Starting chemo Sept 05

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  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited June 2010

    We will see what the blood markers are like before deciding about scans. Oncologist wants to see if I am responding to the Faslodex as the first line of inquiry. Haven't thought much past that yet.

    *susan* 

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  • sholroyd
    sholroyd Member Posts: 288
    edited July 2010

    I have been absent for a while, bit of a blip in my life but reading Susan's news I am not going to write anything now - Susan I will email you.

    Just to let you know I am back and that you are all in my thoughts as always.

    We are going to be an auntie to a little boy - I have just had a good friend become grandmother to her first grandson, seems a lot of little boys around here of now.  My two grandsons continue to be a joy in my life.

    http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=2377915457586&source=jl999

     I am going on vacation now for a couple weeks.

    Sandra - (from the UK) - Susan this is to make you smile.

    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  • Calico
    Calico Member Posts: 1,108
    edited July 2010

    Hi everybody

    Sandra,

    nice to see you again.

    Susan,

    prayers continue for you.

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  • marg1
    marg1 Member Posts: 73
    edited July 2010

    UGH, just logging in to let you all know that I am celebrating my 5 yr mark.  I am so saddened to hear about Susan.  Susan know that I will pray that God gives you strength and peace during this time in your life.  Marg

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  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited July 2010

    Marg,

    I am so happy to hear that you have made it to five-years! I hope that you are having a celebration, internal or external, that marks this in a way that is meaningful to you.

    You are always in my thoughts.

    *susan* 

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  • sholroyd
    sholroyd Member Posts: 288
    edited August 2010

    Hi Marg.

    Susan xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx will skpe talk soon - promise.......

    I am going to a Christmas party on Thursday evening, just 4 of us, my friend sort of slept through last Christmas in hospital, we said as soon as she is well enough we would have a Christmas party - so there we are - I have got Father Christmas coming to deliver our Chinese takeaway - yes I know it should be turkey LoL  gigle, giggle. 

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  • marg1
    marg1 Member Posts: 73
    edited August 2010

    Not so fast!  Found a lump in my Rt Breast.  Going to MD Anderson next week for an ultrasound and possible a needle biopsy.  The rt breast is the non affected side and I have an implant (I had a bilaterally mastectomy), the nurse said that it could be scar tissue formation, but I don't know, it feels hard like a pea just like the first time around.  RATS!  Marg

    Sandra, I love the Christmas party idea.

    Susan, still thinking about you.   Will be logging on more frequently in case you need your Sept sisters support.  

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  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited August 2010

    oh Marg..... scar tissue. Must.be.scar.tissue. Will you post back and let us know how your appointment goes? Darn, just the stress of thinking it might be something is hard!

    Sandra, what a fun thing to do.. Christmas in August for your friend. And of course, here in the States we don't do much turkey at Christmas so I think Chinese takeaway sounds perfect.

    Next injection is on Thursday. I really want to see how my blood markers are doing. This is the month that we actually start paying attention. As much as I hope that this protocol is doing something, I am not getting my hopes up too much.

    *susan* 

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  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited August 2010

    It is working! The treatment appears to be working!

    Logged into the hospital website last night to find that my blood markers are down! By about 18%. Oh yea, baby.... this is good news indeed! Dr. Roger said that this is the first month that we should pay attention to the results, but in fact, the last two months have started a downward trend!

    Now I can't wait to see what next month's numbers look like!

    Doing the happy dance, *susan* 

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  • Calico
    Calico Member Posts: 1,108
    edited August 2010

    Yayyyy Susan,

    doing the happy dance for you!!!! :) Your family must be extatic too....

    So happy for you, hugs!!!!!!!!!!!

    Marg,

    prayers for you too!! Hope it is nothing and if it is, it will be clobbered to death like the first time around!!!! When do you find out?

    Sandra,

    how cool is that??? I love the idea!! Glad your friend is better!

    Not much here, I think I want another colonoscopy....did I say 'want'??

    Also have next month appt. with ortho onc that checked my bone lesion last year....I hate check ups....October is onc month...sigh......

    Hope everyone is okay, we haven't seen Peg loggin in for a while.....

    Hugs to all

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  • Liezel
    Liezel Member Posts: 192
    edited August 2010

    Oh no Marg!  Hope everything went ok.  Let us know!!

    Sandra, love the idea of Xmas in August!  Enjoy it! 

     Susan, such good news!  Celebrating with you!

     Tina, good luck for all your tests!!!

    I am well.  Baby getting big - will probably arrive early than planned date of 3 Sep.

     Love to all!

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  • Calico
    Calico Member Posts: 1,108
    edited August 2010

    Liezel,

    wow, it's already almost time??? Wow...maybe it will be a September baby after all? We will be aunties!!!!....Glad everything is okay with you. How is your son doing?

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  • sholroyd
    sholroyd Member Posts: 288
    edited August 2010

    Liezel, please add me to your email list so I get your news at the earliest possible:

    sandra.holroyd@tiscali.co.uk.

     Marg, my bet is on scar tissue.

     Susan, about to email you a 'happy dance'  LoL .  Off to London with my 2 grandsons tomorrow, staying over, maybe London Zoo - must be mad.

    I think Peg is fine, just that sometimes 'time out' is needed. 

     Sandra xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  • txred9876
    txred9876 Member Posts: 392
    edited August 2010

    I read but dont always post on here these days. The last 6 months has been a blur...... I stayed almost 24 x 7 for three months with my friend who lost ther husband in a car accident in jan, She has 4 kiddos who are now 8,5,2 and 7.5 months. Then Iot to see my youngest graduate in Oregon, plus spend 3 weeks vacationing in oregon and northern California. Got home and helped my friend and her 4 kids for a few more weeks before heading to Victoria Mexico (4 hours south of the border) for three weeks. I fell and  broke 2 ribs while in Mexico also. Even though its been a few weeks they are still pretty sore. I got home from Mexico only to be the driver of a friend to Big Bend National park. My husband was supposed to be the driver but he could not do it.....so here I went again!!! We hiked so much that my feet are killing me still .....one week later, but they are getting  better each day. I will be heading next saturday back to oregon because my dad has a pituitary tumor that is 4.5 cm that will be removed on sept 9th. This is the second time it has reappeared (first time was in aug 98).

    Now on to the good news....as all of you know i have been trying to lose weight....as of last count I have now lost 58lbs!!!!!!!

    With all that stuff said.....It saddens me to hear of your news Susan. I had started to write a note many times this summer but at times I was out of pocket as far as the internet goes.

     Lizel....Let us know when that baby gets here! Congrats!

    Oh....there is one more big thing on my plate....My husband and myself are in the process of selling everything and we will be heading to Indonesia as missionaries sometime in the next 6-9months!

    I think of all of you very often and you are never away from my prayers!

    Love tina

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  • sholroyd
    sholroyd Member Posts: 288
    edited August 2010

    Wow Tina, I feel exhausted reading your post, but pleased to hear from you - and so very well done on your fantastic weight loss - I have slipped behind again on that score, or should I say it has slipped on my behind LoL.

    The best of wishes for your plans for Indonesia.

    To all of you - hugs and more hugs. 

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  • txred9876
    txred9876 Member Posts: 392
    edited August 2010

    Sandra,

    Believe me how tiring it has been. When I got back from Big Bend I nearly slept a whole week away! The problem is....I think I am normal and then go and do stuff.....only to find out later I MUST rest because my body won't let me do anything more!

    I am trying to pack for my Oregon trip and trying to find warm cloths that fit!!! I am now into a size 16....down from a 26w-28w!  It was kind of weird the other day I was actually able to go to old navy and find something in my size!

    My dad is very excited that I am coming up to Oregon a little before his surgery. I am also taking my friends daughter (the one who lost her husband in Jan) and she has got the fishing bug this summer. I do not know who is more excited.....my dad or Salem!! LOL

    I cannot wait to see my daughters also!

    Tina

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  • Calico
    Calico Member Posts: 1,108
    edited September 2010

    Hi girls,

    it is September sisters, look how far we have come.....5 years yayyyy

    Liezel,

    are we aunties yet?

    Tina,

    congrats to the weight loss and the new journey you are embarking on soon, wow is all I can say!!

    Sandra,

    how was London??

    Marg,

    how did the doc appointments go?

    Susan,

    thinking of you always and keeping you in my prayers, glad things are going well for you.

    Not much here....DD started at the University and likes it.

    Hope everybody is well as can be!

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  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited September 2010

    We are Aunties!!!!! Matt was born today.

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  • Calico
    Calico Member Posts: 1,108
    edited September 2010

    Awwwww....and wohooooo

    Thank you Susan! :)

    Liezel,

    Congratulations to you and your husband to the birth of your son Matt and also to first DS for being a big brother now ;)

    Hope all went well and you are comfortable!!!

    A September birth for a September sister....awwwww.....I am feeling melancholic.

    Susan,

    hope you are well!!!

    I keep taps on you by clicking on your name ;)

    Hugs to all aunties!!!! :):):)

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  • Pegk
    Pegk Member Posts: 389
    edited September 2010

    Wow! Congratulations to Liezel and the rest of your family! Happy birthday Matt!

    Best wishes to the rest of you as we cross our 5 year milestones! 

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  • sholroyd
    sholroyd Member Posts: 288
    edited September 2010

    Welcome little Matt from Auntie Sandra (in the UK)  LoL Susan - I guess this news is on Facebook - think I will pop in and have a look.

    Calico, London was 'awsome' as my 8-year old described the trip.  I feel I have managed to spend some quality time with my 2 grandsons this summer - planned our time together and it worked.

     Off to Facebook......

    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and Hugs

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  • Liezel
    Liezel Member Posts: 192
    edited September 2010

    Hi Everybody!!

    Yes, you are all Aunties!!!  My darling baby was born 31 August actually.  Weighing a healthy 3.76 kg!  We have been on a roller coaster ride since then.  Not all of it because of normal newborn stuff. 

    When Matt was born we were told that there was a problem with his left testis.  They did a sonar when he was 2 hours old and found a lot of cysts.  They addopted a wait and see attitude to see if it improved, when it did not after 2 days we were told that they think it might be cancerous.  They did an operation to "look and see" when he was 3 days old.  Afterwards they told us they had to remove the testis completely.  We had to wait 4 days for the pathology.  We got the news on 07 September - 5 yrs after my mastectomy.  It was cancerous, but was presenting bizarely and they were not sure exactly what type it was.  We were devastated and of course I was convinced that I gave it to him someway.

    A week later we did new tumor markers and then we got the verdict, after it was referred to some academics.  It was a yolk sac tumor.  The removal was the only tx required and they used the word cured.  But, we have to do tumor markers every month to make sure it stays this way. 

    So, for now my boy is healthy.  Battling with colic and reflux and feeling extra guilty because I can't breastfeed, but he is still my little miracle and I am just so thankful for him every day.

     Hope you are all well.  Speak again soon - hear him crying!

    Liezel

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  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited October 2010

    Liezel,

    What a whirlwind indeed! Poor little guy... a very busy first few weeks indeed. How are you and your husband doing through all of this? I just can't imagine how anxious you must have been as the medical folks figured out what was happening.

    Please don't blame yourself for anything. Maybe, maybe not. What we all know is that Matt is a child who was truly wanted, he is a great blessing, and will be surrounded by love. That seems like a tremendous amount to me.

    I will continue to watch for pictures on Facebook. Much love to you and your entire family.

    *susan* 

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  • Calico
    Calico Member Posts: 1,108
    edited October 2010

    Liezel,

    oh wow,

    hugs to you and your family, especially little Matt.

    I cannot imagine the fear you are going through and I am glad they could do that operation.

    Lets hope this was it....

    I will keep you guys in my prayers, as always.

    Susan,

    how are you doing?

    Hugs to all

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  • Pegk
    Pegk Member Posts: 389
    edited October 2010

    Hi everybody!

    There was a lot of walking done this weekend for breast cancer research, education, and treatments- The Avon Walk in NYC, the Susan B. Komen walk in Washington DC (I think) and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walks in several venues across the country. A lot of money has been raised and hopefully progress will be made to iradicate all cancer.

    Liezel, it seems as though your  medical team was proactive and that word cured sure sounds good.

    I'm busy working on a new show at Lincoln Center, but You all are never far from my thoughts.

    Peggy 

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  • Calico
    Calico Member Posts: 1,108
    edited October 2010

    Hi girls,

    hope you all have some fun this weekend.

    Happy Halloween

    Pegk,

    glad to see you again, good news about your job, what's the show called? Do you meet some celebs?

     Good job on walking for the cure!!!

    Liezel,

    hope your little one is doing well.

    Hugs to all, check in and say hello :)

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  • leannem
    leannem Member Posts: 137
    edited November 2010

    My darling, darling sisters, 

     How do I say hello when so much time has passed and express my anger and sadness towards the loss, the new diagnosis, and yet at the same time my thrill at the birth of baby Matt? I am so pleased he is now essentially cured Liezel and my heart was in my mouth when I read your news of his initial problems. Don't beat yourself up though honey. 

     Susan my heart and prayers go out to you. I totally understand your need for privacy on facebook so understand why I didn't know of this earlier and gives me a massive push to check in here more often. Please know I DO think of you all often, especially this year, 5 years on. 

    To this day my doctors don't really know what it is/was in my liver. Mets? benign masses? I do know initially I was given 2 years and I am still hear 4 years later. Yes I have had my most recent reoccurance but I am here.

    After my most recent chemo I was due to start radiation and panicked. After much deliberation I decided on a bilateral mastectomy with an immediate DIEP reconstruction. It was a long, painful process. (13.5hrs on the operating table, 4 x blood transfusions, 3 days in ICU and a week in hospital). That was in April around Easter. August I had implants and nipple reconstruction. I am feeling healthy and all that remains to be done is the nipple colour tattooing. I will do that when I get around to it!

    Unfortunately I am battling a lot of depression at the moment which makes it difficult. I am seeing an amazing psychiatrist who is helping a lot and I am on a couple of different medications for a long while now which have been helping but we are adjusting at the moment. I am not sure what triggered it- possibly a type of PTSD post cancer but who really knows with this kind of thing? I am predisposed to it anyway. Toben was diagnosed with ADHD and Oppositional Defiance Disorder earlier this year which is challenging!

    I need to be honest and you ladies are the only ones who I can say this to. I admit I have been living somewhat recklessly these past few months since the operations have ended by avoiding doctors and hospitals as well as some treatments. I am not sure why I am doing this and now I am scared. I am due to have scans and I am TERRIFIED this time.

    So that is me! Other than this I am doing okay. The kids are growing into beautiful albeit trying little people and Riley has been enjoying his first year at school.

    Love to you all and I will check back again soon

    xxxxxx 

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  • marg1
    marg1 Member Posts: 73
    edited November 2010

    Hello there everyone.  Yes my new pea size lump was in fact scar tissue.  What a relief?  Sorry I had not posted earlier.  I am well.  I love my sept sisters!

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  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited November 2010

    Happy Thanksgiving to all our sisters in the States.

    Small group this year for me. Just eight smiling faces around my table. All the prep is done, just waiting for the morning for the final push.

    Markers stayed stable this month. Onc doesn't want to do scans right now though. He plans to wait until they start to rise. Guess it is a foregone conclusion that they will rise at some point. To be honest, this new life I am living pisses me off. Month to month, blood test to blood test, injection to injection. Harumph!

    Otherwise, I am just fine! Have a wonderful day....

    *susan* 

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  • txred9876
    txred9876 Member Posts: 392
    edited August 2013

    Things have been crazy around here. Our trip overseas is on hold indefinatly, but that is ok. We are in the process of setting up my friends mobile home on our 5.5 acres so her and her 4 kids can move into it. She is the one who lost her husband to a car accident in Jan.  Her kids are now 10 months, 2.5, 6 (later this month) and 9. It has been quite the challenge and it will be much easier to walk across the yard then it will be to drive 35-40 miles to assist her.

    I am making it through the holidays without weight gain!!! I am still down 60lbs! I have been sculling lately 2 times a week and one time on the indoor rowing machine as well as riding my bike a couple of short  rides a week along with one longer 20-40 mile ride on the weekend. 

    Life is moving along....my daughters are now 18 and 20. Both are in college and doing very well!!

    I hope all of you are doing well these days...

    Tina

    PS susan I am so sorry you are having to deal with this again.... Your in my prayers.  

    I stopped the tamoxifen at 4.5 years....I started loosing my hair!!!

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