Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part IV - GAGWTA

[snappy]

Opening my bracelet

 

[snappy]

My favorite attraction in Dc

 

[Dancind]

Robin, the insistance on a lymph node biopsy is "old school", new research shows that it really doesn't help the outcome to remove nodes. My surgeon insisted too, but I went ahead with him because I didn't know any better. I still have problems in that area and always will. No node involvement either.

Snappy, keep the bracelet in a zip loc at night. It's the air that tarnishes it. And a simple polishing cloth will keep it sparkly for you. I sell older Native American jewelry and people like it to be tarnished! But not the new Pandora bracelets.

 

[robinb]

Snappy, I love your pictures! Your middle DD looks like a "mini-me" .

Robin, the insistance on a lymph node biopsy is "old school", new research shows that it really doesn't help the outcome to remove nodes. My surgeon insisted too, but I went ahead with him because I didn't know any better. I still have problems in that area and always will. No node involvement either.

That really sucks that you have problems from an unnecessary procedure. That was my feeling about the Dean surgeon ... she was "old school" all around. Frankly, if you're a "Get 'er done!" or "cover all your bases" kind of person then she would be a perfect fit. She really wanted to make sure she didn't miss anything the first time. I'm sure that her outcomes are very positive. Me ... I'm not the worrying sort. What will be, will be and there is no use worrying about a litany of "what ifs". Bridges are meant to be crossed when you get to them and not before. So the "measure twice, cut once" treatment philosophy was right up my alley. If I need to have another surgery to remove more, I'll have it. But you can never put back breast tissue or nodes if you remove things to be "better safe than sorry".

My nerve block finally wore off and I have some minor soreness and some minor swelling on my right breast and arm but no signs of infection. I'm continuing to ice my right side and I'm wearing a sports bra that I hate because it's too confining. BUT ... it's doing to the job to keep things nicely compressed .

 

[snappy]

Robinb, glad you aren't having much pain. I did have about 16 nodes removed, all were clear. I had some discomfort there early on, and numbness, but it's been 9 and a half years. I don't even notice the numbness. I will say the area under the arm hurt far worse than the mastectomy area from day one.

So you are red head too? DD17 is my little angel.

She told me she really did not like that picture I posted above with DD23 and DD23's boyfriend. Since she is shorter and was in the middle she told me it looked to her like she was their child. I actually think DD17's "look" makes her look more mature. When we ate at a nice restaurant in New Orleans the night DD23 and her boyfriend graduated with his family, the waiter thought DD16 at the time was one of the graduates!

DH, DD17 one of her friends, and I spent the night in New Orleans Saturday. She wanted to meet one of her friends from the camp in Alabama she went to for a number of years who visiting a friend who just started as a freshman at Tulane.

DD17 wanted to drive but we aren't comfortable with her driving down to New Orleans yet, so we worked our weekend around her. Treated DD17 and her friends to a stop at a second hand shop or two uptown, then paid for cab to get them back to the Tulane campus. DH and I then met up with my good friend Cindy and her S.O. for a leisurely dinner at an outstanding restaurant nearby to celebrate birthdays (Cindy's S.O.'s birthday was last week).

We let DD and her friend stay on campus for a few hours to get the lay of the land, then we crashed at Cindy's. Yesterday we lounged around and left once the Saints and the fans were safely ensconced in the Superdome.

My mom is back from Sandestin so we are going to lunch today to celebrate. It will be a good day.

GAGWTA!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Laurie - sorry its a little belated but...
Hope you have a year filled with much happiness!

 

[snappy]

No worries. You are actually not late!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Peg - Thinking of you and hope you are home resting and that the surgery went well.

robinb - hope you are healing

kofslinky - how did your your visits go? Hope you are healing

smiley - your trip sounds fun!

cheryl - I hope the new bank comes through for you with the condo

Laurie - loved all your pictures.

Well I am back from the new internist. No parking, took forever to check in, slower than slow, billing lady talking on a personal phone call. I was underwhelmed to say the least. There are over 10 doctors there so we were led down a huge hall into neverland etc.

Hmm, the dr. looks like my old gyn who moved. This dr. has great credentials, John Hopkins, Columbia etc. But really no bedside manner so to speak. Do I need that? I dont know,but gosh it would be nice. She is just very matter of fact. Doesnt seem very compassionate. I got an ekg, and they were checking some pulse and oxygen levels and the lung test. She said nothing is sticking out. Oh I gained more weight again. Hmm, maybe I better talk to the endo about this. Its troubling me. She might have to adjust my med.

Anyhoo, this dr. wants me to have:
blood work
x rays of my R hip, R knee and chest
sleep study
holter monitor
echocardiogram
thallium stress test
OMG!!! My head is spinning.

She said come back in about 6 weeks. You are having a lot of homework to do and I am calling this your 100K mile check up. You have a complicated history, um, yeah I know that.
Um, she didnt even give me a flu shot! Or mention it????

Well I guess she is thorough for sure. I think I would rather have dr. waste my times personality though. I had dh be with me. He commented to me that she was so skinny etc. He didnt care for her personality either. I even think the surgeons are nicer!

Well I guess I will be busy. I dont know if or how much of this I can get accomplished. Some stuff I also have to research about my insurance. Like the monitor and sleep test. They want it at a certain place I think and my ins. doesnt cover it etc.

I am so not looking forward to all of this stuff. Well at least I got out of the colonoscopy because i told her I had it like 4 years ago.

Please say a prayer for C. the young teen girl with the brain tumor. tomm. she is going to Sloan Kettering for an mri to see if the 6 weeks of radiation she had over the summer helped to shrink the tumor. If it didnt, I dont know what their next step will be, maybe chemo? The tumor was so very close to her optic nerve and already her vision is affected etc. My heart breaks for her. She just started 9th grade on Mon.

GAGWTA

 

[CherylDan]

Snappy, sounds like a great trip! Love your pictures, you look so happy opening your gift - happy (belated?) birthday!! Have you been wearing the bracelet very often?

LMP, wow, that's a lot of test, but it's good they are being so thorough. Sorry to hear you didn't much like her, hopefully her skill outweighs her bedside manner (or lack thereof). Is your trip coming up soon?

Robinb, glad to hear you are healing well. Sending you lots of good thoughts for good test results on Tuesday!

Smiley, your trip sounds awesome!

DH and I had talked so many times about going to Gatlinburg TN and renting a cabin there, and I thought we might actually do it this Nov......made the reservation and everything. But we cancelled yesterday, decided that we would rather wait and plan something over his Christmas break.

we have entered the long stage of hurry up and wait regarding the short sale on the condo, take two. We went for the inspection last weekend and everything looked good. I sure hope this one works out - actually, at this point I'm glad the other one didn't.....we like our second choice much better.

It has been so hot, humid and just plain gross here the past several days. Schools without AC have had to cancel classes. Good news is that by Friday, the high temp is supposed to be 68! YAY! I love fall weather, it is my favorite.

GAGWTA!!

 

[Feralpeg]

Wow! So much going on with everyone. It's hard to keep up!

My surgery went well. I'm pretty sore, but I've had worse. I hate dealing with the drain. Hope it will come out next Thursday when I see the surgeon.

They wanted to do the markings for the radiation on Monday, but realized that I was having surgery and their markings would get messed up. That is on hold until after I see the surgery. So, it looks like the start of radiation is a couple weeks off, whether that is what the radiologist wanted or not. It's okay by me. A little healing time in between sounds like a good idea. Still hoping to have everything over and done by Thanksgiving, but it is looking tight.

Thinking of you all!

 

[Talking Hands]

Hi I'm Lisbet and I was just diagnosed with breast cancer in my ducts. It is overwhelming. Waiting for a referral to a surgeon.

 

[Feralpeg]

Hi I'm Lisbet and I was just diagnosed with breast cancer in my ducts. It is overwhelming. Waiting for a referral to a surgeon.

Lisbet, It is overwhelming, but you've come to the right place. Here, you'll get the support (both informational and emotional) that you need. I know it's hard, but try to stay upbeat. The treatment possibilities available are amazing. You will get through this!

 

[robinb]

LMP - I hope that what your new doc lacks in bedside manner she makes up in ability! It sure does sound like she has a laundry list for you!

Cheryl - Are you thinking about a cabin over Christmas break or something else? We always go to WDW that week and we are usually there for NYE. It's a complete ZOO but fun in a sardine kind of way.

Peg - I'm glad to hear that your surgery went well. {{hugs}} and healing vibes headed your way.

Lizbet - I'm glad you came over to the thread. I was exactly where you are now only a couple months ago. The ladies here have been really great to me.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Lizbet, I'm sorry you have to join us, but welcome. The biggest fear you probably have is that you might die from this disease, but fortunately today, odds are good that won't happen. Keep that in mind as you begin down the road to better health.

Lmp, glad you had your appt with your new internist and glad your son is enjoying his clinicals!

 

[LiveYourLife]

Robinb's link to this thread in Lisbet's thread sent me over here.

Just wanted to send you all a and positive, healing light, as you each take your individual journeys to getting better or remaining cancer free.

I'll keep you in my prayers.

 

[robinb]

Robinb's link to this thread in Lisbet's thread sent me over here.

Just wanted to send you all a and positive, healing light, as you each take your individual journeys to getting better or remaining cancer free.

I'll keep you in my prayers.

Thanks LiveYourLife !

 

[robinb]

I finally got my pathology back yesterday. There was good news and not great news (not bad, just not great). First of all, the cancer was non-invasive . Second, all my margins were clear . Lastly (and here's the not so great part) my medial margin was very close: less than 1/2 mm. So my surgeon wants to go back into the same cavity and take a bit more on the medial edge. I was feeling pretty good and now I have to go through most of it all over again. *sigh* I'm supposed to see him today so we can schedule it. Unfortunately, my DH starts to travel for business again next week so I'll be home alone with my DD. I'll have someone to drive me to/from the procedure but I'll be ordering pizza for dinner on the day of my surgery .

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I finally got my pathology back yesterday. There was good news and not great news (not bad, just not great). First of all, the cancer was non-invasive . Second, all my margins were clear . Lastly (and here's the not so great part) my medial margin was very close: less than 1/2 mm. So my surgeon wants to go back into the same cavity and take a bit more on the medial edge. I was feeling pretty good and now I have to go through most of it all over again. *sigh* I'm supposed to see him today so we can schedule it. Unfortunately, my DH starts to travel for business again next week so I'll be home alone with my DD. I'll have someone to drive me to/from the procedure but I'll be ordering pizza for dinner on the day of my surgery .

Overall, great news.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Robinb's link to this thread in Lisbet's thread sent me over here.

Just wanted to send you all a and positive, healing light, as you each take your individual journeys to getting better or remaining cancer free.

I'll keep you in my prayers.

Thank you.

 

[kofslinky]

Lisbet- Welcome to the club we never want people to join. There are lots of great people here to give support, and we can share our stories to let you know what we went through.

robinb- Glad to hear some good news for you!

I saw the surgeon and my oncologist a week ago, and so far everyone is happy with my healing process. The healing is still quite an uncomfortable process, but at least its healing. I'll be happy when I can move normally without as much pain, but I have a feeling that's a long way away. Still packing the wound twice a day, which is just annoying. I definitely won't miss this when it's over.I go back to the doctors' offices next week to make sure things are still going well. I have until October 23rd to receive another treatment before I get kicked off my clinical trial, so I've got some time to heal before I have to worry about the next phase of treatment.