For those starting chemo in June

mary1220 · January 2006

Good evening girls, P.J. I hear ya on the no energy. I just seem to be out of energy all the time any more. We have decided to sell our house and take off for Phoenix in May or first of June. I have to get done with treatment first. We are going to get a little place there and stay. We can stay with one of the kids back here when we come or my dad or rent a place for a couple wks. If we come back to stay later we can buy again or go to the old peoples place. I don't think I will ever come back to stay in winter. I think we will put the house up pretty soon thinking it will take a couple months to sell at least. Property seems to be slow now but it picks up in Spring. We can put our stuff in storage and stay with our daughter. Shes the clean one. She use to clean my house all the time when she was growing up, she inherited that from hubby's mom, not me. She probably needs me more than any other of my kids so leaving her will be hard. Shes a single mom and I help her a lot. She has worked full time and gone to school to get her degree and now shes working on her Masters. She gets a little down thinking she will never find someone again. She would like to go out to Px. too but she has the boys in school. It would be hard to move them. The school system is pretty good here and there is no crime at school or gangs. This is a really good community to raise kids. Sorry to hear you are loosing your nails P.J. My left hand gets numb off and on. My right elbow hurts and I get tremors in my hand. I don't have much strength in it. My legs and hip are getting muscle cramps a lot. I better see if I was to get blood work done today. I think it is next wk. I have treatment Thurs. Better go, I get tired at 8 p.m. now. Janie, you go girl. I am proud of you. I can't wait until I can drag my fat ass off the couch and make it work baby.That sounded pretty real huh? Like I actually ment it. Hang in there P.J. Hope everyone else is fine. Hugs, Mary

rlswkndr · January 2006

Mary, I think moving to Phoenix is a wonderful idea. Who knows, your other daughter may decide to join you too. Paula, your legs will get better. I remember my days of jelly legs, couldn't walk 10 feet. Darn taxotere. I've never gone downhill skiing. I hate heights so that chair lift freaked me out. I enjoy cross country skiing, but haven't done that for ages. Guess I like sitting in the warm house in winter! I may need to visit Mary next winter in Phoenix!
Janie, keep up the good work exercising. If I miss a day on my eliptical my poor knees and hips know it.
I may check into Femara at my visit in March. Maybe it won't cause as much bone ache as Arimidex.
Renee

janie44 · January 2006

PJ and Mary, Renee is right. I keep getting more energy all the time. I had a thirty-ish year old assistant principal tell me to slow down the other day so she could catch up with me scooting down the hall. It was not that long ago that I couldn't walk across the room....so it does get better. It's like you suddenly notice "Hey, my energy level is back and I'm doing things again."

Mary, good luck on selling your house and moving.

Have a great day ladies.

PJB · January 2006

Mary, Phoenix sounds great. And how's that truck driving going?

My sister's here from Madison and we're all ready for that last Taxotere tomorrow. Got my brownies made to take to the nurses. Of course, I might eat them all on the way down.... I gained 4 pounds since 3 weeks ago! Must be that daily candy bar.... Onc says depending on what the PET scan shows (better be clean) that he might also let me either reduce or not use the Xeloda and do an AI instead. Fingers crossed...

Hope you all are doing OK, exercising or not,
Paula

janie44 · January 2006

PJ,

Do you know when you will hear back from the PET scan once you have it?

mary1220 · January 2006

Good morning girls, Great to hear you are done with the Tax. P.J.or will be today. Good luck with the scan. I have treatment today too. One man I did treatment with died, thats sad he was so nice. One of my friends had uterus cancer about a year before my b.c. and she had surg. but nothing else. She called me a couple days ago crying because now she has lung cancer and shes stage 4. The lung cancer is from smoking. She has had rads. and now she has to do chemo. Shes a mess. She is around mid 40's. She has tried to quit for a couple years but still hasn't. Hubby will graduate Tue. We are getting the house ready to sell and hope to have it on the market in 2 wks. A good friend is selling it for us, we have several friends that sell real estate so it is hard to pick one. She expects it to sell pretty quick. I thought it would be at least 4 or 5 months. I don't know. We have no where to go sorta speak too quickly. Better get for now, Hi to all. Mary

PJB · January 2006

Mary, how hard to hear all that bad news from your treatment buddies. That's such a tough thing to hear about when you, too, are getting treatment, especially, I think.

But cool to hear that your house might be a quick sell. (Better than having to keep it all clean and sparkling for months)

Is hubby taking you on a quick trip around the state as a graduation party?

Last Taxotere went fine. Got a nice little personally signed "diploma" from all the nurses. Had Mexican for lunch and then bought a bunch of ski gear at a sporting goods store near the hospital. All in all, a good day. And now I'm ready for bed.

My sister's here and taking great care of me.

Hi to Janie, Renee and Nancy.

Talk to you,
Paula

NancyLee13 · January 2006

Hi right back at ya PJ--I had pizza after every Taxol--with cheesy breadsticks to chase it down. YUM. Congrats on being done. I know that is a relief. I'm driving up to Plentywood to see my brother and my mom tomorrow morning so I should go to bed and get some rest--long drive on 2 lane roads. My Mom is up there in a nursing home. I'll tell you guys a brief story of that sometime. Mary, my brother is safety director of a trucking company and they are hiring drivers every day--But we're talking Montana and SNOW and cold. I just thought I'd mention that to you. My brother is also trying to sell his house and acreage in Helena and look for a house in Plentywood. His wife spends half of each day on the phone to one realtor or another. I spent from the 16th of jan to the 21st with her parents where they are currently staying in their interim housing situation. Her parents have a really big house so I can stay there too for the time being. I have the guy that leases my place feed the cat and dog while I'm away. Went back to the daycare a couple of times this week and was so happy to see MY kids again. Bright point of my week--Went to the dentist for the first time since the chemo and ALL I had was a small crack in one back tooth from chewing on ICE!! I thought I'd have like a million cavities and at least no enamel from all the puking, but my teeth came out pretty good. YAY!! Plus the dentist said that I have extra bone holding my teeth in so I'll probably never have to have dentures because they are very strong and won't fall out. She told me that I have beautiful teeth--They're crooked and they've never been very white, but I like 'em. Better quit--Hi Jayni & Renee. Life is Good--Smiles--NancyLee

janie44 · January 2006

Hey ladies,

My last message to you guys ended up in cyberspace somewhere. PJ - Hurray! You go girl! I KNOW you are glad to have reached another benchmark.

Mary, truck it on down the GA sometime.

Nancy Lee, Hi..have a safe trip.

Hi Renee

NancyLee13 · January 2006

Thanks Janie--I just noticed that I spelled your name like the little Jayni that we have at the daycare. She's 4. I type it everynight onto excel I use to track bills so I guess I was tired and typed it her way. OOPS! Well, 7 hours of blissful AmbienCR sleep and the cat landed on top of me and woke me up. I guess he thought I was oversleeping. Now I've showered and it's a beautiful morning 26 degrees and a powdering of new snow during the night. I'll wait a little while to make sure the roads are a bit melted off and hit the trail. Hope you all have SUPER weekends. Bye for now--Life is Good--Smiles--NancyLee

janie44 · January 2006

Nancy, I thought I had seen my name spelled every possible way, but that is a new one. How warm does it get in the summer there? I was in short sleeves and comfortable today! It has been cold earlier in the week, but we have definitely had a mild winter thus far.

Take care,

Everyone have a great weekend,

mary1220 · January 2006

Hi Girls, Well Penny is threating to counter sue me if I try to get the back wages. She had her att. send me a letter that I owe loans to her father. I am going to court simply because it is a lie. I can't afford a lawyer because it would take up all the money I would get and you can't recoup fees with a labor suit. I will go in and tell the truth and if I get anything good and if not well I tried. It is the principle of the dam thing ya know? I am sure her high price lawyer will chew me up but legally I worked the hours and I should get paid. The total so far and I am not done counting the hours is $61,000. I will be lucky to get $5,000. or anything at all but I will fight for truth and justice the American way!!!! Where did I hear that before? Superman maybe way back when? Well good to hear from you Nancy and glad your doing good. P.J. hope you start to feel better. Janie good to hear you are feeling better and exercising. I can't wait. I see theres a new pill for us that kills 2 protiens now. Thank the Lord it is a pill. My chemo nurse tried to get my I.V. in my finger Thurs. OUCH!!!! She put it in the inside of my wrist finally. Gotta go, getting the house ready to sell. Hugs my little bugs, Mary (Darn its nice weather.)

janie44 · January 2006

Faster than a speeding car, more powerful than a locomotive, she can leap tall buildings in a single bound -- look up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Super Mary! I hope you get the whole kit and kaboodle.

I think you are referring to Tykerb (Lapatinib). I've been reading about it off and on. I hope it is our ace in the hole if we ever need one.

PJB · January 2006

Mary, go get her! That's a big chunk of money you're talking about. And probably that's not even all they owe you. Be a nice down payment on a house in phoenix!

I'm off the Xeloda again for now because of hand problems. I'll be off until at least next week, when it's scan time and find out if it worked time. Cross your fingers and toes for me!

Janie, Renee, Nancy, hope you are all doing well, too. I'll write more when I am more up to it.

Paula

mary1220 · February 2006

Hi Girls, Well I don't think I can do much to get my money back because it would cost so much and then appeals would eat up the rest. I am going to file with the Il board of Labor but this gal is a good liar. She just keeps making up bigger and better lies and it just upsets me. I guess if I was down to 4 mill.(money in the bank not total worth) I would worry about my money too. I would say Penny has to live with herself but she uses people on a daily basis so she would never think it is wrong. Hows everyone? We are getting the house ready and meeting today with the real estate gal. I have been getting all the small clutter packed up and wanting to clean real good. Hubby is having a bit of trouble now with jobs because he had a D.U.I. 15 years ago and it was his 3rd. so even though the school said they had a 98% chance to help him get a job, not so $3000.00 later. He has been sober and attends AA regularly and has for 5 years they are not real interested and they want 2 years experience so if he can get that he can get a job. Sh#t. He has had soo many calls and they are ready to send him out then they call a few days later and say sorry. He tells them all about his past up front. He is such a good hard worker too, even though he drank he always brought home a paycheck. He was never out of work either even if it was tossing hambergers. I never had to worry about him not working. Well hope P.J., you are getting better and Janie is just shedding those pounds. I have been kinda nervous lately and I don't eat when my nerves are bad but still no wt. loss. I haven't eaten 100 cals in the last 3 days. I can just not eat at all when my nerves are bad. I just don't get hungry. Sometimes I have make myself eat when they get really bad. Well you are right, it must be the treatments Janie. I better get busy, I have so much to do. I think I need a little cry and get it all out one of these days. I feel so stupidly used. Well; later my little ladybugs, Mary

mary1220 · February 2006

Oh, I offered Penny a chance to settle for 20 percent of the total because I am a nice person. I just didn't want to feel used not get rich and I did work without pay all those years so I should of quit I guess or whatever but she still says no because I should of just quit. Mary

PJB · February 2006

Oh, Mary, wish there was something I could do to help! What a lot of crap to have to go through at once on TOP of the whole bc thing. Has to be very hard on you and your husband. You do need to make yourself eat, tho. Even if it's crap like milkshakes and cookies. Big hug going your way.

Paula

janie44 · February 2006

Mary, I wish you didn't have to go through all this. People can be so cruel. I think we all learned who we can trust through this BC journey. As long as people are calling your hubby, maybe there will be one who gives him that chance. Go ahead and have a good cry while you are at it. It's been a long time coming.

PJ - I will be crossing everything I've got for a good report for you.

My Mayo follow-up snuck up on me. It is next week! I will be scurrying around getting ready for that trip. I will only take off one and one half days. I am flying since it is now so far away.

All you ladies have a great day and night.

Janie

janie44 · February 2006

Oh yeah, Mary

Here is an incentive to eat something (which you need to do). If you consume less than 1000 calories in a day, your body goes into starvation mode and begins to conserve and store fat because it thinks it is starving. Thus, you do not lose weight as well as you do when you eat protein which increases the metabolism. Atleast have a protein drink.

This is Dr. J signing off,

mary1220 · February 2006

Hi girls, Thanks for being here and making me feel better, especially the mouse Janie. That really is good. I hope you get A-O.K. reports P.J. I will be saying a little prayer for you and Janie to get the all clear. I feel better now and I ate tonight, we had pizza, dominos. That should put on a pound or 2. I have always stopped eating when I get nervous. When my mom died I had to make myself eat after a couple days because my blood sugar got low. I always go back to eating but some people over eat when they get upset and I always just stopped. I know to watch myself and it is kinda scary sometimes because I just do not get hungry and I feel like I will get sick if I eat. Well; life is not fair and I realize that now and I am feeling better about it. It just really hurt. I use to shed like 5 lbs. in a couple days when my nerves were bad but not this time....Just call me porky. Hubby got a call and is leaving Sunday morning for Gary Indiana(about 3 hours north). Some trucking co. is hiring him but he can be sent home anytime within the 6 wk. training. He can transfer to Phoenix too. I knew something would come up but I was getting worried. Our cobra is up in April and I don't think we can keep it after that, the ins. from trucking should kick in about then so it all works out. I hope. I have to look for something in April too. I think retail with a good discount. Maybe a pole dancer. Yea, maybe a flag pole out on a farm in the country after dark. Would a 3 prong cane count as a pole? I think thats a possibilty soon if my feet don't get better. Well better go so good luck going out to Janie for good reports too. Good night girls, Thanks so much for being here. Hey, my dog is so excited about moving to Phoenix because she will be able to talk to other dogs there. There isn't much of a Mexican population here, well theres Taco Bell and thats about as close to Mexican as one can get but no one there is Mexican. She can't wait for some good Mexican food either. Huggeroos, Mary

PJB · February 2006

Muy beueno, Mary. Glad to hear you're eating and hubby found a job. I've always thought a job at Target would be great, so I could get a discount. since i'm there every week. i bet if you felt like it you could find a good ome health job in phoenix.lots of people there, er, in the right age group.

janie, have a blast at mayo! things'll go great.

ttyl,
paula

NancyLee13 · February 2006

Hi All--I went in to the daycare yesterday to deliver the January bills. I tape most of them to the walls above the kids cubby lockers and that way I save the daycare a bunch of 39 cent stamps. I'm sure every parent in the place went into shock to get the bills so early in the month, but I had fewer distractions the last few days so I was caught up enough to do bills. A little girl came running out and hugged me in the hallway and she had on shorts and a tank top. It was a booming 38 degrees outside. She had been to kindergarten in that outfit with a little jacket. I asked her where her mother was when she got dressed "this morning" and she said--IN BED. I got the clothes I wanted to wear. She's 5. I hope she doesn't get pneumonia or something. I had on a hooded sweatshirt and a coat over that. The wind was blowing so the windchill was something like -15. Geez some parents are nuts. I have to shower and go to town to meet a carpenter in the bank. They're going to drill into my safe deposit box because my Mom has the secret of where the key is somewhere in her head and I can't find where she put it after an extensive search. I give up. They can just drill the box and I'll have it done with. Her POA is in there and I need it to keep signing paperwork which I've been doing on just my sayso so far. Everyone trusts my word here in Baker, but I don't know those people up in Plentywood. They know my brother. Anyhow--I stopped in Glendive for CBC and CMP and to get my monthly port flush and save myself a trip up there on Monday the 6th. I was on the way back from PW and my HGB and WBC are going crazy again. I think it's because I'm catching a cold. Going into all those hospitals and chasing back and forth up and down the highway doesn't help in the resting department. I got a mini lecture from 2 of the surgical nurses about trying to avoid stress. Yah, sure. That's easy in our lives, huh? Gotta go--Life is Good--Smiles-NancyLee

janie44 · February 2006

Mary, That is great about hubby's job. Your dog story reminds me about a lady who was on the radio one morning telling a true story about having her adopted baby girl with her while she was getting her car repaired. The baby was from South America. The mechanic kept looking back and forth between mother and child...and finally said "She is not yours is she?" The lady answered, "Yes, she is from South America. We adopted her." He replied (and was serious) "What are you going to do when she starts talking and she speaks Spanish and you speak English?"

PJ - not too much longer to wait. I hope your scans go well. I don't expect any problems. This is a follow-up to keep me in the clinical trial. I just had labs here not that long ago. I set the treadmill on steep incline, high speed and went a mile last night, so I doubt the echo will show heart failure, or that would have killed me. Other than that I will chat with the onc.

Nancy Lee. Parents are a never ending puzzle. In the school systems I've been in, the kids would be great if not for the parents.

Have a great weekend ladies.

mary1220 · February 2006

Hi Girls, Hope everyone has a great wk. end. We have been really busy touching up paint and getting big stuff done since I will be here alone next wk. Ya know before this dog we had a French poodle and man, try to understand French barking!!!!I never knew what the heck that dog wanted! I don't cook French but I would make him French Fries. I can at least communicate a little with this dog, well I can count and I know a few Spanish words I just don't know what they mean. Hey, it turned cold and we had flurries today BURRRRR. Oh. mom-in-law has lung cancer (stage 4), This is her 3rd. dance with cancer. Shes a trooper.Shes doing chemo pills. Hugs, Mary

janie44 · February 2006

Mary,

I am so sorry to hear about your mother-in-law. You must be feeling like Job with everything you've had happen lately. Hey, if your house sells and you move to Phoenix, I may have another layover there some day....except it will NOT be with America Worst airlines. It would be too long of a drive to go to JAX and turn around and come right back so I am flying Thursday for my Friday apts. I got a good deal and the little white AFLAC duck will reimburse me for most of it. However, I am flying Air Trans...the one that crashed in Florida a few years back. This way I only have to take a day and half off from work. I am in the middle of Spring crunch time and need to be there as much as possible. I have an apt. 2/14 to consult about having the port removed.

Have a great Sunday ladies,

Janie

PJB · February 2006

Mary, I'm guessing this is NOT the time to go spend your life savings on the lottery. SOOO sorry to hear about your MIL. What will they be giving her? Wish I were there to give you a big ol Texas hug.

Janie, we're just gonna sail through this week with nothing but good news. I'm about to call the nurse and ask for an Ambien prescrip. I'm sure I'll need it the next few nights.

Had a great weekend, visiting with friends, cleaning (not so fun) with Nathan and eating things that are bad for me. Alas, another Monday is already here...

Take care all,
Paula

rlswkndr · February 2006

Good Morning- I hope. I've been away from the boards a few days and we need some good news! This will be the week! Mary, I heard it was 80 in Phoenix yesterday - my friend- another BC lady, was swimming laps in the pool- Outside! We may have to meet in Phoenix instead of Chicago. Janie and Paula- only good news for you 2 also.
Ry goes in for surgery on his knee today- as his mom it is hard not to be there, but it was just scheduled on Thursday. Jess is going with him so that makes me feel better. I will be impatiently waiting by the phone.
Take care. Renee

mary1220 · February 2006

Good Morning Girls, Hey everyone is going to get good news, We are all pulling for good news. Hope all goes well with Ry's knee surg. I am the same way with my kids. I feel I have to be there for surg. but then we spend most of our lives protecting them and we just can't stop, their our babies. P.J. and Janie you girls are going to get good reports because we have too much strength going on here. I have been so busy fixing all the things my hubby "fixed" that I haven't stopped. I am so a perfectionest I have to make sure everything is perfect and I drive myself nuts. Well have to go to Dr. with my dad so gotta go. I will find out what med. MIL is on. She told me and I looked it up but chemo brain prevents me from retaining anything useful. OOPS, gotta get. Hugs Ladies, Mary

PJB · February 2006

Renee, hope the surgery went oK. Keep us informed. When I had my surgery last, I had 2 sisters here. The nurses kept asking if they were my mother (poor sisters, that they thought they could POSSIBLY be old enough to be my mom).

Mary, hope your MIL does OK.

Scans tomorrow. Benadryl tonight.

Paula

rlswkndr · February 2006

Paula, hope that benadryl worked. Keep us posted on the scans.
Mary, I love fixing things that my husband fixed- not! My guys do most of the 'fixing ' when they come home and they are GOOD at it- don't know who they learned it from. My dad used to come over with the tool box- I really appreciated that as he can fix anything- lives to far away now.
Ry's surgery- knee was repairable -barely- still only took 40 minutes, the tear was almost all the way thru his knee- 9 dissolvable screws- crutches and no pressure on it for 4 weeks, no extra activity for 6 weeks. For someone constantly on the go, it will be hard for him. Drugs and video games keeping him happy now. Jess said she'll take good care of him when she's not in class.
Hi Janie!
Renee

For those starting chemo in June

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