2005 ROCK-TOBER CHEMO GIRLS

TracyNY

Adventures in Nippledom...coming soon to a message board near you!!

RoseMarie

LOL Tda!!! HEE HEE!!! Sorry for being so hormonal earlier, by the way...I'm sitting here feeling really stupid for even posting. I'm not sure if it's Tamoxifen or what but I am soooooo moody! I need to shake my funk...Tda, you are hysterical...I feel the funk lifting!!

Anonymous

Rosemarie,

Sounds like your neighbor was being rude. I would have felt exactly the same way. Don't apologize for posting how you feel.

TracyNY

You don't need to go to their raggedy party no ways! Please. Your neighbors have bad manners. No apology necessary.

Tracy.
Her Royal Nipple-iciousness!

marymelodi

Luara:
I also had a follow-up CT for the very same reasons. The language in my report sounds similar to yours. Anyway, I see my family doctor next week for the results. I figure if there was something to worry about she would have called and told me to get right in to see a specialist or my cancer docs.

I also have scheduled the follow-up mammogram. Unlike you, I have not had anyone suggest masectomies and so I have no experience to draw on. Only my fervent wish that you will able to do whatever is best for you health and longevity. We all wish for the best.

ravdeb

marymelodi..good luck with those results!

tda..you are tooooooooo funny!

Quote:

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"Adventures in Nippledom...coming soon to a message board near you!!" This board thrives on your humor!!!

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You just crack me up!

TracyNY

I bought them from a man that sells supplies to transvestites!! He said he's not used to real female customers!!

Remind me to tell you about the time Olivia wore Ms. Lucy's falsies to school when she was in the third grade. Cousin Pinky had to go to the principal's office to get them back!!

maryannecb

Laura- Good luck with your CT, my nodule did not change so here is hoping for you too.

Rosemarie, I would invite you if you were my neighbor.Giv the neighborhood a chance, it may take some tome to see if there are any people who even interest you. Sometimes get togethers are full of the oldest of friends and you feel left out as you have no shared memories. If you want to meet some of them, have your own party. Be sure not to invite Mrs. Insensitive.

Mary Melodi, ditto on your CT.

I had my first three month blood work and all was well. My mammo was Ok a few months ago but as my tumor was called " fibrocystic" I don't trust them anymore. I was told M my chance of new breast cancer on the other side is abouut double that of the general population/ year. So at 45 if my cahnce is usually 1 /250 then it would be 2/ 250. my 10 year chance would be 2/250 +2/250 etc. or 20/ 250---a 1 in 12 chance over 10 years. At this poiint I am willing to risk it.Perhaps I will change my mind.

I am whipped tonight. My dragonboat team had a paddling clinic this weekend. I paddled for about 5 hours, it is hard work but fun and excellent exercise. We have about 40 survivors in our group and own two dragonboats. It is a great way to connect with " real " survivors in a very positive setting. And on Friday I was in a golf tournament to raise funds for palliative care. My poor body doesn't know what to say over me using all those little used muscles. It was great to spend the last three days outside, we had three beautiful sunny days in a row.

Have a good day!

Fists up!

sherryhaire

Laura--My prayers are with you that all turns out to be ok, I guess this is why I chose to do a bi-lateral from the beginning cannot imagine what you are going thru--Know you are in all of our prayers here

ravdeb

maryanne...you certainly are an active one!!! Sounds like great fun and a wonderful way to connect with others who have gone through what you did.

Debbie...the picture of your family is just beautiful! Thanks for sharing that.

Laura..I continue to think of you and hope all turns out well and your decisions become less stressful to make.

And my good news is that my bc friend here is OK!!! She went in yesterday to her surgeon who got her in for an urgent US (she had to wait 4 hours but she got in!) and she has a huge CYST and a few smaller ones as well. She is having it aspirated and biopsied at the beginning of the week. Thank goodness THAT is over! They said it's from all the chemo.

In any case, she is a bit upset that her onc (who is MY onc too) left her hanging last Thursday and literally scared to death that the chemo wasn't working, etc. I'm upset with this as well. On the other hand, she also said she felt guilty for going above her and taking care of it on her own. And I told her, like I would tell women here on the board...we are not trying to please our doctors no matter how much we like them. It's much more important to get the treatments, tests, whatever in any way we can so that we can ease our minds and know what is going on.

Well, I did some retail therapy yesterday returning home exhausted but happy
Got stuff I need for my trip but I'm not done!!! Too tired today. Am organizing at home instead today and researching things for my new business I hope to open in the coming year.

Be well everybody.
Thinking of all of you and laughing at tda's entry AGAIN!!!!!

RoseMarie

{Yeah, I'm having a barbecue and you're all invited }
MaryAnne - you're awesome! Glad to hear your blood work was fine.
Here's a question - are you all being seen every 3 months? My onc doesn't want to see me for 6...just wondering.
Ravdeb - glad to hear your friend is ok too. Retail therapy is great...I love getting ready for a big trip
Tda - OMG, you are so funny. Are they stick on's?? How do you like them. Gotta know. Ok...who are Olivia and Ms. Lucy? Sounds like a hysterical story.
Debbie - hoping your feeling even better today!
MaryMelodi-hope all goes well!!

ravdeb

I was told to see my onc 4 - 6 months from finishing treatments. This works out that I will be one year from my diagnosis when I get my mammogram, ultrasound and see the onc. She told me early stages are seen 4-6 months and no scans except for mammo and US and the later stages are seen every 3 months with scans and blood work, I think.

But she told me last week that if I have anything that seems not okay, to make an appt before that.

But, this will not happen as I will be on my TRIP!!!! We are praying that I will have no surprises while away as insurance will not cover anything related to my cancer while I'm overseas.

TracyNY

Tda - OMG, you are so funny. Are they stick on's?? How do you like them. Gotta know. Ok...who are Olivia and Ms. Lucy? Sounds like a hysterical story.

There's not too much more to the tale. Olivia is Cousin Pinky's daughter. Ms. Lucy is a drag queen who used to stay at their house. Olivia took Ms. Lucy's false titties and wore them to school when she was in the third or fourth grade. Well, you can imagine the uproar!

Cousin Pinky had to go to the school and retrieve the breasteses from the principal.

My new nipples are silicone and stick to my chest suprisingly well. They feel real between your fingers too.

sherryhaire

I'll be glad when I get to the point where I only have to go see the onc every 3 months then every 6 months My onc likes to see his patients every month for a year then every 3 months, then 6 months ect...

Anonymous

Right now, I have to see the onc every month, but I did graduate from the general surgeon ... I only see her every 6 months now.

Tda, you are a riot. I guess I should start looking into those fake nipples since it will be a long time before they do fix it all up for me.

TracyNY

Hey Teryn's Mom! I was wondering where you'd disappeared to only this morning.

I prance around the house in my false nips, I will debut them on one of my night prowls. I don't think I'm ready to have my children stared at in the cold light of day just yet!

And yes, I am quite the funny chick, however, I tell these ridiculous stories on the weekend to keep the thread from falling off the front page.

Wait until I tell you about Ms. Hamm's monkey that used to babysit the kids in my friend Jimmy's neighborhood!!

Graycie

Laura, Did you have your CT scan on your lungs yet? Hopefully it will be nothing. I can't believe your ONC is telling you that you should have a mast. on your right breast. Why is he telling you that now? He could have said something when you had your surgery. I can understand that you are frightened. If I were you I would get a second opinion.....I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers that everything goe's well for you.
Graycie

Graycie

Rosemarie, Your neighbor does sound rude. Do you think maybe it was a family party and she was just telling you what was going on incase they made too much noise? Probably no such luck, huh? Well, I would certainly invite you over if you were my neighbor....
Marymelodi, good luck with your mammo results.
Ravdeb, When are you leaving for your trip?

sherryhaire

Getting ready for my port removal tomorrow a little nervous, but then I get nervous anytime someone comes at me with a knife HAHA, Will be awake for the proceedure hope all goes ok, then Friday morning is my 3 months checkup

ake

laura...i'm thinking about you and sending nothing but positive thoughts.

i can't write much because my internet is down and i got on someone's wireless for a second....i'll have internet back in 2 days, so i'm going through withdrawal right now!

hang in there laura and know we're here for you!!!

love,
amy

ravdeb

I'm having trouble getting anything I write to get on the post. Having trouble with my internet so I will copy this and save just in case I lose it again!

Laura..what is happening???

Amy..hope your internet heals soon!!!

Had a meltdown (it's about time I thought afterwards!). It started yesterday when I saw a 17 year old girl on Dr. Phil with breast cancer. My youngest son is 17! I can't imagine that! It just struck me...she's in high school.

My bc friend here in Israel is fine. It was a cyst. did I say that? ( I wrote but lost it in cyber so I can't remember what i wrote and what got posted). We are relieved. And her 78 year old mom finished rads yesterday and feels great and went to work from her last treatment!!!

But another close friend with bc is not well and I'm worried about her. So, please send prayers her way. I think she needs them....Cried a good part of the morning. Very worried about her.

be well all of you...

marymelodi

Hello, everyone – it’s been fun to catch up with your posts while I sit here eating my sandwich at lunchtime. I haven’t written in a few days. The weekend was busy. My husband had his 50th birthday last week and over the weekend we went out together on some errands, ended up going to lunch, piddling around, you know, and just generally enjoyed ourselves together. It’s been a long time. It was hot so we also had the project of getting all the window air conditioners into the upstairs windows. We live in an old, old house without central air and so at the change of seasons we deal with air conditioners. Doesn’t sound nearly as fund as tda’s nipple adventures, does it?

I got a letter from my primary doc yesterday. The report on the CT scan shows that the left lung nodule is “static” – hasn’t changed since the first CT scan. But, they also identified another nodule on the right adrenal gland (sits on top of the kidney) and so they also want to follow that one and have me do another CT scan in 3 months. I will see her in person on Friday and discuss this all further. I assume “static” means it’s not changing size.

There was some discussion of how often we are having follow-ups. I see my medical oncologist every 6 months and my radiation oncologist every 6 months. The appointments are offset so that I see one of my cancer docs each 3 months. Of course then, I also see my PCP approx. every 3 or 4 months and my GYN every 6 months (to follow the GYN effects of tamoxifen). I’m getting very good at waiting in doctor’s offices.

Ravdeb: my sympathies for your worries and emotional times. I’m having them myself and like you, I think it’s about time. I have been easily teary and anxious, but I am trying to believe it is just part of the healing process. I do pray that your friends will be well and you will be comforted.

Amy: hurry back when you have an internet connection again!

Sherryhaire: good luck with port removal. It was easier than the insertion of the port for me. I also was under “waking sedation” for both procedures. An interesting experience.

Greetings to all – hope you are well. Laura, how are you doing with you new challenges? Good to see posts from Graycie and Terynsmom.

Anonymous

Ravdeb, I really don't know how you deal with others who have breast cancer in real life. I don't think I could handle it emotionally.

Sherry, I didn't have a port so I sure hope you have an easy removal. I heard that it's a much harder surgery to put it in than to come out.

Laura, I am worried about you!! For me, if the doc recommended it, I would remove it. We are not boobs, well sometimes I act like one, but we are women who either have boobs or not. You have been so strong and we can all get thru this together!!

Anonymous

Thanks Girls!

You are all so wonderful (as usual) and I appreciate your concern and thoughtfulness (as usual)!

I haven't made a decision yet, but it's time for my 6 month mammo. Due to the fact that mammos failed me miserably on the other side, I requested a breast MRI. I am having that done on Monday. Here's how I look at it: If everything looks normal - I still have to make the decision. If something shows up - I probably wouldn't even have a biopsy and just go straight for the Prophy Mast. I have numerous cysts on this side, in fact I had one aspirated in November (no A-Typical cells found). I would probably be having many more aspirations done in the future because the tissue is so dense and fibrocystic, so I'm leaning more toward the decision of Prophy. But I'll just wait until next weeks MRI results are in. This time around I have the luxury of time.

Laura

ravdeb

Terynsmom...
I actually met both of the women I am talking about here on these boards! Pretty amazing...huh? And sad... but...
One of them I keep in touch with by phone and e-mail and we meet together on occasion. Because she is still going through chemo she loves being able to talk to me and ask me questions and frankly...makes me feel good!

Our cousin's wife was just diagnosed so we keep in touch too...she and I have similar situations so I can kinda guide her through it though she's doing CAF and I did dose dense AC and Taxol. She is throwing up. I didn't. ugh.

Laura..I'm glad you can have the time to think it out. You are doing it right..taking each step as it comes. MRI, results of MRI and then the time to decide. That helps keep the stress off.

Sherry..did you get the port removal??
Graycie..I leave in a week!!!!!!!!!!!!! YIKES!!! My daughter and I are ready but my dh and son... can't get them to move their buns! Will be out shopping for shoes with son today. And if I'm lucky the two of them will decide which suitcases they want and if they need to buy any. I've only asked them 100 times about this!!!

Be well everybody!!!

ravdeb

So, I'm out of rads for over a week. I mentioned my melt down already but it's not ending!
My sister e-mailed me asking me if I'd like to do a special honor next weekend for the wedding weekend. She wants me to read Torah which would require practice and memorizing of lines in Hebrew. My brother and his wife each will be doing this as well as a cousin. She said she would have asked me earlier but she knew I was "going through so much".

I was so angry at my cancer. I went out and walked. I talked to a friend about it. I know that she meant well. We are close. But it would have meant a lot to me to have been able to do this. And now there's no way I can learn all this before we leave on our trip next week. She had asked my brother, his wife and our cousin long ago.

I just kept crying.

And now..I was looking at a video report about IBC on the internet when my husband came in. He saw it and heard them say breast cancer and he just looked at me and said.."I thought you were finished with all that".

Finished with all that??? I've barely been out of treatment! Before long I'll be doing the mammogram/US stuff. I have this weird stuff on my boob as a result of surgery and rads that I keep feeling and wondering, though they told me it's nothing, that it's something. Finished with WHAT??? Will I ever be finished with this??? I am not who I was. I feel this every day. In many ways it's refreshing to start a new life, new part of this journey as I will be starting a new career. But when I look in the mirror at my hair and feel my breast... that part of the newness I don't like. I am so paranoid that I do breast exams every night.

Finished with WHAT????

Graycie

Laura, I wish you the best in what ever you decide.

Ravdeb, I am sorry to hear about your two friends. That is nice that you are there for them and also your cousins wife. I bet she appreciates having you to talk too.
Awww, don't cry but I know how you feel. I have a lot of days like that. And husbands can be so insensitive sometimes. I wonder sometimes if we can really get on with our lives and put this all behind us. There is never a day that goes by that I don't think about it. I really am trying but it is hard.
I am sorry you won't be able to do the reading at the wedding but I am sure they are just so happy that you are able to attend. I think it will be good for you to get away and think some happy thoughts for a change. I most likely will see you on the board before you go but just in case, Have a Great Time which I am sure you will.

Graycie

RoseMarie

Lots of love to you Ravdeb!!!!! No one can understand this unless they've walked it personally!

My mother just called to tell me that a childhood friend was just recently diagnosed with bc. I don't know the details yet. Our mothers are still very close friends she even drove to Jacksonville to be with my parents and my husband when I had my mastectomies. I am so bummed. My friend is 36 years old and has a 2 year old baby. Please say a little prayer for her - she's just beginning this crappy journey.

Graycie

Rosemarie, I certainly will say a prayer for your friend. Hopefully they caught it early and she won't have to go through everything that we did....What is going on? Why are so many people getting BC. Years ago you hardly ever heard of it, especially in younger woman. It makes you wonder doesn't it? I wish they would find out what is causing it and find a cure....

Graycie

ravdeb

Thanks Graycie and Rosemarie...

Rosemarie...so sorry to hear about your friend. These days I cry every time I hear this. How can this be? Why is this happening??

I will send my prayers her way as she begins this new path in her life.

And Graycie..I've had that discussion before with people..why is this happening so frequently? One answer is the environment, I think, and all the stuff we are breathing in. Life seemed so much simpler years back....

Somewhere on the boards here is a mom with a 16 year old daughter who has a lump. The other day I saw a 17 year old girl on TV with breast cancer. How can this be???? When I was that age I doubt I even TOUCHED my boobs! I would have been terribly embarrassed. There was a girl on this video clip, 16 years old, with IBC and she was too embarrassed to tell her mom that her breast looked strange, etc... Turns out it was cancer.

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr