Calling all TNs
Comments
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Oh Fighter....I am so sorry. I lost my father 6 years ago.....he also passed unexpectedly from a heart attack. It was a terrible shock for all of us, but I found some comfort in knowing he went quickly and didn't suffer. The only thing I found that helps heal the loss is the passage of time.
Titan - so sorry to hear about your young friend. My heart breaks for her family.
TifJ - glad your cousin's surgery went well. She's so lucky to have you by her side!
beccad - I hope the zeloda does the trick for you.
Cocker - hope you feel better soon. And the old fellar sounds like a prince!
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Fighter..... so sorry for the loss of your Dad. Thoughts are with you.
Cocker... glad you are feeling better and good to see you back posting
What's with the spiders.... I'm in Canada and dont see huge ones here... least where I live - I think the biggest I have seen is a wolf spider. I am sure you in NZ get biggers ones.TifJ - happy to hear your cousin came through the surgery OK. Yes humour is a key to facing this bloody disease eh?
Beccad, here's to the liver mets copying the bone and lungs on the shrinking.
I cant keep up sometimes with all the posts...but hello to everyone, hope that you have wonderful days and evenings with very minimal SE's and lots of laughter.
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hugs to you Beccad
hugs to you fighter
hugs to everyone while I am at it
Maggie
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Hello ladies, so much to catch up with today.
Luah - thanks for reminding that my friend's hair is probably not growing due to the hormone therapy she is on for 5 years, which I hadn't thought about. I am sure that's what it is. I think she is taking aridimex. Luah, I am glad you had all your "men" home for dinner for father's day.
Mccrimmon - Yes, my thyroid biopsy was on Friday, thanks for remembering it. I did my bloodwork too last Friday for my 3 month routine oncology appointment tomorrow. Do you get to see your bloodwork after 48 hours? I get mine even before my doc sees it, and formulate my questions for my doc if I see anything out of range. You are very lucky to have a window cubicle like the one you describe, you can probably write a book about the lovely scenery you will be witnessing every day with those beautiful deers, fawns, etc.
Tazzy - I am considered high risk for recurrence too, due to having some sort of epithelial cells on my right side (non-cancer side). It seems like you have made peace with the fact that you have to let go of your right boob.
Kathyrnn - thanks for the information on the hair thickening products. I will defintely research and give my friend the information.
Inmate - Did you take your walk? Hope you had fun.
Gina - Yes, we do seem similar in our trials. My surgical scars or seroma is also hard as a rock, however, it is softening just a little bit now.
Regarding getting approved for genetic testing, I had a confusing experience. At first my genetic counselor and I applied for it, insurance strongly denied it, saying I did not meet the qualifications because no one in my family had had cancer. I researched in my family, as they all live oversease. Found out a first cousin probably had DCIS (her family did not even know the term DCIS). By her description of rads therapy, I figured it was DCIS and told my counselor my "assumption". Then I tried to look for other family members, found out another distant cousin had probably died from some sort of cancer. I told that to my genetic counselor just verbally, gave the names and locations of these two family members. She wrote a letter to the insurance company. Lo and behold, the insurance company approved it, without any questions. Is there any way you can find some distant cousins, aunts, uncles in your family and give that info. to the insurance company?
Annie - So good to hear from you. You are amazing, you have the ability to make light of any situation, and have a great sense of humor. The love of my life, my mother lives in Auckland. When I read in your post that it is freezing there, my heart broke, as my 82 year old mom does not do very well in the cold, her body aches, her knees hurt. She wouldn't complain though, even if the sky fell on her. Annie - those numb hands will get better after therapy is over. It does get back to normal.
Naan - Congratulations! No rads? You are very lucky!
Titan - Oh dear, it is heartbreaking to hear of a 26 year old dying. What a very young life!
Riley - I am so sorry that you lost your dad in 2003. I lost mine in 2004.
Fighter - Oh Honey, I am so sorry for the loss of your father. You are still in shock since the loss of your father happened just last Monday. It doesn't really hit you until much later. I hope it helps if I can just repeat this for you - that we are all visitors here on earth, and everyone has to return to their real home one day, some of us go sooner, others go later.
beccad - I am glad to hear that your bone and lung mets are shrinking. I hope Zeloda helps and gets that liver mets under control. 50 lbs. is a lot of weight to lose. Please try to eat well and put back some of those weight back on. Worry about losing the weight later, but right now you need all that weight to fight the beast. Prayers for a speedy recovery.
If I missed replying to anyone, please be assured I did read your post and sent you a mental response, either a prayer, a laughter at your joke, or just a whole lot of love for healing for whatever issue you are facing.
Have a great Monday everyone!!!!
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Wow.. I take a much needed break from the boards and come back to a zillion pages to read!!
1 month post treatment, however getting nervous for the 3 month mammo.. I got hair again oh and now lymphedema underarm,back and side..0 -
An update on myself - I am desperately waiting to hear the results of my thyroid biopsy maybe by Wed of this week. Heard the doc is out for some days.
I am seeing my BS this afternoon for a look at my cancer breast. Remember, the pain, the lumps and bumps - well it recently started even burning. The burning was so bad on Sat. that I woke up from it. Good thing is that the pain, lumps and bumps have disappeared today, all of it is gone, and it is all very peaceful there. The only concern now is the burning.
I am still freaking out though, not about the thyroid biopsy, but about this breast situation. One more scary thing is that once again my tumor marker CA27.29 (normal is 0 - 34.9), mine is 20. jumping from 9.2 to 20. When I had the breast biopsy it had jumped from 11.6 to 17. This jump in tumor marker, although still within normal range, is probably due to thyroid biopsy and not due to cancer recurrence (I truly hope that to be the case). All the other tumor markers, CA15-3, and CEA are all normal, no rise in those numbers. Isn't CA27.29 specific for breast cancer though?
Is it remotely possible that when the temperature is very high, which it was on Saturday, 104 degree, that a rad. breast will burn? I swear, I had to get up in the middle of the night and look for some ice to put there. It was not burning last night or today. How weird?
I am very convinced that my thyroid nodule is a result of radiation, although my doc said that it is not the case, as they have such targeted rads these days. Then how come my pet scan of 7/2010 said that my thyroid was unremarkable, had rads in 3/2011, and then in 2012, there it is, a 2 mm nodule. Radiation is the one thing which is the most possible cause for thyroid nodules.
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Fighter - my sincerest condolences. I know there's no good time to lose a parent, but seems especially unfair when you're already going through this difficult time. (HUG)
Congrats Phgrahm. Curious now about the "project"
Mags, thanks so much for that info. Have a friend that may need it.
Titan - I know this is a f$&@ing awful disease, but there aren't even any good swear words to describe how awful it is to rob such a young life. I hope she is at peace.
You're also right about this site. I actually keep little cards in my wallet to give out to women who tell me they have someone they know with the disease. I remind them of the 1 in 8 stats, and ask them to share the info. I know finding it was the best thing that happened when I was diagnosed.
Cocker - I have one word for your hubby .....Flowmax!!!! You know that clothespin actually makes sense. Mother cats carry them by the back of the neck. (must be imprinted in them not to mess with Momma!).
You asked about spiders, so I want to relate a warning to other people in the US. I have all kinds of small spiders in my house, so I'm used to smacking them. I had brought home groceries one day. I looked down in the sink and saw a spider. (not big, about 2 inches). I grabbed a wooden spoon to smack it and the little bast&$d literally stood up on it's back legs, hissed at me and charged at me (scared the shit outta me!!!!). He met his fate at the hands of a pot. I went on line and actually found out that it was a Hobo Spider from the Midwest. They are poisonous, and there bite will cause nasty skin necrosis. (bite is as bad as one from a brown recluse) After that, I made sure to rinse all produce immediately, cause I don't ever want one of them taking up residence in the house.
Christina - can't tell from your profile, what country are you from.
Beccad - yay for the shrinkage, and hope the new combo does
It's job.
Tifj - glad your cousin came through so well. When you're home and out of hitting range you should send her some comedic band aids.
Riley - (HUG). It's been awhile for me, but Father's Day still kills me.
Maybe because everything that's gone on this year, it hit me especially hard this time.
*blows kisses to everyone I missed*0 -
(((Fighter))) - so sorry for you, it's hard enough to lose a parent after they've been ill, but a sudden loss is so much more difficult.
Becca - I started Xeloda last Tuesday, so we can keep each other company and hope we have no SEs. So far, so good, for me! I am taking 1500 mg twice a day. And I found out last night that popcorn was enough of a "meal" to prevent any nausea. We had eaten around 2 so I wasn't all that hungry when 7 pm rolled around. So I made some popcorn then took the X and I was fine.
Tif - glad your cousin is doing OK and so glad you were able to be there to support her. I can't imagine going through this without a strong support system, and I know many of you do exactly that.
Lovelyface - waiting along with you, sending positive thoughts for benign results. I get a copy of my bloodwork during my doctor visit. They are fast with the results, but I don't see it until I see her. Then I get my PCP to release the complete results in my e-record, which is awesome. I don't have to keep the paper copy and I can do quick comparisons of the last 10 or so results.
CS - glad you're boil is down to a simmer and your DH sounds like a gem!
Ladies - I have finished my travelblog of Paris. So if you've been following along, the last installment is out there for your viewing pleasure. www.mch-breastcancer.blogspot.com
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I hate BC at any age but 26 ...wow....thanks for the comments...I'm sure that she is at peace now with boobs and hair and everything she wants..I certainly hope so...
Well...my other friend just found out that she is NOT er pr positive but Triple Negative...like us...but now she is freaking out because she is going to have a bone scan and a ct scan on Wednesday. She had 1 node positive....
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Titan... that sucks about your other friend being TN - but one positive she can join this thread... where I have found so much support and comfort - and thats just from reading the posts. fingers crossed her scans come back clear.
Your final installment is brilliant Luv.... felt like I was there with you.
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Fighter - so sorry for your loss.
Too many pages and people for my dazed brain to keep up with, but I am thinking of each and everyone of you!
Tomorrow is another day!
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why am I so sad today....cannot seem to get myself out of a funk today. I feel like I just wanna curl up and sleep for hours with no one and nothing bothering me. Maybe it is the LE maybe it is watching the pain my son is going thru as his marriage ends maybe it is because BC sux and will not leave me alone and maybe it is just because. hate days like this. Just want my new boobies and put this bc bs behind me
Maggie
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Kathyrnn- That is a great idea! I will get some fancy band-aids (like princesses or something) and send them to her with a note saying I thought she might like a new "bra"!! Thanks!!
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Mags... its just because. I had one of those yesterday and I did just curl up and my wonderful DH knew when to leave me alone and get on with it and come and comfort me. Not only are you dealing with bc you have your son to worry about too - it does just suck big time. Get those damn emotions out - tomorrow is another brighter day.
Sending you hugs and positive vibes.
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I like that idea, Tif! I would have laughed if I had received that after surgery.
I'm with you Mags. I'm in a real funk this past week, too.
So sorry about your Dad, Fighter. We're always our "Daddy's Little Girl", no matter how old we get. I just really miss him.
Titan, so sorry about your friend. Nothing like a little extra stress on us when we're already dealing with this beast.
Hugs to everyone else. I don't want to miss sending shout-outs to anyone.
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Fighter: (((hugs))). So hard to lose a parent... and the father-daughter relationship is so unique and precious, it leaves a very big aching hole when it's cut short. Sending you best wishes and hopes that, in time, the ache diminishes...
Lovelyface: Hope you get good news soon, the waiting can be awful. Please try not to attach too much significance to the tumour markers; they are often not reliable indicators in a non-metastatic setting, which is why so many oncs don't do them. As for the thyroid, maybe it could be the rads - I know many women here who have gone on to have thyroid issues of one sort or another - but thyroid risk also increases with age for any woman, BC or not.
Mags: Sorry you're feeling low... I think we can all relate. Hope it passes soon.
Beccad: So good to hear from you. And LUV... Hope the Xeloda works its magic for both of you.
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Fighter..I meant to say to you earlier that I'm sorry about your Dad....my dad is nearly 80 and I just can't imagine not having him around...and Father's Day being yesterday...again..I'm so sorry.
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Hi ladies. I have been following the thread but not really posting lately. Today I am having a rough day thinking about my a/c treatments that start next week. I think the anxiety over this is sometimes worse than the actual reality but I am making myself sick over it. Anyway my husband is taking me away for a couple days to try to get me mind off of it for awhile. My parents are being great and taking our kids and dog. Hopefully I can enjoy the time away and try not to think too much about BC. My biggest worry about starting treatments is not being able to enjoy the summer with my kids and take care of them. I guess I will find out next week what kind of side effects I get. Have a great night everyone. Thanks for listening to my rambling :-)
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Hi Melissa. Your anxiety is sooooo understandable. I was terrified (yet oddly excited) when I started chemo. I did Taxol first then the AC 4 of each every 2 weeks. At least I felt like I was fighting the beast with all I had. I did extremely well on both regimes...only vomited once and that was my very last tx. I think my body was tired going into that one and that is what got me. With the AC I had very little other SE's except that food tasted aweful. You will do great I am sure. Enjoy your time away and a quiet weekend. We are always here to listen to rambling, venting, all out tantrums and whines. See my above post haha
Maggie
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Must be in the air today! Hate that I'm down and others are too! I figure 99% of the time I am pretty upbeat and positive, so we all deserve a day!
(((HUGS))))
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Good luck Melissa. Like everything with bc - the waiting is the worst. Totally agree with Mags... once chemo started you knew that you were fighting it with everything. Go and have a couple of wonderful days away with your DH and both of you try not to fret too much. Take care and let us know how you get on.
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Hi Melissa- I totally understand your anxiety. I just wanted to tell you that for me, the reality of chemo was never as bad as what I'd cooked up in my imagination. It is do-able, and some women sail through it.....may you be one of them! In the meantime, go away and enjoy yourself, and try not to worry. I wish you the best of luck.
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Ah Melissa..the first treatment is the worse because you don't really don't know for sure what to expect....glad you are going away for a couple of days....your dh sounds like a good one..remember to post on here after you are done...we want to hear how things went...I soo remember..the first treatment (and things went well)...and coming home..just waiting for something to happen...nothing did..except I felt a little weird..but that is normal for me...lol...just be sure to keep those nausea drugs handy and take one at the first twinge of anything..very important to keep ahead of this stuff...besides feeling a little weird I had very little se's at all...remember we are here for you! Remember that during chemo you can watch tv, text, eat, drink, read, talk , sleep.....walk around if you want to...remember to chew on ice during the adriamycin...they should give you an icy or a cup of ice...be sure to ask for it if they don't...,prevents mouth sores...
Trying to talk my friend into signing on here and coming on this thread..I told here that we were waiting for her...we will see...it's very hard to come on here for the first time and talk....it's accepting the whole BC thing..and that isn't easy as we all know...
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and to you guys that are down...it is MONDAY after all...bc or not..Monday's stink...
Cocker...I couldn't walk or run today cause we had thunderstorms..however..I will double up tomorrow..I promise..thanks for pushing me...I need it!
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Hello!!! I am having my first treatment tomorrow and scared out of my mind!! A/C every 2 weeks (4x) followed by 12 consecutive weeks of Taxol. I feel so brave one minute and so scared the next. I am sooooo thrilled to have found this thread and thank you all in advance for the ear..... And I loo forward to offering my heart and support to all of you as well! Wish me positive energy tomorrow :-)
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Jazzyj...you can do this....go and kick some cancer butt!!!
Maggie
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Thanks, Mags!! I keep telling myself that Chemo is our silent army fighting the enemy for our freedom. Then I think about all the cr@p that I've read thus far... panic some, maybe shed a tear in fear, eat chocolate and then start the cycle all over again. I am soooo grateful for this blog. And this is just the beginning.....
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Good luck Jazzyj. I did the same but only had 4 of each. I was very sick after my first A/C but was put on Emend for the next 3 and was much better. I found keeping a journal and writing down all my side effects helped me to see the pattern of my good and bad days. Watermelon helped me with nausea and the sugar was good too. The metalic taste was hard to get use to but you'll be okay. My son told me that there were little super heros in me that were flying around and killing the bad germs. Whenever I wanted to quit or felt sorry for myself, I'd picture those little super heros flying in my body. You'll do just fine. Keep us posted.
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Watermelon helps the chemo nausea on many levels. It's liquid, and that's good - hydration is critical, it helped me get rid of the nasty taste, and it's loaded with lots of good nutrients. Yes, it has some sugar - but it's better than the mac&cheese that many people like to eat during chemo! I ate tons of it, and still do.
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Thanks everyone for all of the advice, words of wisdom and support! Tazzy, Titan , hope60 and Mags i really appreciate the advice! It is nice to hear it is doable! Still having a hard time but I know I am strong! Have to be for my kids! I will think of all of you next week during my treatment. But for now I am going to enjoy some much needed time away with my DH! He has been great thru everything including my choice for a DMX and he needs a break too!!
Jazzyj....That is the same exact treatment I will be starting next week. We are Almost on the exact same schedule. I hope it goes well for you tomorrow. Look forward to hearing from u on how u did.0
