Life does not end with a stage IV diagnosis (really!)
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Lynne, thanks for sharing what a special grandson my Thomas is. I am so blessed to have him in my life. His mom and my son never married but she lets us have him every other weekend. She is a special mom. My son has many problems, in addition to fighting addiction, and does the best he can do, but she realizes that he needs a relationship with his grandparents and makes sure he gets it. She is a great role model for her children.
It is great seeing the baby pictures. I was able to see all my children today and my three granddaughters. We celebrated Mother's Day today. My husband cooked a nice dinner. The little ones called it "outdoor" chicken. Barbecued on the grill. Yummy.
I am hoping to go to the Orioles game tomorrow if we have nice weather. Is it ever going to be warm??
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Kandy,
Holding that new baby in your arms will be amazing. August will come quickly.
A very happy Mother's Day to all.
Outdoor chicken? Too funny
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Happy Mother's Day to all the BCO mothers here of children and pets alike. Enjoy this day!
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💐💐🍾🍾
Happy Mother's Day!
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Hello Ladies! Happy Mothers' day, a tiny bit belated! ....Is it just me who feels a certain irony as our breasts kill us!
I clicked on this thread ("Life does not end with stage IV diagnosis!) and read some recent comments, but did not read through all 1,400+ comments, so please forgive any repeat....BUT, re: the topic...Hell Yeah! Life does not end!! In many ways it begins! I was diagnosed almost 18 months ago, and I think these may have been the best 18 months of my life! I have reprioritized my life, and am fast-tracking all of my "someday" goals. I only wish that I had this perspective earlier...BUT, so glad and grateful to have it now! So many people get hit by a bus, or fall from a heart attack, and they never get this time to sort things out and do what makes sense and is right. We do get this time...very fortunate in this regard.
To any newbies...please, please, please don't freak out!! Recalibrate, and make the most of the time you have. You might have a lot of time, you don't know. That is an agreement between the pharmaceuticals, your lifestyle, and your body.
Happiness to all! Take care, go vegan! LynnFish
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LynnFish that's really great I was diagnosed a year ago lots has happened but when I got done with the crying things got better. After having to completely rearrange my life moving cities and selling old homes for new after all the logistical stuff was done. Life got better I love more I see more and I enjoy more. I waste nothing and living in the moment is the best way to be. So Lynn I couldn't agree with you more.
Wendy
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Wendy, I'm so very glad for you! So many people don't understand and almost can't deal with the happiness of folks like us! I frequently find that other people feel worse about it all (i.e. my illness...) than I do, so I find myself comforting and reassuring them, which is kind of odd, right?
I've said to many people "Obviously we're all dying, I'm just doing it faster!". And more consciously. While I certainly don't look forward to the really nasty stuff that will almost certainly come near the end, I suspect that even that will be OK, especially if life is lived well up to that point...AND, side note, I'm pretty certain that happiness helps our health...Enjoy!
LynnFish
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Happy belated Mother's Day to all! GatorGal, I love that outdoor chicken too! LOL! 3 grandaughters1 You are truly blessed. I hope you got to the game, had sunshine and a blast! I love going to baseball games. It does help tremendously to live in the moment every day and just do what you love as often as you can. And yes, my perspective on life has changed dramatically! Wendy, I may be changing cities and homes soon and while it is scary, I look forward to a new adventure in life!
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While I don't have the exact date, May 2008 was when my BC recurrence was discovered in my right lung. My sister prays for my healing. She says she wants a miracle. I feel I've had a couple of miracles. In 1987 I was given a 20% chance of surviving 5 years from my original Brest cancer. I was cancer free for 20 years. That was miracle one. Miracle two is 8 years with stage IV. While my qualify of life isn't what it was, mainly due to chemo side effects and fatigue, I am so thankful to have an oncologist and friends and family who really have stood by me. I have done my best to make these past years meaningful both for me and those who love me. It hasn't been easy and it hasn't been perfect but we do the best we can do with the hand we are dealt. That's what I strive for every day, even if that means a day I stay in bed because of low counts.
Artist, I can't imagine changing cities and homes but you sound excited. You must be way more adventurous than me!! I'm happy for you! Sounds like it worked out well for Wendy.
Still thankful, Caryn, for this thread
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LynnFish, I totally agree with you! I am fast-tracking the things I've always put off. I'm originally from Denver and have lived in Colorado my whole life. I've always wanted to tour the Molly Brown House, but just never got around to it. So, this year for Mother's Day, my teen daughter and I went there for high tea. We sat with a great group of ladies and had a ball! One small thing off my bucket list. Happy Sunday to all.
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Thanks GatorGal for both the positive thinking on your situation and the encouragement about moving. We still waffle around and haven't made any decisions yet. We just can't decide what would be the best solution. We both have good jobs here and a wonderful home. Moving would mean starting over somewhere new, Not an easy thing at our ages (mid-50's). I hate for my DH to have to as he is very established. But trying to downsize here is nearly impossible because smaller houses get snapped up almost as soon as they list and are super expensive. Too much for my mind to think about along with everything else. Somedays I think we just JUMP, others I just want to crawl under the covers.....
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i really get that crawling under the covers! I've gotten to be pretty good at that! Especially after a weekend filled with grandchildren! LOL!
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Oh, hahahaha! Yes, I remember when my kids used to come up to my face very early in the morning and whisper rather loudly MOOOOOMMMMY! so as not to wake me up.........
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I've spent a couple of nights at my granddaughter's house when my dd was out. She wakes up and sits up in her bed shouting "Mimi, Mimi, Mimi!", until I come into her room. A very efficient alarm clock.
Here's Miles at 4 weeks old:
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Awww, he's so cute.
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Mimi, Mimi, Mimi, you have adorable grandchildren!!
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Oh, very adorable photo, exbrxgrl. I can just about smell the wonderful kissing-his-head baby scent.
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Wow, what a beautiful baby boy
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beautiful!
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Caryn, that is a beautiful picture of a beautiful baby. He looks like he would like to say something profound. It must have warmed your heart and put a smile on your face when you heard your granddaughter calling "Mimi".
Enjoy the weekend, everyone.
Lynne
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What a sweetheart little Miles is! So handsome already! And I'm smiling at the image of your granddaughter calling you! You are very blessed!
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What a beautiful baby, Caryn. I've got SO many years to wait before I get one if those!
Here is my life does not end at stage 4 upcoming vacation: this summer my DH,DS, DD and I are going on an African Safari. We are going to Tanzania and then on a Gorilla trek in Rwanda. It was very expensive... We probably would've saved a lot in airfare if we booked it for NEXT summer, but I'm kinda in the why wait mode. I mean, i feel great now, and anything could happen. So... Off we go.
Stefanie
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Your trip sounds very exciting stefajoy!! I think that is awesome that you are going for it and not waiting. I hope you have a wonderful time!
Caryn, too cute for words!!!!
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Stef, what an amazing trip you have to look forward to
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OMG Caryn, Miles is sooooo gorgeous...... A truly beautiful baby! Stephanie, your vacation sounds fabulous. And heck ya, why wait? When it feels right it just is. It is so great you are going as a family and will create such wonderful memories for years to come.
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Miles is adorable my goodness I want one of these too I can wait forever for that one.
Stefanie that sounds like the dream. I have been thinking lately where I would like to still go. Reading your post gives me something to ponder. You have to tell us all about it and lots of pictures please
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Stefanie, Your upcoming trip sounds like a dream vacation. What a wonderful adventure for all of you. I am glad you aren't waiting another year. It would be hard to wait. Take lots of pictures so you can post them for us.
Lynn
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Caryn - Miles is beautiful. You are SO blessed. I have grandchildren on my bucket list (see "bucket list" thread) and I am really, really, hoping that I live to have one. I tell my boys (who are in college) that if they happen to get someone pregnant, it's okay... I'll take the baby. I am sure they think I am crazy. (I know my husband does) Anyway.... I know you enjoy every second with him, and I love the image of your granddaughter calling out to you that way. Maybe I should start thinking about what my future grandchildren can call me.... positive thinking....
Stefanie - your trip sounds amazing! Climbing Mt. Kilamajaro is also on my bucket list. What a wonderful family vacation... and it's great that you are doing it now! We have a sailing trip to the British Virgin Islands planned for New Year with all four of our kids. 8 days of sailing on a private catamaran with a captain and a chef. I am really exited about it but worried.... I feel great right now... but hope that things don't go south in the meantime. My husband is turning 50 in a week and I am turning 50 next February so it's a joint celebration. I definitely want to see pictures of your trip!
Hi to everyone else and hope you have a great weekend!
XO
Andrea
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Andi, that trip also sounds amazing. Is your current treatment Exemestane and Faslodex? I did almost four years on that. I was NED and had no side effects. It was a great combo for me.
Enjoy your sail!
Stefanie
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Stefanie - My current treatment is Herceptin/Perjeta every three weeks (although I do skip every once in a while) and Xgeva every 6 weeks. It has been a good combo for me, too... limited side effects. My joints and muscles are a little stiff, but I think I have gotten used to it. I'm almost as active as I used to be...I work fulltime... etc. I feel very lucky, but in the back of my mind I am always waiting for the other shoe to drop! We took the kids to Spain and Italy last June... .. and to Hawaii the Thanksgiving before that. As you mentioned, it is all expensive, but I just feel like I need to do it while I can!
XO
Andrea
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