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@intolight Very sorry to hear about your progression. Prayers as you await your next steps.

@mkestrel Cancer sure sucks-diarrhea and hair loss! Ugh. Hang in there and dream about hiking in the Spring.

@goldensrbest Hope all turns out to be benign for your husband. I did have my hip replaced 10 weeks ago. It is so much better for me not to be in pain but I understand your reluctance to undergo a major operation.

I spoke with my oncologist last evening. She is recommending that I switch to Orserdu and Kisquali. The challenge may be getting the insurance company to approve both drugs. We'll see.

Best wishes to all. I brought my Christ candle out and put it in the window but usually don't light it until Christmas eve.

Just wanting to say hi to everybody and that while I really haven't been posting, I have been following along and am touched by everyone's stories of their ongoing situations, joys and sorrows, and care very much about you all. I'm still just not real sure what has been going on with me since October. I've just been very fatigued and have had "excessive" brain fog that prevents me from really being able to focus, concentrate, compose posts, etc. It did turn out that I had an electrolyte problem with low magnesium in particular and I think that is improving. That can cause a lot of problems like I've been having. I just don't know how long that was going on, as magnesium is not one that they check often. My oncologists says that they will now check it regularly, along with the other electrolytes that do get routinely monitored. I've also had liver progression over this past year, but I find it hard to believe that that alone would explain my recent always feeling out of it. I'm told that the pace of growth has been very, very slow. It has been interesting to note how many here have mentioned how rough things have been for them this past fall. It makes me feel like the season might just be a big part of this, and not necessarily anything new or special about the cancer. While I'm sorry to see so many of you not feeling well these past few months, it does make me feel like I'm not alone, and that again, some of this just might just be a seasonal/weather thing. Right now we have been having a series of unusual rain storms (Western Washington) that I think have also been affecting all my muscles, joints, and brain - just super sore and achy, with more brain fog. They found my low magnesium problem in the ER back on Veteran's Day. At that time, they did a CT scan and said that there was nothing particularly acute or glaring, so again, no real sense of what this is all about. Having routine scans this Thursday, so will see if those show anything of note - hopefully not of course! Maybe I just need to wait until those first signs that spring is just around the corner show, and I will perk up.

I love the talk of all the candle lighting and it has made me want to do some of my own. Unfortunately, I live in an apartment complex that does not allow any open flame of any kind ever. When I first move in, you could have charcoal grills and light candles, etc. but not anymore; not for a long time. Maybe I'll light a "pretend" candle.😉

@mara51506 My DGD is biracial and has no fear of wigs, baldness, etc. Her other grandmother wore wigs all the time and was bald from her own chemo, so there is no issue there. I have not lost my hair through this journey, yet, although a couple of times it got very thin. I'll tough it out and see where it all lands. Right now after a lot of work it is finally long enough that I can clip it back so I will be sad losing it… btw my DGD just got weaved braids for the third time! She is very fashion conscious even at 10!

Good morning …. Brrrrr it is so cold…. staying warm under the blankets and watching g the morning news with the pugs, Sammy & Ollie, who are out like a light next to me. DH just went downstairs to make my cup of coffee☕️. I can sip it while reading along here and watching the morning news which really sucks 🤬.

@mkestrel cancer really sucks .the hair loss is a result of the chemo infusion big guns you are on now?, I went completely bald in 2009 when they put me on Adremycin and Taxol infusions. I looked like skinny Uncle Fester.. . It’s traumatic seeing the shedding. My daughter who is a hair designer at a Spa came over and cut and buzzed it all off in one afternoon and I felt much better. I wore some pretty cancer hats & scarves, and she went with me to a lady who owns a wig business for cancer patients and we matched the color and styl of my hair, which is shoulder length blonde, When it came in my daughter came with me again and trimmed and styled it for me while I wore it. She had me looking my old self again.. I’ve kept it all these years in a hat box on the top of my closet just in case,. So the chemo pills Verzenio , along with the Fasoldex & XGeva monthly injections don’t cause baldness, but some hair thinning. My onc PA suggested a lot of her patients use Collagen powder , and it’s tasteless, and goes in my morning coffee, so my hair is still growing out a little thicker now. My nails are growing fast also. This stuff is great..Stay Warm @mkestrel, I used to get so cold and had to sleep with my cancer hats at night to keep my head warm.🥶

@goldensrbest You and Mariah stay inside and stay warm. Our puppies go out the back door into the yard where my son shoveled a pathetic for them to go potty, so the go out real fast do their business and run back in.. it so cute how little dogs do not like the snow and the big moose’s love to run around in it and play. My other daughter posted a picture on FB showing her guy, Dutch, all happy when he first saw the snow and playing in it. he’s a big boy now. 🐕‍🦺🐾

@mara51506 thinking of you today. last night i hop you got some needed sleeep.

@sf-cakes I lit a candle last night for you and said a prayer for you and all here. I hope today is a good day for you sweet lady.💗🕯️

@mkestrel Oh I'm sorry you're having such a rough start with Trodelvy. I hope the big D calms down soon, that's the worse! OH I can identify with the hair back when I was Stage 1, I was so devastated! I felt like I didn't know who was looking back at me but got over it quickly. I turned it into a mantra "my life is more important than my hair", it got me through. Feel better soon❣️big hugs of comfort and strength your way.

@shanagirl Hey sweet lady, thanks for the prayers. Hope your pain level is tolerable and you can enjoy looking at the snow while cozy on the couch. I may not venture out until my appt on Thursday. I fell walking outside on Saturday and split my palm open and pulled a jagged rock out..ouch. Trip to ER to clean it out and antibiotics orally and topical. So grateful that I didn't break my hand!!

Intolight - cancer sucks🤬🤬. So sorry to read of progression. Praying that your new treatment will work🙏🏻🙏🏻.

Mkestrel - cancer sucks🤬🤬 with the damn side effects. Hair loss stinks.

Mel - little Theo must be so cute in his coat. Our crazy Mariah cries all day to go play in the snow. With this cold spell we had, with temps below 0, there’s no way we will take her out other than to potty. At least we’ll be in the upper 30s for a few days so she’ll be able to get her fix.

Hope everyone is recovering from all the disease and pestilence going around. I keep reading about various severe outbreaks. Here for pocket duty. Hugs to all……