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Breast Cancer

Archives for January 2010

I start chemo tomorrow.
I want to thank you all for bearing with me while I decided what to do. I will receive my first dose through a central line which my oncologist promised will be removed the same day and if I survive the first dose, I will get a port before the second dose is due. I'm not nearly as brave as the rest of you, but you have…
Bone Mets
I have bone mets, no other metasteses sites.. I've already had chemo once (and radiation). Does anyone know whether I can/should have chemo again, perhaps a different mix of chems? I will be going to the oncologist Friday, but am anxious and want answers NOW. Thanks for letting me vent a little anxiety.
vertigo after rads today
Ugh! 7th rads, it was a little longer today and I've had vertigo since I got off the table. I am so nauseous. After I had my gallbaldder removed 2 yrs ago, I was hospitalized 2 days later with a vertigo and I have it occaisionally. I guess it's positional. Does anyone else have this? Any suggestions? I was wondering if I…
how does Dr. find out what your tumor markers number are? I know so little.....
I know so little about my cancer even though I am at Stage 4. Maybe a bad oncologist? I don't know. I read here many times about tumor markers, ER/PR negative or positive. Do they get these numbers through blood work? Thanks, Peggy
Braca 2 test/family genes
I just got my gene test back yesterday and I have the gene, I will complete my chemo in 10 weeks and had not decided if I was doing a lumpectomy or a mastectomy, I have been doing chemo to shrink three tumors, I am now thinking that I will have a mastectomy because I don't want to take a chance of getting breast cancer…
Newly diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer
I have just had a mastectomy 2 weeks ago, where the surgeon removed a 7.3 cm tumor from my left breast and found 11 of 22 lymph nodes to be malignant. He has told me that I have stage 3 cancer and although I am generally a positive person, this has left me very scared. Is there anyone out there with a similar diagnosis…
new to all this
i'm not really sure what to post...in the last 2 weeks i have had a mammogram, ultrasound, ultrasound core guided biopsy (results were positive)and yesterday an MRI and met with the radiation/oncologist. I have an appointment this afternoon with my surgeon to discuss MRI results and the surgery. The worst thing is I found…
waiting for call today
I had my excisional biopsy last Friday..and at home waiting for results call today. That's what my BS said..probably today. I have taken this week off to recover and I was hoping to get caught up on my school work. But I am having such a hard time concentrating especially today. I sit down to do my work and I end up on…
Old hand to cancer but new to this discussion board
Hi, all. I was diagnosed in May 2002, had bilateral mastectomies, then Tamoxifen. Local chest wall recurrence in 2007, had surgery, chemo, radiation, then arimidex. Just this week diagnosed with mets to bones (PET scan) and today I have a bone scan to see the extent of damage. I'm really scared but I've seen stories of…
Second chemo down and gained 6 pounds since yesterday?
Yesterday I had my second Chemo treatment. Carbo, Taxotere and Herc. Weighed 154. Went in today for my neulasta shot and had gained 6 lbs? Is that normal? Everything else went great. I am at work today, drinking a ton of water. Hoping I can finish the week out and rest on the weekend. Trying not to miss much work. 2 down…
Facing forward - exercising again!
Hi everyone! I haven't been posting much lately because I've been so wiped out after finishing chemo and then starting rads. I'm in the middle of my radiation treatments 5th out of 8 weeks! I have read so many posts about fatigue, depression, anxiety, etc. and wanted to share some thoughts with you. I've been going through…
Husband and Myself Have Cancer
This past summer my husband and myself were diagnosed with cancer. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in July. I had a mastectomy and 10 lymph nodes removed. The tumor was almost 7 cm and 7 nodes were cancerous. I am stage 3a. Two months after my surgery, my husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He has GBM4. For a few…
swelling after lumpectomy
Has anyone experienced swelling and some redness in their breast after having a lumpectomy for DCIS? And if so do you know of anything that would help? I have tried everything but tying it up and throwing it over my shoulder. The dr said that it was lymphatic fluid gathering at the bottom of my breast due to the surgery. I…
Meltdown
Of course, as we all move through this journey with breast cancer, we do our best to keep a positive attitude and stay upbeat. That's the way it should be and we get so much support on this site, it makes the hard days a lot easier!! But, I'm writing because 3 weeks after my 1st chemo, when I was feeling good...like I…
Bone scan tomorrow
Well here we go. Bone scan to be done at 2:00pm. Inject at 11:00am. Not scared! Not worried! Little concerned of course. lol Been having some bone pain here and there, so being the good Drs and nurses they are,recommending the scan. Was suppose to get it around March. I will be really pissed (sorry) if something shows.…
How long will I feel tired
Hi, Im just trying to find some people that feel like I do, or felt like I do. I had my 1st chemo on 12/1/08, TAC for 6 sessions, last chemo was 3/09. My cancer was IDC, stage 3B, right breast only. My bilateral was on 4/8/09 with reconstruction starting right away. I also had 11 lymphnodes removed on the right side. The…
Good pathology report
I just got a call from the surgeon's office with the results of my re excision pathology report. What a relief! The new margins taken are clear also. I can now move on to the next step. I see the onc dr and the radiologist next Tues to set up my treatment plan of radiation and Arimidex. I just want to get on with…
Valuing Ourselves
This poem was just sent to me by a friend on another list (I've altered some of the line spacing to shorten your scroll down; it was double-spaced all the way through): One Flaw In Women Women have strengths that amaze men . . . They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy. They smile…
Hair Loss
Hi. I'm new. I just had my 1st chemo on Jan 7th. My oncologist told me in 2 weeks I would start losing my hair. Sure enough on Jan 21st (which also happened to be my birthday), my hair began to fall out. Within the past 4 days, I would say I have loss about 85% of my hair. I noticed yesterday and today that my scalp hurts.…
Just Had Sonogram and Scheduled to Talk With Surgeon
I just had a diagnostic mammogram and a sonogram yesterday. The radiologist came in and told me that he was sorry but it looks like cancer. I know that they really don't know until they do a biopsy and the results come back, but what I would like to ask is what type of biopsy did anyone have. Also, has anyone decided not…
Army of Women
I replied to a post regarding being finished with treatments but didn't want this information to get lost, or not get out to the majority of you, so I'm cutting some of my reply from that post and pasting it here. Several months ago I joined an organization called Army of Women. It is a partnership between the Dr. Susan…
Histologic Grade
Last February my wife was diagnosed with a "Poorly differentiated Invasive Ductal Carcinoma measuring 1.5 CM in largest dimension with a Nottingham Grade 3 (3+3+3=) At surgery the lump was removed and actually measured 3.25 at largest and 18 lymph nodes under her arm were removed with 14 positive We have an awesome…
TRAM Reconstruction
I am hoping to get information on how to find a plastic surgeon experienced in the TRAM flap in my area (Washington/Baltimore). I am a five year survivor and on my followup, found cancer in the other breast so I'm having a double mastectomy with reconstruction, but want to make sure I get the best care (of course) and the…
Herbs and Chemo
I understand this might be a question for my oncologist but I am also curious to know if there is anyone else out there who is taking herbs (chinese or western) during chemo. My chemo doesn't start until mid to late Feb. and I have just had surgery so I am recovering from that however I have always taken milk thistle and…
Nail pain
Before i started chemo i had very long healthy nails. I would spend alot of time at the nail salon. 1/2 way through my treatment i had to cut my nails down do to the pain of bumping them. Now they are dark and spmetimes painful. I'm now done with chemo, how long will it take for the pain to go away? any suggestions on nail…
Shouldn't I be able to do this my way?
Okay, I am still having trouble committing to chemo. I'm not usually this indecisive but then these aren't normal circumstances. Knowing that getting a port would most likely cost me my $1,000 deductible immediately and knowing that I'm afraid I won't be able to tolerate chemo, I asked my oncologist if I could get the…
about finished with all treatment
I have about 3 weeks left with RADs then I'm finished with all treatments. I feel a little lost and scared. I'm 39 yrs. old I started chemo beginning in June for breast cancer. I guess I should just get on with my life, yet I think I'm more fearful now than ever.
Stage 4 and recent MRI scan not good.....
I have been diagnosed with Breast Cancer metastisized to my bone Stage 4 in Aug. 2009. My first diagnosis was in 2003 and had a double mastectomy, chem, rads, etc. I just went thru radiation and taxotere, herceptin and zometa. I still will continue with the herceptin and zometa for now. The oncologist stopped my taxotere a…
First round of chemo over...only 3 more...9 wks & counting
Ladies, thank you all so much for your support, concern, & wisdom. I made it through my first round without any hitches!!! Thank God!!! So far, the only thing I've experienced is pain in my upper right thigh(like a charley horse.) I came home & took a wonderful nap & have been organizing the house since I woke up(my answer…
I tryed coloring my whole two inches of hair.Help.
I seen on these boards and knew to be careful what I used on my hair.no harsh chemicals and such.I went to a beauty supply store and bought some.I got the one that did not have peroxide or amonia in it.I dyed it the first time and it did not do anything.Still had gray very gray hair.So I tryed again and to my surprise it…

Breast Cancer

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