HI - I'm new here

catlady44

I'm just saying hello for the first time. I just joined this website looking for emotional support and cancer information. I've been too sick and live too far away to really attend an actual support group, so that's why I'm here. This is a scary thing to go through and I already had anxiety and depression in my past. Overall, that's going better than I expected, but it's a roller coaster anyway which I've heard is pretty normal. If you want you can check out my bio for more info. I'm trying really hard to "stay positive" although some days that means barely moving due to fatigue. I'm actually a nice compassionate person and look forward to hearing from people!

Beachbum1023

Hi catlady, welcome! You will find a lot of comfort and support here, and you can visit 24 hours a day. I read you bio, but was curious where you are in treatment. You can add the info so more ladies can help you. There are a lot of threads, and many wonderful women for you to chat with. Let us know what we can do to help you!

Ariom

Hi catlady and welcome! Sorry you've had to join us but very glad you found us, as you will get support and advice if you want it. There are many women here, who will come to your side to share their experiences. If you are willing to enter your Dx and details, it will make it easier for others to know which areas, you may find interesting.

You're not wrong about it being a roller-coaster!

I wish you all the best and look forward to seeing you on the boards.

Edited to say, posting at the same time as Beachbum, so have given same advice.

Moderators

Hello Catlady,

You're very welcome to the BCO community!

The women and men here are amazing and we hope you can draw the strength you need from them.

If you need help around the boards at all feel free to send us a private message.

Best wishes to you

The mods.

scvmom65

Hi Catlady,

Welcome! This is a great site for information and for hope. Lots of great people on here who have walked the path many years ahead of all of us and are willing to share. Best of luck to you!

Anna

dlb823

Welcome, catlady44! So glad you've found BCO, and sorry to hear you've been so sick. Is that from chemo? (Your bio page doesn't yet tell us when you were diagnosed or at what point you are in treatment.) Anyway, I hope you find all the support you want and need here! For many of us, BCO has truly been a lifeline of information and support. (((Hugs))) Deanna

NatsFan

Welcome, catlady44! I'm a cat lover too - currently I don't share my home with any cats, but I've been owned by quite a few cats in the past! This is a great place for support and hugs. Please feel free to share, vent, laugh, moan, weep, chuckle, and do anything else you need to - this is a safe place to share with a bunch of us who truly "get it" about what being dx with cancer is all about. Also, there's no need to "stay positive" all the time - that can be exhausting. Go ahead and throw something now and then!

Rosevalley

Howdy! Welcome. I have 3 cats and 3 dogs.. love them both.. 3 kids too. Sorry you had need to find us. I know exactly how hard it is to watch a Grandmother die of breast cancer mine died of IBC when I was young. Never forgot it. Very cool that you sing in a music group - early music or just sacred music? What kinds of treatment are you going through? Vent as needed post and chat. No one knows what it's like in Cancerland except the folks who live it.

If you want diversion and silliness the Warm fuzzy thread is a smile maker! Highly recommend it.

catlady44

Oops sorry the delay in responding! I wasn't sure what to include in my bio, so I'll have to amend that. I was diagnosed with stage II invasive ductal carcinoma in early November. It's an aggressive form so I'm having chemo first which began early December. I'm going to the KU Cancer Center in Westwood, KS which has been awesome! It's funny that I actually worked in that building before KU bought it out! I just completed the 12th Taxol treatment last week. I start the A/C treatments next Tues and am COMPLETELY freaked out about it because they said the side effects would be a lot worse. I'll be getting 4 of those chemos spaced every other week. First week of June I'll have a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction. I'm not sure whether I'm having radiation or not, but either way I'll have 10 years of hormone therapy afterwards. The cancer is responding extremely well to chemo - the breast tumor has shrunk to between 1/3 to 1/2 the original size and the lymph nodes are no longer palpable. Yea!

The horrific part of my grandmother's death was because she was a victim of the pharmacist who diluted the infusion drugs. Her last year she was receiving only about 1% of the actual medication. He was diluting all of the pre meds as well so she received nothing for nausea, etc. Her cause of death is listed as malnutrition, which was a shocking thing for us to find out! He's in prison now and we got a huge settlement, but we could care less about the money. There's no way to replace her and no way for him to ever have a punishment harsh enough to account for his actions.

I have only one cat now because she's such a little diva and would freak out if another cat crossed her path. I'm dying to start hoarding wiener dogs, but I'll have to move into a house first. Diva cat will just have to deal with that one. My choir sings early sacred music, so yes to both! If we're lucky we may get to do something a little newer than Mozart, but it's fun either way. The people are all equally weird (including me) and I love that all by itself!

sorry that got long.......thanks for everyone's response!

Nomatterwhat

Welcome Catlady.  We are neighbors!!!!  I live in Grain Valley Missouri and use St. Mary's in Blue Springs and used Centerpoint in Independence for my chemo.  You really are in great hands with KU Cancer Center, one of the best Centers around and my RO is a part of KU Cancer Institute.  I am sure KU has support groups at their Center or even at the KU Hospital, ask your doctors.  I remember that pharmacist who diluted those drugs, he was truly a deranged person.  I am sorry your grandmother was one of his victims.  Join us, look around, get comfortable and know we are here to help, listen and laugh with you.  Be aware of the weather this weekend.  It sure looks to get nasty. 

Rosevalley

Wow lots of folks talking about the weather. This has been some winter. I can't imagine going to treatment in all that please be careful. It must be so fun to sing a group like that. Your diva cat sound like our youngest.. a Siamese mix with piercing light blue eyes..what a pistol our Emmy cat is! I hope you score a rambunctious doxie to chase your diva around the house! The long haired ones are so cute!

catlady44

I'm not driving in this mess! I've totaled enough cars (being young and stupid) and I figure I have enough problems without adding an injury to this!

No matter what - how cool you live around here! I actually live in Raymore, but I figure most people know Kansas City and I basically grew up there. Who's your RO? There are a ton of support groups around here, but the issue is feeling well enough to attend or being able to get a ride. I'm too dizzy, chemo brained and tired to drive very far. I may check in to the local hospital which is nearby.

Stay safe and warm everybody!

Nomatterwhat

What a mess it was on Sunday!!!!  The snow melted quickly, but it still caused a lot of problems.  I went to Dr. Keleti.  Super doctor!!!! 

Check in with the local hospital, they should be able to help with something close.  We have support groups sponsored by our mammogram clinic here in Blue Springs. 

catlady44

Will do - thx!