Best Of
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
hi everyone!
We here in the Twin Cities are snickering a little about our warm weather immigration enforcers here. I think they’re definitely out of their element - we’ve got roughly a foot of snow on the ground and they’re walking around in sneakers.
It’s warmer today and snowing steadily all day. We are getting an inch or two of snow every day.
Had a long pre-chemo call with my MO’s nurse. I was freaking myself out over this chemo because the last time I gave it was so long ago and people DID NOT DO WELL on them. Times have changed. Meds and dosing is better. Response is better.
Cleaned out my fridge. Changed out the shower curtain liner. Got gloves and KN95 masks and hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes and Imodium. Have my little notebook.
Today, I am grateful that I can walk outside and shovel my own walk (the snow is so light and fluffy though, you could just sweep it). I’m grateful I could do my own grocery shopping. My hair looked good today. The winter is kinda perfect.
Boy howdy though, this sure sucks! Need to have the talk with our daughter who’s seven tomorrow. She’s hardheaded and resistant to change - which I think can be strong character traits, but this is gonna be a rough one for her. She’s been worried about us dying.
PR sure looks gorgeous. I could sure use one of those luscious melons and some fresh fish for dinner! Also, lol over the temps - I lived for 25 years in California - the first time it dropped into the 50s in September here, I thought I had moved to the frozen tundra!!
Wish me luck talking with my daughter.
Re: Looking for others with low risk, less than 2cm, IDC stage 1 grade 1HR+ HER2- on endocrine therapy
hi Sandy & Pam:
Sandy: sorry to hear what your going through
Pam: sorry to hear about your recurrence too. Can I ask did you have any brca genes? Stage one grade one and a recurrence. I wouldn’t expect a recurrence either. That had to be a huge shock to you!
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
marticcrn,
I remained on my regular threads. Also, on the day of my 1st chemo treatment joined a chemo thread. 😘
teka
Re: Looking for others with low risk, less than 2cm, IDC stage 1 grade 1HR+ HER2- on endocrine therapy
I had never really heard of Grade until I joined here. I checked my Pathology Report and it's Grade 1. I see my surgeon on December 9 and I plan to ask him if I should be getting mammograms more frequently than every year, since I won't be doing the estrogen blocker.
gmm3916
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
@cookie54 The scrubber is doing just fine when needed on dishes, have not used in the bathtub yet but will. Love the air fryer for sure. Not sure what .to use for today, yesterday, used my instant pot for some rice instead. Both work quite well.
I am sick, yesterday woke with a very sore throat, productive cough and runny nose. Oh well, throwing the expectorant in the day, hydrating and using some vicks vapo rub. I slept a long time as I did put myself to bed earlier. I use the cough suppressant at night.
Not sure about food today, ordered up a bunch of breakfast and beef and bean burritos yesterday, still have hotdogs that can be boiled, chopped into cheese and thrown in the air fryer with lentils. I will see, not awake enough for food yet and too busy blocking facebook posts that trigger me into arguments or going after bullies who go after people with typos. Oh well, no one asked me to go after bullies so block is generously being used today.
I do have a couple of prescriptions coming and having a breakfast burrito for now before prescription arrives. I will see how I feel as to what else may be done. I am better than yesterday BUT colds, coughing and sore throat make me turn into a huge whiny person. Will also get to bed earlier again.
Hope everyone has a good day and in pockets for all.
Re: Looking for others with low risk, less than 2cm, IDC stage 1 grade 1HR+ HER2- on endocrine therapy
@jons_girl It does sound like we have had a similar early stage situation.
Prior to my 2009 diagnosis, I had been seeing a breast specialist for 6 years with annual mammograms and 6 month sonograms. They had been watching a spot all that time (unbeknownst to me) that never changed—until 2009 after going on Seasonique birth control pills due to issues with my period. After only being on the pill for 3 months it was time for my mammogram (nothing seen) followed a few weeks later by my ultrasound (margins no longer looked smooth). So I had a needle biopsy and was diagnosed with ER+/PR+/HER2- Breast Cancer. It was determined that the cancer had been growing for about 10 years. Interestingly enough, the last time I had been on birth control pills was for 12 months about 10 years prior to the 2009 diagnosis. I strongly feel (in my case) that the estrogen in the pill caused the BC to start when I was on it for 12 months. Then I didn't take it again until 10 years later and the 3 months of estrogen caused it to break through the duct. Just my theory….
Following my 2009 diagnosis I continued seeing my breast specialist for 8 more years with annual chest x-rays, biannual MRIs, cancer marker tests, etc. Everything was super clean.
Now, to answer your question regarding tests vs. pain: I wasn't having any sort of tests after 2018. However, in January of 2024 I started to have some pain in my upper sternum that radiated to the right side. It lasted about a week and then was gone. I thought it was some type of rib muscle pain due to a chronic cough I had. In February it happened again for a week. Finally, in May, I had a chest CT and it stated "highly suspicious for metastatic breast cancer." Did I freak out, or what? A week later I had cancer antigen tests. They were slightly elevated. Had I had those tests 6 months earlier they would have been normal.
And, since I have been struggling with long Covid since 2020 and had so many strange symptoms from that, it was difficult to determine what was what. Since 2020 I have been tested and scanned for so many things. I even had a chest CT in January of 2023 when I went to the emergency room because I thought I was having a heart attack. So, when I started to complain to my PCP in 2023 about chest issues, he ordered upper GI tests and a PFT, etc. He didn't think to order another chest CT since I had just had one. But, in looking back at the January 2023 chest CT, if a radiologist looks very closely, he can see that the cancer was just starting in my sternum. However, it was so negligible that it wasn't noticed (they we looking for heart problems).
So, that's my story!
I've read that approximately 30% of early stage HR+ breast cancers return in 10, 20, even 30 years. I guess that's me. However, 70% never have a recurrence. I hope and pray that's you!
I do believe that the Signatera (ctDNA) test, which is quite new, is a good monitoring tool. They didn't have that back when I was first diagnosed. There are a lot more options for monitoring these days.
Right now I am in remission and my last two PET scans were great and my last two Signatera tests were negative. Treatments today are so much more sophisticated than even 10 years ago.
I wish you a life free of any more cancer!
Hugs, Pam 💗
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
I have friends in Twin Cities who have a medical transportation company. They are all Catholic naturalized citizens from Africa. Good men. Praying for them. We have talked aout the possibility that it might extend to them.
mcbaker
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
Betrayal, good quote. Very positive.
Cindy, your sea photos made me think of Jackie. She would have loved them. I don't doubt tariffs are behind the prices.
We had a stressful day yesterday. Drove 30 minutes in downpours of rain to an oral surgeon's office for dh's surgical procedure to remove a cyst in his mouth. It was infected and required a lot of drainage. DH paid $200 for a time-released pain injection but it didn't seem to do much to prevent pain. He took the dosages of ibuprofen and tylenol, as instructed but was soon searching through our stash of prescription painkillers when we arrived home. He was a miserable patient and that means a miserable caregiver. He was up during the night for more pain med but said he still got some restorative sleep.
This morning he seems to be on the mend. The oral surgeon assured dh that he will be able to resume wearing his partial when the surgery site heals. One of us has to venture out in another rainy day to pick up a prescribed antibiotic.
We have been in drought conditions so the rainy days we're having should reduce the rain deficit. I haven't decided whether I will go to the 11:30 senior exercise class. I probably will.
It definitely is not a good pre-Christmas time for the immigrants in New Orleans. The Border Patrol have arrived and are doing their thing. A lot of coverage in the news.
Happy Friday to everyone.
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
@irishlove So glad DH is out of heart failure status, great news! Ugh sorry you’re now dealing with possible strep, agree with the others , be careful. You don’t need any lingering infections! Yikes what a pia to have such issues with antibiotics, that's rough. I always admire the way you are able to deal with multiple issues yet put your game face on and cook!I know we all try our hardest to keep it "normal". Guess it’s best to travel in the Spring as I’m sure you’re disappointed. Sending hugs and get well wishes.
@chicagoan Glad to hear the new hip is treating you well. Nice to be able to get out with friends and have some fun! May you have continued peace of mind as you wait on scans and tissue biopsy.
@shanagirl Ugh rough night on sleep,it's awful! Hope you were able to settle and get a couple hours in. I started using Natrol melatonin gummies and it's been giving me a couple steady hours of sleep. Yipee for last Rads , I hope the fatigue doesn't linger much longer. I love the twinkle soft Christmas lights too, it makes the house so cozy.
@mara51506 How are ya? Sounds like your enjoying your air fryer. How was the electric cleaning brush you bought? Did I miss that review lol?
So great news, DH heart catheterization is good! Stent looked good and all else clear. No improvement in his heart failure but as he says "he is ok with keeping his old broken self" and grateful no new issues. Big sigh of relief …Thanks for all the well wishes for him❤️Now Echo for me today since I haven't had on since the start of chemo. I'm not expecting anything just following doctors orders and ending this year of tests🤞
Happy Friday and I hope everyone has a good day ❣️
cookie54
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
Well, I’m still awake at 2:24 AM and just am not feeling sleep, so I thought I would read along and catch up on you all. I haven’t been posting for the 10 days of palliative radiation on my acetabulum and hip groin area. My last rad was Black Friday,….totally feel wiped out but it's helped in some ways.Wishing you al a belated Happy Thanksgiving. DH & I spent the weekend putting the tree up and he did the lights outside the house. I love Christmas lights.
@threetree I'm thinking of you and praying for you that things become clearer for you and you get what you need from your care team as far as treatment and what’s going on with your cancer status. I know you’ve been a little down in the dumps and under the weather. You feel you and I always seem to mirror certain issues together. I went for treatment Monday for the XGeva Fasoldex injections., my metabolics always have some highs and lows, never perfect. My calcium is always high. So Hoping all is well with you @chicagoan., @cookie54. @candy-678 @irishlove I’m also bad about morning doctor visits before 12. It’s har getting out in the mornings for me too. And please let your doctor know about your sore throat that is strep so he can prescribe the proper medication for you.
So now I’m being too much of a nightmare owl so I’m going to close this IPad and go to sleep🥱😴🩵
