brisksurfer, sending my deepest condolences to you and your family.😢
I’ve been away from the group for a little while now. Mom just finished her first round of chemo, and honestly, she took it much harder this time than the first time around...
Regarding the discussion we had earlier, I recently heard that our neighbors across the street are acting all surprised, whispering about how we’re supposedly hiding Mom’s diagnosis, her illness, and all the details regarding her treatment; it never even occurs to them to actually reach out or ask us how things are when they see her or any of us walking by... It’s like everyone assumes we should be walking around in a constant state of grief, crying and rehashing every single detail for them to hear... Of course, we aren't hiding anything, because there is absolutely no reason to be ashamed of an illness. Just like you all said, health issues can hit any one of us at any time. Disease doesn't care who you are or what you've done; it just shows up uninvited and hits you where it hurts... All those pitying looks, the weeping, and the endless complaining just because she's young and hasn't done anything wrong in her life... it really gets on my nerves (excuse my language, dear friends). Anyone who comes to visit us knows they won't even make it through our front door if they intend to whine or spout nonsense. Without any apology, I’ll say that if they have those intentions—complaining or repeating the same old stories about sickness because Mom has "that same kind" of condition—they can just turn right back around and leave. I’m being as stubborn as a little bulldog about this...😁 I have this feeling that Mom would never have said anything herself, so I’ve taken it upon myself to step in and play the role of her protector against all these busybodies... I know I’ve rambled on quite a bit, and I have so much more to share with you all, but I really have to run now...
brisksurfer said:Honestly, my heart just breaks whenever I have to read things like this... 😠
I really wish we could all just move past this topic forever, but life happens. Hang in there, dear! 😘
Yeah, I truly wish we could leave this subject behind us too, but here we are... My mom was admitted to the hospital today. I don't have all the specifics yet since I unfortunately wasn't able to go with her... 😢
I had a question regarding chemotherapy—during her first round of treatment, she received six sessions, but they were done every three weeks at an outpatient clinic, whereas now they're telling her she'll need to stay in the hospital for about five to seven days. Does that imply they're switching her to a more intensive regimen? If anyone has gone through something similar, I'd love to know what we might be looking at...
Hey everyone, I find myself back on this thread again, unfortunately... My mom's condition has taken a turn for the worse following her breast cancer surgery, so we're gearing up to head back into round two of chemotherapy.
I'm just feeling so heartbroken about all of this...😢
bluewalker30 said:Does anyone know where I can purchase Herceptin and what the cost looks like? I don't live in America, and the waiting list here is just incredibly long...
I recall hearing something about the price once—if I remember correctly, it was around $17,000, which was mentioned as the total needed for a full year of treatment, assuming doses were given every three weeks at 200 $0.00...
You might want to do a little digging online to find some more specific or up-to-date details...
Angela Wright said:I honestly think talking to your anesthesiologist might actually be more helpful in this situation... Also, just so you know, starting Wednesday, August 26th, the Mayo Clinic is launching a new clinical study involving patients with HER 2-positive metastatic breast cancer who have already received Herceptin as their first line of treatment for metastatic disease. What makes this particularly interesting is that the study isn't testing a brand-new drug against an old standard; instead, both medications being used in the trial (lapatinib and neratinib) are considered highly advanced, innovative, next-generation therapies. And one more important detail: patients with brain metastases can also participate, provided they aren't experiencing any symptoms... This study will be conducted at Johns Hopkins Hospital as well as in Cleveland. If you feel like you might be a candidate, or if you know someone who could be, please reach out!
Who should we contact? Is there a specific link available with more details?
I am honestly so sorry, Lara. I really don't know if there's anything at all—any specific word or gesture—that could truly make this difficult situation any easier for you... My heart goes out to you and your mother. Sending some positive vibes your way to help find a little bit of courage~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please, just hang in there...
Dear Lara. We haven’t actually met before, and I don't think we've ever really chatted on here, but I just finished reading your post and felt this sudden, overwhelming urge to reach out... I have to tell you, your words truly touched my heart, and if I weren't currently at work, I'm certain I would be sitting there in tears... I find myself dropping posts in this thread from time to time because I deal with such similar struggles myself, specifically regarding my own mother, who is battling breast cancer that has unfortunately spread to her lymph nodes... I won't linger or bore you with too much of my own heaviness, but I can completely empathize with your deep longing for your mom to finally get to meet little Lara... I just find myself hoping that my mother will one day live to see her grandchildren, though sadly, nothing like that has happened yet... I mainly wanted to let you know that there are so many people walking a similar path right now, and while I know how incredibly difficult it is, they say a kind word is worth its weight in gold... So, please accept these few positive thoughts to help you navigate this season—which is so heavy because of your mom's illness, yet so beautiful because of the birth of your baby girl... Having the support of family, and even women on this forum (even those I don't personally know), means the world to me, and I truly believe it means just as much to you... I will be sure to keep both you and your mother in my prayers as I pray for my own mom... Sending kisses to you and little Lara...
Lisa White54 said:I am so incredibly sorry for the loss you've had to endure. I truly believe you were holding onto hope until the very last second, and it makes total sense that you’re feeling such bitterness and sadness over this lost battle, which is clearly why your recent words felt so heavy with that frustration... But none of us want to give up on hope, especially when there is still a way to embrace the beauty of the precious day ahead of us tomorrow... Unfortunately, I have known far too many people struggling with illness. So many have been taken from us far too soon... There is no justice in it, I know, and there are no rules to follow... All we really have left is hope, and finding small moments of joy in every single new day that we are lucky enough to see... I am deeply aware that we are all mortal, that eventually, we will all have to move on one way or another... But as long as we are breathing, we live, and we keep fighting... Sending my best to everyone...
Major props to you for having such courage😍fighters like you really give us all something to look up to, and honestly, you're such an inspiration to this whole community...👍
My dear friends. It has been quite a while since I last checked in, and though I haven’t posted, please know I have been quietly reading everything you all have to say... My heart truly goes out to everyone here who has lost someone they love...
I felt a sudden urge to reach out and touch upon that concept of hope that you all keep mentioning... I completely agree that holding onto hope is such a vital part of life... Those of you who know my situation know that we have been fighting a very difficult battle with my mom’s breast cancer...
At first, the initial prognosis was nothing short of devastating. The doctors laid everything out for us, focusing heavily on the clinical side—you know, the cold statistics and the grim outlooks tied specifically to her diagnosis... I have to admit, that was my very first instinctual reaction too; once we heard the news, all I could think about was the prognosis, what the survival rates were, and what kind of life we could realistically expect... But today, my entire perspective has shifted... I find myself not caring one bit about the statistics or the numbers anymore, nor the averages or the data points. All that matters to me is my mom—how her treatment is progressing and how she is responding to the therapy... Thank God, things are moving in a better direction. She has finished chemo, underwent surgery on her breast (they removed 16 lymph nodes, and thankfully, they were all negative🙂), and she just got her schedule for radiation... She is feeling good, and honestly, she looks wonderful. We are doing everything in our power to support her, and her own outlook on life is so incredibly positive, which I truly believe makes a massive difference in how a person handles a disease like this. Our little dog is her emotional outlet, our family is her rock, and the doctors are true experts in their field... We are fully aware that cancer is a sneaky, treacherous thing that can flare up at any moment, but we are trying our best not to dwell on those fears. Most of the heavy lifting regarding her treatment is behind us now, and the doctors seem very pleased with her progress...We are just hoping that the monster has been completely wiped out and that we will be granted many more years to spend together...
Sending so much positive energy to every single one of you~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I want to wish you and all of your loved ones a happy and blessed Easter...
Susan Diaz91, I know exactly what you're talking about, unfortunately... I really hope everything turns out okay with your mom. Hang in there, and please take good care of Lara...
feralridge3, gentletiger46 ~~~~~sending you both all the courage in the world for the fight ahead.
Nancy Hernandez43, how have you been feeling lately? Have you managed to get back on your feet?
We’re doing alright over here, and Mom is doing fine too; she actually just got her nails done and they look lovely.😁
Well, hair always grows back eventually, but I suppose it’s still quite a shock when it suddenly vanishes... at least according to what Mom tells me.
Her leg hair has thinned out a bit too, though as far as her eyebrows and lashes go, those are still holding steady.
I've found myself feeling a little bit anxious again today, perhaps because of the approach of Easter, the weight of Jesus's struggles, and our own personal calvaries... I'm just so afraid of losing her, so I try my best not to dwell on it. I attempt to push those thoughts deep down inside, but my subconscious still tends to trouble me while I sleep.
I had a dream about my late grandfather—Mom's dad—and he had come to collect her. Even though I pleaded with him to leave her alone and not take her away, he just wouldn't listen... I woke up nearly in hysterics.
Ah, may these dark thoughts depart from us all...🙂 The beautiful weather is definitely helping me shake them off, and I truly hope the same for all of you. I just look out the window, give myself a little smile, and head out to face a new day. And that’s how we handle it, every single day.
I just wanted to pop in and say a quick hello to everyone... How is everybody doing today?
Nancy Hernandez43, how have you been feeling lately? Are you finally back on your feet? And how are all the other ladies holding up?
Yesterday was actually a pretty big milestone for us regarding Mom’s hair. I ended up cutting it all off for her, almost down to the scalp... I honestly don't think anything has felt more emotional or difficult than that moment, but we are both doing okay now, truly...
We made sure to snap some photos together before I did the big chop, and today she’s slowly getting used to wearing her wig. We’re keeping things lighthearted and staying positive, finding reasons to laugh through it all...
She is being so incredibly brave🙏 and so am I right alongside her.
Tomorrow, we’re planning to head over to the salon to get our nails done with a nice French manicure😍
~~~~~~~~~~Sending nothing but positive vibes to everyone out there.
I’ve updated my profile with a new spring avatar, which I'm using to send you all some springtime kisses and a little extra boost of seasonal energy to help with the fight...
Let's not forget that even when things feel their absolute heaviest, life is still beautiful😍
Just wanted to drop in quickly to say hello and send some wonderful, positive vibes your way~~~~~~~~~
Nancy Hernandez43, mistyridge5🙂
I really agree with everything being said here, and I truly appreciate all the kind words of support you've shared...
Nancy Hernandez43, what happened? Was it something like the flu or one of those nasty viruses? Yeah, usually just getting some rest is the best way to handle it, so hopefully you can just recharge your batteries...
Mom is doing okay for now. Her pain is sitting at about a 3 or 4 on the scale, which is definitely manageable and nowhere near as intense as it was during her last round of chemo...🙏
I hope you all have a lovely evening, and I'll catch up with you all again tomorrow😍
Nancy Hernandez43, Melissa Parker37, mellowbison13, and all you lovely ladies😘
~~~~~~~~~~~~sending good vibes to everyone. how are you all holding up today?
so, we made it through the second round of chemo... Mom finally came home yesterday. For now, things are looking okay; she isn't experiencing any side effects yet, which is just like last time, but since the pain usually hits a few days later, I’m mentally bracing myself for tomorrow. Even though I'm really hoping she stays comfortable, I feel like I have to be prepared for the worst... Last time, we weren't sure if she was allowed to take any painkillers, but this time Mom actually asked her doctors, and they told her she could take some Voltaren if she needs it, so she can stay ahead of the discomfort rather than just suffering through it...
on a brighter note, I really think I should share some good news too—I don't want to spend the whole time just venting to you all😁—Mom had her follow-up exam, and the doctor mentioned that the lump in her neck has already visibly shrunk after just that first session, which he said he didn't even dare hope would happen so quickly. That news immediately lifted Mom's spirits and ours as well. I'm just praying she can absolutely crush this thing, quite literally...👍
Mom is resting today, though "resting" might be a stretch because she can never sit still. She’s constantly tidying things up around the house. She even caught herself doing some light dusting yesterday evening, but I truly think she needs a bit of downtime and space to just process everything... our little warrior😍 still hasn't lost all of her hair. There is still quite a lot left, though you can tell it's starting to thin out a bit. She always had such thick, healthy hair, so I suspect that might be why it's falling out at this particular pace...
The wig is all ready to go, and she's already picked out a few scarves, so we'll be heading out to pick those up soon.👍
I wish you all, my dear friends, a lovely evening and a wonderful weekend... make sure to get some rest so you're ready for your own upcoming victories.
😘Dear drag Ivanicapeca and Ružica 44.What can I even say besides THANK YOU.🙂 I completely agree with everything you both shared, and I truly feel the weight of your words. I know I’m just having one of those heavy days, but reading your posts honestly made me feel a little lighter immediately...
I mean this sincerely and from the bottom of my heart—this kind of support means so much, even if it is just through a screen. Thank you once again.😍
As my username suggests, I generally try my best to stay positive and just really embrace life. Reacting this way isn't exactly my nature, but I suppose I just hit a breaking point...
Regarding the suggestion to cheer Mom up, that's actually something we've been doing for a while now. We go out for manicures, hit the shops, and just spend time doing all the things she loves most. I know the first few days following her chemo treatment are going to be incredibly tough, but I have total faith that she’ll pull through this whole ordeal with a smile on her face...😍
I’ve never explicitly told her, not even right now, just how brave she is and how much I respect her. We aren't exactly one of those families that constantly showers each other with "I love yous" every five minutes—though I always find that beautiful to witness—but I know she knows. And honestly, that's enough for us. I'm not really the type of person who finds it easy to show emotion openly; it's always felt more natural for me to write it down (which I think you might have already noticed😁). I would give anything to be able to ease this entire burden for her, but I realize I can't simply take the fight onto myself so she doesn't have to carry the load alone...
But I won't turn this into a novel, so thank you all so much. It's true, life still has its beautiful moments. I just need to pause, reflect, and I know I'll find them again, surely... There's a lump in my throat, but I'm swallowing it down, fighting through, and moving forward👍
My dear friends, it feels like this is the only place where I can truly let it all out, because every single one of you actually understands what I'm going through...😢
I’m having a really rough day today. My mom went in for her second round of chemo. She is being so incredibly brave and isn't complaining one bit; she's holding up so well. But I suppose we're all doing the same thing... just trying to weather these crises as they come, much like I am right now.
I feel so heavyhearted. I'm sitting here at work, but honestly, all I want to do is be tucked away at home in bed with a mountain of tissues, the TV on, and nothing but my favorite comfort shows...
I just don't have the strength to keep going. There isn't even a tiny spark of energy left inside me.
I just spoke with my mom, and she’s already back in her room. They'll probably start the therapy soon—likely more pills today, followed by the actual chemo tomorrow.
I'm really hoping they'll let her come home tomorrow after everything is finished. 😢 I keep looking at all these little emojis on my screen, but none of them can truly capture how I feel right now. It's this deep, endless ache, this sorrow that just won't quit... I feel like I'm in a complete fog...🙂🙂🙂
I just want today and tomorrow to fly by as quickly as possible. I want Mom to handle the chemo well, and I pray she doesn't have to deal with those same agonizing pains she had last time... she could barely stand it then...
The tears just keep coming... God, please protect us all through these trials... I'll leave a little bit of my music playing in the background—maybe Tony D's rhythm will lift my spirits just a little bit...
Today's post is a total downer, I know. Please forgive me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~for the rest of you—since nothing seems to help me today...
Kisses,
I'll check back in once I've pulled myself together...🙂
regarding the whole hair length situation, our dermatologist actually gave us some specific advice on what to look for.👍 so, this past Saturday, we went ahead and bought a wig. if anyone else is looking for info or thinks this might help, there is a shop near the Mayo Clinic in Columbus—it's right by the medical supply store near the train station.
we picked out a medium-length one, nothing overly fancy—the gentleman helping us mentioned there was a wig available for $500, but honestly, he said there wasn't much difference in quality compared to the pricier ones.
we ended up paying around $500 and then added about $102 more on top of that, if I remember correctly...
Mom is really happy with it; it looks so much like her natural hair.
She hasn't actually lost her hair yet, but she wanted to have everything sorted before her next round of chemo starts.
Then yesterday, she told me herself that when she feels for that lump, it seems smaller... she used to be able to find it instantly, but now she really had to search for it.
I am just praying that this chemo does its job and absolutely destroys that thing...😠 otherwise, we are just waiting for the treatment to begin. Mom is holding up so well. I can feel my heart tightening just thinking about it, but she is just so brave and strong, truly like a rock...
I just wanted to pop in quickly to say hello to everyone... I haven't been posting much lately because things have been incredibly hectic at work🙄
Does anyone have any good news to share?
And I could really use some advice if anyone happens to know...where in Chicago can I find a good place to buy a wig? My mom hasn't started losing her hair just yet, but we want to be fully prepared so she has a wig ready by the time it does start to fall out...😢
Thank you all, and please take care of yourselves.