Soooooo was it as bad as you thought it was going to be ???

Bill.S
Bill.S Member Posts: 177
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Those were the first words out of my oncologists mouth today.......I had my 2nd TCH cocktail today after visiting with Dr ONC.
I paused for a min. asked him to rephrase the ? and answered 'NO IT WAS NOT NEARLY AS BAD AS I HAD IMAGINED' I was expecting the worst of the worst 3 weeks ago when I started chemo. I had memorized every side effect down to the last detail. I have antiemetic scripts to last several life times and haven't needed one pill yet. Even have 2 different kinds just in case it gets bad.
Imodium is my best friend--- my surgeon recomends soluble fiber also.
Got script today for mouth pain that I had for about 10 days following 7/14 chemo.(Magic mouthwash) is what my nurse calls it.[i have the recipe if you want it] you will have to find my email address on my web site and ask me to send it via an attachment PDF file. It is prescription so your Dr will have to give you one. www.caringbridge.org/visit/abelincoln

It hasn't been fun so far but it isn't what I was expecting either--- not nearly so bad.
I was afraid to go back to work but just finished a 40 hour week.[my first week back] Seems that I do have an allergy to the cheap/nasty toilet paper at work ...gives me diaper rash which is just what I needed along with the hemerhoids.
Used the generic EMOLA cream on my port today and didn't even feel the needle stick--- GREAT STUFF. Covered the cream with a 5 gal ziplock bag and duct tape. Thinking that I went a bit overboard the first time. But it did say to use an occlusive dressing and since I had no idea what the H that was had to invent one.[men fix]
Good thing I have no chest hair. The duct tape was a BAD BAD BAD idea. Think next time I'll use a sandwwich bag and blue painter's tape.
Now that I've had my 2nd taxotere crap I'm sure that what hair I might have left is going to fall out over the next several weeks. Need bikini waxing.
By the way---- my Drs have told me that I am cleared to resume normal "relations"------- looking for volunteers of the female variety.
Breasts or no breasts- doesn't matter. I've never been able to "please" a woman via her breasts. However you damn well better play with the one nipple that I have left. Feels GOOD.
Hope ya'll know that I an just fooling around but just incase you really want to fool around my phone # is 555-00000000000 area code 000
Bill S

Comments

  • Bill.S
    Bill.S Member Posts: 177
    #2
    By the way, since I am ER+/PR+/HER2-neu+ I asked Onc.about the 5 year tamoxifen regime I read about with women and he said "Bill, the only difference between men with BC and women with BC is that women have overies and men don't"
    I think that he forgot another Really BIG difference. Men have other things like the "fix it" gene. And usually smaller breasts.
    I thought that because I was neither pre or post menapausal that I could skip the tamoxifen but it doesn't look that way.
    Ya'll are just educating me way to much.
    I luv ya all each and every one of you.
    Bill S
  • Joycelouise
    Joycelouise Member Posts: 482
    #3
    Your post made me relive my taxol experience but with a lot more laughs. Thanks for that. BTW, I got prescription strength laxatives - although, I must say that finally "letting go"...was like the credits showing on the screen for that round of chemo and I knew the side effects were pretty well over till next time.
    OH, and when you get cleared for "abnormal" relations - give me a call! love, Joyce
  • mmontero38
    mmontero38 Member Posts: 1,510
    #4
    My dearest Bill: You have no idea, how I look forward to reading your posts every day. You crack me up sometimes. Can't say that I'm available, but will keep you in mind the day I do. Love ya too, Lili
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #5
    Bill,
    Thank you, thank you for the much-needed laugh!!!

    But, I beg to differ....men DO have ovaries...they are just on the outside, and a bit lower....LOL!

    Yes, unfortunately, taxol (taxotere) can also wipe out eyebrows and lashes, etc...

    GREAT to have a male perspective in this female world! Keep up the good work!!!

    Hugs, Kathi
  • Bill.S
    Bill.S Member Posts: 177
    #6
    BTW I live in SW Florida. The weather is uasally nice here except when we have hurricanes or rain or sunshine over 90 degrees which is most of the time.
    On the serious side. I told my onc that I was working with my dentist since before all of this cancer crap began to have a partial upper denture made.

    Dr. Onc. told me to STOP and wait till after chemo was over as my mouth would change.
    I haven't been able to chew in months and this AH thinks that I am going to wait 6 more months. I don't think so (men fix).. have to talk with my dentist this morning or tomorrow sometime. Have a shot of Neulasta tomorrow AM on the schedual but after that I'll camp out in my dentist's office till she can see me.
    This aint going to happen--- I need to eat real food pretty soon or turn into Twiggy.Other wise I'll just stick with eating women. Went from 185 to 170 to 173 to 177 and back down yesterday to 175. Guess that a good poop is all it takes to make a diference. Don't forget the fiber.
    Still through it all it is not what I was expecting and I really feel for thouse of you who have had every side effect on the books..I know that we all are different 'cause my overies are a little bit lower and outside of my body.as I was reminded today.
    Hope I don't get pregnant through all of this but that would take one of you to help me. :). Loving all of you till the rest of my hair falls out and then we are starting all over. I'll look like a little boy with no hair below my belt. That should be interesting....................
    Bill S
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #7
    I think that Drs ask the "funniest" questions! His question to you rather reminded me of the old joke: "So, Mrs Lincoln, aside from That, how did you enjoy the play"????

    I'm really glad you have not experienced too much of the what-if's. I was one of the lucky ones, too! Except for the Twilight Zone dimension of exhaustion, I never needed anti-nausea meds nor the magic mouthwash either. But I did call my Dr at 3AM one Saturday because I couldn't "poop". I remember apolgizing to her, and mentioning that she surely didn't have my call in mind when she altruistically started medical school!

    Thanks for your updates, we love them and you! I have especially been giggling at your (men fix) references~ and we sooo get that you would like a chance to see that (women nurture).

    Hugs,
    Claudia
  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
    #8
    Bill, Spare yourself the hassle of taping the plastic over the numbing cream. I just cut out a square of plastic wrap or part of a sandwich bag and placed it over the cream/port area and gently pressed on it. The suction kept it in place until the nurse took it off. Why use tape---ouch?!
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #9
    Eil4186 said:

    Bill, Spare yourself the hassle of taping the plastic over the numbing cream. I just cut out a square of plastic wrap or part of a sandwich bag and placed it over the cream/port area and gently pressed on it. The suction kept it in place until the nurse took it off. Why use tape---ouch?!

    Quick Question...what's with the plastic wrap and numbing cream, anyway? I have never heard of either....and I didn't know it was even necessary! Plastice wrap for what???
    My port never caused me pain ( does it usually?)and when I went for chemo, they sprayed it with ethyl alcohol in an aerosol can. I didn't ever feel the needle stick.

    Just wondering.....

    Hugs,
    Claudia
  • cabbott
    cabbott Member Posts: 1,039 Member
    #10
    chenheart said:

    Quick Question...what's with the plastic wrap and numbing cream, anyway? I have never heard of either....and I didn't know it was even necessary! Plastice wrap for what???
    My port never caused me pain ( does it usually?)and when I went for chemo, they sprayed it with ethyl alcohol in an aerosol can. I didn't ever feel the needle stick.

    Just wondering.....

    Hugs,
    Claudia

    I've heard of the cream for shots, but I thought the whole purpose of the port was so it didn't hurt (and so it protected your veins for future pokes. . .). I eagerly wait your answers.

    C. Abbott
  • Bill.S
    Bill.S Member Posts: 177
    #11
    chenheart said:

    Quick Question...what's with the plastic wrap and numbing cream, anyway? I have never heard of either....and I didn't know it was even necessary! Plastice wrap for what???
    My port never caused me pain ( does it usually?)and when I went for chemo, they sprayed it with ethyl alcohol in an aerosol can. I didn't ever feel the needle stick.

    Just wondering.....

    Hugs,
    Claudia

    the cream is called EMLA but is now available generic. Lidocaine 2.5%,Prilocaine 2.5%.You put a gob of on your port at least 1 hour ahead of getting stuck. It numbs the skin so you don't feel a thing. I used an oversized bandaide to cover it not a 5 gal ziplock bag and duct tape. Don't rub it in. It is a prescription medicine. I never had the spray stuff but I have heard that some people don't like it. The cream works GREAT.
    Bill S

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