Calling all TNs
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Jan-It is the nuclear bone scan, to look for cancer. I have not had a density scan, does a nuclear scan show bone density also? Will a density scan show cancer? I had a bumper crop of zucchini one year and was amazed how big they could get without me noticing! I would try to pick them when they were somewhat small and would find big ones! It was like they grew overnight!
Lovely-The higher numbers are from when I was first diagnosed, so my docs think the markers are a good indication on me. But he did say they do bounce around a bit. My lab shows normal range up to 38, I think. It is strange, but I am not that worried about the results, which is odd for me! Yeah, if tamox makes me feel like the aromasin I will not take it. I could hardly get out of bed! It took a couple of weeks before I felt that bad, and then kept getting worse. I haven't even taken the tamox for a week yet, so I hope it is ok. Scary to read all the side effects! Blood clots, cancer!
Inmate-Love the chicken ring!!! Haven't even seen it but know I love it! My friend's 10 year old daughter made me a necklace with a chicken charm on it, I just love it, and how sweet is that? Where exactly would one get a chicken tattoo? Will you go with me if I don't "chicken" out? What will you get? I am thinking on the side of my calf, or high on my ankle. That way I can show it with capri's or long shorts when I want to. My arms and shoulders are out because of lymphedema issues. I wouldn't be a tattoo virgin anymore!
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Bak....I would love to go with you. I know a few pretty good artists in town. Let me know when you are ready.
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hehehehehehehe
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I am sorry to tell you that Becky aka Beccad passed away on Monday. Her husband Mike posted on our stitchery thread but I don't see that he posted anywhere else. I can see from Beckys folder that she posts here very often. I am sorry to tell you about this. Ginger
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OMG.....this can't be happening! I jumped on to check on Minxie.
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Oh no..... My deepest sympathy to Beccad's family and friends.
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I rarely post but feel a close kinship with everyone and check in daily to see how everyone is doing. For BAK94 (and others), you can ALWAYS appeal any decision made by your insurance company, by sending a well-written letter. I have had success with this, and highly recommend it. Good luck. Carol
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My God- when will it stop! My heartfelt condolences to Beccad's family. I had no idea she was so close.
Ginger- thank you for letting us know- she will be missed.
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This is wrenching. Deepest condolences to Beccad's family and friends.
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Fucking cancer. When will we stop losing our friends? My sympathy to her husband Mike and the rest of her family.
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Rachel- I am 3% ER +. My MO does not have me on Tamoxifen. He feels that it will do nothing to actually help me and that the side effects outweigh the benefits for a low positivity. He does not prescribe it until you are 5% +. It does worry me sometimes that I am not getting it.
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I am shocked that Beccad is gone - so very sad. My condolences to her family and friends.
Bak94, Tamoxifen is doable - not great fun, but I can live with it. I started it in March - had severe fatigue from it about a month ago but it has let up. Have had sporadic dizziness, but I think maybe I've discovered that taking it twice daily - in the morning, then another about 9pm, seems to work the best to avoid side effects such as dizziness, unsteady feelings. I stretch my calves before getting out of bed and that helps the feet pain (which is also post chemo pain.) The hot flashes from it are definitely easing up but I am much more heat intolerant while working outside (of course that could be post chemo related, too.) I am walking 4-5 days a week and went for a 9 mile bike ride Saturday.
Annie, please keep us updated. Thinking of you.
As far as low estrogen goes (I had 5-10% ER receptors) - I got three opinions overall on what to do. 2 out of the 3 oncologists wanted me on an anti hormonal. The third said if I had a lot of side effects from the tamoxifen I could quit taking it, that it probably wasn't going to do that much. The other two doctors (and my oncology surgeon) disagree. I wanted to get a few opinions because I knew the low ER cancers are not encountered quite as often as the strong ER positive and I wanted to make sure I was getting the best medical advice. I went out of state for one of the opinions.
Inmate, thinking of you, too!
To all the new people, welcome - I'm sorry you have to be here, but this is a great support group. I don't know what I would do without it.
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Hello all. Wanted to let you all know that I think I need to take a break from these boards for awhile. As much as I love the support and love that we all get I have been in a real funk lately and the passing of three sisters in the last 2 weeks is really getting to me. My worst fear is what seems to keep happening here!!....Hopefully I will find the strength to come back at some point but right now I am going to take a step back. Going for last AC treatment tomorrow then 12 taxol. Ready for treatment to be over! I wish all of you well in treatment, just starting or finishing. Maybe I'll be back some day to check in but I need a mental break :-(
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Melissa,
We all understand. Take all the time you need and don't hesitate to come back when you are ready. We will miss you. Good luck with your last A/C and Taxol. It will be a distant memory soon. Much love and support to send you on your way.
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Good luck Melissa! Please check back in once in a while!
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well ladies,
Went to sleep crying and woke up crying. What a hot mess i'm gonna be today. I have to go break up with a friend today. One who also happens to be a sister. She just can't stop lying to me and I can't take it any more. As an adult she is free to make her own life choices, regardless what others think, but she can't seem to own her decision and finds it necessary to lie and be deceitful about it. I deserve to be treated with respect, with or without cancer. I can't do much about her being my sister, but I can make the choice about our friendship and right now it is just not a healthy one for me. I feel the break-up steam building. I just hope I can convey my feelings in a strong loving way before I burst into tears. Who doesn't love a good challenge? Well, me at the moment.
Quick poll: Is it a me, you or off kinda day? All of the above is also a correct answer.
Much love to all my sisters today. Since I can't hug each and every one of you I will begin hugging strangers. I will report back later on how that goes.
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I didn't know beccad, but am so sad to hear of another loss - thoughts to her family and friends. Oh! my..
I just dont have the mental ability to respond to you all, but love reading your posts.
Inmate... its a definite "all of the above" day today. Yesterday was without a doubt an OFF day. Had a total meltdown last night - fucking cancer, I hate it. Have fun hugging strangers.
Love & hugs to all of you xxx
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So sad for Beccad's family and friends..... Very sad.
Dawn - I've 'fired' Two freinds who were very close and long standing (or so I thought). I 100% respect people's decisions as long as they are being true to themselves and to me leaving the BS out of it. I will either tell the whole truth or not tell at all (I usually talk too much :-)), so liars and thieves do not sit well with me! We should surround ourselves with people who enrich our lives.... Love deeply, laugh often and Live honestly! Good luck today.
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Tazzy - you posted while I was writing so I missed it.... So sorry you had a meltdown last night. After what you've been throught recently, the F-word should be part of your vocabulary. Glad you don't live near Desertmama :-). Hope you have a better one today.... Hugs
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It was definitely an off day for me yesterday and today feels funky, too.
I went to the State Fair with a friend yesterday. It's too long a story to get into, but suffice it to say she has had a shitty last few years. Work, family, health, finances, emotions... but lately she's been making a real effort to pull herself back together. Then yesterday, she showed up drunk at 10:30 am! I couldn't smell it, but her gait was very unsteady and she was spacy and repeating herself. I point-blank asked her if she'd been taking anything or had been drinking. "No. Wish I had, though." So then my mind goes in a million directions as to what could be wrong physically. She was also in pain walking (she did have an artificial hip replacement about 5 yrs ago), but kept insisting she was fine.
We took the train to the fair, but as soon as we got off, she wanted to sit down on some benches as she was in pain again. I asked her if she wanted to do this another day, but she was adamant that we were "going to have some fun, dammit". When she tried to stand up, her foot slid in her flipflop and she fell backwards over the bench and clonked the back of her head on the bench behind. I yelled for help and we soon had emergency people from the fair all around us. She was the only one who didn't think she should go to the hospital, but she's an adult, so we couldn't make her.
It was a horrible day. Halfway through, she admitted she HAD been drinking before I arrived, but didn't understand why I was so mad at her for lying to me. I had a headache, she had a headache, it was hot, the food was horrible except for a chocolate ice cream cone that promptly dribbled down the front of me. I convinced her to leave early and then she admits that she is now nauseated, too. Symptoms of a head injury! "I'm fine, I'm fine, I just want to go home and sleep." And I did get someone from the fair to take us back to the train pickup location via golf cart. She spent the half-hour train ride trying not to barf. The conductor was wonderful; got her ice for her head, a bag, and some water and hovered nearby. They helped her get off while I pulled the vehicle around. I wanted to stay and watch her, but she almost pushed me out of the house and said she was fine. *sigh*
I'm worried about her and I'm completely pissed that she won't take care of herself or seek help.
And then I stopped by the apt I'd nearly finished moving out of and found it burglarized - they even took the cleaning supplies! I filed a police report, went home (I'm currently staying with my brother until the new apt opens up later this month), took a sleeping pill and an anti-anxiety pill to make my head turn off long enough for me to get to sleep. I'll just say there's more going on with this "burglary", but that's another long story. I'm pretty sure I know who's responsible, but I won't be able to prove it. The only items I really cared about was my Dyson vacuum, some nice curtain rods and an expensive table lamp. I also cancelled my renter's insurance this spring when I was having financial difficulties, so I'm screwed for reimbursement. *sigh*
Sorry, Inmate, didn't mean to step all over your problems with your sister. I've been fortunate enough to have a family that gets along even though we wildly disagree on some issues. Hope your talk with her helps. I hate the thought of you crying because she's hurting you. (((hugs)))
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(((Tazzy))) I remember a couple of days after my surgery, I had a total meltdown too. I thought I was sooo strong during all the treatments. I guess all of the emotions of it all had to come out someday. My friend, who is also a nurse and came everyday to change my dressings picked me up in pieces that day. So I can totally relate. It does get better..................
Melissa- We understand. Take all the time you need. I remember at the beggining of my BC journey and while in chemo, there were a couple of ladies that died or got diagnosed with mets and it just scared the hell out of me. I came on here and left crying and just plain scared that it you happen to me too. At one point, my DH didn't want me to come on here because I was just so sad of it all. I can tell you IT DOES GET BETTER WITH TIME. Yes I get sad when one of our sisters here gets bad news or pass away. But as time goes by, I get less and less frightened and can pick myself up faster and move foward. Live everyday to it's fullest! (((HUGS)))
((((((I THINK IT'S TIME FOR A GROUP HUG)))))))
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Thanks Babs...like you I believe I've been so strong, still crying doesn't make us weak either eh? Just hate it that bc has made me have these melt downs... they come from nowhere - one moment I am OK the next a babbling wreck. Thanks for your encouraging words.
(((((((Group hugs))))))))
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Yesterday a slightly inconvenient rash started - side of neck; lower belly; at panty-line between my legs - itches like poison ivy - incidiously!, seems to be spreading - it doesn't LOOK like poison ivy and I haven't been in the weeds or outdoors . . . last night 2 benedryl's and a sleeping pill later after a colliodal oatmeal bath and reading for 4 hours, I finally slept for 3 hours - I'm at work today - no problems (except itching) . . . IS THIS A SYMPTOM OF ONE OF THE CHEMO DRUGS? Anyone have similar experience? I showed the oncologist the rash yesterday, he was NOT impressed - no "biggie" - actuallly wasn't a biggie to me either until it kept me awake all night. THANKS for any opinions.
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I am so saddened to learn of Becky's passing.. I had just received some really nice PM's from her a few weeks ago.. My prayers to her Husband and family.. Will miss you Becky.
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Hi Fern.... I believe that the rash is a SE of taxotere. The chemo nurses told me it may happen and to use a non-alcohol moisturizer several times and day and to keep the areas clean. I never got the rash, but had the most awful itchy feet and hands for several days after infusion.
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Riley......no worries about raining on my shit parade. We all have something, and not just cancer. Life does not stand still while we put up the good fight. I wish it would but oh the things we would miss out on. Sometimes I just want to shake people and make them realize the things that are important. Being true to yourself and those around you is a good start. I won't let someone be mad at me for lying, let them be mad at me for what I said or did. Those things I can own. Lies will always own you. As with my sister, it sounds like your friend has some other issues to address. I hope she finds the strength to get better. Very sorry it ruined your day. Here's hoping that Dyson shorts out the first time the thieves use it and the curtain rods don't fit their windows. It doesn't help you, but karma has a wonderful way of paying it forward, so to speak.
Tazzy....hang in there babe. It gets better. Today is today, tomorrow has so much hope!
Fern.....Taxol gave me terribly itchy feet and the funkiest rash on my elbows and arms. Looked like Mars had landed on my elbow. Even the nurse took a step back. Nice! I agree with the no-alcohol lotion. Mine did go away once I was finished, but a huge bother until then.
By the way, it went well with my sister. She said she was sorry and I was able to keep it together and explained that the lies are what hurt the most. I deserve to be treated with respect with or without cancer. I told her I love her very much but cannot be her friend right now. The relationship is too toxic. She cried, I did not. A little dehydrated in the tear duct area at the moment. Thanks for all your encouraging words. I feel much better and have let it go.
Ladies, I love my little BCO village. I just want cancer to stop raping and pillaging, thank you.
Love to you all! With an extra big hug!
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THANKS LADIES - - I've got a call into the Oncologist's office . . . I'm also developing a general RED GLOW - like a sunburn without the sun???
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Fern......keep us updated. Are you running a fever?
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