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Tamoxifen or Not?
I had a lumpectony and am currently in radiation. When I finish radiation treatments, my oncologist wants me to try Tamoxifen. I really don't want to inre to all of the side effects it has given to a lot of women, let alone blood clots and uterine cancer. The Tamoxifen will only lower my percentage of a recurrence by 6%.…
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Side effects of Tamoxifen
Has anyone had side effects from Tamoxifen? Specifically, last year I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a partial masectomy with radiation treatments. I'm 45 years old. I started Tamoxifen in January 2003 and by May 2003 my monthly cycles had stopped. This was an expected side effect. I soon began having problems…
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Depression and Tamoxifen
I'm new to this web site, but I sure am glad that its here. I've just been having a terrible time this last week. And today, I know for sure, because I know the feeling, I know that I am depressed. I could cry at the drop of a hat, or less. For the last year (9 months actually) since I had my last surgery, I was believing…
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Anyone choosing not to take Tamoxifen?
I've been on Tamoxifen for 6 months and experiencing many of the side effects. My double mastectomy done Aug last year included the Sentinel node dissection and found no involvement. The invasive lobular carcinoma was 1.2 with clear margins and the rest was ductal in both breasts for total wt of 2.4. I've had four sessions…
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Scared
Hello All: I've been very active on the colorectal board in the past years but lately have fallen off due to wanting to get off the boards because my life was "to live past all that" because I've been doing well "being free of cancer." Last year my implants were removed due to they were hurting me and they had been in…
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Still kicking - after 21 years
Hi everyone, I had breast cancer in 1995 and a new lump in 2011 and am fine these many years later! After hanging out on the anal cancer site lately (yes, now I have THAT), I realized I should come back here and just share some of my journey with you. I had a lumpectomy ONLY in 1995 (refused the rest), and then in 2011 had…
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Turmeric...the wonder herb!
Don't know if this will work for everyone, but I say it's worth looking into. I am taking Turmeric 450mg (95% curcuminoids) with 50mg of turmeric root, been on it 2 tablets 3 times a day for about 8 weeks. My last CEA (tumor marker) was 1,217 (normal is below 3). This week, I kid you not, my CEA was 36! Now this is no…
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Invasive Lobular Carcinoma
I am fairly new to this site, I was Dx with ILC 2 weeks ago my surgeon said he was not sure on size because the mammo showed 3 1/2 centimeters and the U/S showed 2 centimeters so he figured about stage 1 or 2. We are waiting on the final path from the Bx but it did say low grade and slow growing. My surgeon also said that…
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Julia Sanford
Hi all. Early this morning Julia passed away peacefully in her bed with her husband by her side. In lieu of a funeral service we simply ask that you raise a toast to an awesome person and a life well lived. A small party will be held in her honour in the near future, details to follow for those who wish to come. If you…
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I get to ride the roller coaster again.
Met with my breast surgeon on Friday he confirmed that I do indeed have cancer in the other breast. Not sure about the stage yet, I meet with my oncologist on Tuesday. Breast surgeon seemed very optimistic, used the word cure. I'm waiting to see what the oncologist's advice is, I think she may be more realistic since she…
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Is anyone taking Faslodex
I am starting Faslodex next week. 2 500 mg shots every 2 weeks for 3 weeks and then once a month. Any advice on what to expect.. My lobular breast cancer came back after 4 1/2 years and I also had MMMT uterine in 2014. Thanks for your help. Sue
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Surgeon's appointment today
He read the mammogram and other pictures from the failed attempt at the previous biopsy and then came into the room and said "are you nervous." Of course I said, "yes, very much." He answered, "well I'm not." Although they do see something on the mammogram he thinks right now it is due to the trauma from the surgery last…
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Opinions from survivors needed
OK. I am wrapping my head around all of this today and I would like opinions of those who have completed the 6 week radiation, weekly chemo for 12 weeks, and the Herceptin for a year, followed by 5 yr. aromatase inhibitor regimen. I am currently being treated by an excellent hospital that I love. It is about a 90 minute to…
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taxol and hair loss
I go for my 3rd taxol/herceptin infusion Friday. It's an every Friday thing ... for 8-12 weeks. I have an appointment for my "routine" haircut on Thursday and I'm wondering what the chances are of me losing my hair? I have a feeling that my dosage of taxol may not be as strong as some get because I do go EVERY week ... but…
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When is mastectomy recommended?
Sorry to be asking so many questions. I am triple positive, grade 2, in one breast. Don't know stage yet. Everyone keeps asking me, "why don't you just have a double mastectomy?" I had asked the surgeon whether she would recommend that and she said no and that breast cancer doesn't spread from breast to breast and that I…
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Another Chemo or Not Question
I'm trying to decide whether I should do chemo or not. My Recurrence Score is 22. I had stage 1 with no lymph nodes involved, bilateral cancer. I did lumpectomies and have clean margins. My score indicates a 14% Distant Recurrence with just the Tam and 12% if I do the Tam and chemo. I'm wondering if the 2% difference is…
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Recovery from lumpectomy?
Hi. I am wondering what the recovery is like for a lumpectomy ? How many days before I should make plans? Thanks.
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Quitting Tamoxifen
Hi All, I started Tamoxifen (after chemo and radiation) in January 10. I was taken off of it for 3 months in June 10, because my hair was coming back in fine, and sparse with huge bald spots ant he docs didn't know why. They said I could try going off the tamoxifen to see if that was the cause. My hair stayed thin and…
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Diet and healing
I have been doing research on diet and healing cancer. I just bought the Anti Cancer book and Dr. Joel Fuhrman's books. Has anyone tried any particular anti cancer diet and/or supplements? Because this is my third unrelated cancer, I want to do all that I can to get healthy. I already had what I thought was a healthy diet,…
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Statistics on refusing chemo
I am newly diagnosed with this cancer, but not new to cancer. I am trying to decide whether to accept chemo for Her2 positive, and positive for both hormones, grade 2, (don't know stage yet). What I need to know is what the statistics or odds are if I refuse the weekly chemo, but have the lumpectomy surgery, radiation and…
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My mother just told me she has cancer!
Hello friends, My mother had a biopsy on her breast this past Monday. She was told to call her doctor if she hadn't heard anything in 2-3 days. When she called, on Thursday, the nurse told her that the doctor wanted to see her in person, the next day. My father took her in to see the doctor on Friday and when I called her…
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Metastatic Breast Cancer
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I'm So Confused
Hi all. Well my biopsy was today and of course being scared just didn't have too many questions. They got me into position up on a table - felt like I'm up there for an oil change or something. Just didn't expect to be hoisted up on a table. They tried to get some pictures and said they were taking smaller images of the…
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herceptin side-effects
Is anybody else having side-effects from herceptin? Mine aren't too serious but am curious to connect with others who are also on the treatment because the oncology centre said most people don't have any side-effects and it makes me feel "spacey" a few hours after getting it and I also feel more tired from it.
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Herceptin is chemo?????
So when you go to the herceptin sites it does not say it is chemo or not. It just talks about it being a targeted therapy or an additional therapy or adjunct therapy. So I went through the a/c high dose chemo and was too messed up from it to do the taxol. (nerve damage bad) So the doc started me on herceptin treatments…
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Sharing resources for people newly diagnosed
When I was first diagnosed I felt like a deer in the headlights. Total shock. I worked hard to research things that would be helpful to me from surgery forward. Just wanted to share some things that helped me and maybe others will follow with their feedback to make it easier on newly diagnosed woment going through the…
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Not all hair fell out. Now what?
Most of my hair fell out less than 3 weeks after my 1st chemo. The hair that didn't fall out got "buzzed". This was back in January. The hair that didn't fall out also has not grown. Just wondering what to expect later, when my hair starts growing back. Will the hair that is still on my head continue to grow or fall out…
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Nerve Damage from radiation
I had 30 rounds of radiation in fall of 2015. For about 10 months now I have been having issues with numbness in my hands and radiating pain down my left arm. I have lost strength in my hands. Just wondering if it has anything to do with the radiation. Anyone else experience any of this? Thanks
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Has anyone ever skipped the Neulasta shot?
Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! I had my 4th chemo on Thursday... just 2 more to go! I have always had treatment on a Thursday and my Neulasta shot the next day after work. Because yesterday was Christmas, they said I could wait until today. It's my son's birthday tomorrow; he's turning 18 and I wanted to take him…
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Just recently diagnosed
Hi. i was just recently diagnosed with IDC stage 2. I had Bilateral Mastectomy 2 weeks ago. My drains only stayed for 1 week. Now the tumors were on the left breast and the nodes as well but my right side between the surgery area and the armpit is so painful and is swelling. Is this normal? Also my armpits has this really…