March 2011 chemo-lounge
Comments
-
So good to catch up with everyone and happy birthday to all the birthday folks. I am going to celebrate aging again!
It is a dog year! We just adopted a rescue about 4 months ago. He is a schnoxie....part schnauzer,part dachshund. He kind of looks like a wire haired dachshund. Weighs about 30 pounds. We call him Harrison, but Dirty Harry has stuck. Suits him better. He is the funniest dog we have ever had. About a year old, potty trained, rarely barks, friendly to all. We were so lucky. I have been looking for a second one also, but a little nervous that we wont get one that is this easy.
Lily, many good wishes for your scan. I have my six month check up a week from tomorrow.
Just learned my daughter was offered a three month modeling contract in Thailand and will be leaving after she finishes walking in some of the New York Fashion Week shows. Now I am trying to see if we can squeeze in a trip to Thailand before Christmas!0 -
Off to Phuket (Thailand) on Saturday for a 1 week holiday with the family. My son, daughter in law, daughter and her partner, his mum and sister and my 2 grandsons are all going. Really rare to get everyone together like that. Its one of the things I planned last year. I am going to have a ball just playing with my babies by the pool for a week.
Fluff - hope the checkup is a breeze, wow a modelling contract in Thailand - you must visit while she is there.
Lovely to here about all the new dogs. We thought about getting one from the rescue place, but I have always had goldies, and they never need rescuing. I saw mum and pups yesterday , the are so cute.
We are trying to think of names - Love Dirty Harry for the schnoxie.
Maria, Border Collies are so intelligent - I can just see you running with yoursDeeDee have a great family get together on Saturday
Lily - sorry to hear about MaryBe. That, and the fact that you are still going through all that ghastly stuff really brings home the reality of this bastard of a disease.
Maxine - I am hanging out for summer - and Perth is not even very cold in Winter. Your kittens sound fun (although I am not a cat person, my dad was a vet and I got way too many scratches helping him out with cats in the surgery)
Stilts - Alaska is on our list - have to make it there one day sounds wonderful.
LoveToCook - I tried cooking last week - still useless, I left the bit of paper on the meat when I took it out of the tray and we had mince with paper bits in it, my son took over!
The family are all trying to think of names for the new pup - Lily - My kids favourite is Lily - so you may end up with a small blonde pup named after you!
0 -
I am still not having any luck finding a dog...I checked the border collie rescues and local breeders.....nothing yet. Oh well....I will keep looking. I will post a picture whenever we really get a dog. Anyone else want to post a photo of their pup?
Lily - there is a metastatic breast cancer meeting/conference here in Chicago in October I believe. Are you by chance attending? If you get here - maybe we can meet up! It is for patients too. I know I read about it somewhere on here and immediately thought of you and crossed fingers you may come for it.
I hope all my chemo buddies are doing well. Hugs!
0 -
I cannot copy and paste a picture into this on my IPad. Makes me crazy. If anyone knows how, let me know.
Penny, have you been to Thailand before? If so, can you suggests places to stay? We are planning to go and have told our son if he can get time off, we will pay his way for his Christmas present.
Hoping Lily posts soon with some good news.0 -
Fluff - we have been before , but both that time and this were to Phuket which is very much a holiday Isle. I have also done some work in Bangkok - quite an experience.
Let me know aht sort of place you are looking for and where your daughter will be working as I have a consultant working for me at the moment who has a Thai wife and spends alot of time there. If you let me know what you ar after I will ask him for recommendations
0 -
Good for you, Penny. I hope the vacation is lots of fun; What a great thing that so many of your family can go at the same time. And I'm glad you are going to visit your daughter, Fluff. Funny thing, my nephew is headed to Thailand later this month to spend a year there before going to college. I don't know where he will be, but given that he's doing social work, I suspect it won't be too glamorous. Thailand must be the place to be!
lily- how is the treatment going?
0 -
Thans for asking Maxine but I am sure so many of you remember the joy of Taxotere treatments. Just for fun (ha ha) I looked way back in our thread at when we were at the same point I am now. Boy I sounded so smug going thru tx with very little SEs at this same point. I am in week 2 after my 3rd tx. Keep telling myself you are half way thru it will be over before you know it. The big difference is I have been on chemo for 18 months and your body isn;t the same.
Luckily I have had no nausea so far-that was true the first time thru also. It is the damned fatigue that is ticking me off so bad. Not thinking I am having as much chemo brain but maybe I am not the best one to judge that??? Big D rules my activities somewhat for about 5 days in the middle.
In other words Ishould quit whining it could be way way worse. I am just disappointed that I don;t get more done. I am not couch bound but my ambition is very low. I get up early and before i know it the day is gone....
Fluff-it doesn;t surprise me that you have a daughter who is a model. Your avatar is small but I can see how pretty you are. Is she a runway kind of model or a print one? How neat that you are going to see her. I hope your son gets to join you guys. That is the thing about family vacations once everybody is grown. When you get your first job your vac time is so small and do you do the family thing or go with friends? We do a lot together as a family and my nieces and nephews try never to miss-doesn;t always work out.
Penny-I would love to have a Goldie with my name. And you are right to get the breed you want. We did talk my Mom into getting shelter mixed breed Golden pups last year but they just don't really have that same personality. They are good dogs but that thing that makes everyone love a Golden just isn't there. How great that the whole family will be going on holiday together. I so envy your travels. So hard to imagine you are in winter now. Fall is here for us and dreading the winter ahead.
Maria-I know there is quite a large group that will be attending that conference but I won;t be there. It falls right after a tx for me and it is just too unpredictable for me to make plans for that time. But of I ever make ot to Chicago I would so love to meet you. The other Oct weekends I will be off to college football game for one (Purdue/Michigan), Knoxville for another and a weekend at a lake in Kentucky. I can;t get far from home right now but doing my best to stay active. I also have to return to work by the 3rd week in order to keep my same job.
Trying to keep the scaniety under control but will be so glad when Monday comes and goes. Also stopping by work afterwards as they have arranged a little to-do for me.
0 -
Lily - fingers crossed for Monday, you are not a whiner, your attitude is a real inspiration xxxxxxxx
0 -
Penny- someone mentioned a hotel near the river and close to a transportation system? Said there was a McDonald's on the first floor, and they had their own boat to take you around the canals. This person said their place was a two bedroom, which would be perfect. Rooms were covered with teak.
She will be in Bangkok, and the agency puts them in housing, with curfews, etc. made me feel better.
Lily....thank you for the complement. That was just a good picture, lol. She does both print and runway. Just walked for four designers for new York fashion week. Not big ones, but it paid ok. she actually looks like my husband's side of the family, tans easy etc. it is a tough life trying to be successful at it. At 5'11, she weighs about 128-130. One of the big agencies in NYC wants to sign her, but told her to take the three month Thailand contract, lose weight and then come back. Honestly, she doesn't have weight to lose. I would like her to focus on the tv show side of things. She has done a few thins, but she loves the modeling stuff. She is paying her bills, single, and having fun, so I guess now is the time to get it out of her system.
You are right, trying to schedule a family thing is nearly impossible. He just started a new job in May, promptly blew out his knee and had to miss a week due to surgery, so it is doubly hard. And he wants to bring his girlfriend, hence the need for a 2br, Penny. We like her a lot though.0 -
Just checking in. Lily, have you heard anything on your test? I can't remember when it was.
Hope everyone is doing well. I am running around like a crazy woman trying to get things done with my daughter before she leaves this weekend.0 -
My doc called this morning with results from my PET yesterday. h\He said it is fantastic and he is thrilled. Every single met got smaller and less active. I haven't gotten the report yet-they are e-mailing it to me later today-I want all the little details. Maybe this willturn the tidefor the dang ins co.
We have women joining our Perjeta thread every day so use of the drug is expanding. Every woman on our thread that has scanned so far has also gotten great results so it really is the miracle drug for us Her2s right now. Makes the wretched SEs worth it. I have somehow gotten the follicultis again or it never really went away the first time so I am back on antibiotics for it. Other than that the 3rd tx was really quite tolerable. I go next Tuesday for #4.
Thanks for all the good wishes and i hope those that were headed out on trips are having a great time.
0 -
Yay Lily! That is the best news! I am SO happy for you!!!!! You rock girl!!! We need a good song for the jukebox.......anyone have one that would be appropriate???
0 -
Thrilled to hear news of a good scan, lillylady. Also for those other women on your Perjeta thread.
0 -
I just got the report and it is more fantastic in person than it is over the phone. Biggest news is a tumor that was the size of a big walnut is completely gone. All other tumors are now back in the mm size instead of cm and the highest activity level on any of them was like a 2.7-compared to July scan where some were in the low teens. The one I hate the most in my trachea is rating at a 1.7 and it was at 9 and it is only like 5mm now instead of 2.3 cm.
Bring on the drugs-SEs well worth it!!
0 -
That is AWESOME!!!!! I am smiling for you!!!!
0 -
That is fabulous news! I had my 6 month checkup and in talking to my onc, he said that he feels the next 5 years will turn some forms of cancer in stage IV folks into a manageable chronic disease. Wouldn't that be wonderful?
0 -
Wonderful news Lily! I am putting What a Wonderful World on the jukebox for you. We're all celebrating the good news with you.
0 -
Woo-hoo, lilylady!!! This is awesome! Agree this may cause the ins company to relent, thank God.
Hang tough w the SEs. You are so much stronger than they are! In honorof your great news, I'm putting U2's "Beautiful Day" on the jukebox!I feel way behind on everyone's updates but sending hugs all around.
0 -
Lily great news!!!!
0 -
WAY TO GO Lily.. that is great news! So Perjeta is the miracle drug for the her2 people who can't take herceptin. I am so excited for you.
I had surgery on Wednesday to touch up my reconstruction surgery. things went well, as usual I didn't do well with the anesthesia. I threw up three times in the recovery room and twice after i got home...Sorry ladies I know that is TMI. Im feeling much better today.
Everyone have a great weekend !!!
0 -
Brilliant Lily! - so happy for you, they are amazing results.
Putting Jimmy Cliff - "I can see clearly now" on the juke box - Its gonna be a bright, bright, sunshiny day!
0 -
Just wanted to pop in...love the songs ladies! Perfect.
Also I have a puppy update...we are getting a border collie puppy - it will be a female. She was just born so we won't get her until November. We can't wait! Now we are working on names.....my son wanted to name her Sweetie. I tweaked that a little and was thinking Dolce which means "sweet" in Italian. Name is still up in the air. I will post photos when I get them in the coming weeks......can't wait! We will get her about 2 weeks after we get back from our Bahamas vacation. We usually go every year but we skipped last year because of my BC. Can't wait to relax for a week in the son with my boys!
0 -
Just wanted to pop in...love the songs ladies! Perfect.
Also I have a puppy update...we are getting a border collie puppy - it will be a female. She was just born so we won't get her until November. We can't wait! Now we are working on names.....my son wanted to name her Sweetie. I tweaked that a little and was thinking Dolce which means "sweet" in Italian. Name is still up in the air. I will post photos when I get them in the coming weeks......can't wait! We will get her about 2 weeks after we get back from our Bahamas vacation. We usually go every year but we skipped last year because of my BC. Can't wait to relax for a week in the son with my boys!
0 -
Maria - we get our pup late October - will be able to copmpare training notes - have a wonderful holiday
0 -
Lily-It is so wonderful to hear you got a great report on your last scan!!!! What fantastic news!
0 -
Dee Dee - Glad you're revision surgery is behind you! Mine is scheduled for Oct 4. Will be glad when the two sides are matching...
Looking forward to hearing the puppy updates and seeing photos!
BTW, my hair is still really thin on top. I'm now using Rogaine for women and taking Matrix Plus biotin (5000 mg). Wish me luck. I'm annoyed with myself because I was trying to be patient. When I bought a couple of summer hats, I was confident that I'd be done with hats by now but I have to go out and buy a Fall hat or two. Guess it's not the end of the world but wishing I'd jumped on treating this sooner. I don't think anyone else has this problem but let me know if you do and we can commiserate!!
0 -
Silia - my hair is still really thin too - I think the Arimidex has something to do with it
0 -
Well tx # 4 done and had a great doc visit. We have figured out I regressed back to where I was Oct 2011-it feels like I get an extra year now. WE also talked about what a course of tx is actually going to be. He said the Taxotere would be a max of 8tx-but more likely only 6. He said it is way too toxic to do any more than that. With my activity level being so low he says 6 is the likely choice. Sfter I finshed the TCH last summer and just went on the Herceptin that is when it started growing. I will be on the Perjeta and herceptin indefinitely. he said we could always add the Tax back in later.
That brings me to the hair thing-I had just gotten enough hair to get my first real haircut when I started this new treatment. I totally get your hair things Penny and Silia. the part of mine that didn't really come back was at the temples. It like grew good down the middle but almost like a male pattern baldness on the sides at the top. I used to wear a pulled back pony tail when it was long but with that hair missing it would look horrid-not that I will ever go long again. So the hair I had I pretty much had to comb forward to cover. I hope the Rogain helps and my haor lady says massaging really helps also. Frustrating that after a year to still be dealing with this. I have yet to put the wig back on but I guess I really need to get it out for special occaisions. I just get so twitchy when I wear it-I feel myself pulling and adjusting it.
I am going back to work in about 3-4 weeks. I am broke but also ready to get back to it. I am doing the serious nesting thing-cleaning out cupboards and drawers right now. Also went shopping for some modern day jeans. Most of mine looked like the 80's. ended up with mens Arizona jeans from Penneys for right now. I don;t have much of a waist and all the womens jeans gapped at the back waistband so bad-really not comfortable. I am going to expand me search to some higherend places-I just need that go-to pair you can just throw on and it looks nice.
Can't wait for you two to get your puppies. My sisters pup keeps us busy. She works 12 hrs shifts so we babysit-what a handful but lots of fun. My moms goldens are soooo over her. They loved her at forst but her high energy isn;t their bag anymore. She tries to get in their beds with them and kisses them on the mouth. She brings them toys out of the toy box but they just ignore her mostly.
Hope everyone is doing well. I am still floating on the good news-and the thought that the taxotere isn;t going to be long term
0 -
Lily, I was teary reading your previous update and now I am just thrilled! I keep looking around for someone to tell!!
So, so happy for your great news!0 -
Lily so glad your docs are figuring out what meds are best for your situation and that you have regressed. Such great news.
As far as the hair - as most of you know, I used cold caps so I can't speak from personal experience. I do know however that there are quite a few ladies that had taxotere that have experienced some permanant hair loss. I have a friend going through this right now and she was not informed prior to taking taxotere that some women don't get their hair back. I hope this is NOT the case with any of you as my friend is really struggling with this. Just know it is possible in a small number of patients. My friend went to a dermatologist that specializes in hair loss and they did a biopsy and confirmed she had chemo induced alopecia. If you are concerned, you may want to check with a dermatologist. My friend did chemo several months after we did and has male pattern baldness and very, very thin hair in other places. I can't offer anything from a personal experience on this because I kept my hair.
0
