For those starting chemo in June

mary1220

Now thats funny. I gotta good ol belly laugh outta that one. Don't forget my long shinny, sleek hair blowing in the wind. Yesterday I was in Wally, I wear my ball cap and no do-rag anymore cause I have hair and I don't feel so naked. My hair is only about an inch long but its there. I had my back to the cashier as I was at the self check out (and I walk off and leave a sack of stuff at the check out all the time.) anyway the thing screwed up and the cashier that is there to help helpless people like me said I'll be there in a min. Sir. She was sooo friendly and nice when she came to help, think she felt really bad. Didn't bother me a bit as I had on my black nike jogging pants (I just buy them cause they are comfortable, I don't jog, Its too tiring) and so I could of looked like a man. When she got done helping me I said thankyou sir. She laughed and I did too. Well I have to get me a cheap ticket to Az. Dec. the 10th. for a couple days and Southwest has a good sale so later, Hugs, Mary

PJB

Mary, don't feel bad. My son told me I look like a cross between a monkey (facial hair) and an old man (not much on top). Very nice...

Mom's coming in today. Have I really started cleaning? Nope. Four hours and counting. Funny, I have a hard time getting worked up about it.

Put in my mail order order for my Tamox tomorrow. I guess it'll take just over a week to come in. Can't wait (not). I'm enjoying life on the normal side for now. Altho Nathan is suddenly worried I'm gonna drop dead. Someone told him what I really have. I assured him I've been medicated to the gills, etc. I'm not going anywhere for a long time.


You guys have a good day. Hope Janie and Renee are getting over various swellings, etc. You guys should be getting some extra points from somewhere for dealing with that.

janie44

That's ok gals. I am swollen with a red rash. The last kid I evaluated rubbed my hand and said, "How did you do this?" They usually ask why I shake. My right arm is much bigger than the left and I have blisters on the tongue. I'm really cute.

mary1220

Gosh Janie, I feel so sorry for you. I hope the shaking and swelling gets better but it sounds like a long haul. I am going to get an app. to see about celebrex or some darn thing for my hip and leg pain. I have tollerated it about as long as I can. Got to get in to my brother-in-law to get my teeth fixed. My sister said he can possibly put a sealer on them so I won't have to get them pulled. Sure hope so. I haven't had time to do much with treatment and work but got to make time. Better get to bed. Seems I get pretty tired about 8 p.m. now and its 10 so goodnight ladies, Mary

janie44

Did the rest of you have dental problems? I need to take care of that too, but who has the time? Right now, I need some temporary things done and then have some major work after rads. Mary, did chemo hurt your teeth? I'm glad I didn't have some of the things done beforehand that I had planned on. How many days are you guys scheduled to work this week?

mary1220

Janie, I had my teeth all done just a couple cavities and sealer on gumline because I have receedind gums on bottom a couple months before my dx.so my teeth were good going into treatment. I have an upper denture I have had for 20 years.My teeth were not crumbling brfore chemo. They seem to of stopped but they are all jagged so they have to be fixed. I know treatment did this because my bottom teeth were good. OOPS, gotta go get zapped and get a ticket on line to Az. in dec before I leave. Mary

mary1220

Well hi girls, Got my ticket so leaving Dec. 9th. that is also my last rad. treatment so will celebrate in Phx. and I'll be returning the 13th. Had blood work that day but will move it to Tue. My daughter is taking me to a spa for the full treatment. That sounds really good for my old bones. Had my rad. I had a little burning last wk. for one day it felt like a sunburn and it went away and is fine now. Dr. gave me some cream but haven't used it yet. Don't know why I burned for a day maybe they gave me a little too much. I hear the Harley, its 50's and I guess my hubby thinks he better get in a last ride. We really don't ride a lot but I guess we have it if we feel the need. Well gotta get back to work oh, Janie, I have been back to work full time since like last two wks. of Taxol I work 8p.m. to 3 p.m.(the next day.) I do sleep at work. I do private duty nursing in home. I do not however get paid for all my hours as I am salary and who knew two wks. after I went salary I would go from 10 hours to 19 and 20. Thats why it bothers me the daughter thinks I make too much. I only get paid for 10 hours. My boss made it up to me but now the daughter isn't so I am not donating around $35,000 a year like I did the last year and a half. We are going to talk after the first of the year. Well later girls, Hugs Mary

janie44

Wow Mary! You put in a bunch of hours too. I work an eight hour plus day and then work in my side practice at night and on weekends. It seems like my whole life is work and breast cancer.

It seems like you all finished rads so quickly. My simulation is not until Dec 13 so I am looking at the whole month of January.

Wednesday is my first Herceptin infusion. Firsts are always kind of scary. The local onc told me that he had a couple of women who had such a violent reaction that he had to discontinue it. The nurse at Mayo said she had been there 4 years and never seen a reaction.

Warm Fuzzies,

Janie

PJB

Janie, nice of him to share the news about the violent reax.... I know, best to know the risks, but yikes. Hopfully you'll just sail through it. God knows, you have enough other stuff to deal with.

You and Mary make me feel like a slacker. Now that I"m not radiating, I'm still just at work about 9 hours a day. And tomorrow I"m taking off early so I can go pick my sister up at the airport.

Then Wed, my brother and his kids come into town from Austin. We'll have quite a crew. I think it'll be fun. I hope you guys will also have great holidays.

mary1220

Now that we are done I will tell you that some people wind up in the hospital on a respirator after Taxol or Taxatere. It causes your throat to swell shut and thats one reason for the large dose of benadryl. Well got to get to treatment Hugs, Mary

rlswkndr

What a weekend! Those girls sure know how to party. I did make it until 1:00 in the morning, then I had to call it quits... and I wasn't drinking. We walked to about 5 bars- I don't know how they do it. The shower went well too, she received many nice things. We gave her the best.. the day before she gets her house cleaned, child care for her baby, a massage, and lunch with her guy. I made up a poem, printed it on pretty paper and put it in a frame.
I am feeling good, my taxotere hand still a bit swollen and numb, but every day it seems to improve. At this rate it will take months to get back to normal.
I have a rads appt. today and my first zap should be Monday.
Paula- have fun with all your family there.
Janie- You're done!!!!!!!!! Now to get rid of those nasty side effects.
Mary- good thing we didn't have those severe taxol/taxotere side effects!
I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving.
Renee

mary1220

Gee you ol party animal, Sounds like a ball. The house cleaned and babysitter and all sounds like a wonderful gift.Hope you are rested up. I had my rad. apt on wed. and thought they would wait until Mon. to start but they started Thurs. My surg. seems to have misplaced my original mammo. and they need it for boosts. Hope they find it.I need it Mon. I have a sinus head ache and I am going to lay down and rest tonight until I go to work. I have a pork roast in so I don't have to cook per-say. Have to go lay down. My head is killing me. Hugs, Mary

janie44

Hi all,

Will be leaving here very early in the morning. I still have the rash and my hand/arm/foot are all huge. The foot is red, itchy, and warm. I am so glad this is over. I don't think I would have made it through another one. I am going to take Benedryl tonight just in case anything else swells.

Party on ladies. Hugs and fuzzies,

Janie

mary1220

Well happy Thanksgiving girls, don't eat too much. You know I use to tell my kids we have to go to Thanksgiving and x-mas with family because you never know who might not be here next year, never thought it might be me, yikes. Well lots of snow here how nice that makes the holliday travel exciting and will keep my husband and I talking tomorrow as I tell him how to drive and he thinks he already knows. My x-mas tree was 15 years old and good enough for me. I always thought I would get one after x-mas when they are cheap but just thought I could make it one more with the one I have, well hubby decided to get a new one. We are so active that he brought it in and set it in the middle of the livingroom floor where it sat for a few days in the box until I mention how lazy we are not to put it away. Well he put it up lastnight and here it sits undecorated and still in clumps but its up. Have we become old lazy people with no ambition? I hope we are just busy working and trying to find time to decorate it. I don't usually put it up until a wk. after Thanks. but hey its not officially up yet. well up but not complete yet. We are obviously not capable of giving a sh#t what we have to step over or around as long as we don't have to exert ourselves. I wonder if I will get the tags off the tree? They look pretty decorative.Its a prelit tree. Wonder how long that will work? Well I have to go cook so I can go to work at 8. Everyone have a good Thanksgiving and I am Thankful for the good friends I have found here and Thankful we are all here and going to make it through many more Thanksgivings. Hugs and Happy turkeys, Mary

PJB

I'm with you Mary. My house is actually usually a wreck. Nathan just leaves his million lego creatures and transformers all over the floor and I just sort of kick them to the side of the room before I go to bed. Of course, I've ALWAYS been lazy, but my husband is a convert.

I just ate 5 chocolate chip cookies, not to mention the couple sugar cookies and popcorn I had earlier today. And it's not even officially a holiday yet. I'm in trouble... YOu guys have a great day.

janie44

Happy Thanksgiving!
I am thankful for this board and the new friends who visit here often. Have a happy day ladies.

MaryKB

Happy Thanksgiving Sisters,

My wish is for everyone to stop and reflect on everything we have been through, then say I survived, I am thankful to be here and enjoy the day.

God Bless you all,

Mary

mary1220

Hi turkey stuffed girls, Hope everyone is doing as me and THINKING about working off those extra pounds we have put on in one day. Ready? THINK!....O.K. that was grueling; now we have thought about it and we are on our way. If and when we get the ambition. If we don't well we tried and thats all we can do. I am soo pooped I hope I make it to rads. today. I hate thinking about working out it just zaps the energy right out of me. Hope everyone had a wonderful Turkey day. I got a little depressed because I haven't seen my dad for a month and he looked bad and has lost a lot of weight. My sister-in-law said he had the flu a couple days. I think he has lost about 50 lbs. He is 6'4" and wieghed about 250 lbs. Hes built like a football player. He looks so thin now. His hieght doesn't make him look real fat, just big. I was so upset but guess I will wait to see how he does and if he gets to looking better. His color just didn't look good either. All in all it was a good day. He forgets and just blocks bad things out so he always asks me if this has cured me and I use to try to explain it but he just doesn't want to realize the truth so I say yea. Well gotta go, back to the old grind, rads. One today and Mon. and I start boosts Tue. Thank the lord. They were going to give me today off but I said no cause I am leaving the 9th. for Az. so I have to be done the 9th. I worked lastnight so I get today off as a daughter is going to be in today from Chicago so I get the rest of today off.Think I am meeting my sister in Spring. she is shopping today oh boy! we can fight the crouds.I am almost done so I am in no hurry just going along, brave aren't I? Hugs , Mary

rlswkndr

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I didn't have to cook at all so it was great for me. Plus my 2 guys got to take many of grandma's leftovers back to college and aunt K made them a ton of cookies so they are very happy.
Had my tattoo appt on Wed and start rads on Monday. I hate that CT Scan machine.... it doesn't get easier in that thing!I get to go in there again on Monday-ugh!
My Rad Onc. is trying real hard to get me going as I would like to go to San Francisco in January. I love to travel and all my usual business trips didnt' fit in the chemo schedule, so I haven;t been able to go. Enough whining from me.
Feeling pretty good as ong as I don't bump my hand. At least I can use it more now. Have to finish crocheting scraves for Christmas gifts.
Take care
Renee

janie44

Hi Marys (plural).
PJ - My house is a wreck and I do not have a little one to blame it on -- only neuropathy and pain and no time.
Mary - I think when they get older they really don't want to know. My parents asked very little questions when I told them and kept changing the subject. I spoke to them on the phone yesterday and neither mentioned it at all. My boys spent Thanksgiving with them and I later asked Mark if my Mom remembered what I told her and he said he didn't know. They have not mentioned it to them either. It is so weird. They used to dwell on such things. Not that I want them to, it is just so out of character for them.

Renee, I hope you get to go on your trip on schedule. I am already thinking about making up for the trip I missed to Hawaii when I finish Herceptin a year from now.

My schedule changed 5 times while I was in JAX Wednesday. They kept bringing me a new printout. The lymphedema clinic is still not on it so I will still probably get another one in the mail. I got set up at the Mayo Inn. It connects to the clinic and I will only have to walk down the hall for my rads etc. while I am staying there. It has a complimentary breakfast, complete kitchen, data port and the works. It even has complimentary grocery shopping. I guess I can do my own shopping.

Scheduled so far are my weekly Herceptin infusions. BTW - I did the lst one w/o a reaction. I do have the back pain, but otherwise doing good. On 12/8, I have a full cardio schedule including echo, 12-9 vascular lab tests (venous study legs), more vascular labs (exir pumping?), elastic stocking sleeves (switched from earlier). The 9th takes 4 hours for some reason. 12-13 ps return, rads simulation, rads ct scan; 12-15 possible beginning of rads, 1-5 CT chest (checking the nodules). Whew!

Maybe we should start a new thread called June chemo graduates.

Hugs, Janie

PJB

Janie, That hotel setup sounds pretty great. I think you should take them up on the grocery shopping once in awhile.... Glad the Herceptin seems to have gone without anything TOO horrible happening.

Renee and Mary, your trips sound great. I'd love to get out of here, but that'll have to wait til next year sometime. (Unless I end up going to Penn., which I don't want to do because it'll mean something's up with my sister there)

We had a good time at Thanksgiving, which was at my in-laws. Except the family idiot who showed up either drunk, stoned or both. He was licking the avocado skins before we ate he had the munchies so bad. Now that's just plain disgusting. Luckily, he just gorged and left. Had a fun evening with mom, my sister, brother, his kids and my boys here at home. Watched a movie and ate junk way too late.

Hope you guys are doing well,

mary1220

Hi Girls, Well PJB, our family jester which is one of my brothers didn't make it this year as usual. My other bro. quit drinking as my husband some years ago and the jester don't come because he can't go without beer for 10 mins. let alone a coulple hours. Really he could bring some and drink but no one has ever bothered to tell him, it works out better that way. He is a pesterer ya know? He is very annoying after a while so we let things be as they are. Renee, so glad you are planning a trip. It gives you something to look foward to and seems the time passes faster. I hope its a wonderful trip because you deserve it.Janie it sounds like a pretty good and cushy set up. I hope the next year goes by really fast for you. I really hope the Hercep. works.I have told you before my future son in laws dad just retired from the N.I.H. in Wash.D.C. and he helped develope and test Hercept. and he said its a great drug for our cancer. I don't know how you girls have put up with all the problems yous have had. I have been soo lucky and I feel bad that yous have had such a rough time.I may myselp get Herceptin in the near future. I am going to check in to it but I will have to pay for it myself because you have to be stage 3 to get it. Sounds like everyone had a good holliday. I bet those boys enjoy the goodies they took back with them. My husband decided to go to Wally and something posessed him to buy x-mas decorations so now I have to find a place for them. I could ring his neck. He thinks he did something good for me. Gee, More sh#t to store. Hugs, Mary

janie44

Hi ladies,

Yes, I'm glad I got the room right on campus. That will make life a lot easier. Since it is a hotel, my supplemental cancer insurance (the little white duck) should pay a big portion of it.

My right foot is still too big to bend at the ankle. I can't really tell if the lack of feeling is neuropathy or the swelling. I'm hoping the swelling. I guess I'll know when it finally goes down. A lady on another thread said she still has neuropathy four years out. I'm not going to borrow trouble and think the worst. I only have a little numbness in the finger tips and on the bottom of my feet. The right hand is the worst and I think it is more from the lymphedema.

It was just my daughter and me this year. We had a nice quiet Thanksgiving and purposely didn't overdo it, foodwise.

I talked to my son again last night. My parents do remember my condition after all and they all discussed it and the folks are aware that I cannot come in Christmas either, because I will be doing rads.

I got around to asking about the 15 year monitoring in the clinical trial. Of course, I didn't write it down so I probably don't remember it correctly. She said something like they check me every two months for the first couple of years and then every three and then six, etc. Anyway, they keep tabs on any recurrence. Mary, it's too bad you didn't get a trial. I'm stage 3, but there are stage 2's and maybe even 1's in the trial. We had to meet certain parameters, but they were not that difficult to meet once you're HER2+. They are trying to coordinate it so I can get the weekly Herceptin locally after rads, then I would only have to drive to JAX every couple of months or so.

Hope you all are continuing to recover from the Taxol.

Have a good weekend ladies. Hugs and fuzzies,

Janie

janie44

Mary,

What have you been told about HER2+? I mostly know what I have read about it. Some of the findings are so new, there is not much about it. I was told by one person that the big C is likely to recur because it is very aggressive. Others are upbeat and hopeful. Sometimes it sounds like recurrence is not if but when. What has your experience been? I am the type who wants to know what I am facing, if at all possible. Thanks. Hugs Janie

mary1220

Janie, I have been told that its when not if. Now I could die of a heart attach or car accident but my cancer will if nothing else kill me. Its likely to come back in the other breast and they are trying to see if an M.R.I. can find it sooner in the other breast and I was asked to get one before surg. to help the study and I chickened out. I feel bad now but at the time I was so up in the air about everything and I didn't want anything else to think about. I was told it comes back in the lungs, liver, brain or bone and thats the only places. Gee no where easy to find or treat of course. They don't even do all the scans like the other b.c's cause I guess it doesn't matter. We get a liver profile and chest x-ray every three months for a year. I have said before I have a friend that has her/2 and she is 15 years since dx. She had two nodes and 1 she had seeping it was so cancered she said.(She had mas.)I have thought about the Fish test but I know 3+ is usually 3+ but sometimes its not so I don't know. I am trying to get a path report from my mom but they sent me the wrong surg. report and I found out from that report the Dr. made a mistake that caused my mom a lot of pain and he went in to try to fix it and couldn't. Pisses me off!!! He was such a quack! I didn't like him from the get-go but I had no say. Anyway I just thought I would see if she was Her/2.since its found in Pancreatic cance. Like I said the Hercept. is supose to be a wonderful drug and the sooner you get it the better. I am going to check with my oncy and see about it. I can't see waiting until it comes back because who knows if we will catch it early enough.We are up the ol creek with a paddle but the damn boat is rickety. Hugs Janie and hope PJ is enjoying a great time with her mom. Hope Renee is getting better everyday. Mary

PJB

Well, I hope that Mary you can get the Herceptin somehow. You and Janie need to be hanging around for a long time, so I don't get lonely. (And Renee and others, of course)

Been having a lovely time. My mom's been working like a dog. I've been mostly shopping and watching her work.

Back to real life (and school and work) tomorrow. My sister in Pa. goes to the surgeon again on Tues, when they'll decide whether to do another biopsy. Here's hoping whatever it is has shrunk and they'll decide it's nothing.

You know, I've gone hours in the last week without worrying. It's been great. Hope you guys are doing well, too.

janie44

Mary, Thanks for the information. It answered a lot of my questions. I will have the CT lung scan Jan 5 to find out about the nodules that are too small to biopsy. They did a brain scan earlier in the beginning. I forget why. They also did a bone scan and PET scan. I had an MRI on the other breast as part of a study. They found a mass and did a guided MRI biopsy. It was benign. I think they tested me 4 ways to Sunday in the beginning. I don't know what they will do for follow-ups other than the lung CT. Oh well, let's think about all that tomorrow. Hope your Holiday weekend was great. Renee and Paula must still be partying.

Hugs and fuzzies,

Janie

janie44

OOPS! Paula posted at the same time. Glad you got away from it all for a while.

rlswkndr

Not partying, just relaxing. The guys are back to school. It was a nice winter day Sunday, so we hit the zoo. We go there often to walk around and see the animals. It is a free zoo and really nice- check it out if you get to Madison. Stopped at Dairy Queen on the way home! Tom is on his way to Green Bay for the Packers game- he is like a kid in the candy store! I will meet my niece today for lunch, then off to my first official Rads appt. Can't wait to get started.
Janie and Mary- keep up the good spirit and have fun getting ready for Christmas.
Paula- isn't it nice to have mom around. My parents are coming up a few days before Christmas to help me too. I'm the hostess for the family this year( we take turns since mom and dad moved.)
My son and his girl will be home from Texas too- sounding pretty serious. I haven't seen him since May.
Renee

PJB

Renee, that is a beautiful zoo you guys have up there. Sounds like fun (altho maybe a little cold?). Where in Texas is your son? Good luck on that first rads. My Madison sister starts Wednesday. Wonder if you'll be going to the same place...

You guys have a good one. Janie, hope you are feeling better...