Ok, I'm definitley in this sorority now

CheeseQueen57 said:

Port Inserted-Check

Port inserted this AM with no problems.  However, later in the afternoon I started feeling what I call little sharp chest "pangs".  Since my father had a heart attack at 43 and there's a strong family history, I called the office and they told me to come back in.  Had EKG, another chest x ray and they don't think it's related to heart or port.  Could be that I ate a lot when I came home, I was starving so maybe my reflux acting up.  I think I need to stick with small, frequent meals.  I felt a little silly and we had to spend the entire day down there, but I guess better safe than sorry.  And they are all just such lovely people at Fox Chase.  My nurse was fantastic. 

So back home,  heating up our rotissery chicken.  

I spent a night in the ER with chest pains that turned out to be esophageal erosion.  My brother died of a massive heart attack at 37.  Once in awhile I still get that pain but at least now I know it's not my heart so I just tough it out.  But, small meals work much better for me and no eating after 7:00 p.m.

We're here for you!!!

Love,

Eldri 

CheeseQueen57 said:

My Last Day of Normal

OK. Port day today. I feel like once I get that I'm really a cancer patient. 

Ive been doing my guided imagery and relaxation exercises. I'm finding that my husband is really kinda stressing me out with his denial of all of this. I have to keep bringing him back to the reality of the situation  Which is not helping me. Somethings going to have to change. Of course, this situation is not new. Just exacerbated by something like this. Let's hope he steps up or I'll have to pull in some of my other resources. 

How have others handled this?  

It could be that you are living this  'newness' minutely because it is happening to you, for you this is a catastrophe that you now own and it in turn threatens to own you.You would like to talk about , figure it out ,plan around it marvel at how it came to be,Mentally asking  "how am I going to deal with this'  You are now programmed to do all of these over and over,  all through these motions you are expecting him to: understand ,take it on, co-operate, lighten your load,validate your topsy-turvy state of mind. However,

At this early stage after his initial shock he will now seek refuge in denial, or postponement.He will hang on to 'life as normal' for a while yet.Discussing it or willingly adjusting to the changes will for him be  acceptance of this intruder, harder if you are up and about and appears normal.Don't force the reality on him , it  will come, it will surely come, for you reality is here and now for him it's around the bend, He probably needs more info on the disease than the doctors gave.find some written info and have him read it while you are in the vicinity but not directly beside him. I have found that men , regardless of how long you are with them prefers not to hear anything about our lady parts when it's gone wrong. Intricate details leaves some men speechless and blushing, some will stare with no words, they have none,  and prefers the conversation done before it gets started.

I always suggest written info if you sense any resistance to reality. In the mean time keep the patience intact, if it kills you be kind with words used,(when you describe his behavior to him) they can't come back in your mouth. It is a long journey ,he'll take the train at the next stop or the one after but he'll likely come on board,this is different and more frightening than anything he has  known, I think. At this time you want to exhale and he wants to inhale and hold his breath uninterrupted  till it goes away.

We are here for you when you need to vent, Stress is like miracle grow to cancer and a destroyer of well being,limit it's visit please.

Moli- Just sent off comforting hugs, hope they find you.

CheeseQueen57 said:

Heart Disease vs Cancer

Yup Eldri, with my high blood pressure and high cholesterol (though well controlled) and father's heart attack at 43 i always thought it would be heart disease that would get me. Being a dietitian, I took pretty good care of myself and always got regular check ups, labs; never skipped my mammogram or yearly exam (although found out later my doc hadnt done pap for 3 years- considering suing because he never informEd me of this! but will wait until treatment is over.) Never dreamed I'd be dealing with this. 

I just saw the thread and while I am way behind wanted to say Welcome - glad your trip to Italy went well (it sounds incredible!) and things are underway to get your treatment started.

I also wanted to chime in on accupunture.  I started getting both accupunture and massage weekly, through integrative care services at my cancer center, when I started chemo in late November.  When I first started I was very much a nay sayer regarding accupunture - thought if it helped I'd do it but I really didn't think it would help much. Turns out I was wrong!  It really seemed to help me manage the side effects of nausea and the neuropathy, in fact I often added a second weekly appointment if I was having a particularly bad week with either nausea or neuropathy. The lady I see says the effects of accupunture are cummulative and with continued treatment most systems either disappear or are well managed by accupunture and I will say this has indeed been my experience.  I am about 5 weeks out from my last chemo and just started radiation last Wed.  I have continued both massage and accupunture throughout the little break between chemo and radiation and plan to continue it throughout radiation as well.

I have never had any issues with infection even when my blood levels were very low during chemo.  I hope you get to give it a try and find, like I have, that is a wonderful addition to your treatment! 

CheeseQueen57 said:

Heart Disease vs Cancer

Yup Eldri, with my high blood pressure and high cholesterol (though well controlled) and father's heart attack at 43 i always thought it would be heart disease that would get me. Being a dietitian, I took pretty good care of myself and always got regular check ups, labs; never skipped my mammogram or yearly exam (although found out later my doc hadnt done pap for 3 years- considering suing because he never informEd me of this! but will wait until treatment is over.) Never dreamed I'd be dealing with this. 

He may well have been negligent but generally the Pap test only picks up cervical cancer and is not expected to  give any clues that something is going wrong in ovaries, uterus or tubes , although the odd times  pus from the uterus may drain to the cervics and may show up on pap test only as pus. A vigilant doctor will then check what's causing the small smear ( and usually just a smear) of pus by investigating the other uterine organs.

I had a perfect pap result 1 week and 3 days before I suddenly spotted and went to the doctor , had an immediate D and C only to be told "We are sure you have endometrial cancer " The many, many confirming test started,  within 1week it was confirmed  Serous papillary endometrial adenocarcinoma. Stage 3 grade3 was confirmed after surgery 2 years ago.

A repeat pap while waiting for surgery showed absolutely no sign of cancer,no pus. although my uterus was thick with pus. Over the years before I spent a lot of time warning women against their reliance on pap to pick up any thing but what the test was created for, cervical cancer and nothing else.

Please double check all info as I am not a doctor, Ok.

Moli -Wishing NED for all of us in a hurry.

CheeseQueen57 said:

Cheese Update Here

Hi Sisters,

Just a short update. I'm recovering well from my surgery. Just a few pangs here and there and I'm not on any pain meds. 

My son and his girlfriend arrived home from Orlando for the weekend and we've been enjoying family time. Tonight we leave for an 8 day trip to Tuscany. I've reserved a wheelchair at the airport, have a pair of compression panty hose, and have been taking baby aspirin for a few days. I think I'm ready for some great food, great scenery and the making of wonderful family memories to carry me through my next unplanned journey of 18 weeks of chemo followed by radiation. 

One of my dear friends sent me the book "Praying Through Cancer" which is a 90 day devotional for women. She and 2 other friends and I will read this together through my chemo. What a gift!

In May, my BFF will come up from Dallas for a week to care for me. We've been friends since college. Tragically, she's lost her father, mother, and brother to cancer at very young ages, which has made her an excellent caregiver. 

I am investigating acupuncturists despite being discouraged from doing so by my oncologist. From what I've read and heard from friends, it may help with the neuropathy with the taxol. I intend to pursue it in a medical center setting. 

I'be purchased my wig and a baseball hat with hair for the beach. Wow!  What a market we cancer patients are!  I was talked in to a cream that's supposed to save my eyebrows. We'll see. When I come back from Italy, I'm going to have my hairdresser give me a pixie    

I guess I'm as ready as I'm going to be for my port insertion on April 25 and first chemo on April 27. But only because of the love, support, and advice of not only my wonderful friends and family, but you my sisters who I know are always there with a kind of support that no one else can provide. Thank you so much for your love and support. It means so much. 

Susan

I'm just checking in. So happy you went on your trip. Perhaps you wrote an update on a new thread and I missed it. I wanted you to know that I wish you all the best for your first chemo. I pray you will sail through like the breezes over Tuscany!

Love and Prayers,

Billie

CheeseQueen57 said:

Thanks for good wishes

Thanks Soup. He asked a lot of questions at the doctor visit today. I guess he's coming around. : )

BEST OF LUCK TODAY (((Susan - Queen of the Cheese)))

Love,

Eldri