Starting Chemo May 2019
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Thank you, HappyAnyway! Hopefully it will be the case
Palmetto, I got RevitaLash advanced but after three days of use, I noticed that my eyelids are a bit swollen. I stopped for few days and plan to try again this week. If the same issue, I will have to look for another sérum.
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Lacombattant- Glad to hear all went well with first Taxol. Hope that your wbc counts stay in normal range and minimal se's.
Jrom- How did Nat do today with final A/C? Many prayers said last night and today. Tell her I said hello and hang in there. One brave lady.
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THANK YOU UpstateNYer, Happyanyway and lacombattane for praying and thinking of Nat!!! We go in for our last AC at 3 pm AZ time. We drove the 2.5 hrs down. Blood drawn. Meet with MO on 1/2 hr. Lacombattante way to go on first Taxol. Hopefully our first will be 2 weeks from today. Your info is so very helpful. Praying for everyone you multiple times per day!! I’ll keep you posted. We live 65 mi from the Grand Canyon. Maybe we should have a post treatment party at our place next summer!!!
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Hi everyone, Nat did well yesterday. Her WBC's were in the high normal range!!! What a shock. Must have been the 20% AC reduction last time. The MO PA said her blood work looked good even though her hemoglobin, RBC, etc.. were low. PA said they would steadily go down during Taxol as that is the norm. Not much you can do about it except get done with Chemo
she said. PA also said that Nat's tumor felt "tiny, and subtle" The Onc.PA could not measure it by hand anymore due to it's reduced size. That has to be good....right? Nat feels well today. Her tougher days seem to be days 5 and 6. Last neulasta tonight. Still eating the bland, yucky diverticulitis diet for another 10 days (6 weeks). Hoping to change diet back slowly next week and add our supplements back in. First Taxol will be in 13 days! Praying continually for everyone on this page. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for Nat. Let's keep up the good work.0 -
Hi Jrom- So glad that Nat had a good wbc count going into her chemo. Also how wonderful that tumor has shrunk. Prayers are surely being answered. Sorry Nat has to be on a bland diet, but probably good after the chemo anyway. Did your MO ok supplements? I was told by my MO that the only supplement to take while on chemo regimen is vitamin D, calcium, and magnesium. She felt other supplements may interfere with chemo effect. I will ask her about it again tomorrow at my last chemo. I do not feel as good as when I take my other supplements. I can't wait to be able to go back on them soon.
Hope everyone is doing well today.
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Hi UpstateNYer!! Yes the naturalpath at the center recommended melatonin calcium vit D and a mushroom supplement. We had to stop, with that dang diverticulitis and antibiotics but hopefully on taxol we will slowly add them back. Our better whole plant diet, fish and our own organic beef that we raise will start back up slowly next week. Yes I believe God is answering our prayers. You are in ours daily! Hope you are doing fabulously today!!!
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Oh and CoQ10!
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Thanks, Jrom, will ask my MO about taking these. Hope Nat will have minimal se's this time. Sounds like you have the healthy diet covered too. Pat
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LaCombattante, how are you feeling since your first Taxol?
Jrominger, sounds like Nat is heading in the right direction. Great news!
UpstateNYer, good luck with your last infusion!
Prayers and positive vibes for everyone.
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HI HappyAnyway, good to hear from you. It had been awhile. Hopefully we did our last neupogene last night!!! Nat feels pretty dang good today, maybe it is the 20% reduction. She does have to do another round of antibiotics. We talked them into augmentin as the last antibiotic had worse SE than the chemo!! Trying to figure out all of the copays today. Ouch! Hope to walk this evening. Steroids for another 48 hours. We usually hit low WBC etc on day 6-9. That's when we start the antibiotic. HappyAnyway are you doing the #4 and Carbo this Friday or next? How is your daughter's leg? Praying for low SE's for everyone!!
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Hi HappyAnyway, thank you so much for asking!
I am doing quite good, steroids are finally leaving the system
, and it is a welcome change. I was so high on steroids yesterday's evening that I decided... to play football with my husband. Which didn't go too well. Three bandaids and a couple of bruises remind me today that I am not in elementary school anymore which is when I played football last time.Running was fun though
Jrominger, fantastic that Nat is feeling good after her final AC, pray that the SEs remain non-existant and that she tolerates the new antibiotic better! Insurance matters are such a pain, I spent an hour on the phone with mine today
. Sending good vibes and best wishes to all!
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LOL Combattante!!! Fantastic.
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Jrominger I hope Nat feels better on the augmentin. I recently received an EOB. I have an individual out of pocket maximum of $6,000, yet the EOB says that the amount that I owe is $7,800. I'm not mentally prepared for that conversation. Ouch! I have a folder with my bills and EOB in it. There are a few claims that were denied because they were not pre-certified, despite the fact that I ask the providers before each appointment if the insurance company has approved the visit. They have been resubmitted. Insurance throws the providers under the bus, providers throw the insurance company under the bus. Good times.
Alright LaCombattante! Sounds like fun.
This is my week off! Woo-hoo!
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Jrominger, her leg is healing nicely. It still hurts, though. As long as she takes ibuprofen, she does just fine. Thank you for asking about her.
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happyanyway- hope your daughter is out of pain soon with her leg. Keep up the ibuprofen. Glad you get a week off, that must feel great.
Jrom- glad that Nat is doing well with her last A/C. Hope the new antibiotic works better for her. Wishing and praying for minimal se's and good counts. Keep up the exercise.
Lacombattant-glad you're doing better. Your football story made me smile (not the getting hurt part).
Yes, insurance issues are a pain. Actually my high deductible plan gave me an individual consideration , so it was less than the $6000 we were expecting to pay. Also, filed paperwork with the hospital to get a 20% reduction on bills due to hubby's retirement job not paying all that well. Every little bit helps. Hope you get things resolved Jrom and Happyanyway.
I completed my final C/T today. Yipppeee!!! I got extra iv fluids and 10% reduction on chemo. The best part... NO NUELASTA patch this time. MO felt it was not needed as my bloodwork came back fine. I almost got off my chair and kissed her😘 I was expecting to get the patch again, but also did not look forward to the se's from it. Anyway, got a certificate of completion and rung that bell 4 times!! So glad this part is behind me.
Wishing everyone a great week. Keep the faith.
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Yay UpstateNYer! You need to party a rock star tonight!
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thanks, Happyanyway, I think I should. It is my son's birthday too, so it's a double celebration!
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FANTASTIC UpstateNYer!!! Let's get these chemo's behind us. Happy Birthday to your lad and thank you for praying for Nat.
DITTO Lacombattante, Keep knocking those boys around!!! Nat and had a good chuckle at that. Scars are awesome!! I have the cauliflower ears to prove it.
Happyanyway, good to hear your daughter is on the mend. Sorry to hear about your eyes! I don't like that SE. Hopefully it will improve rapidly, never to return.
Prayers always for everyone!
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It sounds like everyone is doing fairly well these days, and for that, I am so grateful! Jrom- glad to hear Nat is doing well. UpstateNYer- YAY!! Ring that bell!! LaCombattante- I love playing football! I tend to get a little rough, too! But these days, I get winded just trying to get dressed. :P Glad you found the energy, even if it was from steroids. HappyAnyway- gotta love those weeks off! I'm glad to hear your daughter's on the mend as well.
I start my Taxol round tomorrow! Still a little nervous, but I'm sure I'll settle in. I got my cold therapy socks and my brow/lash gel. Doing what I can to fight one SE at a time...
I saw some of you talk about co-pays from insurance. I didn't know if you knew about the Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief program. I had never heard of it, but when I went in for my chemo teach, I met with the financial counselor who had already submitted my information to receive assistance. The program pays a maximum of $4000, so with my out-of-pocket max, I only ended up having to pay $235 for my whole chemo! That was a HUGE blessing!! I can send you the link if interested.
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Hi palmetto! Thanks for your comment regarding my daughter. Thank you for mentioning the copay assistance, too. My MO office registered me as well. It is a huge help.
I hope you like the stuff that you ordered.
Good luck with Taxol tomorrow!
I'm enjoying the break.
Be well everyone!
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Hi all! We ARE moving forward and making progress even if it does not feel like it sometimes
UpStateNYer - congratulations on finishing chemo, what a milestone! And belated birthday wishes to your son!
HappyAnyway - continue to enjoy your week off and hopefully your eyes will get better very soon. Glad to hear that your daughter's leg is healing nicely.
Palmetto - good luck tomorrow! I will be thinking about you
Jrominger - hope Nat is feeling good today.
Sending prayers and best wishes to everyone
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hi all- hope everyone is having a good day today.
Jrom, Palmetto, happyanyway, Lacombattant- thanks for your well-wishes. I am feeling pretty good today, slight upset tummy, and headache but no big deal.
Jrom-hope Nat is feeling well today.
Palmetto- hope your Taxol goes well tomorrow. Prayers that all goes fine with it, you sound well prepared.
Lacombattant- continued prayers for you. Hope you are having a good day today.
Happyanyway-hope your daughter's leg is continuing to heal nicely. I bet that you are enjoying the break from chemo this week. Hope you can all do something fun this week.
Blessing and (((hugs)))
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Palmetto, best wishes on Taxol tomorrow. We are 10 days behind you. Nat will have her first Taxol on the 22nd. If you wouldn't mind sending me that link. It could be worthwhile as the bills are adding up. Thank you.
UpstateNYer, coveting your chemo completion
So very happy for you. Hope the tummy and headache is extremely temporary! What is next for you and how can we pray for you???Lacombattante, you are absolutely correct, we are moving forward every day. But oh my some days are tougher than others. I'm feeling sorry for us today and I haven't done that in awhile. Just one of those days where I wish we all were not in this predicament. It just doesn't seem real and then it does! Better now though. Nat is out with a church friend which is rare but extremely therapeutic. We kind of close up when we think she is getting low on her WBC's. I wish we could do a finger prick test to see where we stand on blood levels. Maybe that will be out there in a few years.
Happyanyway. tell me yours eyes are feeling much better today, please
Praying for all of us!
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Hi,
I had 2 round of chemo and my period started last saturday. The bleeding hasn't stopped yet and i am so worried. My platelets count is 143 and hemoglobin is 11.2. What are the numbers that is considered too low for platelets and hemoglobin ? They did a endometrial biopsy and ultrasound for me and i dont have the results yet. I have a history of hormonal bleeding 2 times after both my c-section deliveries and was treated with provera. I am also worried if it is endometrial or ovarian cancer. Just venting my thoughts.
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Neeli, the normal range for platelets is 150-450, hemoglobin is 12-16.
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Sorry all, I'm in a hurry. Getting ready to take our daughter out to dinner for her birthday. She's 19 today! Yes, we have two July babies.
You're all in my prayers.
Much love. ❤️
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happyanyway-happy birthday to your dear daughter. Hope it is a great day. Hope you are feeling well too.
Neeli- praying for you..hope your biopsy and ultrasound come back ok. Try to think positive.
Jrom- I have to see my surgeon on Aug. 1st to talk about surgery to remove tiny bit of DCIS, so I am looking at a third surgery. After that will consult with radiologist to see when to start rad therapy. After rads, will go back to MO to start on aromitase inhibitors. Bone density test is July 29th. Thank you for your prayers. Nat is always in mine. 😳
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How's everyone doing today?
I had an eye exam in April. I'm glad I did. They are a little better.
We had a nice dinner. Now that the girls are getting older, it's rare for all five of us to spend time together. The special moments are more precious these days. I feel blessed.
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I was just diagnosed as well - will be starting chemo on July 25. I too am terrified.
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Deanders, God bless on this journey. So sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis. Your are in very good company here. So many wonderful, tough, sympathetic and knowledge women here. Oh and me, the only dude and maybe not so knowledgeable
I think you will be able to get a lot of your answers here hopefully.UpstateNYer, thank you for your update on your upcoming procedures. We can more pinpoint our prayers!!! Praying for you daily.
Happyanyway, Yes the 2 times per year when our son and his family along with our daughter on her family get together we rejoice. It is rare. With Nat's low blood numbers we have had to cut back on all the visits which is the hardest part of all this. Thank goodness for facetime!! Hopefully on Taxol we might have better numbers and therefore get more visits in. In the 3 to 5 weeks after Taxol and before surgery we hope to maybe travel to Albuquerque to visit our son and his family. Our daughter lives here in town. Are the goopy eyes improving? Nat took what is hopefully her last steroids yesterday. Day 4-6 after AC are usually her hardest and then low blood count is day 6-9
Palmetto, Praying for an easy first Taxol!!!! Anxious to hear all about it as we are just ten days behind you. Thank you for the insurance info. I will look into that today!
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