to help my WBCs recover. So far, my blood tests show that my WBCs are doing fine and even a little on the high side. Yes, I will also be doing Taxol + Herp for three months after ACX4, and then they will do the surgery. I will finish up the Herp + do radiation after my surgery.JennKay -- What a scary reaction to have in the chair! I'm also trying to live in the moment, even when it comes to the simplest tasks. Last night, I went to make the twins dinner, a task that takes about 10 minutes to do. I was moving a little slowly and thinking, "Who cares if it takes me 20 minutes to nuke chicken nuggets, make them a side, and put out their usual fruit options?"
Mags -- glad to hear you're feeling good!
Puffin -- love your look! I'm also probably wearing my wig wrong; was supposed to meet up with my wig lady to get it fitted, but I've just been too lazy.
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Good morning. I had a haha moment in the shower this am and thought I'd share....maybe tmi but skip this post if you want. I was in the shower thinking how funny it is that women sometimes name their breasts. I only ever called them "the girls". Well now my TE' s are expanded more they sit much higher than my natural breasts did. It suddenly occurred to me that it would be funny to call them Miss High and Miss Mighty. Chalk it up to chemo brain but this sent me into gales of laughter. Yes, I am losing it!
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JenKay, what a great pic of you and mom! You have a beautiful smile, no wonder your chemo companions noticed when it disappeared - like the sun going behind a cloud.
Puffin, that's a great picture with your wig. I too scheduled a LGFB class a few days after Round 1 and had to cancel. There's another in September, but I have chemo on the 2nd so it may not happen either. Don't remember what day.
Day 17, little tiny hairs all over as the buzz cut falls out.
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Mommyme - My onco recommended Colace for constipation. I usually can manage with just extra magnesium but somehow the chemo stops the train dead on the tracks. The Colace seems to work without causing possible runaway trains.
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On the flip side of the coin, I was having a lot of trouble with cramps and diarrhea, and Immodium wasn't enough. Even though I didn't think heartburn was involved, the NP at the onco office prescribed Protonix, just to give it a try, and it really seems to have done the trick!
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