Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Lynn and Shorti, please revote. A page break developed right after I posted the survey so I deleted it and moved it forward.

Shorti...your SUV looks sharp. Technically, we are not allowed to park trailers in our sub due to condo rules, but there are at least two great campgrounds nearby at Pinckney Rec and Brighton. I also have a 3 bed camper I could lend someone.

Please vote for a place, even if you're not sure...we need at least a straw poll.

Mizsissy

Quote:

Anyway - just felt like whining a little bit more about it.

WHINE ON, JAN! IT'S GOOD FOR YOUR STRESS!

I'M DOING BETTER TODAY. EYE WENT MOSTLY BACK TO NORMAL, SO I'M GLAD ABOUT THAT. MY HUSBAND TOLD ME IF I STARTED DROOLING, I WAS DONE. HA-HA! SPENT THE AM AT KINDERGARDEN "ENRICHMENT" DAY. THE KIDS MADE TERRARIUMS AND LOOOOOOVED IT.

CANNOT GET OVER THAT PICTURE OF THE ELKS. I'D CRACK MY CAR UP IF I DROVE UP AND SAW THAT! AMAZING!!!

Hi all,

Jan- Whine away honey - I wish they would make laws about talking on the cell while driving - I think some places have them - My daughter was broadsided last year by some 24 year old who was - you guessed it - talking on her cell phone... We are all just happy you are okay.
Tina - glad your eye is better... probably just another little chemo s/e - like we don't have enough.
Joni - love that elk walkway - only in Canada would you see this -
Mizsissy - I am really pretty flexible - I sent my vote in but will try to come whenever
I think I'm going to lie down for a quick nap - I'll check in later
Caya

Stratford Trippers:

Since I only know of seven women total who plan definitely on coming (Lynn, Joni, Shorti, Caya, Mary, Jan, myself) and five have voted it looks as though September in Stratford is going to be the winner.

Here's the thing: The Old Rectory is a VERY popular B&B; it's the nicest inn I've known anywhere and most people who go there come back year after year. I just talked to Kim, the proprietress, and she would love to have us. There are 6 rooms in the house, and the ONLY date in September when we can have the WHOLE HOUSE would be Sept. 30 (a Sunday) and Oct. 1. There are three rooms available Sept. 28 & 29th. Oklahoma is playing on Sat (the 29th). There is a matinee on Sunday.

We could plan on spending the evening together on Sunday and then have another day and evening to spend together as we wished (eating out, shopping, talking, theatre going). The weather will probably be nice and there are lovely gathering places all over the inn; my favorite is the upstairs porch in back.

Those of you who want to see plays, for example Oklahoma, you could book either earlier in the week at the Rectory (3 rooms available) or elsewhere, or book Tues/Wed at the rectory (? rooms available) or elsewhere.

They would make it very nice for us, and they might even cook us a special dinner on Sunday evening IF we were interested.

If this is what we really want to do, this is the time and we'd have to book right away to get the Rectory (although other accommodations might be available later EVERYTHING in Stratford gets booked months ahead).

I could book now; we already have passports. Inn reservations can be cancelled, but theatre tickets are not so easy to change. I think it would make sense for everybody to reserve now so we can at least get in, and if need be we can cancel later. If other women want to join later, they can find other accomodation, but we will at least have the inn to ourselves.

What do you think?

Mizsissy

I can probably only stay for one night because of work and prefer a weekend but I will try to make what you all decide.

Skye, God love ya, when you mentioned taxol cement legs, I yelled wippee! Someone else out there described it that way too. Matter of fact I told my boss and MIL it feels like someone cut off my legs filled them full of cement and reattached them. I scared taking pain meds with all the other drugs and motrine, tylenol might as well be sugar cubes. I plan on walking in the Relay in May and I'll have a treatment day before. That should be interesting
I can sooooooo relate to you

You're nicer than I, I would have called the police. I have no patience with drivers and cell phones. That's rather harsh since I often need to use my cell phone for work when I'm driving. I get in trouble for letting it roll over to message but it makes me nervous, I know it's hard to manage the phone and the traffic.

Glad you're okay.

Cindy

Had my last chemo of 8, #4 of the Taxotere. I didn't know until today that the doctor was out of the office but had a nice chat with the nurse practitioner. She warned me that this last treatment may be the most difficult to recover from - those accumulative effects. She's going to print off the results of that computer program showing me the statistics for my cancer information and the different treatments - surgery, chemo and hormone therapy. I can pick it up on Sunday when I go in for my Neulasta shot.

I'm more tired tonight than I've been the first evening of the other treatments. I rather dread taking the steroids tonight but know I need them. I think I'll be tired enough to sleep anyway.

I had lunch after treatment with family and friends. I received an early birthday present/congratulations present - a digital camera! I've been stewing about getting one but really love my old 35mm Pentax. I have a few months to learn to use the camera before my trip to Colorado in August. I'll need the time - I'm technologically impaired.

My eldest daughter drove me around town to take care of some errands and although it's only 7:30, I'm pretty sure that's it's pajama time.

I'm rather stunned to have reach this point in the battle. I guess I can't say it's over until I get through the next week or two.

But hey, I showed up. That's what I needed to do. Show up. Even through the dread and fatigue, with the love of my family and friends, this part is ending.

And it's Spring. Such a good time of year to be moving on!

Cindy

Mizsissy,
The weekend of Sept. 30th is the big Breast Cancer Run for the Cure here in Toronto. My eldest daughter is keen on doing it with me, so I won't be able to commit to that weekend. Depending on when you all will be there, if you go to Stratford and do choose those dates, I could possibly come in for the day either Friday, Saturday, or Monday. If I don't end up doing the walk, I could come in on Sunday for the day - Stratford is about a 2 1/2 hour drive from my house.
So as I have said before, you gals plan on doing whatever is good for you, and I will try my best to fit in somehow.
Caya

Hi All,
I haven't posted in a while. I finished a/c and was supposed to start the first of 12 taxols this week, but my white blood count was too low, so the doctor postponed til wed the 18th. I felt so awful, just exhausted and depressed, that I was mostly relieved. I do feel much better than I did last weekend. I think it's good I had another week to recuperate. I do hope that Monday's blood test indicates that I am good to go, since I really need to get this behind me. 12 seems like soooo many. But I need to walk thru that door and get done with it all.

I am planning a four day weekend in the local mountains in mid July to celebrate the end of treatments. I do feel confident that I will beat this cancer, but sometimes the battle seems pretty daunting. Today an ex coworker stopped by the office; she and I are good friends, and she is one of the few in the business who knows about my battle. She told me that I looked great, and I got very teary. I wear a wig, have almost no eyebrows or lashes, but work hard at the makeup, and maybe I am pulling it off. Anyway, it meant a lot to me to hear her say that.

I wish I could meet all of you, but living in Calif it isn't going to happen. I have organized a group off this board of ladies in my area though, and we are getting together for the second time this weekend. The last get together was wonderful, and I am really looking forward to this one.

Congrats, Cindy, on finishing chemo. And to the other ladies who have finished too. I am proud of all of you.

Melia

Meliaanne- I know how you are feeling about starting the taxol and doing x's 12. I just finished #5 today and it really seems to be flying by, Maybe because it is weekly and by the time you recup, go to work, run errands, and all the daily stuff, it's time again. So remember we are with you even though it seems long. I have only had 1 tx postponed due to low counts and that was when I was on the AC. So far taxol has not been to bad although my hemoglobin was lower today and I can't get a shot till next week. My red count is struggling despite the shots though. But counts still good enough to get tx. and I get bummed when I get put off a week because I want it done with. I love my chemo nurses I just don't want to see them so often, LOL. Good Luck on the 18th

Nancy,
Thanks so much for your kind words. I am not as strong as I would like to be, and any encouragement is so helpful. I am working fulltime, my husband is too scared (I think) to be very helpful, and I haven't told many other people, so I don't have as much support as I would like.
Melia

Good morning all.
Mizsissy, the trip sounds fantastic! But, we are going to New Brunswick in Sept. and can't manage both. We are going to see our ex-neighbors there - she also has bc. For those of you taking taxol or herceptin, she had 6 rounds of FEC last year, had a recurrance and is now taking taxol/herceptin. She says it's a piece of cake compared to last year and does sound good every time I talk to her.
Cindy, congratulations on finishing! I know what you're saying about showing up - sometimes it seems like an act of extreme bravery just to walk through the Cancer Centre doors.
Joni - love the picture! We have driven by there a hundred times and I've never seen animals on that crossing - now I know they really do use it! Glad you are good to go on Monday - the last one! Yeah!!!
I went to a friends daughter's high school play last night - wow, out until after 10:00 PM! I was so tired when we got home. I do OK during the day, but the evening hours are not back to normal for me.
Sounds like everyone is looking forward to the summer - trips etc. - LIFE! That's why we did this, right? I plan on enjoying every minute.

I had my third real zap on Friday, and I felt funny afterwards. My heart felt a little fluttery like it used to before my cardiac ablation. Also I felt suddenly sleepy. I still feel tired.

I wonder if I am supposed to feel this way. Each Monday I see the Rad Onc, AFTER treatment to discuss things. If I feel this strange after the 3rd one, how am I going to deal with 33?

Mizsissy

Ah Skye, Your not whining your being honest. This is a tough mountain to climb. Geez I've slid back so many times. To tell the truth, I have been fighting panic attacks and depression since I was 25. I have been on every anti-depressant they make. And ativan is just a staple in my house. My family thought with my "history" this TX would put me in a rubber room. And Yes I have had many a melt down in the last 6 months. But then I looked in the mirror on day and thought ok I was handed this, My body is different, I look different so I should be different. And once I faced that I got stronger. Sure I'm not happy about the changes, but I have to accept them or curl up in a ball. I want my daughters to think I was brave so If they are unfortunate to also get BC, I hope that I showed them that even the weakest and beat this stuff.
Melia we were handed a very heavy load to bear, sometimes I think it helps to be open about it. I'm usually very private about these things too, but I have a MIL that well you know talks on the phone alot. And once everyone knew I got so much support It was like I was lifted up. The help came and eased the burden on my husband, and he was able to get back in to his job that was being negleted, (much to his bosses chagrin I bet) It was hard for me to accept help from others, but my poor hub couldn't carry us alone. I went to Road to recovery and I can cope classes from the ACS and they were helpful too. I really would suggest even calling the ACS and just talking with them about how you feel. Through them I met 2 survivors that when I touch them and spoke with them. It took the fear that I was not going to beat this away. I told them that and It made their day. The american cancer soc is so helpful. That is an alternative if you still wish to keep it private among friends and family. I understand your feelings. and remember all of us are sisters.