For those starting chemo in June

mary1220

Hi Girls, Well raining again. Janie I think its great you are in the study because you will get a lot of scans and follow ups you wouldn't normally get so thats great. Renee it sounds like a busy x-mas for you but it's so great to get everyone together, for a little while anyway. It's so good to get all the kids home again too. Once they leave it's never the same and thats sad. Did my last reg. rad. and start boost tomorrow. 8 left and my life will be mine again off and on. I have blood Tue. after I get home from Az. then oncy on Thursday and then nothing I guess for 3 months I hope. Well girls I worked Turkey eve and Turkey night and not even a turkey gift cert. for a hot dog. I don't get overtime pay either.I don't get paid for overtime period. That $25.00 x-mas bonus will sure look good, Ha (its 50.00 but 25.00 is for my husband because he cuts the grass for my boss in the summer.Gee, I can go hog wild at the dollar store. That wont even buy a night out ya know? O.K. sorry it really boils my blood. My boss called me at 5:30 this a.m. his daughter(penny pincher) was staying with him and he was lost in his house so I got dressed and went over. She woke up and wondered why he didn't wake her. He forgot she was there and needed me. I am too nice. Hugs, Mary

janie44

Hi all,

I hear Wisconsin is beautiful.

Mary, your boss is a real jewel. I hope that huge bonus doesn't break him (or perhaps the daughter).

Paula, I am better except for the swelling. I thought it would go down by now.

Number 2 of 52 coming up Wednesday. As long as it is searching and zapping the man at the copy machine (HER2 gene makes quick copies), they can give it to me as long as they wish.

rlswkndr

My first rads appointment was long, but not bad. My arm did get pretty sore being up and over my head for so long, but much easier than chemo!!
Now on to the daily grind of rads. I have them at the UW.
My son is at Texas A&M in Galveston for Marine Biology. He is in his junior year and hasn't changed his mind yet on that major. His girl is from Dallas so they went there for Thanksgiving.
Janie- I'll see you on the Dec. rads bored.
Mary- You are so tolerant of your boss.. don't think I could be.
Paula- who knows, I may run into your sister someday.
Renee

mary1220

hi girls, I had my first boost today, asked what exactly it was. Its the same amount of rad. just concentrated in one area as the reg. rad. was to the whole breast area. Been a little tired but not bad at all yet anyway. Indegestion and food taste a little off.Skin is great. Little discolored but no burn, good ol olive skin. It doesn't look olive until I get sick or have surgery then I look like a big old olive. Think boss had a little T.I.A. been pretty mixed up but better today. Thought Pres. Bush was his best friend and had been staying all night, Oh boy, as if my life isn't bad enough now I have George to put up with. I'll get ol George straightened out while hes with us.Gonna be hard telling which ones mixed up Al or George. Well better go, gotta talk George into getting me a tax break this year. Of all people to hallucinate about? I would think Chevy Chase, Brad Pitt, but George Bush???? Better go take care of George. Hugs, Mary, offical nurse to the President (wow that sounds good maybe this hallucinating is a good thing, I'll be in the Oval office.

janie44

Hi All,

So it sounds like Paula and Mary are almost down to the every 3rd month visits. That may be strange not having to go for a medical visit every time you turn around....but I guess you will get used to it fast. Renee, I know you are glad the long appointments are over. Will be so glad to get the uncomfortable one over.

Mary, while George is getting us a tax break, he can figure out how to keep social security and how to pay for all those kids not left behind.

PJB

Mary, I should run out to Crawford (20 minutes from here) and get you a Bush t-shirt. Then he'd really start having hallucinations. (But, boy, really don't get me started on old George. Or rather young George)

I almost did forget. I do have a doc appointment this month, month-after checkup with the rads onc. Should take all of about 5 minutes.

Still waiting for the tamox to arrive by mail. Fine with me if it gets hung up in the system for awhile. My Madison sister is reading up on diet and breast cancer. She's cutting back on dairy for one thing. Yikes. Cheese? Milk? Ice cream?

Penn. sister had her core biopsy today and will find out results Thu or Fri. She's having a lumpectomy either way on the 20th. I'm waiting to hear what the biopsy results are before I decide when to go out there. If things still look good, I'll go for the surgery. If it comes back positive, I probably will wait and go out and be with her when she starts whatever treatment she requires. Blech. Soooooo tired of this crap.

On the fun side, started decorating for Christmas. Going to buy a fake tree this year, but I'm so cheap (and broke, thanks to medical bills) I'm waiting to see if I can find one on sale.

Janie, good luck with tomorrow's treatment. Renee, enjoying the cold weather?

mary1220

Hey, Hi from the White House, My boss wanted me to fix one of the spare bedrooms for George and I said yea, he can sleep like the rest of us. He said what do you have aginst George hes a nice guy. I said I don't make enough money to be a friend of George. He is driving me nuts about George and he thinks he is really here. Oh gosh, Its time to get back to the White House so I will see ya all later.PJ good luck to your sisters. Hey I'll invite ya to the White House soon or we'll have lunch at Crowford. Hugs Mary

janie44

Hi,

I'm back. I am still groggy from the pre-meds although I have slept a lot today. The Herceptin infusion is very quick. I didn't even have to go to the bathroom dragging the IV behind me like I usually do.

Mary, be careful. The way Dubba keeps losing staff, you may end up as Secretary of Defense or something......that might not be a bad idea.

Hope everyone had a good day.

Janie

mary1220

Janie glad your doing good. I miss my knock me out with benadryll and ativan sleep. It was a restful sleep. I have 6 rads.left. It has rained, snowed and rained and its freeking cold. I can't wait for good old sunshine and warm weather a wk. from tomorrow. I don't think the sun has been out for weeks! gotta go, Hugs Mary

PJB

Brrr.... Mary, we got some cold weather here, too. Got down to around freezing last night and we had to bring in the stinky dogs. I don't envy you that weather for 8 months a year....

Janie, hope things get a little less groggy for you. I really feel for you having to go through even more medicating. You're a real trooper. And I'm glad the drugs are out there to help us.

You all have a good day. Just watched Rudolph for the 40th time. Boy, I love watching that movie, even if it looks dated. Just reminds me of being a kid and the fun of Christmas. Hope I get 40 more...

Talk to ya later.

janie44

Good Morning. It is even chilly in South GA! Well, in the mornings anyway. Then it reaches 70 something during the day.

My hand is swollen worse this morning and the tips of my fingers are red. The side effects list for Herceptin does not list this. Taxol was 2 weeks ago. Maybe it's the lymphedema.

mary1220

Hi Girls, Well I don't understand. I am up to 135lbs. and I usually get to that in the winter but I can't get my jeans to zip. Not a pair!!! I am so upset. I think my stomach is bloated and it wasn't 5 days ago when I had my jeans on. I have to go to Spring. tomorrow and get some jeans that fit to take to Az. Also some dress pants. I am so upset I could cry. PJ, I love the old x-mas movies and cartoons. I always watch them with my grandkids. Gosh Janie you are having a really rough time with that hand. I hope it gets better soon.Hope Renee is staying warm and feeling good. Gotta get ready for work. Later girls, hugs, Mary

PJB

Gosh, Mary, I wish I was 135 pounds. I've been at 138-39 for a few years now. But South Beach is gonna change all that. I was SUPPOSED to start on it this week, but, well, my friend who's gonna lend me the book, well, I guess I just haven't called her to get it. I'm gonna go to a beginner's pilates class on Saturday morning. Nathan's spending the night tomorrow at granny's, so I'll have Saturday morning and maybe afternoon to myself. Fun.

Mary, how long do you get to stay in Ariz? How many rads left? Not many, right?

janie44

Hi,

Mary, my stomach has been noticeably bloated thoughout this barrel of fun. It was a little bit before because I had gastritis and other stomach problems, but the chemo or something just blew it up like a balloon. I look preggers.

Remember when I went to a conference a couple of weeks ago? My chemo set in on that Friday and I sneaked out early and came on home. I found out today that I got an award for outstanding gains in the education of disabled students or something like that. I bet they called my name and I was nowhere to be found. I can't get by with anything.

Mary, you should get double pay for taking care of your boss and George too.

How many rads do you all have left? I bet Paula and Mary finish before I start. I will do 33 in all. I get to start taking the tremor meds Monday. I sure hope it works. I'm tired of the crappy shaking all the time.

Have a good trip and everyone stay warm.

Janie

PJB

Janie, That's fantastic about the award! Maybe now your boss will get off your back and let you do what you do best.

I hope the medicine helps the tremor. That has to be aggravating on top of everything else.

I'm done with rads (have been since Nov. 17) and now just waiting on the Tamoxifen. I'm hopeful it will be OK and stop recurrence. Please, oh, please.

Congratulations again, Janie!

mary1220

Congrads. Janie, thats fantastic. I will talk to George see if we can't get you a Presidental congrad. of some kind. Yea, I look preg too. I am lucky I am so tall everyone says "OH, you need some weight". I am not use to it and I can't afford to buy all new clothes. I don't think its the weight because I have been at 135 and my pants still fit but I am just bloated. Maybe it will go away.I don't eat much now. I eat brunch-not a breakfast eater so eat about 10:30 then sup. I don't snack so thats why I can't understand this big gut. I have been eating more at my meals. I use to eat a half pork chop, and never could eat all of a hamburger so I have been a small eater and now I eat all the food. Gee, just when I thought this was getting better. Gotta get to treatment. Later, Mary

mary1220

Hi girls again, Home from rads. and go back to work in an hour. PJ, I have 3 left. Wed. is my last day and I leave Thurs. for Az. I leave for St. Louis about 9:30a.m. and flight leaves at 1:25 and I come home Mon. so I get three days. Penny Pincher don't know I am staying till Mon. Got to tell her. They didn't have a cheap flight home on Sun. and I just feel like staying. We are going to A Christmas Carol play Sat. afternoon and I will do some shopping at the A.S.U. store for my oldest grandson for x-mas. and the Diamond Backs store and the Hockey store. He is sports crazy.I have to find something to do for the homeless school. Guess I will donate toys so I will have to shop down there for that stuff. Last year I took blankets to the homeless in San Diego and took them on the plane and shipped some. UPS WOULDN"T GIVE ME A BREAK CHEAP BUTTS.It was a pain but worth it. I had 200 blankets and hats and gloves.Thanks to the break WAL-MART in my town gave me. A lot of children are warm now. Just can't stand the thought of children homeless or adults. We must give all our money to other countries, so their kids can grow strong and go to war with our homeless, medically deprived and undernourished kids someday. Sorry, I need to talk to George somemore apparently hes got a listening problem.Later girls, You have a great day tomorrow PJB, you deserve it, Hugs Mary

janie44

Hi ladies,

I do hope all of you have a good rest and good fun in the upcoming days. I'm doing evals tonight and tomorrow. Don't know when to quit. We are swamped with referrals. I told my daughter to schedule as many as possible in the a neighboring county because I do not like to go over there any more than I have to anyway. She took me at my word. I'm also still trying to get a report off to the state and my budget amendment is due Wednesday and I need to test as many in the schools as possible before I take off for rads. I will welcome the time off. I will still work weekends but the weekdays will be easier.

Have a wonderful weekend ladies.

PJB

Whew! Julie's second biopsy came back benign. They'll remove the bugger anyway, but what a relief. Take care all.

mary1220

PJ, so glad about the good news of your sister. Have a great wk.end. doing what you want to do. Janie you sound really busy, Better take time to rest and not over due things. Glad your going to be able to slow down pretty soon. Wheres Renee? Hope you are o.k. later girls, Hugs Mary

janie44

Great news about Julie!

Just got back from testing my brains out. Will have to do a psych eval on myself if this keeps up. Looking forward to the rest. Just got in to find TN losing their butts to Auburn. What a day.

Mary, are you packed and ready?

Renee, how's the rads going?

mary1220

Hey Janie, We don't have much brains left to test out so keep a little in there. I think chemo has eaten mine away. Oh, I do the Damndest things. Not as bad as a young girl who stopped me at Arby's to ask how to get to Peoria. I said your 30 miles south of 55 so go left and in about 30 mins. you'll see 55 to Chicago. Hop on 55 and go north to Chi.She said I am on 55 north. I said honey you made a serious wrong turn somewhere cause you are 30 miles south of 55. I had to explain for 15 mins. but I am a heck of a lot better off than her. Gee, I am still wondering how she got here from there and didn't know it.Oh well shes on the right track for now. Been shopping for new clothes and have cut down on my intake and can get my jeans on now but kinda tight. I think I bloat for some unknown reason. Gosh isn't life grand? Well I will be packed when I get my new clothes washed and ironed and in my bag. Hope they fit for a week or two before I have to go buy bigger ones. Later little gators. Mary

mary1220

Thats me with my tight pants on and crawling up my a*s. Don't ya hate that? Just something to think about Mary

PJB

Mary, I've made a grand step in losing weight. I borrowed the South Beach book from a friend. Not to say I've looked IN it yet, but I'm making progress toward getting thinner, I feel.

Well, bought my fake tree. I didn't realize how much work these things are. It'll take me all day to get it fluffed and all. Plus, one piece for the biggest limbs was missing, but I got an extra for a shorter piece. So, back to target. I'm gonna make them open up a new box and give me my limb, dammit!

Still waiting on the Tamox. I guess I'll have to actually call about it tomorrow to see where it is in the bureaucracy. Also bought some Glutamine to try for my neuropathy. Kinda like south beach, I've got it in the house, but haven't actually opened it. I'm baaaad about procrastinating on unpleasant things. Oh, hell, on just about everything.

Hope you all are having a productive and pleasant day...

janie44

Paula, is the Glutamine found at health food stores? I have also thought about picking some up. I haven't even gotten the creme for rads yet. I doubt I can do South Beach. I think it is the one with only veggies, fruit, and protein. The biggest problem I have with those diets is finding time to run to the store every 5 minutes for fresh fruit and vegetables. I can pop a piece of chocolate in my mouth and go about my business. I have thought about ordering entrees and desserts from Nutri System to do while I am away. The Inn serves a continental breakfast. Maybe I could get the fruits in then and maybe pick up a Wendy's salad. That would make the cooking easy and satisfy my sweet tooth.

Hang in there Mary. You'll get into those pants comfortably. I have complete faith in you. I am going to have to try on some outfits for a dinner tomorrow night. I don't want to have to buy something to fit over my big ol belly.

Well Angels, we will succeed in this assignment too. Then Charlie will be waiting to give us the next.

mary1220

Hi my christmas elves, PJ sounds in the da*n x-mas spirit. You sound like me the other day. I decided there was hell to pay and by golly someone was going to pay it. The radiologist who read my biop. who messed up the first bill and had to resubmit and has their machine calling everynight to remind me of my bill. It has not called since I called them back but I had to call two days in a row and let them know the second time that a monkey from the wild could push the button to stop the calls to me. Computer my a*s someone has to program that thing and apparently they have no education because a preschooler can operate a computer now-a-days. That took care of the calls.Then it was my original mammo. that got lost, well It's in my car right now waiting on me to take it back to the original hosp. like it's suppose to go. After my call it was 20 mins. and they found it. Not wanting to leave anyone out and seeing as how the electric co. did get me going in the first place I called them to let them know what I thought of their pay an extra $1.00 to pay your bill at the banks because the electric co. no longer has an office here anymore. I paid it over the internet through my bank and the elec. co. said it took 3 wks. to get to them so I had to pay a late fee of???$1.20. So to avoid delays in the mail I should pay it at the bank. OH, crap, what a scam. You know how much the co. is making off this? there are at least 12,000 people here in town not counting out of town and surrounding towns.What a scam!!! I told the girl I know it's not her fault but I would pay the late fee before a bill pay fee. That has to be illegal. Pay a fee to pay your bill??? o.K. I have to calm down before I stroke here. It is x-mas and the utilities C.E.O's will be getting a nice x-mas bonus I bet. %*#*$^& a^*&$es. Now hope you girls get some relief from the junping limbs. Mine don't jump so much as they just feel like they are broke.Well they jump at night when I lay down. Its not as bad now but my legs would about jump off the bed. It was and is like they have a mind of their own. If they got together with the gas thing I could be a one man band. I hate to toot my own horn but the gas is getting better. Gonna bake cookies for my rad. girls on Wed. Ya know the thing I hate about dieting is not eating what I am hungry for. Not smoking I am sure is not helping because I would smoke and it would help the hunger pains. Man I miss my smokes. I have fixings for fudge I need to make. I do love fudge. I don't think I should fix it..... Ha, you girls didn't believe that did ya? I'll exercise..... next summer. That will be my New Year res. exercise next summer. I just can't exercise in the winter. Its too cold and summer its too hot. Oh hell, I better not exercise its probably not good for me anyway. The chemo and all you know??? Hugs Angels, Mary

janie44

Go ahead and get it all out of your system Mary. Don't hold back.

My jumping leg has been better since they slowed down the Benedryl. Who would think that something that makes you sleep would make you dance.

I like your excuses not to exercise. I may borrow one or two of them. I discovered the dangdest thing about exercise equipment. You actually have to get on it for it to work.

How long does it take the Taxol pain to work out of the system? I still cannot even walk that far, whatless exercise.

I see new nail growth! Some of my nails receded and lifted so much that they turned completely white like the tips, but I see a little normal growth at the bottom now. I didn't lose any, but came close. One little pinky nail remained somewhat normal with only a small red place under the nail. The rest are a mess. Yuck!

Happy Week!

Hugs and Fuzzies

Janie

rlswkndr

I'm here! I've been lurking lately and not posting... sorry
Paula, good news about your sister!!
and who mentioned FUDGE? I had to go get a piece, dessert after breakfast!
I've been cooking up a storm and Tom has been cleaning up after me.
I love to make candies and cookies for Christmas and for the guys. This year I added caramels to the list. They turned out very good. I think I will need to make another batch as I've given many away already- not counting the ones I've eaten. Turtles, fudge,peanut clusters and chocolate covered cherries are done too. Am I making you hungry. These are not on the South Beach diet.
I do find the food on the S. B. diet good. The hard part for me is no SUGAR.Once I go for 2-3 days without sugar, i can go for a long time, it's just getting started and now with all those goodies in the house- yikes! Good thing I give away lots of them. We have at least 1 party a week for the next 3 weeks. Finally, something fun to do.
Radiation is going fine. Today will be #6. How many techs are in the room with you? Sometimes, 3 will start and I end up with 2 of the 3 different. Bugs me when they do that. No change in skin yet.
Not much shopping done yet- I don't like to shop- plus don't know what to get the guys this year. I have a few nieces and nephews to buy for yet, but most things on their lists are out of my price range. We've never had huge piles of presents for the guys-we take them on trips instead and that's probably what we'll do with them in May.
Mary, you are so patient with your boss... I couldn't do it.
Janie- see you on the rads board too.

mary1220

Hi you little cookie cutters and candy makers,Hey PJ your farthest south, you pick up Janie then swing by and get me and lets all go to Renees. Man! carmels??? cho. covered cherries peanut clusters??? I'm telling ya those are my favorites and its worth the drive. Heck; I can be there in what,4 hours or 5? Hey that stuff is on my diet because I am on the eat sweets till ya drop diet. They may need a forklift for my pallbarrers.When I get treatment there are 2 gals with me to line me up. I have no men as they don't use men for the B.C. There are 4 gals all together but only 2 work at a time. I still have muscle pain from the taxol. I get real stiff in the legs and hips when I sit for 5 mins. or more. I would get a little stiff before but nothing like this. Its a little better now but I hear it can last for up to a year. Gee cut out sugar, I have to think on that one. I am tall and can carry my weight but theres a limit to how much I can carry and look healthy. I think my hips are bloated and my tummy. I went to penneys and got 2 pair of Arizona stretch jeans on sale. I think I like the Arizona jeans as they feel really good and look good. They are reasonably priced too. I was gonna get more but they only had the boot cut and I would like the straight legs too. A lady behind me said those jeans look worn, I am an old lady I can't wear those. I said these are comfortable and I am old too and I wear what I like. Well I have to shower and get to work. I had a numb achey arm all night and couldn't sleep. It got better when I got up but it still hurts. Don't know what the hech but hate to think about trying to lay down tonight. I think its my neck. Thats scary. My arm was numb and my two middle fingers hurt like crazy and were numb. Well gotta go girls, Hershey's hugs and kisses to ya all, Mary

PJB

OK, Mary, I'll be by to pick you up to head north in a couple days. I remember my mom used to make divinity for Christmas. (Of course, she made about 8 different kinds of sweets/cookies. I'm so lazy i MIGHT make chocolate chip cookies.) What a sweet memory. I guess I should be doing stuff like that for Nathan to remember.

I can't believe the woman at Penney's said you were too old to wear worn-looking jeans. What an idiot.

So I've got this one little bunch of hair that sticks straight up on my head. Wasn't noticeable when I had a REAL head of hair. I tried spking up the rest of my hair to match, but that looked even worse. It's not really long enough to spike. Besides, then I'd look like a 12-year-old boy. I'm not sure what I'm gonna do. My plan is to completely shed the wig pretty soon, but that little spike might force me to put that off. I did go to Target, mall and the grocery this weekend sans wig.

I still have the Taxol hip pain as well. And putting up those stupid Christmas lights (about a million times. the first time i got them all up and the damn things fritzed out. had to go get more strings of lights. strike that, my HUSBAND had to go get more strings of lights. i was too busy sulking)

tamoxifen got here today...