sherryw

I am sort of going through something similar but it is with my 19 year old, she got her first dog 8 years ago.  It is totally her dog.  Well, about 3 months ago we found out that she has bone cancer, we have her on strong pain meds right now and that is keeping it under control, but my daughter knows the inevitable.  She was saying that when Sophie dies she will loose her love of dogs because she feels that Sophie is the one who gave her the love for dogs that she has now.  But, she says she would do it all over again just to have those 8 years with Sophie.  I know when Sophie dies she will take some time to heal and then she will get another because she know the love that a pet can give and also receive.

I also would like to add something that others may not agree with but you are asking for advice so I am sure you want to hear all angles and views.

I agree with Rose, I think that maybe if you told your daughter that she is part of a family.  There are four other people in the family that really want a dog because they know the love that a dog can bring to a family.  Those family members know that eventually one day in the future that the dog will die, but that is something that you keep in the back of your mind and will try not to dwell on it.  When that happens maybe in 3 years or 14 years  that you will deal with it as a family.  But, in the meantime you will be able to have so much fun and be able to share so much love.  I would also tell her that because she really doesn't want a dog that she will not be asked to do anything for the dog that she doesn't want to (she will want to trust me) like walking feeding bathing or cleaning up.  Tell her that sometimes in families the other family members do things they do not really want to in order for other family members to be happy and have something they really want.  Some day she may really want something or do something that the other family members may not want to but they will go along with it because that is what a family does. 

I breed Golden Retrievers and I talk to a lot of people and I have people come to get a new puppy the day they have just put a family pet to sleep due to illness and I have had people say that they needed a year to grieve and now they are ready for a new pup.  I always tell them that this new puppy will never replace their lost pet but it will replace the time they have spent with their pet.

Sorry this is so long but thats what it took.  I think you are doing the right thing getting different opinions and then you can take bits and pieces of those opinions to make your decision as a family. 

sherry

Lisa

I am not sure how close you live to the place that did the scan.  I get my scans done at the hospital, so the next day after a test or scan I go and ask medical records for a copy of all of the tests done in the last month.  Don't give them the impression that you are trying to get the results before the doctor has spoke to you about them because they may not want to give them to you yet.  It always works for me, I always get the results for anything before the doctor has them.  They are your records they have to give them to you.  As soon as radiology has read them they go right into your file and then to the doctors office, and then we all know that depending on their protocol they may sit on someones desk for a while.

sherry

Ozzie

Congratulations on getting to stay on the Xeloda, I am really happy for you.

Hang in there

sherry

Faith

Those babies look so cute and healthy.  My niece had twins back in June.  Were yours full term?  Our twins were 2 months early they had to spend 5 weeks in the hospital.  They are doing great now.  What are their names?  I will be a Grandma for the first time in August I just can't wait.

Congratulations

sherry

Carley

I am not triple negative, but even before my surgeon had the pathology report he said Chemo would be highly advisable because of my age.  At that time I was 40.  I ended up having cancer in 3 nodes so chemo was a no brainer. 

Just think of Chemo like the pac-man game,  the big mouth pac-man(chemo) is running around eating up all the little cancer cells that may have slipped through your lymph nodes. 

Hang in there it is doable

sherry

Misty

I know you are scared we all were, but don't be too scared about the stereo-tactic biopsy, it stings a bit but just the thought of knowing that this is the the next step you have to take in order to know for sure what is going on in your body makes it easier to go through.

Hang in there, you will do fine.  Don't be afraid to ask them if your husband can go in the room with you for comfort and they may let him if thats what you want.  My husband never left my side through many of the procedures and he gave me strength and comfort and also and extra ear. 

sherry

Flower

The Axillary node dissection is when they take out some of your lymph nodes from under your arm to test them to see if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.  Mostly now they do a SNB( sentinel node biopsy) which is where they just shoot some dye into you and see if the nodes are cancerous it is less invasive.  I did not qualify for the SNB because I had a real big lymph node that could be felt. 

A sister of my friend just had the surgery you are going to have and hers ended up being calcification's.  She is healing just fine with no problems just a little sore, she is just so happy that it wasn't cancer.

Did you have any biopsies at all? 

sherry

DJW

I am three years out from surgery and still cancer free.

Candie,  I also have been having a lot of pain in my breast, my oncologist told me it was the radiation.  I wanted to make sure she was right so I made an appointment with my radiation oncologist and he confirmed what my oncologist was telling me.  He asked if I noticed it more when there was a low weather front coming through, I said I really hadn't noticed but all I know is that it hurts.  He said you will notice it now that I said it and he was right when it is cold and damp it is much worse.  He said some people can take a longer time getting over the pain from the skin and tissue being compromised by the radiation.  So now I am not so worried about it being a recurrence.  I hope this help you not be so worried.

Sherry

Hi

I was in the same situation with my axillary dissection, it was a very painful surgery to recover from.  I could not put my arm down to my side for a month.  I got a small pillow shaped like a lady bug and it became my underarm friend.  I would put it between my elbow and the side of my body and that helped so much, otherwise it felt like my underarm was on fire.  Nerves do not like being disturbed. 

 I used ice packs under my arm, but only leave them on for

20 minutes at a time.  Hang in there it does get better, I am 3 years out and I have about half of the feeling I lost back.  Thats not a bad trade off for being cancer free.

sherry

Angie

Chemo is doable, more doable for some than for others.  You may be one that glides through it with very little trouble..  Do you have any Xanax or something for your nerves and emotions, if not you should call your oncologist and get them to call something in for you.

 Take advantage of the meds they give you.  Also make  sure you get some anti nausea drugs when you go for chemo.  But most importantly come back here for all your questions and concerns or just to cry or rant, we will be here to pick you up.  This is doable.

sherry