Starting chemo January 2009?

Options
1133134135136137139»

Comments

  • jillyG
    jillyG Member Posts: 401
    edited October 2013


    Hi Jewels!! Everything is going great up here in Alberta, Canada.......can't believe we are all coming up on 5 years, it's unbelievable, sometimes it feels like a lifetime ago we had chemo and other times it feels like yesterday. My kids are 11 and 8 now (5 and 3 when I got diagnosed) and they are both doing great. As far as health goes, I think I am fine (knock on wood) no issues except some annoying Tamox side effects but otherwise things are great. Just wanted to check in with you ladies and say hi.

  • ktym
    ktym Member Posts: 2,637
    edited October 2013


    jilly, so good to hear from you, love hearing how well you are doing

  • momand2kids
    momand2kids Member Posts: 1,508
    edited October 2013


    Hi all


    today is my 5 year (from dx). Honestly, at that point, I was so afraid that the stress was going to kill me. 5 years later, healthy, happy and very optimistic. I have basically decided that I am done with bc.... I realize there are no guarantees, but it has been a good 5 years and I am hopeful for many decades to come!!


    all the best

  • ktym
    ktym Member Posts: 2,637
    edited October 2013


    momand2kids, so happy to hear you thriving so well. Can't wait for you to check in decades to come and tell us how right you were!

  • BerkeleyKim
    BerkeleyKim Member Posts: 390
    edited November 2013


    Hi all (and great to see recent posts, kmmd, jilly, and mom)!


    Last Tuesday was 5 years since my mastectomy. I'm feeling well, except for arm soreness from lymphedema, which is a pretty constant reminder. Had a follow up CT scan this summer for a rib hot spot seen on 2 bone scans. Was all clear, including images of liver and lungs--since my onc doesn't do routine scans unless there's a problem, it was good to find all's ok for now.


    Traveled this summer to Istanbul--my youngest dd (now 19!) continued to Tanzania to do a solar building project. We had so much fun traveling. My husband had never been out of the country, and glad we had the chance since he will need to start dialysis soon for kidney failure. We also visited Austria and Czech Republic, where my grandpa was from, and Germany, where my Grandma was from. Found their small villages, and saw so much else. Was able to share pics with my mom before she died this summer. Got off the plane in L.A. instead of coming home, and stayed 2 weeks. So grateful to have that time with her. Came home when she was improving but she died suddenly 2 days later. 89 and never had a mammogram-go figure (she died of congestive heart failure).


    Hope we jewels continue to find blessings by the day, whatever life throws to us. I'm still grateful to have had your support over the years, especially during the dark chemo days.

  • jrgolomb
    jrgolomb Member Posts: 1,236
    edited January 2014

    Hi all,

    Here it is January 2013 and I am still plugging along.  Hope all is well!

  • ddlatt
    ddlatt Member Posts: 448
    edited July 2014

    Hi all,

    Today is my 5th anniversary since end of chemo and radiation, with diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer.  

    http://ddlatt.blogspot.com/2014/07/five-years-sinc...

    I think about our group here and all of our interaction when we were diagnosed and going through treatment, and what an invaluable resource this group has been.  I hope all of you are healthy and happy.  

    xoxo

  • momand2kids
    momand2kids Member Posts: 1,508
    edited July 2014

    Hi all

    Hope you are all well.  I am having thyroid surgery this week--- nodules on my thyroid had papillary thyroid cancer-- thankfully not related to bc and even more thankfully, 100% curable... So many people have had this and have been so reassuring--and my surgeon and everyone else has said the same thing-this is completely curable-- so, that is what is going to happen... don't expect any surprises-have been ultrasounded within an inch of my life---- just ready to get it out and let the healing begin.... other than that, completely healthy and well..... generally feeling great---

    I did have a series of colds this winter-- and because they did not resolve, I ended up with a lung ct- (very clear lungs-- incidental finding-- thyroid nodules).  So, I guess I am lucky that I got sick and that my body was sending me a message through the colds.... 

    pretty routine surgery-- a little nervous, but I am getting to the point of just giving up the control....

    will check back.  Hope you are all thriving...

  • ktym
    ktym Member Posts: 2,637
    edited August 2014

    momand2kids, I don't check in here often so I feel badly I'm late in seeing this.  I hope your surgery went well and you recuperated uneventfully.  Check back in and let us know how you are doing.  Thinking of you

  • momand2kids
    momand2kids Member Posts: 1,508
    edited October 2014

    all went well-- feeling great!!!
    hope you are all well..

    c

  • ktym
    ktym Member Posts: 2,637
    edited November 2014

    So glad to hear it, thanks for letting us know! 

  • jrgolomb
    jrgolomb Member Posts: 1,236
    edited January 2015

    Hi all, I am glad to see people posting.  I am well.  Happy New year and please, keep in touch!

  • BerkeleyKim
    BerkeleyKim Member Posts: 390
    edited January 2015

    6 years since we started chemo, January Jewels! Wow. Happy New Year to you too, Jess, and to all of us! Good to hear your surgery went well, momand2kids. And I just saw the link to your five-year blog post last summer, ddlat. Love it...and the pics of the farm and produce. While my memories of chemo recede, I'll never forget all the support and love from my fellow jewels. And although I know that breast cancer is unpredictable and might come back, I hope and pray we all continue to thrive and seize the day.

  • YearoftheHat
    YearoftheHat Member Posts: 243
    edited April 2016

    Hello Jewels. I was just thinking about our group what an important role it played through that insanely stressful time. I can't believe I'm coming up on seven years post-chemo! I see people aren't checking in here anymore but for anyone who happens to see this, I hope you are doing great, and are living your life to the fullest!

  • ktym
    ktym Member Posts: 2,637
    edited June 2016

    Good to hear from you Year of the Hat. I don't check in that often either but it was good to hear from you.

  • BerkeleyKim
    BerkeleyKim Member Posts: 390
    edited June 2016

    Hi Year of the Hat and KT--Good to hear from you both. I get notified through My Favorite Topics when there are new posts, but I don't log in. I do keep check BC.Org regularly as a habit I can't break!

    Around this time almost 8 years ago I was a few weeks into radiation and about to begin Arimidex. I'm still taking Arimidex, and want to as long as my bones hold up. My onc says ok but there is no research to support extended use. I feel like it's my little magic pill for now.

    I just saw my youngest graduate from UC Santa Cruz (she donated a kidney to my husband last Dec.), my middle daughter will begin her second year of law school at Cal, and my oldest is a high school teacher and has a month-old son-who I will be babysitting next school year. I decided to retire, babysit, and smell the roses after teaching Kinder special ed. (although my retirement income will only partially cover my health insurance, but I think it will be worth it). I'm so grateful to have seen my babies through these milestones.

    Annual mammo this Monday and annual onc visit next month. Still have anxiety!

    Love to you all.

  • ktym
    ktym Member Posts: 2,637
    edited June 2016

    I'm with you on not getting over the anxiety, I really prefer not having appts or follow up. When I'm not around doctor's offices or waiting for phone calls I'm fine but put me back in waiting for results mode and so many memories come rushing back.

    BerekelyKim, so many wonderful milestones you just listed. Happy to hear your husband's transplant went well. What a selfless and painful thing your daughter did. That is so impressive.

  • jrgolomb
    jrgolomb Member Posts: 1,236
    edited December 2016

    I truly am grateful to hear from you. I agree; I couldn't have coped with everything without everyone's input, concerns, and feelings. I hope all is well with everyone!


    I wanted to add I have having a hard time wih lymphedema and a foob that is tight and painful. The breast surgeon and oncologist are sending me to the plastic surgeon. ugh...I have resisted so far, but the pain is getting to me.

  • ktym
    ktym Member Posts: 2,637
    edited November 2018

    Hi guys, kmmd here (I had changed my handle). I take it as a pretty good sign most of us don't check in anymore but am thinking of everyone as we come up on our 10 yr anniversaries of our diagnoses. I was just diagnosed with a fairly serious complication from the chemotherapy after a lot of testing over the last few months. One of the risks we knew going in right? But, fairly treatable, and life goes on. Love and support abounds and hope all of you are doing well too. Think of you all often even if we aren't in contact.

Categories