MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

Dianarose, Bummer about the naph. tube. A bit of poor planning to go into the surgery without all the needed supplies, eh? All in all, it sounds like you are at least on the right track now. Thank goodness that they won't just "guinea pig" you through a chemo or two, but are actually testing it for effectiveness first. Nothing worse than trying out a chemo, getting the accompanying SEs, only to be told it's not doing much for you. My interpretation of this new doc "concentrating on the belly" is that nothing else you may have going on would be as major as this, so first get over this hurdle and deal with the rest later as needed. She has to get you out of that pain and eating solid foods. Even if you get the chemo sensitivity results back quick, you may have to wait a short time to heal from the surgery anyway SO enjoy that window where food will still taste good and chow down ('cause you know chemo is likely to change that.) I seriously want to know when you can go on real food again, so let me know when AND what you choose for that first real meal.

Lita57, Right, they are similar but different because Hospice can be palliative, but palliative care does not have to be hospice care. When my mom was in the ICU, extremely sick and immobilized by strong sedation, nobody was talking "hospice" but they sent a palliative case worker to talk to me. I am not even sure what she was thinking to do for my mom, who was oblivious to just about everything so how much palliation did she even need? Both hospice and palliative care may work with family members but hospice is for terminal illnesses when active treatment ceases, and palliative is more for chronic pain/chronic illness and you can still be getting active treatments. Both aim to improve a patient's quality of life.

Barbe, you may have different terminology up in Canada. While you can certainly find out more about hospice at any time even if you are a long way off from needing it, your health provider may offer services or counseling from a palliative care worker for you right now if you are having pain or issues that lower your quality of life.

Positive2strong, Glad your surgery went well! I am replying to your post. First, I mentioned the 6th month period not for 6 months of rads but just as an average time that surgery, rads, and sometimes chemo imposes itself on your life. Sometimes it's a bit shorter; sometimes it's a bit longer (I'm excluding Stage IV here) and I am not including the duration of the anti-hormonals. From DX to finishing rads was about 4 1/2 mos. for me, but I easily spent the next mo. healing from the rads, etc.

With rads, the shorter is more convenient timewise and if it was offered to me I probably would have taken it; but either way you will get roughly the same dosage. With the shorter duration your fractionated dosage will be larger. I have heard that the longer duration might be tolerated better, but I don't know. Rads is cumulative so, either way, expect some SEs. Two-thirds of women do pretty well, just getting a tolerable skinburn and some tiredness. You have fair skin---but that does not matter for rads, so don't worry about that. Good Luck with it.

Me, I had Tamoxifen for 3 years. Stopped early due to clotting risk when I had to have surgery for a different cancer and then have chemo for that cancer. After all that, I just could not bring myself to finish off theTamoxifen. As my case got more individualized, I just stepped off the customary path. My MO felt that the benefit I had gotten from 3 years of Tamox. was probably adequate in my case. I think you will have the same selection of anti-hormonal drugs, just based on the ER+ part of your pathology.

I know you posted more elsewhere, but I don;t get around to all the other threads these days so I appreciate you coming back to fill us in on your progress. Drop in whenever and let us know your rads decision. Taking the next step, moving forward, is always good.

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Dianarose, Agree with NativeM that there should be an ostomy nurse for you to call and get some assistance. I actually got the business card of an ostomy nurse on hospital staff, when I wore my ileostomy pouch, in case I encountered trouble. I am so sorry it has been such a struggle for you to get the help you need.

Lita57, Those cannot be the actual trains used on the t.v. show, or can they be? Looks fun! Btw, that red lipstick was just made for you.

Yes, Momine, the BC saga is like the "old school" fairy tales, I mean those grisly ones! You painted a realistic picture of what goes on and used no pink in it at all.