The Hermit Club

May Our continuing BC journeys be gentle in 2013.

Happy New Year, Hermits!

I was overcome with melancholy on New Year's Eve.   DAMN!!!!   New Year's Day, and time to pack away all the thing-a-ma-jigs.

@Lauren15
My family moved from the East Bay to a brand new house in San Jose in the late 1960's. The house was built in what had previously been an orchard. I'm now the third out of my four siblings who has gotten some kind of cancer under age 60 (and my brother and sister were under age 50 at DX), and I have to wonder, what was Farmer Brown spraying on those trees all that time? Was there a pesticide spill or the pesticide storage shed in what was later to become our back yard? Of course we will never know now, but I have to wonder, especially since the one sibling who hasn't gotten cancer is the oldest of us four. He was in his mid-teens by the time we moved--had he already outgrown the vulnerable growth stage for whatever environmental factor got the rest of us? Again, there's no way to know. I listened to the book Anti-Cancer on CD last year and the doctor who wrote that hypothesizes that the huge increase in cancers is due, at least in part, to the enormous number of new, inadequately tested chemicals we're exposed to in our food, homes and just every-day life in general. I can't help but think he may be on to something there.

But Happy New Year anyway. At least nowadays there are treatments we can use to increase our chances of recovering from cancer and living out a long life despite it. I've done quite a lot of genealogical research on my family, and if I'd been born in an earlier generation, I quite likely wouldn't even have lived long enough to get cancer, and a good chance my sister wouldn't have either. Before antibiotics, I probably would have died of the abcess/lymphatic infection I had when I was 37, and she might well have been killed by peritonitis from her appendix when she was still in grade school. So here's to 2013, and may a cure be found soon!

Where did you get the Fla-Vor-Ice?  I never heard of it.

Great - I have a costco card - maybe they have it there too.

Hi everyone--Lauren I' glad u;r thinking ahead,--hope it all helps.

And curveball this all makes u wonder cuz I'm the youngestof 4 and we were brought up on ostly garden veggies and fruits and homemade breads--we hardy at mests of any kind. Wedid drink milk when they used to deliver it. So we actually were brought up pretty healthy and 3 out of 4 of us have cancer. I honestly think everything they use is doing awfult things to our bodies--but cancer is a beast that stands alone, jusr like all the chemo, rads, operations and then to get mets, I think no one should get mets with all these meds but again the beast stands alone and does whatever the hell it wants,

Now that started the New Year Happy hahahaha-Teka I'm sorry u felt sad, but NY's to me is kind of sad rime goes by and this year has not been one of u'r best. And I love the warm feeling I et from decorations and lhts outside--and when they leave the whole neighborhood looks dismal in winter. Boy I'm really glood and doom gals--I don't feel that way, except I still have this awful cold, now my kids have strep throat and I did all I could to keep aways from them with my Lysol. LOL

My sister left today for a 3 day vacation with all of her kids and grandchildren- 20 in all--going to Galena, IL so she was really looking for forward ro that and most of her grandchiledren are teenagers so they are alot of fun. I'm so happy for her. They've never done that before, It's not super far from here but when u'r there u feel like u've left ILL. it so very pretty and homey-like old fashiony.

Luaren I'm glad u'r geting started oh--use plasric utensils when u start chemo, somerimes that helps. And tell us every single thing--the irls will no doubt have tips to help u along.

I should make a resolution to learn how to type. Altho I had it in school for 2 yrs. and used it most of my life so I really figure this is the best it wil get. Sorry. LOL

What did you mean by using plastic utensils when doing chemo?  I'm learning so many new things (icing finger and toenails, I need to take my gel nails off) - Any other tips from past experience?  I'm also on the January chemo group, but we're all so new and don't know what we are in for - Ugh!

Thanks Skittle - great tips.  I'll work on that list.  I really hope I can continue working . . .

New Year's Resolutions:

Try My damndest to live in the moment.

Be a good listener for Husband, Son, and Daughter.

Husband and I go out and socialize at least once a week.

Continue with diet.

Wean off the "Active Topics" threads.

Midnight off the "My Favorite Topics" threads and beddy-bye.

Sweet Dreams!!

Hi Markat--I' glad u'r going to keep a close relationship no matter what.

I'm not making any resolutions, well maybe one I might start drinking.

Lauren Teka explained the plastic utensils I'm sorry I didn't. I had 4 months of chemo before my operation and worked--I'd have it on a Monday (we were closed) and had a 12 hr. day on Tues. and worked that and Wed. By Thurs. not so good so I'd use m sick time for Friday too, we had 1/2 day on Sat. and I'd try to make that and just lay on the desk in my bosses office. And I got the anti nausea with my mix in an IV and that worked OK for me and after my operation and more chemo I used all my sick time then I went on disability. I had a lot of energy those first 2 days I worked cuz of the steroids in the IV so I felt good---but everyone is so different we're mostly on the same chemo drugs some are on more some are on less--it just depends on what's going on with u. Oh and I did have a port which for me was wonderful cuz my veins jump around and I still have my port--it's still used alot cuz neither one of my arms can be used for anything. But the port is optional I think, but it was so easy for the nurses to use and for me too. if that helps any.

Lauren15,

January 2010, I was diagnosed with TNBC.   I'm still here!   Remember, there're more BC patients off-line than on-line.   Please don't dwell on being TN.  

Hi hermits!

Lauren, where is Weston?  West coast side I am assuming.  Me to, Im in the Tampa Bay area. Best wishes on Friday!

Lauren just think n a few short days u'rll knowthe results and plan of action hich most will relate to and explan whatever u need to know. Everyone will help ease u'r mnd and help u along the way. Really so as soon as u know u'll know so much from here u'll be a sem Dr. And we're not scary--we'll help.

Another day n--I have my first Jan. Dr. app't ment Friday, hen the next 2 weeks 2 more Drs. and hopefully done for a while anyway.So  have to unhermit myself a little and acrually talk to people.

Goodnite Teka-- think me too--Lauren u'll be all right.