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  • RonnieKay
    RonnieKay Member Posts: 2,067
    edited October 2015
  • RonnieKay
    RonnieKay Member Posts: 2,067
    edited October 2015

    That's me above, Rhonda, aka: RonnieKay (the term of endearment given me by my Caribbean son-in-law who thinks Rhonda is a hard name to remember). I'm with my Prince Charming & our 4 beautiful grandkids! We just took a trip to Disneyland - 9/30-10/4/2015 - with our 3 kids' families and had the time of our lives! My first dx was stage 2 in 2009, at 55 yrs, after finding a lump 10 months after my annual mammogram. When diagnosed, I said, "I knew someday you'd tell me this (3 aunts lost to bc, 1 surviving). Tell me what I have to do to be healed." Whoa...I had no clue! Dx #2 & mx came two years later, 2011, and then, on 12/21/12, 6 months after diep flap, I joined the stage 4 club with liver mets. I feel incredibly blessed that I was stable after 12 months on chemo, herceptin and perjeta, able to drop chemo after 22 months, perjeta after 30 months, and am now on herceptin and femara. I am very lucky to be living a full life with this beastly disease and am thankful for my loving family & friends, my faith and an amazing medical team. But this place is also a lifeline to me. When I first logged on to bc.org with my Sisters of September 09, I remember seeing stage 4 threads and was so frightened by the words: Please respect the privacy of stage 4 patients, families and caregivers. I stayed as far away as possible, but on 12/21/12, the first thing I did when I came home from learning of my stage 4 dx was log on to the stage 4 boards! I come here for support, understanding, advice, acknowledgment, humor and love, from the only people who truly know what this disease is all about. I have learned to live well and yes, die well, from my beloved friends here. This is a community of beautiful, strong, determined people...who want to live!!

  • georgie61
    georgie61 Member Posts: 95
    edited October 2015
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    Hi. My name is Marcy. I was 53 when I was diagnosed 7 months ago - I'm 54 now. I had no history of any cancers in my family - let alone breast cancer. I was shocked to discover from a routine mammogram that I had a 4 cm tumor in my left breast that had already spread to my lymph nodes. Triple Negative - Grade 3 Aggressive cancer meant I've had to get aggressive treatment. I had chemo first, a double mastectomy with tissue implants, Now I am healing and preparing for radiation therapy beginning October 23rd. I'm happy to say though, that I had a Pathologic Complete Response - according to the pathology report from my surgery...so hoping to beat this nasty disease and be around for a few more years.

    The group of ladies here have been wonderful, loving and supportive! xoxo to everyone.


  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited October 2015

    Marcy - that is wonderful news! Thanks for sharing!!

  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited October 2015

    Yes Marcy! Thank you.

    We're so happy to hear you're doing well and that you found these forums to share your story with others.

    What an inspiration!

  • myth451
    myth451 Member Posts: 3
    edited October 2015

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    http://wtnh.com/2015/10/15/closing-the-breast-canc...


    2011 diagnosed hormonal positive then in 2014 mutate to Triple negative..mother of three beautiful girls!


  • upstater15
    upstater15 Member Posts: 17
    edited October 2015

    I'm Wendy, and I live in upstate NY (relocated a few years ago from Ardmore, PA...where BCO is headquartered!).

    Diagnosed with ILC (Stage 1) in August, 2015 at age 46--2 months after a "normal" mammogram (felt a lump). Combination of dense breasts and ILC means it didn't show up on mammogram, even when they knew what they were looking for.

    Not comfortable sharing a photo (trying to keep it on the DL at work) but wanted to echo others' sentiments about what a great resource this site is. You all have helped me deal with surgery (lumpectomy/SNB) and its aftermath: a terrible seroma, neuropathic pain, waiting for test results, and now radiation. I've found answers to all of my questions, even those that I didn't know I had, and I have learned so much from others' experiences.

    When I told a friend about my diagnosis, she tried to get me to grant myself some slack. She said, "Now you can stop pressuring yourself to be so awesome all the time!". "No", I said, "now I have to be awesome, with cancer!" Reading the posts on this site has introduced me to a whole world of people who are "awesome...with cancer"!


  • Toto06
    Toto06 Member Posts: 61
    edited October 2015

    Hi All,

    I am a 49 year old mother of 3 (23,21 and 16) from Ireland. I was first diagnosed with BC (HER2+) on the 17th of September 2010, I underwent surgery to remove a 1.8cm lump from LB along with auxiliary clearance 32 nodes removed of which 8 cancerous. Had 6 cycles of carboplatin, taxotere along with Herceptin (which I was on for a year) I also had 8 weeks of radiation Monday to Friday. Was put on Tamoxifen in April 2011 after finishing chemo. When last of the treatments were finished I genuinely never looked back and got on with living my life. I was busy looking after my family, working and enjoying my golf. At the start of 2015 I wasn't feeling too well but cancer was the last thing on my mind. My first symptom was on the 4th or 5th of January 2015 I felt a slight flutter (like an electrical current) over my LB which I thought strange but it only happened another three or four times so I thought no more about it. Come February I was feeling tired and I had a slight cough but my neck was acting up in that it felt as if I had a permanent crick which restricted my head movement. I attended my GP on Monday the 16th of February and was referred for a chest X ray. Two days later I was put on a course of penicillin and then had to wait a week before my next X ray. I was X rayed on Monday the 9th of March and the following day my GP contacted me to say that she had arranged for me to see my surgeon that afternoon. My X ray was considered unusual in that my phrenic nerve on my left side had collapsed and my diaphragm was elevated. My surgeon ordered a CT scan which I had the following morning. I was called back to his rooms later that day to be told that I had about 20 tumours each measuring approximately 9mm in both my lungs and that I had a small dot on my iliac bone. I was shocked and needless to say shed a lot of tears as did my sister who was with me when the news was delivered. A few days later a bone scan confirmed that I also had two dots on my L3 and L4 Spine.

    Thank God that I am an eternally optimistic person as despite the initial shock to the system I thought, come on I can do this and I will do this. I remembered an inspirational radio interview given by a Tipperary man called Liam Ryan who was given a 5% survival chance after an aggressive cancer was diagnosed behind his face. He too was distraught with his prognosis until his friend said you have got to be one of those five who will survive this and he was!! On the 14th of April this year I started treatment. Perjeta, Herceptin and Taxotere, My first Scan occurred after 3 cycles of chemo, perjeta and herceptin and showed a reduction in my tumours from 9mm to 6mm and my most recent scan on the 29th of September showed that tumours are stable, i.e. treatment is working. On the 3rd of November I am scheduled to have my ovaries out and will automatically go into menopause. I will be put on a hormonal tablet (can't remember the name this minute) to take each day. So, my present situation is that 9 taxotere chemos have been completed so today I received just perjeta and herceptin and will continue to do so every three weeks until my next scan where hopefully things will remain stable and there will be no need for me to be put back on chemo. Stable is Good!!!!

    My motto is kindly borrowed from an elderly friend who sent me the following message:" First we do what is necessary, then we do what is possible, remembering tomorrow is promised to no one". Live Day by Day that is the secret because the moment we attempt to visit the future is when our hearts break. One step at a time!! Me & family at my sister's wedding in Italy on Saturday the 26th of Sept 2015.image





  • Chevyboy
    Chevyboy Member Posts: 10,786
    edited October 2015
  • cbwitt1970
    cbwitt1970 Member Posts: 65
    edited October 2015

    Lovely family Judo. You are an inspiration to all on the power of a positive attitude. God bless you!

    Catherine

  • duckyb1
    duckyb1 Member Posts: 13,369
    edited October 2015

    Judo.......You have been through a lot, and still came out smiling........your an inspiration to us all............hugs.

    Hi Chevy how are you...............

  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited October 2015

    Judo - What a powerful story of courage and wisdom. I'm going to need to steal some of your quotes - they are so inspirational. Thank you. What a beautiful family you have - one can feel the love you share.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2015

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    Diagnosed 1 day after 51st birthday (great birthday gift, huh?).

    IDC right side, stage 1, grade 2, ER/PR+, HER2-

    Knoxville, Tennessee

    BCO helped me get through the shock the first couple of weeks after diagnosis by making me realize that I wasn't alone and that it would get better once treatment plan was in place.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2015

    ElishebaJoy, you are beautiful.

  • Mayk
    Mayk Member Posts: 42
    edited October 2015

    Jacksonville, FL

    DCIS 52

    DMX 10/15

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    Relying on my faith. He's got this!

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2015

    Yes He does. Very nice.

  • ChiSandy
    ChiSandy Member Posts: 12,133
    edited October 2015

    I'm Sandy in Chicago (born & raised in Brooklyn, with 7yrs. in Seattle between). Diagnosed this past Sep. at 64 (will be 65 in Jan.) with IDC, stage IA, 1.3cm ER+/PR+/HER2-, node-and-margin-negative, after decades of normal screening mammos (annually for the past 10 yrs). Quite a shock, as I have no family history of either breast or any reproductive or endocrine cancers. Thought for sure my "Reaper's ride" would be heart attack or stroke, as both sides of my family are cardiovascular disaster areas. Suspect that having early menarche, late menopause, only two pregnancies (the first ended early in a “blighted ovum" miscarriage) and both after 32, had a lot to do with my diagnosis. (I was able to breastfeed for only 6 wks, but I'm sure with the other high-estrogen factors that didn't tilt the table). Had lumpectomy with sentinel-node excision. Because of my age, low-ish Oncotype score (16) tumor size and tumor I won't be getting chemo (at least not for this tumor, knock wood). And because of the tumor's location I am also a candidate for accelerated (16 rather than 33 treatments) external partial-breast radiation. (Probably some time in Nov., since my sentinel node incision popped open last week and the seroma beneath it leaked pretty spectacularly and needs to heal after being sutured).

    I have been married 44 years and we have a 31-yr.-old son and 2 cats. I'm retired from general law practice but am a touring singer-songwriter (guitar & dulcimer, occasionally bass & harmonica). Until this year I was part of the cast of the annual Chicago Bar Assn. musical revue aka “The Bar Show." I figured what with daily radiation I might not be able to devote full time & energy to rehearsing & performing, so this year I'm helping to write it, sell tickets and work on props, costumes and cuing. I perform both solo and with the Madison, WI-based duo Andina & Rich.

    Here's a shot of me earlier this year looking mysterious in my den lounger, my home base for working on my computer. (Sorry about the velcro on the wall--a picture had just fallen).

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    Terrible attempt at a selfie last year on a windy day in Vail (husband Bob on the right):

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    Andina & Rich (my singing partner Stephen Lee Rich on the R):

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    How has BCO helped me? Well, I’ve learned more from it about the ACTUAL BC patient experience than from all other sites (and books) combined. It’s amazing in that I can find women who share my diagnosis, treatments, ethnicity, faith, geographic location, age, interests, hopes & fears--and it gives me a chance to reassure others newly diagnosed or about to be diagnosed.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2015

    Thank you, patoo!

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2015

    That's a great 'attempt' at selfie. They make the best - love it.

  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited October 2015

    Many here have donated . Thank you !........Wandering around and cheerleading again :)


    Donate today, make a difference directly in all our lives. By supporting BCO, we support each other. Thanks and Hugs :)

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    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/110/topic/834331?page=1

    Link to the mainboard donation page

    https://secure3.convio.net/bco/site/Donation2?df_i...

  • marion55
    marion55 Member Posts: 32
    edited October 2015

    hi im marion age 55 hadgrade 2 breast cancer right side sentinel lymph op cancer present so awaiting chemo c t scan auxillary lymph op i live in shropshie england

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  • cbwitt1970
    cbwitt1970 Member Posts: 65
    edited October 2015

    Welcome marion55

  • Carrie61
    Carrie61 Member Posts: 56
    edited November 2015
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    This is a before Cancer (top photo) and after treatment picture. my name is Caroline, I was diagnosed at 52 years old with invasive breast cancer. I had been monitored for 10 years with a lump which I was told was not cancerous. needless to say after I felt the lump getting harder and bigger I insisted on a biopsy. And the rest is history. After chemo and radiation I went for an MRI and was told I had lesions in my bones that looked like bone metastasis. So a PET was done and it showed no cancer activity. At this points I didn't know if I was stage 4 or not, but in June I had another PET which showed cancer activity in my pelvis and spine.


    I have 5 children and 9 grandchildren and a wonderful husband of 34 years so I consider myself blessed, through the good times and bad. My faith has kept me strong throughout this journey, and I see each day as a gift

  • magdalene51
    magdalene51 Member Posts: 2,214
    edited November 2015

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    I'm Mags, I'm 64 now, was dxed on my 63rd birthday, it's stage IIIC, slash, poison, burn. I live just north of Oklahoma City. I found BCO just after dx, and hung out on the May 2014 surgery thread, and moderated the July 2014 chemo thread. BCO was my only support system until my church recently started a cancer support group for patients and caregivers. But since I'm a hermit by nature, BCO was all I needed, and I'm so grateful for the women who have become my other family. When I meet other BC patients anywhere, I always tell them about the site and especially the forum. Where would I be without you? Here I am recently.

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    It was the first time I had worn any prosthetics, I was gifted some knitted knockers. I've always just gone flat. No one notices if you don't have breasts, only if you do.

  • OncoWarrior
    OncoWarrior Member Posts: 5,234
    edited November 2015

    Thank you, Mags, for that ever so concise description of treatment: "Slash, poison, burn."

    It makes me think of Vietnam war.

    It is war.

  • duckyb1
    duckyb1 Member Posts: 13,369
    edited November 2015

    My rads were uneventful.........the Letrozole beat me up bad.....stopped after 4 years...........

  • feelingfeline
    feelingfeline Member Posts: 5,664
    edited November 2015

    Beautiful pictures ladies.

  • willowreed84
    willowreed84 Member Posts: 47
    edited November 2015

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    I live in Texas and I was diagnosted at age 49 with stage IIB IDC. I have finished chemo, BMX , radiation and reconstruction. BCO has helped me in so many ways- real, useful information and a place to vent my feelings through the whole process. I still log on nearly everyday. This picture shows my re-grown hair!

  • duckyb1
    duckyb1 Member Posts: 13,369
    edited November 2015

    Hi Willow.......don't think we have met........but nice to see you........love the hair.......hugs

  • Warrior_Woman
    Warrior_Woman Member Posts: 1,274
    edited November 2015

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    Looking through this album I could cry. You have been my lifeline through the darkest days of my life. I read your posts and see your avatars but it all becomes real as I see your beautiful, wonderful, amazing faces. My name is Brina, I'm 54 from Frenchtown, NJ, USA. I chose these photos because they capture the good that many of us have derived from this trauma known as breast cancer. I was diagnosed 9/13 with IDC, DCIS, LCIS and NF1. I'm not sure where I would be without all of you. How many nights I spend here reading, reading, praying and reading. I've had 9 surgeries, chemo and hormonal treatment. I don't think cancer has changed me but rather it has made me recognize my own bravery and ability to live life on my own terms. And so, I'm presently working on my skydiving license. Before I let cancer take me down I'll be Flying Squirreling it out of here. Thank you to all the women and men here who have made such an incredible difference in my life and thank you BCO for this much needed forum.

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