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Breast Cancer

*Abbreviations* for all our Newbies
AC - one of the five most common types of chemo given to women with BC. Iit's probably the MOST common drug combination given to women with node-negative (hasn't spread to your lymph nodes) cancer. AC includes two drugs: doxorubicin (Adriamycin), and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan). AI - aromatase inhibitors ADH - A benign…
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Emotional
When I was approaching the oncologist's office yesterday 1 month after completing my chemo, a mom (with head cover) and her daughter were just walking out. The daughter gave her mom a big hug and said "Yay, Mom! You're all done! You did it!" Mom was beaming. I began tearing up with emotion, such was my joy for these two. I…
DIEP flap surgery...anybody else having problems?
I've been waiting for over 6 months to get breast reconstruction. My insurance won't cover the doctor cause he's out of network; but he's the ONLY doctor in my area that performs the DIEP flap surgery. I am in no way interested in implants cause I don't want to have to get any other surgeries when it comes to removal or…
Triple Negative Breast Cancer
I have recently been diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer-grade 3. I am presently waiting on a genetic test to come back and expect the results today or tomrorow. If my test is negative from what I understand I can choose to have a lumpectomy with six weeks of radiation or a mastectomy. Chemo was not discussed with…
Idk what to do
hello! I’m new here. According to doctors , I have Stage IV metastatic breast cancer, bones, brain and spine . Treatment I have been on has been working well , which was Enhertu, Zometa, and Faslodex. Recently doctors said cancer now spread to my liver and cancer is no longer HER2+ it’s negative, so treatment needs to…
My wife is pushing me away
She was diagnosed with aggressive stage 2, Her2+, double negative (hormone, which isn’t apparently common) breast cancer, in Jan of ‘23. In the beginning, it was “us” and “our fight”, but has changed. After her 3rd chemo treatment, “Hell Week” was exceptionally brutal. A few days after treatment, admittedly, I was trying…
Double mastectomy How long till I feel better
I know it takes a while but I was wondering when the swelling and discomfort might stop?
New to breast cancer
I am starting treatment for my stage 1 breast cancer next week and am having a hard time accepting that I will be losing my hair. I know the most important thing is my health, but it's still hard to accept. I am also having a lot of nervousness about the side effects. Also worried about how I will keep up with work even…
Is anyone taking letrozole and have side effects
I was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, had a mastomy in June last year. I have been on letrozole since August. I have gain about 20 pounds, joint and bones ache, and very depressed. Has anyone had similar side effects? My husband also was diagnosed with lung cancer in Dec 2012. He also battles with side effects of…
Why HER2 +/- Changed
Hi all, I was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer with two lymphnodes involved in Oct 2022..... PR negative, ER weak positive and HR2 borderline positive (and FISH test confirmed HER2 positive in Oct). With that diagnosis, I received Taxel and HER2 target drug Herceptin and Perjeta as neoadjuvant therapy before the…
When am I considered a survivor?
I think I didn't look into these boards before because my treatment has not officially begun. I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma March 22nd and plunged into countless appointments/consultations for a few weeks and now I am waiting for my bilateral mastectomy May 11th. I lost my sister to ovarian cancer and my…
How did you get your energy back?
"I finished my treatment back in December of last year, but I still haven't been able to regain my energy. I have no desire to do anything at all, and my life feels like a never-ending cycle of procrastination. In December of 2021, I found out that I had cancer with five masses in my breast. In the first month, I froze my…
Mastectomy after Lymphedema?
I'm 73. Had two lumpectomies and 25 lymph nodes removed 4 years ago. Cancer is back. Small stage 2 only 4 mm infiltrating lobular carcinoma, same breast. Have to decide to have bi or uni lateral mastectomy. My lymphedema is bad and my breasts are very large. Hate making this decision! I didn't have radiation because tumors…
Arthritis after Chemo
I finished my chemo treatments in October 2010, A/C and Taxol. In the past two months, I've started to experience a lot of pain and stiffness in the thumb on my right hand as well as in my back. I'm taking therapy on my thumb but so far it hasn't improved. When I started my chemo treatments my oncologist told me that if…
Lymphedema and eczema
Hi everyone! I am nearly five months post lumpectomy surgery and 3 months post radiation. I've been dealing with a seroma and lymphedema ever since the surgery, and now having MLD therapy twice per week. I finally got my permanent compression sleeve, and my therapists wrapped my arm so that it would fit into the sleeve,…
The In Between
After the diagnosis; before the prognosis You haven't slept for three nights. The thoughts keep you awake. All you know is there is cancer inside your body. You hope it's just contained in your breast. You don't have a prognosis. You don't know the stage. All you know is that it's called Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. You sit…
Just Plain Tired
Tonight, I’m tired. Tired of waiting for test results. Tired of waiting for the doctor to call. Tired of putting on a brave face. Tired of going to appointments. Tired of being behind. Tired of trying to catch up. Tired of waiting for surgery. Tired of dreading it. Tired of being patient. Tired of being a cancer patient.…
Choices
Is anyone over 70, have alzeheimer's in family, and decide not to combat 3negative breast cancer? Not sure I want the battle and end up with alzeheimer's down the road. Dad had five sisters who had alzeheimer's end of life.
Is this chemo brain or just me?
hi all, I was diagnosed with TNBC with positive nodes April 25, 2022. I have finished 10 rounds of taxol/carbo, 7 rounds of keytruda, lumpectomy, 4 rounds of ac and 20 rounds of radiation. My last chemo was January 28th and radiation was march 23. I’m looking for a little reassurance for what I’m feeling. I’ve told my onc…
Abandonement by children
I was diagnosed with breast cancer January 2021 - surgery and then 19 radiation treatments. At the time, I was sole caregiver for my 88 year old blind father. Fast forward to September and my cancer metesticized and now the prognosis of stage 4. Chemo treatment was an absolute. Knowing the horrific side effects that Chemo…
Mastectomy, messed up armpit
Is it just me, or is everyone's armpit a mess? I had my surgery on April 1st, and my armpit still feels messed up. It's like there is extra stuff there when I put my arm down. It's very annoying. Maybe, if and when I get "fixed" the plastic surgeon can remove this excess skin. I feel like I got hacked up. It's not pretty,…
Lumpectomy & Radiation
Hello, Newly diagnosed with stage 1 invasive carcinoma in one breast. I have ALOT of questions but wanted to know about having radiation before or after reconstruction/lift surgery. They recommend I have the lumpectomy and at same time reconstruction/lift. Once healed then radiation. Everything I have read says radiation…
Enhertu
Hi! I am, thus far, a 20 year Stage IV Breast cancer survivor with mets to bones and now liver. After my Xeloda is failing, I am to start IV Enhertu this week. Looking for anyone who has tried this medication. I am worried about the side effects, but the has such promising reviews. Thank you, Kathie
Radiation fatigue
Has anyone experienced extreme fatigue after full breast and node radiation? I am currently two weeks post radiation and still extremely fatigued. any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Anyone else having Severe All Over Body Pain Years out from Radiation?
I am a 2 1/2 year Metastatic / Invasive Breast Cancer Survivor. I Started having Severe All Over body pain with Radiation and it has Never Stopped. My Last Radiation was on March 3, 2021. I also have had Severe Exhaustion ongoing for that Long as well. It’s been Extremely hard to Walk, Stand, Sit, or Rest.
Interior Breast Staples
In late 1993 I had a lumpectomy and axillary dissection followed by 33 radiation treatments. Surgical staples were left inside my breast and underarm. Now, almost 30 years later, another doctor needs me to have an MRI (if possible) regarding a much different condition. My question: Does any other long-term survivor or…
Verzenio/Abemaciclib
Hi everyone- My oncologist wants me to take Verzenio in addition to hormone therapy and ovarian suppression. I’m not convinced I would benefit and have read about the potential adverse side effects. Was wondering who is on it, what your experience has been, and what your cancer staging/lymph node involvement/Oncotype etc…
Expected to keep a chemo port for 10 years.
I am so disgusted. I don't even know where to begin. I have been a cancer patient for 15 months already. I have survived 16 chemo treatments, my right breast being surgically removed, 5 lymph nodes removed, 18 radiation treatments. I could only tolerate my chemo port for 3 months. About a week after I got the chemo port, I…
anastrozole where it is manufactured??
I am looking for a drug company that manufactures "anastrozole" in the USA or the company is HQ in the USA that is FDA approved. Anastrozole is priced from 30ct for $18.00 to $250.00. Very Difficult to find the source location of some of the online places that is selling anastrozole.
Personal care products with good ingredients
Thought we could start a thread for this where people can post the “good stuff” they have found. please post if you want to share. I have found a new foundation I like called DOLL10 by Doris Dalton. She is a breast cancer survivor herself and it is made with only good ingredients, no bad chems, etc. I now have that and…
Struggles in Survivorship?
Hello, I'm new to this group, though I wish I'd joined years ago. I'd like to first say that I hesitate to post this question given the weight of so many recent posts about currently going through the diagnosis and/or treatment phase. However it is something that I have struggled with greatly and can't be the only one, so…

Breast Cancer

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