Re: Chemo Care Info (also new member intro continued)

[Guest guest]

Margie,

First of all, I am so sorry for the loss of your father.

Thank you so very much for the post re the chemo tips. I love the

Cancer Center that I am going to, but I was not as fortunate as you

to have such a long education experience. I start my 4 rounds of

chemo today and your post was just in time.

I am new here having joined just a few weeks ago. I have not posted

since my intro so I thought I would update you all.

I don't know if I posted anything about my PET scan showing another

mass in the mediastinal area. (mid-chest inside the rib cage) After

talk of a thoracotomy to get to it, I was able to have it diagnosed

less invasively. First I had a CT scan guided needle biopsy (with

conscoius sedation-didn't work for me but absolutely no pain))

through my back and lung which was inconclusive,no lymph tissue

obtained. Then last Tuesday I had a mediastenoscopy. A scope was

passed through an incision at the base of my throat behind the

sternum (breastbone) and most of the " glowing " tissue was removed by

some kind of " cutter " inserted in a separate incision. My thoracic

surgeon just called with final path report. It is the same as the

initial frozen speciman report. Diagnosis: reactive histiocytosis.

I have found that to be a term that covers a very broad spectrum of

things. The bottom line is that there is no metastisis, other

cancer, or infection to worry about.

Now I can start my 4 rounds of A/C today and not worry about that

flaring up. Had my port put in yesterday after my insistance. I use

to think I had great veins but now I wonder. I have been stuck and

missed so many times in the past 6-8 weeks for all kinds of testing

that I have become nearly traumatized. I feel like a wimp. It is not

just the pain of getting stuck again, but after all the info from

you wonderful ladies and my research, I want my chemo in a large

vein, not destroy my arms. So off to chemo brain land in 1 hour.

Sorry for the long post, just needing to vent. One more thing. I

have a mascot/good luck charm going with me to everything. Several

weeks ago I adopted a line from the movie " Finding Nemo " The

character Dori, who is absent minded and has short term memeory loss

(ala chemo brain) says, " Just keep swimming, just keep swimming " .

That is what I intend to do.

Anyway....several of my wonderful, supportive co-workers gave me a

talking stuffed Dori puppet from the Disney Store. She is adorable.

I have not received a stuffed animal since I was 8 years old. she

will travel with me. I think the chemo nurses will really get a kick

out of her.

Beat of everything to all of you.

Ingrid

" Just keep swimming, just keep swimming. " --Dori ( " Finding Nemo "

- In breastcancer2 , " mbrchrs " <mbrchrs@y...> wrote:

> I had a 2 1/2 hour pre-Chemo one-one lesson from my oncologist's

> nurse. I don't know if everyone's doctor does this or not, but it

was

> so empowering and made me feel that they are treating the whole

person

> and not just the cancer. She went over all the drugs they would

be

> using and their side effects. But here is a list of the other

things

> you do that ease the side effects:

> 1) Lubricating eye drops, nose drops (saline mist) and lip

moisturizer.

> 2) Always keep skin lotioned up 2x times a day.

> 3) Put tea tree oil on finger and toe nails twice a day

throughtout

> all of the chemo (prevents infection)

> 4 Eat ice or popsicles during treatment (already mentioned on

this

> board)

> 5) Purchase gel gloves and botties from Bath and Body works,

freeze

> night before and bring in cooler. Put on during treatment to help

with

> chemo causing neuropathy in hands and feet, and getting a red,

burning

> to them.

> 6) Take powdered L-Glutamine - 1 tbl. 3 times a day. Helps with

mouth

> blisters and all of the digestive tract.

> 7) Vitamin B-6 100 mg 3 times a day.

> 8) Use FIT to clean vegetables. Do not eat raw vegetables or

fruit

> during days 5-10 of treatment. Immunity is the lowest during these

> days. White cells are at their lowest on day 5. Steam vegs or use

> frozen veggies and fruits.

> 0) Be meticulous about handwashing and keep hand sanitizer in

[urse,

> car, everywhere.

>

> I have not started chemo yet, will on Aug 16. I did think it was

> very caring that the Dr. would offer this service. I got a nice

tote

> bag and a wonderful organizer for free, too. She told me that

these

> are tried and true things that they know do help.

>

> This info may have been something all of you veterans already

knew, but

> perhaps the newbies will benefit.

>

> God Bless,

> Margie

> P.S. My father passed away Friday night from cancer. His service

is

> tomorrow.