TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP

Cognitive function problems... Yes. I have them, and it's actually pretty obvious not only to me but to those close to me. I struggle to find words now, and to verbalise my thoughts.

But, I think it's only obvious because of what I'm trying to do. You see, I hold down a full-time academic oncology clinical research position and at the same time I am studying towards a university degree. So, I'm busy. I'm stressed. And, I'm expected to perform at a reasonably high level of cognitive function. 21 months after my initial diagnosis, the multiple surgeries, the chemo, the radiotherapy and now the Tamoxifen, I am definitely struggling.

I actually think that if I was not trying to study at a high level I would be OK. If I was a stay at home wife like I used to be. If I was a part-time worker. If I was holding down a position with a lower level of cognitive function required... Then, it wouldn't matter so much that I now have to describe things as "you know, that thing-a-me-bob".

Jenn

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Jenn128,



Re cognitive issues....sorry you are dealing with them . I have some as well. Just kind of foggy at times particularly when tired. I am very surprised and actually hopeful that it is hormone related rather than the result of chemo.

Ladies,

Very good new about Perjeta. I wonder if we able to combine Perjeta and Herceptin for Early stage every 3 week instead of just Herceptin every 3 week. I hope so.

Cgesq, mine have bounced around a bit but MO seems to think everything’s fine as long as it’s within normal range.  Though I just checked based on your post – I guess the standard for AST is less than 31 and mine was 34 in august.  My ALT was in normal range but both were higher in august, lower in july, and higher in april.  I stopped chemo last November.  Should I be worried?  Keep us posted anyway. 

There has been a state police officer that has been shot and killed in my area and the last few days has been something else, this all happened less then  2 miles from my driveway. all tv channels are here more police here then I have seen in my life.  Sorry I know this has nothing to do with this site but gees... ALL  News channels are here THOUSANDS of officers from Michigan and other states are here for his funeral.  A 19 year old kid shot and killed a state officer here.  And most of all the kid that shot him is a friend of my son's.  So sorry I am just sooo emotional right now.

Ang OMG that is horrible especially that u'r son knows him. I don't blame u for feeling like that--I'd be a nerveous wreck. And it's so close to you, of course u had to tell us. How is u'r son doing? I hope he's all right.

Special K,  Thanks for the suggestion on the liver enzyme culprit, but I'm not taking any joint supplements.  I (did) take biotin, magnesium, D3, calcium and a baby aspirin, but stopped about 2 weeks ago, due to an outbreak of diverticulitis, for which I was given antibiotics.  (God, I feel like a hypocondriac!!)

I was supposed to have the CT done on Monday, but my insurance is asking for additional blood work before they will approve the scan.  So the scan is temporarily off.

Ang  that is terrible about the shooting.  No wonder you are so emotional.  I hope everyone in your family is ok.

Carolynvj,



Welcome to the forum! Lots of great women here to support you. You can let it all out here.....

Ashla I'm glad u'r doing that, it's worth it for you. I think u'll be happy u went that extra mile for u'rself.

Camille and momx2



Despite having gone through menopause...twice....obviously failed the first time since I was still 65% er pos...., my breasts are still very dense. On my one year post surgery..that's when the NED count starts..I got a birads 3 . This means there are changes but likely not cancerous. " Equivocal" in doctorspeak I think.

This wasn't offered to me but my RO suggested it to me a few months ago and I've decided to go with it.

I must switch facilities . I have an attachment to the first place because they were so wonderul when I was dxed but I think I must try this.

Momx2

The place is across the river if you are interested.

My sister was just diagnosed with breast cancer( very early)... I'm going with her to the bs this afternoon. She didn't know anything, so I don't know if she's her2 or not. Now that I'm finally finshing up, it's starts all over. A bit freaked out. Now it's me who has to be strong.

shasha - so sorry that your sister has been diagnosed, and that it dredges up your feelings - but certainly glad that she has you.  Sending you both strength for what lies ahead.

AA - I will never know if hormonal therapy would have improved my situation because I did the BMX, but having already done the hyst/ooph nine years earlier and still having the amount of density I had leads me to think maybe not.  I have severe menopausal symptoms (and still do) that began within 24 hours of that surgery so I know that I had very little circulating estrogen.  Mammo and MRI were useless for me from the outset - I was not particularly large-breasted so with the percentage of breast tissue versus the size of the lump should have been seen.  After diagnosis (the lump was seen clearly on ultrasound - it is the only imaging that worked for me) I went back to thank the military radiologist who pushed for the biopsy and he suggested that we review the mammogram film again to see if there was anything discernable now that I had a definitive diagnosis, and there was absolutely nothing.  He said if we had not done the ultrasound and relied on the mammogram only I absolutely would have continued to go undiagnosed, and he had annual and bi-annual mammograms to compare to going back more than 10 years.  Scary, because this was a palpable 2cm lump.  I am so glad that you are able to rely on imaging because I am sure it helps with your confidence that any new issue will be seen, I just couldn't take that chance.

Speciak,

You are too right. I think it was FSH (.?) that measures estradiol that showed I still had higher than normal levels. The first time I went through menopause was a breeze because of it.

Shasha I'm so sorry about u'r sister, it's like an epidemic---my sister and zi got it within just a couple of months of each other so I really couldn't help her and visa-versa--And it's harder watching u'r sister going thru this than it is having it. So I know how u feel.

I don't think I had dense breasts cuz my dr. just saw them when he looked at me and didn't even feel anything yet, of course he yelled at me for waiting but I just never gave it a thought and he said something like u call me on a Sunday cuz u'r finger hurts then u have tthese 2 huge lumps and don't say a word. Well I needed my finger to type at work, my breasts do nothing. And so the saga started.

I have to go to the Dr. soon so I have to take a shower, I like to let them think I have good hygeine.

Pbrain,



I 've lost weight while taking arimidex too but I 've been exercising alot. I would say that taking it has definitely not made it more difficult for me to lose weight though.



Alaska Angel,

I spoke to my MO about tamoxifen and breast density and my birads 3 mammo. Apparently I was birads 2 on the previous mammo which I had only been told was normal. He said It is a subjective call but I was going in the wrong direction. I was all upset because my hair had just started thinning after 9 mos on arimidex too. He said we'll keep an eye on both Issues and he would consider switching me to tamoxifen after the 2 year mark. He said AI's are better but tamoxifen is very, very good too.