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Breast Cancer

Archives for August 2008

darn drain
surgery almost a week ago and this darn drain gets clogged with clots (hate to be gross). I am tempted to cut the drain line so that the drain bulb sits next to my bra and not my waistband so it is easier to push the clots through. Would cutting the line cause any great side effect?
arm numbness
I had my surgery one week ago. I had 4 lymph nodes removed I don't have all the tests back yet but I know the sentinel node had cancer cells and I am in stage 2. I am awaiting the tests of the other three nodes and of course my post op therapy has yet to begin. My upper right arm in thye tricep area is numb down to my…
First chemo started
Saw the Oncologist on Tuesday and started first chemo on Friday. Because I'm triple neg nd possibily basal like (more aggressive) due to other markers, my options were to do nothing or chemo. He offered to Oncotype DX but he felt I was too near the 12 week rule of thumb to get treatment started and sending specimen for…
Running again
Ladies, Bill, and especially Chen: I just got back from Big 5 with a bag of running shoes, socks, and shorts (everything but ponytail holders). My daughter had called me and wants me to train for distance running with her, something I haven't done in a while. I thought, "Well, shoot, Chen can do it - so can I". Chen, I…
My mom was just diagnosed with breast cancer
My mom this week was diagnosed with breast cancer this week and this has been the hardest week of my life. having never dealt with anything like this I have no idea what I am up for. I have cried the past 3 days and been mad at everything cause I just have no idea what she will be going through or I can't even imagine what…
Hair Coloring
I am also Her2+. At this time, my hair has grown out a little more than one inch now after my chemo, radiation and breast mastectomy. I am on Herceptin infusion every three weeks and will be until November 2008. How have you all decided on coloring or not coloring your hair. Also, I am 53, 170 lbs, newly married. Prior to…
Brachytherapy
I had a lumpectomy 2 weeks ago, and am thinking of having brachytherapy. Has anyone done this, is it painful?
Da Vinci Surgery
Hi Everyone..I will be seeing the doc tomorrow to discuss my upcoming hysterectomy. One of the things his nurse mentioned to me was that he wants to discuss this type of surgery. I looked on the internet and everything I have read sounds like this would be a wonderful alternative to the usual "stab and poke". Have any of…
Arimidex or Aromasin
I need some advice on these 2 estrogen blockers. I have been taking arimidex for 1 1/2 years and am having problems with muscle and joint pain.I have grained weight and at times am so tired. Went for my checkup today and my Dr.suggested trying Aromasin for a couple weeks. she gave me a sample pack to try and see if it made…
not a tomoxofin candidate/finished chemo/radiation
in early august..prior to that i had a partial mastectomy..now i'm going to see my oncologist tomorrow for my follow up to the future...i don't want to miss any important questions i should be asking other than the obvious..is there a site that could guide me to or send some questions to ask that you might not have asked…
IBC update
Hi Girls, Just wanted to let you know I had my check up today and chemo treatment. I was really happy to hear the ibc is starting to disappear in left side of breast and in right side it is softening up and not as red. My onc. is really happy with the progress this abraxene is doing for me. Will let you know as I have…
going thru mastectomy again/need support
I had invasive intraductal cancer on my left breast and had a mastectomy in January (I chose to have a mastectomy even though the tumor was very small and had not spread to my lymph nodes). After I went thru the surgery, I found out I am BRCA 1 and am choosing to have a preventive mastectomy with immediate reconstruction…
Is my Dr. crazy to not order follow up PET/CT scans?
I am 33, and was diagnosed with IDC last October. Surgery (mastectomy) in November revealed it had spread to 6 of 16 lymph nodes, so between that info and size of tumor I was categorized as Stage III. Had 4 months of chemo, followed by 8 weeks radiation, and now am on tamoxifen for at least 5 years. My question is: My…
Support outside the Circle of Family & Friends
Hey "Club Members" this is one CLUB I certainly do NOT want to be PRESIDENT of! *Smiles* I am just wondering if anyone has tried the support groups from the ACS, I am seriously thinking of exploring this option. Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks Hugs and High Fives! Trish
Breast Pain-New Here
Hi, I was just wondering if anyone would know when the pain in your breast goes away after having well 2 lumpectomies. The last one I had was July 3rd, 2008, and i'm still feeling like a burning, stabbing pain. I start radiation Sept. 3rd, and i'm really nervous about that. They say you get fatigue, I'm always so tired as…
Breast cancer twice
I have finished chemo for the second time in 2years and started the first of 35 rads. Are there any others who have had it twice? What do I need to expect in regards to it coming back again.
mastectomy bras reviews?
Hi Everyone, I'm 10 weeks post mastectomy and am now in the process of searching for mastectomy bras. I'm hoping to find a "sexy" mastectomy bra, but I am finding that to be easier said than done. Everything seems so plain and unattractive. I've searched online for quite a bit but have not found much. Most websites don't…
Any Triple Negatives?
Hi, I am a two time survivor of triple neg bc and wondered if any other triple negs were on this board?
Dropping treatment
Well after this last weekend of absolute misery, I am rethinking this whole chemotherapy thing. Had my first taxotere - mouth sores, feet feel blistered, unable to move - what am I doing to myself and for what? I made it through the c/a and this was supposedly "better" - just not sure it is worth it. I read the posts - it…
when do the aches and pains go away?
Hi Everyone Now i am well known for doing 50 things at a time and running before i can walk!!, i am 4 weeks after my last chemo (no rads needed), have taken up Yoga and am back to work, trying to keep active as much as possible, but am finding my body doesnt want to do what my brain does, popping plenty of Nurafen Plus to…
Mild chemo side effects
Hi everybody, I'm a newby still, I had my first chemo treatment (FAC) a little more than two weeks ago, my second treatament will be in 3 days. The first four days I was jittery, sleepy, but unable to sleep... i think it was because of the steriods I took those first four days. I haven't had any nausea, but I have had…
Our Emails, etc are NOT lost!!!!! Honestly!
I, like you, have been through so much since my dx way back in 2003. I need not mention all of the treatment, etc, as you had them too! One thing which kept me grounded was the sent and received emails from my friends here on CSN. Since 2003 I have never, ever deleted any of the mail I got~ nor those I sent. When I noticed…
MRI before surgery is very important
If you are going to have surgery for breast cancer make sure you ask your doctor to do a MRI to make sure there are no other tumors.A digital mamo gram may not show everything.Thats what happened to me and now I have tumors that were missed .Stay on top of your care and dont be afraid to ask a lot of questions.My…
Taxol joint pain
O.K., this is the 2nd time I've typed this---I agree, this site leaves A LOT to be desired. I finished A/C and just got Taxol #1. Now I have pain in my leg and hip joints. It's enough of an ache to keep me up at night. Took naproxen (Aleve) with not much relief. Tylenol was only slightly better. When I took my occasional…
Still confused
How come I don't get two little molecule things with a plus sign by them next to my name? I don't know what it is for so I started making stuff up - are they supposed to be breasts? Should I have only one? I will get this all figured out someday soon. Love, Joyce
LYMPHEDEMA
Hello Everyone RE here. I have lymphedema to the left arm and hand and recently have had new problems. In the last eight months I have had a rash on the same side of my body and biopsy cannot determine what it is. Very recently my breast turned very red and itchy which lasted ten days. I ended up applying aloe from a plant…
Femara side effects
I am a two time breast cancer survivor and after 5 years on Tamoxifen my oncologist switched me to Femara. I could only take it for more than a year since I started getting horrible bone/joint pain. Has anyone experienced these symptoms? I'd love to hear from you. Thanks. God Bless.
Problem with swelling...
Hi All, I am 2 1/2 weeks post-op for mastectomy and lymph node removal. Drains came out last week and the doctor said that when the drain holes healed over, I would probably get some swelling in the area of the incision on the chest. I do not have swelling in the arm. Well, the holes have closed and I am getting swelling…
implant
I had immediate reconstruction and have an expander. Now its nearing time to make a decision on which implant - saline or silicone. Thought I'd ask for any experience or input? Thanks, Kit
Everything is fine:o)
Hi everyone, I just realized that I don't think I did a final update on my recent ovarian cancer scare. Anyway, when I saw the surgeon, he did an exam and had trouble feeling the "mass" so he did an ultrasound. Turns out it had shrunk 8 cms in just 2 days! Definitely a cyst. He then raised concern about my thickened…

Breast Cancer

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