Starting Chemo April 2009

Geri - I am a little confused about something - you mention your niece was positive for these mutations - ATM and CHEK2 genetic mutations - but I didn't see where you were tested and were positive as well. I know the tests were not available when we were first diagnosed. But at some later point, did that happen? (and forgive me if you wrote about it and I missed it along the way)

I wonder if I should ask about being tested for those as well....

I have some mixed feelings about my hysterectomy BUT I sure do enjoy knowing that I never will get ovarian cancer. It is a big relief to not have to be concerned with that. Not sure if that will enter your decision making process but something to consider. I had laparoscopic surgery - it really wasn't so bad.

Judy - I am sorry it is so painful and difficult but it does sound (overall) that things are stabilizing a bit with your daughter. I believe that as you look for the next place for her to go, you will know in your heart the right place when you see it.

It is very hot here. Hard to believe the summer is here. They are cleaning out the house next door and preparing to sell it. I am really looking forward to the time that it is lived in again. The house on the other side of us is empty too. And both houses across the street are going for sale. They are all for different reasons, and unrelated. But it adds up to be a bit of a strange situation. I will be glad when the transitions are behind us.

Love to all - Amy

Hello ladies. I haven't been on for a while but think of you all often. Geri so sorry to about your mutation issues. It totally sucks. I know how I felt when they did genetic testing on me and the counselor swore I would be positive for Lynch Syndrome based on my family history. In my case, she was wrong and I ended up neg. I am still waiting on a second genetic test thru the Cleveland Clinc. Just when you think you are close to the finish line, your target moves. Not fair.

Judy sorry to hear your daughter is still a heartache for you. You sound like such a loving and caring Mom. Again....life isn't fair.

Amy...horrible news about your neighbors. Did you decide to quit the AIs?

Helen..sorry I didn't go back far enough to catch up on you. I hope all is well for u.

Life has been good for me. I love retirement, best decision I ever made was to quit my job. It had become super stressful and very unhealthly. I am still on tamoxifen they said at the five year mark now they are recommending 10 years followup. I will give it 7 yrs, then reassess. My edema in my arm rarely causes me trouble, my leg is still problematic but I've learned to live with it. Not that I have a choice but it's not bad and doesn't slow me down much.

HUGS TO ALL....until next time.

Betsy

PS Happy Belated Birthday Judy

I have been off the AI for about a month. My husband says he notices a difference, I am more relaxed and happier, more carefree. I don't see it really, but I defer to him.

Ruby turned 2 last week. How did that happen so fast? She is the joy of my life. Grand-parenthood is SO MUCH better than parenthood - all the fun and almost none of the work. Or maybe the work just IS fun this time around. I don't know. But I am loving it.

Everything else is going well. My parents were just here for a few days (they came for Ruby's party). They are 87 and 83. They are so healthy and independent, it is wonderful.

The governor of our state (Maryland) was just diagnosed with a very aggressive and advanced form of non Hodgkins lymphoma. It is all over the news. Cancer never seems far away now - I didn't notice it this way before I went through it. Have things changed, or is it just that I notice it more? Strange. Anyway, I feel for him. Talk about going through treatment in the public eye!

Love to all. Stay well and healthy everyone.

Amy

Geri, i had surgery for torn meniscus several years ago and it helped a lot. Hope you get the same result.

Judy, how are things going? I agree you need to look after yourself. You need to be well in order to support your daughter.

Things are quiet here.....which is good.

I don't know if the rest of you received an email from a woman on this board, but I got one yesterday with information about our Lena! I was totally stunned - it came completely out of the blue. It had her real name, her musical history and a link to an article about her, as well as 2 different pieces of music you could listen to on Youtube.

It really took me back to that time when Lena went away and left things unfinished. It was very emotional for me to experience all this yesterday. I corresponded with the very kind woman who sent me the info. Apparently years ago, in another thread, Lena had referenced a musical album she had made and included the title, and this woman found her history from that. In the article, Lena was so brilliant, gifted and well accomplished! It was quite bittersweet to get to know her better through the interview and music and yet be reminded that she is gone from us. I don't know if any of you read about her and how you felt. Please share.

I also went back and read her farewell post/rant that she put in the Stage IV forum. I hadn't seen it in a long time. It reminded me how brutal this disease is. Was an emotional day for me, for sure.

Love to all in our little circle.

Hi Ladies, it seems so long since I have been back.

Amy, I didn't receive an email, but wow...is there any way you can post the information so that we can watch it? Lena was a very significant part of this group.

I hope that everyone is having a good summer and enjoying friends and family. We are doing OK. In a couple of weeks, my daughter begins at the new school and she is getting very nervous about it. She will stay in the hospital till the day before and then we will take her from home the following morning.

Next week, we are taking a short family vacation to the Northern part of the country. I hope that we will all be together and have some quality time as a family.

Geri, how are you doing? I hope that you are all doing OK. I want to try and come by more often as I used to. Today in my therapy session, suddenly I was taken back to 2009 and the difficult times during Chemo. It has been 6 years and I still struggle with it. Am I the only one?

Sending you all hugs and I will come by again soon.

Judy x

Thanks for the private message, Amy. I appreciate the information and plan to check it out.

Judy, I hope all is well with your daughter and the family.

My kids are doing well and I try to see the 5 grandchildren as much as possible. I keep busy. It's amazing to me how busy I am. Retirement is good.

Lena.....a truly unique woman that I think we all cared for very much. Amy, can you P.M. Me that link.  I would like to have good memories of Lena.

Judy, I think of you and your daughter often and especially tonight, at the start of a New Year for you, I hope it will bring peace to your family.

Happy New Year to you also, Helen.  Good to hear you are enjoying your retirement.

As for me, my knee surgery did not fix the problem. I am back in PT and see the doctor again Thursday.  I am watching my granddaughter, Noelle, three days a week so my daughter can go back to work, and while she is a joy, I am finding it difficult to carry her and go up and down stairs with her. We'll see what the doctor has to say.

Judy, I know how you feel about wanting to post more often, I do too, but I think it's a sign of moving on from Cancer while maintaining contact with "our little circle" as Amy said.

THINKING OF YOU ALL

GERI

Hi ladies, I cannot believe how long I have been away for. I have thrown myself into a new project; I am hoping to set up a new Not For Profit Organization here in Israel. I want to introduce the concept of Health Care Design. I truly believe that the surroundings in which a person goes through treatment for illness can have a significant effect on their well being.

I have been researching for several months and am travelling to the US in November, hopefully to meet some interesting people who can help me develop my idea. I am both excited and anxious at the same time. I have been working round the clock which is exhausting, but it is good to be busy.

My daughter seems to be settling in to the new school. She still has bad days of course, but that is to be expected.

Geri, I hope that you find relief with your knee soon. I have had leg pain for several months now, and it is very debilitating to say the least. The docs cannot seem to find the problem.

Sending you all much love. I know that our visits here are now less frequent, but I hope that we will still come by to check in on each other.

Hugs as always, Judy x

Dear Ladies

Sorry that I have been away so long. My trip to the US was both interesting and productive. I met some very interesting people and am busy working on my new initiative.

My daughter is away at school and still has ups and downs. It is very challenging.

I hope you are all doing OK and enjoying the lead up to the Holidays!

May the season bring us all peace both within and without.

I will come by again soon and keep you posted.

Much love and hugs as always, Judy ☺☺☺

Dear ladies

I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday season and that 2016 brings us all the good health, peace and happiness we deserve.

I hope that we will continue to meet here, as Geri says, such a precious group and we really have been together through the worst of times. I know that you have been my rock and you mean the world to me.

I am keeping busy working on my project and my daughter is still quite challenging.

The family unit in general is doing OK I think.

Sending you hugs as always and I will come by again soon 💙

Judy x

Good morning dear ladies

I just wanted to check in and see how you are all doing. I am doing OK.

I have been quite low this week; it is 7 years since diagnosis, I wonder if there is a connection or association...but still, 7 years is quite something.

I hope you are staying safe and warm.

My work is keeping me busy, family is up and down but kind of manageable most of the time ☺

Sending hugs to you all

Judy 💜

Hi Ladies, hope you are all well.

Amy, you could be right. I actually had hospital meetings this morning and I do find it very tiring, but there is so much work to be done and I feel that this is what I want to do. I imagine that the beginning is more stressful and it is definitely taking time to get off the ground, but I hope that it will succeed. I will keep you posted.

Good luck in your new venture!

I hope that everyone else is doing ok. I think about you all often.

Much love and hugs to you all, Judy x

Hi Ladies

I have not been back here for a while, although I think about you all often.

I can hardly believe that we have reached the 7 year mark.

I had an Onc check up yesterday, one of my tumor markers was high and she wants me to take it again next week. If it is still high, I will have to have a PET Scan. I am really hoping that it is an irregularity in my blood work, but somewhere inside, a voice is telling me that it is more than that.

So, I am feeling anxious about that.

My 20 year old has begun her army service, so that is quite hard, I miss having her around.

My 17 year old seems to be doing ok at her school, although she still has her ups and downs which can be quite challenging.

My 14 year old boy is thriving, and growing into a gorgeous young man.

My husband is also doing ok, although, I think the stress of these past 7 years is taking its toll on him.

That is all my news for now; I hope that you are all doing ok.

I will keep you posted on any updates.

Love and hugs to you all, Judy x

well, my daughter got her genetic results back and she is positive for the ATM gene, but not the CHECK2. The genetic counselor discussed prophylactic mastectomy with her, vs. alternating every 6 months with mammogram and MRI. This is strictly her decision to make, but I do have an unrealistic feeling of guilt for her to face a decision like that. As I said, I realize that it is not "my fault" but it's hard as a mother to know I carry that gene that may cause her to either undergo the physical and emotional pain of mastectomy, having been there myself, or waiting every 6 months for results of tests that may not even be accurate, again, as I experienced.

When she asked me whI thought she should do, I just told her to follow whatever would give her the most peace of mind. I wish I had a better answer!

Judy, did you get your repeat blood test results? I'm hoping they were ok.

To everyone else...sending love

Ger