Illinois ladies facing bc

Hi Roula,  We are neighbors!  My surgery was just a few weeks after yours. I am not going through chemo (but am at La Grange Oncology if you are staying local).  I had BMX plus now Tamoxifen.

Hi everyone, I am back from the MO and NO CHEMO for me! Oncotype score of 6!!!!

My wound is draining but my drains were removed two weeks after surgery and shortly after I got sick, then I got an infection and the abdominal incision opened near where the drain was on my right side, it is still open and draining lots yet, but it is slowly closing it was a little over an inch long while I was really the sickest, but is now down to about 3/4 of an inch. I use maxi pads to contain the drainage, use about 6 to 8 pads a day.

Will start on Anastrozole 1 mg daily when the drainage stops and the wound is closed. Hopefully in the next 4 weeks. My PS wont let me go back to work till the wound is closed and not draining! I work for ADM at an ethenal plant and he said the possibility for further infection is just too high if I go back before the wound is fully closed. MO agreed, and said to that the anasrozole in about 4 weeks.

I am just so happy that I dont have to do chemo!!

GmaNiki Yah no chemo for you! I've been on Anastrozole for over a year now. Just a little stiff but not too bad. I call it ESD (estrogen sucking drug).

 RoulaG I was HER2+ too. I got my infusions with chemo every 3 weeks. Lots of others get it like you, every week during chemo then finishing out the year with every 3 weeks.

mdg can't wait to see your tatts!

smerf I missed that report. I wouldn't mind doing something like being a hospital patient navigator. Not sure where to start. I have no medical experience… well maybe I do after all this. Actually I did do billing & insurance for a dentist back in the 80's for a year. Seriously I don't have a problem changing careers as long as it uses some of the talents I good at. I can do more than just design stuff and make linkies. 

spunky I hope you are sleeping now.

So many new people I can't keep up. 

Jackie (((wave)))

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For some reason my spelling seems to have improved with the new forum. Hmmm I wonder if spell check is broken.   

Wow..I go on a business trip and you rearranged the forums while I was gone now didn't you?  I feel like I just bumped into an unexpected coffee table 

Onward...I am so glad you are normal!  

Jackie I really enjoyed your quote yesterday.  I read them everyday and some just jump off the screen at me and say exactly what I need to hear at that moment.  It's amazing.

GmaNiki - yay for no chemo...I am so hoping that will be the case for me. 

MDG - I will be back in town Thursday morning and not traveling again until after my surgery.  Let's plan a walk.  The path along the Fox River sounds good. 

Welcome RoulaG and any other new friends I might have missed.  I am having a hard time reading back thru the posts.  My screen keeps jumping around on me.

Lago - you have so much experience to offer - Smerf is so right...you have helped so many people navigate thru the BC waters.

Gnight all...please don't rearrange again before I get back   

It is a lovely morning outside this morning.  A bit on the cool side, but I am getting to the whatever point on the weather I think.  As long as the rain holds off I can probably handle nearly anything.  We need some mowing done so I do hope the water stays away. 

Gmanicki.....so glad you get to skip chemo.  I was here late last night and just didn't connect.  Nice to be able to skip that step if you can.  Good for you.  Do hope you get the would drainage healed....four wks. sounds like a long time but goes faster than it seems it will. 

Spunky.....hope you are feeling rested this a.m.  I'm no longer good at early rising though I do in fact, have all my energies in the early hours.....by 2 or 3 p.m........I'm dragging.  I used to get up early in the morning ( very early ) and clock into work at 5 a.m.  It is no longer my cup of tea and that is great, but I am still a morning person as far as energy level. 

I hope you are all going to have a fantastic day.  By the way ( maybe it was an early morning thing ) the message part of this is much bigger this a.m. then it was all yesterday.  I can see what I'm typing. 

Hugs, Jackie

Good morning all!

CT5K week 1, workout 2, check.  I'm hoping for a 5k in July or August.

Drive safe westie!

Onc appts today.  Gyn onc did biopsy due to tamox thickening.  Med onc said bloodwork all good, white count actually normal (it's been borderline for a long time), also shows I am in menopause now so DEXA scan and then I join Lago on the ESD!  Fingers crossed for minimal SEs.

Gosh, anyone else having trouble losing "My Favorite Topics" with the new format?  I have had to go back and find them all again and relist them.  Anyway, the lost is found. So far, I am not liking this new website format.

I will be at lunch tomorrow.  Think there should be about 6 of us.  The place gets crowded so will try to get there early and hold down some space.

My last drain is finally starting to show signs of slowing down.  Yeah!!!  I was hoping to get it pulled tomorrow, but not quite there.  But it looks like maybe by early next week.  Cannot wait.

Welcome to the new girls, GmaNiki and RoulaG. You have come to a good place.

Has anyone seen the new book published by New Harbinger (2012) The Whole Foods Guide to Breast Cancer?   I am going to order it; there is a lot to read in the section available for free on Amazon.  Looks good, but overwhelming to follow.  I think it might be depressing-when I think I am doing well it becomes evident that there is a lot more I could actually do to prevent more c.  Anyway, I am interested in others opinion and reaction to all the suggestions.

mdg:  Good to hear that you are finished, and that Jeff was good.   What a relief to end reconstruction.  Will you be posting on Timtam's site?  Is everything still going well with the tatts?  I wish I had the time to do the walk.  I do work out though 6 days a week, but after exercise, it is time to go to work.

Gosh I wish they would give us the old FB "Like" button because I would have hit it twice for Lago and the Joan River's line!

I spent two days traveling this week.  For two whole days I didn't have BC.  It was nice to be normal for a couple of days. 

I stopped at  Rush on my way home to enroll in their Microbiota trial.  It's weird...but hey I took my first "dump" for breast cancer this morning!  Ugh..don't ask, it was a very weird process.  Painless...just weird.  Now the "Biological" shipment is sitting outside my front door waiting for the FEDEX man.  Lucky him

I am one week away from my BMX.  Every single time I think that I am reconciled with it I will just cry when I think about it or somone mentions anything about it.  Other times it's like I am talking about someone else.  I need advice on how to prepare for this surgery. 

Hey All,  Looks like a beautiful day outside with bright sunshine, blue skies, but it's a bit cool!  Had to switch the thermostat from cool to heat to warm up inside.  My mom was shivering!  

Today I have my radiation Onc appt and tomorrow is round 2 with surgery.  I have to get re-excised and get the radiation catheter inserted for Mammosite radiation.  It should be a simple surgery.  I hope recovery is easy and I can get back to work on Monday as the surgeon suggested that a few days would be all I would need to recover.  I'm approved to return to work for up to 32 hours a week for the next few months so that I can work in the rad treatment, doctor appts, and a little rest.

 Joan, Being drain free is going to be joyful for you!  My last drain was pulled Monday and it is so nice to not have to worry about snagging it and the site is already starting to calm down.  Now my biggest pain is just a very tender, sensitive underarm on mastectomy side.   

Wow great quiote Illinoislady!  I needed that one right now!

Lago...great advice as always....I think maybe you really should think about a career helping people traverse the cancer maize.  Although I did not have any further treatment from the Women's Breast Center, then the biopsy, diagnosis and lumpectomy I have to say Donna Crow, their Avon patient advocate got me through all the hard parts. 

I had my chemo at the V.A. hospital  ---  should never have done it as the nurses there were I think so used to dealing with men that they just sort of looked right through me.  When I had issues......even though she was not officially involved, Donna would guide me through.....not only what I needed to ask for, but what to do on my own.  She gave me her home number ( which I tried hard not to use ) and gave me the feminine comforts and advice that was needed.  We still talk today although I only go once a yr. to her/Women's Breast Center office for mammograms.  Donna had almost the same exact diagnosis I had......but she had it 7 yrs. before......she was so able to connect with what I was really feeling.......and I made it through with everything because she was totally willing to support me along with everyone here.  It is so very important.......to have totally constructive empathy.......and the advice you give is always great.  I hope you will continue to "think" about this possibility.

Invisible.  I'm not surprised about your breaking out in tears now and then.  I think everyone does this to whatever extent.  I mean, here you are thrust into a situation and circumstances not of your making or desire.  Part of the time by sheer will you can over-ride all the negative emotional upheaval that comes as part of this package --- but you can't be in that place all the time.  Reminders come and all of the fear and ambiguity slam right back in there. 

Sometimes....even without a "reminder" moment, the tears just show up.  You will see the job, and do it and get on with the next phase and find the "norm" again.  There are a few rocks ( maybe that's boulders actually ) along the way.....but just keep putting one foot in front of the other.  Know you have lots of love, care, and well wishes from all of the people here. 

Hope you all have a marvelous day.....sun and warmth too.  It's cool this a.m. but should warm ok.....not as much as I'd like, but along about late July I'll start berating myself for not enjoying the morning coolness more.

Hugs, Jackie

That would be great westieluv!  I so wish I could be there with you on this gorgeous spring day.., and I'm coming out of the AC#2 infusion funk I've been in for the past week.   I will be meeting with the onc on Monday and hopefully we can get things in check for the next infusion so I'm not so miserable next time.  Half-way there!!!

Hope you are all having a good day!

CC