Starting Chemo February 2009?

I haven't been on for a while.Guess I wanted to do some uncancer things for a change.Finished chemo,had a C T Scan & am cancer free-again.Hope it stays that way for good this time.Slowly getting energy back,love to work in my yard.Weather is getting good for that at the same time.Eyebrows & eyelashes are just starting to come back,seems like its been a long time.More of them had fallen out 3 weeks after finishing chemo.I didn't remember that from the other two times.I was able to attend & walk in the Mothers Day Breast Cancer Walk in Chicago with my sister,daughters & granddaughter.It was amazing to see the crowds of people who have all been touched by the same thing.Glad I felt well enough to go.Good luck to everyone still being treated & waiting for results.The waiting really is the worst,relief when they tell you the cancer is gone is the best.

Jancie-- CONGRATS ON LAST CHEMO!! That's awesome girl!!!

Denali--I haven't lost any nails either, but my toenails have turned a black and blue underneath the nail base.  I use a special oil and it has started to clear up.

I'll bring the vodka cranberries and limes, --too bad there wasn't a hottub in the ward!!! Otherwise, I'd say let's party!!!!

HALLELUJAH!!! Kristine I'm telling you mentally #6 was easier to deal with than any other for me which has me the SE easier to deal with. 

Kerry~ Maybe your hair is taking a break....but it's still not fair it needs to grow. 

Webbie~ No more shaving!!  Let it grow   I look like a goof because my hair is so odd looking but I deal with it.  I just hope if it's curly it's not like my DH who has the brillow pad type of curls.  How many more rads do you have ??  Have you tried Lunesta ?

Kristine-Yeah for finishing! Wohoooooo!

Web-I'm with you on the no sleeping, I've tried everything except the melatonin which I am going to get this weekend.

Kerry-The hair I lost on Taxotere took a while to start coming in, hang in there, it WILL come back.  Taxotere is just so darn toxic!

Bethie ~ Who says there's no hottub in the ward?  We can have whatever we want; we are the Furies!

Webbie ~ Thanks for the note about not showering before rads.  Makes sense!

Ok, I got to the hospital for my pre-op today.  They had me down for a single mastectomy with TE.  Uhm, no, it's a double with no TE.  So, they had to get that straightened out with the doctor's office.  

The good news is that I will be doped up by IV and will have lidocaine for the SNB shots!  Yay!!  I was all, "Thank you, Jesus!!"  I swear, I was getting more nervous about those shots than about the surgery itself which is stupid because the shots won't last long while my boobies will be gone forever.  Oh well, I'm a goof that way.

I hope everyone's having a good day and that those of you who can't sleep will be able to tonight....zzzzzzz

Hugs to all,
Artemis

How true Artemis-- we can have what we want--I must've been on a mental health trip to the spa!!

OK, I need a cocktail --((passing out cocktails to my furies!!! ))) drink up girls!!! Forget the hottub in the ward, let's go to Vegas and have a girls weekend with a few hunks on the gaming floor of the Flamingo!! I'll take Donny Osmond as he and his sister Marie are performing there!! (I can pretend right, after all he's happily married with grandkids!!, but looks damn handsome for going to be 52)

Kristine---- WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOO!! You are done !! awesome!!

I was on dexamethasone and I was more fatigue then anything, except when I had Benadryl reaction of jitters.

I'm starting to see peach fuzz on my head now! yeah, I look like my 4 month old nephew

here's a pic of how much hair i have (it doesn't show the bald spot at the swirlytop).  I am with my piano friend who was travelling to CA..  he tuned my piano for free 

Michele  I checked about the Zometa trial and the nurse said that as soon as I'm unblinded on teh Avastin trial, I can sign up for the Zometa--you were absolutely on target with your info!  Thanks.  Hope you are having a good weekend.  Helen

Just a quick "Hi" to everyone.

Apple - your photo is lovely! You look beautiful.

 Hope everybody is managing to enjoy their weekend. Big hugs to you all...

Kristine, I'm so sorry to hear that! I know it's extra difficult to crash that last time! Remember, we'll all still be here when you crawl out of the hole.

gcpommom--TOO FUNNY!! LOL Yeah, I still love the whole family; who had their 50 th anniversary in Vegas in 2007. 

Apple-- your hair looks awesome!! I'm just starting too see peach fuzz on mine--funny thing is my 4 month old nephew has more hair than me!!! But cute as a button!!!

Kristine-- hugs to you!! Crashing is hard I know. I've done it and felt like hiding for 2 days til I came up from the crash!! We're with ya girl!!!!

Hi Furies! Last night I looked at the left breast in the mirror and noticed some redness. I called my PS and he said it may be infection. I am going in to his office this morning to have him look at it. I'm taking my antibiotics.

On the other hand, the pain is much better. I did not need any narcotics yesterday to deal with it. It has only been 4 days since surgery! My husband it very pleased with the new perky look!

Kerry~ Have fun volunteering   I am sure you daughter is thrilled about it.

Cheryl~ I hope it's not an infection. 

Judy~ I hope today is better than the weekend.

As for the beach we were in the 80's here but the beach water is still in the low 60's so we went to the pool.  I didn't get in because I am always cold and the thought of getting in the water makes me shiver.  The kids had a blast though in the pool which made it worth sitting at the pool watching.  I managed to mess with my sinuses this weekend and I feel lightheaded which is not fun.  I have to go visit my PS today unexpectedly I found a bump that I need to confirm is part of my tissue expander.  It is on the opposite side as the IDC and my TE on that side is not like the other side but I just want to make sure it is the TE.  The joys of having had BC  

Did I mention how much I hate cancer ... 

Hi Furies!  It's been a long time since I posted - I finished my chemo earlier than I thought (end of April) - ended up I couldn't take my last Taxol on May 12th since I was experiencing such severe joint pain and neuropathy.  Anyway - I wanted to stop talking, thinking and breathing cancer for a while BUT that's not working - so I'm reaching out to my fellow BC ladies for help and support.  I am having such a hard time now - at times I'm more depressed than I have ever been...I'm trying very hard to get back into life but it's soooooo hard.  Physically - I'm still deformed - I get my new implants in June and yes I'm happy these darn painful expanders will be gone but there's still more to do - tattooing, etc. I still have no hair.  I'm in pain everyday - my feet and legs are killing me and I'm afraid it's not going to go away - I'm only 42 and I complain more than my Mother does!  I mentally can't take it anymore!  I'm trying to get my life "back" - I exercise every day, I eat right but it's not helping - I'm afraid I'm going to drive my husband away since I'm often depressed although I try to be up - this is hard!  I know that others would expect me to be back to normal after chemo was over but I thought I would be more "normal" too.  I just wish I was more aware of how much time this was going to take to learn to live with all of the changes that we have been through over the past several months - I guess it's all just hitting me now - and honestly I don't know how I made it this far!

I hate to post a "downer" but I hope if anyone else is having the same feelings that they know they aren't alone!