Class of 2010

Options
1…1617192122…37

Comments

  • bertie03
    bertie03 Member Posts: 6
    edited March 2010

    Hi my name is anne i have been reading all your posts and thought i would tell you my story/

    I had a greenish discharge from my right nipple so i went to my doctor who sent me for a scan this came back saying i had a blocked duct and 2 cysts no cancer, My doctor was away at the time and the locum said nothing to worry about. I decided to go and see my doctor as soon as she came back she said i would have to have the duct surgicaly removed to fix so she sent me to a breast sugeon he said any discharge needs to be investigated so he sent me for a mamograme which was inconclusive so i then has to have another scan wished showed dcis he the sent me for a MRI , bloods and a CT bone scane to see  if it had spread to any other part of my body this all came back clear but the MRI showed that it had escaped out of the ducts meaning that is was now in the breast tissue. Because the cancer was in a few ducts we decided that i would have a full masectomy of the right breast this happened on the 9th march 2010 he also did a sentinal node biopsy which showed that it has a few cancer cells in it so he the took all of the lymth nodes under my arm the rest were all clear. When i went back the surgeon told me that that the cancer that had escaped was smaller than they first thought which was good and only some cells in one node. He also said that i will have to have chemo as it was in one node as a precaution to kill of any cells that may be floating around in my blood

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Dublin4
    Dublin4 Member Posts: 158
    edited March 2010

    Welcome Anne! 

    Sorry you had to join us but you will find a ton of support! 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • olivia218
    olivia218 Member Posts: 257
    edited March 2010

    Anne,

    It is so good you kept following up! I think we all know our bodies and we know when it just does not seem right.  I am so glad you went back to your Dr.  My experience was similar in that the GYN told me I had nothing to worry about. Then the hosp called and said I needed a biopsy and MRI - what the Dr said I have nothing to worry about just a fibroid.  Then the first biopsy was DCIS and then after the MRI it showed it was IDC so now trying to figure out what to do next. Radiation is not an option for me, I have lupus. So it is making the oncologist worried.

    Olivia

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Teka
    Teka Member Posts: 10,052
    edited February 2012

    Dublin4,

    I start April in a research study with AC+T (Adriamycin, Cytoxan and Taxol) Third Generation Regimen with Bevacizumab or Placebo, starting with 4 doses of AC dose dense given once every 2 weeks for 8 weeks, then 12 doses of T given once weekly for 12 weeks.   I may be advised to receive an additional 10 doses of Bevacizumab once every 3 weeks for 30 weeks, and visit radiation oncologist to schedule radiation treatment (Monday-Friday) for at least 5 weeks.   However, if I was given placebo only visit radiation oncologist for radiation treatment (Monday-Friday) for at least 5 weeks.   I was told by my medical oncologist that I could choose 4 doses of TC (Taxotere and Cytoxan) Third Generation Regimen, given once every 3 weeks for 12 weeks or the research study.   I chose research study because I am high risk lymph node negative breast cancer.   I made my choice based on my own online search for information on BC and talking to my medical oncologist.   No discussion boards or chat rooms.   I try to go to the original source of information about breast-cancer treatment.   My medical oncologist always wants to know where I get information on breast-cancer treatment.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • perky
    perky Member Posts: 241
    edited March 2010

    Hi all,

    I feel like I can finally join your class. I finally have a surgery date. Wed 03/31/10. I will have a BMX with TE and I am scared and glad to not have to wait any more.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Teka
    Teka Member Posts: 10,052
    edited February 2012

    perky,

    Welcome!Smile

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Dublin4
    Dublin4 Member Posts: 158
    edited March 2010

    Teka,

    I am meeting with the oncologist again this afternoon.  Just a few questions before we start.  I will be getting DC 4 rounds 3 weeks apart.  

    Perky, welcome!  you will find lots of support here 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • LINDAGARSIDE
    LINDAGARSIDE Member Posts: 345
    edited March 2010

    Hi GP....so sorry your husband got sick again....my goodness you've had far too many things going on at once, haven't you?  My hug to you my dear pink peep sista'   And YAY...last radiation!  I'm glad that is now behind you.  I'm sitting here in my nursing bra, thinking of you and your dear mom.  I've now had three treatments.  No real side effects yet, but I'm starting to put lotion on the affected area.

    Dublin...yahoo...no more drains!!!   What a relief you must feel.  I was at the cancer clinic today for my radiation treatment and saw a woman with a bald head, waiting for treatment.  Her smile could light up a christmas tree.  She beamed and said, "Hello, goodmorning" to me like she had just won $1M.  Isn't that wonderful?  She really inspired me and I thought I'd just send this along to you all.  Blessing are sometimes hidden...but they can be found if we search.  (Sometimes I sure don't feel much like searching as I do like to complain and whine a bit...LOL).

    Shopper...you are not a happy camper, are you?  I don't blame you.  It is so uncomfortable to be bloated and in pain.  I've had that a lot due to gasteric issues (had a gall bladder out some years back).  You are so right...it is "crappy"...but oh my goodness....doesn't it feel GREAT to have a good poop? (This is so highly under-rated, don't you think?  I now understand why old people always ask each other if they've had a bowel movement lately)  Let's hope you get a real good crap every day...my prayers to you, Shopper!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Teka
    Teka Member Posts: 10,052
    edited February 2012

    Dublin4,

    What chemo medications are DC?  

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2010

    Hi ladies.  I met with the oncologist today and he said NO TREATMENT.  Uhm I was like WTF.  He said "Your tumor is so small that you don't fit the criteria for chemo OR Herceptin."  Greatly relieved was I as I was seriously prepared for chemo.  Also, like a doofus, I misread my path report for a third time (the first was wrong dx and the second was tumor size).  I was putting the grade for the stage.  I don't have stage II - I have stage 1a.  Needless to say, I am getting a second opinion as my cancer went from DCIS to IDC so my fear is that cancer cells are floating around in my body looking for a nice place to stay.  I will still need radiation and I am afraid of heart issues as my cancer was on the left side.

    You brave ladies are all in my thoughts every day.

    And welcome Perky - this truly is the best place to get support.

    ((((((((((everyone))))))))))

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Teka
    Teka Member Posts: 10,052
    edited February 2012

    sslepski,

    Great news!Smile

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • LINDAGARSIDE
    LINDAGARSIDE Member Posts: 345
    edited March 2010

    Hi Sslepski....so aren't you a happy camper!  YAY!!!  A very insy teeny weenie little tiny thing that changed from dormant to 'alive' or IDC.  Are you not even going to require surgery to remove it?  Or did I miss that and you already had that piece done?

    I myself had surgery and now radiation and will not require anything more other than a hormone blocker.  I am extremely lucky (so far) as well and am thankful for this fact.  Are you ER and PR negative?  This is what your Dx says on the discussion board.  You might want to review what you've got entered?  I'm so very happy for you, Sslepski....yahoo....now go have a glass of wine and celebrate!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KatieMom
    KatieMom Member Posts: 127
    edited March 2010

    Oncotype of 17  NO CHEMO!!!!!  Yahoo!  Thank you all for waiting with me.  Still waiting on BRCA,

    Katie 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Teka
    Teka Member Posts: 10,052
    edited February 2012

    KatieMom,

    Great news!Smile

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • LINDAGARSIDE
    LINDAGARSIDE Member Posts: 345
    edited March 2010

    THIS IS A GOOD NEWS DAY!  YAHOO FOR KAITIE THE WAITIE!!!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KatieMom
    KatieMom Member Posts: 127
    edited March 2010

    Someday I'm gonna meet you all in person and hug each and every one of you.

    XO

    Katie 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • LINDAGARSIDE
    LINDAGARSIDE Member Posts: 345
    edited March 2010
    Hello, Anne.  I'm sorry that I somehow missed your post.  I just read it now.  My goodness you've really had the royal run around haven't you?  But aren't you smart to keep following up on things and going back to your regular doctor.  It's almost like you had an inside voice urging you on.  So glad that you are well on the way to recovery.  Let's hope the chemo train isn't too bumpy for you.  You will find lots of tips on this discussion board on how to best manage it.  The biggest thing is that it is quite doable.  I understand drinking an awful lot of water really helps...both before and after.  So glad you've found us and we all look forward to watching your progress as you continue to move forward...one step at a time.  Good luck my fellow pink peep sista!!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bertie03
    bertie03 Member Posts: 6
    edited March 2010

    Thankyou for all you thoughts. I get my pathology report tomorrow when i go to my doctor as i live 4 hours away form adeliade my surgeon has faxed then to my doctor for me. I have arranged for a copy to go to my wounderfull breast care nurse so she can explain in detail to me as i said i will have to many questions to ask to tie up my doctor. I have the best breast care nurse she has been with me every step of my journey so far we have had some long discussions about what is happening to me and what i might expect.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Dublin4
    Dublin4 Member Posts: 158
    edited March 2010

    DC is Docitaxol + Cytoxan.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Teka
    Teka Member Posts: 10,052
    edited February 2012

    Dublin4,

    OK!Smile   Good Luck.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2010

    Linda: I am ER and PR negative but HER2 positive.  I had a lumpectomy on 3/9.  I finally got my steri strips off earlier this week and had to pull the residual goo off with tweezers.  Wish you could have seen it...LOL.

    Katie: Good luck with your BRCA results.  I went through that too and it's a nail biter.  Still no chemo so you are going to have to ship back those American Cancer Society headscarves that I put in the mail for ya. : )

    Bertie03/Anne: Wishing you the best with your path report.  It took me time to figure mine out (as everyone knows by now).  I'm surprised I didn't put "Has garbanzo bean in the upper right quadrant of the left breast" in my signature line.

    Ba dum bum - I'll be here all week folks (unfortunately).  Except for meeting all of you! 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • LINDAGARSIDE
    LINDAGARSIDE Member Posts: 345
    edited March 2010

    Hi pink peeps.  How is everyone?  I enjoy reading everyone's updates...thanks for taking the time to share.

    I have posted a question on the IBC site as I am wondering what is going on with my breast.  My reports all came in the other day and I'm reading through them and two specialists note that my breast has "peau d'orange".  This sounds like a nice dessert or something but it's not.  It is a sign of IBC.  So why hasn't anyone mentioned this to me?  I've got some questions to ask, that is for sure.

    My breast became quite red right after my initial surgery and while some of the redness certainly calmed down, it remained quite pink.  It is still that way and is hard and lumpy near the nipple and in fact, the nipple is pulling in a bit.  I was thinking this is all normal as nobody said anything much about it.  Maybe I'm over thinking things and it is just from swelling and the surgery but for goodness sake, they have to know if they are going to put words like "peau d'orange" in a report I'm going to look it up and ask some questions.  LOL.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KatieMom
    KatieMom Member Posts: 127
    edited March 2010

    Ooh, Linda, I will bake this peau d'orange in my new kitchen!  

    So I got in a pissing match with the rad onc today on the phone.  I finally figured out that she has a complete idiot for a receptionist/scheduler.  So now cleared by med onc I call rad onc to set an appt to get on with rads and eventually get DONE with treatment.  I talked to Iodioteptionist at about 10 am who asked if I was in the building and could I come right now.  I assured her I was at work and unless she had a bus to send to bring 22 second graders, I wouldn't be coming today.  She said she had to talk to the doc and would call me back right away.  I called again at 3:15 and she said I had to wait until next week for the authorization from insurance to come through.  I started to ask her what she was thinking earlier when she tried to schedule me for today.. but it wasn't worth it.  Anyway, I thought I already had the auth for rads so I questioned this.  She put me on the phone with the rad onc.  I explained that I really wanted to get the rads started and was frustrated with 6 months of waiting.  She agreed that waiting is hard but if I wanted to change it I should change my HMO.  Not an option BTW.  At which point I burst into tears on the phone for ABSOLUTELY no reason.  She called me sweetie a few times until I hung up.  Sheesh.

    Then I blew up at the after school guy who spelled my daughter's name wrong on the little certificate he was handing out.  When I pointed it out nicely he took a large marker and crossed it out and handed it back to me.  That's when I blew up.  He will have a new one in the office for me tomorrow.  AND I HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED TAKING TAMOXIFEN OR ANY OTHER MOOD ALTERING DRUGS!  I guess stress is a bit mood altering.

    Last day of school tomorrow then a week of Spring Break.  Yahoo!

    Katie

    I am so rude - hello to all you new pink sisters.  I am reading you all and feeling for all of us stuck in this fight. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Teka
    Teka Member Posts: 10,052
    edited February 2012

    Dublin 4,

    Friday will make for one less dose.   Get plenty of rest!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Dublin4
    Dublin4 Member Posts: 158
    edited March 2010

    Katie - hang in!  Its OK to have all the emotions mixed up and come out ar stange times....we all do it!

    Teka - thanks!  I will have 25% done today and only 3 more to go...I keep telling myself that the SE's are only temporary and that I can do this!  I HATE it but I can do it!  We ALL can do it!

    So off to the chair I go.. THANKS! 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • LauraM
    LauraM Member Posts: 251
    edited March 2010

    Katie - Glad no Chemo for you, sorry about your tough day with the radiologist.  Having issues with appointments and insurance have been the two things that have been close to driving me over the edge through this whole procedure. I wish you a better day today!

    Linda - I hope that the docs figure out what is going on with your "pe au d'orange" and it turns out to be nothing important!  I will say an extra prayer for you.

    I went to the oncologist yesterday and I will be starting 16 weeks of dose dense Chemo as soon as my stomach heals again( had allergic reaction two weeks ago to sutures).  They are not expecting my stomach to heal until at the earliest the end of April.  I guess that just means I will keep my hair until the weather is a little warmer!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Teka
    Teka Member Posts: 10,052
    edited February 2012

    LauraM,

    What kind of dose dense chemo medications?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • artsymom
    artsymom Member Posts: 61
    edited March 2010

    Hi Everyone,

    Have to ask did anyone after their lumpectomy have the sorest nipple in the world?  Once I have camisole on it isn't bad at all but otherwise, ouch.  My friend was teasing me saying they likely had it clothespinned back during surgery but just wondered if this is something someone else had.

    Jeannie -- Those darn abcesses are so difficult because when they are internal there is no way to see them.  I can relate and wonder if mine hasn't burst at times too.  Hope he is on the road to recovery and my sympathies for your loss.  So glad you are seeing the light.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • LauraM
    LauraM Member Posts: 251
    edited March 2010

    Teka - I am having dose dense 4 treatments of Adriamycia/Cytoxan (AC) and the 4 doses of Taxol.  Have you heard of this cocktail?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Teka
    Teka Member Posts: 10,052
    edited February 2012

    LauraM,

    Read my post March 24, 2010 at 10:09am.   Is Adriamycia the same as Adriamycin?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories