MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

Happy Birthday Kitty!

Sherry, I'll be thinking of you tomorrow  - Good Luck. 

Had to catch up again.  Just when I think work is slowing down, I get bombarded again!!  No complaining from me though, they were so good when I had surgery and went through chemo that I'll work extra hours for a year solid to make it up to them!

Just an FYI to avoid lymphedema - I had two immunizations in my left arm (right mastectomy) - because I have Lupus, it flared with the two shots, especially the pneumovax.  (this was very unusual and I still would have both flu and pneumovax again because of my chronic disease).  I ended up with a horrid cellulitus on my left arm and was put on antibiotics and steroids.  Anyway, I just want to remind my BC sisters, make sure, especially if you've had a mastectomy, that all needle pokes are in the opposite arm or if you've had a bilateral mastectomy they can give the pokes in your hip or legs. If I had had the immunization in my right arm and reacted like that, my lymphedema would have gotten so much worse.  Be your own advocate.  (Sorry for the rant Eli, just want to reiterate how important it is to avoid the side of surgery for needle pokes, blood pressure, etc)

Glow in the dark soft soap sounds like a fun item.  Did you get that at the grocery store E?  I agree Hauntie, I like 75% off.  I love sales!  Especially after holiday sales!

Thanks gals I am getting reading for bed and sure I won't be on the boards for a couple of days.  Had a first night.  The anesthesiologist called and spent 30 minutes on the phone going over all my history and explaining what he will be doing tomorrow and what drugs he might use for me.  At least he won't seem like a stranger tomorrow.

WOW!  Thanks everyone for the Birthday wishes!  I just got home from work and saw all the wonderful posts. 

Sherry - I'll be in your pocket tomorrow so don't mind the kitty tracks on your surgery gown. 

Oh boy, do I have candy leftover.  Not many tricksters this year, maybe because it was a school night and cold out.  I'll have to hide it so I don't get possessed by the sugar the minute I see it.  My grandson is a sugar addict too.

Janis - Sorry your not feeling good.  Sending wellness ((((hugs)))) your way.  Kitty

I hope your birthday was Happy, Kitty!

E ~ Wasn't there something about a past Halloween you said you might relate to us if you were reminded?? Consider yourself reminded! I also really like that Meecie has over at E-Lab "Light as a feather" for Lisa. I saw that the first day she put that there & I just sat at my computer & teared up .........

Suzwes ~ It's never a bad thing to be reminded about LE. Thanks!

I had three bags of 50% off Halloween candy in my cart Tuesday & went up to the Self Scan lane in Wal-Mart (really do hate that store, but some prices are less than my normal grocery store!). Anyway, the gal that watches the registers told the guy ahead of me that he needed to go to a cashier lane to scan the candy he had, that he couldn't do it at a self-scan register. How stupid!! SO, I took the candy out of my cart & put it on some display near me after I looked at the long lines in the cashier human lanes - pooh on them, that's one way to get me to not buy candy! I only had some Starburst & Smarties to hold for the grandchildren's Christmas stockings. Ridiculous!!

Welcome Home, Claire! 

Good Luck today Sherry.  I praying B9 results for you.  Will be in those pockets for ya!

For any of you gals who are BRCA positive and like Force on facebook, beware!.  There is a guy who is sending out friend requests who is a scam artist.  I checked out his bio and the only thing we had in common was the FORCE page.  He is a salesman who is preying on cancer patients.  I do believe a healthier diet does help but its not a cure and that is what he is trying to sell is a cure.  Just wanted to let you all know.  PM me if you want his name.  I dont want to post it because I dont need a slander suit slapped on me.  

Have a great day my sisters!

Sherry thinking of you today and yes, benign is the prevailing wind as always!  I am in your pocket wearing my mask, but will slide it off for snacks of course! 

Eli....love the new picture because kitty looks exactly like my cat Pistol.  Quite a force that boy!

Hauntie love your pumpkin!  When my kids were young we always bought the kits and carved some amazing ones.  Sure took me back.  You did a great job!  I know how much work they are.

Paula thanks for the heads up on the FB troll.  People really tick me off...but I am very careful who I friend anymore because people would friend me just to send game requests.  Not much fun!

As for the alcohol info...BLEH! The only two large studies ever done are the "1,000 nurses" and the "Asian" one.The Asian one doesn't apply to us as they grew up eating soy. The nurses one is used because shift work, alcohol, weight, etc can be measured. They just keep regurgitating the two studies over and over. I'm sick of them! Give me new news!!!!!

Hi, been out of commission for a couple weeks and missed everyone. Last chemo was a doosy and then my son fell apart at school. 

Sherry: I'm jumping in the pocket party and will be enjoying Claire's snacks while praying for b9 news for you.

Kitty: Happy fashionably late Birthday!

Tiedyemom: First off, so sorry you are here and dealing with BC in your life again, this time in your own body. Hopefully, your experience with your mom has given you some insite on what to expect. My SE's have been very similar to those my mother had, although every woman is different....it still made them less shocking. Since they already have a plan for neoadjuvent chemo, the node biopsy probably won't change anything for that part. If it is positive, they will probably just watch it during chemo to see if it also shrinks. It might mean the removal of a few nodes during your dbl mx though and most likely radiation of the nodes if it is positive.

Oh Mum, I love the flowers, they're beautiful! (I am much better thank goodness cause the Mediterranean cruise is in 12 days)!

Val, what a way to deter you from buying candy!  I'm not fond of walmart either but sometimes one just has to go there for cheaper prices on stuff!

Barbe1958, ditto your post on these stupid alcohol studies!!!

tiedyemom, I had a positive lymph node.  My mastectomy was first and they thought my nodes were negative however, on closer inspection they found cancer in one node.  That meant chemo and radiation for me.  I'm not sure but I'm guessing they'll still follow the current plan with the chemo first and then surgery.   If you have other questions, feel free to ask or you can private message me if you'd like.

I'm thinking of Sherry.

Why does no one point blame when a guy gets testicular cancer??? How about brain cancer - is that cause you're too smart????? I hear you e..!!!!!

Wasn't there talk a while ago about how talking on cell phones can cause brain cancer? Obviously everyone's too busy talking on their phones to pay attention to that...

Me, I haven't changed anything I've been doing so far (always did all the right things anyway). My mom had B/C when she was 36, and considering she tested negative for the gene, I did pretty well not getting it until I was 48. I can't sit around and waste my life not doing what I want to do, waiting for the other shoe to drop. As I read elsewhere recently, instead of waiting for that proverbial shoe to drop, I've opted to put it on and dance!

That said, I've made some calls today to a couple local lymphedema therapists, because I'm still puffy and uncomfortable in the ribs under my arm and by my shoulder blade. Better to rule out than ignore, right?

Hello Ladies, may I join in? I was diagnosed 10 Oct after feeling a lump. I went to have an MRI yesterday, which the dye made me sick, will have to redo on Monday. I will be having the sentinal node surgery, along with the port surgery on Wednesday. First chemo day will be the 15th..

I have researching and preparing myself for everything coming up

I was given handouts on the cocktail..Docetaxel and Cylophosphamide.. anyone have any experience with these? 2-3 3 week rounds.. I can tell you I would much rather have that vodka/cranberry as well!