Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part II -GAGWTA!

[snappy]

Hi ladies! Just popping in real quick to wish you all well on your cancer journeys. I don't post much here any more, but I do read what's going on and try to keep up with you all. (And boy, it is ever tough keeping up with this thread!) GAGWTA!!

Someone sent me the cutest breast cancer email, and I knew this was the right place to share it.

I got this email too from someone locally.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Glad you thought to post it, Amy. You are brilliant!

 

[snappy]

jSK, sorry you are overwhelmed. It does seem that a lot falls on the wife/mother. I know DH obsesses about something to the point of not being able to sleep, but I have those plus all the little day to day things to cover.

Maybe some daily walks could serve a double purpose of helping destress and get back in your jeans.

Not to mention how nice it is right now to be outside.

Dawn, what a bad scene with that anesthesiologist!! She sounds like she might be related to the nurse we call nurse Ratchett that did mom's preop for her surgical biopsy.

I think it is just wrong to pick on an elderly lady faced with a biopsy, just like it is wrong to be treated as you were right before surgery.

I hope your voice continues to rebound, I am glad the exchange went so well and that you are happy with the results. That indeed is great news.

I am hoping with time your mood will improve and the memory of that sorry doc will fade into oblivion.

Mom mom had an excellent visit with the breast surgeon today. She is officially cleared for takeoff.. . she can even swim. The doc believes that going back to swimming might help her pain disappear. Mom even was up to lunch with my sister and me at P.F. Changs. That was the most we have seen her eat in weeks.

She will not be taking any medicines as she has less than 5per cent chance of a cancer showing up in the other breast and Arimidex would only decrease that down to about 2 %.

At her age it is a good gamble (78 years young).


Now all she has to decide is whether she will just keep the expander as her "breast" or go for the exchange surgery.
She did not have the other one lifted so it won't be a question of esthetics. She has time to decide I guess. The breast surgeon said most people do the exchange, but a few she has seen have not. The plastic said yesterday it was up to mom.

Anyone know of any long term downside of not doing the exchange assuming it is not a pain issue?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Dawn - Oh, my gosh! What an ordeal for you! I am so sorry! I hope your voice continues to improve. I don't know what I would have done in your situation.

Laurie - I want to start exercising but it seems like I always have something else that HAS to be done. I will have to figure it out soon.

DS called Mom tonight. She is doing OK. She was helping my sister with her Halloween costume. I will probably call her tomorrow to get the details on how her treatment went and ask her again if she has had her flu shot.

 

[lookingforward]

Dawn, I am so sorry your voice is still giving you trouble. Can you at least consult with an ENT now...even without the scope? Maybe they can give you some sort of medicine to help.

I had a horrible anestheshiologist when I had my port put in last year. He was horrible and then pushed the white medicine while he was pushing the verced (sp?). It was supposed to be given after the verced (or vice versa...can't remember)..and wound up burning my arm like there was no tomorrow. I screamed and came up off the table, the nurse said he should not have pushed both at the same time...thats the last thing I remember. I was horrified and scared. Nice. I am constantly surprised at how mean some medical staff can be when the patient is under so much stress. Like my last breast surgeon's "nurse" who was reading her mail while she was "examining" me before my original cancer surgery last year. Yup, she was opening up her mail and acting like I was a fly on the wall right before my mastectomy. I could go on.

I try and remember the amazing, kind and nurturing staff (which outnumber the idiots). Just this past week the entire pre-op staff were so kind and warm to me while I was being prepped for surgery. Just amazing. It was such a better experience with them. Different staff, different hospital, much like a family atmosphere. I am glad I made the switch.

Dawn...feel better soon. I am here for you if you need to vent. I am glad the new foobs are doing well. Mine are just adorable. I am falling in love with NOT having that freakin expander in, thats for sure!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

GAGWTA

 

[CherylDan]

Merry, that is a great picture! I love South Pacific, and she has such a great roll! I think the clothes and hairstyle are perfect. Congrats to your DD!

Amy, that picture is a hoot!

Dawn Hope your feeling better & sounding better soon. It's terrible the way you were made to feel.

Snappy, glad your mom had a good day! And yum to PF Changs!

JSG.... Sounds like you could use some stress relief!
Here ya go: <----Translation: imagine yourself on a beach drinking!

Thanks Ann & Maureen for the cruise input! I'm really starting to get excited about this idea. I had no idea about the different cruise ships getting access to different areas, so that is certainly something to think about. If we go, it would be next August, when DH has time off. Now if I could just figure out how to pay for it..... It doesn't seem like a really great time to be thinking about spending a bunch of money, but on the other had, I am much more of a "live in the moment" type of gal now than I ever was before.

GAGWTA!!!

 

[lookingforward]

Merry, I love the picture of your daughter singing in South Pacific. That is one of my favorite musicals. "I'm gonna wash that man right out of my hair" was my mantra in college! Bloody Mary is the coolest part, in my opinion.

Today I have two follow up appts. I am praying they take this drain out! Happy Halloween to everyone!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Merry - How fun for DD! That sounds like a terrific experience!
I convinced DS to enroll for a theater class in the Spring. He has done theater before, but when he started middle school we weren't sure how hard it would be to do after school activities along with homework and so forth. We went to a play 10/24 and he decided that he wants to go back for another class, so that will start in January.

Cheryl - I will have to try to remember to ask my friends which Alaska cruise they did this year. They went in June. I know they really enjoyed it!
I would love to be lounging on a beach with a tasty beverage!

Maureen - I hope the appt.s go well today!

GAGWTA, the Halloween version!! I hope everyone has a terrific day. The weekend is coming!

 

[NHAnn]

Dawn, oh my, that is awful!! I hope there is no lasting damage.

Merry- how great for your DD!!thanks for sharing! That made me

Linda, are you OK??

Hope you all had a good weekend....ours was busy and expensive....DH's beloved Ford Ranger pickup died---cracked engine block, it's a goner. It had 125K+ miles on it and he was driving it about 120miles RT every day since spring for his "summer" employment project. I'd been telling him for over a year, and actually nagging him since spring...that dumping $200-300 for various repairs into it every couple of months was not going to make it fit to withstand that commute.Since I know he "needs" a truck for our house/yard projects and hunting, I encouraged himto get a little commuter car and keep the truck....or trade it for new and maybe a little smaller pickup. Friday he called as upset as I've ever heard him in my life, telling me I was right and that he needed me to come get him. So then we spent yesterday vehicle shopping and he has the cutest (don't let him hear me call it "cute") Jeep Liberty 4x4....2005 with 28,000 miles. LOTS of features including leather seats and a moonroof (I am QUITE jealous of that!) and a remote starter...and a trailer hitch for his little utility trailer. So, while it doesn't get a whole lot more MPGs than the pickup....the tradeoff is we still have a 4x4 - which is comforting in winter, between the trailer and the cargo space in my Pacifica we should be fine for hauling most of what we'd normally have to haul. And the price was right, he bought it from the Chrysler dealer I've been loyal.

Today caught up with household duties I'd originally planned to do yesterday. And made a big pot of corn chowder with a recipe from a co-worker, she brought it in to our office "Harvet Potluck lunch" a few weeks ago and it was soooo good. They should call it "heart attack in a bowl" chowder....it involves lots of bacon, and milk and heavy cream(!), and 3 cans of creamed corn-as well as potatoes and celery and onion (which were sauteed in a stick of butter and seasonings.....but mmmmmmmmm it tasted so good with a loaf of crusty italian bread !!

Hope you all had a happy and safe Halloween!

GAGWTA!!

 

[SeaSpray]

Hi everyone

I hope it's ok for me to post on this thread; I don't have breast cancer (that I know of) but I just went to have blood drawn last week, plus genetic counseling, because my sister has had breast cancer and has also tested positive for the breast cancer gene. So...on November 21st, I'll find out whether or not I carry the gene (mutation), too, or not.

Have any of you been tested for the gene mutation? Have you had your ovaries removed, and/or prophylactic mastectomies? Pretty much, I'm looking at exactly what Christina Applegate recently went through, if I test positive.

If this is a thread only for those who have already been diagnosed with breast cancer, then I truly apologise for the intrusion.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Hi Terry, of course you're welcome. We have many who are here because of a loved one having breast cancer.

Laurabelle has recommended this site before: http://www.facingourrisk.org/ I'm sure she'll chime in as she's knowledgeable about this.

I was tested this past summer, but I've already had breast cancer. They felt I should have my ovaries out if I tested positive. I was negative, but that in itself was good information for me and the rest of my family to know.

Who are you working with on this? You must have met with a genetic counselor, right? Does your sister have an oncologist that she's working with? I would think you would really have to have guidance from an oncologist here as they are the experts in all things cancer and risk. I first sat down with my oncologist and we talked at lenght about my family history and why it might be important healthwise to be tested. Then I met with the genetic counselor and talked with her at length about the implications of testing. I'd already decided if I was positive, I'd have my ovaries out. One of the questions I asked my onc before testing was "can I have them out anyway" (which would eliminate the complexities of testing but presumably take care of the problem) and she said yes, and it would be fully covered.

So I guess you have a decision to make re whether to have prophylactic mastectomies and oophorectomy if you test positive. Have they mentioned the possiblity of starting you on tamoxifin if you did not want to go as far as mastectomy (this is sometimes done even in the case of actually having precancerous breast cells, though you'd still have the ovarian issue). I have a friend whose mother died of breast cancer at a young age and I've mentioned testing to her with the thought of possibly prophylactic surgery, and she won't hear of it. I've thought a lot about what I might do in that same situation - knowing what I now know and having been through the heartache of having cancer - and I think that I might very well look into the same thing you are. (I'm sure Christina's story inspired a lot of people, bless her for sharing it publicly.) You see what your sister's been through. Hopefully we're all going to be ok long term (things are certainly looking better with this over the past decade or so), but still, if it could be avoided, then that is something that should be given great thought.

I commend you for going forward with testing and tackling the issue head on. It's definitely not an easy one. Good luck with your decision. I know there are others here who have been tested, but I believe most have been in the setting of actually having cancer. There may be others who have family members that have. I'm sure others will chime in with additional thoughts. (Let us know how you make out.)

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Ann, too funny! Our other car is a Jeep Liberty Ltd, sounds just like yours, it was mine before the Pacifica. So now we both have the same things in our driveways. We actually traded a Ford pickup too (same story), but DH is a Jeep man at heart, between us we've had 8 of them and we keep buying more because we've always had great luck with them. I test drove a couple of Commanders but the gas mileage wasn't as good as the Pacifica and I couldn't see out the back window. But OMG, I must say, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my Pacifica.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

GAGWTA, Ladies!

Terry - welcome! My mom has stage III breast cancer so I come here to chat with these wonderful ladies. I don't know very much about the testing. My Dr. said she doesn't feel like my risk is elevated even with my mom's diagnosis, so at this point I am not really considering the test for myself. Good luck! I hope whatever the results are that you can find peace in your decision.

Mom has finished 6 of 12 Taxol infusions. Her nails are discolored, her lashes are falling out, her eyebrows are in limbo, but she actually feels pretty good. Hopefully she will get through the rest of these infusions without any serious issues. She hasn't had a flu shot yet. Do you all think I need to keep hounding her about it? It seems like it is important for her to get the shot since a bout of influenza could be really dangerous for her, right?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Mom has finished 6 of 12 Taxol infusions. Her nails are discolored, her lashes are falling out, her eyebrows are in limbo, but she actually feels pretty good. Hopefully she will get through the rest of these infusions without any serious issues. She hasn't had a flu shot yet. Do you all think I need to keep hounding her about it? It seems like it is important for her to get the shot since a bout of influenza could be really dangerous for her, right?

Wow! Your Mom has done wonderful with that, thank God. Four doses, one every other week (after AC) completely kicked my butt.

I can't remember what I did about the flu shot that year (I usually get one), but I do remember they gave my kids one to protect me and I felt badly about that.

I think I would let that one go. What would happen if she got one "unwillingly" and then she got sick? She'd be upset that she got it, right? This is one of those ones that could go either way whether she gets it or not.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Wow! Your Mom has done wonderful with that, thank God. Four doses, one every other week (after AC) completely kicked my butt.

I can't remember what I did about the flu shot that year (I usually get one), but I do remember they gave my kids one to protect me and I felt badly about that.

I think I would let that one go. What would happen if she got one "unwillingly" and then she got sick? She'd be upset that she got it, right? This is one of those ones that could go either way whether she gets it or not.

I am thrilled that she has done so well with the chemo so far! I was really worried about how she would feel. I wonder if Mom's dosage is low since she is doing 12 weekly infusions, and that is why her side effects haven't been too hideous.
I haven't been pushing for her to go get a shot without consulting the oncologist, I have been pushing for her to ask whether or not she needs the shot. Working in a school exposes her to an awful lot of germs, so I kind of think her Dr. will want her to have the shot. If she asks and he says no then that's fine. I just don't want her to skip it if she is supposed to get one!

 

[CherylDan]

Wow! Your Mom has done wonderful with that, thank God. Four doses, one every other week (after AC) completely kicked my butt.

I had the same schedule as Linda, and I agree....complete butt kicking!!! I'm glad to hear that your mom is doing well on a different schedule. As for the flu shot, I didn't get one. I'm trying to remember if it even came up, and I just don't remember anything about it. The biggest thing that was impressed on me was to stay away from germs - avoid crowds, frequent hand washing, etc, but it depended on what my blood counts were from week to week.

Ann, that "heart attack in a bowl" chowder sounds delicious! My recipe for potato soup is something along those same lines - lots of bacon, and even the bacon grease. OK, that sounds gross, but yum......

I hope everybody had a good weekend. GAGWTA!!

Ohhhh, I almost forgot - my favorite outdoor picture from the wedding, when they went to various places downtown Chicago:

 

[ScrapperBelle]

I am so glad I found this thread. I do not have breast cancer but my sister does. She was recently diagnosed and begins her treatments next week. She will have to have a double mastectomy because they say the kind she has is aggressive.

Our grandmother had breast cancer. She had a mastectomy and lived another 22 years without ever having a recurrence.

I had a benign tumor in my breast when I was 18 (20 years ago) and had a lumpectomy to remove it.

Since this has happened with my sister, I am planning on having the genetic testing done.

Thanks for letting me share my story. I'm very scared for my sister, but at the same time I have to be optimistic and upbeat for her sake. She is only 36 and has 2 young boys. It's just nice to hear your stories of survival and coping. They give me lots of hope. Thank you all.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Ann - Yay for a new Jeep!

Cheryl - Well, maybe the flu shot isn't that big of a deal? I think Mom's counts have been good. The only really rough time she had was after she finished the A/C and her white cells dropped to 4. I think her counts with the Taxol have been good so far, but maybe she hasn't had enough of it yet to put her counts in the toilet.
What a beautiful pic of your DD!

ScrapperBelle - Welcome! This is a wonderful thread for survivors AND those of us who have a loved one battling breast cancer! I am sorry to hear of your sister's diagnosis!

 

[SeaSpray]

Hi Terry, of course you're welcome. We have many who are here because of a loved one having breast cancer.

Laurabelle has recommended this site before: http://www.facingourrisk.org/ I'm sure she'll chime in as she's knowledgeable about this.

I was tested this past summer, but I've already had breast cancer. They felt I should have my ovaries out if I tested positive. I was negative, but that in itself was good information for me and the rest of my family to know.

Who are you working with on this? You must have met with a genetic counselor, right? Does your sister have an oncologist that she's working with? I would think you would really have to have guidance from an oncologist here as they are the experts in all things cancer and risk. I first sat down with my oncologist and we talked at lenght about my family history and why it might be important healthwise to be tested. Then I met with the genetic counselor and talked with her at length about the implications of testing. I'd already decided if I was positive, I'd have my ovaries out. One of the questions I asked my onc before testing was "can I have them out anyway" (which would eliminate the complexities of testing but presumably take care of the problem) and she said yes, and it would be fully covered.

So I guess you have a decision to make re whether to have prophylactic mastectomies and oophorectomy if you test positive. Have they mentioned the possiblity of starting you on tamoxifin if you did not want to go as far as mastectomy (this is sometimes done even in the case of actually having precancerous breast cells, though you'd still have the ovarian issue). I have a friend whose mother died of breast cancer at a young age and I've mentioned testing to her with the thought of possibly prophylactic surgery, and she won't hear of it. I've thought a lot about what I might do in that same situation - knowing what I now know and having been through the heartache of having cancer - and I think that I might very well look into the same thing you are. (I'm sure Christina's story inspired a lot of people, bless her for sharing it publicly.) You see what your sister's been through. Hopefully we're all going to be ok long term (things are certainly looking better with this over the past decade or so), but still, if it could be avoided, then that is something that should be given great thought.

I commend you for going forward with testing and tackling the issue head on. It's definitely not an easy one. Good luck with your decision. I know there are others here who have been tested, but I believe most have been in the setting of actually having cancer. There may be others who have family members that have. I'm sure others will chime in with additional thoughts. (Let us know how you make out.)

My sister lives in NJ and I'm in MA, so I wouldn't be seeing her doctors. When I found out that my sister DOES have the gene, my primary care doctor referred me to the Breast Care Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, in Boston. That's where I went last week for an hour and a half meeting with a genetic counselor, and where I had the blood test done. When I go back on November 21st, I'll be meeting with the genetic counselor again, plus an oncologist. The genetic counselor had my entire family medical history drawn out on paper (I had to fill out a lot of paper work in advance of this appointment, so she had all of my own medical history already, plus my family's medical history), and she discussed everything, and told me that even though I know that my sister carries the gene, I did not have to necessarily have the test done, if I didn't want to. I definitely wanted to have the test done, because then I'll be able to make a fully informed decision about how to proceed, if I do have the gene. She told me that if I test positive, they strongly recommend have the ovaries out "sooner rather than later, usually within a month or two", but that the mastectomies (if I decide to do that) is an open-ended thing. Meaning that they would make recommendations regarding tamoxifen, mammograms and MRIs every 6 months, etc.

I agree with you when you say that, if I test positive and have the mastectomies, at least I won't have to also have had to go through being diagnosed with cancer and go through the chemo, radiation, etc, and all of the worry of knowing you've had cancer cells in your body. I also know that if I do test positive, I won't hesitate on having my ovaries removed, but I know that I'd have to give a *little* more thought to the mastectomies, although I know that on an intellectual level, THAT is what I should do.

My sister was diagnosed with cancer 9 years ago, and she really went through a lot in the following years. She only was tested for the gene this past summer, mainly so she could tell me and her daughter whether the gene was in our family or not. We have a LOT of breast cancer, prostate cancer, and ovarian cancer in my father's side of the family. Even the genetic councelor strongly believes that THAT is where the gene came from.

Thanks for the warm welcome to this thread, too.

GAGWTA, Ladies!

Terry - welcome! My mom has stage III breast cancer so I come here to chat with these wonderful ladies. I don't know very much about the testing. My Dr. said she doesn't feel like my risk is elevated even with my mom's diagnosis, so at this point I am not really considering the test for myself. Good luck! I hope whatever the results are that you can find peace in your decision.

Mom has finished 6 of 12 Taxol infusions. Her nails are discolored, her lashes are falling out, her eyebrows are in limbo, but she actually feels pretty good. Hopefully she will get through the rest of these infusions without any serious issues. She hasn't had a flu shot yet. Do you all think I need to keep hounding her about it? It seems like it is important for her to get the shot since a bout of influenza could be really dangerous for her, right?

I'm so sorry about your mom, I hope she'll be ok!! And what does "GAGWTA" mean?

Edited to add: I read Page 1 so now I know what "GAGWTA" means. LOL

 

[lookingforward]

Welcome Terry! You will always be welcome here, so don't worry. I hope you are negative on Braca but even if you are not you are in a good place time wise! I tested braca negative but have breast cancer in my maternal side (grandmother). I had stage 2 breast cancer last year and had a single mastectomy followed by a prophylactic on the other side and reconstruction. I am, so far, quite happy with the new breasts. They are really not so bad. I just did not want to subject myself to mri's and mammos every six months. This decision is such a personal one, though. The mammos and mri's are really not that intrusive, so I understand the choices you might face. The good thing about BC (if there is a good thing) is that nothing must be decided immediately. You can take time to figure out what you want to do and consult with several experts.

We are here for you if you need us!