Class of 2009 - Sisters in the same time frame
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Hi Friends -
Welcome, Carolyn.
Abby, hang in there, honey. Better days coming.
To all: you are looking so good and sounding good! Will write more later when I get a breather. Still taking care of my sis, and she is READY to get her last 2 drains out. She started out with four. Heat is unbelievable - over 100 degrees F for a while now. Yowza!
XO, Mary
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Sugar, yes that is me at the beach...Note my enormous hat. Don't want to get skin cancer now do I. I was going to put one of me laying on the beach, but I didn't want any comments on the beached whale....
Mary, sounds hot there in TX. You are a wonderful sister...she is lucky to have you taking care of her. I too will write when I have more time. Off to work.
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Hi ladies,
Michele, I'm so glad you had a good vacation. The hat is really cute!
Sounds like lots of people are busy - I can relate. I'm getting a little break since my girls are spending a week at their grandparents' house, but summer classes are keeping my brain busy, that's for sure! I've got a presentation this afternoon, a paper next week, two interviews for a research paper the next week, and another presentation the next week. lots of reading and writing to do!
OK, personal question here - I've noticed vaginal dryness since starting Tamox. Anyone else with this problem, or does anyone know if that's even a side effect? I still haven't gotten my period, so that may be it, I'm not sure. I'd like to figure out a way to deal with this, but of course, I can't use estrogen or progesterone creams because of my ER+ PR+ status.
Have a great day everyone!
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I have a question too.
My skin was nice and pink and now it is red in spots, slightly raised and it itches like crazy. Is the normal part of healing after radiation burn or do I need to call the radiation oncologist?
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Well Kitty I play a doctor here on BC.org but in real life I'm just a child care provider:)
I had the red itchy rash, just like a sunburn. But I would call the rad. doc anyway. It might be the start of something that they cannip in the bud before it get worse.
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Thank you PauldingMom. I will see how it is in the morning and give him a call if it is still itching like crazy. At least I know it can be normal.
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txstardust - I am going to be having reconstruction sometime in the upcoming months, not sure of the date. I had a partial mastectomy (a little more tissue than in a lumpectomy was removed), and then rads. Much like you my radiated breast is between 1-2 cup sizes smaller than the other one. I have seen a plastic surgeon twice and he if following me until my breast is "ready" and free of all the radiation redness. But yes, the insurance will cover it, at least mine does and I have United Health Care. I didn't even have to pay anything for my consultation because I am using the same surgeon that I went and saw initially. He is following me closely and I go back for another follow up at the end of Aug.
Hope that's helped you out.
Renee
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Hello ladies
I have to share with you all the amazing experience I had last night. A friend of mine recently started studying Reiki massage and needed people to practice on, so I volunteered. Can I just tell you how amazing it was? I have such a sense of calm and peace that I have never felt before. It has helped me to calm down emotionally which has helped my focus and my mood. I am a true believer in it! If you have never had a Reiki massage, I HIGHLY reccommend it! Not only does it help with emotions, but it also makes physical healing possible. I did some reading up on it, and it is a really neat concept for mental and physical healing. And God knows, we could all use that
Hugs
Jen
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Jen - yes, Reiki is great. I did it throughout chemo. I always had it a few days after my treatment. I really think it helped minimize side effects. Glad you liked it.
Sherri
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I am watching and reading but grandchildren are here so not much time to post. Thinking of you all!
pam
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Massage sounds awesome. Seeing a Chiropractor now and it really seems to be helping with my back and legs.
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Jen I am so jealous of you how I would love, love, love to have a massage! Sounds like a piece of heaven...
Renee
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Hi Ladies!
I've been MIA for awhile, I needed to take a break. I had my first mammogram since diagnosis and treatment, results were normal. What a great word to hear! I'm trying a little harder to treat myself well - eating better, and making time for exercise. The fitness center at my job offers chair massages. I signed up for one for Friday - I thought it would be a great gift to myself. Can't wait to enjoy that bit of indulgence!
Glad to see that everyone is doing well, and keeping you all in my thoughts.
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How nice c2will that sounds wonderful! Congrats on the clear mammo!! Doing the happy dance for you...
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My cancer center offers Reiki massage, but I haven't tried it yet. I may just have to check it out! They also offer chair massages once a week and Tai Chi classes.
Renee, I have UHC also, so hopefully it's the same here in TX. I did informally chat with my friend's plastic surgeon, and he mentioned the possibility of autologous fat transfer (at least I think that's what it's called) and reducing and lifting the other one so they match. I have a big dent on the side of my breast where they took out the tumor. I would just feel so much better about my body...
Carol, great new about the normal mammo results. It's such a relief, especially after all the anxiety beforehand.
I'm coming up on my cancerversary, on August 10. How did everyone else deal with the emotions?
Peace,
Shelby
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Carol!! Doing the happy dance for your good results!!!
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Carol ~ great news !
Girls...a massage of any sort sounds wonderful, may have to treat myself !
I already feel emotional and weepy knowing right about now I was heading to the gyno for my lump I found...then all the other dr's and tested followed. HUGS girls, we may be different but we are HERE !
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{{{{{{{{{{{Alicia}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
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Alicia, huge hugs are being sent your way....Why can't us chicks get a freaking break?
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Hi ladies,
It seems like my eyebrows are thinning again! There's an area where the eyebrows have a space in them. Anyone else having eyebrow issues?
~Shelby
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Went to the Rad's Onc. yesterday. He thinks my rash is an allergic reaction to something. so had to quit putting any creams on the area but I can use Cortisone on it. He also said I had to quit wear my foob until the rash went away. No soap when bathing and I have to change detergents. Why oh why does my new skin have to be so sensitive. I have had problems in the past with soaps...thought I had finally outgrown it.
Hope everybody has a great weekend. I am bound for the beach Monday!
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Alicia- {{{Hugs}}} I have been pretty weepy lately too. Yesterday was my one year from my mammo and US that found my lump. I sat in bed the other night looking at my "pink binder" and read my path and surgery reports. You may all think I am nuts for doing that to myself, but it kind of helped me cope in a weird way. Next Thursday is a year from my biopsy and the Thursday after that is one year since my first surgery. I have a whole string of cancerversaries coming up and I just need to find a positive way to cope with them. Sometimes it still doesn't feel real.
I wonder too, why can't we get a break! I am still uneasy about the new thing they found on my last mammo/US.
We are strong ladies!!
Hugs
Jen
Abby- I hope you can find some even ground and relief for your new sensitive skin. Hopefully it will improve soon
Sending hugs to you!0 -
So, today is what is called my cancer-versary...
One year ago today on July 23rd 2009, I received the dreaded phone call from my breast surgeon telling me I had IDC. One year already! I would like to say it went by fast but actually it did not. The first 6 months were especially slow. The hair regrowth is slow too.
I am not sure what/how to feel. Relief (because the big surgeries and chemo are behind me)? Or anger (one year of my life was lost)? I still think about cancer everyday and wonder when/if this will go away.
On a more positive note: How did you celebrate your "cancer-versary" ? As for me, I am going out with friends ! Yeah!
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Marion~ Have fun with your friends tonight! You deserve to go out and have a good time! It is hard to know how to feel about it, I am with you on that on. There are so many emotions to feel about what we have been thru, but, we do need to ba happy and thankful that we are on the other side of treatement and we have lots of happy stuff to look forward too! Congratulations and go have fun!
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txstardust: my eyebrows haven't come back in hardly at all & the few hairs that are there are practically see thru-prior to chemo I had dark, thick eyebrows, while my head hair was mostly white. Now my head hair is all white & no eyebrows!0
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Congrats to all on your Cancerversaries or should I say... Cancer"free"versaries! I can only imagine how emotional it is for all of you ladies. Have fun celebrating Marion, Jen, Juanelle!!
Mine is not until October so I still have a while to go. I'm not sure how I will feel. I already know I won't be having my full blown yearly mammo until November.
I hope those of you that are having problems with your eyebrows not growning back in or coming out again (txtstardust) get resolution soon and they grown back so nice and thick you have to go get a good wax!
Renee
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Today is the last day grandchildren will be here. I will have used up all reserve power! Going to the beach wears me out! I can't just lay on a towel... have to be standing in the surf the whole time watching them closely. It was easier when they were afraid of the waves! We do go up by a lifeguard but I don't trust just one pair of eyes, especially when there are lots of swimmers. I don't remember being so worried about my own children!!! We went to see Beezus and Ramona at the movies yesterday. Really cute...DGS didn't want to go cause it is a "girl" movie. He bet me his meatballs at dinner that he would not laugh.... he lost! DGD is reading the series of books but now she says the books are not as good as the movie!
I have been so busy I have not had time to think about breast cancer! I did see my onc the morning the children came. All labs were good and tumor marker was a great number. I Know TMs are like crystal ball medicine but I like it that she does it. I whined about my SEs from Arimidex but there is nothing to do about it but tough it out. At least the price has gone from $388 a month to $28. a month!!!! It finally went generic :-) Prices are all over the place, some places still very high even though it is generic. It only went generic 6-27 so guess it takes a while to shake out.
I didn't do chemo but have read that the eyebrow thinning and thickening goes on for a while... lashes too I think. But it does eventually end! All these SEs just go on and on :-( I wonder if there will ever be cancer treatment without side effects? Just a dream I guess.
Here's a SALUTE to all you moms with young kids!!!!! It is exhausting but wonderful.
Pam
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Hey Everyone -
I've had company (sister and niece from Orlando) and it's been busy so I just now tried to catch up. Sounds like lots of summer fun and cancerversaries going on. I think I'll just look forward to fall, to tired to enjoy much. But tonight is my 40 year class reunion and I am going to make that. Will probably leave when the music and dancing starts. No energy for that.
Shelby- I'll way in on the eyebrows too - mine were always nice and thick but they are very thin and scattered now. Thank goodness for the Look Good Feel Good program sponsored by the ACS. They gave me a great kit of makeup and told us how to pencil and feather them on. Eyelashes are very short and thin also.
This Tuesday is my last Taxol (#12) and I am finally getting excited. Then it's rads and finally reconstruction.
Kittydog - I hope your healing up by now and having great weekend at the beach. I don't think I could take the heat and sand right now but I love the beach! Have fun!
FYI :Here's a couple of tips; #1 for nails and toenails. I've been using Nailtique #2 and so far have had very little problems with them. They even grow a bit - just slowly. #2 and this sounds crazy - but during my infusion I suck on ice - this seems to help tremendously with the burning tongue and mouth sores.
Well, congrats to everyone who has made their cancerversary - It's a long year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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ECT - Congrats on your upcoming last Taxol treatment!! that is awesome and then moving onto rads and reconstruction and being done!
It is along road but All of us here are survivors... I notice you are in Elizabethton, TN, not to far from me down here in Alabama. I am really excited myself I finally booked our hotel for our vacation to Daytona Beach, Florida. We leave August 7th and will be gone for 7 nights and 8 days!!! Nothing but beach... I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!! Since I got such a great deal though the room and reservations are non-refundable and can't be changed. It is what it is! That part stinks, but hopefully and prayerfully all will go well.
We/I really need this vacation. After all that my family and I have been through this past year we just need some quite time to relax and take it easy. No doctors, no phones, NO WORK!!!Have a great weekend all.
Renee
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mimi1964
Yep guess we are southern girls! Bet your pretty hot right now in Al. Tenn, even east Tenn has been really hot this year. So happy your getting a vacation - enjoy it!
Went to my reunion last night, only stayed three hours and have been tired today but it was worth it. It's amazing how many milestones are made in high school, how much of a family thing it was looking back. Don't want to repeat it though. :-) Guess the whole cancer thing is like that too.
ECT
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