Illinois ladies facing bc

HPOA is hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy, I think. Is that right, Buddy? I don't know much about it, though and have not known anyone who has it. I believe it's rather rare.

Wanted to say hi to everyone, and catch up. Family issues taking too much time lately, and major one is my aunt. She had total hip replacement surgery which went very well, but she woke up with severe memory loss. She's 91, so maybe not surprising, but it was sudden. She has lived with her daughter for the last 21 years, but doesn't remember that. Yikes! My cousin is struggling with the whole thing, and I've been trying to be there for her. She has my aunt in a nursing home, and it's been pretty emotional for both of us. On the upside, she can run down the halls without her previous severe hip pain! She tells me I'd better keep up, or she'll pass me. Pretty funny, actually when you see it. She is my mom's last surviving sibling, and the one my mom was closest to, so I am kind of attached to her too. Getting old is NOT for sissies, she is one tough cookie!

Lago, so sorry about the shingles. My DH had it once, and it was very painful. The vaccine has not been approved for use on cancer/chemo patients, so my onc does not want me to have it. My internist does want to give it to me, but I always defer to my onc. Plus the literature that comes with it says not for use with cancer patients. Considering it is only 50% to 60% effective I'm going to wait for approval. They say that if you still get shingles, it should be a milder case if you have had the vaccine.

Joan, I love that about the angels. Makes the rain more tolerable somehow. The reality is that I have cute duckies swimming around in my yard, where normally there is no swimmin' hole.

Onward, no more hair in the purse? We do make our mark on the staff at Maggianos, don't we? Kater pulled off her wig, and JanClare passed her prosthetic around the table, and a few  other possibly startling things we've done come to mind.

I'm going back to read more pages and catch up with you all. I think of each of you all the time, and always with a heart full of caring for you.

Thanks for the info Linda!

Hope you're all having a nice day...wish the SUN would come out!

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Just had to share! This is my great niece, AriAnna on Easter - what a doll!

Wow, Laura! She is beautiful, and your own little sunshine.

Still reading pages, and playing catch up. You guys are prolific posters! And terrific too.

Hi there.... Been quiet as usual before my Scan.. And an awful day by the phone waiting for results.. until 5:15!!!  Anyways.. still NED.. kind of.. the Onc said the radiologist thinks my lymph node that was last time described as fatty tissue is larger than on the last scan.. my Onc reviewed it and disagreed and said everything is great and he has no concern.. SO.. I'm going with that.. he also said he'll review with the Radiologist but either way will just follow up in 3 months..  the Ultrasound saw it and said it's benign in Sept.. I just have a fat node..

Lago sorry about shingles.. I am not immune to chicken pox and can't get the vaccine so I really worry about that one..

Got to run as usual these days.. boy was I spoiled by having a Nanny before.. 

Seattle again on Monday..

Laura, your niece is a Doll.. this is a great though hectic age!!

Evening friends.....our sweet little Chico is doing a couple days and nights at the Vet Clinic.  Turns out he has a duct....the one between gall bladder and liver that handles the bile is inflamed and blocked.  The first Vet did not diagnose this.....and both Denny and I were un-happy with give him an antibiotic and pain meds.  I'd like to know what I'm giving them for ( though he refused everything but water.....then would throw it up later ).  So we called our favorite Dr. Douglas and she got us in this afternoon.  She was upset that his temp. did not even get taken....and it was elevated.  We only went to the other Vet as he was quite a bit closer.....and in case something was broken....we didn't want Chico to have a 20 mile ride to the Vets.  So, he is on IV meds and Britt ( that's Dr. Douglas ) said that he will turn around fast when the drugs take hold.  She said if you can imagine....a doubled up fist pushed into your chest and held there....that is what Chico was feeling and why he would not eat --- poor guy.  I know when he feels better he'll forgive me for leaving him there. 

It's pouring again.  We just took a ride out to Crooked Creek....you'd never be able to tell where it is, if you didn't cross the bridge.  It is so far out of it's banks, and much farther and it will come up over the road.  I really don't like that, but maybe tomorrow will be sunny......though water in that volume keeps running and collecting for awhile. 

Anyway hoping for a great sunny day for everyone.....it's time.

Hugs, Jackie

p.s.  HI Smerf....good to see you back.

Laura....seems like yesterday that we saw AriAnna's "first" picture.  How did this happen???

joan888 - Thank you!  I've just started walking with my arms perpendicular to my body instead of hanging down and I've noticed a huge difference in the swelling in my fingers.  Heat is a huge trigger for my LE ... so not looking forward to the heat and humidity.

 Tornado sirens went off for about an hour.  What an adventure!  Took my cats over to the neighbor's basement ... hurt some tonight from carrying them over ... but it's better now.  Saw a tornado in the sky, barely touched down ... absolutely nothing like what has hit AL & GA.  My heart and prayers go out to them.

Here's to at least full day of sun and NO RAIN! 

LauraGTO what a cute grandbaby! 

Jackie - We had a Chico (cocker) when I was growing up.  Hope your Chico feels better soon.

 Hello to everyone.  Tie to go to work.

Onward I'm not stage III but almost was (just 1 lymph node away). Stage IIIA is still considered early stage. From what I hear it sounds about right. You might post on the stage III forum.

Again quick drive by. Waving hello. Still have the creeping crud (shingles) that has at least doubled if not tripled in size since Monday. I think though, hopefully, it has stopped spreading. Anyone here who has had this, can you tell me if this is the worst of it. I'm hoping that I don't get increased pain. I hear about this pain so bad you need narcotics. I'm not there and hoping I don't get there. This stuff now covers a large area on my body.

Thanks, Connie!  We will look for Coloma.  Of course we are off to a late start as Paul had a last minute work issue.  I suppose the Sunday night drive back into Illinois is as slow as from Wisconsin.  It is fun to look.  We just had friends who bought in New Buffalo.

Onward, my breast cancer surgeon moved to new York State to care for her ailing father and I was  upset.  I now see the women who took over her spot and she is fantastic!  Change is indeed scary but it can work out just fine.  If you decide you do not want the change, Racine is not that far away.  I am stage II and my onc from the very beginning "released" me and told me to come back if I had symptoms.  I found that terrifying as most woman here were going every 3 months, 6 months and then annualy.  I have not see him for over three years,  I did go to a nurse practioner who outlined who I see for what and she said I see the oncologist for headache, bone ache and trouble breathing and thank heavens I have had non of the above. Edited to add that I have back problems, but I have come to know that this come and go issue is clearly disk and not cancer-related.

Let's hope for sunny skies.

Sunny here today and gorgeous!!!!  Haven't seen the sun in over a week!

Enjoy it!  Love it ... 'get reacquainted with the sunglasses." 

Onward... I am IIIa... the fourth lymph node put me there.  So barely, and Lago is right, they do still consider that an early diagnosis.  I finished chemo at end of August and my ONC has me on a 3-month follow-up schedule now that I got rid of my port during my exchange surgery.  I insisted on PET/CT scans prior to going for my exchange. ONC was reluctant as he said those can send you on a wild goose chase, but I just wanted some peace of mind.  Just rather being chase a wild goose than a dead goose.  I am not sure what tests I will be doing on my regular 3-month check-ups yet, but have an appt with him in a couple weeks.

It took about 2-3 weeks for my skin to heal up nicely after finishing rads.  Just lots of lotion and drink lots of water.... like you haven't heard that a hundred times already!

I have a question.  My BS was not a good choice I found out after multiple complications and her horrible attitude and things she said to me.  I have not been back since probably March/April 2010.  Should I be seeing one still?  I see my Onc every three months.  What would the BS do for me?

thanks zap I had a bmx so maybe that is why I don't need to do any further with a BS unless I have an issue. My onc does not feel I need to do a mamo I know some do even with bmx.