Take our poll: How are you feeling as we near the New Year?
Illinois ladies facing bc
Comments
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Stole your shoes! That is too funny, Deb!
Rita0 -
Welcome back Mary. How are things in the Taylorville area?
I've missed you. Hope all is going well for you! Combe back often>
Rita0 -
Good Morning! Popping in to say hello to all of you. Right now life is so busy. New diet, new exercise program, and work has more and more demands. Which leaves me zero computer time.
Hope you all have a wonderful day.
Nicki0 -
Hi Nicki.......So happy to see you posted a graphic.
I had my BSGI (Breast Specific Gamma Imaging) done today. I first had to go to Nuclear Medicine to be injected with some type of tracing agent then went back to where mammograms and BSGI's are done.
The compressions aren't as uncomfortable as those done for a mammogram. 4 views each side were taken, 5 minutes per view. It was only uncomfortable for the two views of the axilla area which I was position weird for.
Should hear from my Surgeon within a week with the results.
Mary0 -
Hey Rita, How are you? Things are good here. Are you done with chemo now or just about? I am glad we got some rain so my tomatoes will grow. I hope it won't rain every day like they are saying. That will be way too humid. I pulled a good chemo brain today, picked up a grandkid from school and locked the doors as purse inside. I came out and the remote battery was dead and I paniced telling grandson I would have to call the city police to come get my truck unlocked(they do that for free). He looked me in the eyes and said "grandma why don't you use the key?" I did .....and I don't think I need to be let alone sometimes. Mary
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Hello to the Illinois ladies. I've been reading various threads for the past three months and I've received so much info and support, that I finally decided that I should join in and maybe I can provide info. that may help someone else. I don't seem to get much time on the computer (have 2 teenage sons!)so it's hard to keep up with everyone, although I feel I know most of you.
I was dx in 10/06 with IDC ER-/PR-, HER2+ with 4 pos lymph nodes. Had surgery 12/06. I finished 4 AC 2 weeks ago (which you helped me through!) and will begin with Taxol/Herceptin for 12 weeks, then on to only Herceptin.
My side effects have not been too bad, although I am glad that the AC is done. Hoping the taxol goes well.
Thanks again to everyone for picking me up when I've been down!
Rita-wished you lived closer (I'm in Northern Illinois by McHenry)-I like the Riverboat too!
Michele0 -
Hi Michelle...glad you decided to join in, but sorry too! I have my LAST chemo next Wednesday (I had Taxotere and Carbo) and then continue with my Herceptin, rads start soon! Glad you made it thru the AC and I've heard that T is easier. I'm in South Elgin so not too terribly far from you...if you like the riverboat, do you ever go in Elgin? I've never been...not a habit I want to get used to!!!
Rita...how are rads going?
Wendy K0 -
Hi everyone!
Kats, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you that you get good results. Please let us know as soon as you get them so we can help you celebrate!!!!
Mary1220....How well I relate to your chemo brain story! How old is your grandson? You know, I'm not sure we'd do too well right now on "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
Hopefully things improve when the stress and treatments are done.
Welcome Michele! I'm sorry that you have had to face this dreadful disease, but I am glad that you decided to join us. If you have completed the AC, I think you have the worst behind you. Did you have a mast or a lumpectomy? What's your favorite riverboat and which one is closest to you? I need to get out my map and see exactly where you are located. We usually go to either Peoria or Joliet but I'm always up for a road trip!
Laura should be back soon. She picked a good week to get away from this crazy Illinois weather, didn't she?
Well, I have to teach the Thursday night class at the Children's Museum again tonight so I'd better look over the curriculum I designed and see what I sill need to dig out. Hopefully the sun will decide to shine a little today
Wendy, the rads are going fine. I was really tired yesterday but after rads I rushed to the golf course for the Rally for a Cure event. It was cold and windy most of the day. We had a nice salad and soup bar when we finished and then I came home and took a nap because I still had to teach a youth group class that night at our church. I don't know if the fatigue was just the getting up and being there at 7:30 every morning and then the long golf day or if I'm beginning to feel a little more tired from the rads. Tomorrow will be #10 and my skin is still holding out just fine. Guess only time will tell!
Well I need to get to work around here.
You new gals come back often.
Rita0 -
Hi all,
I'm really in and out today, so have like no time to read the messages until later. (Wendy, I owe you an email- tonight, I promise).
Just wanted to ask if anyone knows what is happening with Cheryl? I'm hoping that she's just suffering the effects of the lumbar puncture and nothing more serious! I sent her a pm a few minutes ago, but I'm not going to be around the rest of the afternoon and just thought maybe someone else knew something. (Maybe she's posted to another thread that I missed??)0 -
JanClare... I haven't heard anything about Cheryl and have been worried about her, too. If you get an answer to your PM, please let me know.
Thanks,
Rita0 -
Hi everyone,
WendyK- My sister and I go every once in awhile to the Elgin riverboat since that's the closest to us (about 45 minutes). We play the slots and usually lose
but we have fun.
Rita-I found the lump myself, not with a mammogram (which I had 2 months earlier!). Having an MRI showed that I had a few more very small lumps on the same breast which I could have had biopsied etc, but choose a mastectomy after 3 months of tests, 2nd opinions, etc. I also had immediate reconstruction (latissumus flap)on that side.
I forgot to mention in my earlier post that I too will have rads. I think after the taxol/herceptin.
JanClare-I believe that we met once at a YME mtg in Barrington in January. That was my first mtg, that I went to before I started chemo. They discussed chemo and nutrition. Very good info received. Unfortunately I've only made it to one other mtg since. It's a little far for me to go.
Have a great evening everyone!
Michele0 -
Michele Welcome to the Illinois group, such a great idea that Rita had in starting this.
Mary0 -
OLA SENORITAS!
I'm back from Mexico - had a FAB time! I have to run errands...will write more later...but wanted to pop in and say hi!
Adios for now...0 -
Welcome back Laura! So glad you had a wonderful time! We missed you!
Rita0 -
Hi ladies, I was just interviewed for the Peoria Journal Star. My onc. called them because of the NY Times article and said they should contact me!
My goodness, it's like a domino effect!
Love and prayers, Deb0 -
Wow - I'm amazed at all the posts! Where do I begin...
of course with our founder...Rita!
Hey - thanks for thinking about me while I was away! You are so sweet! and guess what...I saw hundreds IF NOT THOUSANDS of DICKy-DOS! OMG - LOL Everytime one walked past us, I would whisper to my dh - "look, there's a dicky-do!" And of course, I thought of you each time! Don't get me wrong though...my dh is sportin' a fairly remarkable one and my Tamoxifen butt sure isn't pretty! LOL
Nicki -
Hope you're doing well. When are you going to be up north again? I would love to pop in, swing to the musac and meet you! Say hi to dh, Peggy and the family!
kats -
You sure do get around! I have seen your photos - you have an amazing "eye"! From above and below! The BSGI - I think - is only being done at Alexian...is that true?
Pam -
Congrats on the clean Mammo! Yay - you!
And btw - if any of you girls have painful Mammos, you can request a breast MRI - much less painful...just FYI!
JanClare -
Hi neighbor! Hope you're doing well. I haven't forgotten about walking - have you ever been to the Cuba Marsh? My friend recently told me about it - I think she said it's 3 miles? You're the walk expert - let me know. Also, I joined the Foglia Y - my ins. is paying for it! But I would love an outdoor x-ersize as well. Did you like Dr. Ruffer? Also, I may have a product that may work for your feet probs., but I have to look it up...will let you know.
Deb -
I'm glad you joined us! I have seen many of your posts here at bc.org - keep us posted on the interview! How exciting! Welcome! Can you please post the "linkie"?
Brenda -
You wrote: "and have worked out the finances of the treatment, thanks to a compassionate onc." My friend was dx'd with bc during a divorce with no medical ins...The Komen Foundation picked up the WHOLE TAB! Chemo and rads, etc. PM me if you want more info. Welcome to our group!
Kathy -
Even though I'm a "north-sider", I worked in Willowbrook for many years! Still have a client that I work regularly with in Darien! Welcome. Hang in there...we'll get you through this!
Cheryl -
Please check in with us!
Mary -
Hi there...
Michele -
I'm up north like you! My niece lives in Johnsburg. Best wishes to you with the second half of your treatment!
WendyK -
Congrats on the last chemo! Best wishes to you with Herceptin and rads!
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I may have missed a few of you - but I wish the very best to all!
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We had a FAB time - my dh was a true source of entertainment...kept me laughing the whole time! I love him so MUCH!
Have a great weekend girls!0 -
Good Morning Everyone: Man oh man - I have been so busy, I dont have much computer time anymore. I started the South Beach diet this past Monday. Means I have to make myself breakfast everyday - which takes away my morning time here on the boards. So far so good though - I have lost 6 pounds! Doing alot more walking too.
I had a glorious day yesterday. Had to go to Evanston Hospital - so I stopped by Gillison Park. Walked along the shores of Lake Michigan. Lots of big waves and it felt great feeling the wind blow through my hair. Hey, I didnt have any hair last year at this time. Then I stopped by the Bahai Temple and walked through the gardens. It was so peaceful. I found myself standing under a fully bloomed crab apple tree. The sweet aroma from the flowers were in the air. I look up at it and smiled. Made me stop and think we have to enjoy each minute of each day. Just enjoy life a bit.
Kats: Good luck with the mammogram test you had. Sounded pretty interesting. I had a bil. mast - so no more mammos for me. I hope you get your results soon.
Michelle: My whole family lives in the Northern suburbs of Chicago. I work in Deerfied. Have 2 SIL. One lives in McHenry and one lives in Wauconda. It sure is a small world.
Rita: Sounds like things are going well. Hope you have a nice day. I want to plant the rest of my flowers so Im hoping it doesnt rain otherwise I will have to wait until tomorrow.
Deb: That New York Times article was great. They actually quoted one of my many true stories. One day I was in the bathroom and looked at my husband. Said which toothbrush is mine. I couldnt remember if it was the white one or the green one! Husband still laughs at that. But I was smart. Went and go a new toothbrush. This one is pink - no forgetting now.
LauraGTO: Glad your back and had a good time. DH is playing at the Irish Mill in Diamond Lake for the next 6 weekends. He and I actually had a bit of an argument. He told me, got on the computer and tell Laura to come Friday night - that was yesterday. Anyways he started playing the song 99 red balloons and he got some red balloons and was gonna get you a pink one. So when he started the song, everyone would let the balloons fly away. Had to tellhim you were on vacation! Anyways, I would love to get together. Fridays are hard for me cause Im so tired from work and the drive home. But Saturdays are good. Maybe we can pick a Saturday and I will make sure Peggy and the clan are there. Im so glad you are back. Walking through the Cuba Marsh sounds so good. Im really into walking now. Have been doing it all week. Wear a pedometer and try to get 10,000 steps in. It might be a bit far for you, but when I lived in Grays Lake I used to got to Morraine Park in McHenry. And the McHenry Dam too. Another great place to walk and just enjoy life. Too bad Glendale Hts is so far. Cant imagine doing a 30 mile drive to go walking!
OK - time to go. Hope you all have a wonderful week-end. I will try to check back with you later.
Nicki0 -
Yes, I had the BSGI is at Alexian Bros in Elk Grove Village. Even though my mammogrma was said to be 'fine' you know what lobular is like. I had a lumpectomy, chemo, rads & tamoxifen so when this new testing was offered by my Surgeon I jumped at it. Still waiting to hear the results.
Thanks for the comments on the photos I've taken.
Nicki
on your diet and weight loss.
Deb Wow another interview, congratulations.
Hi to Rita, JanClare, Wendy K, Wendy P, Mary, Cheryl (hope you are okay), Michele, Pam, Kathy, 6 kitties0 -
Kats: Wow, I worked at Alexian Brothers for years. My onc and ps are on staff there and have offices in the cancer center and medical building. Its 6 miles from my house.
Have a great day. Thanks for the Congrats
Nicki0 -
Nicki I think our Oncologists are in the same practice (Northwest Oncology and Hematology), mine is Dr. Sowray. I had my chemo and rads at the Cancer Institute in Elk Grove but now since they built the new Cancer Institute at St. Alexius I decided to see Dr. Sowray there....it's very nice.
I didn't like the small office in the Doctor's building that they had before they opened the Cancer Institute and only had one of my twelve chemo tx's there. The whole place just seemed dingy and yucky so I made the drive to the Cancer Institue at Alexian for tx.
St. Alexius is just right up the road from where I live, the only draw back is the parking.
My Surgeon is Dr. Rao, I see him at his office in the Wimmer Building and he did my surgeries at Alexian Bros.
Mary0 -
Kats: My main hospital is St. Alexius. I seem to remember you telling me about Dr. Sowray. He was my sisters onc. I see his partner. Dr. Reisel. He is the "oldest" member of Northwest Oncology. I agree the new cancer center at St. Alexius is beautiful. Thats where Im having my dexascan done on Monday. Dr. Rao's office is right next to my PS office. I see Dr. Madry. My PCP is Dr. Pierce from Northwest Health Care and his office is in the new doctors building at St. Alexius. Sure is a small world.
Ok = back to planting flowers. Then I will be enjoying the Kentucky Derby this afternoon.0 -
Nicki -
You are so thoughtful! And your dh with the balloons...I'm totally flattered! I definately want to meet up with you! In fact, I think JanClare and others would do the same. It would be awesome...I know we would all just click and have lots of fun! Don't mind me...I may be too chatty at times, but I can't help it! I'm the social butterfly!
Love you all, neighbors...remember...us IL chicks are tough! LOL
Where's our founder? 0 -
My apologies for being delinquent. Went for diagnostic mammogram on Friday and then to the breast surgeon. The mammo found a spot that needs to be biopsied in the same breast--not sure if it's "active" DCIS, "killed by radiation" DCIS or nothing to worry about. I'm not all that worried, but certainly very discouraged as I've been in treatment for about a year and was looking forward summer without biopsies and stuff. First need to repeat the MRI that I had last year, right breast had some benign thing that radiology wanted to follow, and then do a core needle biopsy on the left (assuming no problems with the right which is fine on x-ray). Hopefully, it's nothing. If it is something, then it's a mastectomy since I've already had radiation in the left breast. I'm actually not bothered too much by that thought as I had many thoughts of it last year and mostly worked my way through them.
Seems like it's always something, but we are tough!0 -
LauraGTO, we have insurance (for now) and it did pay a certain amount on the Herceptin, but it still left me having to pay $608 every 3 weeks for the treatment. I don't know about you all, but we can't afford what amounts to $203 a week, out of pocket, in addition to all the other medical bills and scripts.
My Onc chose to waive that amount for me.0 -
kats -
THANKS for the welcome back graphic! Hope your results are "spotless"!
6kitties -
Best wishes to you too! Hope it's nothing!0 -
LauraGTO-I wonder if I know your niece I live in Johnsburg-it really is a small world!
Nicki- You work in Deerfield? I went to Deerfield High school(years ago!), and my husband was from Deerfield also, so I'm familiar with that area! (Thanks for the welcome graphic with the dog-you must have known that I love dogs. We have 2- a Golden Retriever and a Golden Mix)
My first Taxol/Herceptin will be on Tuesday. Suppose to take the decadron the night before and morning of to avoid any possible allergic reaction. I guess I won't be sleeping well Monday night with all the steroids! Oh well, I can crash after the treatment which is supposedly about 4 hours long this first time-yuck!!!
Hello to everyone else!
Michele0 -
Michele -
Best wishes to you on Tuesday! Are you having A/C and Taxol? The Decadron didn't keep me awake...so hopefully the same will happen for you. My niece lives across the road from Vals - she's only 16 - goes to Johnsburg High and works at a health club in the area...if this still sounds like you might know her, let me know and I'll pm you.
Again, best wishes to you on Tuesday.0 -
I finished my 4 rounds of AC on April 10. Tuesday I will start the 12 weeks of taxol and herceptin, then 40 weeks of herceptin. I'm also having rads, I believe after the T and H. (Will my hair start growing back while on the T? I'll have to check that out on another thread.)
Thanks for the well wishes.0 -
Hello ladies,
I just popped on to check on everyone. I will catch up on all the posts and write more tomorrow morning. I have been on the run all weekend and am ready to crash in my favorite chair. It sounds like everybody is busy.
Tomorrow morning bright and early I start week 4 of the rads. I'm beginning to itch a little so I imagine I should expect to see some side effects this coming week.
I'll check back in the morning when I get home.
Nicki, I am so proud of you! 6 Pounds! Wow! I was excited when they weighed me this week and I had lost one pound. (no to mention of course that this is the same pound I've lost over and over numrous times during chemo!!!) Keep up the good work.
Rita0 -
It's my 4th Anniversary today, it was May 7th 2003 just after 10 am when I got the BC call. Still waiting for the results of the BSGI I had done last Wednesday.
Nicki Hope your scan goes well today.
6kitties Best wishes to you on your biopsy. Will be sending out vibes for it to be 'nothing'.......
Hi Laura
Michele Best wishes when you start T and Herceptin tomorrow.
Mary0
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