2005 ROCK-TOBER CHEMO GIRLS

ravdeb

tda...hope you get your toe back soon. I have to buy nice shoes for THE wedding I'm going to in July. I have to wear a low heel anyway..got a herniated disk now...new arrival to my ailments...and leg and back hurt now. Goes good with numb toes..!!!!

But this will not stop me and I'm now on a daily walk routine that I will not quit!!!

ravdeb

ravdeb

Rosemarie...
I read that..skimmed it I should say and so maybe I missed something, but I find it hard to believe that teachers are not that knowledgeable about bc..instead I might think that maybe teachers are so dedicated that they don't take the time off when the centers are open to get their mammograms and then when they get home from work they have their kids to deal with and papers to grade.

I don't know. I have been a private teacher working out of my private studio for 17 years. Have been self examining myself and having mammos and US as well....

I find this interesting...maybe the building materials in the school? I blame my bc on the sprays the farmers here spray on their trees. We live close to fields that get sprayed regularly.

ravdeb

Graycie

Happy Mother's Day to all you ladies......
Enjoy your Day!

Graycie

Anonymous

Rosemarie - ravdeb -
I cannot believe how many teachers are here on this board! I read somewhere that a studies were being done to see if bc is caused by a virus. And since teachers are exposed to so many kids, teens, etc. this may make sense.
Laura

Paula15089

hmmm... anyone else with a major chemo brain??
Ravdeb, you are so right about lost ability to multitask.. I now know what men feel like!! I can't cook/watch tv/talk on the phone etc at the same time anymore. I am only good for one thing. And my memory is SHOCKING!! The house is full of post-it notes...
A couple of weeks ago a had an appointment with my PS, and had a question to ask him, which i wrote down, and put in my bag, and guess what - i forgot all about it until i got home!! So for my next appointment, i not only had to write the question down, but HOLD IT IN MY HAND so i dont forget.. again!!

Good to hear you gals are going on vacations!! I am now starting to plan my trip to Russia in September. Except, call me superstitious, i am too scared to plan it... I was going to go last year, and of course got diagnosed 3 days before i was due to leave.
Truly, life (or BC in our case) is what happens when you make other plans (c). Whoever said this was so right.

ravdeb

Paula...You just knock that superstitious idea out of your head and plan that trip to Russia, ya hear???

Honestly, I do understand that fear and the whole time I have been thinking about my big trip, I've thought...hmmmmmmm...something is not right here. I am still thinking this but it's getting closer and that feeling is slowly disappearing.

One bit of advice..when you make your reservations...try not to be cooking or watching TV at the same time!!!

And if it's any comfort to you..when I go to the doctor to ask questions or whatever it is, I TAKE THE NOTE OUT OF MY BAG BEFORE I LEAVE THE HOUSE AND I SIT WITH IT BETWEEN MY LEGS WHILE DRIVING OR HOLD IT IF I DON'T NEED TO DRIVE. That's how bad I am. I can't remember what the heck I was going over to the doctor's office for! I leave all my papers out on the counter in my kitchen for fear I'll forget that I have them or the appointment or why I had the appointment in the first place!

I told my dh to remind me today when we are at the cancer center to write the phone number down of the Look Good Feel Better so I can get my lamb curls trimmed over there. I have actually LOOKED at the phone number, stared at it while sitting and waiting to go in for rads and not copy it down because it never dawned on me!!!

How's that for left over chemo brain...and yet...I feel so much more alert now!!! I must have REALLY been bad when I was actually on chemo!!!

ravdeb

Paula15089

Ravdeb, lol, ok, we are both bad!!
Sometimes i think i was more alert DURING chemo..

so when is your big trip?

ake

just wanted to say hi ladies...i haven't written in a while! tomorrow is my big test and then i'm all yours

debbie...here's a better picture of my hair...don't know if you can tell it was cut, but i'm getting so many compliments on it and i love it. oh yeah..i'm not naked in the picture...i'm in a strapless dress

love, amy
[image][/image]

ravdeb

Well...aren't YOU a beauty, Amy! I knew that before but this is a gorgeous picture of you!!! Hair looks great. I MUST get mine tamed!

My big trip ....June 30th!!!! I leave for a month and a half and I CANNOT wait!!!!! It will mean that all my treatments are over!!!!!

Oh...and I DID copy down the phone number without my dh reminding me but I guess I copied it wrong cuz I got some guy who had no idea what the heck I was talking about!!! oh well....

ravdeb

Graycie

Amy your picture and hair look great! Even if you are nude(ha) What a nice looking couple you are...Best of Luck tomorrow with your boards...
Hugs,
Graycie

ravdeb

Okay Amy..since you probably won't be on here til after your boards...HOW WERE THEY??????? You must be totally relieved that they are over....!!!

ravdeb

debbie444

The Mayonnaise Jar & 2 Cups of Coffee

When things in your lives seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very Large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things--your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only
they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.

The sand is everything else---the small stuff.

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no
room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled.

"I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

Anonymous

Amy -
Wow - what a smashing couple you two are! You are really brave...going topless in more ways than one! LOL (Ha)
Laura

Graycie

Debbie,
That is so true......I have heard that before but I would have never remembered it to repeat it like you did...And you think you have chemo-brain? You sound like you are doing pretty good to me....HA

Hi Laura, How are you doing with radiation? Are you done yet?

Graycie

maryannecb

Amy good luck with your boards. Hope you don't start charging us once you are fully qualified.LOL.

I finish rads on Thursday.My skin is red and itchy but has not broken down too much. I have had worse sunburns.

Do not have to see med onc for two months, surgeon for three and rads onc for 5 months. I feel downright liberated from being a patient. Anyone other than Terynsmom doing Herceptin too?

Have to do chest CT as had small nodule in original staging.They didn't think it was cancer related so is just a followup check. I am not too worried but will be glad to have it done.

Beautiful pic Amy, short hair looks nice but long hair was prob even nicer! soon Soon.

I have a small cancer notebook with all my questions and answers in it. I keep it in my purse so I can jot down any questions I think up. When appts come along it is all ready to go. I also keep a small calendar to add appointments.

Fists up!

Paula15089

Amy, great pic!! I am not brave enough to chop any of my hair off, although it is starting to look untidy.
Mary-Anne, congrats on finishing rads! Now you can start getting your life back.

TracyNY

I went to see my breast surgeon yesterday, he was pretty impressed with my new set! I don't have to see him again until November, I know how you are feeling maryannebc, all these appointments are finally drawing to a close. No more rads, good for you! Now you can spend your time doing what YOU want to do!!

I leave for Barbados tomorrow for five days. I can't wait! My recent visit to Canada was a trip, but this is a vacation!! Bought a new tankini and the PS said I can take this wretched lipo girdle off (I was prepared to wear it into the ocean!) but I can't tan like I normally would because of chemo side effects. Apparently we're more prone to burning now.

I will think of all of you and enjoy the sun and sand for all of us!

Amy: How did the test go? Are you sleeping off the stress?!

debbie444

Graycie - wish i could remember stuff - i copy and pasted an email!!
Great new pic Amy. Went to see my hairdresser today, she says give it another couple of weeks. But i want beautiful hair NOW!!

Debbie

RoseMarie

I know how you feel Debbie!! My lawn and my hair...both aren't growing fast enough! I go out and stare at my muddy backyard and then I come in and stare at my hair..:) I had a good appt. with the lymphedema therapist yesterday so I'm pretty stoked. My affected arm is almost the same size as my normal arm. She ordered a sleeve for me to wear if I fly but doesn't feel like I have much to be concerned about. Yippee!!
Tda - HAVE FUN!!!!! I know you will! Wow, just relax and enjoy yourself.
Amy - hope all went well! Know you're in my thoughts!!

ake

wow ladies....thank you SO MUCH for all your words of support. I love you all....cancer sucks, but it does have nice outcomes...like new friendships with amazing women

i just got home from my test...it was very difficult, but i did the best i could. i have a massage scheduled in 2 hours...it was my after-test treat i find out my results in 3 weeks, so keep those fingers crossed. i will be mad if i failed because i'm an overachiever, but if fail, i fail and i'll just take it again and be done. it's so hard to let go of control sometimes!!

glad to hear that everyone is doing well and finishing up treatments

love,
amy

marymelodi

Yipee, for you, Amy!! I have faith you will pass with flying colors. It is now 2:46 EST and so I am thinking about you having your massage with a blissful smile on your face!

ake

just got back from my massage....the blissful smile is still there i had 2 massage therapists and i almost passed out from sheer happiness. it's nice to feel good in my body after so long

ravdeb

Great Amy..so glad to hear that your test is over and you had a massage...very, very good to treat yourself so well!!

And keep the blissful smile...
ravdeb

debbie444

What a night. Just got back from Casualty with Dad again and breathing problems. When the phone went at 4am we knew what it was before answering - iup to the hospital to sit in a corridor for 5 hours with my brother and sister. They have said it will prob only get progressively worse now and we are to look at having oxygen installed at his house.
What with that, my op coming up and general stuff I feel like for the first time I am getting swept up so to speak. Not sure how much I can take thrown at me.
Had enough now - would like someone elses life for a short while.
Debbie

Graycie

Debbie, I am so sorry to hear about your Dad. You know what they say, When it rain's it pours and I think that is true. It seems everything happens at once. Hang in there....I will say a prayer for your Dad and for you too....
Love Graycie

Anonymous

Debbie -
Hang in there! I hope everything turns out okay! I saw your family pics at "Put a Face to the Name". Your kids are adorable, and your family too!
Laura

ake

Debbie,

I will be thinking of you. I'm so sorry you're going through everything right now. Just reminder...you are incredibly strong and you will get through this too. Hang in there and know we're always here if you need anything.

-Amy

Anonymous

Amy -- congrats on finishing your boards and I am so happy that you were able to relax with your massage. It's nice to like your body again!

Debbie -- sorry about your Dad. It seems some of us have one hurdle after another to go over and it seems the finish line is far off.

Rosemarie -- how is that arm doing??

tda --- ha ha! How are the "girls" doing? You crack me up! And no, I could not imagine wearing that lipo girdle into the warm ocean bath of Barbados.

RoseMarie

Debbie - I'm so sorry about your dad also!! Hang in there!
Kelly - my arm is great. No more pain in my wrist and very little visible swelling. I still haven't researched lymphedema extensively as I was/am in denial!!
Amy - so happy for you!!

Anonymous

I feel like a mother Hen!

Has anyone heard from Brenda (Adnerb)?

Laura