MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

juliet62

can i book a ppp for tuesday, 1st mammogram since diagnosis! not looking forward to it

Raj20

Yeah! barsco1963. you will have a nice time . and you never know how your mind keeps  away BC by spending some time  in the board. You know before I joined the board, I was very lonely and unable to carry a life with BC... I often  feel devastated  and helpless.. and was confused to accept the advises of my own doctor... feeling of hopeless to regain to normal life always tortured me.  But now I am happy to be here and also confirm that , if breast cancer takes away my body but  my  soul will ever remain with the board. One way I feel bad as you have to join us,  but other way you are also one of the lucky person like me  to be in such a big organisation where you can get all the answers , lot of fun many many mind blowing , new things will come out from supportive people  which will definitely enlighten your life. Just have an axperience.

Sneh

jo1955

barsco - PPP is pocket party planner

Kay_G

Tomorrow is my last day of rads!!!  Yahoo!!!  But they have this silly big silver bell that peeople ring when they've finished txs.  Frankly, I think it's silly and don't want to ring it.  Has anyone rang or refused to ring the bell?

Janis, hope everything went smoothly for you today.  Keeping everything (finger, toes and more) crossed for b9 results!

Welcome Barsco, I'm a 1963 baby too.  Looking forward to "talking" with you.

BarbaraJo50

Kay,

Congratulations! Ring that bell girl! You should be proud...and ringing that bell might just make some one else's day. Hearing it could give them the bit of strength they need to remember it will be over soon.

I remember ringing the bell. My DH was there for the last treatment. I received a big hug from him and many of the therapists came and congratulated me. A few of them had tears in their eyes along with me. We laughed too; I told them I was going to come back and show them my new boobs! (which I haven't gotten yet!)

It is a release. Ring that bell and leave that noisy machine behind!

My best to you.

Peace 

Sherryc

Kay my place did not have a bell but when they came to get you from the waiting room they threw confeitie all over you and made lots of noice.  Afterwards gave me a graduation certificate and took pictures.  Later they mailed it to me laminated and they had put a graduation cap on me and everyone had signed it.

Anonymous

Day 2 after SNB and port placement.. oh my I am soo sore.. ice, drugs, and rest. DH is really stepping up and totally babying me.. Love it!! My oldest boy is deploying on the day I start chemo..he said he will call me every couple days..Love him so much..

marthah

Welcome, Barb! Sounds like you got hit with both barrels in your initial dx.

PPP is "pocket party planner"...we have pocket parties around here! (Still trying to figure out what that looks like, but picture all of us crammed into someone's pocket when they have to go for a scan or something...and we're drinking...and eating cheetos...)

Eli, if I can see it without my glasses, it's gotta be bad. It reminds me of my early puberty days, but again, it's only the top half of my armpit.

I have a formal event on Saturday night, and realized all of my evening wear was sleeveless! Had to go by a dress last weekend. Any excuse to buy a new dress, eh?

Oh yeah, and I'll be "topless". Wish me luck! 

elimar86861

barsco1963, hello!  Sounds like you will fit right in here.  I know you will be facing more than your share of "maintenance visits" and scans.  Like they told you, you will now have company on those visits if you like.  Just let us know when, then remind us a few times; then provide a big pocket to jump in to.  It's as simple as that.

Are you currently on a course of chemo?  If so, what combo are you doing?

BarbaraJo50,  welcome to this thread.

Here, it's a wide variety of treatment backgrounds, which I like 'cause we can usually cover most of the questions that come up.  The knowledge base is getting bigger and bigger.  Tons of support, too.  These ladies are all over the U.S., and a few other countries, like Texas, (and it's good to see you again too raj!)  

elimar86861

THE BELL

Somewhere in the first 30 pages of this thread is the actual post of my last day of rads.  I definitely remember ringing the bell, but it also involved a gymnastic dismount off the rads table (scoring unanimous "10"s from the techs/judges,) lots of skipping, the Looney Tunes theme being played on a piano in the lobby, and giving my scan-in card a good riddance toss.  Guess you could say I don't believe in anything being too over the top when celebrating the end to rads.

~~OR~~

kay1963:  "If you're happy and you know it," ring the bell. 

Paula66

barsco1963 welcome.  The gals around here are great.  So sorry you have to join us this way but this is a great thread to be at!

(((((((Janis))))))

samsue

I like the idea of having a graduation from rads... and the bell is great.

My rad's location didn't have either. And, the tech was a co-worker of my DSIL at one point. I WAS a bid embarrassed at first but realized he was taking very good care of my "session".

I just bought a large bar of Ghirardelli dark chocolate and some Harry & David raspberry truffles for the PParty.

jo1955

Kay - Go ahead and ring that bell.  It is a great feeling to be done.  There was not a bell at my rads center.  No fanfare - nada!  I was given a piece of paper and shoved out the door.  

BarbaraJo 50 - Welcome to the thread.  These ladies can get wild and crazy at times.  But can also be serious when they have to.

jo1955

Janis just called me and asked me to post here for her.  She had a long day but is doing fine.  The surgeon said it did not look like cancer but won't know for sure until the path report comes back in about a week.  She is home and resting.  Her wonderful DH is helping out and let her make a 5 minute call to me.

mostlymom

I "rang my own bell" by bringing in 2 dozen donuts for the clinic crew with a "Thank you for burning the cancer out of me" card....  You do what you feel like doing!

Kay_G

Jo, thanks for the update on Janis.  That sounds good.  Will keep thinking b9 thoughts!  

I was thinking about bringing in donuts or bagels. but my appointment isn't until 11:15.  I wonder if bagels would still be okay for that time?  DH will be there and wants me to ring the bell.  I'm warming up to the idea.  It's a large cancer center and there are a lot of people in the reception area where the bell is, maybe it  would encourage someone.  I will definitely be very happy, just a little self conscious to ring that bell and draw all those people's attention to me. 

Sherryc

Jo thanks for letting us know about janis.

Kay I took an apple pie and ice cream to my clinic.  The girls there were super nice.  In fact my Dad did three weeks of rads and somehow they found out he had passed and sent my mother a sympathy card.  Though that was aweful nice of them.

Valjean

raj ~ It is so great to see you!!! I will keep good thoughts for you for your 1-yr Mamm.

There was no bell to ring at my Rads office. You could either choose a coffee mug or travel mug with the name of the clinic on it as your parting gift. I took the mug & promptly put it in my Good Will bag at home to pass on to someone else. I did not want to drink cocoa from a mug that would remind me of that time, even though the thought is never far from my mind anyway.... All the gals gave me hugs with tears in their eyes & that was the nicest part.

Thank you, Jo, for the update on Janis. Please give her my best. Keeping good thoughts for her while waiting for path report.  

Nice to meet you barsco1963 and BarbaraJo50.

walley

jo1955

Thanks for the update on Janis .I didn't get a bell,nothing a my rad location.Same as any other day,except one girl smiled and said this is your last one.That's it.......I didn't care I was so glad to get out of there:)

cmbear

Welcome Barb(s)--I brought a friend to make you feel at home- and well, just to make us all feel a little perkier this morning. I feel the sand in my toes. . . .

cmbear

Kay,

Of course you don't have to ring the bell. But it WILL make you feel better to celebrate the end of another phase of your tx. I remember every time I heard the bell when I was at the hospital it would bring a tear to my eye knowing one MORE person was on the road to healing. Congrats on finishing, you can always ring the bell here!!

 

cmbear

Janis--thinking hard that your path is B9!!! Hope you are resting and taking it easy.

Juliet-any special requests for Tuesday? I will be taking the honorary title of PPP very seriously now that I soon will be unemployed, giving my notice today. PHEWWW. Now if I can just thing of a way to make money out of this voluntary position. . . 

Samsue-better keep the dark chocolate away from me until Tuesday. Unless we just want to have a TGIF party today. Why not? I think I need a reason (besides leaving a miserable job) to celebrate!

 

barbe1958

If we're making reservations for the PPP, I'd like to reserve for Monday morning at 8 am. I'm getting my follow-up US appointment for the nodes in my neck. The last biopsy came back as a suboptimal sample and it was recommended I return in 2 months. It's been 2 months already!! I guess we'll see if the tumours are larger to sample or what. I can easily feel them when I look down (or when I press into my neck). They were 'scattered' the last time, as per the radiologist. I wonder if they've all joined up by now..?

cmbear

Monday, Barbe, Tuesday-juliet, check!! Anyone else this coming week?

barsco1963

Wow - you girls sure know how to keep a thread going! Love it! Thank goodness I have some extra time right now to try to keep up on everything.

Lory48 - I do hope that you feel better soon.

Sneh - Although no one is crazy about having to be here, I am definately looking forward to a lenghty stay. I already feel very welcomed - this is officially my favourite thread!

Kay - Congrats on your last tx - let us know if you rang the bell and how it felt if you did.

Barbe - good luck with your follow up on Monday. Remember we will all be there with you.

Juliet - Best wishes to you for your mammo - the anxiety must be a bit high for you. Two pocket parties in a row! I will be getting the hang of these quickly.

Elimar - I did not have chemo or rads to this point. Tx is Tamoxifen & Zoladex injection, which is working very well - all lesions have decreased in size. (woohoo)

Claire - keep the beefcake coming - can never get too full of that!

Meece

justmejanis

Good morning everyone!

Jo, thanks so much for posting the update for me.  I really appreciate it.  I had a really rough night, had to sleep on the recliner to reduce swelling.  I could not sleep at all.  Watched TV till 3:00, turned it off and dozed finally only to be wide awake at 5:15.  I am sore but not in terrible pain at all.  Just some discomfort.  I get to remove the bandage today.

barbe58...count me in for your pocket party!  I'll be the first one to jump in.  I have some experience with those pesky nodes.  Fingers and paws crossed here....and we have lots of paws!

Juliet, you can count me in on Tuesday as well.  Wouldn't miss it sweet lady, and I just know you will have a great outcome.  It is a bit unsettling, this milestone.  I know it will be clear! 

Hugs and more hugs to all you great sistas for holding my hand again.  You mean more to me than you can know!  XOXOXOXOXOXOX

reesie

Hmmmm.... Should I add 1963 to my name too? I hope you guys are older than me though lol. I have a friend whose birthday is 3 days before mine so I say happy birthday each year and make sure to remind he she is older than me each day all 3 days.



Welcome newbies. This is a great place to get knowledgeable answers, just vent, or just have a guilt free/calorie free party.



Thanks for the update on Janis, Jo. Praying for B9 for you Janis.



Will be with everyone in your pockets next week. Wish I could get out of work for it



Kay, I'm doing great. Once I finish rads (have to start first). We all have to get together again.



Claire, how can you leave all those books lol. My son would kill for your job.



I'm sure I'm missing something but have to get back to work, ugh.

juliet62

JANIS-((((((((((((gentle hugs))))))))))))))))).   will be there monday barbe, does our offical ppp want to assign snacks we need to bring,ps claire your too talented to be unemployed long but i'm glad your stress leval will be down!  lory whats your sons name  so can add him to my prayer list

barsco1963

1963 - a good year! Reesie - I am an October baby. I also have a friend who is 2 days older than me - sure is fun to rub it in!