Is there a July 2011 group?

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  • ANA_424
    ANA_424 Member Posts: 109
    edited October 2011

    Oh yeah - I am also going to do the metformin trial. There will be about 60 of us at my hospital and it will be double-blind, so we won't know if I get the medicine or a placebo. I'm glad I can participate regardless. I won't start that until I meet with my onc in January - going to get the exchange surgery over with first.

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  • yooper
    yooper Member Posts: 47
    edited October 2011

    ANA--that makes perfect sense about doing too much too soon. I'm afraid that I will be in such a hurry to get back to "normal" that I will overdo it. I'm not done yet and I already find myself doing that.

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  • misswim
    misswim Member Posts: 931
    edited October 2011

    Hi all- thanks for all your good wishes. It has been a rough week. I am feeling better. Thought I would try to go back to work today. I lasted all day but feel like I got run over by a truck.

    My last taxol is Weds. Excited, but at the same time terrified. Here I had my chemo safety net, and now it will be gone. I can only hope it did its job, take my tamoxifen, eat healthy, excercise and live my life every day to the fullest.

    J-Bug- Did you make any sense of the MRI debacle?

    Yooper- I am feeling the same way. I really should not even go back to work until after chemo is done, but the work that is piled on my desk is amazing......... I don't want to lose my job, it is my health insurance and it is important that I work. But I am EXHAUSTED.

    Ana- So nice to hear from you!

    Sandy- Hope you are feeling better!

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  • dexxy
    dexxy Member Posts: 229
    edited October 2011

    good luck MisSwim, hoping your last is painless and non memorable!  LuluJune-sorry you'r husband is being a poop, I think when peoplke are scared they handle things differently.  All you can do right now is take care of yourself and hope that he'll see the light.  Chin up, we are all here

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  • yooper
    yooper Member Posts: 47
    edited October 2011

    PhillyBird - How are the rads going so far?

    Misswim - Good luck tomorrow!  I'll be right behind you...finishing Thursday.  Won't have to get the Nuelasta this time.  Starting to get my usual apprehension about treatment, but will be so glad it's the last one!

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  • rabbit
    rabbit Member Posts: 613
    edited October 2011

    hi all

    Well, I got my tennis shoes on today and took a 25 min walk, woohooo!! First time in over a week I could get my tennis shoes on, the big toenails were so sore and tender! My hands and feet are terribly dry and peeling but healing.  No mouth sores, unbelievable it's amazing what it's like to go days with no mouth sores, taste buds are off a bit, but I'll take it any day over the sores. 

    Giuliana Rancic's news is sad, we all know what it's like, and she is right, she has the capability of getting the word out and awareness to millions of young women. 

    misswim, I was going to ask also how J-Bug is, what's up with the findings.

    Ana, awesome news about getting in on the trial, I hope it works well for you, best of luck!

    sandy, hope you are feeling okay after this chemo, I go tomorrow for taxol #2....7 more after that.

    Really need to nap, hi to everyone :)

    xoxoxo 

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  • misswim
    misswim Member Posts: 931
    edited October 2011

    Hi all- it has been a day of meltdowns for me. So busy at work and had to get so much done. Every time I slowed down for two minutes I realized how exhausted I am and I fell apart in tears. My chemo is OVER tomorrow. I should be thrilled, but I am terrified. I wish I had a crystal ball that would tell me everything was going to be ok.........

    Yooper, good luck on Thursday!

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  • J-Bug
    J-Bug Member Posts: 626
    edited October 2011

    Update: I sent a list of questions and information to my "cancer navigator" and told her that the list pertained to both the oncologist and the surgeon. They presented the situation to the tumor board today. They did this when I was first diagnosed as well. I hope to hear the results of that at my next appointment. I wanted the doctors to have my questions and info so that they would know the things that I am thinking as they try to figure out the best course of action and in presenting to tumor board.

    They had me do an MRI on Monday and at that appointment I let the tech know of the MRI concerns. He has been through cancer himself and is a really great spirited guy to work with. He said that Tuesday was his day off but he would make sure that first thing in the morning he would call the radiologist and see if he could recheck the measurement concerns and get the reading done in time for the tumor board.

    I am going to keep this quick and brief because I have not slept since Sunday night. I drove all night last night to go to Michigan with my husband taking care of more things related to the house fire we had there when we moved. I drove because when I do MRI's I take Prednisone to prevent a reaction to contrast dye. I had so much energy (at that time) I had to take on Chicago! We got our stuff done and turned right around and came back. I literally visited with my Mom for 20 minutes! It's the first time she's seen me since I lost my hair. It was good to squeeze in a quick hug. But now we just got back home and sleep HAS to happen now!

    I will keep you guys posted! Chins up and keep fighting!!

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  • lulujune17
    lulujune17 Member Posts: 47
    edited October 2011

     Good evening ladies,finally the soreness is gone,but that burning feeling in my brain is killing me!!my onco.said that the other anti-depressant he prescribed last wed. will start working soon and it is supposed to fix this issue,he says it's all nerves.we will see.

    J-bug,im praying for you sweety, get your beauty sleep and tomorrow is always better.Kisswishing you the best of luck and the best lifecan give.

    rabbit,YAY!!! Laughingglad you had your 25 mins walk dear,next time it will 45 mins then an hour,you will be running 5 miles in no time!!Laughingkeep it up!!

    misswim,you will be okay sweety,you have to believe it,there is no guarantee in anything in the world,but there is our life and the paths that we have to walk,proudly we r woman,we are born strong,i only know you from your few posts since i joined,but i can tell you are a brave woman,you went through a lot during your chemo and you survived it,you are still thinking of the things that needs to be done,this tells me you want to live,and you are looking for a tomorrow everyday,and this alone will heal you from cancer and from any painful memories you had to come across during your journey,but you know what.you did what needed to be done,just live your life to the fullist,and it's time now to pamper yourselfWinkwishing you all the best,good luck tomorrow,YAAAAAAAAY you are doneLaughing

    jexxy,i dont know if he is scared or my cancer showed who really he is,but im trying to stay positive,i have enough to worry about now!! i learned one thing since i was diagnosed, dont put high expectations on anyone,you'l save yourself the disappointment.

    Wish you all the best,

    HUGS HUGS HUGS

    nityKiss

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  • ellenquilt
    ellenquilt Member Posts: 172
    edited October 2011

    Hi all,

    I haven't been on the boards much because  work has been crazy and frankly, I've  been a bit down in the dumps.  Nothing specific, just exhaustion and a sense of general malaise.  Friday is my last Abraxane and then I move on to the year of herceptins every 2-3 weeks.  I'm hoping I'll be less tired for a while, at least until I start radiation some time after Thanksgiving.  

    I've had some neuropathy in my feet and a tiny bit in my left hand.  I find if I rest and put my feet up for a few hours it eases up, but it is something of a nuisance.  Hopefully temporary.

    I've been using the eyebrow brush for a few months now and have mastered  not looking like Faye Dunaway I think. LOL. My eyelashes are hardly there on the bottom and the top is sparse, but I'm not really bothered that much by the whole hair thing.  It just is what it is for now.  I'm still not wearing the wigs much -- too hot or wet outside to make it a comfortable option for now.  

    I presented at a conference yesterday and did think about whether hair (wig) or hat would be the best option for a public  speaking engagement, but comfort won out and I wore one of my funkiest hats complete with colorful scarf woven in and rhinestone pins.  I was easy to spot as the only hat-wearing participant out of over 500 people. LOL.  

    My house is just now on the verge of getting detoxed -- the process with FEMA is painfully slow and I think one of the reasons I've been in a funk is the house.  I hate coming home and having to deal with the dank smell from the downstairs.  My son's  girlfriend, who lives with us, has been great about going down there every few days and mopping with bleach, which helps a lot, but I think the whole thing is just wearing on me lately.  I have to work on getting my good moods back in place.

    I can't wait to be finished with this stage of treatment so I can regain my sense of taste and hopefully some  positive energy!   Work is beginning to get really busy and I've been dealing with the  fatigue by taking midday naps out in my car. I set the alarm on my iPhone and go right to sleep. I would make a good homeless person --  passersby on the street don't bother me at all. :D

    I hope you are all moving forward in a good and SE free way!

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  • khs113
    khs113 Member Posts: 105
    edited October 2011

    Ellenquilt---Glad to hear from you. You are a real trooper with all the stuff you have going on. I can't imagine holding down a job, much less making presentations, dealing with FEMA and a house that has been under water. Only natural to have down times plus to have to deal with chemo. It can only get better from here.

    Yooper and Misswim---So happy for you both now that you're about to finish chemo. I'm five weeks out now and feel so much better. And I certainly don't miss the Nulasta shots. They were almost as bad as the chemo.

    J-bug---Good to hear things are moving along and you'll have some answers soon. It's the not knowing that's the worst. I'll keep good thoughts for you.Take care.

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  • yooper
    yooper Member Posts: 47
    edited October 2011

    Khs - my triple neg comrade - are you doing rads now? How's that going? I'm curious what kind of follow-up care your dr suggests. I expect we'll be talking about that tomorrow and I'll be interested to compare notes. I find it interesting that we were on different tx regimens with such similar tumors.

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  • misswim
    misswim Member Posts: 931
    edited October 2011

    I am officially PFC. Done with chemo. Had a long day, got to the center at 9, left at 4. Had a long appointment with my onc. They sang me a song, played pomp and circumstance, and gave me a diploma. I cried like a baby!!!!

    Will get a break for two weeks, go to the larger cancer institute that I had all my surgery at and where I am doing the Metformin trial for my blood work and to meet my other oncologist, and then will begin Zometa and Tamoxifen.

    I am mentally and hysically exhausted. I told everyone at my center about my amazing group of girls all over the globe that have supported me and listened and helped me through this hardest part of my journey. You ladies have been a life line for me and I LOVE YOU.

    We must all keep coming to this bored to suport each other and keep up with how we are all doing. You are amazing, strong, beautiful warriors, each one of you. We are survivors....... Ironically, today is exactly six months since diagnosis.

     I am a six month survivor and proud of it!!!!!! xoxoxo

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  • yooper
    yooper Member Posts: 47
    edited October 2011

    Yay Misswim!!!! So happy for you. Hoping your recovery is as easy as can be with very little SE.



    :)

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  • rabbit
    rabbit Member Posts: 613
    edited October 2011

    hi all, I am so happy for all of you that have finished chemo, that is AWESOME, do you think we can plan a get together sometime next year somewhere in the middle of the country or pick a place most could get to for a weekend? I would LOVE that, if we started to plan it now....maybe it would work, I know other chemo lounge groups have done it. We can decide it it's with or without DH and boyfriends or girlfriends....doesn't matter to me, just a thought. I would LOVE to meet you all. 

    J-Bug, glad you are on top of things, I'm sure you'll get to the bottom of this and it will end up ok in the end, I am thinking of you!

    I am keeping up with all of you on rads. I don't know yet if I will be doing rads....end of Dec. I am getting my 1st MRI since chemo to see where we are and if I can get away with a lumpectomy....so won't know til then.

    Also, listen to this:

    Today I was told that the docetaxel lot number treated 3 of the patients at my infusion center and one other lady had the same thing as me, my onco had not seen this with docetaxel before, nowhere near this severe, so he called the lab and reported it, come to find out it, it could of been mixed wrong and super toxic....freaking scary stuff!!! 

    Knock on wood, 7:20pm here, I was home by 2:30...feeling good, just had a healthy salad and a not so healthy ONE slice of cheese pizza :)

    I'll keep you all updated.

    xoxoxoxoxo 

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  • lulujune17
    lulujune17 Member Posts: 47
    edited October 2011
    LaughingYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYLaughing misswim,congratulations sweety!!!!!! soooooooo happy for you.  may you never ever go through this again and may this be just a memory and a story to tell when you are 100 years old!!Kiss
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  • misswim
    misswim Member Posts: 931
    edited October 2011

    Thanks Lulujune xo :)

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  • rossileo18
    rossileo18 Member Posts: 245
    edited October 2011

    Misswim, congrats on finishing chemo. And how nice that you got acknowlegement from your onc! Enjoy your break.

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  • Cathy_C
    Cathy_C Member Posts: 61
    edited October 2011

    misswim so happy for you and all the others who have finished their Chemo. Your announcements remind us were getting closer to being done as well.

    Rabbit: I would be very interrested in a get togather. Very scary about the Docetaxel, especially since that is what I'm getting.

    So I am happy that I have two more infusions to go, but hate the fact the next is on Halloween and the LAST is on the Monday before Thanksgiving. But guess what I will be thankful for?  Wink

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  • ellenquilt
    ellenquilt Member Posts: 172
    edited October 2011

     Congrats on graduation Misswim!

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  • mavinbook
    mavinbook Member Posts: 31
    edited October 2011

    Congrats again to those who have finished. 

    To the rest of us, we are almost there!  Today is the half-way point of the Taxol, or 6 more weeks until I can resume cleaning the litter box as some members of my household prefer to think about it! ;)  Hope you are all doing well. 

     Cheers!

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  • yooper
    yooper Member Posts: 47
    edited October 2011

    Heading to the chair for what I hope will be the last time EVER!

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  • lulujune17
    lulujune17 Member Posts: 47
    edited October 2011

    yooper, Good luck sweetyLaughing Im praying for you that this will be the last round of chemo you'll ever takeKissrest and enjoy ur life now,you deserve itLaughingkeep us posted.

    Best wishes

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  • khs113
    khs113 Member Posts: 105
    edited October 2011

    Hi Yooper---I noticed the difference in drug regimens too. My onc said the results were the same whether or not I got the A drug. Maybe it's something to do with age. I'm 65 and maybe they didn't want to chance it with me as it can affect the heart in rare circumstances. I'm headed to my 11th rad session today with 19 to go. No ill effects on my skin. They gave me a steroid cream to start applying as soon as I started radiation. I'll finish rads November 16th. December 12th I have a mammogram and then see the surgeon for an exam at the end of December to go over the mammo. See the onc at the beginning of Jan. and then don't see anyone for 3 months. No sign of any hair yet, just baby fuzz. I keep having dreams about hair and I found myself looking jealously at a women with a big,long thick ponytail today at the grocery store. I stared at it in amazement. I'd been wearing my hair relatively short the last few years but now I'm thinking about letting it grow long.

    Rabbit---I had the same thoughts about us all getting together some time. I can't tell you how many times I talk to my friends and doctors about this group of wonderful women. I'd be happy to help with the plans.

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  • Snoopy73
    Snoopy73 Member Posts: 287
    edited October 2011

    Hello my beautiful sisters. I am sorry I have been MIA lately:-( just have Sooooo much going on and my schedule is so tight now! Well, I am 6 weeks PFC yeeaahhh, started radiation on Oct 3rd so I am 12 rads out of 30:-) So after my last chemo i started having these bad muscle aches on my arms, legs & thighs, i just realised yday that they are almost gone BUT i have started getting the radaition fatigue:-( however much i sleep i wake up feeling so tired:-( and towards the end of the day i am so tired!! Ofcourse working fulltime 5 days a wekk and having 2 small kids does not help:-( i have scheduled my Rads to end of the day at 4:30pm so that i can go home after, but my commute is just killing me!! The center that i go to is close to my house (abt 20 misn drive) but i work in the city, so i ahve to be in the office by 8:30am leave at 3pm catch a train then get into my car drive for another 30-45 mins!!! Anyway, other than that i dont ahve any skin reaction.

    Some have asked about follow up treatments; I see my RO every week, have to see my primary end of the month thenstarting Tamoxifen after radiation in Dec 1st. Will see my MO 2 mths after Tamoxifen, then seeing my BS in april 2012, she wants me to ahve a mammo and blood work then.

    For those still doing chemo, hang in there, the end is near!! Sending hugs to all of you.

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  • bcisnofun
    bcisnofun Member Posts: 488
    edited October 2011

    congrats misswim!  So glad to hear you finished!  Yea! 

    thinking of all of you still on the road and anxious to have you on the other side.  I'd love a get together sometime next year. 

    I had my implant exchange Monday and it was a piece of cake.  Back to work on Weds.  Almost no pain/discomfort.  Today is my birthday.  My husband has to work tonight, so when I got home last night, he and my son had homemade streamers, a homemade card (my favorite), and a picture that says "life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain".  I cried.  I'm anxious for a new year to be better than the last! - love you guys and praying for health and no SE's from chemo/rad/surgeries. 

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  • kk11
    kk11 Member Posts: 210
    edited October 2011

    Crap - everytime I'm offline for a little bit, I miss a ton of posts!

    Dexxy - Just over 3 weeks left of rads for you! I think you finish on my birthday. :)

    Phillybird - Hope radiation isn't too hard on you. I don't blame you for not wanting to get up early every day for 6 weeks!

    Lulujune - Sorry you're feeling so lousy with FEC. How many more of them do you have?

    J-Bug - I hope you get answers to your questions soon! I would think they would have provided all the details after each scan. I hope you get answers from the tumor board soon.

    Rabbit - I'm glad I'm not alone with the hot water thing. I'm sorry your chemo end date got pushed back to December 7th. I hope Taxol is treating you better than Taxotere. And I agree, I don't miss the hair under my arms, on my legs, or down there either! I just want hairs on my head, eyebrows, eyelashes, and I am definitely missing those nose hairs (my nose runs all the time!). Anything else can stay away lol. I definitely want to stay in touch here on the boards. As for a get together, I'm on the west coast (near San Francisco), so if anyone is ever in the area, let me know! It may be a bit hard for me to get out to a middle of the country get together (we have a number of vacations we're planning already), but you never know!

    MIsswim - Congrats on being done with chemo! I never got the big happy dance at my last one. It was like they just forgot and sent me home as usual. I just started Tamoxifen yesterday and haven't noticed anything different yet, so that's good. So are you only taking Tamoxifen until your oopherectomy? Or will you be taking it for the recommended 5 years? Did you want any more children or were you done? If you still want more children, you may want to check into fertility preservation options before your ooph. If you store embryos, it keeps those options open. It's definitely not cheap, but just thought I'd mention it in case you still had hoped to have more children. As for the chemo being done and people thinking we're miraculously done with it all, I have experienced that as well. I have been playing tennis, so I am able to be more active again, but no way am I 100%! As for the movie, "Five", I recorded it but haven't had a chance to watch it yet. I hope to this weekend.

    Shiny - I had a rash after my first taxol (on my butt and my thighs) but it fortunately didn't come back with the other treatments. Hope yours get better! As for football, what team do you like to watch?

    khs113 - Glad things are improving for you! Hope that hair comes back (on your head only!) with a vengeance!

    Ana - Sorry you're still struggling with your energy. I am also having sleep issues (I'm 16 days out from my last chemo) and it's mostly due to hot flashes and night sweats. I started Tamoxifen yesterday and figure it won't change things much since I'm already dealing with hot flashes! I think it's going to take a while to get to our new normal.

    bcisnofun - I'm glad your hair is starting to grow back and your energy is coming back too! How did your exchange surgery go? Mine is 2 weeks from tomorrow! I also am fortunate not to need radiation. It's the reason I went for the mastectomy (nodes were negative and good margins).

    Yooper - Congrats to you for being done as well! Once you get past your chemo side effects, it will be upwards from there in terms of energy!\

    Ellenquilt - Glad to hear from you but sorry it's been so rough. I hear ya on the flooding issues. We had a major flood back in '98. We had to move out for 10 months though because we lived on one level, but dealing with all of that and FEMA is no fun and can put a damper on your mood. I am excited you are finishing chemo tomorrow and hoping you can get that energy level back! I know you're stuck with Herceptin for quite some time down the road, but I do hear it's easier than the chemo, so hopefully that's the case for you too.

    Cathy C and Mavinbrook - You will get there soon!

     AFM - I had my 2 week post chemo follow-up on Tuesday...what a long day! I started Tamoxifen yesterday (I had planned to start on Tuesday, but it was 1am before I realized and so I decided to take it Wednesday morning). So my countdown to taking a break has begun....2 days down, 728 to go. Maybe counting weeks or months will be less depressing? My surgery is 2 weeks from tomorrow. Looking forward to getting that one out of the way. My right arm has been hurting this week and the neuropathy continues, so I've been offline a bit more due to that....Also, I had my hcg checked for the molar pregnancy and after months of being at 0, it rose to 3 as of last Saturday. I'm going to get it rechecked again before my surgery since I was hoping to get my port removed, but I won't do it yet if my hcg is on the rise again because that would mean more chemo. Hoping it drops back to 0 and the 3 was just a fluke.

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  • misswim
    misswim Member Posts: 931
    edited October 2011

    Thank you ladies, you have been my saving grace and will continue to be!!!!

    KK- I have one child and I am one and done. My onc wants me on Tamox and Lupron for 2 years and then we'll move to the ooph and and an AI. I am also getting Zometa 4 times a year to prevent bone metastisis. I have my meeting with my other onc at my cancer center to do my blood work and sign my consents for the Metformin trial.

    I have officially started my vegan diet (with the exception of organic yogurt) and as soon as I am feeling u to it, the 5x a week excercise begins. I am going to do everything humanly possible to prevent recurrence.

    One thing I am realizing is that I lived every day of chemo like I was on the edge of death- I had a terrible time, lots of complications, and it was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I woke up today and realized I did it. And I am so incredibly proud of myself!

    You ladies are the best! Rabbit, I am all about a get together. Let's do it!

    Yooper- CONGRATS girl!!!!

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  • yooper
    yooper Member Posts: 47
    edited October 2011

    I am officially done! Woohoo! Treatment went well. I am super tired right now and the reality hasn't really sunk in yet. I'm not looking forward to the next few days, but I think it will help my attitude tremendously knowing that no matter how bad the SE's are, I won't have to do this again.



    In keeping with what you who are done have shared, my onc suggested that it takes a good month for this stuff to work itself out of your system. We shall see! I hope to be feeling good again by Thanksgiving.



    I meet with the RO on Tuesday already. I'm hoping I won't still be in a lot of pain from the taxol. I want to be able to comprehend what he's telling me.



    Exhausted but happy.

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  • paulamati
    paulamati Member Posts: 43
    edited October 2011

    Im done too Woot Woot !!!! so happy for me and all of you that are done too...hope we never have to  do this ever again.

    Radiation iscoming in 3 weeks, i will have 20 sessions and the doctor told me that is nothing compare with chemo :)

    I just hope the SEs wont be so bad like last time,but i really dont care this time, just knowing that is the last time make me happy. 

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