Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part III - GAGWTA!

[wdw4us2]

Sha - Glad to hear your Mom's recovery is going well.

LMP - Glad your Halloween was relatively uneventful. It must be hard for you with your DH halfway around the world!

Still recuperating from the second chemo. It has hit me a lot harder than I expected. No energy today, mostly been sleeping. I feel a bit better now, but not hungry at all. Hoping tomorrow brings me more energy!

 

[Candy30]

Hi Everybody! I have missed everyone. I have been sooo busy and so crazy.
LMP-Thanks for all your shout outs!!! I was listening. I am so sorry about your car. Remember that was me a few months ago. Don't worry it will work out fine. I think you will like a crossover or a small SUV. I love my car! When your hubby gets back, you will find something. Hang in there Snoopy! Sha-I am happy to hear that your Mom is doing well. How are you faring?
FL Lisa- I am sorry you had a reaction to your drug. Glad you got help quickly. That happened to me with Rituxen and I was sleeping!! It's great to have good nurses! A while back you talked about your hair falling out. My hair dresser cut mine short (buzz cut) and actually made a wig for me that was awesome.
LF- How about on my last chemo treatment...a woman came in saying that her children had H1N1!!! And she came in for treatment! They put her in a private treatment room.
Pei4-Welcome!

Well now that I have caught up....let me catch up. Finished my last treatment for this series. The day before my last treatment we had to put my cat down. We had Angel for 13 years. That was awful! Since my son interns at the Humane Society we took her there. It was such a blow to all of us. After we took her I was driving and my son asked "Where are we going?" I told him that I am going to see my Mommy! We cried in her hallway (My son on her shoulder me on the other and my daughter on her belly.) So after treatment I go home to sleep and wake up to a snout in my face! My son brought home a 8 month old Shephard/Husky. Koha.
At first I was unsure but he is the best thing for us! Just what we all needed. The sweetest disposition and very good. You can tell he was abused by his behavior. He sits with my daughter in her room while she does her HEADS hair and just leans on her and watches. He lays across my sons lap when he is playing video games. When they all left on Sunday, he layed at the bottom of my bed. We love him! Still searching for a job. Been on several interviews. I didn't get the Duquesne Light Job! (3 interviews later) But I am still searching and putting in applications. That takes up most of my time these days. That and recouping from chemo. My sister has temp moved in with us. I think that is going to end soon. We may have to do an intervention with her. LOOOOOOOONG story. My Friend in OH daughter was murdered by her neighbor. She has been in California for the arraignment and so forth. So shocking and sad. They had all come back from an international convention in Paris. She was such a pretty and sweet girl. That is their only child. So much going on! I have missed chatting with all of you.

 

[wdw4us2]

Candy - Sorry you had to put your cat down. It must have been very difficult for you.

LMP - Check your Private Messages.

Feeling a little better today. More energy and not as much sleeping. Hopefully, I'll be better by Friday so I can drive myself to my weekly infusion.

 

[Sha]

I really have no idea why I am so down. Even 2 of my bosses have asked...

I have been sitting on some information about my mom for a couple of days.. okay... a few. I've held on to part of it so we could tell family first, but also, for some people I know its a bit bittersweet.

Friday I was at the hospital to see a new patient for introduction before home health started. I was waiting at the end of hall outside her door by the stairs. Out comes her surgeon, Dr. D. I said hello of course, and thanked him again for taking good care of my mom. That it was just down to waiting for the path report on Wed. He said "we can look and see if it's in the computer." Really??? He said lets look... had a little trouble finding it. It was also hard to hear him as we were in the middle of the hall and by the nurse's desk, which happened to be loud this one time. Basically, the 2 lymphnodes were clear and it's a stage 1. He went on about the margins and some other things, but was really hard to hear. I believe he said it was ductile, which I think it was last time too. I will get the full report tomorrow, and hopefully, check the last time too. I told him thank you with a large smile and told him, excuse me, but I am breaking professionalism and gave him a big hug. He smiled and said hugs are good =0)

I admit, I was hesitent to post here too, because of how good it went (so far) and the outcome, when others are fighting so much harder. Maybe that is part of why I am down. My mom has felt this way too, which I had told Laurie once.

I will update you tomorrow evening. Thank you for all your prayers and thoughts. I believe the staples and drains will come out tomorrow. I need to find a temp tattoo for mom for her appt.

Miss Lee called on day over the weekend, but I dont remember what mom said or if she even did.

 

[Sha]

and here I am so forgetful... Candy, I am sorry about your cat. I know how hard that is. And what a blessing that your son knew to get that puppy. Take a picture. You are the second person I know who had to put a cat down last week.

I have been reading your posts and keeping you all in prayers. Im just tired... and hard to concentrate...

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Sha, I haven't been posting much but I wanted to say how happy I am for you that your mother got good news. I understand (and appreciate) your sensitivity to what others are going through, but you and your Mom have every right to be happy for your good news, too.

Candy, I'm sorry about your cat. I think it was great therapy to welcome a new dog into your life!

Lisa, thinking of you. Same with others in treatment and going through other medical stuff.

GAGWTA

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies

Laura - praying for you sista, I think your surgery is today??

Linda - I thought of your dd and mom when I heard about the ground beef recall due to the e coli.

Fl Lisa - Read your pm. I hope your treatment goes well and that you wont have any bad side effects

Sha - Its not bad to feel that way. Sometimes I think a little like that when people tell me, oh you have the best kind of cancer, um, hello I have CANCER!! Ds told his principal this and he said M. there is NO good cancer!!.

Candy - so sorry about Angel, but Koha sounds like a wonderful addition to the family. Hoping your treatment goes well and will be praying for you and the job situation. I know God will open the right door for you sista!! He can move the mountains!!

I forgot to say that when DH was in China at the airport they thermal scanned him for a fever and he had a chart on his hotel bed and had to record his temperature daily, Omg!! I was glued to the tv for the Yankees last night. Heres hoping for tomm. Tomm. would be my favorite real aunts birthday. I will send my cousin an e mail. He always puts flowers on the grave. Its his aunt too but she practically raised him as a young boy and to top it off his wife is probably going to lose her job at J and J in NJ. I just heard stuff on the radio. Dh cousin sent us some papers about selling the family property in NJ. This has been going on forever. I think if it ever settles Dh and I should look at DVC. etc. Tomm. someone from church is suppose to bring us a meal. We are so blessed. I feel like chinese food. I will ask the ds later.

GTAGWTA, Thinking of you all.

 

[Sha]

Mom is clear ladies! Thank you again for all the thoughts and prayers. She did get her drains out and staples yesterday. I am so thankful!

Waiting to hear from the oncologist. She is doing really well and Dr. D loved her temp tattoo.

 

[snappy]

Glad to get the good news about your mom, Sha! What great news! I can relate to what you said about sensitivity about posting info about a good result like this. I feel a bit awkward too sometimes about my treatment being limited to extensive surgery and meds only.

However, you know we all celebrate the positive news. All of us. This is a club we did not apply for. But we are here and we share.

I think that is what Jesus would want us to do. Sorry, we had our 4th come Lord Jesus this week and the Gospel was about generosity. It is my mantra.

LMP, it must be so difficult for you flying solo with your DH so very far away. you are one brave sista. While I don't condone your DS's selfish comments and behavior, I can relate to this too. I think this type of thing is the most common during the middle teens. I believe something wierd is going on in the brain that makes them involuntarily obsessed with themselves. Seems ironic but I think the younger children are more resilient.

Candy and wdw4us, I hope you have a smooth week in treatment.

We had DD's 14th birthday Sunday. I am trying to dot every 'i' at work so things go without a hitch at work while we are in WDw. I still ahve my fingers crossed that DH can go. He worked all last weekend and will probably do the same this one (we don't leave until Monday morning). He is NOT a laptop kinda person, but he is bringing one for this trip.

Oh my, an Ida is coming to visit. A November hurricane I can't believe.

Maureen, did you get the flu?

Hope Merry, Laura, Barbara and Ann are all ok. Have not heard from them in awhile.

Sha will you be in WDW next week?

 

[wdw4us2]

LMP - You must really be missing your DH by now. You must be so happy about the Yankees!

Sha - So happy about the good news for your Mom!

Snappy - Hope you have a great time at WDW!

I am finally starting to feel a little better for the first time since Friday's chemo. Still having to eat small amounts of bland food to keep up my strength. I have a follow up appointment with my surgeon tomorrow at 10 and then my Herceptin infusion at 11. Trying to stay positive.

 

[oXar]

Congratulations to all you beautiful and brave women who have survived this awful disease, and my prayers for all who are still fighting. Technically, I don't belong here as I am neither a woman nor have breast cancer, however, I just saw this thread and decided to share a personal story with all of you. My sister (42) was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, she got the news two days before Christmas. Learning of the diagnosis was awful and poorly timed, "Merry Christmas", you have cancer, but she took the news like a champ. She went in for a double mastectomy in January and all seemed well at first, but a month later she was told that some cells had moved into the ducts leading to her lymph nodes. It was not yet a crisis, but she decided to treat it aggressively. In March, she went to the hospital for a procedure where a magnetic port was placed in her chest for her upcoming chemo treatments. During the surgery she started to bleed internally and flat lined almost immediately. The doctors were able to resuscitate her and then stabilize her before going back in to see what happened. They discovered that during the procedure, the surgeon had nicked an artery. They stitched it up and closed her up again. She'd gone close to two hours with little to no blood flow to her brain. She then underwent multiple blood transfusions but it took close to two days to coagulate. All of her organs failed and her lungs collapsed, she was on a respirator for a few weeks before her organs began to spring back to life, all except her kidneys, which required extensive dialysis before they started working again two months later. She's been in a coma for 8 months now, all her organs are working fine and only requires a feeding tube. They've even begun to treat the cancer with a chemo pill that from what I understand, does not eradicate the cancer but prevents it from growing or spreading. My dad has been by her side every day since it first happened, with the exception of a week when he was hospitalized. This has obviously been very stressful on all of us, but so much worse on her kids (17. 15 & 12). Nobody really knows if she'll ever wake up, and if she does, how extensive the damage to the brain might be, but in truth, none of us think that far ahead anymore, nor did any of us ever think that cancer would ever be a 'secondary' concern. Anyhow, I'm sorry to have interrupted your thread, I guess I just needed to vent a little. I have nothing but love and admiration for all survivors and wish you all and your families the best as you proceed through your recovery. Thank you for listening (or reading)

Oscar.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Welcome, Oscar, and thank you for sharing your story. I am keeping your poor sister in my prayers. Many couldn't understand why I didn't want a port when I got my chemo, but over the years I'd seen enough problems (big ones, like this) that I didn't want to even go there. I'm so, so sorry this happened. How are her children doing? So they never wound up doing the chemo, just giving her the anti estrogen pill?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I can relate to what you said about sensitivity about posting info about a good result like this. I feel a bit awkward too sometimes about my treatment being limited to extensive surgery and meds only.

I'm sure we all probably feel it in some ways, at times. Heck, I feel that way having "only" had a lumpectomy, or when I hear a story like the one above.

 

[oXar]

Welcome, Oscar, and thank you for sharing your story. I am keeping your poor sister in my prayers. Many couldn't understand why I didn't want a port when I got my chemo, but over the years I'd seen enough problems (big ones, like this) that I didn't want to even go there. I'm so, so sorry this happened. How are her children doing? So they never wound up doing the chemo, just giving her the anti estrogen pill?

Ok, is that what that pill is, unfortunately, I live two hours away and though I drive down once a week to visit her, the majority of the information I get comes from my dad. Anyway, no, the doctors don't think she can handle full blown chemo, so they're sticking to the pill for now. They've tried Ambien, which has shown promise in reviving coma patients, but it didn't work. So, I assume they don't want to weaken her any more than she already is in case something comes along that can wake her up. Her kids are handling it ok I guess, her oldest is very religious and leans on that a lot, he's also very interested in politics so I call him and debate with him daily to keep him occupied. The middle one keeps to himself a lot, he's very into music, so I try to take him to concerts whenever something decent comes along. The youngest, the only girl is taking it the hardest, she has this idea that she needs to step into her mothers role now and take care of the rest of the family, which is too much for a 12 year old to handle. Luckily, they have lots of cousins (from their dad's side) to keep her distracted as well.

 

[Sha]

Glad to get the good news about your mom, Sha! What great news! I can relate to what you said about sensitivity about posting info about a good result like this. I feel a bit awkward too sometimes about my treatment being limited to extensive surgery and meds only.

However, you know we all celebrate the positive news. All of us. This is a club we did not apply for. But we are here and we share.

I think that is what Jesus would want us to do. Sorry, we had our 4th come Lord Jesus this week and the Gospel was about generosity. It is my mantra.

LMP, it must be so difficult for you flying solo with your DH so very far away. you are one brave sista. While I don't condone your DS's selfish comments and behavior, I can relate to this too. I think this type of thing is the most common during the middle teens. I believe something wierd is going on in the brain that makes them involuntarily obsessed with themselves. Seems ironic but I think the younger children are more resilient.

Candy and wdw4us, I hope you have a smooth week in treatment.

We had DD's 14th birthday Sunday. I am trying to dot every 'i' at work so things go without a hitch at work while we are in WDw. I still ahve my fingers crossed that DH can go. He worked all last weekend and will probably do the same this one (we don't leave until Monday morning). He is NOT a laptop kinda person, but he is bringing one for this trip.

Oh my, an Ida is coming to visit. A November hurricane I can't believe.

Maureen, did you get the flu?

Hope Merry, Laura, Barbara and Ann are all ok. Have not heard from them in awhile.

Sha will you be in WDW next week?

thanks! it is good news.... and yes, no one signed up for this club! Or any cancer club that I know of. At this moment I do not have any planned trips this month. Doubt I can get away from work either... though a day away would be nice. Are you going to be there??

I saw that about Ida this morning. They got the report while the news was on that she had changed to a hurricane. We are to get rain from her probably Tues and/or Wed.

LMP is amazing! I know I am independent, and at times when I am sick/healing, I want some TLC and yet, I want to be alone too.... but to have my main squeeze that far away..... that is too far away for my liking

 

[Sha]

Oscar, am keeping your sister, your family and her medical team in prayers. That is nice that you can do things like that for the children... and drive down to see her too.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good evening sistas

I have three words for you...The Yankees Win!!

Oscar - welcome!! I am so sorry to read this story about your sister. I sort of had a little in comon with that. I actually do think the dr. nicked my jugular vein durig the surgery in my neck or maybe the cancer was just so bad. He's not talking that much. I think he is afraid of a lawsuit. I only had 15 mins. to live, lost almost all my blood. I think I had to have 7 transfusions, wound up in an induced coma, in icu etc. but God is Good and answered everyones prayers on my behalf. You are such a special uncle and brother to your family. I am sure this whole situation is hard on your family. I will pray for Gods peace and comfort for your sis and the family and medical team in the days ahead. We are here to listen, encourage etc. Blessings to you all.

Fl Lisa - O.K. Your pm is coming too real to me right now. Ds was being himself yest. and said I cant take you, I said, oh you cant take me, or you cant take me being sick, he says -both,. I said, oh, what about the sick part can't you take...Ready for this sistas...He says- I cant take the fact that you are going to die!!! OMG!!! I told him again about what the drs. said, they dont know, its so rare etc. The one says its coming back in 3 years etc. Hmm, maybe there is some light at the end of his tunnel!!

Sha - Glad about your mom

Laurie - Have a great trip. That is so funny you were talking about generosity. Read my next comments..

I heard from dh, he is leaving New Zealand today for San Franciso, so I think he is actually losing a day?? Its my babys birthday today and he is 18. I think they are going to the mall and out to eat. I told him I will reimburse him after he takes me to the bank, I am broke. He took me to the grocery store today. and here is the generosity part..DS21 says oh can J. sleep over. He is moving back to his parents house out of state in 2 days. I said, sure, what is another boy around here anyway right? He was originally suppose to stay for 2 days, o.k. I made him lunch and I didnt want him sitting playing video games for the next 2 days, so he and ds brought in the groceries, put them away and raked up some leaves. Ds said he was complaining, um, this boy never did anything around his own house when he lived here. So I guess I must have scared him off, he decided to go sleep over someone elses house tonight, Oh well he did have a warm place to seep and food . Someone from church cooked us a meal yest. It was thoughtful but no one was too thrilled with the taste.

GTAGWTA, Thinking of you all.

 

[lookingforward]

Congratulations to all you beautiful and brave women who have survived this awful disease, and my prayers for all who are still fighting. Technically, I don't belong here as I am neither a woman nor have breast cancer, however, I just saw this thread and decided to share a personal story with all of you. My sister (42) was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, she got the news two days before Christmas. Learning of the diagnosis was awful and poorly timed, "Merry Christmas", you have cancer, but she took the news like a champ. She went in for a double mastectomy in January and all seemed well at first, but a month later she was told that some cells had moved into the ducts leading to her lymph nodes. It was not yet a crisis, but she decided to treat it aggressively. In March, she went to the hospital for a procedure where a magnetic port was placed in her chest for her upcoming chemo treatments. During the surgery she started to bleed internally and flat lined almost immediately. The doctors were able to resuscitate her and then stabilize her before going back in to see what happened. They discovered that during the procedure, the surgeon had nicked an artery. They stitched it up and closed her up again. She'd gone close to two hours with little to no blood flow to her brain. She then underwent multiple blood transfusions but it took close to two days to coagulate. All of her organs failed and her lungs collapsed, she was on a respirator for a few weeks before her organs began to spring back to life, all except her kidneys, which required extensive dialysis before they started working again two months later. She's been in a coma for 8 months now, all her organs are working fine and only requires a feeding tube. They've even begun to treat the cancer with a chemo pill that from what I understand, does not eradicate the cancer but prevents it from growing or spreading. My dad has been by her side every day since it first happened, with the exception of a week when he was hospitalized. This has obviously been very stressful on all of us, but so much worse on her kids (17. 15 & 12). Nobody really knows if she'll ever wake up, and if she does, how extensive the damage to the brain might be, but in truth, none of us think that far ahead anymore, nor did any of us ever think that cancer would ever be a 'secondary' concern. Anyhow, I'm sorry to have interrupted your thread, I guess I just needed to vent a little. I have nothing but love and admiration for all survivors and wish you all and your families the best as you proceed through your recovery. Thank you for listening (or reading)

Oscar.

Oscar, I am so sorry about what happened to your sister! I too had problems with my port (blood clots, etc) and it made me very ill. Your sister will be in my prayers...

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies

Hmm, this is my designated computer time before ds starts typing more of his senior thesis. I think a laptop is definetely in the family future.

Candy and Fl Lisa - I hope your treatments go well

Laurie - I bet your are packing for your trip

Laura - I hope you are healing from your surgery

Well ds21 friend slept over again last ight. He has left now and ds is taking hin to the train station. Dh callled me. He is in San Francisco. He then proceeds to tell me his cell phone got "lost" in the xray machine in Auckland. I told him, didnt you make them look for it etc. He said there were 50 people behind me and I would have held up the line etc. O.K. its not the expense of the phone, just the hassle, cancelling it, etc. etc. I gave him the numbers and told him to call. Its not my problem. Well since he will be getting a new celll phone I will get one too. Mine of course is a junker, the oldest one in the house, cant even read the outside screen . So whats good for everyone else is gonna be good for mama too!! We were all watching the big Yankees victory parade today. Well I am doing dance not the disney countdown dance but the hubby countdown dance, yeah 3 more days, who hoo!!

GTAGWTA. Thinking of you all. Have a great week end.

 

[wdw4us2]

Oscar - So sorry to hear what you have been going through with your sister. We will add you to the prayer list.

LMP - It sounds like you and DS have turned the corner. I think things will probably be better for you now that he has finally told you what's been on his mind. I'm also glad that your DH will be home soon - I'm sure you're relieved!

Went to the surgeon for a follow up appointment. He said everything from the surgery looks good. Don't have to see him again for three months. The Herceptin infusion went well and it was good to finally get out of the house this week. The Dr. gave me some prescriptions for steroids to take before the next chemo so that I will hopefully avoid the reaction to the Taxotere.

DH will be away for the weekend to do his pharmacy CEs. We'll see how DS (15) holds up while he's in charge. He has actually been handling everything better than DH or DD.