Calling all TNs

hmmm strange...I had 3 MRI's for my neck and spine and never had any injections. Never had a MRI for my breasts for maybe that is different.

As for the wire...yep that is exactly what I had.

Wow I am really surprised about the MRI and radiation. I googled it can't find anything about injecting radioactive  material. That is scary!

Yes I can imagine. I did ask my MO about having any other tests and he said only if the symptoms warrant it.

I asked about PET scans...MRIs and even Ultrasounds. I guess here in Canada where we have universal healthcare, they don't do anything more than is necessary. If in fact, if they are using radiation, I don't want it anyways. LOL

Hmmm I just read that...it says it doesn't use any ionizing radioactive material like Xrays.

Now I am really confused!

amen!

What is the status of your thyroid now? Was there ever a definitive conclusion or just wait and see?

You did have a needle biopsy done on the nodule right?

Yes, thanks for asking about my thyroid nodule.  I had two biopsies done about 6 months back, it was benign.  The next biopsy is scheduled for June 5th, but I am waiting to see my bloodwork first and then decide.  If the bloodwork is all normal, I won't go for the biopsy.  I just hate them poking and disturbing the small area.   The authorization is valid until August, so i could get it done later if I feel there is a concern.  But if all my thyroid blood tests are normal, I feel it would be an overkill to do the biopsy.  the only concern was that the nodule grew from 18 mm to 21 mm, but I am not too worried or concerned.  Feeling a little more tired than usual, though.

Melissa - those markers are so random and not reliable.  I would dispense with them completely.  When I had full blown cancer w/no treatment, mine was 19.  After treatment, it was 11.  POSSIBLY as a baseline, but the under 38 thing certainly did not apply in my case.  

Ida- I did have a tumor marker with my biopsy.  This whole thing is one big crap shoot, so I would do what you want.  Its your choice!  

Good morning  ladies,

    Just popped in to wish a wonderful weekend. Live life to the fullest! XOXO

Lovelyface, thank you for all the info.  I have not used any progesterone products on my skin.....i have no clue as to any risk factors for me getting bc or being triple negative....several years back I lost a lot of weight, am in my healthy zone, eat much healthier, exercise pretty regularly. It just happens sometimes.  I too consider myself triple negative since my progesterone is so low.  The oncologist says she will put me on hormones but everything I read says it MAY help me and I'm not sure with 5% if its worth all the side effects.  I need to research more about it I think. 

Thank you again for your reply and enjoy the rest of this wonderful weekend.

angie

Consider carefully before giving up mri. My mammon and ultrasound were all clear at 3 years. At 3.5 when it was time for routine mri they found local in breast tumor which they now think is new not recur. But it was small and would never have been seen without mri

Thanks for the comments about my mom (the one who had the stroke last year and the decision to proceed with chemo).  It was postponed from last week to this week (mostly, because I thought she was getting a cold which she wasn't).  Just like last week, I am having second thoughts about the decision to proceed with chemo.  One minute I feel confident and hopeful that the side effects will be managable.  The next I think about how tired she is right after her hour long physical therapy...until she gets a root beer and a doughnut.  (yes, I know not healthy).  Or how she is tight after sitting on the couch for a few hours.  And try to imagine if she will even be able to stand up on the "tired" days of chemo.

Plus, I mention chemo and that she will feel bad for a few days, but that it will go away, etc.  I explain that it is best to kill any cancer cells now, because she might get cancer in a place they can't treat it.  Remember she can't really speak, but has been able to understand more and more.   Her phrase is "I don't know" which sometimes comes out when she can't find the "right words" she wants to say. Of course, sometimes it is an appropriate "I don't know", too.

When I talk about going for chemo, she says I don't know, then eventually makes a face and says no.  I don't know if she can make rational decisions.  Like, she decides if she wants to go the store or stay in the car, or if her clothes are dirty.  But, somedays she would skip therapy if I didn't convince her to go, and sometimes she is impulsive and touches her toothbrush to the bottom of the sink (yuck!).   My brother talks to mom and gets her to agree to trying at least one treatment to see how it goes.   Then, I ask to confirm and she is back to "I don't know."

I can't imagine her anxiety about the whole thing (though with how much I've cried today, maybe I can).  I think of how I procrastinate and postpone and would do anything to get out of a colonoscopy...this is way more than that.  She went through fatigue issues when getting adjusted to anti-seizure meds.  She missed alot of therapy and her walking and strength suffered. 

It is so hard to know what is right.  The doctor says because she is improving we should do it.  I know it is her best defense.  Sometimes my brother says- maybe, we should cancel it, if mom doesn't want it, she has been through so much in the last year, maybe we should let her enjoy the progress she has made, and just see what happens. 

Back and forth we go.  And I still haven't told her sister.

Regbeach, I hardly know where to start.  You have such a huge decision to make.  I like Peggy's advice.  Also, keeping in mind, that if you decide to proceed with treatment, you can stop at anytime.  God bless you, girl.  Your mother is the luckiest woman in the world to have you looking out for her.  Praying for you, too.  Caregivers need care too.

Re: thyroid.  I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer two years ago.  That was my introduction to cancer but BC is definately another world.  ALL of my bloodwork showed my thyroid was functioning.  Tests were inconclusive, biopsy was inconclusive, so we took half my thyroid out (the side that was swollen).  Even at that point, the surgeon told my husband that it didnt look cancerous.  Guess, what?  Pathology showed it was and I was back in for surgery two weeks after the first one to remove the rest of my thyroid.  

So, don't write things off because bloodwork shows the thyroid is functioning.

GowiththeFlow - thank you so much for sharing about thyroid.  It truly helps to get feedback like that.

Rebeach - I will pray for the best outcome for your sweet mom.  She is lucky to have you, and my heart goes out to you for having to make this decision. 

Hi ladies. I am 5 days out from my latest surgery. This one was a lymph node transfer in Chicago. Signs are looking good that it is successful! I am saddened by news that a friend who just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl last monday found out she has a 10cm bc that has gone to the lymphs. She will have a pet scan and start chemo asap. Have not heard if its tn but it is a very aggressive one. She is 36yr old. Hope she comes to bco as it would be so great for support!



Maggie

For those following the story about the cheme decision for my mom.  First, thanks for reading and commenting.

This AM (Monday) I talked about chemo again with mom. She was adamant with no. Then, I said she would still have to do radiation and she said no- which made me question her ability to decide all over again.  Most of the day I was thinking we would cancel it.  Then, I talked to an old friend who basically thought the original plan of trying at least one treatment seemed like something everyone had agreed to and why not do that.  My brother and I talked to mom again.  She tends to listen to him- like, she won't do extra exercises at home for me most of the time but will always do it for him. It's either his deep voice, or she's just tired of me telling her to do things all the time (take your medicine, move your foot, etc).

Anyway, with both of us there, she agreed to do it.  Oddly, this time, she cried, which of course made me question all over again.  It seems no matter the decision the opposite one always seems better!  I say oddly- because the neurologists told us her personality and emotions would be affected by the stroke.  One specifically said she would never cry again.  She has laughed, she has been annoyed but through all of rehab and breast cancer news never one tear until today.  Maybe the situation finally sunk in, maybe her decision this time even with tears was made with a different clarity, a realization that chemo as bad as it might be, might be a good choice.   Or maybe she just couldn't take us bringing it up again and is doing it because my brother said the drs. and us think it is a good idea to try.

Either way, it doesn't feel "better", it just feels surreal.   Of course, I googled one more thing and read horrible stories of side effects- numbness in feet, blah, blah.  And read that the steriod has a moderate interaction with her anti-coagulant- trying to tell myself that it is just for 3 days. 

She is always tired when she goes to bed (silly, aren't we all), plus she takes her more of her anti-seizure med at night which might add to it.  Those are the moments when I think- My God, I hope she can still walk on the "fatigue days" and that there aren't more than a few in a row.  I thought her agreeing would feel better.  In the AM, I first felt bad (like wrong decision) when she was saying no, then I felt sort of relief that we wouldn't be dealing with chemo.  Then after talking to my friend, I felt like chemo was right again, then mom's tears...

Steroid in the AM and IV line in the afternoon.