first chemo done
Comments
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Reen, oh good heavens, that is astounding. Wow, wow, wow. I am so sorry you've had to go through all of this and I'm thinking of you... I'll cross my fingers that the &!%#@ port comes out this week. Your picture is very pretty, by the way - a very nice smile!
Jill, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!
Off to go jogging. Hugs to all...
Laura
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Afternoon Ladies...
My grandson had the best birthday ever...He got enough cars to last a lifetime. Someone gave him a shirt that has sharks on it...and he wouldn't let go of it...So guess what..this Grandma ran to Target after her Rad appointment and bought a couple of sharks for him....We have a pool so it will be fun to watch him play with them.
House cleaning today...and feeling pretty good today.
Jill ...your DH is so wonderful to be by your side...and I have to brag that mine is there for me too...we all must have great spouses and significant others...to be so patient in our lives during this time.
Hope everyone has a SE free week....thinking about you gals...
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Thanks Laura. I don't look like that anymore. A lot less hair.
Cruise, Glad you're feeling good. Happy birthday to your grandson.
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Hi everyone,
Things are so quiet here...hope that means everyone is well, happy and enjoying life! Things are good with me. Saw Onc. today, blood work is good so I guess the first treatment was a success! If I could only get this wig situation straightened out. Did I mentioned when I picked it up on Sat. I hated the color!!! I hope to go to the wig store tomorrow to beg for a color exchange...we'll see how persuasive (or pathetic) I can be
. I only have about one week till I expect the hair to come out, so I hope we can move fast! Take care all.
Janet
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Hello, everyone !
Things have been quiet. That usually is a good thing. (Except for Geri who was hiding out in a hospital last time).
Cindy - Glad the birthday was a success. Sharks and cars! That one is all boy. But, what fun.
Yes, I am glad that my hubby has been wonderful through this. I cannot imagine going through this without him. I know some ladies that were not so fortunate - I am finding these guys only fit into one of two camps when it comes to breast cancer - the saints and the jerks. I feel so lucky that mine is in the former camp. We are now living thorugh what we are calling the "new normal" for us and doing very well. Believe it or not, I think my marriage actually strengthened out of this experience. We are closer now. One of the rare upsides, I guess.
And for the record, we DID see "A Chorus Line" for our anniversary. I had a person behind the scenes tell me that she thought my stating that we saw "A Chorus Line" was code for "we did it in the back of the minivan". This is obviously a person who is aware of and appreciates my warped sense of humor. But, alas, no secret messages - this time.
(I really got a kick out of that one - nearly choked on my coffee). Janet - You sound great ! I take it you avoided the steroid crash ? That's wonderful ! Great news about the blood counts too. I would try to get get the wig color changed. It will be with you for a while. So, you might as well get what you want. Let us know whether or not you were successful, otherwise we may have to barrage that store with lots of angry women. And hell hath no fury like a bunch of angry bald women who are doped up on steroids. Trust me.
Take care everyone. I am off to work.
Jill
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Morning all -
Jill - Thankfully not hanging out in the hospital this time! Day 6 and aside from normal fatigue and a little heartburn, doing ok. Go for my counts Thursday, and staying kinda quiet until I pass that milestone and know I won't get slammed like last time.
Janet - I too hope the wig color can be changed.
Ikat - you ok?
Off to my first physical therapy appointment today - the BS decided some of the pain from the TE is from some minor chest wall lymphedema, that she wants massaged out. So, add another co-pay and appointment to the list...sheesh!
Hope everyone has a good day - minimal/no s/e
Geri
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Janet if your wig is human hair it can be dyed like real hair (go to someone who dose this professionally) but if it is synthetic it cannot be dyed and you cannot use curling iron, hot rollers or flat iron ( it will melt). Hope this information helps.
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Hi Ladies...
Had # 13 Rad this morning and still no SE's....yeah...
Don't waste your money on real hair wigs...you won't be wearing them long. And the synthetic are easy to care for....You can buy two or three for the price of a real hair wig...
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Geri how did PT go? I hope it was helpful. NO Pain...
I hope everyone is having a SE free week.
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What does SE mean?
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Reen -
SE = "Side Effect". Got to love our little breast cancer acronyms, eh ? I am sure you were not the only person wondering that. Sometimes we forget to speak in English.
Jill
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Morning ladies,
Had the lymphedema appointment yesterday, and funny thing, I''m more sore today than have been since the mx. Have to consider whether or not I want to continue with this - we'll see how it is in a couple of days.
Counts tomorrow - my neice's wedding on Saturday. Hope I can hold out for a few hours to make an appearance - really feeling yucky today - very tired, a little queasy, kinda down - and I can't quite get my mood up.
Geri
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Hi Ladies...
Geri...so sorry you are not feeling chipper...get some rest for the wedding on Saturday...it really helps to cuddle up with a book and forget about everything else...Did you mean continue with treatment or physical therapy???
reen...sorry forget to spell SE side effects out for you....ask about other acronyms as they come out in our postings quite often.
Jill...sending you another PM regarding AETNA...GEEZE...they are a mess...I hope anyone who reads this has an option to get out of AETNA and go with another insurance company...
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Hi Cruise,
Was thinking whether to continue with lymphedema therapist, not treatment. Still pretty sore around the chest wall this afternoon, but willing to give it a few days to calm down.
I think part of my darker mood today was trying to find something attractive to wear to the wedding. Between the mastectomy (haven't had the TE expanded yet) and the port on the other side, sallow complexion from the chemo, sparse eyebrows (can correct with make-up, but still another blow to femininity), and trying to get the wig to look the way my hair normally would, seems like everything was just a chore - if this wasn't my neice and if I hadn't not seen my brother from North Carolina since November before all this started, I probably would just stay away!
As it is, I overpaid (way, way overpaid!) for a black dress that has a square neck with a little built in jacket, needed to find a fabric flower pin to cover the port, tacking up the other side of the neckline to hide the mastectomy scar, and had to go out and buy a black bra that would hold the prosthesis.
Sorry to dump all this, but I'm feeling very "on display" for the first time, like everyone will be checking me out (although I know that is probably just my insecurity). Anyway - thanks for listening (like you really had a choice
.)Geri
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Geri...get one of those great flesh colored bandages and place it on your port...it seems to be the best to hide that ALIEN BOOB...and after its out the scar is even worse..at least it is for me. I am putting vitamin E oil and lots of other recommendations to see if it will fade...it is a reminder for sure...
I hope you know that sometimes you just have to say F-it and be proud of who you are and not worry about what other people think...you are beautiful and go ahead and flaunt it girlfriend.....Lets see if they can put up with what you have put up with these last few weeks and months...
Hang your HEAD HIGH and "dance like no one is watching!!!!!!"
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Hi all,
Better today - did the "fix-it" on the dress for the wedding last night, and tried everything on (jewlery, wig, boob etc.), and I'll make it work for one night.
Cruise - thanks for the reminder that we are soooo strong ! I don't think I'll be dancing Saturday night (counts too low - tired!) but I can toe-tap with the best of them.
Kathy - I hope you are feeling a bit better - that fatigue is a b***h - have a "scratchy throat" this morning - going for my counts, so I'll let the onc know - don't want to hear about any infections !!!! When you're up to it, get in touch.
Got to get ready to see the onc
Geri
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Geri - I feel the same way sometimes, just coming in to work or going to the store - like everybody is staring at me under the microscope. Some of it is imagination, some of it, they are. You know what I had to come to terms with? My husband put it so beautifully for me, because he feels the same way - "The hell with what anyone thinks, you've been through hell! These are your battle scars. You won the fight. Don't be afaid to show it." And, all of a sudden, I thought, he is right!! So what if I"m wearing a wig? So what if I'm wearing a bandana and you can see my little sprouts growing under it? I'm trying to live! So, go to the wedding proudly, and if your scar shows, that's your battle scar, sister!! Tap those toes!!! Wear some glossy lipstick and great mascara and hold your head up!!
Cindy - I hear you about the port scar!. Geesh! This thing is healing worse than the original was and I swear it's twice as thick. That's what provoked my husband's comments, because I said I wanted to get some Mederma and he said, nah, you've got a battle scar now.
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Chelev - Thanks for the reminder about the battle scars - your husband must be a wise man, and I have my "look good,feel good" lip glosses all ready for Saturday! That's what is nice about these boards - you can always get a different perspective than the one you've been stuck on!
Practicing my toe tapping now ...(((tap, tap, tappy tap tap)))
Geri
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GERI: Go to the wedding and have a great time! Follow CHELEV' s wise and wonderful advice and hold your head high.
REEN: Somewhere on one of these boards is a list of all the acronyms. If you hunt around you may find it. I found it when I first started logging on and found it very helpful. I'll try to do some hunting too to see if I can find it again and I'll let you know if I do. In the meantime, just ask. ( I still don't know them all! )
So here's your laugh for the day.....as I am waiting for the inevitable fall out of my hair, I swear, I think the steroids are causing me to have more of a "hairlip" this week! I know, it too will fall out next week, but it's just a little funny that just before I lose everything feminine, I get a MUSTACHE!!
Janet
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Janet - oh no!!! One more thing, right?? You did make me laugh. Thanks!!
Geri - you are welcome!! Have a great time!!
I put on my long wig, even though it is typical Florida summer weather - hot and muggy, and a really cute top, cardigan and jeans, and have the wig in the style I used to wear with my real hair, half up /half down. I went into the bedroom and told my husband, "flashback to January", meaning, remember when I looked like this all the time, before bc got a hold of me? He said, no, just fast forward to next January, when you WILL look like this again. He really is a good guy, no matter how much he protests he's not.
Hope everyone still getting treatment feels good this weekend - I'm thinking of you!
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Hi Ladies...
chelev...what a great guy you have...do something extra special for him on Fathers day...
I had number 16 RAD today and now halfway done with rads...YEAH..
I met with my med onco doc yesterday and he wants me to go on Femara or Letrozole for the next 5 years. So I had a bone scan done yesterday and some blood work done this morning after rads. The side effects aren't as bad as Tamoxifen so he says. Then I looked it up on WEBMD and it said that it can cause hair loss...just what I need more hair loss...LOL. My doc also mentioned weight loss...that could be a good thing...LOL
Just as long as it kills those hormones that like those little cancer cells...I will take anything....
Have a great weekend ladies...we are having some of my co worker friends over for a BBQ on Sunday..so the wine will be flowing. So glad I can taste now...and those of you who can't will be able to very soon....
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Hey everyone! I've been working a lot lately (nice) and then going to doctor's appointments when I'm not working. I swear I've read every issue of People and Us magazines issued since February of 2007. I'm sick to death of Brangelina.
I got my chemo start date... Tuesday. The port goes in at 7AM, then they'll wheel me over to the chemo room for my first TCH cocktail. I am weirdly excited to get this started because it's one down and seventeen sessions in the chemo lounge to go...
Geri, I bet you look quite a bit more beautiful than you think you do. Chelev is right - I think most people will be admiring you, not recoiling in horror. We tend to be so hard on ourselves about our appearances, but it's really not physical - it's how you carry yourself, and how you light up a room. Your energy on this board is lovely and I'm sure it shines when you're with others. So don't worry about your scars. No one will be thinking about them!
Hugs to all,
Laura
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Good morning to everyone (except those in different time zones, and then it's "good-------" fill in the blank!
Kaidog - thank you for the extra boost of self-confidence. Tonight is the wedding, and although I'm not going to the ceremony (will be too much, as my counts are at their lowest right now), I will celebrate with my family and let the strength show through. I don't know if I would have been able to do this with such a positive attitude, except for all of you, my cyber cheerleaders!
This is day 10 of cycle 3 A/C, and if anyone had asked me in April could I have imagined myself here it would have been a resounding "NO", but, here we all are - moving towards the finish line and we are just terrific!!!
I'll post tomorrow and let you know what a hit I was at the wedding (tap, tap, tappy tap, tap) LOL
Geri
ps - Kathy - I hope you are just getting some needed rest and are ok - bone pain came as usual last night (day 7 after Neulasta) even with the Aleve - bearable though, so we move on. PM and let me know that you're ok.
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Morning Ladies...
Geri...have a great time tonight and forget about the BC and tap your little toes off...You will be surprised how much energy will surface once you are there....Have fun!!!
Laura...good luck on Tuesday girl...you will be fine. I had my port put in and went back the next day for the Chemo drip. It worked magnificently....and so will yours.
I look back now and it was all a blurr for me now...and you will feel the same...it's part of recovery process...
Hugs....ladies and have a great weekend!
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Thanks for the good wishes, Cruise! I hope your BBQ is fun. It'll be more fun with all that wine, and lord knows you're in a great area for that.
Geri, bet you're at the wedding right now. Hope you have a good appetite and an even better time with your friends.
So far... (fingers crossed) my onc isn't recommending Neulasta... yet. I'm on the 3 week TCH cycle and she thinks that'll be enough for my WBC to rebound; and that it's worth waiting to see what happens before I get hammered with that one, too. I am going to encourage my beautiful bones to spew out all the WBC they can...
Cheers, L.
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The wedding was so nice - I was very nervous when bf and I arrived, since we planned it so we got there towards the end of the cocktail hour, and everyone was already there when I made my "grand entrance". I know people mean well, but I wanted to scream after the first 5 people told me "your wig looks great - no one would ever know"..ugggh - I know! Only kidding (sort of),
Once that initial awkwardness and my paranoia with low counts (air kiss only - wanted to bring a big billboard "stand back 500 feet"), it was a really nice night. They had a great band (12 pieces, with singers MY age - one from the original Commodors, for those who remember!). The only scary part came when the singer got on the dance floor and decided EVERBODY DANCE NOW - and who did he head for to grab and dance - yup ME...I absolutely panicked - no way I could have danced - toe tapping was like a triathalon. So I said the only thing I could think of - no, I can't dance, I have cancer. I thought he would have a heart attack right there, and he swerved away from the crazy lady, leaving bf to get hysterical laughing with me - it was all good.
Thank you all for the moral support to go and have fun, battle scars and all (Chelev, thanks to your husband again). By the time I left (stayed 3 hours - pretty good, huh), I was on a natural high from being with all the people I love! Now, for a nap!
Hugs to you all -
Geri
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Geri It sounds like you had a great time. We need days like that. I bet the bride was beautiful. The big question is how are those toes did you get any blisters form all that toe taping? Have a restful day.
kathy
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Geri, sounds like fun!! I loved the Commodores!!!! That is very cool and sounds like you had a great time. Gee, your wig looks so real! I get those comments every day,and it's with the same people at work. I guess they feel they have to help me feel better by commenting to me.
Glad it worked out for you and I will thank him for you.
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Hi Ladies,
I'm gearing up for round 2 of A/C tomorrow. I'm also getting ready for the fall out of the hair. It was a beautiful day in here in Eastern PA, so I went hiking with the family. Hubby wanted to ride in his convertible, I thought I might as well do it now, because I don't think I'll be able to in a wig! I was so afraid that clumps of hair would just come out and fly into my daughter's face while she sat in the back seat! Luckily, that didn't happen.
GERI: I'm glad you enjoyed the wedding. Bravo!
LAURA: Good luck with Chemo on Tues. The anticipation is worse than the treatment. Drink A LOT of water and snack on saltines. I think that's what helped me.
CRUISE: LOVE the new pic!
Take care and have a great week.
Janet
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Hi everyone,
All rested up from the wedding - really didn't feel too bad yesterday, considering my big outing!
Ikat - No blisters on toes - kept alternating which toes were tapping - you know, you get very creative when trying to avoid s/e from anything!
. Hope this week is better for you at work - go get that insensitive bore you work with!Laura and Janet - Good luck with your chemo - anticipation is usually the worst part of it - I know how I dreaded this last A/C after being in the hospital with infection after #2, but actually this last one (#3) has been with very few s/e! I wsh the same for you both.
Cruise - Your new picture is so nice! I've only had the nerve to put my beloved dog Chyna as my avatar - I'm actually a little jealous of her hair!
Have a good day all
Geri
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