Why was I stronger DURING treatment than I am now?

Oh JJ, I am praying for your husband and family with this additional stress. Also that you will get answers soon. My goodness. Hugs and prayers sent your way. Wish I could drive over there and take care of him, my husband says that is one of my gifts is lovingly being a person to counsel people with addictions and stuff. I don't know about that but I am praying there is some intervention/wake up call for him soon to help you. I am sure he is otherwise a great guy but good golly Miss Molly you have enough stress....

JJ - do you have blue light bulbs or daylight lamps in your house?  An hour in front of one of those each day would help your husband but mainly he needs to man up and deal with his own stuff....

As for your Doctor - wow they really need to be confronted with their own worst fears in training to understand how much impact they have and to be a bit sensitive........it may well be that he just does not really know exactly what it is..........

Hoping you get some answers son

Wishing everyone a great weekend.......

So, I believe that the lung biopsy on Tuesday was the worst yet! OMG. I had to stay perfectly still for 3 biopsy and 1 hour of terror! What I know so far --- my right lung still has fluid and it has been partially collapsed. The initial report states: refer to pulmonary dr. I am waiting for pathology. Wouldn't you think I would be taken to pulmonary department at BWH? No. I am now.....waiting

JJ and Wintersocks: Sending healing hugs! JJ it takes all our strength to get through this process. I believe I have aged 10 years since diagnosis in 2013

thank you 2Tabbies.....

Li-Li-RI,

I hope you are ok after that horrible procedure. Thinking of you and sending love across the water.

Hi Everyone,

LiLi...that procedure sound horrible...sending you hugs.

Wednesday is the big day for me. Breast biopsy and results of this pelvic mass. The biopsy is going to be a kicker. ...the stereotactic machine has me sitting up..not prone and this breast is so friggen tight from rads plus I have a big implant in there. It's barbaric.

DH has not had a drink since last Monday. He is antsy and quiet. I didn't know how bad it was until I really looked at him this weekend...I am worried he can't do this on his own. In 24 yrs together we've never been in this kind of place. I look at him and I know I love him but this is serious. His family just wants to pretend all is good...life has been so wrinkly for a while and I have always made things smooth..but I'm tired. Robin Williams had a quote about a pretty fake smile is all it takes to hide how broken you are and it's so true.

Work is also giving me a headache because I'm off again. I get such anxiety when they call that it ruins my day. I need thicker skin. On a positive note...I started making my daughter a quilt and I love it. All self taught from YouTube...I don't sew but I needed a productive escape. I know I need to get some counselling. Just too much stress but..I think I'm subconsciously waiting for Wednesday...Whyis it so hard for me to make that call???

Oh Lily...this roller coaster is so not fun...but you're not riding it alone!!!

Lily, Have you soon a medic about this?

jjontario, here with you x

Hi everyone!
I'm jumping into this thread because I am entering my final week of rads and then I'm done and out of active treatment. My MO will be putting me on Tamoxifen once rads is done, but other than that, I'm finished.
I'm really very anxious about this next chapter in life. How do things go back to "normal" and just what is normal, anyway? I'm a different person now than I was just a few short months ago, before cancer reared it's ugly head.
I feel safe while in active treatment. I know the cancer is gone right now....but I won't have that safety net once it's over. How do I move forward without giving in to the constant fear of recurrence?

Anyway....just trying to sort a few things out this last week of rads. Thanks for listening!

JJ, you are probably right about your hubby needing help. Addiction is hard. I hope he goes to AA for finds some other treatment. I sure wish your work would leave you alone. Good for you for taking up quilting! My relaxation crafts are crocheting and knitting. There's even a BC support group on a yarn crafting social media web site.

Lily, I'm sorry you have something else to deal with. I'm in the same boat. I had a bone scan today to see if the back pain I've been having is bone mets. Let's hope no cancer for either of us. {{hugs}}

etnasgirl, I'm glad you found us and hope we can support you through the transition out of active treatment. You hit the nail on the head - how do we get back to "normal" and what does that even mean. I think the answer is we get there one day at a time and it's a bit different for everybody. I tend to not worry about a recurrence on a daily basis. But when some symptom shows up that a "normal" person would blow off, I get a wee bit nervous. Hang in there.

My gynaecologist appt got changed to this morning as my Dr is delivering a baby tomorrow. This mass appears to be a cantaloupe sized fibroid although it will be biopsied. Because it's so large I will be doing the belly cut full hysterectomy....ovaries and all. Surgery is set for April 15th and will include a few nights in hospital and a longer recovery time. I'm really happy this doesn't look like cancer but I don't really need this right now either. I'm also worried about losing the ovaries...even though it might be good as I was estrogen positive...please don't tell me I will start sprouting hairs on my chin and my girlie parts will dry up like a prune. Will the side effects be like tamoxifen? I can handle hot flushes and I'm going to love having no more periods.

2Tabbies- hope your bone scan goes well!

I have my breast biopsy tomorrow. Trying not to overthink things but it's like take away my perfect boobs that I just had done, now my girl parts....like WTH. The only saving grace to this week is my DD is coming home this weekend with her boyfriend. She is my oldest and there is nothing more soothing than time with her!!

Hugs and thanks to everyone who is riding this wave with me. Your comments and posts mean a lot.

JJ

Biopsy tubular adenoma so repeat colonoscopy in three months. So glad I was able to catch that. It really is a total crazy process getting stuff evaluated and wondering how many symptoms we never know will be something or not.... I am glad my faith is not in my doctors or my own impressions of what is normal.... it is certainly interesting!

Hi etnasgirl, hope you are doing well this fine day!

JJ I literally laughed out loud at your expressed statements, they are valid thoughts but you just tickled me the way you put things I did start getting a few side effects from taking Femara but they have settled down. My oncologist is considering me using topical cream for stuff but I see him Friday and will discuss then. Praying for you with decisions regarding surgery.

Lily and 2Tabbies hope scans and tests are ok. If we could plug the radiation we all receive into a wall outlet we would never have to pay an electric bill

hugs to everyone, off to make dinner, Cindy

Thinking of all of you who are undergoing horrible procedures and waiting for results....

I have come off Venlafaxine by myself (anti depressants) and now I can;t stop crying. I realise those tablets were helping to keep a lid on everything. Emotional numbness feels better.

WS

I have 3 more radiation treatments left. Every Wednesday, I see my RO for a check up. Last week, my RO informed me that she would be out of town the day of my check up and I would see a different RO. (I understood, but was bummed as I really love my RO and this was going to be my last check up.)
I saw the other RO yesterday and left so depressed. He was nice enough but obviously didn't know a thing about me and fumbled through the whole appointment. At one point, he literally sat there staring at me for a good 20-30 seconds. (Doesn't seem long, but when someone is just starring at you, it's like an eternity!)
At the end of the visit, he taps me on the shoulder, says, "Good luck!", and leaves.

Oh well. I'll adjust to life outside of active treatment, I think it will just take some time. It's like I'm going back out into the world, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
I see my MO next week to start Tamoxifen. Maybe once I begin that, I'll feel a little bit better, knowing that I'm continuing to do something to keep the cancer away. (Although I'm nervous about the side effects of Tamoxifen! LOL!)

Hi Ladies:

I spoke with MO on Monday regarding path results from 3 needle biopsies of my lung - her exact words were not enough tissue was retrieved to do a path! Needless to say I have been so angry and frustrated this week. The CT scan did reveal thatt my right lung is collapsed (since November) and filling with fluid. I have known this since Nov? The issue is that I have a mass in right lung. I met with PCP on Tues. My oxygen saturation is very low, so he immediately called in a favor and I am meeting with lung do to on Tues. I have no words .

Lily55: I am sorry about your cancer scare. I had a similar scare pre-BC, and now I have have colonoscopies every 3 years.

Wintersocks: withdrawals are so difficult. Why do you need to Effexor?

JJ: I had total hysterectomy in 2008 at 44 yrs. Recovery is longer since they have to cut through muscle. I would talk to Dr about withdrawal symptoms and fixes for loss of estrogen. I went on HRT immediately after surgery, which is now not an option. You need this information prior to your surgery.

I am sending hugs - bear hugs for all!

I feel so lucky to have you all in my life!

💜💜💜😷