**NEW** Starting Chemo March 2009

didle20Diane

March Warriors.......we need some help for Lisa.  Please see below and please vote/place your comments for one of our fellow warriors!

HUGS

Diane

lisalisa wrote:

I need your VOTE/COMMENT.   This is for a $6,000 branding/website package.  I want to win this and launch HowToFightLikeAGirl.org   Person with the most votes wins!  and I want to build a website for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients....with all kinds of resources to help them!

go to http://www.ebsiwebsites.com/_blog/EBSI_Main_Blog/   you'll see my name (Lisa Mittleman) and a hawaiin sunset photo.  you don't even have to watch the montage.  just click on the "comments" section below my name.....and leave a quick comment about why I should win.   THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lisa  

Dawnmrn1

sakura!sorry for your new SE, I had some eye twitching and some  muscle spasms in my chest from my taxotere!  It does go away after you stop. I am sure you are not a burden to your BF, he loves you and wants to help you! You whould help him, just think of it that way, it will end my dear!!! I wish I could send you some NH rain, we've had plenty!  Hugs. Dawn

pickle

Diane: I just watched the Lisa Mittleman video and left a comment.....such a lovely and touching video. Thanks for passing this on

nasharayne

Hi Ladies,

 Just checking in.  I'm half done with rads and no SEs yet.

Sakura - I'm sure your BF doesn't mind being there for you.  When I thought I was overloading my BF with stuff I started to rely on other people to help and he got a little offended when I didn't ask him to do it. So, now he's doing it all.

ChrisC433

I had my first rad appointment Monday.  They did the scans and markings.  I was to have sim. next Monday and get first treatment Tues.  I begged to start sooner....so, I get sim and first treatment tomorrow.  If everything stays on track I should be done 10/1.  We have rehearsal dinner for my son on 10/2 and wedding 10/3.  This timing will be great, now I have to stick with it...no missed days!

Went to onc. today for bloodwork.  Everythiing is going well.  See onc in 3 more months for blood work again and surgeon in 6 months for mammo.  Down to just rads for awhile...great!

Hope everyone is doing well.  Sending hugs to all...

Chris

bethr

Hi All...

I had my first rad treatment today...  What fun...  1 down 32 to go....

Diane - I gave Lisa a vote...  Nice video..  very touching...  I hope she wins!

 Have a great day all!

 Beth

didle20Diane

Thanks Beth and Beth for leaving comments for Lisa!

Chris, sounds like a tight schedule but I know you can do it!  It will be over before you know it!  And what a nice reward to complete rads the day before your son's wedding weekend!  Take it one day at a time!!!

crusader1

Hi All,

Had been a little depressed after my last hospitalization following my reconstruction and due to the MRSA infection I got at the hospital. Well then I started feeling bad that my hair was growing in too slow. The remembrance of the cancer and chemo just wasn't going away ..with still having to rely on hair coverings..

Well this weekend I got another fever and started feeling bad. Well this time , after four doctor visits it was determined I had walking pneumonia. Easily curable with meds.

I now actually am feeling much more upbeat. I guess this setback, temporary as it is put things back into perspective. So my hair will eventually grow in.I am cancer free and feeling good.I now have to just go back to my old optimistic self and move ahead.

NYDeb ..hope things are going well for you.

Hugs to all..

Francine

sakura73

Crusader so sorry to hear you have been depressed and unwell, but glad the meds are now fixing the problem! I really admire your attitude - yes, these setbacks are short term, and the long term looks bright. But it is a long road for all of us.

Dawnmrn1

Please vote for Lisa Lisa!  Her video is inspiring and shows what a journey we are on, and how much our families are affected!

Francine! sorry for your set back, glad you are doing better!  Fight the fight!

Glad to hear people are progressing in their TX, Onc today,dermatologist tomorrow! My first onc visit since finishing chemo!!!! should be interesting

Raining again in NH!!! Hugs, Dawn

ChrisC433

Francine- Sorry to hear you continue to battle "other things" along your journey.  Just dealing with the cancer treatments is enough.  My heart goes out to you...I know I don't have the energy to address anything else at this point!  Glad you are feeling better....keep it up!

Deb-Hope everything is going well with you.  You are a strong women and have what it takes to get through all this.  Keep on keeping on!

I voted for Lisa too....what a great video!

Chris

kim40

Francine - Glad you are starting to feel better.  That was one thing that you didn't need with everything else that you are dealing with.

I also voted for Lisa and posted it on my Facebook page  Beautiful video.  I cried when I seen it - I hope she wins too.

crusader1

Hi All,

Thanks for all the encouraging comments.

I also just voted for Lisa's video. So beautifully done and so meaningful to all of us. I too hope she wins.

Hugs to all.

Francine

pickle

Good Morning Ladies,

Hope everyone is doing well. Just curious....Is everyone who has finished treatment feeling like they are getting back to a normal routine and life? How are you all dealing with getting on with things? I am so happy to be done but I must admit that I am having a hard time getting motivated to get back to exercise and my pre-cancer life. I don't feel depressed but just not mentally able to push myself and get going. Is anyone else experiencing this? I feel terribly guilty for being unmotivated as I know I should be so grateful and making the best of everything. Don't get me wrong, I am so appreciative to have the cancer behind me but still can't push myself. It's a vicious cycle of going to bed everynight and telling myself that I will change my life around starting in the morning...then morning comes and I find reasons to not get going. So self defeating!

I would love to hear how you are all doing. Any tips (or maybe I just need a kick in the butt) to get me going would be appreciated. We talked a few months ago about starting our own motivation/get back in shape plan going....anyone interested? I know that being on this thread helped me so much during treatmnet that maybe a support thread for post treatment/getting our life back would be helpful. I know there is a motivation thread on here but I thought it might be good to keep among this group of great warriors.

Has anyone heard form Gina Gina or Luv2 sing?

kim40

I'm also having a hard time in getting back into the "routine" of things.  It seems for the past 8 months, we had to deal with doctor appts, chemo, radiation, scans and the list goes on and on.  I'm trying too but as you said it is difficult.  I feel pretty good during the day, it is just the evening and first thing in the morning that I have a really hard time.  My hair is growing, but not fast enough.  My brows and lashes are still gone and oh, lets not forget my breast!  When I see myself in the mirror - I have a real hard time grasping what I just went through.  I"m not depressed, but the feelings that I have are surreal - did this just happen to me.

I keep myself busy during the day. I go for  my 5km walk first thing in the morning, because if I don't, I know that I won't later - that gives me the energy I need for the rest of the day.  I am appreciative that I am at home as I worked outside the home for the past 22 years.  I find myself exploring with new meal ideas in the kitchen, and even baking a litte!  Something I don't do!  I have also joined a local support group here in town called Bosum Buddies (dragon boat racing team)! and I am also organizing a fundraising for the Canadian  Breast  Cancer Foundation called Dance for the Cure. 

I'm keeping myself busy - I'm scared not too!  Our lives will never be "normal" again - but it will be a "new normal".

didle20Diane

Good afternoon March Warriors!!!  Hope all is well.

Motivation.....hmmmmmm.  Where do I start? There is a motivation thread on bc.org that I have been following, not posting YET.....hee hee.  I need to get it together though.  I tell myself tomorrow, tomorrow LOL.  The year before my DX I kept telling myself I had to get in shape again (from 3 back to back pregnancies) but I was SO tired all of 2008....now I know why of course.  So 09 starts with this SFBC and here I am 8 months later and all I have done is given up the occasianal soda.  I joined a gym, haven't gone   I have a friend from HS on FB that started P90X in January and she is such a machine.  She posts ALL her workouts on her FB status page.  It is her motivation to do it!  She works out like crazy, has a job, has 2 kids so why can't I add a wee bit of excercise to my day?  Some positive things I have done.......got my bike tuned up and have ridden it once a week!  Progress!   Started eating somewhat better, too.  I know once I get going I am not going to want to stop.  

Emotionally I have never felt depressed through any of this s**t..... I think that even without my DX I would be telling myself that I could start tomorrow instead of today so I can't blame the BC for my laziness.   I just need to start doing something consistently.  I used to work out like crazy and play on several soccer teams. 

 I am busy trying to potty train my 3 yo son before school starts in 30 days. Yikes.  Such a daunting task.....and I still have one more after him.  UGH.  Poopy pants to me been doing lots of laundry LOL...does that count as exercise?

Maybe we could continue on our thread for now and anyone doing anything excercise related could post it here.  That would be motivation for me and we all know each other.  

I just heard from Gina.....she is on vacation, no internet, laptop, etc.  I "see" Raymon (luv2sing) on facebook here and there, too.

key SFBC is Stupid F ING breast cancer

hugs

Diane

didle20Diane

Update, I finally posted on the MOTIVATION thread, got my pedometer out and already have 100 steps on it!  Every little bit of movement helps.....walking, biking, stretching, dancing.....come on!  Let's get motivated!

pickle

Kim: Good for you doing 5k in the morning. I think that is a great kickstart to the day.....now if I could only follow suit....lol.

Diane: A pedometer is step in the right direction. (no pun intended)

Great idea to continue to post here...every bit of motivation and inspiration will help. Ladies even if you take a walk, walk the dog, ride a bike, chase your kids around or whatever it is....please post it....it will help. Any good nutrition info...recipes etc would be good too!

Let's do it!

7timewinner

Hello all,

Thyroid Bx came back, no cancer!  So there's the great news!

But I am also finding myself terribly depressed and unmotivated all of a sudden. I have 13 rads txs to go, then surgery to remove my ovaries on the 8th of Sept. (I refuse to take Tamoxifen, so that was my option). Then an aromatase inhibitor. I wake up every day with very stiff and painful hands and feet, probably leftover from chemo still. I have an appt with onc next week to discuss.

But I know I have much to be grateful for...I think I am just having an emotional crash of sorts, now that things are finally coming to an end.

Anyway,,,this too will pass

Cheers,

Nadine

didle20Diane

3,059 steps since 5:00PM when I put the pedometer on!  Hey it's going to get me motivated.  I also jumped rope for 2 minutes but am clearly out of wack....I kept missing and the darn jump rope smacked me in the back. OUCH!  But I am on it.  Tomorrow I am taking the bike out with the kids!

Nadine, wow you have a lot going on....chemo crap lingering (it gets better, I promise) rads and soon surgery.  Wow, so much but yes, this will all pass like everything else.  You'll do great! Congrats on the CLEAN thyroid!

Every day gets a little better!!!! I tell myself this a lot!

Everyone have a great weekend OK!

Big Hugs

Diane

maidmarion

Hello All....not posted in a while but have been reading. Just not had much time to post, back at work full time and then a some, very busy right now which has been good , keeping my mind occupied.

  So just to update on my status thus far, Tx finished back in June eyelashes fell out a couple of weeks later, hair is actually growing back now, not fast enough of course! But i have taken the decision not to wear any head coverings and go to work with my Sinead O'conner hair style, too damn hot to wear anything here. I started Arimidex in July and so far it seems ok no real SE's as such , a bit stiff in the morning but not quite sure if that is down to age now! I had a call back in July from the Onc after my visit to say that my Tumor markers were elevated, so I had to have another PET scan and abdominal CT scan, much to my dismay, hated them first time round with the false positives! Anyway much to my relief it came back "unremarkable" and the Onc nonchalantly  said " oh  must have been a false positive!! We love those don't we! So finally after three weeks of worry until the tests were done and back, I thought, OK now we just get on with it, five years of Arimidex and lots of positive thinking, get myself into shape eat better, lose a bit of weight, get rid of all that comfort eating pudge. Hmmmm like you say not so easy....we have a Wii and we bought the fitness center, cough... cough, it's been out of the box once to set it up, I am just so tired when I get home from work that it's hard to motivate myself, especially after the dog has been walked too! So, it would be great to carry on in this thread and include Motivation and health tips. I know i don't post much but it has been a real help and a comfort zone to come on here throughout all of this, you all are so inspirational and supportive! 

Anyway upshot is I do not have to go back to see the Onc for another six months.

I can relate to what most have said regarding an emotional crash of sorts, something i also had just after Chemo finished, but like Diane says each day gets a little better, I try to keep myself occupied and always give myself something to look forward to, now and again i get that surreal feeling of what has just happened and i pull myself up and tell myself it's behind me I am a Survivor!

Tomorrow the Dog will get an extended walk, that's a start eh? Sunday I am doing some retail therapy with friends at the Mall and may even get out the Wii resort when I get home!

Have Great great weekend everyone!

Cheers,

Julie

nasharayne

I am pretty unmotivated also, you would think looking in the mirror at the extra 20 pounds would be enough but, it's not. 

I did get a wii fit but, I was playing wii tennis with my nephews a couple weeks ago and my doctor says I have wii tennis elbow.  Who knew that was a real thing?  As soon as my arm is better I plan to get started. I'm kind of scared of the wii now but, the doc said I just over did it.  We shall see, I'll take any excuse not to have to work out.

ChrisC433

Good Morning!

I also find myself sitting in a chair staring at nothing for hours and content!  It is so hard to get motivivated, I just feel tired all the time.  With a wedding in October...I have no time to lose (no pun intended).  I started going to Planet Fitness.  I do 30 minutes on eliptical and then 1/2 hour on weight machines.  The machine says my target heart rate is 114-140.  It seems mine stays around 165 and that is only going about 3 1/2 mph.  When I push it to 6-7 mph the heart rate jumps to 175-185 and the machine beeps for me to slow down.  I realize that those that did "A" have some residual lower heart function, but wow!   Seems like I am already pushing myself without pushing myself!  I borrowed my neighbors P90X videos and there is no way in h*ll I can keep up with that.  I'm looking into a different DVD, maybe yoga.

I have 2/35 rads under me...yeah (O.K....at least its a start)  Go to PT on Thurs.  My brachial nerve is very tight and I still have a pouch under my armpit.   Therapist thinks it is lymph. already starting...great. She advised me to take some pain med. before I visit her.  I've heard she is brutal...but good.

Keep it up ladies, it is hard to get moving, but once you do it does feel good.  BUT, so does the staring chair!!!!

Hugs to all,

Chris

Luv2sing

Good Morning All!

Just wanted to check in real quick.  Getting ready to head to Maryland to see my SIL  I'll come back and try to post again later.  I see a lot you are feeling like me.  I finished my Taxol on 7/31 and will start my radiation on 8/20.  No one told me they actually stuck you to do the tattoos!!!!  I thought they would use a permanent pen!  I'm scheduled for some more tests cause they think the adriamycin may have affected my heart and my rad doc informed me they cannot position the beam to miss my lungs, so there may be some scarring ... oh what fun ... NOT!

I'm keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers and hope you have a restful weekend.  I'll check back and try to finish reading posts. 

bethr

Hi Everyone...

I too am suffering from the 'when will I feel like me again' syndrome.  My hair's not back yet (week 5) but I have high hopes.  My wig looks ridiculous and I'm so sick and tired of the whole deal I don't care.  I'm 5'11'' and sometimes feel like I must look like a bad tranvestite (lol)..  but I don't care....  My feet and ankles are still swollen and that's driving me nuts.  I can't fit into any shoes for work..  who cares...   I wear my sneakers...  My PC gave me a prescription for Lasix and that seems to be working a tiny, tiny bit...  ugh...  I have a visit with my ONC at the end of the month and they may be getting an earful...  who knows???  And my lymphadema issues are still coming and going...  well, let's not go there...  I'll go on forever...

But thank you all so much for your posts...  I'm not the only one...  as usual, you all come through to help me know that I'm not alone...

One of the things I kept thinking about during chemo was that I was going to buy a new bike.  Someone stole my other one long ago and I've really missed riding it.   With my feet and ankles, I haven't felt much like looking for one, but you've all motivated me and I'll begin my search today...  I'll do it in honor of all of you with the hope that sometime soon we'll ALL get much closer to feeling normal again...  the walking will be good for them too....

 Thank you all for being who you are!!!

Have a great weekend!

 Beth

pinkdove10

Hi March WARRIORS

i have finishe 7 rads...23 to go.  i too am feeling the same way about getting back to routine.  being a TN, i have to come to an optimum wight...the whole thing of going to the gym, getting a good diet, keeing fit...its just not happening.  all along i thaught i was the only one.  thank god i am not alone!!

i am still waiting for all the rads to be over and then see if i am the same...or else what abot taking councelling??? will that be the solution?

Love to all

Uma

ccbaby

I have been catching up on everyone's posts.

Here is an update with me...Even though the chemo part is done for me, I still have A LOT to do! I go in tomorrow for my 2nd Herceptin only treatment. My WBC count was low last time and I am hoping it has improved. I had a MUGA scan last Thursday and am hoping that my score is still good so that I can continue getting Herceptin till March.  I am having a radiation simulation on Tuesday, after painstakingly deciding to do rads. I got a second opinion because I was in the grey area. Both rad onc agreed it will benefit me. 26% chance of recurrence without rads and under 5% with rads.  That is what sealed the deal for me. The bad part of it is I visited with my PS and he wants me to wait 6 months after rads are finished to get my expander exchanged into implant. That means ANOTHER additional 7 1/2 months with having this very uncomfortable expander. I have had it since my surgery in February. Also, I have my 6 month follow up appt next week with my surgeon who did my mastectomy. Seems like there is something all of the time. I can't wait for all of this to hopefully be over and get on with my life!! Take care everyone!

kim40

Good Morning  Ladies

5timewinner!  Great News!  So glad to hear your thyroid came back clear.  God has answered your prayers!

Just a question for you all.  For you ladies that have had a single mastecomy, have any of you decided against recon and is electing to have a proprolatic (sp??) on the other breast?  If so, have you met with your BS and how long did they say before they would do it?  I met with mine last week - she has agreed to do it, but will not touch me until next year!  I was so disappointed!  She told me that my body can only handle one thing at a time, and since I've had so much toxic chemicals injected into my body, and being on Herceptin, I'm still at risk of infection due to low immune system.  Just wondering if any of you ladies have experienced the same advise from your BS - would love to hear!

kduling

Hi everyone!   Can I whine?

 I have been "Miss Positive" through this whole thing (remember the "pink party")?   But, now I'm getting really depressed.   I had reconstruction "touch up" 10 days ago and it sucks.  They "lifted" my real boob (and he did a bit of reduction and he made the nipple smaller).....then he supposedly "coned up" the tram flap boob and made a nipple....this is what I see:

 1)   I went from a DD to a C cup (I wanted a D)

2)  Tram flap boob is smaller than real boob (and still not shaped cone-like)

3)  Don't like smaller nipple (on real boob).  Is that supposed to be cuter?  why did he mess with that?

4)  Fake nipple is HUGE -- doc says it will shrink.

5)  Nipples are not lined up....real one is higher (doc says that will droop more)

6)  Now I have scars on real boob

whatever....I am just SO OVER THIS CANCER I could puke!   I cried a lot of yesterday and today.  Dont' recommend anti-depressants cuz I'm already on them.  Plastic Surgeon says it will look better and give it time.....blah blah blah......

I too quit wearing a wig this week.  I don't care anymore.  I'm too hot.  My hair looks alot like that last picture posted on here (sorry forgot whose it was).

Any advice from my sisters who know what I'm going through?   My boobs were truly my best (physical) asset!  They looked great.  Nice.   Now they are scared, uneven, and horrible.   I know I should just be thankful the cancers gone...but not today.......today I'm having a pity party at how I look.   I want to rewind time and go back......I want everything to be like it was.

SORRY guys...this isn't like me.

Hugs

Karen

Anonymous

Diane I just love all your acronyms, PFC, SFBC......  It keeps my mind thinkin

Motivation is such a vicious cycle.  I've always kept up with walking my dog a few miles a day, but that ain't gonna cut it.  So, I dragged the kayak down to the lake and paddled two miles each way with lots of rest along the way.  It's a start, not like Kim, - no moss growing under your feet!

Nadine  Congrats on the B9 verdict.  So happy for you.

Sounds like many of us are very emotional right now.  There is something about when you get off that chemo train.  Stupid things would send me to tears, while awful news I would handle rationally.

Since I am going to start my another round of chemo next week, I decided to go to a Look Good Feel Better class.  Wow, was I out of my element.  Mom of Boys once said she was a "girly girl". Well I'm just one grown up "tom boy".  Besides being totally makeup illiterate, I was the only one there with no hair.  I became the model, they put scarves and hats on me and pretty much did all my make up for me. 

Karen  Wouldn't it be great if we could have a rewind button for our lives.  Take the time you need to feel sorry for yourself.  We all do sometimes.  That's what this board is for, to let it out.