MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

barbe1958

Dianarose, MORE MORE!!!! Love the black and white...it's so romantic and makes one really look at the picture!!

As for stats, they have changed over the years I've been on this forum. I've been educated by others and my own reading. When my onc realized I was reaching 5 years SHE was the one that made it every six months for a visit instead of once a year! Remember, it's the GRADE, or how fast the cancer is multiplying that makes the difference. Stage is just how FAR it has traveled in your body. With low grade and stage, many of us are being under-treated. Just as many further along are being over-treated. Chemo only works on FAST growing cells, so even if someone is stage III, if they have grade one growth, then chemo is wasted on them. That's the whole concept behind oncotype testing!!! (Maybe that's when I learned all this stuff.) The point being, low stages were under-treated though they may have had FAST growing cells (higher grade) and are recurring faster than the medical world expected. When the penny dropped between fast growing cells needing chemo, we should start to see the "almost" cure of lower stages. The cancer can be stopped in it's track if it's fast growing. For those people like me, with a slow growing cancer, chemo won't work. We actually have to "catch it" yet again, to be able to treat it again. At that point, my first line of defense would be Tamoxifen. Many of you are already taking it. I'm not. So my first "chemo" would be a simple one. It might be enough to slow down further growth. Gotta run to work now. Let me know if that all makes sense....

staynsane

Mac-

I'd take unremarkable "crunchy and lumpy" any day over "highly suspicious requiring further attention."  I have never heard of tissue being referred to as "crunchy" before, but then I never expected to hear that I had breast cancer either.  So glad you are feeling better!

MimiL55

Ladies, I did it! I read the entire thread from the beginning, that was my way of relaxing in the evenings. I feel like I've got to "know" so many of you and have met an amazing group of women. Thank you Elimar for starting this thread, I have learned so much, rejoiced and cried right along with you all

Had my mammo and ultrasound on Friday, they didn't tell me anything there hoping to hear tomorrow or Tuesday. This will be doc week for me, PCP tomorrow, then MO and RO later in the week, just check ups so should be no surprises there, nothing like meeting your deductible in the first few months of the year ha ha!. Hope everyone enjoys what is left of their weekend

elimar86861

OMG, MimiL55, are you serious???  (And why do I want to quiz you so badly right now?) 

elimar86861

Barbe1958, Yes, everything you wrote about grade (aggression) does make sense.  That is not exactly what I was wondering about.  I was asking about what you wrote earlier about the stats for ER+ recurrence risk being higher in the years 5-10, than they are in years 1-5.  I am seeing things like the graph I posted, where there is still plenty of risk for ER+ women, but still a decrease after the first five years.  I thought you might have been referring to a new article or study that I did not see.  I was hoping you just had a summary of the stats or a chart you could post, where the risk in years 5-10 was shown to be higher.

If you are saying the risk for ER+ women is higher than non-ER+ women in years 5-10, that is well known.

But if you are saying the risk for ER+ women is higher in years 5-10, compared to years 1-5, where did you get the info. and how much higher is the risk?

If you read that on another thread on BCO, which one?  I'd like to check it out.

Furfriend2

Mimi,

Boy what a job that was.  I can barely get done reading 4 or so before I get stories mixed up or my chemo brain sets in, lol.

Looking forward to Oscars, on now and oh the gowns are just breathtaking on the ladies & the gents look dashing!!!

Furfriend

MinusTwo

Eli - looks like the lamb is winning - at least somewhere!!

dwill

Hello all,  I guess next week will be my last week for 40-60's group.  I am turning 61 on March 9.   I am thankful to God; however, I still feel like I still have a lot to live for and he has given me that opportunity.    Now,  for my birthday, I wish I could get a companion or someone to share my life with.  It's lonely sometimes being single.  However,  I thank God for all of my virtual friends on BCO. That was the best part of getting this disease --that is getting to know all of you.  You are a major part of my life as I am on BCO every day to check in.  Hey, you are not getting rid of me that easy. I will still be surfing the 40-60's group and will check in sometime.  Have a wonderful night all!  Dwill 

Tomboy

Dwill! Happy birthday! congratulations, and i hope your desire comes true! but i don't think anyone is gonna kick you off of here!

Momine

Dwill, Happy Birthday, and stick around.

Momine

Eli, the new topper looks suspiciously Greek.

barbe1958

Dwill, being in a relationship does NOT mean you aren't lonely! In fact, there are times I feel more lonely because I don't feel "heard" in my marriage. My DH is a wonderful man, but I know he doesn't listen sometimes, is just agreeably compliant...

e, what I've read or been told has been over the past 5 years on this forum. Who told me or directed me, I have no idea but I only "believe" certain websites that are qualified, like the NIH for example. Maybe they aren't saying it's higher anymore, but I do know in MY case, MY onc has confirmed MY risk has increased now. So to me, that has as much to do with grade, because surely there is an ER+ tumour grade III out there! It was noted to ME that the ER+ portion added to the slow-growing part. Maybe that's a left-over from triple-negative being so aggressive? Who knows! I don't repeat stuff that hasn't been validated, except that some people don't believe in angels and I do....

Momine

Barbe and Eli, I think you are both right. Overall, the risk does decrease from the spike at 2 years out. However, there is probably another, smaller spike after the 5-yr mark. So, the risk at 5 years is greater than the risk at 4 years, but not as great as the risk at 2 years, if that makes sense?

barbe1958

Thanks Momine, I think we are all saying the same thing, but I might not be using the right words....

elimar86861

What I am saying is that I am not seeing that years 5-10 are riskier for recurrence in group studies of ER+ women (Gardes I, II & III combined.)

As I said before, it makes sense that a Grade III would recur quicker overall than a Grade I.   If I remember correctly, Barbe, you are a Grade I, and that it was a rare form of BC.  If you are at greater risk now compared to the first five years, maybe it is related to the rare type, not only the ER+ and the Grade I?

Momine, that's a representation of the saying, "March comes in like a lion, goes out like a lamb."  I did think of using a more Greek representation...

  but I got hungry just looking and had to get up and fix a snack.

dwill, Congrats on the upcoming birthday and many happy returns!  Congrats on your first cancerversary as well.  Now that the BC business won't be taking up so much time, focus on yourself, do some pampering, get your glow back.  You have to be ready in case that certain someone does come along.  Doesn't hurt to be a whiz at baking pies either.  (I'm using the dianarose model here.)   I do hope you keep us posted on how you are doing as you move forward.

staynsane

Eli, for someone who prefers not to discuss weather, I find your topper interesting!  I believe you captured "March in like a lion and out like a lamb;" is that not what you're suggesting?  

Tomboy

love your avatar, staynsane! awesome!

elimar86861

SnS,  then you'll really bust me if I feature a pic of
"April showers" next month.   LOL.  I've also featured lightning before, just because
I like it

Dianarose

Flower girl melt down.

elimar86861

D-rose,  That is precious!

Dianarose

Haven't been up to posting or anything. I had an infusion of Zometa last week and it did not agree with me much. Every bone in my body hurt. Slept a lot and felt like crap. Why can't they come up with something that makes us not hurt and gives us a little boost. I also had my tumor markers done at the same time. It is so stressful waiting for the results. On a happier note, married life is great. He is a wonderful, caring man. Stays by my side. We have not gone on a honeymoon yet. We are not sure where we want to go. We have talked about maybe a Dude ranch or even Israel. My last day at the shop was 2/21, my birthday actually. Feels good just to be home. I am thinking about something wholesale from home though. Maybe in a couple of months. I will try to post a few more pictures. The wedding was perfect. Everyone had a great time. I am blessed. I hope everyone on this tread had a good time and danced until their feet hurt.

Dianarose

My favorite.

Dianarose

My brother Glen getting down with mom with KC and the Sunshine Band.

Dianarose

This is the church we were married in and was taken from the Town Club where the reception was held.

macatacmv

dianarose, great pictures! Sorry you are feeling crappy. Hope you bounce back soon. Married life sounds great! Did you sell the shop? Happy belated bday!

At the wedding I was at the day before yours, the flower girl had to be carried down the aisle by her father. It was very cute. 

mimi, I am impressed by all that reading!! 

eli, I've been gazing at the lamb and trying not to think about the chops. 

dwill, I am an ish in the age category. We won't card you here.

staynsane, thanks for the well wishes. I am happy with lumpy and crunchy! Somehow I get the crunchy comment from my PT people, too. She says it has to do with inflammation.

I am hoping I am not annoying people by being too happy about how good I feel. I remember how resentful I would feel when people would be too cheerful when I felt like crap. I am grateful for any day that is a good day. 

Jeannie57

Diana, I enjoyed seeing photos of your happy day! I am praying your tumor markers are good. That sucks about the Zometa SEs. You are one kick-ass lady, though. I am so glad you have a loving partner to share your life with. 

Eph3_12

YAY for more Dianarose pictures-the flower girl melt-down is precious.

Mimi, you are an amazing woman. reading all 890+pages of this thread.  What did you think of the virtual cruise?  I think you may have inspired me....I think I will begin reading from page 1 again once we hit 900!

Personally I find it impossible that it is already March 2, but I am very HAPPY that time is whizzing by!  All those 5 yr anniversaries are coming faster & faster! Ya-----Hoo!  

NativeMainer

Aw, poor flower
girl!So glad the wedding was so
wonderful, and glad married life is good for you!Praying you feel better soon and have a
memorable honeymoon!

barbe1958

LOVE the coloured pictures!!!! Very romantic. What a great eye someone has. That flower-girl will have a different memory of the day though. Why oh why do they have melt-downs? Do they think they're the bride? hehehehehe

elimar!!! I remembered where I got a lot of my info from and it was when the oncotype testing became more prevalent. Remember - the oncotype is for stage ONE, grade ONE, node NEGATIVE, ER POSITIVE breast cancer. The one that had been the most common to recur at a later date. It was thought at first that it was because women were "under treated" and then they realized that it was because the chemo that WAS given wasn't working in all cases. They began to look into WHY chemo didn't work for some and came up with the "chemo works on fast growing cells only" and the ER+ factor.

I was never graded. My onc couldn't find it anywhere in my paperwork. Didn't matter anyway at that point. We didn't do oncotype testing in Canada at all and it was pretty new in the USA too.

staynsane

Barbe- Congrats on having your brain kick into gear and remembering what you were trying to recall.  For so many of us who struggle to come up with words, phrases, memories, THAT is priceless and a great way to start or end a day!

Dianarose- Love the pics of your special day (your brother looks very young).  Seems to me that you should be tired after planning/executing a wedding, let alone your activities in the last year of opening and closing a shop, and all that entailed.  So great that you have someone to help shoulder the burden now.