November 2009-Starting Chemo

Thanks Alicia and Nette: I didn't want to have my cancerversary on my birthday (day of mammo), so I'll use the day of getting the biopsy result OR maybe we should celebrate the day of getting it cut out - I like that one better cos it's a good reason to celebrate.

Sue

Well girls, I think I jinxed myself! I've been feeling so good lately. I was eating lunch the other day with some girlfriends. One asked why my hand was shaking. Sure enough, my left hand/wrist was trembling. If I straightened my hand out, it would stop. I got up, moved around, sure enough, it got worse. Went to my primary, who did all this neurological stuff. All is fine there. He asked if I've been having headaches, and I said I get the dull Tamoxifen headaches. So he sends me for a CT scan of the head to make sure it's not mets or a mini stroke. Uhm HELLO!!! I could have saved you the time. Whatever! Anyway, a ton of bloodwork later, my Big Onc sent me for an MRI of my Brachial Plexus. He thinks it's rads' scar tissue pushing on the nerves. FUN!! That was the hardest test I've ever had. 55 minutes, and the machines reverberated in my head and gave me the God awfulest headache! So, at the end of the test, the tech told me that some of the film is blurry cause my muscles are twitching. Just great!!

Brachial Plexus is the thought pre-MRI. There is such a thing as radiation-induced brachial neuropathy. When she told me my muscles were twitching, I'm like "Where? I'm not moving!!!!"

The plan is to get my blood results tomorrow and Tuesday get my MRI results. I go back on Sept 8 for an abdominal MRI to make sure my liver is still in remission. Damn! I'm gonna glow in the dark for sure. This will make for a great Halloween!

Hugs and Prayers to you Linda......

You are a good friend, Alicia. It must be heartbreaking.  Sending hugs to you and your friends.

Alicia, That is heartbreaking..I have a friend whose daughter had Ewing sarcoma.  Every time i wanted to lay down and cry I thought of her and how brave she was.  On my last radiation day  I saw a young girl being wheeled down into the unit.  It really choked me up.  Kids should never have to go through this.

Alicia...channel that Warrior Spirit. You are braver than I am...so is your friend...so is her daughter! Life can be so unfair at times. Savor every blessing!!! That's why I try not to gripe about having the BigC. There's always someone worse than me

That being said...

Blood test are negative. MRI results show damage to the nerves...Radiation-Induced Brachial Plexopathy. Neurontin & steroids should help, and I should make 100% recovery. There was no cancer seen ANYWHERE!!! I'm still dancing with NED!!

Brenda, that leaves you! Send us some good news

Maybe we need a sticky note at the top of "our" thread to keep tabs on everyone's testing progress.

I wonder if there will ever be a time when every single one of us is all clear, no waiting for results.

Michelle has a cardio thing in Oct.

Brenda is waiting on results

I have a biopsy in September

Linda just got an all clear

Sue, Nette, Alicia, Toyah, Claire, anyone else - ya'll are all good to go, right?

I am just fine.  I have a general physical next month and then my 3 month check up in about 5 weeks time.  I am expecting that I will have good news.

I have my "kick butt and take names" energy back.

Am major bummed this morning, because I was recommended for a wonderful position by a business colleague of mine, but was rejected by the HR screen.  At this point, there is nothing else I can do.  I think the issue was direct industry experience, but I did have everything else.

Hard to take the position that this one was not meant to be.  Good news is that I am back in contact with a number of people so a major plus that way.  Plus a major vote of confidence from person recommending me.

This was on top of another bizarre incident where my head is still spinning as to what person's real agenda is.  I can't wait for #3 today.

Back to my consulting work, but waiting on stuff to get moving on that front.

OMGosh!!!  "Hi" GrandmaMickey!!!  How're things with you?

Yep, I'm good to go. NO pending results until Dec. when I have a 6 mo. mammo.  If there are no changes in the calcium deposits found in July, then I won't have to have another mammo for a year.

 Hurricane Earl is headed up the east coast.  My DD's college campus, Va. Beach area, might be evacced in the next day or two.  She'll come home if it is (boyfriend is there with a car), so I might get an unscheduled visit from her!  Woo Hoo!! 

Sorry to hear about not getting the position, Claire.

Linda:  MAJOR GOOD NEWS!!!  YIPPEE!!

Linda ~~ woo HOO for good news !

Toyah ~~ Hugs and glad to hear you are doing good !

GrandmaMickey ~~  How are you doing?

Brenda ~~ fingers and toes crossed here for good news and sending up prayers daily.

Michele ~  How are you feeling?  I go see my gyno tomorrow to discuss the uncomfortable crotch due to the tamoxifen.  ugh, it has good days and bad days..........

Nettie ~~  Glad you are doing well and get a break till December.

Sue ~~ how are you? 

If I forgot anyone HUGS !!!!!!!!!!!

Nette: I hope you get a bonus visit from DD and hope that the weather doesn't do damage.

Brenda: Is a DEXA a bone density thing? That is a test I haven't heard of, we should all be experts in medical terminology soon. Glad they don't see any nasty C-ness. If it is treatment related damage, what do they do for that?

Grandma Mickey: I am on Herceptin. I don't really notice much in the way of side effects. I get the drippy nose and I think it changes my bowels for a few days (loose is better than constipation so I won't complain). That is really all I think the Herpcetin in causing. Actually, the drippy nose seems to protect me from the allergy issues, my head is not stuffed up like everyone else's.