Chemo starting in December 2010

Hello everyone, not sure who is checking in, but I wanted to say hooray to all of us...Dec will be a year since most of us started this chemo journey together, some earlier, some joining in later! I hope everyone is doing well.  I just reached 1 yr...alittle scanxiety hits every once in awhile, MRI end of this month,
Hope everyone is doing well, anyone still having chemo/other treatment?  

Happy Fall everyone, and so grateful we were all together for one of the scariest unkown parts of our journey.  Thank you thank you thank you.  October is a tough month, I was Sept29, and then all the Breast cancer awareness began for the month of  Oct, this Oct I feel more empowered, educated, and ready to help others as they helped me. 

Take care!

So nice to hear from some of us checking in!  Yes, I too am now close to my one year anniversary.  When I look back on everything I have been through this year.. well it feels good to have it behind me, that's for sure.  And keeping my fingers crossed all the time that it is truly behind me.  

One of my very dear friends, who has been such a great support for me all through this, said in the most comforating way, when I was describing all of the hideous treatment that lay ahead of me, she said,...."Lisa, it's a minute.....".  I know what she meant back then, it just didn't feel like a minute, but it does now that the active treatment phase is behind me.  

Now if the crazy crazy dreams I am having on tamoxifen would subside, so I can get a decent night's sleep......    

I'm wondering if anyone is around... I am having a bad day. I have the weekend off, and after feeling pretty good all week, even working a full time strenuous week- I am freaking out because I am so tired today that I can hardly function. I was really feeling like my old self! So tonight I am freaking out thinking the cancer is returning. I missed my tamoxifen a few days, and restarted, I wonder if this is part of it? I am taking antidepressants, and looking into neurontin for pain- I get cramps in my legs like crazy. I have started faithfully taking omega 3 vitamins, calcium and another that encourages new growth.... Maybe because my husband is out of town I am freaking. But has anyone else gone through this?

Oh Lisa, I am so glad you responded! It's just comforting to hear from someone that has been through this! Tonight things seem to be worrying me more than usual. Some of it was that I was reading cancer information, and I have been worrying about a few missteps I may have made at the start of radiation. Probably nothing to worry about, but I never drew it to my Radiologist's attention that there was concern about clear margins- I assumed that she would know. I talked to the oncologist just last week, and I told her I was having disturbing memory problems, and some balance issues, and I knew all her questions were geared at if she should do a scan- but I had no other problematic symptoms of things. No headaches, nausea, etc. Of course two days later I had a familiar pain under my ribs... not quite gas, not quite heartburn.... I feel like a nut case! LOL

I talked to my husband tonight too and that helped, as well as your reply! He also pointed out I have been doing alot more and taking on projects and probably need more rest. I will be seeing my breast surgeon in a week, so i can ask her more. It is funny, at the ONC's office the Living well gal told me she was going to MAKE me sign up for some survivor's meetings and a massage or reiki. It is time I think.

Hope, thinking of you, and I don't think anyone of us here doesn't feel the way you do.  Going along great than a twinge of a headache....rib pain, cold....its so unbelievable how our minds all think like that...my back was hurting yesterday evening and now again..and you just can't help throwing in some kind of "cancer" explanation, even for a minute...hopefully this will slow down, become less and less....  I agree with Lisa, when we over do it, we feel it, out bodies are still healing.  My rad nurse said...at least a year from the last treatment..whether it be rads, surgery, chemo. Hugs to you.

Lisa, where abouts in MA is your brother? right in Boston?  I"m about an hour 1/2 from boston.  Going to pick up my kids and granddaughter in three weeks from Logan airport...Can't wait!!!! Glad you had a good trip!

Hi Diva!

Well I feel like I have gone from 45 to 80- lol!

Just this week I have had back pain... at first they thought it was a UTI- but now they are thinking possible kidney stones. My doctor did give me Celebrex and it really has helped with the pain- the back pain is not totally gone, but it has really helped the aching in my legs and feet.

My energy level is really out of whack, I have some good days and then totally bottom out!

My hair is so out of control!!!! Thick, coarse curls! I am always having a bad hair day! It is too funny! I am trying to grow it, but it just might not work- it is like one big poof ball.

Hello!  I cant believe it has been a year.   I am still in active treatment (2 more herceptins to go) and am counting down the days when I can start to put this behind me.  I also feel like I have aged.  My energy level has gotten better, but I still am surprised on how quickly I tire out.  I also have a lot of pain-either from Herceptin or left over from TC.  Somedays it makes me cry.  Speaking of crying...... I call them Tamoxifen Tears.  They come all the time.  I cry at sappy commercials.  It is ridiculous.

Just wanted to come by and say hello and thank you to all of you.  I will never forget how scared I was back then.  Having all of you to go thru this with made it easier.  Hugs to all.

So good to hear from you all. I have big soft curls and people keep their fingers in it all the time!

Mostly my energy is even unless I have to do something. Then it seems to want to slack off. I sleep ALOT on the weekends though.

I AM DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Woohoo!!!!!!  

Hugs to all on our 1 year!

Hope all of you are doing great. 

I have stayed away for a bit- I was feeling stronger mentally and feeling like I have beat this thing! Everyday gets better, my mental focus is better, and I have more stamina. I do have days that I still totally crash though. My hair is growing out nicely, adding to the new normal.

I was great until yesterday...until I talked to a lady that has been battling breast cancer. She is a stage three, but had much of the same things we all started out with, and it has come back twice since then.

So I am here. I am running to all of you, because for the first time in a long time I am feeling scared again. I know it will be ok. The lady I talked to said she WILL be Ok, and I will too. Anyone else have a bit of this? 

 I'm glad that all of you are doing so well. It is nice to read your posts here. Hugs and love to all! Cathy

It's  so nice to see your response here! Today I am feeling happier and less anxious. I resurrected my diagnosis sheet the other night, and some notes my sister took at the first oncologist visit. I was amazed... I didn't even remember half of the stuff written there. In my mind I have been questioning all the pain I have been having, I 've wondered why I haven't had a PET scan ? It seems like so many have? I have also been getting cramps...I am on tamoxifen. My gyne said I should have a vaginal ultrasound done, but I have put it off. (I hadn't been to the gyne in years-so many I am embarrassed to say) I mentioned I have fibroids, etc and she said it might be good just to do it and check things out.

The good and bad is that there is so much going on around me. My kids have their sports programs(daughter is looking at colleges and hoping for a scholarship), my boss at work is challenging, my Mom is 90 and cantankerous- (my brothers and sisters all have to chip in some money each month for extra care now).  I am really in the school of "Life is good"-I believe that wholeheartedly and it gets me through.

I love what your Onc said- perfect! What you said is perfect too! I'd be honored too to fall into that group with everyone here!

Hope you are all doing well!!!  Take care !!!

I check in from time to time, because I have referred a two friends to the site. I hope eit has been veryone has a safe and Happy Holiday! Merry Christmas! I can't believe it has been two years!

Hugs to all, Cathy/Hope