Anyone starting chemo in June 08

HunkyD If you can't bitch here with friends who and where can you bitch? The more we exchange info and gripes the better for all of us.

Karen glad to hear xray showed nothing. Work does help keep mind off every little twinge. That is one thing that drives me crazy is that every little quick or pain I think maybe but then I remind myself that I'm still taking treatments so it can't be anything.

Kelly sounds like you have been busy and having fun. Love the picture.

Bonnie I have read about using abdomen for reconstruction. The article said that it is good because you are using your own tissue so rejection is less. The down side was that some insurances wouldn't cove it.

HundkD if you can't bitch with your friends who can you bitch with? Hope your expanders go well. I would like to a tad bit smaller also. Since my lumpectomy my right side is lopsided. Good thing my bra makes adjustments. I think I'm the only one who can tell.

I have two more days of school then on Thurs. I will be taking my mom to Sandpoint ID to see some family. CT scan showed my spots shrinking and less dense. Doc says they are dead cells now. I need to drop 9 more points on markers to be in remission,  which I find out on June 12th.

Keep posting. I will check in tomorrow and Wed then I won't be around until June10th.

Wyoming 

Bonnie..hope you can get the US or biopsy scheduled right away.  If you are a worry wart like myself....I like to get answers asap.  You have great listeners here  At my last pre-op last week during my chest xray the tech said in the microphone "you are done and can put your arms down."   I ran to his little booth to look at my images before he could even get out of there.  I said you know "I am a cancer patient and am just a little apprehensive all the time."  He said I am not allowed to tell you anything about your images but here you are....go ahead and look....."they look fine to me"  he said and he winked.  Then he said...your docs will contact you before surgery if there is anything odd.  Not a funny story but rather sad how restless we are about everything now.  For me, it will not ever change either. 

Wyoming...sounds like you are up for a road trip.  Thanks for giving the permission to bitch here.  Just what I needed to hear.  You are good about being up front with people.  That's probably why you make a great teacher with the young adults.  I wish I lived more in central Idaho and then I could try to meet with you somewhere on your way to Sandpoint.  Long ways away from me however.  Maybe someday when I win the lottery we can all meet. 

Kelly, cute picture.  You might hear this a lot but you look like you are only about 16 years old.  You look great with the short hair.  I called my dentist this week to see if they can squeeze me in before my next surgery in a couple weeks.  I told him I have a bad tooth and maybe he could just temporarily fix it if he didnt have a lot of time.  Truth of the matter is...I know I have a lot of what they call "Problem Areas" but what I call big ass cavities.  I know he will not have time to address even half of them.  He was so nice to squeeze me in this week I won't complain about anything he does.  I have not been in since before diagnosis last year so I deserve all this.  Anyway....see..I am good about bitching.  I'm off to another surgeon appt today,  tomorrow is blood bank day, and the following day is dentist.  I have kind of a full week.  I am hoping to get the last drain out by Friday also.  Bad thing is I am not allowed to drive. Everyone have a great day. Thinky about you all!  HunkyD   P.S. my next surgery will be muscle sparing tram flap so I will be getting a flatter stomach.  That is a plus for me!

How many here are starting or considering reconstruction?  I was so happy to hit the one year mark.  What a difference a year makes,  Last year I worried I wouldn't be here and now I can go days without getting too worried about my lifespan.  

I  really don't miss my breasts so I am not sure I want to mess with more surgery.  On the other hand t would be nice to have clothes drape properly over my top half... What do you think?  I hope I can get my port out after finishing herceptin in Sept.  It really sticks out on my chest, like a mini boob and the line up my neck looks like a huge vein.  ugh   Kelly

Schools out for Summer!!!!! I am off to Sandpoint ID tomorrow. I have great news--- I was selected as Teacher of the Year for Campbell County School District. I'm really honored. It hasn't sunk in yet.

HunkyD hope you are healing and feeling good.

LeggyJ glad to hear from you. Congrats on your first year.

Kelly congrats on your first year also. I can't wait until I reach the one year milestone. 

Have a great week and hope everyone is doing well.

Wyoming

Today, at work, I got lots of hugs from my coworkers!  It was nice to have good news and well wishes.

Jan

Last drain came out this afternoon.  Oh Yea Yea Yea!!!!!   That is all I am going to say for now about that

Karen...I do believe there are great things your body can achieve from detox.  I have always believed this long before even being diagnosed with cancer.  Very hard thing to do for me mentally however, as I feed a lot of my daily stress with comfort foods and beverages.  I need to realy step up to the plate and try to overcome my habitual eating and really clean out.  It really makes a great deal of sense of all the positive advantages to your body when you think about it. Good luck with it and if you have time please pm or share with me just how detailed of a detox you are doing.  This won't be a good time for me probably to try a full detox as I just got done with phase one of surgery and am about ready for phase two but I would like to hear just a brief run down of what your NP is having you do. Thanks...HunkyD     

sandra67, this group all went through chemo last year in 2008.  There is a group here you can find on the boards starting chemo in June 2009. 

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/734424?page=1

I did chemo TAC X 6 last year at this time and would be willing to share anything you might have a question about.  There is another woman on this thread that went through TAC X 6 last year also that is triple negative and is the most wonderful gal.  Just PM me anytime or come back here and ask for "Wyoming" and maybe we could answer a question or two for you.   I think you will find a great support system if you hook up with the starting chemo June 2009 group.  It helps so much to go through chemo with another bunch of women anxious about it at the same time you are.  Good luck my friend....You can do this.....HunkyD 

Congrats. Wyoming, very nice to get an award like that.

HunkyD glad to hear that you got your drains out, and hope you are feeling a lot better.

I go for a bone scan tomorrow and an ultrasound on the 25th, wish it was a lot sooner but oh well at least it is getting done. I sure wish I could figure away to stop worrying so much about these tests. People say oh don't worry about it just think positive because they will probably be okay, sure it isn't them having it.  These are friends and my husband not my understanding friends on here that say that.  This is the one place I can count on people understanding.

 Got to go now, your all take care

Bonnie

Boy I could not detox.  I might have withdrawals if they took away more jellybeans and cookies.  

Sandra67 as HunkyD said we will answer any question you might have.

LeggyJ, I didn't lose any weight except for the weeks that I had Chemo then I gained everything back. I am at the same weight I was when I started all this started.

I hate waiting for all the test to come back. I find out this Friday if I'm in remission and get to start stretching out the time between my treatments. I got back from my trip to Idaho with my mom. We had a great time and northern Idaho is beautiful. If have never been there it would worth going.

It is raining here today so I haven't got much done. Hope everyone is feeling good today as we never know what day will be a good day or not.

Lets hope this summer is a little less stressful and easier.

Wyoming

I think one of the reasons, I seem to keep off most of the weight I lost, is work.  I have a really physical job, and had to return to work, part-time during radiation in Oct.08. On Dec. 5th my state disability ended and I had to support myself, since I'm single. Thankfully, work has been picking up with the season, but nothing like before with economy as it is. Today, one of my co-workers said, how far I've come, since I came back to work, and how much stronger I am.  It's hard to realize that, when I'm working more, but still tired all the time.... 

Yeah, Wolfie is quite a character!  When I was going through chemo. I had to walk him, no one else could.  So, it helps, having someone to remind you to get up and go!  It's funny how they can tell time.

My prayers are with you, HunkyD! GOOD LUCK!

Hunky, I thought I was the last one left to say hunkydory.  I love that name.  I never noticed more than the hunky before. 

I hope your hospital stay is all tea trolley service (my favorite part) and not too much poking and prodding!!  Good Luck!