bluewillow

I have already posted here earlier, but I just though of another "Stupid Thing"--

I work in a state government job where I have colleagues all over the state (we are all friends and communicate regularly).  When I first got my diagnosis, I sent out an email to them giving them a short summary of what was going on.  I was overwhelmed at the out-pouring of thoughts, prayers, blessings, cards, etc. EXCEPT for one, who happens to be a male, and who I still speak to but not as often.  He told me that he "would rather have Alzheimer's than cancer-- at least he would die happy and not know what was happening to him and not have to suffer".  That just floored me and really hurt-- I had an aunt that had Alzheimers and have known so many others stricken with it and I know first hand what an a cruel and awful disease it is.  Though I have tried to forgive, I will never forget his words.  Some friend, right?

Hi ladies,

Thanks so much for your replies-- you've given me a lot of reassurance. Tender, I didn't know about the MQSA, and that makes me understand the letter's wording.  The onc nurse did tell me it was a form letter and I guess that's why. But a more thorough explanation from my dr. would have been nice.  Brenda, thank you for sharing and telling me not to freak out, and I'm glad you got some thorough attention wth yours. Another big concern of mine was whether my port removal was still on schedule-- I guess they would have said something if it weren't-- maybe I've blown this all out of proportion, but after all that we've been through, I guess that's normal, right?

Wow. 

Graceths and Barry, my husband has been saying the exact same thing for years about a cancer cure not being lucrative for the big business, especially after I was dx'd with breast cancer.  He has had several family members with cancer, so he knows first hand that cancer is a huge money-maker-- an industry, and I'm pretty much with him in that thinking.  Look at what a marketing opportunity breast cancer has become.  Look at all the pink crap that is being sold-- heck, Ford has even built a Mustang with a pink ribbon on it-- looks like they could fund the real cure.  If there was a cure for cancer, my insurance company wouldn't be out $200,000+ and the cancer center where I go could not have added the multi-million dollar addition, in which each and every room is decorated with its own color and theme...  makes me want to puke everytime I go in there, because we're still struggling to pay off what the insurance didn't cover.  Whew, I have to get off this subject...

Thanks for bringing it to our attention.

Hi again!

Moody, mine is under the skin too and I was told it was farther down than most-- a trademark of my surgeon so that the scar won't be as visible in a bathing suit, tank top-- how "kind" of him! 

Brenda, I wondered about the scar tissue-- I have a tendency toward that and I guess I'll just expect it-- not so bad though compared to all the other crap that's gone on.  And I've had mine since Aug. '07 and wonder if it's "grown" in there too..

Thanks, Miss S - I do think I will ask for mine, even tho my husband thinks I'm nuts.  He so kindly took photos of the nurses yesterday at my last Herceptin, even one of the needle being pulled out for the last time!  I plan to freak out some people with it, like my adult children-- mean, aren't I?

Katiejane, did you remember anything from the procedure with the twilight sleep?  I had that with a colonoscopy and couldn't recall anything... really a strange feeling!  Thanks for the heads up about the Ativan-- I still have some and I will take it just in case.

Donna, wow, the world is getting smaller   My brother-in-law lives in Candler, and I know where Otto is!  We camped in Macon County last weekend up on Wayah.  How neat that you were reunited w/your birthparents-- what part of Florida?  My aunt lives in Melbourne and a cousin in Naples, and I vacationed at Jax Beach as a child- wonderful memories!  My doctor is David Hetzel at Hope A Women's Cancer Center in Asheville.  Good luck on your last treatment!!  BTW,  I KNOW the port removal will be better than the drain removal-- those things are baaaadd!!

Hugs and thanks to all for your advice and encouragement!

Mary Jo

Hi there Tina!

Thanks for your advice!  Yes, my daughter is quite the fashion critic-- she is 28 and has great taste and a very classic style-- not sure where she got it from    She has told me many times that she is trying to get me on the show What Not To Wear-- boy that would be awesome!

Now you've got me excited about a change!  I'm so glad you mentioned Loving Care-- I was thinking about it the other day-- is it permanent or does it wash out in a few days?  I'd much rather do it at home since salon color is so costly.  What other brands do you use and recommend?

Thanks again for your encouragement!

Mary Jo

ps-- I'm still reading your decluttering thread, and still being inspired!

Thank you so much for your help, wonderful ladies!

Adrienne, I'm glad yours went well even tho you were under general anesthesia and thanks for the heads up about the muscles adjusting... hadn't thought of that. Barb, I had wondered if I would feel a pulling and only took 15 minutes-wow, I hope I'm that lucky. Kerry, what an awesome idea to make jewelry out of yours-- I would love to see pictures of it if you could post them when you get your creation finished! Heck, we paid $$$ for them-- we oughta get to keep them! Wendy, I am so glad to hear you don't have much of a scar. Not that I ever wear anything revealing, I just feel scarred up enough right now. Nancy, it sounds like yours was as easy as my oncologist has promised me it will be.

I am so grateful to hear that it is a simple procedure, and it sure sounds much more pleasant than drain removal.   That was sure no fun!

YAY for everyone for getting that port out and again, thanks and hugs for helping me out!

Have a great week,

Mary Jo

Hi ladies,

I have a question about strength training, and I'm hoping to get some advice from the fitness experts here-- like FitChick and Felicia and others who are more "in the know" than I am... (which would be a lot of people)...

I am at the end of my treatments (Herceptin), have about 25 pounds of chemo weight to lose and I'm ready to get on a regular fitness/weight loss program. The only real workout I have gotten lately is on the weekends out in the woods hiking and hunting. Before I was diagnosed with BC, I was in good shape and could lose weight fairly quickly just by cutting back on eating and moving more, but now that I am 52 and in menopause, I know I'm going to have to take a very aggressive approach to getting this weight off.  I have a desk job and am flabby due to loss of muscle tone.  To put it better-- I feel like a marshmallow!  I enjoy strength training, so I just ordered several ST videos to get me started (using 2-5 lb weights).  My first question is: can I do a strength training video each day or do I really need to skip a day in between workouts?  I will also do cardio at least 3x a week on a treadmill or walking outdoors.  I would like to do the videos each day just to get into a regular routine-- it seems when I skip a day I get lazy, slack, etc.  BTW, I have a lot of upper body strength and don't fear getting muscles, etc. 

Second question:  is it best to eat a snack before a ST workout?  is so, what foods are best?  am thinking I'd like to work out in the mornings before breakfast.

Thanks to anyone who can offer me advice!

Mary Jo

Wow, in reading this great thread, I am blown away by some of the awful stuff people can say

My experience definitely pales in comparison with most everyone's here, but I will never forget it.  Because I had a fairly "easy" time with chemo, I continued to work through my treatments.  My job involves computerized school bus routing and I deal with all levels of people from school administrators to school bus drivers (my favorites!).  Other than this one incident that I am about to describe, I had lots of support, love, and help from my co-workers and administrators.  One day, the lady in charge of our exceptional children/special education program came into my office for some bus stop information.  She knew of my bc and after a quick and insincere "how are you?", she asked "so, when will your hair grow back?"  I calmy told her "I'm not worried about my hair growing back as long as the cancer doesn't" and she quickly exited my office. And to think she is in charge of our exceptional children's education and welfare...

Hi! 

On this beautiful crisp Saturday morning, I'm decluttering and throwing out stuff, thanks to inspiration from Abbadoodles' Making Do With Less thread under the Moving Beyond Cancer forum -- check it out, it's great!  

I just found this clipping of an ABC News transcript from an interview with Dr. Susan Love, M.D. entitled "Can Breast Cancer Be Cured?"  (copyright 2007 ABC News Internet Ventures)  It follows:

Question: Can breast cancer be cured? 

Answer: Breast cancer can be cured.  In fact we cure three-quarters of breast cancer; the problem is when somebody is diagnosed with breast cancer, we can't tell that woman that she is cured, until she dies at 95 of something else.  So, we know we cure breast cancer, but we never know if any one particular person is cured at any one time.

It pretty much says what all the combined responses here say.

For some strange reason, I found great comfort in this quote, and this is one thing I will keep. I found it a week after I was diagnosed and I found it very uplifting and encouraging. Have a great weekend, all.

Mary Jo

Susan, I understand perfectly what you're saying.  I too have mixed feelings about the term "survivor". (but like Obama said, it's better than the alternative!)  All you ladies gave the greatest responses here!  Otter, like you, I've never heard the term "heart attack survivor", or "diabetes survivor", etc.-- tho I'm glad for those who are!  I do know now at this point, I feel like I want to help others by what I have experienced, so those who are going through the awful treatment times will know that they too will "survive" and there is life after treatment.  By the way, Harley, good for you on being a RFR volunteer!  Tina, I agree that we should hang around this site for those who need us! Farila, you are such a wonderful inspiration to us all! 

Although pink has always been my least favorite color, right after I was diagnosed, I absolutely despised anything with that damn pink ribbon on it-- and I mean anything and everything.  Now, I don't feel that strongly. I even have a pink magnet on my office door that says "early detection saves lives", and that is my mantra.  I do hope when people buy pink stuff, the sales will benefit somehow in finding a cure and better treatment.  And sometimes I think the media makes it harder on us trying to move on.

Hugs to all!

Mary Jo