Starting Chemo May 2008

RanD, I had a flashback when I read your post! A few years ago I had to visit an almost retired gyno (about 75 years old!!) whom I didn't know. His 'rooms' were in an old two-story house, and when I asked to use the bathroom I was directed to what looked like an unrenovated domestic bathroom. Whilst siting on the loo, I noticed the old bath with a very grimy bath-ring around it, then, to my horror, saw a trolley next to me with about 10 old metal seculums (specula??) on it, with a tea-towell thrown over them. They looked for all the world like the family washing up!!!    THEN, THEN I had a most awful thought! WHAT IF HE HAD JUST WASHED THEM ALL IN THE BATH????? I was so grossed out I could hardly stand the exam when we finally got to it.     ROCK!!!!! DONE???? Y-A-A-A-A-Y-Y-Y-Y!!!! Enjoy a little weep..and then a bottle of champagne and have a cool, refreshing drink for me! XXXX

Sable, keep them as short as you can. I almost lost one thumbnail, and the other nails are trashed half way down.

There is a pic on FB, I will send it to you all and try to post it here. 

My big toenail fell clean off the other night, and there are others following. 

 I have been a runner for a ton of years and I was a waitress for 15, so I know the toenail falling off has nothing to do with impact or shoes or whatever. Lots of people lose nails running and working on their feet, but never me. I am not looking forward to the next 8 weeks of retail hell on my feet with destroyed toes. Taxol foot pain was bad, but this is almost worse( except of course, this is only my feet and not every feckin' cell in my body) 

More later. I am watching So you think you can dance Canada.... 

 N

I kept mine trimmed back as well and no nail polish until they turned a lovely shade of brown. both thumbnails had weird black stripes in them. Looked kinda like I had splinters under the nails. That is the area that is lifting up now. I just hope nothing decides to grow under there because there is now a space...... ick

Thanks for the chemobrain help, Gracie (and Otter).  It turns out she's okay, just weird ear pain from her cold, but no infection.

Gracie - Yes, keep us posted on your dh.  How many txs do you have left?

Jen - I got nothing for fingernails.  Like Otter, all I got were some weird ridges, but then I only had the one Taxotere.  Hope the trimming helps.

Noelle - We love "So You Think You Can Dance"!  It's on in the summer here, so the girls get to watch it, too.

Kristy - Almost done...almost done...

Kerry - Eeeewwww.  That's just wrong.  It's bad enough that we have to do that once a year, it ought to at least be hygenic!

I'm doing better (although wondering if I am now getting the cold).  I am almost halfway done with rads and the skin is holding up better than I had feared, though there are more changes this week.  But so waaaaaaaayyyy better than chemo! 

Morning ladies,

So sorry for all of you having nail problems. I didn't have anything like that but am sincerely feeling for you all and wish a speedy growth.

Today is my last rads treatment. Thank goodness. I'm gonna stop the oc therapy for a couple of weeks because its so tender in the pit area that the massage hurts more than I can handle.

Tonight is my support group. I'm gonna ask them about coloring my hair. Has anyone heard the yahs and nays? Mine is almost pure white! Not a shocker since I was greying in my 30's.

My eyelashes and eyebrows look pretty good. Much thicker than before. Well I just wanted to stop in and say hi to all my friends.

Oh, snow in MN, yup. We had a tinge on Sunday. Ready to bundle up.

Gracie, glad to hear the surgery went well. Chris, my daughter is on augmentin for an ear infection and having a CT scan for her pollups (sp?) Looks like we may be having yet another surgery this year. Heck why not, I'm at my 100% anyways. 

Love you all, Mary 

My hair is only just starting to curl, and I am a month or so ahead of most of you..

I am colouring my hair tonight for my halloween costume with a demi perm. colour. 

I just found out that my genetics test is gonna go through! As of my meeting with the genetics counsellor yesterday it was not definite as my granny may or may not have had BC( mast with no biopsy as far as we know and we would need to get proof from a small hospital in Scotland etc etc)  and there is no other family history.  The province will not pay for a gene test if the risk is low.. I was MAAAAD!  They counsellor made a case for me because my mom's cancer was "primary Unknown" and even though there is a strong likelyhood it was colon, it was often speculated it may have been ovarian and also because I had more than one tumour. I get my MUGA, Herceptin and my Gene test on Monday! Because of slow labs it could take 6 months to get results though which is annoying....  and I will not decide about recon until have the answer... so now I know recon is off the charts for this next 6 or so months. 

 I have to run. Gracie, I am glad your DH is ok. 

 Hang in there everyone... each day is a better day! 

Glad most of you are almost done Rads. 

Karin? Angels? knock knock! 

xoN

So much good news...

Frankly, my day was made as soon as I saw that you'd posted, Randie!

Happy for ear infections that did not materialize, rads that are finishing hubbies who came through surgery okay, and nails that are not falling off, insurance claims for gene-testing that are approved.  Feeling for people whose skin hurts, nails are leaving, or with weird hair issues.  And wondering where Karin is . . . 

I gave a lecture last night at Columbia which went pretty well.  Met a young woman (30?) who is undergoing chemo for lymphoma and was reminded that I'm so damned lucky (not to mention happy to have chemo behind me).

Noelle, OBVIOUSLY I hope the test comes back negative but if it doesn't, well, I'm here to tell you that there are worse things. 

Got to run. A friend on her way over.  Love to all of youse...

Speaking of curly hair.... mine right at the temples is curling already and I have a few funky corkscrew looking ones going on. The rest is mostly straight. I'll enjoy it while I can. I'm just happy to have hair again!

I'll take of everyones wavy curly hair, don't worry.

 N

Today we have a pot luck at my office in celebration of completing rads. I'm going without the wig. It really doesn't look that bad. Happy Halloween to all. Last night at my support group some of these gals dyed their hair right away. I think I'll hold off until I clear it with the doc. I'll keep you posted. I have my 6 mo. follow-up on Tuesday with my general surgeon. It's hard to believe it's been 6 months. He's the best. I'm actually excited to see him. 

Mary 

Yeah Kristy! No more RADS!!!!!

Kristy!! You have defeated Deadly Rays Man!! And you have a son with multiple cowlicks!! How cool are you!! Sue, go to your ordinary doc. I made the mistake lately of going to the onc ($130) for a chest infection, and he referred me to the gp  Gracie, that shows EXACTLY the difference between men and women. In fact, when I met my husband he was 2 years post marriage failure, a bit depressed and 'all at sea'. Took me ages to get him to havacuppaconcrete. I couldn't get how he needed all this special kind of babying when he had just started a new fantastic relationship (with MOI !!) Anyway, he knows which ailments attract coo-ing and clucking and which don't!!  I shouldn't be so snickety..he has been my MAN through the whole bc debacle.   Girls, apart from being dog.ass.tired. when I get home from work (and am in bed at 8) I am feeling so (relatively) healthy! I am forced to walk the new dog as soon as I get home, which gets that Stranger, Oxygen, into my lungs and I get a little revv-up from it which enables me to get dinner organised and tidy up a bit.  Drew thinks this domestic enthusiasm is gratitude for him..he's probably got something there. This new 'normal' is s-w-e-e-e-t.    RanD???? How goes it?????  Rock, was your lecture for your book biz??   XXXXX to you all. It's a long weekend here, so I'm going to pack a few boxes in prep for moving...sigh...if I can remember how to.........

Congrats Kristy!!  Woohoo!!!

I hope everyone has a safe Halloween and an enjoyable weekend!