So....talk about.....CANCER SUPPORT THREAD !!

[deerman]

Nurse hang in there, just keep fighting...the no chemo sound good, like they can get it all..

 

[Lunachick]

Nurse - are you having the traditional open surgery? Or the laproscopic/robotic surgery? Either way, once they take the works out, you will heal fine. I was so worried, never having any surgery before, but it went real smooth.

Now if I ever have to have any surgery, I won't be so scared. It will be well!

Also, can you get disability while you're out from work? I was only out 3 weeks, but i got disability checks (not much, but better than nothing) When is your surgery? Let us know so we can be here for you. Anyway, we will think of you and give you support too

And to your DH: Don't worry!

 

[NurseELB]

Luna-
Dr is doing an open surgery, but robot assisted (Boys and their toys!). I think that's because it is so hard to resect the ureters from the ligaments that hold the uterus in place. He has to take the ligaments and lymph nodes to send to pathology. Recovery time is minimum 12 weeks.

No disability in WA state. I've used all my sick time due to my chronic illness. I was having quite a bit of stress at work this past year and so I kept having flare after flare. Now I have this great (brand new) job, and they are all so caring and supportive. At my old position (same company, different manager) I would have been told I didn't have a job to come back to. At this position they keep telling me to take all the time I need and don't worry, my job will be there.

My husband works for the same company and also has a great manager. There's just that one bad apple that I had to get away from. DH's boss is going to ask for paid leave donations, but to MY account because I make 3times more than him. We'll make do, might be Top Ramen for awhile, but I'm pretty savvy with the coupons.

Thanks again for all the good wishes!

PS- Surgery date! They scheduled me today for April 25th. Have to go to a hospital 2 hours away from the house, but my BFF is going to fly up from So Cal and be my own personal nurse while I'm in the hospital so DH can stay home and be with our daughter. She's 15, and can handle herself quite well alone, but this is different, I want her to feel like life is as normal as possible while I'm gone so she doesn't worry.

 

[#1California Chick]

Nurse

I have you on my calendar and will start sending out the prayers, good thoughts and STRONG VIBES immediately!!!

It sounds like you have a GREAT support team in place. I will pray for their good health and continued support of you!

Stay Strong!

Cindy

 

[babyrnlc]

Nurse, I hope you do great in your surgery. I am surprised you were told 12 weeks, I had a major open colon resection and I was able to return to work at 2 weeks.

Most hysterectomies are able to return at least by 6 weeks (at least at the hospital I worked at), many are allowed back after 2 weeks.

I agree witha previous poster, morn, but you attitude is what will get you through this. I say this as chemo is currently being pumped into my body! But I feel great and I love life! I have changed so much over this and my faith and relationship with God has grown so much that even if I had this to do over, I would not change it!

 

[Lunachick]

baby - you have the right attitude! My thoughts last year when I was going through the chemo etc was - oh well, I'll march through this and next year it will be different. And hopefully better. And it is. I've had people I know ask me if I look at life differently now. NO I don't. I suppose my attitude was good because that's how I am. thank goodness - that's probably what kept me going.

I didn't cry about my situation, didn't feel sorry for myself, no "why me?" Why not me? I'm still trying to figure out if I've learned anything from this

When my hair fell out I just shaved the rest off and be done with it. I'm am also thankful I didn't get sick with the chemo, just tired.

This may help you baby, I took sublingual B-12 2500 mcg every day to keep my blood healthy for red & white counts. Also vitamin D-3 2000 and regular vit D. My oncologist is amazed at how I managed

BUT it was my attitude that kept me going AND the support I got here was the icing on the cake.

What kind of cancer are you dealing with if I may ask? Nevermind! I just checked your page out.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Luna did FANTASTIC on chemo. It was all that attitude, lol. That's how I keep going, I refuse to let this beat me. I'm going to die from being hit by a truck, run over by a bus, or a plane falling out of the sky but I am NOT going to die from cancer! Some days are better than others, but then again it's sure better than the alternative. I'm not afraid to die. Shoot been so dang close to it a number of times I think it's gotten scared of me! But I'm not planning on doing it until I'm much much older! My students used to tell me that I was too dang mean to die!! lol

 

[babyrnlc]

Quote:
The lowest my h/h was 11.2 and 34.

My platelets made it down to 169 once and my white count has not gone below 3.5.

I was blessed not to loos my hair, infact it grew and got curly lol. I just donated 10 inches to locks of love a couple of weeks ago. I have 5 more treatments (out of 12) so almost there. I really only have one day (usually Thursday or Friday) after chemo that I get tired and have bowel issues. I also have the cold sensitivity, which is a bit of an annoyance. (Keeps me from the ice cream though.) The steroid they give me on chemo day gets me wired and I tend to get a lot done. I still have 6 children at home and the chickens and midwifery, so the energy boost is great.

I got so much done yesterday (I am redoing the chicken coop) just have to put on the roof and wheels today and I am done. Should finish today.

 

[Lunachick]

Wow - you are doing real well! I never had bowel issues with chemo, but radiation was a different story, and the going to rad everyday was a real pain in the butt.

The only lingering issue I have now is my fingers are cold sensitive, I was fine until I went to a local park for a walk with my sister and it happened to be a 45 degree day (which isn't bad) but the wind came from the north and it was VERY windy.......it would catch your breath away. I had cheap gloves on and the only break I got was when we got into the thick of the trees. There was no other way back but through the open area by the bay and the wind. When I finally got to the car my fingers were white and ached like mad. So I sat on my hands for 1/2 hour then put my hands under my armpits til they warmed up. Well, that worked but now I have to be careful......I was a little scared seeing my fingers like that. Hopefully that will pass.

5 more to go! How often do you have your treatments? I was every 21 days for a total of six treatments.

 

[Lunachick]

Quote:
See? It's that attitude

You helped me a lot CM !!