Anyone starting chemo in June 08

SanDeeLou

HI GIRLS,

Glad to hear all's well for the most part.  Today is the first day I have felt like reading the thread much less posting.  This is my week off, but I do go for tumor markers tomorrow.  To be told I souldn't be sick this stuff is kicking my royal a_ _!!!!  I've just about had enough of the hair falling out.

Bonnie what colors and pattern are you doing.

LOL

Sandy

Bonnie02

Hi Sandy

You know it is a lot easier just to shave your head then watch it fall out and it will . The quilt I am making is the wedding ring quilt made with batiks, wish I had never started it.

The background is a beige color and the rest is made with different batiks. It all have to hand cut my husband made the templates out of metal so I couldn't cut them. I am in the process of trying to sew it together and as far as quilting goes I am not sure what I will do.

Anyway Sandy you take care of yourself

Bonnie

Kellke

I am still here~ just not posting much.  I finished stereotactic radiation on my cerebellar lesions and followed that up with 10 days of partial brain radiation.  Not so fun but as usual the idea of it was worse than just doing it and hopefully my brain won't be too wonky!  I am still taking Tykerb and Herceptin too.

 Summer is beautiful here and my daughter is away at Girl Scout camp so I am sleeping a lot.  Seems like I should be doing other things but resting is good too.    Kelly

Bonnie02

Hi Kelly,

I am sure everyone understands why you are not posting much, I probably wouldn't neither if I was in your position. It has been really nice here also and our garden is finally starting to look like something.  Bye the way Kelly resting is probably your top priority right now the other things can wait I am sure, us women get so hung up about doing all those other things that we say should be done, but the most important part is just taking are of yourself.

Will talk to you later, have a nice rest. and you to Sandy.

I should get on my broom and make rounds and make sure everyone is taking care of themselves lol.

Bonnie

Mimidi

I finished chemo a week ago today.  I started in January.  My prayers are will each of you.  YOU CAN DO THIS!!!

KKing

Sandy,  it must be very difficult going through it again.  I hope what they are giving you puts you back to NED and you get to feel yourself again.

Kelly, you are one tough cookie,  as Bonnie said,  rest is probably the best thing for you.   I am like you both, I love my garden.  to me, I find peace just looking at things that are blooming.  I am a rose fanatic, I think it stems back to when my mom was alive.  I planted her a rosebush and she just loved it.  To me, it is like she is always around me now,  sounds nuts doesn't it.

Mimidi,  all the best to you as well.

I am looking forward to some holidays, coming up the end of July.  We are doing some camping and might go see the finger lakes in New York...has anyone been there?

Bonnie, you made me laugh about your broom... too funny.

Thinking about all of you.

Karen

SanDeeLou

Bonnie

You are a very brave woman.  I only hoo and haa at the double wedding ring.  My mohter learned to quilt from a neighbor when she was in her early 20's.  She always cut, sewed and quilted b y hand.  She would not go to classes with my sister and I to learn on the sewing machine, to her that is just a bed cover.  Of course mother is now 94 and has dementia.

 She doesn't even know I am sick now, or was sick 3 years ago, but she seems happy in her own little world. Our family physician believes she has thyroid cancer, she broke her right hip twice, the second fall she fell over in a wheel chair adn has bleeding on her brin when it happened about two years, but wasn't and is not in any pain.  My brothers and sister are all thankful for that.

I have a school house just barely started, for three years now.  I started to paint with watercolors lst year and watch a watercolor lesson on create tv.  I may just pick them up.  Most damage I can do with those is paint myself, but it will wear off.

I guess that about all for now.

Take care my friends.  Love ya

Sandy

Bonnie02

Hi everyone,  I keep looking on here and guess what nobody seems to be on here anymore. Sure wish people would come back on and at least say hi.  If you are not feeling well or something it is understandable - but a quick hi to let everyone know your are still keeping in touch otherwise we don't know if people are looking and just not saying anything or if maybe they are to sick.

Sandy, I would just love to be able to paint but I don't have a clue - unable to even draw a straight line.  A lot of times I would see things that are just beautiful and I would wish I was able to paint it on paper.  I have been told by other people that anyone can paint but sorry I don't believe that as I am the one person that can't. lol.

Take care everyone, wishing the best for you guys

Love Bonnie

LeggyJ

Hi Girls,

My ultrasound, had some questionable calcification's, and they were going to do a biopsy, but changed their minds, saying it was very small. So I'm supposed to get another mammo. in six months, which was fine with me, since I was going on vacation.  However, my trip to Montana, has been suspended for a bit, due to some flu like symptoms, that hung on for over a week...yuck. Thank goodness, it happened before I left, since I was really sick.

Hang in there, HunkyD! 

Love,

Leggyj

KKing

Glad to hear from some of you.   Hope everyone is doing alright.   I think of all of you. 

Well, I turn 49 tomorrow, glad to celebrate another birthday.   The weather here is very hot,  the humidity is as high as 40.   I am spending the day grocery shopping, plant shopping.  I always like to buy a different plant for myself for my birthday.  Something about watching it grow and flower feels good.  

Leggy...hope you get to go on your trip to Montana.

Take care all.

Bonnie02

Hi Everyone - or should I say where is everyone, nobody seems to be on here lately. Nothing exciting happening with me these days. Well just a quick hello to anyone that is reading any of these messages.

Bonnie

Kellke

I hear you Bonnie.  I have not been on as much although sometimes I quickly check to see if anyone from this group posts.  I am not sure if I am sick of the boards or just sick of being sick.Sometimes it is sad to see who is no longer posting  

I have been having good and bad days.  Mostly I still feel lucky to be able to do what I want.  I finished my SRS radiation and partial brain radiation.  Then last week at my one month visit they said there were more spots in all of my brain so I am going back this week for more SRS.  Blah!

Here is a question for everyone to give their opinion on... I am sick of talking about being sick and I also hate when people see me and want an on the fly answer about how i REALLY am.  That is not easy to answer plus I don't want to scare my daughter or have all this attention focused on my cancer rather than me.  I am trying to come up with a stock answer along the lines of "I have decided to stop talking about my health but I appreciate your concern" I can't think of anything that doesn't sound like a press release but there are so many ups and downs I really don't want to talk about it when I am at ballgames or playdates.  Any ideas?  

Kelly

Bonnie02

Hi Kelly,

That is not an easy answer, although I do understand what you mean. You may have to get just a little rude and say I am here to talk about the game and not my health thank you.  Some people just need you to be a little strict or they won't give up and of course each person thinks well she will tell me and maybe not the rest of the world and that is so not true.  If you feel like talking about what is going on with your health I am sure you have certain people that you will talk to and of course there is always or usually always someone on here that will listen.

You take good care of yourself and give lots of love to your family.

Bonnie

LeggyJ

Dear Kelly, I just say "I'm fine" and leave it at that.  Most people don't want to know anything anyway, just change the subject, real quick and ask about them...that usually does it.  Don't forget, though that we are always here for each other. 

Love to all of you,

Leggy 

hunkydory

Hi girls...just wanted to stop in and say hi.  I have been struggling trying to find a chemo.  It really sucks.  I have been in and out of the hospital.  I am guilty Bonnie of not getting on here.  I will try and be better cause I do miss having some company.  I know some of you are free and clear of the beast and maybe don't want to hear me whine about trts, etc. though.  Leggy, are you moving?  Hope you find a nice place.  Happy B-Lated B-Day Miss King.  You young little chook!  Kelly, I tell people I don't want to talk about it right up front.  That usually stops them.  Don't wait around and hope they just won't start talking about it because %99 of them do.  Sandy, hope your chemo is going along ok.  Hey, rememer all the medicine we all used to take?  My pill bottles are back and it is time for me to take some.  I will try and keep up a little better here.  I am still waiting on disability from work.  No paycheck and high medical bills.  I should meet my catastrophic soon though.  I heard it might be 5 months before I see some disability from work.  Well, later gals....HD 

LeggyJ

Hi all!  Nothing new here really, we still haven't sold our house, and have had few lookers, so I'm not moving anytime soon. HD, I don't know where you live, but I had to wait 7wks before I could apply for disability from work, and then it was always a hassle with the paperwork.  As if its not bad enough dealing with cancer, then you have to worry about paying the bills...Please don't worry about venting, whining, or bitching, I'll be here.  I really love you girls!

Love,

Jan

SanDeeLou

Hello ladies

I don't really have good, bad lousy or I don't want to do this anymore days, mine seem to be broken down into mornings, afternoons, evenings, and nights.  WTH.  I think that instead of telling people "I'm fine" to just say something like, if more people had it more people would understand how you feel and not ask so many stupid questions.  Guess i'm having a lousy evening.

I asked my onc how long I would expect to be on chemo because of what I have read Stage 4 equals 12 months of chemo.  She said sometime stage 4 gets a break during the twelve months and picks up to continue it so it ends up being over a year. JOY JOY JOY.

Gee Bonnie I didn't know you had to be able to draw a circle or a straight line.   I mainly use the watercolor pencils and just outline the schetch of a picture of somesorts and fill it in like we did as children in a coloring book, wet a brush and you have a watercolor.  I really enjoy doing cracker houses and old barns in oils. 

Everybody enjoy your and weekend.  I have bloodwork in the am for tum or markers.  Well post and let you all know the results.

Love ya

Sandy

LeggyJ

This time it isn't my health, but it's my mom's.  A few days ago, she said had a lot of pain in her hip.  She had two hip replacements, so I brushed it off a bit after I told her to go to the doctor, and she told me she would go after her appointment to get the oil changed on her car....PRIORITIES.  Then I found her in the living room on the floor, and she couldn't get up. She then told me to call an ambulance, so off she goes to hospital, only to find her hip replacement broke, and so did a bone. She's been waiting on parts, and will have an operation tomorrow.  Funny how I'm now going to end up taking care of the women, who never took care of me, but I have to step up.  Oh well, at least I have the house to myself for a few days.  The high light of my day was going to In and Out Burger...Yummy cheese burger, fries, and a chocolate shake...waist line explosion.

Take care,

Leggyj

KKing

Leggy  how is your mom doing?   Hope the operation went well.

Sandy D, how are you doing now.

Gee HunkyD,   I hope thinks sort out for you.  Always know we are here for you.

Kelly  How are you doing?

Bonnie  good to hear from you.

I am on a two week holiday and starting the second week now.  We are driving to the finger lakes in New York.  I here it is very nice there.  Will let you know.

Thinking of you all.

Karen xo

dsub

I was diagnosed in Feb. 2008. I too have been trying to watch for posts from anyone in the 2008 time area. I don't know the names here but I didn't before either. I try to look at Breast Cancer org when I can. There so much information here and I learn a little each time I visit. I'm paranoid on reoccurance, can't help it. I come here to calm my fears. As you can see I'm staged IIb, grade 3. With my auto immune disease I feel my chances for reoccurance are high. Again paronia creeps in. I want to thank you ladies for your insight and information that our oncs don't feel the need to tell us. Mine says I'm cured. Well wth, why is my memory and vocabulary in the state it's in? Sorry for bumping in. Can't talk to my kids. They freak or nonchalantly write it off as mom is looney.

Bonnie02

Hi dsub

I think that it will always be in the back of your mind (will it come back) - I know I feel like that lots of times although everything seems to be okay. I have become diabetic in the last little while and I still ache like crazy, especially on the side where the mastectomy was done. I feel like if I complain they will think I shouldn't be complaining about such little things. But you can not help feeling like what if........ That is why this place is so important to come and vent your feelings because sometimes I feel like you girls  are the only ones that understand.  There are some of you that have had the cancer return and I feel real bad about that and wish I could help, but of course that does not seem possible.

A great big hello and a big super hug for everyone on here - the old stand-byes and the newer ones also.

Love you guys

Bonnie

Kellke

  Still here,  trying to walk every day but otherwise not much exciting news.  My back hurts so much every day and sometimes I am tired of taking so much medicine. Then I realize that I am lucky to be here to take the medicine so I should count my blessings.  I just need a reminder every few days

Any knitters here?  I think I am going to try learning with my daughter.  It is good for your brain to learn something new so my brilliant plan is to combat chemo and radiation brain by the power of knitting!   We'll see how this goes...

LeggyJ

Hi Girls!  My Mom had her hip replacement, and she's now in a rehab.home until she gets on her feet.  Nothing new here, I'm just enjoying some time to myself. I'm bad.  But it's nice having the house to myself.....well with Wolfie, who is a full time job.

Hey KKing, I don't remember you telling us how your trip to Scotland was, or did I forget.  Hope your doing as well as possible, HunkyD, and Kelly. Bonnie it's nice to here from you too. Welcome to you dsub.

Love to all,

Leggy

Bonnie02

Kelly, I know how to knit if I can help in any way, but one of the best places to go is youtube and put knitting instructions in the search area and there is lots of information, right from casting on your stitches to making socks or whatever.

Wish you good luck, but I think you will enjoy it.

Hi to everyone else - but I must go now.

KKing

Hello Ladies,

Hope everyone is feeling alright.  I agree with you, it is always there, if and when it may come back.   I think there is always something that can work to fight this bugger.   It is nice to come here and talk to all of you,  I feel now that I get a blank stare if I talk about how I feel.   Is it that family and friends figure that your okay so there is nothing to discuss???   

Well  I am back to work after two week break.  I must say, the finger lakes in New York were great.   What a beautiful area.    Take care ladies.

Karen   xoxo

SanDeeLou

Hey Ladies

My latest bloodwork indicates that one of my tumor markers has again decreased by 115 points and the other one by 99 points.  My Onc and myself are very happy with this drop.  I have a PET scan scheduled for the 15 of August.  Otherwise I've had a couple of "good weeks" no upset stomach YEA!!!!!  still have the leg pains.  My legs get cold and then hurt, only the top of the front of my legs hip to ankle.  Never knew sweat pants could feel so good in Florida in the summer.  My hands are almost always numb now.  I did have an infection in the form of an absess that in2 days time grew from the size of the end of your thumb to the size of a peach(not small or medium).  The doc lanced it Friday before last and apparently it the  base for me being so sick.  Still on antibiotic for it.  Hope everyone is well.

LOL

Sandy

LeggyJ

Hi, my computer crashed, so I had to go buy a new tower, and its nice to have a little more speed, my old one was getting so slow, I wanted to throw it out the window...my window is safe.  Glad to hear your doing better Sandy, we all need a little good news.

KKing

Good news Sandy.   Hope they keep on the decline.

Leggy, I think computers have a certain life time and then thats it.  We have had to buy a couple of them over the years.

Hope all the Junies are  A-okay.

LeggyJ

It must be that time of year, I have an appointment with my Onc. in Sept. followed the next month with a breast exam by my surgeon's nurse, my boob hurts just thinking about it....

Kellke

I know I will miss the summer heat when it is gone but I am roasting here in Colorado.  The mornings and evenings are cooling off so summer will be gone before we know it and I will be bundled up and complaining about the heat.  I wish I could be someone that doesn't complain but I can't imagine that. 

I had to stop my Tykerb as my liver was not functioning properly.  In the last couple weeks I can really feel the growth from all the skin nodules on my chest and back.  Hopefully next week when I see the oncologist I can start something that will work on me.  I am not having luck with herceptin, tykerb. or a combo of them.  

Plus one last complaint~ the hair on the back of my head is not growing back at all from the partial brain radiation.  I wonder if it will be permanent?  

On an up note, I still haven't learnedknitting but my daughter taught me to crochet.  I can make a small green square that can't be used for anything      Kelly