Starting Chemo Aug 09

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited June 2011

    I had a bone scan today and it looks like the lesion on my spine is a LOT larger than it was last time around.  However, the tech doing the scan couldn't tell if it was from radiation damage or growth.  I guess I'll have to wait until after the CT scan and the follow up with the onc to confirm what is going on.....  Monday was my last day at the office and it was pretty much a bunch of goodbyes or see you laters and picking up the rest of what I had packed up a few weeks ago.  Although I've been home a lot, it seems very weird knowing I won't be going back - I love my job.

    Lilah - Wow $12 for a movie, pricey.  Ours are $10, full price, but Mon - Thurs and maintinee prices are only $5, which is when I go to the movies.  I can't stand paying full price.  Congrats on the weight loss!!!

    Gill - I know I've said it before, but I am so sorry you had to close up shop.  I know what you mean about garage sales.  I've had a few (years ago) and it does seem weird having people go through your stuff and only want to pay bottom dollar, or pennies.........  Good luck tomorrow.

    Patty - only 2lbs after chemo and quitting smoking - amazing.

    We're off to my FIL's 75th birthday party - I'll talk to y'all later.

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited June 2011

    Jenn -- here's hoping it is just scarring and NOT growth.  F cancer!  And yeah sometimes we do manage to hit the less pricey matinees... and I agree that is the best deal.  Have fun at the party.  And I'm sorry about the job.  So few people get to do jobs they love... and you have had the blessing of having one you DO love.  I hope you will enjoy having more free time.

    Patty -- woo hoo on only gaining 2 pounds!  If chemo put you into menopause, though, the bit of a pooch might be from that.  Sadly.  That said, I say its worth it giving carb (or sugar) counting a chance.  It is better for you!  I have found that a nice croissant at Starbucks (only 31 grams of carb) is a good choice and probably much lower sugar and lower carb than that muffin.  Even better, if you like blueberries, is a cup of blueberries :) 

    Gilly -- so glad your preview was a hit!  Hope the rest of it continues to be lucrative.  And when do you go to England?

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited June 2011

    Oh blueberries, I love blueberries.  Actually, I love almost all berries and they're such a treat, especially when in season. 

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  • NavyMom
    NavyMom Member Posts: 1,099
    edited June 2011

    Hi everybody.  Sending hugs your way, Jenn.  Please keep us posted on how things are going.

    Navy

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  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited June 2011

    Jenn -  I'm with Lilah...praying it is radiation scarring, not growth.  Does your back still hurt?  If pain has subsided that would seem to be a good indication the tumor is shrinking...right?  Hope your party was fun yesterday. (((HUGS))))

    Lilah - I was pretty much through menopause before chemo and tummy was doing okay.  I'm secretly  blaming Femara ...although I hate to trash it since it just might be keeping me alive.  Thanks for the croissant suggestion.  I'll check it out.  Having a totally low sugar day today...even skipped my daily latte.  Who knew milk was riddled with sugar?  

    Hi back Navy!

    Patty

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited June 2011

    Patty -- I know about that milk!  When I started counting carbs and realized my venti lattes at Starbucks had 240 calories and a ton of carbs I was shocked!  I switched to iced Americano with splash of half and half.  MUCH better.  Sometimes I just skip the half and half and have a little splenda instead.

    Waving to Navy :)

    Hugs to Jenn and the rest of you Amazons!

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  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited June 2011

    Just saying hi back to everyone  before I head for bed.

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited June 2011

    Gill - how was the sale?

    My pain has actually gotten much worse over the last several weeks, months.  But, from what the onc says it could still be from the radiation - which is what I'm hoping for.

    Yesterday I spent the day with an old friend I hadn't seen in about 10 years.  We were so incredibly close when we were younger.  We were both young moms and had our girls 3 months apart, we and the girls were inseperable.  Then.........she moved which put her daughter in a different school district, they quit hanging out, she got remarried and we started seeing less and less of each other, I got remarried and we somehow started losing track.  Soon........the worst happened, neither one of us could remember each other's remarried names and we had both moved. She brought pictures of us and the girls during all of those years we hung out and it brought me back in time.  Facebook put us back together and I am so happy we're back in touch.

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited June 2011

    Wow so great you found each other again Jenn!

    Yes Gill -- how did the sale go?

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  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited June 2011

    Jenn - what fun to meet up again!!

    My Friday "preview" sale went great, Saturday just so so. Now I'll be spending the next 4 days clearing out the rest. I have someone interested in taking anything reasonable to a day care which would appreciate any donations, then the rest will be Goodwill or the dump. Oh, and a desk to come home as DH did not want me to sell it. I have no idea where we will put it.

    Thanks for asking.

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited June 2011

    Gilly -- sounds like you are almost done and that is a good thing.  You can turn your focus upon joyful things now!

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  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited June 2011

    Worked for 5 hours today, even got some help from 2 sons. Getting there!!

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  • NavyMom
    NavyMom Member Posts: 1,099
    edited June 2011

    Wavy hello to everyone.

    Jenn, what sweet story about you and your friend.  I have a similar friend but the ending was not the same....but I did try to contact her and it was her choice not to respond and I am OK with it.  My mantra for the past several years(even before BC) is "do what you can live with"  Helps to keep regrets to a minimum for me.  So I continued to send her a birthday card (we have the same day) and this last year I wrote her a letter telling her about my BC and my new grandson....no response from her...but I did what I can live with!  And I no longer worry about it!  But I won't be seeking her out again.

    Navy

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited June 2011

    Navy -- how sad about your friend.  I imagine whatever the reason for her lack of response it is do with her own personal life... but it is nice that you continue.  Perhaps one day she will respond.

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  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited June 2011

    Old friends are wonderful but can sometimes break your heart.   I'm lucky to have quite a few oldies who keep in touch, but there are a few I've had to let go. 

    Gill - Gosh closing down a business sounds like hard work.  I'm hoping when my business partner and I are done with our business we can just sell the whole kit and kaboddle to someone and they will make all the stuff just go away.   I'm probably being totally unrealistic, but I'm going to dream on....Good luck on the final steps!

    Lilah - So weird...milk has lots of sugar, but cream and half&half don't.  Fat...a different story!

    Patty

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited June 2011

    I was away last week and ate a lot of bad things (like really really good blueberry pie and really really good bread) and I was sure I would gain weight but I didn't!  I guess the habit of eating less carbs is working even on those few nights when I splurge.

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited July 2011

    Sorry for not getting back to y'all these last few days.  Last week and Monday I had my scans and all is good, no progression, all big tumors have shrunk and the many little tumors in the lungs are still there, but no more have grown.  The spine remains the same and for now they are saying the area in my liver is a cyst.  Happy news.  I will continue on this chemo until our next set of scans.  Friday was my 45th birthday - I felt horrible for my bday, couldn't keep anything down and had to cancel my friends and family party, but my family treated me wonderfully and even though I felt bad they made me feel like a queen!  And.........I got a lot of good presents :)

    Gill - I know it's been hard having to close up the daycare and I can't imagine what it would be like, but I'm glad that you've reached the point that you can move forward to your next chapter.  Maybe some more travelling?  Was the desk your DH wanted sentimental?

    Lilah - Where did you go?  Vacation is always so much fun.

    Patty - How is summer going?  Any trips, short or long on the horizon?

    Navy - I am sorry that your friend hasn't responded.  I really don't know what makes people angry or act out in that way.  I have one friend in particular that I would see every few years, but we always sent cards to each other and somehow managed to keep in touch.  After Katrina I lost her, then found her on FB.  She responds on FB, but won't call or send cards the way we used to.  I don't think there are any grudges or anger, I really think that our lives are just really different these days and it's not comfortable for her.  Maybe that is where your friend is..... But, like we've all said - going through the mess that we have it's not worth sweating over.  I say expend more energy on the ones that love us.

    I found out last week by chance that Tuesday is my onc's bday and we really do have a good relationship (for being dr/patient).  I think I'm going to give him a Magic 8 Ball because when he is asked those questions that can't be given definitive answers to he always says Now.............Mssssssssss. Grandolfo if I had a crystal ball I may be able to answer you, but I don't.  I decided on the Magic 8 ball because it's more fun to play with.  What do you think?

    Hope everyone is having a safe weekend - talk to you soon.  Love ya' Jenn

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  • NavyMom
    NavyMom Member Posts: 1,099
    edited July 2011

    I like the idea of the eight ball gift.  I think your Onc will be touched that you thought of him.  I gave my Onc a bottle of wine when I finished my last chemo.  I wrote her a note telling her that it was a favorite of mine and DH and that with her care, I was planning to have many years of wine tasting with DH.  A few days later I rec'd a sweet note back from her.  Oncology is a difficult field to work in.  So letting them know that they are cared for too is a nice way to show your appreciation.

    Navy

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited July 2011

    Jenn -- great gift idea (he will love the thought behind it)!  And SO glad to hear the scan results were upbeat.  Wahoo!  Sorry you felt sick on your birthday though.  That sucks.  Here's wishing you a happy birthday year filled with good, improving health and no more SEs!

    I was in the Berkshires... it was gorgeous there but rained a lot. 

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  • weety
    weety Member Posts: 1,163
    edited July 2011

    Hi all!  I'm just popping in to say Happy 4th of July to everyone.  This is the weekend (2yrs ago) that I found my lump.  I remember telling myself to stop worrying about it for just one day so I could enjoy the 4th of July party at my house.  Well, we all know how that goes!

    Jenn, I'm so glad to hear your chemo is working!

    Gilly, Gosh, I'm sad that you had to close up your preschool.  If you remember, I teach kindergarten.  LOVE my job!  But. . . next year with all the budget cuts, we're going up to 30 kids in a classroom with NO aide or help.  I'm trying not to  think about it, but I know it's going to be a nightmare!  Plus, I teach in a high poverty school where most kids don't go to preschool and they come with  very limited English.  Not looking forward to next year to say the least!  But it could be worse.  22 of our 55 teachers received lay-off papers!!!  California is really in a hole when it comes to education funding right now.

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited July 2011

    Weety - Wow!  It sounds like your educational system is where we were and are still trying to work out of.  It seems funding can be found for everything but education, which is really sad.

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  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited July 2011
    Jenn - Happy birthday!  Happy, happy news on the scans!  I'm sorry you felt so awful on your big day, but glad your family came through with the gifts!  The 8 Ball is the perfect gift for your Onc.  Just don't pay any attention to what it says...ha!
     
    Weety - Yikes.  I'm a Californian too and I knew things were bad, but didn't know how bad.  My son (14) goes to private school so I'm kind of out of the loop on what is happening in the public schools.  He wants to go to public school but hard experience has proven he does great is small schools and horrible in big ones.  His current school has a student/teacher ratio of 8/1.  He's flourishing.  We're very lucky.
     
    Patty
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  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited July 2011

    Hi ladies

    Jenn - so glad things looked good with your scans.Did you do the magic 8 ball gift idea?

    Weety - I do remember you teach kindergarten. Your class is going to be big!!! I was sorry to give up preschool. Besides all the shocked families and emotions etc, it was physically hard work getting everything cleared out. Now I have a room at home with boxes left over that need sorting. But it will have to wait - we are off to England on Monday. Me, DH and sons, 21 and 23. It's my Mum's 80th birthday so big get together.

    I had my LAST 3 monthly oncologist appointment. Apparently I have "graduated" to 6 monthly appointments. That's good, I suppose, but also a bit worrying. As a TN I was shocked when I finished tx and he said see you in 3 months. It seemed like such a long time. Ah well, I'll get over it.

    My garden is looking good. Everything is small as it was so wet we were late planting. Now we worry that we won't have a long enough growing season before the frost. Last year we didn't get frost until October which was great - but not normal. I have a house sitter for while we are gone to take care of the garden, and the cat.

    Great to see all the posts.

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  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited July 2011

    Gill - Have a wonderful time on your trip!  Where in England are you going?

    Patty

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited July 2011

    Gill - have a great time on your trip.

    I gave my onc the Magic 8 ball, he liked it and played with it off and on throughout the appt.  Today was the blood drive my friend put together for me.  We had a wonderful turn out of 50 units given and a little more credited for the people that couldn't give blood.  The drive was suppose to be from 4 - 8p, but with all of the people it didn't end until after 9p.  Wow!!!! It's wonderful to know I have that kind of support.  And........even nicer that my DD#2 got to see it.  On the way home, she kept saying, "I can't get over the amount of people that showed up".  Of course my response was "yep, I do have more than 1 friend" hehehehehe.....

    Jenn

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited July 2011

    Aw Jenn that is so lovely -- I'm glad that so many showed up!

    Gill - have a wonderful trip!

    Weety -- sorry about the class size.  That is a LOT of young people!  Although, it seems to me, that when I was in kindergarten we had a class that was probably close to that large and I still loved it. 

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  • Loveshermother
    Loveshermother Member Posts: 101
    edited July 2011

    Good morning everyone- hope you all had a relaxing 4th. I have a question about my moms new pet scan just taken. We dont see the dr till next week. There is what I might think that could be a area of concern. It reads: There is a small focus of intense uptake in the lateral aspect of the left chest wall at the lever of the breast. This corresponds to a small area of nodular soft tissue measuring roughly 1.1X0.7. There is linear connections from this somall soft tissue density to the edge of the pecotralis muscles, small focus of recurrence cannot be excluded based on this examination.  uptake is visualized similar. Suv 2.0. Not sure what this means. They also found moderate to intense uptake in the distal esophagus inmmediately proximal to or at the level of a hiatal hernia. This seems mimimally increased in extent compared to prior examination. Any advise/help would be appriciated. Waiting is always the hardest part. Hope you all are doing well and enjoying your summer.

    Penny

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited July 2011

    Penny - so sorry you and your mom are still dealing with all of this.  I am not sure what it all means though if "recurrence cannot be excluded" that means there is an area of concern that needs further testing.  I wish you did not have to wait to talk with the doctor.

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  • Loveshermother
    Loveshermother Member Posts: 101
    edited July 2011

    Lilah,

    As you know the waiting is the hardest. We knew about the new lump back in march but 3 dr's couldnt agree. So the decision was left to mom. I know why she waited. I have had my 2 daughters graduating this year. One from college and one from high school. She didnt want to bring attention to herself. I told her that was crazy but she made the decision. Now we wait. I felt it should have been delt with 3 months ago, but I didnt want to push. We see her BS on monday and hopefully he will give us some answers. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. I have my daughters graduation party this sunday. It will be a busy weekend but fun!

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited July 2011

    Penny -- keep us posted!

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