Positive Girls Club

Beth love the pictures. I had 2 great positives today - 1 - I slept though the night - no 2am or 3am a wake for the night (course had the roughest night Sunday so...) but it felt so good to wake up to the alarm instead of watching the hours slowing move towards morning and 2 - my chest CT came back clean (they saw some nodules pre op and now I have to be watched) I was so positive that the breast cancer would save my life from the lung cancer in the beginning...I've decided its from gardening - lots of bird feeders so I've self diagnosed myself with histoplasmosis.

My positive is that I had my first infusion and it went well. Hope this holds out. I have no headache, but am really tired, probably the ativan. So, it wasn't as big as my mind made it, it was good. So, that's positive.

jpann - I am glad you have a surgery date. That must be a bummer. At least you are moving forward.

No real positives to report this week either.

Jule, will keep you in my prayers for good results on Monday.

Beth, that must have been so frightening, glad that your ds was okay and only minor damage to the house. The weather was nice last weekend so down came the Christmas stuff. I know what you mean though, I usually have to wait until after Easter sometimes longer.

Charlie,glad your first infusion went well. Hope it stays that way for you.

Well everyone have a great weekend.

Sue

Hi Positive Girls,

My positive this week is that I got results from my genetics test, and I am negative for BRCA 1 and 2. I had 2 major risk factors - early onset (40) and Jewish background. Even tho I was dxed almost 7 years ago, I'ved been concerned about my two daughters (11 and 14) and my sister and her daughter. From a medical management standpoint, I've already done everything I would do had it been positive (bilat mast in 2000 and ooph/hyst in 2001), but this is very good for my girls, and it's one less worry I'll have for them (got enough already!).

Jule, Beth, Charlie and Crystal, good to share your positives with you today. Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Renee

Hi Positive Ladies,
It has been a pretty queit week for me. Still feeling pretty good! One positive, it feels like spring is finally here and it is so nice to get outside and do things!
I hope everyone has a nice weekend and we will meet up next friday, if not before!!

Pam

I'm a little late this week, and while what I'm about to post might at first sound a little depressing, I'm actually looking at it as mostly good news.
I had to have a little secondary (out-patient) surgery this past Thursday. Some of you might remember that I had a lumpectomy and radiation back in 2003. Anyway, the radiation apparently did damage to my skin (I had NO idea that radiation stuck around so long). The damage to the skin is causing me problems now. I ended up with large blisters under my breast after the mascetomy/ reconstruction. Unfortunately, that area was not healing and was in fact spreading. On top of that, my breast was not draining as it should on it's own after the removal of the drain tubes. That was the biggest lump of fluid filled boob you ever saw, and was quite uncomfortable. Anyway, the surgery was to cut out all the dead skin and re-stitch that, and also re-insert the drain tube. So, the bad news is I had to have this done...The good news is the dead skin area looks SOOO much better and the drained boob is comfortable enough that I am actually grateful for the drain tube.
Next, my mom went home today. Don't get me wrong, I love my mom to death and am ever so grateful the the help she provided me and my husband during the past few weeks, but I'm ready for some "alone" time...That sounds horrible, doesn't it??? I look at this event a a mostly sad but a teeeennnnyyyy bit happy event (Please don't think ill of me for thinking this way).
Lastly, a little about myself as I see we are starting to leave little biographies...I'm almost 49 years old, married for 28 years, have 1 daughter who no longer lives at home, and 3 dogs. I live in Minnesota, USA, but really don't like it (again sorry about that Minnesota lovers). I'm originally from Florida (long story), and it's just WAY to cold up here about 8-1/2 months out of the year. I work at an electrical wholesaler. My loves are tatting, which is a form of lace making, genealogy, which is my one true passion, and golf, which is apparently out this year so I'll have lots of time for the genealogy.
Well, that's about it...sorry this post is so long, but I've killed a couple birds with one stone here. Hope everyone is doing wonderfully and keeping positive.
Hugs to all, Kathi

Jule - I'm so sorry that your lymph node issue has come to this. But they'll take that sucker out and we're all pulling for you. Surely it's just scar tissue from the rads.

Congratulations on neg. BRCA tests for Kelly and Renee! I know it must be a relief for both you and your families.

MissS - sorry you have had such an ordeal, but glad you are feeling better on this beautiful day. I have been informed that I no longer have a job to come back to, myself. And I've been at that office nearly 7 years! The federal FMLA doesn't apply because there are fewer than 25 employees.

My positives (sorry they're a day late)
My garden is simply bursting with blooms. This morning alone I filled vases with 4 different roses, alstromeria, freesia, scabiosa, lavender, salvia, narcissus, etc. This doesn't even include all the other bushes/vines/trees that are also in bloom - my clematis, brunfelsia, lavetera, climbing roses, nectarine, brugmansia, etc. When I consider how much I've had to neglect my garden due to surgery and chemo and that we've had only a few inches of rain all season - I feel especially blessed that it is still so delightful this Spring. Having fresh flowers on my bedside table, my desk, my dining table, in my bathroom - all just gives me such a lift!

Okay - so I got carried away. Sorry.

My other positive is that I still have HAIR! My original goal, when it started seriously shedding on Day #14 was to make it until my onc. appointment on Day #17. I pranced in there saying "Neener, Neener!" because he had told me he could guarantee I'd lose it btwn 14 and 17. Now it is Day #19 and although it isn't nearly as thick as it once was (by about half!), I got a compliment from a neighbor on my 'do last evening. My next goal is to be able to wear HAIR to church tomorrow. Wearing a hat on Easter Sunday will be so much easier because it's almost traditional that many non-hat-wearers will still break one out on Easter Sunday. So I'll fit right in.

Wishing a great weekend to all my BC sisters!
Lisa

Just got a couple mid-week positives today. First, I got a wonderful pm from Jule. Thank you again, it brightened my spirits immensely and I cannot believe how caring you are even with all the mishagoss(craziness) that you aer going through. See, another positive, you are learning Yiddish!
Also, the contractor just came out this morning. He said because the siding is so old, he can't amtch the burned portions when he replaces it. So we are getting new siding. It needed replacing this year anyway because it is peeling. Also, they are going to uprgrade the electric service as part of our coverage. Wow, who knew we would have a fire and who knew it would replace so much that needed doing anyway. And best of all, I don't have to worry about dh climbing a ladder! one down side is Eric, my ds, is having nightmares once in a while. His pediatrician said it will pass. Heck, I have them about fires happening again too. But I take Xanax to get rid of mine, LOL. Ya know, they really should make them as lollipops like they do with Oxycontin.
BTW, Miss S, your grandson is so adorable. Mine are getting big but I should let you guys see pics of them. If you go to my website (click below) I fianlly got pics psoted there from ds' Bar Mtizvah.
See you all on Friday.

I have something postive to report that I am happy about. I had my lumpectomy this past friday and Monday the doctor called me with the Pathology. He said it remained DCIS grade 1. I made him repeat it and today I had them fax me the report. I had 7mm of grade 1 DCIS, nothing invasive and .5 cm margin. I feel deeply blessed but still shaky -- it's only been 2 weeks since initial dx. I feel as if I've been on a rollercoaster and I'm still afraid for some reason but I have the earliest type of breast cancer you can have. On top of that I only had a bandage on my breast -- no wrap. Again, I feel truly blessed and I'm very humble and have all of you in prayers.

Thanks Beth....had a great day.

I went to the Look Good Feel Better yesterday in Calgary, had lots of fun, and received lots of goodies.

Hope everyone else is having a good week.

Cheers...& Hugs..


Joni