2012 sisters

Lisa, Im on Lexapro. Its pretty good. Im a much nicer person since starting it...lol.

Chemo #2 was Friday. They got it figured out that I get the Neulasta so I can give it to myself. (Im a nurse) Since I get my chemo on Fridays I can't get into get the shot till Monday. Then those SE dont start till later stretching my sick/sore time out longer. So we did my shot yesterday, and Im sore, achy and blah feeling today. Also I have been having diarrhea today. I didnt have that last time...not too excited about it this time.

Oh, and Jen. I dont remember if you have to have Rads or not, but your skin will not stretch well after radiation. That is why my PS places the TE with the initial surgery to have them expanded and stretched before Rads.

Hope everyone is doing well. We had like 80 degree weather here yesterday (it was wonderful!) and now today its only been like 30 something. I hate cold weather.

My surgery was on 16 Oct; chemo start 21 Nov.  Wasn't concerned about the surgery, so scared of the chemo.

Going to the hospital in 2 hours for surgery.  I feel like I am doing it all wrong...all i hear about is TE and recon.  I just need to put that out of my mind and focus on getting cured, then deal with the recon.  Sure bc of my lack of upfront understanding my final recon breast results (based on comments) will be challenging and might not look as good. I will just have to deal with it.

Jenjenl,



Ramols is right and so are you. Right now is about a positive attitude with a focus on healing. Beating cancer is always the main focus anyway so however that happens makes whatever decision we make the right one in some way. Only prayers and well wishes for you today. Take care

jenjen:  I did not have immediate recon, nothing - just the mx.   I will review my options next August on the advice on my BS.

Oh! and we had about 6 inches of snow here overnight - DH been out shovelling already.

Hugs and kisses to all xxx

Hi all! Today was day 3 past treatment number 3. I felt remarkably well though. My husband and I spent the day out Christmas shopping. Little worn feeling now but its tolerable.



For the first time since my diagnosis in August, I slept without a sports bra on lastnight. It was so nice. 😊 I'm ready to get rid of these TE's and get my squishies which of course isn't until February at the earliest.



I hope you all have a wonderful evening!

Tazzy- glad you are almost done with rads. Hope it is going easy on you. Please keep your snow!

Since I am not having recon there isn't a lot to add to most of the conversation.

Chrisrenee: I did sleep with the bra the first few weeks, but haven't used it since end of July. I can even sleep comfortably on my side now. But I've had this TE in for 4 months now. Had to finish chemo before my exchange. I also only have one. My left breast will be "augmented" ie, you're standard boob job, to match size&shape of my new right breast when I have surgery on the 29th. I know I'll be sleeping on my back, on my wedge, but hopefully for the last time. I can't wait to not need to wear a bra padded on one side so I'm even.



Jenjen: thinking of you. Hope your recovering comfortably. (((Hugs)))



Tazzy; keep that snow to yourself. We could really use an unadventful weather week.



All... Hoping you are all tucked in comfortably.

Chrisrenee;



Perhaps you knocked if against something? I've done that!! Lol. It's so big and I can't feel it!!!!



Put on your bra and get some rest! ;-)

Hi everyone

It was a busy long weekend for me here, my husband and I had two of our grandchildren from Friday to this afternoon. Lots of fun and they were very good but I am tired.

jenjenl - I did not have immediate reconstruction either after my mastectomy, there will be decisions to make after treatment is over, not easy ones I'm sure.

Lostinmo - so good to hear from you again!

I had an appointment with the radiation oncologist on Friday afternoon. I'm not sure if it was just the end of a busy day on a busy week but she seemed distracted and a med student did most of the questioning and exam. She didn't seem that familiar with my pathology and at first said that there would be little added value to undergoing radiation. I questioned this in regards to my pathology, she seemed a little surprised and went and printed the pathology report for us to review together. She is now going to check with the pathologist and call me within the next two weeks to update me.

Tomorrow is chemo #5. I'm definitely feeling that this is the endurance part of the marathon for me, but I will get there. I started my Christmas shopping in August as I knew that I would need to pace myself so most of it is completed, not wrapped or anything but maybe I can convince some of my friends to help with that if I provide the paper and a wrapping party

Tazzy, we had lots of snow here starting about Wednesday last week but today it warmed up, so now it is melting. For those on the East Coast, we will definitely try to keep it up north here, I hope you will have an uneventful week weatherwise.

Take care, everyone.

Tazzy - Almost there!!!  Tomorrow is the big day and you will graduate!!!!!!!     I will be thinking of you as I sit getting chemo #3 .... I'll celebrate being 1/2 through chemo, but my big smile, I will be wearing will be because I am happy for you!!! 

websister - Good luck with chemo today!  I'm with you all the way!  Are you doing ok with the Taxotere?

Jenjenl - No recon here either...just mx at least for now.

Wow, it has been a busy weekend here with so many posts!  I had lots of catching up to do. I spent the last three days at Whistler with my sweets getting in some hiking and R&R too.  It even snowed on Sunday like crazy and made the village so fun to walk around and act like a tourist.  It all froze solid making the roads a nightmare to even walk on.  Yesterday the roads thawed so made the drive ok back home.  Now though it is back to reality...    Labs and fill scripts today and chemo #3 tomorrow.   I know in my head it is a good thing but, it still is depressing to think tomorrow I get to go back to feeling like crap and sick again for 10 days or so.   Oh, a question for you all.... I feel like a cold may be coming on.... Would that delay chemo tomorrow do you think????   I hope not.   This is the last FEC treatment and then it is on to Taxotere.  From what I understand it doesn't make you have soooo much nausea?

Anyone having a bad day....My heart goes out to you!  Hugs to all.

halfcan - I had a cold/sinus infection and was put on antibiotics while on AC (thanks to the kiddos), but my blood cell counts were fine, so there was no delay. They told me the only delay would be caused by low counts. So think white fluffy clouds and lots of white blood cells and you should be good to go! Good luck!

Tazzy - can't believe you are just about done. Yeah!!! So very happy for you. I can see the end of the chemo tunnel for me. Only two more rounds to go. If all stays on course, 12/5 will be my last chemo! Will still have herceptin, but thats a cake walk compared to chemo. Also have a date for my squishees - 1/4. Can't wait. Then it'll be on to radiation and eventual graduation for me as well. I feel like I can finally see the end. I know I still have a long way to go. But being less than a month away from PFC is an amazing feeling. Never thought I'd get here...

Love and hugs to you all!!!

I hope that everyone is okay and staying relatively strong in the face of everything you're going through.  I know we have some knitters in the group and I wanted to point you to two essays I've written on the intersection of knitting and ilnness (or, more specifically, cancer).  I hope you enjoy them.

Warm regards to all,Scorch

The Anchor (Part One)

The Anchor (Part Two)

Hi Scorchy,

I read both Anchors. It is so inspiring that you find such solace and comfort in that, and it brought so many happy memories of my mother, her knitting, her embroidering, cross stitching etc.. She was always busy on a project, and could knit intricate patterns like Fair Isle etc. If one should put everything in a room that she had knitted in the course of her life, the room will be filled to the ceiling. I love how you refer to chemo as 'chemical warfare' - that's exactly what it is. I think I am going out to the store, buy some needles and yarn and start knitting something simple. My mom taught me , and I still remember how (I hope). Best wishes to you!

Tazzy....hope you have your party dress on for tomorrow when your DH picks you up from your LAST rad and whisks you off for a romantic PUB CRAWL.......lol