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sshhaarrii
sshhaarrii Member Posts: 38 Member
in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1

Hi Everyone,

First of all I would like to thank all of you for sharing such personal experiences, supporting, caring and being sincerely concerned.

I have been following the posts about uterine cancer and have found comfort knowing that we don't need to feel alone in our journeys. Thank you!

My name is Shari and here is the start of my journey. I am 54 years old and was diagnosed with grade 3 endometrial carcinoma, August 24th, 2016. 2 weeks later, after total hysterectomy and staging, the pathology was upgraded to serious carcinoma, stage IA, grade 3. Got it early, but still need 18 weeks of Carboplatin/Taxol and radiation to follow. 

The hysterectomy via Da Vinci was no fun, but after 4 weeks I'm feeling much better. Port install, very irritating, for the 1st and 2nd day, day 3 much better (found wearing a bra 24hours a day really helped).

I start chemo on Oct 26th, very nervous, of course. But I'm more afraid of the immune shots I need to give myself. And I can't remember how many or how often I need them. I have a Dr appointment before I start chemo and have bought a planner so I can write all this stuff down.

I also have Lupus and am having a hard time with stabilizing remission, I think it's all the stress. I actually feel pretty good today, but am worried about the chemo/Lupus combo. Maybe the chemo and radiation will kick Lupus in the butt, too.

That's all for now. Thanks for listening.

Shari

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Comments

  • Nellasing
    Nellasing Member Posts: 528 Member
    #2
    Welcome Shari

    So happy to know you've found your way here and so sorry you have joined the club. 

    The 1st time is always scary but I'm sure you will find that the nurses are going to be so helpful and comforting.

    Sending prayers and (((hugs))) for the 26th- let us know how it goes! 

    PS  I hope it kicks Lupus in the butt too!

     

  • Soup52
    Soup52 Member Posts: 908 Member
    edited October 2016 #3
    Welcome Shari! Sorry that you

    Welcome Shari! Sorry that you had to join, but we will all be with you through your journey!

  • janaes
    janaes Member Posts: 799 Member
    edited October 2016 #4
    Shari, welcome to our support

    Shari, welcome to our support group.  Im glad you have been able to read the posts and comfort.  There is a great thread on here called ladies going through chemo that has a bunch of posts that you might be interested in.

    Janae

  • Lou Ann M
    Lou Ann M Member Posts: 996 Member
    #5
    Welcome to our little club

    Sorry that you had to join us.  You have found a good place to come to.  The ladies here are a wealth of information and encouragemen.  Nothing is off limit, so ask anything, someone will have an answer for you.  There s a little older thread callEd"Ladies going through chemo" that you may find helpful.  It has excellent information on what to expect during chemo.  Chemo day is really not bad at all,  chemo nurses are the best and they treat you like a queen, bringing you warm blankets  treats.  My chemo,room had TVs to watch if you wanted.  Hydration is so importan. And if you are getting the Nuelasta shot afterward take Claritin for a days before and after.  It helps with bone pain.  Take something's along to keep busy, a good book, I Pad, music on a I Pod,..  I usually take adult coloring book and colored pencils, or a drawing pad.  

    You have hopped on a roller coaster. Come here to vent on the bad days and let us cry with you.  Come here on the good days and lets us rejoice with you.  You will find that you are much stronger than you ever imagined.

    Hugs and prayers, Lou Ann

  • Kvdyson
    Kvdyson Member Posts: 790 Member
    edited October 2016 #6
    Welcome, Shari. If it's the

    Welcome, Shari. If it's the Neulasta or Neupogen shots that you're referring to, the oncology nurses will go over everything with you. Don't panic - they won't leave you out there to fend for yourself!

    I had Neulasta using the "Onpro" system. It's a small white plastic appartus - sort of like an insulin pump - that has an adhesive side that they stick to either your stomack or the back of your arm (I tried both and preferred the arm). It goes off automatically 27 hours after your last chemo. It doesn't hurt. If feels like a rubberband snapping on your skin. I did have some pretty intense muscle pain in my jaw the 2nd and 3rd day after the first injection but was able to handle it with some leftover pain meds from my surgery and a heating pad. After that first time, I just took Advil whenever there was pain. The pain is from your body busily making white blood cells inside your bones. The pain means that it's working so I guess it's a good thing. ;)

    Good luck to you and please let us know how you're doing. We're all rooting for you! Kim

  • cindy0519
    cindy0519 Member Posts: 173
    edited October 2016 #7
    Welcome Shari! Sorry you had

    Welcome Shari! Sorry you had to join but the ladies here are awesome and you will find tons of support!  Reading your post brought back all the anxiety I too had late November last year when my chemo was about to start. The ladies going through chemo thread will be very helpful! Hang in there....you CAN do this!!

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer Member Posts: 3,517 Member
    #8
    Welcome, Shari.  I am sorry

    Welcome, Shari.  I am sorry you had to find us but I think you will find you are not alone. 

    I work with a dear woman who has Lupus and she has mentioned some of the things she deals with.  I do think I have heard stress doesn't help with trying to control that issue, but please try to breathe.  You are in a good place with us.  

    Please ask anything.  You are among friends.

  • LindyLu
    LindyLu Member Posts: 72
    #9
    Shari, welcome!

    Sorry you're on this journey, but glad you found us!  Lupus and cancer, that's quite a plateful to handle.  Try not to worry which is always easier said than done.  This is a roller-coaster of a ride, for sure.  Just know you'll get a lot of support here.

    Peace~LL

  • Editgrl
    Editgrl Member Posts: 903 Member
    #10
    Hi, Shari

    Welcome to the group.  I can't add much more to what the others have said.  Just know that there is a wealth of information and support here.   I agree that the thread about Ladies Going Through Chemo will give you a good idea of the wide range of side effects possible and how they can be dealt with. 

    Peace and strength...  you can do this!

    Chris

  • sshhaarrii
    sshhaarrii Member Posts: 38 Member
    edited October 2016 #11
    Nellasing said:

    Welcome Shari

    So happy to know you've found your way here and so sorry you have joined the club. 

    The 1st time is always scary but I'm sure you will find that the nurses are going to be so helpful and comforting.

    Sending prayers and (((hugs))) for the 26th- let us know how it goes! 

    PS  I hope it kicks Lupus in the butt too!

     

    Thank you. And I will let you

    Thank you. And I will let you know how the 26th goes.

  • sshhaarrii
    sshhaarrii Member Posts: 38 Member
    #12
    Soup52 said:

    Welcome Shari! Sorry that you

    Welcome Shari! Sorry that you had to join, but we will all be with you through your journey!

    Thank you. 

    Thank you. 

  • sshhaarrii
    sshhaarrii Member Posts: 38 Member
    #13
    Lou Ann M said:

    Welcome to our little club

    Sorry that you had to join us.  You have found a good place to come to.  The ladies here are a wealth of information and encouragemen.  Nothing is off limit, so ask anything, someone will have an answer for you.  There s a little older thread callEd"Ladies going through chemo" that you may find helpful.  It has excellent information on what to expect during chemo.  Chemo day is really not bad at all,  chemo nurses are the best and they treat you like a queen, bringing you warm blankets  treats.  My chemo,room had TVs to watch if you wanted.  Hydration is so importan. And if you are getting the Nuelasta shot afterward take Claritin for a days before and after.  It helps with bone pain.  Take something's along to keep busy, a good book, I Pad, music on a I Pod,..  I usually take adult coloring book and colored pencils, or a drawing pad.  

    You have hopped on a roller coaster. Come here to vent on the bad days and let us cry with you.  Come here on the good days and lets us rejoice with you.  You will find that you are much stronger than you ever imagined.

    Hugs and prayers, Lou Ann

    I will certainly look through

    I will certainly look through the thread "ladies going through chemo". And I am taking notes.

    I'll be asking the Dr about Claritin this week, very important!

    The coloring book is a great idea, simple and carefree. 

    Thank you for all the advice and encouragement.

  • MAbound
    MAbound Member Posts: 1,175 Member
    edited October 2016 #14
    Hello! Hello!

    So glad you found us, but sorry that you needed to. You certainly have your plate full having to cope with this cancer along with having Lupus, but I'm glad to hear that you've been finding the posts here helpful and comforting. 

  • sshhaarrii
    sshhaarrii Member Posts: 38 Member
    #15
    Kvdyson said:

    Welcome, Shari. If it's the

    Welcome, Shari. If it's the Neulasta or Neupogen shots that you're referring to, the oncology nurses will go over everything with you. Don't panic - they won't leave you out there to fend for yourself!

    I had Neulasta using the "Onpro" system. It's a small white plastic appartus - sort of like an insulin pump - that has an adhesive side that they stick to either your stomack or the back of your arm (I tried both and preferred the arm). It goes off automatically 27 hours after your last chemo. It doesn't hurt. If feels like a rubberband snapping on your skin. I did have some pretty intense muscle pain in my jaw the 2nd and 3rd day after the first injection but was able to handle it with some leftover pain meds from my surgery and a heating pad. After that first time, I just took Advil whenever there was pain. The pain is from your body busily making white blood cells inside your bones. The pain means that it's working so I guess it's a good thing. ;)

    Good luck to you and please let us know how you're doing. We're all rooting for you! Kim

    For some reason I think the

    For some reason I think the nurse said syringes, and asked if I could do this at home, otherwise I would need to make the 20 mile drive to the hospital. Maybe I miss understood? Would not be the 1st time. I should find out this week at my next appointment. I bought a planner to write these things down. I'll be sure to let you know. Thank you.

  • TeddyandBears_Mom
    TeddyandBears_Mom Member Posts: 1,814 Member
    edited October 2016 #16
    HI Shari, Just wanted to add

    HI Shari, Just wanted to add my welcome as well. You will feel much better once you have the plan and get into a routine. That first time is the most frightening and you will find that it isn't nearly as bad as you imagine it will be.

    Love and Hugs,

    Cindi

  • txtrisha55
    txtrisha55 Member Posts: 693 Member
    edited October 2016 #17
    Welcome to this site and

    Welcome to this site and sorry you had to join it.  Ladies here are so willing to share their own experiences with their cancer journey.  It does help.  It the shots you have to give to yourself are the shots to prevent blood clots and you give the shot into your stomach, been there.  I had to do that every day for 30 days after surgery.  It was not easy for me to do it to myself because I hate needles.  I was lucky enough to have my daughter with me and I made her do the shots every day.  Except one day she could not do it, because the shot does make your skin bruise, she was afraid of hurting me.  I told her to get her boyfriend to come back and do it, he gives himself insulin shots every day, he came back and had no problem do it.  There is a lot of information on this site and come back often when you need to. Praying for you. trish

  • DrienneB
    DrienneB Member Posts: 182
    edited October 2016 #18
    Welcome Shari!

    This is a great place to find information and comfort in the shared experiences of others. I wish I had discovered it, myself, earlier on. All God's strength to you as you brave through your next treatments. -jane

  • EZLiving66
    EZLiving66 Member Posts: 1,483 Member
    edited October 2016 #19
    Welcome to the group, Shari!

    Welcome to the group, Shari!  This is the best place in the world to be if you have uterine cancer.  The ladies here are so kind and supportative not to mention knowledgeable with just about everything to do with endometrial cancer.  Ask any question and there is probably somebody here who knows the answers.  We've lost some wonderful ladies and we grieve BUT we have many long-term survivors who give us all hope.

    Love,

    Eldri

  • sshhaarrii
    sshhaarrii Member Posts: 38 Member
    edited October 2016 #20
    sshhaarrii said:

    For some reason I think the

    For some reason I think the nurse said syringes, and asked if I could do this at home, otherwise I would need to make the 20 mile drive to the hospital. Maybe I miss understood? Would not be the 1st time. I should find out this week at my next appointment. I bought a planner to write these things down. I'll be sure to let you know. Thank you.

    Yes, it's syringes. Granix on

    Yes, it's syringes. Granix on day 2 and 3 after chemo. I'm getting the Granix because it's short lasting as my chemo treatments are weekly. My husband or my sis will be giving me the injections, for now. Hopefully, I will eventually be able to do this myself? I will also be taking the Claritin to help with the side affects. 

  • Mmpeterson
    Mmpeterson Member Posts: 124
    edited October 2016 #21
    Welcome Shari, I am just

    Welcome Shari, I am just starting this journey but the ladies here are absolutely amazing.  So much information and inspiration.  We vent our frustration but also share good news with each other.  It's a wonderful support system.  Sending many prayers to u.  Maryanne 

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