banditwalker

Thank you for asking... I am okay, still tired . I go Monday to get results of onoctype test. I will see then if I have to have chemo. Doctor will give me arimedix script, I am sure. No cancer in my lymph nodes. How are you doing?

Hi bandiwalker! I finished 34 rads in July. I have been on anastrozole for 2 months. Sore joints, but had that anyway. Spirits are good. I am thinking of you as you start your chemo. Keep me posted and God bless you In your journey

I think the one you saw was probably Theresa Caputo-the Long Island medium. She has her own show,too. She does get a lot of things right. We are planning to go see a medium in Massachusettes. Never heard of her but the woman who owns the pizza shop that we are "regulars" at said she is really good. We will with about 5 of us as a group reading. I've been to one once in a very large group so didn't get much info. Should be interesting anyway.
How are they going to do the port? Put you to sleep? Consciuos sedation? They put my port in both times during the mastectomy surgeries.

Thanks for "following me" ...let's take this journey together!

Hi,
It IS nice to have something else to talk about. So I'll get it out of the way. How did your chemo class go? Do you know when you are starting?
I like anything paranormal. I like scary movies but not blood and gore. I also like movies that have twists and turns that you don't expect. My fave paranormal is The Dead Files with medium Amy Allan. She has awesome green eyes. She works with a retired NTC detective but they don't talk about the investigation until it is done. She gets so many things right.
My grandmother read playing cards in the same way as Tarot cards I guess. My aunt would write down the stuff gramma said. She would get a lot of things right too. I tend to think though that we would overlook and forget the things she got wrong. lol
It is very muggy here today and looks like its going to storm. I should go shut the windows, Catch you later.

Hope things are going better today. I have my revision surgery this Friday to get rid of the lump of skin under my right arm that I can't wait to get rid of.....take care

Wow, you are pharmacy tech., too! I don't know if you "follow" flamingogirl but she is Rx tech, too.
Is there a pattern here? Back in the 70's we mixed chemo in a regular hood with "clean" air blowing right at you. No mask , no gloves, just sterile technique.In mid-80's I went back to work in different hospital and had to wear 2 prs gloves. mask, smock in a special hood that blows clean air straight up.hmmmm
I just got out of 7 yr. relationship with Peter. Have a room mate, or house mate, whatever. She is my very best friend and very supportive. I have a few close friends who are also very supportive. Not much family to speak of. I am an only child but have some cousins.
I, too like scary stuff and am going to watch "A Haunting" now. lol
Have a good week.

I am glad your dog is doing OK. He will let you know when it is time I think.
I still food shopping and clothes shopping and out to eat . I carry Purell in my purse and some stores even have hand sanitizer by their door.
I, too, worked at a hospital. I was a pharmacy technician. I used to mix the very chemo drugs I am getting now. I am germ conscious but not a germaphobe.
It is raining here today too. I haven't seen a rainbow in a long time. They are so beautiful.
If you have any questions about chemo please don't be afraid to ask. I'll help if I can. Have a great day.

Just noticed you did have some questions. My infusions take about 2 and1/2 hrs. I bring my own magazines and some crossword puzzles, maybe a book if I am reading one at the time. What are you getting for chemo? I had Cytoxan, Adriamycin, and 5-FU eleven years ago. This time I am getting Cytoxan and Taxotere. So far, so good, knock on wood. lol

Hi, I think I did the same thing thinking you were getting radiation. Sorry. lol I am following someone Karenhi who is just ahead of where I am now. She has been getting radiation. So I guess I am just ahead of you with 3 rounds of chemo down(almost, 3rd round on Tues.) I see you have been looking for scarves and stuff. I got fake bangs that you can velcro in and out of hats and scarves. So easy.
How is your dog doing? I feel for you, very hard thing to think about.

Just wondering how your feeling? Did you get your drains out?

I am glad the rads are still going well. I am OK. Preparing for next round (#3) of chemo on Tues. She is changing the pre-anti-nausea med to something else. Can.t remember the name of it. I am 3 weeks out from last round and started feeling nauseous after I ate. I will still take the Zofran and Compazine by mouth. All in all I really can't complain.
Aside from a rainy day yesterday, the weather here has been really nice. The trees are turning some nice colors, too. Hope your weekend was good.

Just ordered a book called "Kicking Cancer in the Kitchen" by Annette Ramke, Kendall Scott. 2 cancer survivors who ended up being dietary coaches. Lots of recipes and the writing is light hearten with a sense of humor. I am on the 4th chapter and really enjoying the book so far. Hope it gives you some info that you are looking for.

I did get a few Vicodin this last visit. I only need a couple for the very worst one to two days so I am happy that I have these to fall back on. Hope you tolerate the chemo well. I have not had such a bad time at all. I think the pain is the Fibromyalgia being aggravated by either the chemo or the Neulasta shot. Try not to project how the chemo is going to go. I prepared for the worst and hoped for the best and have been pleasantly surprised so far.

I am so sorry about your dog. I would think if he is still eating, peeing and pooping that it is not time yet. Look him right in the eyes and ask him to give you a sign when it is time. My cat (BabyGirl) had stomach cancer and couldn't/wouldn't eat anymore so it was time. You are right when you say it is harder than your own issues. Cherish each moment with him.

Hi banditwalker, I saw your comment about losing your hair. Mine lasted 15 days to where it got thin on top and had to wear scarf or hat. I got some "bangs" that you can velcro into different scatves or hats. I also have "scarf" or headwrap that is fitted a little and has two long ends that tie in the back. So easy! I got these at a wig shop that also has all kind of hats and stuff. Did you find out what chemo you are getting?

Hi Thanks for the welcome. I'm just over half way through chemo. If you have any questions about it let me know.

I just saw your post on double mastectomy on the 20th, how are you doing, I had my double mastectomy on the 17th.

Hey Bandi,

Have you had any surgeries?.. This is my second time of having breast cancer.

Ask anything - happy to help out in any way possible. I am just finishing chemo this coming Tuesday and then on to radiation. Hasn't been easy but as so many say, it is doable, and you have to do whatever it takes for yourself in this situation.

The first treatment for me was the worst only in respect that I didn't know what to expect. Would I be sick? How soon would I be sick? etc. I have not been sick at all so far. The anti nausea/vomiting meds work great for me. There is only a couple of days when the Fibromyalgia pain is amped up from the chemo and Neulasta. Then I start feeling better. Can totally funtion, though maybe a little slower, for the rest of the time. Everyone is different. I plan for the worst, hope for the best. Keep me posted.

How did you do on your meeting with oncologist? Hope all went well. Do you know what chemo you will be getting? I will be happy to help with any questions if I can.

Good luck Banditwalker. Try to bring someone with you to take notes. If not, try to take notes yourself. Make them slow down so you can do that. Ask questions(write these ahead of time if you can). Don't let them steamroll over you.

I see from your posts that you had your surgery yesterday... just checking in to see if everything went well and you are recovering.

What do you know but that we are only a hop and a skip from each other!!

I took a week in Daytona three years ago for the first time. I was so amazed. It is very pretty and I'd not ever bounced as I ran on sand before. I have a photo somewhere on the pc of us (us includes my very good friend Doris, now gone to the Undiscovered Country) in the requisite car on the requisite beach. We had a really nice time and I have a super funny story about the 30+ minutes it took for the good folks at Winn Dixie to figure out how to let me buy an onion and a garlic bulb.

We were in a hurry to do something or other and Doris advised me not to dawdle. The cashier did not know what the onion was and had to call over her manager to figure out how to charge me and ring up the purchase. Because I only had two items, I'd gone to the speed line. Hah! The workers ignored the fact that I said it was an onion which was a root vegetable.

There began to be a line behind me by the time the manager showed up. The manager also did not know what the round whitish thing was. I looked over to my friend who was waiting by the exit door and was, by now, doubled over with laughter. I looked at the line behind me and realized this was the best show of the day and that nobody was leaving. People had big grins on their faces.

Eventually the two employees saw the light and decided to look up the code under "bulbs" and ring it up from there. Okay then!

No, not really. Because then the cashier said to me "What is this?" and she held up the bulb of garlic.

Yes there was uncontrollable laughter from some on the line and a lot of coughing and throat clearing. Nobody sought out a different line. The drama repeated itself for another 8 minutes.

I figure it cost Winn Dixie about $29 (lost sales and hourly wages) to sell me what was then $0.89 worth of onion and garlic. Doris wouldn't let me apologize. She was laughing too hard and could hardly get out the words "Only you." as we walked out of the store and to the car.

We had a great time in Daytona. :-D

I think your attitude is wonderful...I suspect that you are going to do very well with your outlook...trust your team, get plenty of rest leading up to your surgery, eat well, watch a funny movie, get your support team lined up for post surgery (will there be someone with you the first few days post-op?)... it's great that you are preparing some meals now to have later...I will be praying for you 9/11 and i am sending you best wishes for a successful surgery, uneventful recovery, and many, many years of survivorship! Good luck and God bless!

banditwalker, I was so sorry to hear about your poor dog. It is hard to let go, but sometimes it is for the best so they don't suffer. My 1st dog was 12 years old and riddled with cancer. Broke my heart to put him down, but I had no other choice. I have a new baby now. She is a Shih-Tzu/Lapsa mix and just as funny as can be. She keeps us on our toes that's for sure. Take care and I will keep you in my thoughts.

You're right to research and ask questions. I did the same, and it helped. Knowledge is power, as they say! The Herceptin is very easy. The infusions are quick, only about 30 minutes once we get started. I have minimal side effects, just a little tired the next day, but not bad at all. And a runny nose. The only trouble with the runny nose is I keep forgetting to take my Kleenex out of my pocket before I do the laundry and that makes a mess! It feels more like maintenance now. I just started taking Arimidex this week, so it's a little soon to tell what if any side effects I'll have from that. Taking the Herceptin and Arimidex makes me feel like I'm still doing something to fight my cancer, so it's kind of a security blanket. A good friend who is a 7 year survivor warned me at the beginning of my "Detour" (that's what I call this) that the end of treatment would be a difficult time emotionally....boy, was she right! I had a major meltdown after my last rad tx. I'm glad she warned me, otherwise I would have thought I was nuts! I'm much better now. It's a ride full of ups and downs, but we can help each other get through it.

Hi banditwalker. I'm new ere too. I was diagnosed in Dec 2012 with StageI HER2+ ER/PR+ breast cancer. I've finished lumpectomy with 2 lymph nodes removed, chemo, and 30 radiation treatments. I'll be on Herceptin for a total of 1 year...should be done late Jan or early Feb. I remember so well being where you are now.....I was so overwhelmed by it all! But it is doable, and temporary! Good luck with your upcoming surgery.

I think I may have posted to your wall before. I recognize the cute little dog. If not, I hope that your doctor's start a treatment plan soon for you. A month, in my opinion, is to long to wait for anything to happen. If they don't, please get a second opinion for your own health's sake. Anyway, welcome to the site. I think that you will find this a friendly place to come when you need to sound off or vent from anger. We are all here to listen and help, if we can, because at some point and time in each of our lives we have been in your situation. Please don't be afraid to ask questions either. No question on this site is silly or dumb. We all have questions we would like other opinions on or answers to. There are so many nice people here that it has helped me get through my fears I had when I was DX'd with DCIS. Good luck in the future.