Chemo Starting Sep 09

hbowser

Good morning ladies,

Catherine - Glad that your appointment w/onc. went well.  I am in total agreement with you regarding snow.  I hate feeling snowed in and I definitely don't like shoveling.  Maybe the neighborhood kid will come by again.  I think they are predicting 24" or so.  Drat, I am seeing snow outside my window.  Hopefully, my DH comes back soon from the store.  He should be okay for a couple of hours since we have a jeep.

Susan - Was feeling some pain along my port removal site and the point where my drain is so I took all your advice and took some pain meds.  It was tolerable, but wanted to be ahead of the pain.  Definitely don't need to be a martyr or suffer unnecessarily.

Jane- I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your chemo buddies. Makes me appreciate every day I have.  Praying that your spirit will be lifted soon.  

To the rest of ladies - I hope you are getting your energy back and preparing for the next leg of your journey.  Have a great weekend everyone and stay warm and safe for those who are going to be experiencing bad weather.

Love, Holly

Melinda-Tma3

Hi SOSisters, 

Patty and Susan! Hooray! Whoop Whoop Hooray! A whole lotta goodness for the weekend!  

All is well in Rads.  I am 2/3rds done! 4 more regular rads and then 5 boosts! Less than two weeks away.  Honestly, no SE's but a little tenderness here and there.  No tiredness yet. Crossing my fingers!  Let me know when you all get started.  One thing you may want to get is one of those formed bras with no underwire.  Warners and Victoria Secret make them.  They are very soft and don't rub under the breast.  That and sports bras have been my saving grace.  I wear them during the day and let the girls out at nite!   

Haven't used any lotions etc yet, so far no need.  My Rad Dr (Nutritionist guy) said one of the best ointments out there is Bag Balm (for cow udders) "shudder"  Says everyone should keep it in their medicine chest for burns and rad burning/itching. Put it on and cover it with a cotton bra. Needs to be rinsed off in the morning for the rad though.   For a burn...put ice on the burn for 10 minutes, dry and add the balm.  Gauze wrap for 24 hours and will heal right away.  

Tamoxiphen is still the same with very few hot flashes and sweats....So all is well here...glad to hear things are going good out there!

Big Hugs everyone!

Melinda 

    

BarbAnne41

Hi Ladies-

Thanks for the burn advice Melinda- I always looked at the bag balm in our pharmacy and wondered what it might be good for. Yea for being almost done. I breezed through too. Big hugs to you!

Holly- So glad you are on and staying ahead of the pain is so important. I have learned the hard way not to tough it out, cause once it gets in gosh it won't let go! gentle hugs to you.

 Susan-Yea for B9, I am so very happy, great big hugs for you.

Jane-Glad you are feeling better and better. I am sorry about your buddys. It is a sobering reminder isn't it? Comfort hugs for you. My eating isn't so much about taste buds, frankly mine are moody and generally  feel coated, my brain just won't stop saying eat eat, so I do, until my brain says stop I am gonna throw up, so I stop. I can't wait for normal taste buds.

Patty a trainer-gosh he should give you some sort of gimme time! Ugh sending you strong hugs.

Neece- I am not much of a swimmer, but just the thought of swishing around in a pool sounds like fun. Big good luck hugs for the new job, and hair, and arm..your image was funny though, but you are beautiful remember that!!

My tingling I don't think is any better, In fact I want to say it is worse in my right heal. I told the onc's office that it is like asking me which foot is more asleep, hard to tell. the nurse thinks I may have just gotten used to it in my toes. So My onc fit me in to see him Monday, and we are going to discuss, lowering, or stopping, or who knows what he has up his sleeve. I feel very comfortable and confident no matter what. Although I will be the first to admit that if I left the office Monday with a deportation appt and my Tamox prescrip, I would feel very happy.

Catherine thank you for the tumor marker and hair dye info big congrats hugs on getting a doc break!!

Anita, Kim, China, DiDi and all the other girls I missed.much love and healing hugs

Like Catherine said, hope all you east coasters are good, and safe.

Barbara

jadams1264

Hello SOSisters...  TGIF!  Must admit this week has been better as far as energy goes.  I'm so glad to be able to say that!!  I'm taking the easy way out tonight and just say that I'm glad everyone is doing well.  To my sisters to the North, hope you have stocked up on groceries, sounds like you are  in for it!  It has been ugly here, rain and more rain.  We're under flash flood warnings.

Thanks for you kind words.  It is hard to lose a friend let alone two and sharing chemo really brought all of us together.  Look how close we have all come on this website.  You cannot imagine how thankful I am to have found all you wonderful ladies.

Take care and hope everyone has a great weekend!  Go Colts!

Thoughts and prayers are with you!

Jane

chinablue

Hi Ladies,

We are in for some snow tomorrow, but not the blizzard that is happening south of us.  It looks like we will only get about 3 inches here in the Hudson Valley.   I am ready for a big dump.  Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

I went for my CT scan and markings for radiation today.  It was nice to chat with my rad onc about where they are going to zap me.  I love that she shared all her knowledge and fully answered all of my questions.  

I have an X at the middle of my chest and an X below and behind my armpit.  These X's were made with sharpy pen and were covered with a clear sticker.  I was told if the sticker bothers me it is ok to take it off.  It is ok if the marker comes off.  I did not ask then what is the point of it anyway.  

I will be zapped on my neck and my entire right chest area.  My rad onc said that she was going to stay away from where my bs took 24 nodes because zapping that area would surely cause lymphedema.  The chances of bc coming back in the nodes was very very small and the chance of lymphedema very large.  Hmmm..

positiveme - What is CEA and CA27:29?  I am so glad you have confidence in your onc. It makes such a big difference emotionally. 

Melinda - Thanks for sharing your rad experience.  It so reassuring to hear someone managing as well as you are.  Also, thanks for the bra advice.  I am off to Victoria Secret this weekend.

Barbara - I am a week and two days away from my last Taxol.  My feet, toes and fingers are still quite tingly.  It is like they are asleep.  Sometimes my feet have a real burning sensation too.  My onc told me reducing the taxol would compromise the chance of recurrence.  He said he would reduce the amount of Taxol only if the sensations were unbearable.  So, he never reduced the amount of Taxol I got.  He said there was a good chance the neuropathy would go away a few months after treatment.  He also said there was a small chance it might never go away. Great?!?  The latest in the Taxol saga is that my finger and toe nails are turning black and popping off.  Ug.

I had my zometa infusion (clinical trial) last week without any se's. Yahoo!

I wish all of you a wonderful weekend full of friends, laughs and love.

msmpatty

Jane - LOL about your "true" hair color from a bottle.  Mine too!  I always vowed that I had no intention of ever knowing again what my true hair color is.   Joke's on me!

Barbara - I'm sorry the Taxol reduction didn't help with the tingling.   I don't think my dose reduction in week 6 had an immediate impact, but the numbness in my fingers didn't get any worse over the remaining TXs and maybe got a little better.  Anyway, I'm sure your Onc will make the right judgement on reducing, continuing or stopping.  

China - My Onc so readily dropped my Taxol dose when I mentioned the numbness that I got suspicious.   He admitted that he actually started me at a dose 12% higher than the protocol and showed me how after the 20% reduction in week 6, the total amount I got over the 12 weeks was right on the protocol.  Tricky! 

Melinda - Great information on the rads.  Thanks!   Will go in search of Bag Balm.  I'm so happy you are almost done.

Today is the one week anniversary of my last  TX....but I got a call from the chemo suite that they found my reading glasses, so I ended up there again this morning.   Luckily nobody stuck any needles in me. 

I hope you all keep warm this weekend.  After all my bragging about the great San Diego weather, it is pouring rain and predicted to do so all weekend.  Serves me right!

 Patty

Melinda-Tma3

Some new news on the cancer front.  Always reassuring to hear good news.... 

Breast Cancer Therapy Reduces Mastectomies
Source: (cancerfacts.com)
Wednesday, January 20, 2010

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Jan. 20, 2010 - A new treatment not only killed large cancer tumors, but reduced the need for mastectomies by almost 90 percent, say researchers at the University of Oklahoma.

Led by Dr. William Dooley, a researcher at the OU Cancer Institute and the director of surgical oncology at OU Medicine, the multi-center team of researchers plans to start the next phase of clinical trials this year to test the therapy on even larger tumors.

"This therapy is a major advancement for women with later stage breast cancer," Dooley said in a prepared statement. "Right now, most patients with large tumors lose the breast. With this treatment along with chemotherapy, we were able to kill the cancer and save the breast tissue."

Dooley is leading a group of researchers from OU, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, the Comprehensive Breast Center in Florida and St. Joseph's Hospital in California. They are working on a treatment called Focused Microwave Thermotherapy. The technique, which was approved by the FDA, uses a modified version of microwave technology directed at tumors to heat them.

In the most recent study, researchers tested the therapy on tumors that were an inch to an inch and a half in size. These large tumors usually require mastectomies. When researchers used the heating therapy within two hours of patients receiving chemotherapy, the tumor was more susceptible to the chemotherapy and shrunk rapidly. The percentage of patients needing mastectomies was reduced from 75 percent to 7 percent. Their findings appear in an upcoming issue of the Annals of Surgical Oncology.

"The trial was very successful. We were able to completely reverse those odds," Dooley said. "We redesigned the machine and will begin clinical trials this year to determine whether the therapy works on tumors that are larger than one and a half inches and smaller than 5 inches in size."

In theory, Dooley said the technique could be used on any organ that could be held relatively still.

The scientists are now working to integrate heat-sensitive nanotechnology that would more precisely target cancer cells. They also plan to study a byproduct of the rapid disintegration of the tumor - a boosted immune system. Dooley said it looks like the rapid release of cancer proteins into the blood stream is causing an immune response that could reduce the chance of cancer recurrence.

Melinda-Tma3

WE SISTER-CHICKS NEED TO STICK TOGETHER - LOVE AND PRAY FOR
EACH OTHER - STAND WITH AND FOR EACH OTHER - SUPPORT AND
ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER - YEP - THAT'S WHAT SISTER'S DO BEST. !!! 

chinablue

Ladies,

I think I am going to need a bit of a pep talk.   I am close to 2 weeks from my last taxol.  I am experiencing

fatigue 

painful ugly oozing fingernails  

peripheral neuropathy 

red blotches all over my skin

funky tastbuds 

nausea 

trying to artfully balance a size bcup and a size dcup

emotionally overcoming the nasty scars I have from diep recon due to abnormal blistering

Lack of hair

lack of libido 

Cording 

Now, to top all of it off, I found a bump on my vulva that is wart-like.  Good God.  

Before this week, I just tried to ignore all this stuff. Most of it is not new.  I wonder why it is hitting me now. Maybe the wart and fingernails just put me over the edge.  Geez....Six months ago, I used to be the picture of health.  

Now that I got that off my chest, let me tell you what coming up for me the next two weeks. I have my rad simulation, a MUGA test for the Avastin trial (I got the placebo) , my first counseling session, a gyn appt. and work.  

Then, the fun begins.  I am taking my wonderful talkative 14 yr old daughter up to Boston to see a friend.  I am going to stay in a luxury hotel, enjoy the fitness center and some spa treatments.  A day later, my 14 yr old and I are going to jump a plane and make a surprise visit to my older daughter at Univ. Notre Dame.  Uhhh...I am feeling so much better thinking about vacation. 

My loving positive husband says I am getting hyper sensitive to my body.  He thinks it is probably natural and to remember all of this will pass.  It will just take time.  I feel better thinking about him and his kind reassuring words.

I should really count my blessings.  I do have a great family that makes me feel loved even when I am not loving myself much. They help me smile when I feel sad.  I also have you ladies to help me out.  I know you will understand the mixed up world of bc. I feel better now.

God Bless 

chinablue

Oh, I know I will make an appt. with the gyn on Monday.

chinablue

Guess what?  A lady at church commented to my husband today that his wife (me) was the most positive person she knew.  Hmmm..I guess she did not read the above post.

Love Ya 

chinablue

All of the above deleted posts, are part of a self pity rant.  I ended up taking a long walk in 26 degree weather. My husband talked with me and told me he thought i was getting hypersensitve to my body.  He told me he thought it was probably natural and will pass.  He gave me a big hug that warmed my heart.  I feel so much better.

hbowser

Chinablue - I am glad you are feeling better.  It sounds like you have a wonderful husband.  Just keep telling yourself that this is temporary and it will pass.  Ranting and venting helps release the pent up anger and frustration and please know we are here for you.  Sending you a cyber hug!!

I totally agree, Melinda.  I don't know what I would have done without you guys these past few months.  I come here for encouragement, knowledge and camaraderie.  It really helps me to know that when I come here and vent, you guys understand.

I'm doing okay.  The biggest pain (literally and figuratively) is the site of my drain.  I can't wait until this comes out on Tuesday.  Hopefully, we will be able to get ourselves out.  Enjoy the Super Bowl everyone.

Love, Holly

BarbAnne41

It is perfectly fine China-Rant all you need. I am glad you are feeling better. I can't wait to see how we all feel come summer, when we have had time to get the chemo and the rads out of our systems and maybe detox a little. I know I am looking so forward to feeling semi human.I am sending you a nice hug.

Holly, sorry about the drain-hope you are feeling better. Did you get a lot of snow?

 Patty- sorry about the rain, but I am sure it will be sunny again soon. The oncology office I go to, is in Ann Arbor MI (live in a suburb of A2) anyway there are two major hospitals there and they do a lot of research and what not on cancer, chemo and se's etc.. so I am not worried, my onc is top notch and if he says to reduce it, I will, if he says I am done I will, he has always had his patients best interest at heart and he normally come loaded with statistics and analysis to backup his options. If he is paranoid about my numb heals, so am I. I will post tomorrow what he says. Thanks for the support. Hope you are feeling well.

Melinda- Yes we need to support one another, we are sisters!! Love ya girl hope you are well. Oh and thanks for the good article-good stuff.

Well of to watch the Super Bowl. I am rooting for the Saints only because I love a good under dog story.

Much love to all my sisters

Barbara

msmpatty

Holly - I'm sorry for your drain pain.   I felt the same way...the drain was the biggest problem..painful, unsightly, hard to deal with.  But on the bright side...it will be gone soon!

Melinda - Thanks for the article.  One "lucky" (?) thing about BC is that with all the fund raising there are always new treatments and approaches in the works. I too am so glad to have all the supportive sisters on BCO. 

Barbara - Your Onc sounds impressive!   I'm sure he'll give you the best advice.  Please let us know what he says.

China - Rant away, girl!   I'm so glad your husband is there to support you...and so are we!

Super Bowl kick-off was a few minutes ago so I guess I better go watch.   I'm not much of a football fan, but I love the ads and I really would like to see the Saints win. Plus, a few hours on the sofa sounds great!

Patty

vickilynn

It's been awhile... I do try to keep up by reading and praying for you all. 

We've had some major changes this past month.   We're planning to open a small coffee/sandwich shop in our little berg - of 1500 people.  It's pretty exciting how the doors have opened up.  We were planning to travel and continue singing (we sing in churches and RV parks) but I didn't feel like traveling yet --- and am so glad I get to be around family and my doctor for awhile as I'm still healing.  Lazy Dawg Cafe hopes to open March 1 and I get to bake cookies and cinnamon rolls and coffee cakes!  For lunch we'll serve sandwiches and hot dogs and close by 3 pm.  I was feeling like I could handle it all until I tore a muscle on Friday!  I ended up in the ER this morning because I was afraid I'd broken a rib (still a possibility) while helping remodel, clean and paint our little cafe!  The dr. said it could be because I did too much after not doing much for the last 6 months.  I was only pulling old siding off the walls and pitching old junk into a trailer and painting and cleaning...  Anyway, have to take it easy now and let someone else do the heavy work.

Also, she did an EKG and it showed a "slight abnormality" I need to follow up on.  I've never had an irregular EKG so was surprised - wondering if the chemo affected my heart. 

The hair is coming in but is so soft and fine that it hardly shows at all... except on my chin! 

So a word to the wise - don't try to do heavy (or light) construction while your body's still in recovery mode!!

Oh... yes... just saw the end of the super bowl.  Sorry they lost or won!

Vickilynn

Anonymous

Ladies,

I love you all!  Drain pains, rants, pulled muscles, numb heels, I'll take you all!  We aren' t perfect by any means, but we are sisters.  We all need to remember to be tender with ourselves and give ourselves time to deal with the physical and emotional aftermath of our cancer diagnosis, and our various treatments.  None of this is easy, and often we get caught up in being strong for others, even for each other here on this thread.  I will be the first to admit that I had a really hard two weeks this past month.  I needed you and you were there for me, and I want you all to know that I am there for you.  You are an amazing group of ladies and I want you to know that we all make a difference for each other.

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?  How high would you fly?  How deep would you love?  What would you hear if you listened to your beautiful heart?  Be gentle and tender with yourself!

I love you, God bless you, sweet dreams, goodnight!

Susan

Melinda-Tma3

wHOOp whoopp;;;;New Orleans.....    Good!  They've earned it!!!  Congrats! 

Melinda 

Melinda-Tma3

Damnnng......China....wish I could read the deleted posts....but then again..... glad you couldn't read my deleted ones too!   Geez....it helps to just get it out!  Love ya Susan, China, Patty, Barbara...and I want to hug you Jane....I'm sad with you on the loss of the dear chemo friends....No words to describe..

Love U all..

Melinda 

Neece

hello lovely ladies

Just had a lovely weekend - my DH invited about 20 dear friends around for a finger food lunch to  (1) celebrate my chemo recovery and (2) thank them for their love and support during 2009. It was a beautiful, busy, laughter and lovely food filled day. The only sad note was that one of our friends, a beautiful lady in her early 50's who has been on the bc journey for about 3 years, looked very unwell and told me quietly that they have found secondaries in her liver. I guess that just can't be good. My DH and I have promised ourselves to be in close contact and look after her as best we can as she lives just with her 17 year old daughter who is doing her final year of school. I felt so sad.  Jane, I can understand your sadness at your chemo buddies passing away - it is so hard when you know so well what a fight they would have fought just as we have all done.

On a happier note, some lovely news from Susan, Holly (with you on the 'drain pain' Holly but glad you are doing OK otherwise), Vickilynn (how wonderful that you are going to be baking cookies and so on for your cafe  after all our jokes about virtual cookies- wish we could all come and drink coffee together and eat your cinnamon scrolls - yum), Melinda ( glad you are doing OK on rads and Tamoxifen - I am 3 weeks on Tam now and just temp changes and night sweats to report so far too)

Barbara my toe tingling is easing  a little but I think it will last a while - my onc says itcould take months. Annoying isn't it?

I am now day 3 with Michelin woman arm - DH is getting pretty good at the lymphatic massage and tying me up in layers of  bandage. It is awkward to do things (like typing!!) and I now officially can't wash plates (no rubber gloves big enough to fit over my hand) so maybe there's an upside to everything?

To all I wish you a happy week and for those in snowy areas, stay warm.

jadams1264

Hello SOSisters... hope this finds everyone doing well on this Monday evening and staying warm or cool (for Neece). 

ChinaBlue - if you can't rant here, where can you rant?  I love a good pity party, had plenty of them and we are all entitled!  We would understand better than most, we aren't always going to be positive.  When do you actually start your rads?  I go for more markings on Weds., suspect I will start no later than next week.

Patty - is your hair coming in evenly?  The hair on the sides of my head seems to be coming in faster and thicker than on the top!  Is the sun back out in San Diego?  We just have cold here, not snow like the northeast (thank goodness!).

Melinda - what a great article, just think one day the txt for BC could be one little pill!  How are you doing?  Get a lot of snow?  You have been leading the way for all of us, so glad you are doing well on the tamoxifin and you should be so close to be finished with radiation!  I am so wanting rads to be over and I haven't even started!

Holly - glad you are doing okay!  Glad to hear you are getting your drains out tomorrow.  What a relief that will be for you.  What's next?

BarbAnne - I'm with you, can't wait for spring.  I keep thinking we are going to be like the buds and flowers, bursting with new energy and positive moods and BC becoming a distant memory.  If I could get someone to sponsor our reunion that would be even better, something to look forward to in the fall too!  How are you doing?  How did you make out at the doctor's?

Vickilynn - a new adventure, how exciting?  Are you going to have "to go" orders?  I'd like cookies to go   Sorry to hear about the pulled muscle, I find it hard to accept that some things I can't do like I used too!  How are you feeling now?  Keep us posted on what the doctor says.  

Susan - we are always here for whoever needs us.  That's what makes us sisters!  It is wonderful to know that we can come here, happy, sad, angry, whatever and we'll all understand.  We love you too!

Neece - sounds like you have the most wonderful husband.  So sorry to hear about your friend, we never want to hear that the cancer has come back!  And yes it is hard to lose friends, especially when you have shared this journey with them.  I'm sure your friend can use all the support and encouragement you can give her right now.  How long to you have to wear the bandages on your arm?

Hope everyone else is doing well.  Take care!

Thoughts & prayers are with you.

Jane

msmpatty

To add to Susan's post...we do have our physical challenges but look how we are moving forward.  New jobs, new ventures, new goals, vacations, parties...life is looking up for all of us!

Neece - There IS hope for your friend.  My Aunt was treated for breast cancer many years ago and 15 years later had mets to her liver.  Her liver was almost completely filled with tumors and the prognosis was not good.  She went through chemo (Taxotere) a second time.  Today, at age 87, she is alive, active and healthy!

Now that we seem to have established that 6-months is the time-line for coloring our growing locks...does anybody have an idea about when the 6-month countdown starts?    Is it 6-months from end of chemo or 6-months from when your hair starts growing? 

Barbara - any news from your visit with your Onc?

Everybody - stay warm and have a great evening!

Patty

DiDiT

Oh the hair!  I may be a guinea pig for you all - I seriously am thinking about coloring prematurely...when I ask (people who don't know) what could happen? They all reply - your hair might fall out...Well, really, I didn't mind my baldness as much as I despise this curly, grey hair!!!

I surely wouldn't go without a wig with this hair, and it was easier to wear a  hat without a wig when I didn't have this mess sticking out beneath it.  So, I'm gonna wait until it's a little longer - long enough that I'd wear it 'out there' - and I'm going to have my daughter color it - I, of course will let you know the results...  Heck - I may really put it to the test and see if she'll straighten it too!

I have been crazy busy trying to put out fires at work after being out so long with both surgeries and now getting ready for rads that I haven't been good about keeping up with posts, but IS ANYONE HAVING JOINT PAIN FOLLOWING CHEMO?????

I'm over 2 months out and OMG - my hips and knees are killing me!!!  If I sit for very long, can hardly get out of chair and then can barely walk...And knees so bad not able to kneel, squat at all - this just seemed to have come on within the last couple weeks.. I read here somewhere that some have been treated for fibromyalgia.  My onco doesn't seem to think this is chemo related - HELLO, I was quite flexible and very active prior to chemo, in fact,  we had planned on ice skating and snow skiing this long weekend, since I'm unable to retrieve pretzels from the bottom shelf at wal mart independently - sure I'm not a candidate for resuming pre-chemo activity just yet!!!!!

Ooh, it sounds like I'm griping - looking for advice, I thought about glucosamine for the joints, but since  I don't really know why paining - don't know if that would help:{ 

Neece

DiDi I have a very stiff and sore lower back, nearly 7 weeks out. It's a long term problem for me before bc but I think lack of movement (normally swim walk lots and do yoga) and I am sure chemo, have made it worse. Have you tried an anti inflammatory? If you can start to do some exercises that will help too.

Jane my hair is also very patchy. Good luck with starting rads.

Patty not sure about the 6 month time but my guess would be from when hair starts to appear.

Scoobydoo

Didit- that is funny you said that.  Yes, my hip bones hurt, not like it did with taxol, milder but still hurts. Comes and goes.  Not sure if it is a SE of the bisphosphonates I am taking or residual from chemo.  I also get weird feelings in my upper leg bones.  I sure hope all these SEs will eventually leave us.

I have not heard back from my rad onc as to when I can have the simulation done.  It was supposed to be this week.  But with all this snow we are getting not sure what is going to happen.  I want to start rads so I can finish as soon as possible.  I want to lead a somewhat normal life.  Hair has not come in yet...bummer.  I feel stubble and thats it.  Eyelashes..none.  Eyebrows...barely.  Neuropathy in feet...still.  Port site is healing nicely.  No issues with that. 

I think for my joint pain I am going to start exercising.  I have been pretty immobile so maybe that is adding to the pain.  I have a treadmill and so there is no excuse.

Anita

DiDiT

Thanks girls - maybe I'm feeling it so much now because I'm not taking anything for pain regularly - had been taking pain meds or tylenol since surgery(s) and with fills -  I do hate to take medicines though - Before all of this, rarely took a tylenol for a headache - augh!

Exercise - I'm ready (I think) My PS was pretty clear didn't want me doing anything besides walking (with minimal arm movement) for what seemed like forever - especially since I had to go back for another surgery - ANYWAY - have the go ahead this week - I plan on pool exercise -

Anita  Have my simulation Thursday and start rad supposedly around the 23rd (don't understand what takes so long) - But need the time to 'catch up', so I should be grateful:)  

Eyelashes - noticeably 'coming in' within the last three weeks - lower lashes longer than upper 

Vickilynn - New business - EXCITING!  FX Rib - not so much - I was told by either PS or ONC (can't remember) that it's not uncommon for rib fx 3-6 months post treatment - I've seen so many Dr's, residents, fellows, etc etc etc - really can't remember if related to chemo, meds, or surgery - but was told when I asked about a ski trip to refrain from 'contact sports' (like I'm gonna run out and play football) and to be careful in general - that some had fractured rib with sneeze or cough -Had pretty much forgotten until I read your post...Again, clueless as to cause - another reminder that chemo brain lingers...

BarbAnne41

HI Ladies-

DiDi- I woke up this morning with my knee buggin the crap out of me, but I have to say some of it is my compensating walk for the nueropathy in my feet, and some of it is I have been so immobile for months, and other parts of my body hurt "worse" if you know what I mean, and the constant tylenol keeps a lot of things a bay. 

So before I get to off track, My onc said he is suspending chemo and he is 99% I am done, he is leaving the port in until I see him March 1st and between now and then he is having my post chemo MRI and CT scan done (on Feb 23rd) He says, not to dispute anybody else's onc out there, that when the nueropathy shows up it is a sign that the body has had its fill of Taxol. That if it disappeared completely in the next 2 weeks he would consider having me finish the last 4, (hence the leaving of the port and the 1%), but that he highly doubted it would since, in his experience, beginning neuropathy, takes a minimum of 8 to 16 weeks to go away, and anything severe can take much longer or be permanent. So we are progressing as if I am done, but with a 1% wait and see attitude.

My walk is a little hindered, and I figured it was due to me compensating for asleep feet, and one is worse than the other, so he had me walk for him, and he thinks that it is worse in my right heal because I must have had a back injury when I was younger and pinched a nerve, and that the Taxol exacerbates that nerve sending extra neuropathy to that heal. He said he'll be able to tell after the MRI. I didn't really remember a back injury, but I have always had a sensitive back, two older brothers who beat the heck out of me, played ice hockey, and sledded a lot as a kid, then this morning I remembered a car accident I was in, a long time a go, where I hit the windshield and had to wear a neck brace and went through physical therapy, a ha...

So I am done, but it is with much trepidation I celebrate because we still have a bit of a wait and see. 

He told me people get all excited after chemo to try and exercise a lot, etc...etc.. and to take it easy, be slow to do or start anything new, let my body heal, and absolutely nothing funny with the worse leg.

My rads are done, so now I  wait until the 1st, for a final decision, a prescrip for Tamox and a port removal appointment.

VickiLynn- Congats on the cafe but I am sorry about the rib, take car and feel better soon.

Jane me too can't wait for srping. can't wait for a lot of things!

Melinda, Patty, Susan, Neece, Holly, China, Anita, Kim, and anyone else, thank you all the thoughts, now to think and prayer positive for my scans on the 23rd. Thank you thank you.

Before I forget, Neece, there is a lady in my chemo who has liver caner, same onc as me, the original doc gave her 6 months, our onc said he could give her maybe 4 years, 5 and 1/2 she is here, very full of life, she is the funniest lady in the chemo room, and she just keeps going. So tell your friend there is hope!!

 Much Love

Barbara

DiDiT

Neece - Ditto to what Barbara said - there's a lady at my chemo center - she has to come in every 12 days, but she is beautiful!  She's very pleasant and outgoing - said that when she was first diagnosed, her doctor told her to go home and get her affairs in order - that she may only have 2 1/2 months to live - that was almost 8 years ago.  She's had a couple surgeries since then, but is more than happy to get the 'juice' every 12 days, she says - "hey, I'm alive"!!

Anonymous

You are all fabulous, and I love you all but I am at work and can only sneak in a short post.  Barbara, I have a good feeling about this, I am going to say congratulations because my sense is that your body is telling you that it is ready to start the healing process.  It sounds like you have a great doc working for you lady!!!!

Didi, and Melinda, and Jane, and Chinablue, and Holly, and Anita, and Neece, and Patty, and Vickilyn, and all of you beautiful dolls, I have to go, but I will be keeping a good thought for you, and I hope you all stay warm!!!!

Love & Cookies,

Susan

Melinda-Tma3

Whoop Whoop BARBARA!!!!!!!!! I've sent a huge prayer to the "big guy upstairs" for you....wishing a wonderful recovery,,,just in time for the daffodils!  

I have readjusted my food and vitamin intake and I feel better than I have in years....My onc was happy with all today too! We are Septembers OUTSTANDING Sisters.....We have made it! 

DidiT...I have hip and shoulder pain as well...it started around 2 months after chemo....and before rads....I asked my onc about it and he didn't have any answers but said maybe the chemo ate away some of the cushion...another girl on the Jan rad site asked her dr and he said it's the chemo still working out of the body.....don't know for sure....I had A/C...what did you have?? My pain comes and goes and was worse a month ago.  It seems to be getting better, but I feel really old some days trying to get out of a chair.  

Congrats VickiLynn- I have lot's of recipes if you ever need...An especially fantastic gingerbread recipe etc...please don't hesitate to inquire!

Enjoy the snow all you Eastern birds! Big hugs!

Melinda