2012 sisters
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Hiya Belinda... Nice to meet you too but wish it were under different circumstances
. Since it is under these circumstances, what I can tell you is there are a bunch of wonderful women on these forums. It helps us to destress, I think, when we can share.PR - I don't think you are in a dream world at all. Let me tell you a story about people in my life. One is my beloved late father. He was diagnosed in March of 1988 with lung cancer which had metastisized. He was always a pessimistic type and as we walked out of the doctor's office his words were "that's it - I'm finished" and in 7 months he died. On the ot her hand, I have a friend who had been remiss about going for mammographies. About 13 years ago, she did a self exam and found a lump. She went to the doctor, they sent her for the tests we are all so familiar with now, and she was diagnosed with BC, Stage IV, right from the getgo. She is the most positive person I know. She is very spiritual (not so much religious, just spiritual - there is a difference)....She radiates light, I swear. In the last 10 years, she has had 5 new grandkids, spends time with her daughters and the grandkids, has told me she is NOT afraid of the inevitable. Sad yes, but no fears. At this stage, her cancer has metasticized to her lungs and bone. She still insists on treatment and is on chemo, in fact, right now. What I'm trying to say is her positive attitude, I strongly believe, is what helped get her to this point and given her several extra quality years. My dad's attitude might have cut his time short. So, no, I don't think you're in a dream world at all - just thinking in a way that can keep you healthier and without a doubt, happier.
bev
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Hi ladies,
I'm really gald vballmom1 started this thread. I found a lump on my right breast march of this year and it took me 3 weeks to get the courage to go to the doc. So long story short, I was sent for an US and it came back with irregularities. So was sent for a core biopsy of both breasts since I had a lump on my left breast for many years (I'm 34) and at the time I found the left one, the ob/gyn checked it and said it was nothign to worry about.
The results came back that I had IDC on my right breast (15mm) and non cancerous on the left side on April 13th (Black Friday). I decided to BMX with 1 step to implants and also a right SNB and I had my surgery a little over 3 weeks ago. Still waiting on my pathology results. Where I'm from it takes forever. I'm healing well and most likely would not need Chemo. Still waiting to see.
I'm fighting to kick this cancer's butt, this cancer doesn't have me!! Gald we have this support with this sisterhood that none of us wants to be in. But its not our choice, we're in it and we're making the best out of it.
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By the way PositivityRocks, I PM you a little ago, please check your PM. Thank you!
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Belinda- welcome, wish we weren't meeting like this. But everyone here is great, I'd be crazy without them.
PR- your not in a dream world. How can anyone be positive for us if we can't be positive for ourselves!
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Forgot to mention in my initial post that I was a year late in getting my mammogram. I was on a journey of weight loss (50 lbs) and exercise and thought because I was now in such good shape, no family history and previous mammograms were clear I would not have an issue.....I definitely learned a lesson.
There is nothing I can do about the past. All I can do is take care of myself and spread the word. Most people are like me in thinking if they didn't have a family history they were not at risk.
Thanks for listening!
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Belinda- don't feel bad. I was like you, no family history and not many risk factors. I always joked that BC wouldn't pick me because my breasts were not large enough for it to bother with. Was I wrong. I waited until I was 45 to get a mammogram and only then because I had no choice. I'm not going to beat myself up over it. Like you said take care of ourselves now and spread the word.
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Belinda - I am right there with you. No family history, of any kind, from both my mother and fathers side going back as far as I can which is my great grandparents. In fact on both sides of my family, I remember my great grandfather from my mom side and my great grandmother on my fathers side, when they died one was 101 and the other 103! I still have a grandfather alive and well, he is 92 or 93! My other grandparents passed away recently two 90 and one 88.
So yeah, I know what you mean. C really sucks! -
Belinda, don't beat yourself up about that one. My tumor was 2.5cm, front and center, and my mammo a year ago showed nothing.
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Another 2012 sister here. On almost exactly the same schedule as Belinda977. I'm just 15 days post surgery and waiting for my oncotype results.
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Just got back from my final pre surgery PS appt. He was funny and nice and really calmed me down. He asked how I was. I said "nervous, scared". He said "I promise I won't do the surgery on your today in the office. We'll just shmooze" lol. Disarmed me there. I asked about the drains. He says there will be 2, I'll have a visiting nurse every day for a week to deal with them. I had no idea (I just wonder what that is gonna cost besides insurance!). He gave me a prescription for an antibiotic and 30 percocets (he said 'you'll really like them haha)... He promised me that no matter what, he will make sure I look good in clothes. He took pictures of my breasts. This is kind of a high end New York place. One of the partners actually studied sculpture in Italy. I'm not high end so have no idea how I got there except that's where the BS referred me. Thank God for insurance is all I can say. All in all, the visit was a positive experience and I feel a bit better. Now Friday I have the pre surgery appt. with the surgeon. Then I'm done with doctor visits and on to the 6/7 MX. I will be sick with nerves that day so trying hard not to be until then.
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HealingDreams -- We are similar diagnosis and schedule! Sorry to meet everyone under these circumstances but at least we have eachother!
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I'm just a couple of weeks behind you girls !! Surg. next Thursday so I'm catching up. And, yeah, it's a fact that at least we have each other ...
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bevg49 - I understand you're really nervous about your surgery but let me tell you that the waiting is the worst part of this whole thing. All the waiting from biopsy to surgery. I was there just over 3 weeks ago and I was really nervous about what was going to happen to me too. I never had any surgery until now and it wasn't as bad as I thought at all.
There was not much pain per say, just soreness and the stupid drains. That might be the worst of your healing process. Some ladies on the BCO had it from a few days to up to 3 months (I read). The average is like 2-3 weeks, just remember that we know what you're going through and it's all just a means to an end. An end to CANCER.
Will be thinking about you on your surgery day and sending you positive vibes.
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Hello all you lovely postive ladies
This has been a very busy board
Healing Dreams. Me and DH took a road trip to the Oregon Coast and interior last June... you live in a very beautiful part of the world.
Bevg - great you have such a wonderful surgeon and he puts you at ease. Think mine will be like that - least my initial meeting with him in Feb I think he was like that...my mind was still in a fog from DX at that time or its chemo brain now - ha ha!!
PR - you have been through so much, so young. You have so many reasons to kick cancers butt and make sure you and DH celebrate your anniversary on June 18 - you both deserve that one. And no you dont live in a dream world... ?!
I hope you all have good days. Sending positive thoughts and hugs your way.
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The PS told me the drains would be in 1 week. I don't know how he could say that according to the ladies on here, some who have had them in much longer but that is what he said and I still can't believe he also told me a visiting nurse would come to my house every day first week to deal with the drains !!!!! and insurance covers!!!!! That shocked me in a good way. I'm sure the co-pay will be high but that's how he operates. I asked if I needed a bra. He told me, don't think about it. He will refer me to a fitter when the time comes. He is in control of it all. I feel a lot better because of that. Tomorrow I see surgeon then all done with doctor's appts., tests, everything but the surgery..... Now all I can hope is that the path report after surgery doesn't change the prelim. diagnosis I have so far of 1 dcis, 0 stage and one invasive 2.5 mm., stage 1. I am praying lymph nodes are good but that's all I can do. Other than that have to wait and realize, no matter what the outcome, all of you ladies are survivers and fighters and I can be one too.
As a hippy from the 60's, rather than prayers, today I am sending good vibrations
). (Of course, the prayers are always there too) -
Bevg, love the Good Vibrations. Back at ya.
Roula, I was in the same mindset. I didn't mind going for a yearly mammo, because I always got good news. My grandparents except one all lived into their 90s, one Grandma to 102. My Dad is still kicking and I have some elderly aunts (one had BC 50 years ago!), but my Mom died at 57 from leukemia.
I was feeling pretty sure I wouldn't get cancer for some reason. Now that I look back, I had so many risk factors. I started taking better care of myself too little, too late. And that probably didn't matter either.
Now I am telling myself that this extra tricycle tire under my right arm is just part of kicking cancer's butt, and that is the bigger picture. I still really hope it goes away, though.
Love the Oregon coast, my dream is to live there some day. Wish I could afford northern CA. My favorite part of the world so far. We have a trip planned to Napa/Sonoma for October, doing everything I can to make that happen! Don't know if my DD will ever give me Grandkids, but having a trip to look forward to is always a big deal for me.
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Went to my MO today for my 3 round of TCH. Not gonna happen, my blood counts are too low :-(, was hoping to stay on schedule so we can take a late summer vacation with the kids. I hope this is the only time I have to reschedule chemo this summer!
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As a NYC girl my entire life, I must say my favorite part of the country so far was San Francisco - a big city with a small city feel. I've been to a lot of places in the last 20 some odd years because my son was in the military (just retired last year) and lived in many different states. At 50, 13 years ago, DH and I decided to go to Europe. Flew to Rome, spent 5 wonderful days, took a train from there to Paris, spent 5 wonderful days then took the fast train to London and spent the last few days. We probably couldn't afford it but my feeling was if we don't do it, then when? I love travel and hope I can do some more. I am also lucky enough to have 4 grandkids - 2 older ones from my son (16 and 20) and 2 new ones (6 months) from my daughter. We gotta focus on the good things in life. I mean that. I am usually a very pessimistic person but if there is one butt I'm trying to kick other than cancer, it's the gloom 'n doom part of me.
Peace & Love
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Hi Girls!
Just wanted to let you know I had my surgery Tuesday, came home yesterday and am doing really good. I go to the BS tomorrow to have my pain pump removed and get some preliminary pathology results. The BS found a positive node and so he had to remove quite a few he said for further testing.
Haven't really experienced too much pain. Never had morphine and have just been taking Costo brand ibuprofen. Hopefully the pain-free experience continues tomorrow after the pain pum goes.
The BS said chemo will begin in 3-4 weeks so I gotta prepare myself for that emotionally. I think the idea of chemo is more scarey than the surgery.
Take care everyone. Need some rest time.
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hi mom, I'm glad you had a pretty pain free time of your surgery. Sorry they found the lymph node but at least now you know what you have to deal with. My prayers are with you and I am sending good vibes your way. Rest well.
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Good Morning everyone!
teeballmom glad surgery went well. Don't be scared of the chemo..it's not fun but it is doable. Surgery is what scares me. Glad you haven't had much pain. Sorry about the lymph node.
RoulaG-sorry about the low counts, hopefully you can stay on track from here on out!
HealingDreams-you're in my FAVORITE state! We were there over the summer and can't wait to get back. Hope everything is going good for you.
bevg-you will be traveling again soon. Must have been fun to go overseas. Someday I might get brave enough to get in a plane.
Hope everyone is having a good Friday.
After treatment is over, does anyone plan on having some fun? We plan on starting our RV travels again as soon as we can.
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Belinda - Definitely don't beat yourself up. Most BCs are found by the patient themselves and if you read around here long enough, you'll get the idea that the mammograms are not the be-all-and-end-all of BC diagnosis. Same for you, Diana - there are plenty of women with great diets and lifestyles who also get BC. As far as I can tell, it's a real cr@pshoot! Or there are just too many possible factors. for you and I and many others? Estrogen. Well, how were we supposed to avoid that?!?
teeball - Congrats on getting thru surgery! woohoo! Another step forward.
Tazzy - thinking of you today. Hope it's going well!
Roula - Sorry about the delay. Hope you get to keep moving forward soon. I've had a delay too. I am ok with it because I needed the time to heal up and my psyche is improving about my sitch too. As I get over the various complications I've had from testing and surgeries, I'm feeling more and more ready to do the chemo challenge. (I'm starting to think of it like a reality game show or something, I guess...) Your blood counts will get back up and you'll be on track soon!
To all my sisters here, Let's do this! we're #1, we're #1 (or something like that. I've never been a great cheerleader.
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I saw this post on active topics and thought, "I don't remember starting a thread!" -
Blame chemo brain vballmom... and even if you dont remember, sure am glad you did as it appears so is everyone else.
Bev... I love traveling like you do. Had to cancel a trip to Belize we had planned in Feb cos of bloody treatment... but its going to be fun to plan the trip again for next year
teeballmon... glad the surgery went well. Rest lots. chemo isn't fun, but you just remember, if its making you feel crap its making the cancer feel crappier... that's what I reckon anyway. I had #7 of 8 today and can just see light at the end of the tunnel. Then onto surgery and rads - or vice versa.. dont know yet.
allurbaddayswillend - we are #1 yes we are # 1
To anyone I may have missed and shouldn't - this today i am definitely blaming on chemo brain, positive thoughts and strength to you all.
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I just noticed we have a teeballmom and a vballmom.... How nice to have kids involved in sports.
Anyhow, I went to my final appt today before surgery. Saw the BS. I decided today I love her like I decided Wednesday I love the PS. The doctor today was so caring. She answered all my questions. I was afraid of the needles they give you with radiactive stuff then dye - heard they hurt like hell. Well,she told me she does those needles after your asleep so, YAY!! She hugged and kissed me before I left and that kind of stuff makes me cry. I decided bedside manner is as important as anything else. She does have a great reputation around her but her manner means a lot. When my dad was dying, in the 1980's, they got us what they called "the top oncologist"..... Meanwhile, the guy would not talk to us, he was gruff and self important and too busy. While getting a top guy is all well and good, that hug and kiss meant a lot to me....I am gonna miss my poor right boob but I'm not gonna miss the cancer in it!!
Instead of going through each of you individually in this post as we usually do, let me just say I am sending seriously good and healing vibrations to each of you post surgery and/or on chemo....
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Hi bev.... that's wonderful about your doctor. In a warped kind of way, when my chemo is finished... I will miss meeting with my MO - I love her and she hugs me everytime we meet... I know what you mean that hug means so much. Dunno when my surgery is going to be... still in limbo on that date.
Good vibrations back at all of you.
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Yeah. I miss my rads team. They were a great bunch of kids (all of them young enough to be my kids) they were sweet and caring and were just what I needed while going through treatment.
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Hello ladies! I am so excited that I found this forum! Was diagnosed just yesterday (5/31) so all of this is so new. As you know I have lots of decisions to make...starting with what type of surgery. I have decided to consult with oncologist before making that decision. I appreciate any advice! Everything is happening so quickly...I didnt even think about cancer at my age (36) but it sounds like that is much more common than ever before. Good luck to everyone!
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vballmom, that is the best laugh I've had all day!
Belinda, I also missed my mammo last year and my sister was on me regulary to get in there. I was traveling for work (not far, about an hour each way) and miserable at that location. When I transferred back to the Springs in July, I was so busy learning the facility, etc. But, my sis wore me down and went in for my well woman in Jan with my mammo in Jan. Then the follow up and, well , you know the rest.
But now it's getting late. Going to put together my overnight oatmeal and head to bed. Sleep well my fellow fighters!
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Hi palmetto,
Sorry you had to find us.. but park yourself here and feel the warmth and support of these wonderful ladies.
Good idea to meet with your oncologist first. What you decide to do is a very personal decision. My one piece of advice would be to write ALL your questions down to take with you to ALL meetings with your healthcare team and if you can take your husband, friend, family - just take someone with you to write down your answers and any other advice the doc will have. You will need that - there is just way too much to remember on your own. If you cannot take anyone take a voice recorder - seriously.
I think most will tell you the hardest part through all of this is the waiting... waiting for appts. waiting for tests, waiting for results... but once you know the outcome you can have a plan and move forward.
Keep us posted on any progress and feel free to answer any questions. The ladies here have a wealth of knowledge and are happy to share it.
You are very young... and I find it quite distressing that more women of your age and younger are being diagnosed with bc... they need to look into why.
Wherever you lovely ladies are today, whatever you are doing positive and strong thoughts being sent your way.
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