Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Lynn- You and your DH look adorable together. I have hair envy - although it's gray, it's HAIR. Mine is much sparser on top, not ready yet for public viewing outside of my house.
lol - like Tina said, your garbage is just fine!!!
xoxo
caya

Joni,

Thanks for the lovely pix - you look great (so does Anita) and the scenery is easy on the eyes too!! My DH will be heading out west in a couple of weeks on a sales trip, if I had more energy I would go with him. Maybe next season.
Mel - I missed the chat too. It was a lovely night here, and DH and I were sitting outside with my stepfather Harry. I had invited him over for dinner with us because my mother was out playing MahJongg (Mahj for short) and I had cooked up a big batch of spaghetti sauce with ground turkey, again using all those yummy spices from my garden - basil, oregano, sage, chives. I know my energy is returning when I have the stamina to stand and chop veggies, spices and stir the sauce for 2 hours.
Nancy, I wish I was going on a holiday too, but in a way I am having the holidays come to me - both my DDs are here with me this summer, and my oldest friend in the world is coming in from Dublin next weekend for 4 - 5 days to visit.
Hope everyone is well and Viddie - I believe you have joined the list of the end of chemo girls - Mazel Tov.
(that means congratulations for those of you who need Yiddish translation!!)
We are expecting a hot and hazy weekend here, I am going to try our my new bathing suits at my next door neighbour's pool - they went to their cottage this weekend and left us their pool key, so I can swim "topless".
xoxo
caya

argh, the image didn't come through. It was fine in the preview though. Guess I need to learn about sizing. Trying a different image

Melia, Viddie, Pat and Debbie! Congrats! Lynn, your hair is absolutely gorgeous. Caya, I wish I could go swimming, it's getting hot here but 18 rads down, 15 to go, and then I'm jumping in. Joni, your pics are really great. I guess it's worth an extra month of snow!

DH and I made our reservations for Labor Day weekend to go to Chicago for three days. DS and his fiancee should be there. My other DS will be back at college. We will stay for three nights. We might even be brave and take the train. I'm really looking forward to it. Mel, maybe you could plan a weekend getaway even during rads? You'd have Fri after treatment, Sat and Sun. Even a little getaway makes you feel good. Melia, two weddings done? I guess I'll know who to come to for advice during the planning of my son's. Nothing much planned for this weekend, laying low, but the weather looks great. Have a good one.

HI all,
Thanks to all of you for your congratulations wishes. It is so exciting being free of A/C and now taxol. I can handle the herceptin every 3 weeks and I can handle the surgery, but this chemo totally stinks. I am so glad it is finally over. Yippee!!!!!
Everybody was so nice. Of course they were very appreciative when I brought in the wrap platter and the fruit platter. The head nurse, Nurse Ratched, was on vacation and I did not see the new nurse either. I hope they did not fire her. I only wanted her to get more supervision, Perhaps she was moved to another ward.
They all loved the food. Even my oncologist came out to thank me and everyone also thanked me also. I was a little embarrassed. When they came around to give us our sandwiches, one of the nurses offered to go to their lunch room and get me a plate of fruit and a wrap. I felt privileged- even though I brought the food. They all clapped when I left. All in all, I had a very good experience.
MY oncologist asked us what we were going to do to celebrate tonight. I kinda shrugged and said that I will be sleeping for most of the day. That made me think. We hadn’t planned an immediate celebration. I decided it would be nice to take my daughter, her boyfriend and perhaps my son, if he is around, out to dinner on Sunday night. That day I am pooped and that way I do not have to plan dinner for that night. We have a marvelouse chinese restaurant in Falmouth, so we decided to go there.
I totally forgot about chat last night. Was making dinner and have a full house here this whole weekend. My dh and her bf sure do eat a lot. LOL We are having fun.
Melia,
Congratulations. I am glad you also had such a great experience.
Pat & Debbie,
Congratulations!!
Joni,
Great pictures of Mount Rundle, Lake Louise, and Castle Mountain. Thanks for sharing. They are beautiful.
Have a great time at the wedding.
Lynn.
I love your hair. Your dh and you look so adorable together. Where did you get your coloring? You look great!!
Mel,
Have a fun girl’s day tomorrow.
Mary,
Your Chicago weekend sounds like a lot of fun.
Skye,
What kind of cruise are you taking in August?
Viddie

Hello my Sisters! Hope everyone had a great July 4th! Lynn I am SO jealous of your lovely hair. I still have too much scalp for my hair and I'm getting really tired of drawing in my brows.

We just returned from Corpus Christi and although it rained for 1 of the 3 days we were there, it was great to get away and be near the water. We had a room 3 stories high and had a great view of the fireworks and ocean. It was great.

I was surprised though when we got home and downloaded the pictures we took....boy have I gained POUNDS!! Wow I was floored at how big I got. My daughter in her sweet way says "but your skin looks so CLEAR", to avoid commenting on my weight. I guess it's clear....it's stretched out to the max!!

Anyway, last week I started on the less red meat, more fresh fruits and veggies, no sodas diet, and I am actually enjoying it and so far not missing the red meat. Carbonated drinks were my downfall so that's what I'm having a hard time with but it's doable.

Count me in on the taxol swelling. Although it's not too bad, 20mg lasix is controlling it fine for me.

Pat

I agree, it's a lovely photo.

And isn't it just human nature to worry about 'the mess' even if it's only vaguely notable in a photo? Like cleaning before the housekeeper comes.

Cindy

And glad he's taking a thorough but conservative approach. If he's satisfied that the infection is not active, then taking a wait-and-see approach can certainly be appropriate.

Sending you prayers Iowa for a complete healing of that infection!

Cindy

I'm back. We had a great time at my brother's house in Georgia. The girls loved spending time with their aunt and uncle. The beach was gorgeous and we all enjoyed every minute of it. I ate way too much yummy seafood.

Joni - I love the Banff and wedding pics - thanks for posting.

I'll catch up on everyone's posts soon. Hope you all had a good weekend.

Hi, ladies. I agree, Robbin, it does seem as though everyone is on vacation. Not be, though - stuck here I guess through rads. How about you - any luck finding work yet? Or is it too darn hot to look?

I have an idea. I keep looking at Joni's picture of Lake Louise. It seems that lots of us haven't been there, and most all of us would love to go there. How about we plan a reunion there sometime in the future, and we can all save up our money? It sounds like a great excuse to me to see the Banff area, and of course, I'd love to see all of you. Maybe that's too much, and it would never happen, but I really do think we should plan a reunion sometime. Those were great pics, Joni, and the wedding ones also. I'm sure you had a great time.

Skye, I know you've got a deadline and are trying to work, but you mentioned how tired you are and how you believe all radiation docs should have to go through rads (as well as chemo docs all taking chemo - both of which I heartily and thoroughly agree with!!!). I also believe no one should be allowed to be a surgeon without having surgery. And so on. Anyway, I'm off track, but what I was going to ask you, and anyone else who wants to chime in, is this: do you really think that there is a chance that rads is going to make me significantly tired, to the point that I should stay off work for a while longer? I need to make a decision within the next week, and while I don't want to take time off unnecessarily, I really don't feel like pushing myself and then wishing I hadn't. Once I'm back at work, there's no changing my mind.

I'm seeing the radiation oncologist at 9:00 in the morning, and dh is going with me. I'm sure he'll tell me it won't make me tired. Wonder what else he'll tell me?

Not much going on with me. My friend Joyce and I went into town the other day and went to the wonderful mastectomy/lingerie/gift store - my second trip ini a week, and we're already planning another one. What a great place to spend lots of money. They have a bunch of that nite sweatz stuff in there, and it feels soooo good on your skin. I didn't buy any (yet) but Joyce did. That's almost as much fun. I'm going to try to post a picture of us on our first shopping trip. No topless pics of me yet - I'm still not ready for prime time. Lots of thin spots visible.



Pat, Viddie, and Melia, I hope you all are having a good Sunday and aren't too tired to be glad your chemo is over! Pat, I kept thinking of you being so close over the fourth, wishing I could run down there and see you.

Lynn, sounds like your ID doc has the right attitude, about not rushing you off to surgery. I hope he can get rid of this problem for you, though. It sounds like something that could really wear on you. Where is Ally going to camp?

Tina, I hope you're taking pictures for us! Your hotel sounds so beautiful! Hope you're having a great time. Jen, glad you're back. Rebecca, where are you? Did I forget something? Most of the rest of you seem to have something going on this weekend.

Hugs to all,

Mel you look great!

I would love to do a reunion at some point, but it may be a while before my finances have recovered enough to even consider a trip like that!

Regarding rads and tired-ness I think that there is a lot of variation in terms of fatigue. Speaking for myself, I am tired but not crushed, and I feel like I could have worked through Rads (although I chose NOT to)...particularly since the mental fog has lifted. I feel very energetic now for most of the day, although I wonder if it is just by comparison . On the other hand, it is not really worth the risk, and why not stay home if you possibly can!

Melia and Viddie - once again congrats on finishing chemo. It sound like you both had nice celebrations.
Mary, it will be nice to look forward to your Chicago Labor Day weekend.
Skye - I hope you have recovered from your book crisis - and I have sleep envy - In my dreams could I sleep for 10 hours. And the insomnia seems worse since I started Herceptin - could this be a s/e - Skye, Viddie, Tina please chime in, fellow Herceptinites.
Lynn - " a wound specialist?" who knew from such things before BC - I hope the inflammation has improved, you poor girl.
Pat - Oh, I can so relate to the added POUNDS - I've also started to watch what I eat, now that I feel better. The nausea has finally lifted - but - LOL, I start Tamoxifen on Tuesday and one of the possible side effects is ... wait for it... NAUSEA - OY!
Tina - Myrtle Beach sounds great, I've always wanted to go there.
Joni - thanks for posting the lovely wedding pictures. It's so hopeful to see a happy bride and groom.
RobbinJaye - I hear ya on the Tamoxifen, as I said, I start Tuesday - any pointers out there gals?

Not much doing here - I had a lovely day with my daughter yesterday, doing mundane stuff like go to the hairdresser (for DD, not for me - lol), shop the summer sales, - I bought a Michael Kors choc. brown raincoat at 50% off - out for lunch (wore the wig, so no turtlefaces).
Last night we went out for dinner with a business associate and his wife - sat outside on the patio, nice Italian dinner - gee, it sounds like my "old" life ...
xoxo
Caya

Rebecca - I am getting a fuzzy face too - what's up with that? I just noticed it in the last few days.

Has anyone seen this site? http://www.chemoangels.net/ I just signed up to volunteer as a chemo angel. I think it's such a cool idea.

Palm trees for me too.
I am also drooling ...

Hey guys, major disconnect here as I've only skimmed the e's, but Azkukel, or wherever that place is, is the place for me.

More soon. Busy settling in to SC... only to depart on Wed. Oh well. Miss ya's! XOXO