Calling all TNs

Monika...what an ordeal, so glad it turned out well. I was told I couldn't start chemo until I had an echo cardiogram.   Also, I hope your new doc is sending a report to your other doc.  Maybe, he/she will listen to the next patient.

Monika:

Thank God you switched doctors.  So very sorry you had to go through what you did, and thankfully, you are alive.  That is just so deplorable that your doctor didn't do what every other doctor considers mandatory, and that is either the MUGA or the Echo prior to the A/C.  He should be hung by his you-know-whats.

Linda

Monika:  Thank goodness you pushed for an answer.  So glad you found out the reason for the shortness of breath and that you have a new doc.

monikav - all I can say is WOW!!!!!!!! 

Titan: since ER PR + cancers feed on estrogen and progesterone, that would certainly make more sense.  Needs more study, for sure, before any conclusions. 

MonikaV - Holy Cow!! So glad you listened to your body and saw another doctor. Thank goodness are with us and so sorry you had to go through that!

I too did not have a MUGA or Echo before my AC treatments? No one has even mentioned them to me - hmmmm....  what is a MUGA?

Thanks for the words of encouragment - it just seems like Oct. is soo far away! I just want to be done with treatments! ;-0

jax65 - thanks for the link! I was on birth control pretty much from after the birth of my daughter until now so 22 until 37 yrs old! Because I am BRCA1 pos. the drs. put me on birth control thinking it would help not realizing that I would get TNS!! o- boy I don't want my daughter on birth control!

wow I thought a muga and ehco are standard before chemo is started.  So glad you pushed for answers.  How scary that is!

When I requested my records from the Cancer center where I received my treatment, they said they had no records of my pre-chemo tests.  I think I'd like to try again, but I wonder how long they must keep the records on file.

Wow, so many posts here and it's so late and  there are too many to respond to, so I will just put in my ten cents worth.  The most important thing that we can do to survive this ordeal is to begin to listen to our bodies.  If you don't feel comfortable with a dr, with a decision, if you don't feel right and no one is listening it is so important to speak up.  I know that I am not alone as I have just read and in the past have read many of your posts--we have to listen to our gut and keep pressing for better care, for better answers, and sometimes we have to learn to ask the right questions.  Pamelajo, no doubt your cancer was from environmental exposure and the ladies here that took BC pills that resulted in BC--from reading polls on this it seems that we get cancer as an inheritance, from pills or from our environment.  It also seems that once we get it we have to be vigilant for life.  Yes, our blood is thicker, our body temp is lower, our Vit D is out of whack--these are all signs of having cancer.  We all have to become fighters.  Sorry, it's late, I'm ranting, time to go to bed.

hello girls had a ruff week this taxter is kiking me in the but i just keep thinking two more then done with chemo.

Pamelajo thank you for your post i get alot from them

Kelli we can do this i so dread every treatment but i know ill fell better soon and its working mine has shrunk almost to nothing do like Pamelajo said count down it helps.

have a grate week girls we are gona kik but!

I had to be dragged to my last two Taxol infusions. I knew what was coming in the days after, and I was tired of feeling like crap. On my last treatment everyone was excited that it was over, but I knew I still had 7 Neupogin shots to give myself and several "down" days to get through.

But...I got through it. I knew that I had done everything I could to stay alive. My second diagnosis, of a new primary, ER+/PR- BC came as a total shock. Once I found out I am BRCA 2+ I felt I couldn't trust my body any more. I had a total hysterectomy/oophorectomy to try and avoid ovarian cancer. I knew I would do anything I could to educate my family about their possible BRCA status.

I am very aware that I could be diagnosed again and I keep on top of my medical care. I have a great Onc and see her twice a year and probably will for the rest of my life. 5 years "out" means nothing to me. I have no idea what causes my genes to mutate or when it could happen again. I choose to stay positive and live my life the best way I can...

Linda

I had a mastectomy after each diagnosis. My PS told me that a bilateral the first time was "over kill." So much for his 2 cents! I should have listened to my gut.

We get the gene from my dad's side, as his mom died of breast cancer before I was born. Just like eye color, genes can come from either parent. In my case, my dad. My 84 year old dad is from the generation that doesn't want to be "blamed" for us having this gene. My sister and I have each spoken extensively with our geneticists and are pretty confident that this gene came from our dad. My mom's side has no breast cancer, but a few cases of other types of cancers that are linked to smoking.

Hi,

I was 43 when Dx in August 2008.

I had been to my Dr (ob/gyn) in February 2008 when I found a lump in right breast.  He examined me and said it was fybrocystic change, nothng to worry about, and joked about it being the size of a golf ball and sent me home. Onnly later did I foind out that the mammogram had said because of breast tissue density of there was a palpable mass - ultrasonography would be of benefit - but he marked on the mammo report - stable redo 1 year. 

In September (2 wks after dx) I started 4 rounds of DD neaodjuvant AC.  Dec 1 had double mastectomy.  Dec 29 started 4 rounds of Taxotere),Mid April 30 rounds daily  radiaiton, first 2 weeks with a BOLUS to bring the rads closer to skin surface.  4 weeks in had to take a week off becuase of severe burns.  Final Rads was June 1, 2009.

TE placed Dec 16, 2009, Exhange for silicone implants May 27.

See Dr every 3-4 months.  He only does blood work.  I worry is this enough - shouldnt he do annualy PET or something?