frustration and anger

[Rolepaul]

From the husband's point of view, it can be hard to deal with. So can me leaving the toilet seat up from your point of view. It is called a Marriage because there are some "Mar"s in it. Most family members understand the strain of the disease on you. Not everyone, and certainly not every day. Everybody in the house, including the dog and cat, are in this with you. They may not like it, but the truth is you did not choose to have the garbage inside you. If they wanted Beach Barby every day, then the should have married someone else. At the same time, when the steroids are in full force, find a soft padded room, warn the others, and buy stress balls to destroy. And the steroids are a big issue for me to, so sometimes we have to take turns in the timeout room.

[Debbie L.]

I agree with everyone else, Alicia. Cranky, although unpleasant for you, is normal. It could be the steroids, it could be the general turmoil of diagnosis and treatment, it could be fatigue, and it could also be hormonal, as your ovaries are taking a hit (perhaps a temporary one) from the chemo, too. Probably it's some of each.

You can just try to wait it out. You can experiment to see if there are specific things (exercise, warm baths, walk in the woods, etc) that help smooth out the roller coaster. You can ask your providers for drugs. Maybe it will help just to remember that, like most of the other side effects, for you this is temporary. AND you're in the home stretch.

I'm curious about Abraxane and steroids. I thought one of the main benefits of Abraxane (over the other taxanes) was that you didn't have to take steroids with it?

Debbie Laxague