Hello, Anyone Over 70????

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---

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

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

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. 

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.

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.

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:  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.

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

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.

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

Hi all 

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 ?

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

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

Hugs & kisses   ♥♥♥♥♥