Strong ladies

sandyinmi said:

Being scared doesn't change anything....
and only depletes you of energy you could use for your own healing.

Diagnosed in December and had surgery in January. Two tumors - one as large as a watermelon, the other the size of a cantalope. Doctor thought I was IIIC. Pathology came back, we found I was a IIB. I wasted much of my minimal strength worrying and it didn't change things and didn't help.

I've since found I'm BRCA 2 positive. Odds of breast cancer hovering around 90%. I want to put my energy into healing and doing things that I enjoy....will deal with the unpleasantness as I have to.

If you can, do something fun tomorrow. Go to the zoo, play with the grandkids, whatever.

I just read your background. You have amazing strength yourself.

Please let us know how it goes on Tuesday, ok?
Sandy

Dear Lisha
Keep telling yourself that whatever the news is on Tuesday, you can face it and will deal with it. Given all that you've gone through in your life, you already proven that you're a fighter.

Sending you lots of good thoughts and prayers for the best possible news on Tuesday.

Hugs,
Kelly

sandyinmi said:

Being scared doesn't change anything....
and only depletes you of energy you could use for your own healing.

Diagnosed in December and had surgery in January. Two tumors - one as large as a watermelon, the other the size of a cantalope. Doctor thought I was IIIC. Pathology came back, we found I was a IIB. I wasted much of my minimal strength worrying and it didn't change things and didn't help.

I've since found I'm BRCA 2 positive. Odds of breast cancer hovering around 90%. I want to put my energy into healing and doing things that I enjoy....will deal with the unpleasantness as I have to.

If you can, do something fun tomorrow. Go to the zoo, play with the grandkids, whatever.

I just read your background. You have amazing strength yourself.

Please let us know how it goes on Tuesday, ok?
Sandy

What I have found with
What I have found with reading post after post, is that size doesn't matter. Many of you...have had huge tumors....meaning cantaloupe, watermelon, ect. But many times you still have cancer that has maintained localization in the pelvis keeping you at II grade or under. My tumor was 7.3 by 5.6 on the right ovary and when they went in my left ovary was small, but full of cancer. I had no lymph node involvement, but lesions in my omentum which took cancer out of the pelvis and into the abdomen making me stage III c. The c of course meaning high grade.

Ok, now a thought.... the the factor of fear...Yes, I agree keeping a positive attitude is the best for yourself, people around you, and an overall better feeling of survival. Easier said than done. I currently am so sad that I cry a lot. I know I have everyone helping me, praying, and my prognosis has been good. I'm responding well to chemo....sometimes too well due to having more frequent low WBC and RBC which has held my chemo more frequently. For having ovca....I have had the best news...but....I'm sad. The drugs we take such as chemo, neupogen, anti-nausea, pain killers, ect all play havoc with our bodies and emotions. Let alone the uncertainty of cancer and its future. Yes, it depletes your energy...but so does everything we have to do to fight this disease. I think it is part the journey we are on. It is exhausting. As you can tell I am in a down stroke right now. Everytime my blood counts are low, my mood is also low. But...to fight fight the fear and bring out the courage...look forward to the good days when you feel yourself, you are managing the drugs, the treatments. On the bad days lean on those who are close to you and let them in to help you. Kim

Tethys41 said:

Ignorance is Bliss
I was not blind to what was going on with me, but I told my doctor, up front, that I didn't want to hear about survival or statistics. I'm very glad I did, because, if we'd had that conversation, he would have told me I had less than a year (this is what he told my brother). I was diagnosed stage IIIc papillary serous adenocarcinoma: suboptimal debulking; 16 of 21 lymphnodes removed were cancerous; the surgeon left tumors on my liver and lymph nodes in my mesentary tissue that were unrecognizable, due to disease involvement. But instead of focusing on my poor diagnosis, that I didn't know about, I forged ahead;researched my options, kept my thoughts trained on getting well. Over the course of my treatment, I developed so much ascites that I had to have it drained every three days for two months. All told, I had 80 liters drained. I was put on TPN 24/7 for 3 months. I incorporated a lot of integrative therapies into my treatment, under the guidance of my naturopah, much to my doctors' dismay: high dose IV vitamin C, supplements, biofeedback, and creative visualization. Well...I made it, and have been NED for 2 1/2 years. Anything is possible.

Tethys You have an amazing
Tethys You have an amazing story. Kim

This is all new to you
So being scared is part of the ride. It took me about four months and then I went back to something I did 20 years ago drawing and it takes my mind off of the tension of waiting for a reports. But when it comes to catscans nothing takes my mind off it and I have just over a year of waiting. Talking with the ladies on this site helps alot. At first it is hard to see the strenght you had before is still there and you will find it soon just reach out to those you love and let them help you through this. That was the hardest thing for me to do before I was dx I was a house manager for adult with mental handicapps. I spent most of my life helping others so asking for help was very hard to do. You being a nures I bet it is hard for you also but do it that is the only way I made it through this.

Much
Love, hugs, and prayers
Anne

Tethys41 said:

Ignorance is Bliss
I was not blind to what was going on with me, but I told my doctor, up front, that I didn't want to hear about survival or statistics. I'm very glad I did, because, if we'd had that conversation, he would have told me I had less than a year (this is what he told my brother). I was diagnosed stage IIIc papillary serous adenocarcinoma: suboptimal debulking; 16 of 21 lymphnodes removed were cancerous; the surgeon left tumors on my liver and lymph nodes in my mesentary tissue that were unrecognizable, due to disease involvement. But instead of focusing on my poor diagnosis, that I didn't know about, I forged ahead;researched my options, kept my thoughts trained on getting well. Over the course of my treatment, I developed so much ascites that I had to have it drained every three days for two months. All told, I had 80 liters drained. I was put on TPN 24/7 for 3 months. I incorporated a lot of integrative therapies into my treatment, under the guidance of my naturopah, much to my doctors' dismay: high dose IV vitamin C, supplements, biofeedback, and creative visualization. Well...I made it, and have been NED for 2 1/2 years. Anything is possible.

What is biofeedback?

What is biofeedback?

Tina does not want to know
Tina does not want to know anything. I do the researching and what not on the internet. She will ask me something and I usually say look it up but she will not. She's funny like that. If she really presses me I will try to put it in such a way that its truthful but candy coated. She will not even consider coming on these forums and i have tried to get her to several times. She worries but I don't think as much as if she knew what I know.

Tethys thank you soooooo much

Your post was very uplifting to me when I needed it the most. Thank you

I except that I am afraid
I except that I am afraid and hope for the best. I understand the fear of the unknown. I let the tears flow and sometimes journal or do art work. Try and do things that you enjoy. Hope for the best

Hugs

Carol