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My sincere condolences for your loss. May God comfort you and your family. Someday you’ll be reunited with Whitey at The Rainbow Bridge.

MMJ

Mine go nuts when I ask if they’re hungry.... then they eat like they’re going to the electric chair! LOL

Thank you for your good wishes. It’s going to be a slow road, but I’m prepared for it.

Sorry to hear about your lymphadema. I hope you get some relief soon. But at least you’re getting reconstructive surgery, which is a plus! :)

Right now, I have a small infection in the area where the underarm meets the chest. The doctor prescribed antibiotics and I’ll see him Monday. Otherwise, everything is going well.

I’m still not sold on chemotherapy though. I’ve been starting to experiment with alternative treatments. It’s not time to visit the oncologist yet, so I can still buy some time before a decision has to be made.

I hope you continue to get well, Bunches. We’re all in this together!

MMJ

Hello, Ladies of this Forum:

An update: I had a mastectomy of my left breast on February 10. It went very well. The doctor was very pleased and excited to tell me that there was no cancer in the lymph nodes, and they removed all the cancer!!

I’m feeling well, and am not horrified by the lack of breast. There will be a period of healing before they discuss chemo treatments with me. I’m still undecided about it, but I am taking Essiac tea (the real recipe), 3-4 times/day.

Thank you for all your support, my Sisters!!

I will update again.

MMJ

Prayers for your friend and her family.

May God give them the strength they need.

MMJ

Dear Bunches:

You are certainly a wealth of information!

I will call the ACS and obtain all the information I can about the rides, etc. That’s great! That’s a stressful situation that can be alleviated. Sometimes I feel so lost. All my ‘control’ is out of my hands.

Today I was thinking, here I was rolling along in my happy way, until THIS... now it’s screwed up every phase of my life. *sigh*

With all your support, I’ll continue to post on here. It’s good to know there are women like me who are scared, apprehensive about treatment, and need positive reinforcement.

Thank you for responding to me so quickly!

God Bless You!!

MMJ

Dear Bunches:

Thank you for your concerns. My best girlfriend will go with me to the hospital the day of the surgery and stay there. They expect to keep me in just overnight, barring anything going wrong.

The only thing I know about the tumor is that it is very large and the surgeon called it “T2” which means it’s big. According to an ultrasound I had last month, the lymph nodes looked clear and the PET scan was clear. I’m not sure if that means anything. They said they will know what stage it’s in when they open me up. (I have a feeling it’s Stage 3.)

I’m glad that there are ladies on here like yourself who can help me through this difficult situation. I’m very scared, mostly of the chemo and radiation. I don’t want to be sick. When you had chemo, were you throwing up? Or just nauseous? Could you eat? I don’t have anyone to take me to the treatments, so can I drive home?

Thank you for your kind interest. I will continue to post on here and it makes me feel better knowing there is support here.

Fondly,
MarineMomJ

Well, my story is a little upsetting. I’m unemployed for 3 years and have no health insurance. I found a lump in my left breast the beginning of August. I called all the “Foundations” for help in getting a low cost or free mammogram. As soon as they heard “lump” no one would help me. That’s right NONE of these so-called cancer organizations would assist me.

Another reason I was rejected, besides the lump was that my unemployment “income” was too high....(not enough to live on, but too high to qualify for government programs!)

Finally I was directed to a surgeon in December who took me on and was willing to do a biopsy through funding. I had a biopsy and ultrasound. Originally he thought it was a benign tumor. On December 15, 2010, the biopsy came back, and it was breast cancer with a mastectomy indicated. I just stared at him, speechless. I don’t know how I got home that day. I couldn’t even squeak out the words ‘cancer’ to anyone. I didn’t eat for 4 days and had the ‘runs’ for 3 days. My first question was “Am I gonna die?” Probably many people have that same reaction.

I went for all the pre-op tests, but since I’m diabetic, my blood sugar was very high. They wouldn’t give me medical clearance until I got my blood sugar down. I’ve been working to get it down, and have been successful so far. Luckily, my PET scan came back clear!

My surgery is set for February 10, 2011...yes, I’m scared, but more upset over the impending sickness I will experience with the chem and radiation. Naturally, there is a part of me who’s vanity doesn’t like the idea of losing my hair, but hey, it’s life or death.

I’m very depressed over this, but I have a lot of people to support me. But one thing I will say... I have NEVER asked “why?”. I have a strong Faith and I beg God for the strength to endure this. I humbly submit to God’s Will, whatever that may be.

Ladies, your stories have given me new insight as to what’s ahead. You are all very couragous, inspirational women! I hope I am able to cope with this.

Please pray for me.

Peace to all of you!

MarineMomJ

With God, all things are possible! Will continue praying for you.

MMJ

Prayers for the repose of your mom’s soul, and for strength for your family at this difficult time.

MMJ

Heartfelt condolences to you. I know you really loved your furbaby, and it’s so hard to say goodbye. You went over and above your responsibility to give your kitty a good life. Rest in that knowledge, and he knows you loved him.

I lost my sweetie cat on June 19 from renal failure, and I cried almost every day for 4 months. I recently got 2 new kittens, and it eases the pain significantly.

Your Schmeckle and my Allegra are playing at the Rainbow Bridge.

If I see him on the Rainbow Bridge, I will be sure to sign your guest book.

{{{{hugs}}}}

MMJ

It’s to laugh.

Amen, Robert.

MMJ

Exactly. The Sistine Chapel is a beautiful depiction of Creation, etc.

Unfortunately, certain individuals on here went way off topic and decided to play “Make the Sedevacantist a Pinata”.

Not happening.

I don’t submit to the Novus Ordo rhetoric of the “Catechism of the Catholic Church”. I studied “The Baltimore Catechism”.

And you’re one to talk, you’re not even Catholic so please keep your non-solicited opinions to yourself.

Discussion over. Have a nice day.

Kosta, I’m more than Catholic, I’m a Traditional Catholic, in fact, a Sedevacantist.

I don’t intend to entertain any backlash from those papists who wish to challenge the Sedevacantist position. So let’s leave it at that.

Kosta, are you a Roman Catholic? Roman Catholics do not venerate icons. That is an Eastern Orthodox custom. Man was made in God’s image, and although He is pure spirit, we still represent his creation. How else are we to portray him? The image of a dove as the Holy Ghost is taken directly from the New Testament at Pentecost. This argument is as ridiculous as Protestants accusing Catholics of worshipping statues!

And Stfassisi, please show me exactly where in the Second Council of Nicea that images of God the Father are blasphemy. I reviewed it and cannot find your statement supported anywhere.

The Holy Ghost cannot be portrayed in human form. That’s blasphemy. The Holy Ghost is usually shown in the image of a dove or a white cloud. God the Father, however, is usually portrayed as a kindly, but powerful old man with a long white beard. Stereotypical, yes, but we get the point, a fatherly figure.

I think declawing is cruel. Some cats never get over the psychological damage it causes.

I had my sweet little “sainted” cat Allegra for almost 11 years and I had a beautiful leather chair, which she never touched. She never clawed anything. Why? I learned a trick that worked for me. An empty soda can with about 10 pennies in it, sealed with duct tape. Whenever she started doing something inappropriate, such as jumping on my kitchen table or counters, I would shake the can, with no eye contact of course, and she’d run. The noise rattled her. After a while, all she had to do was see the can and she’d take off. Worked for me.

I’m from NJ, and in 1998 Allegra was $500. The new little Ragdoll is going to cost $750. You can’t put a price on love! (meow!)

It pays to research your breeder. Anyone who is looking for a Ragdoll through a breeder should, IMHO, have someone who rears the kitties in their home as part of the family. Insist on visiting the cattery and ask lots of questions! Make sure the house is clean and the cats are free from genetic abnormalities that affect the heart. You should feel comfortable with the breeder.