Class of 2009 - Sisters in the same time frame
Comments
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Renee, sorry you are going through this...nobody likes overcooked breasts...I am dreading that stage of the game...oh well that too shall pass....big hugs for you today.
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debbie, welcome to the group. I am glad that we can be of help to you. This thread is just full of great women. Sorry you got a dx on your first mammo and they wanted to wait until 50, what were they thinking?
jen, glad you are doing better. I know it is a relief to you.
Renee, we are all here for you. I know it is not always easy to stay focused, especially when you are dealing with more than one thing at a time. Just take one day at a time and like you said you are half through, that has to make you feel better. Sending you a prayer and a hug.
I had the nicest surprise today when I got home from work. I had a big UPS package and IO knew that I had not ordered anything. Anyway, it was a getwell angel from a friend that I went to elementary school with. I haven't seen her in years, but we keep in touch on Facebook. It is so nice to think that someone is thinking of you and takes the time to send such a nice gift.
Hope everyone has a great evening. Stay warm, I know it is cold everywhere.
Juannelle
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Welcome Debbie!
Sorry to hear about the burning Renee -- that sounds very painful. Hope the cream gives you relief. Sounds like the end is in sight, so hang in there.
Mary -- ditto on the hugs and prayers already sent your way. I think the MRI was today, no? Hope you get results -- and that they are GOOD -- soon.
Lilah
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I too had a nice surprise, my cousin who took me to treatment dropped off a yummy looking supper to have next week when i feel like crap. I won't be able to taste it but my family can enjoy it..gotta love family...and my neighbor is planning to plow me out next week if we get snow..he knows Jeff is away for a few days...
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Ladies thanks for all the well wishes and prayers, I definitely need them. I so was not expecting the burning. It just popped up very unexpectedly. But I am believing the new cream and prayers will do the job and it will heal rapidly.
{{{Hugs}}}
Renee
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Renee, the sudden burning happened to me too. I got all the way up to #26 with no burning or pain and just the slightest pink. The RAD ONC and the Techs all thought things were going great. On the morning of #26 I woke up and one third of the radiated area had broken open and literally had me stuck to my sheets. By the time it was all over, the whole area pretty much bubbled off. I used Silvadene cream and kept using cool wet washcloths on it in the evenings. I have to say that in spite of such a oozy crusty mess, it really healed quickly once I was done. Withing two weeks you could not have been able to tell that anything was amiss. Now it just looks tan.
Hang in there girl, you can do it! Mary
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Good morning
My name is Sharon and I have just been diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. today I am going for a cat scan and this tuesday my breast doctor will let me know if it has spread to any other organs. If it has I have to have chemo first, if not then a mastectomy. The mass seems to be approx 3.5 centimeters. Two yrs ago I had a biopsy of that area for calcifications. It was benign. The doctor had me come in every 3 months for ultrasounds and periodic mammograms until 6 months ago when I was told I could now go that long w/o the tests. Several weeks ago I felt a fairly large lump that I hadn't felt before. My breasts are fibrocystic and it has always been hard for me to understand what I was feeling. This was clearly different. The ultrasound was alarming, an mri was alarming but did indicate that the lymph nodes were normal and no focal enhancements to the chest wall. The doctor does not see that as indicating that this thing has not spread and I am terrified that it has and that I will die. My mom died of breast cancer and my husband of esophageal. Please share some strength and hope with me, please. Thank you all and God bless. Sharon
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Sharon
I am so sorry to hear your news. I hope all goes well on Tuesday for you. The waiting is so hard and I walked around in a fog for the longest time.
If there is anything I could help with, let me know.
Kimberly
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Sharon: I'll be thinking of you and saying a prayer for you.This part of the process is very difficult--the waiting and not knowing. It's good that your doctor is being thorough since your treatment will depend on the scan results. You will get through this and then you will be able to determine your course of action. Take care,
TCK
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Sharon, welcome to the best group on the site...well there are a few great ones, but this one really rocks. Try not to worry. I know what you mean by feeling like you are going to die..I was scared to death before my mastectomy..every lump, bump, cough, ache and pain freaked me out...just take a long deep breath and try not to worry. Stress can play an awful mind game on you and does you not good. We are always here, day and night...mostly because of the steroids, but we are here...we can do this together.
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Renee ~ prayers your burns heal and you make it through the rest of your rads.
Sharon ~ welcome, my situation was similar to yours. I had 2 biopsies. Atypical cells though ~ was monitored closely for 3 years every 6 months then let go to 1 year. My lump showed up 6 months after a normal mammo. Hang in there. You will get through this. We will help you.
News on Hubby... further testing necessary to try to come to some conclusion. Blood work showed nothing. He has to go for cat scan of lungs, abdomen, pelvis to rule out he has no tumors growing. I am so freaking scared.....
And dreaded Taxol again on Monday....grrrr..
Hugs ~
Alicia
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Thank you all for your kind words. I am absolutely losing it though. Newly engaged, great job, going to be a first time grandmother in March and thrown this horrible curve. Is it likely with a 3.5 centimeter IDC that it has spread? Is there a good possibility that it hasn't? If it has spread to liver or lungs, can I survive (doctor said it could go to liver, lungs, brain)? My husband suffocated in my arms due to tumors from metastatic liver (cancer originated in his esophagus). Even the xanax is not helping today..sorry to be such a coward but I was the caregiver to both Mom and husband and watched helplessly as we trapsed around the country in search of the best specialists and all to no avail. I am absolutely petrified..
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Rerun, you need to take one step at a time...one test at a time...it is a slow process some days, but it is beatable...besides we have wonderful skilled doctors out there and treatments are so much better than even a couple of years ago...and remember we are here for you...the doctors always say things like it can spread...we know it can spread, but you have to think positive...they will test you and take good care of you...the waiting and worrying is the hardest part...once you have results you can deal with whatever hand you have been dealt.
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Rerun I second what Michele said. Try to just breath. I had two tumors totalling 5 cms. And I was one of the lucky ones it did not spread. We are all rooting for you ~ WE can beat this beast no matter what it throws at us. Be strong ~
Michele ~ you are such a wonderful gift to these boards, your positive attitude and kinds words are always there to brighten ones day.
Hugs ~Alicia
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Debbie68 - I'm new to this thread, too. I've posted on other topics but just disovered this topic. Our stories our similar in that mine was also found on my very first mammogram. In Ontario, Canada, where I live, the gov't screening program starts at 50 (I'm 45). I have no family history but my family doctor likes a baseline "for the file" at 45 for all her patients. Mine showed a small cluster of microcalcifications. I then had a stereotatic biopsy, which showed only atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH). The surgeon wanted to remove the area with the adh in case there was any "pre-cancer" cells nearby. Fortunately he did that surgery because there was pre-cancerous cells and also a small invasive tumor in with the mix. I then had to have a separate surgery to check the sentinel lymph node, which was clear. Now I'm half way through a series of four treatments of Taxotere/Cytoxan chemotherapy with radiation to follow.
I've met some of the ladies who post on this thread through other topics. For those of you who I haven't met before, my name is Sherri and I'm being treated at Credit Valley hospital in Mississauga, Canada, where I live. I'm very happy with the great care I'm recieving and am looking forward to late spring when my treatments are done (and my hair starts coming back in!).
Sherri
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Sharon, you are getting some really good advice and I am so sorry that you have had to join us. I know how hard it is to care for someone that has cancer. I had a niece die earlier this year from cervical cancer and of course when I was diagnosed, that was all I could think about. But each cancer is different and each person is different. Once, you get the full story then you will be more able to focus and find your best course of treatment. I know it is hard now, but this is really the hardest part for most of us.
Alicia, I know you are scared for your husband. I can't even imagine what I would be doing if my DH was also having health problems. You also need to keep focused and take care of yourself. Just take one day at a time and somehow it will all work out. Prayers and a hug coming your way. I love your new avatar, you are such a beautiful lady.
Renee, hope you are doing better. I went today and had my simulation. I will start my rads on 1/20. At least now I have a date, not that I am looking forward to it.
My good news is that I don't have a doctors appointment at all next week. That hasn't happened in so long, I can't remember. They will probably schedule my mammo for my left (the good boob) breast next week and that will keep my record going of 6 months of weekly appointments. I have been 3 times this week.
Hope everyone is doing well this week.
Juannelle
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Juannelle -- I hear you. I think I might even give you a good run for your money in equal number of doctor visits, if I were to go over my calendar for the past 6 months. I try not to think about it and focus on the day to come -- it shall come -- when this will finally all be behind me. So here's wishing the same for you too
Sharon -- so sorry to hear of your travails. I remember how scared I was and the fears that ran through my head. I can only imagine how much worse it would have been had I nursed a mother and a husband through cancer as well (so many more vivid details with which to scare oneself). Chances are very good they will have caught your cancer early enough to keep you safe... so try to focus on that. I'm sorry you have to be a part of our club but you are welcome here.
Alicia -- prayers coming your way for strength to get through this with you husband and that whatever is wrong is treatable (and quickly).
Cheers,
Lilah
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Thanks Juanelle and Lilah ~
I am hanging in there. Chemo anxiety setting in for round #6 on Monday ~ grrrr. BUT then it is 2 more and I am done woo HOO. Hubby goes Tuesday for his CAT scans so hopefully we know something by the end of the week.Hope everyone doing ok. Juanelle I hope you make the week DR free this coming week ~
Alicia0 -
Welcome, Sherri you will love this thread, it is a great group of strong, helpful, funny and inspiring ladies..
I too am from Ontario..living it Ottawa..I am quite happy with my care so far...No complications, but like you, I just want to be done in the spring.
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Renee, the best advice I can give you on the burn is to let it "air" as much as possible. I didn't know that my skin was "breaking down" until the rad techs told me (tx #23). My burns were both in the crease under the breast and in the arm pit. Both became pretty horrible as any movement or rubbing was very painful! I tried to lay down in bed a couple times a day for about an hour and had to apply silver sulphadiazine cream (burn cream also). Within a week of completing tx, I was healing quite nicely! Good luck with the rest of your tx.
Wishing everyone uneventful treatments!
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Has anyone heard from Pam lately?
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Hello Ladies,
Hope your New Year is filled with love, laughter, good times,and taken one day at a time
!I have been out of communication for awhile and lots to talk about. I have a Chemo start date of Jan 25...yikes. Oncologist told me that I have to go through 3 months aggressive verses the 5months because he feels that I should of been on Chemo 2 months ago. I was unable to start my Chemo therapy because my body rejected the graph put in during the reconstruction, had to be reopened, enhancer taken out, and have been waiting for the woumd to close. That has taken some time because I am a Diabetic and take longer to heal. Now, I start the hard road as I tell my family. the physical aspect of the MX was difficult but do-able. The Chemo...chemo that is starting to way on me. My good friend told me that the Chemo is do-able and gets better with every round. I cling to this statement because it is really all I have to give me the courage to get up and sit through my first round in two weeks.
What side effects can I expect from an aggressive therapy?
What has helped some of you ladies with the side affects?
What has helped with the emotional toilage that is sure to follow?
Has anyone out there gone through Chemo along with Diabetes?
EEEEEEEwwwwwwwww...that was a lot to spew.
Vivian
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Welcome to all of you who have just found this site, I have to say they are the most wonderful group around all Internet Angels in my book.
Renee I'm praying that you make it through the 2nd round with ease. I'm all with the silvadene, I always have a tube on hand and it works wonders, they use this on burn patients. If they gave everyone who start rads silvadene to put on most women would not have to go through the suffering and pain that they go through at times. Can't figure out why this isn't a part of prevention. Renee, I always include you in my evening prayers.
Alicia sorry to hear no results on your hubby hope all will be fine. Know we are all there with you in spirit with the next chemo.
Mary you sound so much stronger, we are two peas in a pod! I know just what you mean by being wound too tights, my springs have sprung! Hope all is well with your test results.
Juannelle a free week from doctors HURRAY, I'd be dancing in the streets.
Vivian I'd like answers to all those questions too. I don't have diabetes but autoimmune so I don't heal either.
Doctors and nurses and front office people calling my home this week drove me crazy a total of 47 times, I had to say enough already. Time out. I actually asked if I could put off all treatment for six months. Instead they said how about a mastectomy at the end of the month, then my other immunologist called and said we decided to watch you through radiation. We'll talk about chemo at next weeks appointment. I have an autistic child who said mom, this is too much. I need to know about down time, I have in-home occupational therapy for her as well as I home school her. Can I continue to be on top of her program while doing the bc program planned for me. Plus they are going into my glands in my elbow, it looks like a golfball has formed there. I had lymphedema three times in my left arm when I had surgery in my shoulder twice then with hand surgery. I have jobe sleeves and a burn sleeve but they don't fit any more. I have so many questions and none are being answered. I don't want surgery and rad until I have a plan in place, I'm a single mom, 55 with two children doing it all myself. What will my down time be? How does this all effect families? They just emailed that they will have someone drive me and bring me for surgery. How did you ladies feel in regards to grocery shopping and cooking every night. My 14 year old said mom, I can do all the cooking but I can't take on everything. I agree, and I'm trying to put things in place. I live on top of a mountain that most people don't like to drive up, the views and life here is wonderful but not for running back and forth. Three hours into doctors and three hours home up mountain roads can I do this alone after rads and chem? Questions, Questions, Questions.
I want to live with the Na'vi, be healed by people laying hands on me and drift away into fantasy land. I took my children to see Avatar and got lost in the visuals and didn't think once about bc or my questions the whole time, I just wanted to stay in that moment or walk into the screen among the lighted flowers and fauna. Oh life is but a dream....
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Hi MAKJ!
Thanks for asking about me. I am reading, just don't always have any brilliant repartee to add. But you are always on my mind.
We had a neighborhood tragedy 1-1-10 when a neighbor child (14) died in a tragic error/accident. Absolutely wonderful family, wonderful girl, heartbreaking. Even before this happened, some time in the course of my treatment - when I was still obsessed with fear I might die - I realized terrible things were happening to people all around me every day. Somehow I came to see that breast cancer was not the worst thing that could happen to me. I hope I don't die from breast cancer but I certainly am going to die someday of something.
Anyway, have been trying to do a few things for this grieving family and cherishing every moment of my current phase of no treatment. I've got to admit my clean PET scan in early December gave me a lot of peace. For now I do not have the feeling of waiting for the second shoe to fall.
Know what you mean about too many appointments. In 180 days from time of DX I had 90 different appointments! I survived it but it was hard.
I did not do chemo and don't have diabetes... it sounds like a difficult combination. But our doctors have certainly seen it. Keep the faith, Vivian. And ask lots of questions!
Love to all and seize the moment!
pam
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M360, I don't know what to say to you, with all your responsibilities. Maybe you can cook up some meals and freeze them before treatment or surgery and that would ease some of the burden on your 14 year old. At least you wouldn't have to cook from scratch each day. Crockpot soup is really easy also, we do that at work, there are many things you can do in a Crockpot. I am sure it is pretty where you live, in Texas it is mostly flat with rolling hills. I wish I had some answers for you. I also say Avatar and feel the same as you, wouldn't it be wonderful to live in that world, with out the people trying to take their land away?
Pam, good to hear from you, but sorry your neighbors have had such a tragic loss. I just can't imagine what that would be like.
Vivian, chemo is doable, it is not easy but you will get through it. Keep from getting constipated, drink lots of water, eat FiberOne Cereal, take stool softeners, and something like Benefiber. Start the day before chemo drink lots of water and getting ready for the constipation. You probably will feel good for a day or two after chemo. The 3rd day the SES will start and you will probably feel like you have the flu. Nothing will taste good, water, tea, coffee, juice, I mean nothing, but keep drinking. Eat small meals and I didn't restrict what I ate, if it tasted good, I ate it. Take the nausea meds as directed, before you start feeling like you need them. If you are in pain take something. You will live in a chemical world for awhile. Get some Biotene mouthwash and rinse you mouth every time you go to the bathroom, this will keep the mouth sores away. I also ate ice with each chemo and never had a sore. Drink enough fluid to go to the bathroom about every 2 hours for 48 hours after chemo, this will help get the toxins out of your body. You don't want that stuff sitting in you bladder for too long. If you have a port, take a peanut butter sandwich with you to chemo and eat it while they are flushing your port. It helps keep the really bad taste out of your mouth during the start of chemo. I know this is long, but if you have more questions, PM me and I will try to help you get through.
Lilah, I haven't added up the appointments that I have had in the last 6 months, but I am sure it is way up there. Just this week I had 3 appointments. I don't go back to see the Med Onc until the end of this month. My surgeon doesn't want to see me again, until I am ready to get the port out and that will be after rads, so sometime in March. I think I am seeing the end.
michele, hope you are having a good evening.
fmakj, thanks for the advice for the silver sulphadiazine cream. I will get some and ask the Rad Onc if it is OK to use it. I may just take my chance.
Alicia, it will be over before you know it, all of it. Still keeping you and DH in prayers.
Juannelle
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Having a good night..I have loaded up on fiber, fiber fiber...and lots of water...took my claritin this morning and so far no bone pain.,...I hope I didn't jinx myself...I just chowed down a bowl of popcorn while watching a movie with my daughter...so lets hope those poop fairies are gentle on me...heading to bed soon...I have all my drugs, mouth washes, thermometers, water, snacks to go with drugs...I think I am ready to say night night..
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michele, it sounds like you are prepared. I also hope the poop fairies are gentle to you. lol Wishing you very mild SEs.
Juannelle
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Wow, I feel pretty good today...took my claritin yesterday, and think that might be the cure...will wait and see what today brings.
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woo HOO Michele ~ I too hope your SE's stay away this time !!!!!!!!!
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Michele - I've used Clairitin twice now with each Neulasta shot I've received and so far, so good for me, too. I've taken it the day of the shot and for the next four days. I'm achey but I think that's from the Taxotore,
Sherri
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