Calling all TNs

Alibeths, I have no idea what was in my iv, but I was given oral stereoids to take for several days after chemo.

Hi Lauren! I see your from WESTON!  That is whereI will be having my treatment!!!

Alibeths

I actually had a full hysterectomy but that's not a profile option you can pick.  It was a super easy laproscopic surgery and within a week I was good to go. Ironically I have had LESS hotflashes since the surgery than I had when doing chemo. 

Navy Mom - Hugs all-around.  Hugs for his service.  His sweet face, indeed!  I'm sure you are breathing easier now.    PS. Painted Turtle camp was partially burned in that Powerline fire and they've had to cancel camps all summer.  So sorry for all the kids.   Jan

Lauren are you doing RADS? I fell in a grey area when it came to that but in doing so my risk of reoccurence dropped from 15% to 5%. Microscopic cancer cells are not detectable and RADS is supposed to kill it. All is well so far...will finish 10/33 tomorrow. Best wishes!

Navymom- big congrats to you!

Navymom - how wonderful you must be feeling!!

I am so happy you can clap eyes on your boy and enjoy his company. My 18 year old son is planning to join the Marines - I am a wreck! He's been accepted to college, but doesn't want to go right now. He graduates from HS, next Saturday.

NavyMom and OBX I know you miss your son Navy and you will miss yours as well Karen but they have both chosen excellent, distinguished  careers and their own paths in life,  just the way it should be .  They could both be bumming it all day long, smoking pot, never holding down a good job, drinking alcohol or getting in trouble with the law or trouble in other ways.  But both of them have chosen to use the greatest gift you as parents could give them, independence  to stand on their own two feet with pride.  I know you are proud of them but both of them will also be proud of the parents that have allowed them to do in life what they know in their hearts they want to do and to live their lives the way they want to. It won't be forever even though it may seem like that but one day they will stand proudly beside the parents who have brought them up to do their own things. You both have my heartfelt admiration in bringing up your son's so well adjusted, steadfast, honest and true.  Luv you both. Annie   

Ha Ha Ha Ha. You make me laugh!!

They won't keep him in but you will make him keep coming home.

Kathy my dear dear friend.  That wet patch in your roof is for kicking me up the arse (It's sore for some reason tonight!!). Thats why we only get what we can handle see lol.  Smooches Kathy. So glad to see you are still alive and kicking lol. Just don't stay away too long. Luv yer heaps.  (PS every sane person has tree's in their gardens not in the bleeding roof).

I just love that gigglesnort.

Kathy - I agree with you...sometimes it is Too Much!  The additional problems thrown our way keep us from over-focusing....there is so much S**t going on, we can't get caught up in any one thing.  It will all work out, as you know, and things will quiet down, so take a deep breath.  And exhale!  Try to continue to handle everything with grace and dignity.  Even though it IS too much!  I kinda freaked myself out with a whirlwind of unfortunate events, and I am the one that continues to suffer from the shock.

Get someone to put a tarp on your roof until insurance settles.  

Delays in treatment are sometimes protection, according to the universe.  Put your patience hat on and know that this all will pass!  How about: It is what it is?  Sometimes that works, sometimes not...anyway, know I am thinking of you during this trying time....take good care of yourself!  Stay Calm and Carry On.

Gentle Hugs~ 

Hi Kathy,  I'm reading your post and thinking "don't despair" "you'll draw strength from deep down", and then it hit me.... I'm giving you encouragement while at the same time diving into that dark space myself. I work with the public, and all of my customers tell me what an inspiration I am, such a positive attitude, but they don't see me crying into my pillow at night.

balancing hope and prognostic reality is a difficult thing. I think "I need a new car" , then I think "Whats the point"? Do I go on SSDI, or do I continue to work while I'm able, or will it be too late to enjoy life and travel if I do wait to stop working. 6 years to retirement, atleast 7 until my children would be finished college (unless they decide to be Dr.'s). 

"what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" ,"God only gives you what you can handle", etc... Yeah, I sometimes question that too. My older sister is battling CML (leukemia) chronic but  manageable, brother had a stroke and now contracted lyme disease, neice just diagnosed with thyroid cancer, surgery and radiation tx. MIL passsed in March, aunt passed in May... All this in a years time. Amazingly, I have positive outlook on surrounding events, but my heart breaks for my mother who is 85. She's healthy and sharp as a tack, but I see her pain in her eyes ( why my children and not me). It get's so I sometimes don't answer her phone calls bc I don't want to upset her.

All that being said, allow yourself to have a bad time, don't feel guilty about it, just work through it and enjoy the sunshine, your family, your pets, your frinds, and the fact that we are still here . Now if I can only take my own advice!

take care,  Lori

ps. I'm in Phila area. Some rain yesterday, right?!

Ladies first I wanted to post this March 2013 research study I found (very short and easy to understand). May be some good news for us TN's and explain why so many relapses despite being diagnosed at an early stage. (Not sure if anyone posted this already?)



http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2013/03/breast-cancer-study-explores-therapy-to-slow-recurrence/



Annie- that was my pearl of wisdom last year: when you walk into your house in November, you HAVEN'T decorated for Christmas, and your house smells like a Christmas tree.........you're in deep shit. I should have just had them put a tarp over the tree and then decorated the son of a bitch! *smooches*



Mags - I knew you wouldn't be offended. Somebody needs to put a NO-NO on her wish list!



Ruth- gentle hugs back, I'm sorry about your whirlwind of shit. He's putting up a tarp as I type this. Bad news is it ruined the kitchen (already needed repair) and the bedroom ceiling (was fine) . I'm doing the "it is what is is" approach, I just call it the Zen Thingy. When I was diagnosed again, I knew I had to much stress so I had my friend recommend one of the counselors she works with. Last week the counselor asked my friend why I hadn't called for an appt yet? My friend told her, "oh she will, she says she's just to busy with other things and doesn't have time for her nervous breakdown just yet!" Sad, but true, lol.



NatL - anything that concerns any of us is never trivial. Congrats on your 1 year anniversary and have fun with your stylist and enjoy the experience no matter how much hair you have. (Actually, and I know I shouldn't say this but I'm actually looking forward to losing my hair. It's been nothing but an obstinate pain in the ass since it grew back in. I'm looking forward to rinsing "my hair" in the sink and hanging it on the clothes line to dry!)



Babs - so far he hasn't sent any clues on enduring, just more shit. My nightly prayers have been: Dear God, I know I'm supposed to be learning something from this but I'm just not getting it and it appears time may be getting shorter. Please can you send somebody down with some stone tablets so I can figure it out? ;-)



Lori - that's an awful lot to endure in a year! I'm amazed that you've stayed so positive. I was very positive first round (only cried once) but this time I've become a faucet, but like you, only when no one's around. I care for my 87yo frail mother and I see the same hurt, pain and fear in her eyes (she has no one but me). I have assured her that I can fight this long enough to outlast her. ( which only triggers my pain right now because I know I will have to face the pain of losing her soon). I got my demented humor form both my parents. I reminded her the other night that she LOVES to prove me wrong, but that winning the race and outliving me would NOT be a good idea. For once in the last few weeks we cackles like hyenas!!!!

Mags,  Kathy is precious and priceless to me.  I never feel down for long when she is around plus whatever she gives me she knows I can take it and I know she can take it right back.  She makes me laugh every time and sometimes we all need a good dose of laughter or a gigglesnort lol and she gives me one every time no matter what else she is going through.  I can just imagine the baubles and tinsel on her Christmas tree sticking through the roof lol but if anyone deserves your ciber hug its Kathy cause she is a great daughter to her mum and a wonderful person as well but the thought of her hair hanging on the line to dry just creases me up lol.

Lori I know where you are coming from. At work I too make everyone laugh and they all think I am positive  and upbeat but its a different story when I am in the shower and the tears slide down my cheek because I really just do not want 'to go' and leave my family,  friends and my sisters on here.  

Sometimes we just have to believe that things will turn out ok. I know its hard but for our families sake we can't be down all the time.   Rightly or wrongly I do believe in that saying "He only gives..........."  because we are all here and we all somehow found the strength to get through what we have been through.  Whats in store for us,  God only knows but when I get Kathy's demented posts (though not so many nowadays she has trees on her mind) they are like gold jewels to me because they get me through and even though the lady is going through more than I could take she somehow makes everything seem alright again.

I will ponder over these thoughts today but nothing makes my day brighter than reading one of Kathy's posts.  

In the meantime how is our LUV, Titan,  LRM, Minxie, Lovelyface, Titan and all the other special ladies on here.  I hope you are all living life to the full and not pondering on 'whats it all about" like I am today.