Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

skyedivine

Hi Ladies,

Welcome back Mel! The wedding sounds like it was wonderful and a nice break for you. Harrison probably did miss you I'm sure.



Jan I think that apprehension is normal. After all, we all got the shock of our lives about a year ago, so it is going to take a while to trust our bodies again. I'm glad all went well with the appt.



Caya I had wondered what the difference was with the cookies too. Do they taste much different? I think I'm going to make cookies for my last infusion next month, too. I was probably not fun for them to have there last time since I was feeling so very wretched. I'm much better today, the worst has definitely passed.



Grendel has been a model dog this week, or as close to that as a six-month puppy can be. He now rings the bell hanging from the doorknob when he needs to go out, and has not had an accident indoors for at least a week if you don't count horking up on my bedroom carpet this morning.



Still have not heard if the magazine cover art was accepted so I'm a bit nervous. Skye

jonimb

Port is in...long day yesterday...they gave me general anaesthetic to put it in.  We didn't get home until 9:00 last nite.

Taking it easy today, just a bit uncomfortable.

Glad you had fun at the wedding Mel.

Hugs to all.

Ps:  Shorti I took a pic of the 3 Sisters as I was in the Canmore hospital...I will post it shortly.

Joni

Anonymous

yeah Joni I'm glad you have one more step behind you

Amera

Yeah Joni, glad that part's done.

Amera

Caya

Joni - glad your port is in, the discomfort will abate, you'll see,you will hardly notice you have it in.

Skye - glad you are feeling better.  To answer your quesstion, the Passover cookies do taste different, but are still very good.  I have a really great recipe for them.

Jan - I haven't felt that apprehension yet, because of course with the Herceptin you are going down to the hospital every 3 weeks for a year after chemo (for me, that was the regime I had, 3xFEC, 3xTaxotere, a month's break, then started Herceptin in June 2007).

I had a nice meeting with my onc. today.  He examined me thoroughly - told me it all looks good, and we discussed the plan for the upcoming months after I have my final Herceptin on May 8th.  He says he will see me every 3 months until the 2 year mark - which is Dec. 2008, then every 6 months for 5 years after that.  He said all he does is routine bloodwork, and the physical exam he gave me today. I will continue with the digital mammograms/ultrasounds and breast MRIs alternating every 6 months.  No other scans unless I have symptoms ( and if I have symptoms of anything naturally I won't wait for my check up to see him, to call his office and get in ASAP). The no scans thing is the standard of care it seems, and I think the breast imaging will be enough scanxiety for me.  He was very pleased at how well I've done - I went through all my chemo not needing any of those neulasta shots, did not miss one Herceptin, all the bloodwork has been "totally normal" as he put it.

I am so looking forward to the big final on May 8th - and I am so grateful to everyone here for their support.  It is such a long haul when you're on Herceptin - right Skye, Viddie, Tina?

xo gals

skyedivine

Caya, how right you are about the long haul. I'll finish just before you, and expect to have that long talk with my onc at that time. It seems you really did do well...I needed that Neulasta more than once. But mine thinks I've done fine too, just a matter of keeping at those checkups once it's over.



Joni you now have a major ally in your shoulder. Ports are wonderful inventions in my book, and I'm glad you will have that extra edge for getting those necessary meds into you. I would think it's the new kind that can be used for most of the imaging tests too. Anyway, one more hurdle is past! Hope you can keep taking it easy until it heals a bit more. Did they put you on coumadin or warfarin? I must say I'm looking forward to the time when I don't have to take that stuff.



I started feeling icky again this afternoon, walked to the back of our property to get the wheelbarrow to start cleaning out my flowerbed and felt exhausted, so that was all I did. I think this is one of those viruses that likes to cling. Or it could be the Herceptin. Which reminds me, it's time to go take my Femara. Always something! :-) Skye

mer1957

Joni, glad the port went well.  You will be sore for awhile but it is a great thing to have a port.  I didn't want to have my taken out! 

Caya, I never heard of Passover cookies!  But then again DH's family was not very good at keeping the religious rules.

Jan, I am glad your doctor's appt went well.  I agree those of you on Herceptin have really fought the battle. 

Today was a beautiful day here and I had to work - and of course it is suppose to rain this weekend.  Wow I went to the grocery stores and the prices are really rising with the fuel costs going up.  Then I had to go put gas in my car, not a fun thing these days.  Nancy, how are you holding up?  Viddie, I hope you are still enjoying your mini-vacation and Mel, glad you had a good time at the wedding even though when you return from vacation it seems like you never left.  Rebecca, I hope your writing career really takes off. 

My older DS found out that he is going to Germany for a class in June - he's really excited and I am glad for him even though he'll be there for his birthday.  He had quite a scare the other night with his cat getting out of his apartment.  The bully cat of the neighborhood chased poor Ozzie but luckily DS was able to get him back inside.  Skye, Grendal is soooo cute.  Lynn, how are you?  Hugs to all.

Lynn12

Hi Ta Ta's,

Joni, so glad the port is in, now that part is done.  You will be so happy you have it and don't have to get those sticks in your arms.

Hey Mel, I'll be traveling to Houston on business in June...I hope we can get together.

Rebecca, are you anywhere near Far Hills, NJ?  I'm traveling there next month.

I also had an appt. w/ my onc this week.  Everything went fine. I told him about my dark cancer moments and he said that is totally normal. 

Skye, glad Grendal behaved himself this week, what a good boy!

Mary, I hear you about gas prices...both George and myself put about 200 miles each every week just to go to work, not counting any other driving..it's getting quite expensive.  $3.26 per gallon here.

Caya, May 8, 2007 was my last chemo!  We'll have the same anniversay of 'being done'  Congrats to all of you herceptins girls on almost being done!

I'm spending my weekend gathering items for our Tag sale next weekend to benefit our Relay For Life team. 

Glad tomorrow is Friday, it's been a long week workwise...meetings galore, hard to get things done.

Lynn12

Oh and Viddie, my stage 2 is May 1st.  When is yours?  Jan, when is yours?

sharon56

joni glad that your port is in ..... oh yes a pic of the mountains. I am watching the end of the Eastern hockey game , hope to stay up a bit and see the Flames play .....

Caya , wow eh ,almost done been a long haul for you and all , next week the 23rd will be a year since my last chemo and am now really starting to enjoy the season , last year I was still facing another  surgery and rads ... Feels good . 

Went to the physiotherapist today and found the reason for all my leg pains , my "buttock" muscle is pinching my nerve . She did some tests and such then put pressure on my right cheek ......... *&^% of a b ..... ouch  ..... ok found it ! Now I feel much better knowing that its just muscle and not anything serious . A few months and a few exercises and I should be able to walk and get up normally . Never really thought how much tension was in my body until today .

Hear ya Lynn on work .... the day was sooo warm today , Friday can't come soon enough !   

Rebecca

YAY Joni!  glad that port is in...one more hurdle passed.

Sharon glad that you figured out what was going on with your pain...literally a pain in the but huh?  

Skye glad that Grendel is starting to behave himself…those puppy days are so adorable, but what a pain.  Luckily dogs outgrow puppyhood faster than little boys do…and they are easier to housebreak too (mine would not take too kindly to being swatted on the nose with a newspaper for a mistake)

Caya and Skye congrats on the impending end of Herceptin! You made it! And Skye make sure that you do not overdo it.

Mel I am glad that you had a good time at the wedding.  That is kind of cute about Harrison…he has gotten so attached to you guys…what a wonderful friend he is.

Mary that sounds so great for your DS…what is he studying?  Oh, and I do not buy it for a minute that chemo did not affect my mind.  I am pretty calm and not freaked out or stressed with cancer issues and I am much more forgetful and spacey than I used to be. 

Long day today so I am off…good night all!

Anonymous

Lynn - my stage 2 is May 12. The day after mother's day and the day before our 17th wedding anniversary.

jonimb

3 sisters Mountains, just outside the front door of the Canmore hospital.

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luckymel

Lynn, you really get around!  I do hope we can get together - do you know what dates you'll be here, yet?  My surgery is June 2, so that is the only thing that might interfere.  Hopefully you are coming later in the month.

Joni, glad the port is in and ready to go, and you're ok.  Sharon,  glad you know what's up with your pain.  If you can fix it with some exercises, that's great.  Skye, hope your relapse is soon over.

Bedtime for me - hugs to all.

meliaanne

I continue to be amazed at the stoicism of those of you still wrapping up the herceptin. You have been incredibly brave. I am so glad it is ending.

Sharon, good to hear from you. I am sure the physical therapy will help.

Skye, I hope you feel better today. I am impressed that Grendel knows to ring the bell.

Joni, what a lovely photo. Glad the port is in.

Mel and Jan, I am sure you will be glad to have your surgeries behind you.

Caya, I always enjoy your stories about your holidays. I bet you are a great cook!

My best friend is having a mastectomy today. She hasn't stopped crying since her diagnosis a month ago. Her tumor, at least at this point, is very small. She is having a sentinel node removed, so is having the dye injected; do I remember some of you saying that was a very painful procedure?  I didn't say anything about that to her, of course. She has been on antivan and wine since she found out, doesn't need any extra information.  Please pray for her.

Steve has been having terrible problems with hives ... can't figure out what caused them. Finally yesterday I got him some prednisone, and we both slept through the night for the first time since his surgery. Today I leave work at noon to take him to get the catheter out. I am hoping for a pain free, itch free, weekend. I am so tired; reminds me of before my diagnosis, when I would sit in the car at the grocery store parking lot, feeling like I just could not drag myself into the store to do the shopping. I hope this fatigue is just due to his surgery and not something worse.

Melia

skyedivine

Good morning ladies,

Melia, Steve will feel SOOO much better once he gets that catheter out. My DS was so happy, it was so uncomfortable and painful to have that thing in there. I'm not surprised you are feeling a deep fatigue; look what you have been through in the past couple of months ever since his dx. That kind of stress takes a toll on our systems. I'd try for at least a few long bubble baths this weekend. And I'm so sorry for your friend. I guess she will know about the sentinel node test by now, poor dear. At my hospital they started giving anesthetic before it right after I had mine. I'm surprised she had a mast if the tumor was so small, must have been other accompanying circumstances?



Joni, that is a beautiful photo of a fantastic scene. I wonder why they call it Three Sisters instead of Three Brothers? I suppose it is the mountain-boob thing. Are you feeling better today?



I'm trying not to overdo, cut back on the exercise and will take an extra nap. We had an earthquake last night...it occurred down in Illinois but tremors were felt 350 miles away. The weird thing is I woke up an hour before it happened because I heard weird clanging noises I couldn't identify, but when I went downstairs all was still. Then when the earthquake happened I never felt it. Anyway I didn't sleep well and am feeling that already. It caused a few bricks to fall of some old buildings in Milwaukee but otherwise I don't think it did any damage around here. Just weird!



Hope everyone has some nice plans for the weekend - Skye

Caya

Hi Tatas,

Well, it's the last night before Passover, my mother took out all of us for Thai tonight - tomorrow night is the first seder - OY! I overate tonight and totally went off the low carb thing - well, I guess I'm entitled, I've really been pretty good the past few months.

It was a gorgeous day here - 24C, which is about 78F.  I was able to walk outside in capris and a T-shirt - unheard of here in mid April.

Skye I heard about that earthquake - glad you didn't have any damage.  I hope you sleep better tonight.

Joni - great pictures of the 3 sisters. I hope you are feeling better with your port.  BTW, my onc. told me yesterday he wants me to keep it in for a year after my final Herceptin - A YEAR?  But one of my onc. nurses had told me that this is standard at my hospital. 

Melia - I hope Steve feels better now that the catheter is out. Of course you are tired sweetie - don't worry about anything ominous. The stress of everything you have had to handle over the past 18 months (your dx and treatment, Steve's dx and treatment, and a wedding to boot) - your body can only handle so much.  Try and rest and relax this weekend.

Lynn - glad your onc. appointment went well.

Sharon - glad you will be able to do some exercises to relieve that sore muscle.  A massage or two should help and feel good too.

Rebecca - how are the kids?  Any new Owen stories?

Here's something that only you my sisters will get a chuckle out of - I was getting dressed this morning to go for my walk and I couldn't find my prosthesis - My cleaning lady Florette (who has been with me for like 15 years) was here and I called out "Florette- I can't find my boob - have you seen it?"  Allan and Cassie burst out laughing and all of us started to search for it - I did find it in my closet under a pile of scarves, (how it got there, I don't know). 

And on that note, I am going to bed.

xo

Lynn12

Happy Saturday!

Joni, that is a beautiful picture. I never heard of the sister mountains.  We have a so called mountain view from our backyard.  You would laugh at the size of our 'mountain' lol.  Hope you are feeling better.

Mel, I think my trip to Houston will be June 23rd.  That's 3 weeks after your DIEP.  Hopefully you will be up for a visitor. Christmas was 2 weeks after my surgery and I was fine having visitors.  I'd love to meet you, so we'll take it by ear to see how you feel!

Caya, that is so funny, I used to yell that throughout the house as well...'I lost my boob' lol!

Skye - lol on the 'mountain boob'!  You girls are just cracking me up this morning!

Melia, how is your friend?  I had a mastectomy and they injected the die for the sentinel node while I was asleep..hopefully that is how it worked with her.  Sounds like Steve is recovering well.  Of course you are tired, this has been a huge emotional drain on you, that alone is hard enough.  Take it easy on yourself, please!

Ally was asked to the prom so Shelley is coming home to take Ally dress shopping...sister bonding!  She then mentioned about 3 times that she wants to have a margarita on the deck with us and doesn't mind being late to a party she is invited to tonight (she lives 2 hours away).  It's so funny when they grow up and actually want to hang out with us.

Hope everyone has a great Saturday..it's beautiful here, will be about 75! woo hoo!

love and hugs,

Lynn

mer1957

Caya did they mention anything about having to flush out the port every month?  I wanted to keep mine - didn't want to go through having it out - and they told me that if I did I would have it have it flushed every month, which is strange since I had it in all during radiation and a few months after that without flushing it. 

Beautiful day here too.  We are going to a nice Italian restaurant with the future inlaws (not the kids - they are together in Chicago).  At least we have each other.  They are bringing over some wine before we go out - that's why I like those people! 

I went for a nice bike ride to the gym, worked out, but on the way back my bike was acting up like the brake was on.  Finally it started working again.  I was not looking forward to walking home draggin that mountain bike.  My spring allergies are in full force but I love being outside. 

I didn't think my sentinel node biopsy was very painful.  I think it depends on who does it. 

Thinking of you Joni - when does chemo begin?

Hugs to all.

Caya

BAck from the seder - I am not getting on the scale for about 4 days, I figure between tonight and tomorrow night's seder, it will take me about 3 days of eating practically nothing to get back to where I was yesterday - OY!!

Mary -  my onc. nurse told me they would flush my port every 3 months when I go down for my post. tx, appointments - but then I will have about one period of a 6 month time span - I guess I'll have to go downtown to the hospital to have it flushed, unless I can arrange with my local hospital to have it done up here.  Good question, I'll ask them at my last infusion in 3 weeks.

Tina - glad you are settling in, how was Jac and Paul's first week at the new school?  Are there nice neighbours?  I think the Ta Tas will definitely have to make a visit to DC - I LOVE the Prime Outlet Malls.

IowaCindy

Happy Saturday, everyone!

It started out cool and cloudy but by 11 the sun was shining and it was just a delightful day.

I had breakfast with two coworkers. We were at a nursing thing. Jolene recieved an award and I was there to cheer for her.

I had lunch with my two girls and SIL.

I played in the yard with the dogs and then I took a nap.

Then I met friends for supper and we went to a concert - Ruthie Foster. It was a wonderful night. GREAT music!

A year ago today, I was just starting to come out of my final chemo funk. It was not a good April 19. It wasn't a good birthday.

My birthday this year was good. Solid. Not overly focused on me (for either illness or birthday) but I was wholely aware and into the day.

It really reinforced the words of the surgeon, the onc. and her staff who kept telling me it would take a year but in a year, I would know 'life' again. 

Uh-huh, now I believe them. 

Guess that means I better get to work on my house and yard. I don't think the family's gonna want to come do my grunt work for me anymore.

Caya, Happy Passover.

Melia, hope your friend's surgery went well. And Steve doesn't have more hives. Ugh, so uncomfortable.

Joni, the mountains are so pretty. I agree - it's probably a boob thing for the name. 

Have a good rest of the weekend, all!

Cindy 

Nancyab

Hi Sweeties!

Sorry I have been so bad about posting. Jeff and I spent 15 great days in Phoenix, got home just in time to pay Uncle Sam his take! Yikes sounds like everyone got hit this year! Still working on the house, soooo tired of it. We have moved back into the bedroom, so happy about that. I have painted the bathroom 3 times over, I finally got the right color, I think! Jeff is getting the floor in and we bought the vanity, medicine cabinet and light bar today. I was hoping that elves or something would of come along and finished this while I was soaking up the Arizona sun, but no luck.

I can't believe how fast Tina you moved. Amazing! I am glad everything fell into place for you.

Melia, I have continued my prayers for you and your family. I hope things are getting better and the stress load lighter.

Glad you herceptin ladies are at the end of the road! What a relief!

Joni, I am glad things are moving along for you, waiting is just to much to bear when you need to get on with treatment. I'll never forget how long they made my Mom wait before starting treatment, it was almost 4 months! Why it was so long, I'll never understand, but it was pure agony, waiting.

Jeff is still looking for a job, I seriously think we may have to leave Ohio too. It is very high unemployment right now and things look ugly. I feel really sorry for him, because he is very smart. He needs to go back into technical writing and provisioning, but it can be a very stressful job that neither he or I like very much. He is also a very good automotive mechanic, ASE certified, but not much money in that. At least not around here. So we continue to muddle through. But we have each other!

Love to all of you

Giant Hugs too!

viddie

Hi everyone,

Happy Birthday, Cindy.

Caya and Rebecca,

Happy Passover. 

Nancy,

I am glad to her from you. I missed you. 

Joni,

I love your picture. I am so glad your port is in. How are you?

Melia,

I am always thinking of Steve and you. 

Jan,

My Stage 2 is May 13, one day after yours.

Lynn,

I am leaving Florida, May 1, the day of your stage 2. I am anxious to hear about your experience. Will you see him before the surgery? I am wondering if he will mark you while you are awake or sleeping or just go by the pictures. After this vacation, I could surely use the lipo- lol.

Caya,

My onc already made my appointment for my removal of my port in June, after my last hercepton, May 29th. Yikes!! I would also like to keep it in longer- a security blanket, but she wants it removed.  

I had a very small seder last night- Ed and I. It wasn't the same, but I can't complain.  

Meri turned down Northeastern Univ in Boston and is definitely going to VCU in Virginia. Her bf is still waiting to hear from Univ of Maryland and BU Dental but Meri starts school on May 14, so she can't wait any longer. He also got accepted to a Masters program at VCU in Bioinformatics, whatever that is, so he will go there unless he hears from the other schools. Oy, such problems! lol.

I hope everyone has a great Sunday.

Love,

Viddie 

sharon56

ok hello there , what a summery weekend here ..... soooo warm ..... Joni whats up with the snow ???? in Calgary ! BRRRRR you must feel cold out there ! Here's hoping that the Flames win tonight ! Love the Three Sisters pic !

I took my ds to the Jays game today what a day the dome was open and we had a few foul balls come our way  .

Nancy good to hear from ya , Cindy too !

Viddie , Caya , Rebecca Happy Passover .

Oh and ports must be flushed every 6 weeks at least , I had mine flushed a few times , just remember to use your emula cream as you will miss the pokes . After not using it you soon forget how it feels . I had my port out about 10 months after chemo , not to bad of a removal , but not as easy as getting it in . I now have 2 scars about 2 " wide on my right boob , taking a bit longer to heal than the scars from my lumpectomy on the left . Cancer surgeons do a better job of stitching me up . Oh well battle scars ....... sooo glad I did have it , best thing ! Watch out though you have to be a chemo nurse here to access it , not all nurses know how to or have the certification .

I found for bloodwork they went to my arm . Just an FYI for all with your ports still in .

Soon I expect to have my genetic test results back .... soon , just one more test result ..... got it done in Nov last year .... they say  6 months .......

Hope all had a good weekend !

TPPJ

Hi everyone.  Finally back online again.  A ton of posts here.  Amera, you've been through a lot.  So glad to hear it was a false alarm.  Huge relief though.

I had a very exciting day!  I met Rebecca and company today.  I drove down to Georgetown w/my kids and met her, Matt and the kids for lunch at a great Mexican place.  They were all great...Rebecca and the kids look exactly as they do in their pics.  All adorable.  Jaclyn and Ana were two little peas in a pod...same height (w/Jaclyn's high heel boots .  Frances and Paul are very close in age and size.  Owen was adorable and Matt is a great guy...great w/the kids too.  After lunch we attempted to walk a little bit of Georgetown and got caught in the rainstorm of a lifetime.  We hoofed it back to the hotel and were literally drenched through all of our clothes.  It was so pathetic, we had laugh.  I was wetter than if I'd been in the shower fully dressed.

Can't believe I finally met one of us! 

mer1957

Happy belated birthday Cindy!  Happy Passover!

Tina, so glad you and Rebecca got to meet.  How is the transition going for the kids?  Viddie it sounds like Meri's bf is one smart guy, I hope he gets what he wants.  Nancy, glad to hear from you.  I hope your home problems are over for awhile and that Jeff finds work.  You'll be in my prayers in that regard.  Our church has started a ministry to help displaced workers network with others...it really shows you that there are a lot of people out of work.

Today is beautiful and my allergies are kiling me.  I had to go to the store and buy some Benydryl.  Now I can hardly stay awake.  Hopefully this only lasts a week - until the trees stop budding. 

luckymel

Tina, how fun (except for the rainstorm, getting soaked, part) - I'm jealous you guys got to meet, but July will come soon enough, I guess.  I'm sure the kids enjoyed meeting each other, too. 

Cindy, happy belated birthday - sounds like it was a special one this year.  

Nancy, so good to hear from you again - I've been thinking about you and missing you.  Glad you had a good R&R time in Arizona, and hope your house comes back together quickly.  Where would you go if you had to leave Ohio? 

Lynn, I'm sure I'll be ready and willing to meet you by June 23 - I was just afraid you might be coming that week or something.  Can't wait!

Mary, hope your allergies get better soon - you can't function very well on Benadryl, or at least I can't. 

Sharon, good to hear from you - are you coming to Vegas, I hope?  You haven't said anything, but it sure would be good to see you in person.

I did absolutely nothing this weekend.  What with traveling last weekend and then working all week, I was pretty worn out, I guess, or else just lazy.  I didn't even cook, and usually I cook for the week on Sunday.  It's bedtime on Sunday night, and I am just now thinking of all the things I really needed to do this weekend, and it's making me feel kind of sick. 

Love you all, hope you have a good week.

skyedivine

Hi Ladies,

Tina and Rebecca, so cool that you got to meet and especially with all the kids. Can't wait til it's my turn to meet you both, and everyone else!

Mary I'm same as you with the trees budding, plus with runny nose from Herceptin my head feels like a faucet. I'm heading to the drugstore later to try some Zyrtec.

Melia how is dh doing with the catheter out, and how are you holding up?

Cindy I loved your reflections as always. It's true that everything is so different than it was a year ago. Did anyone see Lynette's sad hair growth on Desperate Housewives last night? I'm so glad they are not sugar-coating it and restoring her to instant glamour.

We had a quiet weekend, sat on the deck a bit and enjoyed the beautiful weather; we are so starved for sun and warm temps the sunshine felt like a gourmet treat. Grendel got to play with his neighbor puppy and the children of the 'hood, who have all taken a shine to him. I had to be on 3 radio programs so couldn't stray far from the landline phone. Also working on a book proposal. This morning I spent some time pulling pertinent books from my shelves and setting up a workspace for it in the spare room. There is no room left in my office, LOL, and dh complains that I take up every room in the house. But it's better than cluttering the living room/dr area.



I woke up this morning and thought, only two weeks left til my last Herceptin. I'm very ready to be done with it; I think more about the heart damage lately and it seems I get winded and tired more easily. I know I'll be having another MUGA to find out. I heard it's every 4 weeks to get the Mediport flushed. My doc just said he'd leave it in "a few months" but that could mean up to a year I suppose.



Thinking of all of you who celebrated Seder this past weekend. Does it continue into the week?

Happy new week to all - Skye

Caya

Yes Skye Passover is an 8 day holiday, we're destined to have this diet until Sunday at sundown.  I'll be cheating a bit and having dinner out that night (earlier than sundown).

The second seder last night was just as good (or bad!!) as the first night - too much food, too much wine - we're supposed to drink 4 cups, I stopped at two. My bowels are feeling it today, I better have some prunes.

Also on the yuch front , another UTI started up yesterday - this is the 3rd one in 4 months... UTIs are a s/e of Herceptin, and I always have been prone to them, but this is really getting old.  Skye, I'm with you, I am so glad we are coming to the end of the Herceptin.  It's enough already!!

Tina and Rebecca - glad you got to meet.  It will be great when we all can soon in July.

Gotta run, literally - I think I better head out for a brisk walk now to try and shake off some of the avoir du pois from the weekend.

Have a great day gals.

meliaanne

Hi All,

Caya, eat up!  You can behave yourself once the good meals are over.

Skye, I thought of you yesterday. I was at the pet store stocking up on all the cat/bird stuff we needed, and there was a sweet man there with a llasa apso (spelling?). What a lovely, charming dog he was. I really got a kick out of him. Sounds like Grendel is coming along well.

Nancy, I was glad to hear from you. I am sure a couple of weeks in the sun did wonders for both of you. I hope the job situation settles down soon.

Tina and Rebecca, how wonderful that your families got to meet. I am sure it was a blast.

Cindy, loved your post and your perspective. It did take a good solid year for me too. And even now I have my moments. But basically I do feel stronger physically and mentally. In many ways, that year is a blur. I think I was in such shock throughout.

Mel, hope your weekend of rest helped. Always so much to do.

Hugs to everyone else, too.

My friend who had the mastectomy on Friday is doing well. She had the sentinel node out and it was clear. She opted for a mastectomy instead of a lumpectomy even though it was a small tumor; just felt she wouldn't be able to relax otherwise. I have spoken with her daily,but haven't seen her yet. I am going to give her a few more days and then take a dinner over. I sent her a warmup suit to help her feel cozy. Her adult kids are there, along with her husband, so she is well supported.

Steve is finally doing well. We got prednisone for the hives, which cleared them right up, and then he could finally sleep. Having the catheter out is a relief to him, and he isn't having incontinence issues, so he is very pleased. I think this is when his general fitness will help him out, along with his diligence seeking out the best surgeon available. He actually logged into work this morning and worked for a few hours, which was good for his morale, as they were so glad to see him back, at least virtually.  Yesterday I took him to the bookstore as he was out of reading material, and it felt good to him to get out. I think we are over the worst of it. Of course, we felt that way when I finished treatment, but maybe there will truly be less drama in our lives now.

Take good care, my friends.

Melia