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7697. msgreer - 5/15/2012 9:14:09 AM Judith
I came back to theMote to discuss my cancer treatment and what do I find but you going through your own horror story..although I must say your attitude is great..about the drugs you didn't get..shame on them. You deserved those just for showing up!
As you will be familial with I have been treated for Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I was very lucky as I caught it early, and there was a specific target chemo for my exact type of lymphoma, slow growing follicular B cell. This all started close to five years ago. I was treated with Rituxan for eight weeks with excellent results and then did a two year maintenance regimen. I did not get the chemo that kills you only to see if you can come back..didn' lose my hair eiher. I am finished with the exception of lab work every three months x2 and then a body CT scan when I finish the lab work. They are following me and that is fine by me. I still have my port but it really can come out anytime.
The cancer cult is what I call it..not a group a person would pick to be thrown into but it happeneed. I got great strength from my support group and the leader. Now I am in training for a half marathon with the Leukemia and Lymohoma Society aka LLS. I love the workouts but the fundraising not so much. The walk is in San Francisco in mid-October. The thing is I am spending part of my time around the Cape Cod area in the greatest old NE home right on the beach..close to my daughter who stays with me most of the time..and the other time in Florida. After being up here for 22 years I am going to seek out all my friends and raise some money.
Judith, you are in my thoughts and in my prayers. I plan to stick around so I hope to get your updates. 7698. Wombat - 5/15/2012 3:11:27 PM Judithathome,
When my wife was diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma in Situ, she opted for a full masectomy, even though she could have opted for a less radical procedure and radiation therapy. She decided that she didn't have the time and energy for that, and she didn't want to risk the chance of it reappearing. Her surgery was almost a decade ago, and we sometimes forget she even had cancer. 7699. vonKreedon - 5/15/2012 3:12:17 PM msgreer - Lovely to hear from you. Congrats on your success against your cancer. And, I'm quite envious of your beach front Cape Cod home! 7700. judithathome - 5/15/2012 5:36:24 PM Thanks for all the success stories...I'm planning on being another one!
MsGreer, good to hear from you again...please do stick around!
I will be off-line starting tomorrow...Keoni thought this would be a good time to take the computer in for check-up and possible "surgery" on it so he's taking it in tomorrow...I guess both of us will be good as new by the weekend! 7701. thoughtful - 5/15/2012 8:09:19 PM OK, best of luck J@h....do let us know how you are doing as soon as you are able...we'll be thinking of you. 7702. arkymalarky - 5/15/2012 9:24:27 PM What Thoughtful said!
And great to see you and know you're doing well Msgreer! 7703. msgreer - 5/16/2012 7:40:13 PM Hi to all my friends..First,
Judith..you remain in my heart and in my prayers. It's quite a system to tangle with, isn't it? I look forward to your updates.
Ah..the Cape and a beach house. I envy myself as well. I have been doing more writing since I started coming up here two years ago. I will be back from Sept to November, when I like to celebrate Thanksgiving where there is so much of our history surrounding me. I have met so many wonderful people up here and they take their American history seriously.
Later a walk on the beach keeping with my routine for the half-marathon. I have to say that the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has a tremendous organzation.The amount of money they raise has lead to drugs like the one I could take and not go through double hell wondering if I would get over the side effects of the treatment.
After 41 years working as a nurse..fourteen of those as a hospice nurse..it all has been a fascinating journey, and I am a better person because of it. It's GREAT to see you all..and I am staying but you will understand while my daughter is with me we are usually so busy.
I am busy living..and guess what? A wish I have had for maybe ten years is coming true. I have always wanted to rock climb and I am starting to do that up here. As my daughter says, "That's awesome, Mom". 7704. vonKreedon - 5/16/2012 7:56:20 PM Where are you climbing? 7705. msgreer - 5/16/2012 9:44:39 PM vonKreedom
For now my instructor has me traversing the boulders that surround the homes and the town of Manomet down on the beach. I have not gone to any mountain type of climbing.I just started. It's a challenge for me as the boulders are big and often times unsteady. I can tell you that my yoga practice is helping me with stability and flexibility. I am proud to say I have not fallen, yet. It is a balancing act for now. It also counts as an aerobic exercise, which is part of the LLS work out. We will get into the classroom, so to speak, and discuss gear and actually try out not so difficult situations but for now this is challenging and very cool. 7706. judithathome - 5/19/2012 5:09:55 PM Well, I'm home and sort of high on pain meds but wanted to let everyone know I'm fine and though the news isn't the best, I'm not going to worry about it until I know more, which will be On Wednesday.
Evidently, there was involvement in my lymph nodes...which means it's spread. So I guess we will discuss chemo on Wednesday.
If it comes to that, I already have a wig picked out...
Going back to the couch...I'm really worthless on these pills. 7707. arkymalarky - 5/19/2012 5:24:02 PM We love you, Judith. Rest up and share a good report with us Wed. Let us know if you need anything. This is our last week of school. 7708. Wombat - 5/19/2012 10:09:53 PM Hope it's a rainbow-colored afro wig... 7709. msgreer - 5/20/2012 2:11:59 AM Judith, I can imagine you need to rest. I actually purchased two real hair wigs because at first I thought I would lose my hair. When you are feeling better let's see if I can help in any way. Both are cut and highlighted as I wear my hair but you never know.
Sleep well. We love you and we all have your back. You won't be alone. 7710. thoughtful - 5/20/2012 3:06:56 PM Hang tough Judith@h...I'm sorry the news wasn't better. But they will be putting together a plan of action for you which will be nasty to get through, but you will get through it. Remember to concentrate on the real being you are, not the body that has cancer....cancer can't touch the real you.
Sending you my best courage and comfort and strength.
Ms Greer, great to hear from you...no surprise that you continue to do good work wherever you go. More power to you, gal! 7711. msgreer - 5/20/2012 10:14:52 PM thoughtful
Nice to hear from you. Thank you for your kind words. J@h is family, don't you think? If I can do anything for her that will ease what she is now facing it would be my greatest pleasure. 7712. thoughtful - 5/23/2012 12:45:06 PM Is your cat making you crazy? No literally making you crazy thanks to invading parasites that rewire your neurons....
Indeed, recent findings from Sapolsky’s lab and British groups suggest that the parasite is capable of extraordinary shenanigans. T. gondii, reports Sapolsky, can turn a rat’s strong innate aversion to cats into an attraction, luring it into the jaws of its No. 1 predator. Even more amazing is how it does this: the organism rewires circuits in parts of the brain that deal with such primal emotions as fear, anxiety, and sexual arousal.
Read about it...unbelievable! 7713. judithathome - 5/24/2012 4:35:52 PM Great news: I won't be needing chemo after all...still have to see the oncologist (in 2 weeks) but the surgeon says she is 99% sure the oncoclogist will not want to put me through a course of chemo. 7714. vonKreedon - 5/24/2012 4:44:38 PM Yay! But what else does that mean? 7715. Wombat - 5/24/2012 5:05:20 PM Thoughtful,
I read that article when it came out. Since I am a long-time cat owner, I was particularly interested/apprehensive. Fortunately the article, while fascinating, was not as scary as the title... 7716. judithathome - 5/24/2012 7:23:45 PM VonK, I think it means that I will just have to take one pill a day for the next 5 years.
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