Anyone starting Chemo in August 07?

Oh Jackie, my heart dropped when I read the end of your post. Big hugs, honey, and we're here when you're ready to share.

I am sooooo jealous...New York and California!  The only place I'm going is for a colonoscopy tomorrow.      Just kidding you all, I think it's great and I know you will have a blast being together after all this time.

I'm home today 'prepping' for my party tomorrow...such fun!  I've almost finished all of the 'delicious cocktail' and will now entertain myself the rest of the evening by listening to my very empty tummy rumble.  LOL

Kaye...will it be Nana or Grandma or what?  Being a grandparent is such a joy and I bet you're going to be terrific at it. 

Jackie....come & talk to us my friend when you're ready.

Best to all....

June

Hi all... I am being too busy to have a life these days. Not exactly fun... actually I am hating it, I feel life is dripping by and I am not even applying the life lessons that C tought me, letting work and life eating at me! Work is great, but just quite a few layers too busy - it looks like there is no life out of work... and I not only want one, I need one! I need to feel special, and working all the time for more, more, more, more is not the answer. Way too much stress. 

Jackie. We are all here for you, any time you need us. Thinking of you, and sending you crushing hugs.  

Kaye--yes, the little girl is being treated at Children's Hospital here, and the parents are happy with the care. Thanks for the prayers. I've been alternating praying and stocking their freezer with precooked meals. Don't know what else to do.

And Lilith, it does sound like you need a vacation. I suggest Oceanside in October. Nice weather, fabulous company.

Hi Everybody! Sorry I've been out for so long. For various reasons, I've had my computer not in a good place to use it, so I've been keeping tabs on everyone through my iphone, but it most definitely is NOT easy to make a post using an iphone. I am not one of those texters who can text a mile a minute. I just can't be bothered to take that much time to type something out.

But I wanted to let you all know that I've been thinking about you a lot! Jackie, I hope all is OK with you.  And Nash, I just don't know what to say about your friends. How completely lousy.  I'm sure they appreciate you making food for them. Those little things make a big difference.  DH is doing the Hartford Breast Cancer bike ride this weekend to benefit our local chapter of Susan G. Komen and Open Arms of Minnesota. Open Arms brings healthy meals to breast cancer patients and their families.  They recognize how hard treatment is, and they offer a great service to make sure that people and their families get the good nutrition they need at the most stressful times in their lives. So what you are doing to help by stocking their freezer is really truly helpful, even if it doesn't seem like much.  

Lilith, I hope you can get a little vacation in or something. I know how easy it is to get wrapped up in it all, but you are right. That's one thing we should take away from our battles with cancer is that we need to take time for ourselves. Go get a massage or do something nice for yourself.

June, hope the colonoscopy was uneventful!

Have fun in New York Jackie and Kaye!

Hi to Angie and Harley too, and hugs all around.

DeAnn

Hey Ladies

Sorry I haven't posted, just caught up in the day-to-day routine.

Kaye, I'm also Nana and also put in 'first dibs!'  We lived about 5 1/2 hours away from my daughter and our first (and will be only) grandson when he was born.  This is how we came to move from Charleston, SC to Atlanta.  We literally 'burned up' the roads between SC & GA and then just decided to make the move.  It was a pretty scary move after living in Chas. for over 30 years.  However, we just stepped out on faith...put the house up for sale (sold in less than a week) and came to Atlanta with no jobs lined up.  We were very blessed though and glad to be part of his life while he is young.  You know how it is today, by the time they are 10, they don't have time for their parents much less Nana and Big Daddy (that's DH).  He's almost 9 now and between school, multiple sports, friends, and birthday parties I sometimes have to "call ahead."    Anyway, grab what you can girl because it is a joy like no other. 

DeAnn, so good to hear from you...when's your trip to CA?  I'm with Nash, tell that man of yours thanks from all of us!

Nash, I've been sending prayers for the little girl....it's hard to imagine a child having to live through something like this.  I can only imagine the agony her parents are living.  I think everything we do for people who are in these situations counts......no matter how minor it may seem to us at the time.  You just keep doing because I know it's helping them...and blessings on you for being the kind of woman that you are my friend. 

Jackie, not forgetting about you dear.  You and Kaye have a wonderful time getting together and make a really loving/sappy/funny toast to all of us while you're together, okay?  On second though.....just let Kaye talk and it will happen I'm sure!  

lillith, I'm feeling some of what you're feeling this summer except I can't think of a single reason to be in a funk!  Maybe we should both take DeAnn's advice and go get a massage or something!

I'm ok ladies and thanks for asking.  Colonoscopy went fine and I had one polyp which was benign, thank goodness.  However, I  now carry yet another diagnosis: diverticulosis.  But I really don't know very many people over the age of 55 who haven't been diagnosed with this.  Truly believe this upsurge comes from our awful diet changes and food processing in the past 40 years as much as increased diagnostic ability. 

I also had my 6 months check up with the onc. last week.  All went well and she has agreed to coordinate my 6 month appts with the surgeon/radiologist.  This means that I will see the rad/surg at the beginning of a month and the onc. at the end of the same month.  YEA!!!  Only 2 visits a year this way and the rest of the time is MINE!!!!!!!   

Hope are well and enjoying the summer (yes, even in the heat for some of us) Take care and mucho hugs to all.

June

FANTASTIC! Can't wait to see the pics!

Kaye, you girls are gorgeous. Can't wait for you and DeAnn to be here in Oct.

Hi, Dee. You may have been looking for the "Starting Chemo is Aug 09" thread--we're all two years out from chemo on this thread. But we're a friendly (and obviously very cute) bunch, and are more than happy to help you out. 

As far as the nausea goes, peppermint can help, but my nausea was sort of beyond any easy remedies.  Not to say tha's how it will be for you, but for me, I had to add a drug called Emend on top of my other antianemic meds. 

The hair loss depends on the chemo. Are you going to be on TC? I think the hair loss there does start about 3-4 weeks into things. I had Adriamycin in my mix, and that chemo makes hair fall out after 2 weeks. By all means, shave your head if it makes you feel more in control. It will grow back. 

Ladies,

By the way....Kaye is beautiful.  I felt like I was meeting someone famous that you read about and then finally get to see in person!!!!!!!

I think you ladies need to check facebook for the pix.  I have NO IDEA how to post them here.  LOL

Funny, my onc just checked mine today. No results yet. I also got blood drawn to do the BRCA gene test. I met with a counseler today and decided to do it. Won't have results for two weeks, but I'll let you know when I do.

The condo in Oceanside is the Wyndham, I think? Are we bringing our spouses to our little rendezvous or will it be just the girls? Trying to plan out the week a little bit and DH asked if he should be coming too. I said, gosh, I don't know! I figured I should ask if your DHs were coming too? He had an idea for where to meet. He suggested the Stone Brewery complex.  Of course he's Mr beer guy so he would pick that place.   Ooh Jackie, I'd love it if you could be there too!

Sounds good to me!

Hi, Lilith! I'm so glad your mom was well enough to travel to Italy. How is she doing overall?