Starting Chemo April 2009
Comments
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Judy, I'm sure your sister will feel better having you there with her.
Amy, isn't it amazing how much we love these adorable babies. I never realized that I would develop such a bond with them and experience such joy. It's a very special relationship. And you will find that Ruby will adore you as well.
Florbo, sounds like you had a wonderful trip.
Titan, how's your son's new romance going?
Betsy, I didn't know about the L-glutamin. I wonder if it work for me. It's been 4 years and I still have some neuropathy in the toes of one foot. -
Thanks Helen; yes, I really just want to get there now, even if only for a few days.
I can see from my parents how much joy they get from their grandchildren, it is a very special and unique relationship and the kids all adore them too...
Wishing you all a great weekend, love and hugs, Judy x
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Hi everyone,
I am ok but super busy with the wedding plans and work. I keep up with reading here, but never feel like I can do justice to writing and so afraid I will miss someone.
Judy, I hope your sister will do well with her chemo - she's so lucky to have you to support her through this.
Helen, it seems so long your and Judy's plans for reconstruction have been in the works, and now it won't be long for you! Amy's friend's advice to focus on 8/16 is a great suggestion.
Amy - Ruby is 6 weeks old already? Can't be! She must bring you such joy.
Florbo - your trip sounds amazing
For those I didn't mention by name, I am always thinking of my b/c buddies....October will be here before we know it and this year instead of being a constant reminder of breast cancer, it will be spent celebrating that I am here and healthy to see my baby girl get married. You will all be there just as you were when I went in for surgery, or had to be in the hospital for pneumonia.....now you have front row seats to see Kim marry Tom. Consider yourselves invited
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Geri, like you I read a lot but don't always post. We are a small but mighty group of women. I think of all of you often and feel that I worry with you and I celebrate with you.
Geri, I am looking forward to the wedding.
Surgery is a week from Thursday. Not much time at all. I still have so much to prepare. -
Geri, good to hear from you and so happy that you are busy with wedding plans! We will all celebrate virtually with you from wherever we are in the world!
Helen, how are you doing? I hope the surgery preparations go ok for you. How long will your hospital stay be?
Amy, hope you had another fun visit with Ruby
.Sending hugs to you all for a Happy Monday! Judy x
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Hi Everyone,
Helen, I'm sorry to hear about your friend getting the lumpectomy. I've sure you are a great source of info and support for her.
Geri, I can't wait to "attend" your daughter's wedding. I was telling hubby that I miss going to weddings. It's rare that we get to go to a wedding. I've been to so many baby showers in the last 10 years. I like having a change. I want to dance and see the bride and groom have "honeymoon eyes." I love how the ceremonies remind us of our wedding vows.
Judy, did you get your tickets yet? BTW, where exactly are you? I must have missed that information several pages ago.
Amy, how can Ruby be almost 3 months old?
Betsy, how is it going?
Our family is biking almost 6.5 miles 5/7 nights even though it is in the 90s over here. You should see our thighs. Full of muscle! This explains why I gained 3 pounds from my last MO's visit in 6 weeks. I don't like the heat, but if my family is doing it, I will do it with them. My hubby, hadn't found any consistent exercise in years. However, this has been the most consistent so I am not going to complain.
At my last MO visit last week along with Herceptin #6, we decided to have follow-up CT scans every 6 months for the next 2 years. The MO wanted every 3 months and I told him that stresses me out. So, I was happy that he agreed.
Later this week, we are going to take the kids on a driving trip to St. Louis, Memphis, and Crater of Diamonds State Park, AR. This will be their last hurrah before school starts. We are splurging on a hotel room that overlooks the Gateway Arch. I hope they like it because it is plenty of $$$$. Pray for safety and sanity!
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Hi Ladies,
Florbo, good to hear from you! Unfortunately, I have not got a ticket yet, because we are having some issues at home with our landlord and I am not sure that I can plan to leave the country at the moment until they are resolved. So, I hope to still make the trip, but not sure when. I am very upset about this as I very much want to be there if only for a few days. We are experiencing a lot of stress in our lives at the moment and it is not good for any of us. I would really like to wake up one morning and not feel anxious about anything.
It has been a difficult few weeks, but hopefully things will work out. BTW, I am in Israel and my sister is in London.
Florbo, very impressed with the biking schedule, it is so nice to do something like that as a family. Glad that your MO agreed to CTs every 6 months and not 3.
Enjoy your trip, sounds like fun!
Hope everyone else is doing ok; Helen, how are the surgery preparations going?
Sending hugs to you all, Judy x
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Another week flowing past. Time really seems to move quickly these days - BUT Ruby is almost TWO months, not three yet. She is doing great though - getting bigger, stronger, more interactive each week. I am loving this!
I read an article in the New York Times (online) about a woman with terminal cancer who took this euthenasia cocktail in WA state (where it is legal) and wrote her own obituary. It was interesting. But...in the comments (which were interesting, both pro and con), a woman posted who was just recently diagnosed with bc. She was in that initial stage of reeling with shock and disbelief and pain. She listed her email address, so i wrote to her, introducing myself and encouraging her and inviting her to come to bco for support. She wrote back and was amazed and appreciative to a stranger for reaching out. In moments like that, you realize the power of the internet. It was pretty cool. (I also told her to stop reading people's obituaries!)
Planning a trip to Yosemite in October. Very excited about that. Florbo, your trips sound wonderful. Those are memories your boys will always remember. It's funny now that my kids are grown, we will talk about our experiences and so many are "remember when we went to ...." and they always do. (And sometimes their perspective is so different than mine, in the things they remember - like "Remember when we went to Chincoteague and you made me eat that shrimp and I wanted to spit it out and you wouldn't let me..." - haha!)
Helen - I am focused on the weekend of 8/16-17-18 as your rest/recuperation weekend. Get some movies to watch, a good fat book to read, and prepare to lie around.
Everything else is fine here.
Love to all - Amy
ps Judy - so sorry about landlord problems, especially that they are so serious as to delay your trip to London. I hope the stress abates soon.
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Judy, so sorry you continue to have aggravation and stress in your life. I hope this difficulty gets resolved so that you can join your sister for a few days.
Amy, that was a beautiful gesture on your part. I'm sure that you gave that woman hope for the future. So glad you are enjoying little Ruby. I can't get enough of my little guys and girls (2 of each). Each one is so special and the love just continues to grow for each one.
Today I bought a wedge pillow and an old fashioned type of housecoat with buttons down the front. I think I have most of what I'll need but I'm more concerned about having stuff in the house for when I come home. Haven't had my pre-op yet and expect to get a call any day telling me to come in the following day. I've agreed to participate in a research study and I've been randomized into the arm that will give me additional pre-op screening. So things are moving along. I'll keep you posted. -
Thank you for your support as always. I too hope that things can be resolved so that I can take the trip.
Amy, you are a remarkable woman! What a wonderful thing you did; proud to call you my friend
!So happy that you are enjoying Ruby too! We visited Yosemite when we were in the US; it was one of the most stunning places I had ever seen in my life. I am sure you will have a wonderful time there.
Helen, sending you hugs and hope that all your preparations run smoothly. My kids are starting to get anxious about my surgery, and I told them, that we are not looking at 30th October, but rather 31st, and they said, to me "what a great idea!", so thank you Amy for that, I really think it has helped lessen the general anxiety.
Sending you all hugs, have a great day, Judy x
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Hi, ladies. Haven't checked in in a while and stopped in to say hello. Looks like everyone is making progress and have a lot of things scheduled!
Helen, wishing you the best during your surgery. Bags of frozen peas work wonders and mold very well to where they are needed.
Judy - I hope your sister is doing well - sorry to hear about her dx. I hope you are able to get over to her soon - it will be good for both of you to be together!
Amy, wow - so happy for you - to be a grandmother! Grandchildren are the best because they go home to their parents and you get to do all of the "good" stuff.
Florbo - glad you are doing well during your treatments!!
I had my onc follow up yesterday and I am definitely off of tamoxifen for good and not going on any other treatment. With the side effects building and building this winter and spring, capping off with vision issues, and after seeing my optomotrist in June who said I was definitely starting to develop permanent and dangerous eye issues that luckily were lessening after stopping it in April, we have mutually agreed I am done. That being said, blood work was all perfect and now we are working on the weight gain (20 lbs) that has happened in the years I've been on tamox. My onc would never admit it while I was taking it, that tamox causes weight gain, specifically in the midsection, but now that I am done, she has admitted that yes, it does cause weight gain (gasp!). Am now working on this - cutting out white stuff - flour, sugar, etc. and working out with a more dedicated schedule (working around a broken toe - obtained the FIRST HOUR of our vacation in the Keys at the end of June - I walked into a raised threshold of the sliding glass door on the way out with the margaritas to watch sunset - and no, I did not spill a drop! Toe is slowly healing) and resolved to make progress on this front.
I wish each of you a wonderful last weeks of summer and hugs to all of you.
Michele
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Michele, so lovely to hear from you! Good to hear that you are off tamoxifen and not having any other treatment. Onwards and upwards! Hope your toe feels better, it is so frustrating when that happens; I had it twice within about 2 months, each on a different foot
...Cannot believe that we are now in the last weeks of summer - I don't know where the time goes.
Work has been so busy, would love to have a few days away.
Sending you all hugs as always, Judy x
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Wishing everyone a great weekend!
Hugs to you all, Judy x
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Hoping that Helen is on her way to a speedy recovery and happy that this stage is over...hugs for Helen!
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Hi ladies, hope you are all doing ok.
We had a few days away which was lovely, good to be together and eat, drink, swim and relax. Now we are back home, could have spent some more time away though
!Helen, thinking about you! Hope all went well with the surgery and that you have begun your road to recovery; looking forward to hearing from you when you are up to it (((hugs)))!
Hope everyone else is well and has had a good week. Enjoy your weekend everyone!
Hugs to you all, Judy xxx
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Another wonderful two days with Ruby. She is starting to smile, coo and even laugh (chuckle) a little bit. So much fun.
Helen - glad that you are on the other side of this now (by the time you are reading this). Every day you will get a tiny bit better and all those baby steps add up, as we all know. Let us know how you are doing as soon as you can.Judy - time away sounded wonderful. And it is good you wished it were longer. It would NOT be good if you had wished it were SHORTER! That would have been a bad sign. Haha.
Next weekend we are celebrating my parents' 60th wedding anniversary. Whole family (my parents, my kids, my brother and his family) are renting out an inn in a historic area nearby. My parents are super excited. My dad is now 85 and my mom 80. Their health/vitality is amazing, but you never know what lies ahead. So I am really glad we are having this time with everyone all together.
Love to all.
Amy -
Helen, hope you are doing ok and feeling a little better each day - thinking about you x
Amy, so happy that you are enjoying Ruby, that first smile is so special! Your family weekend sounds wonderful, I am sure your parents must be very excited! These celebrations are so important to cherish...as you say, we never know what lies ahead.
My sister is doing ok; bracing herself for chemo which begins on 28th. I just hope that the next few months are manageable for her and her husband and kids.
Hope you are all having a great Sunday! Hugs to you all, Judy x
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Just checking in. Surgery went well but I have to admit, not easy. I can tell that recovery will be slow. I go home tomorrow. I'll be happy when I can put this whole thing behind me.
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HELEN!!!!!!!!!!!!! You're on the other side now and the healing can begin.
Slow and steady....but day by day you will get better.
Am so glad to have heard from you. I kept checking the thread and was so happy to see when you posted.Sending love and healing energy all the way north across the border. Keep us posted.
And welcome home! That in itself will help you feel better. Nobody likes being in the hospital.
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Helen!!! So good to hear from you. As Amy said, the healing has begun and soon you will be able to smile at your new boobs!
Hoping each day brings more strength and energy. Enjoy being home. -
Helen, so happy to hear from you and that the surgery is now behind you!
I am sure that day by day you will feel stronger, sending hugs across the ocean! Enjoy being back home.
Hugs to you all, Judy x
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Helen, wishing you a gentle recovery. At least this part is now history and you are on the path to healing. Gentle hugs.
Hope everyone is doing well, enjoying the last few weeks of summer. I wish summer were done, temps in high 90s with humidity to match. Ugh. In it for at least 3 more months.
Doing well off tamox, working out and I cut out white flour / white sugar. Starting to see a bit of difference in the way clothes fit - not as tight, and I've been asked if I have lost weight, so I guess the bloat is starting to go. Been mountain biking again, starting off slowly over the roots and rocks, but did make it over a few bridges, which have always been the bane of biking for me. told myself if I could beat bc, I can surely ride over a measly little, skinny, bridge. Uh huh.
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Chelev, good to hear from you! Good luck with the mountain biking!
Helen, how are you feeling? Thinking about you and hope that you are back home resting and feeling better every day.
Hope everyone is doing ok; wishing you all a great weekend!
Hugs to you all, Judy x
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Heading out of town until Monday to celebrate my parents' 60th anniversary. A little family reunion at an Inn we rented in a little resort town a few hours away.
We took the whole place with no services, so we are doing our own meals. So I have been cooking/shopping/packing like crazy. My brother is a lot more laid back - "oh it'll work out", but I keep thinking about how much 12 people can eat!
I hope it is fun.
Little Ruby will be making a debut, and I am excited to have so much time with her. Ii think her mom and dad are a bit nervous about this first overnight outing though.Helen - tell us how you are when you feel up to it. Hoping every day is a tiny bit better. Those tiny bits DO add up.
Love to all
Amy
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Well I got through week 1. I'm not going to say it was easy because it was not. But I am much better. I still have drains (yuck) and visiting home care nurse every day to attend to wounds. There is some rawness in one area with significant swelling. I've put in a call for the resident on call to phone me but I don't think there is any emergency. So keeping my fingers crossed that time will heal this properly.
My sister has been staying with me but by tomorrow I'll be on my own and should be fine. She lives close by if I need her but my sons are also close by so I'm feeling safe.
Taking lots of naps and following dr's orders re mobility.
Amy, have a wonderful time with your family.
Judy, how is your sister?
Chelev , always so good to hear from you and to know you are doing well. -
Hey everyone! Miss you all..trying to catch up with you all...
Helen..wishing you a good recovery...know that it is not fun in anyway...watched my SIL go through this 5 years ago but she is and has been doing well...and so will you.
Betsy...getting ready for some football..I really like your ducks...mostly cause of you but heck..how can you NOT like a duck...we are planning on going to 3 Buckeye games this year..so excited..my son is graduating from OSU in December..hoping he gets a good big boy job sooner rather than later..it's always a worry....
Just got back from Hilton Head Island one week ago....first family vacation since 2008...the summer before all hell broke lose with the BC stuff...must admit that the nerves were going a little...but all was well...great to be with my family all together for the first time in 5 years...plus our new son in law...
Will check back later...always thinking of you all.....
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Hi ladies, hope everyone is doing ok.
Amy, hope you are having a great weekend away with the family and that your parents are having fun. It must be great having Ruby with you for the weekend!
Helen, thanks so much for coming by. You are my inspiration! Week one is over and it sounds like you are making progress. I hope that the swelling has gone down since Friday. How mobile are you now? Get plenty of rest and come by when you can to update us. Sending (((hugs))) to you!
My sister is doing ok; I spoke to her on Thursday and she sounded quite upbeat. She starts treatment this Wednesday and at the moment, it looks like I won't be able to go. We talked about it though. She hopes to come and visit in Oct before my surgery, so we should have time to get together then. But, I am still undecided, so will let you know if there is any change in my plans. This did not work out the way I had hoped...
Titan, good to hear from you and glad you had a good vacation.
Hope everyone else is well. Sending you all hugs, Judy x
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Just back from the family weekend. It was wonderful. A lot of prep and work, but once we got there, it was very relaxing and lovely. My parents LOVED it - my mom thanked me this morning with tears in her eyes. Ruby was a lot of fun for everybody to hold.
Tons of work waiting for me here, so I will send more details later. But overall, it was a great idea, was well executed, and it all came together wonderfully.Very tired and happy.
Judy- love and positive thoughts to your sister for Wednesday> I know she knows your love is there to support her every minute through this journey whether you are there or not.
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Titan & Amy, glad you enjoyed your time away even if it was brief.
Judy, I'm sure our sister understands and you will be a source of support for her whether you are there in person or not. -
Hello all
A quickie to say I read often and am so glad to hear Helen that you are headed toward recovery? Amy, the weekend celebration sounds like a great time was had by all. Judy, everyone echoes the same thoughts about your sister...she does have you, whether in body or in spirit, and you will hold her up through this. Chelev & Titan, great to hear from you both. Betsy & Florbo how are you doing?
Wedding plans are a ping up now ...October 12th is not so far away!
Love to all
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