Is There A September 2011 Chemo Group?

oh, btw, my PT for my hip was helping me some with my shoulder that was been bothering me (unrelated to cancer), and he said that he recently went to a conference where someone from a cancer center was presenting to them about how more GS and PS should refer mastectomy patients for PT because of the high % of shoulder and back problems post-surgery.

Hi Ladies,

I hope you don't mind me jumping into this group.  I've been here a BreastCancer.org for about 10 months.  I have my regular thread that I'm on a lot but we are all still newbies and I am searching for some info on Tumor Markers.  Had my BMX Dec 4th 2012, 6 cycles of T/C. Finished April 25th. Had a normal CA 27.29 on June 14th.  (25) Six weeks later it was elevated to 52. My oncologist told me any inflammation at all can cause it to rise.  I had a intestinal issue in July caused by severe constipation(I think caused by Tamoxifen).  It caused a form of colitis.  I'm hoping this is the cause for it to rise I get retested tomorrow.

The reason I ended up on this thread is I searched tumor markers and it bought me to this thread. Any info you have I would appreciate.  I'm trying not to stress but as we all know that's next to impossible. 

Thanks in advance,

Carla

Hi Carla, my MO doesn't do tumor markers,says they are not reliable because other things can make them rise or you can have mets and they stay low for some people. Plus because I am early stage,I hope you get good news soon. It's a roller coaster ride we are all on it seems like sometimes!! Please let us know what u find out! In my thoughts and prayers..

CJRT, belleeast and Mags,

Thank you all so much for taking the time to answer my question.  My own oncologist even told me some oncologist don't run tumor markers on early stage BC, but it is protocol for the group he is in.  It worries me because I have never had a scan of any type.  He was going to do one in January.  He gave me the choice of having the blood test re-done or go straight to a scan.  My BS thinks I should have the blood test re-done before rushing into a scan. 

You are all in my prayers.  CJRT, sending out a special prayer for you for a good report!!

Carla

Hi Ladies.  I'm on original member of this group (I was famous for shattering my knee during chemo and having a double mastectomy while using a walker).  I'm back because I wanted to tell you that I appreciated all your support during that terrible time.  I've just been diagnosed with extensive bone mets.  We thought the aches and pains were from the AIs and switching seemed to help.  Then we moved into a new one-level house (remember my bum knee?) and thought that all the stress of moving was causing my back aches.  Unfortunately, that was not the case and I am riddled with cancer in just about all my bones.  I started on Afinitor with Femara (the only AI we had not tried yet) but the mouth sores were impossible.  I'm taking a week off for them to heal and then restart at a lesser dose.  As you can imagine, I am devastated and my family is also.  Guess I could use a few gentle hugs from old friends.  Hope I don't bring you down too much.

Linda

Linda- I read info on here about a new osteoporosis drug that shows promise for bone mets that aren't responsive to traditional hormones. Have you seen it?

Belle- I would take that as great news!!! Hopefully your gp will figure out the kidney thing quickly and it will just be a minor thing. Enjoy the weekend now that you can relax!

Linda,did you have scans,I see where you had 5 positive nodes,was wondering if you had regular scheduled scans- bone,pet,cat? Or did mo just assume it was the AIs? I know my mo doesn't do scans but I didn't have pos nodes.

I have a lot of aches and pains in my bones but I am walking 3 to 4 miles most days )) this old body isn't used to that lol.

Thanks mags and RJ.



RJ- sorry to hear of your surgery but sending positive thoughts for a speedy recovery.



Belle- the family trip sounds great! I'm a few hours south of there and haven't taken my kiddos there yet. You all should have a blast!

Rj, so sorry to hear of your surgery,wishing you a speedy recovery. I hear ya about being so tired of the poking and prodding but I consider my self one of the lucky ones- compared to what some of the girls here have endured..

Mags,will be thinking of you Wed,in my thoughts and prayers..((Hugs)

Linda,((Hugs)) in my thoughts and prayers!

You guys are the best. Thanks for holding my hand.

CJRT - I'm sorry to hear about your bone mets.  Sounds like you have a new hip.  I hope you are improving because orthopedic surgery on top of everything else is horrible.  You are way too young to deal with all this crap.  I guess we all are!

Belle - I didn't have regular scans.  My symptoms were pretty much textbook for AI aches and pains.  We kept trying to switch AIs to see if it would help.  I was doing pretty well on Arimidex until about the time we moved.  I attributed the extra back pain to packing and stress.  It even seemed to get better so I waited until my regular appointment to ask for a switch to Femara.  Coincidentally, I found a lump in my neck the night before my appointment.  My MO sent me for a biopsy right away and it turned out to be positive.  That's when I got the PET/CT scan and found the worst.  I will be having them regularly now.  Part of me is mad because I am just too tough.  I should have been in the MO office complaining about the aches months ago.  The problem is that everything had a logical explanation - AIs make you ache, packing and moving causes back pain etc.  Oh well, it'a all hindsight now.

RJ- sorry to hear about your surgery.  I sure hate all the prodding and poking too.  Speedy recovery to you!

Mags- I will send positive thoughts your way for your surgery this week.  I had no idea you had so many issues with your reconstruction.  I hope that this moves you forward in your journey.

Belle - I just saw you post about your hands.  Are you okay?  Have you ever had trouble with neuropathy?  I hear it can come on anytime.

Take care, everyone!

Linda

belle- i just had a random thought...is that the type of nerve pain that shingles presents with?

Belle - CJRT has a good point about shingles.  I had it briefly and it came out of the blue.  My MO gave me some sort of med that works if you take it right when symptoms show up and I felt better pretty quickly.  It's worth a call to the doc.

Take care,

Linda

Belle - I did have a rash with my shingles.  It just seems like everyone is so different (I can't believe I said that since I hate it when my doc says it!).  I just want you to take care of yourself.  Glad you are feeling better today.

Linda

Hi all,went to dr,no infection. Told her about back,rib cage shoulder pain. Also about hands and that my neck is still bothering me from car accident last fall. Felt like a hypochondriac lol. She put me on muscle relaxer and prednisone 20 mg 2 x day for 5 days.. Crap I hate steroids!!! Said if didn't help,could send me to pain management for injection for my neck,I think. I guess she is thinking back is a muscle,idk.. It doesn't feel like a muscle,oh well,I'll give it a try if it doesn't help next time I think I'll insist on some type of scan.
She asked if there was a rash on hands,I said no. Didn't mention hands again. So no answer there,either!

Belle - hope you are continuing to feel better.  Sorry you didn't get more difinitive answers.

Praying for Maggie's quick recovery!