CALLING ALL STAGE I SISTERS
Comments
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LisaW... I still see my Oncologist every 4 months by his request. We practically have the same DX. Do you feel comfortable with this?
If not please find another DR.
HUGS
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Morning Michelle
Hope everyone is having a great Sunday.
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Good morning Jo. A lovely restful Sunday to you all.
I am fighting a sore throat--3 weeks now--and I guess I'll make an appointment to find out what's going on, sigh. Just came off 4 weeks of antibiotics, so it can't be strep.
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Good Afternoon SAB - Bummer about the sore throat. If it is a summer cold - those are the worst to get rid of - hope you get better soon.
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LisaW my MO sees me quarterly for labs and gives me a CBE.
SAB hate to hear about the sore throat. Hope it gets better.
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LisaWade - I think it's pretty standard to be followed up periodically by both the breast surgeon and the oncologist for 5 years at least. I saw my oncologist for the initial consult right after surgery, 4 months later, and will continue to see her every 6 months if all going well (no issues requiring a visit sooner than that). Will have bloodwork every 6 months (blood counts, tumor markers, metabolic panel, etc). Also will be monitoring bone density and Vit D levels as I'm taking Arimidex, which can cause bone loss.
It's hard for many to switch doctors, but if something just doesn't feel or sound right I think it's good to listen to your gut. You certainly should consider another opinion if you feel you're being "pushed aside".
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LisaWade - I don't see my surgeon anymore but have an "open" appot if I have any issues that he needs to take care of. I see my onc every 6 months and that just happened in June. Like Sherry's MO, he does all my labs, a breast exam at each visit and sets up any and all appts I need with the exception of my family doctor - I see him every 3 months and have been doing that for many years
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holey moley! you guys are great- today was possibly the best birthday an old gal could ever have-just wonderful and made even more so by finally logging on and feeling all the love from you:) YOU ARE AMAZING.....and essential. And being essential is no small thing:)
I missed so much not loggin on for a few days (birthday weekend started friday night- took off with sister to Lake Charles for a madcap deadhead- left here at 8pm spent four hours there and back home by 7am Saturday morning!@ hoo haw have not pulled an allnighter in many many years- what a blast...hubby and I set off early this morning for a magical day in Galveston- filled with DOLPHINS and more DOLPHINS...literally dozens I cried like a baby watching the waves and those gorgeous creatures jumping around playing-almost a year out from diagnosis and well...it was just so damn incrediblly overwhelming to see and feel and realize I am alive:)....the whole shebang made possible by my oldest son taking his kid brother for the weekend- as I am learning to live in the moment I will say that right at this moment...i am incredibly grateful and happy. which ain't half bad:)
To everyone new...welcome...I wish you did not have to be here...I wish none of us did...but since we are, we can all root for each other and be there. We will sometimes be silly, other times sad and confused...it is just amazing how everyone helps each other out:)
Lisa- I agree with O2- at least every three months to start- if not and he does not see any point in it- kick em to the curb and get a new one...this is all about YOU...
Thank you all again for helping make today so good....
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Hi again all, once again I thank you all. WOW this is all such a learning process I'm going in for my pre-op in the morning and when I am done, I am going to stop by the Cancer centre to see if I can speak to my oncoligist to have him clairfy things and if he is still of the mind that I only need see him for symptoms I will be asking my GP for a referral to another oncologist.. I really can't thank you all enough for your advice and support!
Lisa0 -
Good luck Lisa----sistas helping sistas....hugggggggs K0
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(((Lisa))) (((HUGS)))
Hi granny. How are you doing?
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Hi Sheila...doin good.amazin no complaints.finally goin for my first mammo on wed.not givin it any power what so ever(so far).....
Hope you are all settled back in good old NYC.....we all missed you
huggggs K
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How often should I get a pap smear now that I am menopausal?
<It is recommended that after three consecutive normal Pap tests and in the absence of high risk factors e.g. HIV infection, immunosuppression, in utero DES exposure or previous history of cervical cancer the frequency of cervical screening can be reduced to every 3 years.>
My GYN told me the same thing last year. What would you do if you were me?
Thanks
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Hey granny. I'm settled here but I'm not looking forward to the winter
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Granny, Seyla................I hate winter...............We expect a lot of rain this week in the Philly area, and nothing worse then rain, and chilly weather....................I'm not ready to turn on the damn heat, but sometimes you have to to get that "raw, damp" feeling out of the house..........I'm already wishing for summer to return................oh well...........it is what it is................here go the big girl panties again..................................
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Hi all,
Thank you for the warm welcome and good words from so many.
I had typed a l-o-n-g response to your posts and lost it on the last line.
Insomnia seems to be a common issue here. (It's 2 AM) I am trying to stay off prescription drugs until I really need something. I will check into the melatonin.
One thing that continually overwhelms:
When BC is diagnosed,nobody is ready for it. I look at all the projects I've put off and they look like mountains to me now. I am trying so hard to get stuff done while I feel good, plus work full time. For some reason, I thought that I'd have time to read, be reflective, make photo albums, and write hand-written notes. Are you kidding? The car breaks; need an exterminator and have to move furniture around...my friend is coming to clean toorrow and it is somewhat of a disaster area. Oh, and there is a wild animal in my chimney and I hope it crawls out soon...especially since I decided I'd sleep better in the living room.
Tarry - yes, I've tried reading to get to sleep. It helps when I can focus & relax.
Didem - am getting the oncotype test and have the appt. on Oct. 6 (almost 6 weeks after surgery)
Waiting doesn't help.
Auntienance - that must have been a hard decision for you. Thoughts are with you for your continued treatment plan.
Nancygv55 - good luck with your test results and appointment Tuesday (today?) I hope you can find peace with your decision.
Nite all,Joan
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Sheila, I have been menopausal for 4 years now and I still get a pap smear every year. So glad I did this year - had my gyn do a transvaginal US and ran across some minor problems. Of course, I am on Tamoxifen STILL so will continue getting them at least for the next four years. I might also want to throw in that my insurance will pay for one each year so why not??? Need to have all my bases covered don't you think?
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sheila I have had my uterus removed and this year when I went to the gyn she told me that the new standards are if you have had your uterus removed for a B9 issue you no longer need pap smears. She said BUT with your history of BC I think we need to continue to do them yearly. bummer but better safe than sorry and my insurance does pay for them yearly.
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Thank You Jo & Sherry...
It's not an Insurance issue.
I thought because of my age group and being PM I could skip it.
I never had an abnormal Pap Smear.
But you are both right. I should make an appointment it's been 18 months since my last one.
Good Morning
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Good Morning Sheila - You know if we don't look after ourselves no one else will. Like Sherry said, I would rather be safe than sorry. So go make that call - let us know when you are going to we can jump in your pockets and have a party. 0
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((♥Jo♥))
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Sheila - Back at you sweetie
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Joan811 - I smiled when I read the part of your post about getting things done. There was a weird, sick sort of secret pleasure in knowing that I COULDN'T do anything physical after my surgeries. I had stacks of torn out recipes, magazines, photos to organize, old VHS tapes that had been saved for some reason but never labeled so didn't know what was on them. I had every intention of getting all of that done during my down time and there all those stacks still sit
. That time just flew by and, as you said, life still goes on and needs attention.....Hang in there - as you've already noticed
there's lots of waiting and more waiting, but once you have all your info and a plan in place it really will get a bit easier.Hope you figure out what's in your chimney! I understand about sleeping in a different place. I was sleeping in the family room when getting in and out of bed wasn't easy and one night almost stepped on a black widow spider!
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With BC yearly Paps should be a given especially if the insurance pays for it.
I have to do it for many reasons sooooo that i never ignore.
Please Shiela go for your Pap.They are now saying that BC and Ovarian/Cervical C are cousins....like we really need this crap too.....
huggggggs everyone.God bless K
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granny...I never missed one. This is the first year that I'm questioning.
Yes Insurance pays for it. and the exam doesn't even bother me it never did.
I dont want to meet any of the BC cousins LOL
(((HUGS)))
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Hello all.
I am a newcomer from the Sept surgery group. One week out from NSBMX and doing well. Had post-op with BS today and confirmed stage 1. So here I am...Still waiting to see MO to determine hormone therapy/chemo...Any one else here fail their very first mammy? I did. Good thing it will be my last per my BS......
After reading the posts about the paps, think I may as well schedule mine soon too.
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Sheila I had a total hysterectomy 9 1/2 yrs ago and my gynecologists told me he still wants to do a check on me every year. I guess you can get vaginal cancers because I don't have a cervix or any ovaries, etc. He checks the bladder for it dropping and can do repairs, etc. So I will assume that it is important that we continue as women to see our gyn's yearly especially with our history of cancer.
Hugs
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For all of you ladies who take melatonin, how many milligrams do you take?
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Welcome to our group odie
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Renee...I'm gonna make the appointment tomorrow.
Nancy....I dont take melatonin I just want to send you a hug.
♥
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