I think I have a problem

Sending prayers and good thoughts and cyber hugs that all goes smoothly with rads and that the Avastin keeps you dancing with NED.  I hear he's quite a dancer.  (Be sure to get some good cream for your skin during rads.)

DearAnnie,

i'm glad that you got Dr. Lisa Carey into the loop, consulting with your bs  You are in a good situation now!  See, you can do it.  You can email, phone, use your charm(s) and all the resources you have, to get what you need.  You will continue to do so, even if you break with "authority."  FAR TOO OFTEN PEOPLE WHO ARE IN AUTHORITY JUST LEARNED HOW TO MANIPULATE/WORK THE SYSTEM WELL.  Don't get me wrong, there are wonderful human beings who are also doctors and are close to being angels on earth...but not always.

So Annie, just take it one day, one test, one procedure at a time. Be super good to Annie.  Be the perfect mother (to Annie) the one no one on earth ever had.  We are all praying for you. I think that you have a wonderful ability to touch the humanity in people and we all so much want for you to regain your health.  Stay in our large elephantine circle and when you are tired, feel us all holding you up.  I do hope we don't have to travel a lot in the future.  That last session in the OR was wall-to-wall elephants and it got kind of crowded in there.

With trunkfuls of healing tricks for your ongoing strength,

femme and the pachyderms 

Hi Annie , you sure are in my daily prayers. Onward and upward dear sister. I'm glad to here your docs got Dr. Carey involved. Yes , take a break from the "pink" stuff. I love red , how bout you!?

Take care Annie. xxxx Melody

Hey Annie,

I"ll be at my studio in Paris from late December to mid - January.  Wouldn't it be a great thing if we were able to meet up there?  Let's try to keep this as a goal. Remember you said a few months ago that you wanted to be in Paris during Christmas time?  I remember... 

No pressure, if not this trip then another time.  It would be so beautiful if we could meet on L'ile St. Louis, both of us with ice cream cones in our hands and snow flakes on our coats. (Maybe you can keep this image as you go through AND GET THROUGH, treatment).

A Paris, a bientot, et a votre sante,

femme 

Annie, why did your bs say you can't do chemo & rads at the same time?

VickiG, I don't think I've ever heard of anyone doing chemo and radiation at the same time. I would think the chemo would suppress your immune system and make it more likely for you to get an infection if your skin burns from the radiation.

Annie, sounds like you've got a good plan in place. My first tumor was medullary, which rarely travels. My second tumor was IDC! (Both triple-neg, though.) I feel a lot safer now that I no longer have any more "traitorous" breast tissue!

--CindyMN

Aw, Annie...  I don't think there is anything I can say right now that would help you through this.

Aren't you right in the middle of rads???   What kind of biopsy?  Sheesh.  I don't even know where to start.

Has anyone thought maybe a contrast MRI might highlight those new areas, if they are really tumors?  Heck, I'm just grasping here...I don't know what to say.

This just sux.  Really, really big time. 

Annie, I wish I could zip over there and hug you.  No, that would not be a good idea.  If I happened to meet your surgeon, I might end up doing something I would regret.  I've heard those Texas prisons can be really nasty.

I've regained most of my strength and energy since chemo, so I'm bunching it up and sending it to you, 'cause you need it more.  Here it comes:  zzzzzzzzzztttzzzzzzzztttzzzzzzzzttt...

Remember all of us she-elephants ("elephant cows" just doesn't work for me) are there for you to lean on.

Big hugs, Annie...

otter 

Oh, dear Lord...

I am praying for you, big-time.

You will manage Houston, I promise you.  When did you start at the university you are at now?  "I am not a lawyer," but it seems to me you are eligible for the Family Medical Leave Act -- which means that you are entitled to up to 12 weeks of leave to take care of your own serious illness.  Even if they don't count your months in North Africa as "working for the university," if you worked there in Laredo the year before, I think you have worked there long enough to be eligible (federal website says you have to have worked for the employer for 12 months, and they don't have to have been consecutive months).

http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/fmla/

I didn't even know about the FMLA until after I'd been hounded back to work...  but I really think you might have more employment/insurance rights and security than you think, even before tenure decision is made.

Of course, in any event you need to get the best medical care...  but it may be that it will sit better with your continued employment than you think.

Also, these people may be of help -- a pro bono law project devoted to ensuring the rights of people with cancer: http://www.disabilityrightslegalcenter.org/about/cancerlegalresource.cfm

They now have an intake form online that you can fill out, rather than leave a voicemail.

I am so pissed off to hear about these lumps!  I refuse to say "crushed."  I was crushed when you got your dx in late February, now I am just really angry that you have been bearing the brunt of this battle without an "up-armored Humvee" if you know what I mean. 

Love you -- we MUST win this war, MUST.

Ann

Annie, I'm floored!  What incompetence! You've been through too much to have this happen now.

I hope they are removed with minor consequences. {{{{{Hugs}}}}}.

Annie,

Came here to check up on how you're doing, and was shocked and saddened to read these last few posts. I don't even know what to say. Lots of good advice here, and nothing you can do but take it one hour/minute/second at a time and keep moving forward.

I have a CD made by one of the ladies here, back from a time when there was a thread chock full of friendship, love and support. Here are some of the words of a country song on that CD by I have no idea who (not a country music fan), but I always play it at least 3 times, and tears of sadness, but also of fight and determination, stream down my face every single time.

I looked it up, it's Rodney Atkins...

Well you know those times
When you feel like there's a sign there on your back
Says I don't mind if ya kick me
Seems like everybody has
Things go from bad to worse
You'd think they can't get worse than that
And then they do

You step off the straight and narrow
And you don't know where you are
Use the needle of your compass
To sew up your broken heart
Ask directions from a genie
In a bottle of Jim Beam
And she lies to you
That's when you learn the truth

If you're going through hell
Keep on going, don't slow down
If you're scared, don't show it
You might get out
Before the devil even knows you're there

Well I been deep down in that darkness
I been down to my last match
Felt a hundred different demons
Breathing fire down my back
And I knew that if I stumbled
I'd fall right into the trap that they were laying, yeah

But the good news
Is there's angels everywhere out on the street
Holding out a hand to pull you back up on your feet
The one's that you've been dragginig for so long
You're on your knees
You maight as well be praying
Guess what I'm saying

If your going through hell
Keep on going, don't slow down
If you're scared don't show it
You might get out
Before the devil even knows you're there

Yeah, If you're going through hell
Keep on moving, face that fire
Walk right through it
You might get out
Before the devil even knows you're there

annie, what can I say about the new lumps, Please go to MDA for a consult and see what they have to say.

Sheila

Annie, Annie, Annie,

You have certainly traveled one of the bumpiest roads I've heard of lately. You are due for some smooth sailing. I hope MDA will at least point you in the right direction. And be totally honest with you about what you're up against.

You can't change where you've been, only where your'e going.

I think there's a book in this story. Have you given thought to writing one?

Anne

Tender and FlaLady make good points.  If it is possible to get a protocol from MD Anderson and any other places that are dedicated cancer centers of high regard, then have the consults via technology rather than taking to the highways and/or airways. It would be better if you could stay at home and at your teaching  job. I think work and the distraction of it, is good at this time.

Sending out healing and strength vibes (and prayers) to you.

femme