Calling all TNs

MBJ

Jazz:  LOL!  Thanks for the morning laugh.

lwarstler

Susan and MBJ: Thanks for the reassurance and for reading my crazy long post. I had read that post about the Taxol first and it was one reason I thought the second dr. made goog sense. You are right about the need for positive people arround. I find the second doctor to be very comforting in his treatment style and my confidence went way up after talking to him. I actually just got back from my GP and she said the second doc is definitely the one to see so I am feeling even more confident in my decision. Thanks again for the support.

Lee Ann 

Sugar77

Ladies - thanks for your good thoughts....the mammogram report was just posted and it said "no evidence of malignancy." Next one's in a year.  This is the very first mammogram that was good from the getgo.  Hurray!!!

Titan

Way to go Sugar! 

Babs37

Sugar77- Happy for the good news.

Kelley41

Sugar77 - Glad to hear some good news! Have a great weekend...

MBJ

Yay Sugar!!!!

OBXK

Jazz lol - when I was dx 8 years ago, my husband took over everything, and I never took it back :O

I was just getting my strenght back, adjusting to my new normal. The Universe must want me to slow down. Came home today!

Sugar77

OBXK...lol  When I had the c-section with my daughter, the doctor didn't want me to vacuum so my husband took that over.  My baby is now turning 12 and he still does the vacuuming. He wasn't at the six-week follow up when she said I could resume my normal activities and I've never mentioned it. 

rachelvk

MBJ - Thanks for your reassuring post. I'm two months out from discovering my lump, and still in the process of scheduling surgery. No scans, no other tests since my 8/12 biopsy. It's been nervewracking reading stories of other TNs going from Stage 1 to Stage III or IV within a matter of weeks as more info becomes available. Still trying to look on the bright side, and it helps to hear good things from some of you on these threads.

swiftbird

yaaaay Sugar77! woot woot!!

In two weeks, I have my second 6 month post-everything mammograms and check up with my onc and surgeon. Scanxiety central.  Guess I wouldn't be nervous, but -- like others I read, and I KNOW it's in my head, but I have these weird twinges and pains, but feel no lumps or anything weird, in my lumpectomy (and now, lymphedema-fied) breast...  I'll feel so much better after my scans. 

Teka

Everyone,

Please be aware that computer hackers can retrieve any deleted posts.

MBJ

rachel:  It's standard of care for TN's to usually have scans & MRI's prior to surgery.  I had chemo prior to surgery and the scans and MRI saved my life!  You have to be very proactive with your care and ask questions if you feel uncomfortable or you don't understand something.  Hugs!

Flautalee

Hello friends--I had chemo round 2 today--Taxotere/Cytoxen. So far doing well. My doc said yes, that I am 11 years in remission from my Triple neg BC (not even called it so then). I had a mastectomy then and four rounds of A/C. I have a breast surgeon now. Apparently, from a few healthy breasts cells left then (no radiation) I grew more breast tissue and eventually a different Triple Neg BC sometime between 2009 and this spring. I am scheduled for radiation this time to my left breast where the tumors were found, and then many months later, both sides will get new permanent implants (I had a prophylactic mastectomy done on the right side in 2001 by my previous surgeon.) I'm beginning to wonder if I should ask my new surgeon if she can be part of that surgery to be as certain as possible that any remaining breast tissue is gone. I would appreciate knowing what you think? Am I just worrying too much? Best and no SE's!

rachelvk

I am in the process of having a PET scan scheduled, finally. The hardest part of this is learning what you need to know in order to be proactive. When I sat down with my doctor to discuss my dx, she gave me what seemed at the time to be a very good explanation and a flow chart of what to expect (her next step was to send me for the brca test, which would have taken 3 weeks if I had waited for her genetic counselor to be around and waited for the results; I at least too my gyn up on his offer to have it done at his office and cut 4 days off). I walked out of the office (with my parents - a retired gyn and a nurse) thinking, Stage 1, not too bad, and having no concept of what TN meant. In fact, for some reason I almost felt like it was a good thing (my own hormones aren't doing me in... that's good, right?). Grade 3 was never really explained. It took my parents, after about a week, to really get through to me that Grade 3 TN was aggressive and I should be pushing. Even the wonderful Breast Cancer Treatment tome my doctor had given me hadn't stirred me to action. If it hadn't been for my parents, I don't know how I would have known to be pushier.

Even when I asked doctors, I was told - it's no emergency, there's research that 3 months doesn't change the usual outcome, etc... Part of me wonders whether this relaxed attitude comes from the fact that there are such great drugs out there to deal with cancer once it's spread. Do doctors feel, well, if it spreads, we can deal with it, rather than, let's catch it before it spreads?

Flautalee - I'm sorry to hear about your new developments. It's scary that we can go through something as extensive as a prophylactic BMX and STILL have to worry about a few random cells. 

TifJ

Great news Sugar!! My husband has vacuumed since my mx last Sep't. 15. I had reconstruction-so it hurt to vacuum with the TE- had a frozen shoulder (still have it) so it hurt to vacuum, then had exchange surgery-hurt to vacuum. It's now a year later and my husband just up and quit vacuuming! I guess he feels he has done enough. So, how do I get him to vacuum again without having any BC related problems?!!  LOL!!

Flautalee

Rachelvk--I'm sorry that I worried you.  I think it is very, very rare to develop a tumor after a mastectomy.   In fact, my wonderful oncologist of 11 years said that I am his first patient to have this happen in his career.  That rare.  I do think that maybe if I had had a breast surgeon rather than a general surgeon (I didn't know their was such a specialty) it might have made a difference, but my first surgeon did many mastectomies in his career at that hospital.  I do feel very safe with my current breast surgeon (at a different hospital) and will see her next week for my about 2 month check up.  I will voice my concerns about the other breast with her.  

I think that I am especially prone to BC (maybe my breast cells are really prone to mutation) because I am a DES daughter.  I found a link here somewhere last week to a site that is reporting new findings that DES daughters are at increased risk for BC.  I asked about this is 2000 and was told no...even though my mother had died from BC (she took DES when she was pregnant for all the best reasons--she had miscarried 4 times before me and DES was thought to help prevent miscarriages). So I had exposed in utero.  I was a preemie--in 1954 3 lbs 14oz was at the border of survival. I have loved my life in spite of struggles at times.  I am going to do more research on DES.  I am waiting for the more advanced BRAC test findings than they had in 2000.  If they are neg, I can pay to have my blood banked I think for 10 or 20 years (I forget) as new tests are expected to come out.  

Flautalee

JFJ--have you asked about PT?   It sounds like it would help. Best --I am glad you are through reconstruction!  I would just let him vacuum--he's probably very good at it!  LOL!

OBXK

Sugar- nothing quite as satisfying as a clean, round one mammo. Wishing you many more.

And may I say you too must have picked one of the good ones, if he still vacuumes!





Flautalee - I'm sorry you are going through this. Follow your intuition. If you need something, it never hurts to ask.



Tif J - if I were writing the scene I would say... ( you standing over vacuume- husband in room)I know this sounds stupid, but when I was hurting so badly, and you took over the vacuuming, everytime I heard it, I would think, that's the sound of love. (look away wistfully, squeeze out a tear. When done, ask for an shoulder rub.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<<<<
<br />I was able to get some work done around the house, despite the knee bandage and walker. Tomorrow I can shower and leave the dressing off. Yuck!

I don't want to look.

Tuesday I have to make a two hour car trip to meet w/my bs. He is going to schedule My mx revision and de- port me. Then on to waiting for BRCA testing. Has anyone had it come back undetermined?

Wishing you all a relaxing Sunday.

Titan

I like reading the stories about our families "helping"..my dh took over the grilling..he would put the grill on very low...very low...cook the steaks/burger/chops/dogs/chicken..whatever..set the timer, turn them over, set the timer..blah blah..it took hours (ok, exaggerating a little..but not much)...

I took that job back as soon as I could..3 minutes a side on medium-high, ..and its done..I have had no complaints..and we all get to eat b-4 midnight.

Flautulee..so you play the flute?  I may have missed this somewhere but do you play professionally?

With TN..or any Grade 3 cancer I think acting quickly has to be the only choice...you don't see too many TN's with Grade 1 or 2...I found my lump in Jan. 09 and didn't have it out unil March 09 but that was my fault..once I finally got myself in the mindset that this lump wasn't going anywhere I made the appts. and got it done...Ultrasound in early March, then biopsy, then lumpectomy one week later..it took 3 weeks from start to finish..I keep kicking myself on not pushing a little bit more in early Feb..but I was just hoping that it would go away..

BernieEllen

i love the srories about families helping.  My freezer is full of chicken soup.  DH says i can having anything i want on the BBQ or anything in my omelette.

Teka

Hugs to all in need today.

bak94

My hubby always leaves me 1 cup of coffee in the morning and takes the rest in a thermous. Most times I don't drink it but he always leaves it. Today I decided I wanted that cup of coffee and I couldn't find the coffee pot! Poor guy must have been so tired when leaving for work he took the whole pot with him! It's one of those stainless steel ones from starbucks, not the glass type.

bak94

Feeling sorry for myself. Not because of the coffee! My animals want in they want out and then they want in again, they are driving me crazy! At least it is getting me to move! Still have this stupid cold and with the chemo it is zapping me of all energy. I feel bad being whiny because I know many are going through so much more. I have a ct scan coming up and that has me stressed out also.

Thinking of all of you and wishing you all a good week!

Teka

Having a cold is a downer.   Having no coffee is a pisser.

Titan

Bak...do you have any tea?  I wish I could come over and bring you some or Bernie's chicken soup!!  Yes..having a cold plus chemo is no fun...how much can a person take anyway??? 

lwarstler

Aww Bak, I think not having coffee would just put me over the edge. It seems like right now anything, a cold, hangnail, run in my pantyhose make me go "SERIOUSLY? The cancer, surgery and chemo aren't enough?" Wouldn't it be nice if we could all just get together for a nice bowl of soup, whining and laughing? Maybe we should have soup day where we all just get some soup, sit with our computers and poke fun at the rediculousness of it all. Hope you feel better!

OBXK, love the tear idea...I'm gonna try that next time my floor needs a good vaccuum.

hope everyone has had a good Sunday...I'm still just sore from my lumpectomy/reduction and port placement...think it's making me cranky. 

Suze35

I also like reading about all the help, so sweet. DH does his best. I just got 3 alone nights in NYC, I got to hang out with old friends and new, it was very sweet of him.



I'm going to try and catch up with everyone tomorrow - I'll have the PET results early, so I'll post.



Laurajane is an amazing, beautiful, inspirational woman. It was a true pleasure to meet her .



Have a good Sunday everyone!

gillyone

OK ladies, I'm am posting something that has nothing to do with cancer, and very much to do with getting on with my life. If you have little kids or grandkids, I am looking for some feedback. A friend and I are working on a podcast for young children to listen to with a parent/caregiver. It is songs and a story and about 12 minutes long, and is intended for preschoolers/kindergarten aged children. We have just finished recording a demo and plan to make it available soon to as many people as possible in order to get honest feedback about what we are doing. However, I am wondering if this podcast were available to download from a website, how would you listen to it with your child?

Thanks in advance for any feedback you can give me.

gillyone

ps - PM me if you don't want to clog  up the thread.