Calling all TNs

mmizerak: I have not had any PETs (they are not done here except for advanced cancer cases, for a variety of reasons that in my opinion are very valid), nor CTs through treatment. At diagnosis, I got abdominal U/S, lung xrays, bone scan and a MUGA at chemo start and finish. I suppose these scans might have been escalated to a CT if anything suspicious showed up. Since treatment, I only have scans if I have worrisome symptoms - hence a neck CT for enlarged nodes and bone scan for back pain, both of which turned out to be unremarkable.

In my opinion there is a very real downside to continuous PET and CT scanning for early stage BCs (false positives, excess anxiety, unnecessary radiation), and it's interesting that in single-payer, not-for-profit public health systems such as Canada's it's generally not done. Hope I haven't offended anyone - I know some women like to get scanned for peace of mind, and others prefer to forego the anxiety. 

Tooky: Glad you made it through, and sorry to hear the PICC line was such an issue - good thing it's in now and you don't have to put up with vein injections all the time. 

Tazzy -- wishing you luck tomorrow as you head into surgery.  I only had a lumpectomy so I cannot speak for what you will be having done but, the day of surgery, there was a peace that came over me and I was not scared or frightened in the least.  I'm thinking that I was glad to get it over with an go on to the next step.  I'll be thinking of you...

Mmizerak -- I have not had any scans at all, and my MO does not plan on doing any.  I keep a journal of any aches and pains I have and he will address them...his feeling is that the scans affect your quality of life.  I said that I was worried about becoming a hypochondriac and he smiled -- meaning, I think, that that is normal and he has ways to weed out the real issues from the not so real issues.  Unfortunately, like you, I have a very high tollerance for pain and worry that I will ignore a sign when in fact I shouldn't -- this is a discussion I will have with my MO at some point in the future.

Bak94 -- I'm sorry that your sister is going through the foreclosure but, in her defense, I too have been unemployed for three years (3/31/2009) and get close to a job but "no cigar".  Companies just do not want to hire us older people -- trust me -- I just turned 62.  I know that I am very lucky because I do have a spouse with an income and insurance but others like your sis are not so lucky.  My mother-in-law says "I would just take any job" but, it is not that simple.  When you take just any job, it takes away from the time you need to look for a real job.  Job search and BC are kind of the same -- people like my MIL say things when they really do not understand and have not walked that mile in our shoes.  Good luck to you and your family, I hope that things come together for all, and soon.

Received my Neulasta injection today - I am a CHICKEN for shots, so after my fear-tears, it was over.  I requested the shot to be warmed (they had already done that) . . I asked about getting it in my stomach as Sylvia suggested, the nurse said that they never administer in the stomach at this place.  I haven't been there long enough to KNOW for sure, but feel confident they are competent and caring . . . so, in the back/fatty part of my upper arm.  No problems.  So far, no side effects.  God is Good.  Thanks for all the good news from you who are having anniversaries of note.  This is WAY encouraging to me, a NEWBIE.

mmizerak: At dx, had a PET scan, bone scan, breast mri. Had a chest x-ray after chemo/mx to get my approuval for the metformin clinical trial and another abdominal scan and US last march because of stomach issues.

Good luck with surgery tomorrow Tazzy!  

So sad. We just lost another triple negative sister-blondelawyer. She did not post much here but had lost her husband to cf the year prior to being diagnosed. She was 34. A beautiful, bright woman. Never had a chance to enjoy her career that she worked so hard for, being a lwayer. I am heartbroken. She went to the same cancer center I go to, but I never met her.

Lory - congrats on the test results. Have you had a previous scan done on your lungs? I had 4 nodes on my lungs pre-tx, and when they checked post-tx they hadn't changed, so they weren't concerned by them. They aren't planning in checking them again, but my PCP says he will.



dgcote - How scarey that must have been for you. Wishing you clear sailing from here on.



Tazzy - schooch over on the table, I plan on giving you a big hug thru the whole thing. Also, take your pain meds if you need them!



Cocker - I'm so sorry and sad about the 50/50 odds. (Geez, couldn't they at least said 51/49). I'm voting for 50 Shades of you'll kick it to the curb my spunky little friend. Already read all the 50 Shades, lol. No fun or gambling here. I'm busy this week being a sh*t mover this week. Have to clear areas so they can drill for for the termite poison. Spent yesterday clearing some shit out of Mom's spare room, to make room to move shit from porch to spare room. I swear she never threw anything away her whole life!!!!



Jazzy - congrats and enjoy your visitors. The joy of loved ones is the best medicine.



Fern - *waves Pom-Poms *. Glad it went well



Jan - good luck with your US tomorrow.



Pinky - what a sweet surprise from your hubby.



Bak94 - sorry your in such a difficult situation. Maybe your State Bar Association can give you a referral to an agency who can give her some free legal assistance?



Bernie -loved the visual. Knew I was old when I realized some of the positions in 50 Shades would

put me in the hospital.



Christina - thank you, link was good news.



Mmizrrak - pre-tx: CT of chest and abd, bone scan, breast MRI (no PET). Post- tx: Breast MRI and chest CT (only because of nodes). Will have no further testing except an annual mammo.



Tifj - hope you and the wee ones get a break from the heat.



Fishinurse - (HUG)



Mags - when I'm tempted to complain about the heat I remember all you ladies who have to wear sleeves.



LuvR - could you bottle some of that energy and share?



Tookybum - Yeah for chemo one down. Your MO would probably help with the sleep meds.



Arkiemama - great to hear from someone 6 years out and doing well.



Luah - no offence, good to hear another perspective.



Everyone have a wonderful day, I'm off to shovel shit. ( even worse, it's a glassed in porch, think heat like a greenhouse!)

thank you bak for telling us about blondelawyer...she was in my august surgery group.   sadness indeed abounds as we all mourn the loss of our sister who was stolen too early!

Mags

Thank you Bak for letting us know. Blondlawyer - another sister gone way to young, but I hope you have been welcomed by your husband and are in a place of joy.

I remember blondelawyer.  so sad.

(((((bak94)))))

Oh so, so sad about Blondelawyer. That is just terrible.

I had Mamogram and then a sonogram prior to excisional biopsy on 5/27/2010.  After biopsy I had a CT/PT Scan, bone scane, and MRI.  I then had a lumpectomy, and a sentinel node biopsy where they took one node.  I had 4 dose dense Adriamycin and Cytoxen and then 4 dose dense Taxol chemo treatments followed by 33 radiation treatments finishing up Jan 18 2010.  I had a PET/CT Scan and a Mamogram in June 2011 and a PET/CT Scan and a Mamogram in December 2011.  I had another PT/CT Scan in June 2012 and will not have another mamogram until December and then I will get another PT/CT Scan.  My Oncologist is all for me receiving PT/CT scans every 6 months for peace of mind and my surgeon thinks it is overkill.  Personally I hope to continue having the scans until I am 5 years out.  I just lost a friend a month ago to this disease and she was not having scans and the disease caught up with her without her knowing about it.  I prefer to know so that I can fight.

tooky-you do look beautiful!

guygirl-my insurance just decided not to pre approve a routine bone scan for me, mo is still trying to get it approved. I don't get it, I am technically stage 4! I do not like the stress of scans, but I am kinda glad my doc makes me do them, he says pet/ct once a year, bone scan every six months until my next one then also once a year. Now only if my insurance will agree. I have been having hip pain, maybe that will help get the bone scan approved.

Catwhiss-I am sorry you are going through that also. Exactly like my sis, too qualified for a lot of jobs so they won't hire her, and she doesn't have a degree so certain jobs won't hire her because of that. I am 45 and going to school for a career change and I wonder if it is worth it, the cost of school and then the chance that I am too old to be hired. I sometimes think I should just stick to my haircoloring job, chemicals and all! Man, I am so sorry to be such a downer today, I need to snap out of it! I have so much to be thankful for. First of all, thankful for all of you understanding gals, thankful that I am so close to my family, thankful for all of my crazy animals, thankful for my exceptional husband, who has been through it all with me (even though I complain about him sometimes). I am thankful I got to know blondelawyer on these boards. Life is such a mystery. Ialways want to know why things happen the way they do. Is is coincidence or does it have some greater meaning. Weird thing was last night I could not stop thinking about blondelawyer and was looking for all of her old posts to see if she had posted anything more recently, and then the news of her today. Maybe she was saying goodbye...and I never even met her.

Big hugs Bak. I posted not too long ago asking about Blonde- so sad, so young. I hate BC! I sure hope things turn around for you soon.