April 2011 chemo

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited January 2012

    http://www.wgrz.com/news/article/152242/37/Roswell-Park-Makes-Major-Announcement-on-Cancer-Vaccine

    Have you all seen this?

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  • KiwiMum
    KiwiMum Member Posts: 704
    edited January 2012

    Congratulations Suzy and Elizabeth.

    Enjoy your holiday Bernie. I've not been to Belgium - is this your first time?

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  • BernieEllen
    BernieEllen Member Posts: 2,445
    edited February 2012

    Hi Kiwimum, normally go to Belgium at least once a year, we have friends over there.  Missed last year, so really looking forward to this weekend

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  • Elizabeth1889
    Elizabeth1889 Member Posts: 1,036
    edited February 2012

    Thank you for the kind wishes, Suzy and KiwiMum.  Suzy, Happy Cancerversary to you, too.  Keep on cherishing life.

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  • artiecat
    artiecat Member Posts: 257
    edited February 2012

    How the heck is everyone!!!!!!

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  • BernieEllen
    BernieEllen Member Posts: 2,445
    edited February 2012

    Hi artiecat. I'm doing ok.  Mammogram today - so not looking forward to that.

    Just home from a long weekend in Belgium, had a brilliant time. 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2012

    Uggh. I was doing GREAT great great til yesterday when I got an infusion. Now I am in pain, achey, grumpy, limping, crying, miserable, nauseated, headachey, and remembering all over again what last year was like. Glad I only have a few more of these to go.

    But my hair looks fantastic!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2012

    Bernie: I get a mammogram next week on the side that's still there.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2012

    Oh, more updates. I am totally healed from rads. Not even a tan left! I love the way it tightened up the loose skin around the scar and smoothed everything out. Practically a plastic surgery!

    Now I'm just trying to recover from TDM1 and steel up my courage to take that itty bitty tamoxifen pill. Been putting it off. Gonna start next week.  

    How is tamoxifen working out for the rest of you?

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  • sarahlou1967
    sarahlou1967 Member Posts: 153
    edited February 2012

    Hello you lovely lot,

    Wanted to join you in the happy dance cause I've also finished all my treatments thats chemo, surgery and rads all done and now taking tamoxifen/herceptin which will continue for as long as it keeps working, which I really hope it lasts a long long time.

    Windlass - Tamoxifen started off rough for me but has now calmed down been on it for about 4 or 5 months, my OH told me that he's noticed that my body and mind is adjusting to it he has noticed a difference in mood etc and reckons that I've calmed down a lot not as manic, my hot flushes were initially terrible although I had them before taking the tami chemo induced but even those are now not half as bad this may have something to do with the extreme cold weather we are experiencing over here in england l live in the south west which is usually warmer climate. Again hate to sound like a broken record but we all seem to react to these drugs/treatments differently, I really hope you don't suffer with any horrible SE.

    Merilee - Thanks for supplying the link so interesting will look into this in more detail, hope you are doing ok Smile

    Big hello also to profbee, bernie allen, and articat hope you are all doing well.

    love and light to all

    sarahsweety xxx 

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  • artiecat
    artiecat Member Posts: 257
    edited February 2012

    Is anyone taking aromasin?  I just started it and have black spots before my eyes and my face itches like crazy - cant sleep, hurt all over and feel more exhausted than before.  Was on faslodex before - too expensive - and had few SEs.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2012

    Yikes, artiecat. That sounds terrible. Can you switch  back? What is the financial difference?

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited February 2012

    Hi everyone

    I am feeling pretty good these days.

    Articat- I am on the generic for Aremidex. It was s rough start but It seems to have mellowed a bit. Still just on half a dose every other day but I am 120 lbs and the half life is 3 days so I know I always have some in my system.

    Windlass-Thank you for the tip on Coriolus mushroom- I am doing much better with my immune system. I would start with a small dose of the Tamoxifen just to make sure you don't have a bad reaction like I did. Sorry to hear you feel like shit again. I think we are all cheering you on, and will be happy with you when  you are done. It has been a long road. Hugs hugs hugs...oh and yes hair that looks good helps right?

    Sarah- you can find more about the vaccine on Rosewell's website. There is talk on another thread of a gathering this summer at Rosewell to make a statement about support and funding for the project to be expedited. Intriguing right?

    Bernie-good luck with that mamogram. I am picturing it all clear. :)

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2012

    Merilee: I am glad to hear you are doing so well! The coriolus really works for me -- I am glad it did for you too. (Now I just wish I weighed 120 lbs!) The bounce back from TDM1 is not so bad, so I am almost normal today, though a bit achey tonight.

    My husband got me an amazing juicer for Christmas that just arrived. We are making juices and it is so awesome!

    Sarah: I am glad you are settling back to normal. I know the manic thing myself since all this started. So glad you are feeling better.

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  • BernieEllen
    BernieEllen Member Posts: 2,445
    edited February 2012

    Hi everyone, had my mammogram today, got confused with my appointments.

    thinking of you all 

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  • BernieEllen
    BernieEllen Member Posts: 2,445
    edited February 2012
    A Mother had 3 virgin daughters.
    They were all getting married within a short time period.
    Because Mum was a bit worried about how their sex life would get started, she made them all promise to send a postcard from the honeymoon with a few words on how marital sex felt.
    The first girl sent a card from Hawaii two days after the wedding. The card said nothing but: 'Nescafe'
    Mum was puzzled at first, but then went to her kitchen and got out the Nescafe jar.
    It said: 'Good till the last drop'.
    Mum blushed, but was pleased for her daughter.
    The second girl sent the card from Vermont a week after the wedding, the card read: 'Rothmans'
    Mum now knew to go straight to her husband's cigarettes and she read from the pack: 'Extra Long. King Size'
    She was again slightly embarrassed but still happy for her daughter.
    The third girl left for her honeymoon in Auckland, New Zealand.
    Mum waited for a week, nothing. Another week went by and still nothing...
    Then after a whole month, a card finally arrived.
    Written on it with shaky handwriting were the words 'Air New Zealand'
    Mum took out her latest YOU magazine, flipped through the pages fearing the worst, finally found the ad for Air NZ.
    The ad said: 'Ten times a day, seven days a week, both ways.'
    Mum fainted!
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2012

    I get my mammogram tomorrow.

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited February 2012

    Windlass, you are going to be fine. Deep breath

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  • scc218
    scc218 Member Posts: 163
    edited February 2012

    Good luck with the mammos/results, BernieEllen and Windlass.  Thinking positve thoughts for you!

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  • profbee
    profbee Member Posts: 858
    edited February 2012

    Thinking of you guys.  Can't wait to hear good results!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2012

    Mammo went great yesterday. Nothing wrong at all. But I burst into tears! It was so hard seeing those pictures up on the light board in a darkened room. Brought all of last year's sucker punch back and I just started sobbing. Radiologist was great though, and said it happens all the time.

    But my news was good. :)

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  • Elizabeth1889
    Elizabeth1889 Member Posts: 1,036
    edited February 2012

    windlass, I am so happy for you.  Your anxiety is understandable.  I felt the same way last month when I returned to the same mammogram center for my first post BC mammogram.  I felt like a criminal returning to the scene of the crime and this time they would catch me and give me an even worse sentence.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2012

    {{Elizabeth}}

    So glad we got out of there alive! Both times!

    Wanna go be fugitives together, ladies? We can outrun the oncogene!

    ;)

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  • profbee
    profbee Member Posts: 858
    edited February 2012

    Yay Windlass!  I totally understand.  I cry at EKGs!  LOL!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2012

    Haha, profbee. Good to see you. How's it going, btw?

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  • profbee
    profbee Member Posts: 858
    edited February 2012

    Good, thanks.  Back to work--it feels good to be "me" again, but so much budget cutting drama.  That, on top of all the usual job stress is making it more tiring than usual.  Last night I was asleep by 8:45.  WHY I am up right now after midnight is beyond me!  I'll pay tomorrow.  I've got a little head fuzz.  :)  I'm so tired of wearing hats though (for the cold not the look).  I'm trying to move on, to accept that I'm going to be okay, to envision a long future, but it's tough.  (I don't like to admit that, and I know so many have worse prognoses, but I still get scared, y'know?)  When are you starting your Tamoxifin?  It hasn't been bad for me...a little achey, pretty tired...but nothing too bad.  :)  Tell me how you're doing!  Are you still juicing?  :)

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  • scc218
    scc218 Member Posts: 163
    edited February 2012

    Yay, Windlass!!  So happy to hear your good news!  Totally understand the crying, though.  It just brings it all back.

    Profbee -- I can so relate to what you are saying about trying to move on, that things are going to be okay, and envisioning a long future.  I'm trying to do that, too, and it's so hard sometimes.  Last week I learned about a high school classmate of mine (Astronaut Janice Voss) who passed away from breast cancer.  On the same day, I learned the sister of a friend was diagnosed with stage II BC.  It really hits me hard when people "I know" receive the Dx or pass away from the f*#king disease.  It's just not fair.  Janice apparently was diagnosed 12 years ago.  So how do you go 12 years and then all of a sudden it wipes you out??  I know it happens all the time, but it just scares the crap out of me.  And then of course I start questioning my own mortality. 

    Gotta banish those negative thoughts from my brain......  Time to get some sleep.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2012

    I am still juicing, and took my first tamoxifen yesterday, then another one just tonight. So far I haven't felt anyting at all. You gals on tamoxifen - how are you doing?

    Suzy: Yep. If we let it, our scary diagnosis can leave us terrified and paralyzed. But I see the terror as more of a motivator to do everything I can to be on the good side of those bad statistics. 

    I went to see my regular, non-cancer doctor yesterday, and she wrote me a prescription for... get this... Five one hour sessions of vigorous exercise per week! That's more exercise than I've gotten in the past two years!

    DH and I joined a health club in the summer, and are taking a weekly boot camp type class. It's been 5 weeks and I've lost just 4 pounds, but I am getting stronger from the workouts. It's such a complete change from my usual sedentary lifestyle - but that's the sort of thing that gives me hope that we can beat this disease - by doing things differently.

    I'm so glad to hear from you both. *hugs*

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  • KiwiMum
    KiwiMum Member Posts: 704
    edited February 2012

    Windlass, so glad you had a good mammo. I completely understand the flashback!



    I had my first onc check up on Tuesday. He found a lump in my remaining breast. Shocked would be an understatement!!



    We spent 2 very anxious days waiting and yesterday got the all clear. What a nightmare!! It was the same clinic, same room, same radiologist as last year. It felt like deja vu. I really truly thought "here we go again". I hate that we are going to spend our lives looking over our shoulders!



    Good on you exercising Windlass. I joined a new gym last week and have been 5 times so far. I've got to keep it up!



    Tamox going ok - apart from the hot flashes. Blerg! Hate them! Night sweats are hideous too!

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  • BernieEllen
    BernieEllen Member Posts: 2,445
    edited February 2012
    A blonde, a brunette and a red head were smoking cigarettes one afternoon. The blonde had Camels, red head had Marlboros, and the brunette had Kools.
    It began to pour down raining, so the red head and brunette both pull out a condom and put it on their cigs. The blonde says "what are you doing?" - and they say "we're saving it for later!"
    Impressed, and in a hurry, the blonde goes to the nearest store and asks for a condom. The clerk says "What size? small, medium, or large?" She said "I dont know... one to fit a camel?"
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