<?xml version="1.0"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>BJ SPEED's Discussion RSS Feed</title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/bj-speed/discussions/rss</link><description>BJ SPEED's Discussion RSS Feed</description><item><title><![CDATA[$$$$$$ problems...need help....insurance depleted!!!]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/bj-speed/discussions/9125</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/bj-speed/discussions/9125</guid><description><![CDATA[Hey guys....
I just found out that my maximum has been met with my insurance....and not everything has been filed yet.  I found out just a minute ago that I owe my radiologist $22,000.00 and my last three weeks have not even been filed yet.

I owe the hospital $7,000.00.  Not sure about my oncologist or my surgeon, but we are speculating that I already owe over $30,000.00 out of my own pocket.  Of course they say I can pay $100.00 per month.....that will be good....in about 25 years I will be done!!!! It just keeps getting better.

Anyone know any place to get some help?  My ignorance at not knowing my benefits, but we are self employed and our insurance is sucky.  I already had a $5,000.00 deductable that we have already paid.  This is just July and I still have appointments and MRI's and mammograms and junk to do, and now they are talking about taking out my ovary.

What happened to all the money that I have donated throughout the years for breast cancer stuff? All the charities that I have done and participated in and all the pink ribbon stuff I have bought......Does any of that help?  

Sorry to be such a downer, but this has really kicked my tail.......]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Still Having Pain Issues]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/bj-speed/discussions/8924</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/bj-speed/discussions/8924</guid><description><![CDATA[Hi Guys.... I was wondering if anyone out there had any prolonged problems from surgery.  Let me explain my delima.  I had a simple mastectomy on Feb. 11.  The surgery was not too bad, I was actually really proud of myself.  I still have pain under my arm and feel kinda like it is swollen (my husband says I look like I'm about to draw a gun).  Anyway, looking back I can remember having pain in my side.... a strange kind of pain... it is located about three inches away from where my drainage hole scar is.  I told my surgeon during my post-ops and he just kept saying to give it time.  Well, I went through all my treatments and then I fell just prior to completing radiation.  I fell directly on my ribs where the radiation was.  They did x-rays and cat scan and it did not show anything broken, but the pain was totally unbearable (and I have always been able to tolerate pain).  They said I had some bruised and irritated ribs and it would just take time to heal.  Well it has been a month since the fall and I am still having excruciating pain in that same one spot.  Something is just not right.  I am wondering if maybe I got a punctured lung from the drainage tube...anyone know anything about that?  Could that have happened, and what to do about it.  

I have completed all my treatment and should be celebrating, but with this pain I am not able to do much of anything and am really sinking into a terrible depression.  Please give me some advice.  By the way I have told my surgeon, oncologist, and radiologist about this pain and they just keep saying to give it time..... something is just not right.  I have come too far to let this get me down.  Thanks to all.  bj]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[TAMOXIFIN VS ARIMIDEX]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/bj-speed/discussions/8684</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/bj-speed/discussions/8684</guid><description><![CDATA[Hey guys!! I have had sooooo much trouble with the Tamoxifin that my onco took me off of it today and wants me to start on Arimidex.  Anyone done this?  I have had no time to do any research on the Arimidex and would like to know what all the differances are.  Thanks for you help.  BJ


ooohhhhh also....I am pre"mental"pause...everything I have read says Arimidex is for post "mental"pause.......HELP!!!!!!!!!!  I am fat enough without any added assistance.]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[check out this video]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/bj-speed/discussions/8672</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/bj-speed/discussions/8672</guid><description><![CDATA[If you get a chance....check out this video on u-tube.  If it will not touch your heart...nothing will....priceless.  God Bless you all.  bj

gesto_de_amor1.wmv]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[God is There....]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/bj-speed/discussions/8598</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/bj-speed/discussions/8598</guid><description><![CDATA[Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of passage?
His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone.  He is required to sit on a stump the whold night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it.
He cannot cry out for help to anyone.
Once he survies the night, he is a MAN.
He cannot tell the other boys of this experience because each lad must come into manhood on his own.
The boy is naturally terrified.  He can hear all kinds of noises.  Wild beasts must surely be all around him.  Maybe even some human might do him harm.
The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold.
It would be the only way he could become a man!
Finally, after a horrific night, the sun appeared and he removed his blindflod.
It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him.
He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.

WE, TOO, ARE NEVER ALONE.

Even when we don't know it, our Heavenly Father is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us.

When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to him.  Just because we cannot see God, doesn't mean He is not there.

**My friend e-maild this story to me today and it really touched me.....I needed it today....just wanted to share it with you guys.  I have decided to take my blindfold off today and thank God I have another day.]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[When do the side affects of Tamoxifin begin.]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/bj-speed/discussions/8428</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/bj-speed/discussions/8428</guid><description><![CDATA[I start on my Tamoxifin tommorrow and was just wondering what to expect.  I have read all about the side effects such as hot flashes, mood swings, weight gain....etc...(sounds like a ton of fun).  Do these symptoms last througout the entire 5 years or do they go away.  Thanks.]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[ONCOTYPE DX Test Results]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/bj-speed/discussions/8341</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/bj-speed/discussions/8341</guid><description><![CDATA[Has anyone had the Oncotype DX test done?  My results came back today with a score of 20.  My onco recommends chemo, hormone tx, and rads.  I feel that my score is on the low end and he is being too aggressive.....anyone got any ideas?  Please help.  I would like to avoid chemo if possible.  Thanks.]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[I think I'm getting lymphoma]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/bj-speed/discussions/8262</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/bj-speed/discussions/8262</guid><description><![CDATA[I had my surgery about 3 weeks ago (simple mastectomy....I still have my nipple and the upper part of my breast).  Those lymph node things are a real bitch.  I have had a good deal of swelling throughout the whole "healing" process, but now I am feeling some strange things throughout my arm from my armpit and all the way down my arm to my elbow.  If I am in the process of getting lymph. what can I do to help prevent it?  Thanks....you guys have been so good to me.  BJ]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[HELP]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/bj-speed/discussions/8248</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/bj-speed/discussions/8248</guid><description><![CDATA[There is NOOOOO support in my area.  I am very familar with breast cancer.  I owned a shop in Huntsville where I was a certified post-mastectomy fitter.  Everything I sold had to do with breast cancer.  My shop closed due to changes in Medicare junk. I went for a routine mamogram in January and now I am a PATIENT.  I have undergone two surgeries and still waiting to find out what type of treatment to have.  I am a very strong person with stong beliefs.  I would like to talk to someone who has been through the type of surgery that I have had (simple mastectomy) and the recovery time.  I feel like I should be better off than I am.  ]]></description></item></channel></rss>