MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

elimar86861

Well, since I posted above, no more suspense about whether I stopped breathing or not.  (Momine, the steroids are because I react to the contrast dye.  I have to pop a couple dyphenhydramine/Benedryl also.)

It took about twice as long because the CT gang thought I was in US first, so didn't come to call me.  Luckily, there is a big sign in the waiting room that says go up to the desk if you have been waiting longer than 20 minutes.  I waited 30 min. before going up to desk.  See how patient I was, seeeeeeeeee!

Anyway, the scan went the same boring way it always does.  Then, so did the US but the tech was particularly tight-lipped, tho' I did get a non-incriminating comment from her, something like, "I don't want you to be fretting over this exam at your graduation event."  So, read between those lines.  Snort!

Momine

Eli, ok, sorry! I thought the steroids were standard procedure in the US.

I tend to agree with you on the prevention stuff. I do exercise and eat way more carefully than before cancer. But it is mainly with the same notion as your clover charm. Besides, I feel so much better (look a damned sight better too) and that is mainly what keeps me going. If it helps keep the beast at bay too, yippee!

heartnsoul76

Eli, yes you were very patient. 10 whole extra minutes! Good job, girlfriend. I would have been up there after 21 minutes! I'm doing the same thing with my liver markers re-test next week - timing it so I get tested BEFORE my son comes home to visit for Memorial Day, at which point there will probably be a party with some imbibing. 

I've been gone for a while. So much going on including - but not limited to - a month long bout with bronchitis.  Two rounds of Levaquin and prednisone before they knocked that sucker out.  I think it must have been aggravated by the extreme pollen we were having at the time.

Now off to put out more fires! Just wanted to say hello and you go get 'em FootballNut! You're going to do just fine, I can tell! 

Oh, that article by Bestbird! I've decided to send the part with the statistics to my friends and family who just don't get what I'm really dealing with. They're always dismissing my concerns with, "Oh, you're fine." Really? Then please tell that to cancer so that invisible swinging blade over my head will go away. Okay, generally I'm not that negative but sometimes I am.

elimar86861

I saved some of that extra steroid (Prednisone) just for some go-get-'em housework!  Did you save any, H&S?  (Just kidding, but I got a little hopped up from taking just 15mg. this morning.  The dust bunnies were safe, tho', because by the time I got home it had worn down a lot.)  Good job planning your tests.  Can you imagine the damper on the festivities if you have to announce, "Hey, my cancer is back?"  Good Luck to you.  Hopefully, both of our livers will be unscathed.

Momine, Why, I bet you could even still fit into the Marianne Faithfull skirt!  You had me ROFLOLPIP (that's ROFLOLpeeinginpants) that steroids were standard in U.S.  Oh, no, we just ACT that way culturally.  Ahahahahahahaha!

Momine

Eli, LOL, no, no, I did not mean it that way. It is just that American docs, because of the insurance situation in the US, tend to make a lot more CYA moves. Greek docs are far less likely to be sued, and European courts do not award gazillions even in cases where negligence is proved. As a result, they tend to take a slightly more bare-bones approach.

I did lose a lot of weight during treatment, and if I still had that skirt, I probably could fit into it. I weigh the same now as I did then. The main benefit though is that I can fit into a Danish sample size now, so occasionally I score some cool stuff in Copenhagen outlet stores.

marlegal

Hey kiddos  Since our grandson found that he liked FaceTime, he asks for us almost every night at dinner. My daughter knows that any request to talk to MomMom which is denied will cut her inheritance by 5% each time, she indulges him (me?) almost nightly. Cuts into that time I used to have on the computer. I miss keeping up with all of you, but not gonna like...David will win over you guys every time! We all know this stage won't last and my 19-month old who adores me will move on to other things. Until then, I'll be a rare visitor here. My heart is here ... you know that ... I just won't be reading/posting as often as I'd like.

Love and hugs and good wishes and "in your pockets" and welcome to newbies and keep on keeping on to the rest of us.

NativeMainer

Enjoy your grandson while you have the chance! 

barbe1958

Marle, I expected pictures of your lake this weekend!!!!! I DO understand the grands thing. I don`t have a phone that sends my picture so once when my DD was talking to me, she told Zach to say hi to NaNa but he didn`t believe I was there cause he couldn`t see me!!! hehehehehehe

marlegal

Barbe, we were supposed to go this weekend, but changed plans last minute. Pics of the bay next weekend, I promise!

NativeMaine...we are. 100%. Each daughter has a son, one 19 mos, one 15 months...and he's going to be a big brother in just a few weeks! Don't know the sex of the baby yet. So yes...a busy time here.

Again, you're all in my thoughts and prayers every single day.

elimar86861

Marlegal, We don't mind being second fiddle to grandkids.  Not at all.  Poke your head in when you can, and enjoy summer down the shore.

Barbe, I read, on that other thread, that you are doing Relay For Life.  I got the invite to do the "Survivor's Lap," but what is that, anyway?  Is it legit, or kind of hokey?  My husband got the same invite, so is it only cancer survivors in that lap, or family members too?  Wouldn't that be almost everyone?   How long do I have to stay?

barbe1958

I`m only doing the Survivors Lap - certainly NOT the relay!!! (I`ve paid my dues!!) We meet and have to listen to the program for about an hour, then do the walk once around the site while everyone stands along the route and claps for us. It`s ALL cancers so you don`t feel like everyone is looking at your flat chest. Then we go to a tent to get cupcakes or a piece of cake and a goody bag. One year the bag was great - it depends on the fund raisers`capability, but last year I only got a pad of paper. Kind of mortifying if you ask me. I`d rather not have gotten the `goody bag`at all!!!! Then we go home. You can arrive earlier and get a free dinner, but your spouse doesn`t get it free so we don`t do that. You do not walk with your spouse. Just the ones wearing the special coloured t-shirts do the walk. One year someone told me how important it was to see all the survivors so it showed how well the funding had done!! It also gives hope to those who are afraid. I do it to get the ribbon.....

elimar86861

Hmmmm!  After just sitting thru' a 4-hour (!) commencement, I'll be lucky to drag my husband along to more sitting and listening, but I would like to represent as one of the people up and moving again after two stinkin' bouts with cancer.  Is it just walking, or is skipping allowed?  (Kidding.  But I will get some skipping in, if appropriate.)

Lately, I have been feeling like this:  Some people get through the cancer and never get it again.  Why shouldn't one of them be me?

macatacmv

Eli, I did the relay last year. There were parts that were very emotional and parts that were very funny. Most of all it was hanging around with my BC pals.

I'm going to miss it this year. I'm in CO with my DD, she is getting hip surgery tomorrow. So I get to take care of her for 2 weeks. We're doing the pre op stuff now.

barbe1958

I did one year on a cane when my back was REALLY bad. Made people look twice!! Going flat in the t-shirt has sobered some of the rahrahbra gal teams. Glad I was able to provide a reality check! There is some pink, but all cancers are represented.

e- it`s too late for you to only have one cancer!!

wirdgirl118

I did not lust after nor eat or drink a vast amount of grapefruit before my diagnosis. 

wirdgirl118

ah, bronchitis! What would spring be like without it?

wirdgirl118

hi Kah51! While the pace of the last several weeks has been fast for you, no doubt, I am happy there's no "delay of game" for you. Welcome to our cozy couch.

elimar86861

Barbe, you are such a stickler!   So, technically, can I be one of those who has only two cancers and then never gets it again?  The funny thing is that after BC, I was not too worried about recurrence, always feeling that I might fall into the percentage who IS done with it after just one go round.  I mean some people have to be in the "lucky" group after all.  Getting a different cancer was not even on my radar.  Now I'm hopeful that I can close BOTH of those chapters for good, even if it takes twice the luck!

Hello, wirdgirl118!  How long have you had the pain syndrome now?  Sounds terrible.  Can you tell if there is any improvement at all?

wirdgirl118

hi Elimar! There is definite improvement in the pain, both because of Neurontin and because time heals all wounds lol. Currently I have bronchitis, and the immune response of my body to fight the bronchitis is making the nerve pain elevate. But it's still manageable IMO and I have a low tolerance for pain so that is major.

Eph3_12

E-I've done the survivor lap since '09.  In '09 it was 20 days or so after my lumpectomy.  At our relay, I always stay to get the free food.  I usually bid & win on something in the silent auction area.  Our lap is usually @ noon, so I get there about 11, get my shirt, peruse the bidding tables, do the lap, eat, leave.  Our relay is where I learned about the fly fishing retreat for survivors. Then I go back at dusk for the luminary ceremony.  That is always a heartwrencher time.  I don't get to go this year...a bunch of school chums & I are going to Seattle May 29-June 2 for our combined 60th birthday celebrations.  I've never been to Seattle so I'm stoked.  Plus 3 of us are starting out in S. Oregon taking Amtrak up & back; I have never done a real train ride either.  Turning 60 appears to be a fun thing so far...I'll let you know for sure after the actual event!

elimar86861

Eph, I tried one year for the fishing retreat, so now I get their mailing each year.  I was very disappointed to see that, this year, the retreat locations are more sparse and limited than in the past, so that it would be hard for some people to even get to (or afford to get to) the locations.  :-(  Can't believe you have never been up to Seattle.  You will have a great time!!!!!   

lovewins

Just stopping by to say I love you ladies and I am lurking.  New job is taking a lot of my energy but I am doing well.

Anonymous

Eph3_12, congratulations on the big event! Sounds like you're doing it in style! I've wanted to do our local relay for life, it's usually been on Fathers' Day weekend so that hasn't worked out. Just found out our city had it last weekend - I missed it. I'm not very out-going so I had asked a friend (who's had BC to let me know) and she never did. I didn't want to do it alone. Maybe next year.

Barbe, wow, great you did the walk with the cane and didn't use that as an excuse (I probably would have)

Elimar, I didn't understand the 2nd cancer comment - if I'm not too nosy, second BC or other CA?

Lovewins, congrats on the new job and sorry it's so tiring. Hopefully, will be joining shortly too with the new job.

Wirdgirl, good to see you here

macatacmv

So, after hours of waiting at the hospital for my DD to go into surgery. She is finally in and I am waiting for updates.

While we were waiting we were watching some show called Ink something or other. It was some competition between tattoo artists. They had some BC surviors on that were getting their chests tattooed. The network actually showed their breasts. I guess if there are no nipples, they don't count as nakedness? The tats were pretty. But I don't think I would go through the pain. 

Anonymous

macatacmv, praying the surgery goes well. (Did I read it right, she's just going into surgery at this late hour?) Wishing you both get some sleep tonight. Sending ((hugs)) to both of you!

 

Footballnut

Me at credit valley hospital earlier this morning.  Round 2!!! One more round of FEC then on to taxotere and herceptin. Rock n roll!! So far so good. My nurse gave me extra anti nausea meds this time given my SEs after my first infusion. 

Home now and feeling tired. Think I'll eat lunch then lie down. Chat soon !!

:-)

Have a great day all!!

Tomboy

Footballnut, you look positively RADIANT!!! 

elimar86861

2TA,  Last year, I got a Dx of colorectal cancer (CRC) totally unrelated to BC.  My chemo experience comes from that (although one element of my chemo is also given for BC, the fluorouracil, so I feel somewhat qualified to comment about it.)

For those in suspense (like I have been since last Friday,) I did get a phone call telling me that my CT (chest/ab/pelvis---lots of radiation!) looked "stable."  Since all scans after my surgery were cancer-free, this means I am STILL cancer-free, only now I have a (surprise!) fatty liver.  Since I have none of the things that generally lead a person to fatty liver, I can only guess that this is a chemo-bonus or something.  Well, it's a condition that can reverse itself, so my liver better get busy.  I baby my liver, the least it could do is get back in shape now.

Tomboy

i hope your liver behaves itself elimar! i have been depressed lately, i don't know why. so today i will put on lipstick earrings perfume, and then decide what i will do. i havent even been combing my hair lately, so maybe that will help.

Anonymous

Elimar, so sorry to read that. Thanks for the clarification (I think I started reading all the posts from the beginning when I joined this thread but not everything sticks these days). I should say your chemo experience counts in the discussion regardless of specific drug or cause. However you put it: CHEMO SUCKS! Even if it is helpful. Congrats on stable.

Kathec, I've had those days. My life is very frustrating at times (like now, been trying to get health ins thru ACA/CoveredCA as COBRA running out. So many problems. Should have kicked in May 1st but comedy of errors prevents it (errors on their part, not ours). Have been on hold over an hour so happy to have BCO). Bottom line: there are days I don't get out of my pj's. Hopefully, you can make a trip to the beach soon.