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Breast Cancer

and lastly....
A friend of mine came over, out of the blue, and gave me a gorgeous Revlon wig that looks like (but better) than my natural hair (used to). She knew I was unhappy with my wig and so she shopped secretly all over till she found a better one. Now, when I wear this wig I will think of love. Wasn't that a nice pick me up!…
follow through
Well, Ladies, I read all of your posts and thank you so much! They really helped, sometimes directly, sometimes in subtle ways, and definitely in seeing an outpouring of love. I wrote the following poem after reading and responding to your posts. Now, being of the hippie generation I don't worry too much about rhyming and…
Radiation Questions
Okay ladies, have a couple questions regarding radiation. I would rather hear it from you than try and believe all the stuff on the net. It seems the most side effects are fatigue. Did all of youexperience this and when sis it come on...early in treatment or later? For those of you who have job, were you able to work while…
Doctor's Appt
Great news, the kidney counts are much better...thanks to my acupuncturist. My body is healing itself. My counts are looking better and I do need to eat more red meat...I am really not a meat eater. I lost more weight and they did take some more vials of my blood for some testing but to be honest, I am so glad my numbers…
How Do You Keep Your Head Warm?
I finally lost my hair and am wearing cute little cotton caps (the kind they put on newborns - only I don't look cute like newborns do). But the problem is that I'm always cold and my head is always cold. I have a wig, but it seems a hassle to put on every day so these caps are convenient, but is there some trick to…
New contraption for CS simulation
hi Everyone, I had my Cs simulation today where they mark off the area that is to be radiated. And Before I went in, the doctor and nurses were extremely excited about a new device that allows a patient wot lay chest down and be marked. They asked me if I wanted to be the first person to try it, and of course, since I have…
physical therapy/exercises/ease tightness with lat flap
Okay, several people replied to my question about tightness after breast reconstruction (I had the lat flap with an implant - actually, my procedure is supposed to be experimental in the sense that it was done in one step instead of the usual tissue expander thing with the implants - I now have a full breast and only have…
Wowie
I sure missed some good posts. Took me a while to read. Had a wonderful visit with my family.
EFT Emotional Freedom Technique
While on Chat1, someone mentioned EFT, Emotional Freedom Technique, and I wanted to see if anyone has been to someone that uses this? Apparently it is a tapping on the body to open meridians much like acupuncture but without the needles. If you are aware of this and know any stories, please let me know.
Ohilly's horrible day
I had a mastectomy on Feb. 21 and had a horrible day yesterday: I wonder if anyone else has had these experiences - I had problems urinating after my surgery (thankfully, I now have the ability to pee back). Anyway, I had gone to see the urologist to have the catheter removed. After the appt. I was told to walk around the…
no dumb questions?
Okay, this may be too piddly of a question that no one can remember. But...since taking taxol I feel an ache between my hip bones, on either side. Is this maybe from menopause? Ovaries? Taxol pain? Anyone else ever have this? (of course I worry that it is serious) And, three weeks after taxol (two infusions) the rest of my…
A better day/Ohilly
To those of you who have been fighting this battle along with me, after my horrible day yesterday, today was a better (beautiful) day: I got my final path report and it was good. The tumor was actually smaller than they thought, but less than 2 cm. and it did not spread to the lymph nodes. They said most of it was actually…
Another 6 months down! YEA!!!
Well, I went to my 6-month onc visit today. She had a new PA, who said "You are the story we LOVE to tell!!!" ALL of my markers are clear, my white count is normal for the first time in 3 years...NED on the rectal ca for 3 years, NED on the breast ca 2.5 years....CT scan clear...WHEW! LOTS of naked happy dancing…
Neutrapenic
Came to the ER Saturday night on day 10 after infusion spiking a very 102 fever. No white cells. My first infusion totally zapped me. Has this happened to anyone else? I now know that with my next infusion I will have double doses of decadron to control my allergic reaction to the taxotere and that I will follow with a…
Need some advice.
Hi all, This is my first time on the breast cancer forum, I participate on the colon cancer forum because thats what I have had to deal with. My mom was dx with breast cancer today. They are giving her the option of lumpectomy, rads/chemo or mastectomy. She is 77 years old and leaning toward the mastectomy but my fear is…
my path report/Ohilly
For all of you who have been going thru this with me: I had my mastectomy surgery on Thursday, Feb. 21. At the time the surgeon told me 'the nodes looked clear' but of course she couldn't tell for sure until the final path report comes. Please think of me this Wednesday (Feb. 27) morning as that is when I will get the…
9 MILLION dollars!!!!!
So...What do you think of this one??? One of our Breast Cancer sisters , after surgery and mid-chemo, was dropped by her insurance company!!! Funny thing is, it is my insurance carrier as well~ YIKES! This brave warrior thankfully was able to finish her treatment through help available in her county, no thanks at all to…
OHilly is back
Hello to all who have wished me good luck. I had my mastectomy and reconstruction on Feb. 21 and just got home from the hospital. I woke up with very little pain and still don't have much, which is amazing. Of course, the final path report (which was my biggest fear) has not come back yet, but the surgeon said the node…
After bilateral Mast and chemo...what's next?
I had a bilateral Mastectomy March of 07 and finished chemo. I've had the reconstruction and coming up on my one year mark. I keep hearing where cancer has come back after 2-3 years. How do they determine this...what is the first sign? Is it protocal for them to do a Pet Scan at the one year mark? Can they tell from blood…
Alternative Medicine
There was a fellow in my town who had colon cancer. They opened him up and said he was too far gone and sewed him back up. He was refused treatment. I guess his brother was into alternative medicine and had him start on some other treatments. He picked up about 4 things at the local health food store. I don't know what…
Ohilly - Thoughts and Prayers
Today would you all take a moment to think about Ohilly. She has her mastectomy scheduled for 7:45 this morning and is scared to death. We've all supported her throughout her stuggle with decisions, her fears, etc. Today she needs our thoughts and prayers. So do all of the others of our sisterhood who are facing surgery,…
path report/lympth nodes
Hello, group. I have been writing on this board ever since I was diagnosed in early January. I have invasive ductal carcinoma with a 1.8 cm tumor. The doctors felt under my arms and told me they didn't feel anything and they told me my tumor is small, probably Stage I. I decided to have a mastectomy and am supposed to have…
Question about Chemo
My mom was just diagnosed this week with metaplastic spindle cell cancer of the breast. She is going to have the lymph nodes check this next week as well as the outer area sample taken of where they took the tumor out. If this comes out clean, do she still have to do chemo. If someone doesn't do chemo, will they die if the…
Low Immunity
Hi, Have not been on this site in a long time. Had a mastectomy in 2000 with 20 lymph nodes removed with 4 nodes positive (this is before the sent node thing). Had the 6 months of chemo then radiation. For the newly diagnosed breast cancer girls, you will get through it, life does go on after treatment. about one year…
prophylactic mastectomy
hi..I went to see my surgeon today..I will be having my right breast removed next month...but when he examined the scar from my left mast he noticed 2 new lumps...he is going to biopsy those also...anyone have this happen to them? talk about scared...Is this 3 strikes and I'm out??..thank you for listening
tamoxifen
Hi everyone, I was wondering if there was anybody out there post menopausal on tamoxifen that a) has had vision changes and b) every so often feels like they are going to start their period. That heavy achy feeling. I've only started feeling that way since taking tamoxifen. They've done an endometrium ultrasound and…
Newbie
Hello Everyone. I am new to this board. Spent much time on the ovarian board when my Mom was going through things. Now I guess it's my turn. My story is not as much sad as it is about hope. I had never had a mammogram in my entire life..I am 53. It just seemed that between working and being the family caregiver there was…
prophylactic mastectomy/2nd breast
I am still in the throes of being treated for bc of my left breast (next week I will undergo a mastectomy), but true to my nature (I'm a worrier) I am already worried about the other breast. I just wondered: did anyone in the group undergo a second, prophylactic mastectomy at a later point after having treatment in the…
Starting chemo while drains still in
A friend has now become a member of our club. She had a mastectomy 2 weeks ago and the oncolgoist wants to start the chemo while she still has the drains in. Like we've all experienced - she's getting all kinds of advice on waiting/not waiting. Have any of you heard of starting chemo while the post-op drains are still in?
Mammosite
I wrote yesterday about brachytherapy. Mammosite is a form of this. I have had a few responses. If anyone has had experience with Mammosite, I would love to hear about this as an alternative to traditional radiation. Thanks.

Breast Cancer

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