Chemo May 2013

Kate -  sorry about the job.  Another better one is around the corner waiting for you to find it.  

I'm scared for my mammogram too.  I saw my surgeon on Friday and he said everything seemed fine, my mammo is this Wednesday.  I really think that my blood pressure is so high because last week was the year mark since my mastectomy and now I'm getting my mammo this week.  I think once I get the green light that my blood pressure will come down.  I did get a massage on Saturday and that helped. My niece is a licensed massage therapist and I've wanted to have her give me one for quite a while but have been scared to lay on my stomach, I know it is silly.  My blood pressure was in the normal range Saturday after the massage and yesterday.  Today it was up again but not too high to worry about. 

The iron pills are working, I'm not off balance and not as tired.  I will ask my Onc next month if the anastrozole could have something to do with that.  Speaking of anastrozole I'm still not back on it.  He told me to stop taking it and see my GP to see what could be causing my aches and pains.  Of course she was concerned about my other issues and ordered the blood work and the only problem was the really low iron.  She said flat out that my aches and pains are because of the anastrozole.  So I haven't gone back on it......I think I will wait and see him next month and go from there.  I still have the aches and pains but not as bad.....hoping they will go away.

Pat come visit me next winter and you can play in the snow here.  In fact we had snow last Monday, it was only a little but it snowed.

Come on over for a visit, I have a guest bedroom and bathroom.  The mountains are beautiful in the summer and winter.

I crossed my fingers for both of us Kate.  I had my mammo today and all is good, YAY!  I was told by the radiologist at the Breast Care Center that next year I can just have a regular screening instead of a diagnostic test.  About an hour later my surgeon called me to let me know he had just received the results and everything looked good.  Hopefully my blood pressure will go back to the more normal ranges.  Happy day!  Now I have the Komen walk for the cure on Saturday.  I will have to take a picture of me in my shirt and post it.  

I hope everyone is also having a good day.

Teresa

So good to hear both Kate and Teresa had positive outcomes!

Happy Mothers Day to all of you!  The walk was amazing!  After the walk they did the survivors parade, it was very emotional.  They had banners for different groups and you walk behind the banner that you fit into.  The first banner was newly diagnosed then survivors 1-5 years and so on.  There was one lady there that had a banner for 50 years, WOW.  Then at the end of the parade they took a picture of all of the survivors on the steps of the justice building.  So many cheers from our friends and families!!!  My sister and daughter were crying too.  My Mom fell and hurt her hip 5 weeks ago and hasn't been walking very good, in face has been using a walker.  Her and my Dad didn't make it. Last night when she went to take a step she was in so much pain she couldn't move her leg.  When she first fell they got it x-rayed and it showed nothing.  Took her to the hospital and did a CT scan, yup it's broke.  Said it was probably cracked 5 weeks ago but wasn't able to be seen on an X-ray.  Last night was the last straw for it and it broke.  Now we wait for a hip replacement.  In the last 4 years she has had back surgery and a knee replacement.  Happy Mothers Day to my Mom.    I went straight from my work last night to the hospital, got to bed at 5:30 am.  I am really sore from the walk and work, in fact my ankle is swollen today.  

Happy Mother's Day to all of you!  Today was a lot better than last year.  I read your posts every day and enjoy them. Just do not post much. I have finished 16 chemo and 28 radiation treatments.  I will have a PET scan on Wednesday to see how things look. Have a good week!

Lorrie Happy Late Birthday, I wish it could have been better.....we love you!

I am walking on the Susan G. Komen walk tomorrow.  It's the first night walk they are doing in the nation and supposed to have pink fireworks over the capitol!  Should be fun - I know my 6 year old will think it's awesome.

greetings Ladies.

I am planning ahead, way ahead, and have booked a cruise for August 2015.  I am in the process of getting family and friends...the more the merrier.  Once 8 cabins are booked (which we are close to) we will start to get group incentives.

A promenade room, which is an interior room with a window that overlooks the interior of the ship (NOT the ocean) is $1775, which is a total cost for two, includes taxes, insurance and gratuities. (Price does not include airfare)  A $250 per person, REFUNDABLE* deposit is required.  *thedeposit amount is not refundable after a certain date in May of 2015.  Full payment is due in May of 2015.  I booked two promenade rooms which was more affordable than trying to get the family into one cabin! And really, who wants to share a room with the kids!  My rooms are on the deck 8.  Dinner seating at 6.   

Royal Caribbean has a promo running Buy first person second in the same cabin goes for half price.   The promo ends MAY 31, this month!   You can play with their website and see the pricing of the other rooms (interior no view, ocean view, balcony, suites).  Be sure to look at the proper date. August 8 2015 and put your settings for number of people etc. Then put it in your "buy" to see pricing, if you click on continue you can scroll down that next page and see the gratuities, and insurance costs.  I highly recommend the insurance. My mom broke her back when she was supposed to go on a cruise and she got her money back!

If you even think you might want to go I recommend booking prior to the end of the sale...you can always cancel, like I said, by May of 2015 and get your deposit back.

Anyhow, I know we had all talked about getting together, I thought I would throw this out there. Below is the itinerary.   If you are going to book please consider using my travel agent as she can add you to the group.  If you are on facebook I can then add you to a cruise group of people going on this, just let me know and we can work that out.

Pat

August 8 out of San Juan
7 Night Southern Caribbean returns August 15
Royal Caribbean.
Voyager Class
Ship: Adventure of the Seas
San Juan, Puerto Rico depart 8:30 PM
Charlotte Amelie, St Thomas, Day
Bassetterr, St. Kitts, Day
Cruising
Oranjestad, Aruba, Day/Eve
Willemstad, CuracaoDay
Cruising
Return San Juan 6:00 am

There is a Promotion in place at the moment. Buy first person, second person is 1/2 off.
This promo ends May 31.

Here is the travel agent info we used.
If you should reach out be sure to tell her I sent you as if we get enough cabins there will be some sort of credit coming our way.
Mariane Deiulio
justtravelin@Verizon.net
www.justtravelin.org
914-420-2091

Ukkate congrats on your new job.  Did you start yesterday? And no more herceptin.  Yay!  Haven't done a colonoscopy before but really ought to.  Just not quite up to going under again quite yet.

Pat yes May is about over.  May 30th will be my one year anniversary of starting chemo.  Gives me the the chillly willys.  We've come a long way....Glad you're getting the ball rolling for us all to get together.   ))  Something will come up for us and will take hold.

Last Tuesday when I saw my wound doctor( who is also my P.S.),  I told him my State disability had run out so I filed for e.d.d. and was looking for work.  Mentioned I was going to have a phone interview and one of the questions was if I had my doctor's approval. He said he absolutely wouldn't approve of me returning to work because of my wound from surgery and not able to lift the weight needed due to surgery.  Told that to my interviewer. Was denied unemployment until I get the drs. O.k. ..But at least it looks like a go at that point. Looking forward for that income to start rolling in. Also interested in what job God has in store for me in the future. 

Best to all - Carla

Only 3 Herceptin infusions left!  Yay!!!  Got scheduled to get my port removed in July (after my last Herceptin).  So excited to get the port out of me!  Although it has been a blessing so I don't have to be poked all around for the infusions, I really hate it at the same time.

Go Kate!  Good for you - so happy you got a new job and so quickly!

A cruise sounds like fun for those of you going - I can't bring myself to do one of those...I get terribly seasick.  Enjoy and celebrate getting through a year or so of cancer treatments!

You ladies rock

Things are so quiet in here now.  Last summer we were all going through the worst part of our cancer treatments and now things are slowly getting back to normal.  Things here in Utah are going well.  I'm going on a trip with my daughter for a week, we leave the end of June.  Her husband is starting a new job so he won't be going with, he might be able to join us for a weekend of it but we don't know yet.  Either way the 2 or 3 of us will have a lot of fun.  I started seeing a new guy 5 weeks ago and we are getting along really well.  Who knows this could be the one for my next long term relationship.  On June 2nd I would have been married for 32 years, crazy!

Hard to believe it has been a year. My hair is about two inches now and super curly. 

Has anyone had a mammogram on the masectomy side?  My ps and surgeon said no mammograms ever but my onocologist wants me to have one. He said even with a double mx there is still some flesh that is not taken out. 

Hope everyone s doing great.      

algramma, yes, there is still tissue.  Seems no one can get a straight answer.  If you have a doctor willing to write a prescription and your insurance is willing to pay, why not?  Did your plastic surgeon say it could have a negative effect on your implants?...I think that would be my only concern.  I am a DIEP reconstruction, I was told no scans.  Meanwhile there are women with DIEP, on another thread, talking about getting MRI's (which I have no faith in anyway as it didn't pick up all my cancer!). Seems to me it's a crap shoot.

Hi Carla!  Trying to keep out of trouble here.  End of school year and my lazy children don't want to study. Ugh!  Only 2 more weeks of school!  Then we are going on a cruise my MIL paid for everyone to go. Heading to Bermuda.  Looking forward to getting out of here.  I'm so desperate for change of scenery I've booked some timeshare things in the Berkshires for end of summer and again in September for the Jewish holidays (we will be off for a 4 day weekend! ). Thankfully the weeks were on sale, $200 for a week!  Hope you are keeping out of trouble. Have you taken Biotin for your hair!  I take 5,000 units a day.  My hair is growing like  a weed.also eat a lot of protein.  Let me know when your next visit to NY is, would love to see you again.