Has anyone started a forum for Chemo in Dec 2008?

swest

Thank for the well wishes Simvog and Caroline! 

Simvog - Glad to hear about the clean colonscopy (spelling?)!  Congrats!  One hurdle down.  I have my first Gyno apt. this month too.  Yuck!  I need to ask him about omph.  Not sure if it is necessary but I'm gonna ask.

Great to hear from everyone!  Have a great weekend!

havehope

bump

Texas357

Simvog, congrats on the colonoscopy. Mine's next summer.

I've always been something of a healthy food nut, but not fanatical. I'm now even more careful, including not heating food in plastic in the microwave. I use glass instead. Also, I've switched to Truvia and agave nectar for sweeteners because they don't raise insulin levels. Having insulin regulated has been shown to be a cancer deterrant.

EleanorJ

Ahh, we discovered Agave nectar on our camping trip, we were looking for syrup that didn't need to be refrigerated but yet not be loads of corn syrup! It's great!

I went to visit my MIL's friend in the hospital yesterday, she's at Hopkins. Turns out she has lung cancer but there's nothing in the lung, it's located in between both lungs and wrapped around her oesaphagus & trachya (I'm sure these 2 are mispelled). With the location of the tumor, they can't operate and remove the tumor because it's attached to essential organs. Can't remember the exact name of it, it's small cell something carcinoma. She's stage 3b, no lymph nodes & no mets. The doctors did tell her they were going to cure her, but she's in for a ride. She has a port & feeding tube installed on Monday, she can barely eat because of the pain. She's starting radiation today for 6-7 weeks and starts chemo next Tuesday. Again, can't remember the names, it's different than with BC but it's some nasty one and she will be very sick from it. With that said, she's doing great and is very optomistic through all this. Cancer sucks!

As far as my tailbone goes, I'm starting to be a little worried. I had an x-ray done this morning, and the tech said it's perfect, nothing wrong with my tailbone and to go ahead with the MRI. I was hoping it had been misplaced somehow. Getting the MRI with & without contrast next Wed, they're obviously very fast at getting the results and hopefully I will hear something before next weekend. Here's my update.

Simvog, congrats on the clean colonoscopy.

Now off to lunch, I'm starving

Bold

Cebula: I want you to know that I am thinking about you. I am still sure that you are going to be just fine and the pain that you are feeling in your tail bone is acute and not bone. I am still sticking to that story!!! I am saying some prayers to support that diagnosis.

UGG I have to get a colonoscopy too. Is it just horrible? I do not want to drink that CR#P and then do just that all day. Thank god you only have to do it every five years. I am going to get a endoscopy at the same time. Bookends. I want to get my varicose veins done this year as well, as I am of course have met my maximum out of pocket for the year. I am losing weight and growing hair. Looking forward to a healthy long life!!!!

Sending good thoughts to all my sistahs!!!!

havehope

Hi everyone!

I hope everybody is ok. I am getting closer to the surgery day. Friday I go for the blood work. I can't wait to be done with it! One part of me cries for loosing my boobs the other one is happy to lose them. I just hope is worth it. But I will never know. Sorry, I am not having a good day.  

busqueen

Hi Simvog.

I'm sorry you're having a bad day, and I wish I had some magic words or a magic wand to make it all better.:-)  I know I'm just so tired of dealing with all this, and some days seem to weigh down on us more than others.  I just keep trying to remind myself that I should be grateful that I'm still here to be whiney!:-)  Hang in there, at least you know more now what to expect with this surgery.  Sending reassuring thoughts your way........

Texas357

Hang in there Simvog. While I still had a few niggling doubts,I experienced an incredible peace of mind after the surgery. I was far more relaxed throughout the entire procedure because I'd already been there before. The drains weren't any easier the 2nd time around, but it was empowering to pull one of my own drains this time.

I didn't realize I had any doubts until after I got the path report.Then I sobbed like a baby, because the surgeon was rejoicing because he felt I'd made an excellent decision.

Make a list of your reasons for doing this. Make sure you're at peace with the decision. I'll be keeping you in my prayers. PM me if you want.

Bold

My prayers and thoughts are with you too. I know that you will do the very best for you!!! We do not have a crystal ball to know. We do have a great resolve to live!!! If you have gotten approval from your doctors and they are on the same page as you that should help empower you.

I know it is hard to lose something so close to our hearts (get it) but if it helps you gain confidence in your health well then.......

All my best healing and calming to you!

Mandy1313

Simvog,

Wishing you the best. You are in my heart.

Mandy

swest

Simvog - We are all here cheering for you!  I hope you are at peace with your decision.  Let us know how you are doing.

Caroline - How are you feeling these days?  Did you ever find out what was going on with your tail bone?

Bold - How is the fires?  Are you getting any relief from the smoke?

Texas - How are you?

Busqueen - Did you have your expanders placed?  (am I remembering right?)  How are you doing?

I am doing good.  Working hard.  I don't have as much time to be on the computer so I've been reading a lot and not posting much.  I hope that everyone is doing great!

Texas357

Swest, I'm still trying to get my energy back on track but otherwise doing great. Doing all the research now on the exchange. It's nice to focus on something more positive!

lovemyfamilysomuch

Hi everybody! I am still here, back to work and busy, but reading and supporting! in sisterhood, xo

(used to be Dr. Decker)

EleanorJ

Simvog Good luck with the surgery

Swest Thanks for checking on me, I was just coming here to post about it! X-Ray was clear last week, I had the MRI done on wednesday and NO METS Still don't know what's wrong, my doctor didn't sign off my papers yet but the girl at the office read to me what the report said. I called yesterday and they wouldn't tell me anything so I started being nervous about, so called first thing this morning, and the first part said no signs of metastatic disease.. phew.. then medical jargon saying something about a small hernia and fluid somewhere, so they did find something (for once! usually I get those tests and they don't find anything wrong with me!) but I'll know later when the dr explains it to them to call me back. Quite relieved right now

Texas357

The good news about finding stuff like that is that it's most likely fixable! Hooray and a big whew!

swest

Oh, I am so happy for you Caroline!  When you do see him, let us know what he did find.

HAPPY DANCE!!!!!

havehope

Thank you everyone for the kind words. I send you many hugs!

Caroline, I am so happy for you!

Will report back after surgery.

Mandy1313

Cebula:  Great news!!!! Now that you know what it is, maybe you can get some help with that back pain. But what a relief it must've been to get your good results. 

Many hugs to all.

Mandy

EleanorJ

Thanks everyone, it was such a relief. Turns out I have a small hernia and small arthritis. More PT for the hernia. Since I haven't started it for my lymphedema yet, I'll try finding a place that can take care of both in one visit for one copay I think it's a herniated disk? Could that be a bad number chemo played on me??? I'm just wondering how it happened!

lovemyfamilysomuch

great news Cebula.   Sorry you are in pain, but so happy to hear that it is not what you feared.  In sisterhood, xo

swest

Caroline - I'm not sure if it is attributed to chemo but I blame EVERYTHING on CHEMO!  I hope you get some relief!

busqueen

Hi Everybody.

Swest, thanks for remembering so much and checking up on us!:-)  I feel like we're a bunch of little chicks running around in different directions, trying to get our lives "back," and once in a while, someone has to play mama chicken and pull us all back together.:-)  {yes, obviously I have too much time to think up ridiculous things while driving the bus......}

Anyways....I'm still in the midst of reconstruction, and it still sucks.  Wow.  I'm starting to think that boobs are seriously overrated.

I had an interview today for a different position at the transit company I work for.  Driving has been very stressful physically and mentally, and it makes me say bad words. Sigh.

Cebula, I'm so glad things worked out the way they did.  A hernia and arthritis isn't fun stuff either, but we know its a thousand times better than mets!  Hows school going with your boys?

Happy thoughts for everyone!:-)

Texas357

I'm STILL waiting for eyebrows ladies! My eyelashes are about half the length they were before, but at least they are there!

Busqueen: I just got my last fill of my TEs, and will have my exchange in a few months. Right now they feel like two unripe cantaloupes on my chest: hard!!!!!

Even though life is returning to normal, and I'm feeling more like myself every day, I'm still wondering when the worry goes away. With Stage 3, I just can't lose the feeling that it ain't over for me. I know this is a normal feeling.

EleanorJ

Busqueen, look at that hair! You look great

busqueen

Thanks, Cebula.:-)  I guess I got lucky with the hair thing, which is nice because I got very UNlucky with the weight gain thing....sigh.  But if one more person tries to touch my hair, I swear I will not be responsible for my actions!!

Had a 3 month check up with my onc today.  He said everything looked ok, except he thinks I'm severely depressed and prescribed a different anti-depressant to try.  I have been incredibly stressed and feeling down, and unfortunately my drug of choice is mcdonalds.  Not a good place to be.

Texas357, how much did you get filled in your TEs?  I had that appointment today as well, on the left side I'm up to 900 and at 600 on the right. {that side was bigger to start with}  I told the doctor he was trying to make mountains out of molehills.:-)

Mandy1313

I had my first mammography since BC today.  I am teary eyed with relief and happy to say that the doctor said it was "normal."

Mandy

Texas357

Busqueen: I'm not that big, I've got 450 ccs total in the prophylactic side, and I'm not sure how much on the radiated side but I know it's more because it contracted during radiation. I was a 34C prior to all of this, and that's where I wanted to end up after the reconstruction is through.

I haven't measured, but I'm guessing I'm around a 36C.

lovemyfamilysomuch

Yay Mandy!!! In sisterhood, xo

swest

Fantastic Mandy!!!!!!!!!  That has to be a relief!  Now EXHALE!

EleanorJ

busqueen, you're too funny. The weight is getting to me as well. I finally lost the first 10 lbs, so much more to go. My son can't let go of my hair either, he keeps touching it and messes them up.. haha, but yeah, everytime I see someone they ALL say "Look at your hair it's growing"

Mandy FANTASTIC! I get mine in a month, little nervous over it even though I'm sure it will be normal. Last year's mammo is what started it all so it's normal we're all freaked out about the first one after.

Well Divas, GREAT NEWS! We're buying a house When we moved back home last year, we rented a townhouse, not for us, lack of yard, but we wanted to make sure where we'd be before buying again. I've kept my eyes open since I finished my treatment and we just couldn't afford anything until the perfect house came up on the market. It's a pre-foreclusure so we're getting a GREAT deal, well below market price. Well, the bank officially accepted our offer today, we're closing in a month, then I have 2 weeks to get in there, clean it & paint it while the kids are in school then we move and they'll have a back yard again. They're missing the one they had before.

There is life after cancer and GREAT things happen after cancer, we all just need to make it past that tunnel We're excited, can't you all tell