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Friends and Mortality
I have found when trying to discuss with my friends how life has changed, how faced with our mortality, how there is no cure and that this beast can raise it's ugly head at any point in time, I frequently get the response that "they also could be hit by a bus tomorrow". They seem to think it's the same thing. Yes, we all…
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new to cancer
Hi. I'm newly diagnosis with breast cancer in Jan 15.I found a lump on my right breast in November. I had a mommo right before Thanksgiving.I had my biopsy that showed I had Breast cancer. February 20 I had surgery a Right Segmental Mastectomy and Sentinel Node Biopsy. I cut my long hair after 2 days of crying. March 13 I…
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Navelbine
Has anyone been treated with Navelbine? I am having so much trouble with it hurting my bones.
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shingles....ouch!
I have read so many positive things at this site, but I for one am feeling very discouraged today. It seems like since I had chemo, I have to fight one infection after the other. I try to stay upbeat, but after having what seems like at least 2-3 sinus, throat, and ear infections every year since chemo, it makes me feel…
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Chemo and Heart Attacks.
This week I started experiencing some tightness in my chest along with shortness of breath. My chemo book said that these may be side effects of the treatment. So, I thought maybe it was the taxotere or maybe the neulasta. But, when taking my blood pressure this morning, I noticed that my pulse rate was extremely high for…
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Cheer
I wonder sometimes about the newly diagnosed or new to the site people who stop by and read a few of the posts. Of course we write when we are troubled (and I sure have!). Today I want to write that I am not troubled. Probably because my hair has just started to grow in. Yes, you need to look in the magnifying mirror to…
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my mom's masectomy
Hi All, I am a rectal cancer survivor and my mom just had surgery last Tuesday, modified radical masectomy on the right breast. Just wondering about the drains, she has two and I empty them often. He said about 3 days on one and about a week on the other. She is experiencing a burning sensation at the top of the…
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from femara to arimidex and nothing
Hi everyone. Well it will be 2 years in July, and I am hoping for a great mamo reading in July. Daughter will be married in September and it would be great to have joy in our life. I stopped Femara because of horrid side effects, and let my oncologist talk me into trying Arimidex. Well, I am on day 5 and the pain in my…
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liver problems?
My values for the blood tests for liver damage are up. Anybody else go through this? I am currently one round away from finishing my taxol. I have no symptoms, just wondering if elevated liver counts (aminotransferase) happened to anyone else and how serious it became. Thanks for any responses. Otherwise, I am doing great!…
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update on DCIS recurrence, etc
Well, the health insurance issue is resolved. Too boring to go into but a company we do not even do business with sent the cancelation letter. I am writing them a letter. The core needle biop. failed. They could not hold the breast in position to be seen on the screen so that the needle could be guided. The microcals. are…
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Stage 3C or Stage 4 Reconstruction
Hi All Is there anyone out there who was diagnosed with Stage IIIC or Stage IV that has had reconstruction? My seromas seem to have finally stopped and I'm feeling so much better now that they discovered that my thyroid function was severely damaged during chemo/RT. (I went 8 or 10 months without thyroid function) I've…
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Started My Radiation
Hello Everyone...Just had my second radiation treatment today and all is going well for me. I know I will get through this and come out okay. But I have a question to all of you. When you were taking your treatment, were you bothered by seeing so many other people going through so much and struggling to just live?…
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arm discomfort
I had a mastectomy on Feb. 21 along with lat flap reconstruction. My pain has improved 90%, but I just wanted to ask if other people have experienced pain and discomfort under their arms, and if, and how long, this takes to go away? My doctor said it's from when they removed the breast tissue, the nerve endings were…
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latis reconstruction
Back from my plastic surgeon who tells me that implants/expansion is difficult with radiation and that I am too thin for anything except a latissimus flap recon. Anyone do expansion after radiation? Anyone have a latis dorsi reconstruction? I am tempted to live with what I have (and what I don't have). First I will go see…
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poorly differentiated?
I am including a copy of an email I got from SusanLoveMd for all of you sisters, like me, who were told that their tumor was poorly differentiated. Getting this news was scary for me, but a doctor told me that it was good news because the chemo is effective against these poorly differentiated boogers. It is a small thing,…
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Hot Flashes relating to tamoxifen therapy
Hi, my name is Patti, I just had my 3 anniversary of being (Breast) cancer free. The last stage of my treatment after chemo & radiation is Hormone therapy (tamoxifen therapy) I have been on tamoxifen therapy since 11/1/05 & have 2 1/2 years to go before I'm done. I have HORRIBLE hot flashes & they have consumed my life!…
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Just read....there are over 250,000 of us!!!
Yup, over a quarter of a million people have been diagnosed with breast cancer all told....whew! And with better 'early detection techniques', more and more are surviving...Yea! So my question, and one posed by the article as well, who should follow we long-term survivors, since the oncologists are getting more and more…
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Oncotype/decision to get chemo or not
I just had a mastectomy for invasive intraductal bc. My tumor was 1.1 cm and did not spread to the lymph nodes. My tissue is being analyzed in the new Oncotype test and I will have the recurrence score on March 24. It is my understanding that it will either fall into the high or low risk categories of recurrence, or there…
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recurrence after tram/dcis
Hi, I am an old timer but have been inactive for a while. I was dx in Jan, 2004, with dcis in my rt. breast, hormone and pr. negative, high nuc. grade 3, comedo subtype with extensive necrosis. And it was 2.5 c.m in size, so it was large and ready to rock and roll. Had to force the biopsy as the microcal. looked benign,…
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Scams?
Wow, talk about cancer! Am I wrong, or every once in a while do people come on this site to sell or promote things that have no business on a place of safety such as this should be. I didn't check out the link from Juan, maybe I am overreacting. If there is something amiss from time to time, does CSN Dana step in? I don't…
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Heart Surgery after Chest Radiation
I will be needing a valve replacement (not related cancer) and my cardiologist says consideration has to be made because of the radiation and potential for not healing as well. I did have a recurrance after the radiation and mastectomy followed by an infection that put me in the hospital for a week. Funny, when the…
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Question about Arimidex study
My first time and wanted to ask if any one has heard of a new study being done on Arimidex. I am 5 years out now and will be going off Arimidex in Aug. My doctor has suggested that I go on this study. He said that reserach has showed that there is a 2% chance that the breast cancer will come back. They are hoping to find…
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more about the BRCA test
I recently had a mastectomy for invasive early stage bc. I went to see a geneticist to find out about being tested for the breast cancer mutation. Although I wrote to the group before about the pros and cons of getting this test, I now have additional questions since I got more information from the geneticist: 1.) the…
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Flat Chest
I once was a 48c and then nine years ago I had breast cancer and both breast were removed. It never once occurred to me to have any type of reconstructive surgery. I like my flat look, and I am so much more than a set of boobs. (I know many don't feel this way...but there are a few of us who just don't need 'em).
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Look for me on the catwalk!!!
I am soooo excited! After narrowing it down to 8 survivors, I am now going to be in a fashion show hosted by Komen Race for the Cure (I participate yearly) in Anaheim, CA, near where I live. They are partnered with a natural foods company that is underwriting it, and we 8 will be at the end, wearing dresses made from the…
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chosing a plastic surgeon
My question is like the one below. Specifically, what can I do to make sure my plastic surgeon knows what he is doing. Websites to look him up on? Questions to ask? He is, by the way Jesus Garcia, with Kaiser, if by small chance anyone has run into him. Thanks for writing! love, Joyce
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Breast Reconstruction Questions
Hello. I am 43 years old. This is the first time I've posted on this. I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of the right breast in October 2007. I have had 2 surgeries to remove the cancerous tissue. The first surgery removed the micro-calcifications found on the Mammograms. They thought they got clear margins,…
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Services for Survivors
I first have to say that I really appreciate all the women who organized several years ago and created the awareness of breast cancer and forced the legislatures etc to direct more funding to research. I don't know that I would be here today, but for them. I wonder though if it isn't time to start putting some of that…
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We have a Plan!!
Hello everyone, I posted last week because my Mom has been diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma of the right breast. I myself am a one year survivor of stage 3 rectal cancer and doing great. We met with Mom's surgeon today and the surgery is scheduled for March 11th, modified radical mastectomy with auxially lymph…
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Worried....
Hello everyone, its me again, Josie. I have been reading the boards lately and have found so much support and comfort in you ladies, I can't even tell you how much you all have helped me in my 3 year road trip with BC. I completed my chemo treatment for my recurrence in Oct and low and behold, I feel like its back already.…