2005 ROCK-TOBER CHEMO GIRLS

ravdeb

I clicked by accident and got the beginning of our forum back in mid-Sept '05 when everybody was getting ready to start chemo.

I had tears in my eyes, Ladies. We were all there, talking about shaving our heads, Sherry said she had just gotten her "critter" (wig) and I was in my panic state without an onc and running from doctor to doctor trying to understand what it was all about and which chemo regimen I should take. I remember it so well. I couldn't sleep (and I thought my sleeping these days was bad!)and so nervous! And there was Tracy, worried but being her sweet kind soul and calming everybody down. And there were some others on there who have since left our group but I do see some of them around in other places on the boards.

It was like a class reunion!

RoseMarie

Hello everyone! Kelly - my girls are doing well The swelling has totally gone down and now I'm wondering if I shouldn't have gone a bit bigger! Actually, no regrets, very happy...
MaryAnne - big hugs your way! I'm sorry you had to go through Patrick's conference feeling outnumbered!!! I can SOOO relate...
I hope everyone is having a great weekend! Have to run but will be back later.

chumfry

Amy: My step-grandmother died of pancreatic cancer this week and I was thinking the exact same thing. Is this a preview of my death? It really hit me hard. This past week also was the anniversary of starting chemo. And, of course, it's OCTOBER!

My husband and I went for a bike ride yesterday on a lovely trail through the woods. The weather and the trees were so beautiful. It was one of those days that just make you so grateful to be alive. (Not that we shouldn't be grateful every day...but you know what I mean!)

The trail was along a little river and we stopped and were looking at it, and dh said I was glowing with health. I mentioned that it had been a year ago this week that I started chemo. He hugged me and said he treasured every day, but especially moments like these. So do I.

So my emotions continue to swing up and down, but I think I'm starting to get used to this carnival ride. Today we're going to pick our own apples and go through a corn maze at a local orchard. It really perks me up to do something outside, so that's my prescription for the day.

Graycie

I don't have everyone's address so for the one's I don't have would you be willing to PM them to me. Thanks.....

Off to a Halloween party....I am going to go as a punk rocker since I already have the hair...LOL

Graycie

Anonymous

Graycie, everyone wanted me to get a blue or pink spiky wig and then wear it for real!
----
chumfry, have a fun day, do you make apple pie??

cathy987

Hey gang. I’ve had a pretty good weekend. My son Mike was here from SD from Thursday until yesterday noon. I’m involved with a local Farmer’s market and he and I had each bought half a pig and from one of our local organic farmers. Mike came to do some things for me and to pick up his pork at the locker plant. When we were getting out of the pickup I was complaining about my continuous hurting fingers and toes and Mike said, “You know what mom, Cancer sucks.” Then he grinned from ear to ear and I had to laugh. It was the best medicine–honesty and understanding about how it really is sometimes.

Then I come on here and you Amy and Ravdeb are expressing the same emotion. But then you Ravdeb talk about how you’ve changed the way you look at things this past year and how it has made you a better person.

And then Cindy tells us about her wonderful time in the woods with dh and her plans for making today a special day.

That’s what I love about all of you. You let us see your humanity in your pain and fears and then go on to support everyone who is hurting and fearing. That’s what is so special about this group.

Thanks for all the reminders about having a colonoscopy. I had one a few years back and have been avoiding having another but not because it’s particularly painful (You’re right Tracy–the hard part for me was the prep) but it’s another case of head in the sand–I don’t want them to find another cancer. I know that’s not cool thinking so will schedule next visit to the clinic.

Sending good thoughts to you all.

TracySeattle

Cathy! See if you can do your colonoscopy on 10/23--we can do it together. LOL!!!

I recently read our beginning posts too - WOW. We have come such a long way together, You all are so special to me. I can't decide if I am glad we started chemo in bc awarness month or not, but somehow it seems to be an important reminder of all of the other ladies who are traveling this road with us.

Next Saturday is our Komen Survivor's Brunch here in Seattle. So far, I have 11 friends going. We need to get there early so that we can all sit together!

I am having a lazy day today. It is noon and I am still in my jammies! I love these days! It is raining outside and feeling cozy here in the house.

Catch you all later, hope you are having a good Sunday!

Anonymous

Hi Girls, my beloved girls!
This month is tough because of it being "awareness" month...but please think positive...the "awareness" is what reminds people to donate in a search for a cure for us. Yes, pink is everywhere, but "pink" just may find us a cure! We need a cure for today, we need a vaccine for tomorrow. Think positive, think pink! I was supposed to have my Propyhlactic Mast. this month...girls...I'm just too frickin' busy! I'm quite worried about delaying it, because my original path. came back with ILC AND LCIS. My cousin, who happens to be an Oncologist!, said especially because of the LCIS, the chance of the cancer mirroring itself in my remaining breast is a possibility! Yikes, I'm just too busy and having too damn much fun "doing my life". The thought of this surgery is overwhelming. I have decided to have it done in January...when the snow is falling...and laying in bed re-cooperating will be easier. God, I hate this decision, I hate this monkey on my back...but I am trying to keep busy, trying to keep a positive attitude, trying to keep thinking that a cure will come our way. My dh and I spent the day in our forest, chopping down wood for the winter fires and preparing the gardens for the cold ahead. For a moment...I reminded myself that I must truly enjoy every minute, because I actually thought that it's possible that next year I may be sick, or going through treatment again, or...

I vasilate...I hate the uncertain...but I/we must hang in there. We must remain tough, we must remain positive and we must simply...ROCK ON!

Thanks for being here.

Love you all,
Laura

ravdeb

Laura..
I agree with you. Enjoy today. You've been through so much already. Give yourself a chance to just enjoy feeling good and chopping wood and getting ready for the cold winter months ahead (and it DOES get cold where you are!).

I think it's okay to put off the surgery (of course, I'm now not only a wannabe rabbi but a wannabe doctor! ).

Dh and I are leaving to check out bathroom fixtures because we are finally going to renovate the kids' bathroom. I wanted to tear their bathroom down as well as ours and redo it all, but that is such a mess to do! No patience for that. But, we have to fix their bathroom, so now is the time! I'm happy because I plan to change it to a different color and just make it look very different. We will be enlarging the window in there, too. It's a tiny bathroom. Wasn't built right. One of the biggest mistakes when we built the house but...no big deal. Kids grew up with it and they are almost out of the house already!!!!

Tracy..sounds like you had a nice Sunday.

Cindy..what a lovely day you had on your bike! I hope you have lots of lovely days like that. And you can come and pick fruit on our farm any time!!!!

Cathy..I agree...it's so good to be able to come here and find friends who can give us virtual hugs when we need them.

debbie444

Laura ......... Cancer Reasearch Uk have just rung me and asked if we as a family are willing to do a newspaper interview and photos wearing your T Shirts! You should have put your advert a cross the bottom
Debbie

ravdeb

That is neat, Debbie! Very cool. Laura..you are going to be famous!!!

Farrah Fawcett has cancer. I used to love her! She's now 59 and doesn't look nearly as pretty as when she was younger. But I cried when I heard she had cancer.

On this one TV station they talked about her and then said that the other two actresses who were on Charlie's Angels also had cancer.

What is going on here???? Pretty soon there will be more people WITH cancer than without and still no cures!

I'm having one of my low days. Cancer is on my mind all the time and I've been keeping busy, but...

Picked out tiles and bathroom fixtures. Now need to pick out person to tear bathroom apart and then put it back together again.

RoseMarie

Hello ladies,
Debbie - so cool about the t-shirts!!! I know you'll keep us posted - very exciting!
Ravdeb - can I come pick fruit from your farm too??
I went back and read the early posts too. Wow, so emotional. I had to quit because it was all TOO real and I was having a low moment. I don't know what's wrong with me sometimes! I really think it's the Tamoxifen - I was pissy all weekend for no good reason.
Laura - sounds like everything's going great your way! Hey, you're going to get some publicity with Debbie's interview!!
Love you ladies!

TracySeattle

YAY Debbie!!! You go girl! We are going to be famous!

I am working on our CDs and actually getting toward having them ready to go! Just a few finishing touches!

It does seem like cancer is everywhere, doesn't it? What kind of cancer does Farrah have? I ran into a lady today at Michael's she was wearing a pink ribbon pin. We talked, she is s survivor too.

I am searching for my Making Strides Against Breast Cancer T-Shirt (put it somewhere so I would know where it is--my first mistake!). I am going to put all of your names on it and I will wear it to the Making Strides walk this Sunday. I am volunteering in the Survivor tent.

Hope you are all having a good day! I have plans to go to a movie this afternoon with my friend, Dave.

Later!

Paula15089

Hi Girls!
as promised, i am reporting on my Dove Breast Cancer walk on saturday.. it was great! Heaps and heaps of people were there, i've never seen so much pink before!! The walk was 5km along Sydney harbour, which is a lovely walk past Daling Harbour and on to the Opera House...
I think quite a lot of money would have been donated to BC foundation as a result... about half of the admission price was going there.
Here are some pics:



and here are a couple of pics of one of the biggest Sydney landmarks, the Opera house:

Anonymous

Debbie -
Wow - OMG that is so cool! Can't wait to read your updates re: it!

ravdeb (aka wannabe Dr./Rabbi)
Have fun with the decorating/renovating project. I love doing things like that.

Rosemarie -
Sent you something via snail mail...

PAULA -
Those photos are awesome! You look FABULOUS! You are so pretty in pink!

Everyone -
Love ya!

Laura

TracySeattle

Paula your pics are beautiful!! I love Darling Harbor--that is where we stayed when I visited Sydney!

Back to work tomorrow for me, so I am off to bed. Just had to check in with all of you before I ended my day....

debbie444

The photos are great, my father in law visits Australia regularly as he marshalls for the rally but i have never been. One Day!!

Couple of questions before i go. Who / what is Komen?
Do you not have to do these walks as sponsored walks?
And, Kelly, wherefore art tho Kelly!! As forum secretary, do you have one of your famous lists of states etc where people live? We are on a mission to get as many of you mentioned as possible!
Oprah should have had us while she could still afford us!!
DEbbie

ravdeb

That's right Debbie!!! Oprah loses big time! We are FAMOUS now, does she not realize that??? Now there is Debbie, Laura, Amy, Tracy, Mary (me..I was on local TV here!) and who else?? Who am I missing????

Paula..wonderful pictures. YOu look beautiful!

Komen..Susan Komen..I took this from the the Komen website. It's an important story... there is a website where you can get connected with the Komen foundation.

"The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was founded on a promise made between two sisters – Susan Goodman Komen and Nancy Goodman Brinker. Suzy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1978, a time when little was known about the disease and it was rarely discussed in public. Before she died at the age of 36, Suzy asked her sister to do everything possible to bring an end to breast cancer. Nancy kept her promise by establishing the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in 1982 in Suzy’s memory..."

I'm still having aches all over my body and sleepless nights. Have any of you heard of getting myalgia from chemo after treatments are over? It's muscle aches like the kind you get from overworking them or underworking them (like being bedridden or not exercising).

I walked almost every day of my treatments except when I was hospitalized, of course. But once I was better, I was back out walking. I still walk, walked during the summer and now walk the beach if I can or just do a regular walk.

I do sit around a lot but don't we all?

I'm frustrated with this and I'm tired all the time. Of course, I'll be asking the onc on Thurs. I felt better in August when I returned from my trip, I had lots of energy and few pains except for my usual back pain. I feel worse now than before!

sherryhaire

Good morning to all--Back from my grat weekend at the Beach it was great to get away except we were afraid to get in the water as there were many large fish washed ashore, But listening to the waves and relaxing was just what I needed. I too am having so many aches in my joints and muscles, I am assuming it is because of the Arimadex but maybe a chemo effect as well. Tomorrow is my pre-surgery visit with the PS Nervous but excited, I have heard so many great stories about reconstruction but also some not so good ones too, but I am trying to be positive about it all. This will be a two parter, First to add padding then implants in a couple months, maybe I'll be put back together by my birthday the end of January. Would love to be able to buy something pretty and sexy again.

RoseMarie

Tracy - you're awesome, like always!!
Paula - What beautiful pictures!!
Sherry - will be thinking about you tomorrow! My experience with the reconstruction has been a positive one - hope that's a bit encouraging! The tissue expanders are a bit uncomfortable each time they're filled but that's my only complaint.

Ravdeb - hope you get to feeling better! I had a lot of joint pain until a few months ago and then last night I had to sleep with pillows under my knees as they hurt so bad. It's not fun - I hope you can get some relief!

Laura - can't wait for the snail mail!
Have a great day Ladies!

TracySeattle

Debbie - I have a list of names and where everyone is from, but it is at home and I am at work. If no one else gets it to you, let me know and I will PM you with it! I just got done writing it all on my T-Shirt for the Making Strides walk. I put each of your names and where you are from.

Well, back to work today after 4 days off - UGH! 4am came awfully early! I had a very nice dinner in a restaurant overlooking the waterfront last night and it was sunset too! What a nice way to end the long weekend.

You all have a good day, I will catch up with you later!

ravdeb

Sherry..Good luck with your appointment and the reconstruction, etc...!!! Glad you had fun at the beach. I absolutely LOVE the beach and was there this morning for my walk. Just love the waves, and the water on my feet and the blue sky and...just beautiful!

Rosemarie..thanks. I forgot, are you on tamoxifin? I'm not on any hormones. Why do you have knee joint pain? YUCK!

It seems that most of my pains are muscle and not joints. I have them in the joints but they are milder than the muscles! Wish I knew what it was.

And I'm not sleeping well so I'm off to take a short nap to energize me. Then back to work ...

Have a good day everybody!

TracyNY

What a weekend. I spent it running the streets with my "road dog", Maria. We travel together all the time and I stayed at her house while mine was being painted.

It took me the entire day to get my house back in order after the workmen left. Only one casualty, my desk lamp got broken but I tied it up with string.

Back to work after the holiday weekend. I'm getting ready to book Las Vegas ladies... who's coming?

Anonymous

Laura and TaDah, I won't be able to go. We have our big annual RV show next week and they are giving me a 3 day weekend at the end of the month so Teryn and I are going in the RV for the weekend for a Halloween at the Lake. Saturdays are hard to take off, so with me taking time off at Thanksgiving, 3 Saturdays is not OK.

Teryn has school on Monday so driving up for one day isn't a possibility.

-------------
marymelodi - New York
sherryhaire - Texas
debbie444 - England
paula - Australial
lauragto's - Illinois
maryannecb - Canada
tracyseattle - Washington
kelly - California
graycie - New York
cathy - North Dakota
scottishlass - Scotland
chumfry - Minnesota
wildflower - New Mexico
tadah - New York
adnerb - California
rosemarie - Indiana
ravdeb - Israel
amy - Virginia

ravdeb

Tadah..if I could swing it, I'd be there! Wish I could go to Las Vegas. I should start a Wish I Could Go to Las Vegas club! Glad you got your house painted!

Kelly...You rock! Always there doing your job!!!!

Who is keeping a list of addresses? I'd like a copy. Pm me if any of you have one.
Thanks.

And for those who know Ter who used to be on the boards, she is feeling happier these days and eating better.

and..she asked about Laura..wanted to know how you were doing :-)

ake

hi ladies,

well, we're finally all moved in, set up, settled in, and loving every second of it. i can't get freakin' cancer oout of my thoughts still, but it's all part of it and my husband is actually being really supportive and letting me vent. it's always like this when i'm happy. i wait for the other shoe to fall.

i loved looking at the list of places where we are all from and seeing how diverse we all are! it's pretty impressive...our group of women i'm proud as always to be a part of it. am i the youngest?

i had my nail polish thing mailed to me by the company...so weird to see has anyone found me in a store?

graycie...thanks for the card you made me smile!

love,
amy

debbie444

Thanks for the list of places, knew i could rely on our company sec!
I would love a list of addresses what with Christmas coming, if there is a list could someone pm me, if not could we perhaps do one?
I am looking forward to Christmas this year, started my shopping. We are hoping to eat dinner in the conservatory, just have to find the money for the frames !!! Otherwise we will be sat out in the rain on a concrete base.
Quite sad, Paul H, local snooker star has died of cancer , aged 27. He left a 10month old daughter. Makes you realise it is everywhere.
On a lighter note, Catherine has to write a peice on family for Literacy. My bit has the line ' Mummy was a bit poorly last year but is back to normal again now' I am so glad that they seem so unaffected by it all.
As for the joint pain, anyone know an 80 year old woman who has lost her hands and feet - I appear to have them.
Debbie

RoseMarie

Lol Debbie!
I have the following addresses:
Tracy
Laura
Mary
Victoria
Debbie
Ravdeb
Graycie
MaryAnne
TaDah
If we are all in agreement I wouldn't mind putting together an address list and getting it out to everyone. Please pm with your address if you're not on my list. If you do not want to be included on the list please let me know also. Please let me know what you think...

RoseMarie

Oh, Ravdeb - yes, I'm on Tamoxifen...My joint pain has almost gone away entirely but when it does hit I blame it on the meds.

ravdeb

Amy..that's wonderful that you are all settled into your new home. Enjoy it!!!!

Rosemarie...that would be great if you could do that. I think that maybe Tracy has addresses, too. Maybe you two could combine.

Well..that's just it..it seems that the women on hormones now are having joint pain. I'm not on hormones and the joint pain I blame on the rheumatoid I have. But I'm wondering about the muscle pain I am feeling.

Debbie...you crack me up about about the 80 year old woman... LOL.
Isn't it amazing how resilient the kids are? And well..you look great now, no more chemo... she was right. All is well in her eyes and that's how it should be!