MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

Cindyl

Damn cancer!  It is so sneaky.  You have a clear mamogram or colonoscophy or whatever and think everything is fine... You do everything "right" eat right, exercise, don't smoke and still wham-o!

Sherryc

Eli I hope the liver and lung stuff turns out to be nothing.  You have enough on your plate as it is.  And I agree with Marlegal we want to be your support here.

Jewell-ADH is a pre-courser to cancer.  I had it and had it removed and 14 years later ended up with bc.  A year later the other breast had some of the other stuff that you mention( which also puts you at higher risk for bc) and at that point I decided to go for the BMX with reconstruction.  I do not want to have to deal with BC again and wanted to lower my odds as much as possible.  Don't be surprised if they want to put you on tamoxifen as a preventive, they sometimes suggest that although they have no way to know if it is fueled by estrogen or not.

Beckers I have a break a few times because of surgery.  My MO has never been worried about the short breaks as long as I get back on the program.

Blackcat not sure what the answer is maybe someone else knows.

I got the call from the PS office today and they schedule me for my revision surgery on Nov 30th.  I go tomorrow for my pre-op.  although I get the good looking PS not the robot.  Should I be jealous or Eli?  I am suppose to be alot more sore this time around.  My exchange was actually pretty easy.

elimar86861

Cindyl,  It has come up time and again that for most of us, we only had one or two of the "risk factors."  If only the randomness that gives us cancer could make us all be Powerball winners tomorrow!

elimar86861

Asked the MO if I should go off the Tamox. prior to my port surgery?  His nurse told me to stop the Tamox. today and the port goes in on Mon., but maybe he stopped me now because soon I will have the (portable) chemo to take.  My funny RL friend told me I will have to BEDAZZLE a pouch to carry that chemo around. 

I'd like to say "So Long Hotflashes" but don't know whether I will get the kind of chemo tht gives them to you or not.  It IS a different kind than for B/C.

(I never had chemo or a port before, so was not so good at answering questions pertaining to that stuff.  So now I will soon become a real know-it-all.)

Eph3_12

Hey Barbe1958 should be able to bedazzle you a pouch...that gal has razzle dazzle sewing ability!

Momine

Elimar, blech! How incredibly annoying. I have to tell you though that the robot surgery is brilliant. They did my hyster and 2 hours of adhesions clean-up with a robot.

Dianarose

Elimar- do you know what kind of chemo you will be getting? I am so sorry about you being stage IIIc. I know I was totally devistated when I heard those words. The PET scan was the easiest one. The longest wait is after the put in the IV crap you have to wait before they do the scan. The scan itself was 21 minutes. I took 2 xanax prior to and could have slept through it. The tech gave me a CD of the whole thing afterwards. Of course I couldn't mae heads or tails out of it. I have spots on my lungs too. The said they were benign. They could have been caused by the previous radiation or other lung infections prior to. Waiting for the results is the hardest part. I wish you the best.

Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving. Well it's 4:30 a.m. Time to go to work and make the bread.

NativeMainer

Elimar--The business of not eating or drinking after midnight before surgery is part laziness and part "that's the way we've always done it."  The stomach will be empty after about 6 hours of not eating or drinking, but rather than figure out what is 6 to 8 hours before surgery time and telling someone to stop eating and drinking then, they just say midnight for everyone.  The extended time means that people scheduled for afternoon procedures are more dehydrated, which makes it harder to start IV's and increases the risk of complications and  can slow healing and recovery, but it's more convenient for the anesthesia people to just say nothing after midnight.  That is why I always insist on the first or second time slot of the day.  I may have to get up earlier, but it limits the suffering, dehydration and cuts the number of sticks to get an IV started in half.  On the other hand, I wish they would put me out with gas and start the IV after, but no one will do that--"It's to dangerous for adults."  funny, it's the standard for children, but too dangerous for adults.  Doesn't make sense to me, except that it takes longer to put someone to sleep with gas than with IV medications. 

Dianarose--chemo induced neuropathy may or may not go away over time.  No way to tell except to wait and see what happens. 

Jewellmb--hyperplasia is a pre-cancerous condition, similar to colon polyps.  I had a lump removed that was atypical intraductal hyperplasia in my 20's, and got mammos every year after until I had them both removed.  You are now at high risk for developing bc, but tamoxifen can help prevent it, and some women with similar findings opt for mastectomy.  The onc appointment is for information for you to consider. 

Meece

Dianarose, if it gives you hope, my neuropathy has completely gone away.  I had it fairly bad in my hands and my tongue and lips.

{{{{eli~}}}

jewellmb

I understand these questions must seem so trivial and self centered compared to the issues with which all of you are dealing.  I was just searching and somehow found a link to this thread and it sounded like someone here might be able to address some of my concerns. 

Eph3 12 - Thank you for the response - are there questions I should ask the oncologist that I simply am unaware of at this point? The surgeon did mention possible tamoxifen and some drug I have never heard of  raloxifen??? I can't remember - was just trying to concentrate on the big picture when he was giving me the report. Thanks again for any suggestions -

elimar - Thank you for your response -  what kind of monitoring might I expect?  The surgeon mentioned doing an MRI.  I have never had luck with mammos - always sent to ultrasound (10 years plus)  even this past time the ultrasound was "clear" but the surgeon said he would recommend the surgery anyway.  Thank you for any monitoring info you might be able to provide.

Sherry C - Thank you for your response - so there is no test available to determine if the problem is estrogen driven?  I read up on ADH and what I read says only 20% turns into bc so 80% are fine???? So if I take tamoxifen and whatever the other drug is, it might help but it might all be for nothing??  I know stats are only numbers and if you fall into the 20% , the 80% isn't all that important - how do I best determine my odds for being in the 20% or the 80%?  Thanks for any direction you can provide.

NativeMainer - Thank you for your response -will the oncologist be able to tell me where I am on the "sliding scale" of normal to bc?  How will I best be able to make a decison about optimal choices for treatment - what questions do I need to ask and what information do I need to make such a decision?  Thank you for any information you might provide.

elimar86861

Native,  Thanks.  Now I don't have to carry around all that guilt for swallowing a mouthful of water two hours before some prodedure.  I always thought my kidneys would get a hold of it in time for it not to mattter.  Thanks also, your message to the other two ladies backs up what I wrote to them. I may not have a medical background, but I'm halfway decent in synthesizing the info. at least.

Short story:  A friend is getting a hysterectomy on Nov. 28th (she waited two weeks just to be able to get the robot) and I told her I'd try to get my surgery the same day so we could party in the pre-op.  Well, my big surgery is a couple mos. away, but the CS did have that same day available to put my port in.  I almost signed up for that BUT it would have been an afternoon time, whereas this Monday I got the 6 a.m. slot.  Yes, yes, yes, I took it.  So much better to get up and get right in there.  If you go that early, just like NM siad, no waiting and hunger/dehydration not yet an issue.

elimar86861

jewellmb, A friend of mine that has ADH just gets the regular mammos, and they compare to previous ones.  I have heard that sometimes if an area gets biopsied, they will leave a clip (marker) behind to better identify the exact area in the future.  Getting an MRI would probably be to a) get a better look; and b) create a baseline that could be used for future comparison.   Pre-menopausal women only have the two anti-estrogen drug options...Tamoxifen and Raloxifene.  You would be given one, not both.

Don't think of your questions as trivial.  We don't.  Self-centered?  Well, aren't we all.  I don't see Jesus or Gandhi posting here, so don't worry about it. 

jewellmb

elimar - Is there a test to determine if I am pre or post menopausal?  I had a hysterectomy a few years back but they left ovaries so how do I know?  The surgeon did ask me the same question and I responded with I had no idea...  What drug is offered if one is post menopausal?? 

I'm 50 avg size - I read if one had gained over 20 pounds since 18 one would need to lose between 4 and 11 pounds to reduce risk of bc - have you ever heard of this?  I hardly weighed over 100 lbs at 18 so yes I have gained over 20 pounds plus a little. 

Thanks again for all your help - Happy Thanksgiving and I'll remember you on Monday 

Outdamnedspot

Elimar, about being there at 6:00.am.  Everyone will be fresh and lovely after the weekend off!

LindaKR

Jewell - they can do a blood test to tell if you are post-menopausal, they check the hormone levels.  If you are post-menopausal you have the option of taking Aromatase Inhibitors (but you have to be post to take these) they stop your body from making estrogen.  There are three on the market right now - Arimidex, Femara or Aromasin (these are the brand names).

Meece - I see you had your cancer treatments a little further back than I did, how long did it take the neuropathy to go away. I'm 2 years post final chemo, and haven't seen much improvement yet.

elimar86861

Outdamnedspot, Or still suffering from turkey-bloat.  I know I will be.  Heehee.

jewellmb, Yes, they can check your blood for estradiol levels.  Linda has answered about some of the other drugs for post-menopausal.  They works differently than Tamoxifen, but with the same purpose of keeping the estrogen "food supply" cut off.  I do not think any of them are approved for preventative use though, so I'd say push that info. back in your mind until you actually get a B/C diagnosis.  Still would not hurt to get the test for estradiol, just to know where you are at.  Don't know about the weight gain thing.  Geez, I was not even my full height at age 18, still growing.  I am sure I gained over 20 pounds after that age.  I've maintained an average weight now for over 20 years, so hard for me to think that was a factor in my B/C, but who the heck knows? 

elimar86861

Hey, don't think I am having a cancer breakdown or anything, but I am going to keep to myself for a few days.  I put my 16 1/2 year old dog to sleep this today and am in mourning for her.  Not a joke.

R.I.P. Best Little Girl In The World  (That's her at her Sweet Sixteen Party.)

Eph3_12

Life just plain sucks sometimes E.  So sorry!

Outdamnedspot

So sorry for your loss.  Will be thinking about you.

LindaKR

So sorry Elimar - praying you will have a few peaceful, blessed and relaxing days this weekend.

Jewell - I've seen a couple of studies they've done on using the anti-estrogen drugs prophylactic-ally for women at high risk for breast cancer, not sure if it's a standard of treatment anywhere though.  One of the studies, I believe, was done in Canada with Exemestane/Aromasin. I also think that a study was done with Tamox also.  You can do a google search and find them - if you can't I'll see if I can find them later.

carlads

New to this board but I fit in with the age group I am 51.   Was diagnosed this month with IDC cell grade 2 I have surgery on Dec 4th and I am so nervous.  I decided to go with a bi-lateral mx with TE.  I fed all four of my babies so they did their job.  I agree this pops out of nowhere.  I go every year for my mammogram I am in good health.  Three weeks before my yearly mammo I found my lump..  I didn't wait for my mammo appt. I called my Dr and went right in.  After a core needle biopsy they said it is about 1.7 cm to 2 cm.  He said it looks contained but we won't know the stage until after surgery.  I did make an appt with an oncologist, surgeon said I could wait until after surgery, but with my personality I really like to have my ducks in a row.  Any advise would be so appreciated!

Carla

Valjean

I'm sorry, E ..........

dechi

Sorry Eli....

Valjean

Carla ~ This site is so slow today, it looks like I ignored your post; it took forever for my couple of words to show up.

This is a wonderful group of ladies, they are my rock. I hope you find that as well. I also saw my Onc before my surgery just to get aquainted & to receive additional information about what comes after the surgery, i.e. possible hormonal therapy. As you can see by my signature below, I had a lumpectomy followed by Rads & am now almost through 4 years of 5 on the AI Aromasin. It was helpful to have my DH (dear husband) with me to hear some things I may have missed. It can be quite overwhelming & takes awhile to get ones head wrapped around it. If you think you may forget something, have a list of questions with you.

We will be with you on Dec 4th, "in your pocket", as we say here. Please keep us posted. We care & are here for you.

TAB55

Carla: Welcome to the group!  I had a lumpectomy and radiation, so I don't have much advice for you.  I heartily agree with Valjean.  Having another set of ears with you at your appointments will be a huge help.  My DH came and took notes on his laptop.  I was able to keep a record of what all the various doctors told me.  I recommend arriving at each appointment with a list of questions.  It will help you feel better about the decisions you make about your treatment.  I'll be in your pocket on Dec 4th.

Eli: {{{{hugs}}}} to you.  I wish I could do more.

iatigger

Eli - Hugs to you. Very hard to say goodbye to a faithful companion.

Carla -  welcome.  I chose bilateral MX with TE and have not regretted it a bit. I am almost six weeks out from surgery and doing great.  I also met with the Oncologist ahead of time. Gave me a chance to feel comfortable with her before actually talking definate treatments post surgery.  I find the waiting is the worst part of all of this. Waiting for results, waiting for surgery, waiting for treatment discussions. Once you get going it calms down. Best wishes to you! 

barbe1958

Firstly, holy cow!!! Y'all talk a LOT!!!! Secondly, I have NEVER held a bedazzler in my hands...let the records show. I am 100% au naturel!!!!

LE with lumpectomy? Not unless they cut or screw up (twist?) your lymph flow system. Some lumpectomies may take out a node within the breast tissue but that would be a pretty deep lumpectomy!

Robotic surgery for eli??? But of COURSE!! I've been watching "Ancient Aliens" and as eli was probed by aliens, the only cure can be mechanical. It has been written....

I will have a Rainbow Bridge of beloved cats waiting for me when I pass. There are times I am looking VERY much forward to that. I am NOT being facetious. I, too, am being very serious. Our pets give us the unconditional love that humans just can't reach. I felt 2 of my cats who passed during my cancer discover actually "took a bullet" for me. One got the worse cancer (on jaw) and passed; the other one died of a heart attack. I now have a pacemaker. They seem to be following my illnesses. This last cat is ready to go any day (for the past 9 months!). When we come home from chores we actually go to the couch first to see if he's breathing. Seriously. Do NOT mess with me and my cats!! 

Now back to your regularly scheduled program....

marlegal

Not much time to write...cooking/baking, etc. but ....

Eli - you said "I hope it hasn't been too much" ... about your current "issues" ... are you kidding me? Please girl, we all can say as much as we want here, and you of all people, whether you want the title or not, are hte queen of being able to take over the room! I know you don't want the limelight and all that, but we want to share with you, we want you to share with us, and no way in hell could you ever tell us too much, okay? You've made this room such an open forum and that's wonderful. But for now, dump on us ... scream in here ... divert if need be when need be. If you've taught us anything, it's that opening ourselves up in here, where we can be safe and get support, is the key to everything. I love you.

blackcat2012

Thank you so much for answering my question as I was not sure and I am just curious!!  I have not been through this before.

Eli do tell us what is going on so that we may look for the symptoms in ourselves to hopefully catch any spread of the horrible disease early....

NativeMainer

Jewellmb--no question is trivial to the person who needs the info.  And this is a time to not be worrying about what anyone else thinks, not to mention that all of us have been in the searching for info spot and know what it's like.  The oncologist will be able to give you info about the risks of your specific situation.  The onc will also give you info about what choices are available to you for monitoring and/or prevention.  Take someone with you to this appointment, or tape record it.  Don't plan on making any choices at that appointment.  You have time to think things through and ask questions and do research.  What you might want to find out is (1) out of 100 women in your situation how many would be diagnosed with bc in 5 yrs and 10 yrs without any treatment.  This is your baseline risk level.  (2) how much would each option available to you change the number out of 100 who are diagnosed with bc in 5 yrs and 10 yrs.  (3) what are the side effects of each option, both temporary and permanent, and how many out of 100 women experience each of those side effects.  With this info you'll get a better idea of how much risk you may have and how much help a treatment may be, which makes it easier to choose an option.  Remember, too, that you can always start with monitoring and add in a preventive treatment a little later, you do have time to do that.  Keep coming back here and we'll help you process all the info. 

Elimar--Yeah for the 6 am slot!  You may be home by lunch time!  Good luck to you!

Jewellmb--yes there is a blood test that can be done to determine if you are pre or post menopausal.    If you are post-menopausal you can take one of the aromatase inhibitors (arimidex, femara, I forget the other 2 just at the moment), but I think tamoxifen is one that has been tested for prevention of bc in high risk situations.  The weight thing comes from the fact that after menopause the only source of estrogen in the body is the cholesterol that is converted to estrogen by the aromatase enzyme. This happens in fat cells, so women with more fat cells generate more estrogen this way. 

Oh, elimar, I am so sorry for your loss.  So hard to lose a pet.  Praying for you and your furbaby.

Happy Thanksgiving, Middles!