Ladies who are monitored every 6 months..How do you deal?...

I've been having 6 months checkups for the past 4 years now, and I wish I could say it gets easier, but that's not the case with me. It does get better, however. I just suck it up and go.I keep in mind that I was ok the last visit, and I will be ok this visit. Sort of a "pollyanna" way of looking at thing.I get my mammo once a year, see a surgeon once a year, my onc. every 6 monhs,and get tumor markers at that time. I see my pcp every three- four months. So, I can see how it bothers you if you are an anxious person to begin with!!  Like Yram, I make my appointments on the spot...no procrastinating. Then, after all is done, I do something I enjoy afterwards. Like an award.

 If you are one that suffers with anxiety to a very large degree, then perhaps you can speak to your pcp and he/she will prescribe something to get you through your rough time.  Alot of ladies do.

Here's to your continued good health.

Jennifer

I was on a 6 month schedule for several years.  From probably about 2002-2003.  I had early mammos due to my sister passing away from BC at 18, but was referred to a BS after the 1st abnormal that I had.  So that started the 6 month mammo, then 6 months later an MRI with physical exams by the BS following each one.  I do consider myself very very lucky that I had help from insurance.  To be honest, I got nervous the day of each exam and then had lots of those times when they had to take more views of specific areas which really made my blood pressure rise.  But until the diagnosis of LCIS this last Feb , I really just told myself that these tests were a good thing.  I tried to look at them as a safeguard in that if I did develop BC, it would most likely be caught early.  So maybe try to get into the line of thinking that they are protecting you rather than waiting for them to be a diagnosis.  Easier said than done.....I know...... but worth a try maybe.  I have decided to have prophy BMX with recon this month.  For me it was not so much the stress at each test......it was more the decision that I did not want to wish I had later if I ever did develop BC.  BUT that  being said....I totally understand that it is not the right decision for some people.  Just know you are not alone in that fear. 

My cancer was found 7 months after a clear mammogram so I happily go for checkups. I think of the tests as an extra protection policy. Sort of extra eyes looking out for my welfare.  I alternate every 6 months between a mammo & an mri.  An ultrasound  is done if something is spotted.  I prepare for each appointment by reading up on the various procedures &  composing a list of questions for each doctor I see.

Hi Shabby,

 I saw your post and had to respond.  Unlike many on here I am a benign case of breast disease and am hoping that it stays that way.  I browse the boards to see if there is someone else like me and to see what their outcome is.  I was diagnosed with a fibroadenoma in May 09.  I also suffer from health anxiety.  Finding out I had a breast tumor nearly made me collapse.  My anxiety has gotten better with time but I still suffer from it, especially around the time of my 6 month check-ups.  I usually don't sleep well, get nauseous or loose my appetite, and can feel my heart fluttering away a few days before my check-up appointments.  Whenever I see a doctor they always comment on my pulse.  My primary, before he knew of my issues with health anxiety, nearly freaked out when he clocked my pulse at 109.  He did an EKG.  Later that I I rechecked it with my dad's blood pressure gadget and it was at a normal rate.  A few visits later a new nurse clocked my pulse at the same rate and said I was tacky.  I told her this is white coat syndrome.  It happens every time I step into a doctor's office.  I guess part of my healthy anxiety is me just being here.  I always have it in the back of my head that what if's...what if they missed the bad cells, what if the pathology is wrong, what if, what if, what if.  I guess in a way, excluding the anxiety, I'm sort of lucky that even with a benign tumor I get a really good clinical breast exam every 6 months.  I was getting ultrasounds at 6 month intervals, but the tumor hasn't changed since it was initially biopsied so I think I'm on the 1 year program now.  Try to think of it as an advantage...a really experienced doctor is checking out your breast and lymph nodes to make sure that nothing bad is going on.  Sort of like an insurance policy.  Considering how prevalent BC is in our society, making sure that the "ladies" are healthy every 6 months is a good thing.  However, if they ever want to core biopsy me again, I'll refuse.  I'd take a lumpectomy so I don't have to deal with the "what ifs".

Thanks, Shabby and I hope your journey is always uneventful.  I know it's got to be very hard on you and I can well empathize with the anxiety.  See if you can get some Ativan - at least to take a couple of days prior to your checkups.  It can help with the anxiety, and of course, so will we!  Even though most of us have gone down that other road, we are more than willing to always hold your hand whenever you need us.  Best of luck - always.

Linda

hi shabby6485         I have 6monthly appointments and absolutely dread them, every time. What i really hate is having to go into the same rooms that i was told that terrible news in. It just brings back those awful feelings of terror, because at that time, you think you're going to die. My next appointment is in july and with my oncologist. He's really nice. Its 4 years since my diagnosis, so i'm just hoping everything is alright still. I always feel my scar and check my other breast and my armpits at least weekly, cos its always on my mind. Anyway, fingers crossed. Good luck to you. judyqueen20 x.                                                                          

I monitored for 13 years, and here is what helped me:

- know when you are too nervous. I was fine for 11 years. Would just get my tests and meet friends for mojitos. At around year 11, I saw a counsellor to help me cope. I recommend this now if you are aware you an anxious gal in general: don't suffer needlessly.

- I set aside worry time. Sounds goofy, but I would give myself 45 minutes to get really worked up playing out all the scenarios, then I would go take a brisk walk and do something that required my entire brain by learning something new. It only works if you use your entire brain!!! I PLAYED THE BLUES HARMONICA!!! Not easy my friends, and not pretty to watch, but it did the job. I got a Marine Band in C, an instructional book, and blew like nobody's business for about 25 minutes. generates positive exhaustion and you form new pathways in your brain every time you acquire a new task. Anxiety can create a cycle inside, so breaking the cycle with an immersive activity is very helpful. If you can sing or play any instrument it has been studied to help deal with anxiety by turning on an area of the brain that will help you reach balance.

- Denial is good: embrace it when you can.

- Promise yourself a prize every time you get imaged. A GOOD PRIZE. For every crappy thing in life you must endure balance it with something really cool.

PM me if you want! I get that sometimes this is a game of the mind when anxiety is an issue.

Moogie

Shabby,

It was hard at first being diagnosed with ADH as I have other problems as well such as calcifications and very dense breasts.  I too am being monitored every 6 months since my last surgery (I've had two and a biopsy from HELL) and just had my mamo/sono a few weeks ago.  The calcifications they saw 6 months ago are stable so I will probably to an MRI at the end of the year.  I will absolutely dread that as the time draws near but mostly I am okay.  I do tend to have my moments when I break down and get upset but as my husband keeps reminding me "You don't have cancer"! Easy for him to say, I know I don't have cancer but I do feel like I am a ticking time bomb waiting to expode.  I mean will my time every be up or will the fuse go out and I'll escape the big "C".  Who's to know but just yesterday my daughter got rubber bands put on her braces at the front of her mouth and she had a melt down.  As I tried to calm her down, I started to get angry and thought that's the least of your worries.  I mean I'd trade places with her in a minute, she will get those damm braces off in 6 months but what about me, I could get cancer!  I told her there were more important things to worry about and those rubber bands in her mouth will be gone before she knows it.  I guess I should have been a little more supportive being that she's 13 and very concerned about her appearance but at that time I just felt sorry for myself!  And that's the bad thing about this diagnosis, I feel like I take out my feelings on my husband and daughter and they don't deserve it.  They can't understand how I feel so it can be difficult for me at times.  That's why I turn to you ladies to vent and hopefully offer someone else some comfort as they begin their journey.  So I say to you, take time to enjoy everything, do something crazy and enjoy yourself because your deserve to be happy and not let this get you down.  Do your research, be onto of your health, get second and third opinions and make the right choices for you and your family.  I'm sure in time that you will be able to handle things better and hopefully live a full life becuase no one knows what's going to happen to us.

KarenT17

I'm also high risk and monitored.  I know it's for my own good, but I work myself into such a state of anxiety when my six month mark comes around.  It completely preoccupies my mind. I"m a little bit of a hypochondriac when it comes to health issues.

I am considering taking tamoxifen as a preventative.

Right now I drink a lot of Brassica tea, take curcumin, Vitamin D3, and CoQ10. I'm hoping it is tilting the odds in my favor. I have DIM but get nervous reading the pros and cons of it.

Great thread.  Thanks for starting it!

DILDOCAM!!! wow that is the first time ever I find the right term!!! Mandie, I like you. you are a doll with a sense of humour to kill!!!

Dear Jenifer, I also survived for more thatn 5 yrs. since my lumpectomy. I had almost gone bald after my Chemo. After my Chemo, I took tamoxifen follwed by anastrozole -1mg till date, I have to report every 3 months for almost 3 years, but since 2 years  I have to report every six months  to my doctor with  mammography report as a routine follow up. Initially,  I was unable to digest myself  that, if  the mammography  reports are clear everytime and there is no symtoms of  recurrence why my doctor never say that I am out of danger. But now I have decided to enjoy my life to forget about the pains  while struggling to fight for surviving. So I go for shopping to buy whatever I like and no more deep thinking about the past , I dont think for  future too, I am concern  only for present. So enjoy life.

Kreativek,

I too have dense breasts and have had two surgeries and one biopsy.  I have calcifications that prompted the surgery and diagnosed of ADH.  I too dread each check up as the anxiety of "what if's" start to enter my brain as the time draws closer to my appoinment.  I was seriously going to go for the removal of both breasts with reconstructive surgery all at once.  I have since pulled back from that for the time being but would not rule it out in the future if more problems arise.  What most concerns me with the surgery is keeping my nipples, if I can be so brutely honest.  I've heard some surgeons will do a nipple sparring procedure but it doesn't always work.  If you are okay with me asking, can you provide me some info on this.  I really want to keep them at all costs.  If you could please provide me some details on your surgery I would really appreciate it coming from someone who's had it.  If you want you can e-mail me a private message.

Thanks,

Karen in Commack New York

Karen:

Are you really in New York?  You could not be in a better location to get the best nipple sparing, one step (meaning only 1 surgery) preventive mastectomy with reconstruction.

I'm  familiar with Dr. C. Andrew Salzberg our of Dobb's Ferry as I know two women that traveled from Southern California to have surgery with him.  I've personally seen the results and they are incredible.  He has a very high rate of success and he may have the most experience of anyone with this type of procedure.  Perhaps you can look him up on the internet.

Only you know if and when you are ready to proceed.  Perhaps going to some consultations would answer any questions and let you know what you want to do.  You can email me at 1ocforce.kris@sbcglobal.net if you like.