Uterine Papillary Serous Carcinoma (UPSC): any others here???
Comments
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Lymph node testinglindaprocopio said:Lynch Syndrome
Thanks so much for the info on Lynch Syndrome; I never heard of it before. Of course I immediately did some research to learn more about it. I looked through all of my pathology reports and can't find any genetic testing or Lynch Syndrome testing of my malignant lymph node. Maybe they didn't bother testing me because those with Lynch Syndrome usually develop cancer at a younger age than 55 and so I was not considered a likely case, and my family has no history of colon cancer. Although I wish they had done the genetic testing so I can put that worry behind me or deal with it if the results were positive! One more thing to put on my 'questions' list for my pre-chemo oncology consult Monday! Thanks again. Makes me glad I had a routine colocoscopy and mammogram just prior to the whole cancer scare, and both were good.
I have a routine CT scan Friday and my 4th chemo round Monday, so I'll let you know how I make out. (fingers crossed for luck.)
Linda, if you want them to do the testing, I'm not positive, but I seem to remember the doctor telling me that those tissue samples are kept for quite a while. They may still be able to do the testing. Good luck with your CT scan, I pray that all is good news and that your chemo on Monday will be a breeze.
Marge, thanks, I thought you were on carbo/taxol, but when you mentioned Cisplatin I was confused. I pray for you to an easy chemo session and recovery. It's your last treatment, I think when you feel better, you should have a celebration!
I asked a lady that I know who is a chemo nurse about the adria/cisplatin/taxol cocktail that is involved in that clinical trial. I guess cisplatin can be a lot harsher than carbo and she said adriamycin is just a very harsh drug. It has a max. dose you can receive in a lifetime and most people are not able to handle the side effects to get to max. dose. It can be very toxic to your heart. I've made the right decision for me about the trial.0 -
Whoops! Double Postlindaprocopio said:Lynch Syndrome
Thanks so much for the info on Lynch Syndrome; I never heard of it before. Of course I immediately did some research to learn more about it. I looked through all of my pathology reports and can't find any genetic testing or Lynch Syndrome testing of my malignant lymph node. Maybe they didn't bother testing me because those with Lynch Syndrome usually develop cancer at a younger age than 55 and so I was not considered a likely case, and my family has no history of colon cancer. Although I wish they had done the genetic testing so I can put that worry behind me or deal with it if the results were positive! One more thing to put on my 'questions' list for my pre-chemo oncology consult Monday! Thanks again. Makes me glad I had a routine colocoscopy and mammogram just prior to the whole cancer scare, and both were good.
I have a routine CT scan Friday and my 4th chemo round Monday, so I'll let you know how I make out. (fingers crossed for luck.)
Last post came up twice for some reason. Anywho... I just found out that my first chemo treatment is next Tuesday after my port placement.0 -
Testingdeanna14 said:Whoops! Double Post
Last post came up twice for some reason. Anywho... I just found out that my first chemo treatment is next Tuesday after my port placement.
I haven't had a test for hearing or Lynch Syndrome.. I'm concerned for my daughter and two grandaughters. Will have to ask my doctor when I see her on the 26th of this month. That's the day before my next chemo. Have any of you heard of a drink called Kombucha? My daughter-in-law was watching that new show "The Doctors" and they were talking about it.G.T. Dave began bottling Kombucha in 1995 after his mother's success from drinking it during her battle with breast cancer.My daughter-in-law bought me a couple of bottles, I really like it.
My cousin took this picture of me today so thought I'd post it. Hope you are all doing well.....0 -
Deanna: your chemo will cycle 1 day after mine!
Hey, Deanna! Looks like your chemo will always be 1 day after mine, so we can 'hold hands' during the predictable 'aches' days and 'strange-taste-buds' days, and will both be at our high and low points of the cycles together, just as Marge and I were. Thanks for the idea on the Lynch Syndrome testing of my lymph node tissue; I'll see if that's do-able.
Teresa: I haven't heard of your new drink, but would suggest you call your oncology nurse if you're really drinking a lot of it. Lots of herbal things interfere with chemo, and I was advised to call about anything like that for an okay. Just have the bottle handy when you call to read them the ingredients. There's a strategy to chemo where you have to be careful about things that fortify your cells. As much as you want your body to recover from each chemo cycle, you DON'T want to be drinking or eating anything that fortifys your CANCER cells at the same time. I had to get the okay to even take a simple multiple vitamin. Have you called them about this vision thing? That's the kind of thing that warrants a call between chemo rounds or regular appointments. Please don't be shy about calling them. That's their job and your insurance is paying out a fortune for your treatment. And I know they would prefer you to call as soon as any new symptom occurs so they can deal with it right away.0 -
After first tx I will be going on Mondayslindaprocopio said:Deanna: your chemo will cycle 1 day after mine!
Hey, Deanna! Looks like your chemo will always be 1 day after mine, so we can 'hold hands' during the predictable 'aches' days and 'strange-taste-buds' days, and will both be at our high and low points of the cycles together, just as Marge and I were. Thanks for the idea on the Lynch Syndrome testing of my lymph node tissue; I'll see if that's do-able.
Teresa: I haven't heard of your new drink, but would suggest you call your oncology nurse if you're really drinking a lot of it. Lots of herbal things interfere with chemo, and I was advised to call about anything like that for an okay. Just have the bottle handy when you call to read them the ingredients. There's a strategy to chemo where you have to be careful about things that fortify your cells. As much as you want your body to recover from each chemo cycle, you DON'T want to be drinking or eating anything that fortifys your CANCER cells at the same time. I had to get the okay to even take a simple multiple vitamin. Have you called them about this vision thing? That's the kind of thing that warrants a call between chemo rounds or regular appointments. Please don't be shy about calling them. That's their job and your insurance is paying out a fortune for your treatment. And I know they would prefer you to call as soon as any new symptom occurs so they can deal with it right away.
Next weeks treatment will be on Tuesday since this was the first chance that he had to put in my port. So I will have my port in first thing Tuesday morning and chemo treatment after it is in. So we will both have chemo on Mondays after that. I'm excited that my (knock on wood) last treatment will be the first week of May! I thought it was going to be more like July.
I was wondering which days after chemo seem to be the most difficult for you? Do you get the Neulasta injection after your chemo? If so, do you drive yourself to get it? My husband is concerned about being home with me. He is off on Mondays, but wants to be home with me when I am feeling bad. I have tried to reassure him that I will be okay while he is at work. He's had to use so much sick leave since my first surgery in July, that he is worried about having enough. His sister just lives 1 block from us and if I have an problems, she can be here in literally 2 minutes or less. If I need a driver to get my injection, I'm sure she would be happy to take me. My parents are in good health and they are happy to help, but we each live 30 minutes away from the hospital in opposite directions.
Anyway, just wondering what days I should expect to feel the roughest and if he should anticipate needing to stay home with me?0 -
I don't think your man needs to stay home with you.deanna14 said:After first tx I will be going on Mondays
Next weeks treatment will be on Tuesday since this was the first chance that he had to put in my port. So I will have my port in first thing Tuesday morning and chemo treatment after it is in. So we will both have chemo on Mondays after that. I'm excited that my (knock on wood) last treatment will be the first week of May! I thought it was going to be more like July.
I was wondering which days after chemo seem to be the most difficult for you? Do you get the Neulasta injection after your chemo? If so, do you drive yourself to get it? My husband is concerned about being home with me. He is off on Mondays, but wants to be home with me when I am feeling bad. I have tried to reassure him that I will be okay while he is at work. He's had to use so much sick leave since my first surgery in July, that he is worried about having enough. His sister just lives 1 block from us and if I have an problems, she can be here in literally 2 minutes or less. If I need a driver to get my injection, I'm sure she would be happy to take me. My parents are in good health and they are happy to help, but we each live 30 minutes away from the hospital in opposite directions.
Anyway, just wondering what days I should expect to feel the roughest and if he should anticipate needing to stay home with me?
Done in May! YEA! My last chemo is early March, and then I have my 5 weeks of external rads and 3 weeks of internal, so we should BOTH be done in May!
I don't get Neulasta shots since my white count has been climbing back really good without it, and my chemo oncologist only gives Neulasta after rounds where your white count is getting low. So far I haven't needed it, so I can't speak to that, but Peggy can. My chemo onc said that when you get Neulasta when you don't need it, it causes bone pain because there is only so much room in that confined space for the white cells and if there are already enough white cells, the crowding can cause pain. But I will get Neulasta if my whites ever don't recover like they should. When you NEED Neulasta, it doesn't cause the bone pain.
Lots of people even drive themselves to and from chemo, although I appreciate the moral support of having a buddy there chemo-day to share the news of my 'counts' and to be there when I talk to my oncologist. But as far as your husband planning to take off on your predictable 'bad' days following your chemo treatments, I don't really think you'll need your husband home with you at all these first few rounds. (PLEASE Teresa, Marge, & Peggy jump in here if you disagree.) You'll know better after your first round of chemo, but I have never been so weak or light-headed that I was afraid to be home alone, even after 3 rounds. (I'm always chasing my husband out the door to shoot pool or get out and have coffee with his buddies, and I'm here lots of times alone.) If your husband has a limited number of 'sick days' left, he might be wise to save them for your last couple rounds of chemo, as the side effects get progressively worse. And having your sister-in-law so nearby,...I think you'll be fine. For Marge and I both, Days 4 & 5 after chemo were the worse as far as joint pain, and for me it was limited to night-time and only lasted a couple of days. You're gonna be surprised how GOOD you feel between chemos, Deanna, compared to how you are imagining it will be. You sailed through your radiation; I'm betting you'll do really good with chemo too.0 -
That's what I'm hoping forlindaprocopio said:I don't think your man needs to stay home with you.
Done in May! YEA! My last chemo is early March, and then I have my 5 weeks of external rads and 3 weeks of internal, so we should BOTH be done in May!
I don't get Neulasta shots since my white count has been climbing back really good without it, and my chemo oncologist only gives Neulasta after rounds where your white count is getting low. So far I haven't needed it, so I can't speak to that, but Peggy can. My chemo onc said that when you get Neulasta when you don't need it, it causes bone pain because there is only so much room in that confined space for the white cells and if there are already enough white cells, the crowding can cause pain. But I will get Neulasta if my whites ever don't recover like they should. When you NEED Neulasta, it doesn't cause the bone pain.
Lots of people even drive themselves to and from chemo, although I appreciate the moral support of having a buddy there chemo-day to share the news of my 'counts' and to be there when I talk to my oncologist. But as far as your husband planning to take off on your predictable 'bad' days following your chemo treatments, I don't really think you'll need your husband home with you at all these first few rounds. (PLEASE Teresa, Marge, & Peggy jump in here if you disagree.) You'll know better after your first round of chemo, but I have never been so weak or light-headed that I was afraid to be home alone, even after 3 rounds. (I'm always chasing my husband out the door to shoot pool or get out and have coffee with his buddies, and I'm here lots of times alone.) If your husband has a limited number of 'sick days' left, he might be wise to save them for your last couple rounds of chemo, as the side effects get progressively worse. And having your sister-in-law so nearby,...I think you'll be fine. For Marge and I both, Days 4 & 5 after chemo were the worse as far as joint pain, and for me it was limited to night-time and only lasted a couple of days. You're gonna be surprised how GOOD you feel between chemos, Deanna, compared to how you are imagining it will be. You sailed through your radiation; I'm betting you'll do really good with chemo too.
I think I will do fine, and I think once we get through this first round he will "chill" a little. He is just very protective right now and feels like he can't do enough to help me. Once we get through the first treatment and I am able to take care of myself, I think he will be able to go on to work and not worry so much. My SIL will be more than happy to hang out with me if I need her to and probably will anyway, just to visit.
I'm ready, I just need to get over this rotten cold I came down with yesterday. I started that Zicam as soon as it felt like I was getting the cold. It hasn't stopped it, but I think it could be much worse. No fever, just stuffy nose, sore throat and some sneezing. Hope it clears up before Tuesday.
Thanks for the input, it sure does help to have you girls around to bounce all these things off of. The way my onc talked Friday at my appt., he plans on giving the Neulasta after each treatment. Do you think it might be because I already had radiation and my white count is already slightly compromised? I will find out for sure on Monday when I go for lab and chemo teaching.
Hugs for strength to all...0 -
Neulasta and the radiation
That's what I was thinking; maybe they feel they've already compromised your white count with the radiation. And I met someone at chemo who has my same chemo-onc that gets Neulasta after every round, (young, with lung cancer) but she always gets a second round of chemo later that same week and then a 3-week break between the double-rounds. I think she gets Neulasta every time so that she can better continue her aggressive chemo schedule. And I know Peggy routinely got Neulasta after each chemo round. Maybe you just have better insurance than I do! By the way, I've read that some people learn to give themselves the day-after-chemo Neulasta shot when they have long commutes to their chemo center. I can't imagine giving myself a shot, but it may be an option.
Teresa: is your hair hanging in there? At about 18 days after my first chemo my hair started coming out, and I think it was about 18 days for Marge also. Please try not to be too bummed; you'll get used to it. But I don't know anyone that doesn't stare in the mirror and shed a few tears at first. (((((Teresa))))) You'll love how cool your head feels on the pillow and never having to shave your legs or armpits. But at first it is hard, even when you are not especially vain.0 -
DEANNA: You'll want to stop the cold medicine prior to chemo.
I forgot to add this comment: You want to have no other medications in your system prior to your chemo. I was told not to even take my vitamins the day before or day of chemo. So you may want to back off of the cold medicine after Sunday. If you have anything prescribed that you take for any chronic conditions, they should have given you instructions on whether you can take them on chemo day. If you are coughing a lot with this cold, you may want to ask the chemo nurses on Tuesday for a surgical mask, for the safety of your fellow chemo buddies. I never even gave that a thought when I was so sick with that cough, until I saw someone getting chemo near me reach for their OWN surgical mask when I was coughing. Now I bought a box of masks to wear to chemo if I am ever sick again like that chemo days, and to have handy if anyone visits me who is coughing. I think I used 2 since I got them, so this is no big deal. But I was embarrassed to be coughing around people whose immune systems were compromised and not being prepared. Also, many people get constipated by the chemo drugs (something I struggled with the last 2 rounds), so I suggest that you get some of that Sunsweet Plum Juice (so much tastier than prune juice) and have a little glass each evening, and get some Fiber One cereal to eat for breakfast, and do a little pre-emptive 'fiber-loading' before your chemo. And you want to get in the habit of being VERY well hydrated, drinking lots of water all the time, 64 ounces of fluid daily which is a LOT, but helps keep your veins, kidnies, and digestion good during your chemo. I was also told by the nutritionist to eat a little yogurt EVERY day to get that live 'good bacteria' into my body, as chemo can upset the balance of bacteria in your body and you want to help your system re-balance itself as quickly as you can. And I recently got some of the NO-Alcohol flouride mouth-rinse that they make for children to help keep my mouth healthy during this vulnerable time,...(just make sure it has no alcohol as alcohol can make mouth sores worse). I think this all is helping me get through the chemo. The only other thing I take beyond a One-A-Day multivitamin and Calcium Chew, is a 'Slow-FE' iron pill, and that is with my onc's permission just since last round when my platelet count dropped to 117. I think the key is to remember that what fortifies your body also may fortify your cancer cells, and so anything you eat or drink a lot of is worth running by someone on your chemo-onc team. I know that you are a fighter and will make yourself be a key member of your cancer-killing team, and do everything you need to do on your part. You need to make yourself EAT, and HYDRATE, and REST. I know you'll do that.
TERESA, PEGGY & MARGE: please add any tips you may have for our 'chemo newbie'. Thanks!0 -
Chemolindaprocopio said:DEANNA: You'll want to stop the cold medicine prior to chemo.
I forgot to add this comment: You want to have no other medications in your system prior to your chemo. I was told not to even take my vitamins the day before or day of chemo. So you may want to back off of the cold medicine after Sunday. If you have anything prescribed that you take for any chronic conditions, they should have given you instructions on whether you can take them on chemo day. If you are coughing a lot with this cold, you may want to ask the chemo nurses on Tuesday for a surgical mask, for the safety of your fellow chemo buddies. I never even gave that a thought when I was so sick with that cough, until I saw someone getting chemo near me reach for their OWN surgical mask when I was coughing. Now I bought a box of masks to wear to chemo if I am ever sick again like that chemo days, and to have handy if anyone visits me who is coughing. I think I used 2 since I got them, so this is no big deal. But I was embarrassed to be coughing around people whose immune systems were compromised and not being prepared. Also, many people get constipated by the chemo drugs (something I struggled with the last 2 rounds), so I suggest that you get some of that Sunsweet Plum Juice (so much tastier than prune juice) and have a little glass each evening, and get some Fiber One cereal to eat for breakfast, and do a little pre-emptive 'fiber-loading' before your chemo. And you want to get in the habit of being VERY well hydrated, drinking lots of water all the time, 64 ounces of fluid daily which is a LOT, but helps keep your veins, kidnies, and digestion good during your chemo. I was also told by the nutritionist to eat a little yogurt EVERY day to get that live 'good bacteria' into my body, as chemo can upset the balance of bacteria in your body and you want to help your system re-balance itself as quickly as you can. And I recently got some of the NO-Alcohol flouride mouth-rinse that they make for children to help keep my mouth healthy during this vulnerable time,...(just make sure it has no alcohol as alcohol can make mouth sores worse). I think this all is helping me get through the chemo. The only other thing I take beyond a One-A-Day multivitamin and Calcium Chew, is a 'Slow-FE' iron pill, and that is with my onc's permission just since last round when my platelet count dropped to 117. I think the key is to remember that what fortifies your body also may fortify your cancer cells, and so anything you eat or drink a lot of is worth running by someone on your chemo-onc team. I know that you are a fighter and will make yourself be a key member of your cancer-killing team, and do everything you need to do on your part. You need to make yourself EAT, and HYDRATE, and REST. I know you'll do that.
TERESA, PEGGY & MARGE: please add any tips you may have for our 'chemo newbie'. Thanks!
I bring my own big cup to chemo and put ice water in it. I also keep diet ginger ale around for the week after chemo so I drink that instead of taking a nausea pill. It works great for me.
My worst days are my 4th and 5th. I start on the evening on the 3rd day when my ankles start to ache. As chemo goes on fatigue is more common. I'm taking more naps this round then I did the last two. The doc says this is normal. I also do breathing exercises and stretch, I try to do this every night or in the morning.
I'm thinking you are getting the Neulasta shot because you are getting a port. I was told that having a port gives you a risk of infection and since I was only having six treatments they didn't recommend the port.
I'm off to chemo tomorrow so my thoughts and prayers will be with all on your chemo days. See how I will feel next week with having my dosage lowered.
MIND, BODY AND SOUL.
Hugs....
Oh, and the cool bold head on the pillow sure does help with the hot flashes!!!!0 -
chemo
Busy week for chemo. Deanna once you are done with your first session most of these jitters will go away. It really is not bad. The neulasta is good. I drove myself to the clinic and back for these shots, it had no immediate reaction. I thought I had a lot of bone pain from it, but now reading the reactions of the chemo aches from the other girls I think I had a normal reaction to all of it together. I also felt free to go to all of my childs and grandchildrens activities without getting sick. I had to learn to give myself shots when I had blood clots. I was wondering how it would go, but as soon as I did the first one... nothing to it. It really helped bring back a feeling of control over one more set back. When I had chemo I looked forward to the next 2-3 days alone at home. No one making food to smell, making noise or needing attention. It was great to ghost around by myself and enjoy what ever I felt like doing. Many of the people I knew doing chemo had to go to work so I felt very privledged to be home. Alone. When I rested I visualized the 'cancer vixen' and would put a bulls eye on it and shoot.... never missed!! Very primitive, but mind over matter!! Got em all. NED!! Linda and Teresa.... We will all soon be ready to join that club. My heart and prayers go with you all this week once again. Marge I know you made the right decision to try a lower doseage and fight again. Peggy (ps Deanna, when getting the neulasta shots within the 24 hrs... get them in your stomach. It sounds terrible, but it really is painless much less stinging than a shot in your arm. Really!!) Just wanted to add that we have a wind chill of -74 below zero here today. Glad this is not my chemo year to travel!! Hope this is not a double post something is weird on the site today.0 -
Thanks!pjba11 said:chemo
Busy week for chemo. Deanna once you are done with your first session most of these jitters will go away. It really is not bad. The neulasta is good. I drove myself to the clinic and back for these shots, it had no immediate reaction. I thought I had a lot of bone pain from it, but now reading the reactions of the chemo aches from the other girls I think I had a normal reaction to all of it together. I also felt free to go to all of my childs and grandchildrens activities without getting sick. I had to learn to give myself shots when I had blood clots. I was wondering how it would go, but as soon as I did the first one... nothing to it. It really helped bring back a feeling of control over one more set back. When I had chemo I looked forward to the next 2-3 days alone at home. No one making food to smell, making noise or needing attention. It was great to ghost around by myself and enjoy what ever I felt like doing. Many of the people I knew doing chemo had to go to work so I felt very privledged to be home. Alone. When I rested I visualized the 'cancer vixen' and would put a bulls eye on it and shoot.... never missed!! Very primitive, but mind over matter!! Got em all. NED!! Linda and Teresa.... We will all soon be ready to join that club. My heart and prayers go with you all this week once again. Marge I know you made the right decision to try a lower doseage and fight again. Peggy (ps Deanna, when getting the neulasta shots within the 24 hrs... get them in your stomach. It sounds terrible, but it really is painless much less stinging than a shot in your arm. Really!!) Just wanted to add that we have a wind chill of -74 below zero here today. Glad this is not my chemo year to travel!! Hope this is not a double post something is weird on the site today.
Thank you all for the tips. I will make use of them. I am only taking Zicam for the cold, never tried it before. Hopefully it will shorten the symptoms and I won't have the sniffles on Tuesday. I just asked the doctor about vitamins last week and haven't had the chance to pick any up yet. I will take your advice and stop taking anything on Sunday, at least until I can check with the doctor or nurses.
I also think I may ask if I can give myself the neulasta so I will only have to make the trip one day instead of 2. I have lousy veins, so I requested the port. I had a colonoscopy in October and they had to stick me 5 times, CT scan in Oct. stuck me 2 times. After surgery, I had 4 IV sites. I think the port will be a good thing for me. I pray for no infections!
I'm so glad you are all here. Your encouragement means so much.
Marge- praying for strength for you for tomorrow and for all of you.
Deanna0 -
bad veins
Deanna: Sorry to hear you have had such a time with your veins. A port should help you with that. When I do my scopes (colon and esoph.) I do not use any of the meds. These tests are not hard to do with no meds. I can go there and can be out of there in just minutes each test. (Then just drive home.) Much easier on the body. It is so interesting to watch on the screen what they are doing and it is much easier to make decisions if awake. Many people do not understand that the meds are routine... we have a choice not to use them. This would also solve your IV problem... at least for these simple tests. It all helps. Once again good luck in chemo all. Peggy0 -
((((Teresa)))) Sorry about the hair!
Try not to let the falling hair get you down, Teresa. It's all a part of the battle. It's a bummer when it first happens to you, even when you know it's coming, but you'll get used to it pretty quickly. Still, I wish I were there to give you a hug. I'm glad you have your wig already. Be sure and sign up at Heavenly Hats (google it) for their free hats for cancer patients so that you have a nice surprise box to look forward to.
I heard from Marge off-board. She made it through her last round of chemo yesterday just fine and is hoping for a fun day tomorrow watching the Eagles football game, so, MARGE, I hope you continue to feel good and GO EAGLES!!0 -
Losing Hair Todaypjba11 said:bad veins
Deanna: Sorry to hear you have had such a time with your veins. A port should help you with that. When I do my scopes (colon and esoph.) I do not use any of the meds. These tests are not hard to do with no meds. I can go there and can be out of there in just minutes each test. (Then just drive home.) Much easier on the body. It is so interesting to watch on the screen what they are doing and it is much easier to make decisions if awake. Many people do not understand that the meds are routine... we have a choice not to use them. This would also solve your IV problem... at least for these simple tests. It all helps. Once again good luck in chemo all. Peggy
Marge, hope your doing okay after your 4th chemo and that it's not as bad as your 3rd one was.
Started losing my hair today. Everytime I run my fingers through it some comes out. I've already got my wig and a few turbans, guess I'm ready as I'll ever be for this.
Deanna, good luck with your port and I agree with Linda that you will more then likely be okay without anyone at home with you after chemo.I also thought the 4th and 5th days were the worst. Still,I was able to give my daughter a bath on those days, I just couldn't cook for about a week with my sense of taste and smell so out of whack.0 -
Wow... winter weather.lindaprocopio said:((((Teresa)))) Sorry about the hair!
Try not to let the falling hair get you down, Teresa. It's all a part of the battle. It's a bummer when it first happens to you, even when you know it's coming, but you'll get used to it pretty quickly. Still, I wish I were there to give you a hug. I'm glad you have your wig already. Be sure and sign up at Heavenly Hats (google it) for their free hats for cancer patients so that you have a nice surprise box to look forward to.
I heard from Marge off-board. She made it through her last round of chemo yesterday just fine and is hoping for a fun day tomorrow watching the Eagles football game, so, MARGE, I hope you continue to feel good and GO EAGLES!!
We had about 1/2 inch of snow on Friday and it is gone already. It has been very cold, but not much snow. Looks pretty!
Teresa, thanks for the reply. I think once we get through the first round and he sees that it isn't as bad as he is imagining, he will go on to work. He'll probably have my SIL check up on me, which is okay. I never mind a visit from her, she's great. I am sorry about your hair, wear like a badge of courage! I know it will be harder when it actually happens, but remember in the BIG picture, it's a little thing. Please remind me of that when I start losing mine! I am just ready to get the fight back on and get it done! Tuesday is the day. I got a box of hats from Heavenly Hats, it is fun to get a package!
I hope everyone is feeling okay. Love and Hugs!0 -
just a thoughtdeanna14 said:Wow... winter weather.
We had about 1/2 inch of snow on Friday and it is gone already. It has been very cold, but not much snow. Looks pretty!
Teresa, thanks for the reply. I think once we get through the first round and he sees that it isn't as bad as he is imagining, he will go on to work. He'll probably have my SIL check up on me, which is okay. I never mind a visit from her, she's great. I am sorry about your hair, wear like a badge of courage! I know it will be harder when it actually happens, but remember in the BIG picture, it's a little thing. Please remind me of that when I start losing mine! I am just ready to get the fight back on and get it done! Tuesday is the day. I got a box of hats from Heavenly Hats, it is fun to get a package!
I hope everyone is feeling okay. Love and Hugs!
Have a friend that always has her chemo on Fridays. Her husband is home with her for the week end. By the time her achy time is there she is able to send him off to work and rest. Leaving for the next couple of days, but my thoughts are always with all of you in prayer on one of your scheduled days. Glad you like the hats. They are a lot of help. It seemed like I had to have a lot to like a favarite few. Don't be afraid to 'stack them' too. They are even fun to wear over you wig for winter and they seem to make you wig more real too. Gods blessing on you next steps.0 -
Chemo 4pjba11 said:just a thought
Have a friend that always has her chemo on Fridays. Her husband is home with her for the week end. By the time her achy time is there she is able to send him off to work and rest. Leaving for the next couple of days, but my thoughts are always with all of you in prayer on one of your scheduled days. Glad you like the hats. They are a lot of help. It seemed like I had to have a lot to like a favarite few. Don't be afraid to 'stack them' too. They are even fun to wear over you wig for winter and they seem to make you wig more real too. Gods blessing on you next steps.
My WBC, RBC, HGB AND HCT are low so the steriod effect is not helping, don't have the burst of energy from it. Other then that all other blood work is normal. I'm starting to feel that off balance effect today. The nurse told me that it would take about a month and half to two months to start feeling back to normal. I also understand that it could take up to a year to have the tingling feeling go away from feet and hands. I'm guessing by the end of this week and through the weekend I will be doing a lot of napping knowing the blood counts are going to be coming down some more! My daughter had caught a cold also so we have been avoiding one another.
Teresa, keep you chin up with losing your hair it's part of winning the battle. Sometimes it's not easy looking at yourself in the mirror without it. I had my husband shave mine off when it got real thin. My best advice with not having hair is to make sure you have a night hat, sometimes your head can get so cold I have to put it on and then again it's nice to throw it off and have the cold head when you are having a HOT FLASH!!!!
Linda, NED is wonderful. I pray that NED will be our best friends for the rest of our lives!!
I will be praying for all this week with your journerys through chemo!
I'M PRAYING THAT I WON'T HAVE TO TAKE A NAP THIS AFTERNOON, I HAVE TO WATCH THE EAGLES MAKE IT TO THE SUPERBOWL. E-A-G-L-E-S, GO EAGLES!
MIND, BODY AND SOUL.
Hugs0 -
GOOD news: CT is NED!; BAD NEWS: No Chemo today!
No chemo today. Here I am all pumped up with steroids, all psyched up for the ordeal, new bloodwork done with one stick, feeling ready,...then POW! Oncologist says: "We can't let you have chemo today. Hemoglobin and platelets too low." I tried to talk him into it by maybe getting a lower dose today, but he said no oncologist in the state would allow me to get chemo today. I had the option of getting a blood transfusion today, or do as he recommended and give it another week for my body to recover better. He seemed to think I was close enough to borderline that I would be okay for chemo by next Monday, so I passed on the transfusion and set up an appointment for next Monday. I cried while I waited to get my new appointment; I am so bummed. There is an added platelet-building drug he is looking into to perhaps add to my chemo cocktail from now on. I was so upset that I didn't catch the name of the platelet-building drug. I'll see if the oncology nurse can help jog my memory when I call tomorrow for my new CA-125 drawn today but not done by the time I had to spin around and leave so quickly. Any of you have any idea what it might be? (I want to do some research.) I sooooo wanted to have 4 chemo rounds into me by today. I really could cry again.
My GOOD news: The CT-scan I had Friday was still NED! So if my CA-125 continues to drop or even holds below 35, I will take some comfort in that. If I had OVARIAN cancer, my understanding is that they would cut off the chemo at that point anyway, considering me in remission, and saving my body in preparation for the next re-occurence. But I plan to HAVE no re-occurence and push on with my chemo/radiation regime as soon as my body can handle it again. I asked about intraperitoneal cell exfoliation (as it has always bothered me that my cancer was discovered when an exfoliated UPSC cell wandered down to my cervix and was picked up on my PAP, and found microscopically in the peritoneal 'wash' they did and the one lymph they removed during my surgery.) Dr. White said that even if UPSC cells were exfoliated from the polyp and were left behind during surgery, the chemo was killing them just as it does anywhere in the body. That was reassuring.
DEANNA: I asked about Cisplatin. Dr. White said Cisplatin causes more nausea, pain, and neuropathy that any of the other chemo drugs, and the carboplatin has largely already replaced it, ahead of this Clinical Trail that is now trying to formally compare them. You did the right thing passing on that trial. I asked about the Lynch Syndrome, but Dr. White said that with no family history of cancer, I should put those worries out of my mind completely.
Now I have to go climb into bed and pull the covers over my head and be sad, and try and get over this set-back disappointment. 0
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