Dis Breast Cancer Survivors - GAGWTA!

[NHAnn]

GAGWTA from here....

The intimacy issues.... ...very difficult. If I don't comment please know that it's not because I can't relate or don't care. Just not sure how much I feel comfortable saying on the boards

DD's summer job ended last Thursday, she's spending this week getting ready to go back to school as well as relaxing. Meanwhile I'm feeling wiped ...after 2 + full weeks of the old FT work schedule, starting the "pills", the energy drain is not as intense by late afternoon as it was during radiation, but it's still there, sort of different. Trying to be faithful about eating right and getting my walk in most mornings, some light hand weight exercises several times a week....have not gained any weight KNOCK ON WOOD!!! Meanwhile my skin is healing more rapidly than I expected...it's just a fading tan....
I am definitely smaller on that side... but it's hardly noticeable when when dressed unless you're looking for it.

Merry Poppins....I saw something very similar to that "What Cancer Cannot Do..." in the shop at my cancer Care Center...it was on a plaque, and a T-shirt as well I believe.

Hope you all are feeling well and strong.....

 

[Lessa of Pern]

so I joined a support group tonight. interesting group -- about 8 ladies, in various stages of recovery/survival. I'm sure I'll be going back.

 

[MerryPoppins]

The intimacy issues.... ...very difficult. If I don't comment please know that it's not because I can't relate or don't care. Just not sure how much I feel comfortable saying on the boards

I hear you. It's sort of a weird subject, on the boards and in real life. I don't have any friends that I feel comfortable talking to about it. But it's what I'm dealing with. Many of the books out there on middle age changes and intimacy, go directly to the hormone replacement solution. Won't work for me.

Glad you found a support group that fits. Great news!

 

[Laurajean1014]

I sent this letter to the physician that detected my DCIS. I hope you like it.


Dear Dr. Margolies;

A month or so ago, you examined my mammogram and found calcifications on my right side. You were also the tending physician during my stereotactic needle biospsy.

As I have begun the cure process of my DCIS, I realized that if it hadn't been for your keen and experienced eye in detecting this very small area, it may have gone unnoticed, and when detected, could have been much worse.

To you, I owe my gratitude and want to thank you for being intuitive in doing your job, extremely well. It makes me feel safe that doctors, such as you, are available to me and others.

Kindest regards,

Laura

 

[disneylizzy]

I hear you. It's sort of a weird subject, on the boards and in real life. I don't have any friends that I feel comfortable talking to about it. But it's what I'm dealing with.

Ditto.

Laura: Great letter. I thanked my primary care doc, too. She was so young - cared so much. I think I was her first actual diagnosis of BC, she was as thrown for a loop as I was. Thank God, she pushed me to get the mamm - "just to be sure". Gotta love those doctors.

 

[NHAnn]

GAGWTA!!!


Very nice letter Laurajean! How is your treatment going? Are you having radiation?

Lessa...glad you found a group.

Tomorrow's Friday....a fast week for me!

 

[MerryPoppins]

I'm a little down. My knee is hurting a lot. I went to the chiropractor today and he says he can fix it. It was out of place. But it's still depressing. I can barely limp around. Sigh.

 

[Laurajean1014]

I have a consultation with my radiologist tomorrow. I think I'll start in a week or so. Then after 8 short weeks under the tanning bed, I'll be through!

 

[NHAnn]

I have a consultation with my radiologist tomorrow. I think I'll start in a week or so. Then after 8 short weeks under the tanning bed, I'll be through!

It does fly by, especially after the first couple of weeks! I started 6/29, finsihed 8/3, and my "tan" is very faint already

MerryPoppins...sending you knee-healing pixie dust and a hug!

Haven't seen our "leaders" laurabell and pea-n-me this week....hope all is well??

have a nice weekend...GAGWTA

 

[Amy]

Hi Gang! GAGWTA!

Been really busy lately, kids go back to school on Monday. YIPPEE!!

MerryPoppins, hope your knee feels better soon!

Laura, I loved your letter! I've told my oncologist many, many times how much I appreciate her. When I have an appt., I know I'll be there at least an hour, maybe longer. I don't mind waiting because she's a doctor who will spend as much time as necessary with each patient, so I know that even though I'm waiting, I won't be rushed when it's my turn.

Intimacy issues - some days it's like nothing, other days I can't bear for DH to even look at me. 40 lb. weight gain from Tamoxifen (which I can't lose even though I've been off it since Feb.), hair that no matter what I do I just can't get past "that" stage and get it to grow long. Add in stress from everyday life (and having 2 teenage boys). Then I feel guilty because as much as I love DH, sometimes I just have to have a glass of wine to relax me enough to get in the mood. It shouldn't take alcohol to get me in the mood. I wish I had some answers for all of us!

Bone pain from Arimidex - my oncologist switched me from Tamoxifen to Arimidex back in Feb. In March, the heels of my feet would be really, really sore when I'd first get out of bed in the morning or when I'd be sitting for a while. My oncologist said bone pain is the #1 complaint she hears about Arimidex. Ok, so I figured I'd just deal with it to keep the cancer away. Well, last month when my ovaries decided to wake up and I got my first period in 3 years, I had to stop the Arimidex since I obviously wasn't post-menopausal any more. The bone pain is still there, a month later. My oncologist said that it must not be from the Arimidex then, and sent me to a podiatrist (gee, another specialist I can add to my repertoir(sp?). Saw the podiatrist yesterday - the official diagnosis is plantar faciitis, an inflammation of the tendon that runs along the bottom of your foot from the heel to the toes. And I got a cortisone shot in both heels. Yowza! Did that ever hurt!!! I though the neopogen shots DH gave me after every chemo were bad when I could feel the neopogen going into my leg, but that was nothing compared to this. I just hope it works. So far so good today; we'll so how it goes.

Have a good weekend all! Football season starts tomorrow, so that means DS's band season kicks into high gear. Lots to look forward to this year: a band trip to WDW in December!!! Can't wait!

 

[MerryPoppins]

Amy, my mom had that. It's really painful. She hated those shots! Then she started dating a chiropractor and he fixed it. He adjusted her back regularly and she has no more foot pain. Honest! She was constantly buying new shoes, trying to find a pair that made her feet feel better. Guess she should have saved that shoe money and gotten adjustments. I was never a big believer in chiropractors, but now I am. The guy I'm going to is really helping my knee. I'm walking a bit better, but it's still really sore.

Did I mention that we rescued a kitty? I think I told you guys. He's starting to become a member of the family. One dog has completely accepted him. She always likes babies. Guess she's the mothering type. The other dogs and cat are putting up with his antics, but not completely sure they approve of him. It's keeping my life exciting.

GAGWTA! I'm thinking of all of you. Thanks for the hugs.

 

[MerryPoppins]

You want to see my new baby? His name is Figaro. We decided to stay with a Pinocchio theme. Our other cat is named Cricket.

 

[Lessa of Pern]

what a cute kitty!


we have four cats. one of them, Mr. Kitty, is a rescue kitty...of sourts.

seems that there's a pond about a1/4 mile from my house, good spot to dump unwanted animals. Mr. Kitty rescued himself...he walked the quarter mile to our house...found that there were already three cats living there...and asked to be let in to join the party.

 

[Amy]

Aw, Figaro is a cutie pie!! aw:

 

[Laurajean1014]

Very cute kittie! I love Figaro in Pinnocchio! I love his confindence!

Amy - Hang in there!


I had the consultation with the radiologist - (she's wonderful to talk to). She wants to take another mamo in a few weeks to see if all the calcifications were taken out. In a year from now, she does not want a radiologist to see a calcification and think (is this one they missed or new??).

So, I wait to heal more until the mamo. She thinks I will need 7 weeks of radiation for 15 each day to start in October.

 

[snappy]

Merry, hope your knee is improving.

Laura, sounds like a great doc. I think you are in good hands.

We are in hurricane preparation mode. Katrina is heading west and New Orleans is in the middle of the projection cone, and has the highest probability of landfall. YIKES!! We are further north but when they evacuate New Orleans later today (they are already evacuating the low lying areas south of N. O.) we will be getting an influx of friends/family. Getting ready for a battery and water, and cash run, gassing up the cars.
We will know more when it finally turns due north, a sooner turn is much better for us. I wouldn't wish this storm on anyone, but I sure hope it doesn't hit N.O. as a cat 4 or 5. Boards or tape on the windows won't be much help if it floods. Keep us in your prayers, please.

I am just hoping we don't lose power here. We have underground electric cables in our neighborhood, thank goodness. I think our area fared pretty well during the last major hurricane, I think it was Andrew, before we moved here. I am worried about our trees, we have over 20 and very tall, if the wrong one goes down, it will hit the house.

GAGWTA everyone, I'll be busy for a few, check in later.

 

[disneylizzy]

Oh my goodness, Snappy!! Will keep you and all Dis'ers that are in Katrina's path in my prayers.

Stay safe!

 

[MerryPoppins]

Hope it doesn't hit New Orleans! Stay safe.

My knee is better, but it's still so stiff and sore! Back to the ice packs. I'm getting tired of this.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

GAGWTA!

Snappy, stay safe!! I'll keep you in my prayers!!

 

[MinnieM3]

Checking in quickly! GAGTWA!! Hugs for all in Katrina's path! Take care!