Afr American Women With BC

Linda - How are you these days?

Hi Sherry,

Wishing you the best as you go on this journey.

I am not familiar with your diagnosis--however mine is Her2 and 25% of women get it--It is known as very aggressive type of Cancer.

That is all we can do is keep up on the information and I believe it is always changing with new technology and all.  There are so many new meds out since my Diag. November 1998.  Here again is the numbers of how long people survive---I try to live each day like it is all I got and not think about the Statistics--I know about them--but

it  can mess with your head.  My surgeon told me, "Linda we will live till we die", I thought, "that is a good thought' and then there is "Someone above" that has our days counted no matter what, and it does not have to be the Cancer that takes us out. 

I hope soon someone with a Diag. similar to yours will post.

In the meantime---stay as strong as you can.

Linda C

Hi, Rica...

Your insurance may cover the testing, but you need to check with them to make sure. Some women here have had their insurance companies say that they cover it but got billed and had to fight to have it paid. Make sure you check the proceedure as to how they need it done: i.e. by oncologist, gyn, other clinician, etc.

Be prepared, though, for what a few ladies here have been told (me included): no BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, but some"gene of unknown significance" detected. In other words, something's there,"they" just don't know what the heck it is. What we are supposed to take from that I have no idea...

Keep us posted on your decision or feel free to send me a pm if you'd like more info. All the best with the rest of rads (that sounds strange, but I hope you know what I mean, lol)...

Hey, My story is in my profile. Being 30 now with mets, reoccurence and AA not much info out there. I feel like a lab rat.

Sherry! So good to hear from you! For those of you who don't know, Sherry was the reason this section was started. Look at the legacy you've created, girl!

msvirgo, sending hugs from across the miles, my dear... 

Yogi - whoo-hoo! Slow and steady wins the race, darlin'. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other and before you know it you'll be on the other side...

Cool about the peachfuzz! 

Hi everyone,

Newbie here. I am  recently diagnosed Triple Negative, 6/6/08, I had a  Lumpectomy done 7/23/08 after being assured by the Radiology Oncologist suggested by my Breast surgeon that even though I have Sub-acute Cutaneous Lupus I would be able to tolerate Radiation.

Looking to get another Oncologist this week though I had a plan of Dose Dense Chemo 16 week followed by Radiation.. My ex dropped my Secondary. I am Medicare Disability for Rheumatoid Arthritis,, Lupus, Fibromyalgia, Diabetes Asthma and I can't pay the 20%.  due for all the scans I need prior to Chemo and I may need hospitilazation. I was on Methotrexate for my RA and had a very bad CNS reaction. Tomorrow my Medicare PPO comes through...YEAH!

 I have researched  the Medical Oncologist offered on this plan in NYC and am glad to find several listed in Top docs...Now if only I can get started.

I don't pay attention to AF/AM get this disease  worse than any other race...not anymore. I listen and try to get all that I can if I can.  I  got Endometriosis when I was 21. I remember one Gynecologist informing me that  I was not the right demographic  to have Endometriosis.

 He told me that most women with Endometriosis were White and Upper Class .???? Well I had it, and  I  finally had my  darling beautiful son when I was 42 after years of pain and infertility treatments.

good finding this  discussion area.

Welcomw, Bar62! Nice to meet you. I'm inspired by your tenacity!

Welcome, Audrey - nice to meet you. All the best with the rest of your chemo and rads. And a hearty "Whoo-Hoo!" to your cousin for being a 10 year survivor!

Hey Ladies & Thank you for your HUGS, kind words and thoughts. Keep in your prayers.

 I hadn't been on in awhile. Sometimes I just don't want to think about all this. But everynight when my cellphone alarm goes off at 10pm for me to take my medication I remember but I am soon to sleep after it to pretend it doens't exisit. My own defensive. But I'm okay. You know it could always be worst. I'm still crying guess i'll be doing that for awhile.

 I have treatment and a pelvis scan on friday. Then next week a follow up with the ortho doctor on hip to see how radiation went.

My right underarm (lumpectomy and reoccurence side) has been bothering me for about two weeks now. Trying not to think about it but will talk to the doctor on Friday. The hot flashes were not as bad as this month. But they stil make me feel crazy like I could just pull all my hair out. To think 10 more years of this if I don't do an ooph. I can't even fathom that right now. Still trying to digest not having children.

But ladies with my favorite little saying. Keeping my head up and my hopes high.

Hi, Ashley! Welcome to the club nobody wants to join. I was diagnosed at 37 - close to you, huh?

Radiation wasn't too bad for me - but I admit it ws a pain in the rear to have to go everyday. Be as proactive as you can about your skin. Your doc should have lists or samples of the stuff you can use. You'll do great and, although it might not seem like it, those seven weeks will go by kinda quickly...

Hang tough and continue to kick some cancer booty !

Hello again ladies, I will be going in for my first Rad appt. tommorrow, I am a little nervous. I do have to remember that no weapon formed against me shall prosper! Please keep me in your prayers as I am praying for  us all. I know I never could have made it with out Jesus! I made it through Chemo, now I have to take the next challenge.

Ashley,

I didn't really "burn" (don't think I ever have, so I don't really have a reference point), but my skin was noticably darker - like I had a reverse tan on one side. In fact, it is just starting to fade - and my rads ended almost four years ago...

Rads did a number on my blood vessels, though - so much so that the expander on that side failed because the blood supply was so wrecked. My PS said that when she did the exchange, the pectorial muscle on that side was literally paper thin. And that was after lots of pushups from karate and upper body lifting. Go figure...

I couldn't even have another implant after that one was lost because of the blood supply issues to the skin and underlying muscle. Ended up having an IGAP in June 07. Lots of new, healthy skin and blood vessels was the trick, I guess...

I don't really remember having any irritation issues during rads. I, too, was an aquafore junkie, so perhaps that helped. My skin was really, REALLY dry (as in scaly!) after the IGAP, though. Aloe vera gel worked wonders and got me back to being all silky smooth and stuff really quickly... 

Everyone handles it differently, but for me, the physical part of radiation wasn't too bad - and neither was the fatigue (I think I was much more tired on a regular when I was pregnant). It is totally do-able. It is a pain in the behind to have to make time for it everyday (and it will take you longer to get undressed than it will to actually have the 2 minute treatment), but it did go relatively quickly. You'll be great !

Audrey (that's my aunt's name, btw), we'll be there with you during your rads appointment - so make sure you have a big purse so we can all fit in the room with you, lol. You'll be great, too!

Roya, you are an incredibly tough woman! You remind me of that teabag quote of Eleanor Roosevelt: how we don't really know how strong we are until put in hot water. You are my hero, girl. Here's hoping those last two rounds of taxol are cake for you...