Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part III - GAGWTA!

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies

Lisa - sorry to hear about all the side effects you are going through. I hope the hydration and transfusion will help you immensly. I like gatorade too. In Disney I was drinking powerade alot too. Hate the FL water, sorry, makes me really, really sick.

Sha - thanks for clarifying that. So I guess after you fell asleep, you had lots of sweet dreams. I like the wedding present you are giving too!!

Candy - I hear ya sista about the kids and money. They think we have a money tree growing out front!!

Well I talked to Miss. A. today. She likes the surgeon. I hope she forgot that he almost killed me. She said, he told her, oh yes, I know Maryann inside and outside. Poor Miss A's surgery is tues and she will actually have 3 surgeons working on her at once since the cancer is so close to her eye. It will be my ent surgeon,a plastics guy and an eye surgeon. Its 4-5 hours long and they said she can go home that day. She has no family etc. I think they should keep her overnight at the least.

Alyssa looks well. She says she is feeling good.

Havent heard from Dh. Trusting he is well.

I think this week I will try my reclast runaround again and see where I go. Also need to check when my last mamo was. I thought aug, but maybe sept? Cant remember. Oh and I just signed dh up for some kind of airline promotion they sent us. I think he will qualify for it after his trip to California. I lost that e mail but I think he gets to pick 2 awards. One is 30K miles or some other stuff. I think I will take the miles for disney as he says that his traveling will be winding down on the project. The others are upgrade stuff and maybe some tickets, so we could take the miles and 2 tickets. I am not sure . I need to check it out. You get two awards.Well looks like we might be spending alot of time at disney in May. if this works out

GTAGWTA.

 

[CherylDan]

MarryAnn....hope you have better luck with the reclast this time! Your DH sure does get around....has his luggage caught up with him yet?

Lisa....are you feeling better from the last chemo? Hope all goes well with the transfusion. I've never had that experience either. Are you finding lots of time to enjoy your car?

Candy, sounds like your DD is quite the traveler!

Going to my oncologist tomorrow to find out how I fared after taking a two month chemo break. Not looking forward to it at all.

GAGWTA!!

 

[snappy]

Cheryl, I will be thinking of you tomorrow. I know you have been dreading tomorrow. Praying the scan results are favorable.

MaryAnn, Was your DH able to call you yet? Hope he is well.

Lisa, feeling better yet?

Candy when does school start up there?

Sha is it LD yet? How was mom's doctor visit?

Thinking of going down to New Orleans tomorrow. Not sure if I can manage it but have not seen DD21 in a while. She has been working alot each weekend, too much to come home, and her classes resume Monday.

I just need to see her.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies

Cheryl - thinking of you today sista. Wishing you all the best.

Lisa - thinking of you too with the transfusion today. Before they figured out I had the cancer and had the severe anemia I had the 3 transfusions in a couple days. I felt so much better after that. It was like I could actually breathe again and had a little more energy. Hope all goes well for you.

Laurie - I hope you get to see your dd. How goes the new diet?

Candy - I saw about the flooding by you. Was it in your area?

Sha - Hope your testing gave you some conclusive answers and that your moms visit went well too

PatsMom and Linda - hope you are both enjoying the summer too.

Well I got one phone call on voice mail from dh. Now I got an e mail that says the phone is dead so he cant communicate. He used a workers e mail. It was in chinese heading, but I opened it. He did get his suitcase back.

Ds21 got his grades, a C+ and a B I think. That is good for him.

Now ds19 has finally seen the light. I showed him some research I was doing online. He saw no one will take the C+ in Ant and P 1 so only by a miracle of God he got into the class he wanted . He was originally going to the far away campus. Now he got in to the regular campus with a great professor. But that affects his univ. schedule, so he is still trying to get into a decent class there etc. He says he is determined to be accepted into a nursing program by next fall. I need to pray for him for sure!

GTAGWTA

 

[CherylDan]

Good day for me!!! Test show no changes in size, or any new spots....so, I get another two months off from treatment! Wasn't expecting that. I will have CT scans again in October, but I'm free until then! So, to celebrate, DH & I are going to Disney in October - I will finally get to be there for the food & wine festival. Our 30th anniversary is in October, so it will be a great gift to ourselves!

MarryAnn, glad you finally heard from your DH....he must have been happy to be reunited with his suitcase. I hope your DS is able to get into the nursing program....seems like it is very much in demand these days.

Laurie, did you go to New Orleans and see DD?

How's everybody else doing?

GAGWTA!!!!

 

[wdw4us2]

Cheryl - Great news! I'm so happy for you and that you'll be able to experience Food & Wine in October. I'm sure you'll have a great time.

MaryAnn - I'm surprised that your hubby doesn't have his luggage lost more often with the amount of traveling he does. Hope things are going better for him now.

Laurie - Hope you were able to visit New Orleans and spend some time with your daughter. Even if it's just for a little while, it's always nice.

First day I'm feeling human. Not a great day yesterday - started with a trip to the mechanic with one of our vehicles (which I had to wait for) then off to the oncologist for hydration. Some good news - the increased Prokrit shot I had on Friday brought up my hemoglobin and I don't have to have the transfusion right now. Went to bed at 8 last night and didn't wake up till 8:30 this morning. Must have needed the rest. Not much time to enjoy my new ride, but I did drive home from my infusion with the top down. Sweet.

Hoping to feel better tomorrow and praying that we just end up with some rain from Irene.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Cheryl - I am so happy for you. A trip to Disney sounds wonderful. Now you can have lots of fun planning.

Lisa - so glad too that you did not need the transfusion. Hoping that you can all ride out the storm down there with minimal damage. Enjoy your ride!! I feel your pain with the car repairs. Ds is taking his tomm. and we will have to pay for whatever is wrong with it.

Sha - thinking of you and the upcoming storm too. I guess you are all use to that down there just as much as we are use to the snow etc.

Linda - did you feel the earthquake? We didnt feel anything here.

 

[Sha]

Cheryl that is WONDERFUL news!!!! How awesome! When are you looking to go in October??? I have a couple weekends that I am down there myself.

Mom's testing went well. This was all for her DBS (Deep Brain Stimulator). She has essential tremors but they said when looking at her MRI that is now showing Parkinson's like tremors BUT not becoming Parkinson's. Got some med changes and they stirred her brain a little (so to speak) with all the different settings they were working with. Hoping nothing gets changed. Just told mom that nothing is to be changed and why. She tends to forget what I tell her though, but she did turn the TV off to give me full attention.

She just told me she has a follow up with her Oncologist on Friday. Time flies.

Laurie... JUST 10 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Did online check in this evening. I am more and more excited about it. He and I have had Skype open a bit this weekend. Was on through the night even. Was nice to be able to see him while we did whatever else we had to do. Kind of hoping he would open it up tonight. Love seeing him.

Mariann, I keep an eye on storms but not stressing about it. This one we may get some weather from and may not. It won't be anything direct from what I can tell, but the do wobble. As long as we are clear next weekend!!! I treasure my time with R. and bonus time is that K. is with us. I think that is great that your DS is determined to get into the nursing program. Can go anywhere with that.

Lisa- glad to hear you didnt need the transfusion. PLEASE stay hydrated though. I am trying to practice what I preach. I think that is another reason why I have been so tired. (and driving my sister home from work so 1130-1230/1245 before I can go to bed most nights. This is temporary... until my mom gets her a new car... not sure still why my mom HAS to do this! but that is another topic.. back to smiling while I think about R.)

Family in VA felt the quake (and now aftershock). Was between Charlottesville and Richmond. Place called Mineral, VA.

Well, I am going to get a good nights sleep tonight but before I do, I have some more paperwork to complete. Had a massage this morning, pedi tomorrow afternoon, manicure the next morning and waxing on Friday afternoon. Rain or shine on Saturday, after a baby shower, mom and I are running down to WDW to renew her AP and I need to look for something. Then a wedding shower on the way home. Busy Busy

 

[snappy]

Yay Cheryl! What great news!
Thanks for posting. A trip to WDW is definitely in order. You are going to love Food and wine.

Lisa, glad you got a reprieve on the transfusion.

Postponed my trip to New Orleans till Friday. DD21 had to go to airport mid day to pick up someone coming back in for fall semester.

Sha, love reading your posts about R. Young love, ahhh.

 

[Realgrumpy]

Hi. I am new here. I am a 43 year old single mom and I was just diagnosed with breast cancer on July 5th. Had a mastectomy of my left breast on August 8th. They did not find anything in my nodes so that is good. I am waiting for an appointment with my oncologist on September 14th to learn what my course of treatment will be. I have not yet come to terms with what I am going through, I can't look at it yet. I feel like I will never be myself again. I am trying very hard to be strong and everyone around me is telling me how good I am doing and how strong I am being but I am a mess.

 

[snappy]

Hi. I am new here. I am a 43 year old single mom and I was just diagnosed with breast cancer on July 5th. Had a mastectomy of my left breast on August 8th. They did not find anything in my nodes so that is good. I am waiting for an appointment with my oncologist on September 14th to learn what my course of treatment will be. I have not yet come to terms with what I am going through, I can't look at it yet. I feel like I will never be myself again. I am trying very hard to be strong and everyone around me is telling me how good I am doing and how strong I am being but I am a mess.

First, I am glad you know about our thread and felt comfortable posting here. We have been here for awhile and have been fortunate to have had many new posters facing diagnosis and treatment.

It is the club you don't want to join, but at least there is a club here, thanks to Linda and Laura, who started the original thread.

First of all, glad you have the good news that the nodes are not involved. I am assuming you already have the pathology from the mastectomy surgery. Treatment can vary depending on the size of the invasive component of your tumor or tumors, and how aggressive the tumor is from the path report.

Do you have a copy of the pathology from the surgery and from any prior biopsies? I would ask for one, and hold on to it as well for future documentation.

Since it is only about 2 weeks from your mastectomy, I think the feelings you are experiencing about not being able to come to terms with your diagnosis is very normal. I think there is a period of time that varies from person to person where a woman mourns not only the loss of her breast or change in the look of the breast but also just the state of feeling like a healthy human being.

It takes time to heal those feelings in the same way your incision needs time to heal.

We have talked on this thread before about how hard it is to let those around us know how tremendously we are affected by this diagnosis, surgery and treatment, especially those around us that love and support us. We keep that strong outer facade going so we don't bring them down.

Although acting strong is very normal, you do need to have support where you can really let your hair down so to speak. For me, that ended up being a BC support group that met once a month.

I also did a lot of reading, I checked our many books and looked at online sites like breastcancer.org and facingourrisk.org.

Luckily this thread started in 2005 about a year after my diagnosis, so I also had this thread.

It really helps to be able to have an outlet not only from which to get information but also to express worries and feelings.

We can do that for you here, and don't forget those nice little private messages when you want to be more private.

For now, I am glad you are here. Please post again, and share more of your story if you are comfortable. We have a number of long threads here. To prevent you from needing to search back, I was diagnosed with cancer in April 2004, with widespread DCIS in more than one area of the left breast (multi-focal), with only a small 1 mm area of invasion found during the stereotactic biopsy. Like you my nodes were clear ( I had almost all of them removed on that side.)

I had drains in for about a month as I had a lot of fluid thrown off. It was a trying period since I had to do sitz baths for all that time. Luckily I have a large tub surround with a great place to sit, and it was not that difficult. Hey, I tried to look at the positive, right?

The surgeon suggested waiting for reconstruction, I think because he expected that more areas of invasion would be found during the full breast path testing. However, only additional area of DCIS were found, and with clear nodes and the size of the invasive component, I did not need chemo. Also because he did a very thorough job of the mastectomy (I ended up with a concave chest on that side), I had clean margins and did not need radiation.

I opted for a free tram flap in August 2006, and had the other breast reduced and lifted at that time. Although the stomach wound where the flap was harvested from was very painful for over a month, I am glad I did the reconstruction and feel I received the best result possible in my case. The drains stayed in less than a week, and I was allowed to take showers as soon as I got home. I just needed help getting into the shower for about 8 days.

All is good now.

Not sure hearing my story is helpful or not but I thought I would get the ball rolling.

Hope we hear from you again soon.

Laurie

 

[wdw4us2]

Realgrumpy - Welcome to the thread. I echo everything that snappy said. You will find lots of support here in all aspects of your life - not just your treatment and diagnosis. The people here are incredibly supportive, so don't be a stranger.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Realgrumpy - welcome to the club no one wants to join. This thread has been such a blessing to me. Even though I dont have breast cancer, I have thyroid cancer that is rare and agressive and I almost died during one of 3 surgeries, the ladies here have adopted me.

That is good about your lymph nodes. I had to have 47 taken out in my neck area and 6 were positive, so I basically had to loose half my neck.

I agree with what Laurie said, You grieve just not for your diagnosis, but what you lost etc. It does take time to heal. Dont rush it. One day at a time.

I know what you mean about trying to be strong etc. Sometimes I think also, others, just dont know what to say, or hardly say anything fearing they might say the wrong thing.

My dh was a big help, but my 3 ds were pretty much of the attitude of arent you better already? etc. (I had to have another 4 surgeries for a post op bowel obstruction and throw in the radiation etc). My own extended family is basically deceased but my church family was a great help tome by cooking meals etc.

I would definetely find a support group, they have things like cleaning for a cause too.

Wishing you all the best. Please come here any time to ask anything, vent etc.

 

[Realgrumpy]

Thank you all.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good evening ladies

smiley(janet) - thinking of you and hoping your radiation goes well. I know its such a long trip for you. Are you staying over in Vancouver?

Sha - I just love reading your posts. Sometimes I think I forget that feeling. Now its alot of disagreements and not on the same page stuff.

Laurie - hope your visit with your dd goes well

PatsMom - how was the trip with your niece?

Candy - how is your grand nephew with the broken arm?

Cheryl - I just read the food and wine stuff they sent dh for his ap. Looks like so much fun. I havent approached dh about it, but the fares are $$ it seems. Also looks like BC and YCi s slim pickings. I could settle for the Swan. Where are you planning to stay? Are you bringing the dogs?

Miss A.s surgery was 7 hours!! She told me it was going to be 4-5. I know it must have been bad because my surgeon does not go over unless if there is a problem. They said they removed the cancerous tumor and had to scrape off bone cancer cells and then reconstruct her face. I think she is in her 80's. She is in the hosp. right now.

Well I am being lazy, or maybe I just dont feel like being poked, prodded, tested or infused. Havent made any appts. yet. Hmm, what will come first, the infusion or the eye doctor. Because my L eye is really bothering me. This is the one the endo thinks was damaged by the radiation. I also heard of someone else that had to have an artificial tear duct put in. I would hope this is a non surgical problem.

Ds car costs only $130 to repair. Yeah. Southwest keeps raising the fares for our dec. trip. I better book soon.

GTAGWTA.

 

[Sha]

Welcome RealGrumpy!

Maryann - I hope that I NEVER never lose that young love feeling. I know everyday life can get in the way, but I pray that I can remember to keep it. I know communication is so important and we didn't do that the first couple times. Doing a better job this time around.

R's cousin M. is posting a blog and I have added the links below in order of posting. She has done 3 so far. She is amazing and I hope one day that I get to meet her. (Laurie and Lisa... the links are on my FB page too. If you want to comment to her I think that would be great via the links.)

I have been really tired lately. Think it is largely because I am not getting the sleep I was before (because I am taking my sister to and from work) the From work is at midnight... so I don't get to bed until almost 1am and then I am up at 5-530am. I know we need to find her a car, but I kind of resent the fact that my mom has to BAIL her out YET again. Sorry for my mini rant... didn't help much. (can't get here soon enough to be in his arms).


http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/9183804.I_am_going_to_beat_this_cancer/?ref=fbrec

http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/yoursay/blogs/melanie_oneill/9206457.My_chemo_day/?ref=fbrec

http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/yoursay/blogs/melanie_oneill/9211138.At_this_point_in_my_life__I_needed_focus_and_positivity/?ref=fbrec

 

[Candy30]

Wow Lots of catching up!

Real Grumpy- Welcome! This is a great support group and very informative and a shoulder to lean on. I alson do not have breast cancer but B-Cell Lymphoma Cancer. My mother had breast cancer and I this group has lovingly adopted me too. Great place to get support and to let it all out. We understand. From the small things to the large things. We are here.

Sha- I understand about the sibling. I have one like that! Hang in there. I loved your last sentence on your post. So cute and sweet. You are one busy Momma this week. I hope you can find time to get some rest.

Lisa- So glad to hear chemo went better and you didn't have to have the transfusion. One less item on your plate. Hope the car repair wasn't too bad.

Cheryl- Congratulations on your news and your trip to Disney. So glad you are feeling well.

LMP- I know what you mean about being poked and prodded. You feel like the Pilsbury dough boy. My great nephew is good. He got his cast off and cried. He wanted them to put it back on!!! Hilarious!! He may have to do some rehab because he is not able to touch his shoulder. Yes the flood was on a well traveled area. It was so sad about the mother with her two daughters and the 84 yr old woman who was swept away. I was driving on that road a couple of weeks

My daughter is in Virginia and was there during the quake. We felt the quake here in PA. She is fine and said she wasn't too scared. My mother in law felt it in OH. It was like as soon as you noticed it....it was over. Minor damages around the area. Chimneys and such.

Now worried about the hurricane and my daughter. She said they were on the beach earlier but have not gone back. Saturday can't get here fast enough. My DSisters and DMom keep telling me to bring her home. She really is everyones baby.

I am happy to say that my DS driving skills are getting much better. I actually took him to a park that I learned to drive in finally. He is not out on the street yet.

this weekend is busy. My girlfriends and I are going to a free jazz concert on Friday night. My husbands best man is coming into town Friday. We are going to hang out with them this weekend. He is in a wheelchair and can't make it up our stairs so we are going to get a room in the hotel they are at and spend the day with them. Saturday To Sunday. And Sunday will be a family meeting about our Beach trip to the Outerbanks next year. So I have spreadsheets and such to finish up and print out. I am tired just thinking about it. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

GTAGWTA.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

GAGWTA

Cheryl, so happy for you! What a great way to celebrate!

Lisa, glad you're feeling better.

I didn't feel the earthquake here but it could have been around and I wouldn't have noticed it. Have been super busy this week. Kids had several early school events I had to drive them to :big yawn: even though school hasn't started yet (mentorship training program, they're mentors).

My elderly aunt was in an accident last week and I'm her health care proxy. Multiple injuries but stable aside from some acute confusion, so I've had to make some extra trips into Boston to help oversee her care. Always interesting being on the other side of the bed. Pass the word to friends and family to make sure their health care proxy forms are in place and up to date! You never know what's going to happen. (Hit by the proverbial bus almost literally applies here!)

Real Grumpy, welcome and congratulations on making it through your first few weeks and surgery. You've already passed some of the hardest parts! The emotional aspect of the illness was a big issue for me, also. There is a book called Just Get Me Through This! that I found helpful. Also support as others have mentioned. Being strong is great and all, but as people at my support center told me, it can also be a burden. It's ok to cry. It's ok to let it all out. It's ok to be afraid. You just have to find the right people to talk to.

Honestly, most friends and family don't know how to respond. You need to find others who've been through it who understand (and even then, everyone is different and may not have experienced an emotional reaction to their illness, etc). Seek out a support center in your area and make a visit when you feel up to it. Also talk to others who've had BC before you. Someone I knew hooked me up with another mom of young kids in my town who'd had it before me. We became fast friends and it was such a relief to talk to her. We're always here and we promise it's ok to let it out here.

Things will get better but it's a process and you need to work through the emotions as you go along. One day at a time is good advice since you still have to get through the oncology appt and probably make decisions about adjuvant therapies. It will be easier once those decisions are behind you and you start whatever it is you're going to do. Do you have someone who can be with you but is supportive of how hard this is for you and not wanting to keep telling you "you'll be fine" and "be strong" all the time? Remember that having a diagnosis such as this launches you into a grieving process and you go through the same stages that you would if, say, someone died. You grieve the (perceived) loss of your health and it throws a wrench into your expectations for the future. Seeing it in this light I think, is helpful.

Hope everyone stays safe with this storm coming. We're expecting it will hit this area on Sunday so we have some prepping to do in the next couple of days.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Thank you all.

I didnt notice that you were from Long Island!! Me too? Are you in Nassau or Suffolk.

I am in Suffolk, central Brookhaven.

I know in Nassau I thought I read in Newsday that there is a great support group and inform, is it as Adelphi? or channeled through them?

I know in Suffolk they have the Carol Baldwin Center at Stony Brook and Mather is doing the Survivor Train and Rally in September I think.

Have you looked at 1 in 9. I know its so overwhelming at first. You just have to get hooked up with the right group that will be a god fit for you.

We are here for you too.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies

Linda - so sorry to hear about your aunt, but it looks like she will be in good hands with you as her advocate. Enjoy the end of the summer with your kids. That is so neat that they are mentors. That is an honor in itself. Says alot about their character and their parents, whom I am sure had a hand in this too

Candy - hope your dd arrives home safely. Sounds like you will have a wonderful and busy week end with your friends and family. Enjoy!!

Sha - have you finalized all the plans yet?? You are nice to be helping out your sis but I am sure the whole car situation is frustrating.

Well we are going to be doing the storm prep. Going grocery shopping today or tomm. Ds will take off all the stuff on the porch and put it in the garage. The only think I am worried about is perhaps one of the trees falling. Last storm our neighbors tree fell into the other neighbors roof. If things dont look good post storm I think we will think about calling the tree trimmer/arborist.

Ds has orientation sat for transfer students. He has gotten a good schedule now and is happy, got into a waitlisted class, ds19.

Got a voice mail from dh. I am so sick of them always screening his calls and blocking them etc. He said things are going bad there and worse he might have to stay extra as per his big boss. So now the big boss will let dh know if he has called washington dc and gotten approval for dh to stay later. I am so not happy about this. Unless dh hears, he said he will get on the plane sat. and come home. He did mention this could be a possibility when the trip was planned. Sigh.

They said we could get 89-90 mile an hour winds sat. Glad all our utilities are underground.

GTAGWTA