Is anyone else an atheist with BC besides me?

I think a lot of people find this thread by seeing it listed in the Active Topics box. That's where I found it during my second go-round with BC. So maybe we won't lose too many new people by not being in Just Diagnosed. Oddly enough, I don't think I ever looked in the Just Diagnosed category, in 2005 or in 2007. I think I went straight to the Chemo and Reconstruction categories.

As an aside, a core group of the ladies I met on BC.org during my 2005 chemo has been meeting annually since 2007. We've had our reunions in Chicago, Las Vegas, Seattle, Nova Scotia and I just got back from our long weekend at Niagara Falls. We're thinking about renting a house in San Diego for a long weekend next summer!

We're the Rocktober Girls because we all started chemo in October 2005. Our members include women from the U.S., Canada, Britain, Australia and Israel. Not everyone can come to each get-together (travel costs, etc.), but it's so good to see whoever can make it. <grin>

--CindyMN

Cindy, it would be great to rent a house in San Diego..you will love it but don't come in May or June, too much gray weather..my son has a group of fantasy football fans who rent a house in Mission Beach, San Diego for a week..every year...

Hi Everyone,  I just got back from the follow up visit with the surgeon and he is recommending to the RO that I have Brachytherapy (internal rads).  This sounds great to me.  Only 5 to 7 days of rad pellets in the tumor bed in a balloon catheter that the surgeon will place.  He said that I'm a good candidate for it.  I will also meet with the ONC on Tues for the rest of the plan.  I'm also going to check with him about the Oncotype DX test to verify if chemo is needed or not and my recurrence score. As I wrote Happy Libby recurrence is my biggest fear.  Other then that I feel good about the upcoming journey.  Thanks for listening to the freshmen here.  Speaking of freshmen, in three weeks they all come back to school!  Uffda, back to real work.  Kitty

Oh, Kitty, thank you for your care and concern. It was a shock because my chances of recurrence were low -- good margins, small lesion, lots of rads and tamox. But the cancer switch is apparently on, so the boobs are coming off. The first year or 18 months after my first dx, I was really scared it would come back. Then gradually the fear receded. When it came back, I was shocked at first but then adjusted into "get it done" mode. I have a bad family hx, but am BRCA neg. As I tell people, I got a shitty deck of cards, but I got two good cards out of the crappy deck -- both times it was DCIS. And my "breast friends" are right here by my side, ready to talk me down out of that tree when I'm howling at the moon!



And it will be OK. I will be OK. And I will be hanging out here with Ceiling Cat and FSM and my human, humane friends as we connect and make a community right here in this life, on this earth.



(((((Kitty))))) we'll be here for you, too.



L

Kitty - your tx sounds much easier than regular zappem rads! It would have less side effects too?

Libby- I feel for you , you are living what many of us will face no matter what treatments we endure to prevent recurrence. At least you are stage 0 and non invasive which would still give a good chance of complete cure! It is difficult to look ahead when in midst of doctors appts and tx.

I will finish active tx after rads in October and am planning the passive tx phase of my life where I will actively live a much healthier lifestyle than I have been. I really don't want to live like I am waiting for the axe to drop. Planning ahead helps me to focus on living life and stops it from completely being swallowed by the BC beast. Goals I have include making time for the next grandchild in February, going to Vietnam for a holiday in March and slogging along on my Phd which I plan to finish on time in 2013.

Groundhog's Day! I keep coming back to page 111 or so...

Perhaps we need to start a new Atheist forum.  We could cut and paste the original post by thedudess along with the words 're-start' and a link to this thread for those who want to keep our wonderful history.

Kitty -- I'm so happy to hear you're a good candidate for brachytherapy.  My cousin's wife had it done (in Wisconsin) about 5 years ago.  So much easier, and quicker.  She's doing well, by the way!

I'm another one who opened to page 111.  No problem, I think; easy enough to skip to the last page. 

Thanks for the heads-up, WhiteRabbit, and apologies for the glitch! We'll get the tech team to look at nudging the moved threads so they open to all of your REAL last-visited pages. We'll post a message when we get news that it's been fixed.

Judith and the Mods

thanks Judith - so strange it wold happen on this thread - noticed it on a few others, but don't go to them often.

Flannel,

Yup, sounds like you're a member of the A Team.  There's a LONG thread AI SE's started by Lowrider, and a hopefully shorter one I started AI SE Specifics.

You've named the MAIN ones - if there are others, I'd loe to hear them.  Check out those threads, but I really think you have mentioned the main ones.  I also see a massage therapist once a month.

Hi Everyone,

Yesterday my DH talked with his HR benefits guy about payment for the Oncotype testing. They were told by the insurance rep they never heard of that test!  Good grief what an incompetent customer service rep!  So when I saw the ONC today he said he will send the codes so they can recheck it.  Since its BCBS I just can't believe the story.  Sometimes I feel that these insurance people are dumber than a box of rocks!  The doc said they have never been denied the test before so he's confident it will go through. The clinic also has patient advocates so if this is still a problem they will get to action.  So I wait....wait....wait!  The RO is on vacation this week too so that means more waiting.  At least my surgeon is on the ball and has scheduled my balloon catheter to be placed on Aug 19 so I'm ready for the Brachytherapy when she returns.  I am ready to get this show on the road to recovery and feel very frustrated with this snail's pace of everything.  Plays havoc with the mind and emotions.  Kitty

Okay....the insurance company got back to me today and said yes to the Oncotype testing.  Whew!  Results will take 2 weeks....oh no more waiting.

Aug 19 the surgeon will place the balloon catheter and Aug 22-26 will be the Brachytherapy.  Five days 2x's a day for the rad pellets.  This should be interesting but hopefully not painful.   I'll let you know how this goes.  Have a great day everyone!  Kitty

Kitty .. great news from the insurance company.  More waiting is rough!  A friend of mine had that kind of radiation twice a day for five days.  I don't remember that she had any problems with it.  I think she had what is called mammosite radiation.  I wonder if it's the same thing.

Hope everyone is having a good day!

Bren

Hey, were did everyone go?  Miss you !

Last month I was really in a very dark place with this BC diagnosis and then on top of that I lost my job to downsizing.  I applied around and got two interviews thankfully.  I finally heard today that I DID get the job I wanted!  YEAH!  Finally something good happens!  So now all I need is that darn Oncotype score to come in low and I'm ready to celebrate!  Drinks anyone?  Kitty