Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
Comments
-
Welcome Chloesmom. There are several threads on here for women who have chosen no reconstruction. I didn't want the extra surgery and DH didn't care, so I'm flat on one side. If it were both sides I would just go flat, but it's harder with one leftover.
Chevy, Hope the car is everything you wish for.
Teacher, Be sure to post when it's entirely done. You're off to a great start.
0 -
It's good to be back home in Louisiana! I walked in and started opening windows and the patio door to admit some fresh air. It's in the 70's here.
Thanksgiving went well. We arrived in Decatur, IL., at my dh's sister's house at 1 pm on Wed. By 2 pm it had started snowing and the snow collected enough to make the out of doors very pretty and wintry. The inside of the house, as always, was over-heated the way my SIL likes it. She had been cooking for several days. There were so many dishes at Thanksgiving dinner on Thurs., including turkey and ham, that you could only take a small portion of each to have an overloaded plate. We had 18 people at the table, two of them small children. It was a very sociable group. I enjoyed the visiting, but for me it's a problem not eating until 4 pm. I start to feel weak from hunger when I don't have something to eat every 3 or 4 hours.
One big holiday down and one to go.
Welcome to new oldies and hello to everyone.
0 -
welcome Cloesmom, looking forward to getting to know you and hope Santa brings you clean nodes for Christmas.
0 -
Chevy - I had a friend who drives a Kia and she loves it. Great that you get to try it out.
0 -
Who had these? What kind? My best ones were The Lennon Sisters.
0 -
Hi Chloesmom. I'm one of the newer members here, just joined last summer. Some have been keeping this thread going for years and years. We have a wide range of experiences here that you will take delight in learning. We're from all over the country, city girls, country girls, some with exciting "former lives" or careers, some very athletic, a couple of excellent cooks, some talented gardeners, a few are still employed and still others are dedicated volunteers. Quite a few of us are travelers. Sometimes we even have had the opportunity to meet in person! As far as breast cancer goes, we represent all diagnoses. There are stage 0 women, stage 4, and everything in between here. Some have already finished treatment but others are smack dab in the middle of it. A few of us are in the reconstruction phase, a few more decided against it. Sounds like we are a pretty diverse group and we are in many ways, but we have all met the breast cancer monster and are here to help, listen, and sometimes offer advice or commiseration. We enjoy sharing memories and have lived long enough to have lots of them.
0 -
Sandra - what a beautiful post. Great summary of our collective feelings.
0 -
I don't often comment on the old stuff, but love the paper dolls. Used to race to the back of my Mom's McCall magazine for the Betsy ones:-).Welcome Chloesmom! Best to you with your upcoming surgery and prayers for a good node report.
Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We had our kids and 7 grandkids here for a delightfully chaotic dinner and celebration. Loved every minute of it!
0 -
Hi gals! I got my car! We bought it from DH's Nephew, who used to work at "Peak Kia". He buys used cars, fixes them up, and then sells them for a pofit. So he knew what we were looking for.... and told me about this 2011 Chevy Cruz... I saw it online.... all the specs.... and it was exactly what I wanted. It even fits in the garage!
He and his little wife brought it over, and I drove it around a few blocks.... My left foot, the clutch foot, was pressed down the whole time.... Ha! This one is an automatic.... I have driven a stick for the last ....since 1970! The drivers seat goes up, down, back & forth, and it is like magic! I have the manual, so I'll read all about it tomorrow, when I am sitting in the car, trying to figure out what all the bells and whistles do.... Ha!
He is coming back Wednesday with all the paper work.... So then I will drive it all over.... At least it is mine.... Like the royal treatment..... all delivered and everything....
I just KNEW all the waiting, and looking online, was going to take me to the right choice!...... And it happened better than I could have imagined.
Sandra! My DD has the paper-doll books of Shirley Temple! She and I watch her movies on our special days....
And Welcome back Carole!
Thank you Wren! xoxoxo
0 -
I remember those paper dolls. I never got any "notables" in the ones I had, but I loved them anyway. They were fun and we made up stories ( who knows after all this time ) but it kept us 'girls' doing girly things and out of tom-boy land a whole lot of the time.
Carole, somehow I thought you'd be home by now. It was 66 here today so not surprised about your La weather.
Chevy -- yay and make that a double for getting your new car. I think it is perfect. Also, that you had it coming --- especially after breaking that hip. I am really glad for you.
Anne -- too funny about the demotion.
Going to go make myself a small dish of some yummy left-overs. Talk to you all again soon.
Jackie
0 -
Carole, I have ended up starving while visiting grandchildren. They had snacks and Mom finished them off while DH and I were hungry. Roasted almonds were my saving. I just put a small zip lock bag with almonds in my purse and eat them on the sly.
I loved paper dolls but never had any with celebrity names. There's a toy store here that has child paper dolls and child appropriate clothing for them. All their toys are old fashioned and basic. Nothing motorized until the 10-12yo stuff and then they have to build it.
0 -
Sandra, I had the Lennon Sisters too. My favorite was HawaiiAnnette (Annette Funicello with a grass hut). My sister and I would set up a whole village of paper dolls on the bedroom floor. Thanks, I hadn't thought about those in years.
0 -
I loved those paper dolls. I would color new clothes for Betsy dolls. Simple pleasures.
0 -
I'm afraid I never had any paper dolls Sandra. But I sure would like to have a Chicago Hot dog or maybe try the garlic burger at Steak and Shake. We had a good Thanksgiving - three little boys ages 7,3,2 are just as much fun as can be. Their laughing makes us laugh which makes them laugh….. They spent time on my tiny trampoline teaching the two year old how to just. Eventually he did get his one foot off the ground, but his knees were sure working hard.
Welcome Chloesmom. Keep coming back here if you want people who care and know just how to combine sympathy and laughter.
I'm departing for San Antonio Tuesday morning and have packing to do tomorrow. And of course, the contractor called to ask if they can start the basement remodel tomorrow. Good. I'll be gone. Planning to meet Sandra while on my journey. We can post a picture of the two of us together. That will be fun. Night all.
0 -
Loved paper dolls, still think they have them
Congrats on the nu car
Welcome chloesmom
I am bah humbuggin , sure it wont ladter, but when u have no money 4 gifts n with the oxygen going out isnt pleasyrable... well just complaining.. slept from noon til 830, got up at 7 from being up all night,til 7
Steroids suck but the breathing is better.. have an appt in the morning, fingers crossed explain later, not health related. It is 216am
0 -
Morning Blondie! Here's hoping your health issues get a little better today... You should have Called me... I was up about that time too... Just thinking about my car, and like WHERE is the fuel cap release, and what was that again, about doing 2 beeps to get ALL doors unlocked, and how do I replace the battery in the ignition key thing? And blah-blah...!
I'll write all these things down if I can't figure it myself, and Jimmie can show me Wednesday when they come over with the papers...
Meemers! Have you been behaving? And you KNOW what I mean...Ha! I don't have a car at this moment... well I DO, but it only has a dealers tag in the window, and I should probably have some proof that I OWN this car before I do... So don't go fooling around in the sticks, with that escaped felon, cause I can't come get you!
Cammi is SOMEwhere, and not behaving.... likely.... so I'm doin' this all on my own.
Hi Magical! So am I not supposed to be noticing that there is a "bean" listed there too? You mean like Jack and his bean-stalk? I'm pretty sharp you know, so it takes a lot to fool Me...
0 -
0 -
Good morning, all! It was nice waking up in my own bed this morning. No appointments and no must-do's except Return the Rental Car. Guess I'll put on the maid uniform today.
Hope everyone has a good day.
0 -
Thought for awhile about this quote, but continued to go back to it for the simplicity.
Tomorrow doesn’t matter for I have lived today.
Horace0 -
Sigh !!! Oh my -- we went from a high yesterday of 72 to freezing sleet overnight. I guess if the weather is going to change -- why not in a VERY dramatic way. Dh has been out with ice melt and will likely take more out in a bit. It keeps coming down after a short lull and re-freezing. I will go out in a very short while and do my cats. The only good thing I can think is that the really yucky weather will keep me in the house mainly getting things done.
Tomorrow we drive the 75 miles south to Carbondale where I will have my mammogram done. Hopefully, the worst of this junk will have easily passed on. I will have to keep a good weather eye out.
Did take my friend out and run around Mt. Vernon most of yesterday. She was ready to get out and so we had a very enjoyable time. Well, things don't get done at home but sometimes it is a little more important to allow yourself to fall off the beaten path.
Sure hope you are all going to have tolerable weather. This is icky, but today is in fact the first day of winter -- and we here don't need much more proof of that.
I understand about the car thing -- Wednesday -- total freedom day for Chevy and she can drive her new car anywhere she wants to go. Such total delight -- and for me, it did take a little while for me to un-learn reaching for the clutch when my car no longer had one. Makes you feel a little silly -- but good silly.
Anyway, I'll be checking in later and see you all then.
Blessings
Jackie
0 -
We survived the weekend, kids got here at 2:00 AM on Thursday morning. Left at 3:00 AM on Sat. Morning. Was a short visit but glad to see them. Shop did fairly well over the week, now maybe we can
keep the wolves off the door. Picked up DGD in Fort Hancock, TX yesterday afternoon, got back home around 7:00 PM. Today I am cleaning up the rest of the mess and doing laundry. DH is weed eating.
The adoption worker from Florida called last Wed. things are being to be put in motion. We will have
another home study, it seems silly as they just did one 7 months ago. Oh well.
Hope all are well or as well as can be
0 -
I was thinking today that holidays make me feel blessed because I'm always glad when they're over and I can get back to my happy ordinary life. I'm lucky not to feel the blues when holidays have passed. I'm glad to get through them!
Today was one of those nice ordinary days. I got the laundry done. Did some house cleaning. And did some "puttering," like going through my spices and bottled herbs and throwing old stuff away.
Dinner is a skillet dish one of our "friends" posted on Facebook. It has the ingredients in stuffed cabbage but is easier. Ground meat, onions, garlic, cabbage, canned tomatoes. I'm also making baked sweet potatoes. I'm splurging and having some wine tonight!
0 -
Wow -- listening to all everyone got done is making me feel really lazy. Do good intentions count???? Anyway, it was an ok day -- even though I did not get done very much.
Cammie, I hope you get to feeling better pretty soon.
Teka -- your graphics are always so great. Dearly love the storekeeper's look, as well as Frosty being a tad mortified too.
I'm leaving tomorrow's quote in tonight since I won't be posting in the morning. Have to be out early to drive south the 75 miles to Carbondale, Ill where I have my mammograms done. Only once a yr. and we are hoping the weather cooperates with us really well. Seems no matter when I set the appt. we seem to struggle to get there on time so I gave up and just made it for early this year. Maybe we will do well if we don't have "leisure time" to fill before we take off.
Anyway, I will be back and on my computer later. Wednesday is my GYN check up at the Marion V.A. and then we have another appt. the minute we are back from that so Wednesday will be a full day too. Well, once those things are done we can relax a bit.
See you all again some time tomorrow.
Blessings,
Jackie
0 -
To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury;
and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable;
and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly;
to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart;
to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasion, hurry never;
in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden, and unconscious to grow up
through the common. This is to be my symphony.
William Henry Channing
0 -
Got a message from my good friend tonight that her biopsy came back positive, her breast cancer is back after over 25 years. It's early stage, she'll need surgery and radiation.
I went to my Survivorship Clinic this afternoon, and the appointment really did last 3 hours. They had about 4 of us each in our own private exam room, and they had a rotation schedule all written up so that by the end we had all seen who we needed to see. We had filled out a 4 page questionnaire last week so they knew our individual concerns and who we'd need to see. I visited with the dietician, a social worker, the physical therapist who specializes in lymphedema, and a nurse practitioner.
Dietician had good things to say about what I'm eating, need to work on getting more veggies otherwise diet looks good.
Social worker told me what was available if I had financial problems in the future, or if I get depressed or whatever
The physical therapist measured the circumference of each of my arms every 10 cm and recorded them, told me I look good now, gave me handouts of what to watch for, said it would be a good idea to wrap my arm with an ace wrap when we fly to Seattle just to be on the safe side. She also told me about a free exercise program available at the Y just for cancer patients, Mondays and Wednesday from 5:30-7. She thought they also offered a 75% membership discount if you completed the 3 month course. Certainly something I'll at least look into.
then the nurse practitioner did a physical and answered my questions. I asked about telling the difference in joint pain, whether it was a side effect of Arimidex or from aging or the weather, or when it could be a sign of metastasis. She said Arimidex pain would be more sporadic, vary in intensity, not always in same place - sometimes knee, sometimes ankle, etc. Mets would be same area, would get worse, would cause a change in how I lived my life, like it would affect my sleep, or I'd be doing things a certain way to avoid the pain, would start needing pain meds when didn't need them before. I need to call if I develop any skin changes, like redness or a rash on my chest, or unintentional weight loss, or shortness of breath with activities that I'd previously been able to do.
There was some waiting and delay between them, but not too bad. Definitely time well spent.I have a whole packet of material to read through, and they'll also be sending me a summary of what we discussed.0 -
Sorry puffin 4 u r friend. She is lucky to have u
Jackie good luck with the mammogram
0 -
Morning gals... Yes Puffin.... so sorry about your friend.... How does that work? I mean we feel sort of "safe" after 5 years, but then we hear of someone getting it again after 15 years? Is it a new spot, or it couldn't be from her "last" cancer surgery, could it?
I know we have no guarantees, and that we can always get it again.... somewhere else, but I guess it just makes us appreciate every day given to us a little bit more....
I know Jackie has taken Arimidex, and seemed to tolerate it okay.... and then OTHERS have really severe joint pain... and can hardly walk. We are all so different... I took Tamoxifen for 1 1/2 years... then quit, because of losing my hearing.... but it would only happen in maybe one out of 20 women.
I didn't want to try Femara... after THAT I didn't want to try ANYthing...
Yes Jackie... I'll be thinking of you.... as always.... let us know... or do they make you wait a few days for results?
0 -
- My "new" wheels! 2011 Chevy Cruz.... A "little" different than my 1999 Chevy Prizm with that CLUTCH.... Ha!
0 -
Chevy: love the car! I don't know yet if my friend's cancer is a reoccurence or a new incidence. She was such a rock and a role model for me, it's hard to think about her going through this again, though so far Dr is only saying surgery and radiation, sure hope she can skip the chemo this time.
0 -
Ditto to the expressions of regret concerning your good friend, Puffin.
Hoping for good results from your mammo, Jackie.
Another relaxed day here. Got up earlier than I would have liked to go to the gym with dh. Have spent the remainder of the day mostly in the kitchen doing some seldom-done chores like cleaning out drawers and rearranging the contents.
It was foggy this morning but sunny out now and in the 70's. This is warmer than our normal early Dec. temperatures. This same weather is supposed to continue through the entire week, so I should be able to play golf tomorrow and Friday.
Happy Tues. to all.
0
