The Chemosabe March Cruise

Wow, I had not thought about it, but my last chemo was at the end of June (not sure of the day), so would be any day now. I know I had three weeks off and started rads.

My BS is just having me have a mammo once a year. She mentioned a breast MRI a few months ago, but nothing about it last time. Mine was so painful for me, I don't know if I should bring it up or not. Of course, I only have one boobie left to mammo.

I need to get a colonoscopy, a pap smear (I wonder if I could schedule the pap for the same time as the mammo?), another thyroid u/s (they are just watching since I have a cyst on one side and a nodule on the other), and who knows what else. Well, tomorrow I see the cardiologist... just a regular appointment. Nest month my onco, because I missed the last one accidentally.

I'm glad most of us are doing relatively well. Marsha, how are things coming in your tx? I've been thinking about you. I hope you're almost done.

Heres to a wonderful summer for all!

Love you,

Miss S

Happy 4th Ladies!

Here in Canada, I watch PBS to see all the exciting fireworks and bands.  Do you all have parades and picnics?!

Christine ;-) 

Well, any country that invented Super Target knows how to party - for sure!!

Be safe!  I'll listen for the fireworks. . . we have the Calgary Stampede starting tomorrow, so everyone will be pretending to be cowboys for two weeks.  Not my thing - I live in the middle of cattle country, so I'm surrounded by real cowboys all year.  

Christine ;-) 

Thanks everyone for asking about me. Maxgirl - great news about your skin thickening receding! And for those of you with the cancerversaries  - Yippee!!  Each year with clean tests is one year closer to  passing that high risk mark!  I'm happy that everyone seems to be doing so well.

Only two more chemos for me! I start my July 2 week cycle next Wednesday, then I have another in August. After that,  I'll have all my scans again, and THIS TIME they will be CLEAN!  I saw my onc this week, and he said that since I've had my max of rads, that I can probably be left alone for awhile after August, with watchful waiting.  He did order an MRI of my head for next week, because I have such horrible headaches and blurry vision, but we both think it is probably just that I''ve had so much chemo. His words, to be exact were,"Let's just make sure that there is nothing stupid in there."  OK by me, I'll take all the tests I can at this point, just to make sure!  Happy 4th of July, everyone! (It sure was hot here in Texas!)

Marsha 

Hi Gals!

Maxie, I am tickled pink that your thickening is thinning out! *cartwheels* And England!! How wonderful! I was able to visit England years ago when I lived in Germany. It was one of my top five favorite places in Europe..... absolutely loved it. The people were so friendly! I hope you have a wonderful time.

I have no news about my heart. I am taking a handful of pills every morning, and I do think that has helped me, but my LVEF remains the same. It's a little disappointing, but I really am grateful that it's not getting worse!

Marsha, I'm so glad you're nearing the end of chemo. I tell you, least year is such a blur to me. I remember lots of things, but lots is lost, as well. Chemo is some harsh schnit. I am praying for clean tests from you as soon as you're able to get them. I must add that I just recently read about Twink and I am just heartbroken for her. I saw her beautiful picture (and her kids) on the Who's who thread. I can't even believe she has mets already. How did that all happen so fast? I hope she starts to get better news soon, as everything seems so bleak. I know she is a friend of yours, and I just wanted you to know I'm praying for her, as well as you and out Chemosabe ladies.

Nancy, good to hear from you.... so you figured out the shampoo! Wonder why I didn't think of that? I have been trying all sorts of products with the flat iron, to iron away the frizz in the front. It works when the girl at the salon does it.

Christine, I wouldn't mind if you found a cowboy for me. 

Love to all,

Miss S

BSGI = Breast Specific Gamma Imaging. I have extemely dense breast tissue, so the radiologist recommended a BSGI in addition to the m'gram. it's like a PET scan, but just localized to the girls. you have to sit still for about 20 minutes per side.

the m'gram found nothing. the BSGI found a something, so the radiologist recommended an MRI -- which, wow was that uncomfortable. all i could do was just close my eyes and recite bible verses -- all is clear. yippee!

i go see my BS quarterly, and he does an ultrasound each time. my onc is every 6 months, i think. not sure if my rads onc wants to see me again.

yay, marsha! almost done!

yay, england! going there again is on my bucket list.

i still use nioxin, and i use the kind for chemically treated hair, as back in march my DD turned to me, and said, "You're 55, right?" NO. I am FORTY-FIVE. So i immediately called my hairdresser and had her color my hair back to brown, as it came in chinchilla colored....

hope the colonoscopy went well. i have a spastic colon, so it was not fun when i had one.  

Teri -- Congrats on the all-clear; that back and forth must have just drained you.

 England again was on my bucket list too.  I've been to London twice (with a side trip to Stonehenge), but this is my first venture to other places.

Christine -- I had a cream tea once before, outside Windsor Castle, but that was years ago, and I'm so looking forward to another one, or maybe two.

 Have a wonderful time in Maui!

Nancy -- Glad to hear you got the all-clear, too.  I'm on a 3-year rotation because I had polyps last time -- I hope they don't make me have one more often because of the BC.

Great idea on the shampoo, and it's wonderful that it's working for you.  Blame chemo brain for not letting you think of it sooner!

 MissS -- It's good that your heart is stable -- I hope with time you can boost the LVEF.  Is the lymphedema giving you trouble?  I'm trussed up in Kinesio tape to get the lymph moving from under my armpit and across my back.  It seems to work pretty well.

 Marsha -- Did you start the two-week cycle yesterday as planned?  I hope it's kind to you, then only one more to go!

 Saw my BS today and she was happy that the US confirmed that she was right and the oncologist was wrong.  LOL  Next month is actually the double squeeze mammo -- I had the single in Feb.

MissS -- I went to two different LTs before my breast surgeon recommended the one I go to now. What a difference!  She's much more hands-on and has taught me so much I can do for myself.  I hope you find someone who works for you.  I'm down to a visit every other week now, so she can monitor my self-management.

Too funny about being scheduled for the PET scan when you said you didn't want it.  I'll have to try that with my docs -- say A when I want them to say B.

'm with you on not getting scans unless there are symptoms, but it can be nerve-wracking with that sword hanging over our heads.  My friends and family are aware of my checkuips every 3 months, and they've breathed sighs of relief when they've been all clear, but basically it's just checking blood work and the boobs, so my sigh of relief is a lot smaller.  

Hi everyone - thanks to all who have asked about me. I haven't done any posting in a long while, I guess I've been feeling kinda down and didn' want to bum everybody else out!  Yes, only one more chemo to go!!!!!! I'll do my 14 days in August, and should be through around the 20th. WOOHOO!!!! Nancy - congrats on your last Herceptin. Fill those Tuesday mornings with something fun to do, something yummy to eat, or just sleep in!! (or all three)

I had an onc appointment today, and my doc was away at a conference, so I saw someone new. For the last couple of weeks, I have been feeling a hard spot in the axilla area, close to the spot where the last tumor was, so I had her feel it. She felt it, too, but couldn't say for sure if it was related to the node dissection surgery that I had or something new. I have to admit that I have a bad feeling about it, although I know that it could just as easily be scar tissue, etc. Anyway, I will have scans in 4 weeks, right after my last chemo, so we will just have to wait and see. DANG IT!!!!  I HATE THE UNCERTAINTY OF THIS DISEASE. Couldn't I at least get through with this round of treatment before having to worry about it AGAIN????

Phew - sorry about that rant, ladies, but I just had to TELL SOMEBODY. (Haven't mentioned it to anyone else, no sense in them having to worry about it for 4-5 weeks.)

Miss S - good luck with your lympho arm..  My arm always FEELS swollen, but doesn't actually look swollen. Just lots of tingling and needle-like pains. I guess that's probably just nerve regeneration or something.

Hugs to everyone - hope you are all enjoying your summer and staying cool. It's blazing here in Texas!

Marsha 

Marsha, you are so right about this disease and the uncertainty.  Every ache or pain makes you wonder.  I'm so sorry that you have been feeling down...hugs and prayers being sent your way.  I'm voting that the hard spot is scar tissue or a pocket of fluid.  I had one in my axilla area that turned out to be a fluid pocket...it took about a year to go away.  The surgeon drained it once.  He was able to see it on an ultrasound, maybe you could ask for an untrasound sooner to check it out.  Please keep us informed and know that we are here for you.

Patti....I just watched the video and you did an awesome job!  I must admit that I did cry.  I love your hair, it looks marvelous and your girls are real beauties.  You are truly blessed.  Enjoy the new job....I'm sure you will do a wonderful job.

Now off to planning next Tuesday....sleeping late, planning lunch and going shopping or maybe a pedicure

Love and hugs,

Nancy

Hi, all --

Nancy -- Congratulations on your final Herceptin!!  One more medication and one more type of medical visit out of your life -- wonderful!  Enjoy your free time.

Marsha -- It's so not fair that you're going through this worry before you finish treatment.  The tingling and pain could be lymphedema, and so could the lump under your arm.  The swelling I get in my arm isn't very obvious, though it can be measured, and I get pockets of fluid on the left side of my breast and above it that feel lumpy and that I have to work on. If you ask for a referral to an LT, they could also let you know if the lump under your arm is likely to be lymphedema-related.

 I know what you mean about not telling friends and family about what's going on, so they don't go through the hellish wait too, so rant away here whenever needed!   It's a nightmare.  Hugs and prayers as yoiu go through this.

 Patti -- You're an inspiration -- the video was so touching and you handled it so well.  Congrats on the resulting job offer, too.  It sounds like the start of many good things.  (And your girls are beautiful!)

Angel -- WTG on the all clear!!  And sorry to hear about the multiple charges -- what a pain!  It's interesting how you hear about things when you can't do anything about them.  I swear I always get mixed-up bills, etc., on Friday when I get home from work, so then I can't do anything about them for three days.  Grrr.  I sure hope your friend sees the light about getting checked out.  Even if this time it's just a cyst, who knows about the next time.

England was wonderful -- we just got home yesterday. 

 Highlights -- 

York, a great walking city.  The center of the city still has most of its original medieval walls, and you can walk around through hundreds of years of building architecture.  Took a side trip to Newcastle to see a friend, who took us to walk Hadrian's Wall and look out over the moors.

 Liverpool -- John, Paul,George, Ringo -- what can I say? Took a tour of John and Paul's childhood homes where they composed many of their early songs together.  The tour guide said they had to ban cell phones because women of a certain age would call their girlfriends and scream, "You'll never guess where I am -- in Paul's bedroom!!"  LOL

 Bath -- The Roman baths and all the places Jane Austen went to and wrote about.  

Keenie -- We did have a cream tea in Bath -- yum!!

From there we took day trips to Stonehenge (you can almost feel the 4500 years of its history), Winchester Cathedral where Jane Austen is buried, and Salisbury Cathedral, which is absolutely breathtaking.

London -- We'd seen the major attractions before and we there only 36 hours, so we walked around Westminster, and also saw Churchill's underground war rooms, and a fantastic musical production of "Billy Elliott".  That's a great movie, too, if you haven't seen it.

I'll post a link when I get some pictures up.  BTW, the British Rail system was wonderful -- clean, comfortable, on time, and very helpful employees.

 Hugs,

 Max

Hi Ladies - Like so many, I haven't been reading or posting much here in a long while.  I spend my time more on the Triple Neg board.  It is good to catch up what is going on with everyone.  July 15th was teh one year cancerversary of the start of my 31 rads.  When September rolls around  - I will finally feel like a one year survivor!

 All is mostly well with me - finally got rid of the horribly unsupportive and mean boyfriend of 13 years.  I feel good about that though still sad at times.  My kiddos are great - son had a summer job in Arizona and returns home in 2 weeks to get ready for college year #2; and daughter is still in NYC finishing up her Master's degree.  She is in love and has adopted a puppy which is so sweet. She, too, will be home in 2 weeks for a nice visit.

 Work is good, rewarding and challenging.  Adjusting to life as a single woman...it's great during the week, but hard on weekends.  

No health issues that I know of - see my onc every 12 weeks and BS in between those visits.  So far, so good.  Waiting for the 'ok' from the BS so I can proceed with bilateral reduction and lift.  Still too much scar tissue.

Sending all my love and hugs to you...

Holly 

Holly...good to hear from you!  Sorry about the boyfriend but it sounds like you are much better off without him....his loss.  I know you are looking forward to your kids visit...enjoy.

Miss S...hope you can find something fun and exciting to do in Sept.

Nancy

Welcome home Christine, we missed you.  So happy to hear you had wonderful time...do post some pictures.  School started here on Wednesday...there were some mighty unhappy kids in the neighborhood.

 Nancy

Hi girls,

Here's a link to some pics of us on our holiday.

http://gallery.me.com/chemguy1#100017

We had a wonderful celebration of our 25th anniversary.  

Christine ;-)