MI Survivors

Options
Not_Me
Not_Me Member Posts: 180
edited June 2014 in Members by Location

I am thinking that we might benefit from a post for MI persons. So...here I am. I know we have several of us here. My name is Chris...dx on 1/21/04, stage 1, just finished radiation and just started Tamoxifin. Treating at Beaumont. 41 years old, health great (or so I thought), one daughter age 21, full time worker (slave), part time student (Oakland University), have a great husband, love working in my gardens, love running, love the family and friends, but really love this great state we live in. How about you?

«134567106

Comments

  • gcpommom
    gcpommom Member Posts: 883
    edited May 2004
    Hello. I'm Judy B., from Garden City MI. I am a full-time student at U of M Dearborn, going to be an elementary teacher. I have 17 & 14 yr. old daughters, 6 year old son; married 20 years this June (hubby has been wonderful thru all of this) I'm 40. This was my first mammogram. Dx with DCIS on March 12th, rads to start next week, possibly at Beaumont.

    Love my (small) flower garden, can't wait to get it started again if it ever warms up! I like MI, but summer's are too short!

    Judy [Smile]
  • normalcani
    normalcani Member Posts: 230
    edited May 2004
    Hello, my name is Candi, 37 yrs old, single and I live in Flat Rock...I was dx'd in Feb with IDC, had mast on 3/10, being treated at Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit...Had my first a/c treatment on 4/28, still trying to get over that...next one on 5/19, yuck.....her2+++ so hoping to get on clinical trial for herceptin....

    I have a 14 year old son, do some work for my father, and hang out and enjoy my days when I feel good.....

    Nice to meet you all......Great weather so far today but as we all know here in mich, wait five minutes and it'll change....lol.......

    Hugs!!!!!
    Candi
  • Cherrie
    Cherrie Member Posts: 1,423
    edited May 2004
    Hi, my name is Cherrie and I live in Portland, in between GR and Lansing. I am 49 with a daughter 21 and a son 18. I am a teacher as is my husband. I was diagnosed 10/02, lumpectomy, sentinal node biopsy, 33 rads, tamoxafen, and lupron since I was premenopausal. I am having a tough time with the hot flashes and night sweats.
    I was stage 1, er positive and pr positive. My biggest fear is getting this back.

    It's great to talk to some Michigan gals.
  • Sphynx
    Sphynx Member Posts: 611
    edited May 2004
    Hi, Nancy here. Diagnosed 2/2003 with invasive mucinous, stage 2, grade 3. I had biopsies, lumpectomy, re-excision & a few more biopsies.
    Chemo of 4 A/C and 7 weeks radiation. I have been done with treatment for 7 months and on Tamoxifen.

    I also always thought I was very healthy, didn't drink or smoke, ate all my fruit and veggies and worked out at least 5 days a week. I guess like everyone else, this hit me like a ton of bricks.

    I did work over Gelman Science's contamination plume for 4 years. Three of us women who worked together all have breast cancer. The company I worked for was very small with only a few women. Everyone says that is not statistically significant. I cannot help but wonder...

    I live near Hell Michigan and work in Ann Arbor as a computer nerd. I live a boring life and just enjoy time with my husband, my dog and nature if the weather permits!

    Maybe we should plan a Michigan gathering? I know there are many of us at various stages of treatment. I met with the Chicago ladies and it was very nice. Maybe we could get them to come out here!
  • gcpommom
    gcpommom Member Posts: 883
    edited May 2004
    It's nice to meet you all. Maybe we can get together some time. We seem to live pretty much in the same areas, not too far apart.

    Thought I'd post again to keep this near the top, maybe more Michigan gals will notice it.

    Take care [Smile]
    Judy B.
  • Not_Me
    Not_Me Member Posts: 180
    edited May 2004
    Hi there...glad to meet you all as well. Interesting about the work relationship. Ten years ago...I worked for a plastics company which has since closed. I only keep in touch with a small amount of people from there and have found out that 4 of us have bc. There were only 200 persons who worked there total and I can't help but to wonder if there are more ladies...and doesn't that seem high?

    Anyway, I am open to the meeting as well. So far we are all in the lower half of the lower. Have a great day!
  • pconn03
    pconn03 Member Posts: 643
    edited May 2004
    Hi All:

    Another Michigander (or is it Michiganian) here. LOL I was diagnosed in May '03 with IDC and micrometasis in one lymph node out of about 23 or so. I did 4 AC treatments followed by 33 rad treatments through Beaument in Royal Oak. I live in Bloomfield Township and if ever anyone wants to get together, I would be more than interested!! I'm in my sixties and so it sounds older than you gals, but if you don't mind, I sure don't. I'm young-thinking and that's what really matters, right?

    God bless,
    Pat
  • normalcani
    normalcani Member Posts: 230
    edited June 2004
    I just wanted to say 'hi' to all the MI girls and say that it's finally gorgeous weather here and I hope you are all out enjoying it in some way or form.......I know I will be........ [Smile] .......

    Hugs to you all.....!!!
    Candi
  • Sphynx
    Sphynx Member Posts: 611
    edited June 2004
    Hi Michigan Ladies,
    I did my first 5K walk for the "Race for the Cure" in Detroit today. It was very emotional. I rarely go downtown but there were thousands of people!

    If anyone gets a chance to see the play "Menopause" at the Gem theatre, you will really enjoy it!

    Can you believe it - no rain today!!!

    xxxxoooo

    Nancy
  • normalcani
    normalcani Member Posts: 230
    edited June 2004
    How was the walk...? I really wanted to do it but with chemo and all...I told myself that I would do it next year...That is where I get treated is at Karmanos...And it was such a beautiful day outside today and all I did was lay on the couch....I'm glad you did it....Hopefully next year I will have more energy and spunk to do the whole thing....

    Hugs......
    Candi
  • DebraLynn
    DebraLynn Member Posts: 228
    edited June 2004
    Hi everyone!
    I live in Troy, MI and had my surgery May 4. I just went to RO for my simualtions and will be going to Troy Beaumont for treatments sometime this month.

    I am 48 (YIKES) with two teenage daughters, 15 and almost 17. My husband, left us in March, but has been with me every step of the way during this trying time.

    I would LOVE to get together and have dinner or just meet you all!

    Please PM me or write here. This is great, don't know how I missed this post or where I've been for the last month, oh yeah, I know recouping from surgery!

    I am looking forward to hearing from you all!
    Debra
  • gcpommom
    gcpommom Member Posts: 883
    edited June 2004
    Hello everyone!

    Yeah, what a gorgeous weekend!
    Debra: Welcome! You are in the same boat as me, I have 14 yr. old and 17 yr. old daughters! Fun, huh? Are you dealing with graduation now, as I am? Boy, senior year is sure expensive!

    I am having trouble remembering that I must use sunscreen on my chest now that I am outside doing gardening and stuff; I'm not usually one to use sunscreen, but am trying harder to remember now. I read that we aren't supposed to get sun on the treated area for 3 years after rads!

    It would be nice to meet everyone, if anyone has a suggestion on location? I am in Garden City, near Westland. Going for treatments in Royal Oak. Maybe meet for lunch one day?

    Talk to you all later!

    Judy B. [Smile]
  • Not_Me
    Not_Me Member Posts: 180
    edited June 2004
    Good morning to all. Congratulations to Nancy on you completion of the 5k walk. That must have been a great event.

    I too would be interested in getting together.

    Have a great day today!
  • DebraLynn
    DebraLynn Member Posts: 228
    edited June 2004
    Hi everyone!!!
    How about this weather, air conditioning on one day and the heat the next. YIKES!
    Hope everyone is doing ok
  • Lisa_Earl_Castillo
    Lisa_Earl_Castillo Member Posts: 1
    edited June 2004
    No sun exposure on radiation area for three years??? I live in Brazil... good luck avoiding the sun 13 degrees south of the equator!

    but I was born and raised in Kingsley Michigan a little village 20 miles south of Traverse City. I have not lived in Michigan for years as I mentioned to Debra on another post, but I was back in Kingsley last summer for a family gathering. And discovered that out of my highschool graduating class with a grand total of 70 students, at least three of us were diagnosed with cancer before 40. One good friend died of lung cancer at 38 (she was a smoker, but still that is pretty young, no?) and another developed colon cancer at 39, same year I was dx'd with BC. I had long since moved away from Michigan and lived in polluted urban centers on the East Coast but the other gals stayed in Kingsley their entire lives. Apparently a rural paradise but 3 out of 70 getting cancer before 40 is high I think. Fruit growing (cherries, apples, peaches) is the main crop and they used a lot of DDT on them to keep the bugs away, and as a kid I used to eat the fruit right off the tree....

    Then when I was a teenager, there was that whole problem with PBB-- anyone remmber that? and people at the time wondered if after they buried all those cows, it hadnt percolated down to the ground water and contaminated it...

    anyway the monkeys in the back yard are calling out to me, they've popped in for a visit and i really must go

    Lisa
  • Lorie_Anne
    Lorie_Anne Member Posts: 77
    edited June 2004
    Wow..congratulations Nancy on the walk..my girlfriend was in that as well.

    I'm still recuperating here in Canton Michigan. Had a bilateral mastectomy with tissue expansion on 5/20/04. I'm healing; BUT still having muscle spasms on the left side (they took out 5 lymph nodes only); I am doing the exercises but man it still feels like a rubber band pulling under my arm and on my left breast (or what there is of!).Anyone have ANY siggestions how to get that area fixed up????

    Would love to meet you all as well:-) Maybe sometime in July (after the holidays)? Let me know!

    Have a great day..it is MUGGY out!

    Lorie
  • gcpommom
    gcpommom Member Posts: 883
    edited June 2004
    LorieAnne: I grew up in Canton, my parents still live there, around Ford/Lilley. My how Canton's grown! I'm 40 now, but when I moved there, Ford rd was only 2 lanes, there was a fish bait stand on the corner, and it didn't take 15 minutes to travel 1 mile!

    Hope you are feeling better soon. Yes, it was muggy yesterday; I was having an outdoor graduation party for my daughter, luckily it didn't rain til after dinner.

    Judy B.
  • Not_Me
    Not_Me Member Posts: 180
    edited June 2004
    Hi all...just checking in. Judy...you made it thru the graduation party...good job! How is radiation going?

    Interesting topic about the DDT and chemicals. We moved to our current house just over three years ago. Since we have now have a well...I won't let my husband use any chemicals on the lawn or in the gardens. I buy organic environmental safe products over the internet…but I still got the C.

    Jus got back from a four day backpacking trip and the weekend before I beat my sister in a 5K race in Albany, NY. Life is good.
  • Sphynx
    Sphynx Member Posts: 611
    edited June 2004
    Hi Michiganders,
    I'm not on the boards as much lately but do come back to check on Tink. The 5K walk was a piece of cake. Of course, it was just a walk. Not Me – It is great that you ran 5K, I envy that. If I had tried running, I would have been wheezing in minutes. I'm really out of shape compared to how I was just before diagnosis. I put bc.org on the sign on my back for the walk. I was hoping to run into some other women who knew what it was about.

    Yes, I sure do remember DDT and PPB and all those chemicals they used everywhere around here! We used to go camping up North and drink the water from the streams without boiling it or anything. I remember swimming in Lake Huron as a kid and dodging all of the dead fish floating around. I read somewhere that they have cleaned it up. The worst memory is you would drive to the place and get hit in the face with the overwhelming stench of dead fish! Still, we swam in it.

    Now, the Wayne drive-in....what a place! They did the mosquito fog where you had to close your windows and still couldn't breathe from the chemical!

    Lisa – that seems like high numbers from your school to me also. I envy you with having monkeys in your back yard! NotMe – same with the plastics company. You just cannot dismiss these as being coincidental! I save all the articles about Pall/Gelman since they are now being sued by the City of Ann Arbor. I'm not sure how to find out if there are more of us affected.

    Lorie – hope the spasms go away soon and you recover quickly! Sending good vibes your way.

    Candi – I went through chemo all last spring/summer. Just think, that by next summer it will be a bad dream and you will have your energy back!

    Pat – I'm 50 but feel younger also (on most days). It is when I look in the mirror that I am shocked.

    Debra – yep, that is Michigan. Heat and air-conditioning on the same day! This rain is sure a new one. What next, cicadas? Oh yeah – they are supposed to be waking up soon but I haven't heard any. I'm kind of looking forward to them.

    Judy - glad you got a good day for the graduation party.

    Have a great day everyone – there are flash flood warnings for today!

    xxxooo

    Nancy
  • normalcani
    normalcani Member Posts: 230
    edited June 2004
    LorieAnne and Judy B.......I also grew up in Plymouth/Canton.....I too remember ford rd with only two lanes....and the rusty nail is still there, I find that funny with all the development around there....Gosh that is odd, it must mean I'm getting old...Oh Well....

    Just checking in and saying 'hi' to you all....
    Hugs.....
    Candi
  • gcpommom
    gcpommom Member Posts: 883
    edited June 2004
    Candi: I used to hang at the Rusty Nail back in my 20's!! My friend worked there as a waitress.

    Did you go to Salem or Canton High? I was at Salem, class of 81.

    Judy B.
  • Lorrie
    Lorrie Member Posts: 29
    edited June 2004
    Hi gals,
    I am from Shelby Twp. Diagnosed Dec.,2002 at age 49. Mastectomy Jan. 2003 at Royal Oak Beaumont, followed by chemo and radiation at Troy Beaumont. Had implant replacement done a few weeks ago, (hoping this one will be o.k. as I had a saline implant placed in Jan. 2004 and developed infections, capsular contraction and poor healing due to radiation).
    I am 50 yrs. old, with a husband (highschool sweethearts), and a 28 year old son and a 1 year old sheepdog. Grew up in East Detroit (now Eastpointe), but have been in Shelby for 30 years.
    Would love to meet you all. I read more then I post on this sight, but reading all your posts have helped me get through each step of this journey.
    Wishing you all the best, Lorrie (Lorraine)
  • normalcani
    normalcani Member Posts: 230
    edited June 2004

    Canton High...Class of 84........how funny is that....I've never been to the rusty nail....when I got to bar age, we hung out at frankies on ford rd......lordy that was so long ago.....lol......

  • junie
    junie Member Posts: 1,216
    edited June 2004
    Michigan ladies---just want to say that I lived in your great state many years ago--1970-72. We lived a little bit south of Sault Ste Marie (1st hubby was stationed at Kincheloe AFB) After all these years, I'm probably spelling everything wrong! BUT--

    The UP was one of the most beautiful areas in the US that I have lived, and some day, I want to go back. My daughter was born on Long Island, New York, but had her 1st birthday party and learned to walk in Michigan. Many fond memories of Michigan for me! hugsssssss junie
  • gcpommom
    gcpommom Member Posts: 883
    edited June 2004
    Junie:

    It's weird, but I've lived here for almost 30 years, and have not been to the U.P. The closest I've been is Mackinaw. I'll have to venture up there some day. I do love camping on the west 'coast' of MI, though, near Ludington. It is truly a beautiful state.

    Judy B.
  • gcpommom
    gcpommom Member Posts: 883
    edited June 2004
    Hi girls!

    I think that in planning a get together, the problem would be where??? What would be a good, central location that everyone could easily get to? Maybe Farmington Hills or more north???
    I think that those in Canton and myself are the furthest south, everyone else is north.

    Any ideas??

    Judy B.
  • Lorrie
    Lorrie Member Posts: 29
    edited June 2004
    Hope all the Michigan gals are doing fine (and of course all the other gals too). If there is a get together I would certainly be interested!
    Lorrie (Lorraine)
  • DebraLynn
    DebraLynn Member Posts: 228
    edited June 2004
    Lorrie!!!!!
    You live in Shelby?? I live in Troy!!!!!! We are so close. I live at Wattles(17 Mile) and Dequindre, how about you?
    Debra
  • Lorrie
    Lorrie Member Posts: 29
    edited June 2004
    Hi Debra,

    We don't live very far from each other. I live at 24 Mile and VanDyke.
    My Drs. are out of Troy Beaumont which is very close to you!
  • gcpommom
    gcpommom Member Posts: 883
    edited June 2004
    Hello Michiganders, or Michiganians....

    Today was my 20th wedding anniversary! Half my life, feels like longer...just kidding!!! He's great, very supportive.

    Hubby and I are going down to Tastefest on Saturday to get out and celebrate, the band "Jet" is playing. We went last year, saw Los Lobos, had a great time. It is one of the few times I venture downtown.

    Enjoying the beautiful weather [Smile]

    Judy B.

Categories