Starting Chemo February 2009?

Jaimieh

L4T~ Whoooo for great scans.

Michele~ Awesome news you made the jerk more angry by staying calm.  Great job !!

Judy~ The witch who schedules surgeries for the surgeon is refusing an earlier date and the surgeon thinks that it is soon enough.  I guess I am supposed to just take pain pills for 3 weeks (not that I take them, I can't stand them unless absolutely necessary). 

I did tons of laundry today.  I am supposed to be editing pictures but instead I am here...lol...  better go I'll check back in tonight. 

Bethie1

Go topless!!! They're axx holes, you need to be who are!!!!

Love ya and kick butt!!

xpectmiracles

Michelle, how strong you are! I love that you were able to come prepared to the meeting and stay calm in an obviously stressful situation. Wearing a scarf was just small stuff. You did an awesome job!

L4T, congratulations on the clean scan!

webwriter

WAAAA HOOOO from across the bay! You rock Michelle! Way to go! (I use that same method with my hubby and my little brother...it's amazing how mad they get in the face of total calm! haha!)

L4T, Happy Dancing with you! FABULOUS news! 

Sounds like a great day all around!

I was so excited about the three pounds I gained, and my appetite slowly returning that I ate two HUGE tacos for dinner tonite. Mistake. My stomach is killing me and I wish I could puke. Did any of us EVER think we'd say that again? OH MY!

Taking a pill and hitting the hay...on my back! LOL!

Love and Hugs!!

gcpommom

Kim:  how wonderful, I'm sooo happy for you!!!  Happy dance for you:

 

Michele:  So glad things went well with the jerky guy and that you came out on top!  HA to him!  I was going to suggest the scarf option....I'm not ready to go topless yet either, and being a meeting you were going to, it was important that you felt most comfortable given the nature of the meeting.  Congrats!

Jaimie:  Oh, the nasty scheduler lady....I remember you saying that now.  I know what you mean about the pain killers...I get reluctant to take them, they make me feel weird and tired. 

Bethie:  Hi girl, how you doing?  How's the kitty doing?  You are a real cheerleader for the furies, makes me smile when I read your posts

Well my breathing is a tiny bit better tonight....my onc wants me to be watchful, since I had the embolism in the lung...how am I supposed to know the difference if I'm having trouble breathing due to asthma or embolism????  I have had asthma since I was 9 yr old, so I'm not one to run off to the doctor over that.... If it gets bad again, I'm off to the ER,  I hate it when I can't breathe.

Talk to you all later

Judy 

Artemis

Furies ~ here we are at 100 pages.  We've been through so much, haven't we?  We rock!

Living4today ~ YAY for clean scans!!!!!!!  Yay!!!!!!

Michele ~ Yay for you and your professionalism!  Jerky guy just didn't know he was messin' with a Fabulous February Fury, now did he?!

I love you guys!
Artemis

KerryMac

Just a good morning to everyone. Hey, Artemis is right - we made to page 100! Lets go for 200....

Kim - fabulous news.Glad you got out to celebrate.

Michelle - good for you! Actually, many moons ago, I worked in a call centre for a telephone company, they always told us if someone rang in an angry snit (which, you can imagine, happened a lot!!) we should just stay calm, and not argue back, and they would eventually run out of steam. Worked every time.

Judy - hope you didn't need to go to the ER!!!! let us knoe you are OK....

Webbie - hope your tummy is OK!

Jaimie - hope you are feeling better too. Three weeks seems a long time to wait, when you are in pain. Glad it is somethimng they can "fix" though! 

I am so, so happy that everyone is doing so well. It's a good sign for all of us!  Enjoy the day!!

KerryMac

Here are the kids enjoying the sprinkler yesterday....

xpectmiracles

Kerry, I love the new avitar picture! I think youe daughter looks just like you!

Jaimieh

Okay these are going to get chopped off because I have yet to figure out photobucket (but I will).  First I got to tell you a funny story:  My son got a Mickey Mouse camera (think fisher price) when he was 3 1/2 because he kept stealing his sisters camera.  Well not even a week into it he kept coming up to us saying that the camera was crazy and we just told him okay.  Finally we got that he was saying he couldn't see the back and when he did it wasn't clear on the LCD.  My DH being the softy that he is went out and bought him a camera.  FF, more than 6 mths later I had him take pictures of my hair growth today and I finally downloaded some of the pictures from his camera.  Well I am looking laughing think myspace 3 yr. old, getting sad because there was a bunch of me pre-BC and then I see something odd.  My 3 yr. old took a picture of his bare butt.  I couldn't help but lol.  Anyhow I thought it was funny I am just glad there was no other "pictures" on the camera.  I also have to add that I was completely against him getting it but he has taken great care of it and it was fun to see the world as he sees it  

Anyhow back to my lack of hair 8 weeks and 4 days PFC

Jaimieh

In this picture I look like a cone head...lol..

KerryMac

It is coming in there, Jaimie! I can even see eyebrows! And you look so lovely and happy.

xpectmiracles

Jaimieh, you've got a beautiful face! Is your hair coming in blonde or red?

Jaimieh

Thank you Kerry   I do have eyebrows but those babies are going to need to be waxed soon.  They are coming in like crazy.

Cheryl~It's a mix of blonde, dark brown and gray (and I am 32).  So I am thinking honestly about buying some organic dye and using it to get it all to brown.  I was a blonde so this should be interesting. 

Did anyone else have pigment discoloration in their face after chemo ??  I have about 12 shades going on.  It really makes putting on makeup difficult. 

KerryMac

Oh, I couldn't believe how bushy my eyebrows were! LOL! All those years of plucking them, I forgot what caterpillars they used to be. I felt wonderful having mine shaped, I felt human again!

apple

what a fantastic smile Jamie.. you look sooooo happy.

living4today

Jamie--you are beautiful!!

Kerie--you are beautiful too!!

Jamie--love the story about your son...thanks for the giggle!

Bethie1

Kerry & Jaimeih---- AWESOME PICS!!!  Hair is coming in great; mine is too! I have eyelashes, eyebrows, and LOTS of fuzz!!! We're starting to look human again instead of aliens from Mars-although the only Mars I like is CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I need my fix and thought I throw some comedy in there as well!! My mom used to eat a bag of Hershey kisses for her fix, and speaking of chocolate, I'm making my dessert tonight.  Wish you guys were here to try some.  Passing out virtual cocktails--your choice of beverage. Drink up ladies, let's stay hydrated!! Want more, cause I know I need a buzz, and not on my head either, that was done 5 months ago by my brother!! I'm on a roll-- is it kaiser or poppy?!! I'm laughing so hard from my own jokes my sides are splitting--can't be split ends-there's not enough hair for that yet! Well, gonna stop the show here!!! Love ya furies!!!

living4today

Bethie,

Remember a few pages back when we saying some of our more musically inclined could start a band, well, my vote is that there could be a whole show...the Furries band with thier own comedian--LOL Bethie! 

Gramof3

L4T  I agree about the show--let's think up a name.

Kerry, Jaimie, Michele  Your hair pics are awesome...I'm jealous!  When you guys talk about waxing eyebrows, it blows me away--I probably miss my eyebrows more than my hair!

Jaimieh Your little guy is going to be a riot when he gets to college!!  His bare butt, LOL!!

I guess I was too glib about having the brain MRI yesterday.  My onc. nurse called me late this afternoon and said my dr. is concerned about a lesion that showed up.  She had made me an appt. with a neurosurgeon for Monday morning, not realizing that I already have CHEMO scheuled.  Now she's going to see if I can get to neuro on Tuesday.  Hope I learn more when I see the onc on Monday...Crap....I'm trying to stay calm about this... Later.  Helen 

KerryMac

Oh, Helen, remember the MRI is renowned for false positives. When I had my Breast MRI I was warned that I would probably get a call back - and I did. Further testing showed up nothing concerning. Try not to worry (I know, easier said than done) but I bet you will find they are just ruling something out. Remember, once you have a BC diagnosis they will follow up everything - one Dr thought she felt tumors on my Ovaries and she was just feeling my pooh! Don't stress out until there is something to stress out about. Will be thinking of you ....

Gramof3

Kerry Thanks for the encouragement...I didn't realize the false positive part about MRIs, but your comments will sure help me get through the weekend.  Thank you again. 

MicheleS

Helen~  I know you must be worried. I would be too.  But Kerry is right about false positives.  In fact, ALL of these scans (PETs, MRIs, CTs) have a high rate of false positive results.  That's what makes them such great screening tests!! They almost NEVER give false negatives. So... they "screen" out all of the obviously negative people and indicate more testing for those who are really positive plus many more who are "false" positive.  Also, there are lots of other "positive" things an MRI can see.  So, while I know you wouldn't be thrilled that you have had say... a TIA, at least it isn't cancer.  Finally, there are about a zillion types of benign brain tumors.  These have to be monitored via MRI and maybe taken out at some point.  And, most importantly, they don't kill you.  I'll be thinking about you lots this weekend. (Why does shit always hit the fan on Fridays??)  Lots of prayers that everything is just fine.

PS.  Can you talk to your MD (not the nurse) Monday morning?  You have that right, you know.  He/she could tell you what the radiologist saw and what the list of differentials is... cancer might not even be on the list.  

KathyAlex1960

Hello everyone!  I have been reading, but not writing for the past couple of months.  Just no energy.  I finished my LAST chemo yesterday (4AC dose dense, 12 taxol).  I feel so relieved! I am getting Avastin for the next 30 weeks, 10 treatments, every 3 weeks.  What I have now is a horrible rash on my body (taxol related), neuropathy in the hands and feet, and no taste for the past 2 months.  Some peach fuzz on my head, ALL WHITE, but no other body hair anywhere.  Hot flashes and depression and night sweats, but being treated with Effexor for that.  I want my life back.  How soon do all the side effects go away???  Thanks for being here.......it has helped to read everyones stories. 

Kathy

Bethie1

L4T---Why don't we call our "band" what this group is based on Webbie's initial naming of us--the Fabulous Furies!!????

Helen--  It's OK to be scared, I'd be too, and I agree with Michele to talk with your doctor!!

 Kathy--  when you were given the Taxol (I had this also), were you given Benadryl intravenously to counteract a reaction you may get from Taxol?  The reason I ask is because Taxol was my medicine for the 2nd half of my chemo, and I was given benadryl intravenously to counteract any reaction I may have gotten from Taxol.  The reaction I got from intravenous benadryl was a jittery feeling all over my body, as well as flush in the face. Because my body was jittery, I was afraid I was gonna go into heart palpatations.  This medicine was stopped immediately, and the next time I went for chemo and subsequent times afterward, I still took benadryl, BUT I took the over-the-counter version 1 hour before chemo, and this version worked much better. I had the reaction I was supposed to have--falling asleep.  This may be something you want to bring up to the doctor; you have my permision.  Good luck and hugs!!

apple

oh dear Helen.. i know how you feel.  My onc and radiologist were so convinced my shadowing on the brain was a tumor pressing in that they actually scheduled surgery for me.. quickly so i could get onto more chemo.. it was so terrifying.  i surely hope you are so lucky. you should be.  the brain surgeon was laughing when i came into his office for a presurgery consultation.. it took me a while to get it.  I thought he was trying to tell me a joke or something to make me feel better.    He too said that the MRIs always find stuff .... that many people have things floating (for lack of a better word) in their heads and the only ones that know about it are the ones who happen to have MRIs.

luck and prayers from KS.

KathyAlex1960

Hi Bethie

Yes, I got the benadryl every time.  My head floated off my body, and then I slept the rest of the time.  I was pretty dopey after each one.  The rash started a month and a half ago - they had me on steroids for 2 weeks.  Tried cortisone lotion.  It is a raised red rash.  Started on my hands and then moved up to my elbows.  Very painful and bright red.  Now it is on my legs.  I am hoping that now that I am done with the taxol it will go away!!!  All these side effects started about 2 months ago.  The last two taxols really tired me out, too.  Maybe the cummulative effect - every week for 12 weeks.

living4today

(((Helen)))...I concure with the rest of the furies....guessing what is showing up is just benign, but coming off scanxiety I can only imagine how hard it is to not let the imagination and what ifs run through the mind.  Praying for you and anxiously waiting to hear your good news.

Jaimieh

Okay I dyed my fuzz tonight.  It was actually funny because I have never dyed my hair so I got the idea from my Aunt to use a brush to put it on.  So I follow the instructions but I got scared because I had some on my scalp so I took it off much earlier than what I was supposed to.  I think next time I will get my sister to do the "painting" so I don't have it all over my scalp.  I actually thought it was funny. 

Helen~ I hope they can move your appt. to Tuesday and that it's nothing ((bighugs)).

living4today

I just had to share a funny with you furries...we just got home from Walmart picking up some supplies for my dd for camp.  Well, she had picked up some shampoo and the checker boy says, "this shampoo is just the best", I said, "well, that's great I'm sure my daughter will like it, I certainly won't be needing it for a couple months" (I am still without any traces of hair)...anyways, he goes "yah, I shaved my head once, won't do that again" I than say "yah, me too, hope I never have to do it again either"...he goes, "yah, I know a few girls who have shaved their head, don't know if they will do it again either"...by than my family is just busting a gut...this young man was so real and I still think he thought I shaved my head for fun!