2005 ROCK-TOBER CHEMO GIRLS
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I am also sickened by Elizabeth Edwards reoccurence. I just heard about it. Her husband is an idiot I've decided. I guess it showed up in her rib and she has a few other spot's they may be concerned with. When they asked her where, she said lung. She was diagnosed in 2004 with the IDC. The same as me and also the same age. Not sure if she was er/pr positive and taking any other drugs. I really am in denial I guess. I thought if it was going to go to the bone, etc. it would happen right away.
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Ravdeb--Well, I'm already working on one of those darned humps, so I'm probably the wrong person to ask! LOL But I don't think I'd trade it for a really-really broken neck.
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Michele -
Yes, I took b/4 pics...can't wait for the "after" pics. Did you take b/4 pics? Would love to see them.
Tracy -
Yeah...moving hell will be over soon.
RoseMarie -
Hope your appt. w/the Gens. Counselor went well.
ravdeb,
Your Dr. may rx a drug that stops the progression of bone loss, like Boniva, or Fosamax or others.
Graycie -
I am pretty sick about it too! I wonder how long you can live with bone mets? Is there an average? I would love to know exactly what her orig dx was...whether she had pos. nodes or not...what stage...what size tumor?
----------------------------------------------------
Hi everyone!
I'm really busy but wanted to say hi! I know the news today has been sad. It's as though the invisible knife that's permanently stuck in my side was twisted today. Do any of you know her original dx? -
Whi is Mrs Edwards??
My MIL had pretty advanced bone Mets when it was discovered and from diagnosis she lived another 3 years, only a few days of which i would not class as quality time.
Kelly - i have aches and pains on Arimidex too, especially my ankles and fingers. Sometimes when i am sat playing on the floor at work I try and convince th elittle boy to stay there as i know i cant get up!! I was the same on Tamox too, but after about 5 months it just went away - I am hoping this does the same.
Roger has been working on my car this week, new front discs and pads, new front wishbones. I took it for the test yesterday and it failed - needed new rear discs and pads and new ball end joint. Ha - my driving and all new brakes needed!!!
I made a bit of a fool of myself at the garage. First i couldnt remember my reg number, then i had forgotten the last test certificate, then i didnt know when it needed testing. When i went to collect it and it had failed , i handed my card over and the machine declined it - i felt like going through the floor - i knew there was money in there! Then i handed him my other card, only to realise i didnt know the pin number! So then i had to walk to the supermarket to use my card in the cash machine to go back and pay. Today it passed, only for me to walk back to the garage at lunchtime to discover them panicking as they had lost the keys ( not as much as me - there is only one set!!) Now i am back on the road - safe this time.
Tracey - hope the move goes well
Debbie -
Debbie -
OMG! ROFLMAO - you are something else!
John Edwards is running for President in the '08 election. -
Mary Anne: sorry I missed your official birthday, but my Happy Bithday wishes for you are no less sincere and heartfelt. I do hope that you have a wonderful next year of your life.
Have caught up with you all. Difficult to hear about the recurrance of Elizabeth Edwards. That family has had a tough time. Her book might spell out the details of her diagnosis.
My young friend is making progress. The took out the breathing tube and she is more alert, although still sedated. My friend, her mother, is a rock. I am amazed at her strength. Today I took her some knitted slippers made in hot pink, aqua, and fuschia veriagated yarn. They look snazzy, if I do say so myself.
Hope you all are doing fine. We are so busy at work I barely have time to run to the bathroom. I'm looking forward to a relaxing time at home tonight.
Mary -
mary -
Thanks for the update. Those slippers sound FAB...gorgeous colors. -
Girls,
here is part 2 of that story i posted earlier: Part 2
basically, they found nothing. How d*mn frustrating!! -
Laura, and Kelly You girls are good..........You both have posted over 1600 posts. I only have 1146, 1147 now.........lol........Ravdeb still takes the lead...4304 but who's counting....ha........I don't know what made me look at it.
Mary, I bet the slipper's are beautiful and she will truly love them.....they will keep her feetie's warm. I wore mine to bed one night because my feet were freezing. They really did the trick of warming them up. Yes, Elizabeth Edward's has been through a lot over the past few years. First BC, then the death of her son and now met's. I thought about reading her book but thought it may be too sad.
Paula, Thanks for the part 2 of the story. I haven't read it yet but I will.
Tracy, It sound's like you are making progress with the move. I bet you will be glad when that is over with. -
Graycie -
I never even realized I had so many posts! How did your photo session turn out?
Michele -
I don't know why this popped into my head...I've named your nightly posts "Scooby News". -
Laura, You are funny........I have to check on that photo. lol
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I'm really sad about Elizabeth Edwards. I really got upset about it. So sad. My husband just told me he doesn't want to hear anything about it nor anything about anyone else having mets. There goes his denial. Gotta love it.
She was stage 3 and had a lumpectomy along with chemo and rads. I had heard she was estrogen positive...keep in mind she had a hell of a lot of fertility treatments at one point as well. I don't know why I'm saying all that...maybe just rationalizing why it's not going to happen to me when things like this scare the hell out of me. -
Did everyone get this e-mail?
Dear breastcancer.org Community Member:
As you all have probably heard by now, Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, revealed today that she has had a breast cancer recurrence. Mrs. Edwards had been treated for breast cancer after a 2004 diagnosis and was believed to be in remission. The cancer recurrence in her rib bone was discovered after Mrs. Edwards cracked a rib last week. She said that the cracked rib was a good thing. The recurrence would not have been discovered so early had she not gone to the doctor for the pain in her side.
Recurrence is every cancer survivor's greatest fear. Mrs. Edwards said, "Every time you get something suspicious you go into alarm mode."
We, at breastcancer.org, understand how scary it can be to hear news like this. So, we wanted to take the time to remind our community that a recurrence of breast cancer or metastatic disease is NOT hopeless. Many women continue to live long, productive lives with breast cancer in this stage. There are so many treatment options available now and more are always being studied. You can read more about breast cancer recurrence by visiting:
http://www.breastcancer.org/rcr_intro.html
Keeping a positive attitude and surrounding yourself with supportive people can make all the difference in the world. Mrs. Edwards said of her family's philosophy, "We're always going to look for the silver lining -- it's who we are as people."
We applaud Mrs. Edwards' decision to discuss her breast cancer recurrence publicly, and to simultaneously focus attention on the best treatment options to overcome this disease.The breastcancer.org community is inspired by her courage and determination and wishes her and her family the best during this difficult time.
Warm Regards,
Marisa
Marisa Weiss, M.D.
President and Founder
www.breastcancer.org -
Victoria, I know what you are saying. There is no proof that a positive outlook will extend your life but I like to believe it has to help somewhat. I think the more you worry and fret about something the more it affects your overall health. I read somewhere that in a group of people that had BC the ones that sat around crying about it were the one's that didn't make it. If nothing else it helps your quality of life. I say enjoy everyday you have.
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the whole thing is sad, but i am really admiring her bravery at being able to bring this all public and face it with such strength and grace. she'll bring attention to the struggle and determination that stage 4 women have. it just sucks she has to take on this public role now.
Quote:
E Edwards was Stage III and had an unfavorable prognosis with five + nodes following d/d neoadj chemo.
victoria...what did you mean by this? i don't think she did neoadj. chemo...i think chemo was after the surgery, node status. either way, i read that her scans were questionable at time of diagnosis. but i don't think it was her stage that made her prognosis not good. i get so tired of people thinking stage 3 is bad when i know a lot of women who become stage 4 after being stage 1. cancer in general...it just scares the crap at me at any stage. -
While in MX, I read a good book and was wondering if any of you girls would also like to read it. I would be happy to send it to you and then you could send it to anyone else here that has expressed an interest, and then that person could send it on.
The title is Pomegranate Soup, by Marsha Mehran.
It's about three Iranian sisters who fled their country, moved to Ireland and opened a cafe serving delicious Persian delights. (The book even features some of their recipes and I could actually smell the spices while sitting in my poolside lounge chair. LOL)
"Infused with the textures and scents, trials and tribulations, of two distinct cultures, Pomegranate Soup is an infectious novel of magical realism. This richly detailed story, highlighted with delicious recipes, is a delectible journey into the heart of Persian cooking and Irish living."
So...if you're interested, just let me know.
Love you all, very mucho! -
To all My sisters,
I have read the news of Elizabeth Edwards reoccurance and it makes me sad. I am angry that another sister has been diagnosed with mets. This also brings to light all the more reason why our lives should be lived like there is no tomorrow as there are no guarantees in life.
I remember seeing her on the Oprah show and she had so much dignity, grace and is a really classy lady. It must be tough to be battling this disease in the public eye. I only hope that the media that is reporting on this gets their facts straight and doesnt continue to gloss over her reoccurance like it is a hang nail that will heal.
I wanted to relay a little something that my husband said to me the other night. He started talking about what he would like to do when we retire and I immediately became quite and teared up and he asked me what was wrong .of course I replied it makes me sad that I may not see my retirement years with you and I was angry that this disease has ruined some of our dreams for the future. He said it will only ruin your dreams if you let it! It made me think of what he said and I will try to replay this over in my head when my thoughts turn negative, he is right though for a change.LOL.
Kelly Teryn sounds like she might not want to come home if her grandpa lets her eat what she wants all the time. I like that comment I have a stone in my shoe, never heard that before but it is cute! I have been on Armidex for 10 months, I get stiff after sitting down for awhile or if I sit on the floor sometimes I need my hubby to help me up. My fingers bother me the odd time. How about that supplement cant remember what it is called suppose to help with join pain?
Rosemarie does Kiersten enjoy swimming, it sounds like a great idea to get her involved with other kids facing the same challenges. Thanks, we are keeping our fingers crossed too on the house selling fast.
Tracyseattle I always check in on everyone each morning before heading off to work, this morning I was slow moving and didnt have time to respond but I do read all the posts. You ladies make me smileJ
Deb get some rest my friend. Did you have a bone density scan, sorry chemo brain, cant remember if you did? I had one in February and so far so good but we will see what another year on Armidex does to my poor bones.
Laura I will take some before and after pictures, it will be a real transformation. Our kitchen is nothing fancy but this will make it look stunning! You are too funny, nightly Scooby News!
Mary that is great news that your friend is doing better, she must have enjoyed her new knitted things.
Amy hang in there sister, we have to believe our aggressive treatment plans worked and not loose hope. Sometimes I try to look for answers in why we were diagnosed with this disease, there is no logical answer . I try to educate others in my workplace about mammograms and the reality of this disease and am honest when they say oh you have gone through treatment and everything is now fine. I always make sure that I respond that currently I am in remission and hope it stays that way and that there is no cure for breast cancer. Many people need to be educated as far as that as they think that the 5 year rule applies to breast cancer that once that time is up you are home free but we all now that is not true.
Victoria do you ever get tired of told you are brave? I do. The other line is oh you look wonderful, did I look like crap before?
Lots of love and big hugs tonight to my sisters.
Sweet dreams of spring on the horizon.
Michele -
michele...thanks for your positive words they mean a lot.
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Michele -
Quote:
He said it will only ruin your dreams if you let it!
He is truly special! You have been blessed with each other! -
what can we do with our fears, unknown, etc.? well, i can tell you what i do. i need to process it and talk about it with people who get it. my husband doesn't want to hear it and our friend is over and he was asking me about it, but i went into medical mode and started explaining all the different ways mets can happen, where, treatments, etc. whenever i do that, i hear my voice and i hate it...because i'm going into intellectual mode to avoid feeling mode. it's my way of distancing when i'm overwhelmed.
i think this is overwhelming and it brings us back to how we feel and it taps into our deepest fears and we realize that this crap can happen to any of us...it doesn't discriminate.
i'm completely going to ignore the media. because they LOVE statistics and tragedy and prognosis and they're also incorrect...they're talking about her having bone cancer, blah blah blah. so, it's only going to make me madder and make me use up more energy than i have.
i don't know...i know that it's hard to get in touch with our fears and anger and sadness sometimes. lord knows i try to ignore those things every day. but, when these things happen, i think it's okay to get upset, to be scared, to talk to people who get it. i can't keep it inside....it makes me feel like i'm pretending that i'm okay when i'm not, which i hate. but, i also am not going to dwell on it too much because then i'm letting my fears overwhelm me. and what it all comes down to is that we have to surrender control in a way and just take those deep breaths and live our lives. we don't get freaked out when we hear people dying of a heart attack, but we're not immune to that either. this all touches on a personal level, but we have to take those deep breaths and know that we've done the best we can and then try to move forward...that's the surrendering the control part...
we can only do our best, but when i'm scared, upset, angry, whatever...i need to talk about it sometimes, so that i can get it out, process it all, and move on and let it go.
love you all,
amy -
Wow...what a downer! I'm so hyperfocused on bc today - ugh! Had my appt. with the genetic counselor (nearly 2 hours!) and then the dr. (10 min.) they drew 3 vials of blood and said they'll get back to me in 4-6 weeks. Now my entire family is on freak mode waiting to hear also!
On a positive note...I can't wait to meet Cathy!
Debbie - I was reading your post and was literally holding my breath - I was stressing! I realized it at the end of the message when I finally exhaled and relaxed!
TracyS- thinking of you! So glad Dave is doing better! This move will soon be a distant memory!
Mary-you are such a kind, wonderful person! big ((hugs))
Ok ladies, good night! My dh is out in Kelly's part of the world tonight but he'll be home tomorrow night -
Kelly, Mike was actually a bit lost yesterday on the interstate leaving the LA airport - I couldn't convince him to give you a call
Lots of love ladies! -
Ladies -
i didnt know who Elisabeth Edwards is...
well, i dont even know the name of our current Prime Minister's wife. I am upset over the news though... just like i would be upset to hear about ANYONE getting mets..
I also think it is good they made it a public knowledge, although as we all know media is ignorant and they feed wrong information to the masses - as long as its dramatic enough.
You know, this forum is perhaps the only place i share my thoughts on cancer these days. I think my friends have put it behind them, and it hurts my parents too much when i talk about my fears. I am sure if i had a partner he would have enough by now as well.. So everything is just brewing in my head.
Thanks for always being here girls! -
This place is the only place that i talk about cancer now too. I am not upset / cross when people ask me about it , or make an unthought out comment, I am glad that they care enough to have asked about me. Or, to think that the thought of what happened to me / us may make them more watchful over themselves. I know that if i was on th eother side , i too would not quite know how to talk to someone about it. Where do you stop being caring and become inquisitive - more worse become seen to be unfeeling. I had tea woth my sister and my best friend the other day. My friend Julia ( bless every inch of her 5 ft and 1/4 inch frame) looked at me and said 'Anything you need to talk about?' and i said No and it was left there. We gossiped about everything else instead , but i knew she cared.
Cancer took possession on 18 months of my life, in th efuture it may try and claim some time. Its darn well not having my time now - I have too much living left to do.
Ok - off to work.
Have a good day my small international band of friends!
Debbie -
Debbie, I just read a fabulous book by David Mitchell called Black Swan Green - he is an Irish author, the book takes place in England, the narrator is a 13 year old boy. Honestly, sometimes I felt like I was reading a second language - there were so many words I did not understand, it was pretty funny.
I have been busy with passover preparations, its a big holiday for us, and my whole family is coming. There will be 5 little kids in the house, I can't wait. I have a problem with gates by the stairs. The top of my steps on the main level (2 story house) cannot be gated - there is a railing post on one side, and a design on the bannister on the other. With 3 babies moving around, its a challenge.
A friend who I wrote about here recently had a new large primary after 8 years of being clear. She had a double mast. on March 7, I have been in touch by email. She was waiting for the path. report, and said she was nervous because they found more than expected (she had chemo pre surgery cuz of the size). Anyway, yesterday I emailed her and she wrote back that they found a large number of pos. nodes. Between that and Elizabeth Edwards, I have been very upset.
I also find this the best forum to discuss my cancer experience, and vent.
Have a great weekend everyone
Linda -
Paula..I relate with you in that it took me a bit to figure out who Elizabeth Edwards was, too! Makes me feel very Israeli.
I knew more info on her diagnosis would show up on the boards here since I'm not getting any information here in Israel on it.
But, it makes no difference if she was stage 3 or stage 1 because mets happens to all stages. One of the reasons is that sometimes not all the cancer is caught..especially if a lumpectomy and snb were done, like I had. With only one node removed..well...I have heard the stories of the cancer bypassing the first node... and I'm triple neg. We are all in the same fear boat.
Tracy..good luck with the move. You really are working hard.
Debbie...how do things always happen to you??? I have a friend here who is much like you and my favorite story of hers is this one...She was rushed to get her little one off to nursery school and herself to work (she's a teacher). She had no time for her coffee and something to eat before leaving so she took an apple with her. She said she was dying of hunger and was waiting for her break so she could get to the teachers' lounge and eat her apple. But, when she had her break she had tons of students around her and she never got the break. By this time, she was getting a headache, hungry, thirsty and she needed to get to the bathroom. So, she went to the bathroom and thought she'd eat her apple and pee and get 2 things done at once but her apple fell into the toilet! Well, she didn't want to walk out of the stall leaving the apple there because then the person who had just walked into the bathroom would know that she had dropped the dang thing down there. So, she had to reach in and get that apple out!
Needless to say, she went home hungry...
Rose Marie..you and your family need to take a deep breath and just not worry about the results because there is nothing we can do about it. I am slowly entering that mode of realizing that there is nothing I can change and though cancer is in my mind all the time, I can't change the fact that I had it and it could come back.
Easier said than done.
Ladies..I have not been able to get over my fatigue after having guests the last few days. I am just absolutely exhausted.
I read all the posts but I can't answer them all.
I went to bed early last night. Was so tired and then was up in the middle of the night for at least 2 hours tossing and turning.
ugh.
So, I'm going to rest before I leave for services. -
OMG - My eyes were only half open, but I awoke this morning to the sight of Marisa (our founder) on Good Morning America! She was speaking about E's plite and the chances of recurrence, etc. The encouragement in her voice and the sincerity of her smile, brought tears to my eyes...
Awareness is everything! The more publicity we get - the better! It will bring us closer to a cure, whether it's pink foo-foo products or whatever...!
Thank you Marissa - thank you bc.org, thank you courageous sisters!
I've started this day with tears in my eyes...however, my goal is to end it with a smile on my face.
I'm very sad, half asleep and need to make coffee. -
Rosemarie, You will love Cathy. She is so sweet.
Ravdeb, It sound's like you had a night like me. That's all I did was toss and turn, too many thing's running through my head and BC was one of them and now I feel exhausted. I have to snap out of it though, I have places to go and people to see, lol....busy day. We are going to a plant show and out for a fish fry with my in-law's. I wonder what they will say about my hair now....lol.....Haven't seen them in a while and I don't think it has changed much. Believe me, I just don't care anymore.
Laura, I missed that this morning. I always watch the Today show. Yes, EE is an inspiration for all of us. I wish I had her courage.
My husband is really helping with getting me out and walking every morning. There he is calling me now, right on time........lol.......
Will catch-up later.
I hope everyone has a nice day. -
wish we got Good Morning America..we get Good Morning Israel and she wasn't on it!
I tried to nap. I may have fallen asleep for half an hour. When will this end?
Gail..are you really concerned about your bc that it is keeping you up nights? I don't think it's my bc keeping me up nights. It is hot flashes and just old age and tons of things on my mind like Passover. Linda..how do you do it? And I have some art projects in my head..ideas I need to try and then I can't stop thinking about them!
I woke up from my nap thinking about what to wear to services. I have like NOTHING TO WEAR! I've been wearing the same things for years now. I gotta fix up my wardrobe! I have to find one thing to wear tonight and something else for tomorrow morning cuz there is a Bat Mitzvah tomorrow I am "working" at.
Gail..you have hair! You look great!
I'm off to be creative in my closet.
Have a nice day everybody. -
Just got this quote in the e-mail..don't know who said it but....
"If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead and rotten,
either write things worth reading, or do things worth writing." -
No Ravdeb I am not that bad...lol..I was just thinking about BC last night because of the New's about it yesterday.
I don't know why I get insomnia once in a while. I always have a lot of stuff on my mind about thing's I have to do, etc. I did get a hot flash last night and opened the window. I thought my husband would yell at me but he never noticed....
That is a terrible e-mail......Who would send you such a thing? Was it a PM or an e-mail? pretty scary...
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