Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part II -GAGWTA!

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

CherylDan - It sounds like you had a really nice day with DH! Good luck to him in his new job!

I keep telling myself that Mom's decisions are her own thing and I should stay out of it. She never listens to me anyway. She is listening (somewhat) when I talk with her about her treatment so I guess I should take that and be happy!

I am excited about Disney. A little worried about Mom since we know the first chemo experience doesn't indicate what the future ones will be like, but since she is finished with the first one I feel a little bit better about the trip.

I don't know what was up with the dryer yesterday, and then last night our burglar alarm was "chirping" for about 3 hours. The one big advantage to apartment living is that I can call maitenance today and it can be their problem!

 

[snappy]

Cheryl, your day yesterday sounds divine!!!

I second jackskellingtonsgirl's good luck wishes. I hope he loves his new job.

JKG, my drier stopped the night before our May trip. Luckily, I had finished all the clothes I neded to do before the trip.

I did not think of it while we were gone, but had to deal with it when we got back with dirty clothes. I used the washer and drier a good bit while we were in the BWV 2br unit but it was mostly to have clean clothes while we were there. I had told everyone to pack light (4 days worth of clothese) since all 6 of us were going to be jammed into the van on the way home.

I thought we were going to have to replace that old thing (we bought it in when we moved here in 1999), but that Kitchenaid keeps on trucking.

Had a minor repair bill and it is purring away again.

GAGWTA everyone.

Sha, your mom is on my mind today.

Laurie

 

[Sha]

Thanks Ladies! Mom sees the oncologist on Thursday. I am not sure if I will be with her at the time or not. I have already obligated myself to work as Thursdays are very busy with all the labs we have to do. I could meet her easily IF I get my butt moving early that morning. Thanks!

 

[laurabelle]

~~~***GAGWTA sistas***~~~
"I'm not going to waste my week on worrying about it!"

Cheryl- I'm so glad you are able to see the truth in that! Many times over the years I have had scares that end up being nothing and I feel so weird afterward for having spent too much time fantasizing that this is "it"...then bam! life goes on as usual. I'm left in such a strange state...happy but having expected the worst news, I have to step back and process it.
And you are right, this thread is smokin', I can't keep up!

Linda- Loved that Godwink! I'm sorry you're having pain. I know your job is physically demanding, hopefully that's the source...I pray it is. I hope you like your new onc!

Sha- I am keeping your mom in my thoughts and prayers...

Maureen- I love the idea of Sunday family dinners...I've often thought of it, but it's not feasible for us every week, but when you brought it up, a monthly dinner came to mind! We are having a joint birthday party next Sunday, I'm going to suggest it, thanks!

jackskellingtonsgirl- It's sounds like your mom is doing well. There's no way to tell what the future rounds will be like, for some people it's cumulative, but she'll also know what to expect in terms of side effects and what to do about them. I'm sure you'll be in close contact with her when you're away to keep her in line.

Laurie- I really loved that article...it's a keeper! Especially the part about meeting long term survivors when you're new at it. At my first RFTC I was day 16 on Taxol. They recognized survivors and how many years they had under their belt. There was a 30+ yr survivor there! I never knew... and it was the perfect time to find out! Thanks sista!

I'm feeling great! Down to 10mg of Prednisone! 4 weeks to go... Humira Rocks!
However hubby is having problems with his anxiety/panic attacks again. It's never completely gone away, but it has not been bad until now. I could tell it was coming. I told him the last time I was doing really well was when it started...strange. I wish he would talk to the dr. about it, but I also worry about finding the right treatment for him. My sister started getting acupuncture and she thinks it is helping her in a lot of areas. I mentioned it to him, not as a suggestion to him, but just to see what his reaction would be. He seemed receptive to it.
Do any of you have any experience you could share, with the attacks and treatment? Either here or you could PM me...

 

[lookingforward]

GAGWTA! I have caught up on the posts, it definately has been a busy weekend here on this thread.

My sunday dinner with my dad went really well. He liked the turkey. I developed a cold so we cut it short a little bit, but we all enjoyed it. Its a great tradition and it gets me into the kitchen a bit more which is a good thing.

My middle son left for Los Angeles yesterday. He is now at UCLA for a few weeks of acting classes. His roomate is from Italy which I think is so cool! He is having a good time. I am anxiously awaiting my daily phone call this evening. The classes are so intense they don't allow the students to have phones during the day. It took everything I had to let him board that American Airlines flight yesterday. I miss him already! One more week and I leave for California.

More later...dinner is here (Notice that I am NOT in the kitchen tonight). Gotta love take out.

 

[NHAnn]

Holy smokes...way too much to reply to right now so I will say a heartfelt GAGWTA!!!!


ChrylDan, I love your spirit, hang in there girl!!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

GAGWTA, Ladies!

Laura - I am so pleased that you are doing well! Lots of good thoughts for your DH!

Maureen - Glad your dinner went well! I hope you can kick the sniffles soon! I would have a terrible time putting DS on a plane! Your DS is going to have an amazing experience. Are you still going to join him for part of the time?

Sha - More good thoughts for your mom!

 

[CherylDan]

Just thought I'd pop in for quick hello!

Big storms here today, which left us without electricity for much of the day. I swear, it's just crazy how much we depend on electricity to do anything! I figured that since being at home was basically a waste of time, I decided to go do some errands. Of course, getting my car out of the garage required some thought, since our electric door opener wouldn't work. Called DH and he told me how to disable it, so all was well.

Laura, glad to hear your medication is working well for you.

Maureen, that sounds like such a great opportunity for your son! I bet the time will fly by.

Have a good night everybody! GAGWTA!!

 

[havinfun]

Cheryl-Dan
I'm praying for you. I hope it's just an infection.

Peggy

 

[havinfun]

Dawn - That makes complete sense. Mom said she was going to pick up some Claritin and keep it on hand. Her plan right now is to just see what happens in the next few days. Hopefully whatever happens won't be too horrible!

I hope your mom does not have the bone pain. I never had it when I was taking Neulasta. I think I didn't have it because I was taking Lodine for arthritis. Has your mom tried sucking on popscicles during chemo to avoid mouth sores? It didn't work for me, but it might for her. I had sores on my tongue during AC. Your Mom and all of us ladies are in my prayers. Peggy

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I hope your mom does not have the bone pain. I never had it when I was taking Neulasta. I think I didn't have it because I was taking Lodine for arthritis. Has your mom tried sucking on popscicles during chemo to avoid mouth sores? It didn't work for me, but it might for her. I had sores on my tongue during AC. Your Mom and all of us ladies are in my prayers. Peggy

So far she hasn't mentioned anything, but she isn't even a week out from her first infusion yet. I will definitely tell her about the popsicles.

 

[CherylDan]

So far she hasn't mentioned anything, but she isn't even a week out from her first infusion yet. I will definitely tell her about the popsicles.

I doubt it if its the same for everybody, but I found that my worst day (for bone pain & fatigue) was always two days after the chemo, and it got better each day after that. Since she hasn't mentioned anything yet, maybe she'll get to skip those crummy days - for this session, anyway!

GAGWTA!

How's everybody doing today?

 

[DeeCeeSW]

I sucked on popsicles for my first AC infusion and had no mouth sores. I did it again last week but no luck this time around. I developed thrush (yeast in my mouth) and swollen gums with a couple of sores. Nystatin cleared it up in 2 days time, thank goodness. The nurses do say it is good to have something cold in your mouth during the infusion; popsicles, ice water, ice chips, etc.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I doubt it if its the same for everybody, but I found that my worst day (for bone pain & fatigue) was always two days after the chemo, and it got better each day after that. Since she hasn't mentioned anything yet, maybe she'll get to skip those crummy days - for this session, anyway!

GAGWTA!

How's everybody doing today?

That's what the nurses told her - that she would probably feel bad Saturday after a Thursday infusion. But she felt fine. Going forward her A/C will still be on Thursdays, so maybe she will have the weekends to feel crummy and still make it to work on Mondays.

I sucked on popsicles for my first AC infusion and had no mouth sores. I did it again last week but no luck this time around. I developed thrush (yeast in my mouth) and swollen gums with a couple of sores. Nystatin cleared it up in 2 days time, thank goodness. The nurses do say it is good to have something cold in your mouth during the infusion; popsicles, ice water, ice chips, etc.

She didn't say if they offered her anything to eat/drink during her treatment. I'll have to ask her.
Dawn, I am sorry to hear about the thrush. Ouch! Glad the meds cleared it up quickly! Are you finished now, or do you have one more?

 

[DeeCeeSW]

Dawn, I am sorry to hear about the thrush. Ouch! Glad the meds cleared it up quickly! Are you finished now, or do you have one more?

One more to go. Each infusion has been an adventure to say the least, a new side effect each time. What keeps me going is knowing that it will not be forever and that I'm doing this for a reason. It's not easy, but it's better than the alternative...

Glad your mom is doing well.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

One more to go. Each infusion has been an adventure to say the least, a new side effect each time. What keeps me going is knowing that it will not be forever and that I'm doing this for a reason. It's not easy, but it's better than the alternative...

Glad your mom is doing well.

Hang in there! Hopefully the last one won't have any new side effects in store for you!

Mom goes in for bloodwork tomorrow. Not sure what they are looking for, but hopefully the results will be good!

 

[lookingforward]

Hang in there! Hopefully the last one won't have any new side effects in store for you!

Mom goes in for bloodwork tomorrow. Not sure what they are looking for, but hopefully the results will be good!

Yea! Just one more! Thats so great.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Mom goes in for bloodwork tomorrow. Not sure what they are looking for, but hopefully the results will be good!

The'll be looking to see how she "tolerated" the chemo. Usually they check a complete blood count (white and red cell count, platelets and hemoglobin) and liver and kidney studies.

GAGWTA

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

The'll be looking to see how she "tolerated" the chemo. Usually they check a complete blood count (white and red cell count, platelets and hemoglobin) and liver and kidney studies.

GAGWTA

Thanks!

 

[laurabelle]

~~~***GAGWTA sistas***~~~

I know some of you are triple negative and I wanted to pass this along...

July 2008: Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Ask-the-Expert Online Conference

http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/planning/ask_expert/2008_07/index.jsp

Hope everyone is well!