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Breast Cancer

Archives for March 2011

Gained 10 lbs in water weight in one week...help!
I finished my last chemo on 3/1 and a week ago I gained 10 lbs in one week. Before that my weight had stayed steady at 120 for over 4 months. now I am 129 lbs. My legs and feet are swollen. My doc says it's water weight, probably from the Taxatere. He says I just have to let it go away naturally. It might take a few…
Protein Drinks?
Between my diabetes and BC, with now low red blood cells, I want to add a whey protein drink to my diet. There is a warning label on the can that says if you have any medical condition, consult your doctor first. When I was first entering treatment, my cancer center said NO supplements. But, would this be considered a…
Hot flashes have once again become unbearable!
Called gyn yesterday to tell him I wanted to stop taking Savella (commonly prescribed for Fibromyalgia). I had dry mouth, dry eyes, constipation and the hot flashes were worse that before. Yesterday I had 15 drenching hot flashes. My gyn said I'm 1 of 2% with severe hot flashes. So he put me on Prozac (the old standby) and…
Thank you so much
Well I think God exists and blesses us in so many ways, and works through wonderful people like you . I have just been so sad about work and my body that will not do what I want it to. then I was able to talk to a few good friends a work who really helped, came home and had some beautiful roses from my pink sisters After…
First Hair Cut
What progress! It really does come back. I had my last chemo the day before Thanksgiving and much to my surprise was starting to grow peach fuzz on my head. I got my first hair cut today. Nothing major but it was uneven and out of control so she evened it up, trimmed it a bit and made it look better. Even though she didn't…
Home. One of the great 4-letter words!
After a 2 hour train ride, a 10 1/2 hour plane ride, and a 2 hour car ride, we are home. Well, our other home. I had started a headcold the day before, and so my immune system was compromised enough to let in the flu bug flying around in the plane. I had planned on hitting the ground running, so to speak, on Tuesday…
question on Gemzar side effects
Hello, I'm a regular on the colorectal board & I have stage IV colorectal cancer. I'm on the breast cancer board now, though, because I know that several of you may be on or have been on Gemzar (gemcitabine). I am in the unusual position of having "used up" all the chemos for colorectal cancer and I am now on a combo of…
Support Groups
Aside from this site, is anyone involved with a cancer support group? If so, do you find it valuable? How could it be more valuable to you? What do you like or dislike about it? If you could create a group, what kind of support would it offer?
PARP Inhibitors in Breast Cancer
Some cell-based assay labs have explored the biology of PARP inhibitors, alone and in combination, in actual human tumor primary culture micro-speheroids (microclusters), in breast, ovarian and other cancers. In these investigations, the lab applies the functional profiling platform to understand how PARP inhibitors…
Carboplatin and Taxol..who's had this cocktail?
My supervisor's special needs daughter (age 37) was just diagnosed with Stage 4 bc. The onco wants to treat it agressively. It is already in her abdomen and probably other places. We are still waiting for the final pathology report. This is the cocktail she will be receiving. I had Cytoxan and Taxotere so I know nothing…
Am I ever going to feel like myself again?
I am 2 1/2 years post breast cancer, and I am wondering if anyone can tell me if it is normal to still feel bad. I feel like I will never be myself again in so many ways. Yes, it is both mental and physical, I am just so exhausted all the time. Certainly not as much as I was during double mastectomy and chemo, but I just…
Post surgical visit today.
I consider this good news when I think about the fact that I had HER2 cancer. The tumor was bigger than the imaging showed, 6.6 cm. Despite this they are still calling this a stage 2 cancer. It is that HER2 cancer that is so aggressive but there's a chemo drug called Herceptin that is supposed to be good. I had 2 lymph…
Did you give up Chemo or refuse to do it?
Hi Ladies, I am starting my Chemo this Friday, April 1. (What a day!) Of course, I am very anxious. I picture that needle with the RED Drug hitting my vein and that’s it for me!  I guess it is normal to feel scared. As many of you know, chemo is a controversial topic for some. Many people don’t agree with this treatment…
living with "positive margins"
How many survivors were told they had "positive margins?" I had a positive margin and the anxiety of the cancer being in my lymph nodes in my breast bone is dominating me. Breast bone lymph nodes are not sampled so there is no way to know for sure if the cancer is there. I would like to know some stories of women who had…
vaginal discharge during chemo
Last week I was sure I had a yeast infection with irritation and white discharge. I started overthe counter cream on Friday night. I had the white dischrge all weekend and called the oncologisst Mon. She prescribed oral med--Fluconazole which I took yesterday. About that time I noticed the discharge was yellowish/greenish…
Today is sunshine0406's Birthday!
Hope all your Birthday wishes come true! Have a great day - filled with love all around you! -Jenny
stupid things people say
I was told by an aquatiance who only had best intentions in mind that now that I have had cancer I am considered "Broken". Lets start by saying that I am a single mom of a great 14 yr old son. I was told that because I was not dateing anyone before I got cancer that I should forget about it ever happening. no one wants to…
Blue the day before Chemo
I have Chemo one day a week (on Tuesdays) every week for at least 6 mon. The day before Chemo (Monday) I am always so blue, I have to tell myself to get out of bed in the morning I cry off and on all day long over the stupidist thing. It takes a few moments and Im able to get things under controle and stop the tears, but I…
a bit scarred about starting radiation tomorrow
I am new to this board, just found it a couple days ago and I am still trying to figure it out. It seems like you are all so very thoughtful and sincere. I have had chemo and a left side mastectomy and now I am suppose to start radiation tomorrow. For some reason I am very unhappy about the thought. I can't help felling…
Was your Oncotype test covered by insurance?
Just wondering if your oncotype testing was covered by insurance? It is likely that my onco will suggest this (stage 1, grade 3, hormone receptor+, HER2-). So, if you don't mind sharing, please tell me the type of insurance you have (or had) and whether or not it was covered, also was it covered completely or partially?…
Is Oncotype usually done on grade 3 tumors?
I have all the other characteristics of someone with IDC who gets an Oncotype done, hormone receptor+, HER2-, stage 1, no nodes (margins weren't clean the first time but were the second). I am 52 and pre-menopausal. I had a lumpectomy and re-excision and will have radiation after chemo, IF chemo is recommended. I also am…
Very good test results
First let me say, Thank you all for your support you have given to me and to everyone on who comes on here looking for a shoulder and understanding. I have learned so much from yall and im sure will learn much more, Thank you I had a Pet scan at the first of Jan.since then i have had 5 double rad treatments and now 4 A/C…
This website
sucks. Not because of it's content nor the folks who need it and use it. I applaud those. I've used it myself and found great comfort in it, but from a technical standpoint, it's really in a bad way. NO it's not my computer and NO it's not my ISP--it's THIS site. I shouldn't have to wait 5(let me count them 5)for the…
First onco visit, what to expect?
My first visit with the medical oncologist is this coming Wednesday afternoon. I was wondering what I could expect to happen? We have seen the radiation oncologist for a consult, but all they did was take my vitals and talk to DH and me (for a long time I might add). I have already been told to expect lab work (not sure…
My sisters: new photo
Wanted everyone to meet my sisters--whether I see you in San Diego or not. From left to right: Jeannie (New Orleans resident, the oldest and a BC survivor); me (yes, stuck with the curly hair...sigh); Patsy (Seattle resident and the only one who has not had BC); and Wendy (San Diego resident and BC survivor). Jeannie is…
Weird, does this happen here often?
Tonight when I tried to sign in it wouldn't allow me in. It said my user name was blocked or not recognized. I have no idea why, but I had to re-register under a slightly different username. It wouldn't even allow me to use my email address, said it was already taken. Is that something that happens here from time to time?…
constipation advice
OK, ladies... Here I am second chemo treatment and my gut is swinging in the constipation direction. Any advice? I have already tried the senokot-S and the ONC recommends Milk of Magnesia tomorrow if I don't turn on. Since I have 2 more treatments to go, I may as well learn some tricks of the trade. Any advice would be…
Check out RE, Double Whammy and Gabe N Abby Mom Expression Page. They have pics of some of our Pink
Great pics! Thanks!
Cording/Underarm Webbing
Anyone have any stories about dealign with "cording" or what is sometimes called "webbing" under the arm where lymph nodes were removed? I just had bi-lateral mastectomy with axilary lymph node dissection 12 days ago. The cording is really bugging me and I'm so scarred it won't go away or will take a long time. I will…
radiation with an expander in
Wonderingi f anyone else is or had radiation with the explander in place. I am 17 treatments in I have to get 33 in total and then a 10 day "boost" immediately following. I had a left side mastectomy in November and as the tx is going on I am more and more uncomfortable. I feel like my explander keeps changing size and it…

Breast Cancer

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