Best Of
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
@irishlove Strep is going around Chicago now too so I agree with @betrayal that it might be better to do one more doctor visit to treat it (Sigh).
So sorry you had to cancel your planned Christmas trip but at least you will get your money back.
@cookie54 It must be so challenging for both you and your husband to have such serious health issues. Hopefully you can lean on each other and get through this.
Had a couple of fun nights-pizza party with co-workers, dinner and farkle with pickleball friends. Staying in today and making some soup from my rotisserie chicken carcass. I may try to get to the gym to do upper body. My new hip is getting better and better which is a relief. In a holding pattern to see what my next cancer treatment might be. Still taking Ibrance as we wait for tissue biopsy and Guardant results, along with new scans at the beginning of January. I feel good so I'm not worrying about anything.
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
marticcrn, sorry to read about your news. I hope once you have a plan in place, we can offer comfort, support and assistance. The nurse navigator should be able to assist you with getting the appointments you need for follow-up. ((HUGS))
betrayal
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
@marticcrn Sorry to read of your dx. We are here for you so let us know if we can help.
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
well, dear friends, I am official. Grade 3 TNBC T3aN0. PET scan on December 18.
KEYNOTE 522 starts Monday. She will re-MRI every six weeks and if the tumor is clinically gone, I get to go to surgery (so let’s hear it for complete response) and quit chemo.
I have my heart set on DMX but I haven’t had surgery consult yet. Since I’ve lost 40 lbs (thank you Zepbound), my boobs are just loose skin with very little contents. The tumor is 5cm, so resection would be deforming and I don’t want scanxiety. I’m also terrible about getting screenings done, as evidence by the fact I missed last year’s mammo. So …
telling people has been awful. I had my manager send out an email generally saying marticcrn has breast cancer (I’m a nurse) so people wouldn’t wonder/talk. My hair stylist cried when I told him. I haven’t told my adult kids yet and my 7 year old just knows Mommy had a lump tested. Gonna get there later this week. I really hadn’t anticipated how bad telling people would be.
Port soonish, but chemo starts first. I need your nail care tips, your skin and stomatitis tips. Alll the hints pls.
Hugs to you all.
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
Hi everyone. I managed to catch up on the goings on around here. Wishes for a healthier new year for everyone.
Cookie, DH was able to improve his heart failure status and no longer has restrictions. He swims everyday or night and walks the dogs 1/2 hour or so each morning. We believe it was triggered by undiagnosed Covid, even though he had his vaccine and booster shots.
Mara, we use coffee filters in our air fryer to reduce clean up. Works well and doesn't burn. Plus it's inexpensive. Oh do those burritos and other mexican inspired foods sound delicious.
I've been sick on and off since mid-October. I still have pneumonia. Then I caught a nasty bug that took a week to shake. Now I'm pretty sure I have strep-throat. It was a minor sore throat for 2 or 3 days and today it became very sore. Took a flashlight and shined it down my pipe and sure enough saw pus pockets both sides. Been to so many hospital visits and doctor visits that I'm going to cheat a bit and treat this myself. Have antibiotics for UTI and I believe I have another one, so this should cover both medical problems (hopefully).
We had planned to go home for Christmas (first time in over 5 years) but cancelling tomorrow DH booked Amtrak train roundtrip and motel room. We should receive full refund. Sometimes I am so sure of myself and then have to admit that my body just isn't cooperating. Talked to my sis and we agreed to reschedule for spring.
In pockets for scans and hoping for good success with new meds to have improvement and better health for the new year.
Irishlove
Back after years - lymphedema surgical resources?
Hi everyone. I was diagnosed with lymphedema I think in early 2011, so it’s been a while. I used to be on this board a lot back then. I’ve stayed active and used compression and not had much trouble with flares of swelling. My swelling never goes away completely, but it’s still soft and it’s honestly quite subtle to the eye. I’ve had doctors refuse to believe I even have lymphedema until I tell them how many times I’ve had cellulitis. But there’s the problem - cellulitis. I am just out of the hospital after a particularly bad episode. It’s not the first time I’ve been hospitalized. I try so hard to be careful, but it still hits me hard out of nowhere.
Does anyone have any personal experience with node transfer surgery for recurrent cellulitis, but not late stage lymphedema? I see it listed as an indication for the procedure on some websites, but I feel like I’m searching so randomly. I just don’t know what else to do at this point. I’m particularly scared because my knees are seeing the end result of a lot of sports and I’m awaiting a replacement. The Infectious Disease doc told me I was lucky I hadn’t done that already because I was so bacteremic with this episode. An infected knee prosthesis is leagues worse than an infected arm.
If it makes a difference, I am in the SW, in a small city with overtaxed medical resources. Phoenix and Denver are the nearest big cities.
outfield
Hello everyone, I am new to this.
I am scheduled for two lumpectomies on the left breast with needle localization. One lumpectomy is for an irregular enhancing mass measuring up to 2.1 cm at 2:00 o’clock, 8 cm from the nipple and the other lumpectomy left breast lower outer quadrant. I had my consultation yesterday for surgical planning and I feel like everything that the doctor told me I forgot. I feel like my brain went blanked. What should I expect after the surgery? Not sure if she told me it is general anesthesia? I need clearance from my PCP, Chest XRAY, and EKG. When can I drive again post surgery? I am 37 years old with 4 kids ranging from 16 years of age to 2 year old. Will the recovery be painful? I do remember that the surgeon said I wont have any sensation on the breast and that it will be a lot small than the right. Treatment will be decided once we get answers from pathology. Thank you in advance
suzy2618
Re: cording (axillary web syndrome)
@nope123 it went well. Pretty big truncal cords! PT helped me figure out some stretches, showed me massage for cording and scars. Or course, since I started radiation today and my bood is very red, I'm now agraid to touch that side. Slathering on th aloe vera!Decided I might need a 2nd plant…
Re: Who's starting Radiation in November 2025? Let's gather here to share!
Hello@nope123
Thank you for your message!! 😊
First off, it is great that you and your husband were able to have a getaway. So great for the mind, body and soul to be in a different environment and enjoy beauty!
I absolutely LOVE walking the trials we have close by, and being in the forest. But winter is upon us and I live in Ontario, Canada, so that may be a bit difficult walk, although not impossible. As long as it’s not icy ! haha
Thank you for sharing on how you are feeling. Happy to hear that you are feeling better. Like you said, it’s a marathon and we will finally make it to that finish line in terms of treatment. And I was told by my team that the side effects are gradual and build up over the course of treatment and the “worst” is about 2 weeks after the last radiation treatment, which sounds in line with what you described.
I am most worried about the fatigue. I am off work til the new year so me being home and resting is on the books for me.
Good news!!
I heard from the Cancer Centre yesterday. I am restarting on Thur Dec 4th. Isn’t is crazy that I’m “excited” and a bit anxious to restart and then just want to be done with it!!
Just the whole process.. checking in, getting a hospital bracelet, changing into the scrub top (which here, volunteers make them and BC pts all get one to wear through radiation, as they open and close with a velcro strip at the sides and down the front) and we get to keep them. A note came with it saying , do whatever you want with it once you are HEALED!! Keep it, Burn it, Bury it) and I so understand the meaning of that now), then I grab a warming blanket, then I wait my turn.
Just the process, but I will have a positive attitude and WILL get through it just like all of us here!!
So I have 8 more rounds.. as I had the one on Nov 21. 4 more whole left breast, and then 4 boosters to the anterior (so partial)
I feel good and hoping I can reach my new baseline this time and hold my breath. But if not, I’ll have to do it free breath.
I’ll send an update!! 💗
Re: Getting ready to start chemo? Join the December 2025 chemo support thread!
welp, here we are. This time last week, I was having a biopsy. KEYNOTE 522 starts Monday.
For those of you who have to drive hours for treatment and wait weeks for tests, I’m so sorry.
I guess I’ll start by saying I’m grateful to live in a terrific medical city - big med school paired with some of the best hospitals in the world. My life is infinitely easier for it today.
I’m in shock. Trying to figure out if I can work (I work in ambulatory surgery as an RN), telling everyone (my hair stylist cried when I told him), tests, tests, tests. This part is exhausting by itself
anyone else feel like they need to comfort their friends? It’s weird.
I’m buying cold mittens and socks. Got some cute hats (but it’s winter in Minnesota, so need the warm ones, too!). Gonna pack a big bottle of water and a ginger ale for chemo. And my headphones.
Oh, intro stuff. I’m turning 60 December 19. I have three kids - 37, 35, and 7. Not a typo. I have three grandkids - 6, 8, 9. We have two kitties and a dog about the size of the cats. My wife is a hospice transitions coordinator RN. I’m an endoscopy nurse - your friend from your colonoscopy.
Looking forward to meeting y’all and hanging out.