Best Of

tougholdcrow - what an insightful post. Thank you for your time and words.🥰

Our dear Bella turned 14 yesterday. We are in awe because we had 2 of her half-sisters along with her for a while. Both half sisters were taken by hemangiosarcoma (the most common cancer in goldens) one just before turning ten the other just after turning ten. Obviously Ms Bella has different genes for which we are extremely grateful. She is a smaller size golden and has a puppy face so everyone is shocked at her age. She is such a diva - she must have a fresh bowl of water whenever she wants a drink🤣

I've spent the last few months reading everyone's stories here, from their first posts to sometimes their last, sometimes their disappearance, sometimes their ongoing lives. I'm a writer (as we all are here), so I'm truly engaged in reading these stories, especially as my own fate is unfolding. Sometimes these stories are comforting, sometimes hair-raising. All are memorable. I was deeply touched by those we've lost here, a woman whose little dog chased butterflies in her garden, a singer who wrote for a French opera magazine, a wit who rewrote the words to Huey Lewis's "I Want a New Drug," and so many many more. Their lives are remembered here. Mothers and grandmothers and men and single women and lesbians and worried husbands and army veterans and teachers and businesspeople. Young and old. Rich and poor. People from all over the world talking to one another not just about breast cancer research but about their suddenly altered lives. I was amazed to find that some 115 people posting here right now have survived past 5 years, about half of those over 7, a good number over 10. Many people I read about lost their lives after a mighty struggle of 5, 8, 10, 12 years. The numbers here are far better than the reported statistics. And many were lost, cut down, facing much pain and heart-ache, some writing about their final moments here. I have to think that the community you have created here has helped people immensely, whether psychologically or physically or both.

We don't use our AC here in CO although we have it. The high today was 84—currently 79—and it will drop to 55 tonight so plenty cool to open windows. It reached 80 in the house but that is tolerable. We get a breeze most of the time. I love the summers here but not so much the winters. It is a trade-off. I Still don't feel well but I popped some meatballs in the slow cooker and will just do rice so it won't heat the house. Top with a salad and we are good. I feed a family of four and dinner is my contribution to the family. Still, I am looking for easy slow cooker recipes so I don't have to stand for long. I am trying to prep ahead and freeze so my DH can handle more of the cooking since I am slowly losing it. I have to capitalize on days I feel decent.

Hoping all you in the heat can stay cool. Heat is the enemy when you don't feel well.

Good morning, all.

What crazy weather almost everywhere. We're fine here in San Diego, especially near the coast where we live.

I'm adjusting to the new medication (Afinitor) and am using the dexamethasone to prevent mouth sores. Got the results from the 3rd Guardant360 test yesterday. I don't see much different from the last one. I did note that the Tumor Mutational Burden went from around 63 in 2023 to about 130. I think that means there are more targets to hit, but I'm not sure. My next MO appointment is in two weeks. Biopsy of the omentum is on 8/14.

I did reach out to an oncologist friend and sent him a copy of my latest PET scan and the Guardant360 test. It will be interesting to see what he has to say. If you happened to read my most recent blog post, he's the MO we were having dinner with when he talked about the future of AI (as opposed to AIs.)

Am looking over our trust and see that I need to update it. I need to change some of the people listed as contacts, etc., and specify one person in particular that I do NOT want to have any decision-making authority for me. I did get a medic alert bracelet that says, "DNR, NO CPR" along with DH's phone number.

I'll hanging out in the corner with my Kindle and my iPhone if anyone needs me. 😍

Love to all,

Carol

Seconding three tree on the heat wave. I’m among the many in Seattle without air conditioning and the fan barely cuts it. I instantly remembered what “close” feels like. I’m working hard to stay hydrated.

Irish - I'd forgotten all about the term "close" for humidity. I also remember older relatives using it.

A really tired and wiped out week for me, so haven't posted nearly as many responses to people as I would have liked, but I have been following along. Shots later this morning, so I imagine my week will continue to drag. We've had excess heat here the last several days, and I think that's part of what's causing my lethargy. Our heat here in the PNW doesn't compare to what many of you have experienced over the last week, but it is a lot for here, and if you're not used to it…

Well, have a good day all. You are the best! Mel, thank you so much for allowing us all to use your living room 😊.

Happy birthday Goldens!

Tanya, I hope you're feeling better.

I'm sorry the triage nurse couldn't give you any new advice. Sometimes the status quo just isn't that great. Hugs.

Sondra, some days it's just okay to take a down day and stay in bed.

Two scans today, and I had to be up earlier than usual, so I'm pretty wiped out. I have the MRI results already and there are some new terms in it. I'm hoping the PET-CT results are clearer. I see my MO next Tuesday to go over them. Actually, this should 1be my first appt with his new PA, so we'll see how that goes.

I can’t imagine not having AC during heat waves. I’m afraid there will be lots of them in our future. We have been blessed with great weather this spring and early summer. Lots of rain so our water bill is low. Only a handful of days with crazy temps but nothing over 90. I realize we still have the rest of July and August but so far so good. Our SIL who is so smart (he reads 3-4 books a week and has a photographic memory), shared with us that Mr. Carrier, who invented the air conditioner, was originally asked to help get rid of all the steam in a manufacturing facility. It was discovered that what he came up with also dropped the temperature. Hence we have AC. So grateful to this man!

Sunshine, I've read that a higher tumor mutational burden could open up immunotherapy as an option? That's probably not the only factor but it's in my notes to discuss with MO when/if that's an option. I really hope the affinitor works well for you, and that those mouth sores stay away!

I grew up in the PNW, the temps there recently sound crazypants to me! We had a week of lovely mid-70s sun here but now back to heavy fog and mid-60s highs.

Thank you for the probiotic recommendations! I started on one yesterday, hoping it will help. My latest labs show I'm anemic, likely from all the diarrhea in the past month and not absorbing enough nutrients.