Monday, September 5, 2011
The Blue Hill Fair
hello all. just wanted to drop a quick note. my family and i went to the blue hill fair yesterday. we only stayed for a bit. my mom and dad came and met us. abby went on some rides. i had french fries from the king and queens. the best............ on our way out, a lady stopped me and asked if i was in treatment and i said yes, four of eight coming up. she said that she was a four year survivor and wanted to wish me luck. i gave her a big hug and thanked her. she had seen me walk past her, and she told me that she was hoping i would walk back. she was at a lemonade stand. ... the second thing that happened, as we were walking out, i was tired, this older gentleman stopped me and asked where i had gotten my pink breast cancer bracelet? i said the first thing that came to mind....i bought it.....what i meant to say was i got it online at the pink ribbon store. i got five. so he said that his wife was just diagnosed with breast cancer and had looked in many drugstores and couldnt find one. so i handed my mom the doughboy i was eating. i took it off and handed it to this gentleman. he looked very surprised at the thought that i guess that i would give it to him. he had tears in his eyes. i gave him a big hug. i started crying too. i know that i have many angels looking out for me and i know i did the right thing. i had more at home and wished i had brought a few with me so that his wife could have had one too. i know that hw will wear that bracelet and be proud. i feel really happy. ....... i will add pics tomorrow once i download the pics from my phone to my laptop.it will be easier. i have treatment four tomorrow. lets hope for minimal side effects.
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Jennifer - I saw your comment/questions on my blog and thought I'd come over and read yours. What a lovely act of kindness, giving your bracelet to that gentleman. He and his wife will never forget you!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on getting to AC #4, I felt like it was such a major milestone and I was so glad to be finished with that part of chemo.
For me, fatigue has been cumulative. So even though I didn't have a lot of other horrible SEs, I have noticed a little more fatigue with each treatment, including Taxol
Some specific SEs of Taxol that I have experienced: a little bone pain on days 3-5, fatigue that hits on day 4 and then gets a little better each day, my eyebrows and eyelashes that hung in there during AC are now giving up the ship, and pretty significant heartburn. I tamed the heartburn with daily generic Pepcid so that has gotten much better.
With Taxol (or any Taxane) there is a risk of neuropathy. So far, I have not experienced anything of significance. I have a slight bit of tingling in my toes when I's sitting around, but it started with the last AC and I am not so sure that it has gotten any worse. I was very, very worried about debilitating neuropathy, so you know I am relieved that so far this is not an issue.
I added the following supplements to minimize the Taxol side effects: Acetyl L-Carnitine, L-Glutamine and B-6. There is a clinical trial currently underway looking at ALC to prevent neuropathy in chemo patients, and my oncologist has no problem with any of these supplements.
I have not experienced any nausea or queasiness at all. I actually stopped wearing my scopolamine patch (usually applied on treatment day) and I was fine. I am still getting the anti-nausea premeds (Aloxi and Emend). I also get 6 mg of Decadron and 25 mg of Benadryl, reduced from 50 mg at the first Taxol. Be prepared - mainlining 50 mg of Benadryl causes slurred speech and a huge desire to take a nap.
If you would like some "chemo company" please join us at www.breastcancer.org. There are lots of us who started chemo at the same time who are blogging together and sharing our experiences.
You will find the discussion in the Chemotherapy forum:
Topic: June 2011 A/C & T Groupies Unite!
Lots of sharing experiences and support for one another!
Hugs to you,
Michelle