Re: Bios of BC Survivors

gloriajean

My name is Gloria live and pray in Southern Indiana. Age 42 married with 2 sons 14-16. In Feburary 2002 my husband was told he had Lymphoma. Have been going though treatments all summer and got a good report in Sept. I sent him back to work on the last of Sept. and was ready to get on with our life by getting my yearly done. The day I went to get my mamogram taken was the first day my husband worked a full day in 3 months. I was called back in the next day for another test and by Wednesday was trying to find a surgon.

I have stage 2 IDC with 5 + lymph nodes Estrogen+ her2neu 3+.

I am not for sure which drugs I am going on yet. I know my doctor is trying to get me in on a trail for being so strongly posv. with her2neu. I am still new with all of this so I am not sure what the drug is for that.

I know I have to take Chemo and RAD. I have to have another surgery on Dec 5 to get a port in and to get a cleaner margin.

All of my blood work looks good. I am feeling great. I have started to get bone scans CT scans and x-rays. The waiting of all of this is hard. When I get down I come here to read about everyone who is fighting and winning this war.

contrisdan

Just to give hope and inspiration. My mother had BC at age 35 in September 1970. Yes she is 32 year survivor with no recurrence. Had radical mastectomy & Hysterectomy the radiation which is the only thing they did way back then.

Today Mother is 70 years old in excellent health and living a full and productive life.

I am 52 years old, Mother to three grown daughters. Parenting a 6 year old granddaughter. And traditional grandmother to 5 more grandchildren. (One more grandchild on the way, due in June). Living in Connecticut.

I am still being diagnosed. I have two lumps in right breast. Have had two sonograms, Fine needle biopsy and core biopsy that both came back yesterday clean of cancer. YES! Not out of the woods yet but much more hopeful. But Surgeon still thinks he might have missed so I need to get a mamo this week and next week get the lumps removed and checked.

I always thought that women who breastfed their babies did not get breast cancer. What an education I am getting from this.

nancyh

I'm Nancy and I live in the Seattle area. 33 years old, married 1 year, no kids (wanted to start having them now, but BC sorta' put that on hold)

Diagnosed on 8/13/02, lumpectomy 8/28/02
Found lump myself - it was palpable for about 2 years, but primary care doc said it wasn't anything to worry about - "women my age don't get cancer."
Invasive ductal carcinoma
1.7cm tumor
3/14 nodes positive
extracapsular extension seen in nodes
Grade II/III

Started chemo on 10/16/02
monthly Lupron to put ovaries to sleep to preserve fertility, I hope I hope I hope!!!

4 rounds of A/C (2 down, 2 to go)
3 months of taxol
6.5 weeks rad
5 years tamoxifin (though I'm hoping I can just take it for 2 years and then try to get pregnant)

Hubby and I are looking into adoption and are very excited about it. We will start going to meetings, etc. after I get through chemo!

beazer

I'm Bea, and I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. I'm 46, married, with 14 year-old twin daughters.

I was diagnosed 9/5/02. Had lumpectomy and SNB of 3 lymph nodes on 10/2/02.

Tumor was 2 cm, well-differentiated IDC, clear margins, stage 1, grade 1, ER+, PR+, HER2/neu -. Nodes were negative, even on a microscopic level.

I'm not going to do chemo, but will do radiation and tamoxifen. Trying to decide whether to add ovarian ablation with Zoladex or Lupron; I want to get a second opinion about that because the oncologists I've seen don't normally do it.

I'm so grateful for Web resources like this. The information I've found has enabled me to drive my own treatment, and it's great to read all your real-life experiences with the various treatment options. Thanks for being here!

alphadecay

Age 32 at diagnosis.
Mammogram in march, negative
ultrasound for cyst in july
fould lump in armpit in august.

Needle biopsy on Friday, results infultrating ductal carcinoma.
Surgery on following Tuesday: modified radical mastectomy
Tumor 7.5 cm
5/7 positive lymphs
ER/PR -
Her2neu - (FISH test)
6 rounds of CAF (coming up on #5)
30 radiation treatments

DebbieB

Just wanting to keep our bios near the top for any newbies.

Tracie

Is there a way to keep this thread separate, so that we can always reference it without actually having to look for it? To make it's own separate category?
Any ideas?
Tracie

DebbieB

Trying to keep this post near the top so our 'newbies' can post their bios if they like.

penguinrea

Just to let you know, my mom was a 47 yr. survivor of breast cancer, she had a radical mastectomy, hystercomy, and radiation. They didn't put drains in you then, she had it packed with gause and had to change it every few hours. I was only 7 yrs old but remember the smell from the draniage, at the time she had four children running from ages 14, 10, 7, and a 1 yr. old. She recently passed away from a stroke, she was 82 yrs old and lived a full life with her breast cancer. I am a 2 1/2 yr. survivor, and think how she made it, and hope & pray that I am a long time survivor like this great lady was.

Maria

Anonymous

Hi everyone,
This has certainly taken off.
Based on what Tracie wrote, I think that we should make this its own forum.
I will take care of this today.

Thanks for everyone's support!
Melissa and the breastcancer.org team

alice_vienna

Hi!
I am Alice, 31yrs.
Clean mammomgramm 12/2000 - felt lump July 2002 in left breast.
Biopsy August 2002: Ductal carcinoma IN SITU....
because of mammo a mastectomy was scheduled for August 28th, 2002
Being a nurse in the surgery room of a bc-center i asked for additional sentinel biopsy during mastectomy - just to be sure....
Well, I ended up with anything but "in situ":

multifocal invasive ductal carcinoma of 8cm size
13/20 nodes positiv (tissue around the nodes affected too)

Er-/pr++
HER2neu +++

bones, liver, lungs free as far as one can tell...

Right now going through Epirubicin/Taxotere (4/6 done, last scheduled 13/01/2003 with 35 rounds of rad to follow.

Lymphedema bothering me since October ....

But I am stubborn in wanting to survive this! And not only that: I want to take this as a chance to inprove my life!

Excuse my english - native language is German as i am from Vienna, Austria

Alice

Judy_C

I'm Judy C, 49, and live in San Antonio, TX.

During a self breast exam, I found a lump on my right breast. Was sent by OB/GYN to do mammogram (didnt show up) and ultrasound where it did show up. The strange thing is the OB/GYN couldnt feel the lump though everyone else zeroed right in on it.

Biopsy 7/29/02 confirmed IDC.
Lumpectomy 8/30/02 with SNB. Nodes and margins clear.
Stage 1, tumor at 8 o'clock position, 2cm.
ER/PR +, her2/neu -
No history of bc in either side of my family.

Had 33 sessions of radiation and having 6 sessions of CEF (Cytoxan, Epirubicen, 5-FU chemo).
Then for 5 yrs will be on Tamoxifen or Arimedex (unless there is a newer advanced drug which comes out of the Breast Cancer Symposian here in San Antonio where most of the doctors are this week). I will finish chemo on 3/6/03.

One thing, my first oncol told me radiation and tamoxifen would be enough. However, I decided to get a 2nd opinion. On my ER/PR numbers he glossed over the fact my ER was 40 and PR 82. To get away with no chemo, my ER should have been anywhere from 80-100. If I didnt take chemo, my recurrence rate chances were 15%. Doing chemo cuts it down to 5-7%. Also by taking chemo the first time, my chances at living cancer free are better. Otherwise, if it were to recurr, all I could do is treat it til it becomes resistant. For me, chemo was the way to go.

contrisdan

I am Kathy,, Live and Love in northern Connecticut..
age 52… Married 29 years to a great guy.. Mom to three grown daughters ages 24, 27 and 32, parenting grandmother to one age 6, and Traditional grandmother to 5 more ages 1, 2, 3, 5, 9 and one grandchild due in June..
Mother is 32 year breast cancer survivor and going strong.

Found lump by BSE on Oct 28,
Needle biopsy Nov 8 came back clean but surgeon did not trust it.
Excisional biopsy Dec 4th positive for BC
Modified Radical Mastectomy Dec 13th
Invasive ductal BC….Stage 3 Tumor 8cm 3 out of 15 nodes positive
ER negative…. Her2neu negative
Will have port put in Dec 30 then start Chemo in January then Radiation after that..
Will have Tram Flap reconstruction after I am done with treatment..

Healing nicely after surgery.. Have a little swelling left but have 95% range of motion on the affected side..

Don’t know why I got BC but I do know why I will get rid of that beast..

NYCarol

Hi, my name is Carol. 62 years old, mother of one daughter, two sons, and four grandsons and twin grand daughters.

No family history of breast cancer.

"Bad" mammogram on 3/6/02,(not told until 3/27/02) when a repeat was requested. Could not get appointment with surgeon until April 18. Excisional biopsy May 3. Clean nodes. Report returned in 10 days, ductal carcinoma ER/PR +. Grade 2. Lumpectomy May 17. Admit that I was angry that it took 2 1/2 months from mammogram until lumpectormy was done. Lumpectomy showed clean margins. Great physicians. Neither I, nor my GP, nor the surgeon could feel the lump although it clearly showed on mammogram. My previous mammogram 18 months previously was clear. After surgery I was advised against chemotherapy due to previous heart attack 5 years ago and old lung damage from an injury many years ago. Oncologist felt reward not worth the risk. Second oncologist opinion agreed. I did have 33 radiation treatments including 5 boosters started June 11, ended July 29. Sailed through surgery and radiation other than long daily drive. I bought audio books to listen to on the 35 mile daily trip and this really helped me focus on something other than myself and made the trip fly by.

I was to start Tamoxifin at end of radiation, but my oncologist ran genetic blood tests prior to placing me on it, and discovered I have a gene mutation called Factor V Leiden which causes the blood to clot improperly and he felt it too dangerous for me to take either T or the other available drugs as all have some blood clotting effects. So, I am done with all treatments available to me and trying to get back to "normal". I feel really well, and have resumed all my regular activities. Had a wonderful Christmas, and have to admit that I appreciate the small things in life much more. I have my first post-treatment mammogram next month and will certainly feel much better when I hear a positive result. I am determined to beat this and live as full a life as my Mom who is now 90!

LoriD

Hi everyone,
my name is Lori And I live in NH,
I was 47 when this was found in a routine mamo
april 24
may 4 had mamo again and ultrasound
may 16th the biopsy
Surgery lumpectomy right breast ( now called my boobet) was done on June 14th and then again on June 24th. They didn't get the clear margins the first time.
July 17 I had the port put in I have a rose tattoo and told the dr he better not mess with the rose and he didn't. good thing I would of had to hurt him.
started chemo in July/October had treatments once a month for 4 months and then rad's for 6-7 weeks I lost count.
The found in situ and invaisive ductal carcinoma. intermediate grade 2. Of the 20 lympnodes they took 4 were positive.
I finished the rad's 3 weeks ago and I am almost all healed from that. (Had a major blister and then got a staph infection) Oh yes the fun continues. The last dr appointment I had My Oncolgist said its time for me to get on with my life. Let him do the worrying And for me to move on. SO easy for him to say. BUT I WILL TRY
love and hugs to all
Lori
It its now September 2003 17 months since this trip began. I am fine feeling wonderful. Getting on with our lives. I have lymphodema in my right arm which is finally under control. My tests have been coming back fine. I love life and all that it brings, Love and hugs to all
Lori 2003

Sherrie_Lee

Hi

I name is Sharon from Thornville, Ohio
I have a wonderful husband been married 31 on January 29, 2003 1 grown daughter Jennifer and 3 wonderful grandkids Emaleigh who will be 7 June 14, 2003 Jacob who will be 5 January 14, 2003 and Zachary who was 3 on December 14th. Did anyone catch that the grandkids all were born on the 14th of the month neat I think.
Dx July 27 by a biopsy
left breast in side just past my nipple
Stage 1
1.5 cm mass found by mamogram (4 years between the last one and the 1 that they found bc)
Lumpectomy 08/01/01 clear margins 13 nodes all negitive.
first chemo a/c 09/13/01 had 4 last one 12/06/01
28 rounds of rads Jan 02 to Feb 02
Was on Tamx for 3 months until blood clot and then I was put on Arimidex.
Family history well here goes
Greatgrandma on mothers side had bc at age 100
Mother had cancer everywere died at age 50 in 1976
Father cancer of the liver died at age 51 in 1975 15 months before my mother
Brother cancer of the neck died at age 43 in 1994.

Sherrie Lee

pattyjane

I've been coming to these boards since early Oct.,but haven't taken time to post here, so here goes--
I'm Pat L and I live in Nebraska. Two grown kids, one wonderful grandson(21 mos) Dx'd w/infiltrating lobular carcinoma(5 cm tumor and 19 pos lymph nodes(yikes!)), stage IIIB, ER+ . Mast 10/14. Chemo: 4 a/c; 4 taxotere. Then radiation, followed by tamoxifen. All tests(bone, chest x-ray, blood) came back ok(no sign of cancer anywhere else). I feel like the cancer is gone and treatment is insurance it won't come back. Mostly, I feel great :-)
Thanks to everyone for support for all and good info. Also, thanks to all for Christmas cards--that was so great! Happy New Year, everyone!
Pat L

CathUK

Hi, I'm Cath.

32 years old. No children. Live with fiance of 7 years. Work as a Uni Lecturer in nursing. Drink moderate alcohol. Never smoked. Take regular exercise - I have a Golden Retriever called Oscar who is 3 and very bouncy! He gets walked every day (not by me at the moment though). Go to a gym 4-5 times weekly and have NO family history at all!!

Was in the shower and found a huge lump 11th Aug 2002. I'll never forget the shock and horror of that feeling. I guess I knew then it was something to worry about.

Went to Dr 13th Aug 2002 and was sent to our 'one stop' breast clinic (type of diagnose on the day clinic that they have over here) on 23rd Aug 2002. It was a national bank holiday weekend coming up so pathologist wasn't on site and had to return following week for results. Family Doc insisted it was a cyst. But at the clinic, surgeon said 'no it isn't'. I knew it wasn't... I've felt cysts. Surgeon took a fine needle biopsy and mammogram. Returned to get results the following Wednesday (28th August 2002). He told me I had cancer. My Fiance nearly passed out in the Dr's office!!! Anyway, at that point they still didn't know what it was and were still suspecting a possible lymphoma - lump had presented at top of breast but more or less in the arm pit. I hoped and hoped it was lymphoma because I knew how treatable that was. I didn't want it to be BC. Tough luck that.

Following Monday I had surgery (2nd Sept 2002) - wide local excision and full axillary lymph node clearance and got results on the following Thursday. The surgeon & Breast care nurse spent all week preparing me for the worst, they kept saying how aggressive cancer normally was in younger women and how aggressively they would treat it.

I spent all the previous wednesday night worrying it had spread and I was dying - I still worry that will happen. I even asked my Dad to help look after my young man if anything happened to me. My father cried for the first time ever in front of me.

My diagnosis was 40mm (I don't know how it got so big without me knowing, I did regular monthly exams!)
grade III, stage II - IDC.
1/19 Lymph node involvement
All hormone receptors were negative.
Nottingham Prognostic Index score 5.8 (really bad)

I started chemo more or less straight away.
4x Epirubicin (which I worked through would you believe)
8x CMF which I'm due the third one on 9th Jan and take my last oral tablet on 20th March 2003.
I'm also having radiotherapy - 25 treatments daily over 6 weeks (which went over the holiday period). My final (20th) standard treatment is tomorrow and I start 5 booster (scar) treatments next week.

My Onc is great. Breast care & cancer specialist (they're called Macmillan nurses here) nurses have been fantastic.

Physically, I've gained weight. I'm tired. I'm bald as a coot. I'm fed up... and to top the lot, I'm probably infertile. Life eh.

I'd like a cast-iron guarantee that it won't come back. I want someone to tell me I'll be cured when all this is over. I know it isn't going to happen. I grieve for the old me - I loved my life and this has torn it right apart right now. I'm looking forward to treatment finishing so I restart building my life. Some days I'm up and some days I'm down. I am what I am but I'm getting through and that's what matters most I think.

Nice to find this board. There is a UK equivalent I post at but it's nice to see how our ladies cope across the Pond

Sherrie_Lee

Hi CathUK

I just found this board quite by accident. I was just looking something up on the internet when I stumbled upon this wonderful tool. I wish I would have known about this board 18 months ago.
You will start to feel better soon. You will get your life back believe me.

Keep the Faith and SMILE.

Sherrie Lee

Shannon300

My name is Shannon, 42 yrs. old:

Dx 12/20/02
2.5 cm Right breast 1 o'clock
Found lump at the mammography place when changing back into my clothes.
Lumpectomy 1/7/03 showed clear margins, took 2 sentinel nodes (at time of surgery dx nodes negative, but when final results came in today 1 of the 2 SNB's came in positive.
Axillary dissection scheduled for next week to go in for more lymph nodes
ER/PR- Her2/neu+
Stage 2
The margins remained clear, so no mastsectomy required. One good thing. The doctor has not been able to find any lumps physically, so that may be a positive.

Does anyone have an idea what kind of drugs will be required when ER/PR- HER2/neu+????? Will I be able to take Tamoxifen? I heard not.

DebbieB

Hi Shannon,

I'm also HER+ so I sent you a private message. Check under the "My Profile" section at the top of this page to get it.

Debbie

runner1

I've been waiting (seeminly for ages!) to get all the my path report back so now that I have it, here goes!

My name is Sandy, I just turned 45 yesterday (18 Jan). I'm engaged to a wonderful guy (who just presented me with a lovely engagement ring for my birthday!), have two grown kids (one daugher, aged 21 and at university and a son, aged 18 and in the Navy).

I discovered a lump in my right breast back in late Oct. Had a diagnostic mammogram and was told by the radiologist that it was definately cancer. Had a core biopsy shortly after where the diagnosis was confirmed. Had a lumpectomy on Jan. 3 along with sentinal node biopsy (they also removed 7 auxillary nodes). Margins were dirty and one sentinal node was malignant. I'm going back in for a mastectomy and free tram reconstruction on Jan. 21.

Cancer is Infiltrating Ductal
Stage IIa
T2,N1,MX,G3
3.5 cm tumor
High grade with comedo necrosis and extenstive lymphatic invasion by tumor
ER/PR receptor -
HER2 -

I will get some additional info. after my mastectomy but this is it for now!

Shannon300

Hi Runner1,

Welcome! I haven't seen your name before, are you new? I am too, it's only been a month for me. These ladies have been a LIFE SAVER AND A MIND SAVER for me through this. I don't know where else you can get this kind of support. I just watched Marci on the "Early Show" and I felt everything she was saying. So, we are all in the same boat. I am sorry you had to be here, but if you have breast cancer, this is the best place to get through it.
We need to talk some more, as you seem to have some of the same indicators as I. I start chemo one week from today. I wish you all the luck in your treatment.

Hang in there and hope to talk to you again.

Shannon

LMeyers

Hi! My name is Vinny and I was diagnosed this November,2002. Got the call on a Saturday morning about 2 hours before I was expecting 30 family members for an early Thanksgiving Dinner. This at first took my breath away but deep down inside I think I knew.
StageIII
Grade III
My surgeon,that I have trusted with my life, and I, because axillary pain is what sent me for an early mammogram had a short discussion about treatment modality and she sent me to a medical oncologist for chemotherpy prior to surgery(hoping for tumor shrinkage).
Being an RN, my first efforts sent me to fellow RN's to find the very best Oncologist. I did but it was several weeks before I could get an appointment to see him.
Results of first appoinment:
1. Bone scan....negative
2. PET scan.....negative
3. Muga scan....normal heart function
4. Labs.... all within normal limits
Second appointment:
1. Reviewed all above
2. Set chemotherapy to start the next day
(time from diagnosis to first treatment 1 month)
Current Status:
11 days past 2nd treatment and doing okay physically
3. 4 more treatments (TAC protocol,followed by neulasta on day two)
4. Next week when I go for treatment 3, I hope my tumor shrinkage will support surgery soon.
5. My tumor shrinkage has been great on physical exam and my MD is very encouraging about my progress.
6.Today, I am having a pity party,for some reason my emotions are on a rampage. I am just going to go with the flow. I think I am getting stir-crazy from being in the house for so long.

Fiding this WEB site is going to be a great support.
Thanks to everyone!!!!!!

rita7601

Hi everybody!!! I am Rita 30yo.
I have a cat named Rusty and a fiance. I live in Charlotte,NC but a native to New Jersey.
I am a pharmacist and current BC battler!!!
Found lump by accident on 12/01 at 11 o'clock on left breast. Went to see surgeon 12/01-told it was a cyst.
Returned 3/02 to follow-up with different surgeon who preformed biopsy due to return of lump.
Pathology:
tumor measured 2.5cm x5 cm.
Diagnosed Infiltrating duct carcinoma stage 2b.
Lumpectomy 4/02. ALL nodes removed 2/20 positive.
- estrogen receptors - progesterone receptors
Started AC on 6/02.
Finished radiation in Nov.02.
Now on Taxotere. Last treatment scheduled for 2/21/03.
Keep your spirits HIGH!!!
LOL,
Rita

diana50

hi, my name is diana

i live in palm desert, california.

diagnosed feb 26, 2002 with stage IIB ductal carcinoma. no history of cancer in my family of orgin or historically.

1.8 cm tumor size, ER/PR+, 10/12 positive nodes and infiltrating moderately differentiated ductal carcinoma (grade II).

Chemo was: 6 rounds of taxotere, adriamycian and cytoxin in combination (phase III clinical trial)
6 weeks of radiation (neck, breast and armpit)
arimidex is the choice for the estrogen treatment; and i started that when i began the radiation.

so, the above is the basic statistic for treatment; the REALLY important part is that the choice is TO LIVE and to communicate to the BODY that we can beat these cancer cells; they aren't supposed to be there and the rest of the body KNOWS it and is getting rid of them. as a runner and road biker; i was able to continue to exercise during the chemo (fell off the bike a lot..) and continue even tho my body continues to ache.

did anyone REALLY like the baldness? i did, although the new head of hair i am currently growing is very curly and wavey.

take care everyone; we are more then our stat report;..we are mothers, sisters..wives..partners..daughters..professionals..wonderful women who battle strong with faith, hope and love.

diana

freefor6

Hi there. Im Tabitha. I was diagnosed in November of 1996. I had invasive ductal carcinoma. Tumor of 1.5 centimeters. Had lumpectomy with lymph node dissection. No positive lymph nodes and clean margins all around. I found the lump myself by the way. I had 28 rounds of radiation with two boosters with no side affects. Had chemo but did not do well so I was taken off it. Had Tamaoxafen for five years which I just finished last year. I was diagnosed at age 44. I had no family history of any kind of cancer at all. Since my breast cancer I have lost my mom to lung cancer and my niece at Thanksgiving to colon cancer.
I am very glad to have found these boards and I sure wish I had known about them when I was going thru my treatment.

runner1

Hi Shannon. I'm relatively new to the board...was dx in mid December and found this site shortly afterwards. I am so glad to have found it and you wonderful folks!

I go in for my mastectomy and reconstruction tomorrow morning and look forward to getting that over with!

I looked at your bio and it does look like we have quite a few similiarities in our bc. Did you have your axilliary node dissection already? If so, I hope it all went well.

I'd definately like to talk with you more. Please feel free to send me a PM whenever convenient!

Thanks,
Sandy

Shannon300

Hi Sandy or do I call you Runner1? ha ha.

I did have an axillary dissection one week after my lumpectomy. They did the lumpectomy on January 7, 2003 and the sentinel nodes came in clear at that time, but when the final results came in, they found one of the two removed positive (2mm cell). By the way, they still consider you "node involved" although it is the sentinel node (which is the first nodes that the cancer can travel to before it gets to the rest of the lymph nodes). So, they had to schedule me another surgery one week later to remove them and they took 8 more, the rest of the nodes were negative, meaning I had 1/10 nodes positive. So, I guess it could have been worse. They were still going to have me do chemo because of the invasiveness into the lympvascular veins and the size of it 2.5cm.
I wish you all the luck on your mastsectomy today and hope you have TOTAL HEALING. I will pray for you.

By the way, I live in Indianapolis, IN. Originally from Huntington Beach, CA, moved to Dallas in '96, then to Kansas City, Ks in '98, and now living here since 2001.
Where are you from? Just curious.

Wishing you health and happiness TODAY and ALWAYS,
Shannon

arachne5

I am Joan from Bridgton, Maine.
I am startled and distressed to see how young most of you are and I am very grateful to you for sharing your journeys.
I am 70 years old with no bc history in my family.
I had questionable mammograms and ultrasounds every 6 months for 2 years with a change noted June 02 by which time I was feeling something that my gp said was probably a cyst.
Core needle biopsy early July revealed dcis and invasive ductile carcinoma. (cyst - ha!)
Met surgeon end of July and had lumpectomy and sentinal node biopsy August 9
.8 cm mass, clear margins, stage 1, er+, nodes negative.
followed up with 37 radiation treatments.
In Dec.., oncologist and I decided Tamoxifen was out because of heart history, and aromatase inhibitors questionable because of osteopenia - the joys of aging...
Briefly discussed a possible clinical trial of Letrozole and Zoledronic Acid
to combat bone loss. At the time I was waiting for an appointment with the endocrinologist to find out whether elevated calcium levels meant a return of hyperparathyroidism and another op so my interest in complicating things with new and possibly unfriendly drugs was low. Onc said that I had about a 5% chance of recurrence and she could only give me another 2 to 3% with drugs.
Since I have found out that there are no problems with parathyroids, I will probably be getting in touch with her next month to talk further about wisdom/need of antihormone therapy.
Baseline mammo and meeting with surgeon, onc, and rad onc is scheduled for mid June.

Nearly 3 months after the end of radiation therapy I am still finding changes in the treated breast - feels solider and solider, and sure isn't shrinking any. I still get tired - rather like hitting a wall unexpectedly.

faith_m

Hi my name if Faith. I am 38, live in Methuen massachusetts,,Have 3 children,, 2 girls,, 17 & 18 and 1 boy 10
Diagnosed Jan. 2000
I was 35 when I found a lump. I had a lumpectomy at the local hospital where cancer was diagnosed. I swithced to Dana Farbar Cancer Institute, wher I had another operation, where they got clear margins and NO nodes involved..
DX as stage II.
Had 4 treatments of A/C (all via vein,, OUCH)
and 33 rads
then tamoxifen.
June 2002, DX with mets to the spine! now Stave IV
Had rads to kill the cancer in spine, switched from tamoxifen to Femara, have monthly shots of Lupron and monthly infusions of pamidronate for an undertermined amoun of time.
Also got a port in September, because when they did the first treatment of pamidronate, My arm blew up due to my veins being so scared from the A/C 2 years prior.
Living each day to its Fullest!!!
Faith.