Has anyone started a forum for Chemo in Dec 2008?

CindaD

WooHoo Firni....hope your first day was a good one!  December seems to be flying by, every once in a while I take time to stop and think about what I was doing and feeling last year and how great it is to be celebrating and healthy this year! 

Enjoy everyday and live in the moment Divas!

Cinda

swest

It has been a long time since I've been on line.  Great to hear all the good news Firni!  How did your revision go?

I too am blessed!

Sonia

Firni

Thanks for all the job congrats.  It's really hard for me to get on line now.  I thought my stamina was pretty much back to normal but now I know better.  I'm totally exhausted working full time.  I also had no idea what a mess that Alz. building is.  So not in compliance with the Health Dept.  So many things to fix and not nearly enough time to get to it.  One step at a time.  I did learn patience in this past 1 1/2 years, but now I have to learn to practice it at work.

Sonia, my revision went great.  I got what I wanted.  I got what my old PS said he couldn't do.  Ha.  I knew I could be bigger and lower.  I had nipples done on 12-10.  I had my new PS who usually does the gortex "bullets" do flap recon for me.  The nips turned out great.  I'm really pleased.  All that's left now is the tattoos and I'll probably wait a while now to do that.  

We also adopted a 12 year old sheltie on 12-10.  My neighbor died on Thanksgiving morning and left her behind.  The family didn't know what to do with her as none of them could take her.  So we did.  My 2 year old poodle mix is learning to calm down and the sheltie is getting a little spring in her step again.  It's working out great. 

Divas, I know the holidays are busy, but check in once in awhile.

 Firn 

Mandy1313

I woke up this morning to a winter wonderland....Philadelphia had 23.2 inches of snow in this storm.  Since I had no where in particular to go, I had a wonderful day of cooking "comfort food" and enjoying the beauty of the snow.

And on that note, I want to take the time to wish all of you a wonderful holiday season and a new year of health, happiness, and peace.

Hugs to all of you.

Mandy

Bold

Just drop by to wish you the merriest, warmest and loved filled holiday ever. You deserve it. After the battle this last year

 I finish my last Herceptin treatment tomorrow!!!  I will then be done with all active treatment. Scary but good.

 This year every time I hear the words "if the fates allow"( in have your self a merry little Christmas). It has a great impact on me. As we look around our table this Christmas and look at the faces of the people we love. I will be praying that those faces will once more be with me next year.

Peace

Rita

havehope

Merry Chrismas everyone and Happy Holidays!

I hope everybody is ok and healty! 

lovemyfamilysomuch

Firni,  so great about the job!  I am sure you will have the place in compliance in no time.  Great to hear from everyone, we made it!  Look how far we have come from last year!!  Praise God!

Texas357

Bold, that phrase "If the fates allow" made me sob last year too and it probably always will. Congrats on finishing the herceptin!

Hey, am I the only one who still has no hair under her arms or on her legs? Gotta admit it's convenient and I don't miss it.   Now ... about the facial hair ...

horsercn

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you....if not for all of your support and love this past year would have been much harder than it was.  I'll have you all in my prayers.

Firni

Hi Divas.  It is so good to hear from so many.  Last year in Dec. we were all just starting our wretched journey thru chemo.  I finally had my first hair cut exactly one year to the day that my hair fell out.  Ironic.  Texas, the hair under my arms and legs is still real fine and light.  I only have to shave every two weeks or so.  As for hair on my face, my hair dresser told me she'll have to heat up the wax soon.

My new job is totally crazy.  I'm exhausted.  Can't wait for Christmas to get here so I can just chill by the tree.  That's all I want for Christmas.

It cannot be said enough how thankful I am for the support from all of you over the past year.

All of you have a wondrous and blessed Christmas. 

colleen1960

Good Morning All:  Wow!! A whole year has gone by since most of us started  our chemo.  This time last year I was laying on the couch trying my best to be interested in what was going on.  This year I have been so busy, I have not had much time to just sit back and relax.  I want to wish all of you A Very Merry Christmas and A Very Happy, Healthy 2010.  Thank you for always taking the time to answer questions or just being positive. 

Wising Everyone Well,

Colleen

EleanorJ

Merry Christmas Divas Hubby & I were wide awake on Christmas at 4:30AM! We got up, so did the kids, by 5:30AM we were done unwrapping all the gifts. I remember going completely overboard with the gift thing last year, itu made me feel good to buy goodies for everyone. This year I stuck with what they really wanted, a guitar & a drum set!! And a few other things on the side. Luckily at 5 & 6, those instruments aren't too pricey! We had a wondeful Christmas, now I have a cold, probably lack of sleep with excess sugar! Leaving for Canada in 2 days.

I have yet to get my first hair cut. Everytime I decide to go for it, I chicken out before I even make an appointment. It's so curly & unmanageable right now, I don't see how a hair stylist would make it better. Of course, a quick cut would take care of the dead end and probably help a quicker growth, but still very unwilling to let go of some! LOL! Part of me also want to see what a full year of growth looks like.

Busy day for me, have to get out for some shopping, not that I want too! Then laundry, packing and hitting the road for more partying

Wishing everyone a very happy New Year

Caroline

lovemyfamilysomuch

What a difference a year makes!  Ihad my first chemo on Jan 29th last year, so at Christmas I was on pins and needles and healing from surgery.  This year I am so grateful for health and family and for my wonderful bc sisters! xo

Texas357

Caroline, I had one cut to get rid of the dead ends. Now I'm letting it grow out -- as with yours, mine is also very wavy. The stylist attempted to shape it but I didn't notice much difference when I dried it the next day. My husband gave me three cuts/colors at the Aveda salon for Christmas. I'm going to space those out so that I can get a really nice look by this time next year!

Firni

Hey Divas.  We had a nice quite Christmas.  Just DH and me.  I've been so exhausted with working that I was so glad we didn't have to be sociable this year.

I got my first hair cut about a week ago.  Mine was only about 2 1/2 inches long but all my growth is on the sides.  Not much on top.  So I was looking like a bad comb-over Bozo the clown.  My hair came in pretty straight and my original color.  Now my hair is razor-layered and about 2 inches long. The bald areas on top of my head don't look as obvious now either.  I feel like I'm going to be stuck with little boy hair for the rest of my life.  I'm 10 months past chemo.  Why won't my hair grow?????  Sigh. 

lovemyfamilysomuch

Firni, I am sure you look beautiful!! xo

Texas357

Firni, I also have the remnants of the Friar Tuck hairstyle. Just going without the wig is a blessing though. I'm sure you look a lot prettier than you give yourself credit for. Relax and enjoy your last day off.

swest

It is great to log on and see so many posts!  I was in northern Arizona for Christmas.  Last year I could not move so travel was out of the question.  I am glad everyone has survived the holidays.  I will post an updated picture next week. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!!!!

Sonia

P.S. Bold - You look beautiful!!

Firni

Happy New Year Divas!!!!!  May tomorrow be the start of a happy, healthy and productive new year free from cancer, worry and fear.

Mandy1313

Happy New Year Divas!!!!!!! Wishing you health and happiness!

Many hugs.

Mandy

EleanorJ

Happy New Year Divas! We made it

havehope

Happy New Year! Wish you all, years of health, joy and happines!

colleen1960

Have not been on in a while, I wanted to wish everyone a Very Happy New Year!!!!  Hoping everyone is doing well and enjoying this very cold weather we are experiencing on the East Coast!!!

Hugs To All,

Colleen

Bold

Happy New Year Stistahs!!! I can not believe it has been a year. What a Year Huh? I am still very sore. I think and pray that it is from the radiation. Its mostly my ribs. Anyone else have this. I hope not.

Texas357

Bold, I'm sore along the side of my ribcage. I can press on a few spots, such as the drain scar, that's particularly painful. But overall I'm feeling pretty darned good. 2010 will be a great year!

Firni

Bold and Texas, I'm sorry you have pain yet after all this time. I do have a shooting pain now and then in my new breasts.  I didn't have rads so I don't know about that.

I'm 10 1/2 months out of chemo.  Been on Tamoxifen for 7 months.  Just last month, my hair which was see thru already, stated getting thinner.  My body hair has stopped growing at all.  I haven't shaved for 5 weeks and I'm still baby smooth.  The hair on my forearms is going away and the hair down there is falling out too.  What's that about??  I saw my onc a month ago.  Since hair wasn't falling out then, I naturally didn't discuss it with him.  I'm soooooo tired of dealing with my lack of hair.

Bold, I just love your picture.  You are beautiful.  Short hair is very chic on you. 

lovemyfamilysomuch

Firni my friend, so sorry you are going thru the hair thing.  Thinking of you! xo

Texas357

Firni, I have 6 hairs on one leg, none on the other, and I haven't shaved under my arms since I started chemo. The hair on my head is also thinner than it was before BC. From what I understand, the anti-estrogen drugs we take definitely have an effect on our hair.

I look forward to 4.5 years from now when our 5-year stint on these drugs is over. Of course by then they'll probably tell us there's something else they want to prescribe. LOL.

Find something wonderful about today and jump for joy about it!

Firni

It seems that every Onc will tell us hair loss is NOT from the anti estrogen drugs (mine included).  But I'm not so sure.  I'm going to make an appt with my regular doc this coming week to make sure nothing else is going on.  I've been so exhausted and craving sugar like an addict in addition to losing my hair.  Not like me.  If the hair loss isn't caused by anything else, I'll have to sit down and reconsider if Tamoxifen is right for me or not.  All the potential woman cancers it can cause is a concern for me anyway.

Firni

Oh, Texas, my onc already wants me on an AI for 5 years after I do 5 years of Tamox.