Thank you for this well written heart felt post. I wish you a happy valentine's day too. I got good news today and wanted to share it. On Feb. 4, I had a lumpectomy. Today I went to the surgeon to find out the results. Though the area of cancer was much bigge than he had thought, he did get it all and the lymp nodes are cancer free. I am so very happy. Now I will start the AI drug therapy and as soon as I have healed from the surergy I will start the 33 radiation treatments. I am so glad it was caught in time and has not spread to the nodes. I wanted to share this wonderful news. I know sometimes I will need an ear or eye to vent a little with my concerns, I it is so wonderul to know that I can come to this site and chat with women who are going, and have gone though the same thing. Have a wonderful day and a blessed one. Each and everyone is in my prayers. Judy
It goes back to respecting Diversity - we are all so different, but yet a common thread like cancer can become the bond that ties us all together. It's that ability to look another cancer survivor (or surthriver as I like to call us) in the eye, and w/o a word, say, "I know what you are going through and this too shall pass. Stay Strong!"
Wishing you a great belated Valentines Day. My PC is up in our loft. Very steep steps to get up to! With all of my brutal side effects. I can't always make it here! I live in unbearable pain! I do try to celebrate all Happy Days/occasions. I celebrate and salute you all here for fighting hard to be cured!! I wish you all the healing, wellness, cures that you deserve!! Sending my care. I have too many awful things going on to mention. But my Well wishes, kind heart and you are in my prayers, well wishes and I send you all my Healing well wishes!
That's Cool wishing a Happy Valentines Day to all!
Right back at you! I've been so feeling poorly! I lost another 1/2 of a tooth again! I keep getting infections.. Since We can't afford dental care! As for the Hot flashes! They're prickly, hurtful and all! I sweat so bad and all! I can't sleep anymore! Does anything Help with this? Does anything help with the dryness of your nipple/breast after Radiation? I'd love to hear and suggestions! I wish you the best in your healing & recovery. I drop things all the time! I can't use my hands or feet or knees or walk like I could before! It does annoy me to hear. At least you're alive! I'm alive grateful, hopeful yet hopeless! I do exist but have no quality of life! I can't do much for myself anymore or others!~! My floor hasn't been moped in over one year!! Duties I can no longer preform! And since my Husband lost his job & our insurance 2 + Years ago. Times are tough! I have NO income at all! We live on Love & nothing else!!
Hi Angelinda,
For hot flashes I take a mini-dose of venlafaxine, an anti-depressant. It really helps - it doesn't eliminate them but they're less frequent and less intense. And it doesn't interfere with the action of tamoxifen. You might want to ask your doctor about it. And for your irradiated skin, if you're still in the "burned" phase I recommend Silvazine - it's a prescription item so again, you would have to ask your doctor.
Thank goodness you still have love! I dropped things and tripped a lot for a while. That does get better as you learn to compensate by using vision and muscles to figure out where your hands and feet are instead of feedback from your now-unreliable nerves.
My mother, who had bad hot flashes for years, always had a small fan blowing on her; so you might try that. A cool washcloth or cold pack on the neck can help too.
For the dry skin, check with the doctor about appropriate creams because the wrong one could make things worse. Shower with warm, not hot, water. You probably can skip the soap, which dries the skin. There are some non-soap cleansers, but you probably don't need even those every day.
I hope your financial situation soon turns around. That won't solve all your physical side-effect problems, but it will reduce your overall stress.
Phyllis, I absolutely agree with your observation. I have diametrically opposing views on many issues with women from my old breast cancer support group, yet we continue to go to each others' book signings, even when we haven't seen each other in years! And I am working with someone on some important lymphedema aspects even though we differ in age and political and religious bents, all because we share that lymphedema bond. There's something unique about these conditions that ties us together. I love it! Jan
My Sisters. We are caring a mongster none of us chose.Why we don't know but God does,might be a stumbling block, but could be a stepping stone.Life is a mistery but it's part of a larger plan.I can not say Why me? but who else? I could not wish this on any one.This thing I carry keep me praying, and hoping soon some one will find a cure.Every time I open my eyes I thank my God.Stay strong Sister's stay strong.
Phyllis, I agree with you about the bond among cancer survivors, and I definitely agree with PJ that "the bond of womanhood" makes it even stronger. My lifelong experience is that women are better at agreeing to disagree than the other gender ... We're the ones who keep things ticking over, so we learn early how to put aside our differences and get on with things.
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Phyllis, I've found the exact same thing - the cancr bond transcends absolutely everything. Add the bond of womanhood, and it's no wonder we can relate to one another and put aside any differences springing from race, religion, social demographics, or politics. Thank you for this beautiful Valentine - sending my love to you and all of our sisters, here and around the world. PJH