August 2015 Chemo Group
Comments
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JenPam: Sorry you didn't make it out here when your son was here. I did my Master of Teaching at Melbourne Uni in 2011 (taught English as a Second Language for 15 years before to adults). Great school! What was he studying? I'm thinking about starting my JD (human rights law) next year. We've been in Melbourne for nearly 9 years now, so it really is home. If you ever do make it out here (or anyone else in this forum!), let me know. We do have a guest room.
And Australia is awesome.Mom2aBoy: Thanks.
Being a dual citizen, with possibility of a 3rd, is awesome (and little ones have all three!). I just hope I am allowed into the US again because the IRS has promised to "crack down" on all Americans living overseas, hiding our billions. LOL. Sucks really. Have contemplated giving up US citizenship due to everything (WAY too much to discuss). Silly question, but what kind of writing do you do? Anything published I can read? Love the pic (and Europe too).Kate: I was SHOCKED how emotional, depressed, crying, I was yesterday (5 days out from last TC). That happened earlier before. Weird. I hadn't slept in 3 days, pharmacist refused to give me anything, so I took a Tylenol PM (we don't have this here--I smuggled it in last time I was home.
) and slept. Ahhh. Feeling much better, up-beat, today. Hope you are too.Michelle: Same with the "hit hard" after the 3rd, and my 6 yo daughter has been "nurse" or "doc" many times. My almost 3 yo son, however, thinks I am a monster with duck fuzz hair that sounds like mommy. LOL And let the crumbs go.
Muso: Hope you feel better soon.
Superius: CONGRATS! I can't wait for the last one, coming in 2 weeks. YAY! We don't get anything like that here. Oh well! I think they'll be happy to get rid of the difficult American. LOL But with the birthdays, I've turned a corner from thinking I'm dying to actually looking forward to living. It took a while, but I'm there. For now.
Everyone else that I didn't respond to (sorry, very tired), I hope you continue your strength to get through this shitty part of treatment. But I think we are all troopers and doing awesomely! We've got this! And we will WIN.
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Woo hoo. Had my last DD AC treatment yesterday. The third one hit me pretty hard too. Had some mood swings that weren't helped when my husband and mil decided to make me chicken soup from scratch. Ugh the smell of the cooking chicken was awful and then when I was hungry at 5 pm, they were putting it all together and it took 2 hours.I was so pissed off and then when I calmed down, I felt only a little guilty since they had done all this work for me but I was do grossed out I still didn't want it.
Due to a friend's wedding, my MO is letting me push back my next chemo (first Taxol) by a week so I can see my friends and go to the wedding without worrying about SEs. Looking forward to the "long" break.
Then it's on to weekly Taxol. My MO had me set for dd Taxol but after reading personal experiences on different boards and the write up on this site, I pushed for weekly instead. I gave him one last shot yesterday and asked him if there were any advantages other than finishing sooner for dd over weekly. He said no. Decision made.
And one last piece of good news, he couldn't feel the cancer at all, even a thickening that he found last time. I'm scheduled for an ultrasound next week, so that should be a little more definitive.
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Knitnpurl - congratulations on the end of AC! I hope that you feel well this round and that you enjoy your break. Have fun at the wedding.
Spurious - Yay! Are you our first graduate?
We've all come so far!!
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Well I am not getting my first chemo today. When I went to the oncologists office yesterday for instructions the Dr said my port was not healed enough. Can I say what mixed emotions I had. I was really getting my mind set to let's do this and get it over with :-)
But the worst part is he asked me if I decided which drug I wanted. Taxol or Gezmar. He said they are both the same and will do the same!!!!Really. Who is the Dr here. How can I make this decision. Well when I spoke to his nurse (who is there 23 years) she said if it were her she would take the Gezmar because it has a few lesser side effects. No neuropathy. no hair loss.
Anyone here on Gezmar and know if it worked for anyone? Appreciate any info Thanks so much ladies
Rosieo
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superius - Congratulations!!!
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Superius: RESPECT. Knitnpurl respect to you too, onto the next phase. It all comes to an end. This is some graduation class.
Rosieo: OH HECK. But your chemo will happen soon. Most of us have been bumped.
And to all the ladies who are tired and weepy. Me too, but this is because we're GETTING THERE. Like mile 17 of a marathon.
Today they came from work with a cake and gossip. I was exhausted hearing it all. Such trivia. It used to be my life!!
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Superius: YES. You do it, girl! Big, big hugs.
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Ah.... done with infusion but still have to deal with side effects. took a Zofran form the first time this morning (outside of infusion day). That's new to me... Meh... & still have 5 days of Neupogen.
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OMG ladies, say a wee word for me. If I can't manage to go to the washroom soon, it's going to be awful.
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Was putting groceries away today and noticed something. THE NEUPOGEN! Totally forgot to do the injection last night. Was too busy watching Narcos on Netflix and I guess H forgot as well. Whoops. Called the nurse line and they just told me to do it ASAP and then the next/last dose tomorrow at the same time. Whoops. So much for being on top of things.
So I officially left the house today - so six days after AC#3. Feel MUCH better. That really wiped me out. Thanks for you who said to not clean house. I didn't and it was good not to over exert myself.
Australia is awesome! I lived there for two years and dream of going back!
I got a package in the mail today and it was wig #2. Jon Renau "Heidi" After too much googling and the discovery of a labour day sale + free shipping, I bought another wig. It's the same brand as my first but shorter and I really love it. I think it'll be much easier to wear (the other one I have is a very long one - like my bio hair, and I haven't been wearing it at all). I think with the fall weather I'll sport this one a bit more. It'll be a nice head warmer.
Glad everyone is powering through. Another day is another day! It can only get better, right!
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Beautiful Michelle.
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molliefish, did you get to the restroom in time?!
michelle, you look great. Glad you're feeling better!
My legs feel like they weigh 400 lbs each. It's weird to FEEL the nadir--my poor, poor bone marrow. I've gone from being an athlete to having a hard time getting up two flights of stairs! It seems like this stuff is starting to take its toll on many of us. . . I guess the good news is that it won't last forever. Hang in there, ladies!
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Michelle, that wig looks really great!
Congrats to all moving on! It's nice that we can start checking some of us off the list.
I saw my BS today. She cannot feel or see (on ultrasound) the tumor. It's just gone! I know I am supposed to finish the next three rounds of chemo to kill off every stray cell, but if it's been enough poison to wipe out a tumor I think it's enough to hunt down stray cells. My husband says that's like taking 5 days of your 7 days of antibiotics and saying I feel better so I'll stop--and I get that, I do! But even my BS said this was reason to celebrate and is a VERY good sign. It just makes me feel better that IF things go really bad this next cycle or the 5th that it won't be the end of the world.
She also gave me an estimate date for surgery--Dec. 17th. It sounds great to get the majority of my treatment done before Christmas/end of the year, but that would mean radiation over the holidays, right? Hmm...0 -
Muso.
I don't think rads would follow over the holidays since you need 2-3weeks rest before starting Rads after chemo. So I'm told. I'm so happy for you.
@Kate I can't seem to get the plumbing working. No matter how long I sit on the pot. So sad. Sore full belly. I have tried senokot, fibre, water all of it. I went on day2 so I thought I'd be good. But not so much.0 -
molliefish, here's what one of my nurses told me to do. It's called "the bomb." Don't leave the house until it works:
Take 3 tbsp milk of magnesia, mix it with 8 oz of warm prune juice, and chug. Wait about two hours, and you should have some relief. She said to repeat it every four hours until it works. She stressed that one should NOT be far from a toilet if using this method.
By "some relief," I have a feeling that I mean "giant explosion." But I know what you mean about the constipation, and I hope you feel better soon!
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Mollified-Good luck getting the plumbing going. It really sucks to be backed up.
Musogirl-that is great news for you. Glad to know the chemo is working.
Michelle-You look great.
Superius-Congrats on finishing chemo. That is so awesome for you. Wish I was done too.
Dreading infusion #3 on Thursday. I feel so good. Have to start my steroids tomorrow. Yuck. I will be 3/4 done so that is something to look forward to. Was on a cleaning frenzy today. Feels good to have everything clean and fresh. Blood work and meet with my MO tomorrow. Then grocery shopping to get ready for my upcoming week.
I met with the Radiation oncologist on Monday. I have decided after much discussion with my DH, daughters and breast surgeon that I am not going to have it. For me the risks don't outweigh the benefits. With having a bilateral Mx, no node involvement and clear margins I am feeling I am essentially cancer free now. The chemo is cleaning up any stray cells. If I have a reoccurrence it will be due to Mets and then the Rads won't have helped that. I have to live with my decision. I just can't fathom enduring 25 shots of radiation on top of he rest of this. I hate making these "Life" decisions. I wish the only decisions I had to make are.... Should I have another glass of wine or switch it up and have a beer.....Cancer sucks......missing my normal old life before Drs appts, surgeries, drugs and everything else. We will all get thru this....we are strong amazing women!0 -
DeeRatz - that's what I do: cleaning frenzy to disinfect before liw WBC, shopping before tired, and everything else the day after chemo day when I still feel good. Ha, at least it's a routine. Regarding rads, I wouldn't do it either if I were you. I had an lx, so I have to and am slightly regretting 2 more months of fatigue and more SE.
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I've been catching up on everyone's posts and it makes me feel so much better to not be alone in all of this.
My third treatment is next Tuesday, and I've come down with a sore throat and congestion. I'm hoping its cleared up by then.
A friend who works at one of our local tv stations arranged for me to be interviewed for a special BC project they're doing to raise money for wigs for people whose insurance doesn't cover them, and the cost is a problem. It was fun. I had to look into the camera and say "YOU are beautiful" to the viewers facing a diagnosis and prospect of losing their hair. It'll air Oct 5.
Love and hugs to all of you dealing with side effects right now. My last go around was hard, but of course I'm feeling ok now (ready to do it all again).0 -
KateB79 That happened to me after round 3, too! I'm not an athlete, but yeah... Could barely do anything without catching my breath. But the MO said it won't get worse... & I should be recovered in 6 wks,
Michelle: you looks wondering in your wig. Wish I could do the same - I had fine thin hair, so anything I put on my head would be too much hair & very obviously "not mine" LOL
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KateB79, I am SCARED to try this remedy you posted, I want a second opinion!! Has anyone dared take this one??
"here's what one of my nurses told me to do. It's called "the bomb." Don't leave the house until it works:
Take 3 tbsp milk of magnesia, mix it with 8 oz of warm prune juice, and chug. Wait about two hours, and you should have some relief. She said to repeat it every four hours until it works. She stressed that one should NOT be far from a toilet if using this method.
By "some relief," I have a feeling that I mean "giant explosion." But I know what you mean about the constipation, and I hope you feel better soon"
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Sorry ladies to break in here with such negativity, but this is the only place I feel I can vent, so here goes.
I feel so unwelcome at the chemo day ward at the hospital I am at that I am loathe to go back. It's 4am in the morning here in Melbourne and I am still so upset by how I was treated yesterday getting my PICC line dressing changed that I don't know what to do.This all started at the beginning of September when I had to leave to ensure my daughter was in time for her school's musical and chose being a parent over being a cancer patient for one day (I was on time for my appointment, the nurse thought my appointment was an hour later and went to lunch after I had been waiting for 30 minutes already, and because of their mistake, I would never have gotten my daughter there on time, So I left).
There's too much to go into, but basically, none of the regular nurses will say hi, the nurse changing my PICC dressing didn't know what he was doing. I had concerns about the SE from this past infusion and possible OTC drug interactions that he couldn't answer, and he didn't ask anyone who would know.
Even my infusion on my birthday last week, which I brought brownies and cookies for all, hardly got a notice, or a birthday wish, much less a thank you.
Whatever. I am seriously thinking about looking into going to another hospital for my next dressing change and final chemo infusion, or even just stop, it is seriously that bad. To be in tears at this time over how I felt 14 hours ago is just not right. This is the only drawback of being a public patient in Australia.
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AusUSA- I work in a hospital and that is totally unprofessional. I would put in a formal complaint. Here in Canada I can put in Incident reports if I am unhappy with something. The managers are then obliged to deal with the issue. I would see if there is something similar In Aus. If not is would see if they have a nurse navigator or social worker that you can talk to. Being a healthcare worker myself this makes my blood boil when people are treated poorly. When I had to train people I used to tell them, think of this patient as your grandmother, mother, or child. Treat them how you would like your family members treated. This seemed to really make sense to them. Always remember as a patient you have the right to refuse ANY treatment and ask for somebody else to help you. If it doesn't feel right then I would say something for sure. Sorry.....end of rant.
I hope your day/night gets better...sending hugs from Canada!0 -
AusUSA, I'm so sorry that happened! There's no call for that kind of behavior, especially when you were so kind to them. I'll say this . . . HAPPY BIRTHDAY! And, yeah, tell someone what happened. Sending you good vibes.
molliefish, I'm scared, too, if I ever have to use the bomb! Maybe try half of what the nurse told me and see?
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LOL I went to buy Milk of Magnesia today and the pharmacist told me I should be checking with the doctor if I haven't gone for 5 days. They didn't have any prune juice there so I left and walked over to the local grocer. It's a south Asian market so I knew chances of finding prunes was slim, and I was right. So I walked back home and got my car keys. I went to the local grocery store and spent time trying to find regular prune juice. They had some no name prune nectar (what an oxymoron that is) but in a 1.5 L jug. I used to steal my dad's stewed prunes when I was a kid so off I went looking for those, and I finally found some. I got some milk, some bread and some local plums (yay!) checked out and totally forgot the Milk of Magnesia. I was already home and I thought screw it. So I made breakfast, ate my plum, and at 3-4 stewed prunes. I've had some progress, no explosions to be mentioned. But I think i'll keep up with the stewed prunes :-) and the senokot. Apparently I'm not taking in enough liquid. blech liquid...
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did anyone find that some folks have written you off for as good as dead?
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People that see you out and about just look at you like you are dying. I was at Costco with my 20 yr old daughter and we ran into a few people. She asked me why everyone looks at me like I am dying. We had a good laugh. I haven't looked sick....until my hair fell out.
Another comment from people has been....your coloring is so good.....uhm were you expecting me to look grey?0 -
I am just new to this site and have found some wonderful information. I had a lumpectomy in July and sentinel node with 2 removed and both positive plus 3 of 5 margins not clear so they recommended chemo and then a mastectomy.
I started Chemo in August and finished the first 4 AC treatment and just had my first of 4 Dose Dense Taxol treatments this week. Has anyone gotten to this point and if so what effects have you noticed. I tried the ice thing but the ice packs they gave me did not last the full 3 hours so next time I will bring my own but wondering if it will still work because I did not have ice on the whole time during the first treatment.
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Ice for what Duzy? Hair or hands? I am only having 4 rds TC so I will defer to those in the know.
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Hi Duzy - I also had a lumpectomy with no clear margins - also had 3 positive nodes. I had a mastectomy first then followed it with chemo. Interesting that you are doing the opposite.
I have completed 3 rounds TC - didn't ice hands. It was never even suggested to me.
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The ice is for your hands and feet for neuropathy from the Taxol. It was not recommended to me from the treatment center but when I read about it on this site I asked at my appointment yesterday and they said there is no proof one way or another so if I wanted to try it to go ahead. So the nurse gave me ice packs but they did not last the 3 hours of treatment so I was not sure if it would still work during the last 3 treatments.
Suzanne50 have you notice any numbness yet? Did you have any other side effects?
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