Starting Chemo February 2009?

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  • MicheleS
    MicheleS Member Posts: 937
    edited June 2010

    Artemis- my liver enzymes are high too. Don't know why.

  • Beverly11
    Beverly11 Member Posts: 443
    edited June 2010

    Apple - Your photos are gorgeous and it looks like a beautiful piece of property.  So healthy to have something like this to immerse yourself in.  Tim & I built our home 8 years ago.  I should say had our home built for us!  I love looking at the construction photos.  And, congrats on the garage sale bargains.  Off for my walk...

  • Nancyb7912
    Nancyb7912 Member Posts: 84
    edited June 2010

    Apple, flooring looks cool. Cabinets sound wonderful. So great to have a new home to focus on. I'm really hoping your docs find a rabbit to pull out of the hat.

    Hoping the funky blood test results everyone is getting prove to be a fluke. It can be so unnerving. And for everyone else undergoing procedures, recon, etc., my you heal quickly and without event.

     I get to meet my new doctor, the pulmonologist on Monday morning. If that's all I had to take away from the bad lymph node, I'll take it. Also can't wait to get the port removed after this appointment. Monday's going to be a busy day. 

     Last thing - wish me luck with Race for the Cure on Saturday. Neuropathy is still SO painful and feet so numb, but I'll make it even if I'm bringing up the rear.

  • Bethie1
    Bethie1 Member Posts: 393
    edited June 2010

    Hey gang!!! I HAD A BLAST IN VEGAS!! Going again August 5-9--a Donny reunion!!! Yes I know, I'm an Osmond deadhead, so my brother tells me!!!!  You'll see my pic with them  right here, as I changed it.  Marie, a few months before I arrived had sent me an autographed photo in regards to my breast cancer, but Donny didn't have a clue--oh well, he's still good looking!  I gave them both breast cancer pins, and Marie said, "I remember you, and Donny said God Bless Ya!!!

  • MicheleS
    MicheleS Member Posts: 937
    edited June 2010

    Jaimie~ Sent you a message on FB but thought I'd ask here too:  am I correct in remembering that you pulled your own jp drain(s)?  my ps told me I could pull mine if I got lower than 30cc over the weekend... 1 of them is down to 20 today so I may pull it tomorrow afternoon if it stays low... so, do tell: is it creepy to do it yourself??

    Whoo-hoo Nancy! Good luck tomorrow!

    Apple~ Love the pics.

    xxoo

  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 2,373
    edited June 2010

    Michele I have pulled them :). I sent you a message on FB. It's easy and I wouldn't wait until Monday to get rid of them.

  • xpectmiracles
    xpectmiracles Member Posts: 439
    edited June 2010
    Apple, a big Furie hug for you. I think the projects you have going on these days are perfect to keep you busy and distracted from all the "what if"s we all fall prey to from time to time.

    Jaimieh, how do you like your blackberry? I love mine! Not only is it a phone, but I have nursing software for work, ebooks and games for when I'm not at work, and a camera, etc.


    Michele, I had a tissue expander in for my reconstruction. The expansion was done before chemo and the exchange was after. I had robaxin for the occasional muscle spasms.I have not regretted it at all. I think the result is absolutely fabulous!
    Nancy, I hope you have a great time at the race for a cure. That's in DC, right? I was going to walk in that race, but I dropped out because of my continuing hip/knee pain.
    Bethie, it's so cool you got to talk to Donnie and Marie! I used to be obsessed with him when I was a teenie-bopper. Donnie is good looking!

  • MicheleS
    MicheleS Member Posts: 937
    edited June 2010

    I'm afraid that 1 may have to stay... it is on the side where I'm missing a bunch on LN's.  But the right one is ready.... I'll give it 1 more night then O.U.T.!!!!  Thanks J.  I've pulled them from animals, just not humans. (and especially not *me*)

  • Bethie1
    Bethie1 Member Posts: 393
    edited June 2010

    Thanks Cheryl--I've followed the family since I was 6, and I'll be 40 this year--it's gonna be one bad-ass party that's for sure-wish you guys could all come!!! I know I'll love them forever--don't feel like using til I die-too close for comfort after what we all went through.

    Apple--what's going on girl--why the down and out?? Big hugs sis!!!! we love ya!!!

    Michele and Jaimieh--I'm on FB too, look me up

  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 2,373
    edited June 2010

    Michele~ It was honestly such an easy process (the drains) that I would rather do it myself than have someone else do it.  Then I can control everything. 

    Cheryl~ I love my crackberry I just have problem posting to forums with it.  I even have movies on it so it is the perfect waiting room toy for me :)

    Bethie~ I would love to friend you on FB send me a PM with you name :)

    Okay BTW, I have no idea who Donnie is...lol...  I just know that he performs in Vegas. :)

  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited June 2010

    Oh, my goodness, the thought of pulling my own drains makes me squirm. You guys are made of stronger stuff than me. Good luck Michele if you do it today!

    Just back from a 10km run....sweaty and stinky. 

    have a great day all. 

  • apple
    apple Member Posts: 7,799
    edited June 2010
  • Nancyb7912
    Nancyb7912 Member Posts: 84
    edited June 2010

    Just returned home from DC Race for the Cure. What an incredible day! Going to try and assemble a team next year. Cheryl, I know exactly what you're saying. My hip joints were on fire and I have a raging blister on my toe, but I made it - dotted my i's and crossed my t's with no short cuts. The survivors were treated so well and everyone is so nice. There were an estimated 45,000 walkers on the mall. Wonderful! I thought about all of you and our battle the past year. Never give up! Never!

     I see this weekend as truly crossing the finish line - both physically at the race today and metaphorically on Monday when I go in to have my mediport removed.

     Now a question - anyone else blister more easily or have especially thin skin now? I swear, I scrape, cut and bruise at the drop of a hat nowadays. 

  • Bethie1
    Bethie1 Member Posts: 393
    edited June 2010

    just checkin in with my sisters!!! How's the girls today??? Good on my end!!! Took a relaxing ride with my man; now just veggin!!

  • gcpommom
    gcpommom Member Posts: 883
    edited June 2010

    Kerry, I agree with you...I never could've pulled my own drains.  I had some issue with mine, it hurt all the time and when they pulled it...OUCH!  I had formed some sort of lump around it, just on the one side. 

    Beth:  I loved Donny & Marie when I was a teen, too, lol!!!  Deep Purple!  Glad you had a good time in Vegas, I've never been there

    Jaimie:  you don't know who Donnie is because you're just a youngin', LOL!  You've heard of the Osmond Family maybe?  They are part of that family.

    Nancy:  sounds like you had a good time at your walk, 45,000 is a lot of walkers, wow!  Hope your appt goes well tomorrow, what is the pulmonary doc going to do?

    Been a busy, stormy weekend.  Last full week of school this week, then school's out next Wednesday, yay!  I really don't want to go have this ultrasound on Tuesday, I'm really just not in the mood for poking and prodding and discomfort....it's been a while since I've done anything medical, and I'm good with that, lol.

    My blood sugar was a bit low, so on Wed I'm getting a blood test, the fasting kind, so I can't eat after 8:30 pm....that will be tough, lol, since I do most of my eating late at night.  I'll have to go to bed early on Tues I guess.

  • MicheleS
    MicheleS Member Posts: 937
    edited June 2010

    Hi everyone,

    Back a t work this morning and am already feeling exhausted.  Maggie had a nightmare last night ~3am and didn't go back to sleep 'till 4am.  My alarm goes off at 430am.  <yawn>

    I ended up pulling one drain Sat and the other this morning.  I called my PS's nurse this morning to cancel tomorrow's drain-pulling appt and she freaked. LOL! She wasn't in the room when he told me I could go ahead and pull them myself.  She's checking when I need to go back in to see him or when my 1st fill will be.  The good news is that I'm not wearing a prosthesis today. The bad news is that I look 12. LOL!

    Hope everyone has a great day!

    Michele

  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited June 2010

    Ohhh, good for you Michele!

    Enjoy the day everyone.

  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 2,373
    edited June 2010

    Yea Michele!! Drain Free ;). I had to chuckle about your 12 year old comment.



    I have been BUSY and lovin' it ;). I have another job on Wed.

  • gcpommom
    gcpommom Member Posts: 883
    edited June 2010

    Michele, lol...you won't look 12 for long!  Good job on the drains, was it weird to pull them yourself?

    Jaimie, it's awesome that you've been so successful and busy....you seem to be a very well-known photographer in your area : )  Love your pics, you do very good work.

    I cancelled the sonohysterogram for tomorrow....not sure it was necessary based on my symptoms.  I'm thinking of switching gyno anyway, he is too gungho on tests and procedures, he's always saying "I can fix that"!!!  He drives me nuts.    I want to wait and see how my period goes this month, first.  I see my general doc on Wed and will get her opinion.

  • Bethie1
    Bethie1 Member Posts: 393
    edited June 2010

    Hey gang!!!  How's things??

    Michele-  I can't imagine pulling my own drains--YOU GO GIRL!!!

    gcpommom--Ya, I'm an Osmond deadhead!!  I was 6 when original D & M show was on ABC!!! Going back for a reunion in August--wish I could take all of you!!!!

    Jamieh--You're an inspiration being so successful since this all happened.  We all have actually!!

    Everyone has a story, and we kicked butt girls!!! Sometimes we have to show the boys how it's done!!  Speaking of periods, I haven't had one in ages --- fine w/me  :) but my moods have been worse---every other month I knew I had PMS--but I'll be damned, the mood is worse now!! I'm gonna check with my ob/gyn and see if I don't have PMDD, or because I've gone through a menopause effect (symptoms of menopause mock PMS), have doc put me on something to ease my hot flashes, sometimes sleeping all day (one day I called in and slept til 4pm), etc.

    Other than that- I'm fine!!!  Talk to you later 

  • susan13
    susan13 Member Posts: 732
    edited June 2010

    Hey ladies!

    Yes it's been some time, a very long time since I have been on this site. Wanted to get away from thinking and living cancer, and for a while it was working.  I wish I wasn't here right now and I hope you don't think I am only here for myself. But when things turn ugly you have to go back to your roots, so to speak.  Had my ovaries/tubes and a d+c 2 weeks ago. Surgeon said right after surgery it all looks "benign" and that the report "very rarely ever changes" and that he has never seen it change ... well I guess I am special cause yesterday he called me and said there was "evidence of bc" in both ovaries and uterus....and that he was very surprised.   So now a hysterectomy coming up, and "possibly more chemo".  I don't have any real details, still waiting to talk to my med. onc. who usually always puts my mind at ease.  But for now I am a F**KING MESS.  And I just can't come to terms that I am now Stage 4...

    Michele, I sure hope you are feeling better. Those TE's are a bit painful but you should feel better in a coule of weeks, I think it toom me 4 weeks to feet better. And I can't believe u took the drains out yourself! You are a brave woman!!

  • apple
    apple Member Posts: 7,799
    edited June 2010

    i'm sorry Susan..

    prayers for you.

    Michele - did you cut the stitches and everything?

  • MicheleS
    MicheleS Member Posts: 937
    edited June 2010

    {{{{Susan}}}} Crying for you.... I can't imagine the shock... I didn't realize that it could go to the uterus???  Have you had a PET recently? Lungs and liver are clean, right??  <more hugs>

  • MicheleS
    MicheleS Member Posts: 937
    edited June 2010

    Apple~ Yes, cut stiches, etc.  But, remember, I'm a vet so I do this everyday.

  • susan13
    susan13 Member Posts: 732
    edited June 2010

    Michele, yes I had everything done in April after the tumor markers were rising to the point where my onc thought I needed scans... ct scan, pet scan, ad bone scan.  Everything was clear, except "cystic like" masses on both ovaries.   Also with scans I had a uterine biopsy that came back negative ... so both my doc's, surgeon and me surprised.  The path was breast cancer in the ovaries and uterus... so yeah, it could go there.

  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited June 2010

    Sue, oh, man, I am so amazingly sorry to hear your news. And shocked senseless. I have heard that ILC can go to the Ovaries. But still....

    Remember, there is LOADS they can still do. Loads.

    Keep us updated.

  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited June 2010

    Youi know, I have heard of a woman who had a similar thing happen (BC in Ovaries), she had a hysterectomy and it never went anywhere else.So, hopefully they have caught this early. Still it sucks big time.


  • susan13
    susan13 Member Posts: 732
    edited June 2010

    Kerry, thanks.  How long ago was this?  problem is that it's in the uterus too... and all I had was a "scrapping" .....

  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited June 2010

    I don't know, I just remember reading it sometime ago on the Stage 4 forum. She had been NED for 10 years or something.

    How are you holding up?? I just welcomed you to the exercise group, then I found this post.

  • MicheleS
    MicheleS Member Posts: 937
    edited June 2010

    Susan~ Stupid ILC.  Don't you feel special?  I'm with Kerry: hopefully your uterus will come out and you'll be NED.  Have they told you what chemo you *may* have to have?  FWIW~ Avastin is easy-peasy... I didn't even feel nauseated and began an exercise program while on it.  My hair grew back and the worst SE I had was the occasional nose bleed.  Perhaps, something like a Gemzar/Avastin combo will be what you get? (I hear that Gemzar has very few SE too...) So, while the idea of more chemo would scare the sh!t out of me if I were you, maybe it won't be as miserable as the 1st time???  <more hugs>

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