Sisterhood of the Secret Handshake

BooBee

Battle of the heads of breasts. 

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/HealthyLiving/experts-debate-breast-cancer-screenings/story?id=9101256 

I'm really trying to keep an open mind but I'd have to say that I'm very disappointed with Dr. Love.  I bet she'll be getting bags of hate mail.

LeggyJ

Rationing of Health Care!

smithlme

Has Dr. Love ever been diagnosed with breast cancer? Just wondering...

LittleRed

Ladies:  I am so glad to be able to come here - you all are way too good for my head!  Or hair....?  (And I was happy just to be able to figure out how to actually post a picture...!)

I know I'm going to get there - you keep my faith intact!  Sometimes it's hard for those of us that lost hair to stay positive.  It's the 'outward sign' to the world that something bad - cancer - happened.  It stinks when you can't 'hide it' or you hide it via a wig - you always feel fake.  To me, it's worse than the mx.  I can hide that.  When my recon is done, I will be fine.  My sick breast will be replaced by a non-sick one.  (I think Ican more than make up for a scar here or there if I do say so, thank you very much...)  But, I really want you all to know I appreciate your kind words. 

Anyway, I am going to tackle the grays/salt & pepper once the hair gets a little longer.  I will be so glad to get rid of my wig, but it will take a while - just have to keep my pic up to date - you'll be the first to know when the color happens.

Meanwhile, I've been talking with my girlfriend about taking a vacation someplace where we could bring our boys so they have a good time.  Heaven knows us moms bore them completely!  Any suggestions?  They need to be able to do boy stuff (13 years) and we need quiet beach time.  I am thinking U.S., but I may be able to update my son's passport in time, so out off the country is not out of the question.  I know by February it would be great to get some real sunshine.  Can't do expensive - but after this year I think it would be good for both of us to have a REAL break.  Screw the cost, as long as it's not ridiculous!  I don't do anything but the kids for Christmas (family decided that long ago - yeah!)  If I get tickets now, then it may be just fine...

Be good to you -

benisse

Hi all,

I had jury duty yesterday and it was a murder trial.  I didn't get picked but was there from 8-5 waiting to find out.  I could have gotten out of it, but I like that type of experience.  It was mind broadening.  During voir dire, I was so surprised by the answers people gave.  Like I would think someone was one type of person or would have one answer, and they'd have the opposite answer.  It was a bit of a pain to have to get my husband to get carpool.  But, I kind of enjoyed it.

Crazy news about the mammography guidelines.  I'm flabergasted.  I'm going to read up on it now.

I've been reading every day but finish too late to post.

Chelev - hope you're feeling better. I'm put on Levaquin whenever I get pneumonia, so I know it's really strong.  Hope it does the trick and that the soreness has gone.

Rachel - glad the black dog has gotten back up under the porch!

Take care all!!!

LeggyJ

Yes Susan Love's website, is loaded!  Just think, 4 out of the 5 NorCal girls, who met in Napa, were in their early forties. 

benisse

I forgot to tell you all that I got my exchange date...Dec 8.  I'm super anxious to get it over with.  Nervous about my outcome too.

benisse

I'm 43 and was dx this year.  Not found on mammograms for 3 yrs prior.  But found during SE.

Little Red - ditto what the others said.  You look younger than your age too. It might be fun to go strawberry blonde for a change.  You're about 6 weeks ahead of me on hair growth.  I have male pattern baldness...major recessed hairline.

AllieM22

Leggy and other ladies-Hi. I just got back from one night in Vegas and saw the news this morning--knew there would be a lot of discuss here. I am angry and in disbelief. It must be the insurance co's trying to save $$ on biopsies. It's just crazy. Early detection not only saves lives but gives the person so many more options and less impact--and you can't "detect" what you aren't looking for...

 

BooBee

Benisse....I have my recon on Dec. 8th as well.  Lift/reductions after lumpectomy. (clumpectomy)

This controversy maybe a good thing in the long run possibly pointing out the ineffectiveness of some mamos.  I think that's what she's (Love) trying to point out.  But to advise to not have one until your 50's and then every two years?  This is absurd.

I feel a march coming on.  We can all have our age of DX on our shirts.  44

Anonymous

Hi, everyone.  Wow, red, you are like completely gorgeous!!!  I like the blonde you had in your photo, but I agree, any color you choose would suit you.

Rear end is better, though one side still sore.  Found out that this can happen with rocephin, which is what they shot me with last Friday.  Levaquin finally starting to make some headway - I followed up with the onc yesterday on my way down to Ft. Lauderdale to do a shoot, and she said the peeing is a good thing - that my lymphatic system is draining and I don't feel tender under both arms anymore, which is a very good thing.  Pain in the breast is subsiding in tiny pieces day by day, but she was pleased.  She extended my levaquin for another 7 days to make sure.  MRI is tomorrow.  Been taking ambien this week, just a teensy bit anxious.

This crap about no mammograms until 50, and no self exams - who do they think they are????  If I had NOT done a self exam, the lump would not have been detected for months, when I was scheduled for my mammogram.  Would they prefer women DIE from breastcancer that goes undetected??? 

carollynn79

I do not agree with the new reccomendations.  In reading the article posted on BCO, I find that a 3% increase in death's from BC is unacceptable.  I feel they should spend more effort in reducing the costs of the screenings, not reducing the number of screenings.  Mine was discoverd on a routine mammo at age 49 and it had been 18 months since my last one and that mammo was clean. I am keeoing an open mind and maybe they will sho something to validate this but at this time I do not see it.  Stress and costly biopsy's in my opinion is not the answer, and i will definitly continue my self exams, I curently have 3 doctors who promote them every visit. I agree with what they tell me is I need to get to know the feeling and that way I can tell hopefully early if anything changes.  It seems they changed theri minds rather quickly, it does seem that cost is more important than results. 

On another note lets see antibiotocs have cleared the respiratory infection, but given me a yeast infection, OTC did not clear it so DR gave me oral meds which have given me the runs, one sore spot for another.  Glad work is understanding and lets me leave early and work from home at times!!

kim40

So, what do you have to do to get an invite? 

Rachel_BC

ATTN SISTERS WHO CAN GET TO MANHATTAN TOMORROW- THURSDAY

Me and Leah and getting together for lunch in Murray Hill, I'm bringing the kid b/c I don't have a sitter.  

Post here (better than PM) if you think you could make it... I'll PM you the details  

BooBee

I say we all meet in NY for the Today Show (Is that the one Robin's on?) with our shirts on.  We can all sleep on Rachel's floor, play with the "kid" and cheer her up at the same time.

pkb143

Aw, CRIKEY!! I'll be in Oklahoma tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day, and the next day....

carollynn79

Hope Rachael, Leah and whoever else can make it have a great time Thursday how great that you are able to meet!!  Someday I will get to NYC area but not on the radar for any time soon.

kfinnigan

LittleRed - You are so gorgeous!  Blonde looks great, but I bet any color would suit you!!  Been trying to read each day but then get too busy here at work to post.  

Just a drive by to say hi and hope the Manhattan girls have a great time tomorrow at lunch!  How fun!!!   

AllieM22

Hi all-

I keep reading these articles and comments from drs on the new federal guidelines board (none of whom are breast cancer drs--which really annoys me). What has concerned me is the stats one article quotes as the risk of mammos--

"Radiation causes 1 death for every 2,000 women screened annually starting at age 40, according to a study published in 2005 in the British Journal of Cancer. Another study shows that each mammogram increases the risk of breast cancer by 2 percent." http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/11/18/MNLT1ALVJA.DTL 

What??? If one mammo is that bad--then radiation treatment must be really bad.  NOT what they told me before...

On another note--NY girls, have fun!!! 

LittleRed

benisse:  I was dx in March this year - prior mamos missed it, but I ID'd the change  in "my cyst" through SE.  I had the male pattern baldness - top and sides were the last to come, but it's becoming pretty even now.  Hang in there.  There seems to a big difference between weeks 4, 8, and 10 PFC. 

benisse & ReneeS:   Congrats on your recon date!!  I'm jealous!

ReneeS:  I like your thoughts about the Today Show - I don't like the idea of being on TV, but if it gets out the message that's fine with me!!  (dx43SE)  Besides, a slumber party at Rachel's sounds great to me!

AllieM22:  That's what I questioned - is this a cost savings effort?  And since when should a SE be discouraged? 

chelev:  Ohhhh!

Rachel_BC & Leah:  Wish I could be there!  Have a great time!!

Glad the Black Dog is behaving!

Baking Peanut Butter cookies for my big little man...

Be good to you!

my560sel

Haven't been on in a while and there's soooo much to read. I'm hoping you are all doing well. Rachel, you ROCK - hang in there and hope you're feeling better about your court case. I had a bit of a scare the other day and it totally freaked me out. Halfway down the left side of my neck  and to my collarbone I just swelled up like a balloon. I was writing my Xmas cards and noticed that my neck was sore on that side and got up to have a look in the mirror. I had this huge lump the size of an orange just above my collarbone. Of course, the worst came to mind and I burst into tears. DH came running and when I showed him my neck - well, he didn't know what to say and of course, that made things even worse! Off I went to the emergency room in my hospital and I sat there for 7 hours! They passed everyone before me. I sat there from 6:30pm until 1:30 am and finally decided to leave without seeing anyone. Oh, I did see a nurse when I first got there who promptly took down all my info and took my blood pressure (which was higher than normal) and temperature. No kidding, I had visions of cancer spreading to my neck and up into my brain - no wonder my blood pressure was high! The next morning I went back to the hospital to see my ONC. I went for an US and it didn't show anything being blocked. He ran blood tests and now I'm supposed to go back on Monday to get the results. I'm worried sick about this and trying to stay positive but it's not easy. The swelling has since gone down but my neck is still sore to the touch.  Say a prayer for me......... I was hoping to go NED a bit longer than a few months!

Hope all of you are doing well....... take care and ((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))

Terri

Juli50

Terri - big hugs to you! and crossing my fingers there is a good explanation that doesn't involve cancer.

I had a bad day ... This morning I answered the door to a guy who wanted to "serve" my son with a summons. He was in an accident in August and now is being sued. Hope the insurance company makes it all go away.

Just got back from the neurologist...I need weekly infusions of calcium and magnesium or the Reclast (chemo gave me osteoporosis) won't work. I WAS hoping to get "de-ported" by the end of the year.

 I am also deficient in insulin, chromium, vitamin C and zinc. This means I am pre-diabetic too... and I have a tooth that hurts.

hugs and hope everyone is having a better day

LittleRed

my560sel:  Sending good thoughts and prayers to you.  So hard for you waiting to see what all this is.  Hopefully it has nothing to do with SFBC -  Almost sounds like an allergy??

By the way - X-Mas cards?  WOW are you on top of things!

Juli50:  So sorry your day wasn't cooperating - Hang in there!

Be good to you -

BooBee

Big hugs to you, Terri.  Since my DX I've had cancer of the eyelid, elbow, sphincter and now it's in the wart on the bottom of my foot.  I think it goes with the territory and will be with us for the rest of our lives.  I would be more concerned about blockage or a blood clot than cancer, coming on that fast.....which would still scare the crap out of me.  I've now added blood clots to my list of fears since it's a side effect of tamox.  I've never had swollen ankles in my life but I've had it twice since I started tamox.  I just hate cancer.  Let us know what the Dr say.

Juli, if it were me I would think I had cancer in my tooth too.

Okay, NY gang.  Photos of the secret hand shake......where are they?

Rachel, you don't mind if we have a slumber party at your house do you?

Rachel_BC

slumber party with you gals at my house YEAH!

i was about to post that I had this intense hellish day and how it's still better than any day during dx and tx, and then i read what's going on with Terri and Juli, it makes my point well before and better than I could

so many people being unnecessarily difficult- and also so many cool ones and people and things to enjoy

I'm not making sense- well in the end I had to take a xanax because I am so PISSED off about the last event of the day, regarding my landlord.  Still, its no big deal really.  And I really would like to curse right now, but I can't and I am sorry but no amount of !@!@!U*!# will do, although I think I could say CRIKEY about a zillion f- oh well times.

argh.

but more argh for everyone dealing with my SFBC and health crap.

Juli- reclast is like zometa right?  You gotta be careful with your teeth on zometa- have you been in touch with a good dentist?  Please?

Chelev- ROCK ON with the good news!  All the best for the MRI tomorrow

Waaaay too twisted to even speak about this new report findings... besides, they already say it would be OK if I was dead, so where could I begin to speak to them, where is there any common ground?  Like a Monty Python routine, the answer to any objection I could make would be:

Yes, but if our recommendations were followed you wouldn't be here to ask.

Which is btw, much like what my conversation with my landlord turned out to be.

But man, my kid makes me LAUGH.  Everything from hilarious stuff trying to do toilet training with the nanny and him... I have pics... totally unsuccessful btw...

Leah's already said she ain't doing the secret handshake... but we can see...

At one point today I was crossing the street and there was a woman with one of those hats and reeeeeallly short hair.  I got her attention at first because a taxi was backing up into her.  Then I did the check... looooong bushy eyebrows, nostril hair.  I'm thinking: not a chemo patient.  But at least I would have known what to say to her "I know that hairstyle".  Thanks gals.  Thanks again.

During my day of stress and insanity I check this thread and y'all make me laugh.

 OK that's another drive by... still have to catch up for real

kookiesmom

Wow so much to try to catch up on - been busy at work so haven't been able to sneak on much!  The change in the mammo rules is just unbelievable I have a feeling there is more to this than they are saying right now.  Yes it is stressful to wait for test results but I'd rather have that stress than get SFBC that has been left to brew for  years.  What happened to early detection is the key?

Rachel - Glad your black dog is becoming a happy dog again and going bye-bye.  It will be good for you to have company and take your mind off of all the crap you've been dealt lately.  Enjoy your friends & have lots of laughs! Can't wait to see pics too! 

LittleRed - from one MA girl to another you are not only beautiful on the outside but the inside too! I liked your hair color in the picture but I think you could could pretty much do any shade of blonde.  My hair is naturally blonde but I have alot of silver coming in so people think I am getting it lightened!  I am just letting it go! I moved away from MA many moons ago but I still go to visit at least once a year.  I love the beach there - especially the north shore.  I do not miss winter however!

Tomorrow I start "studying" for my colonscopy.  I plan on working til lunchtime then go home whereupon I shall eat jello and drink lots of water.  Around 3 I start with the ducolax,  then later miralax mixed with Gatorade followed by a citrate of magnesia for breakfast.  I went totally off my diet the last few days and have been enjoying off limit foods with abandon figuring I'm gonna lose some lbs. after the test.  If they cancel on me I am so screwed!  I will have to start dieting hard again.  My stupid ovarian cyst has been hurting me the last few days - still no results from the endometrial biospsy but been so busy stuffing my face I don't have time to obsess - too much!  Good night ladies! Wish me luck on my test of the week!

Rachel_BC

kookiesmon you crack me up- and you are so brave! sonova- oh right, can't curse. SONOVACRIKEY 

jrgolomb

Speaking of crikey....omigosh.  I was so mad today at the principal and counselor of dd's school.  I yelled at the counselor and I shouted at the principal "What, are you on CRACK!!!???" 

They have so screwed up her schedule to the point where it may be jepordizing her diploma and her chance to go to a really nice college.  I am so freaking P' OED!!!!!!!  Telling someone like that I think she is on crack was sort of like a slap her face and it got her to finally listen to me. 

I know I am babbling right now, I am still clenching my jaws and at some point I will probably re tell the story in humorous tones, but gosh all mighty, I felt my blood pressure rise so fast and before I knew it I was yelling at everyone in the room.  The secretaries scattered out of the room and after I made my famous statement, there was such a pregnant pause of silence and shock on everyone's face including (most likely) my own.  I will tell more later.  I am going to drink a nice long draw of water and try to calm down so I can sleep.  I think it is going to be a tivan night for me!

Juli50

Jess - good for you and your crack about crack!

Rachel - Chemobrain here...what is the connection between Zometa and teeth. yes, Reclast is like Zometa.

Thanks

Rachel_BC

Oh Jess, pull up a seat next to  me!!!!!!!!!!  

Juli, a RARE but really stinko side effect can be osteonecrosis of the jaw.  I start Zometa in January and asked my DDS who I ADORE, he is also endodontist and oral surgeon and all that good stuff... he said my mouth was "stable" and that it wasn't a concern.  Do ya have a DDS type you think knows their poop?  Very sorry if I am creeping you out, its a RARE thing, possibly limited to people with long-standing issues with their teeth, but I just don't know the whole deal.  Have you done an infusion yet?  I am reading from the Zometa gals that if the infusion is slow, like 30-45 minutes then they don't  get SEs for the next couple days, also drink lots of water.  I don't have a port so I don't know where they're gonna stick me.  I'll be in the chemo suites, wishing I could do more for the people around me.