TV show "Parenthood" shows the breast cancer experience

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  • Ginger48
    Ginger48 Member Posts: 1,978
    edited October 2012

    I feel good getting the emotions out. Looking forward to the next episode.

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  • LAstar
    LAstar Member Posts: 1,574
    edited November 2012

    I loved that they showed that marijuana can help those going through chemo, and they didn't make a big deal of it.

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  • LtotheK
    LtotheK Member Posts: 2,095
    edited November 2012

    I am so happy to see my emotions were shared by a lot of folks on these boards.  These episodes had me in tears, and I was reliving my own experience.  I will never get over it.

    No one gets it like the bc community. Thank you all for sharing this with me!

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  • LtotheK
    LtotheK Member Posts: 2,095
    edited December 2012

    I'm reviving this talk, I just watched the latest episode.  Well done, overall, but from the first-hand experience, why hasn't she lost her hair, a. and b. the WBC count crash...isn't that less common with the advent of Neulasta?

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  • TKSit
    TKSit Member Posts: 184
    edited December 2012

    I have avoided the show this year, but my hubby and 15 year old daughter watch. I did notice in the comercials, however, that she has not gone bald. What is up with that? Maybe it has yet to come?

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  • wildrumara
    wildrumara Member Posts: 450
    edited December 2012

    I've been watching the show since her diagnosis and as far as her not losing her hair, I'm thinking its because she's only had one treatment so far???   Normally your hair doesn't start to fall out until 14 days after your first infusion......wondering if they are going to have her shave it on the show??    I did question that myself, but then realized that could be case......Next all new episode isn't until January...bummer!

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  • sewingnut
    sewingnut Member Posts: 1,129
    edited December 2012

    They said she was a week and a half out from her first treatment. It will be interesting to see how they treat the hair falling out.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2012

    I have watched this show since its summer premiere about 3 years ago. I love the family dynamic. They argue, but always get past their disagreements. The show has dealt with alcoholism, teen sex, adoption, Asperger's syndrome, infidelity, financial struggles, and bi-racial relationships.



    It's good to see a family drama on for a change, instead of all the police, reality, and fantasy crap.



    I hope it's around for a long long time.



    Blessings

    Paula

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  • Jennie93
    Jennie93 Member Posts: 1,018
    edited January 2013

    Wow - just watched last night's episode - they actually did show her shaving her head!  You don't suppose the actress actually........  NAW!!!  LOL!  Good for them, though.  It took so long I wondered if they were going to do it.

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  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 3,567
    edited January 2013

    Now we just wait for her to get LE. Horrid for the character, but if they did it right, it would open eyes up from coast to coast.  Too bad it's incredibly unlikely the writers will go that route.  They would probably say 'limfawhata' if they even heard about the condition.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2013

    I get AC every third week, and don't get Neulasta or neupogin.



    She may or may not get LE since she had a lumpectomy. I know it's still possible, but I don't think it's as likely.



    The wife of the shows creator just finished breast cancer treatment. So, they're getting their info first hand.



    Blessings

    Paula

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  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 3,567
    edited January 2013

    Paula, you are so right.  Lumpectomy alone brings about a 3% risk of arm LE. I think the risk of breast LE is much higher, but studies of LE risk incidence for truncal or breast are few and far between, because the researchers don't have anything convenient to measure, like an arm, to help standardize the diagnosis from patient to patient. 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2013

    I'm upset to find out there are only two more episodes of Parenthood for this season. I feel so ripped off! I've watched it from the beginning. As I recall, they did this last year, and I think it was replaced with a hokey reality show.



    Does anyone else notice how the powers that be have a problem showing anything family related other than sitcoms?

    First they cancelled Judging Amy, then Brothers & Sisters. I hope Parenthood can hold its own.



    Blessings

    Paula

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2013

    I just saw that not only is PARENTHOOD being renewed for Fall, but Monica Potter who plays Kristina is nominated for an Emmy for her portrayal of a BC patient.



    I can hardly wait for it to return.



    Blessings

    Paula

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  • puppymama09
    puppymama09 Member Posts: 77
    edited June 2013

    I am coming into this discussion a little late.  I have always loved the show Parenthood, I watched it this last season with no idea I would be going through the same experience.  I have planned to go back and watch it again with my newer understanding.  My daughter, 20 at the time watches the show also, when I was diagnosed all I could think about  was her telling me how she cried when she was watching the show.  I knew when I had to tell her she would be thinking about the episode when Christine was in the hospital.  That kind of scares me too when I think about it, as I have not yet started chemo.  Does that happen often, to end up in the hospital sick, deathly sick?  Just wondering kind of worries me.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2013

    puppymama~~There's a slim chance of ending up in the hospital when white blood counts are really low and you develope an infection or something, but that's not the norm.



    Depending on how often you get chemo, you may get a shot(Neulasta or neupogin) the day after to boost your WBC. I got Adria/cytoxan 4 treatments. I got them every three weeks, so since I had an extra week to bounce back I never got Neulasta and I did fine.

    I got a cold after AC #2. I doctored it with over the counter meds and fighting that cold actually boosted my WBC.



    I had surgery in October and it was about that time the cancer story unfolded on Parenthood. So it was really close to my heart. I've always loved the family dynamic of the show anyway.



    The producer of the show's wife had just been through her own battle with breast cancer, that's why they were able to keep it so true to life. The shock & fear of diagnosis, fear of leaving your family much too soon, losing our hair, low WBC. They did an excellent job.



    Blessings

    Paula

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  • SheChirple
    SheChirple Member Posts: 954
    edited June 2013

    I'm glad to hear this is coming back in the fall.  I was an off again/on again watcher and had planned to be full time regular watcher once the diagnosis came into the story line. Then I could never figure out what day/night time it was on.  I will make the effort.

    As I was a lucky one, with ER/PR+ HER2-, no chemo, no rads, had a BMX and tried to move on, I was, and still am, worried about the handling of the situation.  It will not all ring true to me because we are all so different.  I worry that people's perspective will be different if they don't understand it all, which they cannot possibly.

    So you show the worst case scenario, and we can then explain to folks, mine was different and I did not have abc/xyz?  Do you show the best case and then the public thinks 'wow, that was easy'?  Do you just go middle of the road?  I would like to see them take a real patient and follower her exactly expereiences, good or bad.

    Its got to be tough for producers to decide.  I'm glad they are going for it!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2013

    SheChirple~~Now that you mention it, that would be very interesting. A couple of years ago there was a reality show about a woman who weighed well over 300 pounds. They followed her in her everyday life while trying to lose weight. I can't remember her name, but her battle also affected those who were close to her.



    Along those same lines they could document her fears, surgery, waiting for and getting pathology results, chemo, hair loss, fatigue, etc.



    Parenthood is usually on NBC Tuesdays at 10:00 pm, unless they change it this year. It usually starts the new season just a bit ahead of the other shows.



    Blessings

    Paula

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  • puppymama09
    puppymama09 Member Posts: 77
    edited June 2013

    Thanks Paula,  it is nice to know your wbc actually went up.  I think getting sick during chemo is one of my biggest fears.  I am definitely going to go back and rewatch this past season, I will probably take notes,lol  Thanks

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited June 2013

    We wonder if they will have Kristina talking with all of us on BCO on her laptop!!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2013

    Mods~Good One!!!



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  • Ginger48
    Ginger48 Member Posts: 1,978
    edited June 2013

    I am looking forward to more episodes of this show.



    Mods- that would be great!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2013

    Set your DVRs.......PARENTHOOD returns with all new episodes Thursday 9/26/13 on ABC at 10:00 pm EST.

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  • Ginger48
    Ginger48 Member Posts: 1,978
    edited September 2013

    DVR is set..

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  • Jennie93
    Jennie93 Member Posts: 1,018
    edited September 2013

    I thought it was NBC? And what do you wanna bet, her radiation will be done, Herceptin will be done, her hair will have magically grown back all the way already, and they won't mention a thing about it, just carry on like nothing happened. LOL!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2013

    Jennie.....you're absolutely right! It is NBC. I can't even blame that on chemo brain.



    Thanks for setting me straight.



    Paula

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