I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

Today is a lovely day in Utah.  No clouds in the sky and it is t-shirt weather.  It rained for 4 days this week so I am enjoying the break.

I am going to a Karate class today - I won a week worth of classes at an expo last week.  Figure they might be able to help me on my balance issues.

Then off to Heber to see my horsey.  I am sure she is loving it outside today.

I had the same thought - the magic 5 years - they even apply it to other cancers like what Steve had.

I have no faith in any mark. I applaud people who celebrate for their own sake, but these arbitrary endpoints, when applied globally, can create false hope. Five years is not very long in a lifetime. I'm at my third year, and not holding my breath. I am supposed to be saying "yey" because I had a grade 3 tumor (a Scarff-Bloom-Richardson index score of 8 out of 9, to be precise - very aggressive). But I also had some grade 2, so I think it prudent for me to keep the celebrations in check.

Remember that the longer you live, the more likely you are to recur - a very simple mathematical concept that is frequently forgotten.

If 100 BC patients are alive on day one of a survival count, and 90 people of that group are alive after five years, and you are one of them, the custom is to think "oh, my chances of survival go up now, since the biggest percentage of people will have died by now." But that's silly, because more individuals in the group will continue to die as the years progress. Your "number" (time to check out, if you will), as a percentage of that initial 100 is more likely to "come up" - not less. Percentage-wise the statistical probability of any individual dying from the five- to the ten- year point is lower, year over year, but if you started out in that group of 100 people being followed, your ranks are thinning, so the likelihood is higher.

I think of LowRider, formerly a stage II-er like me. She has been very public (and that's the only reason why I think it is appropriate to mention this) about saying how she easily made her ten year mark, then had mets.

I'd like to not have mets EVER. Not now, not five years from now or ten. Yes, people do live decades after BC. Statistics tell me NOTHING about whether I will be one of those.

My three year mark means nothing to me, except to signal that I must continue to hold my breath, hope for the best and enjoy life. But for those who want to celebrate - that is perfectly understandable. Milestones always feel good.

I hae a three-year smoke free-er-versary (not a word!) coming up in four days. That I will celebrate! That's all my doing.

Thanks for the heads up Athena - went and did it.

Hope you are feeling great now you will be free to roam the wild plains. How hard will it be for you to get another job? I hope your skills are in demand.

Lazy day so far - just been watching the usual Sunday morning political shows - at least I had my shower before they started - can't say the same for my sweetie - now he's glued to the newspaper blogs online. We do have an afternoon tea to attend to thank helpers at the recent election, so we're going to that for the free food and company.

Had my streaks done on Tuesday - now I'm really blonde again. Still love my straight hair and still can't believe just how wonderful this treatment is. The hairdresser told me it costs $600 a bottle - eeek - no wonder it cost me so much.

Miss Poppy left us a present from last night. I had seen a big huntsman spider in our bedroom, but couldn't catch it. Out in the family room this morning, I found one almost dead spider - clever Poppy.

Scoot - I speak the Queen's English having been raised in New Zealand. I hope I don't have an awful Aussie twang. I also speak American ie I know to say soda as opposed to soft drink, bathroom/washroom as opposed to toilet etc etc

Welcome home

My Mom is a 44yr BC survivor,but back then they took absolutely anything they could get thier scalpels on,and then radiation,no chemo. So she has a huge scar down the side of her her chest from collarbone to waist and no muscle in the area  But she is still alive!! AND SO ACTIVE it is nuts. I wish I ever had the energy does. Wishing everyone a good week, nice weather and pleasant people. Tomorrow we are going for a104 in lovely heat. 

Oh my goodness,kad2kar - that is hot.

Susie - glad you hair is looking nice. I don't have the answer to your question about jobs. I have been having severe sleeping problems. I want to contact recruiters to do a search for me, but I was too tired to get started today.

Scoot, I so envy your traveling. Glad you had a nice time.

Bren, it was HOT today up here in our nation's capital. Sunday is supposed to bring rain - so they say. DC weather fortune tellers are not very good, in my experience. I, too, hope your flowers don't die. I'm just assuming that summer has begun, and that I must suffer at least until the end of September.

Roaming the plains for a big, big acacia tree....

Ah, a nice Sunday all to myself. Sent DH out for a vacation, to join some guy friends in Moab, Utah, for a week of cycling. He's never taken a vacation without me, though I have taken many without him!! I'm proud of him for going, and happy to have a week of me-time.

So, today, I'll probably go for my own bike ride, then come home and read. I need to do some Pilates, water the garden, and just putter around. It's another gorgeous day in the Rockies!

Good Morning!

It's only 46 degrees this morning and the wind is blowing.  Brrrr ... perfect for Athena!

Scoot .. I had a nice weekend.  I actually had work come in so I had fun making a few dollars!  I'm glad you had a good time with your Aussie friends.  I'm sorry to hear the Arimidex is kicking your butt. 

Anne ... I used to love it when my ex would go hunting with his friends and I had the house to myself.  With Tim on the road so much, I have plenty of "me" time.

Athena .. I just hit my five year mark .. and the truth is the farther out I get, the more scared I am that it will come back. 

Hope everyone has a great day,

Bren

Bren, we're having Athena weather too - actually had to turn the heat on for a while.  Glad you have some work coming in.

Scoot  -  I started taking Olive Leaf extract to increase my energy, or trying to.  Seems to be helping fight the FATIGUE ( if I had RED ink/blood,I'd write in it) of my my 5th year ( 5 more to go) on Arimidex.  Expensive stuff, but if it helps, who cares.  Doesn't seem to have many (known) SE's - but here's a weird one.  I'm pre-diabetic, and since sarting it last week, my daily blood glucose readings are down by about 15 points.  Go figure.  It's the only thing I've changed - still eat the same dull, very few carbohydrate food.

BTW: when a friend of mine was learning to ride, she wore SEVERAL adult pampers, to cushion her butt!!!!!  She said it helped...

Ah Scoot - fatigue is a bitch!  I am still not back to where I was pre BC.  I get exhausted riding for 30 minutes and so I have to take numerous breaks when I take lessons.

You went non-stop for 3 days!  That is a feat that I can't even accomplish.  I have learned to pace myself but I still get stupid about it sometimes.

Today I had a karate lesson and then went out to ride Jazzy.  I ended up with a "week free" of Karate lessons from an Expo I attended.  Yah right.  That means you get 2 lessons because most people sign up for 2 lessons per week.  That is not what they told me at the Expo.  Oh and then he wanted me to sign a yearly contract at a cost of $125 per month.  I don't think so! 

Oh well - 2 free lessons and I know a little bit more than I did before.  Oh and to get me excited he gave me a "white belt" today!  Stupid guy - he wrote my name on it so it is not like he can give it to anyone.

Morning Everyone!

It's sunny, cold and windy today.  arghhh.  I wish the wind would stop blowing.  Rain and cooler temps are forecast for the week.

I'm going to have to bundle up and walk the dogs.  Tank is driving me crazy!  He's been cooped up for two days.

Scoot .. you sure were up early!  I'm sorry you're in so much pain.  My PCP is good about refilling my pain meds, but I have to put in for the refill about a week ahead of time.  I think your onc's office really dropped the ball.

Jancie .. your karate lessons cracked me up.  At least now you can say you're a white belt!

Sunflowers ... are you getting snow up there?

Anne ... hope you're enjoying your vacation from hubby and getting all kinds of 'me' time.

Hope everyone has a great day,

Bren

Bren, no snow, but cold.  Down in the 30s at night.  Feels like early March should feel.  We're all just so grateful for the RAIN.  It's the first time I've turned on the heat, for jus a little bit, in weeks, almost a month.  Now THAT is strange.  Esp. effects where I live cuz there is still so much farming done around here.

Oh, scoot, I HATE WHEN THAT HAPPENS - my pcp works out of a "FACTORY" - just getting blood test results is a major deal.  SO FRUSTRATING.   Also ticks me off I still get "reminders" to have a mammogram - SCUZE me, I had them BOTH removed 5 years ago!  Auugghhh...love that...

*headdesk* - really does say it all.....

White Rabbit's celebrating a birthday today -- I think it might be her 39th (or maybe another 39th!!!). 

HOPPY BIRFDAY WR, and good wishes for many, many more !

Happy Birthday WR!!!!