Class of 2009 - Sisters in the same time frame
Comments
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Aw Musical I'm so sorry -- that does indeed sound like a roller coaster. June 2 is the date I was diagnosed with IDC (the date of my first lumpectomy). My ride began at end of March with a suspicious mammogram (calcifications), then a biopsy at end of April that turned out to be cancer. At first they told me it was Stage 0 and "just" DCIS... but despite several mammos and an MRI, they did not detect that it was invasive til they operated.
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Lilah - your story is much like mine. Mine went like this: suspicious mammogram, then biopsy showing Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia...so surgery followed in case there was DCIS lurking nearby...final path showed DCIS and an invasive triple negative tumor...then a separate surgery afterward to check sentinel nodes.
I pray this is the end of the breast cancer for all of us.
Sherri
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"but despite several mammos and an MRI, they did not detect that it was invasive til they operated. "
Wow Lilah Im sorry for what you have had to go through too. You just never can tell can you? Your above explanation is one STRONG reason why I am being proactive about this and going for the 2nd Mast. Lopsided for me doesnt cut the mustard Im afraid.
Hi Sherri, yes it would sure be nice to see an end to cancer wouldnt it???? I hope all goes well on your journery and everyone here.
Musical
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Sherri -- hear hear!
Musical -- I chose a unilateral MX because ALL of my doctors (onc, bs and ps) said it was completely unnecessary to remove them both. I am paying the price with the challenge of finding symmetry now... but I made my choice and I'm sticking with it.
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Musical, glad to have you with us. The Peripheral Neuropathy like you said is a scumbag. The unexplained part is what I don't like. I want to know, but without further tests, they can't tell me anything. I am glad it is not in my feet, my DH has problems with his feet and I don't want to be like that.
My dx came after suspicious spot was found during a mammo. They wanted to watch it for 6 months, so I went in at 6 months and the good news was that the spot was gone, but there was another spot and they wanted to do a biopsy. I was not even worried about it. I just couldn't think that I would have BC. So I went for the biopsy and 4 days later my world came crashing down. I am very thankful now that I had to go in for the 6 month checkup. My tumor was small and early stage IDC. I didn't know anything about BC and was surprised at the aggressive treatment, even for early stage. I am glad all the TX is over and I am going on with life, but I know I will always fear that it will return. I am doing everything possible to prevent that from happening.
Hugs to all and wishing everyone a great weekend.
Juannelle
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Lilah, yes we all have to evaluate at the time what is best for us and do it with the capabilities we have at the time. I hope you get your symmetry sorted out OK and things work out for you. I dont think I really had a choice about my uni, and if so, I was far too overwhelmed to press for anything more. I just simply wasnt able to take in all the options and whys and wherefores at the time. I think a lot of people experience this and it can be a challenge to think to ask the right questions.
One-L ...thanks : ) ... if you havent got PN in your feet that is VERY fortunate and good to hear. Like you Im doing everything I can as well. I've managed to lose a couple of Kilos (not easy at the best of times, let alone on Tamox) and Ive increased my physical activity by walking at least twice as far as I have been. (I have to do this early in the a.m. when my feet are their best.)
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Musical, I have gained 20 lbs since chemo and now on Arimidex I am having a hard time losing. I am working out 2 days a week with a personal trainer, so that is giving me some activity. I also try to hit the work out center at least once a week and work out for an hour. I am not self motivated these days and after I work all day I do not want to go work out. It is very hot in Texas and we are experiencing 100 degree F days, so there are not many activities that you can do outside. I will get it all together and get myself motivated to losed the extra pounds, but I know it will not be easy.
Juannelle
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Hey Juanelle! I am with you, I am not being very motivated these days either. It is hot, hot, hot here in Alabama. It doesn't even help if it rains, it only seems to make it that much hotter!! All I want to do after I put in a 10-12 hr day is come home and put my feet up and sit on the couch. If I do anything it's laundry or cook and then off to bed. I am usually so tired I can barely do the things I need to at home and I find that with the heat I tend to be letting those things go as well. LOL! I've even been lacking in my dieting the last 2-3 weeks. I think the heat is affecting my brain... And all this work is definitely not helping. I'm soooo ready for a vacation.
Renee
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Where will you go, Renee? Or will you stay home? It's hot everywhere but southern California. DD loves to tell me it is only 74 in Orange County! June gloom, they call it. Sure hot here. I am trying to work in the yard but quit by 11:00 or 12:00. Just brutal :-(
pam
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Good morning ladies!
Renee-Hope you get to go on a vacation soon! Do you have one planned? It is staying pretty warm here in Chicago also, and wet! We are getting so much rain. One of the trees that my DH planted about a month ago, all of the sudden looked aweful, come to find out, it was drowning! He took it up and planted it in another spot. Hopefully he can save it, it is some kind of Japanese tree that is very rare in our parts.
Musical- I also love your name! Welcome to our group. Sorry you had to find us, but we are glad you are here.
Hope you all are having a wonderful day!
Jen
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Hi Jen,
Send us some of your rain! It is raining all around us but dry as a bone here. With temps in the mid 90s we need a little rain!!!!
My DD brought me a Plumaria stalk from Hawaii... it is the plant the flowers in leis are made from. They are supposed to be easy to grow... so I put it in a pot today. No roots, just stick it in and water it. We'll see what happens.
I am making good progress in the garden but boy, it is hot work! But it is summer in Florida, what should I expect?
Stay cool everyone.
pam
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Welcome musical!
I exercised all through chemo and rads but am bumping it up now because I want to lose some weight. I also started taking my dog for a 45 minute walk every night after dinner. He needs to lose about 3 pounds and I want to lose 20! Brandie, my Bichon-Poodle, is really enjoying the walks and is totally zonked when we get home, which is a good thing.
Have a nice evening ladies!
Sherri
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Pam and Jen, No we don't have a vacation planned. The economy has been so bad and things have just not worked in our favor for us to take one. We actually could afford every part of it except the expensive hotel. I guess we will wait till summer season comes to an end and try to go in the "off" season that way it's a little less expensive. I only hope I survive till after the first of August. LOL! I want to go to the beach.
Sherri good luck with walking the dog and losing weight. If I had to go out and walk my dog for 45 mins every night I would melt here. haha!!
Pam good luck with your garden. I wish that was something I enjoyed but I've never gotten into gardening. Maybe one day I will.
Renee
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Renee, I hear you about the cost of hotels...lucky for you Staycations are all the rage...enjoy some simple things close to home and save some money. There are also some websites that get people together that want to swap houses for a few days...we had friends who did that once.
Pam that plant sounds cool.
Welcome Musical..
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Renee,
When I was still employed not much else got done around the house but food and laundry! Retirement gives you almost enough time to other things in life :-) If we just did not have to sleep we would have time for everything! That was one good thing about being in active cancer treatment... I could not sleep well so was up getting the day off to an early start. Now I sleep like a log again. Good and bad.
Michele,
IF my plant grows I will post a photo of it... IF I can figure out how to post pictures.
pam
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Good morning ladies!
Michele- I totally agree with you about the "staycations". I love to stay around home and just find local things to do. I am very much a home body. I love staying in and watching movies or being out in our backyard with a fire just chillin'.
Pam- Believe me, if I could give you some of the rain and storms we are having, you would have them now! When I go on Facebook, all my friends from around here are just bellyaching about the weather and how sick they are of it. It has been a very wet June so far.
Hope you all are feeling well today!
Hugs
Jen
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Jumping in to say hi, ladies. 6-month MRI and mammogram was Tuesday - the initial word is that it looks good. They will call with an official report after they review all of the films. My sis is getting ready for her BMX next Wednesday. Say a good one for us!
Neuropathy, Tamoxifen, lymphedema - all things that make us say, "ick." Sorry for the bumps in the road, ladies. Stay cool. The frozen cocktail season is upon us.
XO, Mary
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yippy kippy to frozen cocktails.
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Texas is HOT, HOT, HOT, so frozen cocktails sound really good. We have not had any rain in June, so we are roasting.
Ready to start my weekend and am so looking forward to it. Have my grandson tomorrow, we are going to make slime or play dough.
Juannelle
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Jen we have had lots of rain here in Alabama. Matter of fact they are giving rain tomorrow and at least a 30-40 percent chance for the next week. It has been a very wet June here as well. We can't keep our grass mowed. LOL! As soon as it is mowed it rains and it's grown knee high again. Of course it doesn't help that the lawn mower is in the shop and we are having to mow with a tractor and a mowing deck attached.
Here's to hoping for a few slack days of no rain. Also for a few down days so I can catch up on some work. It has been crazy wild this week and I have worked every day till after 6. Oh my gosh what a week!! Tomorrow will be a better day. gotta be. :=) I'm on call this weekend plus I am on manager on duty which means I'm going into the building each day for lunch to help serve. My admin comes up with some crazy things to do. But we do cause we love our peeps.
Renee
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Ladies sorry I had not posted but had to take a break, and didn't want to talk about all my bad situations wanted to try and be positive with so many negatives happening. It's wonderful to read that many of you are doing so much better and those still struggling, hope things get better soon.
I was what I thought was half way through chemo, and then they found a lump in my thyroid. So they're extending chemo til Dec. Onc doctor says that they're about to class me at stage four if things don't get better. Had to have another surgery. They surgically put in a Smart Port. Then had internal bleeding from chemo two day after starting, stopped chemo, started chemo after a couple weeks then got internal bleeding again from they think Neulesta. Was rushed into emergency again on Sunday came home on Wednesday to get a call tonight that big problems with recent blood tests so they said come into hospital tomorrow morning and bring an overnight bag. When does it stop? All the doctors fears with my medical problems and my body reacting to chemo has happened but I have to do it, I don't have a choice. I could use some prayers and a swipe of that magic wand. The good news is I find humor in the way I look, I'm thinking on trying out for the West Coast Casting of the Addams Family for the part of Uncle Fester! My girls just said I'm too thin for Uncle Fester, they are always seeing the positive. What is wonderful is I'm back with my old group of doctors but it's 275 miles round trip, so I'm doing early mornings beating the traffic.
I have a question my chemo sessions last five hours or more, was that the time length for you guys too?
I want to post more but just can't, however there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think and reflect on all you lovely ladies.
Talking about frozen drinks, if any of you have an ice cream maker, we do a wonderful sorbet or frozen drink, just take Pom run it in the ice cream maker add a sprig of mint and oh how wonderful. Also William Sonoma sometimes have Margarita Mix(virgin) in grapefruit and that with a Dole grapefruit wedge is so refreshing on a hot day or night. So cheers to all of you ladies and a healthy happy summer.
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M360, wow what a rollerchoaster you have been on. I am sending you ((((big huge hugs)))). I continue to pray for all us gals.
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Dear M360,
SO hoping you are home to read us... and not in the hospital again! But if you have to be it has to be. You must think a lot of your medical team to drive so far and that is half the battle, feeling confidence in your doctors. So good that you have the support of your family. And such a good attitude. You ARE going to get through this!!! Seems like thyroid things are the easiest to treat, just takes some time.
You are in our thoughts and prayers.
pam
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M360- I am so sorry for all you are dealing with right now. You are in my prayers and I am sending big hugs your way also! Stay strong and know you are thought of often~
Mary- Great news on your good test results! That is always such a relief.
I go back in for my next diagnostic mammo on July 7th, then I have my MRI in September. Will there ever come a day when I am not on pins and needles when I get a test done? Here's to hopin'!
Renee- We have had 2 nice days in a row here, sunny, warm and not so humid. It has been really nice. But tomorrow and Sunday it will get humid all over again with scattered thuderstorms. Wow, I just sounded like a weather person! Our gras is out of control as well, and my oldest son has been on Mission Trip all week so it hasn't been mowed. Oh well!
Hope all you ladies are having a beautiful day!
Hugs~
Jen
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M360 so sorry you are having such a time. hugs and prayers coming your way!
I am hanging in there and finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Just 5 more boost treatments to go. From there I don't know what will happen and want find out till July 14. My skin is fried and I am ready to move on. Shoulder is feeling better and I start PT on Monday.
Send that rain this way...we need it. Been in the 100's most of this week.
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Abby- Hang in there! You are almost done :O) YAY for you! Big prayers and hugs coming your way as well! Hope your skin heals quickly. I found after my rads that my skin did heal fairly quickly, just keep gooping Aquaphor or whatever you are using on it to keep it nice and covered. Hope the PT helps your shoulder.
How about prayers for all of us and all that we have had to endure since all our journeys began. Sometimes I think about all of this and it still doesn't seem real. I've said it many times before and I will keep saying it, Thank God for you ladies!
Hugs!~
Jen
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A group hug and a group prayer! Sounds good :-)
pam
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Hugs to all who are going through chemo and radiation currently especially Abby and M360 and I'll echo Jen - prayers for all of us and our journeys.
M360 - My Taxol infusions lasted for 4-5 hours. The Adriamycin and cytoxan were much shorter infusions than the taxol (around 3 hours). I think it depends on how the veins or port is cooperating or not cooperating and sometimes the machine or tubing or position of the needle can affect the timing too. Hope that helps answer your question.
Abby - my skin healed fairly quickly after radiation was done with the creams they gave me. I think it was about 3 - 4 weeks?
Have a wonderful weekend everyone.
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Abby,
I was amazed how quickly my skin healed when radiation ended. Seemed it got worse for a few days, then quickly healed up. No scarring. Good luck.
pam
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same with my skin!
(((M360)))
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