Chemo June 2010

Latte

glad everyone is posting such funny things lately - we must be getting to a different place :-)

i'm so jealous about the gettogether - it sounds like such fun. maybe by next spring i can work out a way to come too.

i have a vein question - like some of you, my veins in my good arm are non-existent (even though I had a port, it kept breaking so they used my veins a lot too). When I had surgery last week, they had a lot of trouble trying to get a vein, and in the end used my wrist (which I hate, and it still is very tender a week later). Do the veins ever get better as time since chemo passes on? or are they shot for life? 

DesignerMom

sandi-  I think you are just fine, but whoever did your port flush is NOT!  Jeez!  I would have thought they would be more sensitive to your panic under the circumstances, rather than ask if you needed medication for your nerves.  The stupid idiots should have made sure you had the port bandaged etc...if there was ANY chance of this happening.  Back to my husband's saying "why are there more horses A$$es than horses?"

chey-  Okay, I know you have kids, right?  How the heck did you birth babies and end up with abs like that!!!  My abs haven't looked like that since I was 10!!

Sherry9316

Latte - we hope there is a way you can join us next Spring.  I hope there is a way for me too, LOL!  How is your recovery going?  Feeling better?  I am interested in your vein question too.  I used to have such good veins that many times in the past they haven't had to use a tourniquet to access a vein.  Not any more!  And I had a port too and it worked.  But I soon discovered that many places do not have the expertise to access a port for a blood draw or injection such as when I go get my scans or have to have any routine blood work from anyone other than my MO's office.  Now that I have my port out, my poor "good" arm is all I've got for them to access. 

PearlGirl

Hi my pets! Hope you are all having a great week and looking forward to an even better weekend.

Question: for those who had partial mx or lx, is anyone still having 'zingers'? Right now my breast is so incredibly sore it hurts to touch. The sharp stabbing pains, called zingers by my BS, subsided a few months ago and then today, WHAM! Pain doesn't last long but isn't anything you can ignore and comes out of nowhere.

Latte

hi bon,

i had a lumpectomy, but haven't had those sharp pains for a while now. my bs told me that it is the severed nerve endings reconnecting, and would pass once everything was 'reconnected'. so not sure why yours have come back now - maybe you should call your bs and discuss it over the phone?

PearlGirl

Latte...How are you feeling after your most recent surgery? Hope you're getting your strength back and getting back to normal...whatever normal is. Seems like I have trouble distinguishing normal from abnormal now.

I have an appointment to see the BS on Thursday. It's almost my 'annual' check-up. Hard to believe that it will soon be 1 year since he did the needle biopsy and uttered the words "you have cancer". Anyway we'll have to talk about this return of the zingers because last night it was so severe that it really had me crying out. Only lasted for maybe 30 to 45 seconds and then soreness/tenderness subsided in about 5 minutes. It just caught me off guard after all these months.

DesignerMom

Bon-  Definitely have a long discussion about "zingers".  What you are describing sounds like more than a zinger!  It could just be nerves or something.  It could be totally unrelated to BC too.  Good luck on your checkup.  I just had my sort of one year check with my BS.  Man oh man did she mash around on my breast.  She didn't give a hoot that I am still sore from rads.  Guess she wanted to make sure!

latte-  Sounds like you are recovering well from your surgery.  Keep thinking about the possibility of coming to the get together next Spring.  I just bet you can figure it out!  I don't know how I am going to pay for it, but I am going to just trust that it will all work out.

It is sunny and gorgeous here in NYC but COOOOOLD!  This winter just doesn't want to end!

grneyd5600

Hi All - I had a lot of posts to catch up on you were busy while I was marching around in NJ for the week.  Latte - we can figure out a way to do skype next Spring so you can still be able to see us all while we are in FL! 

Ok today is the anniversary of my DX. So...to celebrate me battling the dragon and kicking it's butt I am getting my first haircut!  Yes, my dears my hair is so long already that I actually have to get it cut.  It is still way curly but it's getting unmanageable and time to put it into some sort of a shape.  I will have my hairdresser take a picture and post it up as my new profile pic. 

Overall, had a good week.  Weather was bad - snow!  Ughhh I am tired of it.  We actually got 8-10 inches there in NJ where I was.  But I am making out better with the new drug for my joint pain and the excercise is helping some. 

I hope you all have a fabulous day!  We are set for FL next Spring so let's decide a date and I will lock it down.  We will have a blast!  Hugs all around.

PearlGirl

Jackie... I hope the your celebratory haircut turns out great!  I need one too...one of my friends told me I look like a shaggy dog no one wants to groom! Not nice.

Let's look at the Disney calendar for next year and try not to schedule our trip to NOT coincide with major spring break weeks or other big events. We need to work around Easter(April 8, 2012)/Passover(April 7-13, 2011), as well as Disney regular 'fests'.  Plus weather is a factor. It's cool here now in the nights and mornings but get's hot during the day. Maybe mid-April?

DMom...I just had another episode of breast pain. Not such bad singers but overwhelming soreness and pain that came out of nowhere. It has me a bit worried. Can't wait until Thursday.

Latte

i'm also off for my first hair cut this week - i've never had short hair since i was a baby, and i just don't know what to do with it. so i'm going partly so the hairdresser can tidy it up a bit, and partly so she can give me some ideas on what to do with it.

i'm pretty recovered from the ooph, it really wasn't so bad. Still not up to playing horsey and letting my daughter "ride" my stomach, but otherwise am OK. one of the incisions is still open and oozy, but the surgeon isn't worried. I also know that my breast incision took over two months to close and heal, and this incision is smaller.

anyone know how long it takes for estrogen levels to deplete? had my last period 8 months ago, it's been 10 days since my ooph, and (touch wood) i still haven't had a hot flash. does this mean i can skip them?

i'm planning on starting tamoxifen tomorrow, so we'll see if that does anything to me SE-wise.

Speaking of getting back to normal after the ooph - i'm about to get even more normal. I'm going back to work in exactly a month, after not having worked since last June. Not sure how that will be...

toni30

Hi Ladies: Checking in.  Just had my 2 month post-rad check up with the Rad Onc - says my skin is fine.  My next appt is my 6-month mammogram in May. I am also approaching my one-year anniversary of my diagnosis and think I will use that date to go wig-less - even though I still don't like my hair - too short, curly and thin, but oh well - we remember the alternative, right?  So I'll take it.Glad everyone seems to be doing pretty well - and spring is just around the corner.

grneyd5600

Latte - the estrogen depletion will really depend on how much your body normally maintains.  I can tell you the tamoxifin will make it happen faster.  From the time I had my ooph until my levels totally went to "minimal" was about 6 months but I was doing chemo too so it's hard to be accurate.  I highly recommend exploring some types of lubricants that you are comfortable with because you will find you are going to be very dry (our girlie parts are meant to have moisture).  I use Replens but not sure if you can get it there in Israel.  It doesn't have estrogen in it and I can use it as often as need be. 

Bon - you are absolutely correct that we need to watch those specific events.  We may be better waiting until first of May for the trip.  My folks told me last night they want to try and get us the Presidential Suite. They think we deserve it.  I couldn't agree more!  LOL. 

Sherry9316

WOW - hard to believe several of us have our dx anniversaries coming up soon.  This past year has seemed five years long to me! 

Latte - you may not experienced hot flashes.  I was already post-menopausal when I was dx'd and had never had a hot flash.  I experienced them for the first time when I started chemo.  At first my face would get warm for about 30 seconds.  Gradually they became worse - my face gets beet red and I am hot all over.  I'll keep my fingers crossed that you don't get them - they are a pain!

Bon - now I have word to go with my pain - ZINGERS!  I know what you are talking about.  It comes out of the blue and is so sharp and painful it takes my breath away.  Sometimes I can't even move for a couple of minutes.  Thankfully the pains are short-lived, lasting less than a minute. Mine is more on the outside of my breast where the incision was and underneath my arm.  I also still have those same pains in my upper arm from the AND.  Sometimes I can go a week or ten days feeling normal and then out of the blue ZIP ZAP!

 Weather here last week was gorgeous!  In the middle to upper 70's.  Combine the weather and the fact that I was on steroids, I actually thought I was getting closer to normal - could walk, get up and down, and bend over without grimacing in pain.  I actually slept in my bed for two nights in a row.  Haven't done that since late October.  Tomorrow I take my last steroid pill.  I'm anxious about going back to where I was pain-wise after the steroids wear off.  I'm just going to think positive and pray that doesn't happen.

DesignerMom

Jackie-  Please tell your parents, though I don't even know them, I love them already!  Not only their generosity, but their enthusiasm for us to celebrate triumphing over these treatments!  They "get it".  The Presidential Suite, oh my!!!  I don't even know what that is, but I bet we could do it justice, wearing our pearls, of course!!!  I totally agree that we want to avoid Spring break, drunk loud kids etc...you might find me slapping someone if they ruined our fun!

Sherry9316

Oh, and for those of you going to get new "do's" - I'm not responding to your posts.  I am jealous.  <pout>

Sherry9316

Oh, Jackie.  I have tears in my eyes reading about the Presidential Suite.  That is such an endearing and thoughtful gesture for your parents to do.  Mom is right - they do "get it."  It's very humbling to me to think that someone we don't even know would want to do something so kind for us.  I have always been on the "blesser" end of things, doing what I can for people and truly enjoying that.  But this past year so many of my friends and co-workers have been blessing me beyond what I think they should or that I deserve that it just leaves me speechless. Thank you God for such precious people.

DesignerMom

sherrry-  Now you have me tearing up!  Every day I wake up and say "thank you God for letting me be here"!  I feel so blessed in so very many ways, I actually feel giddy.  I can't imagine having come through this experience without all of you "pearls"! 

mimi9186

Hi Ladies,

I left 4 feet of snow yesterday and now am sitting on the beach in Galveston with my family, for once not thinking about BC.  Just had to check up on everybody. Hope everyones check ups are good.  I have mine and the mammogram in several weeks. I passed my diagnosis aniversery several weeks ago and choose to just ignor it completely. Love to all, Mimi

DesignerMom

mimi-  Soak up that warmth and celebrate with your family.  I hope all the snow will be melted by the time you get back home!

sandiddstn

 Good Evening ladies...  DM--- Love your husbands saying...I think they said that because I was crying at the time Like I said I am a big baby, but hey never been through this before..Got effexor, not sure about it, had it filled but not took it yet...

Sherry... I am with you, jealous about the new do's...  guess my hair is slow going, like me LOL

Like many of you I am coming up on the anniversay date of dx.  So that leads me to my next question.  Do I use the date of surgery that this stuff was taken out of me  for my anniversayor do I use the date of dx to say I have been cancer free?    Not sure which one to use.   Hope this makes since..:) if not blame it on chemo huh!!!

Mimi... enjoy the beach.. sounds like that is just what the Dr. order...  

Hope everyone has a good week...

flopsy

My friends,  Have not been on lately because I have been busy trying to console a good friend and co-worker whose 30 year old son was killed iin a car crash last Sat early a.m.  They think he went to sleep and missed a curve and went head on into a huge tree.  Was not wearing seatbelt and they had to cut him out of the car.  Went to the visitation Mon. night after work and funeral Tues at 11a.m.   Such a waste of a young life and so very sad for the family.  They have 2 other boys and a daughter.  One of the other sons is a Sniper for the Army  and is going to be deployed in 3 months to Afghanistan.  They are very worried and upset that something may happen to him also.  My friends did not have any life or burial insurance on this young man so the financial part is hitting them very hard also.  The dad has severe R.A. but does not let it keep him down much.  He is a football coach here and is well loved.   It was the longest line at a visitation that I have ever seen because all of the teams and former team members came as well as the community.   The visitation ran over 1.5 hrs because the line was so long.   The funeral was packed like sardines with everyone standing as close as possible to get more people in.  I was amazed at the outpouring of concern and compassion.  It did make me realize that there are a lot of really good people still around.   We are taking up a collection at work to give a Love Offering to the family.  It has been a very sad week so far.    Thanks for letting me get all of this out.  

Still looking forward to our 2012 Spring Extravangaza-We need to find a good handle for our trip.  Bon and Dmom I know you can come up with something.  

Latte, Glad to hear you are doing well.  I had my 1st haircut last Sat and it felt good.  My hair is more managable now and I am adjusting to it.

Tomorrow is my LE eval so I guess we will see what that brings.  My arm is a little better though right now.   I also have the "ZINGERS" occassionally but not too bad or too often.  My BS exam in Feb said that I still have swelling and rads reaction taking place and still nerve endings trying to heal and regenerate so it all makes sense to me.  

Gotta go to bed now but wanted to let you all know what's happening here.  Chow

DesignerMom

gin2-  So sorry for your sadness.  It sure makes us understand how life can change in the blink of an eye.  Here I am trying to squeeze every little statistic so that I can live longer.  I'm certainly not a fatalist, but it does make me wonder if we are the ones in charge.  I'm sure the huge outpouring of love was a comfort to your friends.

Sherry9316

Had my appointment with rheumatologist yesterday to get the results of my blood tests and bone scan.  My blood tests were perfect he said.  Showed no abnormalities of any kind and they tested for everything!  Bone scan did not reveal any inflammation issues with my joints but there were some "spots."  One on my thoracic back which we already know about that is "supposedly" a benign tumor, one on my hip and a couple of spots on my knees.  He told me I needed to check with my MO for those.  I have my 3 month checkup scheduled with MO in a couple of weeks. 

So basically, there is nothing wrong with my joints from a rheumatology standpoint.  I think my MO wanted to rule out any thing like that.  I guess we can conclude that my debilitating joint pain is a SE from tx and from the disease itself.  Yesterday was my last day on steroids.  I am much more fatigued now than I was when I first started taking them.  My joints right now are 90% better.  I have slept in my bed the past 4 nights (with tons of pillows) and I haven't been able to do that since October.  I am hoping that when the steriods are completely worn off that my joints won't go back to being as bad as they were before.  Walking without pain is sure nice.

DesignerMom

sherry-  That all sounds like good news.  I think steroids knock down inflammation.  Maybe now that they got things settled down, your own body can take over the healing.  I am praying your joint pain stays away and you can get stronger and stronger!  Onward and upward!

flopsy

Sherry,  I sure hope your joint pain does not return because you deserve a break.  I have pains off and on here and there but nothing so bad I cannot live with it.

Went today for LE eval.  She did verify that I have a mild case of LE.  We are hoping to get it under control with therapy and compression and milking everyday.  I hate the thought of having to spend so much time on this but I guess I had might as well accept it and move on.  I will be fitted for a sleeve after next week.   First we are going to get rid of the fluid and then fit a sleeve.  I liked the way she talked and I hope she will be really good.  We will see.

Thanks, DMom for the kind words.   We collected some more money for my friend today.  We now have $221.00.   Not a fortune but it is a start.   Well gotta get up at 5:30 am to go for my therapy and then to work.  I hate having to lengthen my day again but I need to quit whining and count my blessings, "AT LEAST IT AIN'T CHEMO".

JFV

Hey Ladies !  Good to hear from some of "us".  Everytime the board goes quiet for awhile i get lonely. 

Mimi- glad you are in the warmth and sunshine.  Relax and enjoy.

Sherry- Living with pain and uncertaintly is hard.  I hope the steroids have done their work and you continue to sleep in your own bed.

Gin-  So sad about the young man.  What a nightmare for his family.  Glad they have you for support.  I hope the LE treatment is effective for a long time. 

Dmom- Like you I am trying to walk more.  I have gone on two this week during my lunch break.  I can huff and puff for a half hour and rush back for a 15 minute lunch.  The weight is creeping back on (thanks to the nightly bowl of ice cream I can't seem to deny myself)

Got my eyebrows professionally "done" yesterday.  I hope they don't  fall out again after I spent money on them

flopsy

The funny thing about my eyebrows and eyelashes is that I never had much to begin with so when I had even less during treatment most people did not even notice.  I did use black eyeliner around eyes and brushed on some dark brown eyeshadow on what few brows I had and looked pretty normal for me.   I guess God really did mean to not give me much so that my BC tx would not be so bad.  Talk about seeing the positive side of things.  HA_HA!!!!!!!!

DesignerMom

I just got a memorial announcement from my BS office.  There was a wonderful, vibrant woman who was the coordinator of all complimentary treatments (lending library, yoga, massage).  I knew she had battled BC several times. I ran into her at my RO's office a few months ago.  I noticed she could barely get up from her chair and appeared to be in pain.  She said she was just there for a checkup, but I had a bad feeling.  She was a great, positive lady and I am so sad and emotional about her death.  I hate this BC.

PearlGirl

DMom...I am so sorry for your sadness and in full agreement regarding hatred for breast cancer. Hatred of any form of cancer is appropriate. I feel sad and frustrated whenever I hear of another cancer death, whether I know the person or not. It takes my breath away when I hear of anyone being newly diagnosed or having to go for retreatment. Dear DMom, I know we will all say a prayer or send positive energy into the cosmos on behalf of your sweet and brave coordinator/friend. And for you, too. It's so difficult to see someone lose the battle.

Chili

Hi all,   Sounds like everyone is doing well ( with the exception of bad things happening to friends and acquaintences... so sad...   )

   Sherry, hope the joint pain will now be a thing of the past,.. fingers crossed.  glad to hear the steroids have helped.   I'm happy to say that my rib pain seems to have finally resolved itself (a side effect from rads, i guess) .   yay!   Coming up on 1 yr since i heard the words "it's cancer",  perhaps that's why that day keeps popping into my mind.   My first post- dx mammo is comming up in a couple weeks.  

 It's offically been 3 weeks since my thyroid biopsy.. i've been patiently waiting for results.. ( patiently waiting since mid-feb really, when the ultrasound indicated there were 2 nodules worth a biopsy)  at any rate.... still waiting... wish they would  just call already!!   I've mostly managed to convince myself it's nothing, as that's most likely scenario, but still can't help but wonder.. thyroid cancer?  mets from bc?     hopefully will hear something next week, then i can put it behind me and really believe it's all gonna be ok.

 On the plus side,  spring has finally arrived..... i have also been going for the lunch time walks at work, at least a couple times a week.. it is sooo nice to get out in the warm fresh air and hear the birds.   We had a big woodpecker in the backyard this morning, pounding the heck out of a tree,  first time  i've seen one around here... so cool!  Anyway , wishing you all a great weekend.