Starting Chemo Aug 09

Options
1…4445474950…92

Comments

  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited April 2010

    done with rads - yeah for Patty

    Jenn - glad your skin is doing better

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited April 2010

    Today was DH birthday - he wanted to go eat breakfast, then head over to the WWII Museum to see the new addition/show they recently finished - Beyond All Boundries.  It was really good, as is the rest of the museum - which I highly recommend.  We discovered they also have a show and dinner that we'd like to see which involves music and dancing from the 40's era called Let Freedom Swing and the dinner is at the restaurant connected to the building run by Chef John Besch -  the American Sector.  We're thinking of taking his parents and my Mom as a thank you for all they've done.  Tonight he wants Sushi - whoo hoo, a favorite of mine!!!

    Patty - how are you doing?  Hopefully all is well - remember to take care of the skin even though your finished radiation.

    Hope everyone else is still doing well and if you celebrate the Easter season - have a great weekend and Easter.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited April 2010

    Jenn - I visited the WWII Museum on my last trip to NOLA.   It was right after it opened, so that'll give you an idea of how long it has been since I've been in your town.  Anyway, I thought it was really great.   So far, so good on my skin.   It was pretty red and angry this week, but I've been slathering on the stuff and it seems to be lightening up and no blisters or sores.   I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

    Happy Easter weekend everyone!

    Patty

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited April 2010

    Patty - how are you feeling?  Did the radiation burn calm down or get worse?  I'm hoping calm down and not give you the grief it gave me. 

    Today I went to the rheumatologist so that I could start taking my arsenal of medications for my RH - can't wait for it to kick in and give relief to these achy joints.  I am feeling better and find that I feel better emotionally as well as physcially. Now that I don't have dr appts day in and day out it's like a hugh weight has been lifted off my shoulders.  I find myself making plans to do things I just couldn't do last year, ballgames, Jazz Fest, other festivals around town, exercise, beach and so on.......... It feels good to know that I can make plans and will feel well enough to do these things.  I don't think I realized how down I was feeling and I'm sure another year from now I'll look at this time and say the same thing.

    Hope everyone had a great weekend.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited April 2010

    Jenn - It is great to hear that you are feeling so much better!   For me, there were times on chemo that I couldn't even consider making plans, because just thinking about it made me tired.  So, I too have noticed that I'm making vacation and summer plans, looking forward to things and excited to be "back in the game"!   I hope your new meds eliminate those achy joints.

    As for the radiation skin...except for being extremely tanned where I normally don't get tan,  my skin is doing great.  I never got any blisters and haven't even noticed any peeling, something the rad Onc told me to expect.   So dodged the bullet on that one.  Whew.

     Patty

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited April 2010

    Whew indeed Patty!

    Jenn -- glad you are feeling better!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited April 2010

    My new meds for the RH seems to be kicking in I am starting to feel better.  I'm waking without the ole' hunched, walk/wobble thing.  I can get right up and move!!!  Thank goodness.  The chemo suppressed the RH symtoms, but once the chemo left my system all hell broke loose.  I even went walking with the dogs again last night. I don't even think I realized how much I put things on hold until now, but it sure does feel good to make plans again. 

    Patty - so glad to hear you did well with radiation - whoo hoo...... 

    Lilah - how are you feeling?  Don't you teach at at University?  Are you finishing up for summer or working during the summer?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited April 2010

    Jenn -- dumb question: what does RH stand for?  (It's probably back in these pages somewhere but I'm LAZY :)

    I'm doing good Jenn!  I do teach at University and we are in the final 6 weeks of the second semester so I'm pretty swamped (it's always crazy busy this time of year -- it's a good thing too because it was just about this time last year that they told me I needed a biopsy...)  I am, thankfully, free all summer (when I am free to pursue other projects at my leisure). 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited April 2010

    Just checking in ladies. I am going to get DH to take April hair pictures then I can post one. When I posted before, my hair was straight and flat. Now it's kinky and sticking up on top. Still not very long - only an inch or so - considering I am 5 months PFC. I am trying to decide if there is enough to color. Not sure.

    I have my "wellness" physical next Friday with family doc and went for a blood draw in preparation today. I had fasted from 7pm last night ready for my 8am appointment. When I was asked for a urine sample I could barely cover the bottom of the cup. I keep waiting for a call to go and do it again. Hope they don't need much!!

    Hope everyone is doing well.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Karen09
    Karen09 Member Posts: 320
    edited April 2010

    Hey ladies!!   I haven't signed on here in a bit.  I'm doing well and trying to lose some of this weight by walking.  It would be easier if I could stop stuffing my face as well.  Ooops!!!  In 10 more days I will be taking my first ever trip to the Dominican and I'm very excited!  One of my girlfriend's wanted to go but her husband couldn't so she invited me and we convinced a third girlfriend to go as well.  We got a really great all inclusive last minute deal.  I've never been on a plane before and haven't worn a bathing suit in ages but my new attitude post-cancer is "Why not?!" 

    Weety - thinking about you!  I'm sure the wait is nerve wracking but hopefully the cyst is nothing to be concerned about and you'll get good news after your surgery.  It will be good to get it out for sure! 

    Hope you are all doing well and having a good weekend! 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited April 2010

    Lilah - RH - Rheumatoid Arthritis.  And.......the new meds are really starting to work now!  Sounds like a busy time of year and a good way to keep your mind off of what you were doing at this time last year.

    I bought a bike over the weekend, got up Sunday walked the dogs, then took the bike out.  I am sad to say, this body is seriously out of shape.  I was 1 mi out when I realized how out of shape I was in, but at 7am and due to embarrassment I didn't call for a ride home, but seriously thought about it.  I did the same thing today, but went on a much shorter ride - my muscles are still a little pissy from yesterday. 

    Karen - your trip sounds fantastic - tell us all about when you return.  I have to say I have the same attitude you do - things I may have said no to or procrastinated with in the past I'm jumping in no questions asked - Yes, yes, yes.  And........it feels good. 

    Gill - can't wait to see the pic!  When I went to my RH doctor last week I talked/laughed with the nurse about how they have us fast, then expect us to give a urine sample. 

    Hope all is well with everyone!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited April 2010

    Aw Jenn - I didn't realize you had RH... did you have it before BC or was it somehow a side effect of the treatment?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • weety
    weety Member Posts: 1,163
    edited April 2010

    Jenn, my grandmother had RH.  I always worry that it might be something that gets passed down to me.  She developed it in her early 40's and had a lot of problems with joint disfiguration of the fingers and huge lumps on her elbows (I can't remember what they were called).  Dealing with that AND breast cancer must not be fun.  I'm glad to hear your meds are helping quite a bit, though.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited April 2010

    I started suffering in my 20's with swollen fingers and minor joint pain - tried taking pictures, but I just couldn't get to the dr during the "flare ups", told I was crazy, by my 30's the pain became much worse, diagnosed for years with Fibromyalgia - took tons of various meds, none of which seemed to work. And.........believe it or not one of the blessings of Hurricane Katrina was that I my dr didn't return to NOLA and I had to find a new dr - she was a godsend.  She ran more test than anyone had ever done, actually believed me,  asked more questions, etc.....tried various meds and nailed it within 2 months.  It was amazing I started feeling like I was 20 years younger - it was wonderful - then 1 year lateer - dx'd with BC.   When I was dx'd I actually cried because I was told I could no longer take the RH meds, I didn't cry at the dx - I was terrified to be off the meds that made me feel so good.  Oddly enough of all things the chemo puts us/me through it suppresses the symptoms of RH and I didn't start suffering again until the chemo ran it's course.  I can no longer take the family of medications that I was on (Humira/Enbrel, etc) and have to use something else, but I'm getting relief with these new medications.  The down side is their daily medications, harder on the stomach and not as good, but pretty close for now.  My RH dr is the best!!!  She even helped me with my daughter when she went undiagnosed for over a year with a rare neurological disease.  Although she wasn't my daughter's dr, she took the time to review the tests and it was her determination and phone calls that led us to the right dr.  She truly is amazing and loves her patients.  Strangely enought I am the 1st and only family member to have all of these crazy issues, including breast cancer.  Oh well...........guess it's better me than someone else I love.

    I went walking again today, still can't get too far with my foot pain, but working at getting in shape.  I'm going to get on the bike again tomorrow and see how badly I can embarrass myself, oops, meant say how far I can get...........

    Is everyone having beautiful weather?  It's been so nice I hate being inside.  

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited April 2010

    It's Saturday morning - getting ready to head out and do a little shopping for myself, something I haven't done in a while.  I've picked up a few things here and there if I was in terrible need, but not real shopping.  I'm thinking I've got the energy and if my feet hurt I'll stop and sit down. 

    The weather is beautiful again this weekend - I may try to get out and play in the garden later today and/or take my new bike out for another spin.

    Hope everyone is having a great day!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Juli-CA
    Juli-CA Member Posts: 36
    edited April 2010

    I haven't posted in awhile but have been reading and following everyone's progress.  Some of us are moving along faster than others and that is just they way we are, everyone's body reacts and recovers somewhat differently.  It is good to find support and a listening ear on this site.

    I am 4 1/2 months PFC and have some hair growth, about 1 1/2 inches.  Since it was too gray, I colored it with a simi-permanant solution so I don't look like an old man!  I was on tamoxifen for a month but had too much joint pain and swollen hands and feet so the onc took me off for a month.  Then he will check my hormone levels to see if I am in menopause.  If so, he'll put me on an AI.  Sometimes I feel like an experiment!

    I've receive some sad news that a friend of mine (age 52 like me), who finished her second round of chemo for breast cancer in four years, has cancer on two lobes of her liver now.  It is terminal.  This is the second person I know who had seemed to recover from breast cancer, then had it come back in the other breast and spread to the liver.  The other one died last summer at age 34. 

     This keeps me all the more alert to my body and changes.  I'll be asking for closer screening from my onc.

    Juli

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited April 2010

    Jenn - Hooray for retail therapy!   I did some myself today.   It's been almost exactly one year since the mammo which found my cancer and, as you ladies well know, with all the doctor appointments, treatments, feeling tired, etc. etc.  I've let quite a few non-essential things go.   One of which is my wardrobe!   Made some progress on that today.

    Juli -  I can relate on the hair...I'm 2 1/2 months PFC and have a whole headful of yucky colored hair.  Sorry about your experience with Tamoxifen, hopefully you'll do better on a AI.   There is always hope for your friend with mets to the liver.   My mother had liver mets at 80, 15 years after her first BC DX.  Her Onc wasn't too optimistic.   But she did chemo (Taxotere) and the tumors disappeared!   She's still going strong and will turn 88 this fall.

    I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

    Patty

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited April 2010

    Jen -- glad you are getting relief again (and dumb question but why isn't Rheumatoid Arthritis abbreviated as RA)?

    Juli -- I am so sorry to hear about your friend.  So disturbing when someone gets it in the other breast, too, since I was told that this is pretty rare (and is the reason I only had one breast removed). 

    Patty -- that is encouraging about your mom! 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited April 2010

    Had a wonderful weekend - it seemed every minute was filled with something to do, some good, some not so good, but the weather was great and I feel wonderful.  Saturday, I shopped and picked up a few things and found a pair of Voltile shoes that I LOVE.  I wanted some last year, they didn't have my size, then BC they went on the back burner.  They feel so good to wear - I didn't want to take them off.  Today I got up walked, rode the bike, relaxed with the paper - finished the Hidato puzzle, ran a few errands and had a somewhat relaxing day going - then.............I rec'd a hysterical call from my DD.  She had her 1st car accident - ugh!  Of course we got there to calm her down and reassure all was fine - unfortunately she had a 3 car pile up - two of the other cars were elderly people - nobody hurt or cited, the policewoman was wonderful to my DD and zero damage to our car and another car - the person that I think caused the accident had a good bit of damage, but the insurance companies will have to fight it out after hearing from everyone and make their decisions.  The good news nobody was hurt and that's more important than a car.  Then........went to a party - my nephew in going into the Navy.  That makes three nephews in the service, one in the Marines and in Afganistan right now, another in the National Guard leaving next month for is second tour in Iraq and now this one in the Navy. 

    Lilah - now that you say it, you're right it is is RA - Whew.......chemo brain struck and I kept typing the wrong thing.  I can be really goofy at times........... sorry about that.

    Patty - sounds like you're doing great - looking back to this time last year seems like such a long time ago. 

    Julie - so sorry to hear about your friend, that's a tough dx to deal with, but the medications they have now seem to be so much better.  But.........it hits close to home and is scary for not only for your friend, but for you (((hugs)))).  Sorry you had trouble with the tamoxifen, if you have to go on the AI I hope it works for you - let us know.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited April 2010

    Jen -- lol re: RH vs RA and chemo brain -- sigh I know I do it too... so glad you had a nice weekend!  What are Voltile shoes?  What makes them special?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited April 2010

    Lilah - they're "fancier" flip flops.  What seems so comfortable is that the slight wedged ones I got actually make my back feel better and they are soft, soft, soft.  I guess they're made with women's bodies in mind.  Not sure, but they look good and feel good.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited April 2010

    They sound divine Jen!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited April 2010

    Just checking in to say hello.....

    How is everyone? 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited April 2010

    I'm good Jenn!  How are you?

    So busy these days -- something about the spring or maybe just feeling better!  I have my exchange surgery and lift/reduction on May 11 so I'll soon be back to recovery mode :)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Juli-CA
    Juli-CA Member Posts: 36
    edited April 2010

    Jenn- I searched the web and found the Volatile shoe and they look very comfy.  Now to find them in my area so I can try them on.  Happy feet!

    Juli

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited April 2010

    Lilah - I must have had my head buried, I didn't realize you had your exchange surgery coming up.  One more step closer to being finished with this mess.

    Juli - They are soooo very comfortable and look good.  They seem to be very true to size if you order them online.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • weety
    weety Member Posts: 1,163
    edited April 2010

    Hi girls, I had my hysterectomy/oopherectomy done on Tues and got the final path report back today--BENIGN!!!  It did have some tissue in it, which is what made it an abnormal cyst, but all checked out okay.  Yay!!!  I'm sore and tired, but so relieved that I'm not dealing with a 2nd cancer. . . whew.

    I want to check out the shoes you're talking about.  I usually buy cheap flip-flops, but then end up wishing I hadn't since they don't hold up and usually aren't very comfortable.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited April 2010

    Weety -- WAAAAAAHOOOOO!!!!!  So glad to hear this wonderful news.

    Jenn -- no worries... it's entirely possible that little miss chemo brain (me) forgot to mention it :)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited April 2010

    weety - happy for your news.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited April 2010

    Weety - so glad to hear the good news, what a relief!!!  I also have a bunch of inexpensive flip flops, which I love, but for whatever reason I just fell in love with these and had to have them.  It turns out they're very comfortable - extra bonus.

    Lilah - I guess we talk about so much at different times and chemo brain causes us to forget stuff.

    Gill - how are you doing?

    Well...............my youngest daughter has 3 days of high school left and graduation ceremonies are in two weeks.  I can't believe it my "baby" is graduating high school.  I know I will cry for tears of happiness and joy at the graduation. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories