2005 ROCK-TOBER CHEMO GIRLS

debbie444

Well ladies, I have an emergency appointment at the breast centre tomorrow. The breast that i had the lumpectomy on is hard and is giving me some pain. I am just hoping it is something to do with all of the treatments i have had. I was holding out to my scheduled appointment but things have just got on top of me.
Debbie

Graycie

Debbie, I wrote you but must have lost it.....My breast is also hard mostly on the bottom. I think it has to do with radiation so I will be curious as to what the doctor tells you. I went to the breast surgeon last week and all he said was that I still have a lot of swelling. Hopefully your's too will turn out to be nothing. Best of Luck....

Graycie

Oh Deb, I just noticed your new avatar....Your hair is coming in good, it look's wonderful. Is It wavy? It looks like it has a lot of body....

Anonymous

Debbie -
Hang in there! Please let us know what they say. I have read other messages on board here about this and usually it's not anything bad - more of a build-up of scar tissue. Still, I can truly understand your concern and unease. Take care.
Laura

marymelodi

Debbie: I am so glad to see your pictures and hear your trip was smashing. How much is a stone in pounds? I hope it's like 10 or 12 pounds so that your "half a stone" weight loss is not just due to water weight changes. I'm assuming, of course, that you wanted to lose a half-stone. You look so good in your pictures and seem to be so active in you life that I think you don't need any improvements.

I'm sure your "hard" area is what the other gals have said - scar tissue or changes from the radiation. My radiated breast is firmer than the other and pinker - still. I supose it may be that way for a while.

Regarding sock sizes: take a ruler, put it on the floor so the end of the ruler is even with the heel of your foot. Measure the total length of your foot, standing, and see how long your foot is standing. Then, hold the ruler up so the end is on the floor and get the measurement from the floor up to the middle of your ankle bone. If you can measure around your instep with a measuring tape, that figure would also help. You can do this also by taking a string or skinny strip of paper, wrap it around the instep, mark with a pen where the end of the string meets around the foot, then lay it out flat and measure against the ruler to get the instep measurement. Those 3 figures will help me fit the socks to your feet (assuming they are both pretty much the same size, ha-ha). . . foot length, height to ankle bone, and instep width. Your feet spread when standing so it is best to measure that way.

You probably don't have huge feet. I wear an American size 10 1/2 wide and that is pretty big for a woman. I just finished a pair of black socks for my husband that are 17 1/2 inches from floor to top of calf and about 12 inches heel to toe. It was an endless knitting task, but he never has asked for anything for himself and I wanted to meet the challange. Yes, I married a giant!!!

So glad to see you and read your messages again. We missed you!!

Mary

Anonymous

GIRLS -
Do any of you have maryanne's address? I want to send her a t-shirt. If so, can someone PM me with it? Thanx.
Laura

marymelodi

Okay - I am very excited now because on the internet I just found a knitted sock pattern that has the pink ribbon for breast cancer awareness knitted into the texture of the sock. I can't explain it well so look at this site and see the picture: http://www.lloydknitting.com/downloads/pink_ribbon.pdf

I'm going to try the ribbon part of the pattern tonight. Now I cannot wait to get the pink yarn and begin the October girls socks!!! Only 4 days to payday . . .

Yipee!!!

ravdeb

Hi Ladies..
Have no time to write..but I'll be back in Israel Aug 16th and will get on more then.
Just wanted to say that Amy is just as beautiful, if not more, than some of the new pics she has posted recently. Recognized her right away and she is just as cute and nice as she is on-line! It was very cool to meet. I wish we could have been together for a bit longer but it was well worth it!
Ta-dah..love your pics. You are such a beauty with a wonderful sense of humor that keeps us all going and smiling. so lucky to have you in this group!!!
Miss being on here but will be back to report from israel of the situation there. It's not good. My dh and youngest son have been in our bomb shelter 3 times so far and our friends in the north go in every hour or so. We know kids in Lebanon..soldiers but you know..they are KIDS and my son's girlfriend is in the north with her soldiers I just learned today and I'm very worried about her. Am actually anxious to get back home so that I can know what is going on all the time.

Be well ladies. Nice to see Graycie Gail back.
Love you all!!!

Graycie

Mary, I checked out the socks, they are cute! I don't want to bother you with making anymore socks than you need to. My sister know's how to knit so I may give her the pattern. I used to knit but nothing ever came out the right size. Everything I used to make seemed to grow.......I guess I knit too loose.

Ravdeb, I wish you the best....I know you are anxious to get home to your family but I am still glad you are here until the 16th.

debbie444

Well i am back, and back to my usual carefree self.
Went to the hospital and it was a bit like a reunion with all of the staff who treated me when i went in before. The consultant said that it was nothing she was concerned about. I have fluid retention at the botton of my breast due to all of the trauma it went through and the rest is hardening due to the radiotherapy. She said it is common for them to take on a woody texture and it will probably get worse before it gets better as radiotherapy keeps on giving long after you finish going. She also explained that i havent been called for my mammo yet as they like to give it time to get back to its new normal.
Mary - i will send my measurements when the kids stop rolling on the floor at me trying to measure my feet. I will willingly pay for the wool or postage if you let me know.
Take care
debbie
P.s - how can you see my new pic but i cant?

Anonymous

Debbie, I love your pictures!
Wasn't the Irish Sea too cold??? I cannot imagine going in for a swim!

Anonymous

Ravdeb, I am very worried about your homeland. I pray it is over soon and you are all safe!

ake

ravdeb..i hope you have a safe trip back....i'll be keeping you in my thoughts and hoping this mess is over soon!

debbie...glad that the hard part was nothing. i have hard things all over my breasts from radiation, scar tissue...it used to scare the crap out of me, but i've slowly come to terms with it all. hopefully at some point, we'll stop panicking!

my nipples are shrinking to normal size...most bizarre thing. they're smaller every day. it's so weird! tattoos in october

has anyone heard anything from maryanne? we haven't heard from her in ages. i hope she's okay. i have her email address, so i'm going to find out where she's been.

marymelodi

I just did a quick search amd MaryAnne's last posting was 7/21/06. On 7/20/06 she told us that her kids were gone until 8/12. Perhaps she is vacationing? I didn't see any postings after 7/21 on any forum or thread.

Hope we hear something soon.

Mary

maryannecb

Hello to All! To all you cyber detectives I have been at my cottage with no computer, no TV, occasional newspaper and no kids since July 20.

Time has passed quickly . I have read through the posts ansd see that the gettogethers have happened. You llook pleased to have met. Deborah I am surprisd at how tiny you are. How tall are you? Laura, and Rosemarie nice to see you too. Rosemarie I never detected your southern drawl but will always read your posts with it from now on. Amy, a new nest. How nice. It will be great to settle in and make it your own.Mary and Tracy, I think it is wonderful how active you have become in the "cause". Kelly I am glad your court proceedings are working out for you. Debbie I have been dipping in the Atlantic Ocean and it is cccold but very refreshing on a nice hot day. Tadah, sounds like your Vac went well and good to see you again-stll pleased with the"girls"? Amy never thought shrinking nipples could make a woman happy...

I had my Herceptin midway through my vacation , this time I was tired and achey and not well for a few days. It was the first time I resented being treated. I think I am getting tired of all this crap. My lung has improved and will have followup CT in Sept- I can barely feel it now.

My kids come back on Sunday after a month gone. As much as I appreciate the break I really missed them and wish that this summer I could have vacatione d with them. Soon thay will be back.

We have been ebtertaining at our cottage for the past three weeks. I am exhausted. Four of my sisters and brothers with their kids have visited for several days at a time. My husbands family,his two elderly parents and brother and nephew have been here for three weeks. It has been too much for us as a couple and times are tense between my husband and I. Next year I will plan a much quieter vacation. NO VISITORS! I now see where the expression familiarity breeds contempt comes from.

I am afraid this is going to disappear so will post it now and add some pics shortly.

Fists up!

sherryhaire

Finally have internet access agin Mine has been on the blink for awhile Missed you guys-- getting ready for work hope to post later

marymelodi

Whew! MaryAnne is back and Sherryhaire, too. You guys can't escape us. We have bonded to each other with something tighter than super-glue and we aren't going to let go!

It's amazing, isn't it, that we have formed this group and it is strong and full of caring and concern. It reafirms my faith in the goodness of humanity each time I experience this connection.

with appreciation and fondness for you all,
Mary

TracySeattle

Oh! You all are so wonderful! I am blessed to be a Rock-tober Chemo Girl!

Laura - I got the T-Shirt and I LOVE IT!!!!

Mary - thanks so much for the good words... All of us are inspirations to those that know us and to those who need us. That is why we have been through this experience. Look at the blessings that we are all seeing now that we are through it and we have found each other too!

Debbie - I am so glad you are back and I have been experiencing the same thing with my affected breast and have been considering moving my appt up because of it. Sounds like it is normal so I am just going to wait until 8/21 which is my 6 month post chemo and one year mammo appt.

Ravdeb - It hurts me so much to see what your country is dealing with and I worry about you and your loved ones. You are in my prayers every day....

MaryAnne - Glad you aren't missing anymore!

TahDa - love the pics! I am so jealous, I love tropical vacations!

Kelly - Good news about starting the pool!

For those that know Ter - I wanted to let you know that she has been experiencing some rough times. The Dr. upped her pain meds on Monday and she seems to be doing better now. I am in touch with her sister and I call Ter about once a week to check on her. Her sister is going to visit her in two weeks and I am really glad that she is going.

I am still collecting songs and am getting ready to investigate making the CD - IF YOU HAVEN'T SENT ME YOUR SONG CHOICE YET, YOU STILL HAVE TIME!!!

OK Girls - I am considering getting a Tattoo to mark my diagnosis date. I want a pink ribbon with flowers around it and the word Survivor. What do you think? Anyone else game to get a tattoo? Want to get the same one? I am thinking about putting it on my back to the left side just below the waistline where I can show it if I want to, but it is not readily visible......

Well I have rattled on enough for now. I love you all! It is hard to remember everything that I read from all of you and wanted to comment on - sorry if I left anyone out!

marymelodi

Oh, Tracy:
What an idea about the tatoo!!! How big? I would consider one even though some people I know would frown on it. I had thought about just having the ribbon and no words. I guess though, I would put it where I could see it and no one else, unless I wanted to show it. Not sure where . . . shoulder maybe.

Keep us posted.
Mary

Anonymous

I got two surprises!
Laura, thank you for t-shirt! It is so nice of you to make it and it is such a nice shirt! I cannot wait to wear it tomorrow!

And, Tadah, you sweet girl. You are awesome. Thanks so much for your donation in support of the Komen Walk. I am so excited about doing this for all the women and will try to do this every year.

TracySeattle

Mary - I am still considering where I am going to put my Tattoo..... I was thinking on my back below the waistline of my jeans and to one side, but not sure..... I think I am going to ask them where it will hurt the least where it won't be seen unless I want to show it.... It won't be very big as I know they are expensive. I will know more when I go visit the Tattoo place.....

TracyNY

Wow! I was so touched when I opened my envelope. Laura, thank you. It is almost like an episode of the Twilight Zone where someone from another plane makes contact. Its odd, but you all are like friends in my head and to receive something concrete is almost surreal.

I will be wearing it when we meet in Las Vegas in November!

Terynsmom: you're welcome. We're here to support each other. Plus, that's about as close as I'll get to being involved in any breast cancer walk, I'm waaay to lazy for that!

TracyNY

Oh, I got my date to enter the wonderful realm of Nippledom. September 20th I'll be putting the icing on these two cupcakes I got here!!

Graycie

Tracy, You are brave...I am too chicken to get a tattoo.

TaDah, Good Luck on the 20th....Hey, funny. I just noticed you changed your screen name....How about a picture to go along with it so we all have one...

Graycie

Graycie

Aren't the shirts AWESOME? I can't wait to wear mine.....

Anonymous

TaDah! I love how you changed your screen name, it totally fits!

Now we will have Nipplicious and Tadah with 4 hot Tamales.

ake

Tadah....nipples are soooo worth it. I love them

Laura...thank you so much for the t-shirt! I love it...wore it to sleep in last night I will proudly rock it...especially in OCtober when it's our year anniversary of chemo....and meeting each other

tracy...i love the idea of your tattoo

marymelodi

I've got a T-shirt, too! It makes me happy to think of all of us with same item. I plan on wearing mine in the Strides Against Breast Canncer walk on October 1. One of my friends has already committed both of us to do it.

Have a great day!
Mary

RoseMarie

Hello ladies!!! I've been so busy doing a lot of nothing lately...school starts on Wednesday and I can't wait to send my kids off!! (They are getting on each others nerves...really they're getting on mine!!!) This is the first time in years that I'm not starting school with the kids...I feel so....LIBERATED!!! (just kidding - it really feels weird!!) I've been catching up on the posts, just haven't had time to actually post myself. Laura, you are such a sweety!! TaDah - icing on the cupcakes - lol! My cupcakes won't be done baking until the 15th of September...icing will follow. (I can't wait to be done -I'm beginning to forget what I looked like with nipples!!!)

I love all of you ladies!!! Take care!!!

TracySeattle

I am wearing my T-Shirt to work tomorrow!!! :-)

I love that we all have something that comemorates our friendship - THANK YOU LAURA!!!

I am in the final stages of CD planning, still need a few more songs..... Send them on to me!

Love you all!