CALLING ALL STAGE I SISTERS

Salamanda- made it through surgery! eneded.up.hetting admitted to the hospital after i couldn't keep anything down...I did not react well to anesthia. should be springing loose later today. BS says I'll get the pathology report in about 5 days. they do an immediate dissection. on the table but send it off to the lab to make sure is no micromets

I'm looking at the positives. she only took two nodes. I was told by the plastic surgeon (and other) that if she had seen something, she would have grabbed more nodes for an axillary dissection. keeping my fingers and toes crossed

Glad things went well CHB87. I'm sorry you had to be admitted, though. Anesthesia can be hard and affects everybody so differently. I remember coming out of it once with the most horrible migraine. But that was the only time out of 6 surgeries & 2 colonoscopies that I had a reaction to it.

Hoping that you will get to go home soon! Praying for good path results! Thinking of you & sending hugs to you!

Good afternoon ladies!

I'm 47 and was diagnosed with IDC stage 1A Grade 2, left breast in September. I had a lumpectomy as well as sentinel lymph node biopsy October 16th. I did get clear margins and lymph node were negative (thank goodness). I have my mapping for radiation this Friday and will have 22 sessions. I met with my MO yesterday and she suggested after I finish radiation, taking Tam for 5 years. She did say more than likely after 1 year they will probably start me on another medicine because I am already peri menopause.

CHB87, sorry you had to be admitted. I'm hoping for positive results for you and glad the surgery part is over. It's a crazy whirlwind of emotion

CHB87, I'm so glad you are on the other side of surgery. I hope you are home by now and recovering in comfort!

DeeBB..Welcome ..pull up a chair .. hopefully we can all support each other here .

I have visited several forums but I have found this to be my favorite. It has helped me SO much. I'm glad you found it too, DeeBB!

Hi DWiseley!

No, luckily our temps have been just above freezing all day so only rain. But has started snowing this evening. How about you?

I'm in southern Ohio. About an hour south of Columbus.

Wow! We didn't get anything like that. I hope you enjoyed your snow day.

DWiseley, glad you got your snow day! We had the ice storm here too in central Indiana. I woke up to a cold house and no electricity 😂. But it came back on about 30 minutes after I was up and around.

DeeBB I hope your radiation treatments are smooth sailing! I meet with the RO on the 28th. How long was the process to get things started/ scheduled for the radiation

Dani444, it's been pretty quick, my first appointment with my RO was 11/09 for consult, the second appointment for mapping was today 11/16 and the 'dry run' is scheduled for 11/29 and she said I would start the treatments 12/03.

Finally had my appointments today!

My oncotype score is 9. The medical oncologist said no chemo recommended - Tamoxifen only, ten years. I think she sent the prescription already. I liked her a lot.

The radiation oncologist was wildly positive about my outcomes. He also said there will be 0 radiation to the lungs and heart. He spent a lot of time with his phone in his hand or his laptop in his lap or looking at his smartwatch, and seemed overall pretty bored by my case. He seems to be very respected and participates in cutting edge research and I *liked* the content of what he was saying about all the 'good' things about my cancer. But wow. Hopefully he is really good at what he does and I won't have to deal with him much I generally find speaking with women doctors much less stressful/annoying. I loved his resident, who spoke with me first and actually thoughtfully addressed all my questions. But it turns out she will be rotating out by the time I really get started.

I want to just start everything already, but it sounds like simulation next week and probably not actually starting treatment until December.

I'm trying to decide what to do in terms of taking time off from work. Mentally I've had it, and I wish I could take off starting next week. I'm already fatigued from the surgery and stress. But physically it sounds like it will really start taking its toll after the first week or two. The resident said most women feel completely back to normal about two weeks after it ends. I gotta weigh the mental health and the loss of wages.

Salamandra, You and I have very similar OncotypeDX scores, diagnosis,and prognosis; but I suspect you're younger than I am as I'm taking Anastrazole rather than tomoxifen. While we have "boring" cancer, your RO should have been much more invested in your concerns, questions, worries, etc. What do you do for a living? I'm with you on the mental exhaustion from the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. I can't wait for Christmas break!

Salamandra, I am a middle school ESL teacher. I despise getting ready for a sub, especially since I teach 3 grades and 5 levels. I am really committed to working through rads. First of all, as you can see from my signature I had cancer 3 years ago. I burned up through a great deal of my sick time during that. Plus it's just really hard for my kids to adjust to a substitute teacher and I feel better going to work everyday. Yes it is exhausting, but I'll be exhausted at home too, LOL. I am 56.

Hi Oceanbum,

I see you are from southern Ohio. I grew up in Middletown, am in California now.

So glad to have this forum, where other people realize how hard all this is. I'm trying to be grateful that I have caring doctors and a treatment plan that is likely to work. Most days that works, other days I feel crabby. One day at a time I guess.

Hi gregious,

I'm not too far from Middletown, maybe a couple of hours. I'm sure you aren't missing the Ohio weather this time of year!!

I am so grateful for this forum. I have found such comfort here, lots of helpful information, and very kind friends who understand what we are all going through!!