2011 Sisters

TinaT

Clyn:  Fingers crossed.......

TinaT

Clyn:   Yep, lots and lots of waiting with BC!!!

ssmith37

Clyn, congrats on getting through surgery.  I just had mine on Tuesday.  How are you feeling?  I'm still groggy and almost go to sleep every now and then.  It comes and goes.  I'm thinking of going to work today, but don't really feel like it.  Do you think you will jump right back to work?

Keeping fingers crossed for no node involvement!

Stephanie

ssmith37

Sorry about your asthma.  Definitely try to relax.  I think it's good that you're not rushing back to work.  I don't want to either.  I liked reading your posts about sending healthy messages to your body.  I'm believing in that more and more now.  Never realized the power of positive thinking before.

ssmith37

Hi DocBabs.  Well, I got to talk to my surgeon today.  He called me after he got the pathology report.  One out of three nodes is positive.  But he called it Micromets.  It's only 3 mm and he doesn't believe more surgery is needed.  I would like to know others' thoughts on that though.  I will follow up with him on Monday.

DocBabs

Stephanie, I must admit that I'm a novice when it comes to this BC stuff. I look up what I have to and stop.My gut feeling is that having only 1 node positive and having that be micromet is not such a bad thing.Sure, we'd all like to hear that everything is negative but that;s not how life works, is it?I can only assume that you will be having some additional treatment but as to what, you'l have to tell me what they want .The only thing I do know for sure is that we are so fortunate to living and dealing with this disease now instead of 30 or more years ago. So many new and effective therapies.Let us know what your options will be.

Barbara

MariaGo

Hey Ladies,

 I was diagnosed on 05/13/11 with breast cancer after having a biopsy done a couple days before that.  I guess you can say I knew it would happen eventually since my father's side of the family there is a strong history.  My sister had just been diagnosed late last year.  My husband and I decided for the double mastectomy, as we didn't have that fear of it coming back.  Of course it's not 100% but it's better in my opinion.  So I had surgery on the 24th of May with reconstruction.  They had the extenders put in for the reconstruction.  And I had 4 drains in as well.  Two of the drains came out friday and they added 50 cc's to the extenders.  Having those drains out was very painful.  When they were putting in the liquid to the extenders it was just soooooo weird.  Hard to explain. 

I was feeling very positive after accepting the dx.  But after surgery I have felt a bit negative.  I am not used to having people take care of me.  I cannot stand not being able to do much of anything.  But today has been a really good day. I was able to wash some dishes and do a few things around the house.  Today I am going to try to adventure out into a movie theater.  Let's see if I can do it.  I hope I can. I need to do something.  Tomorrow I have appt with the general surgeon see what they say.  Since I don't have onco appt unitl 07/05.  I am dying to go back to work.  I want to feel normal again.  Not sure if they will do chemo.  I feel like everything is on hold.  I hate it.  But as they say one day at a time.  Hopefully I will get some answers tomorrow and I am hoping the other two drains come out this week so I can take a nice shower.

DocBabs

MariaGo, I had my bilat Mx  with tissue expanders on 5/13 so you're just a little behind me.At this point I'm just starting to feel "normal", meaning I can stay awake all day and shop, cook,play with my grandson,etc. This surgery takes a lot out of you both physically and mentally. I just started PT this week and it's I alreadt see a huge improvement in my rom after only 2 sessions.The only fill I've had so far was the one that was done in the OR and I was quite surprised to hear from the surgeon that the PS did about half of the total fill then. I'll be seeing him next week and I'm sure he;s going to do a fill.I'm a little anxious about that since I feel so uncomfortable now I can't imagine what it will feel like after more fluid.Everything takes time and patience.

Barbara

Kymn

Did anyone here who had a lumpectomy getting any reconstruction?? I hate the look of my shitty titty, it really depresses me and was just wondering what can be done about it. Any info appreciated.thanks

Hugs Kymn

ssmith37

Hi again.  Just an update.  I went to my BS this morning after lumpectomy and snb on Tuesday.  Turns out the cancer is stage 3 instead of stage 2.  I have an appointment this Thursday to get the Mediport placed, and first appointment with the oncologist this Monday.  I'm scared now.  I guess it's a delayed reaction, but it's starting to hit me!  I'm going to have to go through chemo!  I have breast cancer!  Wow!

TinaT

ssmith37:  Sorry you got news you'd rather not have heard today.  It's so hard when you start to come to grips with things then they yank the rug out from under you yet again.  Hang in there!!!

DocBabs

Stephanie I'm so sorry to hear about your latest news.It's all a lot to handle.I recently was being seen by a group of doctors and one was reviewing my medical history and at one point he said"you have cancer" and preceeded to go on. I stopped him and said "I have cancer?"Then I proceeded to burst out crying.I stopped after a few secons nad said to him,'I'm just not used to hearing those words said about me"He apoligized.I still don't think it's fully hit me .It takes time to accept it but you will and we'll both move forward.You know what they say" that which doesn't kill , makes us stronger" Well, we're both still here so we must be getting stronger. Good luck with your treatment .I hope it's easy on your spirit and body.

Barbara

kll22

Stephanie & Barbara:

 That's the same way I reacted.  I was absolutely fine with the idea of lumpectomy and radiation but once chemotherapy was added in, I completely lost it.  Cried all afternoon and the next morning.  I have come to terms with chemo and know it's the best decision in the long run.  We are all fighters.  We are used to overcoming obstacles put in our way and will be stronger in the end.

Best of luck to you both -- Kristin

ssmith37

Thank you all so much for your responses.  It is really a blessing to be able to come to this site and whine, lol!  We will all get through this and definitely will be strong, courageous women!

Jules59

Kymn,

Maybe you should start a thread under the surgery topics with your question.  I think more people who have had lumectomies will read it and have an answer for you.  You might also ask the BS who did your lumpectomy.  I have heard others say that it takes a year before you know what the final results will be because the breast is still healing and changing.

I am thrilled with the way my lumpectomy looks.  It was done in early Feb.  Unfortunately, I have to have re-excision after I finish chemo to get clean margins.

klucyg

Clyn - good news about the margins and lymph nodes.  I'm 57 years old and post-menopausal.  My doctor recommended chemo even before I got my Oncotype DX test result (which is 30).  So, I'm electing to have chemo.  I had the port put in yesterday and my first treatment is 6/14.  Good luck to you.

Merlinda

It's all so overwhelming. I am ER+ PR+, still waiting on the HER2 results. Doc said something about Oncutype testing depending upon the HER2 results. Here's the overwhelming part, which is better HER+ or HER -? I am really glad to have found this group.



Merlinda

GmaFoley

HERS2 -

Huskerkkc

Clyn,

I just had my last chemo a week ago. The port placement is usually uneventful and painless. Mine was done with IV sedation...I didn't feel a thing, wasn't awake for any of it. Others remember talking to surgeon, but were "out of it". You will be glad to have it, so don't fret about the placement.

Grade 3 is aggressive, so chemo is likely. I wasn't a candidate for oncotype testing, but was grade 3. Had hoped to just have rads, but chemo is what makes sure the little buggers are gone and dont' come back.

blondelawyer

Hi.  I'm a 2011 sister.  I was diagnosed with IDC on April 13, 2011.  It would have been my husband's 34th birthday--but he passed away in November.  Needless to say, the diagnosis was extremely difficult in light of my husband's death.  

I think that I'm stage IIb (5+ cm tumor, no known lymph involvement), but they havev't tested my nodes yet because I haven't had surgery.  I started neo-adjuvant chemo on May 23rd, in hopes of shrinking down the tumor before surgery.  Started with Taxol and did 3 rounds.  Found out last week that the tumor was not responding (it has actually grown since I started).  Will start AC tomorrow.

I'm Triple Negative, grade 3, BRCA negative.  33 years old.   

blondelawyer

Thanks Clyn!  I do too!

mammalou

I am 53 and also had lymphatic invasion into the breast and the skin.  The chemo helps to kill anything that might have escaped your breast into your lymph system. I had dose dense AC and I never got any chemo brain, so I want you to know that you can escape chemo brain.

TinaT

blondelawyer:  Sad that you have to be here, but glad you found us .  Sorry you have to deal with this without your husband.  I hope you have a good support system around you.  These discussion threads are a great help.  Best of luck!

blondelawyer

I'm interested in how you gals made your decisions as to whether to have a lumpectomy, unilateral mastectomy, or bilateral mastectomy.  I'm doing neo-adjuvant chemo, so I have some time to consider the different options.  My BS said that if we were able to shrink down the tumor then I could have a lumpectomy plus radiation.  My tumor is rather large (around 6 cm at last look) and is in the upper quadrant.  It is pretty close to my chest wall and only about 1.5 cm from the skin.  I have large breasts (DD), which I hate.  If we can't shrink the tumor, then of course a lumpectomy is out, but if it does shrink then I am going to have to make the decision.

 I am BRCA negative, but am young (33) and am triple negative.  So far I have tried one chemo that my tumor is not responsive to (taxol). I start AC tomorrow.  My understanding is that survival is the same for lump + rads and mx, but that there is some benefit to mx when it comes to recurrence.  I know that there is no "right" decision, but I am freaking out about it.  This is probably what is causing me the most anxiety right now, which drives me crazy because I can't even know the options until I am further along in chemo.  I really just wish that I could make a decision.  I talked to my oncologist about getting a second opinion and he encouraged me to do it, but to wait until we see how the chemo works because otherwise it would just be theoretical.  

 My big concern is about recurrence.  I really don't want to have to go through this again!  I know that it is a personal decision and unique to everyone, but any input would be appreciated! 

TinaT

blondelawyer:  Hi again - I had a series of biopsies so for a few weeks I thought I had one lobular CA.  My immediate reaction was to go for lumpectomy as it was the least invasive, but I felt rather uneasy about the decision the more I learned about ILC (often multifocal).  But, a second cancer (DCIS) was found on a subsequent biopsy so lumpectomy was off the table.  Oddly, it was actually a relief because it made that decision for me.  The more I read and heard about ILC the better I felt about bilateral surgery.  I know that was the right choice for me.

Your case is complex so I understand how difficult this must be.  Please take care and hang in there!

mammalou

Well, the decision to do a left mastectomy was agonizing for me.  I had 2 lumpectomies first after a lot of decision making misery.  On my second lumpectomy they did a skin biopsy because of skin redness and thickening.  They found cancer in the lymphatic system of the skin.  This freaked me out because of the fear of imflamatory breast cancer.  They didn't think it was IBC because I didn't have all the clinical symtoms, but I was still scared.  They advised me to have chemo and then if I wanted we could revisit the mastectomy question.  Because of my IBC fears, I decided to do the mastectomy after chemotherapy.  It was still tough but being able to start reconstruction at the same time made the decision easier.  I will finish the reconstruction process after radiation.  I am happy with my decison even though it has added a lot of procedures to my recovery.

ColdCapsUserSF

Day 19 for my sister using Cold Caps (see Cold Caps past and present) and she has all her hair. I think everyone should know about these caps! 

 

ColdCapsUserSF

Blonde Lawyer, Check out Cold Caps to keep your hair, there is a study going on at UCSF.  My sister has had 2 AC treatments, uses Cold Caps and she still has all her hair. I think everyone should know about these caps (see topic "Cold Caps past and present").

TwoHobbies

Clyn:  I would tell you to try to not worry until you get your oncotype and have your oncology appointment, but I know that probably won't help, because that's what we do - worry.  I guess I would prepare mentally and then hope you can get out of it!  Its unfortunate that BC seems to be a series of good news/bad news.  At least that's how my journey has been too.  Just when you get your mind wrapped around one thing - it changes!

Blondlawyer, I'm sorry for your troubles all hitting at once.  That just stinks.  I can sort of relate because my son is chronically ill and I really didn't have the strength or desire to concentrate on breast cancer in my mental state of worry and anxiety about him.  I'm sure you have offers of help and support - take advantage of tham.  How did I make the decision for bilateral mastecomy?  After originally expecting to do lumpectomy and radiation, they found a second small tumor in a different quadrant and my first breast surgeon said we should do mastectomy.  My second one said we could try to do lumpectomy, but at that point I had decided on bilateral.  Two tumors that a mammogram can't see and one tumor an ultrasound couldn't find because I have dense breasts.  It took hours of diagnosis to find those two tumors.  The breast surgeon said I would be watched closely and I decided I wasn't going through the worry and all the mammograms, ultrasounds, MRIs every six months.  Not to mention more biopsies.  It was an easy decision for me and mostly involving wanting to try to get this over and done with and move on with my life as much as possible.    .  .      

lifelover

Hi Blondelawyer! 

I had my bilateral mastectomy before chemo.  My decision was based upon my past history of cancer and extensive radiation to my breasts.  My BC was directly over the lymphoma I had 17 years ago and occured as a result of the radiation.  I believed that the best outcome for me without having to worry about recurrence was a bilateral. 

I also wanted to have fairly symmetrical breasts and as I'm a small C cup a lumpectomy would have taken too much breast tissue away for my comfort.

My biopsy following mastectomy showed extensive lymphovascular invasion and DCIS alongside the IDC so in hindsight, it was the right decision for me.

Wishing you clarity when making your ultimate decision.