My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
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Went to Dr appt. only about 12 cars in a usually packed lot. Nurse at door with mask and thermometer. I had to answer questions about corona virus 🦠 and traveling etc. once inside no one in waiting room taken straight back for bloodwork dr appt and faslodex shots. Quickest appt ever. No one can bring someone with them while they receive tx unless they push a wheel chair or something. Don’t have to go back until next month. I took off my clothes immediately and put them in the washer.
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since the public has not been around. My friend showed me that the mountain lions are coming down out of the hills and mountains. Into the public streets. To start checking things out. People need to start to live again. I hope things move along faster !!! 0 -
Wow! Amazing pics.... and a bit scary too
Wee bit of cross posting - sorry:
Amid all the madness some good news today. My Onc phoned - I was supposed to see her tomorrow - scan all clear nothing to see! Also suggested taking a 1 cycle break from Ibrance which knocks my bloods to give me a wee booster. My wee online support group have mentioned that occasionally breaks are good and shouldn't impact. That’s YOU peeps! Onc very reassuring, so I'm happy to do that. The relief is massive as was pretty anxious about this one what with everything else going on. ❤
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Karen, that is wonderful news so glad to hear it and your wee online support groups are right. I have had to take breaks a few times from my Herceptin regimen. When I have had radiation on three separate occasions and the brain surgery was quite a long break. I still am NED from the neck down and consider myself lucky over that.
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That’s fantastic news, Karen!! I’m so happy for you! 😀😀😀😀
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That’s awesome Karen!! Congrats! Nothing life relief. I am thrilled for you.
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Great news Karen! I’ve been catching up on Shetland today and after a few episodes I told DH I was going upstairs for a wee nap, lol, I love it.
Had my brain mri today, neuro onc will call with results instead of having me come back tomorrow.
Have a good night all.
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Mae, I find I love using the word wee all the time myself thanks to Karen.
Glad to hear they are not making you go in for the results.
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Alas, Mae is not catching up on me, but on the TV show. Still, hurrah for Scotland! And for Karen and her beautiful scan! As far as cancer, to borrow a quote from Robbie Burns, may we all “Lay the proud usurpers low!” I’m glad you can get results by phone, Mae.
Mel, I love your idea to use this time to do your Christmas shopping. Wrapping too? You should post that on the Quarantine Hacks thread. Which I have been neglecting but is going along fine anyway.
I had labs today along with a visit with my onc and NP (masks all around), and my Herceptin infusion. Both tumor markers we follow have dropped low. The new drugs appear to be working! My onc is very happy. She didn’t even say wait for the scan. We know.
(SUMMIT Basket Trial: Faslodex, Herceptin, Neratinib for ER+ Her2 mutated mbc).
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Shetland - that. is. AWESOME! Especially after all the rough days you had in there getting settled. I hope you are either punching the air, high-fiving a pet, or doing a random fist pump now and again.
Enjoying my morning coffee and hot flash - had to go down to half caff because full caff + news = way too much anxiety and shallow breathing. Hoping today is the day our trash is finally collected after some stupid strike - its been three weeks! People are at least keeping to tidy piles on the streets where necessary. But the sun is out yet again and that makes everything ok. Both of us still working which has its plusses and minuses, although I can only imagine a lot of people are going to come out of this wondering what the hell they are doing with their lives at their current job.
I went for a walk last night and couldnt believe how quiet it was. I didnt even put on headphones but just enjoyed the silence (as the song goes). The air even smelled better! My legendary crappy neighbors have retreated into their cave again (or gone to the girlfriend's flat with thicker walls -- oh honey, you just THINK they are thicker); instead yesterday I was trying to have a call with some govt folks about something and the Indian kid three doors down was screaming his head off at his friends for 15 minutes outside our front gate. But it was 4pm and he is maybe 3 or 4 yrs old, and that is their normal play time so I cant really fault the kid. If he could have only been shrieking in another location!
Good luck to Mae on her scans - hello to Mara, Mel, Chicagoan, Tanja, Philly, PatM, Karen and all the other lovely ladies managing a global meltdown on top of MBC!
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lol @ punching the air. !!!! I have a mental picture.
Shetland~I am already half way done! Wrapping will be the next phase
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Morning all.
Karen- I congrats you on another thread, but this deserves another Woohoo.
Shetland- Thank God the trial meds are working !!!!! Wooohoo to you too.
Mae- Hoping for good MRI news.
Yesterday I stayed busy in my house. Laundry, making out bills (to put in mailbox for the postman to pick up), delivery of Ibrance from FedEx, walked on treadmill. Today not as much to do. Have walked on treadmill 30 minutes each day of social isolation time. Some days almost a mile in 30 minutes, other days a 1/2 mile. But I am looking at time, not distance. Heck, may do 2- 30min sessions if I get more bored. Our State has a stay-at-home order until April 8, but may extend after that. I think we should if the virus is not controlled by then, and it doesn't seem it will be. But... when things do open back up for business, I am still concerned due to the cancer and low counts. When will it be safer for me to get out???? My friends have said they want the order lifted, and for them life will be back to normal, but they are healthy. Today supposed to be sunny and in the 60's so opening windows for fresh air in the house. And maybe a walk around the yard. Muddy though.
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I can’t even believe that we have to stay in until even April I mean I know why and all It’s just the psyche of it all. Like when my mom would say don’t date that boy. He’s bad news. Made me want to date Him more. Just being told we can’t go out would make us want to go outside. Shopping for clothing Shoes. Hell I don’t care. A walk through home goods. Grrrrr I can’t imagine this reaching into after Easter. No family gatherings for most then.
I am officially half done my Christmas shopping, almost all of the women in my life are taken care of. It feels good to plan ahead and not let it take me by surprise in November with less cash. I’m spreading out the damage each month by buying a little bit. It’s been a good idea. People think I’m crazy. But they won’t when they are running around crazy. I can just relax and enjoy the holiday! I’ve just got done scanning so I know I won’t be scanning before Christmas. Maybe he will push me out a year since I ve been stable. One can only Dream. I hope this covid blows away with a big wind!!!! Enough already. Poor NYC. They are saying if you have visited nyc, self quarantine. Well, how far back?
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Hello,,
Most of the time I am just follow this thread but don't say much. Well, I may be spending more time here now. I work in a hospital and would normally be an essential employee. At my onc appointment Monday she said I can not be involve in the care of patients COVID positive or suspected positive. While we were determining whether there I could do, there is now documented community spread in our county. She wrote "she can not work at all if community spread if identified" So it appears I'll be off for who knows how long.
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dutchiris- come visit us in Mel's Living Room anytime. I would think our Virtual Living Room would be a happening place right now, with so many stuck at home. Maybe people reading, but not posting. As you can see by my posts, nothing too interesting for me at my house. But I come here to see how everyone else is doing.
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Chiris~ people sometimes feel like they say things and they are still stuck inside lol. I know a lot of people read everyday I never understood how you can read and not add your two cents lol. I always have to be doing something. This living room here keeps me connected in ways I can't now. I'm going stir crazy and reading your activity and ideas helps me gets through my days. I am sorry you're not able to Work,but I don't want you to be infected my goodness, no. We have spreading in our county as well. 65 cases. Not the highest in our state. But our state overall I think is like 680. Which isn't peanuts. But like I said. NYC I hope it stabilizes soon. So much. Just keeps rising It's almost as if it's better to just get it and fight it out. Then you'll have immunity's to the virus. But people get sick with different degrees and that scares me greatly. Come hang with us. We can help each other through... welcome back!
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Maybe develop a vaccine or medication to cure or treat it. Being in a high risk group for severe illness with this virus, I don't want to risk it. If I do get it, I hope that I survive it and would have some immunity and no lasting damage.
Yesterday I planted some flower and vegetable seeds to start indoors. Not sure what I while do today.
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Hello all!
It's pouring rain here today and so it's an indoors day for sure. But the weather is supposed to be better tomorrow, so it will be walking time. In our neighborhood, we have many beautiful flowering trees right now, as well as crocuses and daffodils, so it's nice to get out and see all of the beautiful signs of spring. That thought will help me get through the gloominess of today.
I'm still working remotely -- I teach at a university -- so I am keeping busy. My students are emailing me randomly because they, too, are feeling the effects of being "shut in." Because I'm still "on the clock" for the semester, I haven't done any home projects yet, but in my mind, I have them all lined up for when the semester is over. I'm guessing we may still be in shelter in place mode. The one thing that I am doing every day, though, is touchpoint cleaning, as they are calling it now. Using cleaner to wipe down things that are touched often. My son, DIL, and granddaughter live less than a mile from us, so each day they walk over and we all stand outside, appropriately distanced, but we still get to see them, which is nice. It helps a lot.
I had a blood pull and my faslodex shots yesterday at my cancer center. Blood results came back today and they all look pretty much the same (no TMs yet) but this was the first time that I've ever had this notation on my report: for several of the values, it says "hemolyzed." I had to look that one up -- apparently it's when some of the blood breaks apart because of handling either in the draw or in the shaking of the little test tubes? My MO said it was fine because those values were not things that I've had issues with in the past, so we'll just let it go. It was interesting, though. Last month I had an MRI, and when the tech put the rather large needle into my arm, I felt a "pop" and I jumped a bit. The phlebotomist yesterday said she probably hit something in there -- my arm is still a bit sore -- and so she took the blood sample from a smaller vein on top of my arm. So I guess that had something to do with the "hemolyzed" thing. Cancer center was on virtual lockdown -- no one in except patients, met at the door by a guard and a nurse. Fine by me!
Hope everyone has a good day.
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I will probably go for a walk outside. It is so beautiful and sunny. Would be just me so I feel safe doing it. I honestly feel safe in general as I only go for essentials, also bought myself the 9 film skywalker saga plus rogue one and solo to have digital copies since I am a huge star wars nerd. I can watch them from youtube anytime, any device. Good to have things I love while on my own.
I did text my niece and older brother. I told her I have supplies now, but thanked her for wanting to take care of me. Told her I would let her know if I need anything. I will think of something she can do or get. I should let them do things (even if not needed) so they don't stress out. Told my brother to rest since he works at a packaging plant that is busier with covid 19 things now too. Kind of a role-reversal but I do not need him to get sick himself. Told him I love him and appreciate the way he looks after me.
I will have to figure out something they can get me once I have more room in the refrigerator or maybe have them pick up the cat litter or something. I realize I can get most things BUT, good to let worried folks help here and there too.
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I know we are all experiencing some anxiety about being "cooped up" but the alternative is not something I am ready to experience. Here is a local posting I received that explains why this is necessary.
Hold the line WRITTEN BY Jonathan Smith- Infectious disease epidemiologist focusing the dynamics of disease transmission. PhD en route at Emory, Lecturer at Yale.
As an infectious disease epidemiologist (although a lowly one), at this point I feel morally obligated to provide some information on what we are seeing from a transmission dynamic perspective and how they apply to the social distancing measures. Like any good scientist I have noticed two things that are either not articulated or not present in the "literature" of social media. I have also relied on my much smarter infectious disease epidemiologist friends for peer review of this post; any edits are from peer review. Specifically, I want to make two aspects of these measures very clear and unambiguous. First, we are in the very infancy of this epidemic's trajectory. That means even with these measures we will see cases and deaths continue to rise globally, nationally, and in our own communities in the coming weeks. This may lead some people to think that the social distancing measures are not working. They are. They may feel futile. They aren't. You will feel discouraged. You should. This is normal in chaos. But this is normal epidemic trajectory. Stay calm. This enemy that we are facing is very good at what it does; we are not failing. We need everyone to hold the line as the epidemic inevitably gets worse. This is not my opinion; this is the unforgiving math of epidemics for which I and my colleagues have dedicated our lives to understanding with great nuance, and this disease is no exception. I want to help the community brace for this impact. Stay strong and with solidarity knowing with absolute certainty that what you are doing is saving lives, even as people begin getting sick and dying. You may feel like giving in. Don't. Second, although social distancing measures have been (at least temporarily) well-received, there is an obvious-but-overlooked phenomenon when considering groups (i.e. families) in transmission dynamics. While social distancing decreases contact with members of society, it of course increases your contacts with group (i.e. family) members. This small and obvious fact has surprisingly profound implications on disease transmission dynamics. Study after study demonstrates that even if there is only a little bit of connection between groups (i.e. social dinners, playdates/playgrounds, etc.), the epidemic trajectory isn't much different than if there was no measure in place. The same underlying fundamentals of disease transmission apply, and the result is that the community is left with all of the social and economic disruption but very little public health benefit. You should perceive your entire family to function as a single individual unit; if one person puts themselves at risk, everyone in the unit is at risk. Seemingly small social chains get large and complex with alarming speed. If your son visits his girlfriend, and you later sneak over for coffee with a neighbor, your neighbor is now connected to the infected office worker that your son's girlfriend's mother shook hands with. This sounds silly, it's not. This is not a joke or a hypothetical. We as epidemiologists see it borne out in the data time and time again and no one listens. Conversely, any break in that chain breaks disease transmission along that chain. In contrast to hand-washing and other personal measures, social distancing measures are not about individuals, they are about societies working in unison. These measures also take a long time to see the results. It is hard (even for me) to conceptualize how on a population level 'one quick little get together' can undermine the entire framework of a public health intervention, but it does. I promise you it does. I promise. I promise. I promise. You can't cheat it. People are already itching to cheat on the social distancing precautions just a "little"- a playdate, a haircut, or picking up a needless item at the store, etc. From a transmission dynamics standpoint, this very quickly recreates a highly connected social network that undermines all of the work the community has done so far. Until we get a viable vaccine this unprecedented outbreak will not be overcome in one grand, sweeping gesture, rather only by the collection of individual choices our community makes in the coming months. This virus is unforgiving to unwise choices. My goal in writing this is to prevent communities from getting 'sucker-punched' by what the epidemiological community knows will happen in the coming weeks. It will be easy to be drawn to the idea that what we are doing isn't working and become paralyzed by fear, or to 'cheat' a little bit in the coming weeks. By knowing what to expect, and knowing the importance of maintaining these measures, my hope is to encourage continued community spirit, strategizing, and action to persevere in this time of uncertainty.
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Just back from my fun day out for bloods - fast and empty bus ride,the driver forgot I was still ON the bus (it terminates right outside my H). Nurse at entrance asking a battery of questions around: fever, sneezing, chills, cough, running nose, wheezing, shortness of breath. I have runny nose and sneezing cause its hayfever season, so she marked that on there. Sterilized hands at a table, passed to another table where a clinical specialist checked the form and questioned my hayfever. Marked it as hayfever and let me through. For once I was Number One in the queue and I had my blood drawn and then I left. The tech in the other room was coughing though which was kinda like umm... hm. Did she get tested?
Was passed by some administrators pointing out 'we can put the cystic fibrosis people on this floor'. They must be transferring high risk into this hospital as its pretty sterile due to being heart and cancer only. It was fantastically quiet though, only a few patients about, so who the hell are the people milling around the rest of the time? Oh, and I received a phone call earlier from someone in booking checking that I hadn't had symptoms and I was due in to see my consultant tomorrow.
Was never so thankful to get out of the house/neighborhood as I was really getting cranky. I also havent been drinking nearly as much water as I normally do, so working on that now!
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I was out today for bloodwork too and it felt pretty good to get out and see the outside world! My lab is part of a small satellite location for my larger hospital. Last time I was the only one there in the lab, today there were two others with me. I was expecting the usual questions, but instead I was given a form to check yes or no, add phone number and name, community pen. I did use their hand sanitizer after that. Seemed strange to me. I was relieved that my numbers have improved this week. Last week I was at my lowest numbers ever on WBC and platelets. Kind of scared me. I’m guessing radiation with Ibrance was a double whammy,
BevJen, Good article, people need to be reminded that staying home is worth doing. But then, I think many of us here are worried enough with existing cancer and other issues to stay home without much convincing. I have no plans for any unnecessary trips out. (I would kind of like to like to get a haircut but thats not happening. Salons are closed, but I wouldn’t go anyway. I’m going to have that look people are sharing on FB with bushy eyebrows, dark hair on top, lighter on the bottom and can’t see my eyes!)
Dutchiris, Sorry you have to be off work, unless you’re happy about it? It’s definitely less contact for you to worry about.
Mara, You’re so good at getting out and walking and avoiding too much contact. I had a mile walk today and it did feel good. I know I should be doing more and plan to get out for another walk later. I do way too much sitting.
Mel, I get the wanting to do things when they say you can’t! My weakness is wishing for restaurants to be open and ok for eating inside. We haven’t done carry out since this started, except for ordering pizza once. I should be losing weight with better eating at home but so far, not much!
My scans are Friday, if anyone is available for pocket duty. I’m a little nervous, as usual.
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I talk too much but maybe it's fortunate I don't type so much, lol. Less potential virus contact is a plus. No paycheck not so much but I'll be alright for a while. Hopefully my benefit will continue.
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Sorry, I see that the article from the infectious disease doctor was posted by Betrayal, not BevJen. Thanks Betrayal! And hello to BevJen!
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I have not got out yet, got waylaid by not one, but two episodes of Young and the Restless in a row. Never had that happen and since I don't have cable, have to watch them first. I will get a supper first then change and go out after supper for a walk outside. Already did the indoor stuff but would like some fresh air. No supplies I need right now.
I also did order some take out food and decided to tip the driver a little more than he would get normally by a couple dollars. I think as we depend on people to deliver meals or groceries or amazon, anybody that can be tipped should be given more due to the covid risk.
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In your pocket Rosie
Hi everyone 👋
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pocket dweller checking in! Available for duty
Hi Mae!
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Rosie,
Count me in for pocket duty. Prayers for a great scan coming your way.
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I am also in your pocket Rosie. And hello to you to Mae.
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I binged watched Andy Griffith from the beginning. What a delightful show. What an awesome person he was. A real treat to see the entire show. It's a good hearted funny show. I never gave it a chance before, but I'm sure glad I gave it a try. It truly is a nice family show.... I recommend it !!
now I understand that new season of ozarks will be released Friday. That's pretty awesome. I don't want it to go too fast!Runor~ where you been girl?
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