I just recently found out I have breast cancer...

Oh Sunny, I'm so sorry they haven't been able to control your pain and it's not letting up. With everyone here, I am also hoping things get better for you soon.

CancerFree Sunny-

So glad to hear the lymph nodes are clear! Hope your pain gets less and less each day. Day 10 post surgery I was able to get the drainage tube out. That was a game changer for me as it really bothered me up in my shoulder area. I did not choose to have reconstruction so my experience/scar may be different from yours but within a couple weeks I felt ok to take the bandage off and leave it off and pain was minimal even tough I had extensive bruising, even down my arm. Take it one day at a time and give yourself credit for each step toward recovery no matter how small.

Sunny, it helps to have answers, doesn't it? Power to your healing!

Sunny, so glad to hear you're able to drive, have less pain and got a good pathology report!

Yes, my diagnosis is similar to you and cancerfreesunny as well. I just opted for the lumpectomy, no rads. My oncotype dx 26, 30% chance of recurrence, and 17% if take inhibitors (that's only a 13% decrease!!) and wanted to do chemo, I refused. Put on Arimidex (anastrozole) and took it for 1 month - felt like crap and stopped - not worth it for 13% decrease in recurrence. Now doing DIM and calcium d-glucarate to decrease estrogen. I am seeing a naturopath MD next month. I fear that all the things they tell you to do are carcinogenic (rads, chemo, inhibitors, etc.)

We each have our own decisions and journey. I wish the both of you luck and health...

I completely understand your feelings. I sobbed for a week straight when I found out I had stage 3 HER2+ breast cancer that had spread to 2 lymph nodes on the same side at 32 years old. It hits you like a ton of bricks & all of the unknowns, decisions, sheer gravity & weight that you feel is not like anything I’d experienced before. I did IVF first - as a needle phobe this was a precursor to the tedious yet also rewarding voyage I had now been reluctantly placed on. I did chemo first, then double mastectomy with reconstruction at the same time & then radiation. I was ready for some symmetrical breasts & I was not at all concerned in that aspect. Silver lining - My breasts look better now than they did before (& they were good prior) but not good enough to never ever have to wear a bra (which I don’t now :) Regarding my hair which, I had spent years meticulously growing long, highlighting & taking care of - I am so grateful that I didn’t loose all of my hair on my head due to the cold cap - which was amazing - it definitely thinned out a whole lot but was extremely long & thick prior. Id say I lost about half what it was but when I look in the mirror at my now see through hair, I remind myself out loud “I am beautiful, I am strong, time heals all & this too shall pass” I did loose all my eyelashes on one eye & kept most on the other - go figure. & my brows which were thick & dark thinned out a lot. I lost the thin ends of them completely, but kept the front. I’m 7 months post my last chemo & all of this hair loss took place in the 2 months after I was finished with chemo & fell out after my mastectomy. I was crushed. I thought i had made it unscathed. It’s been a just a few months since all the hair loss & hair is growing back, just not as fast & thick as I’d like. Silver lining - My tumor was the size of a golf ball & chemo melted it. Pathology got a complete response & I’m in remission. I’m told my chances of reoccurrence are 4%. It’s coming up on a full year of dealing with all this in June but I do feel very grateful. My medical team at Duke Cancer Center, family, friends & job have been of the upmost support. I have learned so much on this journey & formed unbreakable bonds with those who matter most. Including myself - I am proud even though everything took a toll on me, I beat cancer & I pray it’s gone for good. I find hope in the fact that many ladies have said their hair & eyelashes & brows have grown back & thicker at that, makes my heart sing. I also find great comfort in connecting with women who are going through the exact same thing because it’s life changing.

When I was diagnosed my Mom turned to me & said “You are much stronger than you know” - I found that to ring true & I pray you all will as well.

All my love & support 💗

ash

Sunny hope your recovery is going well! Just wanted chime in on the Anastrozole question. I took it for around 8 years. I had no issues except mild hot flashes once or twice a day. I had regular bone scans to keep an eye on bone density. No issues with that either. Keep pressing on!