Shadow in chest is recurrence
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Bright55 stunning spot thank you for posting!!! Never been, just looking it up makes me dream and want to go up....
Hugs to All this week/end,
Ioana 😊🌷
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Liz,
Did you have your scan? And???? Holding my breath beside you.
My scan is scheduled for Tuesday. It's amazing as it seems that this year every time I schedule a few days off work I end up at the hospital in some contraption. Problem is, as much as I love my MO, he tends to be very last minute in scheduling tests.
One piece of good news, hemoglobin bounced up to 90 less than a week after stopping Ibrance. At least some parts of me are working.
Wishing you all a lovely weekend. Pat
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Hi all
HP treatment today was fairly smooth running. Cannula on second attempt and not painful. I felt quite tired but that is probably due to the walk from York train station to the hospital and I am still recovering from my hike.
Bright- wow 14 k amazing and a beautiful view! Thank you for your seeet comments about my boys too.
Pat- had scan on Tuesday. Results are Thur 14 Sept. Hopefully my return to teaching on Monday will take my mind off it. I will be in school 5 days a week but there are many gaps and I can co e home in between if I want or need to. We shall see.....
Love to you all.
Oh and great news Pat on bloods level. 😊
Liz
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Good lord. The 14th? I would never make it... but then I am rather an impatient sort. I intend to ask for my bone scan results at the time of the scan. There is a reason for my impatience in this case. Meeting my MO the following morning and want to be armed with ALL possible information.
I know all those bright, fresh faces will take your mind off of everything but make sure you are kind to yourself Liz.
Hugs. Pat
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Hi Pat
I have woken up this morning feeling rather groggy after yesterday's infusions. The symptoms are so mild in comparison to chemo: fatigue and weakness mainly.
My cat is with me on my bed as I am having a precious lazy morning.
It is a long wait for the scan result. My onco is on holiday. It is strange but I am not desperate to hear the news this time. It is as though I have mentally shifted it. Coping well with the HP but not great when I meet with Dr P. Reality kind of kicks back in during those appointments. There is no reason to suspect that the tumour has suddenly started to increase. It was 1cm last time and I had a further Taxotere after that scan, but who knows with this crappy disease.
Concentrating on lesson prep is a wonderful distraction. My timetable allows regular breaks with Mon being my busiest day; although even then I have a 2 hour lunch break. The challenge will be getting up and dressed into smart clothes and make up. Used to leisurely mornings now.
L
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Hi Liz,
You are incredible. I am happy you are returning to school life.
I know exactly what you mean by leisurely mornings - I miss mine.
I had to devise somewhat of a strict routine to get me out the door....and for me ( I never liked to prep unless it was exams).
I get up, light a candle, say a prayer and do a few stretches. I always feel like I should skip this but doing so DOES NOT get me out any earlier, there are other things that crop up and ultimately I still leave the house at the same time. I put the kettle on. The candle matters to me - every time I get a bit knotted in the mornings - I hate running late - I look at it and it smiles back at me " does it matter?? she whispers"
Don't forget to blow it off as you get out that door...
I have switched to a work uniform - white pants ( it's the GC...14degrees it's cold, I never liked white pants when I lived in Melbourne, now they are just right for the Coast - it was all black, maroon, navy) sports bra, simple fitted white or grey Tshirt, cashmere one ply jumper, casual leather slip on sneaker ( I carry a good deconstructed blazer, a pair of medium heels, and white silk scarf in the car). I try not to spend time with the iron....
I have found a little cream pot and I mix my foundation with my sun block cream so I have enough for the week. Then it's perfume, mascara and the lipstick is a in car job.
Super boring breakfast - it's oats (sachet I microwave) dry fruit, walnuts and a few frozen berries on top or in full summer I make one of Gordon Ramsey's muesli with cranberries, almonds and some honey ( lasts a week). Yoghurt and tea.
I have also started to make my son's lunch in the evenings...
I have a friend with 4 teenagers - boys - she lives in Melbourne. Has decided her signature colour is black - all else is accents. I have never seen her out of boots in winter or ballet shoes in summer. She preps sandwiches for three days for the boys on her day off - Mondays - and makes A LOT of wraps!! Friday they use the school canteen.
I pack a few small bags with crystallised ginger, sultanas, nuts - and almond and walnuts are my fav, and a bag of tea - roibos, linden, chamomile, decaf green. They are an easy pick me up to run to during the day.
How do the others get out the door in the morning - any tips/ treasured routine/ time for a walk ( ok I am dreaming 🙄) ??
Hugs to All,
😊🌷
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And Liz,
I believe you are so strong - so much has happened in the last 6 months for you and for us to be sitting and talking about morning make up is in itself - a giant shift. It's life carrying on
All with you - you have helped me in ways I can not describe and I probably just begin to envision.
Thank you my friend,
Ioana 😊🌷
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Pat and Claire,
On Abemaciclib ( yep, I am still following the Ibrance thread...)
This is the trial that used Abemaciclib as single therapy - note that it was a group of heavily pretreated women and the response numbers were still encouraging ( the group had 3 lines chemo metastic setting, 90%visceral disease and 3 different organs affected ( I say that because trouble brews when you get to 4 affected organs - there is a bit of mathematical modelling on that...)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28533223
The Monarch 2 ( what names really...) then used it with Fulvestrant
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Ioana,
And thank you my friend. You are right that I need to keep telling myself that only a few months ago, the idea of a return to work was a dream. You have carried me along to this point Ioana...
Today I am catching up with the house instead of lesson prep and when I do that I start to sweat it about how I will cope with work. However, I have a generous phased return and am determined to put myself ahead of this job, even if that means giving it up in the end.
Wednesday is when our pupils return. For me that means x2 40 minute lessons. Year 7 & 10. Then Thur is Y8 only in the afternoon. My classroom is tidy and the displays are backed. I need to plan outfits for the week this weekend and Richard and I will do a food shop. The breakfast suggestions are helpful and I also have porridge,yogurt/ fruit combos. I can go in later 4/5 mornings luckily and do not have a long commute. I see all these factors as advantages that will make the return possible. Eventually, when/if I am strong enough, I will have to get up earlier.....
L x
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Hi Liz, Ioana and Pat - I am very excited about abemaciclib for many of us as it can be a mono med - not require pairing with an A/I which many of us (including me) are resistant to. Here is my morning: after a fitful sleep as many positions are no longer comfortable, along with waking up wet from hot flashes, I pull myself out of bed to brush my teeth - extra care for jaw met. Eye cream, face cream, eyeliner so my eyes look better as lashes are blonde and rather non-existent. Swath of lipstick and perfume (I do love oriental scents) and then clip in my hair piece. I head down the stairs one careful step at a time. Feed the cat, make coffee and sit and smile for a moment. Not very hungry, but take a plethora of pills and maybe eat a biscuit. If I am working at the office, out the door to the car for a one hour drive to LA. oy If I am working from home, I walk down the hall to my home office and hit the computer. Much better commute. Last night went to a local Italian restaurant and ate home made gnocchi with meat sauce and a glass of pinot grigio. Toasted you all!
(()) Claire
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Hi Everyone,
It's lovely to have the gang all here (while I enjoy a nice Aussie Shiraz). On Abemaciclib, I do feel there is a lot of potential here. Also very intrigued by the latest on a cousin of Tamoxifen which is showing great results when other hormone treatments fail.
Morning routines? I have to admit that while I am an early riser (not my natural tendency, rather a learned behaviour from dealing with fighting for parking) I have been a bit more laid back about start time. Given that I typically stay later than I should and eat lunch at my desk, I think I am entitled to be a bit flexible. Like Claire, I also have the work from home option at least once per week.
Typical day starts about 5:30 AM. I get up, brush my teeth, shower, lately using a bit of gel to give some structure to the ducky fuzz, and get dressed in dog walking clothes. Then coffee, breakfast (for both Sadie and I) and various pills. I wish I could say that I was making my own muesli but sorry - alternate between a cheese scone with cream cheese and high quality muesli with yogurt and fresh raspberries.
By 6:45 I am out with Sadie. She gets a 30 minute walk in the morning. Once we are home I change into work duds, put on my make-up (eye shadow and liner, no mascara for my still skimpy eyelashes) and pack the lunch prepared the night before. Travel mug with coffee and I am on my way out the door for my 15 minute drive to work after ensuring that Sadie is left with not one but two cookies. Five minute walk to my office and the day begins.
Like Claire, the commute (and personal prep time) is much less on the work from home day. (Much preferred although at times I miss the office.)
I hope you all have a lovely weekend. I am taking the next week off and thoroughly looking forward to some "me time". Need to get my head in a good space for bone scan and meeting with MO given a few "emerging issues".
Always appreciate hearing from you my friends. Ioana, I don't know if you realize how much I have appreciated your support over the last few weeks - you have been amazing. Claire, take good care of yourself and Liz, take it slow and easy. I know you will love being back in the classroom.
Cheers. Pat
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Claire sooooh good to hear from you😊😊😊
Happy you were out and great to find you enjoy Pinot grigio, the Italians have a way with that grape and despite some reasonable Pinot Gris from our area - ahhh my heart is with the Grigio.
Between you and Liz we hit on two of my fav dishes - I love Italian cooking!! Happyto hear you were in good spirits for a meal.
Have you heard of Latisse ( Lumirgan ( bimatoprost) is the cheaper product that covers glaucoma - I never understood why oncologists don't prescribe it) it will not save the hair root but will make what lashes/brows you have longer and thicker. You need a small plastic applicator - another type of brush just absorbs the product.
😊🌷
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Dear Pat,
I wrote my message with Claire's gnocchi in mind - then scrolled to see your message.
Thank you - so at least one of us walks in the mornings - brilliant - Sadie is so looking after you!
I will try and stretch more!
Pat - my gut ( I can't explain and my gut has been known to fluff so...) tells me your scans will hold. I think you're holding your own and will be interesting to see what if any decisions your oncologist makes. My overall sentiment is that your anaemia was multifactorial - that you run into some trouble with the catheter in view of low white cells and potentially platelets. I don't think it's all Ibrance - of course you will recover better off the drug if the chest is sorted. But you were off it for a month and your Hb hovered around 8. So I think your Hb is going up because the chest is sorted or stable and nothing is holding your bone marrow back.
Realistically I don't have the numbers and I am far away REALLY wishing you off chemo drugs for as long as possible....
See my fuzzy thinking is if you have the same thing you had 16 years ago...it is probably hormone sensitive and slow moving (there is good and bad in that) - you were off hormone suppression for a while ( 6-7 years - from memory you did Tamoxifen, then a few years AI - correct??) and really it did not have time to be that super resistant in the last 6 months. But maybe my thinking is too simplistic - I may just be wishing it to be so for you.
I am never too far from this thread - Happy Sunday everyone!!!
😊
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Hi all
My first day back at school went well. Many warm hugs from colleagues.
Tired tonight but relieved and happy to have got through the day.
Love to you all. L x
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Glad to hear it Liz! Put your feet up and rest. You deserve it.
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Hi Liz,
Happy and thrillled for you!!!
Hugs aplenty
😊🌷
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Thanks to you all for your good wishes on my return to work.
I survived. Tired but proud of myself!
Liz
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Yeah. Well done! Doesn't it feel good to have some normalcy? Now, my friend, you have earned a nice glass of very good wine. Enjoy!
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oh, and we're proud of you too.
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Liz - Celebrating a return to work and good distraction from this nasty disease. Happy and proud of you! Please continue with your fine cooking - we are getting a little hungry here since Pat and I have both lost weight - we are ready to sit at your fine table with a toast to you! Naturally inviting Ioana and others. I have a lovely rose to start with. Some good news from my MO today, we are in agreement that I will finish 9 rounds of Abraxane (I've done 3) and then scan first week of November. If I am responding as well as my numbers are starting to indicate, we will switch to Xeloda or look into Abemaciclib. Yeah! Many ladies get a long run on X, and then I plan my British Isles cruise at the end of May, and guess who I might see.
)Your girl in LA
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Good to have everyone here!
Liz - thrilled to hear you were happy in your first week back.
Claire - I am ALLsmiles at your post.
Ok, I was reaching for Pinot but Rose it is - it's warm enough down here.
Virtual " Salute" to All,
😊🌷
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Morning to everyone,
Great to catch up after a busy week. I am still in my pjs and the first up. All is quiet. Just me and my cats and a cup of tea.
So I have the first week under my belt. The staff and students have been incredible. The support and kindness are over flowing..... and of course the new students are nervous and want to please and many thank me for their lessons as they leave my classroom.
Amanda is the Human Resources lady and Imeet with her regularly. Her best friend is currently under going bc tx too.
I am sharing my timetable with Tracey who is the cover teacher who took over in March. This means I have regular breaks and the planning and marking is reduced too.
One male colleague said this to me in the staff room: " have they given you the all clear then?" I fudged the question and let the insensitivity ride..
Claire- yippee to a great response. Wonderful to read about the Abraxane working and you actually sound more upbeat. Thrilled for you. A trip to Britain 🇬🇧 fab- I have a half term holiday at the end of May/ beginning of June and there is a national bank holiday on the last Monday in May, giving everyone a long weekend. Will Pm you the exact dates and of course it would be fantastic to meet.
Ioana- how was your week? I loved your breakfast suggestions on a recent post. Quality food has taken a back seat this week, although my lovely mum did make a pasta dish for us. Exercise is another casualty and yet I have dropped a little weight!!!! It isn't huge but I also have this gurgle in my tummy! Perhaps it is nerves. This weekend I really should batch cook for evening workday meals. To this end: any simple recipes to feed 5, including the teens? I hope you are ok my friend.
Pat- you advised me to put my feet up and rest and I have taken that to heart this week. I work hard but not prepared to let the job take over so will need to te think food and exercise a little. How is the pooch and has work settled down at all?
Di, Erin and other posters- hello and do chime in sometime.
Wishing you all a happy weekend.
Liz
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Oh and the boys started their A level studies. After a bit of juggling/ indecision, Jack opted for all 3 sciences and Cameron is doing Maths, Physics, Product design and Business Studies. Jack is taking on 3 subjects which I believe is more than enough as the workload for science is huge. It is likely that Cam will decide to drop one of the 4 by October half term. He has taken on Maths and most of the class got either A or A*, whereas he got a B grade. We shall see.
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hi Liz,
Thank you for taking the time in bringing us up to date.
The flu has been annoying, tiring and hard to get rid of - I am not sure whether it was the first illness after last year chemo so did I manage to wipe out some innate resistance among other white cells but certainly horrid.
To the food end I would try a bit of divide and conquer. I rely on my parents with evening meal help 2-3 nights in the middle of the week but focus having fun with food home time (Friday pm or morning through to Monday). I have friends with similar size families as yours who work full time and they cook 4 days (Friday through to Monday ) with the "team" is responsible for two or three meals middle week. It works because on those days they might have music, sports etc so something more portable ( pizza, pasta, quiche, pancakes with duck or turkey (a version of) is ok, and they still get to have sit down at the end and beginning or the week.
I am pretty repetitive but here is my go to...
Some w/ends are about a free range bird in its various forms -chicken soup with fresh egg noodles, some part roasted with parsnip, red onions and sweet potatoe, and what is left goes into a simple stir fry - with those Asian freeze packed - all in the rice cooker then tossed with soy sauce at last minutes, cashews, coriander and if not short time a finely chopped omelette on top.
Bangalow pork is lovely to roast (you can see a pattern here) and I gravitate towards green vegetables with a sweet and sour twist next to it. Maybe stick a pumpkin in the oven below split in two and make pumpkin soup - with toasted ham and cheese sandwiches and a green salad.
My other week/end go to is lamb (slow cooker) with red onion, garlic, carrots and lentils - next day cous cous and salad.
I used to make osso bucco in Melbourne - reheats super well and goes with pasta, rice or polenta but it's a little too hot uphere.
Or a mild curry in the slow cooker so....
Often I decide spot on Saturday after a visit to the local Barrista, and a chat to the local butcher.
Mondays are light - it's usually fish in parcels with lemon, butter, ginger and a few greens with brown rice, a nice cheese and a good berries and icecream desert.
Tuesday and Wednesday I try and offload....
By Thursday back on board - so is my oven - pork chops ( if we had chicken/turkey at the w/end) with thyme or a sweet chilli sauce and Asian greens. Or if buggered, bought bakery quiche, bitter salad with walnuts and hot chocolate with marshmallows. It can also be pasta, salad, and some sorbet. My pasta sauces are super simple and hinge on the fact that I like garlic, Parmesan, and lemon close to it...so the rest is fridge left overs.
Friday is almost always fish and chips - Hoki from New Zealand and frozen chips - green salad lots of olive oil, lemon, parsley and a big bowl of popcorn, sometimes whipped cream and strawberries, dark chocolate...yep first chance to curl up. If I get out early I might have time to peel some prawns but I wouldn't do it for five ( not nice of me I know...) unless I had help - and then it's chilli, garlic, and maybe an avocado salad.
And then off to my Saturday Barrista again.
Love to hear from the rest of you..when you can.
Between Claire exquisit French meals and those September chanterelles waiting for Pat....😊🌷🍷
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wow, that was a long winded answer - here is the almost shorter 😱 Version
Five potential meals that you cook:
1. Coq au vin - slow cooker - love the mushrooms with the chicken and maybe serve with rice.
2. Butter garlic lemon Parmesan chicken thighs in oven roasted - lots of variations on this - cous cous and a green salad
3. Veal Parmigiana - you could purchase the veal crumbled if you wish - chips and salad, but polenta makes a nice change
4. Lamb shanks slow cooker - mash or polenta
5. Massaman beef curry - you need a few ingredients for this - but they last - and it's another slow cooked wonder
Five that you could ask help with....😊🌷
1. Fish parcels - oven - ginger, spring onion, lime - pak choy
2. A basic stir fry
3. Pasta with a basic white ( shallots, bacon, cream, Parmesan) or red sauce ( olive oil, chopped tomatoes can is fine, garlic, oregano or basil)
4. Pizza ( they now sell a premix dry base that you only add water too, I do a strange ...her I go again 2 cups self raising flour, 1 cup Greek yoghurt Gabriel Gate dough - super easy)
5. A pea soup with toasted ham and cheese sandwiches
Apologies for those who scrolled - I LOVE food...
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Iaona - your had me at pork roast, now I want to go to your kitchen and just relax and eat. We could do a wine flight of Aussie v CA wines, with maybe a French bordeaux or two. I can barely make a salad. lol I went to graduate business school and was a microwave baby. sigh - if the distance wasn't so far... My British cruise starts at the end of May and I will have 2 nights at the Mayfair prior, hoping there is a train you can take to meet me? Years ago I stayed in Belgravia when I worked for WB - my office was in Soho on Wardour St, so please keep me in your thoughts. Pat wish you could travel too. When are your scans? Liz - your kids are doing so well, and I am very proud of you and our ladies on this support board. Please send kind thoughts to our friends in Florida who are being evacuated. Mr Cancer, come another day.
(()) Claire
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Thank goodness Claire. While I used to love to prepare food for dinner parties, I am not much of a cook either. I just love to eat and drink! I can cook if I put my mind to it but day to day cooking doesn't do it for me.
Unfortunately Ioana, the chanterelles didn't happen. They have changed things for the champagne tasting, hiring a caterer to deal with the food. Menu did not appeal and given my current issues I didn't think it was wise to drink copious amounts of champagne just now (mind willing but body might object).
Travel will be in the cards for me soon. I'm starting to look at river cruises but need to get over the fear of traveling solo (and my aversion to paying a big single supplement). Still toying with the idea of a quick trip to New York...
Glad to know you are pacing yourself Liz and that folks have been so supportive. Week two lies ahead. 😉
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More later but for now my prayers for Florida. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 Xx
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Ioana,
Very sorry to hear that you are still suffering with the horrid flu. I know how scary flu can be and it leaves you so weak. Tons of fluids, rest and more of your lovely food.
Lots of love
Liz
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Claire,
My kitchen is old and humble but most welcomes All of you!! I would be tempted to go California wines - I really should learn more about them. I never cooked until I had my son and then...
Pat, I travelled a lot alone - I love it - I have never been to New York - that were at different times opportunities just never clinched the right moment. If you decide to go post your fav moments please.
May in London sounds wicked - beautifully chosen.
Liz,
Thank you for your wishes - yeah getting there but have had three very annoying weeks, with work and sleep and...🍒🐥
Finally Florida - gentle prayers!
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