Illinois ladies facing bc
Comments
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Bloomington area gals....and anybody else who is interested or who wants a road trip!
We have been bumping around some ideas for meeting. I have my grandkids coming in for a couple of weeks and Lakegirl is still working through her treatments. Let's look at the week of July 14th for starters. Could any of you meet on July 14th (Monday) or July 17th (Thursday) in the evening around 5:30 or 6:00 for a sandwich or beverage? Let me know if either of these work for you!
Rita
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I think either one canwork for me.0 -
Need some thinking cap time. Just looking at adding a bit more work on my schedule which is not heavy, but it would likely be on a Monday or Wednesday since Tues. and Thurs. are already being used. Will know more about this soon, I think.
Jackie
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“Sometimespeople get the mistaken notion that spirituality is a separate
department of life, the penthouse of existence. But rightly understood,
it is a vital awareness that pervades all realms of our being.”
~ ~David Steindl-Rast...0 -
Good morning ladies! Hope everyone is well today.
Rita-either evening should work for me. It will be great to actually meet some of you gals in person. Enjoy those grandkids!
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“Everything is a gift of the universe —even joy, anger, jealously, frustration, or separateness. Everything is perfect either for our growth or our enjoyment.” —Ken Keyes Jr.
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Hi Everyone!
Rita, comgratulations on our 1000th post! I still remember very well the first time we had a get together, and I was so happy to meet you and the others. This thread has grown so much since then, and done do much for so many. We are all so fortunate that you were up late one evening, and looking for company!
I am more than eight years out now, and so I have drifted back into a busy life, leaving others who are closer in time to do the posting. I do come back from time to time to catch up with Jackie's inspiration for the day. Each time I see so many new ladies that I cannot possibly keep up. Thanks to you, Rita, there is always someone here to help. Once in awhile I talk to another triple neg who has seen my sig, and realizes that we too can do well with treatment, but otherwise I haven't been posting for a long time.
Now maybe I need some new advice, Rita, Susan and others. I'm about to become a first time grandmother to triplet girls! Happy news, but also a little scary. Babies will be preemies, but my DD is at 34 weeks now, and that is almost the limit her doctor will allow. So, maybe next week! We're all so excited, and a little nervous.
You are all in my thoughts daily, whether I have met you or not. Every lady on this thread is special to me, the "oldies" and the "newbies" going through treatment now. We are certainly a strong group of women, and I'm proud of us!
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Smerf, how delightful to see you. Weren't the old days so very, very wonderful. The newer days are not bad either. I'm just glad there is a place that can be so physically/geographically close so that those who feel alone and miss-understood often can take delight in seeing each other. Nothing wrong with blogs.....but when you are able to share tons of information face to face, having to deal with this disease just seems to give it dimensions that make it easier to get through. It makes it real but I think easier to do.....you've really seen who you are counting on as you walk the journey together.
Big congratulations on those triplets. How exciting and excited you must be. Three at once will have some challenge to be sure, but even if trite, love and the miracle of babies will get you through. You are going to be a busy grandmother Pat, but you'll be back in the swing of it all ( love takes care of that ) before you know it.
Blessings and lots of love,
Jackie
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Oh smerf, I don't know you, but wonderufl blessings on those precious little girls. Had a friend who had 3 at once---she called them ABC when they were still in the womb, I think the doctors started it, when they monitored her, then when they was born, she gave them names with those letters. GOOD LUCK And Congratulations.0 -
Smerf what wonderful news. 3 times the fun!
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Oh Pat, you will make a wonderful grandma! This is so exciting! Hugs to you! How well I remember our first get-together at Jan Clare's house. Let's see...can we remember everyone who was there? Kater (Kathy), Jan Clare, Michelle, Laura, you and I. Chemosabi dropped in after she got off work. Was Wendy there....and who else am I forgetting?
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Our rushing and our busyness create a fog layer
that
encloses us, surrounding us with thicker and thicker
layers externally and building denser and denser fog
layers within. Pretty soon, we have lost touch with
that which guides our lives. We need contact with
our spirituality to be the people we would like to be.
Anne Wilson Schaef0 -
Congratulations on the grandchildren! I have one and he makes life wonderful!!!
I have a question. Yesterday I went for my semi annual mammogram, which was easy with good results. Also, I was supposed to have an annual MRI. This was my 4th breast MRI so I knew what to expect but when they got me situated the padding pressed against the top of my ribs and the heartburn was terrible and I felt like I was going to throw up. So they couldn't do it. I asked for more padding but they said there already was padding . Have any of you had this experience? If so, what did you do? Thanks for listening.
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Congrats Smurf! Wow! How awesome!0 -
FGM-I had an MRI right after my diagnosis looking for the primary tumor (which was never found). I have had several MRIs on other parts, not claustrophobic at all, but the breast one freaked me out. I felt I couldn't breathe in their with the thing pressing on my ribs and the top of the tube pressing on my back. So I hear you about the discomfort, don't remember acid reflux but I did have a small panic attack-not my style at all, I'm thinking Xanax before the next one. Hopefully you can have it done another time without any problems.
Have a wonderful day ladies, free from pain, minimal SEs, good scans, etc.
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There is no limit to the good we can do when love is our motivation.
Lloyd John Ogilvie0 -
fgm....I made it through the breast mri and then DID throw up. Luckily the technician grabbed the wastebasket in time! I know there are some who get through this with no discomfort or strange feelings and then there are the rest of us! UGH!
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I was concerned about my breast MRI just after diagnosis. I can be a bit claustrophobic. Part of the reason why I don't wear tight turtlenecks. I have this fear I will get stuck trying to pull the shirt off. LOL
But I found that I was face down and my head never went into the machine so I was fine. I could see the machine operator in front of me behind the glass. Bring those foam ear plugs. The machine is noisy. My place provided them.
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Thanks everyone for your replies .It's so nice to know that I'm not alone. You guys are great!!!!
I spoke to my doctor and she said that we can postpone the MRI until December. That way we'll do the mammogram once a year instead of every 6 months and the MRI the other 6 months. She said that she didn't know why the techs couldn't put down more padding under my ribs. I may look into another place next time. As I said before, this was my 4th breast MRI and I made it through the others without any problem.
I spoke to my sister-in-law today and she had the same experience with the "padding" hitting her on top of her ribs and she lives in Michigan. Have a nice evening.
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Another great re-run:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful
beyond measure. It is our light, not our
darkness, that most frightens us. We ask
ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.
Marianne
Williamson0 -
One year, 365 days ago, the life I thought I had changed forever. That was the day I got called into the “pretty consultation room” at the doctor’s office (right then you know it ain’t gonna be good news) and was told the words every woman fears most-you have cancer-most likely breast cancer. To be honest, I was pretty sure that was going to be the result of the biopsy of my axillary lymph nodes just 2 days earlier.I had a lump and pain in my right armpit for a couple of years, had diagnostic mammograms, ultrasounds, etc, was told it was just reactionary lymph nodes and not to worry. But after 2 years when there was still a lump and swelling I asked to have it looked at again. So onto another diagnostic mammo, ultrasound,CT scan and finally core needle biopsy. I am thankful that my doctor didn’t wait around to tell me and especially grateful he told me in person rather than on the phone. After a few minutes of crying I got myself together and my hubby and I went home to start the journey no one wants to travel. Since my mother died from breast cancer in the 70s at only 61, my 2 sisters and I have always wondered which one of us would be the “lucky” one to follow in her footsteps-yep it was me, but I am thankful that neither one of them has to do this!
There have been really scary times, really sick times, basically crappy times in this past year, but also precious and hilarious times.Like when driving me home from my PET scan, my 22 year old daughter looks at me and says her face is feeling hot cause I’m radioactive sitting beside her-smartalec! Or when she called me her “chia pet” because you water me and my hairsprouted
I have lost my sense of wellbeing, my hair, it is back now but super curly and way more salt than pepper, my nice fingernails, but I have gained so much through the kindness of strangers and friends alike. Like the church ladies from PA where I was born who made me a beautiful hand crocheted prayer shawl, the gals where my niece works who sent me a chemo goodie bag, my dear friend at work who gave me a chemo kit-with a water bottle, tote bag and puzzles to help pass the time in the chair. My hairdresser who buzzed my head when my hair started falling out and said I have a lovely shaped head… My co-workers who let me vent, cry, and laugh at my chemo brain; and who let me know if myscarf/headcover of the day worked with my outfit.
I am so grateful to have found this site and all the wonderful ladies who have charter membership in the club we never wanted to join in the first place. I don’t post much, mostly read, but feel a kinship with everyone here, laughing at the funny stories, celebrating the end of treatment or good scans and crying when one of the brave ladies loses her battle. I feel blessed to have “met” you all, you have been my lifeline through this, helped me keep my sanity (well that’s always been in question)
, taught me more than I ever wanted to know about breast cancer, and many life lessons.Saw my PCP today and he said I am getting “boring” so he doesn’t need to see me for 6 months! Small steps in the right direction for sure.
Thank you ladies for sharing your journey and listening! Wishing everyone pain free, peaceful days!
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Mimi.........What a beautiful letter about life -- the not at all what I planned, and the aftermath of how it can actually work out. Your attitude is so outstanding. It is truly amazing what you can do when you have no choice.
Blessings,
Jackie
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Thanks Jackie! I try to stay positive at least on the outside and one valuable lesson I learned from my Dad was to never take yourself too seriously...so I have laughed my way through life and it has worked for me so far.
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Mimi, thanks for sharing---a one year reflection is a great idea!
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HI Girls..Well I have been MIA for a very long time, but I do read often. This site has been a God sent to me when I was going through treatment 6 yrs. ago. Yes Rita, Jackie, Lauren, and all the older Illinois Ladies really helped me when I needed advice. I do hope all are doing well and living life. To the new girls, yes there is life after BC. This a wonderful site with wonderful women who will help you through your journey. They have a wealth of info to share and with lots of hugs too.
I wanted to let you all know that I am running my 3rd Chicago Marathon in Oct. this year. My Charity is the American Cancer Society. I am running in honor of all the Illinois ladies here. If you go to my web page determination.acsevents.org you will see a beautiful pic of the "older" Illinois Ladies. If you would like to make a donation to the American Cancer Society, under my name Michele T. I would be honored to add your name to my blue tutu with stars that I will be wearing when I run. Lago, I do hope you will be out there again to cheer me on. Loved seeing you there as this kept me going.
The Illinois ladies here are very near and dear to me and I think about you often. Life for me has been crazy busy and pretty much normal. Life has challenges and how you deal with them makes us stronger and more determine to fight for a cure. Together we can kick cancer's butt!!
Remember to be health ...be happy and enjoy life.
Hugs to all the Illinois Ladies here. Our motto: Illinois Ladies are tough
Blackjack
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blackjack you better believe I will be out there with a big sign and balloons (unless too windy). Be sure to give me your bib number so I can follow you with the tracker! Who knows maybe some Illinois Ladies will join me cheering you on.
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When you become detached mentally from yourself and concentrate on
helping other people with their difficulties, you will be able to cope with
your own more effectively. Somehow, the act of self-giving is a personal
power-releasing factor.
Norman Vincent Peale0 -
Blackjack
Good times last and you made them refreshing, worthwhile, special and very touching and heartfelt for so many. They are still there and always will be because they are INSPIRATION. You made it so much easier to get through some extremely difficult times. I love when you come back to visit.Blessings,
Jackie
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Blackjack, great to hear there is life after treatment, and a great life at that. You go girl!
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Hi Jackie / Timbuktu....I do miss all of you here and my annual holiday parties. But this year has been so crazy busy with work and all that I did have to give up something. I was truly hoping that a new girl would step up and take over the holiday party. Yes I loved doing them and I have such wonderful memories and pics to boot. But I am only a phone call away. Jackie I love, love, love your quotes. Your will always be my quote lady.
You have and always be an inspiration to all of us here with your encouraging quotes. Big Thank You for that job.To all the new girls here, you joined a club you never wanted to join, but the friendship and encouraging words will last a life time. Just ask us older ladies. He He.
Just a quick hi to all... off to run for training...Oct will be here soon...I will keep you all posted on my progress.
Remember to be healthy...be happy and enjoy life.
Blackjack
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