Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?

Morning all-

Welcome Catherine. I was and am an avid reader from as far back as I can remember- and I remember many happy hours reading both Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. Also the Cherry Ames nursing series.

I am glad you will not be reading this until after your biopsy, because that was the most painful procedure I have ever been through. Good luck, and I hope your pathology requires minimum treatment.

Chevy, just want to let you know I had a dbl mastectomy with chemo before the surgery, so I was officially cancer-free by the time of surgery, but had 33 radiation treatments as follow-up. The treatment just depends on so many different factors. I also chose not to have any reconstruction.

My cousin's daughter, with the pancreatic cancer has been sent home, with a follow-up appt with an Onc later this week, and my brother, though still in the hospital, is doing well. Because he is 70, and has had both knees replaced, they want to do some physical therapy with him before he leaves.

My daughter took me and her son to "The Melting Pot" for dinner last night as a celebration of our birthdays. For those who may not have heard of them, they are a fondue restaurant. It was very good. Dougie enjoyed "cooking" his meat, but didn't like the cheese appetizer. He ate the bread, veggies and apples without coating them with cheese, and did the same with dessert- ate the fruits, cakes, brownies, etc without dipping them in chocolate. I thought it was all delicious.

Have a great Mon, everyone and Catherine- we are all waiting to hear how your biopsy went

Anne

Nancy/Catherine -- take slow deep breaths.  No two Dr.'s see things the same way.    I have never heard anyone ( I have to say though that I don't visit other threads and forums but on rare occasion )  refer to fuzz on top of anything having to do with biopsies and or tumor etc. 

Hopefully, your Navigator can clear this up.  I'm sure there is a very reasonable and non-threatening explanation for this "new difference" and that nothing much will have actually changed but maybe "descriptive terms " used for your condition.  It would be nice if Dr.'s would or could find  ways of talking to you by pretty much the same 'terms' all the time -- but they seem to develop a style of speaking which is comfortable for them -- no matter how much it might frighten you. 

Just know that you are not alone, and that though I know it is one of the hardest things you can do -- do your best to do as little worrying and fretting as possible till you are completely clear about what you are actually fretting about, if anything.    I guess that used to be said as -- " Don't put the cart before the horse " and I do know that for almost all of us -- anything that has much of anything to do with cancer is rather terrifying.  Just breathe, go to an island of peace where calm relaxation soothes your concerns and know that the Universe loves and cares for you along with all of us. 

Jackie

Catherine, glad you had no pain with your biopsy, hope the results come back quickly and that a plan is developed for you. It's all so much easier once you have "The Plan"

I too was an avid reader of the Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys and Cherry Ames series. I remember trying to read in the in the bathroom after I was supposed to be in bed, and while trying to slip a night-light into the socket to read by, my fingernails went into the socket and I got a shock instead. My yelping gave me away and I had to go back to bed.

I loved Cherry Ames too. My clock had a night light. I could read by it if it was all the way down to the page.

Puffin, I loved the picture in my mind of that incident.

Nancy, are you resting?  Waiting for results is tiring and stressful.  You probably realize that you have many friends here thinking of you.

Hi Chevy, Jackie, Mom, and Teacher.

Puffin, books and kids ... isn't it fun.  A few years ago I started sharing Fancy Nancy books with 2 of my granddaughters who have now moved up to older characters.  Although the older characters are probably just as much fun, I am still reading the occasional Fancy Nancy book because she tickles my soul.

Teka, the coffee posters wake me up with a giggle.  Thank you.

Anne, it's wonderful that your brother is doing well.  I hope your cousin's daughter gets a helpful treatment plan.  Will you brother need further treatment as well as PT?

I hope everyone has a restful night.

Sally- it's nice to know someone else who read Cherry Ames- I always dreamed of being a nurse like her..

Catherine- I think one of my medical people referred to my lymph glands as fuzzy. That meant they didn't have sharp edges, which is something to be looked at. Is it possible that the two areas are close enough together that the other machines (or humans) saw them as one? Don't try to guess what something might or might not mean. We are talking about an extremely small area, I think.

We went thru something similar several weeks ago with my 12 yr old grandson. He was born with a genetic heart condition that we were told would not affect his life much, except that he shouldn't play contact sports. His dad and I took him to a new cardiologist for a long overdue checkup. Long story short, two Drs and one tech all believed he had a tear in his aortic vessel, and according to them, he was pretty much on the brink of death. We took him to the hospital and did an emergency CT scan. After 5 long hours, the CT scan showed no tear- just a little blood pooled there. So different Drs can see different things- wait until you get a actual pathology report that gives you accurate info before you freak. Easier said than done, I know.

TTYL

Anne

Teka, loved the turkeys. Reminds me of this one.

Catherine- I think one of my medical people referred to my lymph glands as fuzzy. That meant they didn't have sharp edges, which is something to be looked at. Is it possible that the two areas are close enough together that the other machines (or humans) saw them as one? Don't try to guess what something might or might not mean. We are talking about an extremely small area, I think.

Anneb, when I walked out last week knowing I had a tumor, was told it was small, a primary, but I'd need to get a biopsy.  I also knew that the tumor was a little away from the scar that has been there for 23 years.

Yesterday: The nurse comes in to go over the procedure and explains that two biopsies will be taken. I said there was a mistake, that there was only one suspicious area.  She said there would be two, then she said maybe she spoke out of line and the radiologist would explain.

The radiologist came in and drew on a piece of paper what a lumpectomy scar looks like with an ultra sound. Then she drew my tumor, which she said was about two centimeters away from the actual scar.

She then went on to draw a lightly shaded area, which she referred to as a fuz-like shading,  right on top of the scar. Then she went over to the tumor and shaded the same way and said the tumor has a fuz on it as well. She wanted to take a biopsy of the scar area as well.

Then she said if didn't want to, she wouldn't.  I felt as though a big hand grabbed me and pulled me back into a dark tunnel. So now I think if the tumor and the scar have similarities, then it has to be a spread and not a primary after all.

I feel myself sinking into the depths today.

Catherine

There are no secrets of success.  Success is doing the things you know you should do.  Success is not doing the things you know you should not do.  Success is discovering your best talents, skills and abilities and applying them where they will make the most effective contribution to your fellow human beings.  Success is ninety-nine percent mental attitude.  It calls for love, joy, optimism, confidence, serenity, poise, faith, courage, cheerfulness, imagination, initiative, tolerance, honesty, humility, patience, and enthusiasm.
 
Wilferd A. Peterson

Thank you for that lovely posting Jackie.  I copied it, so I can use it during meditation.  Positive thoughts to you Catherine.

Carole: We watch Paradise. It IS a weekly installment show so you'd be better watching from the beginning. We enjoy it.

Anneb, not once did I think that. Thank you all, thank you Jackie for giving me some pointers on visualization and tips to lighten my mental load.

I know things will get better once I know more. This waiting can do you in, as I know you all have gone through it.  I was much younger and more resilient 23 years ago.

Okay Nancy..... You've jumped one hurdle, and nailed it! You came through it, maybe with more questions and worries than before, but you DID it!

Two biopsies sound okay to me.... The more they take, the more they will know. they took a few from me.... even in my other breast.... just because it was along for the ride I think.

They leave little clips in there.... That's so when/if you have thay surgery, they will see just WHERE they took that biopsy, and can take more out.

They also inserted a damn wire.... It was about 45 feet long I think.... AND that nuclear dye, that takes a couple hours to go up to your lymph nodes, to see where they are. THAT will send you through the roof. Then during the surgery, the ultra-sound sees that mile long wire in where the suspected tumor is, and the surgeon can see precisely where everything is.

You say you are thinking about having them taken off? That would be my next step, if I ever have this again.... I know what you mean.... Our cute little boobs are not cute nor little anymore. And having a double mastectomy takes away a LOT of worries I hear.... You see, the gals are telling you this.... They have done it, and are doing okay. The more you talk about it, helps....

I didn't talk about it much to DH.... nor my Daughter's. They worry too much.... It's the women here, AND your Doctors and the notes you take. Ask for copies of your tests, x-rays, results, and everything they do to you.... And write down questions... then you have to write the answers down. Be your own advocate, because you are different than any of us here..... We can offer you our experiences, but you might be different....

You want me to come out there and see what's going on? Ha! Don't be afraid.... Be in charge... and that's why you want to know the answers....

I just HATE the waiting! They will set up a plan for you.... But take someone with you to listen.... because you'll forget everything...

Nancydrew...so glad they are moving ahead so quickly. When I was dx'd my NP said, "bad news is you've got cancer, good news it was caught early and we can take care of it".

(((hugs)))

Ok Nancy Catherine -- we are now on the way.  So glad that your diagnosis is new PRIMARY.  That really means that it is not the former cancer returning which would be cancer that was not completely eliminated at the time of your original diagnosis.  So, I think that is a real plus for you.

So, now you can relax ( if anyone ever actually does ) at least about that part.  You can now focus on you and your Dr. creating a plan that satisfies both of you in dealing with the "new" cancer.  Hopefully it will not be difficult to accomplish. 

So glad ( and I hope they are soon done all over ) again for digital mammograms.  I keep driving all the way to deep Southern Illinois ( 75 miles south of my home ) not only because it was where I was originally diagnosed, but MAINLY because they instituted digital mammography as soon as it became available.  I was given a choice of finding a facility closer to home, but I did not want to give up those far better digital pictures.

We will be with you here every step of the way and cheer you on and give you a place to call your second home.  You can do this and we can help. 

Blessings

Jackie