Thinking of Adair and sending lots of hugs! Angelbear

 bonnie

Yesterday was a long day needless to say.  All total is was a way long day......we woke up a 4 a.m. and did not get home until after 9 p.m.

 

As far as the first chemo treatment went, I would have to say it was good.  Skip the fact that the nurse could not find a vein to put the IV in without blowing the vein out 3 different times.  Ended up having a person come down from the surgery section to put the IV in (and they wonder why I do not care for needles!).  The Avastin was the worst of the 3 chemo's.....burnt badly when dripping into the vein. 

 

There was another woman receiving chemo in the room with me.  She has breast cancer that has metastasized and is now in her liver.  She was quite helpful with questions that I was asking.  I asked her about the baldness thing and she pulled her hair up and showed me her shiny dome of a head.  Her wig was beautiful and it looked so much like real hair. 

 

It turns out that this woman works in the protheses section of the VA and she told me that she could get me a wig and some scarves.  The oncology nurse came in shortly after and we both talked to her about getting an order set up so that I could get a free wig.  Also talked with the protheses lady about shaving my head and she said that she had her originally done by the same place that she had gotten her wig.  I will call her next week and get more information.

 

 

adair

 

 

adair... Did you read the post on Hats?

Adair...I am so proud of you and how you are handling this....but remember...if you DO have down days...we are here for you my dear!  Hugs to you-TRose

You are indeed an inspiration to us all. Reading what you are going through puts my life into perspective again.

 

Hugs and prayers offered for a continued recovery.

 

Helen temporarily in NZ

Adair, you can get free wigs from your local American Cancer Society office.  They have all sorts of wigs to give to you free.  Brand new ones!  They are donated by various wig makers.  Also, don't forget about the turbins out of T-shirts.  They were my favorites and looks like I'll be wearing them again.  This new drug I am on is making my hair brittle and it is falling out again.  Dang.  Oh well, at least I know what I can go as for Halloween this year.  A TELL-A-TUBBY.  LOL.  Remember to keep your sense of humor.  Did your nurse say that you are going to have Neulasta shots or not?  Make sure you ask for some pain killers for when that 1st kicks in, if you do take a new white cell reproducing drug of any kind.  I hope they gave you something to counteract the nausea and flu like sypmtoms, because they have the drugs to help with that.  Make sure you take your temperature perodically, especially when you are feeling really fatigued.  If it is 3 degrees over your normal temperature, contact your doctor ASAP.  You may need to be put on an antibiotic.  Make sure you ask questions all the time.  Unfortunately, sometimes, we have to be our own patient advocate.  Yes, sometimes, we begin to feel like "hypochondriacs" but that is normal for anyone who is going through treatment and living with it.  As you go through this, "LIVE LIFE", that's what my oncologist tells me each time I see him and I've had a date with him for every 3 months now for the past 2 years.  Yes, I change meds pretty regularly.  But that is my new lifestyle.  God's blessings to you.  Keep your chin up, have faith and keep your sense of humor.  Play jokes on your nurses and doctors, it helps them see you as a real person.  They don't mean to start looking at you as another patient with cancer that they have to treat, they get into a routine and sometimes become somewhat "hardened".  Remind them you are "Spunky & Fun".  It helps them through their day too.   ......Oh, one more question, are you a candidate for a port?  It is so much easier on you during the chemo sessions and if you would have to have them again.  I have a port.  Chemo results in lousy veins and I had lousy veins to begin with, so they gave me a port.  It's done under a mild sedation and you are home in just a few hours.  SDS.   Just a thought I wanted to pass on.  Anything to make this easier on you, the better.  Hang in there Kiddo, you have our prayers and thoughts, daily.  HUGS, Doe.

Moving up for Adair..not sure if she saw some of these posts.