MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

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  • staynsane
    staynsane Member Posts: 213
    edited November 2015

    Hi terisc6,

    You are at the beginning of what may be a longer-than-desired process. If you are like me, the world as you knew it has changed, and will likely not be the same again. The chest tightness you mentioned is very common after surgery, and expanders can add to the "foreign" experience. Recovery from surgery takes time, as does processing your emotions after learning of and progressing through a devastating diagnosis. Be gentle with yourself. Don't try to be superwoman. Let others around you help.

    Each of us deals with this disease in individual ways. The women on these forums understand what you're going through, and what works for one may be different for another. You can be assured however, that you will get caring support that can help carry you through the rough patches. They will be there, but if you're like me, one day your active treatment will be over and you won't think about BC every day. You will get beyond it. You will have learned just what you are capable of, and become stronger in many ways.

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  • mesharon1959
    mesharon1959 Member Posts: 16
    edited November 2015

    Hi terisc6! Welcome to the club nobody wants to be a member of. I wish you the best in your quest!!

    I too am about to have a double mastectomy and reconstruction with tissue expanders. I just got my surgery date this morning, and it's December 16th. How ever did you manage to get yourself back to work so quickly, and how is that going? Are you driving yourself there? Are you able to work full days? I'm very curious. Some women need more time off than others, and although I usually bounce rather quickly, I find the anesthetic takes its' time removing itself from my system - so I end up with bad headaches if I do too much too fast....Do tell me your secret at being ready to go back so quickly. I'd appreciate it!!!

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  • keepsake
    keepsake Member Posts: 59
    edited January 2016

    Hi Ladies,

    In August, I had a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound and was told I needed to find a breast surgeon for an excisional biopsy. Was pretty sure I had breast cancer after hearing that news. I was diagnosed with cancer in my left breast that is triple positive in September 2015. On November 12, I had a BMX with TEs. I thought I was handling it pretty well and never cried until today. I am having some problems with allergies to meds, some med SEs, pain and chest tightness. Think I'll be having more treatments soon but nothing is definite yet. I also work and am out on FMLA now, wondering how I'm going to get through all that lies ahead of me. Just thought I'd introduce myself to this group today. Thanks for listening


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  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited November 2015

    Welcome keepsake.. One day at a time,,, come here and rant to us. We get you!!

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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited November 2015

    As we approach the holidays...just remember, if you are newly diagnosed, recovering from surgery, or just trying to hold your own while in active treatment--don't stress over the holidays. All reasonable friends and relations will understand if you are not up for the gauntlet of the holiday season. Don't push it (especially the shopping with all those people coughing in your face!) and remember that what you are going thru' this year is so that you are around for many more holidays to come, so just relax and enjoy as best you can.

    Happy Thanksgiving Middies, old and new. Have a great day Thursday!

    image



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  • Eph3_12
    Eph3_12 Member Posts: 4,781
    edited November 2015

    Happy Thanksgiving Middies! May you have a wonderful time in whatever you do! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzDxt6axexs

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  • Loral
    Loral Member Posts: 932
    edited November 2015

    Happy Thanksgiving Ladies

    image

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  • macatacmv
    macatacmv Member Posts: 1,386
    edited December 2015

    oh, where oh where is everyone?

    I've been exhausted and so overwhelmed at work. And I am semi retired (haha)

    It must have been all that turkey you guys ate!

    I hope the new ladies are finding more active threads!

    I really thought my energy would approve after ceasing the Tamox, and then even the "natural aromatose inhibitor". But not happening!

    I have one doctor suggesting being treated for Lyme since I test positive and have never been treated. The second western blot test comes back negative. So I don't know! It is so prevalent here.

    I have my annual squeeze and feel appts next week. I am telling myself it is no big deal (I'm 4 years out) My DD is going with me and we'll stay off island and get some Christmas shopping done. but I have that small niggling thought saying what if.............

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  • Loral
    Loral Member Posts: 932
    edited December 2015

    Mac-Good Luck with the Mammo. It has been quiet here.......So I'll ask...

    imageimageLoral

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  • Eph3_12
    Eph3_12 Member Posts: 4,781
    edited December 2015

    Hi all, Well I've been working. Got released from training mid November and in the 3 weeks since then I have accumulated over 15-20 hours each week in overtime. Who knew? But, I am enjoying the job and have excellent health coverage, which was the goal!!!

    Thanksgiving was a tad weird this year. 1st without my Dad and the gathering just wasn't the same (at my step mom's relatives home). Everyone avoided sitting where Dad used to sit, etc. Just a hole.

    But, it's the most wonderful time of the year!!!!!


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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited December 2015

    Sorry, I cannot be as attentive to Newbies as I once was. I have all the knowledge/memories of my own saga, but the relevance is slipping for me. Have really just moved past cancer, cancer, cancer 24/7, and I cannot give it the same attention as before.

    I guess I am still being followed by my MO, and maybe that never ends but I am keeping my docs to the bare minimum. After all that treatment, who wouldn't want to go on doctor hiatus for as long as prudently possible? Like if I never had to see one again...no skin off my breast (I paraphrased that saying!)

    Oldbies, I don't do Facebook, but anyone also in "beyond phase" who wanted to say hello could still use the PM on here. I do look in now and then.

    Kind of hoped some Middies might keep this thread going, but there is always the lure to make a new and (allegedly) improved thread covering the mid-years. Well, the foundation has been laid (meaning: before this thread there were threads only for "young" and "older") so now that the mid-age niche is established...anyone can just run with it, can't they?

    But how many can SKIP like I can?


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  • macatacmv
    macatacmv Member Posts: 1,386
    edited December 2015

    eli, I can barely walk, but I am a little over the hill in every way but my mind.

    wow eph, working so hard! Isn't that a stressful job?

    My brain is working so slow these days I wouldn't want anyone's life to depend on it!

    thanks for the good thoughts, Loral.

    I think when I was first dx I liked seeing that there were people that had moved on into life as normal as possible again. That life could move forward. It was also so good just to have women to "talk" to about my new reality.

    But the only constant in life is change.

    Even my local BC support group is not meeting anymore because no one is stepping up to facilitate.

    My get up and go has gone away and I just can't do what I use to do all the time.

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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited December 2015

    Congrats, mac, on reaching the four year mark! Hope your interval check-up went well and you did not wind up too squished. So, do you think you will continue on the anti-hormonals past the five year point?

    You mentioned Christmas shopping and it must have been nice going with a daughter. When I went out, all by my lonesome, all I got was 2-3 people coughing in my face in every store. (I started feeling scrooge-y, and just went home...where all the cough-free online shopping is.)

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  • Tomboy
    Tomboy Member Posts: 3,945
    edited December 2015

    Hi elimar. Don't forget that there may be some woman in future, that will devour with happiness all the posts from all of the women here in this home you have made. I know I like to start threads from the beginning, to see if my questions might be answered, and to get a feel for the place. The only sad part is, is that all the headers you ever brought to us, will not be seen again...boo

    Macatacv, I have been to see a pain management doc, and one of the things he did, was give me an extremely small dose of a blood pressure medicine. He is an anesthesiologist at my tx place. He said even though my blood pressure has always been perfect, it will not harm it. Skeptical me, I went ahead and tried it. The next day, I found myself practically running up and down the stairs, and couldn't get my chores done fast enough! I had so much energy! Like the old me. And it was great, because one of my other 'chief complaints' was severe lack of energy. For three years now. So, when I saw him again, I had to tell him I actually felt more pain, and not less, because of how unaccustomed I had become to all that movement, for almost all day. Next, he wants to do a branch block shot that will take care of my ongoing breast and axilla pain, especially my armpit, where the whole thing was filled with huge cancerous nodes, spilling out. Yeah, probably some disruption to the nerves there... I am pretty worried about that shot. I don't want my lung collapsed, again, or to be paralyzed.

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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited December 2015

    Guess the thread is moving along so slowly now, if we are still on the page with Thanksgiving pictures right above. Well, I do hope that all, old and new, are all set to enjoy the holidays despite BC. Why, I am enjoying the solstice right now. How 'bout you?

    With two cancers under my belt (literally, just one was in that location,) I have been thru' every single season in some form of active treatment, and the time I had to go through my pre-surgery chemo and rads combo right thru' December was the worst. I really feel for anyone who is being assaulted by the chemo poison right now, because all the yummy holiday treats just taste like gak. All of the sugary treats tasted the gakiest to me. Luckily (and you cannot really call this lucky) during my Xmas time chemo, in order not to do a stint in the hospital, they gave me the whole week between Christmas and New Year's off. Of course, the taste buds could not rebound in that short of time, but I did feel less poisoned for a short while, at least. Small mercies.

    The holidays are a time with family, but nevertheless try to relax and have fun. Haha!

    Merry Best Wishes to All!


    image


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  • Loral
    Loral Member Posts: 932
    edited December 2015

    imageMerry Christmas and Happy New Year to all who read this. 

    At this time of year I'm very grateful for this website and all you ladies who share your trials and tribulations with 

    us strangers. Peace! 

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  • Tomboy
    Tomboy Member Posts: 3,945
    edited December 2015

    I am here! I love the warm little town you put there, elimar. I want to live there. When I was going through chemo, my favorite thing to eat was doritos, the spicy ones, and cheetos. over and over and over again.

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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited December 2015

    Loral, how right you are. Having the BCO community here for support can keep one buoyant thru' most times when BC and its treatment threatens to drag one under. The benefit to our mental health alone (during holidays, or ANY time of the year) is worthy of the heartiest of thanks!

    Tomboy, Sister-girl, if you scarfed the Cheetos throughout chemo, you just might qualify as the rightful heir to this thread. You are even more righteous and hardcore about your Cheetos than I am.

    BTW, the scene in the page top photo is of a German "Christmas Market." Sure beats the shopping mall. I have been hearing a lot about them this year from family and friends over in Europe. Doesn't it look totally charming? I want to go there too!


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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited December 2015

    Elimar - as long as we're going to dream, I understand there are river cruises along the Rhine &/or Rhone that stop at several Christmas Markets in Germany. What a decadent holiday!!

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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited December 2015

    Dear Ladies, for a little holiday cheer, look here ;)French Firemen

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  • NativeMainer
    NativeMainer Member Posts: 10,462
    edited December 2015

    YUM!


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  • Loral
    Loral Member Posts: 932
    edited December 2015

    Thank you, they are some "HOT" firemen....

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  • Eph3_12
    Eph3_12 Member Posts: 4,781
    edited December 2015

    What a wonderfully hot Christmas present! Thank you.


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  • Tomboy
    Tomboy Member Posts: 3,945
    edited December 2015

    ummm....YEAH!!!

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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited December 2015

    See, I knew you people would fully appreciate it :D

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  • Eph3_12
    Eph3_12 Member Posts: 4,781
    edited December 2015

    Merry Christmas Middies! May 2016 bring health and happiness!!

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  • NativeMainer
    NativeMainer Member Posts: 10,462
    edited December 2015

    image

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  • kkuziel
    kkuziel Member Posts: 191
    edited December 2015

    Hope all had a wonderful Christmas. I read often, post seldom, but grateful to know that there is always someone out there who "gets it." Have a happy and healthy new year.

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  • Loral
    Loral Member Posts: 932
    edited January 2016

    image

    366, it's a leap year....Have a great one....Cheers!

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  • heartnsoul76
    heartnsoul76 Member Posts: 1,648
    edited January 2016

    Hey middies! Just wanted to pop in and wish everyone a Happy New Year, filled with good health and good times!

    Quick update on my back pain - Emory Back Clinic determined the pain was not related to my spine so after a blissful respite from pain with 1 month's worth of pain pills, I have been thrown back out into the cold, cruel world of "NO PAIN PILLS FOR YOU!". $2200 later, the doctor said I might want to go see a neurologist (or something... she never gave me a name). So basically a lot of money for 20 pills. Well, I guess it comes to $110 per pill. I am pretty tired of doctors.

    The store I wanted to open for a few months has now become a quickie garage sale at my ex-MIL's house. Fine. I just want to get rid of all this nice stuff and I will never keep something again because it's too good to give away, haha. I'll ask my friends if they want it, then off to a charity somewhere. Goodwill makes it so convenient to donate to them with a location practically on every corner, but when their CEO packs away $600,000+ per year I don't really like to contribute to his income.

    I hope you ladies are doing well. It's not easy, though. A tough row to hoe, as my grandmother used to say.

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