Dis Breast Cancer Survivors - GAGWTA!

[snappy]

Prayers said for Beth.

 

[NHAnn]

GAGWTA from the Dolphin! We're having a great time...the parks are EXTREMELY busy though!

Jim, thank you for updating us on Beth, I am so sorry for the complications and will keep you both in my prayers!

donnabres...I'm pleased to hear your good news!! I did Reiki weekly while in reatment, at my hospital they had a volunteer that would do it for cancer patients. I loved it...mine didn't see flowers though They all are a little different I think...I just found it very very relaxing for my body and my spirit. I was sorry the free sessions ended when treatment ended I have not heard of the Thetahealing but I do find the complementary therapies are an important piece-for me anyway.

I thought of you all tonight at Illuminations tonight (it had an amazing "Let There be Peace on Earth" holiday ending BTW) But when I thought of you was when they do the "We Go On" song....you all just came to mind ...I guess because we DO go on, don't we!

My best again to you all and your families!!

 

[MerryPoppins]

I'm praying that Beth gets better fast on new medication. Poor thing! It's no fun to feel that bad at Christmas. Please keep us informed.

My mom, Evelyn, got the results of her MRI. She has torn a tendon in her leg. They told her to take it easy until they can get her in to see another doctor. She might need surgery to fix it. So I'm taking on the family Christmas dinner and trying to keep her from doing all the things she feels she needs to do at the last minute. Why didn't she go take care of this weeks ago? Sigh.

 

[laurabelle]

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

Jim- Thank you for keeping us updated on Beth. I'm so sorry to hear there's further complications. I'm keeping her in my prayers.

MerryPoppins- I'm sorry you mil may need surgery. I don't have an answer as to why people put off medical stuff, she's probably just scared it would come to this and didn't want to face it. I hope she listens an rests and I hope you get help from other family members with Christmas!

Ann- It's so good to hear from you! I loved the holiday Illuminations! I tried to take video with my digital camera, but since I don't have sound on it, it's just not the same! I love We Go On too...I walked out of there one night a couple years ago and stopped in the last gift shop at the International Gateway (come to think of it, I was staying at the Dolphin too!) and bought myself a copy of the CD. Try not to let the crowds make you crazy! I couldn't get over how crowded it was a couple weeks ago, I know it's much worse now. Enjoy that Disney Christmas magic sista!

It's almost here!!! I get like a little kid at Christmastime... I'm the first one up Christmas morning! The kids are in school today, but our celebrating will start after school. We're getting sushi for dinner (we all love it, except my youngest who only eats like 4 things in the world! ) and I figured it's the exact opposite of all the rich Christmassy foods we'll be eating the next couple of days. Tomorrow we'll go to my mom & dad's house to be with my family (hubby's family is all over the place) then church tomorrow night. Christmas will be spent in our new jammies all day! Eating, drinking, playing with our toys... just relaxing and enjoying the gift of family!

Love and peace to all my sistas, whatever holiday you celebrate!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Stopping by to say hello, wish everyone the blessings of the Season, whichever one you celebrate.

Hope the reports continue well, Donna, and Jim, best wishes and prayers are with Beth for quick recovery. Well, prayers are with everyone here.

Ann, I think good and similar thoughts during Illuminations, We Go On is so moving. I often thing of Marie while watching that.

Speaking of Marie, she/we just went through a bit of consternation a few weeks back as she needed to get followup mammograms to her 'routine' 6-month ones, as they saw somethings they wanted to get a 'better look' at. In the past, 3 times, those 'followups' have resulted in biopsies being ultimately required, the one in '98 being her BC diagnosis, and the one 18 months ago being dragged out for 6 months of various tests before an 'OK' was given. We were sort of expecting another round of biopsy, but, thankfully it did not. They said to come back in 6 months.


Again, my prayers and good wishes of the Season are with all of you, a really remarkable group of ladies. God bless you all.

 

[snappy]

Dan, I am sorry you and Marie have had to go through the repeated ordeals of call backs. It seems like many women have to endure this anxiety. Although it is good for the radioligists to be thorough, it does not make it any easier while you are going through it.

Glad she got a good report and avoided the biopsy this time.

GAGWTA!!!

Hey, that one works for this season too!!.

Thanks to Ann for that one.

Hope you are enjoying the world, Ann. Thanks for the live reports. We are there with you in spirit.

I am sorry to hear about your mother's injury, Merry. I hope your Christmas dinner comes out lovely. I bet it will.

My brother Tom is flying in Christmas night from New York (he waited too long to make his reservations-Baton Rouge is not exactly a major hub, YET).
At least since Katrina we have Delta coming in here with direct flights from NY finally, We'll do the big dinner on Monday, turkey with oyster dressing, etc.
Luckily, Mom likes to do it at her house which is only a mile away, so we go there. I am in charge of desserts. That, I can handle.

We are talking daily to my MIL to check in about Claudette. It sounded like she made progress yesterday. She'll have to be in the hospital on IV's for awhile though. I think she has been in upwards of three weeks now on and off since mid November. That hospital and doc bill will be a whopper. Not sure if she should send it to FEMA or the bozo Jefferson Parish president (Aaron Broussard) who sent all the pump operators off and shut down the pumps. I have heard people say if they spot him on the street they would love to run him over. He better be updating his resume.

 

[donnabres]

Merry Christmas, or Happy Holidays to all of my new friends out there.

Hope you all have a very happy, peaceful day with your loved ones. I guess that with the 7 grandkids coming over, I am hoping for peaceful!!!!

Thanks for all your prayers, and encouragement that I have received these last couple of months.

Donna

 

[MNSusan]

Greetings and Good Wishes To All (GAGWTA)!!!

I hope you each had a nice Christmas weekend, and some relief from your worries. We had a nice weekend, although 2 of the 3 grandkids got a stomach bug of some sort and spent time hunched over the potty.

I saw the radiation oncologist this morning. We have decided not to do radiation therapy at this time. She said I'm borderline for whether it would help longterm and the incidence of recurrence is very low for my situation - like 1% in 8 years. She said radiation would reduce that, but to what? 0.8%? It seems like a reasonable decision right now.

Mostly, because you can only do radiation once, she thought it was prudent to keep that option should a recurrence happen. She is recommending mammograms every 6 months for the forseeable future. That's okay by me.

I see the medical oncologist on January 10, at which time I expect to start Tamoxifen.

I'm a bit surprised by this, but grateful that the docs seem to be treating me as an individual and thinking long term about what would be best.

On to the next step!

 

[MinnieM3]

Hi everyone,

This is Jim, Beth's husband, with an update. Beth is still having major back pain. She is scheduled for a bone scan this Thursday, at that should help her doctor reach a diagnosis. We are still thinking that she has a damaged vertabrae.

Beth had a CT scan today of her lungs to see if she indeed has pneumonia. A spot did show up on a chest xray last week, and this was a follow up to clarify exactly what the spot is.

Luckily, I am off from work this week and can take care of her. Thanks to all of you for the continuing prayers.

Jim

 

[MerryPoppins]

GAGWTA!

I leave in the morning to be "mom" to a group of about 25 teenagers at a youth retreat. We'll be saying lots of prayers and I wanted you to know I'll include you all. I'll check in on all of you when I'm back on the 30th.

Hope things start getting better for Beth soon. Glad that you can be with her, Jim. Let her know she's in our thoughts and prayers.

 

[snappy]

Thinking of Beth here too, Jim. Thanks for posting the update. Please give her my best.

Susan, your news sounds positive. Each woman's case is different, glad you are so pleased with your docs. I think your positive attitude serves you well.
Hope your grandkids are feeling better so they can enjoy their vacation time.

Merry, have a good time at your retreat. How did your cooking go?

We are enjoying my brother who is visiting from New York. He leaves tomorrow.

Claudette was able to depart the hospital on Christmas Day. There is something about being "home" for Christmas, even if it is just sharing half a unfurnished double with your Mom. It is all about family, isn't it.

My very good friend Cindy ahd a Methodist volunteer group from Kansas City help her with tearing out sheetrock, cabinets and flooring in her house in Lakeview yesterday. She was afraid they would bail like others she had lined up previously, but they did not. What a gift those folks gave to a single mom.
She has been at the end of her rope for a few days, sounded so much more positive yesterday. She refused coming up to Baton Rouge for Christmas dinner with use, just no energy to drive her. We are doing New Year's at my sister's in Grammercy which is closer to New Orleans. I am hoping I can convince her to meet us there. DH is going to take her son (visiting from Colorado where he relocated to finish high school after Katrina) and ours to listen to some live music in New Orleans before he has to fly home.

Hope everyone is enjoying time with family as much as we are. We are playing lots of games, DD10 got Turbo Cranium for Christmas, what a great game. We had the original Cranium, Caddoo, and even a new one, Whoonu, all from the same company. Like them all but the Turbo is awesome. Very challenging.

GAGWTA!!

 

[laurabelle]

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

Jim- I'm so sorry to hear Beth is still in pain...praying the scan gets to the bottom of it and it's something easy to fix.

Dan- How scary! I'm sorry Marie seems to keep going through this, but I'm glad she didn't have to go through the whole biopsy ordeal this time. Here's to a healthy new year!

Susan- I'm glad your onc is treating you as an individual too...

MerryPoppins- Have a safe and fun retreat!

Laurie- I'm so glad Claudette is home for Christmas!

Hubby and the kids are here all week...I'm having a lovely, relaxing holiday. We're finally getting around to seeing Narnia this afternoon and have a casual dinner party to go to tonight. I'm bringing this appetizer, I just found the recipe and I think it's so cute! I'm going to make a cheese ball to go with it and make it look like an igloo!
Cream Cheese Penguins

 

[NHAnn]

Oh my...I swear to you I came on here around 5 pm when I got in after my yucky day back at work after a wonderful vacation and posted a big hello catch-up post....and I don't see the post! Anyway...I have severe PVLD (post vaca let-down ! laundry and a messy house await...I wanted to say hello and hugs and GAGWTA!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Just a quick hello and GAGWTA to everyone!

Keeping Beth in my prayers and hopeful for good news and a speedy recovery.

Ann, so sorry to hear of your PLVD (boy, this girl is good with the acronyms, isn't she?). BTW, did your DH enjoy his morning Starbucks at the Dolphin?

Hope everyone is enjoying the Holiday Season (and hitting some good After Christmas sales).

 

[laurabelle]

~~~***GAGWTA sistas***~~~
Yes, Ann is the queen of the acronyms! I'm sorry you're feeling it...I didn't feel it so much last trip since I went straight home into Christmas. This morning I'm daydreaming about going to WDW next summer. I'm not sure how I'm going to fit it in though. We are getting ready to remodel our kitchen, I may be going to the YSC conference in Denver in Feb., but it's just me going since the kids are in school and they want to visit their cousins in CO, so maybe that's a summer trip, and I have plans to have a SIS meet in San Francisco in August. Plus, no more park days left on our hoppers! We'll see...

BreastCancer.org has a transcript of a disscussion related to the annual San Antonio onc. conference. Very informative! Here's the link: http://www.breastcancer.org/ct_0512.html

 

[snappy]

I think the WDW trip must have inspired Ann.

Thanks for the link, Laura. Our local paper had an article in it about the S. A. conference but I was hoping to get a more thorough take on it. You are a peach!!!

I too was thinking of a last minute January WDW trip this week. A little voice inside my head told me to wait. Sure enough, now Claudette is back in the hospital, along with another SIL with bacterial pneumonia (Audrey), DH's niece's 2 yr old son (he woke up yesterday not able to walk). Needless to say, DH is stressed. My MIL sounds at the end of her rope (remember Lorraine in your prayers if you can.)

Glad I hesitated at this point. Yesterday I asked my brother Tom who is visiting through tonight from NYC if he would like to join me in another WDW trip and he said yes (he met us in WDW this past May). We'll plan this later in the year when things settle down somewhat. I like something to look forward to.

Hope you had a great trip Ann, and are making progress with the laundry.

 

[laurabelle]

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

Laurie- You're welcome! I'm sorry to hear you have more ill family members...especially the little one not being able to walk, very scary! I bet you can't wait to say goodbye to 2005!!! I think planning a WDW trip for sometime later in the year sounds perfect, yes, something fun to look forward to...

I really don't want Christmas to end ...when it ends that means I have to face reality again and I really don't want to! Surgery is Jan 10th so lots of cleaning and preparations need to be made and I have managed pretty well to avoid thinking about it. I have a bunch of paper work to fill out that I've been putting off (it's a pet peeve of mine) a 3 pager for the anesthesiologist and more papers for an onc study - sponsored by LAF. I go in for pre-op and an onc appt on the 5th. We're having my dd's sleepover on the 7th, then a small family party on the 8th. I'm hoping I'll be home from the hospital for her actual bday on the 12th.

I've lost alot of weight since I was in the hospital over the summer. Mostly because I can't eat alot at a time, it just messes with my stomach too much and I've been eating healthier (except this past week! ) I've talked about it with my doc and he's a little concerned, but I'm healthy and I don't think there's anything else going on. Well, Christmas night my mom and I were talking on the phone (she saw me for the 1st time in a while on Christmas Eve) and she was kinda freaking me out. Years ago, my grandmother had lost a lot of weight and they found out she had a benign tumor wrapped around her pancreas. She died later at the hospital, but not from that, she fell out of her hospital bed and never recovered from the fall. So of course my mother is thinking the worst (and doesn't mind sharing that with me!) I just told her, look mom, I'm having surgery soon and if there's something wrong there, I'll find out soon enough... sheesh. I can give myself enough anxiety on my own, I don't need her help!
Thanks for letting me vent!

 

[ilovepcot]

Hopefully someone here can give me a clue as to what might have happened to me this morning. I'm rocked to the core!

Just before daylight I awoke and decided to make a quick trip to the bathroom. Just as my feet hit the floor, my left breast instantly began to tingle PAINFULLY, and as I walked it worsened. The "tingling" was constantly moving around the entire breast but never moved on to another area...not further up the chest, over to the other breast or further down onto the stomach. The tingling brought tears to my eyes and at times took my breath away. Kind of reminded me of someone being "tasered". The pain felt like it actually reached down to the bone at times. All I could do was sit clutching the breast and rocking back and forth. After a very few minutes it began to subside and I went back to bed. Only once when I turned did it attempt to tingle a small bit for only a brief moment. No signs when I got up later that anything had taken place. What on earth happened to me?????? Anyone here ever had something similar happen or even heard of something such as this? Truly, I'm in a state of SHOCK! And yes, I'm getting an appointment with my doctor but that will probably take a couple of weeks. In the mean time, could someone here kindly help me?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Thinking of Beth and GAGWTA to everyone else!

iloveepcot, it is an unnerving thing to go through. One radiologist I saw told me one of the most common complaints women have is breast discomfort. As for myself, I am a coffee drinker, and I sometimes think (and some studies have alluded to) that coffee causes the tingling and downright discomfort I sometimes have in both breasts, yes, even enough to sometimes take your breath away. Monthly hormonal changes also contribute, especially as we age. (Having radiation also causes a lot of discomfort afterward - I just verified that again with my surgeon recently). But if you've been having regular exams and such and do your BSEs, chances are it is nothing to worry about. Never a bad idea to get checked out, though.

You will read and hear that cancerous lumps are not painful. Discomfort in the area of my lump was what made me find it in the first place, so I guess I'm not a big believer in that theory. But that was different than what you've described - mine was an "ache" in one area that was constant, as opposed to those fleeting pains you get throughout your breast on occasion. See if you can correlate it to either coffee, chocolate, something else you ate, or the timing of your cycle.

laura, I can understand what you're saying. I suppose in one way it's good that your mother has such a good understanding of the potentials of the disease. (In my family, it's just the opposite, some of them poo-poo my worries which drives me crazy). Yes, weight loss can come from things we don't like to think about, but it is also very common with GI issues as well as a host of other diseases. I suppose you'll have to endure the process of "ruling out" other things, but hopefully everything will be ok - will keep you in my prayers. My oncologist loves to remind me that "people who've had cancer get regular diseases too; it doesn't always have to be the worst". I hang on to that thought a lot when I have these ongoing pains in my sides (probably my gallbladder) or the headaches that I had last week which thankfully seem to have been a sinus infection. Living with the ramifications of BC is never easy, as you know. I often wish I could be less of a worrier, but unfortunately, that's me. You hang in there, and we're here to listen ANY TIME!

 

[Christine]

Hopefully someone here can give me a clue as to what might have happened to me this morning. I'm rocked to the core!

Just before daylight I awoke and decided to make a quick trip to the bathroom. Just as my feet hit the floor, my left breast instantly began to tingle PAINFULLY, and as I walked it worsened. The "tingling" was constantly moving around the entire breast but never moved on to another area...not further up the chest, over to the other breast or further down onto the stomach. The tingling brought tears to my eyes and at times took my breath away. Kind of reminded me of someone being "tasered". The pain felt like it actually reached down to the bone at times. All I could do was sit clutching the breast and rocking back and forth. After a very few minutes it began to subside and I went back to bed. Only once when I turned did it attempt to tingle a small bit for only a brief moment. No signs when I got up later that anything had taken place. What on earth happened to me?????? Anyone here ever had something similar happen or even heard of something such as this? Truly, I'm in a state of SHOCK! And yes, I'm getting an appointment with my doctor but that will probably take a couple of weeks. In the mean time, could someone here kindly help me?

I like to consider myself and "armchair" doctor . Honestly, what you describe to me sounds like a nerve issue. Since it correlates with you putting your feet on the floor and then again when you turned, sounds like a nerve ending that starts one place and leads to another was innervated. Believe it or not, it could have been the way you were sleeping and then when you got up, there was a kink (or an unkink). I have had so many strange things happen to me, especially in the last few years, probably because I'm getting older (42 today!!) and things are just starting to go downhill!

I know these things are terribly worrisome. You are NEVER wrong to make an appointment with your doctor. Hopefully it will not happen again but if it does I would be sure to write down just what you were doing when it happens.