MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

Paula66

Welcome Dakota212 the gals around here are a great bunch.  They are very helpful and have tons of knowledge.  Post away on anything that you like.  Someone here will be able to help.  Thats the main reason why I love this place.  I know the things that I go thru, someone here has to. 

Its going to be a fantastic weekend here.  Have a good one all!  Sherry I hope you were able to destress with your movie and wine.

Katharine2411

Didn't think the first hair to fall out would be my eyelashes. They're really thin now. Didn't think it would bother me this much

Cindyl

Cancer is really just amazing in its ability to chip away at the things (both small and large) that make you feel like you... our bodies, our hair (even without chemo, my hair is dry and brittle and my nails have never looked worse... I know I shouldn't complain, at least I still have most of my hair, even if it looks like heck) our sense of immunity from harm.  Most of the time I'm sure I'm going to beat this, but I really have to wonder who I'll be on the other side of this.

odie16

Katharine

Sending heartfelt hugs.... As Cindy said, it is so unfair all the little things cancer takes from us.

I do think we come out on the other side changed but I am starting to think we come out stronger and better than ever before. 

justmejanis

Cindyl, my hair is in terrible shape too.  I did not have chemo.  I do take Anastrazole and wonder if that is contributing?  It is also falling out terribly, and breaking easily.  I have had my thyroid checked and it is normal. I wish I knew how I could help my poor hair! 

odie16

FWIW, Tamoxifen is really hard on the hair and nails I shed more than a cat! If not for the Biotin these smart ladies recommended, I swear I would be bald....lol

Katharine2411

Thanks Odie! I am trying to be positive and strong to everyone around me, but sometimes I need to vent to women who "get it" Thanks!

Cindyl

I'm convinced that rads started the number on my hair.  It's long and it never dawned on me I should put it up before treatment until I was about half way through, so it got 15 or so zaps before the ends started breaking, then of course your body has to work so hard to repair the damage that rads does it doesn't have anything left for your hair and nails...

Add in the tamoxifen, and yeecch.  I've been taking the biotin and I think the new growth is healthier, so maybe in a few months I'll get the damaged stuff cut off...

elimar86861

"I complain; therefore, I am."   (Descartes' first draft, considered too whiny.)

B/C and it's treatment would annoy anyone.  It continues to annoy me even now.   But the next time one of the many grievances pops up, don't forget to simultaneously Thank Your Lucky Charms** that you are STILL HERE.  I know I do.  Not everyone gets that same deal, unfortunately.

(**That's like thanking your lucky stars, only more magically delicious.)

Cindyl

This is true... still here is good.  I watched my 39 year old aunt die of cancer back in the 70s and my bestie lost her sister just a few years ago.  I can handle the treatment, it's not fun, but nothing I've been through has been unbearable. It's the uncertainty that will drive me nuts.  I never worried about my health before cancer.  I went in for the usual routine stuff, but it never occurred to me that the results could be bad, like seriously bad.  Sure a test might show and infection, but take a few pills and you'll be all better.  My gall bladder went bad... had surgery and was better in a few weeks.

 But with cancer?  6 months of treatment later and I'm feeling pretty good. But let a bump and rash show up? And I'm scared to death.  Sure that it's starting all over again.  I've never been a coward, but I'm definitely feeling like one now.  Then when people say how brave I am?  I just have to laugh... they can't see the yellow streak down my back.

Anonymous

Popping in to catch up....I've had no internet connection for four days and A LOT happens on these boards in that amount of time!!!!  LOL

Re: the Tamoxifen causing hair loss and nail problems....so TRUE!  I didn't have either chemo or rads....just the Tamoxifen so I can testify that it causes extreme hair shedding (and a lack of texture) and nail shredding.  I have found the Biotin helped after about a month....but my hair was still horrible.  Started taking BioSil about 6 weeks ago and I see an improvement....still shedding, but not nearly as much and the texture has improved!  YEAH!

 Welcome to all the newbies!  This is a great place to vent, be encouraged, get good information, etc. 

Hope everyone is having a good weekend.  God bless!

justmejanis

I left his thread for awhile after being scolded for having the nerve to talk about the weather.  Hmmm...then this not so subtle comment about complaining about treatment?  I thought that was what this thread was for?  I am sure (of course) the comment was not directed at me...but timing is sure odd.  I won't be back.  I am not the only one over the months I have noticed.

mstrouble16

Chachamom-try Nixoin shampoo and conditionor it's great! I take tamoxifen (and had chemo) and have been using Nixoin since my hair started growing back. I noticed at first after the chemo my hair everywhere was growing very quickly then I started the tamoxifen and my hair kinda went to growing at a snails pace but this stuff has stop me from losing any and it looks full. From what I read about it it was originally made for people who went through chemo, now they have all different versions of it. I get from amazon.

elimar86861

mstrouble16, welcome to this thread and thanks for the shampoo info.  

Anonymous

oooo!!!! thanks for the tip mstrouble!!!!  I'll order it right away! 

Eph3_12

Girls, I've received bad news.  This is from Reesie's CarePages:

"Marie asked me to write this update for her when the time came.
Early this morning Marie was feeling pretty bad and was taken to the hospital again. Her platelets were very low and she was having pain that was believed to be coming from her liver.
Early this afternoon she had a sudden heart attack and she passed away.
Marie's biggest fear was "dying by inches" and have a long, slow painful end. While today has been a punch in the gut for all of us, she did not suffer which is very comforting.
Joe asked me to thank all of you for the support, humor and love you gave to Marie, it meant the world to her and kept her strong." 

cmbear

Eph, thank you . I don't have the words in me to express the proper amount of loss. I'm glad she is finally at peace.

cmbear

Damn I hate this disease.

Paula66

This is so sad to read about Marie.  Prayers going out for her family.

barsco1963

So very sorry to hear of Marie's passing. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends.

Sherryc

Eph thanks for letting us know about Marie.  Prayers going out to her family. 

Barb1958-- yes my onco was high for a stage 1 grade 1.  I believe the main reason it was so high is that I am barely ER+ but as the Docs say a little positive is still positive and will be treated that way.  So tamoxifen it is. But the first MO I went to said no chemo and did not explain anything to me.  I started rads right away and never felt good about this MO.  By the time I had finished rads I had found another MO and consulted with him.  He also did not feel that I needed to have it but explained that because my tumor was under 2cm and my KI67 was under 10% that was his reasoning.  He did say that if I could not sleep at night that he would give it to me but I was in such a gray area that they could not tell me if it would benefit me or not. He also was following a study on Zometa being used for reduction of early stage BC and thought that I fit the study perfectly and he thought so far the results were very promising.  So I decided to forgo chemo and try the zometa route.  At first we could not do Zometa so he put me on Fosomax until the study was completed. When it was completed he liked the results and contacted my insurance company to see if they would approve it and they did.  I do not have any bone loss.  So I will get a total of 6 infusions over three years.  I have had two so far. I have also had a BMX this last year after finding a lump in my other breast that had to be removed even though it was B9.  I decided I was not going to continue having surgery every year to remove lumps.  My breast were already super flat to begin with not much to keep removing.  Do not regret the decision and I have an awesome PS. so I hope my no chemo decision does not come back to haunt me.

Dakota212

Rest peacefully Marie

Prayers to her family.

Dakota212

Does anyone know if it is routine for the oncotype to be done after mastectomy report comes back or should I be fighting for it during mastectomy ??? Thanks in advance

Sherryc

Dakota it sure would not hurt to ask your BS about doing it ahead of time.

Dakota212

The bs nurse told me it would be ordered by the mo. I think I will give that office a call. I am sure to get a red mark on my chart, I don't think the bs nurse likes me already and I have yet to meet her!!! Oh well ....

elimar86861

I am very saddened to hear the news of Marie's (reesie) passing.  I feel the heart attack was a blessing, only in the sense that she was spared much of the decline of brain mets, and the rigors of doing WBR.  So sorry for how the suddenness will affect the family, and her many friends.  Marie was just 49 years young.

She didn't write much on this thread about discovering the brain mets (and that was only a month ago, besides.)   I happened to see posts on another thread about that.  I know she liked to come to this thread just to hang and get sillly, so I didn't bring up the seriousness of her condition here.  I am sure even some of the regular posters to this thread will be shocked to read this news. 

Marie had posted here for a couple years, and I always appreciated what she brought to this thread.  She went through some troublesome times with spirits always high.  I remember her first avatar.  She looked liked a Q-tip wearing glasses.  I remember when she had the chance to meet up with some of the NJ & East Coast ladies, and the infamous foob-fight they had.  She was the only dragon boater I knew.   I miss her already.

                                                                                   

Eph, I had not gotten around to her care page.  Is that a place to put condolences to the family, or can you post here or PM me if there is some way I could do that?  

elimar86861

Dakota212,  The Oncotype is done with tumor tissue from the surgery, and the sample is still getting sent to Genomics in CA, I believe; so, I imagine it could be sent out any time following surgery.  Remember, it is only a tool to help decide how much you could benefit from doing chemo.  If you have the surgery and B/C is found to be in your nodes, you may decide in favor of chemo even without the Onco test being done.  Talk it over with doc.

Paula66

Eli I was thinking the same about Marie.  I know that her posts were always about life in general.  Even if she did post about her medical treatments, she was focused about them. I don't think I ever heard her complain not one single bit about what she was facing.  She went threw them and always was hopeful in her postings.  I will miss her for sure.  I didn't know her as long as some of you gals had, but I do know that she was a bright spot here for me.  Maria, you will be missed.

Eph3_12

Love the bouquet for Reesie E!  She would love that, I'm sure.

This is the link.  I don't know who is monitoring it, but I am assuming someone is.  Plus she is on FB-if people want that, please message me. 

http://www.carepages.com/carepages/ItsAGreatDayToBeAlive/updates/3365424?client_code=default&ipc=mcr

Eph3_12

ItsAGreatDayToBeAlive is the name her page is under