I just got diagnosed with IDC/DCIS

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  • swg
    swg Member Posts: 461
    edited October 2017

    LOL I keep thinking of other things to tell you...

    Keep in mind, when you do a bilateral mastectomy, you're cutting off your breast sensation. I read that removing both breasts doesn't nec increase your odds of not getting a recurrence.

    I'm seriously considering keeping my left breast because of this (assuming it's clear), and having the plastic surgeon make them match as best as possible when I get the right removed.

    And just monitoring my left one very heavily. (Unless my surgeon or an onc tells me I'm at higher risk because of the multiple tumors in the right. Both are hormone positive tho, so I feel hormone therapy may just really do its work, along with diet and various anti hormone natural aids.)

  • Virgo73
    Virgo73 Member Posts: 43
    edited October 2017

    Swg - it’s so discouraging to know that doctors are still pushing mammograms on women with dense breasts. I went in for one lump, and ended up with 5 tumors!! The MRI is what really caught everything... yes, thank God for the doctors who actually think outside of the box (HMO insurance medical groups).

    I had a biopsy on only one lump - Cancer... but when they saw that my lymph node was swollen on the MRI, we did a biopsy on that, which also confirmed it had spread, so we started Chemo rounds. Tuesday was my first, did good up until today. I’m feeling the weakness and lathargia of the treatment. I completely lost my appetite.... reminds me of my morning sickness from being prego,

    I’m not sure what caused this... I’ve learned a lot about our diet and the food & water we consume. I completely changed, removed all sugar and all processed foods. Went organic on pretty much everything. Juicing has become part of my day. The money I save from eating out, just compensated my new grocery bill!!

    I’m hoping and will continue to pray for all of you beautiful ladies.

    Keep us posted on your results & treatment plan. The women on this site have so much wisdom - they’ve really helped me sooo much!!

    Xoxo

  • swg
    swg Member Posts: 461
    edited October 2017

    I just posted a link to a study from the Journal of Clinical Oncology about diets where the patient ate 5 servings of fruits and veggies per day AND engaged in 30 min physical activity 6 times a week had a significant impact on survival rates (you must do BOTH, tho). This was independent of obesity and other factors. It esp had an effect when the patients had hormone positive tumors.

  • swg
    swg Member Posts: 461
    edited October 2017

    I hope the chemo continues to go well for you! I'm so sorry about your lymph nodes..I feel fortunate that my MRI didn't show anything, in that area (or, I'm assuming my BS would've told me)..but we'll see, once I get surgery and they do the testing.

    I'm prepared, either way. I'm taking my time..not rushing into this. My surgeon doesn't seem too concerned about timing, as my tumors are less aggressive and she didn't see any spread in the biopsy results.

    I sent you some PMs since our paths are SO similar, it's crazy LOL I'd love to keep in touch with you as we go through this. I have lots of friends who are wonderful, but..I think you have to be going through this, to really understand what a strange, scary experience it is :p


  • swg
    swg Member Posts: 461
    edited October 2017

    I read an interesting article in the Atlantic (written in 1998, but a lot of it seems to still make sense) about why there's more BC these days. First off, ppl are living longer. Secondly, back in the day, women were pregnant most of their lives, which meant, they weren't having a period. I guess when you menstruate, you're pumping out those hormones that tumors like ours feed on...

    i've never been pregnant and never had a child, which I guess put me at a higher risk of BC, unfortunately. And so I'm not too surprised mine is hormone positive.

    We also have so much toxic stuff in our environment that we absorb or breathe in. I think about all the makeup, hair dye, etc. I've used..or how when I was a kid, they used to spray toxic stuff to kill mosquitos..we breath in so much junk in our lifetimes.

    Thankfully, we have a lot more treatments and options than for ex, my best friend did, who died in 2003 of breast cancer. And it's getting more and more interesting, with immunotherapy and cryoablation..all these trials they're doing..many things going on. I hope they find a cure in our lifetime!

  • swg
    swg Member Posts: 461
    edited October 2017

    hopefully this helps w the fatigue..seems you will have good days and rough days, with chemo..fortunately, it only lasts for a short time.

    http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/side-effects/fatigue-and-cancer.aspx

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