The hardest part about cancer

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  • HomeMom
    HomeMom Member Posts: 1,198
    edited July 2014

    I'm glad the pet scan was brought up. I had a very small nodule on my lung on the first Pet scan. My doctor said most people have this and it is most likely scar tissue since they cannot even measure it. She did mention doing another scan in three months. Well that scan is tomorrow and I've had this slight cough the past week. I used some saline spray today up my nose and it eased it up a bunch. I'm thinking my bronchial tubes are irritated. Still nervous about tomorrow.  I hate the unknown, but I made a vow to myself to never self diagnose and put off testing etc again. It's better to know and this way I know for sure my body is clear.

    Good luck tomorrow Alien, you will do just fine!

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited July 2014

    Good luck to you, too, Homemom. I had to have a chest CT as I had a persistent cough but it came up clear. Now at least I have a baseline as well.

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  • HomeMom
    HomeMom Member Posts: 1,198
    edited July 2014

    Thanks Barbe - I'm keeping my positive attitude that nothing has changed. On to the Taxol and the last four rounds of chemo. blah

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  • AlienWish
    AlienWish Member Posts: 35
    edited July 2014

    Thanks, Lee7.  I appreciate it. :)

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  • Basia
    Basia Member Posts: 790
    edited July 2014


    Home mom, how was the scan? when do you get results.  When I was going thru this, my MO suggested I see a pulmomologist. I am glad I did because once he reviewed the scans he gave me a diagnosis and the scans stopped.  It was nice knowing that I didn't need to follow up every 6 months anymore.  Initially it was every 3 months, and then after a year every 6 months.  

    Aleinwish, how was the procedure? hope it all went well. 

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  • Helenna
    Helenna Member Posts: 86
    edited July 2014

    Hi ladies, hope its ok for me to join in, have been reading the posts on this topic, find them interesting and what a group of supportive lovely ladies here. I know Spookiesmom from other forums..mostly no recon topics…..she's got a cutie pie buddy. (hi spookiesmom)

    Wanted to say to stix  that is a great inspiration, sometimes we need a little lesson like that to know we can forge ahead. Thanks for sharing, loved it.

    xoxoxo

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited July 2014

    Hi back at ya!

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  • Lee7
    Lee7 Member Posts: 657
    edited July 2014

    alien wish, hope today went well. 

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  • Ariom
    Ariom Member Posts: 6,197
    edited July 2014

    Stix, your post made me smile!

    My Husband is one of those men in a wheelchair and has been in one, since just 4 months before his 21st birthday, back in the 70's. He broke his neck in a hang gliding accident and is a quadriplegic. He too drives a sporty car and  does so many amazing things, that leave me feeling just as you felt today. He was a rock for me during all the testing, waiting and then the surgery and has been to every appointment with me.

    In all our years together, I have never heard him complain about his disability, but boy, have I learned a lot from his struggle!

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  • positivenegative
    positivenegative Member Posts: 106
    edited July 2014

    Alien and those who are having difficulties connecting with other BCs,

    This is what I did...not saying anyone else needs to do the same:

    • BCO is a great online forum.
    • Check out if there are any support groups in your area for BC.
    • Google/phone book American Cancer Society and they are a wealth of information.
    • When you go the MO or BS or chemo ask them.
    • Get a therapist!!!!...this is an emotional as well as physical disease.  Social workers have access to tons of info.
    • Check out your local Y they may have the Livestrong program for BCs.
    • Get involved in yoga, massage, aqua therapy, etc. and you will meet people there who have BC (especially if the therapy is for BCs).
    • Check out the internet for services in your area...I had no idea how many there were.
    • Join a walk/run or relay and you will find hundreds and thousands of survivors.
    • Journal and/or join a self help group.
    • Exercise.
    • Change to an attitude of gratitude and embrace the new normal on your journey.  I have my down days but there is a lot of process work involved to work through and honor the feelings and emotions that come with a BC dx.

    Hope that helps.  Good luck.

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  • Basia
    Basia Member Posts: 790
    edited July 2014

    Positive, I wish I could "like" a post as on Facebook.  You gave some awesome resources for everyone..thank you.

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  • HomeMom
    HomeMom Member Posts: 1,198
    edited July 2014

    Basia - it was pretty quick, the injection was weird. You feel this slow rush of warmth flow from your mouth/throat down to your crotch which makes you think your peeing your pants. After reading posts on here, I'm not really concerned about the results. I had a small cough but used saline spray up my nose and it has almost gone away. That was making me nervous. I imagine I will know by Friday when I go in for my Taxol treatment.

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  • Basia
    Basia Member Posts: 790
    edited July 2014

    Homemom, Glad it went quickly. I wouldn't be concerned about it yet, wait for the results.  I always think the worst when they send me for any type of scan. And usually it is nothing big.  I am no doctor, but to me it sounds like allergies.  Hang in there.  

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  • AlienWish
    AlienWish Member Posts: 35
    edited July 2014

    Good news!  Surgery went well and the cancer did NOT spread to the lymph nodes. :)

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  • tangandchris
    tangandchris Member Posts: 1,855
    edited July 2014


    Alienwish-Good news!!

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited July 2014

    GREAT news Alien!!!! I'm SURE that helped you part way up from the deep hole you've been in. Can you see the light from where you are? We are all here waiting for you when you get here.

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited July 2014

    Woooohoooo. Happy dance time!!!!!!

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  • Ariom
    Ariom Member Posts: 6,197
    edited July 2014

    Fabulous news, so happy for you!

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  • HomeMom
    HomeMom Member Posts: 1,198
    edited July 2014

    Oh Alien, that is fantastic news!!!

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  • AlienWish
    AlienWish Member Posts: 35
    edited July 2014

    Yes, it made me much happier.  :)

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  • Notbuyingit
    Notbuyingit Member Posts: 1,035
    edited July 2014

    alienwish, reading your entry to this topic, I have to tell you this - as many well wishes as I got from friends, as much support as I got from my DH & daughters - throughout the whole process & including today - the ONE thing I wanted & needed was to talk to people experiencing what I was experiencing

    that is what you and I have found here at BCO - shared experiences, advice, support, encouragement - all from people like us having been through it or going through it right now

    and the games are fun :)

    welcome home!

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  • birdlady222
    birdlady222 Member Posts: 276
    edited July 2014

    GREAT NEWS Alien wish!!  I am so happy for you!  I have been thinking about you and sending positive wishes your way!  I, too, received great news this week, and I am thankful for all of the ladies here who know what we are going through, and share in our victories(and setbacks)

    Notbuyingit said it! 

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  • Helenna
    Helenna Member Posts: 86
    edited July 2014

    Alienwish and birdlady  Yah to you both for good news! so wonderful to hear!

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  • HomeMom
    HomeMom Member Posts: 1,198
    edited July 2014

    I went yesterday morning for my first Taxol and I feel great! No SE's whatsoever. I am sure it is like A/C and cumulative, but already this is way better then the A/C! My CT scan showed no change but they want one more in January just be make sure the chemo isn't keeping it from growing....ugh.  She doesn't have me coming back every year for scans so she just wants to cover all the bases. 

    They made me feel good yesterday because I told them I still have a good amount of hair on my head and was worried that it might not be doing it's job. The PA said not to worry, it is so doing it's job and for me it's just for insurance, I have such an excellent prognosis. Love it when I hear that and I know the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter!

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited July 2014

    Homemom, that all sounds WONDERFUL!!!!

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  • AlienWish
    AlienWish Member Posts: 35
    edited July 2014

    My story changes every time I see the doctor.  I'll make a new post since it's off topic.  SIGH.

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  • HomeMom
    HomeMom Member Posts: 1,198
    edited July 2014

    Alien - you are going through the worst part of it right now. I hated the staging part because I started out a stage 1 and looked like a lumpectomy w/ no chemo to stage 2b with chemo and node involvement. You'll get past this.

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  • AlienWish
    AlienWish Member Posts: 35
    edited July 2014

    Yes, the waiting and the changing of information is also one of the hardest parts...

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  • ganzgirl2010
    ganzgirl2010 Member Posts: 235
    edited August 2014

    Hello Ladies :)

     Wow !! I cant believe how many of us feel so cut off and alone, I thought it was just me ! I am so glad I found this site..it has been a god send since this whirlwind began. It's funny because I found myself reading the boards earlier today and thinking " I wish there were boards for women from the same area's" for this exact same reason..I live with my boyfriend who is  my rock in all of this. But he is all I have. Sometimes I have a hard time talking to him because I don't want to worry or overload him. These boards have been a great source of support for me for the last few weeks but it's not the same as physically spending time with someone, especially someone who is going thru the same thing you are. How would I go about starting a board like this for my area ?


     

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  • HomeMom
    HomeMom Member Posts: 1,198
    edited August 2014

    You can go to the "Get Togethers" forum and start a thread there for your area. I started one for Orlando and while there aren't many of us, it's worked well so far

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