Re: Breast Cancer X 4/Carla

[Guest guest]

Carla,

Wow. I thought I had it tough at the beginning. About six months ago

they told me it wasn't cancer, then, whoops, it is. I had a big fat

tumor and some nodes involved.

You are right; the absi-worst part is at the beginning, when you don't

have a clear diagnosis, or a treatment plan. This group proves that

" Hey, we are having lives here. " Cancer is not the end, just a new

phase.

It's great that you are getting good care now. I come from a very

medical family, and have learned that doctors are human, and that

questioning them and monitoring your care are wise moves for any

patient. Your lung should have been treated faster.

Stay sane,

R.

--- Carla wrote:

> Hi ,

> I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't found an online

> support

> forum when I first found out I had cancer. My first doctor was

> Bosnian and

> while he is a good oncologist he lacks communication and people

> skills. I

> thought sure that I was as good as buried until I started talking to

> other

> women online with breast cancer. Since then I have switched to a

> different

> doctor at a cancer center in Grand Rapids. I have been treated with

> caring

> and compassion from the start and most of all given hope of living

> with

> disease.

>

> I just checked my appointment schedule and it has Zometa and Zolodex

> listed.

> I know the Zometa is for my bones so I'm sure the Zolodex must be

> the

> injection that goes in my abdomen that's supposed to shut down my

> ovaries.

>

> So far I am doing very well with my treatments; which is a far cry

> from

> where I started out. Before I switched to the cancer center, I was

> dealing

> with our very small town hospital and it was such a medical fiasco

> from the

> start. I was such a wreck from so many mishaps from that hospital

> it's a

> wonder I wasn't hospitalized for nervous exhaustion. There is a long

> list

> of mess ups but one thing that went terribly wrong was that when my

> port was

> put in the doctor accidently nicked my lung and over that weekend my

> lung

> collapsed 60%. The silly ER doctor couldn't get it figured out what

> was

> wrong after 2 hours and 2 x-rays; he had to do a CAT scan before he

> could

> see it. They called the surgeon in to put in my chest tube and he

> saw the

> collapsed lung right away on the first x-ray.

> I thought once the chest tube was in and my lung re-inflated that

> things

> would get better, but that didn't happen. For whatever reason the

> chest

> tube caused me unbearable pain and I had to spend that night and most

> of the

> next day in ICU on large amounts of morphine. They x-rayed my lungs

> at 8:00

> a.m. and 11:00 a.m. and determined that my lung looked fine and one

> of the

> surgeon's was supposed to come in shortly and remove that awful chest

> tube.

> Again, a lack of communication left me suffering with that tube until

> 2:00

> in the afternoon. Needless to say, I wasn't feeling too confident

> with my

> care until I went to the cancer center in Grand Rapids.

>

> One thing that I've found to be true is that you no longer look at

> life the

> same way when diagnosed with cancer. I do not stress over silly

> things

> anymore and I cherish each day that I'm feeling well.

> Hugs,

> Carla

> Crystal, MI

>

> -- Re: Breast Cancer X 4

> >

> > Carol... if they won't allow you to talk about it here (but I

> really

> > don't

> > see why not, especially since it could maybe save someone from lots

> > of

> > unneccessary suffering)

> > ... maybe you can send me a private email about that laser therapy.

> > After

> > reading these posts and knowing all of the suffering these ladies

> > have been

> > through... well, if there was ANY way to keep my aunt from having

> to

> > go

> > through all of that, I would be a FOOL not to try and learn as much

> > about it

> > as I could.

> > You aren't one of those patients that are going to be on the radio

> > tomorrow

> > are you?

> > Please, either post a message or send me an email telling me more

> > about this

> > place.

> >

> > Thanks... -OJ

> >

> > wrote:

> > Hi there, I'm new to the group, in fact, this is the first time

> I've

> > ever

> > posted anything in a group and when I think of talking to people I

> > don't

> > know about my cancer experienses differant from what you are going

> > through I

> > wonder if you'll even want me in your group, let me know how you

> > feel, OK?

> > My first cancer was in 1995. I found out I had BC and was told by

> the

> > surgeon I needed a Mastectomy followed by Chemo followed by

> > Radiation. (I

> > watched my mother go through radiation and suffer). I only had a

> > lumpectomy

> > and decided against Chemo and Radiation. Through prayer, the Lord

> led

> > me to

> > a Dr. who worked with alternative methods and had very good success

> > with

> > cancer patients. He put me on a veg. diet, herbs, antioxidents, and

> > some

> > strong supplements and that treatment lasted 2 years and I felt

> fine

> > but in

> > 1999 the cancer came back so I had another lumpectomy and went back

> > to the

> > same Dr. and a veg. diet and supplements for 2 years and felt good.

> > Then in

> > 2004 the cancer was back again, this time I went to a Chiropractor

> > and

> > natrapathic doctor. I had accupunture, a special diet (which I'm

> > still on

> > because it's a healthy way to eat) and many supplements. Then in

> > Jan., 2006

> > I had another lump and the doctor said NO MORE LUMPECTOMIES! This

> > time he

> > would only do a mastectomy, end of subject. I did have a CT scan

> and

> > it was

> > neg. but a needle biopsy came back cancer. The surgeon agonized

> with

>

=== message truncated ===

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

carla, I too am going to the cancer center in grand rapids...a wonderful place and the drs are very caring to your needs...maybe ill see you there! lol i see dr Sobong there, and he knows his stuff...id recomend him to anyone going thru this! You are in my prayers hun! love, Dawn

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[Guest guest]

Hey Dawn; what a coincidence! I've so far only seen my oncologist once; his name is Dr. Bury. I see my radiation techs every day and my radiation oncologist once a week and they are very kind and caring too. I go May 10 for my next Zometa and Zolodex treatments so will see Dr. Bury again then.

My 20-year-old son and his girlfriend took me for treatment yesterday and they were both very impressed by how beautiful the cancer center building is.

Next week I am going to take my sister-in-law with me to one of my treatments so she can go to the Wedge Institute with me. I've been practicing some hand, foot, & ear massage into my all around health care and I am really interested in Chinese complimentary healing; especially the Healing Touch/Reiki.

Thanks so much for writing me; hope to talk to you again soon.

Hugs,

Carla

-- Re: Breast Cancer X 4/Carla

carla,

I too am going to the cancer center in grand rapids...a wonderful place and the drs are very caring to your needs...maybe ill see you there! lol i see dr Sobong there, and he knows his stuff...id recomend him to anyone going thru this! You are in my prayers hun!

love,

Dawn

[Guest guest]

I go to the Victory Center (free for all cancer patients) for Healing Touch & Reiki.......I LOVE it.

Jackie

-- Re: Breast Cancer X 4/Carla

carla,

I too am going to the cancer center in grand rapids...a wonderful place and the drs are very caring to your needs...maybe ill see you there! lol i see dr Sobong there, and he knows his stuff...id recomend him to anyone going thru this! You are in my prayers hun!

love,

Dawn