November 2009-Starting Chemo

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  • kayh
    kayh Member Posts: 37
    edited July 2010

    Saw Radiation Onc yesterday all OK don't have to see him again for a year. See Surgeon and Medical Onc in October.

    Finally got rid of the walking stick. Still walking with a limp but there is slow improvement.

    Hair coming in slowly but it's no colour I've ever had before. But any hair is appreciated, whatever colour.

    Have been taking the Arimidex for three months now and so far the only side effect is hot flushes, mostly at night.

    Glad to see that most of you are now feeling much happier, but my heart goes out to those that are still waiting for good news. I send you positive thoughts. KEEP STRONG!! 

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited July 2010

    Hi Kay - glad you are on the mend after all the shit you've been through. I'm just coming up to 1 month of Arimidex - haven't noticed much wrong except I'm really really tired. What colour is your hair? Go and get some Herbs of Gold Ultra Silica complex tablets - I reckon they've worked wonders on my hair and nails.

    Sue

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  • BrendaSharon
    BrendaSharon Member Posts: 506
    edited July 2010

    kayh,

    So glad to see you and hear the walking has improved and the cane got tossed.

    It's unfortunate that you are getting hot flashes, but even my med which is Tamoxifen gives me serious hot flashes. Been on them since April 19th. They also make me fatigued and dehydrate me and therefore I get charlie horses like crazy. I have noticed since last week that all the side effects seem to be easing up. I, Just pray they continue to ease up.

    My hair is thick thick thick and growing slow as far as length, but I love it. I love the feel of it and almost hope it continues to grow slow. For the first time ever in my life I am enjoying this short dew. My grand kids said (Sean 15 yr. old) Grandma I never thought I'd say it but you look much better with this short hair do than you did with your long hair. I am sorry you had to go thru what you did to get it though, but it looks really good on you. (Jensen 10 yr. old) Gramma I think you are so cool now. You look awesome with that cool Mohawk. You are in style now. So, my two lil grandsons made me feel good. Leave it to kids. :-)

    (((((Big Hugs))))) Brenda

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited July 2010

    Brenda: Aren't those boys so sweet. I've had a few people at work say my hair suits me. Here's a new pic - excuse the angle, I'm hopeless taking photos of myself. Still not growing in length much, but like yours it's getting really thick. I just sit and stroke it all the time cos it's so soft.

    Sue

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  • Melinda41
    Melinda41 Member Posts: 672
    edited July 2010

    Good looking hair SuePen!

    I am scared, nervous, tired and frustrated. Rad Onc said today he wants me to have surgery to remove Clyde ASAP after I heal enough from rads. He is talking to Big Onc and they will let me know what the plan is.

    I hope they agree one way or the other. I don't want one Onc saying one thing and another saying something else.

    Rads is tightening my skin which pulls on Clyde and pisses me off.

    Enough whining...

    Hope everyone is hunky dorry.

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited July 2010

    Melinda: Don't you think they should biopsy Clyde before cutting you? or at least a CT scan. Crazy doctors!!!

    Thanks for the hair compliment. I'll try and get DH to take a better picture.

    We're off on another holiday - this time to Sydney for my Auntie's 80th birthday. We're going for a week. I'm supposed to be packing but can't be bothered - it'll happen sometime between now and Sat morning :)

    Sue

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  • BrendaSharon
    BrendaSharon Member Posts: 506
    edited July 2010

    Sue,

    At least you can get a picture in they post unlike mmawww!

    How awesome, your hair is thick!!!! I do love petting myself, it's soft and it feels oh so good. If I could get my DH to do it all the time I would, But you know how that goes. When I underwent the chemo, etc. he would, but you know now they all think we are better cuz treatment is over.

    They will never get it, unless they have to go thru this. We are the "WARRIOR" sister-hood!

    We all understand each other like no one else can!!~~~~~

    Melinda, Melinda!!!

    Like Sue said, I'd say they surely need to do the biopsy before they do surgery, don't ya think!!!!!????

    (((((Warrior Hugs))))) to all and to all a great day

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  • Cafelovr
    Cafelovr Member Posts: 1,534
    edited July 2010

    I've been moving this week and haven't been on the boards lately.

    Sue, you look wonderful! My color is about the same as yours. I'm fighting to create bangs, but that part just grows so slowly

    Brenda, I'm on the Tamoxifen train too! WooHoo...night sweats and charlie horses. What fun times ahead! Hey...it beats AC chemo!!

    Kayh, glad you tossed the cane. Take it easy and don't do too much too soon. I'm happy for you!

    Melinda, I'm with you sister. I'm thinking of you BIG TIME. Kick some Clyde A$$, Girlfriend!!!!!!

    Love to all!!!!! Linda

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  • BrendaSharon
    BrendaSharon Member Posts: 506
    edited July 2010

    Linda, I love your pic, you are so cute!!!

    I was reading up on Tamoxifen yesterday on the WEB MD site on line. I was reading the reviews of the women that here on this med. It is obvious that the charlie horses are a major side effect for a lot of the ladies. I don't know why my Onc. acted like it was strange. They tend to cause dehydration. I find that if I take my potassium pill and drink plenty of fluids I'm OK. It helps with the easing up of the cramping for sure. also, I read that most of the women preferred the tamox over some of the other prescribed meds such as the aromabase inhibitor, and/or other meds. They where saying the other meds where even worse than tamoxifen, so I guess I will try to continue to deal with it one day at a time and feel blessed I am on a med that isn't as BAD so to speak. Another thing I found is I have to be careful with drinking alcohol. I can't have over 2 EVER at any given time or I will totally dehydrate BAD. That's when I start to get the charlie horses in my neck back and sides. It hurts more than in the legs OMG.

    If you get a chance you can check it out. It was veryinteresting.

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited July 2010

    Brenda: Considering you are only a year or so younger than me, why do they have you on Tamoxifen? Had you already gone through menopause before the bc?

    You know anytime you want to post a new picture you can email me one.

    Thanks for the compliments of the hair - it's just so slow growing. Seeing it's winter over here I guess it can't be helped.

    Sue

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  • Melinda41
    Melinda41 Member Posts: 672
    edited July 2010

    Linda: Are you moving closer to me?? Or staying in the same town, I hate packing, hope you have good helpers.

    They hve already scanned Clyde, did the CT right after I found it. Big Onc said he is not crazy about biopsy since a negative could mean negative, or that they missed it. But at this point, it is kind of like my original tumor, whatever it is needs to come out.

    One issue is that I haven't told many people about Clyde, especially my Mom. She has a lot on her plate right now. I don't want to have to tell her about it until I have to. I am not sure I could sneak a surgery around her.

    I was doing fine until yesterday, I had really just put it out of my mind. I hate it when doctor's act nervous about stuff. But, I also hate it when you feel they are blowing your concerns off. So I guess it sucks either way.

    6 more zaps to go, 1 regular and 5 boosts.

    http://melinda-musing.blogspot.com/
    Diagnosis: 9/22/2009, IDC, 3cm, Stage IIIc, Grade 2, 9/19 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2+

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  • BrendaSharon
    BrendaSharon Member Posts: 506
    edited July 2010

    sue,

    I went through menopause at age 50, done finished caput! So, I had felt like here I go again. I'm getting better with it though. I also read yesterday there is something called "Evening Primrose" It is suppose to help with the hot flashes. I will ask my Onc. if it is OK for me to take them before I do though. But, from what I've read it is a miracle med for the Flashes.

    Thanks for the offer of the pictures.

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited July 2010

    Melinds...FCUK.....How soon is ASAP?  You are still doing rads right?...And yah, why not do a biopsy first...Man we should open our own BC clinic...

    I love all the short hair styles.  They all look great.  My hair is growing in thick, which it was before, and wavy...I kinda like it.  I have always had short hair..I find it brings out my Super model good looks....WHAAA, I crack myself up.

    My onc said to start me on Tmox because it was the lesser of all the evils. 

    Have a great day.

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  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited July 2010

    Melinda....  I hate CLYDE ~ 

    Michele ~ loving the HAT !

    Sue ~ hair is looking good !

    :)

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited July 2010

    Melinda:  I hate Clyde too!!! The main thing is to get it out of there!!!

    Brenda: Strange they've got you on Tamoxifen as they usually only give Arimidex to post menopausal women. As long as it works. I tried natural remedies for hot flushes ages ago - nothing worked. Some doctors prescribe a mild anti depressant which seems to work. I just ride them out. Seeing it's winter it's like having my own built in heating system :) Yours sound horrible though.

    Sue

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  • Cafelovr
    Cafelovr Member Posts: 1,534
    edited July 2010

    They gave me Neurontin(gabapentin) for my hot flashes. They also gave me Celexa also. They work, but I'm like Sue...I just ride them out. I'm sick of medicine!

    Melinda, moving to the same area, just a better part of town!

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  • BrendaSharon
    BrendaSharon Member Posts: 506
    edited July 2010

    Michele,

    Your sooo silly Ha-Ha, lovin it!!!!

    Linda & Sue,

    Yep, I guess we will all ride together. If we can survive chemo & surgeries, ta-da we can ride out a heat wave for sure. Golly gosh though Florida is soooo frigging hot right now.

    Melinda~~Big Hugs  (((((melinda))))) Try to have a good weekend, forget about Clyde for a spell

    Alicia, Nette, kaya, and all my warrior sisters

    Have a blessed and enjoyable weekend.

    I know I will. I got a REALLY nice room at a Bed & Breakfast (FANCY) between the beach and the bay at St. Andrews Bay for my DH and myself for 2 nights. I don't even care if it rains. Looks like Tropical Storm Bonnie is going to give us a bit of bad weather. But, we can ride out that storm too. I got us the best suite they had. Not every year you celebrate your 30th Wedding Anniversary, so I thought I would do something a little more special for the two of us. After the year we BOTH have had we deserve this. We even get served gourmet breakfast in our suite.

    Love y'all Brenda

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited July 2010

    Brenda: Have a lovely wedding anniversary - you deserve the break!!!

     I'll be in touch when we come back from our week away.

    Keep well everyone!!

     Sue

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  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited July 2010

    Have a great time Brenda !  Happy Anniversary ~ we celebrate out 20th next week.

    Enjoy your week away Sue !

    Happy Friday ~

    :)
    Alicia

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited July 2010

    Brenda, wows that sounds so nice....I think all of us need some special treatments this year.  And yes that means our Dhs as well.  They had to deal with some pretty crazy emotions this past year...

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  • Melinda41
    Melinda41 Member Posts: 672
    edited July 2010

    Have a wonderful weekend Brenda! Happy Anniversery.

    Sue: have a great vacation!

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  • BrendaSharon
    BrendaSharon Member Posts: 506
    edited July 2010

    Thanks girls,

    I agree our DH's did have a lot to deal with. To survive a marriage for several years in these times is enough to deal with, but like you said Mechelle we have gone though some crazy emotions (I still do at times) and my DH still loves me to death and says he still feels so bad for what I had to go through. I told him I feel bad for what he went through with me. I am not always the easiest to deal with. But, he stood by every secon. He may not always understand, but he is there every second of every day and night for me.

    Alicia,

    WOW~~~whoot-whoot for you too!!!! 20 years is awesome and you are so beautiful and your family is lovely to boot!!!!! You too need a special time together.

    Sue, Enjoy your self on your vaca!

     I am seeing a lot of love,  joy and happiness lately. Sooooo good to see Wink

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  • doronet
    doronet Member Posts: 342
    edited July 2010

    Happy Anniversary, Brenda!!!

    I've been at the beach for 4 day vacation.  Had great weather and was relaxing, or as relaxing as it can get with still being the person who packs, buys the groceries, keeps the room in order, makes sure she knows where everyone is, etc.

    Alicia:  had you heard that you could lose eyelashes again?  Was news to me, and after the fact, unfortunately.  But, I've only lost them on the top and only about half.  I wore eye liner when it happened the first time and no one noticed that I had no lashes.  Am continuing to wear mascara on the bottom lashes.  Would rather lose the lashes than the brows. 

    I am liking the looks of my short hair, too, so I'll prob. keep it this way for a while.  Is sooooo much easier.  And was a "breeze" to have it so short at the beach, for sure.  Will prob. go to my hairdresser's next week to have it shaped.  Is actually "long" over my ears.  Am watching for bangs, too, like Linda.  Wouldn't mind a little on the forehead.  Imagine the photo of below of Alyssa Milano but with gray hair (and the face much older!).  That's what I'm aiming for.

    Have a fantastic Friday!!! Nette

     

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited July 2010

    Nette, i think I will go for that look as well....I will need a bit mor surgery to look like her though!  Perhaps Halle Berry is more my look.....

    I am going away again for  a couple of days...Some gals from work and I are hitting the road for a cottage one of them owns....whoot whoot, should be fun. No kids, pets or hubbies...just booze munchies and the beach....As you can guess it is going to rain all weekend......oh well. It will still be fun.

    I had a nice lady come into my shop today who had cancer.  We got to talking and it turns out she has a son getting married in a couple of weeks and doesn't want to drop big bucks on a wig for just one day so I told her she could have mine....I wanted to pass it on to a good home...won't miss her one bit...itch bitch.

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  • doronet
    doronet Member Posts: 342
    edited July 2010

    Michele:  You rock!!!  So nice to give that lady your wig!!  What kind of "shop" do you have?  You might have mentioned in an earlier post, but if so, I don't remember.  Have fun with your buds!!!  Booze, munchies, and the beach...the only thing to add will be some hunky eye-candy!!  And you are rocking the hat!

    When I posted yesterday, I meant to say:  "Welcome back, Kay!!!!"  Sooooo glad your leg is improving and you are cane-less.  I have been on Arimidex 3 months now.  Believe it or not, my hot flashes are not as bad as they were prior to bc!  Is astounding, but absolutely no complaints!  I have fewer of them, a good 1/3 less, and they are somewhat lesser in intensity.  I haven't had any of the cramps or aches that Brenda has had, but I am stiffer than ever when I"ve been in the same position too long.  Earlier postings attribute that to the lack of  estrogen.  Makes sense.

    Alicia:  With my brain, I  won't remember your anniversary next week, so an early:  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!   :)

     Melinda:  Keep countin' em down!!!  Should only be your 5 boosts to go!

    Happy Saturday to those of you not lucky enough to be on vacation somewhere fun!!  Nette :) 

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  • BrendaSharon
    BrendaSharon Member Posts: 506
    edited July 2010

    Well Lady Warriors,

    My weekend was lovely, NOW for the best part of my anniversary this year.

    Today, something to celebrate (I HOPE) married 30 years & I too get to have my "Port" removed.

    I called this morning to ask if I could get an Ativan to take a 1/2 hour prior to the "Port" being removed.

    The women who answered said, I don't know, but I check and let you know in a little while, then followed with, "Don't get your hopes up too much, because if there is another emergency they will put you off till another day." I was super aggravated when she said that, but I kept my cool. I don't understand this at all. If they DO PUT ME OFF, then I will go off!!!!!  How can they just keep putting me off. I guess once you've had surgery they don't really care about you anymore, I am just another f%$#@&g ######## . I swear, sorry but it is so true. While undergoing anything they make a bundle off of they are courteous and sweet, then once that is done you turn into just another number in their little black book.

    wishing all the best to all

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited July 2010

    Brenda, Happy Anniversary....I saw that you were deported...yaho.

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  • BrendaSharon
    BrendaSharon Member Posts: 506
    edited July 2010

    Smile

    Yes, it is true the "Port" is out.

    This is what I'd posted in my FB blog.

    I am very sore and lazy today, I just copy and pasted my notes from there. 

    July 26th, 2010: Happy 30th Wedding Anniversary for me & John

    The biggest thing to celebrate was my "PORT" removal

    July 26, 2010:Dr. Snyder's Office @ 4:30p.m.:

    Well the "Port" was finally removed.
    It took about 1/2hr. all together. Dr. Snyder is a wonderful surgeon.
    The surgery itself went wonderful, smooth and I felt almost nothing with him.
    BUT, low and behold when i went home and the local wore off, OMG!!!!!!
    I feel again like a horse kicked me hard in the chest. I didn't sleep well at all.
    I woke up in serious pain. I am at work though. I already want the day to be over.
    It is supposed to be busy so that ill help some for sure.
    Thank the Lord Sweet Jesus that I do have an easy job, no physical work.

    I was told to be real careful not to stretch it to far or to lift anything with my right arm
    .
    Then in addition to be very careful for at least two weeks.
    The incision was 1 1/2 inches long. the tube was ungodly long.
    When he was tugging the one to my jugular, it felt really strange.
    The one to my heart I thought would never stop coming out, it was about 8-10 in. long.

    So glad it is finally over and I can get on with the total healing process!!!!!!!

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  • BrendaSharon
    BrendaSharon Member Posts: 506
    edited July 2010


    6 weeks post chemo Arpil 10th.2 months
    since last chemo on Feb. 10,2010
    The hair is growing, slowly but surely. 5 1/2 months post chemo. I am loving my hair!!! It is soft and full and I love it short!
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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited July 2010

    Brenda, your hair looks great...And I LOVE the color.  You should keep it.  I kind of miss my gray hair...crazy, eh.  It was so much easier than it is now...It too is soft and wavy.

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