Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part II -GAGWTA!

[lookingforward]

Hi DeeCee,
I finished chemo. on Feb. 28th. The Emend works great , I took that on the day of chemo. treatment and then for the next 2 days so for 3 days with each treatment. I also took both zofran and compazine as needed for several days after each treatment.

I was told to take a claritin-D after the Neulasta shot and then keep taking the claritin -D for the next 2-3 days after to keep the bone pain away. It really helped me. I forgot to do this after my first shot just because I just had so much stuff to remember ,and I was in a lot of pain that time. I remembered to take the claitin after every shot after that and never had that pain again.

Hoping you are doing well, Violet

Gosh, noone told me that! I was eating percocets the week after chemo due to Nuelasta. Wish I had known! The nuelasta is tough but necessary!

 

[DeeCeeSW]

Thanks for the positive thoughts, everyone!

A special thanks to Violet for recommending the Claritin-D. I took 2 Aleve before I left for the Neulasta shot this afternoon and took a Claritin as soon as I got home. The shot was given in my belly, which is also believed to cut down on pain. There was a little burning at the site on the way home, but so far, so good.

Maureen, I hope you are feeling better with radiation. Sounds like it's a real pain but this too shall end. I learned a lot of chemo tips throught the breastcancer.org site. It's a great resource as all of you here are! You should definitely check out the message boards there to discuss your radiation treatments with others who are going through it right now. Might help. Hope I do get to meet you in December....

The nausea has subsided, in fact, I took a Zofran this morning at 7:30 and haven't had to take one since. Doc gave me a script for Compazine, tho, and says I can take it with the Zofran, if needed. We will try Emend for the next infusion (can't start it until the day of chemo as itis stronger than the others).

Love and good health to all!

Dawn

 

[lookingforward]

Thanks for the positive thoughts, everyone!

A special thanks to Violet for recommending the Claritin-D. I took 2 Aleve before I left for the Neulasta shot this afternoon and took a Claritin as soon as I got home. The shot was given in my belly, which is also believed to cut down on pain. There was a little burning at the site on the way home, but so far, so good.

Maureen, I hope you are feeling better with radiation. Sounds like it's a real pain but this too shall end. I learned a lot of chemo tips throught the breastcancer.org site. It's a great resource as all of you here are! You should definitely check out the message boards there to discuss your radiation treatments with others who are going through it right now. Might help. Hope I do get to meet you in December....

The nausea has subsided, in fact, I took a Zofran this morning at 7:30 and haven't had to take one since. Doc gave me a script for Compazine, tho, and says I can take it with the Zofran, if needed. We will try Emend for the next infusion (can't start it until the day of chemo as itis stronger than the others).

Love and good health to all!

Dawn

Dawn, We are looking at the Dec. 4th 3 night cruise (REALLY CHEAP) and since it goes Thursday to Sunday I was thinking of doing Sunday and Monday at the world. Still not sure though. We might just do the parks as planned. Either way I'll be there. I missed my POLY ressies last year cause I was having a certain little surgery and had to miss it. Christmas time is my favorite time to go to disney. We can definately meet!

Hang in with chemo, thankfully you only have four!

 

[laurabelle]

Dawn- You sound great! Yes www.breastcancer.org is my go to BC site. BTW- I have met Dr. Weiss and attended one of her "Get Your Groove Back" sessions ...she's terrific!

Violet- I have never heard of taking Claritin-D to combat the side effects of Neulasta shots, thanks for sharing! I wonder what's in it...

Maureen- Planning's half the fun! I am sure whatever you do it will be magical! I love Disney at Christmastime too!

 

[laurabelle]

If I just post two more times...

 

[laurabelle]

I'll have...

 

[laurabelle]

3,333 posts!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We will try Emend for the next infusion (can't start it until the day of chemo as itis stronger than the others).

I believe with the emend you must take it before the symptoms start as it works to prevent them, not treat them like the others do.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Which one did he get? Something really good, I hope. (Tell him I got the pancake.) I'm glad he's enjoying his Oly!


Thank you so much.

He said he likes it better than the Sony. Well, gee whiz, I am SO GLAD we bought 2 lenses and an external flash for the Sony! My DH is a money pit! I'm not sure exactly what this lens is. It is big. The dimensions look just a bit different than the "beer can" we got for the Sony. He left the camera on my desk but I don't see anything helpful written on the lens. I'll have to ask him what it is (or have him post about it). He has to get up for work at midnight so he is already in bed.

3,333 posts!

Congrats, Laura!

 

[DeeCeeSW]

I believe with the emend you must take it before the symptoms start as it works to prevent them, not treat them like the others do.

Yes, I believe that is true. I'll need to take the Emend about an hour before the treatment, then I'll get more stuff in the IV, and then I'll take the Emend for the next two days. If I experience nausea after that, then I'll go back to the Zofran and Compazine.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Linda - DH's new lens is a 70-300. He wants to know how you like the pancake. Have you had a chance to try it out yet?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Mom's surgery will be June 17. I am going to fly up on June 19 and come home June 23. Not the best schedule, but it's the only way I can cover things here at home, at work, and still get to Mom without paying an arm for airfare.

She goes in for pre-op stuff and to have dye injected in the sentinal nodes on Monday the 16th. She thinks it is all going to be pretty easy, so I hope she is right! She told me AGAIN that I don't need to come up, but when I told her I could get round trip airfare for $100 she said "Oh, OK then!" Better for me to go and her not really need me then for me NOT to go and then have to scramble if something doesn't go as planned.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Sorry I'm not doing such a good job of being around lately. Know that you are always in my heart, even when I'm not around.

I'm guilty of saying "journey". I guess I've always heard it about my spiritual life and my life in general, so it helps me visualize moving forward. I like to think of dealing with cancer as a series of stops along a path. Isn't it funny how things strike all of us differently? Not saying my way is right. Everyone has their own way of dealing.

I was glad to hear that Avery is doing better.

Yay for getting through the first chemo, Dawn.

Jackskellingtonsgirl, glad your mom finally has a timeline.

I can't think what else I wanted to respond to. Should have multiquoted, but I didn't.

GAGWTA! I'll try to do better about checking in. Summer is just so darned busy.

 

[laurabelle]

~~~***GAGWTA sistas***~~~

jackskellingtonsgirl- I do hope and pray it goes well for your mom. I'm glad you are able to be there for her afterward. I'm sure she will be grateful to have you there.

Melissa- No need to apologize when you're not around. You are living life sista!!!

I probably won't be on here much myself before I leave. Hubby has a friend coming to spend the weekend with us. It's someone he went to school with (hubby did not grow up here, he's from the midwest) and played in a band with him. Right after they graduated high school, his friend up and moved to the Turks and Caicos Islands! He had never been there before...as far as I know he had never left the US before. He went on to open a dive shop and he has a band that plays around the island for the tourists. My hubby has been in contact with him over the years, but we have not gone to visit him. Though I have a feeling that trip may be in the future...

 

[snappy]

jackskellingtonsgirl, I too think your plan to visit your mom post surgery is a good idea. I am glad she has come to see that as well.

She will need you, without a doubt. I am glad you are going.

Laura, have a great trip!! I hope you are able to sign on here before you go We need a trip report upon return. Pictures too if possible. A trip dow to the islands. . . sounds relaxing. I hope that pans out too. You are a traveling gal. I hope you feel wonderful during your WDW jaunt. I'll be thinking of you and that snake in the grass sushi.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Have a great trip. Laura!

GAGWTA

 

[lookingforward]

Laura...HAVE FUN! I just got back from to radiation, yuck. I am half way done!

I have a new intern at work and she is absolutely adorable. She used to work at disney as a character and she was Belle! Isn't that cool. She is telling me all about the celebritys she worked with. (Kelly Ripa was the nicest) SO cool. I am really enjoying her company since she loves disney as much as I do! Her boyfriend proposed to her in front of the castle.

Okay, I have decided that I am going to stop obsessing about the cancer coming back. I am beginning to feel a little optimistic and more calmly about everything. I guess thats normal...its been a bad year! My primary care physician told me not to worry and gave me a pep talk and it worked. I am going to let go and start enjoying things again.

On that note, my middle son (15) is headed to UCLA this summer to take two acting classes (acting for film) and Sitcom acting. The Sitcom acting class is being taught by Conchata Farrell who is on the show Two and a Half Men and was in Mystic PIzza and Erin Brokovitch, etc. I am flying out there end of July, spending two days with my best friend from college in San LUis Obispo and then meeting my son in Los Angeles and spending four days as a tourist with him after his classes. We are staying two nights at the Beverly Hills Hotel (BIG splurge) and then two nights on the beach in Santa MOnica at a hotel called Shutters on the Beach. I can't wait! I am having so much fun picking the restaurants we are going to eat at (Spago, Koi, and the Polo club ), planning the sights we are going to see, etc. I am splurging because I cashed in my frequent flyer miles and amex miles for free airfare for him and I so I avoided that cost. With airfare going up I figured I should do this now as opposed to later (all travel experts are saying with the cuts in flights due to fuel costs frequent flyer miles are going to be next to impossible to cash in)! It's my end of treatment blowout! My husband is so glad I am excited about something! I also like traveling one on one with my kids because I think its important to spend time with each one. My daughter gets disney every Decemeber and my other son got a cruise with my husband and I. SO its my middle one's turn!

GAGWTA! And hugs to everyone.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Sounds fantastic, Maureen!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

GAGWTA, Ladies!

Thanks for the good thoughts for my mom. I am hoping for the least invasive procedure possible, because that's what she has in her mind.

Laura - Have a fabulous trip!!

Maureen - Your trip sounds lovely, too! My DS took some drama and video production classes last summer but he is having a little break now. It sounds like your DS is in for an awesome experience!

 

[lookingforward]

GAGWTA, Ladies!

Thanks for the good thoughts for my mom. I am hoping for the least invasive procedure possible, because that's what she has in her mind.

Laura - Have a fabulous trip!!

Maureen - Your trip sounds lovely, too! My DS took some drama and video production classes last summer but he is having a little break now. It sounds like your DS is in for an awesome experience!

Thanks! Your mom is in my thoughts often! I will be praying for her when she has her surgery!