2013 Survivors!!!
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Believe777, did you Dr run test before writing that in your chart? My Dr doesn't state any of that and he did not run any test, but he did have me take my port out. I'm just scared because I have a pain in my back that won't go away and when I told him, he sent me for therapy of which I've only been twice due to the holidays.
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Greetings from S. Florida! Enjoying this whirlwind visit and returning home Thursday. Will catch up more then. I just wanted to stop in to wish each and every one of you celebrating Christmas a wonderful holiday filled with warmth, happiness and blessings! Hugs!
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Aruba we will be adjusting the sails soon! My DH and youngest son arrived in Barbados on Saturday after a very challenging Atlantic crossing and my other son and I fly Christmas Eve and Day to arrive for dinner with friends on the boat anchored next to ours!
As for NED, I think that is kind of what it is for all of us and Dr. Susan Love basically says that too.
For all of you, I wish you a peaceful and happy holiday season no matter where you are and what you are up to.
Hugs,
Marian
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Aruba - what a gorgeous photo! Enjoy your whirlwind trip, hugs to your dad! Wishing you another hand pay in 2013... I'm still waiting, but the year is almost over :-(
Nettie - you don't have your particulars on this site, I don't know what you have been through. I remember asking the Radiologist, after radiation, if I was cancer free now and she said technically I was cancer free right after surgery. Can't get my MO to commit to anything more than NED. I hear the fear in you. Ask your doctors all the questions you want and complain about any pains that you think are something. You will drive yourself nuts, if you don't. We are all paranoid about a next shoe dropping but we can't let that control our destiny. I'm probably the worst one on here to be giving advise but you sound scared. Get the answers you need, is their another one of your doctors that you can talk to, if your main doctor isn't understanding? My appts over the past year, started out every three months and then went to every four months. I get blood work done before each appt. and the results get emailed to me before my appt. My doctor basically tells me the results and asks if I have questions. She also does a breast exam. I'd say the appt takes about 15 to 20 minutes. The admitting nurse spends more time weighing me in and asking a bunch of questions and asks me (if I have any aches & pains) to pick out the happy or sad face that best describes how I feel. My cousin, who is a nurse, says that chart is common. Seemed odd to me. Pretty un eventful, at this point. I hope that all helps. My surgery was May 1st, 2012. It gets so much easier, you will see.
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Nettie- welcome to our family. I have YET to be told that I'm NED, like Believe I happen to read those 3 glorious letters upside down when she stepped out of the room. I go in every 3 mos for labs and I can't talk her into doing any additional scans. Only said if there is a medical reason to do it. Maybe ask your PCP about doing one, I've thought about asking mine.
We had Christmas at my parents house on Saturday night. We had so much fun. Sat around and BS'd all night and watched the kids open their gifts. Taylor was truly surprised when she opened her brand new flute. She has been using my best friends flute for the last year and a half. I love Christmas and believe it's truly about the giving than receiving. Missing Jon as he is back at work for his 3 weeks and won't be home until the 2nd week of January. I'm off work for the next 2 days and am going to take this opportunity to sleep in I can't wait for that especially since I was 30 mins late this morning because I overslept.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas! Love you all!
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I'm not sure why my stats are not showing. I did enter them, and thanks so much for the responses. I'll try to check my info to see, as it's too much to type from my phone.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!!!
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Nettie- under your profile- settings- diagnosis and treatment change it from private to public and that will show your stats. Saves a lot of typing.
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I. think I have it right now. And for the record, my BS told me that he got it all. therefore my treatment was preventative. but so much is happening inside that it's hard to think that it's not cancer.
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Nettie- did you do Chemo and Rads only or Lumpectomy/chemo/rads? Just curious.
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Lumpectomy, chemo (4 DD A/C, 12 weekly taxol), 33 radiation. Supposed to start aromasin in January.
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Nettie: Welcome to our family!
Believe: my dr doesn't even say NED - she just says I'm doing great. :-) Just went last Thrusday (yes more bloodwork - every 3 mos) and a exam. She said she's not going to reduce my visits even though I'm officially a year out since starting the tamoxifen. She said she does every 3 months for 2 years; so we should enjoy our time together. LOL!
My new boss went to HR about my time/hours.... It's a LONG story and too much to type, but basically my old boss allowed (scheduled) for me to work from home in between my revision surgery this past september - and although the new boss honored it, it clearly pissed him off. then he's questioning some other time off (that he approved and I have in writing). one complaint was that I asked to work from home on the 20th of Dec. while I was having my pellet stove installed. (He said no of course). Anyway- it was on the list of complaints... and it WAS the 20th while I was sitting there talking to the Rep from HR. I asked her WHY would this be listed as an issue. I asked and he said no. I figured there was no harm in asking, right... now I know.. WRONG - there is harm in asking. He apparently gets pissed off easily and isn't going to give me any breaks. fucker.... When I pointed out that the complaint was for that VERY DAY and CLEARLY I had come to work because he said no, the look on her face vindicated me a bit and I think made her realize that he's just complaining. Her mom is a 25 year survivor and she JUST stopped going to her dr every 6 months - I told her there was nothing I can do about having to see 4 different drs every 3 months and the tests. That I do my best to do it early in the AM or late in the PM. (Cancer drs don't seem to have night hours - after all most of their patients aren't working!) I skip lunch those days as well. and if that prick of a boss of mine (I didn't use those words of course) wants me to come in an hour early or stay an hour later on those days... THEN HE SHOULD JUST INSTRUCT ME THAT THIS IS WHAT HE WANTS! the fucking prick actually said to me "I don't want to talk about your time off, there's too much discussion about it. I shouldn't have to take so much time on it". so I told her - you tell me what to do, and I'll do it, but this is the way it is for at least the next year. She said we'd talk after the first of the year when she gets a chance to go talk to her boss. I was not written up, there was nothing to sign or anything.... I told her that I realize that he is a by the book kind of guy (unlike my original hiring manager) and I would adjust. Working from home (even with snow) isn't going to be an option either.
Is anyone else having issues with time off and drs appointments???
OK - so THAT was the SHORT version!!!
Scottie - hope you're reading this and have power soon.
Joanne; got you not on FB (was on my phone so hard to respond) - but the new house is WONDERFUL! We fired up the pellet stove last night... it's fantastic! Photos are forthcoming ladies....
I love you all.... and hope you have a WONDERFUL holiday! Being Jewish... I have invited my mom and Aunt/Uncle over for a nice Christmas Eve dinner.... LOL! My DHs family is in North Carolina and he works in retail so no time off to go see them. We got lots of Home Depot and Lowes gift cards though!!! YAY!
(((BIG HUGS LADIES)))
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I am so confused as to why so many ladies with diagnosis of stage 1 and even 0 or having mastectomies?? Just really makes me say "hum"!
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Hi Nettie - mastectomy vs lumpectomy is a very personal decision and I don't think any of us - as much as we all have in common with each other thanks to this stupid disease - can get inside the heads of any one of us. At Stage II and with no option of lumpectomy based on the size/placement of the tumor compared to my itty bitty breast size - I didn't have a choice. But I didn't bat an eyelash when it came to deciding to prophylactically lop off the remaining boob. Diagnosed at 37 and with 2 young kids - I seized on that as my way of doing all I could to ensure I remain here for my kids. I'm not sure if the stats back up my decision - there is lots of mixed info out there - but for my own personal sanity - that was the choice I made. My grandma had two separate occurrences in separate breasts 5 years apart. So I think part of that played into my decision. I don't know what I would have done had I been stage 1 or even 0. But it's possible I would have still opted for the mastectomy. Who knows... We all make the best decision we can at the time we are forced to with the set of info we have.
Juneau - your boss is a true dick. I listen to all the struggles many of the women on this board have had with their jobs and time off due to cancer and I feel so very blessed and lucky to work where I work. Not only were they insanely flexible and understanding, but when I continued to thank them profusely for this flexibility and understanding - they brushed it off as if to say - why would it be any different. I don't think they realize how many crappy bosses and work environments are out there. I'm so sorry you have to deal with that added stress. Fuckers... See how he feels if he or someone he loves gets put in our shoes. Sigh...
Can you ladies tell I'm procrastinating from work? Who can focus when vacation is hours away!
Off tomorrow to take the boys to Rocking Horse Ranch for a few days (our first time - I'm excited) and then off to visit family in PA for a few days. Looking forward to finding lots of happy! And in the spirit of reminding ourselves how far we have come - this time last year when we headed out on holiday break, I was wearing a scarf and anxiously awaiting my exchange surgery to be followed by radiation. Now - I await nothing but living!!! Have a great holiday season. Love you all!!! 0 -
Hi Nettie- I had a mastectomy because, while my invasive tumor was small, I was told lumpectomy was not an option because I also had several areas of DCIS in the same breast and lumpectomies would have left me with a very cratered landscape (even in my large breasts). But some women have them even when not indicated by their doctors, choosing to avoid possible multiple biopsies and resulting fear down the line. At this point it is not shown that mastectomies are better than lumpectomies in disease-free survival, so each woman has to weigh the pros and cons and decide for herself.
I have not had any blood work requested by my doctors since pre-recon surgery last August. And I am not scheduled to see my oncologist again until next June (about every 9 months at this point). I've been told that there just aren't any tests that are indicated if I don't have any symptoms of trouble. Of course I would rather be proactive if possible, but with early stage cancer the prognosis is very good so I am choosing to have faith that my NED status will continue.
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Happy holidays all! Just a quick check in to say hi.
Welcome Nettie.
We have been enjoying visiting mom and the nice weather, almost a 90 degree temp difference between here and home. Unreal.
Aruba, waving to you across the state.
HUGS to all
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Hi ladies...just popped in to wish you all a merry christmas and uneventful 2014.x Big hugs to all.:)
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Juneau- what a dick your boss is, I would probably have to slash some tires.
I loved your picture of the pellet stove, looked beautiful. Nettie- I have some friends who were stage 0 and stage 1 that opted for BMX because of immediate family history or location/size of tumor. I agree with Ramols that it is such a personal decision to go forward with something so drastic. I could have gone with a lumpectomy or UMX due to location of tumor. I'm the one who told my BS that I wanted a BMX. I am a second generation BC survivor, my granny is a 47 yr survivor and look towards her for the comfort I need in my body changes.
Iatigger- Warm weather sounds great, right now its 30 degrees in texas. I would love it to be 50. I hope you enjoy your time with your mom.
I guess it's time for me to get up and do laundry and get ready for Santa to come tonight. Jon has already had Santa call and talk to Taylor, I'm hoping she still believes. If I don't talk to you all tomorrow Merry Christmas love you all!
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iatigger have a wonderful visit with your mom JEALOUS
Scottiee has no power ... Spoke with her this morning and they are getting cold. The live in a high rise apt building so have to go up and down stairs when they go out. The food including the organic turkey is safe on the balcony. She didn't like my suggestion of snuggling with her DH.
Juneau glad things are good at home ... Enjoy the pellet fireplace. Forget the prick of a boss for a day ... Not worth it. They usually get their own eventually.
Take care all and Merry Christmas or happy holidays ... xoxoxo
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Thanks to all of you that took the time to answer. Please don't think I was judging anyone, I just get so confused as to why there are so many different decisions, but you all helped me understand! I live in a small town, so when I was first diagnosed, all I could think was get this out of me so I can know for sure what I'm dealing with. That being said and done, once I got the pathology, I had it all sent to MD Anderson and went there for a second opinion. The only thing that they thought that they may have done differently was to give some chemo before removing that way we would know if the cancer was responsive, but since we couldn't go back and at the time, I was NED, the treatment was given as hopefully a preventative in the event that a cell had escaped detection and also because the cancer was considered agressive, grade 3! I asked if they would recommend a mastectomy, but they did not have a definite yes, they wanted me tested for BRCA and said that if it were positive( it was negative), they may lean toward the mastectomy, but if not, my survival rates would not change between lumpectomy and treatment, compared to mastectomy and treatment!
And Juneau, I'm so sorry you have a boss with no understanding, I am so fortunate, I love my job and have all the time I need to take care of myself! I work for a small Co-op, only 6 employees, I am the one and only bookkeeper, so I'm the only one that does my job, but I'm allowed to do it at whatever pace I need, however, I must say, I breezed through treatment, only missing for appts!! I was very blessed! However, now that all treatment is done, port is removed, I've begun with this back pain, which I'm told is more than likely truncal lymphedema, scar tissue and stiffness from healing from the surgery and radiation! I'm just ready to not have to worry about the pains.
All in all, I do not really have anything to complain about! And BTW, as far as I know, the only other breast cancer in my family was my maternal grandmother, and she died in 1965 and I don't think anyone really knows what caused her death. Back then the only treatment she received was a mastectomy and from what I'm told she recovered well from that, but no one has told me the amount of time between the mastectomy and her death. I have asked lots of questions, but my mom was from the Chicago area, and when she married, she moved to Louisiana where my dad was from, so she was not there when her mom was sick and she and her sister and brothers just never really talked about it, so she is not a wealth of information and even if she knew more at one time, she doesn't remember details now!
Well, I've rambled on, again wishing you all a Merry Christmas!!
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Scottie - boy are you going to have a lot of reading to do - to catch up with our chatty group. Hope your power comes on soon. Maybe you'd better come to CA to thaw out.
Nettie - you have to believe you made the right decision for you. It won't help to keep second guessing your choices. I'm on Arimidex now and although it took some getting used to, I'm fine now. Give it some time to get used to. We'd all do anything that improves or chances of staying NED.
Juneau - your boss sounds like a jerk. Hopefully he never has to walk in your shoes. Don't waste good energy on him. Enjoy all of your blessings.
It is 3:16pm here and I'm still waiting for Amazon to deliver the last of my Christmas presents. Getting nervous but I have faith.
Merry Christmas to all - my very special friends and BC sisters :-)
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Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!!!!!! I wish everyone a great year to come!!!!! You are all my sisters and I cherish you all!!!!!
I talked to the pediatrician today and he suggests we go with a surgeon at the locall children's hospital since he says she will have many stiches and they will be better with the aftercare and also the fun things to distract her during surgery. I made an appointment for January 14th and we would love to have as many of you as possible there to give us support. Hopefully they can do surgery shortly after that so that she will still be able to be part of the musical in March.
Take care everyone and have a great day tomorrow.
Hush to everyone!!!!!
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Fuck it... hate it when you lose a complete post.... here goes again.
Juneau - have to agree, your boss sounds like a real prick - what a wanker.
To all you ladies (if you celebrate) have a wonderful Christmas with loved ones making memorable memories. Here's to another year kicked into touch. Remembering our sisters who have passed. Raise a glass to you all.
Off to Vegas 5am in the morning - woo hoo..... wish me luck - ha ha !
Love you all ladies, and thanks for always being here xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Juneau - I agree with everyone else that your boss is being awful! I got a new boss last December just a week after I finished radiation. She seemed concerned, but then pulled me into her office a few months later and told me that I should really try to limit my time out of the office for doctors appointments early or late in the day as it looked bad. I was also doing the job of 2 people since one of our workers was out with her husband who was going through lung cancer treatments. She also did not like that I was trying to make up the time out. I had more work than I could handle if I easn't out and I also did not have any sick time left. I broke down in her office and told her look I have 6 doctors I need to go to and explained that I had no choice in when most of the appointments were and that I had no more sick time as I had used it all up during my surgeries and treatments. I even mentioned that my surgeon had wanted me to take 4 weeks off after my hysterectomy, but that since there was so much work with BJ out that I came back to work after 1 week. After this she apologized to me and has been better since for the most part. Although now that I have appointments with my DD she told me the other day that since we have so much work I should have my DH take the kids to their appointments and she even asked me to move 2 of my appointments coming up until after our big proposal is due on 1/9. I am only getting tomorrow off and New Year's Day off, but she is taking a whole week off even though we are so busy. I informed her today that I made my DD appointment with the surgeon after 1/9 and that I would be going to the appointment and also surgery when that happens. My DD and the rest of my family mean too much to me to not be there when they need me. Her DS just had surgery last Friday and she took the day off so I think she understands more since it just happened to her. We can only hope it gets better!
Take care and send pictures of the house when you can.
BIG HUGS TO YOU!!!!!!
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Peace, Loral
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Hi everyone😱.......Jo thanks for posting for me...❤️ Well, it has been the ice storm from hell here in Toronto...we finally got power yesterday afternoon but thousands will still be without until the weekend .
We have had a number of deaths already due to the extreme cold....hovering around -30 at times. The city has opened up "heating centers" everywhere.
On the bright side got lots of exercise, living on the 22nd floor we were up and down many times with water, coffee and food . Thank God Tim Horton had a backup generator so we could get some coffee and food there.
I want to wish all of you a wonderful holiday and Xmas , with joy, happiness and good health for the coming years. Don't know where I would be today without you all.
To all the newbies.....welcome...❤️......sorry you have to be here with us but it is a wonderful place if you need support, advice and maybe just a laugh. These women are truly the best.
Love you all.
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Hi Scottie, so glad your family has endured the ice storm safe and sound. Hugs
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Welcome, Nettie
Good luck, Tazzy
Ramols - so good to hear that you are doing well
Momof3 - in your pockets for you DD's appointment
Scottie - so glad you have your power back, my 18 year old was in Toronto for the weekend and had lots of stories to tell us when he got back yesterday
Juneau - so sorry you have had such a hard time with your boss, I also am fortunate with my manager, he has been very supportive and patient; I am not actually back to full time hours yet, my insurance caseworker proposed another three months of part time for me until April and then they will reassess, my doctor has agreed with this - not how I had envisioned my return to work would be.
Sorry I'm late in adding my wishes for a Merry Christmas to all and a healthy and Happy New Year - I've been working hard on finishing presents, cleaning and preparing when not working and family arrived Monday, lots of fun but busy with all the little ones.
Take good care, everyone.
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Holiday warmth and relaxation and hugs to all!
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Hi all, just had my six month follow up, go every three months. My MO asked when I had last had a chest x-Ray. He must have seen my face when he asked that because he said he was just ordering it as routine. He said my lungs sounded fine. Has anyone else had a chest x-Ray ordered for them. Freaking me out a bit, but I have to keep telling myself he'd have no reason to lie to me, and I did have two cat scans as part of my radiation so the lungs would have been in those pictures as we'll and no one was concerned about what was seen. Just wondering. Hope you all had a great holiday.
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kkuziel, I don't think you should worry. From reading the boards and my own experience, each MO seems to have a different protocol. I had a chest X-ray about 6 months after rads ended, all was clear, and radiologist said I didn't really need it and shouldn't have it again.. It made me very nervous as well, but all was clear. I think if your MO had an concerns he would have told you. Some MOs are just super cautious.
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