Anyone starting chemo in Aug. 08?

Happy New Year Dear Friends,

I wanted to report in and I'm trying to catch up with all of you over the last messages. Sorry to disappear for awhile - after 6 months not working I got a request for my leadership seminars in Brazil! Just returned - was able to do it for 80 people and wow does it feel good to do what I love again.

I have now been on Arimidex for 4 weeks now - just starting to feel some joint stiffness when I wake...and it seems to get better during the day. This is not fun - but doable so far.

Deanna - you said a few pages ago that we get mentally prepared (nervous?) at each next treatment as part of the "preparation" process. The next action for me is the exchange as I get "reconstructed". Sure ready to lose this expander but am nervous about what I'll actually look like when I wake up. 

Hair is about 1/4'' and both white and dark (I lightened my hair to blond for so long I don't know what it'll look like)! New eyebrows are nice - no eyelashes suck! Now - new boobs - WHO AM I?Will I recognize myself? And, I'm incredibly grateful to be able to find out!

And Misty - looking forward to your visit to the desert in April... and anyone who would like to join us in Palm Springs....come on out!  

Warm hugs, Gail 

I have some definite dark shadow going on with my hair, along with some white fuzz.

Tom is in the process of leaving from his weekend visit

LisaHugs, what a lot of hair you have! And your little girl is precious .

Gail, How wonderful you could lead your seminars!

Stacy, I don't know how to do facebook.

It has been a great weekend. Tomorrow I leave for Baltimore for my pre-op testing. DD and I are going to address and mail my wedding invitations while I am there.

Have a great week, everyone.!

Bette 

Corinne, You will be in my prayers.

Pray for me also, as I face a mastectomy on January 20.

Bette 

Hi there everyone!

Well I just celebrated turning 42  on Saturday (yikes I'm old!) and I am so thankful to have met all of you. Your support, compassion and friendship is priceless.

I'll be having TX#6 this Friday and I'm dreading the achy joints. Hopefully it'll be less severe this time. I'm still feeling those hot flashes. I have a wedding to attend this Saturday and I won't let that interfere.

Gail: My eyebrows grew back so quick (even on Taxotere) BUT the eyelashes are growing so s l o w ly..  Please count me in too on the April trip to the desert. I'd love to meet up with you, Misty and Deanna.

Lisa: Your pic w/your baby is beautiful. 

Corrine & Bette: I am saying extra prayers for clean margins and a successful surgery & recovery for you both. It's in God's hands.

Prayers & Hugs,

Jeannine

Hi everyone,

Jeannine, I'll put you on the list for a desert get-together for April - will be great to meet! And I got the magnifying mirror out and have tiny lashes coming slowly, too.

Alibug, you have great hair coming in! Mine looks a little like that but I got this silver stuff coming in with the dark hair? 

Corinne, was so excited to hear the horse cart lesson went well- I'd love that. I'm out often on my horse but haven't talked her into pulling yet! But she did do well swimming with me on last summer.

Deanna, Sure hope the first rads went well and you are feeling good.

My exchange surgery is in a week and I'm sure wondering what that will look like!

Hugs to all,

Gail 

Hey Girls,

Wow-I am so happy to read everyone's messages each day.  It sounds like everyone is doing so well.

Jeanine-Happy Birthday!!

Corinne-good luck with your surgery on Thursday.  Lots of toes and fingers will be crossed for good news-Isn't it so much easier going for just the Herceptin?  I have a blast talking to the nurses and helping/talking to women around me who are in the chemo stage. It sounds like the tamox is going well for you, too.  I know, the hot flashes are a pain, but minor in comparison to what we have already been through.

Stacy-you go, girl!!  I love that you are going out without your wig.  My DH would love me to do that, but I just can't do that yet because of work.  There are still so many staff that don't even know what I have been through.  I just don't feel like having to deal with all of them yet.  My DH and I leave for our cruise on the 24th.  I plan to go "bare" for that whole trip.  No one will know me, and I will be so happy not to have the wig covering up this 3/4" dark hair.

Alibug-Right there with you on the dark hair.  Mine is brown-I used to always have highlights.  Now, it matches my dark brows!!  I am just glad to see that color.

Gail-good luck with your exchange surgery-you will love not having the expander.

Girls for the Palm Desert get-together-Can't wait!!  I will be able to do something during the day on April 2nd or 3rd.  I would prefer to be hanging around a pool outside.  I am so looking to being in some warm sunshine!!  Remember, I am having a cold winter in Maryland!!

Bette-Hope you are getting ready for your surgery.  All should go well.

~Misty

Hello everyone!

Bette and Corinne my prayers are with you and sending you lots of positive vibes. Since i have started Herceptin again as you can see I can't sleep at all. For the first time, I got the shakes after Herceptin that was odd because that had never happened. I'm glad everyone is hanging in there! Have a goodnight as I'm gonna try to do the same.

Lots of Love  Karen

Hi, all ~  Corinne, just wanted to tell you that I will be thinking about you tomorrow and praying for clean margins!

Happy belated birthday, Roya and Jeannine!  May this year be full of healing, renewal, and much happier days than the one that's behind you.  So sorry, Roya, to hear about the "flare" you're dealing with at the moment!  That sounds absolutely miserable.  Have you been taking B6 all along?  It helps with neuropathy, which I think is at least a component (the numbness & tingling) of what you're describing, although I don't know about the pain.

Stacy ~  I'm not on facebook yet, but you're the third friend to ask recently, so I'll probably get around to it soon.  Glad you're enjoying wearing your hair "au natural!"  I would at this point, too, if there wasn't so much gray in it.  Has anyone figured out how to safely color theirs yet?

I started rads on Monday.  3 down and 25 to go.  So far, so good.  

Sending best wishes to everyone ~  Deanna

Hey girlies!!!!  Just checking in - I go for my check-up after rads Monday and hopefully I won't have to go back there anymore and I will be down to only my breast doc and oncologist!!!!

dlb823 - let me just say at 34 I have a BUNCH of grey coming in too BUT honestly - I don't care!! LOL  I go "topless" and I have gotten quite a few compliments but even if I didn't - I would do it anyways - if this helps - to me - IT IS MY BADGE OF COURAGE!!!!! And I am proud!!!! But I know it isn't for everyone!!!!!  I hope everyone is doing good!!!!

Loves to all............

Hi Everyone,

Roya, thanks so much for referring me to the breast recon. web site. I do think I'm prepared for this exchange after all those "filling" the expander visits! 

Bette, I worried too about how post-mastectomy would look -  but I have really healed nicely and you can barely see the scar. It does feel good to know what you don't need anymore is gone. Good luck!

Alibug, I have a bunch of gray too but am thrilled with any hair at this point - I colored my hair before and will probably do some "creative" coloring in the spring.  

Corinne - best of everything on your upcoming surgery - I'll be thinking of you.

Gail 

mamakaren ~  Are you absolutely sure that swelling isn't lymphedema-related?  I know you said it wasn't, but I've recently learned on this site that not every physical therapist is qualified to recognize the early signs of lymphedema, no less treat it.   I'm concerned about you, and am wondering if you already have or should consider seeing a lymphedema trained therapist.  In the meantime, have you tried elevating your arm throughout the day?  That's something my rad onc advised doing if my hand starts to swell with rads, and I'm wondering if it might help you, too.   Deanna

Deanna,

Maybe your right, I was told that if the arm you had surgery isn't swollen then it's not lymphedema. I will be getting blood work done to see if i have arthritis. The swelling is on both hands but the right side is worse than the left (had surgery on the left) but the wrist pain is on the right but every knuckle hurts severely. Then they said it could be carpel tunnel! Who knows but i will ask about a lymphedema therapist just to rule that out. All this swelling started towards the end or middle of radiation also i have put my right hand in every position possible and nothing works. Last night i had a good night, Don't know if it was a coincident or what but i put on one of those magnetic bracelet. They say they help with arthritis and pain. I'll keep it on again and see if it helps again. I love your picture you look great!

Lots Of Love,  Karen

Gail, don't worry about having surgery on the good size.  I had the expander taken out with an implant on the bad side, and I had an implant put in on the right, good side.  I am a thin person and have always just dealt with having small boobs-barely could fill a 34A bra.  Now, I love the implants on both sides!  I just bought a great bra at Victoria's and fill the 34B so well!!!  I have normal feeling on the good side.  I still don't feel much on the left.  I went to the PS on Monday for the final check after the 11/19 surgery.  I am smaller on the left side-he noticed it, too.  He said to give it until summer and come back.  He would be happy to go back and put a larger implant on the left side.  He said he wants to be 100% happy with what he di, and it's very hard to get balance.  I don't notice it in clothes, but you can see it without anything.  So, that will put off doing the nipple reconstruction/tattoo until much later, which is fine with me.  I look at it like without doing both sides, I would not be so "perky" when I hit 80 one day!!  I never thought I would have anything to put in my bras, but now I do.  That was my reward for going through this awful period.  Just think, we'll be looking lovely for the day in the desert sun in April!! Good luck-let us know how it goes when you get home.  Beware, the surgical bra is awful!!  You have to wear this for one week after the surgery.  I cheated and switched it for a sports bra by day 4.

Stacy, good for you!!  I am getting used to seeing myself with short, dark hair.  I actually like it.  I trimmed my wig even shorter, and I feel like I will be ready to transition to the "short cut" by the end of Feb.  

Here's a good laugh-I went for an echo yesterday because of being on Herceptin. When the technician started, he said "you have implants, huh?"  Here I was thinking that would go unnoticed.  He said they are seen on the ultrasound and cast shadows on the heart!!  Go figure.  

Have a nice weekend everyone!!

~Misty