Starting chemo August 2014
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You both look fantastic! Gorgeous smiles.
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hey Eileen, you look great! I'd love to meet you on the beach for some drinks. Is it too early west coast time to have one? Since I'm not breast feeding and all...
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Gatomal= Lets have everyone else come for drinks too. My house is open to everyone. I live 2 blocks from the beach. Come on down !!!!! Bring the babies
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I so wish we could...right now I think you ladies are the only ones who can fully relate to me.
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awww Eileen, gorgeous!
Cassie, you are a talented, incredible capable woman. I get your anxiety and confusion and frustration. I think once we get back to some work, we will be better. Idle minds are not good right now! I emailed my contact to get some temp stuff going. I am goin nuts not working.
I posted about my :$;):)/(/(. Neighbors under the anxiety thread. See. Part one and part two, for the freaks we have to deal with. My gawd, can I turn 55 so as to leave these fools? Ready for quiet, no fires, safety and peace of mind,
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Eileen, love the pic, such a beautful smile. I hope you guys had a lot of fun enjoying each others company.
So, there it is Eileen, et al - our get away is Florida to go down to the beach where we will have time to relax and just veg. LoL!
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Elleng - That is so great that you were able to meet up with Kay. Love the pic. Just let me know when everyone in group is coming to visit. Lol
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I'm ready when ever anyone wants to come and visit. Be my PLEASURE. My BF is a fantastic healthy cook. It was great to meet someone from the boards. She gave me the name of another lady from my TNBC group and I am meeting her on Tuesday. She lives about 2 miles from me. Cancer has given me a lot of new friends. There is always a silver lining in everything.
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probably one of the shity -er weeks I've had. Taxol side effects seem to be lingering. Started coming down with cold yesterday...who knows if body aches from taxol or if I have flu. No fevers just sore throat and nasal congestion...so far baby and husband not sick fingers crossed. In laws visited this weekend " to help out " more stressful than anything....and pretty sure FIL Is one that got me sick.
On Wednesday got word that my father died. We have been estranged for sometime ( alcohol/abusive) and never really came around . My sister has tried for many years to form relationship but he always blew her off..m.y heart aches for her ....funeral is Saturday....trying to figure things out
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oh nurse shark. So sorry for the shocking news. What else can happen to you this year? Isn't it enough already? I hope that you can be a comfort to your sister, and also can sort out all the feelings that you may have as well. It's a lot to ask when you are already dealing with these huge upheavals in your own life. Hugs and prayers.
I got sick too, after a lackluster nanny we let go brought it to the home. First grandma got it, then me, then I had taxol, then the girls, trying to keep it away from the babies. Hard to know where taxol stops and sickness starts. Just feeling really drained and everyone is feeling burnt out. I'm feeling very guilty for being sick, and wishing I only had to worry about taking care of newborns.
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Nurse shark= Sorry for your lose. Take care of yourself. Love you
Gatomal= Take care of yourself Love you too
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Nurseshark, so sorry about your loss and praying for strength and help as you balance your families needs, your treatments and helping your sister out. Hope you are feeling better and the cold is not adding to the side effects.
Nurseshark and Gatomal, I had a "small" cold this past week and it knocked me out when coupled with the side effects from Taxol. So really thinking of you both and hoping you feel better. I agree, I couldn't tell where the side effects from Taxol ended and the cold symptoms started. So I blamed feeling worse on the "cold".
Cassie, Amy, Jean and Catie, how are you doing today?
Wizard50 and Terri1975, you both have crossed my mind several times this week, so wanted to do a shout out! Pray that all is well and that your are moving forward and settling into "life"!. If you do still visit and not just not post, just know that you are being thought about within this group of friends. That goes for a others that read these post and may not "write". I think of each of you often and often read through the list of those that started this journey together. Sisters forever!
Hugs Always,
-Angie
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NurseShark, I'm sorry for you. None of us needs any extra stress right now, and that's a biggie.
Sounds like there are cold germs going around. My DH was/is fighting something, I had a sore throat Friday night (attributed it to Herceptin, but who knows?) and now DD is congested. Angie, thanks for asking. We drove to LA yesterday and OC today for two more auditions for DD, so our weekend was basically taken up driving and waiting. It's all good. Nothing I'd rather do and glad to be well enough to ride along.
We're north of LA, near Santa Barbara, so it was lots of car time.I also have some new eyebrows coming in. On the left side, I lost the outer half of them aside from two at the very end, but I see some tiny new growth in the bald patch today. Yay! I even shaved my right arm pit. Went to do the left and realized it's all pretty numb still and didn't want to risk it. Not much hair there yet, anyway. I take pictures of my head every Monday. The growth is still pretty slow, but at least it's happening. I've heard Herceptin can slow down growth.
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Nurseshark: I'm so sorry for your loss.
Gatomal and the rest of you with the aweful yuk that's going around everywhere, I hope you all feel better soon. Chemo is bad enough without the other stuff!
As for me, I'm feeling OK as far as recovering from chemo. I still have sore muscles and my feet hurt all the time but otherwise OK. I'm feeling a bit irritated with dh because he is again being a big baby about work. He hates his job. He is so irritable that everyone is on edge and I just can't stand it. My birthday is Friday and my BMX is Tuesday and I need him to put it aside right now and just be there for me. I am concerned that he may really be clinically depressed. He refuses to consider seeing someone. I feel really selfish but I don't know how to help him w I am going through a hard time myself. Sorry to let this out with you but I have to get it out. Thank you all for always being there. Hugs Amy
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Nurse, sorry for your loss. Cancer doesn't stop the rest of life from happening. I should it did sometimes.
Gatomal and Amy, take care of yourselves. I laws and spouses are not fighting for their lives. You have to come first right now. That isn't selfish, just realistic.
I am scared, having finished chemo. Not sure the cuticle will clear up in time to have surgery. Then what? Skip surgery and go right to rads? I see the chemo doc today before the herceptin / perjeta infusion and will ask her. Saw the new great granddaughter yesterday. She is a month old and is starting to respond. Actually smiled a few times. So cute. My granddaughter gave me a birth announcement. Great grand's full name is Valentina JEAN! I am so honored! Wow. Love, Jean
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nurseshark, my mother and I have been estranged for 25 years, she has many issues, mental and addiction. My childhood was often improved by her absences. Often I wonder how I would feel upon her death. I am really sorry for your loss.
Being sick from chemo amplifies every unpleasant thing going on. gatomal and Nurseshark, hang in there. I did Herceptin Friday and my joints and feet were so stiff yesterday. I read somewhere that it can go on for a year after tx. Ugh, I have about 8 more to go, thru about August 8.
hair, well, growin back quickly on head, but now I have thinning brows. Like they are gonna be totally gone soon. Pretty! Lashes still good.
Amy, I was thinking of you yesterday. An unhappy hubby makes things hard, mine has his moments with his job too. We are both on depression meds. It has helped alot, even though we both fought taking them at first. Are you feeling up to doing any birthday celebrations? Glad at least the chemo SEs are gone. I am finally feeling ok after bmx, keeping range of motion is daily work with lots of gentle stretching. It took me till last week to have pretty near full ROM. You will be fine too!
Rads are ok, not fun but nothing at all like chemo or surgery. My RO says that without rads, even though I had CPR, there is a 1 in 4 chance of local recurrence due to my tumors size. Apparently I had an even bigger one. So....guess I will try to do all tx.
I've started chatting up the two ladies that have the same appointments just before me. More new friends due to BC. From parking lot to the end of the appointment only takes 20 minutes tops. Most of it is changing into smock, and I only wait for maybe five minutes each time.
Ditto my thoughts to Teri1975 and wizard. Hope all is going well and we have not forgotten you!
Angie, you are on the mend from cold and last chemo. Take it easy and stay warm
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thanks for the support all. I was successful in getting my husband to see someone. His first appt is this week. I thought that with all that is going on, (cancer, fear, new babies, inlaws) that he doesn't have anyone that he can outflow to. He doesn't want to burden me, I'm sure, and he isn't a great feeling sharer, being a guy, so I found someone for him. I think it's easy for the caregivers to get burnt out and stressed, and I need him to function as best as he can. I have you all and the boards, but he still has to go to work and be a dad to four. I think we are all feeling much better than that first week or two after the babies. The in law break has relieved so much stress, it's unbelievable.
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Amy= I was married to a "debbi down dog" for 16 years. It is super tough to stay positive when someone you are living with is not. Finally,mine left me for someone else. I do not think I could have gone through this with him. He told me when I was just beginning to have contractions with my son I was disturbing his sleep because he could hear me in the other room in pain. I did not want to bother him. I went to the den. Luckily he drove me to the hospital. My son came 28 hours later. He asked me why I rushed him. UGH!!!! Good luck. Sorry it brings up bad memories when I read what your wrote. My BF is MR UP. A therapist is great place to go for you or support group (free). That is where I went for 7 years.
Gatomal. Glad those in laws are gone. Really,what is with them. Geez Louise. I never had in laws and now glad I did not.
Angie= Good luck with your finger. Oh my
Bippy=feel good. I also find radiation very easy. It is 5 minute drive and I am out in 15 minutes. When the machine makes that buzzing sound that is the sound of the trains in Paris before the doors close. So, I always tell my techs where we are going for the day in Paris. Then I say we will get a cheese plate first. My tech Sean loves cheese.(that is in his thank you gift bag from me) Then I scream run as they leave the room and call out were we are going. Louve, Montmarte,etc. Takes my mind away.
Everyone stay safe if you are getting all that snow. Sunny and in the 70's here
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hi Ladies!Nurseshark- I am so sorry for your loss!
Gatomal - hope everyone is feeling better.
Amy- I am so sorry about your DH.
As for me, just hanging out waiting for the "storm of the century." My work office is closed tomorrow. My sons daycare is also closed. The governor has declared a state of emergency already so no driving or public transportation after midnight tonight! I was supposed to see my MO weds but had to cancel thanks to the snow. So must wait another week to see what hormonal drug I will be taking. Has anyone else started tamoxifen or anything yet?
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Well the snow has started late this afternoon. Everything will be closed tmrw, so Rads delayed.
Hope you are all safe and warm in NE area. Jealous of those in Florida and California areas right now. Back up generator all ready. This pic is beginning of storm expected. They are predicting up to 2 ft I believe.0 -
stay warm kellogg and Catie! My best friend is in Maine and they too are going to get it. Expecting power outages, so they stocked up on food (and beer). Hope our cabin survives! It has since 1923, so should be fine. I worry for it though, it is surrounded by huge trees.
Am hittin the sack, rads has me tired. Love sleeping in, my kittaehs snuggle up and it is so nice.
I have a job interview Wednesday, how bout that?! Closer to home, good pay, different type of law---and NOT family law. We shall see. Maybe it is omen, but there is a BC survivor there too! Have not met her yet.
Safety to all my NE sistahs!
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Yes, everyone in path of the snow storm stay warm and safe.
Catie weather here in Bay Area has been pretty nice 75 in my neck of the woods the last two days.
Gatomal, I was in SF yesterday and it was beautiful.
Gatomal and Amy, I have talked to my husband about seeing someone with so much going on. He has yet to agree. My medical plan pays for 3 free sessions hopefully he will take advantage soon.
BIppy, congrats on the interview. Wishing you luck and knock it out the park!
Went in for simulation today it was about a two hour appt with discussions with nurse, RO, setup and getting tat's. After all was done I have my schedule. I was a little surprised that I only have 25 rads it was initially 33 based on what the MO indicated. I have a lot of questions about the reduction since I had lymph node involvement. I have a feeling it was reduced because they had nothing found in the breast. The RO may have told me and with me being so fatigued I have forgot. I will call the RO tomorrow to determine why a full week and a half has been dropped. I believe most of you had traditional # between 30 -35 rads, correct? I will also go to the rads board and ask what the average # of rads is. Interestingly I read an article today after my appt on BC.org about the trend to do less rads with a more intensive dose.
I feel a lot better today. Just a few sniffles. I didn't realize until yesterday, how wiped out I was last week. I am glad the RO gave me 4 weeks between chemo and rads. -- Maybe I will feel somewhat normal for few of the days before rads begins -- big smile.
Hugs and have a great week.
Angie
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Amy, I'm sorry your DH isn't being as supportive as you need him to be.
I wish I had some magical advice that would solve that for you. Hopefully some of his stress will start to ease once you're through surgery. You're right - you need him right now. Job stress is nothing compared to fighting for your life.Jean, what did your doctor have to say today? Very, very sweet that your ggd is named after you.
That is really something. My daughter and I both have the same middle name, and my mom named me after her grandmother. Bippy, I haven't had any SEs from the Herceptin that I got last Friday, knock on wood. I'm hoping it stays that way!!! It's weird to think that we have to do all of this even with the complete response to chemo. But I'm trusting my team and doing everything I can to stay cancer free. Good luck with the job interview!
Gatomal, that is great that your husband has someone to talk to. We all need somewhere to vent and dump, and process all of these emotions.
Eileen, your ex sounds like a real jerk! I'm so glad for you that you've got the awesome partner you now have.
Kellogg, stay safe! I worry about all of our NE friends. I'll be doing tamoxifen, but not until after rads. I need to talk to my obgyn about my uterus and what is likely fibroids and hopefully not anything else. Tamoxifen has some unlikely but nasty potential SEs where the uterus is concerned, and I'm starting to consider a hysterectomy at some point, for some peace of mind.
Catie57, good luck to you as well as this snow comes in. Hope you're doing well!
Angie, that is interesting about your rads being shortened. Let us know what you find out. I don't have a set number or schedule yet but was told 6.5-7 weeks, including boosts at the end. My RO is asking for four weeks between surgery and rads, and I'm glad. It's been 2.5 weeks so far, and I imagine I'll be feeling a lot better after another week and a half or more.
Tomorrow I go in to talk to my boss about possibilities for returning to work with some modifications in what's expected of me. Wish me luck! My boss is a great lady and super supportive, so I'm hoping it all goes well. I want what's best for me and for my school. My cats and dog will really miss me when I go back. I've got one cat curled up next to me as I type on my laptop (the one in my photo here by my username).
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cassie, hope you get your new schedule worked out just as you want it to be. I think slowing down a bit, or just not overdoing it, is best for us all.
Angie, I also only have 25 rads. RO said that latest protocol is to do it, despite CPR because without it, there is a 1 in 4 chance of local recurrence. I love my techs and RO, it is the least troubling tx so far. But I cannot wait for it to be over. Then Tamoxifen.....oh, anyone doing it, check out the new thread. It may not be the worst thing.......
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Lots of snow here North of Boston!
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Well this turned out to be a fake blizzard here in the Hudson Valley. The travel ban has been lifted and only 4-8 more inches expected. Quiet day since most schools and businesses are closed. Saw my chemo doc yesterday. She wants me to ask the dermatologist on Thursday to talk with my surgeon about whether the cuticle infection will pospone surgery and said that I can start rads as long as 12 weeks after ending chemo. That should give plenty of time even if surgery is posponed. Travel home yesterday was easypeasy. Almost no cars on the road. I am so grateful for my son who drive us down for my Herceptin / perjeta. He worked for NYC as an EMT on the ambulances and is the safest driver I've ever seen. Hope all have a good day. Love, Jean
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My meeting went well and we have a plan for me to ease back into things. I'm glad. I know I'll get tired from being "on" so much more once I'm back in my classroom, but I need to get out of my house.
Jean, I hope that cuticle gets resolved once and for all. I feel bad for you that you've had to deal with it and all of its uncertainties in the midst of everything else.
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LadyB - I know they give different amts of radiation treatments for different reasons. it's an individual thing, but I believe the more common is around 33. I have 6 more left. Last 7 are boosts, where they only focus on the surgery area vs the whole breast.
Cassiecat - Great news that you are going to be able to work out a schedule that suits you at your job. It's such a good feeling to get support from coworkers and staff like that.
Zjrosenthal - Glad you saw a the Dermo for cuticles. What are they doing for them? Where in the Huson Valley are you? I'm in Brewster, NY. I would say we got just about a foot of snow here. Happy it wasn't the 2 ft they were predicting.
I will start the Arimidex right after I complete the rads next week. Hair still coming in slowly, but it is coming in. I watched that video again last night on the girl who followed her hair growth weekly. She was in 5th month before she was able to actually style it. Three months before hair filled in completely. So hopefully by end of Feb I will not be wearing wigs or hats anymore. Unless it's cold outside. Lol
My DH is having medical issues now. He's always been an active healthy guy. After lots of tests, looking like he may need heart surgery. Hopefully later then sooner. Need to see surgeon and get more info. OMGoodness, this is crazy. He has been my strength. I hope I can be that for him now.
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happy birthday Amy!!!!! Thinkin of you and wishing you an excellent surgery and healing. Write us before you go in, if you can. Remember I had a bmx, so pm me anytime or here. i am here for you!
Jean, oh that cuticle. Thinking of you too, ditto healing!
Cassie, yaaay! Good news about work. I hope to have similar news soon. Interviewed today and met with 3 people. I may take it if money is right. .....but am worried about jumping back into a full time gig right away. Also, I can temp for my old agency, they have a job for me too. Just not sure so maybe temping is best right now. I am a compulsive organizer, extremely efficient and I miss working! No outlet for my ocd. Driving me nuts.
Having lunch with my new BC pal at rads tomorrow. She is still totally bald from chemo, bless her. Such a bad way to meet wonderful women.
Well, DH and I have a new trend at night, we listen to old radio shows on the ipad. Now we have some old noir detective shows going, what fun! The language was so lyrical back then and people were forced to use their imaginations. It is really a nice way to drift off. The dialogue.......nothing can come close to it in todays world! Yes I am an old soul.
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Bippy...love the old radio show idea. I downloaded an app last night and was listening during cold capping After taxol #7. Did okay last night, happy that my crit was 34.4 after being 24 three weeks ago. Feeling better. I had my hubby out on a cold cap to see how cold it was, and we took a selfie. My eyebrows and forehead are smooshed down, cromagnon like, from the cap! This is our chemo date night.
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