Stage 2 Sisters Club

Making the decisions is the hardest part. Congratulations on getting past that hurdle and on to finishing up your treatments & the rest of your life!

Unless the side effects become an obstacle, going with Radiation and Arimidex. . .thanks, all.

Well, that is no fun, mom!

I'm good

I didn't a lot of traveling this winter, which was fun, and it was good to not be here because the weather was awful (and not so great yet, the northern part of the state got more snow yesterday!). Now that I'm home, I've been doing some subbing, playing with my new grand-puppy, trying to get some projects done around the house, and get some summer plans finalized. I have my annual check-in with the oncologist next Thursday. If all goes well, I can check that off my worry list for awhile.

Happy May!

I retired in 2013, but still substitute at my old school (so could still be working every day if I wanted to). So I am more like semi-retired, or 2/3rds retired.

My 3D Mammogram was today. This is Year 2 since the end of treatment.They had to squish me a second time, but I am all clean and got a BI-RADS 2 rating. I was calm during the whole thing, but felt rather annoyed when it was all over. Anger? Sadness? I guess you never know what you're going to feel. I will take the good news, though.

I had my first dose (annual) of Reclast in January but my bone density showed osteoporosis and osteopenia. My MO did say that it has shown in some studies to offer mild protection from bone Mets. I’ll take any potential benefit I can get, especially since I need it anyway.

I've been diagnosed 2b. 3cm tumour. 1.8cm node.

Er+ Pr+ her2-.

It's been the lowest point in my life. Anyone survive similar?

Libby

Many, many, many people (in fact most people) with that diagnosis not only survive but go on the live long, happy, cancer-free lives. The beginning is the worst part; once you get a treatment plan it place, you set your mind on getting through it and then on to the rest of your life. Sending you a hug!!!

Libby2002: Hi, yes, we're here. I'm not saying it's big fun, but I am two years post treatment and I can now worry about other stuff. It's like you ultimately relax and trust God. Every woman is different, every case is different.

hi - just chemo so far. Neoadjunctive.

The stats of the tumour and nodes I've added are presurgery

Libby

Just noticed this Club after all this time. I wanted all of you in this club to know I am now a 7 year survivor this July. Hang in there! All of you can do this and we are all here to support each other!

Libby, I had a very similar diagnosis, and am now over a year and a half since being diagnosed, and yesterday marked the one year end of treatment (mastectomy, chemo and rads). The resources and community here are amazing, and i encourage you to use it, because we all lived and are living what you are experiencing, and we "get" the good days, the bad days, and the in betweens. Listen to the positive women here, because they are inspiring. Oddly, this morning I was out for a long walk, and was thinking that while the experience was so scary and terrible and challenging, it was in many ways like God had pushed my reset button. Prior to diagnosis I had become so obsessed and driven and angry in my business that i was ignoring all the things in my life for which I should be grateful. But at the time I didn't see myself that way at all. Today i take time to be grateful every day, to enjoy my family, to love them back, to notice my neighbor's beautiful garden, and to be kinder to those around including total strangers, as well as myself. We all arrive here as one person, i think we all end up different. What that different ultimately means is up to us. If i had one more thing to offer it would be to surround yourself with positive people, and don't feel at all guilty about closing off anyone - family or friends -who is negative or leads you to believe that you can't get through all the surgery and treatment, and live a long and wonderful life. Because you can, and the ladies here are shining examples of that. They inspired me, and continue to do so. The road curves, the journey is not easy, but the opportunity for the future and joy is there.

Hello stage 2 sisters!

I am writing in for a dear friend. She was dx'ed with stage 2 IDC and went through RADS and double BMX. She is now in the ER for two days and counting in San Francisco far away from her home in Portland, because her breast became swollen and painful and bright red.

The docs have told her it is a "life-threatening infection" and "going to take a long time to heal because radiation damages the breast tissue so there is a decreased blood flow to the area" and that "the antibiotics are not getting to the breast."

I am writing for her to gather as much information as possible. Please feel free to PM me too. I am worried about her. So far I have just now asked her to please contact her MO in Portland and get them on board. She really doesn't know how to play this game and didn't believe me that her MO would be able to receive emergency messages like this one. She is calling as I type this thank goodness.

Thank you so much in advance for all your help and input. love to all!!!

Philly

Sharon, thanks. I am interested in this as well.

Miss and Sharon, thanks. I am interested in this as well.

Ruthbru, what you say is true, but even though the numbers are only true for a large group, I want to know. Knowing the odds is important when you are being asked to raise your hand for more treatment.