Jennywren

I had right sided radiation.The "forks of lead" in the machine protected my vital organs.I saw on the x ray how much of my lung would be hit.It was less than 2 cms and was explained that the lung that would NOT be hit comprises of 98% of lung...so less than 2 percent.

I had 3 week radiation, IMRT.

FYI My cancer symptom was a bloody nipple, HUGE RED FLAG.There is no way someone should have to wait from June until October for that mammogram.They say 80% of the time its not cancer.I say lots of times it is.

I am not going to get into this TOO much but I think the canadian health care system is tragically flawed.Please understand not everyone lives in Alberta, where health care is top notch and not everyone can get into princess maragaret or any of those other places in Toronto.I live about 45 minutes away from toronto but because of transportation and waiting issues I was not able to go there.I did get good treatment where I live but it was not top notch.

I had waiting period from 1 week to 3 months for my diagnostic tests and surgeries.I was wait listed more times than you could count.From the day I had bloody discharge until my diagnosis it was 11 months and 14 days.Most of that time was spent waiting for tests and pathology which took thir sweet time.

Anyone can google and see the sad state of health care in ontario.I often think that people that live in toronto live in a bubble.You could not count the number of times I have heard "Well my 80 year old aunt just zipped into princess maragret and got all fixed up" thats nice.Ontario is a HUGE province! the younger you are the less yyou are taken seriously.My 2 cents.

I went to see the rads onc today for my last appt.I got through rads ok but I am having severe breast pain.He was not willing to RX me anything but steroids.Like prednisone, I almost killed myself when I was on it last time.

So I guess I just get to be in pain :(

hey boobytrapped, our DX is almost identical! Mine was 1.7 MM though still pretty small.I have 2 to go with the rads and then I am done..like done done hopefully.I am not even taking tamoxifen...

I did the 16 and 4 boosts as well.

So I made it through 16 treatments and now I just have boosts to go.I started having cramping, shooting pains over the weekend,Nerve pain.I cannot stand nerve pain it makes me very cranky.I have not whined or moaned through this entire thing to the Dr or nurse.But I had to say something yesterday.It was keeping me awake.I should sxplain that I am allergic to aspirin, so that means no motrin or advil either.tylenol only.

The nurse brushed me off, she said they never give anything stronger and I could try tylenol 1's that have 8 mg codeine, OTC in canada.Guess what?? Not helping one bit.

I see my Dr tommorow, but she says that he will say to just ride it out? That it will be like this for up to 6 months.I am depressed.

What you said was spot on, BUT I will focus on the bloody discharge and YOUNGER patients in their 20's and 30's.My surgeon told me that the discharge has little chance of being ectasia as the ducts harden with age, this is usually seen in older woman.

Papilomma maybe??? Hopefully if you have BND this is what it is.

I have known 5 woman MY age with this and they all had cancer, so something is not right.I had a mammogram,ultrasound,ductogram and an MRI ALL CLEAR.

Turns out I had microscopic cancer :(

You need to go to a different Dr then.The "radiation" from a mammogram may save your life if it is something..trust me.

I don't want to scare people but I was told, it is normal for all tests to come out normal.Bloody discharge, if cancerous is from the duct, so there is no lump perse.

Keep in mind mine was microscopic cancer..only seen under a scope.If I had to do it again, I would get NO tests I would make them take it out.

Everything was negative.I had microscopic cancer..not able to be picked up with any technology except high powered scopes.

I got that 80% are B9....from my oncologist and surgeon.If it is blood, and you are young it is more likely to be cancer.They also did ALL the tests and did not find any cancer until the duct excision.

I am not trying to scare you, but there is a big difference of say a 30 yr old with nipple discharge and a 50 year old having it.A 50 year old would be more likely to have a Duct ectasia...

Trust me,I was misdiagnosed for 11 months...