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Other people's perception
Does anyone else have the problem with friends (and others) having a perception of you that is not correct? I have gotten to the point where I don't like letting others know any "new" developments because they think (and almost expect ) the worst. Last spring I found out that the BC had spread to my bones but we only found…
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Heartburn from Taxotere & Doxil?
Has anyone gotten severe heartburn from Taxotere or Doxil? Im receiving both of them and it seems 2-3 days later everytime I try to eat heartburn seems to happen and it's intense. If anyone can shed some light on how to help this please give me some advice. Thank you & god bless.
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infection
I recently had my nipples made and am suffering through one heck of an infection. Not only is my previously radiated breast infected but my whole body has been zapped by the infection. I've missed 4 days of work so far. My plastic surgeon put me on strong antibiotics last week, as soon as the infection surfaced, but I am…
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Pain from Aredia
I have metastatic breast cancer (bones). I am being treated with Taxol three times a month and Aredia once a month. My entire body aches from my head to my toes. Anyone else being treated with this combination have a lot of pain. Darvocet helps, but I'm afraid to take too many.
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Beat's me why...
Maybe someone can help me out here, cause I sure don't understand... one of the "12 dangerous dietary supplements" to be taken off the market by the FDA is 'skullcap' (Huang Qin). Didn't mean much to me because I'm not familiar with it, don't take it, but then I go to the NCCAM website. A division of the NIH - National…
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Osteoporosis update
Hi everyone. Saw one of my oncologists last week and his suggestion regarding my bone density test results (-3 for spine L1 region) was calcium supplements and exercises. I wasn't too pleased since I had read that supplements are a good way to prevent osteoporosis, not to treat it. Anyway, I ran it by a few of my favorite…
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Nutrition
I am a registered nurse and breast cancer survivor, my radiation oncologist recommended I start taking a product called Juice Plus. It is 17 fruits and vegs in a capsule form. This product has been studied by major universities and is shown to improve immune system and decrease DNA damage. I just want others to know it is…
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Fibroadenoma - biopsy or not?
I had a mastectomy last May. I have a fibroadenoma in the other breast and I have one physician saying I should have a sterotaxic biopsy, the other one saying I don't need it. Checked web and depending on the website you're on depends on whether or not biopsy is recommended. Anyone have similar experience? Appreciate your…
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Deciding Participation Research?
Hello all. I am sitting here trying to think how to figure out if I should stay in a research study I'm in. I know it is a personal decision but unsure if I am making the right decision. My husband does not like it all (that I'm in study). I'm taking clondronatye 800mg x2 or a Placebo. This drug is for bone strengenthing,…
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Excessive swelling after bi-lateral mascetomy and reconstruction
Hi, I had my surgery on March 29th-the drains from my breast are out, only one abdominal drain is left in. My breast's are engorged, feel rock hard and x'ly painful. Any suggestions on how to help reduce the swelling and pain.
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HAPPY EASTER!
Hi All! Just wanted to wish everybody a Happy and Healthy Easter! ENJOY!! HUGS!! Cathy
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No Right to Grieve
My heart is breaking this morning and I can find no solace. There are those in my family (husband and mother-in-law) that feel I do not have the right to grieve for my father. My "dear" 86 yo mother-in-law stated that because I had not seen nor corresponded with my father in so long that "it should not matter then". What…
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Thank you...
to all who replied regarding dietary supplements. Whether you agree or not my main concern is patient awareness at this time. Granted the 12 supplements they are pulling may be dangerous and that's great that they are looking out for the public. My concern is, as patients, we apparently think we know certain substances…
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Lymphedema massages & exercises
I am interested in seeing if anybody out there can answer two questions that have been confusing to me. I think I have Stage II Lymphedema (the least serious stage that will always require attention. Here are the questions: 1) I think I was fortunate to have my condition discovered as early as I did and also fortunate that…
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Joint Pain
It has been 8 months since my last chemo treatment, but now and since i have been going through terrible pain in my joints and muscles and especially in my hip. I can hardly walk, I just woould like to find others that have experienced this and what there doc. did and what they are doing ... I took cytoxian and eparubison.…
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Fluid intake
What types of drinks besides water and Gatorade are best to take during chemo? I am a 33yr woman dx with breast cancer currently doing aggressive chemo. 8 treatments - every other week - 4 Adriamycin & Cytoxan followed by 4 Taxol. Just finished AC. I'm tired of drinking just water and Gatorade.
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HELLO!
OK ladies, it has started, I know the hair and nails issues are important, but for those of you who take ANY dietary supplements you should know without supplements hair and nails don't grow. Meaning: I think a lot of us are here today not because of chemo and radiation, but because of chemo, radiation AND dietary…
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Going NUTS! Am I expecting too much?
I got a DCIS DX 2 month's ago and still do not know what my treatment plan is. My new surgeon says the NYC system is overloaded... small consolation when I want to know if I'm losing my breast. Anyway.... today's nutty inspiring event is I'm waiting for my MRI results and the doc is off for the holiday (and thus the…
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In a hurry
I finished treatment one yr ago. I was recently divorced shortly before diagnosis. While undergoing treatment, I was presented with the opportunity to buy the house I was renting. To make a long story short, I did it. I love fixing and changing something that is mine. Recently, a friend diagnosed several yrs before me had…
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Dissapoted
hi all just to usdate everyone i had brest cancer in 03 had mastecomy and chemo.WEll then jan of 04 my cacncer has came back in the lung an rib cage I have done 6 rounds of chemo and was thinking i was done went in for test yesterday and the doc said it is about 50% better but not gone so he wants more chemo done.I was…
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I am afraid it's spreading
I was diagnosed last April, had a 3.5 lump removed, all the margins were clear as well as the 15 lymph nodes. Did the chemo and radiation and finished up with that at the end of September. I went in for my 6 month with the radiation onc. and she did a routine x-ray and I didn't think anything of it. The next week I got a…
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My Father is Dead
Don't know of any nicer way to put it. Police officer came to my door today and told me he committed suicide yesterday...shot himself. I haven't seen him in 34 years but the news of his suicide brought back many old memories. Thought I didn't care about him anymore...now I know I loved him, he was my father. At this point,…
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tight ligament
I was wondering if anyone had this problem. During my chemo, I noticed a pulling sensation in the arm that chemo was given in. Now there is a tendon that pops up ,when I stretch my arm to reach for something and is very tight like a guitarr string.At first it looks like my vein but it isn`t.The nurse at the radiation area…
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Panicked about going back to work
I just received a letter from my disability insurer. They have assigned a nurse consultant to my case to 'help' me get back to work right away. I am totally panicked! I just finished treatments three weeks ago and my Doc and I agreed I would go back July 1st. I run a business program at a university. We've had over 60% of…
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Hot Flashes
Help! I am on tamoxifen and the hotflashes are wicked. I'm sure many of you can relate. I'm lucky if I can sleep two hours at a stretch. I'm exhausted. Has anyone tried Evening Primrose or acupunture. Would appreciate any advice you can give. I have to stay away from all estrogen related products.
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nipple reconstruction
Hi, I haven't visited here for awhile and see lots of new names! It's wonderful people keep coming and that I can come back! I just had nipple reconstuction with a donor skin from my inner thigh/groin area. I was told I could take off bandages in 2 days and shower. so today was the big "let's see how I look now day" When I…
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Depression /no appetite & no sleep
Hello. Im writing because Im having some trouble with the depression part of this treatment. I have a family that is around always and Im still pretty active & was pretty positive but that's not helping. Im finding myself looking into the death aspect of this B/C. I am diagnosed with advanced B/C and Im on a clinical trial…
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New Treatment???
This is driving me CRAZY for feedback! A couple of days ago BJaye wrote: "I have another question. My oncologist is suggesting I get on a stage 3 drug trial that uses dose-dense treatments every 2 weeks and has a 50/50 chance of patient getting either A/C or Taxol only. No other chemo meds, but support for low blood…
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Bones Mets-How do they present?
Hi again-I am so thankful for this forum-you Ladies are so great about communicating your experiences and knowledge-I'd feel very much alone in all this if I didn't have this venue and you Ladies to bounce things off of :) Question - bone mets, I know, usually present themselves with ever increasing pain - can this pain be…
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Dense Breast-MRI vs. Mammogram
Hi All-I had my first 3 month checkup post chemotherapy this past week-my Oncologist scheduled a mammogram of my left breast(my last one was taken last May when I was diagnosed) and a bone scan (because I am experiencing intermittant pain in the small of my back). He said that my mammogram came back okay, but that due to…