Class of 2010

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  • shopper
    shopper Member Posts: 7
    edited February 2010
    i was diagnosed 6  years ago with stage 1 dcis...had segmentectomy and lymph node dissection which was negative.... margins were clear..  had 25 radiation treatments.  got badly burned... took tamoxifin and developed thickening uterine lining.  had d@c  changed to arimidex which caused my arthritis to flare up so it was d/c.   have had follow up and yearly mammos.  in nov.  shocked to hell to hear i had calcifications.  had core biopsy which came back as same kind of cancer with undifferentiated cells.  booked for mastectomy.... drain didn't work.  incision opened up and had to have packing etc... still have tiny hole left..  saw oncologist who said the calcifications were 1 cm.... est positive and her 2 positive.  had my first chemo yesterday.... have terrible veins... getting port put in march 18th.  not a happy camper.
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  • LINDAGARSIDE
    LINDAGARSIDE Member Posts: 345
    edited February 2010

    Shopper...I'm so sorry.  This is the crappiest news I've heard in a very long time.  My god...you've been through the wringer and back again. 

    It makes you pause and wonder if we shouldn't just get them chopped off right at the beginning when cancer is diagnosed, doesn't it?

    When you went for your yearly mamograms...did you have the diagnostic type or the regular type?  I am so shocked that nothing was picked up before now....I mean a lot of us (myself included) are trusting that yearly mamograms should "catch" anything.

    Big gentle hug your way, Shopper.  ((((((( HUG )))))))).   Hang in there...don't give up now....you've come too far and it sounds like you are quite fiesty.  I'm cranky about your news...as you've done absolutely everything you can...  Yell  SH**T!

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  • etk02038
    etk02038 Member Posts: 150
    edited February 2010

    Dublin4, those were the exact words my oncologist used "busy breasts" and difficult to moniter. I had 2 lumpectomies, mx wasn't considered by drs. I guess time will tell if the right decision was made, although I guess it's still not too late. If I have to go thru another bx and all the waiting off them come I guess. No decision is easy...it all stinks!

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  • Teka
    Teka Member Posts: 10,052
    edited February 2012

    Hi! shopper,

    Port should give You more comfort during chemo treatments.   Come on March 18th!

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  • Pattyfish
    Pattyfish Member Posts: 27
    edited February 2010

    Hi shopper, I am so sorry you are having to go throught all of this.  The port should help.  You have certainly had a lot put on you, but you will find love and support here.

    Linda, I know you will be glued to the hockey game tomorrow.  If team USA doesn't win, I hope Canada does Cool  

    To the rest of the Pink Boob Brigade, we shall carry on and persevere.

    Pat

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  • Dublin4
    Dublin4 Member Posts: 158
    edited February 2010

    I spoke to another another cancer survivor (and we will all be cancer survivor's) the other day and she started off her call to me with the statement "Welcome to the club no one wants to be a member of."  Yep, that's me and I am sure all of you.  I just got home from a basketball tournament my son was in and the entire team coach's and all wore pink wrist bands in support of me.  It was so nice.  The support from family, friends, and all of you has helped me live in appreciation and gratitude instead of dwelling in denial and fear.  I just can't stand the idea of waiting for the other shoe to fall and always, always wondering if its back.  I just want to get it over with and start my recovery,  Find out if it has spread anywhere and then take the steps that I need to take.  Just keep telling myself that a week from now i will know what, where, and when.

    Thanks for the hugs, and positive vibes.  Think of my on Monday and hopefully when I come back I will have good news and my busy breasts will not have been to busy!

    Much Love

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  • etk02038
    etk02038 Member Posts: 150
    edited February 2010

    Shopper...so sorry to hear your bad news...going thru this once is enough. I hope the port helps. Keep your chin up.

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  • KatieMom
    KatieMom Member Posts: 127
    edited February 2010

    Congratulations, Linda!  A game well fought!  Go Canada!

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  • LINDAGARSIDE
    LINDAGARSIDE Member Posts: 345
    edited February 2010

    YEA!!!  GO CANADA GO!!!

    I am so excited right now...we won GOLD....yahoo.  Not bad for a bunch of northern bush whackers.  Yahoo (again)  Thanks, Katie!!

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  • jakhope
    jakhope Member Posts: 133
    edited March 2010

    Congrats Linda! I f we had to lose, I am glad you won. I was thinking about you watching the game. Celebrate!!!

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  • LINDAGARSIDE
    LINDAGARSIDE Member Posts: 345
    edited March 2010

    Hi GP....thanks so much.  We had quite a crew here...7 kids, 5 adults and 2 cats.  We all went absolutely crazy when the overtime goal was scored.  Poor cats didn't know if they should climb the curtains or run out of the room.  LOL.

    I don't know why but I find myself actually forgetting that I even have cancer.  Funny hey?  I didn't think that was going to be possible.  Maybe I've been too tired to even think about it.  The rads will start soon enough (thanks for your tips)...and just before that I get an ultra sound on my stomach/pelvis area.  Hopefully nothing scares anyone and we will proceed as planned. 

    My husband wanted to take me away on a short trip before my rads however Mexico or any other hot place is OUT due to not wanting to burn my chest...and so we are actually going to be a tourist in our own town!  LOL.  My husband has booked a nice hotel here in Victoria and we'll stay there for a few days.  I guess we'll come home to feed the cats from time to time.  LOL.  My husband knows I will keep working if I stay home so he wants to get me away from my computer.  (My computer is set up so I can work from home).  Isn't this a riot?  We have horse and carriage trips all around town and I've always wanted a ride in one but thought they were only for the tourists...but hey....aren't I going to be a tourist in my own town...giddyup!

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  • KatieMom
    KatieMom Member Posts: 127
    edited March 2010

    LInda - sounds romantic to me.  My hubby and I are planning a trip to Australia and Hawaii at Christmas if this is all done.  I can't wait.  We have never been on a real vacation together before.  Whoopee.

    Katie 

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  • etk02038
    etk02038 Member Posts: 150
    edited March 2010

    Linda, getting away is good even if it's in your own town. My sister's and I are going away in a couple of weekends to Cape Cod, just 1.5 hours away.

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  • LauraM
    LauraM Member Posts: 251
    edited March 2010

    Jakhop - I haven't been on in a while, but read your post on itching and wanted to pass on the product that has been working for me.  Aveeno Active Naturals Skin Relief Moisturizing lotion with cooling menthol.  I have been itching a lot, not from radiation, but from drug interactions and this has been great for me.

     Cara - Great news on your results!

    All -  I have been home from the hospital since Thursday from my dmx with immediate tram reconstruction and it went great.  I was in the hospital for 3 days and came home in the middle of the snow storm that dumped 30 inches of snow here in NJ.  Since being home, I have had no issues with my range of motion in my arm, it has amazed me how little restrictions from soreness I have in them.   My stomach is not as bad as I thought either, I have been getting up and down from a recliner on my own since I came home.  My side to side motion is not limited either, just still uncomfortable a little from the drainage tubes, but not too bad.

    I have been pretty tired and luckily for me my mil is so great and been taking care of everything for me.  She leaves on Sunday and my sister arrives the next day so that will be good.

    I am off to the bs today and hopefully will get all good results from the surgery.  When I get back I am going to try and get through all of these posts I have missed since I seem to sleep a lot :}

    Peace to you all and I will chat soon. 

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  • jakhope
    jakhope Member Posts: 133
    edited March 2010

    Things still very tough here. Mom is failing and hanging on with very little food or intake so  know it won't be long. My family will not be able to be here for another three weeks. I am pretty sure Mom will not make that. At least I have found out, after speaking to the funeral director, that I can hold off of the funeral until they arrive.

    This has taken my mind off myself but I do not think in a healthy way. Now that I found out every thing can be put on hold, my girlfriends can still come this weekend, as my husband will be out of town Saturday until next Wednesday. It is all in God's hands.

    My Rad nurse gave me a RX of 2.5 cortizone. this has really helped my itching. The machines were down today so no treatment.This will delay one day. Oh, well. I was glad for the break.

    Linda have a wonderful home vacation. We have done that and gotten a room on the beach a few miles from home, The nice part is the little travel time and if you forget something, you can always go back and get it. 

    Hugs to you pretty pink ladies. Things will be better.

    GP Jeannie Here

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  • etk02038
    etk02038 Member Posts: 150
    edited March 2010

    Laura-sounds like things went well.Keep resting and try not to do too much. 30 inches of snow! YUK! We have none on the ground now..the way I like it.

    Jakhope...so sorry about your Mom, it is so hard.  

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  • hereandnow
    hereandnow Member Posts: 322
    edited March 2010

    Hi, just joined as home from hospital today. Diagnosed 19th Feb - Surgery 26th Feb - right skin preserving mastectomy with Level 1 and II axillary dissection - infiltrative ductal carcinoma with plenty of DCIS - 3cm mass, grade 3,. no nodes, no vascular invasion, no margins, Er +, PR +, Her2 -ve. Stage IIA.

    Tissue expander in place (100ml), drains removed today. A bit sore, but reasonable range of motion for day 5 post op, and pain pills good. Lots of good support - seeing oncologist next week to discuss chemo, and referred to rediation oncologist for opinion as well.

    What a roller coaster!

    I'm sure I'll find lots of good information here, but just found the site, and can see it's going to make some good reading- especially keen to find out more about the chemo

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  • Teka
    Teka Member Posts: 10,052
    edited February 2012

    Hi! hereandnow,

    Welcome.   I see my medical oncologist for 1st time today.   Little nervous.   Get plenty of rest at home.

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  • LauraM
    LauraM Member Posts: 251
    edited March 2010

    Well ladies, I got my lab reports back yesterday and they found additional cancer in the fatty tissue area under my underarm around the nodes they took out.  Supposedly what they found is rare (of course ) and they will need to go back in next Friday and take out all the issue and nodes under my left arm...ugh.  It does not appear to be in my lymph nodes so that is good news but they have to take them all out anyway.  They have sent all my slides to Sloane Kettering for a second opinion so I am waiting on that info now. 

    A set back of course that was not expected but I am trying to think positive.  I have cried a lot the last two days and feel like I am in such a funk but this too will pass.

    I will check in again soon.

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  • KatieMom
    KatieMom Member Posts: 127
    edited March 2010

    Welcome Hereandnow.  Sorry you have joined our exclusive club.  

    Laura - that sounds lousy.  It just doesn't seem to end, does it?  You think that this next test or appt is going to do it, and then there is more!  You celebrate the clear lymph nodes and find it in the fatty tissue...  no fair.  But as we all know, this whole breast cancer thing is not fair.

    I see Dr. Next tomorrow, yes, have to take more time off work for that appt. Grrr.  I am really thankful that I have a good sub who is always available for me.

    katie 

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  • Ezscriiibe
    Ezscriiibe Member Posts: 598
    edited March 2010

    hereandnow, so sorry you had to join us but so thrilled that you found us! Sounds like your recovery is going well, and, hey, as long as we can prop ourselves up in front of a monitor and bang somethiing reasonably coherent on a keyboard, we're good to go, right?!

    LauraM, I am hate to hear about your lab report. I do think it's great, though, that your team was pro-active enough to send everything to Sloan Kettering without your asking for them to! Hang in there, we're here for you!

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  • irish47
    irish47 Member Posts: 109
    edited March 2010

    Hi all,

    welcome to our new pink sisters, unfortunately our class is growing.  Am I the only one wondering if there is an epidemic here?Since I was diagnosed have heard of three other women, all from my small town who have BC..

      I have an appointment next tuesday with a medical oncologist to discuss chemotherapy.  As I said, my surgeon doesn't think I do but will be happy to discuss it with the expert.

    jakhope, hope you are doing ok with all the worry about your mother.  it sounds like she is coming to the end, hope you are being minded through all this.

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  • Ezscriiibe
    Ezscriiibe Member Posts: 598
    edited March 2010

    I don't know about an "epidemic" but it's more likely that we are more attuned to it now.

    Here's hoping you can avoid chemo, but if he recommends it, I wish you mild side effects. So far mine are. 

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  • shopper
    shopper Member Posts: 7
    edited March 2010

    well i haven't been around for a few days.   the chemo knocked me flying.  thanks all for your kind words.  hopefully i am through the worse of the first treatment.   i just have no energy. all i want to do is sleep.  

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  • Teka
    Teka Member Posts: 10,052
    edited February 2012

    Hi! shopper,

    I also have poor veins and will be getting a chemo port next week.   I would like to sleep until June.

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  • LINDAGARSIDE
    LINDAGARSIDE Member Posts: 345
    edited March 2010

    Pink Peeps...greetings.  Hello to our new members.  Our pink army is growing, for sure.  But my goodness...what a fine group we are, aren't we?

    Hi Michele...glad to hear your side effects are mild...phew.  Let's hope that keeps up.  Anything else new?

    GP...so sad about your mom.  While it would be nice if all her kids could be there when she leaves...it might not be possible from what you said.  You are an amazing daughter, my friend.  Hang in there...thinking about you.

    Irish47...(even though we know you are 48...LOL) how are you? 

    Laura!  That just sucks about the fatty tissue.  You got me feeling all over my fatty arm pits now.  OMG.  We think we're on one path and get ourselves sorted out and then BANG the path changes and we've even got different shoes on.  What the heck?

    Here and Now...you've really got people moving quickly....good for you. We are all jealous.  We seem to be the "where and when" gang.  Speaking of fast appointments...yahoo Katie...finally you are going to see Dr Next!  It will be great to have an update.

    Tonight after midnight I have to fast (like I'm up eating meals in the middle of the night anyway).  In the morning I have to drink at least a litre of water and hold it in without going pee until after the ultra sound.  The ultra sound is at 10:00 a.m.  I bought maxi-pads today.  I probably should have bought Depends...but they are very pricey and the ruffle at the top makes my stomach itchy.  LOL.

     Thanks everyone for cheering Canada on during the Olympics.  We did quite well for a winter olympics considering it didn't snow.  LOL.  We're having such a mild winter.  Still haven't seen a drop of snow here in Victoria all winter!  

    Hey...did any of my pink peeps here about bitter melon?  Apparently it is quite effective for fighting and/or preventing breast cancer.  Some sort of herb that is useful for diabetics apparently.  The cancer society sent me something about it.  Is this news to you as well?  Anyone want the link?

    Well, better run.  Lots of ironing to do!  LOL.  Can you imagine?  I still iron clothes!  I usually put on television and watch something cool like Dog the Bounty Hunter or Hoarders.  It's the only way I get to watch crappy stuff...my husband doesn't like these types of shows at all...but they keeps me at the ironing board.  My husband can't complain because it's mostly his shirts for work that I'm ironing.  We have a deal.  He makes my lunch every day and I iron his shirts.  He is the worlds worse ironer...but he doesn't make that great a lunch either.  Oh well...too late to trade him in now!  LOL.  Take care my fellow warriors.

    I'll let you know if I manage to hold everything in tomorrow.  LOL.  Any bets?  I think I won't be able to as I've already had two bladder surgeries.  My bladder keeps falling down and can't get back up.  All you young peeps...see what you have to look forward to?Wink

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  • Teka
    Teka Member Posts: 10,052
    edited February 2012

    Hi! Dublin4,

    I hope you're on the mend from surgery.

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  • hereandnow
    hereandnow Member Posts: 322
    edited March 2010

    Thank you for all your wonderful replies, my head is still spinning from the diagnosis 2 weeks ago, and surgery last Friday, and now I'm trying to take stock of where I'm at. I know where I'm at may not be the same from week to week, but I am starting to accumulate mountains of treatment specialists most of whom I'm yet to meet, including general surgeon, plastic surgeon, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, general practitioner, interventional radiologist (for the port), not to mention the breast care nurse, who calls to make sure everything's ok and is wonderful, and I'm sure somewhere along the way, a physiotherapist.

    I'm 43 and have never been unwell in my life, but that is not a new story. Just have to get used to all the strangers, and strangeness, but also all the wonderful facilities and people who are able to help.

    Glad this forum is here - it's good to share things with people who are going through it too.

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  • dutchgirl6
    dutchgirl6 Member Posts: 673
    edited March 2010

    Hi pink ribbon sisters

    I have been reading through some of your posts and you sound like a terrific group.  This seems like this is a good to join.

    I was diagnosed on Dec. 18, I had lumpectomy with SNB on Feb.1.  Results showed clear margins but lymph node involvement, so back to surgery on Feb. 22 for axillary node dissection.  I am still carrying my drain around, but am hoping that it can come out tomorrow. I have to go back to work on Friday, and although I have become quite good at hiding it, I would rather not have to bother with it.  I have my follow up with my surgeon tomorrow, and we are crossing fingers, toes and everything in between that the nodes are clean.  Next step will be chemo, followed by rads.  The next six months or so will be interesting.

    Looking forward to connecting more with this group. Good night all.

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  • LINDAGARSIDE
    LINDAGARSIDE Member Posts: 345
    edited March 2010

    Hi Dutchgirl6.  Welcome to the class of 2010 that Irish47 (who is really 48) started.  I see you live in Kelowna.  I live in Victoria BC.  Good luck tomorrow at your meeting with the surgeon.  I hope your nodes are clean.  

    Hey HereandNow...you have got a great team behind you!  Wow...and don't you love the breast health nurse?  Here in VIctoria we also have the Breast Health nurses.  They are so helpful with everything, aren't they?  Regarding being healthy...it's funny but there are so many very healthy women who have breast cancer...and many who are not so healthy.  It really doesn't seem to matter....I guess cancer is "no respector of persons" or something like that?? Young...old...healthy...weak...skinny....fat....the only thing we all have in common is our boobies.  And of course, the cancer that decided to visit our beautiful boobies.  You will be back to your old self before you know it...only you will have a lot more friends, right?  Take care of yourself and again, welcome.

    Goodnight pink peeps! 

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