IBC lounge: roll call, support and just a good place to hang out

Meadow

Good day to all my friends! As promised, this is a picture of our little camper we had restored this spring. We love it! It had been in my husband's family for years, and had fallen into disrepair...it was just about gone from all hope! But a friend took on the challenge and now it is back in action. We hope to use it for many years. It is a 1968 Serro Scotty. I will post some pics of the inside.

On another note, I too am thinking of Purple, and miss her. Thank you all for continuing this board in it's reinvented form, we are a true family of support.

Meadow

Meadow

Meadow

Scwilly

Meadow - what a beautiful and homely caravan. Enjoy allyour trips in it!

Noor46

What a beautiful caravan Meadow! The interior is splendid. Reminds me of the caravan we had when I was a child, but ours was not that beautiful though.

Traveltext, very good article on male bc

Only 2 days left to work before holidays. Looking forward to spend them with my children, who are studying in the Netherlands, so I don't see them as often as I would like.

Noor

Traveltext

Wow, Meadow, that's a classic 50-years-young van that's been beautifully restored. So much character and love the teal interior. Happy travels.

Valstim52

Wow Meadow. It is stunning. It could be in a holiday magazine!!! Happy travels. So good to hear from you.

TT a wonderful article....

MoreShoes

Wow! What a beautiful camper! I love the teal, it's so joyful. Have a great time!

minimoocher

As my kids would say OMG Meadow! The camper van is amazing. I was born in '68 so it's pushing fifty like me. You have done a great job on the interior. I love it. Wishing you many happy years of rambling and exploring.

TT, thanks for the link to the articles. You write so well. I think you should write a book.... Bet I am not the first person to say that to you.

On the health front had routine echo cardiogram yesterday, all fine. So next Kadcyla on Tuesday.

Best wishes to all. Enjoy your holidays and short breaks,

Mini x

Traveltext

Meadow, I think we are unanimous in thinking your cute caravan has a huge wow factor.

Mini, woohoo for the good ecg, coming up for a year on the Kadcyla.

I used to write travel guide books for Fodors and other publishers, so writing a book on my cancer "journey" would be a hoot. Perhaps call it something like: Fear and Loathing in BCville.

amarantha

Meadow, I am in love with your caravan, what a beautiful job you have done restoring it. My husband will be too jealous, so I am not showing him the photos !!!

Meadow

You guys are so sweet, thanks! So, today is my 4 year Cancerversary, 4 years ago I was diagnosed with IBC. I did not know if I would see another year. Now heading strongly into year 5! I am blessed beyond words to be here with you all, my dear family of support. Thank you all so much for the constant support, the humor, the wisdom, the soft spot to land. Love you all.

mara51506

Great to hear Meadow! Five years sounds great to me as well.

Kicks

Ya'll better get your Scotty up here to He Sapa (Lakota for Black Hills) so we can get together. 4 yrs ago this month I was where you are now - 4 yrs post DX. Now 8 yrs post DX so you have to do another 4 (at least).

(edited for typo - He Sapa is the Black Hills - not Black Bills as I typed. Some may have seen it written as Paha Sapa but that is incorrect. Sapa is black and paha is a single hill/mountain, he is a group of hills/mountains so in Lakota He Sapa is correct for the Hills. I'm taking Lakota language classes.)

Meadow

You got it! I would love to make that trip!

Valstim52

Yay Meadow. Kicks add me to the trip. When I found this thread I didn't think I'd make a year. Then I saw other TN's surviving and I thought, ok I can too. So far so good.

IntegraGirl

Hi there,

I'm new to the group but have been lurking for awhile. I have TN IBC and recently learned that chemo (finished Aug 1) wasn't completely successful. I've been feeling pretty discouraged about the whole thing so it's good to read posts from others who have TN IBC, like Meadow, and carrying on.

Traveltext

Welcome IntegraGirl.

Valstim, Meadow, MoreShoes and Amaranthra are all TNs contributing here, but first you have to scroll up and say "wow" to Meadow's stunningly renovated caravan

IntegraGirl

I do love Meadow's awesome caravan:). I'm a fellow RV'er but mine isn't nearly that fabulous

Traveltext

OK, you're in the club IG. All questions welcome.

Valstim52

Integragirl. Hate you are here, but welcome, this is the best place. Most TN's don't get what is called a pcr. Don't despair (easier said than done) because treatment is a total process, chemo, surgery if possible and radiation is the mop up of cells that still may be lurking. Most of us have had sucess with this treatment. Yes we are counting months and years, but the important thing is we are still around to count. I'm still a newbie but coming up in November on 2 years. When first dx'd, I didnt think I'd make it to surgery.

Meadow

Welcome Integragirl! TN IBC can be scary, if you read the stats particularly. So don't to that! The stats quoted are based on older data, and IBC is changing as treatments are better, chemo is more specific, treatments in general are working at giving people their good health back. Like Val said above, treatment is a total process. are you scheduled for surgery and radiation? This one, two, three punch is really necessary for TN IBCers. Do not get discouraged, stay in a fighting, positive frame of mind. Love Heals. You can do this.

TT, you are so funny! You tickle me to no end!

Come on Val, let's go see Kicks!

Scwilly, Noor ,Moreshoes, Mini, Mara, Amarantha, and all who post here, lurk here, Thinking of you all. (((hugs))) to all.

Did everyone see the Eclipse? We had about 96% totality here in Missouri. I know we are a very international group...was the Eclipse visible where you all are? What about you TT?

Traveltext

Meadow, I see from your stats that you are now four years post diagnosis. Congrats.

I hope you can get persuade Val to go with you to see Kicks.

No eclipse in Australia this year. Think I'll catch the one coming my way in 2030. It's in the diary!

Kicks

Hey Traveltext! You need to plan on coming up to the States for April 8, 2024. That's when we will have our next Solar Eclipse. It will go from Texas up to the New England area (NY, Conn., Mass. RI, VT, NH, Maine).

We were 95% here.

Traveltext

Thanks Kicks, that's in the diary as well. My partner is from Maine and she's planning to go visit relatives in the coming years.

Beatmon

The lady who checks you in for CT at my hospital told me today that her mom had lumpectomy and chemo at 85 years of age with pathology of IBC. The pathologists and surgeons didn't believe it....restested. She is now 92 and still up and about, only complaint is she needs more energy. Her daughter says she reminds her she is 92. It started with a rash and then a big lump appeared before she showed her daughter.

I thought some of you IBC ladies would be interested in her diagnosis with this at such a late stage in her life and how well she has done. No recurrence so far.

IntegraGirl

Thanks for the encouragement Meadow. I had a US on my other breast yesterday and apparently it's trying to kill me too . Anyway, surgery is scheduled for the 31st. I don't know that my frame of mind can be described as positive but I'm not playing in traffic yet so that's a win .

Eclipse was 80% in Calgary. I had friends in the path of totality post pictures yesterday. That would have been something to see live

Traveltext

IG, BCO has a good lot of info on IBC HERE. Follow the links to treatment pages as well.

Meadow

beatmom, thank you so much for sharing this story! I appreciate hearing of this little lady and her success so much!