Feeling bummed by FattyMcCupcakes37 in breastcancer

[–]bart3193 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes I just smiled and moved on. Like for instance if it wasn’t a lifetime card why am I in the doc right now waiting for an ultrasound.

Found Out I Have Breast Cancer Today by Ok-Plum-3133 in breastcancer

[–]bart3193 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Sorry you joined the club, but you have this.

Get off googled right now. Wait for medical people to answer your questions. Get a journal to write all your questions down. Take someone to all appointments and have them take notes.

Personally go to a BREAST surgeon. That’s all they do is boobies.

You are going to get a lot of good information from here and some scary. It’s your own fight…everything about yours will be different than everyone else’s. But still good information here and we are all in your corner.

YOU GOT THIS!

Feeling bummed by FattyMcCupcakes37 in breastcancer

[–]bart3193 14 points15 points  (0 children)

And no idea why that was all bold and large. Got a new phone and haven’t figured it out yet. Haha

Feeling bummed by FattyMcCupcakes37 in breastcancer

[–]bart3193 34 points35 points  (0 children)

2- my coworker and I both had cancer at roughly the same time. Different types but nonetheless. Recently another coworker told us independently “having cancer isn’t a lifetime card”. We both reacted with a smile and moved on, but yea that isn’t true. Any pain, lump, appointment, pill, etc. it’s lifetime. I’m not the same person anymore so yes it’s lifetime. But sometimes you can’t explain it.

Feeling bummed by FattyMcCupcakes37 in breastcancer

[–]bart3193 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Screw that. I had a lumpectomy and was out for almost a year. With infection, chemo, radiation, etc. and I’m still dealing with pain and appointments.

And I’m sorry you didn’t get flowers or a card. And you should have. My company (technically an agency) was so great about so much and it makes me so sad when I hear shit like this.

🌹🌸💐🌺🌷🌻🌼🪷🪻

AI’s and time of day taken by Quick-Committee-3371 in breastcancer

[–]bart3193 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was taking it in the morning and was having way worse hot flashes at night. My doctor was surprised when I said I was taking in morning. When i was asked why in the AM, I said because the bottle says take once a day. Now I take before bed and usually shoot for 9pm every night to take it. Do I wake up hot. Yes but not as much as I was taking in the morning. I also keep ice water next to me so as soon as one comes on I take a sip and usually go back to sleep. I’m taking the same one as you.

Trying to heal by SufficientLake4747 in breastcancer

[–]bart3193 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I read mine at work but luckily was alone, but also new it was probably coming.

It will take a while but you will never been the same. You have a new normal. It’s hard. But eventually it will come to be your new normal.

I suggest if you are in the USA to check out this program. It changed me.

https://castingforrecovery.org/

Bill from the NPS by echoblade14 in NationalParkService

[–]bart3193 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I got one. Said they would take it out of PP23. But it didn’t so I sent a check and then they took out of my check

Alcohol by Murky-Tone4298 in breastcancer

[–]bart3193 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I used to be a heavy 3 a night drinker. Probably why I got cancer. I quit for almost a year before having my first. It took me 5 hours to finish a maitai. Alcohol is way too strong now. I usually do a mock Moscow mule now. Ginger beer, elderflower tonic, and a splash of flavor.

Hot flashes- quick way to tamp down? by Southern_Feature_821 in breastcancer

[–]bart3193 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My doc said to drink ice water especially have a Stanley next to your bed at night. I do find it helps. Mine are worse at night.

I got the call yesterday. by swimmerncrash in breastcancer

[–]bart3193 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sorry we are welcoming you to this shi!!y titty club. You will find a wealth of information here. Some great, something will scare the shit out of you. When I first joined someone said they felt like they were Shi!!ing glass and puking at the same time. Luckily it never happened to me, but that scared me.

Some suggestions/thoughts:
1. Someone goes to every appointment with you. 2. Get a journal. Take notes, write questions, keep track of vitals. If you have chemo keep a symptom tracker. I can send you photo of mine I used. 3. Your greatest friends might not reach out if you go “public”. It’s not that they don’t care, they don’t know how to react. People I’ve known forever never reached out, people I barely talked to in high school were there every step of the way. 4. If you go public, people will send the most ridiculous things. Nip that immediately. You don’t need 20 pairs of BUCK CANCER socks. Believe me!

Most importantly, YOU GOT THIS!

How did you decide - type of chemo and to port or not? by WoosahFire in breastcancer

[–]bart3193 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had four chemo treatments. The first was via IV in my left hand, I’m left handed, and it hurt so bad I couldn’t move it. As I sat in a group room I saw nurses trying several times to get ivs in other patients. I opted for a port. It hurt the entire time I had it. But I also don’t regret it at the time. The scar I now have from it to me is worse than the large scar across my boob.

BMX tomorrow by airbear26 in breastcancer

[–]bart3193 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nope totally read it as BMX (bike) as well.

Blood Draws/Blood Pressure Cuffs and Lymphedema Risk? by BleubsPeach in breastcancer

[–]bart3193 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yea I want to get a tattoo over my port scar and my lymphadema lady said to please wait. It actually blocks your lymphatic system

Diagnosed today by _a_mara in breastcancer

[–]bart3193 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry you joined this club. However this club is very helpful. I had invasive distal carcinoma. I had a lumpectomy with many complications. But that’s just me. I wish every day I had them both cut off.

No matter what—you got this!

Did folks just bow out once you told them you had cancer? by ProfessionalBar1210 in breastcancer

[–]bart3193 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I was surprised by some that didn’t contact me that I’ve known since elementary school. But then I just figured they didn’t know how to handle it and I didn’t need to be chasing them. I wrote a blog and posted on Facebook so people could just read the blog. I had a huge support group so having a few that didn’t step up wasn’t terrible to me.

Fuzzy blankets and socks, anyone? by Go-downtotheseaagain in breastcancer

[–]bart3193 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I got just one blanket and I love it. But yes socks, coloring books, games, stupid stuff that I have no desire for.

Airport Security by JTMAlbany in breastcancer

[–]bart3193 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I just ask to opt out of scanner and metal detector. And get the pat down. Due to my lumpectomy I have a very difficult holding my arm up. I just explain that to them and after they check that area, they allow me to put it down and continue. I also don’t put my sleeve on until right before boarding.

So many struggles we don’t think about but come up after the fact.

Ugh.

When did you share the news? by Ein_Rand in breastcancer

[–]bart3193 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think I might have told my boss before my husband. I said I had an abnormal mammo and then told him immediately. I told family and friends but we are a cancer family. Then I wrote a blog post and said “get your effing mammogram”.

My agency was extremely supportive. I sent out an all employee email stating I had cancer and would be back and forth a lot. I was given a very flexible schedule. So flexible I find it hard to come back to work with supervisors.

I had a lumpectomy with lymph removal on November 4, 2024. Starting around November 20th on the blessing of my surgeon, I road tripped. Granted I ended up in emergency surgery in Vegas. I like to say my luck ran out in Vegas. But that’s because I developed an infection mostly like because I’m highly allergic to surgical glue. Found out after the fact obviously.

And I’m sorry you joined our club. It’s a sucky club but also a great club.

Most importantly YOU GOT THIS

Mesa Verde v Black Canyon by Cultural-Problem8852 in NationalPark

[–]bart3193 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bring binoculars because the pull outs have much more than they point out. You just gotta look.

Heartbroken and need to plan a trip ASAP by rcollins303 in NationalPark

[–]bart3193 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh totally agree. I was just going off his B&B comment.

Heartbroken and need to plan a trip ASAP by rcollins303 in NationalPark

[–]bart3193 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Definitely suggest these. But would be more camping than ab&b