Illinois ladies facing bc
Comments
-
Hi Mary!!! Sorry you need chemo but you are right about this place for support!! I also had a false negative on my SNB back in June and will be going through chemo now because of it. I had my port placed today actually....because my BS went back in for more axillary nodes this morning, I'm sitting here typing with ice packs on my left side. The port is surprisingly not too ugly or huge....the scar is bigger than the actual device I think. I think even the nurses and volunteers at the hospital felt horrible for me when they were puttin my pink bracelet on my left side....a couple were mumbling "you're way too young for this.....". Aren't we ALL though?
I got home around 2:30 and passed out until after 6:00.....I haven't napped in forever it seems but man was I tired!!!!
Hope everyone is have a great day, the weather out there seemed beautiful in the 10 minutes I was out there.....
Now I wait for my next path report....FUN FUN.....0 -
Hang in there... as someone who just finished treatment only three weeks ago, it does get easier as you get through every step.
Mary -- I did lose my hair, precisely on the day they told me I would. Like Susan, I went to a wig place, and was fit way ahead of time (they did a great job in helping me select something as close as possible to my natural hair style). I chose to have my head shaved a few days in advance, and was then ready for losing my hair. I personally found the wig very comfortable, unless it was really hot outside, and I wore it to work every single day until about a week ago, I am now sporting, as my fourteen year old puts it, a "statement" hair cut!
I spent a lot of time preparing my kids for the day I would come home with a wig... when I walked in the door, they said "mom -- you don't look any different". I wore the wig all the time out of the house, I just felt more comfortable in it.
I went to Naturally Yours in Willowbrook, they were great.
Hang in there!
0 -
MaryjRN My avatar is me in my wig after my 4th chemo at my nieces Bat Mitzvah. That was the only time I wore it. I had 6 rounds of taxotere and Carboplatin (Herceptin as well but that's not chemo and it's only if you are HER2+). I think my hair started on day 16. I did cut it short on day 16. Good thing. As it was it was a mess. I didn't ever buzz it off. Here's my hair transition with dates in the corner. My first chemo was Oct. 5th: linky
There are many factors that go into the decision of chemo. This is something you really should wait and discuss with your onc. I don't know how they handle micromets. Things change all the time. Just remember everyone is different with chemo. I did great with the first 3 treatments. Then it got a little harder. I never had any nausea though. I just got the more rare SE. I just sat through 6 tx with this other gal (I was getting Herceptin the same time she was getting chemo). She had almost no SE. Our NP called her the poster girl for chemo. She is 39.
EDIT
I too went to naturally yours. I don't think they fit my wig properly. I think the gal was in a rush to go home. It was to far for me to travel back and get it fixed. They also forgot to order one of the wigs that I think would have been better than this one but I just couldn't wait any longer. I think everyone had different experiences. I did like the shop. Found 2 great scarves there. Prices are decent IMO.0 -
Maryj-So sorry about your news. About your hair.....you will lose it for sure. I had long blonde hair forever and decided to get it cut to a short bob about a weekn or two before I started chemo. Then when my hair started to fall out at day 16 after my first chemo I had DH shave my head. For a least a moment I had a feeling of control. I put a scarf on my head and said "glad thats done"
About your wig...it doesn't matter where your Onc is but please call Kylia Faulisi at 815 725 3033 ext 1300 and make an appt. She is located on Jefferson st in the Joliet oncology-hematolgy assoc. building. He shop is called "Reflections" She is wonderful and very patient and compassionate. She also does the Look good feel better program ( get in on this, too...a nice night with others in your situation and lots of good freebies to take home) I had the pleasure of bringing the gal who has cut my hair for about 25 years accompany me when picking out a wig.
PM me if you want. I am right done the road and would be happy to help or even go with you if you needed someone to be there with you.
Navy
0 -
Geez.....terrible spelling on my last post.......too lazy to correct it.
0 -
Thanks for more cards! Lago the personalized instant hugs made me feel like having my own party!
Saw the radiology oncologist today. Made the decision to take a little break from work. I think I'm ok with it for now. Just always seeming to be moarning a loss. I really wanted to start my new job. Holding out that the future still has lots of good surprises in store for me.
On a downer, I got a letter from my oncologist saying that he is retiring. That wasn't something I wanted to think about. I have him broken in pretty good. Maybe he'll get me fixed before he heads off into the sunset on his Harley.
Monopoly with my brother's family wore me out. Still mending my ego from not kicking total butt. But hey, I'm working with a glowing brain.
Hope everyone enjoyed the cool down. Sounds like some of the storms were interesting. Stay safe! Love the life you got. Sending big hugs to everyone!0 -
Hugs to you too WendyTY!!! I'd hope your onc will stick around long enough to get patients acclimated to the new doctor??? Hopefully!!!
If it makes you feel any better about a board game wearing you out, I had to address 15 party invites last weekend and afterwards I had to go nap for 2 hours.....I swear I'm in the worst health ever lately.... 2 months ago I was perfectly healthy and now I can't even function on 1/4 the capacity of my old self....
0 -
Mary, I did not lose my hair but I had CMF chemo. It thinned but never got to the point where I needed a wig. Only my hair dresser and I realized the minimal loss. You might ask if CMF chemo is a possibility for you.
Wow! It sounds like you had some pretty scary storms in the north. We escaped that and only had a little rain very early this morning. It brought some slight relief from the heat.
0 -
WendyTY......Some ups and downs still coming your way. I found a poem that maybe you will like. It just sounded like you to me. I hope things smooth out for you soon.
The Oak Tree
by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr
*
A mighty wind blew night and day
It stole the oak tree's leaves away
Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark
Until the oak was tired and stark
But still the oak tree held its ground
While other trees fell all around
The weary wind gave up and spoke.
How can you still be standing Oak?
The oak tree said, I know that you
Can break each branch of mine in two
Carry every leaf away
Shake my limbs, and make me sway
But I have roots stretched in the earth
Growing stronger since my birth
You'll never touch them, for you see
They are the deepest part of me
Until today, I wasn't sure
Of just how much I could endure
But now I've found, with thanks to you
I'm stronger than I ever knewHugs and lots of vibes for strength coming to you.
Jackie
0 -
WendyTY
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
0 -
Good morning ladies!!
I'm sitting here with a big ice pack under my left arm from my surgery yesterday and trying to figure out if there's anything I can put on my incision from my medi-port....ugh, very uncomfortable! Although it looks much better than I anticipated, my skin is so thin above my chest that I thought for sure it would look horrible in there.....but, it's not terrible, just VERY sore!!! This too shall pass right? Ill be ready to bring on the chemo in a few weeks! I was told I have to wait 4-6 weeks to allow my body to fully heal. And the wait begins for this path report......
Hope everyone enjoys their day.... :0)0 -
If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.
Peace Pilgrim
0 -
Good morning to all on this beautiful day.
0 -
Madismommy remember when people ask you what that port is tell them it's how you communicate with the mother ship, then tap it twice and say "Yes everything is OK down here on earth).
It does get better with time for most of us. I hardly notice mine anymore. I started chemo exactly 5 weeks post BMX. I didn't get my port till the day before chemo. My port surgeon was actually trying to get me to do chemo the same day but the chemo gods said no.
YEDA!!!
0 -
Lol, I think I'll have to use the mothership connectio once people start gauking at it!! Ha ha....
I'll have this port for quite awhile before chemo, only because I opted to just have it inserted during my axillary node dissection....one less surgery for me!! Now, I just need to heal and go to Rush in the meantime for my chemo class and meet with Dr.Cobleigh (once I get my path report from yesterday) and hopefully do my Muga scan all the same day.....I'm exactly 1 month after my BMX today. And at least my new pains from yesterday make my chest discomfort seem better!! Yes for new pain.... How did I get SO lucky?0 -
What a nice day. I never had a port but I had other things and yes, it gets better. I am glad Madismommy that you got going on this treatment as now you are doing something to beat this disease.
Heading for Lakeview today to spend some time with DD. She is taking me to her hairdresser for a cut. The one I go to has become soooooooo expensive.
Speaking of money, WendyTY, monopoly is exhausting. It goes on forever. We should set it up, leave it for awhile with the intention we would pick up later. Of course the cat messed everything up, so we never did. Have a great day, everyone!
0 -
You can't fool me OGAL!!
0 -
Oh the dreaded Monopoly game. When I was a kid my sister LOVED that game. She used to pester/bribe/beg me to play it all the time. Drove me nuts. And since she was 3 years older than me, she had a little bit more skill and I would always lose, Funny how something so silly can bring back so many memories.
Navy
0 -
My 7 year old (almost 8) is obsessed with the board game Clue, we play it at least 2-3 times a week.... That game or Doodle Dice....which is pretty fun and not mind boggling.....
I'm glad she hasn't cracked open our Monopoly game yet.....it's so LONG to play...0 -
Mary - I also was told I had micro mets in one of my nodes. I had ACT and lost my hair - I did keep it for about a week longer than they told me. I went to Naturally Yours as well. The gal that took care of me was very kind. The whole hair thing may have been the hardest part for me. I wore the wig all the time but found it uncomfortable. You will get through it.
Lisa - your kids are nice - mine told me I looked weird! However, at work the next week, I had several people say they liked my new hair cut so I guess it looked ok!
Thinking of you Wendy TY! Hugs to all of you going through surgery, chemo, rads, etc!
0 -
Hi Ladies -
Haven't posted in weeks - my mom's surgery went very well. Clean margins, yay!! They have decided she cannot tolerate rads or chemo, so we just cross our fingers from here. (I had a nasty virus for 2 weeks so unfortunately I haven't been able to go spend time with her, but I will this weekend, finally!) thanks so much for the support you guys, she & I both really appreciated that.
Now my sister - who had thyroid ca 14 years ago, needs a biopsy of a lymph node in her neck - so we will also be crossing our toes
WendyTY - big big hugs to you honey!!! I like what you said: "Love the life you got!"
Laura - I am so sorry to hear you have developed LE. I did read it in your posts a while back but didn't comment
Hi to all of the new ladies here (I guess now at 3+ years I'm kind of a veteran but I don't come here nearly often enough!)
Peace to everyone... Julie (princess juliet)
0 -
One foot in front of the other, right?
I made a wig consultation for tomorrow. My BFF has had several friends, all with BC I might add, go to The Total Look located in Homer Glen. A lady named Leona handles all the wiggies!
I want to thank everyone for all the info I am receiving. I need to learn so much. I actually used my cancer as an excuse, today, and then I felt terrible for doing it. It's amazing to me how such a physical disease (BC) plays such psychological game. I've seen it in lots of patients. not just cancer, but I guess it's my turn now....
Madismommy: you ned to hide the Monopoly game
I find Clue to be a stressful game. I need to relax with board games. Lisa: I've actually been thinking of getting a 'statement' haircut now; kind of like a test run!
Have good days ladies.
0 -
Trying to get caught up.... I have taken refuge at our church today to stay caught up with work, etc. We lost power yesterday when a very large old willow tree had a delayed reaction to the wind storm on Monday and decided it had stood long enough. The whole thing came crashing down into our back yard taking all the utility lines with it. So, just as alot of people in town were just starting to get power back.... our neighborhood went out! ComEd says they hope to have it repaired by late Friday night. A friend brought over a generator last night so we have power to the fridge and freezer. DH got home from a trip early this morning so he has been a big help with alot of things.
MaryjRN.... I also lost my hair last summer precisely on DAY 15 after the first chemo.... just as predicted by my ONC. I had gotten a wig a couple weeks earlier and was happy to have it on the few occasions that I actually wore it, but most got by with scarves. Hopefully, you will find a wig tomorrow that you like.
Madismommy... I think that was smart getting your port in along with the axillary surgery yesterday. Frankly, I really did not like getting my port in with that twilight surgery... I like to be out cold. I was thrilled when my PS offered to remove it with my exchange surgery. One less surgery for sure!
Zap... good luck on your new writing career. I think that is awesome. Our son is such a good writer and I would love it if he at least did some free lance stuff for magazines. He says he does not have time....well, he is young, so maybe later in life. What kind of writing are you doing?
Jackie... I love that Oak Tree poem for WendyTy..., especially today. And WendyTy... so great to see you posting. I have been thinking so much about all of you in active treatment and those making decisions about treatments. Stay positive and keep on marching!
0 -
Wow this thread moves. We are kicking the other states butts. LOL
I love Monopoly and Clue. Don't judge.
I also started losing my hair on day 14. It was coming out in long strands. I went to Vasi Salon in Bloomingdale and she shaved it first. The lady there was amazing!!! She even drove out a wig to one of my friends (who is going through bc) at another hospital when she was admitted due to complications. And I love my wig. Love it! I wear it out of the house all the time. I'm not comfortable wearing scarves or going au natural outside of my home. So I'm glad I have a wig I feel confident in. She got my length right and matched the color to my skin tone.
I had my port surgery two days before my first chemo and it hurt. I found the port surgery to be more irritating than the lumpectomy or lymph node removal. I need to have it removed now. Just one more appointment in a string of them.
My last radiation appointment is tomorrow!!! Then I meet with him in a month to see how I'm heeling. So far, it''s just red, itchy, and tender. Not too bad. Although I'm very tired. Like chemo tired. Only without the chemo side effects that prevented me from sleeping. I feel like I'm sleeping all the time. Which is good since I haven't had a decent night sleep since my diagnosis. I have an appointment with my oncologist next week to go over my tamoxifin regime. I'm a bit nervous after reading the various threads on it. I know most do well...but it still makes me nervous.
MaryjRN, don't feel guilty about using chemo as an excuse. I do it all the time. I mean, there should be at least one good thing that comes out of this, righ? Ha! And if I didn't get the weight loss I wanted, I'm taking the excuses.
0 -
Princess Juliet....Good to see you and I'm glad you stopped in. I'm bummed to hear about your sister....just too many people in your family having these "issues". I am hoping it is just a b-9 piece of tissue. Glad you are better and can look forward to the week-end.
Mary yes -- one day at a time, one foot in front of the other, breathe in and out and using cancer for needed excuses from time to time. This is not quite like some of the other rough patches in your life and sometimes special handling is called for. Hope it goes well for you with the hair and the wig. Mine hung on for a couple of extra days, but then started coming out in big clumps. I knew it was going to do something.....it became VERY lifeless.
IllinoisNative....a rad grad tomorrow....yay for you. That was so boring to me and I was so happy to get it done.
Hope you all had a good day today. I'll see you in the morning.
Hugs, Jackie
0 -
Hi gals!
Wow! I'm having trouble keeping up with everyone. We're all so busy. It looks like Illinois native will be a little less busy after today! YEA! This is it! No more rads.
Hey MaryjRn....the statement haircut might be fun! WendyTY had a mohawk for a few days before she shaved off all the rest. I think there might be a picture of it somewhere on this site.
Jackie, I also loved the Oak Tree poem. You always find just the right thing!
Well, I went to Rock Island yesterday to see my cousin and my aunt and uncle. I've driven more this month than I have in months but it was a nice day trip and I loved visiting with them for a couple of hours. Wendy, I just cranked that top down on the way home and drove in my own little world! It's amazing how all your troubles just fly out of the car (alone with anything else that's not fastened down!)
I'm off to do some errands and hope to golf this afternoon. We're heading to LeRoy tonight for a Cajun Boil and county-western music. Great food and lots of good music! Everyone have a good day!
0 -
I live with enthusiasm, and give thanks for my life.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie0 -
Big work day for me so just saying hi to all and I'll be checking back in when I get home. Have a great day and don't get overheated.
We are going into big heat advisory and it will cover the whole of the state.....shouldn't start until tomorrow some time though. See you all later.
Hugs, Jackie
0 -
Morning! Well...it is about 70 here on my balcony, and the ocean waves are so soothing!
WebdyTY...glad to see you posting here! You are in all our thoughts and prayers every day!
PrincessJ...so happy for your Mom! Now...just need to get your sister's all clear!
Jackie...your quotes have been really wonderful lately, just spot-on! How's Maggie doing
Hair!!!! Yep...I too lost mine on day 14...Valentines Day! But I will say the knowing that it will fall out to me was the worst! Once it was gone..oh well..plop on my wig and go have life. It's not fun but it truly won't be as bad as you fear. You can do this!
Rita...yep. Tops down! Did you finally recover from your grandson???? Bet you slept extra....
Joan...yikes! Glad you had a generator to borrow..
Mak...how's Gab?
BJ...lovely things to look at on the beach yesterday (hee-hee)..good thing I always bring the mirrored sunglasses...can't tell where I am looking!
To everyone else...I hope today is a great day...that this journey we are all on is a smooth ride today! Wish you could all be with me here in paradise... Sending much Aloha to you all...
PS TO MADISMOMMY.....since you are not that far from my deck....maybe you could take over the weather reports! Susan/Zap doesn't know what to wear otherwise! LOL!0 -
Ok...that would be WendyTY...(Webdy???)
0
