Illinois ladies facing bc

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  • wendyk13
    wendyk13 Member Posts: 1,458
    edited May 2007
    Morning Girls...ANOTHER beautiful morning!

    I've missed a day or two and all these posts..so here goes!

    Mary...congrats on your anniversary, I'm so very happy for you - truly!

    JanClare....how is rads going?

    Nicki...keep up the good work with your exercising!

    Ginny...sorry that the taxol is not treating you right vs the AC. I know that when my husband was taking too much coumadin (he was up to 5) that his back and legs hurt terribly and could barely move. Maybe when you get your INR back to where it should be, your pain will lessen as well and maybe the Tax won't be so bad.

    Rita...my Mom has now been gone 8 years and I have hates each and every Mother's Day since BUT THIS ONE! I think the time has gone by and I remember so many funny things that make me smile. I am also very thankful that she is not here to watch her little baby go thru bc, it would break her heart. At least she is surrounded by loving people and I hear that heaven doesn't allow people to be said. I don't know if that helps you at all, but I hope it makes tomorrow a bit better for you. And glad you are still doing so well after 3 weeks of rads...you go girl!

    Laura...you are too cute, bald and blonde! Wow...39 miles..I am in awe!

    Connie...don't those wigs look cute? I know...we'd all much rather have hair but I do admit Ihave never had a bad hair day and I have a few so I get to pick whoI want to be each day and I have a convertible and just put some double-stick tape on and out I go.

    Let me know about dates for a get-together. I'm pretty open this summer due to rads.

    Kate...saw you back on the boards...Yay!

    Well...off to enjoy the day..well, off to Menards with dh to get 10 or so bags of mulch anyway!

    Hugs!

    Wendy K
  • wendyk13
    wendyk13 Member Posts: 1,458
    edited May 2007
    Sorry Ladies....I need to start doing spell-check and editing with my chemobrain, but I guess you all have it too and can understand my mistakes!

    Wendy K (at least I spelled that right!)
  • Unknown
    edited May 2007
    Rita, Yes we do go to the Argossy in Joliet. Yes winning and eating we be great. Any time just pick a date and maybe others could join us. Yes I would love to meet you wonderful ladies.

    Wendy, Wow! Congrats on your last chemo. I have 2 more AC1s and they 4 taxols.

    Laurs Great pictures of you and dh

    Well my hair is falling off like crazy. Tuesday a head shave and my new wig. Have and of you taken l-Glutamine poder for taxol? Please let me know.
    Thankds to all...Hugs

    Kathy
  • Unknown
    edited May 2007
    Rita, yes we do go to the Argossy in Joliet. Anytime pick a date and maybe others could join us. Yes, I would love to meet you wonderful ladies.

    Wendy WOW congrats on you last chemo.

    Laurs Great pictures of you and DH.

    Well my hair is falling our all over. Tues a get a head shave and my new wig....Have any of you taken L Glutamine powed for Taxol? I well start that in a monther for 4 treatments.

    Hugs to all
    Kathy
  • kater
    kater Member Posts: 447
    edited May 2007

    I was told to take L-Glutamine, and I assumed the whole cycle of chemotheraphy...so I bought a huge $40 bottle. 3 teaspoons a day, i was told, like the bottle also says...15 grams?

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Member Posts: 2,728
    edited May 2007
    image

    Have a wonderful day.

    Nicki
  • JanClare
    JanClare Member Posts: 267
    edited May 2007

    Happy Mother's Day, dear ones! I'm off to do the Y-Me Race to Empower with my husband and sons in downtown Chicago. Their presence at the race is my Mother's Day present, the only one I wanted. I then have to go to work at Trader Joe's, so won't get back home until about 11 pm tonight.

  • wendyk13
    wendyk13 Member Posts: 1,458
    edited May 2007
    Morning Ladies....just wanted to wish all you guys a great Mom's Day...not one myself but I sure have mothered a few people in my time!

    JanClare...what a great way to spend the day...enjoy your family!

    Rita...special hug for you today, remember that one silly, funny, crazy day you spent with your Mom? Well...think about that all day today, and laugh and smile and cry a bit too....my crazy day I remember was eating one of those vanilla cream-filled dunkin donuts and somehow we got some on our faces, then I put some on her nose, then she shoved a piece in my face...and well, you get it...cream all over our faces and hair, laughing like crazy and that was close to 35 years ago and it still makes me smile! Hope that helps!!!

    Wendy K
  • conniehar
    conniehar Member Posts: 585
    edited May 2007
    Happy Mother's Day everyone!

    I know several people walking today, JanClare. Good luck!

    I am off to have brunch with my mom and sisters/brother. Usually I feel crummy on Sunday's but so far so good!
  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited May 2007
    Good morning Illinois ladies! I hope each and every one of you had a great Mother's Day. Thanks so much Wendy for your "coping suggestions." I did what you said and got through the day. I appreciate your ideas and encouragement.

    Mary...so you're a CMF'er too. That gives me encouragement also because so many have told me that CMF is not as affective as AC and is the "lesser chemo." You are proof that it works! Hope you are enjoying your trip to Tennessee.

    JanClare...I thought of you going in for your first rads today when I went for mine. Hope they went O.K.

    Wendy K...have you had your tatoos yet for the rads?

    Mazy...thinking of you in Quincy. Come back often.

    Connie..so glad that you are back and glad that you're pleased with your wig.

    Kathy....I'll let you know when I'm coming up next or if you are going any weekend, just PM me. It would be fun!

    Wendy P...Congrats on finishing the last AC. Don't forget us here now that you're finished.

    Laura...Are you in training for your mega walk. June 2nd is rapidly approaching.

    Laura and JanClare...let's do the survey. Those June weeks are both fine with me but some may have a preference. I agree with Ginny. June is rapidly approaching and we need to come up with a date for our rendevous.

    Michelle...good luck with Taxol #2 tomorrow. I'l be thinking of you.

    Welcome Peggy. Glad you found us. Come back often.

    Ginny..let us know about how your blood check comes out today. Glad you are doing better.

    Well, I'm off for the day...on the run as usual.
    The sun is shining!!!!

    Rita
  • kater
    kater Member Posts: 447
    edited May 2007

    I just read yesterday how healthy and so forth it is for us to be here and connect to other's in our shoes. I cant recall where, it must have been in Prevention Magazine possibly...Happy better weather to everyone!

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited May 2007
    Kater....I'm sure it's true that sharing our experiences, encouraging one another, and just venting on the boards is healthy for us. At least I always feel better when I log off here. Hope you're having a good day!

    Rita
  • Mich101
    Mich101 Member Posts: 489
    edited May 2007
    Thanks Rita, yes tomorrow is T/Herc #2. I have felt so drained these last couple of days, I hope this is not a bad sign of what's to come with Taxol, and I've had only 1 treatment.
    Thanks to everyone, it helps to read other's posts, you don't feel so alone and know others understand what you're going thru.
    Michele
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Member Posts: 4,011
    edited May 2007
    HAPPY BELATED MOTHER'S DAY! (where applicable)

    Rita -
    Glad you made it through the day...I'm sure it was tough.

    JanClare -
    RADS - 1 down - yahoo! Say hi to Dr Ruffer and the crew. I'd like to flatter myself by thinking I'm unforgettable! LOL

    ---------------------------------

    THANKS FOR ALL THE COMPLIMENTS ON MY PHOTOS!

    Nicki -
    Thanks again for the graphics! Any chance you'll be at the pub this Friday?

    -------------------------------

    Best wishes to those going through treatment still!
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Member Posts: 2,728
    edited May 2007
    image

    Good Morning to everyone. Life is so crazy lately. Not much computer time anymore, but I did want to say hello.

    Laura: I cant go on Fridays. Im just too tired from working. Saturday are better for me - I think!!

    Hope you all have a wonderful day.

    Nicki
  • wendyk13
    wendyk13 Member Posts: 1,458
    edited May 2007
    Good Afternoon Ladies...

    Open the windows, shut the windows, open the windows, shut them! Wish it would just rain and get it over with!

    JanClare...how did rads go? I go for my sim 5/22

    Michele...hope #2 is better for you!

    Wendy P...aren't you glad to be done with AC? I hear that was the bad one. I'm glad to be done with chemo but I must say the se of round 6 have not been as "fun" as the first 5 but at least when I start to feel better this weekend I WILL BE BETTER!!!!! Yay!!!!

    Rita...glad your Mom's Day went OK...and that I could help you a little. What funny story did you think about?

    Well...thundering now..so back to closing windows!!!

    Wendy K
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Member Posts: 4,011
    edited May 2007
    Hi girls!

    Yup...this weather is crazy! We really do need a downpour!
    Oh gee...I just looked out - the sun is shining! Arghhhhh...I wonder if it has skipped us up north here or if we're getting it from the south!

    Hope you're all having a great day, regardless of the weather!
  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited May 2007
    Hi everyone!

    Laura, we got your downpour and it's been raining off and on since about 2:30 this afternoon. This morning was lovely. The afternoon rain canceled my golfing plans but at least I didn't have to water all the flowers I planted and I did get quite a bit done inside today.

    Wendy K..As per your suggestion, I thought about how my Mom and I made May baskets when I was probably about 10 years old. We took paper cups, decorated them with crepe paper, added pipe cleaner handles and then filled them with popcorn and candies. Then we piled them in a cardboard box and drove around and delivered them. We were about half-way done delivering them when Mom took a corner a little fast and all the May baskets tipped over in the cardboard box. I had never heard my mother swear until that happened and it didn't take her long to realize what she had said in front of me. She told me that she was sorry and then told me not to tell my Dad what she'd said. We went home, regrouped the baskets, and finished delivering them later. Several years later, I was driving to my piano lesson with my mother in the passenger seat. I had my permit but not my license. I took a corner a little too fast and my Mom started to scream at me to slow down. Once I got things under control, I reminded her that at least we didn't have May baskets flying all over and we both had a good laugh. You suggestion was good therapy for me. Thanks again. I'm also glad to know that time will help heal the grief.

    So how did the early week treatments go gals? We need to hear from you and also from you, JanClare with a report on your first rads.

    Really cute "good Morning" graphic today, Nicki. Thanks!

    Catch you all later.

    Rita
  • JanClare
    JanClare Member Posts: 267
    edited May 2007

    I know, I know- I'm behind. I promise- I will write something tomorrow morning. I've been working at Trader Joe's, doing reports for my husband, and doing the rads, and I'm just beat. I have part of the day off tomorrow, so I should be able to post then.

  • Mazy1959
    Mazy1959 Member Posts: 254
    edited May 2007
    Hi Rita,
    All is good here. We are going camping this weekendend I can't wait. My onc said I'll be on Zometa indefinitely so I'm thinking about getting a port. Our small garden is doing well but my flowers aren't. I have a black thumb..LOL Later Mazy
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Member Posts: 2,728
    edited May 2007
    image

    Good Morning Everyone: It finially rained! Thank goodness. My flowers were starting to look awful. Sort of funny how flowers like rain water better than water from the hose. I swear they grew over night.

    Rita: That was a cute story.


    Jan: I love Trader Joes. Which one do you work at? Might just pop in there and say hello - oh and of course buy something.

    Mazy: give your flowers a chance. The weather hasnt been the greatest - they need lots of rain when they are new.

    Laura: I did the same thing yesterday. Where is the rain. Even tried a rain dance. Finially - when I got home it started raining. Whew - I was getting worried.

    Well- time is up, I have to go. Hoping you all have a wonderful day.
  • wendyk13
    wendyk13 Member Posts: 1,458
    edited May 2007
    Morning Ladies....

    Just a quick helloe before off to Herceptin...

    Rita...loved your story! Made me think of 2 more funny ones which I won't bore you with, unless you want to be bored! One took place in church (my Mom never took me back until I was in 1st grade and HAD to go with the nuns)!

    I love TRader Joe's too...I go to the one in Batavia, which one do you work at JanClare and is it only on Sundays?

    Mazy....if you get a port (probably a good idea) I read somewhere that the gal actually took the ink pen and showed the surgeon where SHE wanted it...mine's on the R but exactly where the seat belt sits if you are not driving. This gal had hers placed more mid-line and a bit lower so it didn't show no matter what she wore. Wish I had thought of that one!

    Nicki...you work too hard! Do you have any vacay time coming up?

    Are we still on for a get-together in June?

    Well...all cloudy again but I agree...flowers seem to like rain better than the hose so rain away!!!

    Hugs and smiles...

    Wendy K
  • JanClare
    JanClare Member Posts: 267
    edited May 2007
    Good morning, all.

    I don't know if I'm just disgruntled lately or what, but I'm not really too happy about my radiation so far. Not only did the one tattoo on the right really hurt when they did it (it's weird, but it felt like they were pulling a stinging string out of me, rather then poking me), but then that side swelled up again. All the progress I made with my PT is gone and I can't go back for the lymph massage until after all the rads are done.

    I really like Dr. Ruffer and most of the staff, but I'm not that thrilled with his nurse. I wanted to talk about what I should and shouldn't be using on my skin and she basically blew me off, telling me that we would meet this Thursday to discuss it. Well, that's 4 treatments in and it's hot and humid, and I'm a sweater, so I'd like to know now! I'm sure the people I work with will appreciate it. The only thing I got from her was NOT to use cornstarch or Tom's of Maine- she told me to just use body or baby wipes, but no alcohol, fragrance, or aloe; as gentle as possible. Nothing extra. I thought aloe was okay? Plus I can't find anything like what she told me- if it doesn't have alcohol, then it has aloe or fragrance, etc, etc, etc. I finally found Wet Ones for Sensitive Skin, which are fragrance free, alcohol free, but do have cucumber, chamomile and witchhazel (which I thought was as bad as alcohol?)

    Plus, I've only had two treatments, but my skin was hot and pink yesterday. This early in? Looks like I'm going to be a problem case. I have no idea what creams to use, because we are supposed to "discuss that Thursday".

    Finally, I have not had anyone go over and explain my actual treatment "map". I want to know, so I asked for an explanation, but that's not scheduled until Thursday either. It's going to be a busy Thursday.

    Speaking of Thursday- this Thursday is the Y-me meeting at Good Shepherd, 7:30 pm. The topic/speaker this month is Life After Breast Cancer, Survivor Issues. Is anyone interested in going? I'll be there- so far I've enjoyed all their meetings.
  • JanClare
    JanClare Member Posts: 267
    edited May 2007
    PS- I work at the Lake Zurich Trader Joe's. Sunday I work either demo shift, which means I either work 8:30am -3:30pm, or 3:00 to 10 pm. I work the day demo shift on Thursday, 8:30-3:30. I also work two more days a week from 5 am to 10 am, but I never know which 2 days I'm going to be scheduled until the week before, and the store does not open until 9 am, so I'm only there an hour for the customers those days.

    Wendy, I still owe you an email. I'm not usually so scatter brained, but I had a lot of stomach problems last week as well as everything else. This happens every once in a while with me. It's called Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome with Delayed Gastric Emptying (nice name, huh?) and it usually occurs every couple of months. No one know why or what it is from and I've never figured out a trigger. It only happens late at night, but I throw up for hours and it pretty much wipes me out the next day. I can make it through work, but then I veg out for anything else. I'm just grateful that I didn't have any episodes while I was on chemo.

    Probably TMI, huh?
  • JanClare
    JanClare Member Posts: 267
    edited May 2007
    Oh- one more thing- about the meeting, I couldn't figure out how to do a poll here. (Sorry, Laura, guess I'm just not that smart! LOL!)

    Can't we each just say yeah or nay for June 23 or June 30th?
    I can do either one, have no preference.
  • JanClare
    JanClare Member Posts: 267
    edited May 2007
    Well, I'm being chatty today, but I'm kind of catching up with what's been happening.

    Laura, wanted to say that I'm sorry I can't contribute to your walk. I donated 200.00 to the Y-me race, plus I just "won" one of the pink charity quilts on ebay for another 150.00. So I'm all tapped out right now. I wish I had known, I wouldn't have bid on a quilt.
  • wendyk13
    wendyk13 Member Posts: 1,458
    edited May 2007
    Hi Ladies...

    Jeepers JanClare...you sound like you need to sit down tomorrow with the nurse and tell HER how it is going to be, not the other way around. I'm a nurse and I would NEVER blow somebody off with..."we'll discuss it on Thursday"..that is crap and you tell her for me!! Seems like we are all being told something different to use on our skin...I'll let you know what I hear next Tuesday but can't imagine what she had against constarch and plain aloe. Sorry too you have not been feeling well, but I must say it is a catchy little name for your syndrome. And forget about any e-mails...just let us know how you are doing...much more imporant.

    Now..go to your rad-teaching tomorrow and kick some nurse butt.

    Wendy K
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Member Posts: 2,728
    edited May 2007
    image

    Jan: You deserve an explanation of treatment. Start writing down your questions so you wont get flustered or forget Thursday.

    Wendy: We have 2 things in common. We live in the Western Suburbs of Chicago and we are nurses!

    Will someone tell me the what the get together plans are? Im free both days.

    Nicki
  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited May 2007
    JanClare, I can't believe they are treating you like that. My crew has been bending over backwards to appease me. Everything has been explained and I have been using the cream BIAFINE from the day the rads started. I am not very pink at all and I'm in the fourth week. They also told me to dust the area directly under the breast with cornstarch, which I have been doing. It's doing the trick so far.

    As for the outing........either day is good for me. I just need to know because I'm in charge of scheduling Saturday golf and I will have to pass on the job for whatever weekend we select. No problem, though.

    We got a nice rain and my flowers are looking pretty good.
    Wendy...let's hear your other Mother stories.

    Keep us updated JanClare.

    Hang in there everybody and put in your outing preferences quickly so we can get something on our calendars!

    Rita
  • wendyk13
    wendyk13 Member Posts: 1,458
    edited May 2007
    Morning Ladies....

    I am pretty free so just let me know when and where...and if you go to someone's home, what do I bring?

    Rita...OK..one last Mom's story and I hope it makes you laugh when you think about things you probably did to your Mom (and I hope I don't bore anyone else)...I was about 3 1/2 and bored in church so unbeknownst to my Mom I took off all my clothes as I was sitting behind her as she was kneeling and laid down. She got up and of course sat down and I screamed and screamed that she was killing me with her big fat butt. She got me dressed in a hurry, muttering under her breath about how God did not like little girls who yelled in church about their Mom's big fat butts and I should be quiet and we would leave early. So I sat there, being very quiet. Unfortunately then the men came with the baskets to collect the money. I just watched and when they made it to the back of church I jumped up and screamed "Hey Mom...where did he go with the money?" Silence in church...my Mom grabs me and drags me down the aisle all the while shushing me and I yelled one last time "well...at least I didn't tell them about your big fat butt". Sh never brought me back to church until I had to go when I started 1st grade. She still told this story right up until she passed away...I'm glad I made her smile as much as she did me! Well...boring story over...hoped you girls laughed!

    Have a great day ladies...either am going to Menards to get some deck brightener or cut the grass this afternoon.

    Good Luck Jan with the nurses...I think Rita may be onto something with that biofine cream. Personally I think anything you would use on a sunburn for it's soothing properties shold work fairly well with radiation irritation, but that's just my opinion.

    Smiles...

    Wendy K