Starting Chemo May 2008

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  • deb6563
    deb6563 Member Posts: 179
    edited April 2009

    I will be starting chemo in May.  Probably May 11th.  I will be getting A/C every 14 days along with a Clinical Trial that I  will be getting every 21 days.  After the A/C  I will get Taxol every 7 days along with the Clinical Trial.  Then I will follow with 6 weeks of radiation.

    I had a partial mascetomy 3/24/09 along with nodule disection.  Had re-excision on 4/8/09 to get clear margin.  First margin was only 1mm.

    Reading these threads  is really helping me.  I joke with my family and friends that the doctor told me that there would be side affects of the A/C.  She told me that I would loose all of my body hair, along with probably going through menapause since I am already pre-menapausal.  I asked her what the downside of all this was.  She replied that she just told me the downside.  My reply was "You told me that I don't have to worry about shaving my legs or underarms.  I don't have to worry about a bikini wax this summer, I won't have any bad hair days for awhile, and I won't have any periods ever again and you call that a downside?"  She wasn't sure what to say until I started laughing.  She told me to keep that attitude and I would be just fine.  My husband doesn't think it is funny but my female friends laugh with me.

  • angelsaboveus
    angelsaboveus Member Posts: 298
    edited April 2009

    Hey Karin, next time i'm downtown i'll see if i can still find it ...it was awhile ago i got it. If come up with anything i will let you know.

  • Roxi65229
    Roxi65229 Member Posts: 462
    edited April 2009

    Deb, So sorry you had to find us here but your absolutely right....keep that attitude. You'll find so many answers to all your questions here. Come here often, we're here to make things as easy as can be. 

    Mike, thanks for the update. Keep us posted on progress please.

    Gracie, glad to hear your feeling better. 

    Eddie, I keep my port until July so let me know what you find out.

    Randie, jeez louise...how much more can you endure. You truly amaze me. Stay strong, we're here for you.

    Karin, love the pics and the funny cartoon. I've seen it on a card too. I think its one of those shoebox cards by Hallmark.

    Rock, Good luck with your date tomorrow. Yes, we'll all be there too. We just don'y visit hospital rooms, we crash parties too!

    Noelle, I sure hope your feeling better soon. Somethings gotta give, right?

    Eddie, Your son Adam, what a guy. You must be so proud of him. I got goose pimples.  The makeover sounds awesome, pics please!

    Okay, my good news. I WON THE MARKETER OF THE YEAR AWARD!!!!! Yes, its from the Society of Marketing Professionals for the Wisconsin branch. The organization is made up of industry professionals from the architect, engineer and consultant industries. I was so flattered. Glad I wrote a speech last night. 

    Tomorrow is the second opinion on my recon. 

    Hi to all you other May gal pals. Love ya, Mary 

  • JulieC
    JulieC Member Posts: 324
    edited April 2009

    Good evening ladies,

    Sounds like we have a busy day tomorrow - 1 date, 1 gyno appt, 1 recon appt, our regular hanging out with Sue, RanD and Jackie, makeovers.  I'd better get to bed early tonight.  How are you feeling, Noelle?  I'm thinking a "12 Days of Christmas" kind of tune here.  Can you help, Rock?  Oh, and I'm going to the chiropractor.

    Woo hoo Mary - we knew you would win!  Congratulations!  And to you, too, Eddie!  We are also a very talented bunch of women. . . with sombreros . . . and shovels . . .and love for each other.

    Talk to you tomorrow - Julie

  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited April 2009

    I don't have enough time.  Rats! Just wanted to say (before I go to bed) that I'm thinking of all of you. 

    ranD:  take it easy, and breathe in!  breathe out!  I hope your follow-up with your onc provides some answers--you need to get the gunk out of that other lung.  Sue, I hope the pain meds are working for you and you are enjoying your nice, new boobies.  Gracie, I love to see that you are once again enjoying your lilacs in-person.  rock, I hope you had a fulfilling visit with your friend; but I'm worried about you.  What was that little tidbit you buried in the middle of your post about bleeding and cramping?  You're on tamoxifen, right?  Let us know what the gyn says today.  Noelle, are you feeling better by now?  Those cat diseases can be brutal! (Show winking emoticon here.)

    Lorena, it's great to hear from you, and to hear that you are mending quickly after recon.  Karin, your description of all of us in Sue's room was hilarious.  I hope y'all liked the tea.

    Oops.  Gotta go.  Sorry about the rush.  I'm thinking of all of you.  Oh...I already said that.  Anyway, I mean it.  Huge hugs to all...

    otter 

  • ranD
    ranD Member Posts: 373
    edited April 2009

    Congrats to mary the Marketer of the Century....my own award to you

    Ok, went back to ER, drained right side, fel oh so much better...talked to onc, looks like I signed up for a pluerodisis date...more to follow...but I fell really good about it. Appraently I need to get it done for it to be effective before my lungs start scarring from the repeat thoros...But good news is that they have WiFi at the hospital and I will be keeping in touch.  called my mom and she is comiong out to help and then there;s all of you to visit with, right?

    love youall, ran

  • rock
    rock Member Posts: 1,486
    edited April 2009

    Marketer of the Milennium? HOW VERY VERY COOL.  Congratulations!!!! (Would you consider posting your speech here? Or at least a piece of it?  I would love to hear what you said.)

    Last night with my crush was . . . um, well, I think I stumbled into love. I'll post more later.

  • rock
    rock Member Posts: 1,486
    edited April 2009

    I need to look up pluerodisis.  Glad you're feeling better but still . . .

    Love, rock

  • angelsaboveus
    angelsaboveus Member Posts: 298
    edited April 2009

    Ok all you bakers out there i need your help......we are going to a function called guess who's coming to dinner. You get called in the middle of the week and you are told what to bring, but you don't know where you are going until 5:00 that night.   Luckily I don't have to host but i was put on dessert and a bottle of wine.   The wine no problem...but oh i am not good at dessert.

    I've narrowed it down to huckleberry pie (let me rephrase that ...my husband has)   as i have some in the freezer from last years picking.  Does anyone have a good huckleberry pie recipe?  I will attempt pastry but havn't had much luck in the past (will have a frozen one on hand just in case.)

    Cheers

  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited April 2009

    Angels, I've never baked anything with huckleberries.  They're similar to blueberries, though. (I know--that's blasphemy to the huckleberry fans.) Maybe a good blueberry pie recipe would work?

    For crust, my fall-back is the Pillsbury rolled-up pie crusts you can find in the refrigerator section of the store.  My mom always made what I thought was the tastiest, flakiest piecrust in the world.  Then one day I caught her unrolling one of the Pillsbury crusts into a pie pan.  BUSTED!  I realize they sometimes get bad reviews on the cooking websites, though.  They do shrink, so you have to hook 'em over the edge of the pan.

    Whoa.  This is otter.  I don't cook.  I don't know who wrote all that stuff.  But, when the pie is done, I'll be there to help eat it.

    Hugs...

    otter 

  • Sable
    Sable Member Posts: 738
    edited April 2009

    Just talked to Sue's hunny on the phone and he said she is doing wonderful. I could hear her in the background giving him a rough time LOL. Looks like she might be going home tomorrow or on sunday. She has 2 nice perky ones and a nice flat tummy to go along with them :O)

    YAY ROXI! congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Rock~ more on the crush please :O)

  • MsKarin
    MsKarin Member Posts: 647
    edited April 2009

    Thanks Jen

    Glad to hear she's doing well.

    Hats off to you Sue. Notice it is a pink fedora, LOL

  • ranD
    ranD Member Posts: 373
    edited April 2009

    Rock...crush please...cough cough cough....final wishhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

    lol

    Jen, AWESOME CD hit the box today...listening to it right now.  My kids laughed at my choice and said it was so me...it was my chemo song...got me mad enough to power it out...lol...and then thanks to mr steroids, it would run in my head for days...lol

    (J. Bon Jovi, R. Sambora)

    It's all the same, only the names will change
    Everyday it seems we're wasting away
    Another place where the faces are so cold
    I'd drive all night
    Just to get back home

    I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride
    I'm wanted dead or alive
    Wanted dead or alive

    Sometimes I sleep, sometimes it's not for days
    And the people I meet always go their separate ways
    Sometimes you tell the day
    By the meds that you drink
    And times when you're alone and all you do is think

    I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride
    I'm wanted dead or alive
    Wanted dead or alive

    I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride
    I'm wanted dead or alive
    Wanted dead or alive

    I walk these streets, a loaded six string on my back
    I play for keeps, 'cause I might not make it back
    I been everywhere, still I'm standing tall
    I've seen a million faces
    And I've rocked them all

    I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride
    I'm wanted dead or alive
    I'm a cowboy, I got the night on my side
    I'm wanted dead or alive
    Wanted dead or alive

    The rest of you were so sentimental...sniff sniff...

    love you alll, randie

  • KristyAnn
    KristyAnn Member Posts: 793
    edited April 2009

    Hi Everyone,

    I have been swamped all week at work and am just getting my head back into the game on here- Congrats to Mary on her win, Sue on her surgery and everyone else for staying in the game!

    Its pouring in Texas right now- Im supposed to take dd to a college softball game tomorrow but it might be cancelled and then I can go to Dallas and find Sue!

    Kristy

  • Jeano77
    Jeano77 Member Posts: 237
    edited April 2009

    Yeah - Sue is doing well!!!  Mike, thank you so very much for the update!

    Eddie - Your son is adorable!  Thanks for the link!

    RanD - I nearly blew a rib when I read "fecking cow" - which by the way was a perfect description.  You are in my prayers, hoping you are breathing clear and easy.

    Karin - That card was the same one that I sent RanD!!  That is too funny!  I made a note on her card that it was her pulmonary doc - he was such an ass to her.  I found the card a Cub Foods.

    Roxi - Congrats on Marketer of the Year!!!  Awesome!

    Hope your all enjoying the CD as much as I am!  I had a great time putting it together and have played it non-stop since Sunday. 

    Rock - yes more on the crush and I need your current address.  If anyone has Dana's address as well, please PM me.

    Otter - Looking forward to seeing you next week!  Beautiful in MN!

    Taking the dog for a walk - love to all!

    Jean

  • sueper13
    sueper13 Member Posts: 1,224
    edited April 2009

    hello!!! I have new, perky twins (Jen's words, not my own, thanks Jen) and a flat belly.  I am well and comfortable and you guys can spend the night in my room any time.  Thanks for being there.  Jean, got my CD today, thank you!  Perfect!

    The most painful part is the abdomen and breathing exercises and coughing.  I am already very happy with the results.  I have cleavage!

    Love you guys and thanks for your quality support!

    Roxi, Marketer of the Millenium, amazing!

    Noelle, rest and feel better and thanks for the prayers.

    Rock, details!

     love,  love love you guys and thanks for the tea, otter.  Karin, you made me smile in a difficult evening.  Thank you so much.

    Love,

    Sue

  • MsKarin
    MsKarin Member Posts: 647
    edited April 2009

    YES, YES, it's our girl Sue posting herself. So glad I could be of service to you. So you have perky. Can't remember the last time I could say that. Enjoy perky, perky is Good!

  • Gracie713
    Gracie713 Member Posts: 302
    edited April 2009

    Sue--So glad that you are comfortable--keep doing those cough-deep breathing exercises to keep pneumonia at bay.

    Roxi-- CONGRATS!!!!!  You deserve it!!!!

    Rock--Crush news????  (How can you refuse Randie?)

    Karin--You have a way with words, for sure!!!  The recliner was quite comfy!!

    Went to follow-up with my  PCP today to do bloodwork--was really hoping to get to stop the Lovenox injections twice a day, but have to continue.  Did a chest X-ray and I have a small pneumonia in the right lung, so have started antibiotics, which will mess with my PT/INR results.  Go back Monday to re-check bloodwork.  I won't complain--this time last week...............(It all still seems surreal)

    Everyone have a great weekend!!  Lots of love & hugs to all!!!!

  • MsKarin
    MsKarin Member Posts: 647
    edited April 2009

    Just a little tidbit before we hit our anniversary for the group tomorrow. Scrolling through the forum index Chemotherapy - Before, during and after had the most posts, 120382. In that forum our group had the most at 5688. Happy Anniversary!

  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited April 2009

    Oh!  Tomorrow IS our anniversary!  How are we going to celebrate?

    otter 

    [P.S.:  Hi, Sue!!!!!] 

  • JulieC
    JulieC Member Posts: 324
    edited April 2009

    Happy Anniversary to Us!  Thanks Kristy for starting this thread.  We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you.  I think we need sweet stuff, liquid stuff, balloons, party hats.  I know Hallmark won't have a card for this occasion.

    Sue - glad you are doing well and are perky or they are perky.  We will still stick around with you as long as you need us to.

    Jackie - just try to hang in there.  Like you said, what a difference a week makes.  I have lilacs now if anyone needs some.

    RanD - tell us more about the procedure that you were talking about.

    Hugs to everyone.

    You all will be so proud.  My girl scout troop is going to use our shovels for GOOD tomorrow.  We are going to plant trees at our local nature center for Earth Day.  I won't tell them how/where I got my moves.  Thanks for the training!  Just wish I had a sombrero.

    Enjoy the weekend - Julie

  • ranD
    ranD Member Posts: 373
    edited April 2009

    Virtual party

    I will make from scratch...pina coladas...bringing my juicer so w get fresh juice making it quasi-healthy.  Plus a big oriental chicken salad.  My dessert will be a ginormous chocolate cake...

    your turns!

    Julie, the operation baxically puts a chest tube in my side, drains the lung, then they blow a talc powder in to the plueral space which casues it to seal.  This is supposed to make sure I never can get fluid buildup again, since there will be no plueral space for the liquid to go into...

    randie

  • angelsaboveus
    angelsaboveus Member Posts: 298
    edited April 2009

     I'm all for a party...so lets bring it on

    I hate to brag but i do make a very tasty peach belinis to go with the pina coladas , also some spanakopitta in phylo pastry, with my favourite sui choy salad and because i'm already making huckleberry berry pie for our outing tomorrw I'll make extra for us !   And if after the party when  we are all sitting around the campfire i''ll suppy the cinnamon bread on the stick ( which is cooked over the fire

    Oh can you tell i love a get together
    (be it virual or not ) especially when I'm with the people that mean so much Laughing

  • Jeano77
    Jeano77 Member Posts: 237
    edited April 2009

    Happy cancerversary to all!!  Kristy - thanks for bringing us all together here. So a virtual party it is!  I am making margaritas from scratch (with little umbrellas).  Sticking with the Mexican theme, I will also be making steak and chicken fajitas.

    RanD - The surgery sounds amazing, I specifically liked the part about no more liquid in the lungs.  Praying for you girl!

    Sue - Welcome back, we missed you!  After reading your post, I am now looking forward to my reconstructive surgery.  I have been a bit nervous about it.  Glad to hear you are doing so well.

    Headed out for a run!

    Jean

  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited April 2009

    I will bring my favorite side-dishes:  "sweet potato casserole," and "wild rice with pecans" (which is an oxymoron, if you think about it).  I think y'all will like them.

    Panera's makes a tasty mango smoothie (sans alcohol, I'm afraid).  I'll get their recipe and air-flight some fresh, ripe mangos from my friends in Puerto Rico.

    Yay!  A party!

    otter 

  • rock
    rock Member Posts: 1,486
    edited April 2009

    Sorry for radio silence, I am having network "issues." But I have bought another 75 mb so that I can post for at least another day or two.  

    Woo-hooooooooooooo!!!! APRIL 18th!!!! Okay, okay, what will I bring?  Um, wine? (Maybe a Chilean wine?) I can bring cups and plates! and cutlery and napkins! Please!  (I SUCK at cooking, people.)  I can bring MANCHEGO CHEESE.How about that?) 

    Jeano: I will PM you my addo in Cape Town. It is a long-ass one.

    And Randie, of COURSE I will spill the stuff on the crush. Extra, just for you, it being your final wish and all.  (I love the "wanted: Dead or alive."  Do you know, the other day when I was listening to music and "Don't fear the reaper" came on, I bust out laughing and thought, "I should tell Randie about this. She'd appreciate this moment!" but thought it might be tooooooo inappropriate. But what the hell.  The cowbell alone cracks me up.)

  • MsKarin
    MsKarin Member Posts: 647
    edited April 2009

    Good Afternoon and

    As you can see we are all ready to party. Shovel and sombrero included. Not sure if that is a cowboy hat or a fedora but for Sue's sake we will see it as a fedora.

    boys.gif - 19.7 K

    OK, so they are cute boys but with our hair styles it could be us. After all we are cute.

    In case you're not sure where we are all meeting it's one mile past the sign.

    Burma-Shave Sign

    I will be bring desert. In honor of Deb I will be making Paula Deen's Chocolate-Cherries Alaska Bomb

    See you all there and don't forget to wear your crocks.

  • rock
    rock Member Posts: 1,486
    edited April 2009

    Remember how Deb was the godmother of one of my ovaries? Well, yesterday, I learned that one of my ovaries is AWOL. I like to think it's sitting up there, parked next to Deb.

  • rock
    rock Member Posts: 1,486
    edited April 2009

    Okay, in honor of this being April 18th, let me share some things with you that I haven't told ANYONE and which I will probably delete.

    [deleted!]
  • rock
    rock Member Posts: 1,486
    edited April 2009

    Sue! Perky! Cleavage! Wooooo-hoooo!

    And Gracie, "Woo-hoooooo!" to you for being alive.  Jiminy, but that was a scare.

    The party hats in the form of the indian headdress are a nice touch. But do we need a proclamation, perhaps? (hint hint)

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