2005 ROCK-TOBER CHEMO GIRLS

maryannecb

Good luck Kelly. I know how much you want to get going on Herceptin again.

Fists up!

TracySeattle

Debbie, I have a new address, but I got your card--Thanks so much!

Terynsmom - I love your hair, it is about the same length as mine and I gel mine too. My co-workers tell me that it is shiek and sassy. I just feel like a boy! :-)

Ravdeb - I am so sorry about your house, that really stinks.

I think I am going to go to Vegas!!!! How fun will that be??

Graycie

I am so mad, I just lost the long post I just wrote. I will try again. I hope I remember everybody.....

Tracy, I am so sorry to hear of the break-up of your marriage but by the sounds of it I think you will be better off. You certainly don't need the added stress after all you have been through. You have a great attitude and I think you will be fine and in the long run you will be happier.

Debbie, I am glad to hear your Dad is doing better.

Kelly, Don't worry about going topless your picture looks great! Who are the other girls in the picture? You all look alike so you must be related. Sorry to hear about your toe. The nail on my big toe started to lift but that was about it. It is fine now.

Tda, Congratulations on finishing your thesis.

Laura, Your hair looks great too and you shouldn't worry about going topless either. Atleast your hair is blond. My hair is coming in dark and you can still see some of my scalp. I want to know what happened to the thick beautiful hair I was promised by my ONC....I think he lied to me...LOL...If I knew this was going to happen I never would have agreed to chemo, Just kidding........

Daydream, I am glad you are doing good. I hope the soreness goes away soon.

Ravdeb, That is horrible about the break-in. That is one of my worse nightmares. How scary. I am just so glad nobody was home.

Maryanne, That is great with the weightloss. How did you do it? I am thinking of trying weightwatchers. I have the book. I am so disgusted with my weight gain. What can I say I love to eat,Actually, I think it is called boredom. I went clothes shopping today and it was a wake-up call..If I could just lose 10 lbs I would be happy. 20 is my goal. Tomorrow I go to the ONC for a check-up and port flush. I hope I don't get yelled at when I get on the scale. I hate the check-up's, I still get nervous.

Does anyone still have their port in. I hope he will let me get it out now, I guess I will find out tomorrow.

I better go before I lose this post. I am wishing everyone well and I hope I didn't miss anybody.....Graycie

Graycie

I forgot, Kelly, good luck with your Muga tomorrow......

RoseMarie

Graycie, I KNOW how you feel about the disappearing post!!! Sooo frustrating!
I still have my port in - had it flushed on Wednesday as a matter of fact. The ps told me he would remove it when I have my exchange surgery and my onc is ok with that. I can't wait! It is sooo unsightly - can't hide it with bathing suit on!!
Kelly - you are so pretty - you should go topless!! You're hair looks great! Good luck tomorrow!
Ravdeb - so sorry to hear about the break in!!!! That really irks me!!! How dare they?!!!
tda - can't remember if I already congratulated you and I'm afraid to go back and look as that tends to make my posts disappear BUT congratulations on finishing your thesis!!! I'm impressed!!
Maryanne - how are things now that you're back at work? Congrats on the weight loss, by the way!

Lots of love to all of you!

ake

hi ladies,

i'm still in mexico (my surprise vacation was to los cabos) but just wanted to say hi and i miss you all. guess what? i got my freakin' period here! i'm on tamoxifen and i still got it (my doctor said it can happen). it's nice to know the system is still functioning after chemo, but how ironic to get it on my wedding annviersary vacation!!!

hope you all are doing well!

love,
amy

Graycie

Amy, How lucky you are, what a nice surprise. My friend and her husband went to Los Cabos a couple months ago and loved it. The pictures she took are beautiful......Enjoy! Will be looking forward to hearing all about it when you get home....
Graycie

ravdeb

Quote:

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I hope you can regain your sense of security, don't let them steal that from you.

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tda... nope...I won't and thanks for saying that. It's a good reminder to everybody how those material things are just not as important as life... I think I would have been a lot more irked had this happened before my diagnosis. It's aggravating but that's it...

Terynsmom..if I didn't mention this...your pic of you is just beautiful! I think it's a matter of getting used to seeing yourself with short hair because you are gorgeous in the pic.

Amy, so good to hear from you from Mexico! How very exciting...and your little surprise on your wedding anniversary...very nice indeed. Seems everything is falling into place for you. Very happy to hear that.

Graycie...as for your hair. Be happy it's dark. Mine is still thin on top even though it's been growing since January and my scalp still shows through. I really hope it fills in eventually But like I said...I think it's a matter of getting used to the short hair look. I've gotten used to mine. I put my wig on the other day just to see what I looked like with longer black hair and YUCK! Of course I was never happy with my wig even though it was natural hair and cut just like my hair had been before chemo. My daughter said it looks strange because she's now used to my short, white curls. So...it's just a new norm that we have to get used to.

Have a good weekend everybody!
ravdeb

sherryhaire

Ravdeb--So sorry about the break in how awful that must hve been but thank goodness no one was home and got hurt!!!I guess it is time to buy some hair gel!!!

TracyNY

Quote:

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guess what? i got my freakin' period here!

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Aint that a b*tch!! It happens every time. Plan something romantic and that sucker has to show up to spoil the party.

Hope you had a good time regardless!

Graycie

Amy, When I said what a Nice surprise I didn't mean your period...........HA.....I meant the trip your husband planned for you. Graycie

RoseMarie

Amy - I know you're having a wonderful time Good to hear from you. (Your period...things that make you go hmmmm?!!)
Ok...working on my 2nd glass of wine...hope it's not raising my estrogen levels too high 'cause I'm enjoying it

myrnainc51

Hey mary Ann,
I have the neg PR and HR what type of chemo should I expect? Will I get really sick with the first? Should I get a port?
Any info would be great
thanks
myrna in Oklahoma age 55 node negative 1.5 cm

Graycie

myrnainc, I am 56 and also er/pr-,hr-.Did your doctor say you needed chemo? With the size of your tumor and the fact you are node neg maybe you won't need it. They may just give you radiation but with being er/pr neg they may decide on giving you chemo too. If you do need it, as far as getting sick with all the new drugs they have now that shouldn't happen. I never got sick. I would also recommend the port. It is so much easier plus it saves on your veins. Goog Luck, I am sure your ONC with go over everything with you. Graycie

Anonymous

Amy, have some margaritas for us! Even though your period returned, I am sure you are having a great time with hubby, just being away and concentrating on each other is romantic!

Graycie, I had my MUGA and it has not improved. I went to to see the onc and when I told her I was still at 50%, she was shocked I knew the results before her and shocked that it didn't go up. When I saw her facial expression, I started crying. I knew I couldn't go back on Herceptin. I will have to wait another month and get another MUGA.

Maryann, are you still on Herceptin?

Rosemarie, go for that glass of wine. (I wanted to reach thru the computer and grab that girl for laughing at the response or Rosemarie44 regarding alcohol and estrogen .... oh I was so mad)

TracyNY

I had a follow up echocardiogram this week. My cardiologist thought that once I finished chemo my ejection fraction would go back up but I'm still at 53%.

So I have to continue taking Coreg for a little while longer. I really need to start exercising to get the heart muscle a bit stronger. Just lazy.

ake

just wanted to say hi and i'm back from los cabos. it was so good to relax...have lots to tell about my trip, but i'm exhausted and on hold with the airline who lost my luggage i'll write you all tomorrow

love,
amy

TracySeattle

Hi All!!!

I walked the Survivor lap of the Relay for Life today. I was asked to carry the banner, what an honor! It was so cool, 250 cancer survivors walked and people cheered us along the entire way. After I finished the lap, I went back and helped my friend, Helen (breast cancer survivor) to finish. She walked the entire lap without her wheel chair!

I am on the right side of the banner....

TracySeattle

Oh and I forgot to tell you in the previous post. I made a Luminary for all of my sisters at BC.org that will burn tonight at the Relay.... I love you all!

TracySeattle

Also took some hair pics today - here is my new do...

Anonymous

Tracy, you look beautiful and you have so much hair!!

Great job on the walk! How many laps did you have to walk??

Amy, glad you are back, safe and sound .... too bad your luggage doesn't have LoJack!!!

TracySeattle

Only one lap, next year I want to have a team and stay for the whole thing. It looked like a lot of fun. The teams camp there overnight and they have someone walking the track from each team at all times for 20 hours. They had bands, food, entertainment. Very fun!

sherryhaire

Tracy You look great!!!

maryannecb

Hi everyone!

Tracy, your hair is coming along well. Relay for life must have been special. Ours is on Friday. I'll be there.

Kelly, that sucks about your MUGA> I am still on Herceptin, have another Muga at the end of the month.Started at 67, dropped to 56. Hope this one holds or eyebrows will gp up I am sure. I will hope for good results on your next one. Showed your topless pic to my 16 yo daughter, she thought you looked fantastic!

Had CT on Friday, six month follow up of lung nodule which we are hoping was nothing. If it is the same I will breathe easy. Results some time this week I hope.

Amy, nice surprise you had.Your trip that is. I am still having no period. My hotflashes have stopped, so maybe I will be in for a surprise too. My vacation is end of July so no doubt that is when it will come back. LOL. Any word on your boards yet?

Myrna, I had 4FAC every 3 weeks, then 4 Taxotere with Herceptin every 3 weeks, then 5 weeks of daily rads. A lot depends on your age, the size of the tumor, node status and receptor status. Every case is different. Preexisting med problems also play a role. Don't worry your onc will help you select what is best for you.

Graycie, I have lost weight with not eating between meals, smaller portions and if I am offered an alcoholic drink( 1-2/week) I stick to one or none. I have been exercising2-4 times/ week at the gymn or taking a walk. Yeterday I went sailing for two hours, which I count as exercise as there is quite a bit of running around.

Rosemarie, going back to work has been good.Less time on the boards now! I like my job. I get tired easily and have a little difficulty concentrating after lunch but am able to finish for the day around 3 so it is not too bad. In the evenings I crash into bed by 9 and am sleeping really well.
I still think a lot about cancer and am constantly chasing away negative thoughts. I can't wait for a time when I will go a whole day, a week with no thoughts of this past year.

Fists up!

Graycie

Kelly, Sorry to hear your muga hasn't changed. They never gave me another one after chemo so I have no idea how my counts are now. I was 69 before. I am sure they probably went down during chemo. Wouldn't you think they would have rechecked them but I am also not on any drugs because of the neg. receptors.

Amy, Welcome Back. Looking forward to hearing all about your trip and maybe some pictures. Sorry about your luggage.

Tracy,Good for you for doing the relay. Great pictures and your hair is looking good. The back of your hair kind of looks like my hair except I think you have a little more.

Maryanne, I am really going to try and start a diet tomorrow. I can't believe how the scale keeps going up. I went to the ONC Friday and I was even 2 more lbs. on his scale. I refuse to gain any more.

My check-up went good. I told him about my arm hurting from time to time but he doesn't think it is lymphedema or anything serious but he would send me for an X-ray if I wanted one. I said I would wait and if it acts up again I will call. My next appointment is in 4 months (except for my port flush in 6 wks), does that seem right? It seems so long.....Does anyone have any idea why he feels my legs and ankles and presses on my abdomen in several places when he does the examination. I am just wondering what he is looking for..You can see the old paranoia is setting in once again. I can see maybe he is feeling for tumors in the abdomen but why the ankles and legs?

I hope everyone is having a nice weekend.....I guess I should say Had a nice weekend. I can't believe it is over already. It was pretty chilly here and rained most of the time.

Graycie

ake

hi ladies,

still freaking out about my period....i'm scared all of a sudden that the tamoxifen isn't working and i need to have my ovaries shut down or something, which makes me worry about fertility, but then i go back to worrying about recurrence. i cried a bit today with my husband because i'm just so sick of worrying. every time i take a breath, i end up getting confronted by something else troubling. it sucks. no better way to say it. i want everything to work and i don't want to be scared anymore. i'm constantly wondering how long i will get to to live my life and that is no way for any of us to live. it's so hard to get out of that "fight, fight, fight" mode. i hate it. i'm pissed i got my period because now i'm scared about my estrogen.

still, my husband and i had a nice anniversary today and went to have a couples' massage with champagne, cooked dinner together, and ate wedding cake i haven't found out my boards yet, but hopefully this week.

mary anne...keep us updated about your scan. i'm sending you nothing less than huge positive thoughts

graycie...my doctor does the same thing....pressing on my stomach, feeling my ankles. who the hell knows what they are looking for!?

hope everyone has a good week!

-amy

here's a pic of me and my hubby from vacation before i got my period...hence the happiness on my face! [image][/image]

Paula15089

Hi everyone! I see this thread is still one of the most active ones? you ladies sure can chat!
Glad everyone is well. I've been soooo busy at work, hence havent had a chance to post much. Trying to get to gym at least twice a week (I HAVE to lose than weight ), and just started playing tennis, so not much free time..

Amy, did you doctor offered Zoladex injections? I get them once a month as well as Tamoxifen, and was told after two years i can stop if i want to get pregnant. So its not supposed to kill you fertility, well not at our age anyway (i hope!).
So no periods for me anymore.

debbie444

Thought I had better check in - so much to catch up on!!
Glad you had a good break Amy. In a strange sort of way it was good your period came back - shows your chances of having kids havent disappeared and for it to come back over an anniversary sort of ties in ( clutching at straws now!)
Sorry to hear about the break in Ravdeb, some people are just lowlife.
Great pics Tracey - you already seem more outgoing and confident. You obviously made the right decision. Send me your new address.
Sorry about the herceptin results too - they are doing it for a reason i guess. Someone has to draw a line where it is doing more harm than good , shame you were on the wrong side of the line.
If i have missed anyone - sorry - i HAVE read all the posts but my memory seems to have jetlag.
I have my pre op appointment tomorrow ( guess no time to lose a couple of stones before then) and my op is on the 12th. I have a finite time to get better as my sons Holy Communion is on the 17th and i have a party to sort! We are travelling to a wedding in Bristol on the 1st July and i need to be firing on all cylinders by then. I went away to boarding school so a lot of us are scattered over different countries and only meet up at weddings. They all know i have been 'out of the loop' and i want them to see a positive version of me. The hairdresser is going to have to work miracles!!
Hope you all had a good weekend. My husband built some of the brickwork for our new conservatory and i managed to get sunburn gardening ( sunburn in England??!!) I had smothered everything in high factor but not realised that my top rode up when bending over so felt very silly with a big burnt triangle on my back!
Debbie

ravdeb

amy..I would think that getting your period back would mean your body is beginning to return to normal. Being hormone neg, I guess maybe I don't really get it. Mine has not returned and am guessing it never will..was thrown into menopause and at my age (51) it's not unusual...but it is early for the women in my family.

I think you should talk to your onc about it all and get a clear picture of what it means.

At any rate...anxious to hear about your trip! Except for lost luggage, I'm sure it was great!

Terymsmom... sorry to hear about your muga. Ugh! Just remember that your doctor is looking out for you and will only do what is safe..thank goodness they have all these tests!

maryanne...waiting to hear about your scans and hoping all is GOOD!

Tracy..You Go Girl1!! You look great and you are so wonderful to help your friend along after you did your walk! And the luminary for the bc sisters! You are great!

Graycie..I think they check ankles for swelling and abdomen for anything that may feel out of the ordinary. Seems pretty typical. All my doctors do that.

As for the break-in at our house...a new alarm system was installed yesterday and the insurance co. assures us we'll get enough money to replace what was taken. No big deal. I'm just grateful that we are all okay, we weren't at home at the time, especially happy that my son was out with friends and not home alone, and that none of my sentimental things were taken.

We are being more careful now (yea, sure..now that they broke in!) about locking our gate. Seems they pulled right into our driveway and just filled up and left.

ravdeb

ake

well, i just made an appt. for me and my husband to go to a fertility specialist (we want to figure out if we can do surrogacy) and i just left a message for my onc. begging to come in and talk to her since i'm terrified i had my period while on tamoxifen. and so, my vacation ends.

but, here is all the stuff about my vacation, ravdeb my husband kept the location a surprise until we reached our connecting flight. he had fun leaving me clues that sent me on a wild goose chase (i was convinced we were going to jamaica) and even took me to different gates in the airport to confuse me more. we finally got on the plane for los cabos, mexico the weather was about 98 degrees, but dry. we spent the entire week laying in the sun (and shade) and swimming in the pool and going down to the beach. our hotel was all-inclusive, so we didn't have to worry about anything. the food was okay, but we actually were met in mexico by 2 good friends of ours, so the 4 of us had a blast. i had a massage, the boys played golf, and i forgot what day it was...which is truly the best part of any vacation my luggage did get lost on the way home, but they found it later, and everything is good. now back to work

have i said recently how annoyed i am that cancer has been a part of my life? i truly can't get past that this crap is part of my life now. grrrrr.

here's a pic of my hotel view from mexico [image][/image]