Keeping Your Mind Off of BC Fun things and posts that do not apply to BC |
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07-29-2014, 11:29 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 49
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Butterfly Garden
I wanted to share how happy I am to have a butterfly garden. It started by planting a couple of milk weed plants from the local nursery.
It's amazingly fun to watch the caterpillars grow and then search for their secret hiding places of their gorgeous lime green with golden highlighted chrysalis,
And then it's truly spectacular to closely watch a newly hatched butterfly learn that it has wings!
At first it still thinks it's a caterpillar and it tries to climb and eat green leaves like it used to.
It's so great when they discover their wings and take their first flights.
Best wishes to all!
Almost 13 years NED from stage 3c ! Joy Joy Joy
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07-29-2014, 11:38 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 49
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Re: Butterfly Garden
Monarch chrysalis
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07-31-2014, 11:08 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 265
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Re: Butterfly Garden
Awww, this is absolutely Beautiful!!! I LOVE buttterflies!! I had the most stunning Butterfly bush that bloomed and bloomed...sadly, I cut it back early Spring...it didn't survive... ...
Yet, Butterflies mean so much to me...New Life, Freedom, Perseverence...Strength...
Thank you for sharing...I have a beautiful picture I took from last year, I'll try to upload it..
__________________
10/18/12 Found pea size lump right breast
11/7/12 Biopsy
12/14/12 Lumpectomy
1/4/13 Rexcision, NO CLEAR MARGINS!! :(
2/11/13 Mastectomy with Expander Placed
2/15/13 INFECTION at Mastectomy site...emergency Surgery!!! Expander removed :(
DX: DCIS, IDC, Stage 2a, 2.7cm, 1/5 nodes positive
ER/PR-, HER2+++
3/28/13 Port placed
4/1/13 Begin 6 Cycles TCH Therapy
4/1/14 Finished Herceptin!!
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08-07-2014, 02:15 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 163
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Re: Butterfly Garden
Wow, your chrysalis photo is great. I just bought my first house, and eventually I would love to have a yard that attracts butterflies. You've inspired me!
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10-23-2014, 08:05 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 51
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Re: Butterfly Garden
I love butterfly gardens too! I have one small milkweed plant but am researching on what other plants to put into the butterfly garden I am creating. Gardening is probably the most therapeutic practice I engage in.
__________________
Norma,
June 7, 2013: Age 43, mother of 2, had just celebrated 16th wedding anniversary June 6th
Dx Invasive Ductal Carcinoma:
ER-, PR-, HER2+++,
Stage IIb, 5 cm. tumor, grade 3
Benign lymph nodes.
June 26, 2013: Begin 4 Rounds of AC
Sept 19, 2013: Begin 12 weekly treatments of Taxol/Herceptin
Oct 22, 2013: Skipped a treatment because of a trip to the ER. Turned out to be a blood clot in the inferior vena cava….Started Coumadin (aka Warfarin)
Dec 12, 2013: Last treatment of TH
Dec 20, 2013: CAT scan and nuclear bone scans show NED. Yay! Chemo worked!
Jan 24, 2014: Bilateral mx w/expanders inserted; 10 Lymph Nodes removed on left side;Pathology report shows no trace of tumor was left after the chemo. More proof that the chemo worked!
Jan 30, 2014: Emergency surgery due to hematoma on the right side. Had a filter inserted to deal with blood clot that had developed in October.
Feb 2014: Begin Herceptin only treatments
Aug 29, 2014 Expanders OUT and implants IN
Sept 4, 2014 Last Herceptin treatment YAY!!
Oct 8, 2014 Port Removed
Dec 5, 2014 Nipple Reconstruction
Current Meds: Daily - 150 mg Effexor; 50 mg Tramadol for aches and pains caused by treatments
Occasional - 30mg Temazepam (Restoril) for insomnia ; 300mg Neurontin for nerve pain in left arm; 1 mg Lorazepam (Ativan) for anxiety;
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10-23-2014, 07:10 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,045
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Re: Butterfly Garden
Oh I LOVE this! Butterflies mean so much to me ... back in September 2009, I got a butterfly house and chrysalides for a homeschool project for my son. The package arrived, the cocoons/chrysalides were attached and the instructions said they wouldn't hatch for at least a week or so.
A day or so after that, our beloved wire fox terrier, Clarence, was clearly at the end of his life, we had been caring for him and watching him slowly and then quickly deteriorate. We had him for 13 years, from puppyhood. My husband was heartbroken, so I took Clarence to the vet (along with my son, he was still too young to leave alone at home) and stayed with Clarence through the end. The vet said his heart was so tired and he was ready to go Home.
We came home ... and ALL the butterflies had hatched!!! I am crying as I write this. I know it was a sign that Clarence had transitioned and was Home and out of pain. Whenever I think of him now, he is running joyfully and smiling, chasing butterflies!
Thanks so much for posting this!
Carol Ann
__________________
July 24, 2013: "Infected" Right Nipple and benign cyst removed, pathology report revealed Paget's, DCIS, and ILC 1.25 cm, ER+/Pro+/HER2 equivocal, Grade 2 under benign cyst, previous diagnostic mammo/ultrasound said I was perfectly healthy in both breasts.
Aug 18, 2013: MRI report says Left breast is perfectly healthy "consistent with previous studies".
Sept 2013: I insist on a bilateral mastectomy anyway. Too nervewracking to let left breast remain with higher risk after 3 cancers in right, nipple in right is already gone anyhow.
Sept 18, 2013: Bilateral mastectomy, 11 right nodes removed, ALL negative BUT -- ER+/PRO+/HER2+ tumor, 1.0 cm, Grade 2 found in a piece of "grossly unremarkable" breast tissue from prophylactic mastectomy of left breast, no nodes removed.
Oct 25, 2013: 13 left side nodes removed, ALL negative, Stage 1 across the board, NO RADS needed, YAAAAY! Port also installed.
Nov 25, 2013 Begin 6 rounds TCH.
March 10, 2014 Just finished 6th and LAST Chemo today, YAAAAAY!
March 24, 2014 Echocardiogram to make sure I'm still good for Herceptin every 3 weeks.
March 31, 2014 Echo results NORMAL, first Herceptin all by itself. Now if only my eyes would stop streaming from the Taxotere ... :)
April 21, 2014 Started Arimidex and therapy for "mild" lymphedema in left hand and arm
May 2014 Therapy completed, I have sleeves and gloves for both arms, a Flexi touch lymph pump to hook up to for an hour every day, and I've become an arm bandaging expert. :)
June 2014 Begin Fosamax to prevent osteoporosis; bone scan revealed osteopenia
Nov 17, 2014 FINAL Herceptin!
Dec 4, 2014 My right thigh muscle has been extra achy for days ... I discover a blister rash cluster on the side of my right thigh while taking a shower. Port appointment cancelled until Dec 17, my doc is working me in tomorrow afternoon to see me and the rash. My muscle at least feels less achy.
Dec 5, 2014 Yep, I have shingles. Boo! I start acyclovir and also have a prescription for a painkiller just in case for over the weekend.
Dec 17, 2014 Port is OUT!
January 2016 Shingles again and this time it started where my left breast (where the hidden HER2+++ tumor was!) used to be. My onc nurse got me a same day appointment to see my doc when I called and told her I had a rash on the site. The antiviral meds are working once again, though, so that is good news. :)
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06-03-2015, 12:03 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 7
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Re: Butterfly Garden
I'm so happy to have found this page. I am a huge Butterfly Gal myself. LOVE to watch their full lifecycle happening in my own backyard. Monarchs are especially meaningful to me, as they've been given to me as a "sign" over and over again on this dance with breast cancer. In fact, After I was diagnosed and went through the biopsies and all of that, the surgeon I was being assigned to left me with absolutely NO confidence. I wanted to get to a specialist that worked in my insurance system, but in another group, and got the help of an advocate to make the move. Turns out I needed to be in the "Monarch Medical Group" in order to see Dr. C, and I've never regretted taking the extra time to get to see here. If I could figure out how to upload them, I'd post a couple photos from my backyard....
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06-03-2015, 02:05 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 44
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Re: Butterfly Garden
Ok you ladies have me thinking about butterflies and gardening, love it. Carol Ann we also have wire Fox terriers and love the breed.
__________________
Laurie in Idaho
IDC, Her2+++, PR- ER- diagnosed Feb 2014 1 month before 53rd bday
2.6 cm mass right breast with lymph node involvement
THP-FEC neoadjuvant chemo regimen
THP (taxotere, Herceptin, perjcta) every 3 weeks for 4 doses started 3/27/14
BRCA negative
bilateral mastectomy with lymph node dissection done June 2014 15 lymph nodes removed all negative for cancer, breast tumor gone
FEC (5-FU, epriubicin, Cytoxan) every 3 weeks for 4 doses, Herceptin every 3 weeks for a year, then
radiation for 6 weeks
New Years Eve 2014 completed radiation
September 2015 Latissimus Dorsi Flap reconstruction
March 2016 rib fractures under implant
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06-03-2015, 02:19 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,045
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Re: Butterfly Garden
They are such adorable, spirited, and yes, somewhat stubborn dogs, aren't they?!
My husband is from Parma, Idaho!
CA
__________________
July 24, 2013: "Infected" Right Nipple and benign cyst removed, pathology report revealed Paget's, DCIS, and ILC 1.25 cm, ER+/Pro+/HER2 equivocal, Grade 2 under benign cyst, previous diagnostic mammo/ultrasound said I was perfectly healthy in both breasts.
Aug 18, 2013: MRI report says Left breast is perfectly healthy "consistent with previous studies".
Sept 2013: I insist on a bilateral mastectomy anyway. Too nervewracking to let left breast remain with higher risk after 3 cancers in right, nipple in right is already gone anyhow.
Sept 18, 2013: Bilateral mastectomy, 11 right nodes removed, ALL negative BUT -- ER+/PRO+/HER2+ tumor, 1.0 cm, Grade 2 found in a piece of "grossly unremarkable" breast tissue from prophylactic mastectomy of left breast, no nodes removed.
Oct 25, 2013: 13 left side nodes removed, ALL negative, Stage 1 across the board, NO RADS needed, YAAAAY! Port also installed.
Nov 25, 2013 Begin 6 rounds TCH.
March 10, 2014 Just finished 6th and LAST Chemo today, YAAAAAY!
March 24, 2014 Echocardiogram to make sure I'm still good for Herceptin every 3 weeks.
March 31, 2014 Echo results NORMAL, first Herceptin all by itself. Now if only my eyes would stop streaming from the Taxotere ... :)
April 21, 2014 Started Arimidex and therapy for "mild" lymphedema in left hand and arm
May 2014 Therapy completed, I have sleeves and gloves for both arms, a Flexi touch lymph pump to hook up to for an hour every day, and I've become an arm bandaging expert. :)
June 2014 Begin Fosamax to prevent osteoporosis; bone scan revealed osteopenia
Nov 17, 2014 FINAL Herceptin!
Dec 4, 2014 My right thigh muscle has been extra achy for days ... I discover a blister rash cluster on the side of my right thigh while taking a shower. Port appointment cancelled until Dec 17, my doc is working me in tomorrow afternoon to see me and the rash. My muscle at least feels less achy.
Dec 5, 2014 Yep, I have shingles. Boo! I start acyclovir and also have a prescription for a painkiller just in case for over the weekend.
Dec 17, 2014 Port is OUT!
January 2016 Shingles again and this time it started where my left breast (where the hidden HER2+++ tumor was!) used to be. My onc nurse got me a same day appointment to see my doc when I called and told her I had a rash on the site. The antiviral meds are working once again, though, so that is good news. :)
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07-14-2015, 05:21 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 5
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Re: Butterfly Garden
So perfect! Butterflies are not so easy to snap a picture. Lucky Margaret! And thank all you ladies. Now I'm thinking of lovely butterfly gardens, funny fox terriers (I had one & love them all), and laying in a fragrant flower filled garden, looking up at the curiously shaped clouds passing by in the pale blue sky! Thanks for a pleasant moment! Wishing you all well!
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07-14-2015, 06:11 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,045
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Re: Butterfly Garden
Right back at ya, Hear2day, and everyone else on this thread!
Carol Ann
__________________
July 24, 2013: "Infected" Right Nipple and benign cyst removed, pathology report revealed Paget's, DCIS, and ILC 1.25 cm, ER+/Pro+/HER2 equivocal, Grade 2 under benign cyst, previous diagnostic mammo/ultrasound said I was perfectly healthy in both breasts.
Aug 18, 2013: MRI report says Left breast is perfectly healthy "consistent with previous studies".
Sept 2013: I insist on a bilateral mastectomy anyway. Too nervewracking to let left breast remain with higher risk after 3 cancers in right, nipple in right is already gone anyhow.
Sept 18, 2013: Bilateral mastectomy, 11 right nodes removed, ALL negative BUT -- ER+/PRO+/HER2+ tumor, 1.0 cm, Grade 2 found in a piece of "grossly unremarkable" breast tissue from prophylactic mastectomy of left breast, no nodes removed.
Oct 25, 2013: 13 left side nodes removed, ALL negative, Stage 1 across the board, NO RADS needed, YAAAAY! Port also installed.
Nov 25, 2013 Begin 6 rounds TCH.
March 10, 2014 Just finished 6th and LAST Chemo today, YAAAAAY!
March 24, 2014 Echocardiogram to make sure I'm still good for Herceptin every 3 weeks.
March 31, 2014 Echo results NORMAL, first Herceptin all by itself. Now if only my eyes would stop streaming from the Taxotere ... :)
April 21, 2014 Started Arimidex and therapy for "mild" lymphedema in left hand and arm
May 2014 Therapy completed, I have sleeves and gloves for both arms, a Flexi touch lymph pump to hook up to for an hour every day, and I've become an arm bandaging expert. :)
June 2014 Begin Fosamax to prevent osteoporosis; bone scan revealed osteopenia
Nov 17, 2014 FINAL Herceptin!
Dec 4, 2014 My right thigh muscle has been extra achy for days ... I discover a blister rash cluster on the side of my right thigh while taking a shower. Port appointment cancelled until Dec 17, my doc is working me in tomorrow afternoon to see me and the rash. My muscle at least feels less achy.
Dec 5, 2014 Yep, I have shingles. Boo! I start acyclovir and also have a prescription for a painkiller just in case for over the weekend.
Dec 17, 2014 Port is OUT!
January 2016 Shingles again and this time it started where my left breast (where the hidden HER2+++ tumor was!) used to be. My onc nurse got me a same day appointment to see my doc when I called and told her I had a rash on the site. The antiviral meds are working once again, though, so that is good news. :)
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