Share your stories from the heart

hi, I have joined this forum due to my mum being diagnosed with secondary breast cancer to her liver she is currently on 18 weeks of Taxol and then all going well will go onto hormone tablets. I would just like to hear from other people given the same fate as I can't see past tomorrow at the moment and my mum is coping at all. Thanks please get in touch

Some many years ago, one year after the next, I lost my father (career U.S. Marine), his mother (my paternal grandmother), my step-grandfather and my grandmother's best friend to cancer. They were southern people who all lived together happily and more often than not indulged in cigarette/cigar smoking, drinking, fried foods, all the pig parts, etc. I always thought growing up that being active in sports and the sorts would help me escape the illnesses that plagued both sides of my family. I knew very little about genetics. After graduating school, I spent more than 16 years in law enforcement, raised 3 outspoken, creative, pain in the butt, now adult children (no grandchildren yet), pets of all kinds, two ex-spouses (1 horrible divorce and 1 mutual indefinite separation agreement), a military career, lots of college, etc. I had a very busy life taking care of others often neglecting self... you know what I'm talking about. Last year, 2014, my baby-girl decided to move out on her own (last of the three). I was crazy-worried stalking her for about 2-3 months but, she managed to calm my fears proving to me that she is the responsible young woman I knew she would be (I still strongly dislike her boyfriend though). I opened storefront to expand my small business, bought my first Mercedes for my 47th birthday, learned what it was like to go to the movies on a weekday, had just begun celebrating the fact that I can now walk in my stocking feet across my hardwoods and they remain free of hair, juice, crumbs, sticky stuff, etc. No laundry left in the dryer, no dishes left in the sink or dishwasher, no carryout food containers littering my fridge, no hair and makeup all over every bathroom vanity and yessssss.... no other car in my parking space upon returning home after a long day at work. The sun was just beginning to shine so brightly in my little corner of the world until I learned that my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2014. To make matters worse I got into the shower about 3-4 weeks ago... January 2015 and my left boob was stinging. Forward the clock it's February 2015 and Paget's Disease is my new fixation. I have read everything there is to read on-line and I subscribed, today, February 10, 2015, to this forum to gain some insight on what to expect. My symptoms are not very serious... I have the flaking, the rash, the hardened skin, the itching, the inverted nipples (have always been inverted), and what I am hoping is all in my mind, throbbing pain and pain with pressure on and/or about my left boob (the one with the rash). So, I am a strong woman and I want to visit my mom but, I need to first wrap my brain around my own condition and process first. I am not looking for well wishes or sympathy or empathy, I just want to know that someone else has gone through this and am open to feedback about the process. Although I, in a bit of denial, still think its just a rash or dry skin (even after all of the reading and images) I will be having the biopsy in a few weeks. As I jokingly told my sister who belongs to the itty bitty titty committee (the only one who knows), if the cancer doesn't kill me, going from 38DD's to an A or B-Cup certainly will....Smiles!! Also, I met this lovely older woman at work and she confided her experience and mentioned that tattooing nipples, reconstructing nipples and breast is an option? Also, she mentioned not to have my own nipple re-attached. Any feedback on the possibility of cancer cells spreading by using your re-attached nipple? This is all surreal...

Hello, I am a newbie here, but I read your words above, and I have no idea about the rash, I had 2 small red bumps on my left breast about 5 months ago, and then a rash, it all went away, and I have no hardness or pain there, and likely for me, it was a spider bite. Since, I felt compelled to place actual "spider traps" around my home, and sleep a little better lol. I will pray for you just to let you in on that one, I do know everyone has their own beliefs. Well, my story: I am going tomorrow for a Core Biopsy, I have a nodule, irregular shape, with blood supply, in my left breast. It showed up by palpation, and on mammogram all this week. Biopsy is awaiting approval from my insurance needless to say. So, I have concerns, and he wants to leave a titanium, or carbon marker there as well. Now, my mother just had a lumpectomy and treatment for cancer last year, and HER mother had breast CA with mastectomy. So, I am trying to "school" myself here, and this lead me to this website, and I am at awe of all the people this affects but what a blessing to be able to talk to others and give support and knowledge. looks like I am in for a possible battle. So I am concerned and am new at all of this. I do have my faith, my spiritual belief in God, and healing so lets see what happens this week.

Pebbles26-

Thank you!! New to blogging and new to sharing personal information with strangers... saw the communication and just posted in a desperate search for information from anyone who has experienced Paget's. I pray that whatever your diagnosis and/or prognosis is that you will soon find yourself resting, recovering, relaxing and reflecting in sunshine with those who matter most to you.