Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

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  • ORknitter
    ORknitter Member Posts: 119
    edited February 2016

    Peggy, for my MIL I made a book with photos of each decade of her life. It was just a simple one that I had bound at one of the local office supply stores. The photos were all with family & at the end each family took a copy. I think they liked it as they still talk about it.

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  • Melclarity
    Melclarity Member Posts: 388
    edited February 2016

    Loves to Fly, Peggy, Molly, 1step, Moondust and HH - Awwww thank you!!! It is tomorrow! and going to be low key really, at least Im not working LOL.


    Thanks!!! x

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  • Melclarity
    Melclarity Member Posts: 388
    edited February 2016

    Loves to Fly - That's great, spreading awareness is everything. After my BC 4yrs ago, I managed to nag 2 colleagues into getting checked..thank God they did!!! They BOTH had BC and caught super early too. It is rampant, hard thing is I look around now and all I think is, there are so many women who have it and dont know it and dont get checked. For that I am lucky..

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  • ChiSandy
    ChiSandy Member Posts: 12,133
    edited February 2016

    Happy birthday, Mel! Because you're Down Under, where water swirls down the drain in the opposite direction, does that mean each year you'll be getting younger?

    Suzanne, the hats are adorable--I like the green and the straw best on you, but I love wide brims in general.

    Been offline all day, and when I saw “50 Unread Posts" I gasped. Up early for LE and cording therapy, then killed 40 min. in line at the bakery getting paczki and a King Cake, then brief nap, then dental appt., troubleshooting the DVR (it inexplicably has started to quit recording midstream even though the weather is clear and there's no snow on the satellite dish), and finally bill-paying and trying to find late-night Mardi Gras dinner reservations. We ended up at the Fireside about a mile away--no finesse, but decent food, huge portions and open till 4 am. (With Bob getting home after midnight so often, that's important). They did have a Mardi Gras menu, and mirabile dictu, the only thing they ran out of was jambalaya. AND we got the table by the fireplace--with wind chills already below 0, and 3” of fresh snow on the ground, that’s no small deal.

    WF ran out of paczki early yesterday, and someone online had suggested Bennison's in Evanston, on my way home from therapy. Walked in and they were jammed--seems they were selling not just 6 flavors of paczki but King Cake as well. The line was snaking up & back like at TSA at airports, but quite efficient. People in line were asking “what happens if you get the baby in the cake?" (Each cake has a tiny hard plastic baby doll baked inside). The real answer, of course, is that you have to buy the next cake. (In NOLA during Carnival month, people bring King Cakes to the office for coffee breaks). But I couldn't help myself--I replied, “you have to go to the dentist."

    The massage to soften my breast fibrosis seems to be working--I was able to get into a couple of my old, pre-bc bras w/o using an extender tonight, and the newer ones' cups are wrinkilng (no complaints, though). I panicked when I took my gloves off and couldn't find my right hand ring--turns out it was loose enough to come off in the glove. But the cording is still a bit of a challenge--my therapist could see it as well as palpate it, and it feels quite sharp, like I'm getting a shot. But she says that it's usually self-limiting, so we shall see. It's much less common in overweight and obese women, though. Looks like I keep on being unique....

    UPDATE: Just bit into something hard.....I got the baby in the cake! (Looks like I'm buying again next year).

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  • Melclarity
    Melclarity Member Posts: 388
    edited February 2016

    image

    Chisandy Ohhh wouldnt that be lovely!!!! My daughter did a few pics I wanted to share, it helped me more than I realized in terms of my healing from BC and the journey Ive endured. I felt such a loss of myself, and in a way it was grounding losing the physical, realizing it doesnt define me at all...but to feel feminine again??? this reduced me to tears, and urged on by Jerseyrenee a photographer to get my daughter to do this for me.


    image

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  • Melclarity
    Melclarity Member Posts: 388
    edited February 2016

    image


    Oh and this one LOL

    Good luck everyone facing surgery, appointments and treatment schedules!!! Stay strong x

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  • april25
    april25 Member Posts: 772
    edited February 2016

    Beautiful photos, Melclarity! I hope you had a fabulous birthday!

    ---

    It was a ridiculous 90 degrees in So. CA today... It's like it's the middle of summer instead of a normal February...

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited February 2016

    Molly, good ideas for the memorial. Ours will be very casual too. Hadn't thought about posters. That would be easier than lugging a bunch of photos around and trying to keep them from blowing away. Molly, my aunt had encephalitis lethargica - got it during the 1924 pandemic. It's a bitch.

    ORKnitter, also a good idea with the photos books. That would have been ideal for my MIL. Have to think about it.

    ChiSandy, lucky you for snagging your Mardi Gras dinner. Good luck with your LE.

    MelClarity, You look stunning. Your daughter sure caught your essence. I've lost which day is what but I'll keep saying Happy Birthday until you say, "STOP! It's past" :) So Happy Birthday!

    HUGS!

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  • brithael
    brithael Member Posts: 224
    edited February 2016

    Peggy - I made this video with Movie Maker- very simple. I also posted it on YouTube for those who couldn't attend the memorial.

    Remembering Kaki

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  • brithael
    brithael Member Posts: 224
    edited February 2016

    Sandy - I wanted Packzis so much yesterday, but couldn't convince hubby to drive in the snow to go get them. Didn't need the extra calories anyway, but they are soooo good!

    Mel - what stunning pictures!

    Taking my last "feel good" day before the SE's usually kick in to see "Bye Bye Birdie" at Drury Lane today.

    Thanks to all for the hat comments - I've always been a hat person - love that I have so many now.

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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited February 2016

    Awww Mel, you really do look beautiful and very feminine. Your DD got some great shots.

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited February 2016

    Brit, that was lovely. You're very talented. A great tribute to an obviously much loved woman. Thanks for sharing. BTW, I loved all the hats too!

    HUGS!

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  • Praline
    Praline Member Posts: 115
    edited February 2016

    Melclarity- I love the pctures!

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  • mairew
    mairew Member Posts: 84
    edited February 2016

    Mel, happy birthday (tomorrow). You are beautiful.

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  • Peachy2
    Peachy2 Member Posts: 350
    edited February 2016

    Gorgeous pictures of the birthday girl! Happy birthday Melclarity!

    We've finished our king cake, and today is the first day of lent. Though we are not Catholic, my son goes to a Catholic elementary school and thinks it's cool to give up something for lent. He's chosen root beer and Doritos, and has designated chocolate for me. Wish me luck!

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  • Sloan15
    Sloan15 Member Posts: 896
    edited February 2016

    Brit - I love hats, too. Nice pictures. Hey, expect no SEs! (But, yeah, my tired day was day 4). It sounds though, like the docs have the SEs under control, right? Here's to no more emergency room visits!

    Mel - Happy Birthday! Your daughter took some beautiful pictures of you. She should do more blackk and whites in front of that tree. It's the perfect backdrop. Beautiful!

    April - Omg yes, the weather was crazy yesterday. My son commented on it, too. It wasn't in the 90s here, but I went to LA to see a play and got to the Hollywood Farmers Market and it was 85 degrees. Hey, is your show at the end of this month? Good luck.

    We Fitbitters have been walking like crazy. Yes, LTFly said she turned the app off because it's driving her crazy at work. I always have the volume down, so I only see notes if I check my phone. But, I guess those are supposed to be reminders to move every hour. We are moving.

    If anyone else has a FitBit and wants to join out our group, pm me.

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited February 2016

    Sloan, when I was in SoCal last June I visited THE Farmers Market. Certainly a lot different than my county one here. I'm so envious of your nice toasty temperatures. We are going into the deep freeze and I'm less than thrilled. Why can't I win the lottery and move to my home state???

    Peachy, chocolate? Naw. You NEED it for all its good properties.

    HUGS!

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  • Sloan15
    Sloan15 Member Posts: 896
    edited February 2016

    Peggy - I wanted to buy flowers and greens, but I was afraid they would wilt in the sun! How is the packing coming along? When is the big day?

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited February 2016

    Sloan, heat would not have done your flowers and greens any good. Right now my goal is getting my house ready to put on the market. That date is March 1st. My movers are coming June 17th. Where's my magic wand that this is all done and I'm moved and settled into my new home? Anyway, aside from packing up the last zillion boxes of books to donate, I'm concentrating on depersonalizing and making things neat. I even have a cleaning crew coming at the end of the month. I am not very good at cleaning (there are so many other things that are much more interesting to do) so this is definitely needed. Thanks for asking!

    HUGS!

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  • Sloan15
    Sloan15 Member Posts: 896
    edited February 2016

    Peggy - March is a great time to start selling a house. Springtime gets everyone in the mood for wanting a change. In CA we put new plants at the front of the house for "curb appeal" to get people in rhe mood for change. Haha. I always wondered what I'd actually take with me if I moved across the country. I guess the "If it doesn't genuinely bring you joy..." concept was pretty helpful to you. Did I tell you my husband biught me that book after I told him about your comments? My problem is that I'm so practical and think, "Someday I might need..." I'm sure the book can help me. Regarding your new city, it'll be neat to look around until you find a place that speaks to your needs. Fun, actually, since you are retired and there's no rush to get in a place! I have a tendancy to want to "nest," and I would have to be careful to not get impatient and settle on a place. Will you live with your sin until you get a place or just rent what you can until you find something? This is exciting!

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  • Sloan15
    Sloan15 Member Posts: 896
    edited February 2016

    Okay all --or "all y'all" in celebration of my upcoming visit to Texas, haha --I meet with my MO on the 16th. What questions should I be asking? I'm need to start writing them down. I'm 7 months post surgery, 1 1/2 months on Tamoxifan. I'm sure they'll do blood work on tumor markers but anything I should be asking for?

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited February 2016

    Sloan, my MO doesn't do blood work. From what I recall, tumor markers for BC aren't very reliable in most cases. I didn't have any specific questions at that time.

    I'm also a nester. I'm a July (Cancer) baby and that seems to be part of our make up. Part of my problem has been that "I might need it someday" mentality - it's really hard to shake. That's why the "sparks joy" was such a help to me. It de-railed that thought. Once it was pretty well eliminated it was much easier. I still have moments since I don't know exactly what my life will be like in Spokane so I'm keeping some things that I probably don't need. I hope to have a home lined up by the time the movers arrive. I could live with my son, I suppose but the cat and dog would be a challenge - they have 2 cats and 2 dogs. I hope that the book helps you. It's hard at first.

    HUGS!

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  • Moondust
    Moondust Member Posts: 510
    edited February 2016

    Sandy, I just realized you are in Chicago when you mentioned Evanston. My brother and his family live there. They used to own Rose's Wheat Free Bakery. I haven't told my brother about my Dx yet. Hey, if we can get younger each year by moving down under, let's start packing!

    Mel, you are absolutely beautiful! You will never lose your femininity. My self-image problem is kind of opposite. To everyone else I was the strong and healthy one; now I'm the one with cancer and feel like I've let them all down.

    Peggy, you sound like me in the home cleaning and organizing dept. You are probably great at cleaning when you choose to do it, but there's too many better things to do. I am trying to purge things after a lifetime of the "might need it some day" mentality. I've done pretty well with clothes, but I've got sooo much other stuff. Right now I'm still working 3 days a week. When I finally make a total break with my job (in July) I'll really buckle down and get to work on the house. I decided that having a totally clean and organized house is an item on my bucket list.

    ((HUGS)) to everyone!

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited February 2016

    Alice, I had those thoughts too when I was abruptly laid off at 65 (from a job I wasn't fond of). Two months later, DH had his heart attack. And then I was his fulltime caregiver. So never got around to cleaning. Not sure I would have anyway. I actually preferred my original thought - stay put, die and let the kids sort it all out. That hasn't worked out since I'm not staying put and don't intend to die for a great many years. But the appeal of letting the kids have at it is still there! Too bad I'm doing their work for them. At least I'm cleaning and decluttering for a good reason - moving to be near a kid!

    HUGS!

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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited February 2016

    10:38 am and it is 76 degrees in downtown LA! This is crazy. Where did our El Nino go??? Peggy, I think I will try that method of getting rid of things on my DH. He's a hoarder. I have told him many times that the only thing between him and full blown hoarding is ME!

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited February 2016

    Molly, that's my kind of weather. Windchill of 8 isn't :( Good luck with DH. He's gotta wanna change and that sounds like a big obstacle from what you wrote.

    HUGS!

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  • Melclarity
    Melclarity Member Posts: 388
    edited February 2016

    You guys are the best!!!! THANK YOU!!!!! Peggy NOW its my birthday haha!!! yay!!!

    Moondust - Awww you havent let anybody down, the focus is merely on you solely right now, take the time to make it all about you, that's the whole point. Ive always been like you, the strong healthy one!! even through all my treatments both 4yrs ago and now, everyone would say how wonderful I looked, would never believe I had BC, would never believe I was going through rads and Chemo. How you look on the outside doesnt count for how I felt inside and physically...I guess I thought it odd peoples perception. I think when I talk about losing myself and femininity it was about the Chemo it was a hard 5 months, to see myself like that out the other side..all be it a WIG LOL, I felt like I had a beautiful piece of me back. It was so incredibly personal...I want her to take some very raw shots too, for me with my crew cut LOL and my scars...because they too are beautiful..


    GOSH I need days to read all these posts uuugh!!!! to catch up!! your converation keeps moving too fast LOL. Have a great day everyone!! Im going to have some quality time with my daughter. Drive to a mountain hot chocolate and cake...enjoy the view and breathe....this is where my soul soars!!!


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  • MabelJo
    MabelJo Member Posts: 25
    edited February 2016

    I need to throw and scream and yell at things!

    My surgeon called, my excisional biopsy results had to be sent out for a second opinion. Apparently they didn't look much different than the core biopsy, but still weird enough they couldn't call it ADH or ALH.

    This is annoying me beyond belief. I know they want to be thorough but GAHHHHH

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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited February 2016

    Hugs, MabelJo

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  • Melclarity
    Melclarity Member Posts: 388
    edited February 2016

    MabelJo - I know how incredibly frustrating!!! the excisional biopsy is the most important one, hang in there til those results are final. xx


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