Dis Breast Cancer Survivors - GAGWTA!

[MinnieM3]

I can't remember who all is heading to WDW next week, but DS15's band director FINALLY got confirmation on their performance times:

Thurs., Dec. 8 - 2:45 pm, Galaxy Palace Theater in MK - look for the Gateway High School Wind Ensemble performance.

(DH, DS13 and I have tix for MVMCP the night of Dec. 8; too bad the band kids aren't going.)

Fri., Dec. 9 - 2:30 pm, Afternoon parade at MK - look for the Gateway High School Marching Band. My DS15 plays trumpet; during parades, he's in the first row behind the drum major, right in the center of the row (or maybe it's in front of the drum major since the drum major marches backwards?? ). I also hear that they're allowed to stop in front of the castle during the parade and do a "very short" performance. The "official" Disney website says the parade starts at 3:00, but our band director said that they step-off in Frontierland at 2:30; I got confirmation that our band is the "pre-parade" parade - I guess to entertain the folks while they wait for the OFFICIAL parade at 3:00. I'm hoping that since our kids aren't in the official parade that when they come down Main Street I can go out in the middle of the street and get a picture of them with the castle in the background. I'm going to find a friendly cast member and ask; don't want to get thrown out of the park!

And look for me - I'll be the mom wearing the Gateway Marching Band/Burn the Ships t-shirt (don't ask) and a DIS pin and bawling my eyes out when I see my baby marching down Main Street USA!!!

I'm so excited - not long now!!!

Oh Amy, that really is exciting! I bet it will be GREAT! Good luck to your DS and his band! It'll be a memory he'll never forget I'm sure!

 

[MinnieM3]

Just got back from the surgeon.

It is all BENIGN!! Woo-hoo! I'm sure you can imagine how elated I am. Just thrilled.

It was a long ride over to the surgeon's office (rush hour in DC). They took me right away for my 9:00 a.m. appointment and I was back in my car at 9:07! The surgeon was still miffed at the ultrasonographer, who basically said on her report that I had cancer.

Anyway, the right breast (where I had surgery last year) contained "fibrocystic disease with a ruptured cyst (hematoma) forming foreign body giant granulomas and fat necrosis."

The left breast (the one I was worried about) had a fibroadenoma and fibrocystic disease.

I want to thank all of you on this thread for your support. I hope you don't mind me "hanging around." As a survivor of another type of cancer, I hope I qualify and maybe I can help some other woman going through these biopsies.

Thank you again.

Great, great news Christine!!

 

[MinnieM3]

We are still a little unsure exactly what Claudette's status is. Her mom (my MIL) said the surgeon described it as a slow growing cancer, Claudette's daughter (our niece) said her understanding was that the tumor was non lymphatic and non malignant. Regardless, the doctor was very encouraging and it sounded like he anticipated a far different (worse) outcome.

She is supposed to be moved from ICU to a regular room today.
We do know the doc only removed part of her stomach, around 50%.
She did not have to have the procedure to attach the esophagus to the small intestine. He also removed her ovaries, no cancer there but the cyst was infected.

So she has two incisions and according to my MIL she is hitting the pain med button like mad. I don't blame her.

We are much relieved. We will go see her over the weekend. It seems like we can go forward with Christmas, etc. now.

Also, it turns out Claudette's son (thirtysomething) is going to take on the job remodeling her house. Saturday, DH, DS17, and company went down to do more tear out work. Claudette's son was there with several guys he has been working with. They did alot, they have trucks, and the right tools for the job. It is apparently what they have been doing mostly since the storms. DH and I were not aware of this. We are very happy that he will take this over. Hopefully, it will be their primary focus and they will work on it daily instead of just on weekends like we have been doing. Now DH can get back to our project (painting the exterior or our house).

Donna, hope you are finished packing and ready to go. Have a Dole whip for me, if the weather is warm enough.

GAGWTA!!!!

Snappy, I'm glad Claudette's outcome looks very good. She must be going through so much.

 

[MinnieM3]

Great news Christine, congratulations! I have had a hematoma and scar tissue in my breast since surgery 2 yrs ago. It's a lot smaller than it was originally but it's still present and even uncomfortable sleeping on that side. They debated taking it out but I was going through chemo and it wouldn't have healed so we left it and it's slowly "resolved" somewhat but not completely. That's right - another surgery can leave another one so we left it alone.

Laurie, sounding good for your SIL. Keep us updated.

I recently mentioned a good friend of mine with lung ca with brain mets.



I found out today she has to start another type of radiation to her brain for further problems. I feel awful, she was doing so well. They don't know if there is much left to try after this. I am devastated for her. She is only in her early 50s. She is a very strong believer in the power of prayer. If anyone would be willing to include Didia in theirs we would be ever so grateful.

Linda, I'll be happy to pray for her. I know the power of prayer is awesome!

 

[MinnieM3]

So, I finally have some semi-quiet time to catch up on the GAGWTA thread! It's about time. Some threads I can just glance at, but I need time to really READ the GAGWTA board!

I saw a friend who was dx about a year ago with Stage3 BC with lots of mets. Things really did not look good for her and we were all so sad. Well, she went through surgery and a lot of chemo and had a super team of doctors and when I saw her last week she was GREAT! It's truly a miracle. She even had a clean scan a few weeks ago. Her recovery was just unbelievable. I'm so happy for her and her family. She's about my age (mid 40) with young kids also. She's going in for Stage 2 of her DIEP reconstruction one week after I'm having mine! Thought we could be roomies, but alas, not quite!

Things are going along well here. Busy with Christmas prep stuff. Since my surgery is Dec. 16th I need to get everything done before then. I'm getting a little nervous about it, but really just because I'm tired of surgery in general and getting poked and cut and prodded. DH has arranged to be off for several days when I come home, so it will be kinda nice spending "the holidays" at home together!

I'll try to get back more often! I've just been pooped lately! And I'm sure tonight I'll stay up to see Oprah on Letterman when I should be sleeping! La de da!

GAGWTA!
Beth

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Thanks, you guys. I also believe in the power of prayer.

I'm supposed to go sometime this month to a service where one of the men who saw the vision of the Blessed Mother at Medugorje is going to be speaking (I will take your names with me too). I've also attended a healing mass before. That time my mother nearly dove on the priest as he came near us saying "Father, my daughter has cancer"! Looking around the church at the many people who were obviously sick I was mortified she did that, LOL, and said, "Mom, everyone here has cancer". But it was cute and sweet and very typical of my mother.

Beth, nice to see you back!

Denise, I've been pondering your question about chemo and I don't have much to offer since I don't know all that much about DCIS and chemo in that situation. I can say that I, personally, am of the mindset that I'll fight the fight with whatever arsenal of weapons they offer me, but as we discussed not too long ago here, chemo is not for everyone and may not always be necessary in every situation. You have to weigh the benefits with the risks.

Can you post why your oncologist is recommending this if the cancer was non-invasive and everything else looked good? What is the rationale? Is it that your tumor was so large? Let us know and good luck with this difficult decision. As someone else suggested, a second opinion might not be a bad idea on this one. I would also ask to see any research data that shows how this would be beneficial to me. Also, in some medical groups they take unusual cases and present them to a group of local oncologists to get a general consensus of opinions - kind of a meeting of the minds - is this something that your oncologist might be able to do in your case and report back to you the groups' thoughts?

And to anyone who's headed to Disney - have a wonderful trip!!

 

[MerryPoppins]

I'm adding Didia to my prayers.

Christine, what wonderful news! I'm so happy for you, and I hope you stick around. This isn't an exclusive club.

Glad Claudette's doing well and that the doctor had good news. I'll keep praying.

In fact, I'm praying for all of you.

I'm going out of town for the weekend - not to Florida, but it is a mini vacation just the same. Safe travels to those of you headed to the world. GAGWTA!

 

[snappy]

Linda, if you would like me to send you the list I compiled of all the names here (Word document), I'd be happy to.

Your story of the healing mass reminded of a story my MIL told me this week.
Last Sunday, before Claudette's surgery on Monday the two of them went to mass at a church in uptown New Orleans not far from Claudette's shotgun house they are living in. MIL said the priest was wonderful, giving credit to the parish school and its principal where more than 200 kids have reenrolled in school. Anyways, as they exit the church, the priest is greeting everyone. MIL leans over to the priest and whispers to him that Claudette has cancer and will have surgery the next day. He promises to pray for her, then asks what kind of surgery. When he hears about the planned surgery, he is very concerned and says he will say many prayers. I can just hear Claudette tell her, "Mother!!!"

It is a sign that my MIL is more upbeat about everything or she would not have told this story, she told it with laughter.

Thank God for that wonderful church and priest and all of you ladies too.

Sorry, I am in tears right now. Gotta go.

 

[cepmom]

all right...thought I would post here since you wonderful women probably know more about mammograms than anyone I know. I had my base line mammogram on Tuesday ~ the tech had took 2 veiws of each breast, then called me back in for one more on my right breast ~ no biggie ~ she said sometimes they need to because they can't always get all of the tissue in the first shot. They called late yesterday to schedule me to come back in for more films on my right breast. I called this morning to schedule an appointment and the earliest is 3 weeks away, so of course me being paranoid I am starting to freak . I am all for being cautious, but is this sort of thing routine?

I have had problems with fibrocystic breasts and had to have surgery to remove a lump in 1989 in the left breast and a needle biopsy on the left breast in 2000 that both turned out negative, thank goodness. I told the receptionist that I didn't want to wait 3 weeks and she told me to call her supervisor later today to see if they can fit me in earlier, but basically downplayed the whole thing and said they just needed more films since this is my base line, they have nothing to compare it to. But they have nothing to compare the left breast to either and they only want more films of the right breast....malkes me wonder if there is something there they need to check out further. HELP!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Laurie, thank you, the list would be great! LOL, I guess all us mothers are like that, huh?

cepmom, am I to understand that this is your first set of "routine" mammograms? I would imagine in 89 and 00 they would have done mammograms on both your breasts, and if so, technically those would be your baselines but the receptionist probably wasn't aware of them. If they were done at the same place, they could compare them. If they were done elsewhere you might want to arrange to have them sent to this new place. In the meantime keep trying to get in earlier. I had a biopsy with my baseline mamms and I remember how surprising and scary it was (turned out negative also).

Chances are very much in your favor that all will be fine. Unfortunately, you have to go through the "Hurry Up And Wait" process which is often the hardest part altogether. When they want more views they just want to be absolutely certain that they're getting the best views possible. That's a good thing! Same with if they recommend biopsy - they want to be sure. Most centers will have at least two radiologists read the films. It is possible that the first one ok'd it so you could leave but the second looked afterward and wanted another view. This happens a lot. Hang in there and keep us posted. We're here anytime you want to vent.

[Stepping up on Soapbox] I think we all have to remember, despite how hard it is to wait, how lucky we are today to have the technology we have which affords us the gift of early detection. Many of us are here today thanks to early detection. Think of all the women who were not so lucky. I guess as with anything, it comes with a price and that price is having to play The Waiting Game. Same with biopsies, etc.. Yes, it's lousy to go through it, but don't we really want to be sure? There is a woman where I work who is 30 years old. She had a lump but because she was so young nothing was done about it. She was recently diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer which has spread to her brain. She has 3 very young children. How can this happen with what we know today? So yes, waiting stinks. But let's keep in mind the possible alternative. [Off Soapbox]

 

[cepmom]

thanks Pea-n-Me ~
I am so thankful they are being thorough....it really just stinks to wait. I know of another dance mother that recently passed away from cancer ~ also a woman with 3 young children ~ and that is my worst fear.

Back in 1989 and 2000 they did not do any mammograms ~ I was only 19 in 1989 ~ the Dr found the lump, referred me to a surgeon that just recommended taking it out and testing it.

In 1997 while I was pregnant with my second DD, I found a lump (I could actually see it sticking out)and my OB checked it out and said to wait and see. It appeared to go away after my DD was born, but when I got pregnant with my 3rd DD, it appeared again. My new OB sent me right out for an ultrasound (no mammo because I was pregnant) and then they sent me for a needle biopsy.

I think I may be going crazy because I vaguely remember my Dr finding another lump in my right breast and wanting for me to get a mammogram but because of my age the insurance wouldn't cover it??? I think I went for an ultrasound though. I will need to call that office today to check on it. I can't believe I don't really remember if that happened or not ~ I guess that' what happens when you get all wrapped up in your kids lives....your own kind of takes a back seat for a while!

 

[snappy]

I think I successfully sent an email to ya, Linda, copying the word document into the body of it. I sent this through the DIS email function. Let me know if ya received it.

I agree that we are very fortunate to have the technology available nowadays. But I understand how cepmom is feeling. I also was told April 2004 that I needed additional magnified views but when I tried to schedule it there was a substantial delay. I called a friend who was at the time a physical therapist at the hospital where the breast center is located. She said to be proactive and call the center back to see if they could work me in. I did, they could not give me a specific appointment, but they said I could come in anyway if I understood I would potentially face a long wait. I drove over there, they worked me in, the wait was not bad.

Even after talking to the radiologist who recommended the biopsy I was in and out of there. The rest is history. . .

So I guess my advice would be to see if they can work you in on a standby basis if this works in your daily schedule. They really did not give mean any grief when I asked to do this, they were very accomodating.

Good luck scheduling this, cepmom.

FYI, my mom was called back a few years ago and required to have the magnified views that year and for several subsequent years. She has had no problem. I think it does happen alot but the radiologists err on the side of caution since the risk of not finding something earlier rather than later ( your life) far outweigh the risks of ordering additional views (time and $).

 

[Christine]

cepmom,

I know how worried you are. I have been going through all this for the last month. I have lost 7 lbs.

Of course, I can't *diagnose* you but it sounds to me that you are just like me and get lots of "lumps". For me, these lumps are call fibroadenomas. Do you remember if they told you this is what you had? Once you get fibroadenomas, it seems that they keep coming back. I had my first one when I was 14. My second at 23. Then all was quiet until I hit 40 and had my first routine mammogram. I got the same thing you are getting. They called me back to do "extra" pictures and they also gave me a sonogram that same day. It was on the sonogram that they could really see it. Radiologist suspected a fibroadenoma but nothing but a biopsy will give you a conclusive result. So last year I had surgery and had it removed. It was benign--indeed another fibroadenoma. The surgeon said to come back in a year for follow up but do a mammogram first.

Well, I won't go into the whole ordeal (you can read my terrifying story on the back pages of this thread), but bottom line, I ended up with yet ANOTHER fibroadenoma in my left breast that wasn't there last. So, I've had a total of 4 fibradenomas now and I don't expect that I will be finished with them for awhile.

Most likely this is what they are seeing on your mammogram. I will tell you that if they *thought* what you had looked cancerous they would have you come back right away. Not that a mammogram can diagnose cancer but a lot of cancers have a very specific "look" to them and the radiologist can be almost certain that it is. When my 38 year old hairstylist found a lump they sent her for a mammogram. They called her back the next day and arranged for her to see a surgeon THAT DAY. They were that panicked by what they saw and they were correct--she had breast cancer. So take *some* comfort in that what they are seeing is not alarming them. If you have any specific questions just ask me--I just finished this mess yesterday (got my BENIGN results) so it's all still fresh in my head.

 

[cepmom]

Christine ~ I do beleive they said I had a fibroadenoma the last time. I just got off the phone with my old OB/Gyn office and they found the report that said just that.

I remember freaking out when I had to have the needle biopsy ~ I was pregnant and my OB really had to push for the Breast Center to see me that day he was so concerned. Then I totally panicked when the tech and the Dr at the breast center couldn't say for sure wht the lump was by the ultrasound alone. I figured that they see these everyday ~ breasts are all they do there and they couldn't identify what this was. I had myself dead and buried by the time I got the biopsy results back.

I think I will call the Breast Center and make sure they have all my records including the past ultrasounds and check to see if they can fit me in any sooner than 3 weeks.

Thanks everyone for your support!

 

[Christine]

cepmom,
Just remember that no mammogram or ultrasound is going to give you a definitive answer. They will say "this looks a lot like a XXXXX" but we won't really know.

Last year, the radiologist told me that he was 100% sure that I had a fibroadenoma. He also told me that people can be wrong and he didn't want me to be his "mistake" so, despite all the lovely words of "benign-looking" that he put in my report, the bottom line was that he still recommended a biopsy. Try not to freak too much. Since you've already had fibroadenomas, that's most likely what is going on now. Fine thing to say, I know because there is no way you could have calmed me down last week!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Got it, Laurie, thank you. aw: My, it is a big list.

cepmom, I see you are from MA so I'm not surprised they just barrelled forward and cut to the chase - typical, LOL. What would surprise me was if insurance wouldn't pay for a diagnostic mamm if a lump was found. Normally, if a mamm is clinically indicated there will be no problem with billing. (That would be in MA, anyway don't know how others operate).

Sometimes I say things here in a more broad sense because I know others will be reading this thread for a long time to come - it was part of the vision I had in helping to create it in the first place. Information and support. I had explained to cedmom in a PM that the comments at the end of my last post were not directed at her or anyone else in particular lest anyone think I was insensitive to her. I certainly understand how difficult all of this is and have to work hard on a daily basis to keep my own mind's worries in check. I just feel as if sometimes we (in general) lose sight of the fact that all of these frustrations are a necessary evil and wanted to remind people, as well as myself, how fortunate we are today to have what we have in terms of diagnostics and treatments. If anyone took offense, I'm sorry.

I guess I just have a unique perspective being on both sides of the medical fence - my experiences with both influence my take on things. In retrospect I can see that I am upset about a few things that happened at work this week and maybe that's why my mind went there today.

We were working this week to stabilize a critically ill patient at 3am when the wife of another very stable patient complained we were being too loud and keeping her husband from sleeping. I also was greeted at the beginning of my shift Tuesday with another wife yelling at the nurse's station that "if her husband died of a heart attack she was going to sue the pants off of all of us". The reason she was upset? Because the 92 yo man with dementia next to her husband was confused and yelling and she felt he should not have been admitted to a bed which was not by itself. What she failed to see was that the hospital was at capacity and in fact some patients spent the night in the ER and the PACU because there were no inpatient beds left. And the 92 yo was as cute as a button, not his fault he's confused, and our responsibility to keep him safe. It took every ounce of self-control I had to keep a smile on my face and interact with this family who was threatening to sue me to make everything all right with them and their husband/father. Part of my job as the night charge nurse is to take care of these issues, often on my own. During the day there are plenty of managers and administrators around to help out but at night there are only two administrators and it just so happened they were both tied up in emergencies elsewhere (we are a major trauma center) so it was me by myself dealing with this the best I could. I spent an hour with this family and when I was done they were satisfied, but in the meantime I had not given out any meds to anyone else or done staffing for the unit which was necessary to deliver safe care to all of our 46 patients. I love my job and my patients but it is not hard sometimes to be easily frustrated. There are days I drive home crying because I am so frustrated. Sometimes I am mad at myself because I think later maybe I could have done things differently. Nothing feels better, though, than when someone thanks me for what I did do, or they are clearly happy to see me the next night. Sometimes I even get a hug from a patient or a family member when we really connect. When you are a nurse you have to take your rewards in small bits and pieces (not unlike being a Mom, actually ).

OTOH, I know patients get frustrated, too, and as a patient myself on many occasions I see that side of it, too. We also had a young woman on my unit this week who had new heart failure secondary to chemotherapy (which is a common diagnosis for my unit - but not for the general population - but this woman was my age and also had children the same age as mine which always serves to bring home the fears I try to put away in the back of my mind). I wanted to take her as a patient but instead we had to split up the four admissions we were getting. I tried to get in to say hello to her but never had the time. Maybe it was just as well.

Thanks for listening.

 

[snappy]

Linda, glad you recieved the list. Amazing how many sisters (and some brothers ) have graced our thread.

Thanks for the stories from your hospital experiences. Having never worked in a hospital, I guess I am a bit clueless about what happens on a daily basis. Thanks for offering your unique perspective.

I agree that theses pages will likely be perused by many others going down this road in the future.

Christine, you are very eloquent as well with your posts. You just received your results, thanks for jumping in to address cepmom. It is so fresh with you, your words speak volumes.

thanks Linda, thanks Christine.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Thanks, snappy.

 

[snappy]

Changing the subject a bit, what are you ladies listening to as fas as Christmas music? I favor the Nutcracker suite and the Twelve Yats of Christmas. My mom has several Manheim Steamroller (sp?) cd's. I need to get a couple of those too.

At least I finally got my husband to change our some of his jazz cd's that that take up all the cd slots.

Anyone else?

Oh and I have the Cranberry Chutney Yankee candle blazing that I thought I wouldn't like. Now I am hooked on it. It will be gone for Christmas for sure.

My baby brother Tom is 37 today. Lives in New York, he works for a company that produces off Broadway plays. I just talked to him and he's gonna make his plane reservation this am. One good thing that came out of our stormy September is that there are now cheap direct flights between New York and lil ole Baton Rouge. It has been problematic driving into New Orleans to pick him up when he comes in during Christmas. Not this year.

 

[SillyMe]

Hi Ladies...haven't been around in awhile. I've been really busy lately. My mom started her radiation treatments on Monday. So far, everything is okay.

Forgive me if this seems like a stupid question, but I know there are certain cancers that are associated with others as far as spreading from one organ to another. Do you have any idea if colon cancer is associated with breast cancer?