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Heat Waves
I'm 49 and just finished my chemotherapy and radiation treatments. The chemo brought on menopause and hot flashes. I have probably 1 an hour. My doctor says I should avoid soy and black cohosh and other things like that. I'm taking vitamin C and E, but still wake up several times a night. Any suggestions? Any insight as to…
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Depressed...
I feel so alone.I found this site and after reading thought this could help me.I was Dx in Nov.2007 & had a lumpectomy on Dec. 12th 2007 the nodes and margins were clear, I had stage 1 BC and am ER(+) after surgery I did 34 rounds of radiation therapy, my last round was April fools day 2008. I am now currently taking…
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newly diagnosed and completely overwhelmed
On 9/3/08 I was diagnosed with stage II gradeI invasive ductal carcinoma. Tumor was 2.1cm. Yesterday I had a lumpectomy with sentinel node biopsy. I have a folllowup appt with the surgeon on 9/22 to find out if the margins were clear and whether nodes were positive or negative. When the surgeon first told me it was cancer,…
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Neutropenic fever
Started chemo on 8/29/08. On Day 10 I had a temperature of 100.3 and white blood cell count of 200 (less than 500 puts one at moderate risk during chemo). Patients with neutropenia - abnormally low number of WBC (neutrophils) - are suspectible to infections so I was hospitalized for 3 days for high doses of antibiotics by…
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Hair Loss
On day 14 hair started to fall out. Seems to be falling out from the bottom and not so much from the top. My hair dresser said it usually takes 24 to 72 hours to lose most hair. I have a wig and hat, but I'm not ready to shave head. What is your experience with timing of hair loss?
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Implants
Has anyone had an implant after radiation? I had a mastectomy and it was followed by an infection. I am having cosmetic surgery to correct the appearance left by the infection. My mast. was 11 years ago, radiation ended 1998. My doc can use a small implant to fix it.
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is this possible?
I've only had two rounds of radiation so far, and oh my God, does my body hurt. I feel as though somebody beat me up and feel burning under my arm. Do you think this can be from the radiation already? If so, what's the next 6 weeks going to be like? Thank You All For Always Being Here.................this site is the…
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Starting Tamoxifen*****
Hi sisters, it's been a long time since i've posted anything but once again i have questions. I'm doing my rads now for the next 5 weeks and the oncologist gave me my RX for the white pill for the next 5 yrs. Okay, so i know it causes hot flashes something wicked and i've read about the crazy weight gain, (like i need more…
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Is the beast back?
Each time there is an ache or a pain, as everyone knows - you always think to yourself "is it back"? I've been struggling with a few things since my original diagnosis in Feb, 06 My most recent is pain & numbness in my previously unaffected side - Feels like there is a hot poker in my armpit area, very sensitive skin and…
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Diagnosis... Stage Four Breast Cancer into the Bones
I am a survivor of Breast Cancer with one positive lymph node affected. Was diagnosed end of 2005 and had double mastectomy, chemo, and radiation throughout 2006. Now my best friend has just been diagnosed yesterday with Stage Four Breast Cancer and it's in the bones already. Not sure how this will be treated or if it can…
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overwhelmed
Hello all! Im new to this web site. Glad to have found it, seems like a great way to share all. Since we have to bare all. The whole privacy and modisty days are over for me. After being dinosed with DCIS in my right breast and after recoverying.....LCIS in my left breast.Tamox for a month then off of it due to side…
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Life that goes on
Well Ladies and gents~ I am back. I got my daughter married off and get back into the swing of things as coming to this board. I see that chat is back but can't seem to see where to chime in...I'll figure it out. Crazy when our comfy ways get scrambled... hugs to all, welcome to the newbies you have found a wonderful site…
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venting time
Well, this is my first time writing but the thoughts in my head could fill a book. I had my double mastectomy in June with expanders at the time of surgery. Initially it did not seem as if any other treatment would be necessary but the final pathology ruled otherwise. I got through the drainage tubes, the weekly fills, one…
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mastectomy forms
I am looking to purchase some forms and would like information on the type/brand name. Am looking for advice. Any feedback would be helpful.
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First chemo today...
Hello wonderful people! I had my first chemo session this morning. Everyone was just so wonderful and did everything in their power to make things as comfortable as possible. I have been so happy with the doctors that I have chosen! And their staff! Anyway, the actual infusion itself was not nearly as bad as I had…
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Tamoxifen and fatigue
Hi Everyone I haven't been on in awhile but I finished chemo at the end of August and started Tamoxifen. I have been on Tamoxifen for 1 week and started to feel extreme tiredness since. I am not sure if it is the Tamoxifen or not but to make it through the day I have to take a nap. Which is fine and dandy for now because…
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new life, new boob !
Just letting you lovely ladies know i'm off to see the plastic surgeon tomorrow, see about getting myself a new boob, hooray, looking forward to having a cleavage again. i remember being diagnosed in February and thinking, "just take the thing off, its let me down", breasts have become my enemy, when i see them i think of…
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second mastectomy
I seem to move from one fear or obsession to the other. I received a lot of support from this board about my fear that my hair would never grow back: well, the good news is that it IS growing back! Every day I see a little progress. Now I am writing about my upcoming second mastectomy on Sept. 18. I had bc back in January,…
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Surgical Pathology Report
Hi everyone! As many of you already know, I had a mastectomy almost two weeks ago with lymph node dissection. I have my pathology report and wanted to share: 1 positive Lymph node Stage II (not sure if A or B) They took 16 nodes in all with the one being positive. I am a 'triple negative' meaning I do not test positive for…
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The next step
Well I met with the oncologist and she agreed that the reaction was so severe (13 days after I still was unable to walk due to pain in the feet) that we would halt the chemo and go on to radiation. I met with the radiologist and his staff today - am hopeful it will go well and I will soon be on the other side. Will meet…
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THANK YOU!
I was browsing the internet and ran across this quote: Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. Mother Teresa I Immediately thought of all of you and the kind words you pen here daily and how they are so helpful and full of hope. There have been many times when I have read someones…
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The BC Blues
I have been reading so many posts, my own included, that speak of depression - usually after treatment. Lets put our heads together, our hearts together, and think of some ways we can beat this. I think post treatment depression is a little different than the biological blues that attack other seemingly fine people. Their…
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Scare with every new pain or symptom
I finished with the chemo treatments at the end of June, and went back to work at the end of July. Instead of working 5 days, I made arragements to work only 4, and take Wednesdays off to do things for me. But, as I read that happened to many others, my body is feeling good, but my mind is playing games with me. I need to…
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Am I the Only One?
Last night, I watched "Stand Up To Cancer." I cried for everyone on that program and I cried for myself. In fact, I'm still bummed out today. I know that all of those celebraties were doing a wonderful thing - but I was overwhelmed and saddened by the entire show. Even though they kept saying that a cure was in sight, I…
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lumpy bits ?
Does anyone else have lumpy bits under their arm where they had mastectomy and lymph nodes out?, im only 4 weeks out of my last chemo so im pretty confident its nothing nasty, but your input will hopefully ease my mind. Tan x
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Does Anyone Else Hate their Surgeon???
I know "hate" is a strong word, but I have good reason. First, she was recommended by my gyn doc, so I went with her. From the very first, she has been like an Army Sargeant with little compassion or regard for me as a person. At first I thought she was just being professional, but I now think she has done SO MANY…
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Thought for the Day
Hi Ladies, I was flipping through a magazine today and came upon a quote that I liked and made me think of each of you: "She didn't just survive --- she became." Just wanted to share. Hugs, Kim
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Reconstruction
Facing 4th surgery for breast reconstruction. Had expander at masectemy,then silicon gel implant, then a revision, and next the nipple? My plastic surgeon suggested using the areola tissue of the good breast. I am nervous about tampering with a good breast. Can anyone comment?
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Been a while
Hi everyone, It's been a while since I posted - but I always recommend the Cancer Survivors Network to anyone I think can benefit from it. It was great support for me when I was going through treatment. I finished treatment in 2005 and just had another minor surgery in July of this year. Everything turned out ok. A friend…
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Sentinel Node Biopsy and a question
Is it possible to have negative sentinel nodes but positive lymph nodes? Also if you have positive sentinel nodes and they say they took two layers of lymph nodes does anyone know what that means? I have gotten two different pieces of communication one from the surgeon through my mom and a co worker (I didn't talk to him…