Starting chemo Dec 2007

Suz, HOLY COW!!! What a ship!!! That should be a blast. You totally deserve it, so no surprise there, but did I mention... HOLY COW!!!! What a ship. I really can't wait to see the pictures. Good luck with the hair decision. And I'm so glad to hear you are still recovering well. 

Wishiwere, lovely gesture, the flowers you received. How thoughtful of them to think of you.

Amy, nice to see ya. I really do love your avatar pic... you look so impish.

Kimbly, good luck with the new baby I love dogs, so am really happy for you. Please share cute puppy stories.

Joy, hope things are ok for you.

I dressed up for Halloween at the library. Since I have such short hair, I tried to think of a costume to go with the hair. I haven't posted pictures here since I stopped my website, so I need to create a free photo account somewhere... any recommendations? I'd really like to post my Halloweenie pic.

Decided not to get the genetic test done. My sister already did it, no other sisters, mom already dead. And I've already decided to get my ovaries removed regardless of what the test would say, and I've already had both breasts removed, so the test seemed kinda pointless. I'm pretty practical when it comes to things like this... don't waste the money. Have an appointment with gynecologist this week to discuss my plans.

Gotta go. Lemme know if anyone has recommendation for photo site. 

Big hugs, Sal 

Hey Kim congrats on the new four legged addition to the family. I know how much Sophie helped me get through everything this last year. I hope Scout brings as much love and joy into your home and lives as Sophie does to ours.

Amy and Wishiwere, you are so lucky to be beyond that first "cut" I think its the scariest and cant make up my mind. Since I dont have a tatoo yet of my ladybug Im trying to head to a salon to have my toenails done like this pic 

Isnt it just the cutest.

I passed my surgery date Oct 19, so thats good to have behind me. And we are all gonna be into the Dec deal....... Its the month that I met the most amazing kindhearted and strong group of women that I will probably ever meet in my life again. Hugs and forever friendship to you all!

I go to the abreast in a boat meeting the day after I get back from my trip. I am really looking forward to it. Im in need of a good monitored safe enviroment workout. And this one sounds perfect for me. Time to fly as I need to get some paperwork done, Love, light and hugs to you all, Suz

Lol, how is it I missed this page???

Sal I use photobucket for most of my pics. I also upload them from my facebook albums. I would love to see your halloween pics. I used to go all out with costumes, but since Aaron is older now and I dont go to the school dressed up, I bypassed it again. Maybe next year I'll have an adults costume party. Its always been one of my favorite holidays.

So no genetic testing for you.. thats sounds very rational with the situation your dealing with. Your right since your going ahead with the surgery anyway, not really much point. I havent heard back from any of my sisters if they had it done. And I dont want to pry either.

Kim, Im not sure about the tattoo. I wanted to wait no matter what until all surgery was done. And then with the scare on the right side, I had thoughts of more drastic surgery and reconstruction. Now I think I'll revisit it after I get back from vacation. So toenails will have to do for now. Personally I think they are just the cutest thing. Hopefully I can find a salon that can do them that pretty.

And........I think I just might go for it with the hair. I cant seem to style it. 4 sleeps to decide Lots of love and hugs, Suz 

Have to tell you, this stuff mine told me to use is fantastic!  It's a liquid (like water)product made by Phyto Organics. It's called Omnistyler, a styling liquid. I absolutely love it!  You put it on damp hair after rubbing it between your hands vigorously.  Then after it dries it kind of a wet look, but holds firm. Although after it dries, I lightly comb it out so it looks more natural, but still hold really great.  The best thing about it too, is that if during the day or evening it starts looking out of place or you need to restyle a touch, you just dampen your hands and rework it!  I love this stuff!

Believe me, I'm there, holding your hand and extending a heartfelt {{hug}} be/c it was the scariest thing, trusting someone to touch it after it was finally growing in.  But I have to say, my lady (who's done my hair for 20 years, but it's been long and straight for 20 years, did a great job.  Didn't really cut much, but did trim here and there, like over my ears where I was getting these little flippers   She didn't even charge me it was so little cut.  She's so sweet.  We were both in tears as I told her what I'd been through outside their salon. I couldn't do it inside, b/c I knew I'd break down, so we stepped out back   Anyway....she was so very helpful, b/c like I said, I'm one for long straight hair and never fussed much with it really, so I had NO idea what to do with it.  She really helped me out that day!  And I've loved it since.  Almost not looking forward to going back to straight hair, but I know it's coming soon. 

Just voted and the lady at the registration made a comment about how much my hair had changed since april when the pic was taken! HA!  They used the pic from 4 years ago, so I was thankful it wasn't the bald pic I had feared I'd have for 4 years!  Whew!

I'll be right there with you thursday Kimbly!

So? Did you get your nails done too?   You'll have to post a pic when you get time away from your great vacation!  Can't wait to hear about that!  So, don't forget pics of the nails and hair while you are relaxing poolside, thinking about us, but of course!   Have a safe trip if we don't get a chance to tell you before you sail!

Shoot, I have facebook, just forget to check it untill a family member sends one of those danged pokes or such.  So many nieces and nephews from 8-28 on there, I'd be afraid to share it with anyone!  You know the things kids think are so important to share with the world?  Like their feeble thoughts of know how and what not?  It's funny sometimes, but really gets on the old lady nerves some days.  Guess that's why we have kids when we are young hey?  To tolerate them, rather than eat them! ROFL

Suz I know you are off on your amazing trip, I know you are having an amazing time and cannot wait to see pictures and hear of your adventure when you get back. What an awesome hubby you have!! I did go ahead and get my hair cut as well on Thursday and it sounds as if I had the same done as you, she cut quite a bit off the back and left the top aside from triming the uneven bits. Also around my ears.  I get tons of compliments on the short hair from people that have no idea that it was not my choice so I do feel okay. HOWEVER ... my goal is to have hair at least chin length or above my shoulders again with side swept bangs. Now if only those friggin bangs would grow! Why is it that that part takes so long!

I am on facebook as well and anyone who wants to join is so welcome to look me up. I cannot believe it has been a year (almost) since my diagnosis already.  We have all come so far.  Don't you all find that you are such a stronger more confident person now? I certainly am.. Not so afraid of what people think of me anymore I guess. Life is too short! 

Our new puppy is keeping me really busy btw.. he is crazy! help lol 

I went to a bc support meeting this week ( most were at least 10 years old than me there as it was the regular group and not the young survival ) to listen to a dr from my cancer center talk about nutrition and environmental factors with breast cancer. She was really interesting.  

My son got a car this week as well, coincidentally on his 17th birthday! He is so excited and I am so nervous.. lol ahhh the joy of having teens.  

Love and hugs to all!!!! 

Hello ladies! I know, where the heck have I been....! ??!! I have checked in on your posts often, but have not logged in to post in ages....You all continue to inspire me, and I love reading your stories. I often wear the t-shirt  I made for the Susan G. Komen race I did last May, on which I have written all of your names. Everybody in my spinning class knows about you wonderful ladies!

Hit a speed bump...got something growing on left ovary (have been watching since June), and am going for LAVH tomorrow. Though it could be nothing more than a cyst, or cyst cluster, I have elected to do the full hysterectomy/bilateral salpingo-oophrectomy.. We are praying hard for an "all clear" pathology report, and an easy recovery. I feel great today, and am ready to get this over with tomorrow.

 Please know I think of you women everyday,really, and will continue to pray for cancer free days ahead. Lots of love, Cindy

My goodness, I'm away for a few days and we've got ladies trimming their hair, painting ther toenails, and going on cruises! Such lavishness. And darn right-- WE DESERVE IT!

Sorry to hear about your setback, Cindy. Sayin an extra prayer tonight that it's "just" a cyct and you'll be ok. Let us know and GOOD LUCK with the surgeries!!!!

Laura sounds incredibly busy with a million-and-one projects, but happy as a clam:-) Good for you!!

 Kimbly & WiW... our steadfast posters... it is always just such a comfort to see you ladies and Suz, chatting away on the forum. Like coming home to a warm, cozy house full of friends and loved ones that have kept dinner warm for you and have just been patiently waiting for you to come home

I'm a bit worried about Joy, but I keep hope that she's just found another forum to share with... others who are currently going through whatever she's going through... and she's recovering from her end of treatments. I hope and pray that is the case.

Weird that a few of you mentioned Facebook. I just set up an account this week. I tried to find Suz, but there were a pile of "Susan Holm"s and believe it or not, several of them live in Vancouver, BC! I'll have to wait until she returns from her trip to find her. But if you others want to "friend" me (is that the right term... I'm still such a newbie), go for it... just lemme know you're from here (BC forum), since if I don't recognize your name I might accidently decline your invite (and I don't mean to!!!) My name is Sally Bannen and I think I'm the only one listed... right now my avatar is a pink ribbon card (since today is my 1-year anniversay).

But anyway, I have two pics to share but I can't get them to work. I'll keep trying and post them when I can.

Hugs, Sally

Hello Ladies, Well Im back and had a fabulous time! Lol took over 500 pics so I got a few good ones. I quickly posted about 50 on facebook, but will be changing them around as I find the better pics. Its actually a lot of work to sort these all out, but I will eventually post a description for each of them.

Its so nice to here everyone check in, I went into the most beautiful very old church in Martinique and lit a candle for you all. It felt very special and very right.

Cindy, I hope you get the all clear!! I totally understand wanting to go ahead with the bilateral salpingo oopherectomy. Im not sure about the hysterectomy part of it as I had mine lapriscopically... so I just had the tubes and ovaries removed. Let us know how it goes and how your feeling.

Laura I here you on the haircut, but its not so bad. More than anything it just cleans up the style and looks like its on purpose. Not once did anyone think I had just finished a year of treatments and surgeries.

Sal, I sent you a friend request and added the names of the few Dec gals in case you were trying to find them. Facebook is pretty easy to navigate once you get used to it. Im still pretty new too, but Im having fun with it.

Wishiwere, I get tons of odd stuff from family as well, so no worries. I dont know what name to look you up under, but my profile pic is of me in a hammock right now (lol surprise) Im gonna need to shrink a few photo's before I can post them here.

Take care everyone and will ttys, Love and hugs Suz

Sent you ladies a pm with my facebook name, although I'm not certain how to do the request.  A niece set it up for me last winter and haven't used it much, but as you can see, my family does

Can't wait to see your pics Suz!   So glad you had a great time and could forget for a while!

As for me....had some bleeding on this darn arimidex a week ago saturday, so had an endo bx last thurs.  It was fine results, but he's still concerned about the bleeding and wants me to bring up the swollen lymph nodes at the top of my leg/groin area, so that appt is next week anyway...6 month f/u.  Then he's scheduling yet another danged TV/US!  UGH!!!!  Always freaking something.  So tired of this all, thought it was behind me as we all do!  But....we'll see.

Great news on your path reports!  Whoohooo!  As for the mass, been there 3 years ago with a cyst a little larger that was the mature something or other and they took the ovary.  What a much nicer feeling not having those pains from it twisting on itself.  Will this shrink on it's own? I thought the hemorrhagic ones had to be removed?  Then again, me and thinking sometimes don't get along LOL

Good luck either way.

Has anyone heard from Joy?  Is she just moved on to other threads I hope and everything is going well?

Oh geepers!  I said that when I was heading into surgery! I'd like to meet the person they building piece by piece when they are through with her!  Someone's playing God and creating a new female, only with failed parts!  3 years ago, in one surgery they took my right ovary and gall bladder and then last oct my left breast.  At least I don't walk with a gait to the left! LOL  But seriously....so many parts going out, you'd think we'd rattle when we walk, wouldn't you?

I'm seriously wishing I'd had the other ovary and uterus removed 3 years ago....Hindsight is so great!

Oh {{{{Kelly}}}} I am so sorry Joy is dealing with this, as well as all of you of course.  Please know you will be in each of our prayers and thoughts!  D*mn this breast cancer disease!  Please let us know with updates as you can how she is doing and give some {{huge hugs}} from us all.  We'll be watching for updates!