Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
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Welcome {{ Greenerfields }} we are very much here though now and then fairly quiet as opposed to some of the other threads. Since the majority of us ( some are still I thinking working quite a bit ) are retired, I think some of our posts come in spurts. Also, right at the moment -- I think most of our group are well through their txs. be it chemo or rads or a combination and so -- we aren't as needed as we sometimes can be. We do have a couple of people who are Stage IV -- but all in all, we just carry on a wonderful, wonderful friendship that sprang from a terrible disease. Hope you will feel free to come on in and join us if you like.
Blessings
Jackie
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We r here
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welcome Greenerfields, be sure and go to the last page of the forum, we're here!
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Puffin,
Just have to say how much I like your avatar picture.
Jackie
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Jilly 59,
I don't recall seeing you before so just wanted to say hi
My forgetter works way too well these days. Anyway, if you haven't been here before of often, hope you keep on coming. Still raining -- talk about an all day affair -- as well as some last night. Sure hope tomorrow is dryer.
Jackie
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Hi, Jilly and Greenerfields. I just wrote and lost a post chatting about nothing important. When I tried to post it, I wasn't successful. So I guess it wasn't meant to be read! LOL.
I'm off to the gym in a few minutes. Hope everyone has a good day.
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Hi Jackie and Carol!
Although I am 56 I hope you don't mind me joining you. I was in the 40-60 forum but they have very strange rules. You can't mention the weather or you're scolded. That's just one of the rules. So I left.
I read thru the posts here and it felt like a good fit for me.
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We start to realize that there are anodynes in life that help us through the day. I don't care if it's a walk in the park, a look out the window, a good bubble bath-- whatever. Even a meal you like, or a friend you want to call. That helps us solve all this stuff in our head.
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jilly -- welcome, welcome. we are glad you are here. We don't have a "weather" rule -- in fact, we grump about it a whole lot. I would have to admit we just generally don't much bring up politics here --- we are so different in our views. We sometimes do talk a bit about religious things --- though politics and religion it is said are the two things that can really start a fight. But --- we like each other and I think have managed to maintain a healthy respect when those we care about do have a different religious viewpoint. Un-like politics or even the weather --- if you are religious -- then I feel all roads lead to God. So whatever you are is fine with me and if it is an are not -- that is fine too. I'm fairly flexible in how I see things in that department.
Now back to that weather --- still raining when I went to bed last night. I'm glad to say though cloudy out --- we are not being pelted by rain drops any more. I think the sun will come out later ( oh there is a God ) and some dry time will take place. Well, I can't wait, that is for sure.
jilly -- I'm a huge sunshine person and I "grump" immediately when the clouds roll in and hide the sun. Otherwise I'm usually cheerful and looking for the best of everything for everyone. I hope you will always enjoy spending time here with us -- we do tend to talk about most anything --- sometimes share recipes, and definitely console each other when things go wrong. So come on in, relax and enjoy.
Blessings
Jackie
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Thanks, Jackie!!!!!!!!!!!
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Welcome Jilly and Greenerfields
This thread is very active and checking in has become one of the highlights of my day. I, like many on this thread am finished with active treatment - chemo, surgery, and radiation, but continue to deal with the aftermath. In my situation, that is lymphedema and a final "cleanup " surgery in April and the emotional issues that continue to pop up.
We get together here and talk about any cancer related issues, but also about our hobbies, which range from golfing to bird-watching, our families- the good the bad, the ugly and the best- grandchildren and for some great-grandchilden.
Some of us, especially Jackie, can always be counted on for words of wisdom, and some, Chevy and Cammi always make us chuckle. But we all support each other, whatever the issue. One of our favorite themes is our childhoods. Someone will mention seeing or talking with someone about something, like drying laundry outside on lines and memories flood the pages. Since we come from very different backgrounds- I grew up in the middle of the Bronx(NYC) in a "concrete jungle", others grew up on farms with outhouses, our memories are fun to share. The other day, the topic was hair- what color, what type, what style and the differences between pre and post chemo hair.
Please join us- we welcome you to our little corner of the "cancer planet"
Anne
PS I don't usually take part in "weather " conversations, especially during the winter months, because I live in sunny south Fl and it's just unfair to chime in when everyone is griping about more snow or sub-zero temps and all I can say is that my weather is sunny and in the 70's or 80's.
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Thank you, Anne!
I am very old-fashioned. I grew up on a farm and now live on one. Such a great place for my grandkids. In addition to the chickens, we have a pool and swingset for them, in addition to ATV's for the adults. I have a huge garden and love canning. I also make quilts. I like to live somewhere back in time.
I lost some of my motivation when dx with cancer. I hope that improves. I am normally go go go, so this has been hard. I have to push myself to go into my sewing room. If I'm not in bco, I just sit in the chair and crochet. I think a lot of my "funk" is from being thrown into sudden menopause after stopping the hormonal replacement therapy I was on for 17 years.
I go to my first MO appt next Friday. I will be getting an AI. Not looking forward to it simply because my bones already hurt (osteopenia) and I hear it can exacerbate any menopausal symptoms you're already having. Sigh.
PS: We are vacationing in Sanibel the end of May!
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Jilly, don't worry too much about the malaise/funk that you find yourself in at the present. It happens to all of us after the psychological shock of realizing we have a life-threatening disease like cancer. When I was first dx'ed, I was like a sleepwalker. I had a refrain going on in my head, "You have cancer. You have cancer." It was as though I just couldn't accept the reality and was trying to convince myself.
I'm a lot older than you, just turned 72 but one change in my life is that I don't have to be accomplishing something every minute of the day. This moment I'm sitting here in the living room at 11:52 am just passing time on the computer! I went to the YMCA and did some exercise this morning, came home and had a good cup of coffee and then a delicious smoothie for my breakfast. It's almost noon and that's all I've done! I'm about to google "lamb meatballs" and check out some recipes because I took out a pkg of ground lamb for dinner tonight and am thinking I'll make meatballs. I'm a hobbyist cook and subscribe to three cooking magazines and buy cookbooks and read them.
I have two sisters-in-law who are expert quilters. I really admire their quilts. It's a very creative hobby. At one time I raised a big garden but since dh retired, we go north for the summer. That's my excuse for no longer raising my own veggies.
I took hormones from the time I was about 50, when I went into menopause, until I was dx'ed in 2009 at age 66 and I loved them. They made me feel great, full of energy. Then I not only had to stop the hrt but had to take arimidex for 5 years. I tolerated it pretty well but did have hot flushes. Fortunately, my gyn dr. prescribed 75 mg of Effexor generic and that helped a lot. I also continued to exercise and keep active. That also helped, I think. Maybe you could discuss getting a prescription with your dr.
You sound like an interesting person. I hope you become a member of our group. There's no way Jackie and I can resist talking about the weather!
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Hey Jilly, Welcome. Have a look at "stitching the pieces together" which is sewing and craft with a bunch of quilters. You're really early in recovery from surgery, etc. Take it easy for some time. We all feel good and overdo and then regret it. We live in the city but have a fairly large garden. We also buy from the farmer's market when things are in season and can or freeze. We discussed buying a farm, but would have spent all the daylight hours commuting to our jobs. Now we're retired, but hesitant to take on land we couldn't manage alone. I've been taking generic anastrazole for 3 years and have had very minimal side effects. I went in with osteopenia and I've only lost a little bone. I'm religious with the calcium and Vit D.
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Thanks Wren and Carole! Good information.
Carol...I too like to cook, especially baking bread. My dh just bought me a comfort foods cookbook from Farmers Almanac. Yum. I also like the Fine Cooking magazine.
Tell me, did you have major symptoms transitioning from hrt to an AI?
Wren...I hear you about the land up-keep. I drive over an hour each way to work. Before bc, I could manage as the hrt made me feel like superwoman. Now we are thinking about downsizing in the next few years for a more "simpler" life. As much as we sometimes hate to admit it, breast cancer is a life-changing event.
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Welcome Jillie
Living in ND, weather is a common topic of conversation. We've just had a week of setting record breaking hi temps almost every day, records that have stood for 100 years. I'm 63, and this afternoon Lew and I are going to ride our Segways downtown to the St. Patrick's Day parade. Last year the parade was held in below zero temps, it's currently 55 - I'm expecting there will be a much larger turn out this year!
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Jilly, I didn't have major symptoms with the transition, mainly the warm flushes or temperature swings and the loss of energy and youthfulness. My skin got drier and my face more wrinkled but I was 66 years old and just didn't feel my age when I was on HRT. If I had it to do over, I still would take the HRT because I felt so good taking it. And I'm not convinced it caused the bc anyway. Something turned on the little activating switch on the cancer gene and nobody knows what did. I have women friends my age who are still taking hormones because it makes them younger.
I love Fine Cooking. Read it from cover to cover. I just made ricotta cheese using a recipe in the recent issue. Also love making bread but I'm having more problems with weight control as I get older. Home-made bread is so good I eat more of it than I should.
Good advice, Wren.
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Thanks Puffin!
Wow! How great is that to have good weather. I live in PA just over the MD line, but MD is home. Plan to move back soon. We had your winter this year!
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Puffin, we were posting at the same time. I love the fact that you and your dh ride Segways! That is so cool.
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Hi gals! Hi and welcome Jilly! I LOVE gardening also, and crocheting, AND lately I've been reading.... a lot!
Carole, I read your book "Because of the Twins".... And I loved it. I didn't think those two would EVER get together, but hoping so in the end.... Ha! And I fell in love with the twins! It is a beatifl story.... Do you have something in mind, when you start a book like that? Or know someone that is going throughj similar circumstances, and then you can fill in with your own ideas?
Anyway, it kept my attention, and you can read it in a day.... which is nice too.... I HAVE to stop crocheting so much.... Ha!
We went to Sprouts today, and picked up 2 loaves of that Irish Soda Bread! WARM even! And since I won't cook a corned beef this year, I bought their sliced corned beef from the Deli, on sale, and it is really good! Also their dried Banana slices, 2 honey mango's for $1.... and Broccoli for that salad I love.... I think it's funny how our tastes and habits change as we get older.... And EYE should know.... Ha!
Cammi knows too.... she is probably sleeping all day, and "working" all night again.... That's what happens when you get over the hill.... and hang around in flannel pajama's all day..... and smoke and drink beer......Now WATCH.... If ANYthing will get her to post, THIS will..... Ha!
This is Cammi.... hard at work....
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Hi jilly, Welcome to the group. We don't have many rules and everyone here is pretty cool. I love catching up on posts every day, but I tend not to "talk" a lot. I see you are in PA. Where? I'm in NY, right on the PA border, and I did live in Hatfield PA for a few years.
I envy you your garden space. My sister and I live in our childhood home on a lot the size of a bed sheet. But I love to garden and will be starting the local Master Gardner classes next month. In addition to the quilting and crafting thread, there is also one about gardening. Check in often and I'll probably run into you on the gardening and quilting threads.
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Carole - you're not kidding about the hrt...I am SO different without it. I was loving life, always on the go, happy go lucky. Yikes, now I feel so old. Amazing what a little estrogen will do. My quality of life is greatly affected.
You are correct about the signal that activated our bc. The estrogen was simply a yummy food source. I personally think it's either something environmental, or plastic...Lords knows how many times I heat things in plastic in the microwave. And drink from a plastic water bottle daily. That reminds me... need to use something different.
I think back to my granny's, great granny's, great aunts, etc, etc, and don't remember anyone having bc. Gee, I don't think I even heard of it until I hit my early twenties, even though it was around. Just not common knowledge in those days.
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Welcome Jilly. I'm another one of the "older" gals, 72! I live in the tri state area and we have had plenty of weather to talk about this year! what wud we do without that topic?
Right people didn't used to speak about cancer. Luckily now we have come out of the closet. Also we have the media to spread the word now. My daughter passed away at the age of 33 from breast cancer , she was diagnosed at 27, with no family history. I was tested for the gene when I was diagnosed 2 and a half years ago. Did you know 80% of the women who are diagnosed have no family history , until they become the family history! I'm on Arimidex, almost went off at first. The worst SE, for me, seems to be worse arthritis. Since I currently am on Coumadin, can't take anything but Tylenol for that. WIshing you luck on your journey. Jean
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You can count me in jilly as not ( at least that I was ever made aware -- but probably it wasn't known ) having BC in my family history. In fact, I really didn't know anyone personally much -- just one or two people until I got cancer myself. Then through these intervening years it seems like I know more people with cancer than without almost. Hard to believe going all those yrs. and not realizing just how prevalent the disease really is for the most part.
I was off HRT by the time I got my diagnosis, but it was still a big shock. Not what I had planned for what I thought would be retirement in a few years. I doubt I'll ever totally retire now. I'm 69 and what savings etc. all went for trips to my care --- I have no idea how many 140 mile round trips we made, but I'm NED so it was all worth it.
I attribute any and all good results to the fact that I'm normally a sound sleeper and none of my se's ever caused me to lose sleep. I still sleep well, though lately I have had a nap from time to time which is something new for me.
Jackie
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I'm the first breast cancer diagnosis in my family as well. There were a few other cancers, but no breast. I lost my Mom early, but other women in the family all lived to their 80's or 90's. More heart trouble than anything else. I took HRT for a few years also, but I'm blaming pesticides. There was breast cancer a long time before HRT.
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I never knew if it was shame, or fear, but cancer was never ever mentioned by our family or friends. My mother was born in 1910 & I was born in 1943. In later years, when my mom was in her late 60's, I got a letter A LETTER where she said "Oh, by the way, I'm going in the hospital for an operation for the "Big C" - you'll probably get this letter after my surgery. Can you believe it???? I immediately called the hospital & talked with my Aunt (mom's sister) who said it was uterine cancer but they were sure they got it all. Now, mind you, my Aunt had had a double mastectomy years before and my Uncle (mom's brother) had a brain tumor, but it was never talked about. They all lived long lives, my mother was 89 when she passed away from COPD. My maternal grandmother was 95. Heaven knows what other relatives had cancer!
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Bonnets-I am so so sorry about your daughter!
We get bc diagnosed and think nothing can be worse when actually that's farthest from the truth. Jackie-no cancer in my family but everywhere I looked, co-workers, friends, etc., bc was everywhere. My family lived into their eighties.
Wren-I totally agree about the pesticides. Kind of ironic we moved to our little farm 4 years ago and our neighbor farmer sprays. We plan on moving back to Maryland in the next couple years. Within a half mile stretch of my home there are exactly 9 houses. 4 of those have cancer; 2 breast, one lung, and one lymphoma. Now what do you think about that?????
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Awe enables us to see in the world intimations of the divine, to sense in small things the beginning of infinite significance, to sense the ultimate in the common and the simple, to feel in the rush of the passing the stillness of the eternal. -Abraham Joshua Heschel
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Good morning,
Oh what heaven is coming today!!! It will be about 70 and before noon will get into the 60's. Just what we need to dry us out a whole lot more. There is mud everywhere you look and though I have an excuse for waiting a couple of days before I steam mop my floors --- I'd rather be able to do them now.
I'm now thinking about pesticides. I never much thought about my cancer and the HRT though the thought did cross my mind once. What I really blamed the HRT for was my stroke. I talked to my PCP about it when I had come through the worst ( was in rehab quite a while ) of the stroke tx. He sort of poo-pooed the idea making me almost feel like he thought it a total impossibility. About 6 mos. later ( ???? always wondered if he did some research like I did ???? ) he brought the subject up with me about 'getting' off the HRT. He took me by surprise but I was more than ready to do it. It was a really slow weaning, but it worked ok.
I have found that just in my immediate area are myself and four others ( we were all older ) who have had BC. One lady had it twice, and one has had it three times. The last lady seems to have 10 yr. spans going on. I have my fingers crossed on that for sure. As the crow flies -- these ladies all live within 3 blocks more or less from me. Having said that, two ladies have been in the area for many yrs. while I only moved back home here in 1997 and the other lady though born here, lived in Washington for yrs. and yrs. before returning 'home'.
No one here lives on a farm, but there is a lot of farm country around us -- so I would not know just what difference that would make for us, but I do know that since all of us live around the lake --- and ALL the runoff from everywhere finds it way here, I do have questions about not only that aspect as well as airborne issues. I recall being just totally amazed that we have so much of a concentration here --- and that is just the people that I know. Though this is a small area overall I'm fairly certain there could be others.
I have as well ( I would have to go back and re-find the material ) read that some states seem far worse than others for cancer.
Looking for a good day today, but I'm always looking for those and usually end up with a fair amt. of them. Tomorrow it is going to get up to 70....ah Spring. I'll have to start keeping an eye out for the little shrubs and bushes that usually start springing shoots and leaves first with other things following two or three weeks afterwards. Hope you are all going to have a great Sunday too.
Blessings
Jackie
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After a couple of warmer days (45-50) we're back in the chilly, windy, snowy weather. Oh well. I needed to stay inside and clean house anyway. Have a great Sunday and I hope the upcoming week is kind to us all.
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