Just when I was starting to feel a little better
I got my path report yesterday and have scared myself silly. Apparently I have tested + in two biopsy sites for ILC, focally of the pleomorphic type. Just looked that up and this is not reassuring. "Invasive lobular breast carcinoma represents somewhere between 5 and 10% of all breast cancer tumors, and lobular carcinomas generally have a much better prognosis than ductal carcinomas. Invasive pleomorphic lobular breast carcinoma (IPLC) is considered a distinctive subtype of invasive lobular carcinomas, accounting for under 0.7% of all breast cancers, and less than 5% of lobular breast carcinomas. Pleomorphic lobular breast carcinoma,however, is highly aggressive, and usually presents as a grade II to III tumor. Pleomorphic lobular carcinoma of the breast seems to develop most often in postmenopausal women, with an average age of about 59." Yup that's me--never could do things quite the same way everyone else does. And now I will finally get my MRI a full two weeks after the doc said we need one right away and he or someone in his office didn't submit to the insurance co correctly and that put everything behind. Strangely though, the same article said that IPLC almost never presents as ER+/PR+ and I was strong for both. And I am very much pre-menopausal. Now what?!!! And I have to wait till next week to find out what's going on and who knows how long till surgery, which will not be done by this doc. The website I copied this from was: Breast Cancer
Comments
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OMG, the news just gets scarier and scarier: "Six of 10 patients died within 42 months of diagnosis. Three other patients developed recurrence or distant metastases at short intervals. Pleomorphic lobular carcinoma is a very aggressive tumor. This behavior is perhaps predictable on the basis of tumor size at presentation and the frequency of nodal metastases. Since grading of lobular carcinoma is difficult, recognition of the pleomorphic subtype is useful in identifying a lethal variant." -
pipers, STOP reading!!! I know it's very difficult to do, but so much of what you read on the internet is outdated information and can be extremely misleading. For one thing, any stat quoting a survival rate has to come from data at least that old, and often much older. So a conclusion written in 2010, for example, might be looking at studies done several years earlier, which means whatever treatment those patients got 5 or 10 or more years before that is probably outdated by today's third generation chemo drugs, etc. This is just one example. Another extremely important piece of the picture is where those patients were treated. Sometimes rarer types of bc or any condition are treated by well-meaning docs who have only read about them, but just are not up on the most recent research. And another thing that research you've found probably doesn't take into consideration is pre-existing conditions, which can play a significant role in outcome.
I'm not an expert, nor have I read what you're reading. But the one thing I have gleaned from what you've shared is that you need to find a medical facility and team that has the most experience with your diagnosis, which probably means an NCI-designated cancer center. These are the largest, comprehensive cancer centers that see the most bc and are most involved in the latest research. http://www.cancer.gov/researchandfunding/extramural/cancercenters/find-a-cancer-center You can also usually get a consultation and a treatment plan to take back to more local docs, if you prefer. That's what I did after having surgery @ UCLA, which is 3 hrs. away from me. Some even do long-distance consultations, if necessary, including re-doing your pathology, and sometimes even coming to different conclusions.
I'm so sorry you're going through this, but please don't let what you're reading upset you. We are each individuals -- not stats in very possibly outdated research. (((Hugs))) Deanna -
Hi Piper, Very sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with BC, it is always very scary to hear those words. One of the things that you will hear again and again from the wonderful women on this site is to stay away from the Internet & especially from statistics. There are many factors that play a role in the 'prognosis' of breast cancer. Much of the info that you find on the Internet is outdated. The second article you quoted from is from 1992 - that's over 20 years ago. My tumor was 9cm - the first thing my onc said to me was that people used to think that the size of the tumor was the most important factor in prognosis & that they now know that they have to take many many factors into consideration for how they treat the cancer - for instance, you say you are er+ pr+, and that's not common & it's very treatable (and is considered a 'positive' factor) - also look at the last line of the first article you quoted from:" It may be estimated that patients with pleomorphic carcinoma of the breast but without a significant metaplastic spindle-cell component will survive the disease about 90% of the time."
This is why the wise women hear say it's a good idea not to read stats - they are all over the place & there are so many factors that figure into them that sometimes are not mentioned that you just can't get a clear picture & you are likely to scare yourself much more than you otherwise would. Take care of yourself, eat the foods that you love the most, do the things you love to do, let yourself cry - but try not to let this disease be the focus of your life - when you are actively treating it (which will be soon), you'll feel better because you will be focusing on it but in a positive way by fighting it. Many hugs. -
Deanna, thank you for that, but telling me not to read, esp when trying to make sense of a path report, is like telling my dog not to get excited when I come home, lol. No, I do understand that the treatments may vary, but it got my attn when I realized that I have a particularly aggressive variant of ILC, and just when I was beginning to come to terms with having BC at all. Furthermore, the breast center nearby really screwed me over on scheduling an MRI and I"ll probably have to wait another month or more to get that done b/c they really bungled things!
So, yes, I am planning to take your advice on the NRI cancer center--Siteman in St Louis is where I was planning to get my surgery anyway. I was so freaked out about the possibility of lymphedema and now it looks like all my nodes will have to go. Sorry, I'm just a bundle of joy today. -
ugh - i'm so sorry for your diagnosis…
one thought i immediately had was ask about rads to your axillary - is it possible to avoid the node dissection by opting for rads? there has been considerable research in this area, and results are showing that rads are very effective in treatment SOME cases of node positive breast cancer without axillary node dissection.
i don't know if your cancer would be well treated by that method, but it would carry a much lower risk of lymphedema and other problems…
and while the advice to stay off dr google is EXCELLENT advice, it is darn hard to stay away… i totally get that. can you get addicted to something more interesting and far less scary? like…. watching acrobatic gymnastics on youtube? or bike racing? or kitten fails?
ugh - i'm really sorry you're dealing with this….
lee -
BikerLee, I will certainly ask about rads. They're saying I need that SL test and I will opt for that since it lessens the chance of lymphedema considerably. The doc I was able to get hold of today pointed out that I'm probably in pretty good shape time-wise if the surgeon thinks I can get by with a lumpectomy--the reason for the MRI. So, I'm feeling a little better--man talk about stress! I'm sure that high stress is part of the reason I'm in this pickle in the first place. -
Pipers, Deanna is right. If you must read, make sure you read logically (I know, hard to do when the dx is so new) and evaluate the source for the CRAP test (C as in current, credible; R as in reliable, A as in credible believeable authorship, and P as in Proven, Point of View--are they trying to sell something?).
One thing I had to remember was that oftentimes these stats don't take into consideration any kind of tx, including anti-hormonals, which if you are highly ER/PR+ is really important to remember. As well, they don't take into consideration your physiology and lifestyle. I am considered "high risk" but I figure I'm reducing that high risk factor by keeping my weight at a reasonable place, not smoking, not drinking, eating vegan, taking supplements, and getting 3-5 hours of exercise a week in addition to everything I've done tx-wise.
Our culture in spite of all treatments and etc still looks at any c. dx as an automatic death sentence. It's just not true and we have to understand why it isn't, anymore--and not listen to the scary stories and stats.
Hope that helps a little.
Claire in AZ
PS. Don't blame yourself for giving yourself c. There is not enough credible evidence to believe that stress gives us c. If that were the case, many many more people would have it. Again--read logically if you can and don't believe everything you hear. You've got to tell yourself a different story when that happens.... -
Love the CRAP test, Claire!
I just wanted to throw out one more thought... Even though we're counseling you, Pipers, not to stress too much about what you've read, I think educating yourself about your dx and being prepared to ask questions is very beneficial. My first surgeon told me that women who ask questions and get involved in their tx decisions have better outcomes, and I think that's often the case. That's why I especially like Claire's advice. Educating yourself is good, but just do it with a discerning eye. Also, as you are reading research articles, be sure you understand the difference between relative risk and absolute risk. Pharmaceutical companies and those trying to emphasize improvement often quote relative risk, which can be very misleading. Happy to elaborate on this if you or anyone else doesn't understand the difference. Deanna -
Pipers dream altho I do recommend that u educate u'rself for questions for u'r Drs.if that's what u want--But I didn't read a thing why stir up a pot that hasn't boiled yet. It is what it is no matter what u read u'r going to send u'r self into a meltdown--wait to read (if u must) until after u talk to u'r Drs. that u choose. Sometimes u take the worse possible scenario and build it to be even worse. I would have, I know that's why I stayed away from reading not even the pamphlets they gave me for everything--I really trusted my team tho and did whatever they told me for as long as they wanted. I do not recommend this really but I knew my Drs so well I guess I just took it for granted they would do their best and I'm doing OK.
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Pipers Dream, nothing worse than the waiting game...I have lobular, stage 3....did not have a MRI before my lumpectomy. Had I known how many lymph nodes were involved or high my K1-67 test would be I might have chosen the mx. My point is, the surgeons do not know the whole story until they get in there. I trusted my surgeon, gave him the green light to do what was best. Sending lots of positive wishes, you are in the worse part of this bc nightmare, .the unknown. .If you are not comfortable with your Dr. Start asking around. I live in a rural area, my guy does most of the bc cancer in our hospital. -
Thanks guys--I had my meltdown yesterday and was finally able to get hold of the doc today and I feel better. He still thinks a lumpectomy is possible and we'll know more after the MRI, which he still thinks could be valuable so it's still on Monday. I love the CRAP test and will write that down and keep it by the computer. The problem I had is that there is very little out there about my special kind and most of what I read was from the 90's. Add to that the way they butchered my poor aunt in the 80s and you guys will understand why I'm overheating over here. Oh yes, and a close friend died of BC a couple of years ago--not sure what kind of BC she had though. And then, I haven't had a lot of reason to trust the docs just yet. Well, several things hit at once--let's just say that.
Holeinone, my doc just explained that I'd be better off getting a lumpectomy b/c even if the cancer comes back it will be easier to deal with than if I were to get recon and then have it come back. His explanation made sense to me so I'll go with it, esp as I was really upset at the thought of losing sensation in my breasts. Silly I know, but we all have our thing and my breasts have always been a source of great pleasure to me. Did I just say that? But it's true and I do not say this out of vanity. -
pipers,
Knowledge is important. I believe we need to be in charge of our medical care. So I have to disagree with some of the wonderful ladies on this site about reading. Do get a second opinion from a surgeon outside the medical group your surgeon is in. A cancer center is an excellent idea. But do try to evaluate the source of information and stay away from statistics. Even with this we can't evaluate if a study was done correctly unless we have a background in research or statics or medicine. But you can look at treatment options for your type of cancer which may be helpful.
You can do very well and even IF your cancer has a poor prognosis. YOU can still do very well!!! It is all stressful. Please know I am not saying your cancer has a poor prognosis!
Waiting is the worst. Try to do what calms you. I learned to meditate which helped me.
Sorry about the diagnosis. It is scary but you can find a team of health care providers that can help you through treatment.
Hugs,
Georgie -
Pipers,
I can totally relate to what you're going through. Early on in my diagnosis I started researching the Internet to learn as much as possible about my cancer. It's so true that you need to educate yourself and check your sources. That being said, I became a research addict and stayed up many a night trying to find answers. Problem is, there are so many studies out there that you could literally find several studies that support or dispute your treatment path.
My worst fear is that I chose the wrong path. Since I was optimistic in the beginning, I chose lumpectomy - but with a twist. I was treated pre-operatively with hormonal therapy to try to shrink the tumor. I would stay up late at night searching for answers and also for other women who went down this path. I never found one person who did neoadjuvant hormonal therapy. That in itself was soooo scary!!! I'm trying very hard to break the habit of researching late at night. Like you, I scared myself silly. But now that I've had the lumpectomy and the pathology report, I'm too scared to read it! Go figure! Terms like "multifocal, signet ring cell features, microcalcification present in lobules and ducts involved by ILC, in ducts involved by atypical ductal hyperplasia, and in nonneoplastic ducts, focal fat necrosis....makes me literally sick to my stomach. Oh, and I had 1/1 positive node. The margins were not clear, so I went through a re-excision.
I am being treated at a large university breast cancer clinic. So...I basically relied heavily on my BS and my team's advice and went ahead with the recommended re-excision. Trust is hard for me, too. But sometimes you just have to let go and rely on your medical team. I'm now awaiting the results. The plan is if they don't get clear margins with this 2nd surgery, then we'll do a mastectomy. At this point I am regretting my decision not to do the mastectomy in the beginning, but hindsight is always 20/20, right? -
hello to all, sadly I am still doing the obsessive google searches late at night. I finished chemo on Black Friday ( 8 dose dense ) & saw my path report for the first time, during that infusion. Had it not been for this website I would have not known I had the right to ask for it..I know it will get easier with time, but for now I feel like I did last summer when I was 1st dx... -
Prayers for all of us, girls. I'm also looking at lumpectomy bc101, and doc said that it's 6 of 1, half dozen of t'other, and it won't really help to get a full mastectomy b/c I could still get bc. This is not the surgeon I plan to use though, and like you I'm second guessing his decisions. Susan Love said that an MRI is mostly a way to add more expense w/o enough info and that it will delay treatment, and that's what I'm thinking too--and now it won't even be a good shot b/c of the hormonal stuff. Calling Siteman again tomorrow to get an appt set up--for this week hopefully. Holeinone, good luck with everything--at least you're done with chemo and that has got to be a good feeling. Were you able to work during that time? -
Pipers dream, you are so right, I am just 3 days out of chemo, & I am truly happy about that. My surgeon & oncologist both told me that working would be challenging as I work with young children at a public school. Getting subs constantly was not a doable option. I took a medical leave of absence for the entire school year. I know I could go back after the New Year, even with daily rads, but I am going to concentrate on getting healthy, back into shape. I am very lucky that I have a choice. I have been amazed how many women continue to work while in chemo treatment. Mine was dose dense, working would have been difficult.
Wishing all the supportive ladies here the best, thx for listening
b/c 101 & pipers dream, hoping you get answers this week....waiting is so stressful -
bc101 - I didn't have hormonal treatment before surgery, but I did have chemo beforehand. I might have had the hormonal treatment, but they already knew that they were going to remove all the nodes under my arm, so chemo was the best route. Try not to second guess yourself on your decision. I did the chemo because my tumor was 9cm & they wanted to try to shrink it - I still ended up needing a mastectomy but shrinking the tumor first was still helpful because they were able to leave a much wider margin of tissue than they otherwise would have. It may be that your re-excision works out just fine & you won't have to have the mastectomy.
piper's - There may be some situations when an MRI is uncalled for, but there are many situations when it is called for. You might want to ask your doc why he's doing it - it's easier to trust the docs if you ask them questions, they are unlikely to tell you unless you ask, but it's been my experience that they usually have very good reasons for doing the things they do. -
Sorry you are going through this - the worst stuff, at the worst time.......I understand.
Wanted to point out that the mention of pleomorphism in your bx samples was behind the word "focal". That is important. It means they only found small amounts of the pleomorphic looking cells. There is always a mix of things and your tumor may not be as bad as you fear. Hope your MRI gives good news. Stay steady and find the docs that are the best and make you comfortable.
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Oh Beacon, that helped a lot.
Right now I'm so angry and stressed out I can't stand myself b/c of that MRI crap. The girl didn't code it right for insurance to sign off so I had to call and have them fix that, and then she tried to cover her A by telling them the wrong date for my period, even though I'm pretty sure I repeated it several times and she repeated it after me. The Radiology dept called today and cancelled the MRI and the doc wants me to wait another month or couple of weeks or however long it might take to get my period again but I'm done with him. Radiology says primetime is 7-10 days but you can go up to 15 days and she put it in for day 18! They said I'd have false positives all over the place so back to waiting and letting those little pleomorphs grow into big fellers. Also, if they'd put it in correctly the first time, I could have gotten it done right away b/c I started my period the day I got my dx. And maybe Siteman won't need an MRI, though the doc said the need it b/c there is so much discrepancy between the mammo and the U/S. Off to pout now--thanks for listening guys. -
pipers_dream - sorry to hear about your MRI mess-up. But take heart in that you're grade 2, so not as fast growing at grade 3. I have a feeling these things are more the norm no matter where you go. I've suspected some "oops" moments from care providers at every clinic I've gone to and it sure doesn't feel good. It's bad enough having cancer and then having to deal with that. I guess it's just that bc is so unpredictable. You definitely have to be on your toes and watch out for yourself.
My BS also feels that mastectomy and lumpectomy have the same rates of outcomes in terms of survival and recurrence. He also believes strongly in SNB vs. full nodal dissection. He points to my Oncotype test for recurrence rate, and mine is low - so that's what I hang on to more than anything else. Did you have that test done? I've read of women on various sites who've had mastectomies and are now in advanced stage. So...yes, there's no guarantees.
I had an MRI in the beginning that helped diagnose my cancer but as far as doing one before surgery, my BS didn't do one. He is also very anti-MRI for follow ups due to false positives. Still, with ILC, I tend to disagree - especially for follow up. What do they do? Just sit and wait for symptoms to show up? Egads! I figure the cancer fooled them on all the monthly ultrasounds and even a very experienced radiologist told me before surgery during the wire localization that he had problems finding it because the cancer had shrunk. But until they did the pathology, they had NO real idea what was going on in there and still don't because they had to go back in. So, in reality, they have no idea how big it was originally because at this point in time there are no imaging tests that can correctly measure ILC. What's up with that?!!!
Right now I'm waiting on the results of my re-excision that was done last Wednesday. My husband will be with this time, so I'll be asking about all the scary terms in detail and what it means. Basically, if the margins aren't clear, I'll be having a mastectomy. Either way, I have to go through radiation. My SNB showed one positive node and that's the one thing that's scaring me the most right now.
It's really hard not to get down on yourself. I'm finding it very difficult to be one of those brave women who start each day with a cheery outlook. Right now I'm basically just trying to calm down! I'm thinking about trying meditation and am taking Xanax regularly.
zippypop - nice to hear from you! I know there are lots of women out there who've done neoadjuvant therapy with chemo. Hope things are going well for you!
Take care all! -
Saw the BS in StL today and she did what the other BS failed to do and that is to pinch it up in her fingers. Hurt like hell, but it is obviously a big tumor, though it barely showed up on either the mammo or the U/S. So, she is sending me for a CT scan and bone scan next week--an aunt on my father's side died from bone cancer so she is concerned about that. I wasn't until today. So, no MRI required b/c it's going to be a bmx. All the MRI order did was delay things for a couple of weeks but that was 2 wks of craziness. CT has to wait for now b/c I'm allergic to the contrast dye. Oh yes, and chemo will be first, to shrink it. Still, today I'm better emotionally b/c I feel it's moving forward and I've decided that even if it's a worst case scenario, I'll just ride the wave. But hey no one offered me any xanax!
Oh, the imaging tests are almost useless for ILC b/c the cancer cells grow in lines or tentacles instead of nice straight forward lumps. The good news is it's supposed the be the least dangerous, but the bad news is mammos can often miss it and the U/S couldn't pick mine up hardly at all. The doc only did a biopsy b/c we could see the skin puckering around my nipple.
And bc, don't worry about the strong thing--I'm not either. Or maybe it's one day I'm strong and the next day I fall apart. I'm not sure I'm strong so much as just dazed though. Good luck on getting back your re-excision results. Fingers are crossed for you. -
pipers dream,
The MRI missed my ILC anyway and my tumor was almost 7cm. So, don't worry about not getting one. PET/CT was more useful in seeing things with imaging. I also had chemo first and it did shrink my tumor by almost half it's original size so they were able to get clear margins during the bmx. Best Wishes to you!
Kelli -
Yes, I had neo-adjuvant chemo as well. It shrunk a 3 by over 5 cm tumor to a few millimeters by 1.2 CM at surgery. -
Well I was good until today but I've been housebound for several days due to icy weather outside and no way to shovel my driveway b/c I just moved here a couple of months ago and lost my snow shovel in the move! So, I finally got up the courage to look up why they might want a bone scan and CT scan and it appears that the main reasons for that would be to check for metastases in bone and other tissue! So I think we're looking at stage IV here. Furthermore, I'm positive the octopus has grown since the whole process started, about a month ago. I'm officially freaking.
Also Momine and kar123, I saw that both of you elected to have ovary removal. I was thinking the same thing but doc didn't recommend it and said I'd probably have to take more meds. Why would that be? What info did you two use to help make a decision on that? I'd always heard that the ovaries are a common place to get a secondary cancer with ILC. I think that's what I heard--all of this is like cream soup in my head right now. -
Piper
I am not a doctor--but don't assume a higher stage---- a good doc is going to order all of those tests just to be sure he/she knows what they are dealing with--- but very often, they are just baseline tests.... so try not to worry until you have a reason to worry..... stay away from Dr. Google!!!!! Regarding ovary removal-- I asked about this outright, and no one could see a reason to do it (in my case). And there are implications of removing them-- so be sure to ask--- it can all be so overwhelming--- I was pre-meno before dx and still having periods (all ended with my chemo) but I did do lupron shots for a couple of years (shuts down your ovaries)... didn't love it, but it was bearable.
Best of luck-- hang in there-- it really gets much better once you have a plan..... -
Piper, I am stage 3, lobular. After my lumpectomy my surgeon tells me, I will have the Pet Scan the next day. I told him NO way. It's TOO much. He explained that a certain %( 5-10 ) have mets straight out of the gate. Talk about anxiety. The bottom line treatment would be different if that was the case. My scan was clean, possible lymph node that was left, but everything else ok...I do worry that the Pet Scan missed something, those mammograms did for years. It is easier when you are actively in treatment. So my advice would be tell your Dr. To get the ball rolling. If they are doing chemo before surgery, get it scheduled. Waiting will drive you crazy.. -
Yes, I think the doc suspects I have mets straight out of the gate b/c of the bone scan and the fact that my paternal aunt died of BC that had met to the bones. Also the tumor is large enough that even with chemo first she is saying that I need a full mx rather than a lumpectomy. Mom, I had to laugh about don't Dr. Google, b/c I held off for days but I can't not educate myself about what I'm facing. Besides, think about it: Cabin fever + worrying about BC dx. The good news is that I got one chemo cap knitted and ready to start another one. And I'm grateful that I know how to knit b/c it's a great tension reliever. -
Hi pipers and everyone on this thread!
It's good you're getting the scans and that you're starting chemo. And it's good that you're getting a BMX. That means you're on the path to kicking cancer's butt - big time.
Got the results back from my re-excision and it isn't good. My BS was very frustrated that he wasn't able to get clean margins -- again. He gave me the choice of going in again or doing a MX w/ALND. He said that I have only a 3% chance of it spreading to the other breast, but I am going for a BMX just for peace of mind. One little complication after the re-excision - I broke out in a rash on my breast. No one -- not my PS or MO -- knew what it was. Saw my primary care Dr. who said it wasn't an infection and gave me some cream that didn't really do anything. Finally got in to see my dermatologist who said it was a topical skin reaction and rx'd a cream and antihistamine that helped. I think it was from the soap they give you to use before surgery. They say to use it the night before and day of the surgery. Well.. I also used it afterwards thinking I'd try to stay germ free. Wrong! The rash is just now going away and my surgery was 11/27!
Moving on....now I have to think about reconstruction vs. doing nothing, and if recon, what kind. I'm SO overwhelmed and scared, stressed, that this thing is bigger than they thought. So glad that I've been on hormonal therapy this whole time! Oh and if I have to have radiation, how will that complicate things with the expander, etc. We won't know about a treatment plan until after the surgery.
Another issue....I've had my RO at the local cancer clinic say it's best not to do the recon and wait until the skin heals after radiation is over. I've had my BS at my current breast center say that the expanders don't interfere with radiation and that's it's easier to do recon right away. And the PS at that center says the skin after radiation is too hard to work with. I'm just concerned about treating my cancer and I do want reconstruction and do it in the easiest way possible - for me. I had thought about going to the local clinic because it's closer rather than having to drive to my breast center an hour and a half away each day. But I worry about the two different clinics not being able to work together and passing the buck because they are not from the same health care system. They apparently have different approaches to this whole reconstruction thing, too, so that's not good.
I wonder why my BS hasn't recommended doing CT scan or PET scan. But since he's anti-MRI, maybe he's anti-PET and CT scan, too. If so, should I be going somewhere else? I am apparently still a Stage IIB, but what if after the surgery they say I'm stage 3? How would they know if it's spreading? I know what you mean, ya gotta Google this stuff and ask questions so that you're informed, but I am careful to only look at the most current research from the most reputable sources. And I try not to assume anything that hasn't already been confirmed in my diagnosis. There is no end to the "What If" game. But still....I'm about as stressed out as can be.
If no one offers you Xanax, ask for it. Demand it. My MO says that depression and anxiety is really a problem for patients, yet Dr's don't want to talk about it. They don't look at that side apparently, yet it is so important. MY MO always asks how I'm doing with that and gives me whatever I need. I've been trying to get going on Lexapro but can't get past the initial side effects of nausea. Now might be a good time to start again. I have cabin fever, too, and winter is starting with a bang. We've got lots of snow and it's minus 8 degrees today!
I don't knit, but LOVE to crochet. With Christmas coming up, it saves me from having to do a lot of shopping. Everyone's getting crocheted hot pads or hats or scarves this year!
Happy Healing to all! -
Hey you guys,
Not to steal you away from this website. It's really a great source of information. But I just wanted to let you know I recently found a social networking site for breast cancer survivors that is really helpful, too. It's called MyBCTeam.com. You might want to check it out as it is very user-friendly, much like Facebook.
Take care! -
pipers_dream: bone scans etc are part of staging for stage two. My girlfriend had one for stage 2, one node + and she was clear. Don't assume you are stage 4 because they requested them. Focal is indeed important, meaning the size is
quite small for those types of cells. For instance, in a recent journal paper, focal lymphvascular invasion didn't affect prognosis anymore than having no LVI.....extensive was the key word for it to be important. Being ER+/PR+ is good prognostic factor and can be treated by antihormonal. Grade 2 is early stage breast cancer. Run with the positive and try not to let negative info on the Net affect you so much. Hard, I know.
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- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team