anyone starting chemo in Nov 2005

Has anyone heard from Kaye? I checked her blog and the last entry is from August.

Hi ladies,
I'm not sure if anyone had a chance to visit the moving beyond thread lately but someone posted the link to the new Bristol-Myers commercials. They are so uplifting I wanted to share them with you. Just click on this link http://www.bms.com/landing/data/index.html
and click on "see her story". All four stories are amazing but Lynn Redgrave's clip is awsome!!! Enjoy. What do you think???
Love and hugs,
Odalys

Hi Wendy- good to hear from you! I had a PET/CT in June- almost 3 months after chemo. Was a nail biter, as I had never been scanned before. Came up NED. I will say, they don't give you the "all clear"- it is more like "there is some activity in your chest wall- most likely healing after radiation, some nodes slightly enlarged, also probably consistent with same...yada,yada." I wish the report would say "And now you may live happily ever after!"

Best of luck and laugh when they tell you to relax during the long, but painless scan.

Margerie

Hi Wendy! To answer your ??, YES, I have constant aches and pains. I finished chemo on May 18th (a little later than the rest of our sisters). I am not at all shy about calling and asking for painkillers from my oncologist. I figure I should take them-I don't need to prove how "strong" I am to anyone! We have all gone through too much!

We find bc sisters in the strangest places, don't we? I had an eye doctor appointment today, and when the doc walked out of the exam room, his assistant closes the door and excitedly goes, "I read your chart! Tell me about last year! Did you think of me?" I was like, "huh?"
Turns out she is a sister-had bc after being dx. with stage 3 melanoma. Then she had mets to her liver, and was told by her doctor they didnt' expect her to live more than a month! That was 2 years ago! I had no idea. We chattered excitedly for about 10 minutes, and she goes, "Oh yeah, I have to go to the next patient...."

I felt like there was something else to tell you guys....I forgot now.....
Ok, time to clean house. I love my hubby, but he is such a clutter hound.
Love and prayers, Deb

Odalys, I had a minute and got to check those commercials! I LOVED Lynn Redgrave's-it choked me up.

I know that last year I HATED October-the sight of pink ribbons made me ill. Now, I have to say that I felt a rush of pride every time I saw a pink ribbon pen, scarf, coat, sticker.....I wanted to tell everyone who had one that I SURVIVED that disease. I AM still here and I think that a large part of that is the fact that people buy those stupid plastic bracelets!
I love you guys! When are we getting together?!?!? The 9th is my one year chemo-versary!
Love and prayers, Deb

Yes, we do find BC sisters everywhere. I was at the eye doctor yesterday and the nurse that was taking care of me said I know exactly what you are going through. No one except those who have gone through chemo know exactly what it is like.
I, ALSO, REFUSE TO DIE FROM CANCER!! I am going to make that my new motto!

love to all,
Kim

Wendy, it means "No Evidence of Disease."

Thats why we say "Dancing with Ned" >:D<

Odalys,

Yes we went trick or treating. We had a grim reaper, a skeleton and a tinker bell this year. Tinkerbell fell that day at school and boobooed her lip. So she had quite a bit of lipstick on to try and cover it up.

It was bittersweet- the memories. As, I had my mastectomy a couple of weeks before Halloween last year and knew I would be starting chemo soon. But, this year is sure better than last!!

I am doing well. Thyroid nodules still stable- will keep watching. Next check on it is in 6 months. I may need a port (poopers) as I elected to have a second year of herceptin and my veins are starting to crap out. I will try some tricks next time. Yesterday it took 5 tries and they almost gave up.

I am also looking at doing the vaccine trial up in Seattle. A lot of paperwork and tests. Pretty sure I will go ahead and do it. I will do just about anything to keep the metster away.

I am also working on some breast cancer cartoons. A friend is writing a book and asked me to draw some. I think I will post them here when I can. They are funny in that breast-cancer-tragic-sort of way.

My stage 2 for recon is coming up in Jan. Time goes so fast this time of year- I am sure it will be here before I know it. I am so happy with my 2 breasts now- and they aren't even finished yet.

Anyway, I hope everyone is enjoying fall and all the joys in life,

Margerie

Margerie, Did you read Miriam Engleberg's book, "Cancer Made Me A Shallower Person, A Memoir In Comics"? I laughed 'til I cried when reading it. The places one can find humor!!

Kim, Reese's peanut butter cups are my absolute favorite also!! I didn't eat much chocolate during chemo, but now that my taste buds are back , everything tastes SO GOOD! I have gained quite a bit of weight since my last treatment (March 17) but when food tastes so good!! What's a girl to do? LOL

Wendy, I, too, have been having joint pain & stiffness. I have a type of arthritis (ankylosing spondylitis) which I didn't have any problems with during chemo. So I don't know if this pain is the arthritis again or a side effect of the Tamoxifen.

Odylas - I tried to link onto that web site but I am having problems. I really struggle with this computer. Not sure how to go about the "cookie" thing. I'll keep trying.

Last year I had surgery 3 days before Halloween (2 days before my birthday) so this year was so totally different. I even got dressed up and attended the local production of "Rocky Horror Picture Show"!!

Tonight I am off to the local Breast Cancer Support Group meeting. We are small in number but I enjoy the sisterhood!
Hugs & prayers for all!!

LAT56

Hi, Monica, sorry you have had to come looking for us. You have been through so much in such a short time! I bet you are reeling, but believe me, you will get into a good groove once you start your chemo. All of us here started ours last year around this time. There's a group called "Chemo starters Nov '06" that you should check out, because you'll find sisters who are just starting their chemo as you start yours. Come back here if you have questions we can help you with. We got lots of help from those who went through chemo before us, so don't hesitate to ask for suggestions or ideas. Chemo is doable, esp. now that there are drugs that really alleviate the side effects you have probably read about. Anyway, good luck and come back any time you wish.

Odalys, I will have to check out the DWTS thread. You are right, I haven't posted in a while. I haven't been in a good place lately. I have the I'm-not-sure-I-trust-my-doctors blues. A few things have happened of late that kind of blow my mind, and I have been very up and down.

Last Halloween was my first day of chemo. I remember I slept all afternoon and hit the Decadron ceiling during the night. We got candy this year, but nobody ever comes to our house as we live pretty much out in the country, so my husband ends up eating the candy November through February or so.

Margerie, I wish there were some trials I could get into. Geez, I live near DC and guess I could look into things at the NIH. The reality is that I obviously haven't looked into my options the way you have. I think you are doing wonderful things! I just can't do anything these days, I feel like someone took my battery out and I have no drive. I want to spend the day in bed and not even get dressed or wash my face.

Enough of that.

I remember making my daughter all sorts of Halloween costumes. Once she was a wee little leopard. Once a tube of toothpaste. Once a playing card, the Queen of Hearts. An Egyptian (she played a tape of Walk like an Egyptian as she went around). It hurts to think about the past. I'd better get off, I'm a mess.

Anna, Last night at our Breast Cancer Support meeting, we had a Health Psychologist speak. He talked about depression & anxiety related to cancer. It was very informative. There are so many adjustments we have to make when we've been diagnosed, then adjustments thru treatments, thru recovery, etc.. All the while we still have our "normal" life that we have to deal with. Its no wonder we might have problems with depression & anxiety. Listening to him speak last night really shed new light as to the ways we can get help for these issues. Does your oncolgist's office have a Health Psychologist or could they put you in touch with someone? Perhaps it would help with those "down" times you talked about.
I have been having most of the symptom related to anxiety (fatigue, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension, sleep disturbances) So I am feeling it might be helpful for me to make an appt. to speak with this doc!
Please know that you are in my thoughts & prayers!!
LAT56

Daniel was Bob the Builder. He had so much fun and thought it was cool that if he held out a basket someone would put candy into it. He invited himself into every person's house, too. I had the best time. I had my SNB and port placement last Halloween! This, like most of us, was a much better time!
Yesterday was my one year chemo-versary!
Love and prayers (especially to you, dearest Anna!), Deb

It's a perforated ulcer, so he's on IV antibiotics and he will be having an endoscopy sometime tomorrow, so I will get up early and try to get my Herceptin treatment moved forward so I can go straight to the hospital from there. He is adamant about not wanting surgery, but he may have no choice in the matter.... I spent all day with him yesterday and am about to head out today but had to check in with my dear buddies.

Hugs, Anna

Anna, I am so sorry for DH. That sounds like a painful condition. I am sure you all are both sick of hospitals!!

Hope he has a smooth recovery. You guys need a month vacation!

Anna, I'm so sorry to hear that you all are going through all of this. My prayers are with you.

Debbie, hope everything goes well with Danial. It is hard on little ones when they don't understand. (((HUGS)))

Can you all believe my car is still in the body shop Grrrrrr. I really miss my car.

Update on the new baby. He has 4 weeks left till his arrival. I'm sooooo excited. I'm looking forward to the birth more than the kids I think.

Kim, hope all is well with you.

Odalys, and Margerie my thoughts are with you all too

Hugs to you all
ML