Hello to all,
Just wanted to let you all know that 23 sept will be my last chemo treatment, followed by the rest of my herceptin treatments every three weeks there after until june 2010. I will let you all know how this one goes. The 5th one had me down for almost 8 days and my WBC dropped really bad but I got stronger after that but now I started taking Effexor and it seems to wear me down, tired and no energy. Not sure if it the herceptin weekly treatment or the pills that I started last week. Will find out at appt on Tuesday. Thank you all for your love and support while I was going through this and hearing me winne when times were not good. I will continue to read the bloggs and reply to help someone feel better just like you all have done for me. Thanks again.
Mary
Good for you, Mary - you did it! Think back to how scared you were, and what a big unknown chemo was, just a few months ago. You proved how strong you really are. Be well - and stay in touch. PJH
PJ,
You are an awesome and caring woman and I pray that God will continue to bless you and keep you in perfect peace. Thanks for all of your support and word of knowledge and wisdom.
Mary
I did it!!!! Last treatment, Thank God. I am feeling a little tired today but I am happy. I had a long road to travel and I was scared in the beginning and in the middle but it is somewhat over with. All is left to do is to see how the Herceptin and the Taxoplain, pills, will affect me for the next 5 years. I again thank all of you ladies for your continue support. Today is a good day. Another start of the rest of my life. Part two of my life. getting cancer was part one, chemo part two, now i have to start part three with a positive attitude and just let God lead me through it.
Thanks again
Mary
Yeah, Mary! Remember when you were just starting out? And here you are, at the end of the path... Congrats on your strength and courage, and Godspeed--- PJH
My advice is to you is not to worry about each treatment but to go in with an open mind and do not sit there and wait to get sick. Each treatment was different for me. The first two did not bother me at all but after the third one, it hit me a little hard then the fourth one wasn't as bad. I think by then I figured out that I had to keep my immune system up by eating the right foods when I could eat, a lot of meat and protein, beans, banannas, eggs, etc. Carnation instant breakfast also helped me. The fifth one hit me the hardest because a week before my treatment, I had a cold and my system was all messed up. The last one wasn't too bad. One or two bad days but I continued to work when I could and rested, after I learned to rest, when I body told me to. I am here for you. Take your nausea medicine every day even if you are not sick. I think that really helped me also. Another thing I would recommend is for you to buy some Equate Vegetable Laxatives and take two at night before you go to bed with your stool softners, you will need stool softners, because of the chemo, bad to be sick and constispated at the same time, miserable. They sell them at walmart, they work very well and you will need them. I also do the herceptin weekly inbetween my chemo, not too much complication with that. Just stay hydrated even when you do not want to drink, espically the first two three days to get the drugs out of your system. Good luck and I am here for you. My personal email address is msmary729@hotmail.com.
Mary Good luck and Godspeed.
PJ I have a question,
I have been having some twinching in my left eye for about 3 days now and my face is a little swollen. I am thinking that it is from the chemo but could it be from the anti depressant meds. Forgot to ask doctor about it. I will call him on Monday if it doesn't get better.
Mary
Sorry, Mary, not sure what this could be... I've had a lot of burning in my eyes from chemo. We all have different side effects, don't we? Glad you'll be seeing your onco about this - take care - PJ
Thank you. One more question, how long will I expect to stay swollen from the meds, chemo? I know I will not loose the weight over night but should I start to work out to help it go faster?
Again, Mary, every woman has a different experience. Ask your oncologist if you can start exercising right away, or if you need to wait. Start slowly, and work up to longer and harder exercise. No guarantee it'll reduce swelling, but exercise is always a good thing. PJ