MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

Eph3_12

Got word today that my Monday mammo was all clear! Thankful!

Momine

Diana, I had an MRI, heart ultrasound, CT scan, bone scan, then a second MRI to doublecheck my liver and a biopsy of the tumor in the breast, all as part of the assessment to plan my treatment. it wasn't fun exactly, but I am glad that they checked so carefully before starting treatment.

walker2222

Sherryc so glad you are doing well, keep track of the drainage as that was a problem for me.  I was trying to catch up to and got several pages behind as well.  Get your rest and be well.

Concerning LE, I see nurse Debbie from my BS office who keeps track of my numbers every 3 months.  They took my LDex numbers right after surgery.  I had 10 node taken out 5 were positive.  I did not have trouble with LE until after rads, and it was cording mostly.  I found a wonderful PT for LE who is specialized in the field.  Since I am a high risk, I wear my sleeve for house cleaning and any strenuous activity.

Well today it has been two years since my DX, I am wearing my Relay for Life t shirt today as our relay is on April 27.  Be a walking advertisement.  I am the the team captain for my company this year and so far we have raised $3,544 and working on more fund-raising this month.  That is where my time has been spent.  I worked on making walking bead kits last night, made 100.  The concept is once you complete a lap you put a bead on the necklace, so after the 12hr relay who ever has the most beads wins.  Thinking of a trophy or ribbon, maybe gift card.  So far we have over 900 participants signed up but not for sure how many to make.  It cost just under $40 to make 150 and we are planning on charging $2 per kit.  They start out with 15 pony beads and string to slide them on.  Thinking of making 400 to 500 kits.  What do you all think? 

elimar86861

Yippie, Eph!  Good news going forward.

                   

elimar86861

walker2222,  I hope the feather boa is part of this year's outfit too.  Congrats on your 2 YEARS!

                                                       

Plils

Hi all you beautiful women,

I have not been on here for a while, just been trying to get my life back in order.   I just hit my 1 year after diagnosed with BC, lumpectomy, chem, rad, hyst, oopecomy, etc,  anyway how long does it take to get your energy back, I have worked thought out this but not totally full time working 8 hour shifts and starting Sunday I go back to my 12 hour shifts.  Oh ya did I mention I also only get maybe 5 hours of sound sleep at night.    Any suggestions or tricks from anyone.. Hope all is doing well.  

Pam 

elimar86861

Sherryc,  happy to hear you are doing o.k. post surgery.  Best to be proactive about any fluid build-up, so good thing to not wait if you feel you are not draining properly.  I can't remember if you actually did grow enough belly fat for a TRAM, or did you change to implants?  If TRAM, how is your belly doing?   That is so funny, really.  Want new boobs...you better take two desserts!

walker2222

Pam my suggestion is getting some exercise and take B12.  It has been two years for me, and just this year I am starting to get my energy back and it started with 30 min on my exercise bike and with taking B12, in the last month.  Melatonin has helped me with the sleep.  I no longer use OCD for night time rest.

Elimar - I am not planning on using the boa but during the relay we have a Mr. Relay contest which is guys dressed up.  I think I have talked my son into doing this and saving it for him.  They take a lap and people put donations in their purses.  My DS is 16.

2FriedEggs

Hi All thanks all for the welcome ! You all know the drill- I've been busy running about town visiting doctors and getting tests. I had  lumpectomies in both breasts , had considered just doing radiation but since I have so much going on in my breasts and a strong family history, I have decided to go with the dmx with reconstruction. I'm right outside of the Orlando area so if anyone has any recommendations for surgeons and any insights into the NS, implants, flaps etc available in the area I'd really appreciate hearing from you.

barsco1963

Eli - too funny - New boobs = two desserts! I am unsure about reconstruction and although I normally wouldn't have anything to worry about, I would have lots of belly to work with. However, I have lost about 20lbs - still have some belly, but maybe should be getting that second dessert just in case.

Eph - Woohoo on the all clear! Dance, dance, dance!

Sherry - glad to hear that you are doing ok. Get lots of rest and keep us posted on your recovery.

nfranklin & florida - testing, testing, 1 2 3 - The tests seem to go on forever, don't they? Hang in there -  Best wishes

walker2222 - I to am doing a Relay for Life in my area on June 8. It is normally at the end of June but they have bumped it up in hopes of getting more participants. The Mr. Relay sounds interesting - would be fun to see! I know that some are against walks etc, due to not enough $$ going directly to research (due to admin costs etc), but I have done the walk with my sisters & friends for 4 yrs and do enjoy the spirit of the event.

Sherryc

Thanks all my PS office called to check on me this morning and I told them of my concerns they asked me a bunch of questions and basically said everything is fine but my rt drain is ready to come out so they will remove it on Monday when I go in for a post op check up. 

Eli I ended up going the TE/Implant route.  I don't think I would have ever gained enough weight for a DIEP and the PS I ended up using said he though it was a bad idea to have a patient gain weight for a surgical procedure.  He is partners with the one who wanted me to gain weight. 

Welcome to the newbies my brain has not recovered from surgery so I already forgot your names without going back and looking.

reesie

Diana,



I answered you on the Stage IV thread but just want to assure you that you can have lung nodules from all kinds of benign things. Take a deep breath (no pun intended) and don't get ahead of yourself.

lisamarie68

Eph ... Congrats on the all Clear .. Doing the Happy Dance ...  

Sherry glad all is well for u ..

Dianarose , I am still here thinking of u and praying 4 u {{hugs}}} 

walker2222

Barso - the past two years I done both the Komen Race and the Relay for Life.  This year I am only doing the Relay for Life because cancer affects many people many different ways.  I have watch several you tubes about RFL and what is being done with the research in cancer.  Also, whole families can join a team and work toward a goal, instead of a single person doing a walk.  I feel better about what the ACS has done through RFL.  But as you say people have different opinions.

Diana my heart goes out to you and you in my daily prayers with our fellow sisters. 

Eph - go girl.

I had my OBGYN yearly this week and all looks clear.  No mamos for me now (I don't think there is enough to squeeze but I have heard different in some cases.  Next is my MO in April.

ToriGirl

Eph-Great news!

walker2222-great news on your OB/GYN appt!

Sherry-Glad you are home and resting...praying that your recuperation goes smoothly...

Dianarose-I am thinking of you and saying prayers for you...

Tori 

nfranklin

Can someone tell me the significance of a echocardigam as it relates to chemo treatment?

LovesChristmas-Barb

Wow...I'm  way behind! Is it just me or does these AI's make anyone else's brain foggy? I have the hardest time keeping up with all of the posts and keeping everyone straight lately.

So welcome to all of the newbies! and I'm glad your surgery went well Sherry. I'm sorry I missed your pocket party.. I'm saying a prayer right now for you that things will continue to go well in your recovery.

And a prayer going up for you too Dianarose! You have a lot on your plate these days and the waiting is always torturous!

I went through a time when I was feeling so blue and anxious. I think it was the Arimidex and my MO did too so along with all of the other SE's I was having, she decided to switch me to Femara. I gave myself a few days break and now I'm feeling much better and have been on the Femara for almost a week. Dealing with the other SE's is so much easier when you're not depressed.

Also, I wanted to ask everyone who's so inclined to say a prayer for the 15 year old daughter of a friend of mine who was diagnosed yesterday with ovarian cancer. Absolutely heartbreaking. I've never heard of a girl so young with ovarian cancer and my friend and her DH are devastated. She's having further tests done next week to determine what type is so they can decide treatment. I literally haven't been able to hardly think about anything else these last days....so scary.

I hope everyone has a blessed, peaceful weekend!

Dianarose

They called this morning and my pet scan is Tuesday at 9:30. I am stressed that it won't be good news. She said plan on being there for 2 hours. More fun.

LovesChristmas-Barb

Hopefully, your pet scan won't be too bad to go through Dianarose. When I  had mine, the nurse put the IV solution in and then I sat in a nice little room in a comfy leather recliner and my daughter was in the room with me and we were allowed to talk. They also told me I could read if I wanted to, but the time went quickly. The scan itself was much easier than my MRI. I just remember laying on the table with the scanner going slowly over me. Not bad...

nfranklin

Dianarose: My pet scan was not bad, I was so tried, the nurse ask if I wanted a towel over my eyes and that helped. Praying for you that the outcome is good, waiting for the results is the worst part. Hang in there we are with you.

justmejanis

Dianarose......I am so sorry you are going through so much at once.  Deep breaths....I know how hard all of this is.  Remember these tests are all for diagnostic purposes and are standard.  We are all here for you and we love hearing happy news.  This is what we are counting on.

Loves Christmas....oh we could be twins.  I have terrible brain fog.  I can't focus on anything and it drives me crazy.  I love this place, yet often go for days without checking it.  Then I am so far behind, and like you, have trouble with all the names.  Arimidex?  I think it is part of the problem.  I hate feeling this way.  Four years and eight months left.

To all the newbies.....a warm welcome to everyone.  I will try harder to be on here more often and connect with everyone.  I miss all the fun, but also want to be here to cheer you all on and offer support.  Breast cancer is a long journey.  The friends you make here are amazing.

Pocket party for me on Friday?  I have had severe neck pain for years.  Sometimes I can barely turn my head.  No diagnosis.  My PCP treats me with meds.  It is getting worse and I am getting so weary of it.  I am going to see him Friday and tell him I need to know what is causing this.  I am hoping he will order an MRI and maybe actually get a diagnosis.  I need this fixed if possible.  Whatever it takes!

LovesChristmas....I am so sorry to hear about your friend....it is unimaginable.  Her poor family.  Sending tons of healing prayers and energy her way.  Please keep us posted......let her family know there are lots of prayers headed their way.  You came to the right place!

marlegal

Hey buds. I'm a member of hte group who doesn't get in here nearly often enough, but also one who prays for you all daily, and I'm in every pocket party whether I know about it or not!!!

Making decisions - that is so hard, I know. For me, I trusted my instincts when choosing my doctors, and I went with their recommendations. Whatever decisions you make, you just have to feel "this is right for me" and then never look back. If that decision leads to side effects from chemo or meds, so be it ... you'll deal with them. There are ways to manage most side effects, and with most treatments, the effects are temporary. Emphasis on most, because unfortunately there are times when the effects last for years, or even forever. But in some cases, even dealing with that is better than the alternative.

Anyway...a bundle of hugs for all who need hugs, cheers for the good news of clear mammos, etc., and much love to all. See you in another 5 pages or so!!!

Sherryc

Loveschristmas I will def pray for your friends daughter.  15 is way too young to be dealing with ovarian cancer.

Diana will be with your for your pet scan, hopefully it will be clear.

Dianarose

I was reading the addendum from my lx lab report and it is different from the biopsy one. The biopsy which was IDC said the er and pr were 90% positive. The lx which is the ILC used an Allred score. It says for both the er and pr score were 5+3=8/8. Does this mean 100%. I am not sure how to read this one.

One thing I noticed is a lot of ladies who have mets have 0 positive nodes. All the doc's worry so much when we have a positive node, but what about the ones with mets and no positive nodes. To me it's a false sense of security.

elimar86861

janis,  I'm coming along to your appt. for sure, and have to hear everything they say.  I woke up last Fall with a sore neck (shoulders & skull too) and it never went away.  I never went to the doctor.  I got chiro and massage which only helps a little.  I guess the joke will be on me if there is such a thing neck & shoulder mets.  I think it is degenerative arthritis.  Since I was whiplashed twice, it was only a matter of time til the whole area fell apart.  Want to see what they say about you.

Dianarose,   I'm not familiar with the Allred score.  Google it, if no one here knows.  Your mega-page path. report soundsdifficult to decipher what with everything going on.

LC-Barb,  That is sad for a young girl to get that Dx.  Hopefully she will not have to have them both out.

Meece

{{{{Dianarose}}}} You CAN do this, and when you feel like throwing in the towel, throw it to us and we'll help you back to your feet.

After reading your posts I think back to how blessed I was.  I went through all of those tests, Mammo, US, BX, Upper CT, Lower CT, ECG, Heart US, PET and plent of Bloodwork.  But it all happened within two weeks and I didn't have any contact with my Onc between tests.  He saved up all the information for my face-to-face appointment.  There was certainly a lot to process at that appointment, but since all the test were scheduled in order, I had no idea what they might be looking for or where.  I just thought this was all necessary prior to Chemo.I can only imagine what it would have felt like to get results from one test only to necessitate another test.  I didn't hear any staging until that one appointment, and from then on, my treatment plan remained firm.

You can do this...YOU CAN!!!

justmejanis

Eli.....I had a brain scan a few weeks ago which was normal.  I have no idea if they can use those films and find anything on the neck.  I am not even thinking mets...more on the line of a disc problem.  My back MRI revealed a large herniation in my lower back.  It rarely bothers me so I don't plan to do anything about it right now.  My neck is a whole different story.  Arthritis is sure possible.  If it is a disc problem hoping it is fixable.  I hate my neck!  I can't even drive much as I have such limited range of motion.  Backing out of parking spaces is tough! 

Eph3_12

E-topper pic is quite freaky today!  

elimar86861

Eph,   That is my special April Fool's image.  Rock on!

Sherryc

Eli where do you find these pics?