Starting Chemo February 2009?

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  • susan13
    susan13 Member Posts: 732
    edited September 2010

    Cheryl-condolences to you an your family for your loss.  I hope your cousin can get stronger and the chemo kicks cancers butt!

    I would get a 2nd opinion also.  When I first when to see my surg. gyno onc. about getting my ovaries out, he actually suggested that I can just go straight to a hysterectomy, but at that point it seemed like to much of a major surgery and I opted for the ovarian removal first... I was sorry I did!  The ovarian removal was 10 times worse than the hysterectomy!  And who would prescribe a dose of estrogen for you?? even a low dose... it's not even thinkable!?!?   Are you going to a regular gyno or a gynecological surgical oncologist? They are sort of hard to find, but you will find them in the major cancer hospitals.  You don't need to have cancer to be one of their patients either, but they are just more specialized in women's health issues and do all the new state of the art procedures.  I am so glad I went to one.  Keep us posted!

    Sue

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  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 2,373
    edited October 2010

    Cheryl~ I am so sorry for your loss ((hugs)).  I agree with Sue I think with all of the issues that you have had in the last year and with your BC history that the doctor should listen to you and what you want. 

    I got some good news today :)  My gyn called and I am BRCA neg so I am thrilled with the results.  So besides the weather being the pits and I mean real pits, rain and it is cold I have been in a good mood. 

    I have been working my tail off lately and I am thrilled.  I have been up at my treatment hospital the last 2 weekends photographing events for them which is a great opportunity for me to get my name out to new people.  This weekend was tough though because I did a dedication of a plaque and bell that is for the oncology unit.  The bell is for the end of treatment and all I kept thinking is I would have beat the crap out of the bell.  When they started talking about it I had to do everything in my power to not cry.  I know what a great feeling it would be to ring that bell and I NEVER want the opportunity to ring the bell because I HOPE & Pray everyday to NEVER sit in the chair again.  Oh and I am possible going back this week as they dedicate a garden to the oncology staff.  Did I mention how great it is to see my oncology group friends at a happy occassion rather than the chair ??

    So tomorrow I get the same newborn from a week ago....I just hope it's a good order :) 

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  • MicheleS
    MicheleS Member Posts: 937
    edited October 2010

    have any of you worn a holter monitor?  I have to wear one next week because of this stupid atrial flutter...

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  • apple
    apple Member Posts: 7,799
    edited October 2010

    o dear Michelle.. best of luck with that.

    just popping in to say hello.  Things are great in Kansas.  We are settling in nicely and enjoying ourselves again, tho we are still busier than bees.

    i wish you all well.

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  • MicheleS
    MicheleS Member Posts: 937
    edited October 2010

    apple~  so are you *officially* a IV?  Are you on chemo again?  Where are your mets?  DO you get lots of scans?  Sorry for the intrusive questions... I just think about you all the time and am soooooo glad you came back to *our* thread!  xxoo

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  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 2,373
    edited October 2010

    Michele~ I have not had to wear a monitor. 

    Apple~ I am glad things are going well in Kansas. 

    I am crazy busy and LOVING it.  The newborn that I saw a week ago finally let me take her picture :).  I am in line for the biggest month I have ever had and it is fantastic and needed right now.  I am grateful for the treatments that are available BUT I am tired of making payments every month.  Oh and then at the grocery store today I bought lettuce for the cure...really people COME ON!!! 

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited October 2010

    Yeah, I bought mushrooms the other day in a lovely pink box. Gotta love October.

    Michele - I haven't worn a holter - are you OK? You have something up with your heart?? Hope it is nothing serious

    Jaimie - go you! Hope this is the start of brighter things to come. 

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  • Artemis
    Artemis Member Posts: 759
    edited October 2010

    Hi, Furies ~ just popping in to say "hi".  I'm sorry for not posting lately, but I have been reading and keeping up. 

    Michele ~ my mom has worn a heart monitor from time to time.  Earlier this year she had one that sent daily readings over the phone to her doctor.  

    I love you guys so much!!

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  • MicheleS
    MicheleS Member Posts: 937
    edited October 2010

    Kerry~ I'm fine... Just having atrial fib... a lovely gift leftover from chemo.  Did you ever get your package?

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited October 2010

    Good to hear all is OK Michele.

    Nothings here yet, the mail up here is so super slow. I'll let you know when it arrives!

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  • apple
    apple Member Posts: 7,799
    edited October 2010

    yes, Michelle.. i am officially stage  IV..   you'd never know.  i feel better than any other treatment time, my hair is thick, i feel great.  I have an axillary and mediastinal node where cancer is present .. they are actually shrinking... but eventually  it'll pop up in some bone or organ.

     i take 2 little pills a day and get a shot once a month.  Dasitinib and Faslodex.  People's eyes turn to bowling balls when i tell them i'm stage 4.

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  • xpectmiracles
    xpectmiracles Member Posts: 439
    edited October 2010

    Hi everyone! I just popped in to catch up on the furies. I am in Charlottesville tonight with my DH. We will be going into Shenandoah National Park tomorrow for a hike. Its so beautiful in the mountains! I'm so grateful I live so close!

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  • MicheleS
    MicheleS Member Posts: 937
    edited October 2010

    Apple~ Pls keep us updated!!!  I'm glad you are feeling good.  That's just wonderful!!  xxoo

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  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 2,373
    edited October 2010

    Apple I hope those pesky nodes just stay the same.  Have they considered putting you on herceptin ?? 

    So I watched Living Proof (the movie about herceptin) this weekend.  I know that it has been out for a while but I couldn't bring myself to watch it until this weekend.  I am feeling pretty good and working like a crazy fool.  I love it!  Last week I was up at the hospital that treated me 3 times to photograph events that they have had which is good for my pocket.  It's funny I actually make bad jokes to my dh that it is great they pay me so I can pay them for my herceptin...lol...  I work 4 days this week so if you see me on here remind me that I need to get to work.  :)

    Michele~ Did you have your scans ??

    Cheryl~ I hope you are doing well.

    BTW, I saw on FB that Kim had an exchange surgery so I hope she is doing well.

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  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 2,373
    edited October 2010

    New hair pictures :)  My new bowl haircut at the beach this weekend.

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited October 2010

    Jaimie, I love, love that photo.

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  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 2,373
    edited October 2010

    Thanks Kerry.  Was your MRI okay ??

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited August 2013

    I haven't heard, so I am assuming so... :)

    Hope all goes well tomorrow Michelle.

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  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 2,373
    edited October 2010

    Okay just checking on ya.....

    Michelle~ I hope tomorrow is boring and uneventful. 

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  • gcpommom
    gcpommom Member Posts: 883
    edited October 2010

    Hi ladies, sorry for being AWOL lately...

    Michele:  I am sure by now you've done the heart monitor....I've done a couple of different ones, I have A-fib, heart murmur, MVP....the Cardizem usually keeps everything under control. Of course, when the monitors are on, nothing happens, lol   I have noticed the last few months that my palpitations are out of control...thought maybe it's because I switched to generic cardizem, or stress, but now wonder if the chemo made it worse?  Is that what your onc says, yours is from chemo?

    Jaimie:  you look lovely : )  I'm glad to hear that you're feeling so much better and keeping so busy...you sound so happy

    Apple:  it is good to hear from you, and that you are doing well.  Are you completely moved into the new house now?

    Cheryl:  I agree with the no hormones stance...a second opinion certainly couldn't hurt. So sorry to hear about your aunt and cousin.  I still need to get the BRCA test, I think I will do that while Julia is away.

    Kim:  Hope you are doing ok after your surgery yesterday....how are you doing?

    Thanks everyone for the wishes for Julia.  She is arriving at the hotel tonight, her appt is tomorrow morning.  I need to ask you guys something:  I am soooo tired of being tired, exhausted all the time...have any of you felt this way still, and is there anything I can take to help?  I'm already taking a B complex vitamin...

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  • apple
    apple Member Posts: 7,799
    edited October 2010


    Judy...recently i started taking a low dose of Zoloft  - an antidepressant.  I felt better immediately, mostly because I started sleeping an extra 30 minutes or daily.  The added sleep is so beneficial. 

    i always pray for Julia.

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  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 2,373
    edited October 2010

    Judy~ I hope Julia's appt. are still going well and they are coming up with a plan.  Have you had your vitamin D levels checked ??

    Michele~ So what did you onc. man say ??

    Kerry~ I read in another thread that you completed your half a marathon!!!!  Congratulations!!!

    Apple~ I am glad that the zoloft is working well for you :). 

    So my hellish weekend is over and I survived!  Okay I really shouldn't call it a hellish weekend, I had a great groom to photograph and then I did a family of 22 the next morning.  We were out of there in a record amount of time and I laughed a ton and just had a blast.  Now I get to deal with the senior from hell....  106 pictures to choose from wasn't enough...and I am not making you into barbie...sorry, not doing it......   OKAY sorry rant over. :)

    BTW, I wanna send everyone Christmas Cards this year so if you can please PM me your address. 

    It does make me happy to come back here and see that we are moving on but all of you ladies have a special place in my heart for helping me get thru hell and feel like I am not alone. 

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited August 2013

    Jaimie, so happy to hear you are working so much!! Great that all you have to complain about is a grumpy senior....two years ago this month I was Dx, I am so happy to still be here and healthy! And yes, I ran my 1/2 Marathon on Sunday, I am still so sore I can hardly walk! I was thrilled with my time of 2 hours (and 19sec...)

    Judy - thinking of you and Julia, hoping all is going well. 

    So, Michele, no parcel yet. How is the Heart??

    Jaimie, I will send you my address. It's a great idea, if everyone can send me their addresses too, that would be fab. 

    Have a great day!

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  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 2,373
    edited October 2010

    You got Kerry that is AWESOME!!!  What a better way to spend the weekend the 2 yrs ago.  So I should send you card before our Thanksgiving...lol...  So you can get it before Easter...lol.... 

    I love that my biggest Rant is someone with an attitude :)  Tomorrow I get to meet a newbie (literally) she is 5 days old and is the baby of one of my favorite clients.  :) 

    I am sure I mentioned this before but I have a nipple appt. in 44 days.  I never thought I would get to this point.  Now I just got clearance to really start exercising so I plan on starting again this week.  I think I am going to need some duct tape for my new girls...lol..  I do not want them to turn into 36 longs.  I have an onc. appt. in Nov. and I am still trying not to start freaking out. 

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  • MicheleS
    MicheleS Member Posts: 937
    edited October 2010

    Kerry~ Wow. Wish I had tracked it.  :(  I mailed it... really I did.  On 9/28.

    Judy~ How's Julia?

    Jaimie~ I love your new profile pic!!! How are the girls? Are you getting tattooed?  

    I haven't heard back yet about my heart.  My cardiologist is a friend on mine so I figure he'd have called already if it was something to worry about.  I'm still having left-sided headaches and vertigo.  I went in for a brain MRI and the "official" word is that it was inconclusive.  The techs had a TERRIBLE time getting a vein.  They stuck me 1/2 dozen times and blew everything in my rt arm.  The got lots of the contrast peri-vascularly... ouch.  I'm black and blue.  Anywhoo, because none of the contrast made it to my brain, the scan was declared inconclusive.  The non-contrast images looked normal.  So, that's good.  Onc has me waiting (yippee! JK!) to see if any other signs pop up .  I have a PET on 11/3 and an office visit 11/4.  Assuming that the PET and tumor markers are OK (and that I don't have anymore neuro signs), we'll wait 12 weeks or so for another brain MRI.  But, he assures me that we can scan before that if there's any reason.  I just wish this headache would let up. sigh

    I hope everyone is doing well!  Work has been busy (again) and the kids are doing lots of activities.  Last weekend was beautiful so we spent tons of time outside.

    xxoo

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited October 2010

    Oh, Michele, I feel for you on the IV's. I had 4 tries to draw blood last month, the Zometa lady got it in first try (I told her which vein) but when I had my MRI they were so nasty to me when I told them which veins not to use. It was awful, I was practically in tears, I really think they have no idea what it is like to be stuck so many times. And after all this time, I do know which veins won't work. The tech finally got a nurse, who was pretty rough, but got it in an inside wrist vein. I am so sorry you are having headaches and I am really, really sure it is nothing. Probably stress.

    Good luck guys for your upcoming Onc visits, I am free until next year, which feels great. 

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  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 2,373
    edited October 2010

    Oh Kerry your post is making me cringe....  I still have bruises from my surgery last month :(

    Michele~ I have never had a pet and I hope to never have or need one but do they have to stick you for a PET ??  Do you think your headache could be allergies ??  I hope it goes away soon ((hugs)). 

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  • MicheleS
    MicheleS Member Posts: 937
    edited October 2010

    Jaimie~ yes they stick you for a pet but the volume is really low... like less than 1cc.  So, they can use a tiny butterfly cath and small/fragile veins won't cllapse.  The MRI contrast is a larger volume (at least 10cc) and so they have to find a sturdy vein... I don't have any of those anymore.  I hope allergies!! that's what I'm banking on!!!

    Kerry~ I don't think they understand... :(  I was in tears too.  The whole experience was frustrating (and painful).

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  • gcpommom
    gcpommom Member Posts: 883
    edited October 2010

    Apple:  as long as it doesn't make my heart race (more than it already does) I'll try anything...so it helps with fatigue?

    Jaimie:  I am taking Vit D with my calcium (when I don't forget to take them).  So did this senior really want to dress like Barbie, lol, and why??  I'll send you my address, send me yours, too...I have been pretty bad about sending cards the last 2 years, and need to start sending them again.

    Kerry: great job on the marathon, I can't even imagine!  Did you run alot before dx? 

    Michele:  ugh, I hate getting stuck with needles...especially when they miss, ouch!  They can still see 'things' with no contrast, so you should feel confident that the non-contrast mri was good.

    I'm worried about Helen, just read a post on FB where she said her scans were not good, and something about scheduling for surgery...I'm gonna send her a message on FB since she doesn't post here anymore. 

    Julia is ok, but they haven't done much the last couple of days.  She has 2 appts tomorrow I believe, with a geneticist and gastro doctor.  Then we should know if she needs to extend her stay, based on tests they may want to run.  Otherwise, they said she is a perfect patient for Mayo, and she really liked her first dr alot.

    My hubby got a job offer in Miami, and I've always wanted to live somewhere warmer, but after doing lots of researching, it sounds like a horrible place to live; almost everything I've read is negative:  cost of living, housing, schools...it's been a stressful couple of days as we decide what to do, may just send hubby down there, and stay here in MI with the kids.  You gotta do what you gotta do, at least until the MI economy picks up.

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  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 2,373
    edited October 2010

    Judy~ Did Helen respond to you at all ??  I hope everything id okay :( 

    Michele~ I am worried about you.  I hope that you are no longer scared ((hugs)).

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