Class of 2010

Hi beautiful women! 

I am here to join the class!  I am 44 years old and a lump was found on my rountine mammogram (Nov. '09) and let me know about it 2 days before Christmas.  My last mammogram had been in 2006 in Ohio (we had lived out of the country in Aruba for 4 years and my health care had been rather sporadic).  I wasn't concerned at all because many of my friends and family had found lumps that ended up being fluid-filled cysts or fibroids, so I enjoyed the holidays and started tracking down the old mammogram from 2006 so the doctor could compare.  By the time everything came together here in San Diego, they decided I needed a pinpoint mammogram and ultrasound.  At that appointment (Feb. 17) was when I really began to get concerned.  After not liking what they saw at that appointment, the radiologist scheduled a core biopsy for the next day.  On Monday morning February 22, I got the phone call.  To say I was shocked is an understatement.  I kept thinking it would just be a benign growth.  Since then I have had a lumpectomy and a sentinel node biopsy and 2 weeks later my surgeon went back in to clear the margins which weren't as large as he wanted them on the first time around. I am Stage IIa.  My tumor was approx. 2.5 cm and I have no lymph node involvement. The tumor is high grade (3) invasive ductile carcinoma. It is estrogen receptor positive, PR negative and HER2 negative. I had the BRAC gene test done and  am awating the results of that.  I know I am looking at at least 7 weeks of radiation but right now we are making the determination on chemo.  My doctor did the Oncotype DX test and we are awaiting the results.  I am not sure how much I really trust that test though?  What do you all think?  My husband and part of me as well really feels that we should do the chemo to be sure.  I feel I am young and want to do everything I can to "kick this cancer's butt" now!    I would appreciate insight from any of you on this... I have heard it may not be such a great predictor on "Pre-menopausal" women (which is me).

I feel blessed that they caught it early and blessed that I am in such a great city as San Diego where there is great health care (and not in Aruba any more... though I loved it there!)

Thanks for listening...

Hi Peeps and newbies-

I was just discharged from my Radiologist today. My surgeon I saw last week said to come back in December and then I will have a follow- up mammo. I see my Oncologist next week and I guess I will follow with him as I am on Arimidex through him. SO, I am finally on the back side of this beast. Hang in there all you wonderful pink warriors you too will turn around and go phewww! Or how ever you spell it and your life will begin to get back to normal. The new found time is greatly needed and appreciated.

Hugs to you all.

GP Jeannie here

Hi GP...great to hear from you.  Glad things are winding down for you.  Doesn't it feel great?  I am half way through the radiation right now.  My breast is just starting to get itchy...but I'm not allowed to scratch it...ughhhhh.  I make an excuse to rub more cream on it and I get to scratch it that way.  LOL. 

Hi Sumby...It's good news that you are ER and PR positive and HER negative.  The ER and PR positive means your tumor is fed by estrogen.  Starving your cancer will be easy as they will block the estrogen.  Cool hey?  I'm on tamoxifen right now and that is an estrogen blocker.  My poort cancer is starving (if there are any cancer cells who dare to be left hiding somewhere) and doesn't have a single morsel to eat.  I don't feel sad for it though...LOL.

 Wecome, arubajan05!  I'm sorry you've had to join this club...but you are very welcome and you will find lots of support here.  You've asked some very big questions...and you will find that most people will tell you that your decision is so personal and it is one that you will have to make on your own after you've thouroughly researched your options and reviewed your pathology report.  But, I'm not one of those people.  Personally, if I was you and 44 years old (oh how I wish to be that age again...I used to be so darn hot!) and had an agressive cancer, I would most definitely want chemo.  I'd take the radiation and hormone blocker as well.  If a suggestion was made to remove the ovaries due to excessive estrogen...they'd have to go also.  Basically, I'd be throwing everything I could at this.  Breast cancer is not nice.  It can be so sneaky and you just can't trust it.  Anyway...you asked for some advice and big mouth me is putting my foot right in it, as always.  LOL.  But, I say all this with love in my heart.  Ultimately, it is a personal decision..good luck to you as you move forward.  Keep us all in touch with how it is going...and we will support you...whatever you decide. 

Take care my pink peeps!  By the way...I saw my oncologist yesterday and he doesn't seem to think he needs to see me again.  Cool hey?

I do have a bone scan ordered, for good measure.  Hope it is all clear...but am prepared for the enemy to be hiding somewhere sneaky.  Ok...must run.  Take care everyone! 

Dear dear Katie!!  Oh my goodness...what on earth??  This too will pass....just hang in there!!  How and why things are happening...who knows.  Thank God above they found something and are dealing with it quickly.  Let's hope it's nothing.  If it is something...it will get sorted out and dealt with too.  My younger sister had a huge tumor (cancer) on her liver and she had surgery (no chemo or drugs) and boom...it was GONE.  That was seven years ago.  She is still doing great.  Try to stay positive.  Don't let them make you wait or give you the royal run around.  Start to push back.  Involve your politicians if you have to.  You are important to oh so many many people...we need you.  Be strong my pink sister.  Love and gentle hugs your way.

             (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( Katie ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Because my insurance and doctors seem to take their times with things.  I am catching on to the game and now understand how to play, so no run around here.  I think living in a big city (Los Angeles) doesn't help me out much because there are so many of us with cancer.  I feel a little factory oriented... except that I have really liked all my doctors so far.  I am not complaining.  I whined about my delays and insurance problems earlier on this thread, but having met sumby, I no longer will complain about insurance... ever!

Katie 

Hi Teka...sorry if I sound agressive about Katie's situation but she has been on the "waiting list" for many things and has been given conflicting information, mixed messages and often poor service from reception/administration.  The insurance has been another issue.  She's just had way too much crap thrown her way.  From what she is saying though it sounds like she is up for the fight...YAY Katie.  No more Katie the Waitie.  It's Katie the Warrior.  Love it.

Hey Pickles and Dublin 4.. how are ye doing?

How was round 2 Dublin??  Dying to know..

 Hugs.

C 

Along the lines of just keep swimming... Dublin 4 you reminded me.  My mother used to say "this too shall pass"  ALL the time.  Her voice popped into my head as you said it, gave me a very good smile.  She also used to say that ___ o'clock would come.  That is to say if you were really dreading something like flying across the country with an infant or getting infused with chemo drugs... that 9 o'clock will come or that Saturday at 5 will come.  "It" will be over, whatever the "it" may be.  Just my words of wisdom for 5:55 in the morning.   Wishing you all a good day with no surprise phone calls or with good results.

Katie 

Hi Jan and welcome. I agree with Linda about throwing everything at it. My tumor was not that aggressive and my oncotype came back 12 so they said no chemo. I was relieved but at the same time I am nervous about not getting chemo. I was kinda wishing they would tell me chemo so I knew everything was being done. Sounds stupid, but I have anxiety and worry  too much. Good luck!

Sitting in the Chemo room, I've finished my taxatere and moving on to the carboplatin. Feeling wonderfully woozie from the ativan and Emend pre drugs.

No bad reactions, even knit a few rounds.

Herceptin after this round has a sdie effect that can appear during infusion, so we'll see how that goes!



Nurses are great and they just moved to a new facility! Which is beautiful and very comfortable!



So far so good!



Glad to hear you are all hanging in there.
Thanks for thinking of me Cathy! For stiiling in an infusion room,,,I'm not doing bad!


Peaceful thoughts of No side effects to Dublin on Friday!

You ROCK, Kaitie the Warrior.  Way to go.  Remember...you belong to a very large army here and we've all got your back.  Move forward soldier..in good faith.

I was at the cancer clinic today and ran into a lovely lady.  She had to take chemo some time ago as a result of her cancer (some sort of blood cancer) and while her hair all came out...she said it grew back in far better shape.  She used to color her hair a lot and she wondered if that is why.  Initially, her hair grew back quite curly.  Apparently this is normal.  Then, it smoothed out but is now thicker and as well, softer.  I can tell you for sure she had a fine head of lovely hair...and she is about 73 years old!  Her name is Jean...and we've decided to be "cancer buddies".    I read a note from someone on this site or the 2003 site about a place you could get baseball caps that had a pony tail...for women going through chemo.  I thought this was a great idea.  Not sure where you get them...but maybe they wouldn't be too hard to make?  Could a person even cut their own hair off and make a pony tail and bangs and sew them into a nice baseball cap?  I'm not all that talented but it does seem like a good idea...any other ideas??

Hi Sumby...I am so pleased that you are moving ahead with your treatment plan. The sooner the better, right?

Yes, the 50% message is a hard one, but I've heard that often the oncologists don't like to give an optimistic picture because if it doesn't turn out great the patient gets so discouraged.  Certainly a second opinion might make you feel better, but you will always remember what this oncologist told you. Don't let his words take down your spirit.  You need your spirit to fight. 

You reminded me that cancer is aggressive and we need to be more aggressive when dealing with it.  I agree with you 100%.  Fight this thing with everything in you.  The drugs you are going to use as weapons sound wonderful.  Lets hope they sniff out every little enemy cell that is hiding and kill it dead!  None will be left behind. 

Let the tears come...there is no shame in crying.  We all cry.  Sometimes alone and sometimes with our families. Keep strong my friend and know we are all here...praying for you and sending good thoughts your way as you march forward into battle.  Take care my pink peep.

Good luck arubajan05.   My Oncotype test was my final piece of the puzzle and it is why I am doing the chemo just to be sure. My cancer was tiny, or so they tell me (6mm) but a grade 3.  The DR told me that I did not have to do chemo but with it being a grade 3, he recommended it.  My number was in the high intermediate range and as much as I did not want to do chemo, I am glad that I am doing what I need to do now.  Linda is right, it is aggressive and we have to be as well.  I hope your number comes back low...

Best to all!

This may not be the place to ask but I am anyway since so many of us are close to getting our oncotype scores (and how cool is that?)

I thought my surgeon said something like if you are stage I, you are already 97% cured with only a 3% return rate and if your oncotype says you have a 35% chance of it returning, they are only talking about the 35% of the 3% left since you are already 97% cured, In other words, chemo only removes 1 % making the cure rate 98%. 

Does that make sense?  I hope that is true but I thought if your oncotype came back saying 35% then your rate goes from 97% down to 67% and chemo will bring it back up to 97% or higher.

I am taking it with a grain of salt since it comes from the surgeon's perspective. They did a spectacular job and the cancer is gone, I am sure that is all they really need to know.