Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Hi ladies!  I am so excited about the get together. I sure hope I can make it. Chicago is wonderful and easy to access. Mid-July sounds good too. I think I will make the trip solo though if I can swing it at all. Won't be able to chat. In fact, I don't think I have the link to the new chatzy, just the old one. I think a couple of you have my home email...Lynn, Viddie, maybe Jan? If someone could forward it I'd be thankful.

Skye, so glad your MRI is scheduled. At least you won't have to wait too much longer. These scans sure suck!

Jan, I was called back for more images during my first post-chemo mammo. I thought I was handling it well but probably turned white as a ghost when they called me back in. The nurse was nice but very non-committal and I just shook. I think it's pretty normal for them to want extra shots of the surgery site, however, you'd think they could figure that all out the first time they get you in there rather than a call back.

Oh, I was also thinking we should find a new name for the group. I always feel bad when we get newbies. I hope they figure out that we're from 2007!

Okay gals, back to the usual. Talk soon

Amera

Skye -  so glad you will have that MRI tomorrow and get it off your head.  I hope my onc. will have my breast MRI results on Friday when I go for my Herceptin - I think I'll send him a fax to remind him to get the report from the MRI dept.

I will try to stop by for a chat tonight, but I am very up for Chicago or New York, whatever is easier and more convenient.

Rebecca - if we don't connect beforehand, have a great time at your sister's wedding, we will be waiting for the pics.

I haven't been feeling that great the last few days - I woke up this morning with a doozy of a UTI complete with blood in the urine and very painful burning.  Luckily I still had some Cipro XL from the last one and I called the pharmacy just to make sure it was still okay to use.  So it's been sitz baths for me most of the day - OY!!

My chemo starts tomorrow, I will try to check back in soon.

Diana, there is a thread for Jan 2008. I hope you'll find them. I hope your first chemo goes well. Drink plenty of water or other fluids and ask your doctor and nurses about any side effect you get, like nausea, they have meds that will help you.

Hi Dana,

Chemo has changed a lot even in 10 years.  It is not a picnic, but there are many great supportive medications now that are used to fend off the nausea and low WBC counts that used to make chemo patients soooooo sick.  I too was very frightened of chemo, and it was definately not a fun thing to do, but it is effective and as far as I am concerned it was worth the discomfort to ensure that I will be around for many years to come so I can hug my kids.

Good luck to you, and be well! 

Dana, you can do it, and if your oncologist recommended it, it's reasonable to assume you do need chemo. Particularly since you had four positive lymph nodes. You only get one shot and it's best to just go for it. The advice Caya and Rebecca gave is so true. Chemo is not nearly as hard to take as it was ten years ago. And do join the 08 group so you are with gals experiencing the same thing as you at the same time. The support is worth its weight in Ativans. :-) And please feel free to drop in here if you want the voices of experience. Just be warned, we are STILL obsessing about our hair! Best wishes for your treatment! Skye

I am feeling alot better today, obviously the Cipro has kicked in.

I had a lovely afternoon with Cassie today - We went bridesmaid dress shopping - I can't believe my baby is going to be a bridesmaid!! This is for my cousin's wedding in Israel in June - both girls were asked to be bridesmaids but Amanda has her university graduation the same week as the wedding, and the registrar's office cannot yet confirm the exact day her faculty will be having its ceremony, so I can only have Cassie go.  She will be in Israel on a tour in late May, so we'll send her to visit some relatives for a week or two until the wedding.  My mom and stepfather will be coming to the wedding so she can stay in the hotel with them.  It's really too bad the dates conflict, but there is no way I would miss Amanda's graduation -

We ordered her a pretty chiffon halter dress in powder blue (the bride chose the colour, it's actually very nice) - hey what doesn't look good when you're 18, 5'7" tall and size 6?  I told the DH - this is the start of the bridesmaid dresses for us - I guess we'll have to see that new movie "27 dresses"...

xo

Caya, that dress sounds beautiful.  Wow, a chance to go to Israel, now that would be something.  Have you ever been?

HUGS

Joni

Joni, congrats on your retirement! I'd be doing the happy dance. And my tumor was also hidden behind a cyst. I found out that cystic breasts DO increase your chances of breast cancer but of course it's not everybody. Anyway I knew I had a cyst and wasn't worried, t hen my OBGYN found the other lump.



Caya, how lovely for your daughter, too bad you and other DD can't go but a graduation is NONE too shabby either. The dress sounds gorgeous. My DS's fiancee is going for aubergine with halter necklines and fuchsia flowers...for 9 bridesmaids.



I had my MRI and was positively joyous when the blessed, angelic lady got the injection stick on the first try. The rest was a piece of cake. But I may not get the results til Monday; tomorrow if I'm very lucky.



Anyone doing chat tonight?

Well, add me to this club that I wish none of us had to belong to.

I've been terrified of doing chemo and really didn't think I would initially. However, I've gotten some additional opinions and I'm finally convinced that with my triple neg disease, I'd be too worried about about mets if I wasn't aggressive.

I had been concerned about the cardiotoxicity of most chemo drugs because of a family history of heart disease. I was finally able to convince my onco to let me try XT (capecitabine (Xeloda) + 4 x Taxol) I had really hoped to combine the Xeloda with Avastin to avoid hair loss, but apparantly it's not approved in an adjuvant setting . Xeloda doesn't cause hair loss but I've read different things about Taxol - one says there is usually complete hair loss and another says hair thinning can be expected.

My first treatment is scheduled for Jan 16th...I'm really lucky that they're only suggesting 3 months of treatment but I'm still so nervous and like everyone, I would love any suggestions about getting ready physically, diet wise and emotionally.

Thank you for being here.

Rebecca, have a great time at the wedding.  Do not worry about the toast.  After all we've been through, I'm sure there's a multitude of meaningful/yet still uplifting things you can speak about.  You'll do it girl!  Have fun!

I'm in shock, Skye.  Don't know what to say other than I too will start praying it's benign.  And it very well could be, so don't give up hope.  If it isn't, then you just proceed with treatment to take care of it.  And of course, you know that we all love you and will be here for you if you do have to have more treatment - we'll get you through it!  Hope you've gotten hold of your dh by now.  Many hugs.

Skye,

B9...hugs and prayers coming your way....love Joni

Thanks, girls, for the commiseration and prayers, and Amera even the swearing made me somehow feel better. :-) Hillary, it was so nice of you to stop in and offer support. I've been reading up a little and my symptoms could also jibe with osteoarthritis cyst so I'm going to hope for that. I just hope they can schedule these tests a little faster than they usually do.



Must get to the pet store; Grendel is out of treats and stain and odor remover.

Hugs to you all - Skye

P.S. I WILL get to that get-together!

Skye dear -

I just gasped when I read your post - my sentiments are the same as Amera's- SHIT x 3 - I also cannot understand it, as you are still having Herceptin... but I am praying for a B9 outcome.  The docs would not have extended that option if it was not a possibility, so of course our mantra now will be "B9, B9, B9".

Thank God you had it checked out when you did, it just goes to show you how we have to listen to our bodies now extra carefully.

We will be with you every step of the way.

Sending prayers from Canada.

hugs,

Caya