MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

reesie

Welcome jcollin5. Sorry you had to join us but there's a great group here. I don't have IBC experience but there's an IBC forum on here where you can get lots of answers. There's a variety of dx here so I'm sure you'll get some answers if anyone here has them. You might also want to have your doc check into ttuncal LE or cellulitis. It's good that your doc is being proactive though IBC can be aggressive from what I read.



In the meantime sit back and enjoy the virtual parties and virtual snacks.

reesie

MP - laptop computer?

marlegal

talking about parties and snacks...let's let jcollin5 know what you mean!!

 

and we like to share our parties with a beau or two ... or three ... or ....

Kay_G

An Oscar?

jo1955

Party On ladies!

elimar86861

Welcome, jcollin5!  Did the pleurisy develop as a result of your radiation?  I don't know if we have many with IBC here now, but lots that had the lumpectomy and rads.  Let us know if the antibiotics help with your inflammation.

marlegal,  Mmmm, those snacks are so calorie free.  Unfortunately, the ones I have been eating are not.  Hurry up Spring, so I can get on my bike again.

Ceeztheday

jcollin5- I don't know if this link will work, but I'll try. It is the IBC forum address-

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/81

beth1965

Hello all- i am 46 years old and diagnosed with BC five days ago. Going for a double masectomy in eleven days. wow things move fast have not had a moment to breath.

I am glad i have found this site i have learned so much already from some wonderful people.

LovesChristmas-Barb

Welcome Beth though we're sorry you have to join us. This is a wonderful site with lots of wonderful ladies who will help you as much as they can!

barbe1958

chrome on a car?

justmejanis

Welcome Beth.  Sorry you had to find us but we'll be happy to have you.  Yes, things do move very quickly when we are first diagnosed.  It can all be overwhelming but take lots of deep breaths.  You will find this community of women here loving, supportive, extremely bright and experienced, as well as fun.

If you think of questions write them down so you can ask your doctors.  You can never ask too many questions.  Feel free to ask away here of course.  I hope you have a great team of doctors to help you on this road.  Big hugs!

WaveWhisperer

Edge of a laptop computer??

Oops, Reesie, I posted before looking at the last page. Sorry...

 Welcome to the new ladies. This is a great site. 

barsco1963

Welcome to jcollin5 and beth1965 - As mentioned above - you will find great support and information from a lot of wonderful ladies here.

jo1955

beth1965 - Welcome - Sorry you have to join us here but glad you found us.  This is a great group of ladies with lots of information and support.  Post often and keep us up to date.

elimar86861

Welcome, beth965!  Getting that Dx turns your life into a real whirlwind of anxiety and a race to get more information about what is happening to you.  I wanted to know and understand everything.  I did not have Mx, but many here did so let us know if we can help.  Hope your surgery goes smoothly. 

cookiegal,  It's been a while...how are you doing?

walker2222

I had my MO appoint last Friday and the results of my bone density test were in and they were not good.  I have been on Femara for over a year now and the only SE i have had were minimal hot flashes, which have decreased to almost none, an increase in coloestoral (now taking meds for that, back to normal) now I have a decrease of 13.3% bone density in my lumbar.  I am nervous about taking other meds because I have had minimal SE.  The alternative my MO is giving me is having a Zometa infusuion which should stop the decrease of bone density and strengthen the bones.  Read up on it and I am OK with it.  It does not come in pill form so it has to be infused through an IV.  I am having it done on Thursday.  Wish me luck.

Welcome newbies since my last post. 

Wishing all my sisters well as you are always close in my thoughts.

Eph3_12

" mce_src="" alt="" border="" hspace="" vspace="" width="" height="" align="" /> Sorry about the size!  Someone else next weekend plz

elimar86861

walker2222,  I had a post several pages back about Tamox. causing cholesterol numbers to go up.  Turns out Femara will also do that (in about 15% of women.)  Sorry you seem to fall into that group.  I don't know if you take any OTC meds for osteoarthritis or joint health, but I also mentioned that glucosamine will elevate cholesterol too (being made from shellfish.)   I am awaiting my DEXA report right now.  Have been very faithful in taking my calcium supplements, so we'll soon see,

Sherryc

Walker-good luck with the Zometa infusion.  I hear that you need to drink lots of water the day before, the day of and the day after to help prevent achyness.  I will be having my first one on Feb 8th. My MO told me every 6 month for three years which seems like the norm.  What will you be doing? 

After being on Tamox for about 3 months my cholesteral numbers changed.  They were so good that a little change did not make a difference but it will be interesting to see if they change this next time as I just have it checked yearly which will be in April.

Eph3_12

The MP was the nose/mouth area of the Monopoly Dog.  Sorry the picture is so big & so duplicated!  I'm not good at this game, please someone else post a picture next weekend & I'll do my best not to guess correctly!

walker2222

Sherry, my MO said twice a year so that falls in with what yours said.  I have been googling it and compairing it to what my nurse said to do.  Lot of water, good thing I am having it later in the day as I can drink water through out the day.

Thanks cuz.

reesie

Walker, I used to get Zometa monthly (just switched to Xgeva). Lots of water and if you can (check with your doc) take a clartin the day before the day of and two days after. One of the biggest SEs is bone pain (usually only with the first couple infusions) and on top of hydration, hydration, hydration the claritin helps allay that SE.



The regular Claritin (not Claritin-D). And Store brand loratidine will work too (that's the generic claritin).



Don't be surprised to get flu-like achiness with it (but hopefully the water and Claritin will keep tht from occurring).



Oh, and if you need dental work do it before the Zometa starts. If you need it while you're getting it make sure your dentist and your onc know so they can take precautions against Osteonecrosis of the jaw (rare but possible SE with invasive dental work while on bisphosphonate).

Sherryc

Reesie thanks for the info about taking Claritin with the Zometa.  I was already on an oral biophosanate so had to get checkout with my dentist before starting it but am due to see my dentist next week which is the week before my first infusion.  Unless something shows up I should be good with the dentist.

walker2222

Reesie thanks for the heads up on the dentist, my MO did explain that as one of the SE but usally for those who need to take it monthly instead of twice a year.  Something to know nontheless.  I have my dental check up in the summer.

barbe1958

Joni, that was a GREAT mystery pic!!!! Don't give up....

Sherry, call me stupid (or forgetful might be nicer) but WHY are you starting new treatments when you were diagnosed in 2010? What have I missed?

Paula66

Hi all!  I have tried to get into the swing of things as of late.  So I deceided to do a few changes.  I am trying to get back into excerising.  Heres the deal though.  I'm not a arobics kinda gal, so thats out!  I do however enjoy pilates alot.  I have have reconstruction, implants put in. Does anyone know if thats an issue because I have read that there were certian workouts to avoid once you have had a BMX.  Any truth to that?  Im done with the couch tater thing and want to get moving again.  Plus I think it'll help with the Tammo aches.  Plus the fact Im doing a double wave with one arm and I have never been that way before. Since I took a new job no more heavey lifting so I dont have that kinda workout anymore so my arms have gotten flabby, lol!  Thanks for the input gals!

  

barbe1958

A healed BMX has no restrictions, but if you had recon there might be. I envy you your focus. I get achy just going up stairs to bed!

Sherryc

Paula I do yoga and my PS does not seem to think that will be a problem for me to continue once I get the green light.  I love yoga, very relaxing but a workout at the same time.

Barb-no you did not miss anything.  There has been an ongoing study about biophosonates reducing the recurrence rate in early stage, pre menopausal, no chemo women.  I fall into that category.  Because of this study my MO has had me on an oral biophosonate (Fosomax) for the last six months.  He felt that because I was in a grey area for chemo and choose not to do it that it would be good for me to have one more thing for protection. I am also on Tamoxifen. At the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in December they came out with the final results of the study and it is specific to Zometa. MO and I talked about it and decided to move forward with this treatment if my insurance would approve it which they did so I will be starting Feb 8th.  I will also be having a BMX with reconstruction on March 26th.  I am doing this because my first BS did not give me all the information that she should have at first.  I found out when I had almost finished rads that if I had done this in the beginning I would not have had to have rads.  I was pissed.  Anyway since my last surgical biopsy ( B9) they took about 1/3 of my breast (and that was my good one) and I am very small.  I was already contemplating doing a BMX so I don't have to be screened every 6 months and MRI's yearly as they tell me I am at high risk for local recurrence (because of my history of ADH and both breast are very dense and full of calcification's that are on constant watch).  Geez would have been nice to have known that in the beginning.  Anyway this last one did me in and I am moving forward with having them removed and reconstructed.  No more scans for me unless I end up in that 2% and get recurrence.  I'm believing that will not be me. Just had my last breast MRI and they will be removed before my next scheduled mammo.  So Zometa for reducing my distant recurrence rate and MX to reduce my local recurrence rate.  It is funny how the further out I get I am much more clear about what is right for me.  I am not as freaked out and I ask alot more questions.  In the beginning I just let the Dr's heard me around because I was in shock and did not know what to ask. Started out with Dr's that were not for me and have since found the right team.  My MO loves the fact that I read up on things and I have questions for him when I see him. He is an MD and a PHD so he loves research and knowing what is new out there and always has an opinion.

beth1965

Big hugs to you all too

justmejanis

Can I hijack this for a few just because I am so upset?  We had to move here 1.5 years ago due to my DH's emphysema and COPD.  We had a little land in Cheyenne and had two llamas.  Yard pets really, but we loved them.  Dolly Llama and Fernando were the names I chose...they were a birthday gift for my 50th from my hubby.

Of course we could not bring them here and we worked hard to find them a wonderful home.  Free....but only to really a great place.  Found the perfect couple with 10 acres and they built a brand new barn on the land per our orders before we would let them go.  A big beautiful barn..that was all we needed after talking to the couple many times.

Kristi and I have mailed since we moved with updates and pictures.  I have missed them terribly.  I came home from the BS, and there was a new e-mail from Kristi.  She said that Dolly passed away yesterday.  The day before she was fine, no problems, eating and drinking well.  Chuck got her from some people who just had a lot of llamas and wanted to thin the herd, so we were never sure of her age.  I had her 7 years and she may have simply passed from old ages.  They took wonderful care of them.  She said Fernando, seems very upset today and so they are giving him extra treats and attention.

Cancer never made me shed one damn tear, but the news of Dolly's passing made me lose it.  I will always remember her sweet shy ways and that beautiful face.

Oh....BS said I do have breast LE.  This is not a great day.  Off next to the MO.

Thanks for letting me cry on your collective shoulders. 

Sleep softly my sweet girl!