November 2009-Starting Chemo

doronet

Heeeeey!  Who bumped me??!!  

Been busy here, too.  Subbed 3 days last week, to include Thurs. and Friday.  Came home so totally exhausted, I did very little those evenings.  DH and DS bought our tree yesterday and DH put it.  DS and I got the decorations out of the attic and put a lot of them out.  Finished today.  Have seen BrendaShar's and Alicia's tree on fb and was jealous.  

Am working tomorrow and Tuesday and won't accept any more jobs for this week.  Have a ton of things to do and errands to run and then DD COMES HOME ON SATURDAY!!!!  WOO HOO!!!!

Alicia and Sue:  hope you, guys, are in little or no pain and are relaxing!!!  Sue, you should stop taking the nana naps if you can so you can sleep at night or take a little som' som' to help you sleep. 

'Chele:  thanks for holding down the fort here even though you've been busy, too.

Linda:  great news on the ALL CLEAR!!!  

Melinda:  very funny video with the Michael Jackson spoof.

Here's a great video for the Christmas season.  Search youtube for:   Christmas Food Court Flash Mob.  Is a great video.

Happy Monday tomorrow!!  Nette 

micheleboots

That flash mob was here in Ontario, I believe....

suzieq60

Hey girls - I can't wait until tomorrow - I go to see the surgeon - she'll take the dressing off!!!! I can't wait. Also having my echo in the morning and last naked H on Wednesday!!! It's all happening here.

Nette - when is your checkup?

Alicia - hope the pain is going. I feel a bit uncomfortable but it doesn't hurt. The bruising seems to have gone already.

 Sue

doronet

'Mornin, Sue!    My mammo is next Monday    and my follow-up with the BS is the following Friday. Dec. 17th.  Have a week to go.  Good luck with the having the dressing off.  Here's to good looking incisions!!!!  (I'm not at all sure that's PC.)  

Happy Monday!  Nette   

suzieq60

I managed to avoid having a nap today even though I really felt like one.

We'll have to send you a world wide hug for next week Nette.

Have any of you tried dyeing your hair yet. I've decided to go and see the hairdresser tomorrow to discuss it - I need a new look. I look like my mother!!!!

Sue

doronet

I used a semi-perm. "rinse" on my hair back in May. ("Washes out in 28 shampoos.") It really didn't turn out like I thought it would, mainly because of the color I used...it turned out to just look like gray hair with auburn on the tips. Gray hair really needs perm. color since it other types of color don't cover gray because gray hair doesn't absorb the color.  Is a good thing you are talking to a hair dresser, but I would want her to know something about chemotherapied hair, if possible.  I'd also Google the dickens out of the subject first.  : )

micheleboots

I have been coloring my hair since day one....can't handle gray...I think I look ok.  Nobody told me I looked bad.

BrendaSharon

Sue, Thanks for the bump over the weekend.

I was so busy setting up my tree! I love it though.

I also was shopping for a few items to complete our "Sugar Suite" as I call it. It's an end suite we built on one end of our house for guests, complete with a bedroom, living area, small kitchenette and full bath with a Jacuzzi. Private entrance as well. We had to lay the hardwood floor in the kitchenette and DH built the cabinets by hand, custom created by him. It is looking awesome. It will be ready for Christmas when my mom comes to visit. I haven't seen her in 13 years and I'm very excited she is coming. In time to see my home TOTALLY remodeled. She will love the "Sugar Suite". My DH is so talented. He has totally rebuilt our entire 2400 square foot home from the flooring up to the ceiling in the past year. Done everything himself. New floors, new walls, new insulation, new roof, new hardi-board siding, new bathrooms, new windows, fresh paint jobs inside and out. Even reconstructed the entire looks inside.

On top of that, I did get the tree up and also I  had to shop for a retirement party for one of the guys at my DH's workplace. I am hosting and catering the food for 100 people. So, I got the shopping I need to do DONE and have started all the prep work for that. So, next weekend will be busy for me also as well and every night this week after work I will have some sort of prep for Friday Eve. My hubby asked me to do this catering job because he loves my cooking so much as well the people at his work love it. BUT, it sure is at a stressful time, because the retirement party is on Fri. the 17th and my mom will me here Monday the 20th. I am so trying NOT to stress. I am happy that this year I CAN COOK AND I CAN EAT AND I CAN ENTERTAIN,

I am BLESSED 

Love you girls, Have a great week!!!!!!

doronet

Good luck with the party on Friday, Brenda.  You must be an awesome hostess!!!  For sure, you're a great wife!!  

Sue:  there are definitely others that need that world -wide hug more than me.  I'm just a wuss when it comes to pain.  :I

Michele:  how did you know what hair color to use?  Any words of wisdom for Sue?  

suzieq60

Brenda: Can I borrow your DH. Unfortunately mine is NOT handy at all. But he's good doing our taxes. My goodness you must be some great cook - that's a lot of people!!

My hair was normally streaked blonde. Now it looks salt and pepper although DH says you can see some brown in it. I did google the heck out of it and it said not to use chemical dyes or bleaches for at least 6 months or even longer so as not to damage the new hair. I want my blonde back!!!! If I use a rinse it might stick to the all the white and come out weird. I had asked one girl at the salon before and she knew of something we could use but she said it would end up darker. Vegetable and natural dyes are OK. Maybe I should go red!!! Anyway, I'll see what they say.

Sue

BrendaSharon

Thanks girls, my hubby is pretty awesome....

and yeah I cook good... problem with that is I hardly ever get to eat out because my DH would rather eat my food than any restaurant...he is the one that roped me into this retirement gig dinner......toooooo much work right at the Holidays, with my mom coming and all...I'll already have 10 or more very day for a couple weeks as it is...glad it's not last year this time though...I couldn't see anyone..still cooked for DH though. Also, any time I visit anywhere at all they always want me to cook, so sometimes I'm not sure it is a blessing,

NOW....when it comes to taxes, we both seem to get screwed every year.....not good with books, either one of us. 

 The hair thingy...mine started out with the white snow white chicken feathers, now it is my ole blond color. More of an ash blond. My 4 hair trims have gotten rid of my feathers though. I liked the feel of it when it was feathery though, kinda miss it, but didn't want my hair to be long. I'm enjoying my shorter hair do now. Till I'm done hot flashing...which I believe is almost over. I think I'm adjusting to the tamoxifen..,thank goodness

Nette, Hope your mammo went well today!!!!! ((((GOOD VIBES)))) I get the chicken thing for sure...I HATE PAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sue, Tell them go easy on you when the take that dressing off..  ((very, very gentle hugs))

Mechelle, What is a flash mob? I would imagine a bunch of people running around naked...

Alicia, Hope your not sore anymore. I want to say though you look FANTASTIC...I'm not sure whom was prettier, you or your daughter in those new holiday pics on FB. Your gorgeous

JustmeAlicia

Hi everyone !

Just catching up a bit on our thread.  Feeling a bit sick today, a sore throat and a stomach ache all day.  Think I have been over doing it.  I did just have a pretty major 3 hour surgery 5 days ago.  I really didn't give myself much rest.  Think it has caught up with me. 

Nette ~ hope your mammo went well.

Sue ~ hope you are feeling good !

Brenda ~ glad to hear you are all set and ready to enjoy the holidays.

On the haircoloring.   I have been coloring mine since October ~  Recently really had a bit more blonde highlights put in it.  It seems fine ~ like my old hair again.  I have had 3 haircuts since it has started growing back.  I leave my hair up to my hairdresser. 

Thanks for the kind words Brenda ~ my daughter is a beauty in my eyes !

Have a good night all.

Alicia

doronet

You, guys, are so kind to give the words of encouragement, but the mammo is not until next Monday, Dec. 13.  Still have some time before I have to go through that.

Alicia:  sorry to hear you aren't feeling great.  yeah, is easy to over-do. Take it easy for the next few days.  You need to be well for the upcoming holidays!

Brenda:  A flash mob is a huge group of people  that are in on a "secret" activity that that has been orchestrated by someone or some company or organization and the public is not in on the secret.  The "mob" comes together in a populated area, like a mall or town square and does the activity, such as sing a song or dance for the entertainment of the public.  The No Pants thing on the NY subway was an example of a flash mob.  You really should check out the youtube video.  There are several other flash mob videos on the same site.   

Have a good night.  Nette   

  

suzieq60

Surgeon visit over !!! No, I haven't looked at the wounds yet - I'll leave that until I shower tomorrow.

 She said - "See you in 4 months" and I said "NO - I want my port out before Xmas". So it's next Tuesday early 7am admission - yahoo!!!! I'm first on her list, but not sure what time she'll do it.

She talked about genetic counselling but I want to leave it until I get all this other crap over with.

I also made an appt with the rad onc for next Wednesday as she is away after Xmas. That gets that out of the way.

Sue

suzieq60

Ok girls - hair appt Friday. We're going to try blonde streaks again. If it all breaks off or falls out - whatever. Should be safe. I didn't want to go darker I just want my blonde back!!!!

micheleboots

Sue,You go girl.  They say blonds have more fun....who know, may as well go crazy...I have always wanted to try blond, but I am lazy about going and getting my roots done, so my hairdresser says not a good idea...one day.

Melinda41

Sue: Good for you insisting on your deportation!

Alicia: Feel better!

I tried dying my hair with a box color several months ago, nothing bad happened but it didn't "stick" as well as it used to. A month or two ago, I had a salon do it and it looks great. It doesn't appear to be coming in as gray now as it was at first.

Send me happy mammo vibes for today!

BrendaSharon

Melinda Just for you

((((((((((((((((((H~A~P~P~Y~~~~~V~I~B~E~S))))))))))))))))))))))  doing the wave, waving goodbye to anything bad in your body, and waving hello to the precious new

Melinda41

Clean Mammo !!! 

BrendaSharon

Ya-Whoooooooooo precious & new

suzieq60

Yahoo Melinda!!!!

Last H today - yahoo!!!!!

I've had blonde streaks done since I was young - originally had blonde hair but it went dark blonde. It's better getting streaks as the roots don't look so bad. They did say a semi permanent colour wouldn't cover the grey.

Sue

micheleboots

Linda

Cafelovr

Hi everyone. So much to say...

Sue, good luck on the deportation! Yippee for you. Last Herceptin too? Great!

Melinda, I am so happy for you! Take a deep breath.

Nette, I'm sending positive vibes your way.

Alicia, GET WELL SOON. Hope the noobies are healing nicely

I am keeping my grey. Shoot. I don't want to color my hair every 4 weeks and deal with the roots!

I'm in a funk today. Shoot, I've been in a funk since my MRI. I can't shake it! I think the news of Elizabeth Edwards has me down. I saw my oncologist today who said I'm doing great! My arm and chest hurts all the time and I just can't seem to catch a break! I know it will go away with time. I guess I'm just a Debbie Downer tonight!

I love you all!

suzieq60

Cheer up Linda - we all love you!!!

 H all done!!!!! but I got the evil idiot nurse who I hate and had expressly asked never to have after she missed my port 3 times once before. I was very calm and adult about it and let her do it. She's lucky she got it in first go or I would have screamed the place down. However she couldn't get one drop of blood out so I had to have a vampire come and take blood from my arm. Next tx is Zometa in mid March.

Baby onc agreed that Bonnie was obvious on last year's mammo - now DH is starting to talk law suit. It wouldn't be the first time the free governemnt screening place has been sued. He's got a point - it has been traumatic and expensive having to do all of this again. It's also been risky, Bonnie was some rare agressive subtype of ductal (trust me and the rare stuff) which is usually found in lots of nodes. Could be the chemo/arimidex has kept it under control so that's something. Apparently it's rare for that type to be node negative and so small so I am lucky in that.

BTW - I have looked at the wounds - not too bad. The one from the 2 little sisters is bigger of course but the Bonnie scar is OK.

Sue

doronet

Linda:  hope the funk is outta here today.  I was wondering if the arm had gotten any better yet.  At least you know it will go away. Is there anything you can do to ease the pain/discomfort while you wait?  Has any doc mentioned taking neurontin?  A agree on the hair thing, though mine isn't totally gray, but I really don't want to start the color thing again.  I could get away with having to color only every 5-6 wks. with long hair but I'm sure it would be more often with short hair.  Am liking the fact that I shaved 30 min. off my daily "prep-time" with short, non-tinted hair and that's a nice thing.  In the past, I washed or wet my hair, and therefore had to hair-dry it, every day.  Def. don't miss that!

Sue:  I would be extremely upset, to put it mildly, to  find out that that little booger had been there since last year.  I thought, though I might be mistaken, that we put our trust in those tests and the experts for a reason...TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING!!!!!!!  :P

 Happy Weds!!!  Nette 

Melinda41

Sue: unbelievable, I don't know what else to say. Major suckage.

Linda: (((Big Hug)))

micheleboots

Linda, I am giving you a big old hug, can you feel it...Is it warming you enough to get rid of that funk...Hey funk...funk off.  pardon my humour today. 

Sue, holy crap...but like you said at least it is being held at bay...you have been through so much already...also sending you big old hugs as well..

So here is my good news of the day....I got a promotion to department manager yesterday....yah me.  I am so excited...

Cafelovr

Yay Michele! Congratulations!

I feel your hugs and feel a little better! I didn't sleep very well, so I think a good night's sleep will do me good. We break for the holidays on Dec 23, and I don't have to go back to work until Jan 3. I think I'll do some major R&R.

Nette, I've been taking Neurontin for about a year now. Big Onc upped my dosage, so we'll see if it helps. Neurologist gave me pain patches and Voltaren (sp?)

Sue...WTH???

JustmeAlicia

Melinda ~ congrats on the clear mammo !!!  WOO HOO.

Linda ~ HUGS... sorry your in a funk.  I hated to hear the news of Elizabeth Edwards too.  Sad when a sister loses her battle. 

Michele ~ Congratulations on the promotion - you go GIRL !

Sue ~ I say sue the hell out of them........  I hate to hear stories like this but I am thankful it was caught early again..........  but crap ! 

Nette ~ your hair looks great and I like your color !

I hope everyone is having a good day.

Alicia

suzieq60

Linda: Hope you feel a bit happier today ((((((((((HUGS))))))))))

Michele: Congratulations!!!! What are you a department manager of? I hope it came with a nice increase in salary.

They should have ordered an MRI last year after the diagnosis of the sneaky lobular crap, then none of this would be happening now!!! But then, with a diagnosis of bilateral bc, they would have probably tried to make me have a BMX - so I'm glad of that at least.

Baby onc (I told him I'm calling him that on here) said that subtype of IDC is still treated the same as regular IDC. I'm just lucky it wasn't in lots of nodes. One other lovely lady I found on here, that had the same pathology, had 18 out of 28 positive nodes!!! Now I'm worrying about the sentinel node biopsy - maybe they should have taken more nodes to be sure. I'm sure the surgeon would have wanted to do that if it was necessary.

Anyway - got the ok to get the port out next Tuesday. Wow 3 Tuesday's in a row for surgery. I might get hooked on the anaesthetic.

Sue