Calling all TNs

I check in here from time to time, and am so saddened by the losses of LauraJane,Susan, and Mary. Yes, triple negative can be ruthless. But please take hope from my date of diagnosis. I am NINE YEARS OUT as of February! So it's not always a death sentence! I do exercise, but I eat sugar and drink wine and eat all kinds of bad stuff:(

Oh as usual I forgot something....a friend of mine in this town was also diagnosed six months before me and she had either three or four positive lymph nodes. She's a TN also, and still doing fine. We both had mastectomies and chemo, she had rads but I didn't.

Painting, I hope you have a great visit with your kids!  I'm very sorry about your cousin, too. I hate this disease. It strikes so suddenly and so randomly. I have a friend who had brain cancer twice.  She is a tough as nails lady who runs a dog and cat rescue. It has been over eight years since it recurred and she is doing great. It was an aggressive type that generally younger people get, but I cannot remember the name.

Bak, I had all sorts of eye issues, too at the end of extended treatment - last chemo was 2/17 and even my constant tears have begun to dry up!  I had a lump on top of my eyelid, then pink eye, then herpes simplex next to my eye - BUT now I am fine!  I think some of it was caused by my eyelashes falling out then when they tried to grow again, the surrounding oil glands became clogged. I started using baby shampoo on a Qtip to wash my eyelids every night.  This helped tremendously.

Best thing that happened to me today was getting out in the sunshine and walking/jogging 4 miles.  I felt very positive while jogging, like my old self.

 Maywin, Thank you and congratulations, too!

Thank you for the welcome a few days ago. I wish that none of us had to be here and I am so very sad to read of the grief that this board has had to bear with the passing of 3 cherished members recently.

There are pros and cons to everything. I, too, am glad not to have to take Tamoxifin, as the SEs can be bad and it only delays the fears of recurrence, IMO, by providing a "safety net" for 5 years. Also, it's a daily reminder of "oh yeah, I had cancer". Believe it or not, there are many days when it doesn't even cross my mind; it's coming in here that reminds me (more pros and cons).

Maywin thank you so much for cheering us up!!!!!  Congrats on the 9 years out!  I know someday I will say the same thing...

Maywin - your posts are encouraging and uplifting! Something all of us TNs need right now and something only a sister would know. Thanks.

Well girls the best thing that happened to me today, was my hubby, boys and I had a bonfire in our backyard.  We cooked hotdogs and made smores  

Hope all is well and I hope we all have a great week. 

The best thing that happened to me today was reading all the positive posts from our TN sisters who have gone 3 yrs and beyond without recurrence, thank u so much. I know I will do the same every 5 yrs once I'm done with all my treatments and surgery.

It was beautiful here today.  I agree all the positive posts are certainly an encouragement.  Thanks to those that posted!

I am two years out and counting on many more:)

Recent CT Scan showed not liver lesions .... no signs of any abnormalities.

Such a sad week.

I already donate to the American Cancer Society through payroll deductions. Suze was such a pretty lady. Just as I imagined. I lovely bob cut and a soccer mom at heart.

I will donate to BCO.org in Mary's honor, and I SHOULD I come here so often for support that I generally forget to support. Can I blame it on the chemo???

Please someone let us know about LJ son's fund. It is so hard to loose a mother. No one cares for you like a mother can. That is my biggest prayer, PLEASE let me raise my kids so that they do not become someone else's burden. 

I planted Pansies(?) over the weekend. They look GREAT and have added so much color and life to our front yard.

Stay blessed ladies and enjoy spring, and count all your blessings!!!!

Ormie on vimeo http://vimeo.com/m/27256955

Something funny to enjoy, have a great day all!

Donations to assist Laura's children with estate expenses and/or Joe's education will be greatly appreciated and can be made to either the Laura Shively Benevolent Fund or the Joseph Shively Education Fund, both at Key Bank (418 S. College Mall Road Bloomington, IN 47401).

To donate to either of the two funds listed above you must send a check to the branch address above, attention "Karen" (she knew LJ) and specify which fund you want the money to go towards: benevolent (pays for funeral expenses, etc.) or educational (goes towards Joeseph's education). He is 18 and, as some of you may recall, LJ had hoped to live to see him graduate.

You can specify if you want to be anonymous or named in the donation, and if you want a receipt for tax purposes.

If you wish to have any further information beyond what I have provided the bank's number is:

(812) 331-0600

In conclusion, I sent the following email to the Wonderlab:

Hi Courtney,

I spoke to you last week about a bench in memory of Laura Jane Shively, landscape architect.

It has come to our attention at breastcancer.org that two funds have been set up at Key Bank in Bloomington for LJ's expenses and her son Joseph's educational trust. Since these are already set up, the decision has been made by the gals in BC.org that donating to either of these existing accounts would be the best course of action for us to take, as they represent LJ's concerns and wishes.

Therefore, we will no longer be pursuing the bench. I *am* hoping that her daughter Sarah might still be able to place a limestone plaque in honor of her mom somewhere in the Wonderlab Garden, and I will be suggesting this to her as well.

Thank you for your time and consideration in this very sad matter.

Regards,
Heidi