MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish
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Luvmy, and Eli, I had titers done when I started college (because I didn't know my vax record and had to show proof of either positive titer or vax). The titer was simple blood test and it was not expensive (back then at least).
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Three pages back...amazing how quickly that happens! Just dropping in to say hi to everyone. Life is good in my world, just busy. Our 17-mo old grandson recently decided he likes FaceTime'ing with MomMom almost every night (goes to their iMac and keep chanting MomMom over and over till DD calls us!) It makes my day every single time he does that, but it also is at the exact time that I used to check the Boards!
Shingles - not sure if it's our insurance co or local docs or who exactly, but very strong advertising around here for anyone over 60 who had chicken pox to get the vaccine. I know several people who had Shingles and I will be making an appt to get the vaccine as soon as I hit 60.
Colonoscopy - it's 50 here for that too. My docs have been gently nudging me each time I see them. It is definitely something I intend to do within the next 3 months. There...I put it in writing, so now it's real and I can't back out
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"Regular screening, beginning at age 50, is the key to preventing colorectal cancer.1 The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for colorectal cancer using high-sensitivity fecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy beginning at age 50 years and continuing until age 75 years.1" From Centers of Disease Control.
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I'm still a page behind. Sheesh!
SnS, my ins (Aetna) has been bugging me for colonoscopy since I turned 50 (some years ago), constantly getting reminders. Am told this is the norm for cancer screening, even more so with BC. My bro (53) just found out he has shingles, don't know how that will apply to me.
Elimar, beautiful St Patricks picture.
Turned out to be an insane week last week. Saw my MO Tuesday and didn't get to post a couple of comments. About TM's: he does those routinely (CA 27.29) but he said it's another story about CTC's: he had just returned from a conference about that (he's an MO "expert" on another BC site) and according to him, many of us have them. Now, hoping I can restate accurately what he said. My understanding: however, the problem he said is that they haven't figured out yet (to his satisfaction) which will become problem cancer cells and which will die off or be eliminated from the body before they do damage so he doesn't care to test for that.
So the scan on Wednesday. I vaguely remember years ago that some time prior to procedure, red meat shouldn't be eaten. Wasn't given that direction. Only no raw fruits and veggies, nuts, seeds or pop corn beginning two days prior scoping (so, for me, that's tomorrow). Tuesday is all-clear-liquid diet, no red, purple, or orange liquids.
Momine, since I get various PONV reactions, I get a copy of the anesthesiologists' repts from sx's medical records. Nominal fee. I keep an on-going medical history (sx's, meds I'm on both Rx and OTC and my reactions to anesthesia. I update it before/after each procedure and hand it to the admission nurse so if my Xanax slurs my speech and I'm thinking unclearly, everything is documented. I also have a separate list of questions/concerns/comments for surgeons, anesthesiologists, etc which I hand to the appropriate person. Want nothing left to chance and saves a bunch of grief and time.
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ahhh, 2TA, it's you getting the scope. We've just been yakking about this subject since you brought it up. Good luck with your prep! Yeah, no hard or stringy things to eat.
Also I would stay away from the green beer.
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Mac, am postponing St Pat's celebrations this year till after the procedure. Please have one for me and save me some green beer for afterwards!
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Barbe--many people
in our parent's generation got what is called "subclinical" cases of
chicken pox, meaning they caught chicken pox and had a very, very mild case and
never noticed it at the time, so they have the virus in them, and get surprised
when they get shingles.Your friends
were warned not to get pregnant while he had the shingles becausehis wife was being exposed to the virus,
pregnancy causes the immune system to weaken some (to prevent rejection of the
baby) and if the baby is exposed to the virus during development it may die, or
have serious birth defects.It is mumps
that can cause male infertility when caught as a teen or adult.Elimar--the shingles
vaccine is the same vaccine given to kids to prevent chicken pox, it just has
another name for adults so more adults will accept it.If someone hasn't had chicken pox they can
get the chicken pox vaccine and will also be protected from shingles.The shingles vaccine is more like a chicken
pox booster vaccine than anything else.You probably had a very mild case as a child and it was never picked
up.You can be tested to see if you have
the antibodies, that will determine if insurance will pay for a chicken pox
vaccine or a shingles vaccine.Antibodies present, insurance will cover the shingles vaccine.Antibodies not present, insurance will cover
the chicken pox vaccine.Same vaccine,
just have to have the correct label applied.0 -
All great info Native!!! But, if it's the "same vaccine" then why does it matter how someone tests?
And 2TA, thanks for the CTC update, that too, is why I don't bother getting blood work done for them as they are no indicators of anything at all!
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Barbe, if a titer shows that you have a good amount of antibodies to XYZ already (due to prior infection or vax), then there is no reason to vax.
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Thanks for info, NMainer. One of these days I should check for the titers and guess no longer.
I took your reply to mean that once I get test results, the vaccine can be properly coded to qualify for the insurance pmt.
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Anyone here EP+ but opted out of taking tamoxifen? During this past year's journey I have followed my gut on my choices and am at peace with each of them thus far. I can't help but feel taking this pill for 5 years is not worth the benefit...
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Barbe--if it's the
same vaccine how does it matter how someone tests?Medically, it doesn't.BUT, insurance won't cover the chicken pox
vaccine for someone who has antibiodies, but will pay for the shingles
vaccine.It's a word game with the
insurance companies.Elimar--EXACTLY!
Johnetta--talk to
your onc about the benefits of tamoxifen for you.There are sites the docs use to show how much
possible benefit there is from each kind of treatment in various situations.
Your gut feelings are important, too, though so pay attention to them.Keep in mind that many woman have no side
effects, and you can stop taking the med at any time, so your choices are more
than just 5 years or no years.0 -
Johnetta, with stage 3 cancer, I am not skipping anything
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Johnetta, if you had an Oncotype test taken, remember that the results are based on you taking Tamox for 5 years. If you don't, then the test was useless. I am ER+ and don't take anything - I just use common sense to not add any extras to my ER load - no soy, edamame, etc.
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Johnetta, I agree with NMainer, that you and your doc should go over the benefits for you personally. The rule of thumb is that if the treatment provides 5% or greater odds against recurrence then the benefits are greater than the risk of some of the bad SEs Tamox. can cause. I, too, wanted to get out of Tamoxifen, but the fact is that it has been tried and true for reducing mortality for over 30 years. When I was on the fence about it, I decided to try it knowing that I could stop at anytime if it made me feel horrible. I took it for 3 years (then had to stop to undergo treatment for another cancer, not BC.) I have decided not to do additional years of it.
Did you have the Oncotype test done? I am curious because you did some chemo generally thought to be nasty, so how was it decided that you would do that? With ER+ BC, Tamox can be as great a tool as chemo, or greater in some cases if your tumor had a high percentage of hormone responsiveness. Please have the discussion with your doc. so your decision can be an informed one.
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I have been reading along.....I have taken Tamoxifen for a year with mostly mild hot flashes as an SE. I have no uterus to worry about. My MO says the Tamoxifen or AI is the most impt. treatment for my cancer. I would be on an AI if my bones were stronger, especially since I have lobular bc. I'll switch to it eventually. I'm throwing everything at this f$cker, excuse my language!
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(She posted on another thread, but looks in here all the time, so...)
MinusTwo,
Congrats on making it all the way through rads (tomorrow.) You are almost there. You did it!!!!
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Thanks Eli - and all of you for the thoughts & feelings & advice that you share every day.
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I know that because I haven't had any chemo or AI that my first line of defense if I recur will be Tamoxifen or Aromasin. That does not necessarily mean that I wouldn't have recurred, it just means those drugs are that effective.
One of my customers years ago had breast cancer. She told me that she took (I'll assume Tamoxifen) so she wouldn't recur. I asked her why we ALL didn't take Tamoxifen so we didn't get it in the first place! It stumped her. She wasn't offended, either.
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Tamoxifen is taken by some BRCA mutation positive women to prevent breast cancer.
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Wow!! It's about time they got pro-active instead of re-active! Good to hear that Native, my comment was made about 10 years ago.
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Ladies, thank you for all your encouragement for my colonoscopy! It's done! Yes, the prep was worse than the procedure itself but for me, the worst is always the IV. Sorry very low tolerance for pain and I become a pin-cushion. They gave me a shot of lidocaine (they said), did nothing. Fought the 2 nurses, even a hot towel didn't work. DH wasn't helpful, not understanding, tried bullying me into it so I told him to leave. Finally, a shot of versed did the trick. It could have all been avoided with what I was told is a J-pen (apparently that's not the name). Vaguely remember being wheeled into the procedure room, then back to pre-op/recovery area. Heard them talking, couldn't respond, difficult to wake me up. Slept while DH drove me home, then all afternoon. Still feel numb, but it's done! Thanks for the pep talk!
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awww, 2nd, sorry that they hurt you, but glad that you are done.... i say, when is your DH's colonoscopy gonna happen? maybe he will understand then! we gotta love our men, but boy can they be babies when They don't feel good... good for you for sending him out of the room. Sheesh! now, go and get some ice cream in there, good for scrapes!
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Glad our PREP talk worked! hehehehehe
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2TA, You have failed to mention if you got on the "all clear" 10-year program. You seem happy enough now, so I am guessing there was nothing to worry about.
Congrats?
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thanks, all!
Kath, both DH and DD had their colonoscopies years ago. I'm the hold-out. It wasn't the procedure but the IV that bothered me.
Elimar, what I haven't said is they removed a small polyp. Was told prior they send everything out for path review. Plus, took samples from endoscopy (have frequent terrible heartburn). So, we will find out next week
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Good riddance to bad polyps. I just say "bad" because, really, can you call any of them "good" if they have no business being there? 2TA, I think that will probably put you in the 5-year club. I had a single 3mm one removed, got the 5-year spiel; but that was before all my real trouble began.
Hey, you will all like to know that I am almost back to what you could call old normal. I can't eat anything I want anymore!!! Guess I have recovered from most of my chemo damage and don't need to rebuild my body anymore. I've gained back 10 lbs. (out of almost 20 lost) and from here on in, it's just going to be belly fat, so I am trying not to shovel in quite as much as I had been doing.
Bathroom habits are a bit different now, but nothing horrendous (won't go TMI here) and if I did not have persistent foot neuropathy (6 mos. now) then I would just about be where I want to be. Stupid darn feet.
Oh yeah, my MO office called to schedule my CT, I told the scheduler I felt like waiting until May. She called the next day and said that the MO wanted it in March (a 6 mo. interval.) I said, I know that, but I also have a surgeon that would be fine if I only got CT yearly, so in the spirit of compromise I had decided on May (8 mo. interval.) Of course, I told everyone here that I was planning to do that. Now I did it. Good follow through, eh?
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Am I just weird, or why do I love this stuff?
Hitting the Nail on the Head:Clues to Systemic DiseaseI was being rhetorical. Don't answer that.
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