Starting Chemo May 2008

Sable - I am in the process of deciding which Deva products to start with.  Our cat sleeps on my pillow and I'll be curious if she messes with my hair when I use it.

Otter, Sable - when I had my 1st mammo post surgical in January there was a young radiology student observing.  The tech was being very kind, as discreet as possible.  I said I think you need to see what your patients have dealt with and opened my gown.  The tech pointed out the scars from the port, mastectomy and reduction on my right breast.  The student spoke not a word.

Roxi - Have a wonderful vaca!  Recon this summer?  I looking toward early fall for mine but currently don't have time for all the extra appts.

ranD - It was good to hear your trip for the xray ended up uneventful.  I'm a chocolate lover also!

Every one else - Hi!

This evening I work 6 hours at the nurse advise center for my hospital.  It's a nice break from the hectic pace at my regular job (Urgent Care).  Finally this morning I began the tedious process of sorting through 3 bags of stuff for tax purposes.  There were a lot of copays for so many things relating to me but I don't think it will total up to enough to make a tax difference for us. This weekend I think I'll do our college aged daughter's taxes on Turbo Tax.  Ours - think the account can deal with that.

Gracie - how's your grandaughter?

Love to all...

You asked for it:

Karin,

So good to see your smiling face.  Wish I got curls ;O(....mine is straight.  Really, really straight.  But it is thick.  And grey.  Oh, well.

I have been so d.a.t., reading but not posting during the week now.  I am retiring in 19 days (!!!) and the round of luncheons and beers after work has begun....the days are full and the nights are too short.  My point is, I will agaain be posting here most days once I retire.  Don't forget about me, okay?

The one year ago stuff: yeah.  Here's my theory. One year ago we all put our heads down and put one foot in front of the other and did what we had to do.  Maybe we didn't process our emotions at that time, enough or at all. (I know I didn't).  So now, every time a "one year ago today" comes up for me, I am feeling those emotions that I didn't process.  Just trying to respect those emotions, feel them, and let them go.  Talking about it helps.  Love you guys.

Retirement date is April Fools' Day (I couldn't resist), and prophy mast with bilateral DIEP recon is April 15th.  I am thinking about it all, a lot.  Have waited what feels like my whole life to be paid to stay home, and a lot of people are asking me what comes next....what are you going to do after you retire? My answer has always been "Whatever I want to" but I know I will be doing some volunteering involving older people, and women having babies.  Maybe holding the preemies...I don't know, but something to give back.  I have always  been so blessed.

Hope everyone has a great weekend,  Sorry for the ramble.

Love,

Sue

This is so aesome, we are all chatting about LIFe and less about cancer....who hooooo. I LOVE IT! Before I sit down and watch the latest crazies on Wife Swap...told you I am a reality junkie...I wanted to say how far we have all come since May chemos.....

Linda, you're not the densest breast in the room!

Karin: Love the hair

Kristy: yeah 2 more.....do we get a pole dance pic????

DAT here as well, went to Sams Club and Costco to pick up BBQ stuff for the next round of cousins who are coming to say their farewells....and no, I will not tell them the truth...lol...I will just sit there and do the brave death look followed with many sighs and significant sayings......

luv ya! ran

Am having trouble posting.  So this is not only prolly inappropriate, but it's formatted badly as well. 

Roxi -- Have a LUVERLY vacation!!!! I hope it is everything you could hope for in a vaca.
Randie: "The brave death look..." This just made me realize something -- this is such a great opportunity! You can pretty much say whatever in the hell that you want and people cannot call you on it!!!! You can say completely cracked out sh*t like "It's like I always said, 'The carrot that milks the banjo, will never climb the tree..." or "I sometimes wonder what would have happened if I HAD married that rodeo clown..." and people have to roll with it. SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY, my sister, and REPORT BACK.
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Okay, I apologize if I offended anyone. But I have just found out that my best friend from grad school, the woman who I lived with along with her daughter from the time her daughter was one to when she was almost five... has breast cancer. Caught early (rads, but no chemo).  Here's an excerpt from her note which gives you a sense of her personality and why I love her so very, very much:  

"What did strike me is how much healthier your response was than the ones I'm having. Shit, you just go ahead and quit smoking and start exercising and I'm in the knee-jerk, "fuck you. I'm going out with a Camel in one hand, a glass of gnarly red wine in the other, and a joint between my toes.  When it became clear that the cancer I got is pretty much never going to be life-threatening, it was almost a let-down to realize that I'd be forced to make some choices a bit tougher than how to make a dramatic exit. I've yet to opt for the healthy life-style choice. Perhaps that will come later."  

She doesn't give herself enough credit, mind you. She smokes and enjoys her wine, but she has also been a vegetarian and eaten organic her whole life, has stayed in shape, etc. Cancer doesn't play fair.

Karin-I love the hair!  Mine isn't long enough yet to know if it is going to be straight or curly.

Randie-You brighten my day!  I can picture you sitting there, with your cousins, snickering secretly!  

Kristy-I had a guy talk to me one day about the Italian onc.  Told me that this doc could cure breast cancer in one week, then went on to lecture about fungus and what I should be taking to cleanse my body.  He really got on my nerves (I did not know this guy-son-in-law bought an aquarium from him and we were helping him move it), DH said later that he thought there for awhile I was going to Gibb slap the guy.  

I have a BIL like yours, about 30 seconds around him is enough for me!  

Rock--BRCA sucks!  When I went to the surgeon to talk about the PBM, he asked if I had the genetic testing and I told him that I was negative for 1 & 2, but with my strong family history, the jury was still out on 3 & 4.  Research just hasn't found it yet!  

Raining here today-snow is all gone.  But at least it isn't cold.  Waiting on big check from insurance co. Think I may go get a new coffee maker, after I pay a bunch of bills!

Everything has quieted down here for now.  DD says that Karli is fine and handling everything well.  I want to thank all of you for your support--you are the greatest bunch of sisters a girl could have!

Love & Hugs to all! 

Karin - Love the pic. Thanks for putting it up.

Sue - Happy retirement.  Who is doing your DIEP? My PS doesn't do that procedure but I want to find someone in CO that does.  Enjoyed your ramble.

Rock - your friend sounds REAL. Too bad she found her way into the sisterhood of breast cancer. Not glad for the BRCA results in your family but glad they are being tested.  My family is dragging their feet even though mom, oldest sis and myself have one remaining breast.

Rand- here's to a fun BBQ.  I'm looking forward to your summary of comments

Gracie - thanks for the update

Kerry - the rain sounds so refreshing.  It is sooooo dry here in Colorado, high fire danger.  March is supposed to be our snowyest month. Thus far we've had 2 dustings, just enough to make the roads icy for morning commutes.

Kristy - glad you treatment went well

Hello to all and wishes for a good weekend.

RK

Linda - Apparently, I have dense breast also, but never heard the term "hetergenously" - does that mean there's a homogenous version??  I do remember that during my core needle biopsy, the radiologist had difficulty getting enough tissue samples from the tumor because it was hard to get through the breast tissue into the tumor - thus, the excisional biopsy a week later!  My rad onc set up the MRI I think because of the "denseness" and because the original mammo never did pick up the tumor, even though we knew exactly where it was. 

Randie - You are too much, but in a good way!  I can't wait to hear those conversations!!

Karin - Great pic and great hair!!

Sue - My shovel girlfriend, good to see you and glad you are getting closer to retirement.  Love the April 1st date!!

Rock - Sorry about your friend; love her attitude.  I think I might have mentioned that I recently had another aunt diagnosed.  She's had surgery but is still deciding about treatment issues.  She also has a really good sense of humor about it. 

Kerry - I love thunderstorms, too!  We don't get them often here, so my little ones actually are not thrilled with them.  We do need more rain, too.

Robin - I think the color thing is catching.  We have a couple of rooms that are not white, but I'd love to have more color all over - girls and I were looking at paint options the other day at the hardware store!

I didn't take notes this morning, so if I missed you - HI!!

Happy Saturday!!

OK, got it posted and it didn't get lost in cyber space. Been working on it for a while so would have been really irritated if it got lost. Irritated, haven't used that word for a while. Rock's blog or FB brought it back to mind. Since chemo I use a lot more INTERJECTIONS then before and now usually use the full term for PO. Anyway forgot to mention in the first post, ENJOY the weekend!

Sitting here with my bagel and cream cheese and my morning carrot, celery, apple, orange grapefruit and mona vie juice and just spit it out everywhere...thanks so much rock.....love the carrot remark...will put it on my fb page as my quote

Sorry about your friend, seriously, how many healthy women have died from this disease.  Nothing pisses me off more then people assuming that i had a bad lifestyle to start with. Whenever they hear I have lung mets, they assume I was a smoker.....makes me want to smoke!!!!!

Kristy: Flossing?????? If the kids aren't around, why don't you pretend to whip out a tampon and do a change at the table......take plenty of pics for us!  wellness expo, hmmmmm...I did the ionic footbath thing last week at this hoistic clinic.  It was pretty gross, the water turned all brown and had little floaters.  But, i did feel better later.  Maybe you can find some of that tea I am drinkng and try a sample.  Then you can be part of the sisterhood of the drinking dirt tea.

Gracie: Don't you just love big checks?  I can't wait for my SS to kick in, they just sent me all the paperwork (3 times becuz r govt is soooo efficient) and are supposed to call me on March 30th at 10:36 am....lol...should I wait patiently and for how long???? Hugs to your family and you.

Robin: I did that 4 years ago and am proud to say that there is not a single white wall anywhere in my house.  My kitchen is a persimmon color, but I want a new look...not sure, am thinking someething tropical, like turquoise, dh has to go along, I play the cancer card....lol

sable: sleep as late as you want to.....<<<wink wink>>>>>

Kerry: This set of cousins is aright...when she was younger, we would play pranks on strangers, if they looked our way, she would yell, take a picture, it lasts longer...so she was the sassy one, her hubby is a cop and his fav prank is to hide an over-ripe banana behind his back, pass gas loudly and then squeeze the banana and have it plop on the floor....so not sure how much pity will work here...

 Karin: wayyyyyy to clever!!!  Our tech guru!!!

will update later..randie

Afternoon awesome women of May,

Sounds like we are all having a good weekend and some are having a good time at the expense of the relatives (RanD you know who you are).  We definitely need a summary.

We got some bad news this morning and I need some happy thoughts/prayers from all of you.  My mom's sister's husband passed away in his sleep last night.  She is my aunt who had bc 8 years ago.  It is just such a shock.  He had a huge stroke about 20 years ago and recovered relatively well and has had two kinds of cancer since.  Such a peaceful way to go.  My parents are on the way to my grandpa's to tell him.  My grandma died a year ago on March 1.  Sorry - some dates just don't go away.  We are on spring break this week so will be able to do anything necessary, but this is sad.  They have 3 kids and 6 granddaughters.

I'll come back later for more.  Rock - thinking about your friend, too.

Karin - couldn't wait until later - love the picture - you look mahvelus!

Julie

Thanks! So you can better understand why I love the new look, maybe I should take a picture of my untouched hair after a shower. It feels so good to have control over the curls. Speaking of my hair cut guess what I got in the mail today. My stylist sent me a Thank you card. She wanted to thank me for coming in and supporting her business. In case you missed it she is the one that gave me the wig and did my face makeover on the ABC BC special back in Oct. At that time she had given me her card. On it says "Curly Hair & Hair-Loss Specialist". Who else better to trust (when you don't know of anyone else)? The trauma of loosing hair was bad enough; I didn't want to traumatize myself by getting a bad hair cut on already short hair. Anyway (besides the trust) my going to her was also a way of thanking her for what she did back in Oct. by utilizing her service. This thank you thing might go on forever. I just sent her a thank you for the great cut and new look.

Edited to say: Julie please forgive me. I forgot to mention you and your family are now added to my prayer list. I got sided tracked and forgot the main reason for wanting to reply back to you.

RanD - B A R - B - Q U E!

Thanks, everyone.  My parents got to my grandpa's and he is okay.  They will all go to my aunt's tomorrow.  Two other sisters will be en route so she will be surrounded by family.  Turns out, my uncle's birthday would have been Monday.  Makes it even more sad.  They had gone out to dinner last night for his birthday.