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Ladies in their 40s

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Comments

  • momwriter
    momwriter Member Posts: 276
    edited November 2014

    Hi LauraW68,

    What a wonderful brood you have surrounding you! I just wanted to say that 2 years ago December I started my 4 rounds of AC and then was followed by 12 weeks taxol. I did fairly well. For AC, I found that the first couple days were fine because of steroids, then some lower days, but the second week I felt pretty normal. Things that helped the most-- keep very hydrated especially day before of and after tx, take ginger capsules for nausea- really helped me not have to take too many prescription pills- also, rinse my mouth a few times a day with a water/baking soda/salt- kept those mouth sores away. (I kept a pitcher in the bathroom and did it around brushing my teeth). I also did acupuncture through a local cancer center. I had a pretty good appetite and took lots of 3 mile walks - but also rested. Hope you can do that with your 6 around! My kids were great because it kept my life normal- taking them to soccer games etc. And DH was fab as well. Taxol wasn't so bad- i weaned myself off benadryl so didn't have to have that drowsy effect- by end I was tired with sore joints and my skin was unhappy. But then I was done. And you will be too. It's a marathon not a sprint. Big Hugs!



  • LauraW68
    LauraW68 Member Posts: 15
    edited November 2014

    Thanks for the encouragement and the tips!


  • oceangirl654
    oceangirl654 Member Posts: 59
    edited December 2014

    Hi Kiwilady, Your diagnosis looks similar to mine. I am 40. Why did you have to have chemotherapy? Thanks for letting me know!

  • roareus
    roareus Member Posts: 68
    edited January 2015

    Hello-

    I hope everyone is doing well. I haven't been on this site for awhile but wanted to ask everyone's opinion about the new data that came out about ovarian suppression along with aramatase inhibitors/tamoxifen reducing recurrence rates. Has anyone's MO talked to them about this? If so, what did they say. Also, has everyone gotten their estrogen level checked? Mine is 514. I know it's high.... Not sure what to do...

  • ndgrrl
    ndgrrl Member Posts: 645
    edited January 2015

    Hi Roar, I have asked my Onchologists 2 now if I should have my overies  out along with taking my Tamoxifen and I was told by both of them that if I had tested positive for the BRACA tests then I would need them removed. I myself didn't understand that and still do not understand it. I was also told that fat creates estrogen and that losing weight would help. So I have lost 38 pounds since the end of July, I feel if they won't remove my overies I will do what I can myself to help myself. 


     

  • shoppygirl
    shoppygirl Member Posts: 110
    edited January 2015

    Hi Roar

    I had my ovaries out a year ago. My mother had early stage Breast cancer and pre cancerous cells in her ovaries so I decided just to get rid of them. I just had all my genetic testing come back negative but I am still glad I had my ovaries removed. Out of everything I have been through the ooph was the easiest thing so fa

  • roareus
    roareus Member Posts: 68
    edited January 2015

    shoppe girl-

    Can I ask how your bone health and cardiac health have been since getting your ovaries removed. are you on tamoxifen?

  • shoppygirl
    shoppygirl Member Posts: 110
    edited January 2015

    Hi

    I am on Tamoxafin (switching to an AI in August 2015) and as far as I know my bone health is fine. I have the usual stiffness that comes with tamoxafin but no pain. I had an xray in the summer and it was fine. As far as my heart, I have no issues that I am aware of. I did have an EKG before my retina surger in December and it was totally normal.

    To be honest I was not even aware that bone and heart health were an issue with having your overies removed.

  • roareus
    roareus Member Posts: 68
    edited January 2015

    Shoppygirl-

    Thank you for replying.... Can I ask... How old are you? I am 44.... I was up all night last night thinking about this and i am really glad to hear about your experience...

  • jenwith4kids
    jenwith4kids Member Posts: 216
    edited January 2015

    shoppygirl, was your retina surgery related to your cancer?

  • shoppygirl
    shoppygirl Member Posts: 110
    edited January 2015

    Roar

    I am turning 44 next month. I was always concerned about Ovarian cancer and never too much about Breast cancer. Perhaps that is because there is no offical screening for ovarian like there is Breast. Once I got breast cancer I decided to get my ovaries taken out. A nurse tried to talk me out of it but I insisted and am glad I did. It's nice not to have that worry anymore. Pluse it does help with the estrogen levels.

    Jen

    My detached retina has nothing to do with my breast cancer or the treatments. At least that is what I was told. It is just an unfortunate thing that happened as I have herederity bad vision. Unfortinatly I now have a disease in my eye that is causing scar tissue to build up and it keeps redetaching. I am having my third surgery on it in March. Thank goodness I have excellent vision in my other eye! It is a big pain in the butt though!!!!!!

  • jenwith4kids
    jenwith4kids Member Posts: 216
    edited January 2015

    Thanks shoppy I had a physical yesterday and the doc said my retina is "cupping". Of course I panicked. A wonderful member here who is also an eye doc told me not to worry! Phew!

  • youngturknyc
    youngturknyc Member Posts: 115
    edited January 2015

    The new studies definitely indicate that the ovarian suppression plus AI give a large edge vs. tamoxifen only (or tamoxifen plus ovarian suppression) - the younger the pre-menopausal woman the better the effect, especially for those patients who HAD chemo or had to have chemo.  I didn't even wait for the studies to come out - I had the ooph shortly after my chemo ended, and I am very glad about it.  I had an additional reason - could not take tamoxifen due to a prior blood clotting issue I had.

  • shoppygirl
    shoppygirl Member Posts: 110
    edited January 2015

    Jen

    It's so scary when you have something go wrong with your vision!! Unfortinatly for me my retina detached very aggressively and very quickly. I am much more aware now of eye issues and have very frequent eye exams.

  • roareus
    roareus Member Posts: 68
    edited January 2015

    For those of you who had your ovaries removed, what was your recovery like? How long were you out of work? Was it a overnight hospital stay? Anybody have any side effects from it like brittle bones? Heart issues?

  • youngturknyc
    youngturknyc Member Posts: 115
    edited January 2015

    ROAREUS,

    This was the easiest surgery I had.  It was an outpatient procedure.  Out of the hospital a few hours after the surgery (after recuperating in the recovery room).  I was up and about within 2 days.  (Just no heavy lifting for several weeks).  My MO recommended a bone scan at this time but this relates to the AI not the ooph.  I will have that done shortly.  No issues whatsoever.  Some night sweats and hot flashes for the first few months but nothing that cannot be managed.  Now, hot flashes are also gone.

  • dimccleland
    dimccleland Member Posts: 16
    edited January 2015

    Hi ladies ... can I join your forum? Please :-) :-)

  • jenwith4kids
    jenwith4kids Member Posts: 216
    edited January 2015

    I had the exact same experience as youngturknyc. Uneventful. Hot flashes have subsided considerably since my surgery in September.


    Dimccleland, of course you can join us!!!! welcome.

  • youngturknyc
    youngturknyc Member Posts: 115
    edited January 2015

    Hi dimccleland,

    So sorry that you have to join us, but glad that you have found us.

     

  • SHERISCHOLL
    SHERISCHOLL Member Posts: 1
    edited January 2015

    I was told lat week there are 4 suspicious areas the docs want to biopsy. is it unusual to have multiple sites at one time?

  • moderators
    moderators Posts: 8,739
    edited January 2015

    Welcome to all you ladies in your 40s, glad you found BCO but sorry you felt the need to come here. We love to see the support that our members provide one another, as it is not only important from an educational aspect but as a method of forming bonds and friendships. The networks developed here are often amazing with groups consisting of people from around the globe.

    Many of you are reasonably new to this forum and BC, so we wish you all the best on your journeys. With the support of everyone here, you'll be better equipped to tackle your problems.

    SHERISCHOLL, it is not unusual to have more than one suspicious site - especially calcifications. They are just being diligent as it is better to test 4 and find all benign than to miss one that may be nasty. Remember that the odds are still in your favor of being benign.

    Cheers, and please remember that, if any of you want assistance with anything, just PM us.

    The Mods

  • Copperlisa
    Copperlisa Member Posts: 1
    edited February 2015

    Hi ladies! At just over 30 days from my 50th birthday, I was dx'd with IDC and DCIS in two places in my right breast. So...having beat endometrial cancer at 29, I figure I've had 20 good years. Time to kick cancer's butt to the curb again. It's not gonna win. I've not seen my surgeon yet, as I was just dx'd yesterday. I have my path report, but no report on ER, PR or HER2. I do pre-ops testing and MRI this week, and see the surgeon on the 13th.
    It's "nice" to have a place to come where everyone understands. My hubby is trying, but he's in a bit of shock and denial. His mom had bc, and lived 17 years after mx.

  • youngturknyc
    youngturknyc Member Posts: 115
    edited February 2015

    So sorry that you had to join us here copperlisa but welcome.

  • Stenokim
    Stenokim Member Posts: 76
    edited February 2015

    copperlisa, sorry you're here, but you'll learn a lot from BCO gals. You've beaten cancer before and I have no doubt you'll beat it again. You seem to have a positive outlook and cheerful disposition, which I think is very important. My husband too was a mess at first, but then dove into the research part of it and was my strongest advocate. It was like bringing my own doc with me to the appointments. That was his way of coping. Hopefully your husband will find what works for himself and you. I'll send happy thoughts and prayers your way. Ki

  • juneping
    juneping Member Posts: 634
    edited March 2015

    hi ladies-----just found this thread.

    I was DX back in 2013 (41 yr old)...and have been on tamoxifen since feb of 2014. And now I developed edema and hyper thyroid. I don't think I want to try other hormonal blocker.

    Is it removing the ovaries the only way out? And how's the SE after the surgery? How do you feel??

    Thanks....

  • shoppygirl
    shoppygirl Member Posts: 110
    edited March 2015

    juneping

    I had my ovaries out as my mother had early stage ovarian cancer after breast cancer. I still take Tamoxafin and will be switching to an AI in September as per my cancer center nurse. As far as the surgery for the salpingo ooph is concerned, it was a piece of cake. It was laparoscopic and I felt totally fine after. I do have terrible hot flashes but I had them before due to the chemo. I have also gained some weight but I do blame myself for a lack of self control sometimes. I am very happy I had the surgery.

  • ndgrrl
    ndgrrl Member Posts: 645
    edited March 2015


    June, I just had my ovaries out 4 weeks ago. I do have some hot flashes and might consider them upping my Effexor- I was put on a low dose when put on Tamoxifen and it helped a lot. I will be switched to an A1. I have been off Tamoxifen since a week before surgery and on Friday I see my MO. I am not sure about the Ai and feel like I did before I started Tamoxifen and that is freaked out about a new med. UFF..

  • youngturknyc
    youngturknyc Member Posts: 115
    edited March 2015

    Hi June,

    The bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was the easiest surgery I had.  I was up and about in two days.  I did have some mild hot flashes due to Femara.  However, they have subsided.  Also, when I initially got on Femara, I had joint stiffness, especially in the mornings.  However, that has largely subsided as well.  My doctor told me that the body get used to the medicine, and in her experience, most people no longer experience side effects after about 6 months to 1 year.  I am in NYC too.  PM me if you would like more information.

  • scvmom65
    scvmom65 Member Posts: 16
    edited March 2015

    Hi June,

    I was on Tamoxifen for almost 2 years and developed over 20 ovarian cysts so my dr took me off and ordered my ovaries out. Best thing ever. Surgery was a total breeze - outpatient, went out to dinner the same night with hubby. I have way less side effects too. I lost almost all 16 lbs I put on with Tamoxifen, less hot flashes, less bone aches. The "side effects" I have now my mother had too when she went into natural menopause so I feel like I would have gotten then anyways, just a little later in life since I was 44 when DXed.

    Anna

  • juneping
    juneping Member Posts: 634
    edited April 2015

    ladies,

    thanks for your quick response....sounds like a plan for me. i'll disucss this with my MO

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