Starting chemo February 2018
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I just went for a walk, took my meds and did a youtube restorative yoga tape. Still feeling a bit weepy. I made a lovely friend on these boards who is encouraging me to accept whatever comes from this. It is so hard trying to accept a poor outcome with my young children. I am so attached to them.
I appreciate the candidness on these boards too. Thank you all.
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thats nice getting yourself managablely engaged, dont worry hun.. everything is for a reason..stay positive soon ull recover and everything will be back to normal and ull get to see your kids grow up and get settled and everything
I am at my doctors waiting for my blood result .. my original doctor is like oncology specialist of india .. hes like around 68 years old apparently he got an attack and is under rest. So m currently waiting to see his junior for time being..
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Welcome to the newest members here, sorry we have to meet like this. Glad to report I finally feel a bit like myself again. Now this week is when my hair will fall out so that's a bummer but at least I do feel better, totally worn out tho. I ended up going o the ER Fri night, still had diarrhea and the dr told me I needed checked out. I have to go to OSU but was told there is a separate ER for James patients, after getting frisked down on the way in I mentioned the separate James ER twice so we didn't have to sit with all of the people with the flu using the er as their family doctor but they refused to take us back there said it was full. 45 min later I throw a fit and they take us back and they're is 1 other patient there, busy my ass. We wait back there for 4 hours and I never did get seen, I walked out and will NEVER go back there, it was a horrible experience. Now we"re just praying we didn't pick up the flu there. I'm not sure why I had diarrhea for 10 days from my treatment but that was the worst, I am so sore and bleeding and weak from it all. I am going to see my oncologist this week and see where he wants to go with this now. I have not worked for 10 days either so that can't be good, ugh what a mess. Ok off to have a shower, ttys
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I told close friends and then made a FaceBook post about it. I'm usually very private so that was weird for me. I felt compelled for some reason, and also scared to be so vulnerable. I'm glad that I did it because the support has been unreal and has gotten me through the surgery phase and continues to lift my spirits. I know there are lots of lessons for me in this process, but the loudest right now is to learn to ask for and accept help. Not my thing! But I can't do this alone, so I'm getting onboard. My kids are in their 20's, and one out of state. I've been divorced a long time and I'm a take charge, get it done, independent woman. But this is different and I need the help. I will find out on Wednesday when my treatments begin. The candor of all of you is so strangely helpful. Thank you.
Wishing you a peaceful, SE free night.
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I have my first chemo appt today and cannot sleep, I will probably read the thread today. Had a just in case mammogram in January for a calloused feeling nipple and the same breast has been slightly bigger than the other side ever since having my almost 2 year old/weaning him. Officially diagnosed Feb 2nd and while I feel like things have been moving fast I thought last week would be the start, but my port got put in Thursday. I am a call back, call back for openings person, so I feel like maybe I can chill out for a min now.
I will try to get a siggy figured out, but IDC stage iiia, her2+.I honestly have been trying to stay off Google and all sites while getting all appts financial apps and tests done. They will do surgery after chemo 6 rounds, then a year of Herceptin.I am 35 with a kindergarten kid and a one year old, not high risk, no other medical conditions. I am pretty much head down let's do it, but I am worried about my kiddos most. At least we are past the dying- baby won't remember me, am I going to bankrupt our life, and all that jazz. So many people in real life have told me of survivors they know that I know it will be okay.
Also, I do keep drama/too private off fb, but we went out for a rare drink after bone scan and ct results and did announce. Lol, my sister called me crying (she knew allready) and said look at this bitch with her fb official announcement, now I'll have to do a cake cutting balloon pop color specific to diagnosis to announce cancer if I ever get it. Humor does help
Keeping my ish together for the most part. Good luck all!
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debs, sorry for u ..hope everything goes fine then.
Down doggie, independent steong woman you are and you can surely do it..
Ofmice, wishing you all the best and hope everything goes smooth for u..
So i saw my chemo doc .. apparently i had low blood count so they immediately put me for grafeel injection for three days followed by a blood test.. i have to go hospital tmrw and dayafter for injection and next day for bloodtest if all goes smooth i have my secnd chemo on 2nd march ..
About those nasty black spots on my tongue doctor told me its common and adviced me some vitamin tabs
Hope all others are doing great..you guys r always in my prayers
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I have told everyone and I’m glad I did. People have been so kind. I haven’t cooked dinner in a month!
I agree that I am so thankful to be able to talk here. My family and friends have been priceless but they don’t understand like you all do. The second you’re told “cancer” you become a different person forever, I think. That doesn’t have to be a bad thing and I think we can get a lot out of the new way we view life, but it’s hard for others to understand.
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hi! I haven't told many people. Just those I really need to tell. I am a very private person. Those who I have told have been extremely helpful - my family especially. I don't think I could do this without them. I'm sure if I told more people they would help too. but i have the support I need now.
Debsmisto - I'm so sorry you had such a bad experience at the ER. Hope your feeling better. Are you taking anything to try to stop the diarrhea? Maybe there's something you can take to help out.
Ofmice - I have two young ones too. 5 year old and 21 month old. I also noticed my lump right after I stoped breastfeeding my 21 month old. My biggest worry is them too. But they are also my biggest strength. Every time I start feeling down, I look at them and realize this is a battle I cannot loose. They have been great about this whole thing. Helpful and caring. I explained a little bit what's going on to my 5 year old (didn't use the c word) but put it into words he will understand. I had to put my 21 month old in daycare as I can't take care of him 100% of the time now. He is doing great (though I miss our daily Adventures).
Anoliver - hope your counts get back up quickly. What kind of vitamins did he recommend for the spots on your tongue? I'm glad it's something Normal.
Moth - hope you have more energy today. Also, your blog sounds really neat!
Hope you all have a great week!
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I feel like I'm stuck in a vat of molasses. Just so slow. Everything seems like such a challenge. Had a shower and have to run an errand now. I think I'll need a nap later. I have appointments today, tomorrow & Wed so I hope I can manage all of them. Can't imagine working through this... I don't how people do it. We had a stupid large dump of snow & it's all icy everywhere. Ugh. It's Vancouver - we're supposed to have spring and daffodils now LOL
but no nausea, no mouth sores and my digestion seems to be working fine for now so I'm feeling gratitude for the little things.Debsmisto - sorry you had that horrible experience in the ER! I hope you start feeling better asap.
Ofmiceandmen - welcome to the suckiest club. Hope your side effects stay minor. What chemo protocol are you on?Aanoliver - fingers crossed for your wbc counts rocking back up quickly!
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I am on P-TCH. I an 5 hours and 15 minutes into it and have 2 more medicines to go, woohoo. I have read half a magazine from Prime lol.
Thats's crazy, my son is 22 months! I started feeling like something didn't feel right in Oct(tumor was really deep undersidecouldn't feel it, young haha!dense breasts, Gyn in Dec, mammogram Jan and time flew. We didn't use the C word with my daughter either. We stuck very simple to mommy is sick and will be taking medicine to get better. If I feel too tired, Daddy will take you on an adventure, and I will be better soon. I hop I can keep up with the baby okay, we only have 2 close friends who can take him a few hours at a time. I don't want to burn them out early
I have been eating every snack they offer and hit my min water intake allready. I am hoping, hoping it will be no worse than horrible morning sickness until 20weeks
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Downdoggie - Thanks for the chemo beanie suggestion, I'm a true amazon junkie so it's perfect, nothing beats free 2 day shipping!
Anyone have any suggestions for getting food to taste better? I'm only day 4 post chemo and I feel like I have saran wrap around my tongue and everything is bland with no taste. Even just drinking water feels awkward. It's definitely better than day 1... but still unpleasant... I love to eat!!
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Hello ladies!
Just wanted to check in and say hello - I'm back at work today, and it's all fine, no issues whatsoever, feel totally normal (only had one brief bout of nausea on Friday night, and it was easily handled with the meds and some sleep), so in an effort to stay normal this week, I'm going to step back from here for a few days.
Just need a bit of a break from thinking about this constantly, it's been mentally draining since chemo last week, but wanted to stop by to let everyone know that all is well and I haven't disappeared for any sort of scary reason! Next round is next week, so I'm sure I'll be back before then.
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So good to hear you had a pretty good first round, Anxiety Girl! Enjoy your week off....
Debsmisto, that is so awful what happened at the ER. I hope you get a good plan going with your Dr this week. 10 days ofsuffering is too much!!!
I took my grandkids to school and then went to have labs done before my weekly Taxol tomorrow. I got a call this afternoon my liver enzymes were up again so I meet with my Oncologist but no treatment tomorrow. I hope this doesn't change things again. I was in very good health when this BC was found in November. I'm praying for a simple answer........
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ofmiceandmen- hope your very long day of chemo went well. I think they speed up the infusions the second time around. My first Herceptin was 90 minutes with an hour break. It will now be 30 minutes. The carboplatin will go from 60 minutes to 30. Hopefully they will shorten your infusion day the next round. What part of Michigan are you in? I’m in the burbs north of Detroit.
Deb- I’m so glad you checked in. So sorry for the terrible experience at the ER . You SO deserve a break! I hope your stomach gets back to normal now.
Hope everyone is recovering well from last weeks chemo
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Day four for me and all I wanted to do was sleep. Did get my son to work and home went to store long enough to pick up some staples milk bread ect. Had to sleep in between each errand. For now that seems to be the worst of the SEs for me Just overwhelming tiredness. A bit of the bad taste but not to awful for now.
Anxiety girl you sound so much better.
Debmisto so sorry you have had it so very tough hope they get something figured out for you and very soon.
Hope we hear something from worriedme soon. Hope every one else is doing as well as possible and to hear from them soon.
Welcome to this unusual family to all the new ladies. this is a wonderful bunch.
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Hi all -
Just wanted to post here to introduce myself...I have my first chemo set for next Monday (Feb 26). So, waiting to see how it goes. I was diagnosed as triple positive (ER+,PR+,HER2+), and will be going through a 6 treatment chemo, three weeks apart. It's going to be TCHP (taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin, perjeta, then just herceptin for the balance of the year after the first 18 weeks are done. I'm fortunate that the place where I'm getting chemo is set up with Paxman, so I'm going to give scalp cooling a shot. So, fingers crossed, I'll keep some of my hair
Even though I officially have breast cancer, all they can find is a tumor in my lymph node in the armpit, so who knows. After chemo, they'll figure out what surgery I'll need to have.
I'm a software designer, and work from home, so I have alot of flexibility, and am hoping to be able to keep working throughout.
Anyway, good luck to everyone else, and I'll report in after my first treatment next week
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I wanna officially complain about how much chemo sucks. I have to do 7 more rounds of this???
I'm having a day of feeling sorry for myself.
Actually I can't even feel sorry for myself properly because I'm TOO TIRED to do it right..... This fatigue thing is insane.0 -
Round 2 done. Doctor talked to me about my ultrasound to check out the ovary that showed up on PETscan. They still think it's JUST a complex hemmorhagic cyst. So...crappy, not shitty I guess. Have to go back for more ultrasounds every 6-12 weeks to see if it resolves. But even if it is something it's not related to the breast cancer it's just other spontaneous nonsense.
I'm shaving my head tonight. It's falling out too much and sore and I don't want to deal with it any longer.
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Rockcity-
I'm West of AA, but a ways out. AA is too expensive so we have 1/2 an acre across from a farm field
They said it would go quicker next time, I spent just over 7hrs there, so one less would be nice. Other patients were coming and going. So far so good, I just took the Neulasta onpro thing off. Day 2 a bit dry mouth, metallic, but nothing crazy.
I am going to get my hair cut Saturday, thinking assymetrical bob with a shaved back. I am pretty boring, pony messy bun so it will be interesting!
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How everyone is doing okay. Well my hair started falling out today, haven't cut it yet but think I will tomorrow while my husband's at his dialysis treatment, Have missed 2 weeks of work, bummed about that, and still having diarrhea but much less frequently. I have got to get my strength back and beat this stupid disease!
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My pet scan came back with no more evidence of cancer than we already knew about, so lots of relief here. Feeling very thankful and hopeful for more years with my little loves
This chemo business is awful, but trying to be friends with it because hoping it will save my life.
About to try Miralax for abdominal pain— hoping it’s more gentle than the duralax.
Hugs to everyone dealing with side effects right now. I’m day 5 of my 1st treatment and finally feeling a bit better this evening.
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Day five and main SE is still the overwhelming tiredness bit of funky taste to things but bearable. Deb so glad that you are starting to feel better hoping that your next round is not so harsh on your body, You have a double whammy of sorts as you help your husband please don';t let your self get to depleted . CBOK hope round two does not bring any new surprises for you. Each day we are all one day closer to being done with all this. Has any one heard from worried me she was pretty sick the last I saw anything from her. Hopefully she is doing better and just to busy to let us know she is doing alright. Moth I agree about the being so tired. I have to sleep just to get the energy to breath it feels like at times. As long as I can get my son back and forth to work his job is the world to him his lifeline to all his friends. To everyone may each treatment become easier and time go quickly for us all so we are very soon finished with this whole process and through this tunnel.
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Hey ladies, just checking in. Have been feeling pretty normal last couple of days. My first round of AC was Feb 9th. Round 2 is this coming Friday the 23rd. Hopefully, it will be manageable. My hair is still intact which I expect will change after round 2. I ordered a cute wig from wigs.com and Vegalash for my lashes. Not sure if the Vegalash will help. Will report on that later.
Just wanted to say that you ladies are like my little family and I'm thinking of you.
Magnolia: congrats on the PET results!
Anxiety Girl: glad you're feeling better. Chemo it seems is just another learning curve. We'll get there!
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Hello ladies, although I have been reading these boards and casually looking for a landing place, I didn't feel ready to join in until I learned of my official chemo start day. Today I have been given the date of Feb. 26th to start infusions (Gah! Did anyone else feel like there is no way this can be real life?). So I will be joining you all as a February girl, and I'm thankful to find such a great group of caring and supportive ladies as I navigate this daunting journey.
I was diagnosed Feb. 2, first in the family to ever be handed this news. I found the tumor in my armpit (I'll call it divine intervention as it's a painless little lump, and this is not a place I usually go digging around) just after Christmas, and right before my 50th birthday. I saw my pcp a few weeks later, and things moved pretty quickly in the usual way after that. Since I am HER+ my treatment will be neoadjuvant TCHP, an infusion every three weeks for a total of 6. Then Herceptin and Perjeta to finish out a year. Lumpectomy, sentinel node removal, rads, and Tamoxifen are all also in my future. I will be getting my port Thursday morning, and going to chemo class Friday morning. I feel like I have already bought out half the pharmacy (both over the counter and prescribed) in preparation for side effects, and I'll probably be stocking up even more after chemo class! I hope this evening finds all of you well, and may you all wake up to an easy day tomorrow.
(edited to add: I'm not sure why my diagnosis, etc didn't show up in the signature line- I'll work on fixing that!)
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Hello everyone,
I started my 1st round of chemo the last week of January. I mostly post there, but also feel attached to this thread too.
I started round two yesterday. I learned from round 1 take medicine early. I made the mistake of letting the pain and SE get ahead of me. This time I started the nausea, mouth wash, and pain medicine early. I take the pain medicine in half. So far so good. I am also doing the baking soda rinse.
I am tired, but manage with power naps. I cooked and froze meals for the family two Saturdays prior. This has taken pressure off of everyone.
Two more days of round 2 left.
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22fightfor - looks like we're going to be on the same schedule. I'm also her2+ with TCHP, and my first treatment is Monday the 26th. So, fingers crossed we both have a successful first day.
I have a tumor in the lymph node in my armpit, which was found in my normal mammogram/breast ultrasound. Funny thing is, they can't find any sign of anything in my breast, even after mri, etc. So, not sure what exactly surgery will be happening down the road in addition to removing the lymph node.
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Pbello, i am taking b complex forte with vitamin c for the nasty black spots on my tongue
Moth, thanks hun
Butterfly, even i had on feb 9th next is scheduled for 2nd march ..i have it every 3weeks
22fight, as your name suggest get ready and fight that beast..welcome to the group nobody wants to join
Insideout, we have same regimen ..you are the only one i saw with same fac.. how was it for you?
So quick update .. morning i felt lil bit nauseated maybe cause of the neupogen shots however i had all my 3shots done from hospital and dint have any such of a bone pain as expected.. thanks lord .. Tomorrow i have my blood test to see if my blood count is up and if the chemo can go as per scheduled .
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hi all! So many new ladies joining our group. Welcome to the group nobody wants to be part of but are happy to find each other!
Moth - I felt the same way. By day 5, I was not only exhausted, but feeling very down about the whole thing - not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Now I'm day 10 and I'm back to myself (have been for a few days), back on fighting mode. Spirits high and as ready as I can be for the next treatment (which will be on Monday). Ready to get one more done as it means I'll be one more closer to the end. You'll get over this feeling! I have faith.
Ofmice - wow! Our kids are so close in age and our stories are so similar. I totally agree that by putting things in simple terms that the kids can relate to helps. I hope you are doing well after you're infusion. Its not easy doing this with young kids, but seems your husband and friends will help out.
Cbok, amburt - congrats on completing round 2! I hope the SEs are mild!! Cbok - is glad the ultrasound results are crappy and not shitty. Hope it gets resolved soon.
Inside out & butterfly and others with treatments this week - wishing you the best for round 2 this week!
Magnolia - congrats on pet scan results!
Monday 26 ladies - that’s my round 2 day. Hope we all do well. The first one is hard because you don’t know what to expect, but once you get through it you will know how to deal with t better. Like insideout wrote I also think the trick is to stay ahead of the SEs, take your meds don’t wait for the SEs. I’m going to do that better this time around.
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Hi all. On my way home from Palm Springs. All pretty good. Still fatigued but not too bad. Bald as a billiard balls. My suggestion? When it's time,find a good barber. The one I had was so sweet. He was young but has a mom and a sister who went through chemo. Barbers have all the best skill and tools for bald heads. Round 2 Friday. See you all on the flip side
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Day six for me and it has been the worst to date hoping that tomorrow starts a bit of an upswing. Felt like I had a the worst case of flu ever. Tonight seems a bit better pretty much slept the day away having to force my self to eat and drink anything. I think I made the mistake of stopping my nausea meds to soon, woke up so ill nausea and direahrrea so much fun NOT. So hard to know when it is safe to stop them. Especially when you fall asleep while waiting to see if it is safe to stop them.
Indahood good to hear from you, you seem to be doing well you go girl.I like the advice of going to a barber. I find I reach up and check to see if I am losing my hair yet anyone else doing this? Silly I know you know it's going to happen but don't know exactly when. Pretty much sums this whole journey up, you know some bad things are about to happen just waiting for them to appear. I am actually feeling a bit of relief as they happen sort of like OK that ones done not so bad what's next I'm ready now.
Worried me hope you are at least able to read these posts and know we are thinking about you and praying you are ok.To the new ladies you can do this!
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