Starting Chemo March 2015

Wow, what a lot of hair! Looks great. I'm definitely behind in the hair department. I figure that in a few months I might have Jamie Lee Curtis' hairstyle.


Theresa, I'm so sorry to hear about your mom. Bekah, hope that you are ok.


It is a "good news, bad news" day for me. For good news, DS, who has been unemployed for a couple of months, has just gotten a job! He is very young, and wants to be a chef, but the straight school route is hard for him, so his desire has been to find a place where he can apprentice. He has just received a job offer at a landmark, destination fine dining restaurant. It is great for him, as he can lack confidence, but won this job offer over a number of other applicants. I'm very happy for him.


The bad news is bad, though. One of my dear friends of over 20 years got biopsy results back today, and she has been diagnosed with IDC. Looks to be small, but still. I hope that I can be a source of help and support. She found a lump the same day as our last afternoon "tea date".


Hugs to all.

Thanks, Theresa, Eileen, Katy and Susan!

Av: That's great news about your son. I am sorry about your friend. I think she will be lucky to have you as a resource though.

Avmom, awesome for your DS! Maybe one of these days I will see him on one of the cooking shows I am obsessed with!

Saw the breast doctor today, she said everything "feels" good, then got completely angry when she found out all my scans have been denied with my insurance company citing "ASCO guidelines say no scans for stage 1". She said the first few years are the most critical for me, and she is going to fight the denials I guess, she seemed pretty mad. So I left with a good report, but mixed emotions. She is normally 100% calming, but today she wasn't.

So that's where my head is at, guess you can say I am in crazy town tonight!

So how many of you have grown to hate the "Fight song?" On the pro bowl this weekend and tonight on the Caucus. It dredges up such terrible memories of mid-2015 for me. Wish I'd never hear it again...

I still love the song but I hate hearing it used in commercials and such.

Allison, I love your hair!

Theresa, sorry about your Mom. Reminds me a little of how it was with my mother in law a few years ago.

As I'm writing this, I'm sitting at the cancer center getting my last Herceptin. Yippie! Graduation day. Now I'll have to call the surgeon to schedule my deportation.

I brought some breakfast pastries with me for the nurses and the rest of the staff. They're very appreciative. It's been a long year.

Hugs and warm wishes to all.

BB

Edited for spelling. WARM wishes, not war wishes. Yikes

Theresa, insurance will always deny the scans unless the doc puts in a reason. Usually they will find something that hurts and use that as the "reason" for the scan. It sadly is a game which sucks; they should let docs do their jobs

T, is your brother legally competent?

Katy, thanks for the update. Must be frustrating indeed. Have you tried milk thistle? It really knocked my wife's enzymes down. You might want to check with your doc.

BB - yay!

ksusan - what dosage of milk thistle seems to be working?

AV - so sorry about your friend.  I have had two friends locally diagnosed after me with breast cancer, and it was my privilege to walk them both through treatment. Lumpectomy, re-excision and rads for a single 69 year old, and port/SNB, neo chemo, BMX, then more chemo, and recon for my BRCA!+ 35 year old friend.  She just did nips and FG a couple of weeks ago - the cherry on top!  I tried to focus on helping them and not letting and of what they were going through dredge up stuff for me - some days that was easier than others.  Being there for them was a silver lining - I reminded myself of that.

Thanks Frau Doktor! I like to support local. Bookmarked it.

Happy last perception day, BB!

BB CONGRATULATIONS!! Last herceptin! I have such admiration for all of you still spending time in the chair.

Today I had my 6 month check in with my MO and guess what? She gave me a script for Ativan! This is the same doc who at differing times during chemo recommended I take a benadryl or try a glass of wine when I was going through the fear and panic of the whole shit show. So what happened? Why now a year later? I'm not complaining since I still slip down the rabbit hole from time to time and it will be comforting to know I can take the edge off at times like those. Makes me wonder if she's responding to those recent treatment guidelines for cancer patients that requires physicians to treat the mental health of their patients as well. She also prescribed Celexa which is an antidepressant that she said might help with the fallout from forced menopause. Anybody else taking this? I've never taken an antidepressant so I'm not sure I'm going to start now. She did say it helps with hot flashes though which is tempting.....

Tomorrow is my check up with my surgeon. He's my favorite of the bunch, which is a good thing since hell be feeling me up.

I'm on celexa. For about 3 years maybe. It's helped me, no side effects.

Yay BB!

Theresa - -so sorry for all you're going through with family. Ugh

Okay, she says she takes one milk thistle capsule. There's some research supporting its use from Germany, I think--maybe look in the herbal Physician's Desk Reference if there's a newer edition out. Her gastro said, "It may not help, but it won't hurt." Obviously, ask your doc before trying anything.