Steve is just getting over a staph infection. He's been to the doctor every day this past week because it wasn't healing. Today it finely felt better but now he's losing his hair. He said he didn't have much to begin with anyway. He still has his sense of humor. He had blood work taken on Friday and his count is low so they wanted him on antibiotics which he is already on because of the staph. We start the next round of chemo on the 18th close to home. It will be in the doctors office every day for 5 days. Then on September 3rd and 4th we go back to MD Anderson for more tests to see if the chemo has shrunk the tumor and if the nodule on his lung is shrinking too. Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers. We appreciate it very much. Janet

M, I read that list at the same time you did, and it was a big part of deciding to throw the shower. Our friend can't resist a good party, and I knew she'd feel loved, and wouldn't say no if I suggested it. After the shower portion, the other guests and I told her that if she wrote a single da*n thank you note, we were taking our crap back. ;-) As she opened each hat/scarf, I helped her arrange it on her head (mostly the scarves), and she modeled each and admired how they looked on her. The whole gypsy fortune teller with big hoop earring look REALLY suits her. And the scarf tails hang to the side so she won't be too warm. I'm laughing at the idea of a lap robe, not because it's not sweet (because it is), but because our friend is at that time of life when she often experiences "power surges" and suddenly strips down to her bottom layer and fans herself vigorously while she "glistens." (We women don't sweat.) The event went very well. It started at five and didn't end until nearly midnight. One of the guests had just helped her 10 year old son through months of chemo for lymphoma, and she was thrilled to be on the "giving" end of the equation. She was able to share a lot of experience that will help both our mutual friend and us as we're looking to continue supporting her during what is to come. None of the ladies will disappear during chemo, and we've been present to her since her diagnosis, but it was really fun to celebrate her a little while she's still in a place to join us. I'm sure there'll be a remission party too.

It's a personal decision and nobody - and I mean NOBODY - should push advice one someone dealing with cancer. It's her decision and hers alone. Thanks for sharing your experience, Chloe. I don't think anyone's pushing. I agree that it's a personal decision; when my co-worker chose a lumpectomy + radiation over a mastectomy and no radiation, it's not what I would have chosen, but that wasn't relevant. We arrive at our personal decisions by weighing information, and I think the experiences shared in this thread represent valuable information. I've printed them out and given them to her without comment--in fact, since she and I work different shifts, I simply left them on her desk. I have no idea at this point how she is (or isn't) going to proceed with treatment.

glenda, when that happen i just said ok, i'm not waititng and shaved the rest off...it was scarey and sure made my heart sad, but i felt i was taking charge... head over to wal mart..in the same section as purses, ect, they have a selection of bandanas...i had one for summer, and one for halloween..they were my "statement"....i was lucky as breast c drugs wern't as harsh as some? she's got to be reminded that she is still your friend, a mom, and everything she was before, aside from some very nasty cells that have invaded... and be as incouraging to the family as possible...they have to keep that positive outlook as well...prayers are continuing!