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To reconstruct or not after mastectomy
I'm having a mastectomy very soon and need to decide whether or not to have reconstruction. I'm healthy and my insurance would pay but I'm 66 and don't see the point. If I do I'll definitely have implants because don't want to take skin from any other part of my body. Has anyone out there had reconstruction? Are you glad…
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Other then Tamoxifen-what else is everyone else on?
I am asking since taken off tamoxifen yesterday! IN a month I get blood work again & then changing to new med. I am not sure of the hame YET! Denise
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I'm gonna wash that gray right out of my hair!!
Well, now that I am just about 4 months out of chemo and finished with radiation, I decided it was time to break out the hair dye!! My hair is about an inch long now, but it has been coming in gray and black. I had auburn hair before. With the blessing of my oncologist I went ahead and dyed it to something close to the…
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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?
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3 yrs ago today
3yrs ago today I was just getting to recovery room at this time from my lumpectomy
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Advice on sleep meds anyone?
I'm in the midst of chemo and wondering how much sleep med. might be too much? I often walk around somewhat exhausted from lack of sleep, rather than take too much, but would love to hear some experiences from others...Am I wrong to think that taking Ambien or Atavan (generic name Lorazepam) more often now, could throw off…
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Fatigue
Hi, I am new to this site. I had a successful lumpectomy in December and there was no lymph node involvement, so I feel very lucky. I finished a short session (16) of radiation 2-1/2 weeks ago and am on Arimidex. I have read the discussions about how extensive fatigue can be and how long it can take to taper off. My…
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Reconstruction
Hi everybody; I am new here so I dont no if I'm doing this right. I am 49. My mom died of breast cancer 4 years ago. She had it at 42 then at 58 the lump she was told was "nothing" had matastesized into bone cancer. They gave her 6 months, she lasated 3 years. I lost her at her age of 61. I miss her every single day. I was…
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insensitive DR
I told my nurse I was red and felt like I had a sunburn (just where I had radiation) after my 2nd radiation treatment. She said I should not feel anything yet. I said Well I do. She got my Dr and he told me there was "no way it was the radiation" that that does no start until around the 4th week. He looked at my reddish…
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Fatigue
Hi, I am new to this site. I had a successful lumpectomy in December and there was no lymph node involvement, so I feel very lucky. I finished a short session (16) of radiation 2-1/2 weeks ago and am on Arimidex. I have read the discussions about how extensive fatigue can be and how long it can take to taper off. My…
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OT Inland North West
So is anyone else in the inland north west, I'm in Spokane, WA nice cold rainy weather.
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AC-T????
what is this abreviation for"""
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Does this make sense to any of you BC experienced folks?
Maybe I just don't get it, but here goes. All 3 doctors (surgeon, MO and RO) have agreed that if I need chemo it will come before rads (waiting on my OT DX right now). We like and feel comfortable with all 3. DH and I met the RO several weeks ago for a consultation and met the MO yesterday. Well, the RO wants us to come in…
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diep tram flap bilateral reconstruction anyone?
I am on my last leg of my stage 111b breast cancer journey. Has anyone had a diep tram surgery? How long was your recovery time? I am having the surgery in July and getting kinda anxious. My journey started in 2009 and this will be closure I pray. Im still on Arimidex but thats it. Any advise out there? Thank you all for…
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Two years ago today....
I had my partial mastectomy. Clear margins and no lymph node involvement detected. It was like I was reborn so I now celebrate it as a second birthday. I'm taking the day off from work and even bought myself a present. Roseann
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When having rads can we be in the sun?
It may be kind of a silly question, but I was told by someone that once I start rads treatments (the traditional kind) I will not be allowed to go out in the sun with any exposed skin (this person knows someone who had radiation treatments for brain cancer). I assumed I would need to have the area covered and/or use…
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Rad Grad!
Just finished 33 rads today! After 8 rounds of chemo, mastectomy, and rads I have a clear PET scan and am set to party and pamper. Going out for a special dinner and palnning a spa weekend away. I wouldn't have wished for this journey but my pink sisters have carried me through and hopefully I have encouraged some others…
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If you had oncotype, what was your score?
You all are going to be sorry I ever found this site with all these constant questions of mine. I was wondering what your oncotype score was, and if you had chemo or not based on that? My onco told me I'll be getting it if I fall into either the high or intermediate range, but I know others who had scores in the 20's who…
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I Am So Excited!
Aysemari and I are getting to meet Chen Heart on Saturday evening. She and her husband will be here in Phoenix and we are scheduled to meet with her for dinner. She is definitely one of the guiding beacons for me here on this website and it will be my honor to meet her. I will bring my camera and my husband will help me to…
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Received my "junk" yesterday!
I was the recipient of Gabe N Abby Mom's "junk". There was a toy & catnip for my kitty, some books, NtlGeo. dvd's, lotions, a pillow, butterfly pin, lots of yummy spices that Hubby will enjoy, a lunch & tote bag, aloe gloves, fuzzy socks, smell-good soaps, calculator w/pen, a nail kit, etc.... I felt like a child at…
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blister like rash w/ taxotiere-hands
Can anyone give me info or advice regarding rash on knuckles. I had my third treatment last wed and it is a sore red inflamation between my index finger and thumb--this time. The first time it was on my knuckles. Last time it was not too bad, but this is sore like a blister??? The dr suggested tea tree oil for the rash and…
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teary eyes
I have heard about eyes tearing during chemo and mine have been a bit teary since my eyelashes fell out. But, the last couple of days the tears are running down my cheeks. My eyes also burn but they are not red. I am on third of four taxotiere treatments. When I was on A/C treatment my eyes were very dry and I had to use…
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Freaking Out
Hello All. So, I am still waiting to see if I need chemo or not...I definately need rads...doing the onco testing to see how effective chemo will be, then will make decision on chemo. After they finish the bc treatment, I need surgery for a thryoid cancer reoccurance - the surgion and onco decided deal with the breast…
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Fingernails, Again...
I know the board has talked about fingernail side effects in the past, and I've tried to read all the topics but I'm wondering... For those of you who's fingernails turned black, bled and fell off, how did you handle that? That's where I am right now. The nails have not fallen off yet but they are loose and naturally I've…
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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…
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use guard when getting mammo
I just received this in an email from a friend. Anyone else hear of it? I didn't check it out first because I thought either way we should talk about it. Precautions re Mammograms and Dental X-rays/ A Useful Warning On Wednesday, Dr. Oz had a show on the fastest growing cancer in women, thyroid cancer. It was a very…
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Perpetual Hot Flash
Advice please ... I am one year out & cancer free (I hope). After 9 years of hormone replacement, DCIS was detected, cancer cells removed, radiation and the perpetual hot flash started and has not left! I have tried every herbal remedy with no success. Obviously hormone replacement came to a grinding halt with the…
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Have I been a bad girl?
Ok, after two days of trying to get in touch with someone at my oncologist office about getting my results for a urine test and yet another prescription for antibiotics, for my urine tract infection, I got very frustrated. This is a very busy office and I understand but I blew a gasket after repeatedly getting put on hold…
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Does the bottom drop out like this for anyone else here?
It seems like every time we have seen a doctor (just was diagnosed in mid January, have had lumpectomy, 1 re-excision and no other treatment yet, but have consulted with RO and MO) I feel upbeat and encouraged. I will usually come home, email my friends and family and post on my FB page a brief update. People always…
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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…