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  • worldwatcher
    worldwatcher Member Posts: 205
    edited October 2010

    Granny,

    I'm so happy for your good news! Way to go!

    Since you aren't doing chemo, did they mention Herceptin?

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  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited October 2010

    Granny that is great news!  So happy for you.

    :)

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  • LadyinBama
    LadyinBama Member Posts: 1,132
    edited October 2010
    Granny:  WOO HOO!!!!! Prayers answered.
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  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited October 2010

    they mentioned rads. 5x a week for 6 weeks. NO NO NON. the aromasin is enuf if my body can take it.does anyone think i am crazy not takin the rads????? i am open for opinions...i always remember being told that rads also kill good cells....i dont know how many good cells i can spare.

    I wish all of you get some kind of good news today.gentle hugs to all and thanks for all the prayers and wonderful words.God bless

    K

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  • shells43
    shells43 Member Posts: 1,022
    edited October 2010

    Yeah for Granny!!

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  • NativeMainer
    NativeMainer Member Posts: 10,462
    edited October 2010

    Granny--I don't think you're crazy to decline rads, but then I wound up getting a mastectomy to deal with the all the damage the rads did to my breast. 

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  • thegoodfight
    thegoodfight Member Posts: 560
    edited November 2010

    Granny,

    No, I don't think you are crazy, we all need to make decisions we ourselves are comfortable with.  I was thrilled to see your low onco score and agree no chemo necessary...........that is wonderful.  I am curious why you are so against the rads?  I am not a doctor so I assume you are correct that radiation gets the good cells too.  So does chemo, but let's remember that it gets those bad cells and that we heal.  You do have an early stage and a low grade, but it also appears that you had a positive node?   I am a little later stage, and a much higher grade (see below) but no positive nodes.  My onco was 17, still pretty low.  My decision, for me, was to throw the book at the beast.  I did chemo and I did 7 weeks (35 sessions) of rads.  I survived both with no major effects...........and I have been on Arimidex for about a year and a half.  I am certainly not asking you to change your decision about no rads, I just want to be sure that you have done your homework and you are sure this is the right decision for you.  Have you gotten feedback from many women about their rads experience?  Except for having to go every single day for seven weeks, I found that it never got really bad.  Yes, some women have major skin issues, but I think most do not.  Just my two cents.  I am saying all this because I had a choice with  chemo and opted to go ahead.  In the last two plus years, anytime I was questioning anything I felt or saw on my body, I was comfortable that I wasn't regretting that I didn't do it.   I don't want you to look back and wish you had......................................I am referring to the rads in your case, not the chemo.

    Caren

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  • Resting
    Resting Member Posts: 215
    edited November 2010

    Ok, I haven't posted for a while but I read the posts and keep up -- my 2 cents Granny (remember you get what you pay for). I just finished rads a few weeks ago and I agree with Caren most women do not have major issues and if they do they often start showing up right away. I had a good experience and no real difficulties. I got a little pink at the end of Tx and a bit tired but that's really it. The driving to the center was not a burden either. It went really fast.

    I did talk to my onc. and re-thought the pros and cons. I had him look up my stats on survival and relapse rates w/wo everything (chemo, rads, tamox ...) Then I made the decision. Again I agree with Caren - you have to be comfortable with your tx. I know you know this but like I said it's my 2 cents worth.  Laughing

          Carolyn

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  • Rocket
    Rocket Member Posts: 1,197
    edited November 2010

    Hi Granny,

    I'll add my 2 cents as well since you asked for opinions.  While I did have some blistered skin the final two weeks of rads when they did the boost treatment, I managed it.  I also was quite fatigued during the final two weeks and for two weeks following my treatments, but I didn't miss a day of work the entire time.  I work 10 hour days and it was very doable.  I didn't want to look back later and regret that I hadn't done everything that I could to beat this disease.  I NEVER want to go through it again.

    That said, it's a very personal decision.  Just give it some hard thought and educate yourself well before you decide.  I pray all the best for you!

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  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited November 2010

    just wanted to let you know i appreciate all your responses.im still pondering this and doing a lot of changing my mind.i did not call the dr yet.my gd is getting married on the 20th.nothing is gonna spoil that.we already had one.her brother had a near fatal motorcycle accident on tues.hes lucky he is alive.not thinkin of meds too uch although i am doin a lot of soulsearching.

    thanks to all of you.God bless.huggggggggggggs

    k

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  • bcincolorado
    bcincolorado Member Posts: 5,758
    edited November 2010

    Congrats on the low Onco score!  I don't blame you for not wanting rads.  I can tell you that if I did not end up with mx (I tried lump and then re-excission first) I would have done rads.  It is standard treatment here.  I would take rads over mx any day I can tell you that!

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  • ananda8
    ananda8 Member Posts: 2,755
    edited November 2010

    I am confused.  Why do some of us have two surgeries, one to remove the cancer and the next to remove lymph nodes and some of us have only one where the cancer and nodes are removed at the same time?  I had eight nodes removed at the same time my tumor was removed.  I got all of the results at the same time; path report on the tumor and on the nodes.

    I would hate to think  it was because the doctors and hospitals charge twice for everything but I can't think of another reason.  Perhaps someone can help me out. 

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  • NativeMainer
    NativeMainer Member Posts: 10,462
    edited November 2010

    notself--it depends on how the surgeon manages things. Some of us had a sentinal node biopsy at the time of the lumpectomy, and then more lymph removal if the sentinel node(s) test positive.  Not all breast surgeons do SNB and take multiple lymph nodes at the same time as the lumpectomy. 

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  • ananda8
    ananda8 Member Posts: 2,755
    edited November 2010

    I can see having to go back to get more nodes if the SN showed positive.  Mine never lit up so they took eight at the same time as my partial mast.  What I don't understand is why an SNB is not done routinely.  General Anesthesia has serious associated risk.  Approximately 200 people die every year in the USA due to anesthesia alone. 

    Perhaps there is a medical reason that is just not clear to me.

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  • NativeMainer
    NativeMainer Member Posts: 10,462
    edited November 2010

    Not a medical reason so much as the training of the surgeon.  SNB is still a new procedure in some places, and not all BS keep up to date with new procedures, or haven't had time to go get trained in the procedure.  Occasonally a BS will feel that large scale lymph node removal is better than SNB.  Medical practice is not as standardized as we would like to think it is. 

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  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited November 2010

    listen up ladies. i  had s SB biopsy that came out positive.protocol is CHECK THE NODES AROUND TO SEE IF ANYMORE ARE POSITIVE....my dr #10 in America was in it for the $$$$$$$.there was no reason for the last surgery.This last SB who i love went to this Drs. seminars.shocked to say the least.

    the sistas told me to go for 2-3-4 opinions ...i listened...dont let the cut.

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  • aussieched
    aussieched Member Posts: 244
    edited November 2010

    Hi ladies, with regard to having multiple surgeries, there often are reasons why it happens.  With me, I had 3 surgeries in 3 weeks.  Went in for a routine lumpectomy and sentinal node biopsy. They normally keep you on the table while the pathology is done on the sentinal node (they cut it through into 2 pieces to check the middle).  If they find anything sinister, they then continue with the axillary clearance, in the one op,  In my case after the op, the surgeon said all looked good, however they would not be certain until all the pathology came back on it 1 week later.  Well one week later I got the great news that they had found malignancy on the outside of the sentinal node, and didn't get clear margins for the lumpectomy, so back I had to go and have further tissue taken out, plus a full axillary clearance with a total of 30 nodes taken.

    It turned out that the sentinal node was the only positive one, however it was then decided for me to then have an oophorectomy so I then went back in for the 3rd surgery the following week.  I don't think my surgeon is money hungry at all, and actually for the 3rd surgery told me he would only bill me for the amount I would be able to claim back through our health care system, so making money certainly wasn't his aim with me.  Unfortunately these sorts of things happend some time, and I do know a few women who have had a similiar experience to me.

    Nothing is straightforward with this disease.

    aussieched  

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  • LadyinBama
    LadyinBama Member Posts: 1,132
    edited November 2010

    After my mammo showed a suspicious area, I had an ultrasound guided biopsy. While doing the ultrasound, the radiologist saw a suspicious looking lymph node, which she biopsied at the same time. The breast and node were positive. So when I went for my surgery, they already knew I had at least one positive node, so 14 were removed at the time of my BMX. So mine was done in one surgery, but I think probably because they already knew I had a positive node and others needed to be removed to be checked.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2010

    I am not "staged" yet as my surgery isn't until the end of this month...HOPEFULLY I will be in Stage 1 or II group... I shall keep my fingers crossed. Innocent

    ...but I just wanted to make a comment on Ainm's question as to the "oldest" Stage II poster being from 2005....

    I'm just wondering if maybe once they pass the 2 and/or 5 year "cancer free" mark... they might tend to not participate in the boards as much?  i.e. ... they move onto other things... maybe don't want to be "reminded" of it anymore? This may account for Stage 1 and II not being as active as the years pass by? Undecided 

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  • kira1234
    kira1234 Member Posts: 3,091
    edited November 2010

    Susan, I would tend to agree with you on how few keep coming to the board. I think many find they just want to move on, and not think about BC so much. I do hope you will be in stage 1 or II as well.

     Good luck with your surgery later this month.

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  • LauraM
    LauraM Member Posts: 251
    edited November 2010

    When I had my lumpectomy it was because they were removing DCIS, when they got in there they removed 4.5 cm of DCIS without clear margins and found a small amount of (.8m)  IDC hiding under the DCIS.  They did not do SN biopsy at that time because it was so tiny and they thought they had gotten all the IDC out.  Because they didn't get clear margins for the DCIS and it was determined by the MRI that it was more widely spread I ended up having a dmx.  During that surgery they took out my SN and they were negative, but once the lab looked at the tissue around the SN they found the start of two more tumors in the fatty tissue around the SN right next to the lymphatic channel.   Because of this, I had to go in for a third surgery to remove all of my nodes (14) and three of those were positive.  

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  • Lowrider54
    Lowrider54 Member Posts: 2,721
    edited August 2013

    Granny...congrats...5 rounds of rads isn't bad (it is so specifically targeted now) if that is all they are going to do - I didn't but I had node involvement in 4 1/3 (just moving into the 5th) which left me a stage II - III in betweener - I elected chemo for 8 months but did not do the rads (it was not nearly as precise as it is now) and then Tamoxifin afterward. 

    They usually always check the sentinel node in the biopsy which was positive - I opted for a modified mas which left me with all the muscle and as much skin as possible but I knew going in, we were taking nodes - 25 in all. 

    On the rads - if this one stubborn mets on L3 is still not responding - we are talking about hitting it with some rads - they can get it down to just slightly larger than the lesion which was 2cm and to the exact depth so damage to any surrounding area is minimized.  Not so 12 years ago - I would have been hit full frontal and I wasn't having any of that...

    Best to ya'll

    LowRider

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  • msphil
    msphil Member Posts: 1,536
    edited November 2010

    Hello Ladies, I too am in this group, Diagnosed 9/1993,IDC,Stage 2, L mast, reconstruction, but body rejected it and I now wear a prothesis, chemo(cytoxin and adryamicin,) radiation, tamoxifen for 5 yrs, side effects (weight gain) but lost after completion, hot flashes(still have) but not as bad.    BUT I am now 16 yrs in December 17 yrs CANCER FREE, (Praise GOD) keep HOPE and speak POSITIVE thoughts, I use to say at night before I went to sleep(" cancer you will leave my body) positive affirmations.  God Bless Us All. msphil 

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  • Lovelyface
    Lovelyface Member Posts: 674
    edited November 2010

    Thank you mspil for giving us all hope.  I will try the positive affirmations.  God Bless.  Thanks.

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  • ananda8
    ananda8 Member Posts: 2,755
    edited November 2010

    "I use to say at night before I went to sleep(" cancer you will leave my body) positive affirmations." 

    msphil,

    I also talked to my tumor in the days before surgery.  I had seen a picture of a breast cancer cell and it had little angry spikes on it.  I didn't wish it away, I wished it peace and calm.  I pictured those angry spikes softening and rounding until the cell became normal.  While this imaging probably had no affect on the cancer, it calmed my mind.

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  • bcincolorado
    bcincolorado Member Posts: 5,758
    edited November 2010

    msphil:  Thanks for the encouraging story of your survival!  That is so wonderful!

    I had multiple surgeries because I wanted lump first.  With the first lump I had SNB done with 2 nodes out.  Then path came back without clean margins so I had "re-excission" surgery.  After that one came back wihout clen margins and also showed 2 kinds of pre-cancer cells the bs said it had to go.  I don't think it was a money thing with my surgeon.

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  • ami
    ami Member Posts: 11
    edited November 2010

    Hi all - never joined this kind of list before, but BC changes everything, doesn't it? 

    I'm trying to decide whether to do chemo/tamox but don't have all info yet.  Lumpectomy and re-excision with clean margins, tumor only 4mm.  SN done with the second surgery; 3 nodes removed, one with another 4.5mm tumor but no extracapsular extension.

    Axillary removal scheduled for Wednesday.

    OncotypeDX test failed because there wasn't enough invasive material to test in the sample (that one really threw me).

    Onocologist wants 3rd gen chemo, which I think is the most aggressive.  I'm 47, excellent health (all vitals strong, good weight, active/exercising).  No BC in family but mom died of ovarian cancer (makes me worry about the Tamoxifen).  Surgeon said lumpectomy/rads probably sufficient -until that little bugger showed up in the lymph node.

     I'm thinking of the other nodes are clean no chemo.  Thoughts?

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  • Resting
    Resting Member Posts: 215
    edited November 2010

    ami - I don't know, I think I might get a second opinion. Undecided I don't know of many doctors who wouldn't insist on chemo with you having a positive node. I had a lumpectomy and my BS was surprised during surgery to find I had a SN that was positive. She took lots of nodes out and thankfully the rest were negative. With the Lumpectomy you have to do the radiation to get the same survival odds as mastectomy patients. On first visit with my oncologist he gave me a sheet that graphed out my % of relapse. It included odds relative to having no adjunct therapy, odds with chemo alone, odds with hormone therapy, odds with radiation and then odds showing chance of relapse with all of the above. This was a helpful tool for me. I went with everything. It's not a walk in the park by any means but wasn't as bad as I thot it would be either. And there is a lot of support her on the boards.

    It's important to get as much information as possible to make a decision you can live with. Also, my mother had breast cancer, did chemo and had a mastectomy. She lived over 30 years cancer free, just died last year - two weeks before I found out I had cancer.

       Blessings, carolyn

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  • bcincolorado
    bcincolorado Member Posts: 5,758
    edited November 2010

    Ami,

    I agree with Carolyn, I might want a second opinion before making a final decision.  My BS said Onco was the only thing that saved me from chemo because of the size of my tumor and that it was invasive even though I had no node involvement.  Of course the size of my tumor and how goofy it was shaped is also what made me eventually need mx after 2 failed lump surgeries to get clean margins.  The goal of going through all of this is to kick this out of you once and for all and not get it again!  If it means chemo, so be it.  But I  know chemo has plenty of risks all by itself so get all the facts and get a second and if necessary a third opinion.  Your BS may be able to help you as well if you are comfortable talking to them about it too. 

    Carolyn, that is great that your mom made is so long.  Sad she passed before she was able to help you through your journey though.

    Paula

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  • Resting
    Resting Member Posts: 215
    edited November 2010

    yea Paula, it was great to have my mother around. She was diagnosed at 52 - had she not been a strong survivor she would not have been here to see her grandchildren. She made a big impact on them. And I'm kinda glad I found out about the cancer after she died - I didin't have to tell her. Today marks the anniversary of her death. And I'm thinking about her quite a bit. Though she wasn't here to go through this with me she left me a great role model. She never stopped, kept right on going -- very active lady in the community, the state of Tennessee as well as with her five children. Looking back now I'm much more impressed. Great mother and wonderful person.

              Thx for your comments, Carolyn

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