Again, so soon? A new record?

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  • Lynne Logan
    Lynne Logan Member Posts: 105 Member
    #82
    SIROD said:

    Perplex too?
    Dear Lynne,

    I am so very sorry and this new finding is must indeed be so very hard to accept. I took Arimidex during radiation treatment with no ill effects. Am very surprise to read from you and others, that the radiation oncologist don't want women using aromatase inhibitors during treatment.

    Radiation is a local therapy so how does it effect the systemic one of taking a drug that will help keep a recurrence away is something I don't understand at all.

    Your a survivor in every sense of the meaning, not a fraud and you had the right to be there.

    Your recurrence would still be thought of as local since it is in the breast and that is a little bit of good news. Though the thought of going through it all so soon is awful news.

    I would ask the oncologist why you were not able to take the drug for your hormonal positive cancer during radiation? Perhaps they will let you do that this time around. Did the oncologist stop you from taking Arimidex now?

    Wishing you the best on May 8th and hopefully this tumor will be contained.

    Best,

    Doris

    Arimidex
    Hi Doris,
    I guess you've read later posts so know the outcome but I thought I'd mention that I'm still taking the Arimidex even though some estrogen is sneaking in from someplace. An estrogen receptor tumor doubling in size (3cm to 6cm) in a few weeks is weird.
    I guess we'll never know why these things happen.
    Hugs,
    Lynne
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    #83
    Lynne Logan said:

    Port it is
    Hi all,
    Thanks for being here for me. I'm getting more depressed by the day and fear that this time around is just the beginning of a lifetime of recurring cancer. Probably a much shorter lifetime than I had anticipated since I've always been incredibly healthy, outside of clinical depression.
    While showering today I noticed a hard peanut sized something near the end of my incision under my arm. I'm hoping it isn't a lymph node gone bad again before I even have my PET scan scheduled. It just seems to go from bad to worse and I'm having a difficult time accepting what I'm having to go through, again, so soon.
    I'm upset that I'll have to live with a port after all the pain it caused from the day it was installed. I trust my (vascular) surgeon with my life, he's been my rock throughout the last year. But that doesn't make the port any less dreadful for me. But since lymph nodes have been removed from both sides, I can see the need for it. Depressing.
    I was able to be the one in the family willing to have cancer so I wouldn't have to see my daughter or grandkids go through it. I couldn't have handled that myself. I stayed strong for them and put on a happy face to protect them. But this time I can't seem to muster up strong. I know I have clinical depression since losing my 16 year old daughter to melanoma way back in 1986, but it's actually protected me until now.
    I'm beginning to not communicate with those around me but am so thankful I have all of you. You undoubtedly have all had some or all of the same feelings so I feel safe sharing my thoughts.
    I see my NP tomorrow for something to make my muscle problem in my back better. Or at least something so the spasm doesn't light up like Times Square on my PET scan. I think I might ask her about Cymbalta too since I have to deal with some chronic spine problems.

    I am so sorry Lynne. Please
    I am so sorry Lynne. Please talk to your doctor about how you are feeling. There are so many anti depressants out there that I pray that one of them will be able to help you to feel better mentally. You are going through so much and have already gone through way too much that you just need some help now.


    I will be praying for you and let us know what you find out.


    Hugs, Kylez
  • madsters1
    madsters1 Member Posts: 120
    #84
    Dear Lynne, I CANNOT imagine
    Dear Lynne, I CANNOT imagine the absolute shock and despair you must be feeling. I am so very sorry. I ask myself what I would need to know in my heart and soul if I were in your place. There's only one thing that could help me to accept that and that is that the Lord truly does not only know where I am, but He goes before me as the Good Shepherd. Thinking on thatt and embracing that is the ONLY thing that would give me real peace. I know Christ as my Saviour and hope you do too Lynne. I will be praying for you.

    Because of Him,
    Victoria
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #85
    Lynne Logan said:

    Port it is
    Hi all,
    Thanks for being here for me. I'm getting more depressed by the day and fear that this time around is just the beginning of a lifetime of recurring cancer. Probably a much shorter lifetime than I had anticipated since I've always been incredibly healthy, outside of clinical depression.
    While showering today I noticed a hard peanut sized something near the end of my incision under my arm. I'm hoping it isn't a lymph node gone bad again before I even have my PET scan scheduled. It just seems to go from bad to worse and I'm having a difficult time accepting what I'm having to go through, again, so soon.
    I'm upset that I'll have to live with a port after all the pain it caused from the day it was installed. I trust my (vascular) surgeon with my life, he's been my rock throughout the last year. But that doesn't make the port any less dreadful for me. But since lymph nodes have been removed from both sides, I can see the need for it. Depressing.
    I was able to be the one in the family willing to have cancer so I wouldn't have to see my daughter or grandkids go through it. I couldn't have handled that myself. I stayed strong for them and put on a happy face to protect them. But this time I can't seem to muster up strong. I know I have clinical depression since losing my 16 year old daughter to melanoma way back in 1986, but it's actually protected me until now.
    I'm beginning to not communicate with those around me but am so thankful I have all of you. You undoubtedly have all had some or all of the same feelings so I feel safe sharing my thoughts.
    I see my NP tomorrow for something to make my muscle problem in my back better. Or at least something so the spasm doesn't light up like Times Square on my PET scan. I think I might ask her about Cymbalta too since I have to deal with some chronic spine problems.

    What did your doctor say
    What did your doctor say Lynne? I pray he can help you.


    Hugs, Lex
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #86
    Lynne Logan said:

    My plan, I think
    Hello all you wonderful and caring ladies.
    I apologize for not posting after surgery but I think I was too busy licking my wounds and feeling anxiety.
    When I went in to surgery I just had the highest hopes that even though the tumor had doubled in size in a few short weeks that it had been caught early enough so not to have spread beyond the sentinel nodes. Plus, the odds were on my side, right? Like they have been through any of my journey, right?
    My oncologist gave me such anxiety over the rush to get a PET scan and get on with treatment that I felt so overwhelmed and panicky. It was after I saw my dear surgeon (the one who almost killed me removing the port, who's a vascular specialist btw) that things seemed to take on the proper perspective. He could see no rush for the PET scan but was pleased I was having chemo. Plus the drains won't be coming out until this Thursday. I also feel better after calling the scan place and talking to the scheduler. She agreed that waiting also helps the results by not having so much surgery inflammation to pick up. Also there's no way I can get my arm to function after "the digging around" as my surgeon put it. Feels like he used a backhoe.
    So, here I sit in a holding pattern knowing that chemo and I'm sure rads are in my future. I'm made a decision not to have another port and will be doing it by IV. Thoughts and experiences on that would be appreciated. Who all has had a lymphadenectomy too? How long did it take to have any use of the arm without major pain and weirdness? I hate that popping and tugging feel when I try to lift my arm.
    Your friend and fellow Warrior,
    Lynne

    You're always in my prayers
    You're always in my prayers Lynne and I am always looking for an update from you.


    Hugs, Leeza
  • Lynne Logan
    Lynne Logan Member Posts: 105 Member
    #87
    Alexis F said:

    What did your doctor say
    What did your doctor say Lynne? I pray he can help you.


    Hugs, Lex

    Cymbalta and muscle relaxant
    I went to my doctor on Thursday and got Flexerill and Cymbalta. Figured with all the hype about Cymbalta helping with pain and neuropathy as well as depression it was meant for me. I'm only on day 5 with the Cymbalta so it hasn't had any effect yet. But if my neuropathy this time is anything like my first time I so pray it'll do some good.
    I have my PET scan tomorrow morning and I'll see my surgeon on Friday. He'll probably schedule the port installation at that time. I see my oncologist on Tuesday, the 12th. So it looks like things will start moving along now. I have mixed emotions of course.
    As usual I want to thank all you lovely ladies here for being so good to me.
    XXXXX
    Lynne
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    #88
    Lynne Logan said:

    Cymbalta and muscle relaxant
    I went to my doctor on Thursday and got Flexerill and Cymbalta. Figured with all the hype about Cymbalta helping with pain and neuropathy as well as depression it was meant for me. I'm only on day 5 with the Cymbalta so it hasn't had any effect yet. But if my neuropathy this time is anything like my first time I so pray it'll do some good.
    I have my PET scan tomorrow morning and I'll see my surgeon on Friday. He'll probably schedule the port installation at that time. I see my oncologist on Tuesday, the 12th. So it looks like things will start moving along now. I have mixed emotions of course.
    As usual I want to thank all you lovely ladies here for being so good to me.
    XXXXX
    Lynne

    Good luck tomorrow with your
    Good luck tomorrow with your PET scan Lynne. I can understand your mixed emotions, but, you are a fighter, a winner and you will beat this!

    Hugs, Angie
  • Lynne Logan
    Lynne Logan Member Posts: 105 Member
    #89
    camul said:

    Lynne, sorry you are going through this again.
    I wasn't able to start on the estrogen inhibitor until after I finished chemo the first time, and with the recurrence, I had started tamoxifen, but went off it during rads. I don't know why, but I am sure there is a reason.

    I am so glad to hear that the recurrence was to your other breast and not to the bones or other organs, as much as it sucks, that would be an even harder road to navigate.

    My prayers are with you.
    Carol

    Mets to spine and rib
    I saw my oncologist yesterday to go over the results of the PET scan. My day actually started with a very urgent sounding lady from the lab insisting I get a hold of my provider immediately. Evidently she didn't realize this was blood work ordered by my oncologist as it seems my tumor markers were way elevated.
    I had been concerned about a muscle spasm in my right back and hoped it wouldn't light up like Times Square on the scan. I'd had this problem since early April and I thought it was from my new keyboard.
    After getting the results yesterday I now know what I'm facing and it's not good. Evidently I have 2 spots on my spine (T2 and T9) as well as mets to the 12th rib. So the pain wasn't a muscle spasm at all but bone mets.
    I was to have my port installed this morning but the imaging machine at the hospital went on the fritz and I've still heard nothing about rescheduling.
    I will be starting 6 rounds of CMF (Cytoxan, Methotrexate and Fluorouracil) probably next week. Not sure what the prognosis is for the bone mets but I've heard not so good.
    Anyone else dealt with this?
    Lynne
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #90
    Lynne Logan said:

    Mets to spine and rib
    I saw my oncologist yesterday to go over the results of the PET scan. My day actually started with a very urgent sounding lady from the lab insisting I get a hold of my provider immediately. Evidently she didn't realize this was blood work ordered by my oncologist as it seems my tumor markers were way elevated.
    I had been concerned about a muscle spasm in my right back and hoped it wouldn't light up like Times Square on the scan. I'd had this problem since early April and I thought it was from my new keyboard.
    After getting the results yesterday I now know what I'm facing and it's not good. Evidently I have 2 spots on my spine (T2 and T9) as well as mets to the 12th rib. So the pain wasn't a muscle spasm at all but bone mets.
    I was to have my port installed this morning but the imaging machine at the hospital went on the fritz and I've still heard nothing about rescheduling.
    I will be starting 6 rounds of CMF (Cytoxan, Methotrexate and Fluorouracil) probably next week. Not sure what the prognosis is for the bone mets but I've heard not so good.
    Anyone else dealt with this?
    Lynne

    Lynn I am very sorry
    this cancer is sucks. I am very sorry for your PET results. I have had my scan on Monday too. Waiting for results is hard.
    Hugs

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