Class of 2009 - Sisters in the same time frame
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I only see my rads onc once a week and only if I feel the need. He is only in the department one morning a week and it is on a first come first served base..If I want to talk he is there..it is the same for the nurse..I like it that way. For the first few weeks there is no need to see him. I love the cancer center I go to. I don't have to worry about making appointments, they do that and let me know when to come..I have heard of some places where it is up to the patient to do all the leg work..It sure makes going through this a lot easier.
I had my 13th zap yesterday...yah. I am more than half done..can't wait.
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Hi ladies,
Renee-So sorry to hear about your friend, that is so tough, and she was so young! My age and that scares me a little (ok more than a little). My prayers are with you and her family.
Alicia-Glad you had a good pre-op test and that things looked good!
Shelby- So sorry to hear about your DH's families car accident. Hope everyone heals quickly. Glad that no one was too seriously hurt or worse.
I was recently reunited with one of my sisters friends from high school. My sister had asked her to donate to the Avon walk, and she said she couldn't do it because she had some health issues going on. Come to find out she was diagnosed with BC. She is a mother of 5 and home schools them and her husbdan is next to never home. So, she contacted me because my sister gave her my information and thought I might be able to help her. We have been emailing back and forth for the past couple weeks. She just emailed me this morning and said she was going in today for a double MX, with expanders. Please keep her in your prayers as she starts this journey. I have told her how much this website has helped me, but I don't know if she has come on it or not. She is still pretty new to this whole thing and may not be ready for this yet. Oh, and did I mention that in the middle of all of this she left her husband because he was never there for her anyway, adn with the DX it just made things worse. I have been trying to help her and support her, she lives far away so I cannot meet her in person.
Hope everyone is having a good day!
hugs
Jen
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Jen -- hugs and prayers to your sister's friend! I hope she joins us here as I am sure it will be a comfort.
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It does seem that facing serious illness, in our case breast cancer, can make people reevaluate where they are in life and where they want to be. But, honest to goodness, I don't think I could have faced the additional emotional turmoil. Easy for me to say though... since I had a loving and supportive husband. Maybe there are men who are easier to be without when the going gets rough. in fact, I am sure there are.
How good of you to be such a support for her, Jen. As we all know... nothing like a friend who will listen. Glad you are all here for me.
pam
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Jen, the same thing happened to me. My cousins sister-in-law who I went to school with but never got to know was diagnosed after me...My cousin got us together on facebook, and we have been facing this together ever since. She calls me her Angel...little does she know me...more like a devil...anyhow. she is in the same small town where we grew up. There is a hospital, but no cancer center. She has to go an hour and a half for treatments..soon she will be moving there so that she can stay during the week for radiation and go home on the weekends to see her kids...I know it will be so hard for her...
It is funny how something so bad like cancer can bring people/strangers together..it can break up a marriage or confirm to you that you have a great DH to stand by you. My Dh and I have become closer since all this began..I guess we realize that life can be short, so we had better appreciate each other and tell each other we love each other..
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Where is Mary (Magob?Magog?)? If you are lurking, let us know. I am thinking about you.
pam
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Renee, I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. Being young and with BC is a scary thing, but for it to take a life - it just isn't fair. Prayers to her family and to you.
Juanelle, you're almost done with rads, hooray!
It's scary when you hear of all of these people with BC. I didn't know anyone before (except my mother) who had BC, and now I've met several people who are going through it. It blows my mind how many people are dealing with cancer.
Thanks everyone for the prayers for my hubby's family. His mom and sister are healing up, but his dad is still on a ventilator in the ICU. He broke 9 ribs, so breathing is very difficult for him. Once he is able to breathe on his own without so much pain, he should be able to get out of ICU. Come to find out that his sister, who was driving, had been drinking that night. I will never understand how people make the decision to drive after drinking. Look at all the turmoil it has caused!
I go friday for simulation, then Monday I'll start tx. It will be an interesting journey, and I'm glad I've got all of you ladies along for the ride!
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txstardust,
Hope you do as well as Juanelle! You Texas girls are tough!
pam
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txstardust good luck with your radiation treatments, I to hope and pray that you do as well as Juanelle has done.
Michelleboots- yeah on being 1/2 way through!!!
Jen - hope your lymphedema is doing better and that your friend decides to join us and comes through her bilat mx with flying colors. May God be with her. Hugs...
Renee
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Sherri,
We love Niagra Falls and Niagra on the Lake. Not sure when we will go back ther but we plan on someday. The botanical gardens there are awesome as are of course all the great winery's!! Love the Falls too they are spell binding. Hope you have a great time.
Hope all are having a good day and enjoying the wonderful weather.
I am so blessed to have such great friends, neighbors, and the BEST DH. My DH hates to drive especially in the city we live in a very rural area but he is ready to drive home by himself next week when I have my surgery, sounds small but it is a big challenge to drive the 85 miles one way by himself and then back the next day. I find that everyday brings new blessings and challenges.
Carol
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Ladies, you are all the best. This journey would have been unbearable without all of you.
Renee, my heart goes out to your friend. It makes me so sad to hear about a young woman who has so much to live for and they just don't make it. I go out on the Stage IV thread ever so often and it just breaks my heart to read their stories. I would never post there, but it does bring it all into the real world. Hug coming your way.
Jen, prayers for your friend also. I am glad that you can give her some comfort and support.
carol, prayers for your friend also, I guess we have all been touched by someone, who has also been touched by BC. I had a friend die from BC in September 08, and when I was diagnosed that was all I could think about. Will keep you in my prayers also with your upcoming surgery.
Alicia, glad all the tests went well for you. It is getting close and I know you have to be anxious. Hug coming your way.
shelby, glad your in laws are recovering. I don't understand the drinking either. With the laws the way they are today, I wouldn't drive after having a drink. It is amazing that the decisions we make, can cause lifetime problems for someone. At least no one was killed.
Good evening to Pam, Michele, Lilah, Pauldingmom, Sherri and Psalm121. I hope I didn't miss anyone, but I love you all.
I went to all my doctors today and after my tx tomorrow, I don't have to go back to the doctor for 6 weeks, wooo hooo. I wont know what to do with all that free time.
I did get the results from my bone density test and I have osteopenia. She prescribed Actonel, so I guess I will be on it for the rest of my life. My score was 2.0 and normal is 2.5. I guess it is to be expected, I am 60. She also tested by Vit D level and was 35.9, which she said was normal. She did tell me to take a good calcium tablet twice a day.
Hugs,
Juannelle
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HI ALL
10 more days till i start getting zapped , i wish i could start sooner im more than ready now , im feeling like im just about over all the S/Es from chemo i still get a bit emotional and cranky as well but i guess thats life .Sounds like every one is traveling well on there own journey JUANNELLE
Just about done now congrats to you ,done well sister ,go and buy yourself a pressy !!!!
IVE been busy doing the home stuff ,kids ,husband grand kids ,but best of all BEACH lol
SHELBY
All the best for the family
TALK SOON ,TAKE CARE ALL ,SEE YA
JOJO
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I"m off now for my CT scan/simulation.
Sherri
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Sugar, good luck...
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Good luck Sherri hope all goes well !
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Good luck Sherri! Let us know how things go for you
Juanelle- HOORAY for you!!!! You have made it out the other side and now, just healing is ahead of you! God bless you!! You are amazing and I love you sister!
Thank you for the prayers for my sisters friend. I got an email late last night from her sister-in-law. The surgery went well, but unfortunately they did find traces of cancer in the sential node. Not sure how many other nodes are affected. It was not unexpected news given the size of her tumor, but unwelcome nonetheless.
I second what Juanelle said so well, I know I could not have made it thru what I have been thru without you ladies. I love each and every one of you! It is so amazing that we all come from such diverse backgrounds, we are hundreds or thousands of miles apart, yet we find such comfort and support in eachother. That is amazing to me and I am thankful!
Hugs
Jen
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Here, here, Jen...
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Good luck, sherri!
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Hi everyone...thanks for your good wishes. I was very nervous to go today because I've never had a CT scan (I know...I'm a big chicken). Anyway, I went by myself and it was really no big deal. The technicians were so nice and it went quickly. I got four little dot tatoos and will start on March 22nd at 10:00 a.m. It was confirmed I will be having the standard Canadian protocol, which is 16 sessions. After that, I will get five boosts aimed to where the tumor was removed.
Jenn's right, you ladies are wonderful and I don't know what I'd do without the support I get online from all of you. Hugs to everyone!
Sherri
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Juanelle: You're 60?! I woulda thought more like 50!! Wow!
Hope everyone is doing well this evening. You all are an inspiration to me....such support and understanding. I can't feel ready for bed until I've checked in on everyone and know that you are all okay. I honestly feel that I carry you around with me...in my mind and on my heart...every day I am thinking of you and praying for you.
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Well ladies, it is confirmed that we need each other. I hate that we had to get together under these circumstances, but that could not be helped.
I went to have my wig trimmed today and the lady before me was having her hair cut. She had her first chemo on Monday and said she thought she would be the lucky one and would not lose her hair. I asked her what she was given and she said TC. I didn't say don't count on being lucky, but kept my mouth shut. One of the rare times. lol
Sherri, glad things went well today. Rads are so much easier than chemo, you will be surprised at how fast it goes by and you are getting the shortened version.
Shelby, hoping your family is still healing well and on the road to recovery.
Jen, thank you. Hope you are feeling better and your arm is showing signs of getting better.
Alicia, what are you doing to pass the time? I know you are ready to get next week over and get the operation behind you. You are in my prayers.
Michele, hope the world is being kind to you these days.
Love to all,
Juannelle
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Sherri, good to hear your CT is over and went well...I am getting 25 treatments...hmm.. I havn't heard of any boosts yet..today was my 15 of 25...3/5th done.
Hi Juannelle..always look forward to your call outs in the evening..loving my ladies..
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Michelle - they told me I would either be getting 16 (the standard as they referred) or 25 but that would be determined when they did the planning today. The rads onc says it has to do with measurements when they decide on the number of treatments. I won't be having the nodes radiated.
My DD is going on a ski trip tomorrow with my husband's grade 5 class so I get to sleep in tomorrow (as long as the dog cooperates). So, I'm heading off to bed now. Look forward to catching up with you all tomorrow.
Sherri
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Hi girls ~
Well what am I doing to pass time? I have cleaned out my walk in closet which took 3 hours. Hauling bags and boxes of clothing around. Mopped and vacuumed my house. Steam cleaned a rug and made the mistake of carrying laundry baskets. MY BACK is killing me ~ Since I have been up and about it is hurting on and off. Tylenol helps thank god. Ocologist thinks I am doing way too much wants me to go to light duty and heating pad it up. I did last night and it feels better already. I was getting nervous. But she explained I laid around for months and then just start back on everything full throttle. So glad you girls are plugging along and doing well with Rads. Juanelle ~ congrats on being DONE ! woo HOO
And Jen ~ I am with you. I am so thankful for all of you wonderful ladies being beside me on this journey. I couldn't do it without you.
Hugs ~Alicia
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Sugar77,
Learn a new word and it shows up in your life!!! I had never heard of Mississauga and now my new dryer and refrigerator come from there. Or at least the directions do :-) is there a Maytag plant there? It would be nice to think they were made in Canada and not China. Small world after all.
I was told no radiation to the nodes in the axilla. But boosts really zapped my armpit, darkened the skin more than anywhere else and still no underarm hair... not so bad on the latter. I've asked my radiologist twice but he does not answer in a direct way so guess I will never know. I did ask for a letter detailing the amount of radiation, means of delivery and dates of treatment just in case someone ever asks. I've learned to keep my own records. In the early days of BC diagnosis with records going back and forth all my old mammogram films disappeared. So now I trust no one!
Healing vibes to everyone, Slow and easy does it.
pam
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Pam, I too have most of my records. I have what I call my cancer binder. It has all my appointments, any info sheets, pathology reports, and anything else that I feel I should keep. I also learned to take my appointment sheets to my dr visits and write on the back any questions/info I get. My onc is great as well she writes everything she tells me on a piece of paper then she gives it to me, and that goes into here as well. These days I can't remember a lot so that is why I am so organized.
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Hello ladies!
I'm finally joining this thread, I'm a graduate of 2009 too!
I was diagnosed in July 2009, while on summer break from teaching grade 8-9. This summer break was no vacation!
My co-workers and students have been awesome, they put together 2 fundraisers to help me pay medical bills!
I'm now 15 weeks out from the last chemo and trying to get back to normal. I wish I had found this website and discussion board while I was going through my surgeries and treatments!
I supposedly have a "breast coordinator" but she has been no help whatsoever. did you girls have one ?
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Welcome Marion, You have found a great group of gals here. I don't think I could have made it through this without these bosom buddies.
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Hi and nice to meet you, Marion.
Wow, you have been busy with DX, surgeries, treatment and all. Are back in school? How great for your school to be so supportive. It;s a hard way to find out how much people love you!
I think the breast coordinator is a great idea but did not have one. Well, in a way my PCP did that for me as he arranged many of my appts and got all my reports. My surgeon has plans to develop some kind of total carer breast clinic under the umbrella of the hospital. But obviously it takes more than the concept.... gotta have good people who carry through with the work. I did not have chemo so always felt up managing more own care but if I had been more sick or older it would have been hard. Also had this great site to advise and guide me. Couldn't have done it without all of you guys.
pam
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I was told that after I finished Radiation I would see either my Onc., Rad., or Surgeon once a month. As it turns out I see Onc. and Surgeon once every three months and have never been back to see the Rad. I think they screwed something up. I'll try and get it fixed this month. Is that what the rest of you who have finished treatment are doing?
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