February 2011 chemo pals

Hi to all my cancer sisters hope you're all doing well. It's been too long since I've checked in but I think of our little group of fighters often.

I had my ovaries removed beginning of May. My onc wants me in menopause and there's no question I'm fully in it now! WOW! Plus Ontario is in a heat wave right now so it's already 33 degrees here, add the humidity it's 40 degrees and add my hot flashes it around 100 degrees. But I'm managing. I'm supossed to switch to AI in October. Until then all my dr's told me I'm taking the summer off! So, I'm excited to be off and feeling well. I still have my days and somedays I'm pretty stiff and sore but I've managed to plant two beautiful flower gardens and got my veggies in as well. I'm happy to spend the summer with my 4 year old, although that could change after a week of her being home! Lol.

Well, I just wanted to say hi and send a big hug to my very special friends who were are me on this journey. Happy Summer Everyone! xoxoxo

Hi SpecialK I am still here. Doing physical therapy and making a little headway in the walking department.. Wow I hope you get the vaccine too. I am on generic Arimidex and have been since last August 1st. Hard for me to tell if some of the things I feel are SE's or just what I would have with my feet problems anyway but I do know that it effects my knees... There are mornings when I wake up and it hurts like heck to just move my knees. Other mornings I don't feel it at all... I have hot flashes but had those before BC..



Cindy

Good luck K!  I hope you get the good stuff too!

I'm coming up on 1 year PFC (July 7).  Dreamed I'd have more hair by now.  Oh well ...

Arimidex has my bones hurting, but I'm alive to tell about it!

Hi Everyone,

I'm still here and checking in to see how everyone is.

Cindy- have you tried glucosamine?  I had random joint pains in different parts of my body for the first six months, especially one of my knees, but with glucosamine it subsided.  I'm now trying to just take it every other day and that seems to be enough.  Ruff-  Sorry to hear about hot flashes, especially in the heat of the summer!  welcome to menopause.

This is what I've been up to:  I talked myself into signing up for an adventure race to raise funds ($1500 is my goal) for Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation, which provides financial assistance and other support for women with BC.  I'm going to run the SOS Triathlon - an 8 stage race --for Miles of Hope and have about $1130 left to raise. Here's the link for tax-deductible contributions.  www.imathlete.com/donate/LauraWongPan. 

I hope it's okay to post that here.  Have a good night, stay cool.

I have just made the switch from Femara to Arimidex - I am curious about whether I will have as much joint pain.  I will try the Glucosamine if I do - but I did want to throw this out there - my DH was taking it (Glucosamine and Condroitin supplement) because he is a long-distance runner (and over 50!) and had to have a routine liver panel done for a prescription med he was to take short-term.  His liver numbers were off the chart!  So high that the doc called our house and his office to make sure he had not started the prescription.  Turned out that the Glucosamine and Condroitin was the culprit!  He is a rare person who reacts to it - but I don't want that to happen to someone here and then they automatically think liver mets!

Yes, thanks for that info, Specialk!  I remember reading one of your posts about the high liver numbers.  Something else I need to monitor.  Did you husband go off the supplements?

Checking in



Lets see....I found another lump but we're pretty sure its nothing. I am off of all the meds that messed with me! Two fills in and my range of motion has fallen below 50%...lost strength in the same. Recon in October or so...still pretty messed up from the chemo and rads....bought a trike and ride the hell outta it: ) spending time with my lovely family and Baby....breathing deep and loving everything I can....fixing my nugget a bit at a time. Wrecked my ankle but getting geared up to start jogging again!

Who's next? What cha doin'?

Checking out haircuts again...or color...or both!

Hey! I still have my port. Seeing my MO every 3 months and keeping it for the labs. I go every 6 weeks for the flush, then have it flushed at my 3 month MO visits. When the visits are every 6 months, will probably get it out.

Still on Arimidex which is ok though definitely feel it some days. 

Enjoyed a beach trip for the 4th and thankful to be a year out. Last year had my recon right after July 4th.

Think of you all often. Hope all is well. Fuzzy hope all turns out ok. 

My hair is still short and wildy curly. Not the shine it used to have but thankful to have it.

Love my sisters here. 

I got my port out yesterday! It's sooo sore! But I've been icing and taking tylenol.

Hi February girls just wanted to check in and say hi and hope everyone has a great weekend.

Special k, how is the arimidex going? I'm supossed to switch from tamoxifen to AI in October. I still get no sleep, not sure if it's from the tamoxifen, I take it at bedtime as I take my other meds in the morning, I might try to switch them around. I had my ovaries out and menopause is tough! Especially during this heatwave we're having. Otherwise everything is going ok. I'm still off work, trying to take it easy and figure out what's in store for me next

Hope you're all feeling good

Gotta say hey! I love seeing when you all stop in and update!

Hello S.K.!!! I've been "stalking" You a little.....LOL....just keeping up with ya really 'cause you know how much I wuv ya....

Hi everyone! I know we have all moved on. I do miss the folks on this thread alot. It's been a tough week- I worked at a hospital system & our beloved CEO died Monday of complications of cancer (Not exactly sure of the type). He was diagnosed just about 2 months ago.

 We are warriors & thankful for each day the breast cancer beast is not a part of my life. I have been sad all week. I realize that every day is great!

 I am doing pretty well. My hair still is crazy- the curls are now longer so my hair sticks out all over- I am trying to let it grow this time & deal w/ it b/c when I cut it I get mad that it's too short. Then I think back to one year ago- I had just stubble at this point!!!

I don't love Arimidex but I am dealing w/ it. I feel I have gained about 5 pounds & do not eat more at all. I still have my port. I might get it out sometime but w/ MO visits every 3 months- those lab draws wouldn't be easy w/ my terrible veins, so maybe I'll keep it 6 more months or so.

 Hope you are all great.  Love my BC sisters on here- Think of you all often.

Lisa

((((Hugs))))

Special....whew....didn't want ya calling the po-po on me: )

I'm hanging in and hanging on... I Should be getting this lump removed on the 18th so I'm happy about that! Just got back from the Michigan UP and Sleeping Bear Dunes....it was amazing!! I would have loved to go to FL to see ya but we toured all the way around Lake Michigan..

Hi everyone hope you're all doing well. I have a question and just wondering if any of you can relate? I've been on tamoxifen since last October and had my ovaries out in May. So I'm in menopause -not a ton of fun, but my feet are so achy and I'm nauseated and fatiqued usually every afternoon I'm walking every morning once I get my daughter in the bus, 45-50 minutes with my dogs - but by 2:30 I'm exhausted. I'm not back at work yet, using my benefits as long as I can but honestly don't know if I could work as I'm that tired do you think it's the tamoxifen? Or menopause? Chemo side effects? All of the above?

Anyways, just wanted to reach out to my feb girls - happy Fall, I hope everyone is doing well xo