Starting chemo January 2009?

Hello Jewels:  The Relay for Life was an incredible experience.  With only 4 rad treatments left and the active phase of treatment nearing an end, this event was just what I needed.....closure and moving on... and you were all there with me.  

I helped carry the banner to lead the survivor lap.. that was emotional.  Managed not to cry -- but that was tough when I passed the crew from my cancer center, including my med onc, who were all there cheering us on.....like they have through this whole journey..  

This event is at a campground right on our beautiful Lake Superior.  Each team had a campsite...some sold food, others had games and raffles, fundraising events every hour.  The walking track wound around all the campsites.  Lots of people.  Lots of hugs.  Just a great experience.  I lasted til 3AM - went home, fell into bed, smelling like campfire and slept really well.

Oh.. and I made the front page of the newspaper -- goofy pink hat and all....       

Patti, yeah for Thurs.  Eyelashes and brows coming out was hard.  Also agreed with the 5:00 shadow, and that and the first few mm's of growth got me more stares then going bald ever did.  Now almost 4 months out it is about 6 mm long and everyone assumes I have an aggressive hairdressor or the worst taste in haircuts. : )

It is easy, though, and I've gotten used to it.  My hair used to be a lot of work.  I'm actually dreading it getting any longer and the growing out phase, I may keep it this short 

kt57 - Great job!  I can not wait to experience my first walk as a survivor.  I can only imagine how emotional it must be.  I almost cried just ready about it.  Would also love to see pic so09 post link if possible.  What paper was it?

kmmd - Thanks for the smile.  "the worst taste in haircuts."  Exactly how I feel.  I actually go between thinking I am never ever cutting my hair again and going to grow it to my waist and keeping it short because showering and getting ready to go anywhere has been much quicker.

Well I had a busy weekend which is nice because it went by fast.  Did find out getting back in shape is going to be harder than I thought though.  Repeat xray showed scarring in lung from the pneumonia I had back in March but I had no idea how that would affect my wind, lung, breathing or whatever you call it capacity but found out this weekend it does not take much to get me huffing and puffing.  Quite discouraging and sad.  My DH tells me my endurance will come back quickly.  I hope so.  Are those of you who are done with chemo resuming any sort of exercise program with any luck?

Lots to do before DD,  her husband and grandbaby arrive sometime around June 25th. Think I told you all they are moving into my basement for awhile.  Well anyway lots of stuff in basement now needs new home and it is like a domino effect one thing leads to another.  Going to try to take it a bit slower today.  Was wiped out last night.

Three more days to the LAST ONE!  Not that I am counting or anything.

Have a great day.

Patti

I had shortness of breath for most of the weekend - it's been 24 days since my last infusion.  I couldn't really find anything on-line relating that to the aftermath of chemo, which surprised me.  Maybe I used the wrong search terms. 

Has anyone else had shortness of breath since finishing chemo?

My onc's office wants to see me today to listen to my lungs and do blood work.  I feel very good, I just can't seem to get the deep breaths in very often.

Patti - BF and I bought an elliptical trainer yesterday (woohoo!) and it will have it delivered later this week.  I'll ask the mid-level I visit with today if it's OK to start using it right away.  I can't wait but maybe I'll really have to take it easy for a while.  For the most part, I am brimming with energy.    

  Good evening ladies! Congratulations to everyone finishing up with treatments. It's a great feeling.

  We finally had sun here today but I had to work! I'm off tomorrow so I'm hoping for nice weather.

  Patti I had no problems at all with radiation. My breast is tanned. I had 3 small areas that were marked and covered with a clear dressing so when I took off the clear dressings some of my skin peeled off like a sunburn but not bad. I did not get fatigued at all with the treatments. I was also very lucky with the location of the radiation treatment center. It was only a few blocks away from work. I only missed 1-1 1/2 hours of work a day because of my treatment time.

  My eyelashes are starting to come in too. I never really missed them that much because I wear glasses. Plus it saved me time in the morning because I didn't have to apply mascara! And I love my short hair because it's wash and go! No helmet head when my husband takes me for a ride on the motorcycle and no worries about how my hair looks if I want to run out the door to go somewhere. It helps alot that people at work are so supportive too.

  I am very achy from the Arimidex. My feet especially- all the time. My legs, calves and sometimes buttocks hurt too. I read on the Arimidex board that some people still have the pains and they have been on it for years so I guess I just have to get used to it.

  I hope everyone has a great week!

I had a CT scan and am fine.  Now I realize it is probably from weight gain and stress.  I really am the kind of person who just clenches emotionally.  I'm not used to all this weight on my frame either.  BF and I had a good talk - that helped. I hope I love my elliptical and don't find it boring.  I think it will feel so good to have some real exertion.  Now that I know I am OK, I feel silly to have made an issue of my breathing but there is a lot of early death in my family from heart disease.  I suppose they wouldn't have sent me for a scan if they weren't concerned too.  ddlatt - that does sound super fun.  I wonder if I have enough of a waist to pull that off!   

Hi  ladies. I'm so glad alot of you are getting your energy back to exercise. I miss walking in the parks, but  I did manage to walk around the block the other day. Its about a mile. My DH was with me in case he had to hold on to me. I used to love hula hooping. I should try to get back into that when my energy comes back. My daughters have been playing around with a soccer ball and beach ball. I just want to join in with them. My s/es aren't too bad. Almost the same as the last time. Just very fatigued and trying to sleep thru the night. I should be better by the weekend.

jrgoglomb- I won't start rads till mid August the earliest. My surgery is scheduled for July 17th.

everyone have a good week.

Kathy, I did the relay for life a few weekends ago and I did the survivor walk with the banner.  There was only 20 of us and everyone was cheering us on, pretty emotional, I had to put on my sunglasses to hide the tears.  Didn't help that we were led by a bagpiper, that'll make me cry everytime.   I had a lady that told me she had breast cancer back in the 70's and she's doing great.  I hope that is me someday, sitting there in my 70's or 80's telling someone I had cancer way back in 2009. 

Just flew back from my "mini-vacation" and my son's graduation. Made it to radiation. It was so nice to get away, but hectic of course as I finished work Friday then flew off early Sat.! Very emotional time for me. My son also turned 22 today (I stayed to have breakfast with hime), and my dh and I had our 23rd anniversary yesterday. Spent the day at the  beach, and it was lovely, although I hated having to worry about my damn arm and keeping it out of the sun.. Walked with my sister. Ate lots. Celebrated.

Swam in the pool!!! What heaven. I'm a water girl, and I've missed swimming. I'm so glad my radialogist said ok to pools for short swims. Holtbolt--I pinned in the "poofy boob" for my daytime swim. I could tell the difference, but my sister said no one else could. I believe her. Also lost my swim cap, so I swam boobless and bald at night, but there were lots of people there. I think with my froggy eyes (what I look like w/out lashes), I must have really looked  a sight! I didn't care!

BevR--Congrats on your new grandbaby!! Bev56--I'm starting the arimidex tomorrow. I waiting til after teaching was over and son's graduation to start. I'm worried about not being able to walk, as it's been keeping me sane. Holtbolt--glad your vacation was great!! YearofHat--Good you're getting checked--I bet the breathing trouble is still recovery from the chemo. My onc said that I should continue to have se's for a while after chemo (my neurpopathy got worse and of course still losing eyelashes/brows). I love ellipticals. Tell me how you like yours. I think I'm going to join the uc recreation so I can get on the machines and swim too.KT57and Jilly- How inspiring!! I hope I can walk in one--the local one was early May, and I hadn't finished chemo yet. Ddlatt-I never could hula hoop! Looks like great exercise though.

Patti--Almost there! Waiting for you and cheering. I've got to clean out my basement too--son coming back to live here!. Full house with my daughter home from college. I'm thrilled (for now!).

Jewels--Hugs to all. I've lost track of all the posts.

Kim - "Froggy eyes"  yes that is exactly what I look like without eyelashes.  My daughter, husband and grandbaby arrive sometime next week.  Not sure how long they will  be with us but I think I will enjoy every minute of it.  I really need the distraction right now so God works in mysterious ways.

Congratulations on your son's graduation.  My Dh is doing it the hard way. Dropped out of school at 19 to get married, much to my dismay and now she admitting Mom and Dad were RIGHT (imagine that?) and she needs to finish her education in order to get a "grownup" job.  Well at least she is only 25 now with one child.  I finished my degree at 40 something after having 4 children.  

Phyllis  - Glad to hear SEs not too bad.  Yesterday was awful but I think I overdid it on Monday.  I spent the day in bed yesterday popping painkillers.  Feeling a little better today.

LAST TREATMENT TOMORROW!!!  Wow seems like it was a long time coming.  Can not wait to  start feeling well again.

Have a great day ladies...Patti

Bev - I had a bilateral even though only one breast was infected.  Other than wishing I didn't have cancer at all, I have not regretted it.  In fact, in most ways it seems to have made dealing with treatment issues and decisions much more simple.  To me, having only one natural breast is as odd as having none.  In my mind, they are meant to be in pairs!  So, I have been glad for my decision.  Good luck making yours.

  

All of the doctors say a recurrence in the other breast is low.....but there are other factors to consider also. But have a primary cancer in the remaining breast is also a concern. Even though my risk factors are low, they were lower before I had the first cancer!

My onc. says it isn't necessary, the BS and PS say it is an option and strictly personal.

But, according to the PS I saw, if I don't have it now and decide to have it later, I could. They would just take the tissue from another site. I just am not sure about going through another surgery!

BevR--I asked my onc the same thing at my visit last Thursday. I'm high risk of recurrence in general (yikes), but he told me that as far as a new primary in my remaining (right) breast, after chem and with Arimidex (took my 1st today), my risk is about the same as any other woman. My surgeon told me it was somewhat higher.

Since my dad had prostate cancer he is referring me to a genetic counselor. My sister and I are wondering why the hell they didn't recommend this when my dad died! (My grandma--dad's mom--died of bc). Right now for me it's a comfort issue. I don't want reconstruction, but being lopsided has its inconveniences. I'm going to wait til I'm done with rads to decide, but will I be able to think straight on Arimidex?  We'll see!

Good luck. haven't we been throught the hard decision mill!!!! I'm so tired...

I'm trying to decide on the bisphosphonates trial versus just getting Zometa prescribed. I have no idea how to make a decision...

I am still trying to figure out whether or not to have my left breast taken off. I am currently dealing with the struggle of radiation and the survival of the tissue expander. I decided to do the reconstruction and the issue of radiation came up later and then again when I start to reconsider  the prophylactic issue of my other breast.  I like KMMD's point of view-having the feel of the other breast intact, but then I abhor the incessant tests and the anxieties associated with it.

Patti- Good luck with your last chemo! Its such a relief that this phase is done with. My last s/es weren't terribly bad. Tuesday I felt like crap. Very weak and fatigued. My legs are still hurting a bit and the neuropathy was the worst this last time. But I'm starting to feel better and I wish you luck as you finish up and get thru this last chemo.