I want to thank everyone again who responded to my first posting about this. Your good wishes and lovely photos have meant a lot to me and helped sustain me through this.

I don't know when I'll be up to getting on the computer after the surgery but I'll let you know how it turns out when I can.

Linda

Hugs,
Carol

Deb

Please do everything they say unless you don't want to.

HUGGGSSS...
Samantha/Sam and still Matisse's mom.

I've added you to my prayers too! Best of luck on Friday, rest well, then let us hear from you when you feel like socializing a little (((((hugs)))))

Last night I dreamed there were bears and wolves, all with cubs, moving toward our house from the back yard. I was surprised to see them but was safe in my house so I didn't feel threatened. I interpret that as the bears and wolves representing my cancer and the cubs the cancer growing. I'm safe because they are confined to my breasts while the rest of my body is safe. I've been having a lot of strange dreams lately. I chalk it up to my subconscious dealing with the cancer.

Thank you for being there for me. I'll give you an update as soon as I can.

Linda

Wishing you all the best---Sounds like you are doing the right thing.

"Grace" and peace to you

Florence

hurry back--we will miss you

Well BEing.

valerie

Florence

Deb

Valerie

I am late to your post, and your surgery is over, and I'm praying that all went the very best way possible. Some of the women here are intimately acquainted with breast cancer.

Please know that my prayers are with you, and you are on my ongoing prayer list.

My best,
Brenda

I've been out of town...hope all went/goes well. You're on my prayer list as well!

melanie

My mom had BC for nearly 20 years, a very aggressive kind and in her lymph nodes already when diagnosed. It was scary and sobering, but it was also a truly wonderful 20 years! She was told she'd die in 6 months when she was diagnosed.

Keep the faith and know that survivors abound. Rest up and take care while recuperating... lots of hot cocoa and snuggly blankets!

We'll know more on Thursday when I see my surgeon for the post-op office visit. We'll have the pathology report by then and appointments for scans and my oncologist.

I'm doing fine, keeping the pain under control, drinking lots of fluids and moving around. I plan to be out in the garden next spring, planting roses. I ordered five this fall for spring delivery.

Susan, I love the bird house. I want to start collecting interesting bird houses to put out in the garden. Did you make that one or buy it somewhere?

Thanks again to everyone for being so supportive.

Linda

As for the birdhouse, we got it a few years ago at a local nursery for $100. It was on sale from $300, probably marked up way too high.

Here's another birdhouse in my garden...turn up your speakers!

I read about your dream. Dream, in part, is a subconscious message within us that can warn us of what’s coming. Ultimately, the outcome depends on what we actually do. You are under good care and support, including those from the forum. Believe that you will be healed. Best wishes.

The diet advice is good----keep thinking good healing thoughts.
Take Care ---you have many rosey friends.

Florence

When my dad did chemo he was not allowed any fresh fruits or veggies, only canned. They were afraid that something might be contaminated; like the spinach a few weeks ago. To someone with no immune system, this could be very serious. Be sure to talk to your doctors to see what they allow.

I never really understood why they didn't allow him stuff we grew in his garden, the benefits seemed to out-weigh not having it. After that spinach scare, I'm pretty glad we didn't take the chance.

If they don't allow fresh, ask about juicing or taking some natural vitamins or supplements. A good health food store can tell you what they recommend. I did ask about juicing; my mail lady swears by it; but in my dad's case they said no.

During his chemo he was given some horse pills, and found them hard to swallow. The only thing that worked for him was to take them with the heavy syrup in canned fruit. Don't know if this will help you down the road but figured I'd mention it just in case.

Good luck.

keeping you in my thoughts and prayers,
pat

My thoughts and prayers are with you. Keep thinking about the roses coming this spring.

PS Hopefully you aren't floating away in Oregon

I'm scheduled for a PET scan and CT scan on the 15th. We're trying to get my oncologist's office to jump in and get them moved up to an earlier date. Once we have that information we'll be able to set a course of treatment. We need to know how far it has spread. The fact that it has spread to the lymph nodes means it is no longer DCIS. It is now invasive cancer but we don't know what stage. The stress of all this is wearing on me today. Thanks for your encouraging words. I really need them today.

Moodyblue, the roses I ordered are Lady Emma Harrison, Violette (to replace one that the mice killed), Lindee, and two bush Devoniensis. I also have about 25 roses in the pot ghetto waiting to go in the ground. I plan to be very busy next spring.

Roses got me through the death of my mother and they'll get me through this. It's so nice to have something that beautiful to focus on when things around you are looking so bleak. It's also good to have friends like all of you to provide moral support.

Keep us posted on the pet scan. It sounds like they need to get you in there asap. Keep your chin up, you have a lot of people keeping you in their thoughts.

Carla

This is a rose I bought in honor of my mother...Pink Peace. I hope it brings you joy and peace.

Lisa

Those liquid meals are good sometimes also when you cannot possibly eat, ensures, resource, they are full of lots of nutrietns.

Valerie

Just let me add my support and prayers to everyone elses, you're going to get through this. And bless that good man at your side.

Rosewest

I had a port inserted yesterday so that chemo will be much easier for me. They can't use my left arm which would mean they would have to use the veins in my right hand for all the treatments. Having the port means I don't have to get stuck everytime I have a chemo treatment. I expect to have my first treatment this coming week.

Trying to stay upbeat. It's getting harder to do though. Maybe I just need a good cry to get it all out. Think I'll wander over to the Gallery and let your photos cheer me up.

Linda

I assume you have a PICC line? Keep your eye on it. My dad was good for 7 to 10 days with his, he'd then start a fever. They would check the line for bacteria, most times it wouldn't show, but taking the PICC out always made him better. Remember, the doctors aren't always right and don't always know what's best for you. If you develope symptoms that you didn't have, it may be due to the line.

pat

PET scan and CT scan are tomorrow morning. I'll know by the end of the day if I'm stage III or IV. It's been quite a shock going from stage 0, non-invasive, to potentially stage IV. Thank God for my support system, which includes all of you. I couldn't get through this alone. There will be more tears but there will also be lots of laughter. I laughed with a friend and fellow breast cancer survivor over the water balloon effect under my arms. Only someone who has gone through a mastectomy would understand. Between the swelling and the numbness if feels like I'm holding water ballons under my arms. After eight years my friend still has areas that are numb. Its a really weird sensation to scratch an itch and not be able to feel it.

Thanks for caring, for listening, and for all your good wishes.

I'm off to play Scrabble with my SIL.

Linda

Do you play scrabble on-line? I play on the Pixie Pit, send me an e-mail if you are looking for another game, would love to play more.

Valerie

Carol

We had so many years doing happy-happy-no-spread-dances... never talked much about stages [hers was the worst from diagnosis] but a lot of 'well can you still go to the movies?' and c'est la vie. Who knew we'd have so many years [big grin]? Listen to the docs but don't etch any bad news in stone... pencil it in, we always said. Nobody knows what their tomorrow will be anyway, we tried to think.

You can do it!! Seven to go? Not undoable. Make sure to ask to be treated like a queen while you're puny, lol!

I am so happy you have something to be thankful for today, hope you are able to enjoy your meal whatever it is.

Happy Thanksgiving.

valerie

Quote I kept meaning to get back here sooner but have been feeling so puny. No energy and moderate nausea since Monday. We got good news on the PET/CT and CT scans. No further spread of the cancer beyond the lymph nodes. Who would have thought I'd be excited about being diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. Seven more chemo treatments to get through. I can do this. End/Quote

Linda, no one really expected you to come back and post until you were up to it; altho I'm glad to see you were up to using the computer. What you're going through is normal. My dad suffered nausia, but not many times, his biggest side effect was diarrhea & stomach ache with bloating. Be sure to call your doc, have them give you something for the nausia. From what I remember, they would rather have you take something because the nausia could lead to other problems like dehydration, which could land you in the hospital.

I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and a Speedy Recovery!

So far the nausea hasn't had any affect on my appetite. Sure did enjoy our Thanksgiving feast yesterday. I am experiencing bloating which is depressing. It's sad when you have to wear your husbands pants because you can't button any of your own. Minor breakdown yesterday over this. I'm going shopping on Tuesday while I'm in town for a doctor's appointment. Pull-up pants, yup. That's the way to go.

Carol, is that Colonial White in your picture? I love that rose. Unfortunately, I paired mine with clematis Prince Charles which is much too pale to give a good contrast. Sure is a prolific bloomer though. I had blooms on PC throughout the summer.

My niece just arrived with my three month old great-nephew. Happy, happy. Talk to you more later.

Linda

I hope the weather will let you shop tomorrow and not cut your day short; I just measured the snow on my deck railing and it's 4", still snowing. Dress warmly!

Patricia -diagnosed in 1989(age 37) with stage 3 Ovarian cancer-official chance of survival 2-5%-yes you can survive!

Carla

I hope you are feeling better. Nausea is awful.

Perhaps this will help? Rose plonk from mid-October...

(((((((((((((((((((((Linda)))))))))))))))))))))

melanie

Carla

Lost my hair earlier in the week. Jon took me to HairMasters and had them shave it all off. Then he got in the chair and had his shaved off. I think he looks better bald than I do. He thinks he looks like Bruce Willis but I think Telly Savalas is more like it. LOL!

I don't know where the days go. I just don't seem to get much done most days. It isn't as though I'm sitting in my chair all day either. And I'm here to tell you chemo brain is a real phenomenon. At least now I have an excuse for not remembering things.

Thanks for all your support. It really helps.

((((((((((Garden Web friends))))))))))

Linda

I took to ripping off my wig as soon as I would get in the car. My roommate used to die laughing watching the other drivers as I whipped off my hair! At home I mostly went bald or wore a bandana. When I realized we were going to have to move from our house, I started going bald outside too! I figured I wasn't going to get to date that cute guy next door anyway so I ceased to care :)

But I quickly saw the upside to losing my hair.....there was nothing to shave!!! Showers were an absolute breeze! I loved it. No hair to wash, no hair to shave!

I hope the rest of your chemo and treatment goes great. Pamper yourself as much as you can :) My roommate told me having cancer was NOT a good excuse for not doing dishes, but shhh! she was wrong! It's a really good excuse. :)

Lisa

P.S. I looked really bad with a naked head too. My skull is NOT attractive! I wish I could find the ONE picture I allowed to be taken, I would share it with you!

There's a story about the naked head....I didn't allow too many people to see me without some kind of covering. I was out one night, late, with a friend of mine, and when we got in I just stayed the night at her house. She kicked her four year old out of his bed and let me sleep there. I collapsed and slept. The next morning I was awakened by a screech going down the hall....."Mommy, there's a naked head in my bed!!!!!!" He's now a very grown up 16 year old....I should remind him of that :)

Lisa

When my dad was in the hospital and just starting treatment, I shaved his head, like a close crew cut. I didn't want him to see all of his hair fall out. One day I went to see him and there was hair all over his bed from his body; this went on for maybe a week. Since he had a radical chemo, I don't think he even noticed at that point. His head never really went bald.

There's a lady therapist that never had cancer but lost all of her hair, even her eye lashes. She wears a scarf, and actually looks good. I can't picture her with hair.

Sending you thoughts and prayers & hopes for healing.

Alpine bouquet -

HUGS,
Michelle

I haven't had any scans since starting chemo other than one for my heart (chemo can affect your heart so they wanted to make sure I was doing well in that area), so I don't know how we're doing. I'll ask my oncologist about it next week when I see him. According to the statistics and history with other breast cancer patients, when we're all through I'll have reduced my chances of a reoccurance to 19%. But that's just numbers and I'm a real person. Who knows what the future holds. I could never have another occurrence or I could be looking at this again in five years. I'll just live each day as it comes. I'm basically very optomistic.

Michelle, I love the lupines. I've never been able to get them to do well here. I don't know why. They certainly grow well doun near Salem at Schriener's Iris Garden.

Thank you for sharing this time in your life with us, perhaps it will also help others who are suffering from cancer.

God Bless you.

Valerie

I just dropped in to see how you are doing.

You are amazing---------Keep up that sense of humor---I love it that your DH also shaved his head----He also has a great attitude which will help you

Don't worry about stretch pants----I've been wearing them for years---LOL

Here is a little LAFTER for you I hope it helps.

thinking of you,

Florence

I'd look so strange bald btw - I have a weird cleft head and scars from stitches from a dog attack. When Mom's hair came out I offered to shave mine but she said never, lol.

Her's grew back thicker and darker, so that was a plus.

Take care! It doesn't sound like very long now to go.

Glad to hear you're up to go to the Christmas party. Visiting with people will take your mind off of things. I'd arranged a surprise lunch for dad exactly a year ago yesterday; I can't tell you how much it did for him to get out.

Keep us posted.

Sorry your nausea is making your life difficult. RE nekkid heads--I swore if I ever lost all my hair I'd pay a henna artist to come out and "pattern" my head. For a Christmas party I'd do bindi decorations...I've linked a site that will give yousome fun ideas...but one can ususally by them locally.

If your area has any Indian immigrants (as opposed to Native Americans) I bet there is at least one henna artist in your area. Something to think about.

The holiday party was fun, the food incredible. I felt like the belle of the ball in my red hat.

I've been busy getting ready for Christmas. Finally finished the cards this afternoon. Jon will take them to the post office tomorrow. Still need to wrap presents. Thank goodness for the internet! Point, click and your shopping is done.

I probably won't have any more scans until the end of my treatment. I should finish chemo on Feb. 22. After that I have 6 1/2 weeks of radiation. That puts me out to mid-April. Radiation will be every weekday. I understand it makes you real tired. Need I mention that I am REALLY looking forward to summer?

Holiday cheers to all!

Linda

Florence

I hope you have a great Christmas.

Healing wishes,
Michelle

Mom only had a bit of radiation... the 'sunburny' feeling freaked her out a little but she didn't mention any other side effects.

Take care and have a great holiday!

Florence

Merry Christmas Lindy!

Florence I love your Christmas tree adorned with angels and roses. It is very pretty.

And Florence, I agree that's a remarkable tree; you people with your lovely holiday photos just put me to shame. My camera is at least sitting out in the dining room so I will remember to put it on the charger some time today :)

Linda, Merry Christmas....

this little Santa's helper flew in to carry my best wishes to you...

I have my last AC chemo on Thursday. This is the one that's hardest on patients. This will also put me half way through chemo. Yeah!!! I start Taxol treatments (another form of chemo) on Jan. 11. The main side effects of Taxol are lack of energy and numbness in the fingers. At least there's no nausea.

I was able to spend some time in the garden this morning, trimming back the dead growth that I should have trimmed back in October. It felt good to be out there. I even started trimming Abe Darby. Still got a lot to do on him but at least its a start.

Happy New Year to all my Garden Web friends! 2007 can't help but be better than 2006.

Linda

Carla

Hope 2007 is the best year for you.

florence

You do have a lot of folks praying for you and cheering you on!

Deb

valerie

Linking to the new post you made just in case....