February 2012 MX

Oh, bless your heart, Nel.  Boy, do we all understand.  And, I sure feel the same way about this board.

By the way, earlier on this board, I mentioned having a "hybrid implant."  I finally asked my PS about it this morning...she said that it's a "mentor spectrum implant" that has a port that enables the PS to insert more saline into it.  It never has to be replaced, like a TE.  (Of course, it's like a regular saline implant in that it will wear out after 10-15 years.)  Anyhow, the reason I was a candidate for this type of implant was because I had a skin sparing MX.  If one has a regular MX, they can't have this; they need a TE in order to expand the skin, whereas I didn't need any additional skin so they could put this in.  It is the same comfort level as an implant, according to my doc, as opposed to the harder TE.

Nel...so proud for you...looking for the first time was so hard for me!!  I cried and cried.  Then the other day I didn't even notice.  I guess we can get used to anything, huh?  One step at a time :-)

mcm24-sorry to say that I know what you mean about the BO; it is only under 1 arm though I had lymph nodes removed on both sides. I would wash so many times a day and no matter what kind of deodorant I used it wouldn't make a difference. I was so self concious that I talk to my PCP about it. she gave me a prescription for HYPERCARE 20% which is an aid in the management of increased perspiration. I am yet to use it because this week has been ok with my regular deodorant. GO FIGURE. Thank you for bringing the issue up

Deborah, that kind of news kicks you in the backside doesn't it.   Why didn't BC have the playbook to follow the rules!   You've not seen Onc but have the results?  I can't get that, they protect that info as much as the test that led to to dx.

Looks like we'll both learn today what is in our future in terms of tx. I'll be thinking of you Deborah.

Sally

Deborah2012...so sorry to hear about your score. Grade 3 is a more aggressive type so maybe that is what tipped the scales to a higher number of concern. As hard as it is to get this news, it is still better to kick this in the butt at this stage instead of another surprise later down the road. I don't know you personally but from your posts you always seem so positive, forward thinking and a "go getter". Keep that spirit.

Bern

mcm,I have discovered the same problem that with Arimidex I suddenly wreck no matter what,shower,put on deo then goldbond powder and get home from work where I sit in a desk all day and I smell like a drunken sailor,so I was determined to stop that from happening so I marched myself out and got clinical strength dove deo. However I only had 2 lymphnodes tested and they were negative. I smell better now. The sweats have lifted a little but still horrid hot flashes followed by shivering cold. My body thermostat is off with those pills. Most other side effects gone except migraines which I  never had before.  The TE are easing off but I got a fill coming up so guess i will be back in super complaint mode then!

Anyone have any ideas for a swimsuit with TE? Do we need a card to fly? What happens when you go thru airport security with TE? What happens if we wear "chicken cutlets" til our fills make us look less flat? How do we negotiate traveling and going to the pool etc? I had surg 4 wks ago so I am dumb on what to do. I am doing hot and cold therapy in the shower for TE and some extremely gentle stretches for mastectomy patients I found online. I only do 5 reps and go really slow however I am sure my PS would not approve cause she said I can not sweep or vacumn. Does she realize that parellell parking is a worse workout?

Ah Deborah.....I am soooo sorry about your score.  I do know that 18 is not really a magic number...neither is 21....just where the docs put their "low" or "intermediate" score.  Gosh, however, I know you were hoping for 18 or under.  Damn!

Deborah...I am so bummed about your score, that really stinks!!  Please keep us posted, you have your very own cheering section here.  Dang cancer sucks and is super sneaky!!!

Sally -- Let us know what the docs say today.

Nel -- I have found that a medium impact sports bra keeps the faux-girls where I want them. :-)  ....and thanks for the flying tips.  I was wondering the same thing as Layla.  Now if I decided to run away for a little while I won't have to worry about TSA...haha

Drum roll please.....

The score on the Oncotype was a 12!!! Onc even pulled up the other program they use, Adjuvant, to show she'd compared them too. While it showed a 20+ score, it did show a breakdown that brought it back down to a 5-8. I do NOT need Chemo, although will be on Tamoxifen! Without the Chemo my risk is 8% of getting Breast Cancer again. With it, the risk would be 3%. Oh yeah...doing the HAPPY DANCE over here!

This lady was on her game, had already read my file and knew quite a fewspecifics.  She'd gotten her hands on the test score the day before when it hadn't yet been received by her yet.

She asked the questions needed.  However, a shocked look showed on her face when said Mom had to stop Tamoxifen due to blood clots in her lungs.  I explained that I'd had the blood tests to see if I had inheirited the factors about the blood clotting and they'd been negative.  See, out of Five that are important, Mom had THREE which is quite unusual.  She wants me to find that information to show her at the next appt, to see which ones were the problem for her.  Her concern is that if Mom's were positive and mine were negative, that some thing is off the mark and not right.  Also, she has recommended to the Breast Clinic that I have Brca 1 and 2 testing because of Mine and Mom's BC, her Sister's Colon Cancer, and their Father's Prostate Cancer.  I didn't realize there is a connection through the Brca2 gene about Prostate and Uterine Cancer.

Sally

Good idea...let the dancing commence!

I'm dancing too!  I found out that my oncotest is 14!  Yay!  Although I don't see the onc until tomorrow, I'm hoping and assuming that I won't have to have chemo either.  Later in the day today, my onc's secretary left a voice mail when I was gone to say that the results of my BRCA 1 and 2 tests are "good."  I'm assuming that means negative, however, with a sister, mother, aunts, cousin, and great aunts who have or have had breast cancer, what does it really mean?  Lol.  Geesh.

Hi everyone,

 I'm happy!  My onc said when all was said and done, if I were to undergo chemo with my HT, I'd only decrease my recurrence score by 4%. She said she was not recommending it.  I said I wouldn't do it for 4% personally.  She shared some more details about the state of things that may be useful for others that I'll post later.  It has to do with the San Antonio BC convention about 4 months (?) ago. And.. her office is going to request the second opinion on my behalf at the teaching university.  I'm telling you- she is awesome!

Wow, it's so interesting to read about everyone's family histories and cancer. I'm the only BC person in my family, but my dad did get prostrate cancer a ta fairly young age.  I think it's practically an epidemic with men when they reach age 70 or sometihing.

 I just loved reading Layla's travel trips and glad to hear that Dixiemine is strapping down her errant foobs.  It sounds like as the world spins inside her bras. 

Loving DebbieOs and Galsal's oncotype scores!  xoxo! mma59 make sure and post next Weds.  I'm the example of chemo is NOT recommended even though I am in the low side of the intermediate risk range. Woo hoo- makes me super happy.  (Uh oh- I just found the happy face insert.  I'll have to control myself-  another item I've added to my functioning techie  illiteracy).  Looks like a fair number of us will be on hormone blockers but no rads or chemo. My onc wants me on Arimidex.  

My action plan is. Second opinion at the teaching university, then onc wants me to start HT, then change out the foob at end of April.  Onc did not want me to wait until I recovered from change out surgery before beginning HT.  I'm a bit disappointed by that. However, I ended up losing 5 weeks due to the oncotype botched sample.  She also thought that my one indicator of my blood test that was questionable regarding truly post menopausal could be residual estrogen from the ERPR patch I stoped taking in Jan. (blood test was in Feb).  The other indicators pointed to post menopausal without a doubt.

Oh ladies, March 21st was a good news day for so many of us.  Let's hope we have many more as today!!

 Broad smiles and happy dances all around.

Deborah2012, 

Fab Feb Ladies....love it!  Congrats to you Deborah!

So glad to hear the good news for Deborah2012  Galsal  DebbieOS     HOORAY!!!!

Deborah2012       I am so glad that things are looking up for you with no chemo, just the HT.  Is the oncotype test protocol for all of  us or only some based on DX?  I know that mine is ER+PR+.  I don't see my MO until early April.  Would this be something I should ask about if she doesn't?  I know they said she will want some blood tests done prior to my visit but wasn't quite sure what she will be testing for. 

When I had my first lumpectomy with the guided wire where they would take the first lymph nodes that the dye goes to - I was surprised after surgery that she said I am wired differently then most, my lymph nodes on the BC side are not under my arm, but instead are in my chest wall.  Therefore she didn't take any, and since that time she has never indicated any concern about them.  So I haven't any incision under the arm for lymph nodes, lucky me.  I hope - but down the road should I still be concerned about the lymph nodes in my chest wall.  My doctor has not shown any concern regarding it, has anyone ever heard of this? 

I had my 2nd fill on Tues of 70ccs without pain just a little discomfort later in the day.  Will this get better or worse as it fills in the weeks to come? 

Yesterday was my first day back, worked 6 hrs at an office job.  It went pretty smoothly, not really tired, just a bit fatigued.  I got so busy that I didn't take a bathroom break until I got home.  Now that is dedication or loss of mind?  I need to drink more water and stay hydrated, it is really warm here in WI as it is in much of the country this Spring.  It is so nice to hear the birds early in the morning.  We need a nice thunderstorm to clean up the joint.  So I will go back to work today & tomorrow for about 6 hrs and back full time next week.