Starting Chemo April 2009

Hi, everyone.  Well, the nightmare starts again for me - had my 2 year visit with the bs, and he found a thickening under the bc breast nipple, that has caused me tenderness and a bit of pain, itching, since the surgery.  He didn't like how it felt (and boy, neither did I, because I am still sore today), but he literally dragged me down the hall, kicked out the patient in ultrasound and did an ultrasound on me.  You can definitely see a dark mass there, so on Monday, it's back to the biopsy / waiting game.  Crap crap and more crap!  I was hoping to fly in there, be released to not have to see him for a year, and be done.  Instead, it's back to the nerves, freaking out and pain, I mean, a nipple biopsy??

Oh, and Lena, melantonin doesn't do jack for me either.  I have all kinds of natural sleep aids, and none of them allow me to sleep through the night.  only 1/2 ambien.  Been this way since dx, haven't been able to sleep at all, just a few hours each night, but with my little friend, I am at least sleeping.  I've always been a light sleeper, but the dx, surgery, chemo, etc. really did a number on my head and it just wasn't happening.  So, 1/2 ambien every night. 

Hope everyone is doing okay, surviving the long, long winter (we've had a weird winter here in FLA, but  nothing at all compared to the snow bonanza that the midwest and north has been).

Talk to you later, and definitely after I get my results.  Here we go again. 

Titan, I don't think its the same as the lump biopsy, because it is under the nipple.  The doctor said he will use a local and then it's more of a slice and dice kind of thing.  Urgh!!  I have been feeling pretty good, but with steadily increasing tenderness and itchyness in this nipple.  And, have had full body hives for at least 6 weeks or more, every 3-4 months since December 2009, which makes me feel like crap - been researching this, as they don't respond to prescription antihistamines (I've been on all of them, along with steroids, steroidal creams and other creams/foams), it seems to be a chronic hive / autoimmune related thing, which could have been as a result of several factors I check off for:  endometriosis, mono, and onset of a serious illness or disease/treatment.  energy level is good, but the hives really make me nuts because by the time each episode leaves, I'm bruised from scratching (which I try not to do, but it is next to impossible). 

Chelev - like all of us, I hope everything will be ok tomorrow. Keep us posted...sending good thoughts and prayers your way that this turns out to be nothing of concern.

Geri

Aloha all...back from sunny, warm Maui. We had a wonderful time, just what the dr. ordered. I did pretty well with my LE while there. I wore my sleeve and gauntlet on the plane ride to and from. Also wore it the day we drove up to Haleakala (crater) as we went from sea level to 10,000 ft. in a half an hour. I got tons of "hey cool tat" comments from all sorts of people, young, old and middle aged when they saw my sleeve. Although, I was really glad to go without it most of the time. I went swimming a couple of times a day and it made my arm feel pretty good. I think I have found a new exercise of choice. I even went without my compression bra...talk about FREEDOM. It felt wonderful.

My dh took a picture of my sleeve for me, I will try to post the PG version. Its been a while since I tried to post a picture. The picture I like, would most likely be censored...none of the thumbs up for me! How do you really feel about LE Bets? I'm sure you will be able to figure it out. LOL

Chelev...so sorry to hear about your biopsy. We are all wishing the best for you.

Betsy, your trip sounds fabulous. So pleased you had a good time!

Chelev - thinking about you today and hoping that everything is ok. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sending you all hugs, Judy x

Someone is saying BENIGN!  My breast surgeon was so relieved he called me tonight to tell me, and not wait until tomorrow's appointment.  He said he will be watching me like a hawk and I'll still follow up with him tomorrow, but oh, Thank GOD!

Chelev - I have been checking back 3 or 4 times a day...hoping to see the magic word  BENIGN!!!  Wonderful news, now I can go to Florida Friday and not be worrying about one of my bc sisters...HOORAY!

Geri

Chelev- Yippee!!! TG it was B9. A big sigh of relief!

Chelev - what a relief! I had also been checking back and forth to see if you had posted. Just reading the last few posts, shows what a bond we all have here - quite amazing! Now you can take a deep breath and relax.

Geri - have a great trip! Helen - enjoy your break. And you are right, your health is so very important.

I am ready for the Spring and some sunshine! Hugs to you all, Judy xxx

OK, guess what. A year and 8 months PFC, and the "longer" part of my hair has just reached the bottom of my neck -- I noticed it yesterday. Estimating at that rate, it might get FULLY to bottom of the shoulders length sometime in 2013, and back to pre-chemo length if I live that long, in 2015 maybe (i.e., if I delay getting my one and only planned post-chemo split ends/even-out-the-bottom type trimming until it's coming up on halfway down my back) but probably more like sometime into 2016.

:::::sigh::::: 

Happy weekend, all. 

Betsy...glad to hear from you..was hoping that the tsumani didn't take you away!  A California (Salinas).produce broker told me that Oregon had some major waves and I was thinking of you.

Lena.hopefully your hair will start growing faster...and you will be alive in 2015! I hope we all will be...!

I'm getting my hair cut again also..just had it cut and the hairdresser didn't cut enough off..it's not really that long..just really thick..I like it short too!

Lena, sorry you are going through this worry. I hope you check this out asap. Remember that most of these lumps or thickenings turn out to be nothing. Please keep us posted.

Lena..you hit the nail on the head there didn't you?  Agree with you totally..if I "find" something..I plan on being very calm...there is no way, no how, I will every go through that complete hell of finding out I had cancer..I don't think I could take it..

Ah, crap, Lena, this just stinks.  I mean, I know you are Stage IV, but it's just crap that more pop up and you have to go through that - we go through enough terror every time we feel something or have to get scanned.  The hair is showing some progress, though not fast enough for you though, I know!  Are you still keeping your head covered when you go out?   I somehow thought mine would be to the middle of my back by now.  don't know what I was thinking.

Betsy, I'll have to post a picture of my curls - I am fighting with mine if I let too much time go in between keratin treatments, so I gave in and put some curl mousse in and flipped the head, scrunched it up and let the curls fly.  Holy cow.

I was thinking of all of you west coast girls with the tsunami.  Remember Meg?  She has relatives in Japan - I think they are all okay, but what a nightmare.

To all of you starting to finally feel a little spring, I'm very happy the weather is slowly getting away from winter - it has been a long long winter for you guys - I've been traveling a lot and to see Atlanta literally crippled from an ice storm that New Yorkers or New englanders, and of course, Canadians, would scoff at, was a sight to see.  wishing you all a beautiful, b-9 spring.

Judy, so glad you had a great vacation with your family. Chelev, good to see you here. Lena, please keep us posted. BC sucks. I know I will never feel safe again. Spring is in the air. That's the only good thing about winter. It is followed by Spring