Breast cancer

[rodi]

Thinking of you @W2R ... Hope you're feeling better and ready for the next treatment.

 

[aja8888]

Thinking of you also, W2R, and hopefully, that hurricane won't hit your area later this week since you have enough to deal with.

 

[W2R]

Thanks, all. No chance of Hurricane Helene hitting New Orleans, thank heavens! It's Florida's storm, for sure, or so they say.

As for me, I'm feeling crummy, well about as well as anybody on chemo ever feels I suppose. I hate this but hopefully the cancer hates it even more than I do. Take that, you mf cancer!! (grin)

Frank has uplifted my spirits and is doing all anybody can do to help me feel better. After no sleep last night, I finally got in two or three hours today. Feeling very weak and having very uncomfortable digestive disturbances the past few days so I have hardly eaten anything so far today. Probably will have lunch late this afternoon.

Chemo is scheduled to begin one week from today.

 

[euro]

Thanks, all. No chance of Hurricane Helene hitting New Orleans, thank heavens! It's Florida's storm, for sure, or so they say.

As for me, I'm feeling crummy, well about as well as anybody on chemo ever feels I suppose. I hate this but hopefully the cancer hates it even more than I do. Take that, you mf cancer!! (grin)

Frank has uplifted my spirits and is doing all anybody can do to help me feel better. After no sleep last night, I finally got in two or three hours today. Feeling very weak and having very uncomfortable digestive disturbances the past few days so I have hardly eaten anything so far today. Probably will have lunch late this afternoon.

Chemo is scheduled to begin one week from today.

Assume you mean radiation to begin in a week? Hope it goes well - fingers crossed!

 

[gwill1010]

My mom had lung cancer in 1975 and breast cancer in 1986. Neither were a walk in the park. A third of a lung removed and double mastectomy. And a ton of medical advances have been made since then. She's 93 now and very healthy. Lives alone, drove to church, Walmart, and Walgreens on Sunday. I know you're going to beat this thing W2R!!!! Prayers.

 

[W2R]

Assume you mean radiation to begin in a week? Hope it goes well - fingers crossed!

I wish! First I have to complete chemotherapy and then go through a mastectomy before even beginning radiation, according to the present plans.

What I meant was that my fourth round of chemotherapy infusions begin in a week. Chemotherapy is administration of strong poisons to weaken the cancer, hopefully without harming me too much. It's no fun. Can't say I'm looking forward to more of this but if it works, I'm all for it.

 

[W2R]

My mom had lung cancer in 1975 and breast cancer in 1986. Neither were a walk in the park. A third of a lung removed and double mastectomy. And a ton of medical advances have been made since then. She's 93 now and very healthy. Lives alone, drove to church, Walmart, and Walgreens on Sunday. I know you're going to beat this thing W2R!!!! Prayers.

Thanks, gwill1010. Living to 93 would be a dream come true for those who love life as much as I do (or many others do). My form of breast cancer is called "Stage 3 triple negative breast cancer" and is supposed to be one of the most aggressive of all cancers. Still, it's treatable since it's not stage 4 yet, Apparently there have been outstanding advances in treatment in the past 5-10 years.

 

[Dtail]

Of course you will live to 93 (and beyond). Got to keep your promise.

 

[W2R]

Of course you will live to 93 (and beyond). Got to keep your promise.

Hope you are doing OK there in Tampa! Hurricane Helene sounds pretty bad.

 

[Dtail]

Hope you are doing OK there in Tampa! Hurricane Helene sounds pretty bad.

So far so good, but tomorrow is the real test. I expect some rain in the neighborhood of 4 to 5 inches and gusts into 40's maybe 50's. That is based on the current flow pattern.
Some of our fellow posters in the Pensacola area probably have more worries.
Thank you for asking.

 

[W2R]

So far so good, but tomorrow is the real test. I expect some rain in the neighborhood of 4 to 5 inches and gusts into 40's maybe 50's. That is based on the current flow pattern.
Some of our fellow posters in the Pensacola area probably have more worries.
Thank you for asking.

We'll all be thinking of you and your area tomorrow. Sorry to read that Pensacola is in danger as well.

 

[Koolau]

Continued blessings and thanks be for stage 3 instead of 4. Thanks too for Frank. He's always a bright spot in your posts. We love him too.

 

[pacergal]

Thanks, all. No chance of Hurricane Helene hitting New Orleans, thank heavens! It's Florida's storm, for sure, or so they say.

As for me, I'm feeling crummy, well about as well as anybody on chemo ever feels I suppose. I hate this but hopefully the cancer hates it even more than I do. Take that, you mf cancer!! (grin)

Frank has uplifted my spirits and is doing all anybody can do to help me feel better. After no sleep last night, I finally got in two or three hours today. Feeling very weak and having very uncomfortable digestive disturbances the past few days so I have hardly eaten anything so far today. Probably will have lunch late this afternoon.

Chemo is scheduled to begin one week from today.

so sorry you are feeling crummy.
Foods to help with diarrhea:
"BRAT" diet: bananas, rice/rice cereal (white), applesauce, toast (white)
As you feel better you can add (more white food!) boiled/baked potato, skinless baked chicken, oatmeal

Not the best nutritionally, but hopefully only needed for a few days.
Drink lots of fluids/liquidy foods such as jello, water, tea, ginger ale, pedialyte or gatorade type drinks.
Hope you feel better soon.

 

[Koolau]

so sorry you are feeling crummy.
Foods to help with diarrhea:
"BRAT" diet: bananas, rice/rice cereal (white), applesauce, toast (white)
As you feel better you can add (more white food!) boiled/baked potato, skinless baked chicken, oatmeal

Not the best nutritionally, but hopefully only needed for a few days.
Drink lots of fluids/liquidy foods such as jello, water, tea, ginger ale, pedialyte or gatorade type drinks.
Hope you feel better soon.

Yes, the electrolytes are so important.

Here are our best wishes that this treatment phase goes quickly and effectively.

 

[W2R]

My next chemo infusion is scheduled for Wednesday, October 2nd, and I have to get my blood tests for it the day before.

One of the side effects of chemo that I have been experiencing, is feeling as though someone (leprechauns? LOL) has been pounding on the bottoms of my feet with a fifty pound sledge hammer. It's getting harder and harder for me to walk. So, just in case, I located a place near my home that rents wheelchairs. If necessary I could rent one there on my chemo day. I'd buy one but Frank thinks I'm "jumping the gun" and don't need one yet. As long as I can get to chemo, I don't care if I own the chair or rent one.

I'll see my oncologist at the chemo session so I can tell her about this. I'm sure it is temporary but I don't want it to mess up my treatment plans. I'll also tell her about the blisters (or hives?) on my very swollen lower legs. These blisters, when popping, are painlessly shedding 3" x 1/2"pieces of skin (thin enough to see through). This is crazy. But I think this happens sometimes with chemo.

Meanwhile, so far today I have received six (6!!!) robocalls for confirming my chemo appointment, and they said at the end of each call that I had successfully confirmed it and they'd see me on the 2nd. Of course, each call awakened me from a nice nap, oh well! LOL

But then, who knows, maybe this really will be my last chemo session. We'll see. Just wanted to catch you all up, so you don't feel left out of this wild experience.

 

[Walt34]

Thank you for the update.

 

[MissMolly]

My next chemo infusion is scheduled for Wednesday, October 2nd, and I have to get my blood tests for it the day before.

One of the side effects of chemo that I have been experiencing, is feeling as though someone (leprechauns? LOL) has been pounding on the bottoms of my feet with a fifty pound sledge hammer. It's getting harder and harder for me to walk. So, just in case, I located a place near my home that rents wheelchairs. If necessary I could rent one there on my chemo day. I'd buy one but Frank thinks I'm "jumping the gun" and don't need one yet. As long as I can get to chemo, I don't care if I own the chair or rent one.

I'll see my oncologist at the chemo session so I can tell her about this. I'm sure it is temporary but I don't want it to mess up my treatment plans. I'll also tell her about the blisters (or hives?) on my very swollen lower legs. These blisters, when popping, are painlessly shedding 3" x 1/2"pieces of skin (thin enough to see through). This is crazy. But I think this happens sometimes with chemo.

Meanwhile, so far today I have received six (6!!!) robocalls for confirming my chemo appointment, and they said at the end of each call that I had successfully confirmed it and they'd see me on the 2nd. Of course, each call awakened me from a nice nap, oh well! LOL

But then, who knows, maybe this really will be my last chemo session. We'll see. Just wanted to catch you all up, so you don't feel left out of this wild experience.

A lot of medical services have wheel chairs available for your use. I used to use them all the time when I had to take my mom to all her appointments before she passed away. You might want to see if something like that is available for you before you go through the expense of buying/renting one.

ETA: I also wonder if your doctor would consider Gabapentin for the nerve pain in your feet. I have no idea if it's appropriate for your situation but you could ask.

 

[Sarah S]

If you want a wheelchair for use beyond the confines of the infusion center and clinic you might look into buying used as people are often selling them quite cheaply. Also there may be a support organization with a loan closet. Senior centers / council on aging often have them here. Also perhaps a diagnosis related patient support group might have a loan closet. It is very common with my illness. It never hurts to ask. Have Frank make some calls

 

[Koolau]

We appreciate you keeping us up to date on your progress. It's very comforting for us to be a part of your journey back to health.

I agree with others that you should be able to pick up a used chair or borrow one. DW had a portable commode, walker, cane(s) and shower chair for when she tore a tendon in her foot/got it repaired. Now, she makes these devices available to the neighbors and church members who need them. Why buy new when there are tons of these things sitting in storage units and garages gathering dust. Blessings to you and Frank.

 

[W2R]

I said in the last post: "I located a place near my home that rents wheelchairs. If necessary I could rent one there on my chemo day. I'd buy one but Frank thinks I'm "jumping the gun" and don't need one yet. "

Much to my surprise, this afternoon he came home from the wheelchair rental place and said we should buy a wheelchair from them. The one he had in mind was frightfully expensive ($872 with tax), but they won't rent it. Still, I am thinking it's worth a lot to me to avoid the money argument and just move on. I mean really, who wants to get tangled up in "wheelchair wars" at a time like this? Not me.

Also, I am not strong enough to get up from it without help but he says he'll help me. And also this is one of my weaker days so maybe I can stand from it tomorrow. It does have foot rests, brakes, and is comfortable and easy to propel by myself (once I am sitting in it). It's easy for him to put in the back of my Venza, but it won't fit through the bathroom door. In other words, it's OK but not perfect at all! But it will get me to chemo on Thursday and that will probably keep me alive longer.

 

[harllee]

Medicare paid for my mother's wheelchair, you might look into that. She got a nice folding one for about $200

 

[Koolau]

I said in the last post: "I located a place near my home that rents wheelchairs. If necessary I could rent one there on my chemo day. I'd buy one but Frank thinks I'm "jumping the gun" and don't need one yet. "

Much to my surprise, this afternoon he came home from the wheelchair rental place and said we should buy a wheelchair from them. The one he had in mind was frightfully expensive ($872 with tax), but they won't rent it. Still, I am thinking it's worth a lot to me to avoid the money argument and just move on.

Also, I am not strong enough to get up from it without help but he says he'll help me. And also this is one of my weaker days so maybe I can stand from it tomorrow. It does have foot rests, brakes, and is comfortable and easy to propel by myself (once I am sitting in it). It won't fit through the bathroom door. In other words, it's not perfect at all! But it will get me to chemo and that will probably keep me alive longer.

Nothing better to BTD on than your health and comfort! Hoping you don't need it that long, but hoping it w*rks out for you until you get better. Blessings

 

[W2R]

That's what I'm thinking too, Koolau. If I didn't spend the money it would just sit there in the bank, so why not use it for something. I'll reduce my level of worry a lot by just knowing it's there if I need it.

 

[aja8888]

We had a wheelchair for DW during her last 5 years of life. I pushed all over God's creation in that chair. I don't recall where we got it (used), but after she passed, I donated it to the local woman's shelter along with a ton of other stuff.

 

[Koolau]

We had a wheelchair for DW during her last 5 years of life. I pushed all over God's creation in that chair. I don't recall where we got it (used), but after she passed, I donated it to the local woman's shelter along with a ton of other stuff.

Donation of these items is such a great service to others. Blessings on you.