August 2015 Chemo Group
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Love the pics ladies! I have been reading but not posting as I have been in a funk lately. I have not dealt well with all of these 1 year anniversaries. The good news is I am just about at the end of them all. I'm also having trouble dealing with my friends being diagnosed and having to go through all the shit we have gone through. Surgeries, hospitalization's due to febrile neutropenia, treatment decisions, etc. It still feels to fresh and raw for me. I'm trying to get past it and move on but I just feel stuck. I have been making meals for their families to help ease the burden a bit. That was one of the best gifts my friends did for me and my family. Trying to give back.
Molliefish, you inspire me. I soooo want to get back to my pre cancer shape. It seems that I just keep hurting myself. My joints and muscles are not cooperating. I don't recover from workouts like I used to. I don't want to accept my new normal like everyone tells me. I want to get back to the old me (with nicer and perkier Foobs). I'm hardest on myself, I need to learn to be kinder to myself. We have all been through a hell of a year. I'm hopeful that I can get un-stuck...
On a side note, I do love my short hair. It is so easy to do and I have gotten many compliments on it. A year ago I was rocking the wig and hats....won't be wearing either of those this winter. Yay!!!
We have all come so far.....
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My mum's 90th birthday party!!!! I am standing, 8th from left. Four people in this picture (to my knowledge) have had cancer, all NED now. Agree, this September is going a LOT better than last September.
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What a lovely picture! Thanks, MsBrompton!
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beautiful! I picked you out right away. Happy Birthday to Mumsy!
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hey hey I got my first hairc-cut. & I took a pic of the curls on the floor afterward, since I'm not sure if they will stay). I told the hairdresser to do whatever, since I have no clue what to do with it. (I usually just did a bob, that's it).
MO yesterday went alright. She ordered an Ultra Sound, just for peace of mind - she said it shouldn't be anything, but my breast is sensitive, I can see muscles/ ripples moving when I move my arms up & down - so weird. & there's that soreness spot since mammogram (it really hurt when they squeezed side-way). MO didn't feel anything. I supposed it I poked at it hard enough, of course it would hurt...
& she said I don't have to do Pap test anymore, EVER! I don't even know why I had to do it. First time the PCP office didn't even asked, just said "you should be doing this test." Isn't it ironic that the same thing that raise the risk for BC cancelled out the risk of Cervical cancer (# or pregnancy).
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MsBrompton, I just went through all my husband's pictures from his tour of England. His grandfather grew up in Aberdare. It is so lovely! I hope someday to take my boys there since they are at least 1/8 Welsh.
I have been released from both of my surgeons and my therapist! Other than the AI (which I do not have yet), I am out of treatment. Incisions FINALLY closed up, just some periodic "swelly belly" from my HX if I overdo it, but healing going well, and no anxiety issues. It is so weird.
Now I am going to focus on my heart since my cholesterol (and triglycerides) is high and I have had those heart palpitations this summer. I need to focus my mind on something other than recurrence risk.
I honestly check in here everyday to see if anyone has posted on this thread. I love you ladies!
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hey, if any of you ladies end up in UK, let me know!!
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What a wonderful picture, MsBrompton. Happy 90th birthday to your mom!
I had another CT scan of my lungs last week and a three-month follow-up appointment with my MO. The spots in my lungs now definitely look like radiation scarring, not anything sinister. Relief!
Is anyone doing the Livestrong program through the YMCA. I've been doing a strength class through my cancer center since last year, but I think I am ready for a change.
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YEAY VickyRides - that is good news!
I bet we've all got scars in places we never knew you could get scars :-)
Never done livestrong.
BUT - *drumroll* - I got a new nipple today. Local anaesthetic, and half an hour feeling him pushing and pulling (not painful, a bit like the dentist), then there it was, sticking out where there had only been skin. It's all covered up now but if anyone's wondering whether to go for it, it's not a bad procedure and the result in my case was amazing.
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Just found out the Y nearby now has Livestrong (I looked, wasn't there last yr). Wondering about it.
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Beautiful family picture MsBrompton! Yay on the new nipple. I think I will just go with tattoos. I'm still thinking of having a revision surgery so the tattoos may be awhile yet.
Vickirides-that is the best news ever.
Superius-haircut...that is progress. I actually don't have curls. Mine is pretty straight. Not sure how that happened as I had curly hair prior to chemo.
I dragged myself to the gym today. Feels so good to workout. Taped up my sore knee and just went for it. I can't believe how much clearer my head feels after a good workout. I have to stop crying over what used to be and move on. I'm not the person I was a year ago. I have decided to put my big girl panties on, and I am going to try and put all of this crap behind me.
Much love to all of you. I Hope all of you have a great week.
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Dee, I had curls pre-chemo also--now it is straight. It has enough waves and volume to still be unmanageable though. I hope my curls come back so I can mousse them and go. At this point I would settle for enough length to pull it back out of the way instead of sticking straight up and out and crazy-like.
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Dee, good for you getting back to the gym and getting a good workout! I worked up a serious sweat last night doing a workout DVD at home. I had to modify a lot of the moves, which was frustrating, but at least I did it. I am trying really hard to be kind to myself, accept where I am today, and to do my best for today. I signed up for Livestrong and will start that next week. One of the doctors I met last week told me that she has heard great things about it from her patients.
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Well I did it....5 consecutive days of exercise. Down 3 lbs. and my body actually feels pretty good. It's not any sorer that it was before I exercised. Yesterday I went to a yoga class. I was the only one there so I had a private lesson. The lady that was instructing was a breast cancer survivor and she is ripped. Her shoulders and arms were amazing. It is just what I needed to see. There is hope for us. We don't have to accept where we are. I'm committed to moving onward and upward
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So pleased to hear this Dee!
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That is awesome, Dee, and just what I needed to hear this morning!
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Yay, Dee!
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Yoga ladies, any recommendations? I am looking into a class. I am new to it and it is a "soft" class. Anything specific you find useful, valuable? I need to increase range of motion after surgeries, would like to decrease hot flashes, and work on heart health
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Musosgirl, I'd start with a gentle yoga class and work up from there. Any yoga at all is good for the things you mention; my big caveat would be to avoid "hot" or "power" yoga, as those can be WAY too much--even for those of us who have done it for a while--and the last thing you want is to injure yourself doing something that's supposed to be relaxing and good for you.
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Musogirl-look for a restorative yoga class. Those are usually more gentle. I'm sure that there should be some free yoga or Pilates(which I prefer) in your area. It may take some digging to find them.
On week 2 of my exercise regime. I went for and ultrasound onmy knee yesterday. Apparently there is quite a bit of damage inside. Joint issues and fluid(dislike). So the radiologist suggested that I may be headed to and Orthopedic surgeon. How can a person do that much damage by walking? Tamoxifen? Chemo after effects? Just another adventure.
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Kate and Dee, my lymphedema therapist has scared me off anything hot! No hot tubs, saunas, be careful with shower temps. Of course hot flashes also keep me on the straight and narrow. The class I am looking at (Be Renewed) is a restorative class--the one I really want to take (Be Healed) conflicts with church services and homeschool co-op. And I have heard several people say they prefer pilates. I'll look into that. Thanks
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I am right there with you. Right now I am going to focus on water therapy because it is much easier to build flexibility without injury. Eventually I need to build strength but my implants have made a mess of my chest,biceps and arms. I am also thinking of doing livestrong but first I want to do a few months in the pool
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I went to my first session of Livestrong on Monday (orientation). Today we do baseline measurements to see where we are now. This program is focusing on accepting where are bodies are now instead of on what we think we should or used to be able to do. I am also starting physical therapy for my shoulder; I have a combination of an injury and radiation scarring that has been hurting for a few months now. I am hoping to see some improvement in the next 12 weeks or so.
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So, I find out in the morning which AI I will be starting. Really nervous. New drug. New side effects. New unknowns. Stupid cancer
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Vickie I am very happy to hear this. Sometimes all we need is for someone to show us the way.
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Good luck, musosgirl. Keep us posted!
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Musogirl: keep us posted. Sending good thoughts.
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My MO wants me to try Aromasin. He feels it is the gentlest. He is ordering a baseline bone density scan, but unless I have any problems with this new med he said I don't have to come back for six months. I am officially in maintenance mode--no more treatment appointments. Both my BS and MO have me on the 6-month schedule. So glad I am back on Paxil. I would be freaking out if on the Effexor--had so many coping issues on that one. I actually feel good for the first time in a long time! And I am in normal bras again. New ones for my new size and overall loving them! They are soft! No breaking them in. Never thought a bra would make me happy. Now, if these hot flashes would just go away..
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Vickirides-awesome news on the Livestrong program. I hope you enjoy it.
Musogirl-Good luck, I hope you tolerate your new meds well.
I attended a one day seminar on Sunday. It was called the Healing Circle. It was facilitated by a Radiation Oncoogist from Halifax, Canada Dr. Rob Rutledge. I have to say it was amazing and I finally feel like my heart is happy again. Like a big weight has been lifted off my chest and I can finally breathe. I had many "A Ha" moments and feel like I am on my way out of this web of emotional crap. I have been working through my online course as well as exercising again. The emotional part of breast cancer was unexpected for me. Harder to overcome than the physical part for me.
I highly recommend the book that Dr Rutledge wrote along with Dr Walker. It is called The Healing Circle and has some good tools for dealing with the whole cancer process.
I met with my plastic surgeon yesterday and it looks like I am going to have revision surgery. I'm hoping that I get a surgery date soon and have everything finished.
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That seminar sounds amazing, Dee. I just ordered the book!
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