Member Since: August 20, 2008
Last Login: November 1, 2008
Birthday: April 12, 1947
Location: Coconut Creek, FL United States
Occupation: calligrapher/caregiver
Biography
I am a 61 yr old female living in South Florida for over 43 yrs. I am my 91 yr old mother's caregiver as she is totally disabled from a car accident 24 yrs ago and in poor health with congestive heart failure and COPD. My biggest problem is how do I tell her!
My journey started on June 27th. I did my exam and everything was fine. No lumps nothing. June 28th after a shower, I saw my nipple was inverted. I made the appt. for the mammo and that was on July 10th. During the mammo, a lump was finally felt and seen. The waiting for results for more tests is the hardest part. I was to see the surgeon on Aug. 19th, but tropical storm Fay changed that, though I am seeing the surgeon on Saturday. I know I have invasive ductal carcinoma, grade 3, nuclear 2. I know that it is estrogen positive. I know that patience is a virtue, but I guess I am not a patient person right now. I am trying to stay calm because I do not want to upset my mother. I have a daughter who has just graduated from her masters in counseling and who works 80 hrs plus with the Juvenille Detention system for girls as a therapist. I am divorced and other than my daughter and mother alone here. I have a couple of friends but am totally isolated for the past 10 yrs taking care of my mom.
I am a calligrapher, and still do some work although I had to close my retail location when my mother became totally dependent on my presence.
To complicate matters somewhat, I am a diabetic on Insulins and have had shingles in my right eye for over 4 yrs. The medications for the shingles melted my cornea and the pain and burning in my scalp and eye are unbelievable. Ironically, I am able to see somewhat and my left eye has overcompensated. I can drive but would not drive a long distance in traffic.
I am looking at this journey as something I will hopefully be successful at completion of whatever lies in front of me. As I mentioned, it is how to handle my mother and her care that is my biggest problem. If it were up to me, I would insiste today that treatment begin, but I need to have patience. This patient to be has a lot to learn.
Diagnosis
| Diagnosis: | Dx 7/29/2008, IDC, 2cm, Grade 3, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
| Diagnosed: | July 29, 2008 |
| Type: | Invasive or Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma |
| Recurrent? | No recurrence |
| Metastatic? | |
| Stage: | |
| Lymph Nodes Removed: | |
| Positive Lymph Nodes: | |
| Tumor Size: | 2cm-2.9cm |
| Tumor Grade: | Grade 3 or high grade |
| Hormone Receptor Status: | Tumor has both estrogen and progesterone receptors |
| HER2/neu Status: | Tumor does not have an excess of HER2/neu receptors or genes |
Recent Posts by poohsmom1947
Posted in:
Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis + IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma), Created: Oct 31, 2008 09:29 pm
ShinglesHi. I have had shingles in my right eye and brain for over 4 1/2 yrs. This was before my bc and bilateral surgery. Very painful and stress brings in on. YOU CANNOT GET THE SHINGLE VACCINE IF YOU HAVE HAD SHINGLES. If you have had chickenpox, then you should. My shingles were calm thru the bilateral mastectomy on 9/17/08 but when I went to the oncologist, they came out after hearing that the chemo would be more than I had been told. I have been taking 500 mg of Famvir for the entire time and while they gave me neurontin for the burning, i could not function. I went for my port yesterday and I wore my patch on my eye. My cornea melted from the medications and my pupil is blown. the white of my eye has turned blue grey and I have a little vision. I am a diabetic and they said that is what caused it, but stress is the real problem. I wish you all well with the shingles and hope that you can make it through the pain and burning. It sucks! I should be the posterwoman for shingles my eye doctor says. Ronnie-Lee Glance Dx 7/29/2008, IDC, 2cm, Grade 3, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
Posted in:
Tests, Treatments & Side Effects + Just Diagnosed, Created: Oct 1, 2008 05:40 pm
Should I have a full mastectomy?I was told on 8/23 by my oncology surgeon that because my nipple had inverted(the only sign of something rong) I would be better off with a mastectomy since a lumpectomy would require taking over 2/3 of the breast anyway. I am not sorry. I had to have bilateral mastectomies and am home just 12 days since surgery but am doing well. i have to have chemo which they had thought I would not need. I had reconstruction begun right after the mast. Not for anyone other than myself. I do tire easily but that is normal. I am a divorced 61 yr old and not dating or planning on it. I wish you well and hope you have as good luck as I have so far. I did have node involvement and the sentinel nodes were taken out. Ronnie-Lee Glance Dx 7/29/2008, IDC, 1cm, Grade 3, ER+ |
Posted in:
Support & Community Connections + For Family & Friends of Those Who Have Breast Cancer, Created: Oct 1, 2008 04:01 pm
Friend going in for a bilateral mastectomy tomorrow morning Hi. I hope your friend does well. I was diagnoised with idc on Aug. 20th and just underwent bilateral mastectomies. I did not get emotional about the surgery and still have no cried. my recovery is going better than any doctor expected since I am overweight and allergic to most medications. I do tire easily and had reconstruction started right after the surgeon did his thing. The cancer was a little more advanced than they thought and chemo will be needed. Sleep is very very important and I tire easily. I agree that pillows to prop up is important. The first night home I slept in a dining room chair. It would have been nice if I had been told to use ice and if pain meds had been given to go home. I am two weeks out of surgery and get a little discomfort but I have an extrodinary threshhold for pain. I am just now able to hold a small paperback book and can sit at my laptop for short periods of times. I still cannot open the pill bottles and writing is not legible which considering I am a calligrapher it a little upsetting. I have to find an oncologist and not quite sure how to do that. It is not something I would recommend to even my worst enemy, but hopefully the cancer is all out and the chemo will get the rest. I have to trust my doctors. I caregive to my 91 yr old handicapped and wheelchair bound mom. I wont be able to life her wheelchair or carry packages. I have a loving daughter and whe tries to keep my spirits up. I worry about the wrong things like how will I pay my bills and the cancer treatment. My attitude is that I am going to be like general schwartzkoff and win this battle. I hope that they find a cure and want my daughter to join the army of women so that they can find the cause of cancer. my original dx was 1.5 cm and grade 1 but now after surgery it is 2B, 2.3cm, ER and PR+ but her2-. Looking for an oncologist as I write. Attitude and positive thinking helps. I am a divorced woman and what friends I had either have passed on from other types of cancer or want nothing to do with someone taking care of their mother. They said today I can start to drive in a day or so. I went into a mastectomy shop and got a bra and also a camisole that had pockets (with velcro ) for the drains and that was a big help. I paid for it myself but now my insurance will help out. My drains were removed 1 week after surgery. smile, things could always be worst though some days it does not seem that way. Ronnie Ronnie-Lee Glance Dx 7/29/2008, IDC, 1cm, Grade 3, ER+ |
Posted in:
Tests, Treatments & Side Effects + Just Diagnosed, Created: Sep 22, 2008 06:58 pm
HELP Scared about yet ANOTHER testHi robyn. I know your frustration well. I just underwent bilateral mastectomies. I hated the waiting and I can only tell you that I keep you in my prayers. Attitude is going to help you through this. My docs think I have not accepted what I have been through, but my attitude is ok, it is cancer and hopefully they got it early and all of it. I will be the general and put up a terrific fight. I am hoping my team which is local to my area are good. I have a 91 yr old mom who I am the sole caregiver for, so I just have to recover. There are some things worst than breast cancer, not many but treatments have improved. It is the waiting for the results that can make you crazy. Your husband loves you and that is important to remember Breasts do no make the person, you make the person. I wish you well. Ronnie-Lee Glance Dx 7/29/2008, IDC, 1cm, Grade 3, ER+bilateral mastectomies on 9/17/08 |
Posted in:
Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis + Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care, Created: Aug 20, 2008 02:25 pm
telling aging mother?Hi. i am newly diagnosed but seeing bcsurgeon on Sat. for first time. One of my problems is how do I tell my 91 yr old handicapped and frail mom? I am her only caregiver and petrified how this will effect her. It is 7 weeks since I found an inverted nipple and while I have had core biopsy still have many tests etc to go through. So far I have not told her but she is suspicious and i am very sharp because I do not want her to know. Am i wrong? i seem to be more concerned as to how I will take care of her than i am with what lies ahead. I envision a tough road for me, but how will I continue to give my mom what she needs? thanks Ronnie-Lee Glance Dx 7/29/2008, IDC, 1cm, Grade 3, ER+ |
Posted in:
Tests, Treatments & Side Effects + Just Diagnosed, Created: Aug 20, 2008 12:07 pm
Understanding your Pathology ReportI had a firbroadenoma 17 yrs ago and decided to have it removed immediately, even though it is almost always benighn. It is is the same breast, but different side, that I now have bc. I did not want to wait 3 months and my surgeon agreed. I had some calcifications then which I was told was normal at my age then. Try not to worry and if your surgeon is of no help ask your gyn for some guidance. good luck Ronnie-Lee Glance Dx 7/29/2008, IDC, 1cm, Grade 3, ER+ |
Posted in:
Tests, Treatments & Side Effects + Just Diagnosed, Created: Aug 20, 2008 11:56 am
Diagnosed yesterday!Hi. You are ahead of me in this new journey of breast cancer. I know I have invasive ductal carcinoma and it is 1.8 cm(as of 7/29) and a grade 3. I cried and worry about things that I cannot change. so I guess we just have to have the courage to face what lies ahead of us as best we can and if that means one min at a time, so be it. You have two children to take care of so I understand your frustration and fears. I have a 91 yr old mom who is totally handicapped and dependent on me for everything...I do not know how to tell her, so I stay in my bedroom as much as possible so she won't find out yet. I figure there will be good days and days of misery. Spend the money on the kids clothes. I too worry about money and how I will pay for all of this plus the health insurance monthly fee of 2000! I cry more about the money than the forthcoming surgeries that will be ahead of me. Stay strong and good luck. Ronnie-Lee Glance Dx 7/29/2008, IDC, 1cm, Grade 3, ER+ |