MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

darlam ~ There are many days that I feel discouraged by this whole thing - plenty, believe me. I just had a 'lost' year; at least that's what I'm calling it for lack of a better word. I'm just three years out and I slowly, very slowly, have come to realize that it is up to me & me alone - nobody else - to move forward. As Paula said, it is hard to see that when you are at the beginning. I realized I just can't continue on the way I was. I don't know how much time I have left, to be honest, nobody does. The person on the street doesn't. I can't keep on being scared, it's robbing me of what I have now, right now. I read this kind of stuff, too, early on. It's hard to hear it. It's hard to believe it.

You will get through each day. You are much stronger than you think you are. You will pull that inner strength from deep within you to move forward. You can do it. It is scary, it is damn scary. I know that - we all know that.

We are all here every day for each other, for you. Okay? Please do not think you are alone in your feelings. And some days we move two steps forward & the next day one step back. Plenty of times I have moved one step forward & two steps back. It happens. But, I'm here today. And I'll be here tomorrow.

You can PM me or any of us any time for a longer discussion or with any fears or worries, all right? Please. That is what we do for each other.

((((( Big hugs, dear sister/friend )))))

i'll bring the mimosas so we get our vit c

darlam...never be afraid to share your feelings here.  We have all walked in your path and understand.  I am sorry you are going through so much, it can seem overwhelming.  It does get better I promise!  Hugs.

Claire...I can see right into your soul......you and I share a love for those sweets.  So glad you brought plenty for us!

Today I am going to be a guinea pig (LOL) for someone to do a makeover I believe.  My navigator called last week and asked if I could come be a "model" for a class put on today by the American Cancer Society.  "Look Good, Feel Great" I think.  It is for newly diagnosed BC patients.  To illustrate techniques with hair and makeup to look and feel good during treatment.  I could use a whole body makeover but guess that won't happen!  Anyway glad to help out and it should be fun.  I just hope everyone checks their germs at the door.  I have been hibernating since last week to avoid catching anything again.  LOL.  Thursday is looking good for the thyroid surgery.

claire and Juliet thanks for the snacks they will come in handy for the pocket party. My appt is this afternoon so hope we don't get too looped on the mimosa's.

definitely , i got enough for several sisters

Count me in Sherry.  We all want to hear great news, and will be there cheering you on!

juliet...LOL, I have plenty of skin to spare too.  Wish I could share!! 

Wish I could take all your belly fat, I'd do it in a heart beat so i could speed things up. I'll check in later this evening and let you know what the Dr. says.

RE: Cancer Vaccine Article

Okay, so I've done a little more research this morning and this is what I found:

-The company and the inventor of the intellectual property (Lior Carmon, Vaxil Therapeutics) have a pending patent application in the U.S. -- applied for in 2007. U.S. patents can take a long time to issue, so that's nothing to be alarmed about.

-The inventor, Lior Carmon, is an immunologist, and has a few related publications in peer-reviewed journals.

-This same Israeli group of investigators is currently conducting Phase I and II clinical trials in the U.S. for end-stage multiple myeloma. They are only enrolling 15 subjects, and expect to conclude the study in Oct 2012, If you're interested in reading the protocol, check out clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01232712.

Please note: the sponsor is the company, so that means they are paying for the research. They stand to make a lot of money if this pans out. Having said that, I happen to work in academic research administration, and I don't see any barriers to introducing bias into this study...money can be a great motivator for falsifying research. I would not hold my breath over this until more studies are done by investigators who are not financally conflicted. 

So, that's my healthy dose of skepticism for the day. You have to look at the underlying research. 

Also, I find nothing that connects this early-stage research with BCA. That statement was purely speculation by the CEO of the company, who also stands to make a lot of money, I'm sure.

SAB,

Oh, I choose hope too...don't get me wrong. And the 15 subjects they are enrolling is only the U.S. study. I have no idea how to access any studies done in Israel, or how to verify them. 

Peer review is supposed to temper bias...the NIH has very stringent rules investigators must follow (I know because this is what give me job security! ). I'd be watching for this group to start collaborting with investigators from EU and the US and/or CA. I would not expect anything to turn up in BCA circles until they are able to prove the effectiveness with the mulitple myeloma subjects first. 

What saddened me in reading the protocol is that these are only Phase I & II clinical studies...meaning the subjects, the people, enrolling in these studies are on their last hope. They've tried everything else, and all else has failed. How brave. I'm not sure if I were in their shoes I'd have the same courage. But this is the sad fact of research...it has to begin somewhere. 

Back from the BS and NO CANCER, thank you Jesus!!! Lot's of other crap going on in my breast but no BC.  Thank you all for your prayers and support. Don't know what I would do without all of you.