Ohio Chemo Sisters

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  • HangingOn2778
    HangingOn2778 Member Posts: 2
    edited February 2012

    I'm also in the Cincinnati area!  I'm just finished my 3rd round of TAC X 6 chemo and it wiped me out.  I hope the others don't get worse.  After that I will have a double mastectomy and then my ovaries removed since I found out I am BRCA positive.  I just want to do everything I can to increase my odds of watching my 1 yr old and 3 yr old grow up! :)

  • Kelloggs
    Kelloggs Member Posts: 965
    edited February 2012

    Angie - welcome to our thread!  I'm on TCH and #3 and #4 wiped me out.  2 more to go.  Hang in there!

    sewingnut - congratulations on being de-ported! Sorry it wasn't the best experience Frown

  • OneToughCookie
    OneToughCookie Member Posts: 37
    edited February 2012

    Sewingnut -

    CONGRATULATIONS!!!! on having your port removed. You must be so excited! So happy for you!

  • Jaytee
    Jaytee Member Posts: 1,211
    edited February 2012

    sewingnut----congrats on getting 'deported'!     I feel for you on the IV ordeal.  Since my surgery and not being able to have IVs on the right arm anymore---seems like nobody can put an IV in in one stick.  I've got scans this week,----not looking forward to it.

  • Kelloggs
    Kelloggs Member Posts: 965
    edited February 2012

    jaytee - Good luck with your scans...I hate them!

  • Jaytee
    Jaytee Member Posts: 1,211
    edited February 2012

    Thanks Kelloggs--------kinda nervous, but trying to stay positve.  Onc appt isnt until 6 days later---the wait will be worse.         

  • sewingnut
    sewingnut Member Posts: 1,129
    edited February 2012

    Thanks everyone. Still very sore. I told the surgeon nobody used the port for any blood draws or scans. He said that's what it was there for. Maybe they should teach medical people (other than oncology nurses) how to use them.

    Jaytee, good luck on your scans. I was scanned head to toe before starting chemo. No more scans now unless something  becomes problematic according to my Onc.

  • Jaytee
    Jaytee Member Posts: 1,211
    edited February 2012

    Thanks sewingnut----------That was a great thing to hear from your Onc----very happy for you!

    Kind of rainy and gloomy down in this part of the state today----a good day to sit and sew maybe!  I havent got my machine out for sometime now----but used to sew alot.  I probably could find a couple of unfinished projects around here.  Somedays I just love to go to a fabric store and look at every pattern book. 

  • TonLee
    TonLee Member Posts: 2,626
    edited February 2012

    Jaytee,

    I'm doing a memory quilt right now for my 9 year old.  We did his bedroom to look like a log cabin...anyway, haven't quilted since I took a beginners class in 2003~so it's a little rough going...hahaha...I'll post a pic here when I'm done....if anyone here quilts, you will see my serious screw up RIGHT OFF...though non-quilters probably won't....

    I also do stained glass, but there just isn't any place for it right now.  The garage is too cold, and I can't grind glass in the house!

  • Kelloggs
    Kelloggs Member Posts: 965
    edited February 2012

    Tonya - my mom is a quilter but I never got into it.  Stained glass sounds like something I would enjoy.  Would love to see a pic of some of your work.  My daughter is the artsy one in my family, she attends the Cleveland Institute of Art.

  • sewingnut
    sewingnut Member Posts: 1,129
    edited February 2012

    Tonya, Are you making a tshirt quilt for your son or one with different shirts? I helped my sister quilt one for one of her customers. We had a lot of fun doing it. I would love to learn stained glass.

  • Jaytee
    Jaytee Member Posts: 1,211
    edited February 2012

    Hi Tonya--------I have always wanted to make a quilt.  I check quilting books out of the library just to look at the pictures.  I do have a shoebox somewhere that has a bunch of little squares and hearts cut out---it was going to be a quilted wall hanging to match my bedspread.    That was so long ago, a cat now sleeps on parts of that bedspread down at work.  :)   Would love to see a picture of your quilt when you get it finished and the stained glass too!  

  • TonLee
    TonLee Member Posts: 2,626
    edited February 2012

    K,

    I've only done one large stained glass piece, I'll post it later...the smaller ones I gave away....they weren't very good....

    SN,

    I'm doing a photo/transfer quilt...different pictures of my son, and immediate family, some of his art work, etc.

    I really like the t-shirt quilts, but they're a little too advanced for me right now...I'm just getting back into the swing of things.

    Stained glass is nice but a very involved hobby. 

    I love looking through all the glass...lol.  But it is seriously clean up intensive.  I wear goggles to protect my eyes, and a mask to keep from inhaling too much glass dust....even with long sleeves, all that grinding (and stained glass is 85% grinding)...well, every time I get in the shower afterward (and you HAVE to shower immediately afterward which kind of eats into your time)...glass pieces, small ones just fall off and I have to be super careful to rinse the shower when I'm done.....and if I forget and say rub my face, or an arm before showering....OUCH!!  Embedded glass!

    One other negative....the pieces (raw and done) are hard and take up space.  Unlike quilts you can shove in a closet!  lol  Stained glass...you can only do so many and then you have to start giving them away....

    What is it with these hobbies?  Taking perfectly good, WHOLE fabric and glass, cutting them into small pieces and then putting it all back together again.....lol.

  • TonLee
    TonLee Member Posts: 2,626
    edited February 2012
  • TonLee
    TonLee Member Posts: 2,626
    edited February 2012
  • Lumpynme
    Lumpynme Member Posts: 747
    edited February 2012

    she's very pretty!i hope that you're keeping her!!!???

    i dabbled in stained glass about 30 years ago-made real simple things-gave them all away...

    i want to quilt-did a simple patched top and our welcome wagon gals quilted it and raffled off-

    right now my crafts are limited to handwork-making heart shaped yo yo's and some knitting...

  • TonLee
    TonLee Member Posts: 2,626
    edited February 2012

    She's the only one I kept....lol....matches my furniture and curtains :)

  • Jaytee
    Jaytee Member Posts: 1,211
    edited February 2012

    oh Tonya----she's beautiful!   Smiled at your question about cutting the fabric and the glass-----I guess in the cutting and putting back together we are putting a bit of ourselves back into the project.   I love to look at some of my grandma's old quilts----when you put one around you its like wrapping yourself in her arms again.

    Lumpynme-------how are you feeling?    Hope you are doing well.

  • OneToughCookie
    OneToughCookie Member Posts: 37
    edited February 2012

    TonLee -

    Your stained glass angel is beautiful!! Very impressive!

  • munnybunni
    munnybunni Member Posts: 156
    edited February 2012

    very nice stained glass...love the colors

    i have a memory quilt that i had someone make....I got a D+ in sewing and had to redo my little apron seems like a hundred times...hee hee titter titter

    since i am a newbie ....what is a scan that some of you are talking about?? 

  • Lumpynme
    Lumpynme Member Posts: 747
    edited February 2012

    jaytee i feel pretty good today thx for asking! yesterday was bone hell -the Neulasta is working!

    i'm doing basically nothing living like a slug.

    had a phone interview for a job today-could be promising!

    do any of you read for pleasure? i finished the Elm Creek Quilters series over Christmas and before we moved- went to the library yesterday and found out there is a NEW one! put it on hold! the history wrapped in the stitches of our past gets to me!

    scans...many of us have had CAT scans -for example mine were of my abdomen and pelvis - i have lymph node involvement and doc wanted to see if anything was showing up as spread; i also had chest Xray and then i had MUGA scan which is of your heart

    some have bone scans 

    ah grasshopper, i mean, munnibunni , so much to learn! ask away! we're all learning as we go!! this is a great group ! i also learn from the January and February 2012 chemothreads..

  • Kelloggs
    Kelloggs Member Posts: 965
    edited February 2012

    munny - I too had CT scans of the abdomen, chest and pelvis, a bone scan and ECHO (sister to the MUGA).  I also had a PET scan because my chest CT showed nodules.  The worst part of having the scans to me is waiting for results.  The tests themselves are really no big deal.

    Tonya - your stained glass is beautiful!  I love stained glass but could probably never do it, sounds pretty involved.  That makes your creation all the more impressive!

  • sewingnut
    sewingnut Member Posts: 1,129
    edited February 2012

    Munnibunny,

    I had CT scans head to toe with and without contrast. Also had bone scan. At least 4 Muga scans for the heart. I glow a little now =;0)

  • Jaytee
    Jaytee Member Posts: 1,211
    edited February 2012

    smiling sewingnut-----and glowing too! 

    Lumpynme-----I remember the neulasta shots well---------can't believe that for the longest time I was so afraid of needles----now I sometimes feel like a human pin cushion.   Take care----praying for you and the others in chemo right now for renewed strength today.  Nothing wrong with staying in----got to keep strong and avoid all the germs out there.  Perfect time to read a lot of good books!

  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited February 2012

    A Toledo sister, here.  Just finished #4 of A/C - will begin Taxol x 12 Feb 28th.

    Oh, I hope it is better.  Hang in there Ohio!  We can do this!!

  • Jaytee
    Jaytee Member Posts: 1,211
    edited February 2012

    Hi Gardenter-----my chemo was the same as yours-----I finished mine a little over a year ago.

    Yay, on being finished with the A/C!!!!!    I know that everyone is different regarding SEs, but I found the taxol not as rough as the A/C.  Still got very fatigued.  Take care, get plenty of rest-------Yes, you can do this and It will get better!   Hugs and prayers----judy

  • Kelloggs
    Kelloggs Member Posts: 965
    edited February 2012

    Welcome Gardenter and congrats on finishing AC.  I am on TCH and get Taxotere which is the sme family as Taxol.  I hope it treats you well...I haven't had too much trouble...just fatigue mostly.  Us Ohio girls are tough though!  Good luck!

  • Lumpynme
    Lumpynme Member Posts: 747
    edited February 2012

    gardenter-i lived in  Elmore/Lindsey area for 6 years!

    today is day 11; gotmy "halo" that my daughter ordered yesterday and today my wig came for Crickett's Answer for Cancer- i am ready! hair hurts but has yet to start coming out...

    i actually feel pretty good tho i didn't even get dressed!

  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited February 2012

    Oh thanks so much, Judy,Kelly, and Lumpynme!   I appreciate the encouragement so much.

    Wow, it is quite a journey!   I was totally in the dark about breast cancer before this.

    I never even knew anyone with breast cancer except people in the distance.   You

    sure learn alot and sympathy increases 100 fold! 

    Gosh, Lumpynme, I get to Elmore/Lindsey area quite a bit.  My mom just told me yesterday,

    when you get better and can stand to eat chicken, you have to take me to Ole Zim's!!

     My best to you!  Denise

  • GirlPowerDebbie
    GirlPowerDebbie Member Posts: 213
    edited February 2012

    Hey, another Canton girl signing on!  It was fun finding this thread.  Everybody seems to be in different stages, so there is lots of experience here.  I just blew thru all the posts.  Yes, we Ohio women are of strong stock!

    I had my last of 6 TAC chemo treatments on 12/27, and started radiation 1/28 - my last rads will be 3/6.  The TAC kicked my ass, I was so tired from it.   Hair fell out 2 weeks in.  I am still losing eyelashes & eyebrows 2 months after my last tx - it sucks. 

    I live near Malone College and my rads are at Mercy.  I had my chemos right in my oncologist's office, she has a nice treatment room (Tri County Oncology out in Jackson). 

    All the best to everyone! 

    Debbie

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