My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
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Some Wicked weather just rocked through here. Hail, high winds,high rain... darker than it should be. I happen to love the storms. As long as no one is hurt. I love them. I love a good porch, when a storm comes. Beautiful in its own way. Thanks Gracie and Lynne(Man).... I worry about the families always, left behind. That's the hardest part. Hope everyone stays dry in these storms rolling around! Much love ~M~
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Micmel, In a way, maybe it is good that today's appointment with you palliative care doctor was postponed. It seems like you have an appointment almost every day this week. Is there any way to combine some of them or have them back to back in the future? I always have blood tests, treatments, and MO appointments on the same day in the same place. If I needed to see a palliative care doctor, I would have the option to see him there on the same day, too. Granted, it would be a long day, but at least I would get it all over with. The scans, of course, are a different matter for most of us. Maybe you could at schedule at least two back-to-back? Of course we all have different preferences. I am probably just a weirdo for liking to have them together. Maybe different days for everything works out better for you. It was sad to read Kaayborg's dh's post this morning, but I did find a bit of comfort in knowing that Missy continued to live her life regardless of what this disease threw at her. She and her DH even took one last trip a little more than a month ago. They went to St. Thomas because she wanted to feel the warmth of the sun and experience summer-like weather one more time. I am glad they decided to go and spend some special time together. I will always remember the picture she posted when she returned. She was standing on the beach, smiling.
Lynne, I am happy that your scans show no progression, but sorry that it means you can't change treatment. I know your current chemo is not easy. I loved today's weather, but there is rain and thunder here now. I sent you a PM. I don't know if you had a chance to read it. Your granddaughter is obviously talented and creative. Butt piano playing? I laughed when I pictured you out there mowing your lawn in your nightgown and sneakers with your bald head soaking in those rays of sunshine. Your neighbors must never be bored.
Mae, It sounds like you are having a dream vacation. I am gaining weight just reading your food posts.
Bigbhome, I haven't seen you here lately. Are you doing okay? How is your DH?
Grannax must be sitting on the beach enjoy the sunshine. I look forward to seeing her pictures and hearing about her experiences.
Gracie, Not all anemia responds to iron supplements. When I was diagnosed 3 years ago, I was severely anemic (hemoglobin was 7) , but tests showed that there was plenty of iron in my body. Sometimes chronic disease or medication can cause the number of red cells to decline or be smaller than normal. I think anemia is very common for people with MBC, especially while taking Ibrance. My MO has never recommended an iron supplement, but of course we are all different, that's for sure, and you might respond well to the supplements.
MJH, I look forward to seeing you next week. I will send more info about time and place soon
I am looking forward to hearing more good scan results soon.
Hugs and prayers from, Lynne
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50's~My palliative care doc is in one location... I visit her once every three months. My blood tests are like five minutes from my house right in town, and that is also where I scan. But I totally agree with you. I was relieved when the doc canceled. There was too many appointments for sure. My oncologist is also about 25 mins away. I see him the 24 th. What a birthday present. My birthday is the 25th!
When you mentioned missy saying she wanted to feel the sun on her skin i got goose bumps. You always seem to have a way with words. I enjoy that about you. I also hope for many rounds of good news this week. Much love ~M~
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I want to wish everyone who has there scans this week mu
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I want to wish everyone who has scans this week NEAD. There has been some very positive results lately on this and the ibrance thread. Maybe this is our miracle. I go for my first scan today and know that it is too soon for NEAD but hoping for stable.
Mae- you are an inspiration to us all the way you live life to the fullest. You go girl!!!
it is very sad to hear about Missy. I unfortunately never had the pleasure of running into her on any of the threads but we are all sisters here and it hurts to lose a loved one. After this long hard winter I see why she would want to see one more summer. I'm glad her husband was able to do that for her.
grannax- I hope all is going well in Hawaii and that the volcano is no where near you. Can't wait to see pi
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Holmes~. I am with you today in your pocket. Today is blood work and XGeva shot. Tomorrow is my scan I have to drink hand lotion tonight. Oh how gross.... and oh so nasty. To wake up too. wishing touthe best! Much love ~M~
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Thought blood work was at 1100. I couldn't even get out of bed. Luckily it was at 3:00. I have some errands to run and my favorite past time of showering. NOT! Thinking of you all. ~M~
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I am sitting here drinking this hand loition barium ornwhatever it's called doemtbis scan tomorrow and I am just sick of doing it. Plain and simple. I had bloodwork. One test is back. But it was late in the day....so I can't even get my tumor markers until the morning. I truly and whole heartedly hate the entire process and the fact that any of us have to do this. I can't even really talk tonight. My poor DH is at the other place out of state. So I am not really wanting to talk on the phone when all I can do is a gag and hopethis scan is a good one. I am thinking of you Holmes and checking in !
Much love ~M~
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Good luck with scans micmel, you can handle this, mine are Friday and we’re hear with you
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I finally gagged all of the "hand lotion" diwn and had my scan yesterday. I don't have my doctor's appointment until next Wednesday but I am on my chart so I should have access to it sooner.
good luck with your scans today. We will all be in your pocket.
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Wishing good luck to all with upcoming scans. I literally cannot drink the " hand lotion", the last time I did I vomited all over the steering wheel on the way to the scan. My scanning center has a contrast that they call " iced tea". They literally put the contrast in iced tea and it is tasteless. The only drawback is that you have to drink itthere, which means sitting there for a hour and a half. To me, it's worth it, no gagging or nastiness. I just take a book and read and sip away. Easy Peasy!
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Holmes, I hope your scan results look great. Thank goodness you don't have to wait until Wednesday to see them. Aren't those patient portals great? Sometimes I do have to resort to google when I see unfamiliar terms so I can find out what they mean, but if I see "stable" or "improved", I am happy. I gag on the contrast, too. The first few sips are tolerable, but by the end, I really have to force it down. Yuck.
Micmel, You will get through those scans without any problems. As Mae told you, we will be with you. Hoping you are still NED and stay that way. I have never had contrast that I had to take the night before the scans. What kind of contrast do you take? I have had water with contrast in it. I took that at home two hours before scan, and I didn't mind that one. It didn't have a strong taste. Now I usually have stuff that they have the nerve to call a "smoothie". Yuck, yuck, yuck. The berry flavor is bad, so I tried the new mocha one last month, but that was even worse. I take the smoothie an hour before scans.
Mae, good luck with your scans on Friday. This is a busy week here for scans.
Hugs and prayers from, Lynne
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Lynnwood, I think that iced tea contrast is the same as the water one I used to take. I have seen it in water and iced tea and I think Brigham and Women's also has a third flavor. It is so much better than the smoothie! The place I used to go to let me pick up the bottles the night before the scans with instructions to start drinking it at home two hours prior to scan. It was much better than sitting I need her waiting room.
Hugs and prayers from, Lynne
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I had the banana smoothie. The taste wasn't too bad but the texture got me. Lynn the patient portals are great except when I got my first pet scan. I scared myself to death looking up the terms.
micmel- praying for Nead for you today
mae- you come back to scans? At least you got to forget for a little while. Have you gotten your full memory back? I know you were worried about that.
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Holmes and Micmel, praying for good news from both of you!
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Holmes, yup, back to scans... I actually pushed them back a week because of vacation and I really don’t mind. I like to know what’s going on in there (brain and body), so I can relax a little after.
I’m having a brain MRI, CT body, labs and an Echo, so it’s a full day. My usual H&P treatment is on Monday, then I meet with MO Tuesday.
Oh, and yes, memory is back to normal, yay!
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Hi everyone! I actually handed back the creamy contrast to the nurse and said no way...give me the clear one. That texture ugh! Cannot get it down. We should at least get the flavor we prefer!
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Hello everyone!
May I be so bold as to pull up a stool? (thanks Micmel) Today is my official one year anniversary from my MBC diagnosis and it just seems fitting to make some new friends. To be honest, I feel like you already are my friends because I read everything every single day...but I'd love to join the conversation.
This past year has been a whirlwind as you all have experienced yourselves, but I had my PET/CT a few weeks ago and everything has greatly improved or at least remained stable over this year, and while my tumor markers recently took a crazy swing upward they dropped 300 points this month! They are half what they were when I started out. Found out this morning....Happy Anniversary to me! I'm holding steady on my 9th month of Ibrance/Faslodex after a few hellish months of chemo that didn't agree with me.
I thank you all for all the support over the past year....can't tell you how much hope, knowledge, love and support I feel from reading this thread...you all amaze me.
To all of you having scans or waiting for results...break a leg!! OK, that may be a little weird here but I've been in musical theater my whole life and silly/weird are things I do best. And burst in to song at any given moment. Everything is a song cue in my world!
E
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I hope these brighten up everyone's day! Thinking of you today!
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Oh my gosh, Bigbhome....those are gorgeous!! I have hydrangea bushes everywhere, they're my favorite but far from blooming here in Pittsburgh.
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Hi ladies, I just woke up from a nap, this medical stuff wears you out. I got my tumor markers back. That's it so far. Checking the portal like crazy. They were 21.1. They dropped a point from three months ago, which for me usually tells the story. Just waiting to hear.
Mae, sounds like your busy time is ahead. You know you'll have a full pocket again! For sure! 😜💜
Holmes. Also in your pocket. We are waiting for the same thing darling! Holding your hand!
Iwrite , that stuff was so nasty, I put chocolate syrup in it to alter it, added an ice cube to change the texture, and gobbled it down. Gross but tolerable more so. Nice to see you!
Gracie, thank you sweetheart, hope you're doing good. Think of you daily❣️
Waving hello to 50's & Lynne and Lynnwood hoping you're all staying dry. Dreary comes to mind. MJH as well! Hi Blueshine. Hope all is good.
Haven't seen Divine, sending her a band of love!
OMG Bigbhome, Hi honey. We missed you darling. ❣️So happy and hope DH is doing good. Love you friend!
I am worried about Nan officially, it’s been months since I have heard from her, she always answers. I’m am a little freaked out. NAN!!!!!!😞💔💔
Chelle~My sweet sweet BFF, you better get your hide here too, I miss you my girl!
Elle, welcome to our little home away from home ! I am so pleased to see you pulling up a stool!! The sense of family and love here is of nothing of any thread I have known. I know all the medical talk.already... I want real friends and people I really care about to be surrounded with. I have found that here. Each and everyone of them are just amazing and so loved here. I am so happy you are here. It warms my heart to think you read everyday. That is so nice to know that this thread could Possibly help someone to find their group and place here. I couldn't find mine.... so I Made one for us all. Through the laughter and the tears. This is my second family. So welcome, wide open arms l... so hope you will stay! Much love to all of you my sisters. ~M~
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Micmel ~
Thank you. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
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Elle, Welcome. I hope that stool is comfortable because now that younare here, Mel will not let you leave. If she doesn't hear from you for a while, she will hunt you down. Lol. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY., WOOHOO! That is a big milestone in itself, and learning that your TMs dropped by 300 points makes the day even better. Your scans have shown improvement and stability. Those are the magic words that we all want to here. I hope you are doing something to celebrate. I am doing the happy dance here. WOOHOO!
Kathryn, It is nice to see you here. I know that you have been busy doing many wonderful things since we met on the bone mets thread. In some ways it like a long time ago to me, yet at the same time it seems like yesterday. I have enjoyed hearing about all your accomplishments and adventures. As for the contrast, I will follow your suggestion and ask for the clear contrast next time. The tech made the new mocha flavor sound delicious. She even let me try it and would have given me a different flavor if it was awful. Of course, those first few mouthfuls weren't bad at all, so I stuck with it. Ewwwww.
Bigbhome, beautiful hydrangeas. I just planted a new hydrangea yesterday. It is blooming beautifully, and I am hoping that it will shame my existing hydrangea bushes to follow its example. They have been a bit disappointing the past two years. How are you and your DH doing?
Micmel, TMs are 21? All I can say is WOW. That is great, and I suspect that the rest of your news will be equally wonderful. Here is a WOOHOO for you, too.
MJH, Lynne and I are still narrowing down our restaurant options, but I promise I will send you definitive plans for Monday by tomorrow afternoon. Maybe I will just pack a picnic and we'll all eat in my car. Just kidding.
Hugs and prayers from, Lynne
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Lynne50's~ I have to heartedly laugh outloud at your posting, it truly is only because I honestly care! I feel better when I know good people are doing ok. I always have been a caretaker and always made sure people were doing ok. It's my nature. And no Mae I don't have a spread sheet. LOL. Have a great time at lunch and Be very safe! How awesome that would be!!
More than welcome Elle.....🌷
My DD bought home this cake in a cup stuff oh wow. You get a mug and milk and some Cake batter and cook it. After the cake cooks in the mug you put the icing on it. Wow so delicious. Betty Crocker is one smart chick!
Much love ~M~
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elle- welcome to the family. I am also in my first year. My MO doesn't use markers; he goes strictly by how you're feeling and scans. It's great that your markers are down and your scans show stable. Like 50s said that's what we pray for. I went for my first scan yesterday..
micmel- congratulations on the lower markers!!! I'm sure it's a preview of what your scans are going to show
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Micmel! Wow!!! Great TM’s!!! Woohoo!!!
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Thanks Gracie~ hoping scans follow suit. Hoping you're doing good. The weather has been crappy. My marathon doctor appointment weeks is finally over. I have one next week and One the week after that for a plastic surgeon follow up. I want to go back to months and months without going to a doctor.
Last time I saw my onc, I made a deal with him, I said if everything remains ok. Can I be put into a yearly scanning with 6 month bloodwork and shots. He said if it was ok he would agree! With the obvious understanding to report any and all symptoms or additional pain I am not used to having. I guess we will see. I'm calling. Them tomorrow for my scan results. Now that my TM's are in I am hoping against hope it will be ok again. I am hoping of course for years and years. I am starting my 18th month on ibrance on Sunday. Let's keep many many years going. There are women in my oncs practice that have 45 and 43 months under their belts already with ibrance. I'm hoping to be one of those ! I just want to stay in remission. I want this for all of us so much it hurts.
I also thought that we haven't seen Magda! I hope she's doing ok! Blueshine either. She had something going on! hope all is ok!
Much love to all ~M~
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welcome elleonwheels (love the name), hope you see what you’re getting into here, lol!
No time to address every, gotta get up very early, have a good weekend everyone 😀
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Bigbhome, LOVE the flowers! Gorgeous! Elle, welcome! Glad you pulled up a stool! Hi to everyone else! Thinking of all undergoing scans, tests, etc. You are all always in my prayers.0
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Thanks so much for the warm welcome ladies.
Not to worry, illimae and 50sgirl, I've seen the threats of PMs when one of you has gone quiet for a few days. And yet here I am... lol!
Hoping for good scan news for all... have a good night everyone!
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