Starting Chemo April 2009

Thanks for all the advice and words of wisdom.  I'm sure I will have many more questions when I meet with the RO.  I get about 5 -6 weeks to recover from chemo then to surgery.  I'm praying that the turmors will have shrunk so much that there will be little to cut out.  Prior to chemo this time, the surgeon thought I may have to lose my entire pectoral major muscle, thus rendering my left arm very limited in movement.  Now, the largest tumor has gone from 2.1cm to 1.2 cm.  I'm hoping there is even more shrinkage in 3 weeks.

Florbo - I had radiation in 10/09.  I used calendula gel and did not have any severe reactions. Not sure if that is why, but I guess it didn't hurt. Compared to chemo, radiation is pretty much NOTHING. I never noticed any fatigue or any other problems.

Judy - bleeding has stopped (finally). Am seeing doc tomorrow. No clue what she will say or what the u/s will show. Am feeling better but a bit anxious about tomorrow. Feel like I can't move on, make plans, go forward. I hate medical stuff. But I know you all understand that as well as I do.

Helen - GLAD you may be able to get into that neurosurgeon sooner, even if it takes a personal favor to make it happen. A year is TOO long to wait. Keep us updated.

Hip x-ray just showed extensive arthritis - that I can live with!  Amy - hope that you also have good news today...please let us know as we are all thinking of you.

Helen - glad to hear that your pain is under control and that you can see the neuro sooner than you expected.

Florbo - sounds like you are getting some good response to the chemo.

Have a good week all

Geri

Saw the doctor. She is very smart and sassy - I like her (the ob/gyn). She said she didn't know exactly what the bleeding was from, but that we could wait 3 mo, do another u/s, and if the uterus was 'unremarkable,' then wait and repeat in 3 more months. If still fine, and no bleeding, we could just go forward. IF any bleeding before that, then definitely a D&C and we might need to discuss hysterectomy. We both agreed that we can't keep going on and on with D&Cs. 

But this was the best outcome and the one I hoped for. Still a little nervous re the bleeding recurring, but trying to not obsess and just give it a few weeks and hopefully it won't happen again. And if it does, I'll deal with it - just like we all do with whatever comes. 

At the end of the meeting I said that I just wanted her to understand that I really really didn't  like this whole thing. And she said "Ok, I'll put that in your chart." And then we both laughed.

So there we are. Cleared for all activities. Going forward.

Geri - re the arthritis - would that glucosamine/chondroitin supplement maybe help? What about a gentle stretching/yoga routine? Not that it is a cure-all, but maybe it would provide some help.

Thank you all for the support. Words can't express what it means to me. But I know you all understand.

Amy

Amy what a roller coaster!!! Ihope they get you sorted out once and for all so you don't have to go through this sort of worry in the future. at this point I am sort of glad for BRCA and removal of female parts I definitely feel like they betrayed me, wink wink!!!



Hugs

Lesley

Hi Ladies,

Geri--You're going to hate me for saying that it was 75F and sunny here in Dallas today.  Stay warm up there.  Are you able to do any water aerobics?  I used to do deep water aerobics and several ladies there said their arthritis is better after they've done water aerobics.

Judy--I'm trying to work my way up in exercising.  Thanks for posting because it keeps reminding to move when I don't feel like it.

Amy--Ugh!  So sorry to hear about your bleeding.  I don't know about your history, but is your medical team wanting to have you have your ovaries out?  My doc want me to have mine out later this year.  We thought I was in menopause until my recurrence.  I had been on Tamoxifen and Lupron and had no periods for 3 years.  Then with the recurrence and a period on Thanksgiving day, my medical team said that my ovaries were not in menopause.  My labs were never in the right ranges because Tamoxifen and Lupron slightly altered the numbers while my ovaries were still secreting estrogen.  So, I'll have to see later whether to have just the ovaries or do the whole package.  I am 40 and have 2 wonderful boys, 7 and 10.  I was a miserable pregnant woman and would not want another child unless I can "bud" one from my thigh or somewhere else.

Lesley--can you tell us which female parts you had to have removed?

I finally loaded an avatar for me.  It is me doing my celebratory "pole dance."  We didn't get to ring a bell when we finish chemo at my center.  I did it, threw up, and fell asleep because of the meds.  I didn't get a chance to collect tips.

Geri, it is such a relief that our current issues are not cancer related, I totally agree with you there. Hope the pain meds help you !

Florbo, hope you are feeling ok and building up your strength. I am BRCA 1 and had my ovaries and fallopian tubes out a year before my diagnosis. I was menopausal at 38. The following year I had a double mastectomy after my diagnosis, before chemo. I turned 40 during chemo.

I am going to see my Mum today for a couple of days in London, just going on my own to spend some time with her; she is finding it difficult to fill her days since my grandmother passed away. It is very very cold there, not looking forward to that, but I am sure it will be nice to be with the family. I am looking forward to a couple of days away.

Amy, Helen, hope you are both doing ok. Sending you all hugs and love, Judy x

Amy, really pleased that the new trainer was a positive experience, good that you are slowly moving forward.

Has been so quiet here since I left! Hope you are all ok...

London was nice, very cold indeed! But good to see the family and be a daughter for a few days, I needed to re charge my batteries LOL!

Geri, Helen, Florbo, Lesley, how are you all feeling?

I had a chest ultrasound today, all clear thankfully! The doctor spent so long doing it, I was convinced that she had seen something! So much went through my mind in those few minutes, unbelievable!

Back to work tomorrow, sending everyone hugs, Judy x

Florbo,

I went to my GYN onc today and pulled out my diary of appointments. I had notes about using aquaphor (slimy but it worked) during radiation then have notes about using Lansinoh after radiation was completed. I recall from the Rads board many used aloe products. While going through rads it was pretty easy as Lesley indicated. My hardest parts were the boosts. By the time that rolled around my tissue began turning black, I couldn't feel it, it just looked bad. It sort of scabbed up and when the scabs fell off so did the surgery scars. Now when new doctors look at me they always ask if my port scar is where I had surgery. The rads burnt my scars right off my body. Sorry to hear you are facing another round of treatments. Cancer SUCKS.

At my onc appt. today I asked about my potassium blood work. I guess there was a mix up and my BC onc ordered a CBC instead of a potassium panel. So I had to repeat the test. Aarggh.

Helen, sorry to hear you are in such pain. Sending a big {{HUG}}.

It's late. I will try to come back this weekend when I have more time to write.

Betsy 

Hi ladies, hope all is well with everyone.

Wish you all a great weekend! Can you believe it is February today???

Big hugs to you all, Judy x

Hi all



Just a quick note to let Judy know I'm ok (so nice that you worry about us Judy). I had my oral surgery on Friday and they extracted 3 teeth and put bone grafts in to prepare for implants in the future. Just one more "part" of my body that will not be my own. I am in a considerable amount of pain, so I am going to take my Lortab and go to bed. Hope everyone is ok



Geri

Geri and Helen, thanks for coming by. I do worry about you all, just my way, I think.

Geri, sounds painful, hope you feel a bit better on Monday. And you can't even eat to cheer yourself up LOL! Unless you can have ice cream !

Helen, glad the kids are doing well. Let us know how it goes on Friday.

Hope all our other ladies are doing ok and sending you all hugs, Judy x

Amy good to hear from you! Sounds like you had a good time with your daughters. I agree, it is nice to know that they still value our opinions. I have two teenage girls, so it comes and goes. Sometimes, I "know nothing" and sometimes, they come to me and I love that. I hope your daughter is feeling well.

Hope you enjoy the convention, travel safely. Geri, how are you feeling today?

I am having the most stressful day at work here, so back in I go...

Hugs to you all, Judy x

Betsy--thanks for all the rad tips.  Radiation stil seems so far away for me.  I just want to get it done now and move on.

Geri--how are you feeling?  Are you still in a lot of pain?

Amy--have a great time at the convention.  I'm in Dallas if you need something--like Spanx which I have plenty of  No, seriously, let me know if you need something.

Judy--deep breaths.  Try to de-stress and I hope your work days will get better.

Hubby, boys, and I went to a cabin in the woods for the weekend.   It was great to hike some easy trails at a state park, go fishing, soak in the hot tub, and gaze at the stars.  There was no wifi there, so plenty of family time.  Kids and I played several card games and stayed up way too late.

Good luck for today Helen!

Hope everyone is doing and feeling ok.

Have a great weekend! Hugs, Judy x