Cancer Support and Caregivers Who Are Trail Blazers!

[Chad]

I talked to my cousin this morning, she is an RN. She was at the hospital with my aunt (her mom). My aunt is 83 and has had cancer twice now in her 80's. It seems odd to me because it is not a mass or tumor. It is just spots that show up in different places in her body. My aunt is strong but this time the cancer is really making her suffer. Our family will rally around her and my mom's brother.

[GeorgiaMa'am]

I thought I had gotten lucky and slid under the wire. The first chemo treatment and the day after were a piece of cake. The next day, a little dry mouth and a nagging headache and not much appetite, but nothing I couldn't handle. Then last night, this stuff kicked my butt. It feels like the chemo irritated all my joints, and my arthritis is pretty unbearable. I didn't get any sleep at all last night, and I couldn't nap today. I can only spend a few minutes in one position without my knees and back seizing up.

I ordered some Salonpas pain relief patches on Amazon Fresh, and they should arrive within the next hour. Hopefully they will help - I have never tried them before, but I'm willing to try anything at the moment.

[rustedrims]

Been keeping myself busy so I don't think of stuff.

Finally started my maintenance treatments after around a year of insurance denying me. Got that stuff back once and don't want it back again. Last I was told I have a treatment every 8 weeks for 2 years. Still getting my MRI and CT scan every 6 months. Pictures are coming back good. Couldn't wait for retirement and figuring out what I wanted to do with my time. Did not plan fighting the fight was one of my things to do. Been a year retirement already. My nephew is getting married the 19th. Going to be there for the 3 day event. Back home then the 21st blood work and 22nd treatment. I am still able to drive myself. Not loosing my hair this time.

Thanks for reading and caring.

s

[Kätzchen]

Originally Posted by rustedrims

Been keeping myself busy so I don't think of stuff.

Finally started my maintenance treatments after around a year of insurance denying me. Got that stuff back once and don't want it back again. Last I was told I have a treatment every 8 weeks for 2 years. Still getting my MRI and CT scan every 6 months. Pictures are coming back good. Couldn't wait for retirement and figuring out what I wanted to do with my time. Did not plan fighting the fight was one of my things to do. Been a year retirement already. My nephew is getting married the 19th. Going to be there for the 3 day event. Back home then the 21st blood work and 22nd treatment. I am still able to drive myself. Not loosing my hair this time.

Thanks for reading and caring.

s

I'm glad to hear that you are keeping yourself busy, with everyday life.

My fiancé has stage 4 Kidney cancer. Life is no cake walk. He keeps busy with his commitments at his organization as well as in other facets of life. He is a strong individual but he has his limits, like anybody else who is dealing with daily struggles over his health and health care regimen.

Thanks for sharing Rusted-rims.

Sending peace and wellness wishes your way,

--K.

[rustedrims]

Treatments are going good. Well I learned the hard way about how important drinking water is. It swells up the veins so I only get stuck once! Think we all know about blowouts. Maybe every second or third time I go home with one. Those things hurt! Not to mention the dark purple spot stays a while. Nobody likes going but the nurses that hook me up are real nice to me. They make it not so bad. Always asking if I need anything and how I am feeling. Bringing me snacks when I didn't bring any. My Dr. is just as nice. She is from Japan. Very smart lady. I like everyone that helps me and nobody wants a nurse that is in a bad mood.

MRI first of the year then 6 months a CT Scan. I get some juice for that. The nurses there are just as nice. I have more of a friendship with them because more one on one. They also make it not so bad. Been there so much it's just comfortable with them. Nonthreatening atmosphere. We all want that with what we all have to deal with. We all just keep fighting the fight. My best wishes to us all.

s

[rustedrims]

I am heart broken. My cousin Dave has lost his fight of 3 years days ago. I will miss him terribly. It hit me hard in the parking lot at the hospital. Started crying and couldn't stop. I was there for a CT scan. I realized he wouldn't be there to tell how it went. We kept in close contact of what we were going through. I got it first but he got it harder and more of it. When I got in there I told the girls what was going on with me so they knew they were not hurting me. Lost it again. I was waiting for my jacked up water to drink and never got it. I told Jen that I didn't get my water. She told me why I didn't get it. Turns out there is a shortage of that stuff. They get it from China! When I get my treatments they mix it up when I get there! Why does that stuff come all the way from China and they can mix the treatment stuff up when I get there?!..

Got to thinking the other day....... My last maintainance treatment is October 2023. The other day I was out cutting up broken branches on a tree. A lady came out and asked me what I was doing? I should have told her I was staying in remission. Then started to think that every time I get
a treatment it takes away a little bit from me. I don't notice things right away but there are things missing. I love to do yard work! Cut branches up stack the sticks deliver them and mow yards! I will fight as long as I can to keep that part of me! What I did loose is strength balance and coordination. Gotta have that to ride the bike. Yeah I can zip around very short distances but that's not riding. Not relaxed and comfortable like I need to be to ride. Sold the bike today. That stuff took away 2 things I love dearly .Dave and riding.

Thank you for reading my ramblings and be safe out there.

s

[pynkkameleon]

It’s been an awfully long minute since I last posted here. Life happens and time just seems to fly by.

Sending out my deepest and heartfelt condolences to those of you that have lost loved ones. I can see that there have been some tremendous losses recently for some of you. I wish you peace and comfort to help you heal your hearts.

I was diagnosed with stage IV recurrence this past May. Breast cancer to my bones and chest wall. Treatable but no longer curable. Originally it was stage 2b in 2009. Although I’m pretty annoyed by this latest bit of everything, I’m in a very good and happy place in my life right now. My two youngest, will turn 21 in 3 months. Our son lives at home with us and our daughter recently moved in with her boyfriend of almost 4 years. My two older ones are very happy, stable and in strong relationships. One lives in Alaska and the other in Oregon. TexasCowboi and I will celebrate 7 years married next weekend, 10 years officially together. We purchased an old but (mostly) sturdy motorhome late last year (lovingly named “The Green Turd”) with grand plans of sneaking in some adventures over the next few years as TC inches closer to retirement. Right now, those plans are on hold though while we deal with this nonsense.

In the meantime, treatment for now is pretty straightforward. Ibrance and anastrasole pills daily, Zometa infusions monthly. This will continue until I build up a tolerance to the meds and have to move on. I have very few mutations, so for now it limits my options. I’m not eligible for any stage IV studies and there are currently only 5-7 treatment line options available for me, so the longer I can stay on one line, the better. Traditional chemo will be around the 3rd to 4th line. I’ll have my first new set of CT scans on the 17th to see if the medicine is working and everything is staying stable. Side effects so far are very tolerable. Some nausea, aches and pains and fatigue mostly. I just switched to a new Oncologist and she’s promised to keep us in the loop every step of the way and not sugarcoat anything. She’s young, smart as a whip and breast cancer is her specialty. This is still pretty new for us and we are learning as we go. I learned to be my own expert the first time around but we’ve quickly learned that metastatic disease is a whole different beast and treated much differently. Stability is the name of the game now. Scans every 3 months and monthly infusions with labs every month for the foreseeable future are the new normal. As are making lots of new memories and enjoying many adventures filled with laughter. Because that’s the way we roll anyway. This was just a reminder that time is short and to not take any of it for granted.

Thinking of you all. Check in if you feel up to it and let us know how you and yours are doing.
Big love. Be good to you.
Vonni -