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CALLING ALL STAGE I SISTERS

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Comments

  • JenMaria
    JenMaria Member Posts: 1
    edited January 2010

    Hi Everyone,

    I haven't posted here in a while...well, done with treatment, finished my radiation and had my 3 month check up yesterday. I am going to worry until this is far behind me, like say at least 3 years. It was a tough year to say the least....looking forward to this new year!!

  • carolinachick
    carolinachick Member Posts: 135
    edited January 2010

    I still have what I'd call "tightness" whe I lift up my arm on my lumpectomy side.  The shooting pains that I had from radiation have pretty much disappeared - thankfully.  I ended up being slightly smaller on my right side, but not enough to notice as it's filled in pretty well.

    Meece - you have inspired me to change my avatar as well.  Maybe I can get a new photo this weekend.

  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 10,618
    edited January 2010
    Sue, Yes I am.  I am my DHs little pearl!  I have another clamshell pic DH took while we were dating and I was still sporting a bandana.  I will keep it to post in a few weeks.
  • cakeisgreat
    cakeisgreat Member Posts: 188
    edited January 2010

    Hi, Guys!

    Woke up this morning and found out my father-in-law died Cry.  Was unexpected, but he had Parkinsons.  He was found sitting in his chair.  He was a really good and successful man.  Died peacefully.

  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 2,126
    edited January 2010

    seyla888

    My vitamin D levels were 38 also...  my primary care dr. did a test and it was 58 but my onc did one and it was 38.  I believe my onc's info. more than my primary care dr.    Since 38 is normal, it was STILL LOW NORMAL, so I'm taking more D3... 

    cakeisgreat:

    I am so sorry to hear about your loss...   You and your family is in my prayers.

    Harley

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 9,611
    edited January 2010

    cake...sorry about your loss.

    Harley this result is from my primary not the oncologist. There is such a big difference. Are they using different labs?

    JenMaria...Welcome to our group. Its good that you are done with your treatments, but like you said it takes a long time to get back to some kind of normal again.

    Sheila

  • Grakenmom
    Grakenmom Member Posts: 137
    edited January 2010

    {{[Cake and Family}}}

    So sorry to hear of your loss. Thoughts and prayers for peace and strength go out to you.

  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 2,126
    edited January 2010

    Sheila

    I don't know if they use different labs, but...  I don't think my primary care dr. knows WHICH vitamin D test to do...    and a friend told me that there is a very specialized test you have to have...

    Harley

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 9,611
    edited January 2010

    Harley..Are there different tests?

  • DenverDiva
    DenverDiva Member Posts: 77
    edited January 2010

    Cake, I am so sorry to hear of your loss.  You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

    You are all wonderful women, and I love being back in communication with you.

    Sweet Dreams!

    Susan

  • valjean
    valjean Member Posts: 1,110
    edited January 2010

    My Vit. D was at 40 when I was doing Rads. I'm having it checked the end of March for my Apr 4 Onc appt. I hope it has gone up since I've been taking 6000 iu's of D3, along with calcium & magnesium. It had better!!

    Welcome JenMaria ~ Congrats on finishing tx. We gain strength emotionally as time passes, it is not easy, but we do it because we have a life to live. I try not to spend my precious time thinking about what could happen down the road. Yes, some days are better than others. That's why I come here, to be lifted up when I am down, to be motivated to better health & emotional well-being. So glad you have joined us!

    Cake ~ So very sorry to hear of your loss. My FIL is not in good health, he is such a dear man. Sending prayers to you & yours.

    Thought of Labby all day. Hope she is doing well.

    Oh, Nicole, I have been meaning to tell you that I love your new avatar pic. I might have already told you, can't remember! It is adorable.

    My lumpectomy incision is 4" long, & it is tender at times, also. I think I used the hand weights a little too long this morning, that arm is sore near the incision & where I am still numb. oh well,

    off to bed lovely ladies,

    hugs  

  • Nicole112
    Nicole112 Member Posts: 130
    edited January 2010
    Sheila- I looked up the definition of partial mast, here it is...

    Partial mastectomy

    Partial mastectomy is the removal of the cancerous part of the breast tissue and some normal tissue around it. While lumpectomy is technically a form of partial mastectomy, more tissue is removed in partial mastectomy than in lumpectomy.

    Many woman, after lumpectomy go back for reexcision, it is this population I believe who get the partials... just some info I thought I would share.

    Have a good night ladies!

  • elimar
    elimar Member Posts: 5,890
    edited January 2010

    I just got my Vit. D level checked.  It was 46.  Since I was the one who asked to have the test done, and since it falls within the range of normal now established, I can guarantee my doctor will not do or suggest anything about it.  I have the chewable D3 in 1000 IU.  How many of those should I take if I want to get my level to around 80?  Also, when should I ask for a re-check?

    cakeisgreat, sending sympathy for the sudden loss of your FIL.

  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 10,618
    edited January 2010

    Harley and Valjean, here s a link to a thread that has LOADS of information on vitD levels, tests etc.   Help with Vit D levels

    Cake, my prayers are with you and your family as you go through this time of loss.

  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 2,126
    edited January 2010

    Sheila,

    A friend told me the name of the test we need to have... it's something like C [OH]  .... something something... I wrote it down and lost it... 
    Thanks, Meece... I'll check that site out...  I need to remember the name of the test, so my primary care dr. will know which one to order...   ALTHOUGH.... I think he gets mad at me, for suggesting things, cause it looks like I KNOW MORE THAN HE DOES....  I can't help it if I DO KNOW MORE THAN HE DOES!!!   :D

    elimar,

    I am taking 6000 IUs of vitamin D3, all on my own, since neither my primary care dr. NOR my onc suggested I increase my vitamin D3...    I think I'll ask my primary care dr. to run another vitamin D test, after I find out which one I need to get...   in a couple of weeks, since it will be about 6 weeks since I started the higher dose...  I don't think we need to take such high doses for an extended period of time....

    Cake...  I'm praying for you and your family...

    Harley

  • carolinachick
    carolinachick Member Posts: 135
    edited January 2010

    Cake - so sorry to hear of your FIL's passing.  Hugs to you and your family.

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 9,611
    edited January 2010
    Harley...The name of the test I had is called 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D.
  • eph3_12
    eph3_12 Member Posts: 2,704
    edited January 2010

    ((((((Cake)))))

  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 2,126
    edited January 2010

    Sheila,

    Thanks!  I wrote it down and will ask my primary care dr. to order it...  he may not, since he thinks my D3 levels are fine...   It's hard when you have a dr who doesn't really know about any of this medical stuff...

    Harley

  • kac
    kac Member Posts: 43
    edited January 2010

    Cake- I'm so sorry for the loss of your FIL.  My thoughts and prayers for you and your family.

    Kelley

  • valjean
    valjean Member Posts: 1,110
    edited January 2010

    Meece ~ Thanks for super great link on Vit.D !!

    Harley ~ LOL on knowing more than your Dr. Sometimes mine look dumbfounded when I bring up something & ask, "should I have that done?"

    The test my onc has ordered for me is the Vitamin D3, 1, 25-Dihydroxy. I don't know which one I had before as the gal only told me the result, I did not get a copy of it. (didn't think to, but I DO now get all copies!) I see on a list of Blood Test Normal Values info sheet that I printed out back in June 09, there is also a Winter Vitamin D3, 25-hydroxy test & a Summer Vitamin D3, 25-hydroxy test that can be ordered.

    {{hugs}}

  • ThereIsHope
    ThereIsHope Member Posts: 18
    edited January 2010

    Sheila and all, Thanks for your encouragement.  I had a bilateral mastectomy on 1/5/10.  Strong family history of breast cancer (not BRACA) and my mother had  both breast and (eventually died of...ovarian cancer )which were years apart.  I had a total hyst years ago.  No breast/no node involvement made it possible for me to avoid radiation.  I will feel a bit better when the OncoType score is here.  Probably not for another week or more.  I get the feeling of anxiety every once in a while when I consider that there might be a cancer cell lurking around in my body.  Then, I talk myself out of it and remember that this is something I don't have any control over other than doing the best I can.  So many people who post on this site have been survivors for a very long time and are so darn uplifting!  I appreciate all the positive attitudes that they have to share. 

  • cakeisgreat
    cakeisgreat Member Posts: 188
    edited January 2010

    Thanks, guys, for all your comforting words! 

    When it rains it pours...my hubby flew down to South Carolina to be with his mom and bury his dad, and his mom told him that HER cancer was back....she had stage 0 colon cancer two years ago, then last Christmas it metastisized to her liver, so she did chemo, and now it has come back again in her liver - 5 cm and another tumor.  She is on chemo and was not going to tell us because of MY upcoming DIEP surgery (Mar 4)...she was coming up to take care of me.  What a wonder woman.  

    Also...my friend's friend did pass away last Monday from BC.  

    I feel so sad right now!  I'm 38 now...this whole last year has been so hard!

    I want to eat a HUGE hot fudge sundae... no wonder I cant lose weight.  Stress makes me eat.  I am so depressed that I'm going to be FAT for my DIEP...I cant even eat a sundae cuz I dont have any ice cream.  So I ate granola cereal and milk (LOL).  okay...now I'm just complaining.

    waaaaaa

  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 10,618
    edited January 2010

    ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Cake)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

  • DenverDiva
    DenverDiva Member Posts: 77
    edited January 2010

    Oh my gosh, you are just the best group of cyber friends ever!!!! I love you all.  I have been having a rough week.  I didn't want to post earlier, because I just wasn't sure what to say.  I found a lump last week on the bad side, in the reconstructed breast.  I just finished chemo in Nov, so I don't think that this could really be anything, but just feeling that lump and knowing that it feels exactly like the one I found last year was traumatizing.  I already had an appointment scheduled with my plastic surgeon for today, and so I just emailed my onc, and told her what was up, and headed in to see the ps.  He is a wonderful Dr, so I felt very good about seeing him.  He thinks it is most likely fat necrosis, but he did a biopsy to be sure.  I hate waiting for results, but at least I will know for sure what is up.  I now have a little bitty stitch in my cleavage, and a sore foob, but I think I will sleep better tonight. 

    Sweet Dreams to all of you lovely ladies.

    Susan

  • valjean
    valjean Member Posts: 1,110
    edited January 2010

    Susan ~ I don't know what to say right now. Please just know we are here for you, when will you get the results? Sending postitive B9 vibes from MI to CO. Special {{gentle hugs}} & sweet dreams to you tonight.

    love ya,

    Valerie

  • valjean
    valjean Member Posts: 1,110
    edited January 2010

    Cake ~ I have not had a hot fudge sundae since last summer at this great diner in the U.P. of MI, near the Mackinaw Bridge. So Big & So Yummy! If you have the toppings (must have butterscotch!), I'll bring the ice creams. (notice that is plural)  LOL

    Wishing all the best to your very strong MIL, what an inspiration of strength.

    {{hugs}}

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 9,611
    edited January 2010

    Oh Susan...So glad you didn't have to wait for days to have the Biopsy.

    We are always here for you. B9-B9-B9-B9

    Like Valjean said, I don't know what to say except I hope you don't have to wait all weekend for the result. If you have to, I'm always up late night please post if you need company.

    Huuuugs to you my friend plenty of hugs was sent to your way.

    Sheila

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 9,611
    edited January 2010

    cake...Thinking and saying a prayer for you at this difficult time.

    How wonderful it is your MIL loves you the way she does.

    Hugs

    Sheila

  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 10,618
    edited January 2010

    Susan, I pray that you will get the results we are all hoping for.  I am glad you got right on it and got the ball rolling.  Good Girl!

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