MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

elimar86861

ndgrrl, welcome!  You are giving me a flashback.  Not only are our Dxs similar (you lost a few more nodes,) but my lumpectomy was July 9 (four years ago) on the right side also.  I tried at having the Contura balloon, but failed due to not clearance to surface skin.  I also had an 18 score for OncoDx, and my MO told me chemo would give me a 2-3% benefit, so not really worth the risk.  I took Tamox. for three years (hot flash vity,) ending when I had to battle another new primary cancer.  Unlike you, I did not have the family history like you have.  That is terrible so many of your loved ones have been affected.  Yes, I have heard that it affects the second generation at a younger age...not sure why.  The bright side is that it got you and your sis in there for eary detection.  Good prognosis on that.  Good Luck with BRCA testing.  Do fill us in on the results once you get them.

Good to hear from you, JoC!

Dianarose, That Arimidex might just be to much for you, maybe you need a change.  See if Tamox. would be an option for you?  Yes, I think you need to celebrate yourself in some way.  If not toe nail polish then, by all means, get a new outfit or three.  You need a foxy new look...it will make the BF wonder what's up?  Don't forget a pretty new bra to go with your tatts. 

p.s. Meece, Grandparenting sounds a lot more fun than parenting.  Well, parenting teenagers, anyway.

macatacmv

Hi everyone, okay stop pushing the little one back into the barn, I can't get a word out. (referring to topper) 

welcome, gritgirl, I remember you from somewhere else!!! (can't remember where, oh well)

welcome ndgrrl and jc and who ever else, I am not moving from this page cause I lose my post. Just welcome to the fun side!

E, yahoo for a good scan and a date to be reconnected!

I've been off line for a bit. But was checking in on the PPs on my phone. Who was having surgery? Let people help you! I told people just to cook their own dinner and then dish up a plate for me and bring it over. That way it being only me, I didn't have lots of leftovers. And now that I am cooking for someone else I do it the opposite way, cook them a dinner (her and her hubby) then dish a plate for me and take the main part to them. I get real pleasure in being able to be the helper. And food is fun again. 

Diana, I just switched from Arimidex to tamoxifen. Yep, on my 2nd day. I had to switch my other meds cause they reacted or something with the tamo. I swear it was the arimidex that gave me the high bp and the depression, but they didn't go away when I went off it this last time. Actually no one will let me stop the anti d, they like me calm. 

So my MRI showed multi-level degenerative changes in my neck, but no fracture or lesions. YAY! Now I am being referred to a physiatist. Anyone heard of them? It is at a rehab center. They do a whole body approach. Duh it's my whole body that hurts. My hands are always a little swollen and so sore. 

Speaking of work, which I wasn't because I can barely hold a pen much less a pair of scissors or a knife, which had everything to do with my work. I talked to a guy in CT this week who wants to move here and work in my shop. I might be able to open it back up. It's exciting. I'll just have to be the boss. (won't be too hard for me.)

ndgrrl

Hi Thanks for the welcomes.

I guess I can not say that my aunts having bc got me in for early detection- I am 44 and this was my first ever mammo- Until my neice got diagnosed in June we didnt know about the aunts bc. It was only after my neice and my cousin got dianosed that finally got me in to go   I am 44, but the doc did say last year this wouldnt have been found- so I was lucky if its ever lucky to have cancer, My sister is 60 she hadnt had a mammo in like 20 yrs? But she is also lucky as she had two seperate small stage tumors and will have surgery later this month- They feel they are stage 1 and stage 0 so keeping my fingers crossed nothing changes with surgery.  So far out of the 5 of us only one has been over a stage one and she had been on major hormones to get pregnant.

Eli sorry to hear you got another cancer, scarey. I have yet to start my Tamo.. Scared to start it.. Waiting for some of the rad side effects to lessen then I will start.

macatacmv

ndgrrl, whatever got you to get a mammo, it is a good thing you did! 

My sister and mother had bc, so I had been getting mammos every year for 15 years. I tested negative for brac, tho. Neither of them had been tested. It seems like a roll of the dice to me. 

My RO said I could take my time starting the HT. Just try to keep an open mind, and an open communication with your MO if any SEs do start up. 

Glad you are here, but not glad you had to be here. (if that makes sense?)

marlegal

ndg, we met last night in the chat room...nice to see you here -one of my fav board discussion forums without doubt

diana, you really need to find a doc who will listen and work with you to find the right hormonal drug....many of us have done tamox or aromasin or arimidex or the others whose names i forget and lived to tell the tale. yes, they all have se's but for most of us (I think) we found one that didn't alter our lives too much

mac, good to see you hon ... keep on keepin on

Loral

Katlebbie

Good Morning beautiful ladies. I woke up today feeling so much better. I'm still not sleeping through the night but after I take more pain meds I do go back to sleep eventually. The surgery went well, the PS had to do more reconstruction then she had anticipated, she also went with fat grating. It looks like someone has been beating me from my naval on up but I can already see a big improvement in the shape and size. There is a lot of swelling and bruising. She exchanged the 500cc with 700cc which took away the extra skin. (I was even given my old implants back......absolutely no leaks, so it was all CC).

I have to tell you that my experience at Lakeside Hospital was the best! Everyone was so nice and friendly, joked around just enough, my daughter took me, (this is btw where she works as a lead on the oncology floor) and since they knew her they let her help. Dr. Stice even took her to recovery so she was with me all of the time (except for the surgery).

I'm starting to get tired again so nap time for me.

Thanks everyone for not only coming in my pocket but also for all of your knowledge and wonderful treats!

Kat

barsco1963

Good to hear from you Kat. Must have been a great comfort to have your daughter close by. Hooray for pain meds and getting your rest. Take care of yourself.

jcolford

Glad to hear that your experience was as positive as it could be Kat. Rest and take care of yourself!

J

marlegal

Kat, so good to hear from you. Rest up sweetie. I hope you're letting others do for YOU for a while

Katlebbie

Barsco1963 Thank you for the very nice comments, and yes it was very nice having my daughter with me! The care was the best!

Thanks J I will be resting as much as possible. I'm a little tired tonight because of family and friends coming over!

I am too tired to read through all of the posts tonight but I wish to thank everyone for everything they did to help.

Eph3_12

Dianarose-ChrissieB switched from one of the AI's, don't remember which one, to Femara & is doing much better on it.  I've  been on Femara since Nov '09 & truly haven't had many issues & am looking forward to my countdown next year!

macatacmv

who remembers this? 

macatacmv

this is me on a good day. 

Dianarose

Eph- did you have any depression, bone and joint pain, and just plain feeling like crap at all when you started Fermara? Did it take time to get used to it?

macatacmv

but most days look like this.

Eph3_12

bone & joint pain - yes.  Depression not so much.  Lots of fatigue, like fall asleep at my desk at work fatigue.  Switched to taking the pill @ nighttime & that took care of that issue.  I get occasional severe aches & pains that last a week or so, but truly don't know if it's the drug or age at this point!

Momine

Diana, I had a bout of depression after starting femara. It lasted about 3 weeks, and then it lifted and never came back. I knew it was from femara because it was unlike any other depressed feeling I had ever had, it was odd. I simply forced myself to carry on normal activities, and eventually it went away. If it had not at that point, I would have asked for some medical help.

I did have joint pain the first year or so (on and off), especially in my feet. When I started walking, my feet would ache, but after about 15 minutes, it would ease up. The more you move, the less it hurts. Making sure to eat greens, fatty fish, onions, cabbages etc also helps (all anti-inflammatory). 

heartnsoul76

OH MY GOD I'm burning up and it's not even hot here!! Geez, after 2 years and 9 months did I do something to make the Tamoxifen side effects INTENSIFY??

Having to cram several years of Real Estate continuing ed into 1 week - well, I'm a procrastinator, what can I say... 

Just wanted to drop in and say hello to the newbies and congrats on the successful surgery Kat!

I think our new page needs some more honky tonk bedonky donk!

 

I suppose I should get back to studying rather than looking at pictures of cowboys. But...but...

Loral

You know heartnsoul...it is very hot today, we're all feeling it...

ndgrrl

Heartnsoul and Loral all I can say is WOW WOW ~~

barsco1963

HNS - I have been studying too! Studying the great bedonky donks that you girls are posting. Something to keep us warm on these cooler days. Niiiiice.

macatacmv

those are some big.................. belt buckles.

Katlebbie

Wow! All I can say is THANKS for the eye candy! Just what the doctor ordered!  Thanks Heartnsoul and Loral for giving me a huge smile and everyone for all the well wishes.

(((HUGS TO EVERYONE)))

cateyz2

Good morning ladies, just found this thread. My dx history in my tag line says it all. Im now expanded  to 600cc as of last Thursday in each TE and Im waiting a date for my exchange, my PS likes to wait 8 weeks after last fill.

with regards to the pictures posted all I can say is

YEEHAW, Id be more than happy to

Save a Horse and ride that cowboy!!!! hehehehehe

Eph3_12

I'll drink to that last line cateyz2

Momine

"Save a Horse and ride that cowboy"

I am thinking this could be a good motto for us middle-aged ladies

jocanuck1951

Lolololol!! Yes....save a horse lol. Xoxox Jo

elimar86861

What do you want first?  My serious good news or the stupid headline i saw this morning?

Passed my final test (the pouchogram--OUCH!) and am cleared for definite surgery on Oct., 17th.  You all are invited.  My surgeon scolded me a little this morning for not doing the full monty of my chemo.  I mentioned that to the nurse later at the OV, and she must have told him because he then appologized.  I instantly forgave him because this guy probably saved my life.  I told him that I'd give him a hug for that, but I am waiting to make sure I wake up from this upcoming surgery and then I'll give him two hugs. 

O.K., now what kind of headline is this:  Marriage May Be Better Than Chemotherapy

It MAY be?  What?  Does it depend on the husband?  I kind of hate when they take these pseudo-scientific findings and try to be cute when they write it up.  On the other hand, how 'bout this quote..."For prostate, breast, colorectal, esophageal and head/neck cancers, the survival benefit associated with marriage was larger than the published survival benefit of chemotherapy,” Damn!  Why didn't I just get into some Mormon polygamy and skip my chemo altogether????  If only I had known!!!!!

Loral

Elimar