April 2011 chemo

Haven't checked in here in quite awhile, but I think of you all OFTEN and wonder how everyone is doing.  I'm feeling great and don't dwell on "the past" much at all.  I finally had my Zometa infusion today after a several-month delay because I had to have some teeth extracted, which I finally got taken care of.  Seeay -- "survivor" does feel like a strange word.  Kinda hard to explain that feeling. 

Sending hugs to everyone, and I hope life is good for you all right now.     

Windlass. That would have been nice. 

Hi pawprint, twice now i've cut my hair back to really short. Need new avatar.  Anyway, now it's growing much better.

Hey peeps!!! Hope all is well! Is anyone just sick to death with se from tamoxifen? Has anyone thought of not taking it?i have a appt the 30th to talk to my onc about this since i am sick to death with this drug! I have had a complete hystorectomy so i do have alot less estrogen! Just don't know what to do!Would like to wake up and this all be a big ol dream!

Hi pawprint!

I also had a tough time with Tamoxifen, so I took the CYP2D test which showed I was a poor metabolizer (just know the test has mixed reviews!), so I switched to a lupron shot to put me into menopause so I can take an AI, and doing better. If you already have no ovaries, i would think you could switch to an AI. ASK!! Good luck! Good to see Windlass back on the boards!

Hi everyone! Hope I haven't been away so long that you don't remember me. I love seeing all your faces and new hair dos. so great! I'll post a new picture soon. My is all salt and pepper now with a little red left in it. I am back again with these boards looking for answers and information and support as I'm now for sure stage IV with mets to spine and hip, possibly lung. But hey, what can you do but keep putting one foot in front of the other because you just can't quit.  I was so upset when I read from a scan I had during my chemo, if you remember, the one that put me in the hospital with allergic reaction, that ct scan then showed a lesion on my T7 but it wasn't mentioned to me till another scan done this May. The radiologist compared the 2 scans and it had grown. then biopsy of the T7 showed no cancer cells, then 6 mos later this Nov 7th, that bone scan showed the T7 had grown somemore, and a new spot on T9 and hip.  I had no pain, other than regular pain from the arimidex and my rheumatology dx, both gave me pain all over so I didn't know.  Just remembered when I would sneeze my back would hurt.  Just being newly dx again, I'm still have so many emotions; like pissed off, wondering how long I will live, then flip side thinking I'll be fine and they will get this in remission like I've heard of other ladies with mets have.  I know it can happen so why not me.  I took a long break from here because mentally I needed to.  And now I need the support again for my mental health

Hi everybody, just popping in to say I am doing well and hope that all of you are as well. It has been an amazing year of healing and spiritual growth for me. I wrote a program to help other survivors with fear, which you all know is a big part of the experience. If  anyone wants to check it out let me know and I will PM you my website.

Hugs and love to all of you amazing warriors, I would not have made it without you!

Merilee

Hi Windlass,

Good to hear from you. I will PM  you the link to my site

Merilee

@sarahlou here is the link to my site. http://www.visionboardhealing.com

OMG I have had a few scares as well and I know just what you mean. So terrifying, and the medical people don't seem to get that. I'm sorry you went through that but I am very glad you are ok. For me it has been 2 years since the last tumor was removed. Life is good!

Hi ladies, I'm just doing the quickest drive-by. I read back few pages and it is so good to see so many of our group doing well.



I did want to give a special shout out to RangerMom. Like you, I was diagnosed as Stage IV at the beginning of June last year. My initial metastases were to the bones and I had a round of radiation. A few months lather they found a secondary cancer in the axillary region of my left side (mastectomy side) and additional mets in my liver and lungs. Between November and now, I've done two different chemos, and while they are keeping the bone and lung mets stable, we've not found a drug as yet that is stopping the liver mets. I'm waiting for my onc to tell me the next step in the plan and starting to look very seriously at clinical trials. So RangerMom, I understand what you're facing and the roller coaster of emotions. I've moved myself mentally from the survivor group to the warrior group. PM me if you need anything. I'll try to check here more often.





Love and light.

Carla

Linda and Carla, I'm sorry to see you have progression. I will have you both in my thoughts and hope that treatment can hold things stable for you!



I'm back at my oncologist tomorrow for my 12 weekly ovary suppression injection. I've also had diep reconstruction, 2 years after MX, in Feb this year. Stage 2 recon was in July. I'm healing well and am pleased I did it.



Anyway, sending lots of positive vibes your way xx

Hi all,

Little while since I came on this thread just wanted to check in with all my American sisters. 

Rangermom and CarlaB76 - So sorry to hear about your latest cancer challenge and wishing you both well with all your treatments, have faith for there is plenty of cancer drugs they try. I was dx stage IV from the start and that was 2 and a half years ago!!!! and I'm still here, living and breathing and most importantly loving evey moment of it. I'm on herceptin forever (which is ok cause I don't get any SE from it) but also the dreaded Tamoxifen which I do suffer SE. My mets are on both lungs and Im happy to say have stayed stable since June 2011.

Pawprint - Are you off the Tamoxifen now? my SE are extreme and my weight is has balooned up to 4 stone since dx (2 stone this year), I absolutely hate the stuff and have begged the Dr's to take me off of it but they wont my ER+ status was 4/8 so I'm weakly oestrogen rich. So far I've been on it for 2 years this month, thinking of taking a Tamoxifen holiday next year of a month or 2 and I'm not gonna tell them, just need a break from this shit. I'm still going through the menopause so they told me can't change drug until I'm through it.

Merilee - Loving the website

Sending you all lots of love and light

Sarahlou xxxx

Hi ladies

I don't know if anyone checks this thread any longer? It's coming up to our 4 year anniversary and I was thinking about you all and the support you gave me and each other.

I hope you are all happy and healthy and wish you well.

I am great.  I am still keeping up with all my appointments and treatment.  I'm scheduled for an oophorectomy in 4 weeks. 

Windlass - I'm crossing fingers, toes and everything in between for a good path report. I'm sorry you are going through this.

I love your positivity. Take care my friend. Blessings to you too