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

MCBaker, welcome to the sorority nobody wants to pledge. If it's any consolation, if biopsy & further imaging confirms it's pure DCIS, you will not be given chemo--regardless of grade and hormone-receptor-negative status. About half of all DCIS is ER/PR-, and more often than not HER2+, so the latter test isn't even performed on it most of the time. But because it is histologically incapable of breaking out of the ducts--much less metastasizing--unless it later mutates into IDC--it is considered slow-growing. Because it is ER/PR-, you also won't get endocrine ("hormone") therapy. Usually with DCIS the choice is whether to do lumpectomy + radiation (if the tumor is small relative to the size of the breast, not multifocal, and in only one breast) or mastectomy (unilateral unless genetic testing indicates you have a mutation, in which case you'd be advised to have a prophylactic bilateral). If mastectomy, with ER/PR- DCIS that's it as far as treatment goes--just periodic surveillance (exams & imaging). "One & done," as my pal with a diagnosis similar to yours (except for "atypia" found in the other "healthy" breast) says. According to her surgical oncologist (she was not assigned a medical or radiation oncologist), she can put breast cancer in her rear-view mirror.

As far as CBD goes, that's all you're limited to--WI doesn't even have a true medical-marijuana program, just a law allowing possession of CBD oil derived from marijuana IF one has a doctor's note attesting that the patient has a qualifying condition and the seller has a state license. But that licensing program has yet to be set up, and the CBD oil--whether made from pot or agricultural hemp--cannot have even a measurable trace amount of THC. (This is regardless of the Federal exemption granted by the Farm Act to hemp-produced oils with less than 0.3% THC). PTSD can result from any traumatic stress--not just combat or violent physical injury.

States such as IL with a formal medical-marijuana program issue the patient a medical cannabis ID card (after physician certification and processing of the patient's application, which currently takes 4-6 months due to a massive paperwork backlog due to increased demand and shortage of personnel); and the patient can purchase only from the state-licensed dispensary they designate at the time of application. BUT patients with a cannabis ID can buy, and licensed dispensaries can sell, any form of cannabis whatsoever, regardless of THC content and from what it's derived (ag. hemp., cannabis sativa or indica). But IL allows possession & sale of ag (aka "Industrial:" grown for manufacture of fiber products such as sisal or cloth) hemp-derived CBD products so long as they contain less than 0.3% THC--and it can be sold by doctors, vape shops, health food stores, etc. (In MA, even the "general store" at the resort across from where I stayed sells "Hemp Bombs" brand CBD products).

Of course, nothing will happen if you go to an IL vape shop--it's not like Customs & Border Patrol waiting on our side of the Canadian border to seize your pot & possibly bust you if you don't "smoke 'em if you got 'em" before you leave Canada. Fireworks are illegal in IL, but the IL State Police doesn't lie in wait to bust people coming across the IN or WI state lines after hitting Krazy Kaplan's.

BTW, it's likely safer to use pure MCT (like Spectrum Naturals' liquid coconut oil for cooking) or extra-virgin olive oil to dilute your CBD oil--just be careful & consistent when measuring. Glycerin is an alcohol, not an oil, and most CBD tinctures (unless labeled "water-soluble" like the Hemplucid) are oil-soluble.

Yeah, ChiSandy. The vape shop has assured me that given the Wis Gov has not enacted the legislation to regulate what they declared to be legal, so long as shops and manufacturers are very conservative in their practices, there can be no prosecution while waiting. I use it for vaping, so it all has to be water-soluble. Would be nice if I could get something that has more in it that the Blue Moon brand THC=0 has. I am happy with what it does, although it does wear off so fast. Nice that since gabapentin is synergistic with everything, I can regulate my intake without fearing taking too much.

I just had the thought that since I said as soon as possible, that they will just check me into the hospital on Thursday--Kubler-Ross and escape artists and all that.

I think the real reason that you can't bring weed from one recreationally-legal jurisdiction to another (it's not just US vs. Canada, it's even MA vs. VT) is the jurisdiction's motivation for legalizing it: tax revenue. Bring Canadian weed into WA, and that's weed that doesn't get sold in WA dispensaries and doesn't put money into the state's coffers.

Beauty of a morning here and will actually warm a bit. That is good as I need to get outside ( didn't make it yesterday ) and do some yard clean-up. All the half and little branches that tend to come loose from the trees at this time. They are not big, thank goodness, but numerous. Need to have them out of the way to be able to mow the leaves and mulch.

Had to get a bit tough with Dh this morning. He was not following Dr.'s orders about getting up every half hour ( as tolerated, of course ) and walking a bit. He's tries to Dr. himself and as I think is true for a lot of people, not just men, is not so much of a Dr. Have to get meds picked up for the dog, pay a couple of bills, get laundry done, and feed the feral cats, and then cook and clean. Lets see what I really get done. I did get the deck swept of all the acorns that were on it and will empty the trash into the big can on my way to feed the cats. It will be a busy day.

I did hear from one of our members who hopes to stop in and say hi hopefully in a little while. Joan doesn't get to come often and has had some issues to take care of which are slowing her down a little bit more. There are some further tests to do so I hope you will keep her in your thoughts as she moves forward. She has retired so should get some time later on when she catches up to stop in to see us. As of now there seems to have been some OVCA to deal with and we will wait to see how this has all come out. She has no idea how much she has buoyed me in yrs. past, so I hope I can return the favor.

Otherwise, onward since the only way out of anything is through it. Hope the sun is shining where you are.

I learned when I weighed in today at WW that I am down a total of 10 lbs. It has taken me months but better 10 lost than 10 gained. Another 4 lbs to goal weight and free meetings. But we're not calling them meetings any more. They're work shops. And our leader isn't a leader. She's a life coach. WW has been re-making itself regularly during all the years I've been a member, active and inactive.

I visited my mother at the nursing home this afternoon. A church group sponsored an event that was a type of bingo but with specially designed cards with pictures rather than numbers. It was fun and and the residents were served good snacks. There were also some nice door prizes.

Jackie, you had a lot on your schedule today.

I didn't understand much of the discussion about marijuana by products. I smoked some weed way back when it was a fashionable alternative to drinking at adult parties but now I'm happy with a cocktail and/or wine.

Carole, congrats on doing so well on WW!

MC, didn't realize you vape rather than take the CBD orally. I don't dare vape for the same reason I can't smoke MJ: I'm asthmatic and afraid to set off a bronchospasm. (When I need general anesthesia for a surgery or procedure during allergy season or if I've been wheezing, I have to get propofol lest intubating me for gas set off a bronchospasm).

I take Receptra CBD oil and occasionally Hemplucid water-soluble tincture sublingually, i.e., under the tongue so it's absorbed by the mucous membranes of the mouth into the capillaries, bypassing the digestive system. If swallowed too soon, it gets processed by the liver so less of its CBD gets to the endocannabinoid receptors. (The water-soluble stuff supposedly is absorbed by the mucous membranes even faster and therefore kicks in sooner--and more of its CBD gets absorbed if swallowed compared to the CBD in oil, but I haven't noticed a difference in effect).

I have a little bottle of HempBombs oil, which is half the strength of the Receptra "Prime" (intro-strength) oil but is made from CBD isolate and is therefore not "full-spectrum." Hence, it's cheaper. All it has is CBD and watermelon flavoring, so it doesn't have that characteristic herbal taste. The clerk at the Jiminy Peak Resort General Store said it's quite popular with Baby Boomer-age guests, as are the gummies. The gummies have 10mg CBD each, and taste only a little more bitter than Schiff Digestive Advantage probiotic gummies. But they're made with corn syrup and coated with table sugar--not the greatest thing at bedtime for one's teeth, nor for one's diet either.

I'm running very low on the Receptra Prime, of which I normally take half a dropper--so I'll take a quarter-dropper of the double strength "Plus," of which I have a larger bottle but is much pricier (as costly as the Hemplucid but a tad stronger). Might visit the "pot lady" doc in Evanston this week and buy some more of the Prime and the Targeted Topical balm--she charges the same price as online, and none of the Chicago vape shops (nor even the dispensaries) carry it. The vape shops (usually called "Vape CBD Kratom" or "CBD Kratom Vape") do carry Hemplucid (as well as Pure Kana and some lesser-known brands). The health food/supplement store in Evanston where I get my GTF chromium, low-carb chips &. bagels, and shelf-stable Indian foods carries some local edibles (including gummies, chocolates & yummy brownies--as good as any restaurant brownie at the same price) as well as the CW ("Charlotte's Web") full-spectrum oils. They also have CBD shampoo & conditioner...which is basically bullshit.

If you are at a street fair or festival and see one of those green "Weed World" trucks, keep on walking. They're ripoff artists. They'll tell you their edibles (candies, lollipops, cookies, brownies, even Rice Krispy treats) have THC--but the truth is they contain no more than 0.3%, same as any other CBD product. (Anything with more THC than that can be sold only in licensed dispensaries in states that allow medical or recreational use). And more importantly, they contain much less CBD than other, more reputable, brands--they are evasive about their sourcing for their hemp (which may come from China, Eastern Europe or Third World countries--reputable brands source from organic farms in Colorado, and perhaps Kentucky, Wisconsin, or Indiana). They probably use CBD isolate, which is not full-spectrum and therefore doesn't have the desirable "entourage effect." Any "marijuana" flavor or scent their edibles have is probably from adding tiny amounts of extracts of the terpenes that give pot and hemp their characteristic aroma (at least according to my pot doctor).

Thank you for this information, I am currently going through dose dense AC and the side effects especially the nausea / diarrhea have been horrible. I called and ordered some. Looking for relief that medicine hasn't been able to provide. Fingers crossed.

Ugh! I raked some leaves because it's starting to rain. Got 5 baskets from the porch, steps, walk. sidewalk and street gutter. Lots more on the grass and driveway. Of course if it blows, there will be just as many tomorrow. Unfortunately I overdid it and my back is protesting vigorously. And I'd gone almost 6 days without it hurting.

Happiness is the greatest paradox in nature. It can grow in any soil, live under any conditions. It defies environment. The reason for this is that it does not come from without but from within. Whenever you see a person seeking happiness outside him or herself, you can be sure they have not yet found it. -Forman Lincicome

Strongmama -- I do hope you might get relief for your nausea and diarrhea issues. It is difficult ( usually we feel basically well before we start ) to have txs. that seem to make us ill. Here's hoping for you.

Wren and Carole and so many of us that have to deal with leaves. At some point ( I know I could ask the younger boys next door ) we may have to think of getting some paid help. Not for all of it -- the neighbors yard is likely bigger than my two acres. My cousin will come over and help me later on. Dh has to figure some way to get a spark plug into my mower ( I might ask the man next door as it would get done sooner ) so I can start mulching. My Dh and her Dh, neither one able to help right now due to operations, are depending on us to get it done. We can do it -- though difficult. It is just a matter of my getting the 'equipment' in order.

I think some hot soaks with Teal's Epson salts might help. While many times I don't have time, I do have a huge ( not my idea, but already here ) garden tub to soak in when all else fails.

carolehalston, that's a lot of work! We don't have wisteria but we do have the constant battle with the jungle! I wish I was able to work like I used to. I miss it, especially on these cool days.

MCBaker, was reading in Consumer Reports online today to beware of vaping products containing PG: apparently at high temperatures (those high enough to boil the liquid so it'll form vapor), it can release a form of formaldehyde. Glycerin or water are safer.

Cranky today: awoke with a sinus headache, that "I just jumped into a chlorinated swimming pool without my nose clip" burning nasal pain, and a scratchy throat. Now running a low (99.1) fever. (For most people, that's not fever but these days I rarely top out above 98 or the mid 97s). Had been planning to attend a 10 am funeral for an acquaintance (a fellow member of the Bar Show cast who, at 77, passed away in his sleep last week).

Then Bob came home declaring that the dash electronics & turn signals in his 2011 Fusion Hybrid suddenly had a dementia attack while he was driving home up Lake Shore Drive. (Happened to me once in a 1988 Taurus: I knew the jig was up when the "Distance to Empty" gauge read "ABC" and the speedometer said I was going "LE" mph---apparently, Fords, especially Fusions, are susceptible to those kinds of brain farts). He has to be at Union Health at 8 am (to which he'd have to either Uber or take two CTA trains), and will have Enterprise meet him there with a rental. (He claims he doesn't know how to drive my Outback). But instead of heading to the funeral, I will instead have to call GEICO and have the Ford towed to the dealership, caravaning behind it.

I suspect that since this was bought in June 2011 (which means it was probably built & released in 2010) and has almost 90K miles on it (of which he put 70K), it might be nearing the end of the road. (Or it might just need a new dashboard computer and a couple of fuses). I would love the newest Outback, which comes not only with the EyeSight package I have in mine, but also blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic alert like in Bob's Fusion. I'm really tempted by the Toyota Camry Hybrid--or even the Avalon Hybrid, both of which get even better gas mileage than Bob's Fusion Hybrid and have impressed the folks at Consumer Reports.

Our lives are also fed by kind words and gracious behavior. We are nourished by expressions like "excuse me," and other such simple courtesies. Our spirits are also richly fed on compliments and praise, nourished by consideration as well as whole wheat bread. Rudeness, the absence of the sacrament of consideration, is but another mark that our time-is-money society is lacking in spirituality, if not also in its enjoyment of life. -Ed Hays