Starting Chemo in June 2005

Jen your mom and you are both in my prayers. Again, if there is anything you need, please let me know.

Do you all realize that it is June first.. the junesterettes are a year old! Veterans is more like it!
I miss all of you and you are never far from my mind. I am so happy to see you all doing so well!

And thank you for letting me be a part of the box!

Wow we've become a quiet group!


Things BUSY here. DD had 8th grade graduation here which was big time because this group has been together for nine years or longer in some cases. Plus it was 22 girls to 40ish boys-wouldn't you have just loved those odds in 8th grade LOL. Lots of first parties, first BF's and first broken hearts! The drama of it all. My 2nd ds asked me why I don't watch soaps-who needs with daughter around
Has anyone else had swelling? Saw Dr Flake on Monday and I need to have tests. I don't think they will find anything but she was concerned since I don't have high blood pressure-on the lower side if anything. And it greater when I wake up. SOO just wondered.
Write a note and let us know how everyone is
Hugs
Bev

I think that is SO COOL!!!!!!

Nancy That is great news! So exciting.
No my swelling isn't lymphedema but I do worry about that as I have to fly for five hours at the end of the month. Have my sleeve. My swelling is in my feet and legs. I wake up about three pounds heavier than when I go to sleep-that much water. Plus I had to have a CAT scan because I get sinus migraines(sp?)-I had one the morning I went to see onco so she got exicted. Told her I had them for years so I took to have all kinds of tests. I know they won't find anything but....
I turned 45 today-much better B-Day last year which I had first chemo and a teenager not talking to me. Queen for the day here. Plus sulky teen was happy because I took them for pizza and games for lunch LOL
Miss everyone
bev

OOH A birthday!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY!!!!
ya think it is better this year huh????
Well I hope you celebrated!!!!

Another Happy Belated Birthday to Bev...and good luck with the tests!

Nancy...I have some lymphedema also...those bandages are a challenge. So far I just wear my sleeve when using my arm a lot and the swelling has been under control.

Jen...good news on the scans. Sorry to hear your Mom has to do chemo...hope she gets through it without too many side effects.

NS...it does seem strange to see a June'06 group on the board now!

Take care all!

Liz

Liz I am sorry your dog died. It must be hard to lose such a good friend.
Thanks for all the birthday wishes.
Hope all is well with the gang
Bev

My post must have gone into cyberspace....darn it!
Liz, I'm so sorry to hear of your beloved Shakepeare passing on. Our pets are so precious to us and it's so hard when they leave our world. ((hugs)).
Happy Belated birthday, Bev!
Jen, I'm sorry your mother has to go through chemo. You have been such a great support person for your mother, I know she will get through this with flying colors.
I've been missing in action for a long time! Life has been a challenge for me these past few weeks. I had my implant surgery on June 8th and they look wonderful! I had p/t before the surgery (to build up strength and range of motion) which really helped a lot. Everything was going well until the 19th when I started feeling ill and developed a fever and pain. I saw my Onc the next day (for Herceptin). By this time I was in severe pain and my fever was higher. She had my surgeon come over (the one that did the mast.) and they both sent me right to the p/s's office without getting my Hereceptin. My ps was out of town, but I saw several of her partners and they sent me over to the hospital. Long story short, I stayed in the hospital for a week fighting a staph infection. I am home now and I have to take IV antibiotics for 4 to 6 weeks....nothing like feeling like a nursing home patient...ugh! I STILL have my drains in and between the drains and my port access, I look sooo pretty....not! I am hoping to get my drains out on Monday! The doctors are giving me a 50/50 chance of this working, so lots of prayers would be greatly appreciated. My infectious disease dr. doesn't give me the same hope, but I think he is surprised at the progress I have made so far.
On a more postive note, my DD gratuated from college and is heading for Chicago for grad school. I'm so proud of her! We haven't had her grad party yet, but I'm hoping by the end of July we will have a family BBQ.
Gotta run, but I will check in more often. It looks like everyone is doing well....getting on with our lives....moving to new houses...celebrating birthdays...all is well!

Liz - I'm so sorry about Shakespeare. I know how hard it is to lose a beloved pet.

Scout - You're in my prayers. I hate that you have to go through this. I hope you'll be back to feeling great and looking HOT in no time!

Things are going along well here in Pennsylvania. I really do love the area and we're settling in. The only problem is that every time the kids and I head out for an adventure we end up in another state - Delaware, New Jersey, etc. lol. But I think I'm finally getting to know the freeways in Philly!

I saw my new oncologist within the first week of moving and I really like him. I have to see him once a month for my Zoladex injections - thankfully only two more left. Hopefully that will be all because it's making me retain water and I can't lose a pound for anything. I try to eat healthy and I've been swimming, but I can't lose an ounce. Very frustrating. I'm seeing a plastic surgeon in September about my reconstruction and the way I'm going, he'll have PLENTY to work with if I go the DEIP flap route. lol.

My mom is doing good with her chemo so far. She has her second treatment tomorrow. She hasn't been sick and has felt well, but her white count plummeted so they may be changing her dosage. She lost her hair late last week and even her eyebrows and eyelashes. But her spirits are good and one of my sisters and her husband are visiting right now. The kids and I are going down to Arkansas for her next treatment.

I hope you all have a great fourth of July! I'm sure it will be better than last year, eh??

Jen

We just got home from seeing MT ST Helen's. DH is so sad lava didn't pour out for him LOL But it was beautiful. It was nice to be able to hike and not feel like I did last year. I have question for everyone. My family is just now freaking out over all this. My mom who was never strong for me anyway refers to last summer as the incident. My DH says it was the summer I was SO lazy-we now have wild rasberry and poison ivy in back where I didn't cut it back last year. And my kids refer to it as the the summer I ruined. I look at the few pictures of me back then and it doesn't feel real. And I think maybe I didn't try hard enough, maybe I should have been stronger. Anyone else feeling like this??
Hope all is well out there.
Love
Bev

Oh Bev! I'm about to go Towanda all over your husband and kids! HOW DARE THEY SPEAK TO YOU LIKE THAT! Ooohhh, they don't get it, they don't get it at all. Which makes me think you were SO strong that they couldn't see how much you were really going through. So don't think for a minute you should have been stronger. Tell them they should be spending THIS summer saying "We are so happy you are well! We are so grateful to have you feeling better!"

Scout - I've been thinking about you, and I hope you are feeling better. You've gone through so much!

Jen - I'm glad your mom is keeping her spirits up.

I hope everyone else is well - gotta run - love ya~

I was sitting outside wondering why in the world I ever married my husband in July-he is so gumpy!! Then it occurred to me he is like this EVERY YEAR in July. And every year I am surprised by it because it is out of character. As for the kids they are just being brats so I don't need to let it bother me anymore.
Jen I think of your mom all the time. Give her a hug for all of us next time you see her.
Scout take care of yourself-go easy.
Thanks Nancy and Liz.
Bev

Scout...take care and keep us posted
Jen...have a good trip and give your mom lots of hugs
I can't believe how long it has been since I posted. Am teaching 4 on-line classes this summer so don't do much on the computer outside of work, but yesterday was the last day of summer classes so should have a break.

Glad to hear people are doing well. I have been having a nice summer. My hair is poodle-ish. I look older but I am happy to be here. People keep telling me they have forgotten I ever had cance. Boy, I wish I could.
I'm painting a great deal and baking cookies almost daily.
I am not as nice as I used to be. I find peoples problems not very serious.
I am determined to try to get some more strength back in my arms and legs.
I walk everyday but my upper body is weak. I tried to do some sit ups last night. That was pathetic.
Love Jo

It's good to hear from everyone!
Bev, I think your DH needs a good kick in the a@%!
I'm still in "limbo" over my implants. About a week ago both breasts started to turn red and sore. I thought that this was the end, but the redness went away and the infectious disease dr put me on two more weeks of iv antibiotics. I saw my ps and she has cleared her schedule for surgery the week after I stop the antibiotics....not a good sign. My last dose is on the 31st. I know it sounds wierd, but I can "feel" the infection inside of me. I hope I'm very, very wrong, but I just know that it is going to flare up as soon as I stop the iv antibiotics.
My ps said she will not try the implants again. She said that I could try the tram surgery, but she doesn't do this surgery. She said one of her partners does this.
Sooooo.....keep your fingers crossed that I can keep the implants. They look great, and I'm not looking forward to more surgery.
Sometimes I feel that I'm being too vain, wanting to have breast again. I just want to step out of the shower and not be reminded that I had cancer.
My last Herceptin will be in August, so I'm hoping to have my port out ASAP! I think after my reconstruction is over, and the port is out, I can FINALLY say "it's all over!".