Best Of
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
Yup. Got the cast cut off yesterday. Then went down to the OT department and had a lightweight splint made. Had a late lunch, then showed up for podiatry early, but they called me in early. I have to wait a week for new orthotics. In the meantime she put some padding down by the tarsal metatarsal joint of the little toe. I looked that up. Parallel to a certain thumb joint.
Went home, A friend and I thought there was a meeting at church but not. My Visible told me to take it easy today. Doh!! I got through it without getting super tired. Still doing space bar with forefinger.
This is my last week with bike. Won't be getting it out unless in an emergency after this week, temps below freezing every night. 😪 Doctor and I discussed left thumb. Still don't know for sure. Wearing a splint on that hand all the time, too.
Glad for the negotiations on SNAP, but I could have squeaked by on Advantage Plan groceries and pantry.
Busy writing again, massive Bible study project. So glad for the cross-referencing and footnotes of Catholic Bible. We don't use a Concordance.
Meds safe expected today. I won't be keeping it in such an obvious place. So dumb!!
Cindy, will be adding your niece to my list of prayers, as well as wren and intolight.
mcbaker
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
@mkestrel I'm sorry to hear your PET showed liver progression, it just stinks! Wrapping you in a big comfort hug❌⭕️
cookie54
Re: How are people with liver mets doing?
in your pocket and hoping for good news from the surgeon.
eleanora
Re: how about drinking?
Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Twofer Tuesday and don't forget to vote! Things are getting settled down with Mom. All the necessary stuff for living has been mostly unpacked, and is at the point where Mom wants to put them away herself. She's started going out and exploring a bit. Her big wish right now is to get the TV mounted and running (basic cable comes with the rent), and once that is done the rest of the boxes in the living room will be her CDS, VHS tapes, albums, etc that she can unpack and organize as she wants. I'm cutting back to every other day until her doctor's appointment next week, then will try a couple times a week. I got the last of the cleaning stuff out of the old apartment yesterday and left the key like the landlord wanted. He's already painted the entire living room/kitchen area and has a sign up, but the sign is for a rental company, not his name/number. Not sure what that means, and frankly, I don't care beyond passing curiosity. Today's project is to find a way to get mom's car moved legally without having the title or expired registration. Then I will be totally done with the landlord and that will take a lot of the pressure off. I keep reminding myself that Mom hasn't even been there a full week yet, the staff keeps telling her it takes a good couple of weeks to learn the way around, and that she is now safer than she was in the old apartment, and that she doesn't want me to be taking care of her while she can take care of herself at all. Tain't easy though!
This is the view from Mom's bedroom:
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
I got 3 years out of Ibrance and then progression. I elected to do Doxil rather than Truqap because I’m traveling leaving tonight and diarrhea is the main side effect. I have had two treatments of Doxil and my only side effect has been slight transient nausea not worth medicating. My hair is supposed to fall out but it hasn’t yet. Doxil is related to the red devil but not the same. My advice is to not let the book scare you. Mot all IV chemo is horrible
wren44
Re: TNBC MBC Stage 4
@rlschaller Hi there Rhonda! Was happy to read your post to hear Keytruda is now in the plan. This is very encouraging news for more options going forward. In your pocket for starting rads Monday. Glad you’re enjoying the beautiful weather, yes crazy winds yesterday.
My Dexa results have improved ! Glad the Prolia and my calcium debacle was worth it. One less issue is a good thing!. Mil house going on the market Wednesday so life should start to settle a little
Rita hope your enjoying your weekend and feeling decent
ugh not looking forward to the time change 😔. Oh well just have to hunker down and hope it’s a quiet winter.
cookie54
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
Cindy, WOW on the happenings in your world. Hope your niece gets properly diagnosed and everything else works out. Your family and friends are fortunate to have you on their team.
Betrayal, glad you finally made it home and are getting back to normal life.
I hope to get in a walk this am, get my Covid shot afterwards, and attend chair yoga this afternoon.
My annual appointment with my kidney specialist went well yesterday. My blood work was good for my age. The only downside was learning that she plans to discontinue her practice in our area, which requires some travel. I like seeing her every year but will have to decide whether to see her replacement or drive an hour plus.
Our wonderful weather continues. It was cold enough this morning that dh turned on the furnace for the first time this season.
Happy Tuesday.
Re: Immediate reconstruction vs. going flat now and possible reconstruction later
Hi @melissa_s
Sorry you have had a 2nd dx and have had to join us, but very glad you found us!
I think the biggest 'risks & benefits' of immediate recon vs doing it separately are more emotional than anything else. I did both. With flap surgeries (especially from the abdomen), I think they can be much longer due to their complexity, so that incurs some risk.
With my 1st dx (22 years ago), I had a single mx with a tram flap (with reduction of other side) 9 months later. At the time, I didn't know what I wanted to do and I just wanted the cancer GONE. Fortunately, my surgeon did a skin-sparing mx so I was prepared for whatever recon I wanted to do later, if I wanted to do any. I think a downside of that would be if you later decided not to do recon, you might want some of that skin removed? For me at that time, it was likely a good thing as it gave me time to research my options. The hard part was having one very large breast and one very small (with skin sparing, it seemed like there was 'something' there, though it wasn't much) which meant I needed to always have something in my bra to balance them out. Once I made my recon decision, it was difficult to wait for the recon surgery—-so emotional more than anything.
With my 2nd dx (2022), I had a single mx with a lat flap and fat transfer (without an implant). Since I already had a tram flap (like a DIEP), my choices were limited and I didn't want an implant. This time doing it all at once had the downside of having to wait 6 weeks in order to have both surgeons available. That was hard again from an emotional standpoint.
In both cases, there were further surgeries to "fine-tune" the recons.
In both cases, there was 'waiting'—-seems to always be part of this journey.
It sounds like you have a good relationship with your breast surgeon. Talk to her. Then talk to the PS she recommends so you know what your options are and to be sure you are comfortable with them. Maybe even talk to another PS. Get all your information together. Then…follow your gut. Once you make your decision, it's a good decision for you. No second guessing. Just feel good about it.
Good luck to you.
Take care.
mandy23
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
I’m so far behind it isn’t funny.
Sandy, great you’re home. Horrible that Bob fell, fortunately no breaks. Glad Gordy is situated in a 1 bedroom apartment.
Betrayal, welcome back. I too loved the pictures.
Chris, I’m glad you received the orthotics, and your meds weren’t stolen.
I’ll summarize quickly (HAHA!) because I want to go to bed. Saturday I had done minimal packing, because I was stuck in computer hell trying to put Norton Deluxe on my laptop. It was taking hours and not happening.
Then I received a call, my niece & daughter were out to dinner - niece was having chest pains, ended up calling 911. I made it to the restaurant; EMS said they’re taking her to the hospital; me & grandniece beat her to the hospital; multiple tests, not a cardiac event.
Then we were able to see her bloodwork in the patient portal - multiple abnormal readings. PA came back and said it could be her pancreas. A CT with contrast was done, it came back normal. She was discharged.
Mind you it was before 7pm when I got her call; it was “fall back” a hour with the time change; I think I went to sleep 5am… but maybe it was 4am. Sunday was a blur - more computer calls with Norton support; grandniece came down here, I cooked dinner for us all.
Today I got more packing done. Niece went to “walk in” cardiologist for follow-up as directed by ER, now called ED. She’s getting some further testing based on family history. I picked up grandniece from school. I had to go to Macy’s to pick up a gift for my niece that I forgot all about - they text & emailed. I made a French toast Soufflé last night for tonight; and whipped up a chocolate mousse I had brought back from World Market. (used up a dozen eggs, all old bread products, and lots of milk HA!).
Today (Monday) I sent all my nieces info to my stepson, gastroenterologist in NC. Always says as he hasn’t examined her…short story he thinks pancreatitis. She called her gastro; can’t get in until February; see a PA; nurse asked why she wants to see him - told her blood results; she’ll speak with the dr and call her back. We’re hoping he’ll see her sooner than later.
SO just booked hotels for the trip down to FL, finished up at 1:30AM. We were unsure if we’d need to postpone the trip. I did tell my gn that if something needs to be done, I’d fly back up.
Norton is on my computer. Windows 11 is downloading … should have done it awhile back when I think Carole mentioned it.
Tomorrow more packing. Voting! And I have an eye dr appointment to get new contacts at 3:15. I’ll fill up my gas tank too. CALGON take me away!
Apologies to all I didn’t mention, I took no notes and I wrote WAY too much, I couldn’t page back to look.
Remember VOTE VOTE VOTE - let our voices be heard.
cindyny