Class of 2010

irish47,

Hard to be teenage girls without mom.

Hi Pink Peeps...Alas, the moonwalker is also tired.  Not of doing the moonwalk, but more from shuffling too and from radiation appointments.  I think it's called "Radiation Fatigue".  Let's make up a new dance step for that, shall we?  Perhaps one where we're lying on our backs on a recliner and our foot jerks up for no reason from time to time.  LOL.

I will be seeing the radiologist oncologist (not sure if that is what her title is or not...but it sounds good) tomorrow and will find out why they wanted to take an x-ray after my bone scan.

Katie, if they found something behind your eyebrow...why would they make an assumption that it is benign?  Is there some other test they can do to be sure?  I'm just saying that because if it were me I'd be worried all year until the next scan.  I don't know about you but I'm getting pretty tired of worrying about things.  I'd like to really move forward and start to put this all behind me.  I'm sure many of you are feeling that way too.  Ok, let's just keep swimming...there is a light at the end of the tunnel...and yahoo...it's not a *#%@ TRAIN!

LINDAGARSID,

There are so many false-positives on test.   I have hated mammograms for 20 years because I was called back for repeat films, ultrasounds, and (2) biopsies before being diagnosed with BC.   There is nothing worse then doctors that over react at the patients expense.   I hope my doctors use good judgement with my BC treatment.   Worry can be worst enemy.   Let me put it another way - if only if only the hair on my ass was spun gold I would be rich!   The day is coming when we move beyond our BC.

Damn I wrote a bunch of stuff and I went back a page to check what someone wrote and it all went away!!!  #$%&&^$!!!!!!

Welcome Annette!! Let me be first to say I think you will not regret biting the bullet!

LauraM and Arubajan..  My fingers are crossed for you as you join in the chemo fun and games.. 

I have to say Pickles I have think week one was a lot harder than I expected.. maybe not as hard as yours.. my tongue hasn't gone weird and I have no welts.. BUT I crashed hard day 1 post chemo and I have been struggling since..  Lot of pain in my back and general discomfort in my mid section... Barely made it to work Monday / Tuesday.. and didn't even bother today. Have been in bed all day since I got back from my injection... hoping most of it is due to the injections.. and will be all better once they start... 

Katie i would also get the def on that "thing" under your eyebrow.. but otherwise very glad to hear all well!

I'm looking at wigs tomorrow at the cancer center attached to the hospital.. I think I too have left it late.. Hoping for a little fun with the fitting part!

Ladies you are all keeping me going more than you know!

Thanks PinkPeeps! 

I am new to the Class of 2010.  Had a core biopsy done Monday - preliminary result was positive.  Decided to pick up a copy of the pathology report today - invasive poorly differentiated ductal carcinoma.  I have an appointment with the surgeon Friday to tell me what happens next.  The scary thing for me is that my mom died at age 39 (I was 7) with breast cancer that had mastetized (sp?) in her bones.  I have two daughters - 11 and 13 - who know I'm being tested, but don't know yet that it was positive.  Husband and I plan to tell them Friday after school.   I am definitely scared of what lies ahead, but reading the survivor stories here is very encouraging.

oceancitygi and ttechred,

WELCOME!

ETK-

You made me giggle!  Yea!  I don't think a sexchange is covered under our insurance though... My ovaries often swell when i am ovulating and can develope a cyst at that time that disappears over time.  I had a partial Hysterectomy in 2007 and still have both ovaries.  It's pretty common and should show on the ultrasound.  Don't be suprised if they have you come back for a follow up in a month.

Welcome to the new ladies!!  We're here for the long haul and always ready for questions! 

Cathy! 

Glad you don't have swollen white tongue..."maybe I should change my name from pickles to white tongue?"  but sad to hear you are feeling so yuck! 

 I have to say it's day 8 post Chemo #1 and I think I've turned a corner.  The amazingly ugly rash is slowly going away and my tongue is now a normal size and color!  Hurray!  I did have to get to the rest room rather quickly this morning, almost stepped on a cat on the way. but after that, breakfast actually tasted good and has stayed in my stomach for an hour!  whoo hoo!  I'm celebrating the small wonders today!

Strength and peace to you all today!  I'm off to take in some sun!

As for "stepping in it or on it," at least it was almost the cat.  Last night, my pup brought in something from outdoors.  I pried open her jaws, said "drop it" and it was a large, dead mouse.  Told her if I'd wanted a ratter, I would have gotten a terrier.

Welcome to new folks.  You will find great gals here to buoy you up in hard times.

Hi pink peeps...please join in with me as I shout "Hurrah".  Thank you.   I'm asking you to celebrate with me that there was no cancer found in my bones.  What was found was some extra bone growth or spurs or something like that (I have to admit I didn't listen too close after she said "all clear").  She explained that is why I'm having back pain and that she will refer me to my GP for helping with treatment for my back...as it is NOT cancer related at all.  Yahoo.  I'll suffer through until all the cancer treatments are over and then pay a visit to my GP. 

Hi Annette and welcome to the club.  Look forward to your posts and to being a support for you.  Sounds like your mom will be able to give you a lot of guidance as well.  I can't even talk to my mom about it...she says it gives her shivers up her spine to think about it.  What can I say?  She is French Canadian.  Not that I mind French Canadians...it's just that they can be whacky at times...LOL  My mom is 85 now and still going strong.  She has been very upset this year as four of her seven kids have been diagnosed with some type of cancer in the last few years and she thinks she must have done something wrong...but we've all tried to tell her different.  Oh well...what can you do?  I'm just so happy I still have my mom here.  I love her to bits.  We're going on a cruise to Alaska in May and she is coming.  I think we'll be sharing a room as my husband isn't going to come. 

Linda,

Omg...I know exactly what you mean!  When I first told my mom she automatically assumed my diagnosis was her fault because she had BC also.  Ridiculous.  Though your family having a lot more incidents is scary!

The one good thing that came from my mom's BC was because she was 28 at the time, my doctors have been very diligant with my exams.  I have had annual mammograms since I was 27 and my doctor though it would be a good idea to do a baseline breast MRI this year.  No reason for the test and that's the darn thing that found it!  Figures.

I go in for another post surgery check up tomorrow.  I'm trying to make more of an effort to use my arm but I can't wait until I can move it the way I used to.  Or at least raise it enough to shave! 

Annette

HURRAY! Linda. A deep sigh of relief or you.

Jan, good luck with your first chemo. 

One of my pet sitting clients had to cancel her vacation due to the volcano. I was happy I didn't have to sit for them. It meant getting to their house at 6 am, a midday visit and then back at 11 pm. Way too tired for those type of visits now. 

Caution everyone!  I was told by the cancer nutritionist recently that patients taking chemo and other cancer fighting drugs should NOT be taking supplements that help their immune system. (Supplements that boost your immune system...they usually are the "oxident" family if you know what I mean).  What you will be doing is helping your cancer live or hide in your cells and resist the drugs that are trying to destroy them.  I know this sounds crazy but when you think about it...the drugs are trying to destroy things in our cells that are trying to kill us...if we fortify our cells, we fortify the enemy that is hiding within.  Check this out if you are not certain but this information came straight from the cancer society here in Canada.  Certainly after wards (when treatment complete) it is critical that we help our bodies and build up our immune system again.

Linda-

  I love it when we get to celebrate the good news!  Hurray! 

Irish-

  I'm sending soothing restful thoughts your way...and no volcanic ash!

My onc also has me on Vitamin D supplement but no multi-vitamins.  Went for my Nadir blood work today.  My WBC is low, but it's expected.  I am hoping to get it up without the Neulasta shots, so I've got twelve days to  eat lots of salmon, pork and organic beef!  Still have my hair, but plan on buzzing it down on Wednesday.  Not looking forward to seeing my rash ridden scalp, but hopefully most of the rash will be gone by then!  Getting back more and more energy every day!  Actually chased my cats around the yard today.

Hope we all have a SE free, sunny, spring flower-filled weekend!

Thanks for the welcome.  Saw the surgeon today.  Turns out the IDC is "textbook."  What's not common is this - in addition to the axillary lymph nodes, it looks like the ancilliary lymph nodes are involved.  In other words, the chain of nodes down the middle of my chest appear to have tissue density changes.  My surgeon is referring me to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.  I am fortunate that I only live 1 hour from Houston and will have access to that level of care.  It is frustrating however because all of the test results haven't come in yet, and I still don't really know what happens next. 

My husband and I told our 11 and 13 year old daughters this afternoon.  It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do, but they handled it much better than I thought they would.  I've had some moments of panic this evening when I can't help but think about their lives if I don't have a good outcome.  Trying to think positively, but I'm still struggling to accept that this is real.  Saw my husband cry today - made me really mad at God.