Chemo June 2010

CHEY,it sounds as if you have everything under conrtrol now.  It's just that darn waiting again.  I wish you the best for you and your dear sister.

TIINA, good luck with the tests.  After awhile it gets tiring doesn't it?  Here's hoping for NED results! I grew up in KC.KS before moving to Canada.  I love hearing about your trips there.  I miss home so much, my sister still lives there.

I went in to work to resign my nursing teaching job at the university as I just can't do clinical teaching anymore with the compression glove on and not being able to wash my hands 25 times a day.  My boss did not want me to quit and they will change my duties just to keep me.  Made me feel valued.  I will start back just 2 mornings a week at the end of the month.  I didn't even think about what standing on my feet for 8 hrs a day would do to the neuropathy on my feet.

Lizzyanne, I know what you mean about 60.  I wasn't looking forward to it in May, but now I am just grateful to think I will make it.

Love and Hugs, Mimi

Bon-  Just make sure you don't take a rest in the chair on the back porch while vacuuming in your pearls!  Headline would read: "Woman strangled while trapped in chair during vacuuming".  Thanks for the laugh.  My headline might read "Woman chokes on tumbleweed size dustballs".  I better go find the vacuum.

Bon that story cracks me up!  I dressed up for chemo every day.  I figured it was my only social outing and I needed to look good for something.  Now that I am back to work and traveling I can't wear any of my clothes because of my weight gain.  So my good jewelry is a "must".  Pearls and all!  You go girl.

 Thanks for the laugh.

Hi Everyone. I'm thinking of all of you and praying that we all stay cancer free. I have my 2nd blood test this coming week and all that we went through and how hard it was is really on my mind. I pray that none of us ever has to go through it again. I actually met someone and went on a date last week and will go on another this week. He met me with my wig on so I had to wear it on the date, but the day after I told him about the cancer, wig, and fake boobs.  He said he was fine with it so we will see.  The day after I told him I finally quit wearing my wig so I'm 100% natural, except for the boobs of course. lol Good luck to everyone, I pray for all of us to stay healthy and happy. Is there a new thread for what the heck to do with this short hair? lol

hahaha, too funny bon!!! wow, we are getting out and about topless, how cool is that!! Danielle that is so great!!! im happy for you!! JFV i have lots to tell you, ill email you,too much to post here.. Tmarina please let us know how your scans went!!

well here is the latest, im going in to Solace today to sign for all my Med records to be sent to UCSF, my appt will be on march 3, i still need my lump looked at, i was going to have my GYN look at it last Friday but i had a flat tirei had to cancel it.they close at 12 on fridays so it was too late for me to get in, i will try today!!! it needs to be checked, im thinking its gonna be fine.. My sissy has her appt for her call back mammo on Thursday, still praying its nothing!!!

 im looking forward to my new ONC, that place is nothing like im used to!! they set me up with a free resource where someone will go to my Appt with me and take notes and audio, so i dont have to try and remember, the neat thing is they call you a week before, over the phone you spend as much time as you need. they have a layout to help me decide what kind of questions i might need and want to ask, she said she will guide me through according to where i am at in treatment, she said the layout is really good because they have so much info on things that i would not know or think to ask.. WOW!! i wish i had that before i started treatment,hehehe... they sent me a form to fill out about my feelings,it asks things like do you want to know everything about your path reports or just the basics, do you want to be involved in everything or would rather let the DR's take it.  its kinda neat, it gives them an idea of how much i can handle i guess..i think its gonna be great!!! other then that things are good, ill keep u up to date on my sis and me as far as our lumps go, thank you for thinking of her

.I must say i am quite proud of myself for telling my x cancer place what i think and leaving them, i cant wait to go in today and say get to faxing my records!!! and, im going by myself to do it, hehehe, i know dmom and bon r high fiving me, haha im standing on my own two feet!!!

i love all you, my big sisters!!!

Chey

Chey, that is awesome!  Wow, big difference in treatment.

cheyenna-  Look at you!  "I am woman, hear me roar".  I am so proud of you taking charge of your situation.  We all deserve to be treated by people who have our very best interest at heart.  If it doesn't feel RIGHT, guess what?  There are different doctors who will be happy for our business!

danielle-  Good for you.  Stay away from that other needy, miserable guy...and have some fun while you are at it!  What, he wants to show up now that your are finished with the hard stuff???

Haven't been on in a while but so happy to read the good news or encouraging news for several like Danielle, Tina and Chey.  I've been back at school for a week now after being out for two weeks because of all the snow.  I am VERY tired when I get home and I usually take an hour or so nap.  I am going to my orthopedic doctor tomorrow (Tues) to see if I can get some help with all my joint issues.  I am barely able to walk these days.

How do you know if you're a cancer survivor or not?

sherry-  My criteria for being a survivor is pretty minimal.  I say if you are here, you are a survivor!  Now we need to get your doctors to fix your joint pain so you can be a thriver!  Remember you are still healing so you are right to rest your body when you can.

Hey Ladies !  Glad to hear the good news about Chey and Daniella.

Hang in there Sherry and Jackie with your achey joints.  No fun !

I think the minute you are diagnosed you are a survivor.  We are now different from the general population and deserve a different name.  We are also working fiercely to survive, even on the days we want to crawl under a rock and give up !

Hi Ladies,

I am having an irrational fear day today.  Life has been going along just fine, and now I find myself wishing my next MRI and mammo were very soon, instead of a month or so away.  This disease really sucks.  I know what set me off was chatting with my insurance plan nurse, she reminded me that any unexplainable symptoms that don't go away should be checked out.  I'm gettting older, I always have unexplainable aches and pains!  I think I'll have a drink and an extra antidepressant today.

Julia 

Julia,  I know exactly what you are talking about.  I have been having pain in my left leg that moves all around for about 2 wks now.   Some days it feels better than others.   I really think its just my back and some arthritis and DJD that was seen previously causing the leg pain.  I will address this with my appt in March with BS.   Try not to think about it too much and definitely take those extra pillls(ha-ha).  Well, signing off now to go laugh and watch "Raising Hope" on the boob tube.

i dont feel like i am a cancer survior, i feel like i am surviving the cancer i was through, call me a cancer survivor in 10 years, does that make sense? im not being negative when i say that but everything i hear from these ONC and INS co, every thing is based on if you make it that 10 years.

 love you

When I told my son that it wasn't necessary to tell everyone I had cancer (12 YOs have a way of introducing you as "hi, this is my mom, she has cancer"), he corrected me and said "Mom, you HAD cancer, you took care of it, it's gone".  I so love his absolute, pure, child-like knowingness in that fact.  I try to focus on that attitude, but it takes true grit to keep positive.  For me, I tell myself I am cancer free.  Until someone proves me wrong, I'm holding on to that message.

mimi--Thanks.  My MUGA has been going up since onc put me on bp meds.  It's up to 61% now.  Was 65 when I started and dropped to 51 before the bp meds.  I was able to get my Herceptin.  Thankfully I haven't had to miss any.  I have not been depressed, but I know of many who are and the antidepressants have helped a lot.  You might want to give them a try, esp. if you are having difficulty enjoying things that you used to, and/or are afraid a lot.

I'm all over the place with the survivor thing.  Sometimes I feel like Bon and Chey, but other times I figure I'll just accept the label that so many seem to want to put on me. And, after 2 cancer dx, I do feel like a survivor--holy crap, we've been through alot when you stop and think about it!

DMom, I love your son's optimism--and yours too! 

I had a good visit with my onc today.  He is pleased with how good everything looks, and so am I! I don't need to see him for 3 months, and since my heart function has increased I won't need another MUGA for 3 months either. I don't mind going in for my Herceptin infusions--I get to chat with the nurses I've come to know so well, and and sit and read for 2 hours.  I'll be really happy when I get past that first MRI and mammo since my bc dx.  Those should be the end of March.

Bon--I see your signature says Herceptin X 18.  Is that a full year?  Have you had it every 3 weeks since the beginning?  I started it weekly then switched to every 3 weeks.  I just had #15, and I won't be done until Aug.  How are you doing on it?  any SEs?  I just get tired for a few days, but nothing like chemo.