Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Skye, sad story about the woman in your chemo room. What do the doctors do, give her sister the treatment/prognosis info and not her? I can't imagine that happening unless you were dealing with a child. Actually, with all the privacy laws nowadays, I'm surprised they can tell anyone other than her personally.

So, is it like BC where if it spreads to another site it's still called BC? In her case, it's called Cervical Cancer no matter where it goes? Speaking of which, I am all for that new vaccine that prevents it. I know that's a hugely political subject, but....

QUOTE: Rebecca, that is just too ironic about your driver's license photo.

YOU KNOW, REBECCA, I BET IF YOU GO BACK IN AFTER YOUR HAIR GROWS IN, EVEN THE DMV WORKERS IN NJ WILL SYMPATHIZE, GIVE YOU A TURTLE FACE AND LET YOU TAKE A NEW PIC!

OK Gals, here you are!!! Joni sent this to me and asked me to post it this AM



You all look so strong & beautiful!!! Wish you were here!!

Mizsissy

Wonderful pic - you all look wonderful. So glad you were able to meet.

Question - My DH's graduation ceremony for his MBA is this week. I haven't worn my wig yet (and don't really want to) - but I was just thinking that a scarf might seem too casual. I am planning to wear a dark blue dress with a somewhat matching silk scarf. I feel more comfortable in the scarf, but maybe it would be better to wear the wig? I don't want to draw unnecessary attention to myself, but everyone in his class knows anyway. Any thoughts?

Edited to add a pic:

Jan,

Your wig looks great on you, however I understand how you don't want to wear it, I have only worn mine once. Scarves can be dressed up with a pin or a pretty way of tying it. I think you would be just fine either way.

Jan - your wig looks great, very natural, but you also look great with your scarves. Do what makes you feel comfortable.
Boston ladies - you all look great. Glad you got together and had a nice lunch, something "normal".
Cold and miserable day here, calling for wicked thunderstorms later in the day. However the rest of the week looks nice, so I'll be able to get out and walk hopefully.
caya

Wow I love the picture! I so wish I could have been there. I live relatively close to Boston, and DH and I have spoken of making a trip. Maybe another time!

As far as my drivers lic goes, thanks for the groans on my behalf In NJ you can use your old photo for a while, but it has to be re-taken at intervals. I think I am going to just have to grin and bear it. The kicker is that even if I loose my lic, they have it digital in the system and they will just re-print it. I might be able to get some sympathy but I would not count on it...this is JERSEY after all!

Jan- go with what you feel comfortable in. I have some "fancy scarves" with beads and so on that look very dressy. I just coordinate the outfit, and voila it is not "cancer clothes" it is a fashion statement. whatever you do, hold your head high and be proud of yourself and your DH!

Robertin, I have no idea. Surely you could change out your photo later, but who knows, with the bureaucracy involved?

It has been my history that every time I take a photo for a drivers license or passport, I am having a bad hair day. I would almost rather have had a bald photo than some of the ones I've had..almost. I do feel for both of you, Rebecca and Robertin, but at least you have some control. Nah, that doesn't help, sorry. I will be wearing my wig for my photo this year, so maybe it will be a better pic this time (except my face is puffy now, darn it!).

Is it just my computers (both of them) or has this screen gotten wider on everybody? I can't think of the right words, but I have to scroll back and forth to read everything, and it's really annoying. Just seems to be this one.

Mel

Hi everyone,
Mel, My computer is doing the same thing.
Mizsissy and Jan, Thanks for printing our picture!!!
Robertin, You can call the PO and ask them if they will use your old photo on your passport.
Rebecca, It would be great if you came to Boston. We could have another reunion.
Anyone else want to visit Boston???
Jan,
I love your wig. I also love your bandana. When I first got my wig, I wore it more, especially out to dinner with my DH, but now I just exclusively wear bandanas or hats. If you want to be invisible, wear your wig, but if you do not care about the "turtle faces", which I do not anymore, then why not be as comfortable as you can. Either way, you will look great. You have beautiful blue eyes.
Everyone,
Thanks for the compliments. Can you tell who is who?
Viddie

That's a beautiful photo. What a great time together you must have had.

I'm sitting here wearing the same scarf from Headcovers!

Cindy

OK, I fixed the picture. It was too big when I posted it; I knew it would screw up the page but I wanted everyone to have the opportunity to see yall close up!!! So now it's small.

Well, I am into the middle week of radiation and fatigue is beginning to hit. I was in a total fog yesterday. Last week I ran twice and biked twice, 10 miles each go. They told me at the oncology clinic that I was doing too much, I need to cut back. So yesterday I lay around most of the day and slept 12 hours last night. Felt good today, rested, still a little foggy. I went running this evening and could only go a half mile, half of waht I normally do.

This has me worried, they told me at the beginning I might have to cut the distance by about 25-30% and now I can only do half? With 3 1/2 more weeks to go. Hmmm...this is worse than chemo.

I also have strange blood bruises that look like a string of small beads following the arteries in my arms and legs. Last week I had a lot of irregular heartbeats and felt breathless a lot..tomorrow I see the cardiologist. I hope nothing too wierd is going on.

Hair: it's growing back on my head, but very strangely, I suddenly lost most of my eyelashes and more than half my eyebrows last week, after surviving most of chemo (chemo was done March 5). Anybody else losing hair AFTER chemo?

Sometimes I can't believe I let them do half of what they've done to me. I do hope I will get back to being the same again!!!!

Jan...you look lovely and statuesque in your scarf & wig...your husband will be proud of you no matter how you dress your head!!!!

Mizsissy

I luv luv seeing you three together. What a cool day!
You three are beautiful!

Rebecca, best of luck tomorrow. No matter how it all works out in terms of help etc, at least it will be over!

Thinking of Mary tonite ...

Still going back and staring at the picture of the you three....I love it so much! I wouldn't have cared about having to scroll back and forth if I knew it was the photo that caused it.

Wonder how Mary is - have been thinking about her all day.

Yesterday I saw my internist, who was horrified at the swelling in my legs. It was probably the worst it has ever been, for someone, even after taking way too much Lasix all weekend (which I confessed). They did a couple more tests, and now have pretty much determined that nothing is wrong with me, except I had taxol. She told me to take 80 mg of Lasix a day for the rest of the week and come back on Friday, keep my legs up and wear my ted hose - nothing else to do. And she wanted me to go back and see my oncologist, tell him what they found, and see if he had any suggestions. Mainly I think she just wanted to be sure he saw how bad it really was. When I called for that appointment, the nurse seemed actually offended that I would want to bother them with this. I made the appointment, but it kind of hurt my feelings. Not sure whether I'm going to go or not. He never saw me when it was bad, though - should he see it, or am I just wasting his time? Don't know. I do know that I'm not interested in going to another appointment just for FUN. I still am in the stage where I'm going from one appointment to another, so I'd be thrilled to just stay home for a change.

Today, I went to my foot dr. and had my big toenail removed. It had gotten loose during taxol, and got infected. Anyway, it's gone now, and I've managed to do two dressing changes and a soaking without looking at it. It's surprising what you can do if you don't want to see something.

Now for the biggie, then I'll quit talking about myself. I saw my PS yesterday, and she told me she she thought I wasn't going to be in good enough shape by June 5, so she wants to wait until July 3 to have my surgery. I begged her to keep both dates, at least, for a couple of weeks, and give me a chance to get healthy enough. It is a big surgery though, so I guess if I have to I'll wait. I guess if my breast surgeon thinks it necessary, he will go ahead and do the mastectomies earlier, and I could still have skin sparing mastectomies so I wouldn't have the mastectomy scars. I sure don't want to have to wait, but I also trust my PS and her judgement. So...guess I'll just wait and see.

Good luck with taxol tomorrow, Melia, and with the cardiologist, Mizsissy.

Tina, great story about the volunteer breaking down and telling you his troubles. Guess you did need to be there for him that day, but I hope he doesn't tell everybody those stories - horrors! Sorry you can't have lipo where you want it, but isn't it amazing the things they CAN do? It's all just a miracle to me.

Viddie, you are NOT old! And you look great. Next time you guys have a lunch maybe I'll just fly out for lunch - looks like fun. Seems that I may not have much else to do for the next couple of months.

Mel

oh, Rebecca - last treatment tomorrow - YAY!! This is a good thing! I hope someone comes in at the last minute to help you at home, though - that's not fair for you to have to watch extra kids, even. Will be thinking of you and hoping for no reaction and no problems.

Viddie, they drugged me up always with my taxols, to the point where I couldn't stay awake during the treatment, and I hated that feeling. It was just benadryl though - I guess that is always given with taxol, because reactions are common.

Night
Mel