Class of 2009 - Sisters in the same time frame
Comments
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I always liked my PS except for one thing, I got a bad vibe from her PA. I actually had better luck reaching the Dr. after hours. Like last Friday I called about an infection and for a referral and never got a call back. I just always knew it was this PA not the PS.
So today my Onc's nurse wanted me to call them again, and somebody new answered the phone, and boom, I had an appointment within hours. I figured she was just a holiday fill in, but when I got there she said she is the PA's REPLACEMENT.
Yea!
I mean I would have not referred people just because of the communications issue with the PA, and I procrastinated calling the office. These doc's need to realize how big a deal the front office staff is to patients. Otherwise it's like a great chef serving food on old chipped plates.
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Hi to All the Ladies -
Juanelle and Pam - We finally have a t.v. my husband could stand it no longer and he went today and bought a Vizio 42 inch as we speak and it is on it's way home.
Juanelle, Michele and Alicia - I hope you all are feeling o.k. with it being so close to Christmas. Haven't heard from Juanelle in a day or so.
I went to #11 RADs appt today. I get the next 4 days off. I didn't get to see the Rad onc about the little hard knot I have just above the sentinel node dissection incision scar. The nurse did look at it and said she didn't think it was anything. It hasn't been sore at all today. So, I'm really thinking it's scar tissue. My Rad Onc is on vacation ... gone deep sea diving in South Pacific and he will be gone all next week. They are bringing in another doc from Atlanta to fill in. They told me he would be seeing me Monday... I'm not sure I'm going to see him. I told the nurse that I already have to many docs. I don't think I need one more that doesn't know me or my case coming in and looking at my boob. I did apologize to her and tell her I didn't mean to be difficult and she said no that it was my body. How would you feel? I'm asking for opinions. I mean it's for one week only. I don't think it's going to hurt to go one week and not see the rad onc! And I do already have 5 doctors, that is enough to kill you or cure you. Of course some may think I am just a big pain in the tush! LOL! I can be, and I admit it, but that is what makes me a darn good nurse and a great patient advocate. :=)
Hugs
Renee
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Renee,
The one week my rad onc was on vacation a PA substituted for him. I got more attention and information from her than from my regular doctor in ALL my visits with him. So, it was a good thing as it turned out.
Wishing everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HEALTHY NEW YEAR.
pam
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michele, hope you are feeling better and have had time to do that shoping or not. If you don't get the shoping done, give them money and let them buy their own stuff.
renee, that is my New Years Wish for everyone, we need to hear "NED" and we will all live happily ever after.
carol, hope you continue to heal fast. Good to hear that the node was negative. Stay warm and best of luck.
lilah, woo hoo on no cancer. I like those words. I do expect to hear that myself before too long.
M360, no body deserves to be treated like that. I agree go somewhere else and I hope you get treated soon.
Renee, I haven't dropped off the face of the earth, just busy and tired. The fatigue is still hanging in there, but I am doing better. Only problem is that I do tx #4 tomorrow, so I am sure the fatigue will set in really fast with that one. I haven't started my rads yet, but I would probably feel the same way about a strange doctor. Well, congrats on that new TV. I will not tell my DH or we might be out shopping for a new one too.
cookiegal, jen, mary, pam, meg, alicia, hello to all of you and hope you are ready for a wonderful Christmas.
Yesterday was Adoption Day, so my grandbaby is legal now. It was the best Christmas present that anyone could have. She is so special and was so good, all day and I mean she had a busy day. The judge couldn't believe how good she was being. She never cried or fussed, she knew she was queen for the day.
Well, I will be busy tomorrow with TX 4, last one, woo hoo. It is going to get cold here, so I am hoping that the weather will stay away until, we get back home. I am about 50 miles from the treatment center.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone. My wish for New Years is that we all hear the words "No evidence of Disease (NED)" . What a wonderful thing that would be.
Love and hugs to all,
Juannelle
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Juanelle ~ good luck with your FINAL treatment tomorrow !!!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you great ladies - my wish for everyone is a HEALTHY Cancer free 2010 !!!
Hugs ~
Alicia
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Mimi -- a week's wait should not matter. I understand not wanting to tell your story again to a new doctor. Although PJ is right that it can turn out to be a benefit. I think you should do whatever you want to do
I think we all should! Happy Christmas and New Year to all! May 2010 be the beginning of years of NED for all of us.
Cheers,
Lilah0 -
I am curious why you had chemo before surgery? I was just diagnosed and they said I have to have surgery and won't know about chemo until they know if it is in my lymph glands. why are there so many different approaches to helping us? I am so confused. I go for my MRI tomorrow.
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Hello. I am horrified by how you've been treated. This is not acceptable and you deserve better. I hope God puts someone in front of your path asap who can assist you. And you've had so many other things to worry about as well. It isn't fair. I've only recently been diagnossed with IDC and don't know the stage or lymph involvement or any of that yet. I go for an MRI tomorrow. I live in British Columbia, Canada. They seem to have the cancer thing down quite well. I even got a pillow in the mail today (I was diagnosed last week) from the special nurses at the breast clinic. I can use it under my arm to make me more comfortable after surgery. They also gave me a booklet to read, explaining every single step and/or possibility so I'm less afraid. Isn't that nice of them? There are so many events here for cancer research/support. I guess they use a lot of that money for the incredible support system they have going. The medical system is also very good. I'm very lucky...if I had to have cancer....that I live here in this part of the world. I just thought of something...my son (age 32) was diagnosed with "STILLS" disease last year...OMG...it is such a horrible disease. I in 100,000 young adults get it. It's just awful....
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Linda, they do chemo on large tumors to shrink them before surgery. Sometimes they shrink so much that the women can have lumpectomy instead of a mastectomy. If your tumor is on the small side, then they will remove it, do all the pathology on it and then that will sort of guide your treatment. I thought I would only have to have surgery, then radiation, but because they sent my tumor off to have the Oncotype DX test, my score was 25, I decided to also do chemo. It is like an insurance policy for me.
Sorry to hear that your sone as a horrible disease, I have never heard of it, so I may do some research. Is there a cure or is it something that he will have to live with?
God bless and I hope you have a wonderful holiday.
Juannelle
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Juanelle a new baby and last chemo!
Wow!
At least on all the steriods you can stay up and wait for Santa, and wrap!
Happy Happy Holidays and a Healthy fabulous exciting new damn DECADE!
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Happy last chemo, Juanelle. I'll be saying a good one for you tomorrow. And happy new grandchild, too! That is too cool. Hope you get home easily and that you rest, sip, and delight in the fact that you have done the whole nine yards. You're on your way to the sunny side of the street, sister!
Renee, my rad onc is going on vacation, too. She'll be gone for a week. I think they will probably just weigh me and do vital signs once while she's away. The pinch hitter will be helpful if there is a problem, though. Don't blame you for not wanting another doc in your conga line. In the meantime, we have four delicious days without rads - woo hoo!
Alicia, Pam,Lilah, LIna, Carol, M360, Ivorymom, and Jen - best wishes to you for the Holidays. Cookiegal - laughing about the wrapping on roids remark. Funny! To all I have missed mentioning - love and lots of healing to you. XO, Mary
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Linda -- in my case they did chemo between surgeries. I had two lumpectomies in June and the pathology report after the second lumpectomy was three clear margins and one that was "close" -- which mean I needed more surgery. At that point, though, they also knew I was HER-2 positive and the standard for HER-2 positive is chemo in combination with Herceptin (I'm still on Herceptin til next summer). So my final surgery was postponed til after I finished the chemo (which I finished on November 9). Because my cancer was multifocal (two spots where there was DCIS), because after two excisions I needed one more, because after two excisions my breast was a bit mangled, and because it seemed like the safer choice (with advice of my BS), I ended up having a mastectomy (unilateral) two weeks ago (a month after finishing chemo). In my case I had chemo before final surgery only because time was passing and my ONC felt it was critical to get me on the chemo. I did read about this -- it's called neo-adjuvant chemo -- and in addition to doing it for large tumors (mine were not large) it is also done in cases like mine. I was glad to have the time to research my options for final surgery. As it happens, my breast tissue was benign, so I guess I could have had one more lumpectomy plus radiation. But I am glad to have skipped radiation (I am large-breasted and understand the SEs are worse for larger breasted women) and I am glad to have the peace of mind I now have; also, I think reconstructive surgery after 3 lumpectomies would have been difficult.
Juanelle -- woot on finishing chemo!!!!! It feels so good to be done, doesn't it?
Mary -- thanks for the good wishes and the same to you!
Cheers,
Lilah0 -
Juanelle: Love your smile in your picture--I bet you were smiling just like that when you were with your new grandson. And I feel quite sure that you will be smiling on your way home after you last chemo tomorrow. Congrats! TCK0
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Juanelle - stop in an let us know how you are feeling after your last treatment even though it's Christmas Eve. I know most will be busy with last minute things... as I will, but I would love to hear from you.
I can't believe I have awakened at such a strange time! I've been in bed forever... today is my son's 23rd birthday!!! Matter of fact it was about this exact time I traveled to the hospital "thinking" I was in labor with him 23 yrs ago. They kept me and he wasn't born (by C-section) until 3:38 p.m. Christmas Eve afternoon. Our babies grow up to fast ladies and life goes by so quickly, but I wouldn't trade one single day.
Merry Christmas Eve!!
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Merry Christmas to everyone! I am healing well, enjoying the Christmas festivities. My husband has been really great with Christmas preparation. He wrapped gifts, decorated, etc. He was surprised to see that I've been able to just relax - something I don't always do well.
We will go to Christmas Eve services at church this evening. I'm looking forward to it.
Juanelle - Congratulations on your last chemo! Enjoy your grandbaby.
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So glad to see all these "up" messages this AM. It just shows how resilient we all are, especially all you ladies still in treatment. Even though we are all in various states of disorganization (me especially) the spirit of the season bolsters us up. God bless us, everyone!
Pam
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This is the season to be happy. I do think Christmas is too commercialized, but when it does get here, I love it. I think even though we have all been through lots this year, we do have reasons to be thankful and be joyful for the season.
I am officially finished with Chemo, woohoo for me. I am still feeling good, went out to lunch after the tx and so far so good. It is cold here and it is snowing, we never get snow on Christmas, but it will not stick to the ground, because it was 76 yesterday.
Thanks for all the encouragement from everyone, I love all you gals, you are a great support group. I am just sorry we had to get together for this, wish it could be for a happier reason.
Wishing everyone a Merry and Blessed Christmas, and easy SEs for all of us who have had a tx this week. Enjoy the season and relax.
Juannelle
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Glad you made it home safe, Juanelle. This snow is just wonderful - a little miracle for us this year. As I type, I am looking at the branches on the tree just outside my window, and they have a beautiful coat of white on them. All is well, isn't it? Ho Ho Ho!
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Mary, yes it is beautiful, it is now starting to stick to the ground. Glad I am finished with everything and can stay home out of the weather. My dogs do not know what to think about it. I am enjoying a cup of hot chocolate and trying to stay warm. Cuddled up in my chair with my little tea cup poodle and she has her little sweater on trying to stay warm also. You stay safe and warm and have a very Merry Christmas, Ho Ho Ho back at ya!
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Twas The Night Before Christmas and all through the house.... I'm thinking and praying that all my sisters on this sight have peace, love and a cure in the coming year.
For all of you I found another Cancer Center, it is closer to my home in St. Helena and it is affiliated with UCSF, but it just opened this month and is new. More one on one and they have one of the best Cancer Specialist in the world. Plus he has another office just five minutes from my house.
So I'm having a second opinion by them. And just by accident I ran into a neighbor and he said his wife was just diagnosed with breast cancer, oh, I said me too. Where is she going and he said the new cancer center in St. Helena and it's just wonderful. Her care has been so one on one and they work with the family too if you want. Just waiting to see if my other doctors okay it. They have been emailing me daily and really feel that they need to be working with the oncologist one on one with my overall health. But for the first time in months I have hope.
So as I toast to all of you with my Vignette Wine Country Soda of Pinot Noir (it's non alcoholic wine and it's wonderful and natural) that I have found such support and care from all the women on this site. I wish I had Santa's magic powers and could cure you all by laying my finger aside of my nose, and wosh we all would be healed. Maybe just maybe just the thought will bring all of you a day of love and peace not only during this Holiday Season but forever.
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JUANELLE ~~~ CONGRATULATIONS ,
YOU did it --officially done with chemo. So happy for you, While it stinks you had to have chemo on Christmas eve it is a nice gift to be done I am sure. Big hugs to all !
Alicia0 -
M360,you sound so much better today. I am glad you have found a new clinic and I hope everything goes smooth in the transfer over. Your old clinic should just give in and let you go closer to home. I hope you get all your answers soon and have a good plan. You deserve that.
Alicia, thank you, it really feels good to know that I have finished one more thing. Now I know that in two months I will be through with the treatments and can go on with my life. I know I will still have doctors appointments, but maybe they will not be two or three a week.
Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas to everyone.
Juannelle
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M360 -- that is great! I am sure you will be able to work it out. And sorry to hear about your neighbor's wife.
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M360 - Your news is great! Have a lovely holiday, and keep us posted. Thanks for the sweet note. It's so nice to know all of you, regardless of the circumstances. XO, Mary
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Hi all you wonderful Ladies!!! Merry Christmas to each and everyone of you and your families. I know you are busy as this is Christmas Eve, but I had to spare some time to come on and say... I finally finished my shopping this afternoon!!!!!! Got home and finished wrapping Santa presents for my 11 month old granddaughter at about 9:30. My daughter is on her way home with one more roll of paper to wrap a doll and a table and chair set ( I ran out... Can you believe that?) LOL! My tree looks like it spewed a mixture of boxes, bags and Christmas wrap out of it's trunk. But Santa has finally come. Oh how I love Christmas and the excitment in the Children's eyes on Christmas morning... even my almost adult children. haha. They never get to old for Santa. Not really!!! The only gift I want this year is to be cancer free, all of us in 2010!!! That is my gift for each and every one of you precious ladies that have become my new friends.
Remember... "Jesus is the Reason for the Season" Merry Christmas!!!
Renee
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M360
How wonderful you have found a place that may be the perfect for you! It all happens for a reason! Possibly you were meant to go there originally.
Stress free makes all the difference!
Merry Christmas!
Kimberly
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Merry Christmas!!
Love, TCK
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Merry Christmas, Friends! Hugs to each one of you. XO, Mary
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Juanelle - I'm glad you are feeling so good... Wow!!! 76 one day and snowing the next... sounds like the weather we sometimes get here in Alabama. But we haven't seen 76 in several months. I don't expect we will again until about April! I do hope we get some snow. Hope you are enjoying the white stuff. Woo Hooo!!! on being through with Chemo. Good Luck with Rads... do you know when that will start?
{{{{Hugs}}}}
Renee
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Renee, no I do not know when the rads will start. They haven't called regarding the appointment yet, but I will get something confirmed next week when I go to the Onc. I want to get this started and the sooner the better. The snow didn't last long here, it got up into the 40s yesterday so away it went. It was pretty though, it wasn't deep, just a covering. I didn't even get any pictures, should have, but it was too cold at that time. Hope you had a great Christmas.
Juannelle
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