Is there a July 2011 group?

The interview is great, rabbit!

ellenquilt - good luck with dinner. I don't know how you do all you do - hope you can get those naps! I also tried taking 3 mg of melatonin and found it did not do much. Made me a little drowsy, but did not keep me from waking up in the middle of the night - which is what I really needed.

paulamati - hope you are feeling ok!

ElizabethinPA - thanks for sharing your experience w/Effexor. She actually prescribed it to me for the night sweats, so if it ends up causing them that would be a problem! It does sound like some people have a good experience on it, so I'm going to give it a try. Will do my best to take at the same time every day and am prepared to take my time coming off of it. If it works for me, it seems like it would be worth it.  

By the way, I've been meaning to mention that folks with kids should see if there is a Gilda's Club in their area that has programs for kids. I do not, but my coworker who had BC a couple of years ago said she took her children and it was really helpful. You don't even have to do it now - she went after she finished treatment. Just a thought.

Wishing everyone a SE free evening

Quick update...hi to all...got my bilateral MRI results today and they were fine. HAd my radiation dry run this AM too.....SE free weekend to all.

Ladies- if you have netflix, or access to a dvd rental, I just finished watching a documentary called "One a Minute". Fascinating, sobering, but uplifting breast cancer documentary. Totally worth a watch.

Happy New Year to all my fellow Jews a bit late....

ellenquilt, how did dinner go?

misswim, I am going to look that one up on netflix today or tomorrow!

I hope everyone is having a good SE free weekend. Mine are slowly, slowly, getting better

xoxoxoxo to all 

My good friend made bc bracelets in my honor for her organization, for all the poker players out there or if you know anyone that plays poker....there is a raffle held where the winner will win a seat into a $1500 satellite for the WSOP 2012, and the rest of the proceeds go to bc research. You can choose your charity when you buy one, they are $10.99 each including delivery. 

Anyways, thought I would throw it out there, a fun way to donate to bc and cool little gifts

www.thegrinderknot.com

Busy, busy weekend!! There is a family with a mom and four kids that have been staying in a pop-up camper at the campground that is down the road from my house. The mom was leaving an abusive husband. Two of the kids know my two kids from school. The weather here has been down in the low forties at times and we had some really severe wind storms. Anyway, different combinations of the kids have been coming down to our house to hang out with my kids for the last month or so. The mom is working long hours and is depending on the older ones to watch the younger ones. It is a tough situation, but we are helping them move into an apartment tomorrow and Monday. Tonight we had all the kids. I cleaned out the fridge, did the dishes, made dinner for eight, made caramel corn and now they are all in the living room watching a movie. I had to step away and breath! I just feel for this family going through so much! But, it sounds like the mom has a great head on her shoulders and is finding a way to work through this step by step.

There is nothing like stories like this to remind you of your own blessings! They actually were all in tents at first, but someone at the campground loaned them the pop-up camper. We have an enclosed trailer to help them with the move, so I thought that would be the best way we could help. That, and just giving the kids a place to play at times. It is such a joy to find a way to help someone in need and has really been great to get my mind off myself! I get so tired of hearing myself whine! : )  

Rabbit: Very nice article! 

Hi My Fellow Warriors: 

 I know this is breast cancer awareness month and before my own BC I use to do the BC walk. I plan to do it again this year if I am up to it.    However, lately it just seems as if everywhere I turn I am hearing stories about Br, Cancer, (mostly tragic) and it finally got to me I guess.   I fell into ta  depressed, crying state.  I must have cried off and on for almost the last 2  days.  I wonder if its hormonal because I was feeling on top of the world just two days prior to this nose dive.    I am getting serious night sweats/hot flashes also.  The GI problem and night sweats seem to have gotten worse since finishing chemo.  Anyone else experiencing these SEs.?

 FIGHT4FAM:   You  are not alone.  Your  SE experience and feelings about the scar tissue over the original lump mirrors my own.  I find myself getting up 2-3 times nightly.   Do you have any arm pain?  I do not know if I slept badly but I have pain on the arm of the surgery site. 

RABBIT:  I hope the mouth sores are getting better.  I was trying to find a post from you to see if they were getting better.  You are in my thoughts constantly.

ANA: Love your cruise story.  I am thinking of taking a Spirt Cruise for my birthday this weekend.  Don't know yet.  My hubby is working and I would have to take my kids with me.  I do want to do something to celebrate though.

EllenquiuiltL:  Thanks for letting me know that I am not alone with the gas.

Frances:  I had no node involvement but when I had asked about an MX, my BS reassured me with the same words.  Said chemo, rads and tamoxifen should wipe out any residual cells.

KK11: You hang on to your dream -- even if its going to be delayed 2.5 years.  I know the years will go by quickly and before you know it the time is here.  Look, I cannot believe its already 6.5 months since  I found the lump and started my BC journey.  Be encouraged.

Dexxy:  Wish I was going on a trip too.  Enjoy it to the fullest.

I have not finished reading all the post so please forgive me if I did not get to respond.  I do try to catch up but its hard to do.  For now, God Bless you all. 

HUGS,

Ann

hi Allenan, the mouth sores are much better, thanks. Now I have to deal with the tooth that was beneath the crown that was taken off a month or so ago. That tooth had a root canal so it's dead, but it's loose now! I mean, I can wiggle it with my finger, and it's sore around it....I'm guessing it needs to be pulled and being on blood thinners I doubt that's going to happen anytime soon! I am a mess

I made a list of all the SEs I've had with this nasty docetaxel....12 of them, count 'em 12! I decided to make an appointment with my onco on Wed.  to talk to him about these SEs.  I seriously do not think I can get infused in 9 days with an open mind, I know what the first round did to me and I don't think I can go through that 3 more times! I am praying he will reduce it by 20% or something, I seriously think that docetaxel is way too toxic for my system. Before my dx, I was exercising regularly, eating pretty darn healthfully, and now I am getting almost no exercise and at times eating garbage because that's all that I can stomach (frappes, milkshakes) with the mouth sores and all. I think my body has freaked out and if I get another dose of that docetaxel at that strength anyways, it will literally kill me. Anyone else go through this thought process??

Hi All,

I called out from work today as I still do not feel myself. 

J-Bug:  My last treatment was Sept 21 and last steriods was Sept 22.  The gas has subsided a bit, but the minute I eat something, its back.  I guess I start my mind racing about the "what ifs"  I wish that right after radiation they could just check again and make sure nothing is there.  My mammo appt with the BS is not until January.  Since I will be finished with radiation the end of Nov, I just think 2 months is a long time to wait.  Anyone else have this experience. 

Rabbit:  I felt I was not eating properly for a while too. I was on a milkshake binge for about 2 weeks because that is what my body could handle.  My only consolation -- and something I do believe strongly -- is that your body will dictate what it is you need to have and it will do the best work when it gets that very thing.  Right now, yours is milkshake.  .  Its better than not having anything at all.  Do you buy the shakes or make it or have it made.  Making or having them made with rice or almond milk may be a way to get even more from it.   I cannot wait to find out what your onco says on Wednesday.  Hang in there and be encouraged.  After this, you will not want any more milkshakes and you will go back to your healthy lifestyle.    Lots of Hugs!!!  I too need to get into exercising again.  Going for a walk right now.

Have a good day everyone!!

PS:  Have this sometimes sticking, stabbing pain in my other breast -- it just started yesterday.  Its making me scared.  I am thinking of calling my oncologist about it if it gets any worse.

Hi everyone just checking in J bug what a great story helping that family especially since you are going through  some pretty tough stuff yourself do you live in a small community? Rabbit I hear you about the Taxatore Day 7 and still feeling lousey treatment # 4 worse one yet severe bone pain bladder pain, headaches,metal mouth taste, Fungal infections in 3 diff places, and feeling week all over have.nt been out of bed in 6 days I dont know if I can handle 2 more of taxatore either.Let me know what the oncol says about reducing dosage.Ellenquilt Glad things are coming around regarding your home and had a success dinner.Missswim I am on metforimn for diabetas I heard there was a clinical study B/C and metformin let me know what you find out.Hope everyone a S/E free day tommorow.Hugs.

Day 6 after 5 chemo ..still tired, trying to eat what i can.

Rabbit...I do have almost the same SEs , I can barely walk, my legs are killing me and food puaj!! the first week is the worst ever, but Im in my 5th dosis and i survived to this crap so you can do it   Hope we feel better very soon.

Allenan im having the same pain in my other breast, my onc said if is sharp and go fast i dont have to worry about it..tell me what yours said.

J-Bug what you did with that family is amazing..good bless you

tomorrow my mom leaves to Chile, she was with me since my first chemo..its going to be difficult now without her, going to miss her food, help and company...i just dont know when im going to see her again

luvmy2kids: I am doing Taxol number 4 on Friday. Mine are every two weeks, dose dense. I have never noticed the salty taste. However, I have had all of the other things that people mention; extreme bone pain to the point that I can barely hobble around with a cane for a few days after, numb fingertips and toes, peeling skin on my feet, fingernails and toenails darkening just a little, etc.

To all who commented on the moving of the family: I mention it because it made me feel so much better to not think about myself and all the SE's. My husband was raised in foster care and orphanages and was homeless for a short bit. He had gotten himself emancipated from the system at 16 so he could get away from the abusive households he kept getting put into and the apartment he thought he had fell through.

Then, I also can relate to difficult moves because when we moved from MI to WI, we went through a difficult time trying to drive back and forth with a bunch of trailer loads with a 6 x 9 enclosed trailer through Chicago every time. It was very stressful with our son's medications for an unspecified mood disorder needing to be adjusted. Then as we were finishing and showing the house to a realtor, there was a fire. Long story! But, let me just say, I have moved many times - but that was by far the most difficult! I wish we had had a better support system through that. So, it certainly felt good to do that for someone else and to get my head out of my a$$ with all this focus on cancer!! : )

Thanks J-Bug....My chemo nurse said chemo is cumlative and this just may be one of my SE.... So far no nail issues and little bone issues. I am not having Dose Dense though...  I may experience those things later in my sessions? I just want this to be over.... I am getting tired of going to chemo every week.  I know stop sulking;-)  Take Care!!!!

luvmy2kids: My onco. offered me the option of doing chemo every week when I first started Taxol and found that it caused so much pain. No way! When I weighed three more treatments over eight and EVERY week - I just couldn't do it. I feel for you! l hate the pain, but I am glad to not be there every week. This too shall pass. Do you have three to go? Hope you are doing well from today's treatment.

luvmy2kids: So sorry on how many you have left! But you are definitely getting there! It sounds like it may be hot flashes. I thought when I was first getting them that I had a fever because I would feel so hot at first, and then just totally sweaty. I kept thinking, my fever can't be breaking THAT often! Then it dawned on me that it was hot flashes. I wake up in the night with my pillow all wet from sweating too. It seems to be worse right after treatment or spicy foods. 

You can do radiation OR mastectomy? That sounds strange to me. How large was your tumor at the beginning? Mine was over 8 cm, so I will have to do both. My decision will be in double or single mastectomy, but I think I am going for double, and then which method of reconstruction. I am starting to research the different methods now because surgery will be in November.

I turned 40 in April, had a perfect yearly exam, then found the lump in May. Yeah, I didn't think 40 would be such a shift in life either, but in some ways I feel better than I did before diagnosis. You have to find things that bring you joy. I bought The Muppet Show, Seasons 1-3. I was a huge fan!I have been enjoying sharing them with my kids. I am determined to find some fun in 40!