TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP

moodyblues

SpecialK, Thanks for the links. I've only read the first link and it was VERY informative and interesting. Some of it was over my head but many points hit home. I am looking forward to the second link later.

If Resveratrol is so amazing, why aren't we all on it? The doctors don't even mention this. It was listed under the Aromatase Inhibitors section where it said: Interestingly, natural anticancer agents such as resveratrol with documented anticancer property [156, 157] are natural aromatase inhibitors [158].

Bisphosphonates. Under this section (second paragraph) I was totally questioning why the doctors don't mention this to us? For us HER2 ladies it could mean lessening the chance of recurrence in our bones.

The Natural Compounds section was informative as well and I will be looking into the natural anticancer agents such as curcumin, sulforaphane, isoflavones, EGCG, and resveratrol. Not sure about the isoflavones with me being ER+ though.

I have a lot to digest and will to read it again later as I have read it several times already. Thanks again for posting this for us!

Melanie

moodyblues

Thanks everyone for the kind comments on my hair. I know it's not long at all but, I am so happy to have some hair now! It sure beats being bald especially in this frigid weather!

Jumpship

I am very curious about the circulating tumor cells. Anyone been successful in getting a doc to test those

ElaineTherese

whywhy,

I decided to just go with a lumpectomy, even though I knew that there's a greater chance of local recurrence with a lumpectomy. I didn't want to do reconstruction or go flat. I figure that if I do get a local recurrence, my surgeon can do an MX then. You can always get more taken off later, but once your boobs are gone, they're gone.

Since I did the lumpectomy, I've also appreciated that I get more monitoring than I would have if I'd chosen a BMX. Three years out, I still see my MO every three months, and she gives me a physical exam. Also,some women hate getting mammos, but I don't mind them because they have continued to show that nothing's going on in my boobs. Besides, if I did have a local recurrence, I'd want to know immediately.

So, I'm at peace with my decision.

whywhy

ElaineTherese, Thanks for sharing your experience!

willa216

Hello All and Happy New Year!

I haven't been here in quite some time but think of you all often.

This is superficial perhaps, relative to some other current questions, but is anybody experiencing a bit of a receding hairline on Tamoxifen? I finished chemo about 15 months ago. I used cold caps and kept about 50% of my hair. It grew back normally and thick. Now after a year on Tamoxifen I'm suddenly noticing changes along my hairline, with shorter less dense hair at temples . My imagination is getting the best of me and I'm envisioning myself in five years ( or 6 months!) with full on male pattern baldness. Not cool. I know hair loss is a side effect (5%) of Tamoxifen but I had always interpreted it as overall thinning. Wondering if anyone has had this. I'm worried. Esp because of all the effects of blocking estrogen where we'd like to have it.

Thank you. Much love and best wishes for a joyful and healthy 2018.

coachvicky

All,

My husband and I spent Wednesday at a local hospital. A friend was just diagnosed and had her lumpectomy on Wednesday. We went to sit with her husband. A friend of ours just showed up at my surgery to sit with my husband.

I must have gotten really old looking. The staff member at the hospital desk invited us to go back when the surgery was over. I think she thought we were the parents. LOL

This friend is the one that made my buttons and key chain saying "my chemo rocks." She did other things to support us as well.

I guess what I am dealing with is how wide spread BC is. I never knew until it happened to me. At least now we know what to do for others.

Vicky

moodyblues

Vicky, yes I am amazed as well at how wide spread it is. Remember my post about the three of us at Dollar Tree in the same aisle, same day, same time? How crazy is that? I found out several months ago that a coworker that I had worked with for years, had breast cancer and is still currently on estrogen blockers, I never knew.

By the way, you do not look old, you look pretty darn hot to me!

Melanie

coachvicky

Thanks Melanie ...you made me laugh!

Vicky

moodyblues

Glad that I could make you smile Vicky!

rljes

Hi All...  Chemo #3/ Day 4   (chemo 3 of 6)

Constipated, bloated, fatigue, taking Urea for cracked hurting feet and just plain exhausted.....

I'm confused (chemo Brain)  what is the difference between taking Tamoxifen and an AI ?  I thought they were all estrogen blockers. ???? The same thing? 

My MO hasn't mentioned any type of estrogen blocker yet.  

Hope everyone is hanging in there... I'll read your article HapB later when I can concentrate - will catch up in a bit. 

whywhy

What's the definition of pre/postmenopausal? I am premenopausal before chemo. My oncologist said that it's unlikely my ovary would survive chemo at my age(45). 2-3 round of chemo probably would destroy it. Not sure in my case would I be considered pre or post. Read some side effects on tamoxifen and it looks pretty tough with side effects. Looks like AI has less side effects.

ElaineTherese

why why,

You can ask your OB/GYN to test your estrogen levels after chemo. If your levels are typical of menopausal women, you could take an AI. You could also do ovulation suppression as a premenopausal woman and take an AI. (That's what I'm doing.) Both kinds of anti-hormonals have side effects. Many women who take AIs complain of joint pain, and some find it to be very debilitating. I don't have that problem, but that's just me.

whywhy

ElaineTherese and HapB, Thank you both for all the information! It's scary to think in the long term with the meds. I was hoping for easier time once chemo finishes...

coachvicky

rljes

I am sorry this is a rough time for you. It is going to eventually get better.

See if your Oncologist will approve either one of both of these for the constipation:

https://www.amazon.com/Best-Naturals-Cascara-Sagra...=sr_1_10_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1515849533&sr=8-10&keywords=cascara The product is Cascara Sagra.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dhpc&field-keywords=Super+Colon+Cleanse+Supplement%2C+500+mg%2C+480+Count The product is Super Colon Cleanse.

I am using Shea Creme from 1818 Farms in Mooresville, AL for my hands and feet. This is the only product that seems to really help me with brittle nails and cracked skin. Here is a link: https://store.1818farms.com/collections/most-popul...

Get some rest.

Vicky

Tresjoli2

I just wanted to chime in and say I am on tamoxifen and have no side effect other than vaginal atrophy (I know tmi but true...my poor husband!). Lupron was my culprit. It made me feel awful. No more Lupron and feel so much better!

rljes

whywhy - I've wondered the same things about AI's.  We are on the same regiment, how are you getting along?  

rljes

Hi HapB - I took Lupron shots to force my body into menopause to see if it would stop my cysts from rupturing,  It did not, so I got a hysterectomy.  

deni1661

Vicky and Melanie, it seems I am meeting so many women who have had BC. Never had that exposure prior to diagnosis. I think God brings us all together for inspiration and support 😊

deni1661

Willa216, I have a receding hairline and thinning on the right side only. It started when I was on Arimidix and seems slightly better since I was switched to Letrazole about 9 months ago. I have gotten creative with placing my hair to make the thinning and receding areas less obvious. My hair is unbelievably brittle and breaks off. I use Palmers coconut oil to help with the dryness. If I looked as good as Coachvicky, I would cut my hair short! I used to have super thick hair and got it cut every 4-5 weeks, now I get barely a trim every 8 weeks. I was bummed at first but now I tell myself that this is the way God wants me to look and that helps me not be so self conscious about it.

deni1661

taco1946 congrats on hearing the end with Herceptin, yay!

Coachvicky thanks for the tip on the 1818 shea cream- I'm going to try that.

Rljes - sorry to hear you're having a tough time. I take magnesium supplements for constipation, it works great. I take 1500 mg but you can take more or less depending on how your body responds. I hope you feel better soon

Tresjoli2

hap I was 40 at diagnosis. I wasn't anywhere close to menopause, so they gave me Lupron to shut down my ovaries and make me menopausal. My cancer was small, but my doctor said it was very aggressive (I had a lot of comedonecrosis). So she thought Lupron was best. But it caused foot pain and joint pain and severe migraines. I felt 100 years old. I thpught thoses were side effects of the tamoxifen. My GP was the one who said "you know, that Lupron can be awful stuff and worse than the outcome you are trying to achieve". She was right!

moodyblues

Deni, Yes, I do think I think God brings us together to support each other, I've met so many since my dx in February.  If it weren't for all of the ladies here and the support here, it would have been so much more difficult for me to get through this.  I do mean that.  I found courage in a most desperate time.  I've had PM's of information and support at the most needed times and there have been women placed in my path in the outside world.  I have been blessed.

moodyblues

Thank you Elaine, yep, I am so glad for hair!

Cherry-sw

Hi all, have been reading the posts while fighting my way back from this last EC. Just had my last wbc shot today and hopefully tomorrow I will start bouncing back. I really feel that they give you just as much as you can take with this chemo because now I feel I cannot take anymore. I start my radiation Feb 5th, back on Herceptin and Tamoxifen by the end of this month. I got my booklets on both rads and antihormonal from my doctor, red them through and just hot depressed of all these possible SE.

Tresjolie, so glad to hear your are doing fine on Tamoxifen, I need more positive stories. Anyone who is exercising while on Tamoxifen? I want to ho back to my running. What about the weight gain?

What shall I think about during the rads? I bought Weleda Calendula body lotion and body cream and have been applying it on my left breast area for a week now. I also got Body Shop’s Aloe Vera body butter and a foam spray and bought a real aloe vera plant. There is a radiation preparation class in my clinic every Tuesday and I intend to ho there next week but other than that I only had a simulation last week and got my tattoes in place, no meeting with any radiologist. Proton radiation is not offered for bc here. Shall I insist upon meeting a radiologist? What do I want to know? I was so focused on taking me through the chemo I feel I completely am unprepared for the next step.

Cherry

coachvicky

Oh deni1661

You made my day. Thank you. I am finally over looking at me and asking "who is that woman?" You were so kind with your compliment. I finally have the wirey, wavy hair the rest of my family had. LOL. I hope the 1818 cream works. I found the place on line and a small jar was $10.00. You just need a little bit so the jar has lasted me.

Melaine ... we are blessed to find other women that have walked our paths.

Cherry ... I didn't have radiation and can not help. What I do know is remembering where you were when you first posted. Girlfriend ... look where you are now! Full of knowledge and strength. You have come a long, strong way.

Hap ... How about a facial and makeover? I bet there is a MaryKay Lady that would do makeup for you. I don't know if a Merel Norman Studio near you but that is a place to go to get "all gussied-up!" Even if you don't do make up it might give you a lift. Try this site: http://www.merlenorman.com/find-a-studio

Vicky

rljes

hI all Chemo #3/ Day 8 
Deni1661 - I take magnesium and no relief from constipation.  I have a strange metabolism.  The only thing that worked was 4 straight days of full strength of Maralax.  Hello. 

I won't be having Rads (as of now) but I did have 4 meeting with my RO.  the pamphlet said to use Green Tea - spray it on cotton pads and soak right afterwards in the changing room to drawl out the heat. I like the idea of a real Aloe Vera Plant - if I should change my mind. 

Someone on one of the threads had once said they smelled cigarette smoke, when there was none.  Last night I had a dream I was swimming, and their was a pocket of air - and it was full of cigarette smoke, I gagged and swam to top and air was filled with cig smoke - woke up smelling thick Cig Smoke and Migraine. 

Take care, rj

Cherry-sw

Thank you, coach, even though I feel like I was hit by the track today. I think everybody gets in this awful hysterical state when they get this diagnosis. Cherry

SpecialK

Sorry for my absence, I have been somewhat consumed with family issues and my MIL's memorial service - I have not really been on BCO much. I have been following this discussion on what treatment does to us physically, as far as hair/skin/appearance. I have a series of photos - from before treatment, during, and to the present - keep in mind that my last Herceptin was in Feb. of 2012, but I am still on Femara. Do you ladies of this thread wish to see them?

rljes

Special K - Yes please.