Illinois ladies facing bc

Hey gals.. I am looking for some information and help from those of you in Chicagoland.  We are relocating there and I will need to find a new med onc.  I did BLMX, reconstruction with TE and had my exchange a week ago.  I will come back here for nipple reconstruction in a few months (metro Detroit) but will obviously need ongoing care in Chicago with a good med onc.  Can you PM with any recommendations?  I also need a holistic MD or naturopath that deals with cancer patients.  We will most likely be in Wheaton or Naperville area but I don't mind driving.  I prefer to be seen by a doc though an NCI if possible.  Thanks for any information.....this is overwhelming at this point.....moving on top of the last 7 mo's with BC. Life throws you a lot of curves doesn't it?  I guess the move will keep me so busy I won't have time to dwell on the whole BC thing..... Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Happy 4th everyone!!!!! Hope you all have a wonderful holiday!!!



I woke up very sore today (I knew I over did it yesterday!!! Poo...) and a major headache, which as an officially card carrying member in the BC club, I immediately thought "OMG, it's in my brain...." does that fear ever go away? I bet not huh?



Msg, we welcome you to IL soon.... Land of corrupt politics and crazy weather!!! I see Lago pm'd you on your inquiry.....I guarantee she has lots of useful knowledge regarding some of the best oncologists and such in the area.....plus, my treatment is going to be at the same hospital as her, so my telling you my oncologist would most likely be duplicate info??? I can though if you need/want it.... Naperville is very close to me, about 20 minutes.....my PS is in Naperville ...



I sure wish I were at my family's lake house now with all the boating talk......I haven't been up there in ages, I need to make an effort to get there soon....



Happy day today!!!! :0)

Lago, not sure ....I was guessing!!! LOL.... I'll PM my 2 I've seen....

Happy Fourth. We are also doing a b-day for grandchild number one as they are going to Boston during the real one.  I had so much fun getting her gifts.....lots of Tinkerbell with an Attitude this year.....just lots of Tinkerbell in general.  AND YES, BJ!  I would go again.  The tickets are expensive but this play just lifted my spirits.....so I will just not do massages to pay for wonderful experience  (teasing, I do not do them anyway) and maybe I should.  Any one else interested?  The theater is odd (a big tent) but designed this way for the special effects....called the 360 degree.  I will get the link for the production and post it when I have a bit more time.

 Oh Twilight Zone!  When I was teaching fulltime I taught an elective and it was called Twilight Zone. My school district purchased like 80 episodes for the class.  We viewed on each day and then did an activity on it.  They were very heady stories.  My favorite (okay one of my favorites) was when the woman had plastic surgery and her head was wound in gauze.

Have fun today and share some sparkes wiht others!

YAY, I finally have a "face"....it wouldn't let me put an avatar in my profile using my i pad, I finally went downstairs and used the regular pc...



That's me, the day I was diagnosed....about an hour after the dreaded phone call that turned my life upside-down.

Thank you, ladies, for the warm welcome.  I am on our honeymooon so can only check in periodically.  We have been to Michigan, up through Canada and are now in a wonderful campground called Milton Heights near Toronto.  We are planning to spend several days here and then go to Niagara Falls. 

Someone asked where I was from--a Mississippi gal, with the accent to match.  I had wonderful care with my bc from Starkville, MS and your recommendations about the Carbondale Breast Center sound very good.

I chose not to do reconstruction-I'm 54 and have had three surgeries in the past five years (hysterectomy, hernia, and mastectomy) and not interested in more--especially after I heard from so many people with problems from reconstruction.  I'd probably be more interested if I was fifteen or twenty years younger but not at this stage of the game.  I really don't like the dead zones that surgery gives you and I'd have to have the uniboob lifted to match--and that would mean it would stop feeling as well.  Another reason to hesitate.  Not that I'm criticizing anyone else's choice--just that it's not worth it to me.

 Sounds like everyone had wonderful plans for today.  Certainly a beautiful day here in Canada!

Cheers and enjoy the fireworks!

Debbie G.

Wendy you really don't think I'm sitting here with my arms crossed While I'm not vacuuming or flipping queen sized mattresses over I did make cookies yesterday. Also Joan wore one of those compression bras. My PS has me in a compression band that I don't have to wear all the time. Maybe that's why the restriction is for so long.

Any one get heartburn/acid reflux after surgery? Seems like this is getting worse not better. (No cookies for me. Chocolate is a killer).

Waving from the lake and yes it will be hot one today up here. Today is a chill day for me. To much partying this weekend soo I am off to find my beach chair and read my book.

Lago... Have you though about going to a gastro md. Maybe you need a new gastro med. Acid reflux is a killer on the stomach. Have you tried decreasing caffeine, chocolate, and acid type foods. Sometimes that helps. Feel better soon. Baking cookies....send them my way. yum!!

Wendy....cleaning and packing no fun. Come join me on my beach chair. Soon you will be under those palm trees with those cabana boys. lol

Joan ... glad you are feeling better and living life. Ice cream is my favorite. Have you tried custard ice cream. very yummy.

Debbie....welcome to our group and happy honeymooning to you.

Jackie...poor Maggie. I do hope she is feeling better soon. So glad that you are there for her. You are an angel to her.

Zap....how was your 4th... fun with the kids 

Welcome to all the new gals and hope you all are doing well.

Just a quick hi from the lake and now off to run before it gets to hot. Have a great day everyone. Remember to be healthy .... be happy and enjoy life.

BJ

Congrats Susan!!!!!!

Hi ladies,

Just diagnosed 6/23.  I am having a SNB and lumpectomy on 7/8.  Just browsing around the forum and saw the Illinois site.  Thought I would stop by and say hi.  I am from Elwood,IL but my treatment/hospital is in Joliet. 

I plan on reading through quite a bit and will be back to visit later.

Mary

Thanks!  I am happy. I just love being a grandmother....hate to say this...but I am better at the latter than I was a mother and I think my two daughters would proabably agree to that (with affection).

Welcome to Mary!  I know Navy Mom and if she is "down the road" you may want to contact her.  She is one neat lady.

Wendy, have fun!

And a special word to Makmak.  You will be on my mind tomorrow. If you need anything, call me as I live fairly close.  You have a wonderful daughter and a wonderful relationship with her that she stays by your side on this journey together.  Good luck, my dear!

Awe, thanks Ritajean... My ISU bound is a step son, I was 17 when my DH had him with his first wife, 6 years before we met!! . And man have you had a BUSY day, I'd be way out of energy by now!!!



Congrats Zap on another grandchild!!!! Very exciting.... :0)



Welcome Mary!!! Sorry you've been diagnosed to this club but welcome, looking forward to getting to know ya!!!



I finally got my date for my auxiliary node dissection....my BS is on vacation until Monday so I go Wednesday the 13th....please please let just ONE thing go my way with this....clear nodes isn't so much to ask?? And my port is going in too, BOO HISS!



Anyone else watch way too much CNN today with the dang verdict?? I really need to get strong enough to go back to work and off my butt.....

I had to fix a typo before I posted... I typed SEXA instead of DEXA! Wonder what that scan would have entailed!!!!! Or dx'd me as having!!!!!

IL Lady, I knew my day was missing something...your quote. :0)



Wendy, we all ARE too YOUNG for this crap....just gotta keep on keepin on though!!! :0) that's what I keep telling myself about the port....this AND is gonna put me down an arm and I already feel my veins wouldn't be able to take it.



I'm going to lay down soon, I've had a headache and "vertigo" feelings all night....I'm thinking maybe my pain meds?? I've only been taking 1/2 of one twice a day the last 3 days so maybe my body is wondering where it went? And I'm still only 3 weeks post-op BUT I still get that "OMG, it's in my brains now!!!!" fear. More like a terror though?



Night everyone!!!