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I really had no symptoms that I noticed. I accidentally found the first lump in 1994 myself. The second one in 2005 was detected during my annual mammogram. I would never have found this one because it was in the center of the breast at the back wall.
January 1994 – Stage II - 2.4 cm lump… a second 0.3 cm lump found in breast after surgery. Left modified radical mastectomy with removal of 9 lymph nodes…1 (3cm) lymph node positive. ER/PR both positive. November 2005 – Stage I – 1.6 cm lump. Right modified radical mastectomy with lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy. 2 lymph nodes removed…both clear of cancer. ER negative(1%) and PR positive(7%).
None either time.
6 treatments from March 3, 1994 to June 29, 1994. Started with Taxol Study. Received high-dose Cytoxan 3980 mg and Adriamycin 74.6 mg for 2 cycles. A blood transfusion was required after 2nd treatment due to low hemoglobin. I developed a blood clot in my right arm shortly after the transfusion and had to be hospitalized and put on coumadin for 3 months. Had to be taken off Taxol Study because I could not take high-dose Cytoxan/Adriamycin and Coumadin. I was given Cytoxan 995 mg, 5-FU 995 mg and Adriamycin 99.5 mg for the next 4 treatments. I also had to get blood transfusions for the next 3 treatments. Other side effects were nausea, some vomiting, sores in mouth, diarrhea, heartburn, fatigue and complete loss of all hair. 6 treatments from January 20, 2006, to June 2, 2006. I was given a CMF combination of 1200 mg of Cytoxan (Cyclophosphamide), 80 mg of Methotrexate and 1200 mg of Fluorouracil (5-FU). This bout with chemo was much easier than the first. Only side effects were minor nausea, fatigue, sore mouth, minor diarrhea and only thinning of my hair. The worst thing to happen was the death of my husband and my boston terrier dog in May during this bout of chemo.
Tamoxifen – July 1994 through July 1999 Arimidex – June 2006 through January 2007
None
Injections of G-CSF 10 mcg/kg until my ANC recovered. No side effects that I remember.
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 joyce's Cancer BlogApril 6, 2008
Hi, I saw my surgeon this past Wednesday. GOOD NEWS. He said NO CANCER or anything bad was found in the parathyroid gland he removed. THANK GOD FOR THAT. My neck was still swollen around the incision but he said that was excess fluid and my body would absorb it. Well, I was at my grandson, Shawn’s, Spring Musical Play (he sang a solo) at school on Thursday when my incision started to drain. It drained bloody fluid for 2 hours (all during the play). I just couldn’t leave so I sat there and used 6 or 7 tissues and a friend’s hankerchief soaking it up. I guess I probably looked stupid sitting there in that condition. It finally quit after I got home….naturally. I was very happy to get it out but I hated it had to happen when it did. However, my neck feels much better now and I can finally turn it without pain. March 28, 2008
My friend Louise (weezie) from Canada asked me about what led up to my parathyroid surgery. I thought I would do a post on it just in case anyone else was interested. The first sign of a problem was in 2004 when my parathyroid hormone level became slightly elevated. We moved to SC about that time and changed doctors. While I was in SC my doctor did a bone density test and diagnosed me on February 20, 2006, with LOW BONE MASS OR OSTEOPENIA. They immediately started me on 1500 mg. calcium to treat the Osteopenia. Nothing else was said about it until the summer of 2007 when my blood showed a slightly elevated calcium level. My doctor sent me to an Endocrinologist. She did blood tests, 24 hour urine tests and another parathyroid hormone test. The calcium level in my urine was quite a bit higher than in my blood so she requested a SESTAMIBI SCAN of the parathyroid glands. This scan showed a bad parathyroid gland on the lower left. She immediately took me off the extra calcium I was told to take. The parathyroid glands are about the size of a pea or smaller and she said my bad one was over 2 inches. She said without the surgery it could cause damage to my bones and my kidneys with possible kidney stones. They say cancer in the parathyroid gland is very rare so hopefully when I see the surgeon next Wednesday, April 2, I will get good news and this will be the end of it. I will keep you posted. Dear Joyce; Many thanks for your explaination as I am always curious how things begin. Look for my new blog about Bisphosphonates. Were you on any bone enhancing products before you were given the 1500 mg. of calcium and did your Oncologists give you a bone scan after your masectomies? My surgeon did a full bone scan right after surgery which is uncommon as my Oncologist said he wouldn’t be having any discussions about the possible secondary cancer to my bones but just giving me the arimidex if not for the radiologist’s report. See my new post regarding the follow up of that. Thanks for posting you are always helpful with your information and a guide to others. Louise from Canada eh. Hi Joyce good information. That is what this site is all about. And the support we give to each other. Hug Sherri Glad to hear thing are fine with you and thanks for your good thoughts for me. Hug Sherri March 23, 2008
Well, it has been 1 week and 2 days since the removal of one of my parathyroid glands. It has been a tough week. I think this was the most painful surgery I have ever had. It doesn’t seem possible that the removal of this tiny gland would be more painful than the 2 mastectomies that I had. I guess it was because of where it was located in my neck. The pain medicine took care of the pain but made me sleep all week. Another thing I never experienced before was the terrible lack of taste of the food I tried to eat. NOTHING TASTED GOOD. That part reminded me of my chemo treatments. My taste buds are now beginning to wake up so food tastes normal again. It still hurts to turn my head but I am feeling much better….THANK GOD. I will return to see my surgeon on April 2 and I will let you know more then. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR ALL THE PRAYERS ON MY BEHALF AND I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A WONDERFUL EASTER SUNDAY. Joyce, Dear Joyce; You are always there for so many of us on the Blog for a Cure. It is heartwarming that you keep us up to date on your recent surgery and the progress you are making on recovery. It sounds just too uncomfortable for anyone’s liking. I hope you have found some great treats to eat now that your taste buds are returning to whatever normal is. Perhaps the Easter bunny brought you yummy chocolate that you can now enjoy. I have a question. When did you find out about this recent occurence. I have not gone through all your postings so I was just curious to know what lead up to this recent surgery. I am assuming you will not need treatment but I guess you will keep all of us informed. Good luck Joyce. You are an eternal light. Love from Weeze in Canada eh. March 15, 2008
I am back home after my parathyroid surgery. I am doing ok except for a very painful throat and neck. I also have a fever of 101.0 but the doc thinks this is ok as long as it doesn’t go any higher. Thinking of you Joyce! Rest up. Hope you heal fast. Dear Joyce: Joyce, March 12, 2008
I am scheduled for outpatient surgery on Friday, March 14, to remove a diseased parathyroid gland in my neck. They tell me that cancer of the parathyroid glands is very rare so hopefully I will not be faced with the Big C again. Anytime you go into surgery you run a risk. Because of my previous heart damage, they have reserved a bed for me in the surgery department for 23 hours, just in case I need it. I just wanted to ask everyone to please include me in your prayers. May God Bless and be with all of you. Love and hugs, Joyce Joyce, I will be praying for you and I hope things went well. Wow Joyce it sounds as if you have had a great deal of strength in dealing with the challenges during the course of your life. As you may know, the more tests we come across in life may be an indication of how strong our faith is! So sit tight because the positivity that you posses in your spirit, by far, outweighs the negative forces that are at work trying to test the strength of the good folks! February 20, 2008
I have been a widow since 2006. I have a deceased son (2003), a deceased son-in-law (2002) and a deceased 12 year old boston terrier dog (2006). I have twin daughters, 5 grandsons and 2 granddaughters. I live with one of my daughters, her husband and one of my grandsons in the northeastern part of North Carolina. It sounds like you have gone through so much in your life of your loved ones passings and your own challenges with cancer. Thank you for your kind words about my husband Paul and for keeping us in your prayers! Survivor of breast cancer twice. That is amazing. Welcome Joyce. Glad you found this group. Joyce, Thank you so much for your strong spirit and positive outlook. You have helped me so much by letting your faith shine through your words Hi Joyce just wanted to jump in and say Hi! Hug Sherri Hi Joyce , What great Pictures. You have a wonderful family and a great support from all of them. Hug Sherri A true fighter! Thank you for your prayers and know they are returned. Wonderful pictures. Prayerfully |
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05.04.08 - 
Thanks for your support -
Dear Joyce; what fabulous news, you must feel so relieved and hopefully on the mend. Isn’t it always the way when one is out in public that these little tests come along at the most inappropriate time. I’m sure no one was looking but you must of felt self conscious. You are such a trooper, keep up the great work on yourself and the gift to others. Weeze
Dear Joyce,
What wonderful news you have received. Please accept my apology for just thanking you for your wonderful and caring responce to me last month. I have had much going on. After the fractured ribs from the CT they said that the walls of my esophagus had widened so I had to get an endoscopy which I was terribly concerned about for they had told me that my med for osteoporosis had caused this so they d/c it that day which of course was a major conern because of the numerous fractures. But, I had the endoscopy and thankfully it was perferctly normal. But, while I was in the hospital for the fx. ribs I had to get transfusions and they also d/c the Gleevec which is my med for the leukemia, so they have delayed the BMB due to not being on my regular dosage for he feared a less than great outcome of the results. In an exam he found a thickening in the side of my neck there seems which I have to go weekly to be examined. He told me not to worry for he doesn’t want to jump to conclusions but he certainly does want to watch it closly. I have an amazing oncologist which him and his wife are partners in their group and their daughter recently graduated from Harvard and is now in medical school with the plans of joining her parents in their practice. The pic of myself and the guy in the white coat is of course Dr. Peter Weiss. He spend at least one full hour sometimes more depending upon what needs to be discussed, etc in a normal office visit. When I am in the hospital he is usally there 2 times a day and when I was in ICU he was there several times and if he was there early evening he made sure to call and have the nurse tell me to,” Keep my chin up”. When he would leave my room with his last words his big thing that he always does is to put is hand under his own chin and lift it up, meaning for me to always keep my chin up. When I was diagnosed since I worked at Washington University in St. Louis it was a no brainer as to whom I was going to have treat me for I knew his reputation, not only with his patients but with the staffm for I never heard a single nurse, tech, or any employee say a single word against only words of praise. Though, I didn’t realize it at the time, when I was diagnosed we were the exact same age. This is something I didn’t know until a few years ago. He is not only my oncologist, but he is truly my friend and I feel so very blessed to have him as my oncologist. Not only does he talk to me about my illness but my social situation for that is something that has a very big impact on my care. If one or two of my children do not come for a visit or a BMB, he will always ask how things are with them.
I will end this by saying that I attended my daughter’s graduation from Missouri Baptist University, Summa Cum Laude with a writing certificate in English Literature, and a Bacehlor of Science in Education, with the highest honors. I was so very thankful that I was able to see her graduate college for she only graduated HS 4 years ago. I feel so very blessed for she was a young 8 years old when I was diagnosed. She is an amazing and determined young lady that I am extremely proud to call her my daughter. She is truly a Rock for me throughout these procedures, though I have not shared the latest news about the lump in my neck for I pray that it is nothing to be concerned about and she has had so many papers and her portfolio due to her professors in addition her student teaching and also working 4 nights a week at a high end restaurant in ST. Louis, I didn’t want to add to her non-stop obligations.
You have such a wonderful family. You had a very difficult time losing your husband and yoou dog in the very same month. Some people do not understand just how devastating it is to lose a pet. Though, I had adopted a wonderful dog from the APA when I moved into my home after I got a divorce in 1986 andd since I was working and had just started going back to school I was hoping to get a dog that was about a year old and hoping to be house trained. When we first went to the APA there was many new puppies and of course my children immediately went to them though I spotted this beautiful white dog peeking around the caretaker and when I asked about her she told be that she had be terribly abused and the vet had only recently cleared her for adoption for she had several fx ribs that some monster had took out their frustations on this poor anaimal so I called her and the volunteer gave me a treat to give her in hope she would come to me and though she hesitated she did come to me and I thought to myself,” This is my dog”, though I said nothing. We actually stayed until they closed and I asked if we could come back the next night for to me this was a big decision and I wanted to be sure this would be good for me and my children but also a very innocent dog that had some terrible baggage with her. So, as planned we were there the next evening and she immediately walked over to me so Icalled my children over and of course she enjoyed their attention but still very guarded. I did all of the necessary papers to offically adopt her and we immediatley named her Muffy. She went to California with us, several trips to Florida and Indiana, and she was part of our family. The lady had told me that she did not like men and I told her that was not going to be a problem and she just laughed. She became my shadow, thugh the kids loved her dearly but when my boys became teenagers she seemed to shy away from them a bit. I truly thoughtwith TLC I could make her forget what this person had done to her but it is very sad, that truly does stay with them. They never forget. Muffy was with us 19 years. And, it was one the saddest days of our lives when we lost her. The vet told me that she had truly outlived her life expectancy, though at the time there really were no words that could comfort me. She was like a child. And, it was at the same time that my children were moving on with their young adult lives. So, I was really alone. I have thought and looked at many dogs since, though I can’t make that decision. To me, she was one of the once in a lifetime dogs.
I didn’t mean to go into a entire chapter Joyce, but after looking at allof your wonderful pictures I felt like you were truly a friend.
Love & Hugs,
Patty