November 2009-Starting Chemo

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  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited February 2011

    Nette ~ glad to hear you enjoyed your break helping your parents.  Hoping your medicine switch works out, sorry to hear about the osteoporsis. 

    My computer is broken so I am on a laptop and missing my big computer.  My eyes are really getting bad.

    Yesterday was 1 year since my last chemotherapy.  ugh ~ wondering if that is why I am like a witch on a broom.

    Hugs,

    Alicia

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited February 2011

    Happy one year last cancerversery...that's hard to spell.  Do you think Hallmark has a card for that?

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  • doronet
    doronet Member Posts: 342
    edited February 2011

    They have a card for everything else, so they should have one for this, too.  Maybe one of us should start a new line of cards...end of chemo, end of radiation, cancerversaries for each of those...the list is, well, hopefully, endless (one year cancerversary, two year cancerversary, three...)

    Subbed all day today for preschool Special Ed. kids.  I'm exhausted.  Going to bed very early.  Tomorrow's another day.   

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited February 2011

    Hi Girls - hope you're having a good weekend.

     I only have 12 rads to go - 5 regular and 7 boosts. Skin STILL looking really good.

    Sad news - a friend of mine was diagnosed with DCIS. The surgeon wants to remove the whole breast as he thinks there's more in there. He already did a surgical biopsy/lumpectomy and found 2 areas of DCIS - didn't get clear margins. She is so upset. I went and visited her yesterday, hoping someone calm might help. At least she won't have to go through chemo and rads.

    I hate cancer!!!!

    Sue

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited February 2011

    Sue, sorry to hear about your friend.  At least she has you as a friend for support.  I think that is one of the most important parts of recovery.

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited February 2011

    What makes is worse is that her mother died of bc 3 years ago and her Aunt recently had a BMX - I think that is what has made it so much worse. She wrote last night and said the plastic surgeon was really nice - she saw him yesterday.  I've offered to go with her to any appts if her DH can't go. I only know her from the bus going to work, but she actually came and took me out for morning tea when I was having chemo, so she deserves any support I can give her.

    My DH had to get up at an ungodly hour (4:30!!!) to go to golf, so I've been out chopping in the garden before it gets too hot. We recently got a rubbish bin for garden stuff. It's collected every 2 weeks. I've just filled it again. I swear I could fill it every week - I love it!!!

    ((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))) to everyone!!!

    Sue

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  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited February 2011

    Sue ~ so sorry about your friend, BC sucks !  Hope you enjoy your gardening and then get a nice nap in!

    Good day to all !

    :)

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited February 2011

    Alicia - I finshed in the garden at 7:30!!! Can't do anymore as the bin's full - bugger. No worries - they empty it Tuesday, so I can do more then.

    Sue

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  • doronet
    doronet Member Posts: 342
    edited February 2011

    Sue:  So sorry to hear about your friend with the BC.  I certainly agree with Alicia that BC SUCKS! (emphasis on the "sucks" part.)

    Question:  what date are you, all, using as the cancerversary day you'll celebrate as a "survivor"?  I am thinking the last day of treatment, but I think there are other ladies that go by their diagnosis date.  Can't quite decide:  when exactly is someone "cancer-free" for a year?

    I don't think I ever posted after my onc visit last week...because of the joint and muscle aches I'm having when I sit still for any period of time, I am now taking a break from the Arimidex and, in 2 weeks, I'll start taking Femara, another aromatase inhibitor.  I mentioned to my onc that I thought the SE's were the same for both meds, but she said that some people react differently to different drugs, so...we'll see if there is a difference.  I'm anxious to see if the aches even go away, or are less, after the 2 week break from the Arimidex.  I'll take the Femara for 30 days and then I'll either continue taking it or go back on the Arimidex.  As for the osteoporosis:  I'm just over the line between osteopenia and osteoporosis, so the plan is for me to continue with the nasal spray med. I've been on for 2 years and to be more diligent about taking extra calcium.  (I was pretty good about taking it, but not great.)  I see my PC doc in 6 weeks for my annual well-woman and my 6 mo. cholesterol test, so I'll talk to her about the osteo., too.  I did ask the onc about taking extra B12 for the neuropathy.  It isn't bad but annoying.  She said that it would help only if I were B12 deficiant.  She tested for that and I am normal.  Not sure if I'll continue to take it or not since I'm not sure I can tell a difference when I do and my multi-vitamin has extra B12 in it already.

    Well, enough about me.  :)

    Melinda:  I hope you are continuing to get stronger each day!!!  How's the boy-toy?

    Happy Monday!  Nette  :) 

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  • doronet
    doronet Member Posts: 342
    edited February 2011

    Sue:  So sorry to hear about your friend.  I second Alicia's comment:  BC SUCKS!!  (emphasis on the "sucks" added by me.)

    Question:  what date are you, guys, using as your cancerversary?  I know this has come up before.  I am thinking about using the date of my last treatment, but I know some ladies use the anniversary of their diagnosis.  When, exactly, is someone officially cancer-free for a year?

    Melinda:  I hope you are continuing to get stronger each day!!!  How's the Boy-toy?

    Happy Valentine's Day, to you, all!!!  Nette  :) 

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited February 2011

    For me,I am using my date of surgery as my cancerversery...so many dates to remember...tamoxaversery, chemoversery, portversery...when will it end.

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited February 2011

    Now which date of surgery would I use - got 2 to choose from :) I think I'm just going to try and forget the dates. Last chemo was our son's birthday - so I won't forget that.

    Only 3 regular zaps and 7 boosts to go!!! Skin still looking really good.

    Sue

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  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited February 2011

    Hi girls !  hmmmm...  I use my diagnosis date as my cancerversary.

    Sue glad your skin is holding up well.  YOU are almost done ! woo HOO ~

    Have a good day all !!!

    :)
    Alicia

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  • Cafelovr
    Cafelovr Member Posts: 1,534
    edited February 2011

    I use my diagnosis date as my cancerversary (Oct 19). I have another one...May 5. That's my anniversary with NED. That one I'm clinging on to!!!

    Sue...it's a sprint now!!

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited February 2011

    Linda - go with the NED date - I like that!!!

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  • doronet
    doronet Member Posts: 342
    edited February 2011

    Thanks for the thoughts on your own "cancerversary."  I thought this interesting:  The National Cancer Institute defines a cancer survivor this way: "An individual is considered a cancer survivor from the time of diagnosis, through the balance of his or her life."  I think for me, it will be the date of the last treatment, since, by then, I had "survived" the 3 surgeries, the chemo, and the rads and could put all that behind me, hopefully forever.

    Sue:  awesome that you are have only 9 to go!!!!!!!!!!!  Woo Hoo!!!  Hope the skin continues to stay "well!"

    Happy Wednesday tomorrow!!  Nette  :) 

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  • feistybluegecko
    feistybluegecko Member Posts: 133
    edited February 2011

    I also regard the date of diagnosis (2 October) as my Cancerversary.  That's when everything changed for me.  It's funny, I felt like a cancer patient through the active treatment (the triathlon - surgery, chemo and rads) and once I moved to check ups and Tamoxifen, I felt as if I had made a transition to cancer survivor.  Totally subjective but it is how it feels to me. 

    I remember the "landmark" days so clearly - I keep thinking, "it's a year today since I...... (lost my hair, had my 5th chemo etc etc)

     I hope you are all doing well and great to see how few you have left Sue.

    Big hugs

    Philippa

    x

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited February 2011

    Thanks Girls - I asked the rad onc today when my skin broke down last time - tx no 22 - that's tomorrow. I hope it doesn't happen again. It is looking good all over - hardly any change in skin colour - must be my fantastic new cream.

    My landmarks are bad - first bad mammo - my birthday and last chemo - my son's birthday. One of my chemo tx's- my daughter's birthday - planning session for this lot of rads - my daughter's birthday.

    Good to hear from you Philippa!!!

    Sue

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited February 2011

    Sue, I would think that rads last time toughened up your skin, so one can hope that perhaps you won't have as much pealing this time....I  hope.

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited February 2011

    Michele - it's the other boob being done - you can't have rads twice on the same boob. So, no the skin isn't tougher. It's really fine though - no itching or burning at all (touch wood).

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited February 2011

    Sue, ok that was a big old brain fart....

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  • Melinda41
    Melinda41 Member Posts: 672
    edited February 2011

    I consider my cancerversary to be D-Day (diagnosis day).

    I went to get an overdue eye exam yesterday (it had been years wearing the same glasses). They did the little puff in your eye test. My two eyes are drastically different, indicitive of glaucoma. WTF! So I will call Onc today and make sure that it is not cause for cancer concern. Good grief.

    Other than that, I was feeling pretty good. Still kinda blah, but the weather is turning so that should help.

    Sue: fingers crossed your skin holds up.

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  • Cafelovr
    Cafelovr Member Posts: 1,534
    edited February 2011

    Melinda...good grief indeed! Good luck with the appointment!

    Yes, the weather is starting to turn. Hopefully it will stay this way! I remember when we all couldn't wait for spring last year so we could bloom in all our glory!

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited February 2011

    Good to hear from you Melinda and Linda.

    Melinda - when is your last naked H tx?

    My skin is great - no sign of breakdown in the crease. The top of the boob hardly shows any colour change.

    I'm going in to the city today to visit work - free curry lunch. Good opportunity for me to visit. Won't be long before I'll have to go back - I'm getting so used to watching TV and cross stitching.

    Spent hours on the computer yesterday, booking flights and hotels for our trip in August. The travel agent is a rip off, so I'm doing most of it myself. I've let him do the flight to London only and even then he charged more than the online price. Found really nice hotels in London, Paris and Edinburgh - Trip Advisor is so good for finding nice places.

    Our son is really looking forward to us coming. His wife is due to give birth in June, so the trauma of all that will be over by the time we get there. I don't know what I'll do if I don't like her - I still haven't met her as you might remember. Being a granny for the first time is really scary - not something I like to think of much. I know it will happen one day, but they could have waited until I was 60 at least.

    (((((((HUGS)))))))) - hope you are all well.

    Sue

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited February 2011

    Well, I spoke too soon - skin breakdown in the crease under the boob - only a very small area. It's ok, I know it heals up quickly after rads. POOP!!!!!!

    Hope you are all well.

    Sue

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  • doronet
    doronet Member Posts: 342
    edited February 2011

    awwwww, RATS!!!, Sue!  And you were so close!!!  Hopefully, the area will stay small and won't get any worse.  How many rads left?  If my figurin' is correct, you should have 4 more (?)  You're in my prayers!

    I will be starting the Femara main. medication on Weds.  I must say that I can tell a difference in my joints and muscles from not taking any med for the last 1 1/2 weeks, though not a huge improvement, at least not so far.  And it's taken this long to even feel an improvement.

    Snow make-up day for the school kids today.  

    Happy Prez. Day!!  Nette  :) 

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited February 2011

    dang, computer went wacko and i lost my long post...oh well.

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited February 2011

    Thanks Nette - no I have 6 left. She's doing 7 boosts this time. I'm starting to organise going back to work. I'm waiting until 21st March as I have a Zometa infusion on the 16th and after the reaction last time, I think it's wise to wait.

    Sue

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  • Melinda41
    Melinda41 Member Posts: 672
    edited February 2011

    Sue: Sorry about the skin, my fingers are crossed that the rest of the skin holds tight.

    I had my last naked herp on 2/10.

    I went to opthalmologist and he has started me on glaucoma drops. My pressure in my eye is high but there is no damage to the optic nerve thankfully. It is so hard to believe that this is unrelated to cancer or treatment, but it seems to be just a crapy fluke.

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited February 2011

    Melinda - good to hear from you. Good that you don't have any nerve damage in your eye - it does seem hard to believe it hasn't been caused by the chemo. Have you had your port out? How's the beau?

    I seem to have nerve damage in my left ear from the chemo. I've got pulsatile tinnitus - you hear your heart beating in the ear when you lie on it - makes it hard to go to sleep. The other side is ok though.

    Olny 4 to go!!!

    Sue

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