Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
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Congrats, Teacher!
Welcome, Stella! What a gorgeous photo--I miss the PNW so much. Left Seattle reluctantly in 1978, and would love to move back to the region to retire. (Hate to mention a touchy subject, but if a certain tycoon wins in Nov., I suspect you'll have a lot of new neighbors).
Gorgeous weather today--but a nasty viral epidemic decimated the prospective audience for tonight's house concert I was to play in Wauconda--so it looks like we're going for a walk and then grilling
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Teacher, congratulations, that is great news
Stella, welcome, sorry you need to be here but this is a bunch of great ladies. Love the picture you posted. I still love the changing of all the seasons. I was dx in 2010, had lumpectomy on right side, mamosite for radiation and chose no chemo. Was on femara for 5 years and am due for all my 1 yr check ups next week. I live in Oswego, IL right now but we are moving to Florida(something I promised my dh a long time ago that we would do when we retired.) We have 4 sons and 10 grandchildren (ranging in ages from 6 months to 11 years old). Most in the IL area and 1 son in Philadelphia with 4 of the grandchildren. We should be in the new place in April sometime. Right now just staying with one of our sons since we sold our house in December 2015. I love to read and crochet and knit. Used to work in childcare but right now am just a substitute when needed.
This is a great place to come to chat about anything with ladies that understand the new feelings and frustrations that we all go through at one time or another with dx. Hope you come back often and let us get to know you.
Hope everyone is having a great weekend.
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Welcome Stella.....you have found a good thread! Come often and hang out with us!
Oh teacher, what wonderful news! YEAH!!!!!
Joan, so good to see a post from you. I have missed you! Retirement has been good for me. I really worried about filling the hours of retirement because I had worked all my life but now I wonder when I ever had time to work. I still write a few questions for the gentleman who bought my business but I do it while drinking my coffee and always on my schedule. Every year I write a few less.
Glad to have you back, Jackie. It just isn't the same place without you!
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Choose Inner Peace.
Nothing is worth losing your inner peace.
Take action as circumstances require,
but never surrender your inner peace.
Stop. Breathe deeply.
Close your eyes and breathe deeply again.
Then, and only then, take action -
from a peaceful heart.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie0 -
welcome Stella, looking forward to getting to know you.
Teacher, so happy you got good news!
I went with Audubon group birding in Minnesota yesterday up by the Canadian border. We left about 6:30 so that we'd be at the road in the forest for the spruce grouse at dawn, and we found them. We found a snowmobile trail that we hiked and found 2 Great Gray owls close to the trail. Found several Northern Hawk Owls perched on the very top of dead snags.
There were 3 cars and we were the last in the group. All we knew was that we were headed for some feeders. Well, it took us 1 1/2 hours of driving on narrow State Forest roads, some ending in impassable snow drifts and all of us had to back up a LONG ways, hoping the wheels didn't drop off into the deep snow, then go down another one that looked promising only to have to carefully turn around (middle car got stuck and had to be pushed out). All I could think of was that we were in the middle of a forest where cell phones didn't work and wasn't at all happy with our leaders. They finally found a road that got us to the place with the feeders, including 2 deer carcasses, where there was a good assortment of birds. One gal even got a Gray Jay to come and eat out of her hand.0 -
Puffin, what an adventure! It sounds like the leaders could have been a little better prepared. Winter travel and back roads...you never know. Glad you saw a lot of birds and that you are all safe and sound. We used to take our 4WD out in Colorado in late winter/early spring. No cell phones, 3 little girls in the back. We ended up on a narrow steep unpaved road covered with a drift...I took the girls out of our truck and helped my husband turn around inches at a time. I was pretty scary.
Jackie, that bed sounds pretty darned comfortable. I wouldn't want to get up. It sounds like your DH is the "go to" guy at his new job. Hope he gets relief soon.
Stella, I, like Carole, noted your multiple surgeries. Now your reconstruction and complete healing can begin. No radiation for you? There is life after BC and you will return to your outdoor life. Meanwhile, there is a lot of comfort in needlework and reading for awhile. I do love your photo! I visited BC a few years ago and stayed near Banff--rafted the Kicking Horse River Gorge. It is a beautiful place.
Termite, big changes are ahead for you! I hope your move goes smoothly and that you will enjoy your new home. I am guessing you will have lots of visits from the kids. My DH and I were just discussing places that are affordable for retirement. New York State is definitely not retiree friendly due to high cost of living and taxes. Very few states do not tax retirement funds, but Florida is one that does not.
Ritajean, I like to hear from those who have retired - most say it is the best thing they've done. I have not been working that long; but it is getting harder to keep the long hours I work. I am afraid I would sleep late every day. I feel like I would like to sleep late and not have to get dressed up for three months. Once rested, I'll never have trouble keeping busy.
We have an "informational" retirement meeting with DH's employer tomorrow. Who knows? It could be sooner than I think.0 -
Puffin, what an adventure!
Joan, I predict you will enjoy retirement when it happens.
I'm off to a WW meeting this morning. My official admission that I haven't been able to lose weight on my own.
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Good morning. It is lovely here with a whole lot of sun. Had it yesterday with temps about 65. They might not get past the latter 50's but that will be ok. We don't have the fierce wind today for which I'm really glad. Hopefully, we won't get anymore today. That just kept it not feeling as warm as we expected to be.
Puffin, oh my !!!!! Sounds like I'd have spent a whole, whole lot of time on the edge of my seat had I been with you on the bird foray. Having to back up a few feet on level dry ground on a clear day gets to me --- so everything you described gives me the pitter-pats just hearing it.
Ah, retirement. I think your life can be so full no matter what you are doing. I also think you have to learn retirement. We figure out how to get things done based on odd times and little windows of opportunities -- then all of a sudden you have 24 hours a day. It is a big change. I haven't really retired and neither have my Dh, but we both have spent some time not working. Found that having too much time was almost as bad as not enough. I do think though that re-settling upon retirement is a big adventure since you will be making so many discoveries -- best shopping areas, restaurants, walking-biking paths, area must-see's. Something new to enjoy at every turn.
So with you Carole on the wt. issue. I will have lost some as I usually do when I work here and stay for a few days. My problem at home is that for some reason I can't get going on doing enough exercise and even though I go to the gym, I still don't FILL in with more at home. I always think I'm doing enough housework. Just isn't so. We really do become immune to the things we do all the time and it produces way less results. Hoping that when the better weather comes I can figure something out then. That shouldn't be long now.
Just to refresh --- tomorrow night ( late ) around mid-night or so I will be going home. Dh will take my computer after supper and re-hook it up for me at home. Should be back on here sometime Wednesday -- but maybe just a little extra sleep/nap may be in order as I'm used to going to bed around 10 p.m. That and going out and driving home ( though not far ) that late and disturbing my household at a late hr. will likely keep me a bit tense and feeling like I had a wild night out.
See you all later and sure hope you are having pretty sunshine where you are.
Jackie
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Two things fill me with constantly increasing admiration and awe,
the longer and more earnestly I reflect on them:
the starry heavens without and the moral law within.Immanuel Kant
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The WW meeting was fun. It was a large group with all types and ages of women. Only one man, who didn't say a word. I just logged onto the "new" WW web site and didn't like it at all. The old site was so much more user friendly. I'll get used to this one, I'm sure. My goal is to lose 12 lbs by the end of May, when we head north to MN.
Jackie, I know you'll be glad to move back into your own house and sleep in your own bed.
Greetings to all and best wishes for a good day.
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Hi Stella. Welcome to the group. Reading your words took me back. Oh how I remember doing nothing except having surgery or recovering from surgery for 15 months. My surgery was supposed to be "one and done." I had a double mastectomy with immediate placement of permanent implants. Unfortunately I was one of the unlucky ones who came into contact with either a person who was a carrier for antibiotic resistant germs or operating room equipment that was not clean. Either way, within a couple of hours I started showing signs of infection that defied attempts to get it under control for 3 days. By then it had destroyed three muscles and all the soft tissue on my side and up into my left shoulder. I had 5 more surgeries to try to fix the mess left behind and months of physical therapy so I sympathize with you. It seems like it will never end. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. But it does get better and there will come a day when you don't think about breast cancer every day. It's been a little more than a year since surgery #6 and I very rarely give 5 seconds thought to breast cancer. That is so nice and a welcome relief from the days when it consumed my thoughts. Unfortunately it took my husband's illness to snap me out of my pity party. Great picture. Beautiful trees. I hope to hear more from you in the coming days. Again, welcome.
Teacher...good news indeed!
My oldest daughter, Allison, came in from Chicago today and we quickly put her to work. There are still 10 projects to do on Michael's list but we crossed off one today. We had to buy a new bed for his "clean room" , put the frame and headboard together, and dress the bed. Allison took charge...so nice! Now the room is ready for Michael when he gets out of hospital isolation and into 3 months of home quarantine. He's getting nervous and short tempered which is to be expected. He's not sleeping well either. He has had a list of food he wanted to eat (before the bone marrow transplant puts an end to dining out) so he has had control of what and where we eat for the last week. I'm tired of it, but he isn't so I put on a happy face and off we go. I'd really rather have a grilled cheese sandwich and cup of tomato soup at home. Michael has one last pre-admission test tomorrow. We check into the hospital bright and early on Thursday morning.
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Sandra, You and your husband are in my thoughts and prayers. I imagine that all of you are very nervous and anxious. Please keep us informed. Hugs to you!
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To be nobody-but-yourself--in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else -- means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting.
E.E. Cummings
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I have always said that is it just amazing what you can do when you have no choice. You just keep putting one foot in front of the other and end up where you are supposed to be. Sandra, that is my picture of you. You are weathering every storm that comes and just not letting go. My hope, prayers, and heartfelt supplications to the Universe will go out to hold both you and Mike up, giving healing and healthy energies as needed.
Blessings sweet friend,
Jackie
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Puffin- your story about snowy roads that you got stuck on reminded me of our honeymoon 46 years ago. We lived in the Bronx and our honeymoon was three weeks long- one week to drive to Miami, one week there and one week back, stopping when or where we wanted along the way. One of the stops was Little Switzerland in the Blue Ridge mountains. The scenery was unbelievable. When we left there, we were on steep mountain roads and after about 15 min we realized we were headed in the wrong direction. Instead of continuing on till we gotto somewhere safe to turn around, Bob decided to U-turn right there. We were in a mustang which wasn't a large car, but was longer than the road was wide. AFter several failed attempts, Bob made me get out of the car and tried again, living his door wide open in case the car didn't make it. I don't know what scared me most -the chance of losing him or the chance of being stranded alone on the side of a snowy mountain. We had been there for more than 30 minutes and not one car had come up or down that road - hadn't thought of that memory in years.
Sandra- you and Mike are in my thoughts and prayers. We are all in your pocket, giving you lots of hugs and support - half in your pocket, the other half in Mike's and we switch every 15 minutes.
My DD went to the OB yesterday- she is 1cm dilated. She really, really wants and needs my oldest DD here for the delivery and hospital stay, so she asked the Dr if she could be induced. He said they will talk about it in two weeks. Nancy is going to come down as soon as she knows Jamie is in labor, but will not make it here in time for the birth. They have the closest relationship that Jamie can have. I come in a close second, but she and Nancy are bonded. My twO sons are like that too - I used to tell people that Bob was Tim's father, but Robbie was his Daddy. It was Rob who coached all of his sports teams, Rob who went to every possible game, home and away, when he started playing for school teams in 6th grade, and Rob who took him to the movies or let him tag along for a pick up game of basketball.
Thought my keyboaRd had gotten back its mojo after the first paragraph, which gave me hope for the next one, but I was only dreaming.
Anne
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Disgusted for you Anne. I sooo hated the time my computer behaved like an electronic alien. Here's hoping that MSN or whomever will send along a right to fix a wrong by updating itself. I'm mainly mystified by electronic things and if they don't work --- I'm lost, confused, un-settled, agitated and just plain upset. Here's hoping and hoping and hoping.
Jackie
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ThanksJackie
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Sandra, I will be sending positive health vibes to you and Mike. I cannot imagine how frightening what lies ahead is for both of you, especially Mike. I know a woman who has survived two bone marrow transplants and has extended her life quite a few years. She is now enjoying their only daughter's two young children.
Anne, the new little grand daughters will be coming into a world with a loving grandmother. That's a given.
I played golf this morning, went grocery shopping at Walmart, and then went shoe shopping at Sports Academy. I brought home two pairs of athletic shoes. My intention is to put each pair on and walk around to check for comfort. Right now, though, my "crippled" left foot hurts too much for more walking around. The New Balance shoes I've been wearing as golf shoes are about worn out.
My golf game was better today. I'm feeling encouraged.
Greetings to everyone.
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Sandra - thanks for your encouragement.Sending you and your husband positive thoughts. The cherry trees are starting to bloom now and when the sun shines it is absolutely glorious spring here. Can't wait to get the kayak out! We take it down to Point Roberts, Wa., and paddle along the coast. We have even paddled in the middle of a school of dolphins, there, where they were jumping out of the waves all around us. My DH jerry rigged his fishing rod to the kayak - he is determined to catch a salmon lol.
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So glad to hear, my "surgery buddy". Nice to see you on the boards again. Sorry you went through some concerns it sounds like! Hugs!
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Anne, your story about turning the car around on the narrow mountain road makes my heart pound just reading it!
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Sandra - holding you both in my thoughts. Keep in touch when you can.
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Sandra, Keeping you and Mike in my thoughts and prayers. Please keep us posted
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Sandra, Praying for the best of outcomes for you and Mike.
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Courage doesn't always roar.
Sometimes courage is the quiet voice
at the end of the day, saying,
"I will try again tomorrow."
- Mary Anne Radmacher0 -
Sandra - think of you and Mike.
Enjoyevrymoment - glad you are on. Is all well with you.
Weather is supposed to be nice this weekend so it will be time for me to begin weeding beds. This year I'm determined to do it without getting into any poison ivy. Last year I was especially watchful and ended up with it anyway. I will be on high alert.
Just watched news that said Astronaut Kelly has come back taller. I guess that is the only way I would be able to get taller. Not happening
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Sandra....keeping you and Mike in my thoughts and prayers!
Carole.... glad that your golf game came around for you today. I never seem to know who is going to show up to golf anymore. My game has been very "off and on." At least the course is finally starting to dry out and I am getting some of that much needed roll, since I am not a long ball hitter. Carole, do you ever get the urge to write another book?
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Reading posts of those with stages I-VI going through the hell of chemo. I have felt guilt since I found out mine is only DCIS with no nodes involved. Is that kind of likesurvivor's guilt?
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Hi cactus pearl
Welcome to our thread. DCIS is still cancer. I'm sure when you first heard those dreaded words and didn't as yet know, you likely reacted like myself and many others. Terrified for yourself and your future. My life ( like they say about near drowning ) sped along before my eyes since it felt like it might not be taking place for nearly as long as I had hoped and dreamed it would. I was imagining in an instant it seemed, how to say good-bye to my loved ones. So, ALL cancer is serious.
That said, all of us have a survival instinct --- so while chemo can often be difficult, and sometimes debilitating for awhile ( though in Stage IV you usually are on some kind of chemo always ) we likely all looked on it as only a temporary "hell" that would help us remain on this Earth with our loved ones and great friends and find great joy and peace. We all do what we have to do --- if not chemo, it might be a number of things that stress us and our loved ones to the max.
I can't speak for the others, but when someone can present a diagnosis line like yours I am thrilled for them. Life is difficult, and through life who knows how many challenges we might have. It is a beautiful thing that you care but I hope you will get past any guilt you might feel. We are all different here --- some were fortunate and their dx. came while their disease was a lot less advanced. Others found out later on and had to do more or different things including chemo. You are one of us, no matter what stage or treatment. Your challenge was a very large one --- it just didn't include chemo. We really don't judge here. We all have had the same challenge.
Blessings
Jackie
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Cactus Pearl, welcome, although I'm sorry you find yourself a member of the 'club' Jackie said it so well. The dx of BC at any stage is traumatic and frightening. I hope you don't continue to feel guilty. You were caught early and I am happy for you. We are all 'caught' at different stages, and some of us have a tougher row to hoe than others. This forum is a place where we can offer each other empathy, compassion, support and encouragement. Here is where we can share our fears and experience and form friendships with wonderful, strong women who are living the best life possible in difficult times. Hugs0
