Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Pat,
Congratulations on finishing taxol!! Love the cartoon. I'll be there on Friday.
Viddie

Congrats to RobbinJaye!

Isn't it an awesome feeling?

Have a lovely 4th savoring the sense of freedom.

Cindy

Look at those names on the finish list: Pat, Debbie, Melia and Viddie. That almost makes me cry all over again. WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sorting out my thoughts on being done and moving on. The wig is packed away. I'll probably donate it later but I thought my daughters might want to play with it. The hats are all put away. The scarves are folded but I'm saving them for my festival trip in August. It'll go with the whole 'hippy' vibe.

I can't say I kicked cancer in the ass like I've read from some survivors. It's more like I've shown cancer to the door. I don't feel I've been aggressive about the cancer. You just do what you have to and then you reestablish your life.

For me that's going to mean some massive house cleaning, sorting and discarding, talking with my supervisor - no more routine 9-10 hour days, losing some weight, get my finances and budget in order.....I think those are all the things that were bugging me before my diagnosis. Some things don't change.

Cindy - going to find a piece of fruit to snack on

Happy 4th!!!

Pat and Debbie, big hugs and congrats on finishing!

Melia and Viddie, big hugs to you both as you go for your last taxol! YAY!!!!!

Robbin, congrats on being done with rads, my last tx is next Thurday, I can't wait!

Sharon, your sketch is fabulous! I hope your time at the lodge is nice. I think that is a neat idea.

Tina, I feel very much like you, flabby and out of shape, except I have a few more extra pounds hanging around than you do. I'm still doing rads so have no energy to start back now, but hope to by the end of the month.

Mel, I'm so glad you are having some positive experiences while you wait for the rads and DIEP. That's wonderful that you are feeling better in clothes already. I know it's tough to think about the rads but it's all about the statistics. Rads has been shown to benefit women who have a tumor > 5cm or 4+ positive nodes. I suppose I could have refused, but then I'd feel that I didn't do everything I could to prevent a recurrence.

I missed chat last night but will most likely be there on Thursday night.

I talked to the rad nurse yesterday about my infection. She said 3 weeks of oral antibiotics is a lot and if it's not getting better by Thursday, I should call the Dr. back. UGH! I just can't believe this is dragging on for so long, it's really wearing me down. This time, I'm not goign to let him tell me to keep taking the antibiotics and wait and see. It's obviously not getting better!

Question for you vets that post pics. I tried doing that by clicking the image button and pasting in the web page, but the pic doesn't show up in the preview..am I doing something wrong? Will it show up when I post for real?

Hope everyone has a wonderful 4th!

Good Morning and Happy 4th!
I missed the chat, got home late from the doctor. He feels good about the bc but is worried about the swollen ankles, legs, knees. He upped the lasix to 40 mg from 20 and ordered a urinalysis and heart scan. I STILL think it's the taxol, he still contends taxol doesn't cause edema. Reassure me here, Mel, and everyone else who had it. And anyone who has had a muga scan; what are they like? I am not seriously worried as I know that some of you have had swelling from taxol, but he is baffled. And I really like him. But I flat out asked if it could be more cancer (worried about kidneys) and he said no, it was clearly caused by chemo, he just doesn't know why, if it's heart damage or something else.

Melia

Melia - I had swollen ankles, lower legs and feet - while on Taxotere - this is a common side effect of the Taxane drugs - I'm sure that is what is causing your edema, however, since they have not yet officially given me an MD degree, your onc. will have to check it out of course. My diuretic helped me immensely.
Caya

Melia, I got the same thing from my oncologist that you're getting - he kept saying he was sure it was the chemo, but that "edema is NOT a side effect of taxol!" I got so tired of hearing that - after all, I was on taxol, not on anything else, and my friends who were on taxol were having the same problem (as were the ones on taxotere, like Caya). They just get something in their heads, I guess in their residency or med. school, and they won't let go of it despite living, breathing evidence to the contrary! It made me absolutely nuts! I wish they'd just open their minds a little bit. I had an echocardiogram and a chest x-ray and all kinds of lab work before they decided everything else was ok and it must be the taxol after all. Somebody should do a research study. Anyway, hope the 40 mg. Lasix does the trick for you - they can always go up if it doesn't. I took 80 before it finally kicked in - now I just take one occasionally.

It's raining here today, too - and is supposed to for the next week at least. Flash flood warnings, even. I'm not worried about flooding, but it would have been nice to do some yard work today. Instead, I'm cleaning and throwing stuff away. Too bad it's raining and spoiling everyone's holiday plans, though. We're just going to watch the fireworks on tv and stay dry.

Mary, I'm like you - feeling particularly happy today. Not sure why, but I'll take it, and enjoy it, anyway! (It's got to be more than the leopard bra). Do you ever come down to see the son in Lake Jackson? Maybe we could meet up sometime, if you do. Tina, Myrtle Beach sounds like such a fun trip. How long will you be gone? I'm longing to go somewhere, now - and I guess I'm not going anywhere for a couple of months, with rads coming up. Maybe I'll at least take a week when it's over. I've got my favorite picture of my favorite place in Mexico up as wallpaper on my computer, and it really makes me want to go there, although this time of year I'm usually craving a trip to the mountains. Something about this cancer process has made me crave the beach, and I don't understand why. Maybe because it tends to be more restful? However, I don't even have a swimming suit, now, so I'm not exactly prepared.

Rebecca, I read Funky Winkerbean. I was wondering when they were going to get back to it....now I wish they hadn't. Lynn, I agree with you - I think they need to do something else to get your infection under control. It has been way too long, and I'm sure you're worn out from fighting it. Maybe IV antibiotics will knock it out. I'm feeling like you and Tina...out of shape and flabby. My weight is actually down from the start of chemo, but my muscle tone is definitely not what it was. I'm feeling well enough to start to work out now, though - maybe that will help me get through rads.

Well, I'm marinating salmon and veggies for dinner tonight - don't know if I'll have to cook or if I can get dh to grill outside, but guess I'll go see what I can make happen. Hope you all have a good evening.

RobbinJaye - you rest girl - that is real hot.
Mary, Mel, and anyone else who is feeling happy today - me too. DH and I had a business meeting today, and on the way home we stopped by a great bathing suit store that specializes in mastectomy suits - I bought 2 cute ones - one a red tankini, and the other a one piece choc. brown with shades of green and flecks of gold around the upper chest and neck. It felt nice to actually be shopping for decent clothes - the gal at the store was a real expert fitter. I also bought a prosthesis just for swimming. So in addition to the navy tiedye one I bought last week at the hospital mast. boutique, I now have 3 - and as soon as I get clearance next week from my breast surgeon at my check-up, I am planning to start swimming laps at my mom's condo pool. She is a 5 minute drive away, and I really want to make an effort to go and swim a few times a week. I think this will help my energy level, never mind hopefully shed a few pounds!!
Happy 4th to all my Amercian sisters -
xoxo
Caya

Hi all,
I saw great fireworks on tv tonight. Better than getting wet. They were from Boston with the Boston Pops. It was raining in Boston, and I was nice and warm, and cozy in my house and I still enjoyed them. My all time favorite song is “Ebb Tide” by the Righteous Brothers. They synchronized that song and many others with the fireworks. It was amazing.
My dd’s bf flew in from DC tonight. Hopefully the sleeping arrangements will work out fine- her and him in separate bedrooms. We expect rain for the next few days. It has been so lovely here for the past few weeks. I feel sorry for all the people on vacation here. They all want to go to the beach. Maybe it will clear up by the weekend.
RobbinJaye,
Congratulations on finishing Rads!! I hope you are celebrating the 4th in style tonight.
Tina,
I also feel flabby and out of shape. Myrtle Beach sounds like lots of fun. When are you going?
Cindy,
When you said you’ve shown cancer to the door, I actually imagined that image with the door shut behind it.
Mel,
I am glad you look better in clothes. That is great. I am also glad you feel better about the whole situation. I know what you mean about wanting to be smaller. I am a 34 DD and can’t wait to be smaller. I can imagine wearing tank tops and cute dresses and bathing suits that don’t make me look huge on top. There are a few plusses in all of this.
Lynn,
Once again, we have to be our own advocates. Good for you for taking a stand.
Melia,
My onc also will not admit that the swelling is caused by the taxol. They just don’t get it. I am having another Muga scan on Monday. It will be my third. They take one vile of your blood, inject some radioactive stuff in it, then reinsert it. Not a big deal. Then they lie you on a table and take pictures of you for about 20 minutes.
Mary, Mel and Caya,
Isn’t it great to be in a happy place? I hope you had a great day!
Caya,
I hope you enjoy your new bathing suits. Swimming is great exercise. Thanks for the 4th of July wishes.
Jan,
Have a great time at your brother and sil’s.

Viddie

What is it with teh docs and not acknowledging these side effects?? I read that several of you have had teh swelling with the taxane drugs, yet are being told its not that. I had the same problem, and was told the same thing. My feet are STILL tingling after 10 weeks no chemo, and the np at my oncs office says it's no way the chemo, and told me to go to my regular doc, who told me its chemo related, go see the onc. Terribly frustrating. I am on my feet on concrete all day at work, and I work with the public, in the heat (yesterday was 114) so the nueropathy is not at all comfortable to "just live with it"
On a brighter note, I have fur on my head!! My head is finally getting hair and hopefully by my birthday (aug 27) I will have enough to go topless 8-) Looking forward to that!
Hope you all have a great day!
tlc

Yes, it is very frustrating that the doctors don't acknowledge the swelling as a side effect. I even looked taxol up on the internet and foot/ankle edema is listed as occurring in 10 - 29% of patients, so it's not like it's some deep dark secret. Oh well. I am on 40 mg lasix, no change in 24 hours, so like Mel, I expect to be put on 80. I don't care, just want it to go away.

Powering through a few hours at work, then off to the final taxol. I am looking forward to feeling better soon, and although I have peach fuzz, am sure the real hair growth will kick in once my poor beat up body realizes it isn't going to be poisoned again.

Have a good day everyone. I feel badly for those of you battling thru the rad burns and fatigue. Soon we will all be done with everything, and we will all feel better.

Melia

Big WOOHOO Melia, Pat, Debbie and Viddie! I'm so thrilled you all have made it (Viddie I know yours is tomorrow but I'm counting it over). LOVE the animations Pat and Jan.
Tina, it does get better. I've been walking or doing my light aerobics tape right through rads so far and the tire around my middle is finally starting to diminish. I can especially see my legs have started to tone back up. Not that I still don't have a way to go but it's nice to know there is some effect. I'm also back on my low/good carb diet which helps much.

I haven't even read p. 157 yet, busy with 4th stuff and a minor book crisis, the book designer seems to have lost a bunch of photos and I have had to stop everything else and dig mine out and figure out the right ones and re-send them, a few have to be re-shot or replaced with something else. It's always something! We did get to our old home town's little 4th parade with our bf's from high school which was fun. DH went golfing after and got home too late to go to fireworks, we got there just as the grand finale was finishing so I was disappointed at that; one of the things that got me thru winter chemo months was dreaming of summer and promising myself I'd see fireworks so I was a little mad at him. But we did see some from afar as we were driving around, all the little towns on the horizon and also some unofficial ones.
Still much work to do on books, I'm now behind on the other one.
Has anyone else read Deepak Chopra's "Quantum Healing?"
Skye

Hey Lynn...looking good!!!

Congrats to all that are just finishing up their treatments.

I have family flying in tonite, and tomorrow, as my nephew's wedding is on Saturday. Looking forward to seeing everyone.

Skye, don't take Flaxseed if you are ER positive. During the chat the other night, Rebecca mentioned she was taking it, and I told her that my doctor said it was a "NO NO" when you are ER positive.

Beautiful weather here today...low 90's. Took the dog for a swim in the lake and I kind of jumped in myself...haha. It was so refreshing.

The Calgary Stampede parade is tomorrow morning, so I'm going to try to get down to see it.

Wishing everyone well!!

Big Hugs...Joni

Lynn! You look great. You'd never know you had that infection going on. Your husband is handsome and you make such a nice looking couple. CRACKED up at your "dont' mind the trash" comment... my mother/aunts are so like that... if we take a pic. at a party they'll be like get that beer bottle off the table.... God FORBID anyone thinks we're messy!