Breast cancer chat

2

Comments

  • murphy
    murphy Member Posts: 38 Member
    #22
    unknown said:

    I was just diagnosed this last July, I had the mastectomy this last Aug. 23, Then a few days ago, I had to go back and have a little more cut off. I know that there is a lot of hope and that this is curable, but yes I do need to talk some time to someone who has been there.

    Your right, there is HOPE and it is curable. I have been there, surgery in July of 1999 and chemo from Aug 1999 till Jan 2000 and enjoying life to the fullest. Stay positive and I wish you all the best. Martha
  • jackies
    jackies Member Posts: 28
    #23
    Hi all. My name is Jackie. I'm brand new to CSN, and I just created my web page today. For anyone interested in a live chat, Oncology.com has chat rooms for cancer patients and their families. There must not be many people who know about it, because I have rarely been on when there was some one else to chat with. Maybe several of us could meet there from time to time.
  • carla
    carla Member Posts: 3
    #24
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Hi, I sure feel like a day time soap opera so I
    do understand how you feel. Good luck!!
  • sueholm
    sueholm Member Posts: 205
    #25
    carla said:

    Hi, I sure feel like a day time soap opera so I
    do understand how you feel. Good luck!!

    hi, my name is susan, and i just had a partial mastectomy and axillary dissection six days ago. lobualr carcinoma. no path report from surgery yet. can anybody tell me whe i can expect these incisions to heal, and for my arm to feel fairly normal again?
  • mjdp2
    mjdp2 Member Posts: 133
    #26
    vino1112 said:

    Hi Everyone!

    I will try to remember my questions and tell you a little about my experiences.

    Be sure to ask how long you will be on tamoxiphen and ask what side effects to expect. Also ask what can be done for the side effects. Ask about the benefits of tamoxiphen and about risk reduction of recurrence. You might ask about alternatives to tamoxiphen such as reloxaphene (sp?) and the recent studies that have been done on both.

    My experience on it (1 1/2 years) has been positive. Oh, the hot flashes were the pits at first, but are considerably better now. If you have not gone into menopause with the chemotherapy, you may with the tamoxiphen. There are things that can be given for hot flashes, medicines, soy, black cohosh, vitamin E, but ask your doctor about risks and benefits of each. I take a soy capsule and 800mg of Vitamin E. There are mixed opinions about this, but it has made the hot flashes tolerable. Mine initially felt like I was about to have a panic attack and then I got hot and sweaty on face and back. It lasted from 2 to 5 minutes and happened several times a day and night. Night was the worst because it woke me up. I didn't get much sleep for a while, but the Vitamin E and soy has helped a lot. The medicines didn't help me, but they might help you.

    I have heard some people retain water and gain weight, but I am not sure if these are because of the tamoxiphen or not. I have found that getting really involved with an exercise program has helped me tremendously both mentally and physically. I have gotten much stronger again and have kept my weight at a reasonable level after being sedentary for much too long! It has really helped in the self-esteen department too. I joined a small fitness center with personal trainers where I get a lot of help with particular physical problems like upper body weakness from the operation and working around my arthritis. That came on after the chemotherapy which I also understand often happens. I have both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis even tho' I am only 50 years old. I don't want to act older than I am, and this makes a remarkable difference!

    Best wishes to you both. Your friend,

    Louise

    Louise,
    How are they treating your rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. I seem to have devoloped pain in the joints of the hand that received the chemo. Did you get Adriamyacin, Cytoxan, and Taxol? It has been two yrs since chemo. Also do you get muscle pulls more frequently than before treatment? I noticed that whenever they try to find a vein in me to draw blood or start an IV they say my veins blow up as the chemo made them more brittle. My last visit I finally gave them my other hand after 6 tries, which you are not supposed to do so as to avoid lymphodema, but does anyone have the same problem? Margaret
  • leeleewanna
    leeleewanna Member Posts: 5
    #27
    Americn Cancer Society has a chat room, just go into discussions and chats and follow the info, hope to see you there !
  • soog
    soog Member Posts: 5
    #28
    vino1112 said:

    I don't know, but we could email each other. I am 50 years old and was diagnosed 3 years ago. If you find a chat room, let me know. Otherwise send me messages over this service.

    Regards,

    Louise

    i am 46, diagnosed eight weeks ago. Like to hear from you.
  • soog
    soog Member Posts: 5
    #29
    carolh said:

    I'm in Vancouver. It's been nearly a year since my diagnosis. I have a modified radical mastectomy, followed by 6 months of chemo then 3 weeks of radiation. I'm now on Tamoxafin. I'm going for my first big check up next week. Any suggestions as to what questions I should ask?

    i was diagnosed just 8 weeks ago. Please contact me. want to share stories.
  • soog
    soog Member Posts: 5
    #30
    carolh said:

    Hi Denise, Thanks for your response. I had 1 node positive - how about you? I am very anxious
    about recurrence - what to look for, etc. Also, the side effects of Tamoxafin. Yikes, it's scary!
    Apart from the worries (!), I'm doing fine and feel quite well, back working full-time etc.
    I have two teenage daughters, 17 and 19. My husband has been my rock through all this s--t.
    I'd hate to do it alone, as I know many women do and my heart goes out to them. Tell me more
    about your experiences.

    i was one node postive also. Please contact me. Like to share our stories.
  • shemiya
    shemiya Member Posts: 17
    #31
    soog said:

    i am 46, diagnosed eight weeks ago. Like to hear from you.

    I had a mastectomy 8/5/03. They tried twice for clear margins but never got them. The surgery was not that bad not much pain at all. The healing process takes awhile > It has been 1 month today and It is uncomfortable. The skin is tightening up. I have a port put in Thursday and start chemo Next Tuesday. I am dreading that more than anything but I have to do it for peace of mine that I have done what I can to keep it from returning . I am not a candidate for Tamoxifen because my was er and pr negative .Wish you the best of luck .I just turned 65
    Betty
  • rutaf
    rutaf Member Posts: 23
    #32
    vino1112 said:

    Hi Everyone!

    I will try to remember my questions and tell you a little about my experiences.

    Be sure to ask how long you will be on tamoxiphen and ask what side effects to expect. Also ask what can be done for the side effects. Ask about the benefits of tamoxiphen and about risk reduction of recurrence. You might ask about alternatives to tamoxiphen such as reloxaphene (sp?) and the recent studies that have been done on both.

    My experience on it (1 1/2 years) has been positive. Oh, the hot flashes were the pits at first, but are considerably better now. If you have not gone into menopause with the chemotherapy, you may with the tamoxiphen. There are things that can be given for hot flashes, medicines, soy, black cohosh, vitamin E, but ask your doctor about risks and benefits of each. I take a soy capsule and 800mg of Vitamin E. There are mixed opinions about this, but it has made the hot flashes tolerable. Mine initially felt like I was about to have a panic attack and then I got hot and sweaty on face and back. It lasted from 2 to 5 minutes and happened several times a day and night. Night was the worst because it woke me up. I didn't get much sleep for a while, but the Vitamin E and soy has helped a lot. The medicines didn't help me, but they might help you.

    I have heard some people retain water and gain weight, but I am not sure if these are because of the tamoxiphen or not. I have found that getting really involved with an exercise program has helped me tremendously both mentally and physically. I have gotten much stronger again and have kept my weight at a reasonable level after being sedentary for much too long! It has really helped in the self-esteen department too. I joined a small fitness center with personal trainers where I get a lot of help with particular physical problems like upper body weakness from the operation and working around my arthritis. That came on after the chemotherapy which I also understand often happens. I have both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis even tho' I am only 50 years old. I don't want to act older than I am, and this makes a remarkable difference!

    Best wishes to you both. Your friend,

    Louise

    Soy is in the news as being controversial now. They are now saying not to eat things with soy in them. Who do we believe?
  • babs49242
    babs49242 Member Posts: 193
    #33
    Hi sandi! Don't know if found a BC chat yet...but I go to http://chatshack.net/hiyawaka on Tuesday nights 9pm est...
    Cindie
  • Arg
    Arg Member Posts: 5
    #34
    vino1112 said:

    I don't know, but we could email each other. I am 50 years old and was diagnosed 3 years ago. If you find a chat room, let me know. Otherwise send me messages over this service.

    Regards,

    Louise

    BC
    Hello Louise
    I am MaryBeth, and new here, trying to find my way around this site.
    I am 49 and a seven year survivor of BC
  • Arg
    Arg Member Posts: 5
    #35
    jackies said:

    Hi all. My name is Jackie. I'm brand new to CSN, and I just created my web page today. For anyone interested in a live chat, Oncology.com has chat rooms for cancer patients and their families. There must not be many people who know about it, because I have rarely been on when there was some one else to chat with. Maybe several of us could meet there from time to time.

    Hello, I will try that chat
    Hello, I will try that chat room

    TY
  • cruf
    cruf Member Posts: 908
    #36
    Arg said:

    BC
    Hello Louise
    I am MaryBeth, and new here, trying to find my way around this site.
    I am 49 and a seven year survivor of BC

    Old Post
    MaryBeth! Just wondered if you noticed the posts you were responding to are dated 2000, 2003 and 1in 2007. If the website you're looking for isn't there, it's because those were old posts. Hope you find what you're looking for. HUGS!! Cathy
  • ladybug22
    ladybug22 Member Posts: 646
    #37
    yes ther is on home page
    yes ther is on home page under the discussion board great chat room
  • Arg
    Arg Member Posts: 5
    #38
    cruf said:

    Old Post
    MaryBeth! Just wondered if you noticed the posts you were responding to are dated 2000, 2003 and 1in 2007. If the website you're looking for isn't there, it's because those were old posts. Hope you find what you're looking for. HUGS!! Cathy

    thank you for letting me
    thank you for letting me know, I am trying to find my way around this site.
  • Arg
    Arg Member Posts: 5
    #39
    cruf said:

    Old Post
    MaryBeth! Just wondered if you noticed the posts you were responding to are dated 2000, 2003 and 1in 2007. If the website you're looking for isn't there, it's because those were old posts. Hope you find what you're looking for. HUGS!! Cathy

    Hello Cruf
    I go into
    Hello Cruf
    I go into Discussion boards and then, all I see is chatroom blogs. There is something I am doing wrong. any Idea
  • mmontero38
    mmontero38 Member Posts: 1,510
    #40
    Arg said:

    Hello Cruf
    I go into
    Hello Cruf
    I go into Discussion boards and then, all I see is chatroom blogs. There is something I am doing wrong. any Idea

    Arg don't click on
    Arg don't click on discussion boards. There is a line that says chat room click on that.
  • Arg
    Arg Member Posts: 5
    #41
    mmontero38 said:

    Arg don't click on
    Arg don't click on discussion boards. There is a line that says chat room click on that.

    Hello MMontero
    I keep trying
    Hello MMontero

    I keep trying to get into a chat. Where is the chat room subject supposed to be located?

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