MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish
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As my friend "Faith n 50" is fond of saying: "Strength & Courage", "Strength & Courage", "Strength & Courage", Dianarose.
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Diana, I hope your threes are truly done sweetie. I'm sorry to say though that you will go to pick up the phone and call your friend many times over the next several months. Each time that happens, force yourself to stop for a minute, think of her, think of a funny memory, and smile through your tears.
Getting ready to head to dd's tomorrow to babysit, then I'll leave from there Sun morning to go to other dds' and bond with my newest g'son. (To those who may have been following, yes...other dd had her baby last Fri)
Love and hugs buds.
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Diana, the advantages of the robot are several:
It gets a better "view" than traditional laparoscopy and the surgeon does not need as much air, making for better recovery. It is also more accurate, since the "arm" of the robot can enter the body. If a surgeon is trying to manipulate a knife from outside the body it will get more and more inaccurate the deeper he has to go. The surgeon operates the robot from a work station inside the OR that looks like a gaming device.
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Momine, Thanks for answering about the robot. I will just add about recovery from robotic. It is supposed to be much faster than open surgery of this kind (but about the same as regular laparoscopic,) which is four days compared to seven days in the hospital. The at home recovery time is quicker too. Also, not being as open, it lessens the chance for infection too. I could have had regular laparoscopic, but wanted that distinction of having a robot operate on me, 'cause that's the kind of new millennium gal I am.
Dianarose, I hope the service for your friend brought a little peace and closure to all who were stunned by her passing. There is something to be said for being able to share grief with others. You don't feel so alone. (Kind of like here, where we know we are not alone in our cancer drama.) Not everything has to come in threes, does it? I'm a little superstitious like that. Now on my second cancer, I'm feeling like if there is a third one, it will take me out for sure; so I'm just stopping with two. Hope you didn't fare too badly in the big snowstorm. Take it easy with all the shovelling.
Marlegal, CONGRATS on the new grandson! I don't think you gave us a heads up on this thread, so that news was a surprise to me. If things do come in threes, you might have more baby news before too long. Just sayin'. Grandma, please try and make a good impression at this important first meeting.
I would have answered about the robot yesterday, but I was busy. Busy making reservations. Since I have some indication that I could once again be forfeiting my summer over to cancer treatment, I decided to move some summer right up to the end of this month, I'm heading down to the Caribbean to do some snorkeling. Copying off Eph, I'm taking another cruise and this time my husband is not too uppity to go along. I did have to play the cancer card to get him to go, but he loves snorkeling too so I didn't have to do that much arm twisting. Since Eph gave us such a good report of her trip, I doubt I will write a full-blown travelogue on this one, I'll probably just mention a few highlights when I get back.
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Eli, yes, the recovery is quite amazing. I only had a hyster with it, but I was home after 24 hours and back to normal in a week. The only thing that hurt for a few days was that I got some of the air, even though they used very little, trapped in my torso, so that sucked. But the incisions were just a little sore and there was none of that sliced up feeling you otherwise get after surgery.
I had a C when my daughter was born, I was pretty much in bed for 2 weeks, and 6 weeks after that sucker I could still barely walk upright. The robot surgery was way, way, wayyyyy easier.
Taking a trip sounds like a really smart idea.
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Momine, My friend reported the same as you, as far as hyster. recovery. She was back at work about a week later.
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Eli, I realize that the surgery you will have is quite a bit more involved. But I really hope that you will have a quick and easy recovery.
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We are going to need a bigger yard stick. My son measured 38 inches of that nasty white snowman poop and it is still snowing.
Eli- I am glad you are taking a trip. Have a blast.
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Why did you not tell me it was supposed to be dark boots--not white? I look ridiculous, but my eyebrows rock!!
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Oh Eph - you always were the rebellious one weren't you? Anything to get noticed - lol
Eli - glad that you have decided to bump up your summer so that you can enjoy it. Sounds like a great time. You'll have to get a picture with your snorkling gear on.
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Eli - just found this pic on my facebook page - just think, this could be you soon! The water looks amazingly clear and clean.
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Eph, that was your try-out at the first home game. You didn't have the official boots yet. You hadn't earned your official sweater with the team logo on it yet either.
Barsco, That will be me soon. I should pick up an underwater camera. I had one some years ago in Hawaii and took pics of the fish and the kids. The pics come out decent on those disposable cameras too. Just realized the big (little) item I really need to get is a waterproof carrier thingy...the thing to keep your passport and keycard right with you when you swim. I don't feel safe enough leaving that stuff under a towel on the shore when we both want to snorkel together. Totally different than when I went to Alaska and could just carry the stuff around in a purse.
I got to Skype my younger boy (on Study Away in Greece) one time so far. It is a little harder than I thought with the time difference. I don't have the fastest internet and there seemed to be a bit of a lag when trying to have a conversation, but I do like being able to see him (even if he is a bit pixilated.) Then again, I don't have (read: don't pay for) top of the line internet speed.
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Eli - we have skyped our son a couple of times. We thought he would have internet access when he moved away but alas, he does not. He has to go to McDonalds or somewhere that has free wi-fi if he wants to skype. He is our one and only, and moved west about 2 months ago. We sure miss him. I do agree it is good to see him even if the video isn't that great.
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Elimar, what a great idea to have your summer now! Yeah, Eph's trip has me longing for the warm waters, too.
My son plans to Skype with me when he moves out to Seattle (my one and only, too Barsco) and he BETTER have good internet considering he will be working for Microsoft. Of course, that means I'll have to keep paying for the high-speed on my end, too..... rats!
Hope you ladies in the NE are okay. Here in the south we're just freezing for absolutely no reason - at least snow is a worthy reason here.
Off to watch "Flight" with Denzel. Hope it's not depressing or anything - I'm in the mood for action-y.
Everyone have a good Sunday!
Hi to SherryC - never see you any more. I'm pretty sure we are cousins - I just need to find the missing link on Ancestor.com
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E ~ My best friend & DH are in Aruba now until early April. They go every year & snorkel to their hearts content. I have never been but, then, I can't swim anyway. Wouldn't be the best thing for me to try. I don't even like to get my face wet in the shower. Well, meaning letting the water run down my head & face while in the shower. I do like the beach though.
h&s how was "Flight"? I see it's showing on Directv pay-per-view, hoping it comes on my free HBO. lol (I don't have Showtime, so if it goes there, I have to wait for a free weekend)
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{{{Eli~}}}
I Skype with DGS, not as easy now that his mama can't keep him strapped in his high chair long enough for Grandma to get her whole baby fix. He's a goin' guy now. No time for googoos from Grandma! Quality of images depends on the day.
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Will check in maybe I CAN FIGURE how to post pictures again, flicr or photobucket not working for me. We head out to Kauai. I am ready to relax in the sun and float in teh water! Love to snorkel have never snorkled anywhere but Kauai but know the Carribean is supposed to be fabulous snorkling! When I return I wil be cutting back a bit at work and going in 2 days and working from home the rest of the time, with my 105 mile round trip drive this wil be great!!
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Valjean, you made me laugh! I thought I was the only one who does NOT like to get my face wet in the shower....but
I guess NOT! This is something that my husband teases me about all the time.
Mena
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Eli, I'm glad about the trip and that Skype worked at least enough for you to see him and hear his voice
Eph, you may have had the wrong boots, but at least your Mom didn't make you wear the pleated skirt. I was so humiliated.
Our kids and their hubs got 'us' an iPad for Christmas mainly so I'd be able to do FaceTime with them and babies. Gotta say, it is pretty cool.
Hugs to those having tests, waiting for results, or dealing with se's this week.0 -
Good Morning ladies! It's Fat Tuesday. You know what that means. Time to get one of the ugliest cakes on Earth and have a little snack.
Good thing they don't taste as bad as they look. I'll be down there this weekend, so maybe I can get the day-old (make that 4-day-old) leftovers. Maybe I will see evidence of the parades' aftermath...broken beads and confetti plastered on the streets by rain. Ah, I remember going down there in my youth, so long ago that the beads/boobs connection had not even been forged yet. I don't know when the topless business began, but the time I went, it was about forty-seven degrees and there was no way my top was coming off regardless. Not like when I was in B/C treatment and my top came off every day there for a while. No one gave me any beads for that!
Mardi Gras/Shrove Tuesday/Paczki Day is another one of those kind of crazy holidays that I just love. It's all about the eating!!!!!!!
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I don't even know who is in active treatment anymore. We haven't had many Newbies lately. A few popped in, but we might have been too zany at the time with what seemed to be not enough seriousness that goes along with B/C. I have to think back to my own first couple of months, when I WAS seemingly a lot more serious; but I have the exact same amount of seriousness and worry except now I HIDE it underneath a thin, filmy layer of scoffing humor. I know that anyone who sticks around gets that. Really, I am just looking to lend my support to the newly diagnosed. Hear that Newbies?
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eli, I am a lurker on this thread. I thought about popping up for Groundhog's Day. But then the surprise on Fat Tuesday would not have worked. I am at the older end of the ish for age. But I love the humor here. I was very serious a year ago, but now that I can breathe again I just want to laugh.
My friend and I were talking about Fat Tuesday this morning while eating the cinnamon rolls I had made for the occasion. Yeah, I didn't get any beads for taking my shirt off all the time either. They did have a candy dish, tho.
This is how my day went yesterday. I started to wash the dishes in the kitchen sink. The faucet sprang a leak and sprayed me in the throat. I turned the water off and went in search of my pliers which had not made it back into the toolbox the last time I needed them. I wandered around the house for a while forgot what I was looking for, ended up in the kitchen noticed the dirty dishes, turned the faucet on got sprayed in the face. Oh, I need to find the pliers, turn the water off wander around the house forget what I was looking for, end up back in the kitchen notice the dirty dishes, turn the water on get sprayed remember what I was looking for, wander around the house.........
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Hi, macatacmv, my Dx sister. Glad you are doing better, a year out. You SHOULD have popped in on Groundhog's Day, because NOW you are forced to repeat this holiday ala the G. Day movie. I don't know how you will break out of the endless loop, but if it starts with the cinnamon rolls, it won't be all bad.
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macatacmv - Your leaky faucet made me laugh. I can relate. There is always something that needs to be done around the house isn't there?
Eli - your humour is definitely what keeps us feeling that life isn't all bad. I enjoy the laughs and comraderie that everyone contributes. Upon joining - I found this thread and it quickly became my my favourite.
I just finished a pancake lunch at work. Our social club made pancakes and sausage for everyone, complete with blueberries, strawberries and maple syrup. Delish!
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I want pancakes & sausages. All I have at work are some mandarin oranges, a couple slices of roast beef & peanut M&Ms-welcome to Fat Tuesday, Joni style!
I have ALWAYS wanted to go to Mardi Gras. I am going to look into that for 2014-yes I am!
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I haven't been on this site for awhile - I completed my chemo and radiation by 9/30/12 and felt like I was taking a "break" from cancer concerns. Happily, I had a normal breast MRI and mammo in January. My only concern now is that my CEA bloodwork came back at 5.2 last month and then I had it repeated today and it was 5.3. I am a non-smoker. All my other labs are within normal limits. I have a call into my doc and am waiting to hear back. I am just wondering what my level of stress should be, based on these lab results? Any of your input would be appreciated!
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fad60, What had your CEA been before? What is normal on that, below 2? I don't know. I don't think it is time to stress, 1) because the number is not really high and 2) because it has not gone up. I have heard other things can elevate CEA too.
Now some more questions/commentary...I thought the tumor markers done for B/C were the CA-15 and the CA 27-29? Do you get either of those? I am familiar with CEA because I had that done myself, only for colorectal cancer. Mine was not elevated and I had a big freakin' tumor in there, so who the heck knows?
I'm curious. Let us know what doc says.
p.s. Focus on MRI & mammo results for now.
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Elimar - thank you for your reassuring words! My CEA level a year ago, before surgery, chemo, and radiation was 4.8. My CA-15 is normal. I heard back from my doctor's nurse who said the doctor is not worried since it is essentially the same from a month ago. She said that it would have to go up quite a bit to have concern. So, I will relax and not stress about it until I have it repeated in 3 mos. Interesting that yours was not elevated with a large colon tumor! I've read some info on the internet that the CEA isn't the most reliable test.
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Ah, FatTuesday...now I don't feel so bad about that cookie I had after lunch! I was in New Oleans in 2002 for a work conf, yrs before bc. Wanted to flash and a coworker talked me out of it..said I could wind up on internet. I pointed out to her that my shirt would be covering my face and that not even my husband would be able to recognize my boobs enough to say 'oh look,there's Mary'!!! But she was so paranoid I didn't do it. It's one of my few regrets in life to be honest.
Maca, I literally laughed out loud at the faucet story. I can sooo see myself in that scenario.
Fad, I hope everything works out for you. I get confused by all the tests and numbers so I just wait for my doc, in whom I have great trust, to let me know if there is anything to be worried about.0 -
fad60, Forgot to say that a while back, a lot of us here were remarking that about half the docs don't even seem to bother with tumor markers, probably because of false scares and such. It really seems to go with the docs personal preference. From what I have seen online, CEA is one of the recommended follow-ups for C/C so maybe I will be in the tumor marker club from here on out but, like you, I have read that the reliability is questionable. Glad the nurse made it official for you not to stress.
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