Starting Chemo April 2009

Today I'm sad. One of my close friends lost her husband last night. She was out with a girlfriend to see a concert and when she came home she found him dead. Unbelievable! On Sunday they hosted a party at their home for family and friends to celebrate my friend's retirement (same position as me with the school board)...he made a lovely speech about her and it was a very special time. And then 24 hours later and he's dead. Just another reminder that life is short. Carpe diem.

Helen, I was so sad to read your news. What a terrible shock for you all, so very sad. Sending love and strength to you and your friend at this difficult time. So sorry.

Geri, thanks for your kind words; my friend seems to be doing alright I think. Hard to tell from so far away. It seems that the cancer they found last Fall, did not go away and has spread a little to her lungs. She is taking oral chemo and is going for a second opinion next week. She says she has good days and bad days, but is feeling very unsure of everything, because there is no definite prognosis. I hope she can stay strong.

Today is a sad day here, I am thankful that we all have eachother.

Hugs to you all, Judy x

Helen, how are you doing today?

Sending hugs to you all, Judy x

Just wanted to wish you all a good weekend. Hope everyone is doing ok. Helen, I am thinking about you and your friend.

Everyone, take care of yourselves, hugs to you all, Judy x

Hi everyone. Thanks for your kind words. The funeral was yesterday. My friend has very close family and lots of friends and she knows we will be there for her. During the shiva she will be kept busy - it will be after that time she will need us. Sometimes we know ahead of time that a loved one will be lost - as all of you (us) know ... and then sometimes there is this shock. He was 63 years old and was not ill. It's the weekend - hope everyone has something fun planned. 

Helen, sending love and thinking about you. I too am sure that you will be a comfort to your friend. It must all be very upsetting.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend, sending hugs, Judy x

Hey you guys..haven't posted here in a while but think of you all...all of the time!

Judy..I freak out everytime I hear of anything going on in Israel...I worry about you girl!

Betsy...12 and 0 for the Buckeyes but we cannot go to a Bowl game this year due to sanctions.   for transgressions by our former coach and players....no one from this year's team.  I have been watching your Ducks all year and cheering them on..upset by the loss to Stanford dang it all.

Helen..wow...what a shock to your friend in the loss of her husband....I hope someday we will understand why this bad stuff happens to good people...I certainly can't understand it now.

Geri...woo hoo on another wedding..maybe? 

Judy..did your friend go to Stage 4? 

Checking in and all caught up. Glad everyone is mostly doing well. We are strong and I am certain we can all face adversity with a strength we never knew we had now, but I prefer not to have that strength tested!



I go outbid the country on vacation every year at Thanksgiving my birthday is close so 3 Caribbean Islands without kids our first trip in 6 yrs with no kids. It was great



I have my stage 2 surgery in 10 days and then to Mexico. I typically do not get much connection when out of the US but read posts when I can and all of yu are never far from my thoughts!



Happy holidays and Happy New Year!!! Hope we all have an amazing 2013!!!



Lesley

Xoxo

Hi,



Leslie - You must be excited about having your stage 2 surgery...coming up soon! Hope you're enjoying your vacation. Titan, great to hear from you, and yes, momma is hoping for an engagement soon, followed by a wedding..we shall see. You guys will be first to know after my immediate family.



Just want to pass along an oncology article I read. It examined a study that was done on

ER+ women who were on the 5 year Tamoxifen plan. They determined that giving Tamoxifen for 10 years instead of 5 years, drastically reduced both recurrence rates and mortality. The jury is out right now as to whether having women who are taking AI's would also have a significant benefit to increase the length of time on them to 10 years. The study particularly looked at ER+ and HR2 + , and determined that those women ( me and Amy that I can think of) saw the greatest benefit for the 10 year tamoxifen plan. I am on Arimidex, so I would have to wait for more studies on that. I forgot to write down the name of the study, but when I find it, I will post it. Always good to share news - something to discuss with the MO.



Hope everyone is well!



Geri

I was talking to my mom - a close friend of hers (late 70's) had DCIS about 4 years ago. She is on an AI and struggles with joint/bone pain. When i said that she was almost done her 5 years, my mom said no, that her docs have told her she will stay on the AI for the rest of her life.  She is being treated at Sloan Kettering in NYC. So maybe they are already doing this thing with keeping women on them longer.

Where do you ladies get ahold of the studies that were presented in San Antonio just a few days ago? That is very fresh info. How would I find it online?

Thanks!

PLEASE say it isn't so.  I am on an AI - Femara and I cannot WAIT to be off.  Of course I want to live but the joint pain is horrific...  : ( 

Judy - Happy Chanuka

Everyone else - Happy Holidays whichever you observe.  I have a ton to do and fly out Wed for that stage 2 I will post when I can but wanted to make sure if I am out of touch (not sure how much access I will have in Mexico) I just want you all to know I am hoping for the VERY best for all of us for 2013!!!!!

Lesley

Big Hugs!!!

Same here Amy...you can get all the newest studies and print articles from all over the world. You could also request to be on email lists individually I will try to go back in my emails for the ones I get which you may find helpful.



Good luck Leslie



Helen, I know...I want to be done with Arimidex because of the joint pain too - however, if I had to struggle through 5 years and the studies prove such a significant benefit to extending that to 10 years, I would probably stay on it to get that extra insurance..after all, that is why I am putting up with it now...insurance for preventing future recurrence.



Happy Chanuka Judy. Is this how it is spelled in Isreal? I am used to spelling it Hannukah from my ex husband and his family. However we spell it, it is bringing joy to the season, and you are right that it is a peaceful time of the year for all religions. Helen, you also celebrate Hannukah right?



Have a wonderful weekend everyone!



Geri

This is one of the sites that I signed up for and I receive email newsletters with very current information on what is going on that affects us....it is called "oncologystat" and I think it is one of the most relevant ones.



I'm sorry you are not feeling well, Helen. Yes, it is difficult when there is no protracted period of time that you can say nothing is bothering you. I hope you get good news from the gyn and that your back starts to get better.



First night of Hannukah - blessings to us all.



Geri

Helen, did you speak to the doctor? I hope you are feeling a little better.

Sending hugs to you all, Judy x

Good on my end. We bought a new (well, a 2011) SUV on Saturday. Very exciting, as I am giving our little Honda CRV to my pregnant daughter and husband to have for the baby. It makes me feel very good to be able to do this for them.  One of the things that has really changed about me since bc is that if I feel strongly about something, I DO IT. I dont spent a lot of time second-guessing and worrying. I am healthy NOW and happy NOW and living NOW and I am going to be fully in that moment. Yes, I plan for the future and am not impulsive, but I am more intentional about how I live. And that feels really good to me.

Everything else is fine, just busy.

Helen what is the next step for you? Waiting for biopsy results? Could the spotting be FROM the biopsy, as opposed to a stand-alone event?