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I Do Not Understand
Before this is all finished, I hope you all do not find me to be neurotic... I posted about my mastectomy and the consequent excruciating pain I have been experiencing for the last 3 months (almost 1 yr post op now) and I have a couple of questions: In a letter from my oncologist to all my other doctors, he states at the…
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ROTTEN Mother
My 19 yo son is home this weekend from college (his first year...I also have a 17 yo who will graduate hs in June) and I can't even go to the movies with him. My son is clinically depressed and on medication (I am biPolar and clinically depressed) and he has been abused. He has almost no social skills, no friends and has…
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Subcutaneous mastectomy
Does anyone have first hand knowledge of subcutaneous mastectomy? This is something I was considering as a preventive measure with the hopes of retaining sensitivity in the breast. I'm using the TRAM flap to reconstruct the one side and I'm trying to decide what, if anything, to do on the unaffected side. The plastic…
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strange lactation issue
I have a strange symptom and not certain which doctor to ask.I am 42 yrs old, femail, I had a radical mastectomy left side 2 weeks ago. Yesterday, my remaining breast began producing milk. I've always produced colostrum, even prior to my 2 children/pregnancies;but I've never heard of this side effect of surgery. Has anyone…
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first timer
This is my first posting to the group. I start my chemotherapy on Monday morning. I have been diagnosed with inflitrating ductal carcinoma 2 cm tumor, no lymph involvelment, margins clear. I am scared to death of the chemo. I know it is only 4 rounds but I am so afraid of being sick
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pathology report questions
hi, i have the following questions 1. ER pos. 90% 2. PR pos. 12% are those o.k. numbers to have? 3. HER 2 NEU Positive---is that o.k. to have? 4. Nuclear grade II---is that o.k. to have? 5. Cribriform type with focal luminal necrosis? is this bad, or o.k. to have? my diagnosis was non-invasive ductal carcinoma DCIS. .6cm.…
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bilateral masectomy
I had a lumpectomy, radiation Oct 2002--Feb2002 with no nodes involved now cancer in the other breast so considering bilateral mastectomy with no reconstruction---would appreciate any feed back How long in the hospital what to expect when I get home--I know drains for 10 days
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gratitude and good news
Thank you to all who offered encouragement and prayers while I was awaiting test results. I have no evidence of spread to bones or organs, and the tumor discovered in the lymph node is shrinking after being on Armidex less than a month. Doctor expects it will continue to shrink and may then have radiation to try to…
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bladder infections
Since August of last year I have had a UTI every month except one. Always different organism. I have had a cysto and all checked out. I finished treatment one yr ago. My white count has stayed low all this time but this is the only type of infection I have had. I even started taking vinegar tablets (that was the time I…
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Eyebrows and Eyelashes
My question isn't terribly important, but I've wondered for awhile if any other survivors have experienced the following: I finished chemo and radiation 3 1/2 years ago and all my hair grew back in the right places, but one thing I've had happen many times is: every couple of months or so my eyebrows get real thinned out…
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Tips for Getting through Radiation
Hi, everyone... I've just finished chemo 4 A/C; 4 Taxol and I'm about to begin radiation in 2 wks [6 weeks duration]. I was dx in Oct. 2003 and I had a lumpectomy in Nov. 2003. I've heard that so many women develop burns after radiation. I'm looking for any tips, suggestions, etc. which will help as I begin this new phase…
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what now???
First time posting, I have been "lurking" for the past year. I was diagnosed with DCIS in Aug. 02 at 34 years old. No family history, nothing! I had a lumpectomy, two more - clear margins, lymph nodes removed - clear. 35 radiation treatments and am now on Tamoxifen. I worked every day, doing the treatments on my lunch…
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Breast cancer-CMF or AC?
Hi, If you've been through either CMF or AC chemotherapy for breast cancer, I'd REALLY appreciate your feedback. I'm needing to choose between these two options to follow up my lumpectomy surgery in February. I'm specifically interested in how tired you were and for how long during each cycle. I have 2 young children (2 &…
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Depression & anxiety
My dear friend is undergoing chemo and is experiencing depression which required treatment in a mental hospital. How can I help her?
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Difficult Recovery from Tram Flap
I am just wondering if any of you who have had an immediate tram flap reconstruction has had any problems? I had a double mastectomy on 2-4 with immed. tram flap and the left breast has softened and looks fairly good. However, the right breast that had the cancer and from which the nodes were taken, is still swollen, hard…
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Radiation
Hi, everyone I have 2 more chemo treatments to go and I am counting the days. I will probably start readiation sometime in June. I am still working full time and plan to do so through treatment. I am a little concerned about my energy level while taking radiation and working. Is the exhaustion such that I will have a hard…
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Would like to chat
Hello All, If there is anyone out there with mets to lungs and liver I sure could benefit hearing from you. If your interested in chatting please email me. I just want to learn more about your treatment options, etc. thanks ljamn95@gra.midco.net Hope to hear from you Judie
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Thankyou
Wow, thankyou to everyone for replying to my message about financial help. I called my mom first thing yesterday morning and she was able to go to the Cancer Society in Amherst and get a wig and a hat for free, same day! My mom is located near Buffalo, NY. I am in the Navy stationed in Maine, so it's been hard to feel like…
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Immediate breast cancer reconstruction
help, I am looking for a surgeon who devotes a significant portion of his or her practice to immediate reconstruction practicing in Palm Beach County Florida. Thanks, MSL
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bladder infections
Since August of last year I have had a UTI every month except one. Always different organism. I have had a cysto and all checked out. I finished treatment one yr ago. My white count has stayed low all this time but this is the only type of infection I have had. I even started taking vinegar tablets (that was the time I…
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new cancer just found
Hi I'm new to the discussion area. Had lumpectomy with sentinel node biopsy and 7 weeks radiation for a small invasive area with dcis in 2001. All clear until the 6 month mammo last month showed an "abnormal area".. Given the choice of wait and do more films in 3 months or go for stereotactic biopsy I opted for the latter.…
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When do you consider yourself a survivor?
I would love to know when or how you found yourself with the identity of a "survivor" - instead of a victim. My mom never got a chance to move into that category, since her b.c. had already metasticised to her brain when she was diagnosed. To our family, she was a survivor until the day she died, but I don't think she saw…
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Waiting, worried & confused
My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer 2 weeks ago & it's taking so long for the results, but tuesday she was told it is an agressive cancer and it is all in her lymph nodes her 1 doctor told her she will have to start kemo then have surgery then end with radiation, but my question is is there any one out there that can…
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PAIN THAT WILL NOT GO AWAY
I was treated for breast cancer last year and soon after my treatments I started having pain in my groin area and in my knee. I have had x-rays, bone scans and a MRI still no answer to the pain. It is not a bad pain and it does not happen everyday. I am determined to find out what is causing the pain. I will see my…
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Immeasurable gratitude
Don't you hate how Thankyou seems so insufficient sometimes? I want to thank everyone of you who responded to my question about when one becomes a survivor. Even with the variety of your experiences, there seems to be a solid choice each one of you made to live. That makes a difference, obviously! To thank you all, I am…
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Just Two Quick Questions
Has anyone heard of Chemo-Brain? My family started kidding me that I had Chemo-brain because after all my treatments I could not remember things like I used to. I then found this term somewhere in my cancer reading material with the same meaning. Of course I have always forgotten to ask one of my doctors, LOL. I'd also…
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dumb question
I had a double mastectomy about 6 months ago. I never remember to ask my drs. when I am there. Is there some sort of x-ray/mammogram that I need to have done? I read that cancer can come back at the incision sight or on the chest wall. Since my cancer was found by a yearly mammogram I feel like I will be left out if I…
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onchologist's exams
What should we expect from an onchologist when treatment is over and we go for our 6 month check-ups? Just to talk and have the onchologist order tests or are they supposed to examine the chest area? Last time I went, he looked but didn't touch...just ordered bloodwork and x-rays because it's been a year , since my…
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Nerve damage from Radiation
Hello All, I am new to these boards and I have a question for anyone who had radiation for breast Cancer. I was diagnosed in Dec, 1999 and had a lumpectomy with Node removal, 4 rounds of A/C and 42 radiation treatments. All was well until about 6 months or so ago. I started having "cramp" like pains on my cancer breast.…
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ports
I just finished with my treatments of chemo and radiation. I was told that I could have my port removed now or wait for a period of time. I am curious as to what others have done - remove it right away or after a year or so...just in case.