Calling all TNs
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It works with most image files, sizes up or down, you can crop at the same time, works with pics online as well as ones on your computer and it's free!!!
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I am evidently having a pity-party today..................anyone want to join? Last night I got sick to my stomach and I have been that way all day. It is weird it is like I am sick to my stomach in my chest too. I am so ticked at the way my feelings just get pushed aside by the medical field. It is either it is not the chemo, oh it is the chemo, or it is the accumulation of the chemo. Then this is my favorite.........DO YOU HAVE A FEVER.................Well that is not high enough to worry about. GRRR
I am sure that if I were to have my period it might be now.........I hate this. I would rather have my period so I could get some relief. I thought one good thing that could come from chemo would be chemopause, but was I wrong (for me). Cramps, sore boob, irritability but no period to take any of it away. I have not had a period since April. A little spotting when I had my surgery. Does it get better. Then I am still scared to death to start the Taxol. I just don't understand if they have Taxol in a purer form that does not cause allergic reactions why we can't have it. I am told it is just not protocol. Read from the other forum that it is to expensive. Well, my goodness how could it cost more that all the premeds you get to keep you from having a reaction. I feel this crap has messed with my heart, but the oncologist does not, his PA does not so if I want to have it checked I need to see my cardiologist. I feel since they are giving me a poison that could cause damage to my heart they should check it. They said they were not going to give me enough to do any damage, but I already have heart issues. I just feel that I should not have to go pay yet another doctor. I probably will though, as I truly feel this is killing me. I feel like what do I have to have a heart attack before someone listens. I know I have to be my own health advocate, but I needed to vent just the same. Everything is worse I think when you are sick to your stomach
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Stupidboob- so sorry you are feeling bad. Feelings can be so extreme during tx time, I hope you feel better soon.. Ginger tea, might be worth a try.....ginger is supposed to help with nausea, and hot tea itself is soothing. ((((HUGS)))). Maybe you will have to try another doctor (MO)?
MBJ- (((hugs))) to you too. Cancer sucks! Feel better soon.
Lovelyface--so wonderful to hear positive results, you (we all) deserve it.
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Lovelyface-great news!!
Husker-I thought I would put my 2 cents in about the port. I finished chemo on March 25th and had my port out April19th. All my doctors were good with it and told me it was up to me. My TE's made it stick out so much that I bumped it on everything. Was going to have it removed with my exchange surgery, but decided I didn't want to wait that long. Had it taken out in the BS office.
Stupidboob- sorry you are feeling bad, will be thinking about you!
MBJ- feel better soon!
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Ditto..MJB..that you are feeling better soon!
Stupid Boob..love your t-shirt..it pretty well sums up what we are all feeling doesn't it
My son is having surgery on his finger tomorrow..The PS doesn't think that there is any nerve or tendon damage but he wants to be sure..so here we go...My boy is a pretty strong kid...he will be fine...He is just very lucky that he didn't lose the finger.
It is his "bird" finger...so hopefully he will be well enough to use it when needed..otherwise his momma will have to fill in for him...
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Titan: Sending out prayers for your son. I wish him an easy and quick recovery (is there such a thing?).
Heidi: Magical - absolutely magical. Where is this taking place? It is just so vast and beautifully serene looking. I almost felt as though I was there (wish I was). Thanks so much for sharing and thank hubby for the video, not something I have ever seen before.
Linda
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Titan, hope surgery goes well for your son.
All who commented...thanks for your input on the port. RO wants it left in until rads are done at least. I see BS in November, so think I will schedule a removal then. I don't bump it, but it does ache off and on. And there is kind of a chronic light bruise/discoloration around the incision.
Maria_Malta, I have had some bladder issues since chemo. More than just the sneezing/coughing that can cause a trickle (sorry if too much information!) When the "urge" comes, I can barely make it. So saw gyno yesterday to check a fibroid I've had for several years and ask about the bladder issue. He said chemo aggrevated the bladder and should "recover" eventually. But he also gave me a list of things to avoid. Evidently diet can be a big trigger for overactive bladder issues. Big thing is to increase water (have we heard that before?!) and decrease caffeine, alcohol, citrus, cantaloupe, spicy food, tomatoes, etc. So it's not that citrus is a problem, UNLESS you have bladder issues. It may aggrevate.
Stupidboob, sorry you are down today. It is no fun to be sick. It makes everything seem worse. ACK.
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Lovelyface....so very happy for your good news...time to move on (again)...we all seem to have these stumbling blocks..then we pick up ourselves up and go on don't we?
Filling out the forms for my son's surger today I had to put that I have/had BC...I still wonder what that has to do with his FINGER..but whatever...then there were living with cancer magazines all around the waiting room...so I sat and read a little bit...used to be I read everything I could read about cancer..now I think I would rather read some Cosmo..like 100 ways to please your boyfriend in bed..ha ha..
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Titan... boy, do I hear you. Remember when we first got pregnant? Never noticed an expectant mother or baby carriages... suddenly *everyone* (or so it seemed) was pregnant. Same with cancer. There's just no escaping it.... it has so many "forms"....magazines, TV, commercials, frickin' October....etc.
Tell your son to "read between the lines" until his bird finger is all better!
LRM- Sassafras River, MD (about an hour from me). We sail there also. Though I love the ocean, it's nice to get out on fresh water from time to time.
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Had my 2nd cataract surgery today. Seems odd to say, but it's nice to have a surgery, that improves something! Had my chemo markers drawn yesterday. It should be back, by tomorrow, but I think I'll wait until Monday to call. I have a few things planned for the weekend.
In the onco waiting room, an older man said to an older woman - well I'm 83. She said- 83 isn't like it use to be - I said, it's the new 40.
Wishing everyone a "good" day...0 -
Heidi- Very peaceful looking...
Titan- He'll be back in action in no time. Kids bounce back so fast it seems.
Lovelyface- HAPPY. HAPPY.
MBJ- All will be well. Could it be just exhaustion? Us post TX chicks have a lot to worry about balancing Dr. appts and our already busy lives.
I guess I can join the I HATE PINK CREW TOO. I am tired of cancer already. I didn't over annouce my DX so I really don't have to deal with constant bombardment of questions, well wishes and all that other stuff that goes along with it.
HAPPY WEEKEND LADIES AND STAY COOL.
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Huskerkkc: thanks for useful info. No I haven't had bladder issues so far I'm glad to say, so can carry on with oranges and lemons which I love... (lemon very good anti-cancer food apparently...although I take this with a pinch of salt).
Today I had my 7th chemo treatment (3rd Taxotere after 4 FEC), and as usual am on a high from the dexa, which I take for 3 days..I'm like a hyperactive 6 year old.. talk nineteen to the dozen, cook, garden and unfortunately sleep very little, but at least am in a good mood...by Sunday a fternoon effect starts to wear off and I get increasingly moody and tired, and by Monday morning I'm exhausted for the following 3 days roughly, with a horrible cardboard tasting mouth...but I've got only ONE left, and it feels great...
Titan, no question tantric sex MUCH more interesting to read about than articles on bc...probably much better for us as well!!!
So for all of you who seem to be having a rough ride at the moment, there usually is light at the end of the tunnel; it's just it takes a bit of time to see it...
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Titan- hope your son's surgery goes well! I imagine that after surgery his finger will be in some kind of splint so he will be "flipping the bird" for quite a while!
Happy Friday! Wishing for some cooler weather and rain!!
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Titan: Glad to see you are in better spirits and I so agree with you on the available reading material--I sure don't want to read about cancer anymore! Hope your son's surgery is a success.
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Titan - so glad to hear there wasn't more damage to your son's finger! It seems so trivial - just a finger - but it really isn't. My thoughts are with him, and you. And as for reading material, I like my ROs policy - the only magazines they keep around are gossip rags. Very escapist! Now Im sure my DH wouldn't mind a little reading about tantric sex, lol.
OBXK - ahhhh, to one day be 83 lol. I definitely don't feel my 41 years! Well, at least not mentally!
Stupidboob - LOVE the t-shirt!!
Hanging in there, avoiding this heat. I will have an xray on my shoulder next week, though it feels a smidge better, and I found a small pimple-like bump on my scar line, but I think it is just a stitch.
Has anyone had a stitch pop up? The spot is very small, maybe 1-2 mm, a little painful like a zit, and right next to the scar line, a place my BS went into a second time. I'm not overly concerned, but just curious...0 -
suze35-I had a stitch pop out out my port placement. It didn't hurt but was a never healing tiny scab, then one day I scratched and this really long thread just kept coming out. I was completely freaked. Had an onco appt that day so his nurse snipped and its fine.
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Hi everyone..thanks for the good wishes for my son..He had his surgery today...poor kid..he is on percoset..Yikes!..but it does seem to help with the pain...long day..he is sleeping now though I have a feeling it maybe a long night..I'm not used to being "on call" 24/7...trying to decide if I should wake him up and give him more meds or just let him sleep...maybe I will just put some meds next to his bed..of course I have to cover them so the cats won't get in to them...OMG..this isn't easy! He still may have to have plastic surgery but we won't know for awhile.
His surgeon is HOT..ha ha..a little short..but still hot..
Hope everyone has a great weekend...my dd and I are going to the bridal store to see about exchanging her wedding dress..she has lost enough weight to go down 3 sizes...I think it may be a battle getting the store to do this..
Oh well..I think to myself..I have battled breast cancer..I can battle some snotty sales person at a bridal store...
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Tumor markers went down, and my hair has a faint part. Today, life is good!
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Yeah OBXK. Excellent news! Congratulations!
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Everyone, thanks for sharing your happiness at my good news. It feels really good.
MBJ - Addison's disease? I will have to research and find out about this one? How did they even get down to the name of a disease? What are your symptoms? Hope it gets resolved positively soon. Sorry to hear you are not feeling your best.
Stupidboob - Sorry to hear about the heart situation. Funny, my nurse told me the same thing, that the amount of taxol they give us is very small compared to the amount which actually causes heart problems. I hope we are all not walking around with damaged hearts from the chemo we have all taken. The amount of drugs they give is according to a person's weight, isn't it? I hope you feel better soon.
Suze35 - I had a little pink zit like thing next to my scar line for sometime. I didn't think that it was a stich pop-up, rather, the skin heals that way. I had the zit like thing for quite some time.
Titan - Hot surgeon? You go girl! I like the idea of reading about Tantric Sex much much better than reading about stupic Cancer.
OBXX - Congratulations on having low tumor markers. Keep it there.
I myself had a really bad medical appointment with my Oncologist today. I had a call first thing this morning, the Onc. office asking me if I still needed to keep my appointment since my doctor had already given me my petscan results. I said, of course, I have been looking forward to this 3 month appointment. Anyway, the Onc. was rushed as he entered the room. He did mention that he didn't think there was anything to talk about that's why he had the office call me this morning. He then said to me that "I was the type of woman who concentrates on the one word in a sentence and does not read the rest". He meant that I myself had created this whole drama about having bone metastisis. Remember, he is the one who had suggested about bone metastesis to me when I was having the arm pain and numbness. He said he had given me the petscan only because of my emotions. Then he asked me about my conversation with the surgeon about the little enhancement on my R. Breast. He asked me whether I wanted to remove both my breasts. I was shocked to hear this. He said he was not an expert in the field of breast, therefore, I have to go see the other doctors. I told him about a recent fever I had had which went as high as 104.3. He asked me if I saw the Primary Care doc. They don't care to know everything about a person and treat the person as a whole. I know in my heart that my fever was connected to the pain in my arm, as I was feeling pretty bad. He then said that my arm pain since I also have numbness in my finger, is definitely not coming from Aridimex or Zometa. And that it maybe coming from Taxol. I quite disagree with him 100%. It is pretty apparent to me that Aridimex greatly reduces estrogen in a woman's body. It reduces it so unnaturally. And when estrogen is low, all sorts of joint pain, arthritis and numbness etc. arise. As simple as that.
My God, I am so sick of doctors. If you are a smart woman and ask them questions or ask them to check this and that, they think that you are emotional. I had actually taken a little treat for him (cashew nuts & chocolate) because I felt that he supported me through my petscan. But everything he said today was just plain awful. He is discouraging me from saying things which bugs me, just like a strange pain for an ex-cancer patient is huge, isn't it? But according to him, he did the petscan just so that I could be calmed down. Honestly, when I was having the pain, not even for one second did I think that it could be metastasis, until he suggested it to me.
Today's appointment has made me go into my little dark hole with my tails inbetween my legs. Because I am so thorough, just as I am with other things in my life, he thinks I am emotional. I just don't know how to communicate with people anymore these days. Wow! Wow! Wow! The world sure has changed so much, and sometimes I feel I don't belong here anymore.
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Lovelyface, So sorry to hear your dr was being like that to you. My onco told me thursday that he thought I would do well thru chemo, which I think I am, however my anxiety was out of control. That's no big surprise to me at all, I'm now medicated on anti-depressants and will take a xanax before my appts, I take one of those almost everyday. However, it's my husband who is driving me crazy. He just won't allow one not so positive thought come out of my mouth without lecturing me and telling me how my anxiety is not getting better and I sound like a nut job at the dr becuase my arm hurt and I was worried about mets. Dr said tennis elbow as I do the elipitical and have for quite some time, anyway, hubby was having an emotional day yesterday and it came out as cruel to me. He was fine later when he processed his feelings but really, people not going thru this crap really, really need to think before opening their mouths!
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Still feel week and on pureed bfood sicne my hospitaization last Friday for WBC of 1.4 an opportuniistic infection. Tried to work this week was sick.HAve bad nmouth ulcers. they will reduce my chemo amount this Firday.
Figure my hair will be gone on Monday...don't have a fondness fro my wig..things of calling it Anastasia so I can nick name it Nasty...or looking for a French name....ISEULT,MARJOLAINE, SYBILLE,FIFI,ANASTAISE:, ,, AMALINE: Am.ATHENAIS:....a A
Don't know what but I need a name ot make mea little more connected.
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Paintingmywaythru: I went to a place where they had a wide variety of wigs, took my daughter and niece (very critical teenagers) and they helped me choose one, and I'm really happy with it, and everyone tells me how good it looks (genuinely)...Instead of hating this one, any chance that you could try for a better one...preferably not ordering on line, but going to shop to try it out..it makes all the difference, and so important that it makes you feel OK...
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mccrimmon324 - you said it right, that people who don't have to go through this crap, shouldn't open their mouths. I am now thinking of getting another Oncologist.
Did you read the story about the Breast Surgeon who had a DMX just because her mother was diagnosed with BC a second time. The 83 year old mother had a second primary after 13 years, however, the cancer had spread to distant lymph nodes before it was caught by MRI. It was not caught by Mammogram. The surgeon thought that such type of cancers runs in families, so she decided to have a double Mastec.herself without even having a BC diagnosis. So you see, how one with cancer has to be on top of things, and even if she is, even that is not enough to catch it early enough. So what is wrong with us being on top of things when our very lives are at stake. I really think that I should write a note to this Doctor and tell him how I feel everything he said was so not right and that I will pick another doctor for my care. I don't think that I am obsessing over BC. I have gone through the treatments successfully and am now being very careful doing what is in my hands, which is to have doctors check me if I get a strange, highly disabling pain and numbness in my arms and hands. My pain was so excruciating which had come on suddenly was definitely a cause for alarm. People who are saying such things hurt us because they have no clue what this disease is like.
Imagine getting a phone call which will tell you, whether the next several years of your life will be filled with misery and pain and even death. How many of us can relax and get such a phone call calmly? We are all humans who have feelings and emotions.
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I did go to several great wig places, my insurance pays..it is self pity. My friends votedon the 3 best choices. It is a wig...I just feel sad about it. I am finally feeling my mouth is better but it has been quite a haul. On the bright side the hummingbirds, cardnials and goldfinches and purple martins are at the feeder.
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Titan-good news on your son, praying everything continues on the right road...
OBXK-wonderful news, that can make your days ahead a little brighter, hopefully not hotter (lol). And my hair is about 1/2 inch long, this is my 4th (I think) time growing back my hair. Bald has it's benefits, but waking up with hair touching your face is a great feeling!
MBJ- I do hope you are feeling better.
Fighter_34- I am with you on pink. After over nine yrs, I have soooo muuuccchhh piiinnnnnkkk.... I haven't purchased anything pink in years because people have given me so much of it.
We just got home from our local annual fair parade, lasted about 80 min. I have lived here all my life, but worked on Sat for 20+ yrs, so it was a pleasure to watch. Had about 8 or 9 high school bands, my favorite part I think
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Hope everyone has a peaceful SE free day!!!
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Just want to add this...
Haven't written. Have felt lousy trying to go back to work. Thought I was a wimp. Doctor said I was sick again. I have wicked headaches. Doctor even agreed medicianal marijuana could help my appetite, but she can't write in MA. I have a house in RI and know some docs so I am working on it.
Jsut beginning to eat pasta-if tiny becuase of the mouth ulcers. Very sad I am losing my hair. Have to give my wig a name...it is lovely but I have not grown to like her even though she was the best of all the choices at several stores...maybe Anastasia or Penelope or Clarissa. I don't know. I have to find a way to engender myself to her...
LADIES: Cleaning for a reason from the American Cancer Society will send you a free housecleaner 2 x a month if they are in oyur area and you have cancer. Please check...the website
cleaningforareason. I got a call today offering 4 complete 3 hour house cleanings as a courtesy form an agency that only service oncology clients. Also consider doing their color my beautiful program. People from major make up companies help you lookoyur best and give you lovely makeup...I ahven't done it yet but the Social wroker encouraged it. I also am getting a free massage tomorrow form the New England School of Massage in the Bosotn area- theytrain skilled therapists how to work with oncology patients. Find oyur resources...my town will give me 500 toward any alternative therapies including massage for each calendr year and unbeleiveably they will reimburse me up to $2500 per calendar year for any copays, Rx's parking, ensure bills, etc, anything related to medical treatment. This is a foundation that left money in my town, but when I went searching I found hte Ellie fund htat alos does cleaning , rides,drops off meals, but it is local ot Boston. My town offers abreast cancer support group of 6 people -2 are triple negative like em, a caregivers support, rides to anything cancer relaated, and a caregivers support meeting
There are 2 scarf plces theat send you free scarves- once is silk dupioni...a wonderful fabric. They are in France and will send world wide... they normally cost 72.00 for them. One place is in Wisconsin so if you google something that include free hats for chemo patients Wisconson you will find it.
So I found as a social worker myself I googled and got a lot of resources. It I hadn't looked no one would have told me. I told the oncology social worker about several. SHe knew of a few but I send her a list of everything I learn.
Hope this helps someone.
And the American Cancer Society website lists all the places with yoga, support groups,make-up seminars, etc in your area.
Stay well.
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Lovelyface,
I am sorry you had that experience with your oncologist. I too, have had numbness in my left hand (index and middle fingers) since the second round of chemo. My onc said if it doesn't go away eventually he will send me to a neurologist to see what is going on. I read somewhere that carpal tunnel was experienced by some taking taxanes - so I blame the taxotere. It drives me nuts. I did have numbness on the lower half of my face but that has disappeared recently. (Last chemo was 6/13 - 6 rounds of TAC.) I may be having more chemo and I am concerned that the hand numbness could get worse, but more concerned about the cancer.
Paintingmyway,
I am in the humid southeast and have an indoor/outdoor kind of job so I shed the wig after about the first couple months and took to wearing a ball cap. My grown daughter always encouraged me to wear just a ball cap - she is funny - she said, "mom, the wig looks like you are trying to disguise something but if you wear a ball cap, it speaks 'yes, I've had cancer, leave me the hell alone!'" I found this is absolutely not true, as I have had strangers come up to me and encourage me - and also a few of the women in our breast cancer support group wear wigs that I did not know were wigs. But when I remember what my daughter said, it always makes me laugh. I think I see a little eyebrow growth today but may be wishful thinking.
Please don't feel like a wimp - everyone is so different. I am also self employed and have worked throughout all of this but I took about 8 days off after each cycle of TAC. I'm about a week out from uni MX but have a LOT of work scheduled next week - very nervous about my ability to do it, but could not stand to lose more income as I am eating up my very meager retirement account as it is. We are all different - my sister had TAC but did not have nausea - I had nausea the entire time, got to where my anticipatory nausea struck as soon as I neared the hospital on chemo days despite all intellectual understand of it. I never had mouth sores, but my sister had them throughout. 0 -
Lovelyface - I'm so sorry your MO isn't more responsive to your needs. As a worrywort myself, I can empathize with your concerns. We do need to actively try and move on, but sometimes it is just so hard. I'm not so lucky in that I get lots of scans due to the stage of my disease, and my doctor is always sympathetic to my concerns. I wouldn't hesitate to find a new doctor if I did not feel like she was a good fit.
mccrimmon - My doctor knows how stressed out I get also, but she has the graciousness not to comment on it. Doesn't stop DH from doing it though! I can empathize.
Painting - boy did I hate my wigs. They just felt wrong to me. I have two lovely ones that my hair dresser styled for me (and he's a drag queen who performs in a show, that man KNOWS wigs, lol), and I was still self-conscious in them. I think what makes it worse is the lack of eyebrows. I went almost completely with scarfs myself. I am glad to hear your mouth sores are slowly improving. Don't be afraid to get some fluids at the doctors office if you need them!
OBXK - yay on the part!!
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We had RAIN this morning!!! I was so surprised, wasn't expecting that! It will be another 100 degree day, but the heat is breaking tomorrow, so I have low-80s to look forward to next week. Sigh, FINALLY!!
Have a good day everyone :-).
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I hated my wig. Her name was Miranda and she was expensive. I wore it probably 10 or 15 times. I felt kinda mannequin like in it. When I wore a scarf or ballcap I felt like a fighter. Strong and ready to kick cancers A$$ not matter how crappy I felt. So do what feels good to you. Scarf,cap, wig or even topless......Stay comfortable with yourself.
And as far as Doctors being/acting poorly. You do not have to put up with it. You should be able to leave their office feeling confident that they not only know their "stuff" but have compassion for you and your family and what you are going through.
Just my two cents
Navy
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