The Chemosabe March Cruise

Hi Max! <waving> We were posting at the same time! Glad to hear your body is remembering how to grow hair, even if it is on your legs.
Where is Terri (playwriter), anyway?!?

Lisa

Hiya Gals,

I'm still here. Going away for the week just didn't work out. I'm sure it's for the best because I am just so tired all the time. I went to a little party tonight with some work friends and after two hours (it was hot there), I felt really heavy and tired. It's pretty normal for me to last about two hours.

Anyway, I am trying to arrange for two girlfriends and me to go to a spa for two nights. I would have to put my rads off a week because they can't do it THIS week, but the rad onc wanted me to wait three weeks after my last chemo anyway. We'll see. I totally can't afford it, but ka-ching... I'll do it anyway.

Rosebud , loved your pic... I need some of those glasses! I used to have some.

So good to hear from you, Dawn . Sorry to hear you're having so much trouble right to the end, but you made it and that is what matters! My feet are swelling too and my dumb PCP said I had lymphedema. I need a new doctor. I am happy to hear Taxol causes the swelling. My feet are so fat and I have neuropathy in my feet and fingers.

A few of us here are also posting on the rads July 07 board if anyone else would like to join us, please do.

Angel , thanks for checking in. I hope you'll recover quickly and be able to take off the weight. I didn't gain during chemo, but I was gigantically fat to start with, so I am anxious to get into exercising again and lose some serious weight.

Max , glad to see you're getting hair. Mine is growing on my head, but not a lot! It's white! I'm also growing these atrocious, ugly age spots all over my face and head. Let's see how ugly I can get!

Lisa , good luck with your bone scan and your other appointments, as well. Hopefully, you'll get the results quickly. I hate waiting for news like that... it's so stressful. My PCP got me an appointment with an orthopedic doc so he can order an MRI for my knee which I injured last summer. I am hoping it can be fixed without surgery and I want to work on it while I get rads. If I got back to work and can't stand up after they have held my job all this time, it won't bode well for me.

Still thinking of your family and praying for your dear BIL.

I envy you the luxury of the ocean nearby. I lived at the beach for nine years and drug my kids to the beach constantly. I just feel so close to God there. I guess because the ocean is such a great example of His mighty work. I always stand and look out over the horizon and sing, "On Jordan's Stormy Banks." I also used to find a spot without many people around. The more deserted the better!

Jacque , my PCP said I shouldn't take diuretics for my swelling! I'm gonna ask my onc for a refill on mine. Thanks for the update on Terri. I'll have to pop over and check her site.

I hope everyone has a great Sunday and I look forward to reading all of your posts!

Love you,
Miss S

Dawn you've had such a hard time of it, we all have but..no more chemo. Even with the stupid SE, everyday does get better. If you're like me you just can't wait so it seems like it dragged. But, it will be better soon..Huggs rosebud

Hi girls,
Just returned from a great weekend in Spokane! It was sooo hot! And I was "flashing" like crazy as well.
I'm so excited to hear about everyone being done, and de-ported!
How wonderful! Love the hair pic and yes, too bad about the nose hair. . .

I'm back to reality now and will start my 35 minutes a day of exercise again tomorrow. I really dislike it, but I think it's what is going to help with{{everything}} in the future.
And Taurie, my hair is pretty white and feels sorta soft like a baby's. The white part was kinda shocking since everyone told me it would be dark and curly. Oh well, it's hair!
Hope everyone continues to be well as they dock!
Christine

hi guys!
Sorry i haven't posted in a while. my last chemo is in a few hours! i just went to a midnight showing of the Harry Potter movie, and drank a large coke, so now i'm not sleepy.
have been doing well for the past week, except for some swelling in my feet, and the everpresent fatigue and hot flashes, tho i did find a cooling rag at a sporting goods store that has helped.
my last chemo is, of course, at the ofc 30 min away, instead of the one 5 min away. onc's ofc called me to switch it over. the lady didn't know why, she was just the messenger. ok.
ins co has quit paying for the decadron, as they want me to go on a mail order hoohah. and the decadron? costs $10.99 w/o insurance. so, thanks but no thanks, insurance co! since my copay is $10 anyway, I'll just pay the extra dollar and forego sending in the script and waiting 2 weeks to get my medicine.
anyway, i am very excited that i am long last going to be done with chemo. i'm not starting rads until mid-august, and i'm going to see if i can do that accelerated partial breast radiation.

Hey ladies! Remember, as you end your chemo and start to feel better, that a lot of your weight gain is probably fluids. I look back at my pictures from four years ago and am amazed at how puffy I looked! Now, this doesn't mean you don't have to watch what you eat and exercise, but hopefully some of the weight should come off easy -especially if you watch your sodium intake!
One thing about my present chemo is it hasn't made me gain weight (even though I had plenty to start with!). I also have water pills because of my heart issues that I use if my weight fluctuates too much.
I, too, am jealous of all of you sprouting hair! It will be a long time before I get to see what mine will look like, but that's OK as long as the chemo is kicking cancer's butt.

Hi chemo ladies,

It's good to see some posting over here. I get all sad when I come and look and see no updates. I am way too addicted to you guys!

Max,

My swelling goes down when I put my legs up, too. I sleep with them propped on three pillows and try to put them up when I can. I went to an orthopedic doctor yesterday and he did xrays. He said I have arthritis in my knee and my ankle. He gave me a cortisone shot in the knee and will give me one in the ankle if it's not better with Aleve in three weeks. My knee feels a bit funky, but it may take a few days. We'll see.

Angel, I am so sorry to hear your infection is not clearing up. I sure hope you don't have to go through more surgery. My mouth seems to be all better now, too. I'm left with a whole bottle of that expensive mouthwash now.

Keenie,

Glad you got away for a fun weekend of flashing. I need to get on an exersize regimen, too. Thirty minutes a day sounds doable. My hair is coming in white, too. What tiny bit of it there is anyway.

Terri,

Good to hear from you. I can't believe your insurance just quit paying for decadron. That is just so crazy to me. What is up with that anyway. Glad it turned out you end up paying just about the same amount anyway.

It's good to hear you're getting out and about and having fun. I am still so tired, but beginning to feel normal again.

Congrats on finishing chemo! *Dancing with you* I have actually found it kind of weird to be finished. My life has been so wrapped around chemo, and now poof-- over.

Jacque,

I know I look puffy, especially in the eyes. People keep asking me what's wrong! Of course, the no eyelash jungle animal look doesn't help. I do need to be more careful with my salt intake.

You keep on kicking the big C's butt and stay with us.

I need to get to bed!

Love you guys!

Miss S

Congrats, Teri!

I am with you, Miss S, I am sad when there aren't any posts. So, here is just some chatty news about me.....

Went to see the new Harry Potter last night and was not dissapointed! I think I am going to have to reread book 6 so I can remember the plot so when book 7 comes out I won't be lost.

Friends are coming over tonight (one friend is from Pennsylvania and we only get to see her every few years, if that). Early tomorrow morning my DH, two other couples and I leave for Minneapolis. Our son, Matt, will ride along as his fiance will be up there for an interview. We are going to see a Dave Koz concert (Jazz musician), shop and eat good food. On Sunday we will go over to St. Paul - which is right next to Minneapolis (they call the area 'the twin cities') to see where Matt will live when he starts law school and visit his campus. It should be fun!

I plan on taking my laptop with me, but don't know if I will have time to check in or not - so I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Jacque

Lisa, i hope and pray everything goes smoothly for your bone scan. i've been told the my port is for chemo only, they don't take blood from it or anything.
jacque -- i went to see the HP movie at the mightnight showing! i liked it, too. MUCH better than the 4th one. hope u have a fabulous time in MSP. are you going to the Mall of the Americas?
rosebud -- funny pic! made me smile.
angel and taurie -- hope everything is going better for you guys.

Good luck Lisa on the bone scan. I hope it doesn't cause you much discomfort and you pass with flying colors! rosebud

It is so awesome to see everyone getting to the end of this part of the bc journey. I actually washed some hair today. I look like a newborn baby. I wish the hair on my upper lip wasn't growing. But I also noticed that I have a few eyebrows that are looking ragged. Wow, all the hair we don't want is the first to grow in!!!! How lucky is that?

I am so proud of all of us. We are truly survivors.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for sending Your Son, Jesus, to die for our sins so that we might have eternal life. I am grateful to be Your child. I thank You for purifying me from the things that are not like You. Lord, I cannot cleanse myself, but I know when I ask You to remove the things in my life that are wicked, You will come and do it. Keep me this day from temptation and fill me with Your love and help me to become more and more like You. I asked this in the name of Your precious Son, Jesus. Amen

I've tried to stick to a low fat diet for the past couple of weeks, but I've been having such a rough week emotionally that for lunch today I went to Baskin-Robbins and had a scoop of pralines and cream on a sugar cone. Ahhhhhhhh!

Keenie: Great that you got your weekend away. Too funny about posting on other threads and losing track of where you've been. LOL

Angel: Sorry your infection is still acting up. I had to laugh at the mental picture of the demon with the switch blade coming after you. Keep that demon away!

I've been afraid to try my regular toothpaste because I tried a little of the blue Listerine one day and OWWW! But I'm looking forward to that clean mouth feeling too!

Teri: Congrats on getting through that last tx. Doing a round of the happy dance for you!

A friend of mine looked into the accelerated radiation for herself and found a rad onc that would do it, but then the insurance company wouldn't cover it.

rosebud: It's amazing how much we can eat, trying to find something that doesn't taste like dirty sweat socks. LOL

MissS: Wow -- you really do elevate your feet at night! I hope your knee and ankle settle down and quit aggravating you.

Jacque Sounds like you have a fun weekend planned -- and it was fun reading non-BC news, too.

Lisa: I hope the prep for the bone scan wasn't as bad as you feared. Weird that they couldn't put it in your hand.

Melissa: Holding good thoughts that you can stay out of the hospital this time and the BP comes back up.

doing ok today. tummy hurts a bit.
just stepped on a brad that was sticking out from a piece of quarter round that had come off in the kitchen, so now i'm freaking out that i might get tetanus. (i tend to be a bit of a hypochondriac).

pmarsh,
Weird thing is I never lost any eyebrows or eyelashes and kept all the hair on my arms. Lost it everywhere else so found it kind of weird all that didn't go as well. My eyebrows are so blonde though you never could see them and many people always thought I shaved them off....weird!

Jacque,
Awwww an attorney in the family huh? No wonder he's getting married soon (if that's the same son)....hehe The fiance probably not only saw someone good looking but a goal and money at the end of the tunnel as well.....lol Aw just kidding ya. Keep posting your personal news because I too enjoy hearing what others are up to besides BC all the time.
It's always fun to get away with friends and have a good time. Personally we do a lot of home entertaining and sit by the fire outside at night a lot with some good talks.

Holly,
I'm laughing at your appt. time 3:36......like it will matter. Have you ever had an appt. anywhere where they had you on the table and the Dr. in front of you at your scheduled appt. time.............NOT!!!!

playwriter,
Glad you're done with the chemo thingy as well now and can get on with your life like the rest of us. It's great knowing that phase is over with.

Lisa,
I'm done with chemo and still havn't had my bone scan yet. They sent off for approval right after my surgery and somehow it got shoved by the wayside and never sent. Then when they realized it they sent it right away only to code it wrong and have it denied. They resent it about 4-5 weeks ago and I still havn't heard anything as yet. Gotta love how people do their jobs these days.


Ok just some unimportant news around here. Since the first of the year I havn't been putting away the groceries or anything after we shop other than breaking down pkgs of meat for the freezer etc. Everytime I tell someone to go get something they tell me it's not there. Ok so yesterday I started cleaning out all of the cabinets of food, washed the inside of all the cabinets and took out half of what was there and didn't belong. Then today I started on the hallway closet of food (we do food storage enough for a year). Our hall closet is shelves from top to bottom and that's where all the extras go from Sams etc.
Well I could barely open the door for all the crap everyone's been shoving in there over the past few months. No wonder they couldn't find anything. Now it's all organized again and everything can be seen when you open the door. It was a long job but the hubby helped hand stuff back and forth to me so it wasn't that bad.

The hubby bought me a baby grand piano last year for my Birthday. Since the mastectomy and problems with the underarm I don't think I'm going to be able to ever learn to play it now. We've been trying to decide wether or not to sell it. God we'd take such a loss on it and it's so beautiful and I do love it. But if I'm not going to be able to sit and play it what's the point.

I have collected Dept 56 Christmas villages for years now. I have the complete Christmas in the City collection as well as the Snow Village. We had to buy a huge shed in the backyard just to house it all. I've decided to get rid of it all as soon as summer is over. Going to sell it all off on Ebay. Been trying to collect cardboard boxes so I can ship this stuff off and have been having a hard time finding them. Everyone here nowadays seems to crush them all. I only have collected about 40-50 boxes so far and need hundreds of them. Any suggestions? The priority boxes from the post office aren't big enough. Each piece does have it's original box but they all have to be bubble wrapped and shipped in a larger box to protect them.

Havn't been anywhere fun other than Disneyland a couple of weeks ago but just been hanging around here. Seems like I'm tired constantly and just can't sleep at night. The ambien was working for a while but then stopped again. You notice it's 2:53am right now and here I am again. The infection is still there but getting a bit better. Just the constant nagging dull pain all the time is a nuisance. I don't think it helps that I try to do everything with that arm I did before the surgery.....lol

Well I'm off to try the bed thing again.

Love,
Angel

One week of rads down, 5 to go, and the weather is beautiful.

I've started sprouting longer hairs in various places. There's one about an inch long on my front hairline, and there finally seems to be more action beyond the stubble on the rest of my head.

Today my sister nicely took me shopping for a mother of the groom dress -- she's a born shopper. Five stores down, more to go, and I have to get it before the rads fatigue sets in! I only needed an hour and a half nap when we got back. LOL Tonight we're going to a retirement party for one of DH's colleagues and tomorrow I'm going to my niece's baby shower.

Lisa: Wonderful, wonderful to get that preliminary all clear! Sorry to hear the IV line was as much trouble as you feared it would be -- gee, if they had listened to you...

Is the kind of anemia you have the only kind that is brought on by chemo, or does it come in a variety of flavors? I haven't had any blood work since chemo, but wondered whether my anemia had resolved itself. I feel a lot better but my heart rate is still fast.

Have fun with your friends!

Angel: Impressive work on your food storage!

Holly: Great mental pic of you with your fingers in your ears, going lalalala, to avoid negative news. LOL Some days you just don't need to hear it.

playwright: Hope you're feeling better. I didn't consider chemo really over until 2 weeks had passed.

Nancy: How's your fever? That's too bad that your time "off" is being ruined by this. Hope you recover and get some time with your energy back.