Starting Chemo Aug 09

I'm with you Weety...I counted May 13th as my cancerversary since that is the day I got the call that it was cancer. 

Gill - As my surgeon was taking the port out she muttered "Gosh, this thing is really in here, I'm going to have to just dig it out".   Then she paused and said "That doesn't sound very professional does it?"   We laughed.

Patty

Jenn -- my prayers are definitely with you.  It's horrifying what is happening there... and I pray they find a way to stem the flow ASAP.  As far as DIEP, I know that a LOT of women on this site go to New Orleans for this type of surgery... I assume you've read around on BCO about the NOLA doctors and have good referrals? 

Cancerversaries -- good question!  I have 6/2/09 as my diagnosis in my sig here, but that is only because that was the date of my first lumpectomy, after which I was told that the pathology report showed IDC (not DCIS, as the biopsy I had had at end of April had indicated).  My annual mammogram last year was in mid-March.  I went away on vacation and returned to find that they wanted more pictures at end of March.  Which led to the biopsy appointment on April 23 and then being told I had cancer a week later (April 29, 2009) -- then I had to find a surgeon and didn't get the lumpectomy until early June.  So I guess for me the real cancerversary is April 29; but then finding out I had IDC and was HER2+ in June was equally, if not MORE devastating, because instead of everyone telling me it's Stage 0, it's nothing, it's easy to treat with a little lumpectomy, etc, I was told: chemo, hair loss, and, ultimately, mastectomy.  I think this time of year will just always be hard.

I guess I'll use the date in my info - that's the day the doc told me and it became official. But I knew a few days before when I saw the ultrasound.

Jenn - I've been watching this disaster from afar and am definitely praying that something works to stop the oil flow.  Louisiana and whole gulf coast does NOT need this!   Wish I could help with the picture problem...but I haven't a clue.

Lilah - What a story about your diagnosis!   I had a few "good news" turned "bad news" incidents along the way, but nothing like yours.   How's your recovery going?

Karen - Thanks for sharing the story from the lady you met.   But...good heavens...where did her doctor get that information?   200% chance it would come back?  Does that mean it would come back twice?   Everything being equal in my pathology and treatment,  with 2 nodes postive I have only an 8% chance of dying from cancer in the next 15 years, with 0 nodes positive I would have a 3% chance of the same.

Patty

Patty - I'm not sure where the doctor got the 200% chance either.  It does sound weird.  But she is doing great and feeling terrific 7 years out and it hasn't come back yet. 

Doing better every day, thanks for asking Patty! 

I'm over it now -- but both my boyfriend and I were pretty devastated at the time.  Felt like we had been tricked.  It is actually even worse than what I wrote because when I went in for my second lumpectomy on June 23, THAT was when I found out I had to have chemo (fired that BS); apparently after my first pathology, which showed IDC but which my BS said would only mean one more surgery, no chemo, a secondary report had come in saying I had HER2+ which means chemo.  So the day of my second surgery the admitting nurse hands me a consent form that says "chemo port" and I'm like: what?  I thought it was a mistake.  It was not.  Thanks for the heads up, buddy, was all I could think.  It was a bad day.  But I'm over it now and looking ahead.  Glad to be DONE with chemo and, hopefully, DONE with surgery too!

Jenn -- hope you can figure out how to post your new pic!!!

Well it's all water under the bridge now Patty but thanks   I am sending dagger thoughts at that lady who said you were lucky -- I had similar comments.  My first BS actually told me that since I was diagnosed with DCIS there was no need to worry as I could live with it for 5 years with no problem.  What an idiot.  I was grade 3.  It was necrotic.  (And, as it turned out, it wasn't DCIS but IDC).   I knew he was just trying to calm me down over having to wait 3 weeks for surgery, but in retrospect I should have just found a different surgeon right then and there. 

I am not bitter though... I am happy!  I got better doctors... and I got through this horrible year.  I pray for all of us that there will never have to be another battle like this again in our lives.

After posting since July last year I finally added a picture. My hair is PFC 6 months with lots of color added!

Gilly - Hmmm, not sure what to make of your swelling.  My incision went right across the top of the port.  May be you should have it checked out.   Love the hair!    Wish I had the guts to do something similarly fun.

Lilah - Your first surgeon certainly was an idiot.  I don't think anybody would knowingly let DCIS go five years without treatment!   Can they know for sure what it is until they get in there?  Anyway...as you say...water under the bridge.  Lessons learned.  Better times ahead!

Patty

Patty, thanks for the Happy cancerversary...and the same to you!!!!

Gilly, Love that fierce hair! I am dating my cancerversary from the date the surgeon told me on the phone "IT'S CANCER" June 3rd 2009 will always be a day of extreme highs and lows for me!

Happy cancerversary this week to Lilah and Gilly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and anyone else I already missed!!!!! WTG Ladies....we're doing it!

Patty, Thanks for the "cute", yes a few weeks back out of the blue I kept getting eyelashes in my eyes and noticed I was once again shedding...but it didn't last long and most of them stayed in and now seems like they are all back to normal again!

Aw thanks Jen   Sorry I can't help with the pictures.  I know I just browsed my computer and selected the one I use... going from the "My Home" page... it was pretty easy.  Maybe you need to select a different format for the picture?

Jenn -- Well that is just annoying!

How is everyone doing? Four days and no posts! I guess that's good? As I started chemo right at the end of July, I posted on that thread too. Noone has posted there since May 20, though I do see members of both threads posting around the boards.

Today was the last day of our preschool year. Time to take a break before all the sorting, clearing, repairing, cleaning etc before we start up again.