Dis Breast Cancer Survivors - GAGWTA!

[Pea-n-Me]

Mom2Ashli, thank you for your fundraising efforts! :thewave:

 

[Mom2Ashli]

Mom2Ashli, thank you for your fundraising efforts! :thewave:

I have a thread that I started back in April about adding names of Breast Cancer Survivors. I plan on wearing this shirt on one day of the walk. Please let me know if you want to be included. You guys are my inspiration to walk 60 miles.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Mom2Ashli, thank you so much! People like you really make a big difference. I'd be proud to have you add my name. I'm sending you a PM.

 

[laurabelle]

Linda,
I started blogging about my cancer journey almost a year ago now and it has been the best therapy! Some of my other bc sistas do it too, one actually dragged me into it. So I'm going back, reliving some of it...dealing with it and moving on. I have tons of pics I want to go through from that time (No digital camera back then) and I'd love to scan them to my blog. Have you ever seen the book ARTRAGEOUS? It's art and writings from bc survivors, very cool.

 

[Cruise04]

I just want to give you guys a huge BRAVO for willing to be support to others. I have not yet had to experience breast cancer first hand but did experience it through my mom who passed away 2 1/2 years ago. The doctors at first thought she had a heart attack but when the autopsy came back, she was fully loaded with cancer which hadn't shown up on any scans yet - and that April before we found out why. I have learned more about breast cancer and cancer in general than I ever thought I would. I keep up on it because I am very proactive about myself and my daughter. Hopefully by the time she is old enough, there will be a cure and I won't have to worry about her.

The year after my mom was diagnosed (8 years ago when I was 27) she began, along with her cousins, walking in the Susan B Komen Race for the Cure. She did this up to the year that she died. I tried to carry on her tradition of being involved in events and was crew member the year after she passed for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and then that year my dd and I volunteered at our local Relay for Life. Unfortunately last year we weren't able to do anything and this year we won't be able to either - we will attend the Relay for Life through the Luminary Ceremony and donate as much as I can. Working at the Avon Walk was so very therapeutic for me - and inspirational. There were women there who were going through treatment who finished the 26 miles of the race. There were women there (and men) who were walking for those that lost the battle and for those starting the battle. It was the most awe-inspiring thing I have ever witnessed. My mom was inspirational enough for me - the second time around (she went into remission for about a year) she worked 3 jobs while she was doing chemo. She was so tired and so depressed but she kept going on - that enough was inspiration for me. I now DO NOT complain about the job I have, this is the easy part. I still have no clue how she did it but she had to.

My goal in life is to be here to see this monster beat. I'm so glad you all are willing to be support to others - you are the biggest support that anyone facing the beginning stages can ever have!!!!!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Cruise04, your story made me cry. I'm so sorry about your Mom.

 

[NHAnn]

Thanks for starting this thread ladies!

I have fibrocystic condition. 10 years ago at age 37 I found a lump, had a surgical biopsy and it was benign. I've been faithful about mammograms and self-exam since then. Occasionally since then, after my annual mammogram I have been called back for magnified views and/or 6 month intervals, usually to "watch" microcalcifications. So I wasn't too concerned 2 1/2 wks ago to get a callback for magnified views of microcalcifications one side. But then after the callback (2 weeks ago today), instead of the tech coming back and saying "OK see you next year" , or "come back in six months" she said..."the radiologist will talk to you about this, come on down the hall...". I ended up last Wednesday having a needle localization procedure (2 wires ) and surgical biopsy of the suspicious area. Because of the area and location they could not do the newer stereotactic or incisional biopsy. And now I am in anxiety mode and waiting for my appointment tomorrow morning for my results. My DD is finishing up her freshman year in college and is in the middle of finals, I am trying to control my anxiety (one of us freaking out is enough ) and she DISes so I have not really talked about it on boards. Just trying to think positive ....or not think at all....
it is very nice to know you are all here....and I will post tomorrow when I can!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

NHAnn, I hope you get good news tommorow. The good thing is that you have been so closely monitored that if they have found something (and of course we are hoping they haven't) it's early so that would be a positive. We've all been there for that anxiety so here's a we know what you are feeling right now. Best of luck and do keep us posted.

 

[TigerCheer2009]

Double post. Stupid computer.

 

[TigerCheer2009]

I'm going to be doing a Relay for Life on the 20th!!!

You guys are great and you all inspire me!! I'm never gonna complain again (I state the obvious!!) Is there a ribbon for supporters?

NEWS on the BC front. I was watching GMA a couple of weeks ago and they found this medicine (the name escapes me). They gave it to some odd amount of chemo patients, then gave another group of chemo patients the placebo. Scientists had to stop the study early. The cancer was like all gone!! It's not tamoxifen, I'm guessing it's better.

 

[snappy]

Thanks for starting this thread ladies!

I have fibrocystic condition. 10 years ago at age 37 I found a lump, had a surgical biopsy and it was benign. I've been faithful about mammograms and self-exam since then. Occasionally since then, after my annual mammogram I have been called back for magnified views and/or 6 month intervals, usually to "watch" microcalcifications. So I wasn't too concerned 2 1/2 wks ago to get a callback for magnified views of microcalcifications one side. But then after the callback (2 weeks ago today), instead of the tech coming back and saying "OK see you next year" , or "come back in six months" she said..."the radiologist will talk to you about this, come on down the hall...". I ended up last Wednesday having a needle localization procedure (2 wires ) and surgical biopsy of the suspicious area. Because of the area and location they could not do the newer stereotactic or incisional biopsy. And now I am in anxiety mode and waiting for my appointment tomorrow morning for my results. My DD is finishing up her freshman year in college and is in the middle of finals, I am trying to control my anxiety (one of us freaking out is enough ) and she DISes so I have not really talked about it on boards. Just trying to think positive ....or not think at all....
it is very nice to know you are all here....and I will post tomorrow when I can!!

Sending a prayer your way that you get a benign result again. Definitely here for you so please let us know the news tomorrow.

 

[TigerCheer2009]

Prayers Let us know!

 

[Dan Murphy]

.........And now I am in anxiety mode and waiting for my appointment tomorrow morning for my results..........Just trying to think positive......

's Ann. Hoping, with prayers all goes well.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Prayers being offered for you NHAnn. Like Pea-n-Me said, if they do find something they will catch it really early. Continue to take deep breaths and try to stay calm. More than likely it'll end up to be nothing. Keep us informed. We'll be here to celebrate with you or bolster you up, if need be.

 

[Dan Murphy]

.......I remember saying to my DH that even if someone were to give me a free trip to WDW I would never be able to do it.....

If you or anybody had 15 minutes or so, read these old trip reports I originally posted back in late '99, early '00, talking about my Disney/DIS beginnings and how it related to Marie...........

Starts here........ http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=30388 And then a link at bottom of to the next and so on for 3 more. I so recall Marie's words and look when I told her the first time Iwas planning a WDW trip, LOL.

 

[PigletsPal]

Congrats Pigletspal on the clean mammograms!!!

A question about the post mammos. . . I'm due for my first post surgery one on my remaining breast next month, the "diagnostic" type, which I think just means magnified.

Anyway, my question is, does the radiologist read the films while you wait or do you have to sweat it out for a few days?

Pea-n-mea, I like the idea of a support group of some type. A separate forum might be helpful but I am not sure if there will be enough posts to warrant it. I wonder if we could have a "sticky" at the top of the CB where anyone either needing help, support, or wanting to share info could post.

On separate issue, I found a wonderful leaded crystal Lenox vase at Foley's Saturday that was in a special box with a pink ribbon on it. The dish was made with a pink edge on the rim. It made a wonderful gift for my Mom for Mother's day, along with some other goodies, and a steak dinner. On the box was info about a cancer info website.

Now I always look for products that display the pink ribbon. I have even found food items. A donation is made to the Susan B. Komin Foundation when you purchase certain of these products. Last week Lowe's had pink geraniums.

I got told right away, but I don't know if that is because I happen to work at the hospital it was taken at and I know the girls in the breast center.

 

[laurabelle]

Praying you get good news NHAnn. Staying positive or not thinking at all...sounds like a good strategy to me. Waiting is the worst...try not to let your imagination run wild.

 

[NHAnn]

Thank you all so very very much much! Your words are truly a comfort.

My DH and even DD have also reminded me that even if it's the worst case scenario, early detection is such a plus. And I need to be ready for my first-ever holiday-time WDW trip...12/20-27!

So...taking deep breaths, I thank you all again for your support, and I promise I will post just as soon as I can tomorrow!

 

[PigletsPal]

Congratulations, Piglet'sPal. We were undergoing the same thing at the same time last year! Too bad we didn't know eachother then, I'm sure we would have had lots to talk about!

Yes it would have been very nice. I really didn't have much support from my Dr.'s office in the way of offering a group talks or social worker like I heard about from one of the support boards that I found. Even one of my co-workers that had a double mast. didn't given me the support I thought she would but I believe it is because she lost both of her breast (but only had cancer in 1 breast, she decided to do both so she wouldn't have to worry all the time) And I on the other hand was very lucky enough not to had to have a mast.and I also think it just brought her own year of recovery back full force to her. And I know that feeling so well when my best friend had a mamo and they found something, she took it really well, I on the other hand was more of a mess that when it happen to me because it brought back all my feeling of that year, so I don't in any way blame her.
I just hope that I can be able to help anyone that needs it in the future.

 

[laurabelle]

If you or anybody had 15 minutes or so, read these old trip reports I originally posted back in late '99, early '00, talking about my Disney/DIS beginnings and how it related to Marie...........

Starts here........ http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=30388 And then a link at bottom of to the next and so on for 3 more. I so recall Marie's words and look when I told her the first time Iwas planning a WDW trip, LOL.

Dan,
I'm looking forward to reading about it. I had trip #2 planned for right before my excisional biopsy, in early Dec 1998, I actually told the surgeon, I have a Disney trip planned and could I wait a couple of days until I got back because I knew it was cancer and I knew I was going to have a rough year or so ahead of me and there wasn't anything that was gonna stop me from going while I still felt good. My girls and I got our hairwrapped, by the pool at POFQ, my hair was long and I just knew I would be losing it to chemo. I went in for surgery the day after we returned from Disney. I tucked my hairwrap under the little bonnet they make you wear for surgery (I wasn't ready to cut it off yet). I didn't go back to Disney again for a couple of years, but I've made up for lost time, and have my 14th trip planned for July! I totally love how Disney just takes you away from everything...even with a cancer dx looming over me, I can honestly say I barely thought about it there. Walt truly built a magical place...I for one am grateful there's a place I can go and forget about the rest of the world... including cancer!


Edited to add: Dan I read through your pretrip this morning with tears in my eyes! I loved it! Our trip before my dx was the week after Thanksgiving, 1998. My post treatment celebration trip was to the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas Nov. 1999. I knew all I could handle at that point was flopping on the beach!
Dan, you have a heart of gold! Thank you!