Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part II -GAGWTA!

[snappy]

Grammy, glad you and your DH liked the surgeon. I agree the surgical biopsy sounds preferable. Mom had the stereotactic first (as the surgeon recommended), but the results only showed atypical hyperplasia. The doc said, they always go back in and try to remove tissue around the atypical hyperplasia, so then she had the surgical biopsy. Even then they got dirty margins around the noninvasive DCIS on 4 of the 6 sides of the tissue removed, so next step was mastectomy.

Having 2 different biopsies prolonged the process. My opinion of stereotactic needle biopsies has plummeted.

If it were me I would do as you are doing.

Alice, I have heard of others needing radiation even with the mastectomy. Not the best thing to face, especially when you think you are done. Do you have a radiologist in mind to go to?

About the thyroid, my OB/GYN found a lump (or goiter) on my thyroid back in 1991, during my one year checkup following the birth of our middle child. He sent me on to an endocrinologist. I had a couple of needle biopsies, all benign, and continued to be followed annually with bloodwork, and later annual ultrasounds after we moved here in 1999 until 2004. After I was diagnosed with BC, that year, my thyroid levels were off, and I was put on Synthroid. It took a while to get the right level, but the goiter and my thyroid have shrunk. I am now able to stretch my visits to every six months.

Not sure if there is some connection between thyroid issues and BC, I have always wondered.

REally important to find a good endicrinologist. They really specialize in the area, and are more up to date than most internists.

Have you had blood work to check on your thyroid levels?

 

[Aliceacc]

Yeah. The blood work all came back fine.

And the oncologist recommended a radiologist. I'll call him on Friday, as well as calling to schedule the sonogram.

 

[MerryPoppins]

What is everyone having?....I am also making artichoke balls, the biggest salad you can imagine, a fruit tray.

We're spending tomorrow with MIL and FIL and DH's extended family. My mom is also invited, so that's nice. They let me off easy this year since I've been sick. We're taking olives, two kinds of pickles, pickled okra, cherry tomatoes, celery, carrots, broccoli and a dip. That way I don't have to handle any of the food people will be eating. I'm just going to boss my crew. We'll be having turkey and all the trimmings, but it's different from my family's recipes. I'm not complaining. I'll probably fix a turkey for us at home in the next week or so without all the stress.

Do tell me about artichoke balls. That sounds so yummy. I love artichokes!

We're not having traditional Thanksgiving with my mom. Since my brother and his family aren't coming this year, we decided to go out to eat on Friday and then take her to a play.

Glad to hear that Grammy liked the surgeon. That's a huge plus. My mom finally found a doctor for her back that she likes too and it makes all the difference.

Interesting about the thyroid connection. Nobody ever said anything about mine, but I know my grandmother had thyroid issues. That'll now be on my radar.

Lots going on. Gotta run. Happy Thanksgiving if I don't get back here in the morning. GAGWTA

 

[snappy]

We're spending tomorrow with MIL and FIL and DH's extended family. My mom is also invited, so that's nice. They let me off easy this year since I've been sick. We're taking olives, two kinds of pickles, pickled okra, cherry tomatoes, celery, carrots, broccoli and a dip. That way I don't have to handle any of the food people will be eating. I'm just going to boss my crew. We'll be having turkey and all the trimmings, but it's different from my family's recipes. I'm not complaining. I'll probably fix a turkey for us at home in the next week or so without all the stress.

Do tell me about artichoke balls. That sounds so yummy. I love artichokes!

We're not having traditional Thanksgiving with my mom. Since my brother and his family aren't coming this year, we decided to go out to eat on Friday and then take her to a play.

Glad to hear that Grammy liked the surgeon. That's a huge plus. My mom finally found a doctor for her back that she likes too and it makes all the difference.

Interesting about the thyroid connection. Nobody ever said anything about mine, but I know my grandmother had thyroid issues. That'll now be on my radar.

Lots going on. Gotta run. Happy Thanksgiving if I don't get back here in the morning. GAGWTA

My grandmother (maternal) had thyroid cancer too. She had the kind that was very contained.

I'll have to post my artichoke ball recipe. It has been the go to appetizer that I bring during my entire maried life (30 years now). It is my MIL's recipe (not exact measurements). I put the ingredients together, and DD18 rolled the balls tonight. Gosh, it is good having her home.

Is your DS home yet, Merry?

Artichoke balls

1 can artichokes, drained, mashed (I used an approximate portion from a jar and I pulverize in the food processor)
2 T olive oil
3 shallots (my MIL's word, I use green onions) and i use more than 3
1 pod garlic (I use about 75% of a pod), chopped
1/4 Teaspoon cayenne oregano (make that plain ol' oregano, no such thing as cayenne oregano, I was jumping ahead in my mind)
1/4 Teaspoon cayenne pepper
fresh parsley chopped fine
3/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 cup Romano cheese (if I have it I use Parmesan)

Mix cheese and bread crumbs. Set aside 4-5 tablespoons of mixture.

Saute green onions and garlic on low fire for 5-10 minutes. Add this to all other ingredients and shape into balls. Roll in the cheese and bread crumb combination that was set aside.

Double recipe for party. This amount is good for 6 people.

I cannot tell you how many times I have made this. This is the one food request DD18 made for Thanksgiving. I was happy to have her here as I made a double, and she had to roll them. Ha!

Hereabouts, these are served at wedding receptions. Good compliment to seafood. I can't tell you how many pints of oysters I have in the fridge to make my casserole tomorrow. It is scandalous.

 

[CherylDan]

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Just wanted to pop in and say hi! I know I've been MIA lately, just been super busy, but in a good way.

Celebrating with Laura on her good news, and Maureen for getting to go home!

Thoughts and prayers to all those waiting on results, and still getting treatments.

I hope everyone has a great holiday. I have so much to be thankful for this year, sometimes I just can't believe it! GAGWTA!!

 

[laurabelle]

~~~***HAPPY THANKSGIVING GAGWTA SISTAS***~~~

grammynelliebelle- That's such a relief to have a surgeon that you like and trust. It sounds like you are in good hands.

Aliceacc- That's good news on the blood work part. I have read that radiation after mastectomy (when needed) is very, very effective. Yes, there can be a BC/thyroid connection. I know all the testing is so tiring. Please keep us posted.

Maureen- I'm so glad you are home!

Melissa- I hope you are feeling better and can fully enjoy today!

Linda- Laughter really is the best medicine! My sister is also working today...but she is off on Christmas day!

Laurie- I'm copying that recipe! We love artichokes! Maybe I'll make those for Christmas. I made some chocolate chip bar cookies yesterday and after I ate one (it was a big one) I couldn't make dinner...

I've been up doing some online Black Friday shopping already! Toy R Us has their BF prices online and I was able to get my niece and nephews done! Even picked up cheap ipod alarm clocks for my kiddoes. I'm dangerous late night with high dose steroids and a credit card!

http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20081118_tows_holiday/2 Here's some FREE Christmas music compliments of Oprah! You can also download another FREE Tony Bennett Christmas song from the Itunes store.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving sistas!!!

 

[Sha]

Happy Thanksgiving Ladies (and all the others who visit this thread ) May you have a blessed day today... and know that you are thought of today at the table I will share with my mom, one of my sisters and maybe my niece. Even though I have not been around here much or been following the thread, you are kept close.

God Bless!

 

[lookingforward]

Happy Thanksgiving to all! I am headed to my IV appointment. I plan on catching up with you all later. May you all have a day filled with love and good food.

More soon!

Missing my mom!

 

[snappy]

Hey Cheryl!!

Hang in there, Maureen.

Watch out everyone on that artichoke ball recipe, the first seasoning is just oregano, there is no such thing as cayenne oregan.

I guess the wine got me last night.

Linda, good for you taking care of the patients in for the holiday. You would be the nurse I would request.

Here is the Oysters dish I am making today:

Oysters Mosca

Again not exact ingredients.

Oysters (I buy as many as I want, this time I have 2 10 oz jars, and 6 8 oz jars. . . they were out of them at one store)

These are fresh oysters in the meat department (local)

This is the other ingredient list for about 8 large oysters. Obviously I am going to have to adjust it for the amount of oysters I have. What is not written in the recipe but I do, is to marinate the oysters in an olive oil (enough to cover the oil) and chopped garlic concoction for maybe 2 hours in the fridge.

1/4 c olive oil
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
2 Tablespoons parsley (I use fresh preferably Italian parsley)
1 Tablespoon onion
garlic

2/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs (Italian)
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt (this is negotiable)
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon basil1/2 teaspoon oregano

Saute first 6 ingredients until soft and translucent, then blend in the rest.

Place about 8 raw oysters in baking dish I use round cake pans like they use at the restaurant where this dish is served, Mosca's). Pour mixture over oysters and bake 15 minutes at 425 degrees.

Easy easy but I can't imagine doing this with only 8 oysters no matter how big they are. However, don't use more than the 1/4 cup on the olive oil, that is plenty for the saute part.

Anybody else care to share recipes?

How about my dessert recipe: pick up phone, call Baums bakery and order strawberry shortcake and chocolate pie.

Happy Thanskgiving ladies.

 

[grammynelliebelle]

Hope everyone had a good day yesterday and spent today resting and catching up! We had a good holiday. I decided, and DH supported, not to tell my adult kids about the pending bx. They all have little ones and very full plates and I know they would be worried terribly, hopfully for nothing. It was a hard decision because we are a very open bunch. If anything is wrong it will be time enough to discuss it. Grammy

 

[laurabelle]

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

Laurie- I want you to cook for me! Everything you post sounds so yummy! Hey, I tried something new with the Thanksgiving leftovers yesterday. I made sort of a Shepherd's Pie out of it. I buttered a pie dish, pressed the stuffing on the bottom, put chopped up turkey on the stuffing, poured gravy over top, mixed one egg with leftover mashed potatoes for the topping, sprinkled with paprika and baked. Served it with some green beans and cranberry sauce. Yum!

grammynelliebelle- What's right for you is the right way to handle it.

Did anyone else go out BF shopping yesterday? I was up, naturally, and hubby is an early riser for work, so off we went! We mostly bought stuff for the house, and he begrudgingly bought some clothes...yeah, it's like pulling teeth. I bought a Hoover steam cleaner, so that will be another project for this weekend. I got some great deals online as well and I only have 1 gift left to buy. It's an easy one too. We buy my parents a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant. It's so much easier buying them something they can consume and enjoy the experience, they sure don't need more stuff at their age.

We bought our Christmas tree yesterday too. I decided to buy multi-colored lights for it this year, no particular reason, we've done white for years. We got some fresh greens too. It smells so good in here!

I feel like I'm nesting, trying to get it all done before I taper off the steroids and all my drug induced energy is gone...

 

[laurabelle]

Oh yeah...remember I told you guys I bought an apple pie because I don't like pumpkin stuff. Well I took a bite of the pumpkin gooey cake my dd requested my mom make again, and it's delish! Really not pumpkiny flavored. It's a Paula Deen recipe...so loads of butter and sugar!

Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake:

The Cake:

1-18.25 oz. box of yellow cake mix
1-egg
1/2 cup (1-stick) butter, melted

The Filling:

1-8oz. pack of cream cheese, softened
2-eggs
1-tsp pure vanilla extract
1-16oz. box of confectioner's sugar
1/2cup (1-stick) butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350deg. Lightly grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan. In the

bowl of an electric mixer, combine &cake mix,egg & butter and mix well.

Pat into the bottom of prepared pan and sit aside. Still using an electric

mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth; add eggs and vanilla. Dump in

confectioner's sugar and beat well. Reduce speed of mixer and slowly pour

in butter. Pour filling into cake mixture and spread evenly. Bake for 40

to 50 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Cut into

squares for serving.


Pumpkin Gooey: Follow the above instructions adding a 15-oz. can of

Pumpkin pie filling and an extra egg to the cream cheese filling and 1

tsp. pumpkin pie spice.

 

[snappy]

Grammy, I can appreciate your wanting to wait to tell your children. Since they are not home you can pull it off I think. I felt bad when I did not tell DD 8 at the time of my diagnosis as then she overheard me talking on the phone after I got results. I am sure she was already aware that something was off beforehand.

Laura, great use of leftovers. Thanks for the cake recipe too. I have gotten into the habit of buying baked goods from a good bakery in recent years, it would be nice to gather some good recipes and try baking again for holidays.

Whew, reading your post made me tired. You got so much done!! Congrats!! You are so far ahead of me. I did not venture out yesterday morning as I knew we were going to New Orleans for a meal with my friend Cindy. We saw her "new" house for the first time, she actually moved in during August right before the hurricane. It is an adorable camel back renovation in the historic district a ferry's ride across the rivers from downtown New Orleans. Camel back just means it has an abbreviated upstairs just over the back of the hosue (her bedroom and this to die for bathroom only). The area is great in that you walk to the local bar which has live music 6 nights out of the week, a bank, a park or two, a library. There is a shuttle that will take you to the ferry. Typical New Orleans though, no driveways, small yard. She does have a bonus building in
the back she calls the shed that is not quite finished but she had a super huge 150 in projection tv in the downstairs, a loft in the upstairs of the shed that she is using for storage but can be used for sleeping for extra guests.

We watched LSU get creamed yesterday on an 150 in screen.

So I ate another big meal. I am ready to explode.

Today is the grand opening for the development DH's employer has been building for 4-5 years. Should be interesting as they will have live music, street performers, carolers, lighting of a big Christmas tree, and fireworks planned. DH is actually going to help with directing traffic when the parking garages get full. They have been advertising all week, it looks like a rainy day, so that is a bummer.

I am going to soak up the atmosphere. I also have to take DD18 shopping as she informs me she needs new jeans and shoes.

My only shopping to date has been some stuff at our parish fair silent auction a couple of weeks ago. I am not planning on buying too much, I always think that, and then get crazy at the end. But I can't do it early in the morning like BF. I need a few hours in the morning to get my head on straight, except when at Disney.

 

[Aliceacc]

I should have posted this on Thanksgiving, but somehow didn't.

I really really want to thank the members of this thread. More than any other non-medical resource I've found, you guys have given me the information I need.

From you I learned so many things, big and small, that have made a huge difference. Probably on top of the list is tha there are front-hooking sports bras (they have been a lifesaver as I attempt to dress professionally to teach adolescant boys while undergoing reconstruction )

Anyway, I did want to thank each of you, and to wish you continued good health.

 

[NHAnn]

GAGWTA!!

We were in a food coma Thurs night after a wonderful day at Avery's house...yesterday DD and I were out from 5 am to 3 pm Did some holiday shopping ....and some not holiday shopping --it was a fun day!
I need to get organized!

grammie...as Laura said, whatever is right for you is the right thing to do

alice...I am so thankful for this thread too, I am always learning...both "technical" medical stuff and non-technical stuff like the bras and other physical and emotional management tips....but also just the friendship and support!

We're washer/dryer shopping at Sears today, for the laundry room that DH promises to finish this winter. Sears has Kenmore and Samsung pairs of the high efficiency front loaders on sale,and the pair is not much more than the regular price on the washer. So we will go have a look... can't have old icky decrepit w/d brought up from the basement to put in a spanking new laundry room,can we???

Have a good day!

 

[snappy]

We are glad you found us and glad you joined us.

Also glad that reconstruction is progressing for you and that you are back teaching and living.

Ann, glad you and your DD and Laura and her DH are out keeping the economy going. New washer and drier, I would love it we keep getting out Maytag washer fixed. That washer is not getting the clothes very well spun so too much time in the drier.

Starting this thread back in 2005 was a stroke of genius. Thanks to Laura, Linda, and I think the story goes, to Dan Murphy.

I am sure it was a little daunting, sharing stories, etc. I think Ann, Merry and I all saw it right away on posted initially on the first page or two. It took off immediately.
Now we have so many sistas here, some honorary, many card carrying survivors.

I know I have learned a lot and received a lot. It is particularly wonderful that we are so far flung across the country. It makes for a wonderful diverse range of life stories.

My fondest hope is that we can again get a group of us together at WDW or elsewhere at some point. We talk about it from time to time on the thread, but we have a connection with each other that merits getting together. Finding one time that works for everyone will never happen so I think we need a series of meets with different time frames. I have to say meeting some of our friends here was really amazing, and I want everyone to experience what I have.

I am saying prayers for those killed by terrorists in India.

 

[grammynelliebelle]

Thanks for your support! Grammy

 

[snappy]

Grammy, I know you are going for preop testing today. When is your biopsy scheduled?

Rather than an ice bag, some ladies here have used bags of frozen peas afterward on the biopsy site to prevent swelling. Just thought you might want to lay in a bag or two!!!

Good luck today. Shopping woudl be more fun, huh? Is your DH going with you for the biopsy? You might want to bring someone, not that it is absolutely necessary, it is nice to have someone to keep your mind occupied or distracted or something. Will you be under full anesthesia like my mom was or a local?

 

[grammynelliebelle]

Change of plans today. I decided to wait until mon or tues for the pre op testing. Old friends came to visit this afternoon and I just didnt want to rush around this am. We decided we had all had enough turkey and went out for Chinese food! It was great to see them. I do not have my bx date yet. As of last Wed, my mamos and reports went over to radiology for review and then the radiologist and surgeon need to coordinate the date. DH is scheduled on this Tuesday for a hernia repair. Not and emergency, but needs to be done. With this happening, I will not mind if my bx is not for another week or so. He has had one before so knows what to expect. He feels after a few days he will be fine to go with me. We are definitely laying in the frozen peas! One of us will be sore on the bottom and one on the top. I am going to have some IV sedation and then the local for the bx. I think there is just some local for placing of the wire. I hope that goes ok and they can find what they need to. Anyone ever heard of a GPS for breast tissue? Prayers and thanks to all. Grammy

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

GAGWTA, Ladies!

Hope you are all enjoying your holiday weekend!!

My mom was here visiting today. She took DS to play mini golf, then we all went out for dinner at Buca di Beppo. It was good to see her. She looks pretty good. Her "mega dose" of Taxotere is coming up on Thursday, so I am worried about how she will do with that.

Laura - We bought a memory card for one of DH's cameras. That was the total of our Black Friday purchases. We are lame.

Laurie - Sounds like you are keeping busy! And so many yummy recipes!

Ann - Good luck finding a new washer & dryer!

Grammy - Good thoughts for you and your DH with your upcoming procedures!