Starting chemo Sept 05

Hello My Special, significant & spectacular September sisters! (How's that for alliteration?)It's the start of a much needed Spring Break for me. A whole week off to do nothing but....dr appts., house cleaning, appliance repairs, car stuff, school work, food prep(hosting Easter dinner, shopping for the perfect dress to wear to my godson's wedding,& helping my daughter move into her new apt., (& I wonder how a week flies by.)I also plan to take some time to see a play in NY, get a much needed manicure/pedicure, have my hair professionally colored and sleep in just a little. WHEW!

I wanted to share this with my sisters. I took a fish oil supplement for one month from a co. called Icelandic Health. The company assured the purity & quality of their product. I realize that after taking the fish oil supp. for a month, I haven't had the aches & pains in my joints & bones that I usually do. I'm wondering if I acted too soon when I recently stopped the aotomatic shipment when I saw the price per bottle ($39.99) The first bottle was a free trial. I purchased another brand from the health food store but I'm not sure about the stregnth of the IU's or effectiveness. On the same topics of supplements, I was reading an article that suggested that DHEA was really helpful for immune function & side effects of menopause. Now I read on the Sloan-Kettering herbal supplement site that anyone who has had estrogen+ BC should avoid this supplement. It also said that if you are taking Tamoxifen, you shouldn't take this supplement as it could cancel out the benefits of Tamoxifen. I think I should stay out of the vitamin stores or at least do my research Before I purchase anything.

I'll be checking in with everyone this week, Love to all!

Hi everyone!

Just thought I would add a link to a well known internet site which is based here in Guernsey

Lynellb, the link shows the Omega 3 at the same strength as you had, but as you can see it is much cheaper.

There are also, lots of reports you can read on this site.

Hope you all find it informative

http://www.healthspan.co.uk/shop/product.aspx?id=O3-1

I get surgery in 10 days...and cant wait!!

Hugs to all of you.
Maxine

Happy Happy Birthday Sandra! I hope you're enjoying Morocco & having a fantastic time. Wishing you a year of Health & happiness

Happy Birthday Sandra!!!

I am done with Herceptin!!! Happy Dance.... It felt so different from finishing my original chemo. When I walked out, it felt right. After chemo, I was still very scared.

Anyway, can't wait for my reconstruction. Keep delaying it though, hoping to get a bit fitter before, and also don't want to do it before my or DH's b/day. So hopefully by end May.

Things are well, just very busy. STill very hot, hoping it will start to cool down soon.

Sandra, hope you had a great b/day in Morocco, and that you celebrated with some hubbly bubbly!!

I hope you are all well. Think of you often. Have a good Passover Linda, and a good easter all! Enjoy the chocolate... I am going out to celebrate tonight!!

Liezel

Hello ladies,
just a quick Hello....I am reading often, just so "tired" with responding and put it off all the time...sorry.

I am seeing a therapist because of anxietey and insomnia and sofar am not impressed.
Also talked to somebody regarding meditation, starting next week. I feel actually stressed doing this but I cannot sleep and I need help with unbecoming a zombie lol.....

I had my first diet coke at 9 am today just to stay awake, that was after a pot of coffee.....grrrrrrr.....

Good news from my mom, she responded well to chemo, original size was 2.8 cm and it is almost all gone. She had 3 FEC and one Taxol, going for two more T's....feeling the effects in hands and feet and the (oh so well known) bone pain. The doc (resident onc) told her she would not get pain and did not give meds....poor thing was sitting there all weekend long with what we all experienced...can't imagine not to take Advil at least....she went to her GP and got some and also stuff for upset stomach.

We booked a vacation to Mexico....the first big vacation ever. We are going late May for 11 days....expensive...do I care?
So now I can deal with my fear of flying....ha! maybe if I add to my anxiety it will become zero....like mathproblems...negative times negative makes positive..


Liezel,
glad for you for going to get recon. Congrats on being DONE with Herceptin!!

Maxine,
only a few more days before surgery, how are the jitters?

Leanne,
enjoy your vacation.

Lynell,
Sam’s Club has Fish oil at a good price, I get mine there, I think it's 10 Dollars for 300? I swear by it and Turmeric for bone pain, also started to take Maitake capsules, very expensive by NewChapter....gosh, I hope it will build immune defense....my white counts are at the lowest normal and I seem to get colds which I never had before bc...

I look forward to coloring eggs with my daughter, we will be tie dye-ing (sp????)lol eggs this year, should be fun.

Everybody stay well, enjoy some Easter chocolate and have a wonderful weekend!

God Bless

Leizel, congrats on being finished herceptin, no more needles!!!! (for a while anyway)

Calico, so glad your mum is responding well, the chemo side effects are easier to deal with if you know that it's kicking the cancers a$$!!

Maxine best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Tina rest as often as you can, you are doing well.

all is good here start my Job as Canteen manager on Mon 23rd. Both excited and nervous but should be fine.

It's starting to cool off here at night so hopefully for you northerners the summer is on it's way. I see on the News the big snow falls in the U.S and sure you could do with a bit of our Aussie sunshine.

Best wishes to all
Nicole

Hi all

Maxine – sending virtual hugs to help your recovery – can’t wait to hear from you.

Linda, I believe my depression ‘enveloped’ me as a result of bad news all around me as well as work etc. I believe now I have sorted my head round to ‘living with C’ and I am now finding I do not think of ‘it’ constantly. Hugs to Isaac and family.

Lynell, I also get very confused about good advice on supplements, diets etc. I take fish oil, ABS plus Senior (multi-vitamin, multi-mineral formula) and calcium magnesium. I now ‘think’ a little bit in moderation.

Liezel – I had been thinking of you with your last Herceptin – mine is on 18 April. I have arranged some little chocolate bars for the nurses etc, only cost 50p and the wrapping is a personalised one – I have had their own name put on – hope they now will know how much I have appreciated them. I have always said “no” to reconstruction, but I am finding a little seed is growing in my head saying “maybe”.

Calico – Great news on your mum. I found meditation helped me a lot. I also fancy Mexico at some point – would like to see the pyramids there as never saw them when we went to Egypt – however my wages are now well down so holidays will have to be budgeted for in the future. Tina, I struggled with full-time and I felt I had no option to reduce my hours – budgeting is such a bind isn’t it?

Thank you for your birthday wishes. I have had a fabulous birthday and have felt very loved. My daughters told me I was having a meal on the Saturday evening (31st) and it turned out to be a meal for 26 (extended family) – they all put a lot of effort into this and I had a great time. Folk at work also made a fuss of me – all very much appreciated.

The holiday was good but I don't think we would visit Morocco again - very poor country and where we stayed was a holiday complex that seemed to be growing into a concrete jungle (Agadir). To see the proper Morocco we needed to go on trips. We went on one to see the anti (means smaller) Atlas mountains which was a full day trip but very good and we got to see some of the country how it is. We have seen goats climbing the Argon trees and we have eaten almonds straight from the tree. The Moroccans don't go into food in a big way and whilst there was plenty to eat in the hotel, it wasn't the best food we had had. Would have liked to have seen Marrakech but it was a long way away and a very tiring day (according to those who went) - so we followed my good advice and didn't go. We have certainly learned how to haggle. The people on the whole were friendly. Weather was good but quite cold at night and when the sun went behind a cloud.

I am finishing off now as I am supposed to be giving my house a good clean – only taking my cards down today – had around 70 cards – going to sit and read them all again now before I store them away.

Leanne, look forward to hearing from you after your holiday – hope it is great, children and all. You have to do what you think is best for your sons – folk are always ready with ‘good advice’ that isn’t always.

Peg – I need to sort my camera out – the piccies are very large and there is a way to reduce them, I just need to fathom it out. . I will try and remember how to reduce one and post of me with all my 50 badges and things on.

Hugs to you all.

Sandra from the UK

Tina, Is there any way your parents could come and visit you? If it's going to be such a great hassle for you to go there and they want to see your children why can't they come to you instead? Even if you offered to help with some of the cost it would still be cheaper than if you went to them and assuming they are retired they won't have the time pressures that you would face. Just an idea.

Maxine, Woo Hoo! So gald you are doing well.

Sandra, your holiday sounds very interesting. I haven't travelled much so hearing everyone's account of their roaming is quite the eye opener.

I have decided I need to loose some weight and just need to bite (or not bite..lol) the bullet and do it..any helpful suggestions would be appreciated.

Best wishes to all
Nicole

Brilliant news Maxine – keep up the good work and keep us posted. A small seed is starting to grow in my head about reconstruction – just not sure yet.

Hi hopeful1 – know what you mean exactly. I am finding though on this board we talk about lots of nice things too so pop in again soon.

I have been thinking about Peg’s request for birthday/holidays photos. You are going to regret this ;-). I use a company called shutterfly for my photo printing and it suddenly dawned on me that I can ‘share albums online’. I created an album for my 50th birthday and Morocco holiday – all 108 of them – I don’t expect you to look at them all, honest. I would ask that you keep this to the board as I am aware there are a lot of people showing in my photos and I am not sure I should be showing without their permission??

Anyway my birthday started off with me doing a party for my grandsons with pass the parcel, party poppers, musical bumps etc etc etc . There are a few photos of my work desk and some folk from work. The party meal you see is what I was told would be my husband, 3 off-spring and myself – turned out there were 26 present. The 2 small children are my grandsons. So through this you will have more of an insight into who I am ;-) As you will see I have put on weight but I have been ‘good’ for 4 days now and hope to shed around 1 stone.

share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AYsWThy2atWIV

Happy viewing – speak soon.

Sandra from the UK

Happy birthday dear Peggy!! Hope you'll have a wonderfull day filled with love, sunshine and joy!

I am battling with a chest cold, but as usual I have this fear that it might be something else, specially since my onc seems to be worried about my lungs. Taking lots of Vit C and hoping it will help.

Sandra, can't wait to see your pics!

Hopeful, I feel the same as you. It feels as if I am at a crossroad in my life, and I am the only one who can decide which way to go. Most important to me is my family and our life, work, health and everything else has to revolve around that. Many friends and clients have noticed this turmoil inside me, and has tried to help me through it, but I am a very private person and just can't open up to anybody. They want to see me fit and healthy, I can't take that away from them. But their support and love has really made me stronger.

My mom (who had bc 15 yrs ago) found a new lump in the unaffected breast. Going for mammogram next week - please hold thumbs. Very frustrating to wait so long, but they do live in a small (compared to Cape Town) city, so it takes a while to get it done.

I hope you are all well! Enjoy the approaching summer up north. Still nice and warm down here!!

Keep well!

Liezel

Liezel - positve vibes being sent your mum's way and yours of course. To see (some) of my photos click on the link or post it into your browser - it will take you into 'shutterfly' site and you will be able to view photos I have sent for printing - don't expect you to look at all 108 !!

share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AYsWThy2atWIV

Peg - how did the you enjoy your birthday and the walk? Right today, I will start walking, been thinking about it far too long - my dog could do with the exercise too!

Hi Susan - enjoy your time back at home.

Speak soon.

Sandra from the UK

And it will be a glorious year Peg ;-)

Sandra from the UK

Liezel

hope you have a wonderful day and have time and peace to celebrate and somebody to spoil you silly!!!

I am so sorry about your mom. If it is bad, she will get through it...she has a daughter who is a PRO now!!!

My mom's tumor is almost gone just with chemo, one more and then of to a mastectomy.

God Bless

Hi everyone

Just thought I would check-in.

I get my first fill on 11th May. Its all looking good at the moment.

hugs to all

maxine

Hi Maxine,
glad you are doing okay. Did they give you a time frame for the exchange??
How is your pain....any???

God Bless