CALLING ALL STAGE I SISTERS
Comments
-
Ducky, when I went through all of this I was a single mom with two teenaged boys still at home and one in the military. I had to put on a brave front for them, but there were many times I went behind closed doors and cried. You can overcome these hurdle, but don't feel like you are a failure because one take a little time.
0 -
annette - It sucks that you have to wait until December for your mammo when I know you wrere ready to have it now. Good for you on standing you ground with the supplements and not giving in to the AIs. All the stats that are thrown at us can be confusing and who knows where the numbers actually came from or how reliable the information is.
ducky - It is okay to have a bad day. You don't have to be strong everyday. It doesn't help when you find out you have to have more rad boosts. Did your rad onc tell you why more were being added. I know I had my last day marked on my calendar and looked forward to when I did not have to see my moron of a rad onc again. He was such an idiot. (((ducky)))
Meece - I think that is why I had to stay until the radiologist looked at the shots - so I would not have to come back.
Chabba - That is wonderful - you doing the walk next year. I have not heard of any walks where I live. I would like to find an event like that. I have several friends who are also survivors and I know that would go with me.
0 -
Hi All! Newbie here. Just wanted to introduce myself and hope to make some new friends on here. I am waiting for my Onco test to come back, and I'm very nervous about making a decision on chemo. The grade 3 diagnosis is what makes me the most nervous. On top of all of this, I am trying to get rid of what appears to be a sinus infection and I'm going on 8 months of fighting something that acts like fibromyalgia but nobody will give me that diagnosis because it isn't exactly like fibro. So, of course I firmly believe I have a brain tumor and bone cancer
I had an emotional breakdown in the rheumatologists office the other day and didn't get anywhere with my questions because he felt my aches were the least of my worries at the moment and we would worry about them later. Now I won't see him for months and I'm mad at myself for choosing that moment to lose it.
Anyway, I'm glad to find a place I can vent, find support and give support. I have two girls, one 16 and one 10 and a husband who is quietly supportive (meaning he really doesn't want to talk about it). Hugs to all of you.
0 -
lindaku - Welcome - sorry we have to meet like this. This is a great bunch of very caring, supportive ladies. I am sorry to hear you were not able to get some answers for your pains. I know what that feels like. The waiting for test results is the hardest part and I know you will make decisions based on the information you are given. Don't be afraid to seek second or even third opinions if you are not comfortable with one doctor. Treatment decisions are a very personal one and each one of us is different. I hope you will keep us posted.
0 -
Ducky sometimes we're just so tired.... physically and mentally that it's good to just take some time for ourselves. Caring for everyone else seems to be easy for us women. I liked Meese's idea of a great chick flick and I'd add a glass of wine. Rest is the best restorer of emotions.... especially now that they're all over the place. The 3 extra days can be looked at as a bonus - they're really making sure this "gets" everything that might be lurking. Yeah, you'll be done in three days..... remember 33 days ago then you started it seemed like a really long time to be going! Oh, one last thing... rads do tend to make you tired and I believe it messes with your mind.
Going later today for my MRI... can't "wait" to lay there for 30 min with the boobs hanging below the table!
Hope this it's not another male tech...0 -
Hi Linda,
I had to wait more than a month to get my oncotype test back. But it was worth the wait. My Onc made her decision about chemo based on the results of that test. Ended up that i didn't have to do chemo as my scores were low on both tumors. (However, everytime I tell someone I didn't have to do chemo I feel so bad for those that do have to do it. My heart goes out to them. I feel guilty sometimes.)
I think you will find lots of support here. A great group of people.
Nervous breakdown is never fun. I had post-traumatic stress disorder in my 40's. From a bad experience in my 20's. Seems like things can catch up to you when you least expect it! I'm doing better now. I hope you are feeling better in the near future. Things are going to be ok.Sending you ((((hugs and prayers)))
0 -
Annette- I would love to hear more about the grapeseed oil as I am not post meopausal and will not be able to start AI's (not even sur eif I plan to once I can) and can't take tamoxifen...
Ducky- it was not a brave act...you WERE doing ok and now you are having a meltdown...perfectly NoRMAL!!! I had one weeping meltdown per week of rads....when i would go in to the radiation room, start crying, tell them to ignore it and continue their protocol since I was goign to cry through it anyhow..was just a trainwreck some days....it is ok...you will be ok....36 instead of 33 seems like SO many....3 more damn sleeps....but Ducky....remind your self of the 24 hour rule...it is only 3 24 rules in a row...you can do it....meanwhile..haul out the kleenex and let it out. I watched 3 episodes of Private practice one week just so I could cry wih a 'good reason'...just give yourself permission to cry . it is ok.
0 -
linda= welcome.....and if the aches and pains are what you can notice right now, then they too are important to address..sometimes it is the things we feel that need to be addressed...they seem less surreal I guess.
Anette- Sorry you have to wait until December but what a gift your dr. has given to give you the foob to feel. All I can feel is scar tissue in th eleft boob and who the heck knows..no one was able to feel the cancer in the first place so to have an idea of what to feelfor...great!!!!! if she is waiting another 6 months...well, maybe that is for the best . my MRI is booked for September....mammogram on Tuesday.
Samsue...good luck with the MRI. Hope they have the earphones over your ears so you don't have to listen o the damn machine!
0 -
I brought flowers to all my Sisters.
I'm happy with your good results.
Sorry some of you were aggravated.
HUGS
PS: I wish i could address you individually.
0 -
Welcome lindaku♥0
-
Lovely flowers Sheila
0 -
samsue - Good luck with your MRI today.
Sheila - Beautiful flowers
0 -
welcome Linda...we all do our best to allay each others fears and when we crack up, it seems someone is always there to make the landing more gentle.
Sandee- I modeled my regimen on clinical trials-using the same type, dose, etc...I take 200mg activin grapeseed extract, 200 mg bioresponse DIM, biotin, fish oil, vit d3, an aspirin, magnesium. I am actually nervous right this sec because I had to stop all leading up to my nipple surgery and feel like I am "flying without a parachute"..minute I am out of surgery am popping those babies in my mouth. I know it certainly does something to my hormone levels as I have most definitely noticed a surge of them since stopping a couple of weeks ago. I am due for my next blood test at onc to measure that way as well. The SEs (while milder, still exist on the alternatives- reminds me of menopause-creaky bones, some hot flashes, etc) and the blood panel keep me comfortable with my choice. And that is all it is, is a personal choice. I may regret it, but I am banking that it was right for me...since they (med professionals) do not seem to ever really know why some stage 1 early BC strains come back. It is all a definite maybe. hahaha
0 -
Welcome Lindaku. Your fears and worries are so normal. We've all felt (or feel) that way. My Oco did not put me on Chemo but I do have to have Radiation. I'm going to start taking Arimidex (sp) and I'm not looking forward to either.
0 -
Ducky so sorry you are having a rough go of it now. ((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))
Lindaku glad you found us here. it is a great place to be for support. Ask questions or if you feel the need to whine we will all listen. WE have all done it a time or two for sure.
Yesterday I called the RO nurse and asked about the armpit hair question. She said it may never come back or it may start growing 10 years from now. There is no set time to say that it will never grow back. So I will give it while but think I will do the laser hair removal on both underarms and get rid of the shaving for good. Such a nuisance
0 -
Hello All,
I am new here. I was dx with IDC in April and had lumpectomy in May. Now I am waiting for my Oncotype Score. My lumpectomy results show a 1.6cm IDC nodule with some DCIS as well. All 9 nodes were negative so BS said I am stage 1. Tumor grade is intermediate (I assume this would be grade 2). Am I correct?
While I am very encouraged that I am stage 1, my BS said that he has to go back in to get a small inferior margin that was too close. I am schedule for the re-excision next week and fine that I am more anxious than when I had the lumpectomy. Anyone else out there with similar experience. Would love to hear from you.
Thanks
Anyone else had to be re-excised? How was the experience. I
0 -
:You ladies are great.......
Jo.....she said she thought she told me. apologized for not doing so and said everyone was happy with the 1.2mm margin, but she wasn't, I had 2mm all around the tumor except for that 1 small area and she isn't satisfied. Said the extra 3 are for insurance for me and peace of mind for her. Honestly I think it's the LE arm wrapping that has sent me into "goofy mode" I have to do this 2 times a day and it is really hard to do it yourself,and it is very restrictive so you can't do everything without being clumsy, or getting the damn thing wet. Up to the point of the hand wrapping I was ok, and I guess the 3 x-tra rads was the last straw
Samsue your right sometimes you just get tired of it all..........had my cry will put my big girl panties back on. Good luck with your MRI. I am fortunate I could be just starting, so I can do 3 more.....thanks for the encouragement.
Did get my Onc Score..............it was 8...............that was good news
Plus I get 3 more chances to see my adorable Tech Mark with the gorgeous blue eyes....I told him the other day "I have grandsons your age" He smiled his so sweet smile and said "what lucky grandsons ;you have".............
I do feel better now after talking to my ladies.................and eating ice cream right out of the 48oz container......no dish.........just tablespoon and the carton...............I think I earned it.....................hugs
0 -
Allenan - Welcome - sorry we had to meet this way but the ladies here are fantastic - so supportive and caring. I did not have to have a re excision done and I'm sure some one will come along and chime in. Grade 2 is intermediate - I have the same grade as you can see by my stats. I did not have to do chemo - thank goodness.
ducky - I hate it when the big girl panties come off - that means a crying spell of some kind which is okay. We all go there every once in a while. Love the idea that you ate ice cream right out of the carton - I thought I was the only on that did that. I do it sometimes just because I am too lazy to get a bowl out. Hugs to you.
0 -
Allenan: Intermediate is grade 2, you are right. Welcome aboard, I joined this posting today as well.
Ducky: Congrats on your Onco score. Hope I can say the same in a couple of days.
Everyone: Thanks all for your welcome words. I appreciate the support!
0 -
Allenan- Like Jo , I have the same overall outlook as you. if the dr. wants to go back in and clean up the margins, it may mean no chemo. I didn't have any because I told hem at the time to "take a healthy portion of boob. I do NOT want to come back in here!". Ask any questions youmay have...someone here will have had a similar experience and will share what they know with you. Welcome!!
Ducky-big girl pants do sometimes come off...they need to. Hard to hold all that in and be calm and the perfect patient all the time. This is a good place to let it out! I too am goign to have ce cream tonight...but I have discovered a Sandee-sized portion container...bit more expensive but it is only one portion size so if I feel the need to cheat (like tonight) I can without feeling guilty about it...if the ice cream is in my freezer, i will eat the entire thing tonight between 2 and 4 am!
Annette- thank you for the information!!!! I will talk to my oncologist about it this summer. He wanted me to do my estrogen levels this July but I got my Gp to do it 6 weeks ago....screw waiting...seriously? I do not need more waiting on my hands...need information so I can decide to do something or decide to not do something...will do it again in July and have the results sent to him.....not really expecting a big change in two months!
0 -
Hi, I am new on here. I had IDC. The initial diagnosis on April 9, 2011 was DCIS until the pathology after the lumpectomy showed it to be invasive. But the surgeon got it all and there was no cancer in the sentinal lymph node. I will be starting chemo on June 16.
I am wondering one thing and maybe some of you on here can answer. My 2 daughters with children were planning on coming to visit in July. They each have 4 children. Will I be able to handle having that many children around? My second session of Chemo will most likley be the second week of July. I would love to have my daughters around, yet don't know if it would be wise to have 4-8 active children around when I am going to have a weak immune system. I plan on calling my oncologist and asking him next week, but thought I would ask here since there is lots of experience with going through Chemo on here.
0 -
Allenan and Loislee2 welcome to the board. Sorry we have to meet with way but it is a great place for support and to ask questions. Sorry I did not have a re-exision or Chemo so can't help there.
I go to the BS on tuesday and then the following week I have an appt with the PS. My BS is recommending a MX so i have some decision to make after my next two appts. I feel pretty sure at this point that I will be going through with it, as it will really help the pain I have been in and I think better for the long term for me. Really nervous about having to make the decision. I know I will feel better after I get my questions answered.
0 -
Welcome Loislee - Sorry we have to meet like this. You have found a fantastic group of very caring supportive ladies. I really can't help you with your question as I did not go through chemo. I know someone will come along and help you out.0
-
Allenan...Very similar to your DX
I had a lumpectomy and about 3 weeks later had a re- excision and the margins came back clean.
I was fully sedated second time around but not general anesthesia.
If you have other questions please ask or PM me.
Welcome to our sisterhood♥
0 -
ducky....Keep eating that ice cream from the container. I'm doing the same thing for last 2 nights. French Vanilla sooo yummy.
Hugs♥
0 -
Welcome Loislee2.
During my chemo I didn't hug or kiss my friends.
And stayed away from crowded places.
Again this was my choice.
Good Luck with your decision.♥
0 -
Allenan-I had a re-excision as well. i had two margins that were positive. I was sedated but not with general as well. I had virtually no pain with the second surgery, and the tissue results came back as "no abnormal cells found". Best day of my life
!! Good luck to you. You'll do fine.0 -
Sandee - I did retail theapy too! I bought myself a pre-op purse! Love love love it!
0 -
Allenan- I had to go back for a re-excision and it was a piece of cake. Quick surgery and I went home about 45 Min. I did end up having a BMX because they found a second cancer.
Nancy
0 -
0
