Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part III - GAGWTA!

[luvmarypoppins]

Good morning ladies

Lisa, Cheryl, PatsMom - thinking of you all

Laurie - Hope you are learning lots of great software apps. I am sure they are overloading your brain. A dip in the pool should help that!

Well I am happy dh is back. He said it was the moon festival and he bought back moon cakes. I dont know if I want to try it. Maybe he should take them to work for others who might enjoy that kind of food. If it was bad enough that he could only leave me a voice mail he said his interpreter could not even get his calls out. They were staying at some govt. place and due to what they are doing I am sure everything was so controlled and monitored etc. Sigh, sigh. Now his bosses are mad he is going to the other dept. so he might not have to go around the world next month - yeah!! He also said there was a big sticker on his luggage that it was searched by homeland security. hmm.

Good news - the 3rd pt place called ds18 and he is going for an interview today. The only bad thing is that it is the farthest away place, so I hope the salary is enough for gas etc. if he gets the job. He would just love to work in a pt place. I am praying for him for sure.

GTAGWTA. Hope everyone has a great day. Blessings to you all.

 

[NHAnn]

Hi friends, old and new! Slacker Survivor checking in! GAGWTA!!

Just back from a much-needed vacation...went to Colorado with DH...fly-fishing and visiting with both brother and sister and their families out there. The vast beauty of the Rockies puts things in perspective for sure. I am getting on track in dealing with some emotional and physical issues (kind of chicken-or-egg thing ) The last 5 years have sort of all come crashing in this summer, since my cancer, the deaths of both parents, Avery's illness, and various other struggles with immediate and extended family members.

Cheryl and Lisa....I am sorry to hear of your recent challenges and keeping you in my thoughts/prayers and wishing you speedy results

Amy--I LOVE your user name and wish I'd thought of it! LOL ...with a July birthday and under the astrological sign Cancer scared1 (the Crab ) my biological sisters would think it very fitting!
Anyway....welcome, sorry you have to join our ranks. But as things unfold I hope you will come to find the positives that will come out of it, hard as they may be to see at this point. You have come to the right place for information and support ....and fun/diversion when you need that as well!!

LMP....It is getting to be apple-picking time here, but I haven't looked into our usual place yet as far as checking on timing/supply!! The weather has been so unusual this summer, I hope the impact on the apples isn't terrible!

Laurie(snappy) and Linda(Pea-n-Me)...a few weeks ago I went back to visit the original first thread that Linda and Laurabelle started....and just want to THANK YOU again for always being there for all of us all these years....truly wonderful friends/supporters

 

[CherylDan]

Hi Ann...sounds like a great vacation! Glad you found some peace of mind.

LMP, I tried mooncakes once, didn't care for them. DD & SIL brought them back from a trip to China. Just not my cup of tea. Here's wishing your DS good luck with the job!

Lisa, are you still waiting?

I finally decided that I just wanted to know the results of the CT scan ....haven't heard from the doctor yet, so I just called the office. And, they are gone for the day. That about figures! Took me all day to decide to just call.

I've been keeping really busy all week. We have a disney trip coming up over Christmas, which is mostly all done being planned, but then when DD got accepted for the college program, we decided we would go with her in January to get her checked in, and then go again in March to visit. So lots of planning for that. Staying off site for all trips. We are just so spoiled having an entire house to spread out in vs. just a room for comparable money, dont know if we'll ever stay on site again. Lately I've been debating getting an annual pass, and I think we will do that since we'll be going three times. Poor DH, he is of the opinion that going every five years is plenty. We usually compromise and go every two.

Hope everyone is having a good week, and a good weekend!
GAGWTA!!!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good evening ladies

Anne - sounds like you had a wonderful get away and seems like it was just the refreshing that you needed. Dh and 2 of the ds have been out to Co to Breckenridge.

Linda - Of course I will be watching the game tonight How is the sunroom coming along?

Lisa - thinking of you while you are waiting and sending you a big ole

Cheryl - I am with you on the ap. I am thinking of getting dh one plus a tiw card. I know what you mean about getting up the nerve to call. Hang in there!! I callled for the eye dr. today and have to wait a month, oh well whats another month of my tearing eye and then I got really brave and called the gp and the nurse has not called me back. Oh well I guess the blood tests will wait. Sigh, sigh.
I hope they call you back on monday. Wishing you all the best sista.

Ds18 said the interview went well. They only want him one day for 3 hours. They will interview someone else and let him know on monday? I said it will be good to get his foot in the door so to speak. ds20 said he is doing well dog sitting if you dont count the time the dog almost bit him. He thought ds was taking his snack away from him but ds was just moving his hand et.

GTAGWTA. Have a great week end everyone.

 

[wdw4us2]

Sorry that I have been MIA from the thread. This has not been a great week.

I finally asked my chemo nurse, who is now a close friend, to have the nurse practitioner check on my pathology report and call me since the oncologist was out of town until Wednesday. She called me late Tuesday with the bad news - the tumor was metastatic breast cancer. However, it was not attached to any organs or bone and all of the surrounding tissue the surgeon excised along with the tumor was clear.

The worst part of this was having to tell family and friends who took the news worse than I did. I was mostly angry and annoyed with the news and they all think it's the end of the world. I saw the oncologist on Friday. She does not want to start another course of chemo right now, but I am staying on the Herceptin indefinitely and she changed my oral meds from Tamoxifen to Arimidex. She is also sending me for a consult at University of Miami Cancer Center because she said the more eyes on this, the better. I also have to have PETscans every three months until who knows when.

I am still feeling great - swimming every day and sticking with my diet. I am a firm believer that attitude is half the battle with this disease and I am going to continue as I have been for the past 18 months.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Lisa - my heart goes out to you sista.

I am sorry that this was not the news you wanted to hear, but its ok to be angry. I would be too.

You are so right that attitude is half the battle. My surgeon said that too and I told him I was a fighter and I know you are too sista!!

I always say, cancer is tough and we have to fight tougher!! You are doing a great job fighting, so keep it up sista.

Its good they are sending you to the univ. of Miami. The more people on your team, the better.My ent cancer surgeon went to med school at the Univ. of Miami too.

My thoughts and prayers are with you. Stay strong.

 

[CherylDan]

Lisa....

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Lisa, thanks for letting us know. I'm glad to hear you're in good spirits. I am hoping and praying it was an isolated area and that nothing else is found. I know it's a hard pill to swallow to think of having testing done so frequently. I admire your strength and commitment to keeping up with your exercise - I'm sure that will help you in many ways. Good that U of M docs will be involved to offer additional thoughts and opinions. Keep us in the loop.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Cheryl, how are you doing? It's too bad you had to wait the weekend.

 

[CherylDan]

Cheryl, how are you doing? It's too bad you had to wait the weekend.

Thanks for asking....finally heard today and he said that the CT scan looked good BUT (isn't there always a but?) now he wants to do a PET scan because they are more sensitive. So I'm kinda flipping back and forth being glad that so far so good and concerned that he still feels that there is something to be looking for.

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

Lisa - Many Keep up the fight.

Cheryl - Think positive - the PET scan WILL show good results . I know that is sooooo much easier to say than do though. It can be very nerve wracking until those results are finally in. I'll be thinking "good results" thoughts for you.

 

[wdw4us2]

Cheryl - Glad to hear the CT scan looked good. Will be thinking positive thoughts for you with your PETscan.

 

[SunFloridaDisney]

Hello ladies!

Prayers and good wishes to everyone today.

I'm not a regular here, but have joined in from time to time with concerns about friends and other issues about myself.

I'd like to ask opinions about a current situation. Sort of a what would you do?

Had my regular GYN visit 2 weeks ago, doctor felt a cyst or something when doing my pelvic.

Had an ultrasound and there is indeed a cyst on my ovary. My regular doctor says it is small, we can wait a few months and re-check it then, or if I'm very concerned, he will do surgery and take out the ovary.

I'm not real comfortable with waiting, on the other hand, I don't want to rush into surgery if it isn't necessary.

I've gotten a referral for a gynecologic oncologist, just to get another opinion and go from there. Does this sound reasonable or am I being overly cautious?

A bit of history: I am 53 years old, have gone through menopause, and that is my main concern. When I was younger, I developed a few functional cysts that we did "watch and wait" and they only got bigger, and had to be surgically removed. They were only benign fluid cysts.

The way I understand it though, those types are formed from ovulation, and something happens along the way and a cyst develops. At this point I believe no ovulation is occurring anymore, so this might be something else.

I also am aware that the older we get (and past "the change") the chances of ovarian cancer increases.

So am I just being a worry wart, or am I being reasonable to consult with an oncologist at this point?

thanks for your opinions.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good morning ladies

Sun - I dont have any advice, but its good to get a second opinion if something is concerning you.Wishing you all the best.

Lisa- Has your consult been scheduled yet? Hope you are feeling better and swimming alot.

Cheryl - do you have a pet scan date?

KJ - Guess your trip is right around the corner?

Laurie - hope you are doing well with your classes and managing to get in some park and friendship time with cindy.

There are tornado warning here but not for our county PTL, but where dh dads and grans house is in NJ there are. I sure hope the roof doesnt blow off of grans house becaue its like 100 yers old and barely hanging on etc.

Well ds18 did not get the job we are assuming since they didnt call him back. Boy this poor boy has been rejected like 3 times again, adding that to his college and scholarship stuff from before. He is of course, depressed. I feel bad for him. Oh well at least he has the bowling alley job to keep busy with and he studys his brains out for his classes. He just is the kind of person who cant sit still etc. Not like me for sure. Ds20 is doing well with the dog. He posted a picture of him on facebook that I saw. Dh is tenatively scheduled to go around the world Oct.15-30 but he is trying to knock some days off of it. He is taking thurs. and friday off. There is suppose to be an article about Alyssa in a magazine next month. She inspires me for sure.

GTAGWTA. Thinking of you all.

 

[snappy]

Hey y'all. I'm back!!!!!!

Got back home late Monday, much delayed as DD14 sprained her ankle going down the stairs at school and DH spent a lot of time with her at the doctor' s instead of driving down to pick me up in New Orleans. I got the news driving the rental car back to the airport and that got me nervous as initially we did not know if it was broken or not.

We had the best weather I have ever had throughout the trip in Orlando as the hurricane in the Atlantic seemed to draw out all the humidity from Florida all week. The temps were down a bit, as they are here so far this week in Baton Rouge

I won't do a mixed work/leisure trip again-too hard to balance both. I ended up overdooing and wound up by Wednesday night with muscle spasms again that overcame my muscle relaxer. I spent most of my time that night through the morning in the showere with hot water streaming over me (thank heaven for endless hot water in hotels). My orthopedic doc's office called in some Vicadin which was a bit strong but helped me get back on track. We never spent more than 3-4 hours in a park. Very different, adult trip but we got to spend a lot of time meeting people and listening to live music at the pool bar right next to our building.

Lots of good meals, and two nights at the Cali Grill watching Wishes from either our window table or out on the observation deck =heaven. Also, awesome meal at Sanaa (probably the best food), and appetizers at the new Hacienda restaurant at EPCOT (nice place, great view and service-ask for a window table).

Gotta love the Wyndham Bonnet Creek too-we could see both Wishes and the Epcot fireworks clearly, albeit from a distance.

Trying to catch up, got the dishwasher that broke right before I left for the trip installed last night. DH held down the fort around here and then some. Everyone seems to be doing well, including our two college students in new Orleans and Cindy's son who is still living with us (his apartment plans seem to always fall through).

My friend Cindy said it was the most relaxing vacation she ever had, lots of pool and lazy river time, and many naps. Her sister came over from Tampa while I was in the training class for several days.

I am a bit discouraged with report writing for this accounting software, one fellow student from Alaska is on his second go round with this same class. He says he does not go anywhere without his database. That is so not me. Me thinks I will be taking some baby steps here.

I did my PT yesterday and I thought I had made a little progress, but got no confirmation of that from the therapyst. Have a massage in about an hour so I need to fly.

Good thoughts for Lisa and Cheryl and welcome to our new posters.

I will try and post again when I am not running straight ahead.

Missed you all but I have been reading your posts. Hello, LMP, Linda, Patsmom, KJ.

Ann, been thinking of you and our early days back in 2005 too. Sorry about your angst at this 5 year point. You have been through much. Glad that trip brought you some peace.

 

[PatsMom]

I am back from a great trip to WDW. Today is my first treatment and I am so not anxious to do it. A catheter will be inserted into my bladder and live tuberculosis bacteria injected. The treatment must be held in the bladder for two hours, then you are basically a biohazard for the next six hours. You have to bleach the toilet. Side effects are actually worse than traditional chemo, although you don't lose your hair. Six weeks, six treatments. This assumes that I stay healthy and don't have to miss a week.

Leaving in about five minutes for the doctors. Prayers for all of those having a tough time and good wishes to everyone!

Linda

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

Linda - Wishing you all the best in your treatments. These do indeed sound worse than the traditional chemo treatments. I hope the next six weeks go by fast and I hope you don't have to miss any weeks.

Snappy - Sorry to hear about your DD. Hope you are feeling better and not in so much pain.

MaryAnn - trip is still more than 30 days so I'm trying not to count down yet - makes it still seem too far. Oh the mind games I play with myself

It seems like every week gets busier, but I guess that's good.

GAGWTA Ladies.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies

Laurie - welcome back. Glad you had a good trip and hope the software kinks get worked out and also that your dd and your shoulder both feel better

Linda - hoping that the treatment went as well as possible. Sending you prayers and good wishes. Your description does not sound like fun for sure, but its what we have to do to kick the crap out of our cancer. Hope you are resting and healing now.

Lisa and Cheryl - thinking of you both

Last night dh and I ran out of room in the grocery cart. I guess the ds eat alot! Well I knew the plans for dh would go south. I am glad I didnt plan anything. All I did was look at movie times for tomm. since its suppose to rain. He now tells me he is going to a meeting with his new/formerly old boss tomm. from 2-4 and I can have him anytime before or after that. Yeah, right. Oh well. I guess I shouldnt have actually thought dh would really spend some time with me as he said, maybe something better will happen friday, I am not holding my breath.

GTAGWTA. Blessings to you all always.

 

[wdw4us2]

Linda - Thinking about you and praying for your treatment to go by quickly.

Laurie - Sorry to hear about your DD and her ankle. Doesn't sound like fun. Too bad your trip was so hectic.

Cheryl - Thinking positive thoughts for you.

I now have an appointment for University of Miami - October 13th. I've already come up with something to take my mind off it: I'm going to Food & Wine next Tuesday with two of my friends for the day. I'm really looking forward to it!

It has been raining buckets here for the past two days. I had to use a guest pass at DS's gym since the pool was out of the question with all the lightning. Hoping for better weather tomorrow!

 

[snappy]

Linda, sorry I missed you in WDW. I hope your anxiety about your first treatment subsided before you started. Post when you are able.

Praying for you, sister.

Lisa, I guess I left WDW just in time before Nicole arrived on the scene. The weather was great by the pool for us Monday morning but we left for the airport at 11:30 am. I am jealous about going to food and wine. I took my friend Cindy to the Boardwalk and we alked all over. She wants to stay at the boardwalk with me and do the food and wine and hopefully the race for the cure October 2011.

We will see!

Stay safe during the wet stuff.

LMP, I hope Friday turns out better. I have not been to a movie in forever, but it sounds like fun.