2012 sisters

MrsCich, did your MO give you a good explanation for why you need chemo? Is it because you were bilateral? Is it because one of your tumors was high-grade? Is it because she's concerned about whether they got clear margins or might have missed some cells that could have escaped to the lymph nodes and not been detected? Obviously she wouldn't recommend it if she weren't concerned about recurrence, but what is the source of her concern?

Juneau - good to hear from you. Almost there my thoughts have been and continue to be with you



Jpmomof3 - great posts



Liefie - enjoyed your post also, your son will be so surprised. I smiled when I saw that you were heading my way for Canadian Thanksgiving, my husband and I are flying to Vancouver Island for that week for a break. All four boys will be here next weekend to celebrate an early Thanksgiving with us and do the Run for the Cure with me.



Ramols - glad you are planning a getaway also with your family, nice to have something to look forward to.



Mrscich - tough decision, thinking of you as you wrestle with it



Karen - welcome and thank you for sharing your story



Hi to everyone else.



My experience was a little different re: not sweating small stuff, appreciating the moment. A couple of months before my diagnosis I just seemed to be appreciating everything and everyone much more than ever, not being bothered by things that may have upset me in the past, at one point in May, I actually asked myself if life could get any better than this, I felt so blessed. Maybe I was being prepared for what was to come, who knows?



Take care everyone

Bev, I just saw you comment about my recommendations.  I wonder why your Dr says that but mine says to do it. I know the main reason is my age and my Onco score being right slap dab in the middle of the chart.  My cancer is 80% estrogen positive.  Are our ages that different? I'm 33.

Bev, I just saw your comment about my recommendations.  I wonder why your Dr says that but mine says to do it. I know the main reason is my age and my Onco score being right slap dab in the middle of the chart.  My cancer is 80% estrogen positive.  Are our ages that different? I'm 33.

MrsCich, it's definitely a hard decision. My onco was 32 or 34 - I forget the exact number but basically I call it a one in three chance of recurrence with no other treatment.  I'm thinking maybe your MO suggests the chemo based on the Grade 3 DCIS? Before I had an once-score, my tumor was already a Grade 3 so the MO expected an onco where he'd recommend chemo. My MO, surgeon, and radiologist all said they would tell their wife, sister, or self to have chemo (and radiation) in my case. I'm 48 but still should have a few years statistically. What chemicals is your MO recommending? recommending radiation too or, I forget, isn't rad done with BMX?

AYBD, the chemo recommended is Taxotere and Cytoxan. No rads for me. 

I hear horror stories about Tamoxifen so I don't want that but she highly recommends it as of now.  If my BRCA comes back as positive for the gene then she and I will discuss removing my ovaries since I will be at higher risk for ovarian cancer at that point.  Ugh, this is just too difficult. I may take up drinking.

Mrscich - you have to make your own decision that will work for you. I can't pretend to be in your shoes since I was given no options - thanks to my 6 positive nodes. But - if I had been given a choice, I imagine I would have done whatever it takes to ensure I'm around as long as possible to see my kids grow up, meet my eventual grandkids, and spend a peaceful retirement with my husband. I'm 37 - ony 4 years older than you - and I don't know about you, but I feel like I have a LOT of life left in me. So I'm not planning on giving cancer any opportunities to rob it from me. Just one girl's opinion. Sending you big hugs!

Ramols - your post helped me to as I keep thinking I am not going to do rads but you are correct I too want to not let this dam diease take my life away from me as I have a lot of places to see and things to do! I need to remember this when I am almost at the end of this dam race and I need to finish and cross the finish line no matter how much this last leg sucks and all I want to do is stop! Thanks for the important reminder!

MrsCich, yes, that decision is a very hard one indeed. All I can do to help you, is tell you what my situation was, and what I did. By comparing yourself to me and the others, maybe you will get some indication. I was 57 at diagnosis, IDC stage 1 grade 1, ER+/PR+, HER-, tumour 1.8 cm, one positive node with micromets, the biggest of which was .6 mm. My onc suggested chemotherapy, and prescribed 4 rounds of Cytoxan and either Taxol or Taxotere. He strongly advised Taxotere, said it was a more effective, more aggressive treatment than Taxol (his opinion), and with less chance of neuropathy. So that was what I did. Everybody's cancer and situation is so different. My feeling was just to go for it, because in case of a recurrence, I do not want to blame myself that I did not do everything to prevent it. Good luck - it will eventually become clear to you what you must do.

Websister, so wish I could visit with you when you're on the island that week. Just want to give you a big hug! I will drive wherever to come and see you. Enjoy your boys next weekend. Those times together are so precious. It is exactly for that purpose that we are driving to Alberta. In our case it is for a (very!) early Christmas with all our children, because we cannot be together in December. 

Juneau, how are you doing after #3 Let us know, we all love you!

Karen, welcome here! You've found a great group of warm, wonderful women who will support you no matter what.

Tazzy, I had the cleaning urge yesterday. Spring-cleaned my kitchen from top to bottom, and it felt so good that I actually had the energy to do it without getting tired at all. During chemo I could not even put a simple salad together without resting in between.

Scorchy, you are too funny! You do not hesitate to directly put into words what we others may be thinking, but are too reserved/scared/whatever to say out loud. In your case sarcasm is not the lowest form of wit! Your quirky sense of humour is an inspiration to me, because you remind me so much of my father. He was a brilliant man with the same quick, sarcastic disposition. Love it! 

Everybody else, hope this day is very good to you!

I had my double mastecotmy Wed. Im still in the hospital, pain is worse than I expected.  I m completely stoned to get pain under control.

They were not able to take out all the cancer. They left a small amount as it was right on the underneath of the skin.  As long as chemo lasts long enough to get my fills, the stretching will be done before radiation. Also they had to take 10-20 nodes out of the left armpit area.

Hi there new-bees. Sorry you are here but the ladies here are an awesome group.

 I just need to say, "owee, owee, owee, owee! OH GOD the BACK PAIN!!!" It's bringing me to tears this morning.  I called my MO because the tylenol isn't cutting it and I can't take ibuprofen (stomach issues) so he's giving me a Celebrex prescrip and has OK'd me taking my hydrocodone left over from surgeries if I need it. I hesitate on the hydrocodone because I become a batty bitch on that stuff. It's hard to balance my redhead sensitivity to pain and body's overreaction to painkillers.   I need the stuff sooner but usually at lower doses than most people. anyone else?

Ramols, I don't think its denial at all. What's the alternative? To cower in fear every day for the rest of your life? That's no way to live, is it? It's almost like inviting disaster to strike, right? No way! This was a temporary roadblock, it is behind me now, and life goes on. I'm 100% with you on this one.

MrsC, while all cases are different i chose not to do chemo. My onco was 26. Had i had any lymph node invlvement or LVI, i would have chosen chemo regardless. My 17% went to 12% with AI and 8% with chemo added That additional 4% was what this was about and i had a tough decision to make. I am 53 post meno. After researching my heart out. Calling the onco company to re go over every stat (i learned then that these stats based on under 700 case studies which shocked me how small a pool). Asking frank opinions of my daughter (25), son (23), hubby, brother and father. (they too affected by all this). My decision was made. I though am quite a bit different in age and diagnosis etc. Believe me i know how tough this is. Whatever you decide, make sure you are ok with it and think through if you can be at peace with it. This disease is as much mental as physical. So many major decisions in such a short time. We are here for you no matter what you choose!

Mrscich, you gave me what i definitely think is the answer. You are 33, I am 63. Big difference and big difference how a doctor would see things. I'm sure your doctor knows what she's talking about. My cancer was 92% estrogen positive so I am on Femera..... Good luck with whatever decision you make!!

Got my BRCA results. It's negative for me carrying the BC gene. My girls don't have to worry now!!!! It's not hereditary!!!!! I so freakin ecstatic about that!!!