2005 ROCK-TOBER CHEMO GIRLS

TracySeattle

No! It looks beautiful just as it is! I love it! :-)

Graycie

Victoria, I can't see your picture......It is not showing up on my computer.

Anonymous

Victoria, I love your painting!! So beautiful.

Laura, you are so hip and cool and far out!

Anonymous

Anonymous

http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos2528/5/4/90/21/47/0/47219004511_0_ALB.jpg

you'll have to copy and paste the link into your browzer
I can't seem to 'share' this photo. It was fine last night.

Paula15089

Victoria - LOVE the painting!!
have pm'd you with my email.. would like a higher res pic please!!

ravdeb

Kelly...what am I not getting on your last post...a picture? I just get that annoying little red 'x' in the corner.

ravdeb

Hope your appointment with psychiatrist goes well for you!

I'm with you, Victoria! I am angry that I'm obsessed with it and my attention span is shot. I think I left my brain under one of those lounge chairs in the chemo room after my first treatment.

debbie444

I love the painting Victoria, you are clever. I especially like the flowers.
I have had a rough couple of days. Last night i cried so much that i was physically sick - think Roger thought i had lost it! I am frightened , of nothing in particular , just frightened. A bit like a child frightened of the dark i guess. But less of that.
Rollerblading - now thats an idea HMMMMMMM. No, seriously can you imagine Me on blades???? Taught Catherine to blade but cant do it myself.
We did the sponsored walk on Sun ( think thats what kicked it off) I wrote all of your names on an 'In Celebration' sign and stuck it on my back . The kids wore ones which said ' My Mum' on them and i could feel the pity from people who looked at them and then at me. I think i may marshall next year, it was just a bit too emotional for me to take at the moment. Laura, the guys from Cancer research voted Rogers t shirt the best of the day!

The interview never happened, i didnt feel strong enough to do it, sorry to let the side down.
In true Debbie fashion the marshall sent us the wrong way and we ended up doing 7miles instead of 5 ( all seemingly uphill) . The kids ran, Roger walked and i staggered!!

Glad to see you post Michelle, now you just have to inform the sec ( Kelly ) of your birthday and someone is doing the address list - not sure who drew that straw!!
I am glad Oct is nearly over, BC is everywhere. I bought a sealed goody bag from Avon yesterday and lo and behold gor a BC lipstick.

TracySeattle

Hi All!!!

Happy Trick or Treat Day! Man! It is all of sudden COLD here in Seattle! Our town does a Halloween festival for the kids and I will be standing outside tonight giving out Hot Cider and Cookies..... I don't plan to stay for more than an hour or so, then I am headed over to Dave's to help him give out treats.

Hope you all have a safe and spooky day!

Anonymous

Rocktober Chemo Ghouls!

marymelodi

Hello to all ghoul-sisters!

Haven't been able to post for a few days. We do not have internet access at home just now so I was out of touch for the weekend and it took me half my lunch hour to catch up. What an enjoyable reading time!

Loved all the pictures of my wonderful friends: gorgeous Amy & DH, wonderful Rosemarie, brave Paula, clever Laura, and darling Debbie.

Debbie: You didn't let down the side. It has been difficult for all of us in different ways to have so much in our faces about breast cancer. You do more than you know just showing up and the example for your kids is outstanding. Be kind to yourself because we all love you and think you are marvelous.

Victoria: Lovely picture! Hope all goes well with the tests and doc visits. Thank you for the lovely card. Very nice.

Tracy: good luck with Dave and your new relationship. I hope you are nothing but happy!

It has been so good to catch up with all!

Here is my update: Had a rigorous session of physical therapy on my boob yesterday. The aim is to help lymph fluid move out of my chest, boob, and side. First, there is light massage away from the area on belly, sternum, arm pit, torso. Then, more vigourous massage closer to the breast. Finally, quite deep massage of breast and the scar tissue. I have 2 parallel scars (lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy) and in between them there is a build up of scar tissue. The PT thinks this may be the source of my aches and zings of pain. (Had about 30 seconds of sharp pain on Saturday night just as I was sitting down in our city's theater to see a play. Fortunately we were early and I could hold my boob and massage it in relative privacy.) She also taped the scar tissue with some kind of special tape from Japan that is kind of like an elastic bandage that has adhesive on one side. I think this woman knows her stuff. My cancer center refers all lymphedema / breast cancer patients to her. She says half her practice is for breast cancer. She is considering whether a compression bra may be helpful to me.

Tracy and Mary Anne: do you have to wear a compression bra or only the sleeves?

I wouldn't say this to anyone but you all . . . it is kind of weird having a massage to the breast - whether or not the PT is woman or man. I don't think I could handle all this touching from a male. It is not sexual in anyway, but other than my husband . . . well, no one touches me and I have to say, it is a little uncomfortable. I'm not a touchy person unless it is someone I love or little children. This is alot more touching than what doctors do in an examination. I just try to keep my mind focused on an image of the lymph fluid flowing away from the area, hoping that guided imagery might also help. I guess it couldn't hurt. I feel a little old-fashioned about this, but that's me.

I feel so blessed to have you all as friends. I wish you peace and happiness today.

Mary

marymelodi

Oh, I forgot to say . . . what a cute little kitty Teryn is!!! Great costume on a sweetie!

Mary

chumfry

Saw my oncologist last week and she wants my breast surgeon to look at a thickening I found in my reduced boob a few months after the surgery. At that time, they did a mammo and ultrasound and proclaimed it was a fatty necrosis, which is very common after breast surgeries. (Especially when you're turning a DDD boob into a C.)

I'm to get a recheck on the mammo and ultrasound in another three months, to see if this thickening has changed. It makes me scared that the oncologist wants the breast surgeon to examine me NOW. The appointment is Thursday morning, and luckily my husband can come with me.

Does anyone know if they can check to see if it's a fat necrosis with a needle biopsy? Or would a contrast MRI give them a more definite answer? I do NOT want to be cut on anymore right now. But of course I would do what is necessary if it's cancer. Oh god, just thinking that makes my blood pressure go up. Barf.

Think I'll post this question on the reconstruction board as well.

RoseMarie

Kelly - cute picture!! Teryn is a doll! Oh, I don't have your address - please pm me if you'd like to be added to "the list"
Debbie - (((hugs))) I think it has been an emotional month for all of us! from all the pink to the Lifetime movie - yeah, I'm tired of crying!
Had my 6 month check up today. Had to bring Justin and he was good as gold - It brought back memories of my first chemo alone up here in Indiana! I had to bring him then too and the nurses were not happy! He sat in his stroller with a dvd player and a bag full of snacks and was a trooper then too!
My onc doesn't believe in scans of any sort for follow up. In fact, I told him I was concerned about the weight I've gained and he told me to get a personal trainer with the money I'd spend on a scan! UGH! This is my second day on the South Beach diet, btw!! I guess I won't be raiding my kid's candy bags tonight
Laura, cute post, btw!
Victoria, beautiful paintings!!!!Hope all goes well with your doctor/friend! Thank you for the sweet card!
Ravdeb - have a glass of wine for me too!! I can't have any alcohol during the first two weeks of this dang diet. I am going to lose this weight!!!!
Mary - (((hugs))) your way too! Hope all is well with the LE massaging.
Hugs to all of you! have a great night tonight - We'll be bundling up for sure - brrrrrr

RoseMarie

Cindy - I don't know the answer to your question but know that you're in my thoughts!!! So sorry you're having to go through yet more worry!!!!

ravdeb

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm...still can't get the pic, Kelly. I tried to get into the site but nothing happened. I'll try again.

Victoria... I'd love for you to join me on the beach.I always feel good after my walk on the beach (though today I got really tired and barely made it back to my car!). But I absolutely love those waves and the sand and the sea air. Can't get enough of it! I drive away and will probably crash one day cuz I look through the rear view mirror to get my last glimpse of the sea before it's out of sight.

Cindy..wish I could give you an answer. It's AWFUL when that worrying creeps up. I know..I'm adding Obsessed as my new middle name!!!! Take deep breaths and wait it out. If it's any comfort to you, I am going for another mammo and ultrasound, too, requested by my surgeon and not by the onc. He doesn't like that it says "appears" to be benign...referring to the scar tissue. I have two scars for the lumpectomy..one on top of the other because I had two surgeries in the same place. He's not happy with it, I guess.

Mary..I can so understand your uncomfortable feeling with the breast massage. I am not sure I'd be able to have that done to me. I don't know if it's because of my background, my old fashion attitude, my desire for privacy..but that would feel like it had crossed the line for me, too. I felt that way with the radiation, too. I am getting better at the check-ups at the doctor but frankly...am sick of being felt up by every darn doctor! So, that kind of massage would be tough for me, too!

Your idea of imagery is terrific. I think I would go that route, too, if I have to. I did that with the chemo...chemo became little pak-men eating up the mean, ugly cancer cells!

Happy Halloween everybody!! We don't celebrate it here but I do have fun memories of it.

ravdeb

Oh Kelly, I went out of the boards and THEN when I pasted the address it worked. She is soooooooooooooo cute!!!! Enjoy that little one, as I know you are doing. She's really something!!!

ravdeb

And Debbie..what a great picture!!!! You all look great!

SEVEN miles! Wow! That's terrific!

Graycie

Victoria, I finally got it, it is beautiful, Is that your home in the picture? I wish I were that talented. Unfortunately I didn't inherit that gene.....

Graycie

Kelly, I can't seem to copy and paste for some reason...It just won't work...so I can't see your picture. I will try what Ravdeb did.

Victoria, I hope everything goes OK for you today with your blood tests and your psychiatrist. I am sure you will feel much better after your appointment.

Debbie, I am sorry you are feeling down...Rollarblading? I am not sure if that is for you although you do have the helmet so you may be OK.

Tracy, It sound's like you have a keeper in Dave. You so deserve to be happy.....

Mary, I know where you are coming from. A lot of my doctor's are women for the same reason. I hope the massaging help's you.

Cindy, Aren't you still seeing your breast surgeon? I saw mine right after chemo and my last mammo and ultra sound which was last Friday. My appt's with him are back to back when I have a mammo. I am good for another 6 months, I hope. Not sure about the fat necrosis but I am sure there are other women on the board that have that information for you. I bet your doctor is just being pre cautious and everything will be fine. Try not to worry which I know is easy to say but hard to do seeing I am the biggest worrier around.

Rosemarie, I am with you with the weight loss. I started a couple day's ago. I am just watching what I eat. I have the bowl of Halloween candy staring me in the face but I have to say I am doing good. Hopefully it will be gone after tonight. My goal is 10 lbs by Thanksgiving......I hope that is doable......Maybe if we do this together it will give us the incentive to stay on track. I am also doing the treadmill everyday for an hour......(well, almost everyday)......I am worried as to what to eat did you hear now they are finding salmonella poisoning in produce..First it was the spinach then the lettuce now it is everything.....

Happy Halloween!

Graycie

Graycie

Kelly, I finally got the picture of teryn...Too cute for words.....

Anonymous

OMG - I love you all!

Debbie -
Your daughter is a little version of you and your son is a little version of your dh! The picture is great - thanks for sharing it with us!

Kelly -
Teryn is the absolute CUTEST!

marymelodi -
I understand your dilemma with the PT. I felt the same way...it's a weird situation to be in...but I admire your ability to know that it's necessary.?. Hope that makes sense. Also, in a way...it's a dignity "thing".

TaDah -
How are you dear?

Everyone -
Love you all...I think I'm okay...but not sure...will elaborate some other time...somewhat down...but somewhat optimistic...be well, girls.

Laura

maryannecb

Halloween is now over. Only had about 60 kids at the door. Some years I have had 100. All thrre kids went out, when will they feel too old? Hannah is 17...Took their pic, will post tomorrow.

Laura, glad your brother is doing well with his DVT. He should make a good recovery. Your gift site is pretty cool. Are those all your products, or just the pink ones? Speaking of cool, you and your DH are too.

Victoria, arrrgghh blood tests. Hope they are all well and your psych makes you feel great again. The pic you painted looks so peaceful, part of your mind must be floating in a nice place. The pathway in the pic makes me want to follw it to the door and go in for a nice cup of tea. Is that your house, sort of? Or is it a fantasy cottage of some sort?

Paula, brave girl on those rollerblades. I was not a good ice skater so would probably be wounded on the roller blades. Uou have had many changes in your short life...

Kelly. teryn takes the sweetest pictures! Sounds like your weekend was a ball. Lucky to have your RV and weekends together.

Tracey, ahhhh, romance. Nothing like it.

Victoria, I feel maimed too. I am really trying hard to bond to my flat mastectomy side...but I am unable to find it beautiful or sexy! Maybe I will make that PS appointment after all. I feel that it is a space that proclaims my disease. My husband never mentions it but I wonder what he thinks?

Debbie, huge hug for you. I hate to think of you or any of us crying. Tomorrow is November. Our anniversary months are now over, we are heading in to year two! Be hopeful we have all done all we can.

Mary, record keeping is a little off as I do not have LE, yet.Hopefully won't go there as I am not one to enjoy much touching either. I like the idea of the fluid leaving as a visualization too. Sometimes when I am uncomfortable or having a test I let my mind go to a different place all together. It is great you have found a good specialist for yourself.

Cindy,perhaps a needle biopsy could be done. Although it is not 100%, it may ease your mind without too much fuss.

Fists up!

RoseMarie

Hello all - yup MaryAnne, Halloween is over! I must say, trick-or-treating down south is a heck of a lot warmer!!
Here are some quick pictures...Harry Potter, iPod girl, and, of course, the pirate...

ravdeb

Rosemarie... so CUTE!!!!! Makes me want to take out the photos of my kids when they were little and in costume!!

Laura...I hope all is okay with you.

Debbie...smiling???

I'm so exhausted! Two days ago I went to Haifa and yesterday evening I was in Tel Aviv running from the train to the busses and back to the train. I get so tired from these trips! BUT..I did buy a new digital camera so I'll take it with me soon to the beach and take pictures!!! I love this new camera better than the one that was stolen. It's great! And better yet..insurance paid for it!!!!

Hope everybody is well these days...

debbie444

60 for halloween - 60 ! We got 5 ! Mine dont go trick or treating. Its not as big over here and i always worry about the old people who live alone. we have done a pumpkin and will take that to the binfire along with our guy.



I am back to my normal (!) self again. It sounds strange but it seems to be about the time when i would have had my period before that i get maudlin, either that or i am going doolally.

Off to paint the walls in my conservatory
Debbie

ravdeb

Flannel jammies for the guys in your life...That is such a nice tradition!

You seem to be doing wonderfully well, Victoria. I know it's hard to imagine yet another Christmas, still more to come, but it sure looks that way from where I sit.

It's so good that you have this friend who is a psychiatrist and you feel good with him. That is so important and so nice that you feel good afterwards.

The weather looked threatening so I skipped my walk on the beach today. Lucky thing, too, cuz I did the grocery shopping and just as I was getting the last of the items into the house, it started to rain.

My legs are sore. I did get one of those awful leg cramps (even with all the bananas I'm eating!)but I think the wrong leg is hurting me! Maybe from all that running around yesterday in Tel Aviv.

I bought my camera in B'nei Brak which is a city attached to Tel Aviv. (city? I don't know what it is but it's attached to Tel Aviv). There are a lot of ultra-religious Jews living there and I always enjoy going there. There is the old, less modern mixed in with the modern. Shops are tiny. The young girls working in the store where I bought the camera... technically you order only through the internet and then they send it to you. But, you can walk into this little place, you pay first and then get your merchandise just like you would had you done it over the internet, but this way, you can open it there, if there is problem, it can be taken care of on the spot. So, they work with computers but you wouldn't expect them to even know what a computer is! It's very weird. The girls are probably 17 and out of high school. They won't go to college most likely and they won't serve in the army so they are working. They wear long skirts and long sleeves and they all have biblical names...Rivka (Rebecca in English), Miriam, etc...

I always get a kick out of this neighborhood. It has character, charm, tradition, family... I could never live like they do, but I do respect them and enjoy them and even admire them. I don't agree with all of it, but since they do believe this way, then I admire them for doing what they believe in.

Anyway..just thought I'd share that with you. My dog is now knocking on the door...or rather banging on the door so I guess she wants to come in!!!!

cathy987

And I am incredibly busy.

I've been reading posts but have not had time to comment. Our big show in Iowa is this weekend and I am about to leave for it.

I am thinking of all of you and hope to be back on track soon.

Love you all

RoseMarie

Graycie - Mike's uncle has a gioblastoma (brain tumor) very scary and sad. He's a musician and is pretty young and young at heart. the community is really rallying around him and the support is wonderful. His web site is Peteharrismusic.com.
Victoria - you are amazing - you really have a way with words and I can really feel your spirit in all you write. You're paintings are wonderful too!!
Ravdeb - I'd like to walk the beach with you too! What a cool town you described! So very cool!
Laura - whatever it is, I'm saying a prayer for you girl!!

BTW - if you haven't received a pm from me with addresses please let me know - I will be sending an updated and corrected list out shortly...

Love you all!