new member

lisastem
lisastem Member Posts: 5
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Just joined, this site has made my day, all the positiveness, I was having a hard time with anxiety, have gone thru chemo, lumpectomy, and half way thru radiation. I am on Tamoxifen for 5 years.....it's overwhelming but doable! Everyday gets easier.

Comments

  • RE
    RE Member Posts: 4,591 Member
    #2
    DOABLE
    Hi Lisa,

    Since you have this illness I am so glad you found this site, there are so many caring people here who will support you as you travel back to a healthier you. Anxiety is very normal, with time it will ease up. Sounds like you are nearing the end of your treatment (with the exception of the tamoxifen of course). Please come back with any questions or concerns you may have or perhaps just to share a milestone with us. We are here to cheer you on and be your cancer buddies.

    (((HUGS)))

    RE
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #3
    Welcome to the Club
    Welcome aboard! We have open hearts and open arms~ and no boobs! :-) I am just finishing 5 years of Arimidex, and yes, "doable" is the right world for all of this. None of it is my idea of fun, and certainly not a gift, but there is support during this journey, and Life After Cancer, too!

    I had a lumpectomy, chemo and rads too, and am amost 6 years out...you are in good company!

    Hugs,
    Claudia
  • lisastem
    lisastem Member Posts: 5
    #4
    chenheart said:

    Welcome to the Club
    Welcome aboard! We have open hearts and open arms~ and no boobs! :-) I am just finishing 5 years of Arimidex, and yes, "doable" is the right world for all of this. None of it is my idea of fun, and certainly not a gift, but there is support during this journey, and Life After Cancer, too!

    I had a lumpectomy, chemo and rads too, and am amost 6 years out...you are in good company!

    Hugs,
    Claudia

    thanks
    Thank-you claudia lol do you know any thing about biomarkers
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #5
    lisastem said:

    thanks
    Thank-you claudia lol do you know any thing about biomarkers

    markers
    Tumor markers...well yes, I know a little bit about them! For the record, we here on the boards absolutely love , trust and wait for our BC sister Cabbott to give us the skinny on any and everything!!! She is so good at delving into things and writing them in a way we all understand~ no doubt she will post a response to markers!

    The "Markers For Dummies" is this: when we go for labs, the blood gives levels of antigens, etc. There is a normal range for those of us who have been treated for BC~ and your Dr will keep watch on where your levels are. As in golf, LOWER numbers are better! The lowest mine were was 18~ my Dr was amazed. Generally they hover around 30-32, which is fine with my oncologist. They spiked once, upper 40's and even then, my oncologist just said we would wait until the next blood draw 3 mnths later to see if it was an anomoly. Which it was.

    Again, welcome to the Club you never wanted to join! :-)

    Hugs,
    Claudia
  • mmontero38
    mmontero38 Member Posts: 1,510
    #6
    Welcome Lisa and I am so
    Welcome Lisa and I am so glad you found us here. I am also on Tamoxifen and have been on it for a year. It is doable, sometimes the hot flashes are VERY annoying but like Chenheart says, we do what we must to be able to do what we do (or something to that effect LOL must be my chemo brain). Every day does get easier and before you know it we'll be done on all counts. I think we all get anxious but try not to dwell on it and look at the bright side, we made it for another day. Hugs, Lili
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #7
    mmontero38 said:

    Welcome Lisa and I am so
    Welcome Lisa and I am so glad you found us here. I am also on Tamoxifen and have been on it for a year. It is doable, sometimes the hot flashes are VERY annoying but like Chenheart says, we do what we must to be able to do what we do (or something to that effect LOL must be my chemo brain). Every day does get easier and before you know it we'll be done on all counts. I think we all get anxious but try not to dwell on it and look at the bright side, we made it for another day. Hugs, Lili

    What she said! LOL
    Sooo funny Lili! You are just priceless, you know that??? You made me truly Laugh Ot Loud! The quote is: We do what we HAVE to do, so we can do what we WANT to do

    Hugs,
    Claudia
  • phoenixrising
    phoenixrising Member Posts: 1,508
    #8
    mmontero38 said:

    Welcome Lisa and I am so
    Welcome Lisa and I am so glad you found us here. I am also on Tamoxifen and have been on it for a year. It is doable, sometimes the hot flashes are VERY annoying but like Chenheart says, we do what we must to be able to do what we do (or something to that effect LOL must be my chemo brain). Every day does get easier and before you know it we'll be done on all counts. I think we all get anxious but try not to dwell on it and look at the bright side, we made it for another day. Hugs, Lili

    I'm still laughing......love
    I'm still laughing......love ya lili
  • phoenixrising
    phoenixrising Member Posts: 1,508
    #9
    Welcome to the club Lisa, so
    Welcome to the club Lisa, so sorry you have to join us. The ladies and gents here will hold your hand and send you cyber hugs every step of the way. Not much you can go through that someone here hasn't already experienced. You will get through it. I am getting through it with much whining and complaining :) They tolerate me :) It sounds like you're doing well and that's wonderful. Let us know if there is anything you need.

    Hugs and flowers (really wish we could add some clip art here)
    jan
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #10
    Yeah, there is positiveness, but this is also a great place when you just want to vent!!!!

    Ask your doc about the anxiety. There are drugs, if it gets too bad.

    I am into year 3 with the Tami...and no side effects remain. I am an 'old' lady of 53, so hot flashes were part of my life already...and, truth be told, they have lessened after the surgical hystectomy done during my 'other' cancer (rectal) treatment put me into a jacuzzi each night (my wet bed...rofl) for the first 2 months.

    Watch the rads effects now....make sure to head the potential skin burns off at the pass with aquaphor or some burn emolient. My rad/oncologist told me that the effects were 2 days behind...meaning, what I had today would be worse in 2 days.

    Hugs, Kathi
  • Joycelouise
    Joycelouise Member Posts: 482
    #11
    Nice to meet you, Lisa. I
    Nice to meet you, Lisa. I am Joyce. One year from DX, been through mas., chemo, rads, and now doing some recon. work. I have been on Tamoxifin about 5 months and haven't had any discernable side effects. You are almost done! I am so glad you found this site. You may find that there is some emotional healing to be done when you finish with all the medicine and these sisters will help you sort through, and laugh through, your troubles! Welcome, love, Joyce
  • KGore
    KGore Member Posts: 2
    #12
    Also new here
    Hello....I am in beginning stages of the breast cancer experience...very happy to have discovered this site. Have had one biopsy, revealing stage 1 cancer, then an MRI, now am scheuduled for biopsy on the other breast. After that, lumpectomy and further treatment. Any suggestions as to how to prepare for lumpectomy? I am sort of reeling....having such small breasts. Hmmm. Kathleen
  • fauxma
    fauxma Member Posts: 3,577 Member
    #13
    KGore said:

    Also new here
    Hello....I am in beginning stages of the breast cancer experience...very happy to have discovered this site. Have had one biopsy, revealing stage 1 cancer, then an MRI, now am scheuduled for biopsy on the other breast. After that, lumpectomy and further treatment. Any suggestions as to how to prepare for lumpectomy? I am sort of reeling....having such small breasts. Hmmm. Kathleen

    also new to this
    I too am new to breast cancer. I am 60 years young. I had bilateral lumpectomies with j wire guides and sentinel node biopsy two days before Thanksgiving. My original biopsy showed IDC in the right breast and atypical hyperplasia with possible DCIS in the left breast. Final pathology after the lumpectomies was IDC and DSIC in right breast Stage 1, no node involvement, grade 2, Estrogen 100% positive, Progesterone 80% positive HER2 Neg. I am being considered for a study group on the onctype DX. They are sending samples of my breast tissue to be graded. Depending on the findings, I will either have chemo, hormone therapy and radiation or hormone therapy and radiation. We will know which group I am in around the 10th of January. I thought that I would be more devastated by this diagnosis but I have been okay with the actual breast cancer. I have had uterine cancer (2000), bladder cancer (2002) and squamous cell skin cancer (2003. I guess I was relieved it was a seperate cancer and not a met. What I do have is occasional moments of feeling like okay, I'll fight this and beat it and what next year or the year after another gift will arrive, stomach, liver or some other cancer. I see where others have had multiple cancers so I don't feel so alone. Do you have these feelings? I'm not angry, not even scared actually, just feeling a little like a cancer magnet.
    I love all the great advice and the great feeling that you all have for each other and for the new arrivals. I am so happy to find a place with such great people. I know that when I start hormone therapy, radiation and possibly chemo that I have a place where I can get advice and support. My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer late last year. Her's was much more advanced Stage 3C, large tumor, grade 3 and nodes involved. She had a mastectomy. So far she has done chemo, had the surgury, done more chemo, is now starting herceptin and radiation. She and I are different in our approach to this disease. I want to research and know everything I can in advance and she really doesn't want to know the details just wants to be told what comes next. This works for her and we all do what works best for us. She is dealing with this with incredible strength, but she is my baby sister (58) and I hate seeing her go through this. Fortunately, we live close to one another so we can be there for each other.
    Well, again ladies, while I wish that I had never needed this board, I am so glad that I found it.
    Stef
  • zahalene
    zahalene Member Posts: 670
    #14
    fauxma said:

    also new to this
    I too am new to breast cancer. I am 60 years young. I had bilateral lumpectomies with j wire guides and sentinel node biopsy two days before Thanksgiving. My original biopsy showed IDC in the right breast and atypical hyperplasia with possible DCIS in the left breast. Final pathology after the lumpectomies was IDC and DSIC in right breast Stage 1, no node involvement, grade 2, Estrogen 100% positive, Progesterone 80% positive HER2 Neg. I am being considered for a study group on the onctype DX. They are sending samples of my breast tissue to be graded. Depending on the findings, I will either have chemo, hormone therapy and radiation or hormone therapy and radiation. We will know which group I am in around the 10th of January. I thought that I would be more devastated by this diagnosis but I have been okay with the actual breast cancer. I have had uterine cancer (2000), bladder cancer (2002) and squamous cell skin cancer (2003. I guess I was relieved it was a seperate cancer and not a met. What I do have is occasional moments of feeling like okay, I'll fight this and beat it and what next year or the year after another gift will arrive, stomach, liver or some other cancer. I see where others have had multiple cancers so I don't feel so alone. Do you have these feelings? I'm not angry, not even scared actually, just feeling a little like a cancer magnet.
    I love all the great advice and the great feeling that you all have for each other and for the new arrivals. I am so happy to find a place with such great people. I know that when I start hormone therapy, radiation and possibly chemo that I have a place where I can get advice and support. My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer late last year. Her's was much more advanced Stage 3C, large tumor, grade 3 and nodes involved. She had a mastectomy. So far she has done chemo, had the surgury, done more chemo, is now starting herceptin and radiation. She and I are different in our approach to this disease. I want to research and know everything I can in advance and she really doesn't want to know the details just wants to be told what comes next. This works for her and we all do what works best for us. She is dealing with this with incredible strength, but she is my baby sister (58) and I hate seeing her go through this. Fortunately, we live close to one another so we can be there for each other.
    Well, again ladies, while I wish that I had never needed this board, I am so glad that I found it.
    Stef

    Good Heavens, Woman!
    I am usually the one on here saying, 'Hang in there, this is doable' because I am a 3X survivor of over 22 yrs. (Breast in 1986, breast in 1988, and bone in 1996). But here you are uplifting ME with your positive attitude after all YOU'VE been through! I am also 60 yrs old now and have often wondered if I should ever get cancer again would I 'loose it' like I did all the other times? You give me hope for sanity no matter what happens. You are my new hero. I was like your sister...head in the sand, don't tell me anything, just do what has to be done. It was the only way I could handle things at the time. But back then I didn't have this great site and all the wonderful women here to kick me in the rear if I needed it (which I obviously did), and tell me to get over myself.
    Hugs hun, so nice to 'know' you.
  • fauxma
    fauxma Member Posts: 3,577 Member
    #15
    zahalene said:

    Good Heavens, Woman!
    I am usually the one on here saying, 'Hang in there, this is doable' because I am a 3X survivor of over 22 yrs. (Breast in 1986, breast in 1988, and bone in 1996). But here you are uplifting ME with your positive attitude after all YOU'VE been through! I am also 60 yrs old now and have often wondered if I should ever get cancer again would I 'loose it' like I did all the other times? You give me hope for sanity no matter what happens. You are my new hero. I was like your sister...head in the sand, don't tell me anything, just do what has to be done. It was the only way I could handle things at the time. But back then I didn't have this great site and all the wonderful women here to kick me in the rear if I needed it (which I obviously did), and tell me to get over myself.
    Hugs hun, so nice to 'know' you.

    22 years WOW
    22 years is so wonderful to hear. Just after I posted my sister called to tell me that a friend of ours just died. She had recurrence of her breast cancer and mets and we knew she was on pallative treatment. Her sister passed away last year. It's hard not to see the parallel to my sister and me and our cancer but theirs was much further along when it was orginally diagnosed. I think that I cope well because I do look at the positive. I am a little bit (actually a lot) of a Pollyanna. I always remember her glad game and when she got crutches in the missionary barrel inside of a doll she was glad she didn't have to use them. I view my cancers that way. Uterine was better than ovarian, bladder was better than colon, squamous cell skin better than melonoma and breast better than a recurrence of the others. It doesn't mean that I lessen the seriousness of my cancers but it does put it in perspective for me. I also look at the fact that this was caught from my yearly mammograms and that it is an early, highly treatable cancer. I have a mantra I try to live by, "I don't borrow trouble". So I try to focus on what is now and not what might be. And my other favorite saying is "Some see their glass, half full, some half empty, but I'm just glad I have a glass". The glass to me is faith and hope and as long as I have a glass, it can be empty because I can fill but if I don't have the glass I have nowhere to put my faith. Its what helps me through the dark days and what makes me sing with joy on the bright days. I can see by reading all these posts that all of you ladies has glasses and most of them are pretty darn full. I have my moments of darkness and once in awhile I throw myself a pity party (sometimes my hubby joins me) but that is good too. We need to acknowledge this disease's negativity and then get back into the fight. Positive energy is so much better when confronting an enemy. I know that you all will be vital to my fight and my success.
    Stef

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