Tomorrow is my last chemo... PTL!

Melanie is Wondering when my energy will come back...Tired of being tired. Been Through It Baby Boomer Wife, Mother, Daughter, Grandma X 1 and almost 2 I was diagnosed August 15, 2008 with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. It... Send Message Subscribe: Melanie

Friday, March 20, 2009
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Circled in hot pink on the calendar... Friday, March 20, 2009. It's the day I have been looking forward to for 6 loooong months... the last of 24 chemo treatments. WooHoo! It really hasn't been as bad as I had anticipated. Not that I ever want to do it again! In fact, mo...

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Congratulations!
Phyllis Johnson
Friday, March 20, 2009 at 06:03 AM

Congratulations on finishing treatment. It may take some time to get all of your energy back, so build up gradually (I'd add the housework back in LAST, but I'm lazy that way!). Keep that wonderful joy of living that has been getting you through all of this.

You are amazing!
Susie Egan
Friday, March 20, 2009 at 03:01 PM

Melanie,

You may not know this but you are a true inspiration to all of us. You were even before your cancer. But now you're that times a gazillion.

I am so happy today is your last day of chemo. I hope you can go out and celebrate in a couple of days once the chemo effects wear off.

We feel so honored to be your friend.

Susie Egan

AWESOME!
Sarah
Friday, March 20, 2009 at 04:00 PM

Congratulations!

It's been so great to read all your posts, these past few months. Thank you for sharing this important milestone!!!

Sarah

Untitled Comment
PJ Hamel
Friday, March 20, 2009 at 04:26 PM

Melanie, I remember vividly the final day of my treatment: Feb. 14, 2002. Now, every day going forward, you'll wake up and think how happy you are to be alive. Even when your "real life" returns, and you settle back into a routine, try to hold onto this wonderful feeling you have—loving life, loving your friends and family.

Good luck with the Arimidex - and keep in mind it wreaks havoc with your bones. Ask your oncologist for a baseline DEXA scan, then check it again every 2 years, minimum. You don't want to add osteporosis on top of what you've just gone through.

As for the hot-cold-hot-cold, that will abate somewhat with time... As always, time heals. You've found that for sure, as you stand at the end of your long journey through treatment.

Thanks for sharing your experience with us, Melanie. And I know, going forward, you're going to be a wonderful friend to other women going through breast cancer, whether on this site, or in your own community. Best of luck to you - PJH

re: Untitled Comment
Melanie
Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 03:25 AM

Thanks for you comments, PJ. I've enjoyed reading your posts as well as your son's thoughts. Even though my 3 sisters all had cancer, I really didn't know much about the disease until I was faced with it myself. This website helped a lot. Reading about everyone's experience gave me a better sense of what to expect. In some respects, I have a bit of survivor's guilt because my treatments were pretty easy to get through. I am the lucky one. I'm so grateful my doctors have been on top of things and the treatments are so much better than they were years ago. My oldest daughter tested negative for BRCA1 which is such good news. The younger daughter hasn't been tested yet so my mother's heart is still worried for her. One step at a time and lots of prayers.

Melanie

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Cancer Vixen
Friday, March 20, 2009 at 07:31 PM

hey melanie, congrats on your last day of chemo - that's something to celebrate!

stay well!

marisa

Congrats!
Maimah Karmo
Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 01:31 AM

Congratulations to you... this experience is life changing indeed. I wish you the best in healing, health, life and all that your heart desires. Your posting warmed my heart.

WooHoo indeed!
sue dyer
Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 06:04 AM

Yay for you, Melanie. What a wonderful feeling it must be. Enjoy to the max. I can feel your elation all the way over here in Oz.

Look forward to finding out myself in about 5 weeks' time.

re: WooHoo indeed!
Melanie
Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 03:03 AM

Hello Sue,

I read your posts and I'm so glad your treatments are going as planned. I understand what you mean about survivor's guilt. I almost feel this was too easy... not that I'd wish for anything harder. My 3 sisters did not survive when they got breast and ovarian cancer over 20 years ago. They were much too young to leave us (48, 46 & 34). I've been a guinea pig for a couple of breast cancer research studies so maybe that's why I was given the gift of extra time.

Had to laugh at your account of growing blond hair. I didn't lose all of my hair, but it's pretty darn thin, dry and ugly. Not enough left to do a decent comb-over. I think it kept shedding as normal, but new hair never grew in to replace it. It's chopped really short so I'm looking pretty butch. I just hope it doesn't come back looking like Albert Einstein!

I visited Melbourne years ago and loved it. So sad about the fires in Australia. The loss of so many lives is tragic. We had record snow and floods here near Seattle this winter. It's a helpless feeling when you can't stop a natural disaster. Makes us feel pretty small.

Keep on thinking positive thoughts... if your chemo brain can remember to do so.

Melanie