Starting chemo August 2014
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Such great pictures. Warms my heart
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Hi, guys. Remember me? I started chemo right at the beginning of Aug. 2014. I used to frequent the July thread before the Aug, thread started. Then I read both but mostly posted to the Aug. thread. I remember all of you. (I remember telling DH there is this woman who is pregnant with TWINS!) I ran into Mags on a stage IV thread recently and decided to find out how all my beginning buddies are doing. I'm always happy when reading various stage IV threads and NOT seeing any of you. Then I saw Mags and checked the July 2014 thread. Someone mentioned a Pink and I was so upset. My old friend Pinkninja. I actually met Pink on another BC forum and she directed me here. Much better forum, she said. I found her here and the rest is history. But my history on the Aug. thread was truncated because I got so sick after two rounds of TCH, I quit. Yup. Just quit. I felt like a coward and was too embarrassed to come back here, to any thread and tell my story. After stage IV dx and a few months to let myself off the hook, I knew I needed to be here. The stage IV threads have some amazing people and the information and support is … well, you know.
If you want to know any more of what happened to me, I posted this on the "tell us your stage IV story" thread. It's long and involved but aren't all of our stories, stage IV or not.
https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8/topics/831578?page=10#post_5007941
I'm going to post this on both the July and Aug. threads so no, you are not seeing double.
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Checking in after a long while away...so sorry to hear about the loss of purplegurll.
I'm plugging away. My daughter will be a Ballet BFA major at the Univ. of Utah in the fall and is super excited. I am partially retiring next school year - I won't be a full-time math teacher anymore but will be doing more with college counseling and community service opportunities at my school. And, I'll be the girls soccer coach. 
Trying to do what makes me happy and ease as much stress as possible in my day to day life. Scans and tumor markers continue to look good, and I am grateful. It will be 4 years this August since my diagnosis.0 -
Checking in. Praying all are doing well!
I am welcoming a new grandbaby. My daughter is due 7/22. So excited. Thinking of you all often. Glad I have connected with some via Facebook.
Jaycee, I do remember you. Glad you have found support on the stage 4 thread.
Beatmon how are you doing?
Love across the miles
-Angie
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Hello group, Hoping everyone is doing well and checks in every so often on this sight. It's been quite awhile since I have. Had a little scare after ultrasound. Was told a small spot in left breast but will redo ultrasound in six months. No biopsy at this time. Thought to myself, great in six months I'll be told worse news. Was reassured by breast surgeon that if this particular Dr felt there was a concern she would have acted on it. Going for my second Zometa infusion next week. The summer is finally here, hot as heck but I'm not complaining. Have a great one!
Cathie❤️
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Hi, everybody! I don’t know how I’ve missed the last few posts....probably something to do with their algorithm. I’m still up and about, but not very actively. Too hot, too much fatigue and joint pain. But as they say....not today!
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Greetings, everyone,
Beatmon, I'm sorry to hear you are not feeling well. I think the heat is hard on all of us. Hope you are finding relief from that and the joint pain.
Angie, congrats on the new grandbaby!
I go in for my 4-year follow-up this week, and my 6th Prolia shot over 3 years. So far it is keeping up my bone density.
At my cancer center, the policy seems to be no scans at all following diagnosis with early-stage bc. Have any of you followed a different protocol?
I have been on exemestane for a little over 3 years, and right now it seems like the recommendation is to go for 5. Are any of you hearing differently in regards to length of time? I think I've pretty much gotten used to the AI, but I have a fantasy that when I go off I will have more energy/less fatigue. Probably wishful thinking, but it would be nice.
Sending love and best wishes to everyone.
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My facility didn’t do any scanning after first diagnosis and mastectomy. You may remember my mets were found accidentally looking for implant infection.
I’ve had quite a few friends go off of their blockers after the 5 year time frame. I hope it is not a fantasy and you feel great with lots of energy when you are done.
I fantasize stopping treatment and feeling good for awhile also....just wonder how bad or how long I would have...so I keep going to infusion
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Hi all,
Hard to believe we are approaching our 5 year mark next summer.
Just checking in - it's good to see you all.
Things are good for us, we've moved on as much as possible, and every day cancer free is a gift. I know how delicate it is...and how it can change any minute.
So I try to stay in the now and enjoy life. Marking off stuff on the bucket list - Going on our first HUGE cruise ship in January, Oasis of the Seas for a 7 dayer! Going to Maine next month.
I'm going to be changing careers next year and am finishing school now.
Miss you all and will never forget our group!
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Hello everyone: here we are on our anniversary! Bippy Have fun on that cruise. hope we here from some more of our group.
Nottoday, I use your screen name all the time....as a mantra. Not today, I’m still here today
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Hello all,
Bippy, so glad to hear about all the great things happening in your life!
Beatmon, I chose my name because my diagnosis came just as my husband and I were binge-watching our way through Game of Thrones, while our then 12-year-old was away at camp. I kept thinking back to the last sword class with Aria Stark and Syrio Forel. I still love that scene!.Of course, one day it will be "today" for all of us, but I think Bippy is right. We who have had a cancer diagnosis learn to value every day. And so I hope when "today" comes we can greet it in peace, having no regrets, knowing that we lived every moment, and did our best to be kind and loving to everyone around us. Nothing else matters much, I think.
Hope you and everyone are enjoying the last days of summer.
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Is anyone else hungry?? 1st chemo was on Tuesday, it’s Saturday now and I’m starving! I’ve already eaten enough today for a full days worth of work and all I’ve done is shower and have a nap. Any hints on food would be appreciated.
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Kelly-Anne, you are hungry from all of the steroids probably. You are in a group from 2014, not this year...which you might have meant to post. You are welcome here but this is not a very active thread because so many have moved on.
Nottoday, this May sound dumb....but I hope to live long enough to see the last season of GOT! We have watched start to finish at least 3 times and seem to learn something new every time.
Our 4 year anniversary for chemo this month, my 6th year with breast cancer
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Beatmon: I hope I get to see the last GOT season, too! Recently saw another movie with Emilia Clarke. Kept waiting (hoping) for dragons to appear!
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Checking in with everyone. Clear scans and good blood work to mark my fourth anniversary since diagnosis. Yay! I had a total hysterectomy five weeks ago - nothing malignant but needed to be done - and now my onc is having me decide to switch from Tamox to an aromatase inhibitor. He said I'd be making the switch at some point anyway, as he doesn't use tamox for more than 5 years but studies show patients do better taking something for more than five years. So now I'm off to do my research. I'm in the osteopenia range for bone density so worry about those side effects. Tamox was supposed to be mildly helpful when it came to bone density but AIs can have the opposite effect.
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CassieCat, it was good to hear from you. I wish we heard from more of our ladies. 4 years MBC for me, hanging on
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stopping in to say hello and see how all are doing. I had my last Zometa shot mammogram was clear. My bone density can back looking good! . The Onc has switched me to an AI. I am having a hard time adjusting. Almost as bad when I had to adjust to the tamoxifen. Onc says give it 6 months. But the cramps are sometimes unbearable. 4 years in for us and hope all are doing well.
Beatmon how are you doing. I also wish this thread was more active but glad that we do stop by every once in a while to pop in and give an update.
Bippy glad to see you pop in! Hope you had a wonderful time in your cruise.
Love across the miles
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Hey there, LadyB,
So happy to see you on our thread. I’m sorry the Al is giving you troubles. I am hormone negative with no personal experience but I’ve read lots and lots of complaints getting your body used to taking it. I hope it gets easier.....but it’s sad we take medicine that makes us feel terrible so that the Beast doesn’t get us.
Stay tuned! I hope others saw your post and we get some more activity
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Hello ladies! Trying to catchup w posts. Great to hear from you all and hear about things in your lives, news grand babies, retirement, adventures, aches and pains. Going to my 6-month survivorship appt w recheck next week. Finally going to tackle the oophrectomy next year. Suck of going to appts every month for suppression shots. My zometa treatments are done for now.
Twin boys are doing fine. Almost 4 years old. This Jan. Happy holidays to all. Lots of love and hugs.
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gatomal, They are so precious. I can’t gelieve they are 4 already...but gosh I guess it has been over 4 years since we all met here! Your wonderful boys.
Nothing new with me. Still going for weekly Herceptin and Perjeta. Pretty boring around my house. We decided not to get all the Christmas down from the attic. I bought a 34$ Wal Mart Christmas tree and loads of ornaments at Dollar tree....and it is beautiful! So laziness does have its rewards!
So glad to hear from you
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beatmon! Great to be lazy. I have one of those walmart prelit trees, mine was $20 when I first got it. Then I had to buy a $20 Christmas tree light tester to fix it. But still a good deal. Love dollar tree too. Sending love and good thoughts! Have a lovely Christmas.
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Happy New Year All
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Hi Ladies, Happy and Healthy New Year to all! Only did two Zometa treatments so far. No side effects, but need to schedule my next one. Still taking Arimidex daily and going for my annual visits. Bone density looking good and still cancer free. I am grateful for all my blessings and for having you all by my side during the worst of times. Really great to see some recent posts. I need to stop by and read updates more often. Looking forward to watching final season of GOT
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Hi all. Just checking in with another good check-up. 4.5 years into recovery now!
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Great report! Wish we would hear from more of our group.
I’m the same...hopefully! This is scan month. My oncologist liked the term “scanxiety”. Said he hadn’t heard it before. I wanted to ask what rock he lived under
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Just got back home after a trip to UCSF to get my ovaries removed. The ovarian suppression shots were costing about $650 a month for the first half of the year, then about $400 until November, then $120.
I also really disliked the private onco group in Reno. Always a challenge to communicate with them. My onco laughed at me when I asked for an extra-sensitive estradiol test (like I get at UCSF). She had never heard of it!? I asked locally if I could change to the 3 month zoladex shot, and see how I reacted, go in for labs, etc, as there was a chance I was in menopause after chemo anyway. My UCSF onco said to give it a try. Reno Onco said no. ‘No one has every heard of such a thing” I mean, really now. So I made a date, met with a great Ob/gym at UCSF who works with the cancer team, and had my laparoscopic bilateral salpingo-oophrecyomy. (Tubes and ovaries) removed Monday. We stayed in San Francisco for two days to have some piece and quiet, and just returned home. So happy to not have to shuffle to that local office every month. So happy that this was the last significant intervention. Starting up with a personal trainer for the spring and summer as a gift to myself. It will be 5 years in late July. Can’t believe the time has gone by so quickly. Planning something special on that anniversary. Hugs to all my sisters here on this board.
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Hello everyone!
It's amazing that we're nearing the 5-year mark.
Gatomal, congrats on getting your ovaries out. (OK, feels weird to be congratulating someone for that, but I'm sure it beats going in for regular shots.) Also sounds so great that you reconnected with your UCSF docs.
I've been working out with a strength trainer for almost four years now, and it's so nice. Feels good to feel strong. I hope you enjoy it, too.
Beatmon, are you ready for Season 8?
I've been on AIs for 4 years and am looking forward to next year re-experiencing what life is like without them. I go in for Prolia injections every 6 months and that seems to keep my bone density in a normal range. I still alternate between my medical oncologist and breast surgeon, and see one or the other every 3 months, but in their practice they don't do follow-up scans - at least I haven't had one yet. Because I had the BMX, I don't have mammograms. Don't miss those at all!
When I think back to 5 years ago, I still feel so grateful for everyone's on-line company. You can't imagine how much reading your posts helped me get through that first scary year. Love and hugs to all and best wishes for the coming spring and summer.
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Hi All, it has been a while since I have been on the boards. I used to check every few weeks or so now the time span seems to grow as the time passes. With that said, I often think of this group and refer to the support received here when supporting others with breast cancer.
During one of my support "talks" I couldn't believe I said it is coming up on 5-years since my initial diagnosis. That drove me here to see how you all are doing? I hope you are living life to it's fullest. Praying that this year's check-ups bring good reports. I continually prayer for our sisters and thank you for your virtual support, encouragement and strength.
I said a prayer today for those that we have lost from this thread (Starlover and Purplegurll). Continue to pray for those that are in treatment.
Live life to it's fullest! Love Across the miles,
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Hi, LadyB, I’m not on this site as much as I used to be either but mainly due to some of the changes on the site. I’ve found a niche on a Metastatic FB. I also would love to hear how our gals are doing. Hopefully everyone is busy living life.
I’m in wonder to have lasted 5 years without more progression but I must say Cancer sucks. Not such great years but life never the less.
So happy to hear from you
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Putting a call out for all of the August 2014 ladies still on BC.org
It’s been 5 years.. not a fun 5 years for all of us, but would love to hear who is still around.
Brenda E
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