Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

Molly50

FWIW, I found the Nottingham score interesting. It is definitely used as part of the tools to stage our cancer. I just cannot for the life of me figure out how it all fits together. I know how to read the path report. I have read all the information on staging so I understand it but something is missing for me or it may just be that nagging feeling of always needing to know. I research, research, research everything before I buy it. Same thing with all of this cancer biz and my hysterectomy prior to surgery. I think some of my PTSD type tendencies are calmed by knowledge.

MLP3

I'm exactly the same Molly! And did the same before my hysterectomy too. Maybe it feels like it gives us a bit of control...?

That's how I found this site and discussion😊

Jclc83

MLP3. Sometimes a teambesides the Patriots has to win 😛

ChiSandy

NW NC? Twist my arm, why dontcha? I love that part of the country. In fact, there's a folk music conference in Montreat (outside Black Mt) every May--this year the 18-22. I have to play in Iowa City on the 14th (but that's only overnight-and back). Hickory is only 2 days' drive from Chicago (Cincy is my halfway point) and less than half an hr from the conference. I hadn't planned to attend, since my singing partner is going only in his role as a Madison venue booker and isn't going to perform. But if we can scare something up either before or after (Sun. Night would be ideal), or I could slip away for an evening during, I'd love to drink wine and eat with you and do a custom concert. The conference has an evening rate--$10 per person per night--to attend all the showcases and participate in all the jams

Praline

Reader425 I agree... reading is very therapeutic. My love of reading has saved my sanity more than once! Frankl's book "Man's Search for Meaning" is amazing.

MLP3

ok jc... Ouch!😘

bluedog

Molly, you've had a lot of heartache. (Hug). Your grandson is adorable! That dimple!!

Jclc83, please keep sharing info. I appreciate it!

LovesToFly

I usually love reading (anybody on goodreads), but lately I've had a hard time getting into it, I've been watching Netflix instead.

I know I shouldn't have let that appget me down, I guess I was surprised because it gave me a lower prognosis than my doctor did, but there were a lot of things that didn't take into account, and of course treatment is always changing. I think it really hit me because it gave me 70%, and when my client finished her treatment that's the number she was given, and within the year she was gone

Peachy2

Since we are done with the Patriots for the season, here in New Hampshire our new spectator sport is the primary. There's a radio ad for Carly Fiorina, one of those "not endorsed by any political candidate or candidate's campaign" ones. It lists among her accomplishments that she "fought and beat cancer." So of course I googled, and read this:

"Many long days and multiple scans, MRIs and mammograms later, we finally had a more definitive diagnosis: it was breast cancer, stage II. It hadn't been detected in the mammogram I had had weeks earlier, because the tumor in my left breast was very small. At the same time, the cancer was very aggressive and had spread to lymph nodes that are not captured in a mammogram."

This sounds a lot like my situation, although I don't really consider having had cancer and receiving treatment something to put on a resume. (Not that she necessarily does either, since the radio ad was not from her campaign.) To me, it's something that happened, but will happen to 1 out of 8 other women so I'm not special. Beating cancer wasn't an achievement, as I was just following the directions of people smarter than me with MD after their names. It has made me tough, though I don't think it qualifies me to hold a high public office.

Gemma12

Peachy for Prez.. has a ring to it!

Peachy2

I like Peggy for Prez better.

Molly50

Aww, thank you Bluedog! LTFly, mine was 52% on the app. I just take it as one little piece of the whole puzzle. Peachy for Prez!!

Jclc83

Thanks blue dog you're the only one lol.

Molly50

Jclc83, I appreciate it also. It may hit me hard at first but truly I find most of the information helpful.

PontiacPeggy

Peggy is NOT, I repeat NOT running for president or anything else. Peggy is decluttering her house and that's job enough (oh lordy, it surely is).

HUGS!

Jclc83

Thanks Molly

LovesToFly

Iappreciate it too, it was just a bad day for me already.

Gemma12

Peggy and Peachy would be a killer ticket. Especially given the other options out there! I you can declutter your house, maybe you can declutter The House, and Senate, while you're at it!

Just teasing, Peg. I wouldn't wish a political run on my worst enemy!

Amy

PontiacPeggy

C'mon over, Amy! Glad for the help. Plenty of wine on hand I don't have what it takes to run for office. It's tough. And I'm really quite lazy.

HUGS!

Brutersmom

Welcome Payton, I has a re-incision and did not have the wire the second time. The surgeon went right back in the same incision as before. Only one scar. I had a little more trouble with the second surgery but that was because I had a delayed allergic reaction to the blue dye and was inflamed when they did the surgery and they used a different anesthesia because I had an allergic reaction to the first anesthesia. They shot me full of steroids and I told the anesthesia was a little harder on the mental state. I was a little paranoid and sat and cried for about an hour in the recovery room. It was so weird. Other that that I was up and about the next day with very little discomfort.

HappyHammer

Reader- glad you found us here!

HappyHammer

Oh, Molly, you HAVE been through the life wringer! Soooo, all I can say is am hoping your sweet fam is selected for pink houses....when your child is changed forever...so are you and your fam. (Took our son to Clemson baseball Camp and he was hit in the head with a baseball bat while hitting tennis balls off of tees at age 11- severe brain injury- life has never been the same)...to quote M. Scott Peck..."Life is hard." We all know that....it's not what happens to you but how you deal with it that matters....we know that as well. I thank God every day for all of you....you all get it. And, though our stories are different...there are very familiar threads....and, I pray for each of you and yours every day. SO thankful for each and every one of you!!

Molly50

Oh HH, what a tragedy for your family. I have met so many amazing people through my son's illness and disability. I found out that you never know what is around the corner and no one is safe from potential tragedy. We just have to take life one day at a time and appreciate what we have. It's good to know you are not alone. Huge hugs.

Jclc83

Group hug!

ayr1016

Sloan: thank you so much for sharing that podcast. It is fascinating how much I am learning about this disease since being diagnosed. loved your soapbox!

MLP: This is why I love this group. When someone is having a bad day, the group bands together and lifts them up with positivity, good thoughts, jumping in pockets, and love. I have not really had a good cry yet. I've had tears in my eyes several times. I know the day is coming where I'm going to have my good cry (or two or three).

Molly: {{{hugs}}} I so know what you mean by grief being a constant companion. Your "Grandma's little man" is a cutie pie. What a handsome little guy!

Peggy: "I will NOT be in your pocket" - I about spit my tea out. Thanks for the giggle.

Melclarity: I admire your strength and dedication. I am a single mom to 3 kids (for the past 8 years) and boy is it hard. I think some of what has kept me from falling a part or going to a bad place has been focusing on them and making sure their lives stay as normal as possible. That might be unrealistic, but it has kept me going this past month. However, a friend with stage 4 cancer recently told me "it is time for you to be selfish" and her words came through loud and clear. I need to take care of me in order to take care of my children. So, I'm putting myself on the front burner for the first time in my life!

I got through the scope today! Waiting for pathology, but she told me I have reflux, a lot of inflammation in my gastric body (stomach), and a sliding hernia of some sort at the bottom of my esophagus. I would have never guessed reflux because I do not have burning or pain. They wanted to put the IV in my right arm. But, I told them "no, put it in my left arm, that is the good vein". Well, they didn't tell me I would be laying on my left side during the procedure. No matter. I was making peace with the fact that my good vein will have a life time of never being poked again in a few short weeks. If I have chemo, a port will be 100% necessary.

Molly50

PontiacPeggy

Ayr, glad you made it through your scope. Hope everything is easily taken care of. Glad to give you a giggle Please do put yourself first. As the voice of experience (as others are, too), if you don't, you don't have enough left of yourself to care for those who depend on you. Gotta re-charge those batteries.

HH, how tragic. We never know what burdens others are carrying. Another group hug!

HUGS!

HappyHammer

Oh my goodness...feeling the love and hugs...I hardly ever tell folks about our son. If you saw him and talked with him you would NEVER know about his injury until you really started thinking about what he said.....he is so VERY smart and social....but, he cannot maintain any kind of relationship/job/ etc...he is in his late 20's and is living in yet another group home. It is really heartbreaking and yet....he is ours and we love and support him even though he will not and does not recognize that he has issues....that is the most difficult part! We have to keep our boundaries-again- life is hard!!

AYR- take care of YOU!!! If mama aint' happy (or healthy) ain't nobody happy (or healthy).

HappyHammer

Sandy...YES! We need to talk about what could work when you are already at Montreat-( very familiar) We could come there and/or you could come "here"... maybe you could even do a concert at The Crossing??? Will talk with Will Locke- he organizes all of the concerts at The Crossing...if you PM me your contact info will get it to him ...please include the dates that would work while you are already down this way....hoping we can work something out AND, any BCO sisters....that we can get together...what fun!

Reader425

All, I hope I did not offend anyone by my earlier post about things being "just" a statistic. I meant to comfort Molly and LTF with my viewpoint but NOT to denigrate statistics per se, or worse, complain about the index. I'm an analyst by profession and have great respect for all the tools at our disposal to fight this disease. I just also think there are parts of the story that doctors and statistics cannot account for. After making informed decisions, I choose to focus on that.

Praline and Happy Hammer, yes reading can be therapeutic. So can Netflix