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Breast Cancer

Archives for February 2008

Cytoxan and Taxotere
I had my first chemo yesterday with cytoxan and Taxotere. Straight CT cocktail. Had an allergic reaction , big time, to Taxotere, but received decardron and benedry to counteract it. Then proceeded on with treatment. Today I fell like a zombie. I'm here but I'm not here. My arms and legs feel like they each weigh a ton and…
How to dance in the Rain....
How To Dance In The Rain > It was a busy morning, about 8:30 , when an elderly gentleman in his 80's, arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. > I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to…
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!
Love Is... Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. - Corinthians…
Sisterhood Gift
Dear Sisters, The gift each of you give of yourself by chatting on-line, writing responses on the message board, writing emails, sharing your own emotions, strengths, weaknesses have all been a gift to each of us. For all those survivors that keep in touch over the years, it is a total inspiration to us that are new. We…
self love
This is just a thought I wanted to share that maybe you have had too. My work asked us to bring a picture of ourselves when we were little. So I hauled out the old photos to pick one out. As I looked through my life in pictures I was at first struck with sadness. Look at that little girl, me, how unfair that she should…
Broken out in hives
I've been a really good sport for almost ten months now, but my patience is wearing thin...I have had 5 months of chemo, a bilateral mastectomy with expanders put in, and 6 weeks of radiation. There was a build up of fluid around the radiated expander which ended up in having to have the expander removed. Now, I have one…
Knots In My Stomach
Hello. I was diagnosed with BC on Christmas Eve. I've been through Biopsy, Lumpectomy, Echocardiogram, Muga, and am still waiting for the start of Chemotherapy. For the past several weeks, I have been suffering from terrible knots in my stomach. I know they are from stress, and I've had a lot of stress as I am sure all…
Lump Scares = Mastectomy?
Well as we all know after having invasive breast cancer we get to have those LOVELY check ups every three months for three years. At my checkups, it seems like they keep having 'lump scares' - one leading to an aspiration and several leading to followups as well as your hurry up and wait 'we'll see what happens' plan of…
Breast Cancer Site
Hi everyone, I just received this email and wanted to share it with you. I'm going to pass it on to friends and family because as I understand it while our mammograms are covered for everyone, there are women in the U.S. that can't afford one. I do hope this helps them. jan * I * 6 * Y Please tell ten friends to tell ten…
Thank You All
I just want to thank all of you who have responded to my postings and/or emailed me. I start my chemo tomorrow and I'm ready. You've all given such great tips and such fantastic encouragement that I'm going to face this thing head on and fight my way through. Thanks again for being there. I really appreciate it.
Heading up on the roller coaster
I wanted to thank so many of you for responding to my other message. I know that even though you might not have written, I have felt everyones caring and understanding, and....support. Thank you so much for thinking of me and writing. To be honest, I have been so exhausted and down but I have been feeling so many hugs from…
tamoxifen
Hi everyone, I was wondering if there was anybody out there post menopausal on tamoxifen that a) has had vision changes and b) every so often feels like they are going to start their period. That heavy achy feeling. I've only started feeling that way since taking tamoxifen. They've done an endometrium ultrasound and…
recovery time/mastectomy/lattimus flap
I am going to have a mastectomy and then immediate reconstruction (I know I am not spelling this correctly, but it's the lattimus dorsal flap with skin sparing mastectomy - they told me it's a new procedure involving using the outer skin from the breast, inserting an implant, and then taking some skin from my side). Does…
recovery time/mastectomy/lattimus flap
I am going to have a mastectomy and then immediate reconstruction (I know I am not spelling this correctly, but it's the lattimus dorsal flap with skin sparing mastectomy - they told me it's a new procedure involving using the outer skin from the breast, inserting an implant, and then taking some skin from my side). Does…
Chat Room TONIGHT!!!!
remember to come! 9pm est and I forget the difference in others..sorry :( west coast I think is 6pm, then there is a 8pm hope this helps.
Shortened Life
I guess I am just feeling blue but in my bones I feel I don't have much time. Yes, I have received blood results that don't look good but that is not it. I guess I am just on the down swing of the roller coaster and toooo tired to chug up the hill. I have received so much support from the chats and the message boards. It…
Ixempra
I have been told that I am going to start a new treatment called Ixempra. It is a new drug and I was wondering if anyone has used it and what to expect from the side effects. Thanks
after arimidex
After 5 years of arimidex, what's next? Thanks to all u respond. Sue
Chemo Side Effects - How Long Do They Last?
I've heard about the metallic taste, nausea, vomitting, exhaustion, joint pain, and neuropathy. How long do these side effects last? Are you nauseated for the entire twelve weeks or for a few days after the infusion? Does the metallic taste last the entire time? Is this why people lose weight while on chemo? I know the PA…
reconstruction recovery time
I have gotten a few email replies in my mailbox, but I wanted to ask the group (those of you who had TRAM Flap reconstruction): how long did it take for you to be able to sit and stand after you had the procedure, even with some discomfort? I am concerned about the lengthy recovery time because I have my own business and…
getting through chemo
I check this page everyday now. The encouragement is incredible and also the lovely safe feeling of being among sisters. I am being tossed around by Taxol at the moment and feeling achy and I wanted to write to all of you who are in the same place, bravely, or not so bravely, in the middle of chemo battle. Let's all get…
confused about all the different types of reconstruction
I am going to have a mastectomy and definitely want reconstruction, but there seem to be so many types that I am confused! Can people advise me of their experiences with the different types? Also, how long did it take you to resume normal activities with the Tram flap (I'm a social worker and just sit in a chair and talk…
question about reconstruction and mammograms
Maybe someone can answer this question for me: my breast surgeon told me when you have a mastectomy, there is no breast tissue so the cancer cannot come back in that breast (I assumed that this means there is no need to mammogram the reconstructed breast). But now that I am researching reconstruction I am confused because…
which reconstruction
Hello, group. It's ohilly. After much going back and forth, I have now decided to definitely get a mastectomy (I was leaning toward this anyway). So now I am going to focus my questions on the different types of reconstruction, which I understand are tram flap and implants. Can someone tell me their experiences with both…
Robin Roberts
Goodmoring sisters, I hope many of you were able to watch Robin Roberts walk the runway today decked out in her georgeous red, sequeined gown, and shiny bald head. She has shared much of her story with us openly, honestly, and with dignity, and today she displayed the courage all of us find dealing with this monster. I…
No reconstruction after rads?
Whoa, what's this? I am looking forward to my reconstruction after my radiation (six weeks of it). I am happy just to have implants. Is this not possible after radiation? Anyone have implants after radiation? I am small breasted and was planning on upping the stakes a little with the redo for fun. Yep, I look for fun where…
mastectomy breast care survivors - I want to hear from you
I am obsessing about this question: whether to have a lumpectomy or mastectomy and have written in several times! However, now I am asking only people who chose to have a mastectomy over a lumpectomy AND had early stage breast cancer (my tumor is 1.8 cm and I have inductal invasive carcinoma) to reply. I'll be looking for…
Wigs - Where to Buy
With hair loss eminent due to chemo, I've decided to take the bull by the horns and get my head shaved BEFORE it clumps it way out of my scalp. I also want to get one wig, for just in case, I feel the need to have hair. Can anyone suggest a good source? How do they size wigs? The ones on the ACS catalog website run about…
more questions about the issue of mastectomy vs. lumpectomy
Hi, I'm ohilly. I have invasive intraductal carcinoma with a tumor of 1.8 cm. They also found calcifications contained in the duct behind this tumor which they do not know if they are cancerous or not. My mind was all made for a mastectomy, but now I have more questions which I am hoping someone can answer for me. I was…
Chemo for Me - Help
I just learned that my Oncotype test results placed me in the high risk group - 36/100. This means chemo. She thinks she will use a combo of cytoxan and taxotere. Anyone out there had any experience with this cocktail? If so, would you please share. It' strange. I'm not happy about chemo, but knowing is so much better than…

Breast Cancer

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