Illinois ladies facing bc

Morning, everyone!

Joan you are an over achiever with those drains Give yourself, and your fingers a little rest and time to recover. Your presentation sounds wonderful!

Welcome, and hugs to you, Val.

Lago, sorry about the job. The right one is out there for you, and all I can say is it's their loss. Love red licorice and the Pooh bear cartoon. My son used to love that bear!

C-square, good luck today. I did 4 AC, and did not take anything with me to tx. Tx at 9AM, and home about 12:30. I think it was faster because I was first of the day. No nausea, but some heartburn and fatigue. Slept more, and took Mylanta, extra strength, and got through it. I know you will too.

lisak, congrats on finishing up chemo!  If you are hormone receptor negative they don't usually give you Tamoxifen or any other meds after chemo.They suppress hormones which are not the cause of triple neg tumors. I'm triple neg, and had  4AC and twelve weekly taxols. Then rads and finished. More than 6 years later, and dong well! Some women feel a little upset about having no more follow up meds, but I just looked at it as no more se's to deal with.

Jackie, I am really enjoying the quotes. Thanks for that.

Zap, I'm still rereading that wonderful paragraph you wrote awhile back. You are a talented writer, and the kids are so lucky that you keep working as a sub. it would be a loss to them if you didn't.

Have to get going, and get some things done. All of you, have a great day!

PS Wendy....do I have to go look for the temp on my own deck? You've got me spoiled!

Don't Envy Other Folks

Don't think when you have troubles
That your neighbor goes scot-free
Because he shows a smiling front
And battles cheerfully.

No, Man! He, too, has troubles,
But herein the difference lies,
While you go idly moping round,
The other fellow tries.

Don't envy other people;
Maybe, if the truth you knew,
You'd find their burdens heavier far
Than is the case with you.

Because a fellow, rain or shine,
Can show a smiling face,
Don't think you'd have an easier time
If you could take his place.

‘Tis hope and cheery courage
That incite one to retrieve
One's past mistakes, to start afresh,
To dare and to achieve.

So smile, and if perchance you light
The spark of hope anew
In some poor sad and burdened heart,
All honor be to you.

-Anonymous

C-Squared -- thinking of you today, AC sista! And you as well, Valerie. I love Edwards's Hospital (even though I drive right past it to get to CDH for my treatments). Hello to everyone else this morning, too. Here's to all of us having great day (after a bit of an icky one for me yesterday)!

Welcome Wishn.  I really hate when someone so young gets struck down with this ugly disease.  Sounds like you have been through alot already.  I found rads to nothing more of a daily nuisance, until the last couple weeks when it began to zap my energy.  You will do fine. Keep checking in.

Thanks everyone for your words of caution!  I am feeling pretty strong and well prepared for my presentation, well except for finishing the PowerPoint. I have entitled my presentation "When Being Strong is the Only Choice You Have".  I know that you all know what I mean there.  My biggest worry now is getting a hot flash or two and wanting to tear off my clothes in the middle of it!  Wouldn't that just top it all off?

This is a 2-night weekend conference, but with my latest turn of events, I will only be attending for a few hours on Saturday to have lunch and deliver my message.  My DH insists on driving me back and forth and I will not fight him on that.  I still haven't driven since surgery and frankly that is making me mad.  I love my new PriusV and my DH is driving it every chance he gets.  Wait a minute!  Just so he doesn't change my radio presets and start storing his stuff in my cubbies.

Good luck to everyone going through surgeries and treatments today.  My DH and I are about to head down to NW for my first post-op with PS.  Sure hoping to come home with 3 less drains!

Welcome wishn4one!  Joan - praying for a few less drains on the way home!

Hi Wishn...I so sorry you have to be here but know you will be happy you found this gem of a thread. 

Spunky I was at Rush Tuesday last week. Don't tell me we where there the same day

Cindy It's best to ask your onc about something for the acne. I know some folks get it. Sometimes it goes away on it's onw. For dry chapped lips I always found good old petroleum jelly worked best. I also used the Aveeda product as well.  If you're going all natural then maybe others can chime in.

Welcome to the IL Ladies Thread. BTW if you are limited on your daily posts (they do that to newbies to make sure you aren't a spammer). You do have unlimited PMs. Be sure to post your full quota a day so you can get of limited post duty.

Lago-I was there on Tuesday-9:30a. It was a follow up with the gynie-onc for my oomph so it was a quickie.  It took me longer to park than the entirety of my appt-mind you I'm not complaining, just making an observation.

spunky My appointment was at 9:30 too. Yes the parking was crazy that day. I never saw anything quite like that. I also got my port flushed so it took more than a few minutes. Also, since I haven't been seen by my onc/np in a year (saw my BS 6 months prior) there were lots of questions.

Hi DeborahC. {{{waves}}}

Did we just get 4 new IL ladies today?! WTF!  What is going on?

Thanks for the welcome. I'm happy to find a friendly group.  Yes, I had my surgery at La Grange Hospital.   I thought about going to U of C, but I found a great group of local doctors and decided to stay close to home.   I had my cancer surgeries at Michael Reese 20 years ago - but that's no longer an option!

Welcome DeborahC-I'm a west suburbanite too. I chose Loyola for my BMX/recon, but am moving to Rush for insurance reasons.

Hi to the new ladies. Yes, wish we did not have to meet under these circumstances. You will find lots of companionship here.



Well, my PS was very happy with the way things are looking. In his words, "they are looking beautiful". Gosh, only your PS would say something like that when looking at these reconstructed foobs, right? He had his nurse pull two of the drains. So, I still have one in front and one in the back. AnyWay, it's a lot lighter load and more comfortable. I go back next Thursday and hopefully lose the other two.



Both my PS's nurse and his scheduler commented on how busy my PS has been with breast cancer reconstruction cases. Nurse also mentioned what a rise they are seeing in very young women, in their 20's even. Something is definitely going on. We need a cure, or better yet, a vaccine.

I'm sitting here waiting for the rain that is coming.  I'd like to *not* see this obstacle to the day's enjoyment for me, but it isn't going to work.  If I want any impact, I'll have to decide I like rain ( actually don't mind when we really need it ) and develop a great love for liquid ground nourishment.

Joan....you couldn't be more right.....we do need something.  People having had or just now getting diagnosed with C should not be in the majority.

Despite what happens today, I am sure loving the Spring green.  I can barely make out the house on the next street ( probably about 12-14 acres from me........now that the Spring foliage is all but totally filled in.  I'm able to hide back here in the woods now.......just the way I love it. 

Hope you all have a great Friday and lots of success whatever you do today. 

Hugs, Jackie 

Lago, you must have some particular activity, website, intersest in common with your ONC.  Wonder what that would be?  My PS has a business page on FB that I have "friended".  He doesn't post very often on it, but always is interesting stuff.

Brrrrrr!  What happended with this weather?  Have a great weekend everyone.