For those starting TAC in March/April 2006....

This is just Leigh checking in at the start of the holidays...

Got to a nice milestone with my oncologist on Friday - I'll see her every 6 months in alternation with the breast surgeon every six months.   So, it's still a doctor visit every 3 months, but only ONE.  I see the radiation onc annually now...small victories.

Started Femara after about 9 months on Tamoxifen, as it was clear that the menopause that started when I started TAC is permanent.  A little hand and foot achiness in the a.m. but otherwise no SE's.

I still come here pretty often; it helps me to keep my perspective.  I don't feel all that capable of helping folks - once in a while I see a post I can answer from my own experience - but I've forgotton a lot.  Another kind of victory, I guess.

Anyway - thinking fondly of all my TAC sisters as I approach 2 years since dx (December 30).  Leigh

Hi All, 

Karen I completely understand about not wanting to get a hair cut.  My hair is a little longer than shoulder length now but I really should get the ends trimmed. 

Hi Leigh, I know you are staying busy!   I still see my hemo/onc every three months but will go to every 4 months if my tumor markers stay down by my 2 year anniversary.  I see my radiation oncologist every 6 months in conjunction with my mammograms.  I stopped seeing my surgeon when I got my port taken out in Nov 2007. 

I am approaching the 2 year mark of all those anniversaries that I can't believe I lived through...diagnosis, surgery, reincision.  It will be two years since I started my 18 weeks of chemo in March, then radiation anniversary starting in July...I am so thankful to be here.  Still scared everytime I go to my 3 month exams for my tumor marker results and mammograms.  I have such empathy for those women who are just being diagnosed...Their lives will never be the same.  But I am very thankful for my comrades here on the breast cancer boards who have been there with me fighting.  I hope we will all be able to surpass the 5 year mark. 

Best wishes to you all and I hope to hear news and updates from you soon.

Take care

marciaA.

just bumping up so this thread doesn't get lost.  karen

Hi Leigh, So glad to hear you are doing well. 

Yes, I am worried about Ferne too.  It just isn't fair to have to go through so much. I hope we all will remember her in our prayers. I too hate seeing all the new bc cases.  So frustrating!!!

 It has been two years since we began this thread but it really really helped me get through some rough times.  I am still holding my breath.  I am still keeping my fingers crossed that I will be NED with every check up. 

It is wonderful to be alive.  Spring is coming!  What a joy each day is.  Keep posting so we can rejoice and celebrate still being here after TAC!

Everyone take care !

MarciaA.

Bumping,  Its kind of refreshing to think that many of us have gotten our lives back to a new normal.  I know the first two years are the highest risk of recurrence.  Lets keep our fingers crossed that TAC did the trick.   Best of luck to all of you and to all the ladies who will be diagnosed and become TAC ladies too.

Best wishes,

marciaa.

I started to bump this thread then noticed that Leigh wrote earlier tonight.  It some ways it seems like chemo is a distant memory yet others it is so fresh.

Lots of changes since I last wrote - I left my job about a month ago - it had gotten so stressful, more than I could handle.  Taking early retirment (need to buy a couple years of service to be able to collect)  and will look for something after the new year. I don't think I want to work full time any more and I know that I don't want to take work home.  It is very strange and this change has been hard, but in the end it is best.

Update on the kids - Leah graduated college in June. She is living in Chicago and working part-time looking for full-time work.  It will be nice when she can support herself (well more than she is doing now). Noah is working at PETSMART and plans to go to college spring semester.  He spent 6 weeks in Israel this summer.  Miriam is 10 and in 5th grade. she loves webkins and has way too many thanks to grandma!!  She is already talking about middle school.

Had surgery on left hand for tendonitis weeks ago  - right hand done 10 weeks ago.  Wrists are so much better even though they are still healing.  Still on 3 month schedule with onc and as of last month still dancing with NED. In July I had my implants swapped out as I did not like the size and the radiated side had fallen (again). Since PS was going to go in and fix the bc side, I figured I might as well do both sides and get the size I want. I am so much happier with the smaller implants.  The best compliment I got from a gf was that I look like the me before!!

Finally had to cut my hair a couple weeks ago.  As recent as July it was still thick and curly and then sometime between then and the beginning of October it went straight as a stick and was falling out (thinning).  It was so stringy and looked awful. Hair is short -  very different as I always had thick coarse hair - now thin and fine. If I scrunch it and put mousse on it, then there is some body. Harder to see the grey but its still there!!!  Cut is cute and I get compliments.

Hard to believe that February is 3 years.  I hope everyone is doing well.  Have a good Thanksgiving and holiday season. Wishing everyone a happy and healthy (and healthy, healthy) 2009.  Hugs, Karen

Wishing the girls a happy 2009...a bit late...hard to believe only 2 more days in February.  I think of everyone.  Praying that we are all still dancing with NED.

Drop in every now and then and let us 2006ers know how you are doing..  Hard to believe that is almost 3 years since we all began this journey.  Hugs, Karen

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Hi Karen and Leigh,  Good to hear from you.  Has anyone heard from Paula?  I hope she is doing ok.  I am keeping good thoughts for all of us.  I am hoping for good news at my July visit with my oncologist. He counts survivorship anniversaries when I completed my chemo which was in July of 2006.  He told me recurrences for my type were most likely during the first three years so I am really looking forward to a good report.  I think often about my TAC sisters on this site and how you all got me through such a rough time.  I am trying to find my new wellness, not like I used to be but still I am here.  Would love to hear from you.  You are among my thoughts and blessings.

MarciaA. 

Hello Karen, Marcia, Darlene and all TAC 2006 sisters!  I must be at something like the third anniversary of my last TAC tx and I was amazed to read some of my posts.  Some things I remember when I read them - other things are just gone.  I read the post but can't remember a particular challenge or symptom AT ALL.  Let that be an encouragement to anyone going through chemo right now - the memories do fade.

I'll have breast surgeon, oncologist and MRI appointments in August.  Last mammo was in April and all was well, though I'm always mindful that mammo didn't find the ILC.

We have renovated our Florida apartment (after buying the one next door to our original one, in a fit of insanity); the first one is empty because the rental market is nearly as bad as the market for selling.  We are not there much; we managed to get the boat to the Bahamas but are still working in DC, so now have brought her back to the Chesapeake again.  We are renting in Annapolis now, which is nice for sailing but a pain for commuting.

Think of all of you and would love news.   Leigh

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Hi Leigh!.. It was a blessing to celebrate a 3 year survival anniversary.  My oncologist counts my survival date when I finished Chemo which was the end of July 2006.  I remember thinking I wouldn't be one of the lucky ones to survive very long.  But here I am three years later.  I still have a bit of neuropathy at times but its livable.  I still have hot flashes.  Every pain or abnormal symptom still causes me to wonder if I should get it checked out.  I had a CT in November which saw a thyroid nodule., I had a Ultrasound of my thyroid today so I am wondering if I will have the cyst biopsied.  (Im reading a lot about the connection between thyroid and breast cancers).  But I am happy to be here. 

It sounds like you haven't slowed down a bit!  Thats great news and I hope all the tests you had in August were clear!  Keep in touch and I hope others who read our posts who are taking TAC can be encouraged that it is working for us so far!

 Keep in touch!

Marcia

Hi Leigh,  My thyroid has a 1.2 cm cyst that they will do another ultrasound in 6 months since they don't like to biopsy until 2cm or larger.  I still have hot flashes...annoying... I take gabapentin at night and it helps.  I also take vitamin E, B6 and Caltrate and Vitamin D... I notice if I don't take the vitamins for a day or so the flashes get worse.  My gyn told me my hot flashes could last forever....UGH!.. 

I have my next mammogram in January.  We are getting close to 4 years from diagnosis!   I still feel excited to be able to see every season!  I will never take that for granted anymore.  I would love to hear from other TAC sisters too.  Have a good holiday Season Leigh!... Keep in touch.

Hi Everyone,

I had my last TAC on Sept. 19th, 08. 8rounds, followed by 5 wks. of rads., and although I've been working for a year, I just now feeling normal.  TAC was very hard on me, with weight loss of 35lbs, since I couldn't eat, my muscle mass was gone.  It's been a long haul, but so far so good.  I'm on tamoxifen now, and have lots of aches and pains, which is a SE, but I'm here. 

I know this is an old thread, but I have a friend starting TAC today and I wanted this to be available for her.  I did TAC in 2006.  Wait, this looks like our thread!  Maybe there are some folks who are going there now.

Jackie