Illinois ladies facing bc
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Hi Ladies -
Welcome to Denise and Krista. Sorry you have to be here.
Krista - I live in Aurora too! I am 4 years out from dx but had everything done at Edward. Mast, chemo and radiation. Who is your onc? I see Dr. Kash. AND I am going on a solo trip with my 10 yo daughter to Disney this summer!
Great picture from dinner last night! You ladies look great.
I have been busy, busy. I have been reading but not posting. Got through all my 6 month checkups this month with no issues! Yeah!
Hope everyone is doing well!
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Hi Jenn
I will venture a guess on the ooph...
Tamoxifen blocks estrogen from getting on the cell receptor. Think of the receptor as a parking space. The Tamoxifen scoots into the parking space and the estrogen has to keep moving along.
Tamoxifen blocks the estrogen from getting on the receptor but it doesn't stop estrogen production. Estrogen feeds ER/PR+ cancer. So I would guess that might factor into it. Tho you have successfully completed your treatment it's probably better if you don't have a high level of estrogen.
Also, to take an AI, you must be postmenpausal and hence the ooph. I believe AIs do stop estrogen production---but in a premenopausal women there's too much--the AIs would be overwhelmed.
I have not had an ooph. I get monthly ovarian suppression shots.(I'm on Tamoxifen. When that stops working, possibly AIs and an ooph might be in the cards for me.)
Because you are going right into menopause, it is like throwing an estrogen off switch. (Tho you will still have a little estrogen from adrenal glands.) Some--but not all--women who have an ooph will have bad hot flashes and other menopausal complaints. Some women don't, tho. I have not had this procedure but many say it is a quick recovery.
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Welcome to Denise, Krista and Jenn (and any other new ladies I might have missed).
BJ - Good luck with the move this weekend. If you need some extra mucles to move everything, let me know. Who knows? Maybe my son will be downtown Sunday morning as he often is (after a fun Sat. night).
Onward - Sorry about the lymphedema but YAY for finishing chemo!
Jenn - I would call your MO and ask him for his input about this. I did opt for a hysterectomy/ooph, but it was also something I'd been leaning towards even before my br.ca diagnosis due to endometriosis/adenomyosis. I had one endometrial biopsy while on tamoxifen and that was plenty! LOL... I like to think I have a good pain tolerance, but that was BAD, possibly worse because of my adeno. So, I very happily and gratefully had it all removed and am still very happy I did. My surgical recovery from this surgery (I did have it all removed vaginally) was not bad at all.
Hotflashes and other menopausal symptoms were an inevitability for me no matter what route I chose, so I chose the one that I felt most comfortable with.
Every one of us is a unique situation based on our own medical issues and personal comfort levels with medical interventions. I think you need to get the facts from your MO about the impact of an oopherectomy for your particular situation, then balance that with what feels right to you.
Lisa - Can you send that plumber over to my house? I've been dragging my feet, but I need to get one in here. Everytime someone flushes the toilet in our basement, the sink in my kitchen "burps" some disgusting stuff from the garbage disposal. It's SO GROSS! But we seldom use the basement bathroom (only when my son has friends over, really) so it hasn't been a priority. I'll put it on my To-Do list for the Spring.
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Great picture ladies. Hey, you all look young!!!!
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Thanks again for all the warm welcomes! Its really nice to get to know some people from my area. At my oncology center, it seemed like all the other patients were in their 80's and snoozing during chemo!
Lago, Yes I do take an hour long lunch which I usually eat at Au Bon Pain (I have a love/hate relationship wtih their food). But I work on the weekends only. I am known as a weekender RN. Sat and Sun for me. If you're ever up there on a weekend, definitely let me know! Also, how do you like Dr. Cobleigh? I have heard (from my oncologist) that she doesnt have the best bedside manner, but then I've heard alot of people like her. I was recommended to see Dr. Witt and Cobleigh at Rush U, but didnt want to do treatment all the way downtown and chance being hospitalized at my own hospital!
Char-thats great about your niece. Getting a job at Rush's SICU is the first step to getting accepted into Anesthesia school. Great experience at Rush SICU and I really love the people i work with!
Connie-that's awesome that you live in Aurora! I do know Dr. Kash from when I used to work at Edward. He's very nice! My onc is Dr. Loutfi and he's great. He has to put up with alot from me, since I am a nurse I am always questioning this that and the other and he always says I should be the doctor and I dont need him!
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Welcome to the new ladies. It is so nice to meet you and soon enough we will know you all better! Krista, I sent you a pm. That would be found at the top called Private Messages.
I am so happy that I have this weekend. DH and I are going to a play tomorrow and just lazing on Sunday. I am excited about the Oscars, although I have not seen all that many movies.
Who is who in the picture Lago? I have always loved English Major's posts! She is so helpful.
BJ, I hate moving. Oh, I hate it. I say as a housewarming gift, provide DD with a mover. The whole elevator scene is just too much.
Jackie, kiss a kitty for me.
Susan
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Krista both Dr.Witt and Dr. Cobleigh are great. I didn't seem to have a problem with Dr. Cobleigh at all. She seemed to answer all my questions etc. but I don't require a lot. I have had many bad experiences with doctors in the past. So far at Rush all my regular doctors treating me have been great!
When I finished chemo Dr Cobleigh hugged me. I almost froze… Us New Englanders are a bit weird about being touched sometimes. Hugs only from blood and those who have married into the family are allowed. We trust no one.
Granted I'm not that bad but I wasn't expecting it at all. Doctors with bad bedside manners do not hug their patients. Sometimes some personalities click and some don't. Guess we clicked. I live in the city so we can make a lunch date anytime. I actually used to work in Greektown so the commute is easy. Yes I know about the love/hate relationship with Au Bon Pain. To bad you aren't there during the week. I will be there for my Herceptin this Tuesday morning. And of course if you ever wanted to meet for dinner after your shift but I assume you would be too exhausted.
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Hello to everyone (especially the new girls!) and happy almost Spring!
OK, I guess I'm a SPLURKER, I lurk and sporadically post, since my diagnosis in July. I live in the Oak Park area. I can't seem to sleep, so I'm always on late at night when all of you are ZZZZing. LOL You all look great in the photo, I hope it was fun for all!
Any one have any advice on getting back to work and explaining what I've been doing? I feel totally inadequate all of a sudden and going to an interview would probably be a disaster. I went on one during radiation and held it together, but now I don't know if I could do it. Before all this I decided to go back to get my masters to teach Art (years in printing and print production jobs, LOTS of toxins) so 30K later (major debt) and it's hard to even get an interview, and when I do I seem to say the wrong things or I'm just too old to start over.
P.S. I don't know if any of you remember but my brother died unexpectedly in December right before Christmas and it really seems to have thrown me backwards. I can't seem to get back to normal. Any thoughts? Zap would it be OK for me to PM you about this (teaching advice I mean)?
Your Pal Val, a fighting Illini
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Me again. Valgal, you can pm me anytime you want. Reentering the workforce is really tough and teaching is especially tough as so many of us know. Sadly, with so many cuts, art classes are endangered, becoming extinct in too many districts.
I so remember you! Death of a sibling is startling. So PM me and I willl share my meager knowldge on how to get a job teaching. Perhaps more importantly, we can become firends as we liveclose to each other.
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Thanks Zap! I just sent you a PM.
My husband is kicking me off in a few minutes so goodnight to all (I'll probably sneak back on later). Thanks for your response.
Valgal
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You ladies like you had a fun time out..from what I can see in the picture you all look great..wish I were closer.. A little about myself: I am 56 married (36 years) have one married son and 4 grandsons.Grandsons are 6, 4 and 16 Month old twins....lucky for us they live nearby.
I just changed jobs in August....had a very high stress position as a customer service rep...and just could not keep up with the pace any longer...I am now back at the local college (where I worked at from 89 - 99....back in the same office but in a different capacity...I used to do payrolll..now I do billing for the Adult degree programs....still very busy but not such a fast pace. Much better since I still have that darn Chemo Brain some days...
Anyone out there know why my posts are always double space??? Can't
figure that out. I have to edit it to get it single space...weird....
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"Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you
can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once
you've lost it you can never get it back."
-- Harvey MacKay0 -
It's sunny in Illinois this morning
Makes the day seem so much better. Has anyone here had any experience with Dr. Park or Dr. Song out of the University of Chicago? It seems like none of the surgeons up my way in Elgin do DIEP surgery (although my BS doesn't think I'm a candidate for that anyway) so a friend's plastic surgeon recommended them. I'd like some feedback if anyone has anything.
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Caryl No sun here in the city. I think we might get a little snow.
Dr Song is pretty "famous". You might have a long wait to get your surgery. Be sure to ask that question.
I also came across this doctor who's focus is reconstruction in 4 cities including Chicago: Dr Marga. Again I have no personal experience with her but I was impressed with her focus on reconstruction and her background information posted on her site.
I was doing some research after I met with the 1st PS my BS recommended and didn't connect. Once I met with my current PS I was happy. I do believe my PS specialty is implants and fat transfer in the reconstruction area. I don't believe he does DIEP. I was not a candidate for DIEP.
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Lago thanks for your reply. Dr Song was suggested to me by Dr. Zachary, another PS out of Chicago, along with Dr. Park who is also out of the University of Chicago.
Are there guidelines for DIEP to figure out if you would be a candidate or not? I'm pretty sure I have plenty of abdominal fat even though my BS disagrees.
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Hi Caryl
A friend is a patient of Dr Song's and couldn't speak more highly of him and his work. I have PM'd you her contact details.
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Lago, I have heard from other patients that Cobleigh is pretty nice, so not sure why my onc said that. I am actually really pleased with all of my doctors so far. They have all been super great with great bedside manner too! When did you finish chemo?
I know that I am going to be in the city for work in March during the week. I'll have to check it out which date it is because I know it's like a four hour training so I could definitely meet up afterwards!
I actually really love Rush. It is a great place to work. I was not able to work during chemo because the unit I work in is extremely 'buggy' meaning we have tons of infected people because they too are all immunocompromised from transplants. The first time I had chemo, my wbc went down to 0.3 and my ANC was zero for five days. Even with Neulasta! So working was not an option and all of my coworkers, nurses, doctors, pharmacist, chipped in and gave me $1500 because my manager knew I was having trouble paying my mortgage and bills on my meager disability check. IT was so awesome!!! And they are so good to their employees about breaks. Our nurses get about an 1.5hr bread during the 12 hr shift which is much better than the 30 minute break I get at my other hospital!
Anyway, I went on a tangent!!!
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Welcome again to all the new gals. Looks like you gals had fun at dinner. Thanks for posting the pic. For some reason, there is a ad side bar on my laptop screen that blocks out some of the pic... I am sure that it has to be Adey hiding behind that ad side bar though! Hi Adey and I think that you must be almost half way through rads by now. Keep after that skin with LOTS of lotions (I used Aquaphor day and night).
CaryIC... my PS at Northwestern does DIEPs. I guess that I was not a candidate for that either so went with the TE's. I will PM you my PS's website that has a good description of the various proceedures, etc.
Not much happening around my house this weekend so I can fortunately spend some time actually getting caught up with work. It is what we call "Wave Season" for cruise bookings so it is always a nutty time of year. I wonder how many trips BJ has made up and down the elevators to the 30th floor today with her DD's move. We all know how much energy she has, so I am sure she will be going strong all day long. Everyone else have a good weekend and keep thinking about that warmer weather heading out way next week.
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Kirsta check my signature under my post. I think Rush hires certain personalities. The nurses in have been incredibly nice too. It doesn't surprise me they did that. Even if you are working with insurance we all know cancer treatment is expensive.
About 50% of the support staff is a bit clueless though. You know the ones that answer phones etc. That 50% just doesn't know what they are doing or not very detailed oriented. I'll tell you stories when we meet.
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Great pic lago. though i have a Phone ad in the middle of the right side of the table!!!Looks like you had a great time and alllook wonderful for what i can see!!
GOOD that you found us Krista and Densie.. for the support not for the reason!!! I went to Rush for all my Tx's and surgery. Cobleigh and Witt! Sami Bittar being my PS.All went well and am so glad i had the team I had for this jounrey. Just had a ooph three weeks ago or so? And doin ok. I already had been in menopause and really not much to complain on!
AZ next week to house hunt. Will keep in touch!!!All stay warm and dry!!
Hugs,
Donna0 -
Thanks for the welcome Donna...I have ad blocking picture also...
Since I live near St. Louis, Mo...all of my treatment etc. was done
at Missouri Baptist Hospital. My oncologist is Dr. Alan Lyss and
my surgeon was Dr. Diane Radford...excellent doctors.... I try to get
all my treatments at BJC hospitals since my husband is employed at
at BJC facility. (He is over Environmental services and Director of
Emergency Preparedness.)
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Okay Adey, what are you doing behind that ad. I bet she is sticking her tongue out at us.
All is well here except DH and I are becoming too lazy for our own good. Nixed the plans to go to the play and watching movies at home instead.
Tomorrow are the Oscars. I love them. I will have to tape them as they go on for so late. Any one going to an Oscar party? I wish it was on a Saturday.
BJ, I suspect you are laid out on the couch with a cosmo in each hand after today's move. I pray for YOUR sake you hired people to help. My daughters always rented three-flats and inevitably their place was on the third floor. And those old places had such narrow stairways that made a corner on each floor. But now you have a place to stay with DH when you want an evening downtown!
Planning my trip slowly but surely to New Mexico with Lakeview daughter. We are taking a Thelma and Louise sort of road trip around New Mexico. It will be the best or worse thing we have ever done in our lives together. I am hoping it is closer to best. I see some of you are going on a girls trip to Disneyland. That sounds like so much fun. Your kids are young enough that they probably have few opinions. That changes when they become young women! It will be interesting.
So, bless you all, and have a lovely dreams tonight.
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WELCOME: Denise, Khrista, Valgal, Caryl, Jenn...
If any of the new girls (Khrista I rcvd your info) would like to be added to our Illinois Girl e-mail Addy list, please send me a PM and I will give you the details. We use the e-mail list to post get-togethers, send out b-day cards, etc.
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Hope you're all having a nice weekend.
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zap - I am going to an Oscar Party - my very first one :-)
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For those of you who are having issues seeing the entire photo click here.
I wouldn't want anyone to miss Adey.I think it's funny that we ended up with pirates on the right and hair on the left. Oh and I also had a black blazer on but took it off because it was 100º in there. Really, I was not hot flashing!
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Much better - thank Lago!
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char - Have fun! Are you going to wear a full length gown?
lago - I noticed that the pirates were sitting next to each other! lol
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You girls look fabulous! I am so glad you were able to get-together. That's great!
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HI Girls, OMG I am still packing and moving and cleaning. Yes I did walk up the 30 flights of stairs empty handed of course. I needed to see how long it would take to walk up in case of no elevator service. 15-20 mins not to bad. I cleaned all day. I have to say the view was beautiful on the 30th floor with the snow falling but those window and screens yucky. Moving more stuff tomorrow and then I need a vacation. My ds was interviewing / cooking tonight for a new seafood restaurant that is opening downtown in March. If he does get it he will be back home with me.
Do they ever leave the nest.lol Looks like you girls had a wonderful dinner. Thanks for posting the pics.
Yes I am too going to an Oscar party ball gown required as is a tux. I think it will be so much fun better than moving and cleaning. lol
Hope everyone is doing well, glad to see the new girls posting. Hi to all of you !!
Jammie time and some wine. Up early for the final move!!!
Have a wonderful evening.
BJ
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Lago, thanks for re-doing the photo. You all look great. Got a chuckle out of the pirate comment.
Welcome to all you new gals. Glad you jumped in to join us.
Navy
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Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind.
Hoffer, Eric0
