In shock

Benny, I also just had four squares of Lindt chocolate therapy, and I absolutely refuse to feel guilty at all. The rest is still on the counter . . . Aww, that Benny is just the picture of comfort and coziness, and he is so fluffy and beautiful. Thanks for the picture! You seem to be so much better - it is really great to hear you sounding so well!

Good morning from sunny melbourne!!! I woke to the smell of Nihahis bread....smells delish!!!!



Benny chocolate is good....part of my 5 food groups.....lately Ive been on a SEEfood diet!!!



Bearcub almost half way through your rads



Edi hope youve rested well today...we do have Aldi here. One just opened down the road too now.

How cute re dh getting all those things next to u so u dont have to get up....but he forgot the loo.. lol



My arms a little better this morning kept it elevated most of the night....:) will make physio appt for next week.



On my phone so scrolling to get back to mesages harder but hope u all have a good night and sleep well.

Oh yeah, the bread is for all of us! It is a no-knead, whole wheat, whole grain easy peasy recipe. Only problem is you have to start it the night before, so if I forget, it's another whole day without. It doesn't last long around here, that's for sure. 

Benny, before I forget - hemp hearts are getting pretty mainstream, but you can definitely get them at places like Planet Organic and other natural food places. There is a booth at the Farmer's Market off Heritage/Blackfoot that sells them too, along with nuts, etc. Could be mistaken, but I think I've even seen them in Safeway. 

Home from the errands, and guess what hubby found in the bottom of a grocery bag? Yup, Mars Bars - 2 for the price of one! Wonder how that happened .

Tried to go for a walk, too cold for the nose today. Guess I'll have to help rid the house of chocolate now!

ps - if you were in Okotoks, Look Out town, here we come!!!!!

Caitlin - you sound like both feet are on the ground and moving forward. Always remember, you've got people behind you.

Traii - when you are elevating your arm, make sure your hand is above the level of your heart, and your elbow isn't too bent. Otherwise you won't have much luck with the drainage. Most important is the above your heart level thing.

Gotta go deal with the chocolate bar situation now. Take care ladies.

Edi - I think our posts crossed in cyberspace. Doesn't surprise me in the least that "good people" like your boss dropped off some supper for you. I firmly believe in what goes around comes around, and you certainly are one of the "good ones" too! The food sounds delicious too! Yum!

Bearcub - I've seen snowy owls around here too. They are awesome aren't they! My favorite birds are eagles, but owls of any kind are next in line. Before we moved to our condo, we had a yard that attracted lots of birds. One Christmas day, a great horned owl was sitting about 10 feet away from our sunroom window when we got up, and he was there the WHOLE DAY! You just can't beat the natural world can you!!!!

Hi everyone,

I was just catching up on all the post.  Yesterday went well..  No real SE's yet..  Edi guess what? no constipation yet..  The anti-nausea drug they gave me yesterday is supposed to last for 72 hours hopefully I won't need to take any after it wears off.  Nothing really taste great water is going down good!  Had my injection today so I am also taking Clariton.  

My bag was so heavy yesterday!! Made it so much easier with all of you there.  I sure hope you all have a SE free weekend..

Love you all,

Carla

Hi sisters,
Hope you are all well and happy
Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed how more upbeat and cheerful we have become on here most of the time ? 
Especially since Benny our precious scout is getting proper help.

Benny, keep it up, you will smash this, get your strength built for next round. I see that you are not vegan but do not do dairy ? it IS a great source of protein. How about beans ? My ED is veggie and adores baked beans despite the wind lol. Don't know if it is a coincidence but after 2 days of semolina pipes are almost back to normal. Ground rice pudding also similar, soft and gentle. Have you a blender ? might be worth the investment, you could blend anything slightly lumpy to a smooth consistancy.Get lots of nourishment down those pipes. x

Traii, Hope dinner out was as lovely as you are. DH adored his beef in black bean while I demolished a huge bowl of semolina lol.
Good info off Nihahi re your arm.
No he didn't put a loo next to me, but it is only few yards away through the kitchen thank goodness. That all stopped late afternoon and things picking up this morning. Mouth feels almost normal, thirst abating, little bit of energy coming back yay. Look out world Edi is back.
Hope you have a lovely weekend x

Nihahi, You are so right re the fatigue. I have been lucky so far and it really wasn't that bad, but this time totally different story but fore warned is fore armed thank you.
Snowy owl, so majestic, wow.
Mars bars were my favourite( pre diabetes,) in Scotland they coat them in batter and deep fry them in their chip shops ! It is known as heart attack on a plate lol.x

Dakota, have a good weekend x

Bearcbub, hair sounds good. Whatever colour mine comes through I am going to have it coloured, ( when it is safe to do so ) something warm i.e. like my wig, reddish blonde.
Tats and rads hold no fear for me now, thanks to you.
Horned owl sounds so majestic. We back onto a farm and so see lots of wonderful wild birds but nothing so glorious. Heron after DH's fish about the best lol x

Caitlin, keep chomping the chocolate it IS good for you Doc Edi says so x

Liefie,Baking sounds so tasty, do you deliver ? Jealous of your owls too x

Carla, hope you still se free and your chemo bag not to messy lol x

Websister, hope you are ok and Mum too x

Love and hugs to anyone I have missed. DH has just made my porridge, love that man !

Edi x

Hooray....carlads back!!!! Sounds like you're doing well too, which is wonderful! Maybe Bev is lurking around, just not posting, that's ok too. Each does what they need.  

Bearcub, please keep the bears with you.....I love knowing they are around and healthy as it means nature is in balance, but having had 3 encounters while hiking, I'd rather they play somewhere else!!!!!! Thankfully the only grizzlies I've seen have always been while inside a car (with the motor running!). I almost skied right into the side of a moose last year...came around a blind corner just as it decided to dash across a trail. Talk about a quick bail out!!!!!!!!! 

Traii, not a stupid question at all....but I don't think you'd be able to be on your stomach and get your arm raised enough to be of any help. Just the thought of that position has sent my shoulders and cap. contraction into screaming fits!!!!! 

Edi is right, spirits at the moment seem up. It's a roller coaster journey, but you know you're winning when cancer thoughts can be subdued by being annoyed with things like dust bunnies and dirty dishes!!! Life goes on, which is the whole point - Right!

Everyone, I don't always mention all names, but I love you all......you are amazing! Enjoy the day/night/ wherever you are.

Carlads.....SUNSCREEN GIRL......UBER IMPORTANT!!!!!!!! Not sure how much food you're eating, compared to your water intake.  That could be part of the headache equation too. Try to keep your electrolytes in balance. Ok, seriously, I have got to get on with some mundane things now. 

Later ladies!

You're awesome!

Benny and Edi - The tats for rads are tiny needle prick kinds. I have 3: one in center of chest between tatas, and one on each outer ribcage. Used for the laser to line up exactly the same each time. I have read of some refusing tats. Then I had super sticky tabs that were repositioned occasionally. I had 6.5 weeks and every Monday had X-rays to check the positioning and that's when they would reposition the tabs. Somewhere on BCO is a great discussion of angles of rads. I only had from 2 angles so catch all the breast tissue one from the right, then it crossed over to the left since I had no positive nodes though was surpised that they did radiate the SNB site. I had the tats; at my age I don't think nude beaches are in my future and I wanted the best shot at rads since it can't be repeated on the same breast. I had some breakdown on nip but not extreme and worked through it all. I did not have what I would call serious breakdown. Did resort one time to Domeboro's soak to the nip. Rads b4 work and most in my office never knew when I went as I was done most mornings about the time my office opened. Only missed one early telephone call throughout. I know the Canadian protocol is I believe 16 sessions more intense but delivering ultimately the same dose. My RO said coloring (fair, red head) has less to do with SE than how the skin had been previously overbaked shall we say in tanning. Did warn me my sternum area which had seen the sun might be worse but wasn't.  Except for the extra time in my day and the fatigue which did happen as I progressed thru rads it was not that bad. I see other postings on here of bad reactions so sure know they do happen even with excellent ROs. I would add one thing to BE SURE OF - yes caps. When they do your preplanning make sure they get a position you can be at least minimally comfortable in. My rads even with the extra Mon. xrays were very quick but with more involvement esp. Benny you may have a longer time on the table. I had a good friend who was a few months ahead of me in tx. Her comment was very apt - it took longer to dress/undress than the rads, a little bit exaggerated but darn close. Hers had a card swipe check in which I thought was neat, not at mine though her center was newer. Mine had lockers, put stuff it, take the key with you. I always left purse in car, that's just me since I with my job you know driving around and going in nursing homes/pt homes all day it was already buried in my car trunk (Oh Edi I do know the English boot! LOL). I had mostly the same techs throughout even though the rads place was quite big, freestanding center. Females except for one trainee that I was asked if I minded him being there.

Creams/lotions - I used a prescription that RO insisted on Xclair. Expensive even with my insurance. Also Aquaphor, OTC product. I see Glaxol, Biafine, My Girls and others mentioned on here. I also used as I finished up a Calendula baby cream from Target and still put on itchy skin areas. It smells heavenly. I had sports bras from WalMart since I was just coming from surgery. And still use those when I feel the smooshing/support need. Even the Aquaphor washed out of them. I did put on cami's to protect my scrubs and they survived. No lotions/potions 2 hours b4 rads; since mine were early am just what was left there from the night b4. RO wanted me to cream up during the day. IMPOSSIBLE and it worked OK. I might not have had the breakdown I had maybe - and a big maybe - if I had been able to but it was not possible with my job. I was lucky to find decent bathrooms much less nice ones with room to strip down.

Edi - did you catch that shepherd??  My scones were OK. I'm eating them. The buttermilk was sooo thick that I had to add extra milk and they are crumbly. Eating them with a fork. Only had 1 tsp of sugar in them; I add more like 1 TBS and put I think what you call Demara sugar on the top. Isn't that the one that looks like crystals?

Whew, I'm out of breath.  TTYL - must do some chores. Dog needs bath, too.

Benny you could probably explain up front about being afraid of needles and they will let you numb it up. I got three little ones like a freckle, you can hardly see them, it really is not a big thing to worry about but it sure makes lining you up easy and quick. As a warrior I think of them as my war wounds...but like you I was a little afraid, all for nothing!!

DH and myself have started a puzzle on the dining table and have spent 2 days now putting together a beautiful South Pacific beach, a nice thing when it's too cold for a walk.

Nahahi I have never skied into a moose, scary....but I hit one 16 years ago in a car accident. I was lucky to walk away from that with nothing more than a mouthful of glass and a terrible case of the shakes. The way the windshield popped down I was about 1/2 inch from a lobotomy....funny thing before I hit it I could feel something push me way back in the seat....maybe a guardian angel? Since then my DH has hit 3....and we are good drivers!!



Traii hope the arm is good, and Carlads hope you are still fairly SE free.



Hey Bev hope you are doing good!



Take Care everyone!

Benny, you sure do go from zero to a hundred don't you! Too funny. 

Bearcub - wow, hopefully you and hubbie have now filled your quota of moose hits. Amazing that you've come through them all relatively unscathed. Yep, I do believe you had an angel keeping you safely tucked back into your seat. Bet she's still there too! 

Benny, golly gosh and gumdrops ! What a day you have had. Well done, hope you are still full of beans ( ha ha ) when you wake up.
What cute names for the lambs  
Don't know if you can pick your rad appointments but my friend always asked for the earliest one 8.30 she had her own transport and even though it meant an early rise she was usually on her way home about 9 am. Whole day ahead free. She also said fatigue not that bad and you have the weekend to rest too.
We bought a great snow shovel yesterday, usually use a garden spade but thought we would be more organised if the white stuff lands.
Question, what are nuts and bolts ? sounds painful !!
My pipes feel almost normal today think the coating of gaviscon along with very soft stuff did the trick.Looked longingly at bag of potato crisps last night ( chips ) but had a scotch and coke instead. ((( HUG ))) x

Bearcub, think the moose population has it in for you and DH. They should be made to wear warning lights. So glad that Angel kept you safe.
Great info on rads I am raring to go.
Hope you have a glorious Sunday x

Luvmy, Caught the shepherd he was delicious, even though made of quorn, really cutting back on meat now. Had it with sweetheart cabbage steamed with onions and tomatoes utterly yum.DH working tonight so enough in fridge for me to have again.
How many goats do you have ? and do you breed them. Edi being nosey again x

Laters sisters xxxx 

Edi, can I borrow your snow shovel? Snowing again here, but hopefully we aren't going to get too much this time. Hubby has a few projects planned for today, but after a night of little sleep, I think I'll just supervise. Of course, that will only last until he gets lost due to not reading the instructions! Hopefully going shoeing again tomorrow if the temperature gets a little nicer for the nose!

Carla - how is the headache today?

Have a great day everybody.

It's only natural to think about death! I went between minimizing and catastrophizing. Sometimes within the same sentence! You go ahead and let every roller-coaster emotion take over, in its own good time. You'll reach a state of equilibrium pretty fast.

You did nothing wrong, to "cause" cancer; it is just that our cells go awry sometimes. Some researchers theorize that we all have immune systems that are fighting off little developing cancers often...and sometimes, for unknown reasons, some of those errant cells make it it past the body's natural defenses, and develop into a full-blown cancer.

Please keep us posted. We really, really understand the tears, fear, dread.