Anyone starting chemo August 2016?

DaraB

hi all, I was just watching the Today show and they had a doctor on who said she joined Breastcancer.org for support after her diagnosis and I was reminded how much all of you helped me get through one of the hardest times of my life. Thank you!!

I’m still hanging in with my back but have resigned myself to the fusion. I see the neurosurgeon again Nov 11 and will set a date then. Lynn, my grandson is adjusting to New Mexico. I talk to him weekly and can see small incremental changes in his behavior. He still fights the placement but it is quite remarkable. Reactive Attachment Disorder is such a challenge for everyone. Hope you’re able to get some relief with your hip. I certainly empathize with a body that doesn’t want to cooperate!

Kelly, I think the empty nest syndrome is a myth perpetuated by kids lol🤣 I am thankful though that my kids and grandkids are close enough that I can see them often.

Need to go but will check back soon. Love to all of you!💗 Dara

Anonymous

Ok- I still think part of our "problem" posting is we feel like we need to address everyone lol, which is my issue as well. I don't even have the energy to see when I last posted haha. Obviously, it's been a while since Dara's last posting in Oct. I'm still digesting how we got to 5 years. Funny thing- I had a friend randomly say "Hi" and how are you and what kind of cancer did you have? I was like, huh lol. Wait hmmmm what did I have! Took me a hot minute or two, which I guess is a blessing- forgetting this stuff while we can. My boss was diagnosed recently and happens to see my dr's. This friend's sister and another friend of mine literally got a report from an MRI that said "no signs of invasive carcinoma" and then "invasive carcinoma". Which is it?!! She said her Dr said it was a weird way to write it. Yeah no- have them re-do it!

What's happening here: Shea is finishing up her first semester at community college, and just finished being the choreographer for the high school musical. I went to the final show to support her and was surprised when she decided to join the ensemble and appeared on stage for a number. I told her if I wasn't wearing a mask, she would have seen the largest smile ever!

Adam has been retired now for over a month. He has stated he's bored, but I remind him I can start writing the list of things that need to be done lol. He definitely has mellowed, so it's a good thing for sure overall for everyone. I'm still working, riding the public buses. I'm ok with the mask-wearing and not as paranoid of the germs, but just got my booster and flu shot so I'm as ready as possible lol. It does get "old" but I can't beat working when I want to.

Dara- curious if you have a date scheduled for surgery? Kelly- give us some updates, Cali? Lynn- did you make the trip? Getting to the Y?

I'm not exercising as much as I'd like, I don't seem to do it when I work. The Echelon bike has definitely been a blessing- getting a good workout as consistently as possible and my knees don't hurt!

Lots of love to you all......

DaraB

I think it's a good sign that we're not posting a lot! I went to go onto Pinterest and the bookmark for here was right before this one, so popped in.

My surgery date was set for Jan 10, but they called last week to say they needed to push it out 2 weeks for two priority patients. I guess that means they're in worse shape than me! And of course, who knows what will happen with Covid by then? I figure everything happens for a reason and there's nothing I can do about the change anyway! I'm staying busy with a little bit of pottery, but can't do a lot right now. I've also gotten hooked on a FB group called holiday baking (I've never done much baking at Christmas, but am enjoying making a couple kinds of cookies and fudge.

Cali, my grandson is now at a residential facility in Georgia. We're all hoping it's only temporary until he can be admitted to a Reactive Attachment Disorder facility in Montana. It's hard on everyone, but we just hope he can improve enough to have some additional options.

I hope everyone is doing well this holiday season and enjoying family and friends. After the pandemic, I don't think I'll ever take relationships for granted!

Take care all and Merry Christmas! Love to all, Dara

Caligirl55

Hello to you all … I had my old iPad crash and I couldn’t get into this website. Today was my Oncologist appointment and I decided to try to figure out what my password was and get into my account .. finally tonight I got in. My visit with DO was good. He wants to continue seeing me twice a year till 10 years good. I completely enjoy being retired but I’m so busy. I got covid the end of August and since I had my vaccines they kept thinking I had allergies or finally thought it was a sinus infection. I was going to sub at my old school so I had to test and darn if I wasn’t positive 😲 the worst was my fatigue. I have subbed of and on since recovering but last week with the covid cases on the rise I decided to take a break. I’m helping my daughter with her 2 week old baby girl Rory who came 5 weeks early, helping with my mom who has dementia and was just diagnosed with colon cancer and my step-dad was in the hospital last week with pneumonia and a blood clot in his lung. So if I’m around all these fragile family members helping them I don’t need to bring any germs in with me.
My daughter in law had her radioactive test and at this point everything was clear of cancer where her thyroid was removed. Which is wonderful news.

Hope everyone is doing well and staying healthy!

Hugs

Anonymous

Hi Everyone-

Well first- I'm not liking the changes to this website lol, I can't find anything! I've had 2 bosses now diagnosed with BC and going through treatment, and now another friend who just found out hitting the chemo route. I was trying to look up what chemo I had (have to love that I don't actually remember!). For me, moving along ok. I see my oncologist on Tuesday of next week. I'm pretty sure she'll take me off of the letrozole and I'm honestly nervous about losing my 1 last ammo against cancer. I know I had "no evidence of disease" but I don't trust those little bastard cells. I do have osteopenia so I know she's balancing that. My husband retired at the end of December, he's still trying to find his way. I told him I can write him a honey do list anytime lol. My daughter is doing fairly well at community college and has been helping with the high school theater program and still seems to thrive in that arena.

Cali you have a lot on your plate! Dara- did you end up with surgery? Lyn- miss your voice here! Kelly/Kechla- I'm sure you're busy would love to hear how you're doing as well.

VLH

Greetings All!

Sorry that I fell off the planet. I turned into a recluse with all the COVID stuff and withdrew physically, emotionally and, to some extent, digitally. I'm trying to emerge from my hermit status.

Cali, I hope you haven't had any long-term issues from your bout with COVID. To my surprise, my Moderna booster reactivated the neuropathy in my right arm & hand. We need to be careful about linking cause-and-effect, but the condition was stable for 4 years, then popped up 11.5 hours after the shot. It ebbs and flows, but the numbness in my fingertips has never returned to its pre-shot status.

Boy, you have a lot of family challenges as a member of the "sandwich" generation. Are you enjoying retirement? How are your mother, step-dad and daughter-in-law?

Ajbclan, what happened with your hormone treatment? I understand your reluctance to give it up, but know it's been difficult for you. Has your husband adapted to retirement? How is your daughter? What are her plans for the summer?

I'm overdue for my onccology appointment. I've seen the GI doctor, Ear/Nose/Throat Doc and General Physician, just rescheduled the dermatologist and rheumatologist, need to have a dental cleaning and may be working a ton this summer so have struggled to make myself set yet another appointment. When I finally get 'er done, I hope I'll finally get promoted to annual instead of semi-annual visits.

Hope everyone will check in soon!

Hugs, Lyn

Caligirl55

Hello Ladies ~ wow it took me forever to find our site again. Life is busy but I think of you all because it is coming up on our 6th anniversary for our chemo nightmare. My family is all enjoying the baby granddaughter who just turned 4 months. My daughter in law is still suffering lots of depression since her thyroid was removed. Her year recheck came back clear of cancer .. yay!! My mom had her colon cancer surgery in April where they removed part of her colon, small intestine & 33 lymph nodes. She has suffered with the side effects from the anesthesia on her dementia and she is just doing better. So thankful for her caregiver. My step dad is still having lung problems but being treated for everything.

ajbclan I agree I don’t like the new changes to our site. Your daughter seems to be doing well .. I’m so glad. As far as hubby he does need that honey do list. Mine got bored and now does handyman work helping people all the time. I love it 😀

Lyn .. I’m so glad to see you found us and your back. Glad you are joining the outside world again. You got this girlie 😉

I am thinking this next oncologist visit in July my doctor will move me to once a year instead of twice a year. It’s like my security blanket.

Hope we can keep on touch with each other!

Hugs, Vicki aka Caligirl

Caligirl55

Hello Ladies .. I guess it’s good sign people aren’t posting much anymore. It takes me forever to find our site each time 🤷🏼♀️

Coming up on my 6 years since diagnosed so I was thinking about how much our group helped me through the worst part of my treatment.

Hugs

VLH

This group was an amazing support. wasn't it? 🙂

Cali, how are your parents doing? I only had 3 nodes removed and managed to get lymphedema. I can't imagine having 33 removed.

No news to share. I just wanted to check in. Hope everyone else will do the same!

Lyn

Caligirl55

Lyn … I’m so glad everyone is doing well. I had my oncologist appointment this morning & I don’t have to go back for 6 months so that’s always good. Just got back from visiting my parents in Montana and they are good. It was nice and cool there. Hope you are having a nice summer?

Hugs

Anonymous

Ladies! I just realized yesterday, that it's been 6 years since we came together to support each other through the crap! I still cannot believe 6 years have gone by. At the time it seemed like that would be a lifetime away. I was at work yesterday, and we're having people leaving and people coming in. I was very "melancholy" and thinking it was that, but then last night at home I realized I think my first chemo infusion was 6 years ago....so maybe down deep I knew lol.

I hope everyone is staying well. Cali- so glad you received a clean bill! I don't go for a year- so uncomfortable to be honest!

So for "fun" I went back around 6 years on our posts- a snapshot of what we were talking about. Lyn- you weren't so talkative back then lol.

Lyn - VLH 8/20/2016: Lori, I don't have a date yet because the pesky seroma infection didn't respond to the first antibiotic. I plan to attend chemo class Thursday and will see the MO again the following Tuesday. I may be able to get started on some of the tests late next week if healing goes well. Looks like I'm bumped back to September. I just wish I felt more strongly committed to this path. Ugh!

Me on 8/25/2016: Me on the 25th: Dara- thanks for the sweet note- I'm not much for selfies at all! Your pic is great by the way! I ended up getting a second wind and did a bunch of gardening, cleaned the kitchen up, and laundry. I thought my Nuelesta would go off at 215, but by 230 I had to head up and pick my daughter up from school- of course while I'm driving it starts and I can't check it until I got there, but went fine- so that's now done. Leydi- the office where I got my chemo was cold- so I picked a spot away from a vent and near a window. They had blankets, but brought my own along with a beanie. I chopped my long hair down to a Pixie cut. A week into the cut now I'm used to it so I'm glad I made this transition- hoping the next shave will not be as traumatic (ha!). I brought my own ice chips, I'm not getting that AC drug, so I was able to hit the bathroom fine- just had to learn how to "dance" with the IV- laughed by myself in the bathroom,

Kechla/Kelly- 8/26/2016 :I had my first infusion this morning. The PICC line works rather nicely. Keeping fingers crossed for no infection. Unfortunately about 7 minutes into taxotere I had an allergic reaction (flushing, trouble breathing and hip/back pain.) The team was all over it and was resolved in about 5 minutes with Benadryl. After about 30 minutes they started up the taxotere again with no issues. Got my lovely neulasta pod. I am cold capping and the allergic reaction came right at cap change time so one of my caps was about 10 minutes late. Hopefully no harm done. I think icing my hands and feet was even more difficult than the caps. 1 down. 3 to go

Dara 8/26/2016: Kechla, so glad you responded to the benedryl. Do you have to get the picc line flushed every week? That was what I was told and it's a drive to my center so I'm still trying the veins. My unbelievably sweet DH came home this afternoon with his head buzzed in support of me! I had no idea he was going to do it (and probably would have tried to talk him out of it) but I was so very touched that he would do that for me. He keeps telling me how great I look and I told him I'd loan him one of my wigs! :-). I keep getting headaches, anyone else have that? I still haven't been nauseous once, and my taste buds are back pretty much. Just get tired each afternoon. Next infusion is Monday so will see how it all goes. Hope, have a wonderful time this weekend! And even my MO said a glass on wine once in a while won't hurt us. Hope you're feeling better ajbclan! I took something the first night after infusion for constipation just to be on the safe side. My luck, I'll probably have the opposite problem next time!

Cali- 8/27/2016: Morning y'all ... My #2 infusion will be Tuesday so I am going to enjoy my weekend... I felt pretty sick about 3 days after my first infusion for a few days but including all the sore bottom area issues I survived & pray SE are no worse just realize each time they last a bit longer. I am not as brave as y'all to go get my head buzzed. I went and got a short cut tho .... I am not sure that would empower me like others feel. About now I feel pretty small. I am so thankful for our group though ... I can be brave on the outside but you all know there are moments of sadness that hit ..I just won't let them take over. My DH has about 10 hairs too... So we will be a pair. He did try on my wig tho! I am missing work .... our school began Monday & my MO said I can not be around sick little kids. 🤒 I am ready with my head gear ..wig ... Wraps, scarfs, caps, now I need some big earrings to rock the look. I really don't feel like I rock anything right now but I will give it a try. Hope you all have a great Saturday and praying for those having a rough weekend. 😘