Class of 2010

Ezscriiibe

Oh, that sounds great, Cinnamon! My dr told me today that I have fluid build up near the incision on the breast and in the node area under my arm. It's starting to get pretty painful, but it's just fluid and (I hope!) my body will end up absorbing it!

It sounds like your body just evicted yours! LOL!

jakhope

GP here!

Cinnamon69- How scary to have your incision leaking! Remind me, did you have a lumpectomy?  You for sure are having chemo? Any techies who could figure out a way we all could post our surgeries, dates and treatments so we could keep track of what we all have and are going through? I have to keep looking back and this all is making my brain fuzzier that normal!!! 

KatieMom- This must be so hard for you going through dealing with the big ugly C and also your loss. It also stinks to not have a working kitchen! When we remodeled ours, a few years back, It was a nightmare not having a working kitchen sink! .There is a big hug extra hug coming your way from Florida for you.

Linda- I hope your day went well. It felt great to do some excersizes today.Why is it so hard to get the shoes on and go do it, and after it feels so good? I may not get back there again until... back to work and medical Oncologist tomorrow. I am very anxious to get the oncotype test results this week! Radiation day two is fine. I met with the nurses after and I will every Tuesday after treatment. She recommends moisturizer every night and AM to avoid or help getting too much skin irritation. That is what they will be watching for. Still feel fine and the treatment is nothing. I have been warned to plan on taking it more at easy towards the end of treatment as I may get fatigued. I really miss spell-check on this thing!

Every body have a good night and may tomorrow be a better day.

From Jeannie your GP

LINDAGARSIDE

OMG Cinnamon!  What a thing to happen...a leaking booby.  You must have thought you were nursing again!  Remeber those good old days?  I can even remember the sickly sweet smell...funny how some things just never leave you.

I'm glad it gave you some relief to your pain.  I've been having to massage by booby...but it still has a very noteable ridge around the nipple area.  It certainly wasn't there before the surgery...it was fat and flabby like my other booby...no hard parts anywhere.  LOL

Rod and I meet with the oncologist tomorrow...yea!!! 

irish47

Hi all,

home from hospital and the broncoscopy was a breeze.  The doc set up an IV in theatre  and then told me he was going to give me some meds and I wouldn't remember a thing - and next thing I was back in my hospital room. Way to go! Hope the leaky boobs, fluid build up etc. all healing nicely.

Jakhope, our Florida friends live in Altamonte Springs.  We had three wonderful holidays there, stayed with them the first year and the other two times hired a villa with pool in the Kissammee area. Also took a trip to Tampa bay as my friends dad has a yacht there. Our friends are  due a repeat visit to Ireland but have just moved to a bigger house so it won't be this year.

Ezscriiibe, sounds like you and me both waiting on the radiotherapy.  Saw my surgeon yesterday, says my wound not healed enough yet, will see him again on 24th feb and he will refer me to an oncologist then. he signed me off work again till then, says I don't need the stress of it.  I think I have had 3 days sick from work in the past 10 years so am not going to argue with him.  The doc knows best, right? So am going to relax, take walks and smell the roses :-)

Ezscriiibe

Oh, yes, Irish! Relax, take walks and smell the roses!

Sounds like a plan to me!

LINDAGARSIDE

Hi Irish...glad you are home and relaxing...good for you!  Yahoo...put your feet up and treat yourself to a glass of red wine...why not?  LOL.

Today we meet with the oncologist.  I have a question about swimming at the local pool...not sure if it is a place I should avoid due to possible infection or not...but think the exercise would be great for my arm.

I hope we get my Her test back today.  This information will assist in the treatment plan...but regardless, it feels great to be moving forward a bit if you know what I mean.

Take care everyone...I look forward to our update from GP later... LOL

jakhope

Hi all....GP here,

 irish 47 - So glad you are back and all went well with little pain and awareness. That is very good. Did you get any results?

My meeting with the medical oncologist went well. I like him but the waiting game is killing me. The ONCOTYPE test. The result came in today and I got a guy on the phone and said  he could not read it to me and I would have to wait to hear from the nurse or Dr tomorrow. He had it right in front of him and he said well, it is four pages and it would make no sense, I asked him just read it and I will understand more than he knows, but he would not. Boy I lost patience today! I called the testing place and they can not give me the info, even though I and my insurance are paying for this.Had to go and have a chest x-ray after radiation and my son came home with a hurt back from work, so all in all this day was long and tiring. OK, enough whining, which I just did at dinner (wining) and I should be able to wait one more day. My Oncologist said the number or score should be is 12 or under to not have chemo, or there abouts. If I do have to, 100% hairloss, 12 weeks and four times every three weeks.I would not start until after radiation.  I think that is what he said. Oh crap! This really is a rough road, but I know many of our sisters are having it rougher right now so just tell me to shut up! OK? 

Other than that I am saying a prayer for all of you reading these posts that we all get through this together , healthier, stronger and ready to party on that cruise.

Your Gp....Jeannie 

. 

LINDAGARSIDE

Hi GP...thanks for the update.  But I'm curious why you had to have a chest exray after you had radiation?  Isn't hat a little over the top?  I didn't know that we'd have to have more exrays right after radiation.  Will that happen each time? 

I can understand why you'd be cross with that whipper-snapper who wouldn't give you YOUR information over the phone.  Who does he think he is anyway?  LOL.  Hope you get your results today and that the Her test is NEGATIVE!

I went to the oncologist yesterday and was told pretty much what I already knew (mostly from gathering data at this site).  My Her test is not back yet and so he could not say if I was going to need chemo or not.  In fact, he is sitting on the fence for tamoxifen for me.  Due to my age, the grade and size of the tumor and that it was slow growing and so extremely ER and PR positive, etc etc etc...he said taking tamoxifen is up to me.  He said if  my cancer was more aggressive he would recommend the other hormone blocker (I forget wht it's called now) but there are more side effects with that type.  The lesser side effects are with tamoxifen.  But, it will be up to me.  That of course is if my Her test comes back negative.  If the Her test is positive, he said we have to have a completely different conversation and it would even include chemo and of course the other more aggressive hormone blocker.  (I, like you GP am anxious about receiving the Her news...ughhhhhhhh the waiting....ughhhhhhhhhhh).

I asked about ONC testing.  It cost $3,000 as our medical doesn't automatically cover it...BUT...if I want to join a study group (called the Taylor study) the testing is paid for by the group.  One catch to be included in the study is that I MUST be Her negative, zero nodes involved and grade/stage 1.  I meet all of the criteria (or at least I hope I do when the Her test comes back) but here's the deal:  if my ONC test result comes back with a real low number, then I have to agree to take tamoxifen (initially the oncologist said it was up to me...but if I join the study...I have to).  If the ONC test comes back in the medium range, I have to agree to take tamoxifen and chemo but the chemo is up to me.  If my ONC test comes back with a high number, then I have to agree to take  both chemo and tamoixifen.  So, it is a bit of a gamble with the chemo as this is something I was really trying to avoid.  Having said that, if my ONC score is very high it might be life saving to take chemo.

So, again we WAIT...and see what is what (first step...the Her test).   Oh, on another point...if I am accepted into the Taylor study...it will hold back my radiation for about 3 more weeks.  Again...the wait.... ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

But here is a bright note...my husband said if my Her test is negative and I agree to go into the study...that means we have to wait a few weeks anyway...so why not take a little vacation?  Maybe go to Mexico for a week.  He really needs a break (he has that condition where he really needs sunlight) and all of this cancer stuff has been so hard on both of us....so yeaaaaaaaa...I may be getting a wee holiday soon.  Yahoo.......perhaps waiting isn't so bad after all!!!

Irish.....I hope your lung test comes back with GREAT news....

jakhope

Hi All!

I am Happy, happy happyyyyyyy! My onco score is a 14 and just got the call from my Onc and he said good news, no chemo! I told him he made my year! I meet with him in two weeks and will discuss the hormone pill. He talked about Arimidex, I am not sure of the spelling. He said I would have to have lots of calcium and we would need to check for my bones and Osteoperosis ( I hate no spell check!) Linda is that the hormone suppresser you were talking about?  Well, I am grateful for now for my good news. I am glad my insurance will pay for the Onco test I still would have been responsible for $595.00, but they may waive the fee. I sent in the applicaiton for that.My Onco surgeon was talking about the Taylor X test and how the results will really be a big help on determining who would or would not benefit from chemo as in the past everyone got it even those with low or mid scores. As he said to bad the trial is not done yet. 

Four radiations down and 29 to go. I think St Patty's will be my last one. I will have lots of green beer to celebrate.

Cheers to you and and hoping you are having a good day.

LINDAGARSIDE

Yahoo GP!!!   No chemo for you...wonderful news.  I'm sure you are still smiling...

Yes, the hormone surpressor the specialist talked about (but said he would not recommend for me) was the Arimidex variety.  I will be having tamoxifen rather than Armidex.  I think the reason is mainly due to the possible side effects of Arimidex for me.  I already have a bit of arthritis and I fall quite often as I have tinitus quite bad and have dizzy spells...probably not a good idea for me to have anything that might make my bones a little brittle...LOL.  Cancer will be the least of my worries.

I am hoping to be a part of the Taylor study.  It iwll be good to be able to help people in the future, won't it?  Yesterday I asked the Dr, "Why do you give a prognosis only up to 20 years...do we die after that?"  He laughed and said, "No, it's only because we weren't tracking the data before then".  "Oh" I said.   LOL.  I can be such a nit-wit sometimes, honestly.

So far our 2010 group has been incredibly fortunate.  And, even if we get some bad luck sprinkled around...it's not so bad as there are so many possible treatments and strategies.  I am going to run now...the Canucks are playing!!!!

jakhope

Hi,

 GP here.

I realized I did not answer the question about the x-ray.When I went to the Oncologist yesterday he was preparing for my care and I have not had a chest x-ray for a long time. Even before the surgery. He wanted one before he treated me but wanted me to ask the Radiology team before I had it for the ok. I guess it was like a pre-treatment thing. He did blood-work too, to check blood count etc.This will not be a regular thing.

I thought the study was for ten years? When will the final study be done?

I felt a little light headed today at work, around noon. After I ate and had some more water it kind of passed. I mentioned it to the rad tech and he said to make sure I was hydrated and that I too was under a lot of stress and anxiety. True. I feel better tonight. I guess what this means when we start radiation we need to be even more careful to drink our water.   

Ezscriiibe

Linda, SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)?

Jakhope, great news on no chemo for you! 

Well, I just went to my medical oncologist today and as it turns out, I will definitely need chemo, no grey area. ::sigh::

I will be getting 4 6-hour infusions, approximately 3 weeks apart. Taxotere/Cytoxan.

He also said something about a hormone blocker by mouth, but I didn't write that down so don't remember what he said other than I will be taking that, over an extended time period. I probably should have paid better attention, but I was so bummed about the chemo.

He has also ordered CT scans on head, chest, abdomen and pelvis, as well as a bone scan.

Those will happen next week, then I'll get a port "installed," then will begin the chemo infusions on February 18.

I thought I would feel better once I had a "plan of action." I was mistaken.

LINDAGARSIDE

Ezscriibe...SHIT.  Crap and all that jaz to the chemo.  I've been reading a lot from the chemo sites lately (I see your name around there as well) and clearly there are effective medications you can take for some of the unpleasant side effects.  But still...this is crappy news for you.  I'm so sorry...but I'm just remembering right now something my sister went through and what her oncologist said to her (my sister in Noval Scotia had anal cancer...the same one Farrah Faucet had).  This sister (Lorna) had chemo and radiation.  Lorna told me she looked at the Doctor and said, "Are you sure we have to do all of this?"  He calmly looked at her and said quite frankly, "My dear, we are going for the cure here....not a treatment"  She shut up after that.  She has been cancer free for almost 6 years now.  My mom flew out to Nova Scotia to be with her during her chemo treatment so she could help out, but was so afraid of their dog.  It was quite funny as my mom had to stay in her room most of the time due to the dog.

I'm thinking about you...and hope that you feel somewhat better knowing there are so many here that wish we could just hug you and give you physical support as well as emotional support.  hang in there, kiddo.  You got a crap message that's for sure...go and have a drink.

jakhope

Ezscriiibe It will be OK. Many have been through it and continue to. Medicine has come such a long way and we will beat this thing. I was talking to a young girl, as I was waiting for my treatment, she had been through two series of  chemo and now having rad. she was up-beat and said through it all she only missed one day of work. she had her short hair, growing in, and I have to say she was beautiful and her energy shone through. She was probably in her forties.

Heads up we will get through this. 

KatieMom

Good news for me, too! I met with the doc today.  0/9 nodes!  Yahoo, no chemo and I start radiation soon.  MIchele - I am super bummed for you.  I was hoping we would all skate.  We are here for you 100% and know it just won't be that bad.  hopehopehopehope....  I still am a definite for tamoxifen.  My doc is adamant that it must be done.  

Good night to all,

Katie 

irish47

Hi all,

Wow there has been a lot going on since I last logged on.

 Ezscriiibe, chemo is a bum deal, but as Linda points out you are going for the cure, not the treatment and that is the main thing to focus on. And we are all here rooting for you and will be with you all the way.  I hope you are becoming reconciled with your plan of action. You go girl and fight fight fight, don't let this damn illness get you down!

Katiemom, good news for you :-).  And Linda and Jakhope, you are both on the way in your plan of action.  I am still up in the air, as I said before, back to my doc on 24th Feb and he should have all the results back then including the lung biopsy. Still  have no dates for radiotherapy and at this stage feel I am in limbo with nothing going on.

Pattyfish

Ezscriiibe--se with chemo vary from person to person.  My sister had no ill effects except the loss of hair.  When her hair grew back, it was prettier than before.

Jakhope--way to go on the Onc score.  Mine is a 16 and I am on Femara.  So far, no ses, and I have been on it for almost 3 weeks.  As far as ONC expenses, I got a phone call from the company who does the test, and they told me absolutely not to pay or have my insurance co. pay.  I don't know what that is all about, but you might want to check it out.

I am amazed at the variety of treatments and the way the docs are different.  Before my lumpectomy, my doc ordered all kinds of tests: MRI, CATs, bone scan, and  a chest xray.  Also,I met my surgical onc on the 2nd of Dec., had surgery the 15th, and had mammosite radiation finished by the 23rd.  You know, we all just have to trust our docs and keep a positive attitude.  

Women with bc are AAWESOME.

jakhope

Hi Pattyfish- I see you too are from Florida. I don't recognize the town so, you must be on the west coast.

Thank you for you insite into Femmara. My next quest was to find out what side effects, if any, people had from this hormonal therapy. I believe my Dr said I would be on Arimidex. Is the one you are taking the same class of drug? I know there are a few that are in the same class of medications. I am glad to hear you are not having any side effects. 

Hey Linda- are you off to Mexico? I hope the weather is better there than here. It has not been the best. For the sunshine state, we wait all year for our wonderful weather but we have had cold, rain and go back and forth with the heater on and then the humidity is so high, we put the ac back on. I know, all of you going through snow and bad winter weather do not want to hear me complain!

Thinking of all of you, my BC sisters. Hang in there. We are all in this together. 

God Bless.

LINDAGARSIDE

Hi GP; Irish; Pattyfish; KatieMom and Ezscriibe:

Good to hear from everyone.  Glad we are getting on with our various treatment plans.  Some of us are still patiently waiting for scores/pathology results/ONC testing/radiation treatment/Her results and chemo.  The waiting part seems to be the hardest thing for some reason.   I guess the sooner things start the sooner it will be over...right?

I was hoping to know my Her results by now...but no such luck.  Even the Canucks lost last night...boo hoo.

Ok class of 2010...let's turn our frowns upside down...LOL...sometimes it's hard to smile isn't it?  But, I am determined NOT to let cancer get me down.  It has NOT won and we WILL fight and do what ever it takes to put it behind us.  Right?  Thank you everyone for your support given to me every time I was a bit anxious.  We are now moving forward into battle, are we not?  If we were soldiers I'd like to be the one who carries the flag.  Would that be ok with you all?  What position would you like to take in our little army?  Think about it and let's see if we can put together a great team.  2010 ROCKS!

etk02038

Hi Ladies,

I am in the process of waiting for my results of my second lumpectomy with snb. The snb was negative...Hurrah! I had to wait 3 weeks (long story) for my first lumpectomy results and now more waiting. The margins were not obviously clear so more testing and comparing of first lumpectomy is needed. BS said maybe it is just scar tissue...I doubt it. Also waiting on other breast for results of excisional biopsy which BS was sure was just a cyst. The pathologist thinks maybe not and more testing is being done. This all started with my routine mammo on Dec 11 and I am still waiting for results and a game plan to get rid of this!

Ellen 

jakhope

I think since, I found out this week that I lost an inch and now am 4 10 and a 1/2,  I should play defense!!!!!

KatieMom

Linda - thanks for carrying the flag.  I don't know what part of the army I want to be, except that I don't want to be captured by the enemy!!!  After hearing that my nodes were all negative on Thursday, we went to Disneyland yesterday.  I felt terrific all day (one week out of SNB) but by last night I was in real pain.  I felt like my bad boob was trying to pull itself off my body.  I can't even describe it.  Took a vicodin and felt better, but what's up with all that pain?  Anybody else feeling a lot of pain from SNB?  I had a lumpectomy on Dec. 12 and didn't have near this much trouble.  I don't want to have cancer anymore, BTW.  

Katie 

LINDAGARSIDE

Ellen...OMG...the waiting game is the hardes thing isn't it?  Hang in there...everyone has got the same goal in mind...to get you well and rid of cancer...wherever it is lurking.  It's good they are being real careful.  Are you pre or post menopausal?

KatieMom:  I had more problems with pain from my SN surgery than the lumpectomy, for sure.  My personal guess is that you did too much, too soon.  Moms tend to do that...don't we?  LOL.  I would do less and put some icepacks under your arm with a soft pillow...and sit down with your arm raised slightly (not lower than your waist).  If this doesn't help I think I'd call my Dr for sure.  Probably a good idea to check in with the Dr anyway...just in case. 

I agree the main game plan for our army is NOT to get captured by the enemy.  This is NOT good...and if the enemy is caught even peeking in our windows, my suggestion is that we "fire at will".

Irish 47...any news yet on your lung biopsy?  I've been thinking about you.  Take care...

GP...what do you mean you are down to size 410 1/2?  Just how big are you?  LOL!  We will have to get you a special room on our cruise...and I will be right beside you.  My size is found only in the special shops! 

etk02038

Linda-Yes the waiting is the worst. I am pre-menopause. Not sure how much that will impact decision on chemo. Have not had oncotype test yet...more waiting for that.

Ezscriiibe

I dunno, Linda, I'll have to think about that. I'm actually a U.S. Army Vietnam-era Veteran (technically the U.S. Army Security Agency, which is gone now, absorbed by Military Intelligence). I was a Korean language trained spy. Our job was to intercept North Korean military radio transmissions, translate and decode to determine troop/equipment strengths, training, movement, communication networks, etc.

For this go-round with the "military," I'd like something a little less dangerous! LOL. 

LINDAGARSIDE

OMG Michele!  YOU must be our leader!  Would you accept the rank of Commander in Chief?  It would be an honour indeed.  We need someone who has the ability or experience to understand the enemy.  Even though the enemy has changed somewhat...the fact that we need to understand the language and be alert to it's schemes and plans...that is your expertise!  How lucky for all of us to have you.  We will have to vote of course...but no worries.  LOL.  I think GP would make an excellent leader as well as she is out in the front...taking bullets and learning the route and reporting back to us (the troops).

My hat goes off to you...you've served your country and deserve respect.  Congratulations.  I certainly can understand why you found my son's comments about the army so funny.  He is close to my heart and I love it when someone else finds his experiences and stories funny.  May I share another?

When he was about 5 years old, I had to take him to the Doctor's about something.  He had to go pee and was jumping around everywhere, right after I parked the car near the Doctor's.  He was saying in a very anxious way, "I have to go pee...I have to go pee".  I was parked right beside this big tree and so I said to him, "Ok, just go where the doggies go...it will be ok".  I gathered up my things from the backseat of the car and locked the car and looked up, behind the tree.  He wasn't there...I called, "Mike?"  I heard his voice behind me and he said, "What mommy?".  I turned around and he was busy peeing on the back tire of our car.  I said, "What on earth are you doing?"  He looked at me very confused and said, "You told me to pee where the doggies go and this is where all the doggies pee...on our tires".  What could I do?  He was right of course.  I quickly helped him zip up and hoped nobody could see what was going on.  OMG.  It was one of our "Mike stories".  We have a 100 of 'em.  LOL.

jakhope

Linda - you make me laugh! Love it! Yes I am 4ft 101/2". When I was in an all girl's boarding school in High school I was captain of the Defenders. Our school was divided into two athletic teams.  I was not that much of an athlete, but I had the spirit. So yes, defense all the way!  Since I am GP too, I don't mind being out in front and checking the first line of defense.

Michele- hats off to you! My husband and you may have worked the same line. He is retired now for 12 years. He has lived and worked in many places. He never was able to speak of who he worked for, just a civilian. He was with NSA.

To all of us the waiting is the hardest part. Worrying how our treatment will effect us and what it will be. The anticipation from surgery was much worse than the surgery itself. This is what I am finding. Our imagination goes places that are very scary.We know we all have heard it so many times but we HAVE to just take it a day at a time and make the best of that.

I too, am having much more pain daily from the SNB than my other incision and increasingly more discomfort . As it heals I think the nerve endings are responding and coming back to life, so we are feeling more than we did in the beginning. My surgery was Jan 12th.

Just had a wonderful meal with My Mom and her companion, a glass of wine, and now I am going to go take a nice nap.

The battle has begun and we have a mighty team!!!!

  

MzJ

Hello to all!  This website is awesome and it just got better because I found my peeps!    I'm 44.   I had a lumpectomy on Dec 11....a Sentinel Node Biopsy and 'clean the margin' surgery on Jan 11..the good news is that the Nodes are negative and the margins are clean, but I had alot of swelling.  I felt like I was carrying a huge Double D water balloon around; unfortunately it got so bad and I had to have another surgery on Fri Jan 29 to drain a hematoma.   That was a week ago and the skin color is much better and I don't feel like it's a big water balllon...but it's still pretty swollen.  I have an appt with my surgeon next Friday but if the swelling doesn't go away over this weekend, I don't wanna wait that long to see her.  I'm looking around on this site and elsewhere online to see if there's anything to do to relieve the swelling...  I talked to a gal in the surgeon's office yesterday and since I wasn't in "pain" she said not to worry.  But it's uncomfortable and scary...how long should it last?    I've read that wearing a supportive bra helps.  I can't massage the area because I've still got to let the incision heal ; I don't want it to pop open.   

A special hug to KatiesMom...it sounds like we are travelling a very similar path!  I TOTALLY agree with your line "BTW" !!!    About a week ago I turned to my Mom and sais "OK, well I'm done".    I think I was handling everything really well until the hematoma surgery...that wasn't in the plan.   How are you feeling?   

Ezscriiibe

Linda, that's hilarious (the Commander in Chief nomination AND Mike's story!). I will gladly tip my hat to GP on this one! It CIC is an an enormous responsibility and I can be such a big baby sometimes! LOL

Jakhope, we may have. Our unit reported directly to the NSA. Even our company commander (who was Regular Army) didn't have clearance to know what we did and what our various missions were. Made it easy to skate out of a lot of boring Regular Army physical training  (PT), too! ("Sorry sir, we have a special mission that is running right now. . . . ") We held a TopSecret/Crypto clearance. You husband should know what that is. Most people outside of intelligence don't understand the "crypto" designation.

I've been out for almost 27 or so years now, so I probably never ran into your husband, but he likely has an idea of what our missions actually were! (Unlike our CO! LOL)

MzJ: Welcome to the club nobody wants to join! We will go through this together and make lots of friends and give each other strength and persistence along the way.

LINDAGARSIDE

Hi fellow soldiers.  Soldier Linda here.  Soldier MzJ:  what are "peeps".  Is this yet another cancer term I have to learn?  LOL.  It's just an entirely new language, isn't it?  Regarding the red/swollen booby: I too had the same thing.  I thought I had a breast infection so went to the surgeon and he said because I didn't have a temperature, he ruled out infection but said when sentinal nodes are removed, the vein feeding it/them is pinched off and fluid backs up.  He said for me to GENTLY massage the area and push away and down (away from the direction of the incision) as this will help get the fluid draining out.  Lying on your back is the best way to do this he said. Anyway, I did it and it really helped.  I'm not half as swollen and some of the lumpiness is gone.  I'm still a bit pinkish but nothing like the red apple I was, that's for sure.  While lying down is the best, I also do it in the shower as it is slippery and easy.  I have read others do the same thing.  Good luck!

GP:  LOL... you are quite a shorty aren't you?  My sister (the one in Nova Scotia) is short as well (just under 5').  When people ask her how tall she is, she always says "5 feet".  (Funny how nobody ever asks people of average height how tall they are...it seems as though they ask the short or very tall this question). We know she isn't telling the truth but she says nobody questions her and she has given herself permission to say 5 feet as it makes her feel taller.  I think that's a great idea.  How about it?  Would you like to be 5' tall?  Go ahead you've earned your stripes.  Start to tell everyone you are 5' tall and see if they grab a tape measure or not.  Who cares if they think you are tall for a midget!  LOL.