Starting Chemo June 2017
Comments
-
KIM wishing you the best on round 3. I did find that darn nuelasta gave me a little more bang for my buck the 3rd time around. I felt very achy and sort of really tense and headaches came about for 2 days I want to say day 4 and 5 were harder. This time around my plan is to keep taking the Claritin through to day 5,, keep fiorocet on hand for the headache and tension and see if that helps.
I too walked out to my car one day bald headed and realised I forgot my hat. I giggled and kept going. All my neighbors know what im going through anyway so whatever. I
0 -
hhuey - thank you so much! Yes I am so fortunate to have a great mom - especially one I can giggle with too. After my head was shaved I commented on how small my head is (I am pretty petite) and my mom said - your head was not that small when I was trying to get you out...lol! Yes missing my Father so much - the world is just not the same without him physically in it...however, I know he is watching over us. I love how you are rocking that gray cap! It's adorable! You are very beautiful!
MsLin - love how the scarf looks on you - I am inspired to shop for one this weekend if I am feeling up to it!
Kim - you are so beautiful - keep your positive spirit up because it's working for me too. When I saw you on that horse on Day 2 I was inspired to think ...there must be a lot of good days too while going through this! Praying for you today (and always) to get this next treatment done today. Cross another one off the list!
Happy Friday and minimal side effects for all!
Sue
0 -
0 -
And my wig!
0 -
lilsuzq- thank you
Susie your head looks so cute with or without the wig..love that shirt too
0 -
Susie, You are beautiful with no hair or with wig hair. Fierce bad, girl! Knocking out cancer with a 1-2 punch! We've got to keep smiling, because this is a small blip in our long lives. About to shower and prepare for the infusion... (My DH fixed me an egg and bacon this morning. Oh yeah, it tasted good.)
0 -
Oh my gosh, you all look so beautiful inside and out.
0 -
0 -
LilSuzyq - My curly hair did the same thing - the birds nest at the bottom. Too funny. Your wig is very pretty.
Susi2017 - You look beautiful either way. All of you are looking great. Heading off to treatment #2 now. More later.
0 -
Everyone of ya'll are my hero!!
Thank you ladies for the pics!! hugs0 -
klt....
I must have a different devices... I watch the RN each time load my injector with the Nuelasta ... its a little small syringe that she loads it with...
then she closes the injector.. and puts on either my arm or my tummy...0 -
Susie you look great with or without the wig. love the colour of your new hair and the style suits you!
0 -
Pink that hat is so pretty on you..
I forgot to add and it might be because a few of you still mention it but I always crave cheeseburgers now..doesn't matter where from ..a cheeseburger and fries is always my go to if I can't figure out what I want..
0 -
LOVE all of your pictures!!! Finally have faces to go with your comments! One positive thing about this chemo, I got to meet and know all of you!
0 -
Great idea to share other parts of our lives! I am 47, will be 48 in August. I share a birthday with KimPossible! I live on Long Island, NY, am divorced with no children. I work in Manhattan at a financial institution. My beau and I have been together ~15 years now. He has 2 kids and 7 grandkids. We met through our mutual love of the Allman Brothers Band. We have many cherished memories of road trips to see the band and spending time with friends we have made over the years at peachy fan gatherings. It is truly an extended family that developed so we have 'family' all over the US. We believe in the power of music as a healer and a force that unites souls of all kinds. Where there is music, there is love. We frequently are out looking for live music whenever we can. It has brought us to some wonderful places that we may not have visited otherwise. We had planned to go to Colorado to see a few concerts at Red Rocks at the end of the month followed by a Mets/Rockies baseball game but then my cancer diagnosis changed that. Red Rocks and Colorado in general is one of our favorite places. We still have our eye on a planned vacation to Costa Rica in February. Chemo is over the end of Sept. I hope to be post surgery and all healed in time to go. I would love to celebrate with a tropical drink.
My beau and I have an unconventional relationship in that he lives in the northern most corner of North Carolina. We travel back and forth between NY and NC. The Outer Banks is a very special place for us. There's just something about the laid back vibe, having our toes in the sand and tasting the salt in the air. Thankfully, he can run his business long distance so he will stay here while I go through treatment. I do still go into the office. I have chemo on Thurs, work from home Fri and Mon and go to the office again on Tues. Luckily, side effects have been manageable so I feel comfortable with that for now.
I go for my 3rd AC dose on Thursday. My hair really started falling out after #2 so I am now buzzed. I do have a wig, but I tell you it felt like a dead cat up there in this humidity. I did opt for a wig that looked similar to my former look, but it does need some tweaking.
I tried to post pics but got a message I am not allowed to post links.
0 -
Thanks ladies for the compliments on the scarf. It's actually 2 that I layer. I have a ton of them in various colors and patterns. After surgery I spent hours watching YouTube videos on how to wrap them so they look good.
Peachy - How wonderful that your beau can be with you during treatment.
Hhuey - I too crave the cheeseburgers! I feel so guilty eating them since I should be eating so healthy, but frankly I just don't care. We happen to be on a road trip to Arizona to visit my cousin. I had to get out of the house. In any case, we drove from Seattle to Salt Lake City today and I insisted that we have dinner at In n Out Burger. It tasted so amazing!! I am sure there will be a few more stops at In n Out on this trip. I am going to have so much weight to lose after I'm all through with treatment
0 -
Round #2 went well today. My brother accompanied me (as my husband is recovering from shoulder surgery). He took a pic of me with my prayer shawl (sent by his daughter), my blankiegram healing blanket sent by a local friend and my soft cap which I sleep in but it's perfect for chemo and just wearing anyplace. You can also see that I am icing my feet in special boots I bought and my hands are in ziplock bags inside a foil-lined lunch bag. Here's hoping my SEs are as minimal as last time. Have a great weekend all of you beautiful people.
0 -
Julia you look so comfy with you hat and blankets..can I ask where you got the boots..I am thinking of ways to ice my hands and feet as well during my taxol treatments to avoid neuropathy. My mom has neu\
0 -
Pink, You are adorable in your pink cap. It's like a floral chamo.
I do love seeing everyone upclose.Julia, You are covered in prayer - and ice. My ONC yesterday said to chew on ice chips the whole time during chemo infusion, and I did just that. She thought that may help with the taste issues. Now I want an ice machine that makes the "rabbit pellet" ice. My ice crusher has sharper pieces...not easy on the teeth. DH feels sure we can buy bags of ice like that. Plus it tricks you into thinking you are not getting water intake.
Jeanne, We do have a few things in common. Hope you won't be like me in the chemo chair on our birthdays! I have yet to go to the Outer Banks, but my brother lives in the Raleigh 'burbs and goes there often to photograph its beauty. We may try to do a family trip there over Thanksgiving. (I just recently rewatched Nights in Rodanthe with Richard Gere. I love me some RG!) I am hoping I will be done with Taxol and it will be before my next surgery. I hear it is wonderful. Sounds like you are doing well working so. Kudos to all in that regard.
My #3 AC was uneventful. I enjoyed my nurse and got to see my ONC this time. Saw her NP last time. So, she answered a few questions I had. I did get extra fluids, because I told them I was having a difficult time after chemo forcing myself to drink. So few things appeal to me and only in small amounts. I know I must drink, but last time taste of most things for several days was off. So, that may be something y'all might could ask if needed to do while you are there. The nurse said I could come back next week for fluids if I felt I needed them. I will consider if necessary this time.
I hope everyone feels like a little fun today. It's my DH's annual company picnic, so we are going just to eat and say a quick hello. Glad I feel like it. Had a great night's rest!
(I found a way to make the pictures smaller - just sent them as small to my email.)
This bandana was given my first DH 8 years ago at the Duke Brain Tumor Center. Found it and thought appropriate to honor him and give me hope!
Getting hot up top but cold below, so off with the bandana. There's quite the freedom in ditching the hats, but it is easier in front of your medical team.
0 -
Kim, Love the scarf. I will have to try ending smaller pics too. Hope that ice helps you. Luckily I don't have so many taste issues so I just drink ice water with crystal light pink lemonade in it. You look great bald. I have a classmate who came bald to our 45th college reunion but she is braver than I. I will be using various hats and scarves. And maybe the halo I bought. I think a wig will be too hot and heavy in Florida but if I'm still bald in October I might get a free one from the cancer society. If my hair is growing back rapidly, I'll probably just not bother.
For all of you lovely ladies, I will report that I tried Smooth Move tea (made from senna leaves last night. Can't remember who on here made that suggestion. It worked great and seemed gentler than the sennekot tablet I had used during round one.
Have a great weekend.
0 -
Thanks for the compliments on the hat. I have several hats that I like to wear even before being bald. Most people can't tell that I have no hair unless they look real close or unless I go for the shock factor and take the hat off.
Tried on the wig again yesterday just to see if I could make it look somewhat reasonable. Still looks horrible. It was only on for about ten minutes and it was already too hot to handle. I do have a bamboo buff that I wear around the house which I highly recommend for sleeping. Oh, so soft. Keeps my head warm and it breathes. Plus I don't have to see myself when I pass that mirror and wonder who that bald headed person is looking back at me. Although, I am getting use to the bald look. There's this baby fine hair that just doesn't want to fall out. Last night DH said it looks like it's growing. I want to shave it but my hairdresser says no because then it'll be stubble which will be more aggravating as it grows back in. I guess it's the "baby's head" look for now.
I too have gone outside and forgot to wear something on my head. Oh well, now, they know. I always think it's amazing when they ask if my hair will grow back. Really!! You've never heard about chemo side effects. I hope they never get cancer. I hope no one ever gets cancer ever again. It's such a despicable disease. Changes you forever!!!
This time around (#2), no real side effects other than everything tastes like cardboard and feeling tired more than usual. Can't get that awful taste out of my mouth no matter what I do!
Even with the treatment I still worry that this will come back. Everyone I know says that they're confident that I'll beat this. There's so much that's unknown with this disease. I pray that all of us will be cancer free for the rest of our lives.
0 -
All of you look fantastic! I'm so glad someone (chemo brain, I forget who) said let's get to know each other! I had my #2 A.C. yesterday. I felt the nurse pushed the Adriamycin in too quickly and then she didn't give me a bag of fluids at the end like the first time. I got nauseous about 3 hours later. And I couldn't get rid of the taste in the back of my throat. I tried everything. I couldn't even drink cause it was awful. I went to bed and started getting leg cramps, I knew I was becoming dehydrated so I went to ER for fluids at 4a.m. So next time I will insist she push slower and give me fluids when done.
As for my hair or lack thereof, I'm actually happy bald. I even posted a pic on my Facebook for everyone to see. I got all positive feedback. I explained it's the face of cancer not all pink and ribbons. Although I love pink! Shower time is quicker, no messing with styling hair, I like it! My husband said I should keep it like this, now that's pushing it! But when I'm home or driving I go bald! I put on a cap for work or a wig to go somewhere public. The stubble no longer hurts and it's falling out more and more every day. I have to share what my husband did to his hair to support me! Here's a pic!
0 -
Susie, just beautiful, both of you!
0 -
Susie that is so sweet of your husband. My husband is bald on top so he shaves his real sort and it's funny because sometimes we really rubbing our stubble at the same time. I'm sorry the nurse pushed it too quickly. I had some leg cramps too last night but drank tons and my husband rubbed my legs. Felt much better today. Hoping everyone else is feeling well. My tumor feels smaller then it did when I first noticed it back in March.
0 -
You all look fantastic! I haven't been brave enough to buzz cut yet and you all are giving me courage.
0 -
Susie, Y'all are a team, and you will get through this. It is evident your DH is there for you! I posted the same bald pic on FB that I did here. I got a lot of positive responses. I am sorry, too, the nurse pushed the A too fast. I requested extra fluids with my treatment this time, and that seems to have helped. I felt fine at the picnic but was a bit tired when I got home, so I hopped on the couch and relaxed and watched ATL Braves baseball until the Neulasta shot did it's thing at 7:28. My DH just made me blueberry pancakes, which I have tolerated well post chemo, and then we are off to church. Usually my Mon/Tues post are my most challenging days, but I am claiming it doesn't have to be a repeat, right? And I am 75% done with AC!!
Keep smiling all. I have to pick out my hat before what I will wear this morning, which seems funny to me.
0 -
Kim, I was thinking the same thing about picking out the hat first. Too funny. Have a great Sunday.
0 -
Has anyone gone clothes shopping yet with their bald head? I went last week and it was a bit strange for some reason. I was never one to really style my hair anyway but not having it there and just having a pale fuzzy head was strange..I had to put my hat on to get the full look lol..I did manage to pick out a cute top and some shorts though..I'm 4 days out from my last AC a tiny bit foggy, headachy, and a tiny bit achy..seem to be tolerating it well though.
0 -
Susie & Kim, you two are my hero
(for your courage to post your non-hair pics on social media & by
doing so spreading awareness of BC). You look beautiful. I'm not
there yet as I am an introvert & carefully guarding my privacy.
I do agree that BC is not all happy cutely pink shirt and ribbons.
Too many women had and will succumb to this “despicable” disease
as Pink put it. Sometime I think the cure is worse than the cancer
as each of us has experienced its side effect first hand. I'm
praying for science to advance quickly so that our
daughters/granddaughters will not suffer as we did.
0 -
you all look lovely rocking the bald look. I went out yesterday in a head wrap. Didn't feel vulnerable at all. Got some knowing glances and maybe a few curious stares from some little ones, but no pity looks which was awesome!! We stopped in Shake Shack for a burger and chocolate shake. I'm thinking you all put that thought in my bald head. ha. I'm finding it a bit of a challenge to match the wraps. While they are colorful and have nice patterns when picking them out, sometimes they present clashing issues with my clothes. I have to get some that are more neutral.
When I went to get a flat iron for my wig, I didn't feel like wearing my wig but thought it might be weird to walk up to a salesperson and ask for help with flat irons while bald.
My friend said to do it just for the reaction. Is that mean?
Have a great Sunday everybody. I just came in from a long walk around the neighborhood. I have slacked off exercising the last couple of months and it's starting to bother me. While burgers and icecream are going down, I need to get up more!
0
