CALLING ALL STAGE I SISTERS

Sheila. Hugs and love to you. Wish I could do more right now.



Joan - fight for the brand name for a month - keep fighting for the right dose of the right brand.



Munni- good luck with the treatments.

(((((EVERYONE))))

Joan - After the strike out with Arimidex and Femara, my MO put me on Tamoxifen.  I was scared of more stomach issues so he let me do a split dose.  That got to be a pain in the butt, so I just take it all at once in the morning.  Have very minimal side effects.  In fact, this little white piill took my hot flashes away - just have some warm flushes.  I can sleep all night and don't have joint pains.  I do however have permanent nerve damage from rads which is a whole other story.

Odie...................The first thing I said to the BS was..................take them off, take them both.............as I looked around the room to get the reaction of my 6 kids, and the Dr's Asst..........I caught the eye of the Assistant.............she mouthed to me very quietly............"that's a lot of surgery"..............Now I was 75 at the time, and was not certain, why she said that.

After further discussion (2 hours) with my BS, and my 6 kids all in the room, I listened, and thought.......maybe you should give this further consideration.

I did end up with a lumpectomy. The BS thought my tumor was about 2cm. but it did end up smaller at 1.1cm.............................II did do Rads........had no problems during, but then again who knows what damage Rads does to the body.............

I think the decision is an individual one, but you make it, and hope for the best.............Still not sure if I did the right thing...............Time will tell............hugs.

Want to introduce myself.  Texas gal, age 59.  BC found on my yearly mammogram in mid Jan. 2012.  Called back for extra views/sono and radiologist worked in an on-the-spot biopsy; very frank about with her suspicious findings thus path report no surprise.  Results 2 days later.  If I could figure out how I would add path to bottom.  Lump with wire loc/SNB on 2/21.  IDC 1.1 cm, Stage 1, Grade 2, 3 nodes/all neg, ER+,PR+, HER2-.  Both (biop & surg) path reports show Grade 2. Took 4.7 x 5.2 x 1.8 cm spec (L outer breast).  All margins clean.  Both incisions about 3.5" long.  Bigger incisions than I expected.  Had follow-up with BS; doing fine.  No clearance for work or driving yet.  Hospice nurse and I drive all the time.  MO appt. 3/9.  Not sure what to expect.  Don't think onco done.  BS hedges chemo questions, more so since surg. done.

Thanks so much.  I missed that part!

Hi- I was sort of afraid to go through all the posts on this site because they have not tested my nodes yet. I was told after the MRI and biopsy that I have IDC about 1.5 cm. or less and probably stage 1. I am feeling better that most had clean nodes at this pt. My surgery should be scheduled this week so I now feel better going into it. It's weird how you want to know, but don't want to know something at the same time.

Does anyone know if the dose they prescribe for Tamoxifen is the same for everyone or does it go by the % that the reseptors were for each person?

Thanks Sheila- Sometimes it's hard for me to come out of denial. I had DCIS and LCIS over 7 yrs ago and stayed in denial the whole time that it would ever come back. That is the only way I could fuction and live life somewhat like I had before that.

Karra- I am going to ask why everyone gets the same dose. I only weigh 120 lbs.

You are all so helpful, Thanks.

Thanks Kaara - I haven't met with my MO yet. Kinda know him/of him from working at same hospital 2 years ago.  Actually how I picked him from about 5 in area.  Told he is participant in tumor boards at local hospitals x 2.   No, no chemo without darned good reasons/expectations from him.  DH already much against it.  So will be one of the 1st questions I ask him Friday.   Now rads I am certainly expecting and as prepared for at this early state as I can be with much thanks to lots of time surfing the boards here.  As most have written already the waiting game is the worst.  And I need to go back to work soon.  To call BS on Wednesday to report in and hoping for 1/2 days as of 3/12.

Thanks Sheila for the welcome.  Will visit Middle Aged Thread too.

Hello, all. I haven't posted here in a while, although I read this forum regularly. What has struck me is all the newbies!!! What's with this effing disease, anyway?! So many women's lives are suddenly turned upside down, so many families are in shock. I always took my good (actually, "great"!) health for granted. Now every little twinge, ache or pain startles me, makes me wonder if this is something I should be looking into. What a way to live....NOT!

I can't really complain, with my relatively "good" stats. My MO said my statistical recurrence rate is 6%. But it's still something that I'll (WE will) always have to live with...to watch out for...to worry about. IT SUCKS!!! Don't get me wrong....I really have a good and positive attitude, considering. But it still sucks!

Dianarose:  Thanks for posting....I will discuss this with my MO as well, but if I feel that the lower dose will provide the same benefit and possibly fewer SE's, I will continue to take it.  I know many women on the site who are taking the lower dose with the blessing of their MO.