Starting Chemo May 2019
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Jrominger, FBI, that's amazing. I bet you have some stories. You deserve a nice, relaxing retirement. Hopefully Nat will bounce back even better than before and you two will do just that.
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loved those flat Palmettos. Thanks for the pics. Glad your counts are holding up.
Happyanyway- glad your counts are great. Great that you can get to the gym again. Nice to hear your sister will accompany you to consult next month. Yes, you certainly deserve a break.
Jrom- will be thinking and praying for Nat on Monday. Hope your dinner was enjoyable with daughter and grandkids.
Have a great weekend everyone. Pat
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Glad to see everyone so many of us doing better. Had my 8th Taxol today. Hard to believe there are only 4 left. Taking so much steroids the day before only allowed me 2 hours of sleep last night, so I was very relaxed after the Benadryl. Talked with the nurse about my awful taste/tongue, and she suggested that I eat with plasticware, not silverware. I had heard that before, but it never sunk in. Oh my goodness, it actually worked! Some of the nasty taste went away. Not all of it, but enough so that I was able to eat some real food for lunch. Took a wonderful nap this afternoon, and hoping I sleep tonight. Planning on a long walk in the morning.
HappyAnyway, your Dr. Schulze's recommendation was spot on. It works amazingly well. I am having a few problems with gagging when taking it, so working on that. But, I am amazed at how much of that bloated feeling has gone away. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Do you take it daily, or only occasionally?
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Hey BAMR. 8 down, yes! My schedule has changed since Carboplatin was added, so I have completed 6. I was looking forward to you and I sharing the same schedule.
I'm glad that it works for you. I take it one to three times a day. Do you think it tastes like garlic? I like garlic, but only when eaten in food.
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UpstateNYer so the dinner with our daughter’s family and my mother was absolutely pure joy!! So wonderful to be all together and feeling decent!! It was a God send!
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You have a lovely family, Jrominger. Nat looks beautiful.
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Ahh, the family pic warms my soul, jrominger! Glad you and Nathad a lovely time.
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Hey Palmetto. How are you?
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Jrom- beautiful family, nice surroundings as well. Everyone looks happy. Thanks for the pic.
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Jrom, that's a beautiful picture! Lots of happiness there.
Happy, I think the smell bothers me more than the taste. I just hold my breath while I quickly take it. Leaves a slightly burning feeling in my throat; maybe it's the peppers. I'll keep taking it, though. Works incredibly well.
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HappyAnyway, I’m doing well, thanks for asking. Did a 1/2 mile swim this morning and some light chores. Rested quite a bit and went out late this afternoon for a “sound bath.” It was an hour long meditation experience with singing bowls. I feel very grounded now. I’m hoping to stave off the sadz I get every Sunday. That’s the worst SE I have with Taxol. My MO offered to put me on a med, but I declined. Don’t want to take any more than I have to. How are you? Now that you’ve been cleared, have you had time for a nice workout
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Hi everyone. Thank you for the kind words!!
Palmetto 1/2 mi swim. That is phenomenal. Good for you! We did a little over 21 miles this past week of walking. Minimal SEs. A little on and off “burning “ sensation in upper stomach area and some bone pain. Day 3 out seems like the worst of it. Taxol #4 tomorrow.
God bless everyone this week
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Jrom-praying that Nat's #4 goes well. I should be getting my pathology results tomorrow as well. Nice to hear you are walking a lot and minimal se's.
Palmetto- good for you doing 1/2 mike swim. Hope you are feeling upbeat today. The " sound bath" sounds interesting. Glad it helped you.
Planning on going out to dinner for our anniversary today.
Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.
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Brittandherboobs, your post inspired me the other day. I made blackberry sweet tea. It was delicious.
Hello palmetto. I hope you have a nice, up day today. I haven't gone to the gym yet. I'm grieving the loss of my eyebrows and lashes. Bald head, no worries. Losing my brows and lashes is a big hit to my ego. I never thought of myself as vain until all of this. Dang. This conversation isn't going to help you feel better. Let me turn it around...
Love your flat palmettos. I think you should make one with a NKOTB hoodie. You can also make a flat Joey. They can hang out together. 😜
Hey Jrominger! Does Nat take Zantac? My NP asked if I take it. I said no, I was never told to and don't think I need it. I'm going to get some to have on hand, just in case. I'll check on you all tomorrow.
UpstateNYer, how's your recovery going? Praying for wonderful results tomorrow. I just took a grits casserole out of the oven. It has our homegrown bell pepper in it. Still no ripe tomatoes.
LaCombattante, come out, come out, wherever you are!
I hope you are all well, even those of you that I didn't mention by name. I think of you all frequently. If you are reading and haven't posted in a while, I would love to hear from you. It's nice to know that everyone is alright.
Much love!
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UpstateNYer happy happy 40th!!!!!! Praying for great pathology report tomorrow!!
Happyanyway I loved your post!! You make everyone smile and it is nice to hear from everyone. Sure praying for this whole group. What a bunch of very special gritty people!!
Natalie hates taking anything but I’ll mention the Zantac and we’ll discuss this se with the MO tomorrow.
Happy
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Geez.. love reading the posts here even if I don't always post myself. I hope everyone is doing well and having minimal se's. I have finished with my 5th taxol on Thursday and struggle with fatigue and sadness through the weekends. I will be so glad when chemo is over. Praying for you all.
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HappyAnyway, blackberry tea, grit casserole... when am I coming over?? Sounds delicious! I hear you on the brows and lashes. I get lots of compliments on the bald head, but now my face is naked! I LOOOVE the flat NKOTB idea! I may have to work on those.
Jrom- that’s a lot of miles. Glad you both have the energy for doing what you love. Swimming is definitely my hiking. I’d be a fish if I could! Prayers and healing to y’all tomorrow as Nat faces her next round of Taxol.
Mpv459- congrats on finishing #5. I also finished #5 on Thursday. I worked REALLY hard to overcome the blues this weekend. Whatever I did apparently worked. I’m feeling pretty good today.
LaCombattante and UpstateNYer, thinking of you both this week as next rounds are accomplished and GREAT pathology reports are on the way!
You all inspire me
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Hi fellow fighters and Happy Monday!
Jrominger and UpStateNYer - you are in my thoughts today, praying for an easy chemo with no SEs and for an excellent path report! please do share an update once you can!
Jrominger - I get Zantac as a premed, I also take Pantoprazole if needed (certainly on days 3 and 4). Envy your hiking mileage, well done!
Palmetto- 1/2 miles swim - wow!
Mpv459 - likewise I struggle with Taxol blues on day 3 and 4 (my spa day is Tuesday). I do try to power through but on Thursday afternoon it seems to be a losing battle.
HappyAnyway: I literally have three to five eyelashes left on each eye and myeyebrows are not better. I find it so funny that now have to put make up to exercise or go hiking. Before I never bothered. Now, a typical conversion before leaving for the mountains: are you ready? No, not yet, I still have to put my face on.
)).Sending positive vibes from across the pond, please be well!
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Palmetto and Mpv459 - I forgot to mention that I find walks in the forest (we have a lovely creek nearby) to be very helpful on my 'blue' days. Palmetto: you mentioned 'sound bathing', I guess in my case it is 'forest bathing' which seems to help, to be more grounded.
Last week I worked half days on Thursday and Friday and then we were off for an hour - hour and a half walks near the creek.
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MPV459. Congrats on#5!! Nat’s Finishing #4 as I write this! We r right behind you. We can’t wait to be done as well!!!
Nat’s blood work improved with her RBC’s and hemoglobin going up slightly! WBC’s remained the same and ANC just slightly dropped. Praise God!!! Her MO had to ask Nat where the tumor was again as she can’t feel it!! Another praise for sure. What the MO feels is just dense tissue. So apparently all is going in the right direction. Nat has some weird sun spots on her arms and legs possibly a reaction to the Taxol? Also her lashes and brows are minimal which bums her out!
Lacombattante your hike area is fabulous. We would love to trek around that country with you!!!
Prayers for everyone. Hang tough!!
J
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Yay for Nat’s numbers! I’m encouraged. Glad you are getting #4 over and done with!
LaCombattante- I envy the forest! That’s beautiful and it would certainly help me overcome the blues any day, any time.
This week, my team is in KY and I am “working from home.” Taking it as a small blessing to be able to sneak in rests here and there, honoring my body’s needs. I go I for Taxol #6 this week and an appointment with my surgeon. Can’t wait to get concrete info on my options and an idea of a schedule
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Mpv459, it's nice to hear from you!
Palmetto, you're welcome anytime! Just bring flat Joey.
Hey LaCombattante! I like it when you share pictures. Beautiful, as usual. Good luck with your treatment tomorrow.
Nat seems to be doing well, Jrominger. Please let me know what the MO says about Zantac. Praying for minimal SE. Tell Nat that I said hi.
Alright UpstateNYer, you've been on my mind all day. Hugs.
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hi all, I heard from the surgeon late this afternoon. Good news..margins are clear. But my pathologist is doing some additional tests. The surgeon was not too specific about that. I think that I will text the pathologist to see what else she may be looking for. I just think she is being thorough. I am so happy that I met with her previously. She took a special interest in me I think, because I met her and was able to go over my previous slides with her. I used to be a technician in a pathology lab years ago.
Jrom- Thinking of Nat today. Glad to hear her blood counts are near normal. The treatments are moving right along. Praise God.
Lacombattant- how fortunate that you can hike by such a gorgeous creek area. Thanks for posting the picture.
Mpv459& palmetto- congrats on getting through Taxol #5. Hope those blues stay at bay. Positive vibes coming your way. 😊
Happyanyway- hope you had a good day today. Thinking about all of my BCO friends today.
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UpstateNYer Yes yes yes!!! Your news literally brought tears to my eyes!!!!!! God is good!! What’s next??
Happyanyway honestly after hearing the MO ask Natalie where the tumor was supposed to be I forgot all my questions 😳😂. She did say the burning sensation is normal for Taxol and said for Nat to take up to 20 mg of pepsid or prylosec. Natalie does get pepsid as a premed. MO also reduced her steroid push from 12 mg to 10 mg. She said this helps reduce intestinal issues and will help her immune system. MO is just concerned about that weird bought of diverticulitis. MO will continue to drop steroids as she can.
Lacombattante what is on your schedule tomorrow??
Palmetto and Mpv459Praying for no blues, easy treatments and minimal SEs!!
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Great news, UpstateNYer!
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Yay! I logged in this morning to a spade of great news!
UpStateNYer- congratulations on clean margins and it is fantastic that your pathologist is doing further checks - might help to fine tune your further treatments (I assume they will recommend anti-hormonal since you are ER/PR positive).
Jrominger - great news that Nat's tumor has virtually disappeared, and that her blood counts improved. What an amazing progress, congratulations to her!
I will post more when I am back - time for me to leave fo my 6th Taxol. Pray my blood counts are good enough to get it, then I will be officially half way:).
Wishing everyone a great day with no / minimal SEs
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Thanks for all the good wishes. I send the same to you all. Seems like we are all chopping our way through these treatments and before we know if they will be in our back window. It is such a good thing to come here and see familiar faces sharing the same road. Makes me feel so not alone. Thank you for including me. Another week bites the dust.
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Taxol #6 bagged! My blood counts are on the low side, but stable, no change vs last week, so the green light and 'get on with it' from MO. The infusion went very well and except usual sleepiness from antihistamine, no SEs.
Mpv and Palmetto, unless I miscalculated, you will be joining our 'middle of the road' crowd this week. HappyAnyway and BAMR are already there. Nat will join us on Monday.
Jrominger: we absolutely need to plan some serious hiking once the treatments are over!
Palmetto, I find that working from home is the best option for me under the circumstances. Actually, I am much more productive, because I have most of my energy in the morning and skipping the commute gives me an extra hour or two. I do take the day of infusion completely off but compensate on my good days. And, of course, my Taxol blues day - I try to minimize the meetings so I can take breaks as needed.
Wishing everyone a very nice day, we will get through it. My son said today: 'if there is one tough lady who can get through this and emerge hiking on he other side, it is you'... to which my answer was ' me AND this absolutely awesome group of amazing women who are battling their way through chemo now and WILL emerge winning'
You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
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Loving everyone's good news! Beautiful!!
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Lacombattante fantastic on getting #6 done. HALFWAY! We’ll all continue to pray for each other’s blood counts and minimal SEs We can’t wait to do some joint hiking together!!! Both here in N AZ and there! Your son is exactly right!
santabarbarian always good to hear from you!! Keep us posted on your progress
MPV459 it will be amazing to look back on all this and even have trouble remembering it all!!!
Praying for all you amazing women!!
J
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