Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?

karen1956

Puffin - Denver had the blizzard today - snow has stopped but its still windy out - I work in the schools and tomorrow is day 2 snow day!! It's supposed to start warming up on Friday. Stay safe and warm

jo6359

keywest- I love the old architecture of Key West. And you are so right about the roaming cats. When you are feeling anxious think about the beautiful sunsets of Key West. What's your surgery is over with you are going to feel so relieved. The waiting is just so awful.

IllinoisLady

The genuine scientist is not moved by praise or blame, nor does he preach. He unveils the universe and people come eagerly, without being pushed, to behold a new revelation: the order, the harmony, the magnificence of creation! And as man becomes conscious of the stupendous laws that govern the universe in perfect harmony, he begins to realize how small he is. He sees the pettiness of human existence, with its ambitions and intrigues, its "I am better than thou" creed. This is the beginning of cosmic religion within him; fellowship and human service become his moral code. And without such moral foundations, we are hopelessly doomed. --Albert Einstein

IllinoisLady

Wishing keywestfan all the best today. It is wonderful to have surgery over. Though as others have said the thought of having to do it and why is very unpleasant and nerve-wracking, but it is always such a relief to feel you and your Dr. have worked to remove a threat and opened the door to wellness. I know for myself while I dreaded the operation I so wanted the tumor to be gone. I wanted the 'thief' of my health to be gone. So all my thoughts and well wishes are with you today.

Puffin it is good to hear from you. I'm so hoping that this is the 'last' of the big storms for everyone. Denver is struggling as well I know. So hoping Chevy and loved ones will be fine. We will get wind today -- maybe some rain later though the sun it out right now. It rained all night long and during our morning coffee. I think though mainly we will go back to temps in the 40's for a small amt. of time.

Hoping all is well for everyone.

jo6359

keywestfan- let us know how you're doing as soon as you're able.

keywestfan

It webt well( i hope today) At hospital a 7:30 - surgery 9:30. I ver nervous.BP very high although I don’t in other situations have high BP. Nurses nice with warm blankets.Given Ativan upon being wheeled to. sugery ,then propofonol. Then over and back in room. No pain, though they put a nerve block in. Will spse by Wednesday if margins are clear. Feel better now -it is the waiting which is the killer. Sureg i very plased, so far.on

d. ack in toom

Beaverntx

Thanks for letting us know, keywestfan. May all continue to go well. Be kind to yourself.

IllinoisLady

Keep up the good work keywestfan. Glad to hear that you are through and have gotten a good start on wellness again. Just rest and be good to yourself.

nanette7fl

keywest how sweet you are. Very happy to hear surgery was good. Speedy recovery to you 💖

Wren44

Keywestfan, Good to hear you're on the other side of this scary procedure. Do you have any pesky drains? Take good care of yourself.

jo6359

keywestfan- so glad to hear everything went well. Take care of yourself. Let your body rest. Keep us posted when you're up to it.

Tappermom383

So glad to hear it went well, keywestfan. Be sure to treat yourself kindly over the next few days. Many wise women have given this advice on this site - you’ve just had major surgery - you may feel really well but don’t get up on the table and dance! This is the time to pamper yourself a bit. I found a small pillow under my arm helped a great deal.

MJ

HikingLady

keywestfan yay, you're all done with the worst part---that anticipation and worry. Yay for Ativan. I'm a fan. Heal well, and take good care of yourself.

ChiSandy

keywestfan, glad the surgery's over and you came through okay. (Either they're giving you some awesome drugs, or it's a royal pain to try to text on a cellphone when you've just had surgery). But I understood just enough to know you're fine!

keywestfan

ChiSandy- you are very funny and when I look at what I wrote above, I’m amused, being the obsessive type I am, it’s obvious I was still zonked. Sorry to all if I sounded totally weird.

And to all, the lumpectomy went fine, about 45 minutes in OR, no sentinel node, no drains(again the advantage? of age. Very minor pain and, as you all said,a great relief of hideous anxiety once it was done. I am pill and drug phobic but that iv ativan floated me away. Now, though, according to my surgeon, all was as expected, no surprises, I’m worried about the pathology report and also about margins which he said are missed 15% of time.Does worry ever end?

Will know by Wed. No pain today. Will walk a bit. And relieved that this part is over, at least for now

jo6359

keywestfan- so glad you had a good night.

carolehalston

Keywestfan, hoping for clean margins!

IllinoisLady

May every soul that touches mine—be it the slightest contact—get from there some good; some little grace; one kindly thought; one aspiration yet unfelt; one bit of courage for the darkening sky; one gleam of faith to brave the thickening ills of life; one glimpse of brighter skies beyond the gathering mists—to make this life worthwhile. -George Eliot

IllinoisLady

Glad to hear you are more clear-headed today keywestfan, but I felt like Sandy. I knew you were pretty okay and just addled-pated a bit from the drugs. The waiting is difficult for reports that hopefully reassure that all is just as WELL as we feel it should be. Progress has steps so just relax as much as you can, think good thoughts and go with the flow which certainly seems good now. BTW -- you did an excellent job with your 'assignment' of letting us know how you did. We were all able to relax before you were fully awake and aware. That's remarkable. Good for you.

keywestfan

Thank you all for your generous response to my “addle-pated” one, soon after surgery. Hope to never do that again for so many reasons. Still afraid of surgery margins- still afraid.

MCBaker

You don't need to be afraid. If a margin is not good, they have it all mapped out so they will know immediately upon re-opening where that troublesome place is. If you get disgusted with the whole thing, you can just tell them, like I did, "Just cut it off!"

Glad you are doing so well, and won't have to worry about it any more.

jo6359

keywest- we are all hoping for clean margins. If it doesn't happen, they go back in and clean it. My best friendwent through the same thing abd had a cleanup. That was 15 years ago and she's been thriving ever since. Take a deep breath. We were all very happy to hear from you so soon after your surgery. Don't worry about being a little addled ;we've all been there.

ChiSandy

Look at it this way: 85% of the time, the margins are clear. Now it’s time for some pampering. Heck, if I weren’t in New Orleans right now I’d offer to pop over with the yummies of your choice. If ever there were an appropriate time for Netflix and ice cream, this is it

keywestfan

IllinoisLady,McBaker,jo6359 - You are both so kind and understanding.My anxiety gene has humongousl kicked in with all of this. But don’t all of you jump when the phone rings and it’s the dr. with a report?And IllinoisLady, I do find comfort in your “addle-pated” comment. It’s so Mid-Western. Zonked almost out of my mind, but no idea, and just wanted to connect. Want also, further down the road, when life seems normal again, and I don’t wake up at 4, thinking of margins and AIs, instead of Pierce Brosnan and Liam Neeson.

ChiSandy, NOLA is lucky to have you. Do pop over sometime.That would be great. But yummy of my choice would probably be something hideously dull like string cheese and a diet coke. Or,like we could meet at Blind Faith.

carolehalston

Very dreary day outside. DH and I will soon be off to the gym. I plan to visit my mother at the nursing home this afternoon and bring her freshly laundered clothes. The usual Saturday routine. But tonight dh and I will be going out to dinner for a belated birthday dinner for me. Yay!

Beaverntx

keywestfan, of course we still jump when the doctor calls, or when a new report appears on our patient portal, probably not as high or as long as time passes, though. It seems the what ifs are always with us, become less nagging over the weeks and months but are likely to reappear around mammogram time, so don't be surprised if that happens! Fingers crossed for clear margins and clear sailing ahead for you.

ChiSandy, enjoy NOLA. Been a good while since I was there. Hoping you are having better weather than we are having in South central Texas where it is overcast and temperatures are falling. Supposed to warm up next week again.

IllinoisLady

We may think that happiness is a result of happy circumstances. A more mature view of happiness is that it is a by-product of sharing our good and serving others. It is a sense of doing a job well, honest communication with another, visiting someone who may be ill, or sharing a sense of humor. Happiness is a spiritual principle that we can lay hold of and use, regardless of outer conditions or circumstances.
It isn't necessary to wait for circumstances to bring happiness. When we try to give it to others, it returns to us multiplied. We can make our own joy, and let it act upon circumstances! One of the great paradoxes of truth is that a happy heart draws to itself what it needs for happiness.

John Marks Templeton

IllinoisLady

Beautiful and sunny as I start my first day taking care of my friend's two kitties. First time I helped her she had three and we are both still sad that one is gone. You know -- I could remedy that for her.

Anyway, I've already lost a couple of pounds ( this is always iffy for me ) through my NEXT class. Makes me happy, but it is the consistency I think that has to be kept up. I've given up on burning desire. No matter how bad I want it, I'm so prone to falling into bad habits enough to let that wt. gain creep up, when their is no class for me, or winter time or a too hot summer.

Do have my mind on a class after this one for slightly older Sr's. I'll be checking into that later, after we are through more of this class. That may be something able to help me stay focused and willing to 'watch' during off times.

Yes, we still all get "those" times when fear and apprehension take over for a bit. We don't look at it like that, but it keeps us on our toes a bit. I admit, up till my dx. I had become soooo complacent -- always having great mammo's. So, if nothing else, that apprehension is a reminder that we do have some fallibility to consider. Here's to seeing apprehensions in a little bit of a different keep us on our toes sort of way and then having a springboard into much better times afterwards.

Here's to a lovely day for everyone. Carole, enjoy your Mom.

Elderberry

Good day, all you ladies. I am 68 and recently diagnosed. I will keep an eye on how all of us "old birds" are doing. So glad to find this forum.

Wren44

Welcome Elderberry. I love the name, great thinking. Please keep coming back.