CALLING ALL STAGE I SISTERS
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Wow, I can't believe it has been over 2 yrs since my dx. I remember it like it was yesterday. Especialy the second reexcision, it hurt more than the first. I love it when the recovery room nurse says, "what is your pain from 1 to 10?" I kept saying an 8 so she would pump more morphine in the IV. It wasn't the surgery that was hurting is was that damn ICE PACK that was on my tata. It was aching from the cold. I was throwing up all the way home from the morphine, the dots on the wallpaper in the recovery room where moving around like that 70's show episode where Eric was smoking WEED. LOL
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I love that show!
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Ha Ha, Shiela, it was a very funny story, so laugh because I do everytime I tell it. One of the girls on the boards was talking about Martini's but said I couldn't have one unless I was first strapped into my chair LOL. My arm is healing, but I might never have full range of motion in my elbow again, so I guess that will cut down on the drinking!!!! but seriously I am fine now. Thanks for asking.
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Hello, I guess I will join in. It amazes me how we are all stage one, yet our stories are so different. Tomorrow is my one yr anniversary of the "you have cancer" call. what a year it has been.....lumpectomy w SNB - clear margins node negative, oncotype 29, TCx6, 30 rads, now on arimidex and ibandronate trial. Have a 5 % risk of distant recurrence from this cancer.
As I was finishing up rads, I decided to see a genetic counselor - my mom had bc at 55 and counselor thought because I was "young" (age 51 at diagnosis) I should get tested - low and behold - BRCA2 mutation "suspected deleterious" -- no research on my specific mutation so they treat it like it is positive. Might have chosen a different course if I'd known from the onset, but I believe things happen for a reason. Had my ovaries out in August. With all the treatment thus far, they believe my risk of a new bc is about 11% on the radiated side and 30% on the other side -- for now. Risk will increase with age -- that is, if this mutation really is deleterious.
So I am on close surveillance - first breast MRI and mammo in Sept were normal - no suspicious areas. Will repeat mammo in March and MRI in Sept and alternate every 6 months. Breast surgeon believes surveillance is a good option for me and will do clinical exams every 6 months. I see my med onc every 2 months. I'll stick with this plan until I can't take the every 6 month anxiety -- or another cancer creeps in -- My med onc really wants me to heal from the treatment this past year and get a few years out from the cancer I had, before I think about treating a cancer I might never have... Makes sense to me.
So for now, it's healthy living and a positive attitude!!
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kt57...I'm glad you joined us the day before your anniversary. Its really your first anniv of what I call;
<CELEBRATION OF LIFE.> Congratulations.
Sheila0 -
Happy Anniversary!
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Sheila, thanks for the warm welcome! Having somewhere to come while I stress about the upcoming surgery with people who get it makes all the difference in the world! Thanks for starting this thread, it's gonna be a good one, I think.
Jaimieh, yes, I'm going for a diep. When I was diagnosed, I didn't have enough fat for one, let alone two. In recent months, though, something shifted with my body composition and now I have a nice little belly. I can't wait to get rid of these implants. I was happy at first but after various problems, I'm not any more. You'll be in wonderful hands with NOLA, best of luck to you!
Hi Pat, and when I had it done, it had already been available for a couple of years! Hard to believe so much time has passed since my dx!
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I don't know anyone who has had breast cancer who does NOT get nervous to one degree or another when going for screenings! Maybe they are out there but I have not met them.
You have now met one. I had my first post chemo and rads mammogram last summer and I wasn't the least bit nervous. I usually don't worry about things that I can't change.
Stage 1 HER2+, I had TCH chemo and finished my year of Herceptin so I've done what I can to prevent recurrence.
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bluedasher... I wish I could feel the way you do at least once when I go for my follow ups.
You answered few questions for me in another thread which was helpful because you explained it in English and I understood. Thanks and Welcome
Sheila0 -
This month marks my 6 yr. anniversary of dx. I haven't been nervous about my mammos until I had to go back for a repeat mammo because the first was suspicious, First in 2005. Then again this year, repeat mammo and biopsy. I seem to forget about stressing until after the mammo comes back suspicious. Six years and two bad mammos, not bad, since they were both okay in the end. Now, between the request for the repeat, and the results...I am a wreck!
I have my second recon surgery on the 19th, and am pretty stressed over it.
I must have been diagnosed way before oncotyping.
Wel, good night all.
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Meece...This East Coast girl goes to bed late. Its an endless worry even after all these years. Isn't it? I was DX over 4 years ago and still tests makes me extremely anxious. Then they tell me everything is okay. I calmed down. last mammogram they let me wait 8 days even tou it was written diagnostic. I guess they made a boo-boo and nobody took responsibility for it. This was in June. Well nice chatting with you. Do you care to let me know the exact date in November when you were DX
Hugs
Sheila0 -
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This is my one year anniversary of the biopsy results, too. (11/7 is the actual date).
Trying to get back to normal, or should I say - the "new normal". I see my oncologist and radiologist on Friday - yippee!
Meece - I'm sorry about the suspicious mammograms - happy they have ended up fine but can imagine how stressful that is!
Nice to have a stage 1 home!
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aprilgirl1... Another belated Congratulations is in order.
Welcome to our friendly and caring group
SheilaI say Good Night now
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Ladies...Where is everybody?. I'm bored
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I think everyone is either busy or tired from the Holiday. I know I am. Kids knocked the socks off of me. I had 6 of them today........Tired!
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Meece - Oncotype testing is only for ER/PR Positive gals, not us triple negs. Congrats on 6 years - you inspire me and give me more courage! Keep on keeping on, sister!
Linda
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THANK YOU VETERANS♥
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Hi, last July marked my 2nd anniversary of dx. I read the posts regularly but as you can see I rarely post myself. However, you are all so friendly and positive I had to join you. A place for stage 1ers is such a good idea.
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Welcome Kal!!
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Thank you for your welcome. I look forward to contributing to your discussions, especially if I am around when they are active. I live in Australia so the posts are often hours old by the time I am able to read them. Seems a bit silly to put my opinion in when the subject has changed hours before.
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kal...First Welcome. What time is it there now?
And don't worry about changing subjects, they are always changing. You can always reply to someones post the next day if you have a question. Or just stop by anyway.
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Kal, you should definitely respond to some one regardless of the topic changes. That's just part of the threads! We have some other girls from down under on other threads too.
Good night!
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Thank you girls for posting the Veterans' Day photos. School was closed today - my 16 year old son had basketball practice at 8am. At 10:30 am he calls and says he needs a trip to the hospital. Another boy's head crashed into my son's prescription goggles and he got a huge gash on the top of his cheekbone, just under his eye. Thank God his eye was OK. So I made up my mind to take him to one particular hospital near the school, but we were detoured by a Veteran's Day parade - and ended up on the highway driving back to the hospital where I got the MRSA staph in my abdomen. I felt extremely nervous going back in there - but we had no choice. As soon as we entered the ER, I made my son wash his hands with the santizer dispenser - and I did my own too. Thank God it all turned out very well - the ER nurses and doctors were fantastic! We didn't wait at all...........and we were fortunate that a plastic surgeon was available - he stitched him up beautifully and said he should only have a very slight scar. So I told my son - even though I was afraid to return to that hospital - I think God's angels sent us on that detour - who knows if the other hospital would have had a plastic surgeon available when we got there?
I really am not a nervous-nilly type in hospitals. Usually I'm fascinated by all the equipment - but when it's your son - and when it's a hospital you had a bad experience in - a person's heart beat can sound REALLY loud in their own ears! I'm so glad today is over............all's well that ends well............my job is to keep reminding my son to keep his hands clean and AWAY from his face while his wound heals.
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As already remarked...interesting that we are all stage 1 but such different paths many of us have traveled.
I was diagnosed on 7/7, sent for an MRI where they found a 'sattelite' lesion ruling out a lumpectomy for me. Bil mx on 8/25 with TE's placed. I have had 3 fills with one to go. My exchange is scheduled for March 5th. There is light at the end of this tunnel.
My biggest surprise was chemo. I had clean margins and no lymph node involvement... Little did I know! Today I finished 3 out of a planned 6 tx of C/T. So far so good. Losing my hair was a bitch (can I say that?) but I am handling the SE of the chemo pretty well. I am 45 with no other health conditions so that is in favor. I went back to work after my first chemo tx, 7 weeks after surgery. I work a reduced schedule on chemo weeks but love being able to work--it makes the time go by faster.
This is not a fun journey, but it is one we will survive and come out the other side. That is my prayer and beleif! Hugs to all.
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Sheila, my cancerversary is the 27th.
LRM216, thanks for the info. I don't know if I mentioned it on this thread before or not, but my cancer care team, told me very little about what type I had, or how it differed in treatment. They dropped me as soon as I was through rads. I can't explain what it was like. I went to the "best cancer treatment facility" in our area. I was so uninformed I didn't even know what type of follow-up I should have. My gyno found out and he got me set up ith an appt. at the Revlon Breast Center at UCLA. They in turn got me scheduled with and oncologist who has carefully watched over my folow-up care, and got me going to the right PS. It was at the Revlon Center I first found out how to read my path report. That was a few years ago, and now since finding BCO, I am learning more and more about this whole BC thing.
I have been checking out all the information here about recon. surgery, and I felt pretty well informed when I talked with my PS this week about my surgery next week. I think he was impressed as well.
Thank you all for your patience with me.
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Hey All,
I was away for a few days, and so much has happened. I missed you all.
Swimangel, I know what you mean about being nervous for your child. I am so thankful that you were treated well, and it is always best to have facial stitches by a plastic surgeon, so that is fortunate. I hope he heals well and quickly. I also hope your nerves are calm now. Take care.
Thank you all for the lovely Veteran's Day posts.
I had an oncotype of 24. I also have pleomorphic ILC, and LCIS. I am in the TAILORx trial and was randomized to chemo. I have my last T/C tomorrow.
I hope you are all doing great. I will try not to miss so many days before I check in next time.
Hugs,
Susan
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Sorry for the delay I was called away from the computer. It is 3.10pm here. We are having a record breaking heatwave here and it isn't even summer yet.
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Thanks kal that makes it 16 hours difference from East coast. We gladly take away some of your heat. LOL
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seyla, if I could send it to you I would. It is exhausting. Anyway I have to go now - committments - but will definitely come back later. Have a nice night.
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