Best Of
Mourning the person I was
Watching Physical: Asia which is a competition show about people at the peak of their physical ability. It's a great show and I love it. But I found myself crying watching them realizing that I am past my peak physical self. The joint pain I have from Lupron stops me from going to the gym most days. Today included. I was a professional dancer and a marathon runner. I am so lucky to be alive right now and am so grateful. This just hurts.
Re: CT and Lung Nodules
Hi @kks_11, It's hard to know who is actually going to follow you. My hospital works on the team approach and from what I've seen they divide the workload without any real pattern, My surgeon's NP schedules my mammograms and sees me afterwards. I had been seeing a medical oncology NP until a tumor showed up in my hip and I was transferred to my MO. I've seen my RO by default a few times (he sent me to the ED when he saw my right arm.) If whomever you are seeing can't answer your questions make sure they bring in someone who can.
The lumbar puncture is part of the neuro workup. Within the past couple of months my left fingers and all toes have gone numb and my calf muscles have pins and needles. My PCP is picking the differential diagnosis of paraneoplastic syndrome (an autoimmune reaction to cancer cells.) I have gone along with the hope that the indeterminate tumor is probably benign since there is a high chance a biopsy would break break my hip but I might have to re-evaluate. Two diagnoses have been shot down so who knows what is going on.
Health insurance for next year seems to be problematical for almost everyone. My Medicare part D plan company has exited the state along with several other insurance companies. None of the seven plans left have all my meds on their formulary. Hopefully my resourceful pulmo can help with my inhaler since the $7000 it costs won't count toward my out-of-pocket limit. I hope you can get as much as possible done before the end of the year and you end up seeing a helpful provider.
maggie15
Re: Capecitabine - Side Effects
@tazzy24 Hi Michele it's nice to meet you and I'm sorry you dealing with the finger issues. I have been on Xeloda for a couple years now and it's keeping my MTNBC quiet! I am so thankful to still be on it but my hands and feet have been through it! But as I tell my MO I'm willing to"suffer" for stable! I have used many many creams you will have to find what works for you. I also limit folic acid foods.
Neutrogena Norwegian Hand Cream, Udderly Smooth, , Diclofenac topical Gel, Bag Balm. I also at times lube up my hands and feet and wear gloves and socks to let it soak in. Anyhow as Mods said check out their page and also the All about Xeloda thread. It's a great informative group who also know how to manage side effects well.
Best wishes,Andrea
cookie54
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
I am presently making up some air fryed lentils, shaking every couple minutes. Once those are crispy, cracking a couple eggs as well. Lentils and the eggs should taste good. I put white cheddar seasoning, sour cream and onion and lots of taco seasoning, lentils came out pretty crispy but not burned. Got eggs in there as well now that lentils in a bowl. Will add a binder at some point as well, still have a lot to choose from.
EDIT The lentils with the seasonings from the air fryer were really very good. Eggs were good as well, nothing burned. It was all enjoyable to me. Got it soaking now for use either later today or in days ahead.
Got laundry on the go right now, agitating in colour shield oxi for 15 mins for total hour or so soak, wiped up window sills and spots on floor and cloths were pretty soiled. After the wash/soak, will drain and do a normal wash with detergent.
Nothing else to say, quiet weekend besides Welcome to Derry and Stranger Things, binged that show. More episodes coming later December.
Still have not heard about consult appointment yet, will cancel the next RO appointment if it means to focus on a non existent consult. If I am honest, not going to lose sleep, if it was super urgent to be seen, someone would have phoned. For now just putting along as usual. I did phone my RO and let them know no consult seems to be on the books. I was polite but just said that since there is something in my brain that should not be there, would prefer the consult sooner before brain swelling and seizures start. The RO office person said they will call tomorrow. Oh well, I am more annoyed and have little sympathy about the neurosurgeon being busy. Just figured something growing in the brain would be a little more urgent than the it all seems to be. The MRI was in Sept that showed the blood flowing cyst. I am also leaving RO office to deal with the neurosurgeon consult.
Hope everyone has a good day and in pockets for all.
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
@irishlove Strep is going around Chicago now too so I agree with @betrayal that it might be better to do one more doctor visit to treat it (Sigh).
So sorry you had to cancel your planned Christmas trip but at least you will get your money back.
@cookie54 It must be so challenging for both you and your husband to have such serious health issues. Hopefully you can lean on each other and get through this.
Had a couple of fun nights-pizza party with co-workers, dinner and farkle with pickleball friends. Staying in today and making some soup from my rotisserie chicken carcass. I may try to get to the gym to do upper body. My new hip is getting better and better which is a relief. In a holding pattern to see what my next cancer treatment might be. Still taking Ibrance as we wait for tissue biopsy and Guardant results, along with new scans at the beginning of January. I feel good so I'm not worrying about anything.
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
marticcrn, sorry to read about your news. I hope once you have a plan in place, we can offer comfort, support and assistance. The nurse navigator should be able to assist you with getting the appointments you need for follow-up. ((HUGS))
betrayal
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
@marticcrn Sorry to read of your dx. We are here for you so let us know if we can help.
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
well, dear friends, I am official. Grade 3 TNBC T3aN0. PET scan on December 18.
KEYNOTE 522 starts Monday. She will re-MRI every six weeks and if the tumor is clinically gone, I get to go to surgery (so let’s hear it for complete response) and quit chemo.
I have my heart set on DMX but I haven’t had surgery consult yet. Since I’ve lost 40 lbs (thank you Zepbound), my boobs are just loose skin with very little contents. The tumor is 5cm, so resection would be deforming and I don’t want scanxiety. I’m also terrible about getting screenings done, as evidence by the fact I missed last year’s mammo. So …
telling people has been awful. I had my manager send out an email generally saying marticcrn has breast cancer (I’m a nurse) so people wouldn’t wonder/talk. My hair stylist cried when I told him. I haven’t told my adult kids yet and my 7 year old just knows Mommy had a lump tested. Gonna get there later this week. I really hadn’t anticipated how bad telling people would be.
Port soonish, but chemo starts first. I need your nail care tips, your skin and stomatitis tips. Alll the hints pls.
Hugs to you all.
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
Hi everyone. I managed to catch up on the goings on around here. Wishes for a healthier new year for everyone.
Cookie, DH was able to improve his heart failure status and no longer has restrictions. He swims everyday or night and walks the dogs 1/2 hour or so each morning. We believe it was triggered by undiagnosed Covid, even though he had his vaccine and booster shots.
Mara, we use coffee filters in our air fryer to reduce clean up. Works well and doesn't burn. Plus it's inexpensive. Oh do those burritos and other mexican inspired foods sound delicious.
I've been sick on and off since mid-October. I still have pneumonia. Then I caught a nasty bug that took a week to shake. Now I'm pretty sure I have strep-throat. It was a minor sore throat for 2 or 3 days and today it became very sore. Took a flashlight and shined it down my pipe and sure enough saw pus pockets both sides. Been to so many hospital visits and doctor visits that I'm going to cheat a bit and treat this myself. Have antibiotics for UTI and I believe I have another one, so this should cover both medical problems (hopefully).
We had planned to go home for Christmas (first time in over 5 years) but cancelling tomorrow DH booked Amtrak train roundtrip and motel room. We should receive full refund. Sometimes I am so sure of myself and then have to admit that my body just isn't cooperating. Talked to my sis and we agreed to reschedule for spring.
In pockets for scans and hoping for good success with new meds to have improvement and better health for the new year.
Irishlove
Back after years - lymphedema surgical resources?
Hi everyone. I was diagnosed with lymphedema I think in early 2011, so it’s been a while. I used to be on this board a lot back then. I’ve stayed active and used compression and not had much trouble with flares of swelling. My swelling never goes away completely, but it’s still soft and it’s honestly quite subtle to the eye. I’ve had doctors refuse to believe I even have lymphedema until I tell them how many times I’ve had cellulitis. But there’s the problem - cellulitis. I am just out of the hospital after a particularly bad episode. It’s not the first time I’ve been hospitalized. I try so hard to be careful, but it still hits me hard out of nowhere.
Does anyone have any personal experience with node transfer surgery for recurrent cellulitis, but not late stage lymphedema? I see it listed as an indication for the procedure on some websites, but I feel like I’m searching so randomly. I just don’t know what else to do at this point. I’m particularly scared because my knees are seeing the end result of a lot of sports and I’m awaiting a replacement. The Infectious Disease doc told me I was lucky I hadn’t done that already because I was so bacteremic with this episode. An infected knee prosthesis is leagues worse than an infected arm.
If it makes a difference, I am in the SW, in a small city with overtaxed medical resources. Phoenix and Denver are the nearest big cities.
outfield