Threads that are permitted to go on for thousands of posts

I understand that you are frustrated. Long threads when you are seeking specific information can seem daunting. However, I fail to see where having 25-30 threads locked at 500 or 1000 posts would be especially helpful if the "conversation" continues from thread to thread. At least with the 335 pages, you can choose to pick more current years or check across time.

It truly depends on the day for me - sometimes I find all the pats on the back, thumbs ups, off topic conversations, etc make it difficult to get to the meat in the threads. Other days I'm thankful for the camaraderie that all of those same things bear witness to.

On the particular thread you mentioned, there is a constant back and forth. One poster in particular tells her horror story with AIs almost every single day. To attempt to balance the horror, others will remind the board that many have no side effects and often those with no trouble are not posting but "out living life." Pages and pages and pages of the same but all well intentioned posters trying to share.

One of the problems with the lengthy pages has to do with the reworking of the profile information at the bottom of each post. When BCO reworked this, it ended up having multitudes of redundant information per person. I've not updated mine because I did not want to add to the extra stuff. In addition, I think my profile is easier to read and easier for someone to get the facts fast. Pretty much the only thing I would change would be letting others know that my grade, stage, etc was not known on that initial November diagnosis date. There are posters who have profiles that go on for almost or a whole screen on my iphone. It's too much. This has been pointed out and supposedly is being dealt with in some form or fashion.

It's not perfect. And the mods do the best with the hand they are dealt. Again - sorry for your frustration.

Diana

you could also start with a new post and create your own forum with your specific questions. The women on here are super generous and you will almost always get relevant responses. If I see a super long post, I jump to a more current year because treatments have changed so much that older posts may not be as valuable or accurate. As an example, Perjeta used to be used metastatic, then neoadjuvant, but is now used as an adjuvant treatment for all stages. But if you look back to older posts, you will see people saying it isn't used as an adjuvant treatment for stage 1, which is not the case anymore. That might help you some too

I have to agree with the ladies, Jane, I have only been on these boards since August 2014 and I started out reading threads from the very beginning and quickly learned to find a spot in the thread that interested me and went from there.  I have made some great friends on the threads and have received so much help from different ladies that I would hate to lose those threads that are so valuable to me and helped me through my darkest days into my best days. 

I still go back and read some of the older threads just to remind myself what I have been through and my outlook on things at that point in my life.  It also reminds me that, not only did I get a lot of help and guidance, but I also gave it and that is how my friendships have developed with some ladies.  As I said, I had surgery in August 2014 and started chemo later that month and have developed strong friendships with the ladies in the "September 2014 starting chemo", because I had been there already. 

There are a great bunch of ladies on these threads and when you get involved, before you know it, you will have many cyber-friends and have many favorite topic sites.  Come on in, it is great!!!!!! 

I think that locking the threads after a certain number of posts would effectively "bury" it, never to be seen again. When somebody finds an old thread that is relevant to them, then if they post on it, it bumps it to the active page. And then another women might see it, and enjoy or learn something from it. There is actually one I found once that is hilarious called "lets do our own study on how we got breast cancer." And I would have hated missing out on that one! Periodically, it goes inactive for a while, but there are some great women there.

I have really gotten to know and love some of the women who have passed from reading older threads too. I wouldn't know them at all, because I almost never use the search function (although I am really happy that it is there for when I do) if someone had not posted on it. Bco is a unique social experiment that seems to be working just fine the way it is. The only thing I would change is some of the clumsiness and length of the DX signature. Maybe it would be better if we only saw all that by clicking on a poster's name?

In a way, it is like a library, with a bunch of information, and I for one really enjoy studying how treatments have changed over the years.

Plus, I always want my older posts available to me, like a diary, to see how I have changed too.

You are pretty much a newbie here and are already wanting to try and figure out how you would run the show?

I have found that if I ask a question in a long thread, someone will recap the answer. If it was in another thread, they say "seatcjh for the old thread" and I often can't find an answer.

JaneQ - As you can see, most of us get very passionate about the threads & people who have supported us through our own nightmares. And BC is certainly a nightmare. As I said in the beginning, I do believe you will find that most of the threads that have been going for a long time will welcome your questions and concerns and happily re-cap things that have been said before if you don't want to read previous posts.

So ... I'm in Houston. I've had my treatments & surgeries at Baylor, Methodist & MD Anderson. Where in Texas are you?

It's great you can voice your concerns here! Just sayin! I do hope arimidex is kind to you. What is your question about it?

Hi guys, . When I first came here, I used the search function a lot, and also the active threads. I don't think I even added any favorites for almost two years! But, when i would go to a thread, i did like wading through it, up to a point. Then I would randomly skip ahead. or, sometimes i would just skip to the last post. That's always an option. I hope I didn't offend you, JaneQPoppy. That wasn't my intention.

wrenn, I've missed you - nice to hear from you again.

Amy

Wrenn.... I don't think it's an "issue", any more than anything than anyone else posts is an "issue". Jane has a legitimate query. Why is she being lambasted for posting it? Maybe that's why she hasn't come back to the thread.

Wrenn. Sorry,it seems I misunderstood what you were saying then

i've been on this board for almost 6 years now. I love the long threads and its true that you really get to know people.

Just saw this thread. It's an interesting point about how many pages are tied in with one thread, but that just tells me for the most part that the thread has been relevant previously and must still be relevant to many people. I sometimes have trouble getting through all the pages as well, but if i think the thread is important, I'll skim the posts for what I want or i'll just go to the search with some key words to help narrow down some of the threads specifically. I agree with some that these threads and posts have created lifetime friendships and support that we at BCO need. Yes, people get off topic sometimes and elaborate maybe more than necessary, but all in all, this is a sounding board for the good, bad, and the ugly. I think we all agree that to not have this site to express our deepest thoughts, concerns, and even happy moments, would be a tremendous loss for all of us. Just my thoughts. Ann

Janie, it's seems with your statement that you've terminated the conversation. Plus, you thank those that supported your position which by exclusion, negates those that you perceive don't support your position.

Just b/c you have a past experience elsewhere that was run differently, doesn't allow you to ramrod your perception of how we should be.

You have had responses from many long time caring members that have defined how the discussion boards run. Every post gives a clue. But each of your posts wants us to bend to your perception. Not gonna happen.

Every person is welcome to BCO, but insulting how we are, what we are, and the function of the boards makes it hard for us to throw our arms around you. But each poster has. Did you hear it? Did you feel it?

They're four types of thread. Technical ie. ports, social, technical turned to social i.e each chemo group, Arimedex. Chit forget the fourth. Maybe technical that wore itself out and succumbed to very appropriate punning i.e.constipation.

Lurk awhile to determine if a thread fits you.

The discussion boards are for discussion, did you do your homework first by reading the main boards?