For those starting chemo in June

rlswkndr · January 2005

Hello ladies, Mary- You are a Godsend. What would your family and boss do without you?
Paula- Keep warm-I hear it will be about 20- it will be 3 here and wind chills 20-30 below-ugh-
Janie- we are almost done!!!!! Last ones on the board.
I have 2 left after today. I could have been done on Saturday, but my son leaves for Texas and I couldn't be at the airport if I had treatment- He won- I usually don't get to see him until May, but he and girlfriend are coming to Dallas when I am there in Feb for a conference- It is my birthday when I'm there.
My skin is holding up well. Just one spot where a shirt rubbed. They said it helped I didnt' wear a bra. I've gotten used to that and may find it hard to go back to wearing one!!
Renee

mary1220 · January 2005

Hey girls, Its raining (and flooded) sleeting and snowing. It was 62 yeaterday and 34 now. Its going to get to 9 I think. BURRRR!!!! (Gee they don't want us helping the clean up over there so bring our money and come home. Sorry news is on.) Hey Renee, 2 more, how great!!!! Sounds like you will have a great birthday this year. Janie I always think of crazy stuff like that cause if it can happen it will to me. I think its a sign of intellegence, don't you? Gotta get back to work. Stay warm girls, Hugs Mary

PJB · January 2005

Well, my sister's a rads graduate! She'll be deciding in the next month or so whether to do the Tamox. She came through it like a champ.

I'm feeling great. I really think it's partly the chemo finally getting out of my system and getting over the rads. Also I've been trying to do some walking lately and it makes me feel good. (If I stretch, otherwise I get the whole backache thing again)

Got a big trip planned for spring break with Nathan. Going to see my sister in Pa. and going to Philly and DC. I'm going. I don't care what happens, I'm going. I've had two trips ruined by bc. It's not going to happen again. I'm excited to do the whole history thing. Nathan's excited by the prospect of lots of gift shops.

You northern girls are really in for it. I hear the Madison high Friday's supposed to be 2 or so. I knew there was a reason I won't move up there.

You guys take care. Renee and Janie, are you excited? Mary, how're things? How's your dad?

Paula

janie44 · January 2005

Hi Guys,

On my way to the lymphedema clinic. Don't know what they have in store for me today. Then off to rads. Then home for the weekend. My first born is coming in this weekend.

Paula, have a ball on your trip. I have never been to Philly. I need to go north sometime. We flew to Boston and drove up the east coast one year, but I haven't been in many of the upper states. My kids have been more places than I have.

Mary, Mary, Mary, what can I say. You are a case and a half.

Renee, we are winding down. I can't believe the end of rads is so near.

Have a good day ladies.

Warm fuzzies,

Janie

janie44 · January 2005

Hi
I'm typing with one hand -- my left. The right is wrapped tight, including my fingers. It's really fun trying to write. I had massage and then got wrapped up in the clinic. This guy says I've had no business trying to work through all this. I am supposed to protect this arm against nicks, scratches, insect bites, muscle strains etc. He said if lymphedema gets out of hand, it can be life threatening. You know, once you already have something that is life threatening, one more thing doesn't get you all excited.

Warm fuzzies,

Janie

mary1220 · January 2005

Hi Girls, PJ sounds like a great trip. Nathan will have a ball. Take lots of pictures because I have learned that kids tend to forget all the educational stuff. They do however remember the neat stuff like water parks and a wreck you happened to come upon or the lame mangy dog that kept bugging you as it somehow got into the park without an owner.They don't see a 40 ft. statue of someone important but can find something neat that someone threw away on the ground.Yous will have a great time.Janie, you and your poor arm girlfriend. I feel so sorry for you. After all you have been through and you have this crap. I hope it gets better. I was at the hospital nursing home part with my boss. His wife is there and I take him everyday. A woman asked me about my b.c. and told me her sister made it past the 3 years of probable rerturn but only made it 5 years and she suffered so. I was soooo greatful she shared that with me. I have worked with people who had bone cancer and I am very aware what I will be in for no matter where it goes. I am greatful that she brought that out for me to think about the rest of the day.My poor husband got screamed at for talking basically. He just goes with it. I think he knows I have to get it out and go on and he just looks stunned, keeps his mouth shut and goes on. My dad got out of hosp. yesterday. His biop. was neg. so his prostate is fine just supper huge. His voice is still raspy and weak. I will get him in to an ear, nose and throat guy eventually. I had a grandson and my grandaughter lastnight and we went bowling. My neck is bothering me so I sat out and watched. I bought fat free salad dressing yesterday. I am proud! I don't like store bought but was in a hurry. I kinda like the extra weight cause I have a cleavage. One boob has a great cleavage and the other looks like its trying to catch up but it never will thanks to the surg. Its not a whole lot smaller but I can see it. Theres a little crease where they took the lump out and I was told they can fix that with plastic surg. I may check it out I don't know. Well girls, I am going to look into vacations and hopefully this summer we will get to go. I wouldn't bank on anything anymore. Later girls, hope you all have great wk. ends. HugsMary

janie44 · January 2005

Mary,

I know there's a HER2 board, but have never seen anything with HER2 people who tell when they were diagnosed and how long they were ned etc. Have you? I know the trials are new, but I would be interested in the stats, although I know the only one that matters is mine.

PJB · January 2005

Mary, great, i read about you buying fat free dressing right before I get ready to make chocolate chip cookies. You need a little extra weight to survive those cold temps. Yuk. I'm SO glad not to be living up your way anymore.

Glad your dad is out of the hospital. I hope he continues to improve.

And yeah, thanks to the lovely woman who shared that inspiring story with you. Geez, go unload it somewhere else, lady. I mean, I'm sorry for her, but she doesn't have to spread the bad news.

Janie, you'd better take care of that arm. Maybe you should win the lottery and just take it easy on a beach somewhere for awhile.

I'm feeling good. Walked 2 miles again today (hey, twice in one week is a record for me). Oh, and didn't i read something on the Net last week about some food being good for HER2 folks? Was it olive oil? Vitamin A? Something...

janie44 · January 2005

Paula, I did a search and found this:

"Did you know that olive oil can help prevent breast cancer?

According to the report written by a scientist of the Feinberg School of Medicine of Chicagoâs Northwestern University, the olive oil contains oleic acid which blocks the of a cancer causing gene called HER2/neu which was found in 30 per cent of women with breast cancer. "

Thanks, Mary and I are out buying a big bottle of it as we speak.

PJB · January 2005

Hey, thank goodness it's olive oil and not something like castor oil, right? A good reason to eat Italian.

You guys have a good evening.

mary1220 · January 2005

PJ, thats about enough of the walking and talking. If you walk please don't share that, Oh well, too late I feel lazy so I will think about a YMCA pass or one of the work-out places here. Da*m, I was doing good not thinking about my extra weight. Can I loose it and keep the cleavage? Seems I am staying at 140. Everyone keeps saying I look so good. Of course the eyebrows and lashes help a great deal. I have color in my face and my hair is getting a bit of curl in places, others are straight as an arrow. Only God knows what I will end up with.I think anything would look better than a few months ago. We watched fahrenheit 9/11 lastnight, pretty scary stuff. We really need a woman. Well girls I and my hubby eat a lot of olive oil. We eat bread and dipping oil at least once a wk. Tomatoes are anti cancer and I eat a lot of them In the summer I grow them and eat tomato sandwiches at least once a day and tomatoes and cottage cheese. I eat about 3 a day.I make all my dressings with olive oil and we cook with it always because its like draino for your arteries. We are not Italian but my husband cooks a lot of Mediterranean. Well girls eat the olive oil cause its good for your heart, it keeps the arteries clean, and maybe it helps the cancer. PJ, at least your out there walking off the cookies. I just have to get time, I will think about this and if thinking about it doesn't get too much for me I will think about doing something. I do go up stairs a lot at work and home. We are thinking of getting this house done and getting a one story house. We are going to Lowes and somewhere to drool over power tools(Sears) I think. We have a power tool for everything and some we don't use but we can always use more I guess. He never gripes about what I spend so I can't complain. He teases me about my shoes and I don't have that many, He has more than me! Well later little gators, Mary

PJB · January 2005

Well, Mary, lest you think I"m too virtuous: I've had a YMCA membership since May (right before dx) and I have NEVER gone. I guess I'd better either quit or start going. Sheesh.

Off to see a lame movie.... You guys have a good one.

mary1220 · January 2005

PJ, 2 miles, I am impressed. Its cold here but I will walk come good weather. With my neck I have a hard time working out. I use to a lot but then the pain got too bad after the arthiritis got bad. Amazing how anything you move affects your neck and upper back. I will try something. I have been doing some stretching and its bothering my neck. Just stretching my arms so my radiated side don't get stiff. Oh well. Flabby is as flabby does. Hangs around. I come up with stupid stuff some times, I scare me..Keep up the good excercise PJ, Mary

PJB · January 2005

Mary, the only walking I did today was to the movie theater concession stand to get some buttery popcorn.... Tomorrow (or the next day) I will do better. My onc is fairly adamant about the whole exercise thing.

Anyone else's hair sticking up straight and at weird angles? I guess I"m going for the funky look.

janie44 · January 2005

Mary, I have that same back/neck prob. Had it for years. Don't know what it is. My early bone scan showed arthritis in the shoulders & feet. We will not be able to distinguish any new bone pain. Oh well.

What movie did you see PJ? My middle child syndrome child talked me into going to the Bill Murray movie. It is about the worst one I have ever seen. A couple of women behind us laughed all the way through it. I just didn't think it was funny. Before that I saw the Aviator. It was good but too long. My back hurt before it ended.

My hair is black & normal in the back and gray & very thin on top. It is about an inch long and baby fine all over. Not thick enough to stick up.

rlswkndr · January 2005

We've been going to the movies too. It's too cold to do anything else. Loved Aviator- but it was long. National Treasure was great. Ocean's twelve- just ok. We go out to dinner before the movies so never get to enjoy the popcorn. I'm going to have to try it sometime soon.
I walk on the eliptical machine we have down stair.. and actually enjoy it. I have about 12 pounds to lose, then I am treating myself to a $140 purse I fell in love with. Fortunately all the cookies and junk are gone.
2 guys back at school and the one left doesn't eat many sweets- just ice cream so I won't be making any more goodies!
My fingernails are the pits!! They keep breaking off- like half the nail! I can't do anything that takes fine motor skills and its' driving my crazy. Can't even turn my watch to the correct time!I had such great nails before. Do you know how long it will take for them to be somewhat normal?
My hair is the same as Janie, dark in the back, thin and light on top. Ry gave me a little trim and it cut off some of the fine unruly grey stuff. Maybe it will grow out more even now. I only wear a hat to keep warm now. My friends are used to seeing hatless, but I get stares from others... oh well.. that's their problem.
Renee

mary1220 · January 2005

Well hello girls, I still wear my ball cap to go out cause I think people think I am gay, not that theres anything wrong with that but they stare. My bangs are still short so when they grow down a bit I will feel better. I don't look good without bangs. I think my lashes are a little fuller and thats good. My nails all broke and I have always had long nails. They are finally looking better now and growing good. They were kinda a funky color and ridgy. Janie I have wondered about my neck and shoulder pain too. I have arthritis in my neck too. It can cause a heck of a headach. PJ that movie popcorn is the best and it should be at the price they charge for it. Hope your staying warm Renee. It has been the pits with the cold and wind chill. Well, I don't know where I lost it today but I tried to clean and I did a little. I did a lot of laundry but my house doesn't look any better than it did this morning. Maybe I am not organized, maybe I went into a coma and don't know I did, I just have been busy but nothing looks better except the dust is gone. I did cook a fancy meal and it took some time but not that much. I mean the whole day is gone and I don't see much I have done. I am tired and feel like I have worked hard. I did put a birthday tray together for my sister(the good sister)Its a take a-long tray with a lid you can take a pie, treats etc. in it as we always have a pot-luck sorta get togethers and she always brings great pies. I filled it with chocolate soap, and chocolate bubble bath and candle and sponge and scrubbie etc. She has 3 kids and the oldest has C.P. and is in a wheelchair(shes 10) and my sister does a lot of lifting and she likes to get in the tub and relax. My sister is a great mother. I could not be a great mom to a disabeled child because I would feel to sorry for it. My sister treats her normal and she is a very bright kid and goes to school but she can't control her muscles. She had bleeding in the brain when she was born(early).She has surgeries almost every other year and requires a lot of Dr. visits but my sister runs her husbands dental office and the state program for dissabled children(to get programs for schools)and has a 6 and 4 year old also. I don't know how she does it. Well better go. Stay warm girls,hugs Mary

mary1220 · January 2005

Hi Girls, Well I asked about getting paid at least for some of my hours and working out a deal thats good for both my boss and me. Well Penny pincher said she knew I had medical bills but she can't help that and they don't need me at night. That doesn't affect my pay but I didn't even get a raise offer. I am pissed. I can't start out at what I am getting now somewhere else but I think I will get a loan and pay off the medical bills and go elsewhere to work. I am really hurt at all the extra hours I have put in and the family birthday parties I left early to go fix the T.V. for my boss cause he changed channels and couldn't see to get it back to FOX news, I would be 20 miles from our town at the time. I am soooo mad. I am going to talk to her again Thursday about a raise. I will walk off I just know I will. 10 years down the drain. This really sucks! She has pinched her last penny with me. More money for her. I really love her dad and mom. I just can't put up with her. Hugs anyway, Mary

PJB · January 2005

Mary, man, I was sure I responded to this earlier, but I guess I didn't hit something right. I'm glad you talked to the $itch and that you're going to go back again. She clearly doesn't realize all you do for them. I feel bad that you might have to be looking for new work soon. I know that's hard to do now (like it's ever easy) and with all the other crap you've gone through. Take care - and go get her!

My first post-chemo bloodwork came back A-OK. Now, my lovely annual visit to the gyn today. I was really getting used to the no-doctor life.

Stay warm, have fun,
Paula

mary1220 · January 2005

PJ, have you had any bloodwork done since stopping treatment? My onky did it last month right after rads. and my tumor markers CA 15-3 was 19.1, normal range 0.0 to 31.3 my CEA was 1.4, narmal range 0.0 to 5.0. Guess thats good but gonna ask onky in April when I go back what my markers say about my cancer retur time. I read where the markers can tell something about that. I also read where many things can cause the markers to raise like caffinated drinks and stress etc. Well gotta get back to work. Hugs, Mary

PJB · January 2005

My onc doesn't do the tumor markers. He says they're too unreliable and cause anxiety without much provable benefit. (The thought being, if it takes a few extra months to find mets that'll show up some other way, no big problem since they can't really cure them and would just treat them the same way anyway. now, i'm not sure i LIKE that, but i guess i understand it)

So they just tested red/white counts, liver enzymes, etc. Everything fine on that and at my annual exam.

mary1220 · January 2005

PJ, My onky said we would go by pain that doesn't go away too. I guess he is doing the markers also anyway I will ask about it.Took my boss to the Drr. today. He had an M.R.I. a couple wks. ago. The Dr. called and wanted to talk to him and me so we went. Now penny pincher knew about this visit and I asked if she wanted to go because I figured it might be bad news since they wanted us to come in and they asked for me to come but I always go everywhere with him. She did not not feel the need to go. Well my bosses spine, or vertebrae every single one of them in his spine is broke, cracked and they believe its a rare cancer called myloma, cancer of the bone marrow. It could be cancer of the spine(bone) also as he had prostate ca. about 4 or 5 years ago and had rads. Penny said how could it be his prostate ca. it's cured so I had to explain how it is cured this is in the spine from lost ca. cells that traveled so yea its cured this is now bone ca. (or Myloma.) I guess the Myloma or what ever it is, its very rare. The Dr. has never seen a case in our town. He has only seen 14 cases in big cities in his 30 years of practice. My boss has to be careful because his bones are so brittle. Penny is staying at night. And she should as she draws a paycheck the same amount as me and I never see her in my 18 and 20 hours I am there. I don't feel like I should ask for a raise right now. Heck specks I will never get one. Well we will know what kind of cancer we have going on with my boss by Mon. Maybe Fri. Dr don't know for sure. I told my boss he has joined my club. You are dieing to get in and die to get out. He said he was in good company.I just heard on the news a little girl from close by 7 years old got a fever that spiked to 107 in the night and she went into a sizure. Guess the mom didn't know. She sized for 7 hours. She is better and they flew her to St. Louis for physical therapy.They are having fund raisers to help with madical bills. She can't walk or talk. How sad your life could change so much so fast. I would guess she has brain damage too. You know I didn't get as upset about my boss as I thought I should. Am I getting comfortable with death? Does it not scare me? Have I excepted it? Maybe I have. Maybe I just don't want to deal with it until I really have to. I really don't know. Goodnight Ladies, Mary

PJB · January 2005

Mary, maybe it's just that you've had so much thrown your way in the last year, you're used to bad news and the need to go on with life despite of it..... I'm sorry to hear about your boss. I know you care for him. So I guess this means that altho maybe you're kind of out of the hot seat at the doc's office(and we pray that you continue to be), you'll now need to take him in a lot?

It is weird how life can change in an instant. A coworker's 15-year-old relative that she was very close to died in a house fire a couple nights ago. So much tragedy. And then there's the inauguration..... (sorry, no more political digs, i promise)

How's your dad Mary?

Off to work. Take care guys.

rlswkndr · January 2005

I am done with RADS!! YIPPEE! I don't have any Dr. appointments until Feb 3rd. What will I do with all that time not driving and waiting?
Last guy goes back to school today so he can get some work and studying done and it is supposed to snow 6-12 inches in the next few days- so get out while you can. It will be quiet again, very quiet as T is a CPA and not around much this time of year. I have lists of things I like to accomplish from now until April 15th and usually do pretty good at it. First is finish the scrapbooks I have started. My hands/fingers are hopefully good enough to do most of the stuff in putting them together. I have been crocheting tons of scarves and keep finding cool yarn to do more. I have given all of them away. I'm going to try a poncho for myself.
Probably need to go to the grocery store- along with the rest of the town- before the snow flies.
Renee

mary1220 · January 2005

Hey, Congrads Renee, Thats great. I remember when we were all scared to death to start all this crap. Amazing how brave we really are and durable. By the way seizure is not sizer or how ever my messed up brain spelled it. I must not of proof read. PJ, I think I am getting use to bad news. I think I would rather think bad and get a surprise than to think everythings o.k. and get dropped off a 20 foot building sorta speak. You realy crash hard sometimes. Hey; you can jab at George dubya all ya want.I'll even hold him still. Penny was saying today he has done so much for the country and I have been trying to think of something. If you think of something you might let the rest of us know.All I see is 4 more years of conflict and death in Iraq and s.s. going down the tubes. Thats just my thought. I feel sooo sorry for the families of our soldiers and the soldiers being in such turmoil and scared for their lives. Then they will come home all broken and our government will barely take care of them. I feel so sorry for our vets. O.K. I am done. Well girls, Better get back to work. Penny was over this a.m. and I just couldn't mention a raise. I need to. My boss spends $300.00 to $400.00 on cigars a month at least. He spends $120.00 a month on herseys kisses to give out at the nursing home to employees. He eats out every night with Penny and her family of 5 to 8 at restaurants like Red Lobster and better.One place he spends at least 350. for 1 meal for them.They eat there at least 3 or 4 times a wk. I better go I am just getting myself going again. When the weather says snow storm all the country people and elderly get out and get groceries and stock up. We are getting little amouts at a time the next few days. We have a couple inches now but its melting. It is raining now a little so it will get a little slick no doubt. I live in town so I have no problems. Sorry, Hugs Mary

janie44 · January 2005

Mary, I'm sending hugs your way. When it rains it pours, it seems.

Congrats Renee! I graduate Monday!

PJ, you're right about everything changing in an instant. My life was completely different this time last year.

Have a good weekend ladies. I'm off to get the car serviced.

Hugs,

Janie

mary1220 · January 2005

Well good Sunday morning girls,Well I will stop growling about my job. Thanks for listening though. My daughter Stephanie from Phoenix showed up on my door step Fri. It was a great surprise! She wanted to come home and see her grandpa. He looks better but doesn't get around a lot. He said the spinal has left him with bad back pain. He is off his celebrex too so that may be why the back pain. She left high 70's on Fri.and Sat. we had a storm move though and had 45 mile an hour winds with drizzle then snow. Visibility was 0. We were able to go and visit in the late afternoon as the weather got better. We have a family birthday party today and she goes back tomorrow a.m.It has been great having her home for a few days. PJ, your sister still doing fine? Renee, you are almost done, thank goodness huh? Well better go read the Sunday morning paper see whats new. Warm hugs, Mary

mary1220 · January 2005

I meant Jannie your almost done, I think they burnt some brains with the rads. Sorry, Half-as* Mary

PJB · January 2005

Congrats to Renee and Janie, just one more time. Woo hoo!

YOu guys are not going to believe what I did yesterday. After a day of running around to at least 10 different places around town, I sat down on the couch yesterday about 7. And looked at my feet. And noticed that i had TWO DIFFERENT SHOES ON! One a white tennis shoe and one a green and a little white tennis shoe! Did Nathan or my husband say a word to me all day? Nope. How embarassing. Well, at least I'm sure I brightened a few peoples' day with my irregular dress...

You guys up north stay warm. We're cold in the a.m. but warming up in the afternoons. Mary, so glad your daughter could come visit.

janie44 · January 2005

Mary, there was a report on the news about chemo brain. They claim we never get over it. I know. I didn't need to share that with you. I'm not so sure that is true anyway. I'm still addled but maybe not as bad as before.

PJ, maybe everyone thought you did it on purpose. It sounds like it may have been a cute style. At least, it matched.

I colored what little gray hair I have the same color as the rest so I could see how much hair I actually do have. I have much more than I thought but the top is still very thin. It was thinning before all this and I had to comb the back and side over it into bangs. I bet I have to wait for it to grow out quite a bit before I can go hatless. I miss my bangs. If I had a little more on top and bangs and huge earrings, I could just about do a French pixie w/o a hat. Of course my leg hair has returned. No arm hair yet but I don't think my right arm will have any. It doesn't even have sweat glands anymore.

My dumba$$ insurance will not precertify me to go back to the lymphedema clinic so I have arm bandages and do not know what I am supposed to do as far as when to wear them, when to go w/o them, when to go back to the sleeve etc. One onc nurse has lymphedema and told me she judges all that herself depending upon how she does. She told me to always wear a sleeve when flying.

Do you all have the fatique? I do not want to do anything.

Warm fuzzies,

Janie

For those starting chemo in June

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