For those starting chemo in June
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Well, hi girls. I"m back home. The good news is, it doesn't hurt all that bad. The bad news is, they found some stuff in my nodes, not sure what exactly the path report is yet. Supposed to get it Friday or Monday. Well, I was gonna have more chemo anyway...
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Hey hey Paula, Remember that song? Ahh Janie will but you were too small I am sure. Glad your doing well and not in a lot of pain...yet. Hopefully you won't be either. Well, I found out a lot of nothing today, Probably a nerve problem let it rest take it easy when it flares up and if it gets bad again get an M.R.I. I get to go to a pain clinic ....No shots of steroids for me in the neck, My hubby had that and I draw the line there!!!! I will live on pain pills. The shots are only temporary anyway. Oh well, I just wanted to know for sure what was causing all the pain (I still don't know). I will drag my doped up gimp ass around until I can't. Sure glad your doing good P.J. and hopefully the path report will be good news. You let us know. Soft and fluffy hugs, Mary
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PJ, I was surprised to see you back on so soon. They can't keep a good woman down. I guess you know about the excellent path report explanation they offer on this site. Let's hope for only one or two nodes involved. Like you say, the chemo is going to zap them anyway.
Mary, let us know what the ortho guy says. I went back to the dentist today thinking she was going to put in my permanent bridge, but she put in another temporary. I have to go back in October to get the bridge. I have Mayo and the dentist scheduled the week we are out for intersession. Why don't I take sick days like everyone else?
Tomorrow is number 44 Herceptinwise. I will have eight left after that.
Talk to you later.
Warm Fuzzies and hugs,
Janie -
Mary, I had one of those steroid shots, but it was in my really lower back. It worked like a charm.... But the neck would be a little dicier...
And, I do remember that song. I'm not that young...
Janie, best of luck on no. 44!
Renee, I hear you're having a heatwave. 80s? Isn't your son in Galveston? I hear they're doing some mandatory evacuations now....
Call me selfish, but while I hope no one gets too bad of damage from Rita, I hope we get some rain... -
I/ve had the shots in my shoulder. Made it feel goooood.
We haven't had rain in 19 days here and it is in the 90's. -
Hi Girls, Well batten down the hatches P.J. Looks like you will get some rough weather, and you may get some rain Janie. I have had the steroid shots in the joints but these are in the spine and they give you a relaxer in an I.V. then insert a metal tube and shoot the meds in your spine. They hit a nerve on hubby and he was in pain for days. The shots are a series of three, one every month for 3 months.You can get them twice a year, I think. Hubbys didn't work so they never gave him any more after the first 3. I am glad yours worked P.J. If it were lower on my back I would try but not my neck, thats scary.....Glad you are up and on the puter P.J. I hope you hear some news soon so you don't have to worry. I hope its good too. We are keeping your pole warm in the chemo room.Hugs, Mary
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Hi ladies,
In case you missed it Shepgirl posted the following Newsweek article about HER2 and Herceptin. It answered some questions I have. I guess I was looking for answers nobody has yet since all this is so new. Well, number 44 is under my belt. 8 more to go. After all this time I learned something today. This whole time, I thought the entire bag was Herceptin. I asked the nurse what was in the syringe that she shoots into the bag. It is the Herceptin! The liquid in the bag is saline! They mix it. Duh! I'm such a dunce sometimes. Below is the link to the post I was telling you about.
http://www.breastcancer.org/ubbthreads/s...p;page=0#186700 -
Dr. Talked to me about my blood work today. I guess something has been rising the last month and it means my bones are affected by something. Well HELLO, haven't I complained since last OCT.? I said I have been to 2 Docs and have apt. for a 3rd.,a pain managment guy. Well onkie is going to get me an M.R.I. because I could have mets. or arthritis in my low back or neck. Even if it comes back nothing showing, I still could have them but they just aren't showing yet. Gee, it's one surprise after another. Well the benadry is trying to work but I am a little upset so I couldn't sleep but I think I will lay down now. Hope all is well with you, P.J. and your getting back to "normal" as only we know it. Hugs, Mary
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Mary, how frustrating! Didn't you have an MRI just recently? I tell you, I think all the scans are a scam. None of the ones I've had in the last month showed this crap in my axillary region. But they did show some stuff that no one can be sure what it is! How'd we get so lucky? I hope they do it and it just shows them arthritis. Thinking about you guys.
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Mary, What a blow! Have you had a bone scan? No wonder you're upset, and PJ, I sure you are as well. I pray it is all nothing serious.
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Hi Girls, Yea, I had a bone scan but I guess mets can hide when they are little and they won't show up on any scan, Onkie said thats why he does all the blood work to get a heads up. I had an M.R.I. but only of my hip and Onkie is doing my spine. He said that the M.R.I. could show nothing and there be something also because it could be too small or hiding. Oh hells bells, I don't know a darn thing and I may never know for sure until my ol bones start to crumble. Maybe infection will show up in my hip but I would think the blood would of picked that up before now since I have had hip pain since Oct. It's actually a little better, in the fact I can walk without bitting my lip completely in two now. If I am doped up. This old guy asked the Onkie today if he bought a car should he finance it for 3 years or pay it off? Onkie said I can't tell you that. I felt so sorry for him cause he was asking in earnest because he didn't want to leave his wife with a big bill to pay off. Well better go and make some brcelets. Dam; I wish I could quit working....I know yous are with me on that. Later you little fireflies, Mary
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Well, Mary, I hope you can get your answers quickly. When's the MRI?
I hate that you're having to deal with this worry. And, again, what good is the MRI if he doesn't think it'll show anything? It's so frustrating, all of this.
Janie, good job on getting the latest Herceptin out of the way. Hope you're doing well.
Looks like the hurricane is headed way east of us now. We probably won't even get a drop of rain. You should have seen the grocery store this morning. What a madhouse. All out of tuna, water, bread and, oddly, sugar. -
P.J. My reg. Doc. gets back to me in an hour but I think Onkie will wait until the next apt. to tell me anything. I will call and bug him. He can get them in 15 mins. If he wants. I was just kinda stunned for a few mins. there. I just wasn't expecting anything like that but I am o.k. I mean theres nothing we can do but get use to it and I will. I still hold out hope for an inflamation. Hey; are your sisters still down P.J.? (We will all no doubt get rain from Rita. Glad your safe P.J.) I hope you and your sisters had a great visit and they didn't boss you around too much. I am the oldest so I boss my siblings. They ignore me but I do it anyway. If they just lived their lives to suit me we would all be happy....just kidding.Better go. Penny called tonight and her dad got out of the house and lost after I left for treatment and the cops gave him a ride. She said he can't be left alone and she may have to put him away, yea I think thats called greed. Well Goodnight Girls, Mary
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Hi. I wish you guys didn't have this added burden of worrying. The not knowing is probably the worst. My problems are minor compared to yours. My foot swelled worse than ever and turned red. The nurse noticed it this time and mentioned it to me. It's been swollen since Taxol but it gets worse with each treatment. Trying to hold on for 8 more. There's pain here and there but nothing I can't tolerate. Of course, I wonder about each one of them. I guess it will be a way of life for all us. I had to take Kytril for nausea today -- first time in a while. I think it was the dental appointment coupled with treatment.
Everybody try to get a good night's rest.
Hugs,
Janie -
Hi Girls, Janie I am sorry to hear about your foot. Heck I just gripe all the time about my hip but if a Dr. would tell me what is causing it and how to fix it or live with it I would.....Oh; who am I kidding, I would still gripe, I have to gripe about something. You just join in. Do you know whats wrong with your foot? Allergic reaction? Wow, we are not exactly poster girls anymore, well O.K..... I never was but hey, even a limping ol bent over body like mine can dream. Well at work and don't know whats going to happen here. Penny wants me to work 8 more hours without pay. I said I don't know if I want to work anymore. Maybe she should sell her Mercedes or one of her 6 cars or S.U.V's to pay for dads care. Maybe stop ordering $800.00 of cigars every month.... O.K. I am done. Have a good day ladybugs. Later, Mary
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hey girls,
Yeah Mary, It is an allergic reaction. It itched today. I used to have to use anti-itch cream after Taxol and then after Herceptin. I had stopped having to do that although it was still swelling.
The governor announced that all schools etc. would be closed in GA Monday and Tuesday because of the fuel shortage. You know what that's going to do. I have had my Mayo follow-up scheduled for months during intersession in October. I am sure that they will now make us work during that time. Mayo is 400 miles away now. I have to go there every 3 months, and then every 6 and then once a year in order to stay in my trial. I am not sure when it switches from 3 to six months.
Mary, I would ask Penny if she would like to pay you for a day you don't work since she is into freebies.
Janie -
Hi Girls, Dang Janie, and they said the herceptin was side affect free.....It is easier than A/C but there is still day to day crap to put up with and I don't use the word crap lightly....My Onkie seemed a bit in a hurry and "put out" by my complaining but he had no idea I had hip pain and said well you don't miss more than 4 days a wk. of work do you? What the %#$&? I can't I need the money to pay his high priced ass to run in and out and not listen. If they for sure say its mets I will be pissed that its been going on for a year and he never did anything about it!!!!! I would get a different Onkie. He also said "well you lost 2 pounds" I said yea I lose a pound a wk. and I don't know why but maybe its all the pain I am in. I have lost 8 pounds in a few months and he didn't seem too worried. He is teaching in Chicago and I think he is too busy to pay attention to his patients anymore. Maybe since I asked why I have to pay a co-pay when I don't see him he is mad....Oh well, his care sucks lately and hey there are other Onkies in the sea so he better get with it. Well I hope your foot gets better but probably not until your done and that should be soon. That has to be uncomfortable Janie. Well I hope everyone has a good wk. end. It seems as though the weather is starting to cool down. It gets a bit nippy at night. Man I love to see the first snow but that crap is no longer pretty when you walk ouside and freeze your bunz off. Then you try to run on the slush and ice dancing to and from the door cause your freezing and want to get in and out of the cold as fast as you can. Having to go out and start your car and wait until it warms up enough you can see out the windshield or....have to sit in it waiting for it to thaw so you can drive and freeze, wow we are seriously nuts out of our freeking minds here in the North....and I stay.Better go. Warm cozy hugs, Mary
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Mary,
Being born and raised in Northeast TN, I remember the cold mornings and car warm-ups well. We will have a few cold, snowy days here later on (mid-GA). It never snowed in South GA. I never even wore a coat. I did wear a sweater a couple of times. It would be in the 60's and my co-workers would say they were freezing.
Too bad you can't get answers and time from your onc. I have been fairly lucky. My Mayo doctors/nurses are great. The ones from South GA were also, and I like these here too. This swelling etc. is something I have to live with until I go off the Herceptin. One of the other threads reported a study going on in Arkansas (copying one in Russia) where they use lasers on lyphedema and it is helping. It would be fantastic to get rid of the sleeve on the arm. Talk about not being poster material. My feet and stomach swell,there is a long sleeve on my arm and hand that shakes like crazy anyway (tremor). I must be a sight. I hope the rest of you are doing ok.
Hugs,
Janie -
Mary? No. PJ? No. Renee? No. NancyLee? No. Janie? Nope
They just released the list of the 400 richest Americans. Just so you know. None of us were on it. -
Wow, I need to start using coupons I guess. Are you sure I wasn't on it cause sometimes my hubby says I spend money like we are millionaires. Later girls, Mary
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Maybe we could do one of those calendars, like that movie calendar girls, to raise ourselves millions? Nah, probably not.
Quiet day at home. Sister left at 5:30 this morning. Hurricane's a no-show (and no-rain) in our area. Unfortunately, not everyone's so lucky. But I guess it's less severe than they predicted a few days ago. My mother-in-law has some evacuees at her B&B.
You guys take care. -
P.J., Glad you missed the storm. Janie, I hope you are gassed up. A calander????Yea, I'd go for it. I could look really sexy and beautiful with a little, well o.k. lots, a real lot of air brushing, O.K. maybe theres not enough air or paint but I would do it. I could dress like a clown!!!!there ya go, I got my outfit. Ya... know???.... Oh,I have to go get our bracelet. Better go. Hugs, mary (oh-my-Lord, I just saw myself in a fuzzy red thong and a Santa hat on my curly head with a disturbed look on face and my twitching leg labbled Ms. December and it wasn't pretty...I wont sleep tonight)
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Mary, I have to say, your onkie is sounding more like an ass than a donkey. When will you get any word? and as for that whole santa thing? well, i think we'll ALL be up nights now...
I'm supposed to go for a followup appt. with the nurse practioner tomorrow, but as it doesn't appear i'm ready to lose this drain yet, i think i'll call and see if i can postpone a day or 2. no reason to waste the gas and my time if the thing's not coming out. frankly, i'd like to see medical types the least amount possible in the two and a half weeks i have left before chemo.
janie, hope the foot's better and the school week is good. renee, hope things are lovely in wisconsin. see what you can do about making it something warmer than 40 below when i'm up there at christmas.
paula -
Hey Calendar Ladies,
I do hope you both find out something soon. Yes, PJ, it does seem like a waste of time to be told the drains are not ready to come out yet when you already know that. I hope Mayo does something to make it worth my trip in October -- not that I want them to find anything.
Mary, what does the bracelet look like?
Hello Renee and Nancy Lee and whomever else may be lurking.
Night all,
Janie -
Hi Girls, Yea, your right about the ASS thing P.J. and there is a woman comes down from Springfield so I may switch to her. I will give him one more chance. The thing that pisses me off the most is I have been complaining about my calve for almost a year and it really hurts and gets a big knot in it and he has never said a word except it will go away. A man sat next to me at treatment 2 wks, ago and had a sore calve and the Dr. set him up right away to see if it was a blood clot and gave him a script for pain meds. My onk has never offered me pain meds and I asked and he said take tylenol so I sumise hes one of those Docs. who think women are complainers. Screw him....Hey Janie, I think you would look good in a pair of shorts like Jessica Simpson in Dukes of Hazzard next to that big fish in the pic you sent me for say.... Miss July?????You could wear one of those shirts you tie at the waist???? Hey, I am telling ya, the thong thing????It would take days to locate it once I put it on.I will have to flag it. Speaking of flagging I really get irratated when I don't stop in my big hurry and look where I park and come out of Wally and have to walk around looking for my car.Last summer when I had the Chevy I loaded all my groceries in my car and when I got in the dam key wouldn't turn so I had to get out and unload my groceries and then load them into My car after I found it.I sure wish people around here would lock their darn cars!!!! Gotta get, nighty night.Hugs, Mary
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Mary, I have to scour the parking lot (and it's not a big one) at work every evening to see if i can figure out where my stupid truck is. It's never where I THINK it was.
Path report came back. Good news: no nodes. Worse news: 12 malignant "nodules" in the tissue around the nodes. But no nodes involved. Therefore, it's a regional recurrence. Anyway, might get drain out tomorrow.
Have a good one. Supposed to be 103 here today. -
Just call me Daisy. Of course, with my swollen stomach, the shorts will probably have to come from the maternity shop. That picture with the big wooden fish was actually taken in JAX a little before I even knew I would be going there for treatment at Mayo. I was down there for the weekend at the beach which is about 2.5 hours away from where I lived before I moved. It is now 6.5 to 7 hours away.
It came in handy for the Gov to close our schools today. So many places I need to go/call are only open during my work day. The heating element in my dryer went out and I was waiting until intersession to call the repairman, but was able to get that taken care of this morning. Little things mean a lot. Now to tackle the insurance company via the phone. Mayo straightened their part out and now the insurance is trying "apply it to my deductible" whatever that means. The charge is over a year old and my deductible is not that high. I have a notion to march myself to Atlanta and sit there until I get some satisfaction.
Have a great day ladies,
Janie -
PJ, We were posting at the same time. That does sound like good news. You can kick the regional nodules to the curve. I know you are glad to get the drain out.
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You put on your marching boots Janie and give that ins. hell!!!! Hey P.J. great news. Man... I tell ya, We will get through this crap or die trying. I am really glad things sound good for you. Penny was to come talk to me at work tonight because she is putting dad in a nursing home now again.One day yes, one day no. I have been here an hour and it's 9p.m. so I doubt I will see her tonight or for a few days for that fact. She will work tomorrow. She'll stick him in one night and I will show up one morn. and he'll be gone and she'll say oh; I forgot to tell you didn't I ha ha,? She has no concept of money because she has too much thanks to daddy's. Gosh P.J. I am so happy things are looking good I am just plain excited. Janie and I are still keeping the "ol chemo pole" warm for ya. Janie will be "moving on up" to the treatment free side of town soon. Janie, today I noticed my throat got pretty tight and I itched pretty good and my lips feel sorta like blistered. I think the sides are getting worse as time rolls on....Gee I only have what? 7 months to go???This is getting to be like a trip to a new gynie. You hate to go, don't know what to expect and you don't feel any better after words. Life is such a surprise. I think P.J. can go with Miss Nov.in our calander. She can wear turkey feathers on a thong with Indian corn glued to it. Maybe a fruit basket on her head with gords and apples???? and pilgrim shoes. hey now, I have to wear a fuzzy red thong with a hot air balloon attached so it don't get lost. I think Renee needs something summery huh? can she belly dance? Does she like leather? Something to think about....Good night, Mary
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PJ, Oct 13 is not that far off. I know you have mixed feelings about it. Are you doing the drugs simultaneously or in sequence?
Mary, I feel increasingly worse after my Herceptin visits. That spot in my back that has bothered me for two years is worse. My spine and other bones hurt too. I take Darvocet daily. Also, my breasts are sore. I am going to have to write all this down. I also have the swelling and neuropathy. I see the onc tomorrow and tend to forget stuff if I don't write it down. I hope we both are just having side effects from the drug that is not supposed to have any....but it is so new.
I am still off today. I hope they don't make us make this up during my Mayo appointments. That would sort of defeat the purpose of saving school bus fuel, if they take away our off time. However, I hear that Gwinnett County is going to do that, so who knows what our county may do. I haven't taken off my wrappings yet. I have had to correct so many typos. I need to take these off and hit the shower.
Have a good day.
Janie
ps - anyone else watch the TN-LSU game?
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