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Anyone starting Chemo in Feb?

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Comments

  • wayover20
    wayover20 Member Posts: 191
    edited July 2007
    My oncol. said I can get with the surgeon to have the port removed anytime. I'm also going to call the radiologist just to get another opinion on whether I should to any rads or not (probably not). And other than that, I don't have to see my oncol. again for 4 weeks.

    Wow, it's really strange knowing this 6 months has been hell but at the same time it has FLOWN by!

    pat
  • CommandoBarbie
    CommandoBarbie Member Posts: 474
    edited July 2007
    Pat -

    image
  • Primel
    Primel Member Posts: 652
    edited July 2007
    Good for you, Pat, getting back to normal is exhilarating... my taste buds are almost fully functional... and this brings a lot of enjoyment at the dinner table... Your little dancing character has a hair do close to what mine is suggesting...

    Enjoy the 4th and take care,

    Catherine
  • wayover20
    wayover20 Member Posts: 191
    edited July 2007
    Quote:

    Your little dancing character has a hair do close to what mine is suggesting...Catherine



    Ha Ha!!! Same as mine....I guess I was drawn to it! Thank you Catherine for all your uplifting posts!

    Pat
  • leahrc
    leahrc Member Posts: 384
    edited July 2007
    Carynn,
    This is exactly how they put mine in- twilight IV sedation in the OR. Since I am taking it out at a different hospital, with an interventional radiologist instead of a surgeon, we'll see. Someone on another board talked about a local only to get it out. That sounds a little rough. Don't know... am only anxious because I have to drive home at 5 that night to Western MA if I can. (Have to wait till rads are done at 4:30). Well, if I can I can and if I can't, I can't.
    Thanks for the info. will wait to hear Catherine's report also.
  • marshakb
    marshakb Member Posts: 796
    edited July 2007
    Good morning ladies and HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!

    Went to to the med onc yesterday. He seemed like he had "heard" something. I didn't mention anything about the surprise rads, just that I was doing fine. Finally had a long conversation about the concerns I have about keeping the "good" breast. When I told him Dr. A (rad onc) agreed that I had valid concerns and started quoted pathology things I was concerned about he sat up a little straighter. He did finally admit that a bi-lat would be doing everything possible at my age to take care of all this RIGHT NOW instead of readdressing this whole thing in a few years down the road. He is sending a note to all the rest of my docs (rad onc., surgeon, pcp). As for the port he suggested we take that out at the same time as the prophyl mast, after rads are done. Makes sense, one surgery. He also said there is info to back up the bi lat and that of the women who chose that route, 95-97% were happy with their decisions 5 years down the road.

    I don't see him for 3 months!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yippee

    Pat woohoo no more chemo dance!!

    Steph, you sound really good. Carynn, I am sure you are glad to get the port out. This has been a long strange trip, yes?

    Love you all, Marsha
  • marshakb
    marshakb Member Posts: 796
    edited July 2007

    Leah, was going to call you last night but taken xanax early in the day before the meeting with the onc. LOL By the time I got home I was zonked out and ended up going to be wayyyyyyyyyyy early. Talk to you soon OK?

  • lightphoto
    lightphoto Member Posts: 60
    edited July 2007
    Congrats to Pat...I know it is a terrific feeling here.
  • marshakb
    marshakb Member Posts: 796
    edited July 2007
    Hi Theresa, it is really nice to see you post. Are you doing well? Please tell Scott hello for me and hope you 2 are enjoying the summer now that chemo is done!!!

    Marsha
  • swimmingmom
    swimmingmom Member Posts: 121
    edited July 2007

    .

  • CommandoBarbie
    CommandoBarbie Member Posts: 474
    edited July 2007
    Hi everyone! The past 7 days have been crazy! Thursday was our anniversary, but I’ve also been trying to get all my Dr’s appointments out of the way before going back to work. So, Thursday I had an eye appointment at 8:00 at night. DH and I decided to go have a nice dinner after the appointment, but the Doc was late and long story short, we ended up at In –n- Out Burger at 10:00 at night.

    Friday we drove a huge circle from Phoenix to Mormon Lake, to Pine, back to Phoenix to see friends, run an errand, and get out of the house. Fun, but a long, long day, about 8 hours all together. Saturday we finished the Deadwood series (more on that later) and went out with some friends.

    I’ve mentioned before that I live at the base of a mountain preserve (that means no one can build on that mountain). On the other side of the mountain, where it’s not preserve, there is a huge church (seats 7000). Each year on the Sunday before the 4th, they put on about a 45 minute fireworks display that is one of the largest in town. Some of the best seats for it are right in my back yard. We used to have legendary parties every year for the fireworks, but as we’ve gotten older, we’ve toned them down a bit. Since I’m off this week, we had about 20 people Sunday night, doubled it as a NoMoChemo party, and a good time was had by all.

    Imagine my surprise when my Surgeons office called Monday morning to tell me I was scheduled for “surgery” (port removal) at 7:00 am Tuesday morning! Yikes! Had I known, I might have behaved a bit more Sunday.

    So Tuesday went off without a hitch, but like I said, I seem to come out of General Anesthesia better than the “Twilight.” Tuesday was a complete waste for me, sleeping almost all day. I’m having a lot of problems with my arthritis so that adds to the fatigue.

    Nothing exciting planned for the rest of the week. We might go back up to Pine Friday to visit our nephew, as it is supposed to be 115 degrees, or above, the rest of the week in Phoenix; much cooler in the mountains.

    So, Deadwood. I thought DH and I were the only ones in America who missed it when it was on! Deadwood was an HBO series that ran for 3 years that combined fiction with fact about the real town of Deadwood, SD, and the gold rush that occurred in 1874. The series included real characters like Calamity Jane, Wild Bill Hickock, Sheriff Bullock, and the Earp Brothers, along with composite characters. You can read a bit about the real Deadwood here : http://www.legendsofamerica.com/SD-DeadwoodTimeline.html The series is great and really well done. HBO cancelled it to make room for John from Cincinnati (which IMHO is horrible!), but there are two 2 hour movies planned to “end” the series. I highly recommend renting it, but be prepared, it’s not for children, the faint of heart, or the easily offended. The language and violence stay pretty close to the reality of the Wild West.

    Ironically, some friends of ours who go to Sturgis every year called yesterday to let us know that they are getting married in August in Deadwood. We are crushed that we can’t go as I’ll be in the middle of rads then.

    Finally to wrap up my All About Me Post - Hair continues to come in pretty quickly. I actually showed it off to quite a few at the party on Sunday. BTW tho, I did lose my eyelashes, eyebrows, and both thumbnails. Thumbnails both had a small new nail (goes less than halfway up) under the ones I lost. No new eyebrows or lashes yet, but once I draw them on or use the liner, it’s not very noticeable.

    Ok, enough about me. Twink - thinking of you and hope you get your results soon.

    Hillary, that was awesome of you to keep up the list when I spaced my weeks due to surgery, etc. Thank you.

    Take care everyone. Talk to you soon!
  • Primel
    Primel Member Posts: 652
    edited July 2007
    Carynn, I love your All About Me Posts... write more... at least boredom is not in the picture at your house...
    Stay cool,
    Catherine
  • talbrig13
    talbrig13 Member Posts: 358
    edited July 2007
    Happy 4th everyone....

    Took my decadron....trying for that last chemo tomorrow....AGAIN!

    Pretty much have been vegging out...slept 12 hours last night....had a muga scan yesterday and am anxious to see the results...and hope that is not the reason from my fatigue.

    Will let you all know how I did tomorrow....Glad everyone is feeling better and having great fun for the 4th...we went to a combo picnic/25th anniversary party today.

    love to all....talk to you soon....I am being pushed off the computer by a teenager!
  • Primel
    Primel Member Posts: 652
    edited July 2007
    Good luck for tomorrow, Terry, drink plenty and have a good night sleep... and hope to see the nomochemo dance here later on...

    Hugs,
    Catherine
  • Primel
    Primel Member Posts: 652
    edited July 2007
    Hi friends... went in this morning for port removal... waited, waited... the surgeon was delayed by an emergency in another place... at least I had a good book... he eventually showed up, I explain my Avastin situation requiring extra good sewing... he seems to understand (know?) and was very nice... but the lidocaine shots were painful and did not do their job quite quite... and i could distinctly feel the needle go through and had the feeling I was the turkey being prepared for dinner... I am back home and took a Vicodin because I do not want the pain to be too severe (did not remember that when they put the port in... but I already forgot everything about chemo...)... will take it easy today, moving just one finger to work on my computer...
    Did not feel a thing when they pulled the catheter out...
    So, insist for some better pain management if you can... but the bright side is that I am not feeling foggy...

    Theresa how did it go?

    Have all a nice day.
    Catherine
  • CommandoBarbie
    CommandoBarbie Member Posts: 474
    edited July 2007
    Oh Catherine I'm so sorry. I had read on other threads where lots of folks have had their ports removed with just the lidocaine and I thought that's what my BS was going to do. However, she said she prefered to use the OR as its more sterile than her office, and the sedation to make sure I didnt feel anything. Even tho Tuesday was completely wasted for me, I like how she did it.

    I hope that you feel good real soon and that you take some time to rest and pamper yourself today.

    Hugs!

    Carynn
  • twink
    twink Member Posts: 550
    edited July 2007
    Catherine...vicodin good, it must be nice to have that darn thing removed.

    Terry, I hope everything went well and you too are doing the nomochemo dance! Congratulations to everybody else who's finished with chemo. Hard to believe that part is over for most of us.

    Carynn, glad to hear you're doing well. I must tell you one of the main things I miss about living in Ca is In-N-Out burgers. I want one now! Instead, I just polished off the rest of the BBQ potato chips from the teenagers' party last night. My bad...(not a good low fat day today Hillary).

    I am in surgery for the axillary nodes tomorrow at 7:30 AM. I didn't get any additional information that made me consider changing course....so...it's on. I'll check in on Saturday.

    Have a nice weekend all.

    Twilah

  • Primel
    Primel Member Posts: 652
    edited July 2007
    Will be thinking of you Twilah... Hope they will not have to take too many out (I had 5 removed in the axillary, and this is my least painful side now... feels completely normal -- 6 months later). In the meantime, go easy on the chips... and drink plenty...

    I am seriously considering a second Vicodin... boy that stuff hurts... I am sure I'll have a huge bruise again (even though I immediately swallowed a whole Arnica Montana dose -- tiny pellets to let melt under the tongue...). Oh well... hopefully the last assault on my body for a while... I sure like the idea of not having this tube in a vein going to the heart...

    Hi, Carynn...

    Big hugs to you all...
    Catherine
  • NarberthMom
    NarberthMom Member Posts: 382
    edited July 2007
    Catherine -- Sorry that you're in pain, but glad that you've got the Vicodin. Don't forget about the constipation problems with pain pills ...

    Carynn -- Excuse my chemo brain, but when do you start rads?

    Terry -- I'm really, really, really hoping that you managed to get your last TCH! Are you moving on to rads?

    Leah -- Will they have to recheck your tattoos after you get the port removed? My rads onc didn't want me to lose weight because it might affect the set-up ...

    Twilah -- Hugs for your AND surgery. Please contact us when you can ...

    Hugs,
    Hillary
  • leahrc
    leahrc Member Posts: 384
    edited July 2007
    No, I don't think I will have any issues. Port is on left and my rads are all to the right breast and axillary area, so no problem!

    I think I am going to be knocked out. So it will only hurt **later**.

    Thanks for all the info...
  • Primel
    Primel Member Posts: 652
    edited July 2007
    Good luck with your port removal Leah... It is indeed nice to know this titanium + plastic thing is out... I eventually went for 2 advils instead of a second Vicodin, almost 4 hours ago, and I "ice-packed" the bruised spots... and it is much better already... may just take advil at bed time... the body is an amazing thing... healingwise...

    Hillary, yes, I did take my Senokot (learnt my lesson since mast. time...)...

    A restful night to all, and especially to Twink and Leah for tomorrow...
    Hugs,
    Catherine
  • talbrig13
    talbrig13 Member Posts: 358
    edited July 2007
    Hi all...
    I am doing the NOMOCHEMO dance....just can't figure out how to show it to you! Please join me everyone!

    Last TCH was uneventful...white count was 11700...a little hi, but falling close enough to the normal range. My muga scan was only down about 4 points, so no noticeable change there to stop my Herceptin...So now rads to start in 2 weeks, get marked next Thursday...and my next Herceptin is in 3 weeks...the 26th. Not much to that...they will draw labs and IV will run a half hour...premeds are just Tylenol and a Benedryl by mouth.

    So I will start my Colace tonite and start Zofran in the morning....last round!!!!
    Leah...hope your port removal is uneventful!

    Hope the node surgery goes well, Twilah...will be thinking about you tomorrow.

    Theresa...hope you are doing well also....can't believe how far we have come on this journey.

    I talked with a girl I graduated with today....she is doing her Herceptin now, but is about 4 weeks into rads...she is starting to get seeping blisters under her arms...so it will be interesting to see how we all react to the rads....I think everyone is different, just like the chemo was. I have not made a decision about my port..whether to keep it until Herceptin is over in February or whether to have it out and go with an IV. Herceptin is not as hard on the veins as the chemo drugs, so I am considering having it out....need to think on it though.

    I find it interesting too...I am the only Herceptin girl here, but my chemo room has 2 or 3 of us everytime I am there. Wonder why it seems like so many of us, but none here??

    I am eating the fresh lettuce and romaine from my garden...my snow peas are ready to pick and I have some green tomatoes...but here in the mountains it will be a while yet until we have fresh tomatoes.

    I have a baby cantaloupe growing and some zucchini and yellow squash...

    Am battling Japanese beetles though on the roses...Catherine....the squirrels don't seem to bother my roses...lots of grey squirrels here, but they are more interested in the bird seed, pinecones and acorns.

    Thank you all for your support these last couple of weeks for me...I was really beginning to get "down" and needed some friends who would understand. I guess I am good to go to work Monday if I feel okay. And right now I feel better than the last couple of weeks....

    Glad I took this week off too...one of the girls got strep throat and ear infections, so I was glad not to be around her.

    Well...going to sign off...thanks for listening to my rambling and I am glad everyone seems to be doing well.
  • ErinsGram
    ErinsGram Member Posts: 150
    edited July 2007
    Leah & Twink - big hugs today.

    Terry - congrats - what a PITB these last couple weeks have been for you.

    Catherine - good to hear you're on the mend.

    Reading Terry's post on the veggies made me think of a funny story to share - Last weekend, my DH's parents were in for a visit and we were sitting at a picnic table on a 'patio' I built this spring. Sitting on the retaining wall around the table, I have container plants - 5 tomatoes plants and jalapeno and serrano pepper plants. I've had 19 tomatoes on 1 plant for at least a month and finally had 1 tomato that was almost ripe (and you KNOW how much we look forward to that first tomato) - another couple days would do it. As we were talking, my choc lab Hannah started sniffing around the plants and we shoo'ed her out. Well, apparently we didn't pay enough attention because next thing I know, she drops my almost ripe tomato on my lap. Now go figure - out of the 70-75 tomatoes on those plants, she picked the ripe one. She hasn't bothered with them since. 2 more will be ready to pick in a couple days - wonder if she'll pick those for me too.

    Off to get ready to head out for radiation. I'm very dark now - today will be #19. Also have a baseline dexascan today in preparation for the Femara which I'll start taking after rads. Had my PS appointment yesterday - looks like the prophy mast and bilateral reconstruction process will begin in December. I'm asking Santa for new boobs for Christmas - I didn't like the present he brought me last year

    Hugs to all today!
    Phyl
  • marshakb
    marshakb Member Posts: 796
    edited July 2007
    Terry, just for you, a group NoMoCheMo Dance!

    image
  • Primel
    Primel Member Posts: 652
    edited July 2007
    Terry, Phyl... thank you for sharing the magic moments of veggie growing... I will try next year... here, blooms are gone... I cleaned the roses real good, hoping to stimulate more flowering... no beetles here, but a touch of powdery mildew this year... holyhocks are at their peak, the sunflowers are going to bloom soon, and lavender has never looked so good... time to make some sachets for the linens...

    Terry, I had my port removed only because of the incision reopening and being a real infection scare, otherwise I would have kept it: like herceptin, Avastin is not a chemical and should be OK as an IV, but I thought the port was a blessing, worked so well... I am on a "every 3 weeks" basis, too, until Dec. 11... 8 more to go (had 10 so far). I am glad you are feeling better... I am ecstatic about the way I feel now (as if nothing ever happened to me, except for the mast. scars which are still sore)... and hair definitely coming back, probably salt and pepper since my head looks "dirty" now instead of white fuzz only... very bald look still, nevertheless...

    Marsha, sweetie, how are you doing? I checked the Crispy Cruisers but there was not much news there... Hopefully everything is going as planned and you are not too tired...

    Well, thinking of Twink today... and wishing Leah a happy port free day.

    Hugs all around dear friends,
    Catherine
  • leahrc
    leahrc Member Posts: 384
    edited July 2007
    The port removal was NOT as advertised. Just lidocaine and a "little something" to take the edge off. I talked to the interventional readiologist throughout most of it. But OUCH! So ibuprofen,a nap, then rads and then HOME for the weekend! Can't wait. But hopefully it will hurt less as the day wears on.
    I, too, would not have removed it but for the occlusion problem. I think they are a blessing. I would have kept it for full year even though right now, no more chemo is planned.
    Also, no answer yet from the liver guy and what he is going to recommend. Guess tumor boards take holiday weeks off. But that's ok.
    Hope you all have a FUN one... I can't wait till the buuter-sugar corn comes in, which is native to Massachusetts!

    Love.
  • twink
    twink Member Posts: 550
    edited July 2007
    Hi all...I'm back, the surgery went well and the Vicodin works. Heading back to bed for another 'nap'. All level 1 and 2 nodes on the left side should be making their way to the lab today...another week of waiting for path results. Glad to hear your port removal went okay Leah and that you were able to get that last chemo Terry. Hope everybody else is doing okay...Hugs everybody. I'll 'see' you tomorrow.

    Twilah
  • Primel
    Primel Member Posts: 652
    edited July 2007
    Twink, thank you for "reporting" so soon... wishing you negative everything and a quick recovery with no pain...

    Leah, as excruciating as the pain was yesterday, it is completely gone today (and I did not take anything today)... I can't wait to exercise again, swim, etc.

    I just delivered my job and feel so relieved... another vacation until I feel like working again (usually after a few days...). We are (with DH) frantically cleaning the house which was yukky... so Gabriel's parents are not too horrified when they come get their doggy back tomorrow... Three non-stop playing dogs in a very small house leaves a lot of hair and dust/garden dirt everywhere... Peter has his oldest friend coming to visit on Sunday for 3 days (he was his mentor at Nasa in the 60's and there are both physics nuts), so this will be a very nice time... then one of DH's son with wife and teenager (we like them very much)... and gardening plans... time will fly by too fast, as usual... The delicate mockorange fragrance has been replaced with the linden trees exhuberant one... delightful...
    Well, the laundry is waiting...

    You all have a great week-end,

    Catherine
  • talbrig13
    talbrig13 Member Posts: 358
    edited July 2007
    Good evening girls...I tried to post earlier, but lost it. Will try again...

    Marsha...what a wonderful group dance! Felt like a group hug!

    Sorry to hear about painful port removals....hope you are feeling better soon! Mine is healed well and although it is difficult to draw labs from, the left side works will for my infusions. I will have to have both sides stuck though because the right side will need flushed monthly when I get my Herceptin. I am thinking that when I have my planned breast lift and reduction on the "good side" I could have it removed while I am under anethesia. That should be in December, so I would only have about 2 or 3 more Herceptins after that and an arm IV should be good for that.

    Phyl...your post about the tomatoes reminded me of the time the deer ate ALL of my tomatoes, including the plants....now I put a net over my tomatoes to protect them. Is you dog gentle enough to hand over the tomato and have it still be edible?? I hope so or you may have to protect your planters!

    Twilah..glad your surgery is over. Sorry you have a wait for pathology...the waiting is the hardest part of all of this....Hope you are feeling better with not too much pain.

    Has anyone heard from Tink (Tammy) our cruiser who is pregnant?? I keep praying for her and her little baby girl and wondering how she is.

    Well...off to bed with a compazine...love to all of you.
  • SammieKB
    SammieKB Member Posts: 164
    edited July 2007
    Hi all,
    I am making my fourth attempt at posting. My computer shut down before I could copy my last post. Grrrrr! I hate when that happents.
    I am so glad to hear of all the "portless galls" and all the hair apprearing. Congrats to all.
    Twink I will be thinking of you as you wait. That is the hardest thing for me, waiting for results.
    I had FAC on Tues and this is day 4 and still no nausea. I do feel like an insect looks after being sprayed with insecticide. Wobbly legs and floopyLOL.

    Marsha, great news about the prophy mast. I don't think you will every regret it. It is peace of mind for me.
    Will you post me a nomochemo dancer when my time comes? I am so inept at this computer. Maybe lazy too. LOL

    Well, I am woozy, so will write more later. Really bad chemo brain.

    Even in my fog you are all on my mind and I love you all. Thanks for being here. It means the world to me. Love to all, Sammie Kay

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