little_fut

little_fut, the photo is small on my computer but from what I can tell that dog with the straw in it's mouth is sooo cute. Love it.

Hey dudette- got 1 response so far. I don't know how to forward it (if i can). It's there under Oncologist in Sacramento. Check it out

Just sent a question out looking for an onc in sacramento. Hope we get answers. Thanks for the info on ms. Back that many years they didn't know much about many illnesses. I hate all diseases now. I was sick as a kid and everything seems to come back to the immune system. Somehow you raise your head off your pillow and carry on. Do you keep a journal? (I don't!) you make all of your trials sound like a test of wills. So far you're ahead, I'd say.

This may help

Dear Lord,
You know my prayer before I pray it. You know about the breast cancer that I have experienced, the surgeries, the treatments, work and family related issues, and financial constraints. I ask you to bless and heal me. Please heal my body that I may never have cancer again.
I ask that each day brings me closer to you, and I ask that you restore my strength. Give me your love, wisdom, common sense, knowledge and the strength to overcome anything unhealthy. I ask this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Blessings CELLKILLER

Little_fut, we miss hearing from you...please check in with us.

Hi, little_fut. I just wanted to check in and say "Hi". I hope you are doing okay. Thinking of you.

Hi - haven't seen anything from you. I hope things are more settled down and you are doing better. It's a helluva long haul - and sometimes it just doesn't go smoothly. The fact that I haven't seen any posts must mean that everything's OK. I hope that's the case. Sending you healing and feel-good vibes.

Thank u I did contact ACS they cant do much because Im in a differ country they cant even call out to other counties. I am stage 3. I had mastectomy. It seems people just under stand may be its just me I have bills car note ect..not like I can get up and leave my job and not pay my bills..I will look into any resources given to me thank you for your help. I never thought I would get cancer or have such issues with my ins comp that says it follows me where ever I go...they didnt say u pay out of pocket and we reimburse in differ countries..

Thank u I did contact ACS they cant do much because Im in a differ country they cant even call out to other counties. I am stage 3. I had mastectomy. It seems people just under stand may be its just me I have bills car note ect..not like I can get up and leave my job and not pay my bills..I will look into any resources given to me thank you for your help. I never thought I would get cancer or have such issues with my ins comp that says it follows me where ever I go...they didnt say u pay out of pocket and we reimburse in differ countries..

Hi, little_fut. I'm catching up on some digests and checking in with some folks. How are you doing?

Just Hi - haven't seen any posts from you on the general questions. So I hope that means there are no emergencies. I think you'll find that once you're through with chemo, you'll start feeling better, Some things immediately get better. Others take time. It's a process. Sometimes I get impatient - but when I see people younger than me who are having more problems (and not necessarily cancer or chemo related) I feel pretty lucky. Sometimes when you are through with everything the warrior attitude (?) goes away and you can very possibly feel down. My doctors talked about this - and I was expecting a depression. And it hasn't happened. Not yet - and I'm almost 5 months post-chemo, and almost 3 months post-radiation. One of the better surprises in my recent life --- so I'll happily accept that.

It's good to be with people, but choose the upbeat ones. My husband died more than 10 years ago. I've made that adjustment.
And learned that's what life's about - it's a series of adjustments.
There has been downsizing in physical space, in the number of healthy active and mentally alert friends, in the number of "outfits" and pairs of shoes I have, and in my budget. So I adjusted - I've volunteered more than I have before, made new friends, and try hard to waste less than I used to, and buy less.
I never was a social A-list trend-setter. And thank God I didn't have those stressors in my life.

And guess what! I just made up a mantra - try it out:
Bananas and jeans, and one can of beans,
I no longer reside in the realm of the teens. [or queens].

Enuf! Keep getting better.

Are you doing better today? I hope you let your health team know what's going on. Maybe there are ways to lessen the side effects you are having. They added a Neulasta shot to my chemo and that caused pain. The Claritin (plain regular) they advised taking prior to the injection and a few days after didn't help me all that much. But I took it. I have to be careful with pain relievers so I minimized taking them (but I did and tried to keep the dosage down).

If your pain is from Neulasta, know that the Neulasta is important in maintaining your immune system. I thought that was more important that the pain I had.

If your pain is from drugs in your chemo cocktail then maybe your oncologist can adjust the drugs, or timing or your treatment,
Personally - I wanted to get it all over with ASAP so I put up with it.
I actually had a hard time keeping up my walking not as much because of pain, but because of joint weakness. I was always scared when I walked that the security patrol car in my neighborhood would have to be called and pick me up off the ground. When you fall at my age and with osteoporosis, it's no laughing matter. And now, I can only imagine what the drugs are doing to my bones.....they all have bone thinning listed as side effects. -j

I was alarmed to see your most recent post about the purple head. Please please please keep positive. Watch ridiculous DVDs, share stupid internet humor --- whatever. You are going through a nightmare right now, and anything that keeps you grounded and focused on the fact that you WILL get through this is good.

Ages ago, prior to a surgery (one of my C-sections???) a doctor or nurse told me I would be in pain - but it would pass, and I would forget it. Now that I'm through with treatment, I find the sharp edges of the discomfort and illness I experienced have softened. I doubt that I'll ever completely forget -- but the pain and awfulness resulting from the treatment has pretty much gone.

I know you are very grateful to live in an age where there is a support system like WN.We are so lucky to have that. Even if you are being asphyxiated by all the hugs you are getting, I'm adding mine. Many of them. Stay strong -j

Little_fut,
just wanted to check on you and find out if you are still having the issues with your throat. I hope you are better, Carm RN.

I waited two months for surgery but I knew the diagnosis in about 4 days. I can not imagine waiting that long to know. Prayers for a great outcome.

Thinking of you.....good luck tomorrow!!

Hey Little Fut, I forgot to write about the port. I have one of those, too! They are totally great for chemo, so if they offer you one, take it for sure!! My port will be with me for a year, because I am HER2+3, so I will get Herceptin for a full year, once every 3 weeks, and I will be happy to have my port for them to infuse the Herceptin!! Getting it put in was easy. They numb you, kind of give you something so you don't care what is going on, and do an incision and put it in. A small surgery that you are awake for, but no pain, and you don't care!

Hello Little Fut! I hope this is the right place to write to you!! My surgery was one week ago, Feb. 25, and I still have my drain. The surgeon originally thought 10 days, but it appears she will be gone when I reach ten days, so it will be 15 days. They did say you have to have the drainage be under 30 cc's day to get the drain out. I am still around 50 or so. The drain is called a JP drain, or Jackson Pratt drain and you can google it to learn about it and see what it looks like. It is like a tube of clear aquarium tubing that comes out from under my arm, is about 2-3 feet long, and goes to a clear plastic bulb thing that most resembles those little hand grenade toys that we had as squirt guns back in the 1960's! It is the same size and shape. Two or three times a day, you have to "strip" it, which means you pinch the tube between your thumb and index and drag it down the drain tube to move the extra liquid and debris (bits of stuff) down toward the grenade. A nurse in the hospital showed me that if you put some hand sanitizer between your thumb and index it makes it easier to pinch and pull along the tubing, it sort of lubricates it. Then you pour it into the measuring cup and write down the amount, then flush it and rinse the cup. The first couple of days I was too scared to do it myself, so my husband did it, but I realized I could reach around and do it, so I am doing it myself now. They put a "drain sponge" actually a bandage with a hole that fits around it, and you tape that in place, and change it daily. My doc said I could shower right away with the drain, that it would not affect it any, so I have been doing that. You have to pin the grenade part to your clothes. I pin it to my bra, I have read some people put it in a loose jacket pocket, but I just keep it all under my clothes. Speaking of clothes, I was advised and it was good advice, dig out some button down the front loose shirts and have them ready, because you are not going to want to try to put on over the head tight tops for a while after the surgery, it is just easier. I am finding it easier to just sleep in my bra, too. The first few days I emptied it 3x's/day, but now I just do it 2x's/day. the nurses will teach you how to do it and if they don't, just ask them. It is easier to see it. By the way, it is not really painful, just annoying. I had no pain at all in the incisions for the surgery, one to the breast and one under the arm for the nodes. I am, however, a week later, feeling muscle soreness and tightness under my arm, maybe it is coming back to life from the trauma of the surgery?? I hope this helps a little to let you know what the drain is like. Ask again if you want more specific info. Good luck to you!!! I will be thinking of you on the 11th!!!!!!

Hello Little Fut! I hope this is the right place to write to you!! My surgery was one week ago, Feb. 25, and I still have my drain. The surgeon originally thought 10 days, but it appears she will be gone when I reach ten days, so it will be 15 days. They did say you have to have the drainage be under 30 cc's day to get the drain out. I am still around 50 or so. The drain is called a JP drain, or Jackson Pratt drain and you can google it to learn about it and see what it looks like. It is like a tube of clear aquarium tubing that comes out from under my arm, is about 2-3 feet long, and goes to a clear plastic bulb thing that most resembles those little hand grenade toys that we had as squirt guns back in the 1960's! It is the same size and shape. Two or three times a day, you have to "strip" it, which means you pinch the tube between your thumb and index and drag it down the drain tube to move the extra liquid and debris (bits of stuff) down toward the grenade. A nurse in the hospital showed me that if you put some hand sanitizer between your thumb and index it makes it easier to pinch and pull along the tubing, it sort of lubricates it. Then you pour it into the measuring cup and write down the amount, then flush it and rinse the cup. The first couple of days I was too scared to do it myself, so my husband did it, but I realized I could reach around and do it, so I am doing it myself now. They put a "drain sponge" actually a bandage with a hole that fits around it, and you tape that in place, and change it daily. My doc said I could shower right away with the drain, that it would not affect it any, so I have been doing that. You have to pin the grenade part to your clothes. I pin it to my bra, I have read some people put it in a loose jacket pocket, but I just keep it all under my clothes. Speaking of clothes, I was advised and it was good advice, dig out some button down the front loose shirts and have them ready, because you are not going to want to try to put on over the head tight tops for a while after the surgery, it is just easier. I am finding it easier to just sleep in my bra, too. The first few days I emptied it 3x's/day, but now I just do it 2x's/day. the nurses will teach you how to do it and if they don't, just ask them. It is easier to see it. By the way, it is not really painful, just annoying. I had no pain at all in the incisions for the surgery, one to the breast and one under the arm for the nodes. I am, however, a week later, feeling muscle soreness and tightness under my arm, maybe it is coming back to life from the trauma of the surgery?? I hope this helps a little to let you know what the drain is like. Ask again if you want more specific info. Good luck to you!!! I will be thinking of you on the 11th!!!!!!

Hey Little Fut, are you on now? I am not sure how to do this writing up and back. My surgery was one week ago today. I am feeling pretty good. I still have the drain thingy in, and that is probably more annoying than any other part of the surgery.

Hello and welcome, we are glad you found us. Here is a link to our cancer dx page for your type of cancer. Take a look at it to get you started on some information. You will notice at the bottom of that page 4 of our active users who have had that journey already, you may wish to contact them for their experience and wisdom. Also, any questions you may have just post them in the questions tab and everyone will see them there and be able to help you.

https://www.whatnext.com/conditions/cancer/breast-cancer

There are also subtypes listed on this page to narrow down the type of cancer to match your dx.

Also, if you can take a few minutes and fill in some details of your journey so far, it will help others as they try to answer questions for you, it also helps others as they search through the data base to find someone like themselves. Confirming your email will allow you to receive updates and notices from the site when someone answers your questions or writes on your wall.

Thanks for being with us and let me know if I can help you find any information on the site. After you have an opportunity to look the site over and see what great things there are here, we encourage you to invite your friends, family or anyone you know that may be helped by the connections on WhatNext to join the site also. Just click this link to invite them to join. http://www.whatnext.com/recruit-a-friend

Greg P
3x survivor
Team WhatNext

Hi Little_Fut
I saw in one of your posts you are scared to death. This is a totally normal reaction and please know that you are among thousands of people who were once like you scared to death and are now doing much better.

Have you selected a course of treatment yet? Keep us posted and please do not hesitate to ask for help.

David

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