Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?

Crap, crap, crap!! Excuse my profanity but I, who never curse, have discovered that some words can make you feel better, especially when shouted!  A cardiac CT I had recently (because I have an aneurysm in the ascending aorta of my heart) showed a thickening, a posterior nodule in one of my lungs. The cardiothoracic doc mentioned it but didn't seem too concerned. I guess he changed his mind because he contacted my breast surgeon, who called me this morning. He said in light of my breast cancer history, this could be metastasis.  I'll have a follow up CT in about a month to see if they can tell more.

How much stress can a person take? I'll let you know. Looks like I'm heading for a world record. 

Sandra, How much stress indeed? With all your surgeries, it's probably scar tissue showing up on the CT. Along with cursing, beating on pillows is also therapeutic. Just don't set off LE. Hugs for you both.

Oh, Sandra. That's got be like punch to your stomach. I agree that scar tissue seems to be a good bet. Prayers are streaming upward for you, Mike, and your family.

Lately I have been trading private messages with a friend from another thread on BCO about a difficult time she's having. Fortunately I've been able to help her, which is such a good feeling. I mentioned the lung issue at the end of this morning's message to her and she's just written back. Turns out she is a pulmonary radiologist! She knows what I have and said it is no big deal, quite common, and almost never cancer. She said if she's wrong, she'll fly to San Antonio and check it out herself. I feel so much better and she's happy that she was able to help me for a change. Isn't BCO wonderful?

Sandra, How wonderful that you found this resource to help decrease your fear. Will pray everything is as she suspects. I know when my daughter was going thru her BC journey I was blessed to have a contact on the Web MD BC boards who was in the pharmaceutical industry and kept me clued in to new things. It really helps. Take a deep breath and hang in. Many prayers going your way!

Jean

Sandra, what a wonderful communication you are having with this bc.org friend.  Learning of it made me feel good.

Good Morning,

It is snowing outside.  Ground is white but I don't think that much snow is really coming.  In fact, sounds like it will be an off and on event for the next week never really building up much.  Of course, I don't completely trust the weather reports around here.  I feel so awful for the upper East coast -- Boston is just really struggling with their snow and two more storms to get through.  In comparison we have NOTHING. 

Dh is at work and I may get a call later on.  Since we ( Dh and I ) never do much, though not liking the weather, we don't feel bad to work today.  All days are pretty much a holiday to me. 

Hope you all have a great Saturday.

Blessings

Jackie

Sigh of relief for you Sandra and a big whoop for Mike.

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone.

Sandra, Thinking of you. Our DD after her first round of chemo and another CT was contacted by MD Anderson and her Thymus Gland was showing that it might be a cancer. They removed the Gland and it was OK.

Carole, Mardi Gras sounds like alot of fun. Never have been.

DH went to the shop this morning and drove 20 miles back to the house to give me a dozen red roses. How sweet. We got our Ford Focus yesterday, had to drive to El Paso, the old truck made it there and back.

I need to get to killing my Rats for the day. Road trips wear me out.

Sandra: so happy your friend was able to relieve some of the worry for you

Carole, sounds like you have a fun evening to look forward to, I plan to just hibernate in my warm house while the wind blows its -40 wind chills outside tonight

Okay diane.... We are the "oldies..".... Hah! I think I would talk to the "team" that is going to be working with you.... Find out what they suggest.... See if THEY think a Lumpectomy would be enough, after all the tests are in. Or maybe a Mastectomy! It would depend on the size, type, grade, etc. And if any Lymph nodes are involved.

I didn't see an Oncologist until after my surgery.... And after the radiation. I didn't do chemo.... I had my choice, so I just didn't want to, at my age... I was 72 I think when I was diagnosed.... They will let you know, if chemo is advised.... there are so many types now!

Your diagnosis so far, might indicate your Doc might want you to think about all KINDS of things that are up in the air for you.... So just talk to your team.... Don't you hate the waiting?

Keep all your information, AND write down all the questions, and then write down the answers.... So many different things depend on where they go from here.... and you won't know for sure, until you get the final Path report.... So don't worry none.... We are always here.... and lots of these gals have gone through a lot, and are still around here talking, golfing, and just enjoying every day....

Seems like Breast Cancer for ME was a lot easier than trying to heal up from a broken hip with a rod, screws, pins, bars, shields, and pliars.... Ha! Just kidding.... A year ago today they did the surgery.... But at least it wasn't my right arm..... How would I EVER have put my make-up on, and rolled my hair every day? So see? Things could be worse.

Take good care....

Luvmaui---Happy Belated Birthday! The picture of you and your DIL is great. You all look so happy.

Carol--Hope you had fun at the parade and party. We have been to NOL a few times but never during Mardi Gras. We were there during St. Patricks Day and saw the parade then.

Sandra----glad to hear you have someone that relieved your worry. Hope Mike is feeling stronger every day.Prayers sent to you both.

Magicbean----I decided on the lumpectomy after talking with my doctor and the surgeon. Then had the mammosite twice a day for a 5 days. Now taking Femara and have few SE. Good luck to you through this journey. The ladies here are super and someone is always around to answer any questions.

Had a lot of cleaning and laundry to do today to catch up with things. Last weekend was spent with the flu and had to stay home from work on Monday. I had the flu shot in October too. Thursday I had to get an MMR shot since my blood test came back I was not immune to the measles. We had to be tested for work if we were born before 1957 or did not have our records to prove we had the shots before.

Very cold and windy here today. Suppose to get some snow tomorrow. DH is having surgery on his shoulder on Monday. They thought it was his rotary cup(sp) but it is bone on bone so they will scrape some of the bone away. He will be home the same day but off work for a few weeks.

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone.

Diane,

Welcome !!!  I am coming in so late.  I just noticed your post seconds before I had to run out the door and get to work. I was diagnosed in 2007 so I thinking there are already lots of new txs.  I also was taken care of by the V.A. so I didn't feel at the time as though I had as many choices as some of you ladies did -- but I did have a wonderful caring female Surgeon who did a fantastic job. 

Your pathology report is your guide.  Hopefully your Oncologist can  help you choose which course of action best suits your position.  There are a lot of factors to consider and he might think an Oncotype test is in order.  Also, some radiation.  Write down all the questions you can think of -- like any further tests that may be needed, or if he thinks you may need chemo and radiation.  If so what type of chemo etc. 

It is sort of a whole new language but can be fairly easy for some people.  If you don't feel you have answers that feel right, by all means get a second opinion.  Many women do.  I didn't but my surgeon was so good I didn't feel the need.  At her office I also made friends ( we email each other to this day ) with the Avon Breast Navigator.  She as well provided so much information that I felt I could get my chemo at the V.A. Hosp. and feel secure that all would be well and it was.  Usually when all else is done you might be counseled to take one of the five yr. pills -- mainly to suppress your estrogen and progesterone  production since they were feeding your cancer. 

At some place, when you have had most of your questions answered and you start to feel that you are "getting" things handled, hopefully you will be able to relax and not feel overwhelmed and know that you and your Dr. are doing what it takes to put you on the road to wellness. 

Please come often, there are others here whose treatments were much more recent than mine. 

Blessings,

Jackie

The smallest act of kindness
is worth more than the grandest intention.
- Oscar Wilde

Hi, Diane.  Several of our ladies have already offered good advice.  Maybe you should take a piece of paper and write down the advantages and disadvantages of the two options, Lumpectomy and Mastectomy.  I opted for MX with my husband's full support.  I knew I would want reconstruction and the one-step was easily available.  I would go into the hospital with A cup breasts and leave the hospital with A or small B cup.  I would never have another mammogram or mammogram report.  And I would avoid radiation, which has its own discomforts and SEs and risks.

I would NOT have avoided chemo unless I received a low oncotype number.  Thank goodness, I did.  My recovery was complicated by some healing issues related to my one-step surgery but I did heal.  And I would make the same choices again. 

Women who opt for the simple MX with no reconstruction heal quite fast.  I have talked with some who are happy with their choice.  They do not miss breasts.  But I wanted to keep the same body shape. 

There are many true stories out there.  Some women who opt for MX discover there are other tumors in the same breast or in the so-called healthy breast.  In my case, no other tumors were discovered in either breast.  What worried me was that many women who have lumpectomies grow more tumors in future years.  I didn't want that anxiety.  Many women do NOT grow more tumors.

My main worry is something my BC dr. told me kindly after I had healed and was ready to go back to "normal" life.  People who have one type of cancer are more likely to develop another type of cancer than people who have not had cancer.  I know several bc survivors who have been unfortunate enough to be a part of this statistic.  We have to be vigilant in our health care. 

Good luck, Diane, in making your decisions that are right for YOU.