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Illinois ladies facing bc

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Comments

  • kjiberty
    kjiberty Member Posts: 687
    edited February 2013

    Timbek: HAPPY DANCE!!! YAY!!!!!!  Congrats!   Can't wait to meet.

    Kassylou:  Great news!

    Grace:  More great news!

    I will keep you all posted on the biopsy.  Probably won't have the results until Monday or Tuesday.  I am thinking positive thoughts on this one.  Thanks for all your support!

  • Adey
    Adey Member Posts: 2,413
    edited February 2013

    And the good news just keeps on coming!  Awesome.

    KJ- Prayers yours will be too.  Hugs.

  • mdg
    mdg Member Posts: 1,468
    edited February 2013

    I LOVE all the good news!  

    Hope you are all staying warm today....brrrr!  Thank God for sunshine!

  • illinoislady
    illinoislady Member Posts: 40,999
    edited February 2013

    I believe that the first test of a truly great person is his or her humility.
    I do not mean by humility, doubt of his or her own powers.  But really
    great people have a curious feeling that the greatness is not in them,
    but through them.  And they see something divine in every other person.

    John Ruskin
  • illinoislady
    illinoislady Member Posts: 40,999
    edited February 2013

    Congrats to everyone.  C-squared....even though you had such difficulty, I feel certain you helped the universe at large as you kept putting need for LE therapy out there.  So, even though it was not you.....it was through you and that is just as good. 

    KJ.....waiting is the pits, but your attitude is good company for you.  I'm hoping for a positive from this negative for you. 

    Timbek2....love the avatar.  Isn't it great to be done. 

    Snow on the ground here but not too much.  Very cold today but warmer temps coming back over the week-end.   You won't hear any complaints from me on that.  Stay warm and cozy.

    Peace & love,

    Jackie

  • joan888
    joan888 Member Posts: 711
    edited February 2013

    C-squared....I so agree and appreciate your efforts to educate the medical community about LE. It is difficult to find a CLT near me at home and then the wait to start treatment is usually 3-4 weeks! I so wish that there was an LE therapy center anywhere close to me in IL. I may have to schedule any future treatments back here in PHX. My CLT here says that she does have several patients who travel here every winter for therapy. Well, good excuse anyway!



    Timbuktu ... Good for you finishing chemo. Yeah, yeah, yeah! Onward.



    Loving the view from my breakfast table.... Over a beautiful green golf course, sun rising over the mountains and four hot air balloons rising in the sky. As soon as it warms up a bit more, I am headed out for a bike ride before heading to therapy.



    Take care everyone. I wish you were here in person, but I do have you all in my heart. Next winter, we need to get a little group together and find a sunny spot for a week long lunch bunch!

  • spunkyboobster
    spunkyboobster Member Posts: 563
    edited February 2013

    Timbek2-yay!!! love the pink ensemble.

    Next weekend I'm participating in a snow shoe race for breast cancer in Minnesota. I've never even touched a pair of snowshoes, but a college friend and fellow bc survivor set it up-how could I say no.  We have some other college friends participating and the name of our team? Spunkyboobster. My friend is an avid seamstress and she's making us pink headbands with our team name-complete with the double o's fashioned as boobs. I'm hoping to think of something clever to add to the costume-if you have any ideas, please share them. 

    So cold today. Bundle up if you're headed outside ladies.

    Sending warm thoughts to all. xoxo

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited February 2013

    Jackie is that a new photo? I love it

  • illinoislady
    illinoislady Member Posts: 40,999
    edited February 2013

    Lago:  Yes, I had the pic for a long time and may even ( long time ago ) put it in the body ( c & p'ed it ) of one of my entries here.  Can't tell it well, but I'm holding my friend's little dog....a miniature rat terrier. 

    Love & peace,

    Jackie

  • Kassylou
    Kassylou Member Posts: 53
    edited February 2013

    Spunky, love the idea and team name. Maybe have mismatched rainbow like socks, or attach pigtails to your headband in honor of punky brewster.

  • virginiab
    virginiab Member Posts: 79
    edited February 2013

    Spunkyboobster--

    My Minnesota sister took me snowshoeing for the first time the winter before last. It was fun, but I wished I had conditioned myself for it a bit. You might try walking with your feet farther apart, and lifting your knees....

  • dbm75
    dbm75 Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2013

    Thanks for all the welcoming posts! I got my pathology results from my lumpectomy and am breathing a sigh of relief, while still waiting anxiously for one more test result, the Oncotype. Thank God I had clean nodes and margins, and just one 7mm, grade 2 tumor. But they found DCIS too, which was a surprise. May be that it was part of my IDC tumor, rather than a separate patch, since it was given no size or dimensions of its own, was just listed in the path report as "associated with the IDC". I'm waiting on my MO appointment, and will ask her about it. Saw my RO and she recommended whole breast radiation because of the DCIS .... to be sure they get it all in case there's any other rogue minuscule DCIS cells floating around in there. I have my MO appt. scheduled for Feb 8, waiting for the Oncotype Test results which will determine if I need chemo or can get by with just the radiation and Arimidex, since I am post menopausal and highly hormone receptive. RoulaG, you are close by, I live 15 minutes from Western Springs, and my sister must be a neighbor of yours...she also lives in Western Springs. Small World!

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited February 2013

    Joan, what have the temps been out there this past week?

    We just arrived in Cape Coral last night.  Our place is lovely.  We got unpacked, found a local pizza place and grabbed a pizza wearing NO COATS and are hitting the grocery store and exploring the area today.  Wow!  What a difference from Illinois!

    c-squared....so glad that the shot worked on your thumb!   YEA!

    I'm off to feed the cats, who did very well on the long drive down here.  There's a Farmer' Market here that we just need to explore today!  Fresh produce!!!!

    Everyone have a good weekend and stay warm!

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited February 2013

    dbm75 my tumor was 6.5cm but only 5.5 was IDC. The other 1cm was DCIS. It's not unusual to have a mixture but they stage you based on the invasive stuff only. My guess is my tumor started out DCIS then started to mutate to IDC.

    c-squared I too am happy the shots worked for you.

    Keep warm everyone. Looks like we may have some snow this week but gradually getting warmer. (Anything over 20 isn't too bad if the wind is slow). BTW anyone going to be at Rush Tuesday or Wednesday? I'm planning on doing my annual cookie drop to my onc & staff.

  • kjiberty
    kjiberty Member Posts: 687
    edited February 2013

    Rita:  Have a great vacation.

    Timbek:  I am looking forward to meeting you soon.  

  • illinoislady
    illinoislady Member Posts: 40,999
    edited February 2013

    To the query, ''What is a friend?'' his reply was ''A single soul dwelling in two bodies.''
    -- Aristotle

  • spunkyboobster
    spunkyboobster Member Posts: 563
    edited February 2013

    Thanks Virginiab, I'll start straddling and high-stepping. Wink

  • dbm75
    dbm75 Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2013

    Anyone in the Chicago area have recommendations on radiology and medical oncoligists? I've already got appointments set up with each, but have been referred to these docs based on them being within my surgeon's network, so am concerned my surgeon (who was awesome) is biased towards keeping my treatment all within the medical group family, but I'm not finding much about these docs when I search them, which makes me a bit nervous. I would like to see how they compare to others. I met my radiation oncologist already, but she's only been practicing for a year and a half, kinda fresh out of med school, so would like to get a second opinion just to compare what another, more experienced person would say. I haven't even met my med oncologist yet, so any recommendations for radiation and medical oncoligists in the Chicago area or in Dupage county would be appreciated! 😊

  • chgogemini
    chgogemini Member Posts: 22
    edited February 2013

    Hello ladies



    I'm really having a panic attack right now. I have chemo scheduled on Thursday and I want to back out. Is this normal????



    My onco cam back at 16 and I'm reading that chemo might now work on me but I have one positive node.



    I'm so scared today. I couldn't sleep last night that's all I thought About was chemo. How sick I'll be and I won't be there for kids. I'm having 4x t c.



    I don't know how to tell these kids. They see me upset and lounging around And I'm so scared.



    Please help me



  • chgogemini
    chgogemini Member Posts: 22
    edited February 2013

    Xanax is not working!!!



    My chest hurts and I feel like puking

  • Timbuktu
    Timbuktu Member Posts: 1,423
    edited February 2013

    dbm I go to Dr. Merkel at Evanston.  He has been highly recommended by many people.  I hope he's good!

  • Timbuktu
    Timbuktu Member Posts: 1,423
    edited February 2013

    chemo is not as bad as you fear.  I was petrified.  For nothing.

    I'll tell you the truth, the way i got through, the way I still get through is to stay in the moment.

    When I felt I would lose it out of fear i'd force myself to think "This minute is ok."  Why ruin it with worry about the next minute?  You can't control it anyway.  You were able to type your message.  You are ok in this minute.  Don't think of any other minute and you'll see, you'll get through each minute ok.

  • Kassylou
    Kassylou Member Posts: 53
    edited February 2013

    Gemini.



    I have not had chemo but recommend taking a warm shower and just allowing the water to wash over you. Please close your eyes and take deep breaths. You will be ok. It is normal to be scared. I wish I could do more than send you a virtual hug.



    Kas

  • camillegal
    camillegal Member Posts: 15,711
    edited February 2013

    Chgo--like was said seriously take nice deep breaths and drinks some warm milk with u'r xanax. It's really and truly not as terrifying as u think--The nurses are wonderful the actual getting of chemo is nothing but resting and u might not have many side effects and whateer comes alon the Drs. help u immediately--It's not terrible but u'r anxiety is--do u take any other med for depression or anxiety with xanax.? Cuz alot of people do and it really helps.- Honestly if u feel that bad tonite go to the ER--I know that's extreme but why not, why should u suffer with this.

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited February 2013

    dbm sent you a PM.

    chgogemini you know you can call me.

  • doxie
    doxie Member Posts: 700
    edited February 2013

    chgogemini - I cannot imagine that any one of us who got chemo was not afraid.  I was.  This is normal, but we made it through.  You will too.  Timbuktu is right, live in the moment.  At this very moment, everything is ok.  Deep breaths.  Run cold water on your hands.  Chase you kids around the yard screaming.  Charge up and down some stairs.  Right now you are ok.  

  • tdbear
    tdbear Member Posts: 286
    edited February 2013

    Hi again Ladies!!

    It's been a long time since I've posted.

    I have a question does anyone have sever joint pain? My md says it might be bursitis but it doesn't have the right symptoms......I can't decide what hurts worst my hip or my knee. I am afraid it might be connected to my BC. But my PCP is NOT very understanding.

  • Timbuktu
    Timbuktu Member Posts: 1,423
    edited February 2013

    t bear are you on Ai's?  I have terrible pain, especially if I overdo it.  I took it easy today and feel much much better.

    I don't understand how it works but the onco told me it makes your nerves much more sensitive.

    I had to stop taking it  a couple of times just to prove to myself that it was the meds and not something worse.

    I'm on my third AI now, they are all a little different.

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited February 2013

    tdbear have you told your onc about the issue? It most likely is related to the AI or Tamox you're on

  • illinoislady
    illinoislady Member Posts: 40,999
    edited February 2013

    Everything in life comes to you as a teacher.  Pay attention, learn quickly.

    Cherokee saying

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