Best Of
Re: thread for middle age to older Christian women.
Nancy, so glad to hear things are going well for your remodel. You have been on my mind all day. Enjoy your evening. Chris
Re: how about drinking?
Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Monday Monkey Day! Got our first snow yesterday, mixed in with rain, didn't stick, but a harbinger of things to come. And boy was it cold, outside and inside. Some things I really planned to get done before the weather changed didn't happen, and now I've got to see what I can do about making them happen now before it gets any colder. Which means I will not be able to go to Mom's every other day, so I'm feeling guilty about that. And I just called Mom's dr's office to get orders for blood work faxed to the place she's at, they have a person come in from the local lab once a week and will draw the blood without my having to drive her to the hospital, and am having trouble getting through to the correct nurse, which has me wound up even more and ready to dissolve into tears and just go back to bed so I don't have to deal with the flat tire I've now got.
So here I am, sitting at the computer with little girl dog Zoe half in my lap, listening to me reminding myself that none of these things are insurmountable, none are life or death, and I know how to handle each thing, and I need to just take it one phone call at a time. And that I can open a new bottle of wine to go with dinner tonight to celebrate. I keep a few bottle of wine in the fridge, and when I was reloading the fridge the other day I saw I had one of my favorite wines in the wine drawer, and that's the one I'm going to open tonight.
Ok, rant and pity party done. Onward and upward.
Teka--the first snow is pretty, isn't it? Is yours sticking or did it melt off?
Morning, WallyCat!
Jazzy--I'm so glad you had a good visit with your sister. I'm also glad you didn't have any real trouble getting home with the flight cuts starting. I can't imagine being a TSA worker right now, they often aren't treated well when things are going normally, it must be a hundred times worse around without getting paid, the flight cutbacks, and the holiday travel starting all at once. Sounds liike you have a nice work schedule over the next few weeks, good for you! And you have lots of people coming to visit soon, that will be so much fun for all of you!
Miriandra--good for you for going back to massage! I'm sure you will do really well.
First Snow Cocktail Recipe
The First Snowfall cocktail is a creamy and spiced drink that captures the essence of winter. Here's how to make it:
- Ingredients:
• RumChata (cream liqueur)
• Vanilla vodka
• Ice
• A garnish of cinnamon stick or nutmeg - Instructions:
• Shake all ingredients with ice.
• Pour into a chilled glass.
• Optionally, garnish with a cinnamon stick or nutmeg.
This cocktail is perfect for winter gatherings and pairs well with holiday favorites like warm apple pie and gingerbread cookies. It's a festive drink that's easy to sip and even easier to love.
Re: February 2020 Surgery Group
This looks like the place to be for surgery Feb 2020-related questions.
Two weeks ago I had a lumpectomy on one side for a ER+, PR+, HER2- 1.1 cm, grade 2 tumor with a breast reduction and lift on the other side. On the "other" side, I'd already had breast cancer in 2017 (yep, this was my second primary) and radiation. Well, I opted for the reduction (my plastic surgeon (PS) suggested a "lift" as well) so that side would match the new lumpectomy side. Supposedly my cancer is gone (clean lymph nodes/clean margins)--so YES, a big YAY--but I'm not happy with the "other" reduction/lift side. The size of the two is now pretty decent, but the nipple was lifted way too much. It's really different than the lumpectomy side. I'm kinda bummed.
So, the PS suggested an in office procedure to cut a cresent moon shape above the lumpectomy side and lift that nipple to be close to the already lifted side. I canceled the appointment for a few reasons and would love to have input on any of these. 1) already not too happy with the PS's original intent; I feel that the reduction/lift should've come out closer to the lumpectomy side. Since that reduction/lift side had previous radiation, though, I'm not sure if the PS should've just done better or if it was a hard surgery. 2) I don't want to lose sensation in the lumpectomy side nipple. Would that be the case? 3) Hesitant to go through another surgery even if small. The reduction/lift has been difficult, painful, and a little slow to heal. It's probably good I didn't know how slow and difficult healing would be or I may have just left the two sides quite uneven and then been unhappy. Without knowing how difficult and long the recovery was, I'm decently happy--at least with the reduced size/matching. But the nipple misplacement is bothersome. Thoughts? Similar experiences?
JLBinPDX
Re: Looking for others with low risk, less than 2cm, IDC stage 1 grade 1HR+ HER2- on endocrine therapy
That's fantastic ! I felt like, for me, it was just the "this is what's supposed to happen next" and not, what's right for ME, from my oncologist. I will be asking my surgeon about 6 month mammograms and will go from there.
Stay well!
gmm3916
Re: HER2 Positive-anyone 10 years out?
celebrating 12 years 4 months since my diagnosis of ER/PE-HER2+ stage II breast cancer. I started coming to this site back in 2013 and kept “searching” for survivors with my diagnoses. I’m so happy to be here and post today. Love ❤️
Making that Final Surgery Decision
Hi to everyone. I am new to the group. I was diagnosed early in the year with ER and PR - and HER2 + with lymph node involvement breast cancer. (stage 3A). I have completed my last treatment about 4 weeks ago and trying to mentally prepare for the surgery. I am at the point where I need to make a decision but having a bit of a struggle making the final choice as to whether I choose the single or double mastectomy. All along I was planning to have the single breast removed that was affected, with the flap surgery, however, I recently started second guessing whether I should do the double mastectomy. My main concern and question is am I more at risk because of my cancer type for something to develop on the other side. I am 51, and no family history. This sort of hit me out of left field. Being HER2 positive and ER/PR negative; does that increase my chances of something developing on the other side? My doctors have been great but I feel like I just need a little more guidance in terms of my risk and I know they can't tell me what to do as it's a personal choice. I know the risk is lower generally but I struggle with removing what is now healthy tissue; but I also don't want to go through this again. I just want to know if what I have puts me more at risk and if I should consider the double mastectomy more. Any input would help. Thank you.
Re: How has normal, day-to-day life changed for you after diagnosis? Share your “different normal.”
Hi @rockym,
We're so very sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis. We know this news is difficult for you, but please know no matter what the tests reveal, you're in good company here, and we'll all be here to help you navigate your "different normal". We've got you.
Please keep us posted. Sending gentle hugs!
—The Mods
Re: How has normal, day-to-day life changed for you after diagnosis? Share your “different normal.”
This site needs more promotion. So much traffic was lost when the site was updated. Covid might have been what had so many join and post. I know the need for this site is important.
katg
Re: Starting chemo in October 2025? Let's support each other here!
Hi Everyone, This is a quiet group so I hope it means you’re all weathering chemo ok. In case my experience is helpful for anyone, my 2nd infusion was a similar experience to the first. In both I used ice packs on my hands and feet. They were really very cold and eventually got a little painful so I had to take them off about half way to give me a chance to warm up a bit before putting them back on. So far I have not had any neuropathy. (I did not elect to use cold caps, and predictably lost my hair.) I have had some weird sandpaper-y feeling in my mouth and tongue about a week after infusion (which is going away) and definitely a blunted sense of taste, that has persisted. Food enjoyment is not the same but I haven’t had any nausea. Being able to get a good night’s sleep makes a huge difference in how I feel. My energy is slowly coming back and hoping this is the case for the last week+ before my next infusion. I hope someone can share whether their infusions seemed to all be similar side effects or if some side effects accumulated/ got worse towards the end. Hang in there everyone! I wish you the best with your treatments and recoveries.
Re: HERCEPTIN and/or PERJETA Threads
Well, my last signatera test for 2025 is….NEGATIVE!
And all the gynecological testing shows nothing concerning, what is there is benign.
Now I can relax and enjoy my holidays. I've got no medical appts til December (😣) but one is dental and one is dermo….so not so bad. Back to oncology in January.
Hope all of you are doing well here ♥️
olma61