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Winter/Spring 2024 Radiation Thread
Gather here to share experiences, ask questions, get encouragement, and support others who are going through radiation therapy along with you. Please share your diagnosis, any previous treatment you've had, and your scheduled start date along with your radiation schedule. We're all here for you!
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March/April 2024 Surgery Support Thread
Please gather here to get and give support. Feel free to share your type of surgery, date, and let us know how you're preparing and how you're doing post-surgery. We're all here for you!
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Stopped Letrozole for One Month
I am curious if anyone has taken a break from hormone inhibitors for a month. I had surgery in January 2023 for invasive lobular cancer of the left breast and had a mastectomy. My oncotype was 13% and I had radiation therapy for 5 weeks. One lymph node was positive. I have been on and off hormone inhibitors since last…
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Tumor Marker Increases Within Normal Range
Has anyone had experience with tumor markers increasing within the normal range? Since completing chemo/rads/mx after stage IV diagnosis (one unconfirmed met to the sacrum) I had been staying in the 13-14 range on the CA 15-3. I just had it increase to 19.6. I know that's a "normal" range, but it is still concerning to me.…
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I've Finished 5 years of Tamoxifen!
I took my last Tamoxifen pill yesterday and I'm happy about that. I didn't think I could make it through the entire 5 years. It was really a struggle and balancing act to take a daily pill that aggravated my throat/stomach without destroying it. I've been taking a lot of PPI medication which I hope I can decrease soon. I'm…
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Interpreting Mammograms: Calcifications
from the American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Boot Camp
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Implant reconstruction after radiation
I have a recurrence of DCIS in my right breast. In 2017 I had a lumpectomy and radiation. I now need to have a mastectomy and I’m hoping to have an implant reconstruction, rather than the DIEP flap. Most of the conversations I’ve found on the success of an implant reconstruction years after having radiation are pretty old.…
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Upcoming Oncoplasty Lumpectomy
I’m having the surgery with reduction & lift next week. Hoping to go home same day. Can anyone share what their recovery was like? I’m off work on an (unpaid) medical leave, but live on a farm and single parent teens so I’m usually kinda busy. Thx
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tubular carcinoma
Anyone out there also diagnosed with tubular carcinoma? I know it is a rare kind, rarely spreads, is highly estrogen positive and has a good prognosis. If you have tubular carcinoma, I am wondering about your treatment. I had lumpectomy, radiation, and tamoxifen. I am curious to know if all of this treatment is necessary…
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Surgical Options
I was just diagnosed and am deciding between treatment options. I am already scheduled for surgery but now I am having doubts about the Lumpectomy and subsequent radiation therapy. In my honest opinion, I now feel that the mastectomy could be the better choice due to avoiding the radiotherapy and hormone therapy. Feeling…
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Ibrance Users greater than 24 months
How many of us have used Ibrance (plus an antiestrogen) greater than 24 months - even those who have moved on to next line of treatment. Apparently, the median PFS on this combo is now 27.6 months. For bone mets only the median PFS at 36.2 months. Data is from the Paloma 2 trial.
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I have a question for my mom
My mom just diagnosed with recurrence and we are waiting for the PET scan to see if it’s local or there is Mets the doctor is saying it’s unlikely to be Mets as the biopsy result shows ki67 is 10 % and The tumor size if 10mm my mom still worries and she is asking if they believe there is no Mets why they are doing a PET…
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Anyone experienced numbness and tingling on one side of your body?
My bc diagnosis was in 2021 and I had a lumpectomy and lymph node biopsy 12/21, followed by radiation 3/22. I was 71 at the time. My diagnosis was pure mucinous, clear margins, no lymph node spread, grade 2, stage 1.About a month ago I experienced complete numbness of my right leg and foot from the groin down. It lasted…
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FAST Foward radiation treatment schedule option
Hi, this is my first post. I’m also not sure if my dx signature/details automatically attaches to my post. But I’ll add those details if I need to. I’m in Canada. The radiation oncologist gave me the option of the Fast Forward dosing schedule of treatment. It’s not first in line protocol here yet because it hasn’t been…
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letrozole and Coughing
“My mother has MBC to lungs She’s taking Letrozole. After three months, she started coughing and complains of a dry throat. Is coughing a side effect of the treatment?
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PET Scan
Hi I am wondering at what point will the oncologist order a PET scan. Is it mostly for patients with a high risk or symptoms of other issues? Or can I request one just to be sure that I am "all good"? Just anxious to see if I have or not have any other thing going on. I have a diagnostic mammogram and MRI coming up in…
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Pain Before Diagnosis
Hi everyone. I’m hoping you guys can give me some information or ideas. I have seen my ob and I have a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound scheduled in 4 days. I’m wondering about the pain. It is my biggest symptom. The pain started out like I was cold. It wasn’t very painful, but my nipple hurt like I stepped into very…
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US CDC guidelines for Lung Cancer screening
In the US, CDC does have a guideline for lung screening. And for some reason, lung screening, is not as widely known as colorectal or breast screening. But nonetheless, the language on their site does not include those whom have had breast cancer or have gone thru breast cancer treatments under the "whom should be…
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Will 30% of Early Stage (1-IIIA) go on to metastasize??
So I started this question in another thread but was hoping for additional feedback. With MBC awareness day last weekend, a stat is going around that caught my attention. Basically says that 30% of early stage BC patients will eventually have their bc metastasize AFTER adjuvant treatment. Susan G. Komen even states it here…
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Mucinous Carcinoma of the breast
On April 21st I had a core biopsy and today I was told that I have mucinous carcinoma of the breast. When I investigated on this website, the information given was that this is a rare type of cancer, about 2-3% of all breast cancers and usually occurs in post-menopausal women over the age of 60. I am neither. I am 51 years…
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Fall/Winter 2023/2024 Radiation Thread
Gather here to share experiences, ask question, get encouragement, and support others who are going through radiation therapy along with you. Please share your diagnosis, any previous treatment you've had, and your scheduled start date along with your radiation schedule. We're all here for you!
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10 years after BC diagnosis, I have mets in lung which are BC
Hi All My oncologist called this morning to confirm that the node in my lung is indeed breast cancer, it took them a few days to figure out but they knew it wasn't lung cancer. I'm so shocked. I had stage I, HER2+ breast cancer diagnosed 10 years ago and had a lumpectomy, lymph node removal (which was clear for cancer),…
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Zometa side effects
I will be having my first infusion of Zometa this week. Has anyone had any side effects from Zometa? I hope to be able to travel a few days after and to go to work the next day and wonder if this is a reasonable plan.
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Pathology Report- how long?
May I ask how long typically does it take before you receive your pathology report from surgery? I am through week one starting week two. I’m anxious because those results are what will give me more info as to my treatment plan and what to expect going forward. I know waiting is THE WORST.
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Gemcitabine / Carboplatin
Anyone have any experience or tips on this combo. I’m starting this combo on the 19th Nov since Ibrance/Falsodex and Xeloda failed after 11 months in. Thank you in advance for any tips or suggestions. I got my port placed Wednesday. Thanks so much, Karen
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Breaking Research News from sources other than Breastcancer.org
I watch for research news on breast cancer, treatments, etc., and frequently see interesting articles. There is a topic on BCO called "Breaking Research News from Breastcancer.org." One of the moderators suggested that another topic might be appropriate for posting links and synopses of reports on research found elsewhere.…
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Did your doctor talk about your Ki67 %
Hello - I have IDC Stage 2 (++-), and I am one week out from my bilateral mastectomy. My lymph Node pathology reports were posted online, and from what I can read, there is no cancer in my lymph nodes. However, my Ki67% - was reported at 43%. so I have a Ki67: 43%. Is that bad? Did your doctor put much stock into your Ki67…
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HRT after Breast Cancer? Maybe!
I just wanted to share this information I've found. The first is a book cowritten by an oncologist, Dr Bluming, called Estrogen Matters. The second is an article he just had published in Cancer Journal entitled 'HRT after Breast Cancer - It Is Time.' I would be happy to send a copy of the article to anyone as he was kind…
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Any stage IV surviving 5+ years ?
When you look up stats for stage IV they’re dismal, yet I continue to see lots of longer term survivors on this site. Some were given a year or two. Would love to hear how many are there and how life’s is for you. I’m coming up on three years and just failed with letrozole. MO says plenty options sti
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Given my dx, should I adopt a dog?
Okay, bear with. Last year was the sh*ttiest year of my life, bar none. My DH was dx with prostate cancer (now in active tx), I had my own crappy dx (in active tx), and probably the worst hurt was that we had to say goodbye to our own fur girl, Preshy, who had been in our family for 13 years. She was my soul. Got me…