Anyone starting Chemo in August 07?
Comments
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What can I say? You are right Nash... it does suck. I am glad you mom still has a fighting spirit. I am sure you help keep that up with your constant support. You two gals are amazing. Such fighters!!Give the docs hell if you feel there's something that needs to be tried. I sure hope they will listen. Is your mom still in the hospital? I am sending my wishes for improvement on all fronts. hugs to you and your mom. Angie
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Hi Ladies,
Nash - I'm sorry. This stuff is so miserable. I'm assuming when she had the Taxol (did she have Tykerb then, too?) that she tolerated it well. Did you suggest it? It seems at some defined point in the onc's minds they start thinking about Quality of Life, but it seems that that point should be determined by the patient and not a textbook paragraph they learned in school. I wish I could help somehow. We all do.
(the Mall-Exploding visual was great. We all need a Mall Maintainance crew from time to time. Then a nice Zambini (sp???) machine to smooth it all over and make it shiny again.
June - How was the post op appt and the path results? Did they take your drain out?
Kimmie - How are you feeling? Still bad? You're right, I think oncs want to treat the SE's and not find the cause of it because every human body is different, and they just don't know where to start. The only thing they CAN do is treat the se's.
And Angie - I don't think it's sad at all that you're happy about getting a carpet sweeper. What does he look like?
Later, gals.
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Thanks, girls. My mom will be in the hospital until at least Monday, b/c they want to do a thoracentesis and can't right now b/c she's been on blood thinners for her pulmonary emboli. Which, ironically, have resolved.
Off I go, back to the hospital. I am so grateful for you guys.
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Nash,
I am so sorry to hear this news about your Mom. You are both in my prayers.
God Bless,
Harley
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Nash,
I am so sorry to hear this news. Your Mom is an inspiration and she is so lucky to have you backing her up. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Lots of hugs, Jackie
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Hey Nash-- Just a reminder-- please try not to totally wear yourself out. Taking care of your mom and your kids must not leave much time for taking care of you. If there is any possibility, I hope you find some time to get a little rest. I worry about you, you know. Find time for a breather, you have more than earned it and I know your mom would agree.
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Hey Nash - I'm so sorry to hear about your Mom's hospitalization. I will be thinking lots about you both, and I second Angie's reminder that you have to try to take care of you as well. It all totally sucks, and I'm sorry you have to go through it. I do hope that she's not in any pain and is comfortable, cause that ain't fun either.
Kimmie, very glad to know you are seeing a specialist. They really truly do know more about your individual cancer than a regular oncologist because they stay up on all the latest studies.
Angie - I know how you feel about household items as Christmas presents. sometimes they ARE great! Of course, Kaye had the best response!
Hello to all you ladies. I finished my LAST Taxol today!!!!! No more chemo for me. Just Herceptin, reconstruction surgery, radiation... well, you know the score, but I can cross the chemo mountains off my list of things I still have to scale. I made it through!!!! Whoo hoo! I give thanks to you all for helping me make it with a smile on my face, even when I felt like crud.
Hugs to everyone tonight, and a very happy new year to all!
DeAnn
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DeAnn--just had to check in to say, whoohoo! Happy no more chemo dance!
I will be sending my mom all your good wishes. I'm back off to the hospital. You girls are right--I have to get some rest. It's getting hard to drive back and forth to the hospital. But I have to be there--when we were in ER, they got the scan orders screwed around, and I had to practically block the door so they wouldn't wheel her out to the wrong thing. So I don't know what I'm going to do. My DH is sick, so I can't send him over. Will just motor through somehow.
Hugs to all.
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My name is Sherri and I don't post much, but I am being treated with Taxol since August also. This is my second round with breast cancer, first time was 2004 and then rediagnosed July 2007 with lung and possibly bone mets. Last PET scan in October showed that some cancerous spots were diminishing and some had disappeared.
I have another PET scan on Jan. 10 and hopefully the disease is stable. I am so scared for my 18 year old son, he is not handling this too well, and seems very angry towards me. Anyone else having these kind of problems with their kids, I also have a 21 year old daughter who does not live at home, but avoids spending time with me, she only lives 20 minutes away.
Sometimes I just feel like throwing in the towel, saying enough already, as it is so hard to see the people that you love hurting so much from this disease.
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Hi Ladies,
Nash - When do you get the path report from that last MRI? It seems so trite to tell you to hang in there regarding your mom and everything else...but, really - I think that's just it. Nothing else can be said. We're here. I wish we could DO something, but so far all we can do is remind you that you're not alone. I will resume praying for your mom. (I've been Holiday-Sidelined; preoccupied with visions of sugar plums and whatever else dancing in my head.) Enough of that - I'll be praying that the next few months will be as "easy" as possible for you. ("Easy" being a relative term.)
Congratulations DeAnn - just in time for the NEW YEAR, nice timing! I hope you feel good enough tomorrow (31st) and the First to enjoy the day.
We usually watch a movie with friends and TRY to stay up to midnight, but I'm not going to bother trying this year...I'll be just as glad to see this year go away.
Hi Sherri - welcome. It sounds as though you have your plate full, don't you? I'm sorry to hear that. That's good news on your PET scan, though. It seems as though something is working. That's hopeful.
Is there a reason your son is angry at you? What's he doing? I'm not a psychoanalyst...I'm just a mom, but 18 y/o males are a breed unto themselves. Patience and skin like an old football are what's needed most times. I don't know your situation, but sometimes kids have trouble really understanding what is happening and so they behave inappropriately. It's not easy WITHOUT cancer.
My son just turned 22 and it's scary to think back to how he was when he was 18. It's MUCH better now. And not as good as it will be in another 3 or 4 years (or so I've heard from those more advanced in the "mom-trenches"). Don't give up. It's worth it. You're both worth it.
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Hi, Sherri. Wanted to say welcome. My kids are little, so I don't have any advice on teens/young adults. I'm sorry you're going through this.
Kim--do you have a firm date on the appointment with Dr. C?
Kaye--my mom and I have a joint onc appointment this Thursday, and will go over my MRI at that time. Will also have a discussion regarding hospice vs. taxol/tykerb for my mom. That should be a fun appointment.
I, too, will be glad to see this year go away. I don't think 2008 is going to be all that cheery with my mom's situation, but one never knows. She's been at this juncture before and been able to pull it out with the right chemo.
Happy New Year, girls. Hugs all around.
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Hi Girls,
Welcome Sherri. It's hard to deal with teenagers. You can't figure them out!! I hate to say it, but I think sometimes that the whole world revolves around them. It's just their nature. It's them first and I don't think kids that age are in tune with anyone's feeling but their own. That's just my opinion. Stay strong and don't throw in the towel.
Hugs, Jackie
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Girls,
Best wishes for HEALTH and happiness for 2008. Thanks to all of you for your support and kindness and help. Have a great day.
Love and hugs, Jackie
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Hang in there Sherri, teens are difficult to understand in the best of circumstances. Kay gives good advice about developing a thick "football" skin. I've been there 3 times and it never gets easier. My oldest is 28 and he hasn't dealt with my cancer very well either. He prefers to just ignore it and hope that it goes away. We've had a rough winter with him this year so I do understand what you're going through. My oldest daughter says it best though, she says if you can just hold on until they turn 25 or so they will turn back into human beings! It certainly held true for her anyway! It seems that until they mature a little bit, all they can think of is their selves. Luckily, some mature faster than others. Until then, pray hard and find some friends who are going through the same things and understand. This is a good place to start!!! Good luck and I hope the new year brings new hope to you. Take care of yourself first and let them get in line.
Debbi
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Hi all,
Nash - Please let your mom know how much her strength helps me. Ive been pretty sick and I often think of her and all shes been thru. Shes so brave and strong, Ive not been thru near as much and sometimes I think my gosh how do I do this. Then I think of her, it helps.
Sherri - WELCOME!!!!! I have a 19 yr old and two small children. And teenagers are tuff. Ive experienced so many different reactions to my BC. Some good and some NOT! Hang in there.
Dr C. is supposed to be back to work on 1/2/08 Im awaiting an appt.
HAPPY NEW YEARS to all. I know the beginning of a new year has a new appreciation for me.
Kim
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Hi, girls.
Was just over on the mets board, and someone posted a link to a charitable cleaning service for cancer patients. It's called www.cleaningforareason.org. As we have been paying through the nose for Molly Maids to come and clean our house twice a month, I was very interested in this service. They will come and clean your house once a month for four months for FREE while one is in treatment. Wanted to share it with you girls--wish I'd known of it sooner.
Kimmie--You made me all teary! I will tell my mom what you said--I know it will mean a lot to her. I so wish you felt better--I keep praying for you. Are you still having the stomach issues?
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Hi All,
Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year!
We've had quite an eventful past 6 days. Went to the surgeon on the 26th for post-op and path report. Nurse pulled my drain and that was wonderful. Surgeon came in and said, "well, we have good news and bad news." I just HATE that phrase! She said the tumor under my breast was smaller than expected (thanks to the chemo I guess) and that she got clean margins. She took 13 lymph and 1 was positive. However, the 'new site' that she TOLD my dh after surgery was just a reactive lymph was not! It is a new primary and she took it out. She seems to think that a new primary is better than a metasizes....I don't know what to think......help me here girls!!! The other thing is that I have to go back for more surgery on Jan. 8th so that she can make sure she gets clean margins around the new primary she took out! Wouldn't you think that while they're in there cutting they would just take extra to make sure.....how much difference could a few more inches make?????
Sorry about this....yea, I'm frustrated .
Anyway, after leaving the surgeon's office my husband and I did what any 2 well adjusted, mostly sane adults do......WE RAN AWAY FROM HOME!!!
Went home and threw some clothes into a bag/ grabbed alll 217 bottles of medicine I'm taking/ stopped by the bank/ (cause he knew I wouldn't be up to panhandling just yet) and pointed the car south. We ended up around the gulf coast and spent a few days just relaxing and eating and a lot of sleeping. Back home to overdose on football the past few days and gorge ourselves on junk food!
Nash....am thinking of you and your Mom everyday. Is she still in the hospital?
DeAnn.....sooooo nice to be over the chemo hump, huh girl?
My best to all,
June
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Oh, June! Say it isn't so! I don't blame you for running away--I have to fight that urge myself quite a bit. I think it's really cool that you actually did it. Thanks for the good thoughts--my mom is out of the hospital, at least. She's very weak, though.
Do you have the path on your new primary? Is it different than the first primary?
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Nash,
Glad that your Mom is out of the hospital. You both are in my prayers.
I have to confess that 2007 has been such a horrible year, that my dh has booked a 7 day cruise for us, starting Feb. 9th. We are going to drive to Ft. Lauderdale, and get on the ship and try to forget all our cares for a week... we'll be in the Carribean sun, and it is going to be just fabulous!! So, we are running away, too!
Hugs,
Harley
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Awesome, Harley! The cruise sounds fabulous!
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Hi Ladies,
June, June, June - YOU know how to PARTY. Running away sounds so GREAT. Although I beg to differ with you about the panhandling. A bald head and a chemo drool is the Ultimate in The Professional Pan Handler's Arsenal. You MUST use them, but use them WISELY. If used Un-wisely, they get you removed to an Institution with bad food and OTHER drooling people who aren't particularly impressed with YOUR symptoms.
All kidding aside - that sounds so great. What a great way to close out the old year.
Your comment on the met vs new primary. Not an onc, but I think they are happier about a new primary over a met because theoretically it's in an earlier stage? A met means it's traveled. Not sure, but that's what seems right. Nash will know. We'll all be interested in that path report.
Harley, have wonderful vacation!...take those new boobs and show them a good time! They'll thank you for it someday. (A little like ungrateful children.)
Hope everyone else is doing ok.
I'm home today TRYING to pack up Christmas. I'm putting up a valiant opposition, but I'm losing ground.
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Kaye - I am impressed that you have already undertaken the Christmas "repacking". I have not even thought about it, but I suppose I will have to one of these days.
Sherrie - Welcome. I only have a four-year-old, so I have no words of wisdom that don't relate to toilet training or configuring Thomas the Tank Engine train tracks, but I know my sister, who has four kids that are teens or just past, would tell you that teens are just a puzzle.
Nash- I'm so glad to hear your mom is home. I hope she begins to feel stronger.
June - Running away is a great idea! I would love to do it, but I'm way too practical sometimes. I have to "plan" being spontaneous!
Harley - Your cruise sounds fabulous. It's my hope that, once I'm mostly done with treatment we can get away for awhile.
I did get a little time away this weekend. We went up to a friend's cabin up in northern Minnesota just off Lake Superior and went sledding and snowshoeing and hung out reading by the fire. Just the ticket for relaxation! It was perfect weather for outdoor winter fun - high 20s, no wind, lots of snow. I know you desert flowers probably think that sounds very cold, but I assure you, when you are snowshoeing in a foot of snow, you get warm very, very fast!
One week from today I get my new implant. Can't wait for this rock to be out of my chest!
Hope everyone else is doing well in the new year!
DeAnn
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Thanks to all of you wonderful girls, I guess having cancer and teenagers at the same time is a real test,ha-ha. I look forward to talking with all of you!!!
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skirk,
When you think it's as bad as it can get, think of the friend I just got off the phone to...she's dealing with her TRIPLET teenagers who are getting ready to turn 18 in a couple of days!!! In my book, there's only one thing worse than having one teenager and that's having 3 all a the same time!!!!
I'm jeaous of all of you who have been running away from life! I just started my 10 boost treatments yesterday so it will still be awhile before I can even think about it. All joking aside though, congratulations to all of you who are finishing up.
June and Nash, my prayers continue to be with you both.
Debbi
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Nash - you and your Mom are in my prayers.
June - you are also in my prayers.
Kaye, DeAnn & Debbi -
You will also be at the ending point with your tx soon, and I hope you too can run away, if even just for a few days...
And Kaye,
These new breasts are SO happy just to be here!! lol I went shopping with my dh to get some new clothes, some new shirts with low necklines... He says that I have to show off the twins!
Debbi --- Teenage TRIPLETS??? AHHH!!!!!
Hope that 2008 brings only HEALTH & HAPPINESS to us all!!
Harley
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Nash - sorry to make you teary hope there good tears.
Im sick for 6 days or so after chemo.
Im kinda sick and tired of being sick and tired.
My thoughts and dreams are with all you who got away or are going to get away. Im on round 9. I need to ask my doc. when she thinks Ill be DONE CHEMO.
Still waiting for appt. with M D Anderson. And trying to get some discounted flights.
Ive finally gotten up all o the Christmas stuff. Had to before a spark got to my painfully dry tree.
Well catch ya later
kim
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Hi, girls. Back from a fun filled day of four doc appointments--whee! Had rads, saw a gyn onc (on the suggestion of my 2nd opinion onc re: ovarian cancer risk), had my blood drawn (counts were good--yeehaw), and had a mother/daughter appointment with our communal, crazy onc.
My mom is much weaker than her scans suggest, and the onc wants her to see a pulmonary person to see if any of her breathing issues brought on by the damage from the cancer can be managed or reversed. The onc and I went from the conversation we had when my mom was in the hospital (her: "we need to have a serious discussion about continuing treatment, and consider hospice, her PET was very bad") to today's conversation ("her PET wasn't that bad, let's start Taxol/Tykerb). The woman really makes my head spin. My mom is so weak I don't see how she can continue to go on like this, but I guess we'll just take it day by day and pray for improvement on the new combo.
The good news today was that my breast MRI was negative for a new primary. Yipee!
Kim--the teary was the good kind--I was really touched by what you had said.
I so wish you were feeling better. Kaye-you're right on the oncs considering new primaries being better than having mets.
Happy undecorating, everyone!
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Nash,
I'm so happy about the news of your MRI. That is one relief for you, I pray for your Mom all the time. May God give her strength. And give you strength also.
Kim---I hope you are feeling better soon.
All these little escapes sound wonderful!!!!
I'm up to rad tx #11 and so far I feel great. However, I went to medical onc yesterday to get my Tamoxifen script and she wants me to go for ultrasound of spleen and liver. She said my platelets are too high and I got past bloodwork and they have been high for a couple of years. Increases chance of blood clots and so does Tamoxifen. I might have something called Essential Thrombocytosis. I had special bloodwork done to determine this and might have to get a bone marrow test. Fun, hah? The fun never ends!!!
Lots of hugs, Jackie
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Hi Jackie,
I hope your tests all come out ok! That Essential Thrombo... sounds dreadful!Kim-
You are in my prayers. I am so sorry you are not feeling well!
Nash-
Glad your MRI came out clear!! YEAH!!
I'll be praying for your Mom.Harley
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Hi Ladies,
So, Nash, The onc is going for the Taxol/Tykerb then? (She IS the odd bird, isn't she?) Well I'm glad, because it's what you wanted. Hopefully she'll be strong enough and tolerate it well. When does she start and how often?
I'm so glad about your MRI results...phew! It was negative for a new primary, but I forget why you went there in the first place, remind me? Was it a lump? If so, then what's the lump? Are they going to do anything about it?
June - I so completely understand about the taking an extra inch or so just to be sure...I don't know why they don't do that? "Clear Margins" can be TINY. I say: CARVE THEM BABIES. I'll take care of filling up a bra LATER.
DeAnn - Excuse me...uh..."high 20's"? Are you MAD? There's leftover meatloaf in my freezer that's warmer than that.
Kimmie - yes. My tree and all my decorations are now down, boxed and labeled, and stored safely away until next year. Aren't I wonderful? I called my daughter to tell her of my wonderfulness and she didn't believe me. When my kids were growing up the tree was NEVER down before the first week in February. And then dh was still tripping on the boxes in the hallway until sometime in June. He used to DREAD the beginning of the Parade of Boxes, because once they came out, they never, ever went away. Well, I showed him. I showed THEM ALL. Ah HA HA HA HA HA!
Jackie - Essential Thrombocytosis? Hmmmmn. Had to look that one up. It sounded like a body oil for intimate massage. It's not. But it is explained here . Pretty well, too. Hope you're doing ok.
AND, i was thinking about Eve the other day - Hey, Eve...you out there? If so, happy new year!
G'nite ladies!
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