2012 sisters

chrissera   I had seen the research before I first met my breast surgeon.  She was recommended by my GP in whom I have a lot of trust.  I ask her, If you had this problem, is this whom you would see?  She was emphatic. Yes.

The surgeon told me what I had already heard in research reports.  There is no difference in life expectancy between those who have lumpectomy and those who have mastectomy.  There is a difference in recurrance.  I am 75, had a lumpectomy.  Unexpected, 2 of 7 lymph nodes were involved so the chemo, and then rads.  9 mos.  For me,  I am happy and taking my chances.  No one knows because every body is different and they are finding the cancers are different.

Just don't worry about it.  Even those who have double mas, can have recurrances etc.  Hugs

MrsCich.....loved your story about the girls..... Sorry about the surgery though....God

we go through so much with this BC .....what kind of wig did you choose?

MrsCich...your story is wonderful - so happy for you that you had a marvellous day out of something that could be really crappy.   Good luck with your surgery.

Hugs to all xx

chrissera- Hope you start to feel better soon and that you come to a peace about your lumpectomy decision.  I went through the same thoughts myself.  Sleep is so crucial to the healing process but its so hard to turn your brain off in the midst of dealing with all of this.  Thinking of you.

MrsCich......thank you for the info..... will certainly be looking into them.

Scorchy, I lol'd at "sworn enemies at work", hehehe...

Allur, what I find funny about it all is that we do spar--big time.  Pain the ass.  But when I got diagnosed she stopped.  I mean, how can you attack someone with cancer?!  She's got a heart, but I know she wants me to get better so that we can fight again. 

I wore the zipper-front sport bra from JCPenny after my lx. It was great! If I'd known ahead of time I'd need to wear it for two weeks, I would have bought two. My surgeon said the majority of her patients got their drains out at the one-week checkup, so I just got one. Of course, I had my drain for nearly two, lol.





I'm very grumpy today. I don't know for sure why, but probably a combination of things. I haven't been sleeping very well. The weather has turned cool and rainy. After three weeks of not being hungry ever, I'm suddenly hungry all the time. (When I wasn't feeling hunger, I still ate small, balanced meals, but lost ten pounds. I dot want to gain it back so I'm eating the same small amounts... And being hungry all the time. Hopefully it will pass soon.) Also, my husband is being super clingy and it's making me crazy. I'm pretty sure I can make dinner without him standing in the door to the kitchen staring at me!



Grrrrrr.

Rainy Sat. here in Vancouver and am getting organized for next week. 

Friday was a big day for phones calls and planning. First call was from BCCA (Vancouver Cancer Agency) with an appt. Monday at 0745 for a PET scan. Big surprise as MO indicated it would not give us any more info on 7 mm lesion on lung which showed up on CT scan which was to be repeated in 3 months. Next, call from my MO. I ran into her Thurs. as I was heading into chemo teach and had just enough time (she knew I had called on Wed. with questions) to rip out the page in my notebook with the questions and hand it to her. So she called with the answers and was really good about all of them. PET scan ordered to reassure me (I figured as much) but she said also to give a baseline for the future.  Onctotype tests not done here and same for Ki67. Well she did not really say not done, but of no value in my case and I do understand that. With my pathology it is not relevent; I need everything!

On my list of questions was Adjuvantonline and my MO read right from the computer what my recurrence will be based on my age (and she put in very healthy 63 y/o female) and pathology. I am high risk and the numbers are not so exciting but I am a person who likes/needs to know all and for me, it helps that I know what I am about to battle with chemo, more surgery, radiation and reconstruction.

So, PET scan in AM, 2:30 PM chemo starts and Tues. I go to "Look good feel better"  and also get my first Neupogen injection. We will celebrate our 29th anniversary in between. I figure that we will save fun celebrations for the 30th when hopefully I am done with everything.

liefie, I just got headcovers.com from halfcan in Abottsford and that is on my list for today too. I have put it off long enough! If anyone wants to post/repost headcover sites please do.

Marian 

Hugs back at ya cottontail.   I dont do good with being in a slump.  Am going out with DH tonight over to friends for dinner - sure that a glass of wine, good company and some laughs will help.   I will make sure it does actually.  Tomorrow I will spend time in my greenhouse - rain forecast for most of the day - that's always good therapy for me.

Marian, best wishes for the chemo on Monday. Let us know how it went. The Pet scan for a baseline interests me too, because I'm wondering what follow-up tests/scans are planned for me if any. Will be asking my onc when I talk to him next time, because he has not said anything about that yet. Yep, rainy weather here too, but we've had an amazing summer with no rain from June till now. Guess it's time! I got about 8 different things from headcovers.com, and I was very satisfied with my purchase from them.

Tazzy, you have the best therapy for feeling down. Nothing like your favourite music to cheer you up. Works for me every time.

Cottontail, hope you will be feeling better soon. Lack of sleep changes me into a monster, so you have all my sympathy there. Maybe take something so you can get one good night's sleep. It makes a huge difference. I also hear you about being hungry all the time. The cooler weather does not help either, and it is so hard to stay away from food when you want to nibble all the time like me . . . I'm wondering if it is the Tamoxifen that I started a while ago, but I don't want to use that as an excuse.

Juneau- you will find other friends that will be very supportive. The ones that can't handle our world don't need to be there. I do hope you feel better.



Tazzy- a nice dinner and drinks with friends is always a good way to cheer up. My hubby took me out tonight for dinner and movie for our 11 yr anniversary. It's always good just to have him to myself for a just a bit. I do hope you get out of your slump.



Cottontail- I wore just regular sports bras for the first 3 weeks. I had my drains for almost a month( stupid damn things, talk about sworn enemies) I just recently bought a little cheapie bra just to get out of the surgical bra they put on me after surgery.



Marianne- good luck Monday with chemo will pray for no SE's.

Juneau, I was talking about one friend last night ... And that I will not feel guilty for not calling her. If I look back at our friendship and it is 40 years, it has always been one sided. Look at those you are losing now, we're they really 2 ways or did you always carry them. That will make it easier. I cannot and will not carry this friend anymore. It is about ME now. Good luck and hugs. You deserve to surround yourself with caring and thoughtful people.

Joanne

Joanne....I'm with you.....It caused me too much stress and sadness and now that I have let them go, and have forced myself NOT to think about them, I do feel better. You're

Right, it's all about us at the moment and if these people can't help us in our healing,

let them go!!!!!!!



PS. How are you?????

Rads does eventually end, and very soon it will fade to the back of your mind.  I remember setup, I remember the day the techs didn't keep good enough track of Trooper and he charged back in before TX was done and shut down all the machines. I remember a couple other conversations I had with the nurses and techs, but really maybe 6 days out of 6+ weeks?  It's all just a blur and I hope it's a fuzzy memory for you soon Tazzy.

Beautiful fall day here in the Black Hills.  I'd love to share it wth you all.

I'm hoping everyone had a good weekend.  Mine was fabulous and helped lift my spirits.  We stayed in on Friday and relaxed and watched a movie (a rare treat!), Saturday I went to a huge fall festival with my BFF and today was church, lunch with friends and then skeet shooting with friends and family, followed by an 18th birthday party for my nephew.  All in all a great weekend. 

Tomorrow I'm back to rad tx #21....with only 2.5 weeks to go.  I have devoted the last 10 months of my life to fighting BC and I'm am finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I have a lot of odd, unexplainable emotions going on in my head right now.

My skin is starting to fry even though I have been carefully taking care of it.  I'm a little worried about what the next 2.5 weeks will do to my skin!