Calling all TNs
Comments
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Wow.. so much to catch up on.
I know I will never answer you all - I agree Luv, Annie does such a great job of that.
Luah - have a wonderful trip and have fun with your Sister. Maritimes - I will visit one day !
Lovely - that is very sad about your family. Sometimes even family do not know how to deal with our dx.
Mags pleased everything turned out well with your son. Please take care of yourself working all those hours.
Annie - happy you and the old feller had a nice trip. Love the joke.
Bernie - laughed out loud at the dog and cat.
Lovely - sorry no advice to offer but sending healing vibes your way and hope you get to feel better soon.
Kim - I used to drink green tea daily before dx, not for prevention though, just cos I liked it. Now I've finished chemo I will start drinking it again. Like you say cant do any harm.
Julie - good luck with whatever decision you decide on chemo. That's a hard one.
LJH - you are a wonderful sister - that is so very very young. You will find so much knowledge and support on this site. Good luck.
Sorry to those I missed - hello. Hope you are all having enjoyable days/evenings with minimal se's.
Take care all.
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LJH - how far along in treatment, is your sister? If you have any questions, ask away. Sometimes I think it's harder on our loved ones.
Wishing you both, all the strengh you need.0 -
Onvacation: I've always read that green tea is great for many things. One thing I am trying to push on everyone I know is ALOE VERA JUICE! Lol. My mom and sister get sick and tired of hearing me preach about it. It is supposed to be a really good cancer preventer, ESPECIALLY for breast and ovarian! I originally started buying it for me and my kids to drink with our juice. After all of my obsessive online researching for preventing the stomach flu (I have a bizarre phobia called Emetaphobia, an irrational fear of vomiting), I read that it is really good for intestinal health, now I am reading that it may help prevent breast and ovarian cancer and other types of cancer.
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LNBCA - I also have Emetaphobia. Have had it all my life and it rules it, even through chemo. The girls on here were wonderful when I was first diagnosed and was worried about nausea and vomiting and they helped me through that stage. It is totally debilitating and totally irrational I know but for some reason I have it and have never been without it. Luckily my family are all very understanding and help me through that kind of thing as well if anyone is ever sick. So I know exactly how you feel about trying to avoid stomach flu and other sickness. Annie
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Wow Annie, I don't come across too many people who have emetaphobia. Most people make it out to be a joke, including most of my family. Funny thing is, my mom's second tn diagnosis has actually helped me get over this whole phobia thing, (at least a little bit). I've tried telling myself over and over, "if all you have to worry about is you or your kids getting the damn stomach flu, your pretty frickin lucky!" I see kids with cancer and tell myself "wow, and your worried about your kids getting the stomach flu". So now I'm really telling myself this. But I still REALLY worry about it! Lol. Don't think I will ever, ever get over it. I keep reading people's facebook status saying their whole family just got over the stomach flu and it sends me over the edge. One of my husband's best friends wrote on facebook two weeks ago that him and his wife and their baby all had the stomach flu and I told him "sorry, but stay away for two weeks, minimum!!" We had invited them over for a 4th of July bbq, but after reading that I had to turn them away. Luckily they know all about my phobia and are pretty understanding friends.
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This is where I live isn't it beautiful
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Good evening Ladies
Hope you are all ok. Where are all our ladies with their wonderful posts tonight.
I'm off to see the oncologist tomorrow to see whether its more taxol, another chemo or straight to radiation. My hands are a bit better but still sore to type with so will see what she says. I'm not looking forward to any of it truthfully but I guess I will take what she says. I really don't want to go away from home for six weeks although I will be able to come home at the weekends.
Hope you are all well with no problems. Annie
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Annie - the picture of your homeland is breathtaking! I hope everything goes OK with your oncologist visit. I suspect, at the minimum, you'll be doing radiation. Are they doing the new 3 week protocol in New Zealand? Canada does it, it's being trialed here in the US. Maybe you could suggest it as a way to reduce your time away from home.
I hope everyone has a good week with lots of love!
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OBXK- My sister was diagnosed on 5-21-12, had a double mastectomy with reconstruction on 6-12-12. No lymph node involvement. She has to wait to heal completely before she can start her chemo. Hope to find out dates by the end of this month. BRCA1/2 were both negative
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Annie... truly spectacular - wow! Good luck with the onc tomorrow. Whatever they advice its another step closer to being NED eh? Happy the fingers are a little better. Keep us posted.
Take care everyone - hope you are all managing to enjoy your days.
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Wow, CS! How gorgeous!
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Annie- you live in paradise! Right now all I see out my window is dry, brown grass and cow poop (we back up to a cow pasture!)
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Wow, hope I don't miss anyone. Lots
of posts.
Spica- those chemo nurses definitely did rock! People will often surprise you. One of my poker buddies is bald on top, but wears one of those hippie man pony tails. I often wondered why he just didn't cut it off? He came in one day and it was gone, so I asked. He grows it till it gets long enough, then donates it to Lovely Locks. Definitely surprised me.
Tazzy - that was one very smart 12 year old!
Jan - you asked about the rationelle behind the Metformin trial (and someone else too) Here's what I understood from what I read in a nutshell. Researchers were examining relapse rates ( I don't know if it was TN or all breast cancers). They happened to notice that diabetics on Metformin had a lower relapse rate. Then they went back and looked some more and found out diabetics on Metformin had a better response to chemo. That was the basis for the studies. There is no proof yet that it works in non-diabetics, but the initial studies must have showed some promise. (we'll have to wait to see what the studies show. It could be that diabetic's altered metabolism is the reason and not the Metformin at all. Only time will tell)
Mags - so sorry for the scare with your son. Your story about work reminded me of a plaque my friend had on the wall of her business. "the best thing about owning your own business, is that you get to pick which 20 out of the 24 hours you work!"
Luah - congrats on your graduation to annual, and have a blast on your vacation!
Gemmy1 - welcome. This thread is a perfect mix of seriousness and silliness.
MarshaJFox - welcome. Very sorry about the loss of your Mom and Husband, and having to join us on this journey. The joint pain will get better.
Phgrahm - Congrats on your graduation from chemo. Rads are definitely easy, just more of a pain because they're daily.
OBXK - Yay on the test results.
CharB22 Congrats on being done. Please pop in and keep us updated.
Naan1004 - I agree with what Mags said about "clean up". I do have a suggestion for a question to ask onc. I had chemo before surgery so the could monitor the effectiveness of the chemo, by watching to see if the tumor shrunk. If you had no shrinkage from your first round, I would want
to know what their rationelle is for using the same drugs again?
Gabbi42 - lovely to have someone from Cocker's part of the world.
Lovely - no suggestion, but I hope you feel better soon.
LJH1004 - There are many survivors. (we love it when someone pops in just to tell us they're a long term survivor. You're a good sister!
Bernie - *gigglesnort*
Cocker - Wow, it's beautiful where you live!!! Sorry you'll have to be away from Old Fella (little chewing shit, not so much). After listening to you and Mags i'm glad I didn't worry my Mom when I got divorced. My Dad died 2 mo after I seperated, so we were busy going through that. Once we made it through our grieving my Mom's only worry was that I was out having way to much fun!
Luv - Mom is doing fine, but I have reverted to the term "old woman" this week!!! We have just spent a week battling. (Back story so you understand). I have been living at for 16 months without a bed. There was a full bed in my Dad's room, but apparently they bought his full size mattress from a granite counter store!!!'. I have slept on an old couch, in my Mom's bed with her (just ugly, plain ugly), in a recliner. For a short time I had an air bed but it died after 2 mo. Because I have an AC in Dad's room, I spent the last month on a nest of afghans on the granite mattress (doesn't help with granite). This has all wonderful for someone with a herniated disc *end sarcasm*
This week I told her my roommate was going to help me move my queen mattress down here. She didn't want it, a "queen is to big for the room"!!!!. We went back and forth all week! She insisted I buy a new full (I don't want a full, my feet hang off it) She then insisted she'd sleep in the couch and I move in her room (her oxygen is an her room and her bathroom is 10 feet from the bed. Dumbest idea ever!). Now let me tell you the real reason for all this fussing and fighting, she's bitched that I'm going to throw out a brand new mattress.........that cost $150. (can't be granite, that would be MUCH, more expensive!!!).
Well my roommate and I humped it down Saturday morning. When my Mom got up later, she immediately wheeled in to look at the room. Her remark: "oh you were right, it fits fine!!! (what..... You think I'm to stupid to take a tape measure and check the space before I do all that work??????)
I HAVE A REAL BED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!0 -
Please pray for my sister who has to have a biopsy on Friday. Here MRI and Sonogram show something suspicious.
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Oh geez Ellen! I will be sending her good thoughts for a benign outcome.
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Ellen - sending best wishes to your sister that she doesn't ever have to join the club!
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Some of you are so good with commenting on everyone's post! Wish I was as good, though I read all of them, just by the time it comes to type, I forget unless you are the last one.
CS - beautiful picture - hard to forget that one!
Hugs to everyone who needs them!
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Kathy - OMG, too funny! I was going to suggest a nice foam mattress topper until you mentioned your feet hanging off the end of the double. Let's hear it for a good night's sleep! And oh, my DS is playing in the WSOP main event! I'm following his progress on Twitter! He cashed in two other events - nothing huge but he made a few thousand bucks!
Ellen - positive thoughts coming from NH for your sister.
I can't address everyone either. I read it all, but I am trying to limit my time on this beneficial yet timesucking internet. Its so beautiful outside... And I spent today checking out new assisted living places for my mom. I think I've found one about 10 minutes from my house that might actually perform the services that they charge you for, unlike her current facility. There's another one five minutes from my house - a Catholic facility where the majority of residents are nuns. My mom is very Catholic, this place would be perfect, except they have a waiting list.I hope everyone's week is off to a good start!0 -
Hi,
I had a lumpectomy, and am happy to report I sailed through chemo, 4 x A/C, 4 X Taxol. But my genetics came back BRCA1 positive. It looks lile I will be having a bilateral mastectomy. I sure don't want to do that. Does anyone know of genetic therapy trials or specialists?
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dang..I just posted a bunch and lost it...dang it
I don't know if it is latent chemo brain or just stupidity...probably the latter.
ah well..everyone have a great week!
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I had a super busy weekend so sorry for not getting a post in until now. I hope everyone is having a good day and night.
Ellen: I am sending positive vibes to your sister.
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Hello ladies,
I have spent the last hour or two just trying to catch up. Was offline since Thursday pm.
DH and I went away for a long weekend. Yep, we did the "tourist" thing that some of you that live in beautiful, fun cities just hate. We went to Traverse City, MI for the national cherry Fest! Had a blast. Went to the Sand dunes and saw a young man on bended knee proposing to his girlfriend. SWEET!. We saw an airshow, we witnessed adults in an annual cherry pit spitting contest. Took a beautiful scenic ride along the wine trail. Stopped at 3 vinyards for tastings...yum! and then stopped at a microbrewery for a beer tasting SO FUN! Since it was cherry week, tasted cherry wine and cherry beer! Even had some spicy cherry salsa. We were blessed with wonderful weather and finished our final night there watching a sunset over the lake and it was sprinkling a bit an a rainbow appeared.
I had a BC moment also....while at the cherry fest, a woman in a cute summer floppy hat caught my eye. I knew she was doing chemo. I asked her what she was fighting and of course she said BC. I gave her a hug and told her that i was a 3 year survivor that was TN with 3 positive nodes. She told me that she was also TN and had 3 positve nodes. She has 1 more chemo to go and then will start Rads. I wished her and what I think was her DH well. My DH and her DH shook hands, too. I told her about BC.Org and told her to look up our little corner of the world. So saying hello to my CherryFest sister...if your reading.......
Sorry so long of a post tonight. Trying my best to catch up. Welcome to all the new gals.
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Im so impressed that all of you ladies take the time to reply to everyone. Still new to this website but I just wanted to let everyone know that im thinking of you all and admire you all for staying positive and fighting the fight. What a wonderful group of people!
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Hi LJH, i'm 33 and TN, and doing just fine! you and your sister can msg me anytime if you have questions
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Hi everyone! Some of my fingernails have whites spots underneath the nail. My question is, has anyone put fake fingernails on when this has happened?
I love reading all of your posts and jokes!!
Hugs to all!
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Dear Diary,
For my birthday this year, my friend purchased for me a week of personal training at the local health club. Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try.
I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Christo, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear.
Friends seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.
MONDAY:
Started my day at 6:00 am. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Christo waiting for me. He is something of a Greek god-- with blond hair, dancing eyes, and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!!
Christo gave me a tour and showed me the machines.. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which he conducted his aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring!
Christo was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time he was around.
This is going to be a FANTASTIC week!!TUESDAY:
I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Christo made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then he put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. His rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT! It's a whole new life for me.
WEDNESDAY:
The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot. Christo was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members.
His voice is a little too perky for that early in the morning and when he scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying.
My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Christo put me on the stair monster. Why the hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Christo told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. He said some other shit too.THURSDAY:
A**hole was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late--it took me that long to tie my shoes.
He took me to work out with dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. He sent some skinny bitch to find me. Then, as punishment, he put me on the rowing machine--which I sank.FRIDAY:
I hate that ba*tard Christo more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anaemic, anorexic, little aerobic instructor. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat him with it.
Christo wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the damn barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich.
The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?SATURDAY:
Satan left a message on my answering machine in his grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing his voice made me want to smash the machine with my planner; however, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel..SUNDAY:
I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my husband will choose a gift for me that is fun-- like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!!0 -
Bernie Ellen, that made me laugh so hard I may have popped a stitch.
I went to the onco today and he said I don't have to come back for three months! Very exciting. I still can't screw up enough courage to look into the infusion room. I know there are people who sail through chemo but it almost killed me and I don't want to think about it yet. PT is going well. Does anyone have joint pain from chemo? I am walking two miles a day and have been for months and my hip sockets are still achy. Onco ordered a bone density scan today. I'm 43 and in good shape (even though I wasn't a cheerleader and don't have a personal trainer) lol. Could chemo still be causing joint pain when my last treatment was May 7th?
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Kathyrnn, my point exactly!
Bernie, thank u for making me laugh for the first time since I was told more chemo!
Well, I got a 2nd/3rd opinion from my BS and her colleague, who is an onc (she even consulted with one of her professors) they all say no to more chemo and I'm going with them cause I trust my BS more than my onc at this point. My onc is moving to a different practice after tomorrow and handed me over to another onc, hinting that I can always go with him to his new practice which is a further drive for me. I would if he hadn't suggested hormone treatments for me after chemo at which time I had to remind him i was TN and couldn't have any. Thank u all for being so supportive, u don't know how important that has been for me during this most stressful time.0 -
Good evening Ladies.
I heard on the news tonight that America is having its hottest summer ever. So wishing some nice cleansing rain for you all.
LuvRVing - yes they do the three week protocol in NZ but I'm not sure what I will be getting yet as the radiation oncologist was away today. I had my CT scan today and I guess it ordipends what that shows. I am keeping my fingers crossed all is good.
LJH1004 - Will your sister still need chemo if she has had a BMX and no node involvement?
Yes, the ladies on here impress me too with their courage, wisdom, advice and humour and now you are one of them.
Lisadi1963 - Can't help with the white nails but Taxol has made my nails go dark and flat so I hope they will come right.
BernieEllen - brilliant
TIFJ - we may have the mountains and lake but you live near animals which I love. I wouldn't even mind the cow poop lol.
Kathy - what is a granite mattress. Here in NZ our kitchen benches are made out of granite, very expensive and bloody hard to sleep on lol
GuyGirl - sending you and your sister lots of prayers and warm hugs for a benign biopsy.
Onvacation - you do a great job in keeping up with everybody on here. I usually have to write things down if its goes over to another page. Sending you a lovely warm hug right back.
Titan - what am I going to do with you. I can see I am going to have to teach you how to use that laptop cause you are always losing your posts lol. On my way!!
Borntosurvi - It's good you were too busy to think about posting and that you have a life to live. You can tell by my long posts I don't do much lol.
NavyMom - wow you had a busy weekend too. Did you hang around long enough to see if the girl said yes to the young man on bended knee, hope so (It's the romantic in me). Just love the sound of all those cherries, my favourite fruit.
Naan1004 - So glad you got that 2nd opinion and its put your mind at ease. Sending a warm hug.
Well ladies I went to my oncologist appointment today and she said no more chemo for me. She said there is another chemo I could try but it also had side effects of neuropathy so I am off to rads. My first treatment is the 23rd July. They did a CT scan but the radiation oncologist was away this week so I have to wait and see what the results are, hoping for good ones. Can you ladies tell me the good, the bad and the ugly side of radiation and any tips you may have. Little bit concerned about my heart and lungs as my BC is on the left hand side. I got my little tattoo's. I did ask but "I love the old fellar" wasn't an option lol.
Well gotta go, got typing to catch up on. Have a good day and have lots of fun. Annie
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