November 2009-Starting Chemo

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

    Melinda: Why doesn't Big Onc just get Clyde cut out!!! I'm glad he sounds optimistic though.

    Linda: YIPPPEEEE - you are one lucky girl!!! Must feel good to be told that by 2 oncs.

    Sue

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

    Linda, you butt kicking warrior chick....WOOOHOOOOKiss

    Alicia, a bone scan is super easy.  They inject a small bit of radiation in your arm.  Then you leave and come back two hours later. You have to drink a bit of water.  Not at all like an ultrasound.  You lay on a flat table and they slowly bring the scanner over your body.  It wasn't to big so I didn't feel like I was trapped. You cant move the part that they are scanning but other parts of you can move slightly.  It took about 35 -40 minutes.  not big deal.  Some times I feel like an old lady when I wake up...I have faith you are going to be good.

    Hope you all are having a good day...

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

    Linda ~ THAT IS AWESOME news !! CELEBRATE and treat yourself nice.

    Thanks for explaining the bone scan to me girls.  Still awaiting my appointment date.  grrrrrrr

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  • BrendaSharon
    BrendaSharon Member Posts: 506
    edited August 2010

    Congrats Linda........So happy for you to get such good news!!!

    Hope all y'all have a fantastic weekend

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

    Alicia: I'm glad you are finally having a bone scan - they should have done one when your were diagnosed. It really gives you peace of mind. Did you have a CT scan back then?

    Happy weekend girls !!!

    Sue

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

    No Sue ~ I had no scans.  For me my dr's didn't feel it was necessary being I had no node involvement and no vascular invasion.  Who knows......  my back feels a lot better.  2 days off tamoxifen, sleeping in the spare on a comfy mattress.  I am thinking maybe I had a bladder infection as I had some burning when urinating for a few days.  But it's better now.  Tamoxifen really messes up the whole lower half it seems for me !!!!!!  grrrrr..  I am trying not to worry about my scan, it is scheduled for this Tuesday.

    :)

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

    Alicia,  A piece of cake....

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

    That nasty bs I had ordered a chest xray before surgery and the bone and ct scan after. I'm glad he did even though I had no LVI or nodes either. It's not nice being exposed to the radiation but at least they then have a complete picture.

     Glad your back is feeling beter - go and buy a new mattress girl - you deserve it!!! The scan will  be fine I know it!!!

    Sue

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  • doronet
    doronet Member Posts: 342
    edited August 2010

    Linda:  such great news!  What a load off your mind.  

    Melinda:  sending good vibes your way.  Waiting to hear when Clyde will be taken care of.

    Alicia:  UTI would definitely give you the lower back ache.  Hope that is all it was.  I  have only had the bone density tests, no scan.  Will be thinking of you on Tuesday.  Keep us posted.

    DS and I took DD and some of her belongings to her apt. last weekend.  She was sick the entire weekend.  Found out later she had strep.  I just hope I don't get it as I usually do.  :(

    Anyone know how we're doing on chemo/rad treatments?  Is everyone finished now?

    Hope everyone is having a good weekend. Nette

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  • Melinda41
    Melinda41 Member Posts: 672
    edited August 2010

    Nette: Your hair looks great, you can definately pull of the Alyssa Milano (sp?) look!

    I think Mabelle and I were the chemo stragglers, so if she is done with rads, I think we should all be over the finish line.

    Does anyone think about their "cancer-versary". They should be coming up soon. Is it a day you will do anything with? Who was going to renew their vows? My first thought is just sending a bunch of balloons into the sky with the kids. (Is that a bird hazard?)

    It has been a long ass year. (And my ass has gotten longer this year, old saggy butt!)

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  • Sherri_V
    Sherri_V Member Posts: 159
    edited August 2010

    2 months until my cancer-versary.  Looking back, I'm sort of amazed that this whole ordeal was taken care of in less than 10 months!  I did chemo, surgery, more chemo, radiation and arimidex (which I'll be on for the next 5 years).  I do plan on doing something but I don't know what it will be yet...maybe just acknowledging the day.

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  • doronet
    doronet Member Posts: 342
    edited August 2010

    Melinda:  thanks for the hair compliment.  :)

    Not sure about the cancer-versary. Between a trip to see my father, who is having an 81st birthday,  getting my DD back to college, my DS starting school right after Labor Day, and a niece's baby shower in Sept., I haven't thought about it.  Sept. 1st was the day I received the diagnosis.  Weird to think that it will be a year, though sometimes it seems like only yesterday.  If I didn't have a teenage boy in my house, I'd prob. get drunk, though I rarely drink, and when I do, it's one glass of wine.  How does one celebrate getting through such an ordeal.  I like the balloon idea.  Anyone else thought about it?  

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  • doronet
    doronet Member Posts: 342
    edited August 2010

    On Sept 1st, I do plan to read back over the original postings on this site to remember how we started and where we've been and also to reread the cards/letters/emails from family and friends I've received over the past year.  Actually, I started crying after reading Melinda's mention of the cancer-versary.  Truly has been a long-ass year.

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

    I have had my cancerversery, and just let the day pass without much thought.  I did however just celebrate my mastectoversary two days ago...can't believe I have been boobless for one year....still can't decide if I will get me a new boob.

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

    I'm not likely to forget the anniversary of my mammo that discovered the cancer. It was on my birthday. We found out it was abnormal 2 weeks later, the day before our wedding anniversary. I know we got the results of the biospy on the Tuesday after our anniversary. Maybe I'll  just try to forget about it and celebrate the final chemo.

    Sue

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  • BrendaSharon
    BrendaSharon Member Posts: 506
    edited August 2010

    Alicia,

    Good Vibes are sent your way. I know your scan tomorrow will be just fine, just like you!!!~

    So, sweet lady just relax and try not to worry. (((((Warrior Hugs)))))

    Melinda,

    My cancerversary is coming up this Friday & yeah I too, like Sherri will defiantly acknowledge this day forever, because each year I will know that I am a cancer survivor. I don't know what I'll do, but something to commemorate the day that started this whole journey. And remember that Clyde is nobody, and soon will be a thing of the past too!!!

    Sherri,

    I agree it all does seem to have passed so quickly. It seems surreal to me still. To know that since diagnosis on August 13 till July 26th my journey began and ended. I will never forget either of these days. When I looked back it was like WOW~~OMG~~What a hell of a year. I had 3 surgeries, 1 lumpectomy, 21/2 weeks later followed with a total axillary dissection, then the surgery to have my "Port" placement. Then I had 4 months of chem, then followed up with 8 weeks of radiation treatments. I will be on meds for 5 years tamoxifen and aromatase-inhibitors, so when they finally took my "Port" out on July 26th, I felt like my journey had ended. 1 yr. later.

    Michele,

    You are way ahead of the "Warriors", but then again I remember the first time I'd seen you back when I was still scared to death. To scared to even post much then. I seen you in the October thread which I read all of until I began the November Warrior thread. Your our little monkey that keeps swinging from thread to thread, the monkey has made it and I love you.  I started the thread because my first chemo was on Oct. 28th. I needed the friendship and guidance that comes along. I am sooooo happy that I did this because everyone has been a blessing to me.

    Thankyou ALL my Warrior Sisters!!!!!!

    Nette,

    Like you, dang it I too cried when I first read Melinda's post of the cancerversary. Actually it was weird, like deja vu because I was sitting alone in my living room thinking about this Friday coming and I was already crying because I realized at that moment it was a year and I had done it, I survived. I'm OK, from that first day of diagnosis and being so petrified, to now and I'm feeling wonderful most the time , and then I balled my eyes out and then there it was Melinda's post.So,  I think I just was kinda crying those happy tears. Nette, I like your idea of rereading our posts from beginning to end. WOW 90 pages so far!!~~We sure have had a lot to say to each other. It is no wonder we are all so close to each other now. We are all sisters for sure.

    Sue,

    With yours cancerversary being on your B-Day it will be impossible to forget, but I really don't believe any of us Warriors will ever forget the day that started their journey and a battle that would last for approximately a year for most of us. We have all been through one hell of a year!!!!!!

    Linda,

    You once asked if we would ever get back to normal, well I think it is perfectly normal to feel excited and scared. We can be happy and sad. And hell what is normal anyways??? I'm not sure I was ever totally normal and personally if we hadn't gone through this journey we would never had met each other. I am so proud to have met each and every Warrior on board!!  ~~~

    CCNANI,

    I had to come back and EDIT, I had forgot my CCNANI, she was once missed and I found her and I know she is doing OK. I can't forget how I felt when I thought I lost her. For a bit I didn't even want to post. BUT, I do chat with her on FB and know she is doing as OK as any of us and I am proud of that much and so happy she too was blessed with our friendship.

    We will celebrate because we all are

                                                      "The Warrior Survivors"

                                                 SomeDay,SomeWay,A-C-CURE

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

    I was talking about renewing my vows on my cancerversary. Oct 19. Oh boy...

    What cancer has taught me is to not take things for granted. If you want something...go for it. For me, it's an education and Florida. It may take baby steps, and I may be an old woman, but I'll get my bachelor's, and hopefully within the year get back to my Florida. (If I can ever get health insurance...LOL)

    It's made me realize how in love with my husband I am, how much my daughter makes my heart swell, and how much of a best friend my mom is. They're the ones who held me when I was sick, and cheered when I felt good. I'm so lucky to have a sister and her family who drove 11 hours to be with me when I had my surgery and cooked all my fav foods.

    And last, but certainly not least, it's brought you, my dear sisters, into my life to know that you don't have to know someone in person to love them. God Bless, Warriors!! Thank you for a wonderful year. Yeah, I can say that post AC chemo...:)

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  • doronet
    doronet Member Posts: 342
    edited August 2010

    Linda:  check your private messages.  :)

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

    Linda: You are one special young woman and it's certainly been a pleasure to get to know you.

    That goes for all of you - I've said it before - I could never have survived this journey without you all. You are all the sisters I never had.

    Hey, I got DH to take a photo of the waves at the back of my hair last night and I wanted to share it with you. I just love the feel of the little bumps :) There are fluffy bits at the sides which make me feel like an absent minded professor - hopefully they'll grow longer and settle down.

    Sue

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  • Melinda41
    Melinda41 Member Posts: 672
    edited August 2010

    Alicia: Happy scanning today, I hope it is a piece of cake, and you should treat yourself to a piece of cake when you are finished.

    I finally broke down and colored my hair yesterday. The color is OK, not great but better. Since it is so well conditioned now (with the little conditioner pack) it lays down real flat. Now I look like I have less hair. The gray was wire-y and stood up, the brown just lays smooth.

    These cancerversary posts have been very moving....I love you guys.

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  • Melinda41
    Melinda41 Member Posts: 672
    edited August 2010

    Suepen: Great curls!

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  • BrendaSharon
    BrendaSharon Member Posts: 506
    edited August 2010

    Sue,

    It won't belong and you will need to get a hair cut. Goodness the curls are something aren't they?

    Ya know I went to a hairdresser this Saturday; because I have been having problems dealing with all my NEW grown curls.. The hairdresser I went to, well she has super curly hair herself. Hers came at birth though. She said she has had several cancer patients come to her that once had straight hair and is now curly and DON"T know what to do. She called it virgin hair with a wave!!! Well I was one of them. She told me curly hair should be cut differently than straight. There should not be any straight cuts, but rather used a razor and she kinda layered it and thinned it out where needed. Now I have the spiked look going on. It is most definite easier to handle the curls now. Thinning my hair also made it feels much cooler now as well as manageable.  One thing I still the softness of my hair and still like to pet myself any chance I get.

    Happy Day all Warriors

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

    HI Girls !

    Linda so happy to hear you HAPPY.  You are such a warrior I admire you and all of these great women.

    And yes like Melinda, I find the cancerversaries moving...  I am feeling overwhelmed and sad as mine approaches.  It is bringing the hardship of this past year all back just when I was starting to be able to put in on the back burner.  I am hoping this too shall pass and I can get back to focusing on living.  The scan has me uptight too for sure ! 

    I go at 10:45 for the injection then I go back 2 or 3 hours later I believe for the scan.  Prayers girls.

    Love you all... couldn't have made it through this year without the support and sisterhood we have here.

    :)

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

    Hi girls !  Bone scan is done.  I was on the table with the camera moving around me for about an hour.  My oncologist should have the report in 2 days.........  so I WAIT !!!!!!!!!!

    Hope everyone is having a good day ~

    :)

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

    Alicia: Good luck today!!! I know it will be OK. ((((((((((HUGS)))))))) Oops I was writing while you were posting - glad it's over!!!!

    Brenda: I sit there petting it all the time!!!! especially now it's got waves.

    I'm getting sick of going to the Xray centre - had to go yesterday for an OPG of my jaw. I took the Dear Dentist letter from the onc to the dentist on Monday. They recommend a dental checkup before getting the Zometa infusions because Zometa can sometimes (rarely) cause healing problems if you have an extraction. A year or so ago I had some sort of cyst up in the gum so he thought he should check if it's still there. Also have an old filling that needs replacing.

    Have to go back there again next week for an echo too. Lucky the place is close to home.

    I'm doing 4 mornings at work this week. It felt strange getting up early 2 days in a row. I'm starting to think I'm over working. Pity we need the income. Once I get some real work to sink my teeth into, I'll probably be happier.

    Day off today but it's raining and has been all night. I love it!!! I don't have to water the garden.

    Sue

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

    Sue ~ enjoy the rainy day ~ curl up with a good book or some good tv. 

    Your hair is really growing and looking good !!!

    :)

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

    Alicia: I just finished my latest book - will have to go out and buy a new one - libary closed today owing to a public holiday in this city. Hopefully the shops will be open. The rain seems to have stopped  - it was nice while it lasted.

    The hair has taken a while but it's getting there. It's all crazy today as I haven't had my shower yet.

    Sue

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

    Alicia, glad that scan is over for you....now the real sucky part. The waiting.  I am sure it will be ok.

    I have an appointment with a cardiologist and my two ONCs next week...when will it end.  I am still having hear palpitations and now I am having lots of dizzy spells.   It has been going on since my vacation at the beginning of July.  So i was checking these things on google and I figure I either am having heart failure or it is the Tamoxifen or I am stressing myself to death...dizziness can be from so many things...and so can the heart palpitations...the more I read the more I stress..will it ever get normal..

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

    OH Michele...  I have the same thing ~~~  I think it is part of the chemopause we are in. I am glad you are getting checked out, but hoping it is nothing.  My vision sucks as well.  I now wear magnifying glasses to read.  I guess I can thank chemo for that too.  Try not to stress.  I know it is easier said than done.

    Sue ~ Glad your rain stopped.  Sometimes a rainy day to do nothing is a good thing !

    :)
    Alicia

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

    Sue...Did I miss something??? Why are you taking Zometa? Did you know that I take it too. I LOVE your hair!

    Alica...I'm sending well wishes your way!! All will be good.

    Michele, did you have an echo?

    Melinda, when do you get word about Clyde?

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