Starting chemo August 2014
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Praying for all to go well. Love, Jean
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Bippy= You are a riot. Yesterday my eyes were tearing a lot. One of the lovely side effect of taxotere or taxotear. Someone I knew asked me why that would happen when I had my last chemo 2 weeks ago. Wasn't I finished. I just smiled. It was no use educating her on chemo and the gift it keeps on giving.
zrosenthal was correct. Take the pain med the moment you get even a little uncomfortable. Don't wait. Pain is hard to chase. Get it when it starts. If you have a lounger of a lazy boy they are great to sleep in. Borrow on especially a lift chair. For my 25 years as a private duty nurse I use to tell people to rent one when they had a BMX.
Start radiation today. Just a little nervous about what to expect. The person who is my tech for the next 7 weeks called me. She sounded strange on the phone. So, I asked her if people like her. She said "my dogs like me" I asked her to please bring her dogs to work and I would hold them on my lap. She said she is not allowed. I told her I would ask the RO if it was ok. She started to laugh then seemed to warm up or something. I am taking a picture of my dogs to hold on my lap. I think it will be ok.
GOOD LUCK BIPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Hold tight. You can do it.
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Randomchance, good luck today with surgery. Come back here and let us know how you're doing. I'll be thinking of you. Bippy has hers tomorrow (good luck you too, Bippy!).
Eileen, good luck with the radiation today. Hopefully it will be a breeze compared to all the other stuff we've been through!
I wish we were done with chemo after that last infusion, but chemo really is the gift that keeps on giving, and the SEs don't just magically disappear. My swelling is still mainly just in my left ankle, with a little in my right ankle. It isn't too bad yet, thankfully. I feel pretty good this morning, aside from waking up an hour early. We cut my steroid dose in half and that has made a huge differencde in how I sleep and how I feel emotionally as I wean off of them. I iced my fingernails yesterday during the taxotere, so hopefully that will help minimize any further bruising and pain in them. I'm not too hopeful about it, but it was worth a try. I brought a bag each of frozen corn and frozen peas and that worked well.
Here's to minimal SEs for all of us, and successful surgeries and radiation appointments. Hugs for you all.
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woohooo cassiecat!!! Congrats on the last chemo !! Mastectomy a week after me.... I got my bmx date on january7, I'm just nervous if the timeframe is too long from my last chemo dec 2. I have called my MO for that and waiting for their return call just for peace of mind. Lol
Random chance good luck with the surgery today. Keep us updated!
Bippy hillbilly good luck for surgery tomorrow.
Eileen how's the radiation?
Hope everybody is doing better!! I do feel better and will do my Christmas shopping. ..:-)
Hugs to you all
Shirley
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Random, thinkin of ya sistah!
Eileen, YOU are hilarious! Bring the tech a doggie biscuit, for her or her dawgs, whichever seems best for her mood. Tell her its a christmas cookie. Good luck today. My recliner is ready! I am all about avoiding pain, so when I wakey wakey I will get it rockin and will not wait.
Thank you jean, amy, cassie, shirley, angie, catie, sorry if I missed anyone.
My own personal cooking telethon continues. I want to have some favorites ready! And DH cannot cook so I want to avoid takeout or boxed chit. So far, we have veggie fried rice, macaroni salad, nacho pie, and thai peanut noodles. Doing roast chicken, spaghetti carbonara and cake (cuz you always need cake) later, wooohoo! Not nervous at all, not sure why, except that I maybe am disassociated. I like it this way though. I am accessing my hillbillie superpowers! Finally, that chit is good for something.
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Cassie: Congrats! I'll be there with ya in a week and a half! I bet it feels good even though you prob aren't feeling physically great yet. BUT its the last time you have to recover from chemo! YAY!
All this talk about surgery...First good wishes and prayers to those of you getting ready to go in. I think I subconsciously got myself a present w I got my husband's... I got him a recliner for Christmas! I bet I use it after my surgery! My MO told me they usually wait at least 4 weeks to do surgery after chemo...sometimes 6...so I wouldn't worry if it's around a month.
In other news, my dad just left for her college interview at College of the Ozarks in Branson. Please say a prayer for her. She has been my rock ( along with dh). She gave up going to college this past year so she could stay home and help take care of things while I'm in treatment. I'm so blessed. Hugs to you all.Amy
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randomchance-good luck today!
Bippy- good luck tomorrow!
I hope everyone getting ready for surgery does awsome! I'm having my port out tomorrow! Yay! And hoping to stop into my work holiday party tomorrow evening. Today I met with the liver specialist. She doesn't seem rick Verne's about my elevated liver tests. They will run them again when I go back to see my MO at the end of January to decide on hormonal therapy. Hopefully they go down and I will be monitored when I start taking it and we go from there. Good news!
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- Okay....starting to run out of things to cook, so,anxiety is coming. Took a xanax and it will kick in. Ha! So I took those pics of my boobs, and guess what? They don't look as purdy as I thought! Hey I have never been photogenic but I hoped certain things may transcend. Jeez, I almost want to delete them but will wait. Time and gravity are cruel masters. Sighs. It is gonna be a loooong night. My DH is a gem, he is going to stay with me in the living room while I flounder around on the recliner. I have never, ever been able to sleep in a chair. This is likely not gonna be fun. But, plan B is to prop my old ass up in bed with tons of pillows, pills, and a remote. I am awesome! I hope they give me something to make me sleep.
There is, to me, alot of unintentional humor in this f&&);ed up situation. It keeps me going. I will probably get a roommate that is an ahole, hard of hearing and a penchant for trashy tv. I am bringin ear plugs and an attitude, only to be unleashed if needed. DH is all in, and does not suffer fools. I am so grateful he will be with me!
Ok feel better now. Sorry to ramble but I will be inncommunicado for a day or so and will miss my support
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Best wishes, Bippy! Keep up the positive attitude. Praying for a successful surgery for you...
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Shirley, it sounds like we may be having surgery the same week. My surgeon was originally looking at Jan. 19th for me, but I am so antsy to be done that he humored me with an earlier, tentative date. I'll be 25 days PFC, and if I'm not ready that week he's fine with postponing it.
Amy, I'll be here, ready to cheer for you as you have that last infusion!
Kellogg, congrats on getting the port out tomorrow! One more piece of healing and looking at cancer in the rear-view mirror.
Bippy, I'll be thinking of you tomorrow. Keep that humor going! It's good for you.
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Randomchance, thinking of you today and hoping surgery went well. And, Bippy, many good thoughts coming at you! I hope surgery goes smoothly and that you have an easy recovery. (I pity the fool/roommate who dares cross you!) Praying for both of you, ladies.
Cassie, congratulations on finishing! Super-cute picture! And, I loved the picture of your daughter and the little girl admirers. It is great for kids to have a teen age role model to look up to who is not getting attention for bad behavior! Your daughter is absolutely beautiful.
Eileen, good luck with rads. I have finished 12 of 30 and so far my skin is okay. I am starting to feel a little more fatigued though. I would love to be there and see you offer the dog biscuits to the tech.
Amy, thinking of you. Depression is so tough because even when you know you have to do something to pull yourself out you can't always make yourself do it. Sending hugs to you and hope that things get easier. Glad you'll have that recliner to use when you need it.
Beatmon, glad to hear of the improvement in nodes. I'm praying that you will hear NED soon.
Ladyb, glad you are getting through Taxol. The fatigue really started to get me after the halfway mark. But it sounds like you are taking good care of yourself through treatment. Just wish I could make it shorter for you and everyone else here.
Haven't posted often lately but I think of all of you often and hope everyone is getting through treatment as well as possible. None of this is for the faint of heart, but together we are kicking cancer's butt!
Hugs, Sandy
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BIG HUGS, Bippy !! I really admire your attitude and humor! Will be thinking of you tomorrow!!
JustAmy, glad you are on the upswing but criminy, you do have things to feel sad about, regardless of how generally happy your life may be! Don't beat yourself up for needing to vent, or just plain be pissed off over this mess! You have had some extra rough times, too. And you really do need people who GET IT. We do!
Yay to CassieCat and all others I am missing who are done! And what a beautiful ballerina up thread! Gorgeous.
I have to tell you guys, I have eyebrows today. They are about a micron longer than stubble, but I can see them in a magnifying mirror. Hair is starting to fill in also. Waiting on eyelashes.
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Tabbygirl, I'm getting my eyebrows back too! But my upper lashes have thinnedmost of my lower lashes fell out in the last couple weeks, hope they come back soon! My hair is starting to fill in, also, but seems to be all salt & pepper. I had maybe 20% grey before. Might be too soon to tell. It's really downey soft, not stubbly at all.
Randomchance, hope all went well today, and wishing you a speedy recovery!
Bippy, good luck tomorrow! You got this!
Eileen, rads are a piece of cake compared to chemo. I finished my boosts yesterday, had 2 boost treatments b/c the machine broke down on Friday and I need to be done in time to leave town Christmas eve. I have 4 more full breast rads after today. I've felt pretty good throughout, just a few skin issues and occasional slight soreness, nothing unmanageable. You will do fine.
Justamy, hang in there, you are almost done!
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Thanks ladies, swollen worse today as I went in to work for a meeting and sat with my feet down all day. Good to know it will shed in 8-10 weeks, thanks for the info Eileen.
Randomchance - I hope all went great today and that you are recovering well.
Bippy - lots of luck tomorrow, I hope everything goes smoothly.
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Yay, StrongEnough! A real morale booster, isn't it?
RandonChance, I am sending best wishes for your recovery.
And good luck to all who have moved on to rads. I agree; piece of cake compared to chemo! Hang in there.
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I've been catching up with everyone. Thinking of those in surgery today and going to surgery soon. Another big treatment step almost completed! Getting towards the end. Congratulations and gentle hugs. Hope the pain isn't unbearable and healing thoughts.
To those finishing up chemo! Amazing! I had my last treatment for a while last week, dealing w some mild SEs, actually wishing I didn't have to take a break.
19 days to go. Here's a sonogram pic of Baby B. Twin A was facing my back. I'm carrying over 9 lbs of babies! No wonder I feel full all the time!
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oh Gatomal!! They are almost here! Isn't it amazing to see their faces while they are still perking?? My son has identical twin boys and it was sih a trip to see each succeeding ultrasound. So glad things are going great for all of you!!
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Randomchance & Bipsy - You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
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Randomchance, you were in my thoughts and prayers today for surgery. And will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers during your recovery and hopeing you have a support system during your recovery time.
Bippy, hey girl! I hope you finished all your cooking and able to relax before your big day tomorrow. You are in my thoughts and prayers for your surgery and recovery time. Glad your hubby is joining you in the living room (big smile) to watch after you while you heal. I hear most use the recliner although I have to say the pillows, etc sound tempting. Take care and get a good night sleep.
Eileen and others going into the next phase with rads, good luck!Thinking of all who are preparing for surgery. I am cheering everyone on reaching the final chemo treatments.
Windgirl, so glad to hear from you and get an update.
Gatomal, always thinking of you and the babies. I am so glad you have your plan and dates arranged. Love the picture of Baby B. Boy how things have changed since I had my twins. Even 3 years ago when my twin girl had twins -- how clear the faces and images are.. I have a friend who has two sets of identical twins, they are in their 20s now. You are only the 2nd person I know that has (will have) two sets of twins.
Those still in chemo we are almost done and approaching the next step of our journey .
Having tx #7 of 12 tomorrow, so over halfway there. SEs are kicking my butt especially fatigue. I refuse to let them get the best of me. I make sure I don't overdo it and knowing / listening to my body when it is time to relax, sit down, take meds, etc. I have to say I am tired of chemo but not tried of it kicking cancers butt which is more important. (Bippy where is my spontaneous humor when I need it? Guess I am just too tired). I am officially part time and loved having Monday off and also Wednesdays -- my treatment day. So no need to think about working from home on treatment day. Also it seems that my emotions are a roll coaster lately. Is it reaching the end of chemo, hormones, just being tired of the routine or just getting to a point where I can take the time and process what has occurred over the last 6 or 7 months. Probably a combination of everything and not getting relief from the SEs. With that said I believe it is normal and has to be part of the process of dealing with this journey. The key is that I don't let the "sadness" or those moments take control and stay too long.
So glad that we are moving along this journey and have such awesome support!
-Angie
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Bippy and Randomchance=good luck. Have you both in my thoughts and prayers.
Strongenough and Tabby girl=Thanks for the info on rads. Nothing can come close to chemo, I hope.It was the worse
Gatomal= Have you picked out names?That picture was so exciting to see. OMG! so cute when they are cooking. ALL THE BEST!!!
Started rad yesterday. Took pictures of my dogs for the tech. She loved it. Both my techs are SUPER NICE. Very small center and only 5 minutes from house. Easy parking.
Invited to dinner Friday night at someones house I don't know well. Have not been out to eat for dinner in months. Maybe once last month. Was too tired to enjoy. My taste buds are 75% back. Can't eat some foods with sugar and pasta. I hope I know how to behave. I feel so removed from my old life. Have to find shoes to wear. My left foot is really swollen by the end of the day. My slippers I left at work. I will just wear my flip flops and remove when I sit at the table. They are tight at the top after a while. Looking forward to being with people.
Wingirl= I try to keep my feet elevated as much as possible. Of course then the fluid is in my thighs and calves. I sit at work with a box top over a kitchen trash can. Pillow on top and the place my feet on that. Winter booty slippers on. I only work with 3 people so no big deal. It would be different if I worked during the week with lots of people coming in and out of the space I sit in.
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Gatomal, beauty! Thinking of you and babes, please take care!
Off to hospital soon, just wanted to wish all a good couple of days and be well. Thank you all for the support....I am sure something comical will happen to me so cant wait to share......buh buh cancer carryin boobies
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gatamol: can't wait to see pictures of our babies in person.
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good luck Bippy. Take your pain meds after. Prayers your way! Will be posting those pics, beatmon. Take care. Hugs to lady b. Stay strong, the end of the road is coming for taxol. Just took my black nail polish off last night and was happy to not see any black under my nails, although the colored lines from AC are prominent.
I meet with my one today for a last appt. During my first appt, at Dx, I asked about chemosensitivity testing for the tumor, like cut out a piece of tumor, try a bunch of different chemos on it, figure out which agents kill the cells fastest, use that chemo in me. They said, they do it for rare, difficult, or unusual rumors, and that it is expensive. Well, I found a place in Southern California called Rational Therapeutics that does this testing, and it is expensive, about 5k, but I really want to send some of my tumor down there. We haven't staged it yet, and there is a big difference between a 2a and a 3a to me in recurrence and survival. I feel like I have one shot to really kill this, and want to do whatever I can so it doesn't come back. I'm trying to convince my team to send tissue for testing, but they probably think it's untested medicine, being UCSF. But it's my tumor, isn't it? I'll post what happens
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Gatomal, I love your ultrasound picture! So exciting!!!
Bippy, thinking of you today and hoping for a smooth recovery.
Eileen, I hope the dinner is enjoyable for you.
Angie, my emotions have been all over the place too, and I think it's just a combination of everything we've been through and are going through.
StrongEnough and Tabby - yay for eyebrows!
RandomChance, thinking of you now that surgery is over!
It's so nice to see some old familiar names popping up here this week, too.
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Bippy, praying for your recovery. Angie, my emotions have been all over the place too. The good in this is it has forced me to deal with some long buried issues from the past and get them resolved. Since I am 71, it's about time. Saw my very pregnant granddaughter yesterday. Due to deliver my great granddaughter any time now. Very exciting. Love, Jean
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Gatomal: how cute the pictures are. When I had my last baby 12 years ago, I only got an ultrasound and couldn't tell which part was which. Its awesome to be able to see your babe do clearly.
Bippy: Praying for you today that all goes well and that your recovery is speedy.
As for me...SE's are bad today. I've had D for 13 days now. Lomotil helps somewhat but not totally. My legs are also so heavy and the muscles and my knees hurt. I can barely walk because of the pain. I hope it gets better soon. I'm leaving for my first Christmas Friday.
I feel totally selfish today too. My dh feels down because he hates his job. He has this problem that once he learns everything about a job, he gets bored and starts dreading going to work. He's worked for the same large company for 16 years but has held several positions there. Anyway, he was telling me how much he is tired of it last night and all I can think is that if he quits, I won't have insurance. I wish I could be more empathetic but I just can't right now. I love him so much but for now my health is very important.... Sorry for the vent...have a great day everyone!
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Amy, in my humble opinion, you are not selfish at all. Your husband's job issues need to take a back burner right now. Of course there are issues. That's why they pay you for it and why it's called a job. Quitting or burdening you with this petty nonsense is just uncalled for. You are fighting for your life right now and that needs to be the first priority for both of you. Your job is to get through your treatment, whatever it takes. Love, Jean
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Gatomal+Doesn't insurance pay for this testing of the tumor? It should. Tell him yours is rare and unusual. You won't know if it is rare until they test. Really!!!! keep asking until they do it.
My big night out Friday was cancelled. The person who house I was going to her refrigerator broke and the part won't be in. There goes my excitement for the week.
Second day rads. Much quicker. Pretty easy so far. Don't want to jinx myself.
Thinking of BIppy and Randomchance. They are most lucky in recovery now. Only the best for them.
Only the best for US ALL!!!!!!
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First off thinking and praying for the both of you Randomchance and Bippy. Bippy you should be in recovery now so the best to both of you in your recovery period. I am praying for awesome support and understanding during your recovery time.
Amy, I hope meds and rest make your SEs better tomorrow. What are u using for the Big "D" is it OTC or prescription? It is interesting I was talking to my husband about a week ago about the pain and aches associated with Taxol and some how he equated that to his unhappiness on his job and that he is ready to move on. I said whoa buddy, not yet. I told him I need his insurance and that I need the flexibility his manager gives him in regards to time-off and that he has FMLA coverage. So he can endure for another year while we navigate through this. I think I caught him off guard because I snapped at him and that is unusual. I think he now knows how important the insurance coverage, time off and aFMLA cover is . LOL.
Finished #7 of #12 today so much closer to the end. I descripted some of the symptoms to the Onc Nurse and she things that neuropathy may be setting in. So she will follow up with MO. I only meet with my MO every 2 mos unless there is something out of the ordinary which occured during? It seems like some of you may met wtih the MO every tx? They say I am doing well on Taxol with blood counts and SEs and I say that Taxol is kicking my butt! My legs are becoming heavy and they aches and pains are radiating through the hips, knews and feet now. I can walk and function but nee more breaks. I am hoping things don't nose dive moving through the last 5 treatments.
The silver lininb -- my air is really coming in where I can tell the difference from week to week. I am taking pictures so that I can watch the growth. I believe it was Catie that shared the video of the young lady which gave me this idea. I still call it peach fuzz. I thought I had a lot of bald spots. My daughter looked and said no the hair is there but it is gray. I had a few gray strands, which only I would notice before loosing my hair. I am interested in how this gray will look. I love the feel it is sooo soft.
Hugs to all, I am going to take my Avitan and get some good sleep.
-Angie
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Angie, I don't think my husband would actually quit his job without having another one. He is a team leader in a very large company and there aren't many jobs that would pay him as well nor have the benefits. His boss also has been awesome about time off etc. Not even charging him vacation days for it. I just didn't need to hear how hard he has it right now. He has since dropped it so I'm hoping he leaves it dropped. I'm fighting for my life here....
I am taking prescription lomotil for D. It does help somewhat. Today it hasn't been too bad with it. Today I'm feeling a lot like you....achey, heavy legs mostly...My nurse said Taxol and taxotere are basically the same drug...they are just mixed with different fluids to infuse them. All that to say that it makes sense that we would have similar side effects.
Well gotta go fold laundry....yay....lol
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