May 2010 Chemo

Hi Everyone!  Hope you are all having a feel good day. 

Paxton- so sorry you ended up in the ER but glad you were able to celebrate Gage's birthday. Sounds like you'll be able to relax and heal this weekend.

LibraryJenn- Wow, that's a lot of cooking!  Good for you!  Glad you are feeling better.  I had checked Cancer Fighting Kitchen out at the library when I first started chemo but never did get around to using it.  I need to get it back and try again.

Patricai48 - that's quite a commute!  Glad you made it. I usually felt queasy after chemo so not sure I would have made it.

Day -  there is a naturopath doctor that practices in my cancer center.  I had been toying with the idea of going but it just seemed like one more appointment to deal with.  But after reading all your posts and a book called Life Over Cancer by Dr. Keith Block, I decided to go ahead and make the appointment.  Unfortunately, she is booked til the end of Sept!  Still, I am excited to go and get some good advice on natural, complementary meds.

leanna9- I'm impressed with the garage cleaning and energy!  My BF would looove it if I did that, but somehoe I'm never that inspired (or energetic!)  I did start back at the gym this week, but boy am I pathetic!  I am wimpy with the weights and slow on the treadmill.  But I figure a little more every day.

I start rads on Monday.  Fortunately, there is a clinic 10 minutes from my office were I can go on my lunch hours so I am hoping it is uneventful.  I also got my Tamoxifen prescription today.  I have to mail it in so won't start it for a week, but my onc warned it could make my hot flashes worse.  Ugh!  I go hot and cold so much at night already...it would be nice to just sleep a full night again.  I am also still waiting for my appetite to settle down.  I used to think it was the steroids, but 21 days out, I worry I've just turned into a hungry, hungry hippo!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Jenny~  sorry you've been down.  Re:  CT - I hope you said something - that's just rude!  I'm curious what an onc. psychologist is?  Was he/she helpful?  I'm glad you love your drs - it makes a difference knowing you're in good hands.  I'm right there with you on the hot flashes, mine are gaining momentum and they're quite bothersome.  Hang in there, this WILL pass and one day we'll be looking back and we'll be stronger because of it all.

GolferGirl~ Lucky you that there's a naturopath at the onc's office.  I hope you share what he/she tells you.  I'm a hungry hippo as well.

Patricia~ hope the RBC's stay up and no need for a tranfusion.  I've got a tat as well - actually a few.  My first one is on the inside of my ankle, an angelic symbol for "release" - letting go... as in letting go of old patterns that don't serve me well, letting go of control, etc.  It's brought me strength.   My newest one is on my wrist and it's a friendship symbol.  I have about 8 GF who also got them in solidarity with me to show their support for me during my battle with BC.  It's been overwhelming to see how many people love me and support me.  They are both Zibu symbols and I love them!  Like you, I'd love to meet everyone in this group - wouldn't that be quite a get together!  who knows... maybe one day.

Day~ glad you got your chocolate cake - yum!  My sleep is all messed up as well - crazy schedule.  I look forward to hearing about the hair recipe and how it works.  I've been using Nioxin to keep the follicles strong, etc.  I can't believe yours is growing already!!!

Summer ~ sorry about the reaction again :-(   My walking hasn't kept up either and I keep planning to start again.  The bone pain sucks but just remember it's better then landing in the hospital with some nasty infection due to low blood counts.

Cleob ~ I love your positive strong spirit!

Jenn~ aren't there any anti-nausea drugs that help?  How 'bout phenergen suppositories?   I love my CFK cookbook too - have you tried the curried cauliflower soup?  

Kim~ LOVE the bald look on you - it rocks!  Hurray - you made it to your last tx.  Now, to get past the crappy days following it, right?  Sending positive vibes your way.

 Sacphotomom ~ great quote!

njbhwgirl ~ now I get the name - thnx!  My daughter will be going to Monmouth Univ. at Jersey shore this fall.  I love the Jersey beaches!  Re:  casting 4 recovery - I'm surprised they wouldn't give you your own rm.  Everybody is different and at least you know yourself and your needs.  I just found out I'm on the list if someone cancels, so I don't know if I'll be going or not.  It's not til the beginning of October.  I hope your lung issues clear up - sending up prayers for that.

Drim ~ How's your hair back already?  wow!  How long did you have to wait between chemo and rads?  You may have mentioned it already, just can't remember.

PackJen~ I, too, wonder if this BC will come back and end up causing my death.  I try to visualize myself healthy.  In the end, I just try to make my days count and live life to the fullest.  I hear you loud and clear about the weight and the jowels - yikes!  I just bought pants yesterday that were 2 sizes larger than my normal size - boo hoo!

Paxton ~ I can't imagine going thru this again.  I'm so sorry this is a recurrence for you.  When was your first BC?  What tx did you have?  Sorry about your ER trip.  I hope you have a restful time at the lake and happy bday to Gage!  Kudos to you for speaking up about the Avastin!  Rest up and enjoy the lounge chair.

Barb ~ fingers crossed for clear margins.  Sending up prayers on your behalf.

Leanna ~ sorry about the rough week.  At least now your garage is clean - was DH surprised?  It's such a good feeling!  Re: tumor, have they talked about surgery?  Please God, let that tumor shrink for our friend!  Stay strong, girlfriend!  

Am I the only one who likes being bald?   I'm finding it so much easier getting ready.  The wigs are hot and there's nothing like pulling it off and feeling free!  I also feel proud when I'm out and people see me...  Yes, I'm battling breast cancer and I try to keep my head high and show them that it's not beating me down to nothing!  It's inspired those around me and I find that gives me strength.  I might just keep shaving my head for a while until winter when I'm ready for it to grow back.  Another question:  does anyone have darkness that has developed around the ouside of your eyes?  I have dark spots on the corners of both eyes - weird.  I need to google Onco Type testing - what does it tell you?  I found out my Ki-67 was 18 - is that on the low side?  I can't believe how much there is to know and learn.  Sometimes I feel like my head can't take any more info!  Well, DH and I are taking off for San Diego this morning.  No kids.  He'll be in meetings during the day and I will be free to do my own thing.  I'm really hoping I can get into a good novel and escape BC for a bit.  Sunny California, here we come!   Sorry this post is so long - I just had to catch up.   I'm so grateful for this group!  Thanks Fotopet for pulling it together - and congrats on being done with your treatments!  Hugs to each you ~ Daiva   p.s. - running out of time so I can proofread this...  ciao for now.

Golfergirl- naturopath doctor - that sounds very interesting! I'm right behind you with the rads. I found out that I will be starting on August 10th, the day after I get back from PR. I was able to get an 8:30am appt. at a convenient location (i.e. subway accessible) so I'm very happy about that. Now I will have to be disciplined at getting up on time in the morning. I'm so horrible for work - I show up late all the time but I stay really late so no one cares. It's funny because I absolutely hate being late for things (like appts. or meeting people). I always make sure I am on time, but for work I somehow have a whole different attitude - like no one is really waiting for me so what's the difference.

JennyB - glad you've been cleared to start rads as well. Hopefully the worst is behind you. So sorry for that awful CT experience. That is just not right. Some people just don't get it. We are human beings!

Daiva- that's so beautiful about your tattoo. You are a very lucky woman to be surrounded by such love. Re: my hair - I did something called Penguin Cold Caps (GolferGirl did this as well) whereby you place freezing cold (-20F) gel filled caps on your head on the infusion day - for about 7 hours - and it keeps the chemo from reaching your hair follicles. It's really a lot of work because you need one or 2 helpers to constantly replace the caps as they warm up. As a result of doing this I've been able to keep my hair but that is a chore as well because it's kind of dry now and you can't do much to style it because it and the follicles are still fragile. Even though I'm only 44 I have a ton of gray hair so it's a real challenge to cover up the gray without using real hair dye. With all that said I think I made the right decision for me to go forward with this. I don't think I would look nearly as good bald as you do. Re: Oncotype testing. You should google it. It's very interesting. In a nutshell, you end up with a recurrence score that tells you the likelihood of a distance recurrence within 10 years assuming you are ER+ positive and will be taking tamoxifen. It sounds like the scores are similar to Ki-67 which is definitely one of the indicators they test. I got a 19 which is considered low intermediate. What this means is that they are not sure if I would get a benefit from chemo or not. There is a large clinical trial going on called TailorX to try to figure out more about the intermediate scores. The test is really for early stage breast cancer. At the end of the day I am HER2+ so by today's standard of care I had to do chemo in order to receive herceptin.

I would absolutely love to have the opportunity to meet you all. Have a great weekend everyone!!

YAY for hair!!  I'm bummed, because I lost the longest post ever.... to everyone!  Boo...   I don't have the energy to repost either, so I am just posting now and starting over!!  Day, thanks for posting the hair growth potion!  And, Cleob, glad they are switching you over to AC... we'll be on the same schedule again because I start AC on Tuesday!  I am going to talk to my onc this week... confused why you, in the same situation as me, would have 2 scans and then switch chemo, and my doctor is just like "tumor seems no different, so let's continue this chemo and not do any scans..."  Just seems wrong now!  Ugh!  She has some 'splainin' to do!!!   

I got a crock pot today... a mac-daddy one... anyone have any good/easy recipes??? 

((HUGS))

Day that sounds really good....I'm going to have to try your recipes....

I have a crock pot haven't used it in years...really havent thought about it..thanks for reminding me....

x-rayGirl:  omg  MOnmouth is not that far from my home... And I know 2 kids that will be sophmores at Monmouth next year. One is on the soccer team. Do you know that Monmouth has fantastic soccer team.. I think they are number one in the country Division1.. check me if I am wrong.. I plan on going to see a game this year to support my sons friend.   If you need to know anything specifically, let me know.. I will try to find out for you.  I will also give you some good restaurants to eat in when in the area ....nice school btw

okay so I took a trip to the beach house this weekend to clean it up some. I have renters for the next 2 weeks..Good thing I did because I had ants in the kitchen. my next door neighbor says it has been a problem all summer long for our area. I guess it is the humidity. I used the traditional raid and traps then my daughter and I went to the Island and she put the baby on the rides. Yes the rides...only 1 yr old and she put her on rides...yikes!!!  lol

feeling good on taxol.. My dizziness all about gone. I am also not as darn tired as I was with the AC.  Tomorrow is my lung xray and hopefully wed will be 7th treatment.. I am so happy it is August because if all goes as planned, I will be done at end of month...;just waiting on xray to confirm...I would like to plan a get together sometime in September. It will be so nice to meet all of you. .xray girl, maybe I can plan it during a trip when you visit your daughter.  lets wait and see how the month goes....

paxton: hope this note finds you better

Day: ? on the hair mixture.. If your hair comes in chestnut brown does it stay that way or does it eventually go back to your natural color. For me that would be 50% grey so brown would be a blessing

golfergirl:  good luck with rads, That is one thing I don't need,  I guess that is because I had bilateral.

for all who are doing the exchange...have you decided which type of implants you want.  I originally wanted what they call the "gummies" but I have been reading that they are not that comfortable but look good. I am now leaning towards silicone.  My surgery is 3 months away but I want to make the right choice. Anyone going for surgery soon?

Ok, after FOUR naps today I feel more able to post and not just make comments/answer what others have posted. Forgive the possibel typos -I have trimmed the fingernails on my left hand and not yet the ones on my right hand lol - they are growing as before and except for a small spot on my left thumbnail they look just fine.

 sacphotomom - well heck yea! be happy! I follow the growth on my hair and would love to be able to look with a magnifying glass on the top of my head lol!  Even if it will fall out, it will come back again. And yes, crockpot cooking is awesome during chemo - so much less to take care of and still have good tasty healthy food. I hope you feel better by now. On this last treatment I started getting sinus problems - and I guess salivary gland problems maybe? Anyway, my nose and throat (and even mouth) are drying up something fierce! I don't feel it that much when I'm up and about because of all the stuff I'm srinking, but whenever I lay down I have to have a glass of water naer the bed, it hurts to swallow and sometimes to breathe it's so dry.

Leanna - good luck with starting the AC Tuesday. I'm confused too - you'd think they need more scans and stuff? I'm stage II and I pester all my doctors for all the scans and tests available to me that the insurance covers - I bet my insurance is not very happy with me as I am squeezing as much as I can.

Drim - for me too the chemo was a "maybe" due to the Ki-67 but I went ahead and did it. Better be sorry for what I did than be sorry for what I didn't do - was alway my motto in life.

 xraygirl - wellllll yes, it's easier to get ready being bald, but I'll take my waist-long silky blonde hair, needing hours of care, any time over that!!!!

this is me last year in May at a picnic in the park, bellydancing - by January this year when I had it trimmed like a pixie (wanted to get used to short hair so it wouldn't hurt so bad emotionally) it had grown another 6 or 7 inches.... it was about 8 inches long when I had to buzz it off in May.

 I soooooo miss my hair!!!

 JennyB, I had horrendous hotflashes with all the other treatments, more than 20 a day. With this last one, it seems they are not as bad - I still get them, but about 6-7 times a day. At least mine don't wake me up. Still no hair growth? Be careful and watch closely, that is what I though that there is no new hair growth, just the old one that didn't fall, then I realized there is a very very fine "peach fuzz" - if you shave all the time you'll miss it. I'm from Europe, and we are way more open about our bodies - so having to be half naked all over the place doesn't faze me at all. I still have time when I have to check myself when going in the front yard to do gardening as I still have the tendency to dress very skimpily - European style. Not good in Oklahoma lol

GolferGirl, good luck with the rads Monday! keep us posted, will you? With the appetite - I did have big appetite in the first week after all the treatments - but it seemed to settle down as time went by.

My sweetheart will be gone for 10 days, he left this morning. They're doing training preparing to deploy next year. I have no idea how I will be able to go through that. He's only like 150 miles away and only left this morning and I already miss him.

Today was the first day I didn't have to take Percocet during the day - might have to soon though as I started to get some pangs of pain. This time the pain was worse than the two previous times - even with the Percocet and I would still have some pain especially in my femurs and my tailbone. Should stop by the 10th day after chemo, once the WBC is back to normal and my bones don't have to work overtime.

Because of the pain, chemo-brain, fog-brain and Percocet together I was more or less in a daze this week. Oh, don't get me wrong, I still lurked around (as I said, I had mental hyperactivity lol) and played World of Warcraft, and did a little bit of cooking, and dishes, and even laundry. But nothing special. I feel like a little nightcrawler and can't wait to be myself again. 

It's also exceptionally hot here in Oklahoma (today was 102F with 107F heat index) so that doesn't make things easier - even in the morning it's too hot for me to enjoy a 15-minutes in the backyard.

If I forgot anyone, please forgive. You all know how it is.....

Hugs all

Day

Day:  I'm sorry to hear your BF will be gone for 10 days.  Thanks for the hair formula.  I might have to try it.  Can you get most the ingredients at a Health food store?  Needless to say I am not a "healthy" eater so half the ingredients I have never heard of.  I have to say though that the crock pot recipe actually sounded pretty good.  I thought once I was diagnosed with BC that my eating habits would change, needless to say they haven't.  I don't know how you handle the high temperatures.  It was 100 hear for about 3 days and I thought I was going to die of heat.  I could never live in the south or midwest.  Do you have any Natural remedies for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats?

Golfergirl:  Good luck with Rads tomorrow.  Keep us posted on how it goes.  I will be starting rads sometime in the middle of Aug. 

Sacphotomom: Congrats on some hair coming in.  Even if you might lose it again enjoy it coming in now.  I keep checking to see if I have anyone new peach fuzz.  My DH thinks some is coming it, but I can't really tell. 

Leanna: Good luck on Tuesday with the AC.  I will be thinking about you.

Xraygirl:  I am with you about being bald.  I love how little time it takes me to get ready, plus I have always been alittle bit of a tom boy so I never was really good at doing my hair.

Jenny B:  I am with you.  The past week I had a really rough time.  I had no desire to do anything.  I laid around all week and cried.  I don't even know why.  I should be rejoicing that my chemo is over, but for some reason I feel worse now then when I was diagnosed and the hot flashes are driving me nuts.  All I want is one night that I don't wake up 20 times during the night to take the covers off or put them on.  I am getting ready to ask one of my doctors for sleeping pills just so I can get a night or two of complete sleep.  I don't even know if that will work? I am really starting to feel over whelmed.  I have no energy or desire to do anything, yet I know I should be gettting started on getting my  things ready for the start of school.    I'm just hoping that this week will be better.

Sorry to whine but I feel like I can whine hear and you all understand.  I hope everyone has a great week.  those of you starting new treatments or continuing with your treatment good luck.  You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

I don't know who watches Extreme Makeover, but if you do they are in Berks County, where i live.  I am thinking of going up to the house and watching them do the build.  I thing that would be a fun adventure.  If I can find someone to go with me I think I will.  I will let you know if I get there.

Good night All

Barb

Made it through the weekend.  Just got up from a just home nap.  I ended up taking the steroids to perk me up enough so I could visit and it worked.  I know I would have been bedridden otherwise.  Gage did fairly well being in a new place.  He started walking around the camper without hanging onto anything for the first time last night.  It was really special because my dad was there.  Although the last thing he did before bed was trip on the rug and smash his face completely into the cupboard.  I was sure blood was going to be pouring from his nose but he mostly hit is lip so it wasn't too bad; just looked awful.  Anyway, ended up having a very nice weekend. Though my mouth sores prevented me from enjoyin the big fish fry this afternoon.  Tomorrow I'm starting back to healthy eating.  I'm going to fire up the juicer for breakfast.

As per my recurrence, I was originally dx 7/07,  had a lumpectomy, did dd AC/taxol and 33 rads.  My first follow-up mri came back clear but with glowing areas which they didn't know what to do with.  Then I got unexpectedly pregnant in Oct and missed any follow up testing until after Gage was born.  I had bronchitis really bad for like 2 months so I finally got the mri done in Dec which is when they found it was back.  Something showed up on my liver on the CT scan so for the first 2 months I thought I had mets with less than 2 years to live which was just so great.  But after doing a series of Abraxane chemo and having PET scans, they decided the liver spot wasn't cancer.  So I had a db mast and onto the chemo regime I'm on now.  3 weeks after I'm done with chemo I'll have another PET scan and I just hope and pray its clear.  This last chemo has really knocked me down for the count and I just really want to move on.  Anyway, that's why I'm looking into healthier eating and living since I didn't do anything different after the first cancer.  I want to improve my odds as best I can.  What I can say about recurrence is that I was absolutely terrified of it the first time I went thru it, but when it happen (even with the mets scare), I was much less freaked out about it than being dx the first time.  Not that I wish it upon anyone, but figured I'd pass it along.  I think when your mind has time to digest things, it adapts.  Plus the second time around I didn't need to learn all the details and lingo.  I just needed to know what to do.

And as far as when my hair grew back, it was almost white at first which freaked me out completely.  The color came back shortly though.  Then there was a little phase where there were all different lengths sprouting and I felt like a duckling. I didn't know if I was suppose to have it trimmed or just let it grow.  I just let it grow and it evened out and grew in just fine all by itself.  Then I got little cowlick like whispers.  I had my friend trim them off and things were back on course and the rest was history. 

Hope everybody has a good week.  I don't know if I'm having tx or not because of the fever thing.  I really hate pushing things back. 

Redbarb,

No, you can not find the ingredients in a health food store. The walnut/pecan leaves have to be freshly harvested from a tree. The garlic you can buy at the grocery store. The alcohol at a liquor store. I am now studying on what I can concoct for myself for hot flashes, once I am out of the chemo. I cannot recommend this kind of remedies to anyone as a blanket-good-for-all. I first need toknow someone's any other underlying conditions, diet, what medication they are on, and their last lab test results (blood and if there are any other). Most of the time the herbal therapy goes along with changes in diet, and other therapies (sound, color, crystalotherapy, meditation, etc) and has to be perfectly coordinated with the traditional therapy one goes through. Plants CAN and WILL interact with pharmacy drugs and the effects can sometime be disastrous.

I hope your radiation goes well the way it is. Who wouldn't take it over 6-7 weeks of traditional rad if the effects were the same?

paxton, little Gage is totally adorable! I think we have something in common, or at least our stomachs are related, we both seem to like cake! I hear you about the ugly duckling thing. My hair is of various lenghts, from 2-3 mm to 1 1/2 cm long. With whites and greys (yes, grey hair not white) and blondes and browns and blacks and a peach fuzz on top of it all (or at the bottom of it all).

Hello Ladies,

It was a long weekend! I woke up early Friday with a high fever, chills, and nausea. DH called Sloan and they said I had to come in so I went and they took 100 tests (OK exaggeration) and told me I have some sort of virus so I'm on Cipro for a week - hopefully it doesn't delay my treatment. Anyway, my fever didn't break till yesterday afternoon so I've spent the last 3 days on my couch feeling crumby. Add the insane bone pain into the mix and you can imagine I was a sight writhing on my couch in pain. Thankfully DH kept the kids out of the house all weekend so they didn't need to see me like that. Now everyone has left to go camping so I  can whine & cry openly LOL I have honestly never felt this much pain in my life! Ok, done complaining...

I'm behind a few days so this may be long: Drim- Thanks for the tattoo info. X-raygirl - How can you have a massage with TE's? I can't lay on my stomach! I think it's awesome that you and your girlfriends got tattoos, you're blessed to have such wonderful support. I'm surprisingly ok with being bald too. It takes me WAY less time to get ready, I had a lot of very thick hair. Though I'm sure I'll be glad to have it back eventually. Hope you had a great time in SD! Patricia - I hope your RBC stays up. LibraryJenn - 3 hour road trip for rads? That's crazy, can't you find someplace closer? My dr. is 1 hour away but I plan to get a recommendation of treatment from him and then take that to a place closer to home to have actual treatment. I was told that was fine. Cleob - Welcome Back! You have such a positive attitude, I hope the AC kicks butt for you! Paxton - So sorry you had to go to the ER but glad you made it back for the birthday party and that you enjoyed a nice weekend.I remember when my kids first started walking, so scary but so exciting at the same time, enjoy every moment! Golfergirl - Good for you for getting back to the gym! Good luck with rads today, keep us posted. JennyB - Welcome back, we missed you!!! I'm so sorry you''re feeling down {{{HUGS}}} Good luck with rads - you can do this! Sacphotomom - IMO any hair is good hair! Leanna - I love my crockpot. If you want to PM me your e-mail address I can send you a document that was sent to me. It's all crockpot recipes with Weight Watchers points listed for all of them. NJB - My fingers are crossed for a clear x-ray today! I had a bi-lat also but I still need rads due to 6 positive nodes. I am leaning toward silicone implants also but I wont have exchange till about 6 months after my rads are done so that my skin has time to heal. Unfortunately I have a ways to go. I'd love to get together with all of you in Sept!!! Redbarb - I hope this week is better for you. Whine to us whenever you feel like it - we understand and well always be hear to listen. HOT FLASHES SUCK!!! I love Extreme Makeover, you should definitely try and get over to see the build, the positive vibes will probably make you feel better.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Paxton: what a gorgeous little boy.. how sweet

Day:  I shed a tear when I seen your hair...aaaah for us all to have our manes back

dancermel: I read the article..it was really interesting, thanks for sharing

Summer:  so so sorry.. oh wow....you would think summer time and no problems because bad colds and viruses happen in the winter...Will keep you in my thoughts today ...hope you better tomorrow.. my ps surgeon said 1 day surgery for exchange, you go home the same day... and guess what....no drains,...yeah...will let you know what I decide when I see the models in october.

Redbarb:  I can so totally relate to how you feel...

have good day all

Hi Everyone,  I have tried to catch up with everything I have missed, but there are so many....so I will  tell you why I have not been able to keep in touch.  Two weeks ago I had a bleed in my eye,  called a vitreous hemorraghe.  It was totally unrelated to the chemo, but I temporarily lost my sight in my left eye.  It was scary, but I am finally able to read a little easier on the computer.

I also saw my onc., he is stopping the last two chemo treatments due to some severe low blood pressure 80/37 and a rapid heart rate.  So, now I am gearing up for the radiation.  I will go to two doctors tomorrow - my radiologist for the CT and my eye doctor for a check up on how things are progressing.

You have all been in my thoughts and prayers.  Hope to never be away this long again. I seriously missed reading and writing to everyone.  Hang in there, we are all so important to our families, friends and especially to each other.

Judy

Leanna, so true.  I am always very careful with what I take or what I tell others to take.

I wanted to share a tip for the ones of you who have problems sleeping. There is an anti-histamine that does wonders for insomnia, anxiety and skin conditions - and being an anti-histamine you won't have problems with allergies either. Unfortunately it's not good for me, as it's not recommended for people with thyroid problems, but I know from friends who take it and swear on it. You might ask your doctorsif they wouldn't think it's good for you - think that it is not a barbiturate and not a benzodiazepine, so it's much safer.

The name is Hydroxyzine. Click on the name to get more information.

Nana:  I am so sorry to hear about your eye. I hope things are going better for you.  Good luck when you start rads.

Barb