Starting Chemo Aug 09

jenn3 · May 2011

It seems my appetite returned with avengance these last two days. I have been eating, eating, eating. Yummy!!! I was able to enjoy some leftover red beans, pork chops, lunch @ Galatoires, sorbet......Yep, I am eating (but not over doing it) until Tuesday when I have chemo again and it wipes out my appetite.

Thank you!!! I am hoping to get another picture up here from Easter which shows my hair a little lighter.

Oh.....I can't wait for Harry Potter. I hope that the opening weekend coincides with a good weekend for me. I LOVE Harry Potter books and movies. I think I want to go see Something Borrowed, then Bridesmaids. There are some others, but I can't remember all of the names.

gillyone · May 2011

Yeah for a good appetite! Enjoy!!

Lilah · May 2011

Jenn -- yay indeed! Glad you can eat. I'm sure it makes you feel better too. And also: next weekend is the premiere of the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie! I love that Johnny Depp... and can't wait to see the next installment.

NavyMom · May 2011

Hi everybody.

Just a quick drive by to catch up and say hello. Love your curls, Jenn. My new hair started out with some waviness in the back but soon returned to its straight, fine, limp self. OH well!!!!

Take care.

Navy

msmpatty · May 2011

Jenn - Yeah...glad to hear you are eating and, most importantly, that things are tasting good! I remember my days on Taxol when everything tasted like it had been brined. After three months of that I still don't add salt to anything! How's the pain going?

Patty

Lilah · May 2011

OK Jenn -- we went to see BRIDESMAIDS tonight and it is both hilarious and touching. A definite must see

msmpatty · May 2011

Lilah, I've heard Bridesmaids described as the female version of the Hangover. I am not too proud to admit that I found the Hangover hilarious.

Patty

Lilah · May 2011

I would say that's a pretty good description. There are some jokes that are too low for my taste but overall it was good; and like any good chick flick it has its touching moments too (which Hangover, being the opposite of a chick flick, never bothered with). It's not a hangover story though... it's a female story that is what women go through when a wedding is announced, planned, executed... so it's not a mirror of Hangover. But definitely an equivalent and yes, very very funny. The star -- Kristin Wiig I think is her name (from Saturday Night Live) -- is really funny.

jenn3 · May 2011

Okay, Bridesmaids it is.........I think I'll hit the movies in the next day or two.

Lilah · May 2011

Oooo Jenn! Love that picture! I can definitely see how long your hair has gotten!

gillyone · May 2011

Hey Jenn - now you can post pictues you'll be changing them all the time!

I wish the avatar pictures were not so small. Anyone brave enough to share a picture in a post?

YoYo44 · May 2011

Hi Ladies,

Long time no write! My thyroid tanked last fall and being at work sucked out all the energy and positivity I had. I think I have finally stabilised and am starting to feel like me again. Although I am not sure who that fat, wavy brown haired person in the mirror is!!

Jenn, I was so sad to read your updates. I send you hugs and strength! Hopefully the spring flowers and plants will make you smile and give you strength to fight it out again! I hope the pain stays away and you recover quick after each chemo!

I am seeing my surgical oncologist this week and the oncologist June 2. I am feeling OK about them at this point. I guess we shall see. I had a bone scan about a month ago and was much relieved to get the results since I have had a pain in my foot for some time. Funny how before this it could have been encroaching middle age but now we have no faith in our bodies.

Hugs to you all and I will try to check in more often,

Yo

jenn3 · May 2011

Gill - I still haven't quite mastered the art of posting pics within the post. Maybe now that I'll start having some more time I can take the time to figure it out. The avatar pics are so small........

Yo - sending positive thoughts and vibes your way for your follow up appts. I am so sorry to hear that you had trouble with your thyroid. My co-worker recently went through that, she said that her dr told her it take up to a year to get the meds regulated. It sound like it's taken you a while. (((Hugs)))

Lilah - It's a small pic, but I got it up there. I had to crop it, take it out of the file, rename it, blah, blah, blah.... I guess my camera takes big picture files?????

jenn3 · May 2011

I've added my caring bridge site to my signature line, I have a lot of photos there along with my ramblings, etc.

gillyone · May 2011

Jenn - I tried to go to you caring bridge site but it said it could not find it. Will try again tomorrow.

Lilah · May 2011

Must be something missing from the link... it didn't work for me either.

And Jenn -- yeah, most cameras take big pictures that have to be resized for the internet.

jenn3 · May 2011

put my name together, no spaces.

Loveshermother · May 2011

Good afternoon everyone! I have a question that maybe someone could answer. Who is in charge of the decission of wether or not to biopsy the new lump. Onco or BS? The reason I asked was moms onco called me yesterday and wanted for her to come back and see him. You see when the BS said lets watch it, she went home and cancled her follow up with her onco. I told him I would speak with her and I did and the first thing she said to me was that the BS said lets watch it. I told her I knew that but she still needs to see the onco so that he can schedule her next round of scans and blood work. The onco did say to me that if I could he would like for me to talk to her and change her mind. He would rather hear NED, than to be sorry later. At this point she is willing to wait. I have to let her choose for herself but not without having her fully educated about the chances she is taking. Thank you all for your help.

Jenn-- Hope you are feeling better. I have a daughter who is graduating college tomorrow. Its such a thrill. Then I have my youngest who is a graduate in june from high school. So I gain one back and loose one after summer. Yeah for me NO empty nest yet!. Have a great weekend everyone and hope anyone who has been suffering with the rain (like me) for the last 7 days that we get to see some sun over the weekend!

Lilah · May 2011

Jenn -- I copied and pasted your link exactly (name together with no spaces) and it still doesn't work.

Penny -- it sounds like the Onc disagrees with the BC. As to who is in charge, it's your mom. That said, if your mom's Onc thinks it is not a good idea to wait, you need to tell your mom that. I think the Onc is right. Why wait? If it IS cancer then waiting is a bad thing. If it isn't, then there is nothing to wait on -- it is done.

jenn3 · May 2011

Penny - The onc probably wants to treat "it", which is why he wants the biopsy, go with him.

Lilah - try signing into Caring Bridge - I have it set so that someone wanting to view has to sign on with their email address. I don't see the information, but felt it gave me some level of privacy from everyone on the internet.

Lilah · May 2011

Ah I figured it out Jen! I didn't realize I had to create a password and stuff. Done!

Love the photo! I can see it now very nicely Going to go read now...

Edited to add: I am so moved by what you are going through Jenn. And so sorry too. I'm sure I've said it before but reading your journal (and reading it backwards from most recent to first) is heartbreaking.

Your family is so beautiful and so are you.

jenn3 · May 2011

Lilah - thank you so much for your kind words and support.

Not sure if I told y'all, but I am suffering with anemia.........I can hardly do anything without my heart racing a mile a minute and losing my breath. Just getting up to feed the birds this morning felt like I had walked two miles - incredibly frustrating. I was so sick yesterday with nausea and vomiting that I didn't make it in to get my neupogen shots. I spoke to the nurse today about it and she said while I am severely anemic, she thinks I can wait until Monday. She hates to see me have to through the ER for a blood transfusion. So.........I am to rest, rest, rest and hang tight until Monday. I feel so lazy - I do not know how people who have the ability to move can just lay around all day and night.

And........in the midst of this we are rearranging our home. My oldest moved home, so we have to take our office and storage space, find room for it and let the office go back to being her bedroom after nine years. However, my youngest is home from college so we also have her stuff around the house. Our house, every room is a mess - driving me CRAZY. Stuff going to goodwill, library donations (lots of books), dress donations to local high schools and thrown out. One big mess. We are hoping that by tomorrow most of it will be done. DH and DD's are having to do most/all of the work, ugh - going through my stuff. Oh well, it's a good chance to clean out all of those things we threw in the office/storage area.

I hope that all of you are having a good weekend.

Lilah · May 2011

Rest up and enjoy having the brood around you this weekend Jenn!

Loveshermother · May 2011

Jenn- I'm so sorry to hear what you are going threw. I only hope for you to be feeling better soon. {{HUGS}}. I know how you feel about your house being a mess. My oldest just graduated from college yesterday and she is back home with us as well. We have stuff everywhere. She is working on it everyday but my house is a mess. It was wonderful seeing her in her cap and gown. My youngest will graduate in june from high school. WOW where is the time going?

Lilah. I agree with you that end result it is mom who makes the final decision. I did talk with her and she made her appt with the onco for friday. I have my list of questions ready!. Thank you all for your help. Can they do a sonogram to check on it or will she have to have it seen threw more scans. I think her next round of scans will be either in late june or early july. I know why the BS wants to wait. When she had her mx she developed a large hemotoma and he feels its still part of that. He dosent want to do anything and create a new one. BUT.. the question is always there what if.. Thank you all and I hope you all enjoy your sunday and hope it is rain free. We have had over 9 straight days of rain (on and off) and Its getting a little old. LOL

Lilah · May 2011

Penny -- I had a hematoma (a huge one) after my initial biopsy. When they followed that up with an MRI (since the biopsy showed cancer) the MRI could see the hematoma. Maybe an MRI would help determine whether it is a hematoma or a new tumor? I suggest you also share that info with your mom's onc when you go there (what the BS said).

gillyone · May 2011

Jenn - hang in there and rest up as much as you can. Get a good book and flake out on the couch for a while.

Loveshermother · May 2011

Lilah, When I spoke with the onco I did share with him what the BS said. His responce to me was. He would rather see its nothing than wait to find out differently months down the road. I did tell him that the BS said to have the onco call him if he wanted to but I dont kown if he did or not. Its good to know about the MRI. I will see if that is something he can do. Thank you for your help. Moms was also very large. She is on blood thinners (has been for over 15 years) so its always such a task if any kind of surgery is needed. I know that the BS was trying to spare her that. So maybe the MRI will be a good idea. Have a great monday.

YoYo44 · May 2011

Jenn,

Sorry to hear about the anemia on top of everything else. I am glad that you have your family around though to keep things lively. I hope they are a good distraction. I know what you mean about the mess though. My husband is between jobs still and he is the housekeeper lately. His intentions are good so now I have adjusted! :-) Sending good vibes!

Penny, good luck with your Mom. It's great that you are helping her. A lot of people just go along and that is not necessarily good.

Gilly and Lilah, you both look great! I had my second haircut Friday and had highlights put in. At least now it is my choice!

Take care,

Yo

Lilah · May 2011

Well, fairness in advertising, Yo: my current picture is pre-BC I just like it.

msmpatty · May 2011

Lilah -- LOL on the honesty! If not for that we'd all post our most flattering pictures from whatever age we liked best. I made my hotel reservations for the TATA reunion today. Can't wait!

Jenn -- I'm so sorry to hear about the anemia. Is it the chemo...or not eating....or...? I can totally relate to the frustration of the house being a mess. I can't stand messes. But when reorganizing it always has to get very bad before it gets better. Glad you have help!

Loves -- I think your Mom made the best decision getting in to see the Onc. I have a lump in my surgery breast which is being tracked by both my Onc and the PS. I have ultrasounds every six months and physical exams every three. So far they think it is nothing...fat necrosis, complicated cyst, something like that...but it is good to keep an eye on these things. How come we're all so lumpy???

Gill -- Will I meet you in Las Vegas too?

I can't relate (yet) to the empty nest. But my 14 year old leaves Sunday on a 7-day school trip to Costa Rica and it will be first time in a very long time that I have a whole WEEK to myself! I've booked a trip to NYC with my very best friend from college. WAHOO!

Patty

Starting Chemo Aug 09

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