MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish
Comments
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Fad, my doc explained that the upper limit of normal is set based on the 95th percentile of healthy women getting the test. In other words, some people just normally hit above the upper limit of the test. They look for pattern more than for a specific number.
Just the other day I met a woman who is about 10 years out and she said her tumor markers were always above the normal range. She is fine.
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Momine, thank you for sharing with me what you doctor told you. I hope to remain around the same result (or lower!) when re-tested in 3 months and maybe I will be one of the ones who just tests above normal with the CEA. I am happy to have a 3 month break to not dwell on cancer
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Fad, welcome and I know just what you mean about enjoying the 3-month doctor break. I mean, they are lovely people and all, but I still prefer not having to see them.
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I went to MO for routine blood test (check up) and I am still a bit low on both my RBC and my WBC. I thought the WBCs regenerated quicker and I was a little disappointed about that since I am getting ready to travel with a few thousand others who might like to sneeze in my face and going to several lands of foreign microbes. Once again, I'm a crazy daredevil.
Also, I had one other stop to make. I never did take treats to my RO team on my last day, so since they are in the same building with the MO, I decided to surprise them with some snacks today. Last time, I took them some muffins, but everyone does that. This time, I wanted to do something different, so I went to the Asian market and picked up a snack assortment: Shrimp crisps, bean cakes, tamarind candy, crunchy seaweed snacks, banana fritters, mango cakes...stuff like that. Although they came from a few Asian countries, I said they were snacks from Japan and left a little note...
...with a picture of this guy and a dialog bubble saying...
...THANKS FOR ALL THE RADIATION!
Hahaha! I crack myself up!
My son said I was racist. I'm sorry all my Japanese sisters.
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You know, I am a year past active treatment and my blood counts are still on the low end, hovering on the lower edge of normal. My mother has the same thing and she is 5 years out. Not sure why, but as long as I feel OK, I choose to ignore it.
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E-zilla! hahahahahahaha
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eli, you crack me up too!!!!
Are you traveling with Carnival? Boy, what a nightmare, the ship that lost all it's power. I hope you have a great trip and don't catch any bugs.
I like the hearts at the top. Last year I had my first rad on Valentine's Day. This year I get a DEXA scan. I go to see the RO on Friday. Maybe I'll bring some snacks, but I have to admit that they had the best candy bowl. When I finished rads the techs threw confetti and I whooped so loud the docs came running. LOL I hugged everyone, gently, of course.
Hope everyone has a good heart day!
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Hey Middies ...
I made your favorite ...
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Happy Valentine's Day to a wonderful group of ladies
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Happy VD Middies! Enjoy it! Chocolate is calorie-less on this day only!
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Eli - thanks for the valentine and the wonderful strawberries - yummy!
Meece - love the pic. Very appropriate for the middies.
Eph - have had a few chocolates today so glad to know that they are sans calories. Also have heard that if you break a cookie in half before eating it, all of the calories fall out!
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I thought anything eaten with the fingers is calorieless because the calories stick to your fingers.
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Okay, I ate the strawberries and dd made a cream of crab soup to go with yummy shrimp dinner ... That's how I like to take my calories. Oh, and a drink too!
And don't forget the other calorie rule - anything eaten while standing up has half the calories. Unless it's green, then it's free. (Granted, not too much yummy stuff is green!)
My Valentine's Day kisses today were all from an extremely handsome man I've been seeing since 2/1. Sometimes you just know it's right though, and this feels really right. When I hug him, I just smile from ear to ear. And when he looks in my eyes - and man can this guy hold a gaze - I just can't look away. ((( sigh ))) I'm hopelessly in love ❤ Oh, you all know I'm talking about my grandson Cole, right? Gonna hate leaving here tomorrow afternoon. I have to keep reminding myself how incredibly lucky I am to have spent a wonderful 6 days here. I don't take that for granted, truly.0 -
Well, now I've gone and done it! I've missed the latest holidays around here, and since I'm up in the wee hours of the morning all alone that means all the food you eat is calorie-free, too! Right? "Why, honey, I think you ate more that you realize last night." T'wasn't I!
I've been so busy researching ideas for changing my kitchen up a little bit. I had it completely remodeled about 4-5 years ago, but there are some things - upon a second glance - that didn't turn out like I expected. So I've been hunting down the best prices on light fixtures, wallpaper, cabinet knobs, etc. Just little things like that. But it's a big thing that's bringing my remodeler back - one of my french doors in the kitchen is rotten inside and out at the base. A man would be proud of how I have taped that sucker back with duct tape. Haha, it's keeping out the cold wind and the little mice and other beasts from the wilderness. Geez, the longer I live without a man the more I think like them. Hey, tortilla chips and Velveeta dip is a perfectly good dinner!
No, I've really, really, really got to do better. This is my son's last year at home and I would like for him to remember a few classic home-made meals from Mom. I can really cook when I want to, I just don't want to. And I really don't need to be re-decorating the kitchen. But practicality has flown out the window. I have a PET Scan on Tuesday and I really don't know what they're looking for, so I'm a little freaked out. I mentioned my hip hurt in November, so I had a bone scan in December, and that was okay. I saw her about 2 weeks ago and she said, "Let's do a PET Scan just to make sure, because sometimes things don't show up on the bone scan." Then my insurance company denied it based on good bone scan and tumor markers, but somehow my MO overrode them and it's on for Tuesday. Definitely an Ativan day coming up. In the meantime, I will spend recklessly to make myself feel better.
Aww, Marlegal, your sweetheart today sounds soooo precious! Sounds like you had a great 6 days of pure bliss. I'm sure you'll be back soon!
So glad tomorrow (today?) is Friday. I woke up too early and I am freezing. Time to get back under my electric blanket!
Val - my son talked me out of watching Denzel that night!! We watched a silly movie called "Seven Psychopaths". The only reason I gave in was because Christopher Walken was in it and he cracks me up and Colin Farrel was in it and he's mighty pleasant to look at. It was a funny movie. Tomorrow night it will be Denzel!
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hns - we'll all be with you on Tues. Just think about what is going on in your pocket - that should help to distract you.
Marlegal - your valentine sounds like a gem - so glad you were able to spend a few days with him.
Happy Friday everyone!
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LOL...all of the ways to cut calories. I did not know that about the cookies, barsco.
Not that it's a contest, but marlegal's Valentine's Day sound the best. My away son didn't even try to Skype me. My here son basically told me, now that he's grown and has a girlfriend, that I'm not his Valentine anymore. (Sadly, the mom's of sons always get supplanted, don't they?) My husband and I had gone out to dinner early on the 13th, so just a quiet night at home. Of course, the upcoming cruise is a belated Christmas gift and Valentine's gift rolled into one so I can't complain. All I have to do now is go out and buy myself a half-off box of chocolates today and I'm good.
HnS76, Please don't worry about the PET scan. She is just covering all the bases and keeping the cash flow rolling. The PET scan is a pretty easy one and you will have 99.5% peace of mind when yours comes back negative. You most likely just have a middle-aged arthritic hip. I'm sure I can take a moment out to hop into your pocket on Tues., so long as the others don't mind the gritty sand and salt water droplets I'll bring along.
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Gee I have missed alot. Eli sounds like your trip will be great. Dianna so sorry to hear about your friend. I know I cheris my girlfriends.
Went to my PS yesterday for my follow up from my last revision surgery and he was happy with the way things look. Still being careful with me so I am still on gym and yoga restrictions for another month. But since I found a really good underwire support sports bra he says I can start running. Since I fired my BS last year and my PS did my BMX and reconstruction I was concerned about what I would do if I felt any lumps or bumps. I knew my MO would have me in right away but then would want to send me to the BS who I fired. PS said not to worry if I feel any lumps or bumps to come to him and he would take care of me and be my BS. He is such a good man I felt much better just knowing I have a plan should something pop up.
Marlegal congrats on the grandson, I am getting one in July
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Meece- Love the quote!!! Hope everyone indulged in chocolate yesterday!!
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Welcome, saskie! Chocolate yesterday and half-off chocolate today.
Sherryc, Your PS is a keeper. It really does take the stress off, just knowing you've got a doctor in your corner should anything arise. On my B/C team, my MO is the weakest link. That office is not organized. On Tues., for the third time they mentioned me being on Tamox., which the MO had told me to stop taking last Nov. Sheesh!
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Latest news on drinking and B/C:
Fifteen percent (6,000/yr) of B/C deaths attributed to drinking. Also dangerous, but not as dangerous, for men. Figures. Women get the short end yet again. These articles interest me, but I am only a very occasional drinker. Funny, I got two cancers that can arise from drinking too; so my rather sober lifestyle didn't help me dodge any bullets.
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I will seriously be concentrating on the party y'all will be having in my pocket while I'm in that darn PET scan thing. Then I think it's going to be immediately followed up by a CT scan. True, Elimar... cha-ching!
Elimar, when are you leaving on your cruise? I think ziplining should now be mandatory if you get to go on a Caribbean cruise. Or will you just concentrate on re-creating Eph's great hammock pose?
Maybe cold weather reduces hot flashes, but I've been missing mine lately. I am SO cold most of the time. A Caribbean cruise this time of year sounds perfect - I'm going to try to aim for that next year.
As far as drinking goes, you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. No doubt it reduces blood pressure. It's probably the breast itself that doesn't metabolize it very well. Well, I've never thought of alcohol as a carcinogen. Bummer. I never thought of Tamoxifen as a carcinogen, either, but I just read that the other day. Well, I think bacon is a carcinogen, too, so fuhgettaboutit. I'm beginning to think that unless you buy bonafide organic vegetables, that vegetables are a carcinogen, too!
Sherry - my MO is a genius at diagnostic stuff, but the breast exam lasts about 3 seconds. My BS is very thorough on the breast exam - when he said we could move to annual exams now, I kind of gasped and must have made a horrified face and he said we can keep it to every 6 months if I'd rather. The only doctor I would do that for.
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Great hammock pose? you mean the beached whale look? hns, you are funny girl! And the drinking business-I did so much of that between 18 & 39 I could probably never drink again & still have a readable # on the breathalyzer!! My occasional drinks don't even count anywhere as far as I'm concern.
My baby sister who went on the cruise with me has a birthday in April, which is also Mom's birthday month. This year is going to be her 1st birthday without Mom & our 1st year without Mom on her birthday (or Mother's Day-don't get me started), so I have talked her into going to a concert a week or so before her birthday with an over night stay in a funky, cool hotel in Portland. We are going to see Shovels & Rope, who I have just recently been turned onto; and as the wonderful big sister that I am, I'm footing the whole bill, BUT I'm making her do the driving in Portland (I am a major chicken when it comes to big city driving.) Check them out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8nElVTkXmLo
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Haha, Eph! I feel like a beached whale every time I lay down - at least you were in paradise. I'm just cold, and pale and too tired to get back up. Now I understand them...
Now Elimar's going to do the hammock thing! I think this is the first year that winter has really gotten to me - I need the ocean and the sun and the salt air and the warmth! Next year I'm going to plan ahead and make sure I get somewhere tropical. Right now, it's about 12 degrees colder here in Atlanta than it is in Seattle. It's 18 degrees colder here than Denver! At least they have snow - that's all I ask for when it gets so cold is a little snow to enjoy, but it hardly ever happens. We just get the bone-chilling cold and when the moisture moves in it gets just above freezing. Uh-oh, I think I just made a weather report!
No doubt this summer I'm going to be complaining about how hot it is here. I really annoy myself. Oh well, I amuse myself, too, so I'll just call it even, haha.
I've actually had a pretty productive day. I've been going through closets and my sunroom and I've decided I have so much extra stuff that I'm going to rent a space in a cheap shopping center for about 6 months and sell it. I've tried every other possible method of cleaning out the house - they all have their problems so I may as well give this a try. Where does all this stuff come from? Not me...
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HNS, I've been wanting cinnamon rolls for a while now, so I'll happily make them to bring to the pocket party. Thanks for the excuse
Eph, I love the plan for sis' birthday. Way to go for making new memories!
Eli, thanks for the non-contest win. I have to say I agree
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Mar - I just bought some Cinnabons from my nephew's skating fundraiser. MMMMMMMM they are delish. Had to put half in freezer so DH and I wouldn't gobble them all up in two days.
HNS - cleaning out the closet is something that I definitely have to do. I purge a wee bit at a time, but need to really get in there and do a proper job. And believe it or not - DH's is worse than mine!
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I was thinking of you all when my yoga teacher said while I had my legs up the wall with my butt flat on the floor. To imagine my legs were pressing against the cabana boy's back. To feel those muscles and his shoulder blades! I'm like this is my kind of exercise until I opened my eyes. She always wants me to go to my "special place" when I am relaxing and it is always a tropical beach, so now I have a "special" cabana boy that looks superstitiously like Tim McGraw from the last people magazine.
(can't seem to be able to find the shirtless photo to post here)
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OMG, it's 23 degrees here in Georgia! How do you Northern ladies stand it? I remember someone once said definitely wear long underwear. I feel like I need a pot-bellied stove in my kitchen but that would be useless 9 months out of the year. I also have drafty windows, but that would cost of a fortune to fix. My grandmother used to cover her windows in sheets of plastic every fall - I can't believe that sounds like a good idea to me now!
Oh, y'all are making me hungry with this cinnamon rolls talk. Seems like forever since I've had one of those.... try to save one for me after the pocket party! I have to be there at 2:00 pm and should leave by 5:00 pm and if you gals have eaten them all up I swear I'm going to get on my GPS and find the closest Cinnabon store! I like this behavior/reward system.
Barsco - funny your DH is more of the problem. I'm seeing that in my college-aged son. I try to get rid of some of his old T-shirts and you'd think I was throwing away gold or something. He's the same way with papers - yes, he put a lot of work into these old essays or projects, but you can't keep everything! I'm afraid I have a budding hoarder on my hands.
Eph - I do know that band and in fact have a song by them. I should probably get the whole album. What is the name of your favorite album by them? Listen to me saying album... haha, okay CD...
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Great idea, mac!
I couldn't find shirtless Tim McGraw, either, but how's this?
And this, of course!!
But where are the cabana boys?
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hns-I don't have any albums (or CDs) by Shovels & Rope yet. I just go on to Youtube when I need a fix. I intend to download onto my tablet when I get it working again & I really need to put some new music on my MP3 player. I also think it's imperative I learn how to do that on my own, so my DD doesn't roll her eyes whenever I ask her to do a geek think for me!
Happy Sunday all. Hope it's restful, rejuvinating & peaceful.
E-when do you go cruisin'?
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Hmmm.... I know how mysterious Eli likes to be. Does the page topper and the lack of a post in two days signal that Eli is on her cruise now?
HNS, let's both treat ourselves to a cinnamon roll on Wed, whaddya say?
Had a delightful visit from dd and her fam for breakfast today. I could hold their 4 month son forever! He is the happiest baby ever. I'm a very lucky woman.0
...THANKS FOR ALL THE RADIATION!
I made your favorite ... 
