Daily Diary of Joy

Ouch, hate that Rena!!!

Elaine, I know and was told during chemo I had early CPOD and at the time I was eternally grateful as thought it was lung mets, I can live with a little shortness of breath as it doesn't stop me getting out and enjoying nature and the world we live in, enjoy your trip with your family!

Tricia Keegan...From Ireland Dx July '05 IDC 3/9 nodes pos..triple positive..a/c x 4..Taxol/herceptin x 12
Herceptin 1yr ..rads x35 oophorectomy Aug '06
Currently taking Arimidex /Zometa 1 x yearly
Carepage- survivortricia

Hi again. I feel so bad about losing that last post. I'll try again. Thanks again for your support as I waited for my test results. I really do wonder if radiation is the culprit here. I had radiation in 1987. In those days, I think that overkill was the norm, so they may well have overdosed me and damaged my lungs. I did my walk--a big 10 minutes--but it's a start. 

Elaine, have a grand time at Universal. We went there when Karen was about 9, and our favorite show was Honey, I Shrunk the kids, which had all sorts of special effects, such as the feeling that mice on the loose were scurrying around our feet! I doubt that it's still there, but I bet they have much more spectacular shows now. Enjoy!

Grace, I'm so happy for you having your son back on U.S. soil. I can only imagine the relief! I'm also glad to hear that you're adjusting to being home more. If you run out of rooms to deep clean, just let me know! 


Tricia, I'm glad that your breathing doesn't stop you. I'm determined that it won't stop me either!


Tina, congrats on all your success with the cupcakes! SO much work--it's a very generous and kind thing that you do.


Love to you all. xo

Rena age 66 California Central Coast
29-year survivor
BRCA2-positive
Dx 1986 IDC ER/PR negative 22 positive lymph nodes
CMFVP chemo weekly for one year, 7 weeks radiation
October 2007: New chassis and spark plugs!

Cupcake update:

We are done with the fund raising and now life can get back to normal until the holidays.

3300 cupcakes baked, $3200.00 raised for breast cancer research.

I had to step away the last week of the month as I was sick.  Had a cold that of course in my world turned to bronchitis.  Now way was I going to be around the food.  

Feeling better but still not 100%.  

Tina    
dx 2/1/11 DCIS
Lumpectomy 2/27 results DCIS/LCIS Stage 0 ER+ PR+
Bi-lateral Mastectomy 4/26 with expanders 
6/3 Surgery to remove contaminated expander due to infection.
7/22/11 Surgery to reinsert the expander. 
10/11/2011 Surgery to replace tissue expanders with implants. 
 

Congrats, Tina, on your very successful cupcake fund raiser! That's a lot of money you raised. I hope you're feeling better. Get some rest!!!

Rena age 66 California Central Coast
29-year survivor
BRCA2-positive
Dx 1986 IDC ER/PR negative 22 positive lymph nodes
CMFVP chemo weekly for one year, 7 weeks radiation
October 2007: New chassis and spark plugs!

Wow Tina thats amazing and well done to all who took part, I hope you feel better by now?

Tricia Keegan...From Ireland Dx July '05 IDC 3/9 nodes pos..triple positive..a/c x 4..Taxol/herceptin x 12
Herceptin 1yr ..rads x35 oophorectomy Aug '06
Currently taking Arimidex /Zometa 1 x yearly
Carepage- survivortricia

Feeling better.  Still have a slight cough.  My crystal ball is telling that there are three surgeries in my future for different things.  The first will be on November 21st as long as this bronchitis is completed.  The bad part is that the preop and time in recovery will be longer than the whole procedure.Oh well!  After this then I need to schedule oral surgery to remove a cracked tooth before it gets infected again.

Surgery three won't be until next spring.  Then I have to have my implants changed to correct the lopsided problem I am having on one side.  Oh joy.  This is one that I would have liked over a year ago when the revision surgery didn't work.  

Now that November is here, it just dawned on me that I will need to get supplies for the holiday baking.  Good thing that I like cooking and baking.

Ladies, too bad you don't live close by.  I could easily ruin diets with all the baking during October-December.

Everyone have a pleasant evening.

Tina    
dx 2/1/11 DCIS
Lumpectomy 2/27 results DCIS/LCIS Stage 0 ER+ PR+
Bi-lateral Mastectomy 4/26 with expanders 
6/3 Surgery to remove contaminated expander due to infection.
7/22/11 Surgery to reinsert the expander. 
10/11/2011 Surgery to replace tissue expanders with implants. 
 

You certainly would ruin my diet as your cupcakes look delicious Tina, glad you're feeling so much better and hope your medical appts all go well.

Tricia Keegan...From Ireland Dx July '05 IDC 3/9 nodes pos..triple positive..a/c x 4..Taxol/herceptin x 12
Herceptin 1yr ..rads x35 oophorectomy Aug '06
Currently taking Arimidex /Zometa 1 x yearly
Carepage- survivortricia

Hi everyone. A little joy to share: Karen came home for the weekend, and on Saturday we went to a baby shower for Karen's oldest friend, Jess. We met Jess's parents in childbirth class in 1984, and the girls were born on Dec 3 and 5 that year. Since Karen is an only child, and Jess's siblings were about 15 years older, the girls grew up like sisters--loving and playing like sisters and fighting like sisters. Despite their ups and downs over the years, they are still so bonded, and Karen is almost as excited about the baby as Jess is. I wish I could post pictures on here. I'd love to show you a photo of the two of them taken at the shower. I used to be able to, so maybe I'll try. Anyway, it's been a joyful weekend. I hope you all have a good week. xo  p.s. Couldn't do the photo, but it's now my profile photo--Karen on the left, and Jess on the right. 

Rena age 66 California Central Coast
29-year survivor
BRCA2-positive
Dx 1986 IDC ER/PR negative 22 positive lymph nodes
CMFVP chemo weekly for one year, 7 weeks radiation
October 2007: New chassis and spark plugs!

They both look almost like sisters Rena and very happy, I'm so glad you all enjoyed the shower so much, when is the baby due?

Tricia Keegan...From Ireland Dx July '05 IDC 3/9 nodes pos..triple positive..a/c x 4..Taxol/herceptin x 12
Herceptin 1yr ..rads x35 oophorectomy Aug '06
Currently taking Arimidex /Zometa 1 x yearly
Carepage- survivortricia

Thank you, Tricia. They were together so much as little girls that people thought they were twins! The baby is due December 18--a little girl who they're going to name Maeve. Since you're Irish, I thought you'd appreciate the name. 

Rena age 66 California Central Coast
29-year survivor
BRCA2-positive
Dx 1986 IDC ER/PR negative 22 positive lymph nodes
CMFVP chemo weekly for one year, 7 weeks radiation
October 2007: New chassis and spark plugs!

Thanks Rena and yes, a lovely name and found the meaning too http://www.babynamespedia.com/meaning/Maeve.....the earlier link didn't work so found another.

Tricia Keegan...From Ireland Dx July '05 IDC 3/9 nodes pos..triple positive..a/c x 4..Taxol/herceptin x 12
Herceptin 1yr ..rads x35 oophorectomy Aug '06
Currently taking Arimidex /Zometa 1 x yearly
Carepage- survivortricia

Hi ladies! Rena - happy your scan was clear. Love the photo of the girls -- they do look like they could be sisters :) Tina - Congratulations on the $$ you raised with the cupcake sales. It's amazing! I'm sure I've missed something...haven't been on in a while, but hope everyone is doing okay. All good here...my BFF from Junior High visited for a week, then I went on a girl's weekend to LA. We made like tourists - had so much fun. Now getting back to my routine. Cough almost gone thanks to inhaler. Yay! Hug Elaine

 A person's greatness is the power to stand alone;to be able to make her own choice; in action,to write anew her own law; to choose her own sacrifices; run her own dangers; win her own freedom; venture her own destruction; to choose her own happiness 
 

Welcome back, Elaine.  I was wondering if you were in hiding.  lol.

Sounds like you had a wonderful time.

Tina    
dx 2/1/11 DCIS
Lumpectomy 2/27 results DCIS/LCIS Stage 0 ER+ PR+
Bi-lateral Mastectomy 4/26 with expanders 
6/3 Surgery to remove contaminated expander due to infection.
7/22/11 Surgery to reinsert the expander. 
10/11/2011 Surgery to replace tissue expanders with implants. 
 

Good to hear from you Elaine and that you had such a good time, all is well here although we're having a lot of rain and high winds this week so not going too far from home!

Tricia Keegan...From Ireland Dx July '05 IDC 3/9 nodes pos..triple positive..a/c x 4..Taxol/herceptin x 12
Herceptin 1yr ..rads x35 oophorectomy Aug '06
Currently taking Arimidex /Zometa 1 x yearly
Carepage- survivortricia

Elaine, so glad that you're still having a lot of fun! You are my role model! Tricia, I couldn't open the link, but I looked up the meaning of Maeve and found a few different ones. My favorite was "joy"! I'm sure this little girl will bring them joy. Love to you all.

Rena age 66 California Central Coast
29-year survivor
BRCA2-positive
Dx 1986 IDC ER/PR negative 22 positive lymph nodes
CMFVP chemo weekly for one year, 7 weeks radiation
October 2007: New chassis and spark plugs!

Good morning !!  Just dropping by to say hello. Very cold here in North Florida... down into the high 20s 2 nights in a row.. Any of you in the Buffalo area.. I hope you are ok. 

Earlier this year in Jan..I had posted about a friend that was dx with BC. She opted for holistic/natural rather than chemo etc. The result is not good at all. Having a hard time understanding her thought process but have remained positive for her and her family. She had not even had another scan since her dx because the doctors wouldn't do it unless she was under thier care with traditional methods.  I posted a portion of her FB under my orig post about holistics etc.

I am so lucky to have all of you and to be here 5 yrs later. :)

Getting ready for the holidays.. this year sure has gone by quickly !!   The Corgis are doing wonderful. Taking Stella and Colt to the Eukanuba shows in December. If any of you are around the Orlando area, come and see the show !! There will be over 4000 dogs and so much to see.. and oh... yes.. the shopping at the booths.. it is just WOW.

Grace 

Lumpectomy June 18,2009
4 rounds T/C DONE !
33 rounds of rads DONE !!
1 yr of Herceptin - DONE  !!!
2 yrs Tamoxafen/ taken off due to elevated liver enzymes.
oophorectomy 05/2012

March 27,2015 DX right breast
Lumpectomy April 16th 2015
To start chemo soon

54 years young  :)
Mother of 2 sons in US Army
Wife of wonderful husband
and of course I am now.
KOMAN STRONG  :)

Hi Grace. I'm glad to hear that you're doing well. Good luck with your shows. I'm very sorry that your friend is not doing well. I guess we all have to follow our own path, but it makes me sad that so-called holistic "treatments" have been so misrepresented online and in the media. I wish her well. Have a very happy Thanksgiving!

Rena age 66 California Central Coast
29-year survivor
BRCA2-positive
Dx 1986 IDC ER/PR negative 22 positive lymph nodes
CMFVP chemo weekly for one year, 7 weeks radiation
October 2007: New chassis and spark plugs!

Hi Grace,

I just posted a long reply on the waiting room thread about your friend so won't repeat here but thanks for the update and I hope you enjoy the show and the shopping !!!:)

Tricia Keegan...From Ireland Dx July '05 IDC 3/9 nodes pos..triple positive..a/c x 4..Taxol/herceptin x 12
Herceptin 1yr ..rads x35 oophorectomy Aug '06
Currently taking Arimidex /Zometa 1 x yearly
Carepage- survivortricia

Hi 

Grace - sorry about your friend...what can I say?  We make our own choices, but I wonder sometimes...  Happy to hear the Corgis are doing so well :)

Tina - Rest up and let us know what the docs say.  

Me - I celebrated another birthday - woo hoo!  Have spent the past week or so trying not to fall into a food coma -- lunch, dinner, lunch, dinner, etc. etc.  But of course it was all fun and happy.  Now on to the next food coma - Thanksgiving! Oy!  Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving and hope you have a long list of things for which to be grateful :)

Hug
Elaine

 A person's greatness is the power to stand alone;to be able to make her own choice; in action,to write anew her own law; to choose her own sacrifices; run her own dangers; win her own freedom; venture her own destruction; to choose her own happiness 
 

Glad you had a happy birthday.  And watch out for those "comas".

Tina    
dx 2/1/11 DCIS
Lumpectomy 2/27 results DCIS/LCIS Stage 0 ER+ PR+
Bi-lateral Mastectomy 4/26 with expanders 
6/3 Surgery to remove contaminated expander due to infection.
7/22/11 Surgery to reinsert the expander. 
10/11/2011 Surgery to replace tissue expanders with implants.