Illinois ladies facing bc
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This is the drive by posting since I am heading to cozy bed..
I've been busy with my mil from vegas for younger son's 3rd birthday and we all had good time with her... We've been all over the places for the birthday party and we even went out for dinner with her.. Now, she's back in Vegas and put her winter coat away..
My dh had 12th interview (since summer) last Friday with Los Angeles, CA which he did interview back in October and they didn't pick him and now they want him to do another interview which he did not apply this time and the way they left voice mail two weeks in a row to let him know they want him for an interview, it almost sounds like begging for him to do it.. So far, haven't hear anything form them and it is annoying that they dig up the file and asked him to do another interview instead of just ask him if his still interested in the position.. Dh love to go back to west and rest of his family to.. for me, I am in between, if he get the job, we will go but if hedoesn't, that's fine by me...
Webu- welcome to the wonderful group..
Marina- I am with you on optimistic and we like to keep it that way..
Carolyn- Well, I was thinking about you since holiday party.. I don't know what it was but I had funny feeling that something wasn't right.. and I was even thinking about calling you and ask is everything ok.. Then I read your post that you were at the hospital... I am very glad you are home and I am praying for you and sending you big (((( hug )))) btw, how's your LE??
Rene- Let us know how things going for you..
Lago- good news for your husband and you too..
Oh, one more thing, I went in for my annual pap the other day and my ob haven't see me since my younger son was born.. almost three years.. so I had to told her what's been going on past three years (bc).. She wants me to do Thyroid and cholesterol check due to what is going on right now in my body... I know, it's always something... well, honestly, I am not worry or anxious to do the test and find out the results..
Hope everyone is doing well and I know I didn't mention everybody by name but I am thinking of you everyday and keep you ladies in my prayers.. Be warm everyone~!!
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Good Morning IL Ladies - I am in Delaware and it is cold here as well. Can't wait to get back home and "snuggle-up" in my apartment this weekend. Carolyn - I am thinking of you. Will try to post a picture of one of my kitties for you - if I can figure out how to do it. Wishing everyone a warm and safe day.
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Webu, you really do need someone to drive you home from chemo. Typically they do give you benadryl. It can make you really spacey. Sounds like you might be getting the same tx as me. I'm currently doing Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin.
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So yesterday at about 4:30pm I went for my hourly power walk. 15 minutes into it I had to take my hood off. Yes I was just wearing my scarf and 180's around my ears. I was never a hat person. It needs to be below 20 and windy before I need my head covered. surprised me. I had very thick hair. I thought for sure I would be cold. I don't even sleep with a hat on… too hot for me.
This weekend is my nieces bat mitzvah. I hope I don't melt with the wig on. It will be my first time wearing it.
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Good morning everyone! We got a good dusting of snow in the country. It looks like a couple of inches. That's O.K. I have to get into town for my hair appointment and I shouldn't have any trouble doing that. I need my holiday cut and color! Then I'm picking up a friend who's been recovering from hip replacement surgery and taking her to lunch and to shop for a few things for her hubby. We won't be out too long because she will get tired fast but it will be fun. It's a busy by magical time of year.
I got the chance to talk with WendyTY yesterday. After a bad week last week, she is doing better. She even went into work yesterday. They have given her pain patches that help tremendously and I am so glad because she is such a trooper.
Well, I'm off and going this morning. Everyone have a good day.
Rita
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To a wise man every day is a new life.
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Good morning to everyone. Dreaded ice came last night after dark. It is terrible out there. Denny had to go to work.....Supposed to be there at 8:30 a.m. after working until 10:30 last night. The 17 miles home was a long drive......and I'm sure it will be a long drive this morning. In awhile I have to go out and go get Maggie some breakfast. I am not looking forward to this. I hope this stuff melts out.....but I think it will just take time. Not a lot of fun.......and all else needs doing today same as always.
House of Hope board meeting tonight. Wish it could be cancelled....but it is at a restaurant so not sure we can. Will see how the day progresses. See ya'll later.
Hugs, Jackie
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char - Have a safe trip back home...and then you can snuggle all weekend.
elf - Good luck to dh...I can understand how it could be bitter sweet for you. They say everything happens for a reason.
webu - jmo...the closer you live to your treatment center...the better. Mine was only 7 miles away. And even though I did get Benadryl, I was able to drive myself there and back. I liked the independence - didn't ever feel like burden - although I had plenty of offers for rides, etc. My first treatment, dh took me, just because I was so freaked out. And then during my last treatment he visited me with a great, healthy lunch.
WendyTY - If you're reading, glad you made it to work. You're one tough cookie.
Mandy - Hope you're feeling better today. Seltzer (no sodium, unflavored) with lemon wedges helped my nauseau. Hugs!
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Have a nice day! Stay warm...have lots of errands today to accomplish.
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Here's for a good, clean chuckle:
I'm rich! Silver in the Hair, Gold in the Teeth, Crystals in the Kidneys, Sugar in the Blood, Lead in the butt, Iron in the Arteries,& an inexhaustible supply of Natural Gas.
I never thought I'd accumulate such wealth.
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Laura, my dad is going to love that.
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Lago, it is up to you but I think you look VERY elegant in the scarf. Maybe you look elegant in the wig, but if it bothers you (and even if it doesn't) go with the natural scarf look. I would never say that unless I meant it. Some people can pull it off and look very elegant. You have to have the right head, eyes and makeup and you do.
I am going to Marton Arboretum with baby gandkids to see some trains. I sure hope they are inside. The cold is making me a wimpy person.
Have a good day!
Susan
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Thanks Susan. I would love to wear a scarf but I don't want to bring attention to the fact I'm going through chemo. This is my neices weekend. She also hasn't seen me without hair yet. I don't want her thinking cancer it if you know what I mean. She just lost her grandmother (my mother in law) 2 years ago to cancer as well as a few other relatives on the other side.
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makmak, I had my surgery at HP (Krause) but my oncologist is at Lake Forest and Condell (Cochran). His office is in Libertyville. I like him a lot, but Highland Park would be more convenient.
A question for everyone: what do you think makes a good treatment center? I'm guessing that the quality of the nurses and technicians is very important. What do you all like and dislike about the place where you received/are receiving chemo?
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As for the chuckle I posted above:
I quess I am very poor - all that I have is a little bit of silver in my hair! LOL
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Laura, I'm poorer than you because I only have a bit of hair (or shall I say several strands) and it's currently not silver. ;-)
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Webu.....I had all my work done at Carbondale four hours south of you. Also, going through the Veterans Administration. I had excellent care and feel very grateful for it, but don't have info that would help you. Hopefully, some of the others ( Chicago area ) will help you with lots of insight to your question.
Hugs, Jackie
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Webu, second opinions are smart. I did not do that but I think it all turned out fine. I, like Makmak, have my oncologist in Highland Park and surgery at Evanston Hospital. I do not like to post names on the thread, but will pm you the doctor's name if Makmak did not already do so.
Lago, that makes perfect sense to wear the wig. I am not sure why I did not get that in the first place. Being an English teacher in 8th grade, I would have never worn anything but a wig. Kids do get uncomfortable at that age, so good for you for being so sensitive to her needs for the perfect day!
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Laura... too funny. I'm not sure if I have silver in my hair yet... too short to tell. Right now I'd say I have a little "salt and pepper" going on. Not very valuable.
Makmak... so glad that you are in that trial in Seattle. It sounds so promising. Will be praying that you do well on it.
Lago... you look great in scarves, but I know what you mean. I wore my wig all last weekend with my son's wedding fesitivites. I didn't want to bring any attention to myself as the "groom's mom with cancer". Although, I guess everyone knew anyway. The bride's great aunt came up to me after the reception and told me that she was a 25 year survivor of breast cancer and wished me all the best. Was very interesting to hear about her treatment way back then involving a stem cell transplant and being virtually put in a chemo como in a hospital for a week. Yikes!
Welcome webu... you are going to love this wonderful group of supportive ladies. I had my surgery at Northwestern, but chose to do my chemo and rads closer to home at Good Shepherd in Barrington.
Just turned on WGN mid-day news and they just did a teaser about a couple upcoming segments on the latest advice on dental fillings and mercury and also something about FDA's latest recommendation regarding Neulasta. They got my attention so I will try to stay tuned....
Zap... hope you are dressed up warm for that fun trip to Morton Arboretum with grandkids!
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joan - Please let us know what the WGN segment is about.
webu - Like Joan, I had all my treatment at Good Shepherd. I have nothing but good to say about my experience. Several of the girls here have gone there and feel the same way. Although...I'm not sure how far it would be for you...it's neer rte. 22 just past rte. 59. My Onc is awesome and his staff was excellant. Best wishes to you - once you've made decisions, things will be on track, and you'll feel so relieved.
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No big news on WGN... FDA is backing off from their year-old statement that mercury in dental fillings is safe. Now they just suggest to use caution. And it was not Neulasta. Sorry for the confusion. FDA is now recommending that Avastin not be used to treat breast cancer because of the severe side effects and no real benefit. And that's all the latest breaking news here today!
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http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8/topic/746840?page=6
Uplifting thread; 17 years stage 4 and counting
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Avastin is helping quite a few of the Stage IV's stay NED... so it's a very sore topic..
Webu - I totally agree that yes, the Dr is important, but so is the facility and the nurses. You will see the Dr once in a while, but the nurses are who you deal with each treatment. Mine is THE BEST but I think partly because our personalities just meshed so well too!! The facility is very important, but I am sure all the hospitals around use the latest testing and diagnostic equipment. What I like about HP is that I get my results very quickly and also have everything online.. I like Susan also use the email function to ask my Dr's questions which is much easier than asking for a call back..
It sounds like you have already chosen your place.. so as long as YOU feel comfortable.. then I think you'll be happy there!! Good luck and ask us questions along the way!!
PS - Ellen got rear-ended this morning on her way to school..
not her fault, but the older two are going on a cruise tomorrow morning... She says she's fine, but her Dad is taking her to get checked.. her stepsister is complaining of a headache.. I told Ellen NOT to get a CT unless absolutely necessary.. Of course I want her to be OK, but if she's not having any symptoms.. why expose her to all the radiation... Am I making the right decision???0 -
mak - Sore topic to say the least. I just got this e-mail. I was quite surprised about BCA's opinion about Avastin. I usually agree with them, but not knowing much about Avastin, I can't make an opinion. Just thought you might to read it and possibly share at your other thread:
BCA commends the FDA's December 16th recommendation that Avastin not be used to treat breast cancer.
In all the trials completed for Avastin in the metastatic breast cancer setting, no evidence of increased overall survival was shown. BCA advocates that the FDA not approve drugs for treatment of breast cancer unless they can be shown to 1) improve overall survival, and/or 2) improve quality of life, and/or 3) cost less than therapies already available. Unfortunately, Avastin fails on all counts. The interests of patients must come before the profits of companies manufacturing the treatments. We need to continue to demand better drugs for people with metastatic disease.
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P.S. I hope Ellen is okay!
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makmak... I'm sure that there will be some fall out discussion regarding FDA's latest recommendation regarding Avastin when many women are seeing benefits. Here is one testimonial to support the use of Avastin. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/12/15/ED8E1GQGAI.DTL&type=health Stay tuned.
Sorry to hear about your daughter's car accident. I am with you regarding getting unnecessary CT's. I will always opt out when it makes sense.
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joan - Thanks for sharing that article. And then to confuse us girls even more, I saw this article today (it's awful for stage lV girls to have to worry about this):
Says Decision's Based on Costs
According to Sally Pipes, president of the Pacific Research Institute, the FDA's decision is not based on the best outcome for patients but instead on the expense of Avastin, produced by Genentech, which can run as high as $90,000 per year for a single patient.
"The FDA claims its decision had nothing to do with Avastin's cost and was based solely on the drug's medical effectiveness," Pipes said. "This isn't believable. Every year about 40,000 American women die from breast cancer. Avastin is the last hope for many not to meet that fate. While the drug is costly, it often provides immense benefits to patients."
Avastin works by cutting off blood flow to tumors, and it has been used by thousands of women to treat late-stage breast cancer. Pipes points out clinical studies have shown improved survival rates for women who use the drug.
"By restricting blood flow to tumors, the medicine can decelerate cancer growth. In one clinical trial, 52 percent of women saw their tumors stop expanding or spreading. Some have gained years of extended life.
http://www.heartland.org/full/29003/FDA_Denies_Avastin_for_Breast_Cancer_Therapy.html
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Hope you all have a restful and comfortable evening...where ever you are in this bc journey.
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Nice so the FDA is putting a price on lives.
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It's snowing here in the forest. Haven't checked the weather...hmmmmm, wonder if we'll have an accumulation. HOPE NOT! I have errands to run tomorrow.
Have a nice evening!
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Found out this morning that the cancer has spread to both of my longs. It's getting heard to remain so bright and cherrie as I once was. This is not looking good. Don't see onc until 12/20.
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Thank you Adey, you made my night. I needed to read something uplifting today. Love you. Onward
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Carolyn - What to say...I'm shocked and saddened that you have to endure more. You're in good hands at Rush - have faith in them. You've already finished 4 radiations! Good for you. Try to be strong and if you ever need to talk, you know I'm always here and you've got a long list of IL girls' numbers as well. We're here for you! Hugs!
onward - How is your LE doing? Are you getting accustomed to the wrapping? It takes a while, but you will. Have you been to binney4's LE site? http://www.stepup-speakout.org/
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