Dis Breast Cancer Survivors - GAGWTA!

[need_a_Disney_fix]

Laura, I am soooo jealous and you are right...there is no better place to warm a bench. What a great get-away for all of you!

 

[Amy]

Basically AWOL for a few days or either on so briefly you'd never know! Ds's high school band had their first REALLY big comeptition this past weekend and we went and they won first in their division and then Grand Champion over all 30 bands that competed! I nearly died!!!!! I've never been so proud of him in my life!

MinnieM3 - from one band mom to another, CONGRATS!!! I know how you feel. Was that a BOA competition? Our band finished 12th at the BOA in Massillon, OH a couple weekends ago, and this Saturday they're heading to Pontiac, MI, for another BOA. And on December 8 & 9, our band will be performing at WDW!!! They're doing a performance at the Galaxy Palace Theatre on Dec. 8 and the afternoon parade on Dec. 9. I'm going to be in tears when I see DS marching down Main Street USA!

Sorry to get off-topic......now back to your regular breast cancer discussion.

 

[snappy]

Congrats to your son and his band, MinnieM3!!!

Amy, my son performed with his band this February. Seems like a lifetime ago.
Anyway, he had a blast, and so did we. We used it as an excuse to take the whole family for a week (it was Mardi Gras week). However, we opted to stay at OKW rather than the hotel with the band. He'll get a neat t shirt in honor of the occasion.

Hope your trip is equally wonderful. The weather in early December should be just as great as it was in early February.

Who is getting their Halloween decorations up? I am trying but my heart is just not in it this year. At least the weather is in the 80's rather than the 90's this week.

Laura, hoping you are feeling better before your trip starts. Wish I could be right there with you.

Ann, Have a good time Sunday. I can understand how you area bit apprehensive about participating as a survivor this year. I was emotional at my walk in the spring. I imagine it gets easier after a few times.

All clear at my doc appointment. And I don't have to go back till March!! YEA!!!

GAGWTA!!

 

[Laurajean1014]

GAGWTA,

I had my first "fitting" for treatments.....

My breasts gave them a hard time (now they know how I feel) .

They could not get my left breast out of the picture!!!!

I asked if she could use more tape to hold me, but she said she would do it when I start treatment. She already used a whole roll tape!!!

I can't be the only large breasted person, can I?

Doc says I'll be sore tonight. 1.5 hours on the slab - side ways.

 

[snappy]

Laurajean1014, love your sense of humor. You really cracked me up.

I am right there with you. I would have had the same problem no doubt if I had the option of the lumpectomy and radiation. Now I am just semi over indowed.

Hope you are not too sore.

It sure is healthy to laugh a little.

 

[Cruise04]

Hi everyone - been keeping pretty busy here and had a great weekend camping with my family.

Laurie - I'm so glad that you got to be there today to see everything. I think that's important and if family members are able to do it that's awesome. Somehow it eases the mind a bit. Knowing who is caring for your loved one and seeing what all is going into their bodies. HUGS

Has anyone read "Why We Walk: The Inspirational Journey Toward A Cure for Breast Cancer" edited by Deb Murphy with Photographs by Paula Lerner? A staff member of ours gave me this book to look at. It includes a CD. She said to look through it and listen to the CD when I am alone and have tissues. It looks like a book by people who have walked in support of breast cancer research and stories of why they walk. She has no idea of my appointment tomorrow or that I found something that I'm having checked out but a few weeks ago she went through this same thing I'm going through and she's about 6 years younger than me. She participated and walked in the Avon walk in Chicago 2 years ago, the same one that I crewed on and we didn't know each other than, obviously but we have many things in common as far as cancers in our family. I can't wait to look at it and I'm going to listen to the CD on my way to get my daughter tonight. I think I need to tonight given what tomorrow is. I'll let you know how the book is. I may end up getting one as it looks very inspirational.

HUGS everyone!!!! Thanks for your words and thoughts.
Chris

 

[Laurajean1014]

http://www.getbcfacts.com/home/home.asp

This is a good website for all the questions regarding BC.

I thought I would share this with you.

GAGWTA!

 

[Laurajean1014]

Laurajean1014, love your sense of humor. You really cracked me up.

I am right there with you. I would have had the same problem no doubt if I had the option of the lumpectomy and radiation. Now I am just semi over indowed.

Hope you are not too sore.

It sure is healthy to laugh a little.

Snappy - I've learned, without a sense of humor (or not having one with BC), can make life serious and I never want to take myself too serious!

This is for you, Snappy:

 

[snappy]

This is for you, Snappy:

[/QUOTE]

Love it!!

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

Laurajean, where did you get the Stooges? That is great! Plus, someone had a smiley mowing the lawn the other day. They always give me a chuckle.

 

[Hollyann]

Howdy Ladies!

Need_a_Disney_fix - I imagine it was difficult and enlightening to go with your mother....she's a lucky woman to have you!

MinnieM3 - Congrats on the band competition! I love bands - my neice is in the drum line of her band and they are so much fun to watch!

Laurabelle - hope the steroids episode solves itself soon so you can enjoy your WDW trip. The World Showcase is one of my favorite places to warm a bench.

Amy - Another Band mom? Marching at WDW? Cool!

Snappy - Congrats on no doctor's visit til March! I'm a nutritionally controlled diabetic, so I no longer do Halloween....I just can't sit there with a bowl of sugar on my lap - DH and I go to the Outback every year - there's hardly any wait on that one day!

Laurajean1014 - I hope you're not too sore. I do not have large *ahem* hooters....when I found my lump - it was pretty easy. Here's wishing for easier days for you....

Cruise04 - the book sounds really good. I wish I read your post before I got back from the book store tonight!

Well, I had a lovely day. My DH made me breakfast, then when I was getting ready for work - he packed my lunch! Plus, we went to the movies after work and I had a HUGE bucket of popcorn for dinner.....delicious, but not nutritious! Anyway, we're relaxing for a bit and then I've got to get up at 5:30 am for work!

Hope ya'll are having a good day and you're in my thoughts all the time....

 

[MerryPoppins]

Chris, what time is your appointment? I'll be thinking of you tomorrow.

Mom2Ashli, thank you! You are amazing!

I went for my 6 month visit to the oncologist today. They didn't have the results of my bloodwork back, but my blood pressure was great and I'd lost 7 pounds! Everything looked good. She said I'm almost 3 1/2 years on tamoxifen, so I'm on the downhill side.

Things went well with DH's birthmom this weekend. It was sort of emotionally draining. It's odd to meet family members for the first time when you're in your 40s. But we like her a lot and she's easy to be with. I'm certainly glad that we met. She thinks I'm great. That's sort of a switch. My MIL loves me, but I'm not sure she always likes me too much.

 

[Hollyann]

Chris, what time is your appointment? I'll be thinking of you tomorrow.

Mom2Ashli, thank you! You are amazing!

I went for my 6 month visit to the oncologist today. They didn't have the results of my bloodwork back, but my blood pressure was great and I'd lost 7 pounds! Everything looked good. She said I'm almost 3 1/2 years on tamoxifen, so I'm on the downhill side.

Things went well with DH's birthmom this weekend. It was sort of emotionally draining. It's odd to meet family members for the first time when you're in your 40s. But we like her a lot and she's easy to be with. I'm certainly glad that we met. She thinks I'm great. That's sort of a switch. My MIL loves me, but I'm not sure she always likes me too much.

I bet that WAS an emotional time! I was lucky in the MIL department....mine was truly amazing!

Congratulations on your visit! Glad everything is going well! I keep saying I'm gonna sign off for the night....hasn't happened yet...I'll try ONE more time!

Nighty-night!

 

[Cruise04]

It's at 4:15 tomorrow afternoon - Thanks!!!

I read the book - OMG. It is wonderful. I recognized some of the people who I saw at the Avon Breast Cancer Walk I crewed in June 2003. Here are the words to the song that came with the book (CD was included) - TISSUE ALERT!!!!!

WHY WE WALK
Music and Lyrics by Phil and Julie Vassar

There's an empty seat at the dinner table
Where a mother use to sit.
She was 34 years old, full of life and dreams
And two small kids.
There's a young man with a tear in his eye and a pink ribbon on his coat
In memory of the only love he'd ever known.

There's a lady looking in the mirror without a single strand of hair.
She barely recognizes the woman standing there.
She's waging a silent war against an enemy inside
And putting up the fight of her life.

That's why we walk.
We walk to remember.
We walk to celebrate.
That's why we walk.
Leaning on each other
And holding on to faith.
For those who are gone and those who live on.
We honor them all
And that's why we walk.

She lays in a cold white room in a baby-blue paper gown,
Anticipating what the x-rays might have found.
There she hears the words that alwasy stop you on a dime
And prays that they found it in time.

That's why we walk.
We walk to remember.
We walk to celebrate.
That's why we walk.
Leaning on each other
And holding on to faith.
For those who are gone and those who live on.
We honor them all
And that's why we walk.

For life, for love, for one another,
For him, for her, there's strength in numbers.

And my friends - this was why I walked the year after my mom died. I walked for her memory, I walked to honor her, I walked for me, I walked for my daughter, I walked for all the men, women, children, grandchildren, families, friends who have lived along the side of someone who has had to deal with breast cancer. And I'm glad I'm here "walking" along your journeys as I'm walking along mine!!!!

God love you all!!!! GAGWTA!!!
Have a great night and hug someone you love tight!
I'll check in tomorrow night.
Chris

 

[laurabelle]

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

Chris- Thinking of you and praying for you today. What you wrote about why you walk is really beautiful...

Laurajean1014- You cracked me up!

Someone sent me this, I hope it doesn't offend anyone here, but I thought it was funny! I made me think of those people who were in your precancer life who dissappear...


http://www.theonion.com/content/node/41449

Man With Friend With Cancer 'Going Through A Rough Time'

October 12, 2005 | Issue 41•41
The Onion- America's Finest News source

BISMARCK, ND—Three months ago, Mark Sennis received the news that
everyone dreads: Ben Murphy, a friend and coworker with whom
he "occasionally went out to lunch," had been diagnosed with cancer.

"You never think you're going to be the one," Sennis said. "At first,
I remember thinking, 'How can this be happening to me? What have I
done to deserve to have a friend with cancer?'"

Sennis, who has known Murphy since they started working in the same
department at Motorola in 2003, said having a friend with cancer
is "a life-altering experience."

"People ask me how I'm doing, and I say, 'I'm scared and I'm angry,'"
Sennis said. "Unless you've personally experienced the pain and
hardship that comes with having a coworker you're fairly close to get
cancer, you wouldn't understand."

Sennis said that, while it initially seemed like "life had come to an
end," he "made the decision to keep living."

"One thing I've learned in all this is that life goes on," Sennis
said. "Well, maybe not for Ben. But for me. The only thing I can do
is take it one day at a time."

Sennis said he doesn't want people feeling sorry for him.

"A lot of my friends start to say 'I have a friend who's just been
fired,' or 'I have a friend who tore a tendon,'" Sennis said. "Then,
they realize that I have a friend with cancer, and they get quiet,
like they think they can't discuss their problems with me anymore. I
just want people to treat me like normal."

Sennis said he wishes he'd appreciated the good times he enjoyed with
his friends before he got the news.

"You never understand what you have until your friend's cancer takes
it away," Sennis said. "Like, I used to complain about having to go
to Wednesday Wings with the guys from sales, but last week we had to
cancel because Ben was getting a bone-marrow biopsy, so I sat at home
alone all night."

"It was a pretty depressing picture," he added.

Sennis said chemotherapy has been particularly hard for him.

"Ever since the chemo started, it's been a whole other story," Sennis
said. "I had to spend a good part of my Sunday hanging out in the
waiting room last week. I was so exhausted I could barely move."

"Just try finding something decent to eat out there," Sennis
added. "I ate a sandwich from the hospital deli, and the bread was,
like, Wonderbread, and the turkey tasted terrible, like it was day-
old or something."

Sennis said that, ironically, the presence of Murphy's family made
the situation more difficult." I'm going through an emotional time,"
Sennis said. "Ben's entire family was the last thing I needed at the
hospital. Do you realize how hard it is to talk to people you don't
know at all?"

Sennis added: "The hardest part was talking to Ben's girlfriend. I
never liked her, but because of Ben, I had to go through these
awkward conversations. 'How many more chemo sessions does Ben
have?' 'Is Ben keeping down his food?' It was really hard."

Sennis said his struggle has made him reconsider his relationship
with God.

"I wonder why God would do this to me," Sennis said. "It's like God
is punishing me for something by giving cancer to a friend of mine."

Due to the adversity he has faced, Sennis said he has had to take
special care of himself.

"I don't consider giving up an option," Sennis said. "So, for the
past two months, twice a week, I've been treating myself to a
massage. It's expensive, but it's the least I can do for myself as I
go through this really tough time."

Added Sennis: "I'm not going to let Ben's cancer beat me."

 

[snappy]

Laurabelle, interesting.

I love it when I go to the grocery store and people I know from stuff from school either avoid me or just say hello and they go on to examine the lettuce choices.

I guess I prefer to think they just don't know what to say.

These are not really friends, just acquaintances.

Chris, thinking of you.

MerryPoppins, great progress!!. I am trying to lower BP and lose weight. I gained weight during Katrina, too many people around here buying comfort food. Now I am really working on it. I even bought a bunch of clearance swim suits so I can go to the rec center with my mom. Has anyone had any luck putting the little pockets in swim suits? I had a pocket put in to a couple of suits for my cruise back in March by the seamstress at the Total Woman store that stocks special bras, etc. It looks rather easy, I thought I would try to whip it up myself. Trying to figure out what kind of material I need to make the pockets.

My doc on Monday brought up the subject again of reconstruction. I asked him for some names but I seem to be dragging on this still. I am very unbalanced, but I just don't know if I am up for this. Especially right now with so much up in the air with DH's family I hate to embark on a big surgery.
I guess I would feel guilty taking him away from his weekend fun down in N.O. during a lengthy recuperation. I still think I could be satisfied with losing a lot (30 pounds), foregoing reconstruction, and just having a reduction on my very large remaining girl. Hopefully, it would be reduced somewhat with a large weight gain and the surgical reduction would be less drastic. Bonus: lower BP and two steps away from potential diabetes, heart issues. I am trying, riding my stationery bike like mad, and trying to make time for walks. I am also trying to revamp our meals. I bought the BC awareness version of the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook at Sams last week-it has about 60 low fat, heart friendly recipes for BC survivors. I am trying to get inspired here.

I would be happy with salads for lunch and dinner but the men in my life (DH and DS) need real food. DS had his body fat taken in Biology II class yesterday, it was 8%. The kid needs to eat. I have been trying to cook food I don't particularly like for the family and just eat my salads but it is not working. DH also needs to lose weight, not gain. I can't make three different dinners each night.

Any thoughts about reconstruction? MinnieM3, I know you just went through with it, and that it was a difficultt recovery. Any regrets?

 

[snappy]

Anyone notice we have a lot of Laura's and Laurie's posting on this thread?

Back to the regularly scheduled BC discussions now.


Laurie

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

Snappy, are you a Laurie, too? Goodness gracious!

When you talk about people not knowing what to say, Dad is starting to notice that people at church are starting to act that way and word on Mom's BC has just started to get out. Its so sad because this is the time that family members truly need the support from friends. I believe from past experiences, its just because they do not know what to say. I know I have fallen into that trap myself. So sad.

 

[NHAnn]

Chris....sending you strong positive thoughts this afternoon!!

MinnieM3-congrats on DS's band

MerryPoppins-glad to hear your news!

Where is Disney Debbie these days?

to everyone: GAGWTA!!!

 

[Cruise04]

Well, I got to the office, sat for about 30 minutes waiting to go in, got in, was okay and then the doc walked in the office. Came up to me and asked me why I was there. I lost it, I started blubbering. I felt so horrible. I was so calm until she walked in that room and then I got so extremely nervous. I was nervous of what she would find or tell me.

Everything ended up okay. I am so glad I went in. The ultrasound showed no large masses, however did show very small pieces that are about 3mm to 4mm large. She wants to watch these very closely. The lumps that were just there this morning suddenly were not there this afternoon, I felt so dumb, and then I cried again. She was so reassuring and just so awesome. She is sending me for a mammogram since I haven't had one in about 4 years. She likes mammos, she likes ultrasounds too but likes mammos better. She is convinced that it's nothing but wants to check me again in 2-3 weeks to see if I get these lump feelings back after my TOM. I explained that I waited until 2 weeks after my TOM in case they were related and when they hadn't gone away, I called.

She explained to me that in most cases tumors have no pain associated with them - just as you all had said. I told her that was what worried me when I first felt this lump - it wasn't like other lumps I had felt because those hurt and this one didn't and it was hard. She talked to me for over 30 minutes as she was doing my breast exam, she felt into places I hadn't felt yet. She apologized many times for hurting me and I said I don't mind as long as you are being thorough. She reassured me that I was doing the right thing. She told me if she had a dollar for every person who doesn't get checked out and is high risk she's be rich. She said the best thing for me to do is to be proactive. I just felt like such a dunce when I couldn't find the lumps.

So right now all is well. She wants me to go back to having annual mammos and will let my gyn know. She's concerned about the amount of time I've been on birth control (which I'm on only to help control my cycle otherwise I would have very horrible TOM's and would never know when they are coming). She was very happy when I told her I had lost almost 36 pounds since July 14. She said keep working at it and that will be a huge positive for me right now.

Thank you all for the prayers and thoughts. I have one more test and one more appointment before I will feel totally okay about this.
Chris