May 2010 Chemo

Day, so glad to hear that you are alright. My heart just sunk when I read your post on not being able to go to the ER. I'm very glad you were able to talk by phone with your onc. Those are scarily similar SE's from when they thought I was having a pulmonary embolism which actually turned out to be an enlarged liver from mets.



I haven't felt up to posting for the past week. I'm actually back in the hospital due to nausea that I just couldn't get under control which made me get dehydrated and even sicker. I'm getting much better care this time though asgot booked through chemo and not emergency. Anyway my insomnia is gone stop I'm heading back to bed!

I have not pooped since before surgery last friday.... ugh...

Hi Jenn!  Glad you are getting better care this time... boo for being in the hospital again so soon.  I'll be praying for a speedy recovery and homecoming!! 

Day - I will be praying that you have strained something or your AIs are causing icky SEs!!     I had been just hurting in my belly and back from diep... but in the last 6 or 8 hours, my breast and side have started really, really hurting.  I have a follow up with PS tomorrow afternoon, so curious to see what he will say.  This area really was not hurting at all until recently...

Jenn, so sorry to hear you are back in the hospital. Pray you go home soon.

Day, sometimes I think we need to be reminded of what we have been through. We think we can lift more than we should. Feel better soon.

Leanna, that constipation, you don't know you have till it is too late...ugh is right!

Sacphotomom I'm going for a trim on wednesday. I swear if she over cuts, I don't know what I will do. It has been three months since the last trim and I need some kind of shaping. I think I will remind her that I have already had the very, very short look and didn't like it!



Had a ct scan today to check on the radiation pneumonitis, I'm a little concerned that they did the neck done and added a contrast dye this time. Why is it we seem to get these tests on fridays when you have to wait a weekend to get answers....and then this is a holiday weekend.

Love and enjoy the Memorial weekend. Very hot here in Florida!

DAy, you are a riot.

Jenn, hope you are home and feeling better.



I was invited to my sons home this morning for a wonderful breakfast, my husband is out of town for a few days. It is wonderful to have such a great daughter in law.

Then came home foe a quiet afternoon by the pool. It was a beautiful day.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend too!

Judy

Popping in for a moment -- in Georgia we are having a HEAT WAVE!  I got crazy this weekend and did two wild things --part of my BUCKET LIST FOR LIFE:   1)  did a raise money for the cause "painting" class where you start off with paint on a paper plate -- dip your boob in it and put it on the canvas and then you paint the rest with paint brushes (actually was alot of fun -- we didn't sit around topless -- you clean up and put back on your top before you start back painting -- unless you are the type that would feel better loose and free -- none of the 5 of us did --    { My rough painting in the class was of a dachshund running with a pink ribbon --   One boob formed the shoulder hunches and the other boob formed the hip.  :0  -- a little crazy laughter for life.}

and 2) got a small 3.5"long x 2.5" tall tattoo (on my left ankle -- same side as cancer was)  of a black/tan dachshund running with a pink ribbon in its mouth that above him forms the BC Pink Ribbon.    For my very conservative personality, both of these are OUT there -- but I LOVED IT!  My tattoo is so cool.  The Savannah Art College grad tattoo artist took a simple cartoon character of a dachshund I had dropped off and made it look so realistic.    

The painting class was held by a lady who had ovarian cancer a year ago and has something now showing up on her head -- some type of tumor that she starts fighting this week with radiation.  She was awesomely inspiring with her upbeat talk and will to keep moving.  Others shared various stories of family and friends cancer -- the shop where it was held was for breast cancer patients / family/ friends -- had all types of merchandise. 

TIGHT BEAR HUGS to those hurting and LibraryJenn -- a special prayer goes out daily for your healing.    Here praying that each of you all take time to do something WILD and CRAZY and BUCKET LIST of LIFE worthy to make you chuckle and laugh and feel carefree again -- so glad this summer is not filled with fear/ chemo / radiation!  SO HAPPY and praying each of you still walking uphill on this journey will get to that point very very soon as well! 

Wanted to share to give you girls some laughter!  Much love!  Kim
Diagnosis: 4/20/2010, IDC, 3cm, Stage II, Grade 2, 0/1 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-

Hey Ladies!  Here I thought that the posts had just been really quiet, but I came on an noticed that I accidentally turned off my "email notification" for posts!  Thanks for all the kind words/thoughts.  I'm home now, and am trying to get a grip on the nausea.  I actually had to turn to marjuana as nothing else was working.  The marjuana works, but I'm not very good at it and have to learn to inhale!  It's been an interesting experience  The chemo that I'm on is called Navelbine.  It's not supposed to have many side effects, and no nausea.  HA!  They are actually going to admit me on the days of my chemo so that I'm able to get IV anti-nausea drugs and hydration on the day and next day plus pain control.  Taxotere x 1000 pain in my joints etc.  Right now I go to the chemo lounge every day for dextrose.  Today was good, it only took about 2.5 hours.  Twice it's been closer to 4.  

My DH has had to take a stress leave from work to be able to drive me to all my appointments!  I haven't had a day in two weeks without something somewhere.  Tomorrow it's a brain MRI (checking for mets) that requires a drive to Saskatoon, so that's a three hour trip in itself.  He was getting near a breaking point with his work anyway, so now it's just a paid time to look for something else

Leanna -  I hear you on the no pooping!  I hate taking something for it, but I'm back having to between the chemo and the hydromorphine.  Hope your infection clears up soon.

Day  - glad to hear that your pain has a cause (go easy on moving tables hey!)

Kim - the painting and the tatoo sound so liberating, good for you!

Denise  - hope those shingles are clearing up.  I get the virus in the form of cold sores, but it really is like have shingles with pain I get in my face before they come.  I get them from having fevers/out in the sun too much etc, so in that way they act like true cold sores though.

Hey Jersey, I had my exchange surgery in March and my implants still don't feel "natural".  I am not sure if they ever will.  They often feel tight so I rub them.  I don't care who sees me rubbing my boobs!

Jenn, just curious, is marijuana legal in Canada or are you getting from an "unauthorized" source?  I tried it when I was trying to deal with all my bmx pain, but it only made me hyper-aware of everything including my pain.

Kim, Yay for you and your wild and crazy self.  Over the years I've always said I'd never get a tattoo (now I have tix to fly to MD to get Vinnie Myers to do 3D nipples).  I also said I'd never get implants.  Ha.  And I distinctly remember as a teenager saying I'd run away from home if I ever had twins.  My twins will be 9 years old next month.

For those of you ladies here in the states who have children, you should look up Camp Kesem online and see if a university near you offers this program.  It's for kids whose parent has or had cancer.  My girls are going to a free week of sleep-away camp that is run by Stanford students.  The program is amazing and kids can go back year after year.  We recently went to an event and got to meet the counselors and many of the kids.  We were so impressed.  Plus, I can't wait to have my kids gone for a whole week!!!  

That happens the week after 3rd grade lets out.  Then we leave for almost 7 weeks of (mostly) camping in Idaho, Montana, western Canada, Washington and maybe Oregon.  We are planning to do some horse back riding and rafting with the kids on this trip as well as some living history stuff and visiting a few National Parks.  Also have a house outside of Vancouver for a week on a home exchange.  It will be an action-packed summer, that's for sure.

I hope all you ladies find your way back to the new "normal" and are feeling better soon.  Jenn -- I am sending healing angels out to you.  NO MORE METS!!!

Love to you all,

Jennifer

Hi Ladies,

Just thought I'd check in and see how everyone is doing - I can't believe it's June already!!

Jenn - I'm glad you are home hope you are feeling well (yea for marijuana!) I think of you everyday and hate that you are going through this! I'm glad your husband is able to take time off and go to all the appointments with you. Chin up!

Denise - Shingles all gone?? Hope so!

Day - I'm so glad you're safe but I am sorry you're community suffered. Hope your pain is diminished.

Leanna - How's that belly? Drains SUCK!!!! Hope each day is better for you.

NJB - I had my exchange to implants the end of March and they definitely don't feel natural. I was honestly expecting so much more. I feel like the one on the radiated side rises each day - feels like it will eventually pop out of my collarbone!

Kim - Your painting class sounds great and the tattoo too! Good for you I want to see a pic of the tattoo.

Nana - I'm glad you are happy with your haircut. I get my second one tomorrow - The sides need a trim as they puff out. I'm afraid though that if I keep trimming they'll never actually grow! Ugh.....

PackJen - Crazy how life turns out so differently than expected huh? I did look into Camp Kesem and my kids really wanted to go but the timing for the one closest to us conflicted. They're hoping to go next year. I can't wait to hear how your kids like it. The rest of your summer sounds busy & wonderful - Enjoy!

Big Hugs to all of you, hope you're enjoying the warmer weather.

Day, I'm so glad for you that it's not recurrent cancer. I know very little about fibriomialgia (like how to even spell it!) I hope you are able to get some comfort from your symptoms though.

Jersey, we (4 of us -- strangers all) are going to see Vinnie on Friday, 8/12.  Wanna join in the fun?  I've got him booked for the day.

 So it's been just over a year since I cut my hair off pre-chemo.  For some reason I held onto my ponytail.  Today I finally gave in to my girls and cut their hair short.  Now we all have hair to donate.

packjen:  what an absolutely adorable picture...and look at you now!! wow...Your hair looks great. Aug 12th I will be just coming back from Jamaica. Planned a trip last year with my friends. I am counting down the days. I booked June 17th...so I will let you know how it goes. I spoke with Jay from the tattoo parlor and he said I could not go in the water for 3 weeks. This is why  I planned the tattoos so early. I want to be able to enjoy the pool and ocean... So are you getting the tatooed nipple ring?  hmmm... I just might for fun...lol..... I believe Vinnies is by the inner harbor.. Nice place, good seafood..If you are taking the kids a great auarium.

Jenn: How are you feeling these days? In my thoughts

Day: Any news on the fibomagylia

Packjen, what a beautiful family you are and how nice the girls are to cut their hair too!

Cancer has stricken another friend and just as her daughter is battling breast cancer... Praying for them, hoping cures come quickly!

Okay, not making fun of shingles because my mother is suffering with them right now -- second bout and so I know they are nasty but I found this joke on one of the forums here and thought I'd share:

Bubba Had Shingles
 
Those of us who spend much time in a doctor's office should appreciate
this! Doesn't it seem more and more that physicians are running their
practices like an assembly line?  Here's what happened to Bubba:
 
Bubba walked into a doctor's office and the receptionist asked him
what he had.  Bubba said: 'Shingles.'  So she wrote down his name,
address, medical insurance number and told him to have a seat.
 
Fifteen minutes later a nurse's aide came out and asked Bubba what he
had.
 
Bubba said, 'Shingles.'  So she wrote down his height, weight, a
complete medical history and told Bubba to wait in the examining room.
 
A half hour later a nurse came in and asked Bubba what he had. Bubba
said, 'Shingles.'  So the nurse gave Bubba a blood test, a blood
pressure test, an electrocardiogram, and told Bubba to take off all
his clothes and wait for the doctor.
 
An hour later the doctor came in and found Bubba sitting patiently in
the nude and asked Bubba what he had.  Bubba said, 'Shingles.'  The
doctor asked, 'Where?'
 
Bubba said, 'Outside on the truck.  Where do you want me to unload
'em?

Yes, it is one of THOSE jokes.  I am hoping all of you are doing well and that our Jen is prayerfully healing and feeling better!  Constantly in our prayers!  Love!  Kim

PS:  These days looks like I'm channeling the 70's...if I don't touch my hair after a shower it goes into a fro... Should put on the hip hugger bell bottoms and the tie-dyed tee!  lol OMG I have really dated my self.. because these can be found in the stores again.. for the younger set to be retro!  

Hugs to you LibraryJenn -- glad you got the package -- the black bear is similar to the ones up in the North Georgia mountains that I used to see as a child when my parents drove us through the beautiful Fall colors!    As kids, we thought this was SOO neat!  I just put miscellaneous items -- figured you could gather some laughs from some of the silly ones and prayerfully inspiration from the book.  I ran across that book a few years back and it really uplifted me -- the inspirational pictures -- so I ordered several to have on hand -- that is how awesome I thought it was!  Hope you are doing well!  Keeping prayers going.  Sacphotomom-- I am with you on the "afro" look.  The heat/humid weather of Georgia makes mine wild like that and I've had a trim.  In fact, I asked my husband today if I should go get it trimmed shorter and he said no.  :0  We were eating out today and I saw a younger lady with a sundress on and a tattoo of a vine/with honey suckle type flowers (not sure of the flowers) on her shoulder -- trailing down.  I told her it was beautiful and then showed her my running dachshund with the pink ribbon.  Some middle-age ladies on the other side of me

 -- (my age -- ha!  ha!) saw it and DIDN'T get it -- (probably didn't approve -- LOL)  when you have/had breast cancer -- all "normal" behavior is "the heck with it" and you just get radical!  Life is too darn short to be "normally sedate" anymore!  LOL  So I restated that I was a one-year breast cancer survivor -- still don't know if the "middle age" lady got it -- but the young lady with the tattoo said her son (he wasn't with them but obviously young because she is young) said that they have son that is a 2 year cancer survivor.  Life's journey puts us on the path of meeting many and sharing the journey of love if we let ourselves be open enough to share!  I did a thumbs up to her.  Sending positive prayers of healing and hugs to the sisters here still fighting the battles of aching bodies / surgeries and healing from the past surgeries.  I have very achy joints at times and the hot flashes are a part of my daily walk but I am thankful to have a walk of life!  MUCH LOVE!  Kim