Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part IV - GAGWTA

[smiley_face2]

Hello ladies! first day back and I had to go to the dr. for antibiotics. had a bad cold when we left which turned into a wicked sinus infection while we were away. I have not even unpacked and have so much to do. We had a really good trip, the girls loved it all and were very well behaved for us! the older one kept saying Disneyland really is the happiest place on earth! But they also kept telling us stories about the things they did with daddy, and at one point the younger one said that was before daddy was dead. We spent a lot of time hiding our tears from them, and also comforting them when they got sad. But we tried hard to remember things with them in a positive happy way. We made sure to ride the same blue tea cup they rode with him, and on one ride we saved him a seat because they said he would be there with us. This morning bright and early we got to endure the government agency that oversees worker safety etc. come to the house with the final report on our sons death. Basically they have studied the accident for the past 11 months and have decided who is to blame and what should have been done or not done. It was like reliving the whole thing again and I think it undid several months of therapy for my husband. Now it will take another year for them to decide on what penalties the company will face. I will try really hard to get some pictures posted, I tried to take lot's, but I have no Christmas shopping done or decorating, we just have not had our hearts in it at all, but we decided today we really have to make the effort for our daughters and grand children.
Maryann...I hope you are all well soon|!!

 

[snappy]

Smilie, I am glad your trip was special. Your post made me cry, it was so poignant. Thanks for sharing about your special moments with your grand daughters. I have to say, you and your DH have real strength to tackle that trip, and to do it in a way that included the memory of your son.

I suspect that trip and the memories of that trip will bring your grand daughters much solace in the coming months and years.

I cannot imagine a greater gift than the one you gave them in this way.

I hope you feel better soon so you can "join in the fray" of the season. Just like during your trip, there will be many times to remember your son. This first Christmas might be particularly difficult, but with your inner strength and the way you give all for your family, I know it will be just what they need.

Please though, try and take it easy on yourself. Try and take some shortcuts. I gave up baking long ago and order dessert for Christmas. It seems I will making salads to bring this year, but I can handle that. It is hard to give up some of the old traditions, but I like to think of it as forging new ones.

Hoping those in treatment are doing well this weekend, and have a good week.

 

[CherylDan]

Greetings from Port Orleans Riverside! DH and I are here for a short and somewhat impromptu trip....getting one last use of the annual passes we bought this year. Love the resort, first time I've ever been here.

Hope everyone is doing well, and not working too hard getting ready for Christmas!

GAGWTA!!!

 

[Candy30]

Lisa LMP- My daughter Justin. She would have been so estatic to see him!

Smilie-Your post was very touching. It is wonderful that the girls have you. I am sure they will remember this. Your trip will be a fond memory for them. I hope you are feeling better soon. I agree with Snappy. Take it easy. Use the shortcuts.

Cheryl- Great that you got a last minute trip in. Have a good time!

Son decided to stay at this internship here. I think he got tired of the interviews and waiting. He starts Jan 3rd. I hope everyone has a safe week. We are going to OH to visit my husbands family. So let the washing, planning and packing begin.

Hula- How is your Mom doing? I hope well. Give us an update when you are able.

GAGWTA!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Smiley, sounds like a wonderful trip. A special for your DH. I'm sorry the report set him back.

Cheryl, you have fun, girl!

Funny about Justin Bieber. My DD isn't a big fan, probably because my DH thinks his name is Beaver so DD just does one of these when it comes up.

Hulagirl, how's your Mom doing?

lmp, DS is better, thanks for asking. I don't know if I mentioned all his respiratory issues turned into pneumonia so he was pretty sick for a while. Of course, then he came home from school with the GI bug that was going around so he wound up home again. Thankfully he's managed to keep up his grades cause he missed a lot of school work, not just when he was absent but with the concussion he had a hard time focusing for a while.

Trying to get everything wrapped up this week, I have to work the holiday.

Try to enjoy the season, everyone! GAGWTA!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

My last post got lost.

Hula - hope your mom is slowly recovering post surgery

PatsMom - hope things worked out for you at your appt.
Candy - have a safe trip. Hope your ds likes the internship

smiley - Sounds like the trip was something you all needed. Hope you feel better and praying for strength and peace for you all during the holidays. You have so much love for your family. Sorry your dh had to face all that again.

Laurie - salad sounds good to bring\

Cheryl - Lucky you!! Hasve a great trio. Hope you can see alot and enjoy yourself at the same time. There is so many wonderful holiday things to see, do and eat too! Mickey gingerbreadmen, yum!

Linda - sorry you have to work the holiday. But I am sure the patients all appreciate everyone who has to do that. We would always bring in stuff for the staff at the nursing home for the holidays too. when my grandma was there.

Most of the ds presents are bought. Pushed myself to go to church yest. Made 2 dishes for the luncheon. We are still congested. The tree is up but not decorated. Ds 20 decided he will go to the grand jury and get it over with as he doesnt want to give up summer lifeguarding. Oldest ds b day is this week. We will celebrate sometime before or after.

GAGWTA

 

[PatsMom]

Hello!

LMP - thanks for asking. All of my appointments went well overall. The oncologist said my blood counts are where they should be. His working theory is that something viral got into my bone marrow when I was already run down from the tumor bleeding, two surgeries, and the first rounds of treatment. It just took a long time for my body to recover. I have been feeling much better overall. He said he could do a bone marrow biopsy and probably confirm but we decided that if it ain't broke, we aren't going to fix it. I am feeling OK and that is what matters. I never realized what a difference a few red blood cells could make in your life!

My appointment with the urologist was a little more problematic. I have some red tissue in the bladder that he is thinking is just a reaction to the treatments. But he took pictures to compare in three months when I have my next cysto and sent urine for pathology - they can find cancer cells in the urine if that is what it is. At least sometimes. So I am going with the good throughts that it is nothing to be concerned about. But I am not doing my three rounds of maintenance treatment this month. We will wait until my next check up in March and decide what to do from there.

Hope everyone is getting ready for a great holiday season. It is stressful but a good time to see family and friends and just be grateful to be alive!

We are getting my daughter ready for her semester in France. She has not finished up her paperwork. Thought she could just go to the consulate any time for interview and visa application - wrong! I read the directions and she needed an appointment. Next available is January 4. She leaves on the 9th. She can go with no visa as long as she gets it in 90 days. But talk about stressful! She thinks she has it all together but she is really being an airhead lately. It sure is adding to my stress level!

 

[smiley_face2]

hello ladies! I hope everyone is managing to get done what they want to get done, and getting ready for the holidays.
Laurie...yes I was just thinking that today, that we will be making new traditions, even the music we listen to normally has changed, the usual is just too hard. I was actually enjoying it today in the car on the way to the city. We have always had family dinners at our house, for every occasion, but this year our daughter who is out of recovery and doing so well, is going to have it at her house, and we will all go there and help and we will not be sitting at our table with his chair empty. And I won't be doing any baking at all, friends have already been giving us things, and our local bakery is outstanding and several things there we have always made a part of our celebration anyway.
my radiation oncologist says I'm healing well, and now I get my MRI for my liver spot on thursday. If it comes out non cancerous, then I'm going to get my porta cath removed in the new year. I hate going in every month to get it flushed, they do it right on the chemo ward so it's just an awful reminider all the time!
everyone take care and try not to do too much!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Linda - sorry you have to work the holiday.

I don't mind, really. I'm kind of looking forward to it. Even though it's a hospital, it's kind of a special time. I bought treats to give out to staff who are working. Every little something helps keep the spirit light.

Did your DS get his nsg school application in? Glad you're all feeling better. So hard to be sick this time of year!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Linda - yes ds has applied to 4 so far. 1 the local comm. college, that is RN only. They only look at 4 pre req grades with the tie breaker being an extra microbiology class which he got a B in I think. 2 was the state univ. They only go by transcripts, 3 recommendations. He got the physical therapist from where he worked, a professor, I think psychology head at the comm. college and personal reference, friends mom who also happens to be a nurse practicioner at the univ. hosp. Then they look at the volunteer work and that huge essay. The 3rd college is a christian one in Penn. and the 4th one is a christian one is Virginia. They want a recommendation by feb. from the anatomy teacher. So its wait and see. There are 2 more he can apply to but I dont know what their deadlines are etc.

Well I am back from getting the bp check. The nurse said it was 128/80. She ran it by the dr. and she was very happy, so its working I guess.

Ds and I went shopping. I got dh a nice keurig and alot of those k cups. We dont exchange, but I wanted to get him something nice. He deserves it.

I am getting twitchy thinking of that specialist I have to go to on Thurs. PatsMom, I have visions of you dancing in my head. I really dont know what procedures, testing etc. they will be doing. Ugh.

GAGWTA.

 

[Candy30]

Smiley- I know exactly how you feel. I have my port for 1 year(post treatement) now and every month I got to get it flushed is hard. The smells the sounds all reminders! I just smile and pray for those there. I won't get mine removed for a while as my veins are so bad.

LMP- Hope you are feeling better. Did you every get your washer/dryer fixed? I don't know what made me think of that.

Patsmom- Kids! What can we do?!?!? Good thing you got her an appt before the deadline.

PNM- I always like working those days because they are usually slow, WOOSAAAAA days. The hospital is empty. They usually hold annual office chair races in the basement!

Lisa- How are you? Hope you are feeling energized like the bunny!

Snappy, Sha, Cheryl, Merry GAGWTA!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

PNM- I always like working those days because they are usually slow, WOOSAAAAA days. The hospital is empty. They usually hold annual office chair races in the basement!

Chair races, that sounds like fun!

We're actually usually pretty busy, as most patients who are able, go home, and those left are pretty ill. But we try to make it fun by bringing in stuff and making some merriment in between the running around.

lmp, I must have missed your post below. Yay for good BPs! PM me if you have any ?s about nsg schoo that I can help with!.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Candy - sounds like you work at a fun placeWe had to get a new washer. Dh called the whirlpool people up and described the problem. They basically said it was not worth fixing.

Linda - thanks about the nursing schools. He is in various stages with all the 4 places and now is doing a 5th. I dont know how many he should apply to/odds etc. He said his gpa is 3.6 now, that is last semester, waiting for the new grades.

Lisa - hope you are feeling well

Laurie - bet you are glad to have dd home. You have a full house now!!

Anne - continued prayers for Avery

Well dh called me and told me his old big boss, who actually is still his boss, has demanded he get back to China asap. Geez! So he asked me when the biopsy was (Jan. 19) and hopefully he will be back before then. So now ds21 will have to take me for the blood and sono stuff. I just want this traveling to end. And now the airline has changed their rules so the miles arent worth as much etc. I have 1 christmas card left to send (need an address) and now on to decorating the tree soon.

I am getting nervous about the specialist tomm. I just dont want any more invasive procedures. Just so sick and tired of all of this but know something has to be done to figure it out etc.

GAGWTA

 

[snappy]

Good for you, Linda, for working over the holiday. Sounds like the staff working over the holidays make the most of it. I really like that positive attitude.

MaryAnn, I hope you can avoid anything invasive. Please keep us posted. Sorry your DH will be gone to China again. I hope he does not have to leave until after New Years'.

Yes, DD21 did come in about an hour ago. It sounds like she will be home for about 10 days. I am very glad.

I forgot to relay what happened with one of her grades this semesters. One day last week after finals she checked the course grade on line she was livid when she saw she had a B- in the course. The prof had given her a 0 for one assignment that she knew she turned it. So she wrote an email. He responded that she got a 0 because she graded her peer's presentations to easy and it was if she had not participated.

She told me and we talked about how unfair this seemed, since grading presentations is very subjective, especially when the grader is also doing a presentation. So the next day, she both called and even went to see the teacher's assistant. Later, she checked her grade again, and they must have capitulated since her grade magically became an A-.

She told me she thought the grade was changed so she would not bug him anymore, lol.

She is pretty determined once she gets started on something. I guess it is a good trait to have after all.

 

[MerMom60_94]

Good Morning Everyone. My name is Leslie. Mind if I join you? I was diagnosed this week with Ductal Carcinoma In Situ stage 0 (DCIS). I met with the oncology surgeon yesterday expecting she would recommend a lumpectomy and a little radiation and we would be done with it. The news she delivered in person was not quite as simple and easy as what I got over the phone. Although, my biopsy came back as non-invasive, she said because we can feel a lump she expects it is invasive. She is setting up an MRI so they can have another way of looking at the area. Also, my mother and one sister have both had breast cancer. Therefore, she wants me to have the BRAC test. I go tomorrow for an appointment which means I need to deliver this news to my 84 year old mother three days before Christmas. I really had hoped to wait until next week when the holiday was behind us. If the BRAC comes back positive, the surgeon recommended a double mascectomy and removal of my ovaries. So, I have three possible options, pending the results of the MRI and BRAC. I am looking to hear your experiences and advice. Not to mention it helps to have someone to talk to since I am trying to limit who I tell until Christmas is behind us. I have a 17 year old daughter and she has no idea this is going on. I dread delivering the news to her next week. She and I are extremely tight. How many 17 year olds describe their mom as their best friend?!? I just want her to be happy and I hate to put her through this with me.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Hey, Leslie. Glad you found us.

I have a friend who like you, had a family history, and recently went through this whole rollercoaster thing being told initially she had DCIS, then finding out after the surgery it was invasive, then having to have a couple more surgeries in order to get clean margins, then found out some nodes were positive so she'd need chemo, etc. It seemed like every week it was more bad news. So in a way, even though it's frightening and overwhelming, it probably is good to at least go over the possibilities at the outset, and then if it doesn't happen, great. Your surgeon's probably seen it happen enough that she'd rather take that route.

I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, two nodes positive, triple negative, and had a lumpectomy with chemo and radiation. I also had BRAC and the new BART testing done with the idea I'd have my ovaries out if positive, but testing was all negative. Diagnosis was 8 years ago and knock on wood I am doing well. My twins were 5yo and had just started Kindergarten when I was diagnosed, they are now 14 and I am grateful for every moment I've had with them. Physically and emotionally it was a rough road, but like everyone else does, you just get through it somehow.

I know you said you are worried about your diagnosis with starting a new job and all. That does seem tricky. But you will somehow get through it. Over the years here we've had some amazing stories and women who had some unthinkable stuff to deal with around the time of their diagnoses, just for your inspiration. One of our current posters, Smiley, lost her 28 yr old son in a horrible accident right around the time of her diagnosis. She's had a lot of ups and downs but she's hanging in there. I also remember a poster a few years back who found out she was pregnant right at the time of her diagnosis and had to consider whether to terminate the pregnancy or not given the concerns for birth defects with chemotherapy. She chose to keep the pregnancy and the baby was ok. My own inspiration during my treatment was a woman I met through a friend who was quite young at diagnosis and had a huge tumor but one of the greatest attitudes I'd ever seen so she held me up a lot when I needed support. I also went to a support center and met some amazing people there, too. Of course the ladies here I had the great fortune to meet after treatment had ended (planning that great post-treatment trip!) and they've been incredibly supportive as well. (Some may have other types of cancer or be the support people for loved ones with cancer, but we've all been touched by it in some way.) I think that's one of the nice things (if there can be any) of cancer is it changes you and you meet so many great people you wouldn't have otherwise met, etc. So I hope we can be there for you as well during whatever hurdles your facing.

I think radiation centers have work friendly hours these days so maybe you could go either before work, after work, or on your lunch break, say. Go somewhere near your work.

It will be hard for your mother to hear, but she'll understand, and the time of year probably won't matter much. She will just be concerned with you and your doing what you need to do. It might be scarier for your DD, but you'll weather it together. I think you are right to say it's survivable and the chances are very good that you'll be ok, which of course will be her biggest concern. I am very close to my kids I'm sure in part because of my cancer diagnosis. I was very concerned, even at their young ages then, how it would affect them and you know what, I think it just helped make them more compassionate people. Once your DD starts talking about it a bit, she'll discover that many people she knows have had cancer that she didn't even realize, and many kids she goes to school with have had parents fight a cancer battle as well. It's just that once it goes away, it's not talked about all that much. But once you start talking about it, you hear everyone else's stories, too. I was actually floored at some of the people I'd known for a long time that I didn't realize had had cancer. Hearing their stories and seeing them on the other side I always found helpful.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Leslie - Welcome. Sorry you have had to join the clubh that you wish you would not have to. Sending you lots of and prayers. You have found a good bunch of ladies here. They are encouraging and have a wealth of information to share. You can come here to ask,cry,vent etc. anytime. I have a different kind of cancer (thyroid) but they have adopted me. Wishing you all the best. I am sure it will be hard on your family and your dd. I have 3 ds so they were not all that emotional for the most part they kept it inside. They just wanted me well and better. Hang in there!

Laurie - good for your dd challenging the grade. 2 of our ds have doen that several times and come out ahead too. Middle ds is happy he gets a C. sigh.

Cheryl and Janet - post about your trips when you can. Would love to hear about them.

Candy - safe travels. Are you bringing the dog or having someone watch your house?

PatsMom - hope your dd gets the visa stuff worked out. My dh hates the food in France. Our friends dd went there too last semester and hated the food too. She brought some nutella and crackers etc.

Well I am back from the specialist. She sees nothing major wrong. Wants to do a kidney ultrasound and PatsMom...I am thinking of you...the dreaded cystoscopy, but not until March. Gosh, you have to wait so long for everything there. In the meantime she wants me to try a new med so I wont be running to the bathroom all the time. We shall see. My bp was good and I lost 10 lbs. Wowsa. I think that is due to the new bp med because everytime you eat something high in fat your body, um..gets rid of it quickly. So more tests etc. I am getting weary of this.

Got a nice card and letter from the long lost relatives in our town. She wants to get together in the warmer weather. Said she goes to Florida alot to visit her grandkids. Hmm, maybe a disney meet up if they are near there? We shall see.

Its beautiful here weatherwise. Doesnt feel like christmas, more like Florida

GAGWTA

 

[wdw4us2]

Leslie - Welcome to the thread, but sorry that you have to be here. You will be facing many challenges in the coming months and we will be here to support you.

Well, gifts are all here and wrapped (still waiting for one), Christmas cards are all mailed and everything else we need for the holiday has been purchased. My energy level has been very low this week. Thank goodness Meg has been here to help out. She just returned to Orlando as she is working the next three days and not looking forward to the crowds. DS has even helped out this week - he made dinner last night, Meg's favorite Chicken Parmasean. It was delicious!

I have to go see the vampires tomorrow to have my big labs done. I have to see the Miami doc next Thursday and my local oncologist next Friday. Was hoping to get to the end of the year without having to deal with them. I will let you know what the next step in my treatment is when I find out.

Wishing everyone here a Blessed and Merry Christmas or whatever you are celebrating!

 

[snappy]

Leslie, I am glad you posted here.

I am sure this is the worst possible time of year to receive this news. However, you may feel relieved once you have disclosed it. I think your mom and daughter might already sense something is amiss, depending on how long this has been going on. It is not easy to tell but it sure helps to have that support system close and by your side. Know too the ladies on this

How was the possibility of DCIS detected, through discovering the lump or based on a suspicious mammogram?

I was diagnosed with DCIS in two places on one breast, and the stuff actually snaked all around my breast (my mom had a similar deal about 4 years later).
I also had an area of invasion, but it was small and apparently all taken out during the stereotactic needle biopsy since no more invasive cancer was found in the testing after the breast was removed. Because the area of invasion was only 1 mm, chemo was not recommended.

I did not have the additional testing you are facing, since the DCIS was found in multiple areas, the only real surgery that was recommended was a mastectomy. That was the standard of care at least back in 2004 for multi-focal DCIS.

Do you have your MRI scheduled yet? An MRI showed that my mom's DCIS had also run rampant throughout her breast but there was no invasion so she had the mastectomy but no radiation or chemo, just like me.

The MRI seemed to be the definitive test for my mom. I hope the same goes for you. Not knowing what your facing is the hardest part of this, along with giving bad news to your loved ones, as you know.

Please feel free to ask further questions, come here and vent, whatever you need. You might be surprised how it is also helpful to us to share our stories here, and respond to your questions/concerns. It is very healing, even after the over seven years since my diagnosis.

 

[Sha]

Hi Ladies! Sorry have been MIA again. I wanted to wish you all Merry Christmas

Leslie welcome!

Working right now actually, waiting for clients to finish lunch. Went with mom to follow up oncology appt. All is good. No more scans unless something shows up in labs etc. going every 6 months now. So next appt is in June. Nodules in lung exactly the same and unchanged. Nothing "glowed" on PET scan. Very good news for Christmas!

I miss you all and have just been overworked. Christmas cards aren't done, tree is up with lights but no decorations. Will do tonight though. Sticks to my German heritage I guess. Presents still to wrap and a couple last minute items for my one (trouble child) sister. I am getting ready for next weekend though!! Will see R. in a week and can hardly wait. We are going to be at WDW with my mom, sister M, nieces S and A. We are staying in a Tree House Villa!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Super nice as we got to see an empty on last week when Mom, DN A and I went for a night.

The issue I had is a cyst that should reabsorb on its own. No fluid or anything noted. Should be resolved in 2 months. Had some Ca markers done and they were negative. Will do another US though in June. whew! so thankful it was a etopic pregnancy! (or worse).

love to you all and a Merry Christmas and GAGWTA