Starting Chemo in July 2009

I also have not been on the site in quite some time.  I am so shocked and saddened to hear Lisa  has passed away.  It just doesn't seem fair.  I will never forget Lisa's strong fight and sly sense of humor.  I thank God for bringing her here to pull us together and so we could carrying each other through treatment.  Let's stay strong and continue our fight against this awful disease in her memory.  My deepest sympathies to her family.  She was certainly one special lady. 

Thank you!!  I really appreciate it!  It is hard to believe it was 2 years ago . . . Enjoy your summer!

Great to hear from you Dianne and glad you are feeling well.

Hi all~ I haven't posted in a long time.  I was taking a break from bc for awhile but then I come back to check and I read the Lisa passed.  My heart is heavy for her young family.  I am sure you are all wondering too what happened.....why did it come back? She didn't even have it in any lymph nodes....all these questions swarm around in my head and then I am just so sad for her and her family & friends.  Geez this is a horrible deal.  I went back and read her posts and she was just so full of life.  Thinking of all of you ladies!  

 This summer is going better than 2 years ago.....except for the fact that a friend suggested I ask for a effexor for hot flashes.....oh gosh I have only been on it for 2 months and it is not for me.  Now the task of getting off of it.  YIKES but I can do it.  

Hang in there ladies and I wish good health for all of you!

Hugs

Balsie 

Hi Jedis! It's good to see so many checking in. Happy 4th to everyone! it's not such a big deal in the UK, but I know it is in the USA. I was in San Francisco some years ago on 4th July and there were lots of parties going on all over the place.

I am also having a better summer than 2 years ago. It is almost the end of term at the college where I teach. The exam results for my students have been quite good, so I have a sense of achievement,  and also relief that I can still do my job. I am due to have a revision to my reconstruction in a couple of weeks, it has been postponed twice, but that is fine, it's not urgent. In the meantime I have been getting on with my life and loving it.

Wishing you a great weekend.

o2bhealthy~ I agree just feel numb and I don't like it.  I am going to do fine with getting off of it.

Happy 2nd year month to all.  

Dianne~ I agree ..I too see things differently....and one thing is I just get sick of all the needless complaining that goes on.  My husband is very supportive but sometimes I think he to would just like things to be back to the way it was. I wonder if that is their way of coping....kind of maybe if things go back then I know she will be ok.  I always think boy I know I have been through a lot but so have our husbands and I can only know how I would feel if I had to watch my husband go through this I would want "normal" but we all know normal is not going to happen.  I feel bad that you had a big fight, not easy when you don't fight.  Sounds like you have a good marriage so I am confident it will be ok.  Just frustrating to go through.  Hang in there.I know I rambled a bit...hard to explain.  Hope all works out for you. 

Blessings Balsie 

Eph (Joni2)- Happy Birthday to you today!!!!

It's so good to hear from all of you. And yes, life is so different. But life is good !!

Joni

Hey guys,

 Like others who just found out, a few weeks ago I posted about the shock and sadness of hearing about Lisa.  I'm back now to ask for your help - just got off the phone with a coworker I've been helping through the same experience as me, except her tumor is bigger.  She does not have same onc that I used, who really helped me through chemo.  But, her tumor is different and they did not give her the choice of chemos - told her she had to have adrymacin (?).  I know it is a harder regimen than the taxotere cytoxin I was on, but she is feeling so terrible and is so upset that she wants to quit.  Please, can the gals who were on the Adrymyacin give me some tips - is this normal?  It's not the nausea, but the general just feeling uncomfortable and weak.  Any ideas, tips, etc. I'm open to.  I asked her to ask once when she goes in this week to test her rbc - make sure they're not too low.  I don't want her to quit.  Doc told me after surgery my odds were 50-50 without chemo, but with chemo and tamoxifen they were 90% long-term.  Thanks.  K 

Sheila, thanks for posting so quickly.  Yeah, she's on tx 1 of 4 - probably same schedule as you.  I didn't feel great with T/C, but I'm really worried about her. 

Did they give you a choice of A/C or T/C or do docs just determine what's best?  Her tumor is bigger than mine was, but she only had a couple of nodes involved.  E+ and no HER2 neg.  I almost wish they'd let her switch to T/C.  She's talking like she'll take the chance.  Honestly, Sheila, docs told me just surgery was 50/50, but with chemo and tamox. it bumped me up to 90% long term odds.  I don't want her to quit.  Did anything make you feel better?  I'll post again tomorrow night - need to go to be for work.  Isn't it great to say that?

Stef 58, I think your question was great.  Sometimes I appreciate things more and other times I don't feel the need to please everyone who wants the impossible.  And, I always realize how blessed I was in 2009 every time I come visit this board. 

I was on DD A/C. I think that the first one was the worst, tell her to try and get through like gilly said it goes fast. I had mouth sores, nausea etc but it was gones when i started a different drug. there alot us who took that drug and we are still going strong. Good luck with the friend.

PS73- yes, we all hated hearing about Lisa. Her mother is doing well. I believe she is currently doing a clinical trial. Just a very sad ordeal.

I will say, Adriamycin made me feel it would just be ok to die!! I felt horrible, so nauseated. Threw up blood, bled out my nose...nothing worked to stop it. It's so hard to convince yourself it's only temporary. I had so many praying for me, I believe that is the only thing that kept me going!  It has been so hard to have friends diagnosed and find out they have to be on that drug.....I can't bear to tell them what it was like for me.

Hello Everyone, It has been awhile since anyone posted. I thought I might start. Great News, My 5th grandchild was born last week, Lillian Sue,I am going to call her Lilly. i have had 2 grandkids since the end of this stuff and I am celebrating. Thought we could use some good news. Also starting on projects that I have put off since cancer. But full steam ahead. Anyone want to come to Nebraska and redo kitchen cabinets. Have a great week, I know I am. Dianne

Great news Dianne!! Congratulations on Lilly!  Our youngest son just got marrried in Malibu in August. It was a beautiful wedding.

I'm heading to Charleston, SC Oct 6, for my (hopefully) last stage of bilateral DIEP reconstruction. This will be nipples and some minor touchups...maybe some lipo. It will be great to finally have this part of the journey finished. I love my new breasts...never even think of them not being the "real ones". That's how natural they feel.

Hoping all you ladies are doing well....looking forward to fall and some cooler weather. So many weather extremes this year!!! Love to all, Joni1