Starting Chemo September 2015; join us!
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I believe in the poop fairy.
The nutritionist I saw said to take glutamine a day before, day of, and 3 days after infusion. 30 g in two 15 g doses or three 10 g doses each day. This certainly cuts down on cost.
I'm one week post DD taxol#1. It looks like there are many of us at or near this stage. It will be great to hear from each other. Lindy, I'm so sorry you are having such a battle. Hope the antibiotics do their thing - and soon. I am no longer achey. Just a bit of numbness in my fingertips and the tip of my tongue feels like I burned it - kinda numb. I also have super tight muscles (spasms?) in my abdomen. Very strange. Could be related to recovery from my July surgery. I think it's the neulasta.
I agree Fage with fruit is fab. Lindy, you may want to try to eat yogurt while on those antibiotics. They often mess with stomach flora --as if it isn't already messed up enough.
Healing hugs to all.
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I'm on abx through chemo. I was taking the probiotic Align because abx kills good bacteria in your digestive tract as well. Since I started using Alive Women's Daily that has probiotics in it, I quit buying Align as it's pricey and the Alive is doing it's job. You shouldn't be on long time abx without probiotics. You don't want the bad bacteria to outnumber the good to result in illness.
I have to say, I feel better than ever since before cancer dx. The only change I've made is taking Alive Women's Daily. It won't help with nausea and the head crap feel I had, but no other side effects and energy galore since after day 4. Amazing stuff. And no, I don't work for them.
Here's the ingredients:
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I just woke up this morning trying to remember if I've packed my chemo bag, ---- then realized I already HAD chemo yesterday! Miracle of miracles, the (new again) nurse got the iv in on the first try. First dose of CEF. The red epirubicin freaked me out (as does my still red-orange pee) but otherwise the new combi just wore me out. They said the SEs shouldn't start for a few days.
Grey shame on that nasty cop for insisting that you flash your scar. If it wouldn't mean wasting precious hours of your time, I'd say report him. Or maybe write about it in the readers's pages of your local newspaper. I hope karma hits him hard. I'll bet there's never been a guy with testicular cancer who's been forced to reveal his scar in public!!! (((((Hugs for grey)))))
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After my last chemo on 11/2, I feel human today. Just in time for my 4th AC on 11/16. But I figure by thanksgiving day maybe I will feel as good as I feel today, so that would be great. Have all 4 kids, 2 son in laws, and grandson for thanksgiving. Xmas will be just 4, me, husband, and the 2 unmarried kiddos.
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I got an insurance statement yesterday for my very first Nuelasta shot. It is $10,000! They only cover $3400 under contract. There is no way that crap should cost that much. This is why people get so pissed at greedy rich people. I'm not saying I'd deny someone some profit off this needed medicine, but really people? Give me a break!
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Hey Hazel! My 4th AC is the 16th too! Last one. Woohooo!
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Annie. That's absurd. $10,000 for one drug? I had an insurance snafu and had to cover the cost for one round. It's ok as I submitted the receipts to be reimbursed. I've never had to pay for meds so when I saw the $1200 charge, I assumed it was for all of them and thought WOW, this is nuts. When I looked at the receipt, it was nuelasta only.
I thought that was steep and my charge is missing a zero!!! I don't get it. Pharmaceutical companies are out of control. I understand they need to recoup their research and development costs but once that drug is out there, it's used by millions. The money is coming in Mr. Greedy Drug Company....grrrr
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southern how sweet your coworkers were to do all that for you.
Annie last chemo next week woo hoo!
Well yesterday I contacted my oncology nurse coordinator and we set up an initial visit with the rad oncologist for next Tuesday. And I'm officially set to get the damn port out dec 21. Even though I have 2 treatments left I don't feel so stuck in chemoland. Things are moving forward.
Now if only nasty neulesta and taxol SE's would cut me a break today. So tired of the nite hot flashes and not sleeping.
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and I'm cranky this morning. I don't know what annoys me more the cancer commercials or the neulesta commercial that I saw last nite right before my auto injector went off. Arrg
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Slow but relatively easy first post-chemo day. Blood pressure dropped like crazy, and because I'm not allowed to use compression until after the dexamethasone is over (two more days), my lymphedema is worse and hurts (and as usual I'm too bull-headed to take pain meds).
But I've got several Bondi Vet episodes on the vcr
and a good dog story book and of course my dear Misty-doggy. One day at a time I wish all of you an easy weekend
And SouthernCharm, LOVE your "blowing In The Wind" comment =
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My first neulasta shot was billed at $12,500 and my chemo charge was $42,000. That's for one round! My insurance pays what they determine is a fair price based on a cost plus profit calculation. So, they paid about half of what was billed.I'm still waiting to see what the hospital does when they get the much reduced payment. This shows how expensive this creep is and how much profit is included in the fees to begin with.
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I had to break down and buy an eyebrow pencil. I'm sure in another week they'll all be gone but I'm filling them in until then. I'll look like Gloria Swanson and be "ready for my close up Mr. Demille."
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My private insurance works differently. It caps at $50,000 per year for meds and fortunately I was able to change my plan when I was diagnosed (previous plan was $5,000). I think the only reason I was able to do this with the insurance company was that I am an employer with employees on the plan so I'm paying anyway. Of course, ironically, my employees had better coverage than I did...so they "let" me join the rest of the team. Nice of them eh.
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Wow, my neulasta shot was only 9000. Total bill for a big infusion day was around $13-14K. Maybe because they buy in bulk and are a non-profit organization.
Anyway! First day of Taxol. I totally had a reaction. They pumped more Benadryl into me and kept going at a slower rate. Didn't get out of there until 8:30 pm. BLEH! I was starving.
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I'm going to have to practice to not look like Groucho Marx. The lashes are going too. Ugh. It also looks like I have 2 black eyes. Cancer sucks!
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Great job with the pencil Annie! Can't tell it's a cover job. And yeah, it astounds me the price of meds. One tylenol pill costs the hospital next to nothing but yet it's $2 a pop. Having worked the medical field for 10 years I get doctor's fees as they have very high overhead especially if they are in private practice which includes usually a large medical school debt and always the malpractice insurance they must carry. But I don't get it with pharmaceuticals. Life enhancing/saving meds should not be unaffordable to anyone period.
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Lindy, many of the pharmaceutical companies' research and development costs are subsidized by government grants. Then they take their profits and stash them overseas via a variety of schemes, thereby avoiding paying taxes on those profits.
Nice work if you can get it. Greed is an ugly thing. I just don't understand why there's no such thing as "enough."
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I've already had more than enough of this cancer crap and I'm not even halfway through this ordeal.
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Annie great job with the eye pencil. They look really good. I have one that has the pencil on 1 end and brow powder on the other. It is like brows for dummies- I can't mess it up. Gonna hit ulta for Anastasia brow gel this weekend. Don't know what I'm gonna do about the lashes though. The corner lashes fell out on my left eye and the ones on the right eye fell out in the middle. Weird. Filling in the brows helps.
DLcygnet that sucks about the reaction. Hope you manage taxol SE's ok.
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I got fake lashes a while ago but really who the hell has the patience? You can see in the before brow pic that big clump I lost last night. It's all just so surreal.
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The "friend" who told me I barely had cancer now tells me that people like me getting cancer isn't so bad because you know stay at home mom's don't have to work and I can just lay around and rest while my husband goes to work and takes care of everything. You know, sorta like a vacation.
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Annie your brow looks good, you have the perfect color!
I'm 2 days post chemo and still jittery as heck. I wore my baseball cap with the hair attached out to Target this morning, I felt very brave! It's kinda itchy so it's not an all day hat that's for sure.
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Southern. that was sweet that your coworkers were so supportive. The outside world has no clue how bad we hate pink. Hang in there and hopefully work will go smoothly. I know you don't like short hair but my wig is really light ( its in my picture) now that my head has stopped being so sensitive it is a lot easier to wear. I am going to swap it for a shorter (even lighter) one for my work projects and meetings. I am not a super fan of short hair but its going to take six months to have it grow out and I am getting tired of hats.
LindyC how is the fever? did it finally go down?
Shopgal2 Congrats on the plan to get De-ported Its nice to feel like one stage phase is finished and its funny that we start to look forward to the next just to get closer to the finish line.
AnnieB43 your eyebrows look great. I have a powdered Eyebrow thingie. Its sort of like this one. It works nicely but I admit I am losing a lot more brows and lashes. My eyes water constant. On a different topic I read that the lupron Monthly shot is like $7000.
luzeelu Hang in there I think it feels more encouraging to get over half way. Its a long hike thats for dang sure.
staykarlast… Yah for being done by Christmas. I know this Christmas will be a bit challenging for for many of us but I hope it is full of great memories and joy. We have all earned it.
Scotland I laughed at your daughters story. I have a preteen daughter. I read the text in my daughters voice. My daughter has been playing me "Brave" on the piano. She dedicates songs to me. It makes me feel like its her little way of being silly and also coping with what her mom is going through. Its not always at this age to get moments with our daughters. I am sure the picture is priceless.
mom2boo_and… I think this age of girls is so self absorbed. Much of it is their way of coping. I heard a statement once that teenage daughters can be "Ferrell Cats" at times. There are moments in my house as well. Try to find a few moments to smile with her. Maybe catch her on a non-ferrell day. Or is that just in my house?
edwsmom Good luck this weekend I can't even imagine. I recomend acting tired and letting people volunteer to help as much as possible. Its a pride thing but there are no awards for doing it all. I hope your little one has a fun birthday. Take pictures, enjoy the moment. I hope the family visit goes well.
Greyt2mphrn… Wow flashing your boob at the policeman. I am shocked appalled and actually admire the hell out of you. You are so courageous. there is a lot of crap we deal with in this cancer journey. How sucky that this had to be added to your week. I am sending some sunshine your way and positive thoughts. Fight hard Warrior Sister- You are doing this!!!
Skittlegirl… Thats awesome that you have so many angels stop in during your Chemo. It sure makes it easier to get through doesn't it?
sailorgirl1… Glad you are doing well. I lived in AZ for years and love this time of year everything cools down and the desert is gorgeous.
Artista928 I am going to check out the B12 I have heard the liquid is better. I hope the powder works for you. Let us know. I decided I had better get back to it so mixed some in ovaltine. It wasn't bad at all.
Scotland that lymphodema sucks rocks? Please share what you learn while going through this. I had some issues with my left arm where they had to dig for the lymph nodes. I wouldn't let them draw blood the bad things is I am right handed ( had lymph nodes out of that side too) so I didn't want them to screw up the one good side with blood draws. How long do you think I am at risk for Lymphodema? I have been doing exercisies but maybe I will insist on a foot IV for my surgery even though my arm has stopped aching and swelling. What I had was minor compared to all you are going through. Sending you prayers and thoughts.
I still have a few back pages to read but my eyes are twitching like crazy. I feel like those little pen dolls my kids have where you sqeaze them and their eyes bop out. Its been going like this for treatment 4/5 I read that it goes away three weeks after 6. Crossing my fingers on that one.
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Fight the Fight.
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southern - what is your favorite halo? My neck is getting cold with just hats and I just don't think I'm a wig girl, I've never worn it. Thanks!
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Southern I actually like pink as a color to for me the pink dragon is BC. OH and I love that wig. You have such beautiful eyes you could go as short as you like. I will try to find a picture of the Wig I am ordering. I have it picked out. Hopefully as it gets cold my wig will be easier to wear. I should have said " I hate short hair" not you. This bald things sucks and I am a bit negative about it lately.
On the controversial Pink stuff. I just think its tough. There is a lot of good in it and a lot of false advertising stuff.
I just hate to wear pink breast cancer items and own pink breast cancer items and well just live my life immersed in pink. It just ends up being a constant reminder for someone who is already fighting a hard fight. I believe in the research. I even believe in the publicity to get more awareness and screening. I get frustrated when I find out how many pink products don't even go towards the cause they are advertising. Pinkwashing is this whole controversial thing but I kind of stay out of that because I thank god everyday for Herceptin and early screening because I hope in this case it saved my life. With all that I have two friends who really want me to walk with them in the "race for the cure" but isn't it fair for those of us to walk this trail to feel like at some point we can live our lives without thinking about BC each day?
I want BC to be a chapter in my life but I don't want it to be my whole book.
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thanks!
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Just got back from Safeway. Ran into one of the really nice maintenance men for the complex. Asked how I am. Decided to tell him about my stage III / possibly stage IV bc after he started talking to me about this mysterious pain in his back and not wanting to go to the doc. Told him my story, of how I hadn't had a mammo or anything for 5.5 years and here I am now. So I think I changed his mind about poo pooing check ups especially when you have insurance, and do the annual manly checks and other exams that are recommended for his age.
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That's a pretty wig Southern!
Mom2Boo - I have that halo too. It's nice to have on hand.
I spent a lot of money on my HH wig because I wear it pretty much every day. That said, I can't seem to get it where I want it style-wise. I feel like it still looks "wiggy" to me. I don't like how it falls in the front. I might have to have more of a bang cut into it (it's basically a long bob). I find it so frustrating to still not feel fully confident wearing it.
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Wow, great prices for human hair wigs Southern. How long do these things last? And how do you care for them, esp the ones that are wavy/curly. If you wash them, doesn't it lose that and go straight?
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