Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Well, I'll just attempt a quick post tonight - may I can do that, maybe I can't as I'm not usually good at brief. Jan, thanks so much for the report on your stage 2 - and Viddie, you too, and glad you are home and doing well. You guys and Lynn really make me want to push on through the "what am I DOING?" stage. I can't believe you are all through your stage 2 and I still am waiting, but it is really coming up fast. Thanks for your support, all of you.

Tina, glad you like your new oncologist. You don't necessarily need the big cheese to get good care - sometimes they are busier, and you good more attention from someone else. Anyway, it sounds like you are in good hands, so far.

Caya, what did the PS say?

Nancy, so good to hear from you - I've been wondering how you are. Glad Jeff is employed so you have a little breathing room before making more decisions. I'm having more hot flashes lately too, but figured it was because the weather is heating up. My nails are brittle, and I went to the dentist yesterday and they found one of those places where the enamel had chipped off like you had. I'm doing the fluoride stuff too.

Melia, glad you're staying with us - we love you.

Mary, hope your dinner goes well.

Joni, great to hear from you also - sorry you're having issues with your chemo, though. I'm impressed you are out there gardening - don't overdo it - but it is probably good to be doing some normal things, isn't it, things that make you happy. How are you feeling? Do you have enough hair to wear, or are you wearing a wig or scarf? I'm still wearing the silly wig - I'm sort of at the bushy stage now with the hair, and it's really bad. Mary and Skye, I can relate.

Everybody I missed, I love you too.

See I'm no good at brief posts. I had a horrible day today - I'll try to tell it in a nutshell. First of all, four horrible work days in a row, getting up at 4AM, and no naps this week, so I was tired. This morning I got up early to drive into the medical center by 8:00 for my stress test, after not getting any sleep last night because I forgot to take my pain meds yesterday morning. Anyway, I was tired and rushing, and I poked myself in the eye with my mascara brush. I HAD to be at the stress test, though, so I drove over an hour in rush hour traffic unable to open my left eye, which was tearing and hurting like crazy. Got to the cardiologist's office and there was no one there except 6 patients. Finally they arrived, and we got started....slowly. Then I did the stress test, which was really uncomfortable (I did the chemical one). All this time my eye is just killing me, so I finally decide to see if I can find an eye dr. to see me, since it's a weekend, and after going into several huge offices, I finally found one guy who was willing to, if I was willing to wait around for a couple of housrs till he was through with regular patients. So, I sat there, getting more and more miserable, until finally he saw me, gave me some drops and a contact to put over it, and (worst of all) told me I had to come back in the morning! By this time, it was 5:20, and I was long overdue for my preop - and they close at 6:00. I made it, but just barely. Got my third blood draw of the day, and an xray, and filled out medical info forms for the third time today. Then I drove home in rush hour traffic.

And tomorrow, we have to drive over to see my mother in law.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Hello Ta Tas,

I had a good meeting with the new PS yesterday.  He is from Holland, very nice.  He looked me over and told me in his opinion I would not be happy with just an implant, because it would be difficult to match the other side.  It also would be difficult to get it as large as my other boob (which is now a D cup after the reduction, and I like this size - don't forget I was a 34 G-H beforehand).

As the other PS told me, I no longer have enough belly fat to do a DIEP since I had the lipo on my tummy at the same time as the BR - this PS chuckled when I told him "When would I ever think to save my excess avoir du pois because I would need a new boob?" He does not like the fat from the rear end surgery (at least for me) either.  Which left the lattissimus dorsi flap - this is where they pull the muscle from the back right under the skin and put it under your chest muscle - in most cases, unless you have very small breasts, they also do an expander and then an implant exchange. He said because of this muscle, the breast has a more natural droop than just a plain implant. He also felt with this type of recon. he would more than likely be able to match the size and shape of my good boob - so he would maybe just have to do a small lift and maybe a little trimming of the left boob - but not a whole big reduction again.

I asked him about recovery time, muscle loss etc.  He said in his experience the recovery is about 6 weeks, the surgery is not as difficult as a DIEP, and that unless I do heavy duty skiing, mountain climbing, tennis, ( uh, def. not me) then I should be fine.  So it gave me alot to think about.  I made another appointment in early July (he had appointments sooner, but they didn't work for me) to take the DH and then he will show us pictures of befores and afters of the lat. dorsi surgery.  When I discussed this with Allan he said he really doesn't want me to do anything, that I've been through enough and I look great.  But I still want to investigate it all.  I wouldn't do anything until Spring 2009 anyways, when I will be over 2 years out from dx/tx.

I think I am going to post on the breast reconstruction thread to ask for experiences of other women who have had this type of reconstruction.

Otherwise -

Joni - sorry your liver is acting up but I am sure the dr. will figure it out.  You are having great weather - it's colder and rainy hear again.

Nancy and Melia - bummer about the teeth issues.  Mine have been okay so far - I didn't realize that people has enamel problems and breaking teeth from chemo.

Mel - you certainly deserve a nice quiet weekend to recuperate from your crappy day yesterday.  Try to relax - and stay away from the mascara wand.

I'm going for my 2nd hair trim since chemo ended later this afternoon - my hairdresser is great, he knows when I say trim, I mean - like practically nothing.

Have a great weekend gals.

Joni, thinking of you.  You never complain but it must be hard.

Mel, that is scary drivng with one eye in Houston!  I know the traffic and the drivers.

Caya, I was really thinking of the dorsi flap originally until I heard about the drains - did they tell you how many you would have and for how long?  Also I am quite active so I was a little worried about that, but I think that surgery appealed to me more than the others.  Unfortunately, the idea of drains scared me although it is just a temporary thing.

I am waiting for my dinner company to come.  The priest called and said he was overwhelmed at work and not able to make it.  I was disappointed but am still hoping for the deacon and his wife.  I decided when I invited these people that I would just trust that the right people and mix would show up, so that is where I am standing.  My son called in between his "class" and meeting with the deacon and he sounded like they enjoyed their day.  It is threatening rain but hopefully we can get the bbq in.  My son goes back to Houston tomorrow - that will be sad. 

Joni, crash when you need to.  I've been doing that.  I did it today.  I know I'm not 100% right now and I do realize it's a cold or sinus infection, but must admit to being a little more paranoid than I'd EVER be before due to heart issue...  I feel like I have to heed the signs more so now than ever...

Caya, I am envying your "day of beauty".  I soooooooo need one.  I literally have't had a pedicure since before last June when Jaclyn accidentally jumped on it and I lost m toenail.  Lynn, was it you who was saying your nails are real thin now?  Mine had been and just now, are starting to look more normal.  Now just to find a good root colorist...I'll be good to go.

Hi Tatas,

Well I finished my afghan;

This first link is the pattern and what it is suppose to look like:

http://www.coatsandclark.com/Crafts/Crochet/Projects/Print+Ads/LW1527+Sunrise+Sunset+Afghan.htm

This is the picture with my little Model Thor:

"

Joni, the afghan is gorgeous!  You should really be proud.  And Thor is so handsome.

Mary, I think that deacon just wanted to do what he wanted to do this weekend - very inconsiderate considering the traveling involved to meet with him.  Can you get someone else?

Tina, I also have not had a manicure or pedicure for a year or more.  That is on my list to do before surgery, but may not get done.  Time is short.

Everyone have a good week.

Joni, wow, that afgan is beautiful!  I'm impressed!  I don't think I would have the patience..way to go!  Thor makes such a handsome model!

Viddie - glad that you are doing so well and are pleased with the results. I feel pretty good - not ready to go running yet, but at least my energy level is coming back. I didn't have any lipo - it sounds like that is the most painful part. The only thing that is really bothing me is the chest muscle that he had to move because it had retracted. Felt like someone hit me in the chest with a baseball bat, but it's getting better.

Hi ladies,

I'm writing from Minneapolis where I went with DH for a short getaway, since he had a conference here at a nice hotel. DS is home keeping an eye on things for us.



Viddie I'm so glad it all turned out well for you, even matching the hips! I'd say use the Vicodin as long as you need to; no need to suffer for beauty.



Jan, it sounds like you will be climbing rocks soon again, even with the retracted muscle (ouch). I'm amazed at how well all of you gals are getting through these operations.



Mary, poopers on the priest. I bet you are one heck of a hostess and he missed a wonderful meal and time.



Joni, that afghan is lovely. I am baffled at how you create a pattern like that with the stitches. I love the subdued color scheme too. Are you feeling better now that you're off the Taxol? Is that a permanent thing? Or will he put you back on later?



I have to say that my hip is not as painful now I've been off the Femara for 4 or 5 days. If it continues to get better I guess that will be the culprit...but then what will he put me on? It's a relief to be able to sleep on that side.. My arms feel better too.



Anyway, I'm having dinner at a friend's here tonight while dh does conference stuff, and may have to hit Mall of America sometime too. Another friend is giving me a tour of the strange side of the city tomorrow. And I had good news this weekend; my niece had a healthy 7 1/2 pound baby boy after a very long, aggressively induced labor. She had started getting pre-eclampsia so we were a bit worried but all is well. - Skye

Hey girls,

Jeez, Rebecca, I didn't realize your PET would be done THAT fast.  I'm glad for you that it was.  I think your anxiety is just the typical scanxiety.  Any time we have one of these g.d. tests, it crops up.

Skye, enjoy the "Mall".  I've yet to get there.

Nothing too new here.  DH is here and it's realllllly nice.  He took the commuter bus today and was home, IN DA HOUSE!!! at 6 pm.  Shocking.  I made some really good chicken burritos and boy, is it nice to have him around.  It sucked all these years waiting until 8 pm and after, literally Mon thru Fri nights.  I keep telling him there's a reason we are here...

Great tip Jan...I have not been much troubled by hot flashes since my cycles resumed...lucky me, I get to "do" menopause twice!  YAY BC!!!

I am just back from the PS, and he took out my stitches.  He said it looks good, and my tissue pathology AND microbiology were both completely and unambiguously clean.  Not sure how I managed not to get an infection with that open wound, but somehow I did it.  I have a seroma, but it is not too bad and does not cause me discomfort, so he is just going to watch it and see if it resolves on its own.  I asked him about what the next step is, and he confirmed that he thinks the lat flap is the best option for me, but he would have to send me out for it (and then he gave me a history of flap based reconstruction and how it corresponds to his education to explain why he does not do it LOL).  I asked him about DIEP, and he said that he does not know anyone in NJ who does that, although I might be able to get someone if I go to Sloan Kettering.  I have a lot of time to figure it out...he does not even want to really start thinking of anything until after the summer, which means that I am probably not going to do anything until around the holidays because of my work schedule.

As I have been typing this, Owen has been treating me to a fashion show....I got him a new bathingsuit for the summer along with some new tshirts and he is thrilled.  One bathingsuit has flames on it and he is insisting that it makes him run faster.  goofy boy.  On the other hand, he got kicked out of soccer practice at preschool because he can not handle it.  When it gets chaotic, he goes and hides in the corner, or bickers with his buddies.  Apparently we do not do well in team sports...Frances and Ana do not like them either. 

well anyway...off to find some lunch 

"God, this Ted Kennedy stuff is just dominating the airwaves.  I hate hearing everyone talk like he's dead.  It just so illustrates how cancer patients become almost like otherworldly beings vs. the main population.  I guess it just creates anxiety, hearing them talk in those terms." 

Tina, I couldn't agree more. I was at the gym when I saw it on the TV. Of course here in Boston, it's all that's on. And of course, there are all kinds of medical experts on telling what they think the prognosis is--not really knowing of course. And then there are the anchors who are now "cancer experts" who are talking about how he only has months to live and how this is a "bad" cancer. And all the folks who keep saying how strong he is and how he's a fighter---as if this will help him beat this.

Yeesh! I realize it's a completely different diagnosis, but I agree, it's hard to listen to people who have him dead and buried already. I feel terrible for his family. There are swarms of reporters outside the hospital--and of course all the talk about the terrible prognosis. Must be even harder to take in the public eye.

Okay, I'm off my soap box. Clearly this hit a nerve.

Amera

When I spoke to the nutritionist at Dana Farber last year, she was all fired up about Vitamin D and prevention of recurrence. I was not in the mood to take any extra pills so I held off. I cannot remember the dose, but I think it was a lot. I did ask my Dana Farber onc who didn't seem to put much stock in it. Funny how they both work at the same place and couldn't agree on the protocol.

I totally agree with you all about the Edward Kennedy thing.  UGH I am so tired of listening to newscasters diagnose and treat the poor guy.  It is bad, that is obvious.  My Grandmother died of a glioma so I have first hand experience...and all I can say is leave them alone!  I heard that the press is camped out on his doorstep, which I find absolutely disgusting considering that he may be in his final months of life....let him LIVE and enjoy the time he has left!!!  UGH.

 Caya I saw (and read) your thread.  From what I read there and from what my PS told me I think the lat flap is a great option.  For me the challenge is going to be to find an experienced Dr that can do it for me.  According to my PS, it is a rather old-fashioned surgery...one of the earlier ones to be developed.  The abdominal flap supplanted it because you do not have to flip the patient, and as a result there is a whole generation of PSs that were not taught how to do it (mine included).  He thinks that he should be able to find someone to do it, but I have this sinking suspicion that it is NOT going to be local.  Honestly, in the frame of mind I am in lately if it is too much of a hassle I will just go flat and keep my boob in a box on my nightstand.  I am sooooo sick of Drs.

I am looking forward to freezing my butt off in a Vegas restaurant with you guys.....my mission today is to get my plane ticket!  Viva Las Vegas! 

Tina, as long as you have a vacation with your kids, I don't think it matters where you go.  I wish for those days back.  You spend 18 to 20 years with someone and then they fly away!  My younger DS called yesterday though - needed help filling out his tax stuff for work.  Well at least I'm good for something.