Anyone starting Chemo in August 07?

DGHoff

Hi Ladies,

I was out for a few days on some travel and then got behind on Christmas stuff, so haven't had time to post but I've tried to keep an eye on things. Glad to hear about new jobs, clean results on colonoscopies, and anniversary cruises! 

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

wackyjackie

Merry Christmas to all and a happy, healthy New Year.

Lots of hugs, Jackie

Harley44

I second that wish!  Merry Christmas!  Wishing everyone a happy Healthy 2009!

HUGS
Harley

nash

I am back from driving two hours in torrential rain to get back and forth from the new onc. Am happy to report that it was worth it. She's fantastic--I love her. We're a great fit for each other. She was horrified to hear that the other onc doesn't physically examine me. She also wants me to go read all the ASCO aritcles on Zometa in early bc so "we" can make a decision whether to add it to the mix or not. Love that! She reminds me a lot of my mom's wonderful onc at the university hospital here, whom I couldn't get in with b/c she stopped taking new patients. So, phew! I am greatly relieved.

wackyjackie

Nash,

I am so happy for you.  Out with the old and in with the new.  This is a great sign.  You definitely deserve to relax now and try to enjoy the holidays.

 Lots of hugs, Jackie

katoMato

Hello Ladies,

Nash - I'm SO glad you like your new onc...I feel very relieved so somehow i must have been stressing for you. She sounds like a MUCH better fit. Good for you for taking that plunge! NOw maybe you can relax a little and trust her - or at least bounce ideas off her - and trust her opinion. HALLELLUIA!

On the home front; my daughter and my new SIL have been in town visiting so i have moved out. I now live down the street in a large building that has automatic doors that open when I get near them. The interior designer had serious issues because there's no kitchen, but it's decorated with rows and rows of canned vegetables. And bread. And cooked chickens. Sometimes I go back to where my daughter is, (where I used to live), to visit for just a moment.  I don't stay very long.

 Ahhh.  Merry Christmas to you all!

DGHoff

Hi Everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Nash- what wonderful news that you have an onc you can actually trust! Yay!!  

I was at my cancer center yesterday to pick up my tamoxifen, and just felt awful for all the people in the chemo room (the pharmacy is in the treatment room). It is a totally different feeling to go into that room knowing that I don't have to get poked myself. I kind of forget how weak I was during chemo until I go back and see people going through it now.  How glad I am that we are all one year out from that.

Well, I better get ready for yoga! Have a great day, everyone!

 DeAnn

Harley44

Nash,

So glad to hear that you like your new onc!  That is WONDERFUL news!!

Harley

yellowtownhouse

Hey all you wonderful women,

Again I've been running like the road runner but not making much head way this month.  Will write more later when I clear the decks of all the house guests, tinsel, and zazillion pine needles!  But....just had to take a moment and celebrate with Nash...WAHOO!!!!!!!!!  Long time coming girlfriend and so overdue.  You give me hope Nash that come January when I go for the consultation with my "new" oncologist that I will be as fortunate.  Way to go!!!!! 

Wishing all my sisters the most wonderful New Year ever and once more thank you for being a very special part of my life.

June

katoMato

Hi Ladies,

We're hung here, between the "Christmas" and the "New Year" with all the presents distributed, all the family visited with, and all the food eaten. (ok. maybe the food's not all eaten. Yet.) Now it's time to RELAX! Ahhhhhhhhhh!..... Hope everyone had a good time! 

Have a Happy, Safe, Healthy and Sane New Year!

DGHoff

Hi All,

I finished my reconstruction today! Yay! I got my nipple tattoo. Yes, that's right. I am now a tattooed woman. Bring on the Harley Davidson. 

DeAnn

katoMato

what? no picture?

(just kidding. ) How fun! And they probably match, don't they?

Hmmmn. I remember "matching"....(These days i just have to be satisfied with the purse and shoe thing. The headlights look like they're from two different vehicles altogether.)

nash

Hi, girls. Just popping in for a second--we just got back from a long weekend to Monterey. Which was nice, but I swear I will never leave town the day after Christmas again--it was just way too hectic, trying to produce the holiday for the family, then turning around and packing up to leave town. I'm really pooped, and it made me realize that I really don't have my stamina completely back.

Congrate, DeAnn, on the new tatoos! Whoo hoo! You rebel.

June--I've got all my fingers and toes crossed that your new onc consultation will go well. Your situation sounded like mine--like it really couldn't be much worse somewhere else, and the odds were good that it would be better. Keep us posted.

Hi, Harley and Kaye--<<<<hugs>>>>

I have to fire Crazy Onc very soon--I came back from vacation to find a preauthorization for my January MRI from her office, which actually was very nice and efficient of them, but the new onc's office was also submitting a preauth request for the same last week, so I hope that doesn't cause mass confusion over at the insurance office. Must get that straightened around tomorrow.

Hugs to all--Happy New Year!

Harley44

Hello Nash, Kaye, DeAnn, Junie, and all,

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

DeAnn,  HURRAY for your reconstruction being finished!!   I remember when I got my tattoos, thinking, "Now I am REALLY a HARLEY chick, tattoos and all!"   But we got rid of the Harley.  Now we have a BMW motorcycle. 

Hope you got your paperwork all straightened out, Nash!  It is a real pain, getting everything all squared away, with your insurance company.  I had a case manager for my insurance company during my 'active tx' phase.  They closed my case management file, so now I have to just hope that my drs. and my insurance co. get everything right.  It worries me, because throughout my bc dx and tx, it seems that every thing that could go wrong, with the insurance red tape, DID. 

HUGS to everyone!!

Harley

wackyjackie

Hi Ladies,

Happy, Healthy New Year to all. 

Congratulations, DeAnn on your finishing up reconstruction!!!!! I'm starting the nipple phase on Thursday Jan. 8th.  I can't wait to be done also.

June, Good Luck with your new onc.!!!!

Lots of hugs to everyone else!!!!!

Jackie

Harley44

Jackie,

How are you doing?  Happy Happy New Year, to you too!!

Hugs

Harley

katoMato

Harley - Now we can call you:  "BMW44"!

Nash, did you ever get the pre-authorization for the MRI straightened out? Was it pretty smooth, or was there a problem?

Lilith - Did you ever get the Microlactin stuff? Is it working for you? I THINK it's still working -but it doesn't seem to work quite as well. Either that or it's lessening it's effectiveness somehow.

Also - Anyone else having neuropathy issues? I don't know if it's from the Arimidex (started around the same time.) or a pinched nerve in my neck (i had hints of it when I was pregnant 23 years ago!) and excacerbated by weight gain...or WHAT. Just curious.

lilith

OHHH, back home - home SWEET home!!!

I hope everybody had a great time, a merry Christmas and a good starting on the new year!!! about time we got a new one. I had a good time - with some bittersweet.. I am doing good, but my mom has just been diagnosed with a v. v. early lung cancer. 40 years after her first diagnosis of BC it is completely un-related, although it definitely confirms my thoughts on the BRCA2 mutation. Luckily, it looks early enough to be highly treateable - but she is very scared and a bit of a handful.... still doing tests, she has another one this week. I am so grateful that my dad is around to be with her...

After a quick read of everybody's news, I am very happy with Nash's new doc. A good doc - who is willing to listen as much as to help in making INFORMED decision is so important, and that trust is important!

Kaye - I did get the microlactin. I am not really over the moon, not sure it is really working for me - but I'll go on and give it a second round of trial. My fingers are better now, but my elbows are painful. Go figure.

My sweats are actually relenting - I guess the ovariectomy is rebalancing things out.

nash

Hi, girls. Hope everyone is enjoying the new year.

Lilith--I'm SO sorry to hear of your mom's lung cancer diagnosis. That sucks. Will be praying for all of you. But glad to hear the hot flashes are letting up.

Harley, BMW bikes are very cool--I bet you look like quite the babe on yours!

 Kaye, I haven't heard back from the insurance yet, but that's b/c of the holiday. Hopefully will get everything straightened around this week. Very frustrating stuff, especially since they've screwed up the last four things that have gone through--mainly whether providers have contracts, etc. Sometimes I think they do it on purpose.

And on the neuropathy, do you think it's a residual effect of the Taxol, even though it started with the Arimidex? Neuropathy is really hard to sort out. I developed it right before my cancer diagnosis, so it's been almost two years. I had a neuropathy workup last year which was negative. I went to a new neurologist last month, who ordered some very fancy blood test that I'm going to have drawn on Tuesday. Hopefully that will turn up something--it's annoying not to know the cause. Do you have it in both your hands and feet?

I will be going by Crazy Onc's office this week to get a copy of my bone scan from last week, and to cancel my followup appointment for March. Question to all of you--do you think I need to write her a letter stating that I'm transfering my care to Dr. X, or should I just tell the girls at the front desk when I cancel my appointment, and not make a big deal out of it? I'm torn on what to do.

yellowtownhouse

Hey to Everyone,

Wanted to wish everyone a wonderful New Year.

Kaye, I guess I'm also one of the lucky ones who still has the neuropathy 13 months post chemo.  I started with it after the second tx of Taxol.  Mine has not gotten any better but neither does it seem any worse.  I have it in my fingers/toes/ and balls of the feet.  It's worse late in the day.  Of course I don't suppose it helps any that I walk about a 'gazillion' miles on the days I work.  There is a medication out that they have been using for neuropathy called Lyrica (lear-a-ca).  It doesn't have as many side effects as Neurontin and seems to be more effective.  I refused the Neurontin and have not tried the Lyrica....just sort of live with it but I do have to be more careful in walking. 

I read an article today in the Atlanta Journal by a physician exposing hidden side effects of the antibiotic Levaquin.  It causes feet and ankle tendons to rupture and ALSO causes long term neuropathy.  Now, I can't tell you how many courses of Levaquin I was on during chemo due to multiple infections.  Does leave me wondering like you Nash and Kaye as to what really was the culprit. 

DeAnn, it's so nice that you're completing that final phase and can put one more thing behind you.

Jackie, where have you been?????  Happy New Year!

lilth, so sad to read about your Mom but with you for support I'm sure she's going to do well and beat this  d-------- disease. Have you started your new job yet?

Nash, here's my 2 cents on the oncologist firing.  Maybe I'm just getting old but I like to have as much control as possible in this disease process.  So........I am keeping the next two appts with oncologist #1 until I have an  opportunity to see new oncologist at least twice.  Yes, I will call and cancel the appt. and make a later one.  By then I should have a pretty good handle on how I feel about the 'new doc.'  This is so that worse case scenario I don't cut off my little nose to spite my face.  At least I would still have a port in the storm (albeit a god awful one) while I continuted my search for a new doc. 

Kaye, like me did you finally clear the decks of all the 'guests'???  Ahhh...home sweet home with just hubby and me.  LOL  P.S. sometimes I think grown children 'guests' are more work than regular guests! 

my best to all....

June

DGHoff

Hi Everyone! Has a lovely time up north snowshoeing this weekend. Yes, that means I strapped a couple of wide planks to my feet and waddled around in hip deep snow for an hour and called it "fun."  This is what we must resort to for entertainment in the frozen hinterlands.

Lilith, I'm so sorry to hear about your mom. I hope she is doing OK.  

I saw an article today about a breast cancer vaccine that they are starting to test down at a university in Arkansas. It is specifically designed for women who have had cancer to help prevent reoccurence. I'm sure it will be many years before we know the results,  but how cool would that be? 

DeAnn

lilith

Hi DeAnn - guess what? we were snow-shoeing in Italy last week! Ok, ok, the snow wasn't hip deep - but only about 10 inches - but still it was absolutely beautiful, snow drifts, sun and gorgeous blue skies. WOAAAAH! It was good to think about something else but cancer, illness, work changes, divorce papers, moving over, kids issues, lawyer payments....

I am sure mom will be ok. I find frustrating interpreting doctor's speaches throught others' reports (aka, my mom and dad), but from what I understand it is caught very early - it was a screening done for other reasons that showed 2 little white clouds - and a biopsy confirmed it. They are also seeing something funky close to the spine, in the neck - but the general guess there is an arthritic formation sourcing in the rads she underwent 40 years ago. Anyway, they will do a biopsy there too - she is in the hospital today, the op sounds unpleasant enough but she will be sleeping. After that, they will decide for a course of action - I expect they will operate the lung soon.

Selfishly - I am so tired of cancer talks. Not that I can change the world... A cancer vaccine would be great.... I'd be curious to know how it works - because BC is not a virus nor it is facilitated by a virus as the HPV virus...

Harley44

Hi everyone!  I still haven't gotten started on the job search yet.  Down here, in NC/Myrtle Beach area, it seems that you have to know someone in order to get hired.  It is so depressing!

Kaye, yes, you can call me BMW44, but it doesn't sound as cool!  Nash, thanks for the compliments!  I used to really enjoy riding as a passenger, but after all this bc tx, I'm so stiff, it's hard getting on and off the bike!  I feel like my name should be GRANDMA44!! 

Lilith,

I hope you Mom's bx will turn out ok, and that they find it is VERY VERY VERY EARLY, and very treatable!!   You are in my thoughts and prayers.  Please let us know as soon as you know something, ok?

Hugs

Harley  er... bmw.... 

nash

Lilith, I hope all goes well for your mom today. Keep us posted.

Harley, you will find a job when the right one comes along, I just know it. Job hunting is not a fun process, that's for sure.

Wow, all this snowshoeing! Fun!

DeAnn--the vaccine news is exciting. I found the article on it:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,475844,00.html

Very promising!

June--thanks for the input. I feel committed to the new onc, but I think I will minimize the bridge burning by just not making a big deal about leaving.

I could scream with the insurance and the MRI. The preauthorization dept at the insurance authorized the MRI under my old onc, even though my new onc requested it. At first I thought there had been double requests, one from each office, but that turned out to not be the case. At first the preauth people said that when the new onc resubmitted the request, it would just cancel out the first (wrong) one. But no! The new request got denied, b/c they think there's another request from the old onc. But in order to fix this, the new onc, herself--not her staff, has to call in and talk to one of their doctors at the insurance preauth dept. and explain that they screwed up. Can you imagine? So I have a call in to the new onc, but I'm sure this will involve lots of phone tag, etc. It gives me a headache.

Harley44

Nash,

Thanks!  Since we are going on that Carribean cruise in Feb., for my dh's 50th b-day, I think I'll wait til we get back from the cruise before I commit to a job search.

Insurance problems give me a MIGRAINE HEADACHE!!  I was so glad that I had an insurance case manager, after I was initially dx'd.  Monica helped me through, up until my 1st chemo tx.  After she got everything settled with my onc about my tx, she quit.  The other case managers who were assigned to my case just didn't want to work AT ALL...  I am so glad I had Monica at the beginning, because it seemed that EVERYTHING that could go wrong DID...  the pathologist used MY social security number instead of my dh's, so the claim was denied.  My PS office put through my claim as a Point Of Service Option, which it wasn't ...  so I had to go back AFTER the fact, to get all the proper referrals...  What a mess!!

Good luck getting everything straightened out!!  I am sure that your new onc's office will be able to get things settled.

HUGS
Harley

nash

I hope the new onc's office gets this straightened around. Just got off the phone with the nurse, who said, "Well, we'll see what we can do", which didn't sound encouraging. She thought the whole thing was sort of stupid, which it is, and it's annoying doc has to call personally, but it's not my fault!!! So this will be a good test of how they handle these things. The old onc's office used to be good at this sort of thing, but hasn't been good as of late. So we'll see. I'm glad you had a good case manager when you needed it, Harley, b/c you're right, this is all migraine producing.

The Carribean cruise sounds dreamy.

wackyjackie

Hi Ladies,

Nash...sorry to hear about your insurance aggravation.  That is so stressful.

Harley...relax and enjoy your cruise.  Sounds great!!!!!

June...I'm hanging in here.  Thanks for thinking of me.

Lilith.... good luck with all your new events going on.

Kaye.....hi honey!!!!

DeAnn...snow-shoeing?  Sounds fun...but I never heard of it.  I'm getting old!!!!

Ladies,  I need your prayers right now.  They just found some spot on my sister's mammography that they don't like.  She went to the breast surgeon and is going for an ultrasound guided biopsy next Tuesday.  I have been shaking inside since I heard this news.  She is 46 yrs old (same age as me at diagnosis) and has multiple sclerosis (but no serious effects from this disease).  WTF????? Why???? Does is never end.  I go back and forth between anger and fear.  By the way, I tested negative for the BRCA gene so what's the problem?  We have no history of breast cancer in our family.  Please pray for her that it will be nothing.

Hugs, Jackie

nash

Oh no, Jackie! I'm sorry your sister has to go through this! Just to lighten things up--you can tell her you didn't mean to make this all look like so much fun that she should join the party. But seriously, I will be praying that the spot is nothing. Please let us know as soon as you hear something.

Harley44

Jackie,

I'm keeping you and your sister in my prayers.  Praying that the spot is nothing, and her drs. are just being extra cautious. 

HUGS
Harley

lilith

Jackie, I'll be thinking of you and your sister - it is incredible how life goes on, but this never ends. Sheesh. Hopefully - as Harley says - it is all a false alarm! Sending you the best vibes I can summon.

My mom did well on the biopsy operation - she sounds perky on the phone (probably relieved that it is done), alas we will not have the results before at least a couple of weeks. Rats. I am home taking care of a nasty, nasty cold that I seem to be dragging with me since weeks, I don't remember the last time I felt - ugh - full of energy and carefree. what was that, my twenties?