Dis Breast Cancer Survivors - GAGWTA!

[MerryPoppins]

Just wanted to stop by and say hi to everyone.

DD 14 is having a sleepover tonight, so it's hectic around here today. I'm getting ready to head to the grocery to pick up snacks and paper plates. (I figure who wants to wash dishes?) And tonight we're picking up pizza and Krispy Kremes for tomorrow morning. Sounds like all diets are out the window.

Hope you all have a great weekend. I'll check back when I can.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Good morning everyone!

My DH and DS are off to Minnesota to a father/son hockey camp. I have the whole house to myself!

My sister is coming over and we may do a bit of shopping - to get out of the house. Post surgery is going better than expected. Now I wait for the results...................

So, what's on your plate this weekend?

 

[ElenitaB]

Laurajean, I'm so glad that your surgery is over and am praying that this is the end of it for you!

Debbie, I concur about the port. I'm having another one put in, and the scar tissue from the last one is actually bothering me a little bit (the mind is a powerful thing). And I'm sleeping on that side and on my stomach as much as possible now... cause starting Wednesday I won't be for 2 years.

I'm finishing up some projects for work this week, will go out shopping for new pillows for my bed in a bit, do laundry, tomorrow we are going out to meet my family for my birthday lunch and tell my mom the news (wish I didn't have to). Monday I have to run errands, Tuesday I'll be working at home and doing the pre-op surgery prep and then on Wednesday, it's on to WAR!

I've been listening to a series called "Prepare for Surgery: Heal Faster." It's really helping me a lot gear up for surgery (they say it's good for chemo as well). If you're interested, check it out at www.healfaster.com.

Thinking of you all (even if I don't mention you by name)... you're all in my prayers. An ample dusting of pixie dust to all!

 

[Laurajean1014]

Did everyone have a great day? I hope so.

I went out with my sister and shopped for about 8 hours...... a bit tired now.

DH and DS just landed in Minnesota for their week long trip. So, they are safe and ready for a full week of hockey, banana boating and cross training.

Having a quite night to myself to catch up on the DIS and my Harry Potter book.

Enjoy your evening all!

 

[NHAnn]

I went out with my sister and shopped for about 8 hours......

Now THAT'S what I call " a bit of shopping to get out of the house" ! Did you get anything good? Nice that you have a quiet evening to rest, and a week with the house to yourself!

Elenita...those tapes look interesting, thanks for the link!

MerryPoppins...did you survive the sleepover??

Thinking of you all even though I'm not naming you all personally!!

Hope all of you are having a nice weekend

 

[Mickey Nut 50]

I'm joining the ranks - just had a mastectomy July 19. Had a lumpectomy Feb. 1, then radiation. 6 month mammogram showed more DCIS. So - the only choice this time was a mastectomy. Cancer's gone, was not invasive, so no chemo.

I'm not sure I can or know how to add the ribbon to my signature - but I'll try.

Going to WDW in Sept. in celebration of being a survivor!

How many are DES daughters? I am - and have found out that we are 2.5 times more likely to get breast cancer than the normal population. Nobody told me this until it was found. I have been good about getting a yearly gyn exam and mammogram - thankfully!

Those of you who took Clomid to get pregnant - there's anectdotal evidence surfacing now that Clomid may be as dangerous as DES - especially for ovarian tumors.

 

[NHAnn]

Hi MickeyNut50! Welcome! Well, that must have been a bummer going through radiation then having more DCIS at the 6 month mammogram. But as you say, now it's gone ... and I hope that your recovery from the mast is speedy. Will you be taking Tamoxifen? What is DES? Is that a drug?
My surgeon told me that a significant percentage (30% ? maybe-can't remember) of women over 50 who die of other causes show undiagnosed DCIS upon autopsy.

To put the ribbon in your sigature, click where it says "User CP" up near the top of the board. Look for "Settings and Options", then "edit signature". WHen you click on Edit Signature, you get a white box like you do for posting. In the box, type the address http://webclipart.miningco.com/library/Menu/ribt8.gif (but with a

at the end of it ) Then you should have a ribbon!

You must be excited about your trip You deserve it! We have our very first Christmas trip planned...and it will be extra special being in WDW for Christmas after thisyear!!

 

[Laurajean1014]

Now THAT'S what I call " a bit of shopping to get out of the house" ! Did you get anything good?

Yes. I bought BTS stuff for DS and a white gold chain to make into two ankle bracelets. Found some nice shams for my new comforter, a nice sweater and a pair of black slacks. I was looking for shoes....

Mickey Nut 50 - Welcome..... these people are great and very knowledgeable!

 

[disneylizzy]

Hi Mickey Nut 50 My first trip to WDW was to celebrate being a survivor - what better place!

I am laying low this weekend. Oldest DS is working O/T. DD is on the Cape with friends. DS is on Martha's Vineyard with friends. Youngest DS is home with me - we just watched Spiderman 2. No energy - just the thoughts of laurajean shopping for 8 hours is making me tired!

 

[Laurajean1014]

No energy - just the thoughts of laurajean shopping for 8 hours is making me tired!

Okay, so what did everyone else do the second day after their lumpecomy?

 

[Dan Murphy]

I'm joining the ranks - just had a mastectomy July 19. Had a lumpectomy Feb. 1, then radiation. 6 month mammogram showed more DCIS. So - the only choice this time was a mastectomy. Cancer's gone, was not invasive, so no chemo......

My prayers are with you, MN50. And good news with the prognosis. Enjoy that celebration in WDW. That is what our family trip was back in '99.

Again, Laura, good to hear the surgery is behind, continued prayers and good wishes for you too, as well as everybody here on this thread.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Okay, so what did everyone else do the second day after their lumpecomy?

I believe I began trying to walk off Thanksgiving dinner from the day before.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Welcome, Mickey Nut 50!

Anyone else thinking we should come up with some kind of buzzword or phrase - meaning we're wishing everyone here well - rather than trying to name everyone and not leave anyone out? Such pressure!!

 

[snappy]

Welcome Mickey Nut 50!! Great name by the way.

Sorry to hear about your two surgeries, but thank goodness your cancer was non-invasive. I had mostly DCIS, only a very small (1mm) invasive component so I too was able to forego the chemo.

September should be a great time for your trip. Hope you have fun.

Isn't DES the drug some pregnant women took in the 50's for morning sickness? I did know one girl years ago whose mother took it. I remember she had health issues from it, but she was in her early twenties. I think it was ovarian cancer she was dealing with.

I did not take clomid, thank goodness. I had not heard that taking clomid raised the risk of getting BC. Sounds like it should be taken off the market to me. Very scary.

I did do a bit of shopping today, the mall was crazy with people buying school clothes. High school orientation starts a week from Monday here, with classes starting a week from Wednesday and grammer school starting a week from Thursday. Too darn hot to think about wearing jeans or other fall clothes.

Great idea Pea-n-Me about a phrase to wish everyone. I am too tired to think myself, I'll leave it to some other other very creative ladies here. I am just glad we have this thread. I look forward to reading it to catch up with everyone so much. Many thanks to Laurabelle and Pea-n-me for starting it.
What a treasure for all of us.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Welcome Mickey Nut 50! What a shame that you had to go through two surgeries, but I'm glad you have the all clear now. How are you feeling? I also had DCIS and chose the mastectomy because I didn't want to take any chances. Also was able to avoid radiation and chemo with the mastectomy. I just have to take Tamoxifen. No, my cancer is not associated with Clomid or DES. Sounds like a wonderful way to celebrate being cancer free! Good for you.

I agree that a buzzword would be a good idea. That way we could show support for everyone that posted and only respond directly to the people we have said something we need to respond to. I'm afraid that I'm forgetting people and I don't want anyone to feel left out. Our ranks have sure grown around here. Isn't it wonderful?

Our sleepover went well. The girls got to sleep around 5:00 and I let them sleep for 5 hours. I'm a little sleepy today, but the girls all had fun. I'll sleep well tonight.

Deb, did your daughter get home okay? My son is flying to Tulsa from Kentucky tomorrow and then driving home. Can't wait to see him. And he's only been gone a week.

 

[Shugardrawers]

Hi everyone. Just wanted to check in and update everyone. I had an MRI Friday. The doc called today with good news/bad news. The good news is that the major tumor has been reduced by nearly 60%. The bad news is that there are 2 more smaller ones. It appears to be spreading but hasn't gotten into any organs or gone beyond a very small area. Peritoneal cancer can be very aggressive and invasive and it's amazing that it hasn't spread any further than it has. There was a possibility that I could be a candidate for de-bulking surgery but the after seeing the MRI doc says that's not going to happen. Because the treatment I'm receiving is pretty new my doc and I are learning together. All kinds of strange things are happening to my body but nothing she didn't expect. I swing between constipation and diarhea, sometimes eat normally sometimes don't eat all day, one day I'm exhausted the next I'm fine. I've not lost all my hair. One eyebrow, about 1/3 of the hair on my head, a large patch "south of the border" but none on my legs. It's weird. I'm supposed to receive 12 treatments and will be done in mid Sept but may be have to continue for up to another 12 weeks.

I've learned a great deal about this kind of cancer. Statistically, the mortality rate is 100% within 12 to 24 months BUT, peritoneal cancer usually strikes women in their late 60's. Their age is what contributes to the mortality rate. It's extremely rare for a woman my age to have this cancer. With the latest treatments available and the advantage of being relatively young (41) and healthy otherwise it's very possible that I'll make it at least a few years if we can keep it under control. Maybe even go into remission.

My doc had a long and frank talk with me about smoking. Smokers of course are more prone to respiratory infections and with my immune system being toast at the moment I'm wide open for all sorts of things. My Dh personally knew a man who had colon cancer, was told he was in remission and within weeks died of pneumonia. He was a smoker. Initially I said it just wasn't the time to quit. There's enough stress in my life without the added burden of trying to quit. But after thinking about it a lot I decided to give it another go. I'm wearing the patch and it's helping a lot though I admit to falling off the wagon a few times. I figure any progress is good right? I've gone from a pack a day to just 2 or 3 a day. It's hard. Probably the hardest thing I've ever done. I'm hoping to get Dh to quit with me when he gets home. He's already said he'll go outside to smoke and he's thinking about quitting. If you knew my Dh you'd be really impressed with that LOL.

Other than that I'm still managing to clean houses though DSis does most of the work. She doesn't say anything though. I try not to over schedule us so I don't get over tired. will get us all through this.

 

[snappy]

shugardrawers, sending you and some pixie dust. Glad to hear the major tumor shrank so much in a fairly short period. That is reassuring. Now the chemo needs to start working on the small ones.

I do hope you can conquer the smoking habit. It would definitely help if your DH can too. You will both be so much better off. In our family smoking contributed to DH's father untimely death at 54 (heart disease) and my Dad's at 70, also from heart disease and congestive heart failure, both heavy smokers for many years. They both stopped for a few years but the damage was done. I saw how hard it was for my Dad to stop. But health issues were the primary motivator. It sounds like you have a very capable and caring doc to have this talk with you.

Your Dsis sounds like a peach too.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Shugardrawers, I really admire your strength and courage in the face of your illness. May God give you the extra strength you need to quit smoking once and for all. Going from a pack down to 2 or 3 is really good progress. It really is so hard to quit but I know you can do it!!

 

[Disney Debbie]

I may get names wrong - but ya'll know who I'm talking to!

Elenita - Enjoy sleeping on that side as long as possible!! Right now I can't really sleep on EITHER side - left side is the lymphedema side, right side just had the port back in!

Mickey Nut 50 - Sorry to welcome you - but welcome!

My DD is back and I've got to run eat breakfast with her!! I'll be back later to post more - but gotta spend that time with her before she goes back to school!!

 

[snappy]

Glad your DD is home safe, Disney Debbie.