Starting chemo July 2018

Rose-Im glad your side effects are not horrible and you are smart to stay on top of the fever! I’ve gained weight too. The six I lost from ac plus three more. So really I’m only up three since July! I have no stamina so I’ve not been very active. Plus the marble feet makes me not want to walk! Hang in there! January will be here before you know it!

JaBoo-Yay, only one more Taxol!! It’s a great feeling to be done, but now I’m waiting for the SE’s to go away! I hope it only takes a couple weeks to at least get my tastebuds back and some energy! A birthday surgery! You’ll never forget your surgery date! Lol!

JaBoo-Did you finish?? Let us know!

Rose-You should have had another, I think, still doing well with no super bad reactions, I hope!

My last Taxol done!!!! Pheeew, I thought this day would never come!!!

So, I helped myself with some exclamation marks, but... the day feels sort if anti-climatic. I am just tired and drained and feel like after any other chemo. No bells to mark the end of chemo in my country... it's kind of weird.

I am thinking about the next steps more, the surgery, radiation (don't know about it much yet, surgery decides), hormonal therapy, herceptin till next September.... well, I sort of have a feeling I've gotten nowhere yet

But I am glad, don't get me wrong... I am going to visit a christmas market with my friend who is having her last Taxol next week. So we will meke it a celebration and I want to get some totally unhealthy delicious advent meal. The christmas markets here in Europe are beatiful and I love them.

Congrats JaBoo on finishing!! 🎉🎂👍🏻You deserve many !!!! I’m also trying to make the transition to surgery. One and a half weeks PFC and I am starting to feel better. I can tell my tastebuds are returning and I’m not so darn fatigued! Tummy feels a bit calmer as well.

Rose-Im interested to know if the diabetic socks work for you! I have neuropathy in my toes and it is driving me nuts! Glad you are at the halfway mark!

I feel a little lost though since my days were focused on getting through the side effects of chemo and were largely determined by how I felt, now I’m more bored and a little depressed. I know I need to find something to do and with Christmas coming, I should have lots to do!! Anyway, just another adjustment in routine.

Misha, I found some copper-infused comfort socks today at CVS that say ideal for diabetics and they feel good on my feet. Cushioned sole and smooth toe seam.. My toes were driving me crazy last night. Weirdest feeling! I always have cold feet anyway and now neuropathy on top of that, so much fun 🤬 This too shall pass! (I sure hope so)

Hello!! I've missed you all and since we are all at different stages, we all didn't go to the same boards after this one!

As for me, I am 6 days out from my BMX! Very blessed I got to have a skin and nipple sparing mastectomy with straight to implant recon! I have no official pathology yet, but surgeon told hubbie it appeared I had a complete response from the chemo and there was no attachment in the nodes. So I can take comfort knowing my chemo sufferings were worth it! Hopefully.

JaBoo-Let me know if you have any BMX questions and I hope you found a January surgery board!

Christmas was very good; I was spoiled this year! Kids got everything they wanted too! Somehow we made it work!

I am assuming I'll have rads next, but haven't heard for sure.

Updates? Prayers that all of you are well. Happy 2019!!

Misha, how are you doing post BMX? Are you able to use your arms?

RoseRed I'm sorry to hear about your mum, I do hope she is better now. Yay that the end of your chemo is near. You rock with your exercise!

Hello JaBoo, Misha and anyone else. The time since New Years has kinda been a blur for me. Yes, I will be done with chemo tomorrow!!! I’m overjoyed about that of course but this has been a tough week. My mom had a 2nd stroke. We drove up to Ohio yesterday to see her. It’s not good. Very hard seeing my always strong and determined mom like that. She’s always been a fighter and so must I, so knowing I probably saw my mom alive for the last time is tough, but I have to keep going and plan now her arrangements. I’m so ready for tomorrow to be done and over. I’m longing for my hair back, although it will seem weird to have to take care of hair again! Lol I hope everyone has a good week.

July group, i got to know Jkittle on here prior to her starting the group and continued to keep in contact with her... I was informed she has passed May 13, 2019. She fought very hard after the cancer spread to her spinal fluid. Her amazing strength, humor, charm, and positivity you likely wouldn't have known she was sick. prayers to her husband and son.

Thank you for posting this. I am sorry to hear. I have wondered why JKittle seemed to disappear. Prayers for her family.

Hello everyone, sad to hear about Jkittle. I had wondered too what happened to her along our chemo journey. Misha, your hair looks great! Gina, I hope your health is getting better now, and everyone else's too! 3 more treatments of H&P and I'll be totally done with treatments. Can't wait to be done, but then finishing treatment gives me anxiety too. It's been a long hard road, but I am feeling pretty good these days. Had some back problems (sciatica) but hallelujah it's much better now. My hair is getting curly too. It's good to see it growing again 😃 Passed my 1st mammogram since last year, bone density test was normal and I get my 1st colonoscopy in 2 weeks. So dreading that, but gotta do it. Trying to get everything tested that I possibly can. I keep telling myself the colonoscopy can't be worse than chemo. Lol JaBoo, my mom pulled through and is hanging in there! She'll probably never walk again, which is hard for her to accept. Hoping everyone has a good summer!

Ros

Hi everyone! Hope the weekend has been relaxing. Sounds like you're doing great, Misha! 😃 Good to hear. I'm feeling good. Now if I could just lose that 10lbs (ok, closer to 20) I gained during/after chemo. I know I can do it if I really put my mind to it.

Bf texted me that he was sick last night, so this morning I asked him if he was going to Urgent Care today. He has COPD and ended up in the hospital once before with pneumonia. Nope, he's feeling better and puts off seeing a doctor until tomorrow and he'll probably put that off too. He promised me when he got out of the hospital that he would never put off seeing a doctor again... Little bit ago, he texted me “runny nose and stomachache. Wee..I hate it" 👀👀 1st of all, he should've got his stubborn ass to a doctor today and omggggg..I wonder how many times in the past year, have I had a runny nose and stomach issues?? (Ty Herceptin & every other chemo related drug that I’ve had) Lol Sorry, but I just don't have it in me to be his nursemaid today. Happy Sunday y'all 😊😎

Rose

Hi, ladies.

I can't believe it's already August! I'm doing better, although I do miss the girls. I didn't have reconstruction, and I'm trying to decide whether or not to go down that path. I really have avoided making this decision. I am pretty comfortable with my foobs, but I live in Florida twenty minutes from the beach, and I'm still uncomfortable in a swimming suit. The more I wrestle with the decision, the less I'm inclined towards another surgery. I'm going to see the PS one more time, because I am recovered enough to actually have another surgery, but I'm living in waffle land and I just don't know.

How is everyone else doing today? That's one thing I've definitely learned. I try to fully cherish and participate each and every day, and I treasure the mindset. I just don't take as much for granted as I did. It was, (and continues to be), such a blessing to simply be here. I'm truly thankful.

I think of all of you regularly, and pray for everyone, often. Gentle hugs to each of you. Hang in there. I was so sick, for so long that I couldn't imagine ever feeling this whole and happy again. I really just dropped by to let everyone know IT DOES IMPROVE! Hang on to that, and know you are loved.

Godspeed to each of you.

Love,

Gina