MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish
Comments
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Eph - good for you!!! We all need a creative outlet and with my DH at home (he marshalls on a golfcourse in the summer) I demanded he get a hobby. He's picked the electric guitar!! There is something out there called Rocksmith and it plugs into some gaming system and teaches you how to play a real guitar. We are aiming to get him that, but waiting for prices to drop. It's been at $200 since September and surely it'll go down as a new model comes in for Christmas?? Anyone know of anyone who tried it?
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By the way, e, VERY freaky picture!! I LOVE it!!
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Just trying to keep my head above water, Barbe.
When I came awake at 4 a.m. this morning, it was with this thought...Guess I am finally going to get a tatoo (several) when they start lining up my backside for rads. I resisted getting them on the chest and went with markers instead. I don't know how where they will need to mark my heinie but it seems like those could get rubbed off easier, so maybe the tatts are a better choice this time. Hope they can do them real small. Of course then it will be my job to keep them from gettting larger.
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The places our minds take us when faced with new and unexpected challenges! I have a tendency to try to overthink things and get too far out into the future, and being diagnosed with BC definitely made me realize that for the things out of my control (most stuff, in reality) I am better off learning the pros and cons of each step as they come in succession. Taking it all in at once and projecting far into the future is too overwhelming, and too many things could alter the expected path along the way. The cliche' "One day at a time" is so appropriate for me. The serenity prayer gives me peace in so many aspects of my life.
Elimar, I hope that as you face each new step in your path to eradicate cancer you have peace in knowing that you are making the best decisions for you. Tats or markers on your behind, I'm sure neither entered your realm of consciousness prior to this new diagnosis, and I know that you are making light of a scary diagnosis and treatment. Know that we all have been helped by your knowledge, humor and support, and we hope that we can offer you the same as you go through this next hurdle.
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Elimar I had three tatoos done on my chest when I was doing rads. They are so tiny that I had to look hard to find them. I wouldn't woory bout tats on my rear if I were you.
Charlotte
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Charolotte....let me explain...elimar is worried that the tats will be TOO SMALL!!! She wants rockin' tats that will show when she wears her pants down to her crack-line!!!! hehehehehehehehhehe
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I had six tats for rads. A ladybug, a heart, a dragonfly, a butterfly, a koi, and a cross. All were done microscopically and with one needle punch only. Since they appear as tiny blue freckles, I can say they are anything I want them to be. Actually only three show anymore. One faded during rads and two others were taken out during subsequent recon surgeries. I just have to decide which icon each of the remaining tats are...butterfly-heart- ladybug????
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I think I had three and can't find them. They were that tiny.
Barbe, you are so funny!
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Ooooh, I have always admired miniature art, Meece, so micro tatts sound good. I'll have to think about what tiny designs I might like.
Which is not to say I did not snort heartily at what Barbe wrote. (as well as cringe a little imagining it.)
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One of mine is easily seen when I wear V-neck tops if you know where to look. Frankly, I got to the point where I kind of considered it a badge of honor or something. I don't see it often, and no one else has ever seemed to notice it, but when I do, I kind of inwardly salute myself. Oh ... and before I got them, when I heard people talking about their radiation tats, I did think they were real tatoos that you chose yourself! I never asked, because I really believed that so no need to ask anyone. Imagine my surprise when the time came :>)
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And if anybody believes Barbe I have a bridge to sell ya!
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I got 8 tats, but they just look like freckles, and they are really tiny, I could never figure out how they found them during radiation to line things up with.
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Ohhh, she is hoping for a free tramp stamp!
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I'm 51 I was diagnosed with Stage 1 invasive estrogen positive breast cancer. I had sentinel node biopsy all nodes free of cancer and surgery removed 1.7cm tumor with clear margins. I know the doctors suggest chemo, radiation, and tamoxifen but I was wondering what would be my risk of just doing Tamoxifen for 5 years only. I'm very healthy except for the cancer being found on a mammogram in September. I want to live long, but have concerns about the treatment plan suggested. If anyone wants to reply I would appreciate all opinions.
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Good morning!!! Just wanted to stop by and say hi..,,, I come here on and off and just read everyone's words of wisdom.... I was diagnostic on August ... I had FEC and my last chemo was on Thanksgiving Day I will starry Taxol 3 weeks from here ... I'm loosing appetite ... Cause I don't know what to eat anymore... .... I have an 18 year old daughter and my DH......that are always so loving ... I hope minimal SE for everyone!!!
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Lorall - the MO should be able to break down the benefits for each treatment for you, ask! It doesn't sound like you're HER2 + right?
patriciah - find healthy things that taste good, eat a little several times a day, but don't stop eating.
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LorAll, you can check on cancermath http://www.lifemath.net/cancer/index.html
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LorAll, welcome! A woman with your Dx is precisely the candidate to get the OncotypeDx testing. Google it. Ask your doctor about getting it. This test is a tool for early stage women, like yourself, to determine whether chemo would benefit you. There is a good chance that you will be able to skip the chemo. I did. (See my Dx line below.) The OncoDx test also gives you some individualized stats on how likely you would be to have a local recurrence and distant recurrence. Radiation is nasty. The reason I said yes to that was even tho' I had clean margins, I felt that the whole tumor area had been disturbed by the biopsy and the surgery and I could not know if any cells had broken loose and remained in the area so I let the rads blast whatever might have been left behind. Did I need it? I will never know. Tamox. is nasty too, but it is a far gentler way to protect your whole system from any random cells that might currently be circulating thru' your body than chemo is. Can you know if you have any circulating cells? No. So, I took the Tamox. just in case. I am only trying to give my perspective on how and why I made my choices. It is important for you to gather all the info. you can, so that you can feel good about the decision you finally make. There is not always a "right" or "wrong," but more like what you yourself are comfortable with.
Hello, patriciahurtado! You've made it halfway with the chemo, and I know you can go the distance. Without trying to sound like a piece of commercial advertising, I am going to suggest to you that you check out those nurtitional drinks (Ensure, Boost; or Glucerna if you are diabetic.) These drinks have easily digestible protein and you need that to build up the healthy cells in your body back up during and after this period where chemo is breaking them down. Check at your cancer center (with a nutritionist, or just anyone in your oncologists office) if you can get some for FREE. They don't always volunteer the info., so do ask about it. A lot of places will provide you with a case of it at a time at no charge.
Momine, I will get a tramp stamp, as long as it is the Meece-micro-version.
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LorAll, I agree with Elimar, get the OncotypeDX test done. I did and mine was only 8 so my MO said no way would she suggest chemo. The risks way outweigh the benefits for me. I started my Tamoxifen 10/31 and so far the only SE's minor flashes and skipped period so I am very happy with my choice.
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LorAll, My stats are below. I had the Onco test on the recommendation of both my MO & BS; both thought I would have a low score-I didn't so chemo was initiated followed by radition & now I'm on my 3rd year of Femara. Had my onco score been low I'm pretty sure I was going to opt for chemo anyway because altho I didn't like the idea I wanted to blast away any possiblity of recurrence. Of course there's no guarantee, but I would have felt like I had done everything I could. As it is, most days I don't even think about it anymore. I've kept my hair short cause I like it & I take the stinking pill daily (i pretend it's a sleeping aid). Life during BC is very do-able; ask questions here & of your providers.
E-I'm getting ready to do dose 4 of Miralax. Doesn't taste bad, but I sure feel full of liquid!!!
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Hello all!
I'm 50 so I feel snug being the "middle child" here! Great to have this support page to come to for questions and mostly answers.
I'm on my 2nd reconstruction. First one......implants too small....stayed lodged in my chest cavity. My skin began to hang off and droop down.....it was pitiful.
I'm now at Moffitt (military move, change of insurance.....) this surgery was better. This holiday weekend, The right breast implant looks to have a Seroma. Plan on calling them in the am.
Im having personal issues with the cancer center's "policies". For instance, I came in the day after having my tubes removed, the right b was slightly swollen, they'd had to do a lot of dissecting due to the previous implants, I was in excruciating pain. They did an ultrasound and saw some fluid but nothing stood out. Well, when I asked for muscle relaxer and pain meds, I was informed that they could not prescribe Rx pain meds two weeks after surgery.............cited plastic surgery centers "policy" I begged enough so
they gave me torodol and skelaxin.
4 days later....I'm on ice and still taking skelaxin. By this time the pain had subsided. I get a call from my employer informing me that my ps had cleared me for work!! Nothing was ever discussed with me! My company's medical department thought they'd just made a mistake and asked me to call them to correct it. My job is considerred in the "heavy" physical description. Which translates loosely, I'm required to push and pull a cart that weighs 250lbs when you add the incline or decline! Pretty heavy stuff. Anyway, the staff informed me that the clear date was correct.......here I was almost 4 weeks out of surgery, 5 days from having my tubes pulled and they were clearing me for work! That's when they told me plastic surgery "policy" is to return people to work after 4 weeks UNLESS the patient is having extreme issues. I finally convinced them to extend me to 6 weeks. If I'd had any other job with a lessor physical description I wouldn't be so shocked. Absolute Frustration.
Wow, really needed to vent.....for those of you who stuck with my story, thanks for letting me write it all out. Anybody else have policy issues with their treatment center?0 -
Welcome, firework1068! Hard to be an individual in the face of all that "policy," isn't it? Good for you standing up for yourself!
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Thank you elimar, I guess I just needed some validation:)
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Good job firework! I hate that we have to be that pro-active in our own care - did you want to ask the PS, so if I was your wife, sister, mother, daughter would you be saying that I'm fine to go back to work?
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Welcome firework and lorall, glad you found this thread ... it will serve you well
I was extremely lucky with my hospital and doctors and I never took it for granted. The only area where I felt I didn't get enough info - even though I asked for it - was about lymphedema. I developed that condition 2.5 yrs post-treatment and really feel that if I'd been better informed, it could have been avoided. If either of you would like more info about that, please send me a private message - there ARE things you can do to try and avoid LE.Joni, good luck tomorrow ... I have to get off my butt (no pun intended) and make that appointment too.
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Hi, Thanks for the info. I did have the DX test and my score was 34, high I guess. The MO says he would recommend chemo. says my chance of getting liver and or bone cancer is 23% and chemo would bring my percentage down to 11%. I have a 77% chance of not getting it,right? I just don't know what to do and it will be 7 weeks since my surgery this Tuesday.
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My number was very low, 7 I believe. So chemo wasn't recommended but with your number and at your age, I think I'd do the chemo. Good luck with whatever you decide.
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LorAll, chemo would reduce your risk by more than 50%!!! From 23 to 11. That is HUGE. HUGE!!! That is when it is worth taking the chemo!! In my humble opinion IMHO.
I read somewhere that the Oncotype rates from 1 to 100. Can you imagine being at 100%???? I haven't seen anyone over 40. Has anyone else?
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Barbe, I was a 42!
Alien probing done: I'm good for another 10 years! Altho I am sorry that it had to be E's situation that got me in there, I'm glad for the push!
Now how are you doing E?
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Barbe1958- there is a thread on this site called Oncotype DX roll and there is a list of everyones score and sadly it goes as high as 65. No matter what your score is it is still a dam hard decision. Mine was a 6 and because of 17 positive nodes I went ahead with the chemo.
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