sudden anxiety attack

[storyteller]

I have just finished talking with my husband about anxiety experienced as a result of cancer experience. I wish there were a medicine that kept us from playing the "what if" game and helped us with the whole "peace of mind" attitude. But as it seems, this must be a huge part of my lesson, and I'm trying.

This morning I was experiencing anxiety and asked myself, "Do I want to spend this precious day worrying or spend it enjoying my life?" That helps me get clear on my focus.

I kept my fingers in ice during chemo treatment as advised by onc nurses and it worked for me! You feel somewhat foolish, but then so does a lot of this.

Who would have thought we'd all be connected like this?

[Johanna Johannsdottir]

Hello again,


I went for my 7th. Taxotere/Herceptin treatment yesterday. My Onc. was very pleased because the CT-scanner showed good results for my liver mets. They were minor in beginning and have decreased very much and hopes are high.
Did bloodtest also but he even said it wasn't necessery at this stage because the scanner was good and I'm usually high in bloodcounts.
YESSSS it's working.
I thanked my onc, he thanked my attidude and said it's helps him ,,this is team work“. he said. I immideatly thanked you all and gave him an my nurse the name of this website in order to help other women in same situation that can read english (and they are many here in Iceland, for english is our secondary language after Icelandic). My nurse thanked my husband (he brings them homemade morrocan Healthy cookies). And my husband thanked me again because he says my good spirit helps him to cope with the situation.
We are thankful and my husband reads this website also to be able to understand.
Thank you all wise and brave!!!!!
I will keep you updated

Yesssssssssssssssssssssss

Jóhanna

[storyteller]

Yippee!!!! Your news is so encouraging. With each good report, we are all encouraged to keep our spirits high. From Texas to Iceland, our ground is common.

Thanks for sharing.

Jeanne

[Toril]

Dear Jóhanna!
A very warm "hello" here from Oslo, Norway! I am so happy for you and your good CT-scan. It is also very encouraging for me, as I had my 2nd treatment of Taxoterre / Herceptin one week ago. I have been dealing with liver-mets since Feb. 2005. First threated with Navelbine / herceptin (working very well for about one year), then it started to crow again - and well - here we go.
i will also try the frozen cloves next time, and they say at my hospital they do have this problem with the nails under control now.
I have lost my hair, well most of it. But will try a new "ice-hat" (or whatever its called), to try to get it back during treatment. I think you wrote that you didnt loose your hair, but didn't mention such "ice-hat"?? Maybe just lucky!
I am very glad to see other women from Scandinavia on this wonderful web-site, as it has been such an inspirational place to come for me.

Looking forward to your posting.
And again: Enjoy your wonderful news!!

Love Toril

[juanita]

My onc, Dr. Oskarson, is from Iceland. He's been in the US for awhile though.