Come join others currently navigating treatment in our weekly Zoom Meetup! Register here: Tuesdays, 1pm ET.
Join our Webinar: REAL Talk: Healthy Body and Mind After Breast Cancer Treatment - Jan 23, 2025 at 4pm ET Register here.

Anyone starting Chemo in Feb?

1…8889919394…183

Comments

  • twink
    twink Member Posts: 550
    edited July 2007
    Quote:


    I so wish we could figure out a way to meet. Wouldn't it be fun say Feb 2008 to find a central location to meet up??? Anybody's family own a hotel? haha Carynn works for IT, maybe she can find cheap flights??




    The heck with a central location, I vote for FL in the winter! We could rent an enormous place on a beach somewhere....sigh....I'm daydreaming now...

    Hugs all.
  • twink
    twink Member Posts: 550
    edited July 2007
    Hi Catherine,
    I was told sentinel nodes are axillary nodes, just the first in line from the breast area. So, the way it played out for me is that I had two sentinel nodes tested intraoperatively and both came back negative. When all the breast tissue and the two sentinel nodes went to the lab, they retested and found the micromets. There was also a 3rd axillary node (volunteered with the breast tissue) that got tested and showed micromets. I understand it was one of the two sentinel nodes that had the largest deposit. The other 14 that tested clean were all axillary nodes. So in total, he took 17 axillary nodes -- 2 as part of the SNB, 1 with the mastectomy and 14 with the AND.

    Heheheh....the singing and dancing is kind of a funny image, especially considering my sedentary lifestyle of late!

    I encourage the piercing and tattoos for you Catherine...join the club!

    Be well.
    Twilah
  • luckymel
    luckymel Member Posts: 21
    edited July 2007
    Hi, February ladies. I am still out here, thanks for asking, Twilah. Read all your posts every day.

    I'm feeling very well now, almost completely recovered from chemo and bil. mastectomy. Eating healthy, losing weight, growing hair (albeit very slowly), going to the gym daily - all the things I'd hoped to be doing EXCEPT recovering from my diep. I was given a surgery date finally (Aug. 9) and the same day I happened to call my oncologist for a final check on whether I needed radiation. No one had told me I did, but I had two pos. nodes in October with my SNB, and two more with the mastectomy, and in my book that adds up to four. I suppose I'm glad I asked, because I do indeed need rads. Somehow, everyone had managed to miss that fact.

    The bad side of it is that now I'll have to wait 8 months for my reconstruction, and I just had my heart set on having it in first June, then July, then August. I start rads next week - had my simulation today, and I'm okay with it now. Better than having a recurrence, after all. Twink, I sure hope you don't have to do that also. I'm triple negative, so I'm not likely to refuse any treatment they want to throw at me - I want it all! Onc. says no more chemo, though.

    The day I found out about the radiation, my BS sent me on a wild shopping spree at the world's most wonderful post-mastectomy lingerie shop. I drove over in tears, an d left four hours later with a big smile on my face and a big bag full of beautiful stuff courtesy of my insurance co. Black lace camisole, leopard bra, etc. - who knew? Can't stop thinking about what to buy next. I do have two sets of lovely size B prostheses now, and make all the difference in how I feel. B is what I always wanted to be, and I love it!
  • ErinsGram
    ErinsGram Member Posts: 150
    edited July 2007
    Mel - I hear your disappointment about the rads but you're right - do everything you can to minimize the possibility of recurrence. I was kinda bitchy when my PS told me he wanted to wait 6 months to do the recon but seeing my crispy skin after 23 zaps and 10 more to go, I can understand how much healing needs to happen inside and out prior to tearing things apart again. I'm going to use my next 6 months to get back to a very agressive fitness program - running, weights, etc. - getting the circulatory system back in shape to minimize the risk of failure with the flaps, necrosis, etc. I'll be starting Femara after rads ends, but I'm thinking my fitness program will allow me to continue to feel like I'm doing something proactive in addition to the Femara.

    Carynn - good to hear from you. Hope you're staying cool.

    Catherine - another visual post. Unfortunately, when you mentioned 'margharitas', my attention failed me. Give those doggies a hug!

    Twink - you and Hillary can ride to FL with me {and share driving, of course } then fly back. Southwest frequently has $49 one-way fares between Orlando and Phila or BWI. Hmmm - we getting any interest up yet??? I'm working on it Marsha . . .

    Hugs to all! Have a great weekend.
    Phyl
  • talbrig13
    talbrig13 Member Posts: 358
    edited July 2007
    Good morning girls...
    I have worked all week and now I am really far behind on remembering who posted what...but I am overjoyed for those with good news!

    Had a rough week after my last chemo...thank heavens it is the last time....nausea, diarrhea, heartburn. The wierdest side effect I have had all along is my eyelids twitching...well now my fingers are twitching. I have been feeling better yesterday and today so far.

    Had my rads simulation yesterday and start on Wed the 18th. The have already told me I would be sore under the arm, because I have breast tissue under the skin fold. Oh goody! Marsha, I hope I don't get too crisp, like you.

    Still considering a disability leave, but will wait 2 weeks or so, to see if I am sore or what. I am still on the fence about that.

    I need to get my Femara ordered thru the mailorder pharmacy, so I have it for end of rads.

    I too, need to lose some weight, and now that the taxotere is over, maybe some of the fluid will go away. I never feel like sticking to a diet when I am bloated. It depresses me. Wish Catherine could cook for me.

    Well, got to get off to work. Then I have a busy weekend planned...helping my DD (maid of honor) with her best friends wedding...need to alter some dresses and make a flower arrangement.

    Keep cool, everyone! So glad we took this cruise together!
  • wildabouthorses
    wildabouthorses Member Posts: 458
    edited July 2007
    Hi Catherine, just been busy trying to get things back to normal around here. Finally got my mower deck back after 4 weeks and trying to mow between rains. They keep giving us flash flood warnings everytime it rains. I managed to get the yard and the front part of the pasture mowed so far. The pasture took 4 hours to do instead of 1 hour like usual due to the tall thick grass and weeds out there. Riding mower takes more going over it to get it down good. The heat and humidity when its not raining just kills me after having dry heat in Colorado and cooler temps during the first half of the trip! Hubby wants to do a couple things this weekend using the trike and I said I don't want to deal with the heat so go by yourself.
    I've also been enjoying a dvd set my daughter sent me for my birthday, its Alfred Hitchcock, surprisingly the shows are good despite being from 1955 and black and white. You know how some shows can be kinda stupid when you see them again especially from years ago. I still can't guess the twist in the stories, they have me so fooled and I'm usually a good guesser at "who done its". Its interesting too to see the very young actors and actresses that made names for themselves years later. I was born in 55 so kinda cool too to see shows from that year.
  • wildabouthorses
    wildabouthorses Member Posts: 458
    edited July 2007

    Oh I did a really dumb thing this morning, I took a tamoxifin pill instead of my Zantac pill for gas/acid stomach! I was able to throw some of it up. First time I've mixed up pills like that as I take Tamox at night! I too have alot of strong hot flashes since being on Tamoxifin, never had them like this before and so many.

  • wayover20
    wayover20 Member Posts: 191
    edited July 2007
    Hey everyone! Today is a wonderful day....feeling great. The only thing lacking is hair but I know that will come around soon! I think the reason I'm feeling so good --besides the obvious begin done with treatments -- is that on Monday I will be returning to work and getting back to "a routine". My daugher keeps asking "are you sure you can do it, do you feel good enough?". Last night again she brought it up sort of like a dig "you know you go back to work on Monday" and I said Yes I know and I am really HAPPY about it.

    I'm am happy to have had this past 6 months off but now I am just as happy to return to the working world and do what I do.

    Mel, sending you good vibes for your rads journey.
  • luckymel
    luckymel Member Posts: 21
    edited July 2007
    Terry, I'm also having the fingers-twitching type side effect - of course all my chemo (taxol, especially) symptoms have appeared late and lasted long, but I did and still do have that finger twitching. It's really annoying. Taking inderal seems to suppress it some, but evidently I'm not taking enough. Wonder if this is a permanent thing, or what. Is it part of neuropathy?

    Phyl, thanks for your post, and I totally agree with you. I am considering the next two months, when I will be on radiation, a gift. It will only take a small portion of my day, and I plan to use the rest of it on a consistent and aggressive fitness program in order to increase my strength and energy level so that when I do go back to work I won't be so tired and weak, and then I will have the habit established again so that by the time I do have my reconstruction, I will be fit instead of just barely strong enough to have the surgery. It is probably all for the best. Maybe I can do something else good with my days, too - who knows?

    Best wishes to all you wonderful February cruisers.
  • luckymel
    luckymel Member Posts: 21
    edited July 2007

    Thanks, Pat, for the good vibes. I send them right back to you. I'm so glad you've finally made it through and are ready to go back to work. I agree with you - the time off was good, but going back will be good too. Our jobs are part of who we are - nursing jobs, maybe, more than others. I wish you well.

  • TinkC
    TinkC Member Posts: 9
    edited July 2007
    Hi everyone! It's been a long time since I posted! And I'm still trying to catch up on all the posts. Me and baby girl are doing great! The Doctor is going to induce on 8/8. 3 weeks and 5 days......but who's counting right? The Dr says she appears to be totally oblivious and unaffected by the chemo! I finished my last round of chemo and will start the Taxol 2 weeks after she's born, so I'm a little behind everyone! My hair is growing though and I'm hoping by the time Aubree gets here that I'll have as much hair as she has Ya'll are always in my prayers and on my mind!
  • Primel
    Primel Member Posts: 652
    edited July 2007
    Oh, TinkC, so nice of you to check in... we are all thinking of you and your baby girl... we will be doing the countdown with you, then, hoping for a post at the first opportunity once you are back home... what an adventure... You sound great... that's wonderful! Keep doing that way, wishing you only the very best...
    Big hugs, take care,
    Catherine
  • marshakb
    marshakb Member Posts: 796
    edited July 2007
    TINK hey hey girl, so good to hear from you. I have thought of you and little Aubree often! BTW great name you picked out. I am so happy to hear all is well. We really worried about you. Can we all be her aunties??

    Hi Catherine!! Love you!

    Oh please please can we plan a get together next Feb????

    Hi Mel, come on over and join us in the Feb Cruisers Moving to Rads thread. We are little ahead of you but that is in your favor!
  • twink
    twink Member Posts: 550
    edited July 2007
    Oh my...Phyl! I am so on to this...I'd even DO all the driving myself. February sounds perfect Marsha. I'm marking it on my calendar. Now...we just need to recruit a few more FCCers and we'll have a quorum (or two).

    Mel, I'm so glad to hear from you and to hear that you're doing well. I too will be reverting to my gym habits soon...I think I'll be up for an easy workout starting next week. The PS said no pecs or lats...but everything else is okay.

    Tink...Aubree is such a nice name and only 3 weeks away from welcoming here to the world. Please keep her 'aunties' posted.

    Seems like many of us are getting close to our new normal...with returning to work, finishing treatments, etc. I'm anxious to find out what's next for me. Hugs to everybody. My thoughts go out to you each and every day...through the good and the bad.

    Oh, here's a pic of my son and I out for our Friday night cocktails... sheesh...I need to get a smaller version (bear with me)

    image
  • SammieKB
    SammieKB Member Posts: 164
    edited July 2007
    HI dear friends,
    Great to hear from Mel and TinkC. Congratulations with getting on with life. So happy the baby is doing great.
    I am still plowing through FAC and whining alot. I didn't seem to bounce back as fast after 3 and am dreading 4. I am losing several fingernails and my fingers are really sore. No twitching so far. It has surprised me how long the side effects of Taxol hang around. I finished Taxol in May and just now am losing fingernails and toenails. No sign of hair either. I am sure because I am finishing up with FAC that delays hair growth.
    A friend that finished Taxol in Feb recently lost her eyebrows and eyelashes again. The doc at MD Anderson didn't seem to have an answer for her. She is on Tamoxifen.
    The onc did tell her that she could expect it to take a year after the completion of all chemo and treatment to feel pre-treatment level of health. Patience, patience. I am short on that.
    Marsha, a reunion next Feb. would be great. I am in.
    Hope Carynn and Catherine are staying cool.
    I will be so glad to feel like working out. It is too hot here to walk. My white counts are low, so not going to gym. Patience again. I am sure all that will come about in time.
    You are all on my mind. Love and hugs to all, Sammie Kay
  • Primel
    Primel Member Posts: 652
    edited July 2007
    Sammie Kay, wish I could help you feel better... as you say, patience has to be our greatest virtue in our circumstances, but it gets old real quick...

    Friday the 13th, not a lucky day for me, wasted hours in the radiology department at the hospital: his staff asked me to be there at 9, but he never showed up, he was delayed by an emergency and after 30 minutes waiting I learnt about it and nobody had a clue of when he would be in... so as far as I was concerned, I was out... we tried to reschedule during the afternoon, they eventually told me to go back there at 5:30... I waited until 7, and he was still in a procedure and nobody had any idea of when this would be done, so I left again... the guy (the surgeon, I mean), just called me home to apologize, gnagnagna... I can understand they have emergencies and unexpected cases, all they have to do is communicate clearly and not let their staff make appointments they can not honor. He wants me to go back on Monday to have the "sewing job" of the port removal checked... it's bleeding a tiny bit, on and off, and I can't see why... the glue? I do not see stitches... anyway... the drawback of Avastin is that simple healing gets a bit more challenging... nothing hurts,mind you, that's a plus... I must have slept on my arm or something... it's sure not from reading in my chaise-longue...

    February plans sound neat... I even mentioned it to DH who said that would be a great opportunity to rent a small van and drive with the doggies... seems a bit far... but we like trips with the dogs, and stopping for breakfast on the road in mom-and-pap restaurants where they serve you like family and have the greatest pancakes while the juke-box is playing music from the fifties... truck stops are not bad either and interesting to do people watching...
    So... a project worth thinking about... would be wonderful to meet with you guys...
    Leah... Vegas... Carynn... hello there...???

    Well, have all a good restful night...
    Hugs all around,

    Catherine
  • Primel
    Primel Member Posts: 652
    edited July 2007
    Twink, you sure have a very handsome young man as a son... He must be thrilled to go out with his lovely looking mom... Hope you had a good time, thank you for the picture...
    Night-night,
    Catherine
  • Alyson
    Alyson Member Posts: 3,737
    edited July 2007
    Afternoon all
    So glad to hear that Tink and baby are fine. It will be a long three weeks waiting I am sure.

    We have been working hard around the house today with all the family appearing at some time to help. Have cleared up building rubble. DS and DH got some more fire wood cut, I have used up what would normally have been a winters worth of wood in a couple of months being at home and it has been very cold as well.

    Mel and SammieKay I am still having SEs from the taxol - its only four weeks since my last dose. My feet are terrible, my toes and the balls are numb and sore. I know that sounds strange but that's how they feel. It makes walking difficult at times. Two toenails are a funny colour and I exoect them to fall out. Other nails are all ridged. My fingertips are also numb. There is no sign of hair anywhere yet, hopefully it will grow by January for DD's wedding. The onc said that the SEs could take at least 6 months to go.
    Mel I have just started rads so will keep you company on that journey.

    I am interested in everyone rushing back to work. I know I continued working long after I should have stopped but the doc has advised that I should take the rest of the year off school to fully recover. (Our school year is from February to December.) I still have things such as marking to do but don't feel up to getting back into the classroom yet. I hope to get really fit and get my weight down before next year.

    I must get dinner on as friends are coming over. Decided to do a roast meal but with lots of vegetables.

    Have a restful weekend

    Alyson
  • BelindaL
    BelindaL Member Posts: 13
    edited July 2007
    Hello everyone

    It's been a while since I checked in. Hillary - thanks for keeping track of us - you are amazing! Thanks for your warm wishes for chemo too. Good news is - 9 weekly taxol/herceptins down yesterday and only 3 to go - yaaayyyy!! I am so sick of it all though - it's getting harder to keep my spirits up and about 8 days ago I had my first meltdown since my EC final treatment - not too bad I guess. Just lost it, tired, and had been sick with a virus so my body and soul needed a bit of tlc. But, I am out the other side of that episode, and counting down.

    Congratulations Mel on your clear scans, and Twilah on your node results and Barbie on your gene status - good outcomes!

    Catherine- I am with you on the white hair thing - you have given me hope that maybe this white pathetic fluff I am slowly growing will be replaced with something thicker, stronger and maybe even coloured!!!

    TinkC - we haven't exchanged comments but I think you must be incredible, handling the joy of intense joy of pregnancy and impending motherhood at the same time as chemo - that little girl of yours has one strong and amazing Mum. She is very lucky!!!

    And SammieK - I'm finishing this chemo ride in snyc with you - warm wishes to you, as we bring up the tail end of this busful of chemo cruisers.

    To everyone else - best wishes with everything you are going through, whether its rads, holidays, going back to work...whatever...when I do get to check in I enjoy your pots very much.

    Belindaxxx
  • ErinsGram
    ErinsGram Member Posts: 150
    edited July 2007

    Marsha - I PM'ed you.

  • twink
    twink Member Posts: 550
    edited July 2007
    Sammy Kay and Alyson,
    You're not alone with the ongoing SEs of T (even though mine was Taxotere and I finished May 24th). My baby toenails fell off a couple of weeks ago and the joints in my hands, arms and shoulders are so sore some mornings I feel like I'm 100 years old. My finger nails are sore, a few are ridged as you mention and I have this ongoing twitching in my lower left torso (which I think was there before surgery). My eyelashes and brows are barely there but my head is fully covered now. My eyes are still much more watery than they were pre Tx. I'm continuing to take the glutamine, hopeful that the stiffness in my joints will abate soon. Sheesh... chemo is vile stuff. Oh well, the things we have to contend with. Patience as Sammie Kay and Catherine say... we are becoming very virtuous women.

    You're almost done SK, hang in there.
  • marshakb
    marshakb Member Posts: 796
    edited July 2007
    Good morning fellow cruisers hope everyone is having a good weekend!

    Phyl and I have been talking about her trip down to Florida in February and we would really like to try to plan SOMETHING, SOMEWHERE! lol

    So we thought we would post the idea here and if you are interested, let's get a list and we can then e-mail between us and get it organized. I am leaving specifics up to you guys as I am the one who does not have to travel. Also my job is flexible timewise. Here we go, copy and paste.......... add any ideas you have!

    1. Marsha B. - flexible
  • marshakb
    marshakb Member Posts: 796
    edited July 2007

    TWINK my God you are beautiful! Bet your son loves having cocktails with his hot mama! Marsha

  • NarberthMom
    NarberthMom Member Posts: 382
    edited July 2007
    Oh, I'm so glad that I'm not the only one with the joint pain! It's mostly in my hips, and I had attributed it to the fact that I've started to use the treadmill. I hadn't even thought that it might be lingering SEs from taxol!

    Since I lost my eyebrows and eyelashes during taxol, they have now grown in. They are still on the shortish side, but quite lush. I know that they will all fall out again in a couple of months. This cycle will continue until the hair growth gets staggered. From what I've read, the regrowth gets faster and faster.

    I'm not ready to go topless -- scalp still shows!

    But leg hair has started! I decided to try waxing ... I figured it might help keep the leg hairs sparse. We'll see whether I can stand it -- you have to let the hairs grow longer than you would with shaving.

    February sounds good, but a lot will depend on my work schedule ... I'm trying not to get too anxious about going back to work at the end of August. I'll have been out for 8 months!

    Hugs to all,
    Hillary
  • twink
    twink Member Posts: 550
    edited July 2007
    1. Marsha B. - flexible
    2. Twilah - flexible

    (cruise, big place on the beach, wine? Marsha -- is it FLL you're in or Orlando and btw, you are too kind - hugs!)
  • marshakb
    marshakb Member Posts: 796
    edited July 2007

    Twilah, I live in Ocala which is central to Orlando, Tampa, Daytona Beach, even jacksonville. So flight options are all over the place. There are 3day/2night cruises going out of Port Canaveral, beach rentals, etc so whatever folks want to do. I can do the checking around about that kind of thing since I am local. Just need to know what every one else would like to do. Wine, Beer, Margaritas, NOTHING RED, pina coloadas, etc etc. Haha

  • ErinsGram
    ErinsGram Member Posts: 150
    edited July 2007
    1. Marsha B. - flexible
    2. Twilah - flexible
    3. Phyl - pretty much limited to between Feb 24th and Feb 28th
  • Primel
    Primel Member Posts: 652
    edited July 2007
    1. Marsha B. - flexible
    2. Twilah - flexible
    3. Phyl - pretty much limited to between Feb 24th and Feb 28th
    4. Catherine - flexible timewise... no idea of logistics yet (pretty far and doggies... may have to leave DH behind). A beach house with a good kitchen could be nice... we'd cook all together healthy and good recipies... with wine (even red...) and walk on the beach for exercise...
    and whatever...
  • SammieKB
    SammieKB Member Posts: 164
    edited July 2007

    1. Marsha B. - flexible
    2. Twilah - flexible
    3. Phyl - pretty much limited to between Feb 24th and Feb 28th
    4. Catherine - flexible timewise... no idea of logistics yet (pretty far and doggies... may have to leave DH behind). A beach house with a good kitchen could be nice... we'd cook all together healthy and good recipies... with wine (even red...) and walk on the beach for exercise...
    and whatever...
    5.Sammie Kay- flexible. All ideas sound wonderful to me.

    Post Extras:

    Pages: << 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 |
  • marshakb
    marshakb Member Posts: 796
    edited July 2007
    I can't believe this is actually gonna happen! I love Catherines idea about a beach cottage/house depending on how many can come. Check out Flagler Beach and give me some feedback. Marsha http://www.flaglerbeach.com/

Categories

Join Us on Zoom: Upcoming virtual meetups. Read more...
Give your account some personality! Add a profile photo.