Starting chemo January 2009?

Patti, how did it go and congrats again

Patti -

BIG congratulations to you on finishing chemo!!!!!!

Hi Jewels:  I'll soon be able to join into the discussions about the future and plans to make it cancer free, etc. etc.  I HAD MY LAST CHEMO TODAY!!   Guess this is my last steriod high as I sit unable to sleep at midnight.  Had pretty long nap after treatment as usual the benerdryl knocked me out.

I actually had a good time at chemo today. Wore a large party hat (the pointed kind) and made a sign for the top that said LAST CHEMO.  Took a basket of hershey hugs and kisses and passed out to everyone....I had a great time.  Got lots of hugs, congratulations and good lucks from everyone I saw staff and patiences both.  The staff in the lab where they draw my blood said they are really going to miss me and my hats.  One of the chemo nurses said I was just what she needed at that moment.  It was late in afternoon and she said "Your hat and chocolate, just  what  I needed especially  at this time of day."  I think it is kind of strange that I will definitely miss some of those people.  They have become like friends.   Will not miss the CHEMO though and I am looking forward to moving forward.  Having an issue with my back tonight.  Not a usual SE so I am not sure what is going on.  Perhaps I pushed, pulled, lifted and moved one too many items in the basement.  Heat seems to help so hopefully tomorrow will bring relief.

So after spending weekend in Washingtion DC - DH is doing triathalon on sunday.  We go up after DS's swin meet on sat and spend the night.  DS and I will get up in time to be at the finish line, which is around 8 a.m. (DH's estimate anyway). I will be off to see radiation Dr. on Monday and have been able to set up my bone density test for the same day so will have both done and over with on Monday and will hopefully not have to deal with anything related to cancer until I come back from a week at the lake in Minnesoate relaxing and enjoying myself and catching up on family time missed in the last 6 months due to SEs.

Thank you all for being here at the end of my chemo tx.  I could not have done it without you. I think some hard decisions are in the future and look forward to supporting and being supported through the rest of this by my jewels, the best support group in town.

Love you all,

Patti

LadyJane--Hooray!!! for finishing chemo! I hope you really enjoy your week at the lake, and good luck to your son in his swim meet and husband in the triathlon.

Holtbolt and Spooky--Thank you for your info on the prophylactic mast. I think it's in my future. I'm going to bring it up with my surgeon next visit.

kmmd-Mood swings-Yes!!! My son's college graduation was very emotional for me. People would say. Well, 1 down, 2 to go. And I  smiled and said yes, but part of me was thinking, I hope so. I hope your neuropathy gets better fast. I'm amazed and frustrated that the se's continue for so long.

Shocked-I feel like I'm still climbing that mountain with the radiation. I'm glad your skin is holding up. Today was number 13 for me, and my skin is fine so far too. I'm pretty tired, though. MOre tired overall than during chemo. You mentioned before that you're doing the bisphosphonate trial. Which drug did you get? I'm trying to decide what to do.

Jewels--we all made it through chemo! YES!! Your support has bouyed me up during my down times. Big hugs.

Patti:  WOOHOO!!!!!   welcome to the other side!  Rads are a piece of cake compared to chemo!  Enjoy your trip to MN.  Good timing.  Weather reports say we are supposed to finally get summer weather in the midwest next week... bring some warmer clothes too - just in case. 

Well, 4200 miles behind me and rads are done.  Can hardly believe it.  It seemed like such a long road ahead back in Oct, and here I am - another milestone.   I have been more tired the last two weeks, but with that comes good sleep - so it's not all bad.  I am going to take it easy this weekend, maybe have the family over for Father's Day -- then Monday will be "the first day of the rest of my life"... time to move on.   Time to NOT think about breast cancer every day.  At least I will try -- still pretty darn apparent when I look in the mirror -- although  now I can look at myself with a new found strength -- I survived bc and its treatment!!!!

Thank you, Jewels, for being here.      

Patti!!!! YOU DID IT!!!!!  We are all so happy for you!  I think Patti and Phyllis were the last, I think all of the Jewels have finished chemo, we rock!  We are truly survivors to get through the past 6 months.  It does feel like yesterday that I saw Lisas post about Jan chemo, but on the other hand, it feels like it was a really long road.......

Have a great weekend Jewels!

KM47--Congratulations on the hair trim!   I don't have enough hair yet for that.  My dh said it looks like a mullet cut!!!!  Yikes!  I look forward to the day when i will trim my hair.  good to hear from you. 

congratulations to all the jjs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I will definately keep i touch with you all. 

Yup--the taxoterrible.  I am still having trouble with my knees.  i am considering swimming because i am so tired of being in pain after i do any kind of impact exercises.  I am not a swimmer, so it will be interesting.....

I could use a bit of the Hair Fairy dust as well. 

Hi Jewels:

Hair fairy! Does she do brows and lashes too?  I think I'm getting lower lashes in on my right eye--they look clear though. Maybe some furry clear brows. My head hair is growing in, but sure not enough to cut or dye. My last Taxol was 5-15, so I'm five weeks out. Hair on side getting long enough to stick out from under wig--didn't realize it until I saw pics from son's graduation showing white side burns under my reddish wig.

Been offered a co-teaching job for Kindergarten (I'd have 6 kinders on my caseload with 20 gen ed students). Would like some hair by then. Hope I have the energy for the little ones.

Seems like facial hair is the most successful. Of course, darn it....Anyone taking Biotin? I've heard it helps, but I'm not sure I can take it during radiation. (1/2 done today with regular--then 5 boosts!).

6 days on Arimidex. Hot flashes have worsened in the early am, and sometimes my legs feel weak. Not sure what is chemo residue, radiation ses. I'm feeling lots less tired today than last week.

BevR-glad you made a decision. I bet that feels good. I'm so bad with making decisions.  If I decide to take off my other breast, it'll have to be during next summer break.

Hi girls!

I am doing pretty well. Today my body is very achy but last week was very physical so am probably paying for it (three days of yoga, one of Qi Gong, one of gentle strenthing and then on Saturday we had a big neighborhood festivel and DS dragged me on to an inflatable obstical course and a jousting game where you have to knock each other off a pedestal.  

Hair - My last chemo was 5/6. I never lost all my hair.  It is now long enough that I can pinch a bit and pull at it.  All salt and pepper.  

Nails - They are awful but my nail beds no longer hurt.

Energy - Much, much better, but my muscle still tire more easily then they should.

At the festival I ran into a woman who I met last fall soon after I was diagnosised.  She was the first woman with BC I spoke to in person after joining our club (which we need to make much more exclusive!)  She was just finishing chemo when I spoke to her and had not had an easy time of it.  She told me she has had a recurrance, and I believe she said distant recurrance but was not in a position to ask her to repeat herself to be sure what I heard.  I feel just awlful for her and more worried about myself than I have been.  She has 4 kids, one just 3 yr old.  She is in treatment but I don' t know anything more.  Sorry for the downer but I keep thinking about her and myself and us and it is so darn scary. 

I need to go figure out a dinner plan that does not require me to stand for too long.  

Bye for now, 

Renrel

Can I ask you for a favor?

We have tickets to Aerosmith on July 1st at Riverbend in Cincinnati.  The band's fansite Aeroforceone is having a contest (The Most Deserving Fan contest)- the winner gets a meet and greet with the band and VIP upgrade.  I entered my son Max (13) in this contest, unbeknownst to him.  I can't tell you what it would mean if I could surprise him with the news that he won something like this (after the last 6 months of doom and gloom).  Will you help me?  All you have to do is click on the link below and vote for us by clicking on the thumbs up icon at the bottom of my story.  The thumbs up icon will not be there until Tuesday,the 23rd....Voting is only June 23rd through June 26th(5p), then it's over.  Most votes wins and really, there aren't that many entries.  Who knows?? Maybe something good will happen finally around here!! lol.  Will you help me?  If you have a website that you can post this link on to spread the word (or a hefty email address book)... I would really appreciate it..  Max is so sweet and quiet and (like all of our kids) he so didn't deserve any of this worry and sadness... can you help me?    

http://www.aeroforceone.com/index.cfm/pk/view/cd/NAA/cdid/1177058/pid/1175576

Also posted this as a topic in the Moving Beyond Cancer thread (Help me Make My son Smile 6/23-26)... maybe people will read it, I don't know.... crossing my fingers... lol  If he wins, I promise to send all my Jewels a Hershey bar... come on I KNOW you want a Hershey bar!)

I bookmarked the site too!!!  I will vote for sure Holtbolt!!!!

Holtbolt- I found the page...it says to select the thumbs up or thumbs down.  I didn't see that. I'm not sure how to cast my vote!  Please let me know what I should be seeing if you can. I'd love for you to win and for your son to have some big excitement and fun!

BevR - Congratulations on your decison!  I know that I have no regrets.  As for hair - I don't think my hair will be looking good anytime soon but I do have some.  Have you read that Rogaine helps stimulate that process?  Apparently it is kind of messy but it works.

KM47 - The leg and armpit hairs are coming in very slowly.  My pubes are in the lead and the eyelashes started growing right away...thank goodness, but I have only one eyebrow hair and nothing over my upper lip yet...I'm not missing it, of course, but expecting it will return.  Who knew hair growth was so individual for everyone?

BerkeleyKim - You got an offer!  That's great.  I hope it's something that will work out for you.  Five year olds are the coolest.  

Jess - what a dork at the gas station.  Some people do sleep walk.  I feel your anger.  I hope your trip was good in spite of that.

I met my new gyno today.  She's quite pregnant.  Maybe I'll know my game plan before September when she is due.  I had not known that there's a non-surgical alternative to tubal ligation!  It can be done during an office visit.  Amazing.  I must be the only person in the world who didn't know this...I'm feeling foolish. If I am BRCA- I will have that done, if I am BRCA+ I'll plan for a hysterectomy, but not until next year some time.  After my revision recovery, my time-off from work will be completely used up.  I'd like a little break too.  I don't even know if my insurance will pay for the test yet, although my onc says he is very successful at appealing denials.   

I started Tamoxifen Saturday.  After watching the video that ddlatt linked for us, I feel so much better about taking it.  It's a real life saver.  I still think I can lose the weight, and my life is certainly worth some hot flashes.    

Here's my moan - my neuropathy is really bothering me today.  I am already addicted to my elliptical trainer and I'll bet I am over doing it.  I had better hit the hay.

Hope everyone keeps feeling better and better.