MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

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  • Eph3_12
    Eph3_12 Member Posts: 4,781
    edited September 2011

    Boss' birthday is this weekend.  We surprised him today because he's not in tomorrow.  Got a chocolate/carmel pie from Safeway!  YUMMY!!! 

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited September 2011

    Eph I can't suprise my boss with a cake as his wife is a professional cake baker.  And hers are yumo!!! cookies too

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  • LovesChristmas-Barb
    LovesChristmas-Barb Member Posts: 706
    edited September 2011
    I'm sorry to be so out of it but what does PFC stand for? Whatever it is, I hope it goes well for you Paula!
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  • tinkertude
    tinkertude Member Posts: 2,047
    edited September 2011

    Paula.. hugs will be in your pocket! :)

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  • janinnj
    janinnj Member Posts: 89
    edited September 2011

    Claire-You asked the question about Vitamins during chemo.  I can't exactly remember how they put it but it has something to do with not wanting to build up the cells so much that the Rads can't do their thing.

    Had a follow up with my MO today.  My Red and White count are slowly comeing back up.not clear to narmal yet but much better.  I don't have to go back for 3 mos now!!!

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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited September 2011

    I forgot to write on that...I was reading that taking antioxidents are good to take during rads because they decrease the damage to cells/tissues.  Not surprisingly, the counter arguement is that it has a protective effect for the cancer cells as well.  Certainly don't want that! 

    During my rads I drank the 4 oz. of red wine daily, for about 3 of the 6 weeks, that one study recommended.  Wine contains antioxidents, so I guess I was taking them in that form.  Well, my skin did well with just the tiniest bit of peeling in my boost area.  Probably more the result of using lotions than the wine, but I don't know.  Just hope I don't have any drunken cancer cells that survived.

    There is a similar cntroversy about the hormonals...to take them concurently while doing rads, or to wait til rads are done.  Some RO's want the cancer (if any is left behind) growing and dividing in it's active phase as it is more susceptible to the rads then.  So, they don't want you to put any rogue cells on a Tamox. or AI estrogen starvation diet, which makes them dormant and mare rads resistant.  That was the thinking anyway.  Other RO's will do rads and hormonals together.  To me, it seems like they are reading different studies.  They just don't seem to be on the same page about these things!?!?!!?!?!?!  

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  • Kay_G
    Kay_G Member Posts: 3,345
    edited September 2011

    Elimar, don't those differing recommendations drive you nuts!  That is why my onc told me not to take anti-oxident vitamins during chemo.   didn't realize rads also went after fast growing cells.

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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited September 2011

    I think it can do more damage to them when they are in the process of dividing.

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited September 2011

    Elimar that is what my RO said as well.  No antioxidents during rads.  They wanted the cells dividing an active.

    Well guys Jo is coming to visit me this weekend and on Saturday some of us Texas gals are getting together with Chrissy in San Antonio. Will have to post pictures later.

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  • justmejanis
    justmejanis Member Posts: 1,847
    edited September 2011

    Greetings everyone.  I survived the needle biopsy, but without you all in my pocket I probably would have gotten up off the gurney and left.  It was AWFUL.  The room they did the procedure in was more like a broom closet...very cramped and just did not seem clean to me.  The room was so small they had my gurney in there at an angle.  The tech seemed to be clueless what the orders were for, as she pointed out I had two nodules in the right lobe.  I asked if they were going to biopsy both and she said she had no idea, as she had not seen my doctors orders.  Also did not have a copy of my prior US.  Then this doctor came in, dressed in street clothes, and talked a lot about nothing.  He seemed nervous, did not know the tech, and had a hard time moving about this small space.  He also kept commenting on the low light in the room but never changed it.  He numbed it, which wasn't too bad, then they called the pathologist in to take the samples.  Well, he tried to aspirate the nodule as he watched the screen....and poked so hard it about made me jump off the table from the pain.  He kept saying it was hard and the needle just bounced off of it.  The tech kept telling him how "the others" do it.  OMG I about wanted to die!  He told me there were three nodules two in the right lobe, one left.  He finally "hit" the first one but just drew blood.  The pathologist told him he needed more cells.  Nooooooooooo.  This seemed to take forever until he finally got enough cells to satisfy the pathologist.  Then he made several attempts at getting a sample from the second node, but had no luck, saying it was "too deep".  Said it would cause too much pain, then said that basically these things are like "brothers and sisters" so what they find in the one is probably the same in all.  At this point I no longer cared.  I was in agony from my breast and armpit burns, and beyond stressed over this inept man.  I just wanted OUT.  As soon as I sat up, my hubby, who was crammed in the corner by the foot of the gurney, pointed out that there was a small spider on the sheet of my gurney.  The tech said there was a large on in there yesterday and they "freaked her out".  Seriously, this was in the hospital here.

     I had to come home and ice my throat and it hurts to swallow.  Not wine though, having a LARGE glass now. 

    Thanks everyone, I sure needed the support more than ever today.  What a day it was.........

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  • SAB
    SAB Member Posts: 1,498
    edited September 2011

    Janis, No, no, no! You have been through quite enough without dealing with bozos. I hope you are writing a letter to someone. That story is outrageous, and you (and others after you) should be safe from experiences like that.

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  • Hauntie
    Hauntie Member Posts: 483
    edited September 2011
    Janis - Sorry your biopsy was so awful. I hope the wine helps blur the memory. I agree with SAB. Someone needs to get a letter about the conditions under which the procedure was done and the clowns who were doing it.
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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited September 2011

    I  love those stories where truth is stranger than fiction...

    janis, your story "Biopsy in a Broom Closet" is an instant classic!   For a minute there, I thought there might be a plot twist where the doctor "in street clothes" turned out to really be a janitor, but then I realized that no janitor would dare be so unprofessional as to show up to work without his uniform.  Janitoring is a highly regulated field, with strict standards and practices as well as a stringent dress code.  That must not be the case with doctors.  

    I bet you will have to pay extra for the consult with the spider too.  Yell

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  • SAB
    SAB Member Posts: 1,498
    edited September 2011

    B***ch that I am, I complained after my botched biopsy. When I had my wire loc I specifically requested that she not be assigned.  The dept. head came in to do it, and brought her with him so she could see the scar she left, and how out of place the marker was. He had to use an image, a ruler and his many years of experience to place the wire. When I mentioned it to my nurse navigator she said "...we keep telling them about her." I hope that if enough of us keep saying something it will finally have an impact.  

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  • YaYa5
    YaYa5 Member Posts: 667
    edited September 2011
    janis, that is the worst story i've heard to date.  i so hope that you will report it to the proper administrators.  a spider on your gurney sheet???  the entire incident is completely unacceptable in any hospital in this day and age.  i'm so upset i could cry for you.  i hope you feel better now that it's behind you.  you deserve better days ahead.
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  • Denise2730
    Denise2730 Member Posts: 648
    edited September 2011

    You just can't make this stuff up. Sorry Janis that it was so unpleasant.

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  • LovesChristmas-Barb
    LovesChristmas-Barb Member Posts: 706
    edited September 2011
    Janis...that is absolutely awful! It makes you wonder what the heck was going on. I think I would be complaining to somebody. Hopefully, the results of the biopsy will be better than the experience.
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  • stjude10
    stjude10 Member Posts: 390
    edited September 2011

    Oh Janis, I don't know how you held it together that long. I'm sure you wanted to tell them all (including the spider) to suck it, and get up and leave. What courage you had to withstand such poor standards. I agree, a tall glass of wine, and a letter to whoever's in charge, are just what  you need!

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  • stage1
    stage1 Member Posts: 475
    edited September 2011
    Janis, So sorry for your horrible experience.  I had a similar experience with the needle localization before lumpectomy.  RO and tech did not act professional, took their time talking about their Hawaiian vacations while I was waiting for the procedure.  I just wanted it over and they seemed not to care about me in the bare naked position I was in squished in the machine.  I know the nightmare you went thru!  It makes me so mad that this goes on.  YellDid they not give you any meds before starting? 
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  • Paula66
    Paula66 Member Posts: 1,728
    edited September 2011

    Oh Janis Im so sorry to see that it went the way it did.  My goodness how awful it is to see that this day and age that crap like that still goes on.  You deserve a whole bottle of wine for that!

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  • lwarstler
    lwarstler Member Posts: 341
    edited September 2011

    Janis, That was just completely rediculous and I do hope you are doing ok after all that. I agree with Lori that it took a great deal of courage and I hope you will share the experience with those in charge so they can make sure that NEVER happens to anyone else. 

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  • Kay_G
    Kay_G Member Posts: 3,345
    edited September 2011

    Janis, yikes!  That is awful.  I am so sorry you experienced that.  I don't know what to say about it.  I have never heard anything like it.  You do deserve a whole bottle of wine.  (((hugs)))

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  • walker2222
    walker2222 Member Posts: 558
    edited September 2011

    Janis - that was just inexcusable for them to treat you that way and in the hospital non the less.  So sorry for your experience.  It makes us who had great doc. and techs during the process feel lucky.

    I have not be on for quite some time.  Been dealing with a lot of nueropathy pain in my legs and feet.  My GP persribed gabapentin, the generic form of Neurontin.  I have been on it for over a week now and boy does it help.  The major side effect I am dealing with is drowsiness.  I just need to get at least 8 hours of sleep and a bit of caffeen in the morning and I am good.  A couple of days I was crashing by noon.  One day I went home from work at lunch and took a power nap.  Have football game tonight, I am just helping with spirit ware sales this time.  Last week I chaperoned and boy that was a killer walking up and down the stairs.  I have to put limitations on what I can do now.

    Last week we had pink out the park for the football game, both teams participated.  This was for Breast Cancer awareness.  Also, we had a pep rally with a purpose too.  The assistant Basketball and track coach who is 32 has breast cancer and is undergoing treatments.  I talked with her a bit last week, they had a problem with the insurance and are taping out of $20k out of pocket, so the school and community is ralling around her and doing fundraisers to get money to help pay for her treatments and bills.  Said sorry but she is powering through with a positive attitude and her faith.

    Tomorrow is Bands OF America in Arlington TX, doing nothing but enjoying the performance.

    Hope everyone is well, as I have not had a chance to catchup on posts.

    Luv Ya

    Jessie

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  • jo1955
    jo1955 Member Posts: 8,543
    edited September 2011

    Janis - Yikes!  What a horrible experience.  You have been through so mucgh already and just did not need that.  Hope you are going to report this incident.  No one else should have to go through that.

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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited September 2011

    I want to know where reesie is and how her leg is doing?

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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited September 2011

    This is not related to reesie, but I have been thinking it for over a year now...

    HOW DISTURBING WHEN PEOPLE JUST VANISH

    Over the two years that this thread has been going, there have been quite a few who just stop posting one day and are never heard from again.  You can't notice it right away, but then weeks go by and you wonder why no more posts.  I remember some at the moment, NebraskaGrandma, cmharris, and more recently heartandsoul, but there are many more.

    These women were not Stage IV, so I don't automatically think the worst.  It just would be nice to know that that they were taking a BC.org break for a while (or longer.)  It's no crime to not want to read B/C stories every day.  Anyone reading this post, you have to realize people will wonder if you are o.k. if they don't see you around for weeks, and I am not saying that departure notices are mandatory, but they are nice.  A goodbye, or a see you later, is thoughtful for those you posted with, isn't it?

    Just the really extended absences, I mean.  If it's a week's vacation, and you mention that, it may encourage me to stop by your house and remove the valuables.  (Posting on discussion boards sure doesn't pay the bills!)

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited September 2011

    Janis, my heart goes out to you!! We have to trust the system, but sometimes it doesn't deserve our trust. The angle of the bed is common for a biopsy in a small room. As soon as you said that I knew you were in a small space. The dim lights took me back to all the biopsies I've had.... for my thyroid one, my DH passed out andslid to the floor at the 13th injection attempt!!! The doctor was forcing the needle in so hard I thought it was going to come out the back of my neck! Result? INCONCLUSIVE!!!!!

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  • walker2222
    walker2222 Member Posts: 558
    edited September 2011

    Barbe - Inconclusive after all that, OUCH!  I hate that word, what does it really mean, not the dictionary version.

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  • reesie
    reesie Member Posts: 2,078
    edited September 2011

    E - I'm here (I even guessed brownie on your mp). I even mentioned you on Chrissy's thread lol. I'm walking with only one crutch now (according to the orth onc supposed to be rid of them). Typing has been toough on my little cell phone though and I've been having connection problems with my Nook (maybe I should ask Claire about that lol).



    Well I finally found the PT guys business card and have an appointment tonight (they're gonna help with my arm too - range of motion is mminimal). Three weeks later but better late than never.



    I find out Monday when my bmx date is - hopefully she can work with the gyn and do a two for one like we scheduled before. I don't have a choice this time though - if they can't then I just do the one and wait for ooph or just keep getting Lupron and wait for natural meno.



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  • mumito
    mumito Member Posts: 4,562
    edited September 2011
    Janis and Barbe you just scared off all the newcomers who need biopsies.Wink
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