November 2009-Starting Chemo

Update: Big onc's office called and he's seen the report but not the pictures. His message was to see the surgeon as scheduled as obviously she can look at the pictures before he can. The director of the breast clinic had called earlier to ask if it was ok to fax the results through to big onc. I asked her if she would want to do a biopsy if I didn't have an history of bc - she said yes as she is worried about the shape of the thing that showed up on the mammo. This is not what the radiographer doctor chick said. So who do I believe???????????????????

To me - if it didn't light up that's it.

Sue

Sue: I am so sorry that you don't have any answers. Is this your first MRI and so they don't know what used to show up?

Christina Applegate (actress who had BC) was just on TV talking about a fund that she is starting to women can get the MRI's they need when they are high risk. And then I read about you, having had an MRI and still not having an answer.

Wouldn't it be great if it was as easy as a blood test, like a pregnancy test, not gray areas, just yes or no.

So are they saying that they can biopsy it if needed?? (((Sue)))

Thanks girls - I don't want a biopsy (I actually refused yesterday) as it is in a difficult area to get at and they'd have to use a mammo to do it as it doesn't show up on the ultrasound. They would have to insert a wire to point at it and then go in to take a sample. I'd rather just get it cut out as they would have to do the wire insertion for that anyway.

I did some reading about MRI results and reports. The category they gave both things was category 3 - probably benign. Apparently less than 2% with this category would be found to not be benign. I think it said further followup in few months was recommended with this category.

I'm not going to freak out anymore, just wait and see what the surgeon says on Tuesday. I am still concentrating on the fact that if it did turn out to be something, then it's great it's showed up. I would hate to have something in there growing and not know about it.

Have a happy weekend!!!!

Sue

Linda: The MRI worked and showed an extra spot (non mass whatever that is). I'm sure the surgeon will want me to have a biopsy, I just couldn't go through it after being there for so long, I was starting to cry from just sitting there waiting to get the canula out and then waiting for the report to be typed etc, I'd had enough. Definite cancer lights up much more brightly, so at least that didn't happen.

Sue

Everything I read says that the category they applied to my MRI result did not require biopsy, just follow up to see if there are any changes in 6 months. The question is, can I sit around waiting for 6 months?

Having tomorrow and Wednesday off work. I was going to swap my day off around and then decided to take a leave day - what the heck. I'm so drained from all this worrying.

I'll let you all know what the surgeon says tomorrow arfternoon.

Sue

Hey hey,  I'm around, too.  Just been busy with working and helping DS with his haunted house in our driveway and garage.  He started planning it 5 months ago, and that's the reason for his grades tanking this quarter.  Am very glad last night was the night and now it's over.

kayh:  was good to hear from you.  I have the neuropathy in my toes and fingers, too.  And I, too, feel as if I've aged 10 years in the past year.  Last night, I saw a young man I subbed for 4 years ago (who is now in 7th grade) and who last saw me in my wig, so he hadn't seen my short, gray hair.  He looked and looked at me and said, "Mrs. D.!!!!  Have you, like, gotten really really old since I saw you???!!!"  Yep.  That just made my night.  :I  Oh well, I am old, so what the hell.

Hope everyone had a good weekend.  Big day voting tomorrow.  Nette  

Biopsy being arranged - their computer systems were down when I called. Surgeon wants it done. She did offer surgical biopsy but thought core needle was better. I knew she would want me to do this, don't really know why I waited until I saw her. DH came with me - the first time he's met her. She wants both areas biopsied so I'll have one using ultrasound and one using mammo - crap!!!

She also said if both turn out to be cancer, I'll have to have a mastectomy - crap!!!! Here's hoping neither is.

Sue

(((Sue))) Have you had these type of biopsies before? They are painless and easy! The biggest thing for me was the numbing. After that...a piece of cake. At least you will have the answers! I'm keeping everything crossed for you and saying an extra prayer!!

Melinda, Fried fat...Mmmm, makes me think of fried pork skins. OK...I'll leave that alone!

Kayh, it was great to hear from you. Yes, neuropathy is my middle name too! Do you go to a neurologist?

Have any of you had or heard of a CYP2D6 test? It checks to see if you metabolize Tamoxifen correctly. I'm having one of the 17th. If I don't, it's bye bye ovaries and hello AIs. Egads!

Since I've hit menopause at the ripe old age of 38, my skin has taken a toll! I use to have pretty nice skin, but I'll tell you...I feel like a teenager again with all these breakouts and dry skin! I have aged too! Just look at the grey!

 Love to all my sisters!

Sue ~ hoping you get those biopsies done real soon..........  and that the results are BENIGN!  sending positive vibes your way.  Hang in there.

Linda ~ I asked my oncologist about that tamoxifen test and she said she doesn't do it.  They want me on tamoxifen...  I am going to ask again when I see her this month. 

I have preop testing on 11/15 and see my oncologist on 11/19 ~ I am so scared something will be wrong...........  If all is good ~ Implants swap out and new ones in on 12/1. 

Melinda ~ sorry to hear about Clyde looking like fried fat ~ but at least he is B9 !

Hugs to all.

Alicia

I have heard of the blood test, but did hear that it is not always conclusive. 

Alicia, nothing will be wrong.  You will get some new tatas soon.  I just know it.

Sue, just think it is only, perhaps, an hour out of your day, and then you will know for sure.

(((Sue)))

I got the bright idea to get copies of all my scan reports to review myself before I make a decision about another PET scan. The scan in between chemo and rads showed an increase in uptake in the chest (SUV from 3.0 in January to 4.8 in June). Hmmmm, call me an idiot, but it makes no since that this could be "surgical changes". The "opinion" part clearly reads, " suspicious for residual/recurrent carcinoma".

Ignorance was nice, I may have been growing cancer during chemo. I hope rads zapped the hell out of it.

I wasn't going to have another scan soon, I was enjoying my mental space. I guess I'll tell Onc to go ahead and schedule it when I go back for my next herp.

Clyde didn't pop up until after the June scan, he didn't show up until after rads started. So it doesn't seem likely that the scan picked up Clyde since Clyde is supposedly radiated fatty scar tissue bacon fat pork rinds shit.

But....it ain't cancer until someone says cancer.

It ain't cancer indeed!

I had uptake on my sternum...it was nothing. Chemo & Rads do freaky things to your body. Let us know!

Sue - All this waiting is enough to drive one mad!

Melinda - If big onc thought there was a reason to worry, he would have told you. He sounds like he knows what he's doing. He surely wouldn't have let it go by unoticed.

My biopsies are definitely Monday - waiting for the exact time. DH is driving me crazy using tracing paper to compare last year's mammo to this year's one. We both reckon we can see the spot and it looks the same as last year. We can even see where they have circled it on last year's film - not sure who did that. He's furious - if it was noticed last time and they haven't reported it - he's out for blood. My thoughts are, if it looks similar and hasn't changed, it's probably not cancer. If it was cancer, the chemo would have nuked it if it was already there.

So, I'm extremely optimistic - just wish DH would calm down. He's so sensitive to all of this shit as he's been through it all himself twice, so I don't exactly blame him.

Have a lovely weekend girls and lets try and forget all this cancer crap for a little while.

Sue

I now have the time 10am Monday - wish me luck. I'll probably be stuck there for hours again!!! The woman mentioned a possible vacuum assisted biospy - interesting new technique. I don't think they've decided how they're going to do it yet though.

Sounds like liposuction....hhhhhhhmmmmm.  I think I would have them suck out a little around the thighs and tummy.  May as well have the full deal.  Good luck, you know we are all here for you and saying our prayers for a good result, and not to much poking.  Think of us all holding hands around the earth...like a mega group hug.