Anyone starting Chemo in Feb?
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Hi all...I am at work, so I really can't take the time to read up on all the posts. My computer at home crashed and I cannot connect to the internet. So I have to take it to the geek squad tomorrow. Just wanted to let you know we are alive, but buried in about 36 inches on snow. Yes, the 2nd storm got us too. Lucky for me, dh has all the necessary toys. Snowplows on the truck and 2 tractors, a snowblower and 2 sons with strong arms and shovels. I do get off easy!
I will talk to all of you , hopefully soon....bone scan and CT are scheduled for the 19th.
Love,
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Hi my dear friends. It looks as if we will be in the US early May. Hope to be in Denver that first weekend then will go to Pennsylvania. Should have firm dates this coming week. I am so excited.
Melanie and Leah where did you stay in Denver? So if we can organise getting together it would be great. My Aunt lives in Pottsville PA (about an hour from you Terry) and we hope to hire a car as there is quite a bit we want to see.
Must get off to bed as it is late.
Alyson
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Ayson; I will send you the link once I find it again. A great little condo with a beautiful view. Wait a minute...Leah and I thought we might come there also...should I give you our rental? LOL
Here is the link;
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Hi girls! Hope you are well. Nothing too exciting here, just wanted to say hi.
Catherine - Phoenix is beautiful right now too. The Mexican poppies and cactus are blooming, and shhh don't tell anyone, but it's 75 right now as I write this.
Terry - Glad you're doing well. Hope you guys are starting to thaw out now! Did you get your computer fixed?
Alyson - Sounds like you have getting ready for a wonderful trip. May should be a good time to be in the states.
Melanie - Race day finally arrived! Loved Daytona, but it was a bit long even for me at 6 ½ hours. So glad I was watching from the comfort of my couch.
Leah - Thank you so much for the lovely note. And right back attcha girlfriend!
Sending hugs and good thoughts to all , and extra ones for those doing scans and appointments this month. I'm right there with you figuratively and almost literally as I have my standing appointments as well. I think I mentioned that I have to find a new Med Onc. I'm sure going to miss her. I see my Rad Onc this month and will ask them if there are any trip neg specialists in the Valley. Wish me luck!
Have a great night all. Talk to you soon!
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Just a quick note. I was noticing I hadn't posted since Feb.7. I have been battling the flu and bronchitis. Oh the joy of taking care of a 2 year old. He had it first. I saw the doc yesterday and she gave me a shot and oral antibiotics. I sound like an 80 year old man with emphysema. LOL. A very deep rattling cough. Back to my inhalers for awhile. I am asthmatic and always get this way with the flu.
Glad everyone is doing well. Haven't heard any news from Leah lately. You okay?
I will anxiously be waiting for good reports from everyone's testing coming up.
Take care and I will check in when I beat this bug. YUK!
Love you all, Sammie Kay
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Oh SammieKay,I hope that you are feeling better now. That's no fun at all. I swear those of us in the West seem to get stuff just as the weather changes, like the germs are waking up.
Feel better soon! (((SammieKay)))0 -
Hi Karen - Had my first one two weeks ago, Taxotere and then Herceptin last Friday. Have to say I felt ok for a couple of days after then it hit me like the flu. My bones/muscles really ached, so had a couple of days in bed. Lots of other side effects, sore mouth, spots/boils, tummy, and tiredness. Have to say that they only really lasted for about a week, then started to subside. Feel much better now, just very tired, but maybe thats an age thing (50) oh and now I have a drippy nose. Not sure how the second one will go, aprrently the spots/boils was an uncommon reaction, I really hope so, don't want those on top of loosing my hair, which by the way is still ok (day 14) Let me know how you are doing.
Karen
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Hi, Karen, so sorry to read your post... For better support, you may want to check a thread with other women undergoing tx at the same time as you are... we are "February 2007" group, and, as you can see, 3 years later, this is still our special place to come "visit" and exchange news, encouragements and friendship. I am sure there is a February 2010 chemo group on bc.org. Wishing you to feel reasonably well during tx... one out of the way... (btw, "practical" aspects of going through tx would be at the very beginning of this thread). Best wishes to you,
Catherine
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(((((((((((((((((((Sammie Kaye))))))))))))))))))))), get well soon!!!
Catherine
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Hope you are better now,Sammie Kaye.
I finally got my computer back. $200 to remove viruses and fix it up. Wish you tech girls were closer...I would have called upon you.
Still awaiting my bone scan and CT results. Should get them tomorrow.
Nothing new to report here, still snow on the ground. Been watching Olympics and knitting dishrags.
Love you all! Hugs Marsha and Pat!
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Just lost my post!!!!!
Trip is all go, will be in PA 2-6 May then Denver 6-9May, it is just so exciting. Have just chatted with Catherine and she was telling me things we should do.
Terry best wishes for your scan results. Will PM you as would love to met up as you are only an hour from my aunt. Leah and Melanie I will be in touch.
I would love to see all of you but we would need a great deal more time in the US.
Must go and get some lunch
Alyson
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Terry,
Out of all of us tech girls, I don't think any of us are the ones to solve those types of problems! Just like doctors- highly specialized!!!!!
All:
Working hard, on the road with a special project. This weather is adding a level of anxiety and complication to everything that we didn't really need. I heard a new term in NY... "snow rage"... I see why these people aren't moving to New England! Although we have gotten relatively little this year compared to these areas that usually got very small amounts. Different weather pattern this year I guess.
Other than that, nothing much happening. DD loves her job, and she is making plans to move out to an apt. in late June. Since we live in a large university town, things become available on a schedule, so she is looking now to reserve for June.
That's about it. There is an event in New England called "weekend of hope" that I will be going to for the first time. It is for you and caregivers, and some people even bring their kids. I am looking forward to it.
And to seeing Alyson, I hope!
Much love. Stay war, dry, cool, whatever is appropriate for where we are. Most of all, feel safe and loved!
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Oh. the wind is absolutely howling. 50 t0 60 mph winds here. snowing and cold. And I have to go to work! Why can't we have a snow day like the kids??
Leah...the GeekSquad fixed me up just fine. Although it was expensive. But they are the specialists. Honestly the "geek" who worked with me looked like he was about 16. I am feeling old.
Still awaiting test results.
Got to go out in the blizzard. To think DS's baseball season starts in 4 weeks. We can't even see the ground!
Talk later...love you all.
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I don't envy those of you in the snow...our taste of it a few weeks ago was brutal. It is quite chilly now, but no precipitation...yay! I did a quick trip to Hawaii (5 days) on a bit of condo business and returned this past Monday. Always a shock to the system to walk into that first really cold jetway
I might try to post some tropical pics later.Terry; Waiting is awful! Anxiously waiting...
My friend Carol finally managed to get her paths from her surgery 2 weeks ago. She has not looked at them as they were faxed to her office and she is away from there. They gave her little info over the phone...just that it was squamous cell and poorly differentiated. I will be traveling with her next Thursday to Houston for her MD Anderson visit. They have told us to be prepared to stay there 3 to 4 days. They don't think this is a recurrent BC, but a recurrent cervical ca from a tiny spot that was removed last year. From my understanding, the tumor removed was actually "pocketed" in a node attached to a tube in the area of her kidney/bladder. Hopefully, I will know more when I get to view her reports.
Sammie; Any tips for traveling to MD? I have reserved us at the Marriott with the walkway to the Texas Medical Center as the travel agent told Carol the Rotary House was unavailable...but the most convenient place to stay. I want to be close in case I can't be with her all the time and need to go back to the room. I thought about staying somewhere else that was close to the Metro, but I was concerned that the walking distance to MD from the Metro might be a bit much???
Alyson; We are hoping to make it there! I think that may be a bit of a crazy time for Leah and I though...still unsure. Did you look at the place we stayed? I wonder if there might be options closer and an easier commute...but we did enjoy the condo! As long as you plan on renting a car...no problems.
Time to pick up Miss Natalie! Abby turned 4 yesterday and her party is Saturday...they are growing up so fast...and is so much fun! My time with them is full of book reading, playing chase and tea parties. "It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn't use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like "What about lunch?"" Winnie the Pooh
Thinking of you all....
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Hi everyone. Have enjoyed reading all the posts, but not feeling much like posting.
I will go for a chest xray tomorrow as I am still coughing and having tightness in my chest. I finsihed a round of antibiotics and a round of steroids. I am thinking maybe i have walking pneumonia. The doc doesn't think so, but said we would do the chest xray tomorrow.
Melanie, we have always stayed at one of the hotels close to MD. I think the Marriott is a good choice. The folks at MD are usually very helpful with maps and instructions. I wish I was feeling better and I would make a run up there to say Hi. Maybe I will be feeling better by the time you get to Houston. Let me know the exact days you will be here.
I hope you get some encouraging news with your friend Carol.
Love to all, Sammie Kay
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Sammie Kaye, there is a real nasty pulmonary virus around... It's all over Denver, too. Even kids develop pneumonia (it's not the flu). I have a lot of friends who have been coughing for weeks now. DH is in the middle of a second round of an awful head cold, but the coughing is minimal... did not get it the first time around (a couple of months ago), hope to dodge the bullet this time, too... Try to drink thyme tea (a couple of tbl spoons of dry organic thyme in a quart of boiling water for 5 minutes, then let stand for a while)... supposed to be a pulmonary antiseptic. If you do not like the taste, add some honey... I believe this tea helps (drink a hot cup every couple of hours).
(((((((((((((((((((((Melanie))))))))))))))) MERCI BEAUCOUP !!!
Leah, how are you doing? Did you get all that snow too?
Sending hugs and kisses to all of our FCC's sisters from sunny and mild Denver (saw the first crocuses in full bloom this morning on my walk).
TTYS,
Catherine
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Sammie Kaye....hoping you are feeling better soon.. I had bronchitis in January and was still coughing weeks later. Doctor said that was the normal course of whatever this bug is.
Catherine....Crocuses??? I am so jealous. There is still 18 inches of snow pack on the ground and no sign of any plant life other than pine trees. We are all sick, sick, sick of snow. It snowed another 6 inches over the past weekend... thinking they could have had the Winter Olympics in Central PA! We truly do have cabin fever.
Having an MRI Friday morning. My bone scan lit up 2 places on my thoracic spine and one place on my right arm. So we are checking it out. I am trying not to dwell on it, as I went through this same torture last year. Let's hope for arthritic or degenerative changes. If not, it is what it is. And we will deal with it. That's my story and I am sticking to it.
Work is horrible. We have a new area manager who is micromanaging everything. I am very tired. Did you ever feel like your were "on stage" every minute. Stress.
On a good note...some of us from work are attending an awards luncheon tomorrow at the Hotel Hershey in Hershey PA. About 2 hours from here. But....Death by Chocolate. Wish you could be there!
Love you all.. You are in my thoughts daily. Does anyone hear from Marsha and Pat? I think of them often and hope and pray they are doing well.
Take care all,
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{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Terry}}}}}}}}}}}}} I agree, no dwelling. Just save the worry when it is required. That being said, you are in my thoughts and prayers. Melt snow melt!! This has been a long cold winter. Enough already.
I went to work today and did well. My CXR was interpreted, but the doc hadn't signed his report, so they couldn't give me a copy. They did print it and let me see it, but I don't comprehend all of the terminology and what it means. Will leave that to my doc when she gets it. I will continue the nebulizer treatments. All in all I feel pretty good.
Catherine, I think that pulmonary virus is what is going around here as well. Very contagious. And leaves everyone with a lingering cough.
Well, better head for the bedroom and my breathing treatment.
Love to all, Sammie Kay
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((((((((((Terry)))))))))) Will be thinking of you Saturday our time Terry. Do hope the snow goes soon, my aunt said she was so tired of it but that more was on the way!!!. I do hope its all gone soon and PA has a beautiful Spring. We will be there on the 2nd May.
Sammie Kay, I am pleased to hear you are feeling somewhat better.
I hear from Pat occasionally must PM her again to catch up.
I discovered yesterday that I have been walking around for the last four months with a break in the top of my tibia!!!! Not sure what they are going to do but nothing until after we get back - I have managed so far and I have been walking most days as well as doing pilates at least once a week. I must admit that at times the pain has been terrible - I put it down to my RA or SEs from the femara. Its not healing as it should have so there is concern about osteoporosis. Had an MRI last night and will find out when I get an appointment with the ortho specialist. He was quite surprised that I had managed so well.
Do hope everyone else is staying out of trouble.
Big hugs
Alyson
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Good afternoon all, and TGIF!!
I have been on a project for 4 weeks as well as my regular job and I am happy to tell you the project is done. I go back to one job on Monday!
I had a follow up onco appt this past Wednesday, and my tumor marker was elevated. He said he wanted to redo it, I said no. I have a 6 month Pet/Ct next month, so if it is anything, it will show there. No need to panic. Guess I am finally getting into the hang of this. No more panic at every little thing. It is 40, slightly over the normal of 38, so not enough to get another damn test. I am gun shy! Will wait. Nothing is going to happen in a month.
Beautiful weekend this weekend coming- 50's! A big tradition this time of year is to visit sugar houses, where maple syrup is made. It comes from my neck of the woods! So we will be out for pancakes and this year's crop of syrup= yummy!
Other than that, nothing except salmon on the grill tomorrow night.
Love you all.
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sounds like a great plan for the week-end, Leah!!! Pancakes and maple syrup: we could have this 3 times a day...
Terry, any news? Thinking of you... No snow left here, you can sense people getting agitated in their yard, I bought seeds yesterday at Whole Foods: heirloom tomatoes... just to see how it comes out... need to start them inside soon, just when work is coming in after 2 very quiet months... Wishing you enough sun to melt all that snow pack of yours...
A nice week-end to all, sending hugs,
Catherine
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Been playing catchup and reading everyone's posts. ((((((((((Terry)))))))) Thinking of you and saying a little mantra that is merely "mature" age, my dear! (I know I didn't have all these aches and pains before I started Femara, and hoping that by the time I finish I will be able to tell the difference and that it really IS just the Femara.) It's hard not to dwell, as we all know, and hopefully you will get those results back ASAP.
And hope you are feeling better, Miss Sammie Kay. I had a cough that lasted from Thanksgiving through the end of January and it was worrisome/aggravating but it did eventually go away.
Melanie, thinking of you and your friend and hoping that MD has a good plan for her.
Alyson, how fun that you are coming Stateside! And I am sure you will have an amazing time visiting Denver and PA. Where else will you be traveling in the US? You can always think Vegas, baby!
Leah, pancakes and maple syrup. I just gained five pounds thinking about it. Sounds like a terrific weekend and just the thing to take your mind off stupid elevated counts. And glad that work will be a little less hectic for you now.
Crocuses, Catherine??? Our cherry trees are starting to blossom, so I guess spring really is on the way, though it still seems way too cold to believe that, even here in Vegas. It has been a chilly damp winter this year. (Or maybe these bones really ARE just getting that old!)
So the Super Bowl was absolutely incredible - the fans were having a ball and totally exhuberant, yet it was all done in good fun. (If you have ever been to a Raider's game in LA you will know that good sportsmanship is NOT a part of the game day experience!) And I dragged my DH all over Miami to my old childhood haunts on Key Biscayne as well as to South Beach. For me it was a perfect 5 day getaway except that it was too chilly to sunbathe at the beach, though we did spend some time watching the kiteboarders.
Carynn, I was thinking of you at NASCAR last weekend here in Vegas. Did you see me waving at you on TV? Got to tour the pit area (okay, I snuck on the tour twice!) and it was amazing to see them working on the cars like maniacs before the race. We stood on the roof to watch the race take off and we were right behind the spotters. They were trash talking each other before the race ("We are going to OWN your a**es," etc.) I was cheering for Jeff Gordan and he was leading the whole way except for the last few circuits, so it was very exciting.
So one of my friends is doing the Avon walk for BC in Washington DC this year in my name. It is 39+ miles - talk about a true friend! And another one is starting a dragon boat team here on Lake Mead. I wanted to join the dragon boat but my doc said no because of the chance of lymphodema. (But they are going to let me take a few gentle practice runs anyway, and we just won't let the therapist know.)
Hope everyone has a good week planned. Going to have out of town company and planning a lobster fest and going to see the Jersey Boys and play a little golf in between the 80 hour work week. Good thing the Femara doesn' let me sleep anyway! Take care and love to all. I may not post often but you guys are always on my mind and in my heart.
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Okay...I am at work and can't write a long note....my computer at home is down AGAIN. Our nephew is working on it. He is studying that in college, so we will see.
All my tests came back fine. I am going to be like Leah at my next appointment. Not worrying. It is OLD age symptoms and Femara. (Did I mention I hate Femara, but a necessary evil, I guess) Apparently degenerative stuff in my back.
What a relief! Well...back to work.. Just a quick check in to let you all know how much I appreciate your support.
Talk later,
Love
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Thank you for the report, Terry!!! So glad the news are fine... I am on Aromasin, and the side effects are mitigated by 3600-4000 IU of D3 vitamin (Blue Bonnet, vegetarian type) and 2000mg (2 softgels) of flaxseed oil (same brand), an aspirin every other day (325mg, entero-coated)... and exercise (with a loaded backpack... fwew... much more demanding to walk an hour min. every day with 10 pounds on my back...)...
Have all a great evening... working hard here, again... while the quiche is cooking (ham, mushrooms, onion, and asparagus tips)...
C.
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Wonderful news, you must feel so relieved. I agree about the femara as its doing nasty things to my bones.
Waiting for DD2 to come and get Bea. We had a wonderful afternoon but didn't go for a walk as it was too hot. It is supposed to get cooler tomorrow.
Catherine pleased you have work, just get it done by May! I must get some things finished tomorrow.
Diann would love to get to Vegas but just not possible - why not come to Denver? I really feel that I must visit my aunt in PA. Trip planning is going well.
Must go and gather up the toys.
Alyson
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Leah; How were those cakes? Hope you had a beautiful weekend.
Vegas: Got a taste of Nascar...I have been to the Vegas pits...fun place. Sounds like you have been living life to the fullest. You go girl!
Terry; Sigh of relief here for you! Thanks for letting us know...
Catherine; Quiche sounds yummy...especially with a croissant from a little french bakery
Alyson; Bea is gonna miss you while you are here...unless you decide to bring her along!
My friend finished round 1 of appointments yesterday. Sadly, I had to back out of the trip the night before we were to leave. I have been doing some crazy traveling since the middle of Feb...Mexico, Hawaii and last week we were in NC for business. Somewhere on that trip I caught Strep. The flight home this past Sunday was miserable. Got to the Dr. first thing Monday morning. She said worst fluid build up on my ears she had seen...2 shots and pills. Said I could not get on a plane and go to Houston. I felt awful about letting Carol down. Luckily, she found someone that could go. She said MDACC is absolutely amazing and loved her Dr.s. She has decided to do her treatments there. Radiation for 5 weeks and weekly infusions of cisplatin. It is really going to be difficult for her to be away from her daughters. But, she will come home on weekends. They are very confident about curing her and she is upbeat...so I am glad she is there.
Pat and Marsha; Hope you gals know that we are thinking of you...
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So great to hear all the news from everyone. I am so convinced that my onc at MD Anderson was right on when he told me to "go and live". I realize every case is different, but I have lobular bc and it is slow growing and I may die from something else before that get me.
So here's to living and "damn" the tests. LOL How good is the stress of waiting for results etc?
I am back to normal. No more coughing. Thank goodness.
House is still rocking with DD and her 3 little ones and her hubby on weekends. We are hoping and praying he gets the job he applied for at one of the chemical plants here and they can get their own place. The kids are precious and we love them dearly, but we live such a quiet life when it is just the two of us.
Terry so glad it was good news,. And Leah, I say "amen" to your decision.
Alyson, what are the dates you will be in Denver. I have considered flying up if it doesn't conflict with my granddaughter's college graduation. I have 2 nephews in Denver and the flights are usually pretty cheap. Let me know. I would love to meet you and Catherine F2F.
Vegas, sounds like you had a fantastic time in FL. Nothing wrong with your energy level. You are a busy lady. Always doing fun things.
I don't have many side effects anymore from the Arimidex. I have increased my vit. D3 to 4000 iu per day.
Catherine, you make me feel so lazy. I must get cracking now that our weather is warmer. I did work in the yard today. Our yard looks so sad. We had 3 days below 20 degrees this winter and it burned everything. I have palms and butterfly friendly shrubs with colored flowers. My landscaping I had done 4 years ago was so gorgeous and now, oh dear it is so sad. I just cut everything back and am waiting to see what comes back. I have been looking at palm trees on-line. My Pymgy Date Palms were freeze resistant to around 20 degrees. Don't think I can do much better than that.
Melanie, so sorry to hear of your strep throat. That is very painful and makes you really sick. Do take care of yourself. Our little globetrotter, Melanie. LOL.
Well I best get to bed. More yard work tomorrow and work on Tues, Wed and Fri.
Our "boarders" are on Spring Break, so they will be gone from Tues. until the following Sunday. That gives us a little break from fixing meals every night.
Hugs and love to all. Pat and Marsha you are always on my mind.
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It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of Pat "wayover20". I just happened to go to her name on the member list and to her profile. There is a note there from her daughter saying that Pat passed on Mar.11, 2010. She had last posted on Stage IV on Jan. 24 or so. She had gotten everything in order for her DD. Her daughter said "no more cancer, no more chemo, no more pain and she is at peace and with her mother". Rest in peace dear Pat. Love to all, Sammmie Kay
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Just lost my post. So sorry to hear about Pat. Love to her family
Alyson
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My heart goes out to our sweet "sister" Pat's family. I always felt that she put up a brave front for us here and tried to not share "too much". I am so glad she continued to share her life with us...the battles and the little victories that kept us connected to her. We all cared about her so much. I have a heavy heart for her DD and hope she someday reads about how much we cared for Pat and the relationship we shared here.
"If there ever comes a day when we can't be together keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever"....Winnie the Pooh
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