Just for fun...

[jones7676]

I have worked a variety of jobs throughout my life but my primary field has been health care. I have worked in nursing homes, as a home health aid, as a mental aid and a clerk at small stores.

I worked as an Administrative Assistant starting in 1998 for a small non-profit that contracts services to mental health agencies and started college in 2000. I am one semester from completing a degree in Accounting/Business Management. I had just started a job as an accountant (2 weeks) when I developed a brain met. Unfortunately it caused right sided weakness and rendered me unable to drive. The employer could not hold my spot. I also had brain surgery and gamma knife surgery to the "bed" of the tumor, so I am home on disability.

My friends call me "woman interrupted"!

Currently I do crafting and cardmaking when I am feeling well. My most recent Pet Scan showed a great increase in activivity within my lung and bone met in my femur so I started Navelbine in addition to the Herceptin in late January. I am sure hoping that Tykerb is available soon!

It is very interesting to learn more about all of you!

[Soccermom]

Here goes...B.S. degree in Communications/Mass Media from the American University,1977. I have 5 years of Martial arts training and due to it, survived an assault with a knife at age 34 (total starnger).Ended up in the Gaming Industry from 1978-1992 (was a Playboy Bunny croupier) (dealer)in the Bahamas, then went into Casino Surveillance (eye in the sky).Married 25 years.Grew up in Atlantic City,N.J. moved to Nassau Bahamas in 1981, then to Biloxi,MS in '93 then to Jackson,Mississippi in 2006 (after Katrina). Lived on a 60' sailboat in the Bahamas with my DH,Golden Retriever and had my only child,a DD, there in 1993. Was a SAHM for 10 years until DH became unemployed, went into retail sales and was diagnosed within 11 months.Worked through treatments and am still with the company after 3 years of what was supposed to be a "temporary" situation.Lost my Mom to BC while I was in treatment,4 weeks before Katrina hit.Mom was/ is my role model for surviving BC for 14 years.
My employer has been less than accomodating since my chemo ended, demanding that I return to full time status or lose my benefits. I was nominated as "employee of excellence" for my store (80+) employees, but apparently its all "lip service" (still waiting after a year for a handicapped parking space! My job is killing me both emotionally and spiritually, but I dont see a way out until I am cancer free for 5 years as hubbie wants to retire in 2 years at age 65.
Have experienced that the "healthy world" is not as understanding as the media would like us to believe. No one seems to "get it" with the exception of other survivors.
Love this site and the all the amazing warriors and caregivers here!
I am owned by my two English Springer Spaniels,Toad Lilli and Tinkerbelle and their baby sister "sandye" a calico stray.
Marcia

[Jeanette]

Gosh you are all such a talented group. I am a fiesty 67 year old, married to Bob for 45 years, have six children and fifteen grands. My husband was career Navy , so we travelled a lot. I was dx April 2005, seems like ages ago, now just on Arimidex. Though I do have to have a Ultrasound guided biopsy done on March 1st, will let you all know how that goes. This is the gutsiest bunch of women and men I have ever had the pleasure of reading about, Bless you all,Jeanette

[VirginiaGirl]

It really is interesting to read about everyone and see that in spite of all the diverse backgrounds there are many commonalities, too! I am 41, and have just hit my 2 year survivor mark. My husband, Jim (who is 54), and I have been married for 10 years, and we have a blended family. My stepsons are 27, 21 & 19. They are all smart, handsome, loving young men. The oldest is staying with us for a few months and helping out, the other 2 are in Albuquerque and not sure where they'll be in a few months! Then we have a 9 year old girl together, who adores her older brothers and they adore her. How lucky could I get? This cancer journey has definitely brought us closer, and made my marriage so much stronger! Jim & I used to fantasize a lot about where we'd like to live, what we'd like to do in retirement - including buying & running a campground, living & boating by the water, etc. Now we don't talk about it much, life plans focus on month-to-month right now. Jim is an art therapist/teacher commuting 1 1/2 hrs each way, so he's trying to get a job closer to home for next school year even though it will mean a big paycut. I have worked in mental health the last 15 years, including with mentally ill women, as an in-home therapist, at the juvenile detention center, and for the last 6-7 years as the school social worker for the alternative high school for kids who've been long-term suspended or expelled from area school systems for drugs, weapons, fighting, etc. This has been my dream job, and I haven't been able to figure out what else I might want to do if the day comes to move on. Sometimes I think I'd like to be able to stay home, but then I go to work and talk to the students, and I get so completely out of myself and my own worries. It's definitely challenging, but I laugh A LOT! (Plus, I find out more local hangouts to put on my list of Places My Daughter Will Not Be Allowed To Go When She Gets Older!) My co-workers & boss have been phenomenally supportive, too, I wouldn't have made it without them. And, I'm very grateful for the support and valuable info I've received on this network from all you great people!
Blessings and Peace,

[Colleen007]

What a great thread...and some very inspiring stories! I graduated from Northeastern University in Boston with a degree in business administration. I have worked for the past 10 years (up until my diagnosis and subsequent disability leave) as a client manager at a major financial services company in the Boston area. I loved my job, but since I was diagnosed at Stage 4 while 34 weeks pregnant with my daughter, I have remained out on long-term disability. So, my latest "job" is concentrating on getting/being well and being Mom to my now 16 month old daughter and 6 1/2 year old son. I met my husband on a blind date in 1995 and knew on the 2nd date that this was the man I was going to marry. Next month, we will celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary and my husband and I will also both be celebrating our 40th birthdays next month.

[cafe1084]

I think I've mentioned most of my stuff in previous posts, so I'll just put it all together this time. I'm 36 years old and have 3 sons- Gabe 14, Andy 13, and Adam 8. They are the reasons I get up every morning! I have always worked in healthcare, except for a stint in a meat packing plant when I moved out to Nebraska for a very long, cold winter. I was a nursing assistant in high school and after. I was an LPN for 13 years, working with pediatric and adult ventilator patients, hospice, physician offices, hospitals, and long term care for most of those years through a staffing agency. I loved my job and I was great at it, but decided to settle down and landed in a nursing home/rehab facility. I took the staff development/Infection control/restorative position the year before I completed my BSN and that is what I continue to do. Ive started taking classes toward my master's degree. I expect to be a nurse practitioner in a few years. I have been a yo-yo dieter for many years, finally losing and keeping off 80 lbs 6 years ago. I have had lots of trouble carrying pregnancies to full-term, having had 2 2nd trimester miscarriages before my oldest son was born and one after my 2nd son. Some other symptoms have led me to the self-diagnoses of PCOS since my doc wouldn't give it to me lol...and I think Im a super duper type A personality and I never relax....and I think alot of this has contributed to my current condition.

My kids and I go to the Outer Banks NC for vacation every year with my family. We love roller coasters and spend alot of time outdoors in the summer. The 2 oldest sons dad passed away 4 years ago in a body shop accident and the youngest lost his dad 3 years ago to alcoholism. My sons are all very active in boy scouts, chorus, and sports.

I love to read and I write poetry. I love to cook and spend time with family and friends. I have been dating a guy for 5 years who had Hodgkins Lymphoma as a child and I thank God each day my children are healthy and happy. I have too many interests to really be great at any of them, but i love them all the same. I have 2 cats who "followed" my kids home from school...fatty the cat who may hold the record for heaviest house cat, sasha the cat who is aloof and spiteful...can't get rid of her because no one else would put up with it! Then we have Spring, a lab mix who was dumped in
a mine shaft as a puppy with her 3 siblings and her dead mother and we were lucky enough to adopt her from this great lady who has devoted her life to animal rescue and placement.

I thank God everyday he opened my eyes to all that I have and all I would miss if i weren't here.

[aaklwalker]

What an inspiring bunch you all are. I am a commercial property manager. I manage shopping centers in the north Dallas area. I am 43, have been fighting this for a year and was just diagnosed stage IV. I have the most fabulous family a gal could ask for. My husband is a rock - I have been able to continue working because he has done everything else , cooking, cleaning and remodeling our house at the same time. I have a 23 year old son who married a wonderful girl last month and a 19 year old daughter at Texas Tech.

[cmljungren]

I have enjoyed reading the posts on this thread! I'm a faithful lurker and have learned much from this forum. Thank you to all who contribute their knowledge and experience! I've been inspired many times by all of you. :>)
I am a RN and have worked in the ICU setting. I took a little over 12 yrs off to stay home full time with my 4 kids. Through my treatment I realized that nursing essential hasn't changed....yes new equipment/meds...but the skill of nursing is the same and I felt despite my long "break" I could return! SO, in Jan 2006 I started back to work in the PACU (post anesthesia care unit...fancy name for recovery room!). I love my job and have found a way to give back and pay forward all the wonderful support I received during my treatment.
I am 42. As I mentioned I have 4 kids....14 girl, 11 boy, 9 girl ,7 boy. My husband and I have been married for 18yrs.
I love to get together with girlfriends and enjoy a good meal/good wine and conversation. I enjoy reading and have been crafty in the past but with kids and work...all hobbies are on hold! Mostly I drive kids to and fro, manage the house and family and work.....that sums it up!


It has been nice to "meet" all of you!!

[LindaC]

I am 51 yrs old Emt-Firefighter.I love fishing music gardening.Have no children,married at age 45.When I was told about my brest cancer I was going to have surgury,I went to the drugstore and bout a babys nipple with medicine canster on it.I took it to my doctor and told her I wanted this nipple implanted so i can put rum and coke in it for my husband.We all had great laughs over it.never did get the implant becaus my surgury was cancelled because it had spred to liver & bones.
LindaC

[RhondaH]

BUMP. Take care and God bless.

Rhonda

[Malena]

I'm a secretary in a import-export! I work part-time and now I have a little (very poor) benefit from the Government.
I'm not married and I live alone, actually not really alone, but with my two dogs!

[janet11]

Hey aaklwalker. My younger daughter (23) graduated from Texas Tech last year and her husband graduates in May (*smile*).

I also work in North Dallas -- for IBM. I'm a computer nerd -- no 2 ways about it. I'm 58 and have been married 10 years. Yes, at 47, I married for the first time. It does happen (*grin*). I married a widower with 2 beautiful daughters (ages 12 and 14) who are now MY daughters in everything except blood. Oh yes, the elder is now 25 and she's also graduating college this May. Yippee (*laugh*).

[caya]

I am 48 years old, diagnosed in Oct. 06 ( breast reduction, plastic surgeon found the tumour). I am married to my husband Allan for 24 years, and we have two lovely daughters. Amanda is 21 and at the Univeristy of Western Ontario in London, Ontario studing media, and Cassie is 18, will graduate high school this June and will be attending university somewhere in Canada for journalism.
I have a degree in English/French, worked for Cartier ( the jewellery company) at the Canadian Head Office in Toronto as the public relations assistant for nearly 2 years in the early 80's when I graduated. For the past 15 years my husband and I have run a ladies shoes import/distribution company, selling better grade shoes across Canada. We have represented the Bandolino brand in the past, and currently have the Van Eli and Sesto Meucci lines for Canada. I am lucky in that we work mostly out of our house, we have a warehouse that we share that does all our shipping, so I can do the paperwork from my home office. I accompany my husband to trade shows etc. where we see our customers to help him sell.
I took singing lessons as a teenager and performed in many vocal competitions and musicals when I was younger, and now sing in a choir that performs at retirement homes, hospitals etc. I took a leave from the choir for now (until I finish the chemo). I enjoy reading, walking, baking.
This site has been a great help.
Hugs to all,
Caya

I'm a writer. My novel, "The Last Enemy" (Grace Brophy) will be published May 1. Publisher is Soho Crime. This is a the first of a five-book series, set in Umbria, Italy, with a very handsome detective, Commissario Alessandro Cenni. The reviews are beginning to come out. The first, from Kirkus Reviews, is good, and next week Publisher's Weekly will do a review. Please keep your fingers crossed that it's a good one. After I was diagnosed with cancer, last summer, I stopped writing for a while (although not on this forum), but I am back and hope to finish the next in the series in late summer.

[Erin]

Wow, great idea ;-)

I work for the City of Santa Clarita here in Southen California, north of LA. We are a medium size city in terms of population - 175,000 people, but large in terms of land - 50 square miles. I manage federal and state grants for infrastructure development and affordable housing development. Just before my dx I took on a new project managing the development of an 80 unit apartment building in our newly revitalized downtown. The apartments will be available at reduced rates to moderate income people (here in SoCal that means a family of four making less than $55,000 a year...that is our teachers, firefighters, nurses...) I am hoping to keep up with that project, as it is the first of it's kind in our City...and we really need affordable housing (average older 3 bed, 2 bath house is around $500,000!)

I love my work and have continued as best I can with amazing support from co-workers, staff, and bosses. When I told them about my dx and what it would probably mean for my health and energy levels, they swung into high gear...getting me extra staff, moving some of my more time consuming projects to other staff temporarily, etc. That support has made it possible for me to continue working almost a full-time schedule, with some time off for onc appts, tests, and a few days off after each round of TCH.

I have a wonderful husband and two sons, aged 20 and 22, one in college locally and living at home and one in college in Cleveland. Lately all we talk about is BC :-( but back "pre-dx" I spent a lot of time gardening, seeing movies, and spending time with friends who are all part of a wine-tasting club.

[Kathy S in Tokyo]

I'm 42, diagnosed in Nov 2004, upgraded to IIIC in Nov 2005 and then IV in May 2006 with lung mets. I live in Tokyo where I used to work for a Japanesee company importing U.S. and European radar technology and electronics for sales in Japan. After marrying 13 years ago I quit my office job and have been teaching English at my husband's language school 3 days a week and doing some freelance translating and editing jobs while keeping up with the PTA and other various neighborhood associations. We have 3 daughters, 13, 12 and 9, and a son who is 7. I just started weekly Herceptin this month and may add Navelbine to the treatments next month. I'm thinking of asking my former boss if I can work for him again as I'll need lots and lots of money to cover the Herceptin bills which are 29,000 yen per week (Actually 96,700 yen a week, but I only have to pay 30 percent). It makes me a little angry because I'm on the Herceptin to extend my life so I can be here for my kids, but I may never see them because I have to work so hard and long to pay for the treatments. Sigh.

[DonnaD]

I was in the early childhood field, first as a teacher and then as a administrator at an accredited preschool with 276 students! My husband retired early in 2002 and our dream was to travel. We have a RV and would go out for a month at time working with Habitat for Humanity for two weeks building houses and then exploring the area. 2006 was not a good year for us. Our daughter who is 29 had open heart surgery and we helped with our grandson. My husband had rotator cuff surgery and then I was diagnosed. We look forward to getting back on the road and will try a build in MN in July. I'll be on Herceptin for the rest of this year so our travel will be closer to home.

We have two wonderful kids. Our daughter is a full time Mom now but was a teacher for the deaf and hard of hearing. She still struggles with chronic health issues, lives about an hour from us and is an inspiration to me. They have one son, Zach who is 3 years old. We LOVE being grandparents.

Our son lives in SD and is married to a wonderful gal, no grandchildren yet.

BC has taught me to count our blessing, we have many and trust God for the future!

[ExpectAMiracle]

This is a great thread. It is amazing how many women here are so talented! I am in awe! I am 48 years old and was diagnosed last month following a routine mammogram that turned out not to be routine.

I have been married to Thomas for 24 years and am the stepmom to three children (29, 31, 34) and grandmother to 6. One of our grandsons, Marcus, age 13, lives with us. I have been employed by ITT for 24 years as a Data Analyst. I too am definitely a computer geek. I am very active in my church and enjoy reading, movies and spending time with my family. I am a HUGE fan of Taylor Hicks, the winner of American Idol V. I have tickets to see him in concert in April and am hoping that the start of my chemo won't prevent me from going to Baltimore to see him. Now that some adjuvant therapy that I REALLY need. : )

I love this board and have already gotten some great information here and have met some truly amazing folks.

I am trusting God to carry me through this journey. I know HE is in control.

Blessings to all!

[hutchibk]

This is a great thread! It only makes sense to know more about all you inspirational ladies.

I am 47 yrs, and these days refer to myself as a 'walking educational tool' -
hoping to offer the power of knowledge about bc to anyone I meet, if they are interested. Beyond that, I am a part-time medical patient and part-time Bald Hairstylist, who occasionally has a bad scarf day. My early days included a charmed childhood/teen life as an Army Brat in Germany and Texas.... and 15 years working in publicity/promotions/marketing in the music business. (oh, and a waitressing shift or two as needed throughout college and beyond...)

[harrie]

I am a dental hygienist. My husband is an optometrist. I have 2 children, a daughter age 27 and a son age 25. I am an excercise fanatic. Played adult soccer for 10 yrs, and currently workout at the gym and am starting yoga.