April 2015 Chemo Crew... Starting in April? Please join us!

Jackbirdie

Jen -Yay!!!!!!!!! So very happy and relieved for you!

Doing the happy dance. There is no icon for the kind of happy I am right now.

Alibeths

Awesome news Jen!!!!!

ksusan

Yeah!

Rpayton

Jen great news!!! Breathe and may you use your new energy to live that news up with a drink, cake or both! Ha-ha.

Andrea so happy for your last day!

Can't wait for Monday my last day of rads!

Italychick

Littleblue awesome! Another reason to drink Jamesn - CELEBRATION!

Italychick

and now I've got Kool and the Gang singing in my head lol! Yahoo! Let's all celebrate and have a good time!

GingerChi

Wonderful news, Jen! So happy for you...woohoo!!!

Congrats Andrea!!!!! There's no place like home....I know you're ready to get back there full time!

Renee: You're almost there, YAY!!!

littleblueflowers

whoof! Thanks you guys! Italy, I like the way you think! And your taste in music! Renee, I got a cannoIli to celebrate. Now I can stop ducking my parents calls lol.

Rpayton

Jen, you did good! I LOVE cannoli!!! I'm 100% Italian. Have a nice cappuccino too.LOL ;-)

Italychick you got that celebrate song going in my head too. Ha!

Jackbirdie

Holy Cannoli, Batman! Well done indeed

Positive_spirit

Laura - thinking of you and sending peaceful wishes during this difficult time.

Steph - I hope everything went well with the transfusion. I just want to say that it's okay to vent about the hardship that comes from treatment, reconstruction, etc. All of this is so very hard and you have been through a lot. Hugs!

Jen - woohooo!! No evidence of disease.

I had my 3 month followup. I asked for thyroid and vit D to be added ...I actually demanded it. Glad I did. Good news is that the small lump did not appear to raise concerns upon imaging. The bump on my head (which in my mind was a brain tumor that had broken through the skull and was seeking air) has diminished to a tiny bump. My labs - I am not anemic anymore. BUT I have hypothyroidism, which I did not have pre-diagnosis and my vit D levels are low. So I have to have thyroid replacement meds and a megaboost of vitamin D added for the next 6 weeks. UGH..autoimmune disease.

Worse still, work is being an ass over medical leave and I hope it all works out so that I can go back at 50% time. Otherwise, it's full speed ahead and picking up 2 courses to teach in the third week of the semester. ARGGGHhhhhh!! I am in a foul mood for sure.

KBeee

positive spirit , glad you got the tests you needed. Way to advocate for yourself!

Jen, great news on the pathology!

Andrea, Congrstulations!!!

GingerChi

Positive Spirit: So glad that your lumps and bumps are not a concern!!! Sorry to hear about the hypothyroidism...do they think it will resolve after being on meds for a bit? Bummer about your job.....like you need that kind of aggravation right now!

littleblueflowers

Positive- Yeesh. If its not one thing, its another, huh? I am SO GLAD your lumps turned out to be nothing. I know exactly how you were feeling. Not fun. Sorry your work is being an ass---here's an ass for them! (@)!

Well, on this, the Friday before my last two whole chest radiations, which precede 5 boosts to my scar (but who is counting??) I have learned a few things. First, when I'm scared/stressed out I do stupid stuff like drink water out of a cattle trough, thus giving myself the galloping trots for the next 3 days. Uh huh- that will help stave off dehydration. Duh. Also, Oncologists hand out psych meds like M&Ms, but never really address the fact that they are damn addictive, at least mentally. I have a HUGE ativan habit now. I'm throwing it out there because I'm trying to break it. by smoking pot. (shrug) And one of my co-workers, who is very very bald- is sad my hair is growing back. I'm not his bald sister anymore. Oh well. Sad face. Also, does anyone else not sleep past 4 am anymore? Yeesh. Its awful. They aren't hot flashes, ladies. They are stress flashes! Anyway, its Friday! So we got that going for us!!!! I'm gonna go see if I can con a ride in my friendly neighborhood cop's new mustang. (midlife crisis car). Its good to have goals, right???

DizzParkMom

Anybody know what to say to a person who emailed me out of the blue after disappearing for the last 6 months?

She said, "I have thought about you all the time. It would be great to hear from you."

My feelings are that if she has "thought" of me so much, why is this the first I am hearing from her in 6 months since she learned of my DX? I am thinking that all the constant Komen Race for the Cure commercials on TV have jogged her memory and reminded her of my existance.

Shall I just respond that "I am great! How about you?" Or shall I tell her that its been a holy terror of a shit storm...especially when all my friends seemed to go into witness protection at the same time.

Positive: Sorry about the thyroid. Do they think this is temporary?

Lititleblue: My MO kept telling me that there was no need to worry about the Ativan and I could take it as long as I needed it...my thought was always that the longer I kept taking it, the longer I would get used to relying on it...so I started tapering down from 1mg to .25mg and eventually was able to skip it all together. However, I still look at those 1mg tablets and my mouth waters. I like your 'organic' plan for getting off the Ativan.

Laura. There aren't words that can express how deeply sorry I am that you and your family have suffered this tragic, sudden loss. May your memories bring you strength. May time bring you comfort. Your family will be in my prayers.

bluedog

Oh boy, do I have complicated feelings about how friends have/have not responded to my cancer. I try to keep in mind that cancer freaks a lot of people out and that people don't understand it unless they've been through it themselves or been very, very close to someone who has. HOWEVER, I can't help but feel enraged, hurt, bewildered, etc., by the things people say and don't say. Dizz, I don't know how close you are to the person or how important the relationship is, but I think it's okay to be honest. You could say the shit storm part but maybe not the disappearing friend part? See how she responds? Let us know how it goes.

KBeee

Dizz, It is common for friends to "disappear" when they don't know what to say, but that does not mean it is ok. I think honesty is the best policy. I'd say something like, "I'm glad you've thought of me. I appreciate all of the thoughts and prayers. Honestly though, if you thought about me, I do wish you'd reached out to me. These last several months have been rough, and I would have enjoyed being able to get together for lunch or having someone to just go for a walk with." I figure if nothing else, it will help their next friend who is in a medical crisis because they will know better how to respond and what is needed.

9 more rads. 4 whole area and 5 boosts. Single digits now! I can see changes daily at this point. I think I'll ask for some Silvidine next week, but the OTC stuff is not cutting it anymore. I am glad it is not winter because I wan tto wear nothing other than a tank top. If there were not workmen here replacing windows and siding, I would pull the shades and go topless.

DizzParkMom

bluedog and kbee, thanks for the advice...It's definately helpful. When the email came through, my jaw dropped and I didn't want to just 'react'. I think I will be honest, but gentle with my words. I can't imagine that maintaining the relationship is worth it at this point. If she couldn't be a friend to me under current circumstances, I am not sure I will be able to feel comfortable around her now. BUT, like you said, maybe it will help her with her other relationships in the future.

Jackbirdie

Dizz- I had the same thing happen. Kbee and Bluedog had great advice. To be very honest, I found myself quite angry and had trouble controlling it.

I was honest but they (it happened twice) were hard conversations. I was mad and even though I know they had issues too, dammit, I WAS/AM THE ONE WITH CANCER!!!!

I guess I have some ongoing anger issues. Just my 2 cents. 😢

gkodad

Down to my last 5 full rads and then 5 boosts - that's 10 but it sounds better when I break it into two distinct parts. So far, red but no other issues - still going with the Miaderm. I now have eyelashes on BOTH eyes.

I understand the frustration about missing friends [and family] - just had a "friend" check in after months to say how much she would like to see me - she's pretty busy so can't make the drive here but hopes I'll drive up there for a visit. Sure....no problem...let me check my medical schedule and see where it fits. People mean well but just don't think.

Hang in there, ladies. We're all getting closer to the end of our slog on the cancer treadmill! Then have a party with your real friends - you know who they are now.

littleblueflowers

Yay GKO!!!!!

Dizz, sorry about your friend- I'd say do what feels right to you. It sounds like she did!

You guys, I just shaved a quarter inch of blond fuzz off my face. With my lady bic. It feels so wrong to wantonly slaughter hair! Now, in revenge, I believe the razor gave me razor burn. Hmmmm...

ksusan

Rock the weekend, ladies! I'll give an update from my MO visit sometime soon (all is well).

ksusan

All right. Chicken eaten; Pope's speech to Congress listened to.

I so like OHSU, and I so don't like my chemo/radiation local facility. I saw my MO's nurse practitioner this morning. Everything is healing well, though the radiated side is still somewhat discolored and sore. She measured the size of my calves and we had a good conversation about monitoring Tamoxifen. She listened to my lungs since I've had a slight cough since ~week 3 of radiation. She palpated my left chest but not my right; I had her check the right as well. We agreed that if I feel anything amiss I'll start with the assumption that it's fat necrosis, but will call. My blood counts are almost all in range (white is still a tiny bit high but not a problem). No DEXA results returned yet.

Then I went to a bookstore and my purse fell off the back of the tank and into the toilet. That was fun. I was glad I wasn't still in chemo and having to be highly germ avoidant.

SpriteB

Does anyone else have a problem with frequent urination during the night since chemo? When I started chemo, I also drank more fluids so i attributed the waking up at night to pee to that. But since chemo ended I've gotten back to drinking 8-10 glasses a day and I'm still waking 2-5 times a night to go. Of course Dr Google has to mention a pituitary gland tumor but menopause , kidney issues, heart issues are all brought up. My kidney blood tests and mugas have all been fine through treatment. Maybe my body just got used to going so much at night? Maybe chemo affected something? Im 38 and haven't had my period since April so maybe chemo put me in menopause? I'm going to start keeping a log of what I drink and what times I wake to go and speak to my MO but I was wondering if anyone else noticed the same thing since chemo?

KBeee

Sprite, I have had that issue since my Sept 2013 chemo. I also tend to have blood in my urine since then which worsened this time around. My MO is testing my urine in Oct and will refer me to a urologist if blood is still present

Ksusan, sounds like a good visit other than the toilet mishap. Interesting PA would assume fat necrosis; did you have fat grafting? I thought that is when it usually occurs.

GKO, We'll be finishing rads about the same time. I like to divide it up the same way.

Little blue, I shaved my facial fuzz twice and it has not returned...thankfully!!!

slv58

SpriteB I just had a checkup with my PCP and it was discovered my fasting glucose is in the diabetic range! She said that sometimes all the steroids I was on can cause this- that it may be temporary or permanent! She is giving me two months and will retest so I'm trying real hard to walk a mile a day despite my aching joints/muscles and am following a low carb diet. I've lost 7 of the 20 pounds I put on with chemo. I'm telling you this because for me it explains getting up every 2-3 hours to pee. I thought it was all the water I was drinking during chemo but I finished that 6 weeks ago. I'm not sure why glucose was never tested while on chemo and I had no idea steroids can cause this. I would ask for a glucose test next time just to rule out. I don't think it's that common because I've never heard of anyone getting diabetes from steroids but I guess it happens.

littleblueflowers

On fat necrosis- my latest scare turned out to be fat necrosis. I didn't think I had any left, but there it was, on my prophylactic side. I guess it can happen anywhere there has been trauma. So it's a legit assumption- even if one none of us will be making for a loooooong time...

GingerChi

Slv: I have high blood glucose levels too! It started showing up on my labs from the MO, so I had it checked out with my PCP. He put me on Metformin a couple of months ago. Some of my paperwork actually says I have drug induced diabetes, but I was probably pre-diabetic before treatment. I have 2 more Taxol treatments left, so still have a couple more rounds of steroids. The days I take them my glucose gets pretty high. PCP thinks it will settle down once I'm off the roids...I have a recheck on my A1C in December.

Sprite, hopefully its not the case in your situation, but ditto on having your glucose checked if it hasn't been. When your sugar is up, you will definitely pee alot!

Dizz: Sorry about the situation with your friend! How did you decide to handle it? I haven't had anyone totally disappear, but have a couple of friends who go on and on about how busy they are in apology for not staying in closer contact. Yet I see all the crap they do on FB all day. It shows where their priorities are, which is fine...they don't have to check on me continually, but don't BS me about how busy you are either!!! I haven't confronted them, but now when they contact me I take my sweet time to ever reply.

ksusan: Glad all went well with your visit. Ugh on the purse in the toilet!!!

littleblueflowers

Shaving music

Ksusan, I hope it was sensible canvas purse you can wash!

Ugh. I think k I'm going to have to buy some shaving cream and really get serious about this face fuzz. Ok youtube, how do you shave your face???

Scarlett152

KSusan -purse in the toilet, you made me snort my coffee!

Littleblue - my face fuzz is getting epic! I've used the Nair for face before for my lip, but now I'm fuzzy all over! I don't know if I would shave because it tends to come in so stubbly. I'm thinking about going to someone for threading. I've done it before. Not pleasant, but effect e and last longer than shaving and no chemicals like Nair.

My 17 year old son broke a bone in his foot last week during a football game. He ended up needing a screw put in yesterday. I was really calm until I saw him in recovery and it brought back surgery memories, I had definitely blocked a lot since February! He did great in surgery and should be back on the field in 4 weeks.

I'm a week into my two week Tamoxifen vacation and no let up in foot or joint pain. The higher dose of diarrhetic makes me feel like I am parched all the time and I haven't seen much of a reduction in swollen feet and hands. This leads me to conclude that my SE are leftover from chemo and/or from the monthly Zoladex. Tamoxifen has a 14 day half life, so maybe I'll see some changes in the next week.

I'm 11 weeks PFC and still get what feels,like waves of chemo bubbling up. Not a hot flash, but a very chemically feeling rush and I get dizzy and warm. Anyone else still getting this??