Hello Ladies

Hello everyone (old and new).... sorry I have not been here very much in recent months! 

I read the news of Chris' passing and it saddened me so... I remember meeting her in Myrtle Beach and she was so nice to me.  That sadness has lingered some.... why do some do better than others?  Its all so unfair...so random.

Then today I read this article and thought I would post it here; I think it helps provide some small nurturing for the hope we all need to keep alive within us.

http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/recur_metast/new_research/20070724.jsp

Hugs to all,

Stefanie

(end of this month will be 6.5 yrs from dx)

Steph-
Hooray! I've been thinking of you lately and am sure glad to see your post! How are you and the fam? I hope you're keeping cool this summer!

Yes, Chris's passing threw us all for a loop. I am still struggling with the whole thing...so many things that are just not fair.

And thanks for sharing the article. I agree with the idea of hope and the listing of the advances made, but I agree with Bev on the short duration that has been considered a success. Six months is too short....but....I bet those who are fighting that fight and can be thankful for the extra 6 months that has been sent their way. The other major advance that I see is the increased duration from initial dx till mets...that is the real victory, and the real path towards cure. The longer they can keep us disease free, the longer we have to find a cure. I think if they can show us decreased mortality rates for those with stage 0, 1 or 2 then we can also point to progress.

Anyone that we lose is one person too many, for sure. It is not fair, no rhyme or reason. But I do think it is important to cling to the hope and look at the small advances over time that add up.

But it doesn't mean we can't get darn angry about it all!

L&H,
Lori

Hi Steph,

It is really great to see you!! Your kids are growing and I'm sure you are happy watching them! The chest thing is a little worrisome, tho, isn't it? I know I have a grand daughter in that growing stage, too, as well as three adult grand daughters.

Six months is not a long time, true, but remember that is an average figure. We have plenty of women here to prove that those numbers are short. Even the ones who lost their battle lived longer than the numbers quoted, and look at the old timers we have! Jo-Ann is one of them, too, and her current problems are not BC related except that maybe BC treatment hastened the other illnesses. But from her family history I would say she was in line for all these problems without BC.

My daughter added a new twist the other day. She is under treatment for mets with a monthly infusion and taking two hormonal pills. She was here making hay, and came in the house gasping for breath. It was hotter than hell and humid as a sauna out there, so anyone would be gasping. I told her she shouldn't be working so hard. She said, "It worked for Lance Armstrong!". So now I understand her better, she is going to kill herself working so she can live longer!

Keep in touch with us as much as you can Steph. We are always glad to have you here.

Hugs MK

Stef, how great it is to see you post. Don't let that 6-month average upset you. You've already made it longer than that. Remember, my doctor-given checkout date was around August of 1996. I feel that it is because of a very dedicated set of doctors and alternative treatments. I'm still having the ct, bone scans and chest x-ray but only once a year now. I see the onc every 6 months. The onc took me off Arimidex in Jan of this year but I'm still on I3C and plan to continue it.

MK is right that I have all the bad genes from both of my parents and my problems were only hastened by the fight with b/c. But, I was dx'd when I was 48. Two weeks from today, I will be 60 (Oh God!!!). If all that has happened is a six-month extension, most of us wouldn't be here.

Don't those kids grow fast? My 3-year old granddaughter (that I've had since she was 4 months old) is an absolute hoot. This past week, she looked at me and started singing "Shakedown, Breakdown, You're busted". I couldn't stop laughing. Today is my Joseph's 11th birthday. I can still remember running from chemo at one end of the hospital to make the delivery room with 20 min to spare. He is one very precious child to me.

F the 6 months. Live one day at a time and live it to the fullest. And, oncs need to stop assembly lining their b/c patients. If they treated the patient instead of just the disease by recommendation, I think the survival time would increase rapidly. But, that's just my thinking and it hasn't changed in years.

Anyway, down from my soapbox.

Love You, Jo-Ann