**NEW** Starting Chemo March 2009

Dawnmrn1

Hey Guys!  Been lurking not posting!  Great news Diane B9 are great in my book!!!

Chick, cute hair and you said it all!!! We have a wonderful group!

I'm doing well peeling my chest offf!!! What a mess!  I had nothing until after I stopped rads, It is sore spasming and weepy, and ugly!!!!! This too shall pass!  Love to all! Dawn

nasharayne

Hello ladies,

Glad to see all the B9 results.

I went to a wedding on Saturday and we were rushing so I was putting lotion on in the car.  As I did my legs I noticed all this hair.  It came from no where.  It's been so long since I had to shave that I actually forgot about it.  My BF said he could barely notice but, I knew better.  Now I just need my hair on my head to grow.

 Have a good week!!!

ginagina

Hi gals - I have missed logging in for a couple of weeks (lots of lame excuses). 

This past weekend was the Breast Cancer 3-day in Seattle and I went to the cheering station Sat morning to high-five walkers...let me tell you how COOL IT WAS to see so many walkers! Young, old, men, women...and one very pregnant! It was very inspiring. 

I took the plunge to Tamoxifen, and next month is my reconstruction surgery (implants; too bad they can't take the flappy stuff off my upper arms).

Diane - have you decided what you are going to do for reconstruction? Deb - are you still on track for surgery et al? Rachel - just want to let you know I cried through your break up; I love reading your blog and I can only dream of being as graceful and strong through such an emotional time. Luv2sing - I hope your husband is recovering well and Pickle - I think you have been such an awesome ROCK of support and compassion. 

I feel like I have more to say, but I am stuggling with the words.  

My hair is growing back (nice) but I look like my mother. 

jdeking

Hi all!

 I am so happy to hear all of the excellent B9 results while I was away. It brought me good cheer to read and catch up this morning.

I had a great time on the cruise, it was a much needed and wonderful break. I posted a pic for my avatar - me on the left, my mom (who took care of me through all of my chemo) on the right.

It is so nice to see and hear from some of you who have been quiet in the last month or 2! Cyndi, Gina, Arnie, Raymon, and others, welcome back!

Rachel - that is great news that you and Damian have been able to get some resolution, and I am so glad he went to your last chemo with you. Congratulations on being DONE!!!! On to the next chapter!

Congrats to all finishing up rads too. It is so great to get that over with.

I am still dragging my feet on filling my Tamox Rx. I have had it for about 3 weeks now, and just can't seem to walk it into the pharmacy. Guess I'd better, or my onc will rip me a new one next week. Sigh. Anyone currently taking it having any strange problems or SE's?

Pickle- I love your new avatar! Same to you Tracy - your hair turned out fabulous!!!!! I love the platinum.

I think my hair is at a length where people just think I have bad taste in hairstlyes. I got a few weird looks on the boat. I also did "On Deck for the Cure" Francine - wasn't that great?? We only had about 20-30 participants, but it was still awesome.

I know I am forgetting things I was going to say, and people I wanted to comment on. My brain is still on vacation! Cheers to all, hope you are doing well and having few struggles.

sakura73

Janine welcome back - I love your photos on FB. It must have been wonderful to have that happy time with your mum after all the crap of chemo this year.

Gina it is so lovely to see you here and to know you are well. Thank you for what you said. The blog really helps me process  things, and I am grateful to those who read it.

Good to hear too from others about their holidays.

Dawn sorry to read about your peeling. This too shall pass!

I was deported yesterday! I asked if I could keep the port - the breast care nurse told me I was weird and the surgeon said it is technically against the rules but they gave it to me anyway. I had a local and sedation, but it felt the same as a general. Today I am quite sore and I think I moved the shoulder too much because there is fresh blood under the waterproof bandage. But having it gone feels great.

 Is anyone else having ongoing arm pain/full feeling on the side where the nodes were removed? My arm is not actually swollen but it feels swollen - I have colllected so much additional flab on my arms and upper body that it is hard to tell what is going on there. A week out from chemo has shown that none of that flab was water retention! Sigh.

It's raining here - which is lovely because there's such a bad drought on. I hope you are all having a quiet and refreshing day.

pickle

Francine: Your post about your PS was so funny. Glad he is so pleased with your breast. One more surgery to go....you must be so pumped to get it done.

Gina: So wonderful to hear from you and that all is well. How are you doing on Tamoxifen? I imagine you have had a very busy summer with your kids and now it's back to school activities. How old are your kids?

Nasharyne: Your BF was so sweet to say he barely noticed. My hubby says he barely notices my scar......such gems to say such things

jdeking: Loved your cruise pics on Facebook. Looks like you had a fabulous time. I have been on Tamoxifen since July 1st and the only SE I seem to be having is joint pain. My hands and feet almost feel cramped when I first get up in the morning. Lower back and hips are constantly aching but that may also be from a herniated disc I had last fall. Anyway I am not taking any meds for the pain because I don't feel it's that bad. Mood swings the first 6 weeks but I don't know if that was tamoxifen or just the whole emotional crash after chemo was finished etc. Anyway I am not having any SE's that would deter me from taking Tamoxifen. Overall... so far so good!

Rachel: Glad you have been deported. That must make you feel like ....wow the chemo is really over. I am not sure what to say about your arm but it sounds like you should address it with your doctor. I only had 3 nodes removed so I haven't had any lymphedema issues but I think a few gals here have so I'm sure they'll chime in. Enjoy the rain....I love the sound of rain...so soothing

Hugs to all

Beth P

didle20Diane

Well....I did it.  I am scheduled for my recon/TE/mastectomy (implant) on 10/6.  A little over 2 weeks to go with my "good" breast.  I am more anxious about this than chemo.  I know I will be happy with the results but it will be so many more appointments and 2 surgeries....I am just so sick of all this crap already and now I have another 6-9 months with this now.

Rachel.....I love your blog too.  I wish I had the knack for writing. I was always a math/science kinda gal but now with chemo brain I don't even know if I could pass a math class LOL!

Janine, those pictures were lovely.....that ship was HUGE.  Glad you had a great time.

I am on the Bottle of Tamox thread with some of our March chemo gals....if you haven't checked it out I think some of you would enjoy it!

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/78/topic/696015?page=150#idx_4475

hugs

Diane

crusader1

 Diane . I think having the other breast removed is a great idea. I don't think you have anything to worry about. As we all have learned the removal of the breast is the least thing that we now worry about. Living cancer free is what we all desire. You are young with three young children. This inconvenience will give you much peace of mind. Can you explain to me which breast will get the implant and which will get the TE. I am still undergoing reconstruction after my mastectomy. Why do you think it will all take 6 to 8 months. Is that because of your fills etc.I am much older but have decided that if I have any problems with the good breast off it goes. No more games for me. Much good luck to you.

Janine- Glad you also enjoyed your cruise. Loved your comment on your hair being just a bad haircut. I think I too have the same barber but I am so happy just to have hair.

Sakura- Great to hear you have been deported. We all seem to be moving on. How great.

Pickle- Once again I must thank you for all your great comments.I know I appreciate all the time you spend responding to all of us.

Having bad back pain. I go to see the orthopedist tomorrow. Hopefully all will turn out to be minor.

Hugs to all,

Francine

didle20Diane

Francine,  I am having a TE put in on my L breast and a simple mastectomy with an immediate implant on my R (good) breast.  I have had a breast reduction in 2003 so if there is an issue with scar tissue on my good breast I may have to have a TE put in on the R side too but it will be filled at surgery.  My PS said this is worst case scenario....she hasn't had it happen to any of her patients yet.  I will have my fills over 6 weeks and then have to wait another 6 weeks to do exchange surgery....then a few months later nipple reconstruction and tattos after that.  I hope I am done by late Spring of 2010.

Anyone watch Survivor?  It starts tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hugs

Diane 

crusader1

Thanks for responding  Diane,

I am due to have my third TE put in on November 11. My first two had to be removed. There is a possibility  the PS maybe able to put in an immmediate implant or I will need a TE. I was just wondering how long fills take and then the exchange. You seem to say you will wait for the nipples and tatoos. A friend told me that often PS wait months before the exchange. Have you heard that? I was just curious.

I definitely feel you have made a great decision.You will deal with all this nonsense as well as you have dealt with your chemo. Hopefully by next spring, as you said you will be done. I do hope I too will be finished with all my reconstruction.We are strong women.

Diane , I could not get your photo with your link and I could not find it on the Tamox site.

Hugs to you,

Diane

ccbaby

Diane....I watched Survivor! That Russell guy is a jerk!!

didle20Diane

OMG wasn't he a creep?  They showed him so much throughout the episode I thought he was going to get voted off by surprise.

Francine, the link didn't work to the tamox thread?  As for the fills to the exchange my PS says it will take approx 12 weeks total barring no issues.

Diane

chick717

I'm gonna be in DC for work Oct 1 and 2.  My work buddies have planned dinner on the 2nd.  

 Anyone in the DC area up for meeting for dinner Oct 1?  I'm staying in Crystal City, but can get around via metro... 

didle20Diane

Chick, I will PM you.  I live near Dulles Airport and would be happy to meet up with you if we can.

Diane

NanaA

Finished with Rads today!!!!  Still waiting on lung biopsy results on Tuesday.  If they are OK then I think I can see the end.  I still will have to do herceptin every 3 weeks until March but that is nothing compared to weekly chemo and 37 rads.  Keeping praying for goods results.  Hugs  Annette

Ricki13

Hi Ladies

Just thought I would say a quick hi to my warrior princess pals.  I've not been very chatty in the past couple of months and reading back through the thread it seems like everyone has been busy and going through changes.  I do hope everyone is doing better.

I'm also done with rads.  In many ways I found it harder than chemo.  Having to be there every day was very taxing.  And I also had skin issues.  And just to keep it interesting...two days in I had a bad car accident (not my fault).  Was part of a 5 car pile up on our famous Sydney Harbour Bridge.  Ended up with 12 stitches in the back of my head, a cracked rib, both ankles sprained with one slightly fractured and lots and lots of ugly purple bruises from the seat belt that saved my life. Despite all that they only kept me in the hospital over night.  They gave me 2 days off from rads and then had to go straight back into it!  Getting on and off the rads bed was very painful with my bad rib!   Anyway, much better now.  I do get very fatigued on and off so have agreed with work that I will cut back down to part time hours at the end of this month.  My hair is also coming back albeit more slowly than I would like.  I have almost full coverage except for a very stubborn spot at the front!  And what I do have is like baby hair...that is if a baby could get grey hair!  I had my first eyebrow wax in 9 months last week...who would have thought that would feel like milestone!

Thankyou to those who have been keeping my sister in their thoughts and prayers.  She  is not doing so well and is in and out of hospital as this horrible disease takes hold.  She was in hospital this week for her son's 13th birthday.  She was sad about it and he was such a little trouper.  She's home this weekend and we're having a family BBQ to celebrate tomorrow.   Hopefully we'll have a few more of them in the next few months.

Anyway so glad I can come here when I need to.  Nice to connect with other people who 'get it' because you're all going through the same thing!

R xo

crusader1

Hi Ricki,

Sorry to hear about your not so good news. But you know we are always here to support you.It is always so hard to stay strong when your loved ones are so sick. My brother died a little over a year ago of Panceatic Cancer. It is so hard seeing a healthy person get so sick. Too bad about your accident. WE all know that famous bridge here in the USA.

I felt the same way a few weeks ago when I went to have my eyebrows waxed after 7 months. They really look good. My hair is coming in short , curly but kind of thick. Will go au natural real soon.

Hopefully you will make it thru your Rads and join the rest of us Princesses trying to resume our lives pre BC. Of course it will never be the same but we will move on .

Hugs,

Francine

jdeking

Hugs Ricki!!!!

 I hope you are hanging in there, sorry to hear what a tough time of it you had during rads. I am also very sorry to hear that your sister is not doing as well as hoped. You and your family will be in my thoughts an prayers!

 Congrats on finishing rads Annette, and good luck with your biopsy results! We'll be thinking of you!

ChrisC433

Ricki...Wow, when it rains, it pours.  You certainly have had a plate full this past month or so.  I hope you are feeling better and your sister is in my prayers.  She is lucky to have such a wonderful sister to lean on.

Take care all...enjoy another beautiful day!

Chris

didle20Diane

Ricki thanks for checking in.........sorry for what you are going through however.

{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}

Diane

Dawnmrn1

Ricki!  Sorry for all of your problems!  It seems like you are having more than your share right now!!!! You are in my thoughts and prayers!  Dawn

ginagina

Ricki - more hugs from me.

pickle

Annette:Congrats on being done rads. Praying that you get good B9 results from your lung biopsy today. Keep us posted. Thinking of you. Hugs

Ricki:So wonderful to hear that you are done rads. That's good news. So sorry to hear about your sister's failing health and your car accident. I hope you are feeling better. How was the family BBQ? Isn't it amazing that through all of this you are all still getting together to find things to celebrate. Keep us posted and like Francine said....we are all here to support you.Sending prayers and hugs your way.

Gina: Your hair....is it really that long....wow! Inspiring. Mine is still about 3/4" long (or short actually...lol)

I am starting with a personal trainer tomorrow to see if I can get back in shape. I am having a lot of problems with my lower back and the physio hasn't been helping. I had a herniated disc last fall with severe sciatic pain in my leg. I recovered from it but my lower back has been really bad again for the last couple of months. I'm not having leg pain but I can barely get out of bed some mornings. Walking seems to alleviate it a bit but my range of motion is terrible. I can't make the bed, unload the dishwasher, or vacuum. Good thing I have a good natured DH. Bending at the waist is just too painful. I take Advil once in a while but I hate taking pain meds. Hopefully my trainer will be able to help. I am going to try and find a mastectomy swimsuit today so hopefully swimming will help. I am not looking forward to swimsuit shopping though...ugh!

On a lighter note, the weather here in Alberta has been beautiful. One of the warmest falls we've had in years. Good weather is always so uplifting.

Have a wonderful day everyone.

Hugs

beth P

NanaA

Wonderful News.  The lung biopsy is good.  No cancer in the biopsy or in the lung washing.  They will do a follow up CT in 3 months to make sure nothing has changed.  I also have to continue the herceptin until March and they want me to do a breathing test every 6 weeks because the herceptin may be affecting the lining of my lungs.  They want to watch  and compare each 6 weeks to what I did on the test today.  One more echocardiogram in December and the onc every other herceptin treatment.  I can see the end.  I started the Femara this week.  No SE's so far.  I am due for my annual check up in December.  It does not seem like It can be almost a year since they found the spot on my mammogram.  The visit with the surgeon was OK  he wants to biopsy the one thyroid nodule that is so big.  It is at the borderline size for removing, but didn't think I needed to go thru anything else right now, so he just wants to do a needle biopsy so he knows exactly what he is looking at.  It looks partly dense and partly fluid filled.  They don't think cancer but they would know more about how fast it is growing etc with the biopsy, so that is Oct 26th in his office.  Only takes a few minutes according to the doc.  No anesthesia.  The needle for the biopsy is same needle to give anesthetic so why not just do it and not worry about a reaction to the anesthetic.  I react to so many thing that the less I have to take the better.  I am going to have the ortho doc do a series of 5 injections into my knee to help with the knee pain I have been  having.  Xrays showed the the cartiledge is worn down in a couple places and bone rubs against bone.  These shots put a lubricant between the bones in your knee joint.  He says it can give a year of pain relief.  It wold be nice to be pain free there and to be able to walk and exercise more.  I did not want to make any kind of decision until I knew todays results.  But I am ready to feel better.  I am thanking God for todays results.  Hugs to all of you and wishing all of you good results too.  Annette

pickle

Annette: I am so happy for you. What a relief! It certainly sounds like your medicali team is on the ball. Hope you get your knee and thyroid get looked after soon. I must say your attitude is commenable.

Hugs and wishes for a stress free sleep.

Beth P

jdeking

Great news Annette!

crusader1

Hi All,

Wow Gina..now that's hair. You are definitely the leader of the pack.

Annette- great news. Now you can move on.

I am having very bad back problems. Excrusiating pain with certain movements. Went to the orthopedist who gave me an xray and saw nothing. He would not make any comments because of my BC , numerous surgeries, infections etc. Today I am going for an MRI. Will see the doctor again on Firday. This unknown stuff is killing me. If I knew what it was I could tolerate it more easily. I will now go and take an ativan left over from my chemo days to relax me while having my MRI.. Please wish me luck.

Hugs,

Francine

ChrisC433

It is so nice to share good news with other...congrats Annette!

Chris

pickle

Francine: I'm sorry to hear you are having back problems too. I'm glad they are following up with an MRI and I am sending you positive thoughts, prayers and hugs for a good result. I am feeling somewhat concerned about my back issues too. I'll be seing my onc on Tuesday and I agree with you that unknown is so hard to take sometimes. I guess we have to put trust in our medical teams but also have to  push a little hard if we really feel something needs to be investigated.

Hugs

Beth P

chick717

Annette - so so happy about your good news.

Hope everyone can get back to 100%.  It's no wonder our bodies are griping with all we've put them through this year.  But we are moving in the right direction :-)