Dis Breast Cancer Survivors - GAGWTA!

[Pea-n-Me]

It means a lot to me too, snappy. Thanks.

 

[NHAnn]

((((((((((((((((((Kelly)))))))))))))))))
I'm so sorry sista...dang.
I'm praying that it is confined and hasn't spread.
And continuing prayers for Beth too.
What a week...

My thoughts exactly

Support groups are great ........... but this thread is like a lifeline that is always available, not just once a month. Thanks again, Laura and Linda.

I totally agree.

Thinking of you all with love and prayers today, wishing you courage and good health

 

[annrae]

Beth, I'm so sorry My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Thank you everyone for your thoughtful prayers and wishes.

I see the surgeon on Fri. I'm sure the biopsy will be early next week.

Bone and CT scans are sched. for Tues.

Won't know those results until I go back to the onc. on the 14th.

I'll keep you posted.

Kelly

I am new to this Board and have only posted once quite some time ago. I had a lumpectomy and radiation 1 and 1/2 years ago - I am going for another mammogram in April and each one is frightening.

I read your post and I wanted to wish you well and hope everything will be ok. I will be thinking of you.

 

[laurabelle]

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

annrae I hope to see you around here more often!

It's a brand new week - whoooo hooo!!!
I didn't post about this earlier, I was just too down about it... But I emailed my G.I doc about not being completely better after my last infusion and he wants me to go in for another scope before he does another infusion (he's talked about a double dose) It's scary because this drug has the potential for such nasty side effects. I had a really good day yesterday though, up and around more than ever. Maybe things are turning around... (pixie dusting myself!)

Hey, I feel the same way about support groups... and I'm in three!

I watched most of the Food Network Disney Wedding special. (I fell asleep right before the end, I'm such a weeny) All I could say is Wow! What a fairy tale...I have 2 girls who want to get married there, it's gonna cost a fortune!
It makes me miss Disney even more...Linda, when do you leave for your trip?

Happy Super Bowl day sistas...enjoy your snacks...oh yeah, and the game!

 

[MerryPoppins]

I haven't given you ladies an update on my mom in a while. She is going to have to have gall bladder surgery. We find out on Monday if it can be laproscopic (I can't ever spell that) or an incision from breast bone to navel. The doctor wants the surgeon to check out several things while he's in there. They haven't completely ruled out cancer of the pancreas and some other things. Please throw out an extra prayer or two for Evelyn. I'm nervous because they can't figure out the cause of her problems and I have a trip planned in March. Doesn't that make me sound selfish? I don't mean it that way. She's much more important than a trip. But I don't want to have to cancel either.

DS qualified for state in two events at yesterday's swim meet. He's so happy!

DH is still waiting for word on the new job. We've been told by human resources that the offer is coming, but still no phone call. Government is so slooooowwww!

This thread means a lot to me too. I have a conflict on the night of my local support group, so it's great to be able to come here and talk to all of you when I can't always talk to them. I also like being able to "pay it forward". It's nice to be able to be here for all of you.

So have you scheduled another scope Laura? Hope things are getting better and you don't have to do the double dose.

GAGWTA!

 

[snappy]

Annrae,

I can relate to your fears about followup mammos. I was diagnosed in April 2004 and had a mastectomy in May 2004. I also experience anxiety when going for checkups, although afterwards I am good to go. I guess anxiety is part of the process. Also, every new ache and pain makes me fear the worst. When you get to be my age (52), you end up naturally with the same pains you might experience if you had a recurrence. You can end up with a big case of hypochondria.

My sense is that these worries may diminish a little over time but are always around. It is more the way you deal with them that matters. I think expressing them is very healthy. I believe writing them down is helpful, whether in a diary or even here in this thread. It helps to realize the worries are real and also normal. Perspective is everything.

Hope this helps a tiny bit. Please feel free to join in our discussions here anytime. You are welcome here.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Annrae, I always worry when it's time for my mammograms too. It brings back all those feelings of the day of my diagnosis. Just take some deep breaths and remember that if there is anything to find, you want them to find it so you can fight. And I try to tell myself that most of the time I get great, cancer-free news. So hopefully, someday I'll see it as a positive experience.

 

[snappy]

Merry, sorry the diagnosis with your mom is still up in the air. Hoping the docs decide they can do the less invasive surgery tomorrow. Please keep us updated. Will remember Evelyn in the prayers for the sick at mass tonight.

I can relate with your feelings about not wanting to cancel your trip.
(I just made a typo, I typed, to cancer your trip, oh, gosh). I bet your mom would want you to go forward with your trip. I would wait and see. I do not think it is "selfish" at all. Sometimes we put the guilt trip on ourselves.

Laura, sorry you are going to have to endure another scope. It sounds like your GI guy is very thorough, which is a good thing.

Love that your girls want to get hitched in WDW.

Did you and Linda envision how many people this thread would reach? I know there are other sites with places for survivor interaction, although I have not visited them so far. I love that here we share some really positive things with our love of Disney along with the survivor stuff. It seems like a winning combination. I love hearing about other's trips, cruises, etc. It certainly does lighten things up.

I am frustrated from trying to reason with my crazy brother. He really needs to get his act together soon. he will be 40 on Feb 8th, the same night DS makes his confirmation. I was in such as different place than him at age 40, it is scary. He literally has nothing, no savings, no assets, no vehicle, in fact he owes our mother money, who knows how many others? He talked last night about wanting to acquire a couple of houses in the US and a place in Costa Rica. What he needs to concentrate on is getting a job with benefits so that he has insurance coverage for his wife and baby to be from Costa Rica. He has grandiose ideas about starting a business in New Orleans doing house reconstruction. We gave him the phone numbers of two of DH's nephew who are doing this already. The problem is he does not want to be a helper, he wants to do his own contracts. OK, how can one do this if you have no tools, no truck, and little experience with this?? He is so out of touch with reality!!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

GAGWTA! Welcome, anrae.

Yes, glad it's a new week! Here's some

for everyone including Laura, anrae, Evelyn and of course Beth and Kelly.

I know the feeling about the tests. I am starting my yearly MRIs in March (we didn't do them last year because I'd had the biopsy after treatment and they said that area would "light up" so we waited). I made the appointment the other day and I got that feeling in the pit of my stomach for a few minutes. But Merry is right, better to find something early and deal with it than to let it go. (At some point I also need my gallbladder out too ).

Ann, funny story about the nipples. snappy, thanks for finding the thread on suites at the value resorts (I made sure to subscribe this time). I wonder what the cost will be? Nice to have another option for larger families or those wanting a kitchenette. I imagine they may be hard to come by but maybe if they made the Legendary Years at Pop into all suites there would be a good amount of them.

Speaking about support groups. I've been toying with the idea of offering to lead a journaling group at the support center I went to. That group was incredibly helpful to me but they no longer have anyone to do it. (I don't know about the meditation part; not sure I could do that whole "deep breaths in, blow it out" thing, I'd probably start giggling and not be able to stop ). I'm going to see what they say but I just know they're going to talk me into doing the meditation piece, too, LOL.

I've been Tivo-ing a great show on the Home and Garden TV channel called Designed to Sell - has anyone else seen it? They go into a home that's on the market and give the owners $2000 to make changes to improve the chances of sale. Using the help of a real estate expert, designer and two carpenters, the owners make minor changes to the home. Some of the transformations are amazing! It's been giving us a lot of ideas about our own home and what we want to do for improvements. I have DH hooked now, too. It makes you realize how even minor updates add a lot of value to your home. After our trip we plan to get started on the renovation of our family room to start. It's the largest room in our home and is in need of a makeover so it should be interestind to tackle a project like this ourselves.

Laura, we leave for our trip a week from Wednesday (boarding Disney Magic Saturday the 18th)!! Hard to believe it's here, we booked it in Sept of 2004. The friends we're traveling with also have a very ill family member so they're a little nervous (and guilty) about traveling, too, but hopefully everything will be ok while we're gone. I'm happy to report I've totally streamlined my packing by using a lot of basic black shoes, pants and dresses with some nice colorful tops so I don't have to take 20 pairs of shoes. We are in an inside stateroom (but our friends are across the hall in a verandah room ) and I don't want to be saddled with any more luggage than we need to be so this is actually a good thing. We are meeting up with a nice group of DISers so it should really be a fun trip. I'll try to check in here while we're away, looking forward to spending some time in the Cove Cafe during the cruise.

Wishing everyone a beautiful Sunday.

 

[annrae]

Annrae, I always worry when it's time for my mammograms too. It brings back all those feelings of the day of my diagnosis. Just take some deep breaths and remember that if there is anything to find, you want them to find it so you can fight. And I try to tell myself that most of the time I get great, cancer-free news. So hopefully, someday I'll see it as a positive experience.

Thank you to all of you for the wonderful welcome on this board. My family and I rarely discuss the fact that I had (or have)(I never really know how to express this) cancer. I have a wonderful, caring DH, DD, DS and dear DIL who is in the medical field. I feel comfortable speaking to her but because my DH, DD and DS are upset with talking to me about my condition, we rarely speak about it. They were at the hospital with me when I had the surgery and I know how worried and concerned they were but talking about it seems out of the question. Have any of you had this experience?

I hope all of you have a good week with lots of good news to make each day a happy day.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Initially DD didn't want to talk about it. She was so upset that she would just leave the room if we discussed treatment options, etc. Finally she let me know how afraid she was that I would die and we were able to talk. I think it helped her a lot to finally get it all out in the open. She says now she was afraid that expressing her fear would bring me down. Sort of like saying she didn't think I could beat it or something?

I'm sorry that your family can't talk to you about it. Do you think it's just because expressing it in words makes it more real to them? Maybe they are all afraid that if they talk about it it will come back? Or that it will weaken your resolve?

I guess we don't talk about it often, but if I have something to say they aren't uncomfortable. They put a pink ribbon on my car and the kids both wear breast cancer support things once in a while. They like to raise awareness, because they'd love to see a cure. They're all the time buying me pink ribbon angels and things like that. But my surgery was over 4 years ago, so it's taken them a while. I think they are finally getting more comfortable (and hopeful) that it's in the past.

 

[snappy]

I guess we are kind of the opposite, annrae. I probably talk about it too much, not specifics but I do talk in general a good bit about cancer. I routinely check out books from our cancer services library. Also, because I
am still weighing having reconstruction. Also, DD10's third grade teacher last year was a 5 year breast cancer survivor who was also quite open about it.
That really made things seem more casual.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

My family and friends are used to me talking about it.

 

[snappy]

Merry, do you know which surgery your mom will need?

How are you doing, Beth, Laura and Kelly?

Still packing away, Linda?

I finally got DH to put our suitcases away from our trip.

Not nearly as much fun as getting them down to pack for the trip, to say the least.

I need to work on the pics.

Laurie

Oh, good news on Claudette from last week, I forget to tell you. She had another scope of her stomach to see why she could not get the food down. They did find some scar tissue. After the procedure, she came out feeling hungry. Ate all her lunch and part of her dinner. I spoke to her daughter Sat. morning, she is encouraged. She is also on anti depressants now and that appears to be helping. Still don't know how long she'll remain in the hospital. Man that will be a whopper of a bill.

 

[MerryPoppins]

That is great news about Claudette! Hope she continues to improve.

Mom went to the surgeon today. He said he really would prefer to do the laproscopic surgery. So, he's holding off a week until he can talk to her doctor and have her take some sort of barium test. He thinks it will show that the gall bladder is her problem. If we have a test that backs this theory up, it's much safer to do the less invasive surgery. I'm happy that she might not have to have it, but I'm not happy that we're waiting another week to make a decision. Hurry up and wait again. Guess I have to put it in God's hands. I'll get to go on vacation if I'm supposed to get to go.

I'm heading out the door to drop DD at ballet. Busy, busy, busy.

 

[MinnieM3]

Checking in a day early so to speak.....have my PET scan tomorrow and that will really tell the tale. They have NOT been able to get conclusive results with the biopsy samples. Argh! So will still don't know if it's a matastisis or "just" lung cancer.

Everyone at school knows now and that was hard. My students know and are handling it well. Friday was the day I ended up having to tell everyone. Byt the end of the day I was so drained.

Will update with PET scan results ASAP!

 

[laurabelle]

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

Beth- So the PET will be able to tell the difference? Will they do a full body scan? I'm sure it was hard and good all at the same time to tell everyone at school...at least that is behind you now. Hopefully they are rallying around you and willing to help.
Surrounding you in prayer sista...

annrae- I talk about bc all the time...my family has gotten used to it too. I think most people expect when your initial treatment ends, that you don't have to deal with it anymore. People have alot of misconceptions about this disease...unless they're in the trenches. On the flip side I think I'm far enough out of dx (7yrs) that more people feel comfortable talking to me about cancer, because they believe I'm cured (hey, from their mouth's to God's ear!) That's one of the reasons support groups are so important. It helps so much to talk to other people who get it! I hope that you not only hang out here with us, but that you find an in-person group where you live.

MerryPoppins- Praying for your mom...I hope she gets to have the lap. surgery too.

Laurie- I'm so happy to hear that Claudette is eating! Hopefully she'll improve quickly now and get home soon. I'm sorry your brother is causing so much frustration...hopefully he'll get in a situation where he can serve and grow...

Linda- How exciting...it's almost here! I leave in 2 weeks, haven't packed a thing, lol! But it's just me going. I'll have to check out that show. Hubby and I talked about it and I think we're going to wait a bit on the kitchen remodel. As badly as it needs to be done, there are lots of other things coming up that need our attention now.

I go for my next surgical f/u tomorrow. I should finally have my path. results then. I'm not expecting anything bad, but there's always that little nagging feeling that you better prepare yourself just in case...I have my appt. for the scope, it's the 27th, the day after I get home from Denver. Oh well, the prep is not too bad, and I can't put it off. I just hope I don't get worse in the meantime. I am pretty tired and achy, typical of UC, so I just crawled into bed about 6:00 last night. Yeah, I'm the life of the party- whooo hooo! lol!

Yesterday was report card day. Normally I wouldn't even talk about it, and both my girls did great, but I have to brag about my dd who's in 4th grade. She has struggled so much in school, esp. in math. Last year they placed her in the below grade level class and I volunteered in there once a week to see exactly what she needed help with. She improved so much and we worked hard over the summer and they placed her back up in an on grade level math class (with a wonderful teacher I must say) and she just got her first A in math!!!

I hope everyone has a fabulous day!

 

[snappy]

Beth, sorry you are still in limbo. I don't know much about the pet scans except that they are the best scans around. Hopefully, you will get the results promptly and know where you stand. Continuing to send you pixie dust from here, hoping for the best news possible.

Merry, I hope your mom does end up with the less invasive surgery. Much easier to bounce back from. It has been a long drawn out ordeal though.
I sure another test was just what she had in mind

Laura, please let us know about your results tomorrow. Hopefully your current treatment is keeping everything in check. I am glad you have a trip to look forward to. I find looking forward is one of the most healthy things I do.

Way to go for your daughter on her math grade, Laura!! Good timing too.
At our school how you do in the 5th grade determines whether you are ready for high math, where you take Algebra I in the 8th grade. The main advantage is that if you are in high math you have the same teacher for math 6th through 8th and she is an extraordinary teacher. My DD did high math, my DS did not, it made a world of difference. DS still does well on standardized tests but not so well in math grades. It is a little confusing.

Some of it is just motivation. You develop motivation in high math for sure, you have no choice if you want to keep up. He just does not have that.

I went to another Gamanon meeting yesterday. WOW! I had never been to a full blown 12 step meeting like that (the other meeting I attended with mom there were just two other people there and we did not do much). This was amazing. I learned alot. I am thinking we will have to do an intervention even if we can't get him to enter treatment. He at least needs to realize how serious WE think his problem is, and that Mom, my sister and my other brother are all on the same page. He has to do the work himself, we just need to be clear what the consequences will be if he continues on his current course. Anyway, I slept a little better last night, than goodness.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

GAGWTA!

Laura, congratulations to your DD on that A!! Really amazing what hard work and a mother's love can accomplish. Am praying you get good results on both the pathology and the scope. I'm glad you're listening to your body when it's tired and needs to rest. You'll be back to when this is behind you, sista. (We meet with our kids' teacher tonight, wondering what stories I'm going to hear, LOL. )

Continued prayers for all here who need them.

Beth, keeping my fingers crossed for you on the PET scan. I know that neither a breast cancer recurrence to the lung nor a primary lung cancer is desirable, but have they said if one is "preferable" over the other, i.e. easier to treat? Just wondering. I also wanted to tell you about a woman I've mentioned here before (she sat behind me in December at the Medjugorje mass, she's the youngish mother of one of my closest friends). She had colon cancer and two years later they also incidentally found some spots on her lung (which were mets). She had a great thoracic surgeon (from my hospital ) who removed all five of them, she had more chemo, and she's doing great. She still has frequent scans and everything looks fine. In consultation between the oncologists and surgeons, they told her they felt those spots were more than likely always there but had not shown up on the original scans (which is why they don't expect to see any more after all the chemo she's had ). She has an incredible attitude and is one of the people in my own life who inspires me. Her attitude is to keep persevering because she has no intention of not surviving. She said something to me to that effect when I was in treatment and it always stuck with me. Just wanted to tell you about her because I know how imporant it is to hear the good stories. She is a Survivor and so are you, sista!!

snappy, glad to hear Claudette has turned the corner finally. Yes, it must be quite a bill. Merry, I took care of someone last week who had her gall bladder out non-laparoscopically (she also had a lot of cardiac issues which is why she came to us afterward). It is a lot easier laparoscopically so I hope that is what your Mom gets to have.

I saw my primary care doc yesterday for my annual physical and am happy to report that all of my doctors are now onboard with the fact that if I get the pain in my side back we're going to go ahead and just take out my gallbladder. I am not one to have any unnecessary surgery but this has been going on for 3 years now off and on and created a lot of stress, pain and worry in my life. My doc I think thought she was doing me a favor saying my breast surgeon could do the job and I was like, um, no thanks, I'll go to another surgeon I know who's bedside manner I prefer.

OK, gotta get the day rolling, coffee cup is cold and dry and I have a lot to do still to get ready for my trip which is a week from tomorrow!! (May ask for a bit of PD for our friends who may not be able to come due to an illness in their family ). Yup, more problems when I went through DDs things - man, they grow like weeds, don't they?? At least I got all my monthly administrative tasks done for work so I'll be ready to start my vacation as of Saturday morning!

Wanted to mention one other thing quickly before I go. DH and I saw a nutritionist last month because he's gained a bit of weight and his blood sugars were slightly elevated (I've also gained weight but I kind of feel kind of responsible for him since he took on all the stress of this household while I was sick). At any rate, it was something we both needed to do so we made it a joint effort and I have to say it was the best thing we've ever done. Despite our diets being relatively healthy, there were mistakes we were making and are both now on the road to healthier eating and being. I wanted to tell you since I know nutrition is a subject we've discussed before and can all relate to, and is so important for us in our quest to stay healthy. I can get into more detail later if anyone wants, but consider going if you just can't seem to understand why the weight won't come off. (Will be a challenge cruising with our new dietary changes but we're committed to staying healthy despite the insane amount of food surrounding us ).

Oh, BTW, Laura - ditto on the home renovation. Have also had some unexpected things crop up which is why we're going to start small and see how it goes. Hope you like the show, let me know!!

 

[snappy]

Linda, please do share the suggestions from the nutritionist. We have weight issues and I know my BP would come down if I lost a bit. DH is doing better since he resumed riding our stationary bike. No time for a health club though. The company DH works for is working on several big projects, DH told me over the weekend the office relocate eventually to the one where there will also be a health club. That will be a great thing for him. What I need is a nice heated pool, preferably with a sand castle slide or in the shape of a flower or bowling pin.

Back in the 80's and 90's the company I worked for in New Orleans located right across the street from the Superdome had a great employee fitness center. DH and I both used it alot, along with walking together around the Superdome many, many times. I exercised more during those years than any others during my life, it was an enormous help with busting the stress of long hours and work travel. Wish more employers here had this perk.
I might even come out of retirement for it. Maybe.