Starting chemo January 2009?

Hotbolt.  I am so sorry for all of you.  The thought of your Mom going through TC is so hard.  Plus, really wish you weren't having to worry about this and could just worry about yourself and your own surgery.   Just seems like too much for one family to have to go through.  So sorry.

holtbolt--Sending hugs and best wishes to you and your mom. What CR@p to endure. I suppose she's already talked with the onc about other chemo possibilities (like Taxol instead--it wasn't too hard on me in the weekly dose, but I do still have some tingling in my feet). Keep us posted on how you both are doing!

Good for you Jess.  You must be so excited about your exchange coming up. 

I would love to meet up with everyone somehow.  When is the Ta Ta Sisterhood gathering?  Is it in Sept?

Thank you Holt.....I will be thinking of you in 20 days.

I had a very exciting evening.  I taught Tae Kwon Do to 22 college students.  1 from Poland and another from Iraq,  two from Japan and the rest Americans.  I was thinking the whole time, well, they don't seem to bothered by my hair, since we focus on hand and feet technique and then I cringed.  Omigod.....my toenails! Taxotere did the damage on three toenails on my left feet and two on my right.  They look bumpy, crusty and gross! I guess in the end it was okay , because they've all been coming back and seem very interested in the art.  Now , that is the true wonder of it all.  They are interested in the beauty of the martial art.  Very fun.  Now I am pooped and I am off to sleep.

Hugs all!

Hotbolt - give your mom a big ole hug for me will you.  A good tight one that says you mean it.

Jess - I didn't know you teach Tai Kwon Do, how exciting.  My DH used to study martial arts down in Texas with a prior world champion.  He got hit in the eye which caused permanent damage but he still conciders it one of the best things he ever did.  We hope to get DS interest one of these days.

I have an appointment tomorrow to cut and color my hair.  I have finally had it with fluffy gray hair.  That is my new adjective for it. It is not curly or wavy or straight or even frizzy, it is fluffy.  I have no idea what I am going to do with it, but I will do something.  And the timing seems symbolic since a year ago last weekend was when I really lost my last real hair style.  This weekend was the one I spent in the hospital with low blood counts, would not have remember accept we are invited to the same superbowl party as last year and I watched from the hospital room last year. 

I have to say I am feeling much more myself these day.  I can still tell that my body has been through hell, but it is more like the scars of the experience than still being in recovery, if that makes any sense.  I was only a couple of hours short of full time this week, and that was because I go to yoga at the hospital at lunch time and can't not stop and talk to fellow surviors.  

We went to an indoor waterpark overnight with another family last weekend for a midwinter boost.  We had fun but the park was not warm enough so we were mostly in the hotel pool and the acade.  There were alot of service issues as well, but it is about who you are with more than where you are and what you are doing.  But DS left his lovey behind and they have not been able to locate her.  It breaks my heart that we are unlikely to see her again.  I am going to keep hoping for a little miracle though.  

This evening I had a "date" with my DS.  His school was having a movie and pizza night.  The movie was Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs. He is usually bullet proof with things other kids find scary but this movie scared him.  The idea of food fighting back.  He kept asking my how the pizza could be fighting them. 

I am looking forward to a week in Florida at the end of the month.  We are visiting family.  First time in 3 years that we are getting down there.  

I have a question for those of you who have researched reconstruction extensively.  How is it that if you have belly fat they tell you to get rid of it because it makes estrogen, but then they can use the same belly fat to create new boobs?  And if you lose weight (ie fat) do you lose your new boobs?  I was just thinking that maybe in the future when I need to replace my implants I might want to try one of the newer procedures and the above thoughts came to me.  

Hotbolt, hope your Mom is hanging in there and things are getting better

Renrel, yes,  with autolagous/flap recon if you lost weight your new foobs will lose along with you. 

Hi Ladies,

Just dropping by to say hi.  I think it is a sign of healing that I had to stop to remember what my password is to this board.   A year ago I was on five times a day - don't stop by so much now.   Movin on as best I can.... sound like you are doing the same.  

Holtbolt: I have been thinking about you and praying for you and your mom.  No steroids! No nausea meds!  Esp when you had such a reaction.  Have you chewed somebody's ear off yet?   I hope your mom gets the proper care she needs and the next rounds are better.

And I hope the Colts win and bring a little joy in your life!

I managed to raise $1000 for our Relay For Life Team -- did two Super Bowl boards at work.  Last year at this time we had a dear co-worker die from esophageal/liver cancer.  He was our SuperBowl board pusher.  So I got his picture, took over his role, made them memorial boards with half to be donated in his memory --  how could they say no to me?? the still bangless survivor-- LOL!   

I had two "doctorless" months.  YeeHaa!!   See my med onc next week, labs/exam.  Mammo and breast surgeon next month.... and so goes high risk surveillance...    New research shows that if your older when you get BRCA2 related bc, the chance of new bc in the other side is less than previously thought - only 20%.  So happy to be old!!!!

Take Care Jewels

Hi everyone:  30 inches of snow here in Maryland and I finally have time to post.  I have been reading along but between work, grandbaby sitting, laundry, housework, grocercy shopping, and trying to get back in to the gym I am exhausted at the end of the day.  But I LOVE IT.  I am so happy to be able to do all those things again.

Been having flashbacks to chemo days since I have been stuck in the house for going on three days now and probably looking at one or two more...

Holtbolt been praying for you and your mom.  It  really sucks that you have to relive the nightmare with your mom as I am sure it puts you right back into the thick of it.  I read Lance Armstrong's book "It's not about the bike" as it was given to me by a parent at school.   Her husband had cancer four years ago.  Anyway his decription of chemo put me right back into the chair and I was only reading about it.  Sorry you have to go through this again.  

Renrel I love your new picture.  You look beautiful.  Healthy and Happy.  I have changed my picture too.  Even though it is not my usually do it is starting to grow on me and I have had it re-cut several times now so it is beginning to feel like a choice.  It is really easy to take care of and as busy as I am I appreciate that.  May keep it short for a while.  Most people tell me they like it and I think they are not just being nice.

Any of you hear about the fund the cure stamp that the post office is selling?  My sister sent me an email about it.  I had never heard of it.  Would love to send the email to anyone that is interested as the sale of the stamp has the potentional to make a lot of money for cancer research.  I have forwarded it to everyone I know and would like to send it to you so you can do the same.  If interested, send me a pm with your email address and I'll send it to you.

Well baby is starting to empty the draws so guess I better go and put a stop to it.  Glad you are all recovering and returning to life.

I will be having recon this summer....BTW saw Onco dr. and all looks well.  Am having side effects from Fermara and Boniva so I have been taken off both of those for a while.  He was concerned mostly about the jaw pain I am having so he wanted me to stop drugs and see a dentist.  Going to change Fermra to Aromasin after waiting three weeks.  Anyone heard of this one?  Joint pain has been bad that is why he is changing meds.  I've developed Trigger finger which is really annoying.  He said that he never saw that from Fermara before.  What do you guys think?  May just be old age but I am very suspcious about it since I had no symptoms before meds.

Well really have to go now.  My very mobile little granddaughter has left the room.  She is growing way to fast.

Hello Everyone! I had my lateral mastectomy Dec. 24, 2009, and had my first round of Taxotere and Cytoxan in January. My next round is Feb. 16.. I haven't caught up on all the posts yet, but, I think I'm very glad to have other people to talk to that are around the same treatment time. Everyone in my oncology clinic has either gone through chemo before, or have been on for months/weeks already!

Is anyone experiencing anything with their hair yet? I have noticed more strands coming out than before, but I think the worst part is the tingling right now. It's almost like a burning. Is anyone else going through that? Is there anything to lesson the tingling sensation?

So many questions in my head today! LOL

Stephanie~~ together we can beat this

BerkleyKim, know that feeling about wanting to lose some weight before the next Onc appt.  Have to find a new goal cuz that one NEVER seems to work for me!

  Hi Ladies! Haven't been on in ages.  Holbolt-so sorry to read about your mom. My prayers are with both of you. I have been doing wonderfully. It has been a year in Jan. that I was diagnosed. Hard to believe a year has gone by. I pray I don't evedr have to go trough this again and also for all of you that have made it.  had a CT scan 3 weeks ago. Everything came out great. My doctor didn't think anything would be found. My hair is very thick and wavy. My 15yr old daughter straightened it and trimmed it for me. I didn't want to spend the money yet to get my hair done. There isn't that much to cut but it looks so much better. It was bushy around my ears. My eyebrows are still very thin. Is anybody elses still that way. Also my legs are very achy. Doctor isn't concerned but I think its from the Boniva. My physical therapy ended this week. My arm is still numb. Probably won't go away. I still can't raise it all the way up but I have exercises to do at home. I'll be setting up my appt. soon with my breast surgeon to get the ok for reconstruction which wil be the end of the summer. Can't wait. this breast form is annoying. It feels like 10lbs of weight. lol Take care and I'll stay in touch. Happy Valentines Day to all of you.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY JEWELS!!  After two blizzards I am ready to go back to school.  We have tomorrow off for President's Day and they are predicting some snow, but I hope it is not enough to keep us out of school on Tuesday.

Feeling great except for the SE from the drugs.  Nothing can compare to this time last year though so I consider myself lucky.  

Got some really sad news last month that one of my students (3 years old) has Leukimia.  I think it is A-L-L.  Anyway she has been having chemo and is having a really hard time with SEs.  Breaks my heart to think of someone so young going through the torture of chemo.  Her parents are of couse sick with worry and I find myself thinking thank god I got the cancer and NOT some one I loved.  I been thining about how hard that must be and have a greater appreciation for what my family went through.  So sad.  Fortunately her cancer can be cured and is in remission already.  Unfortunately, that does not mean she won't have to be treated and from what I understand she will be getting maintanence doses of chemo  for some time to come.

We need to find a cure!!  Anyone planning to walk in Washington, D.C. this October?

Love to you all

Patti

Jess, if you go to Scotland, for sure, let me know!  Boy do I have suggestions!  What an awesome vacation we had there.  Edinburgh is like a fairytale!  We went to Glasgow, Edinburgh, the Highlands, some islands, it was awesome.  I would highly recommend Scotland to anyone.  We also took a train to London for a few days, it was only about $50 for the train and it takes about 4 hours to get there.  My friend and I saw the show Billy Elliott in London, I always wanted to say I saw a show in London.  Makes me think about what else is on  my "bucket list".

Speaking of this Jewels......my husband and I are celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary next month and we are planning a trip.  Anyone with recommendations?  We've been to Maui, Bahamas, Mexico in the past. 

Patti: My son's friend had leukemia when he was 4 - he's a sophomore in college now and thriving.    Please post what the ortho doc says -- I have two trigger fingers -- mild and not all the time.   Wondering if it the the AI or the bisphosphanate???

I think Holtbolt is off to NOLA soon -- let's send lots of positve Jewels energy her way...

Saw my med onc this week.   Am down 9 pounds.  Eating like a rabbit and exercising seems to be doing the trick.   See my bs for mammo and exam next month.   I have lots of weird feeling scar tissue along the lumpectomy site -- got worse after radiation.   Guess that's "normal".  Don't like it much. 

Hope you are all doing well.