Stage IIb and 5+ years out, anyone?

Hi duckee,

That's wonderful, congrats to your sister! If you don't mind me asking, did your sister have reconstruction? Thank you.

Liz

Thank you for posting , Yes I love hearing from long termers it raises hope in so many ways

comingtoterms- thanks for sharing.

Not sure if I posted here or not. Over 9 years out. Unfortunately the side effects of treatment left me disabled.

Ladies

Thanks so much for posting 2 yrs out here , no reconstruction yet, still thinking on if I want to deal with that mess.

I do want to ask how many of you have went on to have your ovaries and uterus take out since having BC. Its something that worries not , while no family history of BC or Ovarian its still something that concerns me.......not sure if that worry is justified or not .

I went through menopause young 42 had a bad accident and had very few periods after that Dr say the accident threw my body into shock and that they may never come back with they have not .

While I continue with that well woman check each year none of the Drs seem to concerned or have given much though to maybe I need to get all that stuff taken out as a preventive .

Your thoughs comments would be appreciated

jo6359, yes, accumulated side effects: post mastectomy pain syndrome, costochondritis, "iron corset" from LD reconstruction, peripheral neuropathy from chemo, destroyed cervical spine from aggressive osteoarthritis triggered by AIs, painful muscular spasms from remaining back muscles unable to compensate for the missing LD muscle.

HoneyBeaw, as I see it, it would be useless as after menopause the production of estrogen is taken over by the adrenal glands an fat tissue. I guess only if you want to do a prophylactic surgery to pre-empt ovarian/uterine cancer the way that some do prophylactic mastectomy.

Also, I hope you're aware that insurance covers reconstruction only for two years following the mastectomy. After that, it's elective.

I am over 14 years out with Bi-Lateral Breast Cancer! Stage 2b, Grade 3 in Left Breast and one positive lymph node. Stage One, Grade 2 in right Breast! Very Aggressive treatment: Chemo, Radiation, Doubl Masectomy(no reconstruction) and total hysterectomy🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗 Also 11 years taking Aromosin

dx 2001 stage 2B , right breast, size 2.2 cm, stage 2-3, her 2 neg with one positive lymph node. Lumpectomy and 13 lymph nodes removed. chemo ACT and radiation. Eighteen years since DX !! I was 48 and found my own lump 7 mo after mammogram. my breasts were dense they said. Took arimadex, tamoxifen and femara for many years. Ive had both knees replaced and many joint, muscle, tendon issues ever since chemo and AIs . Also have osteoporosis / prolia and take px strength vitamin D. I feel blessed to have survived 18 years. I have aged much faster though and have very thin hair from chemo , etc. I still feel blessed and thankful to be here with my family. Im overweight and don't consistently watch my diet for sugar, either. I have a lot of back, joint, leg pain but just rest when I need to and use OTC meds if gets too bad, have lot arthritis too. I also found out im pos for Lynch syndrome few years back and get preventive checkups. Don't worry, have hope, each case and person is very individualized.

any grade 3 free-disease more than 10 years? most of the survivals here are grade 1 and 2. I'm grade 3.

Letrletrozolei was diagnosed apr 2017.. Stage 2b w 1 node positive. Dble masectomy a b out 7 months after diagnosis. 3 lumpectomys they kept finding more cancer everytime so.. Ive had one heck of ride on this cancer card..im still wondering does anyone suffer fro. Atrophic vaginitis from being taken rhru pre menopause to post( leutal phase) in about 8 months. Trlstar vs lupron.. Not the same.. As i now have had to take sex off the table.. To painful and uncomfortable.. Vaginitis wont clear. Ive been taken off the exemestane and mt last shot of trylstar was over a month ago.. Im 46.. A single mom and really feeling like theres hotta be lore optons for my vag to. Feel like a 46 yr old.. Im just utterly at a loss. Docs say no estrogen cream .. Absolutely NOT.. So im just hangin at home alone w vaginosis and its really not sitting well w me any one have the mona lisa procedure done..?? Ive done it all tamoxifen.

Houston, I had osteopenia due to hyperthyroidism before starting AIs. While on them, I followed the recommendations of me BOS, 1000 mg calcium daily in 2 doses (very important as body can't assimilate more than 600 mg at one time, it excretes in urine, danger of kidney stones), 5000 UI vit D3 daily (I need more than normal due to messed up metabolism) trying to keep levels at 60; very important, have 3 hours time between taking calcium and the vitD3, as it interferes. I got rid of osteopenia in hip, the one in lower spine got better. Also, walk.

AKJ congratulations! Wow so inspiring, especially since you had positive nodes too. Thank you so much for posting.

seachain, I read also the law covers reconstruction regardless length of time. I am taking vitamin D3 and calcium together not apart because calcium needs vitamin D to absorb. I'm just wondering when is zometa infusion necessary.

I'm 2 yrs out from left MX since 11/16 still have the TE but contemplating not doing recon. I read that delayed recon can trigger recurrence, if I have Diep Flap that's an extensive surgery with much tissue trauma, wound healing. I am feeling pretty good right now and don't want to go through all that suffering. Another side of me thinks if I don't do it now I'll be too old for it.

Houston, it does need vitD to absorb, but that doesn't mean they have to be taken at the same time. You have to have a decent level of vitD to absorb the calcium. That means, take the vitD before you take the calcium, otherwise it will latch onto it as you're taking it and less vitD will get in your blood. I'm trying to explain in an easy what happens, so you don't have to take insane amounts just to keep the vitD levels at a decent number. I was making the same mistake and was frustrated that I was taking 5000 UI a day and my levels wouldn't get higher than 30, when my breast oncologist wanted me at 60. Until he thought of asking me how I was taking it and explained to me. Now my levels are in the desired (considered preventive) levels of 60-65.

i had the mona lisa done and it definately helped