CMF Question
Comments
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Annie...When do you have the lung scan? Is that in March, too? One of my single female friends and I are going to Ft. Myers Beach. Dave has to work so he's staying home and manning the fort and the cats. LOL We went down last year for just a week and had lots of fun so we're going back to the same general area this year for two weeks. WE golfed, shopped, walked the beach, and found lots of interesting places to visit. I need to get out of this climate for a few weeks. Winters like the one we're having this year really depress me. I'm a sunshine person. Hopefully when we get back in mid-February, I will be energized enough to finish up this Illinois winter. Like you, I have my blood work and onc appointment in March. Hopefully we will get good news on everything and be able to "spring into spring" with less stress.
Colleen, so glad you got in that 6th treatment! YEA! Doesn't it sound good to say "only two more to go!"? Glad you are still feeling good, too. Hey, maybe you've got this whole treatment thing figured out! LOL
Are you working hard, Carol?
Hoping that all of you have a good day. How you doing, Mandy and scarp? How's the new treatment going, Jill? I've had you in my thoughts lately!
Ginny, I hope the new job is going smoothly and you're getting back into the groove of a full-time working lady! One of these days I'm going to PM you because I want your thoughts on a few things that I've been pondering.
To everyone else......have a good day!
Rita
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Colleen, thanks, but I am not brave, just practical. I am not emotionally attached to chunks of fat on my chest as I don't feel they make me a "woman" anymore than anything else does. If I thought about it long and hard (and I did) I couldn't see the sense of me trying to match my now smaller boob, when I could just get a pretty job and no cancer at the same time. It was my PS who wanted to reduce and match, and when I thought about it, I realized I could pay all this money, do surgery, yada yada, then get cancer in it anyway! Yikes!! Also, I rationalized this by thinking that when we gain or lose weight, we get smaller or bigger boobs and we don't fret about that. At one point in my life I think I was an A but that was 40 lbs. and 30 years ago.
. I will admit to talking to the mxtmy girl the night before and telling her to hang on and we'd make her pretty again like her sister. Well, they did that, but since they are sisters and not twins, boy, I am pretty sick of not matching and trying to dress for that. Not like I'd walk around naked anyway, god forbid! But not looking funny in clothing would be nice. Not to mention no angst ever again over cancer.I am so with you on as long as there is no cancer anywhere in here, the rest is all just window dressing. If we are lucky enough we get to be old and pruney looking anyway, right?
I am glad #6 is under your belt.........not long now....................
I go in on March 11th and have to wait on the 'cherry on top" for after recovery and talk to PS about a prophy. I think I'll have to wear that big old sports bra for awhile longer.
Hi everyone! Hope you all are having a great day; I just de decorated if you can believe I have stalled this long. Between that and noodling around on the computer when I should be cleaning or doing bills, well, I've wasted my day. At least I got my hair highlighted, my gift to me for enduring that tube.
. love you all
annie
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Rita, hi! I just got your post after I posted. My lung scan is sometime in March, but I have not made the appt. yet. I'm a nervous wreck thinking about it, so I am not going to:).
Ft. Myers is a beautiful area.....I hope you are feeling much better these days and I know that sunshine is just what you need.
Have a beautiful day, Jill, thinking of you, just sent you a card.
xox
a
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Rita ... Yep working hard !!! Checking in via my Blackberry, hoping to hear how Jill is doing with her txt which I believe she started Sunday..
Thinking of u all often,
Carol0 -
Annie
It's ok.
Just wanted to send a BIG HUG, and let you know I'm thinking of you.
Colleen,
Thinking of you, and keeping you and your Mom in my prayers.
Hugs
Harley
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Good Evening ladies,
Well just got home from a busy work week. OK I had a chemo brain moment today. I was so stressed today at work thinking of what I had to get done before I had to leave at 2:30 for a 2:45 onc. appointment. I was 2 minutes late and then found out that my appointment isn't until February 6th!! Boy did I feel stupid. I'm also happy to say, that I had a blood draw yestarday and they got my on the first try!!! So far so good on the new treatment. Only SE so far is mild nausea.
Rita- Have a great time in Florida. Oh to just get away!! Remember you are welcome anytime here in sunny AZ.
Carol- love your facebook. Your watersport pictures are so awesome. It looks like loads of fun in the sun!!
Annie- THANK YOU for all of the great cards. It definately brightens my days.
Well everyone have a great weekend. We have a day of scootering planned for tomorrow!!
Jill
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Jill, yeah ... on mild se's, having to get poked only once and for some fun in the sun tomorrow !!! I was happy to share your post with Kent this evening!
Back tomorrow gals ... Carol
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Yea Jill! I've been waiting to hear how that new treatment is going! Super! It sounds promising! :-)
And Jill...as for your chemo brain moment, does chemo brain ever disappear? It's been over a year for me and I'm still having brain farts. I wonder how long I can blame this on chemo brain!
How are you gals who are in treatment doing? Post and keep us updated. Thinking of you and hoping that all is going well.
Rita
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Today is day 4 after tx 6 and I spent yesterday and today in bed. I am starting to feel better now and I hope that will be done as I have to go back on Friday for #7. I don't get to many good days in between anymore. And of course I am alway hungry. It is so weird I feel like I could throw up all over, but yet at the same time I have to eat. And eat I do. I have so many meals during the day sometimes I am surpise that I am not gaining 20 lbs. But I am sure it will catch up with me. I can't go to bed without having icecream first. Last night I was so mad because the kids finish the icecream that I sent my dh out to the store for more. Well I am hoping that tomorrow will be a new day and I wish everyone a good weekend.
Colleen
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Hey everyone...haven't been on for a while so I'm trying to catch up. Rita...what I would do to be in the sun right now. I am so jealous. We just booked a vacation for the kids spring break. It'll be 2 weeks after my last tx and we'll return the day before rads...perfect timing. we had to cash in all of our credit card mile (thankfully we charged everything when redoing our kitchen 3 years ago) and some kind friend gave us a timeshare unit foe the week. The warm sand is only 11 weeks away.
I had # 5 on Tuesday and think it was my easiest so far. I even have more energy. I pray the last 3 will go the same way. I think eating the protein the night before really helps. By the end I'm sure I'll have it all down pat.
The hair is still holding up. I bought cover up for the grey and haven't used it yet. I'm a bit afraid even thought I was told I could do it.
Annie ...i think I missed your b-day so happy belated?
Hope everyone is doing well. Keep warm...it is so darn cold here in Jersey!
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Rita,
Hope you have fun at the beach with your friend!
We just dropped off my friend at the airport. She came down to Myrtle Beach to see me, but I think she wanted to be someplace warm... unfortunately, it isn't very warm here, either.
We are gearing up to go on that Caribbean cruise in just a couple of weeks. I can't wait! I'm with you, Rita, these winters really depress me!! I need SUNSHINE and WARMTH!!
Thinking of all that are currently undergoing treatment. I see that you all seem to be chugging right along, getting closer to the finish line!
Hugs to all
Harley
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Annie, I hear you! Having those surgeries will give you peace of mind back, and greatly eliminate, if not totally eliminate the risk of getting the c back. You will also be in my prayers, as you have been!
Rita, I'm so excited for you---FL---wonderful
A well deserved break for you! You must be having so much fun packing those summer clothes...Colleen and Jill, blessings to you in your treatments! May they kick bc in the butt, but be gentle for you to handle.
Hi Harley and Carol!
Love to you all.
Ginny
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Hello everyone - so I had #3 on Thursday - seemed to go fine, but I was pretty tired the rest of the day AND have caught a cold (from my kids) that has really knocked me out this weekend. Carol and I have been stuck in an awful fog for most of the week, so at least the sun came out this weekend.
It is so hard to imagine that I have 21 more infusions to go. I really hate this schedule but this is the way my oncologists wants it for my particular case.
Scarp - I am also afraid to do a color wash - going to wait until after I see my oncologist this Wednesday.
Those of you in the sun, or going to the sun - I am so jealous. My husband and I are tempted to plan a trip to SOMEWHERE warm for our spring break, but don't know how I will feel....
Hope you have all had a good weekend!
Susan
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Mandy ... Do we have a birthday in the house??? Hoping its memorable in more ways than one !!!
I'll be back after work to snoop through the post, until then ...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MANDY. !!!0 -
Thanks for thinking of me Carol. You are right. I went to lunch with my daughter who is lucky for me home from college today.
xoxox
Mandy
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Happy Birthday, Mandy!!!
HugsHarley
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Mandy: Happy Birthday!!!! Hope you had a great day!!
Today I am ffeeling so much better I am up and around. I just got a call from Cleaning For A Reason and they are coming 1 wk. from Friday. They will come once a mth. Not bad and then my family is going to pay for someone to come in every other wk. My house is just in shambles, my dh has been working 6 days a wk with the crazy weather we have been having so he is to tired to do much. He has been keeping up with the shopping and such. So hopefully if I can just get the kitchen and bathrooms done that would help so much. My kids do not understand why they still have to keep their rooms clean if something is coming to clean. I told them because that is their job. They have two jobs do well in school and keep their rooms clean. Well I hope everyone had enjoyable weekend. I will go again for tx #7 on Friday so I have 3 more good days.
Colleen
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Happy Monday Eve,
Okay, I'll admit it, I've been a lurker the last couple days ... but being me, can't go too long without spewing something out ...
Just stopped to get my blood draw for my hormone levels and liver/kidney enzymes ... gearing up for my appt with the onc next week and also for my 2nd Zometa infusion. I will be needing a set of Big Girl Panties for that one, I got pretty used to using numbing cream and accessing the port, which for some "DUMB" reason I decided to have removed!
Rita, do we have the countdown going yet for your venture to warmth? Your plans sound like a ton of fun !!! Sometimes that gf time is kinda needed.
Annie, so trying to "even" things out is probably good in many respectts. I definitely tend to lean in on my missing side. I don't realize it until somebody mentions for me to stand up straight. Bottom line is that the poor posture then in turns tweeks my back, shoulders and neck. I'm trying to stand up straight with or without wearing my "girl" on the right.
Colleen, hope that you can enjoy feeling slightly normal for the next three days. Your getting there gal !!! Hey even without doing chemo, there nothing worse than having a sweet tooth for some ice cream to find out somebody in the house wiped it out !
Great news that you'll be getting some help with the housework. As I tell my son, I want the housekeeper to have some carpet in his room available to vacuum !!!
Scarp, Whooo-Hoooo gal friend, a most tolerable txt. Aaah, another sister friend planning some time in the warmth.
Harley, wow ... now I'm reading your getting ready for a cruise. So have you been on others in the past?
Susan, yuck ... your turn for the crud eh? My work environment has more people sniffling. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. As we talked, I would be planning a little adventure yourself for some warmth and a welcome dose of Vit D !!!
Mandy, glad you had some mom/daughter time today. May the rest of your eve be pleasant as well. Happy Day Gal !!!
Jill, how we doing gal, you are a week into your regime, right ? Speaking of all these gals gearing up for some sunshine ... Kent and I are planning on our spring trip to AZ the last week of March. Would love to see you guys if the timing works out for you.
Ginny, thanks for thinking of me.
Julie, I've checked into your FB a time or two ... what a cool way to stay connected with so many.
Okay, off to Yoga ... have a great eve ladies, Carol
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Hi darlings, just checking in quickly to say hi, and sending good vibes to all in txtmnt!!! Spent the last three days in PA, my daughter had this really nasty cold/flu w double ear infections and sinus infections!!!!!!!!!! The good news is she had gotten herself to the health clinic, so had some drugs in her but really wanted me to come down, so I did and have been "mothering" away which I just LOVE , still am glad to get back tonight and more than glad she is better today.
Mandy, happy birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just fired off an e card to you!
I am now going to try to figure out FB as had the go ahead from dd, as I told her all you guys were doing it and I wanted to see photos, etc. I promised not to snoop (not that's she'd even give me reason to). I am sort of morally opposed to it anyway (the snooping I mean) my husband calls me the last remaining girlscout, and he's kind of right.
Love to you all, will write more tomorrow, off to change the ghastly cat box. Carol, that is my issue as well. I lean really into the lat flap side and I am getting cricks in the good side.
ps: Hey anyone have really high cholesterol from arimidex? 240, yikes!!!!!!!!!!!!! Of course, I'm a pretty fine porker also, so have to kick my own butt in gear. They tell me it's the lupron also. Always something. I suppose I should eat cheerios.
xoxo
a
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Carol,
Yes, I have been on ... I think, 8 other cruises, and they are just WONDERFUL!! We went to Bermuda twice, and the others have been Caribbean! I can't wait til we get down to Florida, to get on the ship! It is just way TOO cold, here, even in NC!!! I am really looking forward to basking in the warmth of the Caribbean sun, and looking at that beautiful BLUE water!!!
Have you been on a cruise? If not, you should give it a try!
Thinking of you and hoping your Zometa infusion and your onc appt. goes well.
Hugs
Harley
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Hi kids:
Yes, Carol good thoughts winging your way for that onc appt. and I know those veins are gonna cooperate for you.
Harley, have such a wonderful time...the first time after one year post bc, my hubby and I went on a cruise "to nowhere" that went out into the New York harbor and just out to sea for days. We ate our faces off and sat in these giant plastic blue deck chairs (we called them clown chairs)
...it was heaven...........Let us know how it went for you, Carol, lots of love, hon.
xoxo
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Hi all
I survived my 4th CMF tx today. Only the M was missing since I am due to start rads tomorrow and Methotrexate is bad for rads. My onc who is very careful is OK with me not having the methotrexate for two TXs, so I will go with her feelings. I will have either 6 or 8 total TX so I still have a long road to travel. She has not decided how many I will have...
So far I am tired (slept all afternoon) but no other bad SE yet. I am also depressed...I do not know why but yesterday afternoon, it just hit me. I am weepy and angry. I told the chemo nurse who wanted to put the IV in a vein next to my thumb that I thought there were veins that would be more comfortable for me and then showed her one. She got it into "my" vein on one stick. I do not know why they do not think of patient comfort routinely and why I have to fight to be treated humanely. That is where I am now....sorry to annoy all of you.
Anyway to those CMF gals who are getting tx or just had a tx, may there be no SE. And to those on the board going on trips, a couple of days in the sun sound incredible to me right now. And Harley, my goodness so many cruises. A couple of years ago my sister streated my two daughters and I to a cruise with her. It was great. I swam with dolphins; I parasailed; and I got great food and a wonderful special time. Enjoy your holidays with your loved ones.
Don't know how I would manage without you gals to complain to.
Have a nice night.
Many many hugs to all.
Mandy.
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Hi gals!
Colleen...the cleaning solution sounds wonderful. I am so glad that you're feeling better. Hang in there.
Mandy...I had my rads in the middle of my chemo, too, but they stopped ALL chemo during rads. Then I had to go back after the rads for 2 more treatments. Believe me, it was hard to go back because rads were easy for me compared to the chemo. As for the depression, it hits at strange times. Unfortunately, I think it goes with our journey and most of us get it at some point along the way. If we escape it during the journey, it often rears its ugly head when we're done. Like all the rest of this, it will pass, hon. Just get right onto this thread when you're having trouble and we'll try to cheer you up! You're getting there! Soon the sun will be out and you'll be finishing up.......just in time to enjoy the green grass and the warmer temps.
Carol,Annie, and Harley......sounds like all is going well for you gals and that you are busy. That's good! Also, so glad to hear from you, Ginny. When I get back I have a few theological issues I want to bump off you! So glad the new job is going well for you.
Jill...is it still going O.K. for you? Hang in there!
I fly out tomorrow and I still am not packed so I need to get off here and finish up that packing. I want it all done except for the last minute things when I go to teach my church group this evening. I am still not over the draining and coughing so I'm hoping the warm FL sun will help out there! I am indeed a sun person and am much happier when it's out and shining.
I am taking my laptop with me so I'll check in every so often. Everyone stay healthy while I'm gone!
Catch you later.
Rita
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Mandy, vent away. Getting "down" and upset is par for the course with treatments and just going through this bc journey. Here are our "shoulders" for you....you will get through this, and you will have better days. Sorry for your experience with the chemo nurse---good for you for speaking up!
Hey Carol, have you tried the numbing cream for the area where you will get your infusion? I hope your next one is much easier to handle. (((hugs)))
Harley, Rita....ladies going south---wonderful! I am home from school today, due to a "snow day"---you wouldn't believe how much. My poor jack russell can do his business without me, shovelling a path, everytime he goes out today
Blessings to all of you going through treatments right now. Have you marked the 1/2 mark on your calendar? Sure feels good when you can start counting down to completion! You should be all through by time the nice weather returns! Hang in there!
Annie, nice you spent sometime with your d---and she needed her mom! You look like such a sweet family. What a blessing!
Please say a prayer for a very good friend of mine who will be having a double mastectomy this Tuesday at 1pm. She has lobular bc. Prayers work, so please think of her, especially at 1pm (her name is Ann)-----thank you so much!
Love,
Ginny
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Rita, we were typing at the same time.
Have a absolutely wonderful vacation in the sun!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy for you!
Fire the questions away, I will try my best.
Love you---have a blast!
Ginny
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Yeah its Hump Day ... okay, TMI I know, but more than a year ago that may have had more than one meaning !!!
So Rita, you should be counting down the hours til your bones are warming in the FL sunshine. I check the weather mid-state Orlando area often (as my Dad winters there), and its quite nice. Soak up that Vitamin D and enjoy every moment. We'll hold down the fort here !!!
Annie, sounds like you we're adorning your Mom status over the past few days. Funny how kids know in the end who to call to help make them feel better.
Interesting topic you brought up with the Arimidex and high cholesterol. I just had blood work done, although not for that. I've never had great numbers there so I probably should make sure that I have that looked at within the year.
Harley, I wish I had been on (8) cruises, I have been fortunate enough to be on (3). Two of which we're in the Carribean and (1) to Mexico. I loved them all !!! If my dh and I were not so obsessed with golf, we would probably do another. Some day !!!
Mandy, interested on the "M" being nasty for rads. I certainly did not have much of a break from chemo to rads. Oh well now !!!
And the rollercoaster ride of emotions ... I have had my moments as well. I have never been an extremely moody person, always pretty upbeat, but within the past year, I can go from my normal smile to being in tears over just about nothing. I will say that it has become a bit better over say the last 4 months or so. I truly believe for me it has been the hormone levels trying to get in sync with my mind, body yada yada.
Ginny, trust me I thought about the numbing cream but problem being, where will they actually poke me, hand, arm, above the wrist ??? You know what I mean. Maybe after this visit I will know for my next !!! Heck if I had a big tube of the stuff I'd just cover my whole arm !!!
Susan, hoping that your onc visit was "uneventful" and your cold was squashed before it hit full force.
Jill, as always gal, thinking of you.
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Thank you Ritajean, Carol, Ginny and everyone else for supporting me. My depression has lifted a bit, just like that. It is so strange.
According to my onc, you should be off Methtrexate for 3 weeks before rads. It causes the skin to have permanent discoloration and to burn more during the rads. Lucky that she has done this before.
My SE are different this time because of no M. So far I am doing well but I have edema and those stupid swollen feet again. But I am going for acupuncture on friday and for some reason that I do not understand, that kicked the edema right out of my body the last time... it also made me more energetic. So I am looking forward to going.
My rads onc emailed me this morning that he wanted to postpone the rads for a few days. I had asked him two questions about his fields of radiation and whether they could be adjusted to get less lung in so he wanted to work on that. Now it would be nice if the rads onc had thought of that on his own and did not wait until I emailed him.....I am tired of having to be my own advocate. From making sure that they pick a good vein to suggesting they look into another chemo or check the fields of radiation, these thoughts should go through the medical peeps' heads on their own. It is really frustrating to me.
I guess what started out to be a thank ou to my sisters on this board, has turned into another gripe session. Sorry about that. I do thank you for your kindness to me.
Mandy
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Mandy, happy late birthday! I will also need radiation on my left side which has me worried about my heart and lung- I am trying not to get too far ahead of myself as that won't be until August. So true about being your own advocate, tiring but you are GOOD at it and thank goodness.
Carol - I have my chemo tomorrow, and meet with my onc. next weds. for chemo. I had my dates messed up - could that be chemo brain already??!!! I will be thinking of you and your onc. appt next week - sure it will be good.
Harley and Rita (and anyone else going on vacation) have a wonderful time!
The week is half over, as Carol said - hump day! Everyone please have a terrific 2nd half of the week.
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Hi darlings, just checking in you all:
Rita, I am so jealous but so very happy you get some needed sunshine and R and R...have a wonderful, wonderful time!!! Miss you already!
I am reading about rads and heart and lung....did not know that was an issue, they never mentioned it when i had it on the left at all...perhaps thats what my lung nodules are from, too much rads...huh. I survived it fine tho, I wasn't particularly tired until the end and i think that's different for all.
Harley, sounds like you are outta here as well, have fun!
Carol, you crack me up;;;;;hump day, indeed. It'll need to be a very cold day in He**** before that happens around here. No Mojo at all after this year.
Jill, you sound good, sending good vibes and another card to boost ya. Hoping for still no SEs for you.
Mandy, we've been PMing back and forth, but I'll say it again.....you are a lovely person, you will be AOK, and you are due some good karma for sure!!
Ginny, hows the job? I prayed for your friend, I felt good that she will come thru this AOK w clean margins.
Carol, not sure when the appt. is, but I am sending big hugs ( ) that they can find an easy vein for you very quickly. You've endured more than your fair share.
Well, my daughter is well again, but Rita, it sure sounded exactly like what you had....perhaps that is some strain of this years' flu or something, but she was just like a faucet, and really really blown up sinuses, along with double ears. She's better now, but she is going to go back to the health center tomorrow (after a party of course for her service org.) and get a recheck just to be smart. One nasty bug!!!
Everyone travelling, fly safe (or cruise safe
) Everyone sick, get better, everyone enduring those endless dr. visits, try to remember they are on our side, even tho at times it doesn't seem that way.Be well my buddies.
love you all
annie
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Well, I don't leave til Feb. 11th, so I am still here in the FROZEN SOUTH!! It is getting old, I have to say! I moved to NC from Maryland, because I just HATED the COLD, icy winters!
Carol,
Good luck with your onc appt. next week.
Since I'm going to have to be packing and getting ready for the cruise, I may just be lurking til we leave for the cruise. We are staying for two days at a friend's house in Cocoa Beach, and will be leaving from Miami on Feb 13, for a 12 day cruise. We should also be spending another night with our Cocoa Beach friends before heading back to the Antarctic NC.... but hoping the temps will be warmer when we get back!!
If I am not around much for the next month or so, please know that I'm thinking of you all, and hope all is going well for you!!
Hugs
Harley
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