Starting chemo Sept 05

txred9876

nicole,

 Sorry to hear of you recent diagnosis. We will be sending lots of love and prayers your way. Having mets does not mean the same thing it has in years past. Just off the top of my head I can think of two long term survivors with mets. One is 7 years and the other is 9. Keep positive and again... you are in my prayers.

tina

Liezel

Oh Nicole!  I am so sad to hear about your Mets!!  My thoughts and prayers are with you all the time!  Glad to hear the SE not so bad this time around.  Hang in there - let's hope it does not hit you later....  Good luck with your boys....

I hope everyone else doing well.  Tina - you rock!!  Will chat again later. 

I hate this F@&#*$ disease!!!!

Pegk

Hey Nicole!

What a bummer! But you seem to be tolerating the treatment well. Stay strong and kick that cancer to the curb.

I haven't been here in awhile but I'll be checking back more often, so please let us know how you're doing.

Peggy 

Calico

Nicole,

WTH?? I am so sorry to hear of your dx!!! I was hoping to hear of a successful 4 year anniversary of our chemo month coming up.....

Here is to Abraxane kicking a$$!! If I remember correctly, you do not get steroids with it?? That alone is worth a lot (less trouble I think without).

I feel bad for not checking in sooner!!!

I will sent you lots of hugs and prayers!!!

Have you had the fibroid in your breast resolved back last year? What was the hormone status of your original dx?

Had a funky MRI of my hip myself (suggestive of mets), bone scan said it's okay, probably the enchondroma (still have questions and not seen onc yet) and also had laparoscopy two days ago to take out stuff that shouldn't be there...a cyst. My estrogen had gone up and I got checked out after begging and hoops....waiting for a good path as we speak.... 

Hugs to all, lets keep praying for all our friends in need, especially our September soul sisters!!!...good bloodwork for Nicole!!

foxxf

Thankyou all for you wishes and prayers,

so far so good

 I had a port put back in wednesday and 2 nd dose of chemo Friday and still no SE!! Yeah

 I didn't see Onc this week but will phone on monday for blood work results. We may need to wait a little while to see results? but the fluid in my lung cavity feels better after treatment so hopefully it's working.

I have spoken with the kids and they were a bit O.K (been there done that) and are really not bothered. We haven't mentioned anything about not cureable this time and if they bring it up we will deal with it then. It's not something they need to think about if they don't have to. I know I try not to!!!!

 Susan, you all here are a massive part of my "real life support system" I know I can say things to you all and you will not judge or say "oh don't think like that" because we all know that some times you have to.  I know that you are the only ones who truly understand.

Tina, thankyou the long term survivors give me hope. in 10 yrs my daughter will be 22 and my son 18 that fills me with hope.

Peg thanks for the healing thoughts

Calico, this is a successful 4 year anniversary.

THE SEPTEMBER SISTERS SEAT ON THE METS BUS HAS NOW BEEN FILLED. THERE IS NO ROOM FOR ANY OTHER SEPT SISTER TO RIDE.

So just relax! I will take this journey and take up the whole seat so there is no room for any of you. (if only that was how it works, here's hoping)

anyway all good here

thanks

Nicole 

sholroyd

Oh Nicole, we can squash in the aisle of the bus to SUPPORT you. When we all went through the treatment we all met others in a less fortunate position - we know the score, we have drawn strength from each other and our Face-to-Face support over the last 4 yearts and got on with our life, with September Sisters being a big part in our thoughts - I will be logging in regularly too Nicole and sending lots of healing thoughts for your mind and body.   XX to your children - be as honest as they want you to be and how you can be - lots of hugs.

Has anyone Facebooked other September Sisters - Aussie Mum etc or made any contact via any of the other chat medias??  I do wonder how they are.

 I am about 2 hours from home just spent the weekend with my son-in-law's mum - her partner has departed and she is feeling quite lonely - she has just got a laptop and I have been showing her some bits and bobs - got work tomorrow so need to get back home tonight.

Speak soon

Sandra from the UK xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Calico

Nicole,

thinking about you!!!

Hoping that your blood was okay!! How are things going?

Pegk

Hey Nicole,

I hope all is well. Your kids know their Mom is a survivor! We're with you all the way!

Those of you on Facebook know that Leanne is also facing a recurrence, but she's just taken  a vacation and seems to be in good spirits and ready for the fight.

As September is only a week away wishing all my September Sisters all the best.

Peggy 

susan_02143

Oh my! I don't "facebook" and hadn't heard about Leanne. Is she facing, or has this been confirmed? Her doctors were awfully quick to call "Stage IV" after all. Why doesn't she post here?

Mostly I came here to let Nicole know that I am thinking of her often. In fact, Nicole, you hardly leave my mind. Take up a full seat, please, since you know you have grabbed the brass ring.

Around here, life is good. For some reason my Onc has ordered a gazillion tests which I will begin in a week. I have a new lump in the "affected" breast, but I think it is just scar tissue that has hardened. By September 1 I will know that this is nothing.

The kid LOVE LOVES LOVES her new job. LOVES LOVES LOVES her new apartment. And is learning to call before "dropping" by. My dear uncle, who I have been helping with food, etc has died. He simply didn't wake up one morning. He died in a small town, in his favorite place in the world. Services are next weekend. One of his dying wishes was that I would play at this service, so I am frantically practicing. His other dying wish was that I be allowed to select cooking utensils from his kitchen. Very sweet. Though this is all sad, it is a miracle that he was able to choose when and how he died. I admire his perseverance and determination. And I miss knowing that I can visit and enjoy his company.

So that is the news from Boston. Many good thoughts as we approach our chemo-versities....

*susan* 

foxxf

Hi,

Just wanted to let you know I am doing well the fluid in my lung cavity has dropped and not refilling, still short of breath but that just forces me to SLOW DOWN. Doh! lol

I have had 3 weeks on chemo now one week off then they are doing blood work next week to check but I am feeling better so hope it's kicking ass.

 Oh no about leanne. how is she doing?

will let you all know how we get on next week

 love to all

Nicole

Calico

Peggy,

so nice to see you, wishing you the best for our chemo anniversary!!!

Nicole,

I take that as a good sign, that you get a response feeling better so quickly starting treatment!!!

Praying for the best bloodwork ever!!!

Susan,

glad your baby likes her life outside the nest. I am so very sorry for your loss!!! It does sound bitter sweat though, how your uncle managed to pass over, hugs to you!!!

Prayers for good bloodwork next week and benign scar tissue!!!

I always pray for the September soul sisters, when I am up on my mountain.

Need to go today, have been rained out the last two afternoons.....I have webbed feet with all the rain this year!!!

Hopefully Leanne checks in with us soon.

Has anybody heard of Maxine lately?

If you MIA sisters read here, please please check in

I had my laparascopy and had ovarian tissue and a follicular cyst...can you believe it?

I wonder if Femara even protected me at all during the last three years....hoping that it didn't encourage any growth anywere....

I am going to follow up on the enchondroma, since it appears to be larger....sucker has to come out if I have a say....

Thinking of all of you!!!!

Calico

Checking in and looking to see how it is going Nicole,

hope everybody is well....

sholroyd

Hi all - also checking in.

Nicole, so proud of you the way you are dealing with current issues - your determination and courage will help enormously girl - keep it up - hope you can feel the hugs I send to you now and then?

Calico - be positive (I know it is difficult) femura will have done the trick!

Susan, will email to ask after your welfare now that 1 September has come and gone.

 I am on Facebook but haven't picked anything up from Leanne??  I will email Peg to ask 'how to'

susan_02143

So, yesterday was the day. Scans were on Tuesday and the doctors on Thursday. Can I say, I have spent way too much time at this damn hospital!

Okay. So the scans were not fun. Barium for breakfast is just disgusting. Then the contrast burst all over me and the floor. Totally ridiculous.

Anyhow, saw the oncologist first on Thursday. Blood markers are still up, but down from last time. Scans are clean. We agreed that I would not have any more scans. I will not see him again for six months.

And I was off to my mammo. The technician was so precise. She took so much time pushing and pulling. My poor surgical breast was truly put through the wringer, but she got the shots that she needed. I was off to see the surgeon. Well, her PA since I am not interesting anymore. And she made me wait for 40 minutes. By the time we went into the exam room I had reached the end of my patience rope. I turned down an MRI.

At the end of the day, I just wanted to sit in a chair and cry. I have no idea why. Husband truly doesn't get it. This was all good news after all, but somehow it just drained me. I am just tired of looking for something to go wrong. I am willing to do blood tests, but I am refusing everything else.

So, good news. I am having all the wrong responses, but am grateful and am backing out the system slowly!

Nicole, sending all my thoughts.....

*susan* 

Calico

Awwww....Susan,

sending you hugs!!!! Scans and tests are the pits, we just think so far so good, the shoe needs to drop. A good cry is the best therapy to get over a crappy day!!! Yayy for sinking TM's...that is good news.

Maybe in a few days you'll reconsider the MRI, who knows.

leannem

Hello my darling  sisters

Gosh where do I start?? It has so long since I have been here- I think I went through a really big phase of trying to "forget" however it really was a like being chased. Eventually you can't run anymore and the beast eventually catches up with you in one way or another.

Nicole- I am MAD to hear of your new dx but it has to be said I LOVE hearing your fighting attiitude and the fact you are tolerating the new chemo so well. Fantastic news!! Can you PM me your address if you don't mind?

Well pretty much to the DAY of my 4yr original dx I was in having a fine needle biopsy on 2 x lumps that have come back as cancer. At this stage they are unsure if it is a local reoccurance or a new primary as the preliminary pathology came back as a new primary. Now they are retesting everything for final results. Originally I was weakly ER+ PR- Her2+++ now it appears I am Strongly ER+ (90%) Strongly PR+ (90%) and Her2+++. I was dx'd purely by chance as it was a routine ultrasound and mammo that picked it up and couldn't be felt at all.

I had my lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy last Monday and have recovered much better this time around. No drain and less pain thankfully. However they didn't clear margins all the way around and I am off for another surgery this Friday. I meet with my onc on Wednesday and I  am pretty scared that he will push for more chemo. I was just so seriously ill last time it terrifies me beyond belief to go there again.

Making it extra difficult this time is the fact that Scott and I are separated. As you may remember he was posted with the army 2yrs ago to a town 15hrs away and things were already terrible and it took a slide from there. So this time it is just me and the boys! They are both older  obviously (nearly 7 and just turned 4) however with age comes more fears for them but I am pretty open with them and they seem happy with the answers I have given them.

Anyway that is me for now. I am running late to get Toben to school even though I was just going to pop in here and say hi!! I never could resist a chat!!

Thanks for caring my sisters, it does feel like coming home to you all.

xxxxxxxxxxx

Calico

Leanne,

so sorry to hear about your new cancer!! This sucks big time.

I hope it is rather small since you could not feel it. Do you have news yet on the sentinal node?

Saying prayers for you!!! Must be so hard to be by yourself. Do you have a support group of some sort, somebody to help with the boys? Can Scott take the kids for a while in case you would need chemo??

Nicole,

how are you?

Sending hugs all around!!!!

foxxf

Leanne,

They were lucky to catch this so early hopefully there is no node involvement. There are lots of new drugs around since we had our first treatment and I find i am tolerating the chemo amazingly well. so don't let your last experience put you off making important decisions. In the end we have young children and need to do what has to be done. My kids are a bit been there done that and are coping very well. Jack doesn't really rember last time that much and thinks I just gave myself a silly haircut. (as if that is something i would do? lol)

Blood work came back with very good results. My tumor markers dropped from 485 to 340 with 3 wks on abraxane and one week off. I have had 2 more tx since then and although my hair is 95% gone (doesn't bother me, summer starting to arrive) and alittle tired (go to bed when needed) breathing getting there slowly. It's all good!! Still working, something I know I could not have done last time. So kicking cancer Ass and loving it!!..

Susan, I had a chest mri about a month before the fluid in the lung symptom and it didn't show a thing. I sometimes felt that looking to hard was like wishing it on yourself (stupid I know) but if the test thing is that hard for you don't do it. Watch the markers and let them be your guide for testing.

As I said earlier my marker count is now at 340 does anyone else know what there's is? Is normal count 0 or being post txt is a count below 10 normal? I saw someone on another thread freaking out cause hers was 3 and went up to 6 ( I thought half your luck, but then it did double) Tumor marker counts are not something done regularly as follow up here but makes you think if 0 is normal 485 should have been picked up a bloody long time ago. 

 Love to you all

Nicole

Calico

Hi Nicole,

yayyy for sinking TM's!! and kicking cancer ass

Do you know which ones you get done? They have a reference range on the print out...for example the CA 15-3 is 0-32 for normal range but others might be higher or lower (narrower ranges?)

Here is to even lower TM's for the next round!!! I am glad you are feeling better this time around!!

hugs and prayers!!!

foxxf

Calico,

 Thanks for that it is the CA 15-3 they are testing so here's to heading for normal??? LOL first time I have ever been tested and proven not the norm!! lol

Extraordinary

Nicole

Liezel

Nicole, such good news about your TM's being down!  Let's hope it goes way down....  Take all the time you need to recover now and know we are thinking of you....

Leanne - NO!!  This makes me soooo angry.... I am so tired of this thing.  It is very sad to hear about Scott, but you sound very strong.  Hang in there....  How is Toben doing?

So sorry to hear about your uncle Susan, but definitely the best way to go...  I can so relate to how you are feeling about all the scans, etc.  I decided last year to put myself on annual scans and 6 monthly blood tests.  That barium honestly gets worse and worse every time. 

We are doing well!  Summer around the corner - Yeah!!  We have had so much rain this winter, I have got mushrooms growing in my garden!!  We are still trying hard to conceive, but as the months go by, I get more and more despondent.  While I am desperate for another baby, dh is so scared that it will bring back the beast.  So in the meantime we just carry on.

Lots of love to all of you....

 Liezel

sholroyd

"I am just tired of looking for something to go wrong" said Susan - I can so relate to this.  I don't get half the frequent tests you ladies seem too - I don't even know if my blood gets checked for markers??!!  But I feel good for now so I won't dwell on this.

Leanne - goodness, when are you going to get peace - I hope you have got support with the kids? They are still young and energetic.   Give it all you have as you have always done Leanne - hugs all the way from here to both you and Nicole right now (not saying UK Susan).

I am having a Ladies night here at home on Saturday night - hubby is going away with his brother to do some climbing - I am having around 50 ladies to do ladies stuff, a catering company have offered their buffet service (free), someone is donating some cakes, I am doing puds (well buying some) - we have someone coming to talk about Reiki, Indian head massage etc, someone talking about pampering stuff (smellies etc), book swap, Irish bingo, raffle etc - the funds raised will be split between cancer research/cystic fibrosis and a local hospice.  I think I will be busy.

Speak soon.

Calico

Hi girls,

Sandra,

sounds like you had a fun evening planned!!!

Nicole,

how are you doing? Hope, things are going well

Leanne,

any news on treatment? How are you?

Liezel,

I guess I would feel like your hubbie, estrogen could go up during pregnancy, I'd rather cherish good health with the kids you already have.....but lingering wishes for more children are understandable....hugs to you!

Had my estrogen checked after my cyst was removed and it is down to 13.4, hopefully it stays down. Spots on hip and femur seem okay too.

So far so good, sticking the head into the sand again for a while.....I hate pink...did I mention that?

Hope all of you are doing well under the circumstances.

Wish, Maxine would check in, hope she's doing well too....

sholroyd

Hey Calico - if it helps, keep the head in the sand.

 Tina - how's the weight loss going - I thought of you today when I went a short ride on my bike with the grandsons - I mean 'short'.  I have not lost 30.5 pounds - want to lose just 6 more pounds.

The ladies night went well - lots of fun - lots of hard work - worth it though - another one for the memory box.

Liezel - try not to let depression set in - how are your kids?

 Hugs to you all - Nicole and Leanne xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

txred9876

Ladies....

I have been very busy these days but have come in to read but not post as of late.... Leanne and Nicole you are getting prayers from even those you do not know. I have been working hard toward the Inaggural Mamma Jamma Ride against Breast Cancer. I have been working my you know what off... I am up to 44 lbs gone but many more inches lost. Over the last month I have done a 46 mile, 54 mile (8 days ago) and last Saturday a 68 mile ride (just over a metric centry!). I am going to post some pictures on my mamma jamma page.

here is a link to my page: I should have more pictures up by tomorrow.

http://www.mammajammaride.org/site/TR/Events/General?px=1007541&pg=personal&fr_id=1040

Tina

PS Good for you Sandra... I am having the same impact on my sister... This is what she wrote me today "I was thinking about you on Saturday when I was riding my
bike.  It was about 5:30 and I was thinking about not going on my bike
ride because it was getting late in the day, then I thought if Tina can
ride 65 miles today, then I better get out there and ride too, not 65
miles of course."

txred9876

I need the names of all that would like to "ride" with me on oct 10th.  I am planning on doing something but not sure exactly what yet! Even if I have you all in my pocket on a list... its important to me... that you share with me each of those miles... we might be going for the full 100!!!!!!!!! (or as far as one may go...)

Love tina

Liezel

Hi Everybody,

I got some news this morning, and I had to share it with all of you!  We have truly been blessed.  I am pregnant!!  It feels to me as if this little soul has actually been with me for years, and have chosen now to come out into the world.  I know there are many concerns with my ca and with my age, but I feel confident that both of us will get through this healthy and happy.  Four years ago my body turned against me, now we have taken control again and out of something that I have seen as ugly for the last few years will come something amazing.  How blessed can one person be?

Love,

Liezel

Calico

Liezel,

Congratulations!!!!! I know how much you will enjoy the pregnancy and the baby!

Tina,

you are amazing!!!!

Hi to all, wish you would check in more often

tinkermax

Hi ladies

Sorry ive been absent for so long.  Calico, thank you for the PM.

I am doing ok, but still struggling to get a diagnosis with my hand problem, Ive had various tests and they are still unable at the moment to give me a clear diagnosis, but my rheumotologist isnt ruling out scleroderma.  He thinks it is caused by either the chemo or arimidex.  I stopped taking the Arimidex in Feb, after being on it 3 years.

Nicole and Leanne I am so sorry to hear you are both having to deal with this again, my heart goes out to you both.

Gentle hugs to all you lovely ladies, I will try and pop by more often

Maxine 

sholroyd

This is for you and your family Liezel :-)

http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=1929311677586&source=jl999

Hey Tina, I am struggling to open the link our end - will keep trying - you are a *.   I am now at 33lbs lost - 5lbs to go - still not biking or doing anything near as strenuous as you.

Nicole and Leanne xxxxxxxxxxxx