Illinois ladies facing bc

How are you LITs doing? (LIT - Ladies In Treatment… lit means drugged so that worked perfectly)

Liver scan appears to be fine. Onc out of town so not sure if I have to do it again.

That's good Lago Hope u'r DH is doing well too.

My turn today Dr and labs-I don't feel like going--I'm tired.

Hi everyone,  BJ and Adey - so sorry to hear about the loss of your aunts!  Lago, glad that your DH is doing well. Still have not signed up for ACS walk - long story, but now have a scheduling issue, what is the deadline (have I missed it?)? Connie - Yay!  Joan, safe travels, and hope you have a blast at the reunion.  Roula - thinking of you!  All ladies in treatment - thinking of you, too and sending hugs and positive vibes.   I wish I could be more present on the board, but life is just crazy for me right now.  I do think of this group all the time, and I get email updates on posts, so I do try to read even if I am not posting much.

Thank you all for the support a few weeks ago when my dad was in the hospital.  It was extremely touch and go for a while there, and I think I was in total freak-out mode when I posted.  Your support helped calm me down.  My dad has been home for 2 weeks now (but for one night back in the hospital on what turned out to be a false alarm).  He is recovering and stable, for which I am deeply grateful. 

So, here's what's going on with me:  I am 2 months post-rads and 4 1/2 months post-chemo.  I have hair, but it's really still too short to style in any way, especially since it unfortunately is growing back just as curly and unruly as ever (I heard many with straight hair got curly post-chemo -was hoping the opposite would happen for me, but sadly not).  I have had some follow ups with my various docs and all looks good generally. However, today I met with my plastic surgeon.  He does not love the way the remaining tissue on my radiated side looks, and there is a seroma between my TE and my skin on the other side which is causing some irritaion/inflammation.  The good news is that this may be put me ahead of others on the surgery schedule (I could possibly have my surgery next month).  The bad news is that he is now really not enthused about implants.  He thinks that the condition my tissue is in now combined with the fact that I have had rads makes it likely that I will have problems (infection risk, tissue degeneration) down the line if I go with implants.  We are meeting next week to discuss further and decide what to do.  He has suggested a tram or DIEP.  Obviously tram would be easier/less recovery time so I am somewhat leaning toward that.  DIEP is much more involved, but I may be happier with the result overall.  Ugh. 

Ok, must get back to work.  Thinking of you all!

Hello Ladies,

I was told about this forum from someone I met today.  I've read this blog often and thought now it's time to join.

I was diagnosed on 4/27 with stage 0 DCIS.  I went on 6/6 for my first lumpectomy and my doctor called me a few days with the pathology report and said I was a stage 2 and I had a 2.2 mass and I didn't have clean margins.  What a shock that was!  So he had to go for another lumpetomy on 6/30 and with now a 2.9 mass.  Went in for my 3rd and final time for clean margins on 7/13. 

Had an Oncotype test done and I had a medium to high chance of recurrence so I'm doing TC chemo.  I have had 2 of my 4 treatments so I'm half way through.  I started losing my hair 14 days after my 1st treatment.  I couldn't handle the clumps of hair in the shower anymore so I had shaved most of it off.  Wearing a wig has been difficult because it's not me but I do wear it when needed.

Now I'm dealing with an extremely heavy period when I didn't even think I would get another period.  I had an ultrasound done and my uterine lining is fine.

Looking forward to chatting on this forum.

 Shannon

Lemondrop it's not too late to sign up. You can even sign up the day of the event but I think it will cost more. Best to sign up as soon as you know. You want to be sure they have a T-shirt in your size. But you can sign up, join the team and just raise funds. You don't have to show up. I can get your T-shirt for you. I'm still not sure if I will be able to get away from helping out.
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Also anyone who just wants to volunteer that day at the ACS Strides Event: We also need:

Greeters, Help at registration table, Hope wall managers, photo both managers, Run craft table for kids, fill balloons, inform people about the "survivor one on one" talk area (Where survivors share experiences with other survivors), balloon fillers, hand out survivor gift/medals etc.

Contact me off list and I will fill you in with details.

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DH had to come home after PT. He didn't take muscle relaxers. Took drugs, iced, ate lunch as wea ready to go again in 2 hours. Says to me "why didn't they tell me I needed to take drugs before PT." Me they did… and I told you at least twice. Granted he probably was high on meds but still doesn't it make sense to take your meds with you just in case He won't be forgetting that again.

Lago~ Is that a new avatar?  Your hair is growing so fast.  Lookin' good!!!    Glad to hear DH is doing well (and will be doing even better when he remembers to listen to you). 

Welcome Shannie!  This is a great forum with lots of knowledgable and caring women!  I couldn't have done it without them.  Please keep us posted on how things are going for you.

Good to hear from you lemondrop. Glad to hear that your dad is on the road to recovery.  Good luck with your decision on reconstruction..., not an easy one.

Oh happy day!  Jackie, qoute provider of the year, has a birthday today!

Oh happy day!

We are all so much fortunate that Jackie was born _______ years ago today!  Numbers do not count while spirit does, so let's all be thankful for TONS of spirit as provided by Jackie!

Thank You Susan.  It has been a wonderful birthday so far.....though I did have to work today.  When I got to work, I found waiting for me a pot of Black Eyed Susans as well as one of those ( don't know the name for them ) card-board cake slices with all different kinds of candy attached.  Oh yum. 

Dh had to work as well......so this being the day it was...hope no one faints when I say this.....I treated myself to some poor people's food that I have always loved, but seldom allow myself to have.  That was a Spam sandwich and chips.  Due to the horror of that as a meal....I did elect to wash it down with lots of water.  Also had three little doggies at my feet who were allowed each a fair-sized nibble to further reduce intake to a less harmful level. 

I won't tell how old I am but I will say '45 was a very good yr.  I am grateful for my life and the ability to continue having birthdays which seemed in question somewhat back in late 2007.  I think how silly now, but I do think a whole lot more women will be hearing those words before we even come close to not feeling totally deflated, majorly devastated and more scared that we have ever been.  Anyway......every day is like a birthday to me, or a holiday, and just to open my eyes can give me a rather celebratory feeling.  I always come awake hoping that I can do something worthwhile and know it.  Good way to get the energy flowing in the right direction anyway. 

It has also been my great love and privilege to read  many, many quotes everyday as I try to find one to share.  You can't imagine the joy it brings when someone says....thanks, that is just what I needed to hear.  Quotes made my life bearable through the harshest part of my cancer journey  and to be allowed....even asked to please share them continues to make every day I have a heartfelt blessing. 

Thank you so much for allowing me the honor of being your quote lady and in that way making every day in my life a pretty darn good one. 

Hugs, kisses and the happiest and warmest wishes for all good things to all of you.  You are so much a part of my daily joy.

Love, Jackie

Happy Birthday Jackie: linky  iiiiii < Blow out your candles and make a wish.

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BTW the contact list was emailed a few moments ago. If you don't receive it by tomorrow and what to be on the list please PM me.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACKIE!!!!! wishing you a wonderful fun filled day.I  hope you had a yummy cake to

enjoy. And always thank you for being our Quote Lady who inspires us every day.!!!!!!!!!

Birthday hugs to you

BJ

Great morning though little raindrops outside.  Had so little rain this yr. I am really not minding.....and it is so fantastic to have a green lawn back.  What a  pretty cake Adey and again thank you all.

  Next month sometime ( have to get a letter as yet ) will be my yearly mammogram check-up.  I don't think I have as much fear as I once did, but I do feel some concern.  I'd like to think that I'll someday reach a point where I just look on it like a physical --- as just something you need to do yearly, but I think there will always be that hesitation moment.....where I look up as the person comes to "tell" me I can go and I start to feel a tiny moment of sheer terror.  Thank goodness it is only a tiny moment.  I'm sure all wil be just fine. 

   Hope you all have a fantastic Friday....

Hugs, Jackie

NOTICE

Updated list goes out tonight (or maybe tomorrow ).
If you want to be included please PM me.
If you haven't received the list then your not on it…
If you did receive the list check to make sure you're listed.
There have been a few omissions.