Starting Chemo Aug 09

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

    Jenn - I did it from Facebook. (Gillian Sharma if anyone is interested)

    Lilah - you look great!!!

    Patty - I am seeing my onc every three months and get cbe each time. So I suppose that is ok.

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited June 2010

    Gilly you inspired me to get my BF to snap a photo... as I looked tonight before we went to dinner :)  I do really like my new hair, I have to say.  It's fun looking so radically different than I've looked all my life (NEVER have I had such short hair except at birth lol).

    Jenn -- I just went to My Home page and clicked browse, went to my picture folder, opened the file with this photo in it and then double clicked on this photo... not sure why it would not work for you.  Is the photo you are trying to post a jpeg format?  Maybe it's the format.  This photo that I posted is a jpeg, resized to "small web photo" size.

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited June 2010

    Lilah - absolutely love your new pic - you look great.  I've tried everything.  It really seems to be just this one group of pictures from that particular day, all of the others I tried just for fun work and other pictures from other times work.  The format seems to be fine and is the same as all of the others.  I may have done something, maybe I'll try to get it from facebook and put it here. 

    Okay - I'm off to play/fight with the pictures again. 

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited June 2010

    Well - I got the picture up, but it's tiny.  More playing to enlarge it.................

    I copied to the same file, then put it in and for some reason it worked.

    Okay - this picture just isn't the one, but I'll leave what I have for now.  This was taken at the end of April, so I have a little more hair, but it pretty much looks like this.

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited June 2010

    Thanks Jenn :)  Hey I like that new pic!  You can see how happy you are -- your smile glows you up!  And your hair already looks pretty long in April!  Bet it looks fab now.

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited June 2010

    Thanks Lilah - that was a good day. 

    Had a good weekend, took a ride with my friend to help her get some work done at some camps being used by the Coast Guard and National Wildlife and Fisheries.  It was nice to get out of the house and do something a little different.  Then I visited with my cousin and godchild - he now 1 year old.  Next weekend is the party!

    Oh...we went to see Knight and Day this morning.  It's what I call a Dramody - we enjoyed it.

    Hope everyone had a great weekend.

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  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited June 2010

    Jenn - Like the new pix.  Your hair actually looks quite long (in a relative sense, ha!)   I think yours started growing about a month before mine so you've given me hope!

     Went to see my hair stylist who touched up my color, trimmed off the awful frizzy ends and spent 1/2 hour flat ironing my whole head.   It is still really short, but lookin' good today...actually resembles real hair.  Now if I only had the patience to do it on my own.

    Patty

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

    Patty - your hair is doing fine. I am almost 8 (yes 8!!) months PFC and the longest bits on top are about 2 inches when stretched out. I have had one trim so far. Just changed avatar to a picture taken yesterday. The color has settled down somewhat. These pictures are too small!!

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited June 2010

    Gilly you look great!  As a friend said: your hairdo looks intentional :)

    Patty -- woo hoo!  Wish it were easier so you could do it yourself.  It does feel good to be free of the wig.

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  • buccaneersdj
    buccaneersdj Member Posts: 241
    edited June 2010

    Hi everyone, Is anyone that gained weight having any luck losing it? On July 9th my husband and I are starting what I lovingly refer to as 3 months of hell. I have 3 months before my first cruise and it would be great if I could at least wear tank tops without feeling gross. I am fully aware of all the things you can do to reduce reoccerence, the day I found out I had cancer I put down a 20 year smoking habit cold turkey...no problem, but I cannot stop stuffing my face full of sugar and fat. According to the internet I am at least 75 lbs. overweight and I know that is NOT good for breast cancer. Anyway, does anyone have any suggestions. I am going to my regular dr. before the 3 months of hell for a checkup, I can't seem to excercise without my whole face and arms turning bright red and so out of breath it's scary. Before cancer I would have just chaulked it up to being overweight and out of shape, now??? {{{HUGS}}} Donna

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited June 2010

    Donna -- it's really hard to quit smoking and NOT gain weight -- so be nice to yourself and be SO GLAD you quit! 

    Exercise -- take a long walk as exercise.  You'd be amazed what taking a one hour walk (at a medium pace) can do for your calorie burn.

    Food -- more fresh fruits and veggies, more water; no soda, no sugary drinks (no juice), moderate carbs, protein.  If you don't feel able to moderate, I will say that of all the people I know who have lost weight and kept it off -- they all did Weight Watchers.  It's not expensive and it teaches you how to make good food choices one step at a time.  So if you are very serious about the weight loss, you might consider going to WW for the next three months. 

    Remember you gained the weight slowly over time... so a good weight loss method is also slowly over time.

    (Now I am off to follow my own damned advice!)

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited June 2010

    Donna - I put on a few pounds too.  I used to be an avid exerciser, but during my daughter's illness and me tearing my achilles (all 3 years before BC) I slowed up quite a bit.  However, I did continue to walk.  My biggest problem seems to be finding the energy at the end of the day after work (It's really hard to walk in the morning because I already get up at the crack of dawn).  I do find that I have energy in spurts, a good week or two and bad week or two, when I feel good I walk, walk, walk.  I have also made bad food choices and again, I do that in spurts, which seems to go with my energy levels.  It's when I'm most tired feeling that I eat bad and don't walk.  I am thinking about joining a gym to give myself a jump start and maybe if I'm paying for it I'll get back into that routine.  I find when I'm exercising the better food choices follow. 

    How about this - you have to report to us weekly on your progress/success.  By having to report to someone (your cyber friends) you'll feel compelled to make better choices.

    Congrats on quiting smoking and I know you'll be a hot mama for that cruise in October.

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  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited June 2010

    Donna - I don't have much advice for you but one thing my trainer suggested to keep the sugar/fat cravings at bay is to eat lots of protein, especially in the morning.   It really does work.  A hardboiled or other kind of egg in the morning and I don't crave M&Ms for lunch!  Anyway, kudos on the smoking thing...MUCH harder to beat that habit than the eating one (although both are tough).

    Patty

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

    Donna - come walk with me. I haven't done much exercise for a while. Having broken foot bones during chemo did away with all my good intentions. BUT a few weeks ago I was inspired by a friend who I had lost touch with, found again after 13 years, and discovered she also had breast cancer, diagnosed the year before us. Now, she runs 5k every day. When I knew her before, she did nothing by way of exercise. I decided I could do SOMETHING though running seems way beyond me!!! So I am now in my third week of walking 5 days a week. I started off just 20 minutes or so and now can do 2.75 miles in about 45 minutes. So not super fast but with a few hills in there I feel very good about doing it. I usually go early in the morning, try to be out before 7am.

    So let's do it together?!

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited June 2010

    Gill - you're inspiring me..........I do walk, but have been lazy these last few weeks.  I love walking, it feels good, my body likes the movement and it gets me out of the house.  If the rain ever stops I think I'll take a walk this afternoon.

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

    Hey Jenn - and we are having good weather!! (I know your weather currently could be serious, so hope all you get is a bit of rain.)

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited July 2010

    For whatever reason I always seem to have a good "sense" of when to worry.....my family makes fun of me for the "gift", yet they all call me for advice - when to leave or stay.  This storm is heading away from us, although it's giving us a lot of rain.  My flowers love it equally as much as the weeds.  In all honesty, I'm more worried about whats happening with the oil - it really is causing a lot of problems for a lot of people. 

    I did get in a good walk this afternoon when the rain stopped - it felt great!!!

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

    On a liquid diet today in preparation for a colonoscopy tomorrow. Oh fun!! I did walk this morning though - not sure I will want to tomorrow morning before the procedure. I'll probably be starving by then!

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited July 2010

    Ugh Gilly -- I have to do that this year (turned 50 in March) and NOT looking forward to it.  Hope it all turns out OK.

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  • buccaneersdj
    buccaneersdj Member Posts: 241
    edited July 2010

    This is hair at 7 months PFC, wow it grows really slow!

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  • buccaneersdj
    buccaneersdj Member Posts: 241
    edited July 2010

    Jenn- I think reporting in is a great idea, I will start my weigh in on July 9th and continue once a week.

    Lilah- I think I am going to join weight watchers, I was a member about 20 years ago and it worked.

    Gill- I wish I had someone to walk with, but until we get moved I'm pretty much alone out here in the woods.

    Patty- I wish healthy eating was easy for me, it is a no-brainer, I know waht to do eat less, eat better and move my body, it's just breaking old habits and self disapline is my problem.

    Anyway I'm looking forward to reporting in to you guys every week, not, LOL, but I do think it can't hurt! Thank you guys so much {{{HUGS}}} Donna

    ps: Gill good luck with the colonoscopy tomorrow, I have never had one myself, but when I was a Patient Care Tech at our local hospital I assisted in several and they all were quite uneventful for the patient, so hang in there!

    Also a facebook friend named Rita that I met on this breastcancer.org is having a full body CAT scan for some areas of concern today, please pray that it's nothing!

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  • buccaneersdj
    buccaneersdj Member Posts: 241
    edited July 2010

    UPDATE ON RITA:

    She just posted on Facebook the following;

    "My dear friends!!!! I have just have gotten my results!!!!! I am stable!!! No evidence of disease!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you alll sooooooooooooooooooooooo much. I love you and life!!!!!!! Party!!!! Joy!!!!!!"

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited July 2010

    Woo hoo for Rita!

    And Donna -- your hair looks GREAT! 

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  • weety
    weety Member Posts: 1,163
    edited July 2010

    I'm not very good about checking in here. . . it took me forever to get caught up!  Buccaneer, your hair looks just like mine, only mine is dark!  It has finally gotten long enough to start experimenting with bobby pins. I went to Target and bought a few cute ones that have little colored rhinestones or flowers at the ends.  I've tried a couple of times to post a picture, but like jenn, I can't seem to get it to work.  I don't do facebook--I'd spend WAY to much time there if I did, so I don't know how else to do it.  If anyone has any detailed instructions on another way to try, I'd be happy to try again!

     I've been out of work all this time (I'm a kindergarten teacher) since all my coworkers have been wonderful and were able to donated sick days to me to keep me out for the whole school year, but I'm out of days a week and half before the school year ends (I teach at a year-round school, so it doesn't end until the last week in July)  I'm not looking forward to having to get up early--school starts at 8:00 so I usually leave the house by 6:30 to get there with enough time to prepare for the day, but I guess it might be helpful to get back in to a more normal routine.  It will definately give me something other than breast cancer to think about. 

    I still need to do my colonoscopy, too.  Gilly, let us know how it goes.  I'm a little bit afraid of it. 

    Glad to finally be caught up and to add to the conversation!

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited July 2010

    Gill - The worst part of the colonoscopy is the prep - Ugh. I know you'll do well.

    Weety - so glad to hear from you.  Going back to work is hard, but oddly enough you will get back into that routine pretty fast.  Good luck with work.  As for the picture, I copied and renamed it within the same file it seemed to work.  Not sure why, but it worked.

    Donna - I love the hair, by the time you hit the cruise you'll be sporting a new hair style and a slimmer you..... So glad to hear that your friend Rita's scans were clear.

    Today is my 44th birthday.  We will wait a few days to really celebrate with the family because my youngest just got her wisdom teeth out yesterday and isn't feeling well.  But.....my DD (oldest) did pick up some boiled crabs  for us to eat tonight - I love boiled seafood.

    Hope everyone is having a good day.

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  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited July 2010

    Jenn - Happy Birthday!   Hope your DD recovers quickly and you have an extended birthday celebration.

    Donna - Your hair looks great and is such a pretty color.   I've noticed mine grows very slowly as well.   I look forward to your progress reports.   Maybe I should do the same with daily exercise.   Except for when my trainer comes, I just find a million things to do except exercise.

    Gilly - Good for you and the colonoscopy.   Be brave.  It is on my medical "to do" list after my ultrasound, visit to the Onc, dental appointment and anything else I can think up to delay the colon check.  HA!

    Weety - Once you get over the initial adjustment I think you'll like being back at work.   Work is one place where I never thing of cancer, or my hair, or needing a colonoscopy.   

    Have a happy day ladies!

    Patty

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

    Happy Birthday Jenn!!

    I figure that after all we have been through this past year a colonoscopy should be nothing.

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited July 2010

    Happy Birthday Jenn!  MMMMMM Boiled crabs!

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  • buccaneersdj
    buccaneersdj Member Posts: 241
    edited July 2010

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENN!!!!!!!! I hope it's a great weekend for you!!!

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

    Back from colonoscopy. Now just got lots of gas!!! But all is well.

    Have a great weekend everyone.

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