February 2011 chemo pals

Special K, Most Drs only test the TSH.  "Normal" range according to labs is .5 to 5.....WTH! How can that big a difference be "normal"?  You have to have a COMPLETE thyroid panel done. That is TSH, T3 & T4. Because of my goiter mine usually is messed up. I'm on a low dose of thyroid so it thinks its making enough. I feel best when my TSH is about 1. When it falls below I get jittery. When its above I start to get all the hypothyroid symptoms.

lisaGH - Hey triplet!!!  Yes, a bad hair day does beat a no hair day - lol!  I still have my port - just had a clear PET scan and thought about getting de-ported, but after discussing with my MO decided to just leave it be.  I get it flushed about every 6 weeks and really don't want the very visible scar that would come with removing it.  Mine is subclavian so really high, right below my collarbone - it was put in during BMX so they went under the skin in the middle of the surgery.  Had fat grafting a week ago - excellent results - only drawback is the crazy Spanx I have to wear for 8 weeks and can't go to the gym

My TSH a couple of months ago was 5.9...but when I had it recheck, she said it was normal at 3.7. But they are going to re-check in 2 more months. I am seeing an endocrinologist. We'll see...They didn't give me any advice on weight issues other than diet and exercise. I guess I could try to be more serious about it and see if that does anything. 

I had my port out this past July. I'm still going every 3 months for check ups. My poor vein in my left arm is still sore from my labs and IV last week. I get a breast MRI every year and I had it last week. Good news is, it's normal!! No evidence of malignancy. Yay! I just hated getting mine flushed so often. I don't live close to anywhere to get it done so I was tired of the hassle. My scar isn't too bad but it still itches like crazy! It didn't do that when I had it put in. 

Yea I understand...getting tested constantly is exhausting. How's the reconstruction going? Did you have to have them removed? 

Sorry your recon has been so tough fuzzy. This whole process bites. Ironically for christmas I got the DVDs of the Big C. I do like the show but have to say I see it very differently than I would have had it been before I had cancer.

I am still debating on whether or not to keep the port- probably will get it out after the next visit IF I graduate to every 6 month visit. Then again, it's not that bad & almost feel like I don't want to have ANY procedures if I can avoid it.

Had 2 OP surgeries at different times for atypical & dysplastic nevi (not melanoma but not far from that) a few months ago. Probably more of those ahead of me.

Still thankful to be alive but definitely not the person I was 2 years ago- thankful for all of you though to be able to blurt it out no matter how lack of tactful it comes out.

Ohhhhh, my LADIES of chemo world.  You know, that chemo period was the most bonding experience I've had since I was at university about 30 years ago.  I wonder, when does one count survivor from.  Our chemo bunch began around February of 2011.  It's now May of 2013.  I'd say it counts from diagnosis, so that makes me just over a two-year survivor, I reckon.  I just realized that today, so wanted to drop by, even tho the last talk on here was six months ago.

Ladies, what I'm left with after chemo and all treatments if permanent neuropathy in my feet and lower legs, some in my fingers but much improved.  I recall after Taxol chemo, preceded by AC chemo, my hands and feet were very swollen and bright red.  Now I just drop things, occasionally have a bad day typing these posts.  I occasionally get some swelling in the arm on the same side as my breast operation, but I do massage, etc. 

My hair, that's the REAL return to what I describe as a normal life.  Of course, keep in mind, I quit taking that blasted estrogen-blocking pill after just a month, I'm afraid to start another I have.  And keep in mind I opted out of reconstruction.  My port was removed right after rads were over, waaaay back in November of 2011.  I was declared NED last fall 2012.  I still need to see a dermatologist to keep an eye out for melanoma on my various moles, since that was one of three cancers in my breast.  I'm really not supposed to be on this planet, since I had not only the standard issue IDC about the size of a planet in my boob, but ALSO had IBC which is Inflammatory Breast Cancer, a rare form, very aggressive, very deadly, lousy survival numbers.  I credit my cancer doc with saving my life.

Now, back to my hairs.  My hair grows fast anyhow, but it's a couple inches past my shoulders.  I have NOT CUT IT YET.  I kinda like this all over shag thing going.  Most of my life, I go with a part in middle, sort of off-center and at an angle.  I broke down at some point and bought some box ash blonde (when I went into this thing, I had a mixture of many colors:  white silver, gray, blonde, and medium brown.  Well, that one box has served its purpose, kept my hair looking far more alive than it was beginning to look as it grew out. 

Even tho I improve about every three months or so, I have my backwards times, and since Fuzzy's post end of December before 2013, I went backwards pretty much the whole almost six-month period.  Just came completely out of it about a week ago.  I had had my back pain medicines changed, my car wreck fear drugs changed, to where I was getting mostly double what I had or 1/4 more at least.  And a fifth drug was added to keep me more alert and focused.  Well, that one stood me on my head, but husband said I was better becuz I wasn't overly drugged-out.  Apparently extra meds made ME feel good, but he missed me becuz I stayed sleeping a lot.

Sleep is important for our souls, girls, I have indeed discovered.  If at any point along this road you feel gosh-awful tired and can't think straight, find a way to get lots and lots of sleep.  And then keep it up.  I love naps.  My father does too (he takes post-breakfast naps), my brother does too (he takes his naps post-dinner), and I take mine a couple times a day, one morning, one afternoon, or perhaps one evening.  SMILE.

I still fear the cancer.  I know if it comes back, depending on how many kinds I wind up with, it'll wipe me out.  I mean, how does one get around in the home with a wheelchair???  How do I get up my front steps?  And then I think how I can barely make it thru a grocery store, and do a couple other to-dos, and I'm just 62?  I just assumed I'd die at 70, it was written in the stars that hypnotize me into the spirit world some nights, so perhaps I'll be spared an expensive nurse/assistant/cleaner at any point.

Speaking of cleaning, I don't know if this is a function of age or emotion or WHAT, but I simply cannot keep my house clean.  Ever since cancer treatments spit me out, I have piles of laundry, dog clothes, towels, just everything, with no thought of doing them.  I do not feel depressed anymore, tho.  No, those dark thoughts drifted away like the fog does in these Smokey Mountains, slithering amongst the peaks, then down and beyond the valleys.  But I never thought, before cancer, that things could get worse than awful.  Now I stand a little taller, I stay out of the way of crowds and anywhere I might get lost even for a few minutes and I used to play with my dogs in the big field next to the regular yards, out where the gazebo is.  I have become old.

Oh, sunshine so bright, leaves so green, I cannot see the ridge that looms over us in winter, and this makes me happy.  And adopting an older dog when we lost our other two has been wonderful, he just wants to be near us always, and only looks stupid when he is awaiting a snack from our plates, which he gets all the day long since we're grazers.  I am being carried along by the seasons, and I've forgotten the rest.  We were given this half-acre and creek and dozens of trees and shrubs and so lucky am I.  For I could not have lived with the bare yard we had before, despite my efforts to bring it up to where I cannot see anything except the split-rail fence and the shade of all the trees lit up in the long stretch of yard and hills beyond.  I will not be taken again, no.  I am here and will stay here for the rest of my life.  EFF CANCER.  GG 

Sooooo nice to see you, K.  I think you've had enough surgeries, don't you!?  Gee whiz.  I'm old enough to have the privilege of no reconstruct, your list is why.  HATE the hospital, and used to like it.  No more.  It is hell in there.  I hope you are WELL.  I hope your figure is what you wanted it to be.  But the main thing is, YOU MADE IT just like I did.  How is your hairs?  Lovely in the picture.  You keep working on being lovely as before.  And so will I.  Always, GG

Happy Pinktober to my sisters who I don't talk w/ as often as we did when on this thread helping each other through tough times. Thought of you all on Friday. I had my port removed. I hung on to mine for a while as I was seen every 3 months. Now it's every 4. I was having weird feeling of fullness in my neck w/ all thryoid test and ultrasound normal. I wondered if it was my port. Since it's been out, I am so much better! I think my body just somehow resents all the procedures, surgeries, etc. I am now even allergic to paper tape and even the light tegaderm dressings turn my skiin red after a day or so.

Anyway, on that table to get the port removed, I seriously thought of all of you. Thankful for all you have done for me. I don't post much anymore and visit occasionally. Still on the Arimidex and also taking Glucosamine. (Glucosamine has been a wonder supplement to eliminate my joint pain from the AI).

Love ya sisters. Hugs.

Lisa

Hey SpecialK was just thinking about you the other day and wondering how you were doing. LisaG good to hear from you too. I am doing ok. Still working on my walking and balance but it is coming along nicely. Had my 6 month cancer checkup yesterday and they say everything looks fine. So good to see someone write on this thread. Take ace you two.

Cindy

SpecialK it sounds like you have some challenges yourself with the skin cancer.. Do them just numb up the area or do they have to put you under to remove them? It's funny cause people will say how strong I must be. I have never felt like a strong person but looking back through all of this I guess they were right... People will say how do you do it. I tell them well I have two choices and I picked the one that says keep going and living and then I tell them I have 2 granddaughters that keep me going.. Maybe some others will post here if they still follow this thread...

crog - had the skin cancer removed yesterday - was a bit more complex than I expected. Continued to bleed so they re-opened, excised again, cauterized again and closed again. I have a 2" incision, not that bad but it is in a location that makes finding a comfortable position a bit difficult for sleeping. I am tired enough tonight that I think I will sleep regardless. I had a flat tire on the way there and a kind policeman gave me a ride the rest of the way - in the back of the police car, lol! Never a dull moment!

ruffy - hi!!! Glad to hear you are doing well, and happy b-day! I just had one too, a couple of weeks ago, but I have a few years on you!!! I am just happy to be here to celebrate, I'm sure you too! I had a hyst/ooph at 45 - I feel ya on the SEs!

crog - must have been National Flat Tire Day, lol! Glad you have the tire place close by - the place I went to get new ones today is only about 5 mins from my house, so very convenient. I am hopeful about sleeping tonight - DH changed the bandage and this new one seems more padded so a bit more comfy.

Special K, You probably never thought you would see the backseat of a police cruiser!! LOL Hope you heal quickly.

hi ladies! It's been forever since I've been here... This was the one place that helped me the most through all those beginning times and then we finished up and most just sort of drifted away. Not gonna lie, it was a little hard to continue when most everyone got through all the junk and then was fine, but I have to keep plugging along with new things cropping up on occasion. I have tried to post in other areas, but just never got to know others or got that same camaraderie we had here! So just checking in, glad to see old friends who still check in too!

So, after finishing chemo, then surgery, then rads I had mets to the ovaries and bones (that was nov, 2011). During the summer of 2012 the little buggers got into my liver and lungs. I started xeloda and rumors shrunk. Things have been pretty good until now, had a whole bunch of little lump/bumps crop up all over. Four spots were biopsied and its bc. I see oncologists tues and wed so then we shall see where I go next...spent last night sad and angry and did the little crying jag, today... Gonna move on!

I will K! I think of many of you often as well! You were all my lifesavers! I keep in touch with a couple of the gals from here on Facebook.

I will go to Pittsburgh tues (kind of my second opinion place, but really the more important opinion to me. My town is so small... I see my home onc wed so I don't know much until next week, but I'm guessing a change of meds will def be in order. I knew this time would come... With mets you kind of sit and wait for the other shoe to drop even when you are doing well, but I was feeling very tired and pretty crappy. I honestly feel like if one more person tells me how good I look I might slap them! It's not always easy is it! I will try harder to keep in touch here more often!! And will post plans as I get then next week!! Thanks all for being here!