Has anyone started a Dec 2011 group?

Kelly why two? They had to requisitions for me too, one from the RO and one from the MO.



How you doing with rads?

The mammo is for both breasts though? Good for you that you breezed through rads. I got pretty burnt but it went away quickly. I guess lumpectomy or mastectomy we will always be nervous after our surprise this year.



I called the doctor for a lump on my nipple it wasn't diagnosed through a mammogram. First one was at 44 after I brought it to their attention. How bout you?

Nope Kelly I am Canadian. I would think they would do both breasts? I am sure we are expected to get them done once a year and oct is our year.

It sucked Kelly. All the time I was watching and hearing their commercials I was thinking jeez this can't be happening. It's a coincidence because of the hype I am just being paranoid. Wish that was true. I was an ostrich with my head in the sand as my RO says. I am the worst person to have in a hospital and the worse to have my medical issues gossiped about. It feels sometimes that I'm walking around naked bcause the rumor mill has been working and people I thought could keep my privacy actually could not. Oh well I guess those are issues I have had to conquer.

Thanks Kelly. Since it is the summer we have a few parties going on. I have figured out that I hate to have the attention on me so I think that is why I like to control the who knows and who doesn't. I want my identity based on who I am and not what disease I HAD.



How have you coped with the lack of hair this time of year? Hats or rats and hats? The rat is the wig. Lol

Whata, I had a pre surgery mammo and ultrasound.



I'm officially CANCER FREE!!! Surgeon and onc both agree no need for radiation, my nodes and margins all clear, am stage IIA. Doing the happy shuffle!!!

Naan - Thanks for the smile. And CONGRATS on the report!!! That is so great to get a report like that. I was so happy when my path surgery came back clear margins, no nodes, etc. Now go and celebrate!

Whatashocker - Since I had a bmx, I am done with mammograms. But I got a reminder call the other day. I had to call the center and say, hey, I don't have any left, so please don't call and remind me. BS says I just have to give them a very good once-over every month. 

Whata they initially staged me at II prior to chemo/surgery and after pathology from surgery confirmed which II it was either A or B. Onc told me if positive node, then possible more chemo and rads too, because I'm triple negative for hormones, I can't have any hormone treatments. Surgeon said if positive nodes then radiation for sure.



Thanks ladies, couldn't have come this far without y'all!,

Kathi! It is great to hear from you. I have been wondering how you are doing. Sounds like you are doing well.



Good for you for going topless! How much hair have you had grow back. You were done in early Feb so I am hoping you have had some good growth.



You are back to work? How has that been or did you work through treatment?



The other bc group? Is there another forum you use that has been good for you?



Glad to hear from you.

Kelloggs - Congrats!!! Welcome to the finish line.

I'm on FB too if anyone wants to catch up. There was another thread for December Taxotere/Cytoxan where some of us overlapped, but like here, it was a great group of women. We've now pretty much migrated to FB. But I'm glad to see some people still checking in here.

I'll be coming up on my anniversaries soon - found the lump July 12 or so, dx'd Aug 16. But it was still new enough that October was unnerving.

I can't remember if I mentioned it, but I did the local Relay for Life almost 2 weeks ago. It was good to do the survivors lap. None of us want to be here, but now that I'm through treatment, there's something empowering about going out there and letting people know, hell yeah, I beat it. As I get ready to start going topless (hair is short, but coming in more quickly than I expected), I almost see it as a badge of honor. 

Okay....can we be honest for a minute or a little longer???

I have been feeling physically great and feel happy most of the time.  Right now, this very minute, I'm in the middle of huge panic and anxiety over this cancer coming back.  I want to just sit and cry, but I can't.  I have too much to do.  I am going away for the weekend with a great friend (and many other ladies) to a Pampered Chef Workshop and I'm expecting to have great fun.  But that's just it...I'm busy LIVING life but still have the fear that I will get another phone call.  I haven't had any tests/scans or anything like that...they don't do them for stage II, no node involvement.  I feel like I could throw up from the anxiety that I am feeling today.  I think I need to go back on my anxiety meds or something.  I will be taking a xanax tonight, I think.  Too scared to take it now...might fall asleep and I have no time for sleep, LOL!!!  : )   

Lori, my RO says that before this I was walking around with me head in the sand thinking this couldn't happen to me. Now we can't do that because it does happen to us. I get my forum name because I was shocked that this had happened to me. I was pretty healthy watched what I ate most of the time. I was overweight and drank alcohol
regularly, but I also am the youngest of five and my no in my immediate family had been touched by the "c".



With this being said it is a choice we make if we worry about something that may never happen. I had a friend that had bc about 9 years ago and if came back and she passed away 2 yrs ago in Oct. She passed away in her early forties leaving behind 3 kids her youngest was 10:(. That will always be in the back of my mind. I will not be able to
stick my head in the sand any longer. I also know ladies who had bc 10+
years ago and are still going strong.

I dont read the obits any longer and my cancer peer has this saying when she hears bad news about someone else that had cancer. "They didn't have the same cancer as mine". That is very true. We are all different. I am er+, her- with a low grade of 1 but with lymph nodes involved. Your cancer is different than mine. The stats are good and
new data is found everyday.



I am scared too but have limited the amount of time on this website and will try to put it aside. Man it's tough. The mental stuff is
harder than the physical.



I wish there was an answer for us. The social worker I speak with
says it is a process of steps that you can't skip. It takes time.




I have a great family and want to be here with them until I am drooling in my old age. You are doing awesome living your life. Keep doing that because lost time we have had already. You ate a positive person and probably just having a bad day.



Hugs

Lori - I know exactly what you're going through. Every cough, every ache takes on a new meaning and makes me wonder, do I call the doctor? I've jumped right back into life, which means I'm running around, working 9+ hours, keeping busy. I like all the things I do, but I keep wondering if something else is brewing, is there something I really should/would rather be doing instead? I've also seen women who go for decades, and others that are gone like that. I know I could get hit by a car tomorrow, too, but somehow it's easier to accept that than the possibility that there is an actual clock ticking. And of course there's the question of how much I express these fears to friends and family.

I'm glad you've backed away from the ledge. That's usually not a good place to be in general, and that's what we're all here for. Treat yourself somehow this weekend. You're here and good health today - it's a gorgeous day in this area - enjoy it for all it's worth. I've always loved sunsets, and nature in general, but I have noticed that since my dx, I do take even an extra minute to appreciate them. 

I think we need to visualize here..... every time the tick-tock grows too loud, we should just shout out "Cookoo!" and get on with our life!

I also am trying to spend less time on here, but once I check one thread, I hate to miss what's been happening elsewhere. I really enjoy the 'company.' 

Good to see you, Mardibra. I hope everything is going well.

Saw my PS yesterday. He's pleased with the recovery and healing, but seemed genuinely sorry to hear I wasn't 100% happy with my new foobs because of size. I'm getting used to them, and realize they hopefully will adjust as they swelling goes down and they drop and fluff. I guess I look okay in clothes, but like Dolly Parton without. Maybe if I lose the flab I'll feel better about how I look in general and that will help...

Have a good weekend all. 

Hi ladies, hope you all are doing well. Congrats to those finished with rads!



My hair is coming in. I have a lot of white chemo hair on the ends and black hair under. It's not quite long enough for me to go topless out in public. I'm not sure if the Herceptin is inhibiting the growth...I don't really have anything to compare it to. I have no clue about my nails. I started painting them about a month ago because they were looking pretty gross.



I'm supposed to start Tamoxifen on Monday. I started my period back last week after not having one since December. It was not fun at all!