Class of 2009 - Sisters in the same time frame
Comments
-
Paulding, I was told I would see an onc every three months. It would alternate between my rads onc and my chemo onc...we shall see. I hope I see more of my chemo onc, I like her a lot...
0 -
Pam - yes, there is a Maytag operation here...what a coincidence. Mississauga is a suburb of Toronto and is a pretty large city with a population of more than 700,000 on it's own.
Welcome Marion. Yes, this cancer situation does bring out the best in people and show us how much we are loved and appreciated. That's such a nice thing your co-workers and students did for you.
PauldingMom - I was told I would have a physical examination every three months and one annual mammogram. The physical examination would likely be divided between my GP, surgeon, medical onc and I'm thinking rads onc, too. As I'm hormone negative, there's nothing the medical onc will be doing in terms of hormonal treatment so I don't even know how long I will be going to him. I know the surgeon says after a year or do, I'll be returned to my GP (family doctor). I hope this helps.
Sherri
0 -
Pauldingmom,
I have the same protocol as Sugar77: breast surgeon once a year for an annual mammogram and medical oncologist every 3 months for a physical examination and to check if I tolerate Tamoxifen.
As I just mentioned, I am supposed to see my medical oncologist once every 3 months, but I enrolled in the Zometa clinical trial so I have to go to the cancer center once a month for the monthly Zometa infusion. And when I'm there, I usually get to see him, so in reality, I see my medical oncologist once a month.
I was surprised about the annual mammogram. I thought I would be checked more often.
0 -
Hi Pauldingmom,
My surgeon said I did not have to see him unless I wanted to... nice guy but glad to eliminate one doctor. My rad onc wants me to see him every 3 months but he does not communicate much so I will try to skip him. I see my med onc every 3 months with blood work and tumor markers. Also mammogram at 6 months and again soon at 12 months post DX. Then hopefully will go back to once a year... I hope.
It is all enough!
pam
0 -
Lisa - I haven't seen the surgeon since the after surgery visit. I saw the rads onc on my last rad tx and he saw no point in me seeing him again. My med onc I see every three months. I had a lumpectomy side only mammo 2 weeks ago to get a "baseline" for the scar and he said I should have a proper mammo in 6 months. I asked about regular stuff as it's about 16 months since pap and he said go ahead and schedule with PCP.
0 -
Good evening wonderful ladies, hope all is going well for everyone.
I have already had my mammo. I thought they would only do it on my good breast, because it was time for my yearly, but it had been 6 months since my mammo when they discovered the cancer, so they did a mammo on it also. I didn't think they mammoed the bad breast while doing treatment. Guess I was wrong. All was well for both breast.
I will see my Med Onc every three months, my rad onc in 4 months and I will see my surgeon again in 3 months. I don't know how long I will see the Rad Onc or the Surgeon.
I am really feeling good and so glad that rads are over. My work mates had a big chocolate cookie for me and a beautiful potted plant to celebrate the end of my treatments. I was so surprised.
Juannelle
0 -
Michelle - I have cancer "bag" which is really a very heavy duty shopping bag, black (looks and almost feels like leather). I have blithely tossed every record and paper report into it since I was diagnosed (well at first I had a pile of papers and eventually it went into the bag. I am duly impressed that you have your papers well-organized into a binder!
Juannelle -- Woo hooooooo!!!!!!!! on being done with rads!!!!!! Wow that is SO great. You must be doing your happy dance right now. I celebrated the end of chemo with a martini
Well I had to wait three weeks but I DID celebrate (during chemo I abstained from all alcohol at my ONC's suggestion). Alicia -- I think you have a little early spring fever! I'm thinking you're doing all of this now because you know you're gonna take it easy after surgery. I totally get that
Jen -- I twenty-third that about this wonderful group!
Marion -- Welcome!
Hugs to all.
Lilah
0 -
Hi Ladies hope all of you are having a great week! Glad tomorrow is Friday.
Juanelle - Congrats on finally completing RADS!!! Nice to see you over on the E-lab thread as well.
Sherri - glad things went well with the tatts and the CT scan.
Michelle congrats on being 2/3 done with your rads!
Welcome to all the newcomers!!!
0 -
Lilah: you crack me up with your cancer bag! up until this year, that's how I would have operated too (might be something to do with my ADD!), but I have managed the cancer binder and am almost obssessive/compulsive about it! If I go anywhere and realize I don't have it with me I freak out! My husband said "honey, you don't need it to by socks. . . "
Juanelle! Hugs for your rads being over. . .
I'm pretty excited that my 2nd Chemo went well. Still mild. We'll see how this weekend goes.
I'm also pretty excited that the lymph nodes that they thought they were going to have to biopsy shrunk so they will now not biopsy them, they chalked it up to being swollen from the surgery.
Also, one of the 2 lesions on my liver was determined to be a cyst from the MRI.
The 2nd lesion still bothers them, as they can't make that same determination about it, so I will have an ultrasound and possibly biopsy next week. I'm guessing it's a cyst, too, just smaller. We'll see.
I'm determined to STAY at stage II and not allow them to keep me at stage IV until they know FOR A FACT the liver lesion is a met.
PS: I had to go take a nap after reading Alicia's post!
0 -
Juannelle, just want to pop in quick and say wahoo, and do a happy dance for you....
Alicia, I am feeling guilty for not being as gung ho as you...perhaps tomorrow.
0 -
Michele (Ezscriiiibe): LOL on you don't need the binder to buy socks... and needing to take a nap after Alicia's post! I PRAY the other lesion is just a cyst! SO GLAD they've already ruled all the rest of your anomalies benign!
If you like my cancer bag system, you should get a load of my tax receipt system
Lilah
0 -
Don't feel guilty anyone ~ I am paying the price for over doing it. I left out that I went to Costco and lugged groceries and 3 cases of water. I plan to rest a bit today after I go to my son's school to see him in a play.
)) Michele (Ezsc) I pray that other lesion is nothing. Glad you have gotten good news so far and hoping it continues that way.
Lilah I have 4 double pocket folders full of paperwork from dr's and testing. I may have to put it in a beach bag and put it out of my sight !
0 -
Thanks girls. I'm so glad we have this site to get feed back from.
I have to go through my Cancer Bag. Seems like everywhere I went, someone was giving me a back. I have at least 4. One is a really nice lap top bag. I need to condense my material and organize it better. Guess I don't need the business card/catalogs for wigs anymore.
0 -
I have cancer binder, which has turned into a cancer drawer in the desk because I've been too lazy to actually put stuff in the binder....so I simply stick everything in the drawer where the binder resides. Kinda organzed...don't you think??
0 -
Sugar! That's how most of my "organizational" projects end up! I'm very proud of myself for how on-top of this one I am.
Lilah, I don't need to see your tax system! It's probably just like mine! Thank god pharmacies like Walgreens keeps all the med lists and what was spend in a database for me all year long!
I finally found a perfect tax filing system, though, for the stuff I keep at home. I give it to my left-brained, left-handed, Type A, uber-organized husband! Works like a charm. Well, that is for the one's that actually make their way to him. Sometimes, if I check the mail on the way out of the house, pieces of it mysteriously disappear. Especially the important ones that I need to "remember to give to my husband."
Last time we sold a car, he checked under all the seats and found all sorts of "important" mail under them. Well, important at the time, not so much the day we sold the car!!
0 -
Hi Ladies, I haven't posted lately just turned inwards. I tried to catch up on what everyone is going through and I cried for an hour for all of you, I think BC has just gotten me down. I was to have surgery and they stopped it three times because of my blood levels. Finally had MX and they took out 12 lymph nodes this week. I still have drains in. Here is my kicker they told me that because of my autoimmune problems they will not give me radiation or chemo, just more surgeries if they find any more problems. I got second opinions but all said the same. I have control of my lymphadema problems and used many ways to stop it from all you ladies here. They also will not do reconstruction, doctors said it would be too much for me to handle. So I'm caved in and not liking it, but I'm dealing with it. What I worried about happened during surgery my veins didn't hold up and I woke to IV's in my feet and neck. Then they wouldn't allow me to get up and move, which I must do. I had it out with a nurse, when she said you can't walk or get out of bed and I said watch this. The doctors said they don't know why they wouldn't let me get up, I had to call my doctors to say can you clarify. The whole outline of what was going to happen and how to approach this because of my other health issues went out the window and everyone had no clue or what or who gave instruction to the nurses. The nurse navigator who was to make sure all went well was on vacation and the lady who was to take her place never showed. I decided to just go home, I guess I'm too much of a let's get moving then a person who lays around. Everyone says oh you look so good, oh you're so strong, we don't worry about you. But I feel a sense of loss. Kind of empty. I didn't want to even write cause I just don't know what to say anymore. So I'm waiting to see next week if more lymph glands are affected with cancer, and then it's another surgery. I know this seems stupid, but I wish I was having chemo and rads then them cutting and cutting. I'm just tired of surgery I'm up to number 21, I feel that's enough.
Take care all of you, sorry I just needed to vent.
0 -
Hi Ladies,
I actually have both a cancer bag and a binder (and my binder is pink)! I have the binder like Micheleboots, with every path report, all my medical releases. Then I also bought a notebook, and in that notebook I have written down notes from every single appointment I have had since the very first appointment when my doc told me to get a mammo, so it is quite an extensive portfolio
But then in the bag, I have brochures and booklets from the Living Well Cancer Resource center out here. I also have all of my films from my mammos and ultra sounds. My docs are also on a 3 month rotation both med and rad. Then I get yearly MRI and mammo and ultra sound every 6 months. M360- My heart goes out to you! You have been thru so much and I hope that you can find the faith and peace to keep going! You have all of us here in your corner. Hugs to you!
Hope all is well for you ladies today!
Hugs
Jen
0 -
Sherri -- This is why the bag is so perfect -- you dump things in there and it's always handy
You take the bag with you if you think you'll need it. You refuse to organize it as a way of saying: F YOU CANCER.Jen -- I sit here in abject admiration of your ability to organize
M360 -- I am SO sorry you are going through this in this way... I can only imagine how it feels and my heart and prayers go out to you.
Lilah
0 -
Lilah - I could take the drawer out and take with me...lol (just kidding!)
0 -
Sherri -- LOL I love that image of you lugging along your drawer!
0 -
Ezscriiiibe,
You are going to defeat Stage IV by pure force of willfully not accepting it! Good for you and may the force be with you!
I try to organize my paperwork into reasonable stacks. I don't do a very good job. It always surprises me when path reports show up in insurance statements. I think the gremlins do it!
M360, so sorry you have felt so alone. I think we all have those times. But remember we are here.
pam
0 -
M360...I wish that I could give you big hug in person...you have been through a lot and you have every right to vent, scream and stomp your feet...I know that some days you feel like saying screw this, but things will and I stress, will get better...you know that you have a whole bunch of strong wonderful women here to help you get through this..we might not all be here every day but we are thinking of each other and praying for each other...we all stick together..We all know how you feel, you are not alone, ever. I hope you check in often and post when you can..
sherri, such a vision of you with your drawers full of paper...made me laugh
Today is the one year anniv. of my first Dr. visit...I was curious how many medical personal I have seen since then so I counted...in one year, I have seen 97 dr.s, nurses, techs, had blood draws and a whole shit load of tests...wow that is every three days on average..well at least now I am not freaked out by drs or needles...
I had my rads cancelled today because of a breakdown...I was happy, yet sad..a long weekend, but then I go a day longer now...whaaa.
0 -
M360 - so sorry this is such a long drawn out process for you. I will be praying for you.
Ezscr (Michelle) - You go girl... you stay a stage 2! I will be praying that the second lesion is just that a cyst!!!
Congrats to all you ladies on "your filing systems" LOL!! Sounds like some of my antics. haha!!! with taxes.
Renee
0 -
I use to be very organized about all my papers. Not anymore, I just throw everything in a box and when that box is full, I just get another one. The only problem is when I need to find something, I have to go through every thing. But it is not enough to make me keep it filed. I did buy a file box, last year to try and get organized, but that didn't work out well. Now I do have all my cancer stuff together in a folder. I haven't kept records like everyone else has. I have tried but sort of got behind and lazy about it.
M360, sorry for all the problems you are having. I can not imagine how it must make you feel. Sending a big hug your way.
michele, I have not counted up my visits, but it has been a load. Probably close to the same aamount as you. This is such a long drawn out process. At least now I don't have to go back to the doctor for 6 weeks.
mimi, hope your are enjoying your free time. The weather here has really been beautiful. Maybe the rain will go away for you and then you will get to enjoy the beautiful spring.
Sherri, it would be your luck to get out with the drawer and a big gust of wind would come along. Scattering your papers all over the neighborhood.
Ezscriiiibe, keep the faith. We are all praying for you.
Hoping everyone has a great weekend.
Juannelle
0 -
Any of you ladies taking Tamoxifen? I have been taking it for about 3 weeks not and a few days a go I noticed that out of no where I have developed creaking and scrunchy sounding knees. They don't hurt "yet" but I'm worried they might start. I think this must be a side effect of the Tamoxifen as I've never has a problem before. I am concerned about the possibility of developing degenerative joint disease. I bought some Glucosamine Chondritin and started taking it as soon as I noticed it. I wouldn't think it was the Tamox if it was only in one knee but it's in both. Strange?!! Leave it to me to get something off the wall or is it? I posted this on the Tamoxifen thread, but no responses yet. If Tamox is causing me to have this I can only imagine what Arimidex or Femara would do to me since they completely stop the production of the estrogen. Guess I would be in some deep poop!
Renee
0 -
Hi Renee - I have been on Tamoxifen since last October. I am 44yr and pre menopausal. I did not read all of the side effects because I did not want to imagine them into existence. Now every time I see a doctor, they ask the weirdest questions. They must be fishing for side effects. My BS asked about bone pain, my Onc was telling me I should be gaining weight - not losing it... My periods are better and more regular than ever now, I have cold flashes instead of hot flashes... I guess every thing is just backwards for me.
What I noticed first was red skin and dryness on my face - I am still searching for a moisturizer that works best. I used to use pink grapefruit cleanser from Nutrogena but have tried a different kind and just not happy with any facial products yet.
Kimberly
0 -
Good AM Renee,
Seems like this BC DX just opens up a lot of other issues. For one thing, I have decided that the treatment makes us early stagers feel worse than the disease! Then, I wonder ... does BC make us vulnerable for a dozen other problems to pop up? I developed some symptoms associated with Arimidex before I ever took a pill!!! How is that possible? I am NOT a hypochondriac! But I am beginning to feel like one :-( Is it stress? I wonder if that explains it.
Glucosamine helped my knees a lot. It takes a while for it to become effective. Good idea.
pam
0 -
I see my surgeon every 3 months for 2 years, more now do to the thyroid surgery, my Rads Onc every 6 months for 5 years and then yearly, my Med Onc every 6 months for 5 years and then yearly he says, my Gyno yearly, I had a Mammo this week, it was good yea and he said once a year Mammo unless they see or feel anytihng that makes them want to re-check. My Rads Onc orders the Mammos. I also have to see an Endo quite often, not sure how often will depend on how well the synthroid dosing after surgery goes!! It seems overwhelming but I have had great doctors that really work to get em to see 2 or 3 of them most of the time. I have travel 160 miles round trip from home but try to schedule during my work week becasue it is closer and cuts down on travel for me. I drive 105 mile round trip to work but at least it is int he same direction of my doctors. We will see how it goes but it sure looks like ther are a ot of differnt scenarios.
0 -
Carollynn79,
I can't imagine that kind of traveling for medical care on top of just the treatments involved. And 105 miles RT for work!!! Is Port Hope really remote or are places in MI just that far apart? You deserve some kind of gold star!
pam
0 -
Renee ~ I start tamoxifen in 2 weeks. I dread it, but my oncologist tells me what a wonderful treatment tool it is. I hope your knee feels better!!!
Alicia
0
