2005 ROCK-TOBER CHEMO GIRLS

chumfry

Well, I had a mammo for my three-month checkup, and they saw a little something in my "good" breast. Had another mammo and a sonogram this morning and am scheduled for a core needle biopsy (guided by ultrasound) tomorrow morning.

It's probably just a fat necrosis from my reduction surgery. It's really little, smaller than a quarter inch. Maybe they can scoop it all out during the biopsy!

The sonography lady was feeling sorry (kind of) for finding something and I was remarkably calm, saying "Well, if it's cancer, I did it once and I can do it again." But I am pretty peeved about it. Feel like cussing and stomping my feet. I won't know the results until Friday. Ah well.

ake

cindy...you have every right to be peeved! stomp and cuss all you want. it's so annoying to have to go through any type of test, scan, biopsy, whatever. fat necrosis is so sneaky...i've got bumps all over the place from that.

i'm sending you good thoughts for tomorrow. one thing at a time.

ake

Here's a post that someone put on YSC to talk about her new lymphadema sleeve from that site "lymphadivas". Sounds good

"I promised to post my review of the Lymphedivas sleeve. Here are my thoughts after wearing it yesterday afternoon/evening and all day today, for those of you wondering whether it's worth the 90 bucks:

First off, it is about 100 times more attractive than the "fleshtoned" sleeves that I have. I ordered the fuchsia one and was worried it would be like fluorescent hot pink, but it is more like a deep rosy pink. I wore a white shirt with pink and burgundy stripes today and when I saw my sleeve poking out at the wrist (I am lucky that my hand swelling resolved so I don't have to wear a glove most of the time now) it made me feel cheerful, instead of sad like my other ones do. Despite the bright color, the more clothing-like fabric makes it look like you might just be wearing an extra t-shirt or turtleneck or something, rather than like you have some medical device on your arm.

If the other sleeves remind you of superthick old lady compression panty hose, this fabric is more like stretchy synthetic athletic workout clothes - like spandex but less shiny. It is pretty thin and very stretchy. My one concern is about durability, since some pulls have already appeared in the fabric and some tiny areas of elastic have been exposed on the wrist after just one day.

Comfort is great, except for some mild irritation at the elbow which I get to some degree with every sleeve. It does not have the silicone beads to hold it up, but has a 2-inch wide double thickness border at the top which seems to do the job.

Last but not least, in terms of lymphedema control, my arm looks at least as good and maybe better than before I put it on. I was worried about the class I compression (my other sleeves are class II), so I ordered the small size (I was in between sizes) and that seems to provide enough compression."

Graycie

Awwww Cindy, sorry you have to go through this. I am sure it is probably nothing. At least it is small, that's a good thing. My daughter's MIL just found a hard pea-sized lump on her breast and had it checked out today too. They think it is a cyst but she is going for a sonogram tomorrow. So I will keep my finger's crossed for both of you.

Graycie

Michele, Since you are a movie buff, did you say you saw "Wild Hog's"? My dh, grandson and I went to see that today and I thought it was really funny...If anyone want's a laugh go and see it......

Anonymous

Cindy -
If they get it all out - regardless of "what" it is - that's a good thing. The only good lump - is one in a jar! Best wishes to you tomorrow.

maryannecb

Cindy, I hope you are stomping for nothing. Who needs the added stress of a new lump? I hope they get it all at the biopsy and your results are OK.

Ok I am back to worry ,worry, worry for Cindy. Jeesh I only had one day off!

Thanks for all your sighs of relief, I could hear them. I only told my DH and my Mom about the pain so it was good to have you crew to worry with me. Besides I always tell them I am not as worried as I really am.

I want to go up, up and away! Looks like a blast.

Amy I had my first appt woith OT tomorrow, but they canceled it. I am a stage 1 I think, I have some minor swelling which goes by morning. I am hoping massage will do the trick and the sleeve for work-outs and flying. And zorbing I guess. The sleeves sound great, I hate the color of the traditional one, I'd dye it if I have to get one that color. Anyone know if they can be died?

All this puppy talk is tempting me...

Google maps are amazing, you can type in your address and check out the satellite view. I can easily pick out my house, the roof that is. Very neat.

Fists up!
Fists up!

Anonymous

Graycie -
B9 thoughts are being sent to your daughter's MIL! Let us know.

Mary-Anne -
Good luck with OT - when I had a problem with swelling/LE (after my initial Mast.), my PT showed my dh massage techniques. He did them to me every night - faithfully - for one full month, and I have not had a problem since. At first, due to having had a breast removed, it was weird/creepy, but after a few days, it actually became part of our nightly routine/regimen. Your dh is coming home just in time! I really suggest you mention the possibility of this to your OT. I have flown three times since then, without a sleeve and have had no problem. And, btw...Fists Up!...soon to have a whole new look.

TracySeattle

Cindy, I am so sorry! Thinking of you and saying a prayer! (((hugs)))

Who wants to go on a Balloon ride while we are in Chicago? That would be fun, don't you think? Zorbing would be fun too!

I'm planning to arrive on Thurs - leave on Sun.... Haven't made any reservations yet though.

chumfry

Thanks everybody! I'm feeling a lot better about it now. Planning to take an Ativan tomorrow morning beforehand. Feels nice to have you all around me, even in spirit. Kind of like a soft fuzzy sweater.

I loved Debbie's balloon photos and that zorbing sounds like a lot of fun!

debbie444

Cindy i am stomping my feet too ( and they are big feet!) waiting to find out whats what for you.

V - never heard of the charms you are talking about . we have them in Christmas pudding?

One thing we did do when we went to the wedding in the US was to take some wedding favours for the kids to present to the bride - my aunt was keen as she remembers them from her time over here and its something they dont do over there. We gave a horseshoe ( for luck) a love spoon ( in wales the man used to carve a spoon for his intended and the carved handle told a story ) and a shoe ( the father used to give the groom one of his shoes to hit the wife with if she wasnt obedient) Obviously they werent the real thing - fancy ones decked with ribbons. My aunt didnt want then giving outside church tho as is normal - she wanted it doing at the reception with everything explained over the tannoy - that was rather unexpected!!

I must admit that i have never come across crate training before - it all sound rather cruel !! Sam is much happier having a quilt as his personal space , but then maybe thats why he is untrainable!! LOL
What are theses peanut butter things - ? thought you lot would have learnt by now!!

ravdeb

Good Morning...
Spent my morning with the pres. of our congregation. I'm exhausted..her talking can make anyone want to take a nap! Her mom died of bc so she has been extra sensitive towards my situation. she's nice..just tiring to hear all the stuff she had to say to me today..for hours!

Cindy..I'm so sorry. I'm glad you have the wonderful Rocktober Ladies to act as a warm fuzzy sweater. Am thinking of you.

V..how's the studio coming along?

I haven't googled to see how to get to Debbie's but it would be a different route from here.

Where's Paula?? It would be a different route for her,too.

amy..if I ever need a sleeve, I'd either go for those fancy ones or paint a plain one. Seems like more fun to go sassy!

Gail..hope all goes well with your daughter's mil's biopsy.

I'm not happy about reading so many women here who are getting the beast back..particularly women who had the same diagnosis I had..stage 1 Triple Neg and this one woman did a mastectomy which gave her even a better chance of keeping the cancer away. Scary stuff. I am trying not to roam too much on the boards anymore.

Crate training..that's what my sister did with her dog that is kinda big. It worked. Her dog is very sweet and doesn't eat the remote controls anymore!

Curlylocks

Good Evening Sisters,…now its morning, hee heeJ

I started this post yesterday evening at around 8:00 p.m. and the boards seemed to crap out on me, so saved it and I back a little before work this morning.

Snow didn’t amount to anything last night, anything that was on the deck is now mush due to the rain and it seems warmer today.

Amy – I will put it in the mail for you, can you pm me your address please. Thanks for the update on the new sleeves. I do hate the colour of mine and have been wearing it almost everyday and my arm does feel better.

Rosemarie – love the pictures of your little faker. Scooby was a little bully in her puppy class but the teacher used her to show everyone else how to train their dog, so we must have done something right!

Kelly – it sounds so nice right about now lying out by a pool and having a bbq. That is the only bad thing about living in our climate, 6 months of the year the weather is crappy. Cant wait until the May long weekend when we can open up our trailer for the season. It will be so nice to get away on weekends, especially if we don’t sell the house right away, run away from the stress.LOL. But have to leave the house clean in case someone wanted to come over while we were away. Cant wait to see some new pictures of your little princess and her Easter eggs.

Laura – how is the basement coming along? Post some pictures.

Deb – Yes, we need some pictures of spring and flowers – it would be a great moral boost right now. I wish it was easier for me to sleep at night but the meds I am on, make it very difficult. I need to be able to function at work and wouldn’t be able to work if I layed awake all night cause I couldn’t fall asleep, it’s a catch twenty two situation. I hate taking the immovane but have no choice, natural remedies don’t work for me.

It is hard to be in a positive frame of mind all the time but you have to believe that you did what you could do and were aggressive with treatment. This whole bc thing is really a crap shoot that we have no control over. Yours may never come back, none of us know the answer to that question, we have to live our lives with what we have today as there are no guarantees in life for anyone, let alone us bc survivors.

Debbie444 – I checked out Deb’s link on the zorbing and all I have to say is OMG that looks like fun but so out of control too, how would you stop it if it was headed towards something you didn’t want to hit? Crate training is actually very popular here and if the puppy is put in the crate from day one with some nice warm blankets and toys and associates it with a good safe place, their home ---they don’t mind it at all. Our puppy is 9 months old and she runs into the crate the mornings that I do have to put here in there which is maybe 4 times a month when my hubby works days.

Tracyseattle - I would love to go ballooning while in Chicago. We will have to get our resident Laura to check out any reptutable places.

Gracyie – be careful with starting to repaint cause I found once you start painting something you say gosh that other room would look nice in that colour and then the wheels start turning to do more. If you are anything like me that’s what happens. I started with the hallway walls and then thought, gosh the door would look nice the same colour and then the front piece in front of the door. Then it was oh the side door would look beautiful that colour and now just waiting for it to get a little warmer to paint the outside of both doors. Although just throwing crap out is a good start on Spring cleaning. We saw Wild Hogs on Saturday, it was funny and enjoyed it.

Mary – good for you keeping up with the gym, my turn will come once I am finished with the house selling and organizing here.

Cindy – stomping my feet here too, that sucks to have to worry so soon again. Hoping for big B9 thoughts! Will be thinking of you today.

Maryanne – I tried the google maps quite awhile back, it looks really cool since we are rural it looks even neater.

Victoria – glad to see you are getting settled in. Our house is an absolute disaster right now, cant wait for next weekend to get the kitchen organized once it is in!


The shower is calling me, have a super day!

Love you all
Michele

debbie444

Spent too long gardening yesterday , am staggering around like an old un!
Spring is well and truly here - shorts again today!!
Must stop eating Easter egg for breakfast - i will soon be as fat as a bacon pig.
Deb - is this stuff you need to know she is telling you or is she just unloading on you?
Michelle - feel free to come and wave apaintbrush around here! Zorbing is controlled - you cant just go and get one and roll down a hill in it. Its like bungee - its safe unless you just throw yourself off a block of flats or something! Bungee doesnt appeal to me much - a friend dislocsted her shoulder doing reverse bungee , put me right off!
Deb

Anonymous

The basement is coming along slowly - I think the carpenters are out partying with the furniture dude!

At present, trim around windows is being done. Then tile in the bathroom, then painting, then carpet. The room on the left of the top photo will have exercise equip. We kept an area behind the finished portion for washer/dryer, storage and another section for Roy's woodworking equipment (saws, planers, drills, etc). The finished portion is about 1100 sq. feet (top photo is after framing, bottom photo after drywall):



There's sliding doors that lead to the forest. I would like to get some outdoor furniture and a chiminea to put there.

TracySeattle

OK Ladies, Please sign this petition regarding "Drive Thru" Mastectomies! Can you believe that they are thinking of making it outpatient surgery!!! Please check this out: (Please pass this on to everyone you know as well!)

MASTECTOMY HOSPITAL BILL in Congress

A mastectomy is when a woman's breast is removed in order to remove cancerous breast cells/tissue. If you know anyone who has had a mastectomy, you may know that there is a lot of discomfort and pain afterwards.

Insurance companies are trying to make mastectomies an outpatient procedure. Let's give women the chance to recover properly in the hospital for 2 days after surgery.

It takes 5 seconds to do this and is very important...please take the time and do it really quick!

Please send this to everyone in your address book. If there was ever a time when our voices and choices should be heard, this is one of those times. If you're receiving this, it's because I think you will take the 30 seconds to go to vote on this issue and send it on to others you know who will do the same.

There's a bill called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which will require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating the "drive-through mastectomy" where women are forced to go home just a few hours after surgery, against the wishes of their doctor, still groggy from anesthesia and sometimes with drainage tubes still attached.

Lifetime Television has put this bill on their web page with a petition drive to show your support. Last year over half the House signed on.

PLEASE!! Sign the petition by clicking on the web site below. You need only give your NAME, ZIP CODE and EMAIL.

http://www.lifetimetv.com/health/breast_mastectomy_pledge.html

This takes about 2 seconds. PLEASE PASS THIS ON to your friends and family and, on behalf of all women... THANKS!!

TracySeattle

Cindy - My heart and thoughts are with you today....

MaryAnne - I am so glad for your good news!

Zorbing & Ballooning! I am in for both!!! :-)

Busy time at work, so gotta go....

Have a good day everyone!

Paula15089

i am here Ravdeb! still sick, although the antibiotics the doc has given me seem to be working... had last couple of days off work, but back to the 'prison cell' tomorrow.

Cindy, keeping all my fingers and toes crossed for you. Bugger, that kind of stress you do NOT need.

take care girls

TracyNY

Ladies with a touch of LE, please note, you cannot wear a sleeve without a glove. You can wear a glove without a sleeve but not the reverse. You will push the fluid into your hand.

If you are consistent with the intensive phase of treatment and pay close attention to the nuances that affect your swelling, you can go without doing much of anything to your arm.

I am wearing my day sleeve for the first time in a long time because I ate a bit too much meat and I think the salt caused me to swell a little. I hadn't massaged nor worn my night sleeve for about a week either. The garments are a little on the unusual side but if you wear them when you have to you can keep LE in check.

Still getting my butt kicked by this cold though.

marymelodi

Cindy:
hope all goes well and the verdict is "nothing to worry about."

Mary

ravdeb

Paula..glad you are feeling better though prison duty doesn't sound too appealing!!!!

Tracy...you need to kick the cold, dear..not the butt! Feel good.

Tracy Seattle...I sent mine in a few days ago..

Debbie..The pres. of our congregation came by to pick up something I had for her and then settled in to tell me all the problems of the congregation! She also asked me to return to the board. I was on it for 3 years before diagnosis and was still on it during treatments but didn't do too much since I had gotten so sick. Then I dropped out when the new board was formed and decided I liked not being on the board. So, I turned her down. I will also give my job as chairperson of the caring committee to somebody else as I'm in charge of prayers and rituals as well and that's enough for me right now. But she tends to never stop talking and sat at my house for over 2 hours.

Laura..you have a gigantic house. An Israeli hamster could actually fit in there...

Michele..I took pictures of my flowers and need to put them on the computer and then I'll post. Hope that will bring some springtime into the never ending winter in some locales...I noticed that I did well when I slept through the night the other night. But last night I once again woke up and was zonked all day. You are right. Probably could use some sleeping help of some kind. I am such a chicken about taking pills, though. I really hate taking anything. I have meds I take and that's enough for me!

ravdeb

Michele..I just read the rest of your post..I missed some of it because I got interupted. Thanks for your encouraging words. I'm not totally obsessed with getting it back, but it's like a dark shadow over my head, if you know what I mean. It is on my mind a lot and I still haven't gone through a day, no matter how busy I am, when I don't think about cancer. I am reminded of it constantly with my back ache because that started during treatments so that is my time line. I look in the mirror and see my gray/white hair and I know that if it hadn't been for the chemo I would still be dying my hair black. Maybe i'd look younger. Maybe I'd feel younger too if I hadn't had the chemo and of course if I hadn't been diagnosed. I think the diagnosis aged me even without the chemo and the physical aging. I think it made me older in the way I think and sometimes that is good and sometimes I just feel really old and am mad about that.

RoseMarie

No time - but wanted to check in...
Cindy - I am PRAYING for you!! As I write this you probably already had the biopsy but sending prayers anyway!!
Zorbing - Now that I see it, I may be too claustrophobic (I'm truly no fun at all!) Are there any hills near Chicago??
ok, gotta run but will check in later!!!

Anonymous

No zorbing in Illinois...in fact I couldn't find any in the USA - Looks like we'll all have to go to New Zealand.

Here's a link to the balloon place - it's about 20 minutes from the Marriot:

http://www.wedofly.com/hot_air_balloon_rides_fox_river_valley.htm

debbie444

Laura - wow , i think you have just added more space than i actually had before!!
i think your men and the furniture guy are out hunting for Israeli hamsters ( whilst carrying sacks of Debs mail with them!)

Anonymous

ravdeb - Debbie -
When we found this property - I designed a log cabin home to have built here - med. size - 2500 square feet. Couldn't find a builder to build it within our budget because logs are very expensive! And then every builder told us that we should build to the size of the majority of the homes in this area. So I designed this house which is about 5500 sq feet. I would have been much happier with the log cabin. I grew up in a very small house in Chicago and loved it. We got a great deal on this property and I only went $12,000 over budget on the construction! Because the basement is walkout - we thought it would be crazy to not finish it. If it wasn't walkout, we wouldn't be, because without having children, we really don't need the space.

Zorbing...forget New Zealand (dah!) we'll all have to go to the UK!

Love the hamster jokes! LOL

chumfry

My procedure went fine. Just woke up from my well-deserved post-luncheon nap! Hope to get the results tomorrow. Thanks for all the kind wishes. They think they may have sucked it all out during the biopsy. Just in case they need to find that spot again, they inserted a 1mm titanium marker, shaped like a tiny breast cancer ribbon. How cool is that? They say it won't interfere with MRIs or airport security. Can you imagine me having to produce documentation on why my boob is setting off the metal detector?

ravdeb

Oh wow..that is great that it's over AND you have that tiny little cancer ribbon inside you! I never heard of that! I've heard of the tiny markers but not in a shape. Are you joking about that?? That's like this one dentist who would sign his name on the fillings!

My girlfriend had a core biopsy and they sucked it all out, too. So, they had told her that it was a cyst, though of course a biopsy was done and it was b9. Then she was told to go back and see her doctor after it was b9. Not sure if she did because she said that there was nothing left of the lump and it was b9 so she wasn't willing to take another day off of work for it.

Wishing the same for you!

Curlylocks

The snow is gone again, yippee and the temps seem to be steady at around 7-10C.

Dh painted the first coat of base paint on the kitchen walls and it looks great. He was actually painting in his boxers when I came home, was quite the site!LOL.

The past three nights have woken up only twice and feel better with less interrupted sleep, hopefully it continues….

Here’s a picture of our kitchen in a shambles and the base colour, its hard to see and a shot of our backyard with no leaves or grass yet!

Debbie444 – I love your sayings, “fat as a pig bacon”, hee heeJWe are getting a little tired of painting now so you will have to wait for a bit, start without me……
Okay that explains the zorbing a little better. Hey you have a great memory and a great sense of humour. I chuckled when you talked about the hamster having Deb’s mail. I forgot that she had problems getting her mail in the past. So funny!!!
My dh has actually skydived several times before and free falling as well, that explains why he is a firefighter, big risk taker! We have both gone on a bungee like ride at “Canada’s Wonderland”, you go up several feet (cant remember how high now as it has been a few years) in this metal basket, you are strapped in together in this contraption and then you are hooked up to this pulley thing and one person releases the pully thing at the top and you free fall downwards like you are flying together. It was quite the rush as your stomach bottoms out and you feel like you are going to hit the ground when you swing downward but it is all controlled.

Laura – your basement would almost be a little smaller than the new house we will buy which will be about 1500 sq bungalow or 1800 two storey. The basement is gonna be able to have some big party. I love walkout basements, not too many homes around here with them though. Your house sounds HUGE! Do you have a maid service, it would make me tired just thinking about cleaning it.

Tracyseattle – will make sure I sign the petition. That is disgusting that the government could even think about doing something like that. My girlfriend had a mast about 3 ½ years ago and if she didn’t have complications like she did she would have been sent home the same day, just not right!!!

TracyNy – thanks for the advice on the wearing of the sleeve, I didn’t know that.OMG I hope I don’t have problems with my hand now!

Deb – it does wear you down when you don’t sleep properly for days on end. Hope you get some relief and much needed zzz’s. Look forward to seeing the flower pics. I too think about cancer everyday but am a lot better than I was. I’m hoping as more time passes the thoughts will be put further away in my mind. Most days I am positive that I will beat this and the odd time I have a bad day and wonder due to my tumour size and 3 positive lymph nodes. I too have aged physically, have wrinkles by my mouth that I never had before, more gray and bigger bags under my eyes from lack of sleep. I try not to fret about it but some days the reality of being diagnosed doesn’t seem real, am I making sense? I guess I haven’t completely found my “new normal” yet….

Cindy – glad to hear the procedure went smoothly. Crossing fingers for B9 news tomorrow.

Have a super evening my sisters.

Love and Big Hugs to Everyone
Michele

debbie444

Oh , i can feel it happening. Last time we came back from the states, Roger wandered around for a good year muttering about property sizes and plots of land etc - we even brought the property mags back with us. He watched sales on the internet etc for ages. There just isnt the room over here , property prices are a lot higher - it is a real culture shock to us!! Back in 2002 , my cousin bought a 4 bed detatched on a good plot ,in a good school district for $140,000 , at the same time our little 3 bed semi where we lived at the time was worth £140,000. How can we warrant it ????? Glad not getting on the property ladder now!!
Michelle - dont you have that saying??? How about how my Dad first described my BiL - " he's allright but he wouldnt fetch ducks off of the water" Do you use that one?