CMF Question
Comments
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Ginny...so glad hubby is doing well! That's such good news! Hey, you're right! The 11th will be here before we know it! Can't wait to meet you!
Harley, our cancer center only offers the training sessions twice a year. I signed up nearly three months before they called to tell me about the training for Reach to Recovery. I went last month. The training was only about 2 hours but it was awesome and I learned so much and got so many good ideas. I came home with a bag full of things to read and I am anxious to get started but they still haven't called me to contact any bc patients. They try to match you up according to age and type of treatment so that you have several things in common with the person that you're meeting. I really hope that they do call as I do want to help others through this rocky journey. I am glad that you are attempting to reach out, too. I think that is what it is all about....being there for others. The main problem with the program in our area is that it is not well publicized and so many people go through most of their treatment before they learn about it. There has to be a good way to let bc patients know about the program. I just haven't thought of it yet! LOL As always, Harley, it's good to hear from you.
Annie....Hope you're having a good week. Sending hugs your way! Have you got your daughter back to school yet?
Well, I need to come up with a quick dinner tonight so I'd better start looking to see what's left in the house. I pulled my usual. I should have really gone to the grocery store this afternoon and opted to do other things. I still am not fond of grocery shopping!
Hope Carol is enjoying her vacation and Jill is harvesting all her veggies and tending to her flowers!
Julie....only one more! :-) I hope the virus responds to the antibiotic so you can get it over with on Friday.
Catch you all later.
Rita
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Rita,
Thanks for the information about your volunteer experience so far. I am glad to know that it's not just me, and they don't want me as a volunteer. I really DO want to help others and I feel that I have been so fortunate to have friends both nearby and online, who helped me through this bc experience.
When I had my bi-lateral mast., my surgeon and the hospital kept giving me information about Reach to Recovery. I thought it was like a "group therapy" kind of thing, and that just turned me off, so I never did call about it. Now that I know it is more of a one-on-one thing, it may have been nice to have a bc survivor to talk things over with. I didn't find this site til July, and I started chemo in Aug.
Thanks again! You are so sweet!!
Harley
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Hi all,
Wish me luck tomorrow- my last treatment. Spoke with nurse today-- fever and headache gone. Just bronch infection of some sort (viral I'm guessing) left. Strange. Lots of "junk" in my system that I coughing up, but not congested. Anyway- if bloodtest is okay, he wants me to go foirward with the treatment. I want this over with- so fine. Will just try to recover from everything at once. Send me good vibes at about 10:30 tomorrow am.....
Ginny- you're right....it's still shedding and I neurotically ask my husband to check for bald spots every day. I guess I must have more hair than I realized - because I'm having a hard time seeing how this can keep up..... So far-- only my husband and hairdresser can tell. I've left it long-ish for now- just over shoulder length, but did have it layered a bit. I let it airdry sometimes into its natural curls-- but have been self conscious since my 6 yr old told me I look like George Washington on the dollar bill.
So.....have to get myself through this last one and then start freaking out about the surgery, right? Strange thing today--- a letter came from my PS- wrong name, but my address. His assistant had called me "Susan" in error once and I assumed she just missed my name. Well, the envelope was addressed to Susan- so I thought it was the same mix up. Inside was an estimate for breast reduction and stomach liposuction! Eek! That's not what I'm having done! Called in a panic and they were quite apologetic. I made sure they knew what I'm having done-- all is well...except that a Susan somewhere is waiting for her estimate.
okay-by for now!
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I'll be thinking of you tomorrow Julie! This is the last one! I hope it's a GO and you get it over with! Hugs to you!
Rita
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Hi ladies, just a quick check in to see how everyone is doing!
Taking our daughter back to school today...:(
Always, always hard.Lung scan on Monday AM at 10:00, trying to think positive! It strikes me that I could have scheduled this better, perhaps, but have to do it.
Julie, you are ALMOST DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No Mo Chemo! Look, you did it! I hope when you get home and read this post, you will congratulate yourself!
Facing the surgery is daunting, but you are choosing to live a long and healthy life. I know how tough it is, we've all done it and here we all are despite this. We are here, we will help, and I am sending you great vibes and hugs for a tolerable chemo and a passing phase to lead to much better and healthier things for you.
Think of just getting thru the chemo affer effects (hey maybe this one will be the well deserved easier one) for now. One thing at a time.
Hugs and more hugs
annie
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Hello From the Freeway between Portland and Seattle,
Well 'cation is winding down, we're in route home this afternoon, hit a standstill on the freeway, so figured I'd go on-line to help with the time.
Visiting old friends, making new ones, seeing family and spending a couple of much needed nights alone as a couple have all been just what the doc ordered. The weather has been fantastic, and we heard that it poured rain at home for 3 days straight this past week, makes it that much nicer to be out of town. We decided to head back today, it will be kinda nice to have time to catch up with the household duties prior to hitting the work grind on Mon.
I've had a great couple of weeks off and my chest has been continuing to heal each day with remarkable improvement. I'll be starting my Femera pills tomorrow, hoping to be one of the lucky ones with no se's from them.
I'll take some time this weekend to read and post, until then TGIF friends,
Carol
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CONGRATULATIONS JULIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!You are all finished chemo----yeehaa!!! I hope you can take some time to rest and do some enjoyable things before your surgery. What kind of surgery are you having? We all have been through it here and will be happy to help you with it. Take care!
Annie, my prayers are with you for good news from your scan on Monday!
Rita, I know what you mean...the hardest part of making dinner is figuring out what to make
Have a great weekend everyone.
Ginny
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Carol...so glad you had a great trip and a nice vacation. You needed that! Femara??? It's just a little pill! LOL I hope you do well on it. I have my ups and downs with the Arimidex but I've been able to work through most of the minor pitfalls. I'm hoping you will do even better!
Annie...I've been thinking about you alot lately. I know how hard it is to take that daughter back to school and I know how the lung scan has been "hanging over your head." I'm sending good vibes to you across the miles and I'll be checking the thread regularly for news from you. HUGS!
Ginny, I hope that hubby is doing well! I just keep marking off the days until our Chicago meeting! It won't be long now!
Julie..did you get to have the last chemo and how did it go?
Well, I need to get something done around here. I spent the morning on the golf course so.........LOL!
Rita
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Annie,
Thinking of you and praying for good results on your lung scan on Monday!
Love ya,Harley
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Hi
Just coming up for air. This last chemo is whipping my butt. I slept most of yesterday and see some naps in my future today. Would someone please go after that truck that ran over me....
We had kind of a "perfect storm" situation these past few days...I came down with this flu/bronchitis early in the week. Onc put me on antibiotics and deemed me well enough to proceed with treatment Friday. I've had battles with bronchitis all my life (both parents heavy smokers...) and knew where this was heading. Have been coughing my head off for days now. Then my DH came down with it- fever etc- so I'm trying to take care of everyone and THEN my 6 year old wakes up on Friday- second day of school- with 101 fever. Aaaarrghh! The college girl who helps me out sometimes in the summer has not gone back yet and she graciously took Tim Friday so that Dave could take me to chemo. He was so sick that my onc nurse ended up getting cough drops and medicine from the hospital pharmacy for HIM. On top of everything, the entire Kellogg cancer center at ENH is moving upstairs, so everything was delayed and unorganized. My nurse had to kick the movers out of my room twice-- saying NO- Not this room- NOT yet. I was never so glad to get out of there, My last chemo and I will never have to go back to that particular place AGAIN. Thank God.
We are all somewhat improved this am- but this one will definitely go down in the books....
Now- if I can recover from the "stomach on fire" feeling and tell the rest of my hair to stay on my head, dammit....
And enough of my whining-- wishes that everyone else is well. Thinking of you Annie on your lung scan tomorrow - and thank you to everyone who sent congrats and good wishes for this last treatment!
-julie
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Hi all:
Julie, I sure hope you are feeling better and so is the family...this you did not need! The good news.........You Are Done With Chemo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yippee!!!
My lung scan was AOK!!!!!!!!!!! onc called from vacation last night to tell us that. Thank you to all of you for the sweet thoughts and prayers and good vibes...this is definitely one lucky thread gals. Now it's onto the exchange of plastic expander for permie girl on 10/10.
My daughter is doing great, thank you for asking Rita...she has a great roomie, and a massive room! It is GINORMOUS and put a very happy spin on things for her. She's settling in very well and I am so thankful I don't have to rain on her parade w ith medical stuff like last year.
Carol, you sound great. So glad to hear you had some fun and relaxation and that the chest is healing well. But we knew that old Carol spirit would have it no other way. Good for you!
Ginny and Harley, thank you so much for your good thoughts and prayers and positive energy. I am so blessed.
Ginny, I hope your hubby is doing well and recovering nicely?
Will check in when I have a bit more time, thank you so much again everyone!!! I am very excited to get the expander out and the foob in and move on with life.
Julie, when is the date for your surgery? You will be getting all the bad stuff out it's all to the good now.
love to all
annie
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Hi
Next step is surgery on Sept 19. Single mast w/ recon. Attempt will be nipple-sparing subcutaneous-- maybe one-step, maybe expander-- depends on the shape of the muscle underneath post radiation 8 yrs ago.(Plus reducing and lifting the other side) I have a second consult with the PS Saturday and hope to get some more questions answered. So- yes-- that will be my next Anxiety-fest as I try to prepare... I'll have tons of questions.
We did buy a recliner two weeks ago-- La-Z-Boy dealer near us had floor model sale going on. I checked the local Rent a Center, but did not like the options and it would have ended up being only $50 less for 3 months than what we bought the chair for.
Feeling better- but bronchitus still whipping my butt. Have been up the last 3 nights coughing my head off. Hubby sleeping on the couch. Working from home today- which my kitty is loving. She's in my lap right now, swiping at the cursor.
Annie- YEAHHHHH!! Peace of mind on the lungs.
Ok- enough distraction. Back to work with me.
-julie b
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Hi
Next step is surgery on Sept 19. Single mast w/ recon. Attempt will be nipple-sparing subcutaneous-- maybe one-step, maybe expander-- depends on the shape of the muscle underneath post radiation 8 yrs ago.(Plus reducing and lifting the other side) I have a second consult with the PS Saturday and hope to get some more questions answered. So- yes-- that will be my next Anxiety-fest as I try to prepare... I'll have tons of questions.
We did buy a recliner two weeks ago-- La-Z-Boy dealer near us had floor model sale going on. I checked the local Rent a Center, but did not like the options and it would have ended up being only $50 less for 3 months than what we bought the chair for.
Feeling better- but bronchitus still whipping my butt. Have been up the last 3 nights coughing my head off. Hubby sleeping on the couch. Working from home today- which my kitty is loving. She's in my lap right now, swiping at the cursor.
Annie- YEAHHHHH!! Peace of mind on the lungs.
Ok- enough distraction. Back to work with me.
-julie b
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OK, Julie, you are on my calendar and in my prayers. I had the same a one sided with recon.
I don't match, but hey, what the heck, have a foob and while the expander stage is uncomfortable, it really is not a big deal. That thing has a good job to do for you to set the stage for your beautiful new foobie. I just got my exchange date set for 10/10 so can fill you in on that part of things when I get there. From what I understand of it from the other gals on the recon site (you may wish to check that out, it's very helpful and actually fun to anticipate hollywood hooters) that exchange is the easy one. Mastectomy really wasn't so bad, what technique will they use for you? I had lattisimus dorsi which despite sounding vaguely dolphinlike has worked out well. I went that way as that was going to give me the strength back and the active life I wanted along with a natural looking hoot (well, without the nip, but they can redo it, they look totally real; I cannot believe how it looks on the recon photo site, amazing! Hubby just says the girl has got her "eye shut" for now and that she will wake up more beautiful than ever. Love that man.) vs. the diep flap which as I understand it from my ps, can leave you with some weakness in the tummy wall. And they have great drugs for any pain you may have, I ditched the percoset they gave me quickly and went to extra strength tylenol. Worked fine. Percoset made me pretty drunken sounding and lurching about, so it wasn't for me at all.
Anything I can help with in terms of questions, ask away. I'm more than unembarassable after all this, so just ask anything. I I envy you that recliner!!! Would've been a great thing in hindsight. Maybe sleep in it now so you can get the better of the bronchitis and find out how it works for you. I am a bronchitis queen also, get it every winter, so I know how that is....it'll be all cleared up for surgery, so you sound good to go.
Hey Rita, I have big ole acheys from the lupron and I know you said you got relief from aches from arimidex with calcium and magnesium. My multi vitamin has 400 mg. calcium as well as a touch of magnesium. What are the dosages you had relief with (and how is that going for you, I hope your foot is improved?)
I'm thinking if I am so achey on lupron, that the arimidex may well do the same thing. I'm just keeping on going anyway.
Julie, hang in there, soon this will be a memory and your new boob will be looking great! AND no more cancer. It seems insurmountable right now, I know, but one step at a time and you will come thru with shining colors, I know you will!
love to all
annie
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Julie,
Sorry to hear about your bronchitis... I'm thinking of you, and wishing you only the best with your surgery on Sept. 19th!
Carol,
I'm glad to hear that you are feeling better! Strange how certain aspects of this bc journey are more difficult than others... For instance, I have had more trouble with Tamoxifen than I did during my entire tx, including chemo!!
Annie,
YIPPEE!! HURRAY!! I am so glad that you got good news, too! You are so right, we are very lucky!!
Just a quick update -- I am feeling great! The bleeding seems to have stopped, and I am feeling so much better now! Sept. 5th, I will see my gyn onc again, and we'll have to decide whether I should continue with Tamoxifen, which may cause more of these polyps, or to switch to an AI.
Rita, I seem to remember that you are taking Arimidex, am I correct? You seem to be doing okay with it, but I know it can cause joint pain and bone pain, is that right?
Thanks everyone for all the support! This is a wonderful group of women!!
Harley
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Yeah Annie! Such good news! Now it's onward and upward for you! WONDERFUL!!!!!!
Arimidex can cause joint pain, Harley but not everyone gets it. It affected my feet. I take one Citrical with magnesium per day, up to 800 mg of Vitamin D 3 (must be D 3 and not another version of the D vitamin group) and up to an additional 1,000 mg of magnesium per day. That keeps the pain away. I had a flare up a little over a month ago and upped my dosage until the flare up subsided. Then I went back to above amounts. Right now my foot is fine.
Julie..I think you'll be glad you got the recliner. Have you recovered from the last chemo? And you still have hair, don't you????? I think you and Annie will have all kinds of stories to share as you go on with your journeys. I didn't have a mastectomy so I can't give you any good advice there but my friend down the street got along well with hers so I'm hoping you'll do the same.
Well, I just had to check in and see if there was a report from Annie. I'm so glad it was such a good one!
Hello to everyone. I'll be back later!
Rita
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Hi Gals,
Boy, its a tough one to try and get caught up with you all. I have read through the post from just a couple of days ago, may I say YAAAA HOOOO to Julie for getting her final txt completed. Hated to read that its got you down, but atleast you can move forward from here. An added infection has got to be a PITA on top of a txt.
My experience with the mast surgery ... spent one night in the hospital and left needing no more than ibuprofen for pain. Yeah, its not the most comfortable, but I really thought it would be alot worse. Ended up for me that my axillary node dis surg which was a much smaller incision was so much more painful then the larger mast incision. You'll do just fine gal!
Annie, looks like your scheduled for your exchange surgery soon, from reading the other post I have followed, seems like most fair pretty well with that surgery, and are back up and about pretty quickly.
Rita and Ginny, yeah for being able to meet in person soon. I was so lucky to do the same with a gal I chat with on the Jan post. We spent 3 days together that we're alot of fun. Amazing to me that chatting about BC was not our first priority. Great for you both !!!
Harley, reading about your troubles while on Tamo. I would need a quick memory refresher, but are you indeed in menopause?
I'm still in training mode for the 3 Day /60 miler on 12-14 Sept. I was pretty negligent in training over vacation, did walk about 8 miles on Sun, and a quick 4 miler tonight. Boy I hope that I'll be ready in 3 weeks.
I can't recall where I left off with my saga, as of today, ...
Had bloodwork done about a month ago, all levels we're at a true menopausal state. Not even close to be "pre" meno. So I started taking Femera on Saturday. I am also getting an infusion of Zometa once every six month. I got my first dose today. The Zometa is a drug that is usually used for osteoporosis patients. With the possiblility of bone loss while on Femera, taking the Zometa infusion should help with that se. There are also a couple of new studies out, that we're revealed at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium that showed reoccurence rates we're lowered with patients whom had taken Zometa. Hmmmm, I got a second op once again before getting my infusion today, and the doc at Seattle Cancer Care agreed that it indeed has shown some positive results.
So far, so good with no se's from the Femera ... I'm going with the philosophy that the people having problems are the ones chatting on-line, and there must be hundreds/thousands of others that are cruising along without issues. I'l keep my fingers/toes crossed!!!
Off tomorrow to get a small mole (freckle in my book) removed from my back. I have regular scheduled dermatology appt, (mom died of melanoma), I have put off having this little sucker removed, wanted to get through chemo and rads, the time has come. I feel pretty confident that its nothing, and would the wind ever be taken out of my sails if this little bugger comes other than that.
Should be home for a couple days, assuming that this incision won't be very big ... I'll be taking one of my friendly Lorazepam pills prior to my appt tomorrow ... YIKES.
Time to scramble in the kitchen, know that I think of you all often, I'm thinking it might be time to get my phone list out soon!!!
Be well friends,
Carol
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Carol.........so glad to see that you are back to your happy, spirited self! I imagine that you will do just fine on the Femara. Thanks for the info about the Zometa. I aksed my onc about that last time.....not for the bone density benefits but for the better recurrence rates. He told me that there wasn't my help for post-menapausal women....just pre-men. I am going to hit him up on that again next time and in the meantime see if I can find the actual study to take in for him. I'm up for taking anything that gives us better chances.
Hope everyone is doing well today. It's a lovely day here in Central Illinois.
Rita
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Carol,
Yes, I am post menopausal, at least I was dx'd 10 years ago with Premature Ovarian Failure. My dr. told me that I was post menopausal at that time.
This gyn onc I am seeing on Sept. 5th, who did my D & C, told me that this test 'wasn't very accurate', but he ordered the FSH blood test when I did my pre-op blood work (because I asked him to do the FSH test), so I'll be interested to see the results. I had been concerned about the bone loss from AI's, so my regular onc put me on Tamoxifen. Maybe he didn't really believe that a 44 year old woman was really menopausal. Who knows?
However, I am going to ask if I can be switched to either Femara or Aromasin. Arimidex has lactose as a binding agent, and I am lactose intolerant, so I think that would be bad. The original plan was for me to take Tamoxifen for TWO years, and then switch to an AI, so I'll just switch a little early.
Good Luck with your mole removal! I'm hoping for b-9 results!Rita,
Thanks for the information about taking Calcium, Vitamin D and Magnesium to help prevent joint pain. I think I heard something about that. How much do I need to take? 800mg of vitaming D, and 1,000 mg of magnesium??? I'll have to up my dose of those.
I'll definitely ask about Zometa, too.
Thanks! You are such a great source for information!
Harley0 -
Hi friends,
On the road to recovery. Took a bit longer, but have lost the "chemo tummy burn"...dangerous in a way because I'm battling intense cravings for Pepperidge Farm double chocolate chip cookies...eek, shouldn't even be writing that. Doesn't that sound good... Rita-- you know my post Onc appt ritual. I still have an appt at that bakery. The bronchitis in hanging on, however, and I now am trying to get in with my regular doc to see about getting an inhaler or something because I've been up now for 4 nights coughing my head off and sound like a basso profundo these days. Came back to work today-- but had to leave a 20 minute meeting three times in coughing fits. Probably should not have come in...but important for me to make a show after being out for 2 days post chemo. Unfortunately, the new recliner gets delivered Saturday, so have not been able to break it in yet.
My surgery on the 19th.....there are a few unknowns yet. I meet again with my PS on Saturday and hope to fill in a few of the blanks. What will be attempted is a nipple-sparing subcutaneous mast with an implant. I had radiation 8 years ago and while the time works in my favor as far as healing from that, there's no way to know the condition of the muscle underneath until he "gets in there." The hope is to get away with one one-step process (Alloderm), but it may be that I will have to go with the expander. (Also, as part of this procedure, cells from underneath the nipple are quickly frozen and examined-- if there is any suspicion of anything abnormal, then I will lose the nipple. Unnerving not to know this until I wake up- but no other way...) There will be no SNB or armpit surgery. I had the tumor removed in May and had a SNB ( amazing that it worked this second time- surgeon was doubtful post radiation, but it did end up working, speaking to healing that had occurred over time) and it was clean. I knew at the time I was facing a second surgery but wanted time to learn what options I had available to me. Was also waiting results of brca test at the time which would have also influenced my decision. (brca was neg.) My right side- unaffected- will also be getting a facelift of sorts.... I was able to have children after my first diagnosis and chemo, but the radiated breast never responded to the pregnancy. My body seemed to sense this and boy- did that other side grow. I was out hunting size EEs! I was able to nurse both my children on just one side, but it never went back to it's original side and the radiated side shrunk. So- basically, I've been loping around like Igor, lopsided and have to be careful not to get stuck in a spinning pattern. (grin). I haven't really cared, to be honest, but with the um, new "Barbie boob" (Annie, am I borrowing that from you?) on one side, it will be more pronounced and I'm taking the opportunity to get back to some symmetry. So left will be reduced and lifted. I'm going for a solid B. I come from a long line of small, petite short women with too big breasts and carried big Cs from the time I was 12. (And four brothers who knew just how to tease!) Was never comfortable with it- so heck- why not finally. All this long-winded explanation is to say I'm nervous as hell and don't know what to expect. I find I'm obsessing about things like painkillers. I'm not a fan of pain, but I'm extremely sensitive to most drugs, hate to be altered mentally and am a big time control freak. I don't want the percoset or demerol-- can you get away with just ES Tylenol? Too many questions- and yes, have been reading the surgery and recon sites too. On my list of questions for Sat too.
And hair-- have about half of it left....sheds every day, but not as much as the first big one. Not noticeable yet to anyone else...but it's the yet that still worries me. Wondering if I will have a big shed after this treatment now in about 2 weeks....
Thank you to everyone for your kind wishes and putting up with my paranoia. I'll stop babbling at this point!
-julie b
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Rita, I'm hoping I may have copied atleast one good article on Zometa, here's goes nothing to see if I copied it properly
http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/hormonal/new_research/20080602.jsp
I know that there are some actual studies with ref numbers, I'll have to do some poking around, both my e-mail and on-line.
So tell me, have we been able to hit the links much this summer? We watched the lady professionals on Friday in Portland, its pretty cool to be within about 10 feet of Anika, Lorena, Paula Creamer and others. What beautiful athletic women they are.
I have noticed absolutely no se's from my infusion of Zometa yesterday. Although today I have a bit of a soreness to my back, I had a mole removed today (being extra cautious with melanoma in my family). I decided to get a second opinion when my onc suggested the Zometa infusion, my 2nd agreed with his recommendation.
So Harley, I'll be curious to have you share your FSH level, I had all three hormone levels tested, they we're all pointed that I was in complete menopause. Surprise for me at 45 ! I am on day 5 of my Femera, so far, so good!
Julie, thinking of you as you proceed forward with your next phase of your journey. You sound like a strong woman, keep trudging along gal.
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Carol, Thanks for the Zometa link. Once again, this is talking mainly about pre-menopausal women, isn't it? I'm still going to keep hunting as it mentions that there are studies being done on Zometa and post-men women and talk with my onc again when I go in to see him in March.
I have a friend who takes these Zometa infusions for a type of bone-marrow cancer. She has not had any problems with the infusions except for some achiness that is no worse than usual aches and pains and easily handled with Tylenol.
I am so glad that you have had no problems with the Femara. YEA!!!!!
Harley, don't take any more that 1000 total mg of Magnesium per day. Magnesium is a main ingredient in laxatives and you don't want that problem! LOL Also be sure that you take Vitamin D 3.....not any other type of vitamin D unless it's already included in a multi vitamin that you are already taking. D3 is the vitamin that our skin makes in the presence of sunlight and that's what we need for the joint pain.
Well, I've got to get moving. I have a bowling league organizational meeting at noon. It's hard to believe that summer is about gone and that fall will be arriving shortly. It won't be long before I'll be trading those golf clubs for a bowling ball!
Hope everyone is doing well! Annie....I've missed you! Hope you're just taking a breather from all of this after your good news.
Take care everyone.
Rita
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Hi girls:
Sorry, I was just catching up on stuff around here, yikes, what a mess. Between the tufts of cat hair and the stuff of my daughters' in the hallway, well, yeesh.
Harley, so glad to hear from you and you sound great! Carol, way to go on the Femara, I will be drilling my onc on the infusion of zometa also. This sounds like a damn good idea. Since you are in menopause, and they are putting me into it, we can still get this? Rita, I will be finding as much out as I can, as I also researched it and boy, anything that promises a possible 38% decrease in recurrence, I certainly will be taking if I can, too.
Another gal came on and advised me that the sudden drop in estrogen causes the acheys from Lupron. Much better today,but I've been working out and stretching alot.
Carol, any results on that biopsy yet? Praying for all to be well, I am believing it will be!
Julie, you sure sound like me with the Igor thing. I've got a DD on the virgin side and a small C cup on the recon ...since it's still an expander, I asked PS if he could match the "mothership" and he can't. So I'd need a minimizer bra or a reduction and lift. I wish they could not have the "zipper" incision down the front tho. I'd go for it otherwise. In time, I still could.
. Mostly we just crack up together, he's a really nice guy, I did have to ask him what on earth does his wife say when he gets home? "how was your day making boobs, honey?" sorry, my sense of humour gets into overdrive sometimes. But here's some good news for scars ladies.....I was left with extensive scarring from patch job after the radiated boob complained about the implant surgery and they just "flash" it from a laser!!!! Miraculous what they can do these days.I'm off to get me some citrical with magnesium and some D3....if I can look like Rita, I'm going for it. I want to clone her attitude too!
Carol, good thoughts to you, and Julie, get that water into you girl, cough it all out! Good thoughts for you too! I also, am big time control freak, drug sensitive (allergic to just about everything under the sun) so we have that all in common too. I've made it thru so far with the support of these terrific gals and hubby and a lot of bad boob jokes (one gal on the recon site tells the story of the AM of her mastectomy she looked down at the boob and started singing to it "Bad Boob, Bad Boob, what you gonna do? What you gonna do when they come for you" to the tune of Bad Boys. Loved it. It does suck, but you'll come out matched, cancer free and healthy above all!
love to all
Annie
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p.s. Hey Julie, I had the same fear after the last chemo, I waited two weeks, then said Oh the hell with it and went to the hairdresser. No more fell out.
I wonder if it knew and didn't dare to try it? (jk) Seriously, I think your shedding days are behind you! Still a teensy bit, but don't even pay attention to it and one day soon you'll notice you have quit sweeping it all off the bathroom floor after a shower. It just stops.
I hope you are feeling better!
annie
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Annie's back!! Busy is good! :-)
I hope everyone has something neat planned for this long weekend. We're loading the golf clubs and taking off for a few days away.......casino hopping, golfing, eating, shopping, and just relaxing. I'm looking forward to a few days away!
I hope everyone is doing well today! I need to get some clothes ready to take and make a run to Wally World for exciting things like cat litter, cat food, and some sample sized travel products. Sounds like a very exciting day, eh?
I'll be back later. Hugs to all of you!
Rita
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Hi, just catching up after a whole bunch of festivities for my dh's 50+1 birthday.
Annie, WOOOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am thanking the dear Lord for taking good care of you. So glad your lung scan came up clean and you can put anxiety behind you!!
Julie, WOOOOHOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are finished chemo and hopefully feeling all better from its effects and your infection. I agree with Carol, the mastectomy part was not really painful, it was more the SNB site. You will be numb there and not feel anything really. Everyone is different, but I went off the major pain meds and just kept on a schedule with extra strength tylenol (2 every 4 hours). We kept a log of the times to take it and found that taking it on a schedule really helped keep the pain under better control. You already know what the drains are like---so I think it should go well. The one big tip I have for you, is start taking stool softners a day or 2 before your surgery. That was the worst part of it for me. If you take those for about a week, it should be of great benefit
Re: hair. Mine still came out a bit for a few weeks---but you will not loose it all! Before you know it you will start noticing lots of little hairs coming in!Carol, so glad you are feeling better. Harley too.
Annie, did your cat ever come back?
Rita, I will see you soon!
My dh's back surgery went so well that the day after, he was essentially pain free! We are so thankful. The poor guy was in terrible pain for 4 months. He healed just in time to enjoy a belated 50th birthday suprise party (last year couldn't do this for him)---went so well.
Still getting those darn hot flashes (not as bad at night now---used to have bad heart palpitations just before a major flash and woke up so many times wet) am trying effexor as a last resort (have tried everything else) So far, it has helped a bit. Also using estring for the other fun problem menopause brings. Just a chemopause update...
Take care everyone,
Love Ginny
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Hi there
Sara Lee closed early, so I'm home researching and putting a list of questions together-- have meeting with PS tomorrow and a LOT of questions. Uh boy- is he going to come to dread me. Will write more after the meeting.
Ginny- fortunately, I will not be having any armpit/node surgery-- that was actually done already. (I had the actual tumor removed via lumpectomy/SNB in May. I knew I was facing a second surgery, but wanted more time to research my options and also have the genetic testing done. I just didn't want to walk around one more day with it in there!!) So that's good- but I've never had a drain before and am worried/dreading that. I've had to wait this long for the surgery as this PS has women coming around the world to work with him- and thus the reason I ended up having the chemo prior. Onc felt it wasn't good to wait.
Still battling the bronchitis. Ended up going to my regular doc who put me on a different antibiotic and noticed my red eyes-- pinkeye on top of it!! aaaargghh. My poor beaten up immune system is just not handling it well. And I haven't even hit the "nadir" point yet. But--- knowing that I'm done--- is making it bearable. Just trying to will myself through it. I am having, however, real food cravings! My taste has come back and I find I want to eat everything!! Stuff I normally never touch! I swear ARBYs was singing to me today. I haven't walked into an Arby's in over 20 years! I feels like when I was pregnant and wanted steak tacos of all things all the time! Just weird.
Hope everyone has a great weekend.....
-julie b
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Good eve ladies!
Ginny thank you so much for the good thoughts and prayers...I know they got heard! I am so very glad it all went great for your hubby, I've got one of those who put his own life on hold for all my stuff as well. So very glad you could celebrate him and he is feeling better now.
Dave the Cat never returned. He has been spotted about three blocks over, apparently too smart to hang out where the coyotes were. At least I hope it was him. I was mourning him, but I am glad to know he is safe. He came when needed, he got healthy and strong here, and so did I. I will always love my "chemo cat". Maybe he'll be back one day
Do you know, the one symptom I do get from menopause is those heart palpitations...they are mostly gone now, esp. since chemo is over and i am not so scared anymore! I cut down on coffee and it rreally helped a great deal I must say. Good luck to you!
Julie, I am glad you are begining to feel better despite the pink eye. I hope it goes away soon. I had the cravings like crazy during chemo and for about a month after, it was like being a little bit pregnant. Very odd. I had weird ones too. Just figured I was going to give birth to the new me.
I was soooo scared of the drains also as I had seen this graphic news article in the sunday paper where Vanessa Regrave told all about her cancer battle and took photos of it. I retained that in my mind with horror, only to find to my great relief that the drains were tiny, discreet little tubes, easy to tuck out of the way and once you did it once, it was nothing. Like a two minute thing. And it doesn't last very long, ten days tops, really. It's a bit of a pain in the butt, but a very helpful thing to help you heal quickly and cleanly. I was SO freaked out about that, but it was so nice to find it was not a big deal at all, truly.
You will get thru this, the worst is behind you, the rest, remember, "work in progress"; you certainly want to get all the bad stuff out and a nice new boob, healthy and pretty, put back so you can live a long, healthy life!
You'll get thru this, hon, hang in there. Keeping you on the calendar, it's tough as it gets close, but keep busy, and keep your fighting attitude!
xox
annie
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Hey Carol, any results on the mole biopsy yet? thinking good thoughts for you!
Give a shout out when you get them, Ok?
xso
a
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Carol,
I'll definitely let you know what my FSH & LH levels are when I return from my gyn onc appt. on Friday. We are supposed to be getting some nasty weather from Hannah on Friday and Saturday, so my dh has offered to take me.
Hi Annie!!
Hey, Rita!!
Just popping in to say HI...Hope everyone had a great weekend!
Harley
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