In shock

love the picture !!!!

Hi all.....popping in to say hello.....My mom started in Hospice last week....been a lot of "firsts" going on in my home.......but am thinking that I will get some help for a few hours every week......and every little bit helps!

I participated in our "energy Groupthink" get-together.....amazing how I can feel the awaness of you all flowing through my body!  I LOVE it!

Edi-I DO tend to read far more often than I post.......missing you all!

Here is a picture of EDD on the set of her movie........

Her "wedding" dress....complete with cowboy boots!

Love to all!  XO

Hi Kellya

Post cancer fatigue is definitely "a thing", but it is also not a given.

I finished chemo July last year, and followed it with rads. I started back to work last November, and was fulltime (physio) by end of February. I sing with a chorus now competing at International level, and I train with a dragon boat team twice a week. 

Do I get tired? Hell yeah, but it is totally worth it, to feel so alive!

Would I be tired if I had not just spent a year on treatment? Hell yeah!!! I'm 54 you know!

Edit: I did take a year off work altogether, and was pleased to be able to concentrate on myself. I was pretty exhausted by the time I finished 6 months of chemo, and then rads after that was a little tough! I tried to at least walk every day.

I have hair I can put up !!!!!

thanks for the replies.  Got called today with July 1 as my first appt with the surgeon.  It's getting closer.  Not sure what all is involved there other than it will take about 2 hours.  Good to hear some of you were able to go on fairly well during chemo, even realizing this is what is best, it's hard to imagine how it knocks your socks off!  With hearing my first appointment is coming up, it does feel like my denial mindset is ending and reality is setting in.  I watched my dad go through it, he sure was a trouper and I will be too.

you do look so healthy Dakota!

Hi girls, I'm back from my travels to Alberta to visit little Emily. She's still so tiny and dainty - weighs just a little over ten pounds now.  My youngest DS  weighed that at birth! LOL. She has that GERD acid reflux thing, so still vomiting a lot. Her weight is creeping up really slowly, but this reflux thing is supposed to go away around five or six months. DD so worried, but baby is happy, sleeps well, eats well. It will pass. She's alert, full of smiles, discovering her fingers and toes, looks intently at everything, making darling baby sounds  - so cute. Grandma came home exhausted yesterday, and slept from nine last night till seven this morning. Carrying Em so much was a bit hard on the back, but will exercise to make it stronger.

Edi, my hair is still pretty short. Will take a few weeks to see progress. Love that convertible - what a hoot!

Dakota, you do look amazing, and your hair is beautiful too!

Movie, that girl is so pretty - love her hair! I can clearly see your features in her face. Pity your DD's are all taken. My middle son is still single at 30 . . . Lol.

Kellya, I had 4 chemo treatments and the Taxotere knocked me for a six. Had very little energy throughout chemo, and took me 18 months to get back to normal afterwards. It is what it is, and I hope you recover quicker than that. I was a fit and strong 57 when I was diagnosed. Be very kind and good to yourself, and know that this too shall pass, it is a temporary thing. BIG HUGS to you!

Morwenna, yes, it is weird that it's so quiet. It will not last.

Hi Ladies,

Just popping in to say Hi.  I do read once in awhile, but keep up with a lot of you on Facebook.

Kellya, like you, my Dad battled cancer (he passed away 13 years ago today) and I must say it helped me greatly to be reminded of his courage while I was going through treatment.  I had 8 rounds of chemo and 30 rads, finishing last July.  For about 6 months, I felt pretty weak and wiped out - at first, I couldn't do anything physical for more than 5 minutes without feeling like I was going to pass out.  However, I started exercising in January, and now I feel great - better and stronger than I did before diagnosis.  A friend and I are training for a half marathon in November and planning to run some 5Ks between now and then.

I'm scheduled for an MRI on my supposedly good breast on Monday.  Not too worried about it, but my breast surgeon wants to be sure that the "shelf" both he and my RO can feel, and have been able to feel since last August, is not a problem.

I may PM some of you who have been through DIEP or who are gearing up for it.  I've been referred to a surgeon here and will probably meet with him in July.  Not sure it's what I want to do yet - if I do have surgery, it probably won't be until another 8 months from now.

Beautiful photos, Edi, Dakota and Movie!  So sorry to hear about your Mom, Movie, but hope hospice will take some of the burden off you.

Hope everybody is doing well!

What's up with my brain?? I'm turning into a proper cancer-phobic! 

I need to get off this site. I'm hanging around reading the stage IVs pages, and feeling miserable. I'm not enjoying my job, and I'm not really busy enough. I want to do something new and interesting, but I don't want to add more stress.

I had my physical today with my GP, complete with Pap test, and he tells me I have a polyp (yes I KNOW 99% are benign!). He also wants me to do the colon cancer screen test, and have an ecg because I'm reporting palpitations and ectopics. I'm not losing weight - if anything its gradually creeping up, and I feel like I cannot be bothered to just eat low sugar, low fat, low cal food and avoid alcohol, and thrash about on the treadmill. It seems like deprivation for no purpose. And anyway, I have injured my Achilles slightly.

Every study I read concerning thrombocytosis cites it as a poor prognosticator for all sorts of cancers. My hemoglobin is also just above the upper limits of normal. I just feel like my body has its own agenda now, and I wish I knew what it was. 

I have a mammogram and ultrasound next week, and in the following two weeks, follow up appointments with both my hematologist and my oncologist. My GP seems to think I'm crazy to risk bilateral TRAMs, and I'm wondering if he's right. 

My Dad's been in hospital this week after peeing blood for 36 hours. It's stopped now, and he's home, but he has a cystoscopy booked for next Thursday.

Stop the world. I want to get off!! 

Anyone free for a hike tomorrow?

Hugs, Morwenna, sounds like you're in need of a "relief" valve!!! Sorry, I'm not available for weekend hikes for awhile. Liefie's suggestion of just sticking with a few threads is a good one I think.....or maybe just enforcing a "break from the boards" altogether??? I think we've all done that at times.

I guess I'm in the minority....I've not one to go with the "why bother" mindset. I can't wrap my head around the "worrying about the future, without doing what I can in the present" way of looking at things. True, there are no absolute guarantees that anything we do now, changes what's "coming", but....my theory is why not try because how can it not help, and how could it harm? Trust me, I'm not perfect in food/exercise/lifestyle....far from it....but I recognize the impact in my mindset and how I physically feel when I fall off the wagon...doesn't take me long to climb back on again. For example....I've spent the last week doing tons of sitting/computer stuff/eating poorly....and today I feel like crap.....and I know exactly why....because of what I've been doing/not doing, and eating. I also know I'll feel better, more positive, etc very soon after getting back to better habits. Pretty clear choice for me...because I want to feel better, I CAN be "bothered".  FYI.....I don't think the "low everything" is any BUT deprivation....I prefer the "healthy, normal, balanced" thing myself.

Just wondering....is it a popular British phrase....(no offense, edi)....I have a "past" friend, a Brit (obviously not the one we both know)....who routinely states...she "can't be bothered...as she lists her aches and pains and worries and wishes, yet....."can't be bothered". I want to scream everytime she comes out with that phrase.....!!!!!

Mo....you're in a strange new territory, with some genuine health concerns and decisions and some tough family stuff....I think that's part of your bored, worried, can't be bothered, should I, shouldn't I, view of things. Can I gently suggest that looking for more and new things to do, to be busier and busier might be counter-productive??? Filling your time with more/new things until you drop from exhaustion.....isn't going make you feel less stressed/worried/lost. Actually, I've never known that to work for anyone, not just you. Have you considered trying instead, some things that slow you down and bring you some mental/physical space instead???? Yes....I know....mountain time would do that.....I'm sorry our "timelines" to do that don't match up well. At least the rain seems to have stopped for us....maybe going for walks, whenever possible...and enjoying the summer evenings???? 

It is so frustrating, but, our bodies and our families rarely get easier to take care of, or give us less to worry about as we go on. But, I prefer the challenge to the alternative.....

Hi 😎,

Kellya, Dakota does look amazing doesn't she ? And as Liefie says this to will pass and once treatment starts times flies.

Liefie, lovely for you to have some Emily time 🚼they are so cuddely, our GDs weigh a ton but still want a piggy back ride out to the car when going home. Poor DH staggers up the path while they yell giddy up !! Then he needs a long sit down after.He started this when they were quite small and it is now a routine 😨.Your hair will grow before you know it but bet it still looks lovely.DD car was excellent, while she is on her hols ED is borrowing it so is thrilled to bits, me too 😀

Movie, hope all is well with you ?

Caitlin, in your pockets Monday for MRI 😁 Did the beer get safely bottled.?

Adagio, get it cropped !! I was dreading losing my curls but now so much easier to manage. I did look like a demented hedgehog when it was at its worst. At tea shop next Sunday with my friend will raise a China cup to you all.☕ 🍰. Glad shoulder has resolved itself and so glad you went for cataract op and I didn't put you off too much phew 😀 Drops at a nuisance but compared to what we have been through a doddle.I have small amount of veggies\fruit underway for first time ever.Lettuce,spring onions, dwarf beans, tomatoes and peach raspberries, feel like Walton only no mountain.

Mo, read your posts before you deleted them and my heart went out to you 💚 like you I trawled the stage IV threads and fell into despair. As the girls have said just stay with us or have a break but come back as we love and need you,

our own Dragon Lady. Xx

Nihahi, "can't be bothered " ?? Not a saying in everyday use here.Must admit seeing you fall off wagon now and again made my day 😀. I will not feel as guilty now ha ha. Thought of you as I did a 4.8 km walk today and I really enjoyed it. Weather is pleasant so not too taxing.Usually hobbling alongside the wagon on most days though.😩

Mom, You sealed up in your cottage reminded me of one of those Movies where the occupants are sealed in as they may have an Alien virus. 😷 Glad it had a happy ending.

,time for a siesta methinks 😌 Lovsya ALL X

Equilibrium somewhat restored. Clonazepam helped! 

Mountains helped more xxx

Pocket party in mine at 11.00 MT for tomorrow's mammogram and ultrasound please my friends!  

Mo...In your pocket tomorrow 10:00 PT…shoot, I take all those drugs…LOL Glad you are feeling better

Liefie…hearing about little Em, makes me want a granddaughter, too. But I will settle for the granddoggie for now. Certainly do not want to rush a newly wed. 

The neighbor across the street arrived for a week and has a new pup…an English cream long hair dachshund, named Romeo. He is a beauty!!! and my 2 dachshunds are crazy for Romeo. woof, woof

Hopefully my cottage will get its paint finished tomorrow. Then the porch and gutters…almost there…yippee!

Good evening all,

jenifer

Morwenna - I too will be in your pocket. I am sure you will be just fine!!! Lovely photo.

Momof2 - You must have been to Savannah, Georgia - that is one place on my list that I so want to visit - the history of the civil war fascinates me. Perhaps next year we will get to go. Which faculty is your DH in? Mine is in the education faculty at University of British Columbia. Happy Anniversary to you - 33 years is a long time to be together - how wonderful!

Edi - the eye is doing very well, although it is a bit challenging now with one really good eye and the other not so good, even though before surgery, the other eye seemed just fine. The surgeon wants to do the other eye in the fall. How are you managing with the imbalance in your eyes? Right now, I am wearing no glasses at  all , but will visit my optometrist next week to see what I should be wearing. 

I received a "fitbit" for my birthday, and am trying to figure out how to track steps, stairs, sleep etc. amazing technology!  Anybody else got one of these little gadgets?

Wishing everyone a good night's rest!

So glad you got up to the mountains Mo......in your pockets today!!!!