Best Of
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
I just got back from taking Tippy for a bike/walk. 77 deg. I did not want to put on my ankle-brace, it seems like I can't walk very far now at all without it.
Yes, Chris, I find being unable to use my hands without pain to be a burden. But Jesus bore his own. Yesterday I groomed Tippy and cooked. Napped in the afternoon. But last night my Fitbit recorded minimal sleep. So I haven't done much more than this with my hands. I have been reading and taking Tippy out. Early this afternoon I took him to the fairgrounds, but he was scaring the chickens, so I guess he won't be over there again for a week or so.
Betrayal, thanks. I do think I am going to get just bang trims for a while and see how it behaves when long again.
A new charging cable for my TENS arrived!!
mcbaker
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
@cindyny and @betrayal I use an iRobot too. My DH manages it on his phone so he bought the kind that docks and empties itself. It self-charges, then goes again until it is finished. I like that it will do only whichever rooms we tell it to do so it won't bother us. My only pet doesn't shed (we got her breed for that purpose) but I have dark wood floors (here when we bought it) so it shows everything. Most of the carpets are not a problem. The ones it struggles with (only two small throws) we just pick up ahead of time. It goes well between area rugs, carpet bedrooms, and wood floors. This model doesn't mop but I don't really want it to. It is worth it for me. But yes, there are areas where I do need to use a regular vacuum but I have also learned to live with a little more dust than before I was ill. When I lived in San Diego I had a house keeper, but they want double the cost here for less work and I refuse to pay someone as much per hour than I earned with a PhD. I always used a reputable firm with legal employees and it worked well before we moved. I have no idea what the situation is in San Diego now that ICE is more involved.
I like the ladies on this thread, but I am Stage IV and seem sicker than most of you. At least I cannot do as much. Maybe I am wrong…
Re: Starting Chemo July 2025? Gather here for support!
I'm starting TC chemo on July 1st - looking for others who are starting soon, too. The anxiety in these last few days is quite BAD, but I know I'll feel much better once I have the first infusion done and start to see how my body handles it. Really grateful for this space and everyone here who is looking for support and community in this. <3
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
cindyny, thanks for the plug for robot vacuums. I do not have an open concept house (and don't want one) and all rugs are area rugs not wall to wall so not sure how they would work here. Plus I have animals who insist on shedding or moulting, lol, so there are always going to be hair or feathers on floor even as soon as I finish sweeping.
Very humid so debating about going out into it. But I think I will go even if for only 30 minutes.
betrayal
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
Betrayal, I swear by my robot vacuums. In FL it’s an iRobot - programmable after it maps your house. So you can tell it in the app which rooms to do. I sometimes I leave the guest room to weekly, but hit the high traffic areas daily. Note I say “I” when all I do is open the app, hit a button and send it on its way, usually while I’m out walking or out shopping, running errands.
In NY I have a Shark robot vacuum. The one I purchased for here isn’t programmable, I call this one Willy Nilly because that’s how it goes. It cleans the carpet, and tiles without a problem. Zig zagging back and forth through many rooms.
I do pick up the kitchen garbage bins in both houses, in case SO has left coffee grounds. I’ll put the hamper in the tub, move a kids rocking chair - to make sure it can get through/under a wing chair.
Best part of these vacuums is no back pain. Both of mine I have to empty myself, at least once a week. But there are models that have a docking station that removes all debris from it; some also mop! Worth considering to avoid back pain.
The Shark, because it isn’t programmed, I can put it upstairs and let it go up there too. GEEZE that was long winded!
I see the surgeon’s PA on 7/23, and hope to be out of the Velcro shoe. I purchased the hiker type Clark’s and hope he’s ready for me to wear them. Steri strips are still on in 3 places, and the toe with the screw in it is still kind of swollen.
We just had some rain, but not enough. Too short to do anything. I did hear thunder after the sun was back out, but any real rain missed us. Dead lawns and plants trying their best to stay alive.
cindyny
adriamycin heart damage
Hello,
Just dx with heart damage due to adriamycin use in 2005. I was dx with Stage 1 bc, ER-PR- Her2+++. Had lumpectomy, chemo ACT then 10 months of Herceptin (had to stop twice due to low muga scores). Radiation. Had genetic testing Pos Braca 1 so had bilateral overies removed then bilateral mastectomy with silicone implant reconstruction.
Everything seemed ok until 2024 when I started to experience extreme fatigue and weight gain. after much testing I had cardiac workup and heart damage was discovered, believed to be from adriamycin. Hard to swallow as I'm 19 years out, frustrating that a drug I used to help prevent a reoccurrence is now affecting me.
Wondering if anyone else is experiencing this and what is the game plan going forward?
Thanks
Re: How long have you been Stage IV?
Hi all! @ssales13 I think you and I were diagnosed around same time. At this point, 7 months in, I see him or one of his fellows monthly with blood tests each time. Tomorrow I am seeing him mid-month to review my first PET since diagnosis. The report is in my portal since Thursday but DH and I decided not to look at it and instead go away for the weekend. Had a fun weekend! May read it tonight or tomorrow morning. Needless to say, I’m nervous.
eddiej
Re: How long have you been Stage IV?
@ssales13 Glad to hear your MO appointment went well. As for how often I see my MO… Since I have HER2 positive BC, I go for infusions every 3 weeks and have blood work too, then see my MO or the oncology nurse at that time as well. And, as of right now, I am having scans every 3 months. So I imagine it depends most on what kind of treatment you are on.
As for the pain in your leg (especially calf), I hope it's just some kind of herniated disc and/or pinched nerve. To determine if that is the case, you would need a lumbar MRI. I had a severe herniated disc in 2022 and it took months for the doctors to finally get the lumbar MRI and determine what the problem was. I also had pain from my hip down to my toes and even some issues with my calf, so I hope it is something more in line with that. Although the pain can sure be immense!
It will be good to get some answers. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
Hugs,
Pam 💗
Re: How long have you been Stage IV?
Good morning everyone! I was wondering after the first year how often do you see your oncologist? Does it stay at every month? I went for my appointment to see oncologist and everything was ok but I’ve been having some pain in my left leg(from hip to foot) mostly in my calf ( it’s hard to walk) I had a sonogram Thursday to check for blood clots and I don’t have any so the doctor wants me to get my PET scan early ( was due for one in September) but am now going on July 31st to make sure it hasn’t spread. I really don’t believe that it has but would rather be safe than sorry. Hope you all have great day. I hope that everyone who had PET scans and doctors appointments had good results!
ssales13
Re: How long have you been Stage IV?
@ssales13 I met monthly with the oncology office for two years. Now I am just going to have monthly blood draws and see my oncologist after 3-4 month scans. I think they might also see me before my Zometa injection. Not sure. I have to have a colonoscopy because of some kind of colonic thickening which is very unlikely to be cancer, but oh hurray another scan to worry about, right?
