Is there a July 2011 group?

Well, tomorrow is my last chemo wooooooooooooohooooooooooooooooooooo, I can't believe after over 5 months it's finally that day! I am taking some munchies in to celebrate, I made some gingerbread rice crispy treats LOL and a cheese tray, party time for me! 

I saw the RO for the first time today, LOVE HER. She is awesome, sat and explained everything to me for over an hour. Very personable, I totally trust her. I have had a tugging kind of feeling in the right side of my neck, off and on since the port was put in, and she said I should get a CT when I get my MRI next Thursday to rule out anything going on, she did feel around and said my lymph nodes feel fine, and the area where the tumor was/is she could only find a minute spot of possible thickening of tissue, but she said she definitely feels that the tumor has shrunk tremendously. So, big day next Thusday, MRI and CT, to get final look at the breast and lymph nodes before surgery. I will keep everyone updated

Long day for me, off to bed early to rest up for that last chemo!!

xoxoxo all  

We lost our family member this morning in hi sleep. It was bay peaceful from what I understand



It has been a day of extreme emotion. Sadness, relief for the end of the pain, angry at cancer

The loss is unspeakable and it will be a huge adjustment. My son is heartbroken and feels cancer is going to take everyone he loves away

It is foingvto be s rough week

J-Bug. I bought some inexpensive padded bras at Target and they seem to be helping me fake it nicely. I was a D cup, but I bought C cuz it seemed to fit me better. 

Misswim, I am very sorry for your loss. My aunt's brother passed away a few weeks ago. I knew him well enough that I was very upset.

Rabbit, Happy Dance. I'm getting my tattoos for rads on Monday.  

Rabbit!!!!:  Wow!, so happy for you.  You have been an inspiration.  By the way.  I have had that tugging and pulling at my right neck too.  I was so scared.  I got an US  of Thyroid and neck and everything is fine.  My nodes are fine.

Misswim:  My condolences for your loss. 

J-Bug:  I would let my body be my guide.  If you feel good physically and emotionally, put on the wig and go network and gather info and enjoy the opportunity.     If you have doubts and your body feels tired, then wait.

Have a great day everyone. 

I put one of my bras on this afternoon and tried using the the little "pillows" that came with one of my camisoles. It looked like I had HUGE implants. I tried on several tops and no matter how high the neckline, you could still see the little white pillows poking out. They gave me two camisoles at the hospital. One without the pillows that is too tight and one with the pillows that is way too big, but they are both listed as the same size, different brands. Then when I got out of the bra, I was SO sore around the bottom of the bra line and under armpits. I did sign up for PT today. After that whole fiasco, I am pretty sure I need it. So I am home and enjoying a new episode of Modern Family tonight. Soooo tired of television...

That bra pain scared me enough to think, maybe I shouldn't do reconstruction in a few months. Maybe I could just get A cups and never wear a bra. Wouldn't it be amazing to never wear a bra again the rest of our lives? I already feel like I am wearing a really tight one every day anyway.

ANA_424: That's awesome that your hair is getting that long. I imagine mine might take another couple of months. 

Well I am now officially done, with what I hope is FOREVER, with chemo! Actually a few things went slightly wrong, which figures on my last one! I got there and the paperwork they normally have ready for me to sign pre chemo, was missing, so I had to wait for that to be reprinted, first time that's happened to me. Then they could not get blood return, which was the first time to happen since I've been on lovenox, months...finally after lying down, turning my head, deep breathing, holding my hands up in the air, all that fun stuff, we got blood return. Then my normal onco was at a conference so I had his partner come in. I told him a few of my toes were just about completely numb and my hands/fingertips were slightly numb, but definitely getting worse the last few weeks. He said "maybe we should not give you this last tx" and I'm like..."I don't want to regret this down the road" he explained that it was probably no difference to get that last one, so finally we settled on a reduced amount. He explained that the risk of that last tx causing permanent neuropathy vs. the last one really doing any more than what I've already gotten, wasn't worth it. But he did say a reduced toxicity should keep that at bay, so that's what I did.

Anyways, done now! What a day yesterday was. I spoke to my best friend from Australia (I met her in 2002 when I moved there and we were best friends for the whole 8 years I lived there) and she went do the dr. with a lump on her breast that ended up being a cyst and had to be drained, they did a mammo to be safe and found a lesion right next to the cyst, they told her it's a 50/50 chance it's malignant, she goes for a core needle biopsy next week. Then my dad called me a few hours later to say our cousin (the one I just went to NY to see get married in June, right after my dx, and my dad walked down the isle because her parents are deceased...well, she found out today she has ovarian cancer. She had what she thought was a bad stomach flu a month or so ago, it took forever to go away, then she's been complaining of horrible bloating pain in her stomach..finally went to several drs. who could not find anything and then the gyno found it. Several small tumors supposedly "localized" in her ovary. Her dad, my one and only uncle, passed away several years ago to bladder cancer. So what a whirlwind for me...celebrating my last chemo to finding out my dear friend may have bc, and my couisn has ovarian cancer. So please add Jo and Julie to your prayers for me.

misswim, I am so sorry about your loss, it seems we just can't get away from the big C, tragic losses and devastion. It's horrible and I hope you can stay strong through this.

yooper, thanks so much for your well wishes! I am so glad that part of my journey is over!

J-Bug, thanks too you are right, I didn't get to bed til after midnight and had to take a melatonin and ativan to knock me out LOL. I woke up 7:30am...not too bad of sleep. I wish I had some advice for you...maybe just layer up and try not to worry about it, people that don't know you, won't know if you were an A cup or a D and ones that do know you, probably know what you went through, I think with things like this, it's not as noticable as we think it is. But that's the best I can say, wish I had better advice.

shinypop, happy dance is right! good luck with your tats, I'll be doing that probably in late Jan.

mavinbook, I am so happy to be a part of the "I'm done club" can't believe that day is finally here!

Allenan, maybe that tugging feeling is more a chemo thing, the glands swelling up from the immune system going down...I'll know more end of next week when I get the MRI and CT, will post as soon as I get the results.

Ana, I am so glad your eyelashes are growing back well, that's something I miss, can't wait to put a little mascara on again! I will definitely rest up as much as I need. I am not shy about that, I've learned if I feel a bit tired, go take a nap or just rest in bed a bit. Hopefully soon I have the energy to take my walks again, my legs are soooo weak, my quads feel like I've done 100s of squats a day, can't wait to be able to work out, even lightly!

Hi PhillyBird and everyone else!! Who else is left to join the "I'm done club"???

xoxoxoxo to all 

How many of you are planning way different hairstyles once it starts growing? I would love to grow mine out to the middle of my back. I had it long like that with the layers and "big hair" style through high school and part of college. I have so many ideas in mind as I wait for it to grow. I am guessing you guys do as well?

J-Bug.  You made me smile when you mentioned the scraggly sideburns.   This morning I noticed that I was growing hair in places that I wish not to have hair -- ie: upper lip, etc. 

I am wishing you the very best and sending positive vibes for great networking and opportunities. Hang in there.

Rabbit:  So happy you are done with chemo. 

Have a great weekend everyone.

Ann

Hi,

Rabbit -- So happy that you have finished chemo! Congratulations! I did see you on Skype that time, but I wasn't at the computer when you contacted me - I have Skype set by default to open and stay open when my laptop is on, which is all day when I'm at work.  

The hat thing in the cold weather is interesting.  I found some nice berets knit from an eyelash type yarn that is very soft and non itchy at Burlington Coat Factory for under $10.  Unless my office gets very warm, it's a great all day hat and it's warm in the cold outside. I also sometimes carry a lightweight one in my bag  for "just in case" it gets too hot.

Misswim - I'm so sorry for your loss. There are really no words for how devastating cancer can be to our families.

kk11 - My eyelashes are starting to come back, as are my eyebrows -- although slower.  And I have to get my upper lip waxed. I guess that's progress. LOL  My head has the beginnings of peach fuzz.  I'm curious to see how it comes back in and how much is dark and how much is grey.  It's like a science experiment

Allenan - I relate to the achiness which my onc and I chalk up to Herceptin and the return of my pre-steroid arthritic issues.  One of the positive side effects to all the steroids was that my arthritis was better.  It's back now though.  A little tylenol helps, but I'm trying not to take it too often.

luvmy2kids - I just finished my 5th (of 34) rads. I got the tattoos.  You can hardly see them and it didn't really hurt at all.  The whole process only takes me about 20 minutes from when I get to the hospital to when I get ready to leave.  So far it's only a little uncomfortable and the skin in my armpit and breast is beginning to get very pink.  I'm using Udderly Smooth cream right after treatment and again at night.  The RN told me that if it gets itchy, she'll have me use a cortisone cream and if it gets burned, we go to Rx stuff. The whole thing is very "star wars" but the technicians and nurses and terrific and the RO himself is great, so I feel like I'm in good hands.

J Bug - I agree with Rabbit. People who don't know you won't know what your chest should look like.  Wear a cardigan or a jacket over your blouse and get yourself out there.  There is nothing as restorative as doing something "normal" that you would have done pre-C.  As for new "dos" I think I may opt for shorter hair than I had before.  When I had my pixie cut before I buzzed it all off, everyone liked the really short hair, and it was easier and cheaper to take care of.  I guess I have to wait and see what comes back.

 Finally some good news on the FEMA front here.  I just got the two checks for contents and structural repair so I'm hoping I can get the decontamination guy in here before Christmas and start the construction right after.  I want my washer and dryer back.  And I want to not have to open my windows to get fresh air when it's so cold outside. And I want my son to have his room back so he can move off my living room couch. (I'd really like him to be able to move into his own apartment, but that is another story entirely LOL). 

I've been doing my rads at 7 a.m. so I can go straight to work from the hospital. So far so good.  I think I'm more tired just from the extra running around.  I'm usually asleep before 9 these days. I'm looking forward to the Christmas break so I can sleep later and stay up later like a grownup. For that week I'm switching my rads to a slightly later time so I can sleep in a bit.  

I hope all of you are feeling well and I'm so happy for those of us who are finished or finishing chemo.  

Be well 

Thanks, Ann. It's been an awful week.

hi everyone, just checking in, misswim hope you are getting by okay.  

I spoke to my RO Friday and found out the tumor shrunk from over 4 cm to 8mm! I see the surgeon Monday and get more details and find out for sure if we're going to get away with a lumpectomy. I will update everyone when I know more.  

My cleaningforcancer.org fundraiser went well, I'll post some pics when I get them. I am now the secretary/board director, it's perfect for me, I get to give back to the community and be the voice of the cancer patients for the business as well.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

xoxoxo 

Missswim---So sorry for your loss. The description of his service brought tears to my eyes.

I take it as a good sign that we're all too busy with life to have much news to post these days. Hopefully, in the months ahead we recover our former good health and like Rabbit give back in a way that is meaningful to each one of us. Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and a healthier New Year.

Just wanted to pop in and wish everyone happy holidays.  I could not have gotten through the last 6 months without you all.  I'm Dr free till March.  Frightening but good as well.  Trying to get back to some sort of a normal life, I've been topless for about a month now and it does feel good.  My hair started growing like gang busters and I already have about an inch.  Lets all shoot for only good things in 2012

sending hugs

Hi everyone quick question, for those that did Taxol at the end, how long did it take for the energy and aches and pains to fade? And fingernails, I lost 6 so far....and several toenails as well. The new ones were half way or almost half grown in, but ridgy and softer than my regular nail, just curious if anyone knows when they actually start to look and feel like real nails.  My hair is coming in like peach fuzz too...and GRAY!! 

Hugs to all  

Rabbit: My last Taxol was 10-07. It has been a very gradual process. I have a lot more energy now than at the end of Taxol. However, I visited my MO today and we discussed that I still have very severe joint pain, especially in the hands and pelvis to the point that it is difficult to sit for very long and difficult to walk after sitting. I can barely sign my name some days my hands ache so much. My fingernails and toenails still look awful but I am sure that will grow out eventually. My hair is about 1/2" long and filling in thicker lately. My MO said that it may take up to a year for the side effects to go away, but that most become more bearable in 3-6 months.

My PT is working on exercises that help my pelvis and chest and shoulders. There is a rotator cuff issue that is a little rough as well. I think she is helping me become more funtional though. As much as things are still evident from Taxol and surgery, I do feel like I am slowly but surely on my way toward improvement.