MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

macatacmv · July 2015

Deb, I like some of those sayings, now if I could remember them I would actually be able to use one or two.

I forgot to mention that I liked your blue jay pics also. Birds are very entertaining. Every morning I have to do my chores. Feed the dog, fill all the bird feeders, wash out the bird baths, water the plants and then play with the dog with the hose. She likes to chase water. I also have lots of baby squirrels at my feeders this time of year (and the fledgling birds are so cute with the momma feeding them) So I put feed out for them too. Who has time to work even if I had any energy?

bunchie, yeah that kinda sad feeling. I know it well. It just has to be gotten through to get to the other side. Remember 60 is the new 40 or some such bull.......

glennie19 · July 2015

Deborah, I love those!

Eph3_12 · July 2015

Yes, particularly, if I agreed with you we'd both be wrong. I need to try to committ that to memory.

1st day of new job down. Only 1824 to go! Headphones

NativeMainer · July 2015

Those are great sayings! Talk about surprise endings!

One day down, it's a start, unless you are going up stairs.

kris1114 · July 2015

Hello. I'm Kristin and I am 39 going on 40. I have/had stage 2B ER/PR strong + HER2 - Grade 3- 8.6 cm tumor no lymph node involvement. KI67- (60 something, I forget, can't find paperwork) Oncotype score-15 (thank goodness) I have been through 4 rounds of Taxotere/Cytoxan and 30 radiation treatments. I have 3 left.

Next stop is the dreaded hormone treatment. Tamoxifen was not recommended due to history of blood clots.

I have osteopenia in my spine.

Recommended for me is Aromasin and Zoladex (Doc says this is a more effective route anyways, but more aggressive) as well as bone infusions to hopefully prevent oseoporosis.

My question. I have had a partial hysterectomy already. I have 1 child and cannot have more. My MO does not recommend removing the ovaries.

Won't the chemical menopause stop and your body return to normal once drugs are ceased? So, 5-10 years treatment and my Mom went through natural menopause at 47. I was following all the same trends as her before I had my uterus removed due to fibroids. Doesn't this mean I will go through menopause AGAIN?

I will talk to my doctor at length before starting treatment, but I thought some of you nice ladies could share your stories?

elimar86861 · July 2015

Hello, kris1114! Since you have your ovaries, is there an actual ovarian suppression drug planned? I thought Aromasin was in the aromatase inhibitor group, for menopausal women? Hopefully some other ladies here will refresh my memory and clear things up. Yes, unless you go through natural menopause during the hormonal treatment, you may still have that to look forward to after you finish up with your anti-hormonal drugs some years down the road. The fun just never ends! I hope you fared well with the radiation and are not too "extra crispy."

Please tell us how your tumor came to be that big. Did it grow rapidly, as a Grade 3 might? I am kind of surprised that one that large had not branched out into the nodes. That seems very lucky!

kris1114 · July 2015

I don't know how it came to be that large. I am very lucky it was not in the lymph nodes AND my Onco type test score came back low. I do know that there was a lot of in situ mixed in there. I believe 2.7 cm was invasive including the nerves and the rest ductal and lobular in situ.

The SOFT trial. Aromasin and Zoladex are being recommended now to pre menopausal women with more aggressive cases.* I THINK *. I am confused and researching like crazy. I just wonder why if I am not to have more children and close enough to natural menopause esp. since my Mom went early and I was following the same path with crazy periods and pain, why not take the ovaries so it is not a 10-15 yr journey?

They will check my estrodial levels on my next visit (July 31st). I have not had them checked since before chemo.

I have 3 radiation treatments left. It is painful and crispy (weeping and bleeding), but it is no worse than having a severe sunburn. The fatigue and lack of energy is worse.

Kristin

kris1114 · July 2015

Oh, and they THOUGHT it was 2.7 cm originally via mammo and ultrasound. MRI proved differently. Also, there was a fibroadenoma in the left breast that NOTHING but MRI showed. I had the left removed due to high risk with Lobular in situ cancer in the right breast. Please ladies, be diligent. Mammo's can and do miss things.

treelilac · July 2015

I think Zoladex is for ovary suppression.

Tomboy · July 2015

I am surprised they gave you chemo with such a low oncotype score, especially since you were Her2 neg, and no nodes involved? Maybe cause it was a grade 3? Also, I am surprised he would start with Aromasin, as it permanently blocks the receptors and doctors like to start with Arimidex so much nowadays. Usually, Aromasin is used in combo with afinitor, after progression. Zoladex I thought was not to be used in women with osteopoenia.. hmmm. Were you saying you went thru menopause when you had your uterus removed? You kept your ovaries, right? Or you are saying you went through meno during chemo? Now I am confused!!

Tomboy · July 2015

Elimar: love love love the synchronized water -skiing! I love anything synchronized! it's just SO not normal!! I was laughing with my boymanfriend the other day, the way we do synchronized smoking: one of us will step outside to smoke, and the other one will follow. HA! terrible

PoppyK · July 2015

The Zoladex is for ovary suppression. Aromasin (exemestane) is the AI used along with Zoladex. This is the protocol I was going to use before I found out my ovaries surrendered to all of the drugs.

Treatment protocols are changing as new studies are completed. This is the most current info according to my MO.

I discussed having my ovaries removed with my MO, GP and GYN. It is not standard treatment. But if you can convince the GYN, I say go for it. It was something I was going to discuss with my Gyn, but I found out my chemopause is permanent. My planned argument was that I didn't want to take Zoladex for years.

Sorry about the rads SE. Mine were really bad, too. Looked like a crispy piece of chicken.

elimar86861 · July 2015

I apologize for my ignorance about Zolodex (and also for my laziness not to have just Googled it before posting my post.) Some of these drug combos are a real balancing act, that is for sure. The important thing k-114, is that you do fire off your questions and get satisfactory answers before it all begins. We deserve to know what is being done to our bodies, and I think I can speak for 100% of ladies on this thread to say that we all prefer the info. up front. Even if the choices are hard to make, we need to have full disclosure of the info. to make good decisions for ourselves. I applaud you for researching on your own, just remember...all websites are not created equally. Try and stick to the most reputable ones. On an up-note, I think you will be surprised that, once rads have ended, your skin will start healing within just a few days, even tho' the residual "tan" can linger for months.

Tomboy, I was thinking the chemo given was due to Grade 3 and her young age. Probably as "insurance" chemo.

PoppyK · July 2015

Elimar, It's impossible to stay up to date on everything! And everyone's options/situation are so different. I think you do a wonderful job advising and supporting! I agree with all you said above, especially about having all the info up front so we can make informed decisions.

elimar86861 · July 2015

Zolodex, Zometa, Xeloda... if I get too wound up trying to remember them all, I will end up on Xanax!

kris1114 · July 2015

Hi again! So I was given Chemo due to young (ish) age, & huge tumor with aggressive properties. They were not going to do the onco test until I pushed for it. Chemo was considered mandatory.

Today I met w/ GYN due to prolapse. She said she was in agreement to remove ovaries at the same time as prolapse surgery.

She is the 2nd Doc that agreed. 1st Oncologist before my 2nd opinion said yes too. Current Oncologist and previous GYN said no. 50/50.

MsTori · July 2015

please second, third and fourth guess the decision for a bilateral TRAM flap. I choose that in 2012, and although a few do well, very many do not. The risk of hernia formation later on is 40%. I didn't know that going into it. Long story short, I was bamboozled. I trusted my former PS so much. He left out a lot.Private message me if you would like. I catch a lot of flack, but to date, greater than 10 women have contacted me for help after the TRAM Flap. Just look for it on the boards here. Bulge after TRAM Flap.

kyliet · July 2015

kris114. I was put on zoladex and Aromasin which is protocol from latest SOFT trials. I didnt tolerate Aromasin so am on Arimidex now. I would prefer my ovaries out because getting to the doctors every four weeks for zoladex implant is a real hassle for me to fit around work. After 5 years they will test to see if I have gone into permanent menopause but will probably have not

NativeMainer · July 2015

Kristin--I did lupron (equivalent to Zoladex) /arimedex, lived with the hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms, and then started natural menopause a year or so after finishing.For me the natural menopausal symptoms (primarily hot flashes) are MUCH less intense, MUCH less frequent, by comparison almost unnoticeable.My MO told me that I was unusual when the lupron didn't put me into menopause permanently after the first year.(Most women getting this kind of treatment are put into permanent menopause and only have to do the trip once, but that's not guaranteed.) And I was diagnosed at 48, and the women in my family are mostly done with menopause by 45, and I hadn't even started.So, to answer your question about doing menopause AGAIN,probably not, but it's possible.The research does show the AI route to be a bit more effective at preventing recurrence/mets than tammy, but the advantage is pretty small, as I recall.I'll see if I can find the research reports.

kris1114 · July 2015

I did not opt for reconstruction. Afraid of failure and recurrence being missed.

I may opt for ovary removal as a done deal to be certain there will be no 2 menopauses.

The doc that is doing my prolapse surgery is in agreement with me.

kris1114 · July 2015

Oh and I keep reading of people who have breast cancer and end up down the line w/ Ovarian or the other way around. Risk may be small of course but at least there would be no risk of Ovarian cancer which I believe has a poorer survival rates than breast cancer.

Eph3_12 · July 2015

So thought I'd let you all know, my Daddy died on the 8th. I haven't posted about it yet because I just couldn't type the words. He battled Alzheimer's bravely for over 10 yrs, but on the morning of the 8th, he had a seizure, which we think interrupted his thought process enough to where he forgot how to breathe and that caused his heart to accelerate and from the place he was living to hospital ER was 4 miles...he was dead when they pulled up to the ER doors. There was a DNR in place and I am so grateful extraordinary measures weren't used, but I miss him fiercely!

Tomboy · July 2015

Ah, Eph. I am so so sorry to hear that for you... oh sweetie.

PoppyK · July 2015

((Hugs)) Eph3 12. I am so sorry. Daddys are so special to their daughters.

NativeMainer · July 2015

Eph--I am so sorry tohear about your Dad. {{{hugs}}}

glennie19 · July 2015

(((Eph))))

MinusTwo · July 2015

Eph - my Dad's passing was much harder than my Mothers. My thoughts are with you.

BookLady1 · July 2015

So, so sad for you Eph. My daddy died with Alz, too. Another bitch of a disease. You keep that fierce love. {{hugs}} Linda

Loral · July 2015

Eph.. Sorry for your loss, I know the feeling well.

elimar86861 · July 2015

My sympathy to you, Eph. I am sure the suddenness was a shocker to you, but seeing as he had the DNR in place, it might have been one of the more merciful scenarios. Condolences to your family.

MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

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