November 2009-Starting Chemo

micheleboots

oh ya, for those who know me on FB please don't mention this...I am sure that like everyone else we feel safe to say things that we wouldn't mention on FB.  I don't want to worry my folks.

Melinda41

Michele: Sorry to hear about the ticker probs, hopefully, it is just stress related. I am sorry that you have to postpone your trip, you still get to go...right???

I hear you on the FB thing, I have some co-workers as friends on FB and I know waaaay more about them than I really need to!

micheleboots

I hope I don't have to cancel vacation...I was reading that wacky hormones can cause heart palps...hope that is it.

doronet

Saw my breast surgeon on Monday.  I asked about the calcifications found during the comp. mammo and she said she was not worried about them at all.  Since they weren't there prior to the diagnosis and since I've had chemo and radiation, she wasn't concerned.  (I had read that radiation can cause calcifications to form.)  She said if it were a year or two from now and they showed up, she would be much more concerned.  We'll check them again in 6 mo. and if there is no change, then she said I'll prob. not have to have another mammo. or to come back to see her for a year, instead of every 6 mo. for the next 2 years.

As of now, I have no doctor appts. until Aug. 3rd.  WOO HOO!!!

 Alicia:  GREAT NEWS!!!!

Michele:  keep those positive thoughts going:  it's nothing serious...it's nothing serious...

Melinda:  I checked out your blog last night.  You really are an excellent writer!

I guess I'm going to have to cave and get on facebook.  Everyone and their dog seems to be on it.

Have a great evening!   Nette

micheleboots

melinda, what is your blog?

micheleboots

Nette, are you on facebook?

Melinda41

Michelle: My blog is at http://melinda-musing.blogspot.com/

First rads tomorrow, wish me luck!!

doronet

Michele:  I got Melinda's blog address off her profile on this site (see it above this).  I am not on facebook...yet. 

Here is my latest hair pic. Photo was taken at my first family get together since my diagnosis.  Funny how nervous I was to see everyone.  Guess I wasn't sure how they would "react" to me since all this happened.  My dad kept hugging me throughout the weekend and saying how good it was to do that.

Happy Thursday!  Nette

Melinda41

Nette: Looking good, it is coming in very nicely.

I bought some hair color, but I am still chicken to try it. I guess if it turns out bad, I could just shave it off!

I left the house without drawing eyebrows in! My eyebrows are mangy looking, but there is hair there!

BrendaSharon

A'wwww Nette.....

You look just stunning in the picture, I know your daddy had to be proud!!!!

Melinda,

Good Luck with the rads...they will go by quickly

(((((Warrior Hugs)))))

JustmeAlicia

Michele ~ so sorry to hear of your heart troubles!  Saying a prayer it is all just stress ~ hoping you get to go on that vacation and RELAX, you so deserve it..........  

Nette ~ you look beautiful !  So good you could leave your hair like that !!!!

Melinda ~ Hugs to you as you have your first zapping.  

Hugs !

Alicia 

micheleboots

Nette, love the hair...I am amazed at how great everyone looks with super short hair...Perhaps cancer only happens to great looking women.  Thanks for the blog info.  will check it later..I think I have in the past..perhaps in my chemo brain days.

doronet

 I loooooove you, guys! 

Melinda:  how was your first rad session?

micheleboots

Melinds, how did it go...the first is always the scariest...from now on it will just be a huge pain in the ass to go.

Melinda41

First rads was just longer tan I thought it would be. They did probably 20 minutes of just Xrays to confirm position before zapping. They said they would do Xrays once a week.

So on Wednesdays, I will see the nurse, and on Thursdays, I will have Xrays. I am going to ask if they can do both things on the same day so I only have one long day.

I have the toddler twice a week and want to do my long day on a day that she is not here. Today, she will just have to go with me and I will rotate which of my kids have to watch her in the waiting room.

They also told me I am having 25 zaps of a more concentrated dose than the 33 I was told about before.

The toddler did find it funny that they colored all over Aunt Mel, I had marks all over my chest that stuck out from my shirt.

BrendaSharon

Melinda,

It will get better, well it gets shorter I'll say that. My first rads seemed like a long time with all the X-Rays as well, first time with the positioning, etc. takes a while. But, after that all the visits went really quick, even the weekly x-ray, it is like routine and goes by in a snap. You almost wonder why your there for these 30 second zapps. Oh, and when the do what they call "Concentrated Zapps" heck they are even quicker, and they don't affect quite as much of the breast, they affect a much smaller area. I asked why they call them boosts, cause it sounded scarey to me and turns out they aren't as harsh on the breast. They just concentrate on the surgical area.

Mechele,

How are you doing? Is all OK? Try to keep from getting stressed, I know you are just fine!

Alicia,

Ya-Whoooooooo I knew you where good women.

Nette and Alicia!!!!

I still can't believe how stunning that hair do is on you, both of you! I mean to say I really love the look. You and Alicia your doos, well I guess we can't call them doos because I know my hair doos' whatever it wants to do. Ha-Ha for sure. My curls are driving me crazy though. 

Love you girls have a great weekend!!!

micheleboots

Melinda, I too was told that I would see the dr. once a week as well as the nurse once a week.  But my doc said that there was no point seeng me for the first three weeks because nothing would start to show up until then.  The nurse told me on my first visit that if I didn't feel the need to see her then I didn't have to.  In our clinic, there are no scheduled appointment to see either of them.  It was first come first served.  It worked well. I never had to wait more than 20 minutes to see either.  Now I did have to wait often for the actual zaps.  The equiptment is shared with  the attached hospital, so any time theh hospital need to use the equiptment it postponed my radiation appointment.  That was the suckiest part...happy zapping.

Cafelovr

Melinda, They told me the same thing. I got 28 zapps of a more concentrated amt of radiation. I was supposed to be finished June 28, but I found out 5 boosts have been added to the end.  I'm ready to be done!

I've had 22 zaps so far. I'm red, but not too sore. My collarbone and sternum area itch like crazy. Use LOTS of cream.

Nette, You look wonderful!!

Does it seem like now that we're over treatments and we can breathe, we get stressed to the point of making ourselves sick?? I'm sending everyone cyber hugs (((HUGS)))

BrendaSharon

Linda,

you are absolutely right!!!

I know I haven't been myself. I get stressed VERY easily and I am quick to snap. I feel almost like now that all the TX's are over, everything should be back to normal, yet it's not and the only ones who really understand this is US! We didn't just get instantly feeling better cuz treatments are over. Still a road to hoe and it seems like along one to go.

Go girl, you are almost finished yourself. I agree with the LOTS of cream also, my rads onc said I did good with using the cream, I had very little damage from the rads, and I used a bunch.

((soft hugs))

Sherri_V

Today was my 18th radiation treatment.  I'm so happy it's Friday so I have a break for the weekend.  I'm really getting tender.  It's weird to be getting this close to the end of treatment.  I will be having a PET scan in the next month or so, I guess after I finish rads.

Hope you all have a good weekend ~

JustmeAlicia

Sue, Melinda, Sherri, Linda ~ your zapping will be done soon !!  Hang in there ~

I am 4 months since my final chemo....  I hear what you are saying Brenda about the frustrations feeling like life should be back to normal.  I think a new normal has to be accepted.  For me I feel pretty good, still get anxiety over every little ache and pain.  BUT, for the most part I really no longer sweat the small stuff and try to have fun when I can !!!  I figure everyone is going to die someday hopefully for all of us it just isn't anytime soon.  A favorite saying of mine, is tomorrow is guaranteed to no one.  

Hugs to all !!!  I think we need them ~

 

MaryNY

Nette, your hair looks fantastic. Such a nice color and the style looks great. Not sure if you've had it cut yet, but I'm guessing everyone is asking you who your hairdresser is. I wish mine was coming in such a nice color - it's gray at best in the back and white on top and in the sides.

Good luck to all of you still undergoing rads. It will be over before you know it.

doronet

Thanks, MaryNY, for the compliment, and to everyone else who has been so complimentary. I have not had a hair cut.  Just had the hair on my neck trimmed up, as it was growing unevenly there. 

I have yet to come up with a snappy "comeback" to the comment from people who don't know about the bc when they say:  "I love your new hair cut."  Should I respond, "Thank you.  It's complements of chemotherapy" ?  So far, I've just said thank you.  I've only had one person say they "prefer the wig" to what I have.  Weird that she would say that, but I guess she was just being honest.  Can't fault her for that, I suppose.

I was flipping through channels last night and there was a show on called, Say Yes to the Dress, about women selecting their wedding gowns.  One woman on the show was a bc survivor and her port scar was showing in most of the dresses she tried on. I was almost in tears watching her try the gowns on.  Not sure why, except that I was so thrilled for her that she had beat it, but sad that she had to be reminded of it on what should be one of the happiest moments of her life. Her mom was with her and was very emotional, too, so that didn't help.  She ended up selecting a dress that she could add one shoulder strap to if she chose and it would cover the scar.  Didn't find out if she would go that route of not. 

Yeah, those ol' tears seem to be right at the edge too much of the time.  Maybe it will always be that way since that we've been through so much and emotions were so raw during it.  who knows.

Cafelovr

Nette, I saw the same show. I love that show! The woman had Stage IV BC (like me). It was like watching kindred spirits. She said there was no guarantee of tomorrow, but she was going to live her life. Her fiancee came with them too. I sat there and cried!!! The whole night was dedicated to "special needs" brides. One woman was in a wheel chair, this woman, and just touching stories of heroic women.

 It gave me an idea. My 10-year anniversary is a year and a half away (Feb 2012). I'd like to renew my vows. I was thinking of getting re-married on my cancerversary (Oct 19, the day I was dx) That's the day my life changed for the better and took a new path. Do you think it's a good idea, or should I not celebrate that day? Input is appreciated!

(((Warrior Hugs)))

Melinda41

Linda; I think you should celebrate any damn day you want to. I like the idea of you reclaiming your cancer D-Day and turning into something good. 10/19 is always going to mean something to you, might as well make it something beautiful. If your Dear Hubby is OK with it, I think it is a great idea.

Melinda41

I crocheted some dreadlocks!! 

http://melinda-musing.blogspot.com/
Diagnosis: 9/22/2009, IDC, 3cm, Stage IIIc, Grade 2, 9/19 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2+

micheleboots

Melinda What a hoot....you should make and sell those.

suzieq60

Hi Girls - we're back from our holiday!!! Had a great time and have lots of wine following us home.

Alicia - I'm so glad your test result was clear.

Nette - Your hair is fantastic!!!

Melinda - Love the new look. Hope the rads are kind to you.

Linda and Sherri - the rads will be over before you know it.

I missed you all so much. I did meet up with a lady from here while we were away. We had a long 2 hour chat. This forum means so much to me.

Now I guess I have to start thinking about going back to work - poop. I'll see how the bone density test went when I have my 10th herceptin tomorrow - the onc never called with the results so I haven't started the Arimidex yet. Unfortunately my daughter gave me a cold while were away but it's just about cleared up. I'll call to see if it's ok before I go.

I'm now officially going topless everywhere except when it's too cold. It's still really short but thickening up nicely. I'll post a pic when I get organised - I have loads of washing to do, no food in the house, got to get the cat etc etc.

Love you all

Sue

suzieq60

I'm in between loads of washing. Here's a pic of me at the Adelaide zoo where they have the only pandas in Australia. They're not the real ones in the photo.

BrendaSharon

Sue

So glad you had an enjoyable vacation! I missed you on board. I may be slack writing sometimes, but I always read every one's posts. You girls are the world to me.

Psssssst easy on the wine

Melinda,

Too cotton pickin funny. I think I'll sport the bald look though. I don't care for dreads. Ha-Ha

Linda J,

I think it is wonderful you want to renew your vows on your cancerversary, your life is renewed and so a good day to renew vows as well. It's wonderful your DH is in full support as well. It shall be a joyous day and most awesome way of showing we can and will survive, life after -C-.

Doronette,

You now what you said about people asking about the hair do? Well yesterday I decided to go and get a trim on mine. Just to clean up the back of the neck and some of the wild curlies I got going on. The hairdresser asked me where I had been getting my hair done and told me what a nice hair do it was! She also loved the color and asked if the same hairdresser frosted the tips.

She was astounded that all this was from chemo. She said not every one is quite as lucky to have it turn out like mine did and that I was TRULEY BLESSED. I told her I did know I was blessed and that I am really happy with my hair.

SherriV,

Be sure to use all the cream you can that they give you. 3-4 times a day if you can. I know it can get tender, even to put on cream. There where times I cringed while applying the cream but still done it. And I had pretty good luck with it. I seemed to have the burn and peel more so when it was all finished. At least it does go by fairly quickly. That was a good thing. I also got really attached to the people that where in the office and all the techs. The where all very friendly and kind as well as hospitable. You can say it's there job, but not all of them are always nice. Because I never felt that way with my Chemo Onc. and all the staff there, no wheres near as kind.

Sue

P.S. You asked me when I was getting out my port, if I heard anything well, they have pissed me off!!  My chemo onc. still hasn't called in the approval to my breast surgeon even after they themselves tried to contact his office. My Surgeon's RN said she has called 4 times to his office and has not got a return call. They said if they don't get a note by next Wed. they will most likely take my port out without his approval. When I seen my Chemo Onc. on Friday the 11th, he said would call them in just a few days for the approval or he would fax them an OK.  He did not flush my port as he said it wasn't needed because I was going to get my port out soon enough that I wouldn't need it and yet he won't answer my breast surgeon's calls. go figure. He is really irking me badly!!!!

On another note, when my breast surgeon done the breast exam yesterday, he did not hurt me in the slightest and he done a VERY thorough exam. When my onc done the breast exam on the 11th, he grabbed my L breast so hard when he checked it that it brought tears to my eyes. I wanted to cry but held back. Even my DH noticed he grabbed me quite hard. Until yesterday I just thought he had to but when my breast surgeon checked me I told him he was very gentle and he said there was no need to hurt me just to check it. I said well you should of see how my chemo onc treated me. He didn't reply much, I guess he didn't want me to start anything I suppose, Dr against Dr. I guess it doesn't matter, this crap is almost over and I won't have to ever deal with that Onc. again he is retiring and I'll be seeing someone else.

Love to all of you