May 2010 Chemo

I hear you, Magda! that's how last year's holidays didn't feel like such for me, after two major surgeries.

Anyway, here's for you guys, I'm sharing my Romanian cabbage rolls recipe in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ39X7OBBsg

I haven't been on much because I'm giving myself a BC break during the Christmas season.  I was overwhelmed with researching and appts and decided to be more "present" to my family and just enjoy Christmas.  I made myself a STOP sign that is decorated with jewels.  It's a sign to remind myself not to research and spend time on the computer re: BC  - will take care of things come January.  It's my Christmas gift to myself.   Christmas Eve was so different not having extended family around - but we decided we needed the 5 of us together as a family unit and not be all crazy with loads of people around.  I am still pretty tired and it was wonderful giving the attention to my immediate family.

Jersey ~ keep us posted about  your hip.  

Drim ~ what a great location!   Lucky you!  Is this the first year you're there or having you worked there a while?   I love Time Square!

Patricia ~ your green drink a smoothie?   The most delicious one I make is kale, green apple and pineapple - but it's with my juicer.  I often make one with cucumber, spinach, celery, green apple and sometimes add watercress or broccoli sprouts, or whatever else I have.  I need to step up the juicing in the new year.   I'm eager to see my naturopath next week...

Paxton ~ you're not alone re: the emotions...   How did the Godiva cheesecake turn out?

Day ~ glad you're getting back on track.  I don't feel ready to pick up the pace at all!

Denise~ I haven't had the phantom boob thing.  Btw - LOVED the pic of your cat! 

Hi Daiva! I'm glad you are giving yourself a break. It's been a crazy year and it's definitely time to relax with family. I've been at this job for almost 4 years but this will be the first time I've ever participated in the New Year's celebration there. I'm really looking forward to it! I look at the ball face to face all year long but it's hidden at the moment until New Year's. The sign already says 2011.

Happy New Year my sisters!!!

Good Morning May Friends,  I was reviewing the list of women above and wondering about each and every one of you.  I hope everyone who is not writing is doing well and that the coming new year brings health and healing.   Daiva  I am glad you are giving yourself a break for Christmas and surrounding yourself with your immediate family.  I think it is good for us to step back from time to time and forget about BC.  It is wonderful to make something else for focus of our energies.  Jersey,  I hope your hip is okay and that your postponed Dr appt. brings you good news.  Drim- I am jealous about your work location!  Hope you enjoy the New Year's celebration  Day Thanks for the link to your recipe!  You are an amazing woman!  As for myself, I am into the tough part of radiation.  After today I have only 2 more boosts left.  My chest looks like crispy bacon and I am very anxious from the discomfort.  (Whine, whine, whine).  I have resorted to hydrocodon to take the edge off.  The good news is I am going on my trip to Asia, two weeks from now!  I am looking forward to that time with my sister.  We both need a break.   This weekend, I am going to My Sweetie's house to celebrate the New Year. We have been apart for a while, as he had things he needed to do, and I had to be in town for my treatments. Denise  I want to see your cat!  Magda  I hope you are feeling good and try to relax and enjoy this time before rads.  Rads are a piece of cake compared to chemo.  Paxton, Library Jenn, Kim, Barb, Jen, Leanna, Irish Tess, Laura,  Wellsey, Summer, Nana, golfer girl, fotopet,  Happy New year to all....   Patricia 

Hello dear ladies,

In less than an hour I can say good riddance to what has been the worst year of my life and hope that 2011 will make up for it.  Goodbye sucky, hello lucky!

I wish each and every one of you peace, joy and good health in this upcoming year.

 I already told my husband that if Jersey has a get-together, then I am going to meet my sisters-in-struggle  -- he just kind of looked at me and said, "Um OK."

Denise -- we went up to Tahoe this week and I thought of you on my way through Sac, up and back.

Cheers ladies.  BTW, I am seriously thinking of calling for an appointment to get my hair trimmed!!!

Love you,

Jen

Happy and Healthy New Year girls!

Patricia I'm going to enjoy this time the best I can. I can't wait to get back to my work and to some kind of normal! I hope your rad wounds will heal quickly! What type of rads apparatus do they use on you - cobalt or linear accelerator?

Jersey, Happy New Year and all the best to you and your loved ones!

Packjen YAY for a new haircut! I won't cut my hair unless it looks too messy - too fond of it for now ;-).

Laura You are right, we are so blessed to have found each other in this group. My best wishes for your getting back to normal, we need to forget and move on! I actually don't mind waiting for my rads, I'll be more than happy to get a break from everything. In the meantime I'm taking tamox and getting Zoladex shots, so my treatment goes on :-).

Hugs to all!

Happy New Year everyone!  I've been reading your posts on my cell phone and keepin up that way, but its a pain to try to type out a post on that thing.  I had great hopes for 2011, but then started it off with the flu!  Ugh!  It hit me hard.  My BF says it was worse than the chemo and you know, he's right!   But I am feeling better today, thankfully. 

Jenn- I am with you on having a get together with all our May Warriors this year.  I'm in!  We should try for May, kind of an anniversary meeting

Drim- your party sounded incredible!  Hope you had a great time!

I've been having some pain at my lumpectomy site lately.  Anyone else have this?  My surgery was 10 month ago, so I can't figure out why the pain now.   It seems to have started about the same time I started running again.  It's got me a little freaked out, I admit. Thinking of calling my BS tomorrow just to ask.  I have a mammo scheduled for the end of the month, but not sure I want to wait.  Plus, the mammo didn't find the problem last time, so I'm not too trusting of those things...I also still have some pain under my arm from the SNB, too.  Not bad, but its there when I stretch or lift too much.  Hoping its just a result of finally getting back to the gym.

Ok, enough worrying and whining.  I agree with Laura. I am so grateful to have connected with all you.  BC sucks, but having all of you to share the ups and down with has been a great, unexpected blessing this year.  A friend of a friend was recently diagnosed and I told her to get and get chatting! 

I still have high hopes for 2011 and wishing us all good health, happiness and a chance to meet each other in 2011!  Happy New Year!  Beth

Hi Ditah, I am so glad to hear you say that!  We seem to be on the same path through this process, I'm always relieved when you have the same things going on.  I googled lumpectomy pain and it actually directed me to a QandA on this site.  Apparently, it is normal to have some pain months after treatment as the site "wakes up".  Phew!

I am so glad we are all here together in 2011! And I toasted my glass of champagne on the new year at midnight for all of you ladies as well, and for all the wonderful people on these boards.

I have some pains too sometimes in my breasts (the cons of getting sensitivity back in that area lol) and under my arm where I had the ALND - but then I know there is still a small cord there that did not want to go away for nothing.It only bothers me though when I over-exert my arm or lift something heavier - so for the ones of you who have this pain, you might want to check real well that area, mybe you have a little bit of cording. Just lay down, extend your arm all the up up above your head, and palpate deep in theunder-arm. A cord will feel like a thin rubber-band.

Wanted to show you my hair, five months and a week after last chemo tx. As tehre has been a while since I posted the other photos, I'll post first the two months ago ones, a month ago ones and then the "now" ones.

Two months ago:

A month ago

Now:

Day - your hair looks amazing - really growing fast. I will check for the cording. i don't think I have it there but what you're describing sounds like the way my hamstrings always feel. I have no flexibility (can hardly touch my toes). I was even like that as a little kid.

Jersey - I am BEYOND happy. I was praying and thinking about you every day with that hip. I have to say there is no way I would have been able to wait. I am the absolute worst at waiting for results. Good or bad I need to known NOW NOW NOW! Nice that you are coming to NYC. I saw Jersey Boys once and it is one of my favorite shows. I had a feeling you were talking about the Gansevoort when you said rooftop pool all year round. I didn't know they had one on Park Ave - I only know the one near Gansevoort street and I know it's spectacular - have always wanted to go up on that roof deck. I'm very excited for you.

   ok so a closer look but dont know why it came in twice!

 and Patricia here is my cat!  Mister Sonar  when he was small his ears were just as big as they ar now.thats how he got his name.

"

Hair, hair, hair.  I am so happy to see everyone's hair.  Mine looks much like Day's only curlier.

Isn't it funny how great we all look with short hair?  Even though we may not have wanted it that way I think many of us will be sticking to the "short and sassy" look.

Denise, congrats on the engagement!  That is so exciting for you.

NJ -- I'm doing a "Yay for no mets" wiggle just for you.  That is FANTASTIC news.

I am just busy with a tug of war w/my PS on the size of my implants (exchange scheduled for 3/4).  I posted pics over on TimTam's site and have gotten great feedback from Whippetmom on sizing -- but I have to convince my PS that I NEED BIGGER BOOBS to look normal!  Which is funny because before all this I had the cutest little champagne-glass boobies.  But small implants on my large frame won't look as natural as my real breasts did.  Anyone else having sizing issues?

I think I am free in May and I will do my best to come to a celebration gathering.  I have some miles saved up and this would be the perfect excuse to spend them.

Jen

Jen - no way I will stick with this look! I had long hair all my life, except for two "crazy moments", one time I got a punk style hair cut (I was only 21 so quite crazy) and one time a French bob cut.

I want my below-waist length hair back!

I swear, from now on no scissors, trimmers or any other cutting device will touch my hair until I die! lol.