Class of 2009 - Sisters in the same time frame
Comments
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Lisa- You seem to have a great relationship with your DH and you are very, very lucky. I know my husband has more than once told me that he wished I didn't have to go thru this, and that it should be him. I hate seeing him in so much pain for what I am going thru. But, that is all part of the vows, "for better or for worse" and this definitely falls in the category of worse. The support is necessary for our recovery.
Hope all of you ladies are diong well today.
Went to therapy this morning and I went a week without any wrapping. But this morning my had was so swollen that the therapist wrapped my fingers and hand up to my wrist. This is just so darn frustrating! The fluid is just going from one point in my arm to another. So, I am going to go get some good long rubber gloves for the shower. At least I don't have to trash back wrap it like when my whole arm was wrapped. Sorry to rant about this, but it is ongoing and I can't help it
Love you ladies!
Jen
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Jen,
On another thread I follow Jo-5 made this recommendation that I wanted to pass along to you...
I only had one visit with a therapist who showed me what to do. I have changed some of the ones she gave me since reading a book called : LYMPHEDEMPA - A BREAST CANCER PATIENT'SGUIDE TO PREVENTION AND HEALING by Jeannie Burt and Gwen White.It explains the lymph system - has great instructions with pictures of the massages, for the breast, trunk, and arm. I really think anyone that has had breast surgery (nodes removed or not) and/or radiation or not--- should get this book and read it. I wish I would have had this book from the start.
Pam
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Thank you Pam! I will look into finding this book. I need all the help I can get
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I am also going to look for that book...no problems, but would be good to read.
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lisa, don't feel guilty, if we could predict the future maybe the choices would have been different when we were younger. Same goes for the spouse, maybe their choices would have been different, but I do believe even if my DH had known that I would get BC he would have married me anyway. We had 36 years of really good health and I am hoping for a bunch more.
Shelby, you have had so many changes in your life the last year it is amazing that you can hold it all together. You are a good example of a man standing by his woman, even knowing that she has BC and it might not always be an easy road. I have a great respect for a person that marries someone that has an illness that will probably affect them the rest of their lives. We all know that it is a life changing experience and that is a lot to take on. All this just shows what an amazing and strong woman you are.
Happy Birthday Jen, hope you have had a great day.
Good evening michele and pam.
Had my bone density scan today. Will get the results next week, getting ready for the AI.
Juannelle
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Juanelle good luck with the results of your bone density scan. Good Luck to when you start taking the AI. :+)
Hope everyone is staying warm... we are awaiting the possibilty of snowy weather or a wintry mix. We don't know which or if it will just be rain. We shall see...
Renee
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HI LADIES
My DD hasn't yet been back to get her results but I'm guessing that it is an all clear if we haven't heard from them but i would still like to know what the mass is made up of ill let you know when i know, ive got the flue now goodoh
JUANNELLE
The words of wisdom just flow from your finger tips, i love reading all that you have to say i get all excited when i see that face of yours Oon the screan and you have a long message for us thanks for being you, a beautiful women !!!
Hope every one is feeling great
JOJO
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HI girls, hope you are plugging along through your rads.
JOJO do let us know about your daughter's mass.. I am with you hoping no news it good NEWS!
I am really missing hair, eyelashes and eyebrows. BUT ~ the sun is shining and it didn't get dark out till 6 pm last night. I can feel spring coming.... our ugly snow is melting too! I am hoping the warmer weather will lift my spirits. 3 weeks PFC and I am still so exhausted and discouraged with how I look. BUT, it can only get better ~
Wishing you lovely ladies a great day !
Alicia0 -
Thank you everyone for the words of encouragement.
We are trying to ride out this storm too Mimi. Not to sure if we are going to get rain or snow or something in between.
I didn't know what to expect with the bone density test, but it's a breeze. I have to take another pill once a week but that's no biggie. Good luck with your test.
Now I want cheetos.. Between you guys talking about them and all the dang Girl Scouts at the grocery store attacking me I'm never gonna loss this weight.
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Alicia it WILL get better very soon! I well remember how I felt three weeks PFC and I was SO pissed that I still had leg pain from the Taxol... you're at the turning point!
Lilah
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Alicia, yesterday was the first day I was able to climb the stairs and i didn't have to sit down at the top to rest....yah me. I am 5 weeks past chemo..Wow it feels like a lifetime ago that I ended chemo...yet at the same time it feels like days..Anyhow enough about me...Alicia, you will feel better soon...Yah you.
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PauldingMom - It snowed Cats and Dogs this morning here in Cullman and we probably got about 2 inches of snow, but the roads were clear as a whistle. Funny thing in Alabama is by 10 a.m. it had turned to rain mix by 10:30 all rain and noon all the snow was melted because it was up to about 35 degrees. Like I said only in Alabama can you have snow, rain, sleet, and ice all in one day and then it all be gone in 4 -5 hrs and never look like it did anything to start with. LOL! For you ladies that dislike snow you need to move here. Low crime rates, beautiful landscapes, not may jobs but a great place to retire someday. We definitely get all the seasons, but usually only one snow and it vanishes very quickly.
Renee
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Thanks girls for the encouragement. I know it will take some time ~ I just don't want to wait. AND I am looking forward to and dreading my exchange surgery on the 16th.
The rainy/snowy weather is heading this way. YUCK !!
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Alicia I am sure the exchange surgery will go well and you will be so HAPPY to have soft breasts again... I understand the apprehension, though. It's yet another unknown you have to hurdle across.
Distract yourself. Don't think about it! How exciting to finally be done with TEs!
Lilah
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Alica, you are a beautiful woman and don't you think that you are not. I know I am so ready for my hair, brows and lashes to be back. I look in the mirror and I just want to be my old self. You are almost there and each day will be a little better and before long it will all be over.
jojo, I love to read your posts also. I still laugh about the roll down the hill. I am with you on hoping that no news is good news for your DD.
Renee, we also get that same kind of weather in Texas. Warm one minute and cold the next or vice versa. Our thing is the long hot summers. Sometimes we have over a 100 days of temps over 100. That is hard to take.
michele, I am 10 weeks PFC and it does seem like forever since chemo. It is amazing how fast time goes by when you are going to the doctor everyday.
I had the first stranger ask me yesterday what kind of cancer I had. I was at the grocery store and the guy taking my groceries out, asked what I had. I looked at him and asked him what he meant and he said cancer, what kind of cancer? Come to find out, his mother is going through this also and she had found out last May. She is almost at the same point in treatment that I am. He said she would finish rads next week. I was just surprised that someone would ask. He as very nice about it and I am sure that if his mother had not been going through this, he would never had asked me.
Juannelle
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You are very generous in your assessment of the stranger's questions, Juanelle. Shows what a nice person you are. :-) This disease does seem to take away all of our privacy. But it is better for me to let down my natural barriers and just pretend I am comfortable talking about it all. People do mean well. Every time I fill my RX for Arimidex I have to discuss how much it costs with the next customer behind me and why I take such an expensive drug. Even the pharmacist always seems shocked.
Bless everyone here.
pam
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Pam, you know I have always written about how hard it was for me to cut my hair, because then other people would be able to look at me and know that I had cancer. Since it was the first time someone that I didn't know asked me, I was sort of surprised at my reaction myself. Maybe it is because I have worn scarves and hats enough to be comfortable and there has been enough time for me to be comfortable with myself. I do not have any problems now talking about what I am going through and you could tell he wasn't just curious.
The machine broke today, so I didn't get my rad tx. That just pushes it out one more day. I just hope they have it fixed tomorrow, so I don't have to miss another.
Juannelle
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The machine broke, juanelle? Wow, that's a little nervewracking. Did they let you know before you got there, or not until you showed up?
I had my first experience with someone asking me about cancer a couple of weeks ago. She is a cancer patient herself, and we compared notes about treatment, se's, etc. It was nice to meet someone who knows what it's like. We had lunch last week, and found out we have a lot more in common than cancer. I'm glad you were so open with that man. Even though we do have the right to privacy, just think how he felt knowing that his mom is not alone.
Pam, I didn't realize the meds were so expensive! Are they not covered by insurance? I'm worried about paying for all of this treatment - bills are coming in and I'm already having trouble keeping up - I haven't even started rads yet! It's not enough that BC takes over our lives, it has to take over our finances too. Darnit!
Well, I hope everyone has a good day. Peace to you all...
~Shelby
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txstardust,
You haven't heard me whine about the price of arimidex? My after-insurance adjusted price is $388.00 for 30 pills. The price has gone up twice in the 10 months I have been taking it. Some insurance plans do pay better so don't panic until you know the facts of your policy, Supposedly their patent expires the end of May... MAYBE the price will go down then, I hope. All AIs are that costly. Tamoxifen is generic so it is very inexpensive but the AIs are the drug of choice for older women.
Every time I swipe my debit card for it I think of where else that money could be going. :-( But then I think what I would pay to not have cancer again.... priceless.
pam
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Renee, your weather sounds like Colorado Springs...we lived there for 4 years and it changed at the drop of a hat...my kids loved missing school for one inch of snow...Here in Ottawa the school NEVER closes...the buses might not run, but the school is open. has to do with funding.
I have only had one little girl as why I didn't have hair...she was sweet and her mother was nice as well. I didn't mind answering her question...so cute...
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Pam- Holy cow!!! $388.00, I can't imagine having to pay that every month. My Tamox is $10, and I was glad when I found that out. I was afraid it was going to be very costly.
Juanelle- I understand how awkward it can be for a complete stranger to just up and ask about your cancer. But, like you said, had his mother not been going thru it, he probably never would have noticed. When you find someone going thru it, it is like finding a kindrid spirit, one you gravitate towards. You want to learn from that person and get comfort and validation that everthing will be alright. I have had 2 ladies contact me within the past week. Both were recently diagnosed and referred to me for information and support, which I am more than happy to give. I was so happy that they contacted me. It feels good to be able to give someone else information or encouragement in their journey.
I was actually very encouraged today at my PT appointment. When she took the wrap off of me my hand looked great! I could see the tendons in the back of my hand, and I could see the definition of the knuckles on my hand. So, she did the massage, and wrapped me back up, but on Friday I will have my last official appointment. Then she will call in a RX for a gauntlet glove. It is a fingerless compression garmet for my hand. And she wants to catch up with me next week to follow up. I will be so happy to have my hand back!
Hugs and love to all of you ladies
Jen
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Jen, glad to hear your hand is getting back to normal...could this have been prevented with exercise or massage? I ask as I don't want to suffer like you have been...
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Jen,
It is so inspiring to hear how your therapy is helping. Will you have exercises to do at home? It is so good of you to help others in their journey. Good for you!!!
pam
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Jen -- that is such great news! Do they know why this happened to you? What tips can you share? I, like Michelle, want to do all I can to avoid going through that. (And good for you for being so upbeat about it -- I definitely would have made everyone around me miserable with my misery).
Cheers,
Lilah
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Shelby, they did call me before my appointment, so I wouldn't make the trip. I called this morning to make sure it was repaired and they said yes it was. So I left work and started making my way over there and they called and said it was broken again, something completely different. So now I will not finish until at least Wednesday. I didn't go back to work, I just came home. It was nice to get home at a decent time.
Pam, I think my insurance will pay all but $50.00 for my AI. I normally have to pay $50.00 for a 90 day supply, so that is what I am expecting to pay. A man I work with says the insurance just charges the $50.00, his wife has had BC twice and she has been on Arimidex for about 6 years.
This is a very expensive disease. Since I didn't start this journey until July of last year, I got all my deductibles paid and then I had to start over again with this year.
Jen, glad you are seeing some improvement in your arm. I like Michele would like to know what you think caused it. Our dx is about the same, except you had 9 nodes removed and I only had 3. So far, I have not had any problems, but I am very protective of my arm. I normally do lots of yard work during the spring and summer and I think this year that I am going to hire it done. Since I was going through tx in the fall, I didn't get my yard cleaned up like I normally do and it is really a mess. I am afraid that if I get out and use the clippers, trimmers and chain saw that it might just be too much for me.
I go on Tuesday and get my prescription for my Arimidex. I will know then how much it will cost me a month. I am not looking forward to taking it or the SEs that come with it. I did read something about it the other day and it said that the women that had more pain with the drug, had less recurrence. Doesn't that sound like fun?
Juannelle
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HI Juanelle,
I too read a British study that suggested the more SEs the better the drug was working but others pooh-poohed that theory. Who knows? I really only have 2 complaints that are significant. I can't make fists, worse with left hand, so hard to open jars, etc. And my legs are just not strong even though I walk 2 miles every day. Wouldn't you think they would get stronger? I started out with significant hot flashes but they have abated to warm surges. :-) I have not gained weight so that is good. It does not seem to cause me any emotional angst and I sleep well. You are supposed to take a calcium with magnesium supplement with AIs and I also take a multi vitamin. I wish you good luck!
pam
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Pam -- how come you can't make fists? Are you fingers swollen?
Lilah
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No... not swollen at all. It is so weird. I have skinny fingers and they look perfectly normal and fingers are straight and don't hurt UNLESS I curl them tightly. Then, especially pinkie and ring finger on left hand, the joints just won't flex all the way and hurt. But the joints are not swollen either. My wedding rings fit loosely and go on and off like normal. It's not an arthritis like ache, more a sharp "don't do that" pain. I mentioned it to my onc... she said "arimidex". I'm living with it. Does not hurt if I don't force it. ???
pam
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Aw sorry Pam -- hope your onc is right and it will go away when you're done with Arimidex. Have you discussed some of that joint vitamin stuff with your onc? (CoQ10 I think it's called).
Lilah
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What is CoQ10? I do take Glucosamine but am thinking of stopping it. So many pills!
Thanks for asking... nice to get to complain! :-)
pam
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