Has anyone started a forum for Chemo in Dec 2008?

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  • EleanorJ
    EleanorJ Member Posts: 752
    edited July 2012

    Sonya, I know what you mean, while I can be there for her for the bulk of it, I still have both of my breast and she lost one, I don`t have a clue how to relate to this one. On the bright, she went through surgery like a champ yesterday, no complication and at first glance, looks like her lymph nodes are clean :) I gave her this website telling her this was the best thing around during that time, but she is scared to get attached to some ladies that might lose their battles. That`s a tough one, I can see her point, it was a sad day to say goodbye to our sister Carrie :(

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  • swest
    swest Member Posts: 680
    edited July 2012

    OMG...I just read my last post.  I need to start proof reading my posts.  It is a wonder any of you knew what I was talking about! Laughing

    Caroline-I too lost my breasts to BC.  I can say for me the decision was easy to make (due to the aggressive nature of my BC) and I have not regretted it one minute.  Hopefully soon your friend can get to this point.  I'm glad to hear the first glance at the lymph node was clean! Yeah!  I wish your friend a speedy recovery and the strength to come out the other side of BC strong!

    I do have good news!  After being unemployed for two months I have landed a job!  No more unemployment for me! Money mouth  I start on Monday.  I am so excited! 

    Best wishes to all of my Chemo Sisters!

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  • Mandy1313
    Mandy1313 Member Posts: 1,692
    edited July 2012

    Congratulations and thanks for sharing your good news!!!! Let us know how the new job goes.

    Hugs

    Mandy

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  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited July 2012

    All's well with me too! I did help a co-worker's wife who was diagnosed a few months ago. I was happy to hear that she was stage 1A. She went through a double mastectomy with reconstruction, but she didn't need chemo or radiation. I am disappointed to hear, however, that she had side effects from tamoxifen for the first few weeks and gave up on the drug therapy entirely. I don't think it's the smartest decision.

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  • EleanorJ
    EleanorJ Member Posts: 752
    edited August 2012

    swest, congrats on the job!

    I'm back from my crazy summer travelling. We visited my friend and she is doing amazingly! Nodes are negative, no need for radiation and she should hear something this week about chemo or not but they don't seem to think she will need it. Only tamox for 5 years.

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  • lovemyfamilysomuch
    lovemyfamilysomuch Member Posts: 1,585
    edited August 2012

    Swest,

    How is the new job?? xo

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  • havehope
    havehope Member Posts: 503
    edited September 2012

    Hello Divas!

    I am happy to see that everybody is doing great. I had a great summer. I spent a month in the Caribbean with my daughter and after a week home we both left for Europe. We stayed at my-in-laws for 3 weeks ( we made a 3 day excursion to Amsterdam) and after that we spent one week in Paris. Now we are back to school. 

    I just had my ovca check and everything is perfect, TG! I also saw my BC surgeon and everything's good. I had to see my BC onc at the end of September, but the ovca doc run my bloods and tumor markers already and everything is ok. I just need to see my other blood tests for metabolism ( cholesterol and such) cause I put on some weight. It is different now that I have no hormones anymore. Everything I eat gets deposited in places that I am not too happy to see ( you know what I mean).

    I was let go from my job in June. It was hard as I've been working on Wall Street for the last 15 years. I knew it will come to that eventually, but it was still hard. For now I don't make plans for more than 3 months at the time. Next check is Dec 3.

    On Nov 27 my DH and I will celebrate our 30 years anniversary ( we are HS sweethearts, I am not that old) and we decided to go for a week in Mexico at an all inclusive resort, couples only (hi!hi!). We have never been to such resorts so I hope to have a lot of relaxing time, spa treatments and good food.

    Sorry for the long post.

    I wish you all a sunny and long fall, stay healthy and take care of you. 

    xoxo 

       

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  • Mandy1313
    Mandy1313 Member Posts: 1,692
    edited September 2012

    Hi Have Hope!!

    So glad to hear your good news, especially about your travels.  As I sit here, I realize that this is my fourth fall on this thred.  The time since chemo has been good to me.

    Hugzzz to all!

    Mandy

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  • lovemyfamilysomuch
    lovemyfamilysomuch Member Posts: 1,585
    edited September 2012

    great to hear that you guys are doing well.  I am as well, now with 2 beautiful grandchildren.  Amen! xo

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  • EleanorJ
    EleanorJ Member Posts: 752
    edited September 2012

    havehope, congrats on your 30 year anniversary. Have fun on your vacation! And great to hear a good health report as well :)

    So.. I changed my name here, trying to erase my online carbon copy, too scary what people can find just typing your name online.. Doing well here, working my behind off trying to get good grades, next mammogram due in a month. I'll try to talk to my BS about my hormones still being all over the place after 4 years off chemo, maybe she will have better suggestion because my OB pretty much nothing can be done :(

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  • havehope
    havehope Member Posts: 503
    edited October 2012

    Hello Divas!

    I am happy to report I am 4 years NED! Happy 4 -years anniversary to all of you!

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  • Mandy1313
    Mandy1313 Member Posts: 1,692
    edited October 2012

    Yay, havehope!!!  That is wonderful news.  I will be 5 years in June 2013--can't believe how lucky I am!

    Hugs to all my Divas!

    Mandy

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  • EleanorJ
    EleanorJ Member Posts: 752
    edited October 2012

    Congrats havehope Smile

    I finally made my appt for my yearly mammo yesterday, silly me, I'm excited about it, they just got the new machine to do mammos in 3D and my BS wants all her patients to do the 3D from now on, they say you can see more. It's the little things... LOL

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  • Mandy1313
    Mandy1313 Member Posts: 1,692
    edited December 2012

    Hi December 2008 Divas!

    Just want to send my warmest greetings to you for the holiday season and the new year!

    Hugs,

    Mandy

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  • havehope
    havehope Member Posts: 503
    edited December 2012

    Thank you Mandy! Same to you!

    Happy Holidays and Happy NED New Year!

    Hugs.

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  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited December 2012

    Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone!

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  • havehope
    havehope Member Posts: 503
    edited December 2012

    Happy New Year and happy NED 2013!



    Be well and happy!



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  • Mandy1313
    Mandy1313 Member Posts: 1,692
    edited December 2012

    Withing everyone a new year of health, happiness, and NED!!!!

    Hugs to all,

    Mandy

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  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited January 2013

    I did it! I changed medical oncologists today. I found a woman who is straightforward and who I can trust. Whereas the medical oncologist I'd seen since diagnosis didn't believe in anything except pharmaceuticals ... one of the first things this doctor asked was how much vitamin D I was taking. Big sigh of relief!

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  • EleanorJ
    EleanorJ Member Posts: 752
    edited January 2013

    Congrats Texas! How much longer do you need to see your onc? I'm going this summer, if this is not my last visit, next year will be. We made it Divas :)

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  • Mandy1313
    Mandy1313 Member Posts: 1,692
    edited January 2013

    Texas, that is great news!!!  Let us know how it goes.  And you are right Eleanor J, we are four years past chemo....my onc told me after my Spring visit, I go to once a year.

    Hugs to all my Divas!!!!

    Mandy

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  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited January 2013

    I'll be seeing my oncologist at least until 2019; she wants to see me every 6 months but I didn't ask when I can switch to annual.

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  • havehope
    havehope Member Posts: 503
    edited March 2013

    Hello everyone.

    I hope all of you are safe and healthy.

    Unfortunately the ovca came back. I will see my onc on Monday to discuss the next chemo. I had a good 18 months run and I am ready to fight back. I know I have a long battle in front of my especially if chemo is not working. The new cancer is inoperable so only chemo is left. I hope to get another remission. Please say a prayer for me and my family. 

    PS Somehow is either Christmas or Easter that I end up doing chemo!

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  • EleanorJ
    EleanorJ Member Posts: 752
    edited March 2013

    Havehope, hang in there, you've already beat it twice, you can do it one more time! We're all here for you.

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  • Mandy1313
    Mandy1313 Member Posts: 1,692
    edited March 2013

    Havehope, Eleanor J is right.  You have beat it twice, you can do this!!!  We're here cheering you on. Hugs and prayers coming your way!

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  • havehope
    havehope Member Posts: 503
    edited March 2013

    Thank you for your good wishes. Ovarian cancer is different. Now I will be on and off chemo until the end. My onc told me today that with the new chemo ( I start April 4 ) she hopes for 8 months remission after which I will have another chemo and so on until cancer will stop responding to chemo. If I am lucky I might get 2 years. I will not grow old ( currently 48). I just hope to be around until my daughter finishes HS (2015). 

    I will keep you posted. 

    Wish you only NED!

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  • Mandy1313
    Mandy1313 Member Posts: 1,692
    edited March 2013

    havehope; you will be in my heart and prayers as you go through this.  But remember no one doctor knows everything and maybe something will change for you. Don't let your doctors get your wonderful spirit down.  I know you have faith in your onc, and she seems to be outstanding; but I'd go outside of New York and get a second opinion somewhere--Dana Farber, Johns Hopkins--at one of the other big centers, even while you start your treatment on April 4th.    Try to be positive; they find that makes a difference.  And you can come back here and complain, as often as you need,  to your December 2008 divas and we will be here for you. Many hugs! Mandy

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  • EleanorJ
    EleanorJ Member Posts: 752
    edited March 2013

    Agreed, hang in there dear sister, doctors do not have all the answer. Don't put your hope in seeing your daughter graduate, put it in seeing her get married and meet your grand kids :) Look farther than what they give you and show them wrong! And do get a second opinion, even if it is after chemo has started. We're here for you.

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  • havehope
    havehope Member Posts: 503
    edited March 2013

    My onc is the best! She said she has a bag full of chems to keep me alive 10 years and that new chems are coming everyday so the bag keeps refilling so she has no plan of letting me go anytime soon. 

    The 2 years is my expectation not hers. Sorry for the misunderstanding. I feel great, spirit is up ( and down sometime) but I am not giving up. I told my onc she needs to tell me in advance when she reaches the end of the bag bc  I need a last trip to Anguilla to remind myself how paradise looks ( for me).Wink

    Thank you all and stay healty! 

    xoxo

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  • Mandy1313
    Mandy1313 Member Posts: 1,692
    edited March 2013

    havehope, I'm glad to hear this news.  Don't shorten your expectations--if she thinks you have 10 years, give yourself at least 30!  You need to be here for your daughter's college graduation, wedding, and all of the important steps.  And for that trip to Anguilla, maybe you will get there sooner rather than later. Don't wait, because there will be other places that you will want to discover through the years.  Your idea about Anguilla has given me an idea...I rarely travel to exotic places, maybe I too should discover paradise. :-)  Hugs, Mandy

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