2005 ROCK-TOBER CHEMO GIRLS

ravdeb

OMG Victoria..you layed on the bed to get your jeans on! I used to do that in high school and then could barely sit on the floor when we'd all gather on the floor at a party!!! How funny is that!!! I love it!!!

I appreciate your kind words, Victoria, and I thank you.

Just got back from visiting Adam in the hospital. He was feeling better today and not in so much pain. His daughter made a big effort to be by his side tonight. She is out of high school and doing a year of volunteer service before she goes into the army. She is stationed in the south and it's not easy for her to get to the hospital which is in the north. But she did it. She's very cute.

And another temple member was there as well. Poor guy..going through a divorce and he just doesn't understand why his wife insists on tearing their family apart. She is "into her own needs" as he put it and hasn't thought about what it is doing to the rest of them. So sad. He's so angry about that...family is his main priority. And so we talked. Well..he talked..I listened. He so needs to talk it out. He's so kind..feel so badly for him.

Anonymous

For those of us who did Taxol after chemo:

Quote:

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Taxotere® Effective in Early Breast Cancer

According to the results of a Phase III clinical trial published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, chemotherapy with Taxotere® (docetaxel) plus cyclophosphamide results in better cancer-free survival than chemotherapy with doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide in women with Stage I to Stage III breast cancer.

Early breast cancer refers to cancer that has not spread to distant sites in the body. However, in early breast cancer, there may be cancer spread to lymph nodes under the arm (axillary), referred to as node-positive breast cancer. Standard treatment for node-positive breast cancer typically includes the surgical removal of the cancer, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

The use of chemotherapy following surgery, referred to as adjuvant chemotherapy, is utilized to kill any cancer cells that may remain in the body following surgery. The optimal adjuvant chemotherapy regimen in node-positive breast cancer patients continues to be evaluated.

Doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide (referred to as the AC chemotherapy regimen) is a commonly used adjuvant chemotherapy regimen in breast cancer; however, the chemotherapy agent Taxotere has demonstrated promising results in the treatment of this disease. The combination of Taxotere with cyclophosphamide is referred to as the TC chemotherapy regimen.

To compare TC chemotherapy to AC chemotherapy in the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer, researchers conducted a Phase III clinical trial among more than 1,000 women with operable, Stage I to Stage III breast cancer. After surgery, half the women received four cycles of TC, and half the women received four cycles of AC. Radiation therapy and hormonal therapy (as indicated) were given after chemotherapy.

Five-year cancer-free survival was 86% among women treated with TC and 80% among women treated with AC.
Overall survival was 90% among women treated with TC and 87% among women treated with AC.
Nausea and vomiting were more common among women treated with AC. Muscle and joint pain, edema, and low white blood cell counts accompanied by fever were more common among patients treated with TC.
The researchers conclude that TC chemotherapy results in better cancer-free survival than AC chemotherapy in the adjuvant (post-surgery) treatment of breast cancer. The two chemotherapy regimens produce different side effects.

---

ravdeb

So, this was basically for those with positive lymph nodes? I'm confused. What is the major difference between taxotere and taxol? I understand they are from the same family.

I read on the boards here that some women are doing the TC. I had never heard of that together for early bc.

Interesting..

Anonymous

Good Sunday Morning to all Roctober Girls!

Wow! We are such a wonderful group. I love you all so much. I am so happy still about our CD and our DVD. How the Lord has blessed us and let His face shine upon us. We are spiritually and emotionally bonded.

Laura, you are so creative. I do wish we all lived close together. So many artists here: Victoria, Devorah, Laura and Ter. I love to paint my house and have done lots of sponge painting and working with Venetian plaster. I have made/painted/decorated some shelves for Teryn and 'bejeweled' them as well.

Mary, little kindnesses mean so much. Last year, some people wrapped up tons of presents for Teryn and one person delivered them all in the back of her truck. I was too tired for shopping and wrapping and some people had thought of that without me EVER saying a word. It was so awesome. Hope you are going to get back in your downstairs soon!

Brenda, what lovely words. They are so true and we need to realize that.

Victoria, you Rock, girlfriend. Dancing the night away, how cool is that??

Gail, what is Deck the Halls? I haven't heard of that movie.

Michelle, you're lucky you didn't get into an accident!! I wonder if chemo brain ever goes away??

Ravdeb: I think I am going to start calling you Dev. Is that ok? Ravdeb is too formal now. Devorah is beautiful so for short can it be Dev?? Has your congregation ever thought of getting a phone line for the ones who are 'shut ins" ?? I used to go to a congregation that had 6 phone lines that the elderly or sick could call in and they were tied in. It was even arranged that they could speak through our sound system to the rest of us when the speaker would call on them!!

----
Last night, Teryn went to a slumber party. I am going to go get her now. Dave and I had a great time last night watching movies. He is going to come over this afternoon and we are going to go shopping for Xmas lights. He says he is falling in love. It's amazing to me to have found someone that is so wonderful, kind and attentive. He says he has never ever felt so calm, peaceful and crazy about someone. I am in heaven with him.

Love you all ....

debbie444

Brenda , that is such good news. The woman i work with is having a really stressful time at the moment. She had a numeracy observation the other week and told me just befor eit started that if she didnt get a good outcome she was resigning on the spot and going back to supply teaching! She is really good, and we have a supportive Head, but he is new and has a thing about raising standards , so all the teaching staff are being worked to within an inch of their lives.

We have had a housefull today, as one set of visitors went, another set would arrive. It has been nice, but good now to settle in for the evening, just as the 4 of us.
take care everyone
Debbie

ravdeb

Kelly..interesting you mention the phone line. We were trying to get one set up but it fell through. The phone company either wouldn't agree to it or we couldn't afford it or both. Not sure.

Must get to bed. Just had a long phone call from a cousin who just needed to talk and confide in me. She does this every so often and I just listen and let her talk. She is somewhat troubled at times. She had a tough life.

must go to bed.
Sweet dreams to you all.

Anonymous

Brenda -
I remember your posts way back when you were going through the dilemma at work. I am so happy things are going well. You should give yourself an A+ and a gold star!

Kelly -
"Bejeweled"...now I'm the curious one.

debbie -
I love your new avatar. Your hairstyle is adorable!

-------------------------------------------------------

EVERYONE -
Hey there! I composed a questionaire that we all could fill in with the stats of the type of bc we had, the stage, the follow up care, etc. I thought if we shared this info with each other, we could better advise each other...knowing who's taking Tamoxifen, who isn't...who had Herceptin, who didn't, ER, PR status, etc. The questionaire is long, but thorough. You can copy and paste. Or if you didn't want to share it here, maybe you could e-mail it. I will be posting it tomorrow, I want to proof it one more time. I personally don't mind sharing this info, but I totally respect everyone's personal choice!
Hope you're all having a great weekend.

Laura

Anonymous

That's my wall I painted in my old townhouse. My menu collection is one of treasures!

Anonymous

I did the wallpapering and had a drapery man make drapes out of upholstelry material. I loved my cozy townhouse!


The only thing I didn't do here was re-tile. I was going to do granite tiles but I didn't want to spend the money since I knew I was going to sell.

Anonymous

Kelly -
I love the photos! I love your color choices. What is the menu collection all about? Tell me more.
Laura

Anonymous

Thanks, Laura! That townhouse was a pig sty when I moved in. I carpeted, painted and even painted the cabinets and put handles on them. Those cabinets were hard because I didn't realize the oil/stain from the cabinets would seep thru until I finally used a product called KILZ.

Regarding the menus: whenever I see a unique menu I try to get it. I have a menu from a cruise I went on and it has the ship on the front of it. I went to Paris and got one from a restaurant in Montmarte. My friend got me one with a pig on the front from a restaurant in Key West. The one I got from Commander's Palace is beautiful. I have one from Vegas and it's a train. I used to get matchbooks from different places (Barbados, Hawaii, etc) and I had them mounted and framed as well. Lots of stories with my menus and some are signed inside by my friends that dined with me. I used to just keep them in a drawer and one day I decided I had so many that I would hang them up.

maryannecb

Hi,

tried to change my Avatar. Funny some days I do it and it is easy, others I can't remember how...I am very tired today so probably why.
'
It sounds like Graycie's MIL and Victoria's friend may be related. I am not sure how you restrain yourselves in those conversations.

Kelly nice pics of renos. It must be hard to start again when you have done so much. Cool idea on the menus. Laura very sweet job on the vanity. I bought an old one for my daughter. It is a beautiful old wooden on with triple mirrors. Never did get around to refinishing it but I still love it.

Laura, did you post the questionnaire somewhere? Good idea.

Debbie your new Avatar is sparkling. I have appt with Hairdresser this week. This time she is only allowed to touch bangs and around ears. I am so sick of looking at short hair. I am also a little tired of EVERYONE telling me how nice my hair looks short. Not you guys but those with long hair, you know them. They are looking at me like I should be half dead or something.

Our Dragonboat team had a Xmas Party last night. They are my real life support group. I first met them last March. Like you folks their stories are varied and over time we are getting to know each other. We start training again in January and this summer we are hosting our first festival. We are planning races all day with 1000 people hopefully. The monies raised will beneift Our group, the Special Olympians, and another local Service Group. Our website will be running soon, I will post a link when it is up.

Ravdeb, sounds like an emotional time for you this weekend. It is very kind of you to be so good to Adam.

Tracy, I have been cleaning my bedroom this weekend to your lovely compilation. Not too many rockers among us, next time I'll pick something more soothing. I picked my song because thr refrain reminds me that life does not always go as we plan.Also I was going to see the stones a few days later so they were in my mind.

The get-together sounded awesome you lucky girls. Yes we need to iron out next years date. I need a bit of warning to arrange things.

Next month I will visit my oldest sister. She had sent me a ticket last year but I ended up in hospital with sepsis. This year nothing can happen.Right?

I see the surgeon tomorrow for my three month check up. I can't feel anything new so am expecting a blessing. My mammo is booked for Jan 15. Anyone with a mastectomy have a mammo on the surgical side? A few women on my team say their onc orders a mammo on the axillary tissue. OUCH. Anyone else?

Have a rotten cold and will hopefully crash early tonight and wake in the morning feeling better.


Fists up!

Anonymous

maryanne -
Interesting question about having a mammo on the mast side? Huh... I'm confused...how could that be done? Don't you have to have "something" to put into the vice grip? The past summer, I had a breast MRI of the remaining breast and the chest wall area of the mast side. No, I haven't posted the questionaire - will do so tomorrow. You "sound" so tired! Hope your cold is gone soon!
Laura

TracyNY

Hey ladies:

Have you ever tried to login and not get the login screen? That happened to me yesterday but I managed to read what was going on with everyone.

Laura: Wow! That's all I can say. It was like looking through the family photo album. I felt so proud of all of us. I think we should update this annually. I'm sure next time we'll have Kelly and Tracy's engagement parties, Amy's baby shower (from my mouth to God's ears), my twelfth hair color change! Who knows what other events we'll be celebrating, heck life is reason enough.

I finally found my Xmas dishes and decorations in my storage unit. Storage is a big thing in NY, since we generally live in smaller spaces than other people, we have to keep stuff somewhere. I pay a facility where I keep my off season clothing, bedding, draperies etc but it had so much stuff in it I couldn't find anything.

So to solve my problem I took two more units so I could spread everything out and sift through it as well as make room for my old furniture so I can have my "new" old furniture delivered.

Never a dull moment in this camp. I'm going back to work tomorrow. I'm still swollen but I'm missing all the parties. If it was summer, I'd stay home for another week and enjoy my bed a little more!

chumfry

Mary Anne:

I've got a silicone implant under the chest muscle on my mastectomy side and I think my plastic surgeon would have a stroke if I ever stuck it in a mammography machine! I've never heard of getting a mammo on your mastectomy side. I had a reduction on my "good" side and I've had mammograms on that side with no trouble.

ake

just wanted to say hi to my wonderful rocktober sisters. i just got back from boston and i'm exhausted, so i'm going to bed. i just read through all the posts and i'm amazed and proud and in awe of the love, respect, and support we give to each other. um, when are we getting together to meet in person??

have a good monday

Anonymous

MaryAnne, you should post a pic of your dragon boat. I found this one online. I think it's really pretty.

Anonymous

TaDah, you sure have an active life! Regarding the log in problem, do you happen to use a MAC when you visit here. That's happened to me but I figured out how to solve the problem. Let me know!

Anonymous

Ladies, thanks for feeling my joy.

Laura, where is the questionnaire? I would like to see the results as well. Could we include the results of all our tests as well, i.e brca, ki-67, her2-neu, etc.?

ravdeb

Good Morning Ladies!!!

How I love to visit this thread each morning with my coffee. Just brightens my day!

Kelly..forgot to tell you that you can call me anything you want! Have never been called Dev before but I've got so many names that you can add that one to it, too!
I love your secretary desk that you have in the photo. I have one that is VERY similar to that one. When I was in 6th grade, I sooooooooooo wanted a desk like that. My mom bought me one for $25 in a basement sale. She painted it white (I wanted white furniture, too..it was in style then) and my dad painted blue flowers on the drawer (my bedroom was blue). I guess she would touch it up and paint layers of paint on it over the years. When I got married, I took the desk and my dh started sanding it down but it was impossible to do, so we had it dipped. It is just beautiful! It's made of all different kinds of wood and I have my foreign doll collection in the glass case (as well as my collection of trolls) and other things. And it has really added to our bedroom. My daughter never appreciated it because I had given it to her at first. Instead, my dh built her a beautiful desk.

Maryanne… that is so nice about your dragonboat team. I wish that somehow I could have found a good support group or something like that here.

I love that pic that you posted, Kelly, of the dragon boat. Really nice.

Feel better Maryanne..

TracyNY..you are so funny about how we will all be next year. I pray you are right!!!! Good luck with all that storage space. I have my whole family's JUNK stored here in my studio and I soooooooooooooo want to get rid of it all! I'd like to just hire the junk man to come and I will close my eyes and he will remove all the junk and when I open my eyes again..it will all be just my art supplies set up so that I can work and think clearly!!!!! LOL

We are expecting rain here but I knew that..my bones are aching me more. My son is on a 4 day school trip in Eilat (where I spent my birthday) and so I feel like I'm on vacation again!!! I'm off to take my walk before the rains and do some shopping.

Have good day, everybody!!!

Paula15089

Debbie,
I got your Christmas card and an adorable little October angel! I love it! Thank you so much, it is so touching to get something real from you, it somehow 'validates' our virtual friendship, if you know what i mean..

Laura, I would love to get that dvd everyone is talking about, but i understand if it is too much hassle to send it here. Damn, i wish i was closer to you girls. I am so envious when you are planning your get togethers.

Well, everyone is talking about cold and snow, and it is getting hotter here. Went to the beach yesterday - i know its stupid, the sun in Australia is too strong for sunbaking, but what can i do, i love the beach ever since i was a kid. I grew up in St Petersburg, and we sure werent too spoilt with lots of sunshine...

Mammogram on mastectomy side??!! Ouch... i too have a silicone implant there, and i cant imagine it being squashed in the machine... actually, it is so firm, i reckon the machine would break before the implant would..

Mary-Anne, i so now what you mean about your hair... mine just seems to have quit growing. I am over short and sassy hair, i just want to be able to put them UP!!

take care all,
Paula

debbie444

Glad it got to you Paula ! Our postal service may seem expensive to me but i dont think i have lost anything yet!

Those of you who havent had an angel yet, bear with me. I am having to buy them 1 or 2 at a time, as i find them, and i appear to have caused a shortage. I have found an alternative , and thought about buying them, but wanted us all to have the same. I will get there !!

One carol service and natiivity down, this one hadnt any of my kids in, just the lower juniors so my class was involved. All went well ( apart from my - wait for this - step great nephew!) who was Gabriel, forgetting his words , standing blankly, then making it up as he went along. Home for a quick lunch, then back for Marks carol service.
Catherine is singing at a choir festival tomorrow at The Crooked Spire ( church on the card). I love the kids being young at Christmas!!

Debbie

RoseMarie

Hello everyone! Like you, Ravdeb, I love coming here with my morning coffee before I have to wake the kids up...today they're home with what I think is strep - will be going to the doctor!
I survived camping!! This time was with the Girl Scouts and YES the cabins were heated. There were 5 moms and 9 girls. We had a kitchen and indoor bathrooms so we were not roughing it at all. Now, that's camping my style!!
MaryAnne, I'm sick of short hair too!! I got mine trimmed the other day just to give it some shape...
Brenda - so glad everything has turned around for you!!!
Victoria - I'm soooo sorry you had to hear such an insensitive and horrible comment from your friend!!!
Debbie- You sure stay busy!! How fun -
Laura - WOW, beautiful vanity!! How CUTE!!!
Ok...I guess every kid in Fishers must be going in to the dr. this am as I can't get through on the phone!!

ravdeb

Hey Rosemarie..you are now a Girl Scout Camp survivor!!! Add it to your list of what you have survived in your lifetime!!.

I am not sick of short hair. I'm keeping mine short.

Just learned that one of our elderly members of our congregation was diagnosed with cancer in her uterus. She just had "pre-cancer" spots removed from her face and now this. She's 91. She goes in for surgery next week. Kinda worried about her since she's so old, but she is healthy so hopefully she will get past this. She's a very feisty and active woman so maybe this will not be hard on her. She's an American from NY but has been living in Israel for years. She can barely manage the Hebrew though so I feel like I need to round up all the English speakers so they will call her and she can talk away if she needs to. She's totally alone. No kids. Husband passed away. No real family. We will need to organize and help her out.

and..my car wouldn't start this morning so I didn't get to the beach! My dh jumped it and I took it in and got a new battery for it.

I'm in tons of pain today. If I move..like turn the wrong way, I get this horrible shot of pain in my upper leg/hip. It's the side that I suffer from the sciatica so I'm assuming it's that..but this is new pain. I have it on my left side now as well..but not that bad. could be my rheumatoid. My hands and wrists are hurting me, too, but this pain in my hip/leg thing..it is worse than it has ever been (not comparing it to last year when I had worse pains than this).

Be well everybody. Hope your kids are okay, Rosemarie.

And Paula..I love the beach too, and though it's not hot here, it's really nice here and people ask me why I look so tan (just on my face actually) and it's because I'm on the beach all the time. Enjoy it! What the heck!!!!

Anonymous

Paula -
Of course I sent you a dvd! I'm hoping you get it soon!

Rosemarie -
When I was 10 years old, I went to Girl Scout Camp in Valparaiso, IN. It was a lot of fun! We squeezed tooth paste by the entrance to our tent so the raccoons would visit! Your new avatar is great!

Laura

Anonymous

Brenda or anyone -
What is the ki-67?
Laura

scottishlass

Hi
Been trying to catch up with all the posts - once I have, I seem to get called away without actually adding to the chat. I thought I would send a short message today to everyone to say "hi"
For those in warm climates and even in very cold climates, I have to say I have a bit of envy surfacing. The rain was coming down sideways here earlier on. You have to wonder if it ever touches the ground ?????
Victoria - I think that when something hard happens - you really find out who your friends are. As my sainted sister would say "who steps up to the mark" It is times like these that you find out who your REAL friends are - I found it quite surprising. Stick with positive thoughts whenever and whereever you can.
I have found myself a job/contract. Just two days a week - but that is enough for me at the moment. Being an accountant two days a week is probably the most anyone can really cope with !!!
Everyone - I love reading about your highs and lows. It is great that so many of us are finding new loves.
Gosh - must fly - need to pick up my youngest from school
BYE Jill

ravdeb

Glad to hear from you, Jill.
Laura..the Ki-67 is a test to see how fast the cancer cells in your tumor are replicating themselves. It's the one that gives the grade to the tumor although there are others that do that, too.
I had that one..and mine was 60% and grade 3..aggressive.

I'm sad because I haven't gotten Tracy's CD!

I just joined a uterine cancer discussion board to find out about this cancer so that I can better help this elderly woman who has it. I just spoke to her and she said she was in shock when she got the news. She has a private driver who will go with her to the hospital and stay with her for the few days that she is there. That's good but I told her I was trying to round up people who could also help her out and she said that would be great. I can't even be there for her surgery, though. I have guests coming from overseas and will be at the airport! I feel so bad about that. She told me that I didn't need to be there..she had this driver who would be there for her. I know she manages well but still...

scottishlass

Back from school run.
Ravdeb - it's probably more important to be there when she comes home from surgery - she will be well looked after in hospital - but I know I really appreciated help when I got home. A friend cooked a big shepherd's pie (mince type dish) and delivered it to us so I did not have to think about cooking. It was probably the most useful thing anyone did for me and certainly one of the most appreciated. This friend likes to cater for large numbers so a meal from her can last a week!
Cheers Jill

scottishlass

Rosemarie - I was a girl guide too - At camp we had this very long ghost tale which ended up with someone only having one eye. Before that the older guides had squeezed toothpaste into an orange and the younger guides had to put their finger out in the dark into the orange. That's entertainment - you cannot be that scared when you are 10 with mere computer games - however horrid. It's amazing what can be done with toothpaste !!!!
Cheers Jill