Chemo Starting Sep 09
Comments
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Happy easter to all who celebrate it. Have just had a very restful weekend wiht my parents with us for the long easter weekend - and for the first time in a year, I got to take care of them (as it should be!)instead of the other way around. feeling suprisingly good after the last surgery - a little discomfort in chest if I try to do things the wrong way (ps told me "no housework for 6 weeks - WOW!) but other than that really good. Most lingering se's from chemo are now gone - except sore dry lips, and numb toes and fingers.
Patty and China so glad you have both finished rads and Jane, I will celebrate for you on Tues.
Wanda what a bummer about the bone tumour. Please let us know how the treatment goes. We will all be thinking of you.
Pamela I was so happy to read your news!
Holly I started having hot flashes and night sweats within a week or so I think, of starting tamoxifen - not too many though. Then they got a bit worse, then settled down and now are worse again. So it's a bit up and down. They do disturb my sleep some nights but other than that it's all OK.
I am going to try to post a new pic soon with a bit more hair! It's so exciting when it grows back isnt it??
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I am so glad surgery went well. Do take it easy though? Your brain may think you can do a lot, but your body may have other ideas. Enjoy no housework for a while.
Your hair is really coming in. Have you gone out bare-headed yet? I must be about 4 weeks behind you in hair growth.
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Jane- I am all done, except for my Tamox. I have started having multiple hot flashes a day, but I enjoy them, as weird as that sounds, they feel just like that warmth that washes over me when I have a glass of red wine, yummy. Only I don't want to go take a nap after a hot flash. I went and bought a couple mini battery powered fans to have around the house in case they are really bad.
I am so with you, I enjoy everything. I get so tired of hearing people complain about the littlest things. I just want to smack 'em and say "Dude, I know there must be something good and positive in your life you can talk about instead." Golly! Glad you are feeling tip-top. I am achy and it is less than post chemo but not gone completely and I am wondering if this too might be a side effect that will stay with me through Tamox, only time will tell. My heels are healing, but it is a slow process.
Neece, love the new photo, I will have to have my hubby take one so you can see my hair too!
Maybe I can get one with our cat Mister Kittens so Jane you can finally see him, remember when you and I talked about that way back at the beginning when you had your pic with your doggie? How is your doggie?
Take Care Sisters
Love
Barbara
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Barbara - Is that Mr. Kittens I see? He looks like a big guy. I hope your achiness goes away soon.
Neece - Your hair looks great! Mine is getting to the point that I'm thinking about ditching the wig...but first I need some color.
Jane - I hear you on the breast tan, I've never been so tan anywhere...maybe I need some radiation on my legs. (or not!) Hooray for your final rad tomorrow. I'll be thinking of you.
We had an exciting Easter here in San Diego. We were in the middle of our early dinner when everything on the table started moving around on its own. Earthquake! We all looked at each other, jumped out of our seats, and ran out the front door. It only lasted about 40-seconds (seemed like an eternity) and there was no damage....even though I left the candles burning on the table. Duh.
Patty
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Patty wow what an exciting Easter! I am so glad nothing (and nobody more to the point) got damaged.
China I am now bare headed everywhere, except when I choose to wear a hat for sun protection. It feels GREAT!!! I was going to wait until after surgery and when I go back to work in another week but when my DH and I had our weekend away a few weeks ago, I just decided that, as no one there knew me at all, I would 'go for it' and didn't wear a hat or scarf the whole time. Once we were home I was enjoying it so much I decided that was it. And everyone who knows me is very encouraging and gives me compliments so... what's not to like?
It is quite pepper and salt with light grey patches on the sides but I don't care!Barb I like your new pic too and your kitty looks very sweet. I am so glad the hot flashes aren'ttroubling you too much. I don't mind the daytime ones - but the night ones are a little more problematic. My older sister suggested avoiding caffeine and sweet things at night so I am trying that for a while to see if it helps.
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Cheers to hair!
I was bare headed at home and my husband and daughter said I looked like Steve Jobs. Ug.
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Patty- Yes that is Mr. Kittens. He is super log and skinny, and a big bundle of orange-ee goodness. Sorry about your exciting Easter, but you and the rest of your dinner party will never forget the Easter of 2010. The achiness is better, but just hanging on a bit. Thanks
China Steve Job? I am sure you don't I am sure you are beautiful ;-)
Necce- Good for you. I actually had jury duty today and went sans hat. I was excused but the donuts in the jury room were great, and everyone was so polite. I have gone a couple times to work that way too, and gotten some nice compliments, but I tend to wear a hat to avoid the funny sideways glances.
Have a great day ladies.
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Hello SOSisters.... YES,I'm through with radiation!! Got to ring the bell, knocked the heck out of that thing (ha). It was sort of bittersweet as I will miss the people at the center, they were so kind and caring. However, I get to go back next month for a checkup!
Neece - I love your new picture. I'm going to have DH take one this coming weekend to post. Mine looks like it may be about the same as yours only lots of white and some grey. Glad you enjoyed your Easter weekend but please don't overdo. There will be plenty of time for housework. You are so brave to go out bareheaded. I wish I had the nerves (and ears) to go wigless. I will probably still be wearing my wig long after everyone else has taken the plunge!
BarbAnne - love the new photo. Mr. Kittens looks adorable. Sam (the dog) is doing just fine, he has congestive heart failure but was diagnosed several years ago and is still going strong. I may include him in my new photo as he's my baby. My hot flashes are getting worse, the onc told me today that's good, means my Famera is working great! Only 1 year and 11 more months to go! Glad your heels are getting better. Isn't wonderful that we are all almost recovered?
Patty - what an exciting Easter! Do you experience earthquakes often? I asked the technician yesterday about the tan, she said in a few weeks it will start to lighten up. My breast is no longer sore but it does itch occasionally and I get sporatic pains but they only last a few minutes. It seems strange not to have to go to radiation anymore, sort of like I've been set adrift (or maybe I'm just nuts).
ChinaBlue - I'm sure you are beautiful. I go bare headed around the house and my husband keeps asking when I can get hair color! The bad part is the white hair look is growing on me and I'm thinking of how simple life would be with a really short cut and no color every 4 or 5 weeks. May be storm clouds brewing ahead!
Well ladies must get ready for American Idol. I'm rooting for Krystal. Everyone take care!
Thoughts and prayers are with you!
Jane
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OOOH Jane, I'm with ya...I love Crystal!! I'm also with ya on the 'tan' and itchy breast... I'm actually more red and itchy on my chest - looks like a good (or bad) sunburn. It's warm to touch too - So, yes Patty, I'd like to have that color elsewhere on my body as well...I've don't remember when I've been this pale - I'm using fake bake self tanning products, but just not the same
China, I don't know who Steve Jobs is, but I'm sure you are beautiful!! and after all we've been through, we get a pass on lot of stuff, yes a short easy do sounds appealing to me - even though my dh likes 'long hair' - I like Jane's analogy - storm clouds lol!!
Barb and Neece, can't remember who I've talked to about the chillow pillow, but if you're having hot flashes at night or night sweats, they are wonderful!!!! I used it much more during chemo, but sporatic hot flashes are sneaking in - may need them again with the arimadex or tamoxifin (not sure yet which I'll be taking)
Tootles for now! Hurray for everyone finishing rads...on to busy, productive, healthy, happy lives!!!!
Di Di
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Didi: 'Chillow pillow" ?????
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Good Morning Everyone!!
WHOO HOO I finished radiation one week ago and I am so thankful because I don't think my skin would've lasted for one more day. Am peeling now, but not too much. I left the treatment center in tears (I know, weird) and was sad that I won't be seeing my treatment sisters anymore.
My hair is coming in really good now and on Tuesday I said "To hell with it" and went to work with nothing on my head. I am mostly gray with what must be my natural haircolor mixed in...so can't wait to color it. Yesterday one of the delivery guys said that I looked really good with "short" hair and I almost hugged him.
Patty: Glad that everyone was okay...we felt the quake this far north (Fresno/Clovis).
Neece: Really like the picture. I might try to post one if my SO and I can figure out how to do it. My son had to help me with my Facebook pic.
I am with everyone else on the hot flashes. I have a mini fan on my desk that I am turning on/off all day long. It is a running joke in the office. I believe that I will start on Tamoxifen next week when I see my oncologist.
Well...I am off to get ready for work. Sounds like we are all making the transition back to the real world.
Have a great rest of the week..
Kim
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Hi Donegal, congrats on finishing rads!!! What a wonderful feeling.
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Hi Ladies,
As I read your posts over the past few days it struck me that after going through so much together...surgery, chemo, radiation...and now we're on to extremely tanned boobs, chemically induced hot flashes and very short shades-of-grey hair. This is progress...right?
I got my bottle of Femara today. The pharmacist asked me if I was aware of the the side effects. I said I thought so, thinking she meant hot flashes, joint pain, insomnia, etc. Instead she rattled off "hair loss, extremely dry skin, nail changes". I replied..."Gee, it sounds just like chemo!" She looked at me like I was nuts. Anyway...anchors aweigh, I'm downing my first pill tonight.
Patty
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Neece - After hearing so much about it on this site, I found the chillow pillow on the internet - apparently Walgreens used to carry it - but I couldn't find it anywhere. Here's the website: http://www.chillowstore.com
It's great for night sweats. I ordered a large size and a mini for travel. I actually use the smaller one more, but it doesn't stay as cold for as long.
Patty - good luck with the Femara...I'll find out I guess next week if I'll be getting Tamoxifin or Arimidex (sp?)
And of course, herceptin for almost 9 months...
But, goodbye chemo and radiation!
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I had my family doctor pull them wednesday. they were below the 30 cc's and painful. he really didn't want to without ps consent, but ps is out of town on vacation and had told me if they got below 30 cc's i could have them out. i just didn't want to drive 2 hours to his hospital for them to pull two drains. anyway, they are out and i have just a little accumulation of fluid on my back. that should reabsorb.
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Hello September Sisters!
So sorry I have been absent for so long. I went back to work on April 1st. This past week was my first full week back. It was good to be back! I do have to go to PS on Monday to schedule my surgery for tissue expansion. I want to get it over with as soon as possible!
I am leaving in a few minutes to go meet my girlfriend at the beach. She is the nurse practioner that was down in Haiti when the earthquake struck. We have been friends since we were in kindergarden together . My husband is going with me. She is visiting from New Hampshire and spending the night with us. We are taking her to the airport tomorrow morning.
To all of you beautiful ladies that have finished radiation - congratulations!!!
I started Femara about two weeks ago and so far no problems. I hope it continues that way.
Weather in Florida has been beautiful - in the 80's.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Barb T
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DiDi - I've been thinking about your hair. How is the color working out? I'm dying to dye mine, but afraid to.
Pamelajo - Hooray for getting rid of those nasty drains. The husband of a friend of mine who went through BMX and reconstruction last year calls them "the bloody grenades". I hate those things.
Barb T - I'm sure your friend will have lots of stories from Haiti. What an ordeal. I'm also glad to hear the Femara is treating you well so far. I've been on it for two days and had been reading a BCO board on it...which scared me to death. Nice to know not everyone has horrible SEs!
Happy weekend everyone!
Patty
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Mourning
I am indisputably alive
the sun shines clear in a bright sky
an autumn wind tosses leaves like dice
my son's guitar sings from his room
and I am bruised inside.
My hand trembles when I think of
what has happened to me
I have a new creature in my life
it crouches on my shoulder
and whispers, whispers.
Everything has changed
nothing like it was
my view once reached comfortably
to the horizon
now I see dust.
I am mourning, mourning:
what is lost
will never be restored
so many questions
must remain unanswered.
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Wow, what a tremendously moving poem! It touched me in a place that I did not think could really be touched. Bravo.
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Hello SOSisters.... hope this finds everyone well and enjoying a beautiful Sunday afternoon. DH is watching the Masters Golf Tournament. The course is absolutely beautiful!
DiDi - yes I want Crystal to win. My tan is fading already, I'm peeling just like I went to the beach and let one breast get sunburned. So my 34 yr old daughter who should no better came over while the wig was off, the comment was "wow Mom, you need some hair color". Storm clouds are definitely getting thicker around here! I'm going to order a pillow, nightsweats are horrible. I will graduate from Herceptin in September.
Kim - congrats on being finished with radiation. I have been thinking of purchasing a desk fan - I'm doing Famera and I am getting some terrible hot flashes all of a sudden. Doctor tells me that means it's working. Good for you going with your short hair, I would to but I hate my ears!
Patty - how you doing with the Famera? I am having hot flashes and joint pain. In fact, I will be talking with dr. on Thursday, my joints are giving me fits - feel like I should be in my 80's!
Pamelajo - glad your drains are out. How are you feeling? So glad you are doing better and posting with us again. We sure did miss you!
Barb0323 - so glad you are back to work and feeling better. Will be thinking of you and wishing you luck for your appt. tomorrow. I am jealous, would love to be at the beach. I can't imagine being in Haiti. Glad you aren't having any symptoms from the Famera.
Neece - do you teach English? What wonderful poems you write and they always make me stop and think. Absolutely beautiful!
Well, ladies hope everyone is well. Take care.
Thoughts and prayers are with you!
Jane
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Kim congrats on finishing Rads-Yea!!!
DiDi- Thanks for the info on the chillow pillow, did I read that right does it fill with water? Let us know which drug you end up on, It seems we run the gamut in here.
Jane-Congrats on being done with rads, sorry about the peeling boob, ugh if it isn't one this it is another!
Neece that was a really lovely poem, really pretty-thank you.
Patty- Now I am going to preface this by saying I have loved hair color for a long time, I started coloring when I was 13 and haven't stopped. (My point is to stress that I have a pretty tough scalp/hair to tolerate the abuse) So this past weekend I put in a Natural Instincts, a light golden brown, and all my gray/white hair really took the golden literally and went very red. My hair has a tendency to pick up red anyway, so without anyones' knowledge, cause they would lecture me on it and I don't need that, I tried a Nice and Easy Med Golden Brown Root Touch up kit I had in the closet. Yes the root touch up kits have enough dye for what little hair there is! To tone the red down, worked a little but not much. So this morning, yes again, I threw in a Medium Rich Brown Natural Instincts, no golden, and it helped. So my skin is not agitated, and none of my hair fell out and I put in three dyes consecutively! I am done for a while. But I had my hubs take a picture and will post it after I post this. Good luck if you try it!
Pamela-Glad you have your drains out. Hope you are feeling relaxed and not in any pain!
Love to all my sisters
Barbara
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Barbara your photo is LOVELY! Glad your hair still there too
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Hello Sisters, Glad to hear everyone is just about finishing up with rads!! As the hair grows, I wonder why it doesn't grow as fast on your head as fast as it does on your legs and underarms???
Well I get my surgery on my left leg Wed. (April 14) . They are going to put a metal rod in the center of the femur bone and cement in. It will take about 2 weeks to get the report back from path. I pray and hope that it won't reappear anywhere else. I will know when and what kind of treatment they got in store for me! I think the waiting will be the longest!
Yall take care and Lots of Sunshine to you!
Love WAdna
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Good Morning All
Just trying to keep up reading the posts and seeing how everyone is doing. Life keeps moving on and taking us all with it.
Wanda- I will thinking and praying for you tomorrow. Hope all goes well.
Going to the PS for my first fill today. Hoping to get all the fills and exchange done by the end of June and be ready for the beach.
THINK POSITIVE
Catherine
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Wanda I am thinking and praying fro your too!
Neece thanks for the hair compliment.
Catherine good luck with the fill.
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Barbara - Your hair looks great! I loved your story of all your experimenting...my hairdresser would have a heart attack just reading about it. But you've given me the confidence to do something about my color. Can't do much about the length except wait...right? (Although I did see on a thread here that one lady had little extensions put on. And they looked good!)
Neece - Your poem is wonderful. My 8th grader is doing a unit on poetry and has to have 10 (!) free verse poems done over the next ten days. I'm the typist. Let's just say his poetry skills are far, far behind yours...to put it mildly.
Wanda - Good luck with your surgery. The waiting is the hardest part. (Didn't Tom Petty write a song about that?) I'm sending positive vibes your way.
Catherine - Congratulations on your first fill. How exciting to have something to fill out the top of your bathing suit this summer!
I'm just about one week into Femara and so far, so good. No SEs. I'm hoping that's a good thing and not an indication it isn't working.
Patty
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Hello SOSisters....another beautiful day in NC. Go for Herceptin tomorrow, no radiation is wonderful, now I don't want to go back at all. So I was wondering what is the guideline for when you are through with everything? Does it vary like everything else we have been through?
BarbAnne - thank you for sharing your hair color story! I am waiting until June to color - only because I want enough hair to cover my ears when I "unveil" my new look. Good for you for trying color until you got what you wanted! I like your new photo!
Wanda - my thoughts and prayers are with you on this day. Please let us know how you are doing as soon as your up to it. What is your recovery time? Do you have something to keep you pretty busy while you wait for your results? Yes we all know that waiting is the hardest part. I hope you can feel all the positive vibes we're all sending your way!
Catherine - glad you are doing well. I am wishing I had the body to wear a bathing suit! Afraid my bathing suit days are long gone. Where do you go to the beach?
Patty- so glad you aren't having any se's from Famera. I have hot flashes and nightsweats - guess we are all different. Of course, I was having hot flashes and nightsweats before Famera - only not as intense. I also have aching bones and don't know what that is from, going to ask the onc tomorrow.
Hope everyone else who hasn't posted lately are doing well. We miss you! Take care.
Thoughts and prayers are with you.
Jane
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Good luck Wanda, please let us know how you do.
I had good news and bad yesterday. My lymphedema fluid measure is now within 10 points of the 'normal' range - and this is after surgery! Was hugely surprised and pleased. Even the therapist amazed! All DH's lymphatic drainage massage, my exercises, and compression sleeve all paying off.
Bad news was that my reconstructed breasts have seroma (s) - fluid on both sides - which I have to have aspirated out. Thought I was through with people sticking needles in my breasts. Oh well.
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For those that have had weekly taxol - any side effects from that? I was on TCH for 4 rounds, but went into acute renal failure after second treatment, so had to stop it. Onc wants to do 6 weekly taxol instead, but need to know what se's may be.....no time available off from work right now.. Thanks!
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Good Morning
Hoping everyone has a wonderful day. My fill went fine. PS only put in 60cc's because he wants to go slow because of infection last time.
Jane- I go to a beach in NJ called Midway Beach. It is heaven on earth!
Wanda- I hope you are feeling well and resting comfortably.
THINK POSITIVE
Catherine
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