Starting Chemo July 2012

Today I am celebrating my 1 year PFC.  I know my friends and family are happy for me, but don't understand why I celebrate each milestone.  All I can think about is "Last year at this time....." and I'm sure you gals can understand that feeling. 
I'm looking forward to tomorrow.  I'm going for a reduction and lift on the non BC side and he will also put some fat into the depression left behind from the lumpectomy.  The fat is going to be taken from the belly, not the reduction and I told him to take as much as he could even if he didn't use it all.  I've got plenty to spare.  After healing from this, I am going to get serious about getting myself into shape.  My daughter gets married in less than a year and I want to look good for the wedding pictures! 

It does Ann and I think after the first year all of those milestones will pass with much less notice.

The surgery went well and my girls certainly look different right now. Looking forward to the swelling going down and the bruising to heal so I can see what they're really going to look like.

Today I got a get well card from all of the nurses who cared for me that day. I thought that was really sweet.

Hi Ladies- been away on the Greek Isles and had a lovely holiday!!! Was great to see some sea and sunshine. It has given me another boost, as I was feeling really worn down again before I left. I definitely feel better now i have finished the herceptin. I only had one of those really bad days when I was away when you have absolutely NO energy. Otherwise I was fine.

I know what you mean about milestones. Sitting on the beach at Zakynthos I thought how happy I was that it wasn't this time last year!!!! We went to Rhodes, as a treat after my chemo, but it was really difficult trying to keep out of the sun, and not show my bald head when I went swimming. I had bright pink bathing cap that I wore, but it was so hard trying to put it on and take it off when I went into the sea without making a spectacle of myself. We have always loved snorkeling, and I am not afraid in the water, but the first time I went in at Rhodes I was so nervous - like I didn't know how to swim. That really upset me for a while, but I got over the fear quickly after the first 2 swims. Dare I say it - my hair is now long enough to blow in the wind!!! feelingthe magic - you said your hair growth speeded up post herceptin, and mine has also done so.

Virginiab- bet you look gorgeous!!!. Will have to go for a slight trim myself soon.

PaEaglesfan- So glad to hear you had the girls matched up- I know you wanted to. Tell your PS I will lend some fat as well!!!Let us know how they turned out now the swelling has gone down. I didn't realise you had a lumpectomy- thought you had a mastectomy like me. I am sure they will match perfectly and it will all be worth it. I thought about it, but I have had a unilateral mastectomy, and nothing is going to match these boobs!!! They look so different. My DH didn't want me to have any more surgery, and if I had gone that route I would have had to have a nipple reconstruction as well, and as I said I doubt it would have made any difference.

Susan HG123 - how are you? Are you back on the Herceptin? Thinking of you.

Hi Ladies!  Back to work since Monday and I'm tired but happy!  Surgery went well and the girls are starting to resemble each other again.  The non-bc side was reduced and is starting to relax and not resemble a torpedo so much and the lump-e side is still bruised from the fat graft but it is filled out nicely.  
I'm ready to say I am DONE with all this BC related crap and get on with my life This weekend a friend and I are hosting a bowling fundraiser (her hubby was dx'd a month after me) and I am looking forward to it.  We called it Bowling for Boobies.  Not very original, but my daughter designed a really cute logo for us and we have signs all over and had some t-shirts made up and it's going to be FUN!  (I bowled in a few leagues in the past).  

Greek Isles??? Ahhhh that sounds like heaven.

Hi Susan - Congratulations - how wonderful!!! Thanks for the kind words - if not for this threadI wouldn't have met all you wonderful courageous ladies either. I can definitely see The Greek Isles in your future.

Susan the lack of herceptin is only a problem if the the cancer has spread. The ladies on our thread are sending you such positive thoughts and vibes that I know all those suckers were taken out with your lymph nodes. They are outta there!!! Put it out of your mind and concentrate on getting better physically. Much as I am so grateful my heart managed to tolerate the stuff -the rest of my body didn't like it one bit! I have been off it for about 3 months now, and I am feeling so much better. The down -on -my -knees fatigue has improved in leaps and bounds, the burning rash has gone and the woolly/light head has almost gone. In a few months you may feel up to taking on those pirates!! A lot of ladies have complained about the joint pain on Femara. One survey said 42% stop the drug early due to the unpleasant SE's. Look on the threads to see if they have any advice about the joint pains you get. One lady said Glucosamine and Chondroitin helped a lot but she had to take a high dose before she saw any improvement.

Sleep well Lion Heart

PA eagles -hope you are getting on okay at work and it is not tiring you out too much

Hi my friends- just checking in on you all. I now have a real mop of hair. Seems to be growing faster now I have finished the herceptin - or maybe it is just my imagination. I went Christmas shopping yesterday, and was grumbling to myself, as I couldn't find anything I went to buy. I was thwarted at every turn- shop closed down etc. Then I thought to myself - hang on - you are so lucky to be here with enough energy to be able to shop. Quit grumbling!!! Hope you are all well

Hi Virginia- bet you make a cute Raggedy Ann! Have your curls stayed then? Thrilled to hear your mammo was all clear. It's always a relief to get that out of the way!

So happy to see everyone posting about normal life stuff again

Your comments made me think of last Christmas. We always went to hubby's gramma's house after all of the festivities were over at other homes. Last year she was getting forgetful and confused (She was 92!) and she asked me if I had gotten everything I wanted for Christmas. Told her "Yep, my hair is growing back nicely now." She said...."Didn't you like having it cut that short?" God love her, she forgot all about my chemo. I was quick to assure her that I most certainly did not ever want to have my hair that short again!

Hi PaEagles - loved your story about your Grandmother. How cute is that! Probably better she doesn't remember it would only worry her. My dear Brother-in-Law has just had a brain tumour removed, so is bald for the moment. I said I hope it grows again quickly so we can have a family photo where everyone has hair of some sort. He is doing really well, and we are hoping it is benign, but boy it gave us all a scare.

Susan - re Christmas. I have a list too. I write down everyone's name, what I buy and how much it cost. If I didn't I would be sunk. I am hoping to finish my list soon, as I hate shopping in December when the shops are so crowded. The quilt sounds wonderful. Aren't you the useful one - first home baked bread, and now quilts! Pink and grey are quite common colours now, so you may be able to find a few different floral patterns with those colours in them. Glad to hear the hair is coming along. Apparently hair growth slows down in winter, so you may have to wait until spring for growth spurt!

Happy thanksgiving to all. To those still suffering through treatments, my hopes that they go well and are effective.

This time last year I was too sick to even go to my daughter's home for the family get-together. Chemo reaction, lymphedema, flu, ...who knows?

This year I am hosting the whole family. It's wonderful to feel strong enough to do that. I don't take my good health for granted any more.

Hi Ladies - I am so sorry and shocked to tell you this, but our darling Stride has passed away. I think her real name was Cathy Lamb. I only PM'd her a while ago.

Maddie--

Thanks for sharing the information about Stride.

Hi Ladies- yes it was a big shock that Stride's cancer spread so fast. She had an unusual form of breast cancer. She knew she had a high risk of occurrence, so had formulated a 5 year plan. I am happy to say she managed to cover a few items from her bucket list, and even went Kayaking with her husband the week before she received the terrible news of the widespread mets. Seems she even had a large tumour in her buttocks, and mets everywhere else. I sent a message of condolence to her husband, and he said she was gracious and a fighter to the end. RIP Stride. If anyone else would like to email him, I have his address.

On a happier note- hope you are all keeping well, and have finished your Christmas shopping before the shops get unbearable. Thinking of you all as always

It is Maddie.  Last year there was hair there... but not like there is this year!  I've always had short cuts and since my journey thru chemo ended, I've decided to let it GROW.  I love that I have to 'fluff' it out of my coat collar now!

I only have one wish for Christmas and that is to see many more Christmases come and go and remain cancer free. May the blessings of the season be yours and may we all have a healthy and prosperous 2014!

I had that same feeling over the summer when hubby and I were on our way home from work and had the top down on the car.  My hair was whipping around and I just laughed!  He thought I was losing it lol
My trees (4 of them???) are up and decorated, gifts are ordered and I'm waiting for delivery and tomorrow is cookie day.  Mom and daughter are coming to my house and we are doing Pecan Tassies and peanut blossoms and choc chip and sugar cookies.  (The last one is my mom's idea, we don't usually do them).  
Cancer seems like it was another lifetime ago and I pray it stays that way.