Anyone starting Chemo in August 07?

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  • lilith
    lilith Member Posts: 543
    edited August 2009

    :) Kaye, distractions are good - especially if it means to keep in touch with friends, aka us. Anyway, what is a tablecloth without friends at the table... :)

    Nash, Kaye - Mom is hanging in there. She will have another MRI next week - she is done with her rads, that was very tiring to her, and has done a cycle of a new type of chemo - a lot less debilitating than the first one. It is shorter (just 1 1/2 hour rather than the whole day), and it makes her tired and not hungry - but no nausea, and it is all gone in 3 days. My dad is being a star, and really holding her hand every step, that is very sweet - although he is totally gruff as soon as mom is not there (I guess stress is reaching out at him too).  Depending on the results of the MRI she may resume some treatments in the fall, or wait a few months and see. In all cases, I hear that her and dad are going to take off to Trieste (that is the city where she is from, and she kept a house there) for a month in sept-oct time frame, with the doctor blessing. I feel the most important thing is that she does what she wants to do, that she takes the time to enjoy people, places and moments; and that is true whether she will live 6 months or 10 years. 

     Italy is there anytime - I have 4 bedrooms, and lots of place for more mattresses if needed. The problem is rather to find the right timing for everybody!!!  

  • DGHoff
    DGHoff Member Posts: 624
    edited August 2009

    Ooooh Italy! I'm totally down with that if we could work it out timing wise for all of us. I will have zero vacation time left this year after my Calif trip, but come January, I'm golden.

    Lilith, I'm so glad that you were able to spend time vacationing with your parents and that your mom was well enough to enjoy it. That's one thing I'm looking forward to this October is that we'll be with my parents for a week. I know it won't be as easy as taking a trip by ourselves, but there will be rewards in other ways. I'll bet it was great to see your daughter after her being in the states!

    Speaking of October, I'll plan on bringing DH and the crazy little boy to our little gathering.  My parents are thinking they'll take that night to visit with some relatives.  I don't really care where we go. If there will be a crowd of us, perhaps Stone Brewery is a good spot after all? 

    Today is a gorgeous day here in Minneapolis. We're going to do a little family  picnic in the park and walk to the sculpture garden and just hang out. Should be fun!

    D. 

  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited August 2009

    Italy would be amazing. Wouldn't that be quite the rendezvous point?

    Yay, DeAnn, I'm glad DH and DS will be coming along! Actually, I think Stone is a really good choice b/c your DH knows where it is. Seems like that would make things simpler. And Kaye, I was thinking you and Mr. Kaye could drive to my house and ride over with us, if you'd like?

    What day did you have in mind? Sundays, late afternoon works best for us. How about you? Kaye? 

  • DGHoff
    DGHoff Member Posts: 624
    edited August 2009

    Unfortunately, Sunday afternoon/evening is the one day we do have something planned right now. It's possible we could do Saturday evening, but I'm not sure what time our flight gets in.  Are there any other days that work for y'all? I could try to switch our plans, though. Nothing is totally set in stone. I'll figure out when my flights are and let you know.

  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited August 2009

    Saturday night works for us--I was thinking you got in on Saturday, so that's why I didn't mention that day. I'm thinking a weekend day is easier for Kaye/DH, since they both have to work? Kaye?

    Monday through Thursday night is out for us b/c of homework, and don't know on Friday yet b/c we still have to get the fall basketball league practice schedule, but we could probably come late in the evening in Friday even if there's practice that night. Of course, late in the evening to me is 7pm, since I'm just pathetic that way.

  • katoMato
    katoMato Member Posts: 645
    edited August 2009

    We're flexable - anything that works for everyone else is just fine with us...we'll adjust accordingly.

    Hey, Jackie - have you checked your miles yet? Is there a chance you could come or am I just too delirously hoping?

  • SoCalLisa
    SoCalLisa Member Posts: 13,961
    edited August 2009

    hey kato and nash..just saw this go by and had to say "hi"

  • wackyjackie
    wackyjackie Member Posts: 669
    edited August 2009

    Hi Ladies,

    Sorry I haven't been on in a while.  Lilith...sounds like you had a sweet time with your parents.  I'm happy your Mom was up to it.

    I am going to see about October.  I'm actually beginning to job hunt (finally!!!) and I have to wait until it gets a little closer to decide.  I'm hoping I can come.

    Hugs to all,

    Jackie

  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited August 2009

    Hi, Lisa! *****waving*****

     Jackie, it would be amazing if you could make it out here! Good luck with the job hunting!

  • katoMato
    katoMato Member Posts: 645
    edited August 2009

     

    Hi SoCal!! Nash "waved", so i'll send you a different kind of a wave…~~~/////Cooo…

     Did ja see it? Just like at the beach. (allrighty then. back to work.)

  • katoMato
    katoMato Member Posts: 645
    edited August 2009

    oh my gosh. my computer! a little creativity, and it has this crisis on me.

  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited August 2009
    I love it when you talk all crazy like that, Kaye. Sealed
  • katoMato
    katoMato Member Posts: 645
    edited August 2009

    It's like it's having an argument with itself. Talking itself through a breakdown of some sort.

    "Validate against schemas.Save! Invalid! FALSE! Save invalid! IGNORE mixed content!

    Always show placeholder text. FALSE! BREAK wrapped tables!Deflocked state!

    Use asian break rules. DONT grow autofit!"

    Then it tries to calm down by chanting "MisoNormal, MIsoNormal, MisoNORMAL"

    Sheesh. Makes me wish I'd paid more attention to the teacher in "Human-Machine Interface -  Relational Problems for the 21st Century. (I ditched that day.) 

    Maybe I need to pour a glass of wine over it?

  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited August 2009

    OMG, Kaye, you made me squirt Diet Coke out of my nose.

  • wackyjackie
    wackyjackie Member Posts: 669
    edited August 2009
    You ladies make me laugh!!!!LaughingLaughing
  • lilith
    lilith Member Posts: 543
    edited August 2009

    Kaye... a glass of wine is a universal cure. I'd try it...  

  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited August 2009

    I agree that wine is the universal cure. We can also experiment with beer, just to be completely sure.

    Which brings me to my other point, which is if we can't get a dinner time to work for meeting up in October, maybe lunch would work. Not sure if that works for you and Mr. Kaye, Kaye? ('k, 'k?) And I'd come by myself as the rest of the family would be busy with work and school, but I thought I'd throw it out there as an option.

  • katoMato
    katoMato Member Posts: 645
    edited August 2009

    No restrictions here, Ladies. We're good with any/all of it.  With DH, without DH, Lunch, Dinner, Snack-in-the-Park  - ALL THREE?...I'm good with any of it. Just tell me where to be.  I'm so ready. It's supposed to be 115 and humid by tomorrow. Ahhhhhhh. August in the paradise that is known as La Quinta. This is the "dues paying" part of our existance here. The rest of the time really is paradisaical. (And yes, that is a word. I just looked it up. I'll learn how to pronounce it later.)

  • DGHoff
    DGHoff Member Posts: 624
    edited August 2009

    Hi Ladies,

    As lovely as a snack-in-the-park sounds (though not in 115 degrees) I was just looking at my flight info and I'm thinking Saturday evening will work.  We get in on Saturday afternoon at about 1:40, but lets just be realistic and say 2:00 since when did flights ever actually get in on time?  We just are flying into San Diego though and driving to Oceanside, so I would think we'd be all settled into our condo by 5:00 or so unless things go all pear-shaped with flights and traffic. What about 6:30 at Stone Brewery on Saturday the 3rd?

    Oh, I am getting so excited!!

    DeAnn

  • katoMato
    katoMato Member Posts: 645
    edited August 2009

    Saturday 6:30 is fine with me...If you're sure you won't be too tired from the trip, DeAnn.

    Sounds like GREAT fun, and I can't wait!

  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited August 2009

    It's a date! Whoo hoo!

  • DGHoff
    DGHoff Member Posts: 624
    edited August 2009

    Cool beans! We've got a date! I'm soooo looking forward to it!

    Oh, I realized I never told you all that I met with a genetic counseler not quite two weeks ago. I decided to get the BRCA test done.  I know I am not the sort to do preventative surgery if the test comes back positive, but I kind of want to know for the sake of my sister and her daughter and my female cousins. I should get results in another week or so. I'm really not expecting it to be positive, but it turns out that having Swedish ancestry is a risk factor. Who knew? 

  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited August 2009

    Good luck with the BRCA testing, DeAnn. I didn't know that about Swedish ancestry being a risk factor either.

  • wackyjackie
    wackyjackie Member Posts: 669
    edited September 2009

    Hi ladies,

    I see we've all been busy and haven't been writing in a while.  I miss you girls.  Just thought I'd let you all know that they found something on my left ovary.  Yuck.  They think it's a complex cyst but I have to have pelvic/abdominal MRI  and CA125 blood test to make sure it's nothing more.  Either way, it needs to come out and my ob/gyn recommended I take the ovaries with it.  Oh, well.  I wish they could take my stomach and butt also (LOL!!!).

    Hope everyone is doing okay.

    Hugs, Jackie

  • DGHoff
    DGHoff Member Posts: 624
    edited September 2009

    Hi Jackie,

    I'm so sorry you've got that concern to deal with.  Another surgery doesn't sound fun.  I saw on your Facebook post that you lost someone dear to you on 9/11, so this must be a very difficult day. I'm thinking of you and sending you hugs!

    DeAnn

  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited September 2009

    Well, crap, Jackie. When is the MRI?

  • lilith
    lilith Member Posts: 543
    edited September 2009

    Oh, Jackie. Never a dull moment, is it. 

    I am so sorry. I am sure it will be nothin', but I am sorry you have to deal with all the worry, the wondering and the scare. Plus, a new surgery.

    please, let us hold your hand. we'll be all here with you... 

  • wackyjackie
    wackyjackie Member Posts: 669
    edited September 2009

    Thank you so much girls.

    DeAnn...thanks for the hugs.

    Nash... Wednesday, but Tuesday I'm going to my onc for my 3 month check up so I'll talk to her also.

    Lilith...you have held my hand so much and never let it go!!! Thank you.

    Hugs, Jackie

  • katoMato
    katoMato Member Posts: 645
    edited September 2009

    Tuesday eh? ok, keep us posted - please.

    And what the heck is a "complex cyst"?

    On another note: You're so tiny, that If they take your butt & your belly - all that will be left will be your smile. (and your eyeballs.)

    We love you, Jackie.....;o/

    k

  • wackyjackie
    wackyjackie Member Posts: 669
    edited September 2009

    LOL!!!! Kaye, you always make me laugh.

    I have a simple cyst on my right ovary (which, according to ob/gyn is okay)....but complex cyst is not good.  it has different shades of black (grey?) and the mri will determine what it is and the CA 125 test.  In either or any event, he said I should remove it (OR>>>we could "monitor" it!!!)...like I want to leave that inside of me.  It wasn't there last year.  SO, he figured if he's in there removing it (hopefully, laparascopically) then I should consider removing my ovaries.  Removing my ovaries has been recommended by other doctors before so I guess maybe I should.  It just freaks me out to think more body parts are leaving (LOL!).

    Have a great weekend everyone.

    Hugs, Jackie

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