For those starting chemo in June

Hi Girls, hope you are all warm. I am fine and still not real painful. Its all getting much better. I am up and around and lots to do after a wk. Hubby wants to go to Springfield and get my birthday pres. and eat lobster so guess we will go later. I get my wrappings off on Tue. which is my birthday so a nice little pres. I guess. I had treatment Thurs. Hope P.J., you are doing good and getting your shopping done. Janie, you got yours done yet? I have x-mas eve for my family so I have a lot to do. Hubbys mom had B.C.(paggots desease) around 30 years ago and colon cancer 25 years ago and she just found out she has cancer in her lymph nodes in her neck. She gets scans etc. Tue. I think to see where it is from. She has herself gone already and she won't get treatment etc. She has never had any treatment of any kind. She is 76. I told her thats the average age of my chemo buddies but she would rather just "go". Guess it is her call. She may change her mind. I won't try to sway her because it has to be her decission. I think she will make the right one for her. I will be here for her. She and I have always been close but since my mom died I haven't been as close to her as before, don't know why. Well better get busy, I need to make a Wally run. Gosh, snow in Texas and Janie is cold? what next? Hope Nancy Lee and Renee are staying warm. Wow Renee, that has to suck going home to freezing weather and snow. I am ready for a Phoenix run but that ain't going to happen for a month or two. The weather gets too bad to travel to St. Louis sometimes in Jan. and Feb. so I hate to travel then. Better get going. Hugs, Mary

Hi Janie, Mary, Renee & PJ--Hope you all had super weekends. I just finished reading back over all I've missed since the last time I checked in. I made my little trip to the infusion room to have my port flushed last Monday. It was nice to go there for just a 10 minute span. SWEET. I sat in the waiting room and read a People magazine and then talked to one of the nurses for a little bit. Very relaxed. Then I did some grocery shopping for the daycare and drove back to Baker. I went to the daycare and dropped off the stuff and told them I'd be to work on Tuesday morning bright and early. Well, I should learn to never make big announcements like that!! It started to snow in quantity on Monday night and then it got SERIOUSLY cold. I mean 15 below zero with windchill of 40 below. And it snowed and the wind blew and it snowed some more and by Wednesday the highway south of town that I travel on for 6 of the 10 miles that I live away from town was Emergency Travel only and on Thursday it was completely closed. The road into my ranch has 8 to 10 foot high drifts over it in the places like the lane where I have trees. It's really kinda cool. I can walk over my front fence on the snowbanks and right up onto the roof of the garage. The snow is Really hard and packed in. The highway was opened again on Friday to emergency traffic and on Saturday, my neighbor came and shoveled out the shop doors so I could blast my jeep out of there. I mean--blast. I had to hit the snowbank in front of the door 5 times before I got thru it. Then I followed a trail that he had made through my pasture that bypasses the drifts on the main road. My road is still blocked by drifts. The county plows are working at the other end of the road where the school bus has to travel. I did go to town on Saturday and stocked up on groceries in case this happens again. Needless to say, I didn't get to work at the daycare all week. Today it has been pretty clear and 4 ABOVE zero. Heatwave!!! I spent my time during the siege from Tuesday thru Saturday digging lambs out of snowbanks and feeding bales to some sheep that were close in around the place here. I also ventured out to walk onto to the top of the biggest snowbank in the trees just because it was so cool to be standing at the tops of trees. I could look over the top of my house and see the barns on the other side. These snowbanks are just enourmous. I need to take a camera out tomorrow and get a few shots so I can send them to my sister in Oregon. I also spent the time trying to keep my mother warm. She is 80 so gets cold a lot. I think she keeps the house like an oven, but she's always cold. She thinks that I have a constant fever or something because I think 80 degrees is too hot. I told her that if it was this hot in the house in the summer she'd have the air conditioning on. She was not amused. Oh, well. Gonna go read some jokes on the humor forum and then go whip up something for supper for Mom. Have not bought one Christmas present or put up one decoration--Bah, humbug. Not really, but I've just put so much time and energy into this "Getting my life back" project that I put Christmas on the back burner. I might just leave it there for this year. We shall see. Have a great week everyone--Life is Good--Smiles--NancyLee

Nancy, What kind of heat do you have in that extreme cold? Do you have fireplaces? Where do the sheep usually stay? It sounded like at least some of them are outside. DO they survive the frigid temperatures?

PJ, Do you have any treatment during the holidays? I do hope you can enjoy them.

Mary, how did your dr. appointment go?

Renee, Are they making bunches of cheese up there for Christmas?

Nancy,

Thanks for the lesson in sheep herding. That is all really fascinating. Good thing it's you and not me. I would probably bring the lambs in the house on cold nights. Wouldn't you know the guys have it the easiest.

I had similar rashes when I was on Taxol and for a while when I started Herceptin. I took Benadryl and also used a topical cream such as Cortisol or Benadryl creme -- those help the immediate itching.

The rash continues despite my efforts. I think it must be some sort of drug reaction although I've avoided the cookies today just in case it's a "chocolate chip cookie" reaction!! The county plows showed up this morning and the guy broke a blade in my lane. He waited there a couple of hours for help to come and pry it loose. I didn't go out and offer help. He probably enjoyed just sitting there not working. The guy is someone I graduated from high school with and have known forever so I was going to take a cup of coffee out to him, but then noticed the glint of his thermal coffee cup as he stood out beside his plow and threw sticks for my dog to retrieve. He was refilling it from a big thermos and he looked like he was getting by just fine so I went and took a shower instead of going outside. It's really nice out today--32 degrees above zero and hardly any wind. YAY!! I went out and gave some shelled corn to this goofy sheep I keep in the yard. LONG story. My neighbor just showed up and is out plowing away the snow in front of my front gate with a tractor. That's nice. Happy Birthday from me too, Mary. Maybe that's why it's so nice out today. God sent nice weather for you!!! Oh, and by the way, Janie--I have brought lambs into the house and put them in the bathtub to warm up. We've also at times boarded off with a child gate the hallway into the porch and put a bunch of lambs in there when it's really cold. It has a tile floor not carpeting, but we won't even go into how messy that is to clean up, but it's worth it to save their little wooly lives. Well, I'm gonna go make a smoothie for my mom. She's having a rough day. Hope your Tuesday is treating you all well. Life is Good--Smiles--NancyLee

Hey Girls, first let me say P.J. next time you have a problem please e mail me right away because my hubby is so experienced in problems just like the humming sound one. He would of tore your wall out and floor and what ever it took to "find the noise". Believe me honey he would of eventually found it. He would of left no stone unturned sorta speak. THANKS for all the birthday wishes girls, the big ol 52. Gee, time flies. The girls, as I have come to call them, look pretty good. They are still a little uneven but very close. I still can't go without a bra because theres a little sag in the "good" one because theres not a lot of implant there but they are good. I was on an antibiotic and now I have a blister in my mouth thats not going away. I have some Pen V K now but haven't started it. The clindamicyn, or however, was terrible. I told the Dr. I didn't want that crap again. Nancy, I don't know how you do all that in the bad weather, shoot I hate to go out when its cold and if it gets below freezing I run to the car after hubby warms it up. We live in town though so the roads are pretty clear because we are beside a snow route. We use to do snow removal and I hated it. Janie, my dog is just crazy about the card!!!!She wanted me to play it over and over. Hugs, Mary

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY MARY!!!!
I was shopping for 7 HOURS yesterday with Ryan (texas). We got alot done and today we'll only have to go out for a few more things. Our last stop was to get beer and wine. He had to get some our our great WI micro brews and well, he can't drink alone, so I got some wine. We enjoyed sandwiches and beverages and talked. It is good to have him here for a bit ( ask me in about 3 weeks if I feel the same way!!)
Paula, 70 sounds alot better than 20's -it's a good thing your family is coming to see you. We'll meet up this summer when it is 70 here.
Janie, you should get one of those automatic starters for your car- no more dashing in and out of the house.
Nancy- Montana is beautiful, but I couldn't handle all that cold or snow either- but my kids would have loved it!
Renee

Renee, I didn't know they made such things as automatic starters. I will have to check that out. Of course, I am wasting a lot of gas and it is like liquid gold these days.

Nancy, We have deer in GA too. One "ran into me." I did not hit her/him. He/She just ran right into my van a few years ago. They have deer insurance that can be added on to the car insurance. I bought some deer whistles. Not sure if they work. A friend of mine from VA once told me that his Dad was going deer hunting. I told him to just send him down here. All he needs is his car. Did you hear about the guy who wrote the county requesting that they take down the "Deer Crossing" signs because too many deer were crossing the roads?

Nancy, I changed school systems and moved in July. I practically started working the minute I got here. Everything happened so fast I quickly found an apartment that is nice but I don't plan to stay here. Thinking about buying, but we shall see. Although I had help, it was difficult packing and moving, especially with the lymphedema and fatigue. Long story short -- I decided not to unpack anything that does not have to be unpacked. There are boxes galore.

Yeah Mary, I don't eat deer meat either. I don't like to see their pretty little heads hanging on the wall. I cried when I saw Bambi. Of course, I've been known to cry watching some commercials. I've shed very few tears during this BC ordeal, but cry at commericials. Go figure.

Took all the kids grocery shopping with me last night for Christmas dinner. You all would have been proud. I had my list typed and organized by items. I casually strolled and shopped while sending them to get "this and that" and bring it back to the cart. I also had them come and help carry it all into the house. This way it took very little time and I was not worn out.

The Christmas spirit was alive and well yesterday. Three separate times, businesses let extra charges go and wished me a Merry Christmas. For example, the supermarket forgot to ring up the turkey, so they gave it to me! In addition, I emailed a restaurant back home (TN) asking for their famous creamed corn recipe and within about an hour, the head honcho sent it to me in an attachment.

Merry Christmas and God Bless Us Everyone!

Goodmorning girls, P.J., How wonderful, it's great to be so well thought of. You sound busy and happy. I think all the hustle of the Hollidays helps us to forget for a little while all we have been through and thats a good thing. I still have to clean the dinning room floor, its hardwood so get the dust up and scrub my kitchen floor and make a few things and I will be ready by 1. Thats when we are having my family. Most live within 20 mins. but 1 sister lives about an hour away and this way everyones home before the sun goes down in case of bad weather. We have rain but it will change to snow. I will be back later but I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. I am so glad we are all still here together. Better get busy. My daughter in Az. doesn't get to come home this year but I can deal with that. It will be the first time we haven't all been together. I will keep sending her pics. on the phone so she will feel like shes home. Later little Santa elves. Have a great day girls, Mary

Merry Christmas girls, Going to shower and relax, and eat leftovers. I think we all got our biggest Christmas wish, we are still alive and well(as we know it). Together we will make it another year. Anyone need anything "put together" My hubby would be glad to help and he don't need any stinkin structions! Yea; ever have to dig through the trash for the "structions?" That is the last time I will do that! He didn't throw them away, he has no idea how they got there, musta been a grandkid (they hadn't been here yet)....They always put in an extra piece you realize after it is put together. I can see the grandson ridding down the street and his "big wheel" just falls apart. I wonder if I would get any bids for him on e-bay. Nah, they'd want their money back and I would have to pay for all the things he "fixes" of theirs; Oh well. hugs, Mary

Hey Ladies,Janie you little southerner you. I was surprised as you at the southern accent. I guess on these boards we just assume we all talk alike. Ya know, we lived in Fla. for little over a year way back when and when I came home everyone said I talked like a Southerner. The only thing I noticed was I said "ya'll" and "pop" for sodie. Everyone down there made fun of me calling pop sodie. Well, thanks for the info Janie. I haven't read up on much lately just whats been in the paper. I know when I checked into this way back at dx. the stats for us dropped off at 5 years because there wasn't many people alive after 6 years and they didn't keep track much.There were no stats past 8 years because there wasn't a percentage. That was scary. We are indeed rare.... and valuable. I am one of those people that if a Dr. says somethings very rare and not much chance I could have it, I know I do because it always happens. I went to Wally and got a few half priced things but I will go back in a day or two and get stuff 90% off. I go over and just walk around for exercise. I am eating bridge mix now (exercising my waving arm). I like the raisins and they are healthy with iron but the chocolate may be a problem. I really have to get back to 134. I need to loose 11 pounds. If the bottom of my feet didn't hurt so bad it would be easier. Oh Heck, who am I kidding, I just can't get my big J.Lo a*s in gear. All the fat they took from my belly will be back. My daughter gave me a little pep talk about that. I just said "yea ,I am going to eat healthy and exercise" . I really don't eat a lot of sweets, I make them but I don't eat them. Well looking down at the Bridge mix can, I have eaten half the can(small one). I better stop. 190 cals. per 11 pieces, I ate about 40 pieces mostly raisins so that audda pack on another pound or 2. Well I'll put the exercise thought away with the rest of the "one of these day" thoughts. Hugs, Mary

Odayls, I had bad hot flashes but they lasted 4 or 5 mins. or so. My body did hurt and every bone in it and the neup. shots cause some good bone pain but I didn't have the 5FU. Your burning feeling and pain may not be from the same thing. Sorry I couldn't help but someone on these boards will I am sure. Good luck, it all gets better. Mary

Hi Odalys, welcome to our homey little group. I'd say your onc is probably right about the f5u (or whatever it is, chemobrain). those symptoms are exactly what i get with hand/foot syndrome (but they last a lot longer) with xeloda, which metabolizes into f5u. seems like it could have such side effects in the infused form.

mary, my gosh, i bet i've eaten 20,000 calories in the last two days with all the holiday sweets everyone brought. but i can't stop myself. sweet is one of the few things i can taste really well right now, so i'm going for it.

things have been wild here with 15 people around (7 kids). it's been a blast. went to the zoo today (in the 70s) and shopping tomorrow. i'm pooped but happy. no work all week helps....

better go to bed before i scarf up another 4800 calories. hope all is well with you guys. i forsee a great 2006 for all of us.

paula

Hi All,

Odalys, Like Mary, I had a different regimen and no burning, but plenty of pain. It sounds like your experience is related to the F5U or a hormonal source of some kind. I hope you get to the bottom of it and find some relief.

Mary - Hopefully, Herceptin will help the ER/PR neg prognosis. I feel like I have 3 strikes: ER/PR neg status, HER2+++ status and stage III; however, I just keep muddling along and NED is sticking with me through thick and thin.

I love Bridge Mix too (I bet you knew that). I especially like the maple which is even better when accompanied by Brazil nut. Ladies, I have GOT to go on a diet, or rather, "change my lifestyle."

Paula, you are right! 2006 will be good to us.