Calling all TNs
Comments
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Very upsetting. Cancer truly sucks.
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Hello to All,
So sorry to hear about our losses -such sad news.
Heartfelt wishes to everyone just starting, in the middle, or finally finishing tx - hang on - it does get better.
This week is 6 mos since last chemo...PFC and PFC!!!
~ Shar
P.S. I, too, am spending time with my 2yr old grandson this week...what a wonderful incentive to keep on fighting!
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Thank you for all the kind words, and the voices of experience! It helps to connect with women who understand.
Shar you have a beautiful smile!
Jan, the infection was a freak thing really, and I am not worried that particular one will back any time soon. Seems I picked up an amoeba sometime in the past year or 2, and it lived happily inside me until my immune system was suppressed by chemo, and then it wreaked havoc. My oncologist got all excited when he figured it out (in that macabre sort of way doctors have when something obscure and/or gruesome happens) and said I am only the 2nd case he has seen in his 20+ years career. He said this is very strange because what you have only happens in 3rd world countries, and where have you been in the past couple of years. Ummm, India, Kenya, Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia, and a few other places. Apparently that will do it. Hoping to be less "special" with my infections in future...
Having said that, the 2nd round of chemo was still utterly horrible. And most of my hair fell out this week.
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Thank you so much, DesertMama...it is a "symptom" of finishing that last chemo!!!
Before you know it, you'll be smiling, too!
Welcome and Take Care ~ Shar
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My new wig!
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Thank you all for your support.
Bernie-Thank you for the beautiful words, I am sure I will re read often!
Sylvia-Thank you so much for thinking of me, I need to get back over to your thread! I have been so overwhelmed I only stop in a few places, but I miss all the good info on your thread! I will post more to you soon.
Brower-You look gorgeous!
Spica-Adorable picture, what a beautiful and bright smile, and sparkly eyes! I hope you have a great time with your grandson!
The more I think about it the more at peace I am with blondelawyer (Lisa) moving on. Like many said she is now with her husband. I re read some of her blog and can not even imagine the emotional pain she must have endured, feeling so alone, plus her physical pain from the cancer. One of her post she commented on how she can't help but think how things could of turned out if things were different. My heart still breaks for her and all she went though, but feel she is now in a better place. I wish I had more faith, I need to believe it all ends good! As it would just be so wrong if people go hrough all this suffering and then it is just over. Oh, she also posted the song If I Die Young, beautiful song.
What would I do without you ladies?
Inmate-Where are you? I hope your skin mets are disapearing and that yo uare able to enjoy this nice weather we are having. I think it is actually summer now!
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So sad to hear about the loss of 2 sisters to this disease - ugh !
Surgery went well, get path report in 10days to 2 weeks time - fingers crossed for clean margins.
Just wanted to say hi - haven't got the energy to read all posts yet. Wishing those of you strength that need it and positive thoughts to all.
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Tazzy - glad your surgery went well - fingers crossed for clean margins!
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Hello to all.
So saddened by the news of losing 2 sisters. Wow, when we get hit on this thread it is so very devastating.
I am sending love to all. It has been a busy summer and I am just beginning to catch up on posts.
To any new sisters here, this was my strength and support as I wnet through chemo and rads, and it will be yours too.
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Tazzy...so glad it is behind you! rest up and gather back your strength.
Mags
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Browerl - What a beautiful picture. I bet you are just as beautiful without the wig.
Shar - Grandkids--best motivation to fight thru the hell of treatments
Tazzy - Glad surgery went well. We were all with you.
Desertmama - I lived in Nigeria for 2 years when much younger. I came home with so many tropical ailments that it took years to get everything cleared out. I couldn't even donate blood when my husband needed it 40 years later. Please check in often as we miss our sisters when they don't post.
Sisters, lets hold hands as we mourn our passing sisters together. It has been a very sad week. But we are strong. Jan
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Love the wig Browerl,you look great! My hair is almost all gone,didn't think it would bother me as much as it does! Desertmama,i am just starting with chemo,had my first chemo and due for number 2 except now i have cellulitis in the right breast,which is where i had my lumpectomy,now chemo on hold until it clears. I feel the same,when i look down the road at how much chemo and rads i will need,it can be overwhelming. I have gotten much comfort from reading these posts,welcome
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I did not really know the 2 sisters that we lost, so I tried to look them up. Did I read it correctly they were only 33 and 44? I was feeling pretty good about my doc visit today and my new wig, now I just feel petty even worrying about how I look when I might not even be around much longer. It does really hit home hard when we loose anyone, this bc really sucks
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I can't even find the words to express how I feel about Jenn...dang...I knew it was coming but I just had this hope..you know??? I know that many of us WILL survive this tn crap but it certainly sucks when some of us don't. A co-worker told me just the other day about how someone she knew had the most aggressive breast cancer there is and I just kinda went off on her...I had just heard about Jenn and Lisa and I was pissed off and scared...
Brower...you look awesome girl! and yes..they were very young. makes you wonder why...
Hey desertmama (love your screen name)...try to not be too frustrated if you can't do everything you always used to do....I was the exact same way....its hard to let others do things for you but I had to learn to be gracious and accept the help....at least for awhile....treatment sucks but you will get through it....hopefully without anymore infections...good luck to you and stay here with us...we can help!
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Just finished catching up and so sad that we lost another sister.
Tazzy - glad it went well, rest up now.
Welcome Desertmama, this is a great place to fight the aloneness.
Brow - you look beautiful.
Spica - what an amazing smile.
I just got out of bed and just trying to get motivated. Spent Tues and Wed working like a dog clearing for the exterminator. (live with a Mother who I don't think has thrown ANYTHING away in her life!) Thur was running her to doctor appt's. By Friday I was exhausted. Don't know if it's old age or I'm not back to normal yet, but it it's taken me 2 days to recover. Kinda scared me that I was that exhausted. Makes your thoughts go to the dark place.
Everyone be well and have a fun weekend.0 -
browerl....we understand..do not be upset that you feel you are posting "petty" stuff. Losing your hair must be greived also..We all know that this crappy disease could take anyone of us and that is why we are here for each other. To comfort each other at any stage that the other is experiencing or perhaps has already suffered. I have been on this site now for a full year and I love my sisters here so much. They have helped me through every aspect of the journey from DX to surgery through chemo and rads and even now as i try to figure out what has happened and who i am now after all of this. I feel different and cannot quite describe it. Not really sure what has changed me the most. Am i stronger or weaker? do not know for sure...but know that you can come here at any time to say anything that you need to. We are here no matter what. you are so beautiful in your wig and you are rocking it!
Tazzy---take care love and heal well.
mags
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mags...love your post...so true in everything you say!
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KIRKLAND - Lisa Marie Worthington was born Sept. 17th, 1977, in Yakima, WA to Ed and Nancy Worthington. Lisa was raised in Yakima, surrounded by lots of friends and family, active in Bethel Church of the Nazarene in her formative years. Lisa made a decision early on in life that she wanted to impact her world in a positive way, and little did she realize the impact she would have. Lisa graduated from Davis High School in 1995, and that fall she started school at Pacific Luthern University. In the fall of 1996, Lisa headed off to Northwest Nazarene College and little did she realize how her life would be changed. Lisa met her future husband, Michael "Gessner" Brown when they were working on their bachelor’s degree at NNC in Nampa, Idaho. Gessner changed Lisa’s life from that moment on. Born with Cystic Fibrosis, Gessner would need all the love and attention she could possibly give during his short lifespan. This debilitating disease necessitated frequent hospital stays and extensive home care.
Lisa graduated summa cum laude from NNC in December, 1998. Lisa returned to Yakima after graduation and on January 2, 1999, she married Gessner.
Shortly after, Lisa and Gessner moved to Winston Salem, NC, where they both started their careers. Lisa became interested in obtaining her law degree while working as a paralegal with a national law firm based in Winston-Salem, Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice. Lisa applied and was accepted at the University of North Carolina (UNC) law school in Chapel Hill, NC. She and Gessner moved to Raleigh, near the school, and it was at a flea market there that she and Gessner found Beauty, their beloved beagle.
In May, 2003, Lisa graduated with honors from UNC with her Juris Doctor. While attending school Lisa also provided pro bono assistance to various groups including the Civil Legal Assistance Clinic and worked on Guardian Ad Litem and Innocence Project.
Lisa and Gessner moved to Seattle in 2003 where she studied for the Washington bar exam and began her legal career. She was admitted to the Washington State Bar in November, 2003 and worked as a law clerk for the Honorable H. Joseph Coleman of the Washington State Court of Appeals of the Ninth Circuit.
In 2005 Lisa accepted a position with the law firm, Dionne & Rorick, in Seattle and at Geirsbach & Kraft in Bonney Lake, WA until 2009. During this period Lisa continued to deal with the deterioration of Gessner’s health and she began working part time. Gessner succumbed to his disease on November 2, 2010. Lisa impacted the CF community immensely by her open and candidly honest blogging concerning the horrible CF disease. She was involved intensely on the internet encouraging those with CF, and enjoyed traveling around the US meeting other CF patients to give them much needed hugs and encouragement.
The following year in April, Lisa was diagnosed with breast cancer and courageously battled. During this time, she also continued to blog, and encourage other breast cancer patients, as she herself struggled with the disease. On August 1, 2012, Lisa beat the pain and disease, when she entered into her rest, in Kirkland, Washington.
Lisa is survived by: her mother, Nancy Campbell (Sam), grandma, Edith Nance, father in law Tom (Lynn) Brown, mother in law Barbara Brown, siblings; Della Osbourne (RD) Eddie (Leah)Worthington, David (Kari) Worthington, and Brandon Thompson, sister in law, Diana (Dan) Hall. She was also an amazing aunt to 9 nieces and nephews. She is also survived by 2 1/2 brothers and step brothers and sisters and numerous aunts and uncles, and cousins. Lisa was preceded in death by her soulmate, Michael Gessner Brown, and her grandfather Melvin Nance.
There will be two celebrations of her life over the next week. In Seattle, an informal get together will be on the rooftop of her apartment complex, Leva on Market, 1545 NW Market Street, Ballard, beginning at noon. On Tuesday a service will be held in Yakima at Bethel Church of the Nazarene, 1103 W. Mead Ave, beginning at 11:00 AM. In lieu flowers, please consider making a donation to the charity of your choice.
...Blondelawyer0 -
Ladies I need a shoulder to cry on.
My youngest daughter Mandy went for a mammogram last Thursday and they have found a lump. I am out of my mind with worry about her. The Radiologist said that he doesn't think its anything sinister but that it was up to her as to whether she saw a specialist about it. She decided because of my cancer that she would and she has an appointment with the specialist on the 20th August. I feel so sick about it with worry. She doesn't appear to be worried but she might be hiding it because of me. Do you think as he said he doesn't think it was sinister that things could be ok. The official result from the head radiologists in another town won't be back until this week. I can't eat or think straight. Do you have any advice I can cling on to.
Annie
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thinking of mandy..hugs MOM..believe the guy..if tests show diff..then ya can worry..
easy to say huh?
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OBXK Thank you for sharing.
Cocker Its nothing till its something..I agree with Doris. I do not know the stats but most breast lumps are benign. Unfortunately some of us are on the list of the opposite result. Smart girl, your Mandy is to get it checked out. But once again the waiting is the horrible part. Anyway she can pull her family cancer card and tell the office that her Mama is currently in tx for BC and maybe get in quicker? Squeeky wheel gets the grease and it never hurts to ask for what you need. You hang in there, Cocker. You need your strength to get through Rads. We will help carry your worry....all have big shoulders here. Sending love your way.
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Annie - I agree with everyone that while it's hard not to worry because it's your daughter, it's likely something benign. 80% of lumps are benign, and younger women's odds are better than us older gals. Positive thoughts coming your way!
Busy weekend, so I'll just say that I hope everyone is havvig a good one!
Hugs to all,
Michelle
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Round 1 down - day three and four were NOT good for me, I am such a big baby . . . but day 5 was o.k. and today, day 6, seems to be MUCH better. walked 2 miles (albeit slower than normal) and now off to church. If it stays the same as now, I'll be going back to work tomorrow for the two weeks in between . . . . God is Good . . .
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Annie - I know you must be thinking the worst, having experienced it. I can only imagine the hell, waiting is for you. But, as others have said, the odds are in her favor. It seems like she is making all the right decisions, and will get to the bottom of this. Knowing your history, I think the doctor would be cautious, in saying he didn't think it was anything to worry about. Holding your hand...
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Annie - first a big (HUG). The odds are in her favor for benign (knew if LuvR was around, she'd have the stats) and I'm sure that with the doctor knowing you have BC, he wouldn't have given her the option of the specialist. If he thought it was suspicious, he would have insisted she see the specialist. I know there's no way you can't worry, so we'll worry and pray with you.
Thank you OBXK - Blondelawyer's life made me really think about destiny. What are the odds that you would marry someone, who's life would be short due to a chronic disease, then be struck out of the blue and die from BC. Makes me think they must truely have been soul-mates, and God wanted them re-united.
Fern - you're not a baby, you're a chemo patient. If you're up and walking....you're doing da*n good!!
Inmate - hope you're doing well?0 -
(((Hugs))) to you Annie and Mandy. I cannot begin to imagine the worry you are going through Annie (not having children myself).
Michelle, you always have such great advice and a calming influence.
Fern... I agree with Kathyrnn... not a baby, but a chemo patient and yes you are doing brilliant. Dont be too hard on yourself, be kind to you.
Thinking of you all and sending hugs and positive vibes.
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Hi all,
I was diagnosed back in March with TN IDC at 441/2 years old. I am 45 now. My tumor was found by my doc during clinical exam (large lump in L breast- around 6cm), never showed up on mammo, only sono. Scans showed an "extension" area as well. Started a clinical trial of neoadjuvant chemo and radiation before surgery. Had 24 rounds Taxol (small doeses-2x week) and 35 rads in 4 sections of breast/axilliary arae with 7 boosts. Lumpectopmy July 31st, no cancer found in remaining tissue. SNB clear as well. I will follow up with 4 rounds of AC (every two weeks).
I am glad to have found this group, as I have met many wonderful women, survivors of BC, but none with TNBC. I am experiencing quite a bit of numbness post-surgery. So much that my doc sent me to the ER for testing, which was all normal. It's not only my left side, although that's where it is most severe - under my arm. But it also spreads through my left shoulder, up into my neck and head, through my face, and down a bit into my right arm. The severity of it seems to come and go. yesterday it was only noticeable in my left arm, but it is back today in other areas. It was also in my right side, but that has diminished.
Anyway, I was curious if anyone else had experienced this. I am thrilled with y pathology report, especially considering where I started, but this numbness has got me down a bit!! I have 3 young children and was hoping to feel "normal" for aa couple of weeks before starting my next round of chemo!
Thanks for reading!!
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kcgal: It's not unusual for nerves to be cut during surgery - is that what may have happened? What does your BS say?
After my Lx and ALND, I was completely numb in my armpit, the inside of my upper arm, parts of my breast and nipple area. I'm happy to say that most of the feeling has now come back (many many months on), but I still have one small numb area in my armpit that I guess will never recover.
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Ok so I'm brand new to this...I was just diagnosed with TN IDC this past Friday...all the reading I've done is very upsetting!! I'm 38 and have 3 kids at home. I know this may sound crazy...but please tell me there's hope for me. I don't understand why TN is so much worse....
Please help
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Luah - when I called y BS, she sai she "wasn't near any ajor nerves". I see her for a follow up on Tuesday, o we'll see what she says then. She did go into 4 areas (I had 3 wire localizations and the SNB).
Stephanie - I know exactly how you are feeling -- I was there 4 months ago!! But TN usually responds really well to treatment - I had Taxol (chemo) an rads prior to surgery and my huge tumor (6cm+) essentially disappeared prior to surgery. I went for 3 opinions before deciidng to go with my team of docs - once you deciide on a course of action and set your mind to beating this, you will feel better!!! I have 3 young kids as well.
Kim
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