If you do not feel right about something, read this

CypressCynthia said:

Well said Meena
I am a firm believer that we as individuals often know before anyone else. There may be symptoms that we can't begin to verbalize properly but we just know. We are more familiar with our bodies than anyone.

Here is my experience. In August 1986, while putting on my swimsuit, I felt a weird lump. It was painless, had no borders that I could feel, a thickening. Of course, big red flags!

I put off going to the doc until Feb 1987 because, at 33, I didn't want to sound like a nut. My GYN told me, after examining me, "I'm not impressed."

Fortunately, as I was leaving her office, she stopped me and said that because of my family hx she wanted a "baseline mammogram." The mammogram came back IDC. Turns out that the lump I felt was the tail of the tumor and the origin was behind my nipple. Because it was so large I had to have a mastectomy. Also had 4 nodes.

Fast forward to 2005, in Nov after Katrina I turn up with 3-4 broken ribs from lifting boxes. I had a bone scan, Pet, CT, etc--all were inconclusive and my cancer markers were normal.

I complained and complained about my ribs even telling one doc "it feels like an alien in my chest trying to push out." I had pneumonia 2 X between 2005 & 2009 (never had pneumonia before). I was very tired. The pain was unmanageable. My family doc told me that, after rib fractures, I would just have the pain off and on for the rest of my life. Live with it.

Finally, pneumonia again in Feb 2009 and the CT this time is very suspicious, repeat bone scan comes back "osseous metastasis." Markers are now very abnormal. Bone biopsies of 2 different ribs confirms that, in both ribs samples, it is breast metastasis from 22 ys ago!

Both times, I really felt something was wrong, but you are very right in saying that we are just happy to hear the good news without insisting something is wrong.

Don't live your life waiting for something bad to happen, but do speak up if you know something bad is happening. Be diligent; very good advice.

I am wondering that too
I am wondering that too Meena. So, you have a recurrence too Cynthia? And, it came back 22 years later? Or, was it there all the time? Praying for you too.

thanks for sharing
I am so sorry that you have to go through this again.I thank you for reminding us to be our own advocates and to listen to our bodies. Sometimes it is difficult to discern what is "normal" after just completing grads, starting hormone receptor blockers and having surgery. What is the new "normal". Just had this conversation with my OT who I see for Lymphedema treatment. I was feeling a tender, area of thickening in the upper outer quadrant of my affected breast. She said is was not the lymphedema and she agreed it felt somewhat cystic. It hurt for a day or two before it stopped being bothersome. I am going to talk to my NP at my Medical Oncologist's office. I don't have an appt again until mid Sept(mammo scheduled for the end of next month) and don't want to just ignore it until next month's appt.
Hugs, K.

winsomebulldog said:

My heart breaks for you,
My heart breaks for you, Meena! I am just starting this journey - just had my lumpectomy on Thursday - but I've already been thinking about the fact that I know I'll be spending the rest of my life wondering if it will come back. No matter how the treatments go or what the prognosis ultimately is down the road, there will just always be that fear in the back of my mind. I praise you for continuing to seek answers and wish that we didn't have to practically demand that our doctors listen to our fears and investigate our concerns. But God bless you, Meena, and I'll be praying for you!

Wishing you healing thoughts
Wishing you healing thoughts winsomeubulldog!


Hugs, Jan

CypressCynthia said:

Well said Meena
I am a firm believer that we as individuals often know before anyone else. There may be symptoms that we can't begin to verbalize properly but we just know. We are more familiar with our bodies than anyone.

Here is my experience. In August 1986, while putting on my swimsuit, I felt a weird lump. It was painless, had no borders that I could feel, a thickening. Of course, big red flags!

I put off going to the doc until Feb 1987 because, at 33, I didn't want to sound like a nut. My GYN told me, after examining me, "I'm not impressed."

Fortunately, as I was leaving her office, she stopped me and said that because of my family hx she wanted a "baseline mammogram." The mammogram came back IDC. Turns out that the lump I felt was the tail of the tumor and the origin was behind my nipple. Because it was so large I had to have a mastectomy. Also had 4 nodes.

Fast forward to 2005, in Nov after Katrina I turn up with 3-4 broken ribs from lifting boxes. I had a bone scan, Pet, CT, etc--all were inconclusive and my cancer markers were normal.

I complained and complained about my ribs even telling one doc "it feels like an alien in my chest trying to push out." I had pneumonia 2 X between 2005 & 2009 (never had pneumonia before). I was very tired. The pain was unmanageable. My family doc told me that, after rib fractures, I would just have the pain off and on for the rest of my life. Live with it.

Finally, pneumonia again in Feb 2009 and the CT this time is very suspicious, repeat bone scan comes back "osseous metastasis." Markers are now very abnormal. Bone biopsies of 2 different ribs confirms that, in both ribs samples, it is breast metastasis from 22 ys ago!

Both times, I really felt something was wrong, but you are very right in saying that we are just happy to hear the good news without insisting something is wrong.

Don't live your life waiting for something bad to happen, but do speak up if you know something bad is happening. Be diligent; very good advice.

Praying for you too
Praying for you too Cynthia!

Hugs, Jan

sal314 said:

Totally Agree...
We really need to "listen" to our bodies and follow our "gut" feelings on things. I'm finding I'm getting better at "following my gut" as I get older. But it's hard. You don't want to become some paranoid, hypochondriac. On the other hand, can anyone really blame us for thinking "could it be more"? I think not. So...I think one shouldn't worry about what others may think. If your gut and that "still small voice" is telling you something isn't right, get it checkout until your satisified with the answer.

That's my two cents:)

Sally

I agree too Meena!
We have to always listen to that lil voice in our head and go with our gut feeling that something might not be right with our health. After all, the doctors, no matter how good they are, aren't us.

Thanks for posting this thread! It is one of the best I have ever read on here!


Lex♥

My maternal
grandmother had breast cancer that went to her bones. That was 56 years ago. You would think doctors would listen to us more now than 50 years ago. I'm worried about elevated liver function blood test especially since bc can go to liver. I'm scheduled for a liver ultrasound because I want some answers. Thanks goodness some of my doctors listen to me.

Meena and Cynthia - keeping both of you in my thoughts and prayers.
Char

susie09 said:

I am wondering that too
I am wondering that too Meena. So, you have a recurrence too Cynthia? And, it came back 22 years later? Or, was it there all the time? Praying for you too.

My guess is that a few cells
My guess is that a few cells escaped being anihilated by mastectomy, chemo, rads, tamoxifen. I seem destined to stay on hormone therapy for the rest of my life, but I guess that beats the alternative. My tumor was ER+

mee1
Hugs, love and preyers from me to you.

natly15 said:

Meena thank you for sharing
Meena thank you for sharing this. I only wish you didnt have to deal with this now, but it will certainly help all of us. My prayers are with you and pray you beat the beast again.

Praying for you Meena!

Praying for you Meena!