Class of 2009 - Sisters in the same time frame
Comments
-
Renee... hate to say it but some of my worst patients are R.N.'s... I just don't get it...take care of people all day and nothing for themselves,..I never preach what I don't practce, I just don't want to be a hypocrite... I am so glad you are not like your sister...I'll help you nag her!!!
Great weekend to all!!
0 -
Just saying Hi, hoping everyone is having a good weekend.
Juanelle how are you feeling?
And yes breastfed 2 kids... didn't help me either. No family history. And my mammo was normal 10 months prior to my dianosis. (i found a lump) Oh well. NOW I will fight like a MOTHER!
(((HUGS))))
0 -
I lost this site, thought I had it bookmarked but it disappeared. I finally got my onc DX and it was just 6. Since I am way past postmenopausal I am on Arimidex. SE so far just fatigue, which is a little hard on the one hour drive to and from work everyday., just turn the radio up real loud. My biggest problem is that now more than 3 1/2 months post mastectomy the pectoral muscles won't loosen up. I have been to physical therapy and have been doing the exercises 5 of 7 days a week. Having a major problem trying to wear a bra and as it rubs under the arm just where the muscles hurt so much. Surgeon says have to find the trigger to loosen up the muscles but he didn't have any suggestions. I have been reading the back posts and glad so many are doing well.
0 -
Hi Alicia,
And how are you feeling? I hope you are enjoying a beautiful fall day with your family. Do you live in/on Long Island year round? Does it snow much? All I visualize is the resort aspect of the area, I suppose real people with real lives work and live there. Kind of like Florida... not all of us are on vacation
So many of us do not fit any kind of paradigm for getting this disease. I wonder if there will ever be an answer? My mom took HRT for 40 years and never got breast cancer!
Wow... fight like a mother?!? Breast cancer does not stand a chance.
Pam
0 -
I am feeling ok. Thursday and Friday were really sleepy days for me. But, today I rallied and spent time with the family. Even went food shopping, and SHOE shopping. (got a cute pair of boots) I live on Long Island year round have lived here my whole life in about a 20 mile radius. I love it here. Beautiful beaches in the summer and yes snow in the winter. And NYC is a 1 hour drive to great Broadway shows, restuarants and shopping.
Yes this BC does not discriminate.... I hope you are good Pam. Thanks for the HI !
Enjoy the weekend.
0 -
mrsphilly,
Hooray for you!!! An onco score of 6 is fabulous. You are in good shape and should live to a ripe old age with no recurrence. I am jealous
What a drive you have. Gas alone would be quite a burden. I hope you at least do not have much traffic to deal with. Do you have to travel to see your doctors too? Just put the car on autopilot and take a nap.
Wish it worked that way.Pam
0 -
Alicia,
Isn't shoe shopping great? No matter how your hair looks, how much you weigh, how flabby your thighs are... you can always shoe shop!
I've had to almost give up heels... knee problems + surgery. But there are so many really cute flats now that it is still fun to look and buy too. And in Florida you can wear almost any style year round. Even white!
Pam
0 -
Alicia, I am doing great. Went to see my grand baby today and she is beautiful. She is 6 months old and has a really sweet disposition. I am trying to prepare myself for my treatment next week. So I guess I have about 5 good days left, so I had better enjoy them.
Pam, it is funny that you should mention, no matter what is going on, you can always buy shoes. When I gain weight and can't seem too lose it and I don't want to buy clothes, I go shoe shopping. I have been having trouble with my feet for several years and have had to stop wearing the really cute shoes and have gone to comfortable ones. I hate it but I can't stand for my feet to hurt.
I hope every one has a great weekend.
Juannelle
0 -
Ahh Juannelle, nothing like spending time with you grandbaby ~ I am sure she is just precious. I am glad you are feeling good. I am ok too just really low energy level. WHEW it sucks!
And yes the joys of shoes...and I too go for comfort now. I got a cute pair of boots similar to uggs but Steve Madden in a nice charcoal grey (my new color) they were only 45 bucks. Love em' The little joys in life !
Have a great day ~ Juanelle treatment day is Thursday?
0 -
Alicia, yes tx day is Thursday. I am not looking forward to it, but it is one more down and then can call it half done. I just want this part of the journey over.
The grandbaby is great. She is so sweet and still lets everyone hold her and just smiles and laughs all the time. I hope her disposition stays that way. I saw her throw her first fit of temper yesterday, she was not ready to go to bed, eventhough she could hardly keep her eyes open, but she wasn't going to give up. It didn't last long, she finally just gave up.
Hope you have a great day.
Juannelle
0 -
Hey Juannelle, I'm glad to hear that after this coming Thursday you can call it half done!!! Unfortunately as of Thursday I will be finding out when the other half of my journey will begin. Good luck ladies! And Juannelle I hope your grandbaby keeps her sweet disposition. My little granddaughter is 10 months old and I've seen her throw a few temper tantrums especially when it is time to go to sleep at night, she really fights sleep any time. Other than that she is a sweetie!! I'm sure yours is the same.
Hugs and Blessings to all
0 -
Renee, I hope all goes well for you on Thursday. I know the waiting is terrible. I was so glad when all the testing and stuff was over and the plan was made.
Good luck to everyone having tx this week.
Juannelle
0 -
Well, Monday is rolling around again and many of us will be back in some kind of medical office this week. Good luck to everyone!
I am pretending I never heard of breast cancer. DD is here from California with 4 yr old GS. Happy days! Nothing cheers you up like a grandchild, right Juanelle?
Our weather is perfect, warm with a gentle breeze. Sure hope the latest storm tapers out and does not do any harm. This year without a hurricane (so far) is well deserved after the past few stormy seasons.
Pam
0 -
Juanelle,
Maybe I asked this before... why are you stage 1b? What makes it a b?
Half way through this week! Time flies... even when you are not having fun! You are going to make it!
pam
0 -
hello ladies,
It has been a few days since my last pop-in. Thought I would say hello...Had a treatment on Fri. and doing good...I am now 1/3 done...Yah me..One step at a time..
Good night sleeps to all..
Michele
0 -
Good AM Michelleboots,
Seems like there are so many women from Canada in this forum. Are you indoors for the winter yet? Or do you embrace the cold weather and forge on?
Hooray for you... 1/3 down!!! There is light at the end of the tunnel. I hope you continue to do well and put this awful 2009 behind you. Won't we all remember this as a difficult year?
Pam
0 -
Michelle, so glad to hear you're tolerating the treatment. Hope that pattern continues. I see you're from Ottawa. Dh and I visited your city in 2007 and really liked it. That was the year of an anniversary for the historic Rideau Canal. What a scenic waterway it is! Actually we spent a couple of months in Canada, moving about from province to province in our rv. We found the Canadian people very friendly and helpful. We asked many of them how they liked their national health program and the answers were overwhelmingly positive.
Here in south Louisiana we're all keeping an eye on Hurricane Ida who is supposed to weaken into a tropical storm and make landfall on the coast of AL. If that path is the actual one, we'll be on the western side, the "good" side and not get too much rain and wind. Hurricanes are awful events because people watch the forecast and hope somebody else catches the brunt!
I have a lot of work to do around the house today and don't plan to go anywhere.
Hope everyone has a good Monday.
0 -
Carol,
Yes Ottawa is a beautiful place to live...Although my husband is in the forces so we do move a lot...we have lived in almost all the provinces...as well as Colorado Springs for four years...We managed to do a bit of traveling in Florida and California...oh hell we did a lot of driving and saw a lot of states..I love Vegas though. My girlfriend and I mad a few trips there...Yah baby. Never did make it to far south. We had plans to see New Orleans, but had to cancell because of Katrina.. maybe one day.
having a bit of a tired day so I think a nap is in order today at some point. I think I will get out for a walk as well since the weather is so nice lately...it won't be long until snow will keep me in for a few months...I hate winter and everything that comes with it.
Later
Michele
0 -
Michelle, Congrats on being 1/3 done ~ Treat yourself to that nap, you deserve it !
We took our family on a trip to Niagara Falls (Canada side). What a beautiful place ~ I am with you enjoying some nice weather here (NY) and yup I too hate Winter.
0 -
Hi Ladies - Hope this week will be kind and gentle to each of you. I posted the following message on another thread, but wanted to share it with you, too:
Funny story from the weekend. Was at a delightful lunch with the girls when a handsome man came in and sat down alone. We were all checking him out and making up the story of his life, wondering why such a beautiful specimen would be alone for brunch on a Sunday. Told this story to my mother (mind you I'm 47 and she is 80) and she asked if I walked over and said hello. Here's how the rest of the conversation went; "Mom, I'm completely bald and have half of an eybrow over one eye." - end of conversation. Come to think of it, there may be men out there who are into this kind of thing.
We had lots of people walking in Dallas over this past weekend. It was the walk for breast cancer that goes for three days, and the people sleep in tents at night. There were folks everywhere in bright wigs and fun outfits. Teams were dressed in themes, and the atmosphere was festive. Yesterday morning on the way to church, we had to wait at an intersection while a large crowd of these walkers crossed. There were volunteers at each corner dressed in wild outfits. They were playing fun music and cheering everyone on. Some were sweet couples, husbands and wives walking hand in hand and wearing pink t-shirts. I watched them pass and had strong feelings that caught me off guard. It was the thought of the tough things I have endured and will endure, combined with that overwhelming sense of gratitude for the kindness of people. I was so choked up, all I could do was cry and mouth the words "thank you" as they went by. It was emotional for all of us.
Surely they will find a cure soon.
Love to you all. XO, Mary
0 -
Hi Ladies I hope you are all having a wonderful day. It is a beautiful sunny day here in lovely Northern Alabama. We have a high of 71 today, but we are expecting some nasty winds and rain tonight into tomorrow from the ugly hurricane that is brewing off the coast of Florida. So, I am enjoying today sitting in my house again still recuperating from my surgery almost 1 1/2 wks ago. I did talk to my OB GYN doctors office today and he will not prescribe me any of the Vaginal HRT for the Atrophy and dryness I have. (hope that's not to much information). I am very disappointed now I have to go back to the surgeon and see if he will do it. If he won't then I guess I'll have to do without. I'm just hoping that it doesn't get so bad that I need a bladder tack. If anyone has any suggestions of anything that can help with this outside of a prescription from the doctor I would appreciated it. Being a nurse I am really concerned about other areas of my physical health as well as my BC. I don't want to fall apart at 45 and constantly be in the hospital having surgery to repair things. Someone told me that flaxseed oil caps would help... I wonder if they really do? Any advice is appreciated.
0 -
Mary ~ your post had me laughing at the gorgeous man you bald one eyebrow, and then in tears at your watching the people walk.... thank you for sharing.
Mimi ~ I don't know what to suggest for the vaginal dryness. Any of the OTC lubricants possibly help somewhat? I'm sorry sweetie.
Hope everyone is having a good day.
((((HUGS))))
0 -
Hello everyone, hope you all are diong well.
Well, today was the LAST rad treatment. I got a little teary eyed. I will truly miss my techs, they got me thru an overwhelming situation with kindness and laughter. I wrote them a card and brought them in some sweets from a nearby bakery.
While talking with my rad onc after treatment, he told me to hold of on starting the Tamox for another 2 weeks. He said the radiation kills cancer cells, while Tamox stunts their growth. So, in essence the Tamox would inhibit the purpose of the radiation. How educated we all become! So, I get to wait in anticipation for the next 2 weeks to start the dreaded drug.
Also had my first physical therapy appointment for my arm today. It went well, hope I am not too sore to go to Yoga tonight.
Hugs to all of you amazing women!!!
Jen
0 -
Hugs to you, Jen, for finishing rads! Hurray!!! How sweet that you will miss your kind techs. I'm taking the dreaded little white pill, Arimidex, and so far it hasn't been as dire an experience as I dreaded it to be. With luck, you'll not have any serious problems with SEs.
0 -
JEN ~ CONGRATS on your last radiation~ woo HOO. I am sure that feels good. Interesting fact about the tamoxifen. I will be on that for 5 years after chemo is done. ugh. Enjoy yoga.
HUGS !0 -
Congrats, Jen! It is strange to move on from your cancer helpers... bittersweet.
I read up about starting AIs or Tamoxifen before, during or after radiation. Some said it did not matter but some opinions said you should wait til rads are over as you want any cancer cells to be active to receive the full benefit of the radiation. My med onc said she could not say one way or the other... so I waited. I might have decided otherwise if I had had to wait a long time between surgery and rads.
Thinking of everyone this week. Stay strong!
Pam
0 -
Pam,
Now that you ask I am not sure about the 1b. When I went to the Rad Onc he said my tumor was T1bN0M0. I didn't ask any questions. Now you have to take into consideration that he had just told me that I did not have clear margins and I had two options, a mx or a re excision. Now I was pretty upset so I just assumed that it meant that I didn't have clear margins. I never thought any more about until you asked. I went out and looked at different sites and I couldn't find anything about a Ib, lots about IIb and IIIb and so forth. When you go the your profile and select the tumor size, there is a I, Ia, Ib, but I am not sure what it means now, but I bet someone can help me out with this.
The outcome from my Rad Onc visit was that there was a typo on the path report and I did not have to have more surgery, thank goodness the same mistake was not made on the path report to the surgeon. Now what if they had both gotten the same report and I would have had to have more surgery because of a typo. I probably would not have ever known the truth, but it is scary.
Thanks,
Juannelle
0 -
Jen...Way to go...How nice for you to be done that...you should celebrate by making someone take you out for supper...and perhaps a small glass of vino...or just the the vino.
Michele
0 -
Hello ladies
Pam-Actually my med onc told me to start right away on the Tamox, but my rad onc was the one who told me to wait. It makes sense to wait and let the radiation do its thing. I didn't spend 7 weeks getting zapped for nothing!
Michlele, Alicia and everyone else, thank you for the kind words and encouragement. I will celebrate for sure! I think I will start today by not having a doctors office to go to for the first time in 7 weeks! Whatever will I do??
Thinking of all of you today, and sending good vibes!
Hugs
Jen
0 -
Dear Juannelle,
I looked at my report and T1b N0 M0 means you are stage I. There is no letter grade associated with stage 1 that I can tell. The three codes together designate the stage.
pT1b - tumor more than 0.5 cm but no more than 1.0 cm.
pN0 - no node involvement.
pMo - hasn't gone to other organs.
I'm T1c N1 M0 and I'm stage 2a because of the N1, node involvement.
0
