2012 sisters

Good morning

I'm glad I checked in this morning.

As with all of you that are just starting the chemo part I am feeling apprehensive and like I'd rather be doing almost anything else. I'm so glad that I am not alone.

Tpolychron - I have taken out my pathology reports so many times to make sure it was my name and that the core biopsy results matched the surgical pathology results. It does seem so unreal.

Thank you for all the wishes for a clean scan of my spleen this a.m., much appreciated, I'll be leaving soon for that then I'm having lunch with a group of my co-workers followed by an appointment with a wholistic GP that specializes in oncology, looking forward to what she might have to offer.

Also thanks to all for sharing their chemo experiences, it does help, I also am wig, scarf and hat shopping - so far haven't been impressed with the wigs I've tried on, I think I look like I am in drag - hope it gets better

I will be having my port inserted on August 2nd at 0930 - Tazzy, I will definitely be thinking of you that day

Following the port insertion we are going to prepare to leave for our vacation. We are heading west to British Columbia, from there we will be going south to Washington, lake area. Very much looking forward to that before chemo starts August 13th.

Jpmomof3 - you've had a lot to deal with this week, I hope you are able to put it aside for a few days this weekend and just heal and enjoy your family.

Take care all, wishing you a good weekend

Websister-Let us know how the port insert go, I will most likely need that done for my herceptin even though I might not be doing chemo. I'm sure you will enjoy your vacation.

Junaubugg-I'm really gald that you finally came to a decision on doing chemo and with a positive mind, you will get through it. I'm still undecided but most likely I will not be doing chemo and will go on tamoxifen for 5 years and Herceptin for 1 year. We need each other so much, all of us in this thread. Our ups and downs and the roller coaster ride! Keep us posted, I can't give you advice on how to get through chemo but I'm here for you when you need to rant! Have you gone on Tamoxifen yet? If so how are you handling it?

2FriedEggs-Thanks for googling for info for me and others like me. It is a really crap shot and I feel like I'm back in limbo, I felt like that waiting on surgery, now I'm waiting to decide if to do chemo. All studies are so contradictory to each other, while one study will say something is good while another will say that same thing is bad. Don't know what to believe when it comes to this f&*^ing cancer. Hope I could make a final decision soon.

ARGGGGH.

There I was sailing along, recovering from rads and doing PT for the LE. Then I noticed a red spot at 6 o'clock on my right breast (my cancer was at 9 o'clock) the next morning, Monday, it was a lot bigger so I called the RO.  He was out of the office, so they sent me to my PCP's office.  I got in to see the PA Monday afternoon.  She thought it was a bite, or perhaps a clogged pore.  Gave me an RX for an antibiotic, told me to use an antifungle ointment and told me to come back Friday (today)

PA says it looks better, should continue to improve, switch from the antifungle to the antibiotic, because it looks like the yeast infection has cleared up... Fine.

Then, she says, when you get the infection cleared up, we'll probably want to schedule surgery to have that cyst removed.  Cyst?  What Cyst?  Oh you have a good sized cyst in the middle of that infection.  It may drain and go away, but probably not, and once they start getting infected, they tend to keep getting infected, especially when you have LE and radiation damage.  

I'm usually pretty stoic, but I just about burst into tears.  I realize this is a simple procedure, but I'm tired of any procedures.  

Thanks for letting me vent.

Cindyl, sorry to hear about that cyst, isn't this ride all full of big and little unpleasant bumps? You will get over this bump too, as much as it sucks. This is nothing compared to what you have been through already. Hugs!

Hi gang, wanted to post update on this site too...went to BS today after lumpectomy last Friday.  Tumor removed was 1.5cm vs 1cm they said at biopsy.  Margins were 2mm except for 1 area of 1mm but BS said no more surgery needed.  Best of all nada in the lymph node taken.  So now comes Oncotype test to determine if chemo would help or not.  That takes several weeks for results so i sit in wait until first appt with MO on Aug 21st.  Chemo would come before radiation if needed.  So time to sit and wait...which is not the course for me as I had surgery within 8 days of dx.  Dr. said the wait time is nothing to worry about...but mentally I just want to keep moving forward and fast!  Hugs to all!  Aruba

Cindyl-sorry to hear about your cyst and hope everything turns out OK!

Aruba-Waiting is the worst part in this whole roller coaster ride, its like you're in limbo! You will soon get a plan of treatment and feel better! 

Cindyl...I went to the dr in June and said I don't feel good and my breast felt weird. The dr wasn't in so I saw the PA. She gave me a breast exam and told me I had a cyst. Go to the hospital to get it drained. I went to the hospital, but the nurse said lets do a mammogram. And that started this process. I'm not saying this story to scare you, but Perhaps you should go get a second opinion. Make sure it's a cyst. And get it drained. I want you to feel better!!!!

Happy raccoon ~

That is too funny, since there is not a heck of alot to laugh about while we recall going thru this great stage of lives. Nice to know ubr out there. !! I also go for an MRI, on Monday. I don't know if I post this before but I am going to wait in my BRCA to come back to make my ultimate decision. I am leaning towards bmx, number of reasons 1. Sister had bc 2 x in same side, 2. I am such a type A person that i don't think I could stand the unknown forever with the lump, I have 2 kids single mom and thinking if it truly is so early and no lympnodes then ? No chemo, and ? No radiation, maybe no tamoxifen. Have a second appt with bs, and ps. The ps is going in vaca. Until sept so .... But that is my train of thoughts... As always ladies weigh in... How about u???

Cindyl~

Positive thoughts going out to u!! Have faith.

Welcome to all who are new to this thread



Cindyl - not a pleasant experience for you, understand your reaction. Hope all heals quickly.



Juneaubug - looking forward to hearing about your day yesterday



SoyaandPepper - I will definitely update after the portaacath insertion



Lostinmo - wow, no wonder you are overwhelmed, sending hugs; my vacation will be in British Columbia and northern Washington at a lake area



My day yesterday had some positive aspects and some worrisome. They did a very thorough abdominal ultrasound, not just checking out the spleen but also the liver and kidneys. I was in there quite a long time, then the tech said she was going to check with the radiologist. She came back and wanted more pictures of the spleen. This time she had me turn to my right side so I was able to see the monitor. There was a very tiny white area she was marking. Once done, the radiologist said he had what he needed so I was free to go.

My meeting with the GP specializing in oncology and treating whole person went well. Kind of like a sister, psychologist, dietitian and physician all rolled into one person. When I mentioned the spleen and she agreed with me that they don't biopsy spleens. She said most likely, even if they suspect this is a metastasis, they will use this as a baseline, go forward with treatment as planned. Follow up in about three months with either CT or another ultrasound and compare. She spent over an hour with me, I feel better about having the portacath inserted right before vacation now and I also feel better about first chemo on return. One day at a time

Lostinmo, man I really really feel your pain. I am so sorry to hear that your response to chemo wasn't what you hoped. Mine wasn't either. I am scared out of my brains too. I do know that radiation works really well. And my mo pointed out to me now that we know that the cells I have now are resistant to the chemo I took they have more information on the biology of those cells. they can design a treatment with that in mind. I don't know if I will need more chemo or not. I will find out this coming Friday. But just like an infection that is resistant to one antibiotic, we have other antibiotics to do the job. I am telling you to have faith that you will beat this and telling myself that at the same time. I hope if I say it enough times I will believe it more and more. It is helping. And I really think it is true, it is just taking a while for my dark thoughts to be pushed out. We were dealt some big blows this past week but the game is on more than ever. I am there with you babe. Bring on the rads, let's light this cancer up.



Websister, hugs to you too. Are they going to biopsy that spleen thing? Or are they just going to watch it? Did that spot show up on a pet scan too?



I am doing better. The pain is sharper when I move certain ways but not bad. I am just relaxing. It's the weekend and time to try to forget about BC for a while. No new information will be coming until Monday.

just GO if you feel like.......... I did cycle, pilates, zumba ( but on my wii!!20min), work few hours, cook, clean etc. when I felt good enough. when to tired...the coach. 

I didn't have port.......... 

Chrissera...I did neo adjuvant chemotherapy.  It did shrink the tumor some,  but didn't do much to the lymph nodes.  I ended up having a lumpectomy on May 29 and a re-excision on June 26.  I wish I could give you solid advice on lumpectomy vs. mastectomy but I can't.  In the beginning all I wanted to do was keep my breast but now I can't even remember why that was so important to me.  I think a lot depends on the location and size of your tumor.  I have had a lot of problems with my lumpectomy incision and have had to postpone rad treatments because of it.  For whatever reason it will not stay closed.  It is currently packed as of this past Thursday with the goal to heal it from the inside out.  Because of all of this I know I will have a hideous scar and I also have a dent where they removed the lump and breast tissue.  I know that plastic surgery is an option but my DH says it doesn't bother him.  I don't know what complications I would've had if I had decided on a mastectomy.  Who knows?  Maybe it would've been worse for the healing process. There is a lot to consider and it is a big decision!!  I read so much before I had my lumpectomy and felt very confident about the decision when I made it.  You have to do whats right for you.  Thinking about you!

This site has been such a blessing to me since I was diagnosed with IDC this month. I am 41 and found a lump in my right breast at 6 o'clock in March. Because there is no family history I assumed it was a cyst and it would resolve itself. It did not. I found a second lump at 12 o'clock in June and decided it was time to go see my doc. I had a mammo and ultrasound followed by ultrasound guided biopsy. The radiologist that performed the biopsy told me that it look malignant. Two days later, on July 19, 2012, I go the news that will change my life forever. IDC, high grade, 8/9 on nottingham and positive node.



Had appt with bs on 7/25 and learned I was triple negative and she staged me at IIB, pending MRI and PET scan. I get my chemo port on Tuesday and meet with the MO on Friday. Hoping to get started ASAP as I have a very aggresive cancer. MRI showed "activity" throughout my right breast and a "beautiful" left breast. Lumpectomy was taken off the table with the results of the MRI so I will be having a mastectomy on my right breast and my husband and I are leaning towards the left also. Will have results of PET scan on Tuesday and my prayer is that it hasn't gone past my lymph nodes.



My frustration in this is that the information is not out there that over 60% of newly diagnosed breast cancers HAVE NO FAMILY HISTORY! I am an educated woman, but if I had known that fact, I would have had it checked in March. We need to educate women on this statistic and I have made it my mission to get the word out in my local community.



My faith in the Lord is strong and I know that it is in His hands. Patience was not in my vocabulary 2 weeks ago. I am learning though!

For whoever asked abort the port, once the incision is healed, and you don't feel any pain, a week, maybe two, you can do anything. The port is completely under your skin, no dirt etc can get in it. I have had my pacemaker for 18 months- it is very similar to the port insertion. And had my port for 6 months, no problems. Good Lucknow