Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
Comments
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Good Morning,
Finally got some rest last night. I was up from 4:30 AM on Thursday morning through 3:00 AM on Friday Morning. Finally got 4 hours of sleep from 3:00 AM on Friday morning to to about 7:00 AM .
Only good thing about the steriods is that I did get alot done with the girls help. Going to take it easy to day. Sent Daughter and GD to run errands.
One of our neighbors who also goes to our church passed away yesterday of lung cancer. He had colon cancer back in 2003 and did OK, he had lung surgery at MD Anderson the end of June and never recovered. Our hearts are heavy.
Have a good day. Hugs
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Marcha, glad you got some rest. Hope you can get a lot more next time you sleep. That is so sad about your neighbor. We have no way of knowing when it is our time to take a angel's hand and go home to eternity. I hope his passing was not too difficult. Prayers for his friends and family.
Past two days have been long for me. I'm going to dump myself in my recliner early and try to stay awake. Hope to see you all tomorrow.
Hugs, Jackie
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Hi Marcha....so sorry about your neighbor.... and his family..... Jackie is right, we just never know, do we? And the older I get, I realize this even more.
We just have to live life, like it IS the most precious gift we can have, and thank God for every new day!
We went to the MileHi Farmers Market yesterday....it really was a fun day, and found lots of "treasures"...Ha! Great hard-cover books for just $1, a new hair-setter for $2, and we bought some "prickly pear" fruit, not knowing what they actually were, but THESE things have 12 million seeds, like little rocks in each one!!!! I finally looked on-line as to what to do with these little aliens, and it said to slit them down one side, carefully, without getting those stickers in your hands, then roll the rind off of them, then eat.....! Yeah right! "you can swallow the seeds (rocks) if you don't have digestive problems" OR put them in a blender, BLEND..... then pour it all into a strainer, and mash the pulp into another container! So now I have this sweet "stuff" and will add a banana, orange juice, aloe vera juice & creamer, to make a smoothie.... I thought "what the heck?" And I have 5 more to "fix"..... Chances are we won't do THIS again. Preparation time far outweighs anytime spent eating/drinking this stuff! Oh well....now I can say, "yes, thank-you, I KNOW what "prickly pears" taste like, but no thanks!"
Okay gals.....have a beautiful Sunday....I'm going to go BLEND!!! xoxo
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Friendship is...the sort of love one can imagine between angels.
-- Clive Staples Lewis0 -
OMG, was I laughing about the prickly pears. I remember hearing about them when I was a little kid -- long time ago now. It does sound much too difficult ( nowdays anyway ) to mess with the things. I don't think I ever tried them . I think the last thing I tried that left me un-impressed was Jicama. I know they taste something like a potato. My mom used them a lot, but she was always "trying" things as she was a really good cook. I might appreciate them more now as they say your taste change every 7 yrs.
I do know after chemo many of the things I only wanted cooked....spinach, cauliflower, celery, I now only enjoy if raw. Oh well.....at least I still really like them.
Ok, Miss Miniver -- Little Minnie is in my lap. What a dog. Good thing she is small. I bought her a sweater and somehow she got it off during the night. l think I'm going to stop spending money on things for her. Just hate to see her go outside and shiver. Maybe when it is a little colder she will appreciate it more.
It is going to be cool here today. Weatherman says Indian summer will come soon. I hope he is right.
Have a great Sunday everyone. I'll be checking in again later...See you then.
Hugs, Jackie
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YaYa5: Welcome! This is a wonderful site with caring people who understand what you are going through. I appreciate your concern about your adult children. I have not yet told mine that I am facing a possible diagnosis of breast cancer, but if and when I have to do that, I can almost predict their responses based on who they are. People who are self absorbed individuals do not automatically change when faced with someone else's challenges, and if you understand that, it will help to deal with their reactions. It isn't personal, it's just the way they are wired. I have had many disappointing moments with my daughter until I realized that it is always about her and nobody else. Two of my sons will react with denial and refuse to address the problem head on. My other son and his family will show great concern and compassion and pray for me daily. My significant other has his own problems (he has MS) and tends to be self absorbed as well, so I don't expect a lot of support from him, although he will be concerned about my medical care.
This site is a valuable resource for anyone facing an uphill battle with breast cancer. Here you willl find the kind of loving support you need to get through the daily challenges, from people who are facing the same kind of issues. Never hesitate to voice your concerns...you will always find a shoulder to cry on and warm words of encouragement.
I wish you the best outcome in your journey with this disease. Keep the faith!
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Is the prickly pear fruit from the prickly pear cactus? Was pretty tired yesterday, by last night my muscle pain was bad. I finally had a good cry and took a codine and slept pretty good. Feel better today, still tired, but that will just be with me for sometime to come. I had not had a pain pill since my port surgery, but decided what the heck. Now I will ask for a new prescrip and take them when I need them. I am kind of stubborn sometimes.
Hope you all have a good day. Hugs
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Yes, these are the little devils! Actually the smoothie I made was really good! But getting to that point was a lot of work....Ha! They do grow on a cactus, in a lot of countries...but thankfully I haven't tried to grow THAT one yet. The drink was very good.... but not something I would suggest doing yourself.....(take note of that!)
This is a Farmers Market, that sells all kinds of food things! Some look down-right dangerous to even mess with!!! Yes, Marcha, I have also used Jicama, and it was pretty good...but a lot of these food things are from Mexico, and I've just never tried them, nor have any inclination to do so in the near future!.
Marcha....just take it easy....chemo has to be very hard on ALL of you....even your mind. It's only natural that you are feeling up and down....I didn't have chemo, but I'll be here just if you want to talk....
Kaara....when are you going for your tests? Is it a biopsy? I would definately have that before any kind of "lumpectomy".... They can tell so much from a tissue sample, and it is quite painless... Also, the "uphill" part for me, was the initial diagnosis, the testing, & just waiting! Once I had the surgery, & radiation, I was well on my way to just getting back to normal!
A Lumpectomy requires an actual surgery, & usually they will take out a few lymph nodes...But my surgeon would not have done that without the results of a biopsy, and tissue that turned out positive. The women that have to have more extensive surgery know beforehand what is going on.
I would be going nuts by now, waiting...just waiting to find out what I was going to do! What are they waiting for? I was scheduled for surgery within 1 1/2 weeks after the biopsy. I was ready to go the next day, because I just wanted it done with..... and out of there!
Everyone's family is so different.... Some just can't handle it, because you are their Mom, and some are too wrapped up into their own lives to give us the care we want, or expect....
Okay ladies....have a great Sunday! xoxoxo
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Good evening everyone. Has been a rainy, drippy day all day here. Got a fair amt. accomplished but it seems it is never quite enough.
Got my little Bonnie cat back from the vet's office yesterday.....she had to spend the night. She is much improved, but we are still trying to come up with a solution that she will be ok with for a feeding schedule. I've tried feeding her in a crate....she didn't go for it. Tried putting her in a room all alone....she wasn't happy with that either. We have lots of household cats, but all the rest are on a dry food diet. With the gingivitis little Bonnie developed she has to have only "wet" foods which is all canned. Makes the other jealous and they are always attempting to sneak up on Bonnie and get her to vacate the bowl. We watch, but she now does not really enjoy eating so much when she is looking over her shoulder all the time.
We will have to "think" of the right approach soon. Don't want her getting "mental" over all this.
Otherwise I am pleased with almost everything else.
I hope you all have a marvelous Sunday. May not have a lot of morning time tomorrow as I need to be to work by 9 a.m. See you as soon as I can again.....sweet dreams.
Hugs, Jackie
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In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love
-- Mother Teresa0 -
Chevyboy: I'm waiting until I return to Florida where we reside most of the year. I already have an app't with a breast specialist on Oct 18 to go over my mammograms done in NC and to schedule a breast MRI. My PCP told me it would not be a problem to wait as the mammogram and US were inconclusive, but there is definitely a change in my tissue from last mammo, and it needs further evaluation. Thanks for asking. I appreciate the support I am getting from everyone on this site. I even got a recommendation for the specialist I am seeing.
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Good afternoon everyone. Another long day,but a satisfying one. Hope it turns out to have been a good one.
Kaara....I had to go back and re-read what was previously written. I sort of see that until more testing? and evals are done......nothing is really sure. On the other hand, most of us knew from the beginning that we most definitely needed a biopsy. And having that and finding that we did have this dreaded disease --- I think we wanted to just run somewhere and have someone take it all out for us.......asap. I did wait about a month after diagnosis --- sometimes wish I'd have done it all a bit sooner, since I had a second tumor hiding in the same breast ( the aggressive tumor ) that no one realized was there until the operation. So, I think that is what Chevy is talking about.
Interesting that you go along minding your own business and generally pretty much un-concerned and the moment you find out you have something like this you feel a tremendous need to have something done.
Yet it is one of those things that gives little warning, doesn't hurt, and in general you feel good. So, Chevy was concerned about any kind of wait. But in-conclusive could be anything. A fatty deposit, a cyst of some kind. We are going to be hoping and praying that your further testing shows something simple and easy to fix.
Well, time to go find something to eat......so will see you all later.
Hugs, Jackie
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Thanks for your support Jackie and hugs to you as well!
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Do any of you gals know of a service that helps stage 1V cancer patients? My Daughter's older friend Margaret, is the one who had a lumpectomy, but didn't want any further treatment after that, even though she had at least one positive lymph node. She is the one who went to Brazil, or somewhere like that to see "John the God"....which needless to say, after that, and one year passed, this has now spread to her bones and lungs. She had chemo, lost her hair, and is not going for treatments twice a week for radiation? And Herceptin? She is 80, but has the best attitude I have ever seen...Her Husband, is in a nursing home because he fell, & is just starting to walk, with help.
We went over today & took sandwiches for a "picnic"...but man, I felt so helpless! She lives so far from me, but has a few friends that will help take her to appointments. She uses a walker now, but I wondered if there wasn't a service that could help her with this hard time? I told her to ask her Oncologist, or surgeon what help there is out there.... She lost all of her hair once, which is now coming back.....but is now going for more chemo, of some sort.
I hate to talk to her about what I had, because compared to her, mine was like a bad cold! So I just sort of talk about other things...... I would have done it all differently, but this was all her choice.... but I just feel bad for her..... If you have any suggestions, let me know, okay? Thanks.
xoxoxoxo
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Chevy....I don't have anything right now but will be thinking on this. I worked today from 7:30 until 6 p.m. and I have to go get something in the oven to eat......I'm starved. I'll try and get back later.
Hugs, Jackie
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You can't control the outer circumstances of your life but you can control how you react to them. That makes you dominant over circumstances.
~Anonymous0 -
Hey Chevy......there are probably lists and info on here somewhere for getting resources and information for some one. This lady might try calling her local health dept. as well. Perhaps an ombudsman from the local hospital or cancer center. Even some one at the nursing home where her husband is at present could point her in a direction.
I too feel bad for her. I guess for many things I would just opt for almost the most aggressive tx. possible from the start and will have to admit that I don't understand being willing to have tx, but choosing what sounds like an extremely un-proven method. I do know we all can do research and choose --- but at the same time if you don't really think about the 'gold standard' the first time out.....as this lady found, it could be an un-doing. I'm sure these other things do work for someone....but I would not be confident enough to do it..
Ok....have to eat something and get to work. I'll be checking in later on. See you all then.
Happy Wednesday.
Hugs, Jackie
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Happy Wednesday ladies. Jackie, the cats have now got so I put the food out and sit in a chair and they go ahead and come up and eat with me there. It is kind of thrilling. Hope you all have a great rest of the week.
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Spar...I am so happy to hear that. It is wonderful that the cats are opening up some trust with you. Eventually one will "check" you out I bet. If your hand is near enough to the ground he or she will want to "smell" you and identify you. It took me years to get close to some of the ferals I know because I could not stay at the colonies too long. I have a feral cat in my screen room who is ok as long as I don't approach....and one in the house as well. With so many I just don't have the time to get them to accept the humans in the household. They are otherwise happy and content since they are spayed and do not have hormonal issues to complicate their existence. Good for you.....it is a wonderful feeling when a wild animal ( even one as small as a cat ) will allow you some interaction with them......it is great trust indeed.
Good to hear from you too.
Here's a couple of cuties....they aren't mine....just a cute picture.
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"I believe that everything happens for a reason, people change
so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you
can appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so
that eventually you learn to trust no one but yourself, and
sometimes good things fall apart so that better things can
fall together!"
-- Marilyn Monroe0 -
Miracles are the natural way of the Universe -
our only job is to move our doubting minds aside
and let the miracles flow.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie0 -
Good morning today. I really like reading JLH. He is so uplifting and his quotes and affirmations just start me out in such a good mood for the day. I do feel ( though sometimes hard to see in the midst of it ) that our struggles and problems make us stronger.
It is a pretty Fall day here. The nuts and acorns have been falling for some time, but seems like in one day and overnight a whole lot of leaves have found their way to the ground. Won't be long now till we hear the constant hum of leaf blowers and yard vacuums. SIGH !!! Our equipment will take center stage here with nearly two full acres to clean.
Hope you are all going to have a wonderful day. I'll be checking back after work. See you all then.
Hugs, Jackie
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By being yourself, you put something wonderful in the world that was not there before. -Edwin Elliot
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Really late getting anything in here today, but it was really a good day. Most of my days are good because I don't want any other kind. Sometimes a bummer one sneaks in, and I'm ok most of the time but I do try and start out with a strong can do, will do attitude about it. It just makes it easier to "roll" with things that are not working out as they seemed like they would.
There was sun all day today and that always tends to keep me inspired as well. I'm a sunshine person. Two gray days in a row and I'm getting just a little tense inside. Hope you all had a really wonderful day as well.
See you all in the morning.....I'm going to sleep in......at least ten extra minutes if I can.
Hugs, Jackie
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Whatever you want in life, start today.
Not tomorrow - today.
Let it be a small beginning - a tiny beginning.
Your happiness depends on starting today - every day.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie0 -
Mindfulness is the aware, balanced acceptance of the present experience.
It isn't more complicated than that.
It is opening to or receiving the present moment, pleasant or unpleasant, just as it is,
without either clinging to it or rejecting it.
~Sylvia Boorstein0 -
IllinoisLady: Thanks for your daily inspiration!
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So pretty today. Fall is always an interesting time with the colors changing and the bushes becoming worn and scraggly looking on their way to the winter rest that is approaching. Some are already quite withered, as though we had intense heat going on but our mornings have been so cool and I know a jacket would be needed to be out for long.
I hope you like this quote. If we can live in the moment.....there is balance and the answers that come are the correct ones. Easy to say, but sometimes hard to do. I often have to remind myself.....that all I have to do is to live for right now....and let life un-fold. We think we always have to be contributing something....but sometimes it is just your willingness to just be where you are that settles everything.
Have a great day.
Hugs, Jackie
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Taxol #3 out of the way last Thrusday. I am at work today. These have went OK so far. Fatigued, laid down yesterday and took a nap from 12:30 PM to 3:00 PM. Am having some pretty bad muscle aches late in the afternoon and evening, so take a codine before bed and that is helping. I really feel very blessed that I have gotten though this with no horrible side effects so far. My white count before chemo last week was down to 2.1 per whatever about half of normal, so will need to watch for infection. Everyone have a great week.
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Marcha....so glad that you seem to be holding your own and keeping the upper hand with the se's and being able to go to work. Naps are always a good thing if you ask me. Well, at least when you are doing chemo. It was one of the few times I could nap. I'm not real good ( have to be nearly exhausted ) to sleep/nap during the day......but your body really needs it, so good that you "give in" to it.
I had a long day today....and will drive south to Carbondale to have my yearly mammo's done tomorrow. I feel everything will turn out fine. My bones are just saying it.
Hope you all had a beautiful day today.
Hugs, Jackie
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