MI Survivors

Judy - I forgot to ask - how is your arm doing? I know that you've been under stress at work, and wanted to touch base.

Hi and Welcome Barbara! Yes, we can be quite chatty. We also meet up a couple times a year for food and laughter.

What part of Michigan are you from?

 Aw, Sue, thanks for thinking of me. I was on restrictions at work for a while and then off on Short term disability for a while. I just went back a week or so ago. They are starting a second shift and I had enough seniority to get a pretty decent job on afternoons. That will start Tuesday.

Hi Barbara

Welcome.   I am in Blissfield .. not far from you at all. 

Jennifer 

Thanks again for the welcomes!

Jennifer-yes Blissfield is close, almost directly south.  I could be wrong but I think our High Schools have met up a few times in various sports.

Wing Girl- I did celebrate, but it was a bit low key. I took a nap and had a couple of chocolate chocolate chip muffins. I was just so happy not to drive to the hospital every day anymore I didn't need a celebration. I also have a bit of anxiety about my impending chemo so I figured I would celebrate when that's done. All the medical people keep saying "oh you handled radiation so well chemo will be a breeze" So that's what I am keeping in my mind! 

Where abouts is everyone else from?

Take Care

Barbara

Race for the Cure pictures are up at the Komen site!

Sue and Wendy, there's one of you with a few people at the pink carpet area!

Hugs to all of my adopted MI buddies, but especially to our dear nEEsie!!

I just got her PM and realize how outta the loop I am.

((((((((((((((((((((((((((nEEsie)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

xx00xx00xx00xx00xx

My next MI gig is on Dec 1st, so I will be traveling up the day before -- which I think is a Monday. My presentation is in East Lansing. Can I invent a reason for us to have lunch together????

You tell me where the logical place would be -- and I'll find it.

Half way done with radiation today.  Still just slightly red and a little tender.  Using Aloe as the rad/onc said.  Tired but I don't usually sleep well so hard to tell if it is from rads or that.  I haven't really slept well since starting menopause.  No problems from Tamox so far.  Hopefully all will continue to go well.  Got my genetics back yesterday, BRCA 1 and 2 negative.  That is a relief but they still want my sister tested since she has had invasive breast cancer twice.  I think she will have it done but of course just switched to not so good insurance.

Hi everyone!  I need a hand here, if you are willing to help out.

My niece Christina, pictured below, is a contestant in Miss Michigan this Friday. TOMORROW < THURSDAY> Please help us by going to the link below and voting for CHRISTINA BESH for most photogenic, as it also helps her in the general contest...she is studying to be a Cardiologist and is entering to win a scholarship. Please pass along or post to your profile - your help would be greatly appreciated!!!! The vote is tomorrow Sept 17 THURSDAY ONLY. Thank you so much!

http://www.missmichiganusa.com/michigan_contestants.html

Stopping in to say Hi to all the Michiganders!  Hoping all is well with you and waiting for the next get together..........................not much has changed around here with hubby.  He is doing alot of sleeping lately................in the recliner in the MIDDLE of the living room!  Hey, as sick as he is, I still have to poke a little humor his way just to show you all that I am 'okay.'

Hospice has been really nice so far.  Tell ya what, in all the years I've worked with Hospice, I never thought I'd be using them.  Very strange being on the other side of the road.

Sue, hoping Terry is underway with his treatments and is feeling well.

If anyone is in the area and wants to grab a bite to eat, let me know, usually I can arrange it.

Hugs,

Denise

Thanks for the note, Denise - I think maybe Sphynx has it right - Cancer cooties.

We are doing better now that DH is actually in treatment - waiting makes me insane. He has no nausea or vomiting, or even extensive fatigue, but his kidneys reacted so badly to the cisplatin that they cancelled it for this week, and are having him come in for daily infusions to coax them back to normalcy. He's bummed, because evidently cisplatin is "the" drug for esophageal - Dr Urbe says that she doesn't believe that Carboplatin affects EC at all. Meantime the 5FU chugs aways, and the taxol doesn't seem to be bothering him (I love that the give him compazine and Emend right out of the gate, so he feels pretty normal).

Everybody tells us not to expect this to continue - things will get worse, they (Dr's nurse practitioner, radiation therapist)  say. I wish they would shut up - we are almost halfway through the 2ce daily radiation, with the infusion pump, so maybe we'll be among the lucky ones.

We asked for an oncology dietician consult yesterday during chemo - she was very nice, but obviously a little surprised to be consulting before he started losing weight, and looking bad. But he is a diet-controlled diabetic, whose esophagus is being burned twice a day, and we are being aggressive about prevention. People keep saying things like ENSURE - have you LOOKED at the sugar levels - so I want to be say, thank you, we're working with a specialist on this - In other words, please shut up when you don't know what you're talking about!

Being a  spouse is so different from being a patient. I sat at rads yesterday, and three of us knitted, and talked about our husband's diseases. Man, there are some really brave women out there, just knitting away, accepting that their lives are imploding under them. When I left, I said, so we'll meet here in 5 years, for their follow-up appointments, right?

My biggest problem is daughter. She is acting out horribly, and I just have no energy to help. Terry rented a car so she could drive herself to school, thereby easing the problem of getting her here, there or whereever she needed to be. Like all new drivers, she managed to have an accident at 3 months - unfortunately, she totalled our paid-off car, so we have to do something about that. And she is doing nothing about getting herself to school - she went off to play video games and nap when we got home last night (she insisted on going to chemo yesterday, which I understand) I finally asked her to call a friend to see if she can get a ride - the friend didn''t respond - she has a test - I suggested she call a cab, that I'd pay for - she doesn't know how - so I called. And then I called her at noon, to see if she was up yet -she wasn't - her alarm clock "musta been broken." I know, she's emotionally immature and vulnerable, but, heck, I'm only a year out of treatment myself, and could use a little support here, kid! Sorry, I needed to get that out of my system.

Take care guys, I'll rant soon.

Just wanted to say hi to my "adopted"state that is so awesome! 

Denise,I am so sorry that so much is happening and with you in spirit.Sending cool NC thoughts on this fall day. 

Bonnie,saw that sign abt life and pie above...so right,so right! Add chocolate and ice cream and pie and....you get the pic of my life!LOL  Best to you and little Zach! What a cute baby! 

 Sue,was reading abt your husband and so sorry to hear of his illness. 

 Faith...hi,there! I,love that abt the adopted state and said I am so there!!

Not-Me,how are you? I don't know if you rememb me from forums a few yrs back when you were diagnosed. Thinking that you have a new grandchild? 

 Thanks for allowing me to stop in and "chat". I read abt your awesome get-togethers and love the fun and the good times you share!

 All the best from Tarheel land,

Iris 

Leslie - Sorry you had to join our club glad you found us here. I am not to far from Marshall I live south of Jackson in Hudson.

Neesie - So sorry and sad that you and DH are going through this difficult time. If there is anything at all any of us can do to help please do not hesitate to ask.

Not Me - Sounds like you have a big painting project going on. I just love a freshly painted room.

Sue - Thanks for calling it was so nice to hear from you. Thinking of you and DH as his surgery date is approaching.

Iris - Welcome back to MI. One of these days we will share pie together.

Faith - We will definitely come up with a meeting place for sure.

Hi to the rest of the gang!

Hugs

Wings

Hi I didn't know there was anyone else` from W Mchigan out there. I live in Dowling.

Okay, nobody's heard of it. I call Dowling a suburb of Delton. If you've ever been to Delton you get the joke. It's tiny too.I live about 20 mins north of Battle Creek and go to the BC support group in Marshall.

Is the BC support group held at Oaklawn Hospital? If so, please share details.

Has anyone posting here had treatment at the University of Michigan Cancer Center? I will be going there on Monday (12th) for a second opinion. 

Wow What a wonderful pic.  On a dark morning like today it is truely a bright spot.