Sisterhood of the Secret Handshake

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  • Rachel_BC
    Rachel_BC Member Posts: 1,386
    edited November 2009

    Kid's first haircut:

     

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  • Rachel_BC
    Rachel_BC Member Posts: 1,386
    edited November 2009

    hey Leah, if you are reading- my friend says she'd like to get together so gimmie an idea when you'd like to meet, she's coming in from Staten Island- and she knows all the kosher restaurants :)

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  • Juli50
    Juli50 Member Posts: 859
    edited November 2009

    Rachel - love the pics! what a cutie!

    Just wanted to say how special all of you are. I am so happy to come here every day and read all that you have to say.

    big hugs Kiss

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  • SoCalLisa
    SoCalLisa Member Posts: 13,961
    edited November 2009

    Looks like a fun haircut..

    I had three boys and cut their hair until they graduated from college...

    now one has long hair, one normal, and one bald...who knew...

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  • BooBee
    BooBee Member Posts: 860
    edited November 2009

    Ivorymom and Rachel.   I would take the pain of a broken leg before the pain of depression.  I've been riding the Prozac Pinto for 20+ years.  (Effezor now that I take tamox)

    Anti depressants have saved my life over the years and the lives of my children when they were teensSmile

    That is beautiful Linda....."A strong woman knows she has strength enough for the journey, but a woman of strength knows it is in the journey where she will become strong."

    I am not a strong woman; I am a woman of strength. I am not a survivor, I am a Cancer A$$ Kicker...CAK for short!

    Chelev ....that sounds miserable.  Do you have any pain killers until you find an antibiotic that works?

    Sorry about your brother Kookiesmom

    Rachel......I worked on Joseph's blog today.  Do you have an introduction for him or should I write one for him based on the info you sent me in the past?  Should I ask him to write one?

    First hair cut....he's darling

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  • HelenaJ
    HelenaJ Member Posts: 1,133
    edited November 2009

    Nooooo.  Had to read back to find out what was going on.  The black dog.  Meg and Rachel, like ReneeS said give me something I can fix by surgery any day to damn depression/anxiety.  It is easier to fight an enemy you can see or touch.  Had a taste of it myself and it the most loneliest scariest place to be.  I would say all of us have dug down deep to find inner strength during our battle with SFBC but when you can't even find yourself its a nightmare.    If it is love and support which can help you then it is here in abundance, you are both so well loved. 

    Rach - your Court case decision .... that so hurts to read it .. hope you are doing OK.  ((hugs))

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  • BooBee
    BooBee Member Posts: 860
    edited November 2009

    I'm always worried that people with think I'm a nut job when I tell them that I've taken antidepressants for 20 years.  I'm really not.  I don't turn into Linda Blair. 

    I went off Prozac for almost a year just before SFBC and didn't have any problems at all.  I refilled my script the very day I got the "call."   I knew I was going to need the big guns for this one.  Like a Magnum 44 or Oozy big.

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  • HelenaJ
    HelenaJ Member Posts: 1,133
    edited November 2009

    Hey Renee - we already thought you were a nut job!!  Are you the Renee who wrote the never to forget post on the night of hot flashes/sweats?

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  • Mary22
    Mary22 Member Posts: 779
    edited November 2009

    Good morning, good morning , good morming to you. Start your day with a smile!!!!!!!!

    Depression sucks!!!!!!!! But this SFBC and life in general will do that to you.

    My Favorite Stones song  Paint It Black!!!!!! I see a red door and I want to paint it black~~~~~

    Have a great day!!!

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  • covertanjou
    covertanjou Member Posts: 569
    edited November 2009

    Good morning everyone! 

    Renee, as someone who has a family history of depression, I can tell you you're not crazy!  My mom has been on anti-depressants for as long as I could remember, as has one of my sisters. One of my cousins committed suicide, and another attempted and was saved by anti-depressants. Most of my maternal aunts/uncles and cousins have been affected by depression and are on anti-depressants.

    As Helena wrote, "Meg and Rachel, like ReneeS said give me something I can fix by surgery any day to damn depression/anxiety."  This is so true.  I had a terrible post-partum after the birth of my second child.  I know I wouldn't be here it it weren't for ADs.  There is so much stigma attached to depression and ADs.  Diabetics don't feel guilty about taking their medication.  Why should people feel guilty for taking ADs?  

    Edited: tried to fix the italics.  Can't.  So, I am leaving it that way! 

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

    Morning, everyone.  Well, the motrin and pinot helped somewhat, but didn't sleep worth a damn.  The skin looks fine - I've been checking for redness and dimpling, etc., but nothing.  I think and hope it is just a very resistant infection, especially since it started feeling much better early on and then kind of gave up.  I have also been resisting thinking dark thoughts.    Oh well, I'll make it through one more day and then get it looked at tomorrow.

    Have a great day, ladies. 

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  • Rachel_BC
    Rachel_BC Member Posts: 1,386
    edited November 2009

    Chelev, I am sure we are reading the same info, and yes, makes sense to me, if it responded at first but then returned, that seems like resistant infection.  Maybe ask them to do all the diagnostics tomorrow? 

    Rachel's Demented Mental Cheerleaders chant:

    "Rah Rah Rah, Stupid Stubborn Infection, Rah Rah Rah!"

    "Mo' Better Antibiotics, Rah Rah Rah!"

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  • Rachel_BC
    Rachel_BC Member Posts: 1,386
    edited November 2009

    Renee and Chelev- spoke to Joseph yesterday during haircut (that's JoeY who cuts and JosEPH who colors btw) and he said Renee's site (www.chemosolutions.com) rocks and the coding is high class (unlike mine for him).  I'm thinking his introduction would be best written by someone who had undergone chemo and regrowth and color by him, someone who can write... like Chelev or MomofBoys.  After them, I think your intro would be more worthy than mine, since I didn't do chemo.  What do you think will be more interesting for a chemo patient?  To hear from me, I can write and I care, but didn't do chemo.  Would it be better for a chemo patient to hear from a chemo patient?  What do you think?  I'll happily write for him, and happily ask him to write his own intro if  you like, or maybe we write soemthing and give to him to edit/approve?  Bottom line, we both think what you are doing is already top notch and defer to your judgment.  We'll do as you say.  He also said he'd be happy to blog.

    Helena my queen, really nice to hear from you here :)  I didn't want to be a big downer on email.  Ha, I save all my low-down bitching and crap for here!  :D  I'm doing better, slept without Xanax last night, well sorta, I think last one I took was around the afternoon.  Gonna meet with the appellate attorney who is my BC pal's hubby tonight at 6pm in the lobby, hope to get with the family attorney during the day today, hope to hear back from my high school pal smarty pants lawyer too, and I'll take all their advice and come up with a plan.  If they say my lawyer screwed the pooch on this one, I will put the place up for sale, cut my losses and walk away.  If they say I have a good shot at the appeal, I'll take the shot.  Am I just xanax-thinking or does that sound an awful lot like the decision process for cancer TX?  Like waiting for test results to decide if we'll give up a body part like my home?  Like test results saying I have a good shot if i take Tamox?  Well lemme say this about that... I'd put my home up for sale ANY DAY a lot sooner than I'd give up a boob, and I'd go through an appeal and pay for it ANY DAY before I'd do chemo... so maybe that will be my new attitude.  Fark it, it's not cancer, so what the hell.  Yeah, that's feeling pretty good.  I'll see if I can carry that all day today.

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  • Rachel_BC
    Rachel_BC Member Posts: 1,386
    edited November 2009

    Hey hey- shameless selfish -type plug here... my FDNY firefighter pal (9/11 firefighter) asks that we vote for his cousin's son in this Gap contest... 

    http://family.go.com/gapcastingcall/entries/timsr39/802140986/ 

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  • smithlme
    smithlme Member Posts: 1,322
    edited November 2009

    Rachel, Your son is adorable. I remember taking my kids for their first haircuts. Priceless.

    Back in high school my youngest son (the Marine) bleached his hair and would dye it all kinds of funky colors. He was in the gifted program in grade school and decided he hated to be labeled so he devised a plan to see how low his grades could get and still graduate from high school. We didn't know until 2 days before graduation that he would graduate. Anyway...we had a deal that if he didn't get his grades up that I would cut his bangs that had grown out past his chin. Needless to say his grades were in the toilet and I had to keep my end of the deal. It just about tore my heart out to cut his bangs off. He was shocked that I did it and I cried. Guess he'll be in therapy for years over that one! That day, and probably several others, I flunked out on MOM 101! I still have the hair and he still brings it up!

    Who would have thought that this hard-headed rebellious kid would become a Marine and be going to school to become an Anthropologist Archaeologist???

    Chelev, I hope you have a comfortable day and get the relief you need.

    Linda

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  • pkb143
    pkb143 Member Posts: 280
    edited November 2009

    Good morning, all -- hope everyone is doing well today or getting better -- especially chelev and her painful boob (Owww!!!) and kookiesmom, after the painful biopsy and situation with your brother.

    OMG, what a powerful letter from Christina. The heartbreak and pain must be never-ending. Somehow I truly wish there were a way to mend such broken hearts...

    I have to say, I've never experienced the "black dog" and I don't want to. But I don't think less of those who have and don't begrudge or belittle any medical treatment necessary....it surely must be a private hell and if a prescription and/or therapy can get you through it, then so be it!

    Kari, thanks so much for the link to the crabcake recipe -- I've got it bookmarked now and have high expectations! Smile

    Cute, cute pics of that momentous day in your son's life, Rachel....the first haircut! I think you can get special little keepsake boxes for those locks, but I'll bet they're just fancy cloth envelopes or something similar to that. (check Amazon)  Good luck today on your decision-making, too. Tough decisions, yes, but like you said, not life-threatening!

    Brenda, your post was so thoughtful and sincere; and I think I understand what you're saying. I was just thinking the other day that there are so many completely different experiences with BC, yet we all have this common bond.....e.g., title of this thread so aptly includes the word "sisterhood."

    Well, better get moving, have to do some running around today but that's OK because I basically did absolutely nothing yesterday. Does it bother me that I did absoloutely nothing yesterday? not really. DH even took me out for dinner last night to celebrate my last fill. Texas Roadhouse was offering free appetizer (Cactus Blossom) and 30% discount for anyone with military ID (not quite as generous as Applebee's, but not too bad, either). Not that that was the reason we went there -- we just like the food and it's about 3 minutes from our house, plus I had a "Roadie" coupon for 2 sirloin dinners for $20....less than half of what we usually spend there. It was all so good but required 2 'doggy bags' due to all the uneaten food.

    OK, must get busy -- Have a good day, everyone!

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  • KEW
    KEW Member Posts: 745
    edited November 2009

    Rachel--You have a great spirit and a sucky judge.  I want to thank you for reminding me about all we do have. I've been going back and forth on something in my life, and your reminder helped me make a good choice---Laughing

    All who have had scans can you please check out a thread I started? http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/96/topic/743751?page=1#idx_1 

    I guess I don't know who I'm dancing with NED or unlikely.  I'm curious to see if others have had less than concrete results of their scans.

    Thank you!

    KarenW 

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  • AllieM22
    AllieM22 Member Posts: 464
    edited November 2009

    Chelev--one thought on your poor bob and the infection. A lot of times it's the wrong anti-biotic for the infection--not wrong menaing your dr prescribed the werong one but if they switch to a new one, it will likely work for that situation. SOrry I am not being very clear--am in a bit of a fog this morning...and dragging my virtual heels about going to yoga--but I am going!!! Need it badly.

    Rachel--hope your mtg goes well (and loved the haircut pics--he is darling) and Chelev hope your boob is better.  

    Helena--nice to see you!! :) 

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  • Rachel_BC
    Rachel_BC Member Posts: 1,386
    edited November 2009

    SoCalLisa- and you cut kid's hair too?  I did not forget the plan to party at your house... (my plan, invited myself)

    Linda- I am happy to say I got contacts with the Marines in Afghanistan and they will be getting some lovin from us for Christmas... a lot he he he

    meg- you been paying it forward on these boards for a long long time... you got plenty of credit in that account ;)

    eh, my hair is really thick and tangles.  I'd get these "banana knots" in the back and we'd have major screaming fights with my mom.  Poor mom.  I insisted on having long hair.  She took me to a hairdresser for a cut- the only way I'd go is if she promised to buy me a long fall.  The stylist's scissors got stuck somehow in the banana knot and he was cursing a storm.  I was bummed out all the neighborhood kids didn't believe the fall was my hair suddenly long.  

    PattyB part deux- I read over some of the male breast cancer pages too.  They're welcome here too.  Poor guys.  I think I read that they get hot flashes on Tamox too! 

    KEW- Excellent diagnosis!  I got a great spirit and a sucky judge.  I am not sure if I have a sucky lawyer as well/instead of sucky judge.   OK so I am totally curious about which reminder I gave and what decision it helped you with, but I will just be HAPPY that some yammering of mine did you any good turn.  Like meg, I'm into the karma and paying it forward.  And your posts over these months have helped me too :)  (breaking into We are the World, la la la)  I will post over on your scan thread next (oh and feel free to ask here too if you like).  Overall bottom line is same as you... but I will elaborate there.  (yeah, like there was a chance I wouldnt elaborate!)

    Allie- the salon folks, even the sorta bitchy gals who don't usually talk to me, said they thought my son was SO well behaved, that other kids yell and scream and cry.  I dunno, 'cause I didn't see the other kids but I will take the compliment!  Thank you!  He looks so cute this morning with his new haircut.  So far I haven't turned him into a nerd... 

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  • LittleRed
    LittleRed Member Posts: 223
    edited November 2009

    Wheeww!

    Ladies:  I'm just trying to catch up on this thread - being away for a few days is a definate no-no here!

    I'm so glad to hear from all of you and read your posts.  I miss this thread when I'm gone.  (Had a cold last week - got the flu, I think, this week.  Took a while to get my head up off the pillow!) 

    I understand your struggles - the "Black Dog" and I have been spending too much quality time together this year, so I take my Lexapro and I just got a light & ion therapy lamp.  It's supposed to help with SAD.  You sit in front of the light for 20 minutes a day while you're reading or on the computer or whatever.  Anybody else try one of these?  I just started it, so I don't know if it helps.  I just know the short days are tough for me, I've been dealing with depression already, and I have a tendancy to get the blues this time of year.  So, I decided to try the light to be pro-active. 

    Rachel:  Your son is such an adorable little peach!!  Mine is 13 now.  It's so different when they're big!  Now I can't get him to cut his hair for anything...

    Chelev & kookiesmom:  Ouch!  Hope you both are feeling better soon..

    Linda:  I love that saying!  Keep on walkin'...

    MMMMmmm...crabcakes!  This thread always seems to make me hungry...glad we keep our priorities straight here!!

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  • HelenaJ
    HelenaJ Member Posts: 1,133
    edited November 2009

    Morning all (and smiling Mary).

    Rach Brava!!  Understand the email thing, let's try that speed typing thing again soon :>   

    Meg - when I first started on this forum you gave me such warm and calming advice and support which I will never forget. 

    Chelev - ouch, I know I respond differently to different types of antibiotics, hope one kicks in soon to give you some relief.

    Renee - my paranoia is killing me - or is it??!!  That was my warped sense of humor by the way :P

    Off for a run then on to work - but it is Friiiidddaaayyy, yay - few glasses of wine tonite I think.  My DH's property investment venture is beginning to stress us out. 

    PS.  Had a screaming banchee moment with my DDs yesterday (talk about Linda Blair!!).  Note to self, start saving for therapy.

    love catching up with all the posts

    big hugs

    Helena

    oh oh edited to add Hi Allie and I have always cut my girls hair - the difference between a good and bad hair cut is about 2 weeks!!

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  • Rachel_BC
    Rachel_BC Member Posts: 1,386
    edited November 2009

    I figured out what Helena's really been doing off BC.org.... regrowing her boob !

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/nov/12/mastectomy-regrow-breasts-trial 

    Breast regrowth procedure trialled for mastectomy patientsHuman trials to begin of surgical treatment that could allow women to regrow their breasts after a mastectomyBuzz up!Digg it (16)James Meikleguardian.co.uk, Thursday 12 November 2009 12.04 GMTArticle historyMammogram scans for breast cancerMammogram scans for breast cancer. Photograph: Lester Lefkowitz/GettyScientists have developed a revolutionary surgical treatment that could allow women with cancer to regrow their breasts after a mastectomy.Human trials for the procedure, which scientists hope could replace breast reconstructions and implants, will start within three to six months, it was revealed in Melbourne, Australia. It is likely to be three years before the technique is fully developed, researchers said.The procedure involves inserting a biodegradable chamber into the woman's chest, contoured to match her natural breast shape and containing stem cells from her own fat tissue. These cells will divide and grow to recreate the permanent fat found in breasts.Phillip Marzella, of the Bernard O'Brien Institute of Microsurgery, said in an interview with ABC radio: "We are starting what is called a prototype trial in the next three to six months – a proof of principle trial with about five to six women just to demonstrate that the body can regrow its own fat supply in the breast. Rather than have silicone implant or more complex surgery, we implant them with a device that we've developed."The first trials would involve a non-biodegradable chamber, Marzella said. "What we are hoping to do in the next two years is develop a biodegradable chamber so that the fat can grow inside the chamber and then the chamber will vanish naturally."Two approaches were involved, he said. "One is actually that nature abhors a vacuum so the chamber itself, because it is empty, it tends to be filled in by the body on itself. The second approach we have also developed is a gel-like substance that we can inject inside the chamber and that can also stimulate that growth."We will know within three to four months that you are actually getting fat and we are hoping to get a fully formed fat within six to eight months."Preclinical tests in animals encouraged the researchers to be confident about starting human trials. Similar techniques had been tried for the bladder, but this was the first time a procedure had been developed for the breast, Marzella said."We are hoping to move on to other organs using the same principle – a chamber that protects and contains cells as they grow and they restore their normal function. So it is a pretty major leap for regenerative surgery and medicine."Marzella said the procedure could replace breast reconstructions and implants within three years if it worked."We are hoping to be with a biodegradable prototype within 24 months, so at the end of these three years we will have to have another half a dozen patients. Certainly [it] doesn't relieve [patients] of the trauma of the cancer but it could be offering patients an alternative and some sort of relief from the diagnosis of breast cancer to know that they can regrow the breast."He said the procedure had potential for cosmetic surgery, although he did not see it being used for such purposes in the near future."Certainly the same principle can be used for defects, so people that might have lost a piece of a face or the end of the nose, we are thinking we can use the same technology using a biodegradable scaffold that can then be filled with the patient's own tissue and cells," he said.

    "In terms of the cosmetic use, we probably don't envisage this in the next five to 10 years, so I think in the first instance [it is] very much reconstructive therapies that would benefit from it." 

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  • LittleRed
    LittleRed Member Posts: 223
    edited November 2009

    That's amazing! 

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  • HelenaJ
    HelenaJ Member Posts: 1,133
    edited November 2009

    ..back again.  yeah Rachel it was the big news down here yesterday ... I actually started crying in front of my family watching it last night.  Let's hope it becomes available and affordable for every woman suffering this SFBC crap.

    Definitely going this time.

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  • LittleRed
    LittleRed Member Posts: 223
    edited November 2009

    If they could figure out how to grow my nipple back, I'd be REALLY thrilled...

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  • kfinnigan
    kfinnigan Member Posts: 1,729
    edited November 2009

    Finally caught up and now CRS has kicked in (can't remember shit)...oh dear...

    Hi Helena, may have to come stay with you and make them enroll me in that trial!!

    Rachel, what sweet pics of The Kid!  and of you too of course :)  Brings back lots of precious memories of my girls.  Learned not to give kid ice cream cone when cutting their hair...hair falls on ice cream cone...

    Chelev girl, hoping for mucho relief for you soon.

    Meg, still thinking of you - HUGS!!

    Brenda, BIG HUGS for you.

    Hi PattyB! 

    Onc appt. today.  Finally got some info from an Aunt (dad's only sibling) that has had BC twice, and found out that my dad's dad had lung cancer when he died.....didn't know before!!  I'm emailing everyone trying to get a family history (my mom died in '05 and all of her sisters are now deceased so it's hard to get answers)... 

    Shout outs to all!!  Linda, you make me laugh!! 

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  • BooBee
    BooBee Member Posts: 860
    edited November 2009

    Yes Helena, that was my "Night of the horrible hot flashes."   Cool  Told you I was a nut job.

    Rachel....I'll send Joseph an email and ask him how he would like to handle it.

    Growing body parts...mmmmm....I just want to shrink a few.

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  • AllieM22
    AllieM22 Member Posts: 464
    edited November 2009

    Wow--that is crazy--but great! On another note, I was re-reading my earlier post and laughing at all the typos--was in a hurry and admitted to being in a fog--good grief! Yoga did feel really good--so more centered now--ha ha!

    Have a good night ladies!! I get to go watch some girlie TV since my DH is out of town. Have been loving Top Chef!! I want Kevin to win although I like the brothers also... 

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  • Rachel_BC
    Rachel_BC Member Posts: 1,386
    edited November 2009

    Ya gotta love Kevin.

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  • LeggyJ
    LeggyJ Member Posts: 726
    edited November 2009

    Hi,  I called my onc.'s nurse today, to talk about the bloody poop problem.  She told me to call my GP, today...Which I did.  She said it sounds like a hemorrhoid, like I thought.  Drink more fluids, and get Maalox.  So glad I didn't have to talk to The Dane, Onc.  All is well, no visit to hospital.

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