2005 ROCK-TOBER CHEMO GIRLS

ravdeb

yikes!!! pushed something and my great message I wrote disappeared!!! so here it goes again....

marymelodi..I am so excited about your idea to hike on your anniversary that I think I'll do the same thing!!! I've been walking regularly here a few times a week and I live in a hilly area so it's great exercise and I'm feeling stronger every day. I love it!

As for my trip to the States..I'll be in N. Carolina, Chicago, Florida and DC..I fly from W. Palm Beach back to Israel..won't even be stopping in NJ this time around which I usually do. I have cousins in Teaneck but I will see them at the wedding in N Carolina so my travels this time are very different..well...not THAT different...just no stopping in NJ this time.

Can't wait for this trip!!!

Ladies..I just got my first hair cut!!! You are all the first to know as I'm surprising everybody here! We'll see if the rads techs notice. No..first see if my dh notices!!!

I was very scared and worried he'd cut too many of my curls I've grown attached to but I needed some shaping done. I had been going to this hairdresser for years but he's not the best in the world. But, then...who is?? I just really like him as a person and he has been praying for my full recovery. And it's just pleasant to be in his little shop. And well...he did a good job. I think I like it!!! I went home and watered it down and let the curls do their thing. It still needs to grow more and he took all the yucky ends off...looks okay!! I'll put some hair cream on it and it will be great! Gotta write this date down as my first haircut!!! How funny!! No..HOW FUN!!!

Paula...I'm with you..I just talk about my "situation" with close friends as I really hate all the other things that people say to me. Here in our little village the residents thrive on thrills like people being sick (also having affairs and if you aren't having an affair, they'll make it up!). Years back I was sick with a parasite and I didn't keep it a secret but they were all sure I was sick with cancer and WAS keeping it a secret. So now that I DO have cancer..this is just so exciting for them!!!

My doctors are all assuring me that I'm okay even with weird blood test results. I know intellectually that I'm just fine but still I worry. I have a herniated disk and with MRI and CTs they have assured me that the pain I have in my leg is from that..sciatica. Yet, I have this enchondroma in my bone (that's a benign tumor in bones) and he said it doesn't cause pain, and yet today when I was walking I had strange pains in the top part of my thigh and not down the back like sciatica does. It wasn't muscle...don't know what it was...

He did tell me to have another x-ray to watch it and I'll go to see him (orthopedic oncologist)next month before I leave on my trip so he can give me a referral for another x-ray. So, this is in the back of my mind even though they keep telling me I'm okay. Still, I know I am but there's this little, itsy bitsy teeny weeny thing stuck in the back of my mind saying... hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

But I feel good!!! I do, I do!!!!! And that's the best thing.

Be well all and Amy..have a great time!!!
ravdeb

ravdeb

oh yea..almost didn't recognize you, Terynsmom!!!! you look great!
ravdeb

ake

Terynsmom...you do look spectacular

Ravdeb...I want a pic of your new haircut. Also...when will you be in DC? That's where I live...I don't know what your schedule is, but it would be great to meet for coffee or something!

sorry you have to go through another x-ray. i guess it's just part of our life where we get to know the insides of our bodies pretty damn well! it's frustrating.

Anonymous

WOO - WOO!

Just returned home after having MY LAST RADIATION! My skin is quite "crispy" but hey - there isn't much that I can't tolerate at this point!!!

Hope you're all having a great day!

Laura

Anonymous

I'm back!

It is really good to hear that everyone is in good spirits.

Good news: My energy is coming back (blood tests all fine). Also, my husband's company has taken over our insurance coverage. So we're very much covered for a small fee (small compared to $800/mo. for 5 months)!

Laura: Congratulations! Your "crispy" skin will get better with emu oil. I swear by that stuff. I'm not kidding...my radiated skin looks better than my other breast.

Keep up the good work ladies!!

Anonymous

Adnerb -
Glad you checked in...I was worried about you! I have been using Aquaphor but will definately get some Emu oil. Thanks.

Terynsmom -
You look great in your new pic!


E V E R Y O N E -
In the Moving Beyond Cancer forum there's talk about a get together in Las Vegas this November. My wish is that all the Roctober Girls would be there. I am going to attend (along with my dh). Here's the link to the thread re: it.

http://community.breastcancer.org/ubbthr...ge=0#Post324938

Do you think you would consider going?

Laura

TracyNY

Terynsmom: The pain you have may be from when they "drop". When I had my expanders put in, the fills seemed to be high up in my chest, a few weeks after my last fill I got this wicked pain in my chest, it felt like they wanted to burst. It went away after a while and that was when they started to look really round and girly!! Nice photo by the way, I have to work on getting an avatar.

LauraGTO: Congrats on finishing the rads. Now you can relax and put treatments behind. Vegas?! Hmmmmm.

Ravdeb: I prayed hard about my arms on the plane. I massaged them, flexed my hands, held them over my head for a while and I'm back home with no ill effects. I hope you have the same luck.

maryannecb

Hi all,

my daughter made supper! First time she ever did it without me asking. Was it ever great to have her do something for me. She is 16 and quite capable but not necessarily too thoughtful these days. I have a very sore neck and upper back toay. Feels like a kink. A night of heat will do some good I hope. This evening I am goint to Special Olympics Awards ceremony. My youngest son is in the swim program. He will be so pleased to get a certificate.

Mary melodi, good idea to have a real momentous memory for your one year mark. Think I will copy idea myself. Thank you.

Ravdeb- must you worry , worry, worry???? Try to enjoy dancing with NED.I know how you feel though, every ache I have gets me worried at least for a little while.

Laura I hope you are out celebrating the end of active treatment. ONWARD> A get together next Nov, now that does sound possible...

Welcome back Brenda. Glad your insurance woes are better.

Fists up!

marymelodi

What a good idea to have a gathering in Las Vegas in November. I'll see if it is possible.

Ravedeb: I don't live close enough to any of the cities - except maybe I could get to Washington, DC if you and Amy were planning on getting together. I live near Rochester, NY but a train or plane trip to DC is not impossible. When would you be there? I am envious of your haircut. So far, all I need is to have my neck shaved and a little trimming. I am getting worried that I'll never have bangs again.

Terynsmom: You are looking so good. Teryn is a cutie-patootie!!

Laura: Boy, I hope your radiation skin gets better quickly. I used the stuff they gave me in the clinic, but in the end, the wound healed best after using Neosporin. My body responds well to that stuff. I've used it for years on all kinds of sore spots and it does the trick!

Paula and Brenda: good to "see" you here. Hello, Hello!

Tomorrow I see my oncologist for a 3-month check-up. Yes, it has been over 3 months since the last chemo. Time has flown by. Yesterday I took my first Jazzercize class at the Fitness Center here at my work. It was strenuous, but at least I kept moving all through the hour, even if I couldn't catch on to all the steps. I felt so-o-o good after the exercise and walking out to my car I got all teary feeling so grateful to be able to use my body this way and to simply be ALIVE. Today we have sunshine which has been in short supply lately. It is a great day!

RoseMarie

Mary - glad to hear you're having such a great day!!! Laura - WAHOO!! I'm so glad you're done!!! (I'm sure not half as glad as you are!!!!!!)
Vegas in November...sounds like fun...will have to see about child care/school/etc...BUT sounds great!
Terynsmom- your pictures are awesome!!!
Well, we're leaving tomorrow for Florida (only to return on Monday!!) I can't wait to see all my friends and family. This is our first time making the 12+ hour drive!! We've got LOTS of dvd's, books, etc...hope it keeps the kids busy. If not...Benadryl, LOL...
Have a great rest of the week/weekend everyone!!

Anonymous

Rosemarie -

Cheers...to a safe and happy trip to FL!

Laura

ake

where is everyone?

Graycie

Amy, I was wondering that myself. I got on earlier but didn't have time to write and we were way down at the bottom...We have to keep us up on top.....HA

Laura, I meant to write yesterday and congratulate you on your last raditation.....Yipee...Isn't it a wonderful feeling?

Rosemarie, Have a Great trip......Looking forward to hearing all about it.

ake

laura....congrats for ending rads one more milestone under your belt!!!

TracyNY

Thanks for the explanation on how to post photos, LauraGTO!

This is me on the beach in Barbados on Tuesday.

Graycie

TDA866...I posted on the other thread "put a face with the name" on how much I liked your picture.....
Graycie

Anonymous

TDA, I love your picture. Can you please post some more pics of Barbados? I just love that island!!! I've got to take my daughter there some day. That was my favorite vacation of all time!

Graycie

Kelly, I love your new picture in your avatar.......What a nice picture of you...Please tell me your hair hasn't grown that much and that is a wig or before BC...Just kidding, Actually I hope it has. I am just jealous because I still have little stubs.....

Anonymous

Gracie, it's a wig! It's cute and looks natural because it has 'roots' and looks like I need a trip to the beauty parlor.

If you go to the picture thread, you can find me and Teryn and I have just a baseball cap on.

Graycie

Kelly,
Your right, that is a cute wig and looks very natural....I want one.....HA...Actually I may be buying a new wig since it will be a while before I will have the nerve to go without. I did check out your pictures on the other thread and your daughter is so cute and so are you....
Graycie

ravdeb

marymelodi...
Just had to laugh... I had my hair cut but it was a "shaping" really. Just a bit here and there and around my ears where the curls were taking over. I still have more hair that needs to grow (and it better!) to cover the top of my head where scalp still shows through a bit and I have no bangs either!! I'm dreaming of curls on my forehead by next Fall!!!And I'm wondering how long these chemo curls will last because I like them!

maryanne...I'm trying not to worry too much...REALLY! Just happens. But, I'm convinced that when rads are over...have done 22 out of 33...I will stop worrying. This can't go on!

And maryanne..you are right that perhaps it's hard for me to go back to my synagogue partly because it's a spiritual place...having some problems with this since diagnosis but will resolve it all. In the meantime I had been telling friends I'd be there tonight and then didn't get there and so I got a call...they were worried! Couldn't they just figure out that I just didn't want to go??? They never call anyone else if they don't show up! GEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ.... got a call tonight from a lady friend of a cousin who called, asked how I was and when I said fine..she said..."no..I mean healthwise..what is going on?". Wanted to bop her one!

ravdeb

Anonymous

Laura! I just realized you are DONE with rads!! Sorry it seems like they over cooked you but over-cooked is better than under-cooked in our world!

Ravdeb --- your picture looks beautiful. I bet your curls are pretty as well. Sidenote ... for some reason I was drawn to the Jewish section in the book store the other day. There were books on Kabbahlah but I didn't buy one. I did buy the book called, "Night" by Elie Wiesel. I also bought a book called "What Jesus Meant" ..... don't know why it was in that section but since I bought it, I will find out.

Graycie

Nobody has posted here in 2 days, that's a first.....I guess everyone is busy and hopefully doing well. I thought I would post so I can bring our thread back up to the top. Don't want to lose it...lol
Everyone have a GREAT WEEKEND......
Graycie

Anonymous

Graycie -
Hi there! Yes, it is great to be done w/rads! I'm doing pretty good, still a little crispy but it's okay. Hope you're having a great weekend. I spent last night at the emergency vet w/my cat! He came home with his belly split wide open - it was a bloody mess! I freaked out. He had to have quite a few stitches. He must have jumped up on something sharp in our forest. Not exactly sure. I feel so bad for him. He showed up on our deck last summer and we have been taking care of him since. But he likes to go out and hunt mice and chipmunks! I have tried to keep him inside but he cries constantly. Hope all is well.

kelly -
Your photo is great and you look great! I love your wig.

tda -
It's great to finally "see" you! Great photo!

Everyone -
Hope you're all doing well.
Exactly one year ago today - I found the lump that forever changed my life. I hope I never find another one!

Laura

TracyNY

I'm still here. I feel like I'm on detention. I had a few things going on last year, I'm sure you understand, that prevented me from completing my Master's thesis.

If I don't get it in by June 1st, I have to repeat the tutorial class and pay the fee. I need that thousand dollars to buy new clothes when my lipo swelling goes down!!

I've been up for two straight nights trying to beat this deadline and the weather is gorgeous, I wish I was outside. I feel punished but at least once I get this out of the way, I can run the streets all summer long!

Thanks for the compliment, Laura. My one year discovery is sometime soon too. I don't remember exactly but June 8th is when I got on the rollercoaster. That's the date my gyn rushed me over to my breast surgeon and the drama began. Aren't you glad its all over?!

Anonymous

tda -
Best wishes to you with your thesis! Yes - I am so glad it's all over. Now I have to work on recovering emotionally!
Laura

Paula15089

Hi ladies,
just checking in!
Had another one of my 3-monthly checks with my surgeon today, hurray, all is good! He says i am healing very well. Dont need to see him till September now, which is when i'll be having my annual mammogram.

My BRACA test came back negative. Good news, but that makes my decision on having a prophylactic mastectomy a rather difficult one..
I am not too happy with "one implant/one real boob" look. They just dont match. I'd rather have two implants. I guess I have at least till september to think about it.

Hope everyone is well!

ravdeb

tda..how come I just noticed this picture now??? You are gorgeous!!! WOW!!!!!

ravdeb

ravdeb

Hey Laura...One year ago??? does that count for anniversary??? When do we count it..the day we found the lump or the day it get removed or... or... or...!!!

At any rate...time is passing on and you are well, crispy but well...

That's wonderful!
ravdeb

ravdeb

GREAT NEWS PAULA!!!

Sounds wonderful!!!
ravdeb