Prescription for Quality

klayfield
klayfield Member Posts: 9
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I'm new to this forum, have only posted a couple times. Recently I was told my cancer was on the move, (breast originally diagnosed in 1995, reoccurred last year, mets to the bone) ,I had radiation, then chemo with Taxol and Herceptin. 3 Months into the chemo, they repeated the PET which showed the cancer on the run, yeah, they took me off Taxol and left me on Herceptin, 3 months later, the PET scan showed the cancer was again on the move. When I first posted I was getting ready to go back on Taxol and looking at canceling a vacation we had planned....Well I didn't cancel, and it was the best decision I have made in a long time. I'd gotten to the point that I felt that the life I'd known was over, and I had time, but not the quality that I wanted. I'm 60 years old, have lived an active life, I'm sure many of you can identify with that feeling of loss. Well I'm here to tell you, I went on vacation, did 2 dives every day, and 3 on the last day. I was exhausted the first couple days, but I think just being away from cancer reminded me I was alive, and able to do, with some limitations, pretty much what I wanted to do....I will not again, put off ice cream or vacations....Right now I've got the Taxol ickies, Neulasta pain, and the Herceptin Hangover...but this will pass, getting back on schedule when I can get them all at the same time will help...Next vacation,,,, France in August....hang in there....

Comments

  • cats_toy
    cats_toy Member Posts: 1,462 Member
    you are a strong woman
    you are exactly what we all look up to. Thank you for your story, and I will keep you in my prayers, you will be in France in August!

    =^..^=
  • CR1954
    CR1954 Member Posts: 1,390 Member
    Thank you.....
    Thank you klayfield. I think in our cancer battles, we sometimes lose sight of the big picture....TO LIVE.

    Hugs,

    CR
  • The1percen
    The1percen Member Posts: 135
    I'm Jealous... LOL
    Where did you go diving? That is my passion. My favorite place in the world is Bonaire! Glad you could get away, diving is so relaxing (well depending on the type LOL) I always feel so ALIVE when I dive, to me it is the ultimate get away! I pray for you and your trip to France, again I'm jealous LOL... In closing, you have all those side effects again but what else do you have? Memories... and good ones to relax to.
    Take Care,
    Mike
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    Thank you for sharing...
    Your post is valuable "food for thought"... For all of us. Thanks, again.

    And best wishes to you. I'll be hoping your treatments bring about the very best possible outcome.

    Kind regards, Susan
  • outdoorgirl
    outdoorgirl Member Posts: 1,565
    Very inspiring!
    Thank you for your post-it's very inspiring!
    Seems like you don't let things get you down.
  • taleena
    taleena Member Posts: 1,612 Member
    Thank you so much for
    Thank you so much for sharing your story and the reminder that no matter what obsticles we are facing within our lives, our lives are still very much worth LIVING! Every moment is precious and a gift that we need to appreciate, cherish and live to the fullest...What an inspiration you are! I can't wait to hear about your trip to France.. and all the things that you will do there!

    Bonjour my friend...

    ~T
  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member
    WAY TO GO!
    How inspiring! I wish you the best and offer prayers.........

    I can totally relate to the Neulasta bone pain.............ughhhhhhhh for me it's worse than the chemo.......Had my first chemo 12 days ago......Taxotere and Cytoxin and breezed right through that......not the first bit of nausea, yet! I was so smug......then the bone pain hit the afternoon of the injection....increasingly worse as the next 3 days went by.....I then experienced unrelenting muscle spasms..........yikes! Add the diarrhea and I was a total train wreck......really amazed me that I could get through chemo and then be so debilitated by the Neulasta.....Really looking forward to the next injection......yeah, right! But at least now I know what to expect and the onc gave me pain meds and muscle relaxants.......

    God speed
  • outdoorgirl
    outdoorgirl Member Posts: 1,565
    MAJW said:

    WAY TO GO!
    How inspiring! I wish you the best and offer prayers.........

    I can totally relate to the Neulasta bone pain.............ughhhhhhhh for me it's worse than the chemo.......Had my first chemo 12 days ago......Taxotere and Cytoxin and breezed right through that......not the first bit of nausea, yet! I was so smug......then the bone pain hit the afternoon of the injection....increasingly worse as the next 3 days went by.....I then experienced unrelenting muscle spasms..........yikes! Add the diarrhea and I was a total train wreck......really amazed me that I could get through chemo and then be so debilitated by the Neulasta.....Really looking forward to the next injection......yeah, right! But at least now I know what to expect and the onc gave me pain meds and muscle relaxants.......

    God speed

    You know,
    I asked about that neulasta shot to my chemo nurse because I would feel all achy the day after it-like the flu. She said that it could be because of the steroids that came along with the chemo. I don't know...
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    cats_toy said:

    you are a strong woman
    you are exactly what we all look up to. Thank you for your story, and I will keep you in my prayers, you will be in France in August!

    =^..^=

    Thank you for your inspiring
    Thank you for your inspiring story! I also believe in quality of life over quantity! I will continue to pray for you! Hugs, Noel
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member

    Very inspiring!
    Thank you for your post-it's very inspiring!
    Seems like you don't let things get you down.

    Thanks for this wonderful,
    Thanks for this wonderful, inspiring post! Good luck to you always!
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    Thank you for telling us
    Thank you for telling us this. You are a very brave, strong woman! Best of luck to you!
  • dmc_emmy
    dmc_emmy Member Posts: 549
    You're enjoying life and that is what it is all about....
    and I think you got it right! I don't plan to venture as far from home as you this year, but I am trying to do what you are doing-taking the time to do what I enjoy the most; camping, gardening, being with my dog, reading, and spending time with my family. If it means I have to squeeze it into a shorter span of time, sobeit. Maybe I'll enjoy it more, knowing that I may not pass by this way again.

    Enjoy France, enjoy life...and that sounds exactly what you are doing. Thank you for sharing your story.
    dmc