Calling all TNs

Lisa, my MO said for me to take metformin for 5 years from date of diagnosis.  That's what I plan to do.

I agree with CatWhispurrer, start the Metformin slowly and be sure to take it with food. The only problems I have heard people had with it were gastro-intestinal if they started on too high a dose too quickly or didn't take it with food.

Doreen

MomMom, yes, my metformin dose is 850mg twice a day.  Also, I did start very slowly to avoid GI issues.  I started with a 500mg pill split in half once a day for a week, then twice a day for another week.  Next I went up to 500 in the morning and half a 500 in the evening for another week.  The fourth week I did 500 twice a day.  After the fourth week, I went up to the 850's and split them for a morning and evening dose for another week.  I kept stepping it up slowly until I got up to the 850 twice a day.  

Allydp - Congratulations!  I remember getting that phone call too.  What a relief!  Makes everything you've been through worth while, doesn't it?!  I'm glad you've had your surgery and are now home to rest.  Allow yourself the time to heal and be extra good to yourself.  You're on the downhill side of this journey now.  Woo hoo!

Kathy

allydp,

Yippy! Relax, heal some, then go celebrate!

Ally that is the BEST NEWS! Happy tears happy happy. I know God has answered your prayers. And I know you and hubby are blessed with this great news.

Ally...this is super terrific news...could not be happier for you!  So awesome...thank you for sharing.  Give hope to all.

Tomorrow marks the 3 year mark when I said goodbye to my girls...god they were gorgeous....new ones not so much but going for my tweak with surgeon and leaving on sunday for that...let's hope she works some more magic.

Maggie

I'm new here, just trying to get my way around the boards to get this nagging question answered....So I'm having trouble wrapping my head around something my Onc said last week. I went in about 2 areas of concern. 1 small nodule that developed in my mastectomy scar and pain in the rib area on the same side. They were very quick to look at the nodule, Ultrasound was clear and they will check it again next month. I asked about a bone scan to check out the rib. The rib pain didn't seem to raise much concern, she said "we have time if it's mets, finding it now or later won't make any difference to your outcome." It's the second time since my diagnosis 3 1/2 years ago I've heard her make a comment like that about Mets. Everything I think I know about cancer is the earlier the better. Why isn't that true with Mets. If it was a bone met, wouldn't starting treatment sooner be better? I understand finding a primary before it's metastasized is always the best way to go, but doesn't early treatment benefit mets also? 

Yes, I did have radiation there. I have noticed some relaxing of the tissue in that former breast area and I'm hoping it's actually a symptom of my body healing from all the trauma. But, at the same time, sudden changes also force me to flip the coin and worry about the other side. I had a great response to my original chemo regime. I go back in a month for a recheck on my new bump, by then the pain will either be better or worse I guess. Ironically my next appointment is scheduled exactly 3 years from the day of my receiving the news about PCR. I'm hoping to leave this next one just as happy!

Simple life,  Thanks for your response on the Metformin dose!

Ally- Congratulations on your great news! 

Placid - I know your MO is local DC area, does she consider Metformin? 

Awesome Ally!  So happy for you...what a wonderful feeling that must be

Hi Dizzy, 

If you are not comfortable asking your doc to clarify her statement, you could always post your question on the Johns Hopkins 'Ask an Expert' breast cancer website: 

Hope you get some clarification. 

 Carol

Mags/Dizzy

I have had a pain on my BC side, which I had radiation on, if I twist slightly to talk to one of the other typists at work.  The pain is in my ribs and is terrible when it comes but it only lasts for about 30 seconds then goes.  I only seem to get it when I do that little twist.  Also I get it sometimes  if I am a passenger in a  car and I turn to the left to put my seat belt on. I also have lymphoedema on that side and still have some swelling.  It is really an awful pain when I get it but its been going on for so many many months that I figure its nothing to worry about just the whole BC thingy.      

With regards to the mets my breast surgeon has said the same thing to me. 'Finding it sooner won't make any difference to the outcome'.  That seems a bit double dutch to me when they are always saying early intervention is far better for your outcome.

Carol, thank-you for the link. I might do that. I will get my onc to explain that to me but it's been kinda grinding at my brain since I left all happy that the first Ultrasound was clear and I don't go back for another month. I think I'm starting to understand it. Basically they use their best "stuff" first, if that doesn't work (mets) they start on the next best "stuff", when that stops working, the next best "stuff" until there is no "stuff" left. If the mets aren't really troublesome, why put yourself through the treatment and waste the second best stuff? If you wait until you need treatment for quality of life, it works on everything that is troublesome and you get more milage out of the treatment. That's currently how I'm understanding it. It actually make sense. 

I am taking Metformin and have been on 850 mg x2 a day.  Will continue indefinitely unless I get  any bad fluctuations in my every 3 month blood work, especially the liver.  My Gyn whose wife has had very early BC prescribed it.  

I am taking turmeric because there is curcumin in it.  I came across it so many times in my research on preventing recurrence.  I take it 1x a day.  I take 450 mg.  be sure that the brand you buy is good and contains over 90 per cent curcumin in it.

BTW, I've just read a great book on preventing cancer and/or recurrence.  It's written by a Naturopathic Doctor who has had breast cancer and another health care specialist who has had ovarian cancer.  It is titled Five to Thrive.  It's really down to earth, cites research to support recommendations and focuses on these 5:  Immune system, Inflammation, Hormones, Insulin Resistan, and Digestion.  There are chapters on food, exercise, supplements, joy/love/laughter, excellent description of the cancer process as well.  I highly recommend it.  Going to read it through a second time this week.

Hugs,

Peggy