I am a mess

Hi, We must live close to each other. Try to calm down. You will be fine. I did not have a lumpectomy, but am still concerned about follow-ups. As you can see from my profile, Imhad a BMX with reconstruction and chemo and am on Arimidex. We all have fears and carry this with us. But, try to focus on the positive. Be glad it is behind you. I know msny women who have had lumpectomies, get only mammograms and are doing fine. I suppose if you insist, you could get an MRI, but will have to see if your insurance will pay for them.

Breathe! Be thankful. I hope you sleep better. You might try the app called Just Being.....$1.99, I think. It has several relaxing sounds and helps me. I like the rain sound.

Merry Christmas!

I was horribly apprehensive about my 2-year-out mammo. Recurrences, if they are going to happen, often start at that time, and even though I knew my recurrence chance is very low, it was very hard for me. I take comfort when I read here that other women have had their anxiety around screening go down over time. I also took a Valium before the results. As to MRIs, I wanted them or at least screening ultrasounds in addition to mammos, as mammos show only 50% or so of cancers, and then more show calcifications, and ultrasounds can show more other types of tumors, but they say the value is little and won't give them to me (though, in my research, I've deduced that adding screening US would bring the "show" rate to about 80%, and lots of women here have them given to them routinely at their hospitals, so they must have some value). The alternating mammos and MRIs are really for people with a family history, but the fact that my little sis was diagnosed with a very similar situation to mine (after mine) was not ENOUGH of a family history for them to think I needed the MRIs. I live with it, and hope for the best, though I don't really feel I am being screened adequately. I do believe the anxiety will lessen over time. Best- P. xx

CAMommy- I also live in Cape Coral, diagnosed at 43. My diagnosis was on first MRI due to strong family history. I totally get the anxiety. I even went back to surgeon for consult and another for second opinion last year thinking I wanted to go back for BMX because anxiety and continued testing getting to me. I was advised to give it more time and I am glad I did. Anxiety has lessened and side effects more manageable. My RO is the one that orders my radiology follow up- not the MO. I had last MRI 7 months ago was having every 6 months now just mammograms. Makes me a little nervous but MRIs were starting to get me. I would recommend both my local MO-Dr Romero and RO-Dr Brown. I get the side effects from antihormonals as well, not always easy. Feel free to private message I am familiar with some of the resources here and there are some good survivorship classes and education through the regional cancer center in Fort Myers you might find helpful. Best of luck.

Megan