MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

Elimar - Love the picture at the top.  Somedays I feel like I have lost my head even though it is still attached to my shoulders.  Take this morning for example, was making pancakes and bacon and forgot to push the button on the microwave to cook the bacon.  I have never done that before.  I think I will blame it on the Tamoxifen.  Sounds good to me anyway.

E - do tell, why do you have a mannequin body AND head - in your BASEMENT???? Hmmm???

sherry - wow, I haven't had pot plants since college! 

It's not my head that's lost.  My memory, however, is a different story.  It must be the Arimidex.

Whem my BS and I spoke before surgery, I asked if I could do a BMX.  He quickly agreed and suggested a lymph node biopsy on both sides.  I didn't think of it at the time, but now I wonder if he thought there might be something on that side, too.  As it turned out, there was a couple of "pre-malignant" things but no cancer...and another scar.

As far as reconstruction goes, at various times during the process, things did feel tight to me.  Hang in there.  It does get better. 

I threw away my Tamoxifen on Thursday after taking it for three weeks. I was just reading too many bad things about the uterine cancer and blood clots. I didn't care about the other SEs, but why would I dodge the BC bullet, only to be taken down by the uterine cancer one? I have no regrets about quitting it, so why I am so nervous about telling my onc next Thursday when I see her for my six-week followup? Everything I'm reading says that for people with DCIS, Tamoxifen doesn't offer enough benefits to outweigh the risks. I mean, I did have the BMX to get rid of the cancer and a negative nodes report. Yes, I'm ER/PR+, but there must be other options for prevention than a toxic drug that offers so much conflicting research, there's no way to get a straight answer on its effectiveness. It's so frustrating not to know if I'm doing more harm than good, or vice versa. I would like to look to the doctor for the answers, but the truth is... they're guessing just as much as we are. I feel like I don't have any control over what happens next, even though I'm eating all the broccoli, brussels sprouts and blueberries I can (none of which I ate before my dx). What a mess BC leaves behind, even when you supposedly have cut it all out of you...

heartnsoul - That would raise an eyebrow or two at my local Home Depot.  I live very close to the Mexican Border.  

charmaine...have you tried going to see an osteopath? There are also a wide variety of massage techniques that could help....less invasive than surgery

Meece- I have been doing the same as patoo....I just look for my avatar and read from there:)

Elimar - You summed it up nicely.  All we can do it arm ourselves with the latest information out there and hope for the best.  You are right when you said there isn't a 100% guarantee.  My diagnosis is very similar to yours and I too decided I had better do the Tamoxifen.  It has not come without some side effects for me but I do have them under control and will be able to live with them until my 5 years is over.

I want to thank God all I have to pay for chemo is 15 dollars a treatment.

JoanD - That is what we are here for.  This is one scary disease and we never know when it is going to pop it's ugly head up.

lynniea - That is great news.  Love the picture - it is beautiful. 

Another DCIS here. My BS proposed Tamox but referred me to Med Onc who rattled off the side effects and unknowns about efficacy, i.e., it aims at preventing invasive which we did not have, and does not address DCIS, which we might still get anyway. I wasn't that jazzed about even small chance of potential problems in the "basement" when it's such a toss up for benefits in the "balcony". I said, shoot, I'd rather go with the mastectomy bilaterally (which the BS stubbornly would not do in one step; hard enough to get the mast rather than just expansion of lumpectomy. They seem to like to nibble.). The prophy mast is still in the future (consult for that and immed bil recon is not until June). At last appointment, the Med Onc continues to agree no compelling case for Tamox for this situation. I'm with JoanD.

JoanD - It's just not an easy, clear decision.  I went through the same process almost a year ago and had to find another oncologist who'd listen to my concerns.  The first was a jerk!  When you go for the visit w/your onc, ask her/him about subgroups who've developed uterine cancer.  My onc was able to give me specifics on the subgroups who were most likely to develop UC, blood closts, etc., which was helpful.  I didn't fall into any of them and eventually decided to go ahead w/the tamoxifen.  Almost a year in and minimal SEs that have pretty much disappeared.  Above all, remember it's your body and your choices!

 Who was it a page or 2 back that said forgetting to hit the microwave button for bacon was a confused day?  Jo1955?  Good God, woman, I'd consider that incredibly minor!  I've gotten to the point where my kids (2 teenagers left at home) and I just laugh that stuff off.  I blame that stuff on tamoxifen, too.  A great scapegoat!

 I can't grow plants to save my life, but am thinking a trip to the local nursery for some of those pot plants isn't too bad an idea.  Very funny!

Thanks ladies I feel grateful for having to know you all.  My hair is falling out fast is it easier to get it shaved now or just let it fall out.  And if I want is shaved what is the best place to go.  Thanks

{{{LYNNIE}}} Hugs girlfriend.