Calling all TNs

tracie23

Heidi, I love your animal posts... I love love love animals... You made me smile

tracie23

YAY Laurajane , there is power in prayers

Titan

Nothing like pizza and a movie to heal things!  Enjoy your son Laura!  It's nice having one of each isn't it..my husband was pretty proud of himself..ha ha... My daughter wants to have only girls but I'm hoping she has a bunch of little boys..I'm going to give them all footballs and basketballs and soccer balls....ok..I'll shut up now......

Yeah..that 3 year thing coming up...one day at a time....I'm excited but no way do I think I'm in the clear...I'm afraid too.

ksmatthews

Titan congrats on the 3 years!  Tifj congrats on the 2 years!

Laurajane so glad you got to spend the evening with your son! 

Titan

two more months ladies...let's not rush this stuff.

inmate4232010

Thanks Ladies for all of you opinions and input.  Tifj....I like your idea.  Maybe "Pink is pretty, but breast cancer isn't"  I have found through this process that the color pink tends to make me nauseous.  With that said, none of the shirts will be pink.  The best shirt I've seen is "yes my boobs are fake, my real ones tried to kill me".  Since that has already been done I think I will try to come up with some more options on my own.These shirts will be made as soon as I have at least two, hopefully three firm "slogans".  Of course I will let all you lovely ladies know when they are available and how to get one (or more).  The other, more important part of this is, where will the money go?  We have struggled both physically and mentally but it often gets lost how much we struggle financially.  In Seattle we have an organization call NW Hope and Healing.  They give $500 to breast cancer patients to use on any expense as long as it isn't medical.  Does anyone know of other groups like this that we can support?  They do not need to be city specific.  I am also willing to look into starting a new one if the need is there.  What am I saying?  Of curse the need is there!Thanks again ladies, keep the ideas coming.      

inmate4232010

Laurajane....I am so happy for you.  Enjoy your pizza, movie and most excellent company tonight!

bak94

I am soooo happy! The power is back on after 4 days!!

inmate-did u loose power at all? I live towards Maple Valley, it got pretty bad out here! My yard looks like a natural disaster! It will be fun to cleanup! I am so happy that a couple new small trees that we got last summer survived! I think it is greagt what you are doing with the shirts. We must get together sometime! I have justy been a bit of a disaster myself lately, but I feel a turn in the right direction coming on....

LJ-have a great Saturday night!

inmate4232010

Bak94....Yeah for power!  I live in Southpark (just south of the city) and we did not lose power, thankfully.  I really thought that I would lose a few tree branches from all the ice, but they survived.  Oh the power of nature!  Yes, we should definitely get together.  Just let me know when you feel up to it.  I can even come your way.  Now stay toasty and get some rest so you can enjoy that good health coming your way!

mccrimmon324

inmate, i'm walking in the relay for life this year.  I would love to wear your shirts when I'm not walking in the survivor shirt. 

Laura, so happy for you.

Bak, glad power is back on!

Suze, hoping your resting up for your cruise

TifJ

Inmate. I like it! I was also thinking about "Pink is pretty, but it can't cure Breast Cancer."

Bak-sooo glad your power is back on!

Ks- my 2 years won't be until Sept. My BS was just planning ahead!!

mccrimmon324

Tifj,  I love NY, its fantastic.  You deserve a little weekend getaway.  We grew up outside of Phila PA, so as young adults we would take the train up all the time to see shows.  Last time we went was a few years ago for our anniversary, Had loads of fun, 1st time hubby went to the top of the Empire State Building, we walked thru Central Park to the Metropoltian Musuem of Art.  Took a cab to Ground Zero then walked back thru the soho, ended up finding the best little indian restaurant, who knew we loved indian food so much.  The big event for the weekend was going to see Wicked on Broadway.  We both loved it.  I think you should really consider trying to get there.  You've got the time to plan and budget if you start now.

tracie23

inmate, I am also walking in Relay this year I would love to wear a shirt.... I am not a fan of pink any longer but a black shirt with pink writing is hot.

mccrimmon324

I love the black shirt with Pink writing.  I would buy a few, I know my friend and her daughter would wear them as well.

LuvRVing

I have a black shirt with pink writing that says "I fought like a girl and won" - it's got pink boxing gloves on it.

TifJ

Thanks Heather! Now I just have to convince my husband! He has never been interested in New York, but he knows I am. I guess if he won't go, I can always go with my 2 best friends. One's brother lives in Mahattan and we can stay there. I may just get to go yet!!

CharB22

I had a very brief conversation with my MO last week about recurrance and what changes I can make to keep this stupid BC from coming back. She mentioned something about limiting Phthalates. I just googled Phthalates and breast cancer - turns out that there is actually some research/link between them and ER-

Anyone else hear of this? Phthalates are scary!! They're in everything.

journey4life

Count me in on a shirt or two - my family and friends too! I agree that the funds should go to helping women with financial difficulties. I've been reading posts from a young woman (stage IV) who could use that kind of assistance.

Hope60

Laura Jane - so happy you were able to spend time with your son. 

Heidi - Love your animal posts!

Count me in for some shirts!   

mccrimmon324

Tifj, you know a girls weekend just might be more fun anyway! 

mccrimmon324

LuvRVing, I'm toying with the idea of a small tattoo along the lines of the pink boxing gloves, in fact so is my husband.  We currently each have one.  I have a small one on my hip that no one sees and my husband has a huge family crest on his arm that everyone sees. 

I think if I get another, I would choose another inconspicuous place.

laurajane

Good afternoon ladies. I had a great time with my son last night. We stayed up till 2am watching movies and just talking. The most important thing that happened was that we really got to talk. Lots of laughter and tears. I found out that his main reason for staying away is he's so afraid he will break down in front of me and he wants to appear strong so that I can lean on him. He said that when he is with his friends he doesnt have to hold back his tears and he can talk to them freely. I think it was so good for him to be able to cry in front of me and me telling him it's ok. He's been holding his emotions in for too long in front of me. Even though he's 18 he was and always will be my sweet little boy and my daughter will always be my sweet little girl and I'm fighting with all I have to be here for them.



Tifj- I just love NY. There are lots of fun things to do that are free or cost very little. I love visiting the art galleries and you can get great deals on lunch menus at some posh restaurants. The off off off broadway shows can be a lot of fun and cheap too. Oh just tons of stuff. I hope you go and have a fabulous time. I've gone by myself many times and had a blast and I don't think you can beat shopping with girlfriends.

Titan- my new man friend sent me a text yesterday I want to share with you. He's a Buddhist but I think it's appropriate thinking for all of us. " Plan for the future, learn from the past, but live in the present. One day at a time" so girlfriend, plan your celebration and enjoy doing it today!

Inmate- pink makes me nauseous too! I mean " what has pink done for me, lately? I think the NW Hope is wonderful. I wish every state had something like that. I remember when several of the chemos I've been on let alone not having the energy to cook anything it would have been so nice to have someone deliver some homemade soup. This second time around though I ask my friends to please help me and they've come through. I feel so sad for the women out there going through this that don't have anyone. I'm talking GOOD healthy homemade soup not the canned stuff. Maybe when I kick this I could try and work on that locally. Count me in on some shirts too. Anxious to see some more creative ideas.

CharB22- thanks for sharing. Indeed scary stuff. I just googled it. Even butter? Wow!



I hope everyone has a good day. I woke up feeling so happy in my heart today. Yup! Feeling very bi-polar but I'll hold on to this up side as long as I can.

mccrimmon324

So glad you and your son were able to have a heart to heart Laurajane.  What a sweet and loving boy you have.  Your children really are blessings. 

Anonymous

Just Googled "Phthalates".

Guess we're all going to die...... someday

Wrenwood47

Does anyone have any experience with using mushrooms during and after tx. I went to a seminar yesterday at our local hospital. The subject matter was using Chinese Herbs. The speaker spent a good half hour just talking about mushrooms. There are even companies that grow them and then extract the healthy stuff and encapsulate. This seminar was for ALL cancers not just breast. Very interesting and I wondered if anyone had any experiences and could comment.

Titan

Wrenwood..you know that there is a company in California that sells mushrooms that you grow yourself...they are organic...I think the company is called Back to the Roots or something like that....it is really cool...I think they retail for about $19.99 but you can get a couple of harvests from them....check it out..if you want more info I can find it for you....

Laura Jane..I love the WHEN not IF attitude..good for you...ah..your little man is 18...so he will graduating this year?  And off to college...and your baby...My son is my baby too...we are going to visit him at OSU on Sunday...its only an 1 1/2 hour trip but it will probably cost us a few hundred by the time we get there and home...

I like your friend's quote...believe me...I have started living in the present...I didn't use to live that way...on Monday's I was already hoping that it was Friday!  Now..I'm just happy that it is a Monday..ok..I won't go that far...maybe happy when it is Monday night...anyway...I do plan ahead..but not too far..I'm a little leery of that...I see the onc on Wednesday...if everything is good...I will plan the next 3 months...Lol.

Seriously Heidi?  We are all going to die someday..dang....

Actually, isn't the world supposed to end in December, 2012 according to the Mayan calender?

laurajane

Wren wood - I've done a lot of research on mushrooms and think they can all be beneficial for us however you have to be very cautious on what kind you take during, after chemo etc. For instance you don't want to take reishi while on chemo it can countereact with the chemo etc... Shitaki is the same etc... People that don't know about mushrooms will claim they are all ok. Whenever you are taking anykind of herb etc. In concentrations i believe you need to be cautious. I know some can increase high blood pressure etc. You also really want a good source. I take matakiD extract daily ( literallybefore, during and after chemo) and it is supposed to help to prevent mets. May be one of the reasons I'm still here. I think a good reference source is the integrative oncology docs at Sloan Kettering . You can go online and research herb interactions with chemo.

I purchase mine through I-Herb on line. They are expensive and you can save a little money
buying from them compared to general retail. I do incorporate reishi and shitaki in my diet at all times, cooked only. We never want to eat mushrooms of any kind raw especially while on chemo.

Wrenwood47

Titan..thanks but I am considering the encapsulated mushroom extract from a company called mushroomscience.com.

Laurajane-I did not and will not do chemo. I went against all the Drs advice. Had lumpectomy and rads. I am fearful of recurrence which is why I want to start taking Reishi and Chaga from the company I mentioned to Titan.

Thanks to both for your feedback. Best to both

Swanny

Lj:  So glad your son opened up and let his feelings out.  It will help both of you tremendously.  Keep going.... you can do it.

Luah

Wow, this thread moves along.

Titan: Big congrats on the 34 months, girl! That is a big number, and I am soooo glad you started this thread and still return to post. Love hearing from you. 

Tifj: Your BS sounds awesome.

LJ: So glad you have been having some uplifting moments after all the crap you've been through. How amazing that your son opened up like that with you - a precious gift from a 18 yo guy! He sounds very self-aware and kind.  

Hope everyone has a nice evening.