MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

barsco1963

luv - sent you a PM with the recipe. Hope you enjoy!

marlegal

In order of importance...Barsco, I'd loce you to PM me that hummus recipe too!



Diana, I'm not a fan of scans with contrast for lots of reasons, but the bone one was by far the easiest of those I had. Hope that's the case for you too hon.



Chacha, have you had 7 Zin wine yet? Really tasty, so I'll take care of that. Mind if I go to sleep on your table though? I don't snore (much).

elimar86861

Barsco, I want the Avocado Hummus recipe too.  I have been eating both lately, so why not together.  Please post the recipe in the thread.  I won't try making it til food sounds good again.  It was a Cream of Wheat night for me.  Days #3 & #4 of the chemo cycle are when food really does't appeal to me.  By days $12 & $13, I can enjoy BBQ sauce and things with a tiny bit of a kick to them.  Thanks!

Jeannie57

Dianarose,

Wow, I love the glimmers of hope you've been given! I'm rooting for NED, of course! We all want him! I'm glad your MO was forceful with the lab and explained things to you. I will have lots of questions myself about lobular traveling to ovaries at my three month checkup on Monday. Love you, girl.

elimar86861

Geez, Jeannie57!  I just noticed you had 39 nodes out.  That has got to be some kind of record!

Anonymous

Yum! I want the spicy avocado hummus recipe too!!!



Marlegal, yes...I love the 7 Zins wine! .....and I'll probably be the loudest snorer....that is unless one of those spicy guys Barsco promises shows up! I think I could stay awake for him!

cricketsandfrogs

Would love to join this group/thread/forum. I am 52 years old and diagnosed with bc a little over a month ago. Caught on a routine mammogram. Challenges are that I have a 16-year old daughter watching some nasty things happen with her mom.....full time job that I have been questioning for years. Not really dreading the thought that I might have to take time off and others might have to assume some of my responsibilities - it has been so crazy for so long.

I have a weird/warped sense of humor and certainly don't feel like I am in my fifties (How in the world did that happen?)

Lumpectomy last month and surgery again today to install a drain and to cleanse/re-seal my incision.

Would love to receive and offer support and humor......it is all good

NativeMainer

Dianarose--It must be terrifiying to be dealing with inaccurate path reports.  So  much depends on that report, it HAS to be accurate.  Glad you are getting a second read on that.  Soft tissue is good.  Normal tissue is soft.  Cancer and other diseases can make tissues hard and is abnormal.  There has been some info floating around that recurrences or mets of bc should be ER/PR and Her2 tested because these markers change more often than previously believed, thought to be a reaction to exposure to chemo or rads or A I s or a combo.  You do need some healing time before the CT scan, healing tissue will light up much like abnormal tissue.   I had a bone scan a few years back.. Went in the am, they started an IV, put in some radioactive type stuff, pulled the IV out and sent me out to the waiting room for 4 hours, then did a bunch of x-ray like tests.  Except for the IV it was a lot like getting a bone density test.  In a couple of weeks call the doc's office and remind them you are waiting for his call about the second look path report.  Glad you got answers, that always helps!

Welcome, cricketsandfrogs!

barsco1963

Ok ladies - I will post the recipe here since there are a few who would like it. I just didn't want to start a trend of clogging the thread with recipes. Anyone who is on facebook will know how this can happen. I actually got this recipe from fb. Sounds delish and you can make it as spicy or bland as you want. Enjoy!

1 can white beans (chickpeas)

1 avocado cubed

juice from 1/2 lime

1 Tblsp + 1 tsp olive oil

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Blend all ingredients until smooth.

Easy huh?

Welcome cricketsandfrogs - are you an avid naturalist by any chance? So glad that you found us here. Your weird/warped sense of humour will fit in nicely. You will definitely have one or two or 20 of us with you virtually at any given time to hold your hand, jump in your pocket to accompany you to a test, scan appt etc, listen when you need to vent and help to answer any questions that you may have. If you post your dx in your signature it often helps when you do have any questions.

Be honest with your daughter. She will appreciate it being old enough to understand. My son was 17 when I was dx. I told him enough to keep him in the loop but none of the real fears that are rolling around in my head on any given day. I think he has an idea but ......... if I need to express those fears, I do so here at bco without fear of judgement or planting those fears in my sons head.

elimar86861

Thanks Barsco.  I have all the ingredients already and a son that recently developed an addiciton, so will whip some up this very day.  I appreciate your hesitance to just start throwing recipes out there for the reason you mention, and there are a couple good recipe threads on BCO for us already, but we do like our deliciousness around here and I don't mind if we have an occasional recipe put up for something particularly easy and yummy.

cricketsandfrogs, welcome!  Sorry to hear your wound healing did not go better.  Those drains are pretty nasty, but neccessary.  I had a two teens (boys) when I got my Dx and they didn't seem to ask many questions, but I did tell them the basics as I went thru each phase of my treatment plan.  I'd say try and keep your daughter in the loop of what is happening, but don't overwhelm her.  You want her to be doing all those carefree high school things and not worrying too much about you, yet you are a role model for something she may encounter in her own life at some point, so you do have to "keep it real."  (Heaven forbid, but it hits one in eight women even without genetics being a factor.)  I'm guessing once you heal up, rads will be the next step for you.  We should be able to help with any questions on that, and it is also good to find a rads thread on BCO for the months you actually do them because you can compare notes with others going thru' it right at the same time.  Glad you found us.  We are a group who doesn't let cancer take all the humor out of life.

elimar86861

Hey Middie-Lady-Sister-Girls...

Since you've had B/C, I know you all have experienced cash departure to pay those bills.  Wouldn't it be great to find some unexpected moola?  Are you up for a real life treasure hunt?

                                                                              DIG HERE

Probably will turn out to be a dead end for most, but you never know until you dig a little.  (Don't forget my commission!)

Dianarose

Jeannie- hi, love it when you post. We get to see your beautiful smiling face. Yes, we all want Ned, Let's clone him.

Nativemainer-MO wants me to wait a few more weeks before we do any scans. I also want the new path report back before I do anything. I want it noted that these cells were either dead or alive. This dam path report not only is vague but has contradictions in it. After meeting with the MO and talking to him about his phone conversation with the pathologist I am not trusting anything in it. Just because someone is in a professional field does not make them professional. My daughter says that 90% of the people she treats in the OR for cocaine use are lawyers, other doctors, etc.... very scary. Does soft tissue mean the cancer hasn't been there long, not very active, not a lot of cancer???? very confusing. Where the hell is the sunshine. Tired of the rain in Maine.

Eli- how much longer is your chemo? I hope it goes by quickly for you.

A friend was diagnosed with cancer 3 weeks ago and passed away this morning. He had just turned 50. By the time he went to the doctors it was too far gone and he wasn't strong enough anyways.

I am going to go paint the inside of Queen of Tarts tomorrow and just keep living and moving forward. A lot of work to do still to open so I better get busy.

marlegal

Crickets, welcome! You found one of the best threads on bco in my opinion. We combine humor, empathy, common sense and honesty and that makes a rather cool blend! So sorry you need the extra surgery, hope you heal totally and quickly.



Barsco, thanks for the recipe...I'm thinking Sunday sounds good to try it out!



Eli, I'm gonna click that link in a couple minutes...will report later on that!

cricketsandfrogs

Thank you all for the warm welcome - doing better this evening. I was pretty discouraged last night.....and yet, I know I am very lucky this was caught so early. Doesn't mean that I don't feel like whining. I am not a "naturalist" per say......this is just what I was hearing as I was trying to create a user name. As I am typing now, I can hear the crickets and frogs and that sound comforts me.

Had fresh pineapple for dinner tonight. Is there anyone besides me who cuts off the top of the pineapple and immediately thinks about putting it on my head so that I can be the "Chiquita Banana Girl"?

Eph3_12

a cousin of mine, years ago, had a stillborn birth.  She lived in the wilds of the San Juan Islands in WA & the state required a name to be on the birth cert.  My cousin hadn't wanted to name the child but since it was insisted upon, she named the babe "Frogs in January" as that was what she heard while going through the home birth.  I always that was a cool way to handle it; satisfied the state & in her mind, it wasn't a name, per se.

macatacmv

eph, what a story. it was a cool way to handle the sad situation.

crickets, welcome! who doesn't think about putting those pineapple tops on their heads? 

So the crickets I've been hearing are from hearing loss. I really thought there were crickets around for the longest time, until it was the dead of winter and I asked my son if he could hear the crickets and he gave me his "are you crazy" look. I had my hearing test last week and picked up my hearing instruments (read aids) today. Man, do I feel old. But they can barely be seen and I am amazed at the sounds I have been hearing, the rain drops falling, the dog's toe nails clicking on the floor as she walks down the hall, my breathing, etc.... Of course, when the smoke alarm went off while I was "cooking" dinner, it was excruciating!!!!!!

So diana, the rain in Maine is falling mainly on the plain? 

barsco1963

cricketsandfrogs - We have a field across the road that contains a marshy area full of frogs. I love the sound of them every evening as they lull me to sleep. Now the crickets in my ears can take a hike.

I have never thought about putting the pineapple top on my head - will surely be thinking about it now! Never really thought about putting a turkey on my head either until I saw the Friends episode where Monica did just that - still makes me laugh.

Dianarose - so sorry to hear of your friends passing. Good luck with the painting today - will try to send some sun shine your way. Hope you are remembering to rest up so that you can heal from surgery.

Momine

Diana, sorry about your friend. 

Sherryc

Diana so glad you are getting another lab to redo the path report.  And also that your MO was forceful with them and answered all your questions.  We welcome NED, you have a bakery to open!!!

Cricket glad to have you here.  I am also on a thread for Stage 1, grade1 you might want to join.

Went to my PS yesterday and even though my left rads breast has dropped more we are going to wait and see how things go.  He said my rads skin is so very thin he hates to do more surgery unless absolutely necessary.  He said since I look good in in my clothes and look good in a bathing suit he would rather wait and see if I can live with that.  I told him I could because I really feel that if this is all I can live with it.  If it moves more we will have to consider surgery.  Hopefully since I am 6 months from last surgery my pocket is healed and this will be it but time will tell.

Also my DIL got her mothers recores for MD Anderson and they did in fact do the BRCA testing and her mom was negative.  I am so happy for my DIL.  Don't know if you all remember but her mother died of bc a few months ago and her mothers sister died about 10 years ago from bc.  The local MO had not done BRCA testing on her.  So thankful MD Anderson did.

Sherryc

Did anyone read the news about Myriad lab loosing the battle at the supreme court about being able to hold the patent on the BRCA genes.  Here is a link on the news article.  What a great thing this is that the supreme court ruled.  It will be goo for all health care. 

http://news.yahoo.com/court-says-human-genes-cannot-patented-143605456.html

Momine

Sherry, yes, I saw the Myriad decision and I am very happy. It was the right thing. It has been all over Twitter all day (along with Prism and our new war in Syria).

elimar86861

Hopefully the decision on Myriad will now allow others to offer similar BRCA tests at competitive pricing. 

Thanks for the link Sherryc, because I had not seen the news earlier.

marlegal

I love the common sense style of the decision, that basically no one person can patent a gene. Duh! I know it's way more complicated but when I heard one newsperson put it that way, I could relate



Waiting at our trailer for arrival of dd, sil and g'son to get here. First grandchild visit here, should be interesting! Looks funny to have a pack n play in the middle of the living room! Our kids were 7 and 8 when we bought in here (1985) so first time for a baby in the trailer. Glad we have a big addition too! Little people sure come with a lot of baggage!

NativeMainer

Dianarose--I don't blame you for wanting to see the second path report before doing anything else.  That info is just so critical.   Soft tissue really only means that whatever abnormality is present hasn't affected the tissue or organ very much.  A very slow growing cancer can be present for a long time before it makes the tissue change, a very virulent infection can change the tissue in a matter of hours.  I don’t think you can make any inferences about the cancer from the tissue being soft, only that the tissue wasn't much affected, which is good.  Having something to work on separate from cancer is a great thing to have in your life, so paint away! 

So sorry for you friend's death, Diana. 

Cricketsandfrogs--one thing that is unique about BCO is that we understand that each of us is going through a very personal journey.  No matter how "lucky" we may be with early diagnosis or whatever, it is STILL a horrid journey, it involves a lot of grieving and heartbreak, and a lot of pain.  The pain someone else has may well be greater than mine, but the pain I am experiencing is the center of my world at that time.  Whining and venting and crying and ranting and whatever else you need to do is necessary to your healing, and we all know that here, and support it. 

jlbloom

NativeMainer, I read your profile.  It is so the reason I am trying my best to avoid radiation.

I had a BMX to avoid rads.  Then they found two positive nodes out of 17.  RO says it is a gray area.  I think that is reason enough to NOT have rads.  Not so sure anyone agrees with me.  Trying to figure out if it is just so I can have reconstruction right away instead of a year from now.

I realized I was overthinking my posts.  I hope I don't say anything really stupid as I'm posting and will think about it later!

Have a blessed day!  ...Julie

NativeMainer

Julie--If your gut is telling you not to do rads, don't do it.  Rads only attacks any stray cancer cells in the area it's aimed at.  Being ER+/PR+  they will likely recommend one of the aromatase inhibitors, or tamoxifen if you are pre-menopausal, and that goes throughout the entire body, including the area that would get radiation.  If the RO says it’s a gray area, I would agree that is reason enough to pass. 

elimar86861

But don't forget, NativeMainer, that in the scar tissue in the lumpectomy area, the circulation is no longer what it once was and the systemic treatments may or may not get to those areas very well anymore.  The blood vessels have been disrupted, the lymph channels get messed up.  So, rads is a method to kill B/C that perhaps a systemic treatment cannot get to.  I hate rads as much as the next person, but that was the benefit as explained to me.

Momine

Eli, I didn't know that. Thanks for explaining. 

I did not enjoy the rads. It was tiring, both the daily trudge to the hospital and the effect of the radiation (which is cumulative). I got a small, but nasty, burn right in the armpit and some large blisters on the chest. That was really unpleasant for about a week, but gel plasters took care of it.

I wore a lymphedema sleeve all through treatment and saw my LE therapist regularly. I also tried to eat anti-inflammatory foods as much as I could, and made an effort to take a walk every day.

A year later, my arm is fine and the LE issues are 97% resolved. I still wear a sleeve when I work out, and I get the occasional twinge, but that is about it. There is a permanent dark patch on my back, and I have very little hair in that armpit. Other than that, no ill effects so far.

NativeMainer

Elimar--it is true that scar tissue alters the circulation routes of blood and lymph fluid.  If there is not enough blood flow the tissue in that area dies, including any cancer cells that may be there.  If there is enough blood flow to keep the tissue alive there is enough blood flow for drugs like tamoxifen, the AI's, antibiotics, etc to get to the tissue.  Lymph fluid comes from the blood stream, so any drugs that get into the blood also get into the lymph fluid.  The lymph flow can be blocked by scar tissue, causing LE, but that also concentrates drugs in the lymphatic fluid.  The very sad truth is that there is almost no research done on the effectiveness if radiation in the  setting of modern day chemotherapy.  The radiation I got after my lumpectomy gave me no advantage as far as dying of bc, or living longer without recurrence, but increased my risk of dying of lung or heart disease.  I had clear margins so I got no reduction in the chances of local recurrence.  Unfortunately, I didn't learn any of this until AFTER I lost the breast to radiation damage.  The radiation distroyed the blood vessels and the breast tissue started dying, literaly rotting from the inside out.  The only response I got when I asked why I wasn't told this was even possible was "If we told women what could happen, or what they would be dealing with 5 or 20 years later no one would get it. The hospital has invested a lot of money in the equipment, we need to be using it."

jlbloom

Eli, Mom, and Native, I really appreciate the responses.  A very close friend of mine had serious problems from rads.  I can't get that out of my mind.  The RO told me that was completely different as she didn't have BC.  Yes, I realize that but rads is still very serious and has major SEs.

I feel very comfortable with my decision to forego rads.  My BS removed everything in the left breast, right breast was prophylactic.  I don't want the skin and chest wall to be damaged.  Nor do I want any more lymph node radiated.  I need all of them I have left, undamaged.

Your comments mean so much to me as you speak from experience. 

May all of you have a blessed day! ...Julie