ali_lpn

My recurrence is in the reconstructed side...it isn't a new primary though.  I had skin sparring TRAM flap with silicone implant.  I noticed a few small lumps and within a month the implant was rock hard and had NUMEROUS lumps and an ulcer.  I honestly thought my implant had burst (deep down maybe I knew).  When I finally got in to see my plastic surgeon and she saw my breast, the look on her face was priceless.  At that moment, I knew I was in trouble.  I was back in chemo in less than a month.  I have mets in both femurs, spine up to T10, sacrum, groin, left axilla (lymph involvement on the opposite side from the first), and both hips...I think that is it :)  I am so sorry you have to wait 6 months tiinajk.  I cannot imagine how stressful that is and how long 6 months must feel.  It sounds like you have a doc who is the best so hopefully she is doing the right thing for you.  Maybe you could go back and see her and she could help ease your mind a little by giving you some more information.  You are in my thoughts.

Ali

Hi Ladies!

I was dx with 1st go round in Aug 05 her/er ++ stage 3.  I did TAC for 12 weeks and radiation for 6 weeks.  Chose not to take tamoxifen.  I was dx with recurrence on Apr 25.  I started chemo on May 1...phase III study of Avastin/taxol...3 weeks on, 1 week off indefinately.  I have multifocal mets to right lung, both hips, both femurs, groin, sacrum, and spine...lovely huh?  I was 34 when I was dx the 1st time and 37 now.  I haven't had the best attitude, esp since I had to lose my hair AGAIN, but if last time is any indication, I will start fighting just as soon as I get over being FURIOUS.  This site is great and I think it is helping, esp seeing that other people have had to do all this bull over again, so maybe I can too.  You are all in my prayers...take care.

Ali

Hi ladies!  I was lucky enough to stumble upon this website when I needed it the most (during another sleepless night).  I was originally dx in Aug 05 and had a right mastectomy, 12 weeks of chemo and 6 weeks of radiation.  My oncologist (at the time) gave me a script for tamoxifen and basically made it sound like it did not matter one way or the other if I took it.  He said it would only prevent recurrence by 20%.  After researching it, I decided not to take it basically because I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.  I was only 32 at the time and felt like I was 72 during that time period.  NOW I wish I had taken it.  About 7 or 8 months ago, I noticed a few little lumps on my reconstructed breast, but I needed a replacement implant because the radiation had hardened mine.  SO, being the procrastinater that I am, I put it off until I had a rock hard breast with lumps and an ulcer (I know how horrible that is, but I have a huge fear of the unknown I guess).  I finally went to my plastic surgeon because I had convinced myself that my implant had burst.  She immediately sent me to my breast surgeon who immediately sent me to a new oncologist.  I am in a phase III study receiving Avastin/Taxol 3 weeks on, 1 week off.  I have mets to the bones in my hips, lower back and pelvic area.  I also have mets to my right lung.  They also found a large node in my left axilla.  The first go around, the CA was in my  lymph nodes under the right arm.  I had 22/30 + nodes.  I know that I did this to myself.  I am a nurse and I know better.  Thank goodness for my wonderful family and girlfriend who never once said, "I told you so".  I started my second round of chemo on May 1st.  I had my week off last week and felt worse that week than I did the weeks that I was doing the chemo.  I figured that was because of the steroids.  Anyway, I happened to find this wonderful website and appreciate you ladies so much for being so honest and telling your stories.  I really relate with most of you.  It helps a lot.  My big problem right now is that my hair is falling out.  It was tramatic when I lost my hair the 1st time and I was just starting to like the way I looked and now I am losing it again, big time.  It is to the point where I need to just get rid of it because there is hair everywhere and I hate that.  I just can't bring myself to do it though.  It is even more tramatic to me this time.  I know it seems shallow, but I hated being bald last time and my oncologist said he doesn't know how long I will have to do chemo so I could be bald even longer this time.  Anyway, a HUGE thank you to you brave women for letting me know that other people do this 2 or 3 times, so I can too.  You are all in my prayers.

Ali