Class of 2009 - Sisters in the same time frame
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Renee,
You should have a great time! No tropical storms brewing right now. It's hot but what do you expect in Florida in July-August? About 7 years ago that was some strange ocean inversion thing where deep cold water was roiling up to the surface.... consequently the breeze off the ocean was downright cool all summer. It was heavenly but the ocean was so cold no one wanted to swim!
Is there a race event while you are in Daytona? Probably not... but there are still things to see at the track.
I hope you and your family have a great time. I will order good weather for you :-)
pam
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Hugs to all Celebrating or nearing their Cancerversary ~
My eyelashes fell out after growing in beautiful a few weeks ago, they are coming back in already though. I do think my eyebrows thinned out too. UGH ! Enough is enough already ~ Hair is taking way too long to grow to. It is discouraging, I just want my longer hair BACK ! Well.. that is enough complaining from me for now !
Hope everyone had a good weekend ~
Alicia
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Hello everyone. I am so far behind on my reading.
I just passed my cancerversary and I was not emotional at all. It was just another day and I am glad that it is all over. Now I will be aware of the days and the anniversary of my surgery, chemo, radiation. I go next month for my annual GYN exam and then on to the 6 month mammo, all on the same day. Two days before my surgeryversay, or what ever. lol
I will catch up on all the reading, because I want to know what is going on. I have missed everyone, but I have been so busy, I don't know whether I am coming or going.
My peaches came in and I have been having to deal with them. I have one tree and it was loaded this year, the planets were aligned.
Juannelle
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Juannelle - I have to say mine came and went without fanfare as well (and no tears). First, I don't really have one day because initially my BC was diagnosed as DCIS and then later IDC... plus this year I was focused on having my exchange and lift/reduction surgery and healing!
Mmmm fresh peaches -- that must be heaven.
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Pam no race events going on while I will be in Daytona, but of course the DH wants to go see the track and etc...!!! Can't be that near and not go! He is already planning on asking the people that own the hotel where we will be staying about booking a room for Daytona week in Feb. LOL! I wonder what he thinks we will do with my granddaughter? My daughter starts back to college in Aug., matter of fact the week after we get back from vacation and her grant was approved for the spring as well so she definitely will be going then as well. I seriously doubt mommy will let her go with, but you never can tell...
Oh Pam I am praying for great weather as well. Only sunshine and warm water. We may even drive up to Disney for a day!Juanelle, you have been missed, even if I have chatted a few times with you over on the FB. Glad you've got those peaches taken care of. Didn't you go to Oklahoma or somewhere for a week or so? Did you have a good time? I hope so!!
Hey JoJo, where are you at? Wish you could wave that majic wand and get rid of some of this humidity here in Alabama. It was 97 today and felt like it was about 110!! Terrible, everytime you go out you feel like you'll melt. Makeup is useless. LOL!! If I had a tan I wouldn't worry about it.
Renee
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Beginning to wonder what was I thinking promising my daughter a beach trip to celebrate Mom getting through all the bad stuff. I am exhausted and I am still not done packing. Of course it has been a record hot day here. at 9:30pm still 92 with a heat index of 104. My house is still 80 the AC just can't keep up...did I mention the dumb man who built this house put my laundry room in the gragage. Sorry DH willl have to do his on laundry this week.
So much for the heat vent. I am ready to relax for a few days. Hope everybody has a great week. Myrtle Beach here we come! See ya Friday!
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Alicia - same thing here with my lashes. They came in really nice and thick in April and started falling out a couple of weeks ago The top isn't as noticeable as the bottom. The new ones are already coming in but there are two extremes: really long ones and really short ones...nothing in between. I hope they get on a cycle because it's kind of depressing losing them again!!
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Hello ladies.
Well, I have had a tough weekend. I went to my GYN on Saturday and after reading the report from my mammo/US on July 7th, she told me to get my films and go see my breast surgeon to see if he wants to do a biopsy on the new thing they found. I have been a little out of sorts about this, I feel I am back where I started this time last year. So, I go get my films today, I go see my onc tomorrow, and I will definitely be discussing this with him. Then I go see my BS on Thursday morning. I am having a hard time with this and appreciate any prayers you wonderful ladies can offer.
Hugs
Jen
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Hi! I haven't been on this site in a while, but this topic caught my eye when i logged on. I finished chemo in October and am on Herceptin and Tamox. I am also having issues w/ hair growing back. My head hair is a curly mop, but my eyelashes have thinned out twice since they grew back months ago. My onc said this may happen a few times. Eyebrows are a little thinner than they used to be, but I don't mind that. The weird thing is that my pubic hair has become patchy!!!! I usually keep that area pretty short, but I've noticed that some spots are more bare than others!!!!!!!!!!!! So weird
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Dear Jen!
This is so common once we are BC survivors. Scar tissue, seromas, cysts, whatever show up and in an abundance of caution, we are back in their grasp! I just know you are going to be fine... you just have to go through the motions. AGAIN. I would be a basket case so surely do understand your anxiety. It's good your docs are paying attention and being proactive.
And with your team of sister-angels on the job... I know all will be fine!
Pam
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Jen -- so sorry you have to deal with this... but as Pam said it is pretty common and it's better to be cautious at this point. I hope and pray it is nothing!
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Jen -- keep us posted as we keep you in prayer!
And I'm on my second set of eyelashes. I was surprised to read so many others went through this ... so it's not just me.
The only thing concerning me these days is my forgetfulness/confusion. Some people said it's just age (I'm 57) but if it is I will be totally incompetent by time I'm 60! It could be the Arimidex but this is not listed as a side effect. Basically I see or hear things that I recognize but don't process their meaning. This morning the person behind me was honking because the light turned green. I knew they were honking but couldn't figure out why. Of course once I saw the cars next to me go I went so I wasn't a totally clutz. Not a good start to the day.
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Hi everyone ... I just wanted to pass along some information. Some ladies were talking about a massage to help relax. I work in a spa as a massage therapist and this place will absolutely not let us touch cancer patients until they are at least 6 months post-chemo/rads because they think it will "cause the cancer to metastasize"! They are so wrong about this. I am also trained in oncology/hospital massage but cannot convince them to change their policy.
So if you plan to get a massage -- find a place that treats cancer patients. Don't be afraid to ask when you book the appointment. Better to find out beforehand than be disappointed later.
Carolyn
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Carolyn - that's helpful. How about going to the chiropractor? I used to go regularly and was thinking about going back again but wasn't sure.
Sherri
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I'm a year out and started seeing my chiropractor last month when I had some issues with my lower back. He will not put on the electric stimulator on me because of the lymph node removal.
Jen: try not to worry to much. Prayers sent.
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PauldingMom, What your chiropractor did was 100% correct. I have a very close friend who is a chiro and I questioned him why the physical therapest would not use the tens. He said that it's not advised to use a stimulator. They aren't sure whether it could cause mets in cancer patients. He didn't even mention lymph node removal. He just said cancer patients. I guess it's better to be safe than sorry. Hope this makes you feel more at ease. Leslie
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I think a good chiro is great. But it is always helpful to let him/her know beforehand, if possible. This isn't the time to keep bc a secret. If your chiro is skittish about treating you, find someone who has experience with it. Paulding mom mentioned something very important -- tell your massage therapist, chiro, whoever is physically working on you (including, of course, the person taking your blood or your blood pressure), that you have had lymph nodes removed. You should never receive anything other than the lightest work on the removal side.
Acupuncture is also helpful for many people. Again, be upfront (pun fully intended) with him/her.
There are so many "alternative" therapies that won't cure cancer but can certainly make the journey more comfortable.
Any questions... feel free to ask!
Carolyn
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Renee, I did go to Oklahoma and visited my Sister. One of my brother's granddaughters was also married and I went to that also. I had breakfast with my Sister's grandson and spent some quality time with him. His mother died last year from cervical cancer, she was 40. It has been a hard year for him, he was 14 at the time. I lost my mother when I was 16, so I know what he is going through. He is a special kid and I know he will be OK, but I want him to know that I am there for him, if he should need me.
jen, I am so sorry you are having to go through all of this. I will have my check up with my GYN and then on to have my mammo on the same day. I can't imagine what I would do if I don't get a good report. My wishes are with you, for a good report. {{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}
carolyn, I know there is a massage therapist at the hospital that I go to. My Rad Onc recommended her for help with scar tissue. I sometimes feel tightness in my breast, I only had a lumpectomy, and he said it was probably scar tissue, but he didn't know what else to tell me to do. So I massage them myself, right or wrong. I am 60 and finished chemo in December. I have had some moments just like you described, but I know I am getting better. I have a job that takes lots of thinking, organization and good judgment and I have been slow about some of the processes that I had no trouble with before. It is frustrating, but like I said, I think it will go away, at least that is what I am hoping.
sherri, I have been going to a chiropractor recently, I had not ever been to one before. He is young and hasn't been out of school long and he has not seemed concerned about anything. I really started going for my arm, which turned out to be neuropathy and he said he can't do anything about that.
Everyone looks so beautiful with the new avitars. We all look so different also. But it is great to have hair, even short hair.
Ok, I have a question. I have been on Arimidex for 4 months now and seem to be having some joints that are beginning to hurt more than usual. My hands really hurt in the morning when I wake up. The pain goes away soon after I wake up, but I have to steady myself when I have been sitting awhile, like riding in the car for an hour or so. Is this Arimidex SEs? I am also taking Gabapentin and the SEs for that is also joint pain. I don't know which one is causing this, but I don't think I will be able to quite either one. The SEs for Gabapentin are so much like the Arimidex, that I don't know whether I am coming or going. They both cause weight gain, water retention, joint pain, hot flashes, on and on. What is a girl to do?
Love to all and especially to Pam, Alicia, Jo Jo, Kittydog, Lilah, Shelby. (if I didn't mention you, it doesn't mean I don't think about you, I am just going to blame it on the meds)
Juannelle
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Juannelle - I am NOT on Arimidex and have the same morning pain... my ONC says it's a kind of arthritis caused by chemo that can go away. I think I was about 4 months past chemo when mine started.
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Hi OneL,
Glad to see you back. You have been busy!
About Arimidex SEs... I think mine did not really kick in until I had been on it for about 6 months. Before that I could have blamed my symptoms on anything. By 6 months things were more obvious. I'd say that now, 12 months out, things are stable... not worse certainly. My hands are very stiff, my feet (esp toes) hurt and I can only sit in one place 30 minutes before I HAVE to move. Aleve helps me the most. And lots of exercise. I can live with it if it keeps cancer away.
Good luck.
pam
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Not sure Juanelle, but I would think that 4 months would be about a good starting time for side effects to begin from the Arimidex. I know a lot of people that take Gabapentin and most of them don't seem to have any side effects, but I guess you could. I would tend to lean more to the Arimidex though especially based on the information I have read. One way to know for sure is to eliminate the Gabapentin for a few days to a week and if the joint pain starts subsiding then you know it's the culprit. If it doesn't then it's the Arimidex and you could always talk to your Onc about switching you and trying Femara or something else if the pain becomes unbearable.
Renee
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Hi All!
On the topic of massage and chiro treatments - I started seeing an Osteopath.
Anyone else doing the same?
She is working on my right elbow which apparently is causing pain on my left side (my neck/back) and will also do scar tissue massage in preparation for my TE surgery in Sept.
As for eyelashes and eyebrows - I only had them fall out once - around the time of my 4 or 5th chemo treatment. I used Rapid Lash on both and they are still long and full.
I just finished a round of follow up appts (BS, Med ONC, Mam, Chest Xray, Zometa infusion) and everything looks good. Now I'm on the 6 month schedule.
It's funny - my ONC told me that now that I'm in menopause I could continue with Tamoxifen or switch to something else. I told him I was doing ok with the Tamoxifen and he said that's great that I should continue with that. It kind of left me with a strange feeling....
Tomorrow is my DX anniversary. I did a major shop today and will probably wear something fun and new to celebrate!
I'm getting my hair cut on Thursday and hopefully my hairdresser can tame it into a style. It's about 3 inches long now (6 months PFC) but it's so curly that it just looks like a 'fro. That's what my kids call it!
Friday I see my eye doctor for a check up. Anyone else have eye trouble during chemo? Mine were very dry and now I just can't see anything up close (worse than pre-chemo without my reading glasses and even then it's a strain. I suspect that I will need a stronger RX and maybe go to bi-focals or transition lenses. I'll be ok with that as long as I can see!
Hugs to all!
Marie
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Juanelle I think all of these "maintenance" type drugs must cause joint pain. I'm on Tamoxifen and I could have written what you wrote.
If I sit for a bit and get up all my parts start cracking and I feel a little light headed. My hands and feet are stiff and sore in the morning but once I get going they seem to loosen up.
Is it the Tamoxifen/Armidex etc or is it the after effects of chemo?
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Marie, welcome back. So good to see you on here again.
Juaennelle, my onc said that the joint pain was from the lack of estrogen. I havn't had my mother nature visit since December. Thank God. She said that is my new normal....it isn't that bad I guess.
Jen, Shit, cant a gal get a break. For sure you are in my prayers and thoughts. I will send positive happy vibes your way.
I just got back from a girl weekend with some friends at a cottage. What a relaxing time..no kids or housework, just early morning coffees on the dock, great laughs, swimming, and some yummy food and drinks. AAAHHHHH.
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Thanks Leslie!!
Lilah-I've got pain in my lower back and right knee. GP put me on drugs and Chiro. is doing his thing but it doesn't seem to be getting any better. Sitting and sleeping are the worse. He took me off my boned density drugs but that doesn't seem to make any difference either. Just not sure what to do anymore but live with it. I'm not on any BC drugs as I am TNeg. but am going through some kinda mother nature transistion. You girls have been very helpful. I guess I'm not going crazy after all. I see the Chiro. today but don't really want to talk to him about my lack of a monthly cycle last month.
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Aw sorry you are suffering Paulding! (BTW I do like that new avatar
Much as I enjoyed the head with the face drawn on it As for the aches -- maybe we are all suffering bone and joint pain from lack of Estrogen?
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Jen - I know you're scared and nervous, but I agree with the others, I think they are just being overly cautious. When I had my first post-chemo mammo, they called me back in for a second mammo - I was very nervous! But it turned out to be nothing. I wish you peace as you deal with the fear.
Michele, you're so lucky! Isn't it nice to just hang out with good friends and RELAX?!
I'm along on the pain train too. My right knee hurts all the time - you know how it hurts when you overextend it? It feels like that. Achy, then sharp pains. I mentioned it to my onc last appointment, but he didn't seem to be terribly concerned. Just taking Advil or Aleve when it gets really bad. It's probably just lack of estrogen here - Ihaven't had a visit from Aunt Flo since October.
I started Tamox about a week and a half ago, and boy am I uncomfortable! I get terrible hot flashes, and have been sweating so much at night - I have to have a fan pointed right at me to stay cool, in addition to the cold A/C running. I've always been the type who usually feels cold when everyone else is warm, so this is a very strange experience. I've also had lots of trouble sleeping, waking up at 4:30 a.m.I don't know if that's due to Tamox, but I sure am tired in the afternoons!
Peace to all,
Shelby
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Thank you everyone for the support, that is why I love you ladies! I go see my onc today, non-related appointment. But I have my films to show him and get his opinion as well. I know they are most likely just being over cautious, but since this is something new they didn't see on my last mammo back in January, that is what is bothersome to me. Could something new have sprouted up that quickly? I am thinking too much and just need to wait and see what happens. Been in this position before and it isn't any more comfortable than it was the first time.
Too chime in on the joint pain, I am on Tamox and have been since November. My left knee is not as good as my right, and it is getting worse since I have been on Tamox. I need to wear my knee brace when I do TKD class again, and I haven't had to wear that in over 2 years. I blame the Tamox and figure I just need to deal with it and be careful.
This morning I woke up and have a crazy constant twich in my left eye! It is driving me NUTSO!!!
Hugs~
Jen
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Jen - when I saw my oncologist two weeks ago for my first post-chemo check up, we talked about my first mammogram since treatment, which is scheduled for end of Sept. He told my husband and I to prepare ourselves that I could very likely be called back for a diagnosic mammogram, ultrasound and even possibly a biopsy. He wanted to tell us this in advance while we were there... face to face with him because it's very common. He said the architecture has changed and they are establishing a new baseline. Based on the advice he gave us...please keep this in mind for your present situation. Fingers crossed all is okay with you.
Sherri
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So interesting that you are all talking about joint pain. Just in the past day or two, I have had a sharp pain in both knees if I move a certain way. I used to get this in my left knee 2 years ago, I was diagnosed with some arthritis in that knee, but all through BC treatment, it never bothered me. I skiied every weekend, never felt a thing. Now, 3 weeks past rads, it seems to be back, and maybe in the other knee too - very puzzling. I am not on any hormonal therapy as I'm trip neg. The only thing that changed was 2 weeks ago I started taking curcumin. I know it's an anti-inflammatory - I would think it would improve joint pain, anyone heard of it doing the opposite?
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