Starting Chemo in June 2005
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Yay!! That's so wonderful about your bone scan! Now you will have a great time at the walk!
I can relate to calling about test results. I called about my genetic testing and the nurse said "oh, the results came in, but now they're missing...I've been looking all over for them..." so I begged her to get them faxed over. Of course, this is now 3pm on a Friday! But finally I got the call back and the results were negative, so I was elated.
Bev, I can also relate to horrible classroom assistants, especially the ones who want to take over! Oh, I don't even want to think about how hard they make that job. Can you possibly get rid of her? I have had luck with elementary ed students - they don't last more than a school year at a time, but they are eager to learn and not power hungry. They sometimes can get work credits, so they don't mind the FABULOUS pay.
I'm so sorry to hear about your friend...I'm glad she's a stage 0, though. I'll say a prayer for her, and I hope her surgery goes well. At least she has you to talk to as she goes through this!
Going for a colonoscopy today. Groovy! Well, at least it will be done and out of the way. Part of the whole cancer package, right? I have a bowl of rice pudding waiting for me in the fridge for when I come home. Something to look forward to! -
Hey, ladies, just stopping by to check on everyone. I had a scare (but then, everything is scary). I've been having episodes of shortness of breath, plus some pain in my ribs. So, I finally called the onc and went in. Apparently I'm making myself short of breath by worrying about recurrence. I only get short of breath when I'm thinking and worrying, then I can be just fine as long as my mind os occupied. Anyway, onc pressed on my ribs and it was painless, and had a chest x-ray which was all clear. The relief is the best part. So, until the next new symptom I invent, I am peaceful. Dr. is very encouraging, but still is on my case about the weight. But, I'm sticking with the water aerobics and I think that will help me get through the winter (seasonal affective disorder). We've been doing a lot of yard work, and it's fun to talk about long range plans. This time last year I was afraid to buy underwear. I'd love to get in on the box!
Brenda -
Brenda, I'm glad your x-ray was good!
Your comment about buying underwear is both funny and touching at the same time. Isn't it nice to be able to make plans!!!
Oh yeah - your name is about 3 more people down the line on the box. It has to go to Australia first! That's going to be fun to think of our little box going around the world like that!
I haven't tried water aerobics, but I'd love to get an elliptical trainer. I've got to do something serious about my weight. I figure I have 19 months until my 50th birthday, so that's my ultimate goal date. I will be Fab-u-lous!!
From Fester to Fab! har har Here's a Halloween flashback! -
Bev - glad you're enjoying preschool. Sorry about the pain in the butt aide. lol And stop being paranoid!! (That's so easy to say, isn't it??)
And yes, I'll keep your friend in my prayers.
Jen -
YIPPY, WATSON!!!!!
I'm so glad for you. This is the first I had an opportunity to check the boards and I was very happy to see your news!! YEA!!!
So how was the Race?
Jen -
Brenda - I'm glad you're doing well. Fear is such a stress maker, isn't it?
Happy gardening to you! I wish I was a gardener. I love being outside, but I end up killing all the plants. It's a sad, sad thing.
Jen -
Nancy! You're so funny!!
We're going to Hawaii next summer and I'm hoping to be confused with Karmen Electra. In fact, I'm working on my plans for eluding the papparazzi. )
I think we'll all be fabulous next summer. Don't you??
Jen -
Just popped in quick. Been really busy and after spending 8-10 hours on the computer I really don't do it for pleasure but will try to be a little more attentive. My friend who took me to chemo is taking me to a Rolling Stones Concert (her choice not mine) but the Stones in Montana is a big deal....going to a potluck barbeque with 2 of my brothers and their friends who all live in Missoula.
KimB -
No kidding!? I have a friend who is taking her mom to that same concert! She's a little worried about how the Stones will handle the higher altitude and is just glad she won't be required to administer mouth to mouth to Mick if he should pass out. LOL!
Have a great time and let us know how it was!
Jen -
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Oh Watson I am so happy for you!!!!
Jen that was so funny!
First my friend has her surgery Oct 27 so maybe we can all think of her and say a prayer.
My aide: well I decided she has to be in my life because either my mother or Jeff's mother will come live with us someday and I have to learn to deal with coming home and finding my house rearranged! LOL She is my practice! LOL
Things good here. My children are even being good.
And I have the best preschool children-no strange issues -thankness~ I have a cute story from preschool: three little girls cleaning up house corner throwing plastic dishes and palsic food in the little cupboard. So I said, "please be neat, make it look like mom's kitchen." Two girls look guity and start clean up correctly. Third girl tilts her head and says "but it does look like Mommy's kitchen." LOL. I laughed until tears came.
Have a great day. -
Quote:
My aide: well I decided she has to be in my life because either my mother or Jeff's mother will come live with us someday and I have to learn to deal with coming home and finding my house rearranged! LOL She is my practice! LOL
LOL! What a great way to look at things.
Doncha just love little kids??? My mom was a preschool teacher for 30 years and I wish she would have written a book of all the cute and funny things her little kids would say.
KimB - How was the concert???
I saw the surgical oncologist yesterday about my prophylactic right mast. I left feeling better about things than I have for a very long time. I thought I'd have the mastectomy and the plastic surgeon would put in expanders. Then several months later I would go back and he would do the exchange surgery. Not so. (you ladies probably already knew this)
Everything will be done at the same time. I meet with the plastic surgeon next Wednesday and schedule the surgery at that time. I'm really hoping to do it in November.
Here's my new thing. If he's going to need tissue from my belly to transfer, I should probably stop trying to lose weight. I mean, how horrible would it be if he said, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Thompson. You only have enough tissue for an AAA cup."
Okay. Realistically I couldn't lose THAT much weight. lol But I'd like to give him plenty to work with. Kind of like I have right now.
So I'm giving up being good until after I see him on Wednesday. That and I'm going camping this weekend and I have to eat brownies and smores. That's not even a choice.
Hope you all have a great weekend.
Jen -
Jen you're too funny LOL LOL
My friend with BC has her surgery Oct 27th and when she went in to see the PS about reconstruction she was embarrassed to be an A cup-he told he her she was lucky because he has a hard time finding enough material for D cup people-it made her laugh.
I feel like I complain here all the time but I just took my youngest to a PED eye doctor that makes all our most terrible doctors look like the good witch from the Wizard of Oz..
He was bad bad bad. My poor son kept telling everyone he couldn't see the chart-Heck I couldn't see the chart when I had to cover his eyes. So the doctor told him he was lying and trying to pull a fast one over all of us, He told my the glasses he had now (for farsightedness) were fake. Never gave him a chart to look at close up. Made him tell us what was on the TV far across the room with the sound so high Jennifer probably heard it in PA.(doesnt it occur to these people the young children that can't see well are going to remember things they hear to make up for the loss?)Then it gets good here. He threatened to give Owen a MRI because there was no way he was having this much trouble. All this in a loud booming voice. Told me I had to straighten him up and buzz the button after I had set him straight. Came back yelled some more then told the nurse to set up the MRI. Then yelled at me asking what so important in my life that I didn't bring him last year when he was in kindergarten. At this point I am having trouble breathing and my heart is going hundred miles per hour. My kid is crying and I can't even think. All I could say was "Breast cancer. I guess I ignored him." And in a move I am sure he thinks was kind he said "well the tumor is probably not cancer.".....WHAT! Now I need all of you ask was my kid laughing through this ordeal and saying things like: I see little green men." Was he kicking the doctor? Did he hit? Did he turn when they put in the drops? At another point when he was frightened out of his mind he said "It's a 7." and doctor nutcase yells "what letter do you see?" Owen thinks he has it wrong and is afraid so he whispers "7?" Nutcase said "letter? You JUST said it." Poor Owen is confused-thinking OK I see 7 but that is a number so what could look like a 7 so he said "Z??"
Nutjob:"OK, so it's a number what number is it. You do know your numbers." and now Owen starts making up every number and letter he can think up to make this man happy. Which of course it didn't.
I am angry with myself for allowing this to happen to my son. Even after all I been through, even after all you here have been here, I still trust humans to act HUMAN. I still trust doctors to behave in a manner befitting to their title. I was in shock that another person to act in a manner to deranged. I am angry at the people who told me this was a great doctor. This went way beyond a man having a bad day. This was just an evil person. I have sent a letter to Children's board where he works. I have written a review on local boards.
On the advice of Owen's doctor we are going for a second opinion with another doctor. If he then really needs a MRI then I except to told in manner befitting that news. The child however walks without running into walls so he must be able to see something!
What he needs is glasses. And someone who knows how to test for them.
Sorry for the vent-don't need any replies-this is just a can you believe it -
Oh Bev! I can't help but reply. I'm nearly shaking with anger myself!! I'm so glad you're taking your son somewhere else and I'm especially glad you reported the lunatic. I'm completely baffled by that sort of behavior. What a loon! And honestly, I don't cuss (much), but the words I'm thinking of using to describe him aren't fit for a public forum!
I'm so sorry for all this. Please let us know how the REAL eye appointment goes.
Jen -
Bev, really, it feels so good to be enraged about something not relating to our cancer! You go girl - turn Towanda loose!!!!
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I finally have a date for my reconstruction. I was hoping to have it done in November, but as long as I got it by the end of the year I'd be okay. My date is December 29. lol How's that for just scraping by?
As much as I wish it was earlier, it actually turns out to be pretty convenient as Todd's parents will be here already and we don't have to worry about what to do with the kids.
Jen -
Jen,
December 29 sounds perfect! -after Christmas-no need to worry about the kids-AND you start the year with something brand new LOL.
Happy for you-even if it is a long wait.
Bev -
Holy Crap!
I cleaned out the back of my Expedition today and found the Box! I thought I mailed it! I am so sorry! And I had to admit what a disaster my car is!
I didn't read any posts, so hope you are all well. I will get this puppy in the mail Monday, I promise!
Watson -
Hi, everyone. I'm making pots like crazy, now my fingers are sore. If it's not one thing it's another.
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Got home tonight and the door bell rang with trick-or-treaters....AND THE BOX WAS IN MY FRONT DOOR (in about 3 inches of snow-typical Halloween here)....Anyway I recognized Katy TX but am racking my brain about the name while I tore into it!!!!It is great and I really haven't had time to look through it. Savanna did while I made dinner so can hardly wait. The concert was fantastic and I was not expecting it to be.....they played for 2 1/2 hours...and lots of cool songs (I admit I wasn't even sure what the Stones songs were except for satisfaction). Any way I can't believe how long it has been since I've been on the board. October was very stressful....I have worked 64 hours a week since August and uncovered in October the fact that nothing as far as the "program" had been done in the 3 years I was gone from the school.....finally have things sorted out enough that I have a plan for getting it back to where it needs to be.....And then my real world job includes a lot of people who don't have a clue about hospital reimbursement, billing etc and I have finally decided oh well, I do and you don't want to listen. So basically was stressed and depressed but the last week has just been one wonderful day after another and can't believe how great today was!
Promise I will stay in touch. Have to add my stuff and will get it mailed to Fi in AUSTRALIA. Or maybe I should hand carry it....November in Australia sounds much nicer than here.
Take care. Love you guys.
KimB -
Okay, I replied, but who knows where it went!
Kim, it was ME! I sent the box! I am so happy you recieved it. It left hot and humid Houston well over a week ago. I bet it was cold on your snowy porch! lol
Glad all is well. It's nice to be back to a normal 'hectic' life!
Watson -
What a great Halloween present! lol
Speaking of Halloween, I posted some old pictures of my kids in their costumes when they were little on my blog. I'm sure they're not as fun to look at to everyone else as they are to me, but I thought you ladies might enjoy them a little.
Jen -
has everyone made it safe through our first year. I ahve and pray you have also.
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Jen I loved the Halloween pictures! My daughter went as Pippi one year too-she a red head and did the same bent coat hanger look but no one knew who she was!!-maybe it was cold or something and she had a coat. I don't remember. That was our period without a camera because my DH had broken three (yes that is three!) very costly cameras in three years. I still get a stomach ache when he takes a picture. ("don't drop the camera, don't drop the camera...LOL)
Been very busy here and next week I start working all day to cover a teacher that has to take 12 weeks off for surgery. Makes my stuff look like a piece of cake!
I am going to be tested for the breast cancer gene-turned out they didn't automatically test for it at the hospital I was at-unlike the hospital across town! So now I will probably have to pay out of pocket but I want to know for my daughter and niece. My doctor said they could begin getting their mammos in their early twenties if it is postive.
I am excited about the box going to Austratia-good thing it was mailed before the Christmas rush-the sign in the post office this was the last week to mail things there to get there in time for Christmas I thought of Fi when I read that! (my sister the mail lady said there was more time unless it was coming to my post office which is known for late mail!) -
It's so good to hear everyone is doing well! I have been around, but mostly on the breast reconstruction forum. I am home still and haven't gone back to work yet. I had an old ankle injury that was not getting any better, so I decided to get this taken care of before I went back to work. I ended up in a cast and not being able to put any weight on my rt foot. I have a few more weeks, and then I can start walking...and hopefully find a new job after the 1st of January.
I promise to check in more often...:) -
Speaking of breast reconstruction, have all of you already had that? I feel like a bit of an oddball because I had my mastectomy in May of 2005 and I'm just now getting to the reconstruction phase.
Jen -
Jen, you might want to visit the breast reconstruction forum here. The people are great and everyone is sooo kind!
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Thanks, Scout. I've done that and actually found a lady who had DIEP with my actual surgeon! lol
I have a favor to ask you ladies if you get the notion and have the time. You may or may not remember I said a while back that I was writing about my experience - mostly for my family - but hey. If someone someday wanted to publish it that would be okay, too. lol
Anyhoo, I finally got the courage to post an excerpt on my blog. The comments have been encouraging, but none of the people who have said anything about it have dealt with what we have. So my favor is to please go to my blog, read my excerpt and let me know what you think.
I posted something about this on the Moving On board, too, but for a different reason. I feel I know you ladies here enough to know that what I wrote isn't offensive. But some of the stuff I've read on other threads and other boards have amazed me at their over-sensitivity. So I'd like to know if anyone might take issue with what I wrote. Though I don't suppose anyone should because it's MY story, not their.
Okay. Thanks for letting me think that one through. lol
Thanks again,
Jen -
Jenster!
I'll admit, this is the first time I've read your blog. I love it! I don't think you could offend someone if you tried!
My 44th birthday is in a few weeks. I think I'll have to wait another year for my thigh highs! I've always hated birthdays. Hate the attention and all. Now, I'm excited about them. Still not keen on all the attention, but at least I let people sing Happy Birthday to me. (Before, I would have them sing Jingle Bells) lol
I've decided being here, in whatever shape and form our body has taken, is a good thing.
I might be in northern Italy on my birthday this year; I plan on yodeling from the Swiss Alps that I'm a survivor.
Your writing is great. I've always liked your posts in here, looking forward to your first publication in the'real world'!
Love,
Watson -
Northern Italy, Watson?? How cool is that??? We will want all the details, of course.
Thanks for the encouragement. ) And feel free to stop by my blog anytime. It's usually just a bunch of nonsense.
Jen -
Jen I LOVE your excerpt! It is perfect! You are a great writer- can't wait to see your book:)
Little early but Happy Birthday Watson! I would envy your northern Italy trip but I am so happy for you instead.
I wore my little ribbon to work today-it was a year ago Saturday that I had my last chemo!! I have all this lovely curly hair now and can read a book without having to reread the sentence over and over. LIfe is great!
Love all my sisters here-Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Love Bev
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