anyone starting chemo in Nov 2005

AnnaM

going in for last treatment tomorrow.....

Odalys

Congratulations, Anna. Hope all goes well.
Love and hugs,

kim825

Yeah Anna. Congratulations. We will be thinking and celebrating with you tomorrow.

hugs,
Kim

Mary-Lou

Kim, I'm praying for you.

Anna, so glad the last of this is here.

I still have to go back and read. I just wanted to pop in and say HI!

My life is getting so close to normal. I almost forget about all I have been through. Join weight watchers, that will be on your mind. Sometimes I just want to quit, but I don't. If I quit, I'm failing myself.

If I'm strong enough to fight cancer, I'm strong enough to get healthy.

Sorry to come on and vent. But you all are my sisters. I have a trust with all of you, and I know that I can say what I feel. And it is safe.

I love you all. I need to shower, so I will close for now. I'm always on here to long.

(((((((BIG HUGS))))))

Odalys

Just thought you might want to read this article that indicates chemo brain can last up to 10 years! Yikes.......... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15136453/

AnnaM

It's good to have an excuse....

All went well at my last Herceptin treatment yesterday and the oncologist said I'm good to go.

Kim, are you almost finished with your tx now? How many more?

Mary Lou, let's hold hands. Yes, yes, yes to healthy. Little steps backward cannot hurt all that we have done. Picture that big step forward. I'm there, stepping forward with you.

Love, Anna

kim825

Yeah Anna. So happy for you.
ML, you can do it. You are doing great on WW and getting healthy.

So today I had my 3rd Doxil treatment. I will have PET/CAT and head MRI on Feb 8 to see if this treatment is working. If it is then we will continue, if not then onto another chemo. I am going for a second opinion at Fox Chase Cancer Center (not sure if I told you that) next week. I told my onc. about this today and he was all for it. I was so nervous to tell him about it but it was ok. Came home and then went for 9th rads treatment. TOMORROW IS LAST ONE!!!

Kim

Mary-Lou

I saw my Onc today. I have been having some pain in my side and leg on the BC side.

Not sure what it may be. He ordered a CT, will be done on the 31st, and said he wanted to do one each year for a few years just to let us know where I stand without having to guess.

I go to a hometown cancer center so I truly believe I get more direct care. I never seem like a number. They all know me by name. Even on the phone, all I have to say is hi, this is Mary Lou, they know who it is.

I went to the kick off meeting for our "Relay for life" tonight. I will be on my Rads Onc team. That makes me feel even more cared about. She was the chairperson last year.

If you have never been involved , please do it this year. At least walk the survivors walk. You will never do anything anymore rewarding.

I want to walk on a team and raise as much money as I can this year. I will camp out this year, and stay the whole time. Michael will go with me too. He is taking a Vacation then.

It will be May 18 & 19..... I'm training on the treadmill now and plan to drop some major pounds by then.

BTW, my weigh in went fine. I lost another pound. Even having a birthday!

I'm really on track again. I get very depressed when I eat stupid. But feel so good when I do well. I just need to stay busy, and out of the fridge every time I turn around.

Habit from the holidays.

Well, I do need to get off of here. Love to you all. Glad to hear good news here again.

I really want 2007 to be a wonderful year for us all. And maybe soon all of us can meet. I'm back to work 2 days a week, so that's my travel money.

((((HUGS)))

Anonymous

I totally want to meet all of you as soon as possible!!!

Wow, Kim! I know I am merely a person watching on the sidelines, but I can't believe that it's the end of the rads road for you. I am really just so proud of you, and truly in awe.

ML-I'm going to be saying some extra prayers for you regarding your pains. I was just telling my onc. nurse today (a fellow bc survivor) about how scary any little ache and pain can be now. We will never move beyond the cancer in that sense, will we?


Ok, it is time. I am ready to eat well. I bought an incredibly cute spring dress (shoulder skimming and plunging neckline), and I want my body as well as my new boobs to look fantastic in it and I can wear it for Easter. I am going to just say, "I will eat more healthy," because I tend to retaliate against myself if I think I am going to withold food!

Ok, time for bed. I love you guys!
Love and prayers, Deb

Anonymous

My goal is to lose 15 pounds......

kim825

Well, I did it. 10 head rads are done!! Yeah! I never thought this day would come. I go back in two weeks for a check up. The head spot is a little sore and red and will probably get worse before it gets better, but no more rads to the spot. He also dropped the steriods to 1x a day. So hopefully I can sleep at night and get this puffiness out of my face.
ML, I will be thinking and praying that the CT shows nothing.
Deb, I am all for healthy living. (especially after what these steriods did to me).

Hope you are all having a great week.

Kim

Odalys

Congratulations, Kim. I know this was hard for you and I admire your determination. You stuck to it and got it done. God Bless you for that. You've earned some R and R after this ordeal. Take care,
(((((HUGS)))))

Margerie

I am so happy for you KIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What an ordeal- one tough mamma you are. Take care friend- and let us know how you are doing later!

Huges,

Margerie

AnnaM

Congratulations, Kim! You have been such a model of positive attitude these past weeks. You are still in my prayers every day, and it somehow comforts me to send good vibes your way.

Mary Lou, I am thinking of you. I don't know what it is with these weird pains. I have somehow developed something similar to "tennis elbow" and can only hope that's what it really is.

Odalys, how is your arm/hand? Better? Less swollen, I hope.

Love to all of you, Anna

Odalys

Hi Anna,
Thanks for asking about my arm/hand. The fractures have healed but the two fingers are very swollen, painful and stiff. I can't bend them. I saw the ortho this week and he was a real jerk...he tried to force my fingers into a fist and when I jumped due to the pain he told me my pain was "out of proportion to my injuries"...acording to who???? He went on and on about how he has seen so many fractures that are worse than mine and patients had more range of motion and less pain and stiffness than me. It took every ounce of energy to just sit there and not go for his throat. He is clueless to LE, SE of Femara, or Zolodex. Now, he wants to send me to P.T. so they can "torture me". Yeah right, like I'm going to let them "torture me". What an idiot!

Sorry for venting. Again, thanks for asking.

Love and hugs...


PS: I hope your pain goes away soon. Last year, I had tennis elbow and it was taken care of with a cortisone shot.

kim825

Odalys, how did you not want to smack that doctor. I hope you are feeling better real soon.
Anna, hope your pain goes away soon and it is just tennis elbow.

Kim

Anonymous

Oh wow, what a sucky doctor, Odalys! Unbelievable.
For what it is worth,

Despite the aches, pains, fractures, etc., it sounds like we are moving in the right direction again. I hope so, at least! I am going for a sleep study on Monday to see if that is the cause of my general achiness.

Oh heck. I just got interrupted by a call from my dh. He and I just got into a stupid fight because of the sleep study. They wanted to have me come tonight, but he has a "thing" to go to for work which they "had an extra ticket for." He has never made it seem like it was a big deal until I told him they wanted me to come tonight by 9:30 at the latest. He just kept "hemming and hawing" about it and beating around the bush instead of saying "I can't get home in time for that." In the meantime, the scheduler lady is standing in front of me waiting for an answer. Am I stupid for having even bothered saying anything?!?!?!? Ugh, sometimes marriage can be really tough.
Gotta get some stuff done! Love and prayers, Deb

Odalys

Debbie - dh's can be so irritating at times but you got to love them!

AnnaM

Well, it's finally winter here. We had some fierce wind and it brought the cold in with it. Now I can finally wear some sweaters....

I'm so sorry to hear about that very stupid doctor, Odalys. Really stupid. I hope you can go to someone else. How dare he say the pain is out of proportion! If doctors knew so much about someone else's pain, then why would they ask us to rate out pain all the time? Obviously, it's the person who feels the pain who is the expert on that particular pain, no? I agree with you about the hesitation to trust medical personnel to do things to your hand when they have not demonstrated any knowledge of the things that concern you, like LE, especially. My big beef with ALL medical people is their total IGNORANCE of the realities of LE. How dare they be so cavalier about something this life-altering? (Better not get off on that subject, I could rave for hours...)

My daughter called in hysterics last night. She came home from work and found her wonderful cat curled up on the bed, dead. He had shown no signs of illness, and wasn't even old. She and her hubby were absolutely devastated. I wish I could comfort them. Ah, life can be cruel. It's strange how such a situation brings to mind all the other deaths they might have to deal with at some point in their lives. I pray they find a way to comfort each other, and themselves.

On the other hand, I just found out we are going to Boston next weekend! For four days! That means I will get to see those two, and I am excited about that. However, I will also have to have dinner on two of the evenings with all sorts of people from way back in my husband's past, people I haven't met before. Yikes! will I find any presentable clothes in my closet? Hmmm. I have been wearing only comfy things for the past, what, 20 months? I sure don't want to buy anything new. Not in this size, anyway. Nor can I lose ten pounds or so in a week. Not with that box of English toffee in the fridge. Always calling out to me. The nerve of that box.

Debbie, I would love to hear more about your sleep study. What are they looking for?

Kim, I hope you have a very good weekend. My prayer for you is that the healing continues steadily, and that you feel stronger every day. Is the puffiness subsiding yet?

Margerie, how are you feeling these days? When is your final stage in the reconstruction?

Mary Lou, it sounds like you are totally back on track. You are my inspiration. I will hold you up as my model whenever that nasty little box in the fridge calls out to me.

Love to all of you, Anna

kim825

Winter finally showed up here in the Poconos also this weekend. The kids actually had a snow day yesterday. Usually by now they've had 3 or 4. Today it is very windy. The puffiness in the face has not gone down yet. I am waiting. LOL! The hair on the rads spot is going though. So I will have a nice bald spot on my left side toward the back. My hair is very short so there is no trying to cover it with the longer hair. Oh well, anything to fight this disease, right?
Deb, good luck with the sleep study. Sending you a big ole frying pan for dh. (smack, but right Odalys you gotta love em)
Anna, I am so sorry to hear about your daughter's cat. Many hugs being sent out for them. Your trip sounds exciting. You must be excited to see your daughter. I'd say go for it, treat yourself and buy yourself something real nice. YOU DESERVE IT!!!!!

hugs,
Kim

Margerie

Anna, My stage 2 got rescheduled to Feb. 9th.

Thanks for asking.I am feeling great, all considering! No really- a little tight where I have my hernia (joy) and I still have to take something for my insomnia. The thyroid meds are not an issue at all, knock on wood. Thinking back to last year, I am just so thankful for life today.

We just talked with good friend's of ours- the husband is 41 and he just got diagnosed with colon cancer. I knew the first diagnosis after mine would be tough- and it is! They think it is early, probably no chemo and really good stats. But we know exactly the horrible emotional toll- they have two young beautiful daughters and it just breaks my heart thinking of the stress. Funny, ok not funny, enough, I will miss him by just a couple of days at the hospital as we are both having surgery at the same one up in SF. He was so supportive of me when I was diagnosed and when he called to break the news he told me he was "Joining the club."

Anyway, I am glad you are done with rads Kim- how to explain the bald spot- at least it is winter! I never used to wear hats and do all the time now. Of course my gorilla hair requires it sometimes. I am thinking of going back to the pixie cut. It sure was a lot easier!

We have all come so far!

Margerie

kim825

Margerie, I am sorry to hear about your friend. I will keep him and his family in my prayers.

Kim

AnnaM

I too am sorry to hear about your friend, Margerie. Am I right to think you are having the hernia, stage II and some additional beautifaction all at the same time? How far are you from SF?

Kim, yep, good thing it has finally gotten cold and you can wear those nice soft hats. Gosh, I remember how cold my head was this time last year. On the other hand, I wonder how long these curls are going to last. They kind of make my life easier: no need to blow dry or mess with my hair any more. It has a mind of its own and looks like I maybe wanted it to do what it does.

My finger nails, on the other hand.... They seem to be made of paper. All it takes os for me to hit my nail against something for it to break off or rip. I keep them trimmed very very short, but still, they rip and my finger tips are sore, peeling and get caught on everything I wear. I'm sure I didn't have this during chemo. What's going on here? Do any of you have any problems like this?

Love and gentle hugs, Anna

Margerie

Anna- I have had the same thing- nails progressively getting worse (peeling) and fingertips drying out. I attribute it to herceptin therapy- but who knows. I am getting Stage 2, hernia and beautification on Feb. 9- LOL. A first- a surgery I am looking forward to.

Hope you are sleeping well Deb, ativan helps me with that!

And thanks for your prayers everyone. My friend's name is David.

Hugs,

Margerie

Anonymous

Love the description of gorilla hair. I started a thread for support on what to do with mine because it is making me nuts. I am sporting the "crunchy" look and hate it!!!

My nails are the opposite-they are made of thick and amazingly strong steel. They are so full of fungus but my insurance won't pay for anything unless I get it biopsied first. I don't want to deal with that because our insurance is lousy and we need to pay for the first several thousand dollars of claims out of pocket before any benefits kick in at all. I hate our insurance.

I am praying for your friend David, Margerie! Anna, your daughter is in my prayers too. It is so hard to lose a pet. I remember discussing that in our group when we all first "met."

My sleep study is because of possible chemo induced apnea, or they think that I'm not sleeping well enough so my body is constantly achey since they didn't get a chance to rest at night.

I'm dreading the study. No ativan, no ambien, and I am going to be hooked up to lots of wires. So weird my son just had this done a few short weeks ago!

Love and prayers, Deb

Odalys

Do you think you can blow some cold air in our direction? It's been in the 80's and humid.

On another subject, It's my birthday today.

Normally I keep it quiet but this year I am so greatful to be alive and feel so honored that God has given me a second chance at life, that I want to scream it to the entire world. What an awsome gift life is and how lucky I feel to have your friendship! You are all a gift from God.




Love and hugs,

kim825

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy birthday to Odalys,
Happy birthday to you.

And many, many, many, many etc etc more!!!

Hope you have a wonderful special day!!!!

love,
Kim

Mary-Lou

I had a Birthday this month too! And I will always enjoy each and everyone of them from now on.

I hope you had a great day. (((HUGS)))

Odalys

Thanks ladies. DH and Steven took me to Benihana for dinner and we had such a great time. Steven learned to eat with chop sticks (priceless!!!) and I even got a special birthday hat to wear. I'll post some pictures later. Wow, I'm so touched by all the PM's and outpouring of BD wishes. Patti even posted a birthday thread for me in the "moving beyond" board. What a special group of wonderful ladies.

Happy belated BD to you too, ML. I sure hope you had a great BD this year.

Who else will be celebrating a BD soon?

Love and hugs,

kim825

Happy belated birthday MaryLou.

Glad you had such a great time at dinner Odalys!