Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part IV - GAGWTA

[annrae]

I know I seldom post but I do read your posts. Sending good wishes to all of you who are undergoing treatment at this time and for all of you who have been recently diagnosed and for many of you who recognize my name and know that I am thinking of all of you.

Merry Christmas and a Healthy, Happy, and Peaceful New Year to all of you.

Barbara

 

[clh2]

clh2, Telling your sister not to worry won't work. It's just impossible not to, but there is a very good chance that it will turn out to be nothing. I had multiple biopsies on my right breast that turned out to be nothing. Unfortunately, they can't always tell without doing the procedure.

Please tell her that a lot more women have bad mammograms that turn out to be nothing than those that turn out to be something bad.

I'll say a prayer for her tonight!

Just thought I would let you know the results of my sister's follow-up. The only thing they are mildly concerned about is the calcification that was found in the right breast. The mass that was supposedly on the left side, after today's ultrasound and additional images, it wasn't anything to be concerned about.

They do want my sister to start having mammograms at 6 month intervals for awhile.

Needless to say, my sister is relieved.

My sister's boyfriend opted to go with her, so I did not go with her. I would have certainly questioned the mass they saw on the first images, but not on today's. Doesn't make sense to me, but I do not know what they told her about it.

Thanks to all who responded! I appreciated your comments.

Happy holidays to all!

 

[Dancind]

Finally visited my surgeon, it's been a while. Everything looks good, though I still have the swelling under my arm from 5/2012! It's sad to go there and see the very young women waiting to see him.

Merry Christmas to all!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I'm home from surgery. It really was all very simple and pain free. Of course the stuff hasn't worn off yet. But I started the Vicotin. Dr said it should be about a week for results. Hope everyone had a great holiday. And thanks for all your support and encouragement.

 

[Feralpeg]

PrincessKsMom, So glad the surgery went well. Don't try to be tough. Take the pain medication as needed. Be careful bending over. That was painful for me. Use a pillow for support if you need to do so. Start trying to raise your arms a little at a time. I found walking my fingers up a wall really helped. I'd go just a little bit further each day. It didn't take long to get my mobility back.

I'll be thinking of you!

clh2, Wonderful news! Sorry she had to go through all that stress.

Hope everyone had a very nice Christmas!

 

[mom2grace]

Hi ladies,


My mom just had a 2nd partial mastectomy today (yes, dec 26th). As far as the bras, your insurance (including medicare) is required to cover the high quality post surgical bras! My mom also went to Walmart & Stein Mart & bought crummy ones. The day of her first partial mastectomy, the hospital had a mastectomy supply store & I was able to get one for her. It has been a lifesaver.

From what I understand, the pink ladies before you have fought hard for comprehensive breast cancer coverage & this is a small piece of it.

 

[CherylDan]

Hi ladies, just a quick update before we leave for San Francisco in the morning.....

The pain and swelling I was having was getting to be just too much, so I ended up at the oncologist today. He sent me to the hospital to have fluid drained from my abdomen. While certainly not pleasant, it wasn't all that awful. I'm not really sure at this point how much it helped.....it's nice that my stomach isn't so swollen, but it still hurts. He wants more CT scans and other test as soon as we get back, said I'm more than likely looking at chemo again then.

In other news, we had a nice Christmas, 27 for dinner last night! Our DDs and DH ended up doing most the work while I sat by and "directed"! It all worked out just fine.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas!

GAGWTA!!

 

[snappy]

Cheryl, glad you got some relief from the swelling. Have a wonderful trip. Your Christmas dinner sounds wonderful. I only had 11 for dinner and it was hard to orchestrate.

You must be a heckofa "director."

Glad your surgery went well, princessksmom.

Mom2grace, hope your mom has a quick recovery.

GAGWTA!

 

[jillyb]

Good news! I finally got to speak directly to the doctor. The results of the biopsy did not show cancer! It showed atypical cells. Because I had basil cell skin cancer removed from that area a few years ago, she just wants to be safe. I will have surgery on Dec 12 to remove an area, but it won't be a big deal and nothing further will need to be done. Yea! Now, that is something to be thankful for! lol!

Happy Thanksgiving, ladies!

A bit late but....excellent news!!!

 

[jillyb]

Just an update on me: I have been feeling really good this week and have even started eating more! Feels good to finally be able to eat food and have it taste the way it should!

I started getting herceptin on December 9th and will get that for a year. I had another MRI a few weeks ago and everything looked good. The tumor has shrunk even more. I saw the surgeon on Christmas Eve. He is now saying that I have the option of a mastectomy with removal of the lymph nodes or lumpectomy with removal of the lymph nodes. With the lumpectomy, he said I would also have radiation 5 days for 6 weeks (think I'll run that by my oncologist). I was hoping surgery would be scheduled at that appointment but it wasn't. I told the surgeon I see my oncologist on 01/15 so he (the surgeon) wants to see me after that appointment so back to the surgeon on 01/22. I am thinking of going with the lumpectomy as the surgeon said that, statistically, the odds of the cancer coming back is the same with either option. Again, something I'll discuss with my oncologist.

I had a very good Christmas and I hope everyone else did too. Here's looking forward to a happy and healthy 2014 for everyone!

 

[snappy]

Jillyb, glad you are feeling better and that food tastes good again.

It's good to have options regarding surgery. Sounds like you are asking the right questions.

Congrats on the MRI looking good, and hopefully your surgery will be scheduled soon.

Our Christmas has been good. Lots of time with DD23 and her BF. She seems happy and relaxed, very different than last Christmas when she was struggling with her long daily work commute, and was so exhausted and moody. Still thin but looks healthier too.

DD23 loves her new job and new apartment. Commute via the Path train and one subway much more doable than driving to Manhattan from New Jersey. It helps that she sees a lot of future potential with her job.

We are tired of leftovers so we are going to use a gift card to Ruth Chris today for a steak for a change. They leave early in the am to return. It goes by so fast, it breaks my heart, but I can tell they are getting antsy. They got to meet up with some of her high school friends one night but their buddies from the Tulane days that still reside here are all home to where ever for the holidays.

DD18 is touring an apartment complex for students here locally today that she may share with 3 friends if she goes to LSU in the fall. It is looking like she is going that direction rather than going out of state for college. Tulane accepted her but not enough scholarship $$, got a good scholarship from Trinity in San Antonio but she has her doubts about going there. I think she is more in her comfort zone here with friends, somehow. I see upside to both Trinity and LSU.

Selfishly, I like the idea of having her in town closely. My baby.

I am keeping that feeling to myself or should I say sharing only with DH.

 

[Dancind]

Snappy, wise to keep it to yourself but so sweet that she's staying nearby. Whenever DD tells me she is applying for a West Coast job I bite my tongue HARD. But recently she told me she's rethinking the moving away from the parents thing. She's my only and we are very close. Could she be maturing?

CherylDan, glad for a bit of relief, sorry to hear about more chemo.

Jillyb, that's a tough one. I had the same choice, opted for mastectomy as radiation seemed too scary. Turned out to be the right choice since my tumor was bigger and more aggressive than thought. But these are things you don't know at this point. When you reach a decision you will feel much better.

We managed Christmas dinner with no sink, countertops, or dishwasher. We did have the new oven and cooktop, however! Worked out ok, but washing dishes in the bathroom sink is no longer a novelty. Countertops today, the end is in sight!

 

[Feralpeg]

Cheryl, Hope removing the fluid gives you some relief. Sorry to hear about the possibility of more chemo.

Jillyb, Happy for you that you can taste again. It's amazing what getting your sense of taste back does for your overall outlook on things!

Snappy, I totally relate on having your baby close to home. I know Kendall was so disappointed having to move back home, but I love having her here.

mom2grace, Hope your mom has a quick and painless recovery.

PrincessKsMom, Thinking of you. Hope your not in too much discomfort.

Kendall and I had a nice quiet Christmas. One of Kendall's friends came by for dinner and my sister actually got the day off from Disney.

Kendall is beginning to get very excited about starting her journalism classes in January. She had a date last night with a new guy (she's doing the Match.com thing). She was a little concerned about this one because he is 38 years old. She is 25. She was pleasantly surprised. She said he was very nice and didn't seem that much older.

She's always had the idea that she wouldn't like anyone more than five years older. To some extent, I'm hoping this one works out. The ones she's meet near her own age have all been very immature (more interested in partying and no idea of what they want to do with their lives). Of course, I understand this. Kendall is still searching for what she wants, but it would be nice to have her with someone who is actually a bit established. I'd really hoped a prince on a white horse would come sweep her away to live happily ever after, but life isn't a fairytale. lol.

Hang in there ladies!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

As I was packing my bag for the hospital tomorrow, I realized that this time tomorrow I should be about halfway through the bilateral mastectomy.

I am getting a little nervous now - yikes.

Good thing I have more stuff to do this afternoon to keep my mind off it.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Playing catch up here

Barbara - glad to see you pop in. May you have a happy healthy 2014

Anne - good to see you pop in too. Wishing you all the best and thinking of Avery too and hope he is doing well

Cheryl - hope you are enjoying your trip and that you got some pain relief but also so sorry that you have to probably deal with the chemo again.

PrincessK - glad your surgery is over. I hope the pain is subsiding for you.

Jillyb - glad the taste buds are coming back. Hope you can enjoy some things you really like.

clh2 - happy for your sisters good news

Gasleepingbeauty - wishing yo all the best tomm. I am sure it is hard to concentrate on anything else. That is expected. My dh was away, missed a flight and flew in like less than an hour befor my surgery. I think he arrived home like 45 min. before I had to be there. Keep us informed when you are feeling up to it.

Peg - glad you are getting out and about and meeting new people. Hope they love Disney too. We will have to meet up when Laurie and or I are in Disney again. I am glad Kendall is testing the dating waters. I wish my oldest ds would do that. He was on christian mingle and it was so funny. Some girl at our church told one of the other ds that she saw his picture etc. Um she has 2 kids, def. not someone my ds wanted to be involved with etc. He didnt even keep it as it was just the free trial. He is so cheap he didnt even want to pay for the real service etc.

Diana - I smiled when you said about washing dishes in the bathroom sink. I actually had to do that when I had the radiation. I was not allowed to have any dishes etc near the kitchen since my radiation could come out in saliva etc. I had to wash them for a week in the bathroom and only the same set of stuff etc. Glad you are getting lots of good progress on the kitchen.I am sure it will all be worth it in the end.

Laurie - so glad you enjoyed your visit with your dd. I know what you mean about the baby leaving home. I will miss mine for sure. He is the most helpful, patient etc. When will she make her final college decision?

We finally went out for ds1 b day. He wanted to change the date again I said no. Ds 2 couldnt join us. Tomm. ds3 and I are making dinner for a family from church. The mom just got out of the hosp. They live in our neighborhood so its easy.

Ds 3 took me to see Saving Mr. Banks. We both really, really liked it.

GAGWTA. Thinking of you all.

 

[Feralpeg]

As I was packing my bag for the hospital tomorrow, I realized that this time tomorrow I should be about halfway through the bilateral mastectomy.

I am getting a little nervous now - yikes.

Good thing I have more stuff to do this afternoon to keep my mind off it.

Try not to worry too much. Fortunately, this is not really a very painful surgery. Because it is all surface tissue, I didn't find it bad at all. The first mastectomy, I had hardly any pain at all. I had a little more this last time, but I am 30 years older and the doctor was a bit more aggressive. I only had pain along the breast bone, and it didn't last long.

Keep your chin up! You'll get through this and be back to your old self in no time! Thinking of you!

 

[fortwildernessishome]

As I was packing my bag for the hospital tomorrow, I realized that this time tomorrow I should be about halfway through the bilateral mastectomy.

I am getting a little nervous now - yikes.

Good thing I have more stuff to do this afternoon to keep my mind off it.

Sending good thoughts your way. Best of luck to you.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

As I was packing my bag for the hospital tomorrow, I realized that this time tomorrow I should be about halfway through the bilateral mastectomy.

I am getting a little nervous now - yikes.

Good thing I have more stuff to do this afternoon to keep my mind off it.

I'll be thinking of you and sending good vibes and wishes your way.

Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers for the New Year.

I'm fine. No pain since the surgery/biopsy. I took the Vicotin twice after the surgery but I figured out I didn't need it. I do not like taking medicine if I don't need it. I'll be taking the packing/bandages off in the morning when I can finally shower! I really think wearing the sports bra 24/7 has been helping. We'll see how I feel tomorrow once the packing is off. Something tells me I'm about to get a little more uncomfortable.

 

[jillyb]

As I was packing my bag for the hospital tomorrow, I realized that this time tomorrow I should be about halfway through the bilateral mastectomy.

I am getting a little nervous now - yikes.

Good thing I have more stuff to do this afternoon to keep my mind off it.

Sending lots of pixie dust and prayers your way!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

smiley - hope you are having fun with your dgd
Princess power!