almost a year since surgery
 

hi everyone, its been awhile but with two children you have no choice but to live your life in the fast lane. Just wanted to share that its almost my caniversary. So to celebrate i thought i would have an ooph and go to Chicago!! Nothing like mixing it up. Very excitied about all the culture,art museum..etc. We are planning our trip around the world music festival that is happening in Sept. It has been a rollercoaster year...and well we just need a break as all of you can relate. Just wanted to thank everyone for all your kind words, words of encouragement. I know its all long road to ever really feeling sane again. I'm at the half way mark with my herceptin all is going well. I'm hopful that i'll soon start the AI after my ooph!!

If anyone has words to share regarding Chicago please email me.
cheers,
suzanne

Hi Suzanne,

It was nice to hear from you and I am happy that things are going so well in your life. Yes, you're right, when children are around...life surely goes on .... and in the fast lane all of the time.

Enjoy the ride and thank God for you good health.

Hugs to you...

Mary Jo

Congratulations Mimi! Time does roar by when you have children. Thanks for taking time out to keep us posted. Love ya, Bill!

Congratulations on your one yr mark!! Way to go!!
Have never been to Chicago but heard it is a great place to visit! If you have your oophor via laparoscopy, it should be a breeze with lots of time and energy to devote to your trip!!
Have a great time at your celebration!!
maryanne

Suzanne
Congrats on your big anniversary....WAY TO GO!!!!!Chicago...so many things to do....so many choices...my top picks would be to tell you to:
* Do a CUBS game...this is their year!
*ride the ferris wheel at navy peer
*go to Millenium park downtown (great ice skating in the winter)
*see the "bean" while at Millenium Park
*Shop the magnificent mile aka gold coast
*hit the museum of science and industry, aquarium and field museum..Lincoln Park Zoo Downtownand the art institute.
*be a south sider, Do a white sox game
*See if the Bears are in town for a home game
*Take in a show..Jersey Boys, Wicked is ending soon
* Eat a Chicago Style Hot Dog!!!! and wash it down with some Chicago Pizza

I'll think of more....hope your vacation is long!!!!!!

a year since surgery
 

thanks Marejo, pink...bill and harrie.

harrie i will be having laparscopic(sp?) proceedure

Sheila thanks for all the suggestions. We will be at Millenium park our first night for the world music fest.
You have many good ideas are you from Chicago?

thanks
Suzanne

Congrats Suzanne. I'm glad you're doing well and are so busy too. Busy is better than bored.

Your ooph will be a breeze. I had mine that way. Sheila has great suggestions (she lives near there) and I have done the Navy pier and the magneficient mile too (better this time of year - I was there in February on a quick business trip to Wrigley (the gum people) which is by the mag mile and its then that you know why it is called the windy city).

Enjoy everything

Love and hugs,

hi Becky..we were told this was a gd time to see chicago..so hope to do lots of walking, navy pier also but i know we can't see it all.

I see the surgeon for my consult Aug 25 then we will know more about a date.
After so much research, talking pondering..it became clr in my mind that i need to get off the tomaxifin before my herceptin is completed. Most research seems to point in that direction AI. I will admitt i'm scared of the future consquences for my bones & heart muscle. I will try to beg for zometa but not sure if this is standard care for early bc. Any more insight is alway welcomed.
take care
suzanne

Suzanne

When you go for your consult on the ooph, have the gyne give you orders for a dexa bone test. It will measure the density of your bones at the hip, lumbar spine and neck. This test will ascertain if you have osteoporesis or osteopenia ("pre-osteoporesis) right now because I did have osteopenia (just starting) when I got mine 4 days after my ooph. At that point, my gyne and onc concured that since I was still getting Herceptin and in the IV stage anyway, getting Zometa every 6-9 months was a good solution. It may be for you too (plus now they are touting that it has anti-cancer, anti-recurrence properties too). It doesn't hurt and you should know the condition of your bones before going into this anyway. (Let's just pretend - maybe your bones are in bad shape right now. If they are, it might may make a huge difference in whether to get the ooph or not. This very most likely won't be the case but you should know your bones' condition so you can remedy that with Zometa or another drug).

Peace

HEY SUZANNE!

Good to hear from you. Hope all has been going well and hope that your whole family has reached an even keel.

Glad you have come to a conclusion about AI's and which route to take with your ovaries. Just making the decision will take a load off your shoulders. Becky has good advice about a baseline dexa scan. I had to show a decrease in bone density before my insurance would approve Zometa, but my second scan did show a decrease. After having Zometa, I had an increase in density. So it is definately worth it if you can get it approved.

I haven't been to Chicago, but it sounds like Sheila should be a tour guide! Enjoy your trip and keep us informed.

My best to you,

I spent a week around July 4th in Chicago in 1986. Lake Michigan supplied the cool air and I couldn't believe how comfortable it was there in the summer. People were nice and it was interesting to see them actually fishing and cooking the fish right there by the lake.

Have fun and don't forget to tell us about your "September in Chicago".