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

60notpretty

Hi everyone,

I turned 60 in October and was diagnosed in December. I'm happy to find the "older" people with BC. I started my rads today, 1st of 33. Thanks for all the suggestions on skin care during this time. I have coconut oil and Aquaphor. I wasn't sure which to try. I'm still working so I have to wear a bra and have been wearing a sports bra through my surgeries. I wasn't sure how that will feel during the rad therapy. I guess we'll see...

IllinoisLady

Welcome 60notpretty -- glad you found us, but always sorry for why you ( or others ) needed too. We all hoped for a different ( much more desirable ) club -- like maybe the Millionaire's or something akin. Anyway hope you keep coming.

nanette7fl

hello 60and... welcome to the group. I have finally gone braless not as confining. I'm sure my PS will have a fit but my armpits are killing me even with support vest.

Ladies....ahem!! I have some GREAT news.... I had my PET scan yesterday and spent most of the day waiting for the results and finally called my Nurse Advocate... the good news is...THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF METASTATIC CANCER!! WHOOOHOOOO!! Super excited !!!! I told DH when he got home and he was SO overjoyed i thought he was going to pass out. He cried a million tears.

MCBaker

Nanette, I am so happy for you. You have been through so much more than me. So right, do everything you can to stay that way. Herceptin, herceptin, herceptin, like clockwork.

carolehalston

Great news, Nanette.  I'm happy for you.

I had a bone density scan on Monday and the technician told me I have "beautiful" bones.  All those years of walking that wore out my feet are paying off in my old age.  

Di2012

Lucky you Carole! CONGRATS Great bones. Keep on walking as long as you can.

I USED to walk 3-5 miles everyday rain or shine....my doberman loved it too....and it is NOT flat around here!

ALSO

Afer part of my work was done, managing the cross country center and after dinner, I cross county skiied 5k every night( until the bear tracks showed up each spring) and changed into my downhill skis and skiied until the lights went off on the Downhill slopes and then skiied back in the dark, to the cross county center/log cabin and then account for the $$$ bundle put in my backpack hopped on the snomobile and deliver the sales and cash for the day to the main ski area...in a place inside the lodge.

I was DX with osteoporosis about 4 years ago and have 1 infusion once a year and last Dec. my bone density showed a 4% improvement. My back is very painful and now I spend a lot of time in bed.😥

Beaverntx

Nanette and Carole, congrats on the good test results. Fantastic news!

IllinoisLady

Love is a way of seeing and a way of being that honors God in everyone we meet. And it changes us in the most fundamental way. All we need to do is welcome the challenge of our relationships, training our eyes to look beyond human behavior to the Presence within. When we seek to live love, we discover through our interactions with others the divinity within ourselves. -Susan L. Taylor

IllinoisLady

I join in too with congrats. Wish Di that you had better news on your back. Is there any possibility of improvement there. So far, so good here, but the older I get, the more I seem to feel a "difference" and it is off-putting to think of myself as no longer so agile. Here's hoping we all can keep up.

Some rain last night and maybe more today. Some muted sun is out but doubt it will last. A friend is taking us out to lunch today. We have a McAlister's Deli in Mt. Vernon, as well as Panera Bread Co., now. So thinking a trip to Mt. Vernon. My friend ( 3 yrs. older than me ) gets around so to speak, but can't manage much so no shopping or anything after lunch. I've tried to offer suggestions ( not that I know a whole lot ) but I think she has let herself go too long just sitting and smoking too long as well. She has type 11 diabetes though only needs oral medication so far and sadly I just don't think she is inclined to change her ways.

ChiSandy

Nanette, congrats on the scan results! 60, I wore a bra all through rads--boobs too big to be set free. (In fact, I was able to wear some of my underwires). Di, my sympathies about your back pain. Mine keeps spasming in the morning, but I can manage it with Tylenol, Baclofen, CBD, stretches and a heating pad--were I to stay in bed I'd never be able to get up. Though I never managed to get any good at downhill skiing (I'm scared of uncontrolled speed, and I dropped out of "GLM" downhill lessons at Ski Acres when the instructor informed me the next week I'd be on full-length skis at the T-bar on the intermediate slope), I do miss X-C. When I was younger and thinner, I used to ski along Lake Michigan (my favorite was from Dempster Beach in Evanston to the lighthouse, as well as Loyola Beach and the Marovitz Golf Course). I would come back from morning court call, change into my jogging suit and fleece hoodie, and hit the snow--every plant of my pole was a symbolic stake through the heart of whatever judge had denied my motion that day.

I am getting very, very tired of this stupid Chicago weather seesaw. 75 and sunny on Easter. 80 on Monday. Low 50s and rainy/windy yesterday (b'bye, lovely magnolia blossoms). 60 today. And Saturday night, when I have to draw an audience of at least 20 or not get invited back to play at that club (venue owners do talk to each other around here, and there is definitely a "s#*t list" of performers who don't draw)? Efffing SNOW!!! Of course, when I'm in Iowa next weekend, locked into a suburban Des Moines hotel where I'm playing at a sci-fi convention, it'll be back in the 70s here.

IllinoisLady

Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake. -Victor Hugo

IllinoisLady

Wet here today, but dry tomorrow, then back to wet again and the next day dry --- and then ( if long range weather report is right -- a week of rain. That won't make me happy at all, but it's April, it's April, it's April and I still am not liking it at all.

Otherwise, back to old people's exercise class today. We will be in the GYM room ( all the fancy equipment ) today so that will be okay. I really enjoyed the Tues. session. Did a lot of stretches with the big rubber bands. Those were mainly things you can do in and from one of your straight chairs at home. One of the reasons we decided on the class was to reinforce for ourselves all the things you can do to stay in shape at home -- and likely should do if you are able. Excellent for all over balance which is often a problem for those attaining some age.

Hope you all have a good day and not horrid weather to deal with along the way. Saying hi to all those who for whatever reason may not be posting right now.

Puffin2014

I've never heard of creamed eggs either.

Had a nice Easter weekend in Brainerd with granddaughter and Lew's sisters, then drove to Burnsville and spent a few days with my 92 year old dad. Got home last evening.

Worked in the yard this morning clearing leaves out of flower beds and picking up twigs and branches from the winter. This afternoon the wind came up, 30 mph, and now my yard is filled again with the neighbor's leaves. 61 degrees today, but dropping to a high temp of 45 this weekend. With the overnight low in the 30's we could have more snow.

Wren44

I have made creamed eggs and served them on toast. It was dinner when we really needed to go grocery shopping.

Puffin, NO MORE SNOW Our high today is 62 but it's only in the 40's at night.

carolehalston

Jackie, your exercise class sounds like Silver Sneakers. I would go to the SS classes at our YMCA more often if the time and day were more convenient.  The teacher uses the bands, hand weights and a small ball in the exercises.

I'm off to the gym this morning but will do my own workout.  DH went yesterday morning.

The sun is out and the weather today is supposed to be warm and sunny with no rain.  I'm happy for the people going to Jazz Fest in New Orleans.  Yesterday was a rainout. 

IllinoisLady

Sorrow prepares you for joy. It violently sweeps everything out of your house, so that new joy can find space to enter. It shakes the yellow leaves from the bough of your heart, so that fresh, green leaves can grow in their place. It pulls up the rotten roots, so that new roots hidden beneath have room to grow. Whatever sorrow shakes from your heart, far better things will take their place.

Rumi

IllinoisLady

Our sun is back this morning but still need a thin sweatshirt on ( if your my age ) and it won't get past the high 60's. A breeze as well which will ( sweatshirt ) make it seem not warm enough. At least I can see my sun. Then another day of rain, then sun, then the long week of rain. Since it is a long range prediction they could be wrong on a couple or more days and that will be my hope. I am not so sure though that it will be great if we have too much for clouds.

I think there was news of a tornado in LA, Carole but it is a big state and doesn't sound like your area had to worry. Snow ( likely would melt fast ) in some Chicago areas this week-end ?? Well, we haven't gotten snow here in April, but never this late. I think South Dakota and North as well will face some of that. Hopefully if it happens, a quick melt will start almost immediately.

Otherwise, just looking forward to the week-end. Hope you all have a really good day.

IllinoisLady

Don't just get older, get better. Live realistically. Give generously.
Adapt willingly. Trust fearlessly. Rejoice daily.

Charles R. Swindoll

IllinoisLady

Hmm, quite light this a.m. when I got up, but seems the clouds are rolling in for the rain showers we are due to have later. Grrr. But, hey yesterday was gorgeous and I did get to dig out some of the bushy weeds that love to live in part of my planting area very close to the house.

Our cars are 'green' with pollen from the trees in just a couple of days so maybe I should welcome the rain to settle some of that down. Nice to welcome the week-end just because. Still learning to adjust to having Dh home all the time. I'm working on the "list". Otherwise we are still on the hit and miss stage.

Hope you all have a great day.

nanette7fl

It's a nice day here after the rainy day yesterday. My granddaughters came home today and we did the Easter bunny egg hunt. They were cute looking for all of them. Wish the grass had gotten cut would have been easier lol

Any how I had to get DH to clear my drain on the right as I tend to throw fibrinogen clogs. The girls were watching him and asking questions especially what do you mean you don't have bobbies any more all mommas have boobies......(They're 7 & 3) so I showed them where the drains went in in my,side and still more questions so I showed them my left and eyeballs got huge!! Then the right eyes got bigger!! With lots of WOWs and does it hurt? So I explained again about the cancer and when I told them I don't have cancer any (according to my PET) the older girl jumped up and down yelling yayyyyy!! Amazing how well they handled that whole thing I'm so proud of them and somehow they made me feel better too!!

jo6359

nanette- I've been away for several days. I am delighted to hear your scans were negative. Congratulations.

carolehalston

Quite a medical/health learning experience for young girls.

I'm up early this morning because I'm playing golf at 9am with two other women golfers.  With the warm sunshine (sun more overhead) the golf courses at our club dry out sooner after a rain.  I didn't play golf all winter because of all the rain and the sloppy course conditions calling for cart path only.  Not having that exercise option in addition to the gym is probably a reason I've struggled with weight gain this winter.

Sad news about the attack on a synagogue in CA.

IllinoisLady

When your life is filled with the desire to see holiness in everyday life, something magical happens: ordinary life becomes extraordinary, and the VERY process of life begins to nourish your soul. Harold Kushner

IllinoisLady

Okay today -- some sun, but will only get to the low 60's. As long as it doesn't rain, I'm okay. More of that in the days coming though I hope they are wrong about it taking place daily.

I'm not getting too far with wt. loss lately. The teacher of the NeXT class says that while it is nice to lose wt. and there is a hope that it will happen for those who want to, one of the biggest purposes of the class is to help people learn how to discover eating for good health and body stability. We tend to think in terms of how we ate as children -- well, everyone it seemed had huge home gardens then and often supplemented those with a few items from the stores. Not too much from boxes. Now we have Hamburger Helper and Kraft Mac & Cheese. They are not so good. Many of us can't have a garden and almost everything now comes from the store.

I do rely ( mainly because we don't eat it much ) on keeping a couple of boxes of Mac & Cheese in the pantry. When we are running late and need something super quick it sometimes comes out. That doesn't happen much now, but I still use it just because it is a once in a while addition to supper.

So trying to console myself with the fact that I generally eat less junk and am going to classes with the Rec Center Gym Coach especially designed for the older participant. My yearly senior check-up is coming in June ( V.A. satellite office ) so I'm wondering what the Dr. will say.

I too find it sad to be hearing once again that a synagogue was targeted. Intolerance has reared its head again and that makes it even more sad. Hope we evolve.

ChiSandy

Passover is over, so I can eat bread, pasta and shrimp (not to mention bacon with my eggs) again. We had 13 people come out to our show last night despite the sloppy slush that fell from morning through midnight.

The Poway synagogue shooting was doubly heinous because the service that was being held was Yizkor ("remembrance"), a memorial service held on the last day of Passover, Shavuot (Pentecost) and Sukkot, as well as just before the concluding service on Yom Kippur. The woman who was killed was there to pray for her deceased mother; she was hit when she jumped in front of the rabbi to attempt to shield him. Her husband, a doctor, was there and immediately jumped in to assist the victims--and when he realized he was doing CPR on his wife, he fainted. Ironically, the rabbi moved to Poway (a suburb of San Diego) when his Brooklyn neighborhood, Crown Heights (home of the worldwide HQ of the Lubavitcher sect of Hasidism, fell victim to racial and gang violence. The shooter was a 19-yr-old kid who frequented hate websites and white-supremacist threads on social media--he posted that he chose the date because it was the 6-month anniversary of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting; and also set fires at several local mosques. He lived with his parents--I wonder what the f*** they taught him.

carolehalston

I enjoyed my golf outing yesterday.  The day was beautiful and the course was dry enough that we got some distance with the ball rolling.  I was reminded of why I play golf.  

I had written on the calendar that today is the day for blood work but I seem to have lost the written order I was given a year ago when I kept an appointment with my kidney dr.  Can't imagine that I would have thrown it away.  

I will be going to the hospital in Hammond (20 miles away) to visit my mother a little later.  She was taken there for IV antibiotics for a UTI.  At age 96 she has been remarkably clear minded but seems to be losing her grip on reality.  My sister called yesterday to warn me that our mother was telling some strange stories.  

IllinoisLady

You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand. -Woodrow Wilson

IllinoisLady

Sorry to hear about your mother, Carole. I do think all those items ( taken out of the nursing home, treated for UTI ) and possibly the treatment itself could cause mental imbalances in geriatric people. Perhaps once she is returned to her regular 'home' and her infection clears she will regain some of her mental faculties. I sure hope so.

It is hard to keep track of one small slip of paper over a whole yr. I suppose one could paper-clip it to the proper month of the calendar. Would be harder for me though since I buy my calendars late and consider myself lucky if I even remember to write upcoming items on the new one -- let alone those made for a yr. in advance.

I would have had a dickens of a time with my VA. yearly physical for that reason, but fortunately it behaved all concerned to advance the appt. so I was able to 'save' face pretty much.

Likely a shower or so today but we are back up into the 70's and will stay that way ( temps ) for all but one day it seems. Glad we are a bit warmer. It makes it a bit more passable if you have to be out and about in the rain.

Feel better Sandy and enjoy your little companion who likely is most happy to get the extra attentions.

MCBaker

Sandy, I wonder if they can charge the parents for inciting to a hate crime. Difficult to prove, but when young people do things like this, family culture must be part of the dynamics.

nanette7fl

CarolH I'm sorry to hear your is I'll. Sometimes with the elderly a UTI can play havoc on their brain and here's to praying once it clears so will her mind!

The Synagogue shooting is just too much!! I saw a young girl (age 9-11 ?)on the news and she said " It isn't supposed to be like this. The world is supposed to be full of love and compassion." Wise words from one so young!

So yesterday I started out my day with dry heaves and slight fever (100.2)...so I went back to bed woke up at 2pm and played it all again. The majority of my day was sleeping. This morning I get up at 5 am to find the left side of my night gown is soaked and getting wetter! For some reason I was leaking out of my mastectomy scar (still healing)... so I called DH and he came home from work. We were going to the ER but a little voice said to call the PS so I called his service and they got him on the phone. I had to go into his office and see his RN and let her evaluate me. I have a raging infection smack dab in the middle of my scar line. She did Cultures galore and I go back tmw to see him and will have debreding surgery on Wednesday. The TE that's in now will come out and get exchanged for another. Personally they could just leave it out until after Rads IMHO

So I feel like it's back to square 1 again but no one plans on getting infected. I guess it'll be another day sleeping as I still have body aches.