Jan 2008--Ain't it Great?

Hello Jewels

Good news on the vettesis front. Here liver scan came back good and the 2 nodules in her lungs are nothing. So we are concentrating on breast cancer right now!!! So this coming week she will meet with the doctor and finally get surgery schedules....wooohoooo

Just popping in..gotta go grocery shopping!  (yuk)

hugs to all....xxxooo

Patty

Good morning jewels,

LJ and Joan – Thank you for the clarification on the water bottles.  Great link, Joan.  It really spells it all out there. 

PALady – So nice to hear from you!  Have missed you.  Great news on the BRCA.  Sorry to hear about the pain…I know about the seatbelt issue…my port is smack dab in the spot where that thing lays across my chest.  Go figure…

Therese – Thanks for the ds whistling chuckle…I love hearing stories like that…it reminds me how ds #1 & #2 (20 ½ and 18) were…such sweet days (just like a Mom…only remembering the sweet things, eh?).  I’m glad you’re back at work and enjoying it.  Gotta love a dh who loves to cook!  You've got such beautiful hair...I bet it will start growing like crazy.  I'm encouraged by your timing...

Carol – Love the new pic!  Oh, how I miss the desert.  (I was born in AZ.)  So, your friends with the home in Mesa, are they originally from the PNW?

Patty – YAY!! YAY!! YAY!! For vettesis!!  What good news!  So happy for your whole family!

As for me, I’m feeling pretty good following the last tx and neulasta (Thurs., and Fri.).  I’m keeping up on the Motrin and Tylenol to combat the pain and aches.  The taste buds are completely and utterly shot.  You’d think this would deter my eating…ha!  I’m up about 4 -5 pounds.  The weather here still has been crappy…grey and cold.  I just haven’t been compelled to get out and walk.  I know exercise will help me get rid of the extra weight.

Wishing you all a nice day.

Tina

I had a rather busy, but uneventful weekend.  The Beef N Beer was fun, and my friend's team had to have raised a few thousands easily.  She had a great turnout!  Never did find anything to wear-it was a rather depressing shopping trip for me.  Guess I need to keep exercising!!  Really nothing else worthwhile to report from the past few days.  It's just nice to do the everyday, mundane family things again.  Saturday marked my one- month-from-chemo anniversary.  This coming week is going to be crazy busy with stuff scheduled everyday.  It's nice to be able to return to that pace.  Just wish my hair was growing faster.  I really hate this "look". 

Sadly, I got the news Friday evening that my high school friend's mom passed already (she just went into hospice last week) from her ovarian cancer.  It was quick-at least she's not suffering anymore, but I feel so badly for my friend.  I can't imagine losing my mom right now.

SIS Kimberly:  I have my finger crossed that chemo won't be postponed due to the infected boobie.

Julie:  Glad to hear that earthquake in IL did not damage your home.  Hope you can rest without worry for the next few days as the chemo fog descends.  Just think... last time!!  Ahhhh!

Therese:  Sounds like you had some wild weather, too, this weekend.  Glad you're safe.  Hope ds is feeling better now-strep is no fun.  Good thing it responds quickly to abx.

Yea on the scheduled exchange surgery!  Next up will be some bra shopping for you-that was so much fun.  I'll let you know how my nipple surgery goes-it sounds fairly easy-so maybe you wouldn't have to wait long to do it. BTW, I loved your "cherries on top" reference-- LOL!  Also glad to hear your negative BRCA results-one less worry or decision to make.  And yes, I agree-time seems to fly now post-chemo.  It's crazy...

I'm about 3 weeks behind you in the hair growing... so can you still see your scalp, or is it getting thicker now?

Carol:  Sorry to hear about ds's infection.  At least you/he caught it before it got worse (and I've seen it worse). 

Bonus on the massages!!  Hope you enjoy them.

Dana:  Sounds like you've had a rough week.  Go easy on yourself-a lot of the things you're experiencing (wt. gain, higher BP, chemopause) will resolve later on.  Do you get a summer break from school?  I agree with Cathy-CA about asking for help from your instructors BTW.  Hang in there!  When will you find out your liver results??

Paula:  You had an action-packed weekend from the sounds of it!  Congrats to ds on his 1^st homer!  Glad you're enjoying Wendi's book.  She was pretty amazing.

The eyelash thing sucks-like the last "gotcha" from chemo.  I hear many people lose them afterwards like this.  And, my THO will only be unilateral now (my right side is still "real" but augmented)-won't that look delightful?

Cathy-CA:  Sorry to hear about your rough week also.  I'm sure it's doubly hard losing someone to cancer these days.  My sympathy to you.  (((Hugs)))

D1:  Hope you had a good weekend.  Try Word when you get back-it really does make things much easier (that SIS Kimberly is such a genius...)

Tina:  What a great surprise from your boss.  And your co-workers are just amazing for helping you out that way!

LJ:  Totally agree in the bottle/plastic thing.  "Everything" causes cancer if we just wait long enough...

Joteach and Peg1212:  Good to see you 2 checking in.

PALady:  Glad to read your update.  Congrats on your negative BCRA, too-yup, good news! 

Vettegal:  Big woohoo on Vettesis's news!  That is just fabulous!!!

As someone else said, I hate getting behind on posts.  Don't know what I'm gonna do when I go back to working 4 days a week soon.  Read in the AM or over lunch maybe...  I WILL figure it out, wouldn't miss our chats here.

Morning Jewels,

Boy, glad to see that it was a chatty Saturday here on line.  Glad to see a few faces/names we havn't heard from in a while.

CarolC, if you able to let us know how your doing that would be great.  Last we knew job hunting was a priority ... hope all is well.

wvgirl, thinking of you gal, hoping that your able to check in occasionally just to read, and that your starting to see that light at the end of this long tunnel.

Paula, so have we not had the grandious proud parent moments over that last couple of days.  Congrats to the ds for his academic accomplishments as well as a homer.  Hope you didn't miss seeing it if you we're in the concession stand.

You have been amazing, going to work, your extra-curiculars involving your work, off to work at your sons game, home late and still taking time to post such fond words to your sister friends.    Hoping with the rainout yesterday you found your PJ's much earlier, and that today brings some Paula relaxation time.

Therese, hoping that your son's antibiotics kick in as fast as my ds has.  He called me last evening after being at a skaters clinic from 7am to 8pm  and said that he felt great.  He's back to it again this morning at 8am.  His dad got the duty of taking him this weekend, the clinic is well over an hour away from our homes, so the wakeups we're still pretty early.

Its great you have the next Sat off and will be walking your buns off for the Race for the Cure!  These walks definitely will be hitting home just that much more this year. 

Took note on your use of the "cation" word ... it starts to stick!!!

Hey, gotta love the dh that cooks, I'm more than lucky in that regards as well.  I bet he has some great southern foods on his menu.

Cathy, sorry to hear of your losses.  Life definitely has not been put on hold for any of us, and unfortunately that brings sad times as well as hopefully many more good ones.  We as well have been to two funerals over that last couple months, of those dying from cancer.  Hope some better days are ahead for you.  Time to dust off those hiking boots!!!

Julie, hoping that your head and tummy are cooperating with you on this last go around ... your in my thoughts!

D1- theres two of us that have been recently "pissed" off when posting.  The same thing happened to me while typing a lengthly post to the CMF gals I chat with.  I don't spend near the time shouting out with them and when I finally did, my puter knocked me off-line.  I think it was the wi-fi connection in the room I was in our house.  I'll should stick to my reclincer or use the hardwired puter from now on.  Or maybe be smart enough to type in word as some others do, my dh hates to hear me bitch about losing something!!!

Joan, the D1 needed to have her puter with her for a peak, that would be too cool if the two of you could have met while she was in your neck of the woods.  Thanks for the in-site to the plastics issue.

Tina, Wow girl, what a gift that was from your co-workers.  Sounds like you have been a true inspiration to them, and for them to show that kind of gratitude is just outrageously cool!!!

Our friends actually live near us in Wash.  They are getting closer to full time retirement, she is a high school counselor (and will be retiring this year), and he is a psychotherapist (he still has many clients so who knows when he can officially pull the plug on work).  They have only been using their home in Mesa a couple times a year at this point, but I know there looking forward to spending much more time in the desert in the near future. 

Speaking of our friends, Dana has spent a fair amount of time on the bc.org website.  She has followed along with my surgery plans/txts all along.  It amazes me how I can discuss certain diagnosis/procedures and she has read up on them and has educated herself so much on the bc topic.  Last night she told me that she figured out how to look at the postings... she kinda laughed as she said, "am I supposed to be able to look at all of this" ... she knew that I have been spending a lot of time chatting with my SIS on a January post, and she found us.  Kinda hard to miss with all the chatting going on here.  So ... Dana I know your out golfing with Grady and my dh as I type, glad I'm not there pushing my golfcart threw the hail I here is on the course ... your a real trooper and a fabulous friend ... check in here anytime. 

LJ, thanks for the links on the plastic subject as well.

Boy there is definitely no limits as to who can get this dreaded disease, docs always seem so undestructable to me, but I guess in the 1 of 8 category for getting bc, that would include alot of docs as well.  Looks like PALady just had a chat with her ds doc on the same topic.

Peg, thanks for popping in, its always good to hear from some that may just be lurking.  Hope that you have been able to get some valuable information as well as a few laughs from the post.

Norma, boy your whipping through your rad txt.  Seems like you were just getting ready for your initial appt and wow 12 done!!!  Sounds like its going pretty good other than a sore shoulder and some nip pain.  I guess I will be lucky/unlucky no nip here for me to have pain in! 

Good news on your BRCA testing, one more thing to not have to think about.  Oh and the 60 min special, my co-worker was trying to explain the show to me, he was pretty sketchy in his story, maybe I can look on-line for it.

I don't know about you, I have been writing by hand my journal, that way I have it with me at work.  Talk about writers cramp, I havn't written so much in many years.  I'm with you, I have had that lump in my throat as I write quite a few times and I'm only on day 3 since diagnosis.  I can't wait to get to Dec timeframe when I logged onto bc.org and started this adventure with all of you.  There will be hopefully many more snickers than tears when writing about all of you great women.

Vettegal, thanks for sharing the best news any of us had heard in a while on Vettesis.  She should be able to focus on the one thing she needs to during this journey and that is kicking some breast cancer booty.  I've got a FUBC T-shirt  (size large) I'd love to send her if you think she may like it.

Kimberly, hoping your weekend away was a good one, hey, atleast you didn't have to change the sheets if you had a sweat attack last night!!!   I have definitely been having more than my share of problems at night, wondering if since this should be "that time of the month" if maybe the hot flashes are worse. 

Dana, don't beat yourself up with worrying about your school work right now, try to expend your energy getting well.

Jennifer, as a fellow animal lover (who's four legged ones appear on the furniture), had any luck with leather furniture.  We just ordered new, went with leather, hoping that it will withstand the wieners!!!  Hoping that your on to some bright days and that your fog has lifted!!!

Next week I will be doing three doc appts.  Time to go to the dermatologist for an annual skin cancer check.  Not to crazy about this little red spot on my nose that has been there for about 6 months.  But with my family history, its a no brainer to get checked.  I also have numerous what the doc calls "moles", I like to refer to them as freckles myself, that she keeps an eye on.  Boy will she be surpised to see a missing body part!!!

Then its on to see an oncologist over a Seattle Cancer Care.  I really liked this onc, she seems to be really on top of her game and she strictly deals with womens cancers.  Would have used her for all my txt, but decided to go to the center so much closer to my home.  So I have used her for a couple of second opinions, and this will also be a consult visit.  Time for me to start hearing the options for hormone therapy or her take on having my ovaries and additional plumbing removed.  Been snooping around on at bc.org, I had no idea that many who have had there ovaries removed end up taken some sort of estrogen blocker anyway.

Since I'm trying to educate myself on the topic, I also made an appt with my gyn thinking I wouldn't be able to get in for a few weeks or possibly months out.  Couldn't believe it when I got an appt for this Thurs., so needless to say, I need to have my questions ready since I will have an active audience.   The information I do get I will be sharing with my primary oncologist, he just didn't seem to excited to talk about any of it a couple months back.  I think after all of this that I can start a good dialogue with him on the subject.  I also like the thought of getting a woman docs point of view.

So, off to maybe jot in my journal, snoop other sites on hormone stuff, give a call to Kalen, hoping that she is doing better.

Will be checking in throughout the day, hope your all having a pleasant weekend,

Carol

Happy Sunday, Jewels. Just checking in from my fog - been sleeping off and on the last two days. My SIL came last night and did ALL of our laundry today - she is such a goddess!!!! Dh needed to go to the grocery store and maintenance the lawnmower, so she headed up to help out since she knew I'd be in and out of my fog.

Therese - sorry your ds has strep!! Hope the antibiotics kick in soon and he starts feeling better quickly! Good thing the game got cancelled! Glad to hear you're hair's coming in regularly - you certainly give me hope!! Great news on the BRCA test!! Glad you're feeling good being back to work.

Carol - Love the new pic! You look so relaxed! Gotta love the idea of massages! I might need to check my ins and see if I get that perk too!

Dana - hang in there - don't fret too much about the extra side effects - they're temporary! Just focus on staying positive and beating your cancer. The rest will work itself out.

Paula - talk about a "proud parent" moment! Congrats to ds!!! Thanks for the good vibes - I'm hanging in there. Just trying to remember to sleep when my body calls for it - that seems to really help.

CathyCA - so sorry for your recent losses. My thoughts and prayers are with you as you endure this extra heartache.

D1 - hope you're having a good weekend!!! Definitely join the "Word" bandwagon - makes things much easier!

Tina - how sweet of your boss to send you flowers and how thoughtful of your co-workers too! Things like that sure make you realize that there really is "good" out there still.  

Peg - glad you checked in - hope you're doing well!!

Maz - thinking of you - {{{{{HUGS}}}}}}!

PALady - WOW - 12 rads down already!!!! That seems to have gone fast! Sorry you have a sore nippie! That's gotta stink with the seatbelt situation. YAY for more negative BRCA tests!!!

Vettegal - definitely doing a happy dance for Vettesis!!! What good news. Now she can focus on the bc and get her treatment plan figured out. You are both in my thoughts and prayers daily!!

Kathy - glad the Beef N Beer event went over well! Thanks for keeping up with the tx's for everyone - you're so good with that! My eyelashes are definitely getting thinner too - just when you think everything's going to start coming back in. Bummer!

Well, I'm feeling sleepy again. Hoping the next few days are kind to me!! I'll be in touch when I can.

Love to all!!

Julie

Good evening Jewels

Just spent the afternoon/evening with vettesis and family. She is waiting for her doctor appt. We know this week. I helped her with her sons (my rock star nephew) graduation party list and invitations. Had some pizza. Help my "rock star nephew" pick his dorm for collage. Depaul University in chicago..woohoo I am so proud of him..majoring in sound engineering minor in jazz.

I am doing ok. Gotta go back to rads for one more scan to make sure i am ready for rads in a week. Gotta go see ob/gyn dr for possible d & c operation cause I bleed alot and when i go on tamox they are worring about endometrial cancer. So, d & c will clean me up till tam kicks me to menopause ( i hope)That appt is on May 8th.

Carol-vettesis may like that shirt.I am pushing positive attitude like crazy and that shirt is awesome. I wore to work on saturday and my customers loved it.

time for bed.

hugs to all..............xxoo

Patty

Afternoon Jewels,

So, accessing the port daily is NOT fun. The area around the port is so sore and according to the nurse the tissue around it inflamed.  I would be inflamed too if I got poked daily. Yesterday and today, I got a shot of Lidacain (sp) at my port site, ouch, which made accessing it a little easier and less painful.

I saw my plastic surgeon today.  He said the infection is clearing up, but it’s not done yet. My body is now in building the fortress mode. It’s depositing scar tissue, which is causing this swelling and constriction pain I’ve been experiencing the past few days. My poor mounds are swollen and so tight.  Once the infection is totally gone, the scar tissue should soften up over time. If not, then it will be another invasive surgery to get the expanders out, clean out the scar tissue, irrigate with saline and antibiotic, and then replace with my permanent implants. A much more extensive surgery than just the regular exchange would have been. Let’s all think…soft….

Oh, well, it’s like Christmas every day. I never know what to expect. I’ll go back next Wednesday to see Dr. Lim.

Anyway, the doc will extend my antibiotics another 7 days beyond chemo, so I’ve lined up rides for next Thursday, Friday, and the following Monday and Tuesday as I will be in the fog. Greg will do the weekend. It is so amazing how wonderful people are in this world. 

My last few days before chemo will be filled with seeing my colleagues for a staff meeting this afternoon and then antibiotics, my antibiotics early in the morning and the Relay for Life survivor lap at 10am on Sat. followed by a trip to the Bay Area for Liane’s 50th birthday. We’ll stay the night at a hotel in Walnut Creek, then head back Sunday in time to make my 3:30 antibiotic appt. Pretty crazy trying to work things around antibiotics, but I’m looking forward to the next four days of feeling pretty darn good.

Julie- A little rocking and rolling at your house this morning, eh? Glad there was no damage or anyone hurt. Are earthquakes common in your neck of the woods?  I know they are to be expected in CA.

Got your cards today. You can so tell you’re the business teacher and computer saavy.  Nicely done.  And, how sweet are you to include a card and such a lovely gift.  I love that I don’t have to struggle with a clasp. It’s great!!!!  You’re a doll.

OK, so the this weekend is fog land for you, eh? Remember, we’ll be ready and waiting for you at the edge of the fog.
D1 has the flashlights, Carol’s got the fog horn, and I’ve got the hot chocolate and a blanket waiting. We’ll sit with you by the fire until you feel strong enough to walk on home.

Therese- Wow between you and Julie, we’ve had some major events.  I’m thinking that was no fun hanging out in the closet with the kids, one being so miserable with a fever and all, and no dh.  Thank goodness for neighbors.  Well, hopefully that’s it for strep in your house for awhile!

Yeah, yeah, and yeah!!!!  Boobs progressing, genetics negative for BRACA 1 and 2, and hair filling in slowly but surely!!!!  What more could a girl want, except children’s Motrin in the house when there’s a threat of a tornado?

I won’t be posting until Sunday sometime since I’ll be leaving so early in the am tomorrow.  Take care Jewels.


SIS Kimberly

Well, heck, just as I went to post the site went down. I’ll have to try again later. It’s almost 7pm here.

Obviously, wasn’t able to get back before the big weekend. So, I’ll just continue on from here.

The Relay for Life event was great!!!!  Did the Survivor Lap with the other gals from my district all diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Great to see them. We got a t-shirt and a medal, our picture taken with all the other survivors and again with whoever you wanted, and out caregiver got to do the next lap with us and received a beautiful yellow flowering plant…maybe my Robin Red Breast will like it.  It was a very emotional and validating morning. So many people cheering us on and hugs galore.

The 50th was so much fun as well.  I took a nap before going hoping that would fortify me.  Our college dance group is quite the energetic crowd. It was so great to see everyone and do a little- and I do mean a little compared to what I’d usually do- dancing.  Mostly danced in my chair…yep, you didn’t know that about me did ya?  I do chair dancing…not quite as gossip worthy as lap dancing, but I hear it is the gateway dance.

Just got home after infusion and am tired, but wanted to check in with everyone.

Joan- Hi, it seems like awhile since you’ve posted, but it could just be me being AWOL for so long. You sound good.
Have you started rads yet? It looks as if you’re done with chemo, correct?

Thanks for the link on plastic bottles, I’ll check it out.

Carol- Love the new pic. Got your PM, and so glad your ds got his antibiotics. I totally understand pain, fever, and don’t feel good infections. I hope he was up for this weekend’s skating adventure.  My son still calls me when he’s not feeling well to ask me what I think and what he should do. It’s so cute.  Don’t beat yourself up about not checking the war wounds for infection and making the groin/ lymph node connection.  Lots of mom’s wouldn’t have known that.

Seafood, specifically shellfish, isn’t on my food radar these days, though I love it normally.  Glad your tummy handled it well and that your wine helped you sleep through the night without battery operated assistance.

Massages…I’m so checking that out!  Good tip.

New furniture?  How fun is that?

And how cool that your golfing buddy Dana has been able to check out what you’ve been up to. It isn’t hard to do, so tell her that yep, she can do that, which is why our dear KathyL was being so cautious about what was said about work issues, maybe?

Dana- Oh sweetie, I’m so sorry that you’ve joined the ugly se club.  It’s cumulative and gets ya a bit more each time, doesn’t it?  I’m so sorry these se’s are getting in the way of school, but maybe the teacher will let you take retakes…technically having cancer is a protected disability, so maybe you can get a little extra assistance with testing?  Ignore those gals in class that are spending way too much time on this perceived ‘fear of you’. Concentrate on just taking care of yourself. Take naps when needed, study when you can, and just keep to socializing with those you feel have a positive relationship with you.
When you have the energy, check out Oprah.com and listen to Eckart Tolle’s series on A New Earth.  It is fabulous and will give you some insights about yourself and those girls, and why you seem to be in their sights. I’m watching class #6 tonight with my son.  You can start there, as it is being touted as the class you should watch with a friend who may not have been following along. If you like what you hear and see, you can go back and do the other classes.  I found #4 and #5 about the Pain Body really an eye opener/validation for me.

Know you can always vent here and that we’ll love you where you are right now.

Paula- I look forward to getting your envelopes.

You had a busy Friday. Sorry the ds’s team lost, but glad to hear he was pumped, as it should be, about his accomplishment in the game.  Also, glad that you had company you enjoyed during that long concession duty.

I do that too after doing an evening duty or Back to School Night or Open House. It takes awhile to unwind. Good thing you got to sleep in Sat. morning.

CathyCa- I’m so sorry to hear about the deaths of several acquaintances this past week. No wonder you’ve been MIA. Hearing of people passing does tend to take the wind out of the sail for a bit doesn’t it? 

D1- Yep the site was having issues Friday…had the same problem. Thankfully, I had it in Word.

You’d be proud of me D1. On our way down to the bay area, we stopped in a little town known for Crawdads along the Delta for lunch. I had ½ a burger (twin-sis and I split it), but twinsis and dh split a crawdad cocktail.  Shellfish is not doing it for me these days. Anyway, twin-sis and I wanted to split a piece of apple pie afterwards, but the waitress gave us each a piece at no charge. Going topless does have it’s rewards.

Hope you enjoyed the weekend and find your way home tomorrow.

Tinalee- Blessings all around I’d say…flowers and $1000 raised in your honor is outstanding. That’s awesome that you can alleviate some of the financial hit you’ve had to take.  Bummer about the taste buds, but it sounds like the se’s are tolerable. That’s something. Don’t beat yourself up about the weight. When this is over, you can concentrate on that. Just concentrate on getting through this.

Thanks for the fascinating info. I’ve copied that onto a word doc. and will Google Grand Portage as well as check out the sites you gave me.

Thanks for spreading the word on those plastic bottles.  I heard that on NPR this morning. I had given up drinking out of plastic, storing in plastic, and buying plastic packaged anything since my dx.  Of course, when traveling it isn’t easy to find water that isn’t bottled unless the place you stop has a soda fountain.

LJ13 you are correct about canned goods as I’d read that as well. We certainly are dogging soft fuzzy bullets.

Certainly does encourage us to get back to basics- dry beans and legumes and whole foods in season. We’ve all been lured into the convenience trap for so long that we don’t know how to do it differently.

CHJ- Howdy stranger.  Glad you popped in and sorry you’re down for the count with #5. Take care of yourself.

I was sorry to hear about the oncologist in your office being diagnosed with cancer. That has to be a major hit in the gut knowing what he/she knows about cancer. Once of the nurses in our oncs office was just diagnosed with breast  cancer, and she’s pregnant FUBC!!!!! 

Therese- So glad the ds is doing better. And whistling…how great…I never did learn how to do that.

Peg- WhooHoo on the last one being just around the corner. Thanks for your good wishes. I hear ya on just wanting these expanders out!!!!

PALady- Yep, of course you have time to send me your cards. I’ll be sending Secret Pals out April 30th.  Glad your rads is going well and that your BRCA came back negative, but bummer about the poor sore nipple. With my port being accessed daily, the passenger side seat belt rubs me wrong, so I have to hold it away from myself. When I can drive, my mounds are so sore I still have to hold it away from myself. Can’t wait for this part to be done.

I missed the 60 Minutes episode, but sounds fascinating, and way better than rads and chemo.

Did I miss a dream reference? Paula mentioned it.

Patty- WhooHoo!!!!!! That is such great news on the vettesis front…now she can concentrate on getting those boobs taken care of and move forward.  Whew!!!!!

Kathy- Sorry the shopping trip was a bust. I haven’t had much luck in the shopping arena either. I guess I’m going to wait for a few months after I’m done to see if things settle down as far as water weight etc… 

Glad your friend’s Beef and Beer event was a success.

Remember, your body is still recovering, so take it easy when you can.

I was sorry to hear of your gf’s mom passing.

Julie- Hey, posting from the fog, I’m impressed.

Wow, you guys were chattin’ up a storm this weekend.

Take care all, see ya in the am.

The ds and girlfriend are here for dinner, so got to go.

SIS Kimberly

morning all, ok I start  Taxol tomorrow first of 12.  My question for the veteran Taxol users is.... should I start the lax/softener today, like I did with the AC?  Or does Taxol not affect the system like that?

Good Monday morning everyone.  Where did the weekend go???  We (collectively speaking for the entire state of MN) have finally joined you in Spring.  Yesty was a lovely day, although quite warm in the sun.  Temps were about 72.  Even took the Harley's out...I couldn't believe I was strong enough to do that.  My right arm (c-side) is a little more swollen (le?) and still has some numb spots on the inside of the bicep.  Don't have quite the ROM that the left arm does.  But, I did it!  It felt great, we just took it easy, tooling around the city.  Everybody and their brother was out...where did all these freaking people come from, anyway??  Oh yeah, wait, they were always here...just shut in for the winter...

Kris -- I tried to go without the AC drugs (ativan, compazine and zofran) on the first round of Taxol...big mistake!  I quickly got back on that wagon and fared much better.  I find that these meds are what gives me the bowel issues.  So, yes, I did take my miralax as usual.  As a note, I found I didn't need the meds as long as with AC.  Hopefully, you will find you can back off a day or two.  You will need an ample supply of Motrin (or whatever your onc suggests for bone pain and aches) and Tylenol.  Will you be getting the neulasta shot the day after?  If so, you really want to stay regular with the ibuprofen.  Don't forget to take (provided your onc says it's ok) an allergy pill every day, like clairitin or zyrtec (now otc).  Good luck!

Will check in later - have a great day all!

Tina 

Kris, weekly Taxol is pretty mild, but yes, it will likely plug you up (they also give me Zofran during chemo, and I think that has the same effect). Still, I find that the day after, I'm a little plugged, the second day, very plugged, and second night I take a Senekot (not even the recommended 2). By third day I'm getting back on track.

You can be more proactive if you like, but personally, I'd rather be a little plugged than running for some random McDonald's bathroom ....

I've had zero nausea with Taxol, so you might consider going light on the anti-nausea drugs. I know it's better to prevent it than to try to fix it, but the onco. assured me that it is a very rare SE of Taxol. He was right, at least for me.

Again, Taxol will knock your red blood cell count down, so try to be proactive in getting dietary iron throughout the day (a little bit here and there) so you don't need any Procrit or transfusions. Procrit is a very controversial drug and I would personally avoid it at all costs. It does help your body make RBCs, but it also is implicated in helping tumors grow, and besides it takes a week or two to work its magic, so it's no fast fix like Neulasta is for WBCs. Try to get a little exercise every day or every other day too, this stimulates bone marrow to work.

The onco. nurses keep telling me that weekly Taxol has a very cumulative effect. Particularly with fatigue. I've found after 9 of them that my legs are always tired, but the rest of my body has plenty of energy. I think it has to do with the fluid retention. Keep an eye on that one too, ankles, feet, and calves particularly. 

Good luck. Taxol's a breeze compared to AC. 

Here's some interesting stuff about fighting fatigue:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/american-ginseng/AN01831/rss=1 

Kimberly, I would definitely ask for a scrip for Emla cream.  I put it on about an hour before my appt, tape a little saran wrap over it, as I put it on thick, and I feel "NOTHING" when they poke me.  Although you'll hopefully only be dealing with a few more pokes in the future I think its worth it even it was just once that it hurt like heck.

Later, back to work, better accomplish a little more this afternoon!!!!

Carol

Hi girls -- just a quick check-in from the fog. I've been sleeping off and on today. I'm a little worried about tomorrow since the "passing out" issue last time. The dh will be staying with me through tomorrow's anti-nausea/IV infusion - we're hoping it's uneventful!!

Thinking of all our Jewels going for tx tomorrow! {{{HUGS}}} to everyone!

Julie

Dear Jewels,

My dear friend Val died this morning at 8:30.



Thanks so much for all your support and thoughts and prayers going out to me & Val. It means so much to me. Your words are like arms around me.



Her funeral will be Friday. I've already got someone to drive me.



I can't help think that if I hadn't gotten cancer I wouldn't have you all in my life to help carry me through this. Maybe everything does happen for a reason.



Thanks for being there.



Maz

Hello Jewels, wanted to share my feel good story of the day, I received the following e-mail from my friend who is walking the 3 day.  Thought I'd share, as I was pretty touched.  So here it is ...

"Things are going well on my end.  I'm up over $1500 now.  I have to tell you, it's been amazing.  I have met so many people that have had breast cancer and/or walked the 3 day at some time in the past few years.  One in particular, Pamela, who works at Curves.  She had breast cancer about 10 years ago and she and her husband walked the 3 day about 3 years ago.  She has been wonderful in giving me pointers and suggestions.  She said it was an amazing experience.  So, when I talked to her I asked if I made a flyer would Mary & Kim (the owners) hang it up so that I could let others at Curves know what I was doing.  She wasn't sure, but the next day I brought in a flyer I had made - I printed my website out, added some tags with my e-mail address, and wrote some notes on it...all on a pink background.  Mary and Kim were not there, but Kathy took it and said she would show it to them and they would have to make the final decision.  (There is a community flyer bulletin board at Curves now, I was thinking would be a logical spot). Well, (I am making this a really long story, but it is cool)...I came in the next day and went to the bulletin board and it is not there, I'm thinking crap, they must have some policy about not hanging up stuff like this, I checked the other spot by the door...not there...I'm thinking, I'm gonna have to have a chat with Mary and Kim.  I did my workout - I worked hard - cuz I was kinda pissed that they didn't hang my thing up.  Well, I went back to stretch out and there is an entire bulletin board with pink paper background and my flyer in the middle (nothing else on the bulletin board) then a big heading above it "Help Carol Win Her Fight Against Breast Cancer" and they noted you were a member.  I was blown away it was so cool.  Just had to tell you!  You need to come in and see it. 

So as the story goes, I stopped by Curves on my way home from work, havn't been there in some time, had a big hug from one of the gals who I always enjoyed chatting with while working out.  I had my camera in the car (had been taking pics of some furniture!!!), thought I'd get a pic of my friends fundraising efforts.  It is truly amazing how such a dreaded disease can bring so many together.  I'll be making sure that I stop in again to thank the owners for their support.

Anyways, need to read todays post, probably will be shouting out during DWTS tonight!!

Later, Carol