Roll Call November 2007

I'll submit a photo shortly!

Late to this post.

I'm Karen.

I was I diagnosed with Stage 2 IDC 11/13/07. I had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biospsy 11/30/07. The tumor was 2.2cm, Her2/neu-, ER/PR+, Grade 2. Three sentinel nodes were biopsied, all negative.

Since then...I have been waiting, mainly because of the holidays. I am waiting for the Oncotype DX results...hopefully I will know this week. I have already beeen measure for radiation, and tomorrow I have a PET scan, then more waiting for those results. The waiting is the WORST. 

My younger sister Cynthia passed away 3/1/06. She was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer just two months before. My older sister was so freaked out when I told her about me...she keep compaing my situation to Cynthia's. But for some unknown reason, I am going to live, and Cynthia did not. Cynthia's death just about took the life out of me. I just couldn't believe what was happening to her, my best friend in this world, and there ws nothing...nothing...I could to about it. Towards the end, I was so distressed that I started having panic attacks, and couldn't get on the plane to fly home to see her.  The last time I saw Cynthia, 4 days before she died, she had seemed to rebound after a very scary night. She could only speak in a whisper, but she said she felt good. Then she asked me, "What's wrong?"...and what could I say to that? So, I just stroked her face, and kissed her lips, and told her I loved her. We stared in each other eyes for a afew minutes, then I told her I'd be back to stay in a few days. I asked her if she would be there, and she said, "I'll be here." I got the call that she had passed on the night before I was set to go back.

I wasn't the same after she died...and I had been greiving since then. Until this diagnosis forced me into the present. Cynthia was so funny, brave, courageous, and strong...to the end. She defied all the doctor's predictions to the end too. I have a great role model in  how to deal with my diagnosis...my beautiful little sister Cynthia.

Hi Crystal,

I am located in Oakland, CA. Where are you? Jacquelyn is a strong woman...I haven't even started treatment, and I find it difficult to go to work. IBC is a beast, but women do survive it. I will add your mother to my prayer list. Thanks for you condolences.

Mibriggs,

You are so beautiful and so is your son. I hope everything goes well for you and you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Crystal

Hello Everyone,

First of all, I want to say that I'm glad this forum is here for us!

My name is Elizabeth,

I was diagnosed March 2006 Stage II, 3/14 lymph nodes positive, er/pr+.  Had a lumpectomy in March 2006 followed by AC/Taxol completed September 2006, no clear margins, mastectomy March 2007.  I'm now taking Arimidex for five years.  My joints hurt,  but otherwise I feel good. 

HI KIM

I TAKE A LOT OF SUPPLEMENTS--I TELL ANYONE TO READ THE INFO ON WHAT IT IS YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT TAKING AND TRUST YOUR GUT--IT EITHER SAYS OK---OR NO!!!  A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE RELUCTANT TO USE SUPPLEMENTS--THE CHEMO DEPLETES THE BODY, SO I MYSELF JUST WILL TRY THINGS, MY DR. CALLS MY CASE "UNIQUE"  IT IS CERTAINLY JESUS FIRST, AND WHAT EVER ELSE I CAN FIND FOR SUPPLEMENTS---READ, READ, READ!!!  I DID HEAR THAT FLAXSEED OIL HELPED BENEFIT THE HERCEPTIN, THIS JUST CAME OUT.  I TAKE FLAXSEED OIL FOR ALL THE BENEFITS IS HAS LISTED.  RIGHT NOW, MY CHEMO IS NAVELBINE AND TYKERB.

TAKE CARE.

LINDA C

Hello Trish,

welcome, welcome, welcome, as Felicia says to the club no one wants to join.  But thank God for it.  This site has been such a blessing to me. Living in a hick town that I do I don't think these people know how to handle black women with bc.  Everything around here is gered towards whites.  I am financially challenged right now so I tried to get a free wig through the wig program they have no wigs for AA women.  They didn't realize it until I was sitting in the chair for 30 min while the girl set up her hair station.  I have been going through for almost 3 months trying to get a tawny(AA) breast prosthesis.  They say well it's going to be inside your bra know one will see it so it shouldn't make a difference what color it is.  I said I will.  They sure wouldn't want to walk around with a black girl boob and one white what if I wanted to show some clevage?  I signed up for a reach to recovery partner.  The lady called me one time and I think she realized I was black and has never called me back.  I tried to contact her for answers to some questions and she never responded to my messages.  I don't know any other person in this town that is or has gone through what I am going through.  That is why I get on this site everyday to get some encouragement, laughter, to vent, and just love all around.  My journey began in Oct 2007 and my last tx is Mar 5.  I thank God for this journey for it has made me a stronger person.  Spiritually and mentally. 

Take care and may God bless you all

Sabrina

Hi Felicia,

I am doing much better.  It was definitely more than I bargained  for, but God is good and is seeing me through. Last week was my first week back to work.  All I could do was get home and get in my recliner.  I'm so blessed to have a wonderful husband who can cook, clean and do everything else, just as good as me.

Hey Felicia!!  Yes, I am enjoying my age!!!  I am so content with the person I am right now.  Well the visit to the onc went well I have a lot of confidence in her.  I should start treatment in 2 wks. because my surgeon will be removing my staples next wed.  I plan on having a port inserted because I'm not looking forward to someone poking around in my veins all the time (although sometimes its unavoidable).  But I'm just pressing on.  How are you? 

Yogi

Hi ladies, it's been a long time since I've been here. Well, I'm finally finished with my A/C txs. Thank goodness!!! I hated that red dye.

I'll be started taxol and herceptin weekly for 12 weeks on 7 March. Not really excited about that, but whatever I need to do to get back to my normal self, I'm ready! I still have six weeks of rads to do, not ready to get cooked though.

I hope everyone a blessed weekend!