I got a box in the mail today from my mom's old neighbor Linda. I wasn't expecting anything from her so imagine my surprise when I opened it and found this pink ribbon cookie cutter and card from her. It's funny cause I had just been telling my neighbors about the carrot cake she used to make for my birthday.I needed this gift from her more than you could imagine - since I have been feeling depressed & lonely lately. Linda is kinda like my other mother …[more]

Just left the new chemo doctors office. I'm sitting waiting at the lab for a whole slew of tests to be done.Before I even argued my case against chemo the doctor suggested possibly skipping it. He said that first I need some labwork done and that he needed to brush up on my medical history. As he thumbed through my records he came across something that suggested that this may not be a local recurrence. He noted that it looked as though I might…[more]

Here I am still counting the days till I meet with my chemo doctor.  After seeing my radiation doctor it looks that chemo will most likely be necessary and there's no way around it.  Sigh.  In the meantime my reconstruction is on hold for 3 months.  I haven't had any saline injections since the expanders were replaced in February....and since that time they have shifted.  My plastic surgeon tells me I should be "massaging" them down - yeah righ…[more]

Yesterday I had my post-radiaition therapy follow up appointment.  Everything went well - my site looks great and is healing well, so he released me from his care.As I've recently noted, I'm in the position where I really would rather not do chemo - but since I was unable to get an Oncotype DX test done on my tumor, I honestly have no clue as to whether I would benefit from chemo therapy or not.  my research show me that the …[more]

I was doing some research on getting an Oncotype DX test to help determine if chemotherapy is needed or not.  Well from what I read it doesn't seem like the test is much use on a recurrence as it is a test for first time diagnosis to determine risk of recurrence.  Also, the test is part of all the pathology tests.  Since my recurrence was found in February I can only assume my sample is long gone by now.  Besides most insurance companies do not cover the c…[more]

It's been awhile since I made an update concerning my own personal cancer situation.  Mainly it's all because I have been hanging in limbo.  The medical oncologist I originally consulted with didn't bother to prepare himself or a plan regarding my care once I finished my radiation treatment.  His lack of effiencency or concern for my health really put me off.  You see he had been sitting on my records since April.  …[more]

Sometimes when I bathe I find mystery bruises that often leave me wondering what did I bump into, or how did this happen? When I brought up the marks, someone suggested to me that it could be certain supplements that I take.  So I did a little research on-line and with my doctors and found out that in your 30's and 40's the bruising could come from things like: Aspirin - which causes blood from your vessels not to clot as easily. Fish oil, Omega 3, Gingko, Gin…[more]

PopEater is reporting that Christina Applegate underwent a double mastectomy quoting her as saying she's 'Definitely Not Going to Die' Apparently breast cancer runs in her family and she tested positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation linked to breast and ovarian cancer, so she chose to have both breasts removed to reduce her risks of recurrence. Now I don't have the BRCA1 gene, mine was just an act of fate - as cancer did not run in my family. I've read further r…[more]

My nurse at my medical oncologist's office gave me these links. Supposedly these places help out in various way for those dealing with cancer - so I thought I would pass along the info.... www.cfoa.org Cancer Fund of America 800-578-5284 www.cancercare.org

Actress Christina Applegate reportedly is undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Ame Van Iden, publicist for the 36-year-old actress, released the following statement late Saturday: "Christina Applegate was diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer. Benefiting from early detection through a doctor ordered MRI, the cancer is not life threatening. Christina is following the recommended treatment of her doctors and will have a full recovery." Applegate …[more]