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  IUPUI (06/10/09)

  I read your post about needing to start more chemo - I've not had Doxil although many on this site are on it so cannot speak of it from experience. I just wanted to send you a hug and say that I truly understand your frustration about having to go back on chemo. Many hugs, Janet
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  lindamae (06/09/09)

  My experience with Doxil, after 2 treatments is that it hasn't had all the terrible symptoms of the other chemo drugs I've had. I'm in my 2nd recurrence and had carbo/gemzar for the one prior. No hair loss, appetite suppressed (but no nausea).
  I take icepacks for my wrists and ankles...this is suggested to keep the foot/leg syndrome from occourring. Thus far it's worked.
  I am taking Lexapro, an anti-depressent drug that has helped greatly with the anxiety issues.
  Otherwise, I would ask my Doc some of the questions, like, "how many doses of treatment you need." I think that is something that is different for each person.
  Hope this info helps.
  hugs, lindamae
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  Halli (05/28/09)

  I forgot to say that the ascites (fluid in my stomach) disappeared a few days after the treatment so I am hopeful that it is working.. xxx
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  Halli (05/28/09)

  That was a lovely message from you.. really cheered me up. Sounds to me like you are doing really well and that your doctor is keeping a good and close eye on you.. sometimes we just have to leave the worrying to the doctors.. The doxil is a walk in the park. I am so relieved as I really suffered with the last lot and was expecting this to be at least as bad.. No side effects so far. rnrnI was also really excited at my hair growing back.. The eye lashes and brows grow really quickly. My hair has come back very wavy, which is fun.. in fact I have really enjoyed the different phases and styles that it has gone through being short. I never had short hair before in my life and realise that it quite suits me. Once it started growing, after a bit, it came through stronger and darker and I decided to shave it off and start again with just strong healthy hair.. There is a good chance I won't lose it this time..rnrnHope yuo stay free for ever.. love and hugs to you .. xxx
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  Halli (05/28/09)

  Hey .. how did the scan results come back? hope all is well with you.. xxx
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  Halli (05/15/09)

  Hiya.. Thanks for your comment and understanding.. It is wonderful to ahve a break form the chemo.. I was about ten months without it, which was just about long enough to forget the worst bits and to build up my physical and mental strength. I am really hoping that your scan has come back with a great result and that you get a great long break.. Wishing you the best and hoping to hear how you got on soon.. Love and a hug.. Inka xxx
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  Halli (04/16/09)

  Well done on getting through the chemo.. Whooopiee.. the last one. My CA125 went down another forty points three months after chemo had ended and I hope the same happens for you.. I've been told this isn't uncommon.. Just waiting for the taxi to take me to the station for the scan.. All the best to you.. Love and hugs.. inka xxx
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  Halli (03/22/09)

  Wow I didn't realise.. how much I had written!!!!! I must have got inspired.. xxx
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  Halli (03/22/09)

  It is tough to go through.. no getting away from that.. I get the sense that you are struggling loads here and I am so pleased you have found this site. I'm not sure how many chemos you have been through.. I imagine you would be on the 3rd round.. I had three weeks between chemos to recover for the next dose and it took a few rounds to figure out what medications worked best for the side effects I was getting. Sometimes the CA125 doesn't start going down straight away. Strangely, the biggest drop in my CA125 came 6 weeks after I had finished all chemo, and it had been stuck for a while before. Also, my scan results showed a better picture than the CA125 was indicating. In the UK, after the 3rd round we have a scan, to properly judge whether the treatment is working and whether it's worth carrying on or to change the drugs used. The CA125, alone isn't a good indicator.. Having said that we all watch it like hawks and get anxious about it.. I think the very best thing we can do, to help the process along is to manage the stress and anxiety that comes with all of this. A lot of that is about asking questions and getting answers to things we don't understand and worry about.. This place is great for that.. as we have all been through this and have so much experience to share. I was first diagnosed in 2000, stage1c. I was in remission for over seven years then diagnosed stage3. I am not in remission now, but what they call 'stable'. That means I still have evidence of disease but it isn't doing anything.. so I have regular tests and an opportunity to recover from the onslaught of the chemo.. I was amazed how quickly I recovered this time around and I am convinced that a lot of that has to do with having this site.. to lend me support and understanding.. I wasn't so anxious and stress effects out immune system and ability to recover well. I also believe that having surgery before chemo is a double whammy.. and takes longer to recover from.. So every indication is that rest.. rest and more rest is what is best . The very best advice given and received here is... Slow down.. take a deep breath.. relax and spoil yourself loads and loads.. The more good things you can build into the times you are feeling reasonably ok.. the stronger you will be and the better you will cope with the difficult bits. Make a conscious effort to notice all the good things going on around you.. Give yourself lots of treats.. Do things that make you laugh.. watch funny movies when you can't do much else.. take relaxing baths.. anything that lifts your spirit.. how ever small will go towards balancing out the down side.. It isn't easy to do.. but gets easier and helps loads. Don't worry about what you don't understand.. Our imaginations are most often worse than the reality.. Keep off the cancer web pages.. they are depressing and confusing.. we are not statistics.. we are all survivors and each travelling our own individual journey here.. One lady here has been around for over 20yrs after stage4 OC.. Make lists of things you want to ask the doctors.. don't be in a panic to understand everything all at once.. take your time.. don't be pushed.. relax.. It will all get clearer in time and I promise, you will feel better than this.. Focus on better things to make you strong.. rather than to worry about you don't know or can't change. Develop faith in the team caring for you by asking lots of questions and helping them to understand you.. I had to change hospitals at one point because I wasn't able to communicate well with the oncologist who was treating me. I found someone I could easily trust and gave up a lot of worrying into his care.. The hair started to grow back before I even finished chemo, but it was a bit thin and soft so I shaved it in September .. it's now about three inches long and very strong and healthy.. The bushy eyebrows, moustache, hairy legs and straggly bits on my chin came back all too quickly.. I loved not having to shave my legs and pluck my face... I think if you are having nausea then you should try a different medication.. there are so many around and it can take a while to get it right. Your neuropathy seems very severe.. I didn't have it too badly this time, but suffered loads the first time.. again I would let your doctor know and ask if he can give you something to help.. Sometimes it isn't till we finish chemo that we finally figure out what works best for us.. Mean time.. do what ever it takes to get through it as gently as possible. I will be wishing loads that things ease off for you. You will get through this and all well feel better again.. In many ways my life is better now than it has ever been.. I know what is important to me in life and don't bother with a lot of nonsense that came before.. Great big sister hug to you.. We are all here for you and each other.. make use of this space it is for you.. Inka xxx
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  Halli (03/22/09)

  Hi MaryAnn and welcome to our group.. So sorry you are going through this.. I am also stage 3 and finished the same chemo as you are having last July.. though I had to switch to cis-platin as I became allergic to the carbo.. It is tough and the side effects can seem unbearable at times.. but it's effective and we get through it.. I know it helped me loads to have the women here beside me, as I know you will have now. Wishing for all the best for you.. Inka xxx

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