Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part IV - GAGWTA

[Feralpeg]

Glad it went well, Minky.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

minky - I am glad the port placement is done and behind you. Hope you are recovering. Prayers for you

Well giving a quick check in. I think the older dh and I get the less we do here at Disney lol.

yest. We went to Hollywood Studios , dh had a turkey leg, there went my food and wine food and today we had an adr for Be Our Guest lunch so there went food and wine again and tonight we are going to Yachtsman.

So tomm. its food and wine for lunch for sure. We listened to Air Supply and they were great!! MY ds3 asked who is Air Supply, gosh I am dating myself. However we had to stand 4 rows back to listen to them but I did get to see them when some people moved. I didnt think they would be so popular. I felt like I was young again. lol!!

There is an international thyroid cancer conference right now here at the Swan and I didnt even now it. I wouldnt mind talking to one of the drs. and picking their brain, lol!!

GAGWTA. The weather is great so far!!

 

[snappy]

Glad weather is cooperating, LMP. I hope you enjoy the food and wine.

Minky, hang in there. I hope your pain is under control.

Peg, I hope you can avoid surgery on your foot.

I am doing well. Busy workwise. Mom is continuing to improve, and she likes the caregivers with the senior services we hired. So far so good, but with her independent spirit I am not sure how long she will agree with this help.

Time is going fast. That must be things are improving.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Peg - Hoping your foot heals and the pain subsides

Laurie - glad your mom likes her care takers

Live report -
Hmm, the wheelchair wheel fell off and dh met the guy for a replacement outside epcot. He lied and made dh wait over 2 2/3 hours
I was up sick 2 nights from the food. The gastro dr. is next on my list to do, lol
I called my aunt from wishes and she said sadly my uncle passed away, but it was expected, so now tomm. I need to order flowers from our room, get boarding passes, pack up to leave on tues, arrange a hotel to stay for the funeral etc.
I will be glad when the vacation is over. Not the most enjoyable for sure.

 

[SirDuff]

I feel bad for even asking given what many are going through, but can I have some good thoughts for Tuesday? I have an ultrasound and biopsy scheduled (though there is a chance that they'll have to chance the biopsy to an MRI guided one so it won't happen Tuesday). I had my annual mammogram/MRI last week and they found what appears to be a new spot. I know that chances are that it is nothing (this is my third biopsy - first was a radial scar which just needed a lumpectomy and the second was absolutely nothing), but still always makes me a bit worried (even though I know that they biopsy unless they are more than 97% certain it is benign). I'm also in the middle of negotiations for a job in the US (I'm in Canada), so now is just a really bad time for all this (yes, I know that there is never a good time).

My mum was diagnosed at about 30-years-old (I was an infant/toddler, so I'm not sure sure of the exact age) and my grandmother had both breast and ovarian cancer, so I'm followed in our "high risk" program, which is why I have the annual MRI/mammogram.

 

[snappy]

SirDuff, it is difficult to be looking at a third biopsy. Were the previous two recent events? Regardless, there is no denying how stressful to be facing another.

I don't have any wisdom to share. I just think it's better to have the answer sooner than later. Getting that answer gives you and your health care providers the knowledge and ultimately the power to face it if you need treatment this time. I also am glad you are closely followed. The false alarms are stressful without a doubt but it's better to err in the side of caution. Have you had genetic testing?

Please come back and post how you are doing.

 

[snappy]

LMP, what a horrible experience with the wheel chair experience. Is it the same company you have previously used? I hope you make a stink about it.

Could you tell which restaurant and meal caused you to be sick? That is awful. Nothing worse than being sick away from home, especially gastro. After all the planing and expense, it must be frustrating to be glad it's almost over. Maybe tomorrow will turn out to be a good day, although I am sure it is hard to be positive after hearing that your uncle passed. I am sorry for your loss.

GAGWTA

 

[SirDuff]

SirDuff, it is difficult to be looking at a third biopsy. Were the previous two recent events? Regardless, there is no denying how stressful to be facing another.

I don't have any wisdom to share. I just think it's better to have the answer sooner than later. Getting that answer gives you and your health care providers the knowledge and ultimately the power to face it if you need treatment this time. I also am glad you are closely followed. The false alarms are stressful without a doubt but it's better to err in the side of caution. Have you had genetic testing?

Please come back and post how you are doing.

Thanks Snappy. The previous two were not very recent - 2008 and 2011. The first was the worst (I was also 31 at the time, which just hit close to home with it being the age my mum was diagnosed). I have been tested and came back negative but (BIG but) my mother and grandmother both died before they were able to be tested (they died in 1998 and 1999), which makes things difficult. We know that there are a lot of negative variants that are not captured by the standard screens, so (given the family history), even with the negative results my lifetime risk is modeled at about 30% (the cut-off for the high-risk program is 25%). Coincidentally, I actually have my PhD in genetic epidemiology, so I've had some interesting conversations with the genetic counselors.

I'd rather these false negatives than missing something (as much as it is stressing me out at the moment).

I will definitely update you all.

 

[snappy]

Thanks for sharing the specifics. With your history and your specific knowledge with genetics, I am not surprised you are proactive. You sound like a strong person. You can get through this. And we are here for you. Glad you found our thread. It helps to share I think.

I haven't been on the website in a while, but I used to read and post on facingourrisk.com. Very good info there. Can be daunting but also inspiring. Helped me come to a decision about reconstruction in 2006. Many women post there considering prophylactic mastectomies and reconstruction. Brave souls.

 

[minkydog]

Ugh. I've been in the hospital for 3 days, due to fever and some unnamed infection. Foo! I feel pretty bad, but the antibiotics are doing their job. Hopefully they'll let me go home tomorrow if my blood counts come up. DH has been wonderful being here with me, but is wearing himself out. I've insisted that he NOT stay overnight, so he can get some good rest.

 

[leebee]

Ugh. I've been in the hospital for 3 days, due to fever and some unnamed infection. Foo! I feel pretty bad, but the antibiotics are doing their job. Hopefully they'll let me go home tomorrow if my blood counts come up. DH has been wonderful being here with me, but is wearing himself out. I've insisted that he NOT stay overnight, so he can get some good rest.

Sorry to hear this, but glad the antibiotics seem to be working. Good call on sending your DH home to hopefully get some good sleep. As much as you probably want him around, he needs to stay healthy to help you stay healthy. Hang in there- thinking of you and sending positive energy thoughts!

 

[snappy]

Oh no!! You did not need this. Your DH sounds like a great one. Hope you both get rest and you are discharged tomorrow. It's so hard to get any meaningful sleep in hospital beds or couches. Your own bed is going to be so appealing. Sending healing thoughts.

 

[Feralpeg]

I am looking for a few additional prayers for a very nice guy. I met this man, John, through Facebook. He was part of the acting scene in Florida and we had a number of common friends. He sent me a Facebook request, which I accepted. I have never met John in person. He lived in Jacksonville until recently.

When John was much younger, he had lymphoma. He beat it. About two years ago, he was diagnosed with bladder cancer. He was undergoing treatment the same time I was having my treatments, so we shared encouragement. A year ago, he was told it had spread to his spine. He went through additional chemo treatments. Following his treatments, he moved to Boise to be near family. Things were looking up. He had settled in and was enjoying Boise. Then, last week, he was told the cancer had spread to his right leg and he would need radiation treatment.

On Friday, he had a seizure and was admitted to the hospital. The cancer has spread to his brain. He has two one inch in diameter tumors. He will be having brain surgery this week to remove them.

Through all this, John has been so upbeat. He is always there with positive comments for others. If you could spare a prayer for John, I would be very grateful. He needs as many as he can get. Thanks!

 

[snappy]

I will say a prayer for John tonight. Sounds like he is a truly inspirational person. Prayers too for his surgeon, caregivers and family.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Prayers to all who need them tonight.

 

[minkydog]

Just wanted let y'all know they released me from the hospital yesterday. I tried to do a little work from home today, but it was fruitless. By afternoon I felt so sick I just took my meds and put my sad self to bed. I really hope I feel better tomorrow because I have a TON of work waiting for me. I also have about 8 home visits to get done by the end of next week.

Foo. We were going to go see Christian this past weekend, before I got sick. I haven't seen him in about 3 weeks and I'm missing my buddy. Hopefully we'll be able to visit him on Halloween and take him some treats & toys.

 

[Feralpeg]

Thank you all for your prayers for my friend, John! It seems to be working! His brain surgery was a success. They were able to remove the cancerous tumors. He is doing well. He began physical therapy today. He has a little weakness on one side, but nothing severe. As usual, he is cracking jokes and making light of the situation.

Minky, I hope you feel better soon!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Just wanted let y'all know they released me from the hospital yesterday. I tried to do a little work from home today, but it was fruitless. By afternoon I felt so sick I just took my meds and put my sad self to bed. I really hope I feel better tomorrow because I have a TON of work waiting for me. I also have about 8 home visits to get done by the end of next week.

Foo. We were going to go see Christian this past weekend, before I got sick. I haven't seen him in about 3 weeks and I'm missing my buddy. Hopefully we'll be able to visit him on Halloween and take him some treats & toys.

Minky... you need to REST!

 

[minkydog]

Minky... you need to REST!

I know, but it's not like me to lay around like a slob. My boss has been completely understanding, but I don't want him to think I'm taking advantage, ya know?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Remind me (sorry, helping kids w college applications so been a little preoccupied) - you had the port put in, then were hospitalized with an infection, was that from the port? You are going to do chemo but haven't started yet? And radiation too?