Illinois ladies facing bc
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The wise man in the storm prays God,not for safety from danger,but for deliverance from fear.It is the storm within which endangers him,not the storm without.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
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When I was young, I admired clever people.
Now that I am old, I admire kind people. -Abraham Joshua Heschel0 -
Not the maker of plans and promises, but rather the one who offers faithful service in small matters. This is the person who is most likely to achieve what is good and lasting. -JohannWolfgang Von Goethe
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"I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no 'brief candle' to me. It is a sort of splendid torch, which I have got hold of for the moment; and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations."
— George Bernard Shaw
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When we recognize that nothing has to go right for us to be happy, that people do not have to behave for us to love them, our walk home can be surprisingly simple. We have enormous power not to manipulate the world, but to be happy and to know peace.
Hugh Prather
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Life is an exercise in the development of feeling. When we repress feelings, we become sour and judgmental. When we live awash in great feeling over small things, we become jaded long before we have even begun to enjoy. When feelings are in balance they sweeten long days and great distances with gratitude and hope. -Joan Chittister, Seeing with Our Souls
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Just a little note for you my friends. Tomorrow I'm going to be admitted to Barnes Hospital. That is across the Missouri river in St. Louis, Mo. which is about 75 miles west of me here in Illinois. I have cancer although everyone says it is a NEW primary. It has turned up in a very odd place. In the rt. ureter which is the tube that connects the bladder to the kidneys. Nothing in the bladder, and as far as could be told nothing in the rt. kidney.
That said, the plan is to remove the rt. kidney and the rt. ureter. The kidney itself has many openings and without a procedure ( 8 hrs. or more ) to check each opening I would be at risk. That is too long for and elective procedure and were I to take a chance to keep the kidney I would have to be put under heavy sedation every 3 months for at least 3 yrs. to make sure all was well. At my age --that is too much sedation, so I've opted for the plan to remove the kidney. It just seems much safer then facing too much sedation over a long time with having to stop my Plavix 7 days in advance each time.
I feel comfortable with this. A four hr. surgery and 2 nights in the hospital.
So, I will not be here to put in the quotes for a couple of days. Hope to be back after that quick as a wink and able to continue my joy and pleasure.
Hugs. to all.
Jackie
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Oh, Jackie, so sorry about this. Definitely in your pocket for surgery and recovery.
Sad to say that the ocular oncologist to whom my retinologist referred me is 99% sure I have ocular melanoma. Going to have a whirlwind of scans to determine whether it's spread (not likely, but never say never), then if it's confirmed to still be "encapsulated," have a needle biopsy to determine "class" and brachytherapy at the same time. The "plaque" goes in on a Mon. and is removed the following Fri. If all goes as planned, 5-yr chance of remaining tumor-free is 95% (knock wood). He says that a cancer patient has a 25% chance of developing a second (primary) cancer of any kind w/in 5 yrs. of first cancer dx. Most likely due to an undetermined genetic mutation for which there is as of yet no test. Nobody warned me (nor probably you).
Sigh. It is what it is. But that stupid "floater" in the other eye may well have saved my life. It's why I saw the retinologist in the first place, and agreed to have both eyes dilated and examined.
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A voice from the past here.... haven't posted in forever, but I do get the daily emails with Jackie's posts which are much appreciated. Jackie, so sorry about your new diagnosis. Sounds like you have a good plan and that means everything. Take care of yourself first...you deserve it.
We moved to AZ 7 years ago. My ONC here suggested that I should consider some genetic testing now that Medicare covers it. No breast cancer in the family, but a variety of other cancers. My genetic panel came back with finding of a gene mutation called CHEK2. That mutation put me at a 40% higher risk for breast cancer. So, my daughter, age 47, got tested and she unfortunately has inherited from me. She is now being very closely monitored with increased screening and is taking Tamoxifin.
And now, I recently had surgery to remove a tiny melanoma from my leg, stage 0, IN SITU. So, now I have to get a full body skin check every 3 months. One melanoma makes you susceptible to more. Always something....
Take care everyone. Jackie, I will be thinking about you and know that you will soon be home recovering.
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Thank you Joan and everyone. Good for you with the testing Joan. Not only giving you a heads up but saving your daughter as well. Now there is something that is priceless for sure.
Sandy yes -- "never say never" which I did, but I should have specified any and all other cancers. Well, after this I sure will but it will be what it will be. Sometimes we don't get the best cards so we have to go through more to get winning results.
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Yes, Sandy, you do have to thank the floater and also yourself for acting immediately.Let’s just hope and hope and hope that the ocular oncologist is wrong this time. No not warned, but my first cancer - cervix- was 1969, second, 2019, though there were scares of leukemia, lymphoma in between. But just scares. Hope this is so for you, but scare or not, hate it that you have to go through this. Will be thinking of you constantly.
And, Jackie, have saved so many of your quotes and will reread and wait for your quick return.
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I am so sorry to hear your news, Jackie. I will be with you in spirit and sending positive energy to you and the medical staff attending you.
Looking forward to your return and your daily messages.
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A thankful heart is the greatest virtue.
- Cicero0 -
So sorry for all the worrisome news here. Keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers.
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Jackie - I'm so sorry to hear your news. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Sending healing prayers your way.
Sandy - So glad you went in to have your eyes checked. Hoping the biopsy goes smoothly.
Joan - Hoping your follow up appointments are all melanoma free. Im sorry to hear that your daughter tested positive for the CHEK2 gene mutation, but it's good that she is being closely monitored. We have the BRCA1 gene mutation in our family so I'm dreading the time when my children and nieces start the testing process in the next few years. They're all waiting until they finish college.
Thoughts, prayers and hugs to all,
Rebecca
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I tested negative for all known bc gene mutations...but of course there are those weasel-words "variants of unkown significance." One of the blood tests I had yesterday was the DNA test for NorthShore's Genomic Health Initiative. Wonder what it will reveal? (All the clinical blood tests turned out normal).
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If we could but recognize our common humanity, that we do belong together, that our destinies are bound up in one another's, that we can be free only together, that we can be human only together, then a glorious world would come into being where all of us lived harmoniously together as members of one family, the human family. -Desmond Tutu
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Home from the hosp. on 5/17. I'm a little rocky but getting along. Not doing too much as yet -- just emptying the catheter bag on a regular basis. I need to just get up and walk a bit. I'm looking forward to hearty wellness asap.
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Happy to hear you’re home! Here’s to a quick and full recovery.
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Welcome home, Jackie! Take it easy for as long as you need to. Here's to a fast and uneventful recovery! (We all seem to be having too darn many "events" of late).
My blood tests & CT scan results came back: no mets! So my ocular onc will order the plaque & radioactice seeds tomorrow--takes 10-14 days. We're looking at 2 weeks from tomorrow for the biopsy & brachytherapy.
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(((( Sandy )))) Hoping for good results in two weeks.
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Love is something you and I must have. We must have it because our spirit feeds upon it. We must have it because without it we become weak and faint. Without love our self-esteem weakens. Without it our courage fails. Without love we can no longer look confidently at the world. We turn inward and begin to feed upon our own personalities, and little by little we destroy ourselves. With it we are creative. With it we march tirelessly. With it, and with it alone, we are able to sacrifice for others.
Chief Dan George0 -
Glad to see you back, Jackie! Hope you’re feeling better.
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How are you today, Jackie?
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Had a good day today although my back is getting really tired of the recliner which is not a good one -- its a rocker as well and they are on the soft side, but otherwise very good. The Omeprazole which works between 1 and 3 days seems to kick in on me almost immediately. Within two hrs. of taking it I was much more relaxed. Likely ( now I can actually eat some food and keep it down ) I can start back to taking some aspirin for pain control although the pain is not harsh to me. Still I think it does impinge some. I have opioids for pain, but I'd rather do without and skip the poss. constipation issues . I tried my bed this evening but could not get comfortable there either with the catheter. It will all get better. Just have to call on my patience.
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If you are faithfully taking Omeprazole (or any other proton pump inhibitor), you can try a combo of 2 Extra Strength Tylenol (or generic) and 3-4 ibuprofen, every 6 hrs for a few days. Shouldn't hurt the gut any more than aspirin (which is less effective), and the pain relief is comparable to morphine sulfate, w/o the high or the constipation. I tested it after both my arm surgeries and two root canals. It works.
If you're constipated from pain meds, try a stool softener &/or Miralax--and allow yourself the luxury of some really good prunes, dates & dried apricots.
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Thanks Sandy. I think I'm having phantom pain the the rt. lower back right now. All else feels fine. Grrrr.
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Giving love, attention, and respect to the individuals who share our lives and to the people who cross our paths by chance will smooth our own passage day by day. The effects of our goodness will often be felt quickly. A smile elicits a smile.Kind thoughts bless us as well as the receiver. Life events do come full circle. -unattributed
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A part of us wants life, wants to make the commitment to live, and is willing to trust our intuition and follow it from moment to moment. There is also a part of us that doesn't trust this inclination. "I can't do this, it's too much, too intense. I don't want to surrender. "When we distrust this inclination we experience only effort and struggle. When we surrender to life the flow of energy increases, and we feel the passion of being alive. -Shakti Gawain
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"You take away all the other luxuries in life, and if you can make someone smile and laugh, you have given the most special gift: happiness."
-- Brad Garrett
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