CMF Question
Comments
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Thanks for thinking of me and sending good wishes. I will need all of the positive vibes you can send to me tomorrow. Had a bunch of side effects and don't much feel like going back.
Mandy
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Good Luck tomorrow Colleen and Mandy. Let us know how make out.
Rita - Good luck to you, too. My friend had BC 17 years ago also on CMF. she had to go for a mammo last week and she was really wound up about it. She said that the anxiety of it comes and goes each time. She was poppin Xanax the whole day. She made out fine. I'm sure you will, too.
My next treatment is on the 9th. She the onc on Wed for the 1st time since I started. He is the head of the dept and tough to get an appointment with. Didn't help that he was available when we were in Florida.
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Mandy...I sent you a PM filled with positive vibes for NO SIDE EFFECTS!
Scarp...Wow! Your friend is a CMF gal and is 17 years out! Fantastic! Another success story! Thanks for pointing this out to me. How about you? Have you gotten along pretty well after your last treatment?
Rita
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Hello my lovely ladies:
I've been a bit nuts getting our daughter back to school in that snow storm yesterday...here in CT it was so nasty, we postponed leaving until 6, so we had a crazy ride down with her and a buddy we brought also, and I drove back home, letting poor hubby snooze. Now I really miss her
...........altho had an onc appt. today, and it's weird, isn't it....suddenly you notice everyone's hackles have come back down and no one seems worried about you anymore....it's welcome. I don' t have any more drs. to go to until the new year. WHEW...that feels good!!
Speaking of: Rita, I'm someone who prays and i am for you on Friday that you will get that happy "all clear"....I am sending great vibes and I have faith all will be just fine. We need you too much on here, and so do those little ones of yours!!! A toddler tree........fantastic, I love it! I just know you will get that good news you need to hear, but I am holding your hand in my heart to get thru it.....I know how frightening it is. Sending you a giant cyber hug ( )
Prayers will go out for you until we get that good news be assured of that. Jill, any news from your neck of the woods? No news is usually good news..............praying to hear yours too!
Scarp, Colleen, Mandy: Good vibes, cyber hugs and prayers for you guys also......you'll do just fine, all of you. Colleen, get that first one down, and you'll be good to go; it actually becomes rather boring. I used Rita's little pacmen visualization alot and it really helped to think of them munching away at all the "bad guys".
harley, thanks! I am busy dewrinkling in my mind, hope the boob listens to me.
Carol, what a lovely picture! You and Jill look awesome, beautiful and fit, and you sure do have some handsome hubbies also. What a great thing to do, and look at that sunshine...thank you!
As always, great to hear from you.
Ginny, you have really been on my mind, did you get that job?
Gals, I have to say, that yes, I do always have that anxiety before checkups.....I suspect I always will...... ..but at least I can say it's only anxiety and not cancer. We can't control what the outcome is, but I do alot of praying and keeping positive to try to keep it in a small portion of my life, instead of it being my life. Hope that made some sense.
At any rate, everyone have a good week no matter where you are in treatment or beyond it.
This is, and will remain, a lucky thread I believe. So go on and believe...............
love you all
annie
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Hi,
Popping in to wish everyone in treatment uneventful next rounds and Rita, you are of course in my prayers for Friday. I saw my bc last week and he wants me to have my first "post" MRI in early spring-- I'm already getting nervous about it. Seriously-already. As if that makes any sense. So I certainly can understand how you are feeling about Friday.
The kids were off for a week, thus I have been a bit absent. Thanksgiving was nice....we juggled two. My father-in-law is quite elderly and house bound. He has round the clock help, but we still wanted to bring him a bit of Tgiving- so brought a brunch. His diet is quite restricted, but we did what we could with a turkey quiche, fresh fruit and apple pie. All was well until, um, we sort of almost burnt the house down. A burner had been accidentally left on low and when my dh's sister was moving around some items on the counter (kitchen is quite small), she moved some plastic plates to rest on said burner. Well, yep, you guessed it. Dave- husband-suddenly yelps and this smell fills the air-- burning plastic-- just acrid. Foot high flames leaping from the plates. He grabs them, throws them in the sink and all this black sooty stuff is flying around. My father in law doesn't says much these days. I thought he was wheezing and turned to push his wheelchair out of the room when I realized he was just cracking up. Laughing at us loonies who just about burned his kitchen down. It was nice to see him smile actually. From there we went to my brother's in a burb further north. Things were much more uneventful there. The highlight being my younger brother's tattoo.
I had a great day with a girlfriend on Friday. We went shopping all morning on "Black Friday" in downtown Naperville, IL. A suburb I have never been to here. It has a charming downtown and my friend took me to this amazing independent bookstore that she literally had to drag me out of an hour and $100 later.... But I did finish most of the Xmas gifts for the kids. My four year old is actually starting to read on her own (!) and I went a bit nuts with beginning books for her....
I have a tentative date of Dec 29 for more revision surgery on my foob and PS is even considering lifting the other side a bit more to achieve a better match. The infection did a number of one patch of skin that remains dangerously thin. I'm not anxious to get this done-- I'm honesty just really tired of it all at this point- but do want to try and get it done before 09 if I can for insurance reasons. The date, however, is tentative because PS was upfront about pushing it out further if he feels I have not healed sufficiently at that point. I guess I'd rather be safe.
Had best close and go help Dave with the kids in the bath. Worn out today-- I'm still fighting some of this fatigue poop!
warmly,
julie b
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Hi all
Treatment number 2 is done with. I seem ok so far.
Thanks for your support..
Mandy
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Hi All - Well 1tx down and 7 to go. I had my 1st dense dosage today and everything went well. I felt a little light headed for a minute or two when I got up, but that passed. Now I have to take a neupogen shot once a day for the next 5 days and then go back for 2nd treatment on the 12th. I am feeling pretty good right now, in fact the nurse told my husband since I was doing good to take me to lunch, which he did. I am also going to my daughters 1st volleyball game. The nurse told me to be active unless my body told me differently and then I should relax. Rita, you were right the waiting was worse. I want to thank everyone for their support.
Be Well,
Colleen
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Mandy and Colleen, congratulations! You did it!
You'll be fine, maybe a little bit hopped up from steroids, but go with the flow and drink drink drink H20 to flush all the chemicals thru your systems.
Keep up the great work, guys.
love
annie
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Yea, Mandy and Colleen! Mark those off your calendar! Annie is so right. Drink lots of water for the next few days to wash those chemicals out. Keep in touch!
Rita
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Annie thanks for reminding me about drinking that water. I have my water bottles lined up!!
And Ritajean, I have you in my prayers for good results on Friday. I feel as though they will be good. You are such a positive and supportive person that it figures you will have good news.
All the best.
Mandy
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Hi Gals,
I finally read back through the last week of posts, just a few quick shout outs tonight ,,,
I was pleased to read that Colleen and Mandy are fairing well today after their treatments. I ditto the suggestions of mass water intake, and if those nasty italian cousins (Consti and Pation) rear their ugly heads, try to get ahead of that problem ASAP. Everyone has their favorite remedy, I personally liked Miralax which is now over the counter.
Colleen I chuckled reading about heading out to lunch after your infusion. I remember when my dh and I left my 1st, I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop, thinking should we head straight home or make a brief stop for something to eat? We did stop, I ordered the most bland thing I could find on the menu thinking that I was going to be feeling cruddy at some point. Never did have any issue to speak of, from then on I learned that a nice lunch was in order after each treatment !!!
Annie, ahh ... sounds like the Arimidex is treating you pretty darn good. Great news ... I have found that I have some days better than others in regards to the achiness. I can't seem to put my finger on what may or may not trigger them. A work in progress I guess !!!
Julie, you go gal ... shopping last Friday !!! You crack me up with the chia pet reference. I think that I have finally had the funky hair regrowth cut out with the last trim job. I have always had short hair, but over the last 5 months their has definitely been some unruly ones to contend with. I've tried to not complain too much as atleast their has still been something to blowdry !!!
Harley, looks like tomorrow you finally will get your R to R training. I can only think that you will be such a benefit to the program.
Rita, wow ... I had missed your post from last week which you shared having a tough time with your 2 year diagnosis date. In true Rita fashion, it sounds like you re-grouped after letting out some expected emotions. I always think that you are our "Rock", sometimes forgetting that you too are experiencing all the up and downs that we seem to bounce off of you on a regular basis.
Ginny, hoping that all is well with you up to the north.
Jill, you have been in my thoughts throughout the day, and I will close my eyes tonight with positive vibes being sent your way.
Night all, Carol
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Good morning, gals. Just a quick fly-by this morning to tell everyone "hi" and send out good vibes to you gals tackling the treatments.
Julie..Just think! Weather permitting, I will get to finally meet you Monday and give you a "real-honest-to-goodness" hug! I got a chuckle out of your kitchen disaster.I can just see all of you scurrying around trying to correct the matter. I'm so glad it turned out O.K.
Thanks for the prayers and good vibes for Friday. It's amazing how far away we are from one another and how close we have become! I cherish each of you!
And now...on to bowling! Then I'm meeting another bc survivor for a 3 mile walk. I've done pretty good with this routine since I have somebody to actually meet. If I was doing it by myself, I'd have begun to make excuses by now. The buddy system really does work. Then after my walk I'm shopping Bergners for clothes for me. My wardrobe needs a make-over and it's pretty pathetic when you really get excited by hitting Bergner's on Senior Day!
We're expecting more snow and ice tonight. Oh Lisa, sunny California is looking better all the time!
Ginny, we miss you! I hope that you've got the job and are just busy. Please check in!
Hugs to all of you!
Rita
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Hi Girls: It has been a full 24hrs. since my 1st tx and I am doing ok. I did not sleep at all last night, so I am pretty tired. I had a little bit of muscles aches and today I feel like I did when I was pregnant. I feel hungry all the time. My nurse told me to eat small meals throughout the day and so far that has been working. I am waiting for my neupogen to be delivered, I need to start the shots today and the next 4 days. Then I am off for 3 and then I go back on the 12th for 2nd tx. I think if I don't fall asleep fast tonight I will take something. I just hate taking more drugs. Last night may have been affected by the fact that we received bad news about my mom. She has lung cancer. I can't believe it. It makes me so mad. She is 87 and this should not be happening to her at this stage of her life. She has her onc appt. tomorrow morning so I will know more. This is just to much all at once. And I know she is so worried about me and it is hard because she is in S. Jersey and I am in NY to far to get to see her all the time. I hope if I am up to it that I can get to see her over the weekend or before my next tx. Sorry that I am going on and on. I just need somewhere to vent and I don't want my kids to be so worried if they hear me talking to my husband.
Hope everyone is well,
Thanks,
Colleen
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Oh Colleen....hugs to you, hon! This IS the place to vent. I am so very sorry about your Mom. You have so much to deal with at this time and neither you nor your Mom need this now. It is just so unfair. Please let us know what you find out after her appointment tomorrow. I'm sending healing vibes your way.
Rita
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Hi Colleen
Sorry to hear about your mom. What a tough time for both of you.
I had my second tx yesterday and like you I am achy and tired today. So I ran errands all morning and napped all afternoon.
This is a great place to vent and don't hesitate to let us know what is going on.
Sending you and your mom big hugs.
Mandy
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ColleenSorry about your Mom!
Keeping you and your Mom in my thoughts and prayers!
HugsHarley
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Hi gals:
Colleen, you are going into my prayers and your mom too. I am so sorry this is happening now for you and her, this is a good place to come and we'll hold your hands and get you thru it. Sending good vibes to both you and your mom for a very hopeful prognosis for mom and for you to feel well and strong thruout your treatments.
Mandy, you sound well, hang in there, you guys are really doing well!!! I'm in awe!
Hiya harley and Rita!!
love to all
annie
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Colleen, I'm so sorry to read the upsetting news about your Mom. As if you already did not have enough stress right now. Sometimes the true test of our emotional strength is a little much to take. I'm glad that you feel confident to vent away, that is what this support from each other is all about... sharing our good things, and getting over the bumps in the road.
Rita, I feel confident you will be doing the happy dance following your test tomorrow. You'll be in my thoughts.
All for now, at work, gtg ...
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Rita
I'll be thinking of you tomorrow. I'll be off the boards, since I'm travelling to PA to see my sisters and my brother over the weekend. I'll be back on Sunday.
Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!
HUGS
Harley0 -
Hi ladies, just checking back in briefly...Rita, you know I will be saying an extra prayer tonight just for you to have a great checkup and a clean test....I know you will be so relieved and happy when you get the great news!!
We will be holding you in our hearts for tomorrow, just give your worries over to us.
....but all will be great for you, I just know it.Harley, drive safe and have a great trip.
Carol, you put that perfectly as always...sharing the bumps in the road. Well put.
love you all
annie
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Harley, safe travels and enjoy your time with your siblings over the weekend. We'll try to hold down the fort !!!
Yesterday was my 3 month checkup at the onc, nothing more than a chat, and exam of my lymphnodes and "chest". He was not too much help when I mentioned the achiness from Femera (and honestly in the grand scheme of things, I think I can handle some aches and pains). I will be setting up appointments for both an MRI and a mamo once my referrals are approved. I thought I may have had to twist my onc's arm to write an order for both, but he was in total agreement. He said there are some things that a mamo will pick up that a MRI will not and vice versa. As well I will have my bloodwork redone to check hormone levels, etc., prior to having my Zometa infusion the first part of Feb.
Jill, please know that your in my thoughts.
Carol
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Rita,
I'm praying for you! I'm sure you will be fine!!, and your tests will be all clear!!
Jill,
You are in my prayers!!
Carol,
Glad that your 2 month check up went well.
Harley
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Thanks gals for the prayers and good vibes. Last night I was still wide awake at 2:00 a.m., trying unsuccessfully to shut off my mind. The funny thing was that I wasn't thinking about only bc problems, the upcoming mammo and surgeon's visit, or the anxiety associated with them. I was thinking about Christmas presents for the tough ones on my lists, little jobs I needed to get done around the house, and my youth group at church. Go figure! Tonight I think I'll read until I fall asleep and just finish the night in whatever location that happens to be! LOL
Carol...glad that you appt. with the onc went well. I'm glad you're going to have both the mammo and the MRI. I think he'll be more apt to talk about the Femara aches the next time, after you've got a few more months behind you!
Annie..how do I thank you for you continued encouragement? You are so special!
Harley, have fun. It's always good to get away!
Scarp, colleen, and mandy....check in often and let us know how it's going for you.
Jill.....hugs and warm thoughts being sent your way.
Catch you all tomorrow after the appts. are over.
Rita
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Rita: Just wanted to say that you are in my thoughts and prayers for your check up tomorrow. Today was not such a good day. I was extremely tired I took the anit nausauea pill. It worked somewhat. I feel like I am very hung over with out ever having all the fun. Tried eating small meals and I am still drinking lots of water. Any suggestions??
Thanks,
Colleen
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Colleen, You might try lemon drops. They helped me with the nausea. Orange sherbet also helped in small amounts. Keep taking the anti nausea pills even if you feel o.k. I always took them for a couple of days AFTER I was feeling better.
As for the fatigue, just listen to your body and rest when you need to rest. It should only last a day or two and you should be feeling more like your "old self." If you still feel nauseous you might also cut back just a little on the water or drink some green tea.
Strangely enough, I also discovered that if I got up and did a few things I felt better than if I just sat or lounged around.
Hang in there. My third or fourth day after my treatment was always my worst (if I was going to actually have a worst that time) and then I was pretty good until the next treatment rolled around.
Thanks for the good thoughts. I hope I'm all smiles tomorrow at this time.
Hugs to you.........and to all my other great sisters on this thread.
Rita
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Colleen, I'd have to ditto Rita's advice to take your anti-nausea drugs even if you don't think your going to need them, atleast a few days before and after txts. Zofran worked well for me, it was non-drowsy so I was still able to take it and work.
Although I never had out-right nausea, occassionally I did end up eating a dinner of Cream of Wheat and toast because my tummy just was a bit out of sync !!! I had bought Peppermint and Ginger tea as well, (heard they we're good for settling the tummy) since I'm not much of a tea drinker I ended up only trying them a couple of times.
Rita, your due for a good nights sleep tonight ... sweet dreams!!!
Carol
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Hi Colleen!
I had my second treatment on Tuesday and like you felt achy and flu like from the chemo. I also found that for some reason water was adding to my nausea. So I drank other things...apple cider, sparkling water, ginger ale....not at the same time...but they all felt better than drinking plain water. The other thing that I might suggest is to be sure you take the anti nausea medicine as prescribed. I forgot to take mine this morning before I walked my dog. Sure enough, I suddenly felt nauseous during the walk. And if it is not working, tell your doctor and they can prescribe another. I had zofran the first round and it did not work for me. So now I am on kytril which is working better. And there are other durgs out there too.
This afternoon, I had my friend drive me to the shopping center of Philadelphia, where I live, because I had to return somehting. Just getting out a bit helped my energy. Now they were having some kind of festivities in Rittenhouse Square....so maybe it was the coupon for free Starkbucks lattes, or maybe it was the green and red felt elf hat that I wore home (it was given to me for free), but I felt alot better after my 15 block walk back home.
Ritajean. just keep your beautful smile on your face and things will go well tomorrow.
And to all of the other wonderful people on this thread, may you have only good check ups.
Thanks for your support and suggestions.
Hugs
Mandy
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Hello lovely ladies:
Congrats Carol on your three month! I will be having the move to three month at next onc check so we are in syn....I just had mammo, now will schedule MRI as my guy said the same thing about both being helpful to tag team.
I'm on lupron so go every month as of now, arggggggghhh. But this will all be all better in the summer!
Rita, I am wishing a special wish for you today...........I know we'll be hearing from you with the "all clear"
Mandy, i would add just one thing....whenever I felt kind of low batteries, so getting out of the house and/or a bit of exercise would bring me around. Perhaps it is the speeding up of chemicals getting thru with the circulatory increase, but I kind of used myself as a science experiment and would note what helped, what I did, etc. You definitely seem to have found the key to feeling better.
Also: ginersnaps....worlds greatest anti nausea cookie. I used them in the early stages of pregnancy, and they worked for chemo!! The day chemo was my worst, a good nap and then I was pretty good that entire week and great the next two weeks. Even went to a wedding and a family vacation at the seashore with 4 teenagers!
Colleen: holding you and your mom in my heart today.
love to you all:
annie
Ginny: I sure hope that lack of "ginnies" on here means you got that job! Fingers crossed!!
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Happy Friday!
I met the onc the other day and all is well. He actually gave me a pass on my next appointment with him unless I'm not feeling well. Blood was good so were the nodes.
Colleen- Someone told me to eat a bowl of pasta the night before chemo. I do drink a lot of lemon water which I was told works well, too. I suck on ginger candies during treatment and after. They help with nausea. I think peppermint does too (tis the season). I try to eat a lot of mini meals. I eat yogurt with granola for breakfast the morning of and after. I now eat breakfast where I never did before. I try to get a lot of protein in. I have been making big pots of soup. Soup seems to be a good comfort food for me. Costco has these great tangerines that I was told by a doctor friend are good for vitamin C and nausea. My kids are eating them like crazy. I know how hard it must be on you and your family with your mom. Prayers are with you.
Mandy - happy to hear you out and about yesterday. I was in Bloomingdales attacking the racks with the great sale they had going. Everything was 20 -40% off plus $25 off of $100 or more.
Rtia - let us know how you made out today.
If anyone is looking for a great book to read....by Wally Lamb its Called "The First Hour I Believed" It is about what happened to couple who worked at Columbine High School. Anyway, I am enjoying it and wanted to share.
Off to pulling out the Christmas decorations, trying to get in the Christmas spirit. Snow is forecasted for Sunday so hopefully that will help the spirit.
Hope everyone has a great weekend!
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Good afternoon gals!
I'm back and I'm smiling! The ridge of tissue around my scar area that's always concerned me is still there (but shrinking...yea!) and there was no other sign of problems in either breast. Breathe in and breathe out! LOL
Thanks so much for all your prayers and good vibes. Yes, Carol, I think I might even sleep tonight! LOL
Hugs to all of you! I'm going to go wrap a few more packages, scarp, and also try to get in the Christmas spirit now!
Annie...what type of check-up do you have to have done every month because of the lupron? Blood tests and the whole thing or just a discussion and "feely" type of session?
Catch you all later.
Rita
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