Starting chemo January 2009?

Hi everyone.  I went down to Ann Arbor to get dd.  We had a blast while we waited for the traffic to clear.  We ate at a place called Cafe Habana - tasty tapas treats- just enough to get me through the two hour drive to my home.  I had a great conversation with dd and now at home, we are enjoying our dogs, even our stray.

Kmmd - Congradulations.  I can only hope that I am around long enough to have the same memory, even without the BC its a bit of a long shot. I am 47 and he his 8.  If he waits as long as I did to get married I will be close to 80. 

I returned from my 13th wedding anniversary.  We went to Mackinac Island.  A nice place.

Hope all is well.  

Thanks, Renrel.  I feel pretty good right now.  I had my digital mammogram- all clear, well the letter said no cancer was found.  That description kind of bothered me...does it bother anyone?

THis Thursday I have a physical to see if the tamoxifen is affecting me negatively and then blood work in a couple of weeks with the oncologist.

Renrel--good for you!

Jess, my Onc doesn't scan except to look for symptoms.  As unsettling as it is the theory makes sense to me.  Since Stage IV is not curable, the goal is to intervene to keep you feeling as good as you can for as long as you can.  Since, they wouldn't do anything in that case with asymptomatic mets, no use looking for them, you only want to find those you would treat.  Finding sooner doesn't make it more treatable in the case of mets.  Well, I guess that makes sense to me to a point, although I would think there would be some times that earlier would make it easier to treat, I guess I get that thought process.  We had ordered scans for me and then canceled them at my last visit.  Since what prompted them has gotten worse I'm not sure what they'll do at my next visit.  I just find the more time that goes by, the more I don't want visits, scans, or any other reminder of that time of active treatment (Tamoxifen and I have come to an easy relationship I don't count it anymore)

And I have to add---of course I made the classic mistake and looked up crap on the internet......But I have to say, I wish my doc had told me what neutropenia is!!!! CRAP

I wonder if she meant ostepenia????

Yes, it was osteopenia for a bone density scan.  I guess she wrote the neutropenia on my paper, but not the script because that would have completely changed and I 'd probably be driving an hour to the docs instead of the ten minute trip for the local bone density scan.  Whew!  Of course she did order blood work--that is usual- and has checked the box for wbc/rbc.....

I had an ultrasound for my thyroid and they discovered an adenoma. A stronger, more colorful ultrasound displayed it as Hashimotos.  I don't know about a thyroid scan- is it different than an ultrasound.  I wish you luck!

It was an Ultrasound.  Just lay there and let them put the wand over your neck.  Things look OK.  Some noduals that don't look worrysome.  An adnormallity that might be just an in regular edge to my thryoid or an issue with the parathyroid which deals with calcium.  So now they have to compare it with my blood tests and I need a follow up with the thyroid doctor, which can't happen till next year because one of the doctors is booked up till then.  Maybe this information will answer the question about whether I should take calcuim to maintain my bones or avoid it so as not to get more kidney stones. 

Lost a family friend to esphogalal cancer on MOnday.  Only 51 years old and he had a son a year younger than me.  My mom has been support his mom as she walked this hard path with him.  Really hard on her thinking how 3 years ago her friend was helping her and problem counting her own blessings and then that picture was flipped on its head.  

But, learned yesterday that a co-worker is pregnant, and moving to take a new job.  Very happy with her which helps balance out my emotions. 

I got a call from the endoconologist today.  there are I believe 3 small nodulas on my thryoid and the blood work indicates that things are off but maybe not enough to justify medication just yet.  In December they will do the blood work again and then I'll have a face to face to discuss what this means.  it is definately not cancer and it does not seem to be a big deal yet, but I am sure having thyriod issues makes treatment for other things more complicated as time goes on and more of my body starts to show its age.  Ah well, it could be much much worse and for many it is. 

Jess - they are not even talking surgury because they are so small, but maybe medication. 

I am officially three years cancer and breast free today, if you don't count silcone breasts.  Completely forgot until around 5pm that I had my bi-lat on Veterans day.  I think it is great that I am cancer free and great that the holiday did not trigger a memory.  We will say a special prayer with our Sabbat dinner tonight and I bought a little fruit tart for dessert, felt like it was a someone healthy treat since it is has fruit all over the top.  

Well, I have been having trouble with leg cramps at night and then back spasms.  I tell you the pain is excruciating, especially when it hits at night.  I am currently going through the 3 year eval and talked to the doc about that---I was told to take zinc and magnesium.  So far so good. 

Those who have had lymphedema issues, is an sign of early swelling a rope like "cording" along the arm?  I felt them there about a week ago and when I rubbed the cording, they smoothed out and went away until today.  Plus, my arms feels heavy.  I think I'll will have the nurse look at it soon.  

dear all

so this week is my bi-annual visit with the onc-- mammogram first, then clinical visit--I have already sent her my updates and my list of questions about drugs, time on drugs (5 years vs. 10 years).... she is a researcher, so I want to get her opinion.  Also looking into the end of lupron (maybe??)  would love to be off of that.... it has been three years sincd dx and I am breathing much easier--I know there are no guarantees but I feel great and hopefully that will continue. Had a clear MRI in May, so I dont' expect anything exciting on the mammogram, but then again, last year they found something (cyst) that they insisted on taking out.... sigh....

hope you are all well--beautiful day here in the northeast.... 

Happy Thanksgiving all.

My number one reason to be thankful is all the many parts of my body that I can just take for granted that they work, the second are the parts that work with a little help from things like medication or glasses, third that the things which don't work so perfectly I can just take them for granted still work well enough that for the most part I can do what I want when I want.  I know that these blessings don't last forever so I want to appreciate them while I have them rather than just mourn them when they are gone.