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lymphedema
I know this likely has been posted before but I need help with lymphedema. Current am using the sleeve and scheduled to be wrapped next week. Anyone else have this? Any advice? Seems like I get every side effect possible! bless you all and stay strong! prv
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2nd surgery over
Hi all, I made it through the second surgery yesterday. Somehow I seem sorer this time than the first and the breathing tube this time caused me lots of discomfort to where I couldn't hardly talk (teenagers where prob happy lol). I can talk ok today with only mild annoyance. The surgeon said he removed about 1 cm more of…
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BC and COPD
I will be having surgery in the next few weeks and am really scared because I also have COPD. I am not on oxygen, but I am on Sprivia and Albutesol. Has anyone else had surgery and COPD? What should I tell the anesthesiologist?
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excisional biopsy(lumpectomy) tomorrow
Hi, I have atypical lobular hyerplasia and am having a excisional biopsy tomoorrow. Trying to think it's "no big deal". But I'm starting to get a little anxious about needle placement then general anesthesia. I know chances are it will show "nothing" but still 20-30% chance there is "something". Not looking forward to…
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skin problems with reconstruction
I had bilateral mastectomy with expanders put in on Dec. 18th 2009. My plastic surgeon says that I need to have surgery again to remove the dead skin at the incision site. He will also have to remove some of the fluid in my expanders to give him extra skin to use to reclose the opening. I read where dot was going to have…
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question about icon
Since I'm new at this site and still learning can anyone tell me what the little icon is next to people's names on the main discussion site. It looks like a little head and shoulders of a person. I see it says something about adding to friends???? I'm sure some of you are laughing. I'm not very computer savvy, but I will…
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5yr pill
I'm meeting with my onc on Tuesday to decide on my 5yr pill. I've done my research on the 4 major pills---tamoxifin, anastrozole, exemestane, and letrozole. Anyone have any info to help me decide? Any major side effects I should know about?
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Relay for Life
Tonight is our kickoff for the Laurel Relay for Life (Maryland). A friend and I are going to the Green Turtle tonight - all proceeds from all sales will go directly to the Relay for Life. If there is anyone close by (between Washington and Baltimore), we'd love to see you there. The Green Turtle is on Route 1 in Laurel.…
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Margins clear..nodes clear! Good day..
wow everyone...never thought I could utter the words that the cancer is gone but I can as of today! They took 18, not 10 like I thought, lymphnodes. The first 3 had cancer....all others negative! I am so happy...I have this sense of "normalcy" for the first time in a long time. I know I still have to do rads, but it seems…
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Breast cancer, bilateral mastectomies and Lupus
Hi everyone - I am brand new to the network. I was diagnosed in July 09 with breast cancer. Expected due to the high family incidence (mother, sister, 5 aunts). I underwent bilateral mastectomies, sentinel node biopsy and so far 4 of 6 chemo treatments. Chemo has not been unbearable but suffer more with the mastectomies…
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scared and anxious
I'm new here. Microcalcifications were found upon routine annual mammo on 10/28/09. Biopsy 11/12, lumpectomy 12/7. Tiny, but sentinal node positive. Also, ER PR pos and (mildly) HER2 pos. Chemo onc ran Onco Dx test and felt that results (very low risk of reoccurance) didn't warrant chemo. I was both releived and terrified.…
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Fortune cookie of the day
In the end there are three things that last: faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is love. We have a lot of love on this site and I love all of you. XOXO, Margo
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Soul Searching
Soul Searching I am sooooo happy that I finally had the nerve to start writing on this site. You have all helped me tremendously. I actually cried happy tears for a change and I thank you for that!! I'm pretty sure that the surgery is a go as long as I pass the pre op testing. I guess I will have to decide just who I want…
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New RAD GRAD!!! ;-)
I'm thrilled to be joining my fellow rad grad sisters! I had my final treatment at 0800 this morning...25 regular treatments and 5 boosts. My breast is very tender and I'm told it will get worse before it gets better! Still, very glad it is done with and looking forward to looking forward! Will start tamoxifen at the end…
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Shoulder Pain/Funding Treatment... Scared
I was diagnosed last week. My biopsy was 2 weeks ago. I have no insurance & not sure how anything beyond this will be paid as I'm unemployed. I'm only 33. I can't tell if I'm being paranoid or it's anxiety but my armpit & shoulder & right arm all hurt a little. My breast hurts too. Obviously I'm still recovering from the…
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Reconstruction - scared but still feel I want it
Thank you all for the information and kindness. I have been living so unhappy for these last 18 months mostly because of course I can't believe this has all happened but also because of how I feel about myself now. I couldn't get reconstruction at the time of the mastectomy so now that I have the ok I'm pretty sure it is…
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Surgery, scheduled and I'm OK
Hello, hello, hello.....a lot has happened in the last week, I had to make a huge decision with plastic surgeon and also I have moved back to my home, decided I'm not leaving it, he can leave, battling this cancer is enough, I'm not going to walk out on my home too....so now that my focus is just on getting through this…
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getting nervous
I am getting a little nervous for the second go round of surgery to get a wider clean margin. The oncologist bought up something that I was not prepared to think about. He said that they could possibly find more scattered calcifications on the tissue they remove when they go in to get a wider clean margin. I have 2 sides…
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TB tests
Can I get a TB test in arm where lymph nodes were removed?
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NED
No Evidence of Disease. I also wondered who Ned was and then the sisters in pink told me who he is. We all want to dance with NED, and we will.
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Done with Rads today!!
Hi All. I finished with the rads today. I had 35 total with the last 7 as boosters. My skin is red but not blistered. I'm still on Herceptin every 3 weeks until Oct. I meet with my oncol. next Wed. to have the "Tamoxefin talk". I also see my gyn. on next Thurs. to get her opinion on it. On to the next step!
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At Last...
Hi all my sisters and friends. Today is my birthday and I had the best presents this week. I finished Herceptin treatments, my hands have cleared up and I got my port taken out. They did give me a sedative to take the port out, but it was a pretty simple procedure. I am only a little sore. I never thought this day would…
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How long did it take for your hair to totally fall out?
I started chemo on 12/16, and by 12/30 my hair was coming out in handfuls. I decided to have it buzzed to about 1/16" on New Years Day, and expected to be totally bald shortly thereafter. Well, although I still have what seems like a ton of little short hairs falling off of my scalp every day, I STILL have stubble on my…
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Liquid hope... First chemo
I just got back from my first chemo treatment. It took from 9.30 till 4 pm.... WOW. Taxo, Carbo and Herceptin, took longer than I thought, I did not go back to work. But instead I had something to eat with my friend. She insisted since I hadn't eaten all day. I was so terrified at first but then I did what I do when I get…
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So far, so good.....
Finished Herceptin in October, thereby finishing all active treatment. Found a "shadow" in my lung, which was later determined to be a radiation pneumonitis, and not a malignancy. PET scan looked fine. Checked out fine with medical onc, although I will have a final CT scan in February to see if the scarring & damage from…
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Shout out to all California Sisters!
I have just been reading the weather forecasts...please, please be careful...a double whammy...El Nino and the Pineapple effect...one guy from Cal State Fullerton said likely to get a whole season's worth of rain in the next 5-10 days... Please take care and watch the forecast in your area before you venture out!!! Hugs…
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Arimidex--AGAIN (Question)
Ok, for you ladies taking Arimidex. What time of day do you feel worked out best for you? My Medical Oncologist AND mt Oncology surgeon who I saw today want me to start it. So, I'm thinking starting this evening, Which time of the day seemed to work better for you?
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Prayer Request
Hi Ladies: I haven't posted for awhile becuase so much is going on; but wanted to request your prayers. As you may already know I have Mohs Surgery on 1/25 and reconstrucion surgery on 1/26 for a basal cell tumor on my face between my eyes, but now I am also facing a stereotactic biopsy on Tuesday 1/19 for possible breast…
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case management FYI
I am very new here and newly diagnosed as well. I have already received a lot of support and info on this site. Thank you Thank you! Through the hospital where I am receiving treatment, it was suggested that I get set up with a case manager through my insurance company. I took that suggestion and she (a nurse) has been of…
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friend hasnt talked to me
when i was working my boss and her aunt talked to me everyday on computer after work. these people did alot for me. and love them for it. when i started chemo i never heard from them, so i put on face book..out of sight out of mind. well the aunt didnt talk to me for 6 months. she said to me the other day she was hurt by…