2012 sisters

Barbara: Welcome to our group. You will get a lot of support here. Everyone here is wonderful and it's a great place to vent, cry and talk with those who understand what you are going through. The support I've received has been invaluable for my emotional well-being.



Take care everyone!

Barbara, we're here with you, even if only in cyberdom. Feeling down and scared is natural, just remember those feelings will pass. (((Hugs)))

Hi Barbara welcome to the group. We've all been in or in the same place you are with your emotions. So sorry you have to join but this is a great place for encouragement great advice and laughter.

Barbara: welcome to our group... So sorry you find yourself needing to be here, but glad you found us.



So I'm trying to enjoy vaca with my DHs family but between the hot flashes, stomach cramps, and other issues from my Crohns, and rinsing and swishing from the mouth thing in really struggling. I find myself asking myself questions I shouldn't; like 'why am I bothering with all this again?'; my odds haven't been good so far (1 in 8 it's 'nothing'); fuck my life....



**sigh*** I'm just so tired of constant physical discomfort.... Fuck!

Juneau, thinking about you and trying to project as much positive energy as I can!  You will prevail.

Barbara, Sorry you have to be here.  It will sink in eventually.  All of th support here will help you get through the process.  Be your own advocate, though.  

Scorchy

Hey Juneau - been thinking about you too. Sorry to hear you are struggling so much and not in the comfort of your own home. I have to say - round 3 of AC is kicking my ass too. The exhaustion really creeps up on you. My kids were real troopers this weekend, as I spent the bulk of the weekend lying down and resting. Thankfully my mom was here to help entertain them for a good amount of the time. My cough seems to have subsided a bit - but still achey in my abdomen. Who knows what the deal is. I think chemo gives your body a lickin and you just have to grit your teeth and remind yourself that all of this will pass. Right now, I am sitting at my desk in my home office pondering how I'm going to pretend to work today - as all I can think about after the simple morning routine with the kiddies and my shower - is climbing back into bed and not getting back out. And - I have to go for my 2nd muga scan today, which for some reason is causing me a bit of anxiety. But - like you, Juneau - come 10/10, my last round of AC will be in my body. Woo Hoo! Will still have taxol after that, but hopefully it'll be a cakewalk comparatively. Ok - off I go to make a day of things. Sending you all big hugs and wishes for a great day. Hang in there ladies!

Good morning all

Juneaubug and Ramols - sending those good vibes; I went for my labwork this a.m. to see if I am OK'd for my third FEC which is the equivalent of AC but has 5FU thrown in for good measure. It will be good to get that part over with and move on to Taxotere and Herceptin but it looks like I should plan on lots of rest.

I too have been having the 'chemopause' symptoms, last night was the worst so far, pretty well constant and soaking wet from sweat. How is a person supposed to hydrate extra prior to chemo when their body is sweating out that much fluid?

The weekend was a good one, I was able to relax and let others pick up the slack and I was OK with imperfection and just letings things be. I walked the 5 km in the Run for the Cure, very moving experience - two of my boys ran the 5K and then came back and walked and caught up to us for the last 2 km of the walk. Our city raised 1.5 million, proud to be part of it.

Barbara - as others have said, we are here for you. It can all be overwhelming - this is a great place to come to - welcome.

Off to another appointment and then I will attend a meeting at work and go get in some groceries for my post chemo week.

Take care everyone

Back from Vegas, and had such a good time. I'm not a gambler at all, just to experience that place for the first time was thrilling enough. The sheer scale of everything, the throngs of people, the magical shows . . . enough said.

I did not read all the posts, but Juneaubugg, for me round 3 was also the worst. I had a very tight chest and cough, could not breathe properly, and had zero energy for anything. Pretty much spent those 3 weeks on the couch. Moving required that I had to breathe, which was hard to do. Round 4 was much better, probably because I drank much more water than with the previous rounds to flush the beast out of my system. The fact that it was the last chemo also helped a lot. About the tight back muscles: I had that for seven years after a bad fall on ice. The muscles healed, but shortened in the process, so often I would injure it again, and be in pain for days, getting physiotherapy, taking pain medication, etc, etc. It got steadily worse over time with painful episodes every few weeks. It became more and more debilitating. The last straw was in July 2011 when I had simply leaned forward to pick up a cup of coffee from the coffee table, and was out of commission for days. That's when I decided to try yoga for my tight back muscles. I have been going to a 'gentle stretch' yoga class twice a week since then, and my back has NEVER bothered me again. During cancer treatment from January till July this year I did not do yoga or any other exercise apart from walking now and then - did not have the energy - and never had another back episode during all that time. I started gentle stretch yoga again a month ago. Apart from the benefits for my back and the rest of my body, it is also very relaxing and calming. There is no competition in yoga; everyone does just what they are able to do, never forcing anything, and gradually you loosen up, and become able to stretch further. I wish I had started yoga earlier in my life. Will never stop. It is so good for you. Try it, Juneaubugg. You won't be sorry. 

Websister, my son and his fiance also took part in Run for the Cure yesterday in Calgary with you guys! He ran for me, and she ran for her mom who also had a BMX in 2011. I did not know that they were planning to do that, and was moved to tears by this beautiful gesture from my children. I sincerely hope your labs are good, and that you can get that chemo out of the way. For the nightsweats, a fan might really help. I have one that runs on its lowest setting all night. The moment I feel hot, I throw off the covers, have a drink of water from the tall glass next to my bed, and the fan cools me down quickly. It doesn't bother my DH at all - he just huddles deeper under the covers. I hear you about being okay with imperfection. During this last year I have also learnt that perfection is an illusion, and I finally became able to say 'good enough'. It is very liberating, actually.

Everybody else and the new ones here, good wishes to you all. THIS WILL PASS. Trust me.   

A hearty welcome to you from Vancouver Island, halfcan! I love your name, and hope that can is half full - LOL! This is the best place to share your ups and downs, and find comfort among those who are there, or has been there. Best wishes for the first chemo on Thursday! (((Hugs!)))

Welcome halfcan. Glad you found us, sorry you had to. Where in BC are you from - long as you dont mind me asking. On this site you only share what you are comfortable with.

Welcome to all the new ladies.

Juneau/ramols: hope those SE's diminish soon. Rest up ladies.

Websister - happy to hear that you did the 5k walk.. me too. Found it a very moving experience. Great fundraising too for your area... Kelowna raised over $253,000 and that's rising. And so far over $30 million raised across Canada.

Liefie... glad you had a good time in vegas. Like you I have enjoyed yoga in my life, but have not done it since treatment. I am going to ask my MO on Thursday if I am OK to start again.

Hi to all I have missed - thinking of you as always.

Hoping for a calm, peaceful Monday for you all.

Hey Tazzy, halfcan is from Abby, I already beat you to it! She and I seemed to be on similar paths with her a bit ahead but not a race of course. Had my abdominal CT this morning with 3 more pokes to get the IV in and same last Thursday; 3 pokes for the bone scan. Luckily it was at MSJH and the ER was not too busy and they got an ER nuurse to come and even then it was two goes for him. But it is DONE and only an hour until we go the Cancer Agency for the afternoon and yes I am excited. Not because I am looking forward to anything that I will be doing ahead but because we are moving forward. liefie, mrscich, juneau and all of you, I will post lots tonight but now time to go! Oh and here is a good one; my cousin and his wife live a block from VGH and so only a 10 minute walk to the Fairmont Bldg. where overflow from the Cancer Agency now goes and my cousin is giving us a fob so we can come and go from secure underground parking for the duration. Sure helps with parking in that crazy area!

AC #3 was my worse one by far also. I felt poisoned and told my DH that i couldn't do #4 unless I got a lot better. It was a week of really feeling bad. #4 was much better. Not sure if it was because it was the last one.

Seems like so many people thought #3 was the worse-so be assured the worse one is done.

Yay... BS gave me clear margins when I got my path report from the surgery.   Still waiting for rads... next Thursday is my 'dry' run.   Not sure if I was being premature with the NED... far as I am concerned I am  

Well I am up for my 3rd round AC next Tuesday (as long as my labs are good this friday).  You all have me worried about how it's gonna go... cross your fingers for me, please!  I am looking forward to getting through this AC, not necessarily looking forward to the Taxol, but hoping it will be less toxic.  

Hello to all you Canadian sisters, I am originally Canadian, born in Vancouver, raised in Ontario, moved to the US 19 years ago now.  Sorry you have to be here but thankful that there's a place where we can go and get some sympathy when we need it, right?

Websister - good luck with your labs.  Hugs to all.

Hi shocked2behere, not sure if this will give much comfort, but for me AC #2 and AC #4 were the worst.  I barely remember AC #3.  I think #2 caught me off guard because #1 was pretty easy, I was expecting #3 to be rough based on #2, but it was pretty easy, then again #4 was a surprise since #3 had been ok.  Glad they're behind me now!