MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

funthing42

My first 2009 CA was Rt breast Er and Pr positive 1 cm. Neg nodes. Her2-.   IDC  Arimadex and Lupron. Radiation. 

Second same breast 2013 Dec. IDC 1 cm Er+ and Pr - and Her 2 +. I'm thinking it's new but it is along the scar tissue.

I guess it may be a new one .

ndgrrl

I had internal rads.. Bracytherapy-- I had the balloon inserted on a Friday and then the next Monday to Friday I went to the radiation center twice a day ( once a day I had CT scan to make sure the  placement of the balloon was still correct) where they dropped radioactive pellets into balloon which was done in a few minutes.

I did get quite ill after the final treatment and was admitted to the local hospital for a couple days but other than that and a little tiredness and a saroma I had drained I have been doing well. I did not have skin problems of the external radiation- but then my cancer and therefor the balloon was located deep inside my tissue and I was large enough chested to protect my internal organs- My sister on the other hand did get burned and had a few additional problems.( she was diagnosed with breast cancer two months after me)

But there is another option to external radiation and I am wondering if more centers will start using it.

Eph3_12

Dianarose: YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYA!

barbe1958

Dianarose, I know what you mean about feeling like a princess. When I was looking for a mother-of-the-bride-then-groom dress, the one I chose was an instant impact to me when I put it on!! I KNEW that was the dress for me and even told the lady it made me feel beautiful. 

To refer back to motion in your arm after rads, I know my motion is slightly restricted by the sentinel node surgery (still!) as I didn't have rads. I even put a coat/sweater on differently and have a tugging sensation if I reach too far with that arm.

Katlebbie

Good evening everyone or should I say good morning? I missed all of you but it's been so crazy busy these last months. I will try to read through everything and catch up.

El, as always great heading, I don't want to be greedy but I could use several!

I hope everyone is well and happy! Many  (((HUG))) to all, Missed you!

marlegal

good to see you Kat. Take as many of the toppers as you like - Eli restocks them daily

NativeMainer

I had rads in 2007, then had a mastectomy due to the rad damage to the breast.  I have full range of motion in my left arm and shoulder as long as I do stretching exercises just about every day.  If I miss a few days I get pain and stiffness in the shoulder and tingling in the hand and finger.  

Also, I had recon AFTER rads.  It took 4 consults with PS in 3 states but I finally found out that it is possible to have good recon after rads.  Now I just have to live with knowing the lung and heard damage will show up someday.  In the meantime I swim, kayak, and pretty much do anything I want and enjoy it as much as I can! 

macatacmv

wow, mainer, nothing is impossible for you! 

I found the most caring thing I did for myself was ask my RO for a script for PT while I was going through rads. I got to see a woman PT that specialised in BC. She helped me through the skin issues and helped me keep the muscles moving. I had shoulder trouble and a horrible time with a cough that got worse and worse. Once I asked for it, there was no problem, but no one at the center mentioned it to me I heard about it through a bc support group. 

brasco, I have a wonderful picture of myself and my older sister and my mother at the beach when I was probably 2-3. It is a picture that my sister had hanging in her house. So it is extra special for me to remember her by, too. It is complete with funny bathing suits and bathing caps.

Diana, will you share pictures of you in your princess dress? 

I am so stressed about reopening my business. I read a good quote this morning. "The need for perfection and the desire for inner tranquility conflict with each other. Whenever we are attached to having something a certain way, better than it already is, we are, almost by definition, engaged in a losing battle."

I need to let so much go!!!!!

I didn't realize that I did really need this calendar about not sweating the small stuff (and it is all small stuff!). 

I have to remember, it is progression not perfection. 

barbe1958

mac, forget perfection (I KNOW, I KNOW it's hard!!!) just try to ENJOY the "day" at work..... Your "job" is just to have fun!! Let the new guy laugh and have a good time with the people who come in. That is your new executive position!!

macatacmv

thanks, barbe, I get to practice my "job" again tomorrow. I so need to lighten up. Why do I take some stuff so seriously? 

NativeMainer

Macatacmv--congrats
on reopening!That quote is great for me
as well as for your situation, and it IS all small stuff!

Anonymous

Elimar, like the new header photo! Doesn't that say it all!

elimar86861

Just another metaphorical representation of the life of your average woman, 2TA.

bluewillowskys

HI...im new to this board. All my dx info is in my signature. I turned 45 in November 2013...ugh.... but  the plus side is i get to be part of this thread with all you sweet ladies so I will take it:) Im currently debating a PBMX as I had a horrible time on tamox  and I fear future chemo or BC.

macatacmv

the quote under my honest tea cap today "My life made my therapist laugh" (6 word memoirs) I had to take it today to show my therapist. We both laughed.

elimar86861

Welcome, bluewillowskys!  As you know, that is a personal decision and each woman has to weight the pros and cons and determine what decision they will be most comfortable with.  This thread doesn't have that many with DCIS right now, but quite a few that did BMX for invasive cancer.  Happy to help if we can, or just "hear" you as you go through the decision making process.  How long had you been on Tamox.?

p.s.  Age 45 is not "ugh" to everyone here...it's a fond memory. 

marlegal

maca, love that quote!

Bluewillow, welcome. I agree with Eli...45 is youthful! Glad you found this thread. Best one on the Boards as far as I'm concerned. We're fun, haha! I'm curious to hear more about your thoughts on  PBMX. Are there other reasons you feel at risk of recurrence?

KLJ

I think I may have finally found the thread that I belong on! I am 56 years old and have been diagnosed with invasive and in-situ breast cancer. I meet with the surgeon for the first time tomorrow. Long story, but was diagnosed in FL on  12-12 and moved to CA on 12-18 so I had to do some research to find my surgeon and hope that she will give me the referrals for the other doctors I may need. Since tomorrow is my first appt. I'm looking for ideas for questions that I should be asking that may not be coming to my worried mind right now.

My daughter was diagnosed at 31 with Triple Neg. breast cancer so I have been down this road before but it really is different when you are asking about yourself and not listening so that you can help your daughter. She is doing really good. Had 2 rounds of chemo, a BMX with immediate reconstruction, nipple and skin sparing. Everything worked out and she is leading a completely normal life! I would be asking her for ideas but her life is so busy and she is much younger. I'm looking for ideas from women more my age, so here I am!

bluewillowskys

i was on tamox for a year....by month 6 i was in a lot of joing pain and also fatigue and itching skin. I cant imagine being in that condition for five years. I was turned into more of a couch potato that i already was...

Im freaked about my DCIS or something worse happening again as i stopped tha tamox and my lumpectomy side tissue is very solid from rads and i worry that i wouldnt feel a lump developing. Also there is lots of thyroid cancer and others too in my family, though i was first with BC. My mother is having a recurrence of thyroid right now.

wyo

Hi KLJ

glad you found us- I would make sure your surgeon has every little bit of information from Florida so no snafus there. Are the results you are posting coming from a core bx that was done previously? 

Your surgeon should be providing you  the options based on your bx results- I would ask how long to get on the surgery schedule since you were diagnosed a month ago? Also it looks like a needle localization and sentinel node bx might also be part of the plan.  Ask if she is part of a breast care team- you will get the best coordinated care if you don't have to "shop" your follow-up treatment around for a medical oncologist and potentially radiation oncologist. 

KLJ

I am so glad I found this forum too Wyo! Fortunately my doctors in FL have been very good about getting everything to the surgeon here. Even my slides were overnighted to them so I think she should have everything she needs for my appt. tomorrow. I hand carried all of my paperwork to them and they made copies but I am taking mine just in case. I am hoping that she is part of a "team" that I can follow through with. My daughter went to the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center in CO and was given the best tam of doctors I have ever seen which included a "navigator" who was with her every step of the way. It was the most coordinated effort I have ever seen and I hope I find the same thing here. If not, I may just head to CO and see her doctors. They are already aware of what is going on and are wanting to follow me. My daughter was Triple Neg. and very young. Hers was a very aggressive cancer that required immediate trmt. She could not have waited like I have. She is also part of several study groups since her case is so rare. She was also tested for the BRCA Gene and was negative.

My results did come from an MRI guided core biopsy. Long story but to shorten it...I had my annual mammo and they reported something suspicious in my rt. breast and recommended follow-up in 6 mos. I was uncomfortable with that so I demanded an MRI. That showed 2 spots on the rt. and something on the left very far back near the chest wall. They did the core biopsy and found the cancer. Had 2 aspirations on the rt side which came back benign. So, if I would have never found the cancer on the left side!

wyo

KLJ

Welcome to CA- I don't know exactly where in the state you are and where you are going for surgical consult.  PM me if you want to discuss further. 

 I am familiar with the Rocky Mtn cancer center.  Great work and some really top-notch breast surgeons in Denver. They could certainly do the surgery and then when looking at your permanent pathology and if you are having radiation you can go from there on location etc.  Many comprehensive cancer programs do have a navigator and its helpful with all the decisions and coordination. 

You sound like you like to have things organized. One thing a lot of us did early on is have a binder- mine came from my ....you guessed it Navigator! Its divided into sections for test results, surgeon, radiation oncology etc so I can keep everything together. 

elimar86861

Welcome, KLH.  It sounds like you have a good handle on what is to come, and everything you learned from your daughter's ordeal will come in handy.  You are correct that you will have different options because of your age and tumor pathology, and more time to deliberate about them.  I don't know if you have decided on a surgery yet, but if you have considered lumpectomy, radiation comes along with that.  Having a tumor deep on the left side, I think I would want to talk with a radiation oncologist to see what the approach would be (especially if the tumor is relatively close to the heart.)  I would want to know that before choosing my surgery even.  Do take a list of questions with you to all the consults, and don't feel rushed as you go through them.  Do you have family support with you there in CA?

elimar86861

SchoolCounselor, where are you and how did your PET scan go?

KLJ

Hi Elimar!

I do have to take the location of the tumor into consideration because in 2003 I had surgery on my heart for tachycardia. It was an "electrical" problem so they went in and did an ablation. It worked but my heart sometimes still goes into rhythms that it shouldn't. My EKG's are never "normal" but they are normal for me. So I am not sure anyone would want to do radiation on me.

I do have my husband here although he travels a lot for his job. They will be understanding of him taking time off for me but he will still need to be gone sometimes. My youngest daughter is here as well. 4 months pregnant with our 6 grandchild.

If it doesn't seem to work with these doctors I always have the option of going to CO where my oldest daughter is and going to her team of doctors. She was treated at the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center and I loved her entire team. So, I have options but would prefer to be in my own home and be treated close to home.

Thank you for the support. I wish 1:00 would get here so I can get started with a plan. I have a feeling it will start with more tests because of my heart but I will find out won't I?

Have a great day!

Eph3_12

I used to spin plates like that, now it's more like this; see the broken plates at the bottom? And of course, the different gender, but that red worried face is me - to a T!

heartnsoul76

Just a drive-by Hi!  Hope everyone is doing well and staying warm.  

Welcome to the new ladies but sorry you had to join us.    Let it all out with your questions and feelings - we understand what you're going through and probably someone here has "been there and done that".

This is what I have on my mind tonight:

marlegal

HnS, love that scene. That room looks like what I always thought I'd have, yet somehow never quite managed!

Nice low key weekend coming up. Need that now and then and I'm looking forward to it. Will have to work a little bit...haven't had a weekend in a very long time where I didn't, but at least I can do it from home, a major plus.

Happy almost Friday!

barsco1963

Welcome to the new gals - KLJ and bluewillowskys. Glad that you have found this place full of wonderful women who are all here for you. We are quite a diverse group and everyone seems to fit in just great. Hope you stick around so that we can get to know you as well as be here when you need to vent, celebrate, and ask any questions that may pop up.

Marlegal - it's Friday now! Hooray for the impending weekend.

I am now in the "forever wondering what day it is" group. My insurance co. has changed my status from unable to perform duties of "my own" job to that of the duties of "any job". Therefore I am now on LTD (long term disability). Is kind of a strange feeling knowing that I will not be going back to work, but I have decided that looking out for #1 is most important right now - I am sure I will get used to not working (lol). I will be doing some volunteer work with a local skating club working with the can-skate program. The little ones are sure to provide me with a great deal of happiness.

Hoping everyone a terrific weekend! Stay warm, stay safe, stay well.

barbe1958

barsco, how the HECK did you get permanent LTD??? I was using a cane when the physio place tested me and cried the entire time I was performing the testing!!! "They" said I could do some kind of work. Any work. It could even be minimum wage and I'd have to take it!! I was just let go from my Presidents' Choice Financial position because I couldn't walk the store to "intercept" customers and drag them into the pavilion to open chequing accounts. I did VERY well in the mortgages, GICs, RRSPs, loans and stuff like that, but just couldn't walk the store!! Now I have to find another job and at 55, almost 56 it's getting really, really tough! I HATE it when my pain isn't validated. I was on Fentanyl patches when I did my testing and then spent 4 days bed-ridden to recuperate...sigh.