Starting Chemo in December 2013

beautiful Michelle! So happy for you also and that attitude we all have now is great isn't it? Appreciate everything more, live more, laugh more etc...

Holli, sorry about the pneumonitis. Never heard of that. Delays..ugh.of course you know not to apologize for ranting. That's what we are hear for. Lay it on us when needed. We've all done it.

Ok so now I'm doing ok...skin healing is great. Hair is coming in...gray and curly but I'm liking it...but my feet and hips ache a lot.  Pushed myself to walk 3miles yesterday and it's been feeling like I have cement bricks on my feet and my hips and knees ache. Went to a local outside concert and standing was hard. Doesn't feel like it's getting better. Also I'm in the worrying stage now. My R breast feels weird, there are tender spots and I think some thickened areas. I've always been "lumpy" and cysty so now I dont know what I'm feeling anymore. My port scar on the R has been pinchy for the past 2 months and a Little bump under the skin right on the surface on one side of incision feeling like a stitch or suture knot trying to come through. I've had a few sutures come out of the incision already but that was early on. She said there are underneath sutures that are supposed to be dissolvable, but maybe not for me. I will call the PA at interventional rad I guess. I see my mo on tues and will ask and talk about all my questions and concerns with right side. I supposed to get MRI in October and mammo and US is sch for January (6 mo post treatment) maybe I should have MRI sooner. Never had pet scan, is that done if there are nodes involved? No blood work scheduled either unless she orders after I see her. Should I ask for tumor markers? Never had that either. Listened to dr Leigh Erin connealy talk (an integrative onco) and she discussed C-reactive protein test (for inflammation), toxic screening, HCG test(DHEA and PHI enzyme test?) among others. Have you girls had any of these? I'm going to ask about all if them but I'm sure she's going to say it's not necessary. Can you tell I'm in the worry stage? Michelle, you were just there last week and now you're feeling so positive. I've been so positive as well since finishing but the uglies are trying to creep into my brain..,GO AWAY! 

I just called to ask about my appt with MO on tues and if blood work was needed prior as I didn't have any orders and didn't remember. Well they told me no that she doesn't need any or didn't order any. (Really?) Seems like most of you get blood work for each follow up. Didn't have any during radiation and I'm feeling good but what about all the stuff they can test for that you can't feel? This will be 3mo since I saw her last and at the 1mo PFC check up I had blood work which was all normal for the usual things that are checked after chemo...if all levels are back to normal I guess they don't check anything unless there's a concern or question. They'll prob test blood sugar as I will be starting on metformin (diabetes drug shown to decrease recurrence in TNBC). They tested vit d level at that time, on my request, and it was 57 which is high but high is good for us. I guess I'll ask for blood work and then have to follow up with results. It's a cold rainy day here...perfect day for the blues :-( but I have to remember this-(the day I spoke at the ACS Making Strides breakfast)

Jodi, reading that makes me tired!! Glad you are doing well. I'm going to send you a PM about your neck of the woods :0)

Super cool on the DD daughter being on the same team!!

Friday at work I met a woman that had breast cancer 21 years ago, she didn't remember what kind but it wasn't hormone driven. So I am thinking maybe TN? She had 6 rounds of AC three weeks apart then rads and is doing great. She was probably in her early forties then. I love to hear these stories, just makes me feel even more so that it is gone, never to rear it's ugly little head again.

YEA MICHELLE!!  Screaming and jumping for joy for you!!

Robin, have missed you here. Ugh on the FNA, but glad only seroma. And come on robins port...unclog!

Happy dance Michelle! Awesome. Life IS good. Enjoy!

Got my first compliment from a stranger on my hairstyle. I got teary. We were at a restaurant in the Catskills area. A very pretty, young, model looking waitress served us. She was so pretty and I could tell very fashionable when not in her waitress clothes. At the end of our meal when giving us the check, she said to "here you go, whenever you are ready, and I love your haircut". I just said thank you but when she walked away I had tears in my eyes. So she thought it was a "haircut" and coming from this stylish stranger...funny how it meant a lot. Never got compliments on my hair before BC. Humm. I guess it DOES look upbeat, edgy, stylish or whatever. Weird how i got emotional. I'm actually starting to like it myself! Also saw a lady at the Keith urban concert this weekend with just the beginning of hair growth, no head covering. I just knew it was breast cancer. I looked at her while walking by and caught her eye, nodded my head and gave her thumbs up, and she did the same. I wanted to hug her, (but that would have been weird lol). We see "sisters" all over. My current "hairstyle". Yes curls returning

Saw MO today for 3 mo follow up. 4 mo PFC. going to have PET and MRI due to lumpy R breast and follow up,on L. Dont know what I'm feeling anymore, have always been lumpy, now just paranoid. And she asked if that would give me peace of mind. Well ya as long as it shows nothing. My feet still hurt,she recommended rheumatologist and said the doc would do C-reactive protein test for inflammation. She said it was from the taxol and would probably go away, maybe months, maybe up to a year but that the rheumatologist would have more information and suggestions. Don't want pain meds or neurotntin. 

I forgot, I wanted to share this too:

Michelle. Wonderful news,  sad they make you wait to hear that good news but you did get a hint from your tech friend. 

Robyn, glad the lumps were all OK.   Need a port flush next week, hoping it holds out for at least the next 6 month zometa. 

Lisa , crazy curls, it does look great. Everyone is telling me to keep my hair short and white/grey. 

Kim you are shrinking away. Keep up the good work. 

5 weeks post Rads tomorrow and feel like I am nearly back to normal on the fatigue scale. Legs very achy on the morning or if sit too long, thanks to aromasin, but feel so much better after walking.  Trying to do 1-2 miles most days.  So weird to have no medical appointment until Nov. Mammo/ US, blood work, MO and BS apts then. 

Like! There you go patty. I thumbs up! I feel the same

for my girls today. Song that came on my iPod this morning during my walk/run. For all of you; Michelle, Robin, holli, Jbokland, patty (Chico), barb(crazyw), Jodi, kimie, Kim (ljfromca), DJJ, Mikesgirl, oranje, Aff, keepthefaith, char, (think I got everyone!). You've helped me, we've helped each other. We are changing, we have changed...for the better and with each other's help.

Jennifer Hudson- "I am changing". So awesome, what pipes! Add this to your playlist!

http://youtu.be/a-D6Q_nzJ_g

(Not sure if you can click on it, may have to cut and paste this link, but do it. She's amazing)

Look! Celebrating "The End is Near"...just 3 boosts to go!

Lisa...thanks for the shout out and back at you!   

Lisa, yes I think we have all changed. hopefully for the better and for a LONG TIME

JB- cool toes.

Chicopeach-  I agree, we are all awesome. 

Life is getting back to the new normal. Started my bowling league today. I have bowled with the same women for almost 30 years. Last year I missed the first month due to foot surgery in July, then dropped out  mid Nov after my diagnosis.  I would stop by once in a while last year and visit with my team but this is the first time anyone saw the new me, short gray haired.  Few did not recognized me at first.  I bowled great the first 2 games but got fatigued by the  third one and luckily just broke 100. Ended up with a 135 average which is about my usual. I was nice to do something that felt normal again. luckily the port did not bother me at all bowling.

Looking forward to a short and then a long weekend away in Sept.

spent the afternoon getting all my medical information and all my reports related to this nightmare organized. sections for mammo, us and biopsy reports(I have reports since 2007), surgical reports, chemo and rad consultations and summaries, contact information for all the medical people I have seen with business cards, articles I've torn out of magazines that were meaningful and helpful to me and the calendar I kept during treatment with all my  treatments and related appointments. It fills a 2" binder. I'm sure you all have the same. 

Waiting for PET and MRI authorization so they can schedule. Slight concern about my R breast lumpiness. I told her I was worried. She said ya I'm lumpy so let's check this out. Ugh. I'm thinking my usual cystic areas feel different but also think I'm paranoid now and don't know what I'm feeling anymore after this. I would have been scheduled for MRI in oct at 1yr from dx but she said she could get it earlier and then the PET to check everything else. Good, but now very nervous. What if..... Scheduler said once auth comes in they could prob get me in mid week next week and results in 24 hrs. Just keep busy and breathe... Here we go girls, another one of us to worry about. Just hoping the good news continues for all of us

I'm loving all the Hair pics!! Not sure if I can recognize everyone with hair!! :0)

Glad scans are coming out good. 

In your pocket Lisa. Praying for good results!! Thank you for the so g and quotes!!

I'm still fighting Pneumonitis . 60 mg of prednisone.  Following up in about 10 days to see if we can start to titrate down. But I am breathing better so I am so greatful for that. That breathing comes in handy!! :0)

The stress is catching up to my hubby. Severe abdominal pains a few weeks ago. Had a cat scan last week. Extreme diverticulitis and inflammation. Will have another cat scan in about 10 days to see if any better and if anything else is going on. :0( 

Count it all- are you still on here? Getting ready for a new school year? I'm getting curriculum in order. Told my hubby I need a teacher work day :0)

Lisa I love love love your curly hair-do!!! It really does look like a style that was done in a salon!!! Mine is taking it's time and it is growing more on 1 side then the other side and practically none down the center top. Thank you also for the song!!!

It is so nice coming here and seeing all the good reports now instead of all the discomfort and pain of SE's. Everyone seems to be in a pretty good place.

I had #9 of rads today and the nipple is feeling a bit sore and breast tender. Still got leg pain and now hip pain but good news I finally lost 2#'s...I can not believe how hard it was to loose...uggg