Hello, Anyone Over 70????

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  • dogsandjogs
    dogsandjogs Member Posts: 1,907
    edited March 2012

    Thanks Everyone ---my SEs are very bad and I'm not usually a complainer. Diarrhea, really bad stress incontinence (if I get the urge to go to the bathroom and don't go right away I leak all over the place (sorry to be so graphic) I had this before, but never this bad. Extreme depression, vision problems, bone aches. My little toe hurts all the time, my shoulders ache and also my hips. I worry about my bones because I have osteoporosis and have already broken a hip and a wrist (this was before the cancer diagnosis. My last bone density test showed the other hip is in danger of fracture. I am looking into some natural supplements.  PS I do realize I can take meds for the stress incontinence, stuff for depression and maybe stuff for the bones pain. But, I am already on drugs for Afibs (3) Fosamax and BP. I really don't want more drugs.

    This is a depressing rant - sorry---

  • duckyb1
    duckyb1 Member Posts: 13,369
    edited March 2012

    Dog...........Rant on, we're here to listen.............hugs.

  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited March 2012

    hello everyone especially my partner in crime altho on this subject we dont agree.

    When the onco.told me i would only have a 2% chance over a period of 5 yrs.of the big c comin back i knew right then and there i would not take any of the drugs.I SAID only 2%.and she put her head down.Thats when i said no.she told me i dont blame you....

    im a gambler and a risk taker....i love my life...the fact i can do all the things i did before the beast came along.THANK YOU BUT NO THANKS.

    I went back to my zumba class on friday....it felt good after 2 yrs of not dancing.

    the final decision has to be yours and yours alone.

    you can always start and if it gives you problems you can come off any time you want.Im the first one to say give it a try.

    good luck.huggggggs K

  • duckyb1
    duckyb1 Member Posts: 13,369
    edited March 2012

    Hi Gran Girl..........My partner in crime.........................I agree with you completely about giving it a try..............

    Problem is, the MO's are giving everyone different answers about recurrance %'s........someone needs to really get their head together, and come up with one answer, but I imagine they are basing it on what happens in their experience with patients.

    But then again, why should they start now.............does anyone out there really believe it is in the hands of the MO, RO, BS, or any other person...........................we all know who handles our fate......................and he ain't tellin..................hugs

  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited March 2012

    Yeah Ducky----how right you are....Its all up to the MAN UPSTAIRS!!!!!!!!

    If you just read some of the posts everyone can see the dos and donts...well i did more of the donts...except its not in my family.

    i never ate properly,smoked,never had more then 3 or 4 mammos in my life,had dense breasts(who knew that was a problem)took prempro for a gazillion yrs.ha.thats a joke in itself.7 drs.told me to take it.I never breast fed any of my 4 kids.And im sure there is more.It really is the luck of the draw.

    be kind to yourself.WE OVER 70s have to really live every day like its the last...i never ever thought at 71 i would live to see 3 great grandkids.go figure.

    Ducky---bring the vodka....lets live for the moment!!!!!!

    hugggggs everyone K

  • barbiecorn
    barbiecorn Member Posts: 437
    edited March 2012

    Did I read 2% - oh boy....I just had BMX on 2/1 and don't want to have all those SE and I know that will be one of the drugs of choice...I am 66 years young and don't want to feel like 90...I already have family history heart problems, arthritis, joint pain, etc....hugs to all!!!!! Yes, live for the moment, day by day feeling well and happy....Quality of life is so important!!!

  • Kaara
    Kaara Member Posts: 3,647
    edited March 2012

    I had a lumpectomy for my low grade stage 1 bc.  My onco score was 13, so didn't need chemo.  I passed on rads because what they wanted to give me IMO was overkill for what I had.  If they had been willing to give me the external partial breast rads...5 days 2x a day, then I would have done it, but Sylvester said they would, and then tried the bait and switch tactic, and I refused.  Rads only protect the breast where you had the bc, and if it comes back, I have options.  If I did the rads and it came back, MX would be my only choice.

    Now I am faced with taking tamox which I started and stopped when I got some bad SE's (in all fairness could have been a cold that I developed) so I'm starting back to see how I do.  I was told that without rads or hormonals, I have a 30% chance that the bc will return.  If I take the hormonal, that risk was reduced to 9%.  What hasn't been factored into these numbers is the anti cancer diet and supplementation program that I am following.  I expect that to reduce the risk even further.

    QOL is a priority to me, so I won't do anything that diminishes that.  I would not suggest that anyone follow my path, as it is individual to me and my needs.  I was willing to take some risk to avoid the radiation exposure on my left side bc, that could also impact my heart and lungs.

    Granny:  The study that was mentioned on this site about older women not doing as well IMO is just one study.  I also read studies that said older women do not benefit all that much from chemo and radiation when they have the early stage low grade cancers.  My BS didn't agree with that study and tried to talk me into doing the full rads treatment.  I think in the end you have to do your research and trust that you are making the decision that is right for you.

    One thing for certain...when you have bc...doing nothing is NOT an option.  Even if you do all the conventional treatments, if you don't make diet and lifestyle changes, you are risking a recurrence. 

  • duckyb1
    duckyb1 Member Posts: 13,369
    edited March 2012

    Not sure what to think about all this "older women" theory................

    My MO told me about the over 70, and Rad therapy.........My RO said even though my margins were good, in her opinion she would not agree with the "no rad" idea...............so I did it..........not sure what will happen down the road as a result of getting "rad" treatment, but this I do know the "study" on women over 70 was too new for me to take that chance........I had a 1.5. margin in 1 area of the lumpectomy, and both BS and RO agreed on the treatment, along with the MO, but she told me the other option of age vs. Rads.

    Now another story of how they can be wrong with individual treatment........................my SIL's cousin had a tumor, at that point it was not invasive, so they did a lumpectomy.............when she asked about further treatment the BS said there would be no further treatment.............because of the small size of the tumor they would do nothing........................she went for another mammogram which is now 6 months later, and the tumor has grown again in the same area...................when she asked "would rads have helped".............the BS said "yes, but over 70, and small tumor doesn't require Rads................now she is going back in for more surgery................and will have Rads when she is healed...............

    So there is no real answer to what you should do, other then to say, do your research...........decide what you want to go through to survive.............and put 'your faith in God, that is if your decision was not the right one...............he makes it for you.............hugs.

  • Kaara
    Kaara Member Posts: 3,647
    edited March 2012

    I think the key is good follow up...make sure you have thermograms and mammography regularly.  I plan to alternate every three months for a couple of years.

  • dogsandjogs
    dogsandjogs Member Posts: 1,907
    edited March 2012

    I love this thread - you are all so supportive. I didn't get rads because I was told that women over 70----blah, blah, etc.

     So if you don't get the hormone treatment or rads the odds are 30 percent? That is really high. 

  • dogsandjogs
    dogsandjogs Member Posts: 1,907
    edited March 2012

    What is a thermogram? The Breast Center never mentioned that.  I have been getting mammograms for years and just had my first one after the lumpectomy last Feb.   But----both my cancers were found by me---mammograms didn't catch either one---I would really like an annual MRI, but insurance probably would not pay.

  • dogsandjogs
    dogsandjogs Member Posts: 1,907
    edited March 2012

    Thanks Ducky~  I'm normally an upbeat type of person, but the Aromasin is making me so depressed  and negative about everything

  • dogsandjogs
    dogsandjogs Member Posts: 1,907
    edited March 2012

    Granny - even though I'm not supposed to drink -on blood thinners so the doc said no--I could use a Bloody Mary right now.  Yummy!  Thanks for your post--

  • dogsandjogs
    dogsandjogs Member Posts: 1,907
    edited March 2012

    Granny - did you do rads?

  • Kaara
    Kaara Member Posts: 3,647
    edited March 2012

    dogsandjogs:  Thermography is not something that the conventional medical community normally does since they have so much invested in mammography equipment.  A thermogram is a dianostic tool that uses infrared light to light up areas in the breast or body where small blood vessels are forming..ones that could feed a tumor.  This can be detected in a thermogram long before a mammogram can detect it.  If something like this shows up, you still have to have an MRI to make a final diagnosis, but as an early detection tool it's great, and no radiation, so no harm to the body.  I plan to alternate with mammograms every three months until I'm a few years out.  It is not covered by insusrance here in the US, but I would rather pay out of pocket and catch something early.  You can google it and read more about it.  It's done a lot in Europe.

  • Wren44
    Wren44 Member Posts: 8,585
    edited March 2012

    Dogsand jogs: My BS said I would need rads with a lumpectomy. As you can see from my stats, I ended up with a mastectomy and will not need radiation. I'm a little distrustful of those over 70 studies. IMHO 70 year olds are a different picture from 80 year olds, never mind 90s. There is such a difference in people in that age bracket. I think some of the thinking was that women in their 80s would have other conditions which rads might worsen. When I saw the RO before the 2nd surgery, he thought I would be eligible for the 3 week version which would have been somewhat easier on my body. I must say I'm very happy that rads are now out of the picture.

  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited March 2012

    Dog-yes I did rads.I even started a thread about after rads.Its still active .

    Gotta tell ya that i went kicking and screaming to do those damn rads.But i did it.

    Thats what brought me down to the 2%.I was also 69 then.And ALL my drs.told me to do it.Not even to mention my family begging me to do it.I am glad I did.

    I did change my lifestyle and some eating habits.Im workin on it for 1 1/2 yrs.This doesnt happen over night.

    Follow your heart.good luck.huggggsK

  • duckyb1
    duckyb1 Member Posts: 13,369
    edited March 2012

    Dog......Granny does have a great thread on Rads...............it sure helped me, but then she is one of my go-to people when I'm looking for a "good story", "good advice", "a laugh, or anything else this charming lady has to offer.

    Sorry Granny, had to give you credit for the good things you do..............ok, now should I tell them your vices..................................hahahahahahahahaha

  • dogsandjogs
    dogsandjogs Member Posts: 1,907
    edited March 2012

    Kaara: Thanks for the info. I will check with my insurance, but since they are so reluctant to pay for MRIs they would probably not pay for thermograms w/ an MRI. 

    Granny: Oh, I was hoping the 2 percent was without rads.  I will have to try cancer math again. couldn't get it to work the last time.

  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited March 2012

    Ducky---I keep missing you...thanks for the nice things you did say about me NOW is the time for me to show the sistas what a pain in the ass i could be ready?????have you made a decision yet?????and you know what I mean????well....have you?

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 25,634
    edited March 2012

    Oh granny...you make me laugh.....I don't think ducky made a decision yet.  Wink

    Hi all  Smile

  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited March 2012

    And you Sheila made me lol...really i did.

    I quit buggin her for a while...its time to light a match up her behind....

    Ducky!!!!!!!!!!!!!! are you duckin me???????????ha ha ha ha

    How ya doin Sheila?

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 25,634
    edited March 2012

    Today I'm calm & collected granny.

    I cooked all day....made red lentil soup...zucchini casserole.....spinach..............

    Ducky goes to hiding when you start questioning her........maybe she is gonna surprise us.......

    Right ducky ?

  • duckyb1
    duckyb1 Member Posts: 13,369
    edited March 2012

    My Dear and Bestest Friends.....................................I will be there if I can, I swear to you. .........That is a promise.......................I plan to do a "Flash Mob", if I get there.................hahahahaha...........light the match Granny................................

  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited March 2012

    Sheila & Ducky-----have i told you lately how much i love both of you?well i do.the 2 of you just make me feel so good...both of you gave me a good laugh today.Thank you.

    And to the rest of the sistas please dont feel left out.We have this joke goin on for months.

    Did you ever think that after 70 life would be this way.damn i thought i would be dead and buried way before now.Yay we made it...Life is good when everything is said and done.We are even kickin cancers butt!!!!!!!!

    hugggggggs everyone K

  • duckyb1
    duckyb1 Member Posts: 13,369
    edited March 2012

    Granny................loves ya back girlfriend.....................and remember, we have to stay "Buddy's"..........one day my Grayson, could meet, your Grayson, and we could be frigging related...................hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 25,634
    edited March 2012

    granny.....What a sweet think to say...i feel the same way...like we are all families but never met before.

    Hugs & kisses   ♥♥♥♥♥

  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited March 2012

    Hey Ducky-----boy meets girl..Greyson meets grayson...imagine if we were really related...

    for anyone that is interested Ducky has a GD named Grayson and I have a great GS named Greyson...They are almost the same age(I think)

    Sheila----this family is gonna meet...for sure...

    huggggggs everyone K

  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited March 2012
    Hey you!!!!!yeah you!!!!!!where the hell are you???????
  • Claudia413
    Claudia413 Member Posts: 114
    edited May 2012

    I've been busy with "real life" for quite a while, but I'm checking to see who is still around. I am now officially 70 (as of April 13) and have a great-granddaughter Olivia as of last Sept 14.

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