Starting Chemo October 2009

Options
1…9293959798…113

Comments

  • joanneasiata
    joanneasiata Member Posts: 719
    edited May 2010

    HI JEN

    Yeh Dee is right, a lot of us have now gone to other threads ,hey isn't it good to still be able to get all girly   when we come in contact with hot men !!!!!!!

    DEE

    Well done hope the opp goes all smoothly for you and you go girl wow 16 pounds im sooo jealous, i need to get my ass into shape you have inspired me taah.

    Ill be done with rads tomorrow then down the beach by my self to write cancer a good by letter and sending it of in the water in a sealed bottle, and say good by forever to it, then go home and have a good stiff drink lol

    JOJO

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • RaiderDee
    RaiderDee Member Posts: 150
    edited May 2010

    JoJo, congratulations on finishing rads!  What an awesome idea to write cancer a letter.  I wish I lived even remotely close to the ocean so I could send my thought about cancer afloat and away from me forever.  Well, that idea will just have to wait but I will join you in having that good stiff drink!  Cheers! 

    Dee

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MaryNY
    MaryNY Member Posts: 1,584
    edited May 2010

    JoJo: yes, your idea of the letter in the bottle is brilliant. What a great way of marking the end of this phase. When I finished chemo, I went around my apartment and made a bundle of all the chemo-related literature and books and got rid of them. That felt very cathartic. I didn't do anything special after rads, but it might be time to round up any more literature that has accumulated.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • joanneasiata
    joanneasiata Member Posts: 719
    edited May 2010

    WELL I DID IT

     All done ,Sam came with me we took our alcohol and my letter to the bridge had a drink talked about our whole experience had a laugh then i put my letter in the bottle and Sam threw it so far in the water its now over in Canada lol but boy it now feels like the world has lifted of our shoulders so good

    Thanks ladies for all your love and support  stay well

    JOJO

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • suz45
    suz45 Member Posts: 796
    edited May 2010

    JoJo, Oh I wish you had said that before We went on our mini vacation... tossing the bottle off a cruise ship in the Pacific Ocean would have been perfect...lol. But Im back at home today so will maybe just throw it the ocean anyway :-).

    HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

    To anyone who is a mom... I was stunned to come home from our mini vacation and have my almost 20 year old son greet me at the door with a monster boquet of flowers.... WOW, I was so surprised it brought me to tears.

    So Im about 3 weeks out of surgery and cant believe the difference on my right and left sides... left side had nodes removed in 07.. had a dble mast and node removed on the right this time. Guess I got a lil behind in doing my exercises so can barely lift my right arm as there is so much cording going on... OUCH to say the least. Anyway guess thats what Ill be working on for the next few weeks.

    Love and hugs All! Suz

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jeanl151
    jeanl151 Member Posts: 146
    edited May 2010

    Happy Mother's Day to a group of amazing women. Enjoy your time with your families and celebrate how far we have come in a year

      Jean

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited May 2010

    Happy Mothers day to all

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • feistybluegecko
    feistybluegecko Member Posts: 133
    edited May 2010

    Hi to all my girls here

    Jo Jo - what a fantastic idea - I will look out for your letter and wave to it as it passes thailand :)

    I really like the way we still all visit our page - I feel very close to you all even though I didn't post so often.

    I'm now over half way through rads (14 done - 11 to go) and very much hoping that after it I will be fit enough to get back to Scotland for very long overdue and emotional home leave.

    My daughter and grand daughter ran yesterday in the Race for Life in Scotland - am very proud of them.  I tried to upload a pic but couldn't manage it so here is the link to the pics on my blog.

    Love and warm hugs to you all

    Philippa

    xx

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • txstardust
    txstardust Member Posts: 599
    edited May 2010

    Hope the moms in our group had as good a day as Suz did!  My girls made me breakfast, put away ALL the groceries, and made me some adorable gifts.  What great kids I have!

    Jojo, I might take your idea when I go to the beach this summer...

    Philippa, so fantastic that you're getting through rads!  And a trip to Scotland sounds fabulous.  

    Dee, I'm so proud of you for getting healthy.  16 pounds since the beginning of April?  That's amazing!  I've lost about 8 pounds since the end of January - not quite as impressive, but it's a start I suppose.

    To everyone else - have a fabulous day, and keep up the good fight!

    Peace,

    Shelby 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited May 2010

    welcome back phillippa, it has been a long time...glad to hear you are doing well.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • azdiva
    azdiva Member Posts: 201
    edited May 2010

    Hi All!

    1 month since the exchange surgery.  I think they look weird, but the final tweaking will be done when I have the nipple surgery.  Which I have decided to wait until Fall to have.  And I have decided to wait on the hysterectomy too.  I just need some time to rest and recover!

    Have appointment with onc tomorrow, so I had to have blood work done today.  Forgot how much I hated it!!  I just hate pulling into the parking lot!  GRRRRRR!  Onc will give me the prescription for tamoxifen tomorrow.  Not looking forward to that.  I don't think I will get Zometa tomorrow, but who knows?  I think we will at least schedule it. 

    Hair is about 1 1/2 inches.  Going to see my gal next week to figure out when I can put extensions in.  I don't care if the bonds show!  Right now it looks like puffy, semi-afro hair.  But not curly.  It just sticks out in a completely disorganized fashion.  Maybe I will just have her do over the top and will rock a mohawk for awhile.  At least then it will look like I TRIED to do my hair like that!!

    Kids are being rebellious and stubborn.  I think they are way over having the Cancer Mom.  No slack is being cut in my direction for sure!!  The dog, however, still treats me like a queen!

    I hope everyone is feeling well and getting their energy back!  This summer has the potential to be good!!

    Love you All -

    Laura 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited May 2010

    Laura, so good to see ya.  Good to hear the dog is treating you like you should be treated...I guess life goes back to normal for everyone but us...What the hell is normal?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • valeriekd
    valeriekd Member Posts: 287
    edited May 2010

    Hi Ladies-Popping in again (been a while) altho i think of you all often. Got dxed w/ osteoperosis and so got a zometa infusion - will be getting it one time per year. This is said to reduce the chance of recurrence-knock on wood as i knuckle my own head! Anyone else got this going on? Anyway, I tried to change my avatar cuz i got more hair but I don't think it worked.

    Going on an Avon walk for Breast Ca - raised 1900.00 bucks and its supposed to be a nice weekend. Hope all are doing ok - I have a lot to read and catch up on! Love, Valerie 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • valeriekd
    valeriekd Member Posts: 287
    edited May 2010

    It worked but you can't see my hair-oh well...............

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MaryNY
    MaryNY Member Posts: 1,584
    edited May 2010

    I had a bone density check last week and same as last year was told I had ostopenia. Not sure whether that usually progresses to osteoporosis.

    Valerie, didn't recognize you with the new avatar. That's a lot of money you raised for the BC walk. Welll done and happy walking!

    I was back to see both my medical onc and radiation onc this week. I feel as if I'm closing a chapter. I won't need to see the rad onc again for six months and will see the med onc in three months. I asked the med onc when she was going to de-port me. She had a good laugh but didn't give me a date. Apart from having to get it flushed very six weeks or so, it is kind of handy to still have in case any further blood tests are needed. Anyone else getting their ports removed at this stage?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • valeriekd
    valeriekd Member Posts: 287
    edited May 2010

    Mary-port is still in-r u having recon or more surgery?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MaryNY
    MaryNY Member Posts: 1,584
    edited May 2010

    Valerie: no, no reconstruction or surgery. I finished chemo on Feb 1. Is it unusual to have the port in this long? The onc didn't seem to be in any hurry to have it removed.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • feistybluegecko
    feistybluegecko Member Posts: 133
    edited May 2010

    Mary - I was very glad to hear about your de-portation ;) - I am in the same situation.  When I saw the onc he was also in no hurry to take it out.  In fact he said it is so easy to remove that there is no need to rush to take it out.  I am approaching the end of radiation so like you, hope that this is the end of all the heavy treatment and no further surgery planned.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • joanneasiata
    joanneasiata Member Posts: 719
    edited May 2010

    HI EVERYONE

    Good to have a chat with you gals even though we have all moved on to different stages , i seen my onco  and he has given me the ALL CLEAR  have to have mamo and ultrasound in 3 mnths and on Tamoxifen i found out that ,well for me tamox is going to be more efficient then chemo !!!

    Take care ladies

    JOJO

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MaryNY
    MaryNY Member Posts: 1,584
    edited May 2010

    Philippa: The photos from the Race for Life are lovely. Thanks for sharing them. Your granddaughters are beautiful.You'll never feel until your radiation sessions are over. Do you have seven left? It's probably harder for you to care for your skin in your climate. I hope it's doing OK. I'm sure you sometimes long for the cool weather of Scotland. I don't have a deportation date yet, do you? I'm not pushing it as I don't want to jinx things and the port really doesn't bother me.

    JoJo, when do you start the Tamoxifen?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MaryNY
    MaryNY Member Posts: 1,584
    edited May 2010

    Philippa: your photos led me to your blog. I've spend the last half hour reading it. You write really well. Now I must drag myself away and do some housework.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jeanl151
    jeanl151 Member Posts: 146
    edited May 2010

    Hi girls, I had my port out about 6 weeks after chemo ended.  I didn't want to deal with flushings and the last 2 times it was used it really hurt when they hooked it up. I rather they just take blood from my arm.

      Good news yesterday from onc.  I had follow up and he doesn't anticipate any future issues. I do have to have mri (yuk) next week just for a precaution.

       have a good weekend, Jean

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • valeriekd
    valeriekd Member Posts: 287
    edited May 2010

    yay Jean! what great words to hear! 

    I think oncs are in no rush to remove ports b/c if they are not a bother they are extremely convenient so patienys usually ask.

    I will be thinking of you all during the walk tomorrow! Yay us for surviving thus far- lets hope we are the lucky ones. Love you all, V. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jeanl151
    jeanl151 Member Posts: 146
    edited May 2010

    thanks Val.

      Good luck on your walk.  I got an invite to go on a survivor walk next week but I don't feel ready to put myself out there like that. I am not sure why I feel that way, kind of weird!!!  I think if it had been a fund raiser I would have felt differently.  Congrats on the money you raised.

      Jean

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • joanneasiata
    joanneasiata Member Posts: 719
    edited May 2010

    HI MARY

    My onco gave me the script the other day and told me to start it in a week or so, i might start it on the 1 st of June my dads b/day

    JEAN

    Im with you on i dont feel ready to put my self out there just yet im thinking about doing some volunteer work in the chemo room , but dont know why !!!!!! i hate the smell in there it makes me want to throw up lol

    JOJO

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Hopbird
    Hopbird Member Posts: 387
    edited May 2010

    Hi everyone...

    I think I'm going to win the non-coveted award for having treatment the longest.  I'm still doing rads, have 8 more.  I think Philippa and I will be done about the same time.  I'm tolerating it fine, although I'm sure the next couple of weeks will be the most interesting.

    No talk of removing my port, since I'm on Herceptin.  I started it at the end of September last year, and have to take it for a year.  It's down to only once every three weeks and I don't feel any SEs to speak of, so it's tolerable.  But it DOES take me back to "that place."  Funny that I can go into the same building and see the doctor or the radiation tech without my stomach flopping, but I still have anxiety about the infusion areas.

    BUT the hair thing is going well.  I have about two inches, but have trimmed the neckline a few times.  I'm actually finding that I like my hair short.  I get stopped and complimented on it by strangers....so I think I'll keep it this way...until I change my mind!

    Glad to see everyone is doing well and moving on with life.......hugs to all! 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited May 2010

    Hi everyone ~ sorry to hear of the osteoporosis and osteopina.  But glad you can take meds that also help against recurrance.  I just got back from a cruise.  We had a very nice time.  No dr appts this week.  woo HOO Next week is my 3 month follow up with the oncologist. 

    Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend.

    :)

    Alicia

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited May 2010

    Hi there everyone.  Just got back from a weekend with my girlfriend...so nice to relax and forget things for a while....or at least I tried...

    Alicia, glad your trip went well...

    Hopbird, I too like your hair short...it suites you.

    I too am not quite ready to do any emotional walks.  Perhaps next year.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • feistybluegecko
    feistybluegecko Member Posts: 133
    edited May 2010
    well well, greetings from Bangkok! We are fine, safe and sound and away from the trouble, but obviously highly concerned by what is going on.

    Selfishly I am really worried that if things get any worse then my final 6 rads will be delayed, and I am sooooo ner the end and getting back to see my family.

    Mary, thanks so much for your nice words - I have found that writing my blog through this has really helped me to process things as well as sharing with friends and family far away. Wish I could do that and give up the day job ha ha;)

    Love and hugs to you all

    Philippa

    xx

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • joanneasiata
    joanneasiata Member Posts: 719
    edited May 2010

    HI GALS

    ALICA

    SO GLAD YOU ENJOYED YOUR CRUISE

    MICHELLE

    Aweekend with the girls sounds great hope you all got along well

    Im now on tamox and feeling great only 3 days into it so ill wait till it gets into my system a it more

    HOPEBIRD nice photo  hang in there it will be over real soon

    JOJO

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories