Starting Chemo April 2009

Oh Geri I totally understand how you feel that guilt. My maternal grandmother died of bc very young (40) and my mom felt so guilty when I was dx, she was sure it had come through her genes. All our genetic tests are negative but she is sure we have some sort of yet-undiscovered mutation. I tried to reassure her, but she still carries that feeling. None of this is anything we chose or wanted, it's just facts of life but that doesn't change our emotions about it.

To me, the best thing for your daughter is to wait until she is sure before the surgery. If she is not sure, just wait - and then reconsider. She can always do it, but never undo it. They are always coming up with better screenings (and treatments, if needed) and I hope one day soon the whole idea of prophylactic mastectomy will fade away completely.

Judy has not been here in a long time - I hope that is because she is busy and happy and has no time to check in. At least I am telling myself that until we hear from her. I hope that is soon.

All is fine in my world.

just checking in to see how everyone is doing. I do hope Judy checks in as I also am thinking about her. I know how you feel, Geri. I have the BRCA2 and have passed it on to at least 1 son. The other 2 have not been tested yet. I worry for my granddaughters. I don't think you ever stop worrying about a return. I know of people whose bc returned after 8 years. It can always come back.

I just wrote that everything was fine yesterday, and today the police came to our door and told us that my husband's daughter (31) was killed in a car accident out in California. And in that one moment, everything is forever changed.

Amy, I am devastated to learn of the loss of your husband's daughter! How terrible for you and the entire family. I don't know what I can possibly say that would help your pain.......I am just so so sorry for your loss. 😢😢😢

Amy, I am so sorry to hear of your loss in the family. We just had a similar horror with a 20 yr. old who died in a car accident, but not as close as your husbands daughter. Yes, our lives can change in a minute, which is why we have to make the most of each day.

I am having my knee replaced Sept. 20th. Nothing else they can do, and as Judy said about her back, it really limits how you live your life.

Judy, it sounds like things are going a bit better - glad to hear your daughter is settling into school.

To everyone else, we stick together, our little band of girls, and we're always here for each other.

I will be back in touch after the surgery - thoughts and prayers appreciated

Geri

Thank you all for your love and support as always.

Amy, how are you all holding up? I think of you often. Sending love.

Geri, hope the surgery went well. Please let us know when you can.

I am busy with work and gearing up for our Holidays which begin next week with the New Year. Wishing us all a happy and healthy year filled with only joy and celebration ❤

Much love and hugs to you all

Judy ⚘

Amy, I am sending you and your family love and prayers from here. Such a devastating loss for you all.

I am thinking about you and hope that you find a way to work through your grief and sadness. (((Hugs)))

Geri, how are you feeling? Hope everyone is doing OK.

What your husband said is interesting. I think mine was the same, but I didn't allow him a minute to think about himself as I was such a difficult patient and I found the treatment period to be so challenging. I personally feel very lucky that he was with me. He held the family together, when the kids were small and we were far away from home.

I have been very busy with work and family. My Non Profit, is up and running and I am very busy with our pilot project. I am on the cusp of fund raising, which is quite urgent as I have been working voluntarily for some years now.

We will be working in an Oncology Day Care Unit changing the space in which the patients receive their treatment. I am working with a very gifted architect and we are aiming to change the space, using color, furniture, textiles, lighting and nature. I have done extensive research on the importance of patient centered care and how the patient experience can affect the well being of the patients and their care givers. It is very exciting and scary all at once. I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject.

My daughter has been doing well in her school and it has been decided between her and the school that this will be her final year there. She will be 19 in May of 2017.

There are still very challenging moments and when she is home for weekends, the atmosphere at home can be quite tense.

Sadly, a friend of hers from the hospital took her own life a few weeks ago and she was very sad about that. We went to visit the family and it brought it all back to me. It was very close to home; I don't know how parents can continue after something like that. She was 16 years old and such a beautiful girl. It breaks my heart that she has had to face something like this at her age. She has also been very challenging since this event. She has been having tests with doctors and psychologists and has been diagnosed with a personality disorder, which displays behavior very similar to hers. She already takes the correct medication, so now the challenge is to work out how we can help her reduce her extreme responses to situations. Never a dull moment, that is for sure.

Other than that, not much else to report. If any of you have any feedback on my project, I would love to hear from you.

Missing the US at this time of year, all the beautiful colors of the Fall, and the Holiday atmosphere

Wishing all of you who celebrate, a very Happy Thanksgiving and I hope the coming year gives us all much to be thankful for.

I will try not to stay away too long next time,

Hugs to you all,

Judy.

Just checking in after a long absence and catching up. I know everyone is having struggles to some degree but still putting one foot in front of the other - as difficult as that can be at time.

It's cold with lots of snow here .... winter has arrived even though it's not yet official.

Overall things are ok here. Love to all of you ... and wishing good health and happiness in the coming year.

Hi ladies

Just passing through to see how everyone is doing.

Hope 2017 has gotten off to a good start 😊

I am very busy, our middle daughter is being quite challenging at the moment and it definitely takes it's toll on the family..

Hope you are all ok

Love and hugs always

Judy ❤❤

Hi Everyone,

I have been gone a long, long time. A few years now, maybe? Life has been busy with my kids and family. I have been keeping up more with my other BC group since we started Chemo in Sept 2012. We moved our thread to FaceBook in order to make it easier for everyone to keep up.

I have thought of you all from time to time and especially since I had my mastectomy and reconstruction on 2/18/09. I have so many dates that are significant to me. I just wanted to pop in here and say hello.

oh Helen I have no words. Just sending love. Thank you for letting us know. Please keep us posted.

Life just feels very very hard sometimes.

Helen, I am so sorry to hear that you are unwell. I am sending you love and strength to get through this. I am sorry that you have to go this difficult experience again. I really don't have any other words to say. I will keep you in my heart and thoughts and would love to hear from you from time to time.

Our lives are busy and challenging as always; My eldest daughter is serving in the army and she seems to be getting along OK.

My second daughter (19 next week), is coming to the end of her time in boarding school and we are now looking for a hostel or other suitable environment that will give her the support she needs going forward.

My 15 year old son is doing well and seems to be enjoying life! I enjoy watching him grow..

I am still suffering from depression and anxiety and have not been able to see my therapist as much as I would have liked due to financial constraints, but hopefully the situation will improve.

I have been working very hard to get my Non Profit organization off the ground. We are called Place2Heal and we are going to take existing spaces in health care facilities/out patient clinics and transform the space into a healing environment that will help the patient get through this difficult time in their lives. We are using color, textiles, lighting, furniture, nature etc to do this. I have spent a considerable amount of time researcing EBD, Evidence Based Design and the benefits that it has brought to many patients.

I have been working with a very talented architect and designer and we have decided on a pilot project in the Kaplan Medical Center in the city of Rechovot. We will be making what I hope to be a significant change to the environment with the aim to improve the well being of the patients and their families and care givers.

Medicine here is social, so there is not always funding for the aesthetics, even though they are so important. This is why I decided to set up P2H.

My lovely ladies; we are now putting together our website and I am gathering blogs/testimonials/videos etc of people talking about the benefits of patient centered care and healing surroundings.

Would any of you be willing to write something, or even send a short video? You have no obligation to mention your connection to me or even name yourselves if you prefer.

I am trying to gather information from all walks of my life and you ladies have been one of my most significant.

If any of you would be willing to help, please email me, as I don't come here as often as I used to.

I would love for you to be involved, as you are all a very significant part of my journey and how I reached where I am today.

My email is Judy.bogen@gmail.com

Helen, you are in my heart

Hugs as always and thank you, Judy x

Thanks, Judy. This chemo is pretty rough. I don't know if it's even going to help.

Hope everyone is doing ok.

Helen

I have been gone a while too and unfortunately I am back wit bad news. Just diagnosed with METS yesterday. In my skull, spine, rib, and hip.

I am devastated and reeling. I guess I move on the the stage 4 group.....

Helen I am definitely thinking of you....there is no chemo for me so it is all about slowing progression and quality of life for the time I have left.

I think of you all often and I wanted more of us to make it

Helen,

I hope you are not too uncomfortable. I am not sure you remember but I am BRCA2 positive. Last Friday I had an MRI of brain and CT of the rest of my torso. We met with the oncologist and radiologist and it appears I am a walking miracle. Despite 5-6 areas lit up on my bone scan they tell me now I do not have bone mets. That was the worst week of my life. I am super grateful of course and false positives with spots on the skull and rib is unusual. The look on their faces was crazy. I don't think too many people with stage 3 breast cancer and 5-6 spots lit up end up without Mets. So sorry to worry you ladies unnecessarily.

I will try hard to keep checking in Helen!!!

Lesley