MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish
Comments
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mac - lol - I love the crown for a week idea. Too funny! I've never been one to worry too much about getting older. As long as I was healthy and happy I was good with birthdays. However, as of late, birthdays are definitely cause for celebration!
Love getting pedis - or even just having my feet massaged......ahhhhhhhh.
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Happy birthday month Barsco, we'll start now and keep going for a month! I have a couple problem toenails that I don't want to deal with so I go for pedis all the time. Have a wonderful woman who takes the necessary time with those nails. My fav part is the massage too...sometimes I opt for the hot stone leg massage. So worth the extra 3 or 4 bucks. Think I'll get that when I get my next pedi!
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Marl, don't the hot stones set off the hot flashes? I'm always pretending to read a magazine, but really using it as a fan.
So a month of celebrating, we can really get creative with the snacks and entertainment!
Hmmm gonna take some time to think about this.0 -
we'll start with the crown!
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Lets have a huge party my birthday is in October too, but I'll be 2 years past 50....0 -
Mac, I have found it blissfully ironic in the last 8 yrs that any time i've had heat applied to me via stones or towels or blankets, that somehow it doesn't bother me. It's like karma's way of saying...ok....you do this and I'll do that!
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Dianarose--talk to your onc, that much upset needs to be attended to. Maybe taking it every other day for a while? Or an anti-depressant to blunt the highs and lows to something closer to normal?
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Hello to all, I was here for awhile late winter, and I check in now and then. Just caught up on 20 pps of messages (!) and want to jump in again.
Barsco, Happy birthday to you!I am amazed that you were holding down full time work, and so glad you are taking a break. Stamina is up and down for me, and I fantasize about leaving the stress of work behind, at times. I also don't want to gear down before I "have" to, whatever that means. My wish is that with some breaks and flexibility, all of us can have the structure and income from work, and a bit less of the pressure and stress.
Eli, you are a trooper! I do so get the need to assess for oneself just what kind of trade off is doable with nasty treatment regimens. We are operating with such uncertainty, and yet our lives are at stake. For what it's worth, I think you have struck a wholesome balance between accepting the protocol and really watching what happens with your body as a result.
DianaRose, I stand in awe! I hope to someday stand in LINE and get a cup of coffee and a bite, being in the same state and all. Your goal directed energy is inspiring. I am relating to your meds issues, I tried Arimidex for three weeks and grew frighteningly depressed. The Onc was kind, and immediately said to try Tamoxifen. Several friends used tamoxifen without problems, but my first day on it I was so sick, I really couldn't tell if it was a virus or food poisoning or the medication. I hesitate to try it again, maybe when I feel like myself again. Dish rag city today.
Eph, about that Mr Clean.... I think he's been photoshopped for the year 2013. He looks pretty fine for a guy in his 70's!
Anyway, I am feeling much gratitude for everyone here who pitches in. It's a weird place to be, living with cancer dx's and treatments. You all make the backpack a little lighter. Big hugs, Mame0 -
Eli, come out come out wherever you are! How was your visit with bff? What did you decide?
Loving day two of my mini vaca here at Hideaway Beach. Sunny,warm, very breezy at the bay earlier. Having crabs for dinner...what more could a girl want? The fact that we took Tues off, that's what! Love these long weekends, making for short work weeks. We'll take Mondays in Sept too. That first 5 day week in Oct is going to suck big time. Not going to think about thatyet though
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Hope everyone is having a good weekend. Marlegal, sounds like yours is just right! Barsco, I love the idea of a BBQ for a birthday party - so casual and relaxed. I hope you had a great time and I wish you a peaceful and happy birthday!
Eph - haha, yes I think Mr. Clean is sexy. I did even when I was a warped teenager! And don't forget the Bounty lumberjack!
I just started reading "The Emperor of All Maladies" about cancer. It is huge, but excellent. However, for now I think I'm going to regress back to my high school days and skip to the breast cancer part.
Mame, I agree with you. These boards make our burden so much lighter. I often think about how difficult it must have been for women in our parents' suburban neighborhoods, not even aware that someone down the street had breast cancer, too. I read something in the book about a woman in the 1950's who had called the NY Times and asked about placing an announcement for breast cancer survivors to meet up. The editor said she was sorry, but they can't mention the words "breast" or "cancer" in the paper, but perhaps she could call it a group for people who had diseases of the chest wall...
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It's been a while for me.......
I know I've missed some PP's, very sorry. Please know that I am always there in spirit. Always.
Not much to say right now.
Just wanted to let everyone know I think of you often.
hugs
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We've missed you too Val. Hope things are okay hon. Hugs and love.
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Have a great one........
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Hello everyone been lurking but not a lot of posting,good to hear from you Valjean, hope you are well. Hope everyone is doing well, been a long summer lots of tests procedures and biopsies but now that all is done, I remain cancer free, yea! They really suspected uterine cancer, they did find a large 2" polyp but it was benign!! Checking blood to see is I can switch to Arimidex (spelling?) Has anyone here switched from Tamox to arimedex and if so any changes to expect? I am off all righ now and sleeping better so do NOT look forward to starting again but oh well. Hope everyone has a great weekend, we are BBQing, cannng, and relaxing.
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Mame and Val - good to "see" you both again.
carollyn - glad to hear that all of your tests etc are over and done with and that you have the all clear! Woohoo!
marlegal - sounds like you are not having any issues relaxing and enjoying your vacay - extra long weekends are the "bomb"
Thanks all for the pre-birthday wishes. I have had a terrific, wonderful, busy weekend! The bbq was so much fun. Just great to be able to get so many of my family and friends together to let them know how much I love and appreciate each and every one of them. The weather cooperated and we had a beautiful sunny day for our get together. Ended Sunday evening with a trip to the beach for some live entertainment at the bandshell and a fantastic fireworks display. Life is good!
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Barsco, I'm so glad you enjoyed the day. That sounds like a pretty perfect time to me too.
Carolyn, I went from Tamox to Aromasin once I was post-menopausal. I had way fewer se's on the Aromasin but I know others who did fine on Tamox. Another area where some react differently than others.
Still waiting for a check-in from our girl Eli. Hope she's enjoying the visit with her bff.0 -
Marlegal Thanks, hope I have less SE's too!
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Here I am, back again. My whole road trip was a smashing success. Here is the breakdown version:
The good: Visiting with my DH's side of the family whom I have not seen for about over a decade. Visiting with my bff (has also been about 10 years since I saw her last) and our husbands & kids hit it off nicely too.
The bad: My son's college apt. is not the greatest, but I think that you just take anything the first year and then have a year to find a NICE place to move into after that. Also, I miss him already.
The ugly: The driving in NYC/NJ areas and then the Boston area. It took 40 min. to go one mile on the Mass Pike. Why? Because it was move in day for all the colleges in the Boston area. Every second car had a mattress on top. Just a nightmare! Report from son is that traffic is down to normal proportions now.
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I did give my chemotherapy a lot of thought during my travels and my bff said she would take the final two chemo rounds. My in-laws were a little horrified that I would consider skipping the last two treatments but, guess what? Mentally, I am DONE. I am ready to move on to my "reversal" surgery to reconnect the plumbing. I just truly feel that if I do get recurrence, then I probably was in the 20% group that would have recurrence no matter what and I would not feel like, "Guess those last two rounds were the deal breaker." but more like, "Those first ten rounds were a lot o' poison for nuthin'." So, I'll break that news to the MO staff next Mon. Then should come a CT for a look see before my surgeon can bring my franken-colon back to life.
Happy to see that the discourse has gone on nicely while I was away, but sorry to hear that you are suffering with the Arimidex, Dianarose. The docs must help you in bringing those S/E's under control because you cannot endure that indefinitely. Yes, you might settle into it over time, but maybe they can offer help to get through the first few hellish months so DO give them feedback of your misery.
Lots of vacaction return stuff to do, so I'm off again.
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Eli - welcome back! Glad you had great visits with family and friends. Lots of catching up to do after 10 yrs. A bittersweet time for you having your DS going off to school. We are so proud to see our kids grow and become independent, but it's ohhhhh so hard to let them go.
I am happy for you that you have come to a decision about chemo. You have obviously thought long and hard about it. Wishing you good luck as you move forward.
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Eli, welcome back...you were definitely missed
We might pretend to stumble along okay without you, but it's a struggle! I am so glad you made your decision and enjoyed your time with your bff. I hope you adjust to son's absence without too much pain. Onward and upward with taking charge of your body again, as much as you can anyway.
Diana, I hope you got a little break over the holiday weekend to charge your batteries, and that your side effects are lessening one way or the other.
Going for my annual bloodwork and chest xray this week. I don't need a pocket party for either, but some happy thoughts for boring results wouldn't be turned down0 -
E~ Welcome back! Time to move forward - no looking back, right?
marlegal ~ Happy thoughts on the way. hugs!
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marlegal - sending you happy thoughts
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Hi ladies August went by to fast hope every one had a great Labor day weekend! I went to my daughters and cooked out and had a good time now it is back to work ugh! Oh well have to make the money lol the weekend is almost here again We have a huge craft fair here this weekend I will be going to see what is there.
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Marlegal- more happy thoughts
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Thanks buds. So I decided I'd go for the chest xray today. Except...I apparently lost the scrip with that and the bloodwork on it! Luckily I did hunt for it before leaving my office so I knew it was missing (as opposed to not finding out till I was at the hosp!) I see doc the 25th so I'll just wait till then and get new scrips. I'll hold onto all those sweet good wishes and happy thoughts, I promise
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Marlegal.....
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When it comes to scans, the more boring the better. Best of Luck on yours, marlegal!
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In the chaos of my travels, I forgot to memorialize our good friend Marybe who passed one year ago on the 4th. Just sitting at the computer, it sometimes feeels like she is still out there "lurking" this thread and just not posting. What I liked about her was that she hardly ever let cancer run her life AND she was never "stageist" in her comments to the early stages. I do miss her.
I put these balloons up to remember because she had them released by family and friends at her memorial last year. Also, have to point out to the newer Middies that the little cookie icon up at the top/opening post is symbolic for her and her baking mania. :-)
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Speaking of forgetful, I don't think I even commemorated the 4th Year of this thread, which began on Aug 22. Four years and still rolling on. I like when Middies who have moved on stop back in just to give an update and say hello. That is most encouraging that moving on is possible...someting that seems so impossible in that first year of Dx. By all means get back to doing what you were doing before cancer reared it's ugly head, even at Stage IV, if you can. It is so worth it.
Another reflections I have is that in my first year or two, I was not too interested to meet others IRL. It seemed like it would be too much cancer concentrated in one location! But now, I have met a few BCO ladies and it is a nice experience that I hope to continue.
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Eli - a year gone by since Marybe's passing. Seems like she was here just yesterday chatting with all of us. I was lucky enough to actually be a recipient of some of Marybe's cookies when she mailed them out to a few of us. What a treat!
Congrats on 4 years of the Middies thread! I have yet to meet anyone from bco, but I am hoping to change that at some point.
Hope everyone has enjoyed their weekend. I had a fantastic girls weekend with all but one of my sisters. We had a blast! I can honestly say that they are not only my sisters, but my best friends also.
Going for routine CT tomorrow morning. No need for PP - but could sure use lots of positive vibes sent my way.
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Have a great one........
Marlegal.....