Starting Chemo October 2009

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited February 2010

    Marie, if you call your onc then she can order the test and perhaps you will have results before your appointment on the 11th..

    Mary, OMG I had a huge brain-fart.  I should have looked at your diagnoses...must be my chemo brain...

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  • MarieK
    MarieK Member Posts: 911
    edited February 2010

    Thanks Sean for the heads up about IBC but the skin is not bumpy or orange peely - it's more of a dimple/shadow.

    I have called my BS office and asked that my appt be moved up.  I'm waiting to hear back from them with a date and time and will update as soon as I know

    Thanks all for your concern and support!

    Marie

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited February 2010

    Marie, keep us posted...we are all sista in this together.  When one feels a lump we all feel a lump..only we can truly understand the emotions that go along with this..we are here for you.

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  • MaryNY
    MaryNY Member Posts: 1,584
    edited February 2010

    Marie: hoping you get in to see them soon. As soon as you get the new appt, I'm sure your anxiety level will go down a little. That happens with me as then I feel that I'm not shouldering the problem all on my own.

    Michele: LOL. Glad you had a brain fart and I still have two boobs!

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  • BrendaSharon
    BrendaSharon Member Posts: 506
    edited February 2010

    Michele and Val,

    Congrats to the both of you. I know you are happy for this day, one more step to the beginning of the end of your journey.

    Princess Jo-Jo,

    Thanks for coming over board to cheer us on. We appreciate the WAVE of your WAND. Your race will come to an end soon as well.

    To all the October sisters keep your heads up, we are all too close to the end

    ((((((((((HEALING HUGS))))))))))

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  • MarieK
    MarieK Member Posts: 911
    edited February 2010

    Hi All!

    I was able to get in this morning to see my surgeon - he and his staff are very good at fitting people in.  He tells me that he is not concerned and feels that it is simply fibrocystic changes in my breast tissue. 

    He feels that the thickening I feel is either trauma or irritation from the PICC line being in  & removed or from my using that arm when I haven't been much before that.

    He still wants to see me on Feb 23 (as originally scheduled) and will follow up.  He said he would be surprised if it's still there at that time but if it is he will follow up with an ultrasound.

    He told me that if I didn' t have a history of cancer then he would just send me on my way but in light of my history he wants to follow up just to put my mind at ease.

    The funny thing is that when he examined me he put his hand right on where it was without me having to tell him. I just told him that since I've had the PICC line I've felt a discomfort and a stiffness and now that it's out (been 2 weeks now) I told him that I've been vacuuming, clearing out my garage and walking my dogs on leash a lot lately.  He told me to keep doing those things and not to baby my arm like I did when I had the PICC line in.

    Oh and the dimple - it's a stretch mark and he happily pointed out others.  I guess not wearing a bra for the last 6 months is causing stretching and droopiness!

    He also felt all my glands (on both sides) and nothing is amiss.

    I trust this guy (aside from the fact that he would not remove this breast in the first place) and I am not going to worry about it. 

    It's certainly not going to affect my upcoming vacation - he also gave me the all clear to go away and actually encouraged more physical activity (tennis, golf, swimming) during my trip! 

    He did warn me about not exposing my surgical area (or PICC arm) to the sun - as if I'm going to go topless - that was a laugh!!

    Anyway I feel like I've had a weight lifted off me and I can relax a bit now.  We'll see what happens in 3 weeks!

    Hugs to all,

    Marie

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited February 2010

    Marie, so glad all seems well...I hope you have a great restful sleep tonight...It is hard not to jump to conclusions every time we feel a lump, bump or twinge...I hope that will pass with time...I don't want ot live my life in fear.

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  • MaryNY
    MaryNY Member Posts: 1,584
    edited February 2010

    Marie: so happy to hear that you got in to see the BS today and had a terrible weight lifted off your mind.

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  • valeriekd
    valeriekd Member Posts: 287
    edited February 2010

    Hi Marie -I am sure we r all breathing a collective sigh of relief - I think we have to be vigilant about all changes and pains and I congratulate you for advocating for yourself - and I totally agree if one of us gets a lump we all feel it! In our throats and elsewhere! I sure did - i am so glad you got reassurance.

    Hey Shelby the mapping is not bad but I had to stay still (completely-no moving) for about 45 minutes and that was difficult b/c arms are over head and I was lying on my bak so all sorts of things fell asleep and got more numb etc. Then they put tattos on which feel like minor injections under the skin - no biggie and only temporarily painful (2-3 seconds). Its a piece of cake after all we have been thru.

    Thanks for all the congrats you guys! It really does feel good!

    We are at the finish line waving you all in - I can picture a warm sunny day with us all doing high fives and feeling fine!

    Love you all - Valerie 

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  • lainieo
    lainieo Member Posts: 53
    edited February 2010

    Hi

    Congrats to all who have finshed chemo! I hope to join the group soon. I have my appointment for the radioation mapping on Feb 25th. Not sure when they will actually start radiation.

    Marie I am glad you got checked out.

    I have had a fever since Friday. Had to go to the emergency room on Sat. I checked out ok and they sent me home. No signs of infection just a fever. Went to the doctor on Monday they did some more tests did a CT scan to make sure I didn't have a blot clot on my lung. I did not have a blood clot. Still running a fever so they prescribed antibiotics yesterday, so I hope they kick in. If not i guess I have some virus and my body is not fighting it off too well. I just want to be able to do my last chemo on Feb 11th.

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  • Scoobydoo
    Scoobydoo Member Posts: 499
    edited February 2010

    Wow congrats to all the ladies who have finished or about to finish chemo....Laura, JoJo, and Holly!  Sorry if I missed naming anyone.  I am so happy to see all my October sisters cross that finish line.

    Marie- Whew, I am so happy to hear that your dr does not think it is another bc lump.  What a happy ending.  Thank you for sharing this with us.  Because there may come a time that we will all have similar scares that turn out to be nothing.

    Laneio - sorry you have been sick with fever.  Congrats on having your last chemo on the 11th.  You are almost there.  Hang in there.

    Val - I think it was you that mentioned mapping.  I did not get my permanent tatoos during mapping.  However, I will get them during simulation.  So mapping was a breeze.  Next week I am supposed to do simulation and start rads.

    Well, I received my referral to a PT for the cording in my arm.  My port removal site is much better and the scarring really isnt bad at all.  Still terribly bald but I am hoping to see some hair in the next 4 weeks.  The bisphosphonates have not given me any SEs yet.  So that is good.  I have more feeling in my feet, so that is a step in the right direction (no pun intended). 

    Wishing all you ladies the best and a wonderful remainder of this week.

    Anita

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  • one-L
    one-L Member Posts: 1,110
    edited February 2010

    Hopebird, I have 2 Nuprogen shots left and my Med Onc said to bring them back to her and she would give them to someone that doesn't have insurance.  They are sealed and everything, it is a shame to waste the meds when someone could use them.

    Marie, it is good that you have appointments next week.  I would be freaking out if it was me.  I do not want to go through this again.  I hope it is nothing.

    valerie, rads are not so bad, at least so far for me.  I am 11 down and 22 more to go.  I will start some SEs soon I am sure.  I had to wait 4 weeks from chemo to radiation.

    Laura, I went into my last chemo exhausted from the previous chemo.  I thought it would really be a tough one, but it wasn't.  My last tx was the easiest.   Don't ask me why, but I had more energy sooner than any of the others.  So maybe this one will not be so bad.  Congrats on crossing the finish line.

    shelby, glad you seem to be feeling good from last tx.  Sleep all you can, it is good for you.

    jojo, you have also crossed the finish line, yea, woohoo, yippee.  Hope the SEs stay away and you get lots of rest.

    holly, yea, woohoo and yippee for you also.  Trust me, I know what it feels like  to get that last tx.  Even knowing that I would be sick the next week, it was a great feeling.  Hope the SEs say away for you also.

    I will have a mammo on my good boob this Friday.  The surgeon said it was time, it has been over a year.  They better not find anything is all I have to say.

    Juannelle

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  • one-L
    one-L Member Posts: 1,110
    edited February 2010

    marie, great news, so glad  to hear that it was nothing to worry about.  Have a great time on that vacation.

    valerie, you gave a very good visual of all of us standing at the finish line waving everyone on. 

    lainieo, hope you get to feeling better soon.  Only one more chemo left, you are almost there.

    anita, I am hoping to see some more hair growth soon also.  I am very tired of being bald and it can't come in fast enough for me.

    Gentle hugs to everyone who has had a tx this week. 

    Juannelle

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  • RaiderDee
    RaiderDee Member Posts: 150
    edited February 2010

    Hi my chemo sisters!  Congratulations to everyone who has recently finished and who will be finishing soon.  I am very proud and very jealous of all of you.  I have my 6th tx tomorrow with 2 more to go after that.  Well, I wanted to share something with you guys.  My friends have officially become bored with my cancer treatments.  My husband has had the same work schedule for years.  On Wednesday night he closes at the store he works at and gets home around 11pm.  All throughout my chemo, one or another of my big group of friends would call me as I was getting off of work and invite me out for dinner or darts or whatever to keep me company since I would otherwise be alone.  Well, today came and went and no one called.  I was feeling sorry for myself as I drove home from work and decided to stop at my favorite Philly cheese steak restaurant and get a sandwich.  While I was waiting for my food to be ready, I saw a young girl wearing a pink bc t-shirt.  She was high school age and works at the restaurant after school as her family owns it.  After I got my order to go (back to my empty house) I stopped and and asked her if she had done a bc walk to get her t-shirt.  She said that a group of kids at her school designed the t-shirt and sold them to raise money for bc research.  She listed a litany of other things they had done as a group and was very proud of the amount of money that they raised.  I told her, "I have breast cancer and I am one of the people that you support with your efforts.  I want to let you know that it is important and it does make a difference.  Please let me thank you, I really appreciate it."   Her eyes lit up and she gave me the biggest smile with a mouth full of braces. She thanked me, giggled and literally skipped away.  I'm still butt-hurt that my friends have bailed on me but at least I got the chance to thank someone tonight.  It felt good and it made her feel good too.  I keep thinking about that finish line.  I won't be there til March 18th but I will get there.  I hope everyone has a good night.  Hang tough.

    Dee 

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited February 2010

    Dee, you made me cry with your story...since being diagnosed my son has been a typical teen boy and doesn't show a lot of emotion about the whole cancer thing...but I noticed that he is taking the bull by the  horns and  raising money when ever it is needed.  he raised over $120 for the Terry Fox run for cancer as well as several hundred dollars for Haiti and a local family at Christmas...I guess this is his way of helping and showing his support...

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  • joanneasiata
    joanneasiata Member Posts: 719
    edited February 2010

    YEH YEH YEH YEH

    I MADE IT YES I MADE IT  IVE CROSSED THAT FINISHING LINE TO ALL YOU GIRLS GIVING ME BIG HUHS  LAUGHING AND CHEERING

    THANKS for all the support guys the little pill for anxiety really helped heaps the only thing that bothered me was the smell and i started to get hay fever but pooped another pill and all good lol love those pills I'm feeling pretty good now just really tired going to have a celebration dinner at home prawns salmon and snapper then a big fresh cream cake mmmmmm i do deserve it

    Now I'm also tattooed up so people better watch out a chemo women with tats can be really scary lol I'm starting rads the end of march doing a long break yes yummy the mapping and everything else was to easy i nearly fell asleep

    MARIE

    good news i was very relieved when i read your post  CONGRADULATION  to every one else

    PRINCESS JOJO

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  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited February 2010

    WOW girls so many have crossed the finish line, Laura, JOJO, Holly ~ woo HOO girls you did it.  I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!  I was so exhausted yesterday I barely got online and boy you girls were busy..... 

     Marie so glad the dr saw you and gave you some peace of mind.  I will continue to hope it is just a normal change like your dr suggested. 

    Dee your story had my crying and then onto Michele's as well.  :(  So sweet.  My friends/family have also abandoned me.  Since before Christmas I think everyone got so busy and just stayed busy.  My last 3 tx's I have had to go it completely alone.  I just sit and cry about it somedays.  But it is what it is ~  Other people have a life and some I think just can't deal.  It does suck though. 

    Juanelle ~ I just want to say you were one of my first chemo buddies on the boards and YOU are such a positive inspiration !!!  :)  Always have a kind word ~ 

    To all I wish you a good day ~

    Hugs ~

    Alicia

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  • Scoobydoo
    Scoobydoo Member Posts: 499
    edited February 2010

    Congratulations JoJo!!!!  Your post made me laugh.  You said you POOPED another pill.  Then I realized you meant POPPED another pill.  Seriously the way we all talk about poop, I really thought you meant it the first way at first.  LOL.  I am so glad that you decided to see this all the way through.  You should feel really wonderful!

    Anita

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited February 2010

    Does anyone find that after friends  hear you have cancer they start to act strange?  I have  friend who since being diagnosed, she has never asked me how I am doing!  Whenever we run into each other she starts yammering on about her family, the kids sports, her mother who had a hangnail...WTF.  Just once I would like her to ask me how I am doing.  I guess perhaps this is how we weed out our friends...I know cancer is scary to most people, but I havn't turned into a three headed alian..Well not yet anyhow.  That is the only SE I haven't had.

    In a way cancer has helped my husband and I make some big decisions.  We are a military family and we have been trying to decide if we would like to live here, or move to a posting closer to our family and pehaps retire...Through this whole thing the only people who I have been able to rely on are my husband/kids and my cousin who lives on the other side of the city.  She has brought me food and even taken me to chemo once.  Sure I have had lots of long distance love and support, but it is just not enough.   Being in the military is great and has so many benfits, but moving so often sucks.  We think it is time to settle down, set some roots, be close to family and really get to know our neighbours.  I am so thankful for all the love and support that I have found here, and I am not so sure I could have done it without all you gals.  Thanks..

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  • MeredithK02
    MeredithK02 Member Posts: 86
    edited February 2010

    Hi everyone,

     Just popping in...I've been MIA.  I had my last chemo session January 28th, and am staying at home this week to recover.  I've had fewer side effects with the Taxol half, but have been really tired.  Now all I've got left is a consult with a radiation oncologist (although I'm hoping/thinking I won't need rads), another consult with the plastic surgeon (hoping to do reconstruction this summer), and, oh yeah, five years of Tamoxifen.  I'm feeling kind of overwhelmed to be at the finish line of chemo and still feel like there's so much to do still, and wondering when I'll feel healthy again.  But I've been working out and eating pretty well, so I'm getting there...I hope!

    I've been thinking about you all even when I haven't been posting here, so if it's not too cheesy, I'm sending hugs and good vibes!

    Meredith

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  • Hollycan
    Hollycan Member Posts: 33
    edited February 2010

    MaryNY, it's official!  Please give me my final kissy smiley face!  Done with chemo.  Still feeling alright this morning as I eat my fiber enriched cereal, otherwise I'll be praying to the poop fairy before I know it.

    Dee your post made me cry too.  Everytime I see someone with a bc shirt on or pin or bracelt, etc., it makes me want to say something.  I usually bite my tounge, but good for you for saying something, she probably really appreciated the than you.  My friend's have also backed off alot, used to get lots of phone calls, emails, texts, food brought by etc, but it has dwindled dramatically.  Only thing I can think is that becuase they aren't immersed in it everyday like we are, after 5 months they just kinda of went on with other things...   Good luck with your tx today.  We'll be thinking of you.

    Michelle, yes, I have a friend who had bc too and saw her the other day and she barely said two words to me.  Part of me thinks that she doesn't want to talk about it cause it brings up bad memories, but I have so many questions that I would like to ask her...  Well I guess that's what we all have eachother for right?  :-) 

    Congrats JOJO and anyone else who is or is finishing Chemo this week.  Yay, we did it!!! Wishing minimal se's to all! 

    XOXO

    Holly 

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  • MaryNY
    MaryNY Member Posts: 1,584
    edited February 2010

    Meredith: It's great to see you again. We were missing you. I got one of those lovely franceluxe silk scarfs after seeing how pretty yours was and I wore it outside the house for the first time this week. Somehow I didn't have the courage to wear it before as I thinks it marks one as a chemo patient. Now that I finally finished chemo, I feel proud of myself and ready to wear the scarf. I hope your energy comes back soon. Yes, the five years of Tamoxifen seems never-ending (I'm facing that too) but at least no more infusions.

    Hollycan, gave you your well-deserved Kiss

    JoJo, did you finish on Feb 3 or Feb 4? With the time difference, I'm never sure what day you are on. That along with your wand makes you seem sort of magical.

    Dee, good luck today. You are so close to the end and many of us will still be checking in here and cheering you across the finish line.

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  • azdiva
    azdiva Member Posts: 201
    edited February 2010

    Hi All!  I've earned my LAST Smiley Face!  

    So far, just some heartburn and fatigue (and the rest of my normal litany of complaints).  I go back this afternoon for Neulasta - last one there, too!

    I have an appt with Onc in 4 weeks to discuss where we go from here.  He is going to order PET scan at that time to ease my mind.  I told him it was either that or put me on Ativan forever.  HAHA.  We also discussed my having an oophorectomy instead of Lupron shots.  He was very positive about that and said that I would not be on Tamoxifen then; he would put me on Femara, which he said is a better drug with less side effects.  Since I want to have that procedure where the bladder is tacked up (stress incontinence, oh joy), I just figured I could kill 2 birds with one stone.

    When we talked about the rads consult again, he seemed to be waivering about it.  Before he has always said flat out NO, I don't need them.  But now he is THINKING about sending me for consult.  SHIT!  Just another thing to worry about.  I do not want them.  I had a double mastectomy to avoid them.  I am just going to bury my head in the sand over this.

    On the plus side, he is much more open to putting me on Zometa.  We could start as early as my next appointment!  I hope he does decide this is best.  Otherwise, I am getting Boniva in Mexico and that's all there is to it.  (I did tell him my intentions!)

    For everything else, vitamins, botox, etc. - he said wait 4 weeks.  I guess I can go 4 weeks!

    Hope all are doing well!  I am going to lay down for a little bit before Neulasta!

    Love

    Laura 

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited February 2010

    Meredith, so glad to see you again...I was worried about you...I finished on the same day..glad it was easier that the first half..please keep popping in.

    Yah Holly....you did it..Kiss

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  • Hopbird
    Hopbird Member Posts: 387
    edited February 2010

    Hi everyone......

    Just wanted to congratulate those that are finishing up.  Hope to join the ranks on Monday!

    I also have noticed people lost interest in me as a "cause."  It's a long haul, I'm tired of it, I can't say I blame them for moving on.......I would if I could.  I had one friend that used to call me each week after my visit...I think she wrote it on her calendar or something....but since Christmas she hasn't.  (Guess she didn't put it into her new one!)   I intentionally turned down meals early in my treatment because I knew I would need more support now.   Then last week the girl that signed up to bring a meal must have forgotten.......don't know, never heard from her.  THAT one hit at a really hard time, produced some tears around here just because I didn't have a plan B, my husband was out, and I didn't feel like running to the store.  My 17 year old was running around not picking up his phone.  My 13 year old was a good little man and suggested pizza with a lot of salad.  :)  We DID have salad stuff, so that's what we had.  He and I fixed the salad together and had the pizza delivered.

    And yes, I've had weird experiences with friends.  Some people I thought I was very good friends with did seem to avoid me and/or the topic.  I think it just made them too uncomfortable and they thought it was rude or something to bring it up.  If only they knew...it's not like it slips our minds.  On the flip side, I've had people I was casual friends with that have been amazing, gone out of their way to check on me, drop stuff by, etc.  AND my boss just called me a little while ago and wants to take my husband and I to dinner when I finish and can have wine again!   :)  (I decided not to drink during chemo, especially because my liver was an issue from the beginning.) 

    You really never know who is going to be there for you when things are tough. 

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  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited February 2010

    Meredith ~ so nice to see your smiling face !!!  Congrats on finishing chemo. WOO hoo.

    Hopbird ~ me and you cross the finish line on Monday ~

    Hoping everyone that finished chemo is feeling good !

    :)
    Alicia

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  • RaiderDee
    RaiderDee Member Posts: 150
    edited February 2010

    Mary- Can I have my smiley face for tx #6 please?  All done and feeling good.  I hope everyone else who had treatment this week is doing well too.  Now I have to get through work tomorrow and rest up so I can feel good for the Superbowl.  I don't have a dog in the fight but will still enjoy the game just the same.  Have a great weekend everyone!

    Dee

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  • Scoobydoo
    Scoobydoo Member Posts: 499
    edited February 2010

    Hopbird- you are so correct.  What has really hurt me is my inlaws.  They just dissappeared.  I have not spoken to them once for the last 4-5 months, or basically since I found out I had breast cancer.  To make things even worse, they dropped off christmas presents at my sister in laws job!  Can you believe that????  You are so right that there are some people that were casual friends that have really been there for me.  There are those "close" friends who have been completely absent. 

    Unfortunately during the entire time not one person has offered to bring a meal by or really help me.  Thank goodness I have the best husband in the world.  He is truly my best friend.  I love him dearly. 

    Anita

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  • valeriekd
    valeriekd Member Posts: 287
    edited February 2010

    Holly,Meredith,JoJo,Anita, Laura,Marie, and I know there is more!!!!!!!!!! We are doing it!!!!!!!!!!

    It is so exciting to read all these posts-One step at a time we are beating back the beast with joy in our hearts (which is the cool part). I know I have been hurt by one person in particular who was a close, close friend and business partner who just dropped out of sight and I have not seen since dx. But no one here seems to be bitter-hurt maybe, at times pissed but not bitter-everyone sounds triumphant-and all with good reason - that was f-ing hard!

    Oh And that was really funny JoJo - that you"pooped" another pill! What goes in -gotta come out but I wouldn't think you'd notice! Ha Ha.

    Be good! Valerie 

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  • joanneasiata
    joanneasiata Member Posts: 719
    edited February 2010

    HI ALL

    MARY NY

    Yes it was the 4th and yes i like to think of my self a pretty mystical . Sorry for the pooped the pill it was suposed to be popped the pill my brain isn't working properly and eye sight is awful on my chemo days, Ive got glasses but they look so funny on my Bald head , i carnt complain about support through out the whole way through ,it has been pretty constant for me the best ones have been my 2 best friends and my bosses and my family ,my husband and my brother in law who lives with us any one needs a husband ?( he is the most sweetest thing very helpful and a  very kind man ) Sam has been my rock always, he holds me whenever  im crying and usually has a cry as well  and  he makes me laugh all the time ,no he isn't up for grabs only his brother lol

     Ive been really tired slept nearly 15 hrs  other than that I'm OK i start rads in 6 weeks having a good break inbetween 

    MERIDETH

    So nice to see that face of yours we all got a bit worried about you, keep on talking to us we need you as much as you need us goofy women lol

    well talk soon my beauties JOJO JUST

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