thread for middle age to older Christian women.

zjrosenthal

Almer, I had extranodal and had all the nodes under my arm removed after chemo rather than before due to a mistake in reading my biopsy report. God worked it out for good however because while there were cancer cells in many of the nodes, they were all dead from the chemo. This gave me great encouragement since I figured if the cells in the nodes were dead than the ones anywhere in the rest of my body were dead as well. One day at a time, you will get through this. I have my 3yr mamo/sono on the 1st of August. So far no reoccurrence praise Jesus. Love, Jean

HersheyKiss

Almer, I too had macrometastes and extranodal extension. My doctor seemed more concerned with 3 positive out of 16 total nodes, so chemo was pretty much mandatory for me.

bandwoman1234

Almer, it do believe it was Hershey I was thinking of.

Glad Hershey and Jean can weigh in on this subject and give encouragement to you.

I am not sure if some of you saw Ellen's post that her husband Clyde is going to be the new pastor of a church after a long wait. I know she would appreciate your encouragement as well.

Have a great day dear ladies.

Faith, I am praying for you and all of your challenges.

Joanne, praying for you too.

Ade, we are praying for you and James during this tough time.

I pray for ALL of you so know you are prayed for.

Love,

Nancy

auroaya200882

1-17-2017

You know what's amazing about today?

Today is 4 years since my stage 4 diagnosis and Praise God I'm still here!

One of the doctors had said 6 months at the time! Mph what do they know? Only God knows.

Thank you for all the prayers.

Aurora

Lita57

Congrats y felicitaciones, Aurora! You inspire me! I hope for at least 4 yrs myself.

Lita

Ade

I am praying for all of you dear brave ladies of faith!

While I did some church secretarial work this morning James & daughter Emily did 5 laps around the sanctuary - his first outing besides a doctor trip. The Lord is good.

Blessings,

Ade

Almer

You are all very inspiring! Can any of you tell me how long you had pain, especially after a sentinel node biopsy? I'm close to 3 weeks post-op and that area still is pretty painful, especially after a lot of use (we were very busy at work today). My lumpectomy/SNB was 6/28/17

bandwoman1234

Aurora, that is AWESOME!!!!! Praise God that He knows more than our doctors do. That news is worth many fireworks!

Love,

Nancy

bandwoman1234

Ade, that is great to hear that you all got out and James did five laps around the sanctuary. Praise God.

Almer, I believe it took me a good month to recuperate from my surgery. I had some complications with a seroma so I remember that more than other issues. I do remember driving to where I would have radiation and I remember shooting breast pain and that was quite a few weeks after my surgery. I think it is all probably very normal.

Have a good evening dear ladies

Love,

Nancy

HersheyKiss

Almer, my axillary node dissection was uncomfortable for a couple of weeks. I did see a licensed physical therapist soon after surgery to prevent any cording and lymphedema issues. Her techniques were very helpful for mobilizing the area, mimimizing scar tissue, and reducing my discomfort. I hope you feel better soon.

Blessedteacher37

Almer,

I had sentinel node biopsy with my first surgery, (2010) and it was tender for awhile. Even now, occasionally it feels a little swollen and tender. I've had less trouble with my lumpectomy scar. No one mentioned physical therapy, and in hind sight, I should have asked...it may have helped.

I've been checked and my surgeon and radiologist assured me the area is fine. I find also that when I do lifting, I feel more discomfort. I hope some of the other ladies can give you some input, too.

Aurora, congratulations! You are proof that everything is in God's hands!

Ade, glad James is doing well....again, God is glorified!

Lita, you are doing what I always wanted to do....you go girl!

Nancy, praying the scar is " behaving" and you are on the road to complete healing...thanks for all you do for us.

Praying for all..Ellen

bandwoman1234

Thank you Ellen. Praying for exciting ministry opportunities in your new church.

Love,

Nancy

auroaya200882

Hello everyone, I have a prayer request. It's not cancer related but it's for a family that is dear to me and who are prayer warriors also, in fact when I was in te hospital 4 years ago they extended their prayers for me and now it's my privilege to pray for them.

Next week my fried Xavier is undergoing surgery for a hernia and he is scared. Please pray that the Holy Spirit descends down on him and gives him peace. The surgery is Thursday next week. I don't know the time yet.

I appreciate it thanks.

Aurora

Ade

Almer my sentinal node was removed when I had my bilateral mastectomy so I guess that disqualifies me on that question. My surgery was 12/15 however and the drain incisions STILL give me discomfort so I can't wear a mastectomy bra. (Guess that's not so encouraging is it!)

Aurora we celebrate life with you!

Blessings,

Ade

bandwoman1234

Praying for Xavier for his upcoming surgery. I pray that the Lord will surround him with peace and trust in Him. Praying for a successful surgery and a rapid recovery.

Have a good day dear sisters.

Love,

Nancy

Almer

I love how you all support each other so well! Thank you for the responses regarding pain, etc. I saw the surgeon yesterday due to the increased swelling, pain, and discoloration, and she said it was not abnormal for this stage in the game. I also had an extra-busy workday on Monday and probably over-used my left arm/shoulder. The surgeon said they discussed my case in the monthly tumor conference they have here at Women's Hospital Baton Rouge (I wish that would mean I'm famous but, since they used only "59-year-old white female" as an identifier, I guess I'm out of luck lol!). She said the result of the conference was that a recommendation was made to treat my cancer more aggressively and include an "aggressive round of chemo" followed by radiation, and an axillary node dissection as well as removing more breast tissue. So all your comments have been helpful regarding what to expect, etc.

One thing I've learned since being diagnosed is that EVERY woman has a different story! This is a very diverse diagnosis. But we have a great Physician and He knows every detail of what is going on with us and that gives me great peace. He will be faithful to me, to all of us, as we go through our various walks. I'm so thankful.

bandwoman1234

Almer, I hope seeing your surgeon gave you some peace of mind that you aren't having to deal with other issues. We will be here to support you as you go through your treatments. Yes, every one has a different story and I think probably for most of us that was an eye opener as the rest of the world is clueless just as I was before my diagnosis. We do get a very quick education for sure and certainly not like we would have wanted but you will find God is faithful and will be with you every step of the way.

Love,

Nancy

Ade

Almer we're just glad to support you - and each other - in prayer. Aren't we all thankful to be believers! :0)

James' check up (2 weeks post op!) went as expected - all on par with quadruple bypass surgery at this stage. He struggles for breath when laying down (even with elevating his head & shoulders) and it causes anxiety. Please pray for resolution to this as when HE doesn't sleep I don't either which makes caring for him tough sometimes. THANKFUL I don't have to give him baths as it really wore me out, though I never let on

I have been ultra fatigued for a year and chalked it up to SE's from my treatment drugs. Well now I am off all of them and still am fatigued and almost faint sometimes with increased shortness of breath and daily chest discomfort especially with stress (an abundance lately!). I had an episode one night when my heart was about to beat clear out of my chest & had irregular beats. I got up & James followed. He took my pulse & BP - both were elevated. He asked if I wanted to go to the ER & I declined - so he went back to bed & I sat up 45 more minutes until it finally subsided. That was a couple of months ago. I HATED to bring any of this up when we are dealing with James' recovery for a long time to come - but the chest discomfort just won't leave me alone. HE made an appointment today for me while at the doctors and told them I had "some shortness of breath". Doctor is out of town for 2 weeks so my appointment is the 7th of August. It is my hope of course that faintness, fatigue, shortness of breath and chest pain are JUST NOTHING - but I admit to you sisters I am scared. I CAN'T be down until James has recovered - so please pray for peace about this ok? THANK YOU!!!

Blessings,

ADE

Lita57

Ade, I'm hoping it is just stress. But nevertheless, unmitigated stress can do nasty things to us gals as we age.

Are you on any bp meds? I take atenolol because I have angina, hypertension and tachycardia with ectopic beats. 25 mgs of that seems to do the trick.

PLEASE take care of yourself, and if you have one of these episodes again, get yourself to the ER at once. I had a bad episode in 2004 when I was still working, and my boss had to call 911. The ambulance got me there just in time. No heart attack, but they had to stabilize my wild arrhymia and keep me there for a while to get my bp down too. It was stress induced and no fun.

Praying for you.

HersheyKiss

Ade, I will be praying for you. Please do not take any chances with your health. Your symptoms may be related to run-of-the-mill panic attacks, or they may be something much more serious. Lita's advice is spot on. Go to the ER ASAP if you experience another episode. Praying for you and your husband.

auroaya200882

Ade i too join in praying for you and your husband and sending you (((hugs))) of comfort and healing prayers.

Aurora

bandwoman1234

Ade, we will certainly be praying for you. You have been under a tremendous amount of stress with your own dx and treatment and all of the concern over James when he had fever and never a definitive diagnosis. Then with the latest developments with James' heart attack and bypass surgery that is a ton of stress to deal with for anyone.

Like some of the ladies have mentioned it could be related to anxiety but I agree that if you have a repeat of these symptoms I would head to the ER. I know it is not close but waiting until Aug is a long time away if you did have something going on with your heart.

I know that some ladies experience fatigue long after their treatments and I suspect that it takes a while for your body to get back to normal from being on the AI's and Tamoxifen.

When my Dad had bypass I remember what a toll it took on my mom so I can fully appreciate what you are dealing with.

Please don't ignore these symptoms if they persist.

I will be praying for both of you as I know you mentioned James getting anxious when he experienced shortness of breath. God will be with you both and we will be here to support you. You will get through this one day at a time.

Love

Nancy

bandwoman1234

When we go through challenges that overwhelm us it is comforting to know that there is a safe place we can go and that is into the arms of Jesus who is our refuge and our strength. One thing I have realized after years of being a Christian is when I lose my peace it is when I have taken my eyes off the Lord and am zeroing in on the challenge instead of zeroing in on God. Hopefully as I grow I realize what is happening faster than I used to. Sometimes this is a mental battle but when the fear or anxiety strikes say out loud Jesus I need you NOW. If you are at work whisper it to yourself. Do this over and over. If you need His strength tell Him that. I NEED YOUR STRENGTH today because I have none left of my own. He will be there. He is only waiting for you to reach out to Him.

Praying for you dear sisters.

Love,

Nancy

Ade

Nancy this is so very true. If we can only whisper Jesus' Name His presence is so near. We do tend to look at our problems, and like Peter, take our eyes off of Jesus - then it feels like we are drowning. We must remember first of all that the Lord LOVES us with an everlasting love that we cannot even fully comprehend. He NEVER EVER leaves us or forsakes us - we are HIS. And NOTHING is impossible with God. He alone is sovereign, He Who made the stars and knows them by name has the power and wisdom and might to move mountains - literally! He is our strength and our shield, our ever present help in times of trouble. We are SOOO BLESSED to be daughters of the King! Beautiful words & banner Nancy! Thank you.

Thank you all for your caring words and prayers. This means SO much to me right now! (Aaaand - we have a potential church split brewing right now - really bad timing! We are going to a leaders' meeting tonight at 6 and I pray the Spirit of the Lord prevails and the enemy has to flee.)

Love to you all,

Ade

Lita57

Ade, may the enemy flee indeed!

We've had church turmoil in our lives, too. It got so bad, we had to leave one congregation a few years ago and find another. That is always so stressful.

It never ceases to amaze me how Satan plants himself in the midst of things trying to stir up trouble. Some have said that Satan often goes after the righteous because it's always a feather in his proverbial cap when he can get a Christian to stumble and fall. He doesn't worry too much about the "un-churched" or atheists. He already has them in his hands, but he wants believers back. He's delusional. Once we belong to the Lord, we will ALWAYS belong to the Lord. All we have to do is go to Romans, Chapter 8 for comfort. "Those He predestined...." "Nothing can separate us from the love of God...." "If Christ is for us...."

Hope your chest pain and palpitations are better today.

Keeping you all in prayer.

Ade

Yes, Lita, when we recognize that our battle is NOT with flesh & blood, but rather with the enemy- things are a lot clearer and we can better direct our prayers. You are so right. This meeting tonight will be preceeded with MUCH prayer! (So far I am doing ok today - PTL!)

Love,

Ade

Faith-840

Dear friends, I am asking for prayers on behalf of another woman on the Ibrance thread (the drug I take) One of the women Dianarose is in a very serious situation right now and needs Our Lord's help as does another friend Grace and the woman so concerned about both of them, Micmel. I have promised that I would ask for prayers for them and so I'm also asking the powerful prayer warriors here to please pray for them.

I will continue to pray for all your needs and I thank you so much for praying for mine.

Love and prayers,

Faith

auroaya200882

Dear Ladies: yesterday I asked for prayers on behalf of my friend Xavier. I just want to give you a frame of reference about what he is feeling. Even though he's 40 years old he hasn't gotten over the death of his mother when he was 26 years old and se died practically in his arms. Currently he's very nervous that he might die in surgery. He refuses to take medicine for his anxiety. Please pray that God heals him from his grief over his mom and that He gives my friend peace as he faces this surgery. Please I beg you pray for him. His mother' s sister is my best friend and she is worried Xavier's anxiety is not the best thing to have as he faces this surgery.

Thank you in advance

Aurora

Ade

Faith, I pray for Dianarose and Grace, that the Lord Who knows every detail about their situations will have mercy, cause His perfect will to come about and grant them provision for their every need to His glory.

Aurora, I lift up Xavier in prayer, that he may receive healing for his body mind and spirit that he so desperately needs. May the Lord grant him peace for his mother's passing and peace about his surgery. I pray this situation will bring him to God's saving grace, that he may find the comfort and healing only our Lord can grant as we seek His face.

Just an update on our church situation - one that I could see no good outcome from. GOD GRANTED A MIRACLE! The meeting tonight was completely in peace (HIS peace) and GOOD came of it!!! God surely answered our prayers and was in our midst. I praise His name! I am in awe.

Blessings upon your night, sisters,

Ade

Ade

Heading to the ER - prayers appreciated!