newbie here to site

scorpiox55
scorpiox55 Member Posts: 18 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hello all. I have been reading these posts for a while and it is time to say hello. I admire you guys and hope to meet new friends. I was diagnosed last June but should have gone sooner. I had a 3.5 cm lump, er/pr pos. her2 neg. no vascular invasion, 3 pos. nodes. I had my 6 month checkup with surgeon today and had another mammogram. I did 6 rounds of FEC chemo, lost my hair, got real sick-all that stuff. Last treatment was Oct.28,2003. My hair is just starting to come back. My biggest problem right now is that I am terrified. I hurt all over from the Tamoxifen, I have arthritic joints, found out I have scoliosis in lower back so they don't take my pain seriously. I even question myself. Doctors must get bonuses from HMO's for NOT doing test! Thanks for listening. JoAnne

Comments

  • nancys
    nancys Member Posts: 323
    #2
    Hello Joanne and welcome to the CSN. I have found that my primary care physican is very good about ordering tests that I think I need. If something hurts you, ask you PC doctor to do the tests. Although I adore my Onco, he does not believe in tests until there is pain. Well, sometimes the pain comes and goes and it is hard to really explain it. When it hurts, I think I need scans and when it does not hurt, I feel like I am making too much of it. I am 3 years from the dx and am doing very well so far. I too am taking Tamoxifen and I also have a lot of arthritis and joint stiffness. Especially in my lower back and knees. I have had 4 bone scans in this three years and so far they look okay. I try to keep the cancer out of my thoughts when at all possible but we all live under that dark cloud of anxiety. Hugs, Nancy
  • hummingbyrd
    hummingbyrd Member Posts: 950 Member
    #3
    Welcome to the site, there are a great group of women here, full of love and compassion. Tough club to be in, but overall I think it makes us all better people. We definately don't take things for granted!
    If you've been reading posts then you know I recommend a bone scan for joint pain, CEA, and CA27.29
    If you are post menopausal there are other options besides tamoxifen, if not, but you don't want more kids, you can always opt for a hys. (Course I don't know, you may not even have kids yet.)
    Some of these docs, I just don't know about them! I just had a bone met radiated to my right arm, complained of pain for 3 weeks, finally went to ER for x-ray, it was broke. Went back to rad onc, he says, oh well yeah, here it is, it was broke back on Dec 1st, this was Dec 22nd! AArrggh!
    Keep complaining, somebody will eventually listen to you.
    God bless and (((HUGS))) newbie! hummingbyrd
  • scorpiox55
    scorpiox55 Member Posts: 18 Member
    #4
    Thanks Nancys and Hummingbyrd for the welcome. I am 48 years old, was premenopausal before all of this. The chemo has changed all that. I had an ultrasound of my ovaries in October and my gyn said that they were minute. Hey, I am still hot, it just comes in flashes! They are annoying, I have a lot of them. As a matter of fact, I am having one right now. Whew! Thank God it is 18 degrees outside! I can open the back door and get cool... I had a hysterectomy 10 years ago (not ovaries). I have 2 kids a son 20, and a daughter 15. My mother had breast cancer 14 years ago and did fine. She passed away 2 years ago but not from that, she had a heart attack. She would really be upset if she knew I had cancer like her. I am glad you guys are doing well. What an inspiration to me you have been. I have read every post on this board 3 times. I guess I am obsessed with having cancer but would like to not think about it so much. Surgeon said it would take a year to not think about it everyday. By the way, I remember a lady named Pam Triggs, has anyone heard from her? I hope she is doing good. JoAnne
  • hummingbyrd
    hummingbyrd Member Posts: 950 Member
    #5
    scorpiox55 said:

    Thanks Nancys and Hummingbyrd for the welcome. I am 48 years old, was premenopausal before all of this. The chemo has changed all that. I had an ultrasound of my ovaries in October and my gyn said that they were minute. Hey, I am still hot, it just comes in flashes! They are annoying, I have a lot of them. As a matter of fact, I am having one right now. Whew! Thank God it is 18 degrees outside! I can open the back door and get cool... I had a hysterectomy 10 years ago (not ovaries). I have 2 kids a son 20, and a daughter 15. My mother had breast cancer 14 years ago and did fine. She passed away 2 years ago but not from that, she had a heart attack. She would really be upset if she knew I had cancer like her. I am glad you guys are doing well. What an inspiration to me you have been. I have read every post on this board 3 times. I guess I am obsessed with having cancer but would like to not think about it so much. Surgeon said it would take a year to not think about it everyday. By the way, I remember a lady named Pam Triggs, has anyone heard from her? I hope she is doing good. JoAnne

    Haven't heard from Pam in a long time, sorry to say. Was thinking about her just the other day as a matter of fact.
    Since you're postmenopausal ask doc about arimidex or aromasin (that's what I take). From what I've read they don't have near the side effects (except for femara) and I think they are proving to be more effective than tamoxifen (unless you eat plenty of cabbage, broccoli and brussel sprouts then efficacy is probably equal LOL)
    You too are invited to visit my site Conquering Cancer Through Christ, it may help you stop worrying!
    God bless you, hummer.
  • cruf
    cruf Member Posts: 908
    #6
    hummingbyrd said:

    Haven't heard from Pam in a long time, sorry to say. Was thinking about her just the other day as a matter of fact.
    Since you're postmenopausal ask doc about arimidex or aromasin (that's what I take). From what I've read they don't have near the side effects (except for femara) and I think they are proving to be more effective than tamoxifen (unless you eat plenty of cabbage, broccoli and brussel sprouts then efficacy is probably equal LOL)
    You too are invited to visit my site Conquering Cancer Through Christ, it may help you stop worrying!
    God bless you, hummer.

    Hi Ladies! Just wanted you to know I got an e-mail from Pams husband. She has been pretty sick in and out of the hospital and in alot of pain. The last note was that she was home and more comfortable. She was able to get in the car and go out for short trips. Will let you know if I hear anymore. Let's all just continue to pray for her. I'm sure if you e-mailed her she would love the thought! HUGS!! Cathy
  • sassysally
    sassysally Member Posts: 150
    #7
    WELCOME NEWBIE!!!! GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE. THIS IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO **** TO CRY TO LAUGH AND TO GET INSPIRED. WE ALL HERE HAVE BEEN IN YOUR SHOES, TIGHT AND UNCOMFORTABLE AS THEY MAY BE. CANCER WILL ALWAYS BE IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND IN EVERY ACHE AND PAIN. DONT LET IT RUN YOUR LIFE. ALTHOUGH THAT BEING SAID I WOULD CONTINUE TO COMPLAIN FOR ADDITIONAL TESTS IF NOTHING ELSE FOR PEACE OF MIND. I AM A THREE TIME BREAST CA SURVIVOR, AND HAVE DECIDED THAT I TRADED IN THE BOOBS FOR BALLS. YOU LEARN TO BE MORE ASSERTIVE AND DR SMART AS YOU GET FARTHER DOWN THE TRAIL ON THIS INCREDIBLE JOURNEY. BEING TERRIFIED IS NORMAL. THIS TOO SHALL PASS. ASK YOUR DOCTOR TO CHANGE YOU FROM TAMOXIFEN TO ARIMIDEX. THE SIDE EFFECTS ARE LESS. GET THOSE OVARIES OUT!!!! FIGHT TO HAVE THEM TAKEN. THEY ARE OF NO USE ANYMORE. MY OBGYN KEPT THEM IN WHEN I HAD HYSTERECTOMY AGAINST WHAT I WANTED.... 2 YRS LATER HAD TO HAVE SURGERY AGAIN, NOW THEY WERE CYST FILLED (PATIENT KNOWS NOTHING YOU KNOW!!) FOR THE HOT FLASHES YOU HAVE A COUPLE OPTIONS. ASK DR ABOUT EFFEXOR, IT HELPS SOME CANCER PATIENTS.. COLD SHOWERS ARE AN OPTION ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE LAST IN LINE FOR THE SHOWER. OR...YOU CAN RELOCATE TO ALASKA AND PLAY WITH THE POLAR BEARS.HANG IN THERE I KNOW AT TIMES IT SEEMS UNDAUNTING, BUT I AM A TRULY BELIEVER THAT CANCER ONLY PICKS THE STRONG. YOU ARE A SURVIVOR. WELCOME TO YOUR FAMILY, OUR LIVES. GLAD TO HAVE ANOTHER FRIEND ON THIS INCREDIBLE JOURNEY.

    SASSY SALLY
  • marytres
    marytres Member Posts: 144
    #8
    Hi Joanne, hate to say welcome since that means you have bc but I'll say it anyway. You'll find alot of friends here, alot of support, alot of love too. By the way, I take Arimidex too since hummer told you she takes aromasin. I had a terrible pain in my neck, thought it was BACK but then it turned out to be arthritis but very bad. Got better but now it hurts again. I had x-rays and MRI done, negative but every ache and pain worries you. Hang in there and hope to see you in chat. Hugs, Marie
  • jake10
    jake10 Member Posts: 202
    #9
    sassysally said:

    WELCOME NEWBIE!!!! GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE. THIS IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO **** TO CRY TO LAUGH AND TO GET INSPIRED. WE ALL HERE HAVE BEEN IN YOUR SHOES, TIGHT AND UNCOMFORTABLE AS THEY MAY BE. CANCER WILL ALWAYS BE IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND IN EVERY ACHE AND PAIN. DONT LET IT RUN YOUR LIFE. ALTHOUGH THAT BEING SAID I WOULD CONTINUE TO COMPLAIN FOR ADDITIONAL TESTS IF NOTHING ELSE FOR PEACE OF MIND. I AM A THREE TIME BREAST CA SURVIVOR, AND HAVE DECIDED THAT I TRADED IN THE BOOBS FOR BALLS. YOU LEARN TO BE MORE ASSERTIVE AND DR SMART AS YOU GET FARTHER DOWN THE TRAIL ON THIS INCREDIBLE JOURNEY. BEING TERRIFIED IS NORMAL. THIS TOO SHALL PASS. ASK YOUR DOCTOR TO CHANGE YOU FROM TAMOXIFEN TO ARIMIDEX. THE SIDE EFFECTS ARE LESS. GET THOSE OVARIES OUT!!!! FIGHT TO HAVE THEM TAKEN. THEY ARE OF NO USE ANYMORE. MY OBGYN KEPT THEM IN WHEN I HAD HYSTERECTOMY AGAINST WHAT I WANTED.... 2 YRS LATER HAD TO HAVE SURGERY AGAIN, NOW THEY WERE CYST FILLED (PATIENT KNOWS NOTHING YOU KNOW!!) FOR THE HOT FLASHES YOU HAVE A COUPLE OPTIONS. ASK DR ABOUT EFFEXOR, IT HELPS SOME CANCER PATIENTS.. COLD SHOWERS ARE AN OPTION ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE LAST IN LINE FOR THE SHOWER. OR...YOU CAN RELOCATE TO ALASKA AND PLAY WITH THE POLAR BEARS.HANG IN THERE I KNOW AT TIMES IT SEEMS UNDAUNTING, BUT I AM A TRULY BELIEVER THAT CANCER ONLY PICKS THE STRONG. YOU ARE A SURVIVOR. WELCOME TO YOUR FAMILY, OUR LIVES. GLAD TO HAVE ANOTHER FRIEND ON THIS INCREDIBLE JOURNEY.

    SASSY SALLY

    Writting a message in all CAPS is the same as screaming. Very difficult to listen to or read. Just thought you'd want to know. Beth

Discussion Boards