Breast Issue

I had a lump and got a needle biopsy in 2009.  I was scared - but it really turned out to be very easy.  I needle poke to numb and 'pressure'. (funny how you are always told, "you'll feel some pressure"  - ha!)  I think it was a breast specialist...boy a lot has happened since there, but I still had to go in to get the lump removed after that.  It was benign and I didn't think of it but we ALL always here, "with your history".  

I am sure some of the other lovely ladies will be along soon.   Take a breath dear, and I agree with checking in with your onc nurse.

CheeseQueen57 said:

Victoria

Our Alaskan cruise ended in Victoria.  I only wish we had more time to spend there. We loved it!  We randomly ran into a lovely person who is Director of Destination Development for Experience Victoria. You might want to contact her regarding touring Victoria. Kira Harris, 250.885.1713. Kira@experiencevictoria.com. 

So now we know where your screen name came from!

oldbeauty said:

Thanks for your stories

I've also posted my question about getting a proper biopsy on the Breast Cancer board.  I will call the onc nurse in awhile.  For our holiday, we are going to fly to Seattle.  A departed dear friend's Celebration of Life is mid-August.  Then we are going to spend some weeks circling around--going to Vancouver then back to Seattle and departing on the ferry for a long Labor Day weekend in San Juan Island where I got us an AirBnB cottage, then back again to Seattle to pick up a friend and ferry over to Vancouver Island to spend several days touring Victoria and the Island.  I really do not want to pull the plug on this trip.  I am at the end of my emotional tether and need to try for some normalcy at this point before the post-chemo testing comes around.  I did start acupuncture for my neuropathy in my feet.  No miracle cure yet but I am going for 3 more sessions before the trip and I will rent a wheelchair for the duration.  Thanks for your encouragement.  Best wishes, Oldbeauty

Sounds like a wonderful itinerary. That's an area I've never been to. I do hope you get the go ahead. I'm rooting for you!

I just went through this with my mother.  When she had a mass, I made several phone calls.   The first appointment we went to was a Surgical Oncologist.   He told my mom that he would rather she do chemo first.  My mom was against anytype of chemo and would only agree to a lumpectomy and maybe radiation.   The doctor wasn't having it and suggested seeing a medical oncologist first.  So then we went to a medical oncologist.   After reviewing her charts, he wanted to do chemo first, but my mom refused chemo but was talked into doing Herceptin as she or her tumor is HER2 positive.   After a year, and because the tumor had shrunk and nodules in lungs disappeared, the Surgical Oncologist did a lumpectomy.   She's doing fine and continues with her Herceptin treatments

oldbeauty, I hope you just focus on your trip and try not to worry about the breast biopsy.  Relax, enjoy yourself and let that be your 'treatment' for now.  Hugs

each day we have is a day we have to LIVE and no matter what the future holds we need to LIVE today right?!  No one is guaranteed any amt of time- we could get hit by a bus or any other thing.... stay in the moments and enjoy them   ((((HUGS))))

Double Whammy said:

I learned a couple of things

I'm a breast and endometrial cancer survivor. Had them both at the same time in 2010.  I luckily had the "garden variety" EC and needed surgery only.  There are more types of breast cancer than you can shake a stick at and as many different treatments.  Like EC, it gets down to type, stage, grade, etc. and the only way to know what kind you have is to get a hold of the tissue, biopsy being the first step.  My biopsy was not difficult at all for me.  How fast and how much they react to it all depends on that tissue.  I had surgery, chemo, and radiation.  More aggressive cancers have more aggressive chemo, sometimes even before surgery.  Some cancers metastasize early, some don't.   It all depends. . . don't you just love that?  My advise is not to ignore anything, I was so calm when I had my biopsy because I was just sure it was nothing - it wasn't.  Know what you're dealing with first and then you can seek another opinion if you choose.  All of that pink hype honestly IMHO makes us think breast cancer is no big deal anymore.  It is.

Suzanne

Suzanne, I was hoping you would come along and chime in!  I knew you have had both EC and BC and could give good insight.

I had posted it on the breast cancer board, but my mother has one of those (must be slower) growing breast cancers.  At 80 she found out she had breast cancer, didn't want to tell us (we kind of found out and never pushed the issue), she has lived with it for 11 years (yes - she is 91) but now it has metasticized and the tumors are visible on the outside and are growing in.  For her, she said to me recently, "no stitches, no chemicals, no regrets".  I told her we are ok with that and there was no guarantee she would have lived this long had she had the treatment.  

I think how I told her 5 years ago I had cancer and I will always remember the look on her face.  Little did I know that she had already been living with her for five years and what was she thinking when I told her...my sister said she had heard on NPR how older women are not choosing to do anything when cancer is found.  I know we all have to be happy with what we do.  I am good with what I did and I am ok with what my mom did.  

oldbeauty said:

Thank you for responses

The biopsy was painless, both during and after.  I will get biopsy results next week some time.  I did not have my final chemo this week bc my onco did not want to risk that the drugs would decrease infection fighting and I'd have a problem with the incision site that o/w would not be an issue.  So, results next week and chemo on Wednesday.  We've rearranged our plans somewhat and will go on our trip a week or so later to give me time to recover after chemo.  If necessary, and if possible, I would do an initial consult with a breast surgeon (and/or my current oncologist re chemo) so I have some info to consider.  But I'm not doing anything about anything without the PET/CT that is set for September 25.  I also need to find out what the small soft-tissue lesion is that was seen in June in my right groin area.  I must say I'm disheartened.  I got the sense the diagnostic radiologist was preparing me for bad news.  She said it was unlikely to be invasive cancer, perhaps ductal or perhaps hyperplasia.  But I don't recall her saying perhaps it's nothing. I haven't the courage yet to read the report on my diagnostic breast imaging.  I did read a very informative article that explained the protocol breast imaging radiologists use in wording their reports and which suggested that all I need to know is probably in the reports about level of suspicion.  But we are focused on getting thru these next few weeks to get to our departure and the chance to relax in new surroundings.  I still wonder how I can be sick while feeling relatively well, except for chemo effects that do subside after 7-10 days.  I think I am seeing some improvement in the neuropathy from the acupuncture, which I will continue for 4 more sessions until our trip.  Thanks again for the stories.  They give me something to think about as I navigate these next several weeks.  Best wishes.  Oldbeauty

I have had both BC and EC.  I was diagnosed with BC first, and EC about a year later.  Coincidentally I was preparing to leave on a trip at the time of diagnosis for each!  Both of my doctors encouraged me to go forward with the trips, enjoy myself and get my mind off things.  They said that waiting a month for action in my case was not going to change anything, and both trips were important to me personally.  I'm glad I took them! I  feel like it recharged me and strengthened me and my family to take on what followed together.