Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
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Illinois, I so like that quote.
This morning visited a friend in prison. No, didn't know him before, but met him last fall. Someone who was accused of something he didn't do, that put him a juvenile home which let down many wrong paths. A nice man, truly. I try to visit him once a month.
Have been on the Young and Raw Detox. Today is day 13 of 21. Have had more energy, which is quite a nice change.
I've always wanted to travel in a MH mommarch. I sold Tupperware 47 years ago when pregnant with first child. I've done so many things since...
and I love fresh fruit and plain yogurt!
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Will be on tomorrow.....after a couple of long days and one day a little less long.....I think I'm senseless so will come back in the morning to talk to all of you.
Blessings,
Jackie
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I'm long past this stage, but some of our younger members might be able to relate.
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Hello, Ladies!
Can't remember if I've posted here before, so I''ll write that off to brain fog.
I was dx'd with IDC in 2011, at the age of 60 - same age my mom was dx'd. She had a UMX, no chemo, no rads, no AIs (not invented yet) and passed at the age of 88 from Parkinson's. She had no recurrence of the BC.
Last month, I made the decision to go off the AIs completely. I tried Arimidex for a year and had horrific side effects, which earned me a two month drug holiday. Then my MO put me on Femara. I lasted about six months til the SEs started hitting with a vengeance.
My husband has incurable kidney disease. I started to think of how many opportunities I've had to pass up due to not feeling well... and how if I last for 3-1/2 more years on an AI, it may be too late for him to travel. We got an RV last year, it's been parked in storage ever since.
So with my MO's blessing, I stopped Femara, and will not go on any other drugs. My risk of recurrence is low (1%) but I still feel the need to have some sort of "insurance policy" and for me that will now be healthier eating and increased exercise.
I try to do water aerobics in the therapy pool (94 degrees) 3 x a week, and DH and I like to ride our bikes in the evenings for 45 minutes. I have a smokin' hot raspberry-colored adult trike.
I also found out my thyroid was wonky after ten years on Synthroid, at the lowest possible dose. The old PCP wrote me a scrip then let me go. The new PCP (love her!) decided that my inability to lose weight on 1200 calories a day and six days of exercise, being freezing cold all the time, having my electric blanket on high at night, and sleeping 12 hours a day warranted further investigation. She ran the appropriate tests and has now doubled my thyroid meds. I feel better already.
AND - yesterday I met with my favorite Pain Management doc. He went over all the Xrays and MRIs of my spine, explaining everything, and bottom line: I'm in pretty good shape for the shape I'm in!
He was impressed with the amount of exercise I was trying to get due to the AIs... he said he wished every post-menopausal woman would try to do that - even very simple movements - instead of just accepting "degenerative" changes in the bones.
I believe our bodies want to heal themselves. I really have a hard time taking more and more prescription drugs to cancel out side effects caused by a different drug. I know I've got a lot of work ahead of me, but I'm ready.
Hoping to get to know everyone better here!!!!
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Blessings - welcome. We've bumped into each other on other sites. I think you'll like this one.
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Blessings, so glad to see you here. You've been such an inspiration to many others on several of my other favorite threads. I think your decision to go off the meds is a sound one. My onco told me hormone therapy would cut the risk of recurrence up to 50% but my chance was only 1%-2% to begin with, so it would bring it down to 1/2% - 1%. The chances of side effects that could hurt me was much higher, so I'm not on anything. I did worry about it at the beginning, but she convinced me. She said if you are taking Tamoxifen, for instance, the chance of developing leukemia is 5%. I was shocked when I researched what hormone therapy drugs can do to your body. They are wonderful for those who need them, but definitely need to be put on a scale to see if the risks outweigh the benefits since each person's case is different.
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Affliction comes to us not to make us sad, but sober; not to make us sorry,
but wise; not to make us despondent, but by its darkness to refresh us,
as the night refreshes day; not to impoverish, but to enrich us, as the plough
enriches the field; to multiply our joy, as the seed, by planting, is multiplied a thousand-fold.
Henry Ward Beecher0 -
Blessings, welcome to you. Glad you found your way here. You are doing some really great things. I think you have two things going here.....not only working and working toward a positive NED state, but good health for the body period. It is tough, but is just REALLY good life habits. It is a challenge for those of us who I think have lived and grown up in the era of fresh home grown food with few chemicals applied. I fight it all the time. Some days I win and some days ( still too many yet ) I lose.Good to hear about your Mom. We don't have to "expect" recurrences just because there is a possibility, and it is stronger due to our first dx.
I went off my Anastrozole ( generic Arimidex ) and felt nervous for a while as it was my 'crutch'. Now I'm happy. Hadn't noticed when it happened because I had almost no se's, but at some point I realized that it took next to nothing to anger me ( very much not normally like that ) so the last 6 mos. I took the drug I was constantly "checking" hoping not to over-react to things. I really disliked that time period of not being me.
Hope Sunday is wonderful for you and yours and everyone here.
Blessings
Jackie
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Morning everyone, now that I've had a night's sleep. Just tried the post preview which did not work ( sigh ) so will have to go with what little I recall. Joan, you have lived a great life so far. I think there is something of creating life that is wonderful.
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I cancelled my other post. The preview button did now work for me ( SIGH!!!! ) so will have to go from my bad memory. Joan, you are truly creative about putting a lot of living into your life. I think there is something to be said for those who can always find a mountain to climb. Of course, it is easier for those whose life just seems to have that sort of gravity there anyway. Some of us are meant to climb different mountains and it is the different parts and the different sized mountains that make such a fantastic whole when each stands up side by side. All important and all special -- just like blades of grass --- each important, period.
Mommarch...whew !!!! Glad you are back home now and can help your GD pick up the pieces and get back into stable routines with people she can REALLY depend on to enrich her life. Hopefully, you can lessen any Fla. hold and or restrictions.
It is pretty today....a little sun out though it should be mainly cloudy most of the day. No more chance of rain until tomorrow so the weather man says. We went to bed about 9:30 p.m. last night with the threat of possible tornadoes up until midnight. Told Dh this morning....guess we were tired....both going to bed not giving one whit that the weather could go bad. Sometimes......you get very tired when your routine changes for a few days.
I could use the extra funds from the extra work and may get another small job going as well. It will still be in the family.....so should not present a conflict. Another elderly parent who at 92 insists she can take care of herself ( she is in assisted living ) and though she can do ok.......her daughter is having to spend a bit too much time there. Daughter works long hours.....and then goes to Mom's and then must go home and do all it takes to keep her household functioning. After a long while it is just a lot............so we will see.
See you all later.
Blessings
Jackie
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Sandra - haha that is classic!
Welcome Blessings...wow you have a lot on your plate. Glad you are feeling better. Wish I could get off Tamoxifen.
Diane
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Hi Ladies,
I will be starting my first treatment tomorrow. They told me Taxol/Herceptin will cut my risk by 50% as well, but I never thought to ask what my percentage was without it. Good question for the MO tomorrow.
Thanks!
Mary
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The Seven Dwarves of Menopause was cute. It's been a long time for me because I was through menopause by the time I was 39. My ob-gyn was as surprised as I was. I had been no massive fertility drugs to get pregnant and did twice but miscarried. My DH and I had decided to keep trying til I was menopausal...surprise! We then adopted our son. Because I'd been on such a hormonal roller coaster with the fertility drugs, I didn't encounter the menopausal dwarves. They must have had fertility drug cousins tho!
I read all the postings about SE and am so relieved that my med team decided I could do without. We played with percentages and other med issues. I am so relieved to not have to get on another drug roller coaster. That has been such a blessing.
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Welcome Blessings!
Mary hope all goes well tomorrow. Will be thinking of you.
Yes, loved the 7 Dwarfs of Menopause
Had rather a sweet thing happen last night. My 13 yr old GD, Nisa, called to ask me if I would get cancer again. She wanted to know if I was cancer free and for how long. Seems she'd been reading a book called "The Fault in our Stars" by John Green. Today she brought me the book to read. I'm going to start it today.
Oddly, John Green is the #1 author on Amazon and I've not heard of him. I have now!
Really touched me that she called with loving questions.
Happy Sunday!
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The Fault In Our Stars has been THE book for teen readers for about a year and has become a sensation with adults as well. There is a movie coming out this week I believe.
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I just read about John Green in a recent Time magazine. The movie is about two youngsters in cancer treatment who fall in love. The author said he is examining the premise of happiness when there is a limited amount of time. Will be a "box of Kleenex" movie. I will probably skip it.
Mommarch, welcome home. Hope life goes smoothly for you and your dh and GD. Is the MH a total loss?
Welcome, Blessings. I have encountered you on other threads, but don't remember which ones. It seems to me that you're on a good track trying to be as healthy as possible while enjoying every day with your dh.
Our family celebration of dh's birthday at my mother's house today went well. We had lots of food and carrot cake birthday cake. I'm tired tonight because I had a rare bad night last night. Woke about 2 and couldn't go back to sleep for hours. Got up at 7:30 and started doing things in preparation for loading up the dinner to transport to my mother's house. It is much easier on her to stay home.
One of my brothers brought big boxes of veggies he'd gotten from a farmer friend of his. So I have tomatoes, cucumbers, yellow squash, green peppers and eggplants in the kitchen. I passed on the zucchini. The timing is bad for me to do cooking to freeze. By the time I transfer the contents of my two freezers to the camper freezer, there won't be a lot of room left, if any. Even though the refrig/freezer in the 5th wheel is house appliance size. I actually like it better than my house refrig/freezer because the one in the camper has a big . bottom freezer drawer. The one in the house is a side by side, a style I would never buy again.
Tomorrow I have WW meeting and two medical apptments, one with my gynocologist's NP and one with my dermatologist. Fun, fun, fun.
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hI: I`m in Vancouver. Surgeon is Dr. McKevitt.Needle Biopsy showed triple negative, Grade 3, 1.4 cm. Having bone scan, lung x-ray, checking for metastases before surgery. Lumpectomy, July 9, followed by radiation and chemo. If mets (I``m learning the lingo) the treatment protocol changes. Now I understand if one does have `mets`` then one never goes into possible remission, and it is not good news, so I`m very anxious about these tests. I haven`t been feeling well the last few months, short of breath with little effort, very tired, joints hurting, feet hurting, and was attributing it to getting older (just turned 71). So worried about results of these upcoming tests.
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Global, that is very touching. I'd be so proud that someone that age was displaying such love and concern for a grandparent. There are a number of youngsters that just won't. So you have a special little lady there.
Carole, you are always doing good things which promote family connections. Know what you mean about being "off". I experience this usually ( though I sleep all night ) when I start work early and come home late. It just sets up something in my system that somehow seems to prevent me from the really GOOD sleep I normally get. I go back to normal later, but have a couple of days when I'm not quite myself, but don't really know who I am.
Hope your appts. go well tomorrow.
Blessings
Jackie
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pjc71....welcome, welcome. Sorry that you have reason to look for us to join the club no one really wants to be in for good reason. We will do all we can to support you. As far as mets.....anything is possible, but I've a friend diagnosed 16 yrs. ago ( mets ) and she has no evidence of disease and hasn't had for a long time.. I'm just saying that one never knows for sure about anything. Also, though it is just as likely that you don't have.......the newer txs. that are available now will often keep someone going so long that they often pass away from something else entirely.
It is worrisome and upsetting to get this diagnosis. After all.......we have lived for such a long time and gone through so many tests and mammograms that were all ok. Just know that we will be here for you and help you get through.
You will know more when you know ALL of what is going on and can plan for whatever needs to be handled. The waiting is hard and leaves you open to so many what if's and hesitant possibilities. A little trite but try not to worry too much until you KNOW what you will need to be concerned over.
Please come often..... we will be keep the light on and the door open.
Blessings
Jackie
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pjc - Welcome. Hope the tests don't show mets. There is at least one triple negative thread on these boards. You may want to visit those.
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Welcome pjc. Here's hoping all your tests are negative for mets. We are all anxious when test time comes around, so we do understand. Once you know what you're dealing with and have a plan it seems more doable. Vancouver is a lovely place. I've been trying to get DH to go back for a few days at least.
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Anne, my DH an I loved dancing to that same wonderful waltz. There are so many experiences you friends have described. Right now I'm tired from that six hour drive home from clown convention followed by a small glass of wine. Made myself my emergence happy meal when I got home: yummy French toast.
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Welcome Blessings
PJC - praying for no mets
Well, I am back in Georgia for 8 days. Hated leaving Fl yesterday because we were at the point of actually painting the walls. I got to see one room painted, but had to leave before the others were even started. I had a wonderful time while there, got to see everyone I wanted, did a lot of shopping (a lot online), helped youngest son house hunt, spent time with grandchildren, had unexpected but short visit with older son, etc, etc. Other than the tightness in my chest around scar line, I didn't even think about cancer. What a much needed mental and emotional break.
My DD here says she was really stressed while I was gone- having to grocery shop and fix meals, etc. but when I started telling her about some furniture we bought, she could tell that I was really happy down there. She asked several times if I was happy to be "home" and quiet and calm. I am thrilled to see them all again. - Andrew and I watched 2 episodes of "Lost" last night, but I have spent my life being busy and surrounded by people. It is more comfortable for me than days upon days having nothing more to do than empty the dishwasher, fold an occasional load of laundry and cook dinner.
Hope you all have a great start to your week.
Anne
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What if happiness were found in the serenity of simple pleasures.
What if we didn't need the newest gizmo... the highest high?
What if happiness is in the air we breathe...
slowly, deeply, and consciously?
What if happiness is one fresh grape, savored with gratitude?
What if happiness is in our oneness with all creation?
What if happiness is about enjoying life exactly as it comes to us -
without chasing after it?
What if happiness is something we CHOOSE...
regardless of our circumstances?
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie0 -
Good morning. Anne, you sound so happy and refreshed. Also glad to hear you took a little cancer vacation. I have been on a long one.......and they are the best. It is stressful to have your life ruled so to speak by something that is negative........so when that new normal starts to find its way home it is a big, big blessing.
Mimi....love it.....that French toast easy comfort food for a quickie meal. Made me wish I had been there to have some too. Funny.....the things ( food ) that you quit eating for awhile for whatever reason --- then someone mentions it and you just nearly drool. Glad you are home and hope you were able to get a good night's sleep and are refreshed and ready to go this morning.
I bought some tuna fish yesterday. That is one of my all time favorites. I cut some onion, some diced apple, a few raisins, some mayo, then toast some bread, and its time and any time is ok with me......breakfast, lunch or supper. I love it that much.
Hope you all have a marvelous Monday.
Blessings,
Jackie
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pjc71 - Good luck with your scans. I'm also triple negative - very unusual for us older ladies to be diagnosed with TN, as it usually occurs in younger women - also African American and Hispanic women (I'm Caucasian). The good news is that older women with TN tend to do better.
My 13 yo granddaughter has read The Fault is in The Stars 10 times! I read it too - it's actually a very sweet story. We may see it together.
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I, too, have fingers crossed in favor of No Mets for pjc. I was so nervous when I had my full-body scan after my bc dx. My poor brain had concluded that if I had bc and didn't know it, I could have cancer in some other body part, too. Thank Heaven, the rest of me was clear. pjc, I'm hoping you get that report, too.
I went to my weekly ww meeting this morning. The subject was dealing with vacations. I'm trying to get back on track today since I'm up a couple of lbs. after dh's birthday week and a big piece of carrot cake yesterday. I just made myself a yummy egg sandwich for lunch. I spread light mayo on the two halves of a wheat sandwich thin. Sprinkled the halves with a little grated pecorino romano cheese and popped the bread in the toaster oven to melt the cheese while I cooked an egg in a skillet. It tasted really good with a big glass of home-made iced tea with a wedge of lemon.
DH has requested breaded and fried eggplant slices to be included in our dinner. I seldom fry eggplant or anything else but I will fulfill his request and enjoy a slice or two myself. I also brought ingredients today to make a yellow squash casserole that I really like. Buik sausage, low-sodium dressing mix, chicken broth. I chose Jenny-O turkey sausage instead of Jimmy Dean to cut some fat and calories. The dish includes eggs. You dice and steam the yellow squash and drain it before mixing with the other ingredients. You can fine-dice and cook some onions with the sausage. I may do that or else just use onion powder. You bake the dish uncovered and a little brown crust forms on top. Easy and good.
I don't plan to tell dh about the turkey sausage and see if he notices any difference! Same with my mother because I plan to make a big batch and I'll take her some tomorrow.
Hope everyone is having a good Monday.
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Carole, I use Jennie-O all the time. I get the 'ham' and make ham salad out of it. I also buy turkey burgers so we can have a " burger" now and then with a whole, whole lot less guilt. I find I am not fond of the turkey bacon and since I seldom eat bacon, I cheat and get the real thing.
Absolutely adore egg-plant as well. Dipped in egg, coated with flour and then fried. Yeah -- its not too good for you, but then I don't do that too often either. Squash casserole sounds delicious. I'm going to have to learn to cook and eat more squash. When younger I didn't much care for it, but find it tasty now.
Been working the better part of the day on our deck. Got the table and five chairs scrubbed and set up along with the umbrella. Also scrubbed the long outdoor storage bins and the great big Igloo dog house that is on the deck. The cats use that when it rains....dog doesn't like it. Figures....I paid $145.00 for that doghouse because I thought the dog deserved something special. Oh well, at least someone uses it.
Then came in and make some tuna fish salad for me and Dh when he got off work. I'm bushed but lots more to do today.....mainly inside now. Got Dh jazzed about doing some stuff. This time of yr. a lot needs to happen if you want some enjoyment later.
Blessings
Jackie
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I've used turkey sausage without telling family and they didn't notice the difference. I'm making avocado chicken salad. 2-3 boneless chicken breasts, cooked, cooled, shredded. Add 1/4 c chopped onion , juice of one lime and 2 T cilantro. I serve it with crackers. It makes a wonderful lunch.
A vacation from cancer sounds wonderful but will have to wait til after summer for me. A fall vacation sounds nice though. I'd like to see fall colors somewhere because we don't really have much fall. We did get 2 1/2 glorious inches of rain last night.
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pjc71 sending you best wishes. The tests are scary but please do your best to keep positive thoughts going on about your body.
Jackie, yes, my GD is special. She loaned me the book and I've read about 80+ pages and pleased to know it's for teens, as even though it's a serious subject, I'm going to be pleased to get to the end. I enjoy talking to her about books and stuff.
Mimi, I love knowing there is a Clown Convention!! Makes my heart happy.
I've been doing the Young and Raw 21-Day Detox and am doing so much better. The first two weeks were simply juice, smoothies and salad. This is the first day of week 3 and it's all juice. I've been surprised at how good I'm feeling, so much more energy and the pain in my right hand, probably arthritis is gone. NOTE: yesterday someone told me this type of diet is not good for those with 'active' cancer. Has anyone else tried this type of diet?
After I will simply stay away from processed foods. As a nice SE I've lost 10 lbs in the past two weeks. I'm thrilled with that part for sure.
Happy Monday!
Susie
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