Calling all TNs
Comments
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Big Hug for you Michelle! All other labs fine?? Sounds to me like a false positive and how many times have we heard that tumor markers are completely inaccurate?
I'm sure DH & I will Skype, in fact he's probably planning to stick the dogs in front of the PC with him so they can see me too. I'm gonna miss my babies. I woke up this morning to the two them curled up against me.
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LuvRVing
Did you get a biopsy or something done on the breasts, just before the blood tests? I know for sure that a biopsy alters your results big time, but am not sure about scans. I had had a biopsy and then my tumor markers were higher, especially the CA 27.29, although within the normal range. My Onc. told me it was due to the biopsy. And he was right. This time around, the marker is back to normal.
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Big Hugs Michelle! Like Heather and Lovelyface said, sounds like a false positive.. Just keep positive thoughts.
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Lovelyface - no biopsies or procedures, I finished all treatment in mid-January (rads) and my markers were ok on 1/23, although they have never been below 31. I'd really like some "time off for good behavior"...lol
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Sending ((((HUGS))))))) to everyone today!
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Heather-DH is being the way he is because he's of a completely different species. I've been married to my butthead for almost 17 years, been together for nearly 21. Believe me, I get it. I love him, but he makes me nuts. Hopefully, now that he got everything off his chest, he'll be a little less of a butthead.
(((Hugs))) to Michelle and everyone else that needs a hug.
I need to scream from the mountain top - my 1st post chemo/lumpectomy mammogram/ultrasound came back all good today! Woo Hoo!!! Mom & I went to Cracker Barrell for lunch to celebrate! Getting my tattoos on Friday....on to the next adventure.
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Hugs to all!
Michele hope all is OK...we all understand the dread.....hugs to you.
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Char - fantastic on the clear mammogram! that rocks!
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Good Morning Ladies
CharB22 - fantastic news on the mammogram. Woo Hoo.
Lovelyface - great news that your markers are back to normal. I don't want to know mine. They are inaccurate and I have enough to worry about with the treatment without them as well but great news for you.
LuvRVing - Hoping you get good news on your PET/CT scan and that everything is normal. Hang in there. You deserve time off for good behaviour.
Mccrimmon - Yes men. My husband is a messy Butthead. When he is in the kitchen every drawer and cupboard is left open, drives me nuts. Tell me how he gets bread crumbs in the cutlery drawer. The problem is he can cook and this means a lot to me!! so I guess I'll keep him around a while longer. He has a double garage with so much stuff in the cars sit outside, duh! We have been married for 45 years this coming October so I guess neither of us can be too bad to live with and he is my rock through all this cancer stuff. Bless him, at least until dinner time!!.
By the way did you manage to get a job in your new home town and did you get insurance sorted. Your dear feller is probably just worried about you being away from him.
Have a good day today ladies and sending lots of hugs to all who needs them today. Annie
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Michelle- You certainly do deserve a break!! I hope it is nothing!
Char- Congrats! I always love some good news!!
Heather- My husband drives me crazy sometimes too, but I would have a really hard time being without him for a long time- especially since he helps with the kids so much!!!
Annie- Thanks for the hug- here's one right back at ya- (((Annie)))!
Beccad- thinking about you and hoping your SEs are too bad.
Bernie - we will mis you, but wish you lots of love and happiness!
Big hugs to all!
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Finished my last taxol today!!! Hurray! Now just have to deal with side effects for a few weeks. I meet back with my MO in two weeks as a follow-up and bloodwork. No news when I meet with the RO yet.
On a bad note, my hubby crashed his motorcycle on our driveway (we have a very steep, winding .3 mile driveway and he went off the side into the gravel/dirt/ditch and just barely missed a telephone poll) on Saturday night so spent all Sat night in the ER, then they admitted him and I got home about 6 AM on Sunday and could only sleep 2.5 hours. After that, I had to find another person to give me a ride to my chemo today. I SO wanted him to be at my last session :-( He has been taking good care of me but he is now out of commission for weeks with 6 broken ribs and several tears in his spleen. I guess I am on my own. I'm glad the chemo is over and it will be many more weeks before starting rads, so I should be able to handle it, at least physically, maybe not mentally.
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Tina, hope your husband is ok and heals swiftly!
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Oh no Cat!! Congrats on the last Taxol, but so sorry to hear about your husband! I hope you have minimal SEs and he heals up quickly!
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Oh, forgot two things:
CharB- congrats on the good reports! My MO didn't mention any tests before starting rads but he said it would be 3-4 weeks before I start rads, so maybe I should ask him.
My MO did agree to give me a prescription for Metforim. I guess he not only read the material I gave him but has seen some good reports on it. My blood sugar has been high (non fasting, so it might not mean anything but he was okay to use that to be able to prescribe it). He told me that I have always been so thorough in my research and always listened to what he said so he felt comfortable giving it to me. :-) He said he would probably not give it to anyone else. I told him there was a study I could possibly get into, but I would be just as glad to do my own study if he gave me it. He said he would and he would do the follow-up I need (bloodwork, etc) to make sure my blood sugar doesn't get low or it cause something else that is rare (I forget what it was). He will give it to me in two weeks when I meet with him. The supplement I am taking for neuropathy also can cause low blood sugar so I will need to be done with that before starting the metforim.
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Bernie- be well. I've had to leave for awhile, but this group is always here with open arms.
Lisadi1963 - ad you found the soap, and it's a bargain too!
Inmate - could you please move in next to me? I have a beautiful layered rock garden that has gone wild, you'd be in 7th heaven!
Wren & Cocker - "some Drs believe that 85% of TNBC is caused by stress.". If this is true then I am SO dead, lol. My only hope is that I find humor in almost everything, and laugh often and vigorously, will counteract the negative effects of stress.
Ruth - any news yet. You're in my thoughts.
Painting - I'm sorry for your bad day. HUG!
MB24 - You'll be strong enough!!!! This group will hold you up when you need it. As long as they keep on top of any symptoms ( you need to tell them of any problems, even if they seem minor to you) you will be fine!! I listened to everyone's advice on here, and sailed thru Chemo. Ativan or Xanax are your friend!!!
McCrimmon-As someone who's been a perpetual caregiver, you ARE NOT selfish! It's all about your needs right now. It was a hard lesson for me to learn, but one that needs to be learned. My friends made me promise to put Mom in a NH if it compromised my health. I was lucky and didn't have to.
Cocker and everyone else who mentioned smoking. I smoke. I am trying to quit and even made a month before the mind boggling pain hit. I hopefully will quit, but no one is gonna lecture or guilt me into it. I have a friend diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer and she quit over 30 years ago! This experience has taught me that life is short, random, and to be enjoyed. I'm usually a very happy polite person but I can whip out that broom and hop very quickly when need be. On one of my treatments, after they put my Hep lock in, I hiked about a mile to the approved smoking area to have a smoke. A lady stopped and very pompously started to give me a lecture about smoking and how it would give me cancer. The horns and broom just appeared! I whipped off my wig and with my bald head told her. " What, it's gonna give me f**king cancer!!! To late, I already won that lottery and it had nothing to do with smoking". She took off VERY quickly, and a bunch of smokers got a good laugh for the day.
LuvRV - BIG HUG
CharB22- Congrats!
Had my blood draw for Braca. Not stressing about it, just pissed off to be in this position when I was supposedly done with chemo. While I was up there spent an hour trying to book my mammo because doctor didn't write the order, but did find out that I have an appt with my onc. In Sept that I didn't make and nobody told me about. I swear I will get some nurse navigators in this facility. If not I'm gonna call Cancer Centers of America, and tell them exactly how they can flourish with a facility up here, lol0 -
Congrats to Char for a clean mammo and Cat for the last Taxol, only I'm so sorry to hear about your hubby. I hope he heals up quickly.
That's for all the insight on your butthead ladies. Have to admit I'm awfully lucky to have him, he's a really good man but can get under my skin like no one else!! Sometimes I just need to vent and be reminded he's not the only butthead around.
Kathrynn, I would have loved to have seen that poor woman's face when that wig came whipping off. LOL
Hope I haven't missed anyone.
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Hey all, just switched my avatar to my hair!!!!!!
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Yay!!!!!! for hair! Looks good.
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Looks great Susan!
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tif, the SEs have not been too bad, but the chemo is being changed next Monday. l will be getting a port in this week and start on gemzar next week, on for 3 weeks and off for 1. We did the relay for life friday nite. I was actually pushed around in a wheelchair. Had gone by my hospital the day before to pickup our t shirts and visited for awhile, when I left I was pretty tired. My depth director made sure that they brought a chair for me. I ran around some before the walk started, so by then......... well let's just say I probably would not made it around the track once. We did have fun and stayed for about 3 hours.
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Paintingmywaythru - wow great look
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Ladies, I don't want to change the subject here, but I feel this is the only place where I can write my feelings down and you are the only ones who would really understand me. I have become so isolated from everyone after this cancer experience. I actually have so much social anxiety, that I just can't be with anyone. I know they will say something, to which I will react really badly, and then they will look at me with all kinds of looks. My cousin is coming from Sydney this weekend, she wants me to pick her up from my other cousin's house where there will be more family to face. This is huge for me, and I am not sure what I was thinking to have agreed. I can't even face people here in my country, let alone have these family who have long disappeared from my life, having another culture. I heard that they know about my case, although I never actually told them myself.. I am so stressed out with all of this. I just don't know what to do. I am not sure about you all, but I can hardly mix with people these days. And when I called my mom in New Zealand and told her about my social anxiety and how stressed I will be from all the driving and talking to people, she became quiet on the phone. My mother is like that, she never looks at anything through my eyes. She is always worried about what other people will think. Family from overseas have no idea of the distances we have to drive when picking and dropping them at airport, and that is yet another matter that I have to consider. It is a whole day affair with people. Oh my God, my life has changed so much. I honestly cannot be with these people, and not one person in my life understands why, including my mother. What has this disease done to us. Does anyone out there feel this way. Do you react at people when they say stupid things about breast cancer? When they think your body is all bad, that there is something really scary in there? That I should try this or that, as if they are not vulnerable to this disease. Am I the only one who has become so bitter and unsociable? I don't think I can ever become normal again. I just don't know how to call my cousin who has already started her travel and is somewhere in Canada and tell her that I just cannot meet them or pick them and take them to the airport. What would you do?
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Lovelyface - oh girl what to say to you. I myself think you may be really depressed which is understandable after what you have been through. It is not good that you have become isolated and unsociable and the longer it goes on the harder it gets to come out of this. Your mum may be worried and feel she may say the wrong thing just as I feel at the moment. When I was diagnosed I thought everyone was looking at me and I wondered what they were thinking. This was not the case at all and it was my own feelings coming out of wanting to shut myself away for a while and think about my diagnosis and for myself to come to terms with it. But it is not right that you feel this way and I think you need help from your GP and a counsellor. There is nothing shameful in this, we all need help once in a while you just need to know where to get it. Just maybe people think you are shutting them out by feeling like you do and not talking about it to them. Your body is not all bad. The problem you had has gone, you have dealt with it the only way you can, as we all can and we hope it will never return. Can your mum organise for somebody to pick up your cousin or do you know of anyone who will do this for you. Other than that I would plaster a smile on my face until it was all over but I do feel you need to see your GP urgently and get some help for yourself. No doubt these wonderful ladies on here will come up with some really helpful suggestions. I am glad you have opened up about how you feel. This is the first step to making yourself better. Love to you and lots of hugs and hugs. Annie
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LovelyFace, I agree with Annie - you should ask your GP to recommend someone you can talk to. Someone who would understand what you are going through. I understand the anxiety, as I'm dealing with my own right now, trying to come to grips with my new reality. You have to think of yourself, and not worry about what ANYONE else thinks. See if your mum can arrange for someone else to do the driving and, if you feel you can't face all these people right now, then don't. A counselor can help you face your fears and gradually get over your social anxiety. Most important - do not feel guilty. Physically you are doing fine. Now you have to take care of yourself emotionally and mentally. (((((Big Hugs)))))
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Good Morning Ladies.
I was DX at 42 years old on 1/18/11. I underwent Dbl Masc on 2/21/11 with tissue expanders placed, started chemo 4/14/11 finished 9/8/12 - 3 Dose Dense A/C - 12 weekly Taxol. 12/7/11 had final recon surgery implants placed , I am done!
Most days I dont think about BC, but some days I do "none stop", I will say in time you have more "not" thinking about BC days which is a good thing.
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Lovelyface, I'm so sorry your going this right now, but I also agree with both Annie and MB - Please go to your GP and see if they might prescribe something. I am on lexipro and honestly couldn't imagine not being on it.
I think during treatment I felt the same way you did, that people were looking at me like I was bad or whatever, but it's not true. And while some people, and it does seem like family most of all, can say the stupidest things, it is not meant to be hurtful at all. They are just over trying to make you feel better.
AND, There's nothing "bad" in you, your all healthy now! The crap you went thru to get that way made you so much stronger than you give yourself credit for.
When put in an uncomfortable situation, you hold your head high, know that we're all standing right next to you and KNOW THAT YOU ARE STRONGER PERSON THAN BEFORE you can get thru it. Hell Lovelyface, look at what you went thru, you took what most people fear the most and kicked a** all the way from diagnosis back to being healthy again. Give yourself some credit! Be proud of yourself. I bet if you really sit down and talk to anyone of your family you'll see they are in fact in awe of you for being able to get thru all of that.
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Lovelyface, I don't have any words of wisdom for you but just wanted you to know we are here for you and i wanted to send you a big HUG.
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Welcome to the thread APRIL.
BECCA - glad you had fn at the relay for life and hope that Gemzar is good to you.
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Thanks Ladies for your comments, I really do feel lke this is my home where you guys will understand. So much happens each day and I interpret them this way, maybe my interpretation is wrong and that is why I have social anxiety now. One of my best friends who loved me stopped calling me ever since I told her my diagnosis. No more contacts, phone calls nothing. Last week, my boss asked me to teach this other guy my job, I was shocked? I have been having too many doc appointments, so maybe he thinks that something is wrong again. I was the one who had previously suggested to him to have a backup for one of the programs I work with only because it is a "live" program and cannot be stopped in case of my absence. Instead he decided that someone should learn my whole job. I asked him whether other staff at the agency had backups? I know for sure that nobody in this agency has backups, not one, I have been here 12 years. I asked him, what if one of the staff just never showed up the next morning, as that is possible for any one of us, he had no answer. He probably thinks that I am going to die. Or if I am in the coffee room, and if there is a general conversation about sugar, one person remarked to me, yes, this is reeaaaly bad for you, don't even think of using it. All this has become a daily occurance around me, whereas I was the healthy salad eater, runner at lunch, and advisor on herbs. And now this. My cousin called me last night to tell me she is coming and started crying on the phone. My God! What the heck? I just want to say to them, leave me alone, I am dealing with it and am doing just fine. What I am also trying to say is that I have grown so much due to this experience, that I find small talk and meaningless laughter irritating these days. I just have sort of lost my tolerance for unmeaningful conversations, etc. And I know this visit is all about who looks good and who doesn't, how fit someone is and the clothes, outfits, etc. I have lost all tolerance for such things. Someone once said that the cancer experience made them into a much better person, and opened their eyes to a higher level of living. I agree with that person. However, it is difficult to grow alone, we have to mix with society, small talk and take part in meaningless conversations. I will be okay, thanks ladies.
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Lovlyface...social anxiety can be treated and can get better. I am a therapist and see many people who get overwhelmed making a phone call, some have to do it with me in my office. You are not alone but you CAN FEEL BETTER!!!. The key is medication and the right therapist-someone who specializes in anxiety disorders. It must be so hard to be feeling the isolation and anxiety. I want you to know it really doesn't have to be that way-and at work that is another story. Feel free to PM me, I may be able to give you names of specialists in your area. But, please don't let yourself suffer any longer.
Anxiety leads to Isolation which leads to depression which leads to isolation and anxiety and depression and the circle spirals out of control. Truly, there are great resources out there. Anxiety may be whats driving your fear. Give yourself the gift of kindness to yourself and make an appointment to see someone. The world is there for you and we want you to be able to enjoy it. Hugs!!
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