CSN sisters and brothers How are you doing? Please check-in

New Flower
New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
edited November 2013 in Breast Cancer #1

How are you doing? CSN sisters and brothers Please check-in 

Approaching holidays keep us busy and occupied. Medical appointments take additional time and for some of us are almost like a full-time job. I have been wondering how everybody is doing especially those who have not posted for a long time.

Please tell us a little bit about what is going on in your life or just that you are Ok. Weather you are a silent reader or every day participant, newbie or old member, in remission or active treatment, on FaceBook or different cancer website we will be happy to hear from you.

We Do Care

Love

New Flower

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Comments

  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    About me

    about me

    Last Sunday I took a picture of pink algae and posted on my expression page

    My recent scan  in October showed stable, my blood was drown yesterday and I got my treatment -Faslodex shot.

    I have been very busy at work preparing for a presentation which went very well on last Tuesday. 

    I have been overwhelmed by medical insurance enrollment process as I have to select a new medical insurance plan because my current one will be cancelled next year.

    I am looking forward to Thanksgiving being off work spending time  with my husband and son, who is coming from San Francisco.

    Happy Thanksgiving to everyone  

  • lynn1950
    lynn1950 Member Posts: 2,570
    Still hanging in there

    Five years after treatment, I am busy working and holding new grandchildren.  Life is good.  My husband is planning on retiring in January.  That will be a big change for us. Looking forward to seeing how others are doing. Thanks for this strand, New Flower. xoxoxo Lynn

  • mommaellen
    mommaellen Member Posts: 195
    About Me

    I am doing great.  I have a appointment with the oncologist in December for a check up.  I am spending Thanksgiving with my long time friend (38 years) and her family.  I am looking forward to Christmas this year.  I have my daughter and 6 year old grandson living with me and I cant wait to see his face on Christmas morning when Santa comes.  Also, my Stepmom and Stepbrother are coming for Christmas so it will be fun.  I hope everyone here has a great holiday.

     

    Hugs,

     

    Mommaellen

  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    lynn1950 said:

    Still hanging in there

    Five years after treatment, I am busy working and holding new grandchildren.  Life is good.  My husband is planning on retiring in January.  That will be a big change for us. Looking forward to seeing how others are doing. Thanks for this strand, New Flower. xoxoxo Lynn

    Congratulation with your second grandchild

    Lynn,

     glad to hear from you. Well 5 years is a great accomplishment and was not easy. 

    hugs and stay in touch

  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294

    About Me

    I am doing great.  I have a appointment with the oncologist in December for a check up.  I am spending Thanksgiving with my long time friend (38 years) and her family.  I am looking forward to Christmas this year.  I have my daughter and 6 year old grandson living with me and I cant wait to see his face on Christmas morning when Santa comes.  Also, my Stepmom and Stepbrother are coming for Christmas so it will be fun.  I hope everyone here has a great holiday.

     

    Hugs,

     

    Mommaellen

    Mommaellen

    Glad to hear your good news. Happy to know that Jeffifer is recovering well

    hugs

  • SlowRollin
    SlowRollin Member Posts: 75
    In remission

    Still trying to find our way. My wife is 1 yr 6 mos into remission. Still doing reconstruction. Looking forward to spending our first Thanksgiving with the family since our world turned upside down in 2011. 

  • aisling8
    aisling8 Member Posts: 1,627 Member

    Mommaellen

    Glad to hear your good news. Happy to know that Jeffifer is recovering well

    hugs

    Doing well

    Thanks for this thread, New Flower.

    I'm doing fine, now three years NED (yay!)

    We bought a house last year. I work. I play with my grandchildren. I Zumba. I write and (sometimes) publish stories and poems. And I take pictures. 

    Wishing each and every one of us a Happy Thanksgiving and lovely holidays.

    xoxo

    Victoria

     

  • sbmly53
    sbmly53 Member Posts: 1,522
    Thank you for asking!

    I am 4 years out and doing well. While I don't post much anymore, I do check in to see how everyone is doing.

    Sue

  • desertgirl947
    desertgirl947 Member Posts: 653 Member
    I have been wondering how

    I have been wondering how everybody is doing especially those who have not posted for a long time.

    I occasionally comment on different posts, but I have not said too much about my current status in quite awhile.  I am now about 13 months past the time I finished rads and healed from the bit of burning I had.  That marked a significant end for me as I had had a double mastectomy, chemo, and then rads.  I started tamoxifen about 15 months ago and deal with some of its side effects.  Took awhile for some of those to exhibit themselves.

    I am on the three-month plan with my oncologist.  I am on the six-month plan with my surgeon, and that may change in the comin g year.  January should be the last visit I will make to my radiation oncologist.

    My hair grew back rather quickly.  It appears that it will continue to be straighter than it was -- I had thick, wavy hair.  The color is about the same.  It is softer, but it is still thick.

    When I twist and turn, I do not feel as tight in the chest as I did for quite a few months after my surgery.

    My left arm bothers me somewhat. [As it was, I had injured the shoulder when I was a younger adult -- I was playing volleyball and crashed into the wall, chasing the ball.  I put my arms up so that my head would not hit the wall hard.  I dislocated my shoulder.]  When I was doing rads, it was difficult for me to hold my arm in the position I needed to.  When I did the boosts, it was even more difficult and very uncomfortable.  I managed, though, because I was determined to finish.  My left arm was where I had lymph nodes taken.

    I can do a lot of what I used to do; but there are a few things that I can't do OR are difficult.  I just accept it as part of what goes with battling the disease.  I feel that I am doing quite well.

  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294

    I have been wondering how

    I have been wondering how everybody is doing especially those who have not posted for a long time.

    I occasionally comment on different posts, but I have not said too much about my current status in quite awhile.  I am now about 13 months past the time I finished rads and healed from the bit of burning I had.  That marked a significant end for me as I had had a double mastectomy, chemo, and then rads.  I started tamoxifen about 15 months ago and deal with some of its side effects.  Took awhile for some of those to exhibit themselves.

    I am on the three-month plan with my oncologist.  I am on the six-month plan with my surgeon, and that may change in the comin g year.  January should be the last visit I will make to my radiation oncologist.

    My hair grew back rather quickly.  It appears that it will continue to be straighter than it was -- I had thick, wavy hair.  The color is about the same.  It is softer, but it is still thick.

    When I twist and turn, I do not feel as tight in the chest as I did for quite a few months after my surgery.

    My left arm bothers me somewhat. [As it was, I had injured the shoulder when I was a younger adult -- I was playing volleyball and crashed into the wall, chasing the ball.  I put my arms up so that my head would not hit the wall hard.  I dislocated my shoulder.]  When I was doing rads, it was difficult for me to hold my arm in the position I needed to.  When I did the boosts, it was even more difficult and very uncomfortable.  I managed, though, because I was determined to finish.  My left arm was where I had lymph nodes taken.

    I can do a lot of what I used to do; but there are a few things that I can't do OR are difficult.  I just accept it as part of what goes with battling the disease.  I feel that I am doing quite well.

    Thank you all who responded

    Thank you all for taking time to respond.Lgad to hear that many have been dating NED. The good news you can share him with each other and nobody is jealous or upset.

    Victoria, how come you never took a picture of us?

    SlowRolin - good luck with reconstruction, hope everything will go smoothly

    Sue - thank for staying and follow on everybody

    Desergirl glad to hear about your recovery. It took me 12 months to recover from mastectomy, Chemo and radiation. I hope you feel stronger every day as time go by.

    We all have our challenges moving forward and dealing with this disease.

     Chemo girls how are you doing, still waiting to hear from you as well as radiation graduates and many others. 

    Tomorrow is a busy day for me, taking vacation for 3 medical appointments. 

    Hugs

     

  • hope67
    hope67 Member Posts: 181
    About me

    New Flower, how nice of you to start this thread.

    As I already posted, I am going in tomorrow for my second mastectomy. In my right breast I have a tissue expander and now I am getting one in my left, too. I can't wait to get them out in 3 months or so.

    Otherwise, I think that I am doing fine. I am on Tamoxifen and I am not having many side effects (right now I have a yeast infection).

    Sometimes I think that too many bad things happenned to our family (my sister BC, my father stomach cancer, my BC, and then sudden death of my mom, and all that in year and a half). But that's life, you have to accept what it gives you.

    Carmen

  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    one year since 2nd lumpectomy

    one year since 2nd lumpectomy (which wss ONLY scar tissue from first surgery) finished up my 5th year tamoxifen. ALL GOOD..Happy to say.

    Denise

  • Annette 11
    Annette 11 Member Posts: 380
    Doing great!

    Hello everyone,

    It's been 3yrs since my last chemo and I am feeling wonderful. I do check B/C site now and then so I guess I am a silent reader. Hopefully all have a good holiday.

    Love,

    Annette

  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    I have had a rough year with

    I have had a rough year with liver mets back in March.  Currently NEAD (no evidence of active disease) and stable after taxotere, herceptin and perjeta.  Taxotere finished, but on the other 2 indefinitely.  Have run into osteonecrosis of jaw after ~5 years of xgeva, so had to stop xgeva.

    But, I am stable and feeling better and off to Disney World next month.

  • Jean 0609
    Jean 0609 Member Posts: 2,462
    New Flower you are so sweet!

     

    I am doing ok.  I have a new grandson, Bradley, Jr. who is 2 weeks old today.  His older sister, Isabella is 3.  His foster sister is 15 months old.  They have had her since she was 3 weeks old.  They are hoping to adopt her.  My other son and daughter in law are expecting in March.  Our family is growing.

     

    Olga, I am sorry you aren't coming east this year.  I would have loved to have met up with you again.  Maybe next year.  California is still on my bucket list.

     

    xoxo,

    Jean

     

  • smilingdeb
    smilingdeb Member Posts: 50
    I'm still here after my scare

    I have been in remission for 2 1/2 years now and had congrestive heart failure 1 year ago. I was on my death bed with my heart functioning at 10%. I had pneumonia with blood clots in both of my legs (now I have DVT), lungs and heart. The three in my heart, one of them was a size of a golf ball next to one of my valve. If it was to move and cover the valve I would have had a stroke, brain damage or died. The doctors said I was a miracle and a very strong warrior after learning about my breast cancer history. I was in the hospital for almost a month. When I got out I went stright to Card. rehab and now my heart is functioning at 45% (a normal heart is 75%) The heart cath. showed my heart was pumping good and strong and the veins looked good without any blockage. My Card. doctor does not think that my heart will get any stronger but that's okay cause I am still living. Please everyone, if you have any type of family medical history tell your doctor and make sure that any medication you are taking does not have any side effects that will make the problem worse or put your life in danger. Hope you all are doing great and getting ready for the holidays.

    Take care and Bless you all,

    Deb

    P.S. What cause all this? The aggressive chemo treatment, I think they said radiation (I was heavy duty medicated) and anastrozole (arimidex)

  • Eleanor1
    Eleanor1 Member Posts: 68
    It' s been a year since the

    It' s been a year since the diagnosis, nine months since last chemo and six months since last rads...and I am doing great!!I finally went back to work and being a nurse who went through cancer, I now see myself in every patient I take care of... My hair grew back so fast but very curly. I also hurt my arm/shoulder where I had my rads and presently on phys. therapy. I got into depression for awhile but getting better everyday.i am just glad things are getting back to normal slowly but surely! I may not be able to go back to my old self completely but I am embracing the new me! 

     

     

  • mjjones453
    mjjones453 Member Posts: 155

    About me

    about me

    Last Sunday I took a picture of pink algae and posted on my expression page

    My recent scan  in October showed stable, my blood was drown yesterday and I got my treatment -Faslodex shot.

    I have been very busy at work preparing for a presentation which went very well on last Tuesday. 

    I have been overwhelmed by medical insurance enrollment process as I have to select a new medical insurance plan because my current one will be cancelled next year.

    I am looking forward to Thanksgiving being off work spending time  with my husband and son, who is coming from San Francisco.

    Happy Thanksgiving to everyone  

    about me

    I am one that rarely posts, but thought I would check in.  I am close to my four year anniversary, which will be in February.  I will finish my fourth year on Tamoxifen in May  (I have always blamed any illness on tamoxifens side effects!). I have been doing well except for learning to deal with Adult onset asthma, and now I have herniated discs (which I can't blame on tamoxifen) in my back that I am consulting a surgeon about.  I visit the Oncologist every 6 months now, which is fine.  I have found that for myself, each day has gotten easier, since my breast cancer diagnosis, but I feel that it is still at the front of my mind. 

    I have a very supportive husband, 2 grown boys married to 2 wonderful girls, and 3 grandchildren.  

    Even though I don't post, I have been encouraged by many of you that have posted, and have prayed for those going through rough times!

    Mary

  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    This has been a tough year.
    I am thankful to be here. This has been a rough year. All treatment was stopped which makes it harder tonstay hopeful. Had a big mixup with medicare when my insurance through work went from primary to secondary. Extremely stressful to get one bill for 38k, then find out that my primary stopped covering herceptin, knowing that it was slowing the progression and wanting 17 months worth of treatments, chemo and scans, back, as I was her2 undetermined and they thought I was her2+. Then put on Adriamycin until Inended up with 3 embolisms in my lungs and I spent 5 nights in the hospital. This was when all treatment stopped, my body can not tolerate chemo, and Xgeva was stopped because of necrosis to the jaw.
    Now I am on thyroid meds, Coumaden and pain meds. I still take vitamin d and b12 shots and potassium. I guess it was purely coincidental that all treatment stopped at the same time as medicare staryed. I wondered for a while when they even stoped Evista (the hormone blocker). I finished 10 days of radiation on my right knee and upper femu, then started 12 days of radiation to my thrasic spine, to try and stop the tumors from putting pressure on my spinal column which was causing weakness in my legs (so I dont end up paralyzed from the waist down).
    I have a hard time with all of it at times and tire pretty easy, but I am so happy to be able to say that my medical team was wrong in their prognosis as far as a timeline.:)) Some days are better than others, but I am very happy to take as many as God is willing to give me!
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    camul said:

    This has been a tough year.
    I am thankful to be here. This has been a rough year. All treatment was stopped which makes it harder tonstay hopeful. Had a big mixup with medicare when my insurance through work went from primary to secondary. Extremely stressful to get one bill for 38k, then find out that my primary stopped covering herceptin, knowing that it was slowing the progression and wanting 17 months worth of treatments, chemo and scans, back, as I was her2 undetermined and they thought I was her2+. Then put on Adriamycin until Inended up with 3 embolisms in my lungs and I spent 5 nights in the hospital. This was when all treatment stopped, my body can not tolerate chemo, and Xgeva was stopped because of necrosis to the jaw.
    Now I am on thyroid meds, Coumaden and pain meds. I still take vitamin d and b12 shots and potassium. I guess it was purely coincidental that all treatment stopped at the same time as medicare staryed. I wondered for a while when they even stoped Evista (the hormone blocker). I finished 10 days of radiation on my right knee and upper femu, then started 12 days of radiation to my thrasic spine, to try and stop the tumors from putting pressure on my spinal column which was causing weakness in my legs (so I dont end up paralyzed from the waist down).
    I have a hard time with all of it at times and tire pretty easy, but I am so happy to be able to say that my medical team was wrong in their prognosis as far as a timeline.:)) Some days are better than others, but I am very happy to take as many as God is willing to give me!

    Thank you all for sharing your stories

    thank you for sharing, we smile and cry together, amazing power of human spirit.

    hugs