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Anyone starting Chemo in Feb?

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Comments

  • Alyson
    Alyson Member Posts: 3,737
    edited February 2009

    Actually saw a few minutes of the game and didn't have any idea what was going on but then you girls would say the same thing about cricket or Rugby which is a real game and it doesn't take hours to play. Just 40 minutes a half and they don't wear all that padding. And cricket now thats the game especially 5 day Test cricket though I do enjoy the shorter versions as well.

    alyson

  • talbrig13
    talbrig13 Member Posts: 358
    edited February 2009

    Thanks for the congrats Carynn....you are right, it was a good game.  Those Steelers gave us a heartstopping 4th quarter and almost gave up the game!

    All in good fun.

    Alyson...so the Rugby and cricket players wear spandex?

    I was at the onc's today...all labs and chest xray were normal.   They are scheduling my CT and bone scans for the next few weeks.   Just routine at this point.

    Hope everyone is well...especially Twilah, Pat and Marsha.  (((Hugs)))

  • Alyson
    Alyson Member Posts: 3,737
    edited February 2009

    Spandex - no way. For rugby they wear knit jerseys and shorts, long socks and boots.Not a lot of difference from soccer players. Cricketers wear coloured longs and shirts of knit type fabrics these days  for One Day games and white trousers and shirts for 3/5 day games.

    For both there is some protective wear but for rugby it is usually headgear and sometimes shoulder pads for the forwards. The backs seldom have any. And I can tell you it is not a gentle game and many players get seriously injured.

    Cricketers now must wear helmets and of course when batting wear protectors for thise delicate areas which can and do get hit and it a very solid ball. Some wear chest and arm guards as well.

    We are always amazed at the amount of gear gridiron players wear.It is just that we are not used to the game, however we are sports mad. I have enjoyed watching the tennis over the last few weeks as there were tournamants here and in Australia. 

    Must go and watch the news, seems to have been a lot of snow throughout UK and Europe. DS had snow in Guernsey, first time there for 30 years.

    Hope its not too cold were you are.

     Alyson

     

  • talbrig13
    talbrig13 Member Posts: 358
    edited February 2009

    Alyson...too bad there is no spandex in Rugby and Cricket....oh well!

    Once again...cold and windy here with snow.   Ugh.

    CT and bone scan scheduled for 2/23.   Not much else is new.

    Twilah...Marsha....Pat....hugs to you!

  • wayover20
    wayover20 Member Posts: 191
    edited February 2009

    Hello ladies!  Just a quick update to say happy to read you all are doing great and my continued good wishes for all of US!  On my end, chemo resumed today with both Abraxane and Avastin given even though the onc felt the Abraxane added to the radiation pneumonitis that ended me up in the hospital last month. BUT, I NEED it as it's one of the best drugs out there for us trip negs and I'm feeling better, dosing down on the prednisone, not using the oxygen 24/7, just mainly when having to walk alot as in appointments etc.  I fully expect to not have to need it at all within the next couple of weeks.  So I agreed with the onc to go ahead and restart the Abraxane and I'll see her again before next weeks tx to let her know how I fared.

    Lets see if this works....this is a picture of me last Christmas before the hair fallout and a picture of how I look now....uncle Fester from the Addams family on steriods.

     Patchristmas08.jpg Pat Christmas 08 image by pa5762

    unclefester.jpg Pat now.....on steriods image by pa5762

    Love you all, Pat

  • SammieKay
    SammieKay Member Posts: 247
    edited February 2009

    Well not sure where to begin, so I'll just jump in.  I won't try to comment on all of your posts.  I really enjoyed reading them while I was in Georgia, but their computer wouldn't let me log on to BC,org., so I couldn't post.

    The trip was great. The week in FL was very cold.  The house was beautiful and the beach awesome.  Finally on Fri., it was warm enough to take a walk on the beach  Lots of good food and good company.  We watched the first two seasons of the Tudors while it was so very cold(20's at night and 40's during the days for 3 or 4 days).

    Back in Georgia it wasn't as cold, but pretty chilly.  I enjoyed being with my  sister.

    Twink, Marsha and Pat, so appreciate your keeping us updated.  I know that it is draining to post alot, but we all really apprecaite it.  You are on my mind and in my heart. Hugs to you.

    How about those Steelers.  I was very torn because the Steelers have always been a fav of mine right behind the Cowboys.  Then Jeremy Urban who plays for the Cardinals is from Victoria and was our star quaterback here in High School.  He is a wide receiver for the Cardinals.  So kinda rooted for both of them.

    I am back at work and trying to get back in the groove.  Much back pain again.  I am scheduled for an Epidural Steroid Injection next Wed.  The last one helped a lot and lasted aobut 6 wks.

    Has anyone ever heard from Hillary?

    Warms thoughts and wishes to everyone, Catherine, Terry, Caryn, Melanie, Leah, Alyson, Phyl, Jan, Vegas(sorry I  missed you in the airport), hope I didn't forget anyone. Hugs all round my sweet friends. I will write more later.  Love all of you, Sammie Kay

  • vegas
    vegas Member Posts: 151
    edited February 2009

    Good to hear from everyone. Glad your trip was a success, Sammie Kay, and again sorry I didn't make the airport in time to connect with you. But I was doing my OJ impersonation (not the one with the knife.)

    Pat, hope your abraxane treatments go much better this time! Sending you many hugs and healing vibes.

    And now I am off to meditate on the potential benefit of wearing spandex in professional sports. (My DH is off playing golf in Tuscon this week, so I can get away with it!  hee hee)

  • Alyad
    Alyad Member Posts: 174
    edited February 2009

    I don't have any details yet, but I will probably be starting chemo at the end of the month. I am 12 days out from my unilateral mx with free TRAM recon. I'm doing good, it could definatley be worse! They did a SNB and during surgery it came back negative , but then a day later they came back and said, no it was positive after all. :(

    So they want to go back and in and do a AND, but I had complications on the Free TRAM and they had to use the second choice vein in my armpit instead the one near my sternum. So going  back in and digging around for the nodes would have to be done very carefully in order not to compromise the blood flow and my chances of getting lymphedema are good. So I want to say no. I wanted to say no to chemo too before I found out I was node positive.

  • leahrc
    leahrc Member Posts: 384
    edited February 2009

    Alyad,

    I am so sorry that you had to join the BC group. The good news is that you found this site right away. The bad news is that you probably want to be in the FEBRUARY 2009 chemo group. We are a bunch of old hands, having been on this journey for over two years now, so you might benefit more from being with a group that are dealing with your issues in real time.

    That being said, if you ever need advice, we can help. Not sure who in our group had a tram, but if they have any ideas, I am sure that they will post.  Good luck to you. It sounds as if you have a few challenges ahead. My bias is to do everything you can to make sure you give this cancer a good run for its money, but it is always your choice to accept treatment of not as you see fit. Just be as informed as you possibly can before you make any decisions that may have further down the road consequences. Having docrtors that you trust, and getting second and third opinions, are words of wisdom I am sure my cohorts here would echo.

    Good luck!

  • Alyad
    Alyad Member Posts: 174
    edited February 2009

    Didn't realize this thread wasn't feb 09, will look around for the right place.

  • CommandoBarbie
    CommandoBarbie Member Posts: 474
    edited February 2009

    Just popping in to say hello. Hope everyone is well.

    Alyad -  As Leah said, feel free to come back anytime and ask any questions that you may have. Any of the "months" on the boards are great resources and you'll find everyone is willing to answer any questions you may have. Hugs to you (((Alyad)))

    Alyson - You are too funny! Before you knock it, spandex in sports is a GOOD thing! ;) 

    SammieKay - I'm so sorry to hear that you're having such back pain. Have you seen anyone for it? Wishing you much deserved relief real soon.

    Now Pat - I know you dont look a thing like Uncle Fester! How are you feeling? Did you start chemo again? Thinking of you and sending big hugs and good wishes.

    Terry - How's things?

    Vegas - Too bad YOU werent the one coming to AZ! 

    Catherine, Marsha, Twink & Hillary = PHONE HOME! We miss you girls!

    All is well here. DH has been very ill, but is much better now. I'm still pluggin' along. Got the all clear from last weeks mammo & US. Good to go for another 6 months. 

    Take care everybody. Hope to see you soon!

  • wayover20
    wayover20 Member Posts: 191
    edited February 2009

    Congrats on the all clear Commando!!   Has anyone heard from Twilah or Marsha?

    I'm on the 3rd cycle of abraxane/avastin and tomorrows my day. Still trying to wean myself off this oxygen but no luck yet.

    Pat

  • Primel
    Primel Member Posts: 652
    edited February 2009

    Hi, girls... I think of you all every day... just been very busy with work and house stuff. Congrats Carynn, just what we want to hear... I got the all clear from BS yesterday, next visit in a year, and everything came back normal from the physical done by the osteopath... so, hopefully, this year will be less "medical" than the two last ones...

    I have been on Yutube a lot, rediscovering great music of my student years in Paris, Leningrad (then) and Moscow... so... I thought I'd bring the music for a virtual BNO, with special thoughts for Marsha, the BNO Queen... Now, Melanie, please pass this Dom Perignon of yours... champagne is a must for that kind of music,  and ladies, get kleenexes handy, too... this is existential stuff!! Leah, bring us those antipasti your learnt how to prepare in Tuscany... will just call them "zakuski", here, same thing... since I do not know how to post a yutube clip, here is the playlist... It is not cheerful, but full of "soul and passion"... the slavic "toska", the blues...

    If you feel like you need a good cry by now, considering the circumstances, you have the perfect excuse if asked... it's the music!  If you do not like gypsy violin... skip it all together...Frown

    But I hope you'll like it... not played much on the radio, these days... a headset is highly recommended to get the "richness" of the sound...


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ7C0zC4fnA&NR=1

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5praZqkfK4&feature=related

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Omkqm6n95RA&NR=1

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zBucjdXEHo&feature=related

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ssRja0wQgw&feature=related

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5snMDkDSwk&NR=1

    and here is a singer whom I have been listening to for 32 years not knowing his name or his face (it's a "underground" tape which was given to me in Moscow in 76-77 with nothing written on it) whom I discovered a few weeks ago... he died at 41 in 1980, I am trying to find out how and why (he has an ominous spot on the left side of his face, but it may be just from booze and cigarettes like so many his generation there).

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yTCRbq--T4&feature=related

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTByZCznGUY&feature=related

  • Alyson
    Alyson Member Posts: 3,737
    edited February 2009

    Oh dear just lost that post.

    Hope you are all doing well. Saw the onc on Tuesday and all appears fine. Waiting on results from the bloods. Everyone is so pleased that I have managed to lose weight especially whilst taking Femara.Have been recommended that I get back to see the Rheumatologist for my joint problems. Also have to have a cyst taken off my eyelid - that happens on Monday.

    Yesterday was the hottest day recorded for 130 years  about 104 degrees made worse by 99% humidity which makes it feel considerably hotter. it has rained over night so feels much pleasanter.

    I haven't missed work as yet - just too much to do. DD2 found out yesterday that she has a job teaching at the University this semester so it looks as though I will have Bea at least one day a week. This is a way we can help them as they are trying to buy a house at present.I think looking at house is on the programme for this morning.

    Thanks for the music Catherine. Went to a really great concert last night. A German baritone singing Schubert's Die Winterreisse. All about unrequited love and melancholy but was absolutely beautiful.

    Have a great day. Big big hugs to Twilah, Marsha and Pat, you are in my prayers as are all the others.

    Alyson

  • Alyson
    Alyson Member Posts: 3,737
    edited February 2009

    Where is everyone? All must be well which is great.

    Hope you had a restful weekend.

    Alyson

  • CommandoBarbie
    CommandoBarbie Member Posts: 474
    edited February 2009

    Hi everyone! Just sneaking in real quick while watching the race. Wow, did I miss this stuff!


    Had a great Valentines. DH gave me a beautiful diamond necklace. I was pretty surprised. We usually just give each other a card, and maybe some chocolate. We went with BFF & her DH out to an early dinner. Then back to her house for a couple of Texas Hold 'em tournaments with their youngest and a bunch of his friends. It never ceases to amaze me. When I was his age, I wouldn't have wanted to spend my Saturday nite with my parents and their friends! But, a good time was had by all. Speaking of their youngest (the one who was in the Xgames last summer), he has accepted a position on Tony Hawks new team. The Team is going to Australia next month. He's such a great kid and I'm so happy and proud to see him get to live his dream.


    Been fighting a nasty round of flares of dromes. I'm doing absolutely nothing today.


    Leah - Thanks so much! Your email made my day!


    Pat - How did round 3 go? Hope you're feeling well. Any progress on getting off the oxygen? (((Pat)))


    Catherine - I just love rediscovering old music. Ahh, the memories it brings back!


    Alyson - I just cant believe the weather you're having! Is it cooling off at all? Almost sounds like summer in Phoenix!


    Thinking of you all. Ok, position has been assumed. Have a wonderful day!

  • wayover20
    wayover20 Member Posts: 191
    edited February 2009

    Hi Commando B!  I finished round 3, off this week and next week round 4. Then we're going to talk maybe rescanning and if all ok, maintenance with Avastin every 2 weeks.  Not so sure about scans since I just had a big workup with chest ct done, so we may just go on to the maintenance.  As far as the O2, I did without it for 2 days day and night and I'm ok as long as I don't move too fast or too much.  But today I left the house to have lunch with my sister, did really well with no O2 then this evening low grade temp and body aches. so I put the O2 on, took tylenol and drinking extra water. BLAH!!  I'm trying so hard to get my breathing back to "normal" so I can return to work. 

    I see the lung doc on Friday for follow up. 

    Anyone heard from Twink??  

    Happy belated valentines day everyone.

    Pat 

  • KathyAlex1960
    KathyAlex1960 Member Posts: 6
    edited February 2009

    My first chemo is 11:00am Thursday, February 19th..............scared..................

  • wayover20
    wayover20 Member Posts: 191
    edited February 2009

    Hello KathyAlex!  I am sending you a cyber hug (((((Kathy))))) and rest assurred you will do just fine on your first treatment.  You may want to join the FEB 09  chemo group as they will be going thru this just like you. We are the Feb 07 gang and here to support just like everyone else and wish you well. YOU CAN DO IT!!

    Best wishes,

    Pat

  • leahrc
    leahrc Member Posts: 384
    edited February 2009

    Good evening, all!

    Just thought I would drop in to say HI. Not a lot going on. Work, a cold, weather which was trying to get above freezing, which it finally did... though it is snowing now. Will change to rain overnight.

    I am going to see a PT at Mass general  after my next PET/CT in late March to see if I can learn how to do the lymphatic massage on myself. Somedays it just aches, and I think it is lymph backing up somehow.  When I spoke to her, she claimed I could do it to myself, so I want to learn. I know that typing all day isn't helping, when you should raise your arm frequently. Anyway, I'll let you know what I learn.

    Haven't heard much from anyone personnally, so I will say HELLO to you all and hope you are all ok.

    Love.

  • Primel
    Primel Member Posts: 652
    edited February 2009

    Hi, ladies... buddies... girlies...

    Not much going on here, either (good!)... I am sad to see new comers... KathyAlex, Alyad, hope you found the right group for you (the info about starting chemo of course is available at the beginning of this thread... you may find some useful things there, unless your treatment protocol is very different).  Wishing you to weave the same friendhips with your feb09 sisters as we did here...

    Marsha, Pat, Twink... positive and warm vibes sent your way everyday, sunshine girls... hope you are comfortable and able to enjoy this wonderful weather you have.

    Leah, although my arm is not visibly swollen, from time to time -- this week in particular -- I feel like I have too short a piano chord from thumb to armpit... I have no idea whether this is surgery related or tendinitis... naturally, when I saw the surgeon last week, I forgot to mention it since it did not hurt.  So... I am very interested in your findings and a method of "do-it-yourself" massaging (I do as much as I can, still...). My left wrist hurts a lot for no objective reasons... Aromasin may be starting to do its number on me... I can't blame the computer when I see the rate at which I type, and how long I sit in front of it... longer breaks away from it than sitting sessions... Things hurt only when moved... at rest, no pain.  You'll be happy to see the Spring this year!! What a stern winter... and we had none here... no snow to speak of, mild temperatures...

     Thinking of you ALL out there... off I go... will bake a quiche (onions, mushrooms, bacon... whatever is in the fridge), fix a salad, and scallop a few apples...

    Big hugs... have a nice eveningKiss

  • Alyson
    Alyson Member Posts: 3,737
    edited February 2009

    Hi all

    Had a day at a local school - I am so tired. 


    Leah I do the lymphatic massage most days - if I don't I have real trouble with my arm. We should find a time to get on skype - that could be really funny showing you what I have been taught. Catherine one thing that helps my wrist is to massage it, actually stroke it from the outside of my wrist, across the inside of my arm, over to my elbow and then up the outside of my arm to my shoulder. It's a long sweeping motion. I was getting problems because I was just massaging it up the inside of my arm which did nothing as of course here are no nodes under my arm. I also get a 'bag of fluid under my arm- right on the bra line so have to massage that downwards. I wear a sleeve quite a lot something that is uncomfortable at present with the humidity. i also tape the area under my armpit, something I find really helps.

    Caryn - the heat is back. Had a few days cooler weather, but the humidity is back, real problem is that it is not cooling down at night. It doesn't drop below 70. Also houses here don't as a general rule have any sort of air conditioning especially old ones like ours. There is supposed to be a tropical storm coming this way over the weekensd  but fortunately they usually have run out of steam by the time they get here.

    Nust start thinking about dinner. I like the sound of what Catherine is cooking but need to go to the shops so it probably will be grilled steak.

    Big hugs to all

    Alyson

  • vegas
    vegas Member Posts: 151
    edited February 2009

    Hello ladies! Here I just got back from the lymphodema clinic yesterday and here you are all talking about it! I too get that heavy swollen feeling some days even though you can't see it visibly. I was concerned so I scheduled myself in and the therapist has recommended that I start wearing my sleeve on a regular basis now. I also have that fluid buildup under the arm at the bra line - she said it is caused by the bra cutting off the flow to the lymphatics further down the body. She recommended getting a snugly fitting sports bra that starts right in the arm pit and goes down to the waist. (The medical ones cost $250, but she said I should be able to pick up something similar at Nordies for about $60 and usually insurance does NOT cover even the medical ones, go figure!)

    Catherine, it sounds like you may have a bit of axillary websyndrome. I had that right after my surgery - like you said, it feels like a short piano cord all the way down your arm to your thumb. She explained that it is actually lymphatic cording. The therapist showed me some exercises to do to stretch things out. Very simple, all you need is a broom handle or piece of PVC pipe that length. I just started last night and can already feel it loosening up a bit. I also got more instruction on lymphatic massage which you can do while watching TV even.

    Hugs to all and Pat hope the lung doc can help you with that breathing!!!!!!!!

    And now it's time for American Idol! I LOVE that show - got hooked during chemo.

  • Alyson
    Alyson Member Posts: 3,737
    edited February 2009

    Lost my post a while ago, it makes you really mad. Nevermind.

    I was going on about cost of bras here and how you get US$300 from the government for a prothesis and 2 bras once every four years. If you have a reconstruction you get nothing. It is the price of the special bras that really gets at me especially as so many women cannot afford properly fitted ones and this doesn't help with lymphoedema.

    Vegas, I have to get special bras which compress the 'handbag' of fluid I get under my arm. They are very wide across that area. I was surprised that your bras cost about the same as they do here. What does an ordinary bra cost?

    Keep up the exercises on those arms

    Alyson

  • vegas
    vegas Member Posts: 151
    edited February 2009

    Alyson, I always copy my posts before submitting now, as I have lost far too many! And of course those were the ones full of wit and humor that I find impossible to recreate!  :) 

    Normal bras can run anywhere from $30 to $65 depending on where you shop. I am going to see if I can find a regular long length one to compress that handbag fluid. Feels like you have a small football in your armpit!

    Catherine, I think the Femara is getting to me too. My knuckles hurt like a son of a gun. Sometimes I go to knock on a door and it is such a sharp pain. Of course, I guess it could be age as well, but I prefer to think it is the meds!

    Right now we are in Brian Head, Utah. Tomorrow is my birthday so today I am going to ski and tomorrow it is the SPA! I have myself down for the full treatment: facial, massage, pedi and mani. Then a nice hot shower and dinner with lots of wine. Wish I could send you some of this nice lovely snow to cool you off, Alyson! It was 21 degrees when we arrived last night.

    How are our gals doing? Pat, Twilah? Marcia? Not a day goes by when I don't think of you guys and send you nice healing kick cancer's butt vibes.

  • Primel
    Primel Member Posts: 652
    edited February 2009

    Happy Birthday, Diann, enjoy the pampering... I should try that again one day... These were the luxuries I was indulging myself in when still single and living in Paris...

    Have fun skiing (not an inch of snow in Denver, but the mountains have a lot of the white stuff.)... and wishing you the best of celebration...

    I am missing Twink and Marsha... I hope life is more gentle with you... Pat, thinking of you, too... do not lose your terrific sense of humor... hope the abraxane is not too tough on you after your last tx... Take care...

    Sending hugs to all of you... not working this week-end, will not do much... enjoying the sun (mi-60's to low 70's...).

    Au revoir... Catherine

  • leahrc
    leahrc Member Posts: 384
    edited February 2009

    Hello, all.

    It is with a very sad heart that I bring you some news from Twink/Twilah's husband, Phil. Twilah has entered hospice in her home, and is surrounded by her immediate family. Her extended family is arrving from California and Canada as we speak.

    She is comfortable and seems to be aware of her surroundings and her family. Phil feels the hospice nurses are providing wonderful care.

    Please light a candle, say a prayer, or whatever you feel would connect you to her...

  • vegas
    vegas Member Posts: 151
    edited February 2009

    Oh Leah. This is just awful. Please tell Phil we are sending Twilah our support and much love and prayers for a miracle.

  • Traci-----TripNeg
    Traci-----TripNeg Member Posts: 567
    edited February 2009

    Leah,

    I am so sad to read this. I know this is very hard on you and I am so sorry. I just know Twilah cherishes your friendship. Thank you Leah, for being there for her.

    I am so sorry.

    Through tears,

    Traci

  • MissShapen
    MissShapen Member Posts: 3,963
    edited February 2009

    I am so sorry to hear about twink. I was right behind you guys in the March Chemosabe Cruise group and I read here also (and posted a couple of times) during my chemo. Twink is a beautiful woman and I'm so sad this is happening to her.

    Miss S

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