RE: 2 more treatments of AC

[Guest guest]

Do you have the site address handy. ;-)

LICS June "The best protection any woman can have...is courage." Cady Stanton Secular Breast Cancer Support group: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SecularBCSupport/

-----Original Message-----From: breastcancer2 [mailto:breastcancer2 ]On Behalf Of andwemet03Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2005 4:48 PMTo: breastcancer2 Subject: RE: 2 more treatments of AC

June,

remember that we are all different and the different tx's effect each of us differently......that is really important to remember. I read about people having the same treatments I had and most are all effected differently.........I DO relate to a lot of the stuff I read though. I myself really didn't have a problem with taxol....it was the AC i had problems with.....see what I mean? I think it's better going in and knowing more than not......it gives one the opportunity to ask questions that perhaps you wouldn't have asked before.......I know I've used the info I have read for resourse. It's a GREAT site......at least for me. To be able to share, ask, vent, whatever.......this site has helped me a lot.......

Sincerely,

DarleneJune wrote:

Tough in what way? I'm told it's not near as bad as what they're giving me now.

I'm kind of wondering if being in a support group is wise. I'm really becoming terrified with all the talk of radiation treatments and all the nastiness and after effects.

Not that I don't enjoy your company and all, it just really is worrying me now. Sometimes I wonder if it's good to go in knowing or go in blind, LOL. I half kidding, I know it's always better to know what's ahead if you can, it's just scary. :-/

LICS June "The best protection any woman can have...is courage." Cady Stanton Secular Breast Cancer Support group: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SecularBCSupport/

June: I remember Taxol, it was tough. ren

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[Guest guest]

Do you have the site address handy. ;-)

LICS June "The best protection any woman can have...is courage." Cady Stanton Secular Breast Cancer Support group: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SecularBCSupport/

-----Original Message-----From: breastcancer2 [mailto:breastcancer2 ]On Behalf Of andwemet03Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2005 4:48 PMTo: breastcancer2 Subject: RE: 2 more treatments of AC

June,

remember that we are all different and the different tx's effect each of us differently......that is really important to remember. I read about people having the same treatments I had and most are all effected differently.........I DO relate to a lot of the stuff I read though. I myself really didn't have a problem with taxol....it was the AC i had problems with.....see what I mean? I think it's better going in and knowing more than not......it gives one the opportunity to ask questions that perhaps you wouldn't have asked before.......I know I've used the info I have read for resourse. It's a GREAT site......at least for me. To be able to share, ask, vent, whatever.......this site has helped me a lot.......

Sincerely,

DarleneJune wrote:

Tough in what way? I'm told it's not near as bad as what they're giving me now.

I'm kind of wondering if being in a support group is wise. I'm really becoming terrified with all the talk of radiation treatments and all the nastiness and after effects.

Not that I don't enjoy your company and all, it just really is worrying me now. Sometimes I wonder if it's good to go in knowing or go in blind, LOL. I half kidding, I know it's always better to know what's ahead if you can, it's just scary. :-/

LICS June "The best protection any woman can have...is courage." Cady Stanton Secular Breast Cancer Support group: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SecularBCSupport/

June: I remember Taxol, it was tough. ren

Yahoo! PersonalsSingle? There's someone we'd like you to meet.Lots of someones, actually. Yahoo! Personals

Yahoo! DSL Something to write home about. Just $16.99/mo. or less

[Guest guest]

First I had A/C then Taxol, the Taxol was tough on me, I had a lot of bone pain and more tiredness. It was good to know that is was temporary. It took it a while to get out of my system. I was glad to have the treatment, but for me, it was not easy. I have had others say that it was a piece of cake for them. I guess we all react different. There is no way to tell how you will react. You are so tough I am sure you will breeze right through.

ren

[Guest guest]

First I had A/C then Taxol, the Taxol was tough on me, I had a lot of bone pain and more tiredness. It was good to know that is was temporary. It took it a while to get out of my system. I was glad to have the treatment, but for me, it was not easy. I have had others say that it was a piece of cake for them. I guess we all react different. There is no way to tell how you will react. You are so tough I am sure you will breeze right through.

ren

[Guest guest]

Thanks Ren. I'll take it as it comes. I'm only on treatment 3 and the realist side of me says things could get worse, or they could remain the same. I've read stories of women who went all the way through it the way I am holding up now. The optimist side of me says I'll keep holding up. I'm tough but I know when to say enough, I've done enough, it's time to rest, it's time for me to eat, it's time for me to have quiet. I think that's a big part of it for me. When I'm up I'm up and I do what I can but no longer over extend myself. As soon as I start to feel tired I stop and take a break until I feel up to continuing. If it happens to be in the middle of making dinner or cleaning up, or whatever, my guys go on auto pilot and take over. I'm really glad I'm married to a man who is willing and able around the house, for the most part anyway. I still can't get him to scrub bathrooms LOL. He's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but he does do mostly his fair share, and he does his own laundry including ironing his clothes. ;-) Anyway, long way of saying I'm learning to say "No," and to stop right when I need to. I think it helps a great deal for me to do that. I miss my energy but I miss my mental capacity the most. When I'm feeling good, starting about the 2nd week after, I'm up to about 75% my normal speed. Not bad, all things considered.

One day at a time.

LICS June "The best protection any woman can have...is courage." Cady Stanton Secular Breast Cancer Support group: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SecularBCSupport/

-----Original Message-----From: breastcancer2 [mailto:breastcancer2 ]On Behalf Of rendurall@...Sent: Friday, December 02, 2005 5:37 AMTo: breastcancer2 Subject: Re: 2 more treatments of ACFirst I had A/C then Taxol, the Taxol was tough on me, I had a lot of bone pain and more tiredness. It was good to know that is was temporary. It took it a while to get out of my system. I was glad to have the treatment, but for me, it was not easy. I have had others say that it was a piece of cake for them. I guess we all react different. There is no way to tell how you will react. You are so tough I am sure you will breeze right through. ren

[Guest guest]

Thanks Ren. I'll take it as it comes. I'm only on treatment 3 and the realist side of me says things could get worse, or they could remain the same. I've read stories of women who went all the way through it the way I am holding up now. The optimist side of me says I'll keep holding up. I'm tough but I know when to say enough, I've done enough, it's time to rest, it's time for me to eat, it's time for me to have quiet. I think that's a big part of it for me. When I'm up I'm up and I do what I can but no longer over extend myself. As soon as I start to feel tired I stop and take a break until I feel up to continuing. If it happens to be in the middle of making dinner or cleaning up, or whatever, my guys go on auto pilot and take over. I'm really glad I'm married to a man who is willing and able around the house, for the most part anyway. I still can't get him to scrub bathrooms LOL. He's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but he does do mostly his fair share, and he does his own laundry including ironing his clothes. ;-) Anyway, long way of saying I'm learning to say "No," and to stop right when I need to. I think it helps a great deal for me to do that. I miss my energy but I miss my mental capacity the most. When I'm feeling good, starting about the 2nd week after, I'm up to about 75% my normal speed. Not bad, all things considered.

One day at a time.

LICS June "The best protection any woman can have...is courage." Cady Stanton Secular Breast Cancer Support group: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SecularBCSupport/

-----Original Message-----From: breastcancer2 [mailto:breastcancer2 ]On Behalf Of rendurall@...Sent: Friday, December 02, 2005 5:37 AMTo: breastcancer2 Subject: Re: 2 more treatments of ACFirst I had A/C then Taxol, the Taxol was tough on me, I had a lot of bone pain and more tiredness. It was good to know that is was temporary. It took it a while to get out of my system. I was glad to have the treatment, but for me, it was not easy. I have had others say that it was a piece of cake for them. I guess we all react different. There is no way to tell how you will react. You are so tough I am sure you will breeze right through. ren

[Guest guest]

Hi June,

Isnt it interesting about the nurses: when I was going through chemo, I was very

specific about which nurse(s) I wanted, and which ones I didnt. One wouldnt

think that would be so important, but it is. I am glad you told the head nurse

about it. I didnt have a portacath. Gosh! I dont remember all that much about

it. When people bring up things like this, then I start remembering, which isnt

bad. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, that is what I tell people who

are going through treatment. I have every belief in that treatment and

statistics will just keep improving. I still have yet to quit smoking (I am

assuming you are still not smoking). I've only got a couple of years of smoking

under my belt, so I am not a long-termer. When the time comes, after my furnace

flashes stop, I will go to a hypnotist to ease the transition. I get so angry

at the furnace flashes (which serve *no* purpose other than to torture me dozens

of times per day and night) that I light up following/during them. I think it

will be fruitless to try to quit smoking now, as one furnace flash and I'd go

have a " well deserved " (in my mind -- at that moment -- anyway) smoke. If the

flashes dont stop soon, I will visit a hypnotist anyway, and have her/him work

on the hot flashes. See what can be done. Thanks for your e mail. Keep

telling your stories, I enjoy your sharing with us.

Also, nne, thank you for letting me know that my memory about the

mastectomy/lumpectomy implications were not a fairy tale.

Love to us all,

--

Ogut

The Whole Brain Game -- It's Not What You Think But How You Think It

Thanks . My Onc said the same thing today, everyone is different and not to worry about it. I'm doing exceedingly well with the chemo, had my 3rd round today. No major difficulties or side effects other than the loss of hair, only on my head so far, and a little bit in the nether regions. A little queasiness the morning after and fatigue the first week, then I'm good for 2 weeks. She's decided no more Neulastra for me, it didn't work and caused me severe bone pain. I'm relieved.

I'm getting a portacath. I'm a little miffed that she didn't just have it done when I first asked her about it. They can't use my right arm, the one with all the good veins of course and my left arm, well, the veins are impossible and one vein had a reaction so they can't use that one at all.

The nurse I had today was a bitch, but then I felt bad because she had told me when she was injecting the A that she had just been diagnosed. But she just really pissed me off. I came in, went to the bathroom right away so I wouldn't have to go bad while they were inserting the IV or injecting A. So she had a hard time finding a vein and wanted to use the one that had a reaction and I told her I was told that one could not be used any more. Then she said, "Well, you'll just have to come back after your port." I told her but I'm supposed to do this every 3 weeks and I really don't want to miss, I want to get past all this. She finally got it in a vein on the top of my hand then she said I cannot move that hand at all. I said, "what if I have to go to the bathroom?" "You'll just have to wait, it's only an hour and a half for godsakes." I said, "You don't know my bladder very well, do you?" When she left I just started crying. I tried to get the head nurse alone to tell her I didn't want her near me anymore. I drink a lot of water and have to urinate frequently.

Anyway, when she was injecting the chemo she started asking me all these questions about my lumpectomy, then she said that she was grilling me because she'd just been diagnosed and was about to go through it. I felt bad but I still didn't feel she needed to be treating cancer patients that way. Since this began I have not had one rude medical professional, everyone has been on my side and loving and caring and 100% helpful, until today. So, after she went to lunch I had a talk with the head nurse, who was supposed to take care of me in the first place but she was at lunch when I finally was done with the doc. I don't feel bad because I told her I understood that she has breast cancer but I just don't think she should be talking to patients going through this that way and that I didn't want this to happen to someone else. I'm a pretty strong person and can usually deal with hard attitudes. The HN said that her attitude wasn't acceptable. I asked her to be gentle with her but she needs to know that this was not a good way for a person to go through a treatment.

The HN is a very sweet and caring individual and I know she'll handle it gently and appropriately. I think if she weren't I wouldn't have said anything.

LICS June "The best protection any woman can have...is courage." Cady Stanton Secular Breast Cancer Support group: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SecularBCSupport/

-----Original Message-----From: breastcancer2 [mailto:breastcancer2 ]On Behalf Of lisaogut@...Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2005 1:54 PMTo: breastcancer2 Subject: RE: 2 more treatments of ACJune,I have been surprised to read that some folks had a hard time w/ radiation. I am sorry to hear that some people had problems.I had absolutely no problems at all, other than the one I wrote about a day or so ago, whereby I had rubbed aloe vera lotion all over my breast, and ended up making my nipple area extremely allergic to *anything*. That was my only problem with radiation. I had a normal 6 weeks or 8 weeks of it, too -- they radiated the entire breast and then boosts (or whatever they are called).Please try not to worry about the radiation. I had a support group with 10 folks in it during that time, and we stayed a group long after; none of them had any problem w/ radiation. To me, radiation was a cinch. I even enjoyed the time off work. -- OgutThe Whole Brain Game -- It's Not What You Think But How You Think It

[Guest guest]

Hi June,

Isnt it interesting about the nurses: when I was going through chemo, I was very

specific about which nurse(s) I wanted, and which ones I didnt. One wouldnt

think that would be so important, but it is. I am glad you told the head nurse

about it. I didnt have a portacath. Gosh! I dont remember all that much about

it. When people bring up things like this, then I start remembering, which isnt

bad. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, that is what I tell people who

are going through treatment. I have every belief in that treatment and

statistics will just keep improving. I still have yet to quit smoking (I am

assuming you are still not smoking). I've only got a couple of years of smoking

under my belt, so I am not a long-termer. When the time comes, after my furnace

flashes stop, I will go to a hypnotist to ease the transition. I get so angry

at the furnace flashes (which serve *no* purpose other than to torture me dozens

of times per day and night) that I light up following/during them. I think it

will be fruitless to try to quit smoking now, as one furnace flash and I'd go

have a " well deserved " (in my mind -- at that moment -- anyway) smoke. If the

flashes dont stop soon, I will visit a hypnotist anyway, and have her/him work

on the hot flashes. See what can be done. Thanks for your e mail. Keep

telling your stories, I enjoy your sharing with us.

Also, nne, thank you for letting me know that my memory about the

mastectomy/lumpectomy implications were not a fairy tale.

Love to us all,

--

Ogut

The Whole Brain Game -- It's Not What You Think But How You Think It

Thanks . My Onc said the same thing today, everyone is different and not to worry about it. I'm doing exceedingly well with the chemo, had my 3rd round today. No major difficulties or side effects other than the loss of hair, only on my head so far, and a little bit in the nether regions. A little queasiness the morning after and fatigue the first week, then I'm good for 2 weeks. She's decided no more Neulastra for me, it didn't work and caused me severe bone pain. I'm relieved.

I'm getting a portacath. I'm a little miffed that she didn't just have it done when I first asked her about it. They can't use my right arm, the one with all the good veins of course and my left arm, well, the veins are impossible and one vein had a reaction so they can't use that one at all.

The nurse I had today was a bitch, but then I felt bad because she had told me when she was injecting the A that she had just been diagnosed. But she just really pissed me off. I came in, went to the bathroom right away so I wouldn't have to go bad while they were inserting the IV or injecting A. So she had a hard time finding a vein and wanted to use the one that had a reaction and I told her I was told that one could not be used any more. Then she said, "Well, you'll just have to come back after your port." I told her but I'm supposed to do this every 3 weeks and I really don't want to miss, I want to get past all this. She finally got it in a vein on the top of my hand then she said I cannot move that hand at all. I said, "what if I have to go to the bathroom?" "You'll just have to wait, it's only an hour and a half for godsakes." I said, "You don't know my bladder very well, do you?" When she left I just started crying. I tried to get the head nurse alone to tell her I didn't want her near me anymore. I drink a lot of water and have to urinate frequently.

Anyway, when she was injecting the chemo she started asking me all these questions about my lumpectomy, then she said that she was grilling me because she'd just been diagnosed and was about to go through it. I felt bad but I still didn't feel she needed to be treating cancer patients that way. Since this began I have not had one rude medical professional, everyone has been on my side and loving and caring and 100% helpful, until today. So, after she went to lunch I had a talk with the head nurse, who was supposed to take care of me in the first place but she was at lunch when I finally was done with the doc. I don't feel bad because I told her I understood that she has breast cancer but I just don't think she should be talking to patients going through this that way and that I didn't want this to happen to someone else. I'm a pretty strong person and can usually deal with hard attitudes. The HN said that her attitude wasn't acceptable. I asked her to be gentle with her but she needs to know that this was not a good way for a person to go through a treatment.

The HN is a very sweet and caring individual and I know she'll handle it gently and appropriately. I think if she weren't I wouldn't have said anything.

LICS June "The best protection any woman can have...is courage." Cady Stanton Secular Breast Cancer Support group: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SecularBCSupport/

-----Original Message-----From: breastcancer2 [mailto:breastcancer2 ]On Behalf Of lisaogut@...Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2005 1:54 PMTo: breastcancer2 Subject: RE: 2 more treatments of ACJune,I have been surprised to read that some folks had a hard time w/ radiation. I am sorry to hear that some people had problems.I had absolutely no problems at all, other than the one I wrote about a day or so ago, whereby I had rubbed aloe vera lotion all over my breast, and ended up making my nipple area extremely allergic to *anything*. That was my only problem with radiation. I had a normal 6 weeks or 8 weeks of it, too -- they radiated the entire breast and then boosts (or whatever they are called).Please try not to worry about the radiation. I had a support group with 10 folks in it during that time, and we stayed a group long after; none of them had any problem w/ radiation. To me, radiation was a cinch. I even enjoyed the time off work. -- OgutThe Whole Brain Game -- It's Not What You Think But How You Think It

[Guest guest]

I wouldn't totally blame your lack of memory of such things on loss of memory from chemo. I tend to quickly forget bad experiences once I am past the trauma. Like I'd long since forgotton an accident I was in in 1978 when my head hit the metal thing that holds the visor up (the one time I forgot to wear my seatbelt) until I had my head shaved and there was a dent right there where I hit. It brought that memory right back, LOL.

I have quit smoking but I do have on about once a month, actually, on chemo day. Ironically there is usually someone outside smoking and I'll ask if I can buy a cigarette, I don't mind buying, they're expensive. Then after treatment I'll go outside and really enjoy that one smoke, Then I'm fine. I think it's just nerves from the ordeal. And I'll tell you, this week's was an ordeal. I hope I don't have to deal with that nurse ever again, even though I thoroughly feel for her and what she is going through.

Try and quit soon. I'm living in the tropics myself lately but it's not been super bad. When it's 65 in here I feel like it's 85, not horrible. We finally got our new heater installed today. I laughed with my husband, my internal heater is working just fine, LOL. I also had the shortest period with the least amount of output ever. It started on Wed and I'm about done. Ah well, I'm kind of glad.

LICS June "The best protection any woman can have...is courage." Cady Stanton Secular Breast Cancer Support group: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SecularBCSupport/

-----Original Message-----From: breastcancer2 [mailto:breastcancer2 ]On Behalf Of lisaogut@...Sent: Friday, December 02, 2005 2:34 PMTo: breastcancer2 Subject: RE: 2 more treatments of ACHi June,Isnt it interesting about the nurses: when I was going through chemo, I was very specific about which nurse(s) I wanted, and which ones I didnt. One wouldnt think that would be so important, but it is. I am glad you told the head nurse about it. I didnt have a portacath. Gosh! I dont remember all that much about it. When people bring up things like this, then I start remembering, which isnt bad. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, that is what I tell people who are going through treatment. I have every belief in that treatment and statistics will just keep improving. I still have yet to quit smoking (I am assuming you are still not smoking). I've only got a couple of years of smoking under my belt, so I am not a long-termer. When the time comes, after my furnace flashes stop, I will go to a hypnotist to ease the transition. I get so angry at the furnace flashes (which serve *no* purpose other than to torture me dozens of times per day and night) that I light up following/during them. I think it will be fruitless to try to quit smoking now, as one furnace flash and I'd go have a "well deserved" (in my mind -- at that moment -- anyway) smoke. If the flashes dont stop soon, I will visit a hypnotist anyway, and have her/him work on the hot flashes. See what can be done. Thanks for your e mail. Keep telling your stories, I enjoy your sharing with us.Also, nne, thank you for letting me know that my memory about the mastectomy/lumpectomy implications were not a fairy tale. Love to us all, -- OgutThe Whole Brain Game -- It's Not What You Think But How You Think It