MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

SuzNY - I didn't have a choice of number of rads treatments or type of rads treatment. My tumor was in a goofy place, so I wasn't a candidate for those implantable things that can win you a much shorter rads cycle. I had about 25 regular zaps and 7 boosts to the area around the scar and the original tumor site. Have they given you a choice of treatments? Or did you hear about a shorter treatment and wonder if you could do that instead?

Elimar,  I forget really, but I would bet it would take a few weeks before you would experience anything. I don't think any of the meds cause instant SEs.  SInce I have this diarrhea problem my onco suggested I go off the aromasin for two weeks to see if it goes away...said it would take over a week for it to be out of my system. So I am assuming it would be over a week for it to get into your system.  I am not quitting the aromasin yet, by the way.  The onco at MDA thinks it is being caused by something other than the aromasin so since all the tests for bacterium were negative, I am now going to have a colonoscopy.  Be happy you aren't having hot flashes, etc. Maybe you will be one of the lucky ones without any SEs at all. 

Thank you all for your helpful replies - Yes, I plan on doing the radiation but question being put on a drug for five years that will make me miserable.

When the surgeon said that he would put his wife on Tamoxifen or Arimidex in my situation, I had to listen. I do question being stage 0 rather this is really necessary however and will keep the appointment with the oncologist.

I will also search out the group with cancer at my stage - thanks!

 Sandra

paula, I did misunderstand you, but I do think family input is important.  The decisions we make are so hard and usually come at us so fast, most of us don't know what to do at first.  I would do a few things differently now if I had a do over, but I would not change much.  Mostly there was a wait of 9 weeks between my surgery and my first chemo.  I would have insisted that I go to the Onc sooner to get it started.  But I may not have been able to change the time, even with a do over.

Juannelle

Juannelle,

I understand what your saying, I had my SO and my best friend who is also a nurse with me when I received my biopsy results. My Son-in-law is a Doctor doing his Radiology Residency in San Antonio and My Oncology Surgeon made copies of everything and sent them to him. My Daughter was here for my surgery and her husband flew in the evening of my surgery. I have had alot of family and friend support. It's always good to have input from people you trust. Don't we all have those thoughts of do over ? I have wondered if it would have been just as easy to do a bilateral rather than a unilateral. We just make the best decision that we can with the info we have and any given moment..........and pray a lot

Sheila,

Glad you feel comfortable enough here with us to express your anger  we all are feeling the same as you ! This will NEVER fly ! we are too many in number and STRONG !

Blessings my "Middles"

nay on Johnny-george clooney more my style

Thanks for the change of topic,was feeling a little stressed

  yes,he was a great pirate....on him eyeliner looked good. He was a pretty sexy character in that one movie, Chocolate was it?  Another guy I really like is John Corbett....I liked him as Chris in the Morning on Northern Exposure and thought Carrie should have stayed with him when he was Aiden in Sex in the City and then he was in my Big Fat Greek Wedding and I just really like the guy.   

Yay on Johnny but my favorite is this guy especially in the movie Blood diamond.

Oh girls, you are all so funny.   Some people may think we are crazy for this, but we just have breast cancer, we are not dead.

I am a George Clooney kind of girl. I have liked Johnny since "Edward Scissor Hands"  I think that was the first time that I remember seeing him in a movie.

It seems they are trying to back peddle a little on the new recommendations.  I also heard that in 48 states there are laws to protect us, so the new guidelines probably will never go into effect.  I had no family history and when my tumor was found it was so early, that it would have taken probably another 6 months to a year to be able to feel it.  They do things all the time to save 1 life out of a thousand, so I don't know what they are trying to gain with these guidelines.  Yes it would be nice if there was something else that would detect cancer sooner, but until that new method is found we don't need to change from what we have.

Juannelle

I think"Edward Scissorhands" is the first movie I saw Johnny Depp in as well.  I can't get past "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" with Leonardo. 

AMEN elimar!

I've often wondered why, with all the money being raised by all the different groups out there, breast cancer detection and treatment hasn't significantly changed in the last decade or two. Sometimes I wonder where all that money really goes. 

Ok so I've ALWAYS had aweakness for AntonioSabato Jr. call me superfical...........

GREAT SMILE

I want those ABS !! really it's the ABS..............

Blessings my friends !

elimar, if they can't come up with anything better, then they better leave us alone and let us continue down the path we are usually give, mammos, self exams, biopsies, etc.  When they come up with an alternative detection plan, then we will listen and go forward.  But in the meantime they are putting millions of women's lives at stake for a few false positives.  I had rather have a false positive than breast cancer any day.

 Juannelle

I received a call from my Daughter and her friend from San Antonio (via her car phone). They are livid about the Senate meeting on Health care and the new Guidelines. They were calling to say, tell everyone you know to e-mail, and call your Representatives !!