Anyone starting Chemo in Feb?
Comments
-
Hope you all had a great weekend, pity it is not a holiday weekend as it is here. Like Canada we have both Good Friday and the Monday after as public holidays, quite surprised that this is not the same for you.
Went shopping with DD today as I had to buy my own birthday present for tomorrow. I think DH is quite happy about this as he hates shopping. End of season sales today which was good. Most shops are closed Friday to Sunday over Easter so today everyone was out today looking for bargins.
Went with DS to hear DD sing and we all had a very pleasant dinner - this made up for missing my special weekend away that we had booked.
DH will have various tests tomorrow so hope they make some decision about what can be done to sort the problem out.
Leah, we have had a much longer period of daylight saving over summer. I think we have another two weeks to go and it started two weeks earlier as well. Not sure whose idea it was.
Now it is time for bed.
Alyson
0 -
CATHERINE>I can believe you got snow, it was soooo cold here yesterday for Easter! We probably hit the 30s this morning.
My DH got Good Friday off for a change, he thought it was a federal holiday and thought the mailman and bankers were off too but they were working. But it was a rare GF off his company gave them. Its back to the grind for him this morning...
0 -
Short note, got to get into bed for work tomorrow.
First, hallelujah Melanie. Great news.
Alyson, hope your DH has some good news. Prayers for his health.
At this stage of our lives, our life partners are so important to us. It is so scary to have them ill.
Carynn, I will download Skype tonight or tomorrow.
Catherine, how exciting to be knitting. I wish I knew how. My granddaughter's French grandmother taught her to knit and now she knits for relaxation. She knitted me some caps for my bald head. Also, she knits at college for all her friends. What a relaxing talent.
Hillary, glad you are over the flu. I was exposed in Houston, but so far so good. I keep taking my Ester C and all my other vitamins.
The remodeling continues. DH painted ceilings today and tonight. Looking good. They should install new lighting fixtures tomorrow.
The granite is scheduled for April 2.
I worked in the yard while DH painted. He hates yard work and is a mosquito magnet. So, I cut back tons of shrubs. Hopefully the lawn care guys will hall off all the clippings.
Hi Leah, Pat,Phil,Jan.
Twink, what a fun time with sisters. I only have one. Your are so blessed. Hope you are feeling well. Excited about the move?
Hugs and warm wishes to all. Sammie Kay
0 -
P.S. We changed modems, so were without internet access all weekend, bummer. That is why I haven't been online. Sammie Kay
0 -
Hi girls...I am so sorry to have been away from you all for so long. I have just been busy and to tell the truth a little down and not feeling like talking. In addition, the kids have been on the computer a lot and by the time they are off, I am asleep. Have been leaving earlier in the morning too, so no time then either.
The dance competition was fun. DD won a silver for her solo, the group won gold for jazz & lyrical and a platinum medal for their production number. Of course it was St. Patricks day in Pittsburgh and besides the parade Sat morning (Hillary Clinton in attendance) they closed down the street at Station Square (where our hotel was) and the beer flowed all day. Green beads in abundance! We were very busy with dancing, so it didn't bother us.
Our Easter was cold too...had 6 inches of snow. But I cooked dinner for 8 and then visited my sister & family in the evening.
Melanie....what a relief for you! Alyson, hope DH is doing better and gets home soon.
I have been extremely busy at work and we have some problems, so that has me pretty much exhausted. If I sit down on the couch too early...I am gone...zzzzz
That has me depressed...along with the itching on my breast, which is continuing....I see my rad onc next week for a checkup. So will see what he says.
Everyone says I look great....then why don't I feel so peppy and great???
So tell me....is Skype an online chat? Do you have to have a webcam? Can I use it without one?
Well...off to the daily grind....I have missed you all.
0 -
Terry --
I'm still feeling exhausted as well, and I'm only working part-time. I've just finished my rounds of doctor visits and they all say that it is normal (although not typical) to still be exhausted at this point.
I, too, am getting *tired* of all the comments on how great I look ... I just smile weakly, thank them, and say that sleeping 10+ hours a night helps. It lets folks know that my *good looks* are only because I'm taking care of myself and that I'm not fully recovered!!
I love how my husband puts it -- Hillary is working part-time and sleeping more than full-time!
Hugs,
Hillary0 -
Terry,
Skype is an online chat which has the capability to transmit video if you have a webcam. You can hear voice, or you can just do an IM-kind of chat also without voice. So download it, and let's get going! Send a PM to whoever you want to talk to and get their SKYPE name if they haven't made it public...
Regards.
0 -
Hi all
what a couple of days I have had. DH is having a pacemaker put in today, thank goodness something is being done as I wasn't happy about him coming home while he was having these heart 'pauses'. They still haven't decided what to do about the valve, that could be months away especially in the public system.
Got a call from DD about 2 am on Tuesday morning, she was in terrible pain which I could see once I had driven over to her place so took her into the Emergency dept. Thought it was either kidney or gallbladder. The Docs are still not sure so she is in hospital and will have an investigation today.
I went to school yesterday but have decided to have the next couple of days off, I am so tired.
Terry and Hillary. I know the last few days have made me extra tired if that is possible. I really thought that by now I would have some 'get up and go' unfortunately it has got up and gone as I get homew from school, sit down with a cup of tea and go to sleep, I just have no energy.
Terry do get skype, its great talk even though I have problems with time difference.
i should get moving as I have to go the DDs and talk to her cat for a while, as she will be lonely. Then I will go up to the hospital and visit my family.
Have agood day
Alyson
0 -
Terry, great to have you back. Sorry you are down. I went through a period like that in Jan. I am taking Lexapro and it seems to have helped. I will probably start weaning off of it soon. I seem to always go through that in Jan. Not related to breast cancer. Seems like winter has been here forever. Hurry spring.
I have had the same tired feelings also. I mentioned to my oncologist that I didn't seem to have any energy reserves. I go to work and come home exhausted. I told him I thought it was because I am getting older. He said it wasn't that, it was that I finished chemo 8 months ago. He said it takes a year or more to get back to the level one was before chemo.
Hugs to all. Sammie Kay
0 -
A whole year to be "normal" again! That takes me until July. I guess I don't feel so bad then. And yes, Winter has been very long. They are still calling for snow....minimal accumulation though.
I am really struggling with work. Personnel problems and my supervisor won't take charge. I am in the middle. In fact, I need to call HR this morning about another problem I discovered yesterday.
Oh well.
Alyson...so glad DH is having something done. I wouldn't want to bring him home either with those problems.....hope your DD is okay and they discover her problem quickly.
Well...must get moving....love you all.
0 -
Hello, All...
In the continuing saga of meeting all the wonderful women who make up the FCCers, Hilary, Phyl and I met in Philadelphia today for a lunch. It was a very wonderful place, and the waiters asked us if we were celebrating anything special. Phyl answered, "we are celebrating life!" and that was truly the feeling. As before, it felt as if we knew each other and were just catching up...
Here we are, left to right, Phyl, Me, and Hilary..
0 -
Aha, Leah beat me to the punch.
You've heard of the two martini lunch. Well, this was the two bottles of wine lunch. Leah and I got there early and polished off most of a bottle before Phyl got there!
(Do you remember way back when the discussion about how we were coping with chemo. We came up with this theory that you would have a rough time with chemo if you suffered from any two of the following: morning sickness, motion sickness, and cheap drunk. If you remember, I was yes, yes, and yes. So, I'm a bit smashed! Fortunately, I took the train in to town!!)
OK. we've seen pictures of Leah (thanks to the Florida trip) and you've seen pictures of me (thanks to Twilah), but Phyl was a mystery. She is gorgeous. Tall, thin, and gorgeous green eyes.
We learned a lot about each other, and discovered that we are three very accomplished women!!!!
Twilah, you were missed. Also, I know that you left a message on my cell phone, but it's a new cell phone and I can't figure out how to retrieve my messages!
So, we closed out the restaurant for lunch, but the waitstaff was very understanding. One of them whispered to us that his aunt was a bc survivor!
Got to make dinner for ds ... more later ...
Hugs,
Hillary0 -
P.S. I don't know if any of you get the magazine CURE. In the latest issues, there's an article about dealing with cancer when you have young children. Near the end of the article is a short paragraph and me and my ds.
0 -
OK, sobered up a bit ...
One of the things that really struck me (well all of us at lunch) is what an accomplished and interesting group of women we are. Having already met Twilah, and now meeting Phyl and Leah, and hearing from Leah about Marsha and Melanie, I can't help but be amazed about our group and even more anxious and excited about meeting the rest of us. Phyl, Leah, and I are going to try to do another Philly area get together before Twilah moves (are you listening Twilah?). And, we're all hoping to make the next FCC reunion, which I hear might be in Dallas.
Hugs,
Hillary0 -
Hi all -
Just a quick one for now. I think I mentioned that I have been reading the John Adams book; yes it's the one that the HBO movie is based on. Only have about 100 pages to go. That makes me very happy as I was so worried that the movie would pass where I was in the book. If that happened, I knew I'd stop reading. But looks like I'll finish it before part four of the movie starts Sunday.
I saw Senator Arlen Spector on a morning talk show the other day. He talked about battling cancer and doing chemo while Congress was still in session. He came across as really open with a great sense of humor while dealing with his tx, hair loss etc. He spoke about life after tx as well. I can use some pearls of wisdom in that department! Anyway, he has a new book out called "Never Give In." I was intrigued, picked it up this afternoon.
So, off to read back to see what you all are up to and start / finish my books. I did see where there was a lunch today. You all look so fabulous! And Phyl! How nice to see you!
Have a wonderful evening all
0 -
I'm so bummed to have missed the Philly lunch. I'm going to whine for just a moment here then I'll move on. I stayed home from work on Monday to try and make a dent in the house-organizing that has to be done before we can start showing the home. I think I overdid the lifting and bending and ended up with a sore back. When I got to Dallas, there was one spot on my rib cage that was incredibly sore to the touch. It just got worse with each passing day and, of course, I figured the worst. Thinking along those lines ruined my mood for the week. Meetings got shuffled around and I ended up having to stay until 5PM last night (arrived at PHL around 9:30). I'm relieved to say the pain is gone but, DAMN, I can't stand this worrying about every little ache and pain and I seem to have a lot of them lately. DAMN DAMN DAMN and a BLAH (for Melanie
). Okay. Enough of that.Let's get the date set for the next Philly lunch and I promise to be there. Sounds like you girls had a blast.... two bottles of wine? Ahem.
I am getting a little excited about the move. It's the house hunting that's doing it to me. I fall in love with one out of six houses I see. This past trip I fell in love with one that was totally inpractical... stairs too difficult to navigate for the aging dogs, small bedrooms to make the teenagers expecially unhappy, no office nor exercise room... but... the kitchen, family room, backyard, common living areas were absolutely stunning. All custom and quirky. I just loved it. Then I found my sense and told the agent to keep looking.
I went shopping this morning for a little retail therapy to make up for my pissy mood all week. I feel much better now... shoes, shirts, pants, sweaters, cosmetics... Ahhhhh. Does wonders for my spirits. I bought a DVD for yoga and CD for meditation, both of which I've been trying to dabble in lately without much success. I'm hopeful the instruction will help me find the groove.
Melanie, I'm flying in to Dallas on Tuesday and DH is going to fly in on Friday AM. We're going to schedule a little house-hunting but would love to get together with you over the weekend. I know you're going to be busy with race related activities so don't feel bad if you're not free. There'll be other opportunities in Dallas... The location of the next FCC gathering!!!!
Hugs all.
0 -
Just looked at yesterday's pic of Phyl, Leah and Hillary again. You guys look wonderful!
Leah, you're looking a little tanned... been to Florida lately? Hillary, your hair is really growing quickly and, honestly, you do look wonderful (ducks). Phyl, I wish I'd been there to meet you in person.
Yoohoo.... Marsha....where are youuuuuuuuuuu?
0 -
The picture is wonderful! You all look so healthy. And...you have a "special glow" about you...lol.
Twink; I can just imagine the choice of homes in the Dallas market right now. Good time to be house hunting, I would think. The perfect house will come along soon. Call me next week. We would love for you both to come join us for the Saturday race if you can. If not, try to plan on the piano bar. We should have quite a group. Right now, there are 14 confirmed drinkers. We plan on arranging a ride to and from the track to the bar. We will also be going out somewhere Friday evening for dinner.
It's been quiet around here. It feels so different from last year. I still sometimes just stop and think about what we were all going through this time in 2007 and how it still affects what we do and how we feel now. My hope is for continued good health and active lives.
I leave for Hawaii April 9th. I am going alone this time, which will be a first for me. I will only be staying 5 nights and I just hate to take a friend for such a short trip/long flight. Plus...I have much business to attend to while there. I just don't think it would be an enjoyable trip for someone else.
Thinking of you all...
0 -
Melanie,
I'd go with you.
0 -
Just popping in to say good morning! Whoo Hoo! Race day! Looking forward to a day of relaxing!
BTW...got my "first" haircut yesterday! I couldnt believe it. Only had a trim, so it still looks like my avatar. But would you belive after she trimmed it up, the waves/curls are back??!!
Enjoy your Sunday!
0 -
Twink; Grab a plane and join me in paradise~~~~~does that look like waves? lol. Seriously, you are more than welcome. I arrive in Honolulu the 9th...2pm. Catch a very quick (30 min) flight to Maui at 4pm. On the 12th, I have to do another quickie (early morning) back to lulu for a homeowners association meeting. Do some Waikiki shopping, then back to Maui. I plan on doing a whale watch boat trip on Sunday. I haven't done that in about 15 years! Plus, I will be meeting with realtors on Thurs and Fri. I am listing the Maui condo. Tough decision, but the timing is right. I still have the Oahu condo, so I won't have to sleep on the beach. Although, that sounds appealing at times. Then...leave Maui at about 2pm on the 14th for Oahu. Flight leaves for home at 4:45. I usually have a late night flight home, so this will be a big change for me. I will be really tired for about a week when I get home...blah.
0 -
Carynn; brrrrrrrrr.....glad I am not in Martinsville for that race! I am hoping for gorgeous weather next weekend. I still have a couple of spots open for you and your dh. Your haircut is confirming my fear of getting a "real" haircut. I am afraid it would be curlier than it is now. I just plan on letting it grow and just see what happens. When I get frustrated with all the curls, I just remember how sad it was to be bald...changes my feelings about my hair instantly. I still feel like I'm entitled to complain about a bad hair day now and then.
0 -
Just an observation: after each cut, it seems straighter. But then I will try a new shampoo, and it is curly again, but I had kind of curly hair before we started. Oh, well, never bored!
I thought, in honor of about a year anniversary, I would update the **total** hair situation. Nothing came back as original. Just about a year now since my last chemo, and I have sparse eyebrows (they never really came back, though what is there seems wild). Hair on legs occasionally seems to be there (though it wasn't there the day before), and pits ever so often, though uneven (the radiated side doesn't grow at the same rate). I noticed in Florida that the radiated pit doesn't sweat... hmmm. What weirdness.
We talked on Friday about fatigue, and I seem to be feeling it too. Not the energizer bunny I used to be. I wonder if I am just more aware of the long winter, the long days, ... and if I am just paying more attention to things in general than I used to. Maybe I was always this tired, and just didn't acknowlege it. I don't know. But all of us seem to be feeling it, so I don't think it is a coincidence. This may sound funny, but since I have done some work on integrating my mind and body, maybe it is my mind that is so darn tired. I am really tired of trying to answer what are probably unanswerable questions.
The thyroid seems to be back on track after radiation, though I take slightly higher dosage than before. Exercising every day, so I was hoping to feel better= the way all my extreme health friends tell me I would feel. Not there yet...
Love to you all, have a great week.
0 -
Hope everyone is having a great Sunday.
I just finished chatting with Catherine via Skype. Wow that is incredible. Catherine helped me get set up. She is precious. I loved hearing her accent and seeing her warmth on the screen. Hope to be chatting with all of you who have Skype. Just leave me a message to set up a time.
I was telling Catherine about my latest health drama. I really am getting tired of this. I had an MRI done of my back so I could get an epidural steroid injection. I picked up the report and the radiologist writes in the report that there was a aneurysmal dilation of the aorta. Oh joy. I showed it to a heart surgeon and ask if I should be worried. He told me he wanted to know the size, which the radiologist couldn't tell with the MRI. So I had an ultrasound done and I don't know anything yet. The tech doing the ultrasound said she didn't see any dilation. Of course, the ultrasound report on my breast was normal also. Then I went to Houston and they could easily see the mass on the ultrasound. So I have limited confidence in my hospital's radiology dept. But as I told Catherine, I am not so sure I want to know everything that is going on inside my body at age 68. You know me, the old "head in the sand" gal.
Twyla, glad your sore side resolved itself. Try not to worry. Easier said than done.
Wow, Melanie what a nice trip. Have a wonderful time.
Speaking of Yoga and mind clearing things, I am attending the online class for Eckhart Tolle's book A New Earth. Oprah and Eckhart have a 90 min. online class on Monday nights. It is quite enlightening.
I don't have Skype names for Alyson, Twink or anyone else on Skype. Just let me know and I will put you on my list.
Well, great basketball last night as Univ. of North Carolina won. Bad basketball today as Univ. of Texas lost.
Well, better go help DH with dinner. Once again I didn't paint today. Maybe tomorrow. LOL
Hugs and love to all my dear friends. Sammie Kay
0 -
Hello, all.
For all interested in Triple Negative BC, this teleconference may be of interest:
If the link doesn't work, it is www.lbbc.org and then follow the links to educational programs/teleconferences. It is April 18 at midday.
0 -
Hmmmm....where is everyone? Hope you are all doing well. Happy and busy. Hugs to all, Sammie Kay
P.S. I have been checking Skype, but never see anyone on. I don't have Skype names for Twink or Alyson. PM me if you lie.
0 -
Good morning,
I was thinking the same thing. Where are we all???
How wonderfully mundane my life is. Work, exercise, home for a healthy dinner, little on line time, and then bed. Reading some good books (highly recommend "How Doctors Think" by Groopman), and some trashy ones! Dinner with friends when they can, and lots of phone time. Trying not to think about my next scans/tests/followups(lots in MAY). Worrying about DD, money, taxes, elections, == this feels almost normal!
Love to all. Hope you are having similar mundane days!
0 -
Good morning to all... Yes, Leah... "mundane" is good... I also try to see whether Hillary, Twink would come on line (where I am a lot because of work... or play... just dicovered Tetris with letters in French... tough but good for "brain plasticity"...). And Marsha... where are you?? Hope life is good and that you are busy-busy on fun stuff (not to mention the beach must be nice). I am making real good progress with the baby sweater I am knitting... I love it, but I have to do everything else on my list... time to clean the dog house...
We had rain last night... so rare here... the yard needs attention... I still did not plant my seeds... I am a specialist at wasting my time and procrastinating... dreaming plantations I do not get to...
Time goes by even faster than usual, seems to me... DH sees the neurologist today (may have some tweaking done for the medicine he takes, same as for restless legs syndrome, which is a parkinsonian symptom -- but not Parkinson disease). He may also find out about the other gene they tested for (hopefully negative, since the pronostic would be pretty grim). Next week, on the 8th, I have to go through this D&C to remove a polyp, but the rest looked OK on the second echo I had... hopefully this will stop there... see the onc on the 18th... and then we seriously prepare our van trip to Vancouver island (already reserved in Tofino to have a spot by the sea...).
Toby is waiting, the sun is out... time to go walk...
Loved the pictures of course, Leah you will have met quite a few of us... but of course now we have Skype... hope to chat soon...
Hugs to all, have a lovely spring day,
Catherine
0 -
Hey gals, sorry to have been MIA for so long. I'm just in a major funk and don't really know why!
Melanie, let me just say, BIG DADDY DOES NOT SUCK!!! I did go to the PS website and am thinking I probably won't be a candidate for the one step method. It sounded like that is usually done right away and I have a lot of radiation damage on one side. Have fun in Hawaii, going on your own sounds like a great idea to me!! How is the housing market there? Will you have any trouble moving the condo??
I'm reading and have kept up with everyone, just not good at posting when I feel down. GREAT pic of Leah, Hillary and Phyl. Phyl, you looked very much like what I thought you would!! So wish we could have met while you were here.
Twilah, when is your Orlando business trip? May something? I'd love to get together with you.
Talk to you all soon..............Hugs, Marsha
0 -
Oh, Marsha sweetie .. I wish I knew what to say or do to get you out of your funk. Is some of it due to the post-play let down? Is there another play on the horizon????
Catherine -- Wishing good news from your dh's doctor. Are you and dh driving all the way to Vancouver? My dh is from Vancouver and his brother has a house on Salt Spring Island, which is quite gorgeous.
Leah -- Isn't mundane wonderful?
SammieKay -- I'll pm you my Skype name, but I haven't had the time to get on. Hasn't helped that we've been having spotty internet access at home, but hopefully that got fixed yesterday. I might try tomorrow during the day to see if anyone is around ...
Melanie -- Have fun in Hawaii! I hope that you can sell your condo
and speaking of selling houses, Twilah ... how is the relocation going? I did send you an e-mail about weekend availability for lunch ...
Hugs to all,
Hillary0
