Starting Chemo in May 07

LeeAnne and Amy,

I'll be thinking of you both today!

The way to post graphics (it's so much fun) is to set up a photobucket account at photobucket.com It's free. You just search for graphics and then choose the one you like. You need both websites open (photobucket and bc.org) Copy the second from the top link by your photo in photobucket. Click on it to highlight it then right click to copy. Then, when you're adding a post to this thread, be sure to click "preview my post" then click on the "Image" link under Instant UBB code. A little window will pop up, then right click in there and hit paste. Then hit okay and it will insert the graphic inot your message. That's it!

Hope everyone has a good day today!
Mandy

CindyKS - I went to the ER back in the spring for shortness of breath following painkillers for post-biopsy pain, and the docs there poked at my legs looking for edema - the concern was heart issues. Also, it seems like maybe kidney function can be related to swelling? Especially if it's so uniform (on all limbs) doesn't sound like lymphedema - but, true lymphedema can be triggered by many things, and I'd hate for this to be the thing that triggers that for you.

Ok, call me miss worrywart, I hope it's none of these things. But do let us know how it goes today!

My guess is that they prescribe a diuretic of some sort...

omg,,,,,,,,,,,,,i so love Jim Carrey and that video is cracking me up,,,,,,,,,,I needed a good laugh. lol A huuuuuuuuuge congrats to those of you ladies who are finished,,,,,,,,,,,soo good for you gals. And to those of you who have still more to go and surgeries,,,,,,,,,,hang in there gals,,,,,,,,I am thinking of you.
Got the results of the nose culture back,,,,,,,,and yeah it was MRSA. Got on the right antibiotics so on the way to healing (after 2 trips to the urgent care that is) But its all good,,,,,,,,,swelling has gone done quite a bit, which is one huge relief,,,,,,,,,and (not meaning to get gross) but the draining from the nose and under the lip has stopped also. Besides looking weird with no hair,,,,,,,and having a face that looked like one of those Whoville people from the Grinch,,,,,,,omg I didnt even recognize myself. lol But am looking more like myself every day,,,,,,,ok, minus the hair loss. lol
Weekend almost here,,,,,,,,,,,so probably wont post again for a few,,,,,,trying to rest as much as possible. My last treatment is supposted to be this Monday,,,,,,,,,,but have to talk to my onc tomorrow to see because of the staph infection, she may want to wait another week. Darn,,,,,,,am looking forward to finishing up soon. But,,,,,,if I have to wait for it to be better on my body, I will..........whats one week right? lol
Have a great weekend,,,,,,,,,
Cindy

Hang in there LeeAnne! You'll get to the other side no problem. It's been a month since my last a/c and I feel darn good, but 4 rounds is probably easier to deal with than 8. So it may take a little longer but you'll do it.

I am finished with all my pre-op tests and now I just have my surgery to look forward to. I'm getting the nesting instinct big time now. Don't want to leave anything undone while I'm recovering.

Tonight I'm going with my husband and our mothers to the Hollywood Bowl to see the L.A. Phil "French masters" concert! We haven't really been out for anything except dinner since I started this whole thing so I'm excited.

Ten things to do before going under the knife next Wednesday

1. Sign advanced directive (in case of coma, etc.)
2. Clean the house (visitors may be coming)
3. Decide what to wear for the big day (button down shirts are all the rage for breast surgery patients)
4. Put sheets on the bed in the spare bedroom (need arm strength to get into my bed)
5. Go shopping for easily prepared foods (in case I get hungry and don't want to rely on hubby's cooking, wonderful and inventive though it may be)
6. Go running (won't be doing that for a while) and do chest press machine at the gym (won't be doing that again EVER)
7. Throw out all my underwire bras
8. Have fun
9. Make sure everything I need is below shoulder height (won't be lifting my arms for a while)
10. Drink a champagne cocktail (or two)

LeeAnne, you must be done your chemo by now - yahoo!
Amy - you must be too! Yahoo again!

I am so happy for both of you - it's been such a hard road to travel - but you're done. I know you're not totally "done" and that there are side effects to follow but doesn't it feel good to know that this is the LAST time? I am far happier today than I was yesterday and I feel so much better at day 2 than I did with all the other treatments! I didn't even take any decadron! It's either in my head that I don't have to do this again or (more likely) that extra week because of my delay brought my body back to greater health and thus I am coping better...whatever - I am happy today. This could change at any time. I still have the body aches from coming off the decadron, the sinus pain from the cytoxan, the mouth sensitivity to deal with in the next few days, the wicked heartburn...but I'll get better!

I'd raise a glass to you but booze would sit like krap in my body right now - and for a couple of weeks yet but let's have a virtual toast to your finishing chemo! (I prefer a shot of tequila myself)

Liz - I will so be "with" you next week when you go for your surgery - I'm sure we all will. Just remember that we will be sending you positive thoughts, healing energy and well wishes. Also, as soon as you're well enough to post, please let us know how you're dong and that you're okay! You are STRONG and I'm sure - no, I KNOW will come through this just fine. I believe that being fit and active is such a benefit to recovery for you!

I am a little disappointed in my family and friends. Yesterday was such a big day for me and I really hoped for some fan fare (cards, flowers, e-mails, etc.) but some people actually forgot that yesterday was my chemo day! I just can't believe that no one in my life (not even my hubby) recognized just how huge yesterday was to me!! After my surgery, I got so many cards, flowers, gifts, meals - it was amazing! Then after my first chemo, I got lots too, then each treatment, there was less and less until tx 5 - there was nothing - but I was leaving for holidays the next day so I attributed it to that. But my last one - that was cause to celebrate...but nothing. Oh well, I am celebrating in my heart and I know my friends and family are happy for me and love me. I guess that's what I get for not accepting any of their help all this time - I think they think this is not that big of a deal to me and therefore I don't need any of their support. That's okay too - if I asked them they'd be here for me in a heartbeat! I'm embarassed to even whine about this but it's been on my mind a little bit and you ladies are the only ones I can tell because if I share that with anyone in my life, they'll feel like krap and that's not what I want. So, here is a gift to me, from me (and maybe a litle eye candy for any of you who like Viggo too (he's my boyfriend on Fridays and Curtis is my boyfriend on Saturdays)



Have a great evening eveyone. Gentle hugs for LeeAnne and Amy and for every single one of you! (Liz, I'll send you a big old bear hug since you won't be able to take any of those for awhile after surgery!)


Mandy

CindyKS - I hope your swelling goes down pronto! You've really had a round of SE's lately...

Yes, in regards to Curtis - I have always said that if he picked me up in a supermarket (impossible since A) I live in Canada, I am 42 - no perky boobs here!) but IF it ever happened - you'd never hear from Curtis Stone again because he'd end up locked in my basement in a cage - let out only to cook me fabulous meals and be my love slave...ahhh - if that doesn't bring on a hot flash - I don't know what will!

Feel better Cindy - try to sleep well in your elevated state!
Mandy

Yep I'm home and done and now just to get through the next few weeks.

My sister (who lives in Amsterdam) got all her work friends to send me "congrats on your last chemo" emails, and what a lovely thing that was to wake up to this a.m. A guy I dated last year dropped off champagne while I was at chemo today, and last night I had 1/2 a glass of bubbly (it doesn't sit well) with 2 girlfriends who drank a whole bottle of wine and most of 1 1/2 bottles of champagne while they were here. LOL - it is interesting to always be the very sober one. I did get some other congrats emails as well, but noticeably no one from work has remembered except one gal.

So here's a question for you all. What do you think of guys who want to go out with me while I'm in the midst of this? I'm not talking about guys that knew me before, these are men who have written to me on myspace (no worries, I know my way around the world of online dating, I've been doing that for years), KNOWING that I am going through cancer treatment. Isn't that a little weird? If you were going to pick out someone to pursue wouldn't you want them to be as healthy as possible? I have no energy to go out with anyone new (dating is a lot of work) and, in fact, can't even get up the energy to talk to anyone new on the PHONE, but I suppose that in a month I might be able to meet someone for coffee? I just think maybe the men a woman attracts during treatment might be the sort who like to play white knight to the rescue and then run when you're healthy.

Anyone have any insight whatsoever?

LeeAnne

Quote:

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So here's a question for you all. What do you think of guys who want to go out with me while I'm in the midst of this? I'm not talking about guys that knew me before, these are men who have written to me on myspace (no worries, I know my way around the world of online dating, I've been doing that for years), KNOWING that I am going through cancer treatment. Isn't that a little weird? If you were going to pick out someone to pursue wouldn't you want them to be as healthy as possible? I have no energy to go out with anyone new (dating is a lot of work) and, in fact, can't even get up the energy to talk to anyone new on the PHONE, but I suppose that in a month I might be able to meet someone for coffee? I just think maybe the men a woman attracts during treatment might be the sort who like to play white knight to the rescue and then run when you're healthy.

Anyone have any insight whatsoever?

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First of all, CONGRATS on getting through the last treatment. I'm SO happy for you!

I would have to say a guy has got to know you a bit first before he signs up to go through cancer with you. Especially someone you meet online. My first instinct was how great, these guys are willing to date someone with cancer, but I changed my mind. I really think they have to be emotionally invested before they decide to get into this with you. I am sure thinking about dating in the middle of this is nerve-wracking to say the least. But when you meet someone and they see what a beautiful person you are inside and out, then they will not hesitate to accept to join you on the cancer fight, I am sure.

Mandy,
That cat was AWESOME!!!!! That made me laugh out loud! Girls, that should have done it for you! WOO HOO!! On your last treatment!!
I gotta spend some time and add pictures. That is just to much fun.
Have a great weekend girls.
Hugs, Traci
ps There is practically NO pain in my lower back today!

Hey girls,

THanks for all the well wishes!! I made it through my last infusion!! Now I just have to lay in bed for a week, more or less, and then I should be getting back to normal. All the nurses and my onc singed a special "Purple Heart Certificate" in honor of my finishing chemo today, so that was nice. My onc's inscription was "ALL DONE--WHEW!!" That pretty much sums it up.

I have an appointment with my rads doctor on Tuesday--a consultation followed by a dry run in the radiation machine to see how they're going to do it. I also am supposed tohave th port out in about 2 weeks, rads will begin in about 3. No word yet on how many treatments.

CindyMN, interesting about your hair. It's going to take a while to see what we TRULY will look like isn't it? I honestly think I'll just be happy to have hair of any kind. One of the nurses today said I'd probably have the short-short kind that I can wear alone by Christmas time.

My onc had quite a few things he wanted to talk about, too. First, he said that as I transition out of active treatment, I should expect to feel paranoid about little aches and pains I might have from time to time. So he gave me the rule-of-thumb that I don't need to get concerned about them at all, until they've lasted more than 2 weeks. Then I should call him and we'll talk. So that was good to know.

He also said that it will take about a year for me to feel "normal" again, physically. He said in about 6 months time I'll FEEL normal, but when I get to a year I'll look back and see how much better I feel than how I felt 6 months before. Also good to know. "Chemo is a BIG HIT--a REALLY big hit" he said, so we should all go easy on ourselves, right?

Liz, we'll definitely be thinking of you next week--let us know as soon as you're typing, OK?

LeeAnne, I think I'm inclined to agree with what others have said about the guy thing. Once you're feeling up to it, though, it probably wouldn't hurt to have coffee or somehting and get a better feel for them. Who knows, they could be perfectly fine. So my advice? Proceed with caution! And trust your instincts.

LOL, speaking of posting pictures and graphics, I spent at LEAST an hour at chemo yesterday trying to find JUST the right picture of Jon Bon Jovi to post for y'all. He makes ME happy anyway. It was too hard to choose one though, so I didn't. Obviously.

Oh my gosh you guys, the Dexamethazone has made me SO irritable this time around. I'm so glad this is the last I'll have to take it. I have a girlfriend visiting from out of town and she really noticed how stimulated I was last night and today she told me I needed to lighten up on my mom. Apparently I wasn't as nice as I should/could have been. Makes me feel bad because I hadn't even noticed.

LeeAnne... chemo beeeotch

Amy - nice to see you posting - how are you doing? You seemd really....coherent (not your usual post chemo self - I hope that means this tx is MUCH better than the others - and I hope I haven't offended you by suggesting that your usual post chemo self is incoherent...I just know from some of your other posts that you have really gone through a rough time)

AmyA - It is so nice to hear about your post chemo experiences and your new perspective on life. You maybe have had tunnel vision with all the krap you've (we've all) been going through lately...so great to hear you're doing so very well!

Liz, I was wondering when someone would notice that I STILL haven't uploaded my avatar...and there is a good reason for that! As you may remember, I had some computer troubles in July. I spent $300 on getting rid of viruses and krap from my computer. Of course, EVERYTHING got cleaned out including the viruses/trojans. Prior to the repair, my hubby had installed an E drive so we could have extra memory - to free up space on our hard drive, he transferred ALL of our photos to the new E drive storage vault. Well, somewhere between the computer geek guy cleaning up my system and my husband transferring everything - I now have NO PHOTOS!!! I have always refused to "erase" the memory card that goes into the camera - when they get full, I just keep them (like a negative I have always said). Well, if my photos ARE gone for good - then it's a damned good thing I have saved those memory cards!!!! So, now you're maybe thinking well, plug in the camera and then just upload the photos again - right? Ahhhh...well, our camera broke on holidays and was in the shop getting fixed - however, we have just learned that it's going to cost as much to fix it as it would be to buy a new one. SOOOO, I sit here with memory cards and no reader for them and an E drive with (supposedly all my photos on it) but no way to retrieve them on the computer. Am I frustrated????? You bet!

So, until this all gets sorted out here is another silly dancing creature:


Mandy

Hey girls,

Well, it's 5:11am and I haven't slept yet--don't ya just love those steroids!!?? I can't wait til they're GONE!

Thanks for noticing that I wasn't slurring my words all over the keyboard this time! I only took 2 Marinol this time, so I've been more nauseated but also more coherent. I think I like this way better.

It's still sinking in that this was my last tx! Amya, I liked what you said about "what would have been the day after a tx, but it wasn't cause you're done". That day will come in about 3 weeks for and I hope it's really cool!

I get my anti-nausea pump off on Tuesday, and then I'll really start to feel better and better.

NOt too much else to tell right now--just thought I'd say howdy since I"m UP!!!

Amy

Hi Ladies!

Congrats to all of you that are finishing!! Just wait until you feel human again... I had my last chemo on 6/21 and I feel so good it's make me truly realize how HORRIBLE, wretched, awful, grueling, ... the chemo was. Gosh, those sleepless nights on the steroid... UGH. I don't miss those feelings...

I have been documenting my hair growth with pics. So funny. Month 1 (July 21) - NO hair... Month 2 (Aug 21) I have quite a bit of HAIR! (Compared to being completely bald). My hair is coming in the same color it went out...dark brown with gray at the temples... The hair dresser (and the wig guy) said it will come curly but will revert to poker straight (which is what I have) quickly...

I laugh at the posts where you all say how you miss your hair. Every morning I wake up and rub my head...and say, "yep, still bald" I guess I just hope that I will wake up in the AM like Rapunzel!

I had a Longaberger basket party at my house last night. (It's a home show where people buy baskets). Anyhow, they have a Horizon of Hope campaign where they donate proceeds to breast cancer research. I went to Dresden Ohio last month for a special breast cancer luncheon with the president of Longaberger... It was so inspiring to meet other survivors outside of a hospital or medical setting. It gave me hope that my hair would grow back....and that I would be "normal" again...

Anyhow, back to my basket party last night...I had all my friends laughing b/c I was constantly rubbing my head... It's now sub-conscious... I rub my head all the time to make my hair grow! LOL Anyhow, it was so nice to have a house full of my girlfriends...made me feel soooooo good.

Best to everyone!!!!!!!! It's been such a comfort to read all of these posts!!

Take care everyone!

Virginia