Class of 2009 - Sisters in the same time frame
Comments
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Ladies thanks for clarifying that about the "No cure" for breast cancer. I know that is what I have read as well and usually the ladies post that they are NED (no evidence of disease). I wish that we could say that it will never return, especially those of us with only stage 1. It would be great is we could go into this imaginary place and put up those walls and believe that. However, that would not be realistic and then we (all of us ladies, regardless of our diagnosis and stage) would not be as vigilant as we need to be in monitoring our situation.
On a happier note I now have water!!! My water lines were frozen for 1 week and 1 day and they thawed today around noon. I have learned a lesson well, do not take the little things in life for granted... especially something as small as water. God provides for us in many ways and water is one of his many miracles. :=)
Renee
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Renee,
And this is the first time you are mentioning the water situation? Wow, what restraint! So glad you are back to normal. How is your skin holding up?
pam
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Well, given that info, which I guess I knew in some way (hence the 1 - 3% chance of recurrence after MX), my hopes and prayers for us all is to be NED for life.
Renee -- woo hoo on the restoration of water service!
Cheers,
Lilah
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Renee, I guess having no water for a week can make you think about Haiti right now...Imagine no water, food, shelter, and loved ones..I think at times we do have it so lucky...even us suffering with cancer..we have so much to be thankful for.
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I hate all the recurrance stats and numbers. They make me way too anxious. So I heard them and now chose to stuff them deep down. Can't think about them ~ so for now I chose to fight like crazy and hope I can be happy and live in the moment. I couldn't do it without you wonderful girls. I hope everyone had a good weekend. RENEE soo glad you have water now ! And yes Michele, Haiti makes me so sad right now.
Hugs ~
Alicia
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Fight like a girl!!!
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LOL PJ! Woot!
And yeah Alicia I agree. I'm going with no cancer for now. My doctor actually did say cancer free... which for the moment I am, I guess, since there wasn't any left in the breast tissue removed at my MX (following previous lumpectomies). The percentages are hard to embrace except for the fact that, in the end, you are in single digits... which seems to me to be better than the 12% for the average woman who has never had it. So I guess I'm saying I don't totally stuff them down... because here I am flaunting them... but it all translates to me as hope that I am done.
Lilah
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lilah, my Onc told me also, that she would never say I was cancer free. I guess if we all live to be 85 and die of old age, then we were cured of cancer.
alicia, I also had all the percentages. I was glad that when I had my consult with the Rad Onc, he didn't go over all the percentages again with me. I read somewhere the other day on this site, to stop comparing ourselves with other women, each one of us either had a 100% chance or 0% chance of recurrence, those are our individual odds. I guess that would be right.
renee, I can't imagine going without water for all that time. Glad everything is back in working order. Good luck next week. Each day of radiation is one less you have to do.
michele, you are right, we have so much to be thankful for, but we sometimes forget. I have never been in a disaster situation and can not imagine what it would be like.
mary, good luck tomorrow, we will all be there in spirit to help you through.
groundhog, thanks for the special prayer. I know I will need it as I start the new phase of my cancer journey.
luah, pam, jen, sharon and everyone else, I hope you all got to have a restful weekend.
Juannelle
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Juanelle,
Only 85???? That is not as far off as it used to be! We are all going to make it to 90. Or 100. Why not? We are going to take such goof care of ourselves since we know how precious good health is.
Hope your radiation gets off to a good start. Are you working now? Hope you can take it a little easy.
Hugs to everyone.
pam
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Ladies - I love you. You've really got my back, and I will be confident tomorrow. I'm going in, sisters! Cover me. XO, Mary
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Thinking about you and praying Mary...
Hugs ~
Alicia
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Go Mary, Go Mary...I had my pom poms out for that little cheer...could you tell? Good luck today.
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Edited to redact a post with personal information.
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I was diagnosed in August and had my lumpectomy in September and started radiation in December. I waited because they sent my tumor out for additional grading somewhere in CA. It came back with a 30% chance of reaccurance and wanted me to do chemo. I am really against that unless a last resort and opted for a whole body PET scan to see if any cancer. I was told it came back ok and started radiation. A week later the doctor said there was activity around the scar tissue and they had to do a CT scan with contrast to confirm it was just scar tissue. I got a call that it was ok then when I visited my doctor they said my lymph node scar was fine but my lumpetcomy scar was still non-conclusive and could not tell if there was cancer there. Now they want me to do an MRI. I opted not to do the MRI with contrast as I got extremely sick from the CT scan with contrast. The doctor told me if it was cancer they would probably give me a masectomy. I am hoping the radiation treatments will take care of any cancer as that is supposed to be why I am getting it. I don't know what to do and am so confused
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Liza,
I wish we had a crystal ball and could give you an answer. Have you thought about a second opinion from another doctor. It is done all the time and might shed some new light on what to do. It sounds like you had the Oncotype DX which often pushes women in one direction or another. Since you seem strongly against chemo maybe you would benefit from one of the threads that promote natural products to fight your cancer.
I admit I am more traditional surgery-chemo-radiation minded. I would be more afraid of the cancer than the chemo but that is easy for me to say since I was not faced with that decision.
Best wishes in your struggle to find your way here.
pam
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Edited to redact a post with personal information.
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crystal ball, magic wand, shooting star........
what would you add to our wish list?
pam
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Liza: I can so feel your confusion. One minute I'm fine with my lumpectomy (scheduled for this Thursday, 1/21) and then bam, out of no where I get this wave of fear and mentally change my mind to a bi-lateral. And then I think that I'm over-reacting and talk myself back into the lumpectomy only again.
But, I'm probably at a much different stage in my life. I was talking to my daughter today, she is 33, and she feels that she would be as aggressive with breast conservation treatments as possible. She isn't ready to "give up" her breasts and feels strongly about that. On the other hand, I'm in my mid-50s and have actually grown weary of my breasts over the years. In fact, there was a time about 10 years ago I was seriously considering very radical breast reduction surgery.
I wish I had better advice for you, but all I can say is, you have to go with your gut. Trust your instincts. Even though I don't follow my own advice! LOL!
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Lisa, we all have to approach our treatment in our own ways. I chose chemo because my Oncotype DX came back 25. I am 60 and I want to throw everything at the cancer. I have finished chemo and will start radiation 1/20. I don't want to look back with regret.
It looks like we have about the same dx, except you are grade 3 and I am grade 2. I know the decisions are not easy on this journey, but you will make one that is right for you and then you need to be a peace with your decision.
pam, I think 100 would be good. I don't know why I was settling on 85, just the first number that popped into my head.
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Juanelle and Pam I definitely agree... 100 is a good old age to live to. I want and plan on making it there as well!!! I'm gonna hang with you girls and we can go have a party on the beach. LOL!!
All the other ladies on here can come along to, but only if they plan on living to be a 100 :-)
Renee
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IT'S NOT CANCER!!!! Today's bone scan is clear. The June '09 scan was clear. Two scans within about six months, both clear = very, very good news. We will probably watch these lesions, but they tell me if they were cancer or even trying to be, at least one of the lesions would have probably popped up bright on the scan. Now on to pain management, which I happily expect will not include oncology. Ladies, you are all so sweet and cute and strong and wow I would have been so lonely without you. Lots of good support available on the other side of the fence, but you all understand what this feels like. I am so sorry to put our magnificent crew through this, but you have my gratitude and love for carrying part of this burden while I waited. I luh-hove you all! XO, Mary0
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Mary: That is WONDERFUL news
! I'll be praying that the doctors are able to find something that will get rid of your pain. Have a peaceful night's sleep.TCK
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Congrats Mary!! What relief you must be feeling!!
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Mary - that is absolutely the best news I have heard all day... Congrats!!! Now here's to hoping that the docs can manage your pain. :=) God is so awesome!!! Prayers for a pain free and peaceful night.
Renee
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Geez Mare, what a relief! I'm so happy for you. But tell me this. Are lesions something that can be surgically removed? or do they just exist in the bone? In my mind I envision something that can be scraped off but frankly I'm not sure that I fully understand exactly what a lesion is.
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Wooo hoooo Mary!!!! Delighted to hear this wonderful news.
Lilah
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Mary ~ so HAPPY !!!! woo HOOO ~~~
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Mary and everybody... We ALL have been in your position or will be one day. Those around us in real life who have not experienced cancer just cannot understand our anxiety. Of course they are concerned and sympathetic but... our sisters here KNOW what we are feeling. So glad we are all here for each other.
Hooray for Mary!!!
pam
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Mary, I am so, so happy for you...I agree with Renee, it is the best news of the day..such a load off your mind I know.
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Alicia - I believe you and I are on the same wavelength. I can't think about what might happen down the road. It's just too draining. Take the needed precautions - yes! Live one day at a time and enjoy that moment. Hope your day has been special.
Chris
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