CMF Question
Comments
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Hi ladies,
Jill, just some advice re: port removal. I was fully awake with just needles to do local freezing. I talked with the doctor as he was taking it out and sewing me up. Really no problem. My only advice would be to get that "conscious sedation" which you are awake, but not really with it (I had that when they put it in and it was fantastic--you could care less with what is going on and you go in and out of sleep). With this it is a painless and easy procedure. Other advice, ask the doctor to not sew over the other stitches. Mine did and I don't like my scar. Apparently they can make a fresh cut and do new stiches. Nothing to worry about. It was great to have it and it is great to have it out now too. After everything you have been through, this is a piece of cake! All the best Jill.
Annie and Carol, you ladies are amazing. You two have such a great sense of humour! I'm sure you are helping a lot of ladies who just read the posts and are also going through treatments. You are getting through this and are heading toward the home stretch. Trying to catch up on some points in your posts: I had steroids, Zofran, compazine and ativan (at night) towards the last few treatments and it really helped the nausea. Ativan helped with sleep. I took 2 stool softners before bed, 2 in the morning and sometimes 2 at lunch---helpful. I also had acid reflux and took something by prescription (I will have to try and find the name--something to help with ulcers---helped with acid in tummy), it helped as well. Rest well, spoil yourselves...you are in my prayers, even though I do not post a lot.
Hi to Rita and Harley and everyone else here.
Yes Annie, I believe their is an autoimmune link between thyroid, hives and breast cancer. My thyroid doc does not think so, but my immunologist does (and my GP) Had a whole bunch of tests last week and hope to have some answers. I am thinking of going to a naturopath, as they seem to understand the immune system so well and might have some answers that conventional medicine just doesn't seem to have yet. So far, conventional medicine can say you have autoimmune issues---but what is the trigger?---how can we improve it? I'll pass on any new info when I find it---I know there are lots of ladies out there that have autoimmune problems and bc.
Well in a few weeks it will be a year since I finished CMF. Boy does time fly and before you know it, you will also be finished!
God bless,
Ginny
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Ginny,
I have missed you! Glad to hear from you!
I also believe that there is an auto immune connection to bc. I have read here on bc.org that alot of women have some auto immune condition and usually it's thyroid related, too. I read that having an auto immune condition puts you at greater risk for getting cancer.Yes, I would also like to learn if there is anything I can do to boost my immune system, and to prevent any kind of problems in the future.
Hope you continue to do great!!
Hugs,Harley
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Rita,
So, you did the walk?? That is great! I have been looking for one here in my area, but I can't seem to find one. On the cruise, Holland America has a 5K walk for the cure, and I got a t-shirt, and my dh & I did the walk.
Hope you had a great Mother's Day, and I hope you have a wonderful time with your family, next week.
Harley
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Carol,
Hope you are feeling good. I know these txs are tough, but you seem to be a trooper, you are getting through it just fine, and keeping pretty active, too! You are my hero!
Annie,
I like the red color, too. I was never a natural redhead, but I have been coloring it red for years now. Do you remember what brand of hair color you used? I am considering using the Herbatint, but reading the label, it is a permanent color. Oh, heck... I am getting tired of worrying so much over this! I know that I can't stand the color that came back after chemo, so I'm just going to go ahead and do it... maybe even use one of those 'temporary' colors, until I can afford to go back to the salon. I'm not working, so maybe I will get a little part time job, so I won't feel so bad 'splurging' on my hair color, if I'm working.
Hope you are feeling good, and the se's are minimal.
Harley
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Good Evening
We made it home from Portland, the weekend was successful for the ds, he and his best friend took 3rd place in their 2 man relay. Now my son is hoping that we'll let him go to Nationals in Nebraska in July. Depending on grades, and hopefully he finds some part time work he'll probably be heading to Lincoln.
My tummy has been a bit out of whack this weekend, I think it may have been too much sitting and not enough activity. Finally Sat eve, I did a couple of miles on the treadmill in the hotel. It certainly helps my bodily functions (TMI!!!)
Ginny, how nice of you to continue to pop in and cheer us on. Your synopsis of help with se's can certainly help others in their journey.
Rita, looking forward to seeing a few pics from the Komen walk. You've been a busy lady.
So much for being in hyper speed, I'm wiped tonight and I really did very little over the weekend, probably why I feel sluggish. Wishing I had asked for the day off tomorrow, stupid me ... will try to suck it up for that 5:00 am wakeup call. YUCKERS.
Hope you all had a great mom's day ... will check in tomorrow!
Carol
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Good evening everyone,
Just settling in from a busy weekend. Hope you all had a nice Mother's Day.
Carol- sounds like you had an exciting weekend. 3rd place is awesome!! One of the best parts of being a mom is watching your kids do well. Nebraska sounds great. Keep those grades up!! Hope you start feeling better. My se's seemed to linger a bit in the end. Hang in there, you are almost done!!
Ginny- Thanks so much for your input about the port removal. Scared but excited at the same time. I'm scheduled for the 22nd at 2pm.
Annie- I did have those dizzy moments after my 5th txt and did ask my dr. and he said that it was probably from the chemo and to let him know if it lasted longer than 2 weeks. I have not had any dizziness after the 6th txt. I also had pain behind my ears and in my neck but it has slowly disappeared.
So when does your hair stop falling out after txt? I know I'm only 2 weeks out, but it is still coming out.
Well my bed is calling my name. Hope everyone has a great week.
Jill
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Hello ladies:
Hope all had a nice mothers' day, mothers or not! We should all get a day that is special to us, how about CMFgirls day.
Since we all "mother" each other, I figure we can take it.
Ginny, how nice to hear from you, and you sound well. thank you for popping in to say hi to us still in those CMF trenches. Any info on bc/thyroid/auto immune you did up would be welcome, I strongly suspect a link. Just because they say it's not there, doesn't mean it isn't, when the evidence points in the direction of the link.
Harley, what I used is called Naturtint, french I believe. It is sold as a "permanent" haircolor, but it isn't, hydropgen peroxide based.
My onc still says all light shades are fine, but not dark. I'd take the website with a grain of salt, and what the onc says with a grain of salt, too. If you are exercising, not drinking, a healthy weight, etc. yada yada, I should think all of that would weigh in far more than a hair color. Just go have fun with your hair, what the hell.
Jill, I've just finished txt #5, and the hair fall seems to have stabilized a bit...last time was such a major shed that I got it cut pretty short, but perhaps the shedding is less bec. of that. At any rate, it does seem to have stablized a bit. After txt #2, and 3 oh wow, major sheddage.
Carol, you amaze me with that energy. You also are my hero.
Heck, you guys all are. Veterans all. (I like that better than survivor)...
Rita I hope you have a beautiful time with the family this weekend coming up..and also hope you had fun doing the br if that is what you and hubby did!
Take care everybody, I will check in tomorrow.
love to all
annie
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The opening ceremony of the Susan G. Komen walk. I'm in there somewhere near the front.....about 10 rows back from the stage. Lots and lots of pink.
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Mary Jane and I walked for all of you, our families, our other friends, and of course ourselves.
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The survivors' walk. Of course I was crying! Yikes, remind me not to do that too often. It shows my "frown wrinkles!"
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And of course those guys who have supported us all the way, Dave
and John! Mary Jane and I taught school together. She was the
"math" teacher and I was the "science" teacher. She is a 13+ year
survivor.....What an inspiration!
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I hope everyone is doing well. I just had to share the Peoria, Illinois Susan G. Komen Rally for the Cure pictures from Saturday. I will be back later. I have lots to get done this morning and a haircut appointment this afternoon.
Catch you later,
Rita
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Rita, absolutely awesome pics, thanks so much for sharing, I'm really looking forward to being a part of the 3 day in Seattle, seeing these pics, just gets me that much more hyped.
BTW, you look fabulous!!!
Carol
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Hope that everyone is doing well with their tx.
Carol,
Hope you are feeling good today!
I have a bit of news. Friday night, when I was brushing my teeth, I looked in the mirror, and noticed that one of my front teeth is brown and discolored. I am not sure if the chemo caused this discoloration. My teeth are feeling fuzzy and weird now too. This happened during my tx, but only for a short time. Eventually it went away...the fuzziness that is. The brown tooth is NEW...
I haven't had a chance to look for a dentist since moving here, and then my bc dx... so now I gotta go find a nice, gentle dentist...
I am so scared of going to the dentist! I know, you would think after chemo, nothing should scare me. The thing is, now that my dh is retired, we lost his dental plan. They have a retiree dental plan, but it is not very good, and it's very expensive! So now, I am looking at different dental plans, and looking for a dentist nearby who will accept the plan. I guess I'll have to go and pay out of pocket, initially.
Rita,
Great pics!!Annie,
I thought I saw Naturtint at the natural store when I went back to the MD/DC area, but I didn't buy that one, because it looked too much like all the other boxed haircolor in the grocery store... I guess now that I think about it, I really should have gotten that one. Oh well... there's always Natural Instincts.
Talk to ya'll later!
Harley0 -
Oh Rita, what fantastic photos!!!
You look amazing, wonderful shots of it all!
What a great thing to do....thanks so much for sending them.
Harley, good luck with the hair, I wonder if that scarey website re: haircolor is run by the light mountain people? Hmmmm. Good luck with whatever color you go with. I cannot wait to do something with mine at this point. Red and grey stripes, ugh.
have a good day ladies! Hope you are all feeing well today.
xoxo
annie
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Rita, way to go! What a great thing to do. BTW---your hair is gorgeous and should be an inspiration to all, that our hair does recoup after CMF! But more importantly we recoup. You look radiant!
Jill, you will do great, and yes, it is nice to have the device out
.I hope Carol and Annie you are resting. It is so healing and helpful. Carol you are up at 5am? Take it easy, if you can.
Re: hair colouring. I had mine hilighted with regular hair dye a few weeks after finishing treatment. No problem what so ever. I don't think my hair dresser used harsh peroxide though. It felt great to have it done again!
My hair now has quite the wave to it and I am now using a flattening iron to straighten it out. Boy they work great! If I let it dry naturally it is quite the site, and I throw on a hair band to tame it. The point is, that it does grow back, and then some! I'll try to put in a photo of me any my aunt (2x bc survivor and my hero) from our very special trip to Tuscany. Hope it works...
Enjoy the gorgeous spring weather!
Hugs,
Ginny
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Opps, no it didn't. Anyone know how to insert a photo?
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Ginny, if you have your picture already uploaded onto photobucket, shutterfly or one of the picture sites, you just click on the green tree by the smiley face right above where you type your post. You then copy the URL from the picture site and paste it onto this one. Then push submit. I tried to get the pictures off my Kodak Instant Share site to begin with and that didn't work. Finally I uploaded them onto Photobucket and then took them off of photobucket to put them on here.
Let me know if you have still have problems getting the picture to post.
Rita
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Well, my dentist appt. is tomorrow. I finaly found one who seems reasonable. At least, I hope so, and I don't have to wait four months for an appt. I'll let you know how it goes. In the reading I've done, it seems that the taxotere is what damages the teeth...maybe? I am so scared!
Oh, I went job hunting, and I was actually hired today, and will start on Thursday, working at a little gift shop in town. It's only a few miles from my house. It is part time, and I only wanted to work a few days a week. The woman who interviewed me today said that everyone works FOUR days a week, and I guess that includes weekends... I hope I didn't make a mistake, agreeing when I still don't even know what the salary will be...
Ginny, I can't wait to see your pics! My hair is now curly, too, but I love it!
Annie, I still haven't decided yet about the hair color. I may see if my MIL's hair dresser still has an opening tomorrow, and maybe I'll let her color my hair. I have already colored it at a salon once, since my tx ended, in Oct... so maybe I'll just see what it looks like.
Hope everyone has a lovely day tomorrow!
Harley
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Just a quickie before work this morning ... I spoke yesterday with a acquaintance (friend), who was diagnosed a month ago, had her mast surgery 2 weeks ago and went to the same onc I go to yesterday. He has suggested the CMF regimen to her as well. She is going for a second op on Friday and she really hopes to hear the same news.
I told her how tolerable this txt has been for me and I'll be sure to get her hooked up with bc.org for as much support as she could possibly need. I'm having her and another local bc gal over for lunch on Sunday to share "war" stories!
Hopefully I have time tonight to check back in, my days are really busy lately, work, housechores, ds looking for work, skate practices, trying to fit in a walk, and need to get 3 flats of annuals planted, this darn job is getting in my way!!!
Take care my friends, Carol
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Harley, congrats on the job! That sounds just about perfect to me....enough hours to get you out of the house and around people and yet still plenty of time for those other things you like to do! Wonderful! I will be anxious to hear more about it!
Jill...I tried a demo hybrid...Ladies' Cobra 5 and I really liked it. It's so much easier to hit than an iron. I want to try it a few more times before I really say much more. My friend had it in her bag and suggested that I try it out of the rough. Very interesting! Try to find a little time between all your projects and work to hit the links! LOL
Annie...how you doing? You're almost ready for #6 aren't you? See, you just keep marking them off! Are you doing O.K. after this last one? More tired than before?
Oh Harley, I asked about my hair coloring. It is Paul Mitchell...permanent coloring. My beautician says it is very mild.
Ginny...any luck with the picture posting??? Need more help? If I can't explain it well enough, I know Carol can help as she was the one who really helped me!
Well, I have errands to run so I'd better get moving....and my last youth group class (until Fall) tonight. Must admit I'm glad it's over for the season.
Catch you all later,
Rita
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Hi everyone. I just got back from the dentist, and I was able to squeeze in a hair appt. before I went to the dentist. So, I had a color and cut before the exam.
My tooth was just stained, but the one next to it had a cavity, so the dentist filled the cavity and buffed the stain out of my other tooth. Now I have to go back in July, for a cleaning... Boy, do I ever hate the dentist! It was expen$ive, too!Thanks, Rita, for the info. about your hair color. I guess since my 'natural' hair color is darker, I am more worried about the risk of coloring. Those with light hair...blonde don't have to worry, since there is almost no risk to light hair color. I hope you are having good weather, and are able to go out and enjoy it.
I am really nervous about going back to work, even if only part time.
Hope everyone's feeling good, and not having too many se's from their tx.
Harley
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Hi girls, just a quick note as my daughter is home for the summer and I often dont get to the computer! (or get to use it, ho ho)
Harley, congrats on the job! I will be looking for one of those myself in the fall. What kind of work is it? I've done alot of retail, it can be annoying taking alot of crap from customers for little pay, but also lots of fun meeting new people. It just makes a nice change in the routine, and keeps your head out of dark places. I too, get nervous with new people and places, but you can always quit and find another if it doesn't suit you. My dear, you just fought breast cancer and won. This is alot easier.
Hey, Rita, thanks for asking. A little bit more tired yes, but no nausea at all. I think he may have upped the steroids a little (I was only on the 1/4 dose everyone else gets) as I had that bad reaction to them. I would rather stay up all night than throw up, that is for sure. I will take the prilosec this time before#6 in a few weeks. It says that you can only do the 2 week dose once every four months?
Does anyone know or took a dose for a few days or so? It's a little confusing.
I do find that even a short walk helps with the tiredness. I do rest when I get it, instead of pushing thru, I figure there is no point to doing that, it's not helping me. Chemo is a bit different isn't it.
Jill, I'd love to see your new curly 'do, tho the photo you have is darling. Hope you can get photobucket to work, oh boy did I ever have problems with it, Carol posted some great instructions further back on this site you can scroll to them?
Have a nice day all. I am glorying in piles of laundry and my living room looks like a bomb went off. Somehow my daughter seems to have accumulated extra stuff. I am so happy to have her here it's like a tonic for me. We have laughed ourselves ill every day and it's so wonderful to be able to hug her instead of getting a text from her!
How I will manage when she does a semester overseas (Denmark) I don't know...alot of the overseas dorms and places that host the kids do not have internet access. But we will figure it out.
Harley, good for you by the way for going to the dentist. I loathe it, and I used to run a dental office!! I think no one enjoys it.
Love to all
annie
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oops, Jill, not Ginny. chemo brain fart! Sorry!
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Annie..enjoy the time with your daughter! Wow! She's going to ge to go to Denmark? That's where all my relatives on my father's side are from and I'd love to go there. My grandfather came over on the boat as a little boy. He remembered his first glance at the impressive Statue of Liberty.
As for the prilosec, I can't help you there. I've never taken it. I do agree with you, though, that I'd rather be up all night than throwing up!
Hope everyone is doing well. It looks like we might just get a sunny day. I need to mow before I hit the golf course later this afternoon. Have a great weekend, gals! Jill...how are you doing. You've been MIA and I do indeed miss you!
Rita
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Rita, my kind of day, a little yard work and hitting the links, ENJOY!!!! Off to work, will check in tonight, good to day all ,,,
Carol
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Annie,
Maybe you hate the dentist because you have seen what goes on at the dentist, and that is why you are scared! hmm... I often wonder why they have to drill a HUGE hole in my tooth, to fix a little cavity?
Anyway, my first day at the new job went well, I guess. It wears me out, and I can't seem to endure 8 1/2 hours standing, walking and working on the cement floor. It is covered with carpet, but there is NO padding underneath. I'm concerned, because they want me to wear THEIR clothes when I go there to work, and they cost $$$$ alot of $$$$$! I just can't understand paying $200 for a dress! I apologize to those of you that do spend that kind of money on clothes. These are all designer names!!
Rita,
Have a great time today, golfing. Don't overdo the yard work, though. Glad you're having great weather!
Carol,
Hope you have a good day, at work. I'm off today, and hoping to do a little cleaning.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
I love you guys!
Harley0 -
Hi all:
Rita I can't believe you are danish!! Me too! and norwegian as well!
What part of Denmark did your relatives come from? Mine came from Aarhus (don't know if that is in Denmark or Norway actually) and some from Copenhagen itself. Also it was my greatgrandfather who was the latest one to come. The family names are Christensen
and Larsen. My dark red hair is "typically norwegian" coloring.
So cool, we scandinavians are too tough to let a little bit of cancer get us, ja?
Harley, that sounds like a bit of a tough thing. I certainly can't buy or wear that kind of stuff, too expensive for my blood. They must think you looked good tho, or they wouldn't ask you to wear it for them!
I don't think I am scared of the dentist for that reason, I know what goes on, but I was on the desk side of it. I just reason that I have novocaine in me, so if I can't feel it anyway what does it matter. I think, along with most folks, that somebody right in your face doing stuff is unsettling. It's a really common fear. I hope your tooth feels better now!
Carol, hope you are doing OK and keeping it low key?
love to all
annie (Rita, I am really an Anna, the fifth generation of scandinavian Annas)
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Annie,
I think that is just so very neat, that you are Norwegian! I LOVE red hair, and was even coloring it red for awhile. But, with the semi permanent color I'm getting, it fades in a week, so I figured, why bother? BTW, one of my cats is NORWEGIAN, also!! Thor is a Norwegian Forest cat, and he is beautiful! But he is a little scared of thunderstorms sometimes. Not very Norwegian of him, ja? Anna is my Mother's name!
As you say, we are valkyries, or Viking chicks! I wish I were Norwegian. But, I must have some tough genes to have made it through the past year...oh, and the dentist on Wednesday! Those novacaine shots hurt like heck! OUCH! I can STILL feel it!
The women at work are just amazed when we talk about my bc experience; they say 'but you look great!', and my favorite... 'you are cute as a button!' They are very nice! My boss says that whenever you wear their clothes, the customers come in and they want what YOU are wearing! But, sorry, I can't afford those high price tags, even WITH the discount! Another friend, my ex-boss just emailed me. She said "Sorry, but if they want you to wear the clothes, they need to GIVE them to you at no cost!" I agree.
Hope you have a great day! I am going to lay low today, and recover from my first day of work. My legs are SO sore!!
Hugs,
Harley
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Harley, The only dress I have bought in the past 30 years that cost $200 was the dress I wore to my son's wedding and then I fussed about spending that much forever. Guess I'm just not a clothes hound. I do like to look good but I shop until I find the right thing for me at a price that works well with my pocketbook. The shopping for that perfect bargain is half the fun! I'm so glad that your first day at work went well. I think it sounds like a fun job. I wouldn't sweat the "dress" issue right now. Just enjoy the job and see how it works out.
Annie, if I remember correctly, my grandfather's family came from the west part of Denmark. I need to look it up to be exact. My maiden name was Madsen and almost all the gals on my father's side have blonde hair and blue eyes. My mother was a dark-haired German so my hair is not as blonde as most of the Madsens. I have red highlights in it. You're so right! We Scandinavians are tough gals!!!
I'm ready to head out for a little fun but wanted to tell you all to have a great weekend. My kids are arriving this weekend from Kentucky and I am so excited. It's been awhile since I've seen them and I miss those little guys. I probably won't be online while they are here. I think I'll concentrate on spoiling my grandsons!
Everyone have a good weekend.
Rita
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