MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish
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Marilyn, a lot of women do quit. Often they do not tell their doctors, so it may be a bit hard to get accurate stats. However, it obviously depends on your stage etc. If you go to cancer math, you can plug your info into the treatment calculator and check what the difference is with and without the AI. If your QOL is severely affected and the advantage is slight anyway, if may well make sense for you to quit. Have you discussed it with your onc at all?
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ulurudog, welcome! Since you haven't filled in your Dx information yet, I'm not sure how long you have been on the AIs or how aggressive your cancer is, so I can't comment specifically. I will say that ALL the treatments carry the risk vs. benefit factor. If we get the honest info. on that, and know what quality of life we are seeking, we can make the best decisions for ourselves. Look in the forum "Hormonals--Before, During and After" and you should find some ladies like yourself who have come off the AIs due to the side effects.
mar, Sorry to hear your niece has had to join our ranks. Did she have any in her nodes? How is she doing on the chemo? At that age, does that mean she might show up on this thread one of these days?
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marlegal - sorry that your niece is having to deal with all of the crap that goes with this crummy disease. Glad that she has you for support and that you have directed her to bco.
Hello to SchoolC and ulurudog - lots of women here to support, encourage and advise.
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Marlegal, I was told I was young at 41 to get 1st bc DX and have been told that several times since
Elimar, great thread header!
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45 and under is considered young.
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I was 47 and peri-menopausal, the first time my onc and breast surgeon said "your young" I asked them if they had the right chart.
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Hey, I'll take young any day! Went to the movies last weekend, guy selling tickets asked if I wanted a senior one. Huh? Before I told him, NOT, I took the discounted ticket along with my bruised ego!
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LOL trouble!!!!!
I'm sorry 2nd!
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thanks, School Counselor, after I got over the sting, I saved a dollar!
What's even more confusing, I had a facial a month or so ago, and the aesthetician said I looked 45. Hard to believe I aged that quickly.
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See, like it or not, this so called "middle age" label actually fits. When they call us young, we laugh or are a little dumbstruck; but not fair to call us old either. Most of us ('cept you 2TA cannot) get the senior discount yet.
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I've been wanting to share an interesting website. Read the "About" section, then open up the "Lists" segment and read what you might be interested in.
The idea is supposed to be to provide info. that can raise talking points between patient and doctor.
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Elimar..thanks for the link, good site.
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I was diagnosed at age 44 and my surgeon kept saying I would most likely have chemo as he said the oncologist would throw the book at me because of my age. I really think he may have as the oncologist- first time I met him- was telling me about what chemo I would have and wanted me to be in a clinical trial- so I asked about the Onco DX test and he said- OH U want that? I said yes.
It came back with a score of 18 so he said your fine - no chemo- her is a prescription for Tamoxifen and basically left.
I have since changed oncologists for a 2nd opinion and he also says I do not need chemo. Which really put me at ease.
I am so happy for the Oncho test!!!!!!!!!!!!
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thanks Eli. Nodes clean thank God. I think she is more of an information gatherer than a poster at this point.
Ulur, how long have you been on AI's? Have tou tried more than one?
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ndgrrl, Well, you bring up an interesting point...whether the Onco trumps age in the chemo decision, or vice versa. In your case, the doc did defer to your (borderline intermediate) Onco score, and does not seem to have made any special dispensation for your "young" age.
But then, I think of what SchoolC wrote, that the study group for Onco scoring was predominantly older, so do the scores translate down to the younger women as accurately or not? Tricky, tricky.
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I had a 2nd opinion just to make sure that I didn't for sure need chemo. I swear its all a big guessing game at times.
Right now the new oncologist asked me to find out what type of stomach cancer my older sister passed away from at age 44. he said there is a genetic link between some stomach cancers and some breast cancers so I was able to get her records- sent them to him and he called me into his office to tell me she had the type that is genetically linked to breast cancer- So now I am required to have further genetic tests- I already had the Braca tests done which I am negative but this is additional quite new testing-- If I am positive for that gene I will be watched very closely for not only stomach cancer but other cancers as well- its all SCAREY!!!
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ndgrrl, Let us know how the test turns out for you. I didn't know of a link between some B/C and some stomach cancers. Looks like B/C could turn out more genetic all the time (as discoveries keep being made.)
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eli and ndgirl, the geneticist told me that would save my blood and test as more tests came up. I hear this is the future of cancer tx, don't even call it a "kind" of cancer just treat it genetically. We are all helping the research. (yay!?)
I am beat! Today was the reopening of the shop. Everything hurts, hands, feet, my fingernails are dirty and I smell like machine thinner. We only had one customer, but it was raining hard most of the day. There is plenty of work to do, getting the machines working smoothly, organizing and cleaning. I got the credit card processor set up and my desk area more organized. I am going to have to schedule in a nap tomorrow.
Everyone is excited, except for me I think I might be crazy.
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ndgrrl, sometimes I think it's scarier when we DON'T know. At least this way, they'll be keeping on top of things, and hopefully, you'll be fine each time! I love hearing, "You're fine for another 6 months/year"
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I was recruited years ago as part of the Nurses Health Study. Somewhere my blood (or parts of it) is banked as part of that study. When I filled out the last year's survey was notified they may ask for a records release for the BC. Hope that my contribution will help somehow.
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ndgrrl.. the link is to due with loss of e-cadherin expression. This is specific to lobular breast cancer. There is a gene that can be responsible and it causes a rare stomach cancer, that is diffuse stomach cancer. I have lobular and my grandmother had stomach cancer and breast cancer.. the genetic counsellor said that if i had that gene defect we would be seeing alot more stomach cancer in my family.
its really good they are being careful though..
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Rdrunner-were you ever tested for the genetic link?
My sister did have diffuse stomach cancer diagnosed at age 41 and she passed 6 days after her 44th Bday. My grandfather also had stomach cancer and one of his daughters and possibly two had lobular breast cancer. I age 44 myself along with a 45 yr old cousin, a 33 yr old niece and my 60 yr old sister were all diagnosed with ductal breast cancer this past year.
Even though I have ductal breast cancer he feels I should be tested anyway. I got an appointment on January 23rd. The genetic councellor was going to consult with the Mayo Clinic in Rodchester MN to see what all had to be done as its something they have not done at the Cancer Center I go to prior. Will be seeing what my insurance says about the whole thing.
Waiting is so hard, and its really scary!!
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Welcome, Rdrunner! That is interesting to know about the ILC connection. I am following ndgrrl's story and I really am in suspense now about her test results since she had IDC. For that reason, I hope her results prove negative. Then again, many of with a family history could have come genetic component that they just haven't discovered yet.
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It's so good to have this vehicle of sharing info. I know that personally I've learned more from my sistas here than anywhere else/ other sources of information. I'm so grateful for everyone who shares their stories.
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Hello everyone, I have missed you all. Things have been crazy for months. I go on and read sometimes, but either I am so tired I go to bed or not home long enough to wrote anything. I am not sure if I posted after I got my nips tattooed or not. They came out amazing. 3-d and they look so real. I feel like a girl again. Back in November future hubby got very ill. He had a very high fever and passed out on me. He spent that week in the hospital. They even brought in the CDC and they never did figure out what he had only what he didn't have. We have been making all the arrangements for the wedding. It started out small but now is turning out to be big. I love my dress. It makes me feel like a princess. The wedding is February 16th, so it is getting close.
We went to NC to see my daughter for a week.it was great. I am going to send this post and continue with another one. Last time I lost everything I typed.
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ok' I had to take some clothing off as well. These dam hot flashes are doing me in.
My sweet daughter arranged a private horse drawn carriage ride in historic Wilmington on New Year's Eve. It was romantic and beautiful.
I have the shop up for sale. We want to do some traveling and I am just plain tired. Doc did the A13 test and it was high so she has doubled my Metformin. It does a number on my stomach.
Welcome to all you new ladies and sorry to see you are here..
Hope everyone is doing well. Going to PA this weekend to meet Paul's family. Will try to catch up on all the posts when I get back. Love ya ladies
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Well, hello, Dianarose! Can we all be virtual bridesmaids?
Although I am sorry to hear that the Queen Of Tarts has closed its doors, I am so very happy to hear that you and soon to be husband have plans to travel and just enjoy each other, without any exhausting work taking away from that. We have missed you here.
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Diana, I echo Eli's comments.
Where in PA will you be???
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Hi, Just noticed this forum. I am 59 diagnosed after abnormal annual mammogram in 3 months ago; its was stage 1 , grade 2 and no palpable nodes and RI negative for other lesions so I went for "breast conserving" lumpectomy. However now I am second guessing myself. I am in 2nd week of rads with a very insensitive RO.... worried about radiation on my upper arm muscle and axilla( nodes were negative) but RO says that's unavoidable to get in the breast tissue close to underarm and so that extra area is like collateral damage as is part of my lung and rib cage which are exposed to "scatter" . I have read in other boards and articles in med literature about late occurring side effects on arm/shoulder range and strength and I am scared because I am right handed/Rt arm dominant. and because I am an active kayaker and rower ( before my diagnosis anyway). He said there's no guarantees but he hasn't seen any. He also says if I am unhappy with the results on my breast, "you can always still get a mastectomy"..... yet the plastics doc told me that basically he has very few cosmetically equivalent options to reconstruct irradiated tissue...
I am so scared and confused.
Has anyone with prior rads years ago have any experience to share?
Thanks
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desalonde, welcome...glad you found this thread. Now - exhale! While we're all different, I had rads on my dominant right side, including axilla area, and I have full use/range, etc. Good luck hon.
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Hi
My younger sister was Dx with DCIS in 2008. Sister carries a Ovarian CA gene and has had precancerous polyps removed from her colon.
2009 I was Dx with invasive DC. In 2013 Dec. BC is back but I'm Her 2 now.
My grandmother had stomach CA.
Im Braca negative.
My doctor has asked if I've had the BART test.
I'm not sure if I should get rid of ovaries now they have been shut down due to the fact I was unable metabolize Tamoxifen.
Anyways it makes me feel unless there is a way to switch off DNA defects. Chemo will be my best friend. Thinking of my grandchildren which I do not have yet. Trying to stay positive
Spinning my wheels. 0
