anyone starting chemo in Nov 2005

Margerie

Hi everyone!! It is so nice that we are moving on from chemo and onto recovery. Bad hair days here we come. Wigs and hankies in the drawer soon.

Kim, how is your hair on Xeloda? Are you having surgery after rads? I hope you are doing well.

ML- I am sure you and hubby are exhausted from this journey. Hopefully after rads you can have a margarita and enjoy a nice cool breeze together. Love the hair!! You look great!

Odalys, what do you do? I know you work, but realize I have no clue your profession. I admire that you are working and taking care of your family!


Anyway, my hair update. I first went topless about 4 weeks ago. I finished taxol 7 weeks ago. Hair was coming in brown (ugly brown, not my old color) and lots of grey. So I colored it "autumn shimmer" and am now a strawberry blond. I hear that coloring your chemo hair is tricky and it turns out red anyway. So I guess I picked the right color. My hubby and friends all say they love the look and want me to keep it. I agree it is better than bald, but I think they are just being nice. My eyelashes are almost all back and my brows are halfway there. I am feeling good. If I hike in the morning, my joint pain is almost non-existent. I am working on my insomnia- thanks Arimidex. Taking ativan for now, hope to wean off soon.

kim825

Margerie, my hair is growing slowly being on the Xeloda. I am not ready to go topless yet. It is coming in grey. I don't know if I can color it while still on the chemo.
Deb, yep I did email you about the exchange. I am definitely in.
Hope you all are having a wonderful week.

Kim
You all look so good with the hair coming back.

Mary-Lou

Margerie, it is beautiful. I love it. I'm just to tired to type, Full of meds....

(((HUGS)))

Odalys

Margerie - I agree with your hubby and friends the new hair looks great. It highlights your cheeck bones!
FYI-I'm a certified health information administrator currently working as a Dean at a private university. Boss is very understanding and has flexed my schedule allowing me to continue working and taking care of the family while receiving treatment. It's been quite a juggling act.

Ladies, I'm looking forward to this weekend, hubby and son will be away and I will have the house to myself. What am I going to do with all the free time?

Nancy-SanDiego

. . .and quite a lot of hair AND eyebrows and lashes. I am envious. I also love the wig, it looks so great on you. Odalys, congrats on finishing rads! I just finished 8/35 and am "pinking" up nicely. Use tons of Aloe Vera gel. Neuropathy is still a major problem, especially at night, but bags of frozen peas help. Neurologist said that I can take 900 Neurontin at night but if I take more, I'll have to take during the day and it will effect cognitive functions. Great--I already have chemo brain. "Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."

I'm spending the day with my 6-year old grandson and my sister. We are going to build birdhouses, see "Over the Hedge" and cook like crazy. Hope you all are having a wonderful day. Love to all.

Nancy

PS I have a birdnest just outside the front door and boy are those little birds noisy. I love it.

Odalys

Nancy, keep on using the Aloe. It helped me a lot. I still use it every day and the skin is healing nicely. Enjoy your grandson, 6 is a great age.
Love,

Mary-Lou

Debbie, the Journal has arrived. I got it on Sat. I love it. I sure hope we have allot more sisters share with us next time.

Did you send it to anyone that didn't do the exchange? I think they would love it.

I was so glad to have been a part of the journey across the states. And also, thank you for putting your own money into this project. All to bring joy to others.



You're the BEST !!!!!!

Odalys

Hi Ladies,
How is everyone feeling this weekend? Hope everyone is having a good weekend. Had a very nice and quiet weekend, just Maggie and I. I did some shopping and went to Cold Stone for some "chocolate devotion" ice cream. Yum!!!!

Well, I go in to see the Onc on Wednesday to discuss port removal, hormone treatment and ooph. Not looking forward to another surgery but really want to move forward and have all this behind me.

Lately, I've been experiencing pain in the bottom of my feet when I first get out of bed or when I stand after sitting for a long time. The whole body is stiff but mainly the fingers. Pain and stiffness tends to go away after I start moving or if I take a hot bath. I'm not sure if it's a lingering side effect of chemo or the hand/foot syndrome but it sure is becoming very annoying. Is this similiar to what some of you are experiencing?

Also, I don't have a problem falling asleep but do have terrible nightmares. When I wake up I don't remember what the dream was about just know that it was a nightmare. I'm not sure what that is all about. This has been going on for the past two weeks. Maybe is due to Effexor maybe not. I'm going to discuss it with Onc.

ML - Cute avatar!

Take care ladies. Love,

Anonymous

Mary Lou, You're very welcome! Anything to bring a smile to my sisters!

Odalys-I can raise my painful hand in empathy! I am not as far out of chemo as you, but I am still having horrible pain in my feet, and achiness in my joints. The tips of my fingers all hurt (haven't lost any fingernails, knock on wood!) but as a clarinet player, I know I won't be playing my tunes like I once could. My fingers just can't move!

I'm sooooooooooooo sorry ladies, I am taking forever to be able to get the package out for the 2nd exchange. Daniel is being very demanding of my time, and I just never get the chance to put everything in a box, put together the mailing list and get it on it's way! It will be well worth the wait, I promise!
Love and prayers, Debbie

kim825

Hello everyone,
Had a really good weekend here. I am getting ready for dh's big 40th birthday bash this weekend. I don't know what I was thinking having 80 people here, but he has been through a lot this past few months too and I wanted to do this for him.
Last week of school also. So much going on. Have no time for Cancer. LOL!!
Pretty red from rads. But it is doable. My feet so far have been ok from the Xeloda. Sometimes I wonder if it is working if I am not getting side effects. But things are pretty calm right now and the rad onc. says breast is a lot softer than when I saw him the first time. Yeah!! That is good news.
Hope you all have a great week. off to rads.

Kim

Odalys

I thought everyone might get a good laugh from this pic. Enjoy!

Betsey

Odalys,
Cute! My cat would probably attempt to take on the dogs rather than run! Good thing she stays indoors!
Joanie

Mary-Lou

I think my cats would take them on too. They cornered a Dalmatian on our deck just last week.

I had the last of my regular rads today. Now 8 boost and I'm done. The field where my nodes were treated is fried.

My rads Onc said it is one of the worst she has ever seen. How comforting It may even scar.

But next Thursday I'm finished !!!!!!!!!!! Another graduation

Can't believe I'm this far into this journey. Now a few months rest and then new boobs..... I hope that goes well.

At least it will be something I've looked forward to. I always wanted small boobs, so here's my chance.

Love to you all.

PS) Debbie, don't be so hard on yourself, we're not going anywhere.

Nancy-SanDiego

The pictures are so great. That is serious hair, Margerie, and looks fantastic. As we move towards an end to rads and weekly chemo and start regaining strength, what "graduation" gift are you planning for yourself? Certainly this year has been a bigger challenge than anything else I have done. I'm thinking a trip or cruise that is far from needles, meds, nursing and lab people, etc. Don't know if that is possible, but I like the idea of mindless activities, spa treatments, and long, lazy days with no pressure. Sound good?
OK, time to wake up and head for the hospital--#10/35. Have a great day.

Odalys

Just one more pic...

Margerie

Love the pictures Odalys! We have a German Shepherd and he is afraid of our indoor cats. One day he was barking his head off in the backyard and I looked to see what the fuss was about. He was circling and barking at the sleeping cat statue I had gotten on sale and put in the garden. Big baby!

Your last pic gave me an idea, I can cut off the left triangle of my bikini and lay out!

I am doing well. Kids last week of school- busy time.
Still doing herceptin every 3 weeks.

Waiting for my thyroid surgery (6/27) and my PET and MRI (6/20,21). Took some lipstick and made the 4" mark on my neck where my new scar will be- not too happy about it. But my scars fade a lot after 2 months or so. In the mean time I will look like Frankenstein for sure.

Exciting news for those of us Her2+ ladies. I have read so many articles. My favorite was the one where the doc said he was confident they would have the CURE for her2+ disease in the next 10 years.

I hope everyone is enjoying a nice summer. Rads gals- if your onc will permit I found a great combo for red skin and swimming/sun. I lathered on vaseline and wore a rashguard top. It is a stretchy shirt that surfer's wear. Has SPF 50 that is constant. Comfortable and keeps all those rads areas covered. My fields are finally (2.5 months later) not red anymore.

Tata for now,

Margerie

Anonymous

I really do need a good laugh, ladies! I just saw the plastic surgeon, and we agreed that I would have a bilateral mastectomy. OMG! All this time I was planning on a unilateral. The part that freaks me out? IT IS NEXT THURSDAY!!!!!!!!!!!! eek!

I did finally send the package!!! I'm not telling who got it first, either! We ended up with a total of 18 women this time (double the amount from last time!).

Gotta go...hubby and I have realized we need to "take advantage" of our remaining days with the girls...Love and prayers to all! Debbie

Anonymous

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention....as I was pulling out the driveway to go to the surgeon, I was incredibly nervous. So nervous, in fact, that I backed into my NEIGHBOR'S CAR and smashed out their front headlight!
The best part of the story is that after I waited all day for them to get home so I could sheepishly tell them, the wife immediately said, "That's ok! We need a new car anyway! Besides, my husband probably won't even notice! You have enough to deal with right now, anyway!"

Isn't that amazing! We are getting them a giftcard for a restaurant.
Love, Deb

marla13

Deb,

You've had a day, haven't you? I laughed and laughed scrolling thru these posts. Love the cats in bikinis and the hair photos. You guys look great! Can't wait to get mine back! It started growing back pretty good between AC and Taxotere (I had surgery in between). Then it came out again after my first Taxotere. Funny thing is it's trying to grow back again. Don't know what the heck is going on with my hair...my last chemo is July 5th!!!

Hope you remembered to include me on the exchange!!! I'm looking forward to it!

Hugs!
Marla

AnnaM

AnnaM

ohmygosh!

AnnaM

That was me a week before my biopsy last June. Now that I know how to do it, watch out!

I'll get my hubs to take a photo of me with my shortnesses and will post so you can see me in all my present coolness (coolness, because no longer do I know the meaning of a bad hair day).

Anna

kim825

Hey everyone,
Oh Debbie, you made me laugh. I can't believe next THURSDAY!!! OMG!! Have some last fun with the girls.
I had rads #16 today. They changed my time to 8:20 in the morning. At least I don't have to wait around till the afternoon anymore.
Yep, my kids are done this week too Margerie. They have 1/2 days until Friday. They are so excited. I kind of have a weird feeling about all this because this "journey" started when school started. Sometimes I look that it is a never ending journey. Know what I mean?
Anyway hope everyone is having a great week.

Kim

kim825

Where is everyone???? Hope you are all having a great week.

Kim

Mary-Lou

Hi girls,
I'm around. I have just been busy planning for a wedding on Sat. I'm making the center pieces, and doing some of the cooking. Also have to pick up the cake and set it up on site.

I'm still tired from the 2 days of yard sale last week end. I slept till after lunch time today. Michael tried to wake me, but I feel asleep again.

When I woke up, he was gone. Came back with a car load of groceries. Wow, I love that man!

Summer is always busy. I love being out and enjoying life again. But the rads has me so worn out. I have not had but maybe 2 naps this whole time.

In fact, I feel like going to bed now.

Hope all of you are doing well.

(((HUGS)))

This is another picture of the new kittens. I couldn't find this one, it was asleep in a basket of bears. I just had to show you all.


And under the couch, Anna this has your name written all over it. I can deliver! Not joking....

Odalys

Hi everyone. It's been a very busy week. Life is going back to normal (whatever that is). Well, I started the next phase of this journey yesterday, Zoladex shots and Femera. I am not emotionally ready for the ooph so I will take shots for a while. Boy, I did not know the shots were given in the abdomen...ouch! I am scheduled to go in for port removal on July 7. I'm nervous about the removal because they won't put me to sleep. I hate to be awake hearing everything that is going on.

Debbie and Margerie - I'm praying for you. Hope your surgeries go well.

Anna - how nice to finally see you. I'm glad you were able to post. Looking forward to seeing you in your present coolness.

Kim - Are you ready for summer? Steven has been out for two weeks already. He is going to summer camp starting next week. Hopefully they will keep him entertained.
Love you all.

Odalys

Mary Lou - I think we were posting at the time. Those kittens are adorable. Are you planning on keeping them all? It's nice to hear your life is also going back to normal.
Take care.

Mary-Lou

Odalys- LOL, no I can't keep them all Have three now. I would like to keep the white one I posted before. Will have to see.

Anna - I don't know why I thought you had dark hair. Great to see your face. You look to young to have a grown daughter. Please post more pictures.

Debby - You have mail

Marg - Did you have fun camping? Or did I miss that post?

Kim - hope all is well with you. And all that are having rads. And I want to wish all of you a great week end.


This is my oldest son and family. Did I post this before? I can't remember.

Odalys

Deb - I'm thinking of you and hoping your surgery went well and you are not in pain.
Sending love and hugs your way.

Odalys

Deb - Oops...just read your e-mail indicating surgery is next week. Sorry, I thought it was scheduled for yesterday.