Dis Breast Cancer Survivors - GAGWTA!

[mickeymost]

Beth My thoughts and prayers are with you. Just try to stay positive. I know it really S***S sometimes, but you're strong. Sloan is supposed to be a very good center. I used to live in NJ and when I was first dx'd my DH really wanted me to go there, I just didn't want to do all the traveling. Now, I wish I had.

I've been a little down lately, so I haven't checked in in a while. GAGWTA

Just an update on me. I'm healing very slowly. I went yesterday to the plastic surg and he actually cut away all of the dead area of my lat. flap. Now I have this gapping hole in my chest, talk about GROSS! Good news is all of my tumor was gotten ( or so they tell me again x3). I won't be needing chemo again, so that's great news. As it turns out, the pathologist here is saying my tumor was estrogen - the first two times, so now it seems I took those estrogen blockers for nothing. How frustrating. They're checking the latest tumor for hormone receptors, but feel they will be the same as they were. I'm actually hoping I won't have to do anything at this point (no meds, radiation etc...) I'm about done with all of this nonsense!!! I just need to heal before my DCL cruise in Aug.

Maybe the tag fairy will give me one of those nice pink survivor tags someday!

Kelly

 

[crimsonflaginspire]

i admire survivors of this terrible disease. god bless them.

 

[snappy]

Thanks Snappy & NHAnn! How did you guys get your "Survivor" tag?

Monique, try these instructions Laura posted way back when the thread started.

To add the clipart, copy the link I gave you, http://webclipart.miningco.com/library/Menu/ribt8.gif and go to User CP and click on Edit Your Signature. Then paste the link, adding

on the end.

 

[snappy]

Beth,

My brother Tom called me when he received my email asking for info on Sloan. He put you on his prayer list as well. A close friend of his was treated about a year ago for cancer at Sloan. Tom was very impressed with the care his friend received, he visited him a number of times while he was there. He had non-Hodgkins lymphoma and was diagnosed at stage IV. I think he had stem cell treatment. Tom's boss's husband was also treated there around the same time, he was a very wealthy individual and could have gone anywhere for treatment (he had colon cancer). He chose Sloan. Tom said it was considered one of the top hospitals in New York. He thinks the hospital is associated with Columbia Med. School.

I am hoping others here are also familiar with Sloan's and will chime in.

 

[MinnieM3]

Thank you snappy. Every little bit of good news is encouraging. I am hoping Sloan is the absolute best.

 

[laurabelle]

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

Beth- I'm so sorry sweetie...
MSK is an excellent cancer center... I hope you are able to go there for another opinion and how to proceed. I know it's hard to believe right now, but I bet there is alot they can offer you. I have so many friends fighting advanced cancer who have been at it a long time. Sending up lots of prayers sista...
I would love to get your home address and send you something (I promise it's not weird!!! ) Please PM me when you are able...


My friend Lisa Porter was at our support group tonight and I got to spend alot of time talking with her and her mil. She looks so good for all she's going through, new hair growing in... full of life! I think it's great that as each new obstacle hits her path, she has a team who is willing and able to line up new weapons in her battle. She has not given up and they haven't either, praise God!

You can read her latest here:http://www.lisawillsurvive.com/ and don't miss her pics, they took the kids to WDW!!!

She should know by Wed. what that battle plan will be this time. She's tired, but full of fight, this battle takes alot of effort! Her kids are doing really well, they're both in the preschool program at her church and really enjoying it, and the preschool has graciously offered to have the kids be there as often as she needs, which is a real blessing.
It was so good to see her and spend some good time together, it's been too any months...

So please do be praying specifically for these next tests and the wisdom of the docs to know how to best proceed...for her energy and strength, for her husband Bill, and for her children Katie and Andrew...

Such a fighter...I am so blessed to know!

 

[hopesmommy]

I admire everyone with any cancer! I have many members of my family fighting cancer right now, including an aunt with breast cancer. I walked in the DFW 3 Day Breast Cancer walk in 2005 and met the most amazing women battling this disease. I was not going to walk in 2006 because it was so hard to do in 2005. I then thought about all of the survivors who could not walk. I thought big deal I have a few blisters for a few weeks and I am exhausted and sore for about a week. That is NOTHING compared to what yall have gone through! If we can find a cure for one cancer, it can only benefit the research for all the other cancers. KEEP FIGHTING!!! I will be. I start training soon. The DFW Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk 2006 here I come. If anyone wants more information about this walk, go to www.the3day.org.

HUGS and KISSES to everyone battling,
Dee Kelley

 

[snappy]

Welcome to our thread, Dee. I can't really express how much I appreciate your involvement with the breast walk.

Prayers and PD for all of your family members fighting cancer.

Good luck and have fun training for the walk.

Would love to see pictures afterwards if you can post them here.

Laura, I read Lisa's update. She really is a fighter. The WDW pictures were wonderful. I also watched the Lisa in the news segment. No wonder she has had such a profound effect on your group. Hearing her talk is even more moving than reading the journal. She and her docs are in my prayers.

Laurie

 

[Pixiedust34]

GAGWTA!

You all remain in my prayers. I find hope every time I meet a survivor and know that every day the medical community can do more amazing things than ever before that will lead to the road of a full recovery. May each of you have a day filled with some sunshine !

 

[snappy]

I added some pictures to my trip report post above.

Linda, I have been meaning to ask you, but with everything going on with Beth and Laura's Dan, I neglected to do it.

I went back to the post where I thought you said you included pictures from your cruise. I did not see the pictures. Is it just me and my computer? Or is it on a different post?

I am confused.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

GAGWTA!

First, a great big for Kelly. I'm sorry you've had to go through all this and hope things start to look better very soon. It's no wonder you're down - it must be very hard to have to look at your body like that every day. Are they thinking about grafts, or just letting it heal on its own? The hormone receptor negative thing is disheartening, but to me the good news would be that it could explain why you've continued to have recurrences (my onc had told me that could happen if I took tamoxifin being HR negative). I'm praying now that they've got a handle on it that this will be the last of your recurrences.

Beth, keeping you very much in my thoughts and prayers. Sloan Kettering is an excellent medical facility, you couldn't be in better hands. A friend's brother was treated there the same time as I was being treated, in 2004. He had advanced colon cancer in his early 40's. It didn't look good at all. I'm happy to report he's doing great, he got wonderful care there. I'm sure you will, too. Remember the girl with ovarian cancer who used to be on this thread - Lessa of Pern? I believe she got her care there as well.

Laura, how is hubby doing? If you get Beth's address would you please PM me with it also? I'm glad Lisa is doing well and glad you got to spend time with her.

I don't know about anyone else here, but it's been a little strange this week explaining I've been upset about "one of my internet friends". For those of us here it makes perfect sense; I guess the rest of the world just has a hard time understanding it if they've never been part of a group like this. Even though most of us have never met, there's a special connection that happens when you share an intimate piece of yourself, even if it's not in person.

I haven't heard anything about my MRIs yet. I could go look up the results myself (since I had them at my own hospital) but I think I'll wait for my doctor to call. I'm going to email her this morning to make sure she keeps an eye out. I lost it right before I went into the machine. Was fine up until then, was talking about the Caribbean to the tech when she noticed my old sunburn, then made the mistake of telling her these were the first MRIs since my treatment. Bam. Water works. I really hate having these tests.

We also got the "two for one" special, DH and I, LOL. He had a CT scan of his head (sinuses) while I had my MRI. Turns out my DD won't be the only one in this family having her tonsils out. This ought to be fun: DD and DH with their tonsil sugery and me with my gallbladder.

DH and I are going to go out today looking at home improvements for all the projects we're planning. It's so rare we get to do that without the kids on a weekday, should be like old times. We've decided we're going to go forward with some of the ideas we've had, doing a lot of the work ourselves. We've been watching that show Designed to Sell on HGTV and are really inspired by it. I'm excited summer is coming!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

snappy, see post #2511

 

[snappy]

Got it, those are great pictures. You have some very cute kids. Looks like they had almost as much fun as Mom.


I guess I am a little s l o w. I never thought to look at the trip report post.


Like the shoe pile pic. I bet the cabin boy did not even try to straighten it out.

 

[WeluvDisney2]

Thanks Snappy, it worked!

Laurabelle, I love your bunny. I adopted one too!

 

[WeluvDisney2]

I admire everyone with any cancer! I have many members of my family fighting cancer right now, including an aunt with breast cancer. I walked in the DFW 3 Day Breast Cancer walk in 2005 and met the most amazing women battling this disease. I was not going to walk in 2006 because it was so hard to do in 2005. I then thought about all of the survivors who could not walk. I thought big deal I have a few blisters for a few weeks and I am exhausted and sore for about a week. That is NOTHING compared to what yall have gone through! If we can find a cure for one cancer, it can only benefit the research for all the other cancers. KEEP FIGHTING!!! I will be. I start training soon. The DFW Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk 2006 here I come. If anyone wants more information about this walk, go to www.the3day.org.

HUGS and KISSES to everyone battling,
Dee Kelley

Hi Dee, Thank you for doing this! Do you have a webpage where people can sponsor you online? A lot of people who cannot do the walk may want to help by sponsoring you.
~Monique

 

[snappy]

Thanks Snappy, it worked!

Laurabelle, I love your bunny. I adopted one too!

All right, Monique.

Now we gotta find that tag fairy and get her to add the SURVIVOR tag.

I don't think you are the only one either.

Oh, tag fairy. . . come out come out whereever you are. . .

 

[mickeymost]

GAGWTA

Linda - At this point they are saying let it heal from the inside out, so I have to pack it twice daily and hope for the best. If it doesn't heal well, he did talk about doing a graft. My plastic surg is in Europe at a conference, so I have until March 29 to heal, or I'm sure he'll want to graft it. It's just frustrating, the rest of the area has healed nicely. Just a minor set back I know, but ....

I totally understand about being concerned about someone you haven't "met". I'm so glad this group is here though!!!

Kelly

 

[hopesmommy]

Hi Dee, Thank you for doing this! Do you have a webpage where people can sponsor you online? A lot of people who cannot do the walk may want to help by sponsoring you.
~Monique

Monique, Thank you. I do have a website, but I honestly was looking for donations. I just wanted to tell everyone how much I admire them.

https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorRe...802430DF6F4F01B02617A53A29E06D&supId=61923693

If this link does not work, click on donate, Dallas/Ft Worth, and then type my name, Dee Kelley. This will take you to my website.

Everyone is in my prayers.
Dee

 

[MNSusan]

Now we gotta find that tag fairy and get her to add the SURVIVOR tag.

I don't think you are the only one either.

Oh, tag fairy. . . come out come out whereever you are. . .

A tag WOULD be nice.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

GAGWTA!

Monique, so glad to see you posting again!! I'm glad your surgery's over and you're feeling well enough to join us!

Thank you to everyone who sent me prayers and pixie dust over the last couple of days. It was a rough week emotionally for me between Beth's news, another friend's sad event, DHs job and my own MRIs. But I am happy to report that the test was fine, it showed a "seroma" at the surgical area (which is why I still have pain there and still cannot lay on that side) and an old benign fibroadenoma, but that's it, and nothing on the other side, thankfully. Thank you, God.

I have an appointment Wednesday with the surgeon about my "gallbladder" which has been acting up since the cruise (no surprise there, I guess). I'm wondering if they'll send me for more tests prior to surgery, I would imagine so. So, a little more worrying until we get to the point of surgery, I guess it never ends, LOL.

I am also happy to report that DH accepted a job which will be a great opportunity for him. Funny how things happen sometimes. I've always said that when one door closes, another opens, and there has never been a better example in our lives of this than this job. He actually applied for it online the night before we left on our trip, and the first call came on his cell phone while we were at the pool at Pop Century.

Tonight we'll pop a bottle of champagne with friends. Thank you all again.