The Chemosabe March Cruise

Afternoon sisters,
It's great to hear so many of you are finishing up with Chemo. Congrats! And my thoughts go out to all of you who are suffering from SE's.

I got off at the last port - temporarily. I had my follow up MRI and according to the oncologist, the tumors are gone. This is great news, but the surgeon isn't sure what to do with me. Remember I had neo-adjuvant chemo (chemo prior to surgery) to shrink the tumors. The surgeon is sending me for another mammogram this week. Sounds like his plan is to do a wire localization and an excisional biopsy and also take the sentinel nodes. Hopefully they will come back clear. However, regardless of the results, my oncologist insists I rejoin the cruise soon thereafter, so I will be back to finish the cruise with you.

Hugs to all,
Lisa

Look at all those LAST ONES!! It seems like we've been stuck on this boat forever -- it's almost hard to believe that week by week we're reaching that last tx. Congratulations to this week's graduates -- Nancy, Lisa, Angel, MissS, dmknanny!

I had a third MUGA scan last week and found out today that the ejection fraction is back up where it was when I started treatment. Phew!

BettyeE: Too funny! I was laughing out loud too. And it is so true -- "they" really have a nerve! LOL

Keenie: Thanks for another good laugh at the mental picture of you baring that boob to the sun for all to see.

MissS: Don't tire yourself out too much with cleaning -- you have such a good excuse for a messy house!

Angel: Sorry you're having to fight both the infection and your allergies on top of everything else. Sounds like you had a nice getaway for your son's birthday.

Melissa: I'm so sorry you've been having such a rough time. No wonder you dread the next treatment. But you'll be able to do it and in a short time not only will the tx be over but so will the side effects. Vent as often as you need to get through this.

Jacque: Thank you so much for that ray of hope about feeling better, and then even better. Can't wait!

I have a quick question: My mom just had her 6th neo adjuvant treatment (doen with 4 AC, now on her 2nd T). My sister, who is visiting her, tells me that my mom has a some redness on her cheeks and nose. Kind of like a sun burn. What is it? Has any one experienced anything similar?

Healing hugs,
Bugs416

Sometimes the redness can be caused by the steroids. How is she responding to the neo-adjuvant treatment. I also had neo-adjuvant and don't know of many people who are going through the chemo prior to surgery. Hope it is successful.

Diana - what a fabulous picture! You look superb! Not at all like a woman nearing the end of a course of chemo. I say again - you are inspiring! All the best to your father - I can imagine it is tough accepting his choice when it is your dad.

My sister, bless her heart, came in from No. CA yesterday afternoon to help me through this infusion tomorrow. She came early because it has gotten so the two days leading up to the treatment are psychologically very difficult for me. I cannot even speak or write about it without retching. Just having her here to keep me distracted and encouraged is priceless.

This morning she received a call that her husband was rushed into emergency surgery at 6 AM. He'd been at the ER since about midnight and it took that long to diagnose an esophageal rupture. It is rare - and very serious. The rupture is life-threatening because digestive contents spill into the chest cavity. Obviously, she is on her way to the airport now. I am writing to ask you for positive thoughts and prayers for my whole family.
My poor distraught sister is upset about leaving me (of course, I sad "GO!Go NOW!") and is anxious to be there by the time he wakes up - and it will be close. Fortunately, SW has hourly flights between SD and SFran, but she is still several hours from possibly being at the hospital.

Prayers, please.

Lisa

Nancy
Order whatever you want - this round is on me!

Lisa
Good luck with your infusion tomorrow....you can do it! and I'll be praying for your sister & BIL

Diana

Lisa, I'm wishing the very best for your BIL - and for you tomorrow.

Congrats to everyone who is finishing (and has finished)! Can't believe we're all coming to the end! Of course, this afternoon I walked to pick up my daughter from school and almost passed out in the heat. I had to lie down in the school nurse's office with an ice pack and some apple juice until my husband came to pick me up. Geez.

Sara

Lisa,
I am so sorry your BIL is going through this trauma. I am lifting you and your family up in prayer. I'm praying also for the Lord to be of extra comfort to you tomorrow.

Jacque,
Waiting is horrid! I am praying for good news! May the Lord hold you in His hand.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1

Miss S

Prayers for you and your BIL, Lisa. Let us know how he is doing.
Prayers to you, Jacque, may the chemo have zapped everything it was supposed to!

Jacque, so happy that your wait is over even though you have some questions unanswered, i'm sure your onc will call you soon. My prayers will continue and if you don't mind I will add you to my church's prayer list. We have some mighty prayer warriors.

Nancy

Jacque,
So glad to hear the news was, for the most part, positive. Will continue to pray the the new spots are nothing to be alarmed about, and that things will be looking better for you every day. At least you know SOMETHING now, and the wait is once again over.
"Cast all your care upon him, for he careth for you" 1 Peter 5:7
Diana

Welcome good news, Jacque - although I know you'd like more questions answered. I am mightily impressed by how quickly you got your results. Also good to hear that your onc. is on his way back!
I am joining my Chemosabe sisters doing the NO MO CHEMO dance. It was a tough infusion (why would I expect otherwise?!?) - we arrived at 9:15am and got home about 4:15pm. That did include about 15 min. waiting around the pharmacy for them to figure out screw-ups that they had had all day to solve.
ANYWAY - I went out waving to all the staff, even did a little shimmy-shuffle-off 'dance'. I had taken in a batch of brownies, so they were all in good spirits, too.
Before my tx., I spoke to my onc. about just continuing by adding a quick course of cisplatin or the like, that have shown to be effective against triple negs. - just for insurance. He said "Unequivically NO" I said okay - then when can I get this port out?
He wants me to wait 8 weeks for my blood to settle down (both my white and red cells are really whacked out) and then I can do it. Well, that's getting close to when I hope to be beginning my surgeries, so I asked if there was any reason they couldn't just rip it out during bilat. mastectomies. "Ya know, that's a realy good idea!" he replied.
So that's the plan. Once I finally find a DIEP surgeon.
Then unfortunately, we had to confront that my tumor markers are elevated. Not high, but still, they really shouldn't be. phooey So we will redo them in a month. I've also got orders for a bone scan to check out why I have daily pelvic pain (for months, but getting worse, and my gyno exam is a-ok). Kaiser does no scans at all during staging, so this should be uhm, interesting.
Came home to another gorgeous basket of goodies from my sister (despite the fact that she has had her whole life in complete upheaval these past couple of days). The big balloon says CONGRATULATIONS! on it and the basket is filled with gourmet munchies and lots and lots of chocolates (truffles, bark, etc). I took the balloon outside and tied it to the rosebush climbing on my front porch for all to see.



I want to really thank you all for your god wishes and prayers for my deaar BIL. My sister arrived as they finished his third surgery. The mortality rate is nearly 70% in cases like his, so the first few days are crucial. He seems to be holding his own in the ICU, but is being held in a coma, on a ventilator for now. They may attempt to slowly bring him out of it tomorrow. He will not be able to eat for at least three weeks and will be hospitalized for at least a month. Yikes. Prayers are greatly appreciated. The Lord doesn't even hear me say diddly-squat about me these days - it's all supplication for strength for Ellen and healing for Walt.
Thank you, sisters.
Sorry this ended up so long. Wow.
Lisa

Congrats Lisa on finishing! I can picture Snoopy in my mind when we talk about a happy dance..lol So happy to hear that your BIL is holding his own, he's in my paryers..Hugs Rosebud

Lisa, we pray for complete healing for Walt and peace of mind and comfort for yr sis and the whole family. God is a big God!
A verse to claim on Walt's behalf;
Psalm 91:16 "I will satisfy him with a long life, and show him My salvation."

Lisa, Allelulia, No Mo CheMo...dance girl dance! Prayers continue for Walt, your sister and you. What a wonderful sister you have...beautiful basket, so thoughtful and with her mind on so many things.

MissS and Diana, good luck today and will be waiting to hear how you danced the dance!!!!

Prayers, love and hugs to all!
Nancy