CMF Question
Comments
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Ritajean: You have been an inspiration and help to me on every step of this journey. I stay on this board hoping to give back some of what you gave to me. ((((hugs))))))
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Right on Ritajean! Your good news is catching. I can tell you are a very positive person anyway and certainly am glad you visit here so often. You give all of us a real shot in the arm!
I didn't need a shot on Friday after all. My WC is down to about 1900, but am feeling really good right now and probably will until my next tx. Onc said I would probably need a shot before it's over.
Cabmom - Where is your home in NC?
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And Mandy...........you DO give back alot! I'm so glad you're staying around.
I'm heading out for another week with friends and heading south so I won't be around for a few days. I hope everyone has a great week.....that all the treatments go well and that you all enjoy the week, too.
I'll hop back on when we get back. I'm not even taking the computer this time........total relaxation!
Hugs to all of you.
Rita
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Yes Mandy....I agree with RitaJean! I am so thankful to everyone but especially to the two of you through my journey. I think I about drove you guys insane but you'll never know how thankful I was for this board and all who participated in helping me. That's also why I come back, I don't know if I'm ever able to help anyone but I ALWAYS want to try!
golfergrandma, so happy that your counts were up and you didn't need a shot. I guess I was lucky and didn't need a shot during my treatments. Our summer home is near Boone, have you heard of that? I LOVE the mtns and miss all my family but I'm learning to make the midwest feel more like home
! There are wonderful people no matter where you go and I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people through the years. 0 -
Hi Ladies....have a weird question. Did chemo put any of you into early menopause? If so, has anyone come out of menopause and started their regular cycle again? Not sure if I should be concerned or not. My onc jumped all over this and is sending me to an OBGYN tomorrow. He made me pretty nervous but I just don't want to panic. I want to believe that it's just my body wanting to be normal again......any advice?
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cabmom: I had CMF last year (March - September) and haven't had a period since May 17, 2010. My onc said it's definitely chemopause, but he won't test me to see if I'm really menopausal until at least one year after chemo treatment. He said my hormone levels would be seriously messed up from the chemo and that they wouldn't be accurate. Waiting a year gives your body a chance to recover so the test is more accurate. He said some women do resume periods even after a year of not having them. I'm only 44 so on the young end for menopause, but who knows?
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codavis, thanks for the info. I was only 43 at diagnosis and my onc did warn me that it might come back but thought that it would be unlikely. I was actually one year out Feb 17th from chemo and I think I remember them saying that chemo normally stayed in our bodies about a year afterwards. Anyway, now that it has come back, I think I'm just in shock. Dreading the tests today but I know that GOD HAS THIS covered so I just have to know that I'm going to be fine. If everything is okay, my onc is already talking about radiating my ovaries or chemicals to stop them. I just don't think so......I think that it might be wise just to consider a permanent solution. That would reduce my levels of estrogen and eliminate my risks of ovarian and uterine cancers. Ask onc, but he wouldn't give me a firm answer because he didn't have the statistics to back up that information......good grief! Sometimes, I feel like I just need a break and it seems there are not to many of them after those dreaded words. Sorry....
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cabmom - Yes, I certainly know where Boone is! Didn't mean to make youl homesick, but you're able to spend time in NC with your home there.
Atlanta - Where are you? Haven't heard from you in awhile.
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cabmom,
What about just having your ovaries out? Wouldn't that be safer than more radiation or chemicals?
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golfergrandma,
I'm always a little homesick! It really is an awesome place back there and so pretty......ENJOY! Going back always gives me something to look forward to.......Hope you're doing okay on treatments.....lee7, I actually agree with you. I'm not doing more radiation or chemicals, well unless I have NO choice but I really don't want to. Waiting on some test results to determine what to do next.
To all the ladies.....sorry for being a debbie downer......sometimes it's just hard when one thing after another hits you but I do know how lucky and blessed that I am. Actually, how lucky and blessed that we all are. Treatments are advancing on a daily basis, doctors are becoming more knowledgeable by the minute and SOMEDAY there will be a cure for all cancers. We're all going to beat this terrible beast and chemo, radiation, tamoxifen, etc., was just a stepping stone in doing it. This latest drama that I'm going through is just a stepping stone and with the help of some more wonderful doctors, we'll figure it out and then I'll get on with my life again but there's one thing I'm thankful for and that's the fact that I CAN GET ON WITH MY LIFE. So no more debbie downer pills for me
! Hope everyone is doing well.......0 -
cabmom-I hope you get good news on your tests. Just like Roseannadanna says "it's always something!"
I am meeting with a gyneclogical onc today to discuss oopherectomy so I can consider taking Arimidex. Talk about the never ending journey!
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Rita,
YAY! Thanks for the GOOD NEWS! So glad to hear that your onc. appt. went well, and all your bloodwork came out GOOD...
I am coming up on my 4 year cancer versary... March 15th, will be FOUR years since my surgeon took IT out....
Harley
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Hey ladies, I am so happy to report that my biopsy results came back today and it was not uterine cancer.....can't hardly stop smiling! Since it was not cancer, I'm going to take my time on deciding what direction to go next and get some more opinions on the hysterectomy, ovarian ablation, etc. Just want a little time to think things over....thanks for the prayers. I have to be honest and tell you this is probably the most normal I've felt in almost two years......what a wonderful feeling
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cabmom- I can feel your relief. Hoooray! I totally understand your wish to take a little time to make the next hard decisions. I am in the same boat. Nothing like feeling a little "normal" for a while!
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That is very nice Cab..so happy for you
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Hi!
Just checking back in on this thread. You were all so supportive as I muddled my way through deciding to change oncs and finding what treatment to do. I reached the point where I decided against doing TCx4, and just went on to radiation instead. I didn't want to waste anymore time not doing something. I am also taking the Arimidex. My Rad onc said it was fine to be on it and do rads at the same time. I'm following some of those threads for info and am hoping the combination of just rads and Arimidex will be ok for me at this point.
cabmom, great news, and do take time to feel good about it !
Hugs to all,
Lee
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Cabmom - I'm so happy for you - great news!! My fam history includes BC, ovarian, uterine. I went to a cancer gyn specialist and I proly have a 10-15% chance of developing ovarian. I've decided to have my ovaries removed, but next year, as I would like some time to recover from last year! I was told it is an outpatient procedure with short recovery time and will bring my chance of ovarian to zero. She said uterine is usually caught early but ovarian isn't easy to screen for so it's usually caught late. Don't know if this is of interest. Anyway, I'm so happy for you!!!
Lee - so glad you have got it worked out, all best wishes to you!!!
Hugs to all!!! Beanie
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Hi everyone! Been gone a few days. My ob/gyn will not remove my ovaries, because I do not qualify for coverage of the BRCA test due to the fact that my bc was after age 60 and I have no relatives with bc or other cancers.
Can anyone tell me whether their hair grew during tx? My hair stopped shedding, but it does not seem to be growing at all. It's thinner and just sitting there!
Glad so many of you have had good news lately!
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golfer- Hmmmm interesting question about whether hair grows during chemo. Come to think of it, I didn't get it cut for a very long time so it certainly slowed down. I know I didn't need to shave my legs as often either. Glad it seems to be hanging in there for you.
lee- Glad you were able to come to some decisions. Good luck with your treatments!
beanius- My Oncs are discussing oopherectomy for me too. I'll let you know if I do it. We can be bosom buddies and hmmmm what would we call that? Ovary buddies just doesn't sound right.
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golfer, I don't think my hair grew during treatments....never had it cut once and it continued to shed through all of my sessions. So happy that the shedding has slowed for you....I remember how worrisome that can be.
lee, come back often and let us know how you're doing. Happy that you were able to move on with your treatment plan. Good luck!!
beanius, I really do think it's a great idea just to take a breather from everything and then move on to the next phase. All this stuff can be so overwhelming......sorry that you have such a history in your family. Don't really in mine but still considering my options anyway....
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Golfergrandma - I did have the BRCA/genetic testing done and was negative for 9 gene mutations. My cancer gyn doctor told me in the general population 1 in 70 develop ovarian cancer. In the BRCA positive population it is much higher. Since I was negative, but have a family history she estimated my risk to be 10 to 15%. I also discussed with my med onc and she said when you get up around a 10% risk it's probably wise to remove ovaries. Esp. since it's a pretty easy surgery they can do laproscopically and needs no hospital stay. As for hair, I did have to keep shaving my legs, but not as much. The same kind of thing happened to me, seemed like most of the shedding happened early on and then it slowed down. There was one day in particular in the shower when the bulk of what I lost came out. Hope you are doing well!
DesignerMom - Ovary buddies and bossom buddies works for me - LOL! I would sure be interested in what your oncs tell you so we can compare ovary notes...I'm leaning against hysterectomy due to the fact that it's an overnight hospital procedure with a long recovery time and uterine cancer is easily detected, most often caught in stage 1 when there is bleeding. The cancer gyn said there does not seem to be a link between BC and uterine cancer. My oncologist felt it wasn't necessary in my case, but did think the ooph was a good idea. I would like to have the ooph done and over but I'm just enjoying feeling well and everyone seems to think it's not urgent and probably doing it next year will be fine. Ovarian tends to develop in older women.
Cabmom - you're right, it's all been overwhelming and I'm really happy to have a little time to just chill. It is scary enough to go for my check-ups, yikes, next one is in mid-May and I'll be getting my 2nd set of follow up mamos. I'm already jittery! My Nov mamos were clear, so maybe if my May ones are also clear I'll start feeling a bit more relaxed.
Wishing you all a fantastic Sunday!!! Big hugs to my CMF sisters!!!
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Thanks everyone. I do want to have my ovaries removed since I'm "older" (much)! But will wait until after tx and find someone who is willing to do it. I know it's an easy surgery, and I really want it done! Just one more thing not to worry about. My next tx is next Thurs. so will try to play golf before then. Am also getting p/t for some ancillary scar tissue that is interfering with my arm motion. Have full motion in the arm, but it hurts to reach high. Have a Happy Sunday. Loved the 'happy Sunday' greeting Beanius! Later....
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YEA Cabmom! Such good news!!!! Now you CAN relax and make more leisurely decisions.
We got back from Biloxi last night where we spent a really nice week with good friends. The sunshine is so refreshing after the Illinois winter gloom and certainly helps my mood. Now I have a pile of laundry facing me today.
Hey Harley.... congrats on the 4 years! You go, gal. I love keeping up with you on Facebook. You are such a dynamic lady and I admire you so much!
Well, I'm off to tackle that laundry and vacuum up the cat hair. We have a great cat-sitter that comes every day to feed the cats and play with the younger one but she doesn't clean anything except the litter box so I'm off to work around here and then off to the grocery store so we have some food in the house.
Catch you later,
Rita
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Harley - Big congratulations on 4 years!!! That is such good news. This March 17 will be one year for me from when the surgeon took out the tumor and March 29 is when I got the news it was cancer. So much to celebrate!!!
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Harley....congratulations on 4 years!!!! That is awesome news.....and gives all of us so much hope.
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Hey hey
Just dropping in to say hi. been almost a year since my last CMF and so far so good. I am suffering with a bit of PTSD however. My brother is in Hospice care with brain and lung cancer so the issue is in my face once again. Any suggestions for dealing with this type of re-trauma?
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Hi Merilee - So glad a year out for you is "so far so good" that is great news. I finished CMF in Dec '10 so really understand the PTSD issue. Seems it would be so much tougher with your brother in hospice. I'm so sorry he has brain and lung cancer. That would really bring the issue front and center again. Are you able to spend time with him? I was with my mother and my FIL (at different times) as they went through hospice. It was very difficult, but it was also good to be with them and I was so glad to be with them through the whole thing. As for my own trauma, I've just been trying to follow my med oncs advice to keep pushing scary thoughts out of my mind. I've been trying to focus on things that make me happy, such as I'm planning my vegetable garden. This would be tougher if my brother were facing hospice and I would want to spend as much time as possible with him. Are you and your brother close? I am wishing the best for you and hope you will keep us updated on how you are doing.
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Beanius
Thanks for responding. Yes, I am very close to my brother. He is only two years older than me 53 and growing up people often thought we were twins.
Funny you should mention the garden. That is one thought that kept me going through my treatment as well.
I did a raised box garden, it was fabulous and have become a plant freak. I have an old shed that I am converting to a makeshift green house this summer. The little things in life become so wonderful once you have faced down death. That is one positive thing that has come out of this for me.
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Merilee - I am 53 also and have three older siblings, 6+ years older. I always thought I would have to face losing them at some point, then turned out I'm the one who got cancer. Since you're close with your brother it seems like just being with him as much as possible and helping him would be so nice for you. When my mother came out of her last surgery, it was things like making sure she had good pain meds, and caring for her every need that came up that stands out in my mind. Bitter sweet, but just knowing I did all I could to make her comfortable.
I'm also looking at doing the raised beds for my veg garden. I will have to put up a deer fence. I'm looking forward to home grown tomatoes since they taste so much better than the ones in the store. I'm thinking of putting in green onions, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers...will have to think what else. Do you grow yours from seeds or buy them already sprouted?
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Merilee, so happy to hear that you are one year out and doing good...that's awesome news. I am so very sorry to hear about your brother, I can't even imagine the stress associated with what you're going through. Beanius had a great idea about focusing on things to take your mind off stress.....I think I'll try that as well. I will keep both you and your brother in my prayers. Keep us posted.....
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