Profile for mom2acat

Member Since: April 10, 2003
Last Login: December 2, 2008
Location: Big Rapids, MI United States
Occupation: retail, discount store in appearel dept.

Biography

My name is Shari, no human kids, just the kind with fur; I have 2 indoor only cats named Timmy and Kallie, they are my babies!

I was dx with stage 2 BC in March 2003 at the age of 39. I had a bilateral mast. without reconstruction, followed by chemo then radiation.

In Feb. 2004, I began Lupron injections every 3 months which I am still on. I was put on Tamoxifen, then later switched to Arimedex which I was on until April 2007.

In April 2007, I was diagnosed with bone mets to the pelvis, left hip, and small areas of my spine and a few ribs. I had radiation therapy to the left hip this spring.

My current therapy is Faslodex and Zometa once per month.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis:	Dx 4/8/2007, 5cm, Stage IV, Grade 2, 5/19 nodes, mets, ER+
Diagnosed:	April 8, 2007
Type:
Recurrent?
Metastatic?	Yes
Stage:	Stage IV
Lymph Nodes Removed:	19
Positive Lymph Nodes:	5
Tumor Size:	5cm-5.9cm
Tumor Grade:	Grade 2 or medium grade
Hormone Receptor Status:
HER2/neu Status:

Recent Posts by mom2acat

Posted in: Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis + Recurrence and Metastatic Disease, Created: 7 hours ago

How Many Stage 4 Girls are getting SS disability..

I just received a phone call with great news! I have been approved for SSD!

Ladies, if you are applying, make sure you ask about the Compassionate Allowence, it will move your claim through faster. I started my application process on November 6th, so it was well within a month for me that the decision was made.

I am so releived, a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Now I can concentrate on finding out what is causing my hip and knee pain and do something about it. It will be a Merry Christmas for me indeed!

"One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home."- Pam Brown
Dx 4/8/2007, 5cm, Stage IV, Grade 2, 5/19 nodes, mets, ER+

Posted in: Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis + Recurrence and Metastatic Disease, Created: Nov 28, 2008 09:40 am

Tried my hand at poetry today

Thank you so much everyone, it means a lot to me that you all liked it!

"One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home."- Pam Brown
Dx 4/8/2007, 5cm, Stage IV, Grade 2, 5/19 nodes, mets, ER+

Posted in: Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis + Recurrence and Metastatic Disease, Created: Nov 27, 2008 11:41 am

Tried my hand at poetry today

(((HUGS))) Pam, of course that is ok!

"One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home."- Pam Brown
Dx 4/8/2007, 5cm, Stage IV, Grade 2, 5/19 nodes, mets, ER+

Posted in: Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis + Recurrence and Metastatic Disease, Created: Nov 27, 2008 11:36 am

Tried my hand at poetry today

Thank you! I was a bit shy about posting it, but I am glad I did now!

"One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home."- Pam Brown
Dx 4/8/2007, 5cm, Stage IV, Grade 2, 5/19 nodes, mets, ER+

Posted in: Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis + Recurrence and Metastatic Disease, Created: Nov 27, 2008 11:22 am

Tried my hand at poetry today

I'm not writer, or a poet, but this morning some of these lines just came into my head, so I grabbed a pen and paper, and thought I'd give it a try. This is about living with metastatic breast cancer.

Think Positive

"Think Positive";
Easy for them to say,
they do not have to live
with this every day.

This beast inside me
can be kept at bay,
but will not entirely go away.

Another scan, another test;
possibilities of progression
turn my thoughts into a worry-fest.

At last, the results are in,
I breathe a sigh of relief;
and I begin my life again,
saying a prayer of thanks.
For a little while
I can forget my angst.

For now, maybe,
I can be so bold
as to entertain thoughts
of growing old.

I still have thoughts
on certain deep, dark nights,
that this beast will one day
will take my life,
but I will not go out
without a fight!

I have this thing
that helps me cope.
It's deep in my soul
and I call it Hope.
It is my lifeline,
it is my rope;
the thing that keeps
my heart afloat.

Life goes on,
and so do I.
I don't have time
to sit and cry.

I treasure the moments
when I can forget
that I have to live with "it".
For me, having an ordinary day
is a blessing to me,
I know then that I will be okay.

"One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home."- Pam Brown
Dx 4/8/2007, 5cm, Stage IV, Grade 2, 5/19 nodes, mets, ER+

Posted in: Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis + Recurrence and Metastatic Disease, Created: Nov 27, 2008 10:54 am

Buzz

((((HUGS)))) I am so sorry.

"One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home."- Pam Brown
Dx 4/8/2007, 5cm, Stage IV, Grade 2, 5/19 nodes, mets, ER+

Posted in: Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis + Recurrence and Metastatic Disease, Created: Nov 27, 2008 10:54 am

tumor markers - time to worry?

My tumor markers have gone up before for reasons that have nothing to do with cancer, such as a cold or the flu. My doctor only worries if they continue to go up higher and higher. Then he uses them to decide, along with any symptoms I may be having, if any tests need to be done.

"One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home."- Pam Brown
Dx 4/8/2007, 5cm, Stage IV, Grade 2, 5/19 nodes, mets, ER+

Posted in: Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis + Recurrence and Metastatic Disease, Created: Nov 26, 2008 09:28 am

Funny Movies

Some of my favorite "feel good" movies are

Benny and Joon

Some Kind of Wonderful

and an "oldie" from the 60's; a Haley Mills movie called The Trouble With Angels; it's about 2 girls who attened a Catholic boarding school; it's funny yet it is also family friendly too.

"One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home."- Pam Brown
Dx 4/8/2007, 5cm, Stage IV, Grade 2, 5/19 nodes, mets, ER+

Posted in: Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis + Recurrence and Metastatic Disease, Created: Nov 26, 2008 09:25 am

Just for fun-- Let's talk hobbies

I am also getting back into sewing. This is a walker organizer I made for an aunt who lives in a nursing home.

And these are some of the catnip goldfish I am making for the kitties of friends and family for Christmas; just orange felt stuffed with catnip.

"One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home."- Pam Brown
Dx 4/8/2007, 5cm, Stage IV, Grade 2, 5/19 nodes, mets, ER+

Posted in: Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis + Recurrence and Metastatic Disease, Created: Nov 26, 2008 09:23 am

Just for fun-- Let's talk hobbies

Saint, you do beautiful work! And I don't see any mistakes! I have done some cross stitch in the past, but have never had to patience to complete any big projects, so I think what you have accomplished is awesome!

I have always loved crafts, but between working and being tired out from cancer and treatment, I haven't done a lot in the past 5 years. Now that I am no longer working, I am getting back into it. My newest hobby is beading, still have a lot to learn about it, but this is a detail of a necklace I made recently:

"One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home."- Pam Brown
Dx 4/8/2007, 5cm, Stage IV, Grade 2, 5/19 nodes, mets, ER+

Posted in: Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis + Recurrence and Metastatic Disease, Created: Nov 26, 2008 09:16 am

That Dreaded Word...Progression

Gentle ((((HUGS)))), keeping you in my prayers.

"One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home."- Pam Brown
Dx 4/8/2007, 5cm, Stage IV, Grade 2, 5/19 nodes, mets, ER+

Posted in: Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis + Recurrence and Metastatic Disease, Created: Nov 26, 2008 09:15 am

Bone scan moved up

My shoulder is doing much better, it does get achy at times, but the pain is not as intense and does not last all day like it did before.

The hip and knee continue to be painful though. I had my 3rd visit with the pain specialist yesterday. He is going to have me get an arthrography, which to my understanding is a special kind of MRI for the joints, of my hip. I will be getting that done on December 17th.

In the meantime, he decided to try another injection, this time in my spine, to see if that would help. It will be 3-7 days before I feel any relief from that if it does help.

I asked if my knee pain was related to my hip, and he is quite sure it is, but he had me get an x-ray of the knee just to make sure.

I also had my monthly oncologist appointment later in the day, I filled him in on what the pain specialist is doing, and he said most likely my hip pain is nothing to do with the cancer, which is reassuring.

Good news is that the tooth is a lot better, so I am thinking it had something to do with the sinuses, and the antiboitics are helping.

"One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home."- Pam Brown
Dx 4/8/2007, 5cm, Stage IV, Grade 2, 5/19 nodes, mets, ER+

Posted in: Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis + Recurrence and Metastatic Disease, Created: Nov 20, 2008 03:32 pm

How Many Stage 4 Girls are getting SS disability..

I think you can still work with SSDI as long as your income doesn't go over a certain amount each month, from what I understand.

"One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home."- Pam Brown
Dx 4/8/2007, 5cm, Stage IV, Grade 2, 5/19 nodes, mets, ER+

Posted in: Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis + Recurrence and Metastatic Disease, Created: Nov 19, 2008 08:17 pm

Some Good News :)

That is great!

"One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home."- Pam Brown
Dx 4/8/2007, 5cm, Stage IV, Grade 2, 5/19 nodes, mets, ER+

Posted in: Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis + Recurrence and Metastatic Disease, Created: Nov 19, 2008 08:16 pm

Results in- can I celebrate this?

Stable is great news! Congrats!

"One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home."- Pam Brown
Dx 4/8/2007, 5cm, Stage IV, Grade 2, 5/19 nodes, mets, ER+

Posted in: Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis + Recurrence and Metastatic Disease, Created: Nov 19, 2008 08:15 pm

Bone scan moved up

Well, the dentist didn't see any problems looking at the tooth with an xray; it is a tooth I had a root canal and a crown on way back in '94. The only way to tell for sure if it is a problem with the root canal is to go in there and look at it, something I want to avoid if possible. It might be an infection too; for now, I am on antibiotics and we'll "wait and see". I see my oncologist on Tuesday so I will be filling him in what is going on with it too.

"One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home."- Pam Brown
Dx 4/8/2007, 5cm, Stage IV, Grade 2, 5/19 nodes, mets, ER+

Posted in: Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis + Recurrence and Metastatic Disease, Created: Nov 18, 2008 05:29 pm

Bone scan moved up

My dentist has known about the Zometa; my oncologist wanted to make sure my teeth were in good shape before I even started the Zometa. It's a father and daughter dental practice, and when I told them about the Zometa, they were very interested in it. When I told them my oncologist was concerned that some areas on my jaw might have been bone mets about a year ago, they sent me to an oral surgeon that specialized in cancer for panorexic xrays. Fortuneately, had a good check up there! I think if I need any surgery that might by risky, they will send me to the oral surgeon.

"One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home."- Pam Brown
Dx 4/8/2007, 5cm, Stage IV, Grade 2, 5/19 nodes, mets, ER+

Posted in: Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis + Recurrence and Metastatic Disease, Created: Nov 18, 2008 01:35 pm

whining.......

So glad you had a good report!

"One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home."- Pam Brown
Dx 4/8/2007, 5cm, Stage IV, Grade 2, 5/19 nodes, mets, ER+

Posted in: Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis + Recurrence and Metastatic Disease, Created: Nov 18, 2008 12:08 pm

whining.......

Jeanne;

You should not have to wait like that if the results were promised on Friday; I would keep calling them until someone can give you an answer.

Hoping your results are good!

(((HUGS)))

"One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home."- Pam Brown
Dx 4/8/2007, 5cm, Stage IV, Grade 2, 5/19 nodes, mets, ER+

Posted in: Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis + Recurrence and Metastatic Disease, Created: Nov 18, 2008 12:05 pm

Bone scan moved up

I had my 2nd visit with the pain doctor today. Shoulder is feeling better, but my hip pain is still getting worse. My first coritisone shot in that area was in the front of the hip, this time he he did the back of my hip. If there is no improvement when I see him again next week, then he will most likely order an MRI of the hip and lower back to try to find the source of the pain.

And if my hip and arm pain weren't enough to contend with, I have pain in one of my back upper teeth, one that has a cap on it, when I bite down. So I have a dentist appointment tomorrow to get that checked out. I mentioned that when I went to my oncologist office to get my blood drawn through my port, and was told if it's anything that will involve surgery, to let them know first, because I will have to be off the Zometa for awhile if that is the case.

"One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home."- Pam Brown
Dx 4/8/2007, 5cm, Stage IV, Grade 2, 5/19 nodes, mets, ER+