Class of 2010

KatieMom.

I am a teacher of 1/2 class as well.  I had surgery and am now having chemo.  I sent a letter home to my parents explaining what was going on and that I would be on sick leave.  I said I was not telling the students about it as I did not know how they would react.  My own 4 children attend the school as well and I live in the community which is quite small and everyone would know anyway.  My sons hockey teams all put pink on their hockey sticks to support the boys, and the school staff and students have been so supportive of them and my family that it has been truly overwhelming.  I knew that it was not possible to keep my illmess a secret and did not feel any reason to do so,  My hair is gone and I wear hats and scraves most of the time and am comfortable doing so since everyone already knows and treats me just the same as always. That being said, my collegues did ask what I wanted them to say or do and it was clear that I was OK with the kids knowing. Since I have been at the school for 20 years, I had taught almost all of them and they would all wonder why I suddenly was not there anymore.  I am in the school frequently now and the kids see me.  I think it is important that they see that, other than my hair, nothing has changed and I am just fine.  I hope this tells them that cancer does not mean I am dying.

Our reactions to this disease are very personal and our wishes should be respected.  I think the staff wearing pink was the problem and if a student did in fact yell something out, the teacher may have been in a difficult position with how to deal with it.  I think sometimes silence can create more fear than being honest, however it was not her place to fill the kids in on your health. I would try to not focus too much energy on being angry with her. As we all know, life is too short for that. Be thankful that you are doing well and look forward to continued good health.

Thanks, Marcy, that is good insight.  I am impressed with your openness with the kids and parents.  Had my appearance changed, I would have been too.  As it was, I told them that I was a beautiful flower with weeds that the doctors needed to pull out.  Even I did not think they would buy it, but they did and are happy that my weeds are gone.  As you may be able to tell I have more issues with this teacher than just this one  This is the one that tipped the scales and broke my spirit.  Thanks to this teacher they all know that my cancer is gone.  My own 6 year old told another mother yesterday that her mommy was all done with cancer now.  Oh how I hope they are all right.

XO

Katie 

Enjoy the summer Teka!  Don't you just love the port?!

Thank you KatieMom.  That was a fantastic explaination you gave to the kids - the flower and the weeds - I like it.

Marci - congrats on your clear margins! That is right on.

Good to see that everyone seems to be hanging in there!  I had my third taxol chemo treatment yesterday.  Hair is thinning pretty fast and still have frequent indigestion, but so far that's it.  I only hope I can get through as many weeks as possible feeling as good as I do now.

 Katie - I'm sorry to hear about situations like what happened to you.  It's difficult when other people try to make your story their own.  I hope that maybe with summer vacation coming up you can find a way to discuss it with her and let it fade over the summer. 

I live in a rather small community, so I have been very open about my diagnosis from the beginning.  I figured if I wasn't, people would have me on my death bed in weeks or worse, would question whether or not my kids were telling the truth if they chose to tell their friends.  I called the mothers of my daughters' friends and asked them to tell their daughters what they thought they could handle.  I also told my daughters' teachers so they could let me know if there were any issues at school. My daughters knew who I was telling so they could seek out their own support as they need it.  It didn't take long for it to get all over town through a very health grapevine.  It was annoying at first, but I have kept my head up and been honest with everyone who asks.  I think by being positive and honest, I can take some of the fear out of this for everyone.  This is definitely a roller coaster ride I would LOVE to get off of, but I'm learning things about myself and the people around me every day, and I wouldn't trade those lessons.  I'd like to think I'm also teaching people around me a thing or two!

Hi all - what a wonderful place to come to.  I'm having a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy on Monday, don't mind admitting that I'm anxious and a little scared.  I've done a lot of reading here so I feel better prepared for what I might experience.  I still am finding the whole experience overwhelming, everything happens so quickly after diagnosis.

Thank you to everyone who posts with their experience and knowledge, it is so tremendously helpful.  All the best to all.

Oh my goodness.....lumpectomy this past Monday.  I'm really surprised at the amount of pain, swelling and ugliness of the incision.  I usually wait until I can't tolerate pain to take something, but not with this.  Like I said, I'm really surprised at the pain.  The injections for the SNB were so incredibly painful.  I guess I just didn't expect this kind of disability.  The sentinel nodes were removed WITHOUT an incision under my arm.  Has anyone else had that experience?  Maybe that's why it hurts so much because the surgeon got them from the lumpectomy incision?  Lots of numbness too.  Boy, I sound  like such a baby!  I really want to hear about others' experiences.  Thanks so much.

I remember the injections...not fun! I had a separate incision for snb...both very ugly. Keep up with the pain meds and ice is a good idea.

Hi Spendygirl.  I had about 10 cm taken out and my tumor was about 1.8 cm.  The reason such a large amount is taken is so they can get "clear margins".  There is a specific amount of space that should be free of cancer cells all around the outside "margin" of your tumor.  I think that is why they take a considerable chunk.  I had my surgery January 8th...and have healed very nicely.  Can hardly see the scar from the lumpectomy or the sentinal node removal.  I'm very pleased with the results.

Irish and reetrievermom - Congrats to both of you finishing up treatment!  I am so looking forward to that come mid August!  Have a wonderful summer getting your life back! 

Hi!

August 13th, I am finally done chemo after 5 months, and starting September 10th will continue to take Bevacizumab by way of chemo port once every 3 weeks for 30 weeks.   Radiation Oncologist will start my radiation treatments on September 13th (Monday - Friday) for 6 weeks.   I had many side effects from chemo.   I started with hair loss, severe nausea, and fatigue.   Then I had a constant severe sinus infection, boil in groin area, and 44 days of antibiotics which were no match for chemo.   I am now seeing a Dermatologist for a severe reaction of the skin to the sunlight, and a Podiatrist to remove loose big toe nails.  Chemo is misery!   I hope everyone had a pleasant summer.   Enjoy Labor Day Weekend. 

Hi! TifJ,

You should get a copy of pathology report and all test results after recovering from BC surgery.   That is the start of you being in control of your BC treatment.   I look at my pathology report and test results all the time.   I didn't take my medical oncologist word that I was triple negative.   I had to see test results.   I had no cancer in lymph nodes, but (foci was suspicious for lymphvascular invasion are present).   No one to date has said a word to me about lymphvascular invasion.   I saw it on my pathology report.   It took a while but I got all test results before starting chemo.   I'll keep you in my thoughts on the 15th.

Hi! jakhope,

Good luck on follow-up testing.

Ezscriiibe,

I hope other members besides jakhope, you, and I still read the posts.   I'll keep you in my thoughts.