Starting Chemo March 2015

shaz101

Whitney. We are on similar time frames. I'm heading back to work on the 14th of September. I can stay focused on today but I keep having glimpses of the stress that I was under at work before cancer! I hope it doesn't return.

SueH58

Right behind you, Sharon. Back to work Sept 20 but, get this--taking 2 weeks of vacation when I return so that I can be off until my daughter's wedding Oct. 3. Don't know if I'm looking forward to it or not, but it's not an option so back I go. I do miss my co-workers who have been just wonderful through all of this.

Whitney - hoping your life comes together soon for you. What field are you in?

KBeee

Doing the happy dance with Allison today!!!!😀🍺👣👏👍🍥🍹🎉🎀🎁💗💃💃

BBwithBC45

Congratulations to each one of you, Karen and Allison!

Trvler

Woohoo!!!

Now just have to get this port out next Tuesday. ARe you getting yours out? Actually I am more excited that I get to stop the shots Sunday after my morning shot!!!! Counting down the number of shots left….

KBeee

my port comes out on the 31st. I am soooo excited for that. MO said it could come out right away. Surgeon is making me wait until 31st. Bummed me out, but I pick my battles and chose to not question that one

Trvler

Is he making you wait due to a medical issue or due to his schedule?

Jackbirdie

so excited about you both finishing and getting that port out! Nothing says finished like not having access!!!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻😍🎉🎉👏🏻👏🏻🔔🔔👏🏻👏🏻🔔🎈🎈🎈💃🏿💃🏿💃🏿💃🏿💃🏿💃🏿💃🏿💃🏿💃🏿 (Karen HAD to steal the dancing girl!)

greenae

CONGRATULATIONS KAREN AND ALISON!!!!

And to all who have finished or almost there! WoooooHooooooo!!

greenae

Shari.... Are you also finished!!

So happy for you!!

Trvler

Thanks, everyone! Could.not.have.done.it.without.you!

Ok, who's next to finish? Leigh?

pboi

Congrats on last chemo, Karen and Allison!!! 🎉

PB

Jackbirdie

Sue's last is tomorrow. She's 3 hours ahead so I think a few dancing girls are in order!

💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃 Yay Sue!

I still remember my last morning. I was very nervous, very emotional. It is a serious accomplishment, Sue, to have gotten through. Relish your moment and be proud!

Tutti sends special wishes. She "heard" you were finishing and her ears pricked up!

Trvler

I LOVE that picture. She is so pretty.

Yeah, Sue!!! Congratulations!

eheinrich

Tutti is growing fast. Did she make a good adjustment to her new surroundings? My cat wigged out when we moved. Unfortunately for her we did it 2xs in 6 months ^ ..^

KBeee

Allison, I think his nurse is the one who made that call; she is VERY controlling of his schedule and does not always do as he says if she feels otherwise. I definitely choose my battles carefully so if something new comes up, I can fight her then. When I was first diagnosed with my recurrence, he told her I could come that day(which I found out from my plastic surgeon). She made me wait 10 days! I called her out on it but she did apologize ... So I tread carefully with her since she is the gatekeeper to him, and he is a brilliant surgeon. I do think she is a good nurse, but I think she's likely overloaded. I do know they could have gotten me in sooner though; I think she must wait 3 weeks with everyone

Jackbirdie

gatekeepers are so annoying. I'm very glad my shrink doesn't use one and he gave me his celł number. As long as I don't abuse it, he gets back to me very quickly. An entirely different situation with an MO of course. But it reminded me of how grateful I am with him.

Allison, Tutti has transitioned seamlessly, as has Jack. I'm very proud of them both. She wants to go outside though. I feel I need to wait until she is a bit larger, spayed, and quite sure about her home. Then we will start gradually allowing some outside time. I'm told the trick is you always put them out at first hungry, so they come back for food. It's a harsh world. ;-(

shaz101

congratulations Alli and Karen. It's so great to hear you too finish! The bell is ringing long and loud for you both. 🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉🎊🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈

Sue, if I miss you - my heartfelt congratulations to you too. 🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇

Who's left on chemo?

Trvler

Thanks, Sharon!

It's a harsh world make me chuckle.

Italychick

Congratulations Karen and Allison! You made it through! Fingers crossed all surprises are over and the rest of your surgeries and treatments go well.

Fingers crossed for all to grow great hair, eyebrows and eyelashes

Lovemylab

congratulation to all who are finishing and to Katy on the new house!!!

I have 2 more taxol/herceptin left. Had # 10 today. Nurse wanted to talk about SEs and I said let's not and just power through these last ones. SEs are not getting worse but not better either . I just want to get done. My sister who lives in town but hasn't seen me in weeks told me today that my chemo is just flying by. Maybe for you, I told her. Amazing how fast the time goes for people not dealing with side effects and all that goes with cancer/ chemo.

I also am returning to work in sept, the tenth but 3 days a week instead of five. My manager asked me how long I want to be part time, I almost said forever, but it said it depends how I feel.

Katy you may want to try a kitty harness and long leach for tutti. That's what I do anyway.

Have a good week all. Thankful for lomotil and Imodium for allowing me to leave the house sometimes anyway!

Maureen

Actually I have 2 more taxol. Can't be deported as herceptin continues til 6/16. Ugg!

Wow I should proof read before I submit ...Katy I meant leash not LEACH. Leaches would not be good for the kitty!

Jackbirdie

Thanks Maureen! It is amazing how fast my chemo went by for other people! I'm so grateful they didn't have to suffer.... Ugh...

And how funny you should mention the harness. I've been researching and found a good article that led me to two companies! U.S. Made too! I thought it was a bit silly and didn't want to tell...but she could come outside with Jack and I now if I got her one. Not that expensive. You just helped me make a decision! I'll tell her Royal Tuttiness that she has Auntie Maureen to thank!!!

slothabouttown

Allison and Karen hats off to you for gettin' er done. 6 months into this sandwich and you can finally check chemo off your to do list. You are now officially PFC!!!!

KBeee

I think Leigh has a few more Taxols. Anyone else???

SueH58

Thanks, all, for your good wishes. Here it is Final Treatment Eve and I don't feel excited, I don't feel elated, I don't know what I feel. I don't feel like I want to celebrate tomorrow, I'm just glad it's done. If nothing else, this experience has triggered a whole bunch of new emotions. I remember posting "how will I make it through 108 more days?" Theresa and several others gave me very good suggestions. Talk about ups and downs. And here it is 107 days later. Wierd.

Special thanks to Tutti for sending hugs to me. She's more beautiful every day. I sure wish she would stay an indoor cat--they are so much healthier than outdoor cats, but I know that's a very personal decision. Katy, your babies sure are flexible! They just roll with things.

Katy, your house is SO COOL! I just love the brick walls.

Where's Bekah? I miss her and am worried about her.

Meme117

congrats Karen & Allison! Did u celebrate?

How long do the chemo drugs stay in system? How long is typical to have drain after lumpectomy? I thought I'd be done by now but still draining....

Katy your kitty is growing up so fast. We kept our kitty on a leash but he managed to sneak out quite a few times and a couple scaried us to death. He always made his way back but I hated when he ran off, he was super fast. I so miss having a kitty.

KBeee

Sue, Congratlations on finishing tomorrow!!!!!!

Maryellen, I had an orthopedic appointment right after chemo and work training tonight, but I ordered pizza for dinner instead of cooking and downed a big giant yummy gourmet cupcake a friend brought me! I going to celebrate with my friend who finishes on Friday, but we are waiting a week so we can taste our food! I'm not sure how long chemo stays in the system, I think most is out in a couple weeks, but I am guessing some residual sticks around. I had a lumpectomy in February and my drain stayed for about 2 weeks. I had apile of nodes removed though.

Italychick

I'm wondering where Bekah is too. Hopefully she and hubby are doing vacation before her surgery, but I would love to hear from her. I think she posted that the brain MRI was fine, think I saw that somewhere.

Sue, one step at a time, and time will pass I think were some of my words of wisdom. I can't believe chemo ended for me 2 and 1/2 months ago. Some days I wonder did it all really happen? So bizarre. I did no celebrating either, was just so glad to be done and focus on more mundane day to day life, and appreciate all the little things I used to take for granted.

Don't think the worry about pooping myself will ever go away though, ha!

wpmoon

Congrats to Allison and Karen! YAY!!!! I didn't celebrate my last chemo either. I had a buttload of anxiety the day before, and then I was excited the morning of. And that was 8 weeks ago! Time does what it's supposed to - moves forward - even if only one second at a time. Months ago, none of us ever thought we'd make it this far. And now here we are!

Sue - I'm in training to be a Public Safety Dispatcher (911 operator). It's been an incredibly hard job to learn, especially while going through chemo. I doubt I'll stay there long. The money and benefits are good, but the hours suck, and I want to be able to have a life outside of work, which I think will be difficult to manage if I'm working nights 4 days a week, and having to sign mandated overtime. Oh, and I have a BA in Art History, and currently on a medical leave of absence for my MA in Art History. My life doesn't make sense to me right now, but I was reminded by a friend earlier today that it doesn't have to at the moment. I just have to get through this cancer thing, and then I can figure it out later on.

I'm jealous of everyone's deportation. Mine is stuck with me until about next February/March-ish for Herceptin.

Italychick

Whitney, me too on the port. I'm assuming I will be done in February since my first infusion was March 2, same day as you I think.