Illinois ladies facing bc
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Rene, We ♥ B9 too!
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thanks Adey!!! How long will she be at rush.. is it until the rads are done?
kater.... yes on the replens. however, taking the ovaries will do nothing as I am already suffering!!!!It is all a pain in the butt a roo!!
lago.... whatever the tastbuds can do is totally right!! I just am torn as I want to get to Rush again and see Carolyn. IF we can meet sooner than tastebud allows or we can wait for that too!!!
YEA Rene!!!!!This is awesome!!!!
It is ICY on deck this am as my golden went flying!!! be careful all!!
Hugs,
Donna
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Morning! Donna is so right.....all that melt from yesterday is now ICE! Everything is so shiney so be careful!
Rene....YAY!!!!! I do love B9!
Marina....I am betting on holiday stress and the trial. Headaches are no fun tho....hope it clears quickly. Love your good results too!
BJ....you must be feeling so much better! I don't think I can make snow angels now...there is a heavy crust of ice over the snow! Crunch-crunch-crunch!
Lisa...always one more trip to the store at this time of the year. I am done...except for Christmas Eve morning trip to grocery store for fresh bread/veggies. THEN....I am done! I think...maybe...
Kater/Laura...interesting stuff about the infrared saunas. I haven't set foot (or arm!) in a hot tub since the dx but I bet it sure would feel good with these creaky joints. We don't have a steam shower but I do turn up the hot water for my am showers...feels so good on my back. Probably shouldn't do that either. Oh well....
Joan...I am so sorry you can't get to Seattle for Christmas. True it will be nice to be there for the BD....too bad you couldn't be there for both! Hope DH feels better soon...
Connie....how's DD? Hopefully she will be back to normal by Christmas.
Today is DH's birthday....don't know what he wants to do yet but I am betting it will include either a cheeseburger or pizza as those are his twoo very favorite food groups!
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Laughing...post #2! Had to go back a page...
Marcia/scrap2book....welcome to our little corner of crazy, wacky Cancerland! We are quite the group...but I like to think we all have hearts of gold. Come here often....
Susan....I am sorry to learn about your SIL. Yes, she needs to be here for a long time. Sounds like it was caught very early and if she had to get bc, she found it early.
Onward.....what was your PT? Sounds like your coumadin might need to be adjusted! And yes, time later to address the cholesterol levels. That can be fixed in the future...you've got enuf on your plate right now!
Carolyn....think about you all the time, what you are going thru. Wonderful note from your sister...you are so lucky to have her. Very lucky...
Donna....can't offer anything re: upcoming ooph as I have mine and will no doubt be keeping them as I was BRCA neg and I have no gyne issues and never have had any.
OK....NOW I am done! LOL
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Wendy, I love your Santa picture and the ice-skating bear! What a cute way to start the day!
One of my very best friends is coming in from Macomb today to bring another friend to the airport so we're doing lunch. Then I've got some errands that need to be done. Tonight we're going to a holiday dinner theater with the golf group. That's good because today was my Mom's birthday and I've been doing a lot of remembering and thinking about her. Gee I miss her! If your Mom is still here, give her a great big hug this holiday season.
Everyone travel safely with the icy conditions and have a great day. Hugs to all of you.
Rita
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Julia A. Fletcher
Little drops of water, little grains of sand, Make the mighty ocean and the pleasant land. So the little minutes, humble though they be, Make the mighty ages of eternity.
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Rita, you took the words right out of my mouth. I so enjoyed Wendy's sparkly Christmas picture and the little bear. If Karen still reads she si going to love it too.
Marcia -- welcome. Be forewarned, this place is addictive. Glad you found us.
Saying a big hi to Carolyn this morning.
Lots to do today.....bills to pay for the Humane Society. I am acting Treasurer since our Treasurer resigned. You really get to do just about everything when you are in a smallish volunteer organization -- at least the ones in some small towns.
Kater,Lago, Wendy -- sounds like a hot tub would not be the place to be necessarily with LE either. One came with out house......was in the screen room. We dumped it as we wanted the screen room for our cats so gave it away. I was not the hot-tub type anyway.
Sorry to hear about the ice up North. Ours is gone now and I had Denny ice-melt Maggie's drive-way and put her car back in her garage so she can get out and go. I stalled this off as I did not want her going out too soon.......and not being able to get back up the drive-way. She is very independent ( good thing ) but gives in to any limitation VERY reluctantly. ( Sometimes a bad thing ) so I tried for a happy medium.
Well on to my laundry and what else I can manage in-between. I'll be working at the shelter on Friday.....all day. Not sure who is covering for X-mas but I could assist in the morning hours. We don't do much here......and have been having a light meal and going to a mantinee' at the theater on X-mas Day. I'll be checking in later.
Hugs, Jackie
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Good Morning Ladies and a special Hello to Carolyn,
It is snowing downtown Chicago. It looks like we are going to have a White Christmas.
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I hope this works.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcexJQM-8W0I tried it from here and it did work......so Merry Christmas to all of you. Love you all.
Jackie
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Could someone please PM the address for Carolyn to me also so that I can join the circle of good wishes and strength .......A very Merry Christmas to each and everyone of you.
Donna....we are having a Dr B. day again this week
2 more days to work ....and then the holiday can begin
Thinking of all of you even when Im not here
jan
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Cute video.
❅ ❄ ❆ It's not snowing in Lincoln Park…yet. ❅ ❄ ❆ ☃
Carolyn, Hey there. We know you are lurking ❤ ♡ ❤ ♡
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Good Morning to all!! I don't know why it took me so long to join your group. I'll start off by telling you a little about myself. Actually, we live in a very small village (Lisbon) - mailing address is Newark, which is about 9 miles away - it's halfway between Morris and Yorkville. By small I mean 100 people. We've lived there for 30 some years, moving there from Morris. DH and I have been married 35 years - no kids - 2 cats.(He had a heart attack 4 1/2 years ago, had a sten,t and is doing pretty good but is still unsure of every ache or pain - we know that feeling don't we?) Found my lump myself last August, had a lumpectomy followed by radiation - mammosite. Decided then against chemo, but was put on Femara. Had a bone scan done in May, because of my back and hip hurting so bad... that led to pet scan and found mets to the bone. Did two weeks of radiation to try to stop the pain, then had port put in on my birthday (yeah), and started chemo in June. (ACT - 4 times every three weeks). Pet scan after that showed reduction in hip, but spots on lung. Since then I've been doing the Faslodex and Zometa (and many pain pills). Will have another scan on January 4 to see what to do next - hopefully keep it stable so the oncologist says. I've been working full time at the same place for the last 26 years. I'm on the computer at work so much that I don't even use the computer at home. In my spare time (what's that?), I enjoy cooking (when the food tastes like food), reading Stephen King books (when my eyes will co-operate) and as you've probably guessed scrapbooking! Actually, I've gotten more into making cards lately than the scrapbooking. Well, I guess I shoud go do some work now, but I'll check in later. Thanks so much again for the warm welcome!!!
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anyone have a rad doc at either good sams or elmhurst? its time I picked one and still debating about rush. So you rush girls could give me yours as well? thanks onward
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scrap2book - Welcome to our little group. So sorry about the crap you are going through. Surprised that DCIS spread like that - I though it is considered Stage 0. Ugh!
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I'm baaaaaaack!!!
Marcia....Connie and I are HUGE Stephen King fans! Have you read his latest? Very, very dark sides of people! I really enjoyed it! Count me in too as one who was surprised with DCIS and your mets...but then nothing about this blasted disease should surprise me anymore!
Waving at you, Caroyln!
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Marina and Irene, yea! Great news, and now you can really celebrate this week.
Thinking of you, Carolyn, and sending hugs and good wishes.
Welcome Marcia, and anyone else I've missed. I'm trying to catch up with everyone, but this thread is really moving!
I too was warned about staying out of hot tubs, but my onc said she loves them, and would probably go in, but just for a little while. I have been too chicken, though I used to love the hot tub after skiing in CO.Loved it out there even if I didn't ski. So warm and cozy in that weather.
Yes, Susan, I do have a new South African sil. Pleasant British accent, don't you know. My son is dating a Chinese Singaporean girl, also with the British accent. We've got a theme going here, and it is so fun to learn about their cultures.
Thumb stitches out tomorrow, so I wil be cleaning house! Power out for eight hours yesterday, and I am so behind anyway I didn't need that. Tree branch fell on the wires, and poof! It is amazing how much our every move depends on having electricity. I had candles and flashlights, but the worst part is getting a little cold without the furnace blower.
Have a great day. Looks like snow is coming, and I love a white Christmas!
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mak & Irene - WOO HOO for you two!
Marcia, Marcia, Marcia - WELCOME! The girls here are great! Sorry about all you're going through. Vent here ANYTIME!
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Have to get ready to leave soon...photographing volleyball teams this afternoon and into the evening. Hope you're all having as good a day as possible.
It's so sunny out! I LOVE IT! lol
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Thanks to all of you who sent me the mailing address for Carolyn.....I had no idea that is where her sister lived, she is probably no more than 5-10 minutes from me, if any of you are actually in touch with her sister please let her know how close I am if there is anything they need esp at a moments notice. I am in the process of writing a card and I will put a note in it as to where I live also. I am keeping her constantly in my prayers.
jan
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Wendy....I never had any real issues down below either. If you were BRCA gene postiive, would you do a oooph? Are there any reason to keep them? I do not want to do anything foolish.! I hate taking anything out if it is not necessary?
Laura.. what is a Dr B week.. am i like a dud or what??
Carolyn is goin home..YEAH!!!!!!!
WELCOME MARCIA!!! We listen and we care!!!! You are goin to see the support an great caring in here like no where else!!!! Be here and just see for yourself!!!lolol!
Ok.. goin to get ready for some R and R and Lifetime movies.. '
hugs,
donna poo
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LMBO!!! LAURA.. I READ WRONG.... IT was Jan!!!! Oh i am tired or what.. Jan.. love Dr B!!!!!He did such a great job and got a compliment during my exam at Rush yesterday!!!!! You are lucky to work with him!!!!Hope you are well and enjoy the holidays. Loved meeting you!!!!!
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Spoke with Carolyn a few hours ago. She was waiting for her release papers. She seemed to be in pretty good spirits.
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Good news and worrisome news here! I guess that is what this thread is all about....we deal with both.
Marcia, your story is hard. I guess the lesson is we never really know. Stage I, II, III and IV is so arbitrary. We never know when we will progress and we never know when we will be the one with the cure. My friend has Stage IV colon cancer that went to the liver. He was not given encouraging news. HE IS NOW CANCER FREE.
Okay Rene.....time for you to count your blessings. God love you. I am so happy for you. I was so edgy about it.
Smerf, so good to hear from you. My friend's daughter met her South African fiance while in London (studying abroad as he was).
Wendy, Stephen King scares the heck out of me. I read Gerald's Game and couldn't sleep at night (well, that is actually the norm....I should not blame King for my chronic insomnia). I read and then saw the play Misery...........scary. Have your King readers read Misery? The movie had Kathy Bates in it.
Love you all. Hope that the holidays are filled wiht peace!
Susan
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Hi all. Looks like snow is coming our way. Just how much, I dont know. I dont want it to snow. My bro lives in waterloo and its about a 2hr drive. I wanna see him. Sorry all you gals who love the snow, but I love my bro, lol. Gettn ready to watch Alvin and the Chipmunks for the 2nd time tonite. Gotta get the remote from husband. Or better yet quit fight sleep and go to bed. Why is it Im so sleepy when I dont work the next day but am wide awkae when I need to be sleeping on a work the next day night. Well all have a blessed night.
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Morning all! More snow coming tonight and more on the weekend. As you can see, Paula, I am soooooo in love with snow! Hope you can get to your bro's!
Susan....so Laughing!!! You were talking about Stephen King and "Misery" which for those of you who don't know involved axes and body parts being removed one at a time......and then you said have a peace-filled holiday!!! Somehow that just struck me as really funny! My fav S. King remains "'Salem's Lot". That book scared the c**p outta me for weeks.
Lago....thanks for the update on Carolyn. She is one of us for sure....a true tough IL gal!
Marina....how's the headache?
Donna....if I were BRCA pos I would most probably have the ovaries out. I already have all the menopausal/arimidex se's so I wouldn't care about that. I certainly don't need them and I bet if I went to the cervical ca blog which I am sure exists....I would scare myself silly and would rip them out myself! Notice I said "most probably".....until faced with that decision that answer is only an educated guess. You've done your research and received the doc's opinion. Perhaps a 2nd opinion would give you peace?
BJ....no breakfast in bed for DH! He would only spill it! He got what he wanted....pizza, with pepperoni on his side. He was happy...and he had chocolate gelato. For me...after all this eating out, and all the bad stuff....I personally...am DONE! Made my yearly doc appt for the 3rd week in Jan so today I start my after the holidays diet, BEFORE the holidays! I will let you know how that works! LOL...so not the time to diet!
smerf.....glad your stitches are coming out but you still have to be really careful! Your power was out? I so hate when that happens but during the winter that can get pretty darn cold. We seem to lose our power a lot, but only in the warmer weather so we might get a bit hot and it certainly is an inconvenience but it is doable. Well, except for that time that it was out for 32 hours after a really bad storm. THAT was a nightmare!
Gotta scoot for now....hope you all have a wonderful day before the 2 days of craziness. Please be careful driving to and fro...lots of ice, now some snow coming...and lots of crazy drivers, quite of few of whom have imbibed!
Waving at you Carolyn!!!!!
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Morning girls....Just wanted to stop by for a quick hi before I get into the big cooking mode this am. Hosting Xmas eve here for 18 not to bad but they sure like to eat. So I need to start early.
Carolyn....hope you are resting comfortably at your sister's now. A PIC line in is a good thing as it will save your veins. Sending you hugs your way.
Paula... I love the snow. But I do hope you are able to get to your bro's. I would pack a jammie bag just in case for a sleep over. fun.
Smerf...stitches out today yeah!!! Please do be careful cleaning. Hope your heat stays on for you now. Be warm.
Zap...are you hosting the holiday for your grand kids. enjoy the day with them.
Donna..hope you are feeling better. Ovaries out are a personal thing. Some do some don't. Second opions are always good.
Laura...photo shoot all done and no more driving for you. lol I am open next week for lunch. Let me know.
Rita...are the grand kids coming soon. Hope they have a safe drive in. My cousin is driving in from Philly. Praying the roads will be ok for them. They are driving with a 3 yr old in the car.
Lago...how are you feeling. Did you have a realest person in chi for rentals? DD is looking after the first of the year to move.
Jackie...What are you doing for the holidays? Are you spending it with Maggie?
Wendy.. Glad to see that dh had a wonderful bday. Pizza yum. I would forget about the diet. Just go for it. That's why they advertise the gym stuff in Jan. lol
Off topic...I know many of you have done the Zometa route but has anyone done Reclast. Looking for info as I will probably be getting this next year after my pneumonia clears. I never have taken the meds for BC but the osteo is getting bad. So no matter how much I exercise the old bones ant what they use to be. lol
Well off to start making my yummy jello molds that take all day to make. Have a wonderful fun filled day everyone. Santa is coming if you are really good.!!!
Hugs to all
BJ
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Donna I too was considering removing my ovaries if my BRCA tested positive. I tested negative. The thing that scared me is that ovarian cancer is silent and usually found too later but… now they know your risk they will be watching you. I would go for a second opinion just to confirm that this is the correct thing to do.
Blackjack, the last time we rented (mid 90's) we went through http://www.apartmentpeople.com/ . Prior to that I always looked in the Chicago Reader. I'm feeling fine but my finger nails still kill. I purchased a bag of frozen peas to stick my fingers in during Tuesday's infusion. I don't think I can handle this getting any worse. I won't be able to type if it does. I also purchased some black nail polish. Some one said if the light doesn't get to your nails they won't fall off. Who knows if it's true but since they are turning black anyway it can't hurt.Thanks for asking.
BTW I did call my PS regarding my LE and he referred me to a Rehab doctor (not therapist) in Evanston. He just graduated med school in 1965! Do these guys ever retire ;-) I'm glad he's not a surgeon or I would run the other way. For consult I'm sure he's great. I really like my PS. He pays attention to those little things.
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ovaries out?
google any question you have, i googled "should i get my ovaries out?"
surprised to see 1-2 in 100 get ovarian cancer, did i read that right?
I got mine out with mom with ovca past 12 years....(now deceased)....she was brca negative. I wish someone would have taken that stuff out when I was 23, married and asked! They said I was too young!
Should I have my ovaries removed to prevent ovarian cancer?
Introduction
Date updated: August 31, 2007
Cynthia Tank
Content provided by HealthwiseThis information will help you understand your choices, whether you share in the decision-making process or rely on your doctor's recommendation.
Key points in making your decisionThe average woman has a 1 or 2 in 100 chance of getting ovarian cancer in her lifetime. That means that for every 100 women, 1 or 2 will get ovarian cancer sometime during their lives and 98 or 99 will not.
But those odds don't apply to women who have a strong family history of ovarian cancer. (Family history means having relatives with the disease.) For these women, the chances of getting ovarian cancer are much higher. A few of these women have also inherited a certain gene change, called a BRCA gene change (say "BRAH-kuh"). Their chances of getting ovarian cancer are very high.
An operation to remove the ovaries is called an oophorectomy (say "oh-uh-fuh-REK-tuh-mee"). Women who are at very high risk for ovarian cancer may decide to have this surgery to lower their risk. Consider the following when making your decision:
* You can't begin to make a decision about having this surgery until you find out more about how high your risk is for ovarian cancer. Your doctor will help you find this out by talking to you about your medical history and your family history. You may also talk with a genetic counselor, an expert in helping people find out about their cancer risks.
* If you are not at high risk for cancer, having your ovaries removed to prevent cancer is not recommended.
* Your decision will depend on how high your risk is estimated to be, as well as your health, your age, and your personal feelings.
* Having the ovaries removed greatly lowers a woman's chances of getting ovarian cancer. The fallopian tubes are removed at the same time. This is another place where cancer can start.1
* It's possible to get cancer even after your ovaries have been removed.
* Without your ovaries, you cannot get pregnant and have children. And having the ovaries removed causes you to begin menopause.
* For many women who have inherited a BRCA gene change, doctors recommend removing the ovaries as a way to help prevent cancer.2, 3 Most women do not have this rare gene change.
* Sometimes women think their risk is higher than it really is. So it's important to work with your doctor or genetic counselor to understand how high your risk may be.0 -
YAHOO, that pic scared the snow away Wendy! Whoop whoop. Doing the happy dance. Its only suppose to snow 1-2 inches. That aint nothing. We can see my bro,yea!!!!! I hope all goees well for everyone today. Im gonna chill. I have the next 4 days off so today I have chosen it to be a Paula day. I need it. So for Paula day I will get to do whatever Paula wants to do. I know selfish right, but Im cool with that. I will think of you all!
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Lago...I am going to a lymphedema therapist who is awesome for my pelvic congestion and chest swelling. She works out of her home in Park Ridge. I found that she helped me more on a holistic level with her techniques. She works with a lot of breast CA pts and I f am very comfortable working with her. I can see the difference in my breast / chest swelling. I do the exercises daily and really have no problems so far. Thanks for the apt rental info. DD got a raise so now she is really moving out. Where to you get the Chicago Reader ? Is it online?
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Donna I would also get a 2nd opinion from a genetic counselor other than the one I think you are going to… or at least not rely on this counselor.
If it's the one I think it is she actually gave me statistics that said my risk of having the BRCA gene was slightly higher if I didn't have breast cancer. Even my BS said that doesn't make sense. I had my sister's genetic counselor run the numbers and of course it was the other way around. At the very least she should have run the numbers again because that just didn't make sense
" Lifetime risk estimates for ovarian cancer among women in the general population indicate that 1.4 percent (14 out of 1,000) will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer compared with 15 to 40 percent of women (150-400 out of 1,000) who have a harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation" (source: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/BRCA )
Blackjack, the link to the chicago reader didn't work? Here is is again: http://alturl.com/sm5t9
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