Anyone starting Chemo in August 07?

Oh, Lilith. I'm so sorry. There are no words.

Thank you all.

Surprising how the world keeps turning anyway, no matter what happens, don't you think? She was a great lady, I'll miss her.  

Gosh, it has been a long time since the last post. I hope that everybody is busy and happy.... 

Lots of love to all of you. Sometimes we have nothing to say - yet saying nothing can say it all.

Oh, my, DeAnn! you are a brave woman. Ten kids at an Arcade - that sounds downright foolish! I am sure the kids had a fantastic time, but I personally would consider that more that once in a lifetimes already too much! I hope your kids kiss the ground you walk on, you deserve it. 

Lots of love girls... I am seriously thinking of taking a couple of months off work this summer, if they'll let me. Tired of postponing the fun. I'll wait until after Easter, then need to sit down HR and see how to get around this.. I hope it will work.  

Harley, SO happy to celebrate your happy and in full health, cancerfree cancerversary! HOOHOO!!!  It makes me happy to think of it. mine will be this summer... 

Harley. I had no idea - perhaps I didn't pick it up! but I think your plan is awesome. I really hope to get your scholarship... I'll be thinking of you!

When will you know? what kind of school? nursing school? do share! 

SOOOO happy for Nashy on a six-month schedule - healthy and all!!! congratulations dear. 3 years past - that is a victory on its own!!! hugs hugs hugs.

Hey All,

It's good to hear what everyone's been up to.     Congradulations to each of you celebrating another anniversarywith NED...it's the greatest reason in the world to be joyful and grateful.

This month I had both of my 6 month check ups and all went very well.  You know how nervous we all get about a month out.  My surgeon & radiologist decided that we will no longer do an ultra sound every 6 months but now yearly.  Said that my breast tissue is not nearly as dense as in the beginning so feel this is a safe route to take.  I'm a little behind most of you on anniversary dates.  I had my second and final surgery on 1/7/08 with a clean path report...so I was two years NED this past January. 

A quick question for you all.  Our insurance has always paid for any scans I have done in a hospital or my surgeon's office.  Now they've changed and don't pay for them at all.  It was covered under their 'wellness program.'  However, they still DO cover an colonoscopy at 100%.  Really makes me furious...any of you having the same issue? 

So good to read the recent posts and catch up a little with everyone.  I'm finally starting to work in the yard and really looking forward to full blown Spring.

hugs to all...

June

one more doc check up done... unless blood tests turn up wrong, all seems to be going well. 

next one, november 2010 - well past the 3 years mark!!!! ) 

Yay, Lilith!

Good luck at the surgeon, Harley. I can't believe it's coming up on 3 years for all of us!

Oh...I forgot to tell you......I feel GREAT!!!!!!

Kaye,

 Y9ou must be enjoying him so much.  I am so happy for you.  Enjoy him...they grow so fast.  I agree with menopause.....I love love love babies and little kids but I don't have the energy to have them or lug all that stuff around 24/7...LOL.

 Glad you are feeling okay.

Hugs, Jackie xoxoxoxo

Hi Everyone!

Jackie, I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. In some ways I think it helps them to talk to those of us who have been there, especially since you are feeling great (which is awesome, by the way). Maybe knowing that you got through it and are feeling good now will make everything seem a little less scary for her. 

Kaye, your little grandson is so cute, and I'm delighted you are having a ball with him! I hear you on the whole "energy" thing though! Seven years old, I can do. I reallly don't think I could do infant again!

So, all of you Facebook folks know that I'm having my CD Release party in May, and I know you can't all be there, but I'd like to send you each a copy of my CD. In particular, I want to share one song with you that I've put a link up to here. This was a song I wrote while still in chemo and you girls, of all people, will be able to relate. It's really heavy on distortion though you should know that none of my other songs are anything like this, so don't be thinking I'm a heavy rocker chick. Just on this one song because it totally seemed appropriate. I was sort of going for a Nirvana vibe. 

If you prefer to just get MP3 downloads, I can give you a link for that, or you can email or Facebook or PM me your address and I'll send a hard copy to you.  Most everybody else I am making donate to my breast cancer ride this summer, but you girls get one for free, since you've already paid your dues! Anyway, here's the link for the song. I'm thinking I might share it on the general chemo boards too, but wanted you guys to hear it here first!

http://www.box.net/shared/frn0uec9zz

Yeah, Nash. My doc told me tamox can do cataracts. Lousy eh? Oh the joys of Tamoxifen. Actually, I'm not really having any side effects, so I can't complain.

Oh, and I almost forgot, but I got really good news today at my holistic doc.  I did a comprehensive hormone profile and a bone resorption assay.  The hormone profile shows that my ratio of good to bad estrogen is stellar! And the bone resorption shows that my bones are currently also in good shape and I'm not currently experiencing further bone loss. Yay! His only recommendation was to keep doing what I'm doing (taking Calcium-d-glucarate, DIM, and a really good mineral vitamin supplement) and doing more juice with red cabbage and/or radishes as a component. Sounds gross, but a little apple juice will hopefully make it palatable.

Hugs!

DeAnn

Kaye

Glad you're enjoying your time with your Grandson!!  He's SO cute!

Jackie,

Sorry to hear about your friend, having to battle this monster.  I'm sorry she won't join our group, but maybe it helps her to know that you are doing so well.  In my Reach to Recovery volunteer work, the women I contact almost always tell me that it is so reassuring to them to see that I am doing so well, THREE years later. 

Cataracts?  yes, I was told that Tamoxifen could cause cataracts.  I had a D & C, because I had uterine polyps, 1 1/2 years out.  It really freaked me out, but I am doing ok now. 

My onc switched me from Tamoxifen after 2 yrs. to Femara.  I've been taking Femara since Jan 1st.  Not too much se's to report, but just some stiffness and more aches and pains, joints and  I feel about 85 y.o. sometimes!  But, as Kaye said, we have to decide whether it's better to 'hang in there' with these se's, the aches and pains and stiffness, and other se's, or to risk a recurrence?  I don't know if I will stay on the AIs for the rest of the duration of my 5 years, or if I'll switch back to Tamoxifen, but I keep reminding myself that at least I have that option. 

DeAnn,

Glad to hear your update from your holistic dr.  It's good to see that everyone is doing so well.  I must say, though, that I'm not a fan of cabbage. 

Thanks so much for the donation to my Strides walk.  You are so sweet!

Nash,

I had 'possible glaucoma' and my eye dr. was concerned about the risk of cataracts, when I saw her last year.  She did a HRT test, which came out NORMAL, so it was ALL GOOD.  They measured my cornea???   for glaucoma, with a couple of different tools, and finally decided that 'I have extra thick corneas' and that is why I tested borderline for glaucoma.  This is yet another condition that doesn't run in my family... ;-)     So we just watch it.

Thanks for the generous donation to my Strides, Nash.  You are so very sweet!! 

I will be walking in American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, in Oct.  This will be my very 1st bc walk.  I'm having some trouble getting started with the fundraising part... 

Hugs to all,

Harley

I am so sorry to hear that. That awful, poor girl. 

I've been missing you girls - but I know that the fact we don't come back here often means a good thing... that we are moving on.

BIg hugs to all of you.