November 2009-Starting Chemo

micheleboots

Sue, bone density is a easy and fast one...

Sue, sounds like you might be on to something...I think I will add more fish to my diet. 

Brenda, It sounds like a blessing to have another grand daughter.  It is to bad you didn't get to meet her and get to know her when she was younger...better late than never.

JustmeAlicia

So girls... went to my gyno *had a bad pap at my exam 2 weeks ago.  SO, he did a cytoscopy or something like that and a biopsy of my cervix.  Please send up some prayers and good vibes that this is nothing......  I am nervous and at the same time just can't think about it.  I just tell myself if something is wrong it is early and all my parts will just have to go.

Melinda41

Alicia: It just has to be nothing, did they biopsy last time you had the weird pap? Let us know when you find out what is going on. **happy pap dust**

suzieq60

Alicia - I pray it will be just like last time - hugs!!!!

Sue

JustmeAlicia

Melinda 2 years ago they did a biopsy and it was ok...  hoping for the same ! 

Thanks girls.

Melinda41

Had my first appt with rads doc today. He and I chatted, he felt me up (but it is no fun since I am still so weirdly numb), had a CT scan and got tattoos. I'll start zapping next Wednesday. I am tired, that was a draining morning.

JustmeAlicia

Melinda ~ it is another hurdle jumped.  The sooner you start rads the sooner you will be done.  Sorry it was a draining morning.  Treat yourself to a nice nap.  It is cool and rainy here.  YUCK !

micheleboots

Alicia, I am sending good happy vibes your way.  As well as some big hugs.

Melinda, it will be over before you know it.

God us ladies need a break.

Sherri_V

I'll be going in for rad #12 today.  No problems yet

I had an appt. with my medical oncologist yesterday and she told me that I am now in "clinical remission"! 

I still have to finish rads and take Armidex for 5 years but it's good to know that I am clear for now.

suzieq60

Brenda: What do you mean you keep getting "charlie horses" in your legs etc? What are charlie horses?

Only 3 days until we go away!!! Then I'll have to start preparing to go back to work when we get back.

Sue

micheleboots

Sue, have a great vacation.  I was so happy to go back to work, it felt normal. 

BrendaSharon

Sue,

I can only explain a charlie horse like a cramp in the leck where all the muscles tighten up, kind of like a spasm!!! They are very painful when they occour. I have had them in my right leg, in my toes in my neck back and side of my stomach. Very weird. I'm asking about it agian today when I see my Onc. for my follow up.

I'm getting my "Port" flushed and hopefully the Onc. will give the surgeon the go ahead to have it taken out sometime VERY soon as well. I can't take much more of this thing in my body.

Sherri,

Good to see you, and be happy the rads do go quickly, 12 already wa-whoooooo. You'll be done in no time. We all seem to be on some kind of meds for the next 5 years!!!~~~

 and as

Mechele said, we all sure need a break!!!!!

Have a great weekend all of you wonderful ladies!!!

Sherri_V

I swear by the soap under the sheets.  I had terrible charlie horses in my legs and in one hand.  Truly, after I put the soap bar under my sheets, they stopped!  Please at least give it a try

suzieq60

Thanks Brenda - I do get nasty twinges in my neck. Hope you get the go ahead to get the port out.

Sherri - do you put the soap under the bottom sheet so it stays in place?

Michele - I've decided to go back to work on July 1st (part time) - depending on my reaction to the Armimidex. Still waiting for the onc to give me the go ahead to start taking it. I'll have to keep my phone on while we're away in case he calls. I should be smart and not take it while we're away, I wouldn't want to spoil the holiday

Have a great weekend everyone - I'll be packing for the trip.

Sue

Cafelovr

Hi everyone! The soap trick is awesome, isn't it. The soap goes under the sheet between the legs.

Sherri, great news! Congratulations!!

Alicia, good luck with everything! Sending great thoughts your way.

I had number 17 today with rads. Skin is just starting to turn brown. I'm getting a little rash and little bumps on my chest. Buggers itch like crazy, so I'm lubing up like there's no tomorrow! 11 more to go. I'm ready to be done. This is so tiring! I find myself more weepy than normal and always feeling on edge. Oh well, focus Linda...this soon will be done! Other than being tired, my ribs and muscles hurt in my arms from keeping them above my head. Someone told me rads lasted for about 15 minutes. Not me...30-40 minutes depending on if they do x-rays or bolus.

I'm still working full time and getting ready to start Tamoxifen in mid July. I'm trying for a July 4 long weekend trip to FL.

Warrior Hugs to All!

suzieq60

Thanks Linda - I'll have to try it my DH can't sleep cos I wriggle all night.

Sue

suzieq60

Hey girls - how long does it take for the soap to work? If anything my legs are aching more than ever today.

Sue

kayh

Hi Girls- Finished rads last Wednesday, skin red and sore but not broken. After all these months of treatment caught a cold on the last day and feeling a bit miserable with it.

 Have been taking Arimidex for the last month.

Neurapathy of the feet still a big problem and weakness of the left leg. Pains at night time. I have got some super pain killers but only take them if I have to. Saw a specialist neurologist last week, he said I agree you do have a weak leg. Hey! I already told him that! Anyway he has sent me for another MRI, (groin this time), I have already had one for the backbone and brain. I'll be glowing in the dark soon with these radioactive injections.

No one seems to know why,( I think chemo SE), or if it will be permanent.

Hair is coming in with some colour, sort of looks like a five o'clock shadow on the top, thicker in the sides and back. Mouse colour with silver sparkles, quite nice really. But can still see pink scalp through the top.

suzieq60

Kay:  Glad you are on the mend. Look for Herbs of Gold Ultra Silica Complex tablets. They have a large dose of biotin in them - only need to take one a day. I swear since I started taking them 2 weeks ago, my hair growth has improved - can't see any scalp now. Even my eyebrows have started growing again.

BTW - what state are you in?

Sue

mabelle

Lots to catch up on... sorry I haven't been here in so long. Work is getting really busy, I started Rads last week, and all the usual mommy stuff.

Brenda - I'm so glad you're building a relationship with your "new" grand daughter! What an amazing opportunity.

Melinda - beautiful afghan! and congrats on your tests and graduating to rads!

Alicia - sending lots of good thoughts your way!

Linda - UGH! 30-40 minutes everyday? My first 3 tx were about 25-30 minutes because of the x-rays and I thought that was long. My arms were in pain! The last 2 have only been about 15 minutes total and I think that's what they'll stay at for the next 5 weeks. (I hope)

Sherri - Yippee! Clinical remission sounds good! Not sure what it means exactly, but it sounds wonderful!

Can't remember who had the thyroid problem - its on the last page - but good luck with the testing. I had no idea about the links to bc. Sue - thanks for the research. I've always heard about the benefits of fish, maybe I'll do something about it now!

My joints are killing me! I thought it was just me... so I'm "glad" to hear I'm not alone. My knees are especially painful - but mostly when I've been resting then get up. When I'm walking (or even running) for a while, they don't hurt. But getting up off my chair at work, or out of bed, or going down the stairs... ouch! I feel like an old woman!

My hair seems to be sprouting - finally! I've had these white whispy hairs for a while now, but they're so sparse I didn't really count them as hair. But now, I can see the beginnings of real dark hairs coming through - and there's a lot of them too! Now I just need them to grow!! I'll try the folic acid.. but I'm not so sure about the miracle grow! ; )

Happy Sunday!!

micheleboots

I think it was me and my thyroid....all tests came back good...ECG, thyroid, liver function....all good. So why do I have these crazy heart palpitations?  My GP is sending me to get a 24 hour heart monitoring...sounds like fun. 

suzieq60

Mabelle: Glad to hear your hair is sprouting at last - I was getting worried. I do have a thyroid problem - a goitre (growth). I have some tests to be done but they can wait until we get back from our holiday. Eggs and dairy food also have iodine in them. Hope the rads go ok.

Michele: Hope your heart is ok.

It's our last public holiday for the year today - lots of packing to do - we leave tomorrow.

Sue

doronet

Was so good to hear from kayh, mabelle, and cafelvr again!!  I have the "joint" pains, but maybe not as bad as mabelle.  Mine are mainly when I've sat in the same position too long and when I get out of bed in the morning, though I try to counter-act that time by moving my feet in circles and bending my knees, both before getting out of bed.  Not sure if the pains for me are from the Arimidex or a lingering SE from the Taxol.

Hair is coming in well.  Got together with my entire family this weekend and two of my sisters raved about my hair and asked if I would keep it this short since it was "very chic" (their words).  And actually I might keep it really short for a while as it is major easy!!  Was very nice to see my family since I had only seen 3 extended family members since my diagnosis last Sept.

I have my first full day of subbing this coming Friday.  Have only done half-days so far, but I think I'm ready.  I hated to turn down the job since it is probably my last opportunity to work for this school year.

I swear by the "soap in the sheets" trick, too.  Truly it worked for me with the toe and foot cramps.  (A "charley horse" is a very severe cramp that is mainly in your calf.

Have a great time, Suepen!!!

And have a great Monday, everyone.  Nette

kayh

Suepen - I live on the east coast of NSW about 70klms south of Sydney between the mountains and the sea. A nice place to live, very green, with a mild climate. We're on the edge of the suburbs that have spread into the surrounding dairy and horse farms.

suzieq60

Kay: Sounds lovely. We used to live in Sydney over 30 years ago. We're in Brisbane but I want to move to NZ one day (I was born there). We're off to Adelaide to see our daughter tomorrow - I'm all packed ready to go. Looking forward to all of those nice wineries

Sue

RedheadPam

Hi, Ladies!  I just wanted to stop by and see how everyone's doing.  Sending big warm hugs your way!

I went to my onc last week for my first checkup since ending treatments.  I was sitting there waiting for my blood draw, when I looked across the hall and got a glimpse of the chemo infusion rooms. Suddenly, it all came rushing back and I almost cried. On the good side, though, it was soooo sweet seeing the words "No Evidence of Disease" on his computer screen!  Gotta love that NED!

I see my rads onc in a month or so for my checkup with her....It is still strange NOT having doctor appts.....

I'm going to try to change my photo to a current one -- if it works, you'll see the latest on the hair growing project.  I described it the other day as "Peter Pan pixie length."  Color isn't taking as well as I'd like, but each time I do a semi-permanent color it seems to work better.

Take care of yourselves...sending many healing thoughts to everyone....

JustmeAlicia

Hi everyone ! Just wanted to thank everyone for the prayers ~ they worked.  CERVICAL biopsy is negative ~ woo HOO.  

Pam you have a lot of hair.    Looking good.  

Hope everyone has a great day.

:)Alicia 

BrendaSharon

ALICIA~~~~

WoooooohWhoooooooo for absolute positively negitive :-)

Melinda41

Alicia: negatively wonderful!!

Pam: Good looking head of hair!

I am scared to put any color on my hair, with as little hair as I have, there is a reduced margin for error. They bumped my first rads to Thursday, still working on the set up program.

I have crochet (what is the past tense of crochet...crocheted??) so many granny squares, I had a dream last night about a boob job in the form of a granny square!

micheleboots

Melinda I guess you could make a bikini out of granny squares...

SO I spent a few hours in ER last night...I am ok.  I was having heart palpitations and I was also having chest pains...They did blood tests and had me in a monitor for an hour...nothing...They think it could be stress...I will go and have a holster monitor hooked up to check me over a 24 hour period.  The sucky part is that I have to wait until a few days before my vacation..so good-bye relaxing vacation...This was going to be my do-over vacation.  At least I am not worried about having a heart attack now.  My mind races to all kinds of scary things...cancer, bum heart.  No wonder I am stressed.