Anyone starting chemo in Aug. 08?

Anonymous

Hi ladies.. Havent been on for a while. soon as i recovered from my last chemo in nov. i was busy. i hope everyone is doing well. i am haveing surgery on the 22nd. pray everyone had a happy holiday season.

Anonymous

Lashon, Good to see you again! I finished chemo on 12/17/08 and am having surgery on 1/20/09. Had my pre-op visits and tests this week.

You will be in my prayers on the 22nd!

Bette 

g94u67

Happy Friday everyone,

Had Taxotere TX#6 today. Chatted my motormouth away to everyone. It was a good sesson and so far no SE'S. I told everyone I'm bringing a cake and margaritas for my final TX! Can't wait.

 Thank you all for the kind B-Day wishes. It was nice. I'm going to really celebrate each one now.

Stacey: Loved to hear the kids said to go topless.  Kids are honest so you must look terrific.

Thanks Gail.  I can't wait to meet up w/ my CA sisters.  We're going to have a blast!

OMG Roya:  We're Capricorn and TN twins! Incredible.  I hope you had a wonderful and blessed B-day too. Sorry to hear your having nerve pain. I hope that med works for you. Hang in there.

Deidre: I'm sure your hair is growing, just super slow.  (I have a lot). It's also gray & black. Today a lady next to me said all her new gray is what came out. It looked good on her.

Congratulations Allibug on finishing your ENTIRE TX!  Way to go!!  Wishing you good health and a cancer FREE future.

Keeping you both in prayer Corrine & Bette during your surgeries.

MamaKaren: I'm sorry to hear about your swelling and pain. I hope that bracelet does the trick. My Doc told me today, sometimes the nerve damage is permanent.  Hopefully not. 

Misty: Too funny about your about your implants showing up on the ultrasound.  I guess it's so common now. You're going to look great in a bikini.

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend.

Love, Jeannine

DesertRider

Misty, Thanks so much for the words of wisdom from your experience. I was all of a sudden thinking maybe I made a mistake, but now feel like it will be fine. So many things to be aware of! I'll let you know how it goes. 

Thanks,

Gail 

Misty1

Lashon-welcome back!! We have missed you. So glad to hear that you are doing well!!

~Misty

lisahugs1

Ohhhh boy,

anybody have sprint UGHHHH.  We finally were able to switch to verizone.  I am sooooo happy today.  And guess what,,,I talked with the plastic surgery dept (couldn't believe they have a "dept")  and they said I should be able to get my implants  via:expanders.  Oh what a relief for me.   God is sooooo good   I have made a couple consults for the end of Feb.  I am going to be patient, and allow God to guide me.  He really is taking care of it,,I need to back off and let Him

Babies first tooth is coming in. She's still so sweet.  Making loud nosies to cope,,,just like her mommie LOL,,,but hasn't lost her great attitude LOL.

I am so happy to hear that  we are all pushing along. Can you believe its been 6 months.  I can't wait for new FOOBS   YEYYYYYYY

Anonymous

Hello ladies!

Trying to keep my mind off the surgery coming up by spending the day addressing wedding invitations. Taking a break to rest my fingers, which are still pins and needles. My handwriting is not as elegant as I would like, but legible enough for the USPS, I hope.

My hair is growing very slowly except for a few wild white hairs which are sticking straight up, about 1' long!

I had another panic attack this morning thinking about surgery. Can't seem to calm down and accept that for the cancer to be gone, my breast has to go as well. Tom and I were cuddling yesterday, and he was resting his head on my chest and I started thinking that in less than two weeks half of it won't be there. I definitely have had too much time to think about this.

Time for a cup of something warm and a rest for the fingers.

A great Saturday to all. It is snowing here, so I will stay in.

Bette 

Hood1980

Lashon so good to hear from you!  Please bring us up to date on how you are doing! 

Lisahugs what a beautiful baby you have been blessed with!  Do you have a facebbok page with more pictures?  Stacy got me started on Facebook & I'm trying to learn how to use it.  It's a good way to share photos with friends & family.

Bette - I wish we were getting snow!  It's rain down here in MD.  PA gets all the snow!  Take care! Joyce

Anonymous

Joyce, You are really far south in MD. No wonder it is raining! Tom lives 1.5 hours north of me in PA, and he reports 8" of snow so far, which is a lot more than we got in West Chester.

It was a good excuse for me to stay in and finish addressing the outside envelopes of my invitations. Now I have a lot of folding and enclosing to do. Inviting people to a wedding is labor-intensive! At least it kept my mind off my surgery for a time.

I think I found a dress on the Davids Bridal website today. It is asymmetrical, just like I am going to be, and I'm thinking it would downplay my left side. It is style F23051 if anyone wants to look and offer an opinion. It is a deep lilac color, which is just what I was looking for.

Bette 

DFOnt

Bette, the dress is beautiful.  Having already had a mastectomy, though, I would be concerned about the open-ness.  Everybody's body is different, and depending on the surgery, the fit of the dress, bra etc. I now some v-neck tops I have are a little too open and I seem to be a little more concave on the side of my surgery, especially if I lean over or something.  Maybe I had more removed than you will have though. I suppose you could always use double sided tape to hold it in place, I think that's what models do!

Hope you're surgery goes well and you become more comfortable with it.  I really didn't have much of a problem with it, but I had it soon after I was diagnosed so didn't have too much time to think about it, and it was before chemo so I just wanted the cancer out of my body!  

Anonymous

Deirdre,

I guess what I have to remember is that I also want the cancer out of my body. Although the chemo shrank the tumor, it didn't make it disappear, and I have IBC, so the skin is involved as well.

 Even though I had an SNB last summer, they are still going to check and perhaps remove some of my lymph nodes, and a lot of tissue has to be removed, so I do not know what I will look like. That is why I am just looking for a dress right now. I will not try on and buy until about a month after surgery when I am feeling better.

Thanks for looking at the dress and giving me your input. The double-sided tape idea might work! I guess it all depends how the dress looks on me. I can keep looking.

Bette 

dlb823

Hi, Bette ~  Beautiful dress!  I hope you will be able to wear it if it's the one you decide on.

Lashon ~  I was both happy and relieved to see your post.  I hope the chemo has shrunk your tumor significantly.  Are you having a mastectomy?  Please keep us posted on your progress.

Joyce ~  I love your new avatar!  You look so pretty!  Your picture makes me think there's a beauty of strength in women who have been through the ordeal of bc, and I think it really shows in your photo.

I've got one week of rads under my belt, and 4-1/2 weeks to go.  So far, it's been a breeze compared to chemo.  I hope those of you who are further along in this step are continuing to do well and not having any SEs.

Like others here, I often think of Kimberlynn, and pray she's doing okay.  I also think about some of the other women who started this journey with us, but dropped off the board early on.  If they're still reading, I hope they'd pop back in and let us know how they're doing. 

Have a great week, everyone ~   Deanna 

Anonymous

I am having another pre-mastectomy panic attack. I want the cancer to be gone, but just can't seem to stop grieving the loss of my breast. Tom is at work, and I am alone. I have spent hours in bed today, moaning and crying out to God. I know that I will never know why I got BC, but that is exactly what I am crying out. Why, God, why?

Bette 

dlb823

Bette ~  You have been such a trooper through a really rough time with your chemo, and I know you will get through your surgery too.  We've all had days like you're having today. You just have to allow yourself to grieve as a part of the process.  It's not fair that any of us got bc, but you just have to let go of what you can't control or change, and focus on ridding your body of the bc.  I've just PM'd you, too ~ Deanna

lisahugs1

Hello Ladies ,

Bette I am very familiar with anxiety attacks and panc attacks,. Especially after coming off alcohol and drugs years ago.  So I want to tell you that when they start occuring the best thing to do is allow your self to say what ever is going on in your head,  no matter how crazy it may sound to you.  You have to talk to an actual person. Call  Tom or someone you trust. Those are not fun and stem from allowing too much stuff to build up in your mind.  Men really try to help with stuff like that but from alot of experience a women may better assist with helping you thru them.  I feel for you because thats the being out of control feeling.   God's NOT going to let you doen Bette.  He has you in His arms right now and is holding you close to Him. He wants you to allow Him to guide you thru this.  Where there is faith there is no fear.

Its helps being reminded that breasts really are just fat hanging there.  And they can be redone,,and made HEALTHY again

I can tell you that the loss of my INFECTED breast,,and then deciding to have the other removed was not all that difficult for me.  I am boobless and  happy that dreaded disease is GONE, in Jesus name.  I grieved in the shower and let them go. I didn't look at them again.  They really didn't look that pretty anymore anyways after knowing the one held poison.

Also, please nobody use Neosporine on their radiated skin LOL.  I was told I am not wounded LOL.  I was given   Lidocaine Hydrochloride Jelly 2%,,,,and am pcking up a 5% tonight.  My skin is literally  carred under my arm pit     BUT  I can say I have peace about it now.  I have pain meds and  am doing ok.

Joyce-thankyou.  My baby has 2 teeth coming in now. Its precious.

Lots of love, Lisa

DesertRider

Hi Everyone,

Bette, I know the mastectomy is hard to deal with - I had it first before the chemo and it went easier for me compared to the chemo journey. Tomorrow I get the exchange surgery and I look at it as a good finish to the last few months. And a new beginning of health in body and mind. Hang in there!

Lisa, I'm celebrating the 2 new teeth - what a wonderful way to enjoy watching life growing at it's best! And your hair looks a lot like mine - feels like a lot to me now although mine is only 1/2 inch!

Love to all,

Gail 

Roya

Gail, I have had some experience with implants.  I had some placed years ago.  I did have some loss of sensation which lasted for several months.  The nerves have a way of reconnecting but it does take time.  My  feeling eventually returned fully.

When I had the lumpectomy, they removed both my implants. The docs told me that implants were contraindicated with radiation therapy so they had to go.  I have decided not to have my implants replaced but since I am entitled by my private insurance to have some kind of reconstruction,  my plastic surgeon will do a bilateral  breast lift one year from my last dose of radiation.  Here in France there is universal health for everyone but my family also has private insurance since we are expats.

I am glad to share any information that I can with you regarding implants. 

dlb823

Lisa ~  Hope I'm not reading that right... Did you say your skin is literally charred (carred?) under your armpit???!!!  Was that from using Neosporine?  That sounds awful!  Did that happen just because you used something you shouldn't have on your skin?    Deanna

Anonymous

Thanks for all the encouragement on my down day!

Today I woke up feeling better, and got a lot done, including purchasing a sexy red satin negligee for our wedding night. It is hidden from Tom, but I will get it out from time to time to look at and remind me that our spring wedding is coming! I felt really sexy when I tried it on.

Tonight I will do some more folding, enclosing and stuffing of wedding invitations. I am about 1/3 done.

Radiation is something I have to arrange after the surgery and the final pathology report. I hope it will be easier than what I have been through so far.

Bette 

dlb823

Gail ~  I just left a message on your CWT phone, but in case you don't see it but maybe check in here tonight, I just wanted to tell you that I'll be thinking about you tomorrow.  I'm sure your surgery will go beautifully; I know you're in excellent hands!  But I wanted you to know that I will be praying for you, as well as looking for a post from you very soon, letting us all know how it went ~ Deanna  

mamakaren

Gail, I'm gonna pray for you and we'll just leave in the hands of the greatest Doctor of all (Lord) You will be fine just trust in him. I know it's easier said than done. I believe that you will come out with flying colors.

Misty1

Good luck today, Gail!!!  Let us know how it goes.

~Misty

Anonymous

HI Ladies.. well i am getting ready to have a double mastectomy on jan 22.. not looking forward to being put to sleep for 3 hours but i am ready to have this part of my life done with. then it will be off to radiation.. i have a good feeling about things.. i havent had any panic attacks about the surgery or anything.. just dont want them to put the tube down in me.. but i guess thats part of the surgery... I have a little fuzz on my head.. i hope my hair dont come back white.. lol.. i am on tamofin right now.. we are at 100% that i want be able to have children and i am not even mad about it anymore.. i just feel like after having to do chemo i can do anything.. i am going to try and post when i can after my surgery. maybe i can have my mom do it for me.. lol.. (she knows nothing about computers.. lol) but you ladies stay blessed.. bette you will be in my prayers. your surgery will be smooth..

Tonya36

Hello everyone.  I know I have been gone awhile but I had to take a break.  Even though I haven't posted have continued to read and keep up with everyone.  It seems like you are all moving right along and that is wonderful.  I finished my last Taxol on 12/16.  It was amazing how much the pre meds helped because the next week when chemo day came and went without chemo....well the side effects really kicked in.  My joints and muscles feel like I am 80 years old.  The blisters on my hands got worse and so on and so on.  Things are starting to calm down now.  I still have muscle and joint pain but most of the other things are subsiding.  I had to take a break from cancer talk during the holidays.  I know that was selfish but I was having a hard time dealing with chemo being over.  Its like they just throw you out into the real world again and you don't even know if you are better because all he is going to do is bloodwork.  I am really scared.  Anyway I had a wonderful holiday.  My best friend, Steve, that has been staying with me during all this has turned into a wonderful boyfriend.  Yes...boyfriend.  Thats a little scary too because he is my best friend in the world but I figure God brought us together for a reason and if he can tell me he loves me through all this mess well...then maybe its real.  We had Christmas with our families then he took me on a weekend getaway to a chalet in the mountains for my birthday (Dec 27).  We had a wonderful time.  He has been off for the past month and we have spent everyday together.  It has been WONDERFUL.  I had an ugly divorce about 3 years ago which included infedelilty with a 19 year old girl.  Quite honestly I never thought I would feel love again.  I surely never thought I would feel this kind of love.  God is Great.  He allowed me to fall in love with my best friend.  Okay enough babbling.  I just wanted you all to know what I have been up to.  I have thought about you and I have read all the posts to keep up.  I am glad everyone seems to be doing so well.  I will be around more often now.  Its time to get back to reality.  I hope you all have a wonderful day.

God Bless,

Tonya

Hood1980

O Tonya!  It sounds all so romantic!  Things do happen for a reason & it's so rewarding to have a good one after bc!

dlb823

Tonya ~  I was thrilled to read your post.  I couldn't be happier for you!   Maybe Bette's won't be the only future wedding in this group?!

Lashon ~  You hit the nail on the head when you said, "..i just feel like after having to do chemo i can do anything.."  How true!  And I'm sure your surgery will go just fine. 

Well, I am just the tiniest bit worried about an MRI I'm having in a few hours on my lower right leg.  The sometimes severe pain that started towards the end of chemo hasn't gone away yet, and my rad onc suggested doing an MRI.  Needless to say, I'm a little freaked out about it, although I feel certain whatever it is is related to the Taxotere.  I guess it's good to get it checked out, but it's hard not to be a bit alarmed at the thought that she wants to check it.  I wasn't really worried until this afternoon, but I must admit I'm getting a bit scared now, thinking about it...      Deanna

lisahugs1

No so sorry,,,,my skin is so burned under my arm that it is blistered and almost black (very dark).  But they say its actually normal and looking good.   I am like OK ????

The neosprine didn't do anything.  It was more that its not a wound, and an antibiotic ointment is not at all nessecary.  Ver few things are allowed over the rsdiated area.   The lidocain hydrochloride works very well for me,,,,,it numbs it.

But I will put a pic so you can see.

Anyways,,,I feel like poop today,,,only 5 more.  God bless everyone.

lisahugs1

Maybe I am over reacting about it looking black,,,but the skin thats pealing off is very dark.  It hurts.  I really thought I would do better than this   Thats all.

mamakaren

Deanna, I'm sure that it's just the Taxotere. That stuff is hard on us but it's a blessing that they have found all these drugs that help us so much. I know that you are very worried but i'm sure your gonna be fine. I'll say a prayer for you. Please keep me posted what happens.

Tonya, I couldn't be more thrilled for you! Ohhh girl you are gonna fly threw this journey so much faster because when a person is in love they can conquer anything. Especially when it's new love it's so great!

Today my dad called me and said that he broke his arm when he fell at work. I jumped up and took him to the doc and they say he needs surgery. So until Friday he will get surgery, I was so nervous and scared for my dad. He is everything to me I love him so much and just the thought of anything happening to him scares me. A few years ago they told me my dad had colon cancer and i cried myself to sleep every night. I just remember praying to God with all my heart, I was praying so deep that i didn't even think of my family and asked God to please give me the cancer. A few weeks later they told him that he didn't have cancer and it was a mistake. (God works in mysterious ways) and now here i am with breast cancer! That's why i never ask "God why me? I know why. I've just been praying that God hears me and grants my prayer that I am cancer free! Just wanted to share this with my BC family.   Karen

DesertRider

Hi Everyone,

Yea! I'm through the exchange and implant surgery and it went fine. Hugs to Misty & Karen and all of you who thought of me  - I really felt your support so much. The new breast looks great and the implant in the "good" one is awesome! The anesthetic had me throwing up for 12 hours after but pain not too bad - my PS said "you're really tough"! If he only knew what chemo prepares you for!!

Deanna, please let me know what happens with the MRI. I, too, know the Taxotere can do a lot to us. Hang in there and find out all you can.   

Lashon, good to hear from you again!

 Love, Gail