Cancer Articles: RE: Daughtersofmoms withBREASTCANCER I'm sorry to have to join this club...

Hey Angie,

I do live in Texas. I knew someone said they took their mother to MD Anderson, but I could not remember who. At her last appointment after joining the group, I sat in the lobby and saw a daughter with her family and wondered if it was any of you guys. It actually made me feel better. Knowing that we aren't alone in this.

My mom's doc is Dr. Andreopolu (I guess it's requirement to have a name you can't pronounce), but she is wonderful. My mother is from East Houston and I live in the Sugarland/Richmond area. She's is now living with us.

I read the same thing of our mother's from you guys, on how they are tacklling these tremendous obstacles. I often wonder if I would be as strong. But I think now, facing this situation, as hard as it can be, I feel I can do anything, and know I can get through this.

I know my mom has the same worry. What we will do when she is gone. We have gotten to the point that she has decided to do Hospice care, which is scary and comforting at the same time. Scary because I know she wants to stop fighting, comforting, because I know she won't have to get up all the time and wait for hours on end at these appointments, where she comes home wiped out just from waiting and going from one place to another.

We talked about it last night over a romantic bowl of Chef Boyardee (I made it myself). I could tell how relieved she was to be able to have this choice. She's had a hard battle, and she fought hard. And I don't think that however this ends that we will have lost. What other time will I have the opportunity to wake up and see my mom's beautiful face, to care for her in such a way that she is only comfortable with a select few. What other time will I be able to tell my mom how wonderful she is and be able to just sit with her and hold her hand. I am truly honored.

I carry my mom's strength with me everyday. I feel like a have a secret weapon. People around me are rushing through traffic, tapping thier feet in a rush at the grocery store, and I know they just don't know. My mom is my strength, my shield, she has given me life and shown me how precious life can be. I am eternally greatful.

--- On Fri, 9/5/08, Angie Henderson <zirjmom@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Angie Henderson <zirjmom@gmail.com>
Subject: RE: Daughtersofmoms withBREASTCANCER I'm sorry to have to join this club...
To: daughtersofmomswithbreastcancer@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, September 5, 2008, 9:40 AM

Eliza,

Do you live in Texas? I am blessed with a wonderful husband that is willing
to do what ever he can to make sure that Mom is taken care of. I am also
blessed that she has my Dad to support and care for her. He will have to
return to work soon, so I will be taking care of her during this time.

My Mom technically never had breast cancer-only breast cancer markers for
the cancer in her bones. She is treated at the breast center at MD
Anderson. Her official diagnosis is Metastatic Cancer with Unknown Primary.
Doctors (Dr Cristofanilli) have told her that she may have had a tumor, that
her body killed and absorbed. Unfortunately, not before it went to her
bones.

I've also learned that my mom is my hero and someone I strive to be like
everyday. I wish I had her strength.

I couldn't have said this better myself. My mom had to have a spinal tap to
rule out Lepto mets. They had to stick her 12 times. She did not complain,
or get angry. She said they were just trying to do their best (and they
were.)

Through all of this, she still manages to smile, and her greatest fear is
about what we will do without her.

Hugs,

Angie

From: daughtersofmomswith breastcancer@ yahoogroups. com
[mailto:daughtersofmomswith breastcancer@ yahoogroups. com] On Behalf Of Eliza
Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2008 12:03 AM
To: daughtersofmomswith breastcancer@ yahoogroups. com
Subject: Re: Daughtersofmoms withBREASTCANCER I'm sorry to have to join this
club...

Hey Angie. I almost feel like we are twins. My mother is 52 and was
diagnosed about 3 years ago. My head has been constantly spinning since all
of this began. She had done chemotherapy, had a bilateral mastectomy and
then did radiation. They said that it was pretty aggressive so wanted to
start the chemo right away.

We were so happy when radiation was over and she got to "ring the bell" at
MD Anderson to signify her last visit. Little did we know that about 3
months later we would be right back there. It has progressed to stage IV
and has metastisized to her bones, mainly her pelvis, her spine, liver,
stomach and now some lung tissue. We recently brought her home from the
hospital and she is staying with my husband and I. I was so thrilled to
have her home, so happy to be away from all the constant visits.

I have such mixed emotions about all this. Right now I think I'm pissed
(pardon my french). Why did it have to come back. Why can't we get a
break?? You know I see those little commercials on TV of survivors and I get
so jealous and envious. Why can't we have that?

My mother is so young as well, and is my best friend. I have to stop myself
from calling her all the time like I used to. These days, unless the phone
is in her lap she cannot reach it. We're working on Physical therapy and
are improving a lilttle more each day.

I try so hard to be positive, but I find myself getting knocked down here
and there. I try my best to keep a happy face for my mom, a tear sneaks in
every now and again, as I'm sure it will, but I try my best to keep her in
postive spirits.

I know how it feels to have your best friend be hurting. It makes you want
to give anything to take that hurt away, even if it means you have to take
it yourself. I think in all of this, I've learned that every moment is
precious, I've learned a great deal of patience, and I've also learned that
my mom is my hero and someone I strive to be like everyday. I wish I had
her strength.

Please tell your mom we love her and you too. If we have to do it, we might
as well do it together.

Eliza

--- On Mon, 8/25/08, mizhenderson <zirjmom@gmail. com
<mailto:zirjmom% 40gmail.com> > wrote:

From: mizhenderson <zirjmom@gmail. com <mailto:zirjmom% 40gmail.com> >
Subject: Daughtersofmoms withBREASTCANCER I'm sorry to have to join this
club...
To: daughtersofmomswith breastcancer@ yahoogroups. com
<mailto:daughtersof momswithbreastca ncer%40yahoogrou ps.com>
Date: Monday, August 25, 2008, 5:12 PM

But I am glad that you are here.
My mom was diagnosed with BC Mets to her bones, and she has a couple
of spots on her liver that are questionable. It took super human
effort to get her diagnosed, because she does not have any evidence of
cancer in her breasts, or her lymph nodes. The way they found it was
breast cancer was to do a biopsy of her pelvic bone in an area that is
full of cancer. It came back positive for BC markers. It was a shock
and is very frightening.

Right now she is at MD Anderson in Houston. She is receiving
radiation on both of her hips, her left shoulder and the middle of her
spine. They tell her it is the worst case of bone disease that they
have ever seen. For years she thought it was arthritis. It would
have been better if she had actually had BC in her breast, because
then they would have known to look for mets instead of just insisting
that it was arthritis.

She will begin chemo once radiation is finished. Radiation has
provided a great relief from the pain, and it promises to continue to
do so. Of course, I am not naive or in denial and I know that she has
a terminal illness. I do not know however what the future may hold.
I am just trying to hold on to each day, let go of things that I
cannot control, and try to keep joy and normality in my life. My
Mother is my best friend, and she is only 54. I never in my wildest
thoughts would have guessed that I would have the possibility of
losing her at such an early age.

I am here to vent and join my fellow sisters in this fight for our
mother's lives. The good, the bad, the ugly. I've noticed it is slow
around here. I hope that more people are able to find their way here,
because sadly, there are alot of us out there.

Sincerly,
Angie

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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