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Too chemo or not to chemo
Morning all... I don't know what to do... I have a grade one and a grade two estrogen positive her neg with a ki67 of 20... 7 weeks ago I had my mx with reconstruction. My onco said chemo would be worth it with around a 14% gain!!! Until they add Into the factor the I had a rear tumor not related to my breast removed from…
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New Flower
Did I miss your biopsy results? I know there was a possibility it was Her2+. I'm still waiting on those results myself but the lung biopsy was positive for cancer. I'm glad you have already begun treatment. Hopefully I will be getting a port this week and can begin chemo next week. I see my onc tomorrow to discuss a "game…
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Weird Question-But What Clothes to Wear To Port Surgery?
I'm having my port put in on Tuesday and they say I won't be able to raise or straighten my arms for a month. So, would button up shirts be best to wear? If so I will need to buy some as nearly all mine are pull overs. What about wearing a bra- will that be painful? What is your advice? Thanks for answering silly questions!
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getting a wig
Hi all. I will be starting my chemotherapy in a couple of weeks and I will be losing my hair. People have suggested that I look into getting a wig made. Does anyone have any information about places that make wigs?
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Blood Pressure Cuffs - FYI - Important - There are 2 Sizes
Found out yesterday when my blood pressure was taken that there are two different size cuffs. Because my arms are larger, the nurse put the larger cuff on my arm. My blood pressure was 116/78. I told her that was the lowest reading for the past few years. She then told me that if you have a larger arm and a normal sized…
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Please share your favorite quote or your personal "mantra"
My "mantra"... Life is about what is. It is not about what if? or why me? It is about what surrounds me in this moment. From Chenheart..."we do what we have to do, so we can do what we want to."
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Another Huffington Post pick-up! People dont die from BC or Prostate cancer any more!
If you read this link, Chris Collins in an interview stated that people don't die from Breast Cancer or Prostate cancer any more! Apparently he says what he wants and does not feel it necessary to check facts. This is about as good as the billboard ads that line I-15 through the Salt Lake City area stating that Breast…
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Chest Pains
I think I saw a passing mention of this on another thread, but now I can't find it again. Has anybody else ever gotten chest pains while on radiation treatments? I don't mean chest pains as in a heart attack, but more like muscle cramps. I've had this for a few minutes several times in the last week or so. I only have one…
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Dating after cancer...
So I am almost 3 months post chemo and tomorrow is my last radiation treatment (woohhoooo!). I have been on one date with a man that I really like and have not yet told him about my cancer experience. My hair is about 1/2 an inch long and I am still wearing my wig. He didn't seem to notice that I was wearing a wig. I am so…
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A little something extra for the 4th of July
In addition to the usual things we celebrate on Independence Day, I also celebrated independence from hats/scarves/wigs. July 4 was the first time I went out in public without a head covering since I had it shaved back last December. Feels great to have hair again (albeit very short still)!
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Still a little confused about Pet Scans.......
As I read so many of you posting about your Pet Scans, I can't help but wonder why I've never had one?? I mean, I know I go to one of the top hospitals but why do some doctors order them and some don't. Does anyone have a good answer for me because I really need to know. I don't want to ask my doctor because if I haven't…
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brain MRI today - no sign of cancer
Big relief. I had really gotten myself worked up over mets. No brain mets however I have chronic ischemia disease (dead cells/lack of oxygen to brain) which is localised. The follow ups will be scheduled next week. Also have a sinus infection with a cyst in one of the nasal passages. Wow! This explains the rapid decline in…
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Your prayers are starting to work
Hi wonderful ladies! I can't even begin to tell you how thankful I am for your kind words, support, and most of all PRAYERS! A few months ago I was told that my cancer had become terminal. Its hard for me to put into words just how devastated I was. At 21 years old, this is not how I pictured my life to look like, but I am…
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Unsupportive husband
Hi, I was diagnosed with breast cancer 3 weeks ago. I have always been having problems with my husband, he is an unemotional jerk. The only credit I can give him is that he has financially been supporting me since 1997. But I cannot get this **** to open up to me and reveal his true feelings. He is extremely protective of…
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Occupational therapy and lymphatic massage
Has anybody had occupational rehab during or after treatment? My RO referred me because I am a high risk for lymphedema and for some lingering side effects (fluid pockets, peripheral neuropathy). I don't have lymphedema, so this is more of a preventive thing. The plan is to see the therapist 2X/week for a month or so for…
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Tamoxifen.....devil or healer?? I need advice...
Hi everyone, I haven't been on in quite a while....returned to work and I'm exhausted all the time. July 21 I will be one year without the deadly boob that was trying to kill me. Here's my problem, and I know that a lot of you have gone through it...so advice please? I've been on Tamoxifen for 10 months. My oncotype DX…
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Anybody got nuropathy
I finished 18 rounds of chemo a year ago and am still having problems with nueropathy. I finaaly had to make the oncologist address the issue since before she would always blow me off saying it would go away. She has put me on gabapentin but I don't think it is really helping. Has anybody found a med or suppliment that…
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Being a clutz makes life interesting!
Hi everyone. I know its been a little while since my last update. I was just getting myself all excited about going back to work this month. Well last week i was getting my groceries out of the trunk of my car and i fell...i fell into my trunk...lol I bent my knee sideways...i found out they dont bend that way...so yes it…
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Has anyone ever had a DNA test to see if you can take a certain chemo?
A friend of ours oncologist had him take a DNA test to see if he could have the chemo Erbitux. His onco said it was to see if it was compatible for him. I've never heard of this and just wondered if any sister here had one before. Thanks! Leeza
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pain after reconstruction
hiya, i was just wondering if anyone out there might know anything about this. i had the recontruction done about 2 1/2 years ago and since then everytime i take a deep breath i have so much pain on the right side. no one knows why it's hurting and the dr.s do not think it's a big deal. anyone have any thoughts on this…
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Nipple Tattoo's
Did you have your plastic surgeons office do them or seek out the professionalism of a tattoo artist?
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TRAM HERNIA
I chose the Tram Flap procedure for my surgery since I would get a tummy tuck with the deal. My tummy was flat for about two weeks. Then I herniated on that one side, and it is huge. I can tell where the muscle is fine on one side and gone on the other. I am probably among the few though. I was probably too fat to begin…
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Nipples/No Nipples?
I've had a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction. Trying to decide if I want to have another surgery to get nipples. My plastic surgeon wants to do a skin graft to create the nipples, which would mean another surgery and general anesthetic. I've heard of other surgeons that do a kind of "pucker stitch" to create the…
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This is worth repeating...
I thought it is a good time to share an old post from our dear Chenheart...a very special lady. So many new ones have joined our family of Kindred Spirits lately~we sigh that you have had to find us, but of course welcome you with open ♥ You may have noticed, or even posted about the fact that many of our friends, family…
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CHEMO-INDUCED PHERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY
I definitely have this from everything I've experienced and read. I know it seems like nothing when living or dying is the only thing that matters, but I have dealt with this for ten years and am told that everything should be normal now. I need a diagnosis now because it is interfering with my job. The doctors just don’t…
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Newbie
I am 46 and have had a lumpectomy and port put in. I am on my 2nd chemo cycle and doing ok. My hubby has been very supportive to the point we had a shaving party..we are both bald now. :) I am on here cause I know this may sound crazy but I have been waiting for this momment in my life since I was 15. My mother had breast…
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Anyone else still feel "dumbed-down" several years out from treatment?
I finished chemo and radiation August of 2008. I've been on Tamoxifan ever since. I used to be rather bright but chemo really affected my cognitive abilities. I lost most of my vocabulary, couldn't understand conversations, couldn't read. I do brain games alot, eat well, take my supplements, but I am still not who I used…
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TRAM - Any problems
I've had both breasts removed and have been through chemo and all that and am interested in the TRAM reconstruction. Will go to the plastic surgeon on 1/9 but wanted to know if anyone can give me ideas on what the surgery/recovery was like. Thanks so much.
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crap
Things were going really well..or so i was told. Then on 6/14 I started having some perception and balance problems. By lunchtime I needed to call an ambulance,by mid afternoon I had been flown by chopper to a hospital in Philly specializing in neurosurgery. Long story short...brain met. Just 1. Had it removed and am…
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nipple tattoos
Can anyone recommend a nipple tattoo place in the ny-nj area? I had mine done 10 years ago (this is my 10th anniversary of being cancer free!!!) My plastic surgeon did the original, but it faded quite a bit - it's been like this for quite some time, but I decided to retattoo as an anniversary present to myself! I think I…