Uterine Papillary Serous Carcinoma (UPSC): any others here???

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  • shortmarge
    shortmarge Member Posts: 291
    deanna14 said:

    So far So good.
    Don't worry about the radiation. The first week I had some mild nausea even though they told me no side effects for 2-3 weeks. I think it was mostly anxiety because since then I have had very few side effects. There have been a couple of days after my treatment that I have felt tired and I just took a nap in the afternoon. Today was day 15 of external treatments and did have some loose stools. Sorry that's normally kinda personally, but it's the nature of the radiation we are having. I took 2 imodium and haven't had any more trouble. I am trying to follow the recommendations they gave me for the low residue or low fiber diet. I think it really does make a difference. It's funny that you say you are more worried about rad. tx, I am more worried about chemo. Maybe it is just anxiety over the unknown and once you get there, it isn't as bad a you make it out to be in your mind. I sure do pray that you continue to feel as good as you have today. Congrats on the CT's coming back clean and the insurance getting it together.

    Marge, I hope you get to feeling better. Hang in there girl!

    Thanks to all 3 of you for being there to chat with, it means a lot to me.
    Keep the faith...

    It's a Beautiful Morning
    I feel much better this morning. I bought some Ensure and drank two yesterday, I believe that helped and I made myself eat, eat, eat. I made broccoli cheese soup and my daughter made a wonderful dinner for me last night.

    I will feel fabulous tomorrow, it's my 49th birthday and on the 24th it will be my 29th wedding anniversary. I must say one positive thing about this stupid cancer, it has brought my husband and I close again. He has been my rock, my love and my life. We were even dancing in the kitchen last night, can't remember the last time we have done that!

    Deanna glad to hear everything is going well that the rad is not that bad. Your picture is great. The love of your life I see is a Marine, many thanks to him. (I'm an Army Mom).

    Linda and Peggy hope you are doing well today. MIND, BODY AND SOUL we will all beat this together.

    Hugs, Marge
  • pjba11
    pjba11 Member Posts: 188
    keep it positive
    I am sitting here crying for all of us!! Happy tears. We have had quite a journey... each of us. I pray each day many times that we can all be healed. I did not have this site when I was going through all that you 3 are. I feel very blessed to have all of you now. I sure wish we could find someone out there that has had this longer even than me. So very happy that no one is having any bad reactions. Heal in Jesus name you three.
  • lindaprocopio
    lindaprocopio Member Posts: 1,980
    Now I know what Marge meant about waking up foggy-headed!
    I guess my 'hamster days' steroid high is over, because I slept 10 hours last night and woke up with something similar to what Marge described, a sort of fogginess. It's not bad, but I feel like if I crawled back under the covers, I just might go back to sleep again. (Not doing that!) I agree that we are all doing so much better than any of us probably dared to hope. There are surely some rough days ahead, but one day at a time is the way to go, and making the most of each good day. I wonder if we will continue to come here after our treatments are over??? I see 20-year survivors posting here on other boards, wanting to be here as a resource to those that come after them with their same cancers. I'd like to think we'll be like that, with this thread always 'flagged' for email alerts, ready to jump back in when those newly diagnosed with UPSC using the SEARCH box, find this thread. Even if any of us decide to close the door on this chapter of our life and never look back, think how great it will be for someone with UPSC to find this archived thread! I think of how alone I felt when I posted here initially, and no one responded at first. And then how wonderful it was, and still is, to find you 3. Even someone coming here later and finding our WORDS will have an important resource. But I like to think that we will still pop in, years from now, as long-time survivors, to comfort and advise the newbies.

    And on a completely different note: anyone else attempting to make Thanksgiving dinner or entertain over Thanksgiving? I have my whole family coming in (16 people, several staying 3 or 4 days), and would love to think that I will be well enough to pull off the feast I traditionally prepare, but I have a back-up plan for others to make Thansgiving dinner for us all just in case I am in a low place in my chemo cycle. I am famous for my holiday dinners and love traditions and exactly duplicate all of my mother's and grandmother's recipes for cornbread filling and broccoli souffle, and homemade cresscent rolls. I know my "back-up plan" Thanksgiving won't have any of those dishes. Maybe I can just make those few things that bring back those Thanksgiving mornings of my childhood when I would get up really early with my mom and grandma (who lived with us in our house) and we'd chop vegetables to make the filling, and my mom would always let me cut one of the pumpkin pies to have a piece for breakfast. I love looking at their handwriting on the old recipe cards; I lost them both so long ago. Usually my grandkids sleep over the night before holidays so that they can do the same kind of things with me. Last year they made the rolls with me and rolled out the pie crusts, and Emily gathered little crabapples and dried seed heads and rose hips from my gardens and made tiny flower arrangements for each place setting. Wow! I'm so sentimental this morning! I'll be blubbering in my coffee soon! Sorry. Love you guys!
  • deanna14
    deanna14 Member Posts: 732

    Now I know what Marge meant about waking up foggy-headed!
    I guess my 'hamster days' steroid high is over, because I slept 10 hours last night and woke up with something similar to what Marge described, a sort of fogginess. It's not bad, but I feel like if I crawled back under the covers, I just might go back to sleep again. (Not doing that!) I agree that we are all doing so much better than any of us probably dared to hope. There are surely some rough days ahead, but one day at a time is the way to go, and making the most of each good day. I wonder if we will continue to come here after our treatments are over??? I see 20-year survivors posting here on other boards, wanting to be here as a resource to those that come after them with their same cancers. I'd like to think we'll be like that, with this thread always 'flagged' for email alerts, ready to jump back in when those newly diagnosed with UPSC using the SEARCH box, find this thread. Even if any of us decide to close the door on this chapter of our life and never look back, think how great it will be for someone with UPSC to find this archived thread! I think of how alone I felt when I posted here initially, and no one responded at first. And then how wonderful it was, and still is, to find you 3. Even someone coming here later and finding our WORDS will have an important resource. But I like to think that we will still pop in, years from now, as long-time survivors, to comfort and advise the newbies.

    And on a completely different note: anyone else attempting to make Thanksgiving dinner or entertain over Thanksgiving? I have my whole family coming in (16 people, several staying 3 or 4 days), and would love to think that I will be well enough to pull off the feast I traditionally prepare, but I have a back-up plan for others to make Thansgiving dinner for us all just in case I am in a low place in my chemo cycle. I am famous for my holiday dinners and love traditions and exactly duplicate all of my mother's and grandmother's recipes for cornbread filling and broccoli souffle, and homemade cresscent rolls. I know my "back-up plan" Thanksgiving won't have any of those dishes. Maybe I can just make those few things that bring back those Thanksgiving mornings of my childhood when I would get up really early with my mom and grandma (who lived with us in our house) and we'd chop vegetables to make the filling, and my mom would always let me cut one of the pumpkin pies to have a piece for breakfast. I love looking at their handwriting on the old recipe cards; I lost them both so long ago. Usually my grandkids sleep over the night before holidays so that they can do the same kind of things with me. Last year they made the rolls with me and rolled out the pie crusts, and Emily gathered little crabapples and dried seed heads and rose hips from my gardens and made tiny flower arrangements for each place setting. Wow! I'm so sentimental this morning! I'll be blubbering in my coffee soon! Sorry. Love you guys!

    Blubber all you want.
    I used to try hard not to cry, now I am actually learning to let it go when it comes. I never realized how cleansing a good cry could be and still not mean you are weak. So go ahead and blubber in your coffee. Those sound like amazing memories and I'm positive have and are going to make many of those same memories with your kids and grandkids. You might not feel up to it this year (and don't push too hard!), but you will have many, many years ahead to make memories. I know you have to believe that and I do too, we all do!!!
    I'm glad you are still doing pretty okay with the side effects, despite the "foggy head." Hang in there, you guys have become my inspiration, I'm not nearly as afraid of the chemo as I was a week ago.
    Marge, I'm glad you are having a great day. Yes, that is my Marine. He was in for almost 12 years. He planned to be a lifer and ended up with knee/back injuries. He is the love of my life and I would not have the courage to fight without him.
    I am also glad you girls are here and I do hope that others can benefit from our correspondence.
    Did any of you look into clinical trials? What do you think of them? I saw both of my docs today and the oncologist is offering me a clinical trial. I'm wish I would have written it down, because I don't know the name of the drug. If I go into the study, I could receive a third drug in addition to the Taxol and Carboplatin (?spelling). The drug works by weakening the membrane of the cancer cell, so that it can not survive. It can cause swelling and high blood pressure, but reportedly has shown positive results in our cancer type. It has been FDA approved for lung and some other cancers, but not uterine/endometrial. The trial is to help get FDA approval. So it is being used routinely, just not for uterine CAs. What are your thoughts? I will have more info after my chemo teaching which is the 3rd week of January.
  • lindaprocopio
    lindaprocopio Member Posts: 1,980
    deanna14 said:

    Blubber all you want.
    I used to try hard not to cry, now I am actually learning to let it go when it comes. I never realized how cleansing a good cry could be and still not mean you are weak. So go ahead and blubber in your coffee. Those sound like amazing memories and I'm positive have and are going to make many of those same memories with your kids and grandkids. You might not feel up to it this year (and don't push too hard!), but you will have many, many years ahead to make memories. I know you have to believe that and I do too, we all do!!!
    I'm glad you are still doing pretty okay with the side effects, despite the "foggy head." Hang in there, you guys have become my inspiration, I'm not nearly as afraid of the chemo as I was a week ago.
    Marge, I'm glad you are having a great day. Yes, that is my Marine. He was in for almost 12 years. He planned to be a lifer and ended up with knee/back injuries. He is the love of my life and I would not have the courage to fight without him.
    I am also glad you girls are here and I do hope that others can benefit from our correspondence.
    Did any of you look into clinical trials? What do you think of them? I saw both of my docs today and the oncologist is offering me a clinical trial. I'm wish I would have written it down, because I don't know the name of the drug. If I go into the study, I could receive a third drug in addition to the Taxol and Carboplatin (?spelling). The drug works by weakening the membrane of the cancer cell, so that it can not survive. It can cause swelling and high blood pressure, but reportedly has shown positive results in our cancer type. It has been FDA approved for lung and some other cancers, but not uterine/endometrial. The trial is to help get FDA approval. So it is being used routinely, just not for uterine CAs. What are your thoughts? I will have more info after my chemo teaching which is the 3rd week of January.

    The clinical trial..
    This is the first I heard of this clinical trial. Please get the details for Marge and me. And be sure and run the extra drug by your insurance since they often balk at untested meds and may not pay. Sometimes the drug companies pay for it for you, but not always. Aside from the cost, I really don't know, healthwise. Once you get the name of the drug we'll all jump in and do research and run it by our respective oncologists and maybe we can help you make an informed decision.

    I worked on the computer most of today, so I am keeping my little business going. I tried to do the elliptical machine again today, and only made it 3/4 mile before my guts were aching and I quit. I used to do 10 miles every day, so this is discouraging, but at least I am doing something more physical than sitting on my butt all day. I've just felt 'off' a little all day, nothing major and still no nausea, but like little gas pains pinching at me, just enough to be anoying. I'm making spaghetti for dinner for my husband and step-daughter, but I think I'll just have an Ensure, since that seemed to help Marge. I think the extra protein in it might be good for me today. And I'm going to bed early, since I have been longing for a nap all day but didn't take one,
  • deanna14
    deanna14 Member Posts: 732

    The clinical trial..
    This is the first I heard of this clinical trial. Please get the details for Marge and me. And be sure and run the extra drug by your insurance since they often balk at untested meds and may not pay. Sometimes the drug companies pay for it for you, but not always. Aside from the cost, I really don't know, healthwise. Once you get the name of the drug we'll all jump in and do research and run it by our respective oncologists and maybe we can help you make an informed decision.

    I worked on the computer most of today, so I am keeping my little business going. I tried to do the elliptical machine again today, and only made it 3/4 mile before my guts were aching and I quit. I used to do 10 miles every day, so this is discouraging, but at least I am doing something more physical than sitting on my butt all day. I've just felt 'off' a little all day, nothing major and still no nausea, but like little gas pains pinching at me, just enough to be anoying. I'm making spaghetti for dinner for my husband and step-daughter, but I think I'll just have an Ensure, since that seemed to help Marge. I think the extra protein in it might be good for me today. And I'm going to bed early, since I have been longing for a nap all day but didn't take one,

    No details yet...
    I'm sorry I don't have all the details about the trial. I searched all afternoon on the internet and couldn't find it. I did remember the name of it is Avastin. I don't know enough about clinical trials to figure out which of the trials they are offering me. We will be discussing it further the first week of January when I go back to my gyn/onc. The little understanding that I got from it was the the "gold standard" is Taxol and Carboplatin, the trial randomly includes Avastin. The way it was explained to me is that it somehow interferes with the cancer cell wall, causing it to be to weak to survive. It is currently only FDA approved for use in lung cancer, colorectal cancer and metastatic breast cancer. So, the trial is to try to get FDA approval for our cell type. When I do a search the clinical trials finder, they ask for zip code and within how many miles you want to search. So I think they may be area specific, so that may be why you didn't hear of it. They told me that the drug company pays for the drug, not your insurance.
    Anyway, if I find out any more I will let you know.
    I hope you feel better tomorrow. Sleep well. I think naps are a good thing, do you have time during the day for a nap? My doctor is always very concerned that I am sleeping well at night and resting when I feel like I need to during the day. He explained that this is the bodies way of healing. You are not that far post op and are still healing from that, then the chemo is another blow to your system. Try to get some rest during the day. I sound like a mother hen, lol. The other lecture I get from the doctor is you must eat, not just drink the Ensure. Okay I'll stop now. Take care...
  • lindaprocopio
    lindaprocopio Member Posts: 1,980
    deanna14 said:

    No details yet...
    I'm sorry I don't have all the details about the trial. I searched all afternoon on the internet and couldn't find it. I did remember the name of it is Avastin. I don't know enough about clinical trials to figure out which of the trials they are offering me. We will be discussing it further the first week of January when I go back to my gyn/onc. The little understanding that I got from it was the the "gold standard" is Taxol and Carboplatin, the trial randomly includes Avastin. The way it was explained to me is that it somehow interferes with the cancer cell wall, causing it to be to weak to survive. It is currently only FDA approved for use in lung cancer, colorectal cancer and metastatic breast cancer. So, the trial is to try to get FDA approval for our cell type. When I do a search the clinical trials finder, they ask for zip code and within how many miles you want to search. So I think they may be area specific, so that may be why you didn't hear of it. They told me that the drug company pays for the drug, not your insurance.
    Anyway, if I find out any more I will let you know.
    I hope you feel better tomorrow. Sleep well. I think naps are a good thing, do you have time during the day for a nap? My doctor is always very concerned that I am sleeping well at night and resting when I feel like I need to during the day. He explained that this is the bodies way of healing. You are not that far post op and are still healing from that, then the chemo is another blow to your system. Try to get some rest during the day. I sound like a mother hen, lol. The other lecture I get from the doctor is you must eat, not just drink the Ensure. Okay I'll stop now. Take care...

    Yes, mother. (HA!)
    Okay, I did eat a cup of spaghetti with my Ensure. Every time I ate or drank anything today I had to go to the bathroom. It wasn't really diahrea, but something sort of like that. I thought constipation was a more common chemo side effect and have been on a high fiber diet leading up to my chemo, so I think I'll switch to a low-fiber diet tomorrow and see if I do better. I've always been a whole grain/fresh veggies kind of girl so a low fiber diet will be something totally new. Meanwhile I'm pounding the fluids to keep hydrated: green tea is my evening drink tonight.

    Deanna: use the SEARCH box on the top of the page and type in "Avastin." There are lots of posts discussing this drug, mostly stuff about side effects, which are, of course, different for everyone and every cancer. But it may give you a feel for the drug. I plan to spend a little time reading about it, since I want to at least bring it up to my oncologist.

    Just washed my hair: still hanging onto my head! I felt a little silly conditioning it, knowing what a short-timer it is! HA!
  • deanna14
    deanna14 Member Posts: 732

    Yes, mother. (HA!)
    Okay, I did eat a cup of spaghetti with my Ensure. Every time I ate or drank anything today I had to go to the bathroom. It wasn't really diahrea, but something sort of like that. I thought constipation was a more common chemo side effect and have been on a high fiber diet leading up to my chemo, so I think I'll switch to a low-fiber diet tomorrow and see if I do better. I've always been a whole grain/fresh veggies kind of girl so a low fiber diet will be something totally new. Meanwhile I'm pounding the fluids to keep hydrated: green tea is my evening drink tonight.

    Deanna: use the SEARCH box on the top of the page and type in "Avastin." There are lots of posts discussing this drug, mostly stuff about side effects, which are, of course, different for everyone and every cancer. But it may give you a feel for the drug. I plan to spend a little time reading about it, since I want to at least bring it up to my oncologist.

    Just washed my hair: still hanging onto my head! I felt a little silly conditioning it, knowing what a short-timer it is! HA!

    Too funny!
    That's funny, I just got the prescription today for my "cranial prosthesis." It's a wig for heaven's sake!
    I will check that out. Check out the clinical trials finder on the left of this page under cancer.org. You can fill out all of your criteria and it will do a search and give you all of the clinical trials available. The will show you what is available closest to you.
    I'm thinking about doing it, but I do want to research more.
    I feel better that you did eat. Now if I can only get you to take a nap tomorrow. lol.
    Sleep tight. I'll talk to you later.
  • pjba11
    pjba11 Member Posts: 188
    trials
    I know what you two are going through just to find a clinical trial for us, much less get to be in one. It might work to just call your oncology nurse and ask her to fax or mail you the exact trial information they are in. I have felt that the nurses usually do all of the things that really help us. So glad all of you are hanging tough!!!!!!
  • pjba11
    pjba11 Member Posts: 188

    It's a Beautiful Morning
    I feel much better this morning. I bought some Ensure and drank two yesterday, I believe that helped and I made myself eat, eat, eat. I made broccoli cheese soup and my daughter made a wonderful dinner for me last night.

    I will feel fabulous tomorrow, it's my 49th birthday and on the 24th it will be my 29th wedding anniversary. I must say one positive thing about this stupid cancer, it has brought my husband and I close again. He has been my rock, my love and my life. We were even dancing in the kitchen last night, can't remember the last time we have done that!

    Deanna glad to hear everything is going well that the rad is not that bad. Your picture is great. The love of your life I see is a Marine, many thanks to him. (I'm an Army Mom).

    Linda and Peggy hope you are doing well today. MIND, BODY AND SOUL we will all beat this together.

    Hugs, Marge

    Happy Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    49.......... it was a great era?? Now what? In my opinion it just gets better. We seem to apppreciate our family and the grandkids so much more. I am so glad you are doing good. Hugs back to you too. Enjoy YOUR day. Happy Birthday.
  • deanna14
    deanna14 Member Posts: 732

    It's a Beautiful Morning
    I feel much better this morning. I bought some Ensure and drank two yesterday, I believe that helped and I made myself eat, eat, eat. I made broccoli cheese soup and my daughter made a wonderful dinner for me last night.

    I will feel fabulous tomorrow, it's my 49th birthday and on the 24th it will be my 29th wedding anniversary. I must say one positive thing about this stupid cancer, it has brought my husband and I close again. He has been my rock, my love and my life. We were even dancing in the kitchen last night, can't remember the last time we have done that!

    Deanna glad to hear everything is going well that the rad is not that bad. Your picture is great. The love of your life I see is a Marine, many thanks to him. (I'm an Army Mom).

    Linda and Peggy hope you are doing well today. MIND, BODY AND SOUL we will all beat this together.

    Hugs, Marge

    Happy Birthday to You!
    Happy Birthday Marge! I hope you are feeling well and have a wonderful day.
  • lindaprocopio
    lindaprocopio Member Posts: 1,980
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARGE!
    49! You're still a BABY! I hope you have a wonderful day! ((((((Marge))))))
  • shortmarge
    shortmarge Member Posts: 291

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARGE!
    49! You're still a BABY! I hope you have a wonderful day! ((((((Marge))))))

    THANK YOU
    I woke up feeling wonderful. I don't feel tired just a little fuzzy and weird but I can deal with that. I found that if I eat every two to three hours it's works the best to keep the strength up.

    How are you today?

    Hugs
  • lindaprocopio
    lindaprocopio Member Posts: 1,980
    Feeling better now; thanks!
    I didn't want to be a downer today, so waited to post until I felt better. My joints are still achy, but the nausea is gone and I just made myself some scrambled eggs and toast and a baked potato and now I feel good. It snowed here today, HARD, and we have 3 or 4 inches of snow on the ground. I wanted to just indulge myself and stay in my pajamas all day (which I did) but I don't think I'll do that again. It seemed to worry my husband Vic too much to see me schelp around all day in a bathrobe, (even though I did write a state grant proposal today and submitted it electronically so I did have a productive work day.) But I think I'll get a shower, put on a fresh nightgown, light the fireplace, and watch 'Survivor' with Vic on TV this evening, so he knows I'm okay. He's worried that it is so early in the chemo process for me to be spending the day in bed. I know it is, and I didn't stay there all day. And I'm just so used to feeling 100% healthy, so these little aches and discomfort are all pretty new to me. I think of all the times he took to his bed all day when he had the sniffles, something I NEVER do. And so I thought I deserved a little down time today. But it's not worth it if it makes him worry. If the roads aren't too bad, tomorrow my step-mother is coming up for a visit, so THAT will motivate me to get dressed and paint my face! Tuesday the 1st of my Thanksgiving company will start arriving. So I need to snap out of this little funk, NOW!
  • deanna14
    deanna14 Member Posts: 732

    Feeling better now; thanks!
    I didn't want to be a downer today, so waited to post until I felt better. My joints are still achy, but the nausea is gone and I just made myself some scrambled eggs and toast and a baked potato and now I feel good. It snowed here today, HARD, and we have 3 or 4 inches of snow on the ground. I wanted to just indulge myself and stay in my pajamas all day (which I did) but I don't think I'll do that again. It seemed to worry my husband Vic too much to see me schelp around all day in a bathrobe, (even though I did write a state grant proposal today and submitted it electronically so I did have a productive work day.) But I think I'll get a shower, put on a fresh nightgown, light the fireplace, and watch 'Survivor' with Vic on TV this evening, so he knows I'm okay. He's worried that it is so early in the chemo process for me to be spending the day in bed. I know it is, and I didn't stay there all day. And I'm just so used to feeling 100% healthy, so these little aches and discomfort are all pretty new to me. I think of all the times he took to his bed all day when he had the sniffles, something I NEVER do. And so I thought I deserved a little down time today. But it's not worth it if it makes him worry. If the roads aren't too bad, tomorrow my step-mother is coming up for a visit, so THAT will motivate me to get dressed and paint my face! Tuesday the 1st of my Thanksgiving company will start arriving. So I need to snap out of this little funk, NOW!

    I'm so proud of you!
    I'm sorry you were feeling poorly, but I am glad you are feeling better this evening. I am proud of you for relaxing today, you do deserve it. Snow... I sure hope the weather holds here until after the 29th.
    I was at the mall today and decided to stop in one of the salons and have my hair trimmed. The lady who cut it and I started chatting. Her best friend just finished chemo in August for ovarian cancer. She just now has enough hair to start trimming it again. Her latest scans showed NED. Anyway, she offered to take care of my hair when I start treatment. I'm going to go see her after the wedding and she is going to progressively start cutting it shorter until it starts coming out and then she will clip it all off. I think it is odd how I just happened to walk in to this salon... Devine intervention?
    Take Care of you...
    Marge, I hope you had a very great birthday, despite the fuzzy headedness.
    Hugs to all... I hope you both feel better tomorrow.
  • shortmarge
    shortmarge Member Posts: 291

    Feeling better now; thanks!
    I didn't want to be a downer today, so waited to post until I felt better. My joints are still achy, but the nausea is gone and I just made myself some scrambled eggs and toast and a baked potato and now I feel good. It snowed here today, HARD, and we have 3 or 4 inches of snow on the ground. I wanted to just indulge myself and stay in my pajamas all day (which I did) but I don't think I'll do that again. It seemed to worry my husband Vic too much to see me schelp around all day in a bathrobe, (even though I did write a state grant proposal today and submitted it electronically so I did have a productive work day.) But I think I'll get a shower, put on a fresh nightgown, light the fireplace, and watch 'Survivor' with Vic on TV this evening, so he knows I'm okay. He's worried that it is so early in the chemo process for me to be spending the day in bed. I know it is, and I didn't stay there all day. And I'm just so used to feeling 100% healthy, so these little aches and discomfort are all pretty new to me. I think of all the times he took to his bed all day when he had the sniffles, something I NEVER do. And so I thought I deserved a little down time today. But it's not worth it if it makes him worry. If the roads aren't too bad, tomorrow my step-mother is coming up for a visit, so THAT will motivate me to get dressed and paint my face! Tuesday the 1st of my Thanksgiving company will start arriving. So I need to snap out of this little funk, NOW!

    Awww Snow
    The one thing I do miss living in the south!

    Linda, take care of yourself. I believe the fourth day after chemo was the hardest for me. And I am truely finding that eating small amounts every 2 to 3 hours is the best. I got through yesterday with ease, no naps and as you can see I am up bright and early this morning. I do have some muscles that ache but it feels like I've been working out and having a little blood in my nose but it might be from the heat in the house. Been waking up to the 20's here in NC, very cold for us...

    As far as snapping out of the little funk, not so sure. I've read about chemo brain, even seen some t-shirts. The foggy head might be around awhile. I went to work yesterday and told the guy I work with that I felt like a newly born colt, all wobbly. But what a way to think about it, newly born.

    I know we are mothers and wives Linda and are used to taking care of everyone else but ourselves, it is a hard thing to let go and not worry about them but you need to let you heal. You need to rest your body, it is going through h***.

    I usually do Thanksgiving at my house every year and my sister-in-law does Christmas but I passed the hat and am letting her do Thanksgiving. This whole process has been so fast that I feel I need to slow down. As far as Christmas, not sure if I'll do that either. My third chemo treatment is on the 26th. My heartaches for Christmas time though. My son was going to come home on the 19th with his family but my grandson Joey turns 1 on the 16th. The Army will not change his doctors appointment so he will be having all his shots on that day. I asked lots of questions during chemo and the nurse said that I can not be around any live viruses. Joey would have to have his polo vaccine 10 days before seeing me. They can't come home anytime after that. He reuped and changed his MOS so he is going to school and if he misses any of that he would have to recycle and I believe his school is much more important.

    I'm calling the doc today, they have me set up to see the radiologist on Tuesday. I'm having vaginal cuff radiation and I believe he's going to want to exam and measure me. I haven't had six weeks of recovery yet and I'm not sure I want him doing all of that yet! Nothing in the virjaja for six weeks, that's doctors orders. :)

    Deanna, it is amazing how God brings people into our lives and I pray that your wedding day is sunny and warm. My daughter and I are going wig shopping today, that ought to be good for a laugh.

    Stay warm, put on some soothing music and relax. MIND, BODY AND SOUL!

    Hugs and Prayers

    Saw a t-shirt I want. It says "Cancer, you picked the wrong Bi***".

    So Me, never lost my Jersey attitude.
  • lindaprocopio
    lindaprocopio Member Posts: 1,980

    Awww Snow
    The one thing I do miss living in the south!

    Linda, take care of yourself. I believe the fourth day after chemo was the hardest for me. And I am truely finding that eating small amounts every 2 to 3 hours is the best. I got through yesterday with ease, no naps and as you can see I am up bright and early this morning. I do have some muscles that ache but it feels like I've been working out and having a little blood in my nose but it might be from the heat in the house. Been waking up to the 20's here in NC, very cold for us...

    As far as snapping out of the little funk, not so sure. I've read about chemo brain, even seen some t-shirts. The foggy head might be around awhile. I went to work yesterday and told the guy I work with that I felt like a newly born colt, all wobbly. But what a way to think about it, newly born.

    I know we are mothers and wives Linda and are used to taking care of everyone else but ourselves, it is a hard thing to let go and not worry about them but you need to let you heal. You need to rest your body, it is going through h***.

    I usually do Thanksgiving at my house every year and my sister-in-law does Christmas but I passed the hat and am letting her do Thanksgiving. This whole process has been so fast that I feel I need to slow down. As far as Christmas, not sure if I'll do that either. My third chemo treatment is on the 26th. My heartaches for Christmas time though. My son was going to come home on the 19th with his family but my grandson Joey turns 1 on the 16th. The Army will not change his doctors appointment so he will be having all his shots on that day. I asked lots of questions during chemo and the nurse said that I can not be around any live viruses. Joey would have to have his polo vaccine 10 days before seeing me. They can't come home anytime after that. He reuped and changed his MOS so he is going to school and if he misses any of that he would have to recycle and I believe his school is much more important.

    I'm calling the doc today, they have me set up to see the radiologist on Tuesday. I'm having vaginal cuff radiation and I believe he's going to want to exam and measure me. I haven't had six weeks of recovery yet and I'm not sure I want him doing all of that yet! Nothing in the virjaja for six weeks, that's doctors orders. :)

    Deanna, it is amazing how God brings people into our lives and I pray that your wedding day is sunny and warm. My daughter and I are going wig shopping today, that ought to be good for a laugh.

    Stay warm, put on some soothing music and relax. MIND, BODY AND SOUL!

    Hugs and Prayers

    Saw a t-shirt I want. It says "Cancer, you picked the wrong Bi***".

    So Me, never lost my Jersey attitude.

    I HAVE that T-Shirt!!
    I have that T-shirt (My 'fighting shirt' for chemo days!) only mine says "Cancer, you picked the wrong BROAD". (femailcrations.com) I chickened out on the B**tch one. I'm trying to decide if I really would wear a great baseball cap I found online. On the front it says "I love the small of chemo in the morning", and on the back "Smells like remission." I know this stuff is corney, but I also think it helps psyche me up a little and makes the oncology staff smile. Although I must admit that when I went for my first chemo, my shirt was boasting a braver game than my own almost-crying face. But, for a good laugh, Google "chemo in the morning" and see the PROFANE cancer shirts there are out there, really funny ones that I'd surely get if I wasn't a respectable grandma.

    MARGE: are you going for chemo every week? If so, you must be getting smaller doses than I am?? I only go every 3 weeks. My 6 rounds of chemo will take 21 months. Are you going to have your internal radiation simultaneously with your chemo? I met with the radiologist FIRST before the chemo doctor, and he did do an internal at 4 weeks that I hated and worried about, as I had a little pink when I wiped after that exam. But I've been fine since.

    I was worried last night that I wouldn't be able to sleep because my knees and feet were so achy. But I took a couple Ibrupopen (No idea if that's okay or not) and shoved some pillows between my achy bones, and I slept just fine.

    SEX is a topic of discussion at our house now, with my 8-week-surgery-anniversary coming up December 10th. I'm so dumb about some of this, and haven't had any conversations with my doctors about this at all. If they took out my cervix, is my vagina SHORTER now, or the same length? Are there still scratchy stitches up there? The 'chemo' booklet they gave me at the doctors says "wear a condom",...do they mean even with my husband?? We've never ever used a condom before so that's one more wierdness to add to this. I can't imagine how sexy I will be with this new huge scar snaking up my torso, a bald head (probably), and achy grandma joints and dry newly-healed vagina. And yet we still seem to be looking forward to this! I guess it's all a part of wanting to LIVE and be close and comfort each other. I'm thinking of wearing a low-cut long sleeveless ribbed undershirt the 1st time, for a sexy look that still covers my incision scar. I can't decide what to do about my head if I'm bald; a wig seems too wierd for bed. I can't believe I'm posting this. But who can I talk to about this, if not you guys? Any advice?
  • shortmarge
    shortmarge Member Posts: 291

    I HAVE that T-Shirt!!
    I have that T-shirt (My 'fighting shirt' for chemo days!) only mine says "Cancer, you picked the wrong BROAD". (femailcrations.com) I chickened out on the B**tch one. I'm trying to decide if I really would wear a great baseball cap I found online. On the front it says "I love the small of chemo in the morning", and on the back "Smells like remission." I know this stuff is corney, but I also think it helps psyche me up a little and makes the oncology staff smile. Although I must admit that when I went for my first chemo, my shirt was boasting a braver game than my own almost-crying face. But, for a good laugh, Google "chemo in the morning" and see the PROFANE cancer shirts there are out there, really funny ones that I'd surely get if I wasn't a respectable grandma.

    MARGE: are you going for chemo every week? If so, you must be getting smaller doses than I am?? I only go every 3 weeks. My 6 rounds of chemo will take 21 months. Are you going to have your internal radiation simultaneously with your chemo? I met with the radiologist FIRST before the chemo doctor, and he did do an internal at 4 weeks that I hated and worried about, as I had a little pink when I wiped after that exam. But I've been fine since.

    I was worried last night that I wouldn't be able to sleep because my knees and feet were so achy. But I took a couple Ibrupopen (No idea if that's okay or not) and shoved some pillows between my achy bones, and I slept just fine.

    SEX is a topic of discussion at our house now, with my 8-week-surgery-anniversary coming up December 10th. I'm so dumb about some of this, and haven't had any conversations with my doctors about this at all. If they took out my cervix, is my vagina SHORTER now, or the same length? Are there still scratchy stitches up there? The 'chemo' booklet they gave me at the doctors says "wear a condom",...do they mean even with my husband?? We've never ever used a condom before so that's one more wierdness to add to this. I can't imagine how sexy I will be with this new huge scar snaking up my torso, a bald head (probably), and achy grandma joints and dry newly-healed vagina. And yet we still seem to be looking forward to this! I guess it's all a part of wanting to LIVE and be close and comfort each other. I'm thinking of wearing a low-cut long sleeveless ribbed undershirt the 1st time, for a sexy look that still covers my incision scar. I can't decide what to do about my head if I'm bald; a wig seems too wierd for bed. I can't believe I'm posting this. But who can I talk to about this, if not you guys? Any advice?

    Funny
    My chemo treatments are every three weeks for 18 weeks. 6 rounds and yes they are going to do radiation at the same time. Merry Christmas!

    I don't believe the vagina is shorter but I asked the nurse during chemo where does the sperm go? Did they stitch the end of the vagina or leave it open? Had her laughing and she said she never thought of it and was going to find out. The things we think of. My husband says the way my incision is it makes me look like I have another butt. He was embarrassed after he said it but it made me laugh... Haven't thought much about intercourse much yet since I have a few more weeks to go.

    My hair isn't falling out yet. They told me that it would take about three weeks for it to start and by the end of the treatment all my hair will be gone.

    New born baby. :)
  • pjba11
    pjba11 Member Posts: 188

    Awww Snow
    The one thing I do miss living in the south!

    Linda, take care of yourself. I believe the fourth day after chemo was the hardest for me. And I am truely finding that eating small amounts every 2 to 3 hours is the best. I got through yesterday with ease, no naps and as you can see I am up bright and early this morning. I do have some muscles that ache but it feels like I've been working out and having a little blood in my nose but it might be from the heat in the house. Been waking up to the 20's here in NC, very cold for us...

    As far as snapping out of the little funk, not so sure. I've read about chemo brain, even seen some t-shirts. The foggy head might be around awhile. I went to work yesterday and told the guy I work with that I felt like a newly born colt, all wobbly. But what a way to think about it, newly born.

    I know we are mothers and wives Linda and are used to taking care of everyone else but ourselves, it is a hard thing to let go and not worry about them but you need to let you heal. You need to rest your body, it is going through h***.

    I usually do Thanksgiving at my house every year and my sister-in-law does Christmas but I passed the hat and am letting her do Thanksgiving. This whole process has been so fast that I feel I need to slow down. As far as Christmas, not sure if I'll do that either. My third chemo treatment is on the 26th. My heartaches for Christmas time though. My son was going to come home on the 19th with his family but my grandson Joey turns 1 on the 16th. The Army will not change his doctors appointment so he will be having all his shots on that day. I asked lots of questions during chemo and the nurse said that I can not be around any live viruses. Joey would have to have his polo vaccine 10 days before seeing me. They can't come home anytime after that. He reuped and changed his MOS so he is going to school and if he misses any of that he would have to recycle and I believe his school is much more important.

    I'm calling the doc today, they have me set up to see the radiologist on Tuesday. I'm having vaginal cuff radiation and I believe he's going to want to exam and measure me. I haven't had six weeks of recovery yet and I'm not sure I want him doing all of that yet! Nothing in the virjaja for six weeks, that's doctors orders. :)

    Deanna, it is amazing how God brings people into our lives and I pray that your wedding day is sunny and warm. My daughter and I are going wig shopping today, that ought to be good for a laugh.

    Stay warm, put on some soothing music and relax. MIND, BODY AND SOUL!

    Hugs and Prayers

    Saw a t-shirt I want. It says "Cancer, you picked the wrong Bi***".

    So Me, never lost my Jersey attitude.

    shirt...............
    I want that in a tatoo.....
  • pjba11
    pjba11 Member Posts: 188
    hair
    I have to go on a secret trip with my husband today.... but I will comment on some your questions when we get back. I had to laugh as I look back at one of the times I saw myself in the mirror after I lost my hair, my brows, and my lashes, my round moon chemo face, I felt like a turtle without a shell!!