Starting chemo January 2009?

ktym

Checking in Jewels. Just sitting here remembering last night. DS's wedding was beautiful.  I now have a DD too!  It was a small wedding and just wonderful.  We loved it. The moments that make you remember why you decided to do chemo and all the rest of that crap.  Probably the first moment I've remembered it and thought thank goodness.

jrgolomb

Hi everyone.  I went down to Ann Arbor to get dd.  We had a blast while we waited for the traffic to clear.  We ate at a place called Cafe Habana - tasty tapas treats- just enough to get me through the two hour drive to my home.  I had a great conversation with dd and now at home, we are enjoying our dogs, even our stray.

ktym

Jess, What a nice family time. Warms my heart. I haven't tried Cafe Habana

Renrel

Kmmd - Congradulations.  I can only hope that I am around long enough to have the same memory, even without the BC its a bit of a long shot. I am 47 and he his 8.  If he waits as long as I did to get married I will be close to 80. 

ktym

Renrel, I love hearing about your DS.  My fondest hope is when he gets married I'll enjoy reading about it on here while you relate how wonderful it was

jrgolomb

I returned from my 13th wedding anniversary.  We went to Mackinac Island.  A nice place.

Hope all is well.  

Renrel

Jrgolomb - congrats on 13 years.  This yr was my 10th and we too took a wonderful trip. 

 I am not sure what is going on, but my libido has suddenly returned.  I thought I was on my way in to menapause and that from here on it it was going to take alot of work and intent to get my body interested, but the other day I picked up an erotica book at a book sale and started reading and it really did it for me.  It was when I read a really hot scene in a book a year or so ago and realize it did nothing to get things stirring that I had lost something of my youth that I was going to miss sorely.  Needless to say DH is very happy about this change in my attitude.  Don't know if this will last, as my cycles are still few and far between, but I am going to enjoy it and not take if for granted while I have it.

jrgolomb

Thanks, Renrel.  I feel pretty good right now.  I had my digital mammogram- all clear, well the letter said no cancer was found.  That description kind of bothered me...does it bother anyone?

THis Thursday I have a physical to see if the tamoxifen is affecting me negatively and then blood work in a couple of weeks with the oncologist.

jrgolomb

Okay- Let's try again- I posted something I didn't proofread and it made little sense when I read it after I posted it!    Anyway, on a good note, my mammogram came back clear.  I have the usual pap smear and then oncologist blood test.  Do any of the January Jewels have any kind of scans?  I have had a bone density scan and that is it.

ktym

Renrel--good for you!

Jess, my Onc doesn't scan except to look for symptoms.  As unsettling as it is the theory makes sense to me.  Since Stage IV is not curable, the goal is to intervene to keep you feeling as good as you can for as long as you can.  Since, they wouldn't do anything in that case with asymptomatic mets, no use looking for them, you only want to find those you would treat.  Finding sooner doesn't make it more treatable in the case of mets.  Well, I guess that makes sense to me to a point, although I would think there would be some times that earlier would make it easier to treat, I guess I get that thought process.  We had ordered scans for me and then canceled them at my last visit.  Since what prompted them has gotten worse I'm not sure what they'll do at my next visit.  I just find the more time that goes by, the more I don't want visits, scans, or any other reminder of that time of active treatment (Tamoxifen and I have come to an easy relationship I don't count it anymore)

jrgolomb

Thanks, Kmmd.  Yeah--I think I understand what you mean about the scans, although I hope that perhaps some stage IV folk seem to be thriving as a result of early detection , thus life sustaining tx, then perhaps scans early and tx shouldn be considered? i don't know.... How toxic are the scans?

At any rate, I just finished phase two of my six month /yearly check up.  I think all is well until I look at the order for the bone scan:  it says-- bc and neutropenia.  I have no idea what that is, doc doesn't say anything to me so I look it up....WTF???? sources say it could be leukemia, sepsis or aids???  I am not even sure how it got to that point.  What did the doc see to determine neutropenia and why in the hell didn't she say anything????Christ!

jrgolomb

And I have to add---of course I made the classic mistake and looked up crap on the internet......But I have to say, I wish my doc had told me what neutropenia is!!!! CRAP

ktym

Jess, seems like we're in the same boat.  I'm doing my part to support the revenue of the radiology department in the near future.  Remind me, did you have Adriamycin? Whole thing sucks

jrgolomb

I wonder if she meant ostepenia????

ktym

Osteopenia would be a DEXA scan--bone densitometry or bone density scan.  Neutropenia would be a bone scan.  Both are done in nuclear medicine.  I'll keep my fingers crossed for you it was osteopenia.  No one wants osteopenia but it beats looking for mets.

jrgolomb

Yes, it was osteopenia for a bone density scan.  I guess she wrote the neutropenia on my paper, but not the script because that would have completely changed and I 'd probably be driving an hour to the docs instead of the ten minute trip for the local bone density scan.  Whew!  Of course she did order blood work--that is usual- and has checked the box for wbc/rbc.....

Renrel

I have a thyroid scan on Tuesday.  Pretty much just getting a base line due to the tiny nodula they noted when doing the bone scan.  Anyone know what I should expect?

 

jrgolomb

I had an ultrasound for my thyroid and they discovered an adenoma. A stronger, more colorful ultrasound displayed it as Hashimotos.  I don't know about a thyroid scan- is it different than an ultrasound.  I wish you luck!

ktym

Not sure Renrel.  I would think it would be similar to a bone scan.  Get an injection, come back a few hours later for the scan, but, I've never had a thyroid scan.  Sure are a lot of us with thyroid problems post chemo. 

Renrel

It was an Ultrasound.  Just lay there and let them put the wand over your neck.  Things look OK.  Some noduals that don't look worrysome.  An adnormallity that might be just an in regular edge to my thryoid or an issue with the parathyroid which deals with calcium.  So now they have to compare it with my blood tests and I need a follow up with the thyroid doctor, which can't happen till next year because one of the doctors is booked up till then.  Maybe this information will answer the question about whether I should take calcuim to maintain my bones or avoid it so as not to get more kidney stones. 

Lost a family friend to esphogalal cancer on MOnday.  Only 51 years old and he had a son a year younger than me.  My mom has been support his mom as she walked this hard path with him.  Really hard on her thinking how 3 years ago her friend was helping her and problem counting her own blessings and then that picture was flipped on its head.  

But, learned yesterday that a co-worker is pregnant, and moving to take a new job.  Very happy with her which helps balance out my emotions. 

jrgolomb

I go for my blood tests this week and then again in a couple of weeks with the oncologist.  Then I have the endoccrinologist look at my thyroid again.

Renrel

I got a call from the endoconologist today.  there are I believe 3 small nodulas on my thryoid and the blood work indicates that things are off but maybe not enough to justify medication just yet.  In December they will do the blood work again and then I'll have a face to face to discuss what this means.  it is definately not cancer and it does not seem to be a big deal yet, but I am sure having thyriod issues makes treatment for other things more complicated as time goes on and more of my body starts to show its age.  Ah well, it could be much much worse and for many it is. 

jrgolomb

Renrel-- I tell you, we are almost completely in the same boat!.  One doctor said I had an adenoma, the other a hashimotos nodule.....They want to watch and see.  I want it OUtta there!  I hate the wait, yet I don't want to deal with any more "surprises".  I take synthroid and have for about 13 years.

 Anybody else having thyroid issues?

Renrel

Jess - they are not even talking surgury because they are so small, but maybe medication. 

I am officially three years cancer and breast free today, if you don't count silcone breasts.  Completely forgot until around 5pm that I had my bi-lat on Veterans day.  I think it is great that I am cancer free and great that the holiday did not trigger a memory.  We will say a special prayer with our Sabbat dinner tonight and I bought a little fruit tart for dessert, felt like it was a someone healthy treat since it is has fruit all over the top.  

BerkeleyKim

Tomorrow's my 3 yr mastectomy anniversary. Celebrating by taking the lymphedema wraps off in the am. 2 weeks--and my arm is just about back to normal. Now I must wrap at night and take the time to massage. People look at me in pity--but I'm really happy to be here.Kids believed me when I said on 1st day of wraps (Halloween) "I'm becoming a mummy." Quickly did an about face and said, no my owie arm is being fixed.  Found out last week that my dear co-worker who has medullary thyroid cancer has recurred in bones. All I can say (once again) is sh...t I hate cancer.

 I think they know right away if nodules are cancer or not-her's definately was and she had surgery within a few weeks. So, please rest easy and trust your drs, jess and renrel.

I finally get that I should be on an anti-inflammatory diet. Went to an all-day workshop with Rebecca Katz and Lisa (something), a naturalpathic dr. I lapse, but have decreased refined carbs. Also, my inflammatory marker was high (primary care had ordered this) and I need to go for a retest as soon as my kinder-cold ends. I'm worried because this can also indicate cancer. However, I had fallen off my bike which dr said could definately cause a rise in the C-reactive protein level. Guess I'll forever worry.

jrgolomb

Well, I have been having trouble with leg cramps at night and then back spasms.  I tell you the pain is excruciating, especially when it hits at night.  I am currently going through the 3 year eval and talked to the doc about that---I was told to take zinc and magnesium.  So far so good. 

Those who have had lymphedema issues, is an sign of early swelling a rope like "cording" along the arm?  I felt them there about a week ago and when I rubbed the cording, they smoothed out and went away until today.  Plus, my arms feels heavy.  I think I'll will have the nurse look at it soon.  

Renrel

Jess, you could also try bathing in water with epson salts to get more magnesium into your body.  it can be absorbed through the skin. I think this is also supposed to help when you catch cold. 

momand2kids

dear all

so this week is my bi-annual visit with the onc-- mammogram first, then clinical visit--I have already sent her my updates and my list of questions about drugs, time on drugs (5 years vs. 10 years).... she is a researcher, so I want to get her opinion.  Also looking into the end of lupron (maybe??)  would love to be off of that.... it has been three years sincd dx and I am breathing much easier--I know there are no guarantees but I feel great and hopefully that will continue. Had a clear MRI in May, so I dont' expect anything exciting on the mammogram, but then again, last year they found something (cyst) that they insisted on taking out.... sigh....

hope you are all well--beautiful day here in the northeast.... 

jrgolomb

So- I have been having back pain that has gone past the 2 week mark.  I mention this to the onc during the six month check up and she say--"no worries, cause no estrogen" .  I feel quite relieved and I feel so much better! 

Renrel

Happy Thanksgiving all.

My number one reason to be thankful is all the many parts of my body that I can just take for granted that they work, the second are the parts that work with a little help from things like medication or glasses, third that the things which don't work so perfectly I can just take them for granted still work well enough that for the most part I can do what I want when I want.  I know that these blessings don't last forever so I want to appreciate them while I have them rather than just mourn them when they are gone.