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Lymphatic fluid in breast
My oncologist said mild swelling and discomfort was lymphatic fluid accumulating in my breast after sentinel node biopsy and lumpectomy in August 2008. I'm aware of arm lymphedema and its problems even though I don't suffer from that. This is not disabling in any way and I have exercises to help drain the fluid. Has anyone…
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"Friends List"
I must have missed something in the "registration instructions" ... but I see that most (if not ALL) of you have some little icony thing after your name and when I click on it ... it says "friends list" or something like that. I fell left out. :-) What is that ... and how do I get to be part of the "club"? thanks, teena
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where the sun don't shine
What a crapy day i had! As some of you already know..i was scheduled for another colonoscopy. I was to have one done in Dec. same time as the mastectomy. My surgeon didn't finish it because there was a blockage and he didn't want to continue and put me through anymore stress.($charge up the butt for it though)!haha. And…
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they're thinking it's back.
i just finished chemo june 08 and rad in oct. now i'm in ohio and have to get some bone scans and something down my throat to see if cancer is back. my throat has been sore for 3 or 4 mons told the drs in indy and they give me one antibotic after another my bones started hurting around then too. they did lung xray and it…
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Large patches of skin coming off?
I am posting for a friend who has no internet right now. She had rad'n, 25 treatments, that finished a few weeks ago. She has been getting large patches of skin peeling off from her chest area, where the rad'n was. Patches the size of her hand -- so that seems large to me. Is this unusual? How long might it continue?…
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First time dealing with breast cancer
HELLO I am so scared and angry at the same time. After three biopies and lumpectomy/sentinel node biopsy surgery. I still have cancer in my lymph nodes which the pathologist at the time of surgery missed it.. My surgeon doesn't want to go back in an remove my lymph nodes. He wants me to start chemo and radiation…
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Lotions etc. Why avoid petroleum-based products?
I am posting for a friend who has no internet right now. Her rad. onc. asked her to get Aquaphore, for which the active ingredient is petroleum jelly. Some of the forum members have suggested water-based, especially with aloes. I encouraged her to use aloes, which are plentiful in her neighborhood. She has used them many…
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Reconstruction Update (Part III)
Yesterday was my appointment with my surgeon. I went in there with the full intention of telling him not to put in any more more 100 cc's of fluid due to the pain I was having. Well, when he came in I explained the pain and he reclined the exam chair I was in as and was quite surprised as I winced and complained of just…
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Who did it????????????
Cumon, 'fess up, Who actually gave up Smoking/ Drinking/ Eating Red Meat/ Drinking bottled water/ Fiddling about with car engines without the protection of arse-feeling gloves/........ Did anyone start on a vegan diet, drink 300 gallons of pure spring water or walk 250 miles a day? I'm just being nosy.......but DOOOOO…
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OK I did it
Hi again, After taking ALL of your advice I DID keep todays appointment with Dr Charisma-Bypass. And I fessed up that I didn't go for the mammo because I was in too much pain and ...........You'll never guess, he didn't give me a rollicking, he just smiled (well it might have been wind)and said it was fine by him and if I…
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Still me
Good morning friends, I am going to work today, for a few hours maybe 5. I used to work 12 hour shifts..all day on my feet and still come home and make supper etc. Now i feel 5 is enough and hubbie makes supper. I look forward to going to work but one thing has been bothering me. I live in a very small town and there is…
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chemo treatment plan in writing now
I finally got the whole schedule in writing: Adriamycin w/Cytoxan every 2 wks for 4 cycles or doses Taxol w/Herceptin every week for 12 weeks Herceptin alone every 3 weeks for 1 year. This is different than what she said the first time when we met. It is because she was able to look at my medical records more in depth.…
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looking for experienced opinions
My mom was diagnosed this week and the heartless doctor who threw this at her during a whole 10 minute visit says she is to have a complete right breast removal. We live in the Hudson Valley in New York. My question is: has anyone dealt with the Cancer Centers of America? If so, what are you're thoughts and/or experiences…
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Radiaton Burn
Through my 7 wks. of radiation in 2005 after a sml lump was discovered in my left breast,I was left with a severe radiation burn extending to under my armpit and lymph nodes. This has resulted in a radical mastectomy and (rebuilt) left breast due to the damage done to my blood vessels. Basically, my breast shrunk severely…
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Psychosocial Issues of Breast Cancer Survivorship
I thought this was a good article and hope it helps those of us struggling with the multi-headed beast of bc and all the problems that can come with it like financial, sexual, emotional and more. love jan From Medscape Hematology-Oncology Talking With Your Patients About Cancer Psychosocial Issues of Breast Cancer…
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ASCO guidelines on BC surveillance
While reading the post on psychosocial issues of BC, I had more questions. I went to the American Society of Clinical Oncology to look up the guidelines on BC surveillance. My onc never told me anything more than I needed a mam twice a year for the next 2 years. This is what I found: American Society of Clinical Oncology…
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Just needing some advice
I am afraid and really need someone to talk to.. I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2003 and nearly died from surgery and post operative issues... I am suppose to be cancer free however I had a mammogram done last week and there is a lump in my breast. Also being seen is microcalcifications. also found was a small cyst…
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SPELL CHECK
Occasionally I have seen folks here note how spell check would be nice, below is a useful site that will spell-check your blogs or whatever you write here. Just copy and paste it, it will also check your grammar and it has a thesaurus. I use it quite often and have even bookmarked it.…
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radiation time
Hi to every body. Today I had my 3th radiation. But it takes only 3 minutes. I was wondering if it is usual? I have to add that my tumor was stage 1 invasive DCIS but the size of tumor was very smal about 0.17 so do you have any idea? i thought it will take about 15 to 20 minutes but I was surprize to see it only took 3…
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I have a "date" tomorrow night
I know I should probably wait until after the "date" is over, and regale you with how lovely the evening was, but I just can't!!! In my heart of Chenhearts I already KNOW it is going to be and evening full of fun, hugs,laughter and lots of giggling! I shouldn't say there will be gossip, as that is a pejorative word most of…
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permanent side effects from chemo - anyone else?
I am still struggling emotionally to deal with the side effect chemo gave me: my female pattern baldness which would not have showed up until I was an old lady, yet was exposed or accelerated by the chemo. I am trying to take the right steps: I found a beautiful human hair wig and lightened my hair and styled it…
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Just joined - lots of questions
I got my diagnosis of mucinous breast cancer on January 30th while I was recuperating from ankle ligament reconstruction surgery (Jan. 29th). I was expecting it because of all the tests they had been running after my mammogram. (ultrasound, cone mammogram, biopsy - that took a week for the results!). I had a lumpectomy on…
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Femara effects????????
Does anyone take this drug? What are the side effects most people experience?
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Losing hair
I am losing some of my hair on my head but why is it the hair that is covered with clothes the first to go--yes that hair plus arm and leg hair. Maybe the only reason why my hair hasn't fallen out more is from the gel/wax I put in my hair. I have also started to lose my eyebrows and eye lashes already. I had my first chemo…
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CONFESSIONS OF A GOOF
Hello Ladies and Gents, Well let me tell you that I have been a bit distressed over a recent weight gain that just keeps inching its way up the scale and I cannot figure out what I have done to gain this extra 4 lbs. (now I am betting a few of you are snickering because you know where the extra pounds have come from) I…
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This has NOTHING to do with Cancer!!!!!
Oh wow~ how could I have forgotten to share with you all that I got engaged last Saturday????? Reggie had something to "ask me"..but he decided to wait until he saw me ( I was out of town visiting my brother...you remember, my "date" with Joyce happened that week!) Turns out, what he wanted to ask me was if I knew my ring…
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happy about wig
So: my hair did not grow back properly because I have underlying female pattern baldness. I am realizing this is not the end of the world, and want to share my good news with you: I am going around to different wig/hairpiece shops before I make my decision, but I am going to get a really, expensive nice wig or hairpiece.…
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Haven't written in a while
I haven't written in a while. Been on the pity pot (quite a lot) and spending my time being a workaholic and sleeping. But I do read what you all have to say and respond to your messages with thoughts and prayers and oftentimes smiles- you are all so special to me! I want to congratulate Chen and root for RE and hug so…
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1st Chemo on Monday
This is really hard for me. 1st one Monday. It really hit me yesterday. Sickness. Today feel like I have been ran over by a truck. Will this be like this everytime? The taste in my mouth is horrible. Any suggestions on getting this taste out of mouth? I'm sorry to vent today. Thank you Darlene
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Constantly Catching the Common Cold
I've been out of treatment for nine months. I never got a cold or other annoying bug once during chemo. I am currently enduring my fifth cold since September. Where, oh where did my immune system go? Has anyone else had this experience? I've been taking all the proper precautions I took during chemo. - hand-washing being…