Time to turn it around

[cw68]

What kind of tumor did they remove from your hand? Was is it surface like I assume your mother's cancer is? What kind of skin cancer runs in your family? My grandpa had skin cancer, but a Ford LTD ended up getting him in the long run.

Have you had any other suspicious growths? Have you had hyperplasia or fibroids before this? Is it endometrial cancer or uterine sarcoma? When will they be checking your lymph nodes to see if it's traveled?

My sister has had breast cancer twice and was put on tamoxifen for five years, which increases her risk of endometrial cancer. She did have an oophorectomy this past summer before her bi-lateral radical mastectomy, so at least she can't get ovarian cancer or breast cancer again.

Where are you doing your cancer treatments? Rush is one of the the best, fight to get there.

I, too, have a very high cancer risk. My mom's mom died of ovarian cancer, her father had skin cancer, her oldest bro died of lung cancer, he other brother had throat cancer and her sisters (identical twins) both had breast cancer within six months of each other. My sister got breast cancer the first time when she was 38, the second at 47. I have had biopsies done before and am scheduled for a follow-up repeat breast MRI to check up on some non-specific enhancements in my breast tissue. Luckily the lump I found last fall wasn't suspicious.

[Maya44]

Hi CW,

Let me see if I can cover all you asked here....

The tumor in my hand was and endometrial inclusion(?). It was under the service and the nerves where trying to form around it. He said I gave him his gray hair doing that surgery. (He was already salt and pepper before!)

I'm not sure what the name of the skin cancer is that runs in my family. It's all on my mom's side and mom is the 4th generation to have it, all surface so far with a few that were a bit deeper than just surface moles. My mom is one of 8 kids and 6 of the 8 have had it so far. We also have a link to basil cell nevus syndrome and the cleft lip and palate that D (and my niece) had could be linked to that syndrome.

My lymph nodes were checked a few months back. I believe they checked them for my thyroid (hypothyroidism), but I could be wrong. I will add this to my list of questions to ask the doctors though.

My doctor is out of Loyola.

I've got questions to ask the doctor and want to look all of this up online as well. However, it seems that there's alot of negative on the internet and don't want to get down in the dumps too much about it. My mom is helping with what questions I should be asking, so that helps a ton!

[cw68]

I don't think it was endometrial cancer, that's in your uterus, though I don't know what kind of cancer that would be, surgery around nerves is nerve racking. (pun intended)

They will be checking your lymph nodes after finding malignant cells. This is one way they check to see if it's metastasized outside of it's original site. This has nothing to do with thyroid, but all about cancer.

Is your cancer endometrial cancer or uterine sarcoma? Uterine sarcoma is more rare.

What stage are you in?

Loyola has a good rep, but Rush is better. However, both have good docs. Rush is closer to you.

[Maya44]

I'm sorry, not endometrial, I meant epidermal inclusion. I have endometrial now. Duh! I guess I'm in the beginning stage since they say it's great they found it now instead of later. Much better chance of killing/removing it all?

Rush is who removed my hand tumor and he was GREAT! But, he was only for ortho. He's the doctor for the White Sox here too...and he was quite the good-looking man!

[Nutty Chick]

Dar.


If someone called me a green alien … or fat, it wouldn’t bother me in the slightest because I ‘know’ I am not a green alien and if anything I am underweight.

However.

What I have noticed about myself is that is someone tells me something that there ‘may’ be a grain of truth in … It stings like hell.

My H is a compulsive gambler. One of the most hurtful things he said is that *I* caused him to gamble. I ranted and raved when I heard this trying to prove my point – How could I be to blame for what he was doing …??

Then one day, when I wasn’t even thinking about it, it dawned on me that I did have to accept some of the responsibility for his gambling. It was partly my fault.

I had:

Turned a blind eye to his gambling.
Loaned him money to pay off debts.
Loaned him money to go to the bar (where I knew he gambled)
Covered bills he should have paid with my savings.

I am partly responsible for enabling him.

The point I am making is that it hurt so much because there was some truth there that I didn’t want to admit.


I have no idea what ‘names’ have offended you. I have no idea if there is truth in them or not. What I do know is that people are not here to hurt anyone. I have read hundreds of posts and each one is written with care by people who care. If I were lucky enough to have the response and advice on my thread that you have on yours I would be humbled and feel blessed.

If people made comments that hurt I would explore them to find out why they hurt. I am always grateful for an opportunity to learn about how people perceive me. I am always grateful for an opportunity to grow,

Nutty.

[Nutty Chick]

Dar.


If someone called me a green alien … or fat, it wouldn’t bother me in the slightest because I ‘know’ I am not a green alien and if anything I am underweight.

However.

What I have noticed about myself is that is someone tells me something that there ‘may’ be a grain of truth in … It stings like hell.

My H is a compulsive gambler. One of the most hurtful things he said is that *I* caused him to gamble. I ranted and raved when I heard this trying to prove my point – How could I be to blame for what he was doing …??

Then one day, when I wasn’t even thinking about it, it dawned on me that I did have to accept some of the responsibility for his gambling. It was partly my fault.

I had:

Turned a blind eye to his gambling.
Loaned him money to pay off debts.
Loaned him money to go to the bar (where I knew he gambled)
Covered bills he should have paid with my savings.

I am partly responsible for enabling him.

The point I am making is that it hurt so much because there was some truth there that I didn’t want to admit.


I have no idea what ‘names’ have offended you. I have no idea if there is truth in them or not. What I do know is that people are not here to hurt anyone. I have read hundreds of posts and each one is written with care by people who care. If I were lucky enough to have the response and advice on my thread that you have on yours I would be humbled and feel blessed.

If people made comments that hurt I would explore them to find out why they hurt. I am always grateful for an opportunity to learn about how people perceive me. I am always grateful for an opportunity to grow,

Nutty.

[cw68]

I guess I'm in the beginning stage since they say it's great they found it now instead of later. Much better chance of killing/removing it all?

Well, then question number one to ask them is what stage it is in. Stages are determined by many things and certain stages are more treatable than others. This is one of the single most basic and important things to know. If your doc isn't giving you this info, than you need to find one with better communication skills because info is key. You have to question your doctors, YOU have to understand what's going on in order to get the best treatment and chance for survival.

Also, what doc did your surgery at Rush? I wish I could remember who did my sister's last summer. She had a great tandem team of docs who worked very well together, one did the mastectomy and another the reconstruction. The are some of the best in the nation. Chicago's a great place to be located when you need treatment.

[Maya44]

It sure the heck is!
My Rush doctor was John Fernandez. He was ortho though and did hand/arm/shoulder only.

[kissak]

hey dar....hope you are doing good today.

I am doing ok. Gone really dark on my H. Not taking his calls or replying. It is easy when Im mad though.

Hope you have a good day.

[Maya44]

Hi Kissak,

I'm doing quite well actually. Had a nice evening with D and woke up in a very calm pleasant mood. I think I'm finally getting the hang of this NC stuff and it isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Should've listened to everyone a long time ago instead of being so afraid to try.

I know what you mean about the anger keeping you grounded and with your goal. Your H should have some darkness from you though instead of assuming he can leave and still be chatty.