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I'm doing great!
Had my surgery last Wed and doing great! Had modification of an open non healing abdominal wound left from my tram surgery last year. Also had some shaping on the reconstructed breast and the real one. What a difference a good doctor can make. FYI I had posted before my surgery about the hangover from anesthesia I had…
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Partner Support-Discussion Group
Anybody up for starting this type of adjunct discussion group? Perhaps by sharing our experiences in this arena we may be able help one another to understand why our partners appear to be less than supportive at times. My latest dispointing experience with my husband - I finished my last round of Taxol yesterday - this…
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chemo side affects
Since I have started my chemo treatments my blood pressure has been out of control. I never had high blood pressure before chemo. My onc and primary are agruing back and forth. My primary seems to feel it is from the chemo and of course my onc says no. Meanwhile I am walking around with a blood pressure of 198/132. Has…
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Tis the Season
As I look at the little baby in that cold manger, surrounded by hay and animals for warmth, I think of the cold shoulder people with cancer often get from others who make the policies, charge the big bucks, employ us, etc. And I think,"That is why He came under such circumstances, to be of comfort to us, in our poverties,…
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Noni Juice
Is anyone taking Noni Juice and what are your feelings on it? I started taking it about 4 or 5 days ago and have been very depressed and all I want to do is cry, don't know if it is the Noni Juice or just a depression I am going through Cindy
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Radiation question
Hi all -- I just started radiation two days ago and was wondering if anyone had the same reaction I did. After ONE treatment, that's right, ONE -- my breast turned a light pink. I thought nothing of it, figuring it's a normal reaction. Returned for my second treatment today and the technician is questioning why my breast…
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Room in the Inn
Again, the Christmas story is so relevant to the human condition. Most "needy" people do not want "charity." Teach a man how to fish and he will feed himself. If a person is looking for work, but the people around him/her mind their own business ONLY or give that person the cold shoulder, or "charity" once a year, it is…
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blackberries and chemo???
My aunt has suffered through nausea after her treatments and we have found something that helps her tremendously. I have always heard that blackberries help with stomach problems, so I searched around and found a farm in South Georgia (southerngracefarms.com) that grows blackberries and has juice made from them. They call…
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I wonder....?
Wonder, wonder whoooo, who wrote the book of love. No, actually I wonder if anyone else has looked into alternative therapy. If so do you ever wonder WHY there is so little validity assigned to alternative treatments? It's not like there's NOT a need for vitamins, herbs and amino acids to be "clinically tested". I think…
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Question about reconstruction?
I have been reading some of the post about reconstruction and I'm wondering why more new cancer patients are not opting for the surgical method called "Skin Sparring" with immediate implant surgery. I had chemo first and then surgery and will not need radiation. I had my mastectomy 4 weeks ago which left me with my skin…
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Another Tram Flap Question
I had a mastectomy (L) with immediate TRAM FLAP reconstruction, in January of 2003. I still have no feeling in my torso. And, obviously, am now missing muscle from my abdomen. My question is this -- will exercise help the feeling to come back (ie. the nerves to heal quicker), or doesn't that matter? And, then, what types…
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Tamoxifen versus Arimidex?
I'm due to complete my regimen of chemotherapy post radical mastectomy/reconstruction December 10th (4 cycles of AC/4 cycles of Taxol). Radiation will not be required and due to having been thrown into early menopause, I'll then be required to start estrogen suppressive therapy shortly thereafter. The pathology of my tumor…
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Metastatic/Recurrence -Follow up
Follow-up to my first msg. I am new to this site,so just figuring out how to use it. Thanks to all for your kind replies. I originally had lumpectomy (Jan. 2001), radiation, & chemo. Was stage 1, grade 3, node neg., ER/PR neg., HER2 neg. Am now Stage 4; had surgery last week with 11 positive axillary nodes removed. Scans…
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had breast cancer 14 yrs ago last month and in February of this year
Hello I had breast cancer 14 yrs ago in Nov.1989 and six months of Chemo treatments and a partial hysterectmy in Dec.1995 .Because the Chemo treatments that I went through caused problems with my periods. This time I only went through a total of four chemo treatments and it kicked me in to early menapause and I sweat like…
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After surgery stupids
I had surgery last november (mastectomy with tram flap) and again in March 03 (cleaning out dead tissue in the tram flap region). Both times, I felt like I had also lost half of my intellegenc. I would start a sentance and forget what I was sying half way through. I have heard some of you referr to "Chemo Brain" but I…
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another question :-)
Thanks for the reassuring responses about Herceptin - one down and it went all right - fingers still crossed! Found out where I go, a radiologist does the port installation. I was expecting a surgeon. Who did your port - breast surgeon, vascular surgeon, general surgeon or RADIOLOGIST??? Thanks! Jean
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for kimmi
hi, I'd like to write to you and exchange experiences and maybe a shoulder to cry on. I believe we have the same type of husband. Not many women on this site have husbands like ours, poor us, uh? If you'd like to write to me, I'd be more than happy to hear from you. We could all use a friend and we never hava enough…
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Golf balls removed
I am having my final surgery for reconstruction at the end of this month and my plastic sur. said a bit of lipo would clear, what I have read called "dog ears", up some. I notice that is the only point where I have swelling It's a small amount that showed up since loss of my lymph nodes. It shows there and a bit into my…
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interferon
my sister just completed a stem cell transplant for metastatic breast cancer to her liver. She will now start on interferon 3x a week. Anyone have any info on side effects?
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Metastatic/Recurrence
I am a Stage 1 almost 3-yr BC survivor, and am now facing additional surgery for possible recurrence. Had a CT scan which showed something in my axillary lymph nodes and nodules on my lung. Looks like I am now going from Stage 1 to Stage IV. Would like to contact anyone who has been through similar diagnosis. Thanks.
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SORENESS IN BREAST
Any suggestions on what to do about soreness in my breast. I was treated with chemo and radiation. Chemo finished in Feb. and radiation in May. Any advise. Some days are worse than the others. I was told to try some vitamin E.
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periods
Hi ,I was just wondering if anyone experienced periods that keep on going.Today is my 10th day.Everytime I think it is finished ,I get up in the mornng and I feel something running out of me and it is blood. I was hoping the chemo would make the period stop but it keeps on. All I know is that it is making me feel real…
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Hot flashes maybe better then treatment{news article}
Hot Flash Drug May Affect Cancer Treatment - Study Tue Dec 2, 4:11 PM ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Antidepressants used to treat hot flashes in women taking the breast cancer (news - web sites) drug tamoxifen may reduce the effectiveness of the tumor-fighting medication, U.S. doctors said on Tuesday. Their study, published in…
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Double Mastectomy
Monday, Dec. 1 -- I am seing the plastic surgeon on Wednesday Dec. 3 for the consultation about my pending mastectomy/reconstructive surgery. Several of my family members have suggested that I ask him about doing both breasts at the same time. Does anyone have any suggestions about this -- the ultrasound has shown a 3.3 cm…
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Reconstruction
I never chose reconstruction because they take a muscle from your back, fat from your abdomen, there is no feeling in it I have been told, and the "nipple" is a tatoo! I use a prosthesis and when dressed, it looks the same without the risks! I don't mind the "natural" look, but I am in my fifties, and each woman has to…
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Side Effects of Tamoxifen
Anybody else have trouble with vaginal discharge while on tamoxifen? I'm having lots (my onc. says this is normal)...similar to a yeast infection (but, checked -- no infection...just results of the drug), and itchy. Onc. says I can use Monostat to relieve the itching. Anyway, I'm just wondering if there are others…
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hair loss
Could someone please tell me how I can care for my scalp. I have not totally lost my hair but know it is going to happen. Is there anything speial I should do? I was told to purchase a wig which I have done. Is there anything I should wear underneath the wig? I was told there may be alot of itching and I should use a…
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Im new to this site
I was dx March 12, I had rt mastectomy with expander April 1st 03. My tumor size was 2.3cc with a 1/2mm in 1 node, Im er/pr-, her2-, but a grade 3. I have completed 6 rounds of ellence and cytoxin and I am on my 8th round of a weekly taxotere. I am 35 years old or young.. I have been reading this site since April and…
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ports
It's been awhile since anyone here has asked about ports. I've been on this forum since Jan or Feb 2001 so have covered a lot of territory. Faced with weekly infusions now I began to reread about ports. found a very informative site of people's experiences as well as good links. Here it is:…
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yoga during chemo
My moms best friend is about to start chemo. What good videos or dvd are out there for yoga during chemo? Excersize and meditation. Thanks, kemont