Starting Chemo October 2009

micheleboots

Mary, I agree with Jean. in fact add sprinkles and syrupe.

txstardust

Mary, that's fabulous news!  I'm so glad for you, can you hear my sigh of relief from here in TX?

I'm finding out that while I'm feeling tons tons tons better than I have in a while, I'm still not at 100%.  I've had a very long week, and not enough sleep, and I'm just super-exhausted.  When do I get my old energy back?  

Hope everyone else is taking it easy and feeling good! 

Hugs to all,

Shelby 

unklezwifeonty

Mary, I will have one for you tonight.....

MaryNY

Shelby: I think we've all been through so much in the last year that it will take a while for us to get our energy back. I think we've taken a bruising both physically and psychologically. Our bodies and our psyches need time to heal.

Onty: have two for me! 

The supermarket had Ben & Jerry's icecream on sale tonight so I bought a pint promising myself that I would have only a few spoonfuls. I could see the bottom of the tub before I left down the spoon. But it was so yummy -- Strawberry Cheesecake.

unklezwifeonty

Mary, I did :-)

micheleboots

I have never had Ben & Jerrys.  I think that if I try it I will be hooked.

txstardust

I think you're right, michele.  B&J are the bomb!!  Phish Food, Coffee Heath Bar Crunch, and Chocolate Fudge Brownie are my favorites...that doesn't mean I won't eat other flavors!  Ugh, now I'm fantasizing about ice cream, and I'm trying to lose weight for my 20th h.s. reunion in November.  No ice cream for me!

sanaisa

Mary...so happy for you that your biopsy was negative   Hugs

feistybluegecko

I love the ice cream talk - is it not just wonderful to talk about this when months ago we were drowning in side effects and had no taste buds!

I am all good, I have put the raised marker thing to one side and focusing on my recovery and swimming, doing Pilates and maintaining a better work life balance.  And rainy season should soon be over so that will also be good.

I have also created a new Facebook page for the Feisty Blue Gecko which is where I want to put the breast cancer and blog stuff so do check it out if you are on facebook.

Hugs to all and have a lovely weekend

Philippa xx

feistybluegecko

I love the ice cream talk - is it not just wonderful to talk about this when months ago we were drowning in side effects and had no taste buds!

I am all good, I have put the raised marker thing to one side and focusing on my recovery and swimming, doing Pilates and maintaining a better work life balance.  And rainy season should soon be over so that will also be good.

I have also created a new Facebook page for the Feisty Blue Gecko which is where I want to put the breast cancer and blog stuff so do check it out if you are on facebook.

Hugs to all and have a lovely weekend

Philippa xx

joanneasiata

HI BUDDIES

Ive had a busy week i worked a whole day Monday and it knocked me on my ass, DH rang for pizza as soon as he seen my face when i walked through the door , im  still having headaches onco wants some test done a full body scan including the brain i hope they find some  brain matter in it as i feel i haven't got any thing there chemo brain has just stayed with me, i get tounge  tied, forgetful ,and sometimes a total blank, its so frustrating so ill do all that Wednesday

SHELBY

Hows things going for you at home hope its pretty smooth has the separation been amicable

Well lot of koala cuddles

JOJO

micheleboots

Jojo, great to see you again.  I have all the same things going on with me...how long will this chemo brain continue?  At least I can still use that excuse.  Working can be sucky, but it helps pay the bills.  I love my job, but I am finding it frustrating right now.  .

So it is a long weekend here and I so need an extra day to relax before the kids start school, and I am back to making lunches.  I hate making lunches...

Have a great day my peeps.

joanneasiata

MICHELE

HI there good to here your having a long weekend how many kids do you have and their ages when my kids were little and going to school and i was working full time i use to make a whole weeks worth of sandwiches and freeze them heaps easier but you are limited on what you put in them I'm so glad that I'm not working full time any more first time in my life that i don't have to i don't think Ive got it in me anymore  Hey hope our bodies hurry up and get over chemo .

JOJO

micheleboots

Jojo, my daughter is 11, but you would think she was 16...OY.  My son is 16 going on 10 some days...double OY.  I informed them yesterday that they were going to start making their own lunches.  And I have googled the public transit info for my son so that when he misses the bus because he didn't get up when his alarm went off, he can take a bus to school....How is that for being a bad mom...gotta cut the apron strings some time.

joanneasiata

LOL way to go Michele tough love THE BEST

Scoobydoo

Hi ladies! 

Wow has it been almost a year since I started chemo?!!!  That is amazing.  How is everyone doing?  I have lots of posts to read to catch up.  I just had a bone scan performed due to bone pain in my leg.  The good news is that it is all clear!  Yay.  I told onc that it was the bisphosphates that I am on with the trial.  

Feeling better but decided to continue in the trial.  If the leg pain comes back I will have to stop taking the meds.  So far so good.  My neuropathy is completely gone and I have a head full of hair.  Not long just full.

I sure miss you ladies.

Anita

MaryNY

Hi Anita: Nice to see you again. Yes, it's amazing that it's been a year since we all came on here with all our worries and fears. Now I think must of us have our hair back and have been to our one-year mammos. I had to have another biopsy after my mammo last month, but it turned out to be just scar tissue. I suppose "routine" mammograms will never be just routine anymore.

It must have been a relief that the scan was clear. Hope everything goes OK as you continue the trial. Good too that the neuropathy is gone as I understand that can linger for a long time with some women.

Piffken

Hello everyone,

What a long road it has been for all of us. I, too, had my first mammo a couple of weeks ago (ironically the exact same date as last year when they found the tumor). They did find "something of concern", this time the other breast. I waited an waited to hear from my Dr. but thought no news is good news. After all, if it was that concerning surely she wouldn't put it off. Finally found out that it was benign tissue after a long agonizing holiday weekend. But - they still want to monitor and I will have to have another mammo in 3 months, as well as an MRI. Hopefully it will confirm this diagnosis.

I was wondering if anyone else is reliving everything that happened last year on the one-year anniversary? It seems I have certain dates etched into my brain, for example, Sep. 4 the day I got the diagnosis, first day of chemo, etc. Anyone else going through that this year? And I am already dreading the month of October with all the BC stuff to purchase everywhere. I understand the money is being used for a great cause, but it is still difficult for me.

One last question - My hair is back full swing. Although still extremely short, it is so curly I do not know what to do with it. I have had long hair all my life and it was a little wavy but nothing like this. I honestly have no idea what to do with it. Especially since mine is still primarily gray. Anyone else? What did all of you do with your new "hair-dos"?

Should I have it straightened? Colored? I really don;t know. I love the way it feels, it is so soft, so I'm a little hesitant to treat it with chemicals. After all - so far it is like a baby's hair. I have not used anything but shampoo on it but it is really getting out of hand now. Grateful for any tips as usual.   

  

Piffken

Good for you micheleboots!  Hopefully you can stick to your guns, that's always the hard part for me with my kids. As for your son - you probably heard the saying that boys bodies and brains develop until they are 14. After that, they just grow.   I can attest to that, too. I have a 14 and a 20 year old.... (yikes, scary thought on my 14-year-old) I better get cranking with him this year! 

Piffken

Hello Mary NY,

How have you been? I noticed that my completion of chemo date is not on our "chemo board". I proudly completed my last round on 02/04/2010. (followed by surgery and radiation). Thank you for updating. Piffken  

MaryNY

Hi Piffken: I added the date. I can empathize with you on the agonizing wait to get the all-clear on the mammo. The doctor actually gave me the option of a biopsy OR a wait and see. In the past, I might have opted for wait and see, but now I want to know everything.

Yes, I tend to look back at where I was this time last year too. But I think I do it in a positive way, being grateful that the surgery and treatment is behind me and with luck that it will all stay in the past. 

My hair is grey and very curly. I'm reluctant to start coloring it again but at the same time, I'm not all that happy with the grey. Initially the texture of mine was soft but now it's very wiry. My oncology nurse said that most women's hair returns to its original texture in about two years. About six weeks ago, mine had become wild looking. It had grown in lenght but now was so curly all over my head and so hot! So I took a Wahl trimmer to it and thinned it out.

Piffken

Hello MaryNY,

It's good to see you are still here on a regular basis after all this time. Yes, that's exactly what happened with my hair. It was very soft, now it is long, wild and curly. It is so curly, it seems like it is not actually grwing down but getting wider when I brush it. And here I thought I left the "big hair" in the 80's. Would love to hear what everyone else is experiencing.

micheleboots

Piffkin, god to see you again.  I have curly-wavy hair.  Where it was straight before.  Don't have  clue what to do with it..I keep it short so it is easy.

joanneasiata

HI ALL

On the hair thing ,the best thing to do with short curly hair is dont brush it, just use yous  your fingers and put a product in it something like a clay putty type this will tame it down and give it a style look it feels yukie but youll look like a hot mumma

Ive just had a brain scan cause of continual mild headaches and a full body scan as well and yep the wait till this Friday to find out the results it hard 

JOJO

txstardust

((((((JOJO))))))) Big hugs to you, and good thoughts going your way for good test results!!

I'm going in a couple of weeks for a heart check - have had weird arrythmias for the last few months.  They'll have me wear a Holter (?) monitor for 24 hours.  Hopefully the cardiologist doesn't dismiss me as an "anxious female"!

Love to all! 

micheleboots

Shelby, me too....I have been having heart palpitations for a few months now.  I some times my chest feels tight, and I am light headed a lot.  I have had 4 ECGs, a holter a ECHO, and a chest xray, and a stress test so far.  Waiting for all the results to come back.  It sucks that you have this too, but at least now I don't feel so alone.  MY gp says it is a an extra beat but she is sending me to the cardiologist to be sure.  Keep me posted

good luck JOJO.

MaryNY

Hi Joanne: sorry to hear that you've had to go through the two scans. It's no wonder any of us would have headaches with all we've been through.

Shelby and Michele: I hope your doctors figure out your heart issues. I went to a cardiologist before and after treatment since I was on Adriamycin, which is hard on the heart. I'm glad your doctors are keeping an eye on things. Shelby, I don't think the cardiologist will dismiss you as an anxious female. After what we've been through, I think all the doctors we deal with listen closely to everything we say now. 

joanneasiata

YEH  SHELBY AND MICHELE YOU GUYS HAVE LOTS OF LOVE IN YOU THATS WHY YOUR HEARTS ARE BEATING MORE  LOL THAT ONE WAS FOR FREE!!!!!!!!

micheleboots

TX Jojo....We have these big loving hearts.  With lots of love to spread around.

Scoobydoo

Mary- I am so glad that your results were clear! 

Jojo- I am praying that your scans come back clear as well!  I hate waiting for results.  I was on pins and needles waiting for my bone scan results.

Piffkin - My hair is extremely curly as well.  I am waiting before I put any chemicals in it.  I really like how healthy it looks.

Thinking about you ladies.  Wishing you all the best!