The Cancer Survivors Network (CSN) is a peer support community for cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, families, and friends! CSN is a safe place to connect with others who share your interests and experiences.

Breast Cancer

Updates 5/19 and 5/20: Diagnosis & Treatment
Here is my Diagnosis: Stage 3 Breast Cancer, ER+, Invasive, with lobular and ductal features . I have an approx 6cm mass (think nearly the size of a pool cue-ball), and a bit of the cancer in one Lymph Node, all on the left side. Definitions: "Stage 3"... means ...the breast cancer has extended to beyond the immediate…
The hits may be small but..
I'm doing well physically. Chemo shrunk things so I was able to have a lumpectomy and the 41 lymph nodes removed were all negative and I am grateful for that. I have a small but terrific support system. But it seems like the hits just keep on coming. Things like a port that stopped working before I even finished chemo,…
Treatment plan it's so real now
It's been a long trip going through second cancer diagnoses.two stomach surgerys.lots of dr. Appointments.I have overuse cancer with no overs for 28 yrs.i have two kinds of cancer.the other one it has taken several pathology boards to figure it out.I go back to reg. Cancer dr.june 10.she will know what kind of Cancer it…
taxol and itching?
Hi! I have just had my second week of taxol, and I itch like crazy. Last week, the itching was mostly around my eyes and forehead, but this week it feels like all over. Has anyone else had this issue? I told my oncologist about it, but she didn't seem to think it was related to the taxol. Funny how it starts right up after…
Probiotics?
Wondering if anyone has any experience with and/or information for/about Probiotics. My understanding is vague at best, but from what i gather, one's "gut flora" are a key part of one's physiology: how food gets procesed, how toxins are cleared, and so on. And seeing as how Chemo kills stuff in the body, does it impact the…
"Book of Life"
i bought a pretty bound notebook/composition book, and i have begun to ask all teh people i am working with -- teh nurses, techs, doctors, and also family and friends -- to Autograph it as i go through meetings, test, treatments. It's a way for me to remember everyone who helped to bear me up and keep me alive. So far,…
As done as it gets!
While we are never "done" with this breast cancer thing, I have decided to DC Tamoxifen after just a little over 5 years. I saw my onocologist yesterday and said I didn't want to do 10 years unless she really felt I should. I had treatment in 2010 for IDC including chemotherapy because I had a high oncotype score. That…
Tamoxifen and weight gain
I think theres been some debate if Tamoxifen causes weight gain...cuz i know some of my docs says it doesnt but yet i blew up like a balloon filled with heilium and want no sharp objects around me cuz i might pop. I have gained over 15 pounds, i know that doesnt sound like much but to me thats alot and its frustrating to…
How can I help YOU?
I am very much a service-oriented person, and this experience of being diagnosed with Breast Cancer, and to have to turn to so many people for help and support, has thrown my usual ways upside-down. It's hard to ask, it's hard to receive, and yet I know that i MUST do these things in order to survive. So i am learning new…
breast implants saline or silicone
I have the breast expanders in when it is time I need to decide which implant I want. Just want to know if anyone else has had this done? not sure if I should use silicone they say it is safe my husband says go for this one any help I would like to hear.
Miserable on chemo--just want to quit!
Hi everyone. It's Jackie. I haven't checked in for a while, but I really need some wisdom/empathy. I finished my 4 courses of Adriamycin/Cytoxan. Last week I got the 1st of 4 courses of Taxotere. I was told this would probably be easier on me. Wrong! The first 2 days were better, but then it hit! I have been in "total body…
Is there any help
is there any help for treatment if your insurance doesn't pay for it?
Tamoxifen vs Raloxfene
My doctor is now suggesting raloxfene instead of tamoxifen...neither of which I have started. I just had my bilateral masectomy on March 25th. Margins are clean, only slightly invasive on one side..I mean tiny...I am post menopausel.
Need some help
i recently had an abnormal mammo and ultrasound. I have a lump in my left breast and tomorrow I have a consultation to get a biopsy. This morning I have starting swelling , like a knot, right straight below my color bone. Has anyone else experienced this? It aches, it burns, my breast aches and burns. im so stressed…
Sharing progress!
Hello, friends I just wanted to share that with my insistence I finally have permission from my Plastic Surgeon to begin radiation in June. I don't know why my body was not healing at the expected rate or if she was just bring conservative, but I feel 12 weeks out of surgery was long enough! I realize that the surgeon felt…
expanders ? No replies I hate this board!
HI Everyone, it has been awhile since i have been on here. I am at the stage now in my treatment where i have expanders in. I had double mas. and expanders put in in Nov. I ended up having radiation with the expander in. (everything went great!) Now i just went in for my last expansion and for some reason i started running…
Breast Reconstruction Questions
Hello. I am 43 years old. This is the first time I've posted on this. I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of the right breast in October 2007. I have had 2 surgeries to remove the cancerous tissue. The first surgery removed the micro-calcifications found on the Mammograms. They thought they got clear margins,…
Organizing your Chemo Recovery Space
Again, i am looking toward and planning for the start of Chemo in 2-3 weeks, and am hoping that you who have been there, can help me with ideas, suggestions, advice about how to Set-up, Organize and Stock my Recovery Space. What sorts of things made your Recovery Space work for you? Conversely, what sorts of things were…
Best day to receive Chemo
Hi Ladies - I'm a newbie on this board. I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer on Feb 25th and will be starting Chemo next week. My question to you all who have had Chemo is I am trying to decide which day of the week to have it. For the first 2 months, I'll be going every other week (4 times) then after I will go once a week…
How much time between surgery and RAD?
Hello, friends Everyone here has been so helpful through my treatment so far, so I feel very comfortable turning to you once again for some advice. In a quick summary, I was diagnosed June,2015, neoadjuvant TC until November, Shingles in February, finally surgery(partial) March 3rd. It is now 10 weeks since my surgery. I…
Nipple Tattoos
Just wanted to let everyone know tomorrow will be a step forward for me. I will be having my nipples tattooed on. Say a little prayer for me they look ok.
nipple reconstruction
My new nipple is dying. My plastic surgeon came into the room today and said "That's not the happiest nipple I've ever seen." I had the graft a week ago, and he pointed out the tissue that's already dead....I was so disappointed. I cried on the way back to work, and my husband offered to call my office and tell them I…
lump under incision site
I had a lumpectomy for DCIS at stage 0 in Nov. 2015 then radiation for 4 wks. I had a six month mammo to check breast this last wk..the radiologist made me very uncomfortable. he saw the lump at incision on mammo so gave me an ultrasound. he drilled me. i told him my radiation dr. at my follow up told me it was scar…
Surgery is done
I was in hospital 5 days.They made the long incision.From bottom of breast all the way down.And I mean all the way down.They removed several tumors,Lymph nodes fatty lining of stomach that we knew had Cancer.Now they don't think it's Ovarian Cancer.So they are reasurchingit more with pathologist .Then I will start Chemo.I…
Tamoxifen and sun exposure
Has anybody read anything about tamoxifen making you more susceptible to sun exposure sensitivity? I was out for a walk yesterday and later in the evening realized I had sunburn on both arms. I'm not usually sensitive to the sun and don't usually burn so easily. Wondering if it's the tamoxifen - and, if so, why... Thanks…
Hypofractionated radiation
Hello all, A month ago I met for 3 hours with a great RO. She explained that I should receive the standard series of RADS - 25 + 5 boosts. After 4 more weeks of waiting to heal after surgery (9 weeks post op), I asked for another appointment to see if I could get things going. To my surprise I was told that she was going…
Went on another retreat.
This one was so good. It was with Lifting Hearts. A nonprofit here in Utah. There were 20 bc survivors. Stage 0 -4. Such a positive loving environment. It broke my heart to see so many in their 20-30's with young children. Out of 6 stage iv, 2 were in late 20's- early 30's. All theree were at different stage of acceptance,…
lung nodules 19 years after breast ca diagnosis
Hello- Long story. My mom is a two time breast cancer survivor from 1989 (first primary-unilateral mastectomy and 1996( another primary on other breast-mastectomy. She had chemo both times. First time she was node negative second time she had one positive node. NO problems since. Recently she was diagnosed with endometrial…
Breast reconstrution options
I am coming to the part of my journey where I will make my choice of what kind of final reconstruction I want. Flap is a very long recovery and two healing locations..tummy and breast. I'm am so sick of surgery and healing process. We all know how long it takes to get your body back after each surgery! I am know thinking…
Funeral yesterday
Lew's funeral was yesterday, I lost count how many floral arrangements there were - 7 Peace Lilies alone. No way do I have room in my little house for all the flowers so sent bouquets home with any family who would take them, and I still have 10 left here in my house. So many people came they had to open up the back wall…

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The Cancer Survivors Network (CSN) is a peer support community for cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, families, and friends! CSN is a safe place to connect with others who share your interests and experiences.

Breast Cancer

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