Best Of
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
@tanya_djamila Wow Japan sounds fabulous! So glad you truly enjoyed your trip. Im sure it was well worth the Tylenol and heating pad remedy! Hope you’re home safely.
@mara51506 Glad to hear you and DB had a nice heart warming conversation. Sometimes we just need to speak from our hearts. Thanks for the well wishes on my Dexa, it worked! My numbers improved so should be able to stay on Prolia.
@chicagoan @eleanora @intolight Thinking of you ladies and your recent struggles sending strength and positivity your way. Hugs
Oh how we all miss our mom’s it’s a whole in our heart that never closes.😔
cookie54
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
@irishlove In your pocket, I am sorry about the pneumonia but glad you finished the antibiotics. I am sorry for the whackamole sort of treatment for you and empathize with the unease of a low doses of a drug that still give SE for you to deal with. In pocket as well for the PET scan, hope the epdural is at least dealing with any pain for now.
Honoring Beckie Child
We are deeply saddened to share that Beckie Child has passed away.
Although her breast cancer remained in full remission, her metastatic colon cancer progressed. Beckie was an extraordinary member of our community—always offering thoughtful support, sharing her knowledge generously, and uplifting others through every stage of treatment and beyond.
She was a passionate advocate, an inspiring educator, and a truly remarkable person. Her warmth, wisdom, and genuine care touched so many lives here.
We are profoundly grateful for all that she gave to this community. Her spirit and compassion will continue to guide and inspire us.
Here is a place to honor Beckie and share your memories with our community.
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
Mara……loving you from a far. I’m so sorry cancer is so annoying. Hugs for my friend….
Goldens~did I read your brother has passed? I am dearly sorry. I can even imagine. When my sister got cancer also. I got so afraid, both of our parents are gone.
Hello to Shana. Elenanora progression just plain sucks. One day at a time with that. I am in all pockets.
i understand how difficult things are sometimes, that is not lost on me at all. I know that my family isn’t the only one in the trenches. Love to all that need it.
Mara, serious hug your way. Squeeze you like a tomato!
micmel
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
Tanya! Japan??? I’m impressed you go girl. That’s exciting. Pics?? Glad your back safely . Wow!
micmel
Re: How long have you been Stage IV?
I was wondering if you wonderful ladies on here who have had mastectomies could tell me what to expect before and after and tips on anything I might need beforehand. I go see my oncologist on Tuesday Nov 4th. The results of PET haven’t changed and she mentioned surgery to me. So I’m just trying to get prepared. Thank you should also mention that I would have double mastectomy.
ssales13
Re: Who's starting Radiation in November 2025? Let's gather here to share!
Hi all, I just finished partial breast (5 treatments) yesterday. Just wanted to share some tips if you’re getting started this month. I would add too every person and situation is different, so knowing yourself and what you need will hopefully make things run smoother.
I work full time in the medical field, so having afternoon appts worked well for me. After treatment I was able to go home, lotion up, keep my bra off and relax. I also had a 30 mile drive from work to treatment, and then from treatment home. Having a snack and water for the drive home made me feel better.
Use whatever lotion your RO recommends but also what works for your skin type. I’m very fair skinned and started skin reddening after the first treatment. Basic Eucerin lotion, which has a thin consistency so easy to apply, is working best for me.
I was told I wouldn’t have fatigue until AFTER treatment was done. But I’ve had fatigue since I started radiation. It may be because I am still working full time, but I had an expectation I’d been ok during treatment and that has not been the case for me.
Sending good vibes to anyone starting rad treatment this month! ❤️
nope123
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
Wren, glad chemo is going easy on you (and remember that if cold you can always add extra layers but if hot there's ony so much you can do). Sending healing thoughts that treatments are effective and easily tolerable.
Betrayal, living vicariously through your photos! Enjoy!
We are fully moved back in! Bob had to handle the Trick or Treaters—despite ICE threats, there were so many that he ran out of candy in only an hour. I stayed behind supervising the cleanout and then collecting everything of ours left behind (so we wouldn't get hit with disposal fees) and cramming it all into my car—where it remains because when I returned home, the heavens had begun to open up and bring Halloween to an early end. Dreading venturing out to the car and not only schlepping the stuff up the deck stairs and inside but trying to find where to put it—my helper took an initial load before knocking off for the weekend and I'm beside myself going through all the boxes (boxes of our own, not the restoration company's, making).
Cats took everything in stride—a neighbor up in Skokie and her grandson were able to get them out of the safe room & into their carriers. (BangBang puked a little bit but it didn't ruin the carrier). We set up a safe room here, where they stayed for 24 hours before figuring out how to pry open a round doorknob (little Roxy is scary-smart) and start exploring the house to reacquaint themselves with all their favorite spots. They've adjusted better than we have: with all the boxes (and a lot of the things I need still packed away) it feels like we're camping out here.
ICE & CBP have invaded the more affluent neighborhoods & near suburbs, terrorizing schools and quiet streets. They tear-gassed a kids' Halloween parade in Old Irving Park on Thursday!
chisandy
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
@eleanora-Sounds like you have a lot going on. Thank you for your encouragement with the hip surgery. Today I was able to clean the kitchen and bathroom, including mopping up the floors and that felt like a great accomplishment (LOL). A friend of mine is also doing a course of antibiotics for her diverticulitis and has been switched to first a liquid and now a soft diet. The hope is that she can avoid surgery. Hope yours clears up soon and you can get back to Kisquali.
I see the radiologist on Monday to figure out what will be needed for the cancer that was discovered in my thigh/hip. It seems too soon since my thigh is still inflamed from the hip surgery. We'll see what they say. It's disconcerting since this cancer was completely missed by CT and bone scans and only discovered by an MRI. I have no idea how long it has been there or how rapidly it is growing.
I miss my Mom too. Now as I am going through some of the things she went through, I feel bad, because I didn't realize how hard it must have been. I tried to be a good daughter but now I see other things I could have done to make her life easier/more pleasant. It makes me very sad at times. But on the other hand, there is a sense of relief. She has been gone for almost 7 years. I don't think I could have continued to take care of both of us.
Anyone else watching the World Series? It's been so good this year. I am on the Dodgers bandwagon but admire the grit both teams are showing.
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
@micmel , @goldensrbest and others who have suffered losses, it is hard to lose family members and friends. I am sending love an support to everyone who is going through this.
@shanagirl I do sleep well but would prefer to make it to bed before I fall asleep on the couch but the broken up couch and bed combo is also fine. Need to try to at least go by 1 or 2 am. I do have a routine echo on Friday. No problem with that, heart usually cooperates.
I am debating food, what else is new. I am thinking stir fry frozen stuff with an egg. Heat up stirfry in pan, whisk egg and whatever seasoning. Option two sees a frozen burger done up in pan of course, use masher on it. Add a bit of mild taco seasoning and some cheesy seasoning for tacos together. Keep the burger as a side dish. Option two is 1/2 cup of black beans, chopped with chips to give a better ground beef texture, once that is done, take chopped bean, chip and shredded cheese combo, dump in the sprayed frypan with plant butter and bit of garlic spread. Stir them around in the heat a bit. Might also include some queso as well. I will post what I have. I am leaning toward option 2. I have also considered adding some of the cheesy taco seasoning from Old El Paso along with the mild taco seasoning as well, I will see.
Edit I went a little lighter with the bean meal. I still put the beans an shredded cheese, stil 1/2 cup. The pan had the plant butter and bit of garlic spread. Stirred mix together and remember to add queso and the cheesy dry old el paso seasoning. Mixed it together, is sitting with a lid on the fry pan. Letting it cool. Once I scoop it out, will add blob of ranch and wee bit of sour cream and lime. I am going to enjoy this for sure. I also realized that if I wanted to make my own pasta with the ramen noodles, just break them up and use them to be like the frozen pasta where I can add stuff on top and heat different things in the microwave OR take a mini griddle and heat up an egg with pasta
I have the laundry going, added a sock to the smaller repaired washer drain hose, no lint going down the drain at all, took the other one and am washing it out as well. Updated the floating lint filter as well since the smaller one did not come with one, reinforced with zip ties as well, makes it last a bit longer. Laundry will continue throughout the day.
@micmel I am always thinking of you and others. I still miss my Mom when it comes to someone to talk to. It has been almost 7 years coming up in January. It took me a couple of years to get past the sad feeling, I largely do not feel said or like crying, even when talking about her. I can remember when we all were at the doctor's office who told her she had metastatic lung cancer and she just said "Well that's shitty). Gave all of us a lighter moment. I was able to tell her how good of a mother she was to put up with me. Cried non stop for months. Eventually, I am not ripped in half but my mind says I miss you mom. I do not mind that thought.
Hope all have a good day, in pockets for everyone and my own to get more organizing done and stay off Walmart til I get through more of my groceries. I do not spend much but no need to fill everything up. I also just noticed Costco in the instacart section, it may be a good idea to keep an eye on that as an extra place to shop, I will see. I did get the instacart + 14 day trial then 19.00 for the first year. So many stores I could choose from, looked at the rotisserie chicken. I am debating that from Costco, there is one that is already cooked. Not shopping tonight or tomorrow but there is no rush and gives me more options than simply walmart for delivery.