Hello Friends! My pathology report from my mastectomy came back with no cancer visible under the microscope in any of my 13 lymph nodes or book tissue! God is merciful and answered our prayers! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Apparently, less than 30% of women arrive at this point after the mastectomy. I will still have to undergo radiation and perhaps twice daily radiation to mop up what any microscopic cancer cells that may be remaining and to reduce recurrence. I am very scared of radiation and what it could do to my body but I will continue to put my trust in Jesus. :party:

Just wanted to let you know that I am recovering from my surgeries. I haven't received the pathology report but I am praying that there is no evidence of disease in my breast tissue. I am getting better each day. I look very mutilated but I am praying it will all be worth it. :grouphug:

Hi Hive friends, We are back from Philadelphia. The doctor said I was ready for surgery! Yeah! My lymph nodes looked normal on their ultrasound! Yeah! However, he recommend twice daily radiation, which is unusual even for IBC. I knew that he sometimes recommends that schedule. I was hoping he wouldn't recommend it for me but now I am okay with it. I've already been to my local radiation oncology for an initial consultation and while I didn't see the doctor I will have (he was on vacation) the fill-in doctor from another state said they were okay with it. Now I just have to hope insurance finds it acceptable. Tomorrow I leave for MNPLS for my surgery. I will be having a double mastectomy as well as having my ovaries and tubes removed. I have been in agony over the ovaries/tubes. I am praying that I am making the right decision. They found a cyst on one ovary but the main reason to have them removed is that I am BRCA 1 positive. I am so worried about not having estrogen (they won't give me any after the surgery.) If anyone has any positive stories to share I would appreciate it. I am 44, turning 45 in August. I have so many mixed feelings. I am trying to offer my sufferings about all of this up to the Lord. I find it it interesting that my surgery is on Monday of Holy Week. Please pray that I can handle this burden emotionally and mostly that my pathological report after surgery comes back without a cell of cancer! Thank you. :grouphug:

:)

According to the hospital staff the hospital is about a 65$ taxi ride away from the airport. I can't remember the address off the top of my head.

I will have from about 11 am to the end of the day. It will be just me and dh. My appt. is at Fox Chase Hospital. Thanks for any input.

I need a rental car on this Monday and Tuesday in Philly. Everything looks expensive 62 bucks a day etc. on Hotwire. Any suggestions?

Please pray that he feels that I am ready for surgery on April 18th, otherwise he will be recommending more chemo. I'm a bit worried and wish that I hadn't made the appointment in a way. Also, we are awaiting my PET scan results.

My dh said any time away from the office is unpaid. So, next week we are going to a doctor's appointment in Philly (we live in MI) so he won't be paid. When I have my double mastectomy he will not be paid for any time he takes to drive me the 7 hours to get there or to be with me/help me recover. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who is affected by this situation.

Hello. I had my last chemo on Friday. I am really glad and surprised that I am done. I pray that I will never need more chemo and that in the end I will have a lasting cure. However, I am very tearful because my parents left today back to their home 17 hours away. Also, a fellow homeschooling friend lost her dh to cancer a few days ago. Two of my three children want to go to school. I need my hive friends. :grouphug:

It all worked out great! My dd was very surprised!

It makes me realize that I should tell my guy that I think he is cute! He has done so much for me. Driving me 7 hours each week for chemo. Thanks for sharing.

Skip the gift bags? Really? That would save money for sure. My dd would probably like to have gift bags though. What makes a good gift bag and what makes a waste of money gift bag? The tumble gym has all of these different shaped mats. I thought it might be fun to have an obstacle course and two teams being timed to go through the mats. I like blind man's bluff. I am scared of Marco-Polo. My friend permanently scared her face from crashing into the side of the pool with her eyes closed trying to 'get' someone playing that game. Diving for coins and things might be fun. I hope it all works out and that everyone has a blast! Thanks for all the great ideas. Especially to let people help. :grouphug:

My dd is turning 10. I haven't had a party for her since she was 6! Oh the shame. Anyway, I am putting together a party for her on her birthday. I want to have this big elaborate thing but I decided to be realistic. I'm going through chemo and I don't need any stress. Yet I want to give my dd, who is just wonderful, a fun little party. So, in three days is her party. She goes to art class at the YMCA. The party will be a surprise right after class. We will have two hours or so. Part of the time will be swimming in the pool. What games or activities can you suggest for us to do in the gym or tumble gym area. I want to have a few ideas and I don't want them running around crazy. What about in the pool? Do we do something structured or just let them swim? Thanks for any suggestions. I know this seems like a no-brainer but I have chemo brain! :D

Hello Everyone! Just wanted to let you know that as of yesterday I have one chemo left! Yeah! I can't believe it. So far I feel okay. I did end up having a 3rd blood transfusion last Friday. This gave me some more energy. So, hopefully this will be my last transfusion. I am looking into being seeing by the world's expert on IBC. Dr. Cristofinilli. He is in Philadelphia. It is such a long way from where I live but I think it will be worth it for peace of mind, knowing I am doing all that I can. Take care. :grouphug:

The only one my dh could find was the vicks cool mist. I think I had it too close because I felt cold and damp all night but my cough does seem better today.

and discovered that there are marijuana vaporizers. This isn't the type that I am inquiring about! :D

Cool mist or not cool mist? Which would be best for helping congestion? What brand to avoid or purchase? Thanks.

Thank you for all the uplifting words. Molly I continue to keep you in my prayers. :grouphug:

Hi everyone, I've been sitting here thinking that I only have two chemos left. I am so excited. I am doing fine so far. I just keep praying that my counts do not drop too low. If my hemoglobin can stay where it is at maybe I can skip out on another transfusion. My heart is beating a little bit faster but nothing like in times past. I just want to be back to normal. I'll never be normal again. I guess it will be a new normal. I'm stressing over whether or not I should send my kiddos to school next year. My oldest would be a freshmen. Perhaps the education would be good but I worry about the culture and the education that would come with that. :grouphug:

After 3 hour plus time at the doctors office, it was decided not to transfuse me today. My local doc suspected I am bleeding internally but my study doctor 7 hours away said this is common for the drug I had been on. So I continue onward and may need to have one next week. My chemo is scheduled for Thursday. :grouphug:

Where is the best place to purchase Saxon? After 7/6 we would buy the 8/7 correct? Are there two versions of 8/7? Thanks Christine

Thanks for keeping me in your prayers. Coconut water. I am going to see if there is any in town this morning.

Tomorrow will be my 3rd transfusion in 18 days. The doctors are concerned and so tomorrow I will be having some testing prior to transfusion. Please pray that there is a simple reason/no concern. Thanks. :grouphug::grouphug::grouphug:

thing. I was just starting to cough and could feel something. I took two doses of Sambucol and vit C and today I feel better. Thank goodness! I don't know how to copy people's post to reply but thanks for the Miso soup suggestion and website idea. Thanks for all the support. I don't know if I said my next chemo has been scheduled for Thursday if my counts are good. Thanks everyone!!! :grouphug: