Positive Girls Club

Great news, Fireba!!! I am just wondering -- is your onco recommending chemo for you because you are so young? I am 42 (turning 43 in April), my bc was er+/pr+ so I know that I'm going to be on tamoxifen. I had a left mastectomy 12 days ago, nodes were clear. I have my 1st appt with my onco tomorrow but I was in the surgeon's office today and I was speaking w/her nurse practioner about treatment options, etc and she said that the onco's usually recommend chemo for us young woman!! Their feeling is that because we are so young, it's better to be aggressive with the treatment now rather than to wait and see what happens. I sort of agree but am afraid to have chemo. Also, if it only increases my survival odds by 1/2 to 1%, is it worth the long term side effects of the chemo itself (ie. cardio-toxicity, bone mass loss, and possibly leukemia)? I'm just curious what your doc may have said to you. I know each of us are different and each case is different but I was just wondering?
Thanks,
Pam

Jule, thanks! I don't know my nodes yet, of course, but get injected with radioactive dye (yay blue pee! ) later today and surgery tomorrow AM.

I will ask for the oncotype DX. If chemo makes a difference, I will have it, but if it is only like 1 or 2% and since I am so hormone positive, I don't want to put myself through chemo unless I have to.

Hi all! Thanks for the encouraging words. Yes, I definitely have to have the chemo, partly because I'm young (31 next week!) but also because I'm triple negative, so the hormone therapies aren't an option for me. It's going to be 4 months (or maybe a bit longer) of dose dense chemo followed by about 6 weeks of radiation. The other factors involved for me were the size of the tumor (1.7 cm) and the grade 3 status - a nasty little beast, but it seems we found it early.

But here's another question for all you experts: I don't have ANY family history or bc or ovarian cancer, but because of my age, my cancer center is suggesting I do the BRCA test. If the test was positive, I would choose the preventative mastectomy (probably both breasts). But the test takes about a week, and I'm reluctant to push back my SNB (which would of course push back the chemo). I do have a daughter, so if the test were positive, that would be good information for her later, too. What do you think? Should I do the genetic test now, or wait until after my current cancer treatments are over?

I want to join the PGC!!!! I also was recently dx with bc and had a right mastectomy on Feb 9th! Boy was I scared....operation started at 9 am and I was home in my chair feeling great by 3 that afternoon. It was unbelievable that I could feel so well. I now look a little like a unicorn (cup size c) but that's okay, I've always liked unicorns. Meet with oncologist yesterday and will start chemo on March 6th, having Pet and Muga next week. So the next chapter begins....I am staying positive and I love this site! Thanks to many for the info and experiences you provide.
Nancy

Like you, fireba, I didn't want to wait on getting my tumors outta there and finding out about my SNB. So while I was still waiting for my BRCA test, I went ahead with the initial surgery. My surgeon knew I planned already to eventually have a bilat. mastectomy. We also put the medi-port in at the time of this lumpectomy surgery, so I think we got a lot done! Now I am ready for chemo - I wanted to get through that before the trauma to my body of mastec. and reconstruction. I'm hoping that going into chemo :intact: so to speak will mean I'm stronger. It also eliminated the several weeks wait for healing. I know that my way is not common, but it's working out for me. My BRCA came back positive, so that simply reinforced my decision for bilat.
Good luck!
Lisa

Hi Ladies,
It's me, Pam! I just came back from on 1st visit with my oncologist and she said to me, exactly what I knew she was going to say -- that chemo is recommended because of my age. I'm going to have the oncodx done because I am sort of on the fence. I am stage 1, er/pr+, her2/neu-, node negative, grade 1 to 2. One of my lesions was 1.2cm and the other was 7mm. Because they were 5cm apart in my left breast, I had a mastectomy. The oncologist said the only reason for the chemo is my age. She also said that it would be reasonable for me to decide not to have the chemo because of my staging and grading. She entered all my data into a computer program that projected my 10 year recurrence rate with no tx, hormonal tx and hormonal+chemo tx and basically what it came down to was --- if I just do the hormone tx, my chances of recurrence in 10 yrs would be about 15% but if I added the chemo (which would be 4 months AC followed by 2 months Taxol) then my chance would be lowered to about 8%. I keep going back and forth. I think if it only made a few% points difference then I would lean towards not having chemo but the difference between having chemo and not having chemo is almost 1/2. She says that because my cancer is stage 1 and neg node that the liklihood of it having gotten out elsewhere in my body is low so I could just do the tamoxifen but then I keep thinking, what if it came back in 10 yrs - I would then kick myself for not doing all that I could now!! Right now, I'm leaning towards the chemo (unless my oncodx comes back in my favor) because I think that living the rest of my life wondering if I made the right decision would eat at me more than going thru chemo for 6mos. So, my question to all of you -- is chemo really doable? Can you have somewhat of a "normal" life around it? I don't want to be sick and in my bed all the time. I have 2 boys (11 and 13) that are busy bees and I don't want to miss out on all their stuff for the next 6mos. Sorry if I've rambled but that is sort of how it is all going thru my head right now.
Thanks,
Pam

Pam, Your chemo decision is not clear-cut, since there are so many variables. I agree with Jule that you should have the Oncotest to see if that agrees with your doc's projection. For me, chemo was clear-cut, I had to have it, but I can tell you that all of my decisions were ultimately based on the fact that I never wanted to look back and say, "gee, I shoulda, woulda, coulda. I never wanted to feel that I had left any stone unturned, so I picked the most aggressive tx every step of the way. Good luck to you on your decision.

Can I be the first to add my Friday post for the Positive Girls Club? This week my daughter's high school held an event called "Outrun Cancer" to benefit ACS Relay for LIfe. All of the classes raised money, and the teachers dressed up in silly costumes and ran/walk several laps around the track. I was asked to address the audience as the lead-off speaker, to give a short "inspirational speech" and to thank them for their contributions, etc. I got a standing ovation from about 300 people!! It blew me away. But the very best thing of all was that my daughter (who is 14) was SO proud of me and was beaming ear to ear. That was worth more than everyone standing and clapping. It made my week. I can't wait to read everyone else's positive posts for the week!

Renee

Renee, Your positive post brought tears to my eyes! It's strange, but I suddenly feel like I'm crusading for something - not just my own survival, but for all women, including our daughters, sisters, friends. I want to give you a standing ovation, too!

My positive post is that I started a blog to keep family and friends up to date on my situation as I progress through the many stages of fighting this beast. My brother-in-law suggested it to me because he knows that I love to write and thought it would be therapeutic for me to write about my experiences, as well as practical, so we don't have to tell the same story via telephone 100 times! If anyone wants to stop by my blog, I'll love all the supportive comments I receive there: www.journeybce.blogspot.com

Sara

My positive is that my lumpectomy and SNB went well! I had it yesterday, came home, slept and slept and slept, and now I feel stiff and sore, but much better. The worst part of all? Having to fast and thirst for all those hours beforehand. I have even greater respect for those on vision quests.

I had about 20 people lighting candles, saying prayers, sending Reiki and good energy and one of my dearest and most supportive friends at my side. I felt connected with a Power greater than myself and know all this love is what helped me.

Sara, Your post truly touched my heart! I read your blog, and I can see why you find it so cathartic - you're good at it! I will be sending lots of healing prayers and thoughts to you on Monday when you go in for your surgery.

Crystal Cat - Congratulations on getting through your surgery - YAY! You'll be feeling even better as the days go on. I'm so glad you were surrounded by love and support - I remember when you were so worried about facing this by yourself. See? You don't have to!

Happy Weekend to all!

Renee

It's so nice to read these postings and know that everyone is so supportive and caring. My positive for the week - had my first visit to medical oncologist this week and left feeling a little dismayed (not warm and cozy), my surgeon was out of the country on vacation, so I just took the bulls by the horn and got some recommendations for other medical oncologist at research institute....called this morning and just received a call back with an appointment next Wednesday. Not sure it will change anything but it sure will make me feel that I taking an active part in this battle.
Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!
Peace,
Nancy

Hi ladies, my positive this week, I got a REAL hair cut. Eight months out of chemo and I had to get a trim. So, those of you about to embark on the hair loss, IT GROWS BACK. I get even more compliments now then I ever did! Go figure.

Sara, I will be praying for you. Keep the awesome attitude. Jule, what wonderful words of support you offer.
Renee, beautiful post. 011307, amen sister.

All of you ladies are in my thoughts and prayers. Have a wonderful week-end.

Only positive here is I'm one week closer (now less than a week) to mastectomies! Lets get the show on the road already!

Skeetur