So....talk about.....CANCER SUPPORT THREAD !!

[WingingIt]

I'm so glad that you're off having fun!


They did a good job placing your port. My Mom's stuck up some, sort of pulled the skin tight on top, which made it very uncomfortable when they put the needle in and even clothes bugged hers. I want to say one more time how great it is that you're willing to share your journey to whooping cancer with everyone. There are so many people who are cheering for you and learning so much.

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

Hey gang, I have been reading up and following you all, but keeping my mouth shut. I don't really know what it feels like to go through chemo, only what it feels like to watch people go through it.

So I have mentioned my friend who is going through chemo for breast cancer now. I really don't have all of her details though I know she is taking Taxol. She has had 5 treatments now and she is freaking out. She does not think she is tolerating chemo well. I don't know what she thinks well would look like. Chemo sucks. She said she is tired all of the time and the arm she keeps getting chemo in hurts all of the time but "they won't put it in anywhere else". She also said her bones burt like the dickens all of the time and she is not recovering after each treatment anymore. She is due to get another this coming Wed and she still feels sick from the one the Wed before last.

I have been through chemo with four other people although this is my first with breast cancer. It pretty much was like this for all of them. By the last three treatments things just sucked all around. Should she not be this sick? Why wouldn't they infuse her from her legs of anywhere else if the arm is really troubling her?

And BTW, grouchy doesn't even cover it. She is angry, angry, angry. She has every right to be, but it is coming out all over the place. Everyone around her is just sort of letting it ride, y'know?

I am taking her to her next chemo and spending the weekend with her to help her out and ease her BFs load some. He's been a trooper but he's getting tired and she is being pretty foul to him. Any tips? Any advice? She is going to one of the nation's foremost cancer centers, but she hates it and thinks they are screwing her treatment up. What do I do?

 

[Elite Silkies]

Just dropping in to say

.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

I have WHAT in my yard? :

Hey gang, I have been reading up and following you all, but keeping my mouth shut. I don't really know what it feels like to go through chemo, only what it feels like to watch people go through it.

So I have mentioned my friend who is going through chemo for breast cancer now. I really don't have all of her details though I know she is taking Taxol. She has had 5 treatments now and she is freaking out. She does not think she is tolerating chemo well. I don't know what she thinks well would look like. Chemo sucks. She said she is tired all of the time and the arm she keeps getting chemo in hurts all of the time but "they won't put it in anywhere else". She also said her bones burt like the dickens all of the time and she is not recovering after each treatment anymore. She is due to get another this coming Wed and she still feels sick from the one the Wed before last.

I have been through chemo with four other people although this is my first with breast cancer. It pretty much was like this for all of them. By the last three treatments things just sucked all around. Should she not be this sick? Why wouldn't they infuse her from her legs of anywhere else if the arm is really troubling her?

And BTW, grouchy doesn't even cover it. She is angry, angry, angry. She has every right to be, but it is coming out all over the place. Everyone around her is just sort of letting it ride, y'know?

I am taking her to her next chemo and spending the weekend with her to help her out and ease her BFs load some. He's been a trooper but he's getting tired and she is being pretty foul to him. Any tips? Any advice? She is going to one of the nation's foremost cancer centers, but she hates it and thinks they are screwing her treatment up. What do I do?

Hey WHAT! You are such a good friend for hanging in there with her. Sounds like your friend has the "Why Me?!" attitude going. She might have heard that the way to beat cancer is to fight it, but she's going about it all wrong. Fighting those that are only there to help isn't going to solve the problem.

Every body handles chemo differently. Lady I worked with didn't miss a day of work. Only 3 days when she had her double masectomy!! Luna is doing AWESOME!! Wish I had that much energy!! My thighs and stomach muscle hurt like hades for about 4 days after treatments. Problem was I was dehydrated. Steroids they gave me to prevent me from kicking the bucket while taking the chemo were making me sweat like a pig. I just couldn't keep enough fluids going in as I was coninually sweating them out. After that I was just in the bathroom for a week. Week after, I was starting to come around. Week after that, I was good and then it was time for the next treatment

If your friends arms aren't any good for the infusions, the nurses would know. Those nurses are the best!!! Even in a little podunk town that I live in, the nurses at my center were level 4 Oncology nurses. They had to requalify every year to keep that status. The youngest one of them had finished her testing the same day I finished my chemo!

Maybe when you go with your friend for her treatment, you could "wander away" to use the restroom or get a drink and have a conversation with one of the nurses. Sounds like your friend may need some anxiety meds. She has all her emotions pent up inside so they are exploding out all over the place on people who don't deserve it. She may need to go for some counseling on dealing with this. Some folks don't want to let others help them. I was that way, but I couldn't keep it up. I cried one night about 3 days after a treatment because I hurt so bad. I begged my husband to put me out of his misery. Not mine, but HIS because he was the one who had to take care of me and I knew how much it was hurting him to see me this way. From that night on, HE was in control of all my treatments. HE was in control of setting appointments. He was in control of who could can could not come by to see me and when. HE was in control of all decision making (with my final consent) My job was to get well and that was my Only job.

Someone needs to take Control​

 

[Damummis]

Luna,
Glad you had a good time. Hope you didn't melt in today's heat. It was pretty oppressive here in Maine, can't imagine NJ.
Your Moon flowers are doing great.

 

[maple]

Hugs for Luna!

 

[Lunachick]

Hi everyone

We came home yesterday early afternoon, we wanted to drive home early so we could beat the "shore" traffic. Well we did until we hit a snag on Long Island - we had to exit the highway we were on and merge unto an exit before we could continue. 45 minutes sitting in traffic wondering why they would suddenly close a major hwy. Then we found out after we exited............crime scene investigators were scoping the hwy beyond the exit.

Anyway we still beat the people coming down the shore.

It was a nice visit, but it's always good to come home. I didn't take any pics...........I had my camera with me at the lighthouse but my batteries decided not to cooperate. There's always next time. Sorry Writer I wanted to go back and take a pic for you, but that didn't happen. Gee, I'll just have to go back there won't I?

Food was fabulous! One of my adventures this time was to find the most perfect chocolate cake with choc frosting. The best one I ever had was down in Virginia in Yorktown at the Carrot Inn. That was 2 years ago and I haven't had anything to compare it too since. They didn't have it in LI either. Darn.

We went to the grocery store today and the bakery dept had one of those "baby cakes" and it called out to me

We had already gone to the checkout line when I heard my name called...........so I trotted over and found the little darlin sittin there waiting for me! It looked real good too, so it came home with us.

I didn't touch it yet, tomorrow's Dad's day so I'll save it for then. It's good for about 4 servings....or just 2...depending on what you call a "serving".

Monday I go for the usual blood work to see if I'm good for my next treatment on Wednesday (already!) Then I won't want to look at anything sweet, so this weekend will be it for me for a while.

I did a lot of quilting and I'm on a roll with it, so I've been busy with that. Keeps me out of trouble. I've been reading about my drum, there's a lot to know! I had no idea, but it all makes sense.....so tomorrow morning I'm finishing up the booklet and put the CD in a listen and do a little drumming

Yay, finally.

 

[Lunachick]

I Have What - how many more treatments does she have to go? She's done 5? That's great! I'm sorry she's so angry......that alone doesn't help her. How do you change a person's attitude? You don't. You can only help her along the way the best you can, and see if she responds I guess. I never did this before, I can only tell you what I'm experiencing along with everyone else. Coyote had some good advice, especially with the breast cancer, the chemo is a little different from mine, but it's still CHEMO. My last visit I didn't drink as much water as I usually do and ate a lot more then I should have. (eat small meals, so it doesn't upset your stomach etc) So I got a little sloppy and it made a big difference with the recovery time. I think. It also could be that after 3 treatments my body has had it with the stuff and it took me a little longer to recuperate. It may also be that this next treatment will get me too, so I'm preparing myself with a little more ammo starting today......a) eat a little lighter (only one small piece of choc cake Luna) b) drink more water c) I'm already done with major work in the yard, so take it easy d) take it easy (did I say that already?) e) do things I enjoy and keep my mind busy. That one right there is important, otherwise I'd scream and you all would hear me!


BYW, I find that nature helps me the most, the little things...........going for a walk in the woods just to listen to the birds and the small breezes that brush by you.

Weeding and digging in the dirt and smelling it (very important) Meditating and just BEING. Also, just doing what I normally do during the day and making the best of it and carry on, tomorrow will be better and it goes from there.

The first day of summer is Monday and it already feels like half the summer is gone around here! I think it's because we had great weather this Spring and I'm also pushing this summer along to get to August when I'm done with treatments. So I know this Summer will fly. But I'm enjoying my garden and chooks and sewing and all the things that make me happy. I think that's the way to do things, sick or not.

 

[OrpingtonManor]

Luna, you continue to be amazing! I don't post often these days, but I'm always lurking and sending my best thoughts your way. Keep up the good fight!

Sounds like your vacation was fantastic! Too bad about the camera batteries, though.

Summer isn't half over. It's still freezing here. I don't think summer wants to come here this year. All the warmth is over on the east coast. I get to visit my mom in North Carolina this week, so that will be a shock for me.

Good luck this week. Keep us posted.

 

[Lunachick]

Hi Orp!

Where abouts is your Mom in NC?

I'll send the warm weather over to you when we hit the 90's

Then we can switch! How are you doing?