Starting Chemo Feb 2010?

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  • mofend
    mofend Member Posts: 140
    edited February 2013

    Hi, everyone!  It's been three years since we started our group and I just wanted to check in and say hello and hope everyone is doing well.  Other than ongoing lymphedema, I'm well and have been doing great.  No real side effects from the Tamoxifen and my hair is back to below my shoulders.  Just wanted to let you all know that you helped me immensely with your support and wisdom through our shared experience.  I recommend this site to others in our situation because I know it was literally a life (and mind) saver for me.  Hope you are enjoying each and every day and are surrounded by love and happiness!  Always grateful for all of you - Mo

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  • Grazie47
    Grazie47 Member Posts: 94
    edited February 2013

    Hi Mo,

    I totally agree, this thread was my comfort during all the chemo, radiation and tests, tests, tests.  I too am very grateful for all of you.  I also have some lymphedema but other than that I feel good, look like crap, but feel good.

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  • burley
    burley Member Posts: 631
    edited March 2013

    Hello girls!  Checking in!  Still alive and kicking.

    Anyone have a problem with allergies now?  I am having terrible hayfever and food allergies, which are all new since cancer/chemo.  Seriously sucks.  I'm apparently allergic to everything!

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  • faithfulc
    faithfulc Member Posts: 284
    edited May 2013

    Hi, everyone.  The allergy season is over for me!  After having a clear bill in March (mammo and ultrasound), I have now noticed a lump along the bottom edge of my right breast.  Not sure what it is but don't have a good feeling about it.  Going in to see my onc on Thursday.  I have not seen him in almost a year.

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  • mofend
    mofend Member Posts: 140
    edited May 2013

    Hi, Faithfulc - I'm praying that it's just nothing and that you get another clean bill of health.  Please keep us posted on how you make out.  You were so kind to start this board three long years ago, and I always will hold you near and dear to me.  Best of everything!!! Mo

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  • burley
    burley Member Posts: 631
    edited May 2013

    Hey girls!  Faithful, good luck with your onc visit.  I've had two lumps removed in the last two years, one on each breast, that turned out to be fibrosis things just caused by scar tissue.  So maybe that is the issue for you too!  Good luck-thinking of you all.  Kim

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  • faithfulc
    faithfulc Member Posts: 284
    edited May 2013

    Hi, girls.  Just came back - saw onc / did mammo / ultrasound all within four hours, with lunch inserted in.  Hubby went with me.  First the good news - nothing to worry about.

    I'll also describe how it went, in case it could be of interest to someone.  What got me concerned was a bit of tenderness about a couple of weeks back, underneath my right breast around 5 o'clock position.  I poked around and found this little thingy, but then I could trace it as a ridge/trench that goes all the way towards the nipple, so an inch or two in total length.  And under the right lighting conditions you could see the skin bulging a bit at the bottom where I can feel it and denting just a bit at the top of the ridge towards the nipple.  Is this dimpling - because I read nothing good about breast dimpling.  That's what got me to see the onc.

    So today, they squeezed me in since the onc is fully booked, and I could only see his assistant.  I told her what I felt and she felt it and said it's just your rib, and rib kind of curves in that position.  I said hmm, no, I really don't think it's my rib.  She was nice and kind and ordered a mammo and u/s - fortunately they were able to fit that in for me today at the breast center down the street as well.  Funny thing is, this is probably the fastest trip to the onc with virtually no wait.  Maybe a good sign.

    The mammo lady was also very nice - she felt it once and said, no, it's not your rib.  Maybe a cyst. She told me she has 22 years of experience doing this thing, and nothing escapes from her mammogram.  It was painful!!

    Then on to the u/s.  She couldn't see anything.  She said, well, you are still young and your breast is still changing, so maybe something normal.  After looking for a while, she called the doctor in - the same doctor that saw me four years ago and did my biopsy.  She had me point out the spot for her, and I had trouble locating it lying down.  She had me stand up, and as soon as I did, I could feel it and she could even see it under my skin with naked eyes.  She also saw the line (the "ridge" I saw) towards the nipple and thought it could be a vein or some kind of vessel.  So they did more u/s with me lying down, and standing up, pressing hard or ever so slightly on my skin.  I have to say they did a very thorough job.  At the end she told me it's mostly likely a vein, and whatever it is, she could see nothing bad in that area at all. 

    Music to my ears.  I'll see them again next spring.  (Turns out I'm probably overworried, but better safe than sorry.  My husband was happy.  I cried for a couple of nights - perhaps needlessy now on hindsight - and he had to put up with me.  I'm sure I got him worried as well.)

    So - everyone stay healthy, OK?  And don't google too much before you see the doc...which was what I did and I'll relax a bit now.

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  • faithfulc
    faithfulc Member Posts: 284
    edited May 2013

    Mo, on allergies.  I have seasonal allergy every April.  This year I started nasal rinse (neti pots, etc.) and it helped a great deal.  Delayed the onset and also helped me sleep so much better as my nose would not get stuffed up as much.

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  • mofend
    mofend Member Posts: 140
    edited May 2013

    Great news!  So happy to hear it.  Enjoy the long weekend!  Mo

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  • burley
    burley Member Posts: 631
    edited May 2013

    Happy to hear the great news Faithful!

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  • writer
    writer Member Posts: 208
    edited November 2013


    It's been years since I checked in. Talking to my oncologist at today's routine appointment has me thinking about the bad ol' days. Glad to hear some folks are still on here and doing well. Just passed the four-year anniversary of my diagnosis. Still taking Arimidex. I'm strong and healthy and feeling as good as any 55-year-old can feel. Energy came back long ago. Not sure the chemo brain is gone yet, but it's hard to differentiate that from middle-aged brain, ha ha. Anyway, aside from occasionally getting a little scared about recurrence (it's happened to an acquaintance, who's got a terminal situation), I barely think about it. This board SAVED me back then. I recommend it to everyone.

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  • mofend
    mofend Member Posts: 140
    edited November 2013


    It's great to hear you're doing well! I hear you on the recurrence thing, but it's definitely great to be healthy and beyond all we went through. I have found a great new exercise class called Pure Barre which is awesome and it has changed my body and it really is as much mental as physical. If anyone out there comes across a place that offers this, it's great and I would highly recommend it. I clung on to this board for dear life when going through all of the treatments and I still think of everyone who was also struggling and willing to share their thoughts, scares and laughs. Can't thank you all enough for helping me through it! Happy holidays to everyone!!!

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  • burley
    burley Member Posts: 631
    edited December 2013

    hey girls!  Just wanted to check in. I, like Mo, clung to these boards when I was going through active treatment and I can't tell you how much your friendships during that time helped me. I'm healthy other than continued aches and pains from being on Aromasin, which also makes me very sleepy. I have chemo brain for sure-lots of short term memory issues, and I feel like it killed a lot of brain cells. I tried to go back to work, but I just wasn't the same person. Bummer!

    I hope you're all doing well and have a terrific holiday season. Xoxo

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  • ginadmc
    ginadmc Member Posts: 263
    edited December 2013

    I hope you all are well and enjoying the holidays. I, too, appreciated all your support and encouragement while in active treatment. It was so helpful to share chemo tips and experiences. 

    I just found out that I have DCIS with microinvasion in the other breast and am scheduled for lumpectomy Jan 16 and then on to rads. Since it is DCIS, I'm somewhat relieved to know that chemo is highly unlikely. I've been very well these last 4 years so I, again, was stunned to hear that I have to deal with this. I'm happy that it's very early and very treatable. My surgeon is on maternity leave but I feel confident with my new one. I'll have the same rads onc, too. He doesn't do breast rads anymore but he will for me since I'm a repeat customer! 

    Will check in again soon~~~Gina

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  • faithfulc
    faithfulc Member Posts: 284
    edited February 2014

    Oh, Gina!  A bummer but so glad you caught it early on.  I really hope you won't have to go through chemo again as it's only DCIS.  Keep the spirits up and I'm sure you'll be fine.  Please check in here to let us know how you are doing.

    A late happy new year to everyone here.  So glad to hear from writer again.

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  • mofend
    mofend Member Posts: 140
    edited February 2014

    Gina - sorry for the late response on this.  I hope you did well through your surgery and that radiation presents no problems.  Please keep us updated on how everything goes for you.  Big hugs and thanks for keeping us in the loop.  Mo

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  • ginadmc
    ginadmc Member Posts: 263
    edited February 2014

    Faithful and Mo,

    Thanks for your good wishes! I'm doing great! Lumpectomy was 1/16/14 and pathology was very good, NO invasive cancer and clear margins! So no additional surgery or chemo for me this time around. Starting radiation 2/17/14~~~30 treatments. Surgery went well and I had sedation and a paravertebral block instead of general anesthesia this time and it made for a faster recovery. I really only took 2 days of work off, plus the weekend. And not having SNB really made a difference, too. I liked my surgeon and will have the same rads onc, who I like, too. It seems that my follow up will change going forward. I'll skip the screening mammo and go straight to diagnostic mammo, which will be read right away while meeting with surgeon. Maybe annual MRI, too.

    Best to all Feb 2010 Chemo gals!  Gina 

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  • faithfulc
    faithfulc Member Posts: 284
    edited February 2015

    Hi, Feb 2010 sisters. Just wanted to give a shout out to all of you. Here's wishing everyone health and happiness fives years later !!

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  • mofend
    mofend Member Posts: 140
    edited February 2015

    Hi! So great to hear from you. I am doing really well and am so thankful that five years is behind us and we can forge on for more life and fun. I recommend this site to friends who are going through what we all did and I can't thank each and every one of you enough for being there for me during our time through treatment. I value the bond we created and always will. Hugs to each and everyone in our group and hope all are doing well. Mo

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  • Ado
    Ado Member Posts: 89
    edited January 2016

    Hi there haven't been on the site for years yet your names are all so familiar. Brings back good memories of support and being able to raise any fears and issues. We are five years on thank goodness. I am now off Tamoxifen and thinking about starting letrozole. Am feeling good finally losing weight and getting fit with a heart rate monitor and power walking. A friend diagnosed shortly before me has just had a recurrence and second mastectomy so we all need to remain alert.. Mammogram next week hopefully all well

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  • CinD
    CinD Member Posts: 163
    edited January 2016

    Hello everyone! Wow, I can't believe it's been six years since going through chemo together. It is great seeing the posts when people check in. Like most, I'm rarely on this site. Usually when I'm about to see my oncologist I'll check the site just to see if there's anything new in the treatment line.

    I just had my mammogram and got the all clear. All of you know the relief. My CA27-29 was the lowest it's ever been at 18.9. Guess I'm hangin' in there. I'll be on Tamoxifen for 10 years. I tried a couple of the aromatase inhibitors but could not tolerate them so back to Tamoxifen I went.

    Ado, that's great that your fitness plan is working for you. I hope your mammogram goes well. I'm sorry to hear about your friend. I try to get in a workout of some kind most days. Ever since my diagnosis, I have been trying to do whatever I can to keep the beast from returning. Healthy food with an emphasis on anti-cancer foods, good water filters around the house, getting rid of as many chemicals around the house as my husband will allow, select supplements, clean soaps and beauty products, replacing plastic with glass, no Teflon cookware, more plants in the house to clean the air -- you name it, I'm doing it. I have to feel as if something is under my control, and cleaning up everything has helped to do that. My downfall is that I can't totally give up chocolate so I have my husband hide it and ration it out.

    I hope everyone is doing well. Good thoughts and wishes to all! Cindy


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  • burley
    burley Member Posts: 631
    edited June 2016

    HI girls, randomly checking in. It's so great to hit the 6 year milestone for me next month. I hope everyone is well.

    Take care, Kim

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  • faithfulc
    faithfulc Member Posts: 284
    edited October 2017

    Seven and a half years, ladies! Hope everyone is doing well. Take care!

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  • burley
    burley Member Posts: 631
    edited July 2018

    Hey friends! Checking in. First time I've been on in years. Hope all of you are well xoxoxo

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  • mofend
    mofend Member Posts: 140
    edited July 2018

    Hi! I was thinking just the other day of all of the people we met on the site. Hope you are well. Eight years out and I’m doing well. Still on Tamoxifen, but not complaining. Keeping me alive😀! Hope we hear from more from the group! Take care! Mo
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  • burley
    burley Member Posts: 631
    edited July 2018

    Hey Mo! I've been off meds for 2 years, but obviously went into menopause at age 40 (eight years ago) and feel like a little old lady! It's really hard to deal with, but hey! Otherwise alive and well. Good to hear from you.

    I'm friends with quite a few people on Facebook and keep up with them there.

    Actually I came back onto BCO because one of my friends disappeared from FB. Really hoping she's ok.

    Great to hear from you!

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