2012 sisters

allurbaddayswillend

ramols, I buzzed my hair with the clippers yesterday too. I feel like I have the "Jaime Lee Curtis" cut. Lke this one except mine's thinner    http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTc2ODc3NDcwN15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMzI2MjY4Mg@@._V1._SY314_CR7,0,214,314_.jpg

a couple more days of shedding and I think I'll just shave...

Anonymous

Hope you all had a good weekend!

Luvmyfam - welcome; sorry to hear you had such a struggle with your insurance, but glad it is sorted out.

Juneaubug and websister - so glad your surgeries are over. Hope you are settling in comfortably at home. I'm all ears for any pre/post-surgery advice. 9 days and counting for me...

Maddymac - my goodness, what a drama. I hope you are recovering well enough. Stay strong!

Jpmomof3 - thanks for the info about working through chemo. Fortunately, I have very flexible employers and have the luxury of working from my home. It is all computer/phone work - so I'm hoping once I figure out how treatments affect me - I can sort out a schedule that works for everyone. You are an inspiration!

allurbadday - good luck with your locks!

And to the rest of you - I hope you're feeling good. Wishing you all a restful evening. 

jazlaumir

Hello Everyone,

Hope everyone had a good day, I am doing better, bleeding is slowing down some. Thanks for the name of the meds, websister, I'll ask my doctor about that one.I hope you're feeling ok today from your surgery.  i know what you mean about the arm discomfort, that seems to be the worst for me as well.

MaddyMac: I hope you are recovering well, sorry to hear about your unfortunate experience, yikes! 

Tazzy: Thanks, I'm not sure what my chemo treatment is yet, I meet with my MO on the Monday, July 9th and will find out then, I'll keep you posted.

jpmomof3: thanks for the advice on working through chemo.  

Hope everyone enjoyed your Sunday! Have a good evening!

Tazzy

Great news Jaz - what a relief that must be.

Hope everyone who had surgery is doing fine and healing nicely.  Anyone with SE's hoping they are tolerable.  And to the rest of you ladies, hope you are just enjoying your evening.

For anyone in Canada - hope you managed to enjoy the day and some of the festivities.  Have a nice day off tomorrow.

Peace and hugs xxxxxxxxxxxx

FightingLikeAGirl

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome!!!

lostinmo...one more tx...fantastic!!!
jpmomof3...love your profile pic. Congrats on being PFC!!!

Thanks lostinmo, jpmomof3 & tazzy...thanks for the info on the time frame between chemo and surgery...sounds like 4 weeks is the right time. I need to set up another appt w my BS and PS and set it up. Oy...kinda freaked out about it. Of course I'd be more freaked not to do it tho.

jpmomof3

allurbaddayswillend, welcome to the buzzed hair group.  its a step in the process, and with this heat I am not complaining about minimal coverage.  It takes some getting used to but I thought I looked pretty bad-ass for awhile!

I updated my avatar with a photo from yesterday.  PFC 1 week now.  I think I will actually have to get used to not going to the big girl chair.  Its been such a routine for the last 5 months. I think I will adjust:)  I know it might sound bizarre but it was actually kind of peaceful there and i got to relax and play games and read and snooze.  I dont get to do that often in my life!

I have my post chemo MRI and mammogram later today.  Anxiously awaiting the results.

Hope all you that are post surgery are recovering and those doing chemo now have minimal side effects.  Will update when I get my MRI results!

Anonymous

jpmomof3 - sending you clean positive thoughts on your tests today!!!

jazlaumir

Jpmomof3: best wishes today, my thoughts and prayers are with you!

lostinmo

Everytime I try to post on this thread my internet blinks out!

jazlaumir- the best thing with the chemo is to take to nausea meds if you need them, don't try to tough it out. All in all chemo is doable.

Tazzy- would you share some of your rain?

To everyone else, hope the weekend treated you well and your feeling ok. 

allurbaddayswillend

jpmom, Thank you for the welcome to the GI Jane club. I think you still look badass. I'll try to change my avatar but I have yesterday's photo and my hair is already half as thick this morning... I know what you mean about the BGC being relaxing. You just surrender to the situation and then, voilá!, free time to yourself! I felt that way about the MRI, it was like "I get to lie down undisturbed and rest for a while? Sure! Hey this is comfy with my boobs out of the way!" Granted it's noisy but it drones in such a way that with ear protection, it was ok. Good luck with everything today!

 — Peace and healing wishes to everyone today —

jazlaumir

Thanks lostinmo! I will definitely make sure I take the nausea meds!

Allurbaddayswillend: You lok awesome! I'll have to start working myself towards that! 

Tazzy

jpmom... I agree - you still look badass and beautiful.  Mine is growing back more fuzzy like and lots of grey - which I expected anyway - oh! well as long as it grows.  Positive vibes coming your way for clear scans. 

allurbad - once you get used to it, having very little/no hair is liberating - least it was for me.  And yes you look amazing in your Avatar.  I notice with everyone that our eyes look so much larger, hair seems to make them smaller somehow.    Now how would I know that, cos I dont know any of you with hair   but you know what I mean.

Fightinglikeagirl.   You would not be normal if you weren't freaked out about all of this.   We are here with you.

Hoping you all had good weekends.

lisa2012

Here I am day 13 PFC. Still glad about that. However, on and off eyes watering so much I can't read! I was in KMart yesterday and it would not stop!



I stopped taking Prilosevic about 5 days ago cuz my stomach was upset thatvfirst week, and i wondered if it was even helping. Now I feel like I need it and what happens if your stomach is weird forever?



I just want to assume bc is gone, but I guess I will ask Onc. You guys mention MRIs etc and I wonder.



Did actually sleep most of night with no ativan or ambien! First time in weeks.

Anonymous

I know you ladies can't help me, but just griping about it will feel good. I work full-time so have full-time help for our kids. Just so happens our nanny needed to leave this summer as she is starting school. We were fortunate enough to find a replacement we thought was perfect and who didn't seem to mind the environment she was coming into in our home this summer/fall. Alas today is her first day and she told me some job she applied for months ago - that comes with medical benefits and tuition reimbursement - just came through since someone else dropped out of the running. I am having a bilateral mastectomy next week. Sigh... She feels terrible - but that doesn't help me. She said she can work this week and next week to at least get us through surgery week. But I'm supposed to find a new nanny now? G-d doesn't give us more than we can handle, right?! Deep breaths...

Hope you are all having good days and feeling healthy! Thanks for listening/reading!

Tazzy

Oh ramols... more to think of eh?  Wish there was something we could do.  Do you have agencies or the like you could use in the interim.   I dont have kids and no nothing of these things.    Exactly... deep breaths, deep breaths.  Am sure there is someone on here that can offer more advice than me.   Thinking of you hon and hoping you find a new replacement even more perfect nanny.

Moonflwr912

Good luck Ramos, I hope you find someone soon.

websister

Ramols - hugs to you, doesn't seem like the kind of stress you need to have to deal with right now



jpmomof3 - thing of you and praying for good results



jazlaumir - I'm so glad you are feeling better now and the bleeding has slowed, it can be very scary



lisa2012 - hope the stomach settles and all goes back to normal soon, glad to hear you had a good night last night



Fightinglikeagirl - hope all goes well with your future appointments and plans



allurbaddayswillend - I agree with Tazzy, your eyes look awesome, as do you



I am doing better everyday, taking it pretty easy, started my arm exercises yesterday, spacing out the Tylenol 3's and plan a walk outside with my husband later this afternoon; nice sunny day here. A little shocked by feeling bone under skin on upper chest area and looking in mirror so tried on the temporary prosthesis, had to do a little reducing of the fiberfill in it to make both sides match but think I've got some symmetry now under the clothes. It will be a while for me before I can have the reconstruction ad the idea of any further surgery at the moment is totally unappealing,

Tomorrow I will call my surgeon's office and start making my future appointments for pathology results, MO etc.

Take care everyone

Tazzy

That is great news websister - you give people like me whose surgery isn't until beginning of August lots of hope and encouragement.    Like you I cant have reconstruction for about a year - advice from BS.   I just dont know what to expect.  I have started to hang out in the July surgery thread so I can at least get something from ladies who know/going through it.  Must be brave...must be brave. 

Moonflwr912

Websister, I still wear my cami with the puffs. I am stuck in between TEs one in and one not yet. So I have a thin puff and one fat puff. I wear a loose cami at night, more as a bumper against the cats than for looks! LOL I had my pt today, spent most of the time massaging my arm, it feels better now. Much love to all.

PinkyWI

Hi everyone!  I am doing research for my post-op appointment tomorrow, 7/3, and also for my new patient appointment with my medical oncologist on Thursday, 7/5 and came across this thread.  Nothing personal but I really don't want to be a part of this group, but here I am.    I've only read the first two pages of this post and can see that you all are great support for each other. 

I haven't filled out the profile portion yet -- pending pathology report from my surgeon tomorrow.  I've been told that it sometimes changes from the biopsy to the surgery report.  I am hoping for no surprises.  What I know from the needle biopsy is that I have IDC, stage 1, grade 3.  ER and PR are negative and HER2 was not tested for with the needle biopsy.  I had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy on 6/21 and assume the margins were clear because they would have called last Wednesday, 6/27, if they weren't, but you know, I am a worry wart and am wondering now if I fell through the cracks.  I will have to have radiation and chemo is still a possibility -- pending the pathology report.  I find myself getting anxious now for tomorrows appointment.

Well, back to reading and researching -- and I do hope that I will be of some help to others going forward.  One thing I have learned is that there is a whole new world of acronyms out there!  

Good wishes and "vibrations" to all!  (I too am from the hippie era and to the gal who posted "good vibrations" thank you!  Brought back good memories!)

Moonflwr912

Welcome pinky, none of us want to be here, but as long as we are, its good to meet nice people. Here's hoping you get good news tomorrow. Much love.

jpmomof3

Welcome pinky! Sorry you are here too but we are all here together trying to deal with that truck that smacked us sometime this year. I hope you will find this group as supportive as I have. I am totally addicted to this website and in particular this thread. I am always so happy when I refresh the my favorites page and find red boxes next to my favorite threads!



Websister, glad you are feeling better. It gets easier from here!



I got good results today at the breast clinic. I went in for a mammo first and they took two hours to even get me back. They squished my itty bitty titty as best they could. I was late for my MRI appointment but they did it. Got a scare while I was in MRI when they called and said I needed to go back upstairs to get an unplanned ultrasound. Apparently my itty bitty titties are so dense that the mammogram really didn't give them the information they wanted. So I went back and got the ultrasound. The radiologist came in and told me that they can't see the invasive part of my cancer at all anymore. The nodes in my axilla also looked more normal. (the biopsy of one of them was positive). I won't get the MRI results until tomorrow. But I am very very encouraged that the cancer is dead. If they can't find a 2 cm mass now I am sure that all the little spots, nodes and cells that sneak into other places have gotten KILLED.



One week post final chemo, three weeks until surgery.

DianaNM

jpmom, yay! That is great news. I have dense breasts too, I think most of us too.

Hi Pinky, sorry you are here too. Is that your name, I love it! 

I may just go crazy now, thinking about how my cel phone probably caused my tumor and wondering what's going on in the other breast. No other way I can think of to explain how I got a 99% ER positive tumor that grew a lot in the last year, when my estrogen level is only a 3.9 before any treatment. I used to wear my phone on my purse strap, right there. 

I want to get a sonocine before the end of the year. Insurance won't pay for it, but if I can get a prescription from one of my doctors at least I can put it on my taxes. Maybe not my MO when I tell her I'm not taking Femara. 

Soyaandpepper

Welcome all to all the new ladies to this thread, sorry you had to be here, none of us wants to be but we have a lot of support here. 

jpmomof3- That's great news about your US and I'm sure you'll get the same news from your MRI results tomorrow. Kick this cancer's butt!!!!!

lostinmo

DianaNM-you have stated what I have wondered about myself. I have always had low estrogen, we found that out when I was trying to get pregnant. But my tumor is er+. and it grew a lot this past year.

jpmomof3-great news!

Pinky-welcome sorry you get to hang out with us, but glad you found us to hang out with.

websister-glad your doing well

Spent today shopping with my Mom and we had a good time except out candy bars melted in the car.  Really didn't need it anyway. 

CMartin

Hi.  Being six weeks post-surgery and 4 months post-DX I read your comments and relive heartache, not just for myself but for those of you expericencing questions and fear. 

vballmom1, it certainly is a tough spot to be and a tough decision to make.  I had my annual mammo t be called back for a second and then to a steriotactic biopsy.  I've never had anything done and have no children so was rather shaken, not only by the DX but sheer process.  After the biopsy indicated DCIS in one spot of two I was scheduled for lumpectomy 4/13.  Fortunately, the radiology Dr. decided that the non-cancerous spot was not conclusive enougth and ordered the lumpectomy for both spots, not just one.  I had the needle loc where the locate the spots with wire and proceded to surgery.  The pathology report indicated that there were no clear margins on either spot and a MX was required.  I opted, after much debate, for BMX (right side optional). Had clear margins been present I would have definitely proceeded with radiation and forgone the BMX.  The oncotype test was negative and I have no family history of breast cancer.  My BMX was 5/21, six weeks ago today.  I'm doing great. 

I've posted the blog of my journey here which you might find helpful and has more detail regarding my decsions.  Keep us posted on your progress. 

http://www.dcisiscancer.blogspot.com/

Cindy  

jazlaumir

Lisa2012: I hope you're feeling better, sometimes it does help to get a good cry out especially ones that come suddenly.  Glad you got sleep w no meds though!

Ramols: sorry to hear about your nanny situation, may the right person come your way soon! You truly don't need this kind of stress right now but maybe it will work out even better for you!

websister: I'm with you, im so glad that I don't have to think about the next surgery for about a year as well, and I thought at first that I should've gotten them both done at the same time but now, I'm glad I waited. It's alot.

jpmomof3: i'm so happy for your ultrasound results! YAY! best thoughts coming your way for the MRI next which I'm sure will come back favorable for you!

Welcome Pinky, may you find the support and sisterhood here that many of us have

Believe777

DianaNM, I must have seen the same cell phone article. For years I stuck my cell phone in my bra, left side, the exact spot of my cancer! Who knew...

To all:

On August 7th, I meet with my MO. I've met her once before, this is our first of every 3 month appointments for the next five years. When she told me that, I thought "Are you kidding me?" but I didn't say it out loud. Is that what you all have been told too? I'm supposed to get a blood test before we meet. Has anyone been this far, or know anyone who has? Not sure what to expect but hoping for the best!

My surgery (lumpectomy, left breast, 3 nodes that were removed but fine) was May 1st, my radiation treatments are over July 10th.

lostinmo

Believe-every 3 months for the next 5 years! I haven't got to that stage yet but I hope it's not that often for that long. I was hoping that for the 1st year and then go to every six then once a year til I hit the 5 year mark. Guess we'll see what happens.

Anonymous

Wow - so much happens on here in a day now! Lots of new names. Welcome all - although sorry to hear you have to go through all of this. For those of you who are unsure if you really want to spend time on a thread like this - I can say that I didn't think I would, but it has now become such a vital and needed part of my day. I couldn't agree more with jpmomof3 - it makes my day when I refresh this tab and see new messages. So I hope you stick around and find some value.

There is too much information above for me to process on a night when I am tired and a little angry at the world - so I'll apologize for not sending any individual notes... But to those recovering from surgery and those dealing with side effects - I hope you have a restful night sleep and feel a bit better in the morning. Those of you with good test results - congrats; and hang tight those of you waiting. I'm still anxiously awaiting my pet scan results.

Tomorrow is a new fresh day. Sending you all hugs - and thanks for your ongoing support here!