MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

Eli my MO did it this year because I made him feel bad that he draws my blood every three months and did not want to get stuck again.  At my MO they do my bloodwork first in the lab then you go see the Dr.  The lab told me next time just get the order from my GYN who normally does it yearly and just bring it in with me and they can draw it for her with the same stick. This year I had been on tamox about 4 months when I had my cholesteral checked and my ratio had lower.  I always have overal high, but my good chol is really high and my bad is low so my ratio is great.  This time my good was a little lower and my bad was a little higher.  I am really hoping that was a fluke and not going to continue to change.  I already eat oatmeal every day for breakfast and work out all the time.  However my Dad died at 49 of a heart attach so I do have the  genes.

Welcome newbies!  Vent away, cry, scream, laugh, it's all good here.  Great news Janis and Claire.  Barbe-Your waiting with friends, so vent as needed girl.

I'm the girl in front with the skirt above her knees.  I always like the younger clothes.  Too bad they don't make me look young!  My PCP does my blood work.  I go in next Monday for that.  Hope my cholesterol is even lower this time and my A1C.  Diet is a 4 letter word to me so I don't even think of it as something I have to do, I just try to eat right.  Oatmeal, YUM, I like mine with raisins and walnut pieces and splenda.  I use water rather than milk (don't like milk, YUCK!)  Kitty

Eli I cant find my spot in the pic.  It musta been taken while I was out sick one day, lol!  I can safely say Im not the chic in a dress!

Is that me in the back with the blue top and long red hair? Must be an old picture, since my hair's short now... though I'm growing it long again, so maybe it's a photo from the future??

Hugs to all!

I always call it a Slam-O-Gram.  Just seems to be more descriptive! 

OMG Claire, Im shocked!

Funny Claire, I bet that gives you lots of confidence in the new nurse huh?

I missed getting in the picture, I was out riding my mule.

1/2 way thru the week, I hope those who have had tests are good & I'm keeping fingers crossed for those still going in this week. I'll bring along some of my new favorite (healthy) treat, apples smothered with honey & cinnamin...or maybe some mint chocolate chip ice cream to the PPs

I'm beginning to feel better just reading up on all your posts. I was a bit grumpy today thinking about upcoming surgery. What a pain in the butt.... Thanks girls! 

Claire........Good thing I wasn't drinking anything when I read your post!  LOLOLOL....oh my!  She went to University of Stoopid! 

Question ladies- Do you count your cancerversary from dx or from the surgery that gave you clear margins?

Ceez, I count mine from the day of DX as there was only seven days between DX and surgery.  It doesn't really matter, it's a personal coice.

Mmmmm I think you can just see me at the back on the right.....maybe.

Love n hugs.  Chrissy

Noodle love the eye candy and love that movie too!  I could watch it over and over.

I count mine at the time the cancer was removed.  Like Chrissy says its just a personal choice.  

Victoria - how you handle it is kind of a personal thing. I usually LOVED to do all of that helping with holiday activities stuff, so I was bummed when I missed out on some things dealing with treatments a couple of years ago. On the other hand, I have a friend who was generally overcommited to all of that "helping at the school" stuff, and she was unapologetic about using her cancer to make a break from it. She said, "If you're dealt the cancer card, you should play it."

If you don't feel up to doing these things and you don't want to explain why, you can just be vague - most people won't force details out of you. Sometimes, doing a bit of these kinds of things can be a nice distraction, if you enjoy it and you get energy from helping out in this way. If it sucks the energy out of you on a normal day OR your doctors have cautioned you about staying away from germs, don't feel guilty: this is a time when you have to focus on yourself and do things to help yourself heal and move forward. If that process includes skipping out on all of the holiday overkill this year, so be it. Sometimes it seems like a few of us do it all - don't feel guilty about sharing the "fun" this year if you need to. I did try to get my husband to do some of the things I usually did; let's just say he has other strengths.

I tended to tell people about the bc if it was going to prevent me from doing something. Everyone understands that it's a huge game changer. But in addition, I wanted to tell people to (1) help dispell myths such as "I don't have to worry about breast cancer because it's not in my family, and (2) I got such great help from the aforementioned friend who was diagnosed a year before me that I want to make sure someone else has the opportunity to use me as a source of help. 

Just wanted to let you all know that yesterday I celebrated a Tamoxiversary: I completed three fun-filled years of Tamoxification, and tonight's dosing will begin the first of my two remaining years. Please, no celebrations. Tamoxifen is not particularly helpful with my libido, so partially clothed men aren't much of a treat. Also, if I have too much sugar or high-fat food or alcohol, I have to endure a festival of flashing. Most of my side effects have moderated, which may be good or bad; I feel better, but does this mean my body is secretly accessing estrogen it has hidden somewhere? I don't like Tamoxifen, but I DO like having something I can take that feels protective.