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Breast Cancer

crying from pain and worried
I already wrote about this, but am hoping more people will respond as only a few did to my prior posts. I had a mastectomy with immediate LD flap reconstruction using an implant (it's a new procedure where the reconstruction and implant is done in only one step as opposed to the tissue expander thing). I am in such pain…
Question about Arimidex study
My first time and wanted to ask if any one has heard of a new study being done on Arimidex. I am 5 years out now and will be going off Arimidex in Aug. My doctor has suggested that I go on this study. He said that reserach has showed that there is a 2% chance that the breast cancer will come back. They are hoping to find…
Heart Surgery after Chest Radiation
I will be needing a valve replacement (not related cancer) and my cardiologist says consideration has to be made because of the radiation and potential for not healing as well. I did have a recurrance after the radiation and mastectomy followed by an infection that put me in the hospital for a week. Funny, when the…
more about the BRCA test
I recently had a mastectomy for invasive early stage bc. I went to see a geneticist to find out about being tested for the breast cancer mutation. Although I wrote to the group before about the pros and cons of getting this test, I now have additional questions since I got more information from the geneticist: 1.) the…
Services for Survivors
I first have to say that I really appreciate all the women who organized several years ago and created the awareness of breast cancer and forced the legislatures etc to direct more funding to research. I don't know that I would be here today, but for them. I wonder though if it isn't time to start putting some of that…
We have a Plan!!
Hello everyone, I posted last week because my Mom has been diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma of the right breast. I myself am a one year survivor of stage 3 rectal cancer and doing great. We met with Mom's surgeon today and the surgery is scheduled for March 11th, modified radical mastectomy with auxially lymph…
after arimidex
After 5 years of arimidex, what's next? Thanks to all u respond. Sue
need for physical therapy
Hello, group! It's ohilly. I am feeling much, much better...I gave in and took my pain medication, but I haven't taken it for 24 hours and still feel better. I am not sure why I don't have as much pain, but am definitely happy for this. My question to those of you who have had mastectomies is: did you have to have physical…
BRCA test
Hi, it's ohilly. I had my mastectomy on Feb. 21 and am on the road to recovery! I just wanted to ask the group what they thought about the benefits/disadvantages of getting tested for the breast cancer gene? I did make an appt. with a genetic counselor, but now am having doubts about the benefits of finding this out. What…
lifeline
I want to write my feelings, but I don't want to be negative. Let me just say that I feel beset on all sides. Not just (!) the C, but family problems have pretty well torn up my happiness. I wish I was religious. It seems that is something to hang on to when all else is crumbling. But I have tried, and I am not religious.…
Wig Hint
I ordered my first wig so that it matched my color almost exactly (salt & pepper) and matched my style. When it arrived and I put it on, I found that it was "close" but no cigar. The style was just "off" enough to make me terribly unhappy. You know the feeling - when you walk out of the hair salon and go straight home and…
curcumin and quercetin antagonistic?
I've found just one study in which quercetin and curcumin were administered together. The results were positive. However, another study may suggest that they are antagonistic. I am almost completely ignorant about the mechanisms of signalling pathways. Hopefully, one of you readers knows these pathways and can interpret…
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…

Breast Cancer

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