2010 Sisters
Comments
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I was diagnosed at the end of July. Met with a couple of surgeons til I found one that I thought was great! I had a skin sparing mastectomy at the beginning of November. This week I met with medical and radiation oncs. Trying to decide on the type of treatment I want. It's all overwhelming as I have done alot of research. I think we have to stick together in the months ahead to get through all of this.....and we can do it!
Hugs to all!
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Tekyla, I also have the three tatoo's although for the life of me I can't find the 3rd. It's tucked somewhere south - under the boob. Tried to find it by looking in the mirror but to no avail. I chime in when someone says that they have a new tattoo, usually one of the young girls at the office. I say I have three.... they look at me and can't believe I'd do such a thing. Since none of my coworkers know that I've had BC they just think - wow that's kinda cool. Of course they don't know they're just pin dots.
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samsue- LOL. I say keep those young office workers wondering about your tattoos. My 12 YO is always referring to me as "old school". When I tell him a bit about my life in the 60's he seems profoundly impressed!
For all of you starting rads. It really does fly by. You will see.
I finished my last rad yesterday. It feels quite weird to be "done" with this cancer treatment journey. I am doing every "lifestyle" change I possibly can to help prevent recurrence. I know the medical doctors poo poo nutrition, exercise etc...but there is lots of scientific evidence that it is important. The anti inflammatory way of eating (typical in Japan, India, China where they have very low BC) is a healthier aproach for everything, heart, diabetes, weight. I have always eaten quite healthily. I now have very good motivation to make sure I include brocolli, turmeric, beans etc...Now if I can just get "turned on" to exercise!!!
I am wondering how our ladies at the beach are doing. Makes me smile thinking about them!
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DesignerMom - Hooray for finishing rads yesterday. I did too. Isn't it such a great feeling knowing you don't have to go next week?
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Jo- Congrats to you too! Yes, I am thrilled to not have a medical appointment next week! As I said, it is weird too, now that treatment is over. I feel like I just survived a wild, runaway horseride and I just got out of the saddle!
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Congrats DesignerMom!!
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DesignerMom - Gotta go back next week for a "skin check". Had lots of skin issues during rads. If my moron rad onc had let me use creams from the beginning I don't think I would have needed a followup. Sure hope this is the last one with them. That is one less appt I have to remember to keep. I am through with the BS and hopefully rad onc. Will just have onc to see - that is enough.
Ditto on the wild, runaway horse ride. Too bad it's not my butt that took the punishment.
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DesignerMom - Congrats on finishing rads. I finished my short round on my spine yesterday too. Wish you were here at the beach with us. BarbaraA has posted a link to some pictures on the Older Women's thread. I will try to post mine when I get home on Monday.
We are having a blast. It is supposed to snow this evening and we are going out to a really nice dinner tonight. We got to go see the wild mustangs back in the dunes. It was great! We will go shopping tomorrow. We are sitting by the fireplace watching HGTV. Next year we need to have a whole lot more of you come with us.
Joy and blessings to all, Amy Jo
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Congrats DesignerMom, Here is hoping for no recurrence! I cant wait to be done next year.
Kristy
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Congrats to those finishing rads. Its great to be done! Teklya, it's ok to vent. You might be surprised how quickly they go by, and I really liked my techs and Rad Onc a lot. Turns out we have kids at the same college. Hugs!
AmyJo, my daughter called from Durham to say it is snowing! That's a lot of excitement for a Florida girl!!
Hi to Barbara and all the ladies, have a great time!
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Jo and Designermom. Congratulations on finishing the rads! YEAH. It does seem to go fast, but not when you are in the process of it. How strange isn't it. I had to see the rad onc for two follow-up app't so that's not unusual. He's actually the one I've gotten the best care from. He had me do a MRI this morning and will be seeing him later in the month. This is his way of keeping up with my progress and I'm so glad he is taking care of things. The onc on the other hand didn't order any tests and doesn't even know what my boob looks like! She carries around a tablet to write scrips. Hope she stay's within the lines with her crayola.
I do get a chuckle when anyone talks about the tattoo's.... my little secret!
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Amyjo and Barbara- So glad you are having a great time. Throw a snowball at a wild Mustang for me! I'm off to the Older Women's thread to look for photos.0
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Designermom congrats on finishing rads. I have just started. Have 2 under my belt 32 left to go. I am suprised your docs poopoo excersize and nutrition. My BS. RO and MO have all stressed that that is my best defense against recurrence.
Samsue--I have found it strange that my Medical Onco has never looked at my breast, same as yours runs test. My RO on the other hand has looked at my breast every time I see him.
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SherryC... I'm with you and the rad onc. He's taken care of most of my follow-up needs. The onc on the other hand has seen me once in Sept and I don't go back until March 2011. The PCP said he will do anything else that needs taken care of. I think I have a team of two MD's and all you ladies that are watching my back!
It's late Sat and I'm surfing the web.... Take care everyone!
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Sheeryc - Did they give you any specific advice to follow about exercise and nutrition?0
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samsue - I have seen my onc twice since dx. He has examined me both times and tried a course of Arimidex. He is really good but did not want to do anything else until I was finished with rads. I did not have chemo but he wants to see how I made it through rads and then plan accordingly. I was all for this. That was one less appt I had to go to. I also know that I could have called him at anytime if I needed to and he would have seen me right away.
I thought I would never finish rads. Seems like it dragged on and on. But then again, I have driven to the same area for the past three months. My BS and rad onc were in buildings next to each other. Felt after awhile that I could put my car on auto pilot and then it take me there.
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OMG Barb, you rented that house or it is yours? Its georgous! Wish I could have went.
I would be in heaven in a place like that.
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jo1955 - I know what you mean about putting the car on auto pilot. All of my doctors offices and the hospital are all within 1/2 mile of each other. My primary, onco, RO, BS, PS and the doctor that put my port in is married to my BS and they have a joint practice. It is about a 46 mile round trip from my house.
We are having such a good time at the First BCO Outer Banks Retreat. Next year we need to have more come. If you are able to move at all you need to plan to come. As soon as I figure out how to post pictures I will be posting my pictures from this trip.
Everyone have a good day, Joy and blessings, Amy Jo
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No Sweetie, this is not my house. It is a friend of Melissa's. Nice,
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BarbaraA - Thanks for sharing the pics. What a house - bet the view was amazing. Sorry to have missed all the fun. Was still doing rads and unfortunately for me, I have a job that demands all my attention in the winter months. Can't usually get away until summer. Already have a cruise planned for April with DH. We are celebrating two things - my birthday and that I survived the BC beast. Looking forward to it.
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Yay on you, Jo! Love cruising! You two have a great time! I'm going in January for my BDay and a hooray for surviving BC.
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BarbaraA - Where are you going and what cruise line? We go out of Galveston on Carnival. I am good at finding great deals. We are cruising to the Western Caribbean - Jamaica, Cayman Islands & Cozumel. Have been on this trip before but don't get tired of it. The one thing I definitely want to do is snorkel in Cozumel. We always do this one and have a great time. Haven't decided on the other ports yet. This will be our 7th cruise and just love it for vacation.
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Hey 2010 Sisters,
I'm done with with treatment but haven't started hormonal therapy yet (see the Onc on Thursday). Already I am having stiff joints, especially in my hands, I guess from the sudden lack of estrogen (chemopause). Is anyone else experiencing this? Does it get better or worse after starting hormonal therapy? I think I'm going on an AI and I think it might makes things even worse.
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shelleyj43 - CONGRATS ON FINISHING TREATMENT. I did not have chemo so can't comment on that. I am finished with rads and supposed to see my onc next month to start Femara. Hope I don't get the stiff joints.
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shellyj43 congrats on finishing treatments. Sorry to hear of the stiff joints, be sure and talk to your dr. about it. I did not have chemo and just started rads.
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shelley- Count me in on the stiff joints! When I get up, I sort of walk a ways flat footed until things get limbered up. My knees really feel it going down stairs. I'm sure this is chemo related. I have heard that the aromatase inhibitors can definitely cause joint pain. Perhaps go to the Arimidex thread and talk to some of those ladies?
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DesignerMom, Shellyj43, and jo1955 - I have been on Femara since July and have had a little joint and bone pain from that. I have been on a Femara thread on BCO and found that the bone pain and the night sweats associated with it seem to be less if you take it at night. I am going to start that tomorrow and will keep you posted. The worst SE I have is the night sweats. I wake up absolutely wringing wet with sweat. I have noticed that the amount of sugar I have during the day is closely related to the severity and frequency of the episodes. I am trying to be good and stay away from sugar but I have a sweet tooth and it is hard to cut it all out.
I am now home from the Outer Banks retreat. We has such a good time. I wish SV had not tried to do so much on Saturday as I think that made her a little sicker on Sunday then she would have otherwise been. We all did have a good time, but I am glad to be home to my warm fireplace, bowl of chili and cornbread. I will be downloading the pictures I took this weekend and posting them as soon as I get it all figured out. Next year I hope a lot more on you ladies can join us.
I need to get my supper so I can warm up. Hope everyone has a restful evening.
Joy and blessings, Amy Jo
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AmyJo- Chili sounds SOOO good. its freezing here. Was just at the supermarket today too, (sporting my headwrap from franceluxe.com) (first time in public since the hair loss) should have picked up the supplys for chili. Oh well, next time.
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amyjo49 - Thanks for the tip of when to take Femara. I will see my onc on Monday to get the RX and am going to ask him if I can wait until after the holidays to start. I already have night sweats so that will not be anything new. As far as the sugar goes, I don't use real sugar (DH is a diabetic) and I am not much of a sweet eater so I hope that will help with the bone pain. I hope Femara works for me. Arimidex made me so nauseated I had to quit it after 3 weeks. Will keep you posted.
So glad to hear everyone had such a good time. Will look forward to seeing the pictures.
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