2005 ROCK-TOBER CHEMO GIRLS

Anonymous

Well, guess what is posted at Susan Komen's site. My own story makes me cry. See if the link works for you.
http://www.komen.org/intradoc-cgi/idc_cgi_isapi.dll?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssDocName=KellyAdams

Tracy,
So happy for you, now send his younger twin to my doorstep!!!!

Love the puppy pics, and Debbie, so glad yours is eating and hiding out from you!!

Laura, glad you are better,

MaryAnne, anytime you get lonely, come to Cali.

Cathy, why are you traveling so much? What is it that you do that you get to go to such a great location, cold but exotic just the same.

Victoria, smooches ......... I feel you are much like a mother to me.

dEBBIE ..... you are my teacher ........hence I probably will always call you devorah or ravdeb.

TracyNY, where is my vicarious life???

Anonymous

Forgot to say thanks again to Laura, if you look at the Susan G Komen site, Teryn and I are wearing our Roctober shirts.

Oh and don't forget to read about the Roctober girls on that profile!

debbie444

Oh Kelly - it made the hairs stand up on my arms!
Buddy is just adorable, He looks a proper little Tinker!
Maryanne - i suggested just for the music - didnt know it was turning into that sort of party!!!!! I also said i would marry someone who looked like either him or Matt le Blanc. Unfortunately good looking American celebrities were in short supply in Chesterfield at the time.
Have a good weekend ladies, I have to be Mums Taxis this weekend, running them around their hectic social schedule!

ravdeb

Kelly...You go girl! I'm amazed at your strength. You inspire each of us. Beautifully written, too.

Laura..what a cute picture!!! I love your dog.

I pulled into my driveway today and my Casey was playing with a cute little pincher. I used to have one. Her name was Britney. Somebody stole her along with her daughter, Lady.

Well, my gate was opened because on Saturdays nobody is around to catch the dogs that wander so most of us let our dogs out to check out what's happening. I don't usually...just that my daughter had left the gate open. Never mind... I had thought for a minute that somebody was surprising me with a new puppy, but I thought WRONG!

ravdeb

This is my dog Casey, with no qualms about posing, as long as she gets her tummy rubbed. That's me sitting there. My son took this picture last year when I was on chemo...

Graycie

OMG Laura, your Buddy is adorable...I LOVE him......awwww
I guess I missed your party! Actually both parties, Maryanne's too.......

Mary, I am just catching up on some of the post's I missed. That is funny you saw my double and with the same name, no less. What are the chances of that happening? Maybe her daughter-in-law was my ONC nurse wouldn't that even be more strange. I wish I would have known you were in town I would have stopped in to say Hi. I live 5 minutes from the bowling alley. Actually when you first said you saw my double I thought of my husbands cousin's wife she has the same first and last name as me and her husband is a bowler. But she doesn't look anything like me.....Very interesting about the lymph node removal. I had 23 removed.......I think, chemo brain is setting in. I can't remember if it was 21 or 23 oh well, whatever.....

Victoria, I no longer shave under my arm's either but that is because the hair never grew back........strange but I am OK with that......HA
I hope you get your new bike........you will have fun, I love bike riding, besides it is good exercise.

Ravdeb, Funny picture. That reminded me of my grandson when he used to put his underwear on his head and pretend it was a helmet.......I see you like your new camera........nice pictures. It really looks beautiful in Israel. Your dog and cat are cute too...

Tracy NY, Thanks, I will post a picture soon of my hair........Glad you finally got your sleeve. Has your arm gotten any better from all the wrapping you have been doing? The sleeve will make it a lot easier for you.

Tracy, Dave is cute. He looks like he is in love too. You can tell by his big smile. You make a great couple, I am so happy for you........He certainly is a keeper, get's up and makes you breakfast?.......what a guy!

Maryanne, That's wonderful only 2 more infusions left. Do you have side effects like we did from chemo? I had the hiccup's when I was on chemo. I also had the same tests as you are having because I had trouble swallowing and it turned out to be acid reflex. Hopefully that is all your's is. I am with everyone else. You can't work the day before a colonoscopy.......Not possible unless you can do your work in the bathroom......lol

Boy Cathy, you sure travel a lot.....and far....I just read the part about your friend with the same first and last name as me..........how eerie.......which name did she have Gail or Grayce?

Paula, I saw your hair album. Some of the new girls will love to see that...I missed the video, I will have to go back.

Sherry, Glad to see you back and on the mend....

Kelly, I will check out the site......Hope you are doing well....

Debbie, I hope our little Sam is feeling better everyday.

Hi to everyone else........Enjoy your Day!

Gail

Graycie

Kelly, I read your story....It was beautiful and you should be an inspiration for many woman going through their journey with BC.

Gail

ravdeb

Tracy..
Dave looks really, really nice but more than that..he looks like a happy guy...and really, more than that..he sounds soooooooooooooooooo romantic and loving. You are a lucky woman. Enjoy..

That swallowing problem..I know that my neighbor with the lung cancer was warned that the rads could cause swallowing problems. I don't think that happened to him, but that is probably the problem, maryanne.

I go for my CT tomorrow morning. I have to take 30mg of prednisone at 1 am, again at 5am and then at 7am. My CT is at 8. Gotta take it to make sure I don't have an allergic reaction to the iodine contrast IV. I'm asthmatic..it's mandatory. YUCK. I have enough trouble sleeping and now I have to wake myself up! Well..at 5 am I'll be getting up anyway and will start drinking a lot of water so that maybe my veins will work for the IV. Soooooooooo nervous about that. My veins are shot. We have to leave for the hospital at 6 am, take our son to his army base which is close to the hospital but yet out of the way, and then be there by 8 am. Then I have to fight with them to not make me wait cuz of the meds I took..

And I'm really nervous about this.

And now..I've had pain on the other hip that is not the side that is giving me sciatica and I noticed today that if I press in a certain place..OMG I jumped the first time..like a bad bruise. Of course, I do bruise easily so maybe I bumped it and I don't remember? Just noticed this this morning. I was thinking that this pain could be radiating and causing the pain in my back on that side.

Never had pain in my back til the last few weeks. Always just the sciatica down my leg.

This CT will cover my heart, neck and brain...nothing to do with cancer though I think my doctor is looking to see if there is a tumor that is causing the problems I have...blocked carotid artery on left side and narrowing on the right side.She's looking for reasons for this and this is just one of them. I've had this before...also MRI..looking for a tumor but they didn't find one. I don't think they will find one this time either.

And then this morning I learned that our rabbi's son who is about 5 years old I think, may have celiac disease and they found a tumor. They just biopsied it a couple of days ago.. no results yet. I can't believe this. I was in shock when the rabbi told me this morning he had to run because his son was in the hospital (he had a fever and they thought it was from the biopsy but it's not..he has a virus).

I just am so sick about all of this.

marymelodi

Hello to all:
Love all the doggie pictures. We would have several in our household if allowed by our landlady. As it is, I get the opportunity several times a year to stay with my sister's 3 dogs and be "auntie Mary" to them when she goes out of town. In fact, this year she is leaving for the entire Christmas week and I will go there on Christmas Eve and stay through New Year. I get to play Santa for the doggies. Probably means I'll get a few little treats and some new stuffed animal toys. One of her dogs always has to have something to carry around and we call the stuffed animals her "baby".

So glad to read of all your good news . . . Tracy in love, Laura having B9 results, Cindy's good results, Sam's returning to health, TracyNY doing well with LE, on and on. What a happy week for us.

Graycie: I didn't know we were going to Cheektowaga or I would have PM'd you and at least called. For some reason I had it in my head that the event was in Niagara Falls. I didn't even check until we were in the car on the thruway and I looked at the map dh printed from Mapquest. That whole thing was weird because I was sure that lady was you. Anyhow, looking forward to 2 weeks from now when Cathy arrives here in Rochester and we get to meet you. I hope you've got it on your calendar.

Cathy's business in in collectible toys and there is a show in a town near Rochester in 2 weeks. We are planning to meet up and drive over to Cheektowaga to see Graycie . . . finally! I should have made the drive much sooner. So, we'll have new photos of 3 Rocktober girls and stories to tell.

Ravdeb: your picture of your "panties hat" made me think of how last year I was wrapping my bald head in turbans. Glad that this year we can all show off new hair in silly millinery concoctions.

Kelly: sharing your story was wonderful. What a great mother and friend you are. We are so proud of you.

Victoria: have a wonderful time with family. I have recently been reminded of how precious the strong families are and I admire the love you have for all of yours.

MaryAnne: greetings after your party last night. Good luck with the colonoscopy. I know I need to get it done and will follow your example. My next "test" is to do a 24-hour urine collection to be sure diabetes isn't affecting my kidneys too badly. I have to do this about once a year for my family doctor. It's kind of a nuisance, but then again I don't want any kidney complications as I get older.

Paula: didn't get to see your hair growth record yet. It wouldn't open up at work yesterday. I'll try again. But, I already know you are a lovely person, both inside and out.

Michelle, Jill, hello - we don't know each other too much yet, but glad to have you.

Amy: keeping up with you and hoping all continues to be well.

Rosemarie: wishing you a lovely weekend with your kids and family.

Debbie: how's "Sam I Am" . . . I love his face and mischeviousness.

I know I must be missing someone so I apologize and wish everyone well. I am going to the annual holiday craft fair hosted by the teacher's association in our school district. It is always a big event in our town and I can easily spend $$$ in just a few minutes. But, I'm ready to get in the holiday spirit.

love to all,
Mary

ravdeb

I'm so excited that Cathy, Mary and Graycie are getting together!! That is sooooooooooooooooo cool! You will have a wonderful time together! And I wanna see pictures! Okay..have to wait two weeks.

I'd love to see pictures of the show that Cathy will be at there, too. Sounds very interesting. Cathy, is that what you're doing now, too?

Well..took my first dose of prednisone. Next one is at 1 am... Getting ready for the kitty scan..I mean CAT scan! (Gotta laugh about this stuff, ya know!)

maryanne..how ya doin'?

Paula15089

Ravdeb good luck with the kitty scan!

what is this video you girls mention in my hair growth album?! news to me... you can play pics as a slideshow though.
i'll post it on other forums later on tonight!

linny

Kelly, I read the link - it was brave and inspiring, thank you for saying it so well. I never thought it would happen to me, and when it does, life changes.

I have been having more soreness in my lumpectomy site as well as under my arm, and am starting to get a bit nervous. I am seeing radiation onco. for a regular check up on Dec. 4th so will wait until then.

Linda

maryannecb

Kelly's words....

We "Rock-tober" chemo girls have been together a year now and most of us have been doing something to support the breast cancer cause. We have encouraged and comforted one another immensely. We have also supported others through the postings of our deepest fears, joys, nightmares, dreams and hopes on our blog. We came together as a fragmented group from all over the world, but we are knit so tightly together that we can never be ripped apart.

Well said Kelly. Inspiring story, for sure.

Fists up!

maryannecb

Having a lazy day. I planned to get a little house work done but...well I did wash all the screens from the upstairs windows. Tomorrow!

I was just reading over the instructions, they clearly say before 0800 the day before for the first bomb. I can't afford to be off work 2 days for this sh###y test. I think I will give it a try and if I have to leave, well, so be it. If not then I haven't suffered another loss from this stupid disease.

Laura, your dog looks so sweet in the box. I think he is smiling!

Mary, hope your 24 hour urine is OK and all your other numbers make your doc and you happy. Diabetes can be such a challenge to manage. I am sure you will have a special meeting with Graycie and Cathy.

Debbie, this is the first year I have no "taxi service" on the weekend. What a relief. As the kids age they have fewer activities which makes things a little easier.

Ravdeb I think your dog is a "poser". I too am hoping that my problem is from GERD. Or even better, I am a hypochondriac who is so focused I am dreaming up symptoms. Soon I will have had every possible test. Best of luck on Monday for your Ct angio. Hope you can sleep tonight with all those steroids pumping through you.

And Linda, I will join the crowd with tenderness along and around my incisions.I think it will always be sore.

I know the newbies will love your album Paula. You were about 10 weeks ahead of me so it gave me hope at the time to see your hair growing.

Hope the rest of you are having a super weekend.

Fists up!

Anonymous

Just dropping in to say I am so relieved and happy to hear about Laura's results. Thank heavens.

Paula15089

Hey ladies...
I have posted a link to my hair growth album on 'Help me through chemo' board.
Do you think I should post it on any other? There are so many now I get confused. 'Help me through the treatment' perhaps?
what do you think?

debbie444

Paula - i think you should have your own board!!

Paula15089

lol Deb...
I dont want to make my hair THAT MUCH a center ot attention...

Anonymous

ravdeb -
Casey's so cute! And not too shy when posing! LOL

Graycie, mary, cathy -
I am so excited for you three! It's great that you're getting together!

Kelly -
Your story is beautifully written! I was choked up reading it and so touched you are wearing the shirts I made for you two!

Laura

debbie444

Sam has decided that he might actually be capable of eating somethings that arent a) hand carved or b) in a can with GOURMET written on!

Just looks excessively miffed about the bad hair cut!!

Anonymous

debbie -
He is soooooooooooooooooooo cute!
Laura

debbie444

He was before being shaved, stapled and sewn back together!!

maryannecb

He is still cute. I think he just wanted to experience hair loss, like you.LOL.

Fists up!

ravdeb

I love your dog, Debbie! He's adorable. And he poses nicely and decently unlike my Casey!!! I like her hair cut!

Victoria..I must have missed that link to the spa. How gorgeous! I think I'll add a link to my girlfriend's B&B in Tennessee www.gracehillbandb.com If you are ever in that area and you want to stay at a luxurious Bed and Breakfast, this is the place to go. Before you go, let me know, and I'll tell her you are my bc sisters. She is a bc sister, too. She's a 6 year survivor!!! She and I are close friends from our close knit college group. We've never parted in spirit..only in distances. She does the cooking, she was on chemo (AC followed by T but not dose dense) and built part of this house with her own hands while on chemo! The entire place she decorated herself. She is very talented. Some of the paintings on her walls she painted. She's a natural artist. She also did the landscaping and does that on the side as a profession.
She studied biology in college.

And she's a wonderful hostess. So, do go there some time if you can!!!!

I had my CT angio. Was very nervous and got no sleep last night cuz of the prednisone and I guess out of anxiety. I was freezing cold when I got there and tried to warm my arm up before the IV was put in. She agreed with me that my veins are not good but was able to get it in! I really felt like I was going to be in tears when they got me in that tunnel. I think my diagnosis of the dissected carotid artery was even more devastating than the cancer. I was really upset with it and the ct reminded me of this.

But it's over. I'll get the results in a couple of weeks or something but I don't see my neuro-ophthalmologist til January.

Enjoy the rest of your weekends, everybody.
And enjoy your week away, Victoria.

CherylG

Hi Ladies
Check out http://www.cherylg.net
There is a guest map on this site (my new creation ) where you can click on it and pin point your location in the world. If you go there you will see that noone is posted anywhere besides Canada and the US.... would love to see others too like RavDeb etc.
Check out the site too while you are there. It is under construction but you can put yourself on the map, post pictures to the photogallery or add links that you find useful. I will be adding pages that will also contain useful info from bc.or or other trusted places.
Good luck to all with tests coming up, hugs to all in need.
Cheers
CherylG

Graycie

Ravdeb, I am so sorry, I didn't realize you had your CT angio already for some reason I thought it was tomorrow and I was just going to wish you luck.......Well, now I will wish you good luck on the results. Your friends B & B is absolutely breathtaking. I would definitely go there if I was taking a vacation in Tennessee...

Sorry your hip is hurting now too...Maybe it is from your disc problem like my Doc said. I also experience that tenderness to touch.

Laura, I'm excited. Can't wait to get together with Mary and Cathy.

Debbie, Awwww, Sam look's good. Haircut or no haircut he is cute!

Cheryl, Thanks, I will check that out.

Better run and get something done today.......

Gail

ravdeb

Thanks Graycie. Most people outside of Israel wouldn't think of Sunday as a day for scans. But it's like Monday..first day of the week for us.

Cheryl..I put myself on the map. Very cool! Had trouble deciphering Israel from Jordan and Lebanon..we are such a tiny country! But I'm there!! kinda lonely on that part of the map, though.

Graycie

Cheryl, I put myself on the map even though it isn't actually in the right spot. The East coast was pretty filled up.....

debbie444

Ravdeb - i didnt realise it was today!! Hope , no, Know all will be OK.
I have put myself on the map , its a bit lonely - Ravdeb you are my nearest neighbour until Jill goes on!!

ravdeb

Just checked..I see you there, Debbie!!!

Okay..so I know my cheeks are really pink tonight from the prednisone I had to take before the ct angio. But, I just got undressed to take a shower and my bc breast turned pink, too, but the other side didn't. Hmmmmmmm... must be from the rads...probably that syndrome of getting color again..I know it can happen. But so weird. It wasn't red before I went, that's for sure. Oh..it's light pink but definitely pink!

The Hawaiian girl on the map looks like she's floating on the water!

Okay..I did shower and am waiting up for my son who has disappeared. I think there are some teens who need to skip the teen years for the sake of their parents.