70 Am I the oldest?

heartbroken8

Hi

I was diagnosed at 64yrs old-no nodes, er+ -lumpectomy and rads- tamoxifen for 5 yrs.  I just stopped- never could take aromatasin pills- osteoporosis. Now- I just pray I will be ok- nervous about not taking anything. But my Doc- a big researcher at NY Memorial Sloan says - that is it- you have a very early stage diagnosis- not worried at all abt you..  Well- I pray - i need my strength- dealing with a daughter who has stage 4 BC- she is only 42- 2kids(young)- it is hearbreaking- I wish i could have traded my diagnosis with hers- I am 70- have live a very full life.  Praying that with the drugs that she is taking she will be able to contain it in her bones-

God bless all of you- and please keep in touch.

lago

heartbroken8 Congratulations on 7 years!

You are not the oldest I'm sure but you have to realize that there more younger people on these boards then 70+ year old folks. My mom is 73 and had never touched a computer. (Granted my dad is 78 and my mom calls his computer the "other woman" ;-) ) These forums skew to the 45-55 age but there are older and younger too.

Sorry to hear about your daughter. There have been a few new developments in breast cancer treatment in the last several years. Your daughter will benefit from them. Many stage IV live for many years and even go into remission. I know it's tough to deal with this. I had the hardest time telling my mom knowing she would react just like you. 

jacksnana

I doubt that you are the oldest.  I am 64, and we may be some of the older ones, but I'm sure there are many, many others also.  So sorry you are going through this with your daughter. That's how we mothers are, right?  So much rather it be us than our children.  My constant prayer is that my daughter never gets breast cancer. 

I will keep you and your daughter in my prayers - that you will be fine and have some peace of mind about the treatment that you did.  And you have every reason to believe that you will be fine! You are six years out, that is wonderful! 

Your daughter is young and you read everyday about women living years and years with stage IV, with it being treat as a chronic disease.  Researchers are always having breakthroughs with new treatments, I think it's important we pray for them too.  They are our hope!   Take care and God bless.

LRM216

I will be 64 in February and I just posted on a thread in this very forum to PAAMBOLI asking about a meningioma - she is 71, so she's got ya beat!

Blessing to all -

Linda

marygardens

If this is a contest , I am winning !!!!!!! 73   .  Plenty more BDs to come .    :- )

dogsandjogs

I'm 75 and I know there is one other one who is my age. Still hanging in there----

txlady1933

I am 78 and will have a mastectomy on March 16th.

Diagnosis 2-7-2011,IDC, 1.2cm, ER 98%/PR-, HER2-

REKoz

Hello dear ladies-

I thought I'd share my Mom's story with you. She was diagnosed at 77 and had a BMX WITH immediate recon! She sailed through the surgery and expansion to implant process!  (Granted, it was no picnic. I used the word sailed in comparison to the many complications I had going through the same thing) Chose not to go with nips, had no chemo or rads. In January, she celebrated 5 years by passing on to me the remainder of the Tamoxifen pills she no longer has to take. Not exactly what I had in mind when I think of those things of hers that I would like passed on to me! Who knew that I'd need them 3 years later? Anyway, she's 82 now and doing splendidly!

My thoughts will be with you tomorrow txlady. I hope my Mom's story will provide a little fuel for positive thoughts going into your surgery tomorrow. Please update here when you can.

Wishing you all the best,

Ellen

BeckySharp

I am 63 and just finished lumpectomy on 2/14 and mammosite radiation on 2/21 (a week). In one more week I will start the five year journey of tamoxifen.  I like this forum where I can be relatively young.  I am now back at work (college instructor) and getting over the trauma of the dx I got on 1/21.  I wish you the best txlady and hope you will post again soon.  Anyone dealing with lymphedema?  My fear is that I will get it.

txlady1933

Thank you so much for your reply to my post.  I went to the hospital on the 16th ready for my MX

when they discovered a touch of bronchitis.  I was sent home with several medicines and

rescheduled for the 30th of this month.  This waiting has to be the worse part.  Will let you

know the outcome after the 30th.

sandi777

I had a Lumpectomy on March 1st.  I am 74 years old.  I was diagnosed in January.  There is no history of breast cancer in my family so I am trying to figure out how I got it.  I kind of blame the 11 years I spent on Estrogen therapy.  Using Ogen and Provera, which I noticed were no longer available.  What do you all think??

duckyb1

Hi, no your not the oldest......................I will be 76 on April 24th, and was diagnosed on February 15th........Had a lumpectomy on March 14th after a biopsy proved what my BS knew from our first visit...via.. the ultrasound............I will be seeing the R/O on Tuesday, although the M/O said she didn't think from her experience that I need radiation, but left it up to me..  wants me to take Femara( which I'm not happy about),

So sorry to hear about your daughter.........I too would be devastated if it happened to mine..  I have 3 girls, and 3 boys.  My youngest daughter is 42, so I can feel your pain.........

Prayers for both of you.

ILMBeaches

I am so sorry about your daughter.  Seems its more the norm lately with younger women although they say getting older is one of our biggest risks. Sending prayers and good thoughts to her & you too.  I was 60 when I was diagnosed, now 64.

Chelsea23

My heart goes out to you regarding your daughter. But know that she may be just fine ! I have a good friend who had Stage 4 Inflammatory Breast Cancer in 1989. She's alive and well and kicking today !

 Also, I had invasive ductal carcinoma at age 49---and only had lumpectomy. I was fine for fourteen years.  I did get breast cancer again in 2008, but it is a much slower-growing kind, and I should still be fine. I'm 67 now, by the way.  I think the reason I got it again was that I was under extreme chronic devastating stress for three years straight.

 So---work on stress reduction. Best of luck to both you & your daughter.

Momlee

I'm 74 and was told last July I had breast cancer.  I've been on zometa and herpecin but now the doctor prescribed xeloda.  Is there anyone out there who tried this medication?  It's a form of chemo and I will probably lose my hair and spend lots of time in the bathroom.  I'm thinking about ignoring these meds and let nature take its course.  Any suggestions?

Anonymous

I'm 66 years young, diagnosed 4 years ago.

Grateful we have so many medicines which weren't available when we were mch younger.  I cry thinking of how many young women are getting bc today.  I hope your daughter does well on her medicines - you'll find lot of good information for her on the Stage IV Forum on these boards.

BonnieK

I will be 64 on May 11, so not the oldest, but certainly one of the older women on the boards.  Was diagnosed at age 61 and had single mastectomy with tissue expander, chemo and rads.  Had 2 implants (different times/same side) and both were removed due to capsular contracture.  Took Arimidex for a year and side effects made oncologist switch me to Femara, which I've taken for nearly a year.  Hot flashes and joint pain are not pleasant, but are worth it in the long run. 

Shirlann

No, I was diagnosed and treated at 63, I am 75 now, soon to be 76!  EGAD, those numbers look huge!

Gentle hugs, Shirlann 

FloreneB

Glad to see that there are several "older" ladies with my same problem.  I am 68 and start 8 tx of chemo tomorrow which will then be followed by 33 tx of rad.  I am dreading the chemo, of course, mostly because I don't know what to expect - hoping the side effects will be mild, but just have to wait and see.

I am so sorry for you and your daughter - I don't have a dau - but have 2 d-in-laws that I love like my own and would be devastated if they were going thru this.  You will be in my prayers.

BonnieK

FloreneB -- what drugs will you be getting for chemo?  I had cytoxan and taxotere and it honestly wasn't too bad.  Also had 28 rads and the hardest part of it was all the running back and forth every day.  Best of luck to you with your treatment.

slousha

Hi, ladies

My surgeon said he could operate me on Monday or Friday, and I answered at Wednesday I'll celebrate my 70^th birthday  and have no intention to do this in a hospital! I was operated next week,  was found triple positive after my lumpectomy, accepted the complete medical treatment, (6x chemo with Docetaxel (Taxotere), 30 rads, one year on Herceptin. I'm on Femara (Letrozole) for 5 years. And now, I'm here with you!

Greetings Usha

A01delheid

I will be 73 may 23 and was diagnosed 2010

DtrofRetiredOncRN

Posting for my mother who is sitting by me.  She is 78 and getting ready to start 5 1/2wks of rads. Still taking herception every three weeks until Jan 2012.

fritz76

hallo heartbroken8 

you are not the oldest!  how about that ?  my name is  fritz76  born in germany 1934   have been

living in england since  1957  divorced  1979     1  son living at home   my stay in hospital for a

broken HIP  nearly 2 years ago resulted in  ' x ' rays showing  breast + colon  cancer   however a

'c t ' scan taken recently  revealed that all is well  maybe there is hope for all of us .LOL FRIEDEL 

Darolyn

Hi ladies,I found this forum and was scrolling down and thought I would like everyone here.  I am 71 and have had renal cell carcinoma with the removal of my kidney, then dx with bc.  Ended up with a single mastectomy and am now on arimadex.  Having a lot of SE with the arimadex.  Anyway everyone should try our other board Older women with Breast Cancer)  I think you would like everyone there.  Dar

Fitz33

It's good to know there are so many of us in our 60's and others in 70's on this board.  I'm having rads now and just completed a week, 5 more to go.  I am also having every 3 weeks of Herceptin and I think I get joint pain from that but try to overlook it.  It seems to come and go.  I do whatever my onc wants me to do as I want to overcome this disease.  We all do I know.  Some days are harder than others but tomorrow is always a bit brighter.

NAD

Heartbroken, I am so sorry about your daughter. I know that worry for our kids seems to trump the thought of anything else.

I am 71 and feel the same about being a lucky one.  That does not, however, mean that I am going to give in.      The mantra that has been suggested by so many is to live in the moment.  I'm trying to remember to do that. It is hard for me.

I will pray for your heartbreak and for you daughter.

nancy 

NAD

I get lost on this site.  I thought I WAS on Older Women With Breast Cancer but somehow I had deleted the old posts.

3bells

I'm 70 years old. Had a lumpectomy 12 years ago and radiation. This is probably a new cancer, but they say they can't be sure. Last time was stage one, minimally invasive. This time it is at least stage 2 with the possibility of inflamatory BC. Chemo starts a week fro today. Cyclophosphamide and Doxorubicin every other week for four weeks and then Taxol for 12 weeks, once a week if I can tolerate it. After that comes mastectomy.


 Becky, came out of my first surgery (about 9 lymph nodes removed, sentinel node removal was just new. If I had know abut it I would have looked for another surgeon. I had mild lymphodema that never went away. No symptoms really just my arm was a bit larger than the normal. I tried to be careful. Used an arm wrap (forget the name) if I had to fly. Never let them take blood or blood pressure on that arm, except twice when I forgot the blood pressure :-(

I tried to watch scratches etc, but that was about impossible if a person is going to have a life. If I got one I used an antibiotic cream. After a few years I didn't worry about it but still tried to follow the advice  I don't know much, but I think the risk was higher because of taking the regular lymph nodes. Anyhow, I'd guess the chances that you do't have a problem are pretty good. :-D


Sandy, I had been on hormone therapy for at least seven years and suspect that might have been at least one cause. no sense in beating ourselves up about it.  They used to think it was safe.


Heartbroken, I'm so sorry about your daughter. I have three daughters and it's far better having this myself than thinking of the possibility they may face it. I'm going in for genetic testing in July because there was a lot of cancer, some breast cancer on my mother's side of the family. Although she died at 91 and never had caner.


Momlee, When I mentioned that idea to my daughters they were horrified. But no one but me could make that decision. I always thought if cancer happened again, the prognosis would be known, but now I'm in a situation where it is "probably" good, but not positively. Until I know I am at a place where it doesn't look good, I'll go through this for the sake of my family. I have chronic pain problems, but otherwise have been healthy. Not afraid of death - have a strong Christian faith - but am struggling with the normal anxiety of what we go through to hopefully be heathy again. You wrote this in April, 26. I hope things are looking up for you know. I haven't read the rest of the posts, will look for any followups by you!

Nad, that's where I thought I was also. Go figure!

Peggy

3bells

Did it again. I WISH I could remember to add to my Favoraite Topics before I post. Wonder if there is a way to make that the default?

Peggy

marygardens

I  am a  SOS volunteer at my local hospital . We are a group of women , all ages who are breast cancer survivors . Everyone's story is different  , but we all share in the same feeling when we got the diagnosis , shock and fear . " Really ?! Are you sure ?! "

I have found thru being a part of this group so much love and support . My husband died of lung cancer and 2 years later I was diagnosed  . Life goes on .  Young or old we need each other .

Survivors Offering Support is a wonderful group to be a part of .

God bless all of you .