2011 Sisters

Hi MrsChorlton, Just wanted to wish you good luck tomorrow with your lumpectomy and SNB.  Be gentle on yourself and take time to heal.

Hugs,

Kezzie

That is great news Rennasus, I should find out my stage March 1

hi everyone,

was supposed tohave surgery on the 17th, but the day before I got the flu.  Had my lumpectomy on the 24th and was home yesterday...got sick from the anaesthetic.  I'm home recovering now and have lots of discomfort on the underside of my right arm (wings) and tingling.  It's very numb there.  Was spposed to have axillary dissection, but last minute, they decided to go with the newfindings and just do the sentinal node biopsy...but the blue dye didn't work, and so they did the axxillary dissection anyways.

I feel okay today, resting, first day back on my computer.  worried about lymphedema, but what can u do.

Will get my full report from surgery on thursday....

Cheers ladies 

Kg.

Probably it's quiet because nobody is getting new news on the weekends.  Kg, hope you are feeling more comfortable soon.  Kymn, I so hear you about the anxiety.  I have been trying to ask myself when feeling anxious, "Is this something I can do anything about?"  If it isn't then I work hard at letting go of that particular anxious thought.  Like I got through my first chemo treatment fine, but have been anxious about further ones being rougher.  I go over in my mind what I can do about the various side effects, and just try to dismiss the worry about having them, because I'm not in control of whether I have them or not.  In my opinion, it's a matter of realizing there's stuff we just don't have control over and accepting that and going forward.  I believe in God and it gives me comfort to know that He is in control and not me.  Well, let's see if stay this calm until Wednesday (next chemo)!

Hi everyone!

 I have just returned from the dr.'s (my first time outside the house since coming home Sat) and I have my final pathology report. Two great things:

I have clear margins 

and only 1 lymph node out of 13 that were removed has metastatic cancer. Of course, no lymph nodes with cancer is better, but I'll take 1. My dr. was quick to point out though, that while this is good news, I am still on the road to Chemo and Radiation. But overall it is very good news. 

So now it's just recovery from Surgery and then meet with an oncologist...

Kg

 I want to get in on the sister thread-looks like we have a big year ahead of us. I was told today by a BS that I have BC. She took 7 cores out and put them in the little jar and said she would call me tomorrow with results-that has the crap scared out of me. They did an MRI today also-you know the old saying if life gives you lemons? Well life has given me a lemon sized lump in my right breast. Not quite ready for the lemonade part yet though. Radiologist had estimated 3.5cm. That was the tip of the tumour only.

  I will be headed for chemo to shrink things down. Not sure what because I don't get my results til tomorrow. She wanted to put the port in tomorrow and start chemo next Monday. I have told her I am having arthroscopic knee surgery next Friday so it will have to wait a week. I don't think it will kill me. I also have another BS appt at a cancer center next Wednesday so want to wait at least that long. I am sure she will say pretty much the same thing. I will have to find some of you that might be close to the same place.

  I have just moved over from some of the new people forums so I will read up on you guys so I can talk the talk with you.

Lilylady, welcome.  You should have a 2nd opinion that way you will feel that you have the most options available to you.. I spent a few weeks just reading everything I could about the treatment options and what other women have done who had the same type of cancer I did.  It is sad that you have had to join our exclusive club, but this is the best place to find good info and support.

I am starting to get a bit nervous, I go for my pre-op tests tomorrow, so it is all becoming very real.  I have a feeling that sleep will not be easy for me over the next 14 days..  I just want the surgery done so I can move onto the next step..

Hugs to all..

Kezzie

Hi ladies well I got my chemo date its march 17th. just wanted to pop in a let you know I am so tired emotionally right now cried pretty much during the whole chemo class today. oh well guess it will get better after i get the first one out of the way.time to get my wig

Oh Kymn...my heart goes out to you. Each step seems to be difficult, but it is a step for a better tomorrow!!! Just take it one day at a time girl...I know it is easier to say than to do...However we are all stronger than we think. Spoil yourself today.

duckyb1, So sorry you have to join this club.  Your post was very poigniant and made me very sad that you have to undergo this at your age (or any for that matter).  It sounds as though you have a large, close family and there will be many people supporting you.  Even though I carry myself as though nothing bothers me, I still have my negative moments - or as you put it "what if" moments.

Please keep us updated - Big giant hugs to you!

Slinky, thanks for the hugs......I guess we all need them.  You ladies are all so young to have this happen to you.  No time is a good time, but at least I was spared getting this dreadful disease while I was younger....It is just such a kick in the gut....I had a mild heart attack in 2007.  Woke up thinking I was having an anxiety attack......didn't want to wake my children up at 3am, so I got dressed drove myself to the hospital to be told.  "call someone you are having a heart attack", and have to be transported to a trauma center for cardiac cath.  Again I said "i am not waking my kids up at now 3:30am to tell them, lets just get this show on the road".  "This morning I am doing a "solo" act.  Well of course that didn't work.  When I finally did see my children once we got the diagnosis of a clogged branch artery (not main), I said "hey  don't look so sad, at least its not cancer.............Their father died from Pancreatic Cancer at 57, so honestly I thought I grabbed the "brass ring" when it was a heart attack................So now fast forward to today..................You girls are so young, so brave, and if nothing else I will take a page from your books, and put on my "big girl panties" and face the beast head on, and eye to eye.  As I said previously "I have cancer........it does not have me.........Good luck to all of you, and KYMN I will take my "what if it does", and make it a "what if it never"......comes back.  Hugs to you too.

Hi ladies just popped on to see how everyones sunday was going? Mine was very productive and got lots accopmlished so that is a good thing. I had a few teary moments thinking aobut shaving my hair today but other than that is was good.

Thank you Ducky I hope I can feel that one day too. I am sooo sorry to hear about your Granddaugher and greatgrandaughter. I agree the thought of little ones struggling really puts my issue in perspective. I will be praying for them.

Well, I was diagnosed with BC the beginning of February but only got a copy of my biopsy report last week.  I now know I have IDC although some micropapillary cells were found as well.  Because of prior radiation 17 years ago to my chest I am unable to have radiation so I'm going to have a bilateral mastectomy and immediate reconstruction using my inner thigh muscle, tissue and fat.  Depending on the findings following the surgery, I may need chemo.  The size is unknown although it is believed to be between 1-2 cm.  I also have another suspicious lump in the same breast and 3 in the other breast that have not yet been biopsied. 

It's so helpful to hear everyone's stories.  I'm waiting for a surgery date but it will be soon as I'm having my pre-surgery assessments this week.  I'm getting frightened now but I keep telling myself that so many have had this done before me - I'll be ok :-)

Lifelover: I think you are doing the absolute right thing! Especially since you have more than one lump hiding in there. Having a bilateral buys you a big slice of the "peace of mind" pie. A BMX removes what they can see as well as what they can't. Why take the chance? (I told my surgeon to take as much tissue as he needed. I didn't want ANY of it.) So go ahead and pull the rug out from underneath your cancer cells and show 'um who's boss! ;-) Like Duckyb1 says, you have cancer, it doesn't have you. (Love that line!) Just deal with each day as it arrives, and try not to look ahead too much.

I found it helpful to only research what I was about to go through — and not jump ahead and research stuff that may or may not be in my future. That kept me in the moment and I also didn't waste my energy on things I didn't have to know about just yet. And THAT helps keeps the fear at bay. Good luck in your journey. We are here for ya!