Dis Breast Cancer Survivors - GAGWTA!

[Pea-n-Me]

goofyshell, you've definitely come to the right place. There are many daughters of mothers with breast cancer on this thread as well as survivors of breast (and other) cancers.

To hear something like this is shocking and overwhelming. You feel like your world is coming apart. But remember, having breast cancer does not automatically mean she's going to die. Today, with early detection and effective treatment, more and more women (and men) are surviving and thriving. There is always reason for hope!

Feel free to post here as you travel this journey with your mother. It's a difficult road, no question. You might want to read through some of the old posts here, but beware, all the reading you are about to do here and elsewhere can be completely overwhelming - best to take it in baby steps. We can help you with ideas and questions as they come up. Or just offer a shoulder to cry on. Keep us updated when you can. I'll add your Mom to my prayer list.

 

[goofyshell]

Thank you both. It made me cry just to hear words of understanding. I know most survive, I just hate to see my mom suffer. Thanks again for the kindness.

 

[laurabelle]

~~~***GAGWTA sistas***~~~

goofyshell-I'm so glad you came here! I'm so sorry your mom, and your family are going through this. I just want to echo what the others have said... I know how overwhelming it feels right now, this is the hardest time for most of us. It's impossible to hear the word cancer and not think of death, but there are ALOT of us surviving for much longer than ever! It is a rough road, but I bet you'll find your mom is much stronger than you, or even she ever imagined. I'd encourage her to find a support group, even if she thinks she's not a support group type person. It is a godsend to be able to relate to others like yourself, it not only makes the cancer world a much less lonely place, but she will probably make closer friendships than she ever imagined. I'm praying for her...and I hope you continue to come here too.

Linda- I hope you post lots of details about your trip! I'm trying to come to grips with the fact that we probably won't be going to Disney this year. Too many other things ($) going on, plus we're out of tix, so the outlay of cash would be too much. I can't complain though, I'm going to Denver next month and plan to go to San Francisco in August for this year's SIS meet. My online group meets to do a race every year in a different city, this will be our 4th year! We did D.C., Daytona Beach and St. Louis...wonder where it will be next year???

MNSusan- I'm so sorry to hear about your DH's cousin. I'm glad you're so close, I'm sure you'll be a great support to her. Have a great trip! I can't wait to hear how EE is!

Ann- I wish we would get some snow... schools are 2hrs late here today and I have absolutely no idea why! It's supposed to get windy later this morning, but there's no snow or anything, weird.

I got a call from my nurse yesterday, and she said the urine test was negative, I didn't have a UTI. I told her the cramping between the 2 issues has been bad, I guess maybe I just mistook it for a UTI. I don't usually get them. Oh well. Still waiting on my path report, not that I'm expecting anything bad (though it's always lurking in the back of our minds isn't it!?!)
On an up note, it looks like the Remicade is working!!!

 

[laurabelle]

I keep meaning to update you all on my friend Lisa Porter. She got the news while I was in the hospital that she now has mets on her spine. Please remember her in your prayers...
http://www.lisawillsurvive.com/

 

[2vets]

Hi, all - see? Said I was intermittent.

Hating work right now. Company is doing very well and did awesome last year, but because they want "continued growth", I have heard that not only will we not get full raises this year, we won't get full bonuses. That STINKS.

OK, that was OT, but I had to whine. Nice to meet you guys, and Laura, I'm glad your med issues are being handled...hey, do you ever get pain/discomfort in your reconstructed breasts (assuming you had recon)? Hope your friend is hanging in there. I have a few friends with bone mets who are doing pretty well a year or more later...hope they are able to keep hers under control and pain-free.

Goofyshell, here's hoping your mom does well. It's great that you will be there to support her. There are so many survivors out there to give her inspration and support, and I hope she is able to grab all her strength and grit her teeth to see through all the treatments to the future. Chemo is not a great time...but it is finite.

Heard today about a brother of a friend who was dx'd with stage 4 testicular cancer at age 17. 17!!! Terrible. What 17-year-old kid wants to hear about Lance and a good prognosis? I am so sad.



SO...here's part of my post from the adult/solo travelers board (I am thinking of getting a pic of me (with hair!!) and mickey on my upcoing trip (early March) and framing the 2 together) -


And I'll end this with a fun and unrelated story since I just told ya'll about the cancer thing and we're on a Disney board - I went to WDW during chemo for a weekend when I was feeling good. The stares I got, OMG!!! Nearly everyone who looked at me smiled or looked away immediately. The kids were kids, asked their parents what was wrong with my hair, why I was bald, all that stuff. But in the MK one day there was a grown man who literally stopped in his tracks and stared with his big ol' trap open - his kid was actually pulling on him ("dad, come ON!!!"). I smiled sweetly and asked him laughingly if he wanted to take a picture, as that would last longer!! Poor guy, he stammered..and I just told him not to worry, I was doing OK and my hair would all grow back, and why should I deny myself a trip to Disney - look at all the bald guys around!!! I do have a picture of me with Mickey from that trip - Mickey's hand on top of my scarved head - it is on my refrigerator so I remember never to whine about having a bad hair day again...

 

[NHAnn]

goofyshell....I can only "ditto" the comments and suggestions of the others. Will keep your mom and whole family in my prayers. Do keep us posted and come to us with questions or just to vent or just for a bit of diversion

Laura...sad to read Lisa's update but still inspired by her strength and grace in this battle.

2vets...great story

GAGWTA!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Just wanted to make sure you guys saw this post from Beth:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1011863&referrerid=70088

 

[laurabelle]

~~~***GAGWTA sistas***~~~

Linda- Thanks for bringing up Beth's thread. I haven't spent much time on the boards lately, just coming here, so I missed it. Hey, I see you have a new pic in your siggie, who is it?

2vets- Yes, I had recon. I did saline expanders, which did hurt, it feels like a steel band tightening around your chest. Eventually I had those replaced with cohesive silicone gel implants. They are like gummy bears, if you cut into them, they don't leak and are supposedly rupture proof. Other than pain immediately after surgery, I have no pain at all from my recon.
I enjoyed your story! I guess you put him in his place!
I'm sorry to hear about your friend's brother...17, that's horrible.

My friend Lisa was dxed a year ago at stage IV, and found out she has brain mets over the summer, so this new mets dx is just making it tougher. She's been amazing in how she's handled it...she has 2 young children and alot to live for...

 

[Pea-n-Me]

who is it?

Guess!! (Hint: see post #2264).

 

[2vets]

Laura -

Boy, I am sorry to hear about your friend. Please let her know that she is in my thoughts, even though I don't know her. (I am not a religious girl, but I do like to send some positive thoughts out...)

I have saline implants - the silicone was not quite approved at my hospital for recon when I went in - I kep my expanders for an extra 6 months waiting for silicone to be approved, and NOTHIN"...until of course 3 weeks after my surgery. The saline is kind of uncomfortable, and I have one wrinkle that is prominent if I lean to one side...my PS is after me to replace them, but that means 2 weeks out of work and not going to the gym...maybe next year!!!

I felt kind of bad about snapping at that guy at Disney...he was just surprised to see a supermodel like me with a bald head !!!

Friend's brother has brain mets, we found out yesterday. V sad.

Linda - when will you be at WDW??? we'll be there March 3(am) - 5 (late pm).

Allison

 

[MinnieM3]

Just wanted to make sure you guys saw this post from Beth:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1011863&referrerid=70088

Bles your heart! I was JUST sitting here thinking how to do this and you already kindly had. Thank you thank you!

 

[MinnieM3]

Found out a bit more about my biopsy tomorrow. Not much fun, but I'll get some good sleep outta it!

The thing is in the middlel of my right lung and is apparently deep. It's also in (y luck!) the highest percentage location of where collapsed lungs happen when they to this procedure. La de da. If it does, it just means a chest tube and overnight stay. I doubt it will happen.

I'll be "awake" enough, but really out of it. They need me to be a ble to answwer some questions during the procedure.

Luckily DH works at the hospital and knows everyone (he's a pharmacist) and so they said they will try really hard to give us some kind ofnews tomorrow if possible. I'll be recovery for about 2 or 3 hours I think, they then repeat one test or do an x ray.

The thing I TOTALLY forgot about was not eating or drinking afer midnight and this thing is at 2pm!! I told me class today they were allowed to yell at me if they saw me reaching for an Aquafine or Diet Pepsi or something. They made me signs to put all over the classroom! They alsoo needed reassurance that they were REALLY allowed to yell at me!

So I'll update soon.

 

[NHAnn]

Beth....sending many many positive thoughts and prayers to you
for smooth uncomplicated procedure and good results. Post when you can, we'll be with you in spirit til then.



GAGWTA
and in advance of tomorrow morning....TGIF!!!!

 

[laurabelle]

~~~***GAGWTA sistas***~~~

Beth- Thinking of you today and praying it all goes smoothly and you get good news right away! Make sure they start your I.V. fluids as soon as you get there, that's a long time to go without. I'm glad your "kids" are helping, I'm sure it will be a good distraction, as much as you can be distracted today anyway...

Allison- I've always had to join a trial to get silicone, these aren't my first set, but they're better than the regular round ones. The surgery to swap out the implants isn't bad at all. I don't know what kind of work you do, but you may not even need to miss 2 weeks. I'll pass along your good wishes to Lisa. I'm so sorry he has brain mets too. I HATE CANCER!!!

Linda- That's funny, my sister is a nurse and when she was younger she originally thought about being a vet too! I'm glad you're enjoying reading his books. I've had a hard time getting into reading anything lately. I have a brand new book sitting on my bedside table just waiting on me...

Hubby is working from home today and I'm going to make one of his fav. dinners tonight, chicken pot pie. (yep, he's a simple midwestern boy!)
I hope everyone has a beautiful day!

 

[MerryPoppins]

Just popping in to say I'm thinking positive thoughts for Beth. Praying for the best possible outcome.

GAGWTA ladies!

 

[2vets]

Beth -

Best wishes and positive thoughts for a good outcome today. Thinking of you.

Allison

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Yes, prayers being said for you, Beth.

 

[MinnieM3]

Hi everyone

Jim, Beth's husband, here. The lung biopsy was today and it did not go too well. After a painful procedure, Beth was experiencing breathing difficulties and pain. An x-ray showed that her lung had collapsed. She was rushed back into the OR for a chest tube. Her lung has re-expanded, but she is very sore and tired out.

She will stay in the hospital tonight. Hopefully, the chest tube will come out tomorrow and her docs will let her come home.

I will keep you up to date..Thanks so much for your prayers.

Jim

 

[MerryPoppins]

Jim, tell Beth that we're still praying for both of you. Hope she gets to come home tomorrow. Try to get some rest.

 

[NHAnn]

Aw, darn. I was so hoping and praying this would go smoothly for Beth. Will keep you all in my thoughts.