Starting chemo Sept 05

Options
1…4142444647…103

Comments

  • txred9876
    txred9876 Member Posts: 392
    edited February 2006
    Chemo went ok today and I actually feel pretty good at the moment. I could not drive due to the premeds but feeling like I should be able to in a little while. I had a problem with my port today and they had to do a test in radiology so that took an extra 90 min or so.

    I found out today that my heart function was at 48 (needs to be over 55) and it should be around 60. It was probably due to one of the chemo drugs I took before. It should improve with time. I cannot take the drug Herceptin for a year yet. They are going to recheck my heart in two weeks and then again in six months. I was told that as long as they start the treatment within one year of my last chemo that it will still help in prevention of the cancer returning. I wont be needing the expensive treatments anymore. If I go back to work I can then afford my own health insurance that will start covering my preexisting condition as of 9-1-06. Once you have 12 full months of coverage (some from medicaid and the rest from my own policy) it will cover the cancer.

    I am excited about the prospect of going back to work!

    Things ARE looking up and I think things are going to start falling into place now....

    Sorry for the long post ....I am sure it is the steroids...and the other pills wearing off...I am all of a sudden very hyper and upbeat (feeling more and more like my old self all the time).

    Tina


    PS Leanne ....sorry you have to go through this at this time but you WILL make it and things will get better. I also have some very rough other family issues going on as well and sometimes I think that the cancer (as bad as it is/was) is not really all that bad. It just brought things into perspective that may have otherwise been clouded. Keep you chin up and look to that silver lining in the cloud. If you look hard enough...you WILL find it!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Pegk
    Pegk Member Posts: 389
    edited February 2006
    It seems as though over the next couple of weeks the last of our September group will be finishing up chemo. I hope all of you will continue to drop in even as your lives get back to normal and you might not have as much time. I really appreciate all the help and advice that you've shared. Thank you, each and every one of you.

    September Soul Sisters

    Peggy Pegk Orange County, NY (Lower Hudson Valley)
    Maxine tinkermax Guernsey, Channel Islands, UK
    Anne Marie mom2mcco Bucks County, PA
    Tami durrable Oregon
    Nicole foxxf Australia NSW
    hopeful hopeful1
    Susan susan02143 Boston area
    Tina txred9876 just outside Austin TX
    Janet jlpd Wilkes County, NC
    Cheryl monkey9cats Okeechobee, FL
    Diane skibug8 New Hampshire
    Kris joriesmom Naperville IL
    ConstanceDiane ConstanceDiane
    Penny prayer California
    Barb Bubbles2005 Portland OR
    Norine nmherr Lancaster PA
    jewelz jewelz Oakland, CA
    Marg marg1 Brownsville, TX
    Carol cazza61 Forster SNW Australia
    Carol carolrn AL
    Monique sewmanythings Hillcrest, SouthAfrica
    Michelle AussieMum Australia
    Sandra SandrafromtheUK Tamworth, Staffordshire
    Suzi twinmom99 Portland, OR
    Calico calico CO
    Lynell lynellb123 Skillman, NJ
    Leanne leannem Brisbane, Australia
    Lisa lisag Portland, OR
    Cerridwen Cerridwen Mexico
    Joanna JoannaR Long Island, NY
    Liezel liezel South Africa
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Pegk
    Pegk Member Posts: 389
    edited February 2006
    Quite an impressive group! I'm sorry that we had to go though this but I'm glad we have each other.
    I'm sorry if I missed anyone. I would love to hear from anyone who might be reading and not posting lately.
    My email address is on my home page and I hope that anyone who might be coming through New York will contact me.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sholroyd
    sholroyd Member Posts: 288
    edited February 2006
    Hey Peg – please keep dropping in – I don’t finish ‘treatment’ until 7 March and then I have rads. BUT next week is a biggie for me – 2nd part of this cycle of CMF on Tuesday and then I am going under general anaesthetic on Thursday to let them get a sample off my womb for this enlarged womb business and they may do a D & C if necessary. Good news is they have let me off going to the thrombosis clinic (cattle market as I call it). I just like to know you are watching over me Peg but am really glad the time has come for you to move forward;-).

    Tina, I am so glad things are looking up for you and Leanne, keep strong and as Tina says, “look for that silver lining”.

    I have family issues too, but nothing major – son at the crossroads with his 1-year relationship with his young lady. Daughter has just put in an offer for a property, which has been accepted, so it looks like it will just be hubby, the dog, and myself, although son keeps popping home from his Marine duties quite frequently. I don’t do STRESS anymore – this relaxation stuff is really helping me slow my life down, give myself ME time and let other folk deal with their own issues.

    Speak soon.

    Sandra from the UK
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jlpd
    jlpd Member Posts: 54
    edited February 2006
    Greetings everyone...finally had a chance to pop in and see how everyone is doing.

    Congrats to all who have hair coming back in. My last chemo was Nov 22 (don't think I'll ever forget that date). I have salt and pepper hair now...about 1/2 inch long...with more salt than pepper, though. It has not, however, come back in curly!!! Darn!
    I've been on Femara now for almost two months. Sorry to say, it gives me joint and bone pain. Whenever I sit for any length of time, getting up and the first few steps are painful, then it improves. I'm trying to give this medicine a chance, but it gets tiring.
    I was reading the transcript on physical activity...and was really taken aback at the doctors saying it takes six to 12 months to get back to your 'old' self...wow. I've been very hard on myself, pushing myself to do what I always did and getting frustrated when i found that I simply didn't have the same physical strength. Now I realize that I need to give myself more time...and that is depressing! In fact, during this whole ordeal, I haven't been 'depressed' until this week...I guess it's due to just wanting my life back...I feel better now, and am focusing on moving forward, but will perhaps take it a little slower...

    Leanne...as everyone said, don't rush into making decisions...You've been through so much...and it will take you time to heal.

    Sandra...oh those hot flashes...just when you least expect it they hit...my students don't quite know what to think when I start fanning myself...hopefully they won't last too long!

    I'll have my first follow-up in March. I have a feeling that I will be very anxious when it is near...

    Take care everyone!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • txred9876
    txred9876 Member Posts: 392
    edited February 2006
    Since I did my surgery I won't be done with Taxol until April 12th! Although I am very much looking forward to that day! Please do keep in touch with my on Yahoo Instant messenger (same ID as here...txred9876) or my email is also txred9876@yahoo.com.

    This has been a wonderful group and even though we are all going through this horrible things I have met some wonderful "friends" along the way!

    Tina
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited February 2006
    Hey.... this group isn't going to disappear before ALL of us are done. For me, this thread has been about more than chemo; it has also been about creating a small community that helps each other get through the good and the bad.

    In fact, when we are all done, then we should continue celebrating our lives together.

    ::stepping off podium::

    *susan*

    p.s. Peg, I can't believe that you spent the time to compile that list. Amazing woman you are!!!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Pegk
    Pegk Member Posts: 389
    edited February 2006
    I hope nobody thinks that I'm going anywhere. This thread is part of my life. I was home alone yesterday and had a bit too much time on my hands, I guess, but I enjoyed going back to the beginning and seeing how far all of us have come. I'm a little concerned about those who are not posting anymore. I'd like to think of everyone moving on with their lives, but we have a connection that I hope will endure.
    I'm sure I will be stopping in almost daily until I go back to work again next month. After that, maybe not as much, but I look forward to hearing from everyone on into the future.
    Peggy
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited February 2006
    Phew..... as the thread-starter, you simply aren't allowed to leave now. I too worry about many of the women who we haven't heard from, but if we have learned anything since our dx's, all of us manage this differently and EACH way is right.

    I am so excited to hear that you are returning to work. What is your start date? I want to mark this on the calendar to have my own private, but cheerful, celebration!

    *susan*
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sholroyd
    sholroyd Member Posts: 288
    edited February 2006
    Well it is 2 am here in the UK and following a couple of 'good' nights, tonight is not going to be one of them - the first place I decided to visit before trying 'sleep' again - yes certainly a place I know I can visit comfortably (if tired).

    Peg, I would also like to celebrate with you on your return to work. Are you excited, worried, feel you have lost any confidence, can’t wait – how do you feel about returning to work?

    Thank you all.

    Sandra from the UK
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Pegk
    Pegk Member Posts: 389
    edited February 2006
    I don't have a definite start date yet. That will depend on how the next weeks of radiation go. If I continue to get all my treatments on schedule, my last one will be on Feb. 27th. I'd be happy to go back on Feb. 28th. We'll see.
    One of the interesting things about my job is that I'm a per diem worker, working through a Union, at a television studio. I only work about 3 days a week, sometimes very long days. I have to request my schedule over a week in advance which is why I couldn't work during chemo, never knowing when I would feel lousy. The long commute was an issue, as well.
    So, toward the end of February, I'll put in my request for a couple of days during the first week of March. I'll probably get a couple of 8 hour days to start and work up to the extended days.
    I've been stopping by and visiting my coworkers regularly, so I feel like I'll slip back into the routine easily. One thing that will change, I guess you could call an attitude adjustment. Cliched phrases like "Don't sweat the small stuff" come to mind.
    I was in for a visit last week and heard many of the typical petty complaints about this and that. I remember complaining about those very same things, but now that my routine has been so thoroughly upended, I long to have those little annoyances again, and I won't be complaining!
    I'm still in awe of those who continued to work during treatment, even just a little.
    I'll let you all when I'll be having my back to work celebration.
    Peggy
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lisag
    lisag Member Posts: 22
    edited February 2006
    Hello all,
    What a great group you all are. When I first got diagnosed I wondered how I would get through all this without losing it and this board has made me feel like I'm not so abnormal-of course we are all still extraordinary!
    Finished # 14 rads yesterday, almost halfway through, and gratefully have been no problems-no skin change or discomfort so far. But then I tan easy and the rad tech told me I might not have much reaction. Worse part is racing there after work everyday. I'm tired still...wishing that would improve but I'm trying to stay patient. My brain seems to be slower than it was before chemo, I have to write everything down or it's gone! Am anxious as I get my genetic results later this week and I've been trying not to think too far about the implications of a positive result. My family has been through so much already.
    Peg, you are still just ahead of me, I still look to you for what to expect! Bubbles and I had a great phone conversation this week and hope to get together soon and celebrate.
    Lisa
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited February 2006
    I am anxious! Received a last minute call to play with a Symphony [that I love playing with] this weekend. 12 hours of rehearsal, one concert and really hard music. This is the first time they have called me since my diagnosis.

    I said yes, but I haven't played like this since December. I did manage a couple of practice hours tonight. My nails are no longer so cracked that they get caught in the strings. My node surgery arm doesn't hurt much at all which is a huge step forward. In fact, my fingertips are more sore from lack of tough callouses!

    Wish me the best as I get back into professional shape before Thursday!

    *susan*
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tornadogirl
    tornadogirl Member Posts: 133
    edited February 2006
    Good luck playing Susan! And thanks Peg for listing all of us. I have been talking to lisag on the phone and we are going to meet. Too bad so many nice people, including us, have to have BC.

    I love music, have fun playing Susan.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • AussieMum
    AussieMum Member Posts: 124
    edited February 2006
    Peggy,
     You are a wonder! You start the thread, you look after us, you spend time listing all our names! I'd call you our 'mother hen' except you are nowhere near old enough! I went to your home page and viewed all the fantastic photos of you and your family and friends. The "Gates" in NY are spectacular - that brilliant orange against the grey winter just glows. Is there a significant reason for them or just for fun? I also sneaked a peak at your Hawaii hols + others. Can sure tell you have a loving family. (by the way - saw those renovation pics! How is it going?)

    Lisa and Bubbles -
     how wonderful for you to talk and then perhaps meet in person. Keep us informed! Who would have thought such friendships could be made? Wish the circumstances were different, but they aren't.

    Susan -
     How wonderful to be playing. I am so pleased that you have accepted this challenge. You have always kept playing as an important consideration in your treatment regime, and now you can do it again! All the best in the lead up and preparation for Thursday, and the performance(s). Let us know how you go.

    Sandra-
     hope you sleep well tonight. Pleasant dreams.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Liezel
    Liezel Member Posts: 192
    edited February 2006
    Hi Everybody,

    Sorry I have been so quiet lately! Apart from Computer trouble, I had my folks visiting and now dealing with some trouble at home. I apologise for the long post.

    Peg, you are amazing. Good Luck with going back to work! Keep us updated.

    Susan, good luck for the Symphony. Even though you'll be the one playing, you'll be playing for all of us. Wish we could be there...

    Sandra, good luck for the surgery. Let us know how it goes. How is the Reiki going?

    Well, I am nearly finished with chemo. My last treatment is on 24 FEB. I have had good hair growth on the taxotere, but it started falling out again!! I then have surgery again on 10 March, with radiation following that. I am hopefull that the radiation will go well, but the fact is that I am VERY fair skinned, and normally just 20 minutes in the sun leave me very burnt. Any tips Susan?

    Well, my parents came to visit. This was the first time that I saw them since my mastectomy in August. I sort of expected it to be like when your'e a child and your'e sick. You know just having them around will make you feel better. NOT!!! They were extremely demanding. They only eat meat - which does not fit in with our heallty living diet. I tried the idea of "they'll just have to eat what we eat", and my father did not eat for a whole day!! They do not clean up after themselves, so I had to spend my days cleaning. They were also very vocal in the past if
    my DH could not accompany me to chemo, well, I had to go for chemo the day after their arrival, and expected that they would want to go with. They did not want to sit around for a whole 90 minutes doing nothing!! And by Day4 when I was really tired, my father's response was that he also gets tired at night, and that it is not that bad.

    I get the impression that they feel that if we ignore bc and our feelings, it will just go away. Ignore all the aches and pains, fear and worries and buck up. It is not that bad.

    I have actually been very depressed since they left. Have also gone into chemo pause for the first time as well. Apart from that, things between me and DH are a bit tense. My parents's cold attitude just made me realise that I DO need love, affection, hugs and a shoulder to cry on every now and then. I think what is manifesting in our relationship is that he feels repulsed by my scars and chemo body, and just can not bear to touch or hold me.

    At the end of the day, I am not going to allow all of these other horrible things to distract me from fighting this fight. I can not make other people treat me the way I want/need, or change their feelings. I have to learn to accept the new me and grow comfortable with her. It is going to take time, but most good things do!!

    Hope you are all doing well, and that all our MIA sisters are also well.

    Look after yourselves!!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Pegk
    Pegk Member Posts: 389
    edited February 2006
    Liezel,
    Great to hear from you again , but sorry the news isn't better. Well, finishing chemo is great! Major accomplishment. It's too bad that you're not getting the support you need from those closest to you. I think some people have a harder time dealing with a serious illness of those they are close to than the person who is ill.
    You certainly have a great attitude. I hope your DH comes around.
    You have all of us, whenever you need us.
    Peggy
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Pegk
    Pegk Member Posts: 389
    edited February 2006
    Congratulations, Susan, on your weekend gig!
    I've never learned how to play an instrument, but I sure love listening to music. My younger daughter used to play violin with a youth orchestra and I loved sitting in on the rehearsals. I was disappointed when she gave it up, because she was good, but she didn't have the discipline.
    Good luck! I'm sure you're more than up to the challenge, despite the aches and pains.
    I'll be thinking about you this weekend.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Pegk
    Pegk Member Posts: 389
    edited February 2006

    The Gates was an art installation set up in Central Park a year ago this month. The artists, Christo and Jeanneclaude are responsible for environmental art around the world. Here is more information.
    http://www.christojeanneclaude.net/tg.html
    I work about half a block from Central Park and would go to the park everyday on my lunch hour, watching volunteers set it up. (It took months!) For weeks, it was just those orange structures that looked like staples along all the paths of the park. Then one day those banners were unfurled and started blowing in the wind and the whole look changed again.
    I lived in Midtown Manhattan for many years. When my daughters were small, we considered Central Park our backyard, but with the Gates unfurled, I saw the park in a whole new way. You can see that I took pictures on sunny days, rainy days and snowy days.
    Of course, it was very controversial. Many people thought it was the stupidest thing they had ever seen, but I've never seen so many people in Central Park in the month of February. And they were all talking to each other.
    There were volunteers who carried long poles with tennis balls stuck on the end to pull down the fabric if it gone blown over the top. They also answered questions and gave out little sample squares of the fabric.
    After 2 weeks they started to dismantle it and by March it was gone.
    It's surprising to me to think it's been a year and all the changes I've been through this past year.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited February 2006
    Liezel,

    Please, use my shoulder! It is so hard when those closest to us are incapable of giving us what we need. Actually, it sounds like your parents regressed to being the children! Making you fix special meals, clean up after them, discounting your feelings; so hard.

    Families are complicated aren't they?

    No advice about DH. We don't pick our parents, but we do pick our DH's, and we all deserve to be hugged and adored, scars or no scars. Of course, he may still be in shock as well.

    Maybe it will be sunny today, and you can let sunbeams fall on your body and it will give you some pleasure. We have come so far......

    Many virtual hugs {{{{{{}}}}}}}

    *susan*
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited February 2006
    Lisa & Bubbles!!!!

    We want pictures of your time together! The fact that you are getting together just makes me happy. I am smiling as I type.

    *susan*
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Calico
    Calico Member Posts: 1,108
    edited February 2006
    Pegk,
    you are so strong!! (I have no desire to work yet)

    Liezel,
    I send you a big [[[hug]]], hang in there, your body goes through changes now, chemo wearing of. Your parents are gone, time to relax if you can, treat yourself to something nice, verbalize your needs to your hubby!!

    Sandra,
    good luck with your biopsy on Thursday!!! Hope you will be okay!

    Not much new here..

    I am having a PET scan on Thursday to check on the nodule in my lung, talking about MEGA ANXIETY here....can't do much but pray, I get so scared that I even cried in church and before rads (I was so embarrassed).

    I'm glad I had you ladies, I was so nauseated during chemo, could bearly read, seems like a long time ago.
    But - chemo brain is part of me, I started to eat lot's of blueberries, good for Alzheimers I heard, maybe it helps.

    Be strong,

    God Bless
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CoffeePot
    CoffeePot Member Posts: 34
    edited February 2006
    Liesel,
    Of course you need and deserve love,conderation,hugs ,and affection, and it does sound like your parents didn't quite know how to respond to cancer. I had a very close friend who eventually died of cancer 14 years ago, but the stupid gaffes I made with her continually haunt me. And I think of myself as being empathetic. For me, it took having cancer before I really understood how it felt and what would be appreciated. So, on the one hand, I want to say forgive them , but, on the other hand, I have my own little list of people I'm disappointed in (however, I'll never admit it again!).
    And if taxatore is anything like taxol, you will be feeling so much better when you finish. I think of my taxol days as the darkest days of chemo. My husband, who is generally wonderful, told me I looked spiritually dead while I was doing it. No energy, staring blankly, always tired--that kind of thing. I didn't know how bad I felt until I recovered. My husband was my rock, but I still felt neglected. My darkest days coincided with Christmas and I felt as if I were in a fog. What I remember most was how much I looked forward to having my son in college home; yet, when he came here, I felt almost alienated from him. Him and everyone else, but it's all over now.
    You do have a wonderful attitude, much better than mine was, and it will be all over soon.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tinkermax
    tinkermax Member Posts: 269
    edited February 2006
    Liezel
    I am so so sorry you have had to endure such a hard time with your parents, and are not receiving the comfort you so deserve from your husband. If you feel up to it, why not visit the chatroom here, I find it a great comfort to talk to ladies who have experienced everything that we are going through.

    I have had my last chemo today ladies.......YIPPEE

    No rads for me, so I will see surgoen next week to discuss having my ovaries removed, but until then I will be on Tamoxifen and Zoladex.

    Take care ladies....hugs to you all

    Maxine
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Calico
    Calico Member Posts: 1,108
    edited February 2006
    Hihaaaa Tinker,

    Congrats!!!!


    God Bless
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited February 2006
    Tinker!!!! Maxine!!!!

    Yea! This is wonderful! Yea, I know, it isn't over, but this is a great benchmark in your journey.

    *susan*
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Calico
    Calico Member Posts: 1,108
    edited February 2006
    Quick question:

    For those of you who had ovary pain with Taxol, is that completely gone?

    God Bless
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Pegk
    Pegk Member Posts: 389
    edited February 2006
    Woo Hoo! Maxine! Congratulations on finishing chemo!

    Calico,
    My last Taxol was Dec. 6th.
    I continued to get pains from Taxol for about 2 weeks. I didn't need any pain medication after the first week.
    I'm still getting twinges, but from what I've been reading, what I'm feeling now is from the arimidex I started taking about 2 months ago.
    Peggy
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CoffeePot
    CoffeePot Member Posts: 34
    edited February 2006
    Quick answer to Calico:
    Yes, it is all gone. I finished 12/28.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • txred9876
    txred9876 Member Posts: 392
    edited February 2006
    susan...I will be thinking of you making beautiful music! I am so looking forward to starting to "try" to work. I actually went to the office for 3 hours monday. It is a new real estate company as my former broker is ....I cannot write here.... The day of my mastectomy he has someone box up my stuff and part of my computer equipment disappeared. Then after talking to me and me telling him I was not sure when I was returning ( this was in jan...) he sent a letter to the state saying he would no longer sponser me (through the grape vine someone told him I was not returning..and he was not human enough to call me an ask). I love selling houses. I have now moved my license and will be trying to go into the office a few days a week for a few hours. My daughter and I have picked out 5 main neighborhoods to walk once a week (a 5 week rotation). I need the exerceise and I can "farm" the areas for business.
    Taxol has almost been nothing compared to AC. I now have almost a 1/3 of an inch of hair!

    We finished the kitchen floor finally at my boyfriends and the hall. Now we will work on the bathroom this weekend. I helped all day (even when I had to sit on my rear to accomplish it..LOL)

    Good luck to you all....and I pray for each and every one of you ....and that you will find those that will support you though this!

    For you ladies in the Portland, or area....I am hoping to visit again sometime before the end of the year...Those are my old stomping grounds!

    Tina

    must be the steroids...I am full of it tonight..LOL
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories