Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part III - GAGWTA!

[luvmarypoppins]

Meg and PatsMom - you can find a picture of Laurie and I on page 118 of the thread. So you will know us when you see us!

 

[Sha]

Sha - good to see you posting. Wow, you sure are busy with all your patients. Thats alot for sure. Will say a prayer for your friend and her family.Any chance you will be in the world in May when we will be there?

actually, am going to see in a few days about a trip the weekend you are at the GF. I wont know until I talk to one of my sisters about it. Then drag the other (deep breath... she stresses me) and 1 of her daughters for a quick weekend. Mom said she would like pictures of all of us (minus 1 of the granddaughters because of circumstances in her life). We did a photo session a couple weeks ago and would like to do another. Will let you know. I figured since I will have to pay for this one sister and niece's tickets am going to do the FL ressie special for $99 each before the end of May when it expires.

 

[snappy]

actually, am going to see in a few days about a trip the weekend you are at the GF. I wont know until I talk to one of my sisters about it. Then drag the other (deep breath... she stresses me) and 1 of her daughters for a quick weekend. Mom said she would like pictures of all of us (minus 1 of the granddaughters because of circumstances in her life). We did a photo session a couple weeks ago and would like to do another. Will let you know. I figured since I will have to pay for this one sister and niece's tickets am going to do the FL ressie special for $99 each before the end of May when it expires.

What a generous sister you are!!

Can I adopt you???

I hope it works out for us to meet again.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Happy Holidays to all my Sistas and friends here! Love you all!

 

[snappy]

Mary, Ann, DD20 (almost 21 now) did well in high school, good grades and ACT scores. But not perfect scores.

She did not apply to many schools the summer before senior year, even though I did encourage her to do so.

She decided to go close to home and Tulane was very generous at the time. The first two years we did contribute some to the tuition (maybe $5000/yearly) and then also paid the $10,000/year for room and board.

She tried unsuccessfully the first two years to get the full scholarship to Tulane which our state senators and legislators are allowed to give one each to a constituent. I met our legislator who moved into our neighborhood and she ended up giving her the scholarship for junior and senior years (worth over $42,000/year now)!!!

I can't quite remember how much the tuition was in the 1970's ( I had a full tuition scholarship too, but it was no more than a few hundred a semester). How could they have run the school back then on what they charged for tuition(I attended the state university in New Orleans, UNO)?

We still pay some of her rent and utilities and her books, but she covers her food, gas, and other expenses.

Tulane is not the best private school in the country but a good one in the south. Definitely better in many ways than LSU (5 minutes from our house). She is in the business school which is highly ranked. LSU is better for law school and medical school.

She has kept up her grades despite working a lot and I am proud of her for that. She has been lucky in many ways.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

The thought of college scares me!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

GAGWTA, ladies!

Just popping in to tell you that you all are in my thoughts!

 

[snappy]

GAGWTA, ladies!

Just popping in to tell you that you all are in my thoughts!

Hey! Have not seen you! Hope your family is well! How is your mom?

 

[Sha]

What a generous sister you are!!

Can I adopt you???

I hope it works out for us to meet again.

sometimes Im generous. Just talked to my other sister, she wont be able to really stay with us but will come down with her daughter so we can do the pictures. Im sure we will get to meet up! We just have to play phone tag again.

You are already my sista! ;o)

 

[snappy]

Yep, I am your big sis as in older sis. You can never have too many sisters.


I went to both vigil mass last night and 9 am mass with the um masses this morning. We have a magical new organ in our church, not electronic-it is the original bellows type organ from Europe.

Only one in Louisiana.

It was almost unbelievable last night, with the organ (at full speed ahead), the horns, the violins and the full choir.

This morning was more like a regular very crowded mass.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Hey! Have not seen you! Hope your family is well! How is your mom?

I pop in to try to catch up now and then, but I am not very good at it! So I figured saying hello was better than nothing.

Everybody is well, thanks. Mom is doing fine. She is thinking of looking for a summer job. (She is a cafeteria lady during the school year.)

DS and I might drive up to see her in July. Last year the rain was such a nightmare I swore we would NEVER do that again, but here I am considering it.

I hope everyone had a lovely Easter with family & friends!

 

[Candy30]

Jacks!!!!! How are you?!?!?! How's your son? He has to be getting tall now! I still use your packing list when we go out of town!! It has been a life saver many times.

Sha- Such a busy lady! I know what you mean about sisters. I have one like yours too. LOL Let us know how the pictures turn out!

Smiley- It is so great to hear that your were able to spend time with your family. I agree there is nothing like it in the world. So glad you got to spend time with your GD. I understand about your spasms. I get them in my neck and up through my Jaw! They say it is being caused by a tumor on my spine but not sure. I can never tell when they will happen they just start. I have noticed cold affects it more so.

PNM-College. Be afraid. Be very afraid!! It's more than a notion. My son is starting and then going to try and work for a hospital that my pay the rest of the schooling.

Snappy- That is truly a blessing to get full scholarship! It's awesome she is working to help offset some of the expenses. Every little bit helps!!!

All of you Sistas when you meet up, be sure to take a picture together and post for us who are dreaming of bein at Disney!!!

Patsmom- Glad you are feeling better. Have they talked with you about an insulin pump? Or do you have and insulin pump already? I was put on one after my first chemo put me in the ICU. I love it. Helps me tremendously with my numbers.

Lisa- Glad to hear you are felling a little better. Hang in there Girl!

Meg- We were all so excited that you got the job at Disney!!!! Enjoy! Just know we are going to live vicariously through you while you are there!!!

LMP- Glad the car has been semi taken care of. I hope you don't have to jump through too many hoops! My DN has a sonata and loves it!! It is ranked high in safety. The car looks small but has a lot of room in it. She named it Sonny! LOL

I didn't get to see my GB. I was sick. I ended up making cheesecake. My Ds ears must have been burning because he has been studying for his Driving permit. He wants to take the test this coming weekend. I hope he passes. I know I am trading one set of problems for another but at least he will have a license out of it. Hope everyone had a good weekend. Oh and our weather here.....MORE RAIN!!!! The whole week. My hair looks like a puff ball now!!

 

[OceanAnnie]

Hi everyone,

I just want to get your opinions on this situation. I had a mammogram and ultrasound done this morning. I mentioned I had some discharge from one nipple. Slight. I saw it on my bra. No larger than the space that covers the tip of my pinky. It looked like it could've been a little blood in it. Mostly it was yellowish. So I mentioned it. I thought it was probably nothing.

The doctor told me it wouldn't be a bad idea to talk to a surgeon. Oh my gosh. The room closed in on me. Surgeon. I asked him if it was that bad? He said it was probably a papilloma but with my family history it would be foolish not to get it checked out. I think I was in shock. Still am. I do have a long and wide family history of breast cancer. So I do understand the concern. I'm concerned and scared.

So I have a follow up appt. for 6 months out. As I was checking out he came out and told me he wanted to see me again in 6 months. I have the name of the surgeon he suggested. I asked him if I should wait and see if it happened again and he said I could. He said to keep a close eye on it. I will. Now, I'm wondering if I should just go to the surgeon to be examined. I think he would have been fine with me going now, but went along with my shock and admittedly my reluctance.

I was just hoping to go as I always have and leave feeling lighter knowing I was okay for another year.

Anyone that has had any experience with this sort of thing, I'd appreciate hearing your story and advice. I'll check back later today. Thank you in advance.

 

[snappy]

No experience here.

Was the mammogram itself clear?

For your own peace of mind, I would make an appointment with the surgeon. I am thinking the mammogram you had was a screening one. The next level up would be a diagnostic where the views are magnified.

Was the doctor this morning your regular doctor, a GYN?

I am sorry I have no advice but so many questions.

I am sure others will chime in.

One question I like to ask to a doctor, is what would you advise if this was your wife, mother or daughter.

I will do some research in my Susan Love book and post again if I can.

Good luck, glad you posted, and come back again.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Welcome, Annie. I would go to see the surgeon. Breast surgeons are "the" authorities when it comes to matters of the breast. Once you go they probably will put you through some testing and that will be hard playing the worrying and waiting game. But when you're done you'll have answers. Either it will be fine or it will be something that you caught as early as possible. The alternative is worrying for the next six months.

I didn't have that exact situation (discharge) but when I had my first mamm they did find a jelly bean shaped "spot" that they recommended watching for 6 months. Knowing myself, there was NO WAY I could wait that long, so on my own I saw a surgeon I knew and trusted (who does breast work but is not a breast surgeon, persay) and asked him what he'd recommend for his wife or daughter in the same situation and he said "biopsy", so we went ahead with that. (That one turned out to be nothing, but later I did find a lump and it was cancer, etc. I did see a breast surgeon right away and that was who did my sugery, etc.)

Give yourself a few days to let the shock and other emotions wear off. It's completely normal to feel that way when something like this happens. Let us know.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

PNM-College. Be afraid. Be very afraid!! It's more than a notion. My son is starting and then going to try and work for a hospital that my pay the rest of the schooling.

Is he considering nursing?

 

[snappy]

I found a section in the Dr. susan Love breast book that pertains to the discharge.

It says :

The most common nipple problem-or rather concern, since it's not always a problem-is discharge. Most women do have some amount of discharge or fluid when their breasts are squeezed and it's perfectly normal.

There are different life periods when you are more likely to get dischage than others: there's more discharge at puberty and at menopause than in the years between.

The time to worry about nipple discharge is when it's spontaneous, persistent and unilateral (only one side). It comes out by itself without squeezing, it keeps on happening, and it is only from one nipple and usually one duct. It's either clear and sticky, like an egg white or bloody. You should go to the doctor right away.

Then the Susan Love book goes into possible causes, including benign wartlike growths, precancer, or cancer.

Your clinician should first test for blood by taking a sample, putting it on a card, and adding a chemical (hemacult test). If it turns blue, there's blood. The doctor may do a pap smear, very like the pap smear you get to test for cervical cancer. Discharge is put on a glass side and sent to the lab for the cells to be examinged. This is not as accurate as testing for blood in the discharge but occasionall it can demonstrate the presence of abnormal cells.

Next the doctor will try and figure out the "trigger zone" by going around the breast to find out which duct the discharge is coming from, though ofter the woman herself can give the doctor this information. If you are over 30 you will be sent for a mammogram to see if there is a tumor underneath the duct.

The chapter goes on to describe further testing, having the duct lavaged, or biopsied.

This all might be way too much info, especially if the discharge was a one time occurrence.

Again, though, for your own peace of mind, I would consider making an appointment with the surgeon.

You did not specify your age, but since cancer does run in your family, I think your are wise to come here to ask, be alert to what is going on in your body, and take advantage of the diagnostic options that are offered to you.

Please keep us in the loop.

Laurie

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

GAGWTA!

Hi, Candy! I am sorry you didn't get to see the baby. I hope you are feeling better!

DS is taller than he was, but he's still only 5'3". Not sure he will get much taller than that. No driving permits here. I didn't realize he has to complete like 32 hours of classroom driver's ed instruction before he can get a learner's permit. Which seems so backwards to me. But whatever. He doesn't have time to do the class right now. They don't offer it at school. He seems to have no interest in driving anyway, so we'll just leave it for now. I was more interested in him having a photo ID than driving anyway.

He is just finishing his freshman year, but I am already leaning towards community college. His grades in math and science have REALLY dragged his GPA down, and I don't expect it to get much better as the courses get harder.

Lisa, congrats to your DD! We will look for her in June!

Sha, sounds like the patient load is keeping you hopping!

Good thoughts to all of you who have treatments/tests this week!!

 

[OceanAnnie]

No experience here.

Was the mammogram itself clear?

For your own peace of mind, I would make an appointment with the surgeon. I am thinking the mammogram you had was a screening one. The next level up would be a diagnostic where the views are magnified.

Was the doctor this morning your regular doctor, a GYN?

I am sorry I have no advice but so many questions.

I am sure others will chime in.

One question I like to ask to a doctor, is what would you advise if this was your wife, mother or daughter.

I will do some research in my Susan Love book and post again if I can.

Good luck, glad you posted, and come back again.

Thankfully, mammogram was clear. There was a small benign cyst, but the doctor assured me it was nothing to worry about. I saw a doctor/radiologist. I'm lucky to have a facility where the same doctor that does the exam and ultrasound also reads the mammograms (putting each year side by side) and shows and explains them to me before I leave.

Welcome, Annie. I would go to see the surgeon. Breast surgeons are "the" authorities when it comes to matters of the breast. Once you go they probably will put you through some testing and that will be hard playing the worrying and waiting game. But when you're done you'll have answers. Either it will be fine or it will be something that you caught as early as possible. The alternative is worrying for the next six months.

I didn't have that exact situation (discharge) but when I had my first mamm they did find a jelly bean shaped "spot" that they recommended watching for 6 months. Knowing myself, there was NO WAY I could wait that long, so on my own I saw a surgeon I knew and trusted (who does breast work but is not a breast surgeon, persay) and asked him what he'd recommend for his wife or daughter in the same situation and he said "biopsy", so we went ahead with that. (That one turned out to be nothing, but later I did find a lump and it was cancer, etc. I did see a breast surgeon right away and that was who did my sugery, etc.)

Give yourself a few days to let the shock and other emotions wear off. It's completely normal to feel that way when something like this happens. Let us know.

Thanks, I do plan to see the surgeon. I just want to process everything. Get it together before I go. I don't want to go in feeling like a mess.

I found a section in the Dr. susan Love breast book that pertains to the discharge.

It says :

The most common nipple problem-or rather concern, since it's not always a problem-is discharge. Most women do have some amount of discharge or fluid when their breasts are squeezed and it's perfectly normal.

There are different life periods when you are more likely to get dischage than others: there's more discharge at puberty and at menopause than in the years between.

The time to worry about nipple discharge is when it's spontaneous, persistent and unilateral (only one side). It comes out by itself without squeezing, it keeps on happening, and it is only from one nipple and usually one duct. It's either clear and sticky, like an egg white or bloody. You should go to the doctor right away.

Then the Susan Love book goes into possible causes, including benign wartlike growths, precancer, or cancer.

Your clinician should first test for blood by taking a sample, putting it on a card, and adding a chemical (hemacult test). If it turns blue, there's blood. The doctor may do a pap smear, very like the pap smear you get to test for cervical cancer. Discharge is put on a glass side and sent to the lab for the cells to be examinged. This is not as accurate as testing for blood in the discharge but occasionall it can demonstrate the presence of abnormal cells.

Next the doctor will try and figure out the "trigger zone" by going around the breast to find out which duct the discharge is coming from, though ofter the woman herself can give the doctor this information. If you are over 30 you will be sent for a mammogram to see if there is a tumor underneath the duct.

The chapter goes on to describe further testing, having the duct lavaged, or biopsied.

This all might be way too much info, especially if the discharge was a one time occurrence.

Again, though, for your own peace of mind, I would consider making an appointment with the surgeon.

You did not specify your age, but since cancer does run in your family, I think your are wise to come here to ask, be alert to what is going on in your body, and take advantage of the diagnostic options that are offered to you.

Please keep us in the loop.

Laurie

That seemed like the thrust of what the doctor was saying. I kind of held everything at arm's length. I needed some air. On a small scale it was like expecting a sweet tea and getting a big gulp of unsweetened tea instead.

The doctor said it was three things to keep in mind in referring to a surgeon. Unilateral discharge, blood in the discharge, and I forget the other thing. But I had all 3. So drat to that!

I'll need to make a call soon. With summer quickly approaching I'll need to get this looked after before school is out. Thank you for looking up the information for me.

And thanks to you guys for welcoming me and answering my questions.

I'll come back later today.

 

[snappy]

I so get wanting to keep this at arm's length.

My experience was very different from Pea-n-me's experience, since I had just gone in for my regular screening mamogram, albeit 3 months late. I had no lump, no discharge, no signs of anything so like you, I was pretty shocked at even having to go back for the followup diagnostic mammogram.

I am glad that you have access to such a good facility. When I had my first diagnostic mammogram after having a screening mammogram that was suspicious, I too had the benefit of having the radiologist look at the magnified views and discuss the next step with me.

My next step was a steroetactic needle biopsy, since what they saw was all the little irregular small calcifications that indicate ductal carcinoma in situ.