One step forward and two steps back?

grams2jc
grams2jc Member Posts: 756
in Breast Cancer #1
Hi everyone, overall it's been a good week here in the warm midwest, some unsettled weather here at the end of the week to match the rest of my life.

So I went to work this morning thinking how proud I was of myself....only Xanax I have taken this week, was right before the pelvic ultrasound my gyno ordered as a baseline due to Tamoxifen, and that was Thursday afternoon. If I had known it was both external and internal ultrasound I probably would have been on it all week, LOL. THEN, at 12:30 this afternoon my Gyn's name comes across the caller id at work...uh oh. She called to tell me the ultrasound had shown a follicular cyst believed to be benign in one of my ovaries and thickening of the endometrium (sp?) UGH She had 2 suggestions for me, take a short course of progesterone, EXCUSE ME hyper estrogen positive breast cancer patient here, you just said take hormones, or have a biopsy. I decided on the biopsy which is supposed to be no biggie except for cramping. She also told me that no matter how that comes out she will probably want me to see a gyn. surgeon for ideas regarding a possible hyst so I don't have to do all this again. OMG, what a baseline!! Been on Tamoxifen for 3 months and had never had a pelvic ultrasound before so I guess not really a true baseline as I have no idea what it all looked like before starting Tamox.

ANYWAY, trying to be a "grown up" about it and stay rational BUT that isn't really my forte these days. AND of course, her first opening is on Thursday, here I go again waiting through the weekend for biopsy results, only other biopsy I ever had was a Thursday that ended with a BC dx on Monday.

Looking at the bright side, if my gyno and MO get together and decide this is an opportune time for a hyst then so be it...I can get all of the BALONEY out of the way in 2011 and start 2012 fresh (Warned my husband that this New Year's Eve will be spent somewhere EXPENSIVE).

Oh well, maybe next week will be 2 steps forward and 1 back. But I do have a filling and a biopsy scheduled....OMG!!!!

Thanks for letting me vent, it just makes me wonder what's next....toe transplant surgery or something? I am gonna run out of girl parts to lose,

Jennifer

Comments

  • atiredparent
    atiredparent Member Posts: 45
    #2
    It is very hard to keep
    It is very hard to keep dealing with things sometimes isn't it. I hope it turns out benign.
  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member
    #3
    atiredparent said:

    It is very hard to keep
    It is very hard to keep dealing with things sometimes isn't it. I hope it turns out benign.

    Hang in there..
    Hang on sweetie.....wishing you the very best...I'm dealing with stage IV metastatic bc....two years after original dx....I try to keep my sense of humor...I tell my husband that with bc everyday is like Christmas...one surprise after another! I understand about the surgeries...I could use some replacement parts....my stomach looks like a surgeon has had a field day on it! .... no bikini's for me....oh what a visual....lol.

    Anyway, again, wishing you the best...oh and...I had a hyster at 37.....best thing!
    Hugs to you,
    NANCY
  • Pam5
    Pam5 Member Posts: 232
    #4
    MAJW said:

    Hang in there..
    Hang on sweetie.....wishing you the very best...I'm dealing with stage IV metastatic bc....two years after original dx....I try to keep my sense of humor...I tell my husband that with bc everyday is like Christmas...one surprise after another! I understand about the surgeries...I could use some replacement parts....my stomach looks like a surgeon has had a field day on it! .... no bikini's for me....oh what a visual....lol.

    Anyway, again, wishing you the best...oh and...I had a hyster at 37.....best thing!
    Hugs to you,
    NANCY

    Oh I know I know. I hate it
    Oh I know I know. I hate it when I see my doc's number come up. Always have - always will!
    Hang in there - I'm keeping you in my prayers.

    Hugs,
    Pam
  • Tux
    Tux Member Posts: 544
    #5
    Jennifer
    Sorry to hear of your setback. Hope everything goes OK with biopsy on Th. (((hugs))) and prayers for you. Keep us posted.
  • gami43
    gami43 Member Posts: 281
    #6
    Tux said:

    Jennifer
    Sorry to hear of your setback. Hope everything goes OK with biopsy on Th. (((hugs))) and prayers for you. Keep us posted.

    Sorry Jennifer. Wouldn't it
    Sorry Jennifer. Wouldn't it be nice to just coast awhile?
    No tests, no SE's, no weird things on ultrasounds? I will
    keep you in my thoughts & prayers and send positive vibes
    your way.

    Luv, Teresa
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #7
    gami43 said:

    Sorry Jennifer. Wouldn't it
    Sorry Jennifer. Wouldn't it be nice to just coast awhile?
    No tests, no SE's, no weird things on ultrasounds? I will
    keep you in my thoughts & prayers and send positive vibes
    your way.

    Luv, Teresa

    Jennifer
    sorry,
    I was in a very similar situation about 2 years ago. I started Tamoxifen in March of 2009. My oncologist never mentioned about base line before starting Tamoxifen, Since I was very fragile after 8 months of treatment I saw a women hell doctor who sent me for a base line in May. To everyones surprise ultrasound showed thickening of uterus. I was sent to gynecologist oncologist for consultation. He called it Tamoxifen effect - flux on ultrasound, monitor me and 3 months later did biopsy which was benign. He also has become my gynecologist who monitor me every 4 months. My doctor does ultrasound himself, he looked at the screen and can my adjustment or obtain a different view and it is much better than read description
    Yes, it is a good idea to see a specialist, surgeon or gynecologist/oncologist with good reputation.Second opinion is always useful.
    Do not worry before you learn more about your conditions. Chemo probably mixed up you hormone levels and your body reacted somehow.
    I personally would stay away from the doctor who prescribed hormones to a hormone-dependent breast cancer patient.
    Good luck and let us know.
    Hugs
  • epark
    epark Member Posts: 339
    #8
    gami43 said:

    Sorry Jennifer. Wouldn't it
    Sorry Jennifer. Wouldn't it be nice to just coast awhile?
    No tests, no SE's, no weird things on ultrasounds? I will
    keep you in my thoughts & prayers and send positive vibes
    your way.

    Luv, Teresa

    I feel you.....
    my heart skips a beat everytime i see the doctors phone # come up....the bright side is if you get a hyst. you dont have to worry about ovarian/uterine cancer...i hear the hyst now a days is so much better than back in the days....you are in my thoughts and prayers....postive vibes your way

    Eva
  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    #9
    epark said:

    I feel you.....
    my heart skips a beat everytime i see the doctors phone # come up....the bright side is if you get a hyst. you dont have to worry about ovarian/uterine cancer...i hear the hyst now a days is so much better than back in the days....you are in my thoughts and prayers....postive vibes your way

    Eva

    Thinking of you, Jennifer
    Advice about the biopsy - take 800 mg. ibuprofen about 45 minutes before the procedure. Makes a world of difference. Ask me how I know. . .

    Here's hoping your results are benign. Will be thinking about you Thursday. Do you need the bus?

    Suzanne
  • grams2jc
    grams2jc Member Posts: 756
    #10
    Double Whammy said:

    Thinking of you, Jennifer
    Advice about the biopsy - take 800 mg. ibuprofen about 45 minutes before the procedure. Makes a world of difference. Ask me how I know. . .

    Here's hoping your results are benign. Will be thinking about you Thursday. Do you need the bus?

    Suzanne

    Thanks so much ladies
    No I don't think I need the bus, she really didn't make it sound threatening just have to have it checked out. Just frustrated...I guess if I am going to have more done I should just get it over with before my BC dx date anniversary 11/1 that way I can just call the those 12 months a washout and start fresh. Unfortunately we don't know if this is just me or if it is the Tamoxifen after only 3 months cuz I never had a pelvic ultrasound before.

    Thank you all for your support, I really appreciate it. I am learning so much I never wanted to know.

    And about that bus....October will be scanxiety when I have my next CT.

    Thank you!!!

    Jennifer
  • dbhadra
    dbhadra Member Posts: 344 Member
    #11
    grams2jc said:

    Thanks so much ladies
    No I don't think I need the bus, she really didn't make it sound threatening just have to have it checked out. Just frustrated...I guess if I am going to have more done I should just get it over with before my BC dx date anniversary 11/1 that way I can just call the those 12 months a washout and start fresh. Unfortunately we don't know if this is just me or if it is the Tamoxifen after only 3 months cuz I never had a pelvic ultrasound before.

    Thank you all for your support, I really appreciate it. I am learning so much I never wanted to know.

    And about that bus....October will be scanxiety when I have my next CT.

    Thank you!!!

    Jennifer

    sorry to hear that you are going through this stress
    Praying that it all turns out OK. My sister in law just had a hyst after Tamoxifin caused uterine thickening. All post surgery biopsies turned out OK luckily and her take was that she was done using "those parts" anyway as her kids are teenagers....

    I start Tamoxifin in September once my rads are done...sounds like I am in for a lot of fun from all the posts I read here...laughing but not really laughing if you know what I mean ....yes, life is sometimes just one surprise after another, isn;t it???

    Hang in there,

    Laura
  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    #12
    To Jennifer
    Endometrial biopsy doesn't hurt, I went to work before the biopsy and returned to work after. Tamoxifen is known for thickening of the lining. Use to be when they began giving Tamoxifen to women, they were afraid of endometrial cancer when so many had thickening of the uterus lining. Though it happens, it is a rare.

    I had lots of bleeding episode that is why I had so many endometrial biopsies. That is all my then oncologist at the time and my then gyn/ob doctor could come up with instead of thinking outside the box. The thickening was always notice in my ct scans long before the bleeding episodes as were cyst on the ovaries. I was off Tamo and on Arimidex when the bleeding had started and had been in chemical menopause for 6 years. What it turned out to be was polyps in the uterus. A D&C took care of it all and never had a problem since that time.

    I was offered progesterone also by gyn/ob doctor. I was 50% progesterone + and 95% estrogen +. I went to a doctor whose specialty was gynecology. I am not certain why they would offer progesterone when your cancer is hormonal positive.

    Best wishes for a benign outcome,

    Doris
  • cahjah75
    cahjah75 Member Posts: 2,631
    #13
    Jennifer
    Hang in there. My sister took Tamoxifen for 5 years and had one cyst removed. I had an endometrial biopsy done 2 weeks after being dx with bc. I was 11 years post menopause and had started to spot for a couple of weeks. My gyn gladly told me all was ok. Yes, internal ultrasounds are a bit weird but tell a lot. I hope your results are nothing to worry about and if a hyst is necessary might as well get it over and done with. I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
    {{hugs}} Char
  • Megan M
    Megan M Member Posts: 3,000
    #14
    MAJW said:

    Hang in there..
    Hang on sweetie.....wishing you the very best...I'm dealing with stage IV metastatic bc....two years after original dx....I try to keep my sense of humor...I tell my husband that with bc everyday is like Christmas...one surprise after another! I understand about the surgeries...I could use some replacement parts....my stomach looks like a surgeon has had a field day on it! .... no bikini's for me....oh what a visual....lol.

    Anyway, again, wishing you the best...oh and...I had a hyster at 37.....best thing!
    Hugs to you,
    NANCY

    I will be praying for
    I will be praying for benign!


    Hugs, Megan

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