August 2010...anyone starting chemo besides me?!
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Good day, WARRIORS!
Rachel: OHHHHH CANADA! Wow, and if
you will please indulge my terribly juvenile side and read this next line using
the voice of Beavis from the venerated Beavis and Butthead series: your new Prime Minister
is wicked hot!!!!!!!! You sure do know how to grow them cute in
Canada! I could not believe it when I saw him as first he looks rather
young by Prime Minister standards, and he also *looks* like a decent person!
I know that sound so very arbitrary, but our political races in the US normally
look like who is running for the most unattractive human being on the
planet!!! Example: Trump---damn, he is unattractive inside and
out! Alas, I digress!Sixteen?! That is a
big one! Hope you all celebrate it in high style! Now, about those birds...! Kansas City V Mets, should be
interesting. I thought the birds were
going, though. At the very least, and
year after year, they are strong contenders.Good to hear from you again.
LadyInBama: I love, love, love
your pic!!!!!!! Looks wonderful!! I am glad you are doing well, and, as
always, it is great to hear from you as well.BRCA testing: so I had it done
again because apparently the sequencing is more advanced now. I will post the findings soon. I would post more about why they did it, but
I have become a wee bit more private about my cancer-related issues. In fact, I might start a website for us at
some point, only for current members of this thread. This site is great, but it is really so incredibly
public, almost unnervingly so. Perhaps I will send an email about BRCA
explaining more of what is going on.In any event, I hope you all are
Happy trails, ladies!
having lovely Fall days! I just got back
from the most wonderful walk in this crisp weather, checking out everyone's
Halloween decorations, watching the plethora of squirrels scampering about, and
I even saw a few cats and dogs, so overall my walk was a huge success!!0 -
Hello My Sisters, Its been a long time since I been on here. I have found a lump on my right breast, I had cancer in my left breast and I'm taking Tamoxifen. The lump that's in my right breast been there for two months and its hard. What could it be. Yet will I praise him.
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Hello Warriors!
Name change! I decided to change my screen name largely b/c the old one was connected to an email address. Sure enough, I met someone from high school and gave them that email to keep in touch. Well, they Googled it and found all of my posts on this thread, and then got upset that I did not tell them that I have cancer, as we were simply catching up in the middle of the mall. I was so pissed off, I cannot tell you. First, this is a private matter; second, what are you doing Googling my information? So now I am "1wonderwoman," which is kind of the way I feel sometimes anyway. So now you know! At least going forward this name will not be connected with that email. Is anyone sick and tired of the technological web in which we live?!
Tex: where are you? I have called and texted, and now I am posting. Please update? I know we are all sick with this awful disease, but that does not mean because we are all at different points with this albatross, that we don't want to be kept apprised of what is going on as we wind our way through this mess. Please update.
Cure: I was in NY on the train recently, just left Grand Central, and sure enough some flake finds their way to me. They were going on all about breast cancer, and how there is a cure etc.... I never once told them they were staring in the face of someone who was definitely not cured, and that there is no effing cure for this, alas I just listened, hoping they were getting off at 125! Fate would have it, we were both getting off at the same stop. It was a long ride, but what was really confounding is where are they getting this stuff from?
Felisa!!!!!!!!! I am so very happy to hear from you!!!!!!!!! I got so nervous since the last time you, and Whitney, stopped by and made a post, the situation seemed as if it could be a bit ominous, and then you disappeared! Sadly, we are part of a very terminal club, and the members in our club are taken down by our common disease. For this reason, please, please, I implore you, update once in a while. Just even twice a year to just say hi, I am still here! I know that sounds cavalier, and a bit silly, but I got to know you through this thread, and I worry about all of us, even though I know what our fate is.
In any case, I diagnose myself with mets 2 or 3 times a week, on average, and by this I mean every lump or weird feeling I think is cancer. Likely lately I had weird feelings in my back, like rolling weird feelings traveling up my back. It is weird, and the reason I share is because we are always scared going forward. I mean you never "unhave" cancer. Once you have it, you will until you cease to exist.
I mention all of this because the lumps are scary to every one of us. My question to you, which my surgeon asked me recently, is does it move? If the lump moves, or feels in any way soft, it is likely innocuous. If, however, it is not moving, perhaps you should have it checked out. Aside from that, even if it is a tumor, don't forget even people with cancer can have benign tumors. Don't fret, and I want you to PROMISE to keep me posted! I am so glad to hear from you!
Happy trails and happy holidays, ladies, and may the force be with you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Ok, I want. I got have it looked at on the 17th of Nov. Then I go back to see my surgeon. I have four grand kids now. They keep me very busy then Im down with my back. I know the Lord is with us. I have strong faith. Dont worry sweetie all is well with my soul.
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Good evening, warriors!
You guys know how I am always clamoring about rebounding. Well, I am helping a friend who is battling bc right now, and I just found this article I am sending to her. I hope you all read it. For those of us who had metastatic cancer affecting our lymph nodes, and I think that was every one of us here on this thread, rebounding is particularly excellent to clean move your lymphatic fluid. Nothing moves lymph fluid like rebounding does. So enjoy this article, and start jumping!
http://www.wholife.com/issues/9_4/01_article.html
Felisa: thank you so much for checking back in! I am so happy for you and your 4 grandkids! I bet they do keep you on the move, and keep your mind off of stuff like that lump. Don't worry, they are making more strides every day. That could even be a hard pocket of fluid, as I remember you had some fluid troubles shortly after one of your surgeries. I am just glad you are doing well, and don't get yourself nervous about getting that checked out. Just take it one step at a time, and START REBOUNDING! Move that lymph fluid!
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Also, you all know I worked in NYC, and I was no stranger to the club scene, and congruent with that interest, I just loved Webster Hall! The acoustics there are particularly good, and if anyone has been, and we have any late 90s freestyle queens here, nothing sounded better than Deborah Cox "Absolutely Not" remix in that hall! More to this point, these 8 songs will create a rebounding playlist that might land you outside your house, after your frenetic bounding launches off of the rebounder and out the nearest window!! #goodtimes !
Deborah Cox - Absolutely Not REMIX
Deborah Cox - Things Just Ain't the Same REMIX
Deborah Cox- Nobody's Supposed to Be Here REMIX
Mary J No More Drama REMIX
Corona- Rhythm of the Night
Whitney Houston It is Not Right But It IS OK--REMIX
Tamia Stranger in My House - REMIX
Lara Fabian- I will love again- REMIX
Just trying to help! We are all around the same age, so I am pretty sure you guys know exactly why I like to workout to this music! All of these are on YouTube, and if you don't mind a commercial every 2 songs, you can make a nice playlist.
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I had my mamm today no cancer but benign tumor, and a cyst. I dont know if it is simple or complex.
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Felis, glad it wasn't cancer. Keep up your checkups!!
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING, my lovely warriors!!I wonder, did you all think we would still be here? I seriously did not think I would, but then again there was a lot of cancer that spread off into my lymph nodeS! Not node, nodes! In any case, I sure am glad we are still here!!Lady-I love your pic! You are so darn cute! That is a really nice photo, and I am so glad to read that you maintain a commitment to ovarian cancer. That is wonderful for you and them. I hope you have a nice holiday
Felisa - I am soooo happy you have a BENIGN event!!!!!!!! Who cares those freakin' benign balls of junk rolling around our systems! It is indeed truly auspicious that you have found something benign, in your breast no less! That is very good news. I hope you have a nice holiday, and you have lots of fun with your grandkids! Be well and keep in touch-Happy trails, ladies! 0 -
Went to see my surgeon today. The lymph node in my breast is 2 centimeters. He. dont know if its maligant . He said hes going to keep an eye on it. I go back in Jan. to get schedule for surgery. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
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Hello, Warriors!
Felisa- lymph nodes swell for a number of reasons. Of course, this always means they are fighting some type of invader, and while a lymph node will normally be about the size of a pea, a single node can swell to the size of an acorn because of the additional lymphocytes are being created. All that increased size is telling you is your body is fighting something.
Lymphocytes, when confronted with an invader, engulf and attempt to do away with it as a function of the body's adaptive defense immune system. Just don't jump to conclusions, because the same issues that can make your throat glands swell are those that can make lymph nodes swell.Take it easy, our bodies went through a lot of drama with cancer and the associated txs. Don't overthink this matter, just relax until you get some definitive results. There are numerous things that can make nodes swell, so let's just hope this is another issue.
Please keep me posted, and I am here for you. This disease is like having sleeper cells in your body, in perpetuity, and you just never know when they are going to activate again. Just stay positive because I think the more drama and stress you deliver to your body, the more cancer is strengthened. Keep smiling! This is, after all, all any of us can do!
Hope you had a nice holiday, and make sure you provide updates. I will be thinking of you
Happy holiday weekend, ladies!
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Hey my fellow cancer fighters! Last night I couldnt stop thinking about everyone and i realized its been quite some time since i have been on line. How has everyone been doing?
I finished my college, i am on externship right now. I should be done Jan 20th.
My latest scans; NED from the neck down and the brain mets are stable. Later this month i have more scans. I see my dr. friday
and of course chemo to follow.Its beginning to feel like winter here, the other day i had to scrape ice off my car! That was freakish since we havent been cool than maybe 55-60 the days preceding that!
Not looking forward to the 2 weeks off the kids have from school. Lately all they do is fight... headache central at my house! Plus i have to work those days
well gotta hop in the shower and get to a "job" i dont get paid for.
Texas
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Dropping in to say Merry Christmas to everyone...and here's to a HEALTHY 2016
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HELLLLOOOOOOOO Warriors!
Merry Christmas!
I really intended to stop by sooner, yet the best laid plans!I hope everyone is healthy, happy and has some good fun this holiday season!May all of our best days lay ahead 0 -
Hello, Warriors!
Happy New Year, ladies!
Take advantage of the opportunity to do something new every chance you get, and keep making memories.
All my best, and I am perfectly enthralled we are all still here
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Hi all. I was away from the message board for awhile, needed a break. So good to see you all here! I had my mammo in December all good. Saw my Onc in October I think and surprised her when U asked to stay on Tanoxifen she gave me anoth 18 months on past this June which is my five year mark. I had such a bad time with the other pills that I want to get all the benefits I can. I do have thinning hair from Tamoxefen but I can live with that.
My cousin who has BC again after many years, it turns out it was after twenty years! It is also a different kind, estrogen dependant this time. SHe is pretty sick and I hoope she makes it through.
We are sort of settled in the house we moved to in May but not fully unpacked because we hope to purchase again this spring. The prices are going up rapidly here in the Seattle area which makes it more difficult to plan plus Chinese nationals are buying up, as investments,in all cash deals, the most desirable houses the day they come on the market. Many for more than the asking price. I saw one 2100 sq ft house come onto the market that had new roof, furnace, AC, Kitchen, baths etc all new. Closed on December 4 and rented for $2,900 a month, just one week later! Rents are zooming up too. It is crazy.
My back still bothers me if I am upright, sitting is fine and well as reclining. Just atanding is the issue, muscles spasm reallu hard. I have become more of a recluse than ever/ I love when our Granddaughter is here. She is five and so much fun.
Again it is so good to hear from all of you. I am so glad that Lizzie has kept this place up for us all. How are you Lizzie?
Hugs Ginger
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Hi Ladies, I am wondering if any of you have ever had thermography done? It is a very safe way of watching for cancer in you breast area or whole body. I had a chest one done end of Jan. because I am so lumpy on cancer side. It doesn't tell you if you have cancer but it does show you spots of interest. Look it up its very interesting!
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Hellooooo Warriors!!!!!!!
I hope everyone is doing well!!
Ginger- I am okay! Surprising as it is, I am okay! I actually admitted to Deb (Long Island) that I was actually "exit planning" after chemo. I admitted that I really did not think I was going to make it this far, yet here we all are celebrating 6 additional years of life after dx! AH-MAZING!
That is so strange about your cousin with it coming back after 2 decades, and a different kind no less. This disease is perfectly enigmatic!
Sorry to hear about your back. That was one bad accident, and I guess what I am trying to say is I am glad your injuries were not worse.
Best of luck with the move. Moving is such a drag, but perhaps the next will be to your somewhat-forever home?! How are your pets?
Sue: I like your avatar! You look good, very Florida-esque, which I believe is where you are residing in the winter now, right? Thanks for the info on thermography, I will check into it.
I have my next onc appointment in April. I am really amazed at this entire journey. I just drove by Yale (Smilow) today and I was stopped at the light, watching all the people going across the 4th-floor bridge (from the garage) to Smilow. All I could think was 1 in 5 is likely a ghost. In the minute I was at the light, I must have seen 30 people cross that bridge. I was remembering all the times I crossed it, all that chemo, going back and forth and I could not believe that I once was one of those people, crossing that bridge, wondering if I was even going to survive. What a very long, strange, beautiful, sometimes arduous, and amazing journey this has been. I am back in school to become an RN, and then I am going to law school. RN-JD is a growing field b/c of the baby boomers, the overall aging of the populace at large and the abysmal fact that roughly 75% of the country refuses to estate plan, both financially and medically. Cancer gave me the chance to go back and do what I was supposed to do, I believe, which is go to law school. Being an RN, and working as one through law school, will only serve to help what I eventually plan to do.
What has cancer meant to anyone who reads this? Just wondering, and perhaps I will have 3 responses by August!!!!! Has anyone discovered even the slightest silver lining (please don't take offense)?
Happy trails, ladies! All my best-
Signed,
Your Fearless Leader!!!
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Hello!!! I'm here Lizzy! I see the updates now and again and I'm always glad to hear everyone's updates.
Nothing much new here with me, still living life and enjoying what I have. I ran my first marathon last September!! I began learning to swim in October and I'm training for my first triathlon this summer! Always looking for new adventures in fitness and fun.
I'm pretty sure Liz and I have had this conversation but in response to the question, I have been given a wonderful gift. Cancer opened my eyes to what was really important in life. Honestly, while I never wish to have another cancer diagnosis, I would not change the course of events in the past and erase it either. I am healthier and happier now, as a direct result of my cancer diagnosis. That initial advice by my oncologist to exercise has filled my life with so many special people and the perspective gained by realizing my own mortality has really centered me and helped me straighten my priorities. So, yes, definitely a silver lining. I don't know how you can go through something like that and not gain an appreciation for all the little joys in life, family, friends, sunshine, fresh air and a willingness to let go of the annoyances a little more quickly because of the realization that they really just don't matter.
Well, I've got to get to bed. Swimming at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow.
Looking forward to hearing from others. Love you ladies, you are one of the gifts that my cancer diagnosis gave me!
Debbi
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He Sprtmom, Lizzie, Sue and all,
My pets are mostly still with us. Daisy my yellow and orange cat who was 19 got very thin and then had a stroke. My DH took her into the vet the next day to help her on her way. My big dog is three now, Stewie, Harry is going on 8 now and my Maine Coon cat, Rudy, has decided he likes me after ignoring me for around 18 years now. He is doing well and actually sits on my lap now.
I had a brain MRI last wednesday and the results are good. I got blurry vision and some verticle double vision so my Onc ordered me off of Tamoxifen and to do the MrI. Now I am to go to the eye DR and see if I have any catraracts forming. Then back to Onc to discuss more antiuhormonals. Ugh just these three weeks off of Tamox has made me feel rather normal. Just aasense of well being.
I also got to see my ventricles. I have normal pressure hydrocephalus and saw how where most peoples ventricles stay the dame as they go up mine get larger. I have no symptoms but should probably see some Neuro just to get it on record outside the ER where it was discovered when I fell on my head back in 2012.
I have also gotten an intention tremor of my left hand, I am of course left handed. I am making so many typing errors especially on my phone. It is like my finger bounces onto the next letter off from where I am tyring to type. I can put on eyebrow pencil if I hold my hand with my other hand, same with painting.
We bout a house this week and will move over there in March or early April to get the most benefit of our lease provisions and not wasre our last mo rent which ends on April 10/ New place is a flipper and is a raised ranch so I dont have to climb so many stairs. Best part of the house is it is 2 blocks from ZOE my 5 yr old GD.
!!!!Lizzie when my mom went to the nursing home I used an elder care attorney who was a RN working in gereatrics before she went to lawschool. A great and needed combo. You will be great.
To be a little political I support Bernie because he is about everything I stand for. It turns out everyone of my real life friends are also supporting Bernie. After a lifetime of working with the disenfranchised finally we have a candidate to stand behind. Whatever your leaning I encourage you to vote, be heard, educate others, so we might all have better understanding.
Good to hear from you all. I come back seldom to try to have more balance. I miss you all and hope you will also check in from time to time.
Love you all! Ginger
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Ginger: The RN-JD thing is growing, and my wonderful doctor alerted me to that fact a few years back. Thank you for your kind words!
I am so glad to hear about your pets are largely doing well. That is so funny about the cat, that after 18 years, decides you are okay! I had a Chihuahua who hated my fiancé, and I mean visceral reaction! Eventually I would break up with him, because I figured the dog was on to something! Bottom line is over 3 years and that dog never developed an affinity for him in the least. Of course, people would tease me after that my dog was ruling my life, but I had to take heed! In the case with your cat, however, they are just tough. Cats are very hard to win over! Cats will fail to bond for reasons unknown, and are hardly the barometer for caliber-of-individual that a dog can be. Cats are truly finicky, but I love them no less!
That is a shame about the tremors. I hope that calms down for you at some point especially in our world-of-texting! That has got to be tough.
Congratulations on the house!!!!!!! Raised ranches are great, and when I was young the lower levels were always party rooms for all the kids. My friends had the best swing in their lower level! It was one of those wicker swings that hung from the ceiling, it was way cool! We had so much fun down there. I am just glad you were able to find something you like in that hotly contested real estate market.
Deb: you look FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!! I love that pic! Running with the snowy background! That is good stuff! At one point I was living with a boyfriend and it was a year when we got hammered with snow storms. We were going crazy locked in, so we finally started jogging in the snow, in the city! It was fun, a few wipeouts, but it was fun!
I am so glad you have found some silver lining to cancer. It is hard to even think about a silver lining, but alas I think most of us have had them.
Swimming at 6AM?!?!? My first roommate in college used to go swim at 5AM, and I don't think I need to tell you all I was just getting in about that time! She and I did not last as roommates! That is great, though, Deb. I learned how to swim when I was just 2 years old. I think my parents knew that the older kids would kill me, with their whirlpools and cannonballs, if they did not provide me adequate means to survive! Swimming is such great exercise, so I apologize for taking the "WonderWoman" moniker on this site! You can have it if you would like....!
Speaking of working out, I must go do so! I had the worst stomach bug yesterday. I have not been sick like that in 20 years, but that is what I get for hugging 4 kids all under 10!!!!! They just seem so terribly innocuous, little germ factories!Good day, ladies-0 -
WOW!!!!!! Getting closer! Check this, ladies:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2016/02/16/new-cancer-treatment-acts-like-vaccine.html
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Hellooooo, Warriors!
I just realized that both Felisa and Whitney were in a bit of a crisis situation, and we have not heard from either in a while. To anyone reading this: If your news is good, bad or indifferent, please come back here and let us know what is going on. Yes, the crew is rather Spartan now, but it is my sinking suspicion if anyone finds themselves in harm's way again, we will be back, sending positive vibes and wishing you well. Cancer is a life-long disease, we should stick together!!!
So I saw on public television this morning that cold-cap therapy has really come a long way, and fewer and fewer people are losing their hair now. Also there are some very auspicious developments in dealing with triple negative bc. Overall much of what they said was very positive about dealing with bc, and I was stunned at some of the developments that have come along now, like micro-dosing chemo. I can't remember everyone's experience with chemo, but I used to go for 7-hour infusions of 3 different kinds of chemo. Well nowadays I guess they break that up into several smaller doses. I thought that was interesting. Something else I learned this past week: Neulasta is really going more mainstream, and helping those that are afflicted with white blood deficiencies for reasons other than cancer txs.
The good thing about bc is the news just seems to keep getting better, so keep exercising ladies (the HUGE message on the show this morning), and we could all see many more years!
Your (forever) Fearless Leader!
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Hi folks.
Neulasta caused me tremendous pain in the bones it decided to work in that treatment. Shins hurt the worst I think. It apparently works though. Chemo left me with peripheral neuropathy and I still cannot feel anything on the bottom of my feet and my hands are slightly numb. I do still get electrical shocks in my feet and toes and arches. If micro infusions would have helped avoid this I would have liked that. I think my lack of steadiness on my feet mY BE RELATED TO ALL OF THIS. sORRY typos tremor causes me to bounce around the keyboARD.
Did I tell you all I fell through the glass top of my big square coffee table. I was not injured but know I was very lucky and I hit my head on a newly opened box of faBRIc swatches. You can see my head inmpreesion in the box. I somehow fell when I got up to go to the bathroom., I turn left to do do that. I becamse aware when I was on my back in the ta ble and could hear the glass under me cracking and breaking. That is a sound I never want to hear again in my life.
Later I discovered I must have fallen in on my left side, I had huge bruises on my shoulder, hip, knee and thigh. I was on my back when I became aware and have no idea how I even got on my left side from where I started. I must have passed out and spun around. Weird. So I am just donating the table and someone else can replace the top if they wish.
We did buy the new, to us,house. We close in 10 days and move when we wish because we are renters and have alease that we have to honor. So costly but flexible. I am busy getting supplies to make the house as safe as I can. I have ordered strong grab bars for the bathrooms and showers. I am getting 3M anti slip runners to put on outside deck stairs, I am doing this for others because no way in hell am I going down those stairs! I am having two hand rails installed on the four front concrete stairs. I want them on both sides for safety and appearance. Inside the stairs up and down are wood. I checked all around and others say thaT CARPET IS SLIPPERY. sORRY CAPS AGAIN. i actually think I am going to go ahead and ruin the finish and put the 3M strips on the inside stairs. I dont care if I ruin the stairs as lonmgf as I don't fall down them.
My DGD was in the NEW house on saturday when we did our final walk through. She is 5 years old and has big plans for the house. She will have a bedroom with her picket fence trundlke bed and a big cabinet for our dolls and a drop leaf table for us to play at. Downstairs we have a room , large that we palan to use for storage. Zoe has declared it the Jungle room and wants us to install vines for her to swing on in there. The new place is two blocks from her house so she is deliriously happy. My sewing room is going to be the lower level family room, Zoe will have her little theatre in there as well as her miniature sewing machines. Cast metal german made in the late 40's. Zoe is dying to sew for her 18" dolls she gpot this Christmas. I had them for two and three years DD wouldn't let me give them to her earlier, SHE WAS LIKELY RIGHT. cAPS AGAIN. i THINK THIS TREMOR OIS GOING TO DRIVE ME CRAZY.
i AM ALSO INSTALLING pull out drawers on the bottom lkitchen cabvinets. I can not crawl into those back cabinets. I actually set aside money for this, I think it is that important. I am excited about all of this. The house we are renting is nicer but having a place close to my DGD is the world to me. My husband is checkiing out the security systems, I told him I want to be able to see who is at any door. The neighborhood we are in is low crime so I am just wanting the extra security so I cN REACH OUT more eaisly. I am just not fast or strong anymore.
When I was in physical therapy my therapist said, "One fall can change your life." My firnds Aunt in her 80's fell this week while on a woalk with her husband. She broke her neck in three places and is now parALyzed! How awful for that woman and her family. I felt even more sure about not caring if I ruin the stairs to make them safe.
I hoope Felicia and Whitney are both doing well and everyone is anticipating spring and getting ready to surround themselves with beautiful flowers.
I love you all
Ginger
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Ginger: I am so sorry to hear about your fall through the table. That is horrible. You are rather lucky you did not sustain a worse injury.
Congratulations on the house! In that hot market, you are fortunate to have found something. Fix it up however you need. There is no reason to not have it exactly as you need. We are all getting older, dear! We have to think differently and, yes, one fall can definitely change your life. So many hip injuries with the elderly. Your poor friend's aunt who broke her neck in 3 places as a result of a fall; that is just awful.
Yes to Spring and the beautiful flowers!!!!! I wish you well on your move, and don't forget to take it easy. Don't push it, you have been through quite enough. Plus you need your energy and endurance to enjoy your DGD, especially now that you all are living closer!
All my best-
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Good day, Warriors!
I strongly encourage everyone to read this article:http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/04/health/cancer-treatment-research-breakthrough/index.html#goodstuff 0 -
Hello, my lovely Warriors!
I have another important link to share:
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Study-Finds-Carbs-Could-Cause-Lung-Cancer-371392111.htmlThat is a ridiculously high number....nearly 50%? That is crazy. Whole grain pasta, whole grain bread---just ditch any white-flour based items you consume, within reason, of course. I mean I don't think you have to stop it all together, but it has to be limited.
Here I am always vilifying the animal-based meat processing industry, and all their nutritionally dubious injections of hormones etc... Clearly that will not help our cause, but to look at our populace, the weight problems that are plaguing the country, and the ridiculously high incidence of diabetes, coupled with the proliferation of cancer, and we are getting a much clearer picture on just what could be going on.
Hope you all are well, and that you are enjoying my links! Every time I find something useful, I will post it. This is stuff we need to know.
All my best-
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Hello My Lovely Warriors!
Saw my onc, he said it looks like I have some time left in me!
Hope everyone is well
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Hi all,
I saw Onc two weeks ago and am officially out of her direct care. I will still be seen at the womens center at SCCA and have mamo there and follow up with nurse practitioner.
My friends aunt who feel while out on a walk and broke her neck and became paralyzed died a few days later. So sad and unexpected.
My friend who I had not seen in 35 years came to visit for two weeks. She and her son lived with me and my boys when I was divorced in the 70's. She did so much work while she was here, unpacking and organizing and cooking too. She said she wanted to do it because I had done so much for her all those years ago. I was simply stunned, no one has ever done that for me before in that kind of way. It was humbling and amazing. My DD was a huge help during and after chemo when we first moved here and in ongoing kinds of ways. She is very busy so any time is precious.
My DGD loves her 18" dolls so much. She asked permission to sleep on the living room floor with them. Her parents suggested they put the doll bed, (my old doll bunk beds from the 1950's) in her bedroom so they could all sleep in the same room. She is an only child as was recently overheard in doll play saying, "Chistie did you use the scientific method?" I continue to be amazed by her.
I did something I have not done before. I don't go anywhere except the Onc , the Dentist and occasionally a local restaurant because I just cant walk, the muscle spasms are so bad in my back. I rented a wheel chair and had it delivered to my house! I went with my husband and friend to the Chihuley Museum at Seattle Center and it was wonderful, the glass was beautiful but just being out was stupendous! I have waited years now doing nothing and I know I must do more to get out. My friend was encouraging, she lives in VA.
The house, we now have a fully fenced back yard of good size. I can just let the dogs out the back slider and down the stairs they go.
It is always good to see you posting here and I hope you and others will check in again soon.
Love Ginger
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Oh my dear chemosabes, hello to you all!
First of all, I DEEPLY apologize for not posting any follow-up after my last post. Thank you all for keeping me in your thoughts and maintaining my presence here in this group, even when I wasn't. You mean so much to me, I am ashamed that I left you all hanging like that.
Second of all, today is the sixth anniversary of my original diagnosis. How do you all mark your anniversary -- by diagnosis date or last treatment date? It's kind of funny. I don't have many things on my calendar these days, as I am not working, and just don't have a lot of "engagements". So it is not unusual for me to not know what the date is. And I haven't thought much about this anniversary, but this morning, when I woke up, after taking the dogs out, breakfast, etc., as I was thinking about what I needed/wanted to do next, I thought, "I want to check in on my support group. So I read up on a good chunk of past entries, and when I was thinking about what to write about myself, I looked at the date on my computer and discovered that it was my anniversary! I hadn't known the date!
So, my last few posts were about a scare after a mammogram. There were "architectural abnormalities" in my remaining breast. My surgical onc said she wasn't too concerned and didn't see a reason for a biopsy. I didn't know what to think, but I sure wasn't comfortable with leaving it at that. So I talked to my PCP again. He's the kind of doctor who's not really very authoritative or directive, and kind of lets the patient take the lead. I am well enough educated medically that it usually doesn't bother me. In fact I think that may be why he is like that with me, because my best friend sees him too and says he's not like that with her. Anyway, he agreed with my inclination to go ahead with a biopsy, but suggested we scan it first. He ordered a CT (or maybe it was an MRI. I don't remember.) To be honest, I don't remember exactly what the CT showed, but whatever it was, it wasn't conclusive, and not very helpful diagnostically. So I went to see my medical onc, whom I hadn't seen for a very long time, and to tell you the truth I don't like very much. She did an ultrasound, and said she saw what the radiologist who interpreted the mammogram had seen, but she didn't think it was suspicious enough to biopsy. At this point, I started to doubt myself, thinking my PCP's opinion didn't mean that much because he usually just agrees with my thinking on things, and that the experts were telling me I didn't need a biopsy. So I stopped pursuing it. Then a week or so later, I thought, you know maybe I should talk to my surgeon about doing a prophylactic mastectomy. I made an appointment, but I was feeling kind of embarrassed, like I must be over-reacting. Anyway, I went, and she said that she understood my concern, and that she would agree to do the surgery, but still said she didn't think there was anything to worry about. First, though, she said let's do an MRI. (All of these appointments and scans took place over a span of about three weeks.) I did the MRI, and afterwards, the technician told me to wait because the radiologist wanted to talk to me. After ten or twenty minutes, the radiologist came and got me. He said he had asked a few other radiologists to take a look at the MRI, and they all agreed that this didn't look serious. He was very understanding and kind, saying he sympathized with how difficult it is to live with cancer and how complicated the choices regarding treatment can be. He said, the highest priority was for me to know that I, my situation, had been given the attention it deserved, and that I not walk away feeling that no one was taking me seriously. Still... he said something like, "You have the opinions of three radiologists, and your oncologists, who all agree that a biopsy is not necessary, much less a mastectomy, but this is your body, and you are the one who has to live with whatever decision you make." Frankly, I was impressed. He didn't have to do that. But, I still didn't feel like this was nothing, so I told my surgeon that even if it was just prophylactic, I wanted to go through with the mastectomy. She said fine, and we scheduled it.
Post-surgery... they found cancer. Very small, but there. Everyone agreed that all indications were that they had gotten it all, and that I didn't need more treatment. So that's where it ended. I have been fine since then, though surgical recovery was really hard this time. Sorry for the long story, but it seemed important to tell it in detail, because it's a good example of the complexity of living with BC and of valuing our own opinions, our own expertise and our own knowledge of our bodies and what we need for our overall wellbeing.
Life is ok now. I am grateful for so many things. And I didn't think I would make it this far. But my life is still not what I want it to be, anc a good part of that has to do with the ways in which cancer, chemotherapy and hormonal therapy changed my life. Yes, Lizzie, there is a silver lining, several in fact, and there are ways in which this experience has changed me, but six years post diagnosis, I am definitely not "over it".
There have also been some other medical conditions that have made life hard, maybe even harder than cancer. I might talk more about this in future posts, but for now I want to focus on how wonderful this group is and how much it has helped us all! I thank God for you all. Lizzie, you have been and continue to be one of the silver linings you asked about! Thank you so much for keeping us together. I can't even express how much that means to me, and I know to the others as well.
Love and blessings to you all. I plan to stay in better touch from now on.
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