Any 40-ish survivors?
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Hi Ladies. Well I had a mammogram for my 40th bday after finding a lump. Started out heading to surgery at stage 0-1 and ended up out of surgery 3c. Bummer!! I am beginning my 2nd year out of active treatment and am hoping to get through the 2nd and 3rd years without incident. I understand these are the years where reoccurence is most likely to occur. I am gearing up for turkey day as I love to eat. Usually I have a nice wine buzz on by dinner BUT something in my body seems to be rejecting the alcohol and I get sick so I will be drinking tea and grazing all day. I will not be shopping on black friday, never have because I am usually nursing a hangover. LOL... This year instead of a hangover I am picking up my newest family member, Tango AKA Lord of the Dance. He is a gorgeous national show horse and I can't wait to get him. It's supposed to rain here in Ohio but only 40% so I am hoping that I can get him during the 60% of no rain. I hope all of you have a wonderful turkey day!!
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Cheryl-congrats on the newest member of your family:) sounds beautiful! Hope the weather holds out for you:)
Hope everyone else had a very Happy Thsnksgiving:)0 -
Surgery Monday and still on my list to set up a new email account and join Facebook while I am recovering. Can't keep up here though, so I'm sure I can not keep up on Facebook, esp. since social media is blocked from our work computers (so I can't even check during lunch) and I don't have a smart phone...
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Look forward to seeing you on FB ReadingMama! I don't have access to FB at work either so I do all my catching up after work. Someday I just might break down at get a smart phone but right now I am too cheap!
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Look forward to seeing you on FB ReadingMama! I don't have access to FB at work either so I do all my catching up after work. Someday I just might break down at get a smart phone but right now I am too cheap!
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Hi Ladies,
I'm 42 without kids......waiting to meet my prince charming. I was diagnosed at the end of September and had a BMX with TE placement. I am waiting on oncotype score to determine next phase of treatment. Chemo or no chemo....but, def. 5 yrs of tamoxofen. I would love to be part of this group or the FB group.
Namaste'
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Hi gals, I just found this group. I am 47 and just 6 weeks out from my BMX and TE's. Oncotype was 8 so fortunately no chemo for m. Started Tamoxifen 10/31 and so far no SE's on that. Look forward to joining the FB group too. -Aimee
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Welcome!!
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Welcome!!!!
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Sorry you have to join us but welcome to the group...
Namaste!
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Hi all, I am 39 and have two little boys ages 4 and 10 months. I start chemo in 2 weeks and nervous about the unknown especially when it comes to my boys. I have a great supportive husband fortunately! I also work full time.
Jennifer we have a similar diagnosis. What made you choose TCH versus AC-TH? I know about the heart issues any other reason? Also curious about your choice of BMX. I had a lumpectomy and now wondering if that was the right decision.
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jkeller... I chose TC instead of ACT (no H for me) because of the heart thing, and Taxotere is prven to be very successful, but ACT is the strongest you can get... so it depends.
As for lumpectomy v MX, I originally had a lumpectomy, then started chemo. I had time to think and research. In the end, I decided to have a BMX which also meant I didn't need radiation. I have a laundry list of reasons I chose this route, but have no regrets. I actually travelled to New Orleans from NJ to have it done because I wanted to have a DIEP flap and the doctors in NOLA are the best at the flap.
Theoretically, I am no longer 40ish as I had my 50th b-day this past Friday. But I am still here anyway!
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Hey ladies and happy belated birthday Betsy! You are awesome and will rock 50.
Just wanted to let you know that I invited jkeller3 to join us over here because we all know what she's dealing with and I know you fantastic ladies can help her with her questions and support and welcome her the way you did me.
Glad to see you here jkeller3 and happy to help any way I can. I know you're nervous but it will be better once you're in the groove and in treatment and working towards a goal. It's hard to wait.
Hope you keep checking in with us!
Jennie0 -
Hi Jkeller, It all seems overwhelming in the beginning. Just focus on today and what you need to do and deal with now. It is easier to deal with the what-ifs when you realize that things are okay as you go through treatment. Know that there are others here who don't judge, so feel free to share your concerns and joys on this journey.
Jen, hope you are feeling better today.
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Hi to all you gals, I have not been on in a long time!! Happy birthday again Betsy!! I think you will always belong to the group.. We will need to start a thread to celebrate the 40 somethings 50ish thread ( I am not far behind you!!) So happy you enjoyed your birthday. I heard in the FB group there are some gals posting here and I just wanted to say....it was so scary at the beginning...but I found treatment to be not too bad at all. I had three FEC then 3- Taxotere then 28 rads. I think everyone is so different as far as how they feel after infusion, but for me it was really not bad. Just wanted to send some happiness to you all..I guess now being on the other side I feel you need to know it is not so bad, and the light at the end of the tunnel is very bright!!
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Welcome Jkeller!
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Hey, hey JK!
So, I work full-time. My son was 4 and a half when I was dx'd. I'm also Her2+. I did a BMX, but honestly, I probably didn't need to. I was just at my wits end when it was time for that decision. Everything in the literature says that lumpectomy or mastectomy, it doesn't affect survival rates.
In March it will be 2 years since my dx. In November I finished my year of Herceptin (that part was total cake). My chemo was a clinical trial, so it was different than most. Where are you? Hope to see you over on FB. Seriously, these women are the BEST. We keep each other going, and laughing, and sometimes even yelling "balls" at the top of our lungs.
Oh, one last thing for now...don't be a hero...a little something to help you sleep isn't crazy. I took some Klonopin as needed to sleep at the beginning...my hubby worked at night, and I didn't want anything to zonk me out so I couldn't awaken if my son needed me. It didn't ZONK me, but it slowed my brain from jumping all over the place, thinking of death, all sorts of nuttiness. Truly, it was a lifesaver at the time. (I still have most of the bottle too)
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Also, I need a new pic on here with my curly hair!
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Hi Jkeller, and all the others I've missed. I've been away from the boards for a while, but I'm going to check in to this thread.
Jkeller, I had a lumpectomy as well, had chemo first to shrink it, had A LOT of time to think about it....it felt right for me. I work full time, through treatment too, I don't know what you do, but my brain was fuzzy quite a bit. Working with numbers was a challange. I had to always double check my double check.
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Hi Jkeller welcome to the group
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Welcome to Jkeller - I haven't been on here in a really long time, but used to just about live on this thread in particular. I'm also not very familiar with some of the newer members to this group, but am one of the original members of the group that moved to Facebook.
Come here for support, but only if it makes you feel better, not more confused. I am triple positive and have six kids. A little over 2 years since diagnosis and I was 43. I was very open with my kids and told them what I knew about diagnosis, treatment, etc. I had one treatment of TCH then switched to AC plus Herceptin after an allergic reaction to TCH. I had a few heart issues during treatment, but all have subsided at this point. It probably has all of this on my status, but can't remember if they list all of that or not. Also had radiation, 17 Herceptin infusions, was on Tamoxifen but now on Arimidex.
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Kiwi... In a week I will be having my stage IIb from DIEP... You will do great!
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Hey Jackie! I sent you a friend request on Facebook so I can add you to the group
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I woke up in a surgical bra, no bandages. I was to wear the surgical bra was 2 weeks straight, then I could wear anything except an underwire. I did switch to underwire sometime later but I can't remember when.
Over here, stage I is just about moving the donor flap. Depending on the surgeon, lifting the contralateral side is sometimes done during stage II, but could be done at stage I. Stage II also includes: scar revision, shaping, breaking up necrosis, nipple, lipo, fat grafting... I had GAP and DIEP flaps so I also had a butt lift at stage II.
This next stage II (next week) I am getting a baby flap (from my armpit/lat fat) to replace necrostic tissue. I am also getting another butt lift, lipo, fat grafting and a little re-shaping of the other non-necortic breast.
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Good luck ... Mine is Wednesday.
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I'll be thinking of you. One day before mine. Good luck to you too!
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Welcome Jkeller
It may seem overwhelming now but it will get better and we are here for you the entire way!
kiwimum, love the new pic. Wishing you and Betsy the best with your surgeries this week..
Hey there and hugs to everyone!0 -
Odie... Just saw this... Thanks-
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HI I am happy to find this group in my age group. I was dx first time at age 40, which was a lumpectomy and radiation. After a reg mammo in dec 2012, i had a biopsy that said Its baaaack. Both were dcis, but came back in less than 3 years, so i am not so sure about that mx vs. lump/rads being equal. I do not fit any groups ,family,lifestyle etc. (except i did have my kiddos as an older mommy) My boys are 8 and 4 and are the sweetest things in my life, oh and a pretty darn good hub that has been supporting me too! My nipple sparing BMX was Feb 28 and I have TE's in and the pain is improving each day. I am so ready for a fill, so i can stop looking at my granny boobs. my boobs were huge before so i have lots of skin that needs filled up. I make lots of jokes about all the crap i've gone through, guess some people expect me to be more serious abou the nature of BC, but we all deal with things our own way. I do not want to feel like a victim, but a triumpant gladiator that stomped the BC into the dirt.
Nancy Lamb
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Welcome Nancy, and you are a warrior!!!
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