Dis Breast Cancer Survivors - GAGWTA!

[mickeymost]

Just wanted to check in and say Hi. I have to go back and read some posts, so excuse me for not keeping up lately. I'll get to reading after I come back from the hospital today. Going for my CTs and Bone Scan. I really dread the results of these tests. When I lived in NJ I did them where I worked, so I go immediate results. Now, I have to wait like everyone else and that SUCKS!!!

I'll keep you all posted.

Thanks again for your prayers and good wishes. You don't know how much it means to me to able to come here and talk to all of you.

Thanks!!!

Kelly

 

[MerryPoppins]

Linda, I'd love anything you could tell me about what the nutritionist said about eating. I need to lose a lot of weight and so does my DH. Diets just don't seem to work for us. I'm frustrated.

Snappy, what do you know (if anything) about Loyola? DS applied there because the literature they sent sounded good, and they waved his application fee. It's one of the schools that has accepted him and yesterday he got a letter offering a scholarship. Now we really need to do our homework. I thought immediately of you, since it's in New Orleans. We're still waiting to hear back from Tulane. He either wants to major in Chemistry or Biology and then go to med school. Anything you could share would be welcome.

Thinking positive thoughts for you Kelly and Beth.

Laura, yay for your DD's A! My DD has struggled with math too, but is doing much better the last few years. I think sometimes it just takes a while, and a lot of work, for the understanding to kick in.

 

[snappy]

Merry, I have a good friend that works for Tulane. She would be a good potential source of info, at least about Tulane. I also have a friend here whose daughter was enrolled at Tulane back in August. She returned a couple of weeks ago when school reopened. She is more of a liberal arts major. What I do know is that Tulane has streamlined or dropped at least temporarily many programs, especially graduate programs. This is something you should check into closely. I assume Loyola may have or will make similar changes, albeit on a smaller scale. The Tulane medical school issue is the one I am worried about. There were 180 clinical faculty laid off. The hospital where Tulane docs (Charity and University Hospital) worked were very damaged. I understand Tulane Medical Center (hospital) is scheduled to open soon on a limited basis.

As your son is just starting on this, it is hard to project what will be available when he is ready to start med school.

http://www2.tulane.edu/tulanian/ read the one called from survival to renewal. This is a link to the Tulane site that has some info.

Much of the med school staff was laid off recently. I am not sure what this means for the future of the med school. I will pose that question to my friend. I know she thinks a lot of Tulane. In addition to working there, her son will most probably attend there this fall if the school of Public Health survives (still up in the air, apparently.)

I don't know much about Loyola. One of the guys I used to work for graduated from there but that was eons ago.

I also have a niece who graduated from LSU med school and has finished her rotations. She might know a bit about the situation with Tulane as well.

I'll try and contact them and send you a pm.

Congrats on your son's scholarship.

I can see some upside of being in New Orleans during the next 4 years. There is so much to do, and it might afford an excellent learning experience.
Lodging there offcampus continues to be iffy and very costly. I imagine more students will end up remaining on campus for multiple years instead of moving to an apartment.

 

[snappy]

Oh, BTW, Laura - ditto on the home renovation. Have also had some unexpected things crop up which is why we're going to start small and see how it goes. Hope you like the show, let me know!!

You guys sound like me. So far all we have done is to get a new stove top, which I really like by the way. Everything else has to wait til at least 2007.

 

[MNSusan]

Wow, I missed a few days and a lot happened. Good healing thoughts and prayers to each of you! (((((((((((sistas)))))))))))

DHs cousin (who lives 3 blocks from us) has ovarian cancer and had a two year remission. They've now found two spots on her cecum and she started chemo again. She hosted a head shaving party on Saturday afternoon. Her son came home from college to do the honors. At one point, his cell phone rang and we heard him say, "Dude, you'll never guess what I'm doing right now. Shaving my mom's head!" First we gave her a mullet, then did geometric designs on the sides leaving the middle for a nice mohawk. At that point, she gelled it up, put on her husband's leather jacket and sat on the motorcycle in the garage. We took lots of photos! Then her husband finished it off and she was a baldy. I had purchased a bunch of little warm hats (winter has finally hit here) and she had a good time modeling them for us.

Janie has an absolutely wonderful attitude. There's a 20% five year survival rate and her attitude is, "someone has to be in that 20% and it might as well be me!" Very very inspirational.

It was a very hard afternoon for me. I kept choking back tears as her hair was coming off. Not sure what was going on. Maybe survivor's guilt or something... my BC was caught early and I didn't need chemo. I don't know... but it was tough.

We're starting a bathroom remodel. Feel free to slap me around if I start whining too much.

 

[MinnieM3]

PET scan went fine today, but no results of course. The worst was, as always with me, finding a vein for the IV. I just have nothing. I think it was 5 tries and it was agonizing. They even used a special scanner thing to locate a vein. Nothing. They tried something that I think was called a JoPo or something like that. No luck. Of course I only have one arm to work with due to the mastectomy and that poor arm has been stuck and stuck since I had my port taken out. The finally got a vein they said was like a strand of hair. That whole process was close to an hour.

The Scanpart was fine just COLD! I had jeans, a turtleneck, and a (Disney!) swearshirt, and blankets and was still freezing. Also my arms were strapped fairly tight and started to really hurt after awhile. Nothing big. I hhave no idea how long it was, but it was longer than my Simon and Garfinkel CD I brought to listen to! LOL. (Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme)

Left and got something to eat with DH, went home to check on DS6 who's been sick for almost a week now. DH took DS to Grandma's for the day so I could rest some. (I had a sub for the day). Now we're all back home. DS is feeling a lot better and will probably go to school tomorrow.

Results by Thursday I think. I'll keep you up to date.

Oh, the result we hope for is that this is NOT a metastisis as that could require surgery and chemo. "just" lung cancer would probably just be surgery!

hugs to all my sistas!!

 

[NHAnn]

Just a quick hello....I've been reading along but it's a busy week and no time to address all the posts.

Kelly and Beth...holding you close in my thoughts and prayers.

Thinking of you all, daily....GAGWTA!!!

 

[Dan Murphy]

As always, guys, you ALL are in my prayers. Sure wish I had a magic wand.

 

[snappy]

Thanks, Dan.

Susan, what a sad yet endearing story about your DH's cousin. Her attitude in the face of her diagnosis is so inspiring. She is helping herself as well as everyone around her. But I suspect her attitude is spontaneous, not just putting on a good face to it.

Further good news from New Orleans. Claudette is home for the first time since New Year's. She went home yesterday. She is using the walker and cane my sister has had for years (right now Joan does not need them).
She called the walker the "deluxe" model, wheels on all 4 legs rather than the two wheelie one in the hospital. She is weak, but she did negotiate the 6 steps up to her daughter's raised shotgun where she and MIL are staying.
We have to go see her this weekend.

DD15 is going on a bus trip to Colorado with our church's HS youth group in a couple of weeks. We have found most items she needs but still need ski gloves and goggles or mask or whatever they wear. Does anyone know any websites I could order from? The sporting goods stores locally hav what she needs but they are top of the line and we don't need that for one trip.

 

[German Disneynut]

Hello to you all,

I feel very nervous posting here - been lurking since a long time and think you are all amazing women. Sorry for my english, hope I can express myself clearly.

My sister Tina is a Breastcancer survivor for almost 10 years now (mastectomie, chemo and radiation), she is like you, always very open and positive.

I write this, 'cause I want to tell MinnieM3 - Tina was doing very well up until last year in May. Then a spot on her lung was found, well - it was a new cancer. B U T : She had an operation, they were able to take out everything, no lymphnodes, only the very small tumor stage 1 - so no radiation or chemo. And she is doing wonderfully again. The operation was in June and in August she was already able to enjoy a wonderful vacation at WDW including a 7 night cruise.

Please stay strong, it can be defeated again!

Hope I did not offend anybody - I am quite nervous to post. But this was on my heart!

I wish all of you all the best, you are an inspiration!

 

[MerryPoppins]

Thanks for checking into New Orleans for me. I have mixed feelings about him going down there under the circumstances. Tulane is still high on his list, but I'd feel better if he was just starting high school now and the area had a few more years to get back on it's feet. We'll see. I've only been skiing once, so no ideas on the goggles. Wish I had a pair to loan her.

Susan, your DH's cousin sounds like a real trooper. Why not her, indeed! I bet she can make it.

Narrowing my prayers for it to be "just lung cancer". Glad you made it through the test okay. Sounds like my veins. Most people have so much trouble hitting mine on the first try. When someone is good at it, I'm always tempted to take the name so I can ask for the same person the next time!

 

[MerryPoppins]

Birgit, don't be nervous to post. I promise we don't bite! Anyone is welcome here. You don't have to have cancer to stop by and talk to us. And most everyone has some sort of cancer connection, just like you do. Dan posts here because his wife had breast cancer. Feel free to stop by, and thanks for sharing your story for Beth.

I forgot to say, great news about Claudette. I bet she's thrilled to be home.

 

[snappy]

Merry, check your pm's for a very sexy post (as popdaddy would say.)

Birgit, thanks so much for posting the story about your survivor sister.
What a great story!!! You many not realize it but her story gives hope to all of us in addition to MinnieM3.

Your English is fabulous. I only wish I was any good at German, or the French I studied in high school. I have a wonderful friend (she gave us or dog Snappy, also my username) who is Italian. She is fluent in many languages as is her beautiful, brilliant daughter, who just started her freshman year at Tulane. Knowing all those languages, the daughter is such a wonderful writer as well. My friend has lead free Italian classes at our church several times. I love talking to her and learning about Italy. She spends the summer with her parents on the coast of Italy every year.

Glad you posted here. And hip hip hooray for your sister. I am so glad they caught her lung cancer early.

Hoping for good news, Laura, Beth, Kelly.

My son's confirmation is tonight. There is a tradition here that the bishop spends close to 45 minutes with the group of confirmatiion candidates. It is something that is special to the bishop, and apparently it has a profound effect on the young people. The church staff and parents who organize the confirmation process don't know what he tells them, they are not invited.
I am hoping what he says really speaks to my son tonight. My dear sister is his sponsor, and she has been wonderful although my son has had a rough year.

 

[Cruise04]

Hello all -

I finally read back quite a few pages and am keeping Laura, Kelly and Beth in my deepest prayers!!!

I was so excited yesterday that I came here to post this but then never got a chance to post it. I am finally on the steering committee for our county's Relay for Life. I'm so excited!!!!! You guys don't know how long I've been trying to get hooked up with the appropriate people and be able to do this. It means the absolute world to me. And I'm on a team this year and am kind of chairing our fundraising - sort of.

Then I headed to the doc yesterday - back in December I had a sinus infection with a sore throat. Well the infection went away but the sore throat didn't. To make a long story short I was finally referred to an ENT and had a CT scan done last Thursday because he couldn't see anything when he went down with the light scope (except that I've had acid reflux). Yesterday was my check up appt and he will be sending me for an ultrasound and needle biopsy on my thyroid. I have a mass, according to the Radiology report from the CT, that is 3 X 2.6 X 1.5 cm on the right side. The right side is twice the size of the left side. Needless to say I went through again what I went through with the breast exam I had in the fall. And part of that I think is because of the horrible dreams I had this past weekend that I was dying - nightmares of sorts.

Now looking on the ACS website today there is a good chance that it is nothing. But there also is a chance that it is something. That's a pretty good sized mass. I, again, didn't tell my husband the full details last night. I will tell him tonight - I just couldn't do it.

So if you have any spare good thoughts or prayers - I could use them (but give as many to Laura, Beth, and Kelly as you can please). I'll keep you updated. I don't know when anything is scheduled yet.

It was nice to catch up with you all and your lives. And now I can't remember who is going on the cruise but have a great time!!!! We did the Magic Western in 2003 and had a blast. We booked the Magic Eastern in 2004 for our 5 year anniversary but that was during Hurricane Frances and the others and we got to Florida but didn't end up going - just too many logistics that got in our way with Ivan on his way. You are going to have so much fun!!!!!

GAGWTA everyone!

 

[laurabelle]

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

whoops double post...

 

[laurabelle]

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

My UC flare is getting worse. I'm having the flu-like symptoms and fatigue (typical) and other things are getting worse if you know what I mean. This is getting so depressing sistas, I'm slowly starting to read about the surgery. He told me about it in the hospital. It is the only cure for UC. It's a 2-3 part surgery, where they take out your entire colon (can't leave any of it or the UC will just come back) and attach your small intestine to your stomach with a bag (ugh) then some months later when you're healed they do another surgery to connect you back up and take out the bag. You go to the bathroom 4-6 times a day (which is way better than a bad flare) since it's a fast ride for the pooh! I really don't want to think about it, but being sick all the time really sucks and if this doesn't work I guess I have to think about it.
Sheesh sistas, how many body parts do you think I can live without???

My gyn appt went well. She wrote me a script for Estring and said it's been approved by their onc dept and it's up to me if I want to use it or not but she said it works better than anything else...we'll see. My path report was fine, no cancer!
I lost another pound. I can't believe it. I thought for sure I would have gained since my appetite is back and Danny is feeding me all kinds of fattening food and I'm eating chocolates daily. I guess my body just isn't absorbing anything.
My GI doc is trying to work me in to move my scope up to Mon.
Thanks for all the good thoughts and prayers...don't underestimate the power of prayer, you're doing more than you can imagine by praying for someone else...

Kelly, Beth, Cruise04- thinking of you and praying for you...

Birgit- I'm so glad you posted, what an inspiration!

Laurie- So happy to hear Claudette is home!

Dan-

 

[mickeymost]

Laura - I'm so sorry to hear this. Thinking about this pending surgery is a bummer!!! I know what you mean about body parts, it seems like it's never ending. One thing leads to the next. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Cruise04 - thinking positive thoughts.

You know, it's funny. I once thought that after the surgeries and chemo and radiation that I would be able to put this whole thing behind me. I've always been so positive and never let it get me down, but I've come to the realization that this will always be a part of my life. Not control my life, but always a part. I was hoping to leave it behind me when I moved, but it followed me. Now I guess it's just moving ahead.

I'll keep you all posted with my upcoming surgery

Kelly

 

[snappy]

Laura, so sorry to hear things are worse. The surgery sounds tough. I have had family members have that surgery but they were very much older, my uncle in his sixties and my paternal grandma late sixties as well. They did ok with it, both succumbed to heart disease eventually.

Kelly, your frame of mind sounds good. I really like the way you are wishing others well. You are a gem. I always did like your name (my dd15 is also a Kelly.)

Cruise04, sorry you are going through this. I have had a nodule on my thyroid since 1991. My gyn noticed it when I went in one year after having my Kelly. He sent me to an endocrinologist in N. O. who was quite good. He aspirated it twice to have the fluid biopsied, it was benign. It really stayed pretty stable, he did not seem too worried, even though my maternal grandma had thyroid cancer years ago. She had it removed the thyroid gland removed, went on meds, and proceeded to live another 25 years with no further cancer scares.

My endicrinologist here has biopsied my nodule as well. He also does annual ultrasounds on me. I have not had the biopsy for 4-5 years. Last year my thyroid function deteriorated and I am now on thryroid meds. I actually feel a lot better since going on the meds, although it took a number of months before we got the right strength of meds.

There is another very nice disser on the boards who had thyroid cancer, I think her user name is Christine. She knows a lot about thryoid gland issues in general and thyroid cancer specifically. I think I remember her saying that the aspirations (fine needle aspiration) were not the best course for ruling out cancer. My doc has never indicated this. I think she said removal of the nodule is the the best course to make sure no cancer exists. You might want to pm her. I thought she was very helpful.

 

[MinnieM3]

tick, tick, tick, no results yet..... how long can a day beeeeeeee??

 

[snappy]

Hang in there, Beth.