anyone starting chemo in Nov 2005

I was born in Chicago. It's my kind of town, I think.

Odalys, my hairdresser told me that this particular curly will probably only last 6 months or so, and that I'll end up with what I had before, only stronger, it seems. Isn't it funny that my hair should be stronger now than it was before chemo? Maybe it's a reflection of what's inside. I think each one of us is stronger now than we were before all this happened.

The only problem, as we all agreed at our get-together last weekend, is that we can't seem to let go of the fear. Every little twinge fills my mind with all sorts of possibilities, things I never knew to think of before....

Today I am going to practice wearing my compression sleeves and gloves. So I'll be a seafoam person wandering about, doing last-minute errands before our trip.

Getting excited....

Hugs to all,

Anna

Margerie, I am so glad you are doing well. It sounds like you are making great progress. About the sleeves, from what I have read, any surgery to the breast, with our without node removal, puts us at risk for LE. I think your best bet is to have your PS refer you to a LE therapist, who will explain your risk to you, measure your arm/hand/s, and tell you what to look out for. There are lots of simple things you can do to avoid LE, and if only women were told.....

Let me know if you need any additional information.

Anna

I totally want to just type in a bunch of wasted posts so I hit the 500 mark!!!!!!! Deb

I'm back home. What two days...lots of rushing and many meetings with no time to play at all. And I came back with a long list of Tasks. Life is back to normal.

Got to go now the Ambien is kicking in. Have a good night friends.
Odalys

Yoo-hoo....anyone there?
I'm chatting with Ebay regarding all my hijacked account bids. It's driving me crazy!!! Love and prayers, Deb

I will be going up to visit my mom for three weeks. I want to go to the Waterford fair and to the Loudoun County Hospital sale too. My mom works these things so I will get to join in too.

Just wanted you guys to know, so you won't think something happened to me.

I will try and check the boards if I can from moms.

Love and hugs to you all.

Hi friends,
Someone posted this picture on another thread and it reminded me so much of us and all we've gone through this past year. and are going through.


May God continue to bless us and our loved ones. I love you all.


((((hugs)))))
Odalys

Thanks for the picture Odalys and for the update Kim. I get emotional thinking of us as a group and all that we have gone and are going thru.

I hope your head bump and aches subside and you get good scan results Kim!! Why did you have to have eye surgery? Its not like you don't have enough going on.

My one year is Thursday. I can't believe it's been such a wild ride (did you go on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride Kim?) I am glad to be doing so well. Reconstruction went exceptionally well and I am almost back to my old self physically. Emotionally, I am better/stronger each day.

All my best to all the best here,

Margerie

Hi ladies,
Odalys, Love the picture-you are so right, it does seem like our little group!

Kim-please let us know what you find out. I'm so glad you had a wonderful time on your vacation. I remember you mentioning it months ago! I'll keep praying for you.

Thinking of Kaye!

I love you all! Please, let's get together soon. I think it is because we are all hitting our one year mark, and will be soon getting to the one year mark for chemo (bleeeeech). These are such intense memories,and I mostly remember reaching out to you all, my dear sisters. You all got me through some really tough times.
Love and prayers, Debbie

Oh so good to hear from all of you upon my return.

Kim, I know how nasty headaches can be and hope yours stop. Please let us know the results of your head scan. I can't remember why you had to have the eye surgery, but it seems to have taken pretty long to get over. I'm glad you had such a good vacation. I have never been to Disney World. My daughter always wanted to go there, but I was a single parent and couldn't afford it back then.

Margerie, it sounds like you are doing great! I still have to wear little bandages over my nips and they're still darker than they will end up being, but I feel quite healed and pretty whole there.

Odalys, I absolutely love that picture and it brings a lump to my throat, just like I get whenever I think of how healthy little bodies seem and how many dangers potentially lurk for them. Letting go of that thought.... I love our group and the sisterhood we have built.

I agree, Debbie, the one-year mark is hard. I started chemo on October 31st last year and here I am still getting Herceptin every Monday. It sure is a long road.

At least I have hair, right?

Mary Lou, I am sending you an email. I get all excited at the prospect of meeting you, and I think there's nothing standing in our way! I too am going to the Waterford Fair and plan to be around this weekend, so get ready to meet!

Our trip was wonderful and I am too emotional to talk about it but will later. I just loved every minute of it!

Hugs to all,

Anna

Odalys - Huge snowflakes fell on my husband & I while we were fishing last week!! LOL A little too early for me! I don't need to see snow until Dec. 24th.

Kim - Disney is such a magical place! Happy to hear you had a good time. Praying for an end to the headaches & for good scan results.

Anna - Glad you had a great trip. Are you & Mary Lou going to have a chance to meet up?

MaryLou - Have a great visit with your mom! Sounds like you've got alot planned.

Margerie - Sounds like things are going good! What's your work-out routine? I'm still having issues with fatigue. I try to get out & walk. I'm only working 12 hours a week but I don't feel I could do more & still have energy left for other things. And I need to save energy for my "grandma day". (Even my grandma day has been reduced to a 1/2 day as I don't have the energy to keep up with my grandson - he's 19 months old)

Debbie - I agree about the memories being intense. I find myself in tears remembering the difficult times. And then tears of gratefulness for all of the good I've seen over the last year.

The world keeps spinning but I know that I have this place where my November sisters understand how this anniversary make me feel. The dates of mammo's, scans, biopsies, surgeries, etc...
My birthday is Oct. 30th. - I had my surgery on Oct. 28th last year. I really didn't think I would survive surgery to see my birthday. But here I am!! And this year I turn 50!!! Its extremely emotional for me!!
Thanks for sharing & caring!!
Hugs & prayers for all!!
LAT56

It's almost midnight, but I wanted to send out a much needed hug, and warm, loving prayers to you, Anna. I have lots to say, but for now I just need to say that it's ok to be freaked out (I think we would all agree to that...I have been fretting over every ache and pain since my 1 year mark), but please, oh please don't be scared until you are told there is something scary going on.
We are all going to live each day with a nagging fear. Our more experienced sisters tell me this gets easier with time? Goodness, I hope so.
So, I just want you to know we love you, and hold you close in prayer.
Love and prayers, Debbie

Ellie,

Hi. Starting on Halloween- I'll bet you have had better Halloweens!

Actually we here on this thread are a bunch of chemo old-timers. Coming up on our one year anniversary of starting chemo.

I am sure someone will start a Nov 2006 thread soon!

We all lived to tell about it and I wish you the best of luck! I did dose dense A/C x4 and then Taxol. 5 months of chemo and no hair. But life is good now, and it was then too. Just a little foggier.

Take care,
Margerie

P.S. We are a friendly bunch here if you have any questions!

Hey girls, I just wanted to give you an update on the surgeon visit yesterday. It was a mentally and physically exhausting day. My neighbor drove me to Anthony's job (on the way to Phili). Took another 1 1/2 hours to get there, but the ride was not bad at all. Got to office early (1/2). I can't believe how nervous I was. The tears, the hand shaking just couldn't be controlled. I was scared to hear what she had to say. Took me at 2:30. In comes Dr. Morrow's assistant who is a surgeon as well. He had a very heavy Irish accent and talked very low. He took my history and examined me before she came in. She was a middle age (probably late 40's, early 50's), very warm doctor. She examined me and then we talked. She basically said right now surgery is not an option because it is too soon after radiation. My breast is still inflammed from radiation and it would not be a good idea to do surgery. Funny the radiation onc. said the same thing. Wait at least 8-12 months after radiation to even consider surgery. Second she said she would like to see more stability with my disease. If my next two scans are stable or disease free, surgery would definitely be a consideration. So I have a follow up in 6 months. She said surgery is NOT out of the question, just not right now. Of course the tears started. I had mixed emotions. She didn't turn me down or say it wouldn't benefit me in the future, but she didn't say ok next week is surgery.
The ride home was quick too, we were able to get out of Phili before rush hour. I came home with a pounding headache. Took some advil and waited for my Yankees to play. (they got rained out).
So it is still the waiting game here. Scans are on the 16th. Just hoping and praying for stability (or better than that).

hugs,
Kim

Oh Kim, I am so glad to hear from you. Wow, your recollection of your doctor visit was just so reminiscent of the first doctor visit I had for the breast cancer. I got a little weepy just reading your words-I know that must have been just a really tough day.
On the other hand, I am not totally disheartened by what you were told. Just like you said, you could have been told much, much worse (no surgery at all). Keep the faith my dear, dear sister! We are all right beside you and offer you our love and support as always.

Can you remind us of the date for the scans when it gets closer-I know I will forget, and I want to be able to pray for you even more that day.
Love and prayers, Debbie

Hi Goldnmom-feel free to come here with any questions!