MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

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  • macatacmv
    macatacmv Member Posts: 1,386
    edited December 2011

    Congrats Paula! 

    I am still waiting for path results. 

    I have an 97 year old aunt that is still going strong. She just went to FL. for Christmas to be with her family, but most of the time she lives by herself. She has just decided to stop driving. My father just passed in March at 93 years old. So there is a longevity gene in my family besides the BC one.

    I received my mother's cookbook after she passed 3 years ago. It is the Joy of Cooking published in 1946. I have a newer Joy of Cooking but this one has her notes and clippings in it. Plus some of our holiday tradition recipes. I didn't do the cooking this year, but we  had a great dinner anyway. Maybe some new traditions were created. I have to admit that I have gotten some Rachael Ray cookbooks and enjoy them very much, the time saving quality, plus the ease of preperation helps me get dinner on the table sooner rather than later after coming upstairs after work. 

    I had an appt. with Health Care Access woman yesterday to make sure my insurance is going to continue on smoothly. My yearly re-evaluation came up and I didn't want to make any mistakes and have a lapse at this point in time. 

    Just thought I would post since I have been lurking again.  

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  • jo1955
    jo1955 Member Posts: 8,543
    edited December 2011

    Paula66 - Congrats on your one year cancerversary.  You've come a long way baby!!!

                   

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  • Kay_G
    Kay_G Member Posts: 3,345
    edited December 2011

    Congrats Paula66, hope you do something to celebrate today!

    macatacmv, glad you posted!  I watch Rachel Ray once in a while and she does seem to have pretty quick and easy, yet tastey recipes.  Maybe I get one of her cook books.  The barefoot contessa recipes are similar in that respect.

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited December 2011

    Woohoo Paula!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited December 2011

    EXCELLENT news Paula!! The first year truly IS the worst...just like marriage! hheheheheh

    Mac, are you REALLY a cobbler??

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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited December 2011

    Congrats, Paula!  Happy dance tattoo...

                                                        

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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited December 2011

    Barbe,  What makes you think mac is fruit-filled baked dessert?  Wink

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited December 2011

    When she said she "went upstairs from work" I thought "AHA!!" here is a woman who works from home. Maybe I can do what she does!! So I clicked on her name which took me to her home page and there it was, "cobbler". I don't think I can do that....sigh.

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  • odie16
    odie16 Member Posts: 1,882
    edited December 2011

    Paula - may you have many more years cancer free... Congrats on having the worst behind you.....

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  • LovesChristmas-Barb
    LovesChristmas-Barb Member Posts: 706
    edited December 2011

    Yay Paula!! May you have many more years free from cancer....

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  • NativeMainer
    NativeMainer Member Posts: 10,462
    edited December 2011

    Hooray Paula!

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  • Ceeztheday
    Ceeztheday Member Posts: 403
    edited December 2011

    Paula, hooray!!!!!!

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  • madpeacock
    madpeacock Member Posts: 369
    edited December 2011

    Thanks for the pocket party everyone!! Sorry you all had to wait so long - over an hour parked in the waiting room, then called for bloodwork, then back to the waiting room. Did I hear snoring in there? When they finally called me - MO called me herself and not a nurse - my leg had gone completely to sleep. So I'm limping into the exam room and fussing about my leg being asleep. MO says, "Oh! Tamoxifen will do that to you!" I said, "So does sitting in the waiting room for over an hour. " She changed the subject quickly. Heh.

    Nothing new, I think. They were so backed up that I didn't get my bloodwork results, but I am having a bone density tomorrow, and then don't see her again until April.  Next mammo is in Feb, so I think I have a reprieve from doctors for a while - yay!

    Paula - happy dance for your one-year anniversary!! 

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  • SAB
    SAB Member Posts: 1,498
    edited December 2011

    Sherry, ladies like your aunt are inspiring for sure.

    6 month mammo and ultrasound today was all clear.  I was so worried--had felt some changes in my "good" breast tissue.  Dr. said it was due to weight loss.  Whew.  Time to indulge in that "occasional" drink!

       

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  • jo1955
    jo1955 Member Posts: 8,543
    edited December 2011

    SAB - Congrats on the good news.  Have a great New Years celebration.

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  • Ceeztheday
    Ceeztheday Member Posts: 403
    edited December 2011

    SAB- Hooray!!!!

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  • Valjean
    Valjean Member Posts: 1,898
    edited December 2011

    Paula, congrats on one year. YAY!! Doing the happy dance!!!!!!

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  • Paula66
    Paula66 Member Posts: 1,728
    edited December 2011

    Thank You everyone!  It feels so good to say that outloud and mean it!

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  • NativeMainer
    NativeMainer Member Posts: 10,462
    edited December 2011

    Hooray for SAB!

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  • WaveWhisperer
    WaveWhisperer Member Posts: 898
    edited December 2011
    I love this thread about our mothers' cookbooks! Elimar, my mom used the same one -- the American Woman's CookBook, published in 1939, the year she and my dad married. I've taken a photo of it, but aren't sure how to attach it.
     
     
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  • WaveWhisperer
    WaveWhisperer Member Posts: 898
    edited December 2011

    Paula, congratulations on your 1-year anniversary. I know we're all envious but very proud and happy for you.

     SAB, yeah!!!! 

    OK, obviously my attempt to attach a photo didn't work. Can someone tell me how to attach a photo that you've taken and is now in your Pictures file? Thanks! 

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  • macatacmv
    macatacmv Member Posts: 1,386
    edited December 2011

    Good Morning everyone!

    madpeacock glad you got thru the waiting and now have a reprieve. 

    Yes I am a Cobbler and not some fruit filled pastry. LOL I fell into this job while trying to figure out "what to do with my life". I was a stitcher at a canvas bag factory part time so I worked with industrial sewing machines already. I worked for the older man that owned the shop for 8 years before he wanted to retire. Then I took it over at the end of 1981. I had a storefront "downtown" until I had my first child, then realized I had to figure out how to be 2 places at once. So bought a home in 1986 on a main road and moved the shop into the walk in basement. I hit the real estate market just right. And have been providing a service to the public ever since. I've had to cut back on work abit (closed this week) and not sure what new year will bring.

    I am waiting for the call from doctor's office now!!!! I missed a call on my cell phone yesterday afternoon. The nurse said it looked like good news, but to call the office.I called like two minutes later and had to leave a message. Aghhhhhhhh! So now sitting here with 2 different phones beside me and trying to not to obsess. I don't want this to take over my life.

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited December 2011

    SAB yeah for good results!

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  • odie16
    odie16 Member Posts: 1,882
    edited December 2011

    Congrats on the good results SAB!!!

    Have a question for the group - I have heard of NED but am not sure when that applies...Is it once we get thru the 5 yr follow-up period? 

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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited December 2011
    macatacmv,  For so many, having the surgery usually means asking "the boss' for time off, but being self-employed as you are, it's not a matter of using your "sick days;" you have to close up shop.  That seems to put some added hardship onto the whole situation.  As bad as it is to get a Dx right before Christmas, the timing seems good for you...like it might have been a slow week anyway, and maybe gives your family extra time to be home for you too.  Now relax!  That nurse was giving you a clue to stop worrying.
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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited December 2011

    odie, "5 years" is not used in breast cancer. NED just means remission. So whenever you don't have cancer in your body, you're NED. No evidence of disease. Getting to the 5 year mark means nothing, except that you're 5 years older. Hate to be the bearer of bad news....

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  • odie16
    odie16 Member Posts: 1,882
    edited December 2011
    Thanks for the clarification Barbe and the laugh.... Tongue out
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  • macatacmv
    macatacmv Member Posts: 1,386
    edited December 2011

    Just talked to the nurse on the phone. Yes good news! Clean margins, no node involvement. Now can meet the team and go on to next steps. No more surgery right now!!! So feeling lighter. Post op appt will be the 9th. I realize this is a long journey, but I take comfort that others have gone thru this and are going thru this the same time as me also.

    elimar: The business has been thu a lot over the years. My customers seem to ride out the storms with me. So we'll see how this goes, a day at a time.  

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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited December 2011

    I always counter Barbe by saying, cancer-free at the 5-year mark is still something to celebrate; but I always agree with Barbe that ER+ recurrences after the 5-year point are still all too common.

    I think the real distinction is whether the ER+ woman happens to be a Grade 3, or a Grade 1 or 2.  To get a Grade 3 designation, the mitotic rate of the tumor has to be, at least, a score of 2 and is often a 3.  So, having a faster growth rate, this type would have a recurrence appear sooner than a Grade 1, and many Grade 2's.

    ER+ women are given Tamox or AI, with four outcomes.  1) Recur in the first 5 years or not OR 2) recur after the first 5 years or not.  In instance 1)  Hormonal therapy not effective, or not completely effective, some do recur.  This would have Grade 3 women recurring early on in the 5-year period, Grade 1 & 2 occurring somewhat later in the 5-year period and beyond.  Instance 2)  Hormonal therapy is effective.  All Grades staying NED through the 5-year period or hormonal therapy, but as the benefit wears off after the 5-year period some do recur.  The Grade 3 women who will recur will most likely do so earlier than the Grade 1 or 2.

    What I am trying to say, by the examples, is that the 5-year mark is probably more meaningful for those with Grade 3 aggressive cancers, less with Grade 2, and the least with Grade 1, which can take a long time to rear it's ugly head again.  The hormone therapy may be a "fix" for some, merely a postponment for others.

    I will be celebrating at the 5-year point, and happy to go off the Tamox. BUT (big butt) I will be all the more watchful after that time.
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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited December 2011
    mac,  Yay!  That is good news.  One more step forward.
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