Dis Breast Cancer Survivors - GAGWTA!

[snappy]

[After radiation I stopped in the Cancer Center's Resource Library, which is a nice room right by the door of this new facility....and was browsing the shelves of books, tapes, videos, pamphlets. A woman came in to return a couple of things she thought I worked there (it was unattended at the time). When I said I was a patient not staff, and that I hadn't seen any attendant in there at all, she said, "Oh, I'll just use the honor system" so I asked her how the check-out/drop off system worked. We ended up having a nice 1/2 hour chat, she pointed out a couple of the books she's read and liked, we discussed our situations....
It made me think about the fact that to me, the BEST part about being diagnosed with BC, has been the people I've met, talked to, etc. You ladies, the one today, an elderly gentleman who is having radiation for cancer in his vocal chords-he started rads the day before me and his appt is right around the same time as mione so we usually see each other coming or going,the lady that drew my blood sample yesterday at the onc office was a peach....

It's interesting to me that I have actually FOUND a "best part" of this this experience. OK...gotta go now before I get all emotional again

happy weekend!![/QUOTE]

I could not have said it better. In some ways I feel have more support from all kind of sources than I ever have enjoyed during my entire life. It seems like when you need it the most, God opens that door for you. I am at the place where I want to give back, not sure how, maybe volunteer work.

Pea-n-me, can't wait to hear about your relay. It's funny but just hearing some of the wonderful stories some of you write about somehow is healing.
It is not as good as being there but it's all good.

I vote for the pink elephant table too. Great banner title.

Thanks for your well wishes about the storm, there are so many people on the road, you just know someone is going to be hurt in all that, long before Dennis arrives. Why do we live down here??

 

[Laurajean1014]

Hey...that should be our policy on this thread when you're waiting and worrying, you just come here, type it out, and LEAVE it here. You know, like those mental techniques they teach to reduce stress/anxiety. Instead of "putting it away in a box for later" or "writing it down and putting it aside", we can "post it" and put it in the hands of the rest to pray, send good vibes, or whatever I know, I know, I'm a nutcase

NHAnn - It's called Icing!

 

[Laurajean1014]

Pea-n-Me - Thank you for the kind words.

Snappy - You sound like a doll.

Disney Debbie - Way to go.

 

[Laurajean1014]

As for me. I have no results. Won't know til Monday or Tuesday..........errrr, nearly a week.

Oh, well. Going out for margaritas................see ya.

 

[NHAnn]

NHAnn - It's called Icing!

Oh, well. Going out for margaritas................see ya.

hey...I just had my weekly margarita!....DH and I go to a locally owned (non-chain) Mexican place almost every Friday night. His cousin (also a survivor ) waitresses there. The BEST maragaritas....fresh-squeezed mix ....so good!

 

[ElenitaB]

Debbie, congrats on your anniversary! May you have many, many, many, many more!

NHAnn — I have some friends (also survivors) who say, "this is a club you don't want to join, but when you do... you meet some of the most amazing people."

As for me, had my CT scan yesterday. My doc will have results on Monday. I'm hoping for a surgery date of July 20, to give me time to line up someone to watch my son while I'm in the hospital and for when I get out... and also to clean up my place some. Between overtime and fatigue, it's gotten out of hand.

Anyone else following the Tour de France? See how wonderfully Lance is doing?

 

[Laurajean1014]

hey...I just had my weekly margarita!....DH and I go to a locally owned (non-chain) Mexican place almost every Friday night. His cousin (also a survivor ) waitresses there. The BEST maragaritas....fresh-squeezed mix ....so good!

We do the same thing. Just got back from our local margarita watering hole. Met some Hockey/Disney fanatics like us and we just planned our next Disney vacation!!!!!! We are going April 14 - 24th, 2006 - we are so excited.

My DS9 is a first year Squirt defenseman and/or center and their son is a second year Pee-Wee goalie.

See, what a good margarita can do!

 

[MerryPoppins]

Hi everyone. Welcome to new folks. Hugs to those that need it. I'm too lazy to respond to everything I've missed. Just wanted to let you know that I've checked in.

I do have to agree that since my diagnosis I've met some amazing and wonderful people. I also see that I look at the world differently than I did before. I appreciate each day of my life. I say "I love you" more than I did before. I see good things come out of every trial. I try to mend fences rather than putting it off for another day. I try to think about what I say before I say it, but I'm not always successful with that one. I also stop and smell the roses more than I ever did before.

I had to attend a friend's mother's funeral today. In many ways it was a blessing. She was in her 90s and had broken her neck. She lived in great pain and had no quality of life. The funeral was actually a celebration. The photo they chose was of her with a lei around her neck and a glass of wine in her hand. The reception had champagne and sandwiches. It was lovely.

Then my DH (he's adopted) heard that his birth sister, brother and aunt are searching for him. He responded that he was willing to hear from them, so we'll see where this goes. It's sort of been a roller-coaster of a day.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Hi everyone. Welcome to new folks. Hugs to those that need it. I'm too lazy to respond to everything I've missed. Just wanted to let you know that I've checked in.

I do have to agree that since my diagnosis I've met some amazing and wonderful people. I also see that I look at the world differently than I did before. I appreciate each day of my life. I say "I love you" more than I did before. I see good things come out of every trial. I try to mend fences rather than putting it off for another day. I try to think about what I say before I say it, but I'm not always successful with that one. I also stop and smell the roses more than I ever did before.

I had to attend a friend's mother's funeral today. In many ways it was a blessing. She was in her 90s and had broken her neck. She lived in great pain and had no quality of life. The funeral was actually a celebration. The photo they chose was of her with a lei around her neck and a glass of wine in her hand. The reception had champagne and sandwiches. It was lovely.

Then my DH (he's adopted) heard that his birth sister, brother and aunt are searching for him. He responded that he was willing to hear from them, so we'll see where this goes. It's sort of been a roller-coaster of a day.

You have had a busy day. Come, sit and chat with us.....

 

[MerryPoppins]

Now that you mention it, one of those margaritas sounds pretty good.

 

[laurabelle]

"Mom, this is your song..."
Chloé said, "Mom I love this song,"as it came on the radio,"this is your song."
Wow, I never heard it before, but she's right, it is my song, and I love that she loves it and thinks of me as she's singing it...I love most of all that I'm still here to hear her sweet voice...

Live Like You Were Dying
Tim McGraw

He said I was in my early forties, with a lot of life before me
And one moment came that stopped me on a dime
I spent most of the next days, looking at the x-rays
Talking bout' the options and talking bout' sweet times.
I asked him when it sank in, that this might really be the real end
How's it hit 'cha when you get that kind of news?
Man what did ya do?

He said I went skydiving
I went rocky mountain climbing
I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu
And I loved deeper
And I spoke sweeter
And I gave forgiveness I'd been denyin'
And he said some day I hope you get the chance
To live like you were dyin'

He said I was finally the husband, that most the time I wasn't
And I became a friend, a friend would like to have
And all of a sudden goin' fishin, wasn't such an imposition
And I went three times that year I lost my dad
Well I finally read the Good Book, and I took a good long hard look
At what I'd do if I could do it all again

And thenI went skydiving
I went rocky mountain climbing
I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu
And I loved deeper
And I spoke sweeter
And I gave forgiveness I'd been denyin'
And he said some day I hope you get the chance
To live like you were dyin'

Like tomorrow was a gift
And ya got eternity to think about what to do with it
What should you do with it
What can I do with it
What would I do with it

Skydiving
I went rocky mountain climbing
I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu
And man I loved deeper
And I spoke sweeter
And I watched an eagle as it was flyin'
And he said some day I hope you get the chance
To live like you were dyin'

 

[laurabelle]

Thanks for your well wishes about the storm, there are so many people on the road, you just know someone is going to be hurt in all that, long before Dennis arrives. Why do we live down here??

I have a dear friend (bc survivor too) who lives at Daytona Beach. I'm sure everyone in FL feels like her, she's like someone who has been through a war, just waiting for the next battle...and dreading it. I'm praying for all those in Dennis' path. It's awful to think there could be a hurricane season worse than last year.

 

[laurabelle]

ElenitaB-Yes, I've been following Lance...he's my hero (said in a gushing, girly voice!) Praying for you as you wait on your results too...

 

[laurabelle]

Hi everyone. Welcome to new folks. Hugs to those that need it. I'm too lazy to respond to everything I've missed. Just wanted to let you know that I've checked in.

I do have to agree that since my diagnosis I've met some amazing and wonderful people. I also see that I look at the world differently than I did before. I appreciate each day of my life. I say "I love you" more than I did before. I see good things come out of every trial. I try to mend fences rather than putting it off for another day. I try to think about what I say before I say it, but I'm not always successful with that one. I also stop and smell the roses more than I ever did before.

I had to attend a friend's mother's funeral today. In many ways it was a blessing. She was in her 90s and had broken her neck. She lived in great pain and had no quality of life. The funeral was actually a celebration. The photo they chose was of her with a lei around her neck and a glass of wine in her hand. The reception had champagne and sandwiches. It was lovely.

Then my DH (he's adopted) heard that his birth sister, brother and aunt are searching for him. He responded that he was willing to hear from them, so we'll see where this goes. It's sort of been a roller-coaster of a day.

Wow! What an emotion-filled day you had! I hope you enjoyed that margarita last night!

 

[NHAnn]

I like that song too...but it "bothers" my DD now she sometimes wants to be in denial I guess. The right time just hasn't come up for a in depth talk about . It's not that she refuses to accept or acknowledge my diagnosis, we talk about the treatment and my appointments and so forth, I guess she just doesn't want to be reminded, and really doesn't want to talk to me extensively about her feelings....I just need to be sure she is talking with someone, I guess.

Laurajean...hockey AND Disney fans...my kind of people !

MerryPoppins..hello and a hug to you!

have a good Saturday...time for me to do computer maintenance stuff and get some groceries....

tonight DH is taking me out to dinner at a favorite little Italian place...my birthday is tomorrow...no cooking for me: two, maybe even three nights in a row! WOO-HOO!!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Ann!!

 

[Shugardrawers]

Yup, it's my theme song too. The car goes silent and then everyone starts singing. I've instructed DSis to play it at my funeral. It's good advice for anyone though.

 

[Disney Debbie]

Ohh - I SOO know what you mean about the "good" things about having cancer. I certainly wouldn't have chosen this - but since I got it - you got to get what you can from it! I won't bore you all with my speech I gave at our Relay but one of the things I had in it was my "Top Ten Good Things about having Cancer" I'm going to give you the short version of the list and I would love it if you all could add to it. The stuff in parentheses I added for ya'll!

10. I didn't have to shave my legs for 6 months.
9. When my hair did come back, chemo accomplished what years of bad home perms couldn't - I now have curly hair.
8. After years of bridal & baby showers at work - with no chance at reciprocation - my friends had a "cancer shower" for me when I started chemo.
7. You have a good excuse to do what you want to - and to NOT do what you DON'T want to.
6. Food, food, food. When you have cancer (at least here in the south!) all your friends want to bring you meals and goodies!
5. You find out what great friends you have - and hear from old friends you haven't seen since high school
4. You get out of your comfort zone. (I LOVE "LIVE LIKE YOU WERE DYING" - that's what it's talking about) I've started my own Mary Kay business
3. I already had a very close little family - but this has brought us even closer.
2. Prayers - the power of prayer has been amazing - I've felt so uplifted and loved throughout the whole experience.
1. The opportunity to pay it forward and CELEBRATE LIFE. It is so rewarding to be able to help other people as they start their journey. I've gotten so involved in the Relay - and will be on the organizing committee next year. I've been asked to speak to several friends of friends when they've been diagnosed.

 

[Amy]

Hey gang - has anybody had any experience with getting their periods again after being told they were in menopause? Please pm me - I don't want to get too graphic on a public board like this. Let's just say it's pretty awful.

Quick history: I'm 46, was diagnosed March 2002, lumpectomy, chemo, radiation. Did Tamoxifen for almost 3 years; my oncologist said I was finally "officially" in menopause and switched me to Arimidex Feb. 2005. As of last week, no more menopause. Had blood work done last Thursday; prob. get the results on Monday. Has this happened to anyone else?

 

[MerryPoppins]

No. But just visited my OBGYN the end of last month. Haven't had a period for several months. He said I coudl easily go back to have periods again after I go off Tamoxifen. So it can happen, I guess.