Any Hoosiers out there (Indiana)

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Hi jai1950 - Appears you are just starting on your journey; I've just finished my surgery, chemo, radiation, and now started Femara which prevents estrogen from being formed in our bodies. 

What did the onc say about chemo or rads? I had the Oncotype test done because my cancer grade was a 3, but lymph nodes clear - it showed a high chance or recurrence so I pretty much had to do chemo. I had radiation because I had a lumpectomy.

Mary 

Linda - 18 years! and it is back.... cancer stinks. No you are not alone; we are all fighting.

Mary 

Went to the Oncologist today.  I got good news, I don't have to take any chemo.  Just have to take Tamoxifen for five years.  I can do that.  Sure is better than chemo. 

Linda-- so sorry to hear about your mets.  I will remember you in my prayers.   Judy

Calling all breast cancer sisters in the midwest and beyond... can you do me a favor?  I know this is off the topic and I hope it's okay to post this but...I am trying to win a contest for my son (to meet his idol - Joe Perry, Aerosmith)... all you have to do is click on this link and click on the thumbs up icon to vote for our entry (legit site, legit contest, MOST deserving young man!)... can you please help me?  Just trying to bring a little joy into my son's life after all this depressing /chemo stuff... voting is only June 23-26... please vote?  It'll only take a second... help me bring joy to this boy!   Thank you so much!  P.S.  It says you can only vote once, but if you have more than one computer I think you can vote twice.. lol  We are only in second place by about 30 votes and voting ends Friday!!!

http://www.aeroforceone.com/index.cfm/pk/view/cd/NAA/cdid/1177058/pid/1175576

P.S... I'm a Hoosier.. I'll be back to meet you guys later... 

Hi to all you Hoosiers from a northern neighbour!

I'm always interested in learning about why the states have different monikers -- as in Empire State (NY), Keystone State (Penn).  Those I understand!  So here's the question:

Why is Indiana called the Hoosier State?

Cheers, Linda

P.S. I've been to Indianapolis

Hi Survivor07

I am not too far from you -  or from Cathey.  I had/have trouble finding local support and still working my Onc -  seeing number three today -  I am so tired of going in scared -  what will I find out he should have told me months ago? That is my pattern. I went to George Sledge, but his nurse was the pits at communication and he is never available.  A really nice man - knowledgeable - but he never ever sent me or my Onc a report as promised. $500.00 down the drain. I need the whole package - I have started a local support group on Meetup -  but in spite of lots of interest of those wanting support and sending them all invites, only two have joined anld they do not participate.. soo .. where are all the Hoosiers? Is there a secret society to which we are not invited??

Linda

I just found this thread. I live in Greenwood and after a bilateral mast in 2004 I am still doing fine. I did chemo, rads and finally recon in 2007. I was her2 3+ with 5 positive nodes.

DFW,

Just curious....how was reconstruction after 3 years?  Did you use expanders?  I have to wait 6-12 months after radiation to have mine.  In 2001 I had reconstruction at the time of mastectomy.  Not this time though--wasn't that lucky.

Survivor07,

My new Onc is with that group - LOL. It is Dr.Birhiray, and he is going to consult with my original Onc and give input on my treatment.  He figured out my original DX was Stage III -  I never asked then and they didn't tell me. although they didn't think I would survive, my tests came out well in the end and here I am:-)   Of course now 18 years later I am "out of the blue" Stage IV.  Anyway I was so glad to meet him and his staff are super.  He knew about every topic,study and trial I brought up and is looking at some treatment I know about and he didn't.  Super super man. 

 I had no support the first time round  -  I called two or three places -  eventually 8 weeks after surgery someone turned up from Reach for Recovery, I had asked to talk to someone before my surgery, 11 weeks earlier!  However, I had a great Onc and surgeon.  I am a proactive self starter, but this time, without a proactive Onc, etc (they retired) an immediate terminal prognosis, my nephew (my cancer buddy) who was doing so well, suddenly dying 10 weeks ago from Chemo, my brother dying suddenly three weeks ago from heart problems and my family being thousands of miles away in England -  it was all too much -  even for me!

St. Francis was supposed to help me as my #1 Onc is with them but in a month they have not called me back, he is still looking into that and still no call back.  The Wellness Center took four weeks to return my initial call, called back when I was on the phone just getting the news of my brother's death and didn't call back as I asked them.  Oh the positive side: I have a great Interventional Radiologist Surgeon. My dentist of 15 years (I saw today) is a Zometa expert and is very supportive as are his staff, so now I think I will be OK.  Oh and the head nurses at my original Onc, finding I had been "left by the wayside' are now fully supervising my treatment -  and have helped a lot. No one there wants me to leave after 18 years -  so we shall see.  They say my experience and my willingness to speak up will teach my oncologist and St. Francis to do a better job. They had no idea I wasn't getting tests and info allowing me to make the decisions that were needed in a timely manner.  They gave me two surveys to fill out and the best mark I could give to any question was a 2, almost the worst possible.  I hate to think what happens to those who do not realize they are not getting what they should. Being a really nice person is not enough in an Onc or a salaried support person -  you have to DO the job too.

 I have stayed with Methodist for my Mammograms (22 years) and they often give my number (with my permission) to other women who come through there and for some reason have no support or are not comfortable with what is offered. Now I have experienced how those people felt. I am so glad I offered and was always willing to be there for them until they had some support one way or another.

 In the meantime, I have been treated with herbs by Solomon Wickey - trimmed my diet of all foods containing soy -  (you would not believe where it is sneaking in), I have never eaten "junk" anyway so suger etc is not an issue for me. I have consulted with the world authority on Homeopathic Treatment of Cancer -  he is also an MD, and am under his care.  I have been doing special exercise to stimulate my healthy bone marrow to produce more platelets.  Amazingly with no other treatment my markers have dropped and frozen. My platelet descent which was at 10,000 per week is now slowed to 2300 per week. I am now on Femara four weeks, and will see next week how the markers and platelets are doing.

Let's keep this thread growing -  ask on other threads for Hoosiers to come here and band together. i think it could be a good thread for us.

Linda

Where did everyone go? I know that there isn't very many of us but i thought that this little group would stick together, support each other and become friends.

DFW so sorry about your husband and so sorry your going through all of this cancer stuff. Take care & if you need to talk, i'm here or pm me.

hugs to all,

Bee

Linda i'm so glad that you are here too, i could use some friends. I hope all the others come back, it doesn't sound like any of us live to far apart either. I come to Indy next Tuesday for my exchange, I'm so excited to get these TE out, just hope they feel and look good, would like to wear some of my other tops that i can't wear now because my boobs look so strange in them. LOL Don't know what i will do about nipple & areola, i'm thinking of 3D tat. I need to find some pictures of them so i can decide for sure, but no hurry right now.

Take care Linda & thanks for answering me.

Hugs,

Bee

Debbi5108: Talk about coincedence.  I go to the Center for Womens Health in Indy also on CL Rd and my surgeon is Dr. Hahs.  I had my Lump. at the surgery center behind Community South on tuesday and am now waiting for my path. results.  Dr. Hahs said there is no Lymph node evolvement after a Sentinel node biopsy.  She does suspect a small invasion outside of the duct which I will find out more when the Path. reports come in.I have found this site very helpful since I had my Ster. Bio. at the Center a month ago.  I also attempted to have an MRI at the Center but my rib cage was injured in the process which made me postpone my lump. a few weeks.  I am 72 years old and have two children who are taking such good care of me.  Until the occasion arises one never knows how much love is in a family.  Makes me feel so protected and loved.  Three days after surgery, I am healing slowly but seem to have such little energy and I feel very weak.  I am told that I need to eat more protein and drink more water, and I am trying.  Did you have or have you heard any value in having a oncotype test and does medicare pay for it?  If you know.  If you wish PM me.  Cathey/Indiana

Debbi:  Right now I am a little confused as to my Stage (stage 0 or 1) but the path. reports should clear that up.  Dr. Hahs originally told me that she recommended a Lump and then rad.  I guess that the Path. report should clarify that as well.  If she suggests that I have Rad, I am optioning for the 3 week shortened radiation and upon inquiring at the Indiana Cancer Center and Rad.Onc Dr Tharp I found that he can perform this shortened rad if I am a candidate.  Guess I will have to wait, like everyone else, for the results of the Pathology report and Dr. Hahs recommedations.  I am diabetic and was shocked when my B/S went up to 358 after the lump.  I understand it now but at the time it was a surprise to me.  It is back to normal now but WOW on tuesday.  Good luck to us all.  Cathey/Indiana