Class of 2010

Exscriiibe - I will keep you in my thoughts and hope your treatment goes well.

Michele -  My thoughts and prayers go out to you as you keep up the fight.   I hope you new treatment goes well.  I will keep checking in on you!

Ezscriiibe, I'm sorry you feel the 2010 sisters thread is "clatchy" and "cliquish". I didn't answer you because I never saw this thread until today.  So now that I found it, let me go back to the beginning and start reading!

Thanks Laura, Teka:

I'm not in a good place right now mentally, that's for sure. I knew there was a chance of Stage IV way back when, but we all thought that the lesions noticed then were cysts, and that turned out to be true -- they were. 

So to be going along and thinking that all we need to do now is recover from all the treatment (chemo and rads) and then be hit with this new lesion. . . and it being 3cm . . . was a pretty harsh blow.

I will be checking in from time to time.

i will say this, though, not sure which chemo thread I should post in! LOL! Obviously not the one from way back when!

Oh well. The least of my problems, eh?

Hi Michele,

I'm sorry you're having to deal with this again. I might be wrong but were you the woman who coloured her hair/scalp green for ST Patricks day?  I rarely come to this thread, mostly post on the March chemo thread, but just wanted to send you a (((hug))). As I'm sure you know there's lots of wonderful advice and people over on the stage IV forums that you might find helpful.

editted to add - of course you've already been over there. We are all sisters who have been diagnosed with this bloody thing in 2010. more hugs (((michele)))

Michele  Sorry you're going through this.  Cancer is a S.O.B. that's for sure.

 I didn't realize there were two 'diagnosed in 2010' threads until you pointed it out.  I had been posted to both!  Then I saw one began in Jan and another one in July.  Maybe in July people didn't realize one already existed.  It's hard to keep track there are so many categories, so many women & different places to read/post.   I tend to look at what is "active" and click on it or put it on my favorites list.   I go back & forth on several threads to try to get insight, get some comfort & give some comfort. It doesn't much matter.  They are all wonderful.  The bottom line is we're all in this together regardless of  discussion category, diagnosis, date or anything else.  Big hug and let's all hope there is a BIG breakthrough or CURE for this monster soon.   

Hi! babysis,

Your baby sister is probably emotionally numb, and will need time to understand choices for BC treatment.   She'll need you as a good listener.   She should have someone go with her to all doctor appointments as a witness, and in time get copy of pathology report and all test results.    One day at a time.

Babysis - You sound like a great sister.  It's all such an unbelievable shock at the beginning.  I have found the old saying "when the going gets tough, the tough get going" is the best way to approach it. The best thing for you & your sister to to get organized & get educated on all aspects.  The more knowledge you have, the more you'll feel somewhat in 'control' of what's happening because there are lots of decisions to be made throughout the process.  Otherwise emotions just run away with you.  And, she has TIME to make good decisions.  There is no rush - many times these cancers have been slowly growing for years.  Be sure she is with a breast surgeon or a breast cancer center (not just a general surgeon).  Here are some links below.  Finally - both of you should consider BC gene test and you should take time to get yourself screened more thoroughly too since a close relative has been diagnosed.  Use everything available - mammograms, ultrasounds, MRIs because each method can miss detection.  Mammo completely missed mine. 

http://www.castleconnolly.com/doctors/index.cfm?CFID=8484455&CFTOKEN=52787215

http://cancercenters.cancer.gov/cancer_centers/map-cancer-centers.html

From my very first onc appointment, I took a dictaphone (recorder) with me - we asked the onc if we could tape the entire session, and he said "Of course!  I wish all my patients would do that!"   Every session I had with him and the surgeon was recorded, and I would go home and transcribe the conversation.  If you can get hold of some kind of recorder, ask your onc or other medical professional if they will allow it.  Apparently, most of them do.

Congratulations Teka!  I am right behind you and will be don on Thursday 10/28!

Hi all, It is coming up to my diagnosis one year anniversary in December. I am scheduled for my first mammo on Dec, 2nd. I have to admit I am quite anxious about it. I have read so many have had one sooner. This is what my surgeon has said was best for me. How is everyone doing?

GP Jeannie here

Hi Jeannie and Teka -

I am also suffering through a bad radiation burn, my burn is on my clavicle, under my arm and on the side and under my breast.  I didn't get the bad burn till 3 days after radiation stopped.  It is much better this week but was pretty bad last week.   I don't think I will have mammograms anymore since I had a double mx in February.  November 13th will be my 1 year anniversary of my diagnosis.  It has been such an unbelievable year. 

Hope you both continue to do well!.

Laura

Laura & Teka:  So sorry to hear about the burning from rads and hope you can get some relief

jakhope:  I'm coming up on my one yr, too.  I've been thinking "this time last year..."  Last year I was getting my annual mammo, unconcerned.  I have had a mammo since finishing tx and am scheduled to have another in Jan.

Hi! LauraM,

Looking good.

Hi!

Day 21, I now only feel the need for 1 prescription vicodin at bedtime, and radiation burn under breast should be healed by time of December 8th follow-up radiation oncologist visit.   I found that taking 1 vicodin every 4 hours was killing my appetite.   Maybe able to wear bra after X-mas.