how about drinking?

Good morning, Loungettes! Still no power, and the temps have dropped. Word is power won't be back for several days. Plan is to go out today and find a new battery for the genny, a heavy duty extension cord and some gas and get her fired up so I can run the space heater, have a couple of lights on, and recharge the electronics. In the meantime I'm getting lots of teaching prep done. Looks like no damage other than a screen door nearly blown off that now needs to be taken down. The house is eerily quiet without power. I forget about the little background noises the appliances make.

Good Evening DahhhLinKs.

I said I would try and post my biopsy results. Well, the RB is back in the same foob, but now is double negative, but still her2+. So, it means getting them chopped off and going thru Kadcyla chemo again or just the chemo. My BS is supposed to call me tomorrow as I have a couple of questions before I decide which way to go or no way at all. My dh and dd were with me when I got the results today. My son called me too. I am getting dwunk but have to say I am leaning toward dbl-mast and as soon as I can do it, as HER2+ takes the RB cells and generously spreads them thru-out mese body.

I do have reason to smile tho. Mese son and his girl are going to try and harvest her eggs w/his sperm and get a surrogate to carry him/her. I'm so excited and want to live to see my grandchild.

I hate that I've brought bad news, but wanted ya'll to know.

LUBSLUBSLUBSLUBS

Damnit! Not what any of us wants to hear but glad to have an update. I have every confidence that you will handle whatever treatment plan you decide.

Got your back and the next refill

Mema, lovely pic of DD.

I am also sorry to hear the news and here to give support during this difficult time.

A grandchild would be lovely! )

I can never get here been so busy, it's that time of year--it starts around 6am til pm and during the nite WTF.

Anyway

Karen u'r starting ur chemo the way my DD has started, but she does have her wigs at least. I'm actually learning more from my DD than when I did this. So I feel up on things. Of course I wish u feeling the best u can, but remember rest when u feel like it for sure. I think today ur getting ur port that will be a big help.

Oh Sandy were u sick or what--I hope u feel better now that was a doozy.

Ill so glad to hear u were in that K thing Sunday--u sound so good---YYAAAYYY

NM WTF was that horrible storm from--of course I haven't heard about it, but no electricity is a nitemare for me--no TV GGGRRRRRRRR

Jazzy that job that's coming up sounds like a winner, but sorry u didn't get the one for short term. Love the sounds u bring us and pics.

Teka It's so very nice to see u now more often. Like I've always say u don't say much, yet u say it all, one way or another.

Lori as usual I have no idea where u are but I do hope ur doing well as always.

And Chevy confuses everyone. She has the onset of insanity for 40 years now, it's just not full blown yet.

I've been on anti-b's since last week, saw my BFF Saturday nite--it was wonderful, but then she contact me after she got to her brothers nd told me her DD just died---OMG NO is all I could say---she had a heart attack with a lot of complications going on too. She went right home from WI. This is so sad.

Joey acts fine but know he's not, he's afraid. He didn't see me every dy so he really doesn't know all u might go thru and Leslie and him have a huge thing about hair and hers is gone. She's getting a test today and more talk from the DR. And then she feels bad for not working cuz she was bringing in enough to keep us OK, now we're back, of course I say forgetaboutit. She has to lighten up, She's a tough one. Things will be fine.

LUBS U ALL

We live on a double block which takes Halloween very seriously (one house was decorated as Area 51, alien army, spaceship & all; another was the disco Studio 666). The total population (including two apartment houses) is <200. Conservative estimate is that we had 1000 kids last night--the neighborhood's reputation has spread and most of our trick-or-treaters come from less affluent neighborhoods. We went through $97 of candy (plus some left over from last year) between 4:45 and 7:15. That was one piece of candy per kid. After that, I had to close the door and turn off the porch light. It was either that or start handing out wrapped saltines from takeout soup orders, mini-Tabasco and airline Scotch bottles, room service jam & ketchup jars, soy sauce packets, and K-Cups.

Definitely interesting and encouraging, Jazzy. I was surprised to hear her mention they used to test for only the founder mutations in Sephardi Jews (who arrived with or shortly after the conquistadors), because BRCA 1 & 2 "founder" mutations are much more common among Ashkenazi (E. & Central European ancestry) Jews--who by the time genetic testing began during the late 20th century were pretty much the majority of American Jewry in all 50 states, including the former Spanish colonies. "Pure Sephardic" Jews are far rarer than "pure Ashkenazim," because during & after the Inquisition in Spain & Portugal, forced conversions resulted in much more intermarriage. But rather than forcing Jews to renounce their Judaism, those who persecuted Ashkenazim tended mostly to either exile them or just cut to the chase and kill them. (I'm >96% Ashkenazi).

Good morning friends- been busy and not much time to post outside of a couple quick things after reading. Halloween was a success, probably about 75 kids total and some cute costumes. My friend and I were laughing about how the smallest ones (babies to toddlers) have that clueless look on their faces, not quite sure what was going on but figuring it out. I had about 1/4 of the large bags left (I bought 4 large bags total) and gave some to my friend to take to church this sunday for their after service gathering, took some to my music class last night, and have the rest in a ziplock to take to the young folks who work at my pool. By tomorrow, any residual candy will be gone from this house (I don't eat sugar and it needs to go.....)

While we answered the door with the candy, we also had our own adult treats including Mumm sparkling rose (been trying to get that one consumed for awhile now) along with some cheese and crackers, pepperoni, olives, grapes and more. YUM! Friend that came over is one of my besties and although we talk a lot, had not seen her in person for a few months. Fun time catching up!

Chi- that video was posted under something that talked about how NM has some of the lowest cancer rates in the country. I don't know what the data set is for that, but given that we have a very small population in this state compared to many others (like 1.5 million total, 700K in the largest city of ABQ), I have my doubts. I know a lot of people here who have or had cancer, of all kinds. We have very high rates of skin cancer here, some of the highest in the nation. But as I was reading down, that is when I saw the video by my breast surgeon. She is big on genetics testing and because I had bilateral (which is often genetic), she put me through around 3 different sets of genetics testing. I decided to not continue because they never got the proper approvals for them from my insurance and then I was getting these huge bills for $7K per test and said I would ONLY agree to them if they would be paid by insurance. I have never had an easy time with her, but she is a very good surgeon and did right by me. I only see her once a year now.

You had quite the evening of trick or treaters, wow! I spent about half of what you did for my give away. Someone in my music class last night said Halloween is a $6 billion dollar event now (includes costumes, candy, etc.) It was like a billion twenty years ago.

Ill- I am so proud of you that you did that run, and especially after having just gone through that gamma knife surgery. You are one kind of strong lady. Did you feel okay after and into this week? I hope you are feeling well and that the RB stays away.

Mema- thinking of you sister and know you have much ahead of you and sending you love and prayers as you adjust to the news. Kick that RB to the curb sister.

And so excited for you to become a grandmother in the future. You get well so you can meet your new GS or GD.

Chevy- if you have extra candy left, I heard there are organizations in each area that are collecting left overs to send to the troops if you have no one to give it to? Hard to know how to buy. My friend saw my stash and said "wow that is a lot of candy". I told her I live in one of the hoods that gets hit big time so I only do the treats if I am up for a big night and willing to spend the cash.

Oh and about Judge Judy, I lived with some friends while doing a grant funded program at Umass years ago. One of kids there used to babysit for Judge Judy so I had to know what she was like in real life? The young gal said she was very nice and paid her well. I like watching her too, especially when she calls people out on their BS.

Goldie- I know you are not a fan of the big insurance costs either. I looked on the exchange yesterday to see if one of the previous options might have my docs in network and meds covered. Looks like a lot of them are, need to figure out which are not. I am going to be coming off some things in the beginning of the year including the AI drug by next March and will probably get my last Prolia shot in January. I need to do a double check with my providers on their network contracting with this new provider (Molina) and the cost is $110 less than the current carrier. Plus, I see that NONE of my providers are in network with the current carrier anymore. So it forces me to change. My only other option is BSBC but even more expensive (like an 80% increase) vs a 21% increase with Molina. I hope you have some decent options, but know more states have carriers pulling out with time too?

Cami- I am glad DD has started chemo and hope she is continues to do okay through all that. And yes, you have to take pressure off yourself when you are going through treatment. I worked through part of mine, just had to being single and having the bills and to keep insurance up, etc. but know we women always feel we have to keep it all together for everyone and everything else. It is good to let her know she needs to focus on herself and to let go of the rest. Joey would be exceptional too if he were not scared. Cancer scares everyone.

I am glad you got to see your BFF but so sorry to hear about the sudden loss for her.

NM- that was quite the storm the northeast had. Almost like a mini-hurricane Sandy which I remember hit late season a number of years ago to the Tri state area and up north. Lot of time without power, but sounds like you have a generator. With the changes to our weather, I know many are buying generators around the country. Glad you came home to a nice surprise of lights on!

How are your mom and Dick doing these days?

Who am I missing here? CeliaC, how are you? Hsant, sending you much love with all the changes this year. Genny, we miss you!

Got some things to do and a walk in nature later today. Going to something this weekend called the Marigold parade which is part of Dia Dos Muertos/day of the dead here. Big mexican holiday but big in NM too. Pics to come from that!

Until we meet again.......

Karen- I forgot to include you in my post today. Glad the port is in and you are getting ready for chemo. Get good and rested before hand. We will be here with you as you go through this next step in your treatment. Lots of support on this thread.

I did not do chemo but always suggest to make your bedroom as comfortable as possible with things accessible on on your nightstand and nice clean sheets along the way. It helps.

Karen, in your pocket starting Monday. With that intense a regimen of AC+T, and then radiation, I wouldn't be surprised if they can't even find a tumor afterward.

I had no family history of any cancers on either side, except an aunt who drank and smoked her way into esophageal cancer and a half-aunt who overcame melanoma but succumbed to liver mets from gallbladder cancer (she'd elected to have shockwave lithotripsy on her stones rather than a cholecystectomy). My maternal grandma had a basal cell ca. on her cheek, but it wasn't going anywhere and she passed after several MIs and strokes at 92. So it never occurred to me to mention my Ashkenazi ancestry to my BS. But between my lumpectomy and first MO appt., I got to the genetic-mutations section of Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book and was floored to read that genetic testing should be done on anyone with Ashkenazi ancestry who'd had a breast cancer diagnosis, regardless of family history.

I mentioned this to my MO, and she immediately set up a genetic counseling appt. for me. (I was a United Health PPO patient at the time, a few months too young for Medicare; and United insists on genetic counseling before it will pay for the actual genetic testing). The counselors recommended testing, especially since I have a son, sister and niece who might be at risk. Had an anxious 10 days or so, because we couldn't plan radiation until I knew whether a BMX would be advised. Came back negative for all known mutations (as of autumn 2015), so no BMX but full-speed-ahead for rads. My out-of-pocket cost? $2.50 for parking.

Oh, and I got that "96.3% Ashkenazi" heritage figure from my 23andMe report this past summer. The other 3.7% of "broad European," including possible "southern & southwestern," tracks with family lore that there was at least one Alsatian convert to Judaism back two or three centuries. Most baby-boomer-age Ashkenazi Jews in America are closer to 100% (the testing companies always throw in a bit of a fudge factor).

Happy birthday in advance, Ilona!

Chi- my sister is going to do the 23&me test along with her partner. I got so burnt out on all those genetics tests I did I am not interested. My sister is hoping we have some African blood in us, I have always thought we may have some native american indian. Our mother's family settled the town we grew up in back in the 1600s when there was a population of native americans in the town.

Glad you did not have the gene and have to have the radical surgery. Precision medicine has helped many of us.

Ill- sorry to hear about the possible shingles. Wishing you a wonderful birthday celebration too!

This was sunset tonight while I walked in a nearby park. Took my breath away

Morning gals!  Illimae, I thought I was the only one that had trouble with "rashes, hives" and everything ELSE with my skin!  I finally got mine diagnosed by my favorite-of-all-time Doc, who is actually a Physicians Assistant, and she said "Oh that's just (I forgot what she called it) but I got four little tubes of TRIAMCINOLONE  prescription cream, and it really worked!  

Had this on my one leg for months, always trying NOT to scratch it, but it itched like crazy.  I tried fixing it myself, but nothing really helped...  I also use Caladryl, or Calamine on top of the cream...  My leg looks almost "human" again!

I also think all of us should get that shingles shot....!  Shingles IS really painful, and not something to mess around with...  It's more than just a rash....  Hope yours isn't that...  

Not that there is a way to change this, but I might have imbibed yesterday. I have chemo starting on Monday, so I was like maybe I will have cocktails this weekend since I likely will miss out completely while the chemo is being done. Do you think it's bad to get drunk a couple of days before chemo.

So, the rash is a probable allergic reaction, although not sure what caused it yet, possibly my Xgeva shot. Happy it's not shingles and hope Clobetasol cream works quick.

DH will be on the road during Thanksgiving, so I'll cook and invite some friends over to eat with me.

Karen, I agree with ChiSandy, a couple days before is fine. In fact, although it's not recommended, it's not forbidden either. My own rule was not to drink a day before and 3 days after because I wanted to be kind to my liver, figured it was working hard enough processing all those chemicals.