January Mastectomy

Oh Lola, I'm so sorry to hear that your brother isn't doing well and his little dog is gone too.  I'm very sad for your family and for your sister in law to soldier on.  

Thanks for your input on working through treatment.  I believe it would have been impossible 2 years ago...just having the BMX was enough for me.  And, since everything prepares you for what you're about to do next, I guess it worked out for the best.  My new employer is very eager to work with me to accomodate any appointments.  I think choosing Thursday for treatments was brilliant because I still feel fine at 6pm the following night.  I'm optimistic that I'll feel fine tomorrow too, but I don't want to completley not think I wont.  So having a weekend to lay low and recover is the best thing. 

Laura...are you doing okay sweetie?  Please stop in and say hello!

Praying for good news Gina.   Positive!

Paula, you make me smile...broccoli and berries for everyone!  lol  That's what they're starting to say at work too. 

My wig is in so tomorrow, dh and I are going to pick it up.  I think Kendall would like some input too so it will be a family affair!

Happy Anniversary to all of Team January but especially this week: Robin, Paula in Colorado, CindD, Maura, Paula and our fearless leader and organizer of our team; Cathy!  May you all have many many more years of being cancer free!

xoxo

Kat

Just poppin' in from paradise.

We are back to the mainland -- from our little excursion to the Bahamas. This is my first stop now that we have internet again!!!

Kat you are to be commended on all that you are doing to report to us on this step of your journey. I appreciate learning the specifics of how your center is organized. Do they have "support' groups/people/staff for you? Your family? Are you feeling the need for any of that? Have you tapped into the Stage IV threads here?

Food for fodder -- should you care to illuminate on any of those issues.

Sending prayers and hugs and some pure white sand your direction.

I'm so VERY happy to learn that the port has done its job on this initial installment. Here's to ease and comfort -- in any manner it can be delivered, and that treatment may be targeted and work miracles!

Lola, sending prayers for your brother and family and for you as well.

Gina, waiting to hear your update.

We just got an email upon returning, that my young niece has received news of NED for her walk in the thyroid cancer journey. She is the very same age as my oldest daughter and so far her surgery and various medications seem to be doing the job.

Yes. Congrats to all as our month-of-anniversaries comes streaming through at full force.

xx00xx00xx00xx

Strength and courage.

Strength and courage.

Strength and courage.

Kat such good news about your first treatment...I'm so glad you didn't feel horribly sick  When I was having vanco iv's this past summer they gave me benedryl before the iv's and I just looked at the hour as nap time..zzzzz.  I hope all the rest of you treatments are also easy on you. Eating broccoli and berries always an excelent idea!  Stay away from sugars as much as possible...cancer loves sugar >=o( Such a cute wig! xox

Gina thinking of you and hoping news is good for your husband.....

Lola...so so sorry to hear about your sons dachshund...always so hard to loose our fur family....so heartbreaking and when they are so much a part of other losses it all gets so painful. It is never easy.....I'm still crying several times a day.....   So sorry Lola...I wish you and all those that loved this sweet dog comfort.....there are no words.......

xox

Laura, and Smudgy's waggy tail........

Kat I'm so glad to know your first treatment went ok.  I had to go with DH for a steriod infusion because of transplant issues to our center here and I know they have little TVs even for patients to watch there and feed them snacks!  If it weren't for all those needles and meds, you'd forget you were at the hospital!  I hope it continues to go well.

Lola, thinking about your family.  Losing a pet is so hard.

Gina, I know how men can be since I've had so many health issues with mine.  They want to be "strong" and we want to talk and get knowledge.  They want to protect us.  To be sick means they have to give up some control of some things.  Hang in there.  I will keep good thoughts until next week.

Paula

Kat, I am so glad that your chemo treatment went so well and hope you are still feeling good.  Your treatment room sounds great.  Mine lacked the space and privacy you describe.  You are so right about the port.  Because I only had four treatments, I didn't get a port.  Some of the nurses weren't very good at starting the line, and they didn't want to give up trying until I was good and sore. Ugh. So enjoy that port!

Lola, I am so very sorry to hear about your brother and their doggie. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

I can't believe that two years ago today I was in the hospital recovering from my mastectomy.  On one hand, it seems like only yesterday, and on the other, it seems like a lifetime ago.  Happy anniversary to all of us!

Sending good vibes, healing thoughts and prayers to all in need.

Cindy

Kat. Popped in to see if you had an update.

Wanted you to know that I continue the prayers with your name on them.

Gina. You're in there, too.... with your hubby. Will be wishing you strength as you wait for the news. Sending you encouragement.

Lola. To your family, too. Sending your family some hope, hope, hope as well.

One day, one step, one moment at a time..... step after step, day after day.

xx00xx00xx00xx

Morning Team!

No updates per se'.  I'm very achey in my joints...mostly my hips, my wrists, elbows and the tops of my feet.  Not neuropathy (I'm scared to death of that) but definitely bone/joint pain.  Last night I layed on the couch and kept moving the heating pad from one joint to the next and that seemed to help a lot.  I can't take any type of Nsaids (Ibuprofin, aspirin, alieve etc) So, basically, there is nothing to take.  I'm trying the Vit B6 twice a day to prevent neuropathy and that seems to be working.  I'm also still on Vit C except I've cut back somewhat...too many leg cramps with higher dosages. 

I'm due to hit my Nadir Thursday to Sunday (lowest reds and whites during a treatment cycle)  I get labs drawn on Thursday so in the event they are low, I can always skip work on Friday and go in on Saturday where I would get more done anyway. 

Work is going fine...it's just the sitting part for 8 hours.  My hips really hurt then...if you can imagine all the joints in your body needing to be popped that's what it feels like.  Not excructiating pain or anything, just a constant discomfort reminder. 

Hair is still intact.  YaY!!

Gina....is today the day you find out about dh? Sending good thoughts your way!

My dh has a cardiologist follow up this week as well. He's just got to be okay after that damn heart attack in June. So I'm going to go with 'it's all good'

{{{{{{{{Lola}}}}}}}}}}}

Have a great day Team January....or as good as you can make it anyway!

xoxo

Kat

Well, after I posted this morning, I realized I have no nose hairs!  If you're on facebook, you probably know this.  <sigh>  Also, today, at the end of the day, I found a new lump on my R anterior thigh....right above the knee.  <sigh>  It's about the same size as the one on my R buttock.  I guess it's just traveling through the lymph system, taking the path of least resistance. 

I have an impending feeling of doom like they just told me it was an every 3 week cylce to placate me.  When I go in on Thursday to have my blood drawn, and point out new said lump, they're going to make me do treatments every other day!     I just hope that what they're giving me is a pretty heavy duty dose.  Then I'll feel like they're doing something and I'm tolerating it well.  If they're just giving me this little baby dose...no wonder I'm just sailing through it with new occurrences to boot!

Everyday is a new day so I'll go with that until they tell me otherwise.

Gina...hang in there darling.  They're probably being extra careful with reading your pap perfectly given your history.  Hopefully it's nothing more than a poor read at best and a little mucous build up at worst.  {{{{{{{Gina}}}}}}}}

Hope everyone is doing well!  (I'm staying off the stage IV boards.  I'm frightened so I would rather be in the dark!)

Love you guys!
Kat

(((Kat))) I am sorry.  I wish you were not having to deal with any of this.  Joint pain, nose hair, and a new spot.   I am sending out positive thoughts and prayers for you. 

When does your DH see the cardiologist?  Will keep fingers crossed for a good report. 

Gina, any news on DH ? 

(((Lola)))

Hugs Team January,

Sally

Never Surrender !!!

Praise God!

GINA!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hallelujah, indeed.

(((((((((((((((((((((((((Kat)))))))))))))))))))))))))))

You know I think about you so often through out the day. I thought of sending you what I am about to write, but it seems we've all continued our bonding and perhaps the sentiment might prove 'helpful' to one of our other January sisters as well.

Way back when... probably at least four years ago now..... I had the occasion to meet a BCO fellow 'sister' in the Columbus area. We spoke several times on the phone and she invited me over to her home. She was Stage IV. I went over to be supportive and keep her company one afternoon.

To make a long story short.......... one of the 'thoughts' that she shared with me that day has always stayed with me. It was her "advice" to me -- just starting off on the BC roller coaster.

She presented herself as a person of faith. A deep faith. She was very confident and open as we visited. She said the one phrase that gave her comfort actually came from her own father.... it's something he had said to her all through growing up. Four simple words.

"You can't saw sawdust."

I asked her what that meant to her. She spoke at length that her father was a carpenter. He had always counseled her that once you make a decision and do your 'sawing' the deed is done.... and that it never, ever does any good to 're-think' that initial decision. The truth is you can't un-do the initial sawing, hence "You can't saw sawdust."

I had never heard this expression previously. I'm pretty sure that this is the first time I've shared her concept with anyone publically.

She spoke at length that she thought the hardest thing about BC -- was all the decision making that was inherent in the disease. Choices. Decisions. She counselled me to always do my best to inform myself, then make my decision and accept it as complete.... never to spend any energy on attempting to re-saw the sawdust.

On Planet Earth, ya can't saw sawdust. There is no benefit that comes from pondering the what ifs, or the if-only's.

I have appreciated her sharing her family expression with me and enriching my own sense of 'acceptance' in my own ramifications that emerge from my decision making tree.

I hope that this ramble makes some sense.

The whole ghist? I think of you often. Send you prayers.

Prayers for strength. Prayers for courage.

xx00xx00xx00xx

Strength and courage.

Strength and courage.

Strength and courage.

The doctor said the new lump on my leg has probably been there all along, it just didn't get picked up on the PET scan.  hmmm....????  (that's me disbelieving)  She said the lumps should be softening now and actually...they are, so that's a good thing!

My labs were pretty good.  All within normal range so I can still work or be around people without fear of dying of pneumonia.  whew.     She pretty much told me that they are treating me like I've got diabetes or something...like a chronic illness.  This can just go on for years and years.  hmmm...?????  (that's me disbelieving again:)  I can't imagine I'll like going on for years and years bald and with joint pain but whatever! 

Still on my every 3 week cycle so I'm pretty happy about that.  Work gave me every Thursday off whether I need it or not...I can still work if I want but it doesn't count against me if I'm not there.  So YaY! 

Hope your pap results are good Gina!

Thanks for sharing your story Debbie....so true, so true.  I'm sure sometimes we wish we could glue the sawdust back together and try again but of course...that never works!

Hope you're doing well Lola...and your brother too!

xoxo

Kat

Hi all.  Been off here for awhile.  Nice to hear good news Gina!!!!  And Kat, sorry about the lump, but keep visualizing the  chemo attacking all those nasty cells.   Curious, have you talked to your Onc about your treatment plan?  Have they presented your case to the tumor board?  It would be helpful perhaps for your peace of mind to know there was imput from others as to the choice of treatment.  BTW - I for one didn't miss the nosehairs.  The eyelashes are another matter.

Thanks for the encouragement from all of you.  My brother & SIL continue to have the shoes fall.. she fell & now has to have surgery on her shoulder, so can't drive.  Now someone from her family is having to come & drive them both to dr appts.   Seems at some point they would max out on the bad karma.  Am so thankful she has kin near to help though. 

We are trying to have a good time here in the sun.  I'm embarrased to say my precious little buckmeister is getting quite the reputation around the RV park.  He isn't exactly.... sociable.  The park manager commented that I didn't need to worry about coyotes attacking him.  That was a bit of an exaggeration, as he is only 5 1/2 pounds .... of teeth.  I actually worry more about his screaming attracting them.

Take care all.

Lola, you're so incredibly wise about this stuff!  I am going to ask about the tumor board.  I'm a little miffed that at the top of my lab work it still has my original diagnosis with my staging at IIb.  Now don't get me wrong, I would love to be a IIb...but the fact remains I am not and I would hate for treatment plans being based on that status. 

When I went in for my tox screen I got the Nurse Practioner and the doctor didn't even pop her head in to evaluate my new lump.   I'm a little discouraged.  I just had the young techs who take your weight and vitals every time you go in physically change my med list.  Every time it's the same old story..."No, I'm not on colace...no, I'm not on darvocet."  All of these meds from my BMX 2 years ago!   A litle frustrating to say the least.  I try and direct my own care and then you get labeled and they don't do anything for you.  <sigh>  The good new is, the little gals and me sat down right then and there and cleaned up my med record so that's one thing done. 

Gina, any news?

Have a great weekend Team Jan!
xoxo
Kat

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{KAT}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

I am so sorry! I feel like a jerk! I should of been there for you from the beginning. I thought as the date got closer to our anniversary I would pop in and say Hello wishing everyone wishes of happiness! What kind of sister am I. Please forgive me. If it wasn't for me to sit down at the computer playing I would of never had known. In truth I guess I was nervous also. Our Anniversary coming and All. Thanks to Sally's PM. I wouldn't of known. You have so much courage and positive attitude I smile with admiration of you.Know that you have the strength to do this. I never had a port for I only did 4 treatments of chemo. Lost my hair the 15th day.You will always be beautiful.  If there is anything that I can help you with please let me know. I will be on from now on. Know that you and our other January Sisters are in my prayers everyday. I say prayers for all of us even before putting my feet on the ground. 

I don't know where to begin with everyone and their stories of their lives. Know that I send hugs to all of you. I will keep in touch my January Sisters.

Sally- thanks for reaching out. I am sorry I was the last of the team to give HUGS....... 

Kat hang in there you are strong.....

Love -Donna