Illinois ladies facing bc
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Good Morning Ladies,
I go for my second chemo today. At least I know what to expect which will make it easier to deal with. Last week I felt pretty good so I figure 2 bad weeks 1 good and start all over again. I can do this.
Yesterday we went to visit the inlaws in Kenosha. Mom made a big dinner. Comfort food. DH and I pigged out. Poor guy has been living on lean cusine. I wore my wig and they thought it looked great. On the way home it was itchy and hot. I forgot to bring a hat or scarf so I wouldn't take it off. We stopped for gas and DH bought me a biker doo-rag. I whipped off the wig and put that thing on and I was one hot chic.
Laura- So sorry to hear about your husbands diagnosis. I hope the second opinion is promising. I hear really good things about Northwestern. I will keep you both in my prayers.
Hope you all have a great time at Navy Pier. Take care everyone. Christi
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Ginny....what great news. Miracles do happen don't they!!! Have had plenty myself.
And yes, yes, yes,....don't over-do. You have lots of help WHO expect and are there to HELP YOU so do let them There will be plenty of things on the other end that are hard for others to do. We women seem to do better at filling our kitchen cupboards ourselves as well as bathrooms and towel closets.
Glad you & hubby know now Laura....even if it isn't the best news. In the end I think you can really get some fear and upset going when you don't know. My hubby had back surgery and though he has some residual problems....he is on his feet most days at Sears selling appliances. I don't remember everything about it....but this is something that I do believe can't be fixed by non-invasive measures. Hope and pray all goes well for you both.
Christi....great spirit about that old chemo. Things can be a little different each time....but those who want to win will find the way and you are starting in the best possible way....with a wide open attitude.
Enjoy lunch today....you have lots of company with you in spirit.
Hi to everyone
Jackie
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Christi, I would have loved to see you in that doo-rag! I bet you were one hot mama!!! Keep up your good spirit! It won't be long and you'll be through with the treatments!
Laura, sorry to hear that you hubby might be facing back surgery. YUCK! Maybe you'll get a different option when you go for your second opinion.
Ginny...how nice that the house has sold and that all the time issues have worked out well. Gosh, I'll miss you, gal but I'm glad you're going to be where you want to be! Please, please, do not overr-work yourself getting things ready to go.
Glad you didn't have to do the neulasta this time, Buddy. Things are finally looking up for you. You were way over-due!
Well, this is a crazy week for me, so I'm back to "off and running!" Hope you gals had a great lunch today and the Pier!
Rita
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Hi all,
Well, Laura, Susan and I are certainly hoping that everything is okay with Deb (whoopsiedoodles). We waited and waited at the ferris wheel, for about an hour, but never saw her. Just hoping that it was simply some kind of mistake and that nothing happened. And (let this be a lesson to us all,ladies), we didn't have a cell phone# for contact! We feel like dunces that none of us was prepared. As I said, we are just hoping that nothing serious happened.
The 3 of us did finally go to lunch at the Italian cafe at the Pier- talked, laughed, and empathized with each other. It's always good to be with those who understand...
Sending out the searchlight for whoopsiedoodles!
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Ginny: How quick and how lucky. Congratulations on selling the house.
We (Jan Claire, Laura and myself) had a great time at the Pier but we have a huge mystery on our hands...The case of the missing Deb! we were there, Deb, from noon until one. You never came so we thought something came up at the rehab center. Obviously we were so disappointed. Just hoping all is okay.
Good luck on Chemo, Christi.
JanClaire and I had a great discussion on weight control (over her salad and my cream, dreamy pasta) and I am all fired up to get healthy again!
Susan
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Christi - I hope chemo went okay today... I know it sucks... but you're right...atleast you know what to expect. Hang in there!
Ginny - WOW! That was quick! Congrats!
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Well... I just talked to whoopsie...her GPS failed her miserably...she got to the Pier only minutes after we left to go eat lunch! I am sooooooooooooo bummed! I am going to try to meet her this Thursday - she's staying near Children's Mem Hospital... anyone can join us!Susan and Jan - whoopsie was still at the pier when I just talked to her. I told her to track down the pirates, tell them her name is whoopsie and to ask them if they've seen her 3 friends! lol
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Oh gosh- now I feel so bad that we didn't hold off another few minutes. Deb, it was me that said lets give it an hour....
I'd like to find out, if I can, who all may be coming on Saturday- So far I have Me, Laura, Smerf, Susan, and Blackjack- is there anyone else? Maybe a Saturday was not the best idea- would anyone prefer a dinner night at Pompei on a week night instead?
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Ladies had first rads today. No problem with that, but while I was there the NP told me that there was a spot in my lung when they did the CT for my rads. This was 4 weeks ago, why are they just telling me now. They made an appointment for me to see the pulmonary specialist on Aug. 17, 3 more weeks to wait. I called pulmonary and they could get me in on Aug 4.. The np did tell me that there were several things that could cause the spot and that the CT for rads is not very detailed, so pulmonary doc will probably order another one. The spot is not very big 8mm. I am trying not to worry, but you can always imagine the worst, especially when you already have had cancer. Since I have already done chemo it seems like it would have been gone if it was cancer, so may that is a positive. They said whatever it is could go back years. Just another of those thing you just have to wait on. With cancer there doe not seem to be anything that is for sure. Just when you think you know what will happen next, something else happens. We did have a nice vacation, but either some leg and joints pains are hanging around from taxol or herceptin is making joints and legs sore. Some days it is hard to walk. It does seem too improve when I have been moving for a while, but as a bookkepper I sit at a desk alot and right now it is piled up with things waiting for me when we got back from vacation. The weather was great and it was not too cold for swimming in lake Michigan. Hope you all had a good day. Annette
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Hi All!!! Just to let all know, i am back from vacation and will write more soon.We got home after driving a good 200 miles... the brakes went in front of the house!!!!!!!!!!!!Cannot tell you how shook up we both were!!!!There was a fluid leak noticed while away and we had no idea what it was.. now we know!!!!!!!!!!!!!THANK GOD for this could of been a major disaster and no words that can describe this releif.
HOPE lunch the Pier was great!!!!
Laura.. SO sorry to hear about the test results and situation for your DH. Certain it will be explored and more good can come out of this and won't be as extensive as it could be.
Have alot to catch up on SINCE the Laundry Fairy did not show!!!!WENDY...are you back yet??
Buddy... You are DONE!!!YEAH!!!!!!!Hope the rest goes ok and know it takes time!!!!!
Jo, Christi.. thoughts and prayers goin for you and all that you are doin andGinny!!!!!
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Annette....Gosh, hate hearing of such a delay on something you were not even told prior to starting your rads. Guess I'm of the mind that if it is "your" case then it is about you and you should be told up front without too much delay. Having said that......I do think this spot or whatever could have been there since ????? who really knows. I recall being in my 20's when I had a chest x-ray ( not first one ) and the radiologist told me I had an extra rib which no one had ever mentioned. Chemo and rads are designed to handle everything so hopefully this is just one of those bumps in the road that sometimes seems to happen. Almost to a person I'm sure once we get a cancer diagnosis.....every little mark, every ache, and every spot tends to zip us right into the negative mode about what it MIGHT be.....because it becomes easy to think the worst.
Donna....how scary about your brakes. Something we tend to take for granted too....( I have been thinking it is nearly time to get new tires ) and I know with the economy I have not done as much ( forced dh to use his skills ) to my car in preventative maintenance as should have been done. I am letting out a big sigh!!! of relief for you that it happened at your drive-way keeping you and your pets and other strangers safe.
They keep talking rain and we keep not getting it....but sooner or later. I did wash my car yesterday. I'm still so finicky about dirty cars -- maybe it's the dusty lane I live on as well we this time of year they scrap the roads in preparation for the yearly black-top coating and that produces lots of dust.....Wonder how much dirt and dust I've inhaled over the years???
Hope you all have a good day. Laundry fairy better get back home, huh!!!!
Hugs,
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Friendship isn't a big thing - it's a million little things. ~
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Budder - YAY! YOU ARE DONE, FINISHED, FINITO, ADIOS - Time to celebrate!
Donna - Whew... so glad you made it home safely! Yikes... that is so scary!
NANA - I have been thinking about you! Glad you checked in! I had some spots show up on my lungs too!... Try not to worry. It's most likely just a nodule. Keep us posted though. Hang in there! They should have told you right away... Good luck with RADS! Before you know it... you;ll be a rad grad!
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IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN! Komen - Chicago Race for the Cure!
This year will be our 4th annual 5k (3 mile) walk!
TEAM: NO SURRENDER lives on!
Please join us on Saturday, September 26th. We meet at 7:00 am to 8:00 am at the Survivor Tent. Closer to walk day, I will provide details. If you would like to ask me questions about it, please PM me and I will give you my phone number.
Here's a link to my home page. You can register at my homepage. It's lots of fun! Each year our team grows...hope you will join us. Bring the hubbies, the kids and your friends.
http://www.komenchicago.org/index.php?registration-information
http://www.komenchicago.org/index.php?map-race-day-information
(left to right...Zap, ritajean, LauraGTO, JanClare)
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Oh Annette.............how worrisome! Although the spot on the lungs is probably nothing, I've been where you are and know you have to be worried silly about it. This waiting game is so stressful. I have to believe that they think it is insignificant or they WOULD have told you immediately about it. Let's hold onto that idea. You say the rads went well..........what's your rendition of the process? Did you feel like a slab of meat, too? I'm glad you had a nice vacation. We missed you at the July bc gathering. The country club had wonderful food and it was so quiet there. We talked and gabbed quite a bit and Tanya provided appetizers and a trivia game for all of us. You should receive info on the August gathering shortly. Wendy and I have to work out a few details before we send it out. I hope to see you then (on the 20th) so I can give you a great big hug! Hang in there!
Laura, gosh it doesn't seem like it's time for the Chicago walk already! If all goes well, we'll be there again this year.
So sorry that you gals missed Deb at the Pier. Those GPS systems are good but every once in a while they do mess you up. What a disappointment for everyone!
Donna, glad you enjoyed your trip, too!
Jackie, we got some rain this morning but it cleared pretty quickly. By 8:30 the sun was peaking through the clouds.
Gotta get moving but wanted to see how the lunch bunch did yesterday.
Rita
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Laura: paul and I are on for the walk. I have to ask my girls if they can come.
JanClare: I just back from a 3-mile walk. Let's hope this is the beginning of a "roll"! Also JanClare, it would be better for me to change the Saturday date as I need to be in Evanston at 4 and that would be a crunch from your place.
Gorgeous day!
Susan
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Zap/Susan- good job on that walk! Keep it up, and I know you will reach your goals.
Well, I checked my schedule and found that I can not change the Saturday date in August. I'm committed for the rest of the summer. How about if we changed the time?? If the get-together started at noon, rather then 1pm, I think that would give you at least 3 hours here before you would have to leave... Actually, just anyone could come after12 noon and that would be fine with me!
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Zap/Susan- good job on that walk! Keep it up, and I know you will reach your goals.
Well, I checked my schedule and found that I can not change the Saturday date in August. I'm committed for the rest of the summer. How about if we changed the time?? If the get-together started at noon, rather then 1pm, I think that would give you at least 3 hours here before you would have to leave... Actually, just anyone could come after12 noon and that would be fine with me!
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Hey, I know there's been some discussion about Bio-Identical Hormones. I'm really not sold on them, for a lot of reasons. I thought those who were interested might be interested in this article that really explains why I'm so hesitant. It's long, but it's worth reading:
http://sciencebasedpharmacy.wordpress.com/2009/03/13/bioidentical-hormone-replacement/
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Hey ladies, I found my way back here finally after a couple years!
Everything is going good here so far. Still taking the Tamoxifen for 2 more years, then I get my energy back. hahaha!
So I'm 3 years out of chemo/radiation, up to every 9 months with the oncologist, and feeling pretty well! We moved last year, and that was very tiring for me, but I'm very happy in my new home. We have a nice pool here, and my daughter loves it!Now I have to remember to bookmark this website!
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Morning! I'm baaaaaaack!!!! Had a wonderful time and while of course it was humid the temps were not bad at all and with the breeze off the ocean and the rivers, it was fine. As long as you had shade, we could eat outside everyday. It rained pretty much every day as usual, but between 4 and 5:30pm so really didn't matter too much.
There are so many posts to catch up on that I know I can't so....here goes...
Ginny....am so glad that your house sold and the timeline was so great for all involved. Take your time with everything tho and get all the help you need.
Laura...sorry about DH. I did send you a PM re: my neurosurgeon but I guess you are sticking with an ortho. Did you find the spider???
Jan/Susan/Laura....sorry about the lunch and Deb's failed GPS. But it sounds as if you had fun anyway.
Christi.....I see you found your new look! Maybe you might want to consider the biker doo-rag look as permanent??? OK...only kidding! But I bet you look cute!
Buddy....glad to see you are OK. I was getting a bit worried when you didn't check in.
Donna...your vacay sounded soooo nice! Where did you stay in South Haven that you had a lake view? And WOW!!!! Re: your brakes. Talk about having good karma that day!!!!
I know I'm missing half of you but I will have to catch up later. Have a hair appt. at 8am (and a good thing too! Need a trim and maybe something done about my Florida blonde look, altho DH likes it). Then I have to stop by the post office and find out what the h**l happened to the vacay stop. I always have it stopped 2 days before we leave so I can make sure they did it but we found our mailbox stuffed with mail and a bunch more waiting for us. Then I have to call the Daily Herald and find out why they stopped the paper during the week, but not on Sundays. Then I have to call VISA as they decided to issue new numbers to us while we were gone and altho it did not cause us a problem on vacay I am not too happy about their procedure. Then I have 2 more loads of laundry, the grass needs mowing and I need to get to the grocery store where I am buying nothing but salad. For the next month. And where exactly is the laundry fairy, the grass fairy and the never-ending errand fairy????
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Good morning gang... I saw my Onc yesterday. He said 4 or 5 times. Lets just hope it dosent come back and there are no guarantees it wont come back.I cant promise you it wont come back. I asked about getting my port out he said o but if it comes back youll have to have it put back in. He is waiting untill I finish rads to start my 5 year drug. Did any of you wait or did you start it right after chemo. He said different Docs do it differently. I dont see why the wait to start. He does not want to give me a pet scan. He said only if there is a reson or symptoms. I asked the rad doc for one. We will see if I get it. I would like to know if I am all clcear. Whey wait for symptoms. This is such a scarry time. You look forward to finishing chemo. But when its done there is this scarry feeling. Like thats it. Your on your own . Hopefully there is nothing left in there to start growing again.
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Wendrew's Back! Yay! As for dh's back... actually we're leaning toward the Neurosurgeon...but won't know for sure until we consult with him next Wednesday. He's at Northwestern - downtown.
PeeJay - Wow... your ears must have been ringing! Just yesterday, I started writing an e-mail about the 3 mile walk. I saw your e-mail addy and thought - what the heck, I'll include her addy - ya never know, maybe she'll resurface (I will be sending it out today)! Glad you're doing well!
Budder - It really piss** me off when Oncs want girls to keep their port - "just in case". Arghhh! It's more about insurance not wanting to pay for the removal and then possibly reinserting it! My Onc wanted me to keep mine. I flat out said - NO FRICKIN WAY! I want this "thing" taken out! Three days later - it was out! And then a week later...(balder than an Eagle) I was on a plane to Mexico with my Mom and my nieces - for a well needed vacation! I hated the port - it hurt 24/7 for 18 weeks!
Fists up!
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Speaking of Oncs... today is my Onc visit. Since chemo ended in 2006 I saw him every 3 months. The last time he upped it to every 6 months. So this will be my first 6 month stretch. I'm a little nervous... I hate seeing all the chemo patients. But I know it's something I have to do. I haven't decided if I want blood tests done. I probably should but - but the rebel in me says no. lol
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Ah PeeJay, I don't remember you....I'm working on my own address and phone number right now but glad you are back anyhow.
Jan Clare....I plan to read that article...sounds quite interesting. W/o having as yet read a word my gut reaction is that bodies while being basically the same are so different and in order for anything to work I think you would most likely have to have all sorts of testing and everything just so.....not realistic for most people...at least the ones I know.
Buddy....I'd go for getting that port gone, period. There really are no guarantees about recurrences happening. Best you can do is all the standard things -- diet, exercise, maybe meditation and visualization where only healthy cells are allowed in the body. A strong, positive outlook and lots of humor. I didn't start my five yr. drug ( finished rads in late July last year ) until November. I had the pills, but went on vacation ( first one in 33 years ) the last two weeks of October so waited until I got home. Decided I did not want the possibility of any drug reactions to spoil anything I had to wait 33 years for so left the pills home. I did ask about this and I guess the effects of the chemo and recent radiation still have the ability for some time to **wipe** out any errant cell. Technical and I don't always understand these things.....but I think you too will be fine and you don't really need to be in a hurry. Do you know yet which drug you will have?
Laura...being V.A. I have to go to the lab every time and get tested. Oddly enough....I'm not much concerned with the marker number though that could be an early indicator......I just like knowing that all my other levels and blood counts are in good range. An interesting thought on this....you said re: ports and Ins. not wanting to pay for the removal ( excuse please if I mentioned this before ) and about blood test figures. My sugar level was up abit and when I raised my eyebrows....Dr. said...we are not going to worry about that. The figures have been changed so that money can be made as now more testing will be needed and people can be put on meds sooner ---yada-yada-yada. I did not disagree. I really do think our current system is rather outrageous and drug companies rake in the dough one way or the other....this then is one of the others.....changing the standards --- of course we need health care reform---we are so out of control it's pathetic. Ok...I'm not going to get started on that.
I'll be checking in later with all of you through the day. See you then.
Hugs,
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Fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more; whine less, breathe more;
talk less, say more; love more, and all good things will be yours.
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Wendy is back! What a treat to read your post. You were most certainly missed!
JanClare, do not change the time for me. I will be there at one.
Laura, I have a sore throat and will not plan on going to Chicgao tomorrow. I want the sucker sore throat gone!
I am so frustrated with the whole BC cure thing. All this talk of pharmaceutical companies protecting their profits, health insurance inequities, and all the men and women dying down the road with BC is making me sick. Look at the resource of voices we have on the BC.org alone. If we had the organization to put an action program together on these boards alone, there could be a good stab at getting at getting at the truth, if not a cure. There appears to be no standard even on treating BC. The practice seems to vary from doctor to doctor and from insurance plan to insurance plan. And then even with insurance, the poor woman or man has to fight to get what is the "standard" for another patient in another practice with another insurance. I wonder if there are any "conferences" we could attend that tell the real truth about BC research. I know that a woman from another thread went to one with Elizabeth Edwards as the keynote speaker. Edwards allegedly gave the group a less than positive sketch of what is going in research and that she had no political clout to make any difference in the corporate and political worlds of medicine/research on BC. I would like a copy of what she said.
Well, I will now sign up for the walk in September. At least I can do that.
Susan
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Thank you so much girls. You are so good for me. Yes you are right? If my cancer comes back. the least of my worries is haveing a port put back in. I want this foriegn object out of my body. It really does feel very unconfortable. It never dawned on me about the insurance part of it. I appreciate you all so much. Its so pretty out. I think I will try to get out for some fresh air. Lots of Love, Buddy. P.S. My Daughter got to go to FFA camp in Monticello today. Its the first time she has ever been away from home. Its at the 4H camp. Are any of you girls from that area?
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Hi ladies, just a quick note to check in. I'm so sorry it didn't work, I was so frantic, I don't know how many messages I left on Laura's machine! Aargh! Thanks for trying, and I really do think I walked past you guys!
Gotta go and get Daniel, but Laura, can you please call me? I think I missed a call from you but have no message......stupid phone. This is why I got a new phone. Just no clue how to use it! ha!
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Laura - my email address has changed, and I just changed it on here last night, so you might want to make sure you have the right one! My oncologist has his office on one floor, and the chemo on the second floor (how does that make sense??) so I usually don't see the chemo patients when I go. Although sometime I go up and say hi to the nurses. They really made chemo a lot better for me.
IllinoisLady - I think I dropped off the face of the Earth before you started, maybe that's why you dont' remember me hehehe
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BUDDERS..OUT ..GET IT OUT!!! What does the DR think we are..guniea pigs and keeping an uncomfortable device in there is goin to help who????We all have our concerns and for you, live your life and know you are doin all that you can to be vigilant and proactive on your care!!!!
Will write more soon!!!Just so overwhelmed being back from vacation and have three goldens with intestinal distress and one who keeps trying to get in a buuny nest that we just covered and have protected!!!'
Laura..LOVE the FISTS UP Pic!!!
For all.. hope all are ok and enjoying the good weather!!!
Donna
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Hi all! Can't stay long but just thought I'd pop in to say hi. I think of you all often and wonder what everyone's up to. I will try to go back and read the posts, oh so many posts- which is great!
Praying for all those going through tx, and hope each day gets better.
Had my routine followup MRI. Got the results back that everything looked fine. Then got a call from the doc. that my heart looks enlarged (upper range of normal). Had to have an echo. (My last echo wasn't that long ago, 10/08) Waiting on the results. Not really sure what it means. Definitely don't want to google it at this point. Will wait for the results and then research it. Thanks for listening.
Take care everyone.
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