Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
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Thank you MCBaker for your welcome. I am ER+PR+HER- I am told. Waiting on Oncotype DX21 results. I was told before sx that I would have radiation, low chance of chemo save results of the test.
Irisheyes756
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Thank you Betrayal, I am grateful that there are places to go to be with others that have an awareness beyond book knowledge or I know someone. I look forward to discovering the methods and strategies of addressing the physical, and emotional challenges that lie ahead for me.
I have long believed that everything we go through will help us as we travel further down our road.
Irisheyes756
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Irisheyes, I remember that lingering disbelief after my bc dx. The refrain would run through my mind. "You have cancer..." It took me a full year to return to "ordinary" life. Good luck with your recovery.
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Oh my yes, Carole, On of my activities is that I sing, I spoke with my doctor on Thursday got DX then on Friday I had a singing engagement. As I was singing, that thought was pounding in my head, I struggled with words to the song.
I am so glad that you said that! I feel more normal.
Irisheyes756
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Irisheyes, once again welcome to the group none of us volunteered for! You have found a wonderful place for information and support.
I've been lurking rather than posting. We've had a busy last few months. Older son and family moved to South America, his oldest daughter staying with us as she searches for employment in publishing after completing her degree in journalism. She is also primary caretaker for the dog they could not take with them. Said dog will meet up with them when they are in the states for a meeting and will go back with them.
Younger son missed two chemo treatments due to being in quarantine with 3 of his kids, one after the other not at the same time, testing positive for Covid. Fortunately he is able to work from hone most of the time so his work time was not impacted and he has tested negative. PET scan last week, one lymph node lit up so back to another round of chemo.
On the bright side, my mammo was "benign post surgical changes". DH is scheduled for an ultrasound of a probable cyst in his breast tomorrow. You know where I am trying to keep my mind from going!
Enjoying cooler mornings, still having highs in the 80s and 90s. Forecast is calling for possible rain all week, hard to plan outdoor activities.
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Thank you Beaverntx, It has felt so good just reading and having a place to share about our C and our life.
I have just begun my journey, yet I can hear those along cheering me on.
I feel encouraged to be here, often writing helps me to clarify my thoughts and feelings.
I can sense that even though our backgrounds are different and perhaps our homes are far apart, our hearts are one.
Irisheyes756
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Irisheyes756. Let me welcome you as well. I am the "quote lady" so I am here on a daily basis. Thinking past when I first got my dx. I was veered between shock and thinking I just might die. Well, that was in 2007. Had 6 months of chemo and 7 full weeks of rads. It is hard to hear those words, you have cancer. Yr. after yr. I had mammo's and nothing was there. I became complacent thinking it was nearly a waste of time but something my Dr. insisted on once a yr. Then I heard those words and my whole life changed instantly.
I would not wish the dx on anyone but I would have to say I have grown in so many ways and I think ( I so hope ) I have become a happier, gentler, more caring person who can forgive easily and look on each day I'm given as a special gift. I'm 76 and still work two days a week and volunteer a couple days a week. I have some struggles like anyone, but as one quote says " while I'm here I might as well dance " or something to that effect. Sounded good to me so I expect to be dancing for a very long time yet.
I'm so glad you found us and I wish you well on your journey. We are a small group here and I think each person considers the rest as wonderful friends to share time with. I'm not great on the medical answers, but I always look for something of an uplifting quote. By the way, I as well believe we grow by the 'trials' we overcome.
Wishing you soooo well.
Jackie
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Irisheyes - you are not alone here. And again, welcome to the club no one wants to belong to. It’s knocked me down, made me research and question what was being done, also to fight to get through. But its reminded me not to judge others because who knows what their path includes. Best wishes to you on your journey
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Welcome IrishEyes - This is a journey but we will help you navigate it. There are no dumb questions here.
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OK - everyone. After we told IrishEyes to post her diagnosis I tried to redo mine with my new name and seem to have failed. Never been very tech savey so please help.
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Welcome, IrishEyes (ths name of a bar in town where I occasionally performed). Music was what got me through those first few months after diagnosis.2 weeks post-surgery I drove out to Rockford for a gig; just before starting rads I went to a folk music conference in Iowa.I had three more Chicago Bar Assn. "Bar Show" December musical parody revues. Played various small folk festivals. Did one more coffeehouse show...and then came the shutdown. Since then, I did one Bar Show online (what a royal pain to have to self-record in multiple steps). Did a couple of virtual sets and a couple of pre-recorded ones up in Madison for later streaming. Also Zoom-taught two dulcimer workshops in June.
But at 70 my outlook has changed. It's tough to get back in the saddle with only the bigger venues opening with better-known folkies. House concerts haven't come back. People are afraid to do or attend indoor gigs on the off-chance someone is not vaccinated or few people are masking. Now I just want to live feeling as well as I can. Been carb-cramming the past few nights due to scanxiety--later today I have an abdominal (liver) MRI coming up---per the MO who's managing my ocular melanoma (not tot be confused ith the ocular onc who is mainly a surgeon). Until now, my 6-month scans have been CTs. The only MRIs I'd ever had were after orthopedic injuries and one of my brain to rule out aneurysm as a cause for pulsatile tinnitus (which may have revealed my melanoma as an "incidentaloma").
I haven't even written anything--others are doing a better job on the funny topical ones because I don't find much to laugh about; I never could write love songs; and I'm too angry to write anything salient but still hummable.
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In your pocket Sandy for liver scan. I'll be at Evanston Thursday for yearly mammo and, though, sweet, factual MO, Dr. M, keeps assuring me I'll die of something else other than BC, will die at what would have been my natural life span, I can feel my nerves ratcheting up- so afraid am I of that moment in life( which I 've had several times) when life changes forever into a before/after.
On the quotidian, what no analysis will ever cure, annoyances of life - for which we should be grateful because they are so normal and unimportant, I've been on the phone with Apple over the past 3 days for more than 7 hours. I am just trying to get a return label to send back my unopened iPhone 12, having decided to get a 13 mini instead. I have been on hold for over an hour twice, hung up on( not accidentally disconnected), given 5 links that didn't work. Yesterday, Gil andI went to Apple Store, accomplished return with immediate money back to credit card, in less than 5 minutes. Red mini is perfect.
So back to life in each others' pockets.
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Sandy and Keywest, in your pocket. Sandy crank up some music you love in the house, wake those kitties up. Music is your de-stresser. HUG
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thank you for your open heart, I do feel a warm hand on mine as I read through the many posting. It is as thought I have been welcomed to sit at your kitchen table as you talk to me over a cup of delicious tea.
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Thanks for your candor on your frustrations, it is so real and fresh. I look forward to more refreshing posts.
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Every great loss demands that we choose life again. We need to grieve in order to do this. The pain we have not grieved over will always stand between us and life. When we don't grieve, a part of us becomes caught in the past like Lot's wife who, because she looked back, was turned into a pillar of salt.
Grieving is not about forgetting. Grieving allows us to heal, to remember with love rather than pain. It is a sorting process. One by one you let go of the things that are gone and you mourn for them. One by one you take hold of the things that have become a part of who you are and build again. -Rachel Naomi Remen0 -
Off to work today. Another long one. I should have cooked yesterday but didn't. It is okay though as my work on Tues. is usually not too strenuous. Our heat, minus humidity will return today. I'm back in knee length shorts.
Nothing else special planned for the day. Still on my antibiotics, grrrr, but only two to go. They are ( despite eating ) making my insides a bit wheezy. Will see the Dr. soon to find out what we are going to do about the tiny cancer spot. I'm grateful they keep decreasing and even those, thank goodness are papillary which gives you time to work with them.
I hope you all have a really nice day. Happy Tuesday to all.
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I felt inspired to write this today:
I don't know when you broke in,
your very presence poisoned me.
Your worked in secret, trying to take hold of me.
You have tried to disrupt my life.
You have upset my family.
You have thrown uncertainty and fear at me.
Let me tell you this, you have been discovered!
I will do everything within my power to destroy you!
Even though you attack my body, you can't touch me,
what makes me, who I am.
You can't steal my spirit,
I know my strength comes from on High.
I know I will not walk this path alone
others cheer me on.
I set my sights on healing and wholeness.
You will not win.!
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That would make a great song.
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The above poem is lovely.
Met with regular GI doc today and she will also reach out to Colorectal surgeon via email to make sure I get to see her soon. She did suggest this is not an emergency but it definitely is time to be proactive with removing it and then doing biannual (every 2 years) colonoscopies given the number of polyps I have developed and family hx of colon ca. Hopefully this means care and follow-up will transfer back to her. I have been seeing her for over 20 years so I really trust her word and advice. So it is a waiting game and hopefully I will have a plan in place soon. Today was busy with appointments one after another with a break between second and third long enough to grab lunch and relax for 45 minutes before I was in the car again. Tomorrow is last appointment for this week and on Thursday I was to leave for Sicily. We canceled this trip due to ongoing Covid issues and concerns about having to deal with masks, social distancing, etc in Italy. Sad to have to cancel yet another vacation and the cruise we had scheduled for January was canceled by cruise line so another year couped up at home. Cruise will be rescheduled by them for 2022 since they already have our deposit. Hoping we will be able to travel while we are still mobile.
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thank you it made me feel more powerful
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Irisheyes, that is a testament to your strength. We all have a lot but you can get tired of burdens carried so much. You are taking a stand right away and I think that is wonderful.
Betrayal, just wow!!! Sounds like things with the Dr.'s are progressing in a good way. Hoping for that to continue for you. Hate to hear your trips are on the back burner still. Dh and I used to do little day trips, but things like that might not work out either. Cruises and trips to Sicily sound way more stimulating . Hoping that we can start making more headway everywhere with this covid issue. Just maddening that we got such a late start here.
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thanks, praying for more strength for you
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Welcome Irish Eyes. I too was told I'd have radiation, low chance of chemo. Hope you come back with a low oncotype score. Mine was high and I chose to do chemo. It was rough, but now I'm a 7 year survivor. Be sure and look into and join other boards here. As I went through each treatment I'd join the related board (lumpectomy, chemo, radiation) and found it very helpful to be in touch with people going through treatment at the same time I was.
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thanks for your insightful guidance. I see as I read each person’s treatment is so varied even when it appears like the diagnosis is the same.
I will do my best to be prepared in my appointments, so that I understand my care.
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thank you 🎶
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Welcome, Irisheyes. We are a good group and talk about many things outside of BC. It is 2 years 1 month and 6 days, since I started this journey. I remember my "Oh S**t" moment like it was yesterday.
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It takes more courage to reveal insecurities than to hide them,
more strength to relate to people than to dominate them,
more "manhood" to abide by thought-out principles rather
than blind reflex. Toughness is in the soul and spirit,
not in muscles and an immature mind.
Alex Karras0 -
Cooler today as we wait for some possible rain. It won't get here I don't think. It is actually due to be cloudy but isn't yet. Sun is shinning bright at the moment. Going to enjoy my day off. Things got a bit balled up late afternoon. I was tired by then and so it seemed like one issue after the other making dinner, ( not on time ) and getting the kitchen cleaned afterward. Really tired so I left dishes in the drainer to take care of this morning.
I have a dishwasher, but it hasn't been being used all that much. I think I will re-institute it. Our water bill has gone up and that may be part of the reason.
Still seeing the coyote where I feed the cats. I've no idea if it actually comes "out" after I leave. I feed the feral cats now out in front of the store. The road is right across from the parking lot -- I was hoping the coyote would not want to spend time there being " on view " to the world at large. I don't have a lot of time to hang around and find out what it might be doing. He may be hunting elsewhere but checking back to see if there is food for him. I had left some so it would stay away from the cats. Then I decided that was too encouraging for him as far as his moving on.
Hope you all have a great day.
NOTE: Puffin, so good to see you. Amazed that you and we have talked together for 7 yrs. now. How fast time can go when your sharing life with friends. Here is wishing you the same continued success you have had for as long as you live.
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Jackie, don't know if you will get a share from the storm front we had last night but we got 4.5 inches of rain overnight. Yesterday the backyard grass was crunchy, today it is soggy! Forecast is for rainy days the rest of the week.
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