Best Of

Re: Low WBC

it took mine 1.5 years after Verzenio, chemo radiation and surgery to make it to the low end of normal. Eat nutritiously and healthily - lots of veggie smoothies and proteins with moderate carbs, do less stressful and happy inducing activities and up the exercise slowly and steadily. In my case, I felt energy and strength returning and the blood count tests just confirmed the trend ….

luck2468

1

Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?

I like pumpkins and enjoy seeing a big collection of them in their natural state, even on a farmer's lawn. The supermarkets here have nice big ones for what seems like a reasonable price. I've been tempted to buy a couple but haven't. When I did buy one some years back and set it by the front door, I forgot about it and it rotted in place. A yucky mess. If I had deer nearby like Betrayal, it would seem more worthwhile.

We've had some light rain today. It was so nice to see water coming from the sky. I'm hoping for more. The dampness must be heavenly for the poor shrubs and trees suffering from drought.

Hope your SO's colonoscopy is reassuring, Cindy. I had two with no polyps and decided not to have any more.

I baked a loaf of whole grain bread with Einkorn ancient grain flour this morning. It wouldn't win a prize at the state fair but I will enjoy a slice for breakfast toast each day and stop buying bread for that purpose. We both rarely eat sandwiches now.

Happy weekend to all.

carolehalston

1

Re: How long have you been Stage IV?

@lafish Strangely enough, I don’t have a ton of scanxiety prior to tests; however, when I am getting ready to open the results in my patient portal, I have difficulty breathing and start to hyperventilate. That is the real moment of truth for me.

I pray your scans go well. As @norah2024 stated, tumor marker tests can be indicative for some people as to how things are going. I get both CA 15-3 and CA 27.29. They have both been within normal range following my first two treatments last year. However, I had minor progression last December and again in March of this year. Since I had started getting Signatera tests last October, the first of which was negative, I continued to get them with each PET scan. And, as you can see by my lengthy signature, my Signatera and PET results have been aligning. Since my recent PET was all clear, I am hoping my upcoming Signatera results are negative again. Has your doctor ordered a Signatera test for you?

I agree with @soldanella that it could in part be the Kisqali or just scanxiety that is causing loss of appetite. When I have a loss of appetite, it’s typically caused by a slight bug of some sort that’s going around. With all the other aches and pains I have from my medications, I’m never certain if it’s the medications or if I have some sort of bug.

I apologize for the long diatribe. I am busy watching my husband work on a simple fix to the dryer in our RV. However, it’s taking hours. We are planning a two week adventure starting next weekend. Can’t wait to get away for a while. Wishing everyone a great weekend.

Hugs, Pam 💗

livinglifenow

3

Re: How long have you been Stage IV?

@lafish I was on Kiskali and I also had a decrease in appetite. That said, the stress before each control scan is still present, but it's true that my markers have been good since the beginning of the year, so I'm a little more relaxed before my quarterly check-ups. During my first follow-up scans after the stage 4 diagnosis, I took steps to arrange my funeral and made contact for suicide assistance! (lol). That's how anxious I was. Two and a half years later, I no longer have these kinds of thoughts before check-ups, but still, it's never easy to wait for the results.
I hope you receive good news in two weeks. Best regards.

soldanella

4

Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?

I've been to the jack-o-lantern blaze in NY. It was amazing. I don't remember all of the details. I still have pictures on my phone too!

intolight

3

Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?

This is it.

cindyny

2

Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?

Pumpkins - there is a team of staff and volunteers that cut them. Some are not real pumpkins but they call them “funkins” like a harder styrofoam plastic. I’m not sure if the assembly set up has them each do something, or complete it on their own. The real pumpkins only last about 10 days depending on weather and then have to be replaced. We could tell the real pumpkins had some deterioration inside of them. Any whole uncut pumpkin was real.

It was a sight to see. I’m marking my calendar for next year to take my niece and make a day of it - a little shopping, and a meal in town before heading out to the home (or what was once a private home).

My gf & dh arrived home from NYC about 9:15 last night. By 10:15 she text, headed back to the hospital. His defibrillator went off again. She crawled into bed at 5:15AM. She’s back at the hospital, where he’s asleep and they’re just observing him for a day. They don’t seem to know why it went off again. She’s going to speak with his dr or dr on call for that practice to say it’s unacceptable not to know why it went off.

My SO had his Cologuard come back positive, so he requires a regular colonoscopy. His son is the gastroenterologist in the family. We believe the positive reflects internal hemorrhoids. But this could hold up plans to leave for FL on 11/5. If they can’t get him in sooner than later, he’ll get it done while in FL. But if they can get him in by 11/15 or so, we’ll stay for the appointment. Calling Monday to do a pre call with a nurse, and we’ll go from there.

We’ve got sun on & off today, it’s a cool 54. Our local car wash firm is offering a free car wash with food pantry item drop off, so I’m bundling up and going.

Enjoy your day!

cindyny

1

Re: Bone Mets Thread

Norah, My MO orders new genomic testing when TMs rise significantly, to see if there are new mutations that might determine the next treatment, but doesn't change anything until scans definitively show progression.