March 2011 chemo-lounge
Comments
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Lily - so glad you posted. You are always in my thoughts! I am so terribly sorry about the loss of your brother. As if that wasn't hard enough, to have your other brother get so sick. I am so sorry you have to go through so much when you are dealing with so much personally right now. I wish I could offer something other than my sympathy and prayers......
I will be waiting for your update on your scans. I only wish the best for you and hope that whatever you need to do next it is more tolerable than taxotere. You need a breatk at this point for sure. In honor of that, I am putting the new Kelly Clarston song in the jukebox called "Catch My Breath" just for you. I am dancing with a large cocktail in my hand.....love that song!
Please keep us updated.....we all are behind you. I know you probably have other chemo buddies, but none of them party like we do! Oh and we got 9 inches of snow in Chicago earlier this week. We do need some stories of warm weather from somebody!!!
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lilylady, I am so very sorry to learn of your brother's passing. I imagine it is a big hole in your heart. My deepest condolensces are being sent your way.
I'm also sorry to hear of your younger brother's health issues. I have three brothers and three sisters and none of them ever listen to a thing I say either, lol, so I can relate to your brother turning a deaf ear to any advice you have to offer him. It is frustrating to watch someone make poor choices, especially when it comes to their own health. All you can do is love him, and at least you know you are good at that.
I want to tell you, through all of the incredibly horrible things that have been thrown at you the past couple of years, your amazing personality still shines through in your writing. You are extremely gifted at it. You have a way of describing situations, and put your own unique spin on the way you look at things. I hope you don't mind my saying that I am always so inspired by your fortitude. You just keep going and it gives me such hope and encouragement.
Btw, we are about the same age, I will be 55 in a couple months. Oh, us and Burger King's 'Whopper'. I am wearing a BK crown to school tomorrow (crazy hat day) and I noticed it was celebrating the Whopper's 55th anniversary. Woop de doo. Or is that Whop de doo.
Hang in there.
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Lily -I saw a Publisher's Clearning House commercial a while ago.....too funny! Thought of your brother.... I don't remember the last timeI saw a commercial for PCH!
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Lily - my head swims with all that you are dealing with... I'm so sorry to hear about your brother - and then having your youngest brother with his health issue. Wow, it's too much for one person to cope with. Sounds like you're ready to say goodbye to Taxotere - I so don't blame you. Just being reminded of the impact on tastebuds gives me chills. Please hang in there. Did you take the month off as you and your Onc discussed? Take care of yourself. Let us know what your scan shows. Sending a hug.
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Ah Lily - I wish I could bottle some of our sunshine and send it to you. Some part of Oz have had terible floods, but we have been so lucky. It is officially Autumn now, but its still 93 deg today. The sky is a clear, clear blue and there is slight breeze coming off the sea. The frangipani trees are still out in my garden. I have every colour from white and yellow to deep pink ones and they smell like a tropical paradise.
I am so sorry to hear about your older brother. Those of us who have siblings are truly blessed to have someone we can share so much with. They can be annoying and difficult and it is so hard to lose them, but there are so many precious memories of things we shared.
Good luck for the scans - god I can't imagine 13 Taxotere. I am way too fond of my food.
Scanning the research stuff - there are new advances all the time. Although one new paper out of Cambridge really annoys me. After all that stuff about not drinking - and my wine collection gathering dust it says a glass of red wine a day reduces the risk of recurrence by 20% - who the hell are we supposed to believe when they keep changing their mind. Tonight I will open a decent Shiraz and toast you all.
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Cheers Penny!!!
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Oh Penny you should be a writer. I was instantly transported to your lovely garden and was sitting under the frangipani sipping a pink lemonade in my tropical sundress with painted toenails and a flower tucked behind my ear. I didn't even mind the sweat from the 90 deg day making my bald head sweat! Just what I needed to perk me up.
No scan results yet-probably Monday and Onc appt Tuesday. Hoping to move on to TDM1. I will report after my visit what's going on.
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Lily, I am so sorry about your brother. And I totally relate to watch you said about watching him try to breathe. My dad died from a rare duodenal tumor when I was 32. That was 25 years ago and I still remember his last day with great clarity.
There is a person on the triple positive thread who was just diagnosed stage IV, and just started a combination of taxotere, perjeta and herceptin. I mentioned that I thought you had received Perjeta.
I am so glad to catch up with everyone again, even it'd it is under sad circumstances.
And mdg is right, we are here for you....and each other!
Penny, so jealous about the heat. I am missing it. All I want to do is go sit on a beach for a few days, and everyone wants us to vacation with them in non-beach locations. It was 50 today and nice, but a little overcast.0 -
mdg: Had my ovaries out last spring at Mayo (they were the only ones who would listen to my concerns as my mother had breast AND ovarian cancer)...Same Day Surgery..nothing to it...as I was already post menopausal, I really didn't notice much difference as far as hot flashes etc. Have been on Arimidex since August 2011...definitely stiff in the morning but improves during the day and motivates me to keep exercising...will have a follow up bone density this year to check if I'm falling apart !
Penny : I'm with you on the "Wine Studies"..doing some Napa Valley tours in April with my DD...would be a shame not to try some of that wine, wouldn't it ?!?
Lily: thinking of you...will check back in for your results !!!
Hugs to all of you !!!
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Lily-I am so sorry about your brother. I cannot imagine how emotional his passing must have been for you.
I am praying and hoping you have received your scan results and that they are positive news! I hope we hear an update from you soon.
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Got my scan report today and everything is Stable. Onc is pleased. Long time since I have had a good one. Sad part is that I will continue on with the Taxotere. When I scanned at Xmas and got bad results my 2 tx prior to that were just the Perjeta/Herceptin without the Tax. Apparently I will never be able to do the targeted drugs without the chemo component.
We will be trying the Tax at a reduced dose now. Told him I am beat up physically and need some recovery time. Sick to death of trying to fake normal. He has been wanting to do this for a while but I resisted since the last scan was bad. I didn't want to do the next one and have it be bad and I would always wonder if I stayed full dose would it have been better? Don't want to start doubting myself. I COULD stay at full dose and get thru it but it is just starting to be miserable because of the accumulation over time. Like he says there is a number less than 100% that will be just as effective. I just wonder if a little Tax makes you feel any better than a a regular dose? Biggest complaint is neuropathy in my feet and I am just so tired. I have never had the foot thing before and I dont want it to become permenant. I tell myself how bad can you be? You are still working full time and doing everything you did before-you are just getting more whiny about it. If I had hair I would look totally normal. I do not look like I have cancer at all.
So celebrate my good news and for the first time I will put a song on the jukebox. I watched a special on the Cowsills the other night so in honor of that and good old Taxotere lets play their song "Hair" I don't have the lyrics but it is all about long beautiful flowing hair.
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lilylady, happy for you and your stable results. Hopefully, along with the reduced taxotere, you can catch your breath and feel like you're catching a break.
I love sooo many songs from the 60s, including so much music from the broadway musical "Hair", including the title song. Here's some lyrics I looke up for you:
Gimme head with hair
Long beautiful hair
Shining, gleaming,
Streaming, flaxen, waxen
Give me down to there hair
Shoulder length or longer
Here baby, there mama
Everywhere daddy daddy
Hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair
Flow it, show it
Long as God can grow it
My hair
Let it fly in the breeze
And get caught in the trees
Give a home to the fleas in my hair
A home for fleas
A hive for bees
A nest for birds
There ain't no words
For the beauty, the splendor, the wonder
Of my...
I want it long, straight, curly, fuzzy
Snaggy, shaggy, ratty, matty
Oily, greasy, fleecy
Shining, gleaming, streaming
Flaxen, waxen
Knotted, polka-dotted
Twisted, beaded, braided
Powdered, flowered, and confettied
Bangled, tangled, spangled, and spaghettied!
Oh say can you see
My eyes if you can
Then my hair's too short
They'll be ga ga at the go go
When they see me in my toga
My toga made of blond
Brilliantined
Biblical hair
My hair like Jesus wore it
Hallelujah I adore it0 -
Amen, Lily. You SO deserve a break... Thrilled about your scan. My first dose of Taxotere was horrendous and I had to take a break from chemo to recover. Then he restarted me but did cut back the dose (though I cannot remember specifics). With your love of gardening, I'm sure Spring is especially important to you to feel good enough to do what you want to do (vs. always faking it). I don't think you've EVER been the least bit whiny - but I do think that other people tend to give us sympathy, attention at first and then they just want to forget about it... Amazing. Ah well. As you said, we're your peeps -- never hesitate to send us any kind of message - happy, whiny, etc. Love your jukebox selection. I'm adding U2's It's a Beautiful Day. It's one of my favs to put on!
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Yay for stability, Lily!
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A round of shots for everyone - To Lilylady! Yay!!!!
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Hey Divine thanks for those lyrics. That song should be a BC anthem. Hilarious!
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For you Lily - so pleased
at your results0 -
Lily- So sorry to hear about your brother. What a difficult couple of years for you.
I am delighted about the scans! Bring on more good news. You are not whiny at all. If you can't complain about this BC to us, who can you complain to, I say. That's why we all hang out in the lounge together. A toast to your good news!
I once auditioned for the musical Hair, in high school. We had to learn a few dance steps for the audition. About 10 steps, and I could NOT pick it up. I kept trying to master it, probably for two years after, and never could do it. Confirmed my suspicion that I will NEVER be a dancer!
curly, twirly, ringlet, flyaway HAIR!
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Lily-I am so relieved to hear your results were stable! That is great news!!!!
Maria-Have you had your surgery yet? Check in if you can. I am scheduled for next month.
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I have it next month too. I could not coordinate a date that worked for this month. I am having surgery on Friday 4/18. Can't wait (Said sarcastically of course). On the bright side we just booked our summer vacation to Breckenridge for a week. Bringing our puppy with us too! Should be a fun week hiking and enjoying the mountains. I have only been to the Rockies in winter on ski trips before. Can't wait to see what it's like in the summer.
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Does anyone think the Breaking news on this site about newly diagnosed women having Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome is not any kind of new information?
Bet it didn't take much of a study for that. They could have just posted a thread on this site and taken care of all their research, lol
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LOL fluff! DUH....PSTD with BC is so common. We already know about that.....bring on a cure. That would be breaking news....
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fluffqueen, well put. It wasn't news to me or probably most anyone who's dealt with the disease.
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Maria-We'll be surgery buddies! I'm having mine on the Monday right after yours. I wanted to make sure it was going to be enough time to recover and make sure I was able to do end of school year activities with my kids by first week in June, then attend a wedding the second week in June. You will love Breckenridge in the summer. Lots to see and do! So scenic and makes me miss my home state.
About that PTSD breaking news flash.....NOT breaking news to me or any of us! What a joke. Do they really think we don't know that already?
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So are these surgeries elective or what your MO recommends? Does this mean you will be in menopause afterwards? Do you still have to take the anti hormonal drugs too? I see where some are saying the Tamoxifin should be 10 years now instead of 5. Glad I don't have to deal with that particular devil. I hope they go well for you guys.
I can't believe it but it is freaking snowing again here in Ohio. We are going to get 6 inches which will then melt quickly and turn into 6 more inches of mud. I think this winter may never get over! I have pictures from last year where I already had radishes and lettuces ready to harvest by this time.
The dose reduction in Taxotere has not been noticeable to me. Felt just as crappy (literally) as the 100%. The rest of my hair fell out this week too. I was waffling about shaving it because it has become so patchy but I figured any hair was better than shiny bald. Staring to get it together a little better mentally. I have not been so low both physically and mentally for a very long time. Onc is wanting me to take time off work to get back on my feet but I told him no way right now. I am thinking from the end of April to june 1 sounds way better. he said whatever I want so i am going to get me some paperwork going to get that done. I figure there are lots of people scamming medical at work who arent even sick so I am determined not to have a guilty conscience over it. I will play in the yard and go on Vac.
Penny thanks for the picture.I made it my screensaver at work. Everyone keeps asking me what they are and I told them my good friend from australia sent it to me.I smile every time I open my computer.
Youngest bro still on full time dialysis but they are saying his numbers are not jumping up quite as high between tx. They are saying at least another month but they remain hopeful for a full recovery. Thanks for all your kind thoughts and good wishes. it really has been hard. I miss my big bro every day. I dont have anyone to fight with now!
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Lily - sorry the taxotere has not gotten any easier. How long will you do it? Then what is the next treatment for you? One of my ovaries has a cyst that will not go away so my gunk suggested removing it just to be safe given my history. Since I need to get one out I am getting the other out since estrogen is not my friend. As far as menopause - the chemo and tamoxifen put me there already. I have not had a period in over two years now. They tested my blood and I am in menopause. My MO was going to switch me to an AI because I am in menopause but Friday I found out I have osteopenia so I probably can't go on an AI now. I was not expecting to hear thAt so now I hav been referred to an endocronologist. Just one more doctor to see and now a new medication for osteopenia sigh.....
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MDG-my onc will switch me over to an AI soon, and automatically uses Prolia. I am still normal, but my scan last November showed that I had dropped. I think you can probably still take the AI, just will need to add a bone increasing drug to it.
Just wanted to say Happy Easter (belated) from Dirty Harry, the Easter Dog, and me. Hope you had a great one!
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Mdc and the chemo lounge sign me up,!,,
Indi here. started tc x 4 and heading into session two ..cold caps and all ....call me the MAD HATTER and that would be a grey goose martini straight up ice cold VERY dry with a twist .. Love the lounge
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Hi Indij
We all went through this a couple of years ago and are now celebrating in the lounge. You will be where we are before you know it, just hang in there. Anything we can let you know to help - just ask. You can do this.
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Hello loungers,
I am inside posting because I don't want to cut the grass!! Spring is finally here and of course the rain has made the dang grass grow. Every year I say I am going to hire it out-then I think what else that money would pay for. I do some of my best thinking while pushing the mower-like what can I go in the house and bake that has a million calories in it???
Onc insisted we skip the Taxotere this last tx and my appetite came roaring back. Everything tastes so good-I am cramming it in with both hands. I have lost all my toenails and most of my fingernails due to that blasted drug. Never had problems with it before-he says it is the prolonged use that is causing it. At any rate like the hair they will grow back 1 day. Thing I hate the most is I have to wear gloves to garden now. love the feel of the dirt but can't risk the infection.
I am going to take the month of May off under the "life is too short " plan. Not going to tell my boss til the last minute because he will bug me to change my mind. I am trying to wind up projects and not get involved with new ones. Have cleaned out my tool box and straightened my desk-which normally looks ike a disaster area. My partner senses something is up but he hasn;t asked and I am not telling. Have a huge to-do list plus a vacation planned. Also going to skip a tx so I feel good the whole month.
Fluff-what a great picture. So nice to put faces to names
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