MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish
Comments
-
Eli, what is a CCC lake?
Hope everyone is having a nice weekend. I see floating in the pool in my future this afternoon.
0 -
BarbA, I'll let Wiki save me the typing:
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, it provided unskilled manual labor jobs related to the conservation and development of natural resources in rural lands owned by federal, state and local governments.
0 -
I didn't realize they built lakes. I know they built a lot of the barrier island I live on.
0 -
Something occured to me when I was reading on the Stage I thread and a couple other threads about Lymphedema...
I know (usually, but not in all cases) the more nodes a woman has removed, the more likely to get LE. Then, on the Stage 1 thread, the women (and some of you here) were posting about armpit hair, or lack of, because some got rads all the way into the armpits.
Well, now I wonder if getting rads on the non-removed nodes contributes to LE? I did read of a few women that had no nodes out, but still got arm LE. Their nodes went haywire for some reason. Was it just surgery to the chest that disrupted too many lymph channels? But if rads can affect sweat glands and hair follicles on the one side, if rads can penetrate to affect hearts and lungs, I'm sure it can take out a few puny nodes. Is that another way the rads gift keep on giving?
Just my B/C thoughts on a Sunday.
0 -
I would say you're right e. I didn't get rads but from the horror stories I hear about pain in the back of some ladies, it certainly goes right through, doesn't it? Remember, if you get a breast removed, there was lymph nodes in the breast that are now gone. True, you have no breast tisue that needs those nodes that are now gone, but they were the 'road' for other body parts to drain through too (think neck, shoulder, etc)
I have truncal LE and the thought of a bra even touching my skin gives me the quivers....!
0 -
The CCC built alot of the state parks and their structures here in Texas. We have some beautiful state parks to enjoy here.
Elimar-it is amazing what all rads can do to the body. I do not have anyone in my family with arthritis and I have just been diagnosed with arthritis to my hips and shoulders. More predominant on my bc side (left). The Dr. told me it was a side effect of rads. He said that no matter what they do they cannot miss our bones and that rads changes our molecular structure of our bone marrow. Some people do not have any SE's and others get arthritis as I have and some get early onset osteoporosis from it as well. He suggest that I talk to my MO about putting me on Fosomax because he felt I was at a higher risk of osteoporosis since I am now having the arthritis. I am 48 always been active, never overweight and no family history. Go figure I would get arthritis and the hip is very painful. I had to give up my walking because it hurt to bad but discovered I can bicycle with no problems. As they say the gift that keeps on giving.
0 -
Barbe, I had a tiny bit of truncal LE til maybe 8-9 mos. out. I had a few PT massages very early for that (and to soften up the scar tissue as well,) then did the massaging strokes on my own at home. My RO did say that new lymph connections could form in the first year, or so, of healing and I think it did work out that way in my case. Luckily, I don't see or feel that firm puffiness to the area anymore.
That is interesting, Sherryc. I am hoping that faithful calcium supplementation will keep me from osteoporosis. In the winter, I will get another DEXA scan, after my first baseline one two years ago, and I'm very interested to see if I show a loss or gain in bone density.
I know I told this story before, but when I asked for the DEXA scan, the MO asked me why I felt I needed one? Being one of a long line of small-boned, white women of European descent at the right age to get a baseline done, plus having a mother with osteoporosis (who was even one of his patients!) must have escaped him. I just figured I should get one before starting on the Tamox., as it can change bone density one way or the other a little bit. Guess I should have asked how he could have NOT ordered one for me already!
0 -
Elimar good points, I had 3 nodes removed and have constant discomfort int he underarm area along with that 5% of people who have chronic soreness. I get beet red on the radiated breast for no apparant reason. I have learned to deal with the tenderness but the "funny lumps" around the surgical area will most liklley always be a concern. I get checked every 6 months but I agree tehy sure leave out a lot on info until AFTER treatment.
Sherryc I had arthritis before treatments but it is much more pronounced now. i had a hip replacement before I was diagnosed but they tell me my acceleration of arthritis in multiple joints is from my thyroid removal (due to cancer). I too ride my bike where I used to walk.
0 -
Something else I have wondered about off and on is this:
I have heard that by seven years, every cell in the body has been replaced. Does that mean we actually get rid of our radiation damaged cells and healthy ones replace them OR are the poor cells so messed up by rads that they reproduce in a mutant way forever afterwards?
No longer seeing my RO to ask him. This thread is just where I think out loud.
0 -
carollynn79, I envy your access to a nice, natural lakeshore!0
-
I thought it was your body CHEMISTRY that changes every 7 years. That's why you can get adult on-set diseases and allergies.
0 -
Hey Middies - I'm back. I have some minor computer problems and been so busy. I have been positing on other threads but lost this one for some reason and had a hard time finding it.
I see I am many pages behind and don't know if I can get caugtht up so I will start from here.
Just an update for everyone. My BS finally convinced me to go to a pain specialist for the toe joint pains and the burning/stabbing pain in the BC breast. Turns out I have nerve damage from rads. Go figure - just something else you don't get forewarned about. Anyway, the pain specialist prescribed amitriptyline and what a wonder drug it is. I am happy to report after 5 months of pain issues - no more pains, it has helped with the mood swings I was having and I am sleeping so good - the best in many months.
DH and I played golf this morning with another couple. First time in 5 months and it felt so great to be in the outdoors. I did not play that well, but had a wonderful time. We all met for breakfast at Cracker Barrel and then played 18 holes.
Yesterday, I finally got a garden planted that DH made for me last year - it is an area in front of our deck - he built a little retaining wall so the water would not run off into the street. I had every intention of doing this last year but then this damn BC hit me.
I have been busy making quilts. I have one done and another just about done. I think I will work on that one tonight
I hope everyone is doing well and getting through any treatments.
Oh! I almost forgot. I had my first mammo since dx on Friday. The tech was very nice and super gentle. It did not hurt and she was able to get all the shots she needed. I don't have the results back yet - was told I would have to call my MO on Monday. I am going to try either tomorrow or Tues to get the results. I hate the dreaded waiting game.
Okay! I have gone on long enough. Hope everyone is having a great weekend.
Love & Hugs to everyone
0 -
Maybe it is the chemistry, Barbe. I thought it was cells or atoms or something like that, but now that I think of it, haven't we heard about brain cells dying off after age 21 and not being replaced? (I really needed those cells too!!!)0
-
The brain cells die off with alcohol use! That's what you forgot e....ehehhehe
Jo, welcome back!! I had a lot of threads not show 'new' updates so thought they were all quiet.
0 -
Geez! I came from a time and a state where the "legal" age was 18, so must have gotten a jump start on obliterating brain cells. Duh...hic*!
0 -
barbe - I know what you mean. There is always someone on the threads during the weekend
0 -
Interesting thoughts Elimar....the whole area is radiated so LE makes sense as a possibility but my LE massage therapist said the same as yours...that you can reroute the lymph nodes or point them in anothe rdirection to take the work load off the operated-on side....and I have been doing self massage as much as possible since seeing her. I have also found that if I exercize, I have less swelling and pain in the left side ...so exercize it is! Bra has not hurt this week, though Barbe, I too have had some days where I think ' nope!!! A camisole and a big shirt is all these puppies are going to have against them"....thankfully , that has not happened on work days. that would not be a good thing for me..
0 -
Never thought of it before but I too drank at a young age, ok 18 was legal but by that time it was not as much fun no wonder I am forgetful now that I am over 50 and I thought it was just an age thing, now I know I can blame it on youthful folly, Thanks Elimar!!!
0 -
Elimar the interesting thing is I switch MO's in Feb right when I started my tamoxifen. On the first visit he said he wanted to do a bone scan on me and then start me on fosomax. I thought at the time that was strange given my age of 48 and prementapausal. On my second visit in March we talked about so much other stuff we did not get around to the fosomax issue so this visit I will ask him about it again. Now after what the pain Dr. said it then made sence of why the MO suggested it in the first place.
0 -
Eli, I'm answerimg before reading all other posts so hpoe no repeats! and i dpn't feel like correcting typs so deal with it! LE can indeed happen to women whjo had no nodes removed but hwo had rads in the armpit area where axillary nodes are located. if the nodes are damaged by whatever means - either surgery or radiation - the risk of LE is there.
0 -
Eli,your ? about cells renewing every 7 yrs, so does that affect radiated cells ... wow - never heard that asked before - I'm going in a few weeks to do c and will ask
0 -
Jo, so good to hear that you're finding ways to help yourself and get more days without pain. Really good to read all that
0 -
Thanks Marlegal - I hate the thought of having to take another pill but if it means no pains, improved mood and better sleep I will deal with it. Who would have guessed that rads can do so much damage to the body and at the same time ridding it of cancer.
0 -
Gals, I went to Relay for Life this weekend & there was a booth set-up by an organization called Casting for Recovery (www.castingforrecover.org) They provide retreats for breast cancer patients & survivors; you learn the art of flyfishing & they have various experts on site to discuss different problems, etc you might be facing-it's a lottery drawing to be chosen to go. Sounds like fun, so I've posted the info on a couple threads I frequent in case you might be interested. I'd never heard of it, but sounds like fun! Editted to add: best of all it's FREE!0
-
marlegal, well, regardless of the time period of cell replacement, I was thinking along the lines of whether the cells in the rads area ever gets repaired, or do the damaged ones just reproduce themselves in a damaged way. Let me know, if you do pose the question.0
-
Huh, do damaged cells even reproduce! Very interesting thought....
0 -
Interesting concept about cell regeneration. I saw xmen last night at the movies so my imagination is going wild. This whole tissue expander process makes me kind of feel like a starfish and I can just grow new breasts. The movie touches on the idea of accepting ourselves as we are, got me really thinking.
0 -
Oh, yeah! I'm know I'm ready for the Mutant Academy. My special power? Able to see cobwebs in even the darkest recesses of a room. Pretty cool, huh?
0 -
Oh, I want to join The Mutant Academy! My special power - super-sniffing ability! LOL - I used to sniff my husband's clothes when he came home from work and tell him everything he's been doing, just to be annoying of course. "You've been drinking coffee, you've been around someone who was smoking a cigarette, you had McDonald's for lunch". Now that he's my ex - hmmmm, I wonder why - I do it to my college kid. Hey, I make my own fun!
0 -
Hey, Me too. I can mutate into a BITCH in 1.5 seconds.....lol...lol...lol
0
