April 2015 Chemo Crew... Starting in April? Please join us!

Stephmoen

went to dr just my primary he could barely feel what I feel but he said its too low to be a lymph node and just feels like a small lipoma or nodule but I'm following up with my oncologist and surgeon but I'm feeling better no xanax today

littleblueflowers

Yes!!!!! Bet it's scar tissue!

Ok so I looked at my buff....looked at my chest...lightbulb! Could I wear the Buff as a tube top??? Wiggle wiggle....yup. it makes a great tube top! Oh shit. I'm stuck in it. Didn't count on my post mastectomy t Rex arms to fail me. Heeeeeeelllllllpppppp!!!!!

ksusan

Jen, try pulling down to your feet, not up, to get the Buff off. Good idea, though!

Stephmoen

What's everyone doing with their hair mine is kinda growing out and curly I try pulling off the Mohawk

ksusan

Looking great, Steph! Mine is Jewfro/Q-tip style.

Jackbirdie

Steph- you are DEFINITELY pulling it off.

Ks- haha. You too. And even better with the coconuts and grass skirt, though the moniker might have to change!

ksusan

It's all about how confidently one presents oneself.

littleblueflowers

Aka fake it till you make it 😉

Steph, you look great! You could totally put some fun colors in it and go total hipster mom lol. Mine, I look like Einstein when I wash it, so I don't wash it and it looks much better/more intentional. Next month, I'm doing galaxy colors or leopard spots, so my oppinion may be suspect.

lovlilynne

Hi ladies, I've had a nice, relaxing long weekend. We had our neighbors over on Friday night, but otherwise didn't have anything planned. My DS went back to college tonight. I'll miss him, but he'll be back in ~3 weeks for Washington's birthday long weekend.

So, here's my crazy town story. The journey to crazy town started when someone from my other online group asked for some ideas in supporting a friend who was going to be going through treatment for esophageal cancer. I started a reply with my usual suggestions, but then realized that I didn't know if esophageal cancer had similar treatment and side effects as bc, so I decided to look it up online. That led me to read that one of the symptoms of esophageal cancer is having hiccups when you eat. And there I was in the middle of crazy town because I've been having hiccups when I eat quite regularly (but not always). I've been able to talk myself out of staying in CT for a period of time, hoping that the hiccups symptom would go away, but it hasn't. What do you think? Something that I should make a special call about to MO, or just wait for follow up and if it's still happening, mention it?

On another topic, on Saturday, I'll be attending a fund raiser for a friend of a friend who is going through BC treatment, which is my cancerversary (if you count biopsy results as that date). I don't really care. I rounded up my caps to give to her. I've let her know that I have a Neulasta shot to donate, but she hasn't taken me up on it yet.

My first follow up isn't for a couple of weeks - my mammogram on 2/4. My sister just volunteered to go with me, but honestly I was just going to go by myself. I'll see if we can turn it into something fun by going out after the appointment - we may as well because I'll be caught in rush-hour traffic.

Lorraine, how was you appointment?

I'm going on my first plane ride since DX - unfortunately not anything fun, I have to travel to NC for work. I'll fly out tomorrow and be back on Thursday. It should go smoothly. I'm looking forward to getting some studying done for my PMP exam that I'm sitting for at the end of the month. I'm getting nervous about that since I haven't had time to study.

Best to all,

Lynne

Stephmoen

going to surgeon office in an hour to check that "lymph node" or whatever it is..I feel a little like throwing up damn you cancer

ThePrincess

Steph - first off, love your hair! I wish I could pull that off! Secondly - good luck today!

ThePrincess

Anyone that's HER2+ - your MO disucss neratinib with you?

KBeee

Steph, Keep us posted. Hopefully they make sure the palpable area is not somethign on your thyroid. Thyroid nodules nad breast cancer seem to go hand in hand with many women. Thankfully, most thyroid nodules are benign.

Lynne, I am sure the hiccups are likely nothing, but a phone call to MO is free. It's worth the peace of mind to report any odd symptoms.

littleblueflowers

Steph, good for you for getting it checked out all the way. Ha! I totally want to barf before checks! Just wait until he is digging it out under a local making fight club jokes.....you will never see chicken the same way again...

Stephmoen

yay she did an ultrasound said they were normal size and shape just still slightly reactive from surgery and that she took out fat during surgery so they are a little more palpable she also set up an official ultrasound at the hospital to make me feelbetter she knows I'm a little crazy

Stephmoen

I just kept having visions of going back in chemo I don't think I could do it not this soon at least

Stephmoen

princess I am her 2 pod and never heard of neratanib I will ask her about it tomorrow is it a trial

littleblueflowers

Good Steph. You did everything right. No more effing chemo, ya here? I know it was fun, but enough is enough!

ksusan

Good news, Steph!

I have a voice message from what I think is my old radiology place wanting me to schedule. I'm guessing they think I am still mammogram-capable. Hah! Hah! I look forward to our conversation tomorrow.

Positive_spirit

Steph...gorgeous. And did I read correctly that you had some palpable, normal stuff...but an ultrasound will confirm that it is indeed normalish? Well now! Strut your stuff after you are in the clear.

Lynne...sorry about crazy town. When the mind goes there, we just need to shake ourselves out of it. And yet, totally worth getting every damn thing checked?

Ksusan...yep, I also got called in for a mammo. I like your laugh. . The dialogue in my mind: Wait a minute, you want my boobs? Well, I think they are in storage somewhere at Mass General. Want me to track them down so that they can get a mammo? I haven't talked to them in a year, but I'll ask them what they think about that suggestion. Last time they had a mammo, it did not go so well for them or me. Remember?

Littleblue...you crack me up!

Ok....so I had a field day with makeup, nails and hair....

Positive_spirit

before

After

Hair by: Aaron Pic

nails by: Thao Luu

Make up by: Toni Lou

Photo by: Nora Tang

All from refugee families....and done for free...and such loving people. There are good people out there, really good people.

ksusan

Ooh, mama!

Stephmoen

beautiful positive spirit!!!!

Positive_spirit

my hair and makeup and photo team want to start something for women who have had breast cancer ... They want to work with what is and accentuate the positive aspects.

KBeee

great news Steph!

I want to be on speakerphone when KSusan calls back about the mammo! I want to hear that conversation!

Positive, you look stunning!!!

ksusan

Well, gee, they can't figure out who called me or why.

• Clinic: "We last saw you on January 9th for a breast biopsy."
• Me: "And what were you scheduling when you called me yesterday?"

• "I can't tell who called you or why."
• I then explained that I had already told them once before to remove me from their list. I said I had had a bilateral mastectomy and had no breasts anymore.

• "Do you have your native nipples?"*
• "No, I have no breasts, and I've asked you before not to contact me again. Not only do I have no breasts, but the radiologist read me incorrect results that were different from the report, and this has caused me to have no trust in this clinic. I should not have to tell you again that I do not need or want any contact from your clinic."

To her credit, she agreed, apologized, and said she'd take me off their list (again).

*What I should have said is something like, "No, they've completely acculturated."

littleblueflowers

Positive, you are a hoot! Boobs? Hey, boobs! Also, you are beautiful, what a great thing your team is doing for people!

slothabouttown

Native nipples!? Sounds like the name of an artisanal froyo shop.

littleblueflowers

ksusan- ROFL!!!!

Jackbirdie

positive- you look absolutely beautiful! You have much to accentuate, and it's lovely to be part of such a lovely and healing idea.

Ks- so glad you could get a laugh out of that and treat us to one. But shameful for them. Only proves your distrust of them is merited. Mistakes like reading wrong results over the phone could have catastrophic results. Maybe after this they'll get their act together.