Starting Chemo February 2009?

Happy Friday!

Well, the tears are dried and the researching has begun. 

The second opinion doc agreed with the first...a total hysterectomy.  Reasons:  Bilateral breast cancer, endometriosis (which developed secondary to chemo, as I never had these issues before...severe back pain, pelvic discomfort, etc.) and abnormal bleeding (cycling every 2 1/2 weeks for 5-7 days).  No other options are available.  I explained that I have a great quality of life right now ane I am real hesitant about "instant menopause."  She said they would give me an antidepressant.  She is a well-respected world known MD. 

To me it is so frustrating, especially when I have tried to make every health/life style change possible and than to continue to have issues.  I have made many positive changes to my life (even taking my first air plane trip from South Dakota to North Carolina all by myself to fulfill a life long dream of attending a writers conference.  I definately felt like "Heidi" leaving the mountain.  But the important thing was that I did it and had an absolute wonderful time.)  Now the reality of cancer and it's after affects hit me in the face.

Thanks all for your thoughts and advice...my prayers continue for you all!

I agree with Kerry.  It really hasn't been bad.  And the piece of mind is soooooo worth it!!  {{{Kim}}}

Kim:  sorry you have to have surgery; how long have you been having these frequent periods? 

Kerry:  I was just wondering about your son, how is he doing?  Did he ever get the surgery for his eye(s)?  Hope all is well there.

Oh, that must've been tough, poor kid....glad he's doing better now : )

My period decided to return again today, haven't had one since May...weird

Have a great weekend ladies : )

Michele:  Julia is hanging in there....she is having major clotting issues and the PICC never works right, so it's getting scarier now, like things are getting worse and we can only just sit here and wait.  She is maintaining her weight though, so that's good.  The first appt they had available at Mayo was in mid October, so starting this week, I will call to see if there were any cancellations that might fit her in sooner.   Sorry about your son....Last year I told each of Brendan's teachers about his home situation (me and Julia) right off the bat; as a teacher myself, I often see how scary/stressful things at home can affect a kid at school.  Plus, the teachers keep an extra eye on them, and are more understanding.  If you think about it, we may be done with tx, but we still feel stressed and scared about this whole BC thing, so our kids could, too.  How old is Jack?

Oh, I'll join you! I have an MRI, Zometa, blood work and Onc visit all in September. Three of which require a needle, all of which are stress inducing. Roll on October 1st I say!

Hey gang!!! No fear Bethie's here!!! I bet you thought I fell off the face off the earth   I am still on my Donny high!!

Jaimieh-- Attention span issues--Yes--I at least feel like I still have chemo brain, and I have a memory problem despite having been on chemo, but doing muh better of course

Judy-- Hope Julia's OK,  what happened????????? give her hugs!!!! My period gets weird now.  It skipped a few months then I got 2 in a row.  Most times I feel I'm PMSing without a period--so I have the bitch, but I want wine!!!!!!

Michele-- Hope everything is going OK.  I have my moments too, been going to a counselor one-on-one.  she was just on vacation, but one of my first sessions I balled my eyes out like chicken shit.  Had alot of emotion bottled in me from my mom's passing through my diagnosis.  I'm doing better now--and on a side note now that boyfriend is out of the house he's treating me like the woman I am. I still have to put him in his place now and again, but rare--(why do we women get all the dirty work in a relationship??????!!!!) Love mom's wisdom--PMS--Putting up with men's shit!!  You can tell I'm in a male bashing mood, huh?? thought my sisters could have a little laugh with that!!!

Went to ER today, been having dizziness again.  Good news, brain CT is good.  No lumps or bleeding so that is a relief. 

Now the bad news....Julia went to her hemotologist today.  He decided to 'tell her like it is' and say that her upcoming surgery could very well kill her since her clotting issues are getting so bad, but her chances of dying were even worse without surgery.  Great.  I can't believe this, she is so upset.  I hope the doctors at Mayo are more optimistic.

I'm sorry, had to vent that out.  Not feeling very happy today.

Artemis~ I hear you on the ADD and chemobrain are really not my friend.  Wooohooo on finishing vitamin H.

Judy~ Is Julia having surgery with this doctor ???  ((hugs))

 Well tomorrow my baby has to go to school all day for the first time....:(  I am happy and sad all at the same time because he doesn't want to go.  It easy to leave a child that wants to go but not one that doesn't.  So I will have a new found freedom after tomorrow....

Nancy,

Rollar Coaster is right...and since it is a rollar coaster, I guess we get to scream as loud as we want and when we want!!

I saw this link on the TN post about Avastin and the FDA.  Thought I would share...I guess I have been so busy trying to heal that I kind of missed this in the news (or at least didn't understand the consequences of the FDA's decision.) 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkSZ__SvxGQ

Hello there! I'm back! It took a while to read the posts and catch up.

Bethie:sounds like you and Donnie and Marie are real tight. That's really cool!

Artemis:I hope your brother "gets it" about his alcoholism soon. I am a recovering alcoholic for 14 years.I knew I needed help way before I had the courage and change of heart to beat the beast.

Judy: God, that is so scary about what Julia is going through. I pray that medical help will come through. That is good news that the peg tube is working. She does still have that, right?

Kerry, Jaimieh and Michele: You all have young ones starting a new school year. How are they doing? My youngest son is a junior in HS. My 2 older sons are in collage.I feel so old!

Okay, here is my update: I went to gyn and he suggested a D&C to get rid of the extra tissue in the uterus. I did that and the procedure went fine. The pathology on the tissue showed only a hormone imbalance, on cancer.  I also went to an oncologist speciallizing in palliative care to get help with the leg and hip pain. We are still trying different meds (ultram in particular) and I'm hopeful I will be able to manage my joint pain with less, or no narcotics. My exercise endurance is still an issue. I've been told the pain will most likely go away when i stop hormone therapy in 4-5 years. Maybe the same will be true for my energy. I need to be VERY patient. I do have enough generalized energy to feel like working more hours. I have interviewed at a couple of home health care agencies and a hospice program. I  haven't heard from all of the interviews yet. I figure if God thinks it's time for me to work more the path will become clear to do so.

Love the Furies!

Judy, positive thoughts headed your way.

Cheryl, I'd love to hear more about your joint pain. I've had awful knee and hip pain but thought it was all related to the knee - of course I was having that pain before the knee, but figured it was an easy connection. I'm on Arimidex, along with Cymbalta and others. What does your onc say?

It took me a while to catch up.  I haven't been here since August 14th.

Judy.. I hold you and Julia close in my prayers.

Judy I hope you are feeling better and that Julia is doing well.

 So I had a bone scan last Friday and I was doing okay until additional views were needed and then I started freaking out....YES, I mean freaking out.  I didn't cry but I felt like I was running and I felt like I was going to puke at any second.  So being the saint that I am NOT, I called the research coordinator and then started sending e-mails to my oncologist.  I didn't take my ativan or xanax because it was supposed to be routine.  I knew my neck has been hurting but I didn't think anything about it so additional views of my neck and my right rib....and now I wait.  My oncologist did call and tell me that he didn't receive a call about me which is a good sign and that he would call me Tuesday morning.  So now I am still scared I just hate cancer.....  I know that the bone scan can be a bunch of things but mentally I am drained....again....  So tonight I have a date with Ativan.

So this weeks fun is an echo. on Wednesday followed by a Mag 3 kidney test on Thursday.  My blood work is done for my Surgery and as long as everything is okay I will be having surgery on next Wednesday for a reconstruction tweak in NOLA.  Then after that only one more set of testing in Sept. with the GYN and I may set up something with the genetic counselor for the end of Sept.....go me.....