2011 Sisters

Jenn333

Enjoy your vacation and you will find a wealth of knowledge through this group. I also had the same experience with the delays in getting my onc test completed. Insurance approvals tend to delay it at least a week or two. The doctor had to change my appt because they told her that the results were not ready. I had my lumpectomy in June and am just starting rad next week. gandtwoboysmama-

If they gave you the report itself there should be graph and it should also give you the average rate of recurrence for your score. The report is very interesting so you should get a copy. My dr went over each section with me. Good luck on thursday.

thinking of you Rjbaby69 Hope all went well today.

Hi Kitty!  Hello Ladies!  I am glad to report that the lumpectomy went really well.  It was a long exhausting day but everyone there was so kind and helpful and seemed concerned for my well being.  One of the nurses even went and got me a Dr. Pepper!  I had told them that was the first thing I was gonna get when I got home.  After I said that and my last test was done, here she come down the hall with my drink.  That was so cool! 

I am not in very much pain right now.  I haven't taken any of my pain meds and probably won't if they are not necessary.  I might take one tonight just so I can get some good sleep.  My daughters have already drained my drain once for me today and the youngest is fixing to drain it again.  They have been super!

The doctor told my family after surgery today that everything went well and that he did not see any evidence of node involvement but he would not be sure until the path report came back.  He had told me that he should receive all the reports tomorrow and that he would be calling me with the results.  My whole family likes this doctor very much and so do I.  I have a follow-up appointment with him on the 16th of August and will go over my treatment plan at that time.

The scans weren't too bad.  The hardest part was the waiting when all I wanted to do was go home and get in the easy chair.  LOL!  I fell asleep in the bone scan.  That was 23 minutes of good rest.  The CAT scan was a little difficult because I had to put my arms above my head and I found that a little painful.  At least that one didn't take long.  But they are all done and now all I have to do is take it easy.  My step sister had brought over a lot of food yesterday so all the girls have to do is warm it up.  That's been a life saver.

Thank you all for thinking of me.  I hope everyone here that has surgery coming up does extremely well and we all get the results we are looking for.  I will let everyone know my results as soon as I can.

Hugs!

I'm still puzzled why some of us get a workup with bone scans, CTs, PET scans, etc. and others don't.  I asked my onc about that this week and she said there was no indication for a PET or CT scan so better not to expose me to the radiation.  They haven't even wanted a chest X-ray prior to my surgeries.  I did have a DEXA study as a baseline for taking Arimidex and lots of bloodwork. 

Different parts of the country?  Different health systems?  Different diagnoses?  Different stages? Any thoughts? 

I had all of those scans done and didn't know that, for my pathology, it wasn't standard. When I went to my RO the first time, she looked at my chart and asked me why I had a bone scan and petscan. I said my MO had ordered them and she said that my MO must be very aggressive. She was also amazed that our insurance company had paid for them. She said that you usually don't get them done with stage 1 with no lymph node involvement unless you are having pain or symptoms elsewhere and that wasn't the case with me.

I'm not thrilled about the added radiation exposure, but it is nice knowing that they didn't find anything anywhere else at this point.

I didn't need chemo. My Onco score was 10. My insurance company was billed $4075 for the test.

I was told by my BS that I would only need radiation. When I went to see my MO, she was thinking about chemo and that's when I asked about getting the Oncotype. I was really glad I did because even with a score of 10, she was pushing for me to have chemo (not really sure why) and I felt comfortable saying no.

RJ so pleased your lumpectomy went well. Were you in and out the same day? That's pretty amazing. So glad you have your daughters to help out - that must be a blessing.



If I end up with a lumpectomy I will be having oncoplastic surgery at the same time - in my case will probably be a reduction and a lift since my right breast is a full cup size larger than the left. Kind of glad to get that taken care of, actually. Does anyone know whether adding oncoplastic surgery to the lumpectomy would require a night in hospital? I'd love to be in and out the same day because I may be able to avoid having to explain all of this to my 7 yo daughter.

Jenn when I talked to my oncologist, he said he would not be putting me on Tamoxifen but rather a different med that he said has less side effects.  Hmmm.....did brain dead me think to ask which drug?  No, and since I didn't ask, just based on my reading I am assuming he meant Arimidex.  I will find out for sure soon.  I did have the bone density scan yesterday. 

Kitty, I am EXACTLY where you are in regards to the Oncotype testing.  On hold!  Like you I had assumed I would receive my score this week.  So clearly it was upsetting to discover the test has not even been approved yet.  I too am waiting for approval, so not sure when I will finally get the test results.  So frustrating!  We can wait together and grind our teeth!  LOL.

Kitty, I am hoping that we both dodge the chemo bullet but if not, we can definitely hold hands!  Right now radiation is on hold pending the result of this test.  So as of now, I have no clue what my actual treatment will be, much less when.

 I read something on this forum (cannot recall where) that chemo is usually recommended if the tumor is greater than 3cm.  Has anyone else heard this?  I was just curious.  Mine was 3.2 cm so maybe that puts me in a grey area.  My MO didn't say anything about the size.  He just said he was ordering the Onco test.

Thanks Kitty I will check it out.  I am sure it will be interesting reading.

No plans here but to wait for my score.  Then we can make an informed decision!

Jenn:

I was in and out the same day.  I went in at 6:00 a.m.  Had surgery then went on over to the hospital and had a bone scan and a ct scan.  Pretty much an all day ordeal.  Other than that, things have been going really smooth around here since I got home.  Girls have been great to help out.  Friends been bringing food so I don't have to cook.  Yeah!  I llike that idea.  I don't know anything about the other question you asked.  I have DD's so I didn't have to do any plastic surgery.  As far as I can tell, I still look the same in both breasts.

Hugs.!

Hello all, newly diagnosed within the last, almost, month.  Gearing up for lumpectomy/sentinel node biopsy next week.  Just had breast surgery class tonight.  I'm totally freaked out by surgery given that I've never had it before.  Can't say enough about the surgeon and his staff.  Just need to connect and hear other stories.  Being 32 with a 2 year old at home is going to be no fun for recovery.  I feel great but am worried about the road to recovery.

Thanks for letting me vent!

Thanks RJ and congrats on the all clear on your scans. You will surely sleep well tonight. Enjoy. Sending peaceful dreams your way ...

Knicastro....iIf I ever get the test results I plan on reading them very carefully.  From what I understand your score of 13 was really a good low score and not an indicatior for Chemo.  I am keeping fingers and paws crossed here for a nice low score.  I will be thinking of you Monday when you start rads.  I hope it is gentle for you. 

RJ I am thrilled to hear that all your tests were clear.  What a relief.  I had negative nodes so I have no experience with the positive ones.  I am sure you and your doctor will choose a course of treatment that smacks those little node intruders.  I will be looking for your posts to see how your appointment goes next week. 

KRomanoFight.....I hope we can help ease your mind regarding the surgery.  I had mine July 11th and had a very easy and quick recovery.  I was up and running the next day.  You will find that everyone in the hospital is helpful and comforting.  It was not a bad experience at all.  It sounds like you have a wonderful and supportive family.  That helps.  I hope we can ease your fears.  With your family history, I can certainly see why you would be so scared.  Deep breaths...and talk all you want here.  Vent, cry, laugh and share with us.  We are in this together.

Hugs to all you brave women!

Janis

Hi there. My name is Stacey, I'm 46 - married and the mother of two young children 4&7. This last month has been a whirlwind. A self diagnosed lump in my left breast has turned out to be IDC. Say what? I'm the daughter of OBGYN...do self exams and annual mammograms...this is crazy!

The initial vacuum biopsy on a 1cm mass has, after MRI, been shown to be multi centric 4+ cm. (no chest wall involvement and no axillary lymphadenopathy)



The pathology from vacuum biopsy shows ER+, >90%, 3+ positive /PR+, >90%, 3+ positive / Her2 - 1+ negative. I had a PET scan that shows the breast tumor, obviously, but it will not get in the way of surgery. They did find a tiny spot on my thyroid,analogous at this point, that we'll biopsy later. (just another loose end to tie up).



I am still awaiting results from Brca testing. I will be undergoing SNB and BMx with immediate reconstruction tissue expanders/implants on Aug. 20th. ( I feel this is a better option over DIEP at this time). I have a great team of surgeons at NYU (my OBGYN of 15 years helped to expedite my initial appointment with BS who, in turn, got me to PS). I feel I am in good hands. I know I will need chemotherapy but exact "cocktail" /regimen will be determined after complete pathology...need for radiation therapy will be determined after pathology as well.



I am nervous...and based on the time of this post, currently, suffering from a bout of insomnia. Trying to find the positive in all this however difficult at times. I feel good. I am exercising and getting in as much tennis as possible before surgery : ) we are off on a family vacation next week to Skytop a wonderful spot in the poconos...very excited! Thank you for listening/reading. God Bless.





Thank you for listening