MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish
Comments
-
New to this board but I fit in with the age group I am 51. Was diagnosed this month with IDC cell grade 2 I have surgery on Dec 4th and I am so nervous. I decided to go with a bi-lateral mx with TE. I fed all four of my babies so they did their job. I agree this pops out of nowhere. I go every year for my mammogram I am in good health. Three weeks before my yearly mammo I found my lump.. I didn't wait for my mammo appt. I called my Dr and went right in. After a core needle biopsy they said it is about 1.7 cm to 2 cm. He said it looks contained but we won't know the stage until after surgery. I did make an appt with an oncologist, surgeon said I could wait until after surgery, but with my personality I really like to have my ducks in a row. Any advise would be so appreciated!
Carla
0 -
I'm sorry, E ..........
0 -
Sorry Eli....
0 -
Carla ~ This site is so slow today, it looks like I ignored your post; it took forever for my couple of words to show up.
This is a wonderful group of ladies, they are my rock. I hope you find that as well. I also saw my Onc before my surgery just to get aquainted & to receive additional information about what comes after the surgery, i.e. possible hormonal therapy. As you can see by my signature below, I had a lumpectomy followed by Rads & am now almost through 4 years of 5 on the AI Aromasin. It was helpful to have my DH (dear husband) with me to hear some things I may have missed. It can be quite overwhelming & takes awhile to get ones head wrapped around it. If you think you may forget something, have a list of questions with you.
We will be with you on Dec 4th, "in your pocket", as we say here. Please keep us posted. We care & are here for you.
0 -
Carla: Welcome to the group! I had a lumpectomy and radiation, so I don't have much advice for you. I heartily agree with Valjean. Having another set of ears with you at your appointments will be a huge help. My DH came and took notes on his laptop. I was able to keep a record of what all the various doctors told me. I recommend arriving at each appointment with a list of questions. It will help you feel better about the decisions you make about your treatment. I'll be in your pocket on Dec 4th.
Eli: {{{{hugs}}}} to you. I wish I could do more.
0 -
Eli - Hugs to you. Very hard to say goodbye to a faithful companion.
Carla - welcome. I chose bilateral MX with TE and have not regretted it a bit. I am almost six weeks out from surgery and doing great. I also met with the Oncologist ahead of time. Gave me a chance to feel comfortable with her before actually talking definate treatments post surgery. I find the waiting is the worst part of all of this. Waiting for results, waiting for surgery, waiting for treatment discussions. Once you get going it calms down. Best wishes to you!
0 -
Firstly, holy cow!!! Y'all talk a LOT!!!! Secondly, I have NEVER held a bedazzler in my hands...let the records show. I am 100% au naturel!!!!
LE with lumpectomy? Not unless they cut or screw up (twist?) your lymph flow system. Some lumpectomies may take out a node within the breast tissue but that would be a pretty deep lumpectomy!
Robotic surgery for eli??? But of COURSE!! I've been watching "Ancient Aliens" and as eli was probed by aliens, the only cure can be mechanical. It has been written....
I will have a Rainbow Bridge of beloved cats waiting for me when I pass. There are times I am looking VERY much forward to that. I am NOT being facetious. I, too, am being very serious. Our pets give us the unconditional love that humans just can't reach. I felt 2 of my cats who passed during my cancer discover actually "took a bullet" for me. One got the worse cancer (on jaw) and passed; the other one died of a heart attack. I now have a pacemaker. They seem to be following my illnesses. This last cat is ready to go any day (for the past 9 months!). When we come home from chores we actually go to the couch first to see if he's breathing. Seriously. Do NOT mess with me and my cats!!
Now back to your regularly scheduled program....
0 -
Not much time to write...cooking/baking, etc. but ....
Eli - you said "I hope it hasn't been too much" ... about your current "issues" ... are you kidding me? Please girl, we all can say as much as we want here, and you of all people, whether you want the title or not, are hte queen of being able to take over the room! I know you don't want the limelight and all that, but we want to share with you, we want you to share with us, and no way in hell could you ever tell us too much, okay? You've made this room such an open forum and that's wonderful. But for now, dump on us ... scream in here ... divert if need be when need be. If you've taught us anything, it's that opening ourselves up in here, where we can be safe and get support, is the key to everything. I love you.
0 -
Thank you so much for answering my question as I was not sure and I am just curious!! I have not been through this before.
Eli do tell us what is going on so that we may look for the symptoms in ourselves to hopefully catch any spread of the horrible disease early....
0 -
Jewellmb--no question is trivial to the person who needs the info. And this is a time to not be worrying about what anyone else thinks, not to mention that all of us have been in the searching for info spot and know what it's like. The oncologist will be able to give you info about the risks of your specific situation. The onc will also give you info about what choices are available to you for monitoring and/or prevention. Take someone with you to this appointment, or tape record it. Don't plan on making any choices at that appointment. You have time to think things through and ask questions and do research. What you might want to find out is (1) out of 100 women in your situation how many would be diagnosed with bc in 5 yrs and 10 yrs without any treatment. This is your baseline risk level. (2) how much would each option available to you change the number out of 100 who are diagnosed with bc in 5 yrs and 10 yrs. (3) what are the side effects of each option, both temporary and permanent, and how many out of 100 women experience each of those side effects. With this info you'll get a better idea of how much risk you may have and how much help a treatment may be, which makes it easier to choose an option. Remember, too, that you can always start with monitoring and add in a preventive treatment a little later, you do have time to do that. Keep coming back here and we'll help you process all the info.
Elimar--Yeah for the 6 am slot! You may be home by lunch time! Good luck to you!
Jewellmb--yes there is a blood test that can be done to determine if you are pre or post menopausal. If you are post-menopausal you can take one of the aromatase inhibitors (arimidex, femara, I forget the other 2 just at the moment), but I think tamoxifen is one that has been tested for prevention of bc in high risk situations. The weight thing comes from the fact that after menopause the only source of estrogen in the body is the cholesterol that is converted to estrogen by the aromatase enzyme. This happens in fat cells, so women with more fat cells generate more estrogen this way.
Oh, elimar, I am so sorry for your loss. So hard to lose a pet. Praying for you and your furbaby.
Happy Thanksgiving, Middles!
0 -
What can I say??? {{{{{Eli~}}}}}
Happy Thanksgiving.
0 -
Sorry about your little doggie Elimar. You have had a tough month. Let's hope that is it and things start to get better for you.
0 -
The house in the topper picture looks like the interior of the metal doll house I have with the plastic furniture!
0 -
E ~~ As I write this at 12:27 AM, just after Thanksgiving Day has ended, I ask that you please jump back 23 hours to marlegal's post, reread it please, because I say that to you as well, word for word.
Okay?
Love & hugs E
0 -
Eli....I am soo sorry for your loss! I can't even imagine how I would deal with all you have on your plate already and then to lose your dear puppy! (((Hugs))))!!
I had my drains removed Wed....yeah! ...so enjoyed my first shower since the DIEP on the 9th. Getting a little stronger every day and then my mom ended up in the hospital with a Gallbladder problem! So we've spent the last 3 days at the hospital with her. My sibs are not near, so my DH and I have been dealing with the hospital and taking care of her elderly Akita. Hope she will be discharged tomorrow. She's 82, so will need some help while she recovers. Definitely a different Thanksgiving......and yet I AM very grateful! Blessings to all!0 -
Oh, Chachamom, how wonderful to have gotten the drains removed! YAY! Hoping for a smooth recovery for you as well as your Mother.
0 -
Thank you all so much.. Yes I agree with the extra set of ears. My husband has been with me to every appt from the very start. It helps both of us if I didn't hear it he did and if he didn't I did. It really does help! I am going to write down all my questions for the oncologist, I have so many!!
Thank you all again,
Carla
0 -
carlads - welcome to the middies. Always lots going on - some serious, some fun, but always someone here with a word of comfort, encouragement and support.
Eli - so sorry that you have lost your puppy. Thinking of you every day and praying for some good news for you as well as brighter days ahead. You are an inspiration to us all and no matter what life decides to throw your way, we will be with you every step. (((hugs)))
0 -
For some new perspective....0 -
reported
0 -
Eli I am so, so sorry about your beloved dog. I so understand as mine are like children to me. I deeply mourned the loss of my previous Golden Retriever. I wish I could say something profound to help you during this terribly time. All the comfort I can give is to tell you she knew how much she was cherished, and you gave her the best gift of a peaceful passing. Many many hugs Sweetie......
Barbe I also have cats and feel the same about them. I love them equally. My oldest is eight and the other two just shy of five. I hope they live for many many years.
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday.
0 -
Marlegal, Thanks for the outpouring of sentiment. That was exceedingly sweet (I swear I had to inject an insulin shot after reading it, and I am not even diabetic!)
You too, Val. I didn't write any holiday message yesterday, but I hope everyone was busy enjoying the day with family. Chachamom, Sounds like you had a less traditional day...hope your mom gets discharged as planned and is feeling lots better. I feel for you, having been thru' an ICU Thanksgiving with my mom a few years ago. My boys were so loving yesterday, and the house was so peaceful. (So unnatural, they must think I am dying.) Our turkey ravaging houndog was greatly missed. We had planned to have one last Thanksgiving with her, but the fact was she had refused all food since Sunday, so it would have been worse to have her there yesterday, failing as she was.
I tried so hard to watch the Macy's parade, but the coverage on t.v. was so bad. One channel showed three people sitting at a table talking (promoting things) for 10 minutes at a time and not showing the street at all. The other channel was all about the showtune. (Is it me, or is Matthew Broderick looking more and more like Nathan Lane every year?) In half an hour, I think I only saw two bands and a Charlie Brown balloon. Not that I don't like Charlie Brown, but let's face it, that balloon is too meek and mild to try to get away. Not like Underdog. Now there was a balloon! Which balloon was the naughtiest ever? That would be The Cat In The Hat. He flew into a lamp post in 1997, and knocked it onto a woman's head giving her brain damage, as well as a big lawsuit settlement. (Don't say you never learn anything from this thread.) The M&M candy balloon conked a couple people on the head in 2005 also.
0 -
elimar-you wouldn't happen to be a NASCAR fan would you?
You sound like my brother when he comes home from a crashless night at the races.
Hope everybody had a wonderful day, full of turkey, pie and fellowship.
Ours was strange. Mom has been fighting a pressure sore (she's on her butt every waking hour) went to wound clinic on Wen. and they decided she needed to be hospitalized, so I spent the morning talking with her doctor and visiting with her, then we join 15 or so friends for a mock pot luck dinner (hosts make the turkey and a side and everyone else brings a dish) Took my peachy cranberry crisp, and dispite quite a bit of competition from a number of great pies, it went over well. We also took a fruit tray which came home with a slice of apple and two pieces of pineapple, so that seems to have been popular too. Had a lovely visit with some friends we haven't seen all year. Went back to the hospital in time to tuck mom in (had planned to help her with supper, but she was absolutly bushed. Her caregiver ran in this morning to give her breakfast and managed to catch up with the doctor, so I got an update. I'll go over in a while to keep her company from lunch ...
We had a turkey breast I was planning to make for dinner but I'll make that this weekend so we have a few left overs.
A friend shared this with me when I lost my Mica, and I found comfort in it...
0 -
Lost my post......thanks for the support Vajean and Eli
My mom may be good to come home tomorrow...but may need some help for a while. She's fiercely independent, so won't stay with us, and I'm not up to sleeping on her hide-a-bed in my current state of healing. Thankfully, my sister in NC decided to come out tomorrow and stay with mom for a week. By then she AND I should be better able to take over.
BTW: Chacha is the name of my sweet rescue mutt.0 -
Happy Aftermath Day everyone.
I was pretty blue yesterday. 1st Thanksgiving without my mom & altho I was with my Dad & his wife's family, it just was very hard. So today, I did some retail therapy...no, no Black Friday hours for this girl, but I went this afternoon to a local shoe store & bought some high-end walking shoes & then to a local guitar store & bought myself a guitar---I have always wanted to learn how. In fact, last winter before mom got sick, I was telling her about all the things I was gonna do when DD went off to college & learning to play guitar was the top thing on the list. So, she's still at home, going to the local college, but I decided I needed to start taking care of my life! So in honor of E, I'm scheduled for my 1st colonoscopy on Monday & today I bought myself a beautiful acoustic guitar & her name is Franny, which is what my mom's family called my mom. I have a smile on my face right now.
0 -
Cindyl, That was unfortunate timing that had your mom in the hospital on the holiday too (not that there is a good time for something like that;) but your dinner sounded fun (and mouth-watering!) Nope, not a NASCAR fan. I don't think liking Formula 1 racing for a brief period in the 80's counts, since that was just because the drivers were cute. The balloons? Well, I don't want those balloons to cause damage, just want them to escape.
Chacha, My dog just a mutt too. I think she was an "Adopt-A-Pet" t.v. star, but it might have been one of her 8 sisters or brothers.
The guitar sounds great, Eph! Now I can come over and shake my tambourine!!! As far a the colonoscopy, I have to defer to my on' buddy "Shakey" who says "All's well that ends well." Har-har. Good Luck on Monday.
blackcat2012, Don't even wait for symptoms. The early screening starting at age 50 really is the best prevention. Even with no symptoms, you might have a polyp or three in there and you want that OUT before it causes any trouble.
0 -
Eph - have fun with your guitar! You might just inspire me to try the piano again.
Elimar - but I don't want a colonoscopy, I want to recover from BC treatment first
but I guess I will have one sometime after March when my SSDI Medicare kicks in and with the supplement, it won't cost a penny!0 -
Eph I so understand how you feel. My mom died in January of 1999, and every 'first' was so difficult. It gets easier over time but your heart always has that empty spot. Hugs to you and great you got a guitar! Bpth my sons play and I so love the music. You have so much to learn and betting you will love it.
I had my colonoscopy about a year ago, all clear and I don't need a repeat for 10 years they say. To everyone getting one scheduled soon, high five's to you! It is not fun but so important as we all know.
0 -
janis - my mom died jan 1999, my dad oct 1980. i can still feel my mom's tight hugs and feel my dad's hand holding mine. i will always miss them and others who have gone before me, but i feel my memories keep them close to my heart. i do have so much to be thankful for - my family and friends especially.
0 -
Eph - Good for you for picking up the guitar! I learned to play a bit when I was about 20 yrs old. I wish I had kept it up but didn't. Perhaps one day I will get another one. Enjoy learning and playing - maybe we will see you on YouTube? Perhaps Ellen will invite you to her show - you could be a sensation!! Good luck on Monday - hoping for the all clear for you!
0
