Starting chemo August 2014
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I don't post very often, but I do read several threads. This was my very first thread I posted on and got the most amazing help when I was headed to both surgery and chemo last August. Well, it has been one hell of a year, since my surgery!!!!! I have learned more in this last year about things I did not want to know about, saw more doctors and inside of hospitals than I ever want to see again in my life. I have lost two body parts, one toenail and now have curly, kinky hair but I feel fantastic and am NED!!!!!!
I have developed some of the most amazing friendships, got the best advise from those that walked before me and tried to help those who started their journey after me. I wish none of us ever had to be on these boards, but I am continually amazed at the wealth of knowledge, kindness and compassion of you ladies. You are simply the best.
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Had my annual exam today. Fibroids seem about the same (good news that they didn't grow) and no lumps found in healthy breast or remaining left breast tissue. Will get pap results in a week or two. Mammogram is next Monday. Thank God for Ativan these days. I keep thinking that if I can get through all of these one-year markers, scans and milestones that I can start to relax a little bit.
I saw the August 2015 chemo board has been started. That was us, a year ago. So many changes in a year. I miss chatting with you ladies here.
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CassieCat, miss the daily chats here also. But so glad we are regrouping and moving forward and stlll staying in touch. I will have to visit the August 2015 board. What a year.
Nomatterwhat, Ditto!
Gatomal, how are you doing?
My update, tamoxifen is kicking my butt. MO is suggesting a two week break. Whoa, was my first thought. But we are in conversation on the effects of two week break and how Tamoxifen really works in our system.
This time last year we were all getting to know one another. I have to say I felt a lot better last August than I do now since the body had not yet been baraged by so many drugs. Now I truely understand when my MO says it could be 6 to 9 months before the body settles in from the treatments. Then there is tamoxifen -- 10 yrs? humm. and only 3 months in. This is when I have to focus on day-by-day...urgghh..
Hope all are doing well!
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I passed my last Muga....71% again.
Feel like crap today....and don't you HATE taking pain pils for the SE...not for the cancer
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I don't know the exact date but I know I'm starting this month. Nervous about it. I had my port installed today and now in am feeling like a bit of a cyborg.
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Hi Ladies,Really miss our daily conversation also. Realize that everyone is moving forward and that is a great thing. I was switched over to Femara because of the joint pain Arimidex was causing me. Well, just last night I could hardly get upstairs to bed. Took an Advil, but my body ached so. May have to look into changing again. I don't know if SEs of meds are worth daily discomfort like this. My hair is curly and thin in front. I do like the fact that it's so easy.
Lots of planning being done for my daughters wedding. Already have a venue (my house), caterer, band, rental company for tents and tables. Daughter working on photographer as we speak. Very exciting stuff. Heading down to visit her today for long weekend. DD just got a puppy (Sailor)' going to meet him for first time. Also, got to skype with my son yesterday. Haven't seen his face in a month.
I know we are all still going thru stuff, but happy that life is finally getting in the way a little. Thinking of you all very often. Thankful for this board.
Cathie
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Going in for my mammogram this morning...cross your fingers for me.
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Fingers are crossed.
Glad to see my girls posting.
Went to New Orleans last week. So wonderful, no smoking allowed in public....not even at Harrah's casino. It was great. Now if the rest of the world would follow
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Cassie, fingers crossed and prayers streaming!
Beatmon, the traveler. Love it. Glad you had a great time. I told my husband we need to travel more..lol
Love the pic Catie and glad the wedding plans are moving along! Most of all that you are having fun planning although it may get a little rough at times :-).
Hugs all!
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hi everyone! Deported yesterday
feels very scary to not have any more treatment (well other than tamox0 -
hi sweeties!
Aww, Beatmon, YES! Good job ejecting.
Cassie--how u doon?
Angie, have you found any relief yet?
Catie, aww, so sweet. I adore weddings, living vicariously thru you!
Windgirl, congrats on deportation baby.
Well. My freakin foot bones ache on and off. Weird, feels like arthritis. Sometimes I feel 100 just getting my ass off the couch. My hair is ridiculously full, and compliant. Everyone says I look great. Trying to be hopeful and brave. But scared shitless regarding recurrence.
Spent today making won ton soup and egg rolls, from scratch. I am a damned good cook! Very soothing, love to cook! Planning our September vaca to Maine and cannot wait. Before we depart, we plan to burn all my unneeded cancer related forest of paperwork. Armbands, discharge papers....all of it.
Reading alot and just taking it easy. Miss u guys
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you to Bippy! Just got caught up on the posts and saw you did it alread
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I'm a decent cook, but not great. Working on homemade pizza as I type - well, it's in the oven now.
No word yet on my mammo - maybe no news is good news? I sure hope so. Made the mistake of reading a scary thread on this site today. Note to self - stay away from scary threads.
xoxoxo
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Bippy: burn it girl. Most of it doesn't say anything anyway!
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Beatmon glad you were able to get away! What fun.
Cassie good luck. Hope all is well.
LadyB. How is my girl across the bay?
Catie, helping to plan a wedding is fun, but can be stressful too. Focus on the fun, put it away for a while when stressful. What a wonderful, hopeful thing to do!
Windgirl, how does it feel to have that out? Wonderful, I bet. Are you sore?
Bippy! So good to hear from you! Sorry I was trapped with the worst uber driver in the world. And on my way to an unpleasant (minorly) appt.
I have been having a total freak out today, while reading up on the trial drug I'm hoping to get on. The SEs aren't too bad for folks, but mostly, I was wading around in 10yr survival stats, which are less than 50%, and I'm just terrified. I know these days come and go, but today was one of those bad ones. The magic eight ball website I consulted confirmed my demise before ten years. I know it's stupid, but I was looking for signs. I'm so scared today, I think I will be taking those four doses of zometa, to prophylactically (potentially) head off mets. I was scared about the SE of jaw necrosis, but today I'm feeling like I need to throw everything that we have at this monster.
I took out the old baby toys from the girls to pass on to the new babies, and got really sad too, since the last time I used them, was pre-BC. Back then all I had to worry about was Losing baby weight. Those were the days.
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Eileen, JenniferE, nurseshark, Kellogg, justamy, not today, nomatterwhat, and others, hello and hugs to you all too, just reading back over the last few pages.
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Gatomal, big hugs for you. This is a scary, scary disease.
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Hi August 2014ers!
I have quietly tagged along with your group.. I started chemo on 9/9/2014, but the September group is quiet. This thread has helped so much--I don't feel as alone or scared as I might otherwise feel.
I had my last Herceptin infusion yesterday. It was so emotional. Of course, my first infusion nurse was my last. A happy coincidence. I have my final reconstruction surgery on 9/9/2015. The anniversary of my first chemo. Another coincidence. I am ready to get these rock-hard TE's out!
The weight of the past year is crushing. I am approaching so many cancer anniversaries. I need a plan on how to cope with my feelings (what the hell just happened? And how to do I move on?), the lingering fatigue (really? I am still so exhausted?!), my aches and pains (PT says we're waking up these muscles. Okay, one more thing to do.), and dealing with others expectations (treatment is over I should be all better..now let's put it in a box and move on, but I can't.) After reading many of the recent posts, I realize I am not alone. I'm ready to celebrate life, but I'm so scared. As I put days, weeks, and months between me and my cancer treatment I know it will get easier. I have to remind myself that today I am okay. And that's awesome.
Thank you for posting and sharing where you are physically and emotionally. It helps.
Love, strength, and peace to you.
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Congrats on finishing daisyq. Another surgery to come, but that much closer to the end of treatment. I'm tired too! Glad you were here, our group rocks! thank god for this board. Cheaper than therapy. Today is a better day for me, so ups and downs are normal, I guess.
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My mammogram of my healthy side came back normal!!! Yahoo!!!
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fantastic Cassie! Phew. Celebrate
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Great news bCassie cat.
Gatomal, no wonder you are tired. Let's see : chemo, new baby , other children, taking care of hubby, house ,laundry....etc. I think you are Superwoman.
Daisy q, nothing is as wonderful as getting the Tupperware bowls out
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Cassiecat - Great news, congrats!
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Cassiecat, great new! Congrats and yes celebrate
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Awesome news Cassie!
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wooohoo Cassie! Glad Gatomal is havin better days too.
Hi Angie, Brenda, and everyone!
Welcome Ms. Daisy!
Bipster did too much yesterday spring cleaning wise. Got some wild hair, and cleaned out my drawers, closet, and other closets. Took a literal trunkload of clothing to our local church thrift store today. The volunteer there remembers me from my chemo days--sick, green and bald. It is very near our home and the only place I could get out to during my hellish chemo. She marvels at my hair and says I look good. must be hard on her. Her daughter did not survive her own bout with BC. Still, this lady is genuinely happy for me and never was afraid of my ghastly appearance during tx.
Out went lots of good clothing--my arms are bigger thanks to LE and so much no longer fits. Oh well......they sell donations and do lots of good charity work.
Thinkin of you all and hoping we all have a wonderful Fall. I cannot wait for it, there is something special about that first snap of chill air. It's like a deep fryer outside here now and I have zero heat tolerance these days. Also, fall is time for baking!!!!
Xxxoooo
Candy
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To all my friends. I have not posted in a while. Sold my house in 7 days and bought a condo for my son. That is one HUGE headache now off my plate. Would have done it last year but. dx with BC and that ended any thoughts of doing that. He moves on Sept 10th. I have been so busy cleaning and going to good will and downsizing. I swear it was harder then chemo Thirty three years of clean out.
Hope everyone is doing well. I think every single day about the people I have met on this board.
Cassiecat= Great news. I go for my mammogram last week in August.
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Gatomal it feels a bit scary to not have the port, especially since my onc was leaning towards kee0ping it for a while but I insisted on it coming out. The removal was ver smooth and other than some burning in the incision site the first day I had no soreness. I was sore for a whole week and more when they had put it in. I did pull out the steristrips by mistake so had to back for them to put dressing but all is fine. Overall now I am just scared it will come back... How do u take the zometa, is it through the port or a pill? How long will you be taking it? The unknown of this disease is really disturbing, I completely understand where you are coming from, I have my freak out moments as well but I guess we have to hope for the positive. I've read a lot on the forums over the past year and some stage 3s don't age it come back whereas a simple hormone positive stage 1 turns into mets. There seems to be no rhyme or reason. Today I was speaking to a colleague and she said "that's why they call it practicing medicine", so true.
I am off to Peru this Sunday for a work trip. I will go to Machu Picchu after work next Friday and stay there over the weekend and come back on the 24th. I may also go Israel for work on the 28th, for a week, and head to Turkey from there for vacation (my home country). I'm happy to have these opportunities to see places for free essentially due to work, but my mind of course wanders are these signs and I'm getting to see these places before it repeats again. The mind is a dangerous thing! Anyway hope everyone is doing well, take care
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Windgirl= Have a great time and try to keep your head in a positive place. Easier said than done.
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I have those freak out moments too. I think it comes with the territory. windgirl, have fun with your travels. They sound fantastic!!
Eileen, congrats on selling the house and buying the condo for your son. That's a lot of work but I'm sure it feels good to have it done.
Bippy/Candy, I've been doing some "spring" cleaning too. Feels good to move some stuff along.
Thank you all for sharing in the good mammo news. I know it's no guarantee of anything, but good news is good news!
I went to a wedding last night - one of my coworkers got married at the beach. It was so fun, and one of the nicest weddings/receptions I've been to in a long time. It felt like a real celebration and not a "production", if that makes sense. I was glad to be included among the guests. We had a whole table from work and had a great time together. Still have the foster kitten - she's about 6 weeks old now! She hasn't weaned off the bottle yet, but I keep trying. Once she does I can give her back to the shelter - sniff, sniff - to be adopted out to a permanent, loving home. She's totally feisty and adorable. Love having her around.
Next week I ease back into work, and then I'm back for a week of meetings and in-services, etc., the week of the 24th. Summer is officially winding down.
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