anyone starting chemo in Nov 2005

Options
17475777980123

Comments

  • Mary-Lou
    Mary-Lou Member Posts: 2,230
    edited October 2007

    Anna this is for you....We have missed you...

    Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

  • Mary-Lou
    Mary-Lou Member Posts: 2,230
    edited October 2007

    And for all my dear sisters...

    Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

  • Odalys
    Odalys Member Posts: 2,103
    edited October 2007

    Hello sisters.  It is with a heavy heart that I come here today.  My dear friend Liz passed away on Tuesday evening.  The entire week I've had to hold my head up as announced it at the various meetings at work and as I answered the phone calls and emails.  But, today is another story.  I am home feeling so sad for her and for all of us.  I don't want anyone else to die because of bc.  Not fair.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2007
    Oh, Odalys.  I know that there are no words to make the sadness go away.  We surround you with love, and share your heavy heart.  I pray for Liz's entire family as well as you.  Please, dear Lord, bring Odalys the comfort and peace she needs. 
    Love and prayers, Deb
  • Odalys
    Odalys Member Posts: 2,103
    edited October 2007

    Thank you sweet sister, Debbie.  She was a good lady.  I know she is in a better place today with no pain and no  more suffering. 

  • Margerie
    Margerie Member Posts: 526
    edited October 2007

    I am so sorry Odalys. We have gotten so much bad news lately on the boards and now at home for you too.....................

    I hope they keep on marching on for a cure, because we sure as heck need one!!

    Much Love,

    Margerie

  • Odalys
    Odalys Member Posts: 2,103
    edited October 2007

    We sure do.  Last night I was reading about Pixie Dust and my heart was just aching.  So sad and just another reminder that it could happen to any of us. I sure don't feel safe anymore.  I know God is in control but it's so hard to turn things over.  Oh well, enough sadness.  May God bless us, our family and all our bc friends. 

    Love and hugs,

  • Mary-Lou
    Mary-Lou Member Posts: 2,230
    edited October 2007

    Odalys, I was so saddened to read your news. I feel the same way, I know and believe God has a plan for me. But I also look back at times and wonder if  it's over, or will I have to return to a very dark place.

    Life seems good now, new grand child on the way. My oldest son just bought a house in Loudoun County Va.

    I feel well and ready for the "NEW GIRLS (.)(.)"

    But then as you said the bottom could fall out  at any time.

    Love to all my dear sisters here, you all are my rock.

    Think of all our sisters who have already gone as you read this.

    Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

  • Odalys
    Odalys Member Posts: 2,103
    edited October 2007

    Thanks MaryLou.  Wishing everyone a peaceful night and God's

    Love you chemo sisters...

  • AnnaM
    AnnaM Member Posts: 1,387
    edited October 2007

    We are home. Tired, shocked by the heat, but home.



    Odalys, I am so sorry to hear about Liz. It fills me with sadness. My thoughts are with you.



    It is hard to come back to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Very hard. It all looks so uncomfortably commercial when you come back from far away.



    Kim, I hope you are doing well. I think of you every day.



    Mary Lou, if you come to Loudoun County to visit your son, then you will have to come and see me, too.



    Now that we're back I will share with you that I have an emergency appointment with my plastic surgeon on Friday. The quickest I could get in to see my breast surgeon is on the 22nd, but they work together and I figure if something is terribly wrong they will send me upstairs and he will make time for me. About three weeks ago I noticed an increased hardness on my left breast. There has always been some scar tissue there since the reconstruction, but it is now much harder and the area is dark pink. We tried to come back sooner but couldn't get a space on any flights. I am praying it is nothing, but have had to take my two year-old Ativan pills to sleep at night. I never had to take theose pills the entire time I was going through chemo, but this really got me bad. The PS' assistant called me yesterday and talked me through it; she says as long as there is no dimpling I should relax. She says it could be an abcess, in which case they would drain it. But I'm not feverish and the area doesn't feel hot. Anyway, I left in June with fears caused by rounds of inconclusive testing and I return with worse fears. Maybe this is my new normal. I am grateful for the three or so months of total forgetting about breast cancer I enjoyed while in France. I was almost the old me. I long for that serenity.



    I am sorry to lay this at your feet. Each one of us has worries of her own. I needed to share at last. I try not to show my sweet hubs how scared I am. That little dog of mine gets to hear it all, though. She just looks at me and goes to get her bone. She always wants me to hold that bone while she chews on it. Thank goodness it's a fake bone.



    Love to you all,



    Anna

  • Mary-Lou
    Mary-Lou Member Posts: 2,230
    edited October 2007

    Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketAnna. I wish all of this stuff would be over with. Please don't  ever be sorry because you had to vent. You have always been there for all of us. And you know when you need a shoulder we are always going to be there. Always......

    I will be up on November third I think.....Maybe I will get to see ya that Sunday. Hope all goes well with my surgery on the 24th of October. Or I will be missing everything.

    I'm nervous, and excited all at the same time. Am I the last one to have reconstruction?

    Love to you all....

    Kim, special prayers for you.

  • Margerie
    Margerie Member Posts: 526
    edited October 2007

    I am so sorry Anna.  Lumps SUCK!!

    I am hoping and completely expecting suture granuloma/scar tissue.  I had something crop up on my scar line almost a year from surgery and it turned out to be scar tissue.  If you think about it, it is unlikely that anything is going to pop up in the most heavily treated area.  I guess those ativan will have to be your "don't worry" pills.  I hope you get some good answers on Friday- which can't come soon enough I assume.  I am doubly sorry you get hit with this and pink hell month right when you get back.

    Mary Lou- I am so happy for you getting your reconstruction!!!  Did I miss what kind you are having??  I am sure the new girls will look fabulous.

    I am having the finishing touches done on mine next week- a little more nipple tatooing.  I hate to be vain, but one looks a little mangy with it's inconsistent color.  I also have a brain MRI tomorrow- no symptoms, just very cautious. And figure might as well go for broke since my deductible is already met for the year.  My onc does let me do whatever I ask, bless his heart.  I am sure he has put pain in the butt somewhere on my chart. Hope the brain is "unremarkable" like the last time.

    May we all continue to grow and heal.  Big hugs to Kim and Odalys.

    Love,

    Margerie

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2007

    Anna, I sent you a PM just moments after you posted your story.  I just realized that you may not have noticed because we don't have that flashing envelope saying we have a PM. 

    Marg-Does insurance throw a fit when you do a little extra tattooing like that?  My right nipple tattoo looks smudgy and it is bugging me a bit.  
    I hope your MRI goes without issues. 

    I've been emailing Ellen Degeneres to see if she'll put us on her show, but she is not answering.  I totally thought they'd love to do that.  Humpfh.   Oh well. 


    Odalys-I'm thinking of you and Liz's family.  Keeping you all in my prayers. 

    Kim-how are you feeling?  How is your family doing?  

    Love and prayers, Deb

  • Mary-Lou
    Mary-Lou Member Posts: 2,230
    edited October 2007

    Thats a great idea Deb....I want to meet you all too. I should really get busy and get some way to get us together.

    Life is just so busy...

    Love to you all.

    Marg I will know what he is doing on Monday. I will fill you in.

    Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

  • AnnaM
    AnnaM Member Posts: 1,387
    edited October 2007

    Thank you, my sweet sisters.



    It's an infection and I am on antibiotics. I burst into tears of relief when my surprised little plastic surgeon told me. I have never been so happy to take antibiotics before! I have to go back to see him on Tuesday. He said it might try to drain, but my question is, where would it drain from?



    Mary Lou, I had no idea you were having your reconstruction on the 24th. Which kind are you getting? Will you really be able to travel on the 3rd? If so, I would LOVE to see you!



    Debbie, I don't even know how to retrieve messages but will try to figure it our after signing off here.



    Margerie, there's no longer such a thing as vanity now. We're all beyond that. As far as I'm concerned, you get to do whatever you like now.



    What glorious weather we are having here in Virginia just now. It sure beats the 95 degrees that hit us upon our arrival on Monday.



    Kim, I am imagining the sun shining on you in PA.



    Love to all,



    Anna

  • Mary-Lou
    Mary-Lou Member Posts: 2,230
    edited October 2007

    Laughing I'm going to try my best ...The whole family will be there. Husband and EX husband too. LOL, that is always a treat.

    But with children and grand children you have to suck it up.

    Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

  • Mary-Lou
    Mary-Lou Member Posts: 2,230
    edited October 2007
  • LAT56
    LAT56 Member Posts: 79
    edited October 2007

    Hello everyone!   I'm trying to catch up on the boards.  I've been without a computer for weeks!

     I walked in The Susan G. Komen 5K Race for a Cure in Grand Rapids, MI. As I crossed the finish line, I said a special prayer for the gals on the Nov. 2005 board!  The walk was both emotional and inspirational.

    Just had my 2 year check-up and things are going pretty good.   I still don't feel the need for reconstruction (in fact, I like my scar!)   I'm STILL having issues with fatigue and hot flashes.    I started Arimidex 4 weeks ago and was hoping the hot flashes would ease but no such luck.  

    Hugs and prayers for all.

    LAT56

  • Mary-Lou
    Mary-Lou Member Posts: 2,230
    edited October 2007

    Lat, what a wonderful post. I have missed you.

    I will be having my reconstruction next Wednesday. I can't keep up with that fake boob any longer. And I can't get my bra's to fit right.

    I'm just so large on my good side. It is to much difference.

    I did a fashion show tonight for our ladies night out......all of the models were BC survivors.

    Someone came up to me and said that she thought I looked so sexy in my outfit.

    Me, sexy? LOL

    But I had fun. I was the plus size gal. So I stood out in a big way.Laughing

    It's been a long day, so I'm going to turn in. Have to go get all my blood work done tomorrow for the surgery. Boy it is getting close.

    I will have to have the expander. He was going to try and skip that part. So it will be a longer process. Flap is what I'm having . ( I think)

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2007
    Lat56, it is really great to hear from you!   What a wonderful experience to do the walk.  I hope to do one, but you just never know what is going to pop up in our lives. 

    Time for me to go to bed.  I love you ladies lots.  Love and prayers, Deb
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2007
    ML!!!!!  You are on the faces of breast cancer page on LIFETIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   I'm so excited for you.  I submitted a picture but I guess they had gotten enough already.  That is so cool!!!!!  
    Love and prayers, Deb
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2007

    Dearest Chemo sisters,

    This is my 900th post, and I just wanted it to be with you ladies.  I love you all so very much, and anxiously await the day I can finally meet you all in person!  Thank you for being who you are.   
    Love and prayers, Deb

  • AnnaM
    AnnaM Member Posts: 1,387
    edited October 2007

    So good to hear from you, Lat! I am glad you are doing well and congratulations on the SBK walk.



    Mary Lou, does that mean you are having surgery next week? What kind of flap? From your tummy? DIEP?



    We went to see the orthopedic surgeon today and I will be having that hip replacement, probably in early December. Yikes!



    Love to all my sisters. (I don't come here as often anymore cause it's so hard to sign on now. I just don't understand what happened to our site.)



    Anna

  • Odalys
    Odalys Member Posts: 2,103
    edited October 2007

    Hi sisters.  Wow, so nice to see everyone posting again.  I've miss you all so much. 

    Kim - How are you doing?

    Love, hugs and blessings to all.

  • Margerie
    Margerie Member Posts: 526
    edited October 2007

    Hello Ladies-

    Well I have good news- brain MRI was "normal."  Had my last reconstructive surgery Thursday.  He did more tattooing and a little revising for symmetry.  These past couple of days I was feeling pretty tired, light-headed, bloated and plain grumpy.  I was trying to figure out why this little surgery knocked me on my butt. And then I realized: Antibiotics= Yeast infection!!!  I guess I didn't figure he was going to give me any antibiotics this time and forgot to start the Monostat.  The joys of being a woman.

    Deb, my ps is an angel and he said he wouldn't charge me anything for the touch ups.  I am thankful for that, and being able to get reconstruction in the first place- but it is quite a long road!

    Good luck Mary Lou- are you getting TRAM?  And what is your date again?  I am telling you my brain is fried!

    And how are you Kim?  I hope your breathing is improved.  Are you on xeloda and carbo?   This is just so unfair.  I don't even know what to say. My heart breaks for you knowing you haven't even had a chemo break and here we are talking about reconstruction.  I keep looking for breakthroughs for triple negs. It must be beyond frusturating for you and your family.  Just know me and my family are thinking of you and routing for you!

    Anna- good to hear from you.  I agree- it is much harder to skim thru this site now.  But after a few times- you just grin and bear it.  How is your cellulitis?  Is it your radiated side?  I hear the skin that has been radiated can have healing issues for years.

    We are almost thru with pink hell month.  Can't believe we started chemo almost 2 years ago.

    Comedic Moment:

    My 4 yo daughter is quite the character.  She says stuff and my husband and I have no idea where she gets things from, she watches very little tv.  Anyway, she finds a black bracelet in the Halloween decorations, puts it on and says "Liza Minelli Powers- Activate!!!"

  • AnnaM
    AnnaM Member Posts: 1,387
    edited October 2007

    Margerie, why did you have to get the brain MRI? Have I missed some posts? Were you having symptoms?



    No, I didn't have radiation at all, that's why this is so weird. How did bacteria get in there anyway? So here I am on pretty strong antibiotics now for 10 days and nothing has changed. Still red and I'm not sure if it's my mind toying with me, but there is now some discomfort as well. I don't have any feeling in my reconstructed breasts, but I do sense something, esp. near the axilla and some twinges where my breast used to be, sort of inside where the "new" breast is. I am seeing the breast surgeon tomorrow and the PS (who will be in the OR tomorrow) told me to have his nurses call the OR and have him come take a look. I keep thinking I'll get an answer soon. I'm close to back to weepy. I hadn't been there in a while. Will it ever go away?



    I was tired after my last bit of reconstruction, too, Margerie. I hope you feel better real soon.



    How are you Kim? I think of you every day.



    Good luck on Wednesday, Mary Lou.



    Love to all,



    Anna

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2007
    HA!  Liza Minelli powers activate!  Too cute!  LaughingLaughing
  • Margerie
    Margerie Member Posts: 526
    edited October 2007

    Anna-

    No symptoms- just the her2+ factor.  Don't want to take any chances as her2 likes the brain.

    I would be wanting a biopsy of your area to be sure what it is.  Why is there always something between us and peace of mind???  Hoping it is just a little bug bite out of control or something.  Let us know how it goes Monday!

  • Margerie
    Margerie Member Posts: 526
    edited October 2007

    I have a new thought Anna, could this be edema as in lymphedema?  Did you have axillary nodes removed that side?  Did the symptoms start after your flight?

  • Mary-Lou
    Mary-Lou Member Posts: 2,230
    edited October 2007

    Yes Marg ,  it is going to be this Wednesday. I will have an  expander first along with reduction. He was going to try something different, but changed his mind. I guess the skin was to thin.

    I'm nervous, and just want to have all this behind me.

    Deb, where did you see the faces of cancer? I couldn't find it.

    Anna I sure hope all works out for you.

    Odlays, Kim, and Lat you are in my prayers too.

Categories