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Breast Cancer

Brain fog/cognitive difficulty without chemo or radiation
My cancer support counselor is reading a book called, I think, your brain after chemo, and she commented in our last session that a lot of my issues with brain fog, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, etc. are similar to patients that had chemo. I didn’t have radiation or chemo but I have had three surgeries in less…
MSK - Literally Abandoning a Patient - When Are They Held Accountable?
I have breast cancer, a recurrence. Prior to surgery, my surgeon wanted me to go on medication (Aromatase Inhibitors) that block estrogen so the tumors can be reduced in size before surgery. Fine. WELL, you will need assistance in this as these estrogen blockers cause a host of incredibly unbearable side effects. The first…
Night Anxiety - A first!
I had such a bout of anxiety last night….it was frightening. I’ve had some fears in the early mornings on and off since my diagnosis journey started three weeks ago. But I couldn’t shake it…my chest was tightened and my body wouldn’t release the fear…I tried deep breathing…a meditation tool, watching a favorite series, and…
TNBC radiation vs. chemo
Hello Everyone, I was diagnosed with TNBC a few months ago. It was caught early -- stage 1(b). I was told the best treatment would be 4 chemo sessions 3 weeks apart, then a break of a month, then four weeks (5X/week) of radiation. I've had two chemo treatments so far, and I'm having the WORST TIME. Oncology team told me…
FASLODEX/KISQALI
Any success stories from anyone using Faslodex/Kisqali with Letrozole? My wife just started this combo for metastatic stage 4 breast cancer. Hers is HR+ HER2- variety metastasized to the skin. Need some encouragement.
Verzenio medium to Long term prospects
Hello Folks, Question from a Caregiver. My wife was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer with mets to bone in Jan 2022 iBrance and Kisqali worked but had side effects. Since Oct 2022, my wife has been on Verzenio(Abemaciclib) and is tolerating it well with clear scans. Is there anyone who has been on Verzenio for many years and…
Lidocaine cream for port doesn't numb.
Hi everyone. First time port placement last week. Had treatment yesterday and that lidocaine cream they prescribed didn't numb one bit. Site is still sore and bruised so the whole needle placement was not fun. Actually took about 30 minutes for it to stop hurting. My body also has that problem where local anesthetic…
Surviving, and the long recovery
I'm sitting here tonight, 6 months after finishing my treatment for triple negative breast cancer, feeling gratitude for life and the cancer being gone. I'm looking for wisdom and encouragement about what it looks like to live as a cancer survivor. I need help managing expectations. The treatments saved my life, but they…
I start chemo Mon.-I'm terrified...
I start my first round of chemo Mon. I'm terrified...4 cycles of AC, then taxotere with Herceptin for 4 more. Then radiation...How do I cope? Anyone else that has gone through this, I'd love to hear from you. I had a 7cm tumor with 23 out of 23 nodes positive. Ct's and bone scan okay. God Bless all of you. Adele
Headaches during Radiation
I am on my 13th day of radiation therapy for breast cancer. I have been having severe headaches during the last two weeks, and this morning woke up with one. I was not stressed-out and slept well. I hardly ever have had headaches in my entire life, so I believe this must be associated. It seems that whenever I ask the…
Newbie here. So glad to have found this!
It’s all just happening right now. Saw my doctor for inverted nipple/misshapen breast/twinges of pain in late October. One appointment with Breast doctor mid November, MAMMO followed by ultrasound same day. Dr went from - oh likely just cysts to scheduling core biopsy because looks like cancer. I get the core biopsy this…
Anastrozole Joint Pain
I was diagnosed with stage 2 invasive ductal cell carcinoma in June 2022. I received 4 cycles of chemo, last cycle was in December 2022. I have been on Anastrozole for about a year and have recently started to experience fairly severe joint pain, primarily in my knees. I have also been experiencing carpal tunnel symptoms.…
Lymph nodes with micro metastasis
Hi there, I’m new to the group and am excited to chat with others in the same boat I am in. I’ve been diagnosed with ER/PR positive, HER2 negative invasive lobular breast ca with micro metastasis to 2/3 lymph nodes which is freaking me out. I’ve had a bilateral mastectomy. My provider says radiation or chemotherapy is not…
Radiation freakles
I have broken out in freakles (or something like freakles dark brown spots) on my chest area between clavical and neck. These were not there prior to starting radiation.. heck I didn't notice them last week. I am at #25 treatment out of 34. I was wondering if anyone else had this occur? The nurses at my oncologist office…
enhertu and nausea
I have been experiencing mild nausea for at least 10 days after each enhertu infusion. I have anti-nausea meds along with the enhertu and they seem to stop nausea for the first 3 days, then the 10 days of not feeling well start. My Dr prescribed Prilosec but it hasn't helped. My gastro Dr just told me that if it hasn't…
Anyone had their ovaries removed as a precaution before age 40?
I am 37 yrs old and had stage 2 breast cancer. I had a bi-lateral mastectomy in Aug. BRACA1/2 negative. My oncologist is suggesting I remove my ovaries to "greatly reduce my risk" of breast cancer coming back. I am at a loss because after reading up on the procedure it appears after oophorectomy before age 45 you are at an…
6 month breast MRI f/u
Hi! I am 46 with history of hysterectomy. I’m not on any hormone treatments. I have not been diagnosed with breast cancer, but I have had 2 left breast biopsies, both which came back Fibroadenoma. I go back at the end of December for my 6 month MRI f/u. The first MRI had allll the characteristics of cancer….washout,…
Insurance and surgery
Hey ladies, I was wondering if anyone can help me with an insurance question. I had a double mastectomy a few months ago and had expanders placed and I will be going in for my reconstruction surgery in 3-5 months. This year I have a PPO plan but am considering switching to HMO for next year before I go bankrupt. I know…
High d dimer.. lung nodule..
I just seem to be having a not great time..sorry.. just a vent with a bit of an I'm scared pity party... I had chest pain so bad .. I can't think of another time I've had pain that bad.. To ER.. labs, xray etc.. ok but ddimer was over 1000.. so ct to check for blood clot.. No clot but 7mm nodule in left lower lobe.. and…
Statins
I've no cardiac issues. My cholesterol is a bit high based on the newer guidelines so doctor recommends I start a statin before beginning treatment.. He says chemo or radiation either one will increase the cholesterol and I should do this now. Have you heard of or done this? With everything else I'm going through I don't…
Cold Caps
Has anyone tried cold caps? Do they work with AC & Taxol?
New Diagnosed
I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma earlier this year. I've had my mastectomy and in about 2 months I will have my next reconstructive surgery. I feel extremely lucky since I do not have to do any radiation nor chemo. My lymph nodes were clean, and my index score came back as only a 10 so I am ER+ PR+ HER2- N0…
New to this and lost
I looked for advice online and was surprised to find I already had an account here. A few years ago I was told while waiting for biopsy results it was 50/50 that I would have uterine cancer. Luckily I did not. 12 days ago I had a routine mammogram, followed by ultrasound, followed by biopsy, followed by a breast cancer…
Reconstruction
I’m experiencing a lot of delays with my care. I did not require chemotherapy or radiation so my reconstruction has been almost immediate. My first stall was having to wait too long for drain removal. As a result, I had an infection and needed to wait until the new stitches were removed. The second stall was having half…
Node Testing for Prophylactic Contralateral Mastectomy?
Hello! I am so grateful this board exists! I was just diagnosed with high grade, hormone receptor positive DCIS in my left breast (by mammogram and biopsy.) In hopes of avoiding radiation and hormone therapy, and for symmetry, I am wanting to do a bilateral mastectomy with aesthetic flat closure. I was told my surgeon…
First post
Hello, Sisters in Pink, This is my first post here and I just wanted to introduce myself. I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer earlier this year. Left breast, ER/PR+ HER-, no lymph nodes involved. Since the tumor was large (3.9 cm at its widest) and I didn't want to undergo a mastectomy, I opted to get neoadjuvant…
Very confused
Ok, this may be a little long but I need to explain. I was diagnosed with Triple Negative however my oncologist could not find a definitive location that the lump nodes that were cancer came from the breast. I said that it is most likely. I went through chemo and the lumps swelling went down drastically. Oncologist wanted…
Survivors Who Have Been Abandoned By Spouses
How have you dealt? Mine left 4/5 weeks post surgery, before all the real treatments happened. I am not coping and I don’t know where to look for help or even what kind of help to ask for to cope. So many suggestions are medications from my doctors, but this isn’t a chemical imbalance. It is grief. I have Stsge 1 IDC ++-,…
Nerve Damage
Has anyone experienced nerve damage after mastectomy? And if so, who did you see? What options were given? I had my bilateral mastectomy 2/1/23 and have had pain under my breast since after the surgery. At first my doctor thought it could be the expander causing the pain. However, once the expanders were swapped for…
Lift Chair - Fully Electric - Free
Hi, I have a fully electric mobility lift chair to donate to someone in need. I personally swear by it due to the comfort it provided for me immediately post surgery. I used the chair to relax and sleep in the initial stages of recovery. With the push of the button, the chair reclines or fully lifts upright enabling you to…

Breast Cancer

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