New here

Welcome Christine,

What other chemo did you have besides Taxol?  I'm Triple neg also.  I may be wrong but I have a feeling with you being Stage IIIb that you may have to do a little more chemo to be on the save side:(  A lot of the TN girls are having chemo before and after surgery...

Flalady

Hi Christine, I am new here too.   Rads were pretty easy for me.  Very little burning, just a little "tan".

Glad you here and definitely take this time to rest,

Debra

Christine:

Yes it is normal to be scared I still get scared that it will return and I am 3 1/2 NED.    I have tumor markers done twice a year and I have all my scans done once a year.  I am due to have my yearly scans done soon (bone, ct scan, MRI breast and any other test that my onc want to order).

Hugs

Laura

Hi, Christine!

I was also diagnosed in Aug last year, and I had modified radical mastectomy on last Friday.  I can totally relate to your fear.  I have not yet received my pathology report, but I too hope that I don't have to do anymore chemo!  It is hard to keep up positive attitude all the time, but it seems like you're doing great job.

Yuyu

When I finally discovered the bloody nipple discharge (prior to that I thought I was just becoming an incredibly sloppy eater and spilling things on my breast area) I went to see a breast surgeon.  She was very reassuring, said all the right things, and ordered a mammagram and ultrasound.  I knew she was going through the actions and something more serious was going on.  The mammagram and ultrasound came back 'normal' so she ordered a MRI.  Now it was sinking in.  This is more serious.  The MRI lit up my left breast like the White House Christmas Tree.  Her next step was a MRI assisted biopsy.  I asked her if that came back normal what would she do next.  She said a core biopsy because she wouldn't believe it.  Dash all the hopes - its cancer.  I put one foot in front of the other going forward with each step like I was in a fog.  I did not cry.  I didn't make any fuss at all.  The biopsy came back positive for DCIS.  Since I was electing immediate reconstruction with expanders my breast surgeon suggested I get the plastic surgeon lined up with a date for surgery as she could arrange her schedule.

I went to see the PS thinking maybe we could scheduled it for around December 10th.  That date turned into December 19 by the time he scheduled, the breast surgeon scheduled and the hospital scheduled.  When the date was set, I suddenly realized I had breast cancer.  It was real.  In the very near future I was not going to have breasts and maybe worse.

My first tears came a month after surgery when I was back in the hospital to have the expanders removed due to infection.  I don't know what started it but I was prepared to leave the hospital against medical advice and drive my car into an abutment.  Thank God my PCP talked me into staying another day and calming down.  I don't care how brave you are, everyone needs, deserves and ought to have a really good meltdown.

I was laid off at the time I was diagnosed and am now looking for a new job.  My outlook is great and I try to stay positive because I am blessed.

Christine:

My scans will be done either at the end of April or early May. I see my onc for my every 3 month follow up in the middle of April.  He is really great about calling me with the results.

Yuyueno: The itching is normal your incision is starting to heal.  Good Luck on Thursday Praying that it is good news.

WOW!

Am I so glad that I have found this website.  On December 23, 2008 I felt my world had collapsed - even though I had been very persistent in ensuring that a diagnosis was made of my sore, hard, enlarging left breast as quickly as possible the shock of diagnosis seemed so unfair.  Within just two weeks I had commenced chemotherapy and a look at the breast would have confirmed there was a real problem.

I live in Brisbane, Australia and have had three chemo sessions (Taxotere, Cyclophosphamide and Herceptin for the past two).  We have an unusual process for being approved for the drugs in Australia and my first chemo session enabled me to 'meet the requirement of eligibility' for drugs.

My oncologist tells me that this is the most aggressive treatment to endure (I have already been put into hospital for antibiotics after the first treatment and look like I may need a platelet transfusion very soon).

The plan is that after my fourth session I will have a mastectomy and then r & h treatment and at least two more chemo sessions.

I am currently sitting here with tears on my face because I have finally found a place where someone may understand just what I am feeling and facing.  As a very committed teacher, giving up work has meant I have lost some of my motivation and 'meaning in life' and this has been very difficult to deal with.  I am currently feeling alone, devalued and scared.

My husband, sons and I moved to a new living arrangement in December 2007 to be able to care for my aging mother and father.  This caring role has now become very difficult to continue and I do not have any other family to assist in any way.  Each day continues to be a challenge as my mother's dementia increases and I have to 'fight' for some time of my own.

I have read from many of you about how the prognosis makes you feel.  I cannot even get a straight answer from my oncologist or surgeon about what they think and I feel in limbo - shouldn't I be trying to make the most of each day rather than lying around and recuperating?  Does anyone else find that while they remain strong and positive that others around you think that you are coping well and must be getting better?

My body scan showed one small 'mark' on my lung - could be cancer or couldn't be cancer? - could show up again - could not? - how unhelpful was this. 

I really appreciate the opportunity to be able to share some of these thoughts that I have kept bottled up.  Can anyone give me tips on how to encourage my husband to discuss the fact that there is a possibility I may not live to a ripe old age.  When I try to bring it up, he assures me that everything will be okay.

I wish you all well - it is great to read some positive stories.

Reenie 

Hi Jadai

Inflammatory Breast Cancer with possible metastasis to lung.

Reenie

Hello everyone and welcome Reenie ,

 Hope you're all OK.

Chris the picture is of Harvey our blue roan cocker spaniel, he's s rescue pup! Now 18 months old. We also have Jessica, a 4 year old black and white cocker, again rescue.

You might guess we're doggy people in our house!

A little bit about me!!

 I'm a full time teaching asst in a local primary school and must admit I went back as soon as I'd recovered from rads. I've been back at work for over a year now and feel I have my confidence and strength back, but if I'm honest, it took a while.

I've got 2 boys, 19 at Uni and 15 studying for his GCSE's  next year.

Without a doubt they and my husband have kept me sane through all this.

I do have great friends and family support too but unless you've been through the shock of a dx of cancer I think it's sometimes very difficult to understand how we are feeling a lot of the time. Yes you do paint on a smile to face the world, no one loves a moaner! But that's where these support sites are so fantastic, we do all understand each other. There are still so few ladies (thankfully) dx with IBC I think it is so important for us to be able to share our knowledge.

New treatment, so far so good. Have a MUGA scan and start herceptin on 5th March, hopefully will see some improvement in the skin mets when this kicks in.

Take care all,

Jackie x