2013 Survivors!!!
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Aruba - thanks for the reminder to check-in! Things are going well enough here. Summer is speeding by at lightening speed though. We leave for our cruise in a few weeks and I can't wait. First real vacation since cancer knocked on my door... Looking forward to uninterrupted and stress free relaxation with the family and our close friends who we are travelling with. It will start with a car trip from NY to FL with my 4 and 6 year old, though - so we'll see how well that goes...
Health-wise - feeling good. Still lots of stiffness and achiness if I don't keep up with my stretches daily, but LE seems to be staying away, which I'm thrilled about. Do have a f/u scan next week for that stupid spot they found on pancreas when I was having my digestive issues (which btw I am convinced have been 99% cured by dietary modifications and daily green juices!) - so not looking forward to that. And to top it off - my medical oncologist has left and her replacement is not here yet. So my f/u appt after the scan will be with the NP. Fortunately, I know her well and she knows my case well - so it'll be what it'll be... But even with that on the horizon, I feel like i've graduated to longer f/u time spans with my various docs and am finally starting to feel like I'm leaving cancer behind me. Hard to believe in a just a few weeks it'll be 2 years since i started chemo... I think back to those dark days and realize how much of a lifeline this thread (or the 2012 sisters) was. I don't think I would have made it through. Juneau - I can so easily remember chemo days in bed on the phone with you griping about the damn SEs... Feels good to put those days so far behind us! We've all come a long way ladies! Feel good and enjoy what remains of summer. Love you all!0 -
hi ladies!!! Sorry I've been so absent. Licking my wounds I suppose. I will write a large post later as I'm on my phone right now. Having a tough time finding a job this time. Frustrated.
Also. Tazzy... You can have you the garden, the she'd and the entire great outdoors! I'm covered in patches of poisin ivy. Started last Friday. Every day two or three new small patches appear somewhere. My left arm is the current victim. From wrist to above my arm pit! DH seems to not get it, so I have officially given him all yard work. I'm out!! I had it once last month, but not nearly this badly.
Anyway. More later. Crazy story to tell you all. Met a survivor last week. Hopefully you'll all meet her soon as well. :-)
Ramols; yes. VERY Hard to believe...
MaryEl... You look fantastic. And I like the long hair on him too!
2Fried; (((hugs)))
Momof3; hope your recovering well.
Ok. So post some summer pics ladies!!!! More later. xo
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Hi Juneaubugg,
Ok will try to post a couple of my favorite pictures of my summer vacation in Michigan. Sad but vacation is over and now back to my one year follow up appointments. Hard to believe Aug 8th will be one year since diagnosis.
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jo: i never would have thought of michigan as a vacation spot. But its beautiful!! Thanks for posting!
Heres a chuckle for you all...
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Juneaubugg,
As we in Michigan like to say....no salt water, no sharks but water everywhere to enjoy!
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View from our room in Aruba
Juneau love the avatar! Your hair is so long! Alas mine gave me such hodgita about growing in just keeping it short.
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thank you all for being with me earlier this week. I made it through surgery and came home yesterday afternoon. I still have the drain in, but hope to be getting it out later today when I go back to surgeon.
I am now at the doctor with my DS since he dropped furniture on his toe at work yesterday. Hopefully they can help him and he will be able to still work since he just bought a truck and needs to pay for it. We can't catch a break with our family!
I love all the pictures and would post some of ours, but don't know how. I will try and figure it out later.
I know I am missing getting back to everyone individually, but know that I am with everyone here and you really are my sisters!!!!!
HUGS to everyone!!!!
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Glad you're back home momof3 - rest up and feel good. Juneau - sending you good job hunt vibes! Jo - I love that log cabin! And Karen - your pics make me salivate even more for our upcoming Caribbean cruise!
Anyway - just wanted to share my morning with you all. This is my second year leading a team for the ACS Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, and this morning was the kick-off breakfast. I didn't go last year, but decided to give it a go this year. They did a small survivor ceremony to kick things off - having all survivors line up and one-by-one receive a cupcake with a lit candle, and announce to the room how many new birthdays you've had since you were cancer free. It was more moving for me than I thought it would be. And seeing some of the women at 1 year, with their fresh, fuzzy - post-chemo first-growth hair brought back the past two years with so much clarity. Survivors also got roses and a survivor pin. It was really a feel good kind of event. And now I'm super charged to try to meet or exceed the amazing fundraising accomplishments of my team last year. Anyone on Long Island is more than welcome to join my team - our page is here: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/themightymillersrachel2014
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Was at work and thinking of you all and seems ages since I checked in.
I would never thought Michigan was like that - wow! Guess that's another place on my bucket list.
momof3 - happy you are home - no place like it.
Juneau - WTF ? Poison Ivy - yikes!!
Reading your posts (and I wont be able to respond to all - hello everyone !) but yes, without our little 'family' I dont think I would've come out the other side of this journey with my sanity in tact (although I think some of my friends would question I did anyway
). It is a credit to us all that we check in less and live more. But thanks for being there.
I agree, that Summer is flying by. My Outlaws arrive on August 22nd for a months visit from England - only gonna get busier.
Ramols - that function sounded very moving - what a privilege to be part of that.
Hugs, peace and love to all xxxx
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Ok - i guess i've been in a sharing mood lately.
But i had to share what my 6 1/2 year old son just said to me in the kitchen this morning. The background - my husband and I have been juicing for several months now. I have one green a day as as supplement. He goes through waves of juice fasts for weight loss. He is on a 3 day fast right now, so when he came downstairs this morning, I asked what the scale had to tell him. So my son then asks me if I'm getting lighter too. I explained I'm not drinking my juice to lose weight. Naturally, mr. curiosity asked why i drink it then. I simply stated that I drink one a day to keep me healthy and hopefully make sure I don't ever have to go through cancer treatment again. He then proceeded to say - good, because cancer treatments are not fun! To which I replied - you're right, but I made it through. And then he blew me away by very casually and simply saying - that's because you're brave mommy. I started tearing up right there in the kitchen. Remember how brave you are ladies! Go find some happy today!!! 0 -
Ramols - Thanks for sharing your story! It made me tear up as I read it also and brought a big smile to my face!!!!!!
I got my drain out yesterday and it is amazing how much better I feel! I am still very sore and can't do much, but am not in as much pain every time I move.
HUGS to everyone!!!!!
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Ramols, Awwwww such a sweet little guy you have there. Thanks for sharing and give that cutie a hug from me :-)
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awe.. brave mommy...so special!
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Ramols it's amazing what our little men come out with. I also do the green drinks. I started with my juicer and moved on to the nutri bullet. I add my cancer fighting veggies and fruit with coconut water and on those rare blue moon days I can even get my daughter to partake!
BTW my friends sister is a new member here & started her treatments this week. Keep a good thought for her please.
Thanks and enjoy your weekend! I am off to a karate competition to watch my boy kick butt!
Karen
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Ramols - made me tear up to.... how cute !!Definitely a day for finding your happy - but then every day is
I am dog sitting for a friend this weekend - DH and buddies have gone on a golfing weekend. Bear (that's his name) and I are definitely finding our happy.
Good weekend all xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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great to hear the updates. I'm good, switching back from Tamoxifen toAromasin -willing to give it another try. Get a week off in between! Just had my 2 yr appt since end if chemo/last surgery. Had lovely weekend Vacation in New México with DH. Mostly all is good!
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Lisa may I ask why the switching? I hate tamoxifen and am curious what your reasons were.
Karen
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here's why. If I have the same kinds if stiffness and pain on Tamoxifen as the Aromasin, I might as well try thT again since it is the preferred treatment medically for post menopausal women. And it doesn't have the clotting or uterine issues. We will see. If it's worse I will change back.
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Thanks
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Hi Ladies,
Man it has been 4 ever since I have checked in on here. Today I was checking on some information for a friend that is dealing with throat cancer and came across this page. I know I get to talk to a lot of you on facebook from time to time but for those I don't just wanted to stop in and say, Hello!
Life get busy, as we all know but I always think about each of you and pray that everyone is enjoying life and happy! I am definitely traveling more and not working so many hours in my life. I am having a lot of fun this summer. I am more patient with myself about the dam 15 lbs that does not seem to want to budge even though I work my ass off. (I won't give up my beer though:))
Take care ladies! Miss you all!
Michelle
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Michelle so weird you popped up today. I was just thinking about you this morning. You popped into my head and I was wondering how you were. Glad you are doing good.
Karen
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OMG Michelle so good to hear from you. Are you still doing the same kind of work? Wind turbines or something along that line.
Ramols - you've got some great little guy there. Very insightful. Will make some gal a great catch someday.
Tazzy - sounds like Bear was more like a Pussycat.
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Good Morning all you beautiful ladies! I signed and saw all your beautiful pictures! 2 Fried - you made my day. Ramols - loved your happy story. Proof you can't keep the survivors down.
We've been in Sacramento for a few months with Monterey in between. Leaving for Laughlin at the end of the month and Hawaii at the end of Nov.
I think about you all everyday and find peace in knowing we are all out there doing our own thing and doing it well!
I'm doing a little less baking and beading. Now I'm drawing. Fingers are always busy.
No upcoming doctors appts until Dec. but I'm always available for pocket parties and prayers.
Hugs to all!
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Wow!!! So good to return from vacation and see all the familiar names and great pictures.
Michelle - I have been wondering how life has been going for you - good to read that you are doing well
2Fried - glad your lump was fat, thinking of you with DH
Juneau - adding good vibes to the job hunt
Ramols - thinking your scan is this week, in your pockets. The cruise sounds wonderful. Loved your post about the breakfast, very touching - then you posted about DS - you are a very fortunate, brave lady. Hug those boys tight
My DH and I love our green smoothies every day, my DH lost 80 lb three years ago and has kept it off - very proud of himTazzy - how was your vacation?
Before I left on vacation met with the genetics clinic and my breast surgeon. I am onto second step with genetics testing - BRCA 1 and 2 were negative so we can now proceed to test for Cowden's and Lynch Syndrome. See the geneticist in September. My breast surgeon has agreed to do the prophylactic left mastectomy when I have my DIEP so now I just wait for a date for that.
I have another week of vacation here at home and I am enjoying having some downtime, off to meet a good friend for lunch - my happy for today! Take care everyone!
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Thanks all for your sweet comments about my little guy. He is an old soul I think... Michelle - thanks for checking in. So good to hear you are doing well. Websister - sounds like you've been having a lovely time! And yes, I did have my pancreas scan yesterday. Was uneventful - except that for the first time ever the contrast made my heart race like crazy. Had to calm myself down mentally so as not to spiral into a panic attack... Will meet with the nurse (my MO has left and her replacement is not here yet...) on Friday to find out the results. Fingers crossed the cyst hasn't grown since last time and/or my daily greens have smashed it to smithereens. Hugs to all!
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Hi Girlfriends! It feels like forever since I've checked in. Hope you're all enjoying summer, family and friends. I had my Mx with recon surgery on July 23.and July 24th. I had a mastectomy with recon due to recurring cellulitis in my breast. I am so relieved to have that boob off my body!!! It was going to be DIEP flap but they ended up taking a little muscle so I think they call it a tram flap. I had to go back into surgery at 3 in the morning after the first surgery to remove a blood clot in the new breast. Everything was pretty good after that. The worst was my 3 day headache (I'm sure it was from anesthesia). I still have two drains that are taking their time slowing down. I hope to get one out today. Two of my sisters and my niece took turns coming to help out. My husband has secondary progressive MS and isn't walking very well. It was nice having extra help so he didn't overdo it. Our house feels like it has tripled in size and is too much for us to handle anymore. I can't help but feel like I'm just waiting for DH to have an accident that will really disable him and he'll never get back to where he is now. I became an Arbonne consultant this past year to help bring in some extra money. (Being a special ed aide at school doesn't quite pay the bills!) I'm so thankful for the insurance, though! I'll hopefully have revision surgery plus reduction on the other side at the end of October or November. I think the nipple tattoo will be the final step. I can't wait!! (I never, ever thought I'd be looking forward to surgery, ha!) ((Hugs)) to you all. You're always in my prayers!!
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Sweegwi, good to hear things are looking up. I had remembered you were having some struggles. I always find it interesting how some folks zip through with no complications and some of us keep tripping over ourselves to get well. I finally got the fluid build up gone after my second surgery, then the blood clot and the leg took over complicating my life. Glad you got the blood clot taken care of. No one moved very quickly when I was dealing with cancer, but when I had a blood clot and the developed a staph infection in the same leg they really moved. Guess that puts breast cancer in a bit of perspective. Not a medical emergency, even though we think it is. Hope all continues to go well with the remainder of your reconstruction and recovery.
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Today is my one year Cancer Free Anniversary!!! Its been a quick year....0 -
ndgrrl - congrats!!
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Ndgrrl - yay! I'm taking that as a good sign. Today I am going for my Mammo and BS appt.
Ok girls anyone who wants to go to NY and get some pretzels and dirty water digs just jump right in those pockets! Got my big girl pants on so there is lots of room!
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