Illinois ladies facing bc

Thanks Laura. Started the cortisone cream yesterday. Fingers crossed. I really don't want to call the doctor. My LE is tolerable too. Guess I'll have to realize that humidity and I are not friends. It also makes my left heel really numb (neuropathy for chemo. Still not getting any better but not a huge deal. I haven't fallen).

wendyk13 a friend of mine was diagnosed with a new tumor around the time I finished chemo. Thing is she never took the Tamoxifen like she was supposed to, gets no exercise, drinks a glass of wine every night, don't get enough sleep, needs to loose a lot of weight yadda yadda. IMO it's never one thing that increases our risk, it all of them added together.

She was lucky both times in the sense that she only needed to do lumpectomies and rads (no chemo according to oncotype). This time she is doing lupren shots and Anastrozole as well as cutting out the wine. She knows her onc is going to read her the riot act about her weight and lack of exercise. Single mom with 2 kids. She works a lot so that's big part of the problem. I think the Anastrozole and drinking reduction will help a lot this time around.

My point is I believe you are doing the best to keep your risk of new or recurrence way down. Also, like my friend, if (know on wood) something should happen they will catch it early.

Morning friends......Wendy.....thinking about you and Mr. T.  Sure hope you can trade enough info with Jan to get nearly on the right track before any conversations or visits with the Dr.  That could be invaluable for coming up with some solution.  Se's sound almost like Parkinson's.  Interesting, but naturally I'd rather be talking about someone I don't feel like I know or who is a friend. 

Jan it is always great to see you and glad when you find time to come. Rene, Laura, Lago, Mary, Susan.....hope you all, as well as all the Illinois gals have a great day today.  I have a couple extra things I want to get done today....but will be back a bit later.

WendyTY.....my hand and arm are doing what Wendy 13's is......

Love and hugs,

Jackie

Zap heartburn is the worst. I would think that includes spasms. Only thing that is worse is shingles for me so far. Yes you have a right to vent.

zap - The GOAT is sounding incredibly mean!  It is a "she" btw... lol

EllasMom - Certainly do not want to "scare" you, but me and Nuelasta did NOT get along very well. Every inch of my body hurt/felt like I'd been run over by a dump truck. I have read that some girls are getting Nuelasta after every 2nd infusion instead of after each one. And I've read that some aren't getting it at all, unless their counts drop. Maybe it's pre-mature in your case, since it's only been one time. Hang in there! Sorry you have to deal with this.

lago - I hope your friend gets on the right track. The beast is A BEAST! btw...I ordered 2 new sleeves. Can't wait to receive them. The ones I currently have are old and whimpy, whimpy, whimpy! LOL

Ella'sMom.....you could maybe switch to Nuepogin shots.  I used those without any problem.  You have to have more of them though.....but they are easier on you than the Nuelasta.  Just throwing it out there.  I gave myself the shots...not hard to do at all.  Starting second day after chemo....1 injection per day right before bed for a week.  Did it for all 8 rounds of Chemo. 

Long day for me.  See you all in the morning.

Hugs, Jackie

Good Morning.  I've been up since 4 am again.  Each day I'm feeling a bit better,  It's a constant challenge to keep up with the side effects.  My mouth has calmed down a bit.  I'm learning to be real creative as far a food.  Now I am eating about every 2 hours.  Newest side effect is blisters on my head from the radiation.  UGH!

I had a very busy weekend.  It was nice to do some normal things for a while.  On Saturday, I hosted a baby shower for my cousin.  Thanks to my mom, sister, and sister in law everything went well.  Yesterday was the women's club championship.  I went over to the pool with the girls for a while.  It was great to be outside and surrounded by friends.  A fellow survivor, Joey, kicked everyone's butt!  Then we celebrated my parents birthdays.  The kids had a watermelon eating contest.  It made for a good laugh.

General note on my tattoo.  I would definitely check out all the options. I did mine at the PS office.  My husband asked the girl if she would add a little pink ribbon.  She said...I only do circles.  I'm glad I got mine done.  In my opinion, it psychologically helps with recovery to look more "normal".  I don't even think about it anymore when I look in the mirror.  It's totally personal preference.  Recommendation, I had two sessions.  Make sure they start smaller than what the final product will be.  You can make it bigger but not smaller.  Oh by the way, I about killed my older sister when she posted something about my tattoo on facebook.  Who knows what she was thinking.  Everyone was asking what I got.  I finally said a circle as part of my reconstruction.  It was probably more akward for everyone else.

MakMak Don't give up, you never know what is around the corner.  Since I'm on Herceptin and Tykerb I can't have any grapefruit.  But I gave it up years ago due to thyroid issues so it didn't matter.  Enjoy the Outer Banks.  I visited there often while I was in college in Virginia. I'd love to go back.

Lago Tykerb side effects suck.  I'm trying to be creative as possible to manage the stomach issues.  On the job front, keep positive.  If it doesn't feel right, go with your gut.  Doors will open and doors will close, you'll go through the right one.

Robo47  Welcome!  Have you tried sleeping in a recliner?  I did for several months before I could lay flat.  Ativan also became my number one bed time routine.  Have you checked out everyone's stories.  I believe if you click on our name/avitar more info comes up if it's been filled out.  I wouldn't worry about the holiday weekend, there is always a doctor on call to handle issues.  The first is always the hardest because of the unknown.  You can do it.  Let me know if you have any questions, it's been a couple of years since I had AC.

Ellasmom AC sucks but you can do it.  I would recommend taking Popsicles or flavored ice while you get the red devil.  I also used biotene mouth wash to keep away the mouth sores.  I carried in my purse.

Madismommy Hair loss sucks.  I'm on my third time around.  The first was the hardest.  I just kept looking in the mirror wondering who that was looking back at me.  I have wigs and hats.  The first time I wore my wig a lot more.  I think I only wore it once after the second time I lost my hair.  Just so you know, strangers see what they want to see.  If they see a wig, they see hair.  The only adjustments are for the ones that know us and ourselves.  I had so many hot flashes that wearing a wig drove me crazy.   I have one heck of a hat collection.

Lisamomof four Sorry you have to refill.  Have you asked if they can lower the fill amounts to help reduce the pain.  My fill took forever but we had to go slow because I was having healing problems.  A lot of time, I think they do the fills based on there schedule.  Be willing to push back and say slow down. 

Determined I had issues with my nails and neuropathy.  I treated it as one more thing I had to get through.  Just make sure you communicate with your doctor.  By the time I was finished with Taxol I think it went all the way to my shoulders and knees.  My doctor pushed me hard.  He said as long as I was still walking ok we'd continue the current dose.  In later rounds of chemotherapy I had to have a reduction when I couldn't do buttons and things like that.  Just remember...this too will pass.

Zap Glad you stomach is better.  We all know where our thoughts wonder.  Funny thing about my recurrences, I never had a clue.  The first recurrence I about fell over.  Later I was like, well I have been a little tired but I was also back to living an action packed life.  This last time, I thought it was the stress of applying for the new position.  The last thing I told my mom before the brain mri was that it was going to be nothing.  Boy was I shocked.  But as always, life goes on and we do what we have to do.  Thankfully the odds are in your favor. I know you don't feel that way.  I hope none of you have to go through it again.  I do understand your fears they can't be helped after what we've already been through.  It's great to be able to talk about it and have other's understand how you feel.

Laura I wish II was golfing.  I'm not sure I'll get through the fatigue before the season is over.  It's a goal to get back out there!  Yesterday I went to the pool with the girls that played in the club championship.  We had a great time.  Our club winner is a 5 year survivor. 

Ellasmom One down.  You can do it!  I didn't have the jaw pain.  But with every shot I felt like I got hit by a bus.  The pain sucks but if it keeps your counts up and you can stay on schedule, it can be worth it in the end.  Sending a big gentle hug.

Well sorry I probably wrote a whole page today.  I hope everyone has a great Monday!

Wendy, your postive outlook has brought a smile to my face as I am reading your post and drinking my morning tea.  This post (to me) is a great example of why this board is beneficial for survivors like us an how we can all help each other out when we need it.

For WendyTY....who wrote such an outstanding note today:

There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.
W. Clement Stone

EllasMom....I forgot about the Claritin thing...much better advice -- cheaper and quicker to try as well.  Good advice from Wendy..I hope you will give it a try.  Heartburn issues.  I had to take Prevacid for several months during chemo and for a short while afterwards.  My stomach seems to do best when I try to include eating some med hot peppers of some kind three or four times a week.  I think it may be partially an acid/alkaline thing and 'disturbing' the balance with the peppers since I truly like them is a good way for me to do it. 

Going to be ( hope--hope ) cooler here I think.  Don't mind the heat, but very tired of the humidity.  So looking forward to the cool down.  Sounds nice at your deck Wendy.  I'll bring my coffee there.  Summer is starting to speed up  I think....not happy about that.  We will have to start watching for the nuts that come out of the trees soon.  That means a great deal of work trying to keep the yard free of them....or as much as we can. 

Hope you all are going to have a great Monday.  Be checking in later....see you then.

Hugs, Jackie

thanks wendyty!

Oh WendyTY....I loved seeing your post! I will take a ride for you!

Goodness you guys are active. No way I can keep up.

Anyway, is anyone here taking AROMASIN? If you do, could you PM me? Thanks.

Love Onward

Zap As an option I can post it as a pdf on my website and everyone can download it from there. Just send it to me.

Okay, I found it on the internet.  I just  especially love the last few paragraphs when she mentions that she is using her time well whether she has five months or 50 years until she departs. The link has her blog (where this appeared).  I read it in the Tribune.  I just like it.  I hope this works.

http://www.healthkey.com/la-he-my-turn-lung-cancer-20110718,0,4232084.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Ffeatures%2Fhealth+%28L.A.+Times+-+Health%29

Susan

Onward .... I am so with you on keeping up ... I try to read every post and try to think of what to say to each and every one but I'm not good at talking to people let alone putting it in writing...

I will just say thinking of you all and wishing everyone the best.

One question:  I have dealt with a lot of numbness in my toes and tingling in hands and arms since my treatments...I assume it is neuropathy...does it ever go away or is it something I will more than likely always deal with?  I lost most of my toenails during chemo but they are back and looking good...my toes still feel very numb mostly at night...

Oh the joys of chemo...but thankfully it did take care of the cancer so I hate to complain......