TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP
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Pbrain, some people are just weird about cancer. It scares them. Hell, it scares me! Us, I should say. I am pretty much letting go of a woman I had been friends with for years. She reacted really oddly when I told her after I was diagnosed. I avoided her for quite awhile but finally attempted to patch things up a bit after i was done with chemo. I thought it was ok, but then she had a party. I went to it but she was just so ... weird the whole night, like she was avoiding me. SHe had this really sad look in her eyes whenever she looked at me, though briefly. Maybe it sounds cold, but I don't really know, or care, what it was about for her, but what it felt like to me was something like this: With most of my friends, once I was diagnosed, I became their friend who had to deal with this horrible cancer thing. With her, once i was diagnosed, I became a cancer patient in her eyes. Even though I was all done with treatment last time I saw her (and did the cold caps so I kept my hair and honestly don't look much different than I did before), I will always be a cancer patient to her.
I don't like how that makes me feel, so I'm not hanging out with her anymore.
Maybe those women are the same way. Who knows, who cares really. You should be around people who make you feel good.
Easier said than done, right?
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Marlene I love u'r picture.
Personally I don't think cancer has a particular kind of person that gets it, it just goes around anyway it want and does what it wants, no excuses , no reason, it's non-partison with no prejudice--it is what it is. Some people who never watch a thing about their lives never get it and live a long healthy life.????
But u sound happy and things are doing OK and that's good.
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Pbrain it's unfortunate that your dad was only a survivor for 2 weeks but he was still a survivor. Remember when you were first told… I know for most of us that was the absolute worst part of this and we did survive it. But life is terminal so at some time we all will stop surviving… but hopefully that time is many many years away.
As far as "they have real cancer." That's BS. That's like saying someone who has DCIS and only had a lumpectomy/rads doesn't know what it's like to get "real cancer." Cancer is many different diseases and it's very real to those going through it. Your frenemy, unless she's had a diagnosis herself doesn't get it. If it's one thing I've learned is you really don't get it, no matter what it is until you've walked in someone elses shoes. BTW ACS says everybody's journey is different. So don't compare.
As for friends (or family) that you lose once diagnosed… the issue was always there but you just didn't see it or chose to ignore it. My sister and I still haven't spoke since 1 week post BMX. For those of you who don't know she became verbally abusive to the point where she scared the hell out of me so I kicked her out. At one point before she came out she said "You know this isn't just about you." translation "This is about me." She will always be about her first but this was the one time it had to be about me. She couldn't handle that I guess. Never even called to see how I was during chemo, shingles, reconstruction surgery, etc.
always love your avatar photos.
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Kind of like being a "little bit pregnant"?
Sorry you went through that with your sister, Lago. But you're right, you had to focus on you and whatever crazy way she dealt with it wasn't/isn't your problem.
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You guys are just the best! And Lago, you are right, I struggled with the friendships with both of my frenimies actually. The one that doesn't seem to like me anymore is probably the most negative person I've ever met. She always depressed me. The other one that isn't speaking to me is nothing but an attention- and drama-seeker. My coworkers adore her, but I think she has borderline personality disorder.
Ok, done yacking about this. I have to let it go. And I'm thinking very positive thoughts about my mammogram today because I do have a choice in how I handle this!
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As if anyone isn't going through enough when you're fighting cancer, I can't imagine not having the full support of all friends and especially family. Both have been God Sends to me throughout this process and THEY have made it all about ME! You really need to keep all the negativity out of your life or at least as much as possible. Its healthier. @Lago..well said on everything above!
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Hi Ladies, Evebarry here...haven't been a round in awhile. I was taken off Herceptin July 2, 2012 due to EF dropping to 43. It took about 6 months to recover. I'm happy to say my EF is back up to 65. It feels great to feel good, and breathe easier. My oncologist said if ever dx with cancer she would not put me on Herceptin. She said there are a few other less toxic treatments that offer equal protection or results.
May 2, I had my annual mammo for the good left breast. In April I developed tiny lumps around right breast implant (where lumpectomy scar...original tumor location). Ultra sound dx is b9 most likely fat necrosis. My oncologist sent me to see my breast surgeon (due to lumps) for further evaluation. I had a mri Wednesday morning and afterwards the techs asked if I had radiation. I said no. They seem surprised??? Early the next morning I had a call from surgeon for followup. I wish she would had left a message and said fat necrosis. Now I have to wait until June 3rd to find results. Any of you have lumps around implant? Is this normal? A few are raised.
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hindsfeet I did have a lump but it was movable. It was fat from when my PS did fat transfer. It went away. Don't panic. At my treatment center they won't tell you results of any scan over the phone anymore. Some BS of they don't want people to be confused. But I can understand that the BS wants to discuss with you. It may be nothing but probably wants to watch it for 6 months just in case. But why June 3rd? Your BS must have a partner that could tell you. I would think even the nurse could tell you.
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Wow! They told me I had breast cancer over the phone!!
So clean mammogram yesterday :-) But I got hives waiting for the results. Lucky thing I don't leave home without claritin anymore...and holy mother of pearl did that mammogram hurt! Each time I got released I's step back from the instrument and walk it off. They aren't pleasant to begin with, but with this scar tissue in my left breast, YowZAA!
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Pbrain - I have that first post-surgery mammogram to look forward to... I just got the reminder letter to schedule it along with a visit with my surgeon. I don't have to go until 1 year from last mammo, which was July 5. I'm surprised they did yours so early - only 8 months after diagnosis - ??? Did they give you the results while you waited?
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Pbrain I too was told on the phone but now they don't do it that way anymore. Real PITA IMO
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Lago, I agree. I keep telling the doctors I live alone and my cat and dog won't tell anybody if they leave a message.
They won't though, and when you call back the doctor is always busy so no one will tell you anything. HIPAA sucks!Patin, my BS wants a follow-up 6 months after surgery and she wanted a mammo with it. My advice to you, take 4 motrin before you go. Seriously, it hurts. I wanted to scream! But it's over fast, and if I would have held more still instead of grimacing and moaning, they might not have had to take so many films. Duh...its just that it hurt...tee hee.
And yeap, I walked over to my BS office with the results in hand. What a relief.
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YAY for clean mammo Pbrain!
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Hi everyone!
My sister just got diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer +++. She lives in Brazil, and I am looking desperately for a trial she can qualify. This is all new to me (not to her), but I am not in the medical field, and I don't understand much. I have done tons of research so far, and starting to get some of the terms.
I would take any help on how to go about applying for a trial. My sister has no health insurance in this country, but she is willing to come and stay with me if they support the required exams.
Your stories are inspiring to me. Thank you for sharing them!
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Sandralex123 you might find more info on the stage IV threads regarding trails for metastatic disease. Here are 3 links though:
https://www.breastcancertrials.org/bct_nation/home.seam
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/breast
I would also check out major cancer centers: linky
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Sandraex--on top of Lago's suggestions, which are very good ones, you can also go on:
www.clinicaltrials.gov
This site is pretty much mandated for trialists that want to publish their studies in top tier journals, so you should be able to find much of the big trials going on. And you can search by location. Because of my job, I live on this site and it is very user-friendly.
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Oh, and Sandra, if your sister is Her2+, I know my company (Genentech/Roche) has trials running for their drugs in metastatic breast cancer. Let us know what you find and feel free to keep posting!
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Congrats on the clean Mammo, Pbrain. My MO said something about doing them every 3 months for the first year post treatment. Yikes!
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Yay Pbrain on clean Mammo...
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Congrats Pbrain on clean mammo. If it makes you feel better, I had s BMX and for the new lump after the ultra sound, my tech got the mammo tech to see if my remnant tissue could fit, the answer was yes... Sad but true. So it could be worse, s mammo after BMX, who' d a thunk! LOL
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Ladies, here's a tip for what's help made my mammograms not so painful--ask the technician to MANUALLY compress the machine, not with the auto. I always ask for this and it is so much better.
Liz
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Hey Cowgirl, great suggestion. I swear I was ok until the last second or so of the machine coming down and then I was lost in the world of abject pain. And Moon, that just sucks the big one. I kind of think after the BMX, you should be done with this torture.!
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LOL, pbrain, I thought so too. But luckily the radiologist said I didn't need it. Whew. But now we all know its possible, and it makes a great story. LOL
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Pbrain - so glad to hear your mammogram was clear! I've been told no more mammograms because of the BMX. When I asked my breast surgeon how my breasts would be examined he put out both hands, used a cupping motion and said "like this."
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SpecialK, you were spot on regarding the fast-changing world of platelets. I had a blood test Wednesday and they were up to 191. Six days earlier they were 73.
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So glad to hear good news for you gals. Prayers for all still doing the breast cancer thing, are you really ever done with it?:0. I keep freaking myself out cause my bad boob with boomers ( boob tumors) aches from time to time. My very good friend is a nurse practitioner in oncology and she is helping me navigate my treatment. She said not to worry about it it could be hormonal changes. Clinically since the big boomer that was palpable is no longer there, the treatment is working. But I'm surprised that they still go with mammograms after its all done. If detecting breast cancer through dense Brest tissue is difficult, how would implants be easier to detect? I'm going to have the DIEP surgery. Not till October. My last round of taxol and herceptin is Tuesday. 12 weeks down! Then FEC starts June 18. Anyone familiar with the DIEP flap procedure? I can't wait for two weeks of chemo vacation!
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LeeA - glad your platelets made a comeback! Where does that leave you with TE plans?
nursenay - there are definitely a number of DIEP threads on the breast reconstruction forum, just type DIEP into the search box on the left. It has been 2 1/2 years since my BMX - nobody has suggested a mammogram. I don't think it is very common to have them if you have had implant recon.
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I only had single mastectomy, I don't know what happens after my reconstruction surgeries.......What's the alternative? MRI? I really, really did not like the breast MRI.
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PBrain good mammo good results, altho I'm not happy about the hurt it caused u---that stinks like u haven't had enough.
kayb it actually hurt when u were getting chemo? Wow I never heard that, before.
I hope everyone has some fun things planned for the holiday weekend, it rainy and chilly here/
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Ka I just didn't know it hurt u during that time, I had that too and i didn't feel nything, but it worked well????yb
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kayb, did you end up having a lumpectomy or a mastectomy following neoadjuvant chemotherapy?
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