March 2011 chemo-lounge

Had another 3 month appt. with my ONC yesterday..,.they called today to tell me my Calcium is slightly elevated (10.5) and I should have a re-check in a month...lucky me, a month to worry !!! From what I've read, it COULD be a bone met indicator...I've been taking Calcium and Vitamin D daily...guess I'll drop the dose on those. Got a definite NO to Metformin and the lab that does the BART genetic testing called to tell me my insurance won't cover it !!! Great week so far....

They don't do blood tests at all on me - haven't had one for 9 months

Lilylady...good to hear from you...I'm celebrating those tumors that shrunk, your marvelous healthy liver and it sounds like you will keep on fighting the rest just as you've been doing so amazingly !!!. I am feeling selfish worrying over my stupid barely higher than normal Calcium level but all this crap does put your focus back on the fy6!ing breast cancer again...ugh.  There were many days recently when I didn't even think about breast cancer...now I'm starting to wake up in the morning again and it's the first thing I think about. One thing I know for sure is that we're all fighters...especially you, Lily,....so let's all keep up the good fight ladies !!!

Lily, I am also celebrating the good news with you. I wish it had all been positive though. Thank you very much for keeping all of us in your thoughts and prayers. You are always in mine as well. Thanks for the info on the new her2 drug. That sounds promising. You sound strong as ever. I am inching my way back to work. You really inspire me. Good for you for being able to work through the treatment. Hugs to you.



Hope your scans come out well Mrs. M. You're in my thoughts and prayers too.

Lily - I'm glad for the good news and will say prayers that the other spots shrink to nothing. God you've lost a lot of weight but this isn't the way you'd want to do it... I especially love Divine's sign off quote - "always someone marches brave here beneath my skin". You are personifying that!



Happy to hear everyone's input, sorry that some of us have testing stress. Ugh. Signing off but sending hugs to all.

Has anyone heard from Jules?

In Las Vegas, done my two conference presentations - time to party!

Old Vegas is great - take photos with all the "celebrities".  Grand canyon is not to be missed but the trips don't stay for long - we stayed overnight rather than doing a day trip which gives you so little time at the canyon. Catch a Cirque de Soleil show, they are amazing.  We also went to the Titanic exhibition.

We have now moved on to New Orleans for a few days - went to the Jazz festival yesterday, cemetry/voodoo tour tomorrow, and a tour of the swamps on one of those air boats. - so much history here.

Lily...how about the show where they catch catfish with their hands. That is the craziest show I have ever seen!

Penny: I am so glad you are having a ball in New Orleans; I love that city. I think anyone's alcohol limit would be challenged there, so just enjoy!  I wore my sleeve and gauntlet on a  flight to Europe; the LE specialist told me to wear it 10 hours prior to the flight and 10 hours after the flight.  It wasn't too uncomfortable except on that webbed area between thumb and forefinger...that was REALLY sore.

Lily: glad you are going to take a little break and enjoy your garden.  I'm sure your doc will get you back on to the chemo...won't let you get too far away.

I visited my MO for my 6-month visit (a little early) and asked her about scans and tumor markers (she doesn't do anything) since so many of you get scanned frequently or get blood tests.  She said that they don't believe in doing those because of the anxiety caused anticipating upcoming tests or waiting for results.  She said that if symptoms of mets show up, there is no difference whether they are found after becoming symptomatic or prior...no difference in length of survival.  I know there have been other discussions on this, just thought I would share my experience.

I hope you are all doing great and enjoying life!  I hope you are all feeling SO much better than a year ago!

Last night in New Orleans, heading home tomorrow - travel time will be a total of 38 hrs from leaving the hotel to getting home, thats 25 hrs in the air and the rest waiting around or in taxis.

Maxine, that is what my onc says, also. I told him the anxiety of knowing nothing is worse for me. I am wearing him down.

As a Stage 4 I will always get regular scans ( every 3 months) but for us it's a matter of seeing if our current chemo is working. When i got the Jan scan I wasn't worried at all becuse I thought I was 1 scan away from being NED. My scans had always been positive each time inching closer to no cancer-when we saw the runaway train the Jan scan was I started counting the days til the next 1. Since it meant changing drugs and your brain says if we wait 12 weeks and then find the chemo isn;t working I am 3 motnhs down the road with growing cancer. When it got close to my April scan I was sick over it for weeks-I talked and thought about it constantly. My whole world narrowed down to that 1 stupid test. I swore then that I was not going thru that again. Cancer had not been ruling my life until that 1 bad scan-I tell myself it is what it is and just live and try not to dwell on it.

   I had told my onc before the scan I wanted a month off no matter what the results. Then my brain started saying-if it's good do you really want to chance it---or if it's bad do you really want to chance it??? So it makes you crazy either way. Anyway 10 days off chemicals and I feel like the old "me". A walking appetite and boundless energy. Dreading June already when I have to start up again-see there I go worrying about June instead of getting the most mentally from May...

  I guess what I am telling you guys-they are totally right about the scans. Doesn't matter if it's big or little cancer-they treat it the same way. I intend to try not to sweat the next 1 because you can't live your life in 3 month segements. Remember our every 3 week chemo regime-you started counting the days til you had to go back-it;s just no way to live, Don't borrow trouble guys. Be confident you have done all you can and put the stuff as far away from you as you can.

  I hope this doesn't sound preachy-it wasn't meant to be. And I certainly understand and sympathize with your anxiety just thought I would spit this out.

  Penny-38hrs travel time-makes me sick thinking about it

Lily, congrats on the hair!!! Mine is very thin, but finally growing. I think I actually need to get it trimmed a little around the ears and neck.



And thanks for the words of wisdom. I needed that.

Thanks, Lily...I appreciate your words of wisdom, too. I am finally officially wigless !!!...feels great, very fine hair but CURLY !!! We are headed out to L.A. for the weekend for my older daughter's graduation from law school ....the ceremony will be on Mother's Day so that kinda makes it extra special !!! Am enjoying working in the garden...found a Komen garden flag today and planting a lot of pink flowers...sounds a little corny, I know, but I'm celebrating how much better I'm feeling than a year ago !!!