Best Of
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
Illinoislady, thank you for remembering me so that I can catch up a little. I love to just sit back and read these chats. I lived in San Diego, Pacific Beach, for 8 1/2 years before moving here to Colorado three years ago. We lived just off the bay and it was a short walk to the beach and I loved it. My DD and I would often walk her baby along the boardwalk. But my best times were my alone-time walks along the shore where I could pray, sing, even shout at this angry disease as my voice was covered in the sound of the crashing waves. I was just another crazy lady in the midst of California independence—nobody cared or noticed. It was cathartic for me and helped me get through the initial diagnosis. The beach is the only part I miss of living in that crazy tourist town. Now I would be unable to walk that much anyway, but I can sit on my deck and enjoy the view of Pikes Peak and the serenity of living here. I have learned to make the most of wherever I live. I feel like I am sicker than most of the rest of you here having lived with Stage IV for over nine years. I still have frequent doctor visits, scans, and the rest of the medical chaos, but that's okay. You all bring a little more normalcy to my 72 years. Journey on!
Re: Recurrence Fears
calming down some…..it is more likely to be lymphedema and nerve cancer…as it is more rare. Thank you Jesus for calm
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
Yes, harley. He really didn't say that. The affected joint is associated with a small bone. They remove the bone and replace it with a coil of tendon harvested from elsewhere. He warned me that my left hand won't be as good as the original, but I said that my right hand is much more important than my right. The thumbs are still sore, but the sharp pain is gone. Should get better in a few days. Cortisone injections won't work forever, and I don't want to mess up my bone strength.
Her home situation is probably the reason she delayed so long, hoping that the knee would be functional for the rest of her life.
I forgot to tell you that when I was recording on his new buttons, he was paying close attention. I have been told that when he pees on the bedroom carpet, he is angry at me. So I recorded one with an angry voice, saying "I'm ANGRY at you. I don't like you anymore." Yes, that five year old girl thing. His body language sent me the message that he really liked that one. And he used it. He told me that he needed to pee. I told him to wait. Then he used that new button, and, yes, he had a bunch of pee. VICTORY!!
mcbaker
Re: Were you diagnosed young (under 45) with breast cancer? We'd love to hear from you!
I was diagnosed at the age 37 in August 2024 with IDC stage 1a. It was the scariest time of my life. I had a 5 year old daughter and was terrified I was never going to see her grow up. I had a lumpectomy, 4 TC bc of high oncotype, 20 radiation sessions. I take astrozole daily for 10 years and get monthly Lupron shots. My doctor said we will revisit that after 5 years. I have tolerated all treatments with very little problems. However my mental state will never be the same. I take Zoloft and Ativan for anxiety. The fear of reoccurrence is with me daily and I don’t know if I will ever come to terms with my diagnosis. I try so hard to just live my life. The thought of thinking about this for the rest of my life is debilitating. Thoughts to all women who have to deal with this.
ollie_19
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
@threetree You sound just like me. It is the bending and reaching that gets me. @mara51506 I have been going through a drawer every couple of days, one at a time. It helps my psyche! And I use cleaning house as my PT. I can do something for about 15 minutes before I have to sit down. Vacuuming is out but I can light mop and dust if I don't reach. We do have a Roomba and it does great for light vacuuming, but as you know it doesn't get the corners or between stuff. My BILs family are coming over tomorrow so I am trying to get some things done in the kitchen today. We will just B B Que hamburgers and my SIL will bring sides and dessert. They understand my limits and don't mind the dust, but I do. My SIL even offers to clean for me but I have a hard time with that. I guess it is my silly pride.
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
@mara51506 - I really admire the energy you have! I can get an occasional motivation to go through closet and drawers, etc., but then when I actually try to do anything I am just "cut down" by how stiff and sore I am. I have extreme difficulty doing all the bending and reaching, etc. that that sort of thing requires, and then I poop out in no time, even if I brave the stiffness and soreness. I would love to keep up with the household chores and getting rid of things like you do, but I just can't. I think in my case it is the Faslodex and Verzenio that just wipe me out. You've given me some food for thought for today though, and maybe it will motivate me to do at least a little; what I can. I hope you have areal nice day also, and I'm glad to hear that the humidity doesn't get to you too much. You're lucky there too!
Re: I say YES. YOU say NO....Numero Tre! Enjoy!
So children have no rights — is that it ???
Re: Stage IV MBC Fitness
My daughters pool is finally repaired and being filled. Hopefully I will be swimming soon. This has been a challenging summer. Hot and stormy. Spent this last week fighting a stomach bug. Hope to be back on track and swimming next week.
Re: Bone Mets Thread
hi everyone,
This is an update on my condition that I previously described here — perhaps it will help someone going through a similar situation.
I had written earlier about the unexplained rise in my CA 15-3 tumor marker.
The PET scan did not show any new lesions, and the existing ones are in continuous regression.
However, the MRI showed a suspicious area in the T9 vertebra, which was accompanied by some pain — though the pain lasted only a few days and then resolved.
We followed up with a PET scan, which showed no uptake in the T9 area, leaving the oncologist puzzled and unsure about the next step.
He suggested that I meet with a radiation oncologist to explore the possibility of radiation treatment to this vertebra and to discuss the situation further.
After a meeting between the three of us — the oncologist, the radiation doctor, and myself — the radiation doctor suggested we wait for a month and repeat the MRI to monitor the area.
If the lesion shows progression, we would proceed with radiation therapy.
If there is no change, we would continue with the current treatment and keep monitoring.
Regarding the L4 vertebra, where the lesion initially appeared when the disease recurred (and where there is now a fracture),
both the oncologist and radiation doctor recommended doing a vertebral cement procedure (vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty) to fill the gap, which they believe is the source of my ongoing back pain.
As for the scattered areas that showed uptake in the recent PET scan, they were soft tissue and not bone,
and the report mentioned that they are unlikely to be lesions.
Still, the doctor recommended an ultrasound to confirm.
I already did an ultrasound of the left foot area, and now I will be doing one for the shoulder area.
My question is:
Has anyone else been in a similar situation — feeling stuck due to conflicting findings and uncertainty in decision-making?
And can a doctor decide on radiation therapy based solely on MRI findings?
I asked for a biopsy, but the doctor was not supportive of that, as the area is risky and full of nerves.
