Starting chemo Sept 05

I seem to have missed a page of postings – grhhhhhhhh.

Hopeful – when you see the ‘jar’ stick a big smiley face on it. One of my students worked at Asda (supermarket) and they have smiley face stickers – I have them stuck on a lot of things. BRILLIANT NEWS Hopeful.

Susan thank you for sharing Cerridwen’s update with us – No age is a good age to deal with ‘this’ but 21 years of age???? – same age as my son.

I would like to share some good news with you please. My Oncologist rang me this afternoon to tell me that she has had approval to give me Herceptin and I start on 16 May. I do not want to have a Hickman line in but do you think I will have a PICC line for this?

Leanne, always in my thoughts. I have had the pleasure of my 2 grandsons today – I AM SHATTERED! The 4½ year old just doesn’t draw for breath! Share your beautiful little boys – a change of scenery will help both you and them.

Liezel – I am sorry I missed your birthday – glad you had a good one. I joined Weight Watchers tonight – I have put on nearly 2 stone!

Is anyone aware of the television programme ‘What not to wear’? If you do I will tell you why I want to know.

Sandra from the UK

Sandra, Hoorah!!! for the Herceptin. Are you going to do it weekly or every 3 weeks?

My diet going well. I had a weigh in yesterday, and after a week, I have lost 2.3 kg!! What a relief! Another 10kg to go though! I'll actually be happy with just another 8kg. Good luck with weight watchers Sandra. Do you have to weigh your food as well? I am allowed 135g of protein and another 135g of veg for lunch, and it goes up to 145g for Supper. Not much!! They did say that I can have more protein rather than veg though. They try to keep your sugar count down with this diet, and apparently protein encourages release of growth hormone to boost your metabolism. (I think so. Chemo brain still very much intact!)

Keep Well!

Good Luck with Weight Watchers Sandra. Let us know how it goes.

Herceptin really is a breeze. After the first tx, I developed a high fever. I called the onc. on duty, and they said that "flu like symptoms" are normal, and I should just take some paracetomol. It worked. I took it before my last treatment, and did not have a problem again. I do have mild flu symptoms for a day or two after, but not too bad. Good Luck!

Have a good weekend!

Hi all

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. It is lovely here today- very sunny and warm and not at all like a typical winters day!

I (finally) had my chemo yesterday-YAY!! I am feeling pretty good so far apart from the usual fatigue. Scott has his 2 boys from his previous marriage here this weekend so we are a busy household! (Yes, between us we have 4 boys!!) Thankfully he has taken 3 of them out for a few hours, the baby is asleep and I can relax.

Sandra, great news about the herceptin! I have found it very tolerable. Occasionally i will get the tiredness/flu type feeling that evening but that is it. A very easy drug I have found. I have mine run over 90 minutes which seems to suit me. Yes know of 'what not to where'- do tell us why you have asked??

I am interested in the book you mentioned. Will have to keep my eyes out for it.

Congratulations to those of you who have embarked on the weightloss journey. I was thinking of doing the same thing until the new round of chemo came up.

I was going to write a rather long post today but am exhausted so will love and leave you all.

xoxo

Hello to all my lovely Sept chemo sisters

This is me now with a bit of hair, I started back to work 4 weeks ago, and now I am back to my normal hours of 8.30 - 3pm, and it is going fine.

I've been on Arimidex now for 5 weeks, and apart from a few aches and pains in my legs, its going okay.

I wish you all well

Hugs

Maxine

Hi Tina – our bathroom is also finished and I am really pleased with it except the tap stops our (tilt and turn) window opening – this is a fire escape and good to get out of to clean front, upstairs windows – been waiting for about 4 weeks now for the bathroom people to come and rectify this. Typical, I have paid them and now they don’t want to know.

I have finished Jane Tomlinson’s story – she was given 6 months to live – 6 YEARS AGO! However she ran all those marathons and things I shall never know.

Peg – the speeding offence is of no consequence – more concerned about your ‘suspicious’ cells – I know you will keep us posted.

‘What not to Wear’ – watch this space!

It is tipping it down of rain here and quite cold – we have had a few sunny days.

I am OK but I still feel like an old lady – my bones, particularly my knees still ache. Linda my op arm aches and hurts more also.

I have been invited to attend a team meeting at work on 26 May – I may just go and get over meeting everyone again.

Try and enjoy your weekend – Leanne I can’t stop thinking how quiet your household must be with 4 boys!!

Sandra from the UK

PS: I am still struggling with my photo – still too large.

Oh Leanne - try and have a rest whilst in the hospital.

Looking forward to seeing your next post - hopefully not too long.

Sandra from the UK

Hi lovely ladies

Well I am home again! Just a quick stay this time (thankfully) with a very nasty gastro bug. Ugh. Toben had it Monday afternoon/night and within an hour of him stopping I started! Unfortunately comined with my chemo on Friday it hit me a lot harder. A few hours on a drip for fluids and some antibiotics saw me feeling a bit better. Now I am home and resting.

Tomorrow is scan day (results next week) and port being placed Friday so long as I am well.

Do any of you read many other posts? I am just wondering as I often 'lurk' all over the place and have been noticing some awfully toned posts lately. I just wanted to say that I am so glad I have my sept sisters where I know I can say whatever I like without fear of being shot down, insulted, etc. I was quite shocked to see some of the carryon and it made me thankful for my 'haven'!

Must go as Scott has gone to pick up kids from kindy and the puppy is eating my shoe. Oh the fun..

xoxo

Peggy -
how did the skin check go?
What about the speeding ticket outcome?
Keep us posted!

Leanne,

I am rooting for GREAT scans. For distractions until the results come back, perhaps the children and dog? :-0

love right back at ya'

*susan*

Hello all,
I keep reading but not posting (one of mine disappeared apparently into cyberspace...).

Leanne,
I am constantly thinking of you and praying. You are such a strong lady!!! My whole family is praying for you in church!!! I want you to have the scans of all scans saying shrinkage, the medicine works!!!, we see improvement!!! I soooo hope it's going to be alright!!!
Peg,
I hope nothing bad, "just" have them take it out..

It is good to read you all, since I'm "flying" through posts, almost to scared to linger longer...makes sense?? No!!! I am a little depressed lately to see so many ladies with mets.
But I always love to read in this thread!!!

God Bless

Oooh Peg - I am so pleased to read your post. You would be welcome in my garden anytime! The fine, bad luck but as we know there are more important things to worry about than money.

We do have Mother's day - I had better go and check the date.

Try and enjoy the weekend ladies.

Speak soon.

Sandra from the UK

I have been absent a bit....I am now into number 4 (8 overall) of weekly taxol. It has hit me kind of hard and I am having a lot of pain. The doctor put me on neurotin and I took my first dose last night. I think I am all caught up on my sleep (slept 8 hours up for 2 slept 3 more...got up after noon!) I am still attempting to go into the office some (my business partner has been going out of his way to make sure I have rides when I need them). My other half has been so swamped at work that he has not been able to help when he wants to. Part of the down side of owning your own business. Although he just did another contract for major amounts of money over they next 12 months! He is so neat...he is for all accounts...a blacksmith. He makes all the fancy handrails, doors, fences, ect...in the multimillion dollar houses around Austin, TX. He has done several for celebrities and famous people.

I am looking forward to June 7th....my last taxol!

For the first time in my life my weight is bothering me a lot...this is the heaviest I have ever been...my daughter and I are going to start walking but I have to be careful with my heart now....

Each and every one of you are on my prayer list...but especially you Leanne...sending you good thoughts for your upcoming results.

Hi all

Mothering Sunday in the UK was on 26th March 2006. I looked up the history of Mother’s day and thought I would share my findings…….

History of Mothering Sunday

Most Sundays in the year churchgoers would worship at their nearest parish or "daughter church".

In olden times it was considered important for people to return to their home or "mother" church at least once a year. So each year in the middle of Lent, everyone would visit their "mother" church.

As the return to the "mother" church became an occasion for family reunions when children who were working away from home returned. (It was quite common in those days for children to leave home to work in service from ten years of age.)

The majority of historians think that it was this return to the "Mother" church which led to the tradition of children, particularly those working as domestic servants, or as apprentices, being given the day off to visit their mother and family.

This special day has now become a time when people give thanks to their mothers and offers an opportunity to express both love and thanks for the work that they do.
© Beacon Support Services Ltd. 2004.

Leanne, thoughts to you during this waiting period – go play with the puppy and listen to the laughter of those lovely (most of the time) little boys of yours.

Sandra from the UK