Class of 2009 - Sisters in the same time frame
Comments
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Edited to redact a post with personal information.
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Alicia_- "One Day at a Time" is definetly the way to remain sane within this journey.
I know that I will not be the same person mind, body, and spirit when I finish this journey and I have accepted that but, the practice of this theory is challenging. I will shave my head next week or next Saturday before the Chemo, I believe that I want to have control of this decision and remove it when I say so.
Good times to all you mujeres out there
Vivian
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Alicia_- "One Day at a Time" is definetly the way to remain sane within this journey.
I know that I will not be the same person mind, body, and spirit when I finish this journey and I have accepted that but, the practice of this theory is challenging. I will shave my head next week or next Saturday before the Chemo, I believe that I want to have control of this decision and remove it when I say so.
Good times to all you mujeres out there
Vivian
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Honeybee1,
Is mujeres sisters? I like that.
Who wanted to know about Florida weather? may have been on another thread. Anyway, it is generally warming up. Supposed to be 80 today but I don't believe it. The wind off of the ocean is still quite chilly. Some rain the first of this week, then nice the rest of the week. South Florida is getting the rain too, then warmer. That's for this week. So should be a good week for tourists. As long as it is not raining it's good. When are you going?
pam
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Renee, I hop your boobie is feeling better...that doesn't sound like a lot of fun...
Vivian, I had short hair before this all started. I did get it cut a lot shorter to get ready for chemo..it started falling out 14 days after my first treatment. I think that is the magic number for most ladies..it started to come out in my undies which surprised me...not sure why it surprised me. Then it came out in clumps. I thought why not have some fun with this so we set up a salon in the basement and I let my 10 year old daughter do the first swipe. She did a little cutting then my hubbie took over and did the big buzz. I think it was good for my daughter to have some of the control of me losing my hair. She was the most freaked out with the thought of me being bald. I didn't shave it flat bald until a few weeks later...it was clogging my drains by then. Good luck and have some fun with it..and remember it WILL grow back..one ggod thing about losing your hair...don't have to shave legs or pits...yah.
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Pam - I wish it were goin up to 80 here but I think we are goin to be in the 40-50 range for a while yet. But I'm not complaining I like the extreme's, either hot or cold. I'm not really fond of the spring and fall just because of all the rain and storms we get (usually tornadoes), yuck!! But I like the temperatures during the spring and fall. :=)
Michelle - You are such a good sport about losing your hair and everything you've been through. You have a very positive attitude!! That's a great way to be. It definitely helps in the battle of the "beast" (I think someone else called it that).
I wish I was somewhere warm lying on a beach in the Carribean, soaking up some sun with a marguerita in hand, listening to some music without a care in the world right now and darling hubby at my side. Wouldn't that be grand? :=) But I'm not... 8 more txts to go. My boobie is a little better. I still have dry peeling underneath. When it's through there is going to be a long strip about 3 inches that will have peeled and be raw pink skin. I'm doing everything I can to get it well. Cream and cornstarch powder to keep it dry, it just doesn't seem to be healing fast enough for my liking. But I want it well yesterday!! haha!!! If anyone has any suggestions to get this area well they are welcomed.
Oh yeah... Yah to not shaving legs or pits!!!!!
Renee
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HI Renee,
If you could go topless, let the air get to your burned skin, that would help a lot. Hard to do, I know, with family and life. It would be hard for me to walk around the house topless if I were home alone. Remember, radiation burns do not scar. That's encouraging. You are in the downhill run now. Just hang on.
pam
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Thanks Pam, that would be great to go topless, but it's cold here (I'm cold natured even with the heat on at 74) and I currently have on long p.j. bottoms and a long sleeve very large cotton t-shirt. Also, with the family, NO can do. My daughter would be horrified. My husband would be amorous... haha!!! I would get nothing done. LOL!! Thanks for the vote of confidence. I would just like to wear a bra again. I guess I will anyway and put a hanky rolled up under the breast like I was doing before. I'm hoping the tissue heals soon. I've had older ladies with excoriation under their breasts and they were the hardest things to heal up, they seem to take weeks and months. I was praying that I would not peel or open up under there because I knew it would be hard to heal on a large breasted woman. I'm not worried about a scar, at this point who cares! I just want the pain of the burn and the raw skin to go away.
Hugs
Renee
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Renee - My rad onc prescribed Silvadene cream when I got so raw under my boob. She also told me to get some Telfa non-adherent pads, so the raw skin wasn't rubbing on each other. Both of these helped me get through the period of the boosts.
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Thanks nas14, but how long did it take for it to heal?
Renee
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This is the first weekend since end of chemo (4 weeks ago) that I have had energy. I have been having trouble going up stairs, I just could not catch my breath. But this weekend has been great, I finally got all my Christmas decorations put away and all of my upstairs cleaned. I noticed that the toilet was running a little when I was upstairs, so I asked my husband to take a look at it. He said it just needed a new valve unit and he had one. So he replaced it and went on his merry way. About 15 minutes later I heard water running and knew I didn't have any water running downstairs. I ran up and I guess the new valve unit was defective and water was going everywhere and fast. I had to use every towel in the house trying to get the water cleaned up. I had to put a pan under the vent in the living-room downstairs, because there was water running from it, right onto my sofa. Talk about a mess. Now I have spent the rest of the day trying to get all the towels washed up again. I don't know if we will get the floor dry or have to replace the carpet. It was a good thing I felt good, because I probably made 50 trips up the stairs to take care of the mess.
I also dipped the dogs. They have something that is making them itch, not fleas, and they are all red and have scratched sores. I took one to the vet yesterday and he just said she was allergic to something. Well, I would like to know what it is, because it is affecting all 4 dogs.
Hoping everyone had a great relaxing weekend and are all ready to get back to treatments tomorrow.
Juannelle
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PJ -- I'm pretty sure "mujeres" means "women"... but this comes from high school Spanish (so perhaps a native speaker knows more meanings than I).
Cheers,
Lilah
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Juanelle,
That is terrible! We have had a couple "flood" episodes so know what a mess it can be. Bless your heart... you never said one mean word about your husband's plumber skills. A neighbor went on vacation and some part of a toilet gave out... their house was flooded for 2 weeks before they returned. Everything was ruined, including walls. We try to remember to turn off toilet water when we leave for a trip but even a trip to the grocery store could be a disaster. Just think if you had gone out. :-(
Don't overdo it!!! Maybe your doggies are having a sympathetic reaction to your radiation TX. Anyway, take it a little slow.
pam
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Aw Juanelle it's always something isn't it? Sorry to hear about the plumbing breakdown. Hope it wasn't too much of a pain to clean up.
Re: dogs... how can the vet say it's an allergy if ALL FOUR dogs are scratching???? Sounds like a new vet might be in order. Did you tell him all four were exhibiting symptoms?
Pam -- lol re: dogs having sympathetic reaction to Juanelle's radiation!
Lilah
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I had neoadjuvant chemo--dd 4 AC and 4 Taxol. After completing the chemo I had a mastectomy on the right side with removal of 19 nodes. No cancer cells were in the breast tissue and only one node had cancer cells. I am currently doing radiation--have completed 12 of 25. . Every other session has a boost---this bag is placed on my chest and held in place by masking tape. Reconstruction will be when my skin and body have healed. I do have a tissue expander in place.
My cancer presented in my lymph node. Nothing was detected in my breast by mammogram or ultra sound. Only after an MRI did the primary tumor show itself and it was totally removed during the biopsy. My lymph node shrank from 6 cm to 2 cm with the chemo.
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Welcome Jana,
So sorry you are going through this but glad you have found us. It is amazing how differently each one us began this journey. But we are all united in supporting each other. Mostly what we can do is listen, sympathize and empathize. Some of our other classmates are in the middle of rads right now too. I am glad to have that behind me!
2010 is looking pretty good just now. Wishing a good year for all of us here.
pam
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Hola Vivian! Glad that you've joined us and what a good attitude you have dealing with bc.
Lilah I think mujeres can mean women or ladies, hermana is sisters. I can speak Spanish in words only, I can read and understand but slowly. I worked throughout South America years ago, but not speaking daily I've lost a lot!
Juannelle, So glad you're getting your energy back. About your carpet, Stanley Steamers and Coit both come in and clean and dry your carpet out. Cost is about $100 which is so much cheaper than new carpet, (unless you want new carpet and can use this as a reason for hubby to go along with it LOL). Did your vet talk about giving them benadryl? If all of them have something maybe they got into some plant like poison ivy or something growing in the lawn? Umm, I like Pam's response too.
I must say ladies I have prepared my house my life and have my mouth wash, and everything in order. Meeting with doctors this week to make sure I have all my ducks in order so that they can remove the left breast, then radiation and chemo. They want to biopsy a new growth on my hand, which has grown this month to the size of a dime. So that makes two more glands that they feel must be taken out. Driving 250 miles round trip to doctors is wearing, gas the bridges and parking is costing me over $60 a visit. Is it too much for me to want to have all doctor appointments on one day. They know I'm a single mom, and the doctors won't let me go back to work, no way. The Hospital Cancer Social Worker called to see how I was doing. She couldn't believe what my day involves, she said to me healing, and resting is a must, but taking care of a disabled child and now cancer, she said she gets tired just thinking about my daily life. I must say going slowly for me and making sure I had a plan not only for me but for my children and backup plans has made me so much more relaxed about the future. I must say it's because of everyone here's help and honesty about what you have gone through.
Everyone hope this week is a step closer to being cancer free.
M
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M360, boy reading your post makes me feel bad that I complain about my 20 minute drive to the clinic...I think my complaining days are over.
Juennelle, you should talk to your insurance company I think they can get you large fans or dehumidifiers to help dry up your carpets.
Jana, welcome to our group...we are here fo provide you for support, friendship, wisdom, and laughter...we rock.
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Hi Friends - Thanks for the support and celebration of my good news. You ladies are the best.
Good to catch up on all of you. Sorry to read about some of you hurting, and happy to read the good stuff, too.
Well - nothing like a New York Times article about radiation accidents to keep a girl awake and on the discussion boards at 1:00 am. Our fearless leader, the fabulous Pam, has started a thread on the subject. Thank you, friend. You are terrific, you know.
Not looking forward to the first booster tomorrow - Renee, after reading about your experience, I'm seriously thinking of going in drunk. Duh-RUNK! But I will be asking for lots if information about their processes - how they check the computer program against the actual output of the radiation equipment. And we will not proceed until I get a good answer. If I see so much as one eye roll or hear a hint of exasperation, snakes are going to grow out of my head and I am going to let my assertive side show. No fooling - I really want to know more about all of this. Those of you going through rads might consider doing the same. Talk to you soon, Mary
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Good luck to any of you lovely ladies doing chemo or radiation today...stay strong.
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And also to anyone dealing with husband-induced household disasters, snow and rain storm complications, and all of the other slings and arrows life throws at us. It is so great to have all of you to lean on! I bet my husband thinks I have turned over a new leaf and stopped whining! When, in fact, I just have all you mujeres to share my troubles with! Thanks for being here.
pam
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Hello All!
Juannelle! I am so sorry to hear about your plumbing catastrophe! Good luck getting your house back in order. I am glad you were feeling well enough to be able to deal with it. Thank you for asking how I have been. I am feeling good lately. I haven't had many SE's from the Tamoxifen, just a couple hot flashes here and there, and my knees hurt when I go up and down stairs. I really need to get training for the Avon Walk in June. I don't have a treadmill, and the weather here is so crummy. So, I will just try to do whatever I can until the weather breaks. I am so excited! I have already raised over $300, although I have $1500 more to go, I know I will get it! So far just 3 of us on my team, but I am recruiting anyone I can.
For those of you going to treatment today, take care and God bless! One day at a time is all we can do.
To everyone else, I wish you a peaceful and restful day:)
Hugs
Jen
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Pam - nice use of the word mujeres. Double points for you today!
Best wishes to all of you for a good week.
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HI all, had my 2nd to last chemo today woo HOO. Last one is on 2/8. Then March surgery to change out the tissue expanders and put in the implants. So the end is in sight. Hang tough girls.
Hugs~
Alicia
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Alicia...
Hair and boobs for spring!!! You are on your way, girl.
I don't mean to make light of what you have been through. I am so happy that you see an end to all of this horrible stuff. You have been so brave and of good spirits. And had the complication of DH's situation. It is time for some good news.
Hugs back!
pam
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THANK you Pam ~
Hubby still needs more testing. Colonoscopy next some time in February. ugh ~
loving your John Lennon quote.
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Woooo hoooo Alicia!!!!!
Lilah
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Alicia - ONE MORE to go, friend. You can do it!
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Day 2 of the plumbing problem. Good thing is that I just about have the carpet dry, it is a small bathroom, so I placed a box fan in there and it is just barely damp in a few places. However, I guess the insulation soaked up some of the water and today while at work it started dripping through the ceiling into the living-room. I have placed towels around and a pan or two to catch the drips and will put the fan on it tonight before going to bed. It really isn't too bad and it will probably be easier to just pay to have the ceiling repaired, than put a claim in with the insurance. We will see when the water stops dripping.
I did tell the vet that all four dogs were scratching and he said they have probably gotten into something. I have been giving them Benadryl for about a week now and it seems to help but hasn't stopped them. I dipped all of them last night and they are looking better today. We will see if it continues to improve.
Hoping all goes well for everyone having a tx this week. Alicia only one more, yea.
Well, I have to go play with the dogs.
Juannelle
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Alicia, oh, one more, how strong and brave you are.
Pam, thank you so much with the New York Times article info. Isn't the Sunday New York Times the best. I tried to read it on-line, I used to get it at home but my autistic child would cut out so many articles and paste them to the walls that by time I got to it, it was almost all gone. Hoping for a Sony Reader for Mothers Day. My teenagers read everything books etc on iphones. Just writing this I drift back to younger days, sitting on the beach with chocolate chip muffins, tea, reading the New York Times. What memories. If the rain stops ( still raining, we even had snow this weekend) and the sun finally comes out, I think I'll make a go of it. Oh, need to come back from that dream.... Pam, thank you because I'll be more on top of treatment and make sure I remind them. If I get lip, I'll pull out the article and say I don't want this happening to me! What is scary is that most people don't realize that they have been harmed.
An afternote: I'm watching ABC nightly news and they have the same story as the NY Times but also have guidelines to radiation treatment on their website.
M
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