2005 ROCK-TOBER CHEMO GIRLS

TracySeattle

OK - I am SO looking for the cheesecake dipped in Chocolate booth at the fair!!!

TracySeattle

I am joining Kelly in the Rock-Tober Girl Record Keeping department here! According to my calculations, there are 18 of us!!!!

marymelodi
sherryhaire
debbie444
lauragto
maryannecb
tracyseattle
ternysmom
graycie
chumfry
TaDah
adnerb
rosemarie
ravdeb
ake
paula74
scottishlass
cathy987
wildflowers

Have I missed anyone??? Any more ladies out there that would like to join our little circle of friends?

RoseMarie

Ok, well I don't make cards BUT as soon as the coast is clear I will certainly google tea bagging...

Debbie - sorry about the ballon ride cancellation! btw, Kiersten is 9, John Michael is 8 and Justin is 4
John Michael has a lovely habit of leaving his dresser drawers open once he's fished out what he's going to wear. The bottom drawer was open, Justin came running through, tripped and smacked the dresser drawer with the bridge of his nose. I have never seen anything swell as quickly as the bridge of his nose. He initially looked like a Star Trek Klingon!!
Tracy - so glad to hear about your port removal! Mine's coming out in 13 days!!!!
Ravdeb - still keeping your daughter in my thoughts! My husband went to the doctor yesterday - the thing on his hand was a wart but the spot next to his nose was precancerous something or other - not a big deal - so they froze both things and he was back to work. Big relief!

debbie444

I have a new car ! i am REAL excited - will post a pic when it stops raining!
DEbbie

ravdeb

Rosemarie,
First of all, glad to hear that your dh's spots that were removed were NOT serious. What is pre-cancerous? I hear that term a lot. My friend had a pre-cancerous polyp removed from his colon, my dh's cousin had a pre-cancerous....BREAST cancer lump which is known in our world as insitu or Stage 0 and NOT PRE-cancerous.
I know that on the skin it is different. Insitu on the skin doesn't need any treatment besides removal (yep, have become an expert!).

Your story about Justin reminds me a bit of what happened to my middle son when he was about 3. Our bedroom and the kids' bedroom were attached and only divided by a wall with a door. (this was our old house). Well, Gilad made a flying leap from our room into his room and ran right into the corner of his bed...a REAL corner (dh had built this bed). He opened up his cheek! Looked like his whole face was opened from the blood. But we ran him to ER and they glued him back together again. Now, when he smiles he has an extra dimple (he's 20 now).

ravdeb

hey..we're on page 115! wow girls! We sure are talkative!

Anonymous

Ravdeb,

Every time I see your signature I want to eat chocolate.

marymelodi

Ravdeb:
When I set up my preferences on the "My Home" page here at this site, I chose to have 99 messages displayed per page. So, when I look at our thread I see that we are on page 35. This message that I am typing will be the 75th message on page 35 (on my computer). Doing the math of 34 x 99 + 75 I calculate that we have posted 3441 messages since this thread started last September 2005. That's averaging 287 messages a month, which actually doesn't seem like so many for a whole month. Of course, there were some days when none of us felt much like writing, chatting, or being at the computer. Wow, glad that is all behind us and we can gab a much as we want!!!

Victoria:
Thanks for giving me the info about the dish. I will try it. It sounds good. I don't know if I'll be able to find the right chili or not. Have a great time with the kids.

Rosemarie:
Watch out when you google tea bagging. I was surprised. I thought my husband had told me pretty much everything of that type (he had much more worldly experience than me, if you know what I mean) but I'd never heard this term. I like herbal tea so this will have to get purged from my head so I won't think of it at inappropriate moments.

Good luck to "the nose" boy!

Debbie:
Congratulations on your new "baby"! Hope you two have a long, happy, stress-free relationship. My van just cost me $750 for a lot of work and I am thinking a smaller, newer model would be a good move to make.

Tracy:
I'm kind of thinking we had a Rosemary in the group at one time. Am I wrong? I'm not up to looking through 3400 messages but I sort of remember "Rosemary." No, not Rosemarie. Oh well, maybe I'll spot check some of the back pages.

Toodle-loo,
Mary

Anonymous

I just love you all so much! What more can I say. So much has gone on here in the past few days posts that I'm overwhelmed. But everyone seems to be feeling good and lovin' life - with the exception of a few bumps and bruises.

Welcome to the New Girls - wildflower: we both had ILC and if my memory serves me correctly - we both had/have unclean margins at the chest wall - bummer!

Everyone - have a great weekend. I have put together a team for the Komen Race For The Cure - 5k walk here in Chicago on September 30th. If any of you want to join me - that would be JUST FAB, and let me know! You could even stay at our house here in the forest (we have plenty of guest bedrooms).

Laura

marymelodi

Oh,Laura, how generous you are. I am doing the ACS Strides Against Breast Cancer walk on Sunday, Oct. 1. We'll be doing these walking things on the same weekend.

Tracy:
I looked back on some pages. There were two women who posted alot with us back in the chemo days Oct to Feb. One was called Spirit (Kate). She dropped out because of surgeries and delays in chemo. Her last post was in June to tell us that she had a new onc and was going to start Taxol. The search function brings up no other posts from her after that.

The other woman was Seredipity (Jane). Her last post was February 9. She mentioned she was starting back to work in April. Again, a search shows no other posts to the boards after that date.

There were quite a few different women in the very beginning, but they didn't seem to continue much past the first few weeks. I didn't look at every message. Just spot checked. I guess there was no Rosemary. Wonder who I was thinking of???

Mary

RoseMarie

Thanks for the advice, Mary, I actually never did google it and probably won't now
Loving this cooler weather!!! I am excited to be experiencing a taste of fall- remember I'm a Florida gal and this is great!

scottishlass

Mary
This sounds very interesting - the scrap book idea - however I cannot visualise it from your description - do you have any photos or is there a site which explains this
Jill

scottishlass

Hi Ravdeb
Glad you liked the tea bag folding site - I find it very soothing to work methodically through someting without having to think much.
You seem much more creative than me - can you share your end idea or can it not be put into words. Also you have said a couple of times you are working on a new business. Is that creative too?
Jill

sherryhaire

What a long night for me , Got a call my son he is 26 was riding a motorcycle coming around a sharp curve and another car was in his lane, luckily he swerved and avoinded the car but ran off the road. He is basically ok, lots of road burn, scrapes ect.. He will be quite sore for a few days to come. He was riding his roomates cycle--not good--no cycle endorsement on his licence as he was just trying it out--so he did get a ticket for that. He lives several hours from here but his roomate was so kind to keep calling me with updated reports and to let me know he was "OK"

ravdeb

Sherry,
So glad that in the end, your son is okay. How awful!

Jill...I do miniature drawings and make greeting cards from them..but not to sell..just for fun. I draw with pen and color in with watercolor pencils. Have done other things here and there, but that's what I do the most of. I draw on watercolor paper and layer that on other kinds of papers. Also use some acrylics to add more color here and there. I love sparkly stuff, so I use sparkly paints a lot.

I'm working on a new business and yes..it's also creative. I'm very excited about it. Can't publicize it as of yet but I will say that I was inspired by one of the women I met on bc.org. She is helping me along to get me started. It makes it all the more meaningful to me.

Brenda...LOL... I am so addicted to chocolate it aint funny!

Debbie..has it stopped raining yet? Looking forward to seeing a pic of your new car!

TracySeattle

Oh Sherry! I am so sorry about your son! Thank goodness he is OK! It is so hard to be far away from our kids when these things happen. A few years ago my son, who lived in Hawaii at the time, broke his arm in 5 places while body surfing. He was in HORRIBLE pain for quite some time and there was no way I could get to him. Then 6 months later he had surgery to repair the arm (it wouldn't heal) and I also could not be there for that. No matter how old they get, it is hard for a mom to be away from them when they need us! I was lucky too that he had wonderful friends that helped keep me informed.

You will all be in my prayers!

Mary - I remember Serendipity, she and I were pretty close in our treatments.... I wonder how she is doing? I guess the women that have dropped away during the year have found other means of support. I wish they would stop in an let us know how they are!

I am off to church and then to my friend's house at the river. Hope you all have a good day!

TracyNY

Well dayum! 59 posts? On a weekend?! The last weekend of the summer?! If the weather in your towns is like it was in NYC yesterday I should hardly be surprised. How wet did I get? Ask Amy, she probably got doused too!! Man, it was torrential!

I will tell the story of the "TaDah and Secret Passageway -The Chinatown Quest for Knock-off Handbags" later on.

Laura: Glad you have that weight off your mind.
Rosemarie: Let me know where your son works, it may be at one of my watering holes!

I'm getting ready to hit the trail. I'll catch you guys later.

ake

i'm in nyc but just wanted to say:

CONGRATS LAURA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous

Does anybody else get the magazine called The Cure ? It comes out quarterly and is free to survivors. It has good articles about survivorship, new treatments, etc. This time there is a referral to a website Mothers and Mortality . Just wanted to pass that along this morning.

There was also an article on fatigue. It talks about the very real fatigue that comes AFTER treatment. I am still having trouble with my joints and feet in the morning!!

Hope you have a great day today!!

Teryn and I are going next door for a bbq and swimming. Can't wait til we have our own pool. Construction starts next week!

Graycie

Wow, A lot going on I can hardly keep up with all you girls....Sound's like you are all keeping busy which is good.....It has been pouring here too so I can truly understand what you are talking about Tadah. And the "knock off handbag's", I kind of heard about those from my sister. If I am not mistaken they took her in some building and up some elevator, sound's pretty scary to me........

Has anyone ever gone to Myheritage.com. to see what celebrity you look like. It is hysterical, I was laughing so hard, I mostly look like men....haaaaa. I put in several pictures and I always game up someone different.... My grandson came up as Shirley temple.......we had a good laugh over that one......

Kelly, I don't get "Cure" magazine but I will be sure to look it up. Especially since I feel very tired lately.............kind of getting worried, I just don't feel right.

Sherry, Thank goodness your son is OK........That must be so scary when you get that dreaded phone call.

I am having my family over for a picnic today so hopefully it stops raining. I hope everyone is having a nice day........I will check in again tomorrow.

Love Gracyie

ravdeb

Tracy..hope you have fun at the river!

I'm so jealous of all that rain some of you are getting! We won't get much rain til October or November. Haven't had a really good rain since maybe April..NONE in the summer except for a freaky drizzle for all of two seconds that made the cars all spotty from all the dust :-(
As our evenings begin to turn cooler for Fall, Israelis all dream of a good rain. The first rains here are always a celebration. I go out on my patio and just enjoy the smell of it. mmmmm....can't wait!

Graycie.... what is your tiredness like? I get much more tired after an outing or any kind of anything that I do than I did before chemo. I tend to sleep late if I don't set my alarm clock. I never used to before bc. I was always a morning person. Now I seem to have become a NOON person!!! LOL.

Now you got me curious..must check that link you left here...

ravdeb

okay..I went into Myheritage.com and the celebrities in me are...
1. Paris Hilton
2. Janie Tienphosuwan
3. Woranuch Wonsawaan
4. Neko Case
5. Alyson Hannigan
6. Audrey Tautou
7. Laura Bush!!!!!

GET REAL...Laura Bush??? OMG! LOL

Graycie

Isn't it funny and addicting..I am still laughing......

Here are some of mine..
1. William Moseley
2. Christie Brinkley--I wish
4. Kevin Costner-wouldn't mind if I was a guy
5. Molly Sims- I don't know who she is but atleast she is pretty

And get a load of this one
6.Courtney Love.

Ravdeb, to answer your question.....I seem to be zapped of all my energy the last couple of days. Actually I am OK when I am moving but if I sit down I could fall asleep. I was always a morning person too but I am having a hard time getting up. My joint's also ache and I feel kind of shaky..Weird. I do have a lot of seasonal allergies and the weather has changed drastically in the last few days so that may be why I feel this way......I hope so..
Better run, my company is arriving......

Graycie

ravdeb

Well, hope you enjoy your company.
Maybe you are coming down with a flu or something? With the rain and dampness..maybe you are more achey and tired?

I know that I'm achy continually but I try to ignore. It is worse, like Kelly, when I first get up out of a chair or bed..can hardly walk on my feet. It improves as I walk more.

But I am achey. And I am a bit tired. But I do feel more energetic than I did when I first finished rads.

It takes time. Our bodies took a beating..we need to allow ourselves to heal from it all.

Feel good!
Oh..and I have no idea who most of those women on the list of celebrities are. But, like you said, they are all pretty and...YOUNG!

Anonymous

Kelly: My fatigue is a lot better, though I know I'm not 100% yet. I figured that out when I saw the other teachers my age lifting the students' desks, pushing furniture around, with no visible signs of fatigue. I had to call a friend to help me, and even then we had to stop every 20 minutes. I hope I do get back my "before dx" energy. I wonder if that's possible.

Ravdeb: Here's a list of food that's good for your brain: blueberries, broccoli, nuts (almonds, walnuts), olive oil, pumpkin (seeds also), spinach, salmon, yogurt, tomatoes and CHOCOLATE! This is research-based info.

Sherry: Glad to know that your son is going to be okay.

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

RoseMarie

TaDah - my brother works at a place called Katra (sp??) I think he said it's on Bowery Street - since I don't know NY I have no idea if this is correct but he said he's the only male bartender. Please let me know if you bump into him
hope everyone is having a great weekend - (the computer and the phone - as soon as I either answer the phone or get on the computer everyone seems to need me AAAAAAHHHHH!)

marymelodi

Hi all . . . just looking in to see what you've all been doing. I had a nice day. Went to church. I wanted to see a woman in my congregation who was diagnosed with BC at the end of June. She had a lumpectomy in July and has now had 12 of 33 radiation treatments. She did not have to have chemo. Or rather, she chose not to have chemo. She said they told her it would only make a 4% difference in her possible recurrance rate and she didn't want to go through chemo for just 4%. She's pretty sore (don't we all remember that?) and feeling the fatigue. I had heard about her diagnosis but was told she was not telling anyone and so I respected her privacy and did not approach her. But, another friend told me she is now letting everyone know so I approacher her today and we ended up having a good talk. Of course, I offered to help her in any way possible. She's being treated at a different facility than I went to and it sounds like maybe they don't have the same supports, etc. that I had. I feel kind of bad for her. She has all her family around her this weekend, 2 daughters have come home from London (Hi, Debbie!) so I think in a couple of days I may try to visit her. I'm so sorry that someone else has to get this diagnosis and have the treatment, even though it's a blessing that such good treatments are available.

So, I'm getting tired. Going to bed soon. That's my fatigue consequence . . . early to bed!!

Talk to you all later,
Mary

TracySeattle

Hi Everyone!

I got visitation with my dog today (he lives with my EX), so I took him with me to the River. There were a lot of people there (annual campout) including my mom and my son. There were probably 12 other dogs there, so Killian got to run, swim and play. Then Mom and I went to our local pub to eat and Killian sat with us on the patio. He is one tired pup tonight! Won't even chew the rawhide bone I got him! I will take him back tomorrow morning.

The weather here has been perfect this weekend! We have had such a nice summer that I won't really mind when the rain comes back. When it does it will be here until next summer....

That is my day! Sounds like you are all havnig some fun this weekend too.... YAY!!!

Anonymous

Marymelodi ...... I have heard statistics like that for er/pr+ postmenopausal women. For me, I would take the chemo even for the 4% chance. I would feel guilty if it came back and I had skipped it. I would always think, "what if?" ... As it turns out for me, chemo helps er/pr+ pre-menopausal women. My onc said it was a great benefit. I said I would do every single thing that increased my odds.

Tracy, sounds like you and the dog and Mom had a great time!!

cathy987

Greetings all from Goshen IN.

I was in the middle of Illinois from Friday night until Sunday afternoon and had great plans for posting Saturday evening when I was free. The wireless worked in the lobby of the hotel I was staying in (and where I was working) so did manage to catch up with everyone’s posts but when I got to my room no such luck and this morning could not pull up the internet in the lobby even though it said I was connected.

So many hours later and a quick trip around Cbicago and down the turnpike here I am in Goshen and of course the high speed connection here is working beautifully but it’s late and even later this year than before because Indiana now has daylight savings time where most of the state didn’t do that before.

Tomorrow I spend at the fairgrounds and then take off for the trip back home in the afternoon. I’ll try to stop early tomorrow night in Wisconsin and do a better job of sharing with you all.

I can really relate to the fatigue you’ve all been experiencing. Mine seems worse when I take time to breath and relax.

Sherry, happy to hear your son will be o.k. I know that fear that something could happen to our grown kids. My youngest is into river rafting and I worried a lot about him until he took me out on the river last summer and showed me how thrilling it is and how very good he is at it. (I still do worry some.)

Until tomorrow, with a little luck.