SEPTEMBER 2008 rads group

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  • KAK
    KAK Member Posts: 1,679
    edited August 2009

    SHARON!!!!!!!   How the heck are ya??  Good to hear from you.  We've all been going through our anniversary times, I think.  So far, so good for the ones we've heard from here.  Keep in touch.  Hope life is a bit more RESTFUL for you!!

  • StephH
    StephH Member Posts: 9
    edited August 2009

    Hi girls!  I have to admit I haven't been on here in so long that I forgot my username and password.  I was originally PrincessS but now I guess I am StephH.  Anyway, just wanted to give a shout out to all of you as we come upon Sept. 1, our anniversary of starting rads.  My last mammo was in June and the results said cancer-free!  I see my rad dr on Sept 2, for a follow-up.  No problems post rads.  The skin stayed tan longer than most but it is fading now.  No pain and my oncologist didn't recommend going on tamoxifen due to not enough evidence to show how it would benefit ME.  It's nice to see the same names on here as last year and that everyone is doing well. 

     Date of lumpectomy:  July 3, 2008   Re-excision:  Aug. 1, 2008  Started rads Sept 1  Oct. 21, 2008 Ended rads

  • TexanCupig
    TexanCupig Member Posts: 1,539
    edited September 2009

    Good afternoon, y'all!  Wink  How is everyone doing?  For the most part, I'm doing well, and come to think of it, today is my 1st year anniversary; having to go to Anchorage for those daggone rad treatments!YellUndecidedSurprised

    By the way, my mammogram came back clean and clear!  I'll be going back ONE LAST TIME, this year, to see my onc, at the end of October.

    So, here I sit at work, trying to pass the time 'til the weekend.  My other half just got back from another part of the island.  He went for work, and to get a reindeer.  They left last Sunday, but were weather-bound, until this afternoon!  I'm SO glad he's home!

    Anyway, I hope y'all are doing well!

    Take care, God Bless, and have a great weekend! WinkLaughing

  • Makratz
    Makratz Member Posts: 12,678
    edited September 2009

    So good to hear from you Sharon!!  Happy Anniversary.  Wishing you much happiness and health for many, many years to come!

  • KAK
    KAK Member Posts: 1,679
    edited September 2009

    Sharon, great to hear you've got a good report on your mamm.

    Steph, how did yours turn out?  

    My one year mamm was clear & I was told I don't need to get another mamm for a whole year!  I'm sorry to report that I am still suffering from the fatigue that started during rads.  I've started taking Provigil for it, and it's helping but it's not been a magic bullet so far.  I'm also briefly participating in a research study on cancer related fatigue that will require 4 once a week visits to test a possible treatment for it.  So, it won't be curing anyone, but down the road might lead to more option.  If anyone wants more info on all this, send me a PM.  It's pretty common, unfortunately.

    Otherwise, I'm good.  How's everyone else?

  • TexanCupig
    TexanCupig Member Posts: 1,539
    edited September 2009

    Hi Linda, AND Kathi!!!  Wink  I can't thank y'all enough, you know, for your support!  I just got done reading Kathi's website...and I have to say...IT'S AMAZING!!!  I feel honored too, because she has my screen name on the back of her cool t-shirts??? SurprisedEmbarassedCool  I hate to say it, but I got a lil' bit overwhelmed?!?  Most of all, I'm just so honored!  You really made my day, today, Kathi!!!

    Well, work could be going a WHOLE lot better, if my boss was here?  I feel like I'm just keeping my chair warm, and THAT'S IT!!!  I don't know if it's fortunate or unfortunate, but the one person that made work almost unbearable...she resigned from her job.  It's nice, because there's no melodramatics in the mornings, which is fine by me, but she's still working as the tribal court clerk (say that three times fast!).

    Anywho, one of Steven's brothers is here...WITH HIS FOUR KIDS!  Long story short...Jackson moved here, to get away from his ex!  Needless to say, seems like Jack's problems sound worse than mine?  It's nice and somewhat quiet, right now, as Jack had to go back to his 'ex' village.  His father-in-law passed away, and I guess Jack felt obligated to go to the funeral, even though he doesn't want to see his ex...

    Other than ALL that, my life is going like gangbusters!  It's a beautiful day outside, and here I sit...keeping my chair warm! Undecided

    Well, just thought I'd stop by and bend y'alls ears yet again!

    I hope y'all have a great rest of the week!

    Take care and God Bless!Laughing

    p.s. Kathi, I'm going to order a couple of your t-shirts!

  • Makratz
    Makratz Member Posts: 12,678
    edited September 2009

    Hey Sharon, It's good to her from you.  Sounds like your life is busy.  Your job sounds perfect, are they hiring??

    Yes, Kathi is very talented.  I have the plesure of meeting her in person this past summer.  Such a sweetheart!!

    Take care my friend!

    Linda

  • NancyD
    NancyD Member Posts: 3,562
    edited September 2009

    Hi ladies! I'm glad we're all taking the time to catch up. My news is that I've started the process of reconstruction after my bi mx last year. I think fifteen months being breastless is enough. Just like being bald from chemo, it was interesting, but I don't want it to be permanent.

    I met with a PS this week, and it looks like a double DIEP will be possible. There may be less volume than my original breasts, but there's enough skin to replace a large part of the radiated side that has tightened up.

    Oh, and my port is finally coming out. I'm seeing my bs today to set that up.

    Kathi, that fatigue is awful. I only had the very smallest amount at the end of my rads, but I can't say it's stayed with me.

    Even before bc, I was feeling sluggish from menopause. One of the reasons I agreed to do a half-marathon with a friend in 2007 was to try and jump-start my metabolism. Even with training for six months and then doing the race, I never felt my energy level increased. I didn't lose any weight, either. 

    What I feel now just feels like how I felt before bc. Enough energy to get the essentials done, but not a lot there for extras. Anything out of my normal daily activities has to be planned and portioned out. For instance, I have a class reunion coming up in a month. I'm already planning how to "save" energy that day for the event in the evening. And I might not have the energy to go to the brunch the next day.

    So I can't blame it on bc and treatment.

  • KAK
    KAK Member Posts: 1,679
    edited September 2009

    Hey, girls.  Thanks for the compliments!  I'm blushing!  Sharon, believe me, I feel very grateful that every single one of you was here this past year.  I would have been lost without you all.  The least I could do was put you on a shirt!  Linda, by the way, is also a sweetheart...and very funny!

    Nancy, I can identify on the pre-cancer, post-menopausal lack of energy.  I was already dealing with 3 years of learning to accommodate to hot flashes, lousy interrupted sleep & so forth before the cancer.  I was finally starting to feel pretty good, actually, and then I got diagnosed with BC.  But I have to say, compared to how I feel now, I was a ball of fire after menopause.  Good lord.  And instead of getting better over the past several months, I have felt worse in the past six months.

    Cancer -- the gift that keeps on giving.

    Good for you, Nancy, for starting recon!   Next year, if I feel normal, I'm going to go back to the PS to look into recon on my breast.  I've been told by her and my breast surgeon that tissue-wise, I would be a good candidate for a simple implant, which is the only option I would do because I need all my abs & my lats & all my other muscles for my job, so a flap is just not do-able.  I have all my skin, I still have my nipple, and my skin held up very well during rads.  It's just the rest of me that got trashed!!  We'll see.  It's on the back burner for now.  Keep in touch with us, Nancy, on your progress with all this.

    Hugs, everyone.  I'm on vacation soon.  YAY!

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2009

    Hi girls, Just wanted to say hi, You all are always in my thoughts and prayers.

    Enjoy your vacation Kathi, Sending good thoughts your way NancyD, Hugs

  • Makratz
    Makratz Member Posts: 12,678
    edited September 2009

    Hey Rose!! Nice to hear from you too.  This is like a reunion!!  Hope you are doing well.

    Linda

  • KAK
    KAK Member Posts: 1,679
    edited September 2009

    Thanks, Rose.  It's great to hear from you.  I like that sweet little bottle in your avatar picture.  How are you?

  • Makratz
    Makratz Member Posts: 12,678
    edited September 2009

    Kathi, Is this vaca 2 weeks???  Yeay!!!  I hope we don't hear from you until after noon time.  You need to sleep late, girlfriend!  Enjoy!

  • nancy258
    nancy258 Member Posts: 162
    edited September 2009

    Hi All!  I'm so glad to hear everyone is doing so well.  It seems we all have a much more positive attitude this Fall instead of the anxiety we all felt last year.  Cheers!  and hugs to all!

  • Makratz
    Makratz Member Posts: 12,678
    edited September 2009

    Hey Nancy, Nice to see you too!!  Hope you are doing well!

    Linda

  • TexanCupig
    TexanCupig Member Posts: 1,539
    edited September 2009

    Good afternoon, y'all! Wink  How was everyone's weekend?

    Well, I had a decent weekend...I wish I could turn my hearing off sometimes though, because Steven's brother came back from Tuntatuliak, and I have to say, I'm sure tired of hearing him moan and complain!  YellUndecidedEmbarassed  Know what's worse?  He applied for a job, where I'm working at...Linda???  Please come apply, before Jack gets the job?...LOL Innocent  I'm kinda hoping he'll get it though, so he could move out of the house, and so Steven and I can get our peace and quiet back?

    Anyway...Seems like winter wants to start setting in ALREADY...y'all know how I feel about the snow...hate it!  It's been windy, very, VERY cool, and raining on and off for the last couple of days.  Unfortunately, the way the wind's blowing;  it's just a tad too cool in my office!

    I have a question for y'all...after going through chemo and radiation, and being free and clear of cancer...do y'all feel like your bodies are falling apart?  It's nice to be cancer free, but I feel like I'm falling to pieces, some days...

    Well...I'm off for now...just wanted to stop by and give my two cents worth...Foot in mouthSurprisedUndecided  I hope y'all have a great week!

    Take care and God Bless!  Sharon

  • NancyD
    NancyD Member Posts: 3,562
    edited September 2009

    As some of you may have read on another thread or my FB page, my father died on Friday. Sad, sad time that is drawn out for over a week as my family gathers from across the country. But it will also be filled with family meals and lots of stories...lots and lots of stories.

    Sharon, as for the body-breakdown, sure, I feel that, too. Of course, I'm a bit older and I was having some of that feeling before bc. Menopause and illnesses of aging like osteoarthritis will do that. The bones and joints creak and are stiff, even painful sometimes. And some of the other organs are balking, too. I've been on Prilosec almost constantly since I before started chemo. Being on an AI only contributes to it further. 

    But you know what? I'd rather have to push through a bit of pain than have the bc win. 

  • nancy258
    nancy258 Member Posts: 162
    edited September 2009

    Nancy, I'm so sorry for your loss

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2009

    I'm so sorry Nancy - I know what you are going through.

    Love and Hugs!!

  • TexanCupig
    TexanCupig Member Posts: 1,539
    edited September 2009

    My deepest sympathies, to you, Nancy!  My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

    On a little better note, I have to agree about dealing with the pain; I'd rather deal with that, than with the really, REALLY big pain of cancer, and all the sh*t we've all been through this past year?

  • nancy258
    nancy258 Member Posts: 162
    edited October 2009

    Going in for a core biopsy tomorrow morning on the same breast for a small lump on the outside of my breast in the armpit just below my SNB site.  They think it's only a lymph node.  My rad onc found it on my one year checkup.  My surgeon did a FNB and it came back with no cancer cells.  A follow up mammogram and ultra sound showed the round area and the radiologist recommended a core biopsy to be sure as they can miss stuff with the fine needle.  Wish me luck!

  • NancyD
    NancyD Member Posts: 3,562
    edited October 2009

    Oh, Nancy! How upsetting!  Good luck, and here's hoping it's just something minor like scar tissue.

  • Makratz
    Makratz Member Posts: 12,678
    edited October 2009

    Best of luck Nancy!!  I will be thinking about you.  Please let us know how it goes.  I sure do hope it's a lymph node or scar tissue.

    ((((HUGS))))

    Linda

  • KAK
    KAK Member Posts: 1,679
    edited October 2009

    Oh, Nancy.  Our everlasting fear is recurrence....hopefully it will be nothing.  We'll all be thinking of you.

  • pattyk
    pattyk Member Posts: 25
    edited October 2009

    Dear Nancy,

     so sorry to hear about your worries.  I had a similar occurrance that turned out to be fluid build up..hope your news is just as good. Sometimes I think the worst part of this horrible cancer is the WORRY.  Every day the thought crosses your mind and the doubts creep in.  Know that you will be in my thoughts and prayers.  Keep us posted.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2009

    I'm sorry Nancy, Praying that it's nothing. Hugs

  • nancy258
    nancy258 Member Posts: 162
    edited October 2009

    Yesterday I got results of the core biopsy and it's BENIGN!!!  Yippe, I got to celebrate last night at the Girl's Night Out benefit for Breast Cancer with bunch of girlfriends and family.  I guess it's a good thing my doctors are so thorough, but it does work on the nerves!  Thanks for all your well wishes.  I know positive thoughts have a lot to do with positive results!

  • KAK
    KAK Member Posts: 1,679
    edited October 2009

    Oh, Nancy, that's great!!  I'm so glad.  Waiting for results will always be torture for us now....

  • Makratz
    Makratz Member Posts: 12,678
    edited October 2009

    Great news Nancy!!  I think you should go out and celebrate again!

  • NancyD
    NancyD Member Posts: 3,562
    edited October 2009

    I agree! Double your pleasure. Great news!

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