Calling all TNs
Comments
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New hair cut.
Before
AfterCould you imagine the mess when it starts to go. My husband did it for me. I think he saved it but not exactly sure.
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I remember blondelawyer. so sad.
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I am just so upset today. So sad about blondelawyer, sad about life in general and what many have to go through. Blondelawyer and I had very similiar diagnoses and diagnosed the same month, mine was later stage than hers, treated at the same cancer center, my cancer responded, hers didn't. Why??? What is this all for? We fight and fight and it still gets us in the end. Sorry, just so upset today. Too much going on.
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(((((bak94)))))
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Tookybum, you look beautiful!
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Oh so, so sad about Blondelawyer. That is just terrible.
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Inmate, Love it!0
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I had Mamogram and then a sonogram prior to excisional biopsy on 5/27/2010. After biopsy I had a CT/PT Scan, bone scane, and MRI. I then had a lumpectomy, and a sentinel node biopsy where they took one node. I had 4 dose dense Adriamycin and Cytoxen and then 4 dose dense Taxol chemo treatments followed by 33 radiation treatments finishing up Jan 18 2010. I had a PET/CT Scan and a Mamogram in June 2011 and a PET/CT Scan and a Mamogram in December 2011. I had another PT/CT Scan in June 2012 and will not have another mamogram until December and then I will get another PT/CT Scan. My Oncologist is all for me receiving PT/CT scans every 6 months for peace of mind and my surgeon thinks it is overkill. Personally I hope to continue having the scans until I am 5 years out. I just lost a friend a month ago to this disease and she was not having scans and the disease caught up with her without her knowing about it. I prefer to know so that I can fight.
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I'm so sorry to hear about blondelawyer too - I remember her posting a while back... lovely spirited young woman, who had been through so much.
Bak, one thing I keep reading about TN is that some tumours respond and others just don't - it all seems like a bit of a crap shoot, but there is a lot of research going on to discover the attributes of TN tumours. Sadly, it just takes soooo long, and we lose sisters in the meantime.
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tooky-you do look beautiful!
guygirl-my insurance just decided not to pre approve a routine bone scan for me, mo is still trying to get it approved. I don't get it, I am technically stage 4! I do not like the stress of scans, but I am kinda glad my doc makes me do them, he says pet/ct once a year, bone scan every six months until my next one then also once a year. Now only if my insurance will agree. I have been having hip pain, maybe that will help get the bone scan approved.
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bak, my darling. I so wish we had the answers. Big hug to you.
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Catwhiss-I am sorry you are going through that also. Exactly like my sis, too qualified for a lot of jobs so they won't hire her, and she doesn't have a degree so certain jobs won't hire her because of that. I am 45 and going to school for a career change and I wonder if it is worth it, the cost of school and then the chance that I am too old to be hired. I sometimes think I should just stick to my haircoloring job, chemicals and all! Man, I am so sorry to be such a downer today, I need to snap out of it! I have so much to be thankful for. First of all, thankful for all of you understanding gals, thankful that I am so close to my family, thankful for all of my crazy animals, thankful for my exceptional husband, who has been through it all with me (even though I complain about him sometimes). I am thankful I got to know blondelawyer on these boards. Life is such a mystery. Ialways want to know why things happen the way they do. Is is coincidence or does it have some greater meaning. Weird thing was last night I could not stop thinking about blondelawyer and was looking for all of her old posts to see if she had posted anything more recently, and then the news of her today. Maybe she was saying goodbye...and I never even met her.
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Hi Bak, my friend died of BC the day i was diagnosed. The night before I dreamed of her and she was happy. I like to think that I am a spiritual person. I truly believe - it is not in our hands - so I accept that we pass on our memories of all the good times. that way the person never really dies.
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.0 -
Big hugs Bak. I posted not too long ago asking about Blonde- so sad, so young. I hate BC! I sure hope things turn around for you soon.
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When you refer to bone scan, are you talking about the bone density test or the one where they use an IV with some kind of chemical that glows in the dark? I've had bone density test within last year, but not every the bone scan. Can someone please clarify this for me. I thought I've had every test known to man, but not what I think is called bone scan. Jan
Hugs to the grieving, courage to those facing the unknown, and hi-5s to those who are completing a treatment stage. We are in this together.
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When you refer to bone scan, are you talking about the bone density test or the one where they use an IV with some kind of chemical that glows in the dark? I've had bone density test within last year, but not every the bone scan. Can someone please clarify this for me. I thought I've had every test known to man, but not what I think is called bone scan. Jan
Hugs to the grieving, courage to those facing the unknown, and hi-5s to those who are completing a treatment stage. We are in this together.
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Tazzy (from July 26th post) ... Like you, when I asked why they weren`t advising me to have both breasts removed... answer was that if I was going to have a recurrence it would likely recur elsewhere - skin, bones, brain, liver but not likely my breast. I thought that was great news too (NOT). My Dad`s family has a history of cancer too - mostly breast cancer. I have had the BRCA test and do NOT have that gene but then they took another blood sample to test for some other genes - as they investigate the genome map, they may find others that are indicators too. And good luck with your surgery tomorrow - I will be sending good vibes your way!
Mmizerak - I did NOT have either a PET or CT scan throughout treatment and check-ups, although I did have a CT scan during diagnosis. I am scheduled for a chest x-ray and abdominal ultra sound tomorrow and will have a mammogram in November when I also have my 4 month check up with my onc. I feel that mammos don't necessarily help in detecting TNBC 'cause it grows so quickly. Unless you just happen to have a mammogram at a time when the tumor is large enough to detect but not so large that it is already a concern, mammos either don't find it or it is already at a dangerous stage. That is what happened to my younger sister - she had a clear mammogram and 7 months later found the tumour herself and the FC was already past the lymph nodes. This is true of a lot of other women on this site too. Since I am high risk due to family history (but BRCA negative), I was taking part in a clinical drug trial and was getting annual MRIs - that is how mine was detected early. I was hoping that when this episode was done, I would still be able to get annual MRIs as well as mammograms, but I got a call this morning telling me I do NOT qualify for MRI's. When I told the lady why I wanted them, she kept apologizing but said I just don't qualify.
So sorry to hear about BlondeLawyer - I read her blogs and she was having such a hard time, missing her husband and feeling so alone and she was so young too (34). At least she is now reunited with him and not hurting anymore but this FC is so unfair!
Good luck to everyone having treatments this week, little or no SEs to you all. {{{Hugs}}} to all of you dealing with medical, emotional or family issues too.
Doreen
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Hello all, long time no post. In my dilemma of not knowing whether to have more chemo or not, got some really great news. It turns out that my old onc accidentally put that I had a mx on my records when I actually had a Lx, which means I need rads not more chemo. My new onc agrees with me in that I've had more than enough chemo and agrees that rads would be the next step! Thank u all for your support through the confusion!
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That's great news Naan!!
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I too am having a really hard time lately. I am just starting to process all of this crap I think and I'm TERRIFIED that it's going to come back and that will be it for me. I am really scared and just don't know anymore. I hate that my fate is in hands of someone else. It's really making me nuts.
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DorMac... I am waiting for my BRCA results, but yes on my Dad's side is a lot of cancer.
Naan - great news on no more chemo - yay!!
Bornto... sorry you are having a crappy time. It is very hard some days. I hope you can see some sunlight somewhere along that tunnel.
Take care all xx
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Thanks for the news of blondelawyer. It just breaks my heart.
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Hi ladies -just wanted to say a quick hello to all and let you know that I'm reading although not posting much.
Thanks for all the hugs you've sent my way. They must be helping because I feel pretty good, all things considered.
Loved the posts a little upstream about snazzing up my walker with a horn or something! So far I've just been using attitude, as in "I have the walker....get the eff out of my way!" Seems to be working OK, although the PT feels she can get me using a cane soon.
Cocker- those numbers you were given sound a little high to me.
Bak- sorry about your sister. I have no advice, only to say that I have so many friends in similar situations. These are crazy times we live in.
Radiation continues every day....my SIL is nice enough to take me, and then we have lunch so it's a nice break.
Very sad to hear about blondelawyer...she was much too young.
Hugs to anyone I missed and kudos to those going through or finishing treatment. And good luck tomorrow Tazzy!
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Good evening ladies! Question for ya'll - almost 4 weeks PFC and on my 5th radiation, I still have numb toes and a little numbness in my fingers. I really thought this would start to get better after I finished chemo. Anyone still have numbess after they finished? When I mentioned this to my MO around my 4th treatment, he said it would go away. Guess I should have asked when!
Hope everyone is having a lovely evening!
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Thanks for letting us know about blondelawyer...dang I hated to hear this news...way too young...
I have never had any scans done or blood work at all...I see the onc every 3 months...I dunno....right now the thought of any medical procedure totally freaks me out...I have to have a tooth pulled and I'm freaking....hopefully I can get over this soon
someday soon..I'm gonna sit down here and write a page of posts...I've been so dang busy this summer with work and my son home and weddings going on that I just haven't had time to write anything...I do read though and want you ALL to know that I think about all of you daily...first chemos, surgery, rads, old fellars acting up..etc.. I'm here for all of you...
Oh..and i'm going to finish 50 shades of gray tonight...that's funny that someone heard that there are alot of pregnancies...I heard that there were alot of divorces because their dh isn't like SIR.. lol...
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Onvacation - a lot of women have some neuropathy during and after chemo. And it can take a few months before it goes away. Some people lose it within a few weeks, for some it takes longer. Hang in there!
Titan - that's funny about the divorces from 50 Shades! Our local news channels have done stories on the upcoming baby boom!
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Thanks Luv - I will try and be patient!
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So sorry to her about Blondelawyer.
Hugs to all intreatment. Great photos, Tooky! Good luck Tazzy.
Started the best week of my life today.....My 2 year old grandson is staying with DH and me for an entire week. I don't think I'll be posting much but will try to keep reading just to keep up.
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On vacation, my last chemo was 5/22, still have numbness, tingling in hands and feet, I hear it does go away, but when is different for everyone, some sooner than others. Hang in there!
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Cocker/Annie,
I was given the same 50/50 odds but for different reasons - mine was because the neoadjuvant chemo didn't reduce my cancer much and I still had 2 positive nodes after chemo. I am a little more than a year out of surgery and 543 days out from diagnosis - almost 1.5 years.
I read a great quote from Michael J Fox (excerpt from his book in Reader's Digest): Writing about Parkinson's - .."So let me make this suggestion. Don't spend a lot of time imagining the worst-case scenario. It rarely goes down as you imagine it will, and if by some fluke it does, you will have lived it twice." I've been thinking quite a bit about this advice lately as I've been very anxious about recurrence. I take tamoxifen - of course 2 out of 3 oncs think it might help but the 3rd doesn't - and I've had some side effects lately such as dizziness and joint pain. That's all it takes for me to go to the dark side and stay there. What's good, though, is it does get my butt outside walking to try to prevent recurrence -
Onvacation, my onc told me the numb places closest to the brain recover faster than the extremities- for example, I had facial numbness with my chemo and it went away very quickly afterward. I still have a numb index finger on my left hand - it developed during chemo but onc actually blames it on arthritis in my neck. The onc said existing problems like that can get exacerbated during chemo. Also - he told me that often about six months out from the last chemo there is an increase in general inflammation of the joints, etc. - the chemo suppresses it for a time and then it flares up for several months and then subsides. A few days recently due to my workload, I have been at my desk almost non stop for close to 16 hours - when I get up to go to the bathroom, I walk like I am 90 years old- my feet and back hurt so bad. I am also like that in the mornings. I have started stretching my calf muscles aggressively and even do stretches in bed before I hit the ground - it seems to have helped quite a bit. Eventually I want to start doing yoga or something other than just walking but I have not really had the time to start.
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