Sent: Friday, May 31, 2002 9:08 PM


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>>Hello All,
>>
>>Have you been waiting and wondering?  I'm sorry.  I haven't been avoiding 
>>you, just not alot of new news to report.
>>
>>I had my 3rd chemo treatment on Wednesday.  All went well.  The doc was 
>>quite pleased with the results of the shrinkage of lymph glands that were 
>>previous very swollen.  There's one in your shoulder area that was very 
>>large that has gone down considerably, as well as a cluster of them under 
>>the arm and around the breast area.  There are several that have decreased 
>>in both areas.  This is good!  I have also seen a considerable decrease in 
>>the size of my boob since the first treatment.  The coloring is better and 
>>I am getting my nipple back!!  I bet you all wanted to hear that! 
>>However, that is a very good thing, since this type of cancer retracts the 
>>nipple inward and causes major red discoloration.  So, I am not going to 
>>be shy about this!
>>
>>When I had my original blood work done, my estrogen receptors came back 
>>positive, which was not a good thing.  We don't want high estrogen levels 
>>when we are fighting breast cancer, therefore I went on Tamoxifen.  I have 
>>been on that since the first treatment.  It reduces the estrogen level 
>>that is produced in the body, therefore helping in the treatment.  Well, 
>>what goes with that is hot flashes (don't laugh),  which was tolerable up 
>>until a week and a half ago.  Last treatment, we decided to get a Lupron 
>>shot (a one month dose, to see how I would react) because I still want to 
>>have kids. The reason for this is that chemo kills your ovaries, for the 
>>most part, so you end up going into early menopause. (They usually suggest 
>>this with 20 and 30 year old women, but did my doc bring this up with me? 
>>NO!!  I AM NOT OLD!!)  He got really embarrassed when I brought this up 
>>and told him that he should have talked about this with me in the 
>>beginning.  (He blushes easily.)  Lupron basically shuts down your ovaries 
>>and protects them, but puts you into a menopausal state (temporarily) 
>>(even WORSE hot flashes!!) .  Lovely, I say!   So.....between the 2 
>>(Lupron and Tamoxifen) I am WAY TOO HOT!!  I never thought that a person 
>>could freeze and sweat like a pig at the same time!!!   It's amazing! 
>>This last visit, we decided to go off of the Tamoxifen because I don't 
>>need to be doing both during chemo, and maybe try to alleviate some of the 
>>symptoms.  We shall see!  I will stay on the Lupron thru the chemo and 
>>then stop  when that is over and go back on the Tamoxifen after the chemo 
>>until I decide to have babies.  The general rule is that they leave you on 
>>Tamoxifen after chemo for 5 years.  Ok, have I left anything out?
>>
>>You all are so patient and understanding listening to all of this babble! 
>>But, you asked for it.  I never thought I would be sharing so much of my 
>>personal life with all of you.  Just tell me when enough is enough!
>>
>>I am still working pretty steady.  I have changed my hours some, so that I 
>>am not working as many of the tougher shifts at the restaurant (although I 
>>can't stand it because it's more money) and taking more naps.  I get 
>>really tired right after the chemo for about 3 days and then I am ok.  I 
>>feel myself slowly getting more tired during the days, but that bad.  Just 
>>have to adjust my schedule, so I can squeeze in a few cat naps.  (I know 
>>you all are jealous of that!  Any excuse for a nap!)
>>
>>Anyway, I guess I have covered everything.  Putting self-tanner on my head 
>>so I can go bald when I feel like it.  It's so much cooler!
>>
>>I love you all and I will be in touch!
>>KJ
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