MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

Paula66

Gotcha ya.  Just wasnt for sure if that was what was going on or if it was 3's or patterns.

elimar86861

Over one hundred women braver than I am.  I used to want to do that at least once in my life, but all the other hesitations aside, I don't think I would like that jerk of my parachute opening.  My whiplashed neck says no; and I also feel like even the impact on a regular landing would tear my ACL or something.  I'll have to get my middle-aged thrills some other way!

barbe1958

Sky diving is on my bucket list. I worry about that initial yank too, which is why I haven't done bungee jumping either. I know my spine would just split in two!! So, last number on the bucket list is some form of throwing myself off something safe into something with potential pain. Kind of like going to work....

lisamarie68

Good Morning to all my wonderful friends .. wishing everyone a good day ..sending posotive vibes... Big HUGS !!!  I am off to work but will pop in here and there ! 

I don't have a bucket list, maybe I need to consider starting one I don't think I would sky dive that just may give me a heart attack lol ...

Good Day  

KittyGirl2011

Dianarose - I had no pain after the surgery for the catheter insertion and no pain during treatment.  Just some pinching discomfort when I moved or twisted wrong and it pulled on the catheter.  The doc put two stitches in above and below the catheter insertion site and that really helped to keep it in place without problems.  I'm a total wimp when it comes to pain so for me to say no pain is the real truth!  If you want to PM me with any questions I'd be happy to get back to you.  Kitty

madpeacock

I'll add my two cents worth on the Mammosite/Contura process. Insertion was no problem and while they warned me that nothing was final until they did the CT scan to make sure the balloon was placed properly in the cavity, it turned out fine. I too wore a sports bra to keep the "tail" from moving around between treatments. I slept in it too and had no pain. My tail wrapped around to my back because of the tumor location (outer left side), but sleeping was not a problem. Removal went quickly and essentially painlessly. 

My only problem was fluid leakage. I leaked the whole time the catheter was in and once it was removed I REALLY leaked. If I leaned on that side the wrong way, I gushed liquid. Yeah, ew.. I had it out on a Friday and had to go back on Monday to get bandages retaped so the hole would start to close. That was problem #2 - the hole took FOREVER to close. I finished in October and the final pinhole did not completely close over until JANUARY. But, that's just me.

I hope I never have to do it again, but if given a choice, I would if I had to.  

Dianarose

Thanks KittyGirl and madpeacock. I feel much better about this now. My cancer is very deep and close to my breast bone so I was worried about it. I have a high pain tolerance, but get grossed out easily. My daughter is an ER Nurse. I don't know how she does it.

KittyGirl- I sent you a PM.

Madpeacock-why did they take 4 nodes if the first one was clean. My bs said she would take one and send it right down to the lab before she took anymore. I am so nervous about that part. Also, I see that your Oncotype # is 8, what does that mean?

elimar86861

madp,  I sounds like you developed a seroma in the cavity, and the constant drainage prevented the healing.  As bad as that is, if it had closed, the seromas can cause pain and pressure to the point where they have to be aspirated (which is usually more a relief than painful, I've read.)   My balloon was only in there a few days, but healed over within days after having it out.

Question (and I am asking on behalf of Dianarose):  Did you have balloon placement at surgery time, or separately some days afterward?  Wondering if one is more likely to lead to seroma than the other.

Barbe, LOL!  Bungee jumping?  My spine would crack like a whip, I'm afraid.

seabeal, welcome!  Have you had your surgery yet?  Lumpectomy?  There is a lot to take in at the beginning, but we are here for questions, and hugs if you need them.

lisamarie68

I have no idea what it is everyone is talking about , Is this something I will be going through with the PBMX .??? im nervous not knowing what is ahead of me ...luv and hugs to u all.. I pray for everyone hoping things get better

madpeacock

dianarose: If I understood correctly, they usually take the sentinel node - the one the contrast hits first - and then the next few in line to be sure all is clear. The number can vary from surgeon to surgeon, I guess depending on their feelings about your particular situation. I had the contrast injection right before surgery and I remember waking up in recovery to someone telling me that the nodes were negative. 

Also, the Oncotype is a test for ER+, node negative, early stage cancers to determine if chemo would be effective against your type of tumor or not. My score is 8, which is very low, and means that my tumor would get very little, if any, benefit versus the SEs of chemo.  

eli:  Oh heck yeah, I have a seroma. I still have it as of my mammo and ultrasound a couple of weeks ago. My surgery was 9/8 but my catheter was not placed until mid-October which was right at the end of the "window" of time for when it can be done. We were waiting on BRCA testing and the Oncotype to be done, another long story, so that is the reason for the delay. I also had my HER2 retested in that time and apparently flipped to negative instead of the positive from the initial bx, so that changed plans as well.  

I still have doubts about the whole HER2 thing. Hope that doesn't come back to bite me... 

Sherryc

It is getting really old to have hot flashes all the time and neausea.  At least I know the neausea will hopefully be gone when I finish this anitfungal med in a couple of months. And I changed my prilosec to taking with the one that causes the neausea, not working so far.  ugh

lisamarie68

aww Sherry feel better ... I take Zofran for nausea and it helps just makes me sleepy

Dianarose

Sherry- what is the nausea from? It all sounds horrible. I hope it gets better for you soon.

Sherryc

Dinarose-my immune system took a plunge during rads and I ended up with toenail fungus.  My foot doctor said that my immune system just could not fight it off plus I am terrible with leaving my toenail polish on way too long.  But gee no one told me to watch out for that. I started taking a Chinese herb Astragalus that seems to be helping my immune system but I am taking Lamisil for the toenail fungus and it keeps me neauseated. I have to take it for three month and I have been on it about 3 weeks so far.  I hope I can last, I really want to get a pedicure and paint my toe nails with spring coming up but no can do right now.

seabeal

Elimar: I had a core biopsy 2/14 after my routine mammo found "significant" changes from my previous one. It came back positive for IDC, ER+, PR+ and HER2- approx 1.9cm. Thats about all I know at this time. Saw the surgeon and he ordered breast MRI (done Frid) and did the brain and body CT today. Have another appointment with surgeon on Mon to go over results and most likely sched lumpectomy. The first week was a total downer and this week its been more of an emotional rollercoaster, fine one minute in a dark place the next. I think as I get each procedure and test completed I feel calmer knowing its getting closer to getting this thing out of me. Found this place the day I was dx and been hanging out reading and trying to get to know everyone. It has been a life saver especially since my husband is in major denial and won't talk about it or addresses it like a bout of flu. Thank heavens for BCO and my daughter who has been my rock.

elimar86861

seabeal,  Yes, the beginning in very mind-blowing.  As you gain information, and then as you move through treatment (and feel you are DOING something) it does get a little better.  I did not find this site til after my surgery, but it helped a lot during radiation and onward.  Like you, I had MRI before surgery, but not the other scans.  Let us know how you do with all your scans.  Hope the news is good.  With a lumpectomy, they will also probably want to check a lymph node or three (as madpeacock wrote.)  The number really depends on how many nodes show that first uptake of dye or radioactive tracer (and they can use either or both.)  The max. number of sentinel nodes I have seen has been 7, but usually it's just a few.

elimar86861

The continuing tales of the gift that keeps on giving...

I don't know how many of you get your cholesterol checked or how often, but I get mine yearly.  My triglycerides were high last year and have gone up.  Tamoxifen may very well be a part of that.  (To be fair, menopause seems to cause elevation as well.)  Maybe I binge ate a bag o' Cheetos before testing, but I doubt it.  Anyway, I did not fast before the blood test, so I want to get a fasting retest soon to be sure of the numbers. Why do I suspect the Tamox.?

Dianarose

Some inspiration--I took my ex-husbands grandmother for a lumpectomy many yrs ago. Her surgery was at 9am and she was back in my car by noon. She had radiation and took what she called her cancer pills for 5 yrs. I never found out anything about her type or stage because she did not want to talk about it. Somehow she fell through the cracks and never even got as much as a single mammogram for over 10 yrs. This lady was and still is a tough cookie. She is a true survivor and just had her birthday. She is now 101 with no recurrance.

cajmi

Wow Dianarose!!!

She should be our poster Grandma!!!

Dianarose

Elimar-when I had high cholesterol I ate Honey nut cheeio's for about 3 months and it went down by over 15 pts.  

ReginaR

 

Thinking of all My Middle Sisters! Hope you all are Having a Good week!

Prayers & {{{{hugs}}}}} Gina

elimar86861

My cholesterol was fine...just the triglycerides were up.  That is a reason I wonder if Tamox. has something to do with it.  Tamox. can actually lower cholesterol in some, but it makes the triglycerides go up.  Hmmm.  Maybe my cholesterol would be up there too without the Tamox.

Fasting (12 hours) is not so important for checking the cholesterol, but it can have more of an effect on triglycerides.  I'm going to go back one morning next week and get a fasting blood draw to re-check it.  I can get in right away because I won't even see the doc to do this.

I'll write a conclusion to all this next week, but I hope I can wind up in normal range.

jo1955

Elimar - Tamoxifen does have everything to do with the high triglycerides.  My family doctor makes me go back every 3 months for labs.  Mine has stayed elevated since I started taking the little white pills.  He told me to take 2 fish oils caps in the morning and 2 at bedtime.  It has helped a bunch.  In 3 months time, they dropped almost 25 points.  I was amazed.

Dianarose suggested Honey Nut Cheerios - I eat those all the time - also like the regular ones. 

madpeacock

hmm. My triglycerides have always been very, very low - like 15? Will have to see where it is on my next labs. I have high-ish total cholesterol - around 180 or so - but my good/bad ratio is so good that my doctor has no concerns about it. 

Back at you {{{{Gina}}}} ! 

justmejanis

My cholesterol and triglycerides were high before BC so can't blame BC on that!  I take cholesterol meds and for awhile was so careful.  Mine went down 70 points in three months and my PCP said the meds alone could not do that.  He could tell I was trying.  Every three months since it has gone done, but not a lot at a time.  We do not eat a lot of beef but what gets me is butter.  I cannot stand any margarine, has to be butter for me.  Lots of it, which I have learned to change of course.  I still allow myself some here and there.  I have cut back on cheese, I do not drink milk and do not eat eggs.  It was the butter!  I so love it but find it easier to avoid by avoiding the foods I love to drown it with.  That has been the hardest for me. 

Jo, Dinarose, will have to eat the Cheerios.  I am not fond of them but less fond of high cholesterol!

Happy Friday everyone.  I am very concerned about a BC sista I met on the rads forum.  She lives in Tennessee in the path of all that bad weather today.  Special prayers/good thoughts requested for Lisa, as well as anyone who may be impacted by these wicked storms today. 

lrw333

Hi Ladies. I lurk here quite often and enjoy reading your post. Janis I noticed your post and wanted to Thank you for caring and the prayers. Sounds like we are going to need them. In Tennessee, where I am, it has not been to bad yet. Just a lot of rain so far. This afternoon is suppose to be worse.  Elsewhere in the state tornados have been reported. I second the Good Thoughts and Prayers to everyone in the path of these storms. I pray everyone will be safe... I hope you are all having a wonderful day...... Hugs, lisa

Sherryc

Had a Holiday today. "Texas  Indepence Day"  So went and got more dirt for my new addition to my vegetable garden.  Now I get to work in the morning.

Dianarose-Wow on your ex-MIL 101.  NOt sure I want to live that long with the aches and pains I already have. Which I think is from tamox.

Elimar-I am not sure what my numbers are but my godd/bad ratio has always been very good.  But I do remember that last time my numbers were a little different.  I'll have to pull my lab work out and look at it.

Dianarose

Sherry- I am going to try to find out what she took for medication for the 5 yrs because she had no SE at all. I don't think it ever occurred to her that there might even be a SE. She just took them for 5 yrs and never said a peep. She called them her cancer pills.

justmejanis

Irw/Lisa.....Good to see you on this thread.  The ladies are great here.  Lots of real BC wizards so all questions will be answered.  Everyone has a lot of fun here too.  We talk about everything.  I am glad you came over and hope you stick around!  Also so glad to hear you are safe (so far) from all that wicked weather.  Please keep us posted.

odie16

Lisa - Prayers for you and all your neighbors in the path of these storms. Stay safe and join us often....