Any Northern Virginia ladies on this discussion board?

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  • GramE
    GramE Member Posts: 5,056
    edited September 2008

    HI:

    Dawn, set an exact place and time and I will do my bsst to be there.   I am glad to hear things are going good and I hope the rest of you can also report good things.  My stomach is still fluttery and I am very tired.   This last treatment took most of my energy.

    Hugs,  Nancy 

  • Monique
    Monique Member Posts: 121
    edited September 2008

    Hi Nancy and Dawn - Sorry I haven't been posting - second treatment has taken a lot out of me - I'm hoping the  third one doesn't get even worse :(.  I would really love to meet up with you all. Oct 18th works well for me because it is the weekend before treatment #4 so I will feel reasonably good (I hope anyway).  Tysons' is fine with me too.  Just set the details and let me know.  I am looking forward to meeting you guys in person :)

    Monique

  • GramE
    GramE Member Posts: 5,056
    edited September 2008

    How about Noon on October 18 at Tyson's Mall ?  I also invited the Look Good Feel Better ladies who did the new video with me.   No, they are not glamour queens...   just been there, done that...

  • gk2bc0
    gk2bc0 Member Posts: 56
    edited September 2008

    I've been low for a good ten days since my fourth round of TCH, so I need to catch up!  Sharonw...I had radiation at Sibley in 2005 with my first diagnosis. I had  my lumpectomy there in 2005 and in 2008 I had a mastectomy and tram reconstruction in June.  

    Irene Gage, the chief radiation oncologist, is wonderfulI She wrote the chapter on Radiation for the Breast Book.  I go to an oncologist affiliated with Virginia Hospital Center, John Feigert, but several people I know have been to Frederick Smith in Chevy Chase. I met him for a second opinion with my latest diagnosis, but  stayed with Feigert. Convenience to your treatments is not an insignificant consideration since I am at the oncologist as often as three times/week. 

  • Monique
    Monique Member Posts: 121
    edited September 2008

    Nancy - noon - Oct 18th at Tyson's Mall sounds good to me :)

    Let's keep posting about it and hopefully we can get a good crowd that day!

    Monique

  • lastminuteD
    lastminuteD Member Posts: 333
    edited September 2008

    Hey all!  noon on 10/18 sounds like a plan to me. 

    Sorry I've been MIA...................... besides dealing with my mom's metastatic bile duct cancer, my father-in-law (74) was taken to the hospital Thursday and we got a call at 9pm saying to get down there.  So far, so good.  He is feeling better but going through more tests.  Looks like he had a mild heart attack, ct scan is showing spots on his brittle bones that are leaching calcium into his blood so they are going to do a biopsy or spinal tap tomorrow to see if it is myeloma which would be why his kidneys have failed and he's on dialysis which isn't quite helping since it can't clear the calcium ..........UGH.  We left Covington, VA Saturday am for a wedding in Virginia Beach and to see youngest son at ODU and today drove from Norfolk to Charlottesville to meet up with oldest son and gf so they could bring me home and DH went back to Covington to be here for tests tomorrow!

    Tuesday is month end at work so since things are relatively calm at the moment - I get to be there!  woo hoo! Wink

    I think I need a nap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111

    Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

    Dawn

  • BrandonMom
    BrandonMom Member Posts: 412
    edited September 2008

    I'll try my best to be there!

  • GramE
    GramE Member Posts: 5,056
    edited September 2008

    Help me out ladies:   I am very geographically challenged and need to know the exact name of the mall and address.   Someone told me there are 2 malls in Tyson's - so I do not want to be sitting in the wrong mall...   Chemo brain and all !!

    So far it is Monique, Dawn, BrandonMom and me... right?     

  • lastminuteD
    lastminuteD Member Posts: 333
    edited September 2008

    Hi All!

    Here are some links to both malls dining info - I think the Galleria is easier to get in and out of for us driving challenged people!  See what you guys think and we can go to whichever the most want. 

    http://www.shoptysons.com/dining.asp

    http://www.tysonsgalleria.com/html/AttractionDetail.asp?aid=2325

    Have a great day!

    Dawn

  • GramE
    GramE Member Posts: 5,056
    edited September 2008

    Thanks Dawn -- which one has more food choices?????   Food is NOT a 4 letter word...!!!

  • lastminuteD
    lastminuteD Member Posts: 333
    edited October 2008

    On the contrary Nancy - FOOD is the BEST 4 letter word!!! Laughing

    Tyson's Corner Mall will have the most of everything - food, stores, people and noise!!

    Awesome place to go for people watching and/or window shopping!

    Hope everything is enjoying the beautiful weather!

    Dawn

  • GramE
    GramE Member Posts: 5,056
    edited October 2008

    HI:

    Dawn, that is what I meant - NOT a bad word...  

     OK----- Noon on October 18 at The Tyson's Corner Mall -- Food Court.   I am also inviting 6 ladies from the place I get chemo and I got permission to post on the bulletin board.  I hope I do not forget my camera -  hint, hint !!  

    If you can think of a sign I can use to help us recognize each other, let me know -- We need a name for our group -- NOVA warriors???    

    This last tx kicked my butt yesterday - stomach cramps and chills when they hooked up the herceptin, but they added a liter of saline and I konked out when I got home.  Only 4 more to go...  Now the steroid buzz... UGH 

    HUGS,  Nancy  

  • flyrzfan
    flyrzfan Member Posts: 557
    edited October 2008

    oh Nancy, looking at the time you posted you must have been up late if not all night...I'm so sorry, I hope you are resting now. I was able to sleep last night for the first time on chemo night. I was welcome, I hate that all night / next day buzz. Let me know if you want me to pick you up on the 18th, I am planning on coming as well. I think it will be fun.

    I had a heck of a time after you guys left. Crabby wife was on the phone every 3 minutes complaining about our party. Steriods kicked in and I kind of went off on her and aske them to move me before I took her cell phone and shoved it up her arse...unbelievable that someone would be against us having fun. I warned them about us having another session in 3 weeks so hopefully they will put us away from people who might not appreciate it.

    I hope everyone is keeping up with the side effects and getting plenty of rest, remember ~ call your ONC if it gets unmanageable. I had to have my dosage reduced by 20% when it did and it's much more manageable now.

    best wishes all,

    bonnie

  • GramE
    GramE Member Posts: 5,056
    edited October 2008

    Bonnie:  I crashed when I got home after having a small snack.  Then at 2 am, up and raring to go...  That steroid buzz kicking in..   I almost went off on my "neighbor" when she made the comment that "dont they know there are sick people here" - like IF we were "healthy" we would be there...  I warned them that there would be several of us "celebrating"... so it was no secret once we all got set up.   

    Great that you got some sleep.  I already had 2  "bitch sessions" on the phone.   One was about the driver I had on the way in yesterday...  Ask me next time we see each other.    The other was about the umpteenth complaint that the apartment complex street lights have been out for over 2 weeks.  The city does not maintain them since it is private property.   Give me more steroids and I may have a pink placard protesting pink propoganda...  

    Look for the headlines:   chemo bitch carries protest sign !!!  Sorry - I do not mean to offend anyone - I do not hate pink, just the marketing ploy used to get people to buy things they do not need.  

    Hugs,  You all have a a good weekend, or at least a better day than yesterday.   Nancy 

  • lastminuteD
    lastminuteD Member Posts: 333
    edited October 2008

    Guess we are on the same page about FOOD!! Smile  My extra 25 pounds is proof of that!!

    Okay, I have chemo brain - both of you are doing herceptin/taxol every three weeks?  I did mine weekly and after the first one with no reaction, had them lower the steriods and benedryl to almost nothing - drove myself etc. 

    After those 12 weeks I continued the herceptin every three weeks and finished that up 8/5/08 - didn't need steriods or benedryl................................ I do still have problems sleeping but that's partially because DH snores and I'm not good at relaxing before falling into bed!!! I need to work on that!!

    I am being inundated with pink as well - grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

    Have a great day/weekend!

    Dawn

  • GramE
    GramE Member Posts: 5,056
    edited October 2008

    Dawn:  I just had # 8 weeky Taxol and Herceptin - this is pre surgery.  4 more to go for a total of 12 weekly sessions.   UGH ----  Herceptin will continue for a total of a year AFTER surgery, and I think that will be every 3 weeks.  I have not had my surgery consult yet, but it is looking like a lumpectomy since the tumor has shrunk drastically. 

  • lastminuteD
    lastminuteD Member Posts: 333
    edited October 2008

    Thanks Nancy!  It doesn't take much to confuse me and my short term memory is not what it used to be.  Easy to blame it on chemo but I know my life is stressful to boot - mainly with things I can't change at the moment and I'm sort-of working on the rest.

    The schedule changes going from every 3 wk adriamycin/cytoxin to weekly taxol/herceptin to daily radiation keeps you SSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo busy, it's actually a relief to go to every 3 wk herceptin! 

    I am so glad your tumor has shrunk and that you'll be able to have a lumpectomy!  I know the past 5 1/2 months or so have been very stressful but it does settle down several notches!!

    Off to Home Depot - I'll be glad when the kitchen remodel is over!! Smile

    Have a great weekend all!

    Dawn

  • GramE
    GramE Member Posts: 5,056
    edited October 2008

    Bumping up the invitation for all to join me at Tysons  Corner Center,  Rt 7 and I 495 or 1961 Chain Bridge Road, at Noon on October 18 at the Food Court.   

    It looks like parking in Terrance C or E is the closest.  

    Have a good day/night and weekend.  HUGS,  Nancy 

  • lastminuteD
    lastminuteD Member Posts: 333
    edited October 2008

    BUMPING!!

    Can you meet us on the 18th?

    Smile

    Dawn 

  • GramE
    GramE Member Posts: 5,056
    edited October 2008

    Dawn, Bumping means i moved to more forward so it doesn't get lost in the shuffle.

     I plan on being there on the 18th, YES, most definitely.

    Nancy 

  • lastminuteD
    lastminuteD Member Posts: 333
    edited October 2008

    Hey Nancy!   I was just bumping up too hoping others might see the invite!

    I logged in earlier and saw your bump from the 4th and figured we'd at least bump every couple days to keep us near the top .............................. you and I seem to think alike!  Wink

    Hope everyone is having a good week and enjoying the weather!

    Dawn

  • GramE
    GramE Member Posts: 5,056
    edited October 2008

    Dawn, that is scary - thinking like "me"... lol.   Between chemo fog, chemo brain, crs, craft and pds, I am not sure many brain cells are active.

    I am going to get a pink plastic table cloth, so you will be able to find me at the Food Court.   And I will try to remember to bring magic markers so we can scribble on it...   Bonnie:   this is especially for you and me to "bash" all the pink propaganda...

    Have a good day and keep smiling.   After tomorrow, only 3 tx to go...   YEAH.

    Nancy 

  • BrandonMom
    BrandonMom Member Posts: 412
    edited October 2008

    Hey everyone,

     I'm really going to try to be there on the 18th, but I get my last AC on the 17th.  Each of these treatments has been harder on me than the one before, so I'm not positive I'll be able to do it.  I hope this is the first of many, as I'd love to actually talk with women that are going through the same thing.

    Colleen

  • GramE
    GramE Member Posts: 5,056
    edited October 2008

    Great, Colleen, if you can make it.  Yes, we might set up another date to meet and in a different location also.   In person groups can be very helpful.

     HUGS,   Nancy 

  • shari1232
    shari1232 Member Posts: 161
    edited October 2008

    I'm sorry I'll miss you all.  I hope you have a great time!!!!

  • GramE
    GramE Member Posts: 5,056
    edited October 2008

    Repeating:   Saturday, October 18, noon at Tysons Corner Center in the food court. Look for PINK table cloth and my name is Nancy.

    Informal, meet and greet time.  Parking is closest in Terrace C or E.    

  • Monique
    Monique Member Posts: 121
    edited October 2008

    Thanks Nancy for organizing everything.  I haven't been on the boards in a while - 3rd round took a toll on me more than the other two.  Anyway,  I def. plan on being there :)  I can't wait to meet everyone.

    Monique

  • LisainVA
    LisainVA Member Posts: 8
    edited October 2008

    Hi Everyone - I am new to this message board thing!  I live in Vienna, and am finishing Rad #10 today at Inova Fairfax hospital.  I get results from Onc test October 20.  I had lumpectomy 9/3, so things have been going very fast for me.  I thought I was unjustified in feeling so tired after just 9 treatments - it is so rewarding to feel I am not alone, and to be able to share and read about experiences.  Thank you so much for sharing! 

    Lisa

  • BrandonMom
    BrandonMom Member Posts: 412
    edited October 2008

    Lisa,

     I have a question for you about rads.  Did Inova make you get tattoos for doing the rads, or did they use a marker?

    Colleen

  • LisainVA
    LisainVA Member Posts: 8
    edited October 2008

    Hi Colleen - Tattoos, but hardly noticable, and at least I can't wash them off!  I would highly recommend Inova Fairfax - the techs are terrific, and the doctors are top notch!  Where did you have your treatment/surgery?  Hopefully we can meet sometime - I live in Vienna!  I can't make it on October 18th, but perhaps will be able to after that!  Take care, Lisa

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