4 down 2 to go

Hi, Jackie!
They check your blood work every time and give you Nulasta 24 hours after chemo if the bloodwork warrants. I have to have the shot every single time, as many do. I am proud of you that you haven't needed it so far. That means your immune system is in better shape than most. So pat yourself on the back for that.

I am finding, too, that I am more tired, even this third week. My labs last week were down, both in white and red blood counts. So I will probably need to start iron supplements. I am glad you are not having that pressure/stress. After all, I am doing everything I can but really can't control my numbers! I do reassured that it is not just me being more tired. I was worried about that as I don't bounce back like I did.

The steroids do help with getting work done, don't they? I,unfortunately, also get red, puffy cheeks for awhile. Like a chipmunk.

Oh, I also made an appt for mid-May, between chemo and radiation, with my oncologist in St. Louise. Will be asking for her help on post-treatment trials,studies for triple negative and also about bone strengtheners. So, I am feeling pro-active today!

Hope you get some rest after the steriods wind down. Atavan is a wonder, isn't it?

rjjj said:

Hi Moopy
I also have the red puffy cheeks today and am sure by tomorrow i will be tired again. I just hope that feeling of depression and despair do not follow again. I get to feeling so much better (depression wise) the week or so before treatment that i almost forget about the gloomy feelings. I hate that part the most. I pray that we all will experience joy, laughter and life without fear again. and the sooner the better!!!

I am so glad you and Joe are going to St. Louis and I am hopeful for you to find the best post-treatment offers available. I have a strong feeling in my heart that you will Moopy. Don't know why but know in my knower that you are goings to kick the beasts ****!!! You ARE proactive!
prayers and love to you.
your other sister jackie

Angels
Thank you, Jackie, for your faith and belief in me. You and Mimi have saved me from despair often these last months. You are my angels.

You and all our sisters here have been a blessing every day and night since Joe found this board. You have eased Joe's burden so he doesn't feel alone, either. (Dont' you think our husbands or significant others really appreciate this board, too? I kow Joe does.)

I am hoping that with us so close now to the end of chemo that the emotional impact will not be as intense. Joyce described it so well. I had not thought of how chemo affects our minds/emotions until I read her post awhile back. So, I pray too that those feelings will not be part of this treatment for you, my other sister Jackie, or any of us. And if they are, just post or send a message. All of us will be here. (You can also send your phone number to me via message if you would like a call; when you hear a strong Southern accent, you'll know it's Moopy on the line.)

Well, I am jealous, Mimi. There you are with nicely pale skin, which poets always wax on about, and Jackie and I have got red. Red is not a good color for me.

I wonder as well why you get the Nulasta shot. That is wonderful that you also have excellent blood counts. One less thing to worry about. Mine have been good until this week, when they dropped a couple of points. Thanks for telling me about the iron shot--didn't know about shots! Was thinking of pills.

Will let you know what Dr. Horn at Barnes-Jewish tells me. She has been in practice for over 20 years with her husband and is very direct and agressive in her approach. I like her and trust her a lot. My local oncologist is charming (truly,not like Dr. Charisma-Bypass)and very bright, just out of school for a few years. So I get the young new doc's opinion and the older, experienced doc's. (So far, they have not agreed, and I went with the experienced one.)

Rest well, dear Jackie. And Mimi, you and Simon have a good evening. We will have a good day tomorrow, you and I and our sisters getting their first treatment. (I am taking the Anti-Cancer book, by the way. So glad you told me about it.)

Moopy23 said:

Angels
Thank you, Jackie, for your faith and belief in me. You and Mimi have saved me from despair often these last months. You are my angels.

You and all our sisters here have been a blessing every day and night since Joe found this board. You have eased Joe's burden so he doesn't feel alone, either. (Dont' you think our husbands or significant others really appreciate this board, too? I kow Joe does.)

I am hoping that with us so close now to the end of chemo that the emotional impact will not be as intense. Joyce described it so well. I had not thought of how chemo affects our minds/emotions until I read her post awhile back. So, I pray too that those feelings will not be part of this treatment for you, my other sister Jackie, or any of us. And if they are, just post or send a message. All of us will be here. (You can also send your phone number to me via message if you would like a call; when you hear a strong Southern accent, you'll know it's Moopy on the line.)

Well, I am jealous, Mimi. There you are with nicely pale skin, which poets always wax on about, and Jackie and I have got red. Red is not a good color for me.

I wonder as well why you get the Nulasta shot. That is wonderful that you also have excellent blood counts. One less thing to worry about. Mine have been good until this week, when they dropped a couple of points. Thanks for telling me about the iron shot--didn't know about shots! Was thinking of pills.

Will let you know what Dr. Horn at Barnes-Jewish tells me. She has been in practice for over 20 years with her husband and is very direct and agressive in her approach. I like her and trust her a lot. My local oncologist is charming (truly,not like Dr. Charisma-Bypass)and very bright, just out of school for a few years. So I get the young new doc's opinion and the older, experienced doc's. (So far, they have not agreed, and I went with the experienced one.)

Rest well, dear Jackie. And Mimi, you and Simon have a good evening. We will have a good day tomorrow, you and I and our sisters getting their first treatment. (I am taking the Anti-Cancer book, by the way. So glad you told me about it.)

You are sweet, Moopy
And definitely an angel to me and Jackie as well. I always look forward to your posts and seeing your smiling face. You've helped many women on this board. I love how this is so much a "give and take" kind of place. You get encouragment, hope and then give it back to someone else. What could be more satisfying?

As for my pale skin -- think ghostlike and sickly! It's definitely not a good look.

I will send you my number in a PM. Wouldn't want one of the snake oil salepersons that lurk around here to get it. Moopy, I never imagined you with a southern accent. Where are you originally from?

Have a great night with Joe, and best of luck tomorrow. 4 down!!!! I'll see you around here soon.

Mimi

Moopy23 said:

I joined the "Four Down" club tonight!
Jackie, we may not be in the "Five Down" club like Mimi is, but we all got through just fine! To you sisters just beginning your chemo, please be confident that you will make it too.

My oncologist today volunteered: "Lisa, you're handing the chemo really well!" Did I happen to mention that I really like this guy? The infusion itself went fine, and now I'm just a bit sore and really tired. I'm really looking forward to my Ativan tonight.

Wishing everyone a good night!

Moopy

Neulasta shot
My understanding is that because my schedule for chemo treatments are every other week right now and then once a week after that for a long period of time that I need the Neulasta shot because my treatment schedule is so close together that it doesn't give your own system enough time to build up the white blood cells fast enough so the shot is what boosts this. If someone is on therapy once every 3 or 4 weeks then ones body system has time to build the white blood cells back up.

To be given the Neulasta shot because of of ones counts being low is not always the case. My counts were fine but where I have my treatments every other week they do this so I can have my treatments every other week because if I don't then I would be on chemo treatments for longer than 1 year and 4 months.

Some bone pain from Neulasta shot but if you take Claritin for 5 days following the shot it significantly helps with the bone pain.

Hope treatments go smoothly for all.

Margo

Moopy23 said:

Why Neulasta?
Margo, I asked yesterday and found you are right: getting it also depends on your treatment plan. With some plans, the oncologists order the shot regardless of the actual white blood count. Mimi and I are on the same treatment, so that probably explains why she gets the shot although her white count is always high.

In my thoughts
Jackie,
Hi I am glad you have one more treatment done. I will be going in on Friday March 20 for number 3. I also have chipmunk cheeks that turn a lovely shade of red. I am seeing a therapsit at the cancer center on the 19th. I am also having a hard time with depression thru the chemo. I have been reading everyones posting but have not posted very much lately. I will be keeping you, Moopey and Mimi in my thoughts this week as well as all the other sisters. I am just struggling with how low I feel at times. I do have good days but I feel like ctying so often. Please know I think of all of you so many times each and everyday. Love, Nancy