Illinois ladies facing bc
Comments
-
It's unreal how fast time passes Lisa.... It's my one year cancerversary tomorrow.... Unreal? This day seemed SO far in the distance when I was diagnosed and now a whole year???
0 -
I haven't been on here in what seems like forever. I had a few weeks with no dr. appts and just tried to put the whole bc out of my mind. I think I needed a break. Trying to get caught up and you girls have been busy!
lisa, congrats on finishing chemo! My flashes always start with my head too.
Robo, hang in there! I sure hope your hair is growing. Mine is really slow too. I do have lashes and brows now so that helps.
madismommy, you look great. that's about the length mine is. I ditched the bandana and colored the white hairs and am now topless all the time. I'm over it! I'm going with what makes ME comfortable and just trying to rock it!
welcome to all the new IL gals here!
0 -
Jenn.....a hearty congrats to you tomorrow. No one last year doubted for a second that we would be meeting you here in due time to say way to go.
Hugs, Jackie
0 -
Hi stjude...........so glad to see you back. Sometimes it is just a good thing to take a break from bc and go on with our lives. How well I understand that feeling! It sounds like you are doing well. I hope that you daughter is doing well, too. You've had a double whammy at your house! Hugs!
O.K. Lisa........now I'm really jealous that you can WALK to Aurelio's! I'm also thinking that we need to make a road trip one of these days soon ands indulge in a Super 6!
It's cold and dreary here today. Since I don't want to be outside, I have got alot of things accomplished in the house. I've also written some scholastic bowl questions to earn a little spending money and caught up a bit more on this thread. I really wanted to get outside and dig in my flower beds but mother nature didn't cooperate.
Great quotes, Jackie. Keep them coming!
I'm off to play Words with Friends. Now that's a valuable way to spend an afternoon! :-)
0 -
Happy Saturday to all....boy I am really behind in reading. First welcome to all the new girls who have posted over the past few weeks. Waiting and making decisions are the hardest thing to do. You must do what is right for you and only you. Family and friends may offer advice,but in the end it's your own that decision that matters. Hugs to all in tx and remember you will get through with it.
Joan....glad to see that surgery went well, drains almost gone and cuddos on a job well done as a speaker. You go girl...hoping for a really speedy recovery for you. Have fun with your family this weekend.
Rita...I love words with friends...it is one of those games I love to play all day.
Jackie....love all those qoutes these past few weeks and you are so right on with all of them. that's why we love our qoute girl. I just read that we are going to have a very buggy season. So please do use your bug spray in the forest.
Lisa...doing the happy dance for you no more chemo!
Rene...how are you doing?? we need to play catch up soon.
Connie....boating season is here!!!! yeah. but we need warm weather soon. Are your kids counting down the days till summer break....34 more days left but who is counting. lol
Lago...how is the job hunting going?
Well I have a funny story to tell you all, I saw my bs yesterday for a check up and he wished me happy anniversary. I thought he was talking about my marriage but he was wishing me happy 5 years of bc free. Duh... I totally forgot, we just chuckled as life is so back to normal that I did forget. So Happy 5 yrs cancer anniversary to me. Yes, life does go after cancer and a new normal emerging. So remember to be healthy ...be happy and enjoy life.
Have a wonderful weekend girls...stay warm as it is really cold out there.
BJ
0 -
Bj.......Happy, Happy 5th.
Truly, you don't fear the future --- your way to busy making everyone's else as nice as possible, so in a way....not so surprising you got five important years collected and just moved on to what was next. A big, huge, colossal giant, great, stupendous congratulations. I hope there are lots and lots more to forget.
Love and hugs,
Jackie
0 -
BJ-nice tog hear from you! Happy 5 years-how nice it slipped by so quietly.
0 -
Happy 5 years BJ!
Yes - we are all getting ready for the summer and the boat. Warm weather? Supposedly next week.
Have a good weekend everyone!
0 -
Lisa and All, Yes Homewood has the original Aurelio's and it is the best pizza around, lol. It is very addictive! There are some others located in Chicago and the West burbs too but I've heard it isn't the same. My daughter goes there first thing when she visits from Washington (state not DC).
I agree....there is no good time to get this diagnosis. I just finished paying off my car and was looking forward to climbing out from under some bills and now I am using the extra to supplement my short term disability insurance for a week or two. Who knows how I'm going to fit the extra treatments and appointments in once I return to work. My boss said they will be flexible but with a 2 hour commute, I can't see me being able to do too many 12 hour days to do "comp" time. I will adjust.....just was hoping for some breathing room before the next complication occurred. I tend to be an optimist but this current challenge is definitely testing the optimism, lol.
Rene23, I've been working it! One thing that I have missed these last few weeks is my workout schedule. Since November, I have been doing some pretty intensive circuit training and I have to admit I got a bit addicted. I had to in order to get results. Now I just want to get back to the point I was and get my life back on track. I didn't need any distractions, lol. I'm not a natural athelete. My husband and I were doing "dates" at the health club and now we do "dates" at the doctors office or hospital. There just isn't time enough in a day or week to see each other. We were just married last June. What a great 1st anniversary present right! He gets new boobs for his birthday in September! That is when it looks like I will get my exchange and touch up. We had talked about getting some work done on me after I reached goal weight because of saggy skin. The Plastic Surgeon said he will help with that
.0 -
I have an appt at Northwestern with my PS on Thursday, May 10th. I am hoping to meet Joan, and maybe a few more of you ladies if anyone is interested in a lunch meeting. My appt is at 11:00AM. Trying to coordinate with Joan since she is my Lat D sister and I would love for her to be DRAIN FREE when she comes out of there that day. I am not that experienced with the downtown area, but I can find my way in and usually eat at that bakery across from the Dr.'s office.
If the date is free for you and you would be interested in meeting, let me or Joan know. I don't know if she knows her appt time yet, but we are attempting to coordinate something.
0 -
Doxie we had health insurance. First Cobra, then state high risk pool (very $$$ but cheaper than paying for all my treatment sans insurance). My husband did land a job so I went on his when I was eligible. I was pretty freaked out when I was first diagnosed because I knew Cobra was going to run out. I actually found out about the high risk pool insurance from this site. We applied for the switch 3 months before Cobra was going to run out as they recommended so no lapse in coverage. Thank goodness Illinios has a high risk pool but it is very expensive. The last few months the rates shot up! I can only image what it is now.
MadMom wow one year. I can still remember meeting you & your DH at Rush.
Hi Stjude!
BJ… Job hunting
5 years NED westieluv I can make it as long as I don't have a freelance gig.
Spent the day with Robo at Dr. Massey presentation. Very impressive. Smart lady. I didn't agree with everything she had to say (about the procedures she doesn't do/believe in) but she is every honest about her bias.
0 -
Valerie: My son is getting married in Homewood on 9/15. Talking about no time being a good time to get this diagnosis. If all goes as scheduled, I will get done or in my last week of Rads by then.
This has been a wonderful board for me knowing I have some "local" sisters. Congrats to all of you who have finished treatment. The second wig appt. went a lot better than the first--no tears were shed. I did some retail therapy today and bought 6 scarves (all 50% off) and 4 hats. Don't have a clue how to tie them, except around my neck, but I am sure when it is all said and one with, I will be an expert.
0 -
Karen go do a google or search you youtube. There are tons of "how to tie scarves" videos. key words: tie scarves, cancer Also the Look Good Feel Better program site: linky
The easiest is to wrap/cover your scarf around your head then gather it in the back. Secure it by wrapping one of those no damage pony tail elastics around the gather till it's tight.
0 -
Everybody needs beauty as well as bread,
places to play in and pray in where nature may heal
and cheer and give strength to the body and soul.
- John Muir0 -
Lago --- you probably will wish I had not said this, but it is so great that you put all the info in to make it easy for those "struggling" to get through the cancer maize. It is a difficult time and you are always there with "help" and all you have to do is tap a little sentence or word. Thank You.
Wild night here, though we knew it would be......well, I should say all around us. We can be close and not "suffer" like others due to our little 'pocket' where the majority goes over or just around us. More on the way later. I guess this is the Spring that sort of is making its second pass.....at least this is the time period we are usually calling Spring. What we had before --- guess that was the trial run.
Hope you all are fine and will have an ok day....no mater what your weather. Thinking about each and everyone.
Hugs, Jackie
0 -
Karen, Congratulations on your son getting married! He will be so proud that you are there for him. I hope you have a great time and are able to think about happy things rather than this nasty BC stuff. Getting ready for the wedding will be a great way to do something joyful and help lift your spirits!
Tomorrow I get my drains out, hopefully. They aren't collecting much at all right now and are really holding me back. I agree with Karen, having you IL ladies here helps so much.
I did retail therapy on Thursday. Mom needed to pick her new glasses up. They had some really cute skirts outin one of the stores I like and I got two new skirts and tops to go with them. I'm so ready for spring! I was hoping to be buying a whole new skinny wardrobe right now and instead I'm working on getting healthy. Oh well, one thing I have learned in this life is to not make too many plans ahead of time.
My plans today are to get out and enjoy the outdoors. It rained and was cold here all day yesterday. I have some flowers to put in planters and my mom has been working on fencing for my veggie garden. Something about digging in the dirt lifts my mood so much. My hubby is going golfing with our league. This year I will not be able to go and I'm a little bummed about that. I want him to continue with it though so I'm pushing him out the door after he mows the lawn, lol. It feels so strange to not be going with him.
0 -
Lago, Jackie is right. You are a very generous and thoughtful person and you are appreciated. You are also onevery curious lifelong learner!
0 -
Lago: Thanks for the scarf-tying site tips. Hopefully, you will get a job soon. I am fortunate as well that I am a work from home employee and can be flexible. I can set up my own appts with clients, which is great, but I also explain to them I may call them to change it due to my treatments and they are all very understanding.
Valerie: Good luck tomorrow with your drains. I totally agree with our statement about not making plans too far out. Again, thank God I have this job that understands and is more concerned about my health performance instead of "work" performance.
0 -
BJ, congrats on your 5 year cancerversary! I really cannot wait until I can say that.
The weekend has been a little crazy and I am actually enjoying this afternoon rain to get in some R&R on the couch. DH's retirement dinner was alot of fun on Friday night. Our DD flew back to Seattle this morning, but our DS and his wife are with us until tomorrow morning. They hopped the METRA and headed downtown today. It has been a fun weekend.
Karen, our DS got married just a month after my last rad treatment. You will do fine. I was suffering from rad fatigue, but just had to pace myself a bit and everything went well.
I am still sporting one drain from my lat flap surgery, but it is way so much easier with one than four! I am trying to be patient about getting rid of the last one as it could be another week two. But I am feeling much stronger and even starting to sort of think ahead now about planning that spine surgery. Uggh! Hate to think of going in for surgery again already, but really want to get it over with. Still have to get clearance from my PS before I can schedule it though.
Yes, Westie and I are hoping that maybe a few of you other ladies would be able to meet up for lunch or at least, coffee on May 10th. No location yet. Let us know.
Valerie,, good luck getting rid of drains tomorrow.
0 -
BJ, congrats on 5 years!
Joan and Westie, I will be downtown on May 10. Would love to join you for lunch or coffee.
Busy weekend (what's new?). Last taxol was a little hard on me, so I am dragging this evening, but very grateful to be done. On to rads.
Thinking of you all.0 -
Lisa -- Congrats on finishing chemo! You did it!
0 -
Robo I thought your hair was comming in pretty good… yes slower than mine but it's coming. Next time I'll show you my nails without nail polish to make you feel better.
BTW I really do enjoy helping you all out. I especially love to make you smile/laugh.
0 -
I'm deciding where to go for tattoos- maybe the artist at the PS's office or Vinnie, who is the 3D artist out on the east coast. Suggestions? Finished nips 2weeks.ago and that feels really good emotionally. I live in the western burbs.
0 -
Always remember that the future comes one day at a time.
Dean Acheson
Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts.
Arnold Bennett0 -
Sun is shining as I look out my window, but no idea for sure what the rest of the day will bring. Does sound like rain could easily come in the late afternoon...hope so since I'd like to get out and do my feral cats.
I hope you all have a good Monday ~~~ whatever the weather.
Can't help you newbe, as I only had lumpectomy, but several here can.
Hugs, Jackie
0 -
To BCO:
Disrepect is in the eye of the beholder.
You, moderators, are censoring anything that does not align with your beliefs of a chemo only approach. You are NOT doing those of us who are suffering from breast cancer any favors, and we WILL and have found alternatives despite your Gestapo tactics. Ban me, do whatever you want to. Your not allowing newbies to be able to read all options is what is scary. To limit these women is criminal. Hope you sleep good at night but then I guess you would with all your pharma connections.
You allow disrepect by allowing rudeness to prevail....you haven't banned Black Cat, orange or digger have you? How much do you pay them to monitor the boards?
YOUR tone is nasty, invasive, controlling and scary. Why don't we make BCO stand for Best Chemical Options????
0 -
I checked with Vinnie a few weeks ago and he had no plans to come to Chicago. I am getting nips tattooed with Jeff at my PS office next Monday. I will let you know how it goes. Corrine used him and was very happy. I have not seen his work but at this point I don't care anymore! I will post photos on the photo board after tattoos.
0 -
Darn.... we had a post get deleted by the moderators, i always miss the good stuff!!! LOL
0 -
hi there Rita jean, i don't live in the states, am in new Zealand, but i hope it goes well for you, you have a few ladies there who will be great support for you as you will be to them. Take care. 0
-
Gosh i just looked at Rita jeans Post, it was a few years ago, looked like it was new. i hope she got thru everything ok. silly me have to check before i put posts up.
0
