Best Of
Re: I’m on hospice - anyone else?
@chicagoan Thank you. I have my grandson for the weekend, and we spent the day doing a scenic rail tour yesterday with my daughter and SIL as well. It was my best day in a long time, and I had over 5,000 steps. I am so grateful today. He gives me energy for sure. I love him more than life. I always say I put my big girl pants on when he’s with me. Lol.
kbl
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
irishlove, so sorry to hear of your sister's comments. She clearly doesn't understand. Did she ever have any interest in learning about breast cancer and the effects of the meds? Must not have been paying attention. I have an issue with my sister too. She won't ask me how I'm doing or for any details. Originally very interested but I didn't answer her a few times when I was feeling overwhelmed. Said she wouldn't bother adki g me again. And hasn't. Makes it hard to want yo talk to her. Some of husbands family never asks either. Glad I have a few good friends. I hope you do too.
gailmary
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
Let's try this again. My computer just wiped out my post. Don't know why or how.
Hello everyone. It's difficult to read of @exbrnxgrl (Caryn's) passing and @candy-678 close friend, too. Some days are hard to find joy but I do know that grandchildren and family (Mara's brother and family) are so important in our lives. We seem to narrow our social lives whether by choice or by other's decisions. Sure miss going out for dinner, wearing heels and dancing with DH. For those that can move about, keep bringing those wonderful stories and pictures our way. To @kbl what a lovely memory you created for your grandson and family. Prayers for a peaceful journey sweet one.(from another thread).
We are making the most of this enjoying Phillies baseball and eating some mighty good food prepared by FACTOR distributers. I do not own stock or have any affiliation with that company, but I no longer have to cook. @mara51506 if I could cook like you do it would be a different story. You get so much joy out of creating different dishes. @threetree I remain in awe of your strength while testing goes on. Next time sing a tune like Beach Boys (Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty Mama) and imagine sunbathing on a beach. That works for me, well a wee bit, anyway. I learned something new today about those numbers that I wish were good lottery numbers, versus CA numbers. I had no idea they could rise due to treatment.
As for me I have an MRI this week to see if the Neurosurgeon can help with the severe spinal pain. I've been waiting for sometime to get this far, having done PT for it and of course, insurance and referrals that go missing. Also, I am devastated that my sister has pulled back her support. No more long phone calls, just basic text once a week. She was my bff for 69 years, so this is very sad. She's quite conservative about doctors and meds and since I'm on opioids and anti-depressents, well she stated she believes I'm a addict. I cried for two days and now I'm taking my power back as best as I can.
Laurel
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
August 8, 2019 I found the lump. August 19, I was told it was cancer. August 23 was surgery. Hoping for another 6 years cancer free.
petite1
Re: Are you currently (or have you been) in a Clinical Trial?
Right? Craziness, but a good surprise, indeed. And this is the second time I've had "bad" scans and good numbers to contradict it and determine the scan was misleading. I didn't freak out as big as I could have because I learned my lesson the hard way the first time, haha, but still I think my brain has whiplash.
I took my last pain pill at 4am yesterday, and it's barely there today, so that's good. I don't know how long the pseudo-progression thing is supposed to last. When I did the Bria vaccine trial, they mentioned it as a possibility with immunotherapy. Datroway isn't immuno, but I guess it's a thing with all drugs.
I'll just ride the wave and see where it takes me. I had medium high hopes for this one—so far so good!
I'll keep you posted!
Hope everyone is doing well and plugging along!
CBL
Re: I’m on hospice - anyone else?
I had the most wonderful three days with my husband, daughter, son-in-law, and my most precious grandson. Anyone who knows me knows he is so important to me. He finally knows Grandma is going to die. We hadn’t told him because up until the last month or so, I was able to function and still look almost normal, except my stomach at this point. I got to celebrate his birthday three days early. He’ll be six.
kbl
Re: I’m on hospice - anyone else?
@kailag, so sorry to hear Caryn made her transition—but glad she was with loved ones as she passed peacefully. She was a force of nature on these boards (multiple threads). May her memory be for a blessing, as her life surely was.
chisandy
Re: Stage III Cancer Survivors...15+ years and out
I am officially part of this group now! It’s a group I never thought I would see but here I am baby!! I have not been here in so long that I had to create a new login, I couldn’t remember my password or old email to reset. I would say it’s chemo brain but at this point it just might be old age too. 🫣 I was jennyboog now I’m jennyboog2.
I just wanted to stop by and post this milestone. It’s just a quiet little celebration just for me. I had no other party or big event, I just knew privately what July 28th was and I like it that way. Although I’m beyond excited that this day came I choose to move on and live my best life. BC is a passing thought now and doesn’t consume me like it once did. I now feel I could actually pass on from other things, that it might not even be BC anymore…as weird as that may sound to some. No, I’m not the person I was before BC, I am better. I listen, I understand and I feel deeper than ever before. I don’t stress the small details or get involved in drama. I appreciate it all now and thank God for every single day. Stay strong and encouraged, you will be ok. Love to all❤️
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
Goldens- I can relate to the thinking of how would I feel now, at the age of 54, if I would not have been diagnosed with Stage 4 at the age of 47. I think I would have been the type of woman that post-menopause I would have gotten arthritis. I have RA and my mom had OA, so I think I would have suffered from arthritis in my "golden years". But I think the cancer treatment (lowering estrogen levels) sped up the arthritis. I feel like a much older woman than 54. My sister is 53 (we are 16 months apart in age) and she is limber and healthy. On the go all the time. I feel like I am 90, and walk like that too.
Re: Are you currently (or have you been) in a Clinical Trial?
@cure-ious Thanks for checking in! You have perfect timing! I had my third dose of Datroway today and the craziest week ever…
I'd been doing 90% better on round 2 than round 1. I switched from Compazine to Ondansetron and all the gagging, vomiting, and poor eating resolved. My stamina improved slightly and the fatigue consistently improved after day 7.
Then on Sunday, I started having right shoulder pain behind the blade and it stretched to my ribs so it hurt when I breathed too deep. Soon it spread to my side/abdomen and I figured it was referral pain and notified the doctor's office. I started with Tylenol to ibuprofen to Tramadol then finally hydrocodone to get the pain (constant 6, spikes of 8) under control.
The doctor ordered early scans for Wednesday. Results showed significant growth of the majority of lesions, including one that was affecting my hepatic veins. The last set of labs showed significantly increased liver numbers, so I was expecting horrid numbers today…
They all went down by like 50 to 100+. What the hell?
So the oncologist thinks that the 'growth' is actually swelling and healing. The pain could be inflammation, so he prescribed steroids. Since my numbers improved and the chest lymph nodes appear to be smaller, he's leaving me on Datroway for another few cycles before we scan again at the 3-month mark.
What a crazy rollercoaster this week has been! Ultimately good (if not completely solid) news. I could sure use a beer and a nap.
That's it from the Datroway battleground. :)
CBL