Soaps.com - MESSAGE BOARDS

Blue 501 - You didn't chase anybody from the site. If anybody were to have done that, it was me the other day when I was so upset about my daughter. If people were to get chased from here because of hearing about somebody's bad fortune, the problem is theirs.

Peggy - Laura's surgery is scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, as the breast biopsy did show what we hoped it wouldn't. After a major meltdown on Monday, which caused her youngest son to have a major meltdown, she (and he) are just wanting to get it done and over with. She and her two sons have come to grips with it and I really think one of her problems was that she knows so many people and treats them all with such kindness that they all came around to tell her their tale of what happened to them and to tell her how she should handle her own situation and she was simply on overload. Her Dad and I went to her home late in the afternoon; shut the doors; took away the phones that she had on each ear; forced her to take Nathan up to his room and simply hold him while her older son (he's 15) made supper for them. We waited until all seemed to be clear from people and phones for a while and she decided to take her usual hour-long walk. People started to leave her alone after that and early yesterday morning, she sent an e-mail to everybody thanking them for her concern but she wanted to get back to work for two days and wanted to be allowed to do so. This "intervention" of sorts seemed to force her to calm down and regroup and she seems more stable now. I'm not sure yet what the procedure will actually entail tomorrow since her surgeon has plans for a lumpectomy but she now says that she wants a double masectomy. I understand her decision since my mother, my sister, my niece and now Laura have all had this terrible disease but this is really hard for a mother to hear. Do you, by any chance, know how much care she will need when she gets home? Should I try to get a private-duty nurse or will we be able to tend to her needs?

Nonnie7, think positive. I know survivors including one in her early 30's who about to have the other breast removed. God takes care of his children. My prayers to you, Laura and family.

Peggy and BLUE and everybody else who has been so kind - Thanks so very much for your support. It really does mean a lot. I will let you know how she is. Thanks again.

Kind of a funny thing - Laura's boys will be staying with their Dad who only lives a couple blocks away from her during this time and my husband and I will take her little dog. What's funny is that we already have a Great Pyrenees who is huge; a sort-of-Siamese cat who although precious and gentle, is as dumb as they come; and now we will have her tiny Schnauzer who weighs 8 pounds and does everything at warp speed. Our dog can't quite figure out what to do with this little thing that keeps on running underneath her and tripping her while the cat thinks she's another cat.

Blue501, YOu didnt run me off with description of your breast cancer operation. You're to be re-checked today the 15th. If you feel like sharing with us, please do. Kay 8:05pm edt NC

nonnie7, I am so sorry your daughter has to have breast operation. I'm sure Thursday (16th) will be a long day for everyone. Even in the midst of the bad news, I could imagine that little dog running circles (around & under) the bigger dog. Hang in there. All of you are in my prayers. Kay 8:11pm edt NC

I did see my surgeon again today. He says I may continue to have infections and to take the antibiotic when I need to but after examining me thoroughly, he feels that my new lump is scar tissue and that it is related to my radiation treatment. (I had the intensive twice a day radiation for five days instead of the usual 35 day regimen. As a result, I have extensive very hard scar tissue around the primary incision and now it seems to be forming around the lymph node incisions too).
I think if you have the full mastectomy, you don't have to have radiation but you do need the chemo, esp if there was any lymph node involvement. It may be different, depending on your team of doctors.
If you have radiation, they spend a lot of time measuring you & marking you & cast a sort of shell for your body. Then when you get the radiation, you have to lie in that shell & not move at all. I wore Levis the first time and the seams along my spine were painful. I found that scrubs were the most comfortable outfit and that if I took two aspirin about an hour before each treatment it made it a lot easier to lie still. That may have delayed the onset of the radiation burns too.

My heart goes out to all of you that need prayer.--Prayer Heals. Take care.

Nonnie, please let us know how your daughter is doing. We are hoping and praying that all goes well. Betsy