February 2014 Starting Chemo Club

jbok..hows rads going for you?  my fourth was today.

hey jbokland...I thought you finished right before me!  Sorry you are also still stiff and achy...but I guess it helps to know it may be normal...it's like I almost would rather not lay down for the night!!  I told my husband it feels like I am regressing back to chemo days!  Wonder when it goes away...hope life is good!  I have 11 more rads and then start back to teaching...looking forward to getting back to my old life!  Doing more fun things too! Thanks for the info...Rosie

Rosie & Jbok...so glad you brought this up! I'm 10 weeks PFC and was just saying today that I think the pain is getting worse! Definitely evident in the morning in the feet, legs, and knees or after I sit in the same spot for too long. Now, the past few nights my shoulders and neck hurt after I lay down and then try to change positions when I first go to sleep at night. I was thinking it might must still be fluid because when I get up and move around in all cases, I'm fine. At first I explained my leg pain away because I have been riding my bike a lot more, but the neck thing makes no sense to me.

Lago...not on hormone therapy yet...that's another worry...will probably start right when I begin teaching! Uggg...Rosie 

jb, there's a Y that has it too but it's an hour away so not sure about wanting to drive. Read up on it and sounds good. Good for you. Can you start before finishing treatment? Let us know when you start and how it is

Jbok..I have a y near and will look into the program for the end of rads.  Thanks for the tip!

Yay Sicilian! FYI my first 2 years on Anastrozole was not bad at all. The 3rd year I got very depressed so I switch to Exemestane. I feel great! Many women just do fine with it though. Remember most post about bad SE. I was so scared too… more scared than chemo but I'm still doing the ESD (Estrogen Sucking Drug) and I feel fine!

Congrats Sicilian!!!!!!! Woohoo

Having my MX tomorrow. Not excited. Hubby and I just checked into a hotel in NYC that gives discounts to pts of the cancer center I go to. One last night on the town with the girls as a pair!!!! And we got a free upgrade to a suite!! Cancer perks!! Lol

Well...I went back to work on Friday!  People were very welcoming when I first arrived, but as the day went on, I found myself pretty isolated. What have your experiences been? I did not realize how focused on myself I had been until I got back to work and tried to remember what exactly my job entails. It's difficult not to become overwhelmed.

Thanks ladies!!!!!

Gatorgirl, I worked throughout chemo on an altered schedule but went back to nights and full time for one week before I go out for surgery. It was weird and welcoming all at once. This was the welcome I got from the night staff who I haven't seen since Feb...

haha...Lago...got that right!!  Jules...good thoughts are with you!

Gatorgal...I am finishing up rads and slowly getting back into the school/work routine of teaching although we don't officially start workdays until august 19 and kids come on the 25 th.  My school family were some of my greatest supporters during the past 8 months and I am blessed.  

The problem I am having is dealing with the everyday things people say and do...I guess it's about the change we have been through and, for me, I am not the same person before bc.  I guess it's a transformation...I don't have patience for the stupid things people say or the whiners...that's going to be difficult to be around but gotta get back into the real world at some point!!  Rosie

So true!  I looked down at my damaged nails and started to complain....then I stopped.  After all my body has been through and the worst of the collateral damage is some funky nails and sore heels when I get up........BFD!!!   I am GRATEFUL for my  eyebrows and eyelashes that are growing...They don't look quite like the ones I used to have, but what the hell, I will just reinvent myself a bit!

Has anyone noticed their sense of smell has become highly acute?  Its crazy, I'm like a hound dog.  Every time I open the fridge or the pantry, I say 'something smells bad/sour/strong', but no one else smells it.   I walked into someone's house that my wife said had a 'hint' of cigarette smoke, to me it was overwhelming!

Red color bone, but no pain. Freckles and dots galore! My radiated TE is high and tight, just as I was warned. I had 23/28 today, followed by 5 boosts.   Home stretch!!!

And I'm home! And so glad my surgery is over! Feeling pretty god. But that has a lot to do with no TE's. My surgery got bumped to 4pm. That wasn't fun. But its all over now! Thanksfor the best wishes!

Rosie I'm in bed in the ipad! But I feel pretty good. Only a UMX with no TE's. I'll have my prophylactic MX on the right at the time of recon next spring. Oh and the kids took the news like champs. My 5 year old had to be reminded of why I was gping through all this. But my 7 year old asked a few questions he saw the incision site and drains on my armpit side and then asked to have a snack and go in the pool!