Illinois ladies facing bc
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Kater...yes, I was talking about the Cetaphil lotion. Like you said, it is great! Loved your comment about use when dating a younger man! Got a good chuckle out of that!
I think we are leaning toward that Monday night in Long Grove and do hope that you can arrange things so you can join us! It would be so good to see you again.
Will you be doing tamoxifin or arimidex once the rads are over?
Rita
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In rush to go to radiation, got a scare, for first time probably all year, looked at behind in mirror, there is 4 x 3 inch puffy rectangle above butt crack.
probably why feel like old lady getting up from pc chair.
My uncle has bed sore (first one in one year) and I am queazy with worry, will go to rads and hope the nurse there has some advice!
Kater
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Yes my 3 week followup was uneventful, said to come back in 6 months (everyone wants followup appts!!!!).
I also saw my onc. on Monday, and I did not ask all the questions that are on my mind. I'm thinking maybe I didn't want to know the answers. I will have to get my questions together (i.e. when do i have a scan, mamo, mri,???) and call him, or wait until Dec. when I see him again.
Hoping everyone has a Happy Halloween.
Pat-thinking of you often.
Michele
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Hi ladies:
I love this holiday. Yes, Rita, I dressed up as THE HEAD TABLE at school. I had a square balsa wood with a whole in the center (table) for my head. I glued down a red check table cloth with two servings (plate, cup and napkin) all glued down. It was very awkward and my neck is killing me. Getting through doors gave my students a great chuckle. Poor Mrs. Paprocki kept getting stuck and then got angry because she couldn't get her table through the door. My grandbaby was dressed as a penguin. Too cute.
Kater, the cost of biofene (sp) is obscene! That was one of my lowest points (I had a number) during treatments. I was desperate with bad burns and when I went for the biofene, my insurance rejected it. I can well-afford the stuff, but that stung. I thought of ladies without insurance who just endure. That is why the Susan Komen organzation is the best. They protect women without insurance with breast cancer. I wish, Kater, I had some left over. I swear, I would mail it overnight express to you. $30.00 for 6 ounces of cream! I hope it worked for you.
Pat, always thinking about you. So glad the rads are helping some. You remain so upbeat. Feel free to express your feelings, even if they are not so upbeat.
JanClare, so happy to hear (via Laura) that your tests for stomach issues are coming back as clear. You always look so great that it is hard to imagine that you do not feel good.
Are you ladies one year out feeling normal? I still feel fatigue and I am wondering if that is because of the whole thing (chemo, rads, surgery, worry) or age or a combo of both. I can get through the day, but I need to nap for an hour after school and I awake tired. I sleep extra on weekends and I generally (in my opinion) look tired. I am grateful I am alive, yet I do wonder why I feel so tired. My job is draining and yet I love teaching. I often wonder if I should retire one year earlier and just take care of myself. Then I wonder if work is not good for me. Do any of you have any thoughts on the fatigue factor? Please do not respond if you are feeling more perky than ever
!Hope all is well. I look forward each day to checking in to hear from my strong "women-type" friends from across Illinois. You each make me stronger (even though I am exhausted) and I am grateful to each one of you!
Susan
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Hi Girls - geesh...you can cut off my arm, but don't cut off my Internet Access! LOL I was without it for 24 hours! Supposedly, a landscaping crew cut the lines to my house. I had NO PHONE and NO DSL! This has been quite stressful...as I work from home and all my communication with my client is VIA INTERNET! LOL Yikes...Calgon take me away! But now it's back...I'm up and running...and I will catch up accordingly.
That Monday in Long Grove is magnifico! I have a 20% off coupon at the restaurant on the pond, if you girls are interested in going there.
kater - awwww...I hope you heal quickly. I too, wish I had some biofene to offer you! But I do have Aquaphor that I would be happy to send to you...let me know, dear.
Susan - You will be tired for a little while longer. But, really... less and less as time goes on. Your costume sounds great! : ) This is quite a creative bunch of gals...do you think it's something in the Illinois water! LOL
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I have to go...I received 237 e-mails while my conectivity was down! Yikes...I need to hire a personal assistant.
Be well...be tough...be happy!
(btw...I'm a little concerned...why am I still on the every 3 month Onc f/u schedule? Does he know something I don't? Even the girls in my October chemo group are starting to go on the every 6 month schedule!...I am sooooooo paranoid!)
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Laura-Where is the restaurant on the pond? (I know-on the pond!
)Long Grove? Do you know the name of it?Any place is fine with me
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Laura, I want you to feel glad your onc is watching you so closely. I am kind of tired of other departments pooh poohing everything. MyMom has been going every three months since 2005 to her oncologist.
New arrival on backside
Today I asked to talk to the radiation nurse, the tech said she would be around tomorrow. He said, what is wrong? I showed him the puffiness above my behind (above crack) and he went and got the radiation doctor...who used the word "probably benign" which scared the hell out of me.
(I am hoping it is from playing those 2 nights of volleyball, i played monday, wednesday and thursday i was severely sore as mentioned before....ever since....after sitting for any amount of time or getting up out of couch, chair, car, etc.) That was 3 weeks ago.
He said something like the word lymphoma, lymphodema?
that it needs to be ultrasounded and who was my primary doctor? He took the contact information and I said I would be there anyway with my mother, tomorrow, so ...long story short, she'll look at it Thursday afternoon and give me an ultrasound order hopefully.
He also said that some will say "take it out" and some will say "leave it just the way it is".
We tried to photograph it tonight, it was difficult, one of the first shots I took in the mirror looked like a pregnant lady!! Yikes! That's a first for ME!
smile. (I'm 49.6 approximately).
Long Grove
I will ask my cousin to take Mark to volleyball that Monday night.
Thanks for offers of cream, etc. I have it, just not sure when to stop biafine...had another one waiting at pharmacy and I'm not sure If i should have them send it back or what. I probably have enough with first two 90 gram tubes it seems. Now they are just boosting...I have aquaphor bottle somewhere in this house! In the meantime they gave me 5 small samples that keep popping up various places.
Speaking about prescriptions, I read in Mamm magazine that tamoxifen is $20-30 a month and arimidex, etc. $200-300 a month.
Rita,
I go on tamoxifen until I get ovaries out and the switch to arimidex, so I was told by oncologist. I saw on tv something called t?xaccess.com and i know there is a rxforIllinois.com and also Canadian rxnorth.com I will have to check out.
250 for five years, monthly if i figured right is 15k!
Laura, I know what you meant about net access and employer. I have satellite and dialup is my backup, but what a mess the past month i had so much trouble with mine. Actually, it's been months since i bought upgrade modem from hughes.net...and this happened before, it works perfectly, but when you have a modem that they cant charge more for until you install it, things start to go wrong! I could be incorrect, but it sure makes you wonder. So I finally upgraded and no problems now.
I still am disgusted there is no easy route to getting copy and paste back into Firefox. I thought the last upgrade might fix that but no go.
Kater
Did I tell you I was up late on computer and at 430 I went to bed and I wondered where (april) new little dog was. I called him and he started flipping out when he came to the couch.
Turns out, he had a no. 2 movement into some cockleburrs! If I remember right, I was cutting and pulling for 2 hours til 6:30...he was such a good dog, I dont know him well enough, so I was so afraid he would bite me, I was not at all sure it wasnt an inflammation (i knew we removed his balls, but.....ahemmm).....I cant smell so I wasn't sure what that "ball" was so I was trying to be really careful. After I put gloves on it was a lot easier!
It just started the day out right....then uncle's bed sore looked worse.....swelling, etc.
I hope it's all false alarm. I feel better now that I'm home.
k
HI TO PAT!!
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i am not worried now, I think he said "lipoma"
wikipedia says it's usually benign, as well.
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Hi all- I'm finally feeling like I'm crawling up from under my mountain of work. I've done almost nothing but work and sleep since I got back. That and limp around- would you believe I badly sprained my ankle the same night I came back from Charlotte? Thank goodness it was after and not before! My ankle is still rather wonky. It's just going to take time to heal.
So far all my medical test have come back normal. That's good news- except it doesn't seem so normal when you're throwing up or getting dizzy.
The Avon walk was outstanding, but it was tough! It took us 8.5 hours to do the first day's walk. We thought we would be done in less then 7 hours- but the streets are not closed, and waiting at the corners really adds to your time.
It was a weekend of emotional highs and physical lows. The most touching moment at the opening ceremony was when they passed on the official "Connection Ribbon" which represented that every 3 minutes another woman (or man) is diagnosed with BC. To remind us of that sobering fact, they also passed out connection ribbons throughout the walk- one every 3 minutes- to someone invlved with the walk. It didn't have to be a walker- it could be staff or volunteers as well. I was handed a Connection Ribbon at 5:30 am in the morning on Sunday when we were seeking coffee to warm up. I told the person who handed it to me, "but I already lost this lottery!". I was proud to wear the ribbon, but sad to think of the person with BC that ribbon represented.
Both days were very bright and sunny- and quite hot! It got to 90 degrees on Sunday. But camping overnight it got very cold, down to 47 degrees. Also, Charlotte was very hilly, it really got to our glutes and shins. So we were sore, tired and cold on Sunday morning.
After doing the full marathon distance on Saturday, we took our time on Sunday. They gave us over 7 hours to do the half marathon- we just strolled along and still finished in under 5.5 hours.
The closing ceremony, I was so happy and so tearful at the same time. I couldn't believe we had actually completed this walk. I met so many wonderful people and talked to survivors from all over. The survivors were asked to walk in first and I carried one corner of the banner. We were brought up on stage to be acknowledged, and I raised my fists in triumph and thought, "No Surrender!", and yelled- "Yes, Yes, Yes!" Got the crowd going again! But I really sobbed when they said that 143 people had lost their battle with BC since we started the walk. Those poor grieving families that this terrible disease affects.
I hope that every BC sister who is considering doing a walk gets the chance. It was so worth all the training, the hard work, the fund raising.
I set up a slideshow of my photos from Charlotte. My boys set me up with Image Shack, but I'm not so sure I like it. I would have liked to have music, but I kept mucking it up somehow. Also, I HATE how the photos track to the left and get smaller, but that's how Image Shack's slideshows work. There is no option to get it to stop. You end up losing part of the photo, which stinks! I'm most seriously displeased! But I hope you like the photos anyway:
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Hi gals! It looks like we're going to have another great Illinois fall day. I'm taking advantage of the situation and compromised....only 9 holes of golf this afternoon after I finish some of the things that need to be done around this house.
Kater....I will be thinking about you this afternoon. It seems like there is always something that pops up its ugly head during this journey. Please let us know what you find out. The "not knowing" is so nerve-wracking!
Susan, I loved your costume description and the trouble you had manipulating through doors and hallways! It reminds me of one of my costumes back in the dark ages. It was in the early 50's and TV's were the "in" technology of the age. My father got a big box and made me into a console TV. The screen area was cut out for my face and we glued on objects for the knobs, etc. The only problem was that the box was too long. I looked great while I was standing up but since the box didn't bend well, I had lots of trouble sitting down. If I scooted the box upward, my head was below the TV screen area and I couldn't see. I guess that was my first indication where my lack of creativity came from! :-) I did, however, always dress up when I taught....even until the end and we always had a good time.
As for your fatigue, Susan. I still have it, too and I'm not working everyday and following a regimented schedule. I have gotten to the point where sleeping is not a major issue any more. I guess I'm adjusting to the side effects of the Arimidex, but I am tired alot of the time. I think it's just going to take us some time to get our bodies back to where they were before they were bombarded with all the chemicals and rads. I'm going to my primary care physician tomorrow and will ask about it while I'm there.
As for where we eat in Long Grove, I don't care. You gals know the area and the good eating establishments. Just give Mary Jane and I directions and we will be there. :-)
Laura, glad you are back in operation. I'd be lost with out my Internet service. YIKES!!!!
JanClare....so glad the walk went well for you. I watched your slide show and tears trickled down my cheeks. These walks are so emotional! Thanks for walking for us girls. We all need to do our part to help find a cure. You are a very dynamic woman that I feel so fortunate to know!
Hello to everyone else. I guess if I plan on golfing this afternoon I need to get my chores done around the house. I'm such a great procrastinator when it comes to housework.
Catch you all later.
Rita
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Hi ladies-
Good news about my niece her surgical biopsy was a week ago,she e-mailed me on Monday to tell me the results were benign.WooHoo!!!!!
Rita- My brother is a golfer and is so enjoying getting all the golfing time in that he can.
Laura- Glad you're back on line. Your question about follow-up time line: I was diagnosed in 2003 and it was just this year that I was upgraded or would that be down graded in seeing my Oncologist and Surgeon every six months now instead of every three.
kater-Hope you got good news about the area on your back.
Pat-Sending (((HUGS))), hoping you are comfortable and getting relief from your pain.
Michele-Glad to hear you had an uneventful follow-up visit.
Connie-How are you doing?
Susan- Your costume sounds great, did anyone get a picture?
JanClare-I loved the slideshow. Congrats for walking the distance.
If the weather is okay that day in November I'd like to try to make the dinner get together. I have PVD so driving at night with those darn eye flashes is distracting so I rarely drive at night.
Here's my granddaughter and son-in-law on Halloween
Here's my granddaughter dressed for her school's
Halloween party. (Same granddaughter, same day different costume)
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Hi Ladies -
I had my last Taxol yesterday!! WooHoo! It's exciting but scary at the same time. I even got a certificate of achievement for courage and bravery signed my all the nurses - ha. I felt like the Cowardly Lion receiving his courage!
I am to go back to the onc in 2 weeks to discuss Tamoxifen. He said he would keep me on that for 2-3 years and then see if I am really in menopause (haven't had a period since I started chemo). If I am then we can discuss a switch to an AI. He told me I can get my port out anytime which I was glad about as I have heard that some docs want Stage III girls to leave it in "just in case". He brought that up and said he doesn't like that way of thinking because he thinks it is pessimistic. I told him I like his way of thinking!! We also discussed how you feel after ending chemo and he acknowledged that this is probably one of the hardest times other than diagnosis. He said some women describe it as sitting around "waiting" rather than "fighting". I think he knew that I was getting a bit emotional discussing these things so he added "I actually am very optimistic about you - your tumor was large, but you only had a few cells in one node and your hormone receptors were positive so we can treat it that way. I could have jumped up and kissed him for saying that. He is a great doc and always listens to me, but he has never really given me his opinion about my odds.
Kater - sorry to hear about your scare - let us know what the outcome is. You are in my thoughts.
JanClare - good to hear from you. Thanks for giving all the details of the walk. Sounds very uplifting. Hope they can figure out what is going on with your dizziness!
kats - great news about your niece. And great pictures of your granddaughter.
Hope everyone has a great day!
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Way to go, Connie!!! YAH HOO! Done! Finished! You did it!
I know how displaced and emotional you are right now. Up until now we've been using all our energy to fight this beast. Now it seems like we're not doing anything to conteract it and it's so scary! Hey, I think I'm probably the only person who cried as I walked out the chemo room doors for the last time.......and I guarantee you it wasn't because I wanted to come back in. LOL It's been a couple of months for me now. I'm adjusting to the Arimidex and most of these displaced feelings have been buried. Time does work in our favor, I think and it sounds like your onc gave you a very good prognosis. That's super, gal!!!! It's been one heck of a year, hasn't it? But it's behind us now and we're moving on to better days!
CONGRATS AGAIN, CONNIE!!!
Rita
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Hi Connie:
I am so happy for you. My treatment ended in March and I am still thinking about it all the time. I have what you would call "triggers" that set off anxiety. I get a pain (trigger) and I think I have it in my bones. I was somewhat anxious about my health before all the BC, so the dx really hit me hard. If I hear that a woman has a recurrence, I wonder when mine will occur. Why should I be so lucky, I wonder. And like Michelle, I do not ask the questions. Unless the doctor suggests a scan, I am prefectly okay not having one. I just want to go on and I guess do so in some denial. Knowledge is power for most. Often I freeze and stall with new knowledge. I am hoping it will get easier with time. But this is a hard time for you and you are lucky your doctor articulated that reality for you.
Hope your weekends are the best!
Susan
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Hi gals,
Well, I had my visit to my primary physician today. She felt that lump in the lumpectomy breast and agreed with the radiation oncologist that it is radiation damaged tissue. She doesn't think that the swelling below my breast is anything to worry about and told me to wait and ask my surgeon about it on Dec. 4th. I love my primary care physician. She is so thorough and so understanding. I told her about my inability to sleep. It is getting better but I still have it about every fourth or fifth night. She got right on the phone and called my oncologist and then wrote me out a prescription for Xanax to use when I needed it. I hate pumping my body full of medications so I'm sure I won't misuse it but it sure is nice to know that I have options other than Tylenol PM.
Susan, I asked her about the fatigue and she said that many people experience lots of fatigue for 9 to 12 months after the end of treatments. She said that proper diet and exercise would help but that it is very common and to be expected, especially if the patient hasn't curtailed their active life styles during the journey. Also patients who go through radiation have alot more cumulative fatigue than those that don't.
Hope you are comfortable, Pat and that the pain has subsided. You are constantly in my thoughts and in my prayers.
Kats...I do hope that you will be able to join us for dinner in November. Maybe you live close enough to somebody that they can come and pick you up if driving is a problem????? We'll figure out something as it gets closer.
Kater.... I've been thinking about you and hoping that you got good news. Please let us know as soon as you have results. Sending good vibes your way!!!
Hello to all you other gals. I hope everybody has a great weekend.
Rita
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Rita:
Thanks for asking the questions I fail to ask and then getting answers for me. I am grateful to hear that the fatigue is normal. My job is very demanding....meeting the needs of 85 students. We take them on annual DC trips and I backed off this year (and of course couldn't last year). I am running the alternative trip for kids not going to DC. It means trapsing about Chicago (museums, the Holocaust museum, etc). That alone will tire me. I know I need to exercise more. I am very active, yet that doesn't equate to exercise. I do worry that my crazy lifestyle, which includes the stresses, may be detrimental to my general health.
I have taken Xanax before and it does the trick of letting you relax so you can sleep. Be nice to yourself and take the meds when you need them. My primary wanted me to take an antidepressant for the worry/triggers I spoke of earlier. I tried Lexapro and I just don't feel okay on it. I cannot get past a half pill! I have no trouble with Xanax but you can get dependent and so I am not a candidate as my worries do not appear transitory in nature.
I am glad you have a great primary. I do as well. He really understands the whole person and that really helps.
Have a nice day tomorrow. Pat, I am thinking of you. I may not sound that strong in this post, but people tell me I am. I am thinking strong thoughts for you.
Susan
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Morning girls! Just reading thru all the posts and it seems like most everyone is doing pretty good.
JanClare...how's the ankle feeling? Hope it gets feeling less "wonky" so you can enjoy these nice fall days we've been having.
Laura.....I can sympathize with you about no dsl for a day. Mine seems to come and go these days as they start building the new bridge right here on Rt 31. They SAY they haven't hit anything but you know how that goes!
Connie.....YAY! It is funny how we counted down the days until we were finished and then we really didn't want to finish after all! I know it is because we figured the cancer couldn't come back as long as we were getting chemo...we were safe for that little while. Actually that's not entirely true but I sure felt safer. I have only 4 Herceptins left and then the onc already said go ahead and make arrangements to have my port out anytime after 1/23. And I don't want to...want to keep it around, just in case. He just laughed at me, said most patients are the same. Nice to know I am "normal"!!
Rita....still golfing I see. Good for you and great exercise to boot. Am sorry to see you are still having a bit of trouble with the arimidex. So far except for a bit of joint discomfort first thing on getting out of bed, I am OK after 3 months so I am hoping that will be that.
Susan.....you are so lucky you can dress up for school My dh is a principal in Bartlett and the Elgin School District won't let teachers or kids dress up. They do have a "fall festival" the Saturday before Halloween and they get to do it then. Why you ask? Well...and I hope I am not insulting anyone here....but some parents mightily object to Halloween as it is all about devil worship and they will pull their kids out of school. I guess there is some truth about the history factor of Halloween and all but kids just want to dress silly and get lots of candy. So sad (to me, anyway) to hear about these little kids who see all the trick or treaters and don't get to go. So I am happy that you get to have fun with your students! And I won't mention that I am one of those pesty little "perky" people who actually never felt fatigued all thru chemo/rads and actually feel more energized now then I did a year ago. But of course you should be tired...you have been "Fighting" with a capital "F" for months and months.
Kats....good to hear about your niece. Benign is my new favorite word.
Anyone hear from Nicki anymore? Hope she is OK.
And Pat.....I think about you often and I hear that rads is helping with your pain and that you are moving around better than you were. That is so good to hear and I am so admiring of your spirit and your determination. Hugs and smiles, my friend, hugs and smiles!
Kate.....lipoma would be a very OK thing to have. Lets hope that what it is! Let us know as soon as you know, OK?
Hope everyone else is doing well. Have a great day ladies and get out there and enjoy today and tomorrow....looks like colder days ahead for us here in Illinois next week with ... dare I say it....snow flurries a possibility!
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A big hello to all my Illinois friends. Yes I have been missing in action for a very long time. My job has gotten the best of me, keeping me very busy and leaving me without much computer time anymore.
I think things got crazy around the same time bco changed the boards. I realized I couldnt not get up any earlier in the morning to talk to everyone. If I did that I would not get any sleep at all.
Being a lazy Saturday, I actually have some time to read all thats going on. Im so far behind I will never catch up. So I just wanted to say hello.
Fitpatti: Im saddened to hear you are not feeling well. You will be in my prayers everyday. Hoping that you can get your pain under control. I know this might sound crazy, but for some reason I have been dealing with many cancer patients with mets. An old drug, but newer option is Methadone. It works wonders for the pain. I was also thinking maybe you could get one of those beds for you at home. Good chance insurance will cover it.
LauraGTO: I graduated to every 4 month visits with onc after my 2 year anniversary.
Wendy: Ha see Im here. What a coincidence I was reading and saw your post.
Hope you all have a wonderful day.
Nicki
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I want to thank all you ladies who I received cards and well wishes from. It has meant so much to me. As soon as I am strong enough I will thank you each personally. I am taking everthing I know to keep the vomiting, nausea and pain at a point where I can stand it. I will rap up rads on Tuesday. I have tape and markers all up and down my abdomen, back and shoulders. I think the rads have helped. The onc did talk of changing me to methadone next week because I have a hard time keeping down Oxycontin or Morphine. We will see. My family is helping me out around the clock or I am not sure what I would have done. Still have not worked out the problems associated with insurance and hospice. Don't have the energy to fight about it on the phone anymore for now. This will all work out. Still can't sit up in a chair long. I really hope everything is going well for all of you out there. I think of so many patients I have taken care of over the years and it gives me hope.......Pat
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Pat: are you a nurse? Seems like the methadone is working for many. The last thing you need to think about now is insurance woes. I do believe everything works out. Sending you a big hug.
Nicki
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Pat...so good to get your update! I'm glad the rads have helped. I am sure that I speak for everybody when I say that there is no need for personal thank-yous. You just personally thanked us on this thread. The only thing you need to do is to enjoy the good wishes and vibes that are sent your way and take care of yourself, keeping in mind that we are all thinking about you!
Kats...I loved the Halloween pictures and the pumpkins on the steps. They were both pretty neat. Thanks for sharing. Also, I'm so happy to hear that your niece's biopsy came back B9!!!!! YEAH!!!
Jan..hope the ankle is healing and that the vomiting has stopped. You're due for a reprieve here!
Wendy..I'm glad you're tolerating the arimidex well. I haven't had the joint pains as of yet.
Nicki..so GLAD to hear from you. You have been missed here in Illinois land. Besides busy, how are things going for you?
Kater....still thinking about you! Check in when you can and let us know what you found out about your "back" area.
Ginny....are you still experiencing aches and pains from the Arimidex?
MaryJane and Ann...pop right on and say Hello anytime.
Hello to Larua, Mazy, Nancy, Smerf, Michele, Catherine and anybody else that my chemo brain missed! Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Rita
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Rita: Im doing good. Working way too hard. I have enjoyed today, just reading about everyone and hearing how you all are doing.
I need more info about the Long Grove thing. Im sure I could easily be in the area.
Kats: I would be glad to drive if its not too late. Ya know, work the next day and all.
Pat: Did we meet at the get together this past summer?
LauraGTO: DH says hello and of course so do I
Nicki
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I just took a trip down memory lane. Starting reading this thread from the beginning.
Pat: I just dont know what to say. I see you are an RN this has all happened so fast. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you.
Nicki
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Hi girls....
Pat...do not bother to send out personal thanks...it was never expected and you just did! I hope that the methadone will help you and I am so glad that you seem to have so much support and help. That insurance thing is ridiculous. I'm a nurse but a huge part of my last job was personally going after every ins co which refused to pay up and I NEVER LOST A CASE! If you need help with something, let me know via PM. I could see what I could do on your behalf...letters, phone calls...whatever you need. Any time!
And Nicki! You are back! Yay!!!!!!
Kate....haven't heard from you...how's the back thingy?
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Maybe someone from your family, Pat, could explain the insurance issues with one of us. Is hospice the issue? Wendy sure appears to be a good resource. I would like to help in any way I can.
Susan
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Hi all, I read most of the posts that come to my email and now I realize I have not been getting them for days....so I'm way behind.
Lipoma?
I am supposed to get an MRI for that rectangular, about 4x3 inches?
Lump above the butt crack, hopefully a lipoma....fatty thing...so girls, keep an eye on all areas of the body, I had not been looking back there! They wondered how long I had it and i have no idea.
I have radiation through this Wednesday, another radiation doctor said he wanted me to have 3 extra boosts, he wanted to be more aggressive than the initial radiation doctor.
Biotine?
I bought an extra tube just in case but is that really right, don't use it after radiation?
It's probably a good idea to take digital photos with date set right...I was doing that daily but stopped for a few days, also I was only doing where radiation was...
and of my hair...i think i got eyebrows and some eyelashes back in the past few days!! They had seemed to have all fallen out several weeks ago gradually (last chemo aug 14)....
I was taking photos in the mirror which isnt the best route to take but my pets dont know how to take a photo. I kept a camera near the bathroom to help remind me.
GOOD LUCK PAT....we are all worried about you and for sure, no need to answer all of us individually. Know that we care.
Kater
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Why am I so sore? Fingers stiff....every time I bend or crouch or get out of bed or off computer chair, groan....
It's not the pills I take, is it radiation? (I dont take pills yet)
(Last week of radiation)..
Kater
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Kater....So glad to hear from you. Lipoma, eh? O.K....that's what we're hoping for. Hey we can do fatty spots! I have lots on them on my body! LOL Do you have the MRI all scheduled?
As for the aches and pains at the end of radiation, I had that, too. Our body has taken a beating through all this and we're more fatigued that we know sometimes. It took me about four weeks before they all left, and I have not had them with the Arimidex. (Knock on wood, as I know they can still appear at any time.) I think these aches and pains are our body's way of telling us that it's been through extreme turmoil and it's tired of it!
As for the biafine, I was told to use Cetaphil lotion instead of the biafine once the rads were done. Just like everything else, I'm sure every radiation oncologist has their own opinion about how it should be done.
Laura...I've missed you! What's new with you?
Catch you all later. I have books to return to the library.
Rita
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When it rains it pours....inside our bedroom! Have spent a few days getting hold of roofer for repairs. I think they finished just in time, as it looks threatening out there. I thought the basement was enough, but I guess not. It's always something, but I'm glad now that it's only the house, and hubby and I are doing well.
Susan If it helps, I'm more tired than before tx too. I told my gyn at my August visit, and she told me it took her five years to get her energy back! That made me feel better, especially as she's also much younger than I. She is a fifteen year survivor, and I feel better every time I see her.
Kater I'm thinking of you, and hoping for lipoma too. I have had a fatty spot, and it was nothing. I think aches and pains are common after tx. I have them too, and fingers have more arthritis than before. I developed "trigger finger" in one, and found out it has happened to a few other women I've met since their tx. It's been more than a year now since chemo, and the fingers are getting better.
Patti Thoughts and prayers are always with you.
Nikki Yes, we did meet at the summer gathering. I've missed your cartoons as they never failed to make me smile. How is everything going for you? I've often wondered if you're in the neighborhood of RNS. Hope to see you in November!
JanClare I so hope you are getting some answers, and that you're feeling better. I can't believe all that you get done, even when not feeling up to snuff. You put me to shame. Congrats on completing the walk. You should be so proud!
Connie Congratulations on finishing chemo! Many experience a let down afterwards, and my onc and breast surgeon told me to be prepared for it. Happy most of the time, but surprisingly sad sometimes. My husband was ecstatic, and didn't understand my sad moments at all. After awhile happy times win out!
A big hello to everyone else, and hope you're all feeling well.
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radiation nurse said to take advil for swelling.
radiation dr. said an mri of possible lipoma was a 3000 ridiculous call by radiologist (my primary care dr called to ask what to prescribe)...
so I now have order for just an ultrasound.
kater
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