Illinois ladies facing bc

Our opportunity is to Soar our Spirit.
To see Light and Joy in everything.
To spread our wings and fly boldly.
To give thanks for rainbows and butterflies -
our symbols of renewal and rebirth.
To offer daily Thanksgiving - for ourselves, our family,
our friends, our community, for the whole world.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

WendyTY....you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.  You have an incredible amount of strength and grace. Love and hugs to you and yours.

Just got back about 1.5 hours ago. So sorry to  hear about Wendy. Miracles do still happen. I hope Wendy gets one.

Nephew's graduation was nice. He graduated from La Lumiere, in La Porte, IN. Nice to see family too. (This is husband's side). Didn't run into Rene but we didn't spend much time shopping. Hit the jockey store and Calvin Klein. Undies and a shirt that's it for me.

That job I interviewed for I believe is still not filled. The recruiter posted it again on Friday. Obviously this guy doesn't know what he wants because it was the exact same description. Oddly enough he did say he knew I could do the job. Hmmm maybe the age thing again. Will check in with recruiter on Monday but it looks like I'm out even though no one else is in yet. May be a blessing. This guy might not be so easy to work for although he did seem nice.

Ok ladies, just sitting hear with my thoughts and freaking out a bit! Does anybody else have moments like this?

Lago, thank you so much! You are definitely right, I just have think about it logically. Something bad can happen to me at anytime. I appreciate you talking me off the ledge. I am so happy to be able to voice (or in this case type) my freak out moments and have a person respond who truly understands what I am feeling. Thank you again.

Any of my IL sisters have an allergic reaction to any of the chemo drugs?  I'm currently on DD AC and also receive Emend, Zofran, Decadron.  I initially noticed a rash on my chest that has now spread to my arms and back.  And, yes, I look lovely!  Not bad enough to be bald with thin eyebrows and lashes.  My MO thought it was a Zinc deficiency but have been taking Zinc supplement for about a week and it's no better.., actually worse after having to visit the Infusion Center for IV fluids and anti-nausea meds this past Friday.  I've heard that the Taxanes can cause allergic reactions but I didn't have any trouble with Taxol.  So I'm not sure if it's the Adriamyacin, Cytoxin, Decadron, Zofran, Emend???  Anyone else have this issue?  Thanks for your feedback.

C-squared,  I had a really bad allergic reaction to Neulasta.  Hives all over, head to toe, that took 3 months to completely clear up.  Signs of an allergic reaction started after the 1st shot. The SE was so mild I didn't report it.  The hives started one week after my 2nd shot, but we didn't figure out it was the Neulasta until the 3rd one.  

It could be any of the meds, but to find out which will be difficult.  I had just started taking an anti-nausea pill, so stopped that immediately.  Was prescribed another, but never took it.  My MO wasn't completely convince it was the Neulasta, so he offered to stop after the 3rd TC.  I opted to finish the 4th round because my research and gut told me it was the N.

I had help figuring this out by calling the clinic's pharmacy and speaking to one of the oncology pharmacists.  My concern was that it was another drug I take unrelated to BC.  She was really helpful in teasing out which drug was the problem and gave me the courage to finish treatment.

Good Morning All-Looking forward to beautiful day.

Continued prayers for WendyTy.

C-squared Most of the drugs list the allergic reactions so the pharmacist should be able to help you. I know the emend made my eye sight wacky… at least I assumed it was the emmend because 2 days after taking it I seemed to be OK. I wonder if it's the steroids. Seriously any of your premeds can give you hives. Are you taking benadryl too? That might help prevent it. Ask your onc about that if they aren't giving it to you  in your pre-meds.

Beauty of a morning though lots of heat on the way.  Joan --- thinking of you in your travels.  I think in matters of "backs" it goes both ways.....short people turn up certain problems but tall people to not fare much better.  Injury, and in-cautious behaviors, not enough exercise when you are older ( more stretching needed ) all seem to get to all of us.  I'm nursing a small area ( hoping it stays small ) right now.  Lifted a small box thinking it would be nice and light and gave it a real swing......only to find afterwards that it was very heavy. 

Glad most of you with the "drug reactions" are so close to done.  I had other problems but somehow just 'thinking' of what you describe sounds awful to me.  I think I read somewhere that no matter what we are "fighting", if we decided to "trade" and deal with someone else's problems, probably because they seemed easier.....we'd soon end up taking our own back as the easier ones.  It's probably true......somewhere deep within we are given the capacity to handle what comes.

(((((((WendyTY))))))))))

Hope you all have a good day.

I give humble thanks to all the servicemen and women who are making my life wonderful and fulfilling today and pray they stay safe and sound.  They are hero's, each and every one.

Hugs, Jackie

Hi Girls - I have been busy with the garden and some home decorating projects so I have not had time to check in.

I am so very sorry to hear about Wendy.  My heart just sank to my stomach.  I am praying for Wendy and her family.  I know I will think about her a lot in the coming weeks.  I hate hearing any of my sisters get news like this....

BJ - I am running although the last two weeks I have been super busy.  I will be back on it this week.  I have not signed up for any races.  I want to but don't have any running buddies.  I would rather do a race with someone.  I am up to running 8 miles.  I usually run 6 miles a few days a week and throw in an 8 mile run here and there.  I will check out that race online.  I don't know if that date would work for me....my son is in soccer and baseball which is keeping me even more busy.

To all of those gals in the midst of treatment....please know there IS light at the end of the tunnel.  When you are in the middle of it all, it can seem hopeless and long.  I finished chemo last May and now I feel like a "normal" person again.  I told my first new friend I met since moving here in August, that I had BC last year.  She was completely shocked....could not believe it.  She would have never known.  Now I am enjoying life and doing all kinds of new things because my attitude is "why not?".  I learned how to use a miter table saw the other day....yep, power tools!  I would have never done that before BC.  I am building a Lego table for my son for his new playroom (can you believe that?  Me....building a table with power tools!!).  I am also really getting into gardening...growing peppers and a really nice herb garden (used my fresh basil for bruschetta last night and cilantro for guacamole the other night!).  I have been planting all kinds of new flowers and my yard is looking like a peaceful garden....I never had time for this stuff before.  It's calming and fun!  I guess I just want to give you all hope that life can be great after BC...hold on to that girls!

I will be in the city for a quick PS appointment at 11am on this Wednesday at NW.  Anyone want to meet up for a lunch after?  Anyone going to be in the city?  Let me know.  Would love to see some of you gals.

I hope you are all enjoying the long weekend.  It's nice to have an extra day with my family.  Today we are off to the pool! 

I saw the movie from Hell and Back.  It is a documentary on a soldier who got seriously injured mentally and physically while in Afghanistan. It is a great film to view but not one bit uplifting.  It pulled me into a soldier's world  and was the best thing I could do to help me realize  what Memorial Day is really all about.  Even older kids (if you can tolerate all the F-words) would benefit from watching and discussing this film, but preview it first.  I would say that the F-words are just a part of the language of a war as awful as this one. Stay safe.

Prayers continuing for our precious Wendyty.

Susan

I finished my 10 rad treatments on Friday.  I was really tired on Friday and throughout the weekend haven't had my normal energy and have had some nausea but now I'm FINISHED.  My tamoxifen should start soon but otherwise, it is just heal and move forward.  I thank God everyday for getting the message through to me that I needed that mammogram in February.  I'm still amazed that I had sites in both breasts and that both were low grade and no lymph nodes were involved.  If I had waited another 2 years, where would I be.  I'm so thankful for the timing of my mammogram and for my prognosis.  At the same time, I'm feeling a bit sad for those that didn't get the same prognosis and are facing more challenges than I have.  My awareness of this issue has been fully awakened and everyone that I run into gets reminded to get their mammograms or encourage their women to get theirs. 

 The women that I have met on this site are amazing!  You all have inspired me.  Thank you for being there for me in my time of crisis.  

mdg and lago -- I may be up for a trip into the city on Wednesday, I am on soccer mom overload at the moment, and could use some adult conversation.  

Hi ladies - I hope everyone had a nice Memorial Day. 

Just popping in to offer my prayers, hugs and peace to WendyTY!