January 2017 Surgery Group
Comments
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Docmama that's hilarious! I have tickets to Steve Miller concert here on March. We can't wait. We are taking my grandson it will be his first concert.
Love all the good news and getting stuff done!
This husband is a keeper for sure! He's number 3 for me. Zero tolerance on my side. .or his lol
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I've been laughing all afternoon at the Red Hot Chili Pipers! Fantastic!!
As for meeting famous people - singers - I met Tom Jones (lol - yes, what's up pussycat? And Kiss - can't forgive him for that cover) and when I was five months pregnant with my daughter met my teen idol - Rick Springfield. I should have passed on meeting him and held onto my teenage lust memory
Thinking of you FIghtngirl - hope you get good news today
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major snow day here! You guys are cracking me up today! Love it!
Signed up for a look good feel better class. Spent a good deal of time looking at head coverings online. Getting my hair cut short tomorrow...definitely focused on losing my hair today...but I'm OK with it. I haven't had a pixie cut in decades...speaking of which, I met Liza Minnelli once when I was in my 20s bc I looked just like her back in the day...
Speaking of decades ago, when I was 19 years old, I had the chicken pox so bad, I was covered from head to toe. When my face itched, I'd scratch my scalp so I wouldn't scar my face. The thought occurred to me that when I lose my hair, all the chicken pox scars on my scalp will make my head look like the surface of the moon! Lolol!! I'll have to post a picture!
Fightingirl: hoping you're not boarding the chemo train!
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fightingirl thinking of you! Good vibes for good news
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PugsMama (and all those boarding the chemo train) - be sure to find out what types of things your insurance company will cover. I was pleasantly surprised when I went to get my post mastectomy stuff that my insurance company covered two of the camis that held the drains and six post-surgical bras. Plus I got a whole goodie bag full of stuff (including this cool net thing to put my drains in when I was washing in the tub).
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DCISinAZ: great suggestion! I will call them tomorrow. When is your MO appt, btw
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PugsMama- Not until the 17th. My husband wants to go with me and he only has Friday afternoons available. I will be shocked if they don't recommend tamoxifen, but I should not be on the chemo train since I had pure DCIS.
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DCISinAZ: you are so lucky to have a tumor that size stay in the duct! based on other cases here, if it were IDC & grade 3, 6cm, even with no nodes, I think they'd be recommending a ride on the chemo train! I'd be shocked too if they don't recommend tamoxifen but hey, you never know...your luck may hold!!
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PugsMama - don't I know it! I was convinced there would be at least some invasive component. They still *may* recommend radiation because I didn't have >2mm margins in a couple of places, but my bs said she personally probably wouldn't do it and my husband (who is a urologist so has lots of experience with radiation b/c of prostate cancer) said it would have to be a pretty compelling argument from the ro for him to be on board in my case.
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Docmama-Love the Pipers story! I bet you did think you were getting a great deal!
Thinking of you all getting ready to board the chemo train. As a nurse, I would strongly recommend a port for chemo. The medications can be very irritating to the small peripheral veins and even cause tissue damage if the medication leak outside of the vein. Also, most of us are limited to using one arm only for IV sticks/blood draws etc. due to lymph node sampling so that lessens the selection of useable veins for chemo. Port insertion is a simple procedure that can save you a lot of discomfort in the long run.
Fightngirl-hope you received good news at the MO appt today
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DCISinAZ: why are margins relevant if you've had a MX & no nodal involvement? Unless it's close to the chest wall maybe That's always puzzled me...I'm so glad I got a BMX, I did it in part to avoid having to have radiation. Of course at the time, I didn't expect to need chemo either...we plan, God laughs!
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Alli - thank you for the info on the port. I wasn't really given a choice but after speaking with my sister, whose also a nurse, she said I would be happier in the long run. If I were having a shorter course though, I probably wouldn't want one. With 20 weeks of chemo in total, I'm pretty sure my poor left arm (which is non-dominant and has the weaker veins) would give in. I had to go to the hospital last Wed evening after BMX for pain and I still look like a heroin addict! The guy was doing his best but I have a blue/green bruise about 4 inches long.
I feel so jealous sometimes of those with smaller tumors, less node involvement and shorter treatment - I know that sounds awful but I feel I can be honest here. It's like I'm always looking for someone whose diagnosis is close to mine so I will have hope. Anyway - just my random thoughts. No matter the seriousness of the diagnosis, this is such a gut punch.
On a happier thought, right before my diagnosis I bought a new house that I'm having renovated. I visited it today and it completely elevates my mood every time I see it. I'm trying to spend more time on pinterest than on BC stuff so I can get everything ready. I have to move out of my current place by the end of March so I'm juggling BC while also getting the move ready. As hectic as it is, it's actually really good to have the distraction.
Still waiting for my PET scan to get scheduled despite having everything lined up and approved with insurance. Have to get it done before 2/28 and as much as I sort of do not want it because I so fear the outcome, I wish they would get their act together. I suspect it will be scheduled for Monday or Tuesday so that I have all weekend to worry about it - that's how it's been pretty much this entire journey so why change now.
Time to go eat some dinner! My mom is cooking for me and made Shepherd's pie. YUM!
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PugsMama - exactly. That's one of the reasons my bs said she didn't think they would recommend it. There wasn't any additional tissue for her to take since it was a mx. I don't even have a nipple so there's that, too. Also, the areas where there were less than ideal margins are all at the front of my breast so she said we would feel something if there was any issue.
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Shelleybeans: I'm so happy to hear you have something positive to focus on, renovating & decorating is so much fun! Were you the one who's addicted to HGTV? Of course I can't remember something I read yesterday, let alone weeks ago! Lol...One of my work friends is going to make Shepherds Pie...can't wait!
NEVER feel you need to censor yourself here. After all, we're all in the club no one wants to join but now that we're here, I wouldn't want to be taking this journey with anyone else!
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Shelleybeans - I think that's completely understandable. I hesitate to post sometimes because I know I am SO lucky. So my "woe is me, tamoxifen" just is ridiculous sounding with all y'all that are looking at extensive treatment.
I WILL tell you that my good friend here (IRL) was I think IIIB and she is still kicking butt 7 years out (she was only 40 when she was diagnosed). And the treatment just gets better and better! You have LOTS of living left to do! This will be just a blip in your rear view mirror.
We just renovated our master bathroom. I wish I had your positive attitude about it!!! Happy now that it's done, but YUCK!
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My daughter LOVES shepherd's pie! Have you ever made it with sweet potato topping instead of regular potato? Y.U.M.M.Y!!
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Shelleybeans - did they do immediate reconstruction after your BMX? I feel like I am the only one who had that.
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Docmama- Boz Scaggs, Peter Frampton Steve Miller, what a line up!!!! I wish I was taking a shower listening to any one of those. This shower crap, I'm on 2 weeks....bag pipe that! Hopefully tomorrow is the day for my last drain to be removed, but still drawing 60cc. Now I can't get Lido out of my head.
Shellybeans I hear ya. Vargadoll 3rd times a charm.
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DCinAZ - I have TE's and had my first fill yesterday. They hoped to do three more before I start chemo but it may only be two. I am going to ask if we can squeeze (pun intended) one more in! My PS said he doesn't want to do any additional after rads so I may end up a B++ instead of a C. I was a D so I was hoping to be a C. Really silly thing to think about but it's part of the process. Just want to be close to back to normal as possible while being able to wear more button-down shirts without the gap.
Thank you all for understanding my need to compare diagnoses. It's part of the benefit of having it in our signature line so that we can understand the similarities and treatment programs.
The dinner was DELISH! I haven't tried with sweet potatoes but I actually prefer sweet potatoes to regular so that's up next! Thanks for the idea!!
On the house - I'll have to post some before and afters soon. It's a 1927 English Tudor that I fell in love with when I saw it in November. I'm convinced it was brought to me to keep me occupied during 2017. My uncle, who had been out of touch with our family for over 20 years, came back into our lives back in November/December. He happens to do all types of construction and renovation - and my house is pretty much what he specializes in. Long story short, he moved back here two weeks ago (I closed on the house on 1/18) and he's doing all of my renovations and coordinating anything he cannot do or we can sub out. I tell him all the time he's my angel that God sent to me. Had he not fallen back in contact with the family I'm not sure how I would have handled this. And he tells me all the time that this is the job he was meant to do. It's pretty amazing.
My daughter and I are watching a movie tonight - just going to relax and enjoy the little things - they are definitely becoming the big things.
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Shelleybeans: what a great story! How wonderful that your uncle is back in your life! I look at everyone's dx & treatment. That's why all my negative factors that put me on the chemo train are in my sig line so its clear why even with no nodes, I'm on the train.
Poor hubby has been in denial about this. Ever since I was dxed, he believed, "you have no nodes, you won't need chemo." He never expected it. I kind of did (once I saw I had lymphatic vascular invasion on the path report) which is why I was so glad he got to hear it from the MO directly.
thanks lisabekind! Now I have Lido stuck in my head too!!!
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well ladies it's been quite the day!!
First thing this morning after my 8am radiation, I found out that I got an infection from the catheter procedure so now I've added antibiotics to my medicine arsenal. Bit worrisome because of the possible lymphadema they are watching me closely for. My bathroom looks like a pharmacy these days!
Next, I will let you know I did not get a ticket on the chemo train!!! BUT before I could celebrate that, they rushed me for a stat ultrasound following my second rads treatment. They did not tell me why and now I know why! I get to the ultrasound and when they took me back they advised that they'd be doing the ultrasound from my neck all the way down my left arm checking for blood clots. What???? They finished and sent me out to waiting room but I was not allowed to leave until I got the ok from radiologist because if clot I'd be going straight to the hospital. My blood pressure was through the roof at oncologist appt so now I'm sure I'm going to have a heart attack too! So in the end, 2 victories because they sent me home. Just a few minutes ago the oncologist called to advise the suspicious lump is fluid collection and now that we have that cleared up they will be calling in my prescription for tomoxifen. I'm not to take it until I meet with onc next week when done with rads but I don't even know if I will pick up the prescription till I talk with him and do my own further research.
So to wrap it up...2 radiation treatments down and 8 to go. No chemo and I'm not laying in a hospital bed tonight!
It was crazy today because I think the oncologist was so worried about that lump and getting me into an ultrasound today he almost left the room without giving me my mammaprint results. I said... um don't you have some more news for me??? So yep, low risk ams I am low in vitamin d so going to research that some more too.
I just took a walk with hubby and pup in the 80 degree day with a flannel on because I have no other button ups and all I want is a beer to celebrate but now I'm on antibiotics so poop. Poo
While I'm so happy about no chemo, I feel bad that some of my friends did not get the same news this week. I hope you know I'm here for you all and will fight with you until the end. We still RISE together my friends and I have crazy love for you!!
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I wish I knew how many on the tumor board thought that I need the radiation tx for 4 weeks . I asked the MO and he said all of them , but I do not know how many that was . I did , however a a 3mm invasive component to my DCIS , clear margins and no nodes . But I have signed consent for Radiation to start next week . I wonder if its appropriate for me . The area of DCIS was extensive they said! Ugh decision. I do not have to decide on the endocrine therapy yet. Scared of that too!
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Fightingirl: you made my day! Will toast you with a glass of Prosecco this evening! Love means not wanting your friends on the chemo train!! Xoxoxo.
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Thank God for those victories. That infection and clot scare would have given me an anxiety attack that would have sent me into a tailspin.
I an sooooohappy you do not have to have chemo! Yes Ma'am .. big high five with the good arm !
Try to take it easy , so you can be done in your scheduled time frame without further complications .
Nothing but Love for you all . Enjoy your weekends. 💗❤
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Curious, does anyone have young children?? I know docmama does, anyone else?
I have a 12, and 9 year old.
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Lisabekind- I have a 19 yo and a 12 yo daughter. She has high functioning autism so it's been a bit of a tightrope navigating. She's done well with the surgery - difficult explaining chemo. I just want her to understand good days/bad days and notalways going to be like this.
Not sure it's the answer you were in search of but that's my situation.
Fightngirl - yahoo!!! So happy for you and relieved that you are ok!! That must have been incredibly scary.
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Danicalifornia--I'm sorry to hear how long you'll be getting chemo. Does herceptin make your hair fall out too? Just wondering if yours will start growing back after 4x TC , during your herceptin. That would be nice.
I was at Target today buying the things I'll need in preparation for chemo next week. ( that really got me down by the way. ) I gave myself diarrhea I got so worked up. I am normally as calm as the rock of Gibraltar .
Nobody has said anything to me about neulestra shots. I better ask if I'll be getting those.
Who mentioned WDW? That is my favorite place on the earth! It really is. Hubby and I went there for our honeymoon in 1996 and we have had our kids there 3 times. I want to go again but hubby is done. Until we have grandchildren he says.
Fightingirl/-- I'm glad to hear you being so happy singing!
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Lisabekind, my kids are all in college! Two sons 25 and 22 yrs and my daughter is 19. Oldest is home with us while he finishes school, other son at University of Alabama and daughter is at FSU in Tallahassee. Love 'em to pieces but we can't wait to get them off the payroll.
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Just went back and read earlier posts...
Shellybeans, you brought tears to my eyes. Like DCISinAZ, said sometimes I feel bad about my complaints because I know there is always worse situations. I feel bad celebrating no Chemo!
This is the place to share with no judgement...our journeys will be different but we are in it together.Thank you all for the good vibes for today!
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DCISinAZ, I also have my MO appointment that day as well as my RO appointment. I was happy hey moved them to the same day. I want to have a plan and move forward.
I agree with the importance of a port. My mother was not offered one 7 years ago when she had BC and she has a terrible time getting blood taken and getting IVs. They have to go to her feet sometimes.
I am so happy for you fightingirl. I'm so glad that you don't have to do chemo. Now just get through this radiation without any more complications.
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