Starting Chemo September 2015; join us!
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Hi all! The echo results are in - all good! No decrease in heart function.
will continue to be monitored for a while. 0 -
Tessu - You are still the kind, intelligent, capable person you've always been. You're under a tremendous strain that's stressing your husband's capacity to listen to your worries with compassion.
Hang in there for whatever you have to hang in there for. We care about you and are here to listen. Sharing your frustrations and fears isn't whining. Phlebitis sounds absolutely crappy and we all have a limit to how much we can endure during this journey. Be kind to yourself - you're worth it! <<<trans-atlantic hugs>>>
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Southern - This is the kind of Poster Warrior you want to be! I am thrilled for you.
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Southern...yay for you!! I too have had great labs, even when I was feverish and feeling my weakest (go figure). I know how surprising it is to hear that you're amazing people. I get that too. My friends and family constantly tell me how proud they are of me...and meanwhile, I'm having pity parties for one all the time, thinking I just can't do it anymore. But I do. We get through this any way we can.
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Met with the plastic surgeon on Monday to discuss my surgery options - lumpectomy versus mastectomy with reduction/lift. Was kind of hoping for the latter, but in my mind it was all going to be one surgery and I'd keep my nipple. I've lived with large boobs for so long and it would have been nice. Alas, new boobs are not to be. I would not be able to keep my nipple. It would be three long surgeries (expander, implant/reconstruction, and nipple reconstruction), three long recoveries, and a year-long ordeal. It's just too much when I can go with a lumpectomy. So I'm having a lumpectomy on December 21st and then radiation some point after.
My heart goes out to the ladies who don't have that option and must have the mastectomy and reconstruction.
Hugs to all of you beautiful ladies! I hope everyone sticks around after chemo to keep us posted on how you're doing. I may not comment often, but I am following along and thinking about you.
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I was given lumpectomy as an option when bs thought I had 4 cm tumor. I have D/DD breasts or should say had. Am so happy I don't. As for nipple, they have great 3D tatoos for those who want it. I'm not going to bother. The TEs settled in nicely awhile back and no longer bother me. I just sometimes forget I don't have a bra on after a shower because these things are so firm. I should be out of the TEs into permanent C size implants next summer sometime!
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Southern Charm, I backed off on my steroid dosages last time. It took me longer to recover and I'm thinking reducing the steroids might have had something to do with it. I'm keeping the prescribed schedule this round. I do think the steroids make my hot flashes worse.
Only one more chemo! Yay!!!
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Isn't there a med the MO can rx for hot flashes? I'm afraid of this starting on Taxotere next month and those steroids. I already naturally run on the warm side.
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They told me yesterday they could prescribe meds for hot flashes but they came with their own side effects. I opted to pass for now not wanting to add any more SEs for the time being.
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Southern- An AD? Please tell me it's not Effexor. I was on that for awhile way back when with my depression and anxiety and even slowly weaning off of it made me sick like the flu for the longest time. I'll never to that one again.
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Southern, when I was on AC, I skipped the last steroid dose and then some. Nausea wasn't as much of an issue for me as not sleeping. I took a gamble, and it paid off.My MO said it was OK. Sadly, all of the steroids for Taxol are before, and the MO said no steroids, no treatment.
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The conversation on juicing is inspiring! My taste buds are only registering "salt" and "sweet" so i have been OD'ing on homemade chex mix and ice cream. I have all the mixin's for juicing, including a couple juicers so no excuses, I will attempt at least 1 tomorrow.
In regards to Neuropathy, my hospital offers acupuncture including foot massages and essential oils for free during chemo treatments. I have not had any signs of neuropathy in my fingers or toes. I have had minor joint pain, and some clumsiness but not anything debilitating. I truly think the acupuncture helps!
Southern - The week I stopped my steroids early, was the week my WBC count dropped significantly. I am not saying they are related, but I was told by my nurses not to stop the steroids even if you are feeling good because it is preparation for the next treatment. I don't like them either ;(
Time to put the ice cream down and go to bed.
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Southern: My menopause symptoms have been coming on strong for a month now. Lots of hot flashes and a dull ache in my ovary area. My sleep doctor ( for sleep apnea) told me to let my room get as cold as possible and throw an extra blanket on DH. Her patients sleep much better in a cold room. Also she did tell me about a pillow (chillow) that helps cool the head.Please let me know if the AD work. I suspect with this surgery I am only going to have more SE of menopause.
I have noticed the cold room helps my husband is ok with it he just puts an extra blanket on.
here2win If the juicing isn't great this time be patient. I just barely got my taste buds back a week ago( well mostly back). Before that I was eating salsa, chex mix, and ice cream. They were the only things I could taste somewhat.
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Southern: Yay for better sleep!
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for any Star Wars fans out there
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SouthernCharm I hear ya on hotflashes and poor sleep. They are both really common symptoms of menopause. I sleep under a really light blanket in a cold room and still just pour sweat on my pillow. The steroids do make sleep so much worse. I am planing on going on AD but not until January after my surgery. Everyone responds differently to AD they may be just what you need. I have read on the Hormone forum that many women count on them for helping with the M symptoms. Praying things go a little easier for you.
El_Tigre We love star wars in our house.My son is a huge fan of Luke Skywalker.
For those of you on Rads? Are you allowed or given any creams to put on that area? How are they going?
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hey gals! I thought this day would never come but today is my last chemo. I almost was not going to do it but here I wait to be called back for infusion. Mo is again reducing dd dose to help with neuropathy. And best gift ever is no neulesta after this dose. Next stop deportation in a week and a half then onto rads in Jan. The road that seemed so long is looking shorter and iwish the same for all of us. I'm a bit weepy today but they are happy tears. No more chemos!
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Congrats Shopgal2! Great parting gift of no neulasta, so happy for you.
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thanks ladies. My mo said no neulesta is a 4th nite of Chanukah present. Lol
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I have been getting acupuncture. Yesterday I felt completely different after my acupuncture session, calmer, more relaxed, less overwhelmed, less emotionally drained, and I went to PT right afterward and the cording was pain free by the end of the session. I had 2 sessions before this where I did not really notice a ton of difference, but I know the science says it helps with chemo side effects, so I kept going.
I am blessed that my hospital has a whole program they offer free to cancer patients, acupuncture, nutrition, gym and a trainer if you want.
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I also buy the Juven and I try to get 2 - 3 in per day for wound healing.
I have a hard time with protein, but the latest thing I have been able to add only requires 6 ounces of water & it has 17 grams of protein, so I can get it down. This is it: http://www.gardenoflife.com/Products-for-Life/Foun...
I try for at least 2 protein drinks a day as well.
I am having trouble with a wound healing & might get a wound vac this week. Nothing like the possibility of carring a vaccum attached to your body to motivate you to get in the Juven and protein every day. I hate it and don't want it and wish i could wait until the end of chemo & let it heal, but I might suck it up and get the wound vac.
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Acupuncture helps with hot flashes
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shopgal -3 cheers for you!!!!!
Day four of nasty bone pain. F you, cancer. You think you can wear me out with your chronic and unrelenting pain? Well, you can't! I'm going to finish treatment and there's nothing you can do about it!
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Cajun, does Claritin and tylenol or ibuprofin combo not work for you? It's highly tooted as working against bone pain.
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Cajun - my 2nd DD taxol SE were not as bad. I hope the next dose of yours is not either.
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Shopgal - Congratulations! You give me hope - February can't get here soon enough!
Cajun - Damned. Straight.
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@Cajun - I know. Just having a bad day. Not getting the radiation leaves a 19-41% chance of recurrence for the aggressive cancer type that I have. (Depending on which study you look at.) I know I will still have my other breast to nurse from (for now).
@Southern - The last of my eyebrows just went. Today is my first day at work without any eyebrows drawn in. No comments so far.
@El_Tigre - I want! Just need the golden bikini to match
Neuropathy - I seem best able to clear it when I'm in warm water. My love of swimming seems to be paying off as I get the longest relief after a half hour swim. Maybe it's just the blood pumping. Anybody else doing something really physically strenuous for exercise? Does that have the same effect?
Infusion #5 out of 12 for Taxol this afternoon. I feel pretty good - hope that means my numbers are even higher this time. I keep staring at my countdown ticker. I haven't had to miss an infusion yet... still 8 weeks left out of 20. Over the hump!
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Wonderful news Shopgal! Woo hoo!
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mLisa, canjiun, exercise, & wlTigre thanks on the congrats. I'm thinking of all us sept ladies today. It was still summer when a lot of us started and now it's almost winter. Seasons of the year and seasons of cancer. I took my dad to a cardiac appt yest- he's 89& had triple bypass with pacemaker 6 yrs ago & had heart failure in March of this year. He has been on injection insulin since I started chemo after only taking pills or diabetes since dx at 60. Well he did phenomenal at heart dr. Doc said dad just keeps plugging along. Made me think if he can survive worse crap than me I better be able to make it to his age.
I also met one of his nurse who liked me hat & said she used to wear a lot of them a few hrs ago. Turns out she is almost a 5yr survivor. Had act & bilateral. She said her curly hair grew back straight. I told her mine was normally straight so maybe I get curly? But overall it was nice to meet a fellow survivor who went thru the same chemo. Sometimes the world is a small place when you meet another BC person. It's a club that no one wanted to join but it's a lifetime membership. Hope we all can meet NED soon and have him stay in out lives.
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