Illinois ladies facing bc
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Hi All, just dropped in to say howdy. I am going today for my second rad with 32 to go. Sorry I havent been on latley, my fingers are still numb and I hate typing right now. Love you though. Onward
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Onward - AND UPWARD...hang in there...you will do fine! IL girl Hugs!
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I am 29 years old and was just recently diagnosed with low-grade breast cancer. Despite my significant family history of breast and ovarian cancer, I am BRCA negative...which, surprisingly makes me even more confused. I don't have "bad genes" to blame this on...I just have crappy luck. I am scheduled to have a lumpectomy next week. Well...actually I have two surgeries scheduled at different hospitals. I'm adamant about receiving my oncology treatment at one hospital but I am quite comfortable with the breast surgeon at the other hospital. Is it wise to split up my care? Or should I stick with continuity and have my surgery and onco team at the same hospital?
Ultimately, I know that any decision I make will be the right decision for me. But, I guess I'm still shell-shocked and confused. And scared. Really scared.
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CiaoVino.... Welcome to our Illinois Ladies group. So sorry to hear that you are going through this at such a young age. (HUGS). I am twice your age and was scared out of my wits until I had a "plan of action". Not that things got easier, but at least I knew that I just had to put one foot in front of the other and keep on trekking through that plan. I decided to use a breast surgeon at NW, but wanted to do my oncology closer to home here in the northwest burbs. I don't think that was a problem at all. With electronic medical records, it is easy for your doctors to coordinate communications. I think it is way more important that YOU feel confident and comfortable with your doctors.
As I have already told Laura and Makmak, I reach my first year cancerversary this Friday... I think that is correct? March 11th was my diagnosis date. I am struggling with that date this week as I am not sure whether to celebrate or mourn. Mostly, I just seem to be reminiscing about how much I have gone through over the past year and how much life has changed. You have all come to mean so much to me and given me much inspiration over the past months. Thank you all so much.
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Oh, Joan, what a perfectly honest post to a person entering our "odd" yet perfectly loving world of cancer. Perfect! And welcome to Chio! Lots of us live in or near Chicago. It gets better. I just walked to wherever they told me to walk to, but I know so many women researched medical care and made wonderful choices based on their research. good luck and stay close,
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Ciao- my care is all over the place! Others feel more comfortable with it all at one place. Do whatever you feel is right for you. Take care. Shell shocked, confused and scared... yes we all were there and it does get better. Warm thoughts.
joan- celebrate or mourn... a bit of both perhaps? (c: May 5 this year will be my one year cancerversary and my 49th birthday. I hope to get my exchange sometime in May.
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A wonderful welcome to you Ciao. I did everything all over as well....biopsy one place, lumpectomy another, Chemo at the hospital and rads at another one. I did not mind this at all. Joan and Susan ( zap ) are giving good advice in that you need to feel comfortable in whatever way you choose to go. I think everyone got a big case of nerves getting this kind of diagnosis because it is not something you can prepare for in any way. I still recall feeling numb the first couple of months. I think I hoped that someone would call and tell me it was a huge mistake but that didn't happen. You are very young but all the ladies here are wonderful at holding hands, calming fears and Wendy has a fort under her table when things get bad as well. I hope you will come often. We know what you are going through and we also know it seems far easier when you are surrounded with those who have been where you are. We will help you get through this.
Hugs, Jackie
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Joan --- Friday is the first yr. down --- how fantastic. Here's to a multitude more.
Hugs, Jackie
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CIao...I had most of my treatments etc at same location...but I live in a small town and my options here were limited so I chose to go to larger more "specific care" oriented hospital. I did do my radiaton at yet another location...so I too think it just depends on where you are comfortable. So sorry you have to join this "group" but welcome. I am a "newbie" to this group and they have been a tremendous source of information & comfort.
Lago...I have 3 sizes of barbell type weights...I guess I need to drag those out of the closet...(not doing me much good tucked away) I will give it a shot. Thanks for the tip.
Have a good evening everyone...I have to get ready to watch "Hot in Cleveland" Love that show!
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Joan - I am celebrating my one year anniversary this Fri as well but I am counting from the day of surgery versus diagnosis. I asked my oncologist when to start counting from and she said she uses the surgery date since that is when the cancer was removed.
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Congratulations on all reaching their 1 year down many more to go date.
Char I'm with you. I count from surgery date (or treatment start date). Otherwise I feel I'm already a 4+ year survivor since at diagnosis they said I probably had this for 4 years. (fast grower).
Denise I use hand weights like the picture above. I'm restarting so I'll be using 3lbs weights. I have sets of 3,5,8 and 10lbs. I used to start with 5lbs but now that I have LE in one arm and the other is at risk I need to take it slowly.CiaoVino hang in there. The beginning is such hell. I didn't relax till I finally had my surgery. This is the worst/scariest time. It does get better.The tears and intensity of it all does stop/slowdown.
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"When you feel like giving up, remember why you held on for so long in the first place."Author Unknown
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Char -- yay for you. Guess I have not counted the time and find I am going to be at the 4 yr. mark later this yr.
Today is another gym day and I think I am going to be a little rocky tomorrow maybe. Just looking at Lago's wts. I think I have some of those around here but the ones at the gym look a bit ominous to me -- like a lot heavier than the end states. If they use the same guidelines as my Dr.'s scale.....then they are. Ok, just teasing.
Another teaser....due to be sunny and 60 tomorrow -- I'll try to deal with that. It's still awfully damp out right now. Something I don't deal with too well, but sun should start this afternoon they say -- not a moment too soon for me.
Hope you all have a fantastic great day and get some sun as well.
Hugs, Jackie
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Jackie these weights are lighter if you take their boots and belt off.
Seriously last time it took me about 5 months to work up to 10 lb weights and I started with 5lbs. They are heavy. This time I'm starting with 3 lb because of the LE/LE risk. Some folks start as low as 1 or 2 lbs. 0 -
Thanks Lago....they better go easy on me. I'm a terribly out of shape 65 yr. old. I have lost ( gained some back and re-lost it since ) 46 #'s since I started chemo ) and have 20 more to go. Sigh !!!. I am looking forward to the nutrition classes that go along with the good wt. bearing exercises though I generally try to watch what I do with food. Since this class is sponsored by our local hospital.....the 8 wk. class only cost $30.00. A fantastic investment and is taught by a friend --- so I can get extra help if needed.
Jackie
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Question for all... On Monday I am starting a program to train for a 5K. I was doing it BC and was up to two miles. Go to www.coolrunning.com and click on Couch-to-5K. It is a three day a week program and I'm going to do M,W,F. It gets you running three miles in two months. I don't suppose that anyone is willing to go through this with me? finger crossed...0
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Adey... I'd love to do this, but running is too hard on my joints. After I get my new foobs later this month, I don't suppose I'll be doing much hopping up and down for a while??
Yes, I guess I am not sure when to start the count... after diagnosis or surgery? I remember how my PS greeted me on morning of my BMX and said "this is a good day" and quickly explained that it was a good day because we were getting rid of the cancer.
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Hi Ladies!
No time to go back and catch up right now, I'm supposed to be getting ready for work! I've been sitting here with a LIST of things I needed to do this morning and I managed all but two of them. You know how it is when it's time to schedule a pile of appointments all at once, not just for myself, but a few for the family.
Anyway, hope everyone is doing well. Welcome to the newcomers.
My sis-in-law and I had a fantastic time on our cruise - very relaxing and very fun. My favorite kind of vacation.
Here is me looking like Medusa of the Seas (as my son called me). This was right after we first boarded and it was WINDY. I look pregnant, which is funny considering the lack of necessary parts.
Oh, and one of the things I finally got done this morning was signing up myself and the family for the Y-Me walk on Mother's Day. It's like the "light" version of the breast cancer walks - for us slackers who only want to walk 3 miles. We did it 2 years ago and it was still a very moving, inspiring and empowering thing. If anyone wants to join us, let me know, or you can sign up your own team at the Y-Me site.
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Cute picture Rene. Glad you had a fun time.
I count from my diagnosis date. I figure that is the day I officially "have cancer" and I have survived 4 years from that date.
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Lago...that is the type of weights I have ... in three sizes...I have to check what size they are....
So now the question is what do I do with them....Lunges & squats? I'll look on internet to see what
exercises I can find.
Went to my aqua zumba class...sure glad it is older ladies like myself. It is fun and I Feeeeel it!
Night all!
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Denise I have been using this book for years. I do skip some of the exercises that don't feel right for me but I do most of them. The thing this book doesn't have is streching. I do stretch before I start. There are pictures and descriptions of each exercise.
Yes I do lunges and squats with weights but if you are just starting out you won't use the weights right away. Start slowly adding a little more each time. I even started out with just one set of 10 repetiions eventually working my way to 3 sets of 10 reps. The book has you doing more than that but I'm not trying to look like her picture on the cover.
Bottoms Up!
Joyce L., Ph.D. Vedral
ISBN-10: 0446394211She now has videos too. I think her newer books are not as intense as this one.
When I bought this book I though she (Joyce Verdal) was old and if she could do it so could I. She was 50 in that photo and I was in my early 30s. Funny but now I'm 50.
----------------------------------------------------I also have this book by her that you might like better. Not quite as intense. Might be a better place to start.
Bone Building Body Shaping Workout:
Strength Health Beauty In Just 16 Minutes A Day
Joyce L. Vedral
ISBN-10: 06848473100 -
Chinese Proverb
If I keep a green bough in my heart, the singing bird will come.0 -
Prayers for Japan and all those who will be facing the aftermath in the form of the tsunami that is coming.
Jackie
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I have to leave for my onc appointment in a few minutes (which I actually missed last week!), but all I want to do is keep monitoring the devastating news out of Japan. We've been trying to contact our family there, but to no avail. My mother has called her brother, niece and nephew, but the phone lines aren't working. I assume that too many people are calling to check on loved ones right now.
I have emailed my cousins, and am hoping that they will respond as soon as they are able. Most of my mother's family live on the southern outskirts of Tokyo, so I think they are likely all fine. I would just like to be able to reassure my mother that they truly are.
Here are some aerial photos that are kind of mind-blowing, for anyone who hasn't seen them yet. http://www.boingboing.net/2011/03/11/from-the-sky-aerial.html
I was up late and watched this happening "live" on CNN last night. Just speechless watching the houses and cars getting swept away knowing there were people in them. I haven't been to Japan since I was 13, but this is really shaking me up.
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Irene, all my thoughts are with you and your family. I'm hoping that when I check in later you have heard some good news from them.It must be so frustrating to be so far away, and not able to help.
Hugs,
Pat
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Irene I hope your family is OK. I was up early this morning (3AM) when I found out about this. What is going on? New Zealand, Japan and China too.0
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Hi, ladies~ What a great sunny day~~
Rene- I saw the live news last night and it was heart breaking and scary.. I hope your relatives are ok..
Ciao- Welcome to our group and come often.. these ladies are great..
We finally got the date for our move, March. 21. I know it's only ten days from now and not enough time to do things we wanted to do before we leave.. We decided to drive to Oregon.. It will be a long road trip (30 hours) with the kids but it might be fun (or not).. It will be a just adventure for the kids to see all different things and places.. Of course, you have to hear ;are we there yet?? about who know how many times... but we are willing to try..
One thing I know for sure, I will miss you ladies terribly, lunch bunch and yearly walk.. I know I can always come here to see you ladies which is greatest thing for me..
I wish I can see you ladies before I leave the town but I am not even sure I have time for that since, we still have doctors appointment to go to and pack... However, I will try to post here and FB on the way to Oregon..
Enjoy the rest of fine day and have a fantastic weekend~!~!~!
Love you all, Elf.
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Hey there....
Rene...been thinking about ur family all day...
Elf...lunch before u go! Do u have time ?
Best friend of my niece just dx'd with ILC...2 kids 7 and 4....prayers please!0 -
Thanks, everyone for all the good thoughts and wishes. We still haven't heard anything. My mother has tried calling a few times, but either the communications are still down, or her relatives were all evacuated from the coastline. She's going to try again later. We do think they are most likely fine considering where they live, although a few do work in Tokyo.
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Hi Irene,
Hoping you do hear from your family very soon. Television news is reporting many problems with communications and transportation, so I guess we can only be patient for now. Not so easy for you. I'm sure. Thoughts with you and all of Japan.
My son is visiting me , and he just got an e-mail from his friend in Tokyo stating that he and his family are fine. We had been wondering all day, and this friend lives and works in Tokyo. He did not describe conditions there, just wanted to let everyone know he is okay. My son bought an airline ticket just yesterday to go visit this friend this summer, so we'll see what happens. Japan Airlines is refunding tickets for travel for the next month, but he was supposed to go in June during summer break.
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