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7735. judithathome - 6/5/2012 11:52:39 PM What did he/she say about the lymph nodes?
No involvment at all. And it's a "she"...both my doctors...the surgeon and the oncologist...are female.
7736. judithathome - 6/5/2012 11:58:07 PM MsGreer...thanks for your advice. I plan to take this on as a positive experience and not borrow trouble until...and IF...it comes to me.
I know from experience with my son what chemo can do to ones' body and I am hoping...and expecting...this treatment to be far more easy on my body. The only thing I am concerned about is hair loss and softer bones. I will keep a close watch on both symptoms and I swear, if my hair starts to fall out, I may quite taking this stuff and take my chances with a recurrance.
Yes, I am THAT vain! ;-)
7737. arkymalarky - 6/6/2012 12:21:41 AM Nooooo! My friend I told you about on the phone still wears wigs long after her chemo. They look great on her and are super easy for such a busy woman . I don't know if I'll ever see her real hair--or if I already have. 7738. judithathome - 6/6/2012 1:25:21 AM Maybe I should talk to her when we come see you...ha! 7739. judithathome - 6/6/2012 1:33:56 AM Arks, I sent you an email earlier today but am not sure it was the correct address.... 7740. thoughtful - 6/6/2012 2:43:07 AM Good news, hah...keep your chin up and you'll do fine.
7741. arkymalarky - 6/6/2012 2:57:27 AM I didn't get it... 7742. arkymalarky - 6/6/2012 2:58:15 AM cmoon.rise@gmail.com 7743. arkymalarky - 6/6/2012 3:07:22 AM Okay I did get it. Just hadn't checked lately. I'm SO excited! 7744. msgreer - 6/6/2012 3:41:35 AM Judith, You forgot that I have two real hair wigs, well my hair dresser has them. I went straight for the real stuff. Now they are cut in the way I wear my hair with the highlights I use so if you lose your hair and DO NOT ever think of losing your hair is vain, it is awful and no women wants to even imagine it. Hell, I didn't end up getting the chemo that took my hair but I bought two. If you ever want to see them I would send them to you. They have not been fitted for me as I never needed it. Come to think of it I better check with her to make sure she still is holding those two outstanding wigs!. Yes, it is a wig but what the hell. I would love to help if I can.They are paid for so she has them. GREAT news on the lymph nodes not being involved. Is your lab work good as well? 7745. msgreer - 6/6/2012 3:56:04 AM Judith. IMPORTANT. Your bones. The treatment I got pulled calcium from my body. I ended up with close to no bones holding my teeth in place. It was gone..and no..I was not allowed to take calcium the three years I was being treated. After my treatment we took x-rays of my oral cavity and looked at the ones in 2008. Pitiful. I lost so much bone. I have been through six hours of oral surgery, still have cavities that need filling and then implants and crowns. That is what happen to me. After I finished the treatment and started down the path of painful oral surgery I found a research paper that said anyone going through any form of chemo, and you are not taking yours via IV but you are getting it.. please talk to your two women doctors guiding you and see what you are allowed to do should the bone in your oral cavity begins to go. Ask if they will let you get a base line. The article also said never go into cancer treatment without having a dentist on your team. I did not know this or if I did I was in another world just getting by. Please follow up. If you have a resent bone density test ask your doctors how often you need to repeat it. Now this is going to sound horrible and you will probably want to smack me for saying it...but walk whenever you can. My doctors at Hopkins said I did so well because I was in great shape when I started. Of course I have seem to have lost myself...comming back is hard for me but that is me. I have a personal trainer even though I am one. I have quite a battle getting over the fact I was in the best shape of my life and I got cancer..think there was some emotional eating going on. 7746. msgreer - 6/6/2012 4:25:00 AM Judith, If it helps any I was well into my three year treatment before I walked. I slept. You will find out your own way of handling the next years. If you have a treadmill and can walk on that please let me know. I couldn't look at one. The most important thing to remember is that you listen to your body and follow what it is telling you. It sounds as if you have great doctors...talk to them and if you sleep as much as I did..well I can't tell you if I was that tired or the traveling to Hopkins and Moffitt Cancer Center in Florida made me tired. All I remember is I have the most wonderful comforting comforter. It saved me. 7747. msgreer - 6/6/2012 11:02:54 AM Ooppss..coming not comming. Sorry. No, I am not the Governor of TX. 7748. judithathome - 6/6/2012 4:58:27 PM MsGreer...thanks for the offer re: the wigs but my hairdresser has told me she will take care of that aspect, should I need one. She does this for all her clients who get cancer...she's a sweetheart. (and I'm not just saying that because she's Keoni's ex-girlfriend!)
As to the dental...well, that won't be a problem for me because I inherited my mother's bones which at times seem to be made of spun sugar. I have an upper plate and a partial on the lower. I plan to check with my dentist nonetheless because I know I have a tenedency to lose bone mass. It's why I have an upper plate...ha!
Having a bone density test done Friday.
AND I am planning to start my 5 day a week, hour and half swimming/water aerobics routine if not tomorrow, then next Monday at the latest. I will do this up until the end of September and then start the daily walking after the weather cools down a bit. I tend to balk at walking more than two houses down to the pool in the Texas summer months.
As to a treadmill...I am to uncoordinated to attempt that...I'd rather walk outside and do so when it's not 107 out. After I build enough stamia through the swimming, I can walk with my friends each morning on the levee along the river near our house...the state made walking trails on top of the levee which surrounds the Trinity River...lovely walk each day. My dad used to do 5 miles a day on it up until the day he died.
I doubt I can make half that until I build up stamina but I like the idea of following in my dad's footsteps. ;-)
7749. judithathome - 6/6/2012 4:59:47 PM ...I am TOO uncordinated.... 7750. thoughtful - 6/7/2012 12:32:21 AM My cousin is in his 40s and spent the winter go through treatment for testicular cancer. The chemo treatments were terrible for him. Seems he got every side effect possible. They'd send him home and literally 5 hours later he was back at the hospital because he was so sick.
I'm telling you this because, I saw him at the family picnic on Memorial day, and if you didn't know his history, you'd never know he was ill. He gets tired quickly, but he's doing very very well.
Treatment can be a dark tunnel, but you can emerge out the other side, and the daylight will return. 7751. thoughtful - 6/9/2012 1:24:28 AM So went for a 2nd mamo and ultrasound and as I thought they are just cysts. I was so mad....but at least it's over...radiologist said, see you next year...hah! It'll be at least 2 yrs again because I don't want to keep getting all this radiation which can cause cancer. So 2 doses this time means I skip a year again.
I hate these people! 7752. msgreer - 6/10/2012 1:43:46 AM Judith, I was not trying to give you a 101 on cancer treatment. Honestly, after going through what I did I needed someone to walk me through it because I was not as together as you are. I did not have a plan as you do before treatment, and only because Hopkins is such an excellent hospital did I get some input on what to expect and what to do during treatment. In no way did I mean to lecture you,and it sounds from your reply that I might have gone over the line with you. That was never my intention. If I have hurt your feelings I apologize. 7753. msgreer - 6/10/2012 1:44:47 AM thoughtful, Glad to hear you are dealing with cysts..and I HATE the bastards too.
7754. judithathome - 6/10/2012 10:59:48 PM Sorry, my computer has been in the shop all week...MsGreer, I was in NO WAY upset with you...I was just answering your very timely advice by mentioning that I "think" I have it covered...not in a snitty way but in appreciation of what you'd gone through before me.
Not upset at ALL, please believe that!
That's the trouble with written communication...as CalGal used to say, it's all in the "tone"...one thing she was correct about, at least. Ha!
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