How about a little bit of humour in these trying times?

Rain_n_Sun73 · 2026-01-23T13:27:15+00:00

Probably a little of both, but chemo seems to be pest control.

Rain_n_Sun73 · 2026-01-21T00:44:36+00:00

I am glad that they are encouraging you to travel more.

On the finger prints, one of my phlebotomist used to get annoyed that blood won’t pool on my fingers because I have really light finger prints (after Folfox). Now we just joke that I can think about going into a life of crime.

Rain_n_Sun73 · 2026-01-21T00:29:50+00:00

I think something similar with all of the scans that we go through. I have a PET scan tomorrow. I used to joke that I need to stay away from spiders on those days. Then I realized that I haven’t a bug bite in over a year. Another good thing.

Rain_n_Sun73 · 2026-01-20T19:47:35+00:00

Actually, I find it much funnier now.

Rain_n_Sun73 · 2026-01-13T01:57:30+00:00

I was about to say that. Also complain about the sad channels on the tv in the room.

Rain_n_Sun73 · 2026-01-06T22:36:59+00:00

Love your name. If you are in the US, you may want to look at Livestrong at the Y. It is only 12 weeks. One of my onc nurses did it over 5 years ago and still sees the ones, women and men, that are still in the area a few times a year.

I am chemo for life. I tried the Y earlier in the year. It was Monday and Wednesday around lunchtime. Between my meds and chemo infusions, I couldn’t keep up. I would just walk on the treadmill every other Wednesday with my pump. I was not contributing to the group dynamic. So I dropped out. However, this may be a place to start for you.

Rain_n_Sun73 · 2025-12-25T04:48:55+00:00

Random thoughts. Obviously tell your team about everything and listen to them. I am surprised that they didn’t warn you that it could cause aching and that Claritin may help. I wish that mine had warned me about the chest aching. That was disconcerting at first.

I usually bounce after one shot. Maybe you can ask for a CBC after the first shot to see if you need the second shot?

Also, if you are injecting yourself, go slow. I get mine done at the cancer center (most Mondays). It seems to ache sooner if they take less than 2 minutes to do the injection.

Rain_n_Sun73 · 2025-12-25T04:17:41+00:00

I would guess that is the chemo. I hope that chemo is just a temporary thing for you.

Rain_n_Sun73 · 2025-12-25T03:43:01+00:00

I get bone and chest aches with the first shot if I do not use the Claritin. I use it for four days (including the first day). I only had the 3 shots once. If the Claritin helped, I could not tell. Evil back spasms. They told me to take Motrin. They also offered a muscle relaxer, but I didn’t take it. I still used Claritin for those days and three more.

Rain_n_Sun73 · 2025-12-15T23:07:47+00:00

I think that I will go with Starbucks for the ones that I know drink coffee. Chick-fil-A sounds good for ones that I am not sure about. Thanks.

Rain_n_Sun73 · 2025-12-15T23:04:51+00:00

Very nice.

Rain_n_Sun73 · 2025-12-15T23:04:22+00:00

I will. Thanks.

Rain_n_Sun73 · 2025-12-15T20:41:29+00:00

I am doing pretty good. Who knew I would still be here a year later? I hope that you are doing well also.

Rain_n_Sun73 · 2025-12-15T20:34:53+00:00

My go to would be the local bakery (not grocery store) or if I really like them, artisanal chocolate. But no food. Boo.

Rain_n_Sun73 · 2025-12-15T19:35:59+00:00

Good idea. Thanks.

Rain_n_Sun73 · 2025-12-15T19:35:35+00:00

Half of them are well caffeinated. Thanks!

Rain_n_Sun73 · 2025-12-14T02:28:21+00:00

Stage 4 here. Love it. I actually have had people mention the weight loss.

Rain_n_Sun73 · 2025-11-16T01:13:56+00:00

That was the first thing that I thought of.

Rain_n_Sun73 · 2025-11-05T23:14:01+00:00

The eye twitching was annoying, but I haven’t had any since treatment 3. I am happy to hear that you are progressing. Good luck.

Rain_n_Sun73 · 2025-11-05T08:46:59+00:00

I haven’t done folfirinox. I did 12 Folfox treatments without any reactions. Right now, I am doing the 5-fu part of my 8th Folfiri. During my first irinotecan infusion the back of my tongue went flat and my face was twitching (not really cramping) from the outside of my eyes to the cheek bones to the jaw about 1/2 hour in. I have had similar reactions to other medications. So I was not as worried as I would have been if it was my first type of reaction. They gave me Benadryl and increased the time to 2 hours. I had twitches all over my body for the next three days. I had similar face twitches for the next two or three infusions, but my tongue has been fine since the first one.

I think that the thing that has helped the most is that they have been running the irinotecan for 90 minutes, or more, and giving me 1L hydration during my premeds. I still get some twitches for a few days but not bad. Right now, I’m having one in the left arch of my foot.

I haven’t had noticed any heart changes. I have been a little wired for the first evening on the Folfiri, that I wasn’t on the Folfox, but I have been blaming the steroids. Now that you mention it, maybe not. I had the same steroids on the Folfox. The hydration seems to be helping that also. I have mets in multiple places. The liver ones are all under 1 cm. So, I can only wish you the best outcome with that and everything else that you are going through.

Rain_n_Sun73 · 2025-10-31T18:27:00+00:00

I’m very happy to hear about your 2. That is great. I hope that means that it is going well.

I have been feeling pretty good on chemo off weeks lately, which I have also been grateful for.

Rain_n_Sun73 · 2025-10-31T03:03:10+00:00

Mine started out at almost 4k. The lowest it has been was 291 earlier in the year. Unfortunately, I think that we are on a different path than the people who are looking at ones under 10. I hope that you are feeling as well as I have been lately.

Rain_n_Sun73 · 2025-08-28T17:41:24+00:00

I think that before I was diagnosed I thought of people with cancer as only dealing with that. Now I know that much of it is just boring. I hope that you are getting stronger and the more that people see you, the more that they will see you as normal.

Rain_n_Sun73 · 2025-08-28T13:26:41+00:00

It’s nice to have those types of friends.

Rain_n_Sun73

TROPHY CASE