Topic: New lump
Log in to post a reply
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 11
Posts: 11
- Posted on: Jul 5, 2007 11:06 am
Donald and I just came back from the Oncologist and he has a .05cm lump under his nipple and a lump in his lymph node. He goes to the surgen next month for the core biopsy. Then we see from there, I hope they do another mastectomy and get it over with. Bad day. 
| Posts 1 - 20 (20 total) | |
|---|---|
|
TenderIsOur… Joined: May 2007 Posts: 3023 |
Jul 5, 2007 07:27 pm, edited Mar 19, 2008 12:45 PM
by TenderIsOurMight
TenderIsOurMight wrote:
I just don't want another moment to go by without acknowledging your husband's and your disappointing news today. I tried to go back to your original post to more fully understand Donald's situation, but couldn't work the system. In any regards, courage to you both. One thought would be to ask whether your Oncologist thinks an MRI may be helpful of this new (?opposite) breast mass to allow good picturing, including the axilla, and whether your Surgeon might move the surgical date up depending on it's results. How we empathize with you both for not already having gone through this once, but now again so soon on the past's heels! Perhaps there is a clinical trial available for your husband which allows one to obtain state of the art surgical/medical care and the potential of a successful fork in the road from evolving treatment (many are listed at ClinicalTrials.gov). With appropriate medical and public community interest in male breast cancer, it's possible such trials exist or will be forthcoming and your husband may feel less isolated "talking with the men". A wonderful book to read is titled "The Anatomy of Hope: How People Prevail in the Face of Illness" by Jerome Groopman, M.D., should either of you need a lift. You both show fortitude to share your plight with all of us who have (had) breast cancer themselves or in their family as well as with the wonderful researchers, staff, nurses and physicians who diagnose and treat our disease, even perhaps more so as men's breast cancer statistics and research findings are just now accumulating. Thank you for making the effort to touch base for your husband. I hope even in small ways we might make your plight more bearable in our response. Tender |
|
lucyemmons Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 65 |
Jul 6, 2007 05:48 pm
lucyemmons wrote:
Hi Tammy Sorry to hear Donald and you have had a set back. Hope everything goes well for you this time. Another wonderful book to read is "Stronger Than Cancer" I can't remember the author but it has very inspiring stories in it. Good luck to you and Donald. God Bless. Lucy ------------------------------------------------- Life is a highway I want to ride it all night long |
|
tammy1964 Joined: May 2007 Posts: 11 |
Jul 9, 2007 07:02 am tammy1964 wrote: Thank you for your thoughts and suport, Donald always asks what you ladies have to say about his BC, he's a little computer shy, but he likes me going to you all and asking your opinion. When they did his first mammogram in the spring for his left side, they did both sides and his right was clear. It's hard to believe it can spread so fast, we are in such shock right now. On his left side they gave him a sentinel node injection and took out one node during the mastectomy and it came back clear, so when his Oncologist found a lump in his right lymph node that was a big shock too. We will take every day as a blessing and fight all the way. His tamoxifen effects are calming down, this isn't helping but his depression seems to be gone. We are starting to think we PMS together. LOL Thank god we are best friends, I am so afraid to loose him. I will keep everyone posted. |
|
betsy43 Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 126 |
Jul 12, 2007 07:38 pm
betsy43 wrote:
Tammy, Geez, I am so sorry about Donald's report. Having the will to fight this dreadful beast is difficult, but it means so much. The treatments get better all the time. Glad to hear his SE of tamoxifen are easing. I know this feeling well, I've been taking it for only 3 weeks and so far can feel the effects but bearable. Hope they don't get worse. LOL. Please tell Donald to HANG TUFF!! We're here for you both. Keep us posted. We care, Hugs, Betsy43 |
|
MREanes Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 86 |
Jul 18, 2007 09:23 am
MREanes wrote:
Tammy, My name is Mike. I also have breast cancer, May 05, that has metastasized to my bones, Dec 06. I am currently undergoing my third type of chemo. I started with 6 rounds of Taxotere, Adriamycin and Cytoxan followed by radiation. I was also on Tamoxifen. Bone mets were found in late Dec 06. I had leg and lower back pain. They thought that is was a disc problem because my cancer counts were OK. It was found with an MRI. I had titanium rods put into my left leg and bone cement in my bottom vertebre. I was then put on Xeloda, Zometa and my Tamoxifen was changed to Femera. More bone mets found in May. I am currently taking Abraxane, Avastin and Zometa. Let Donald know that he is not alone. This website has lots of information and support from people who understand what he is going through. Please tell Donald to keep a positive attitute and to never give up the fight. Best wishes, Mike |
|
TenderIsOur… Joined: May 2007 Posts: 3023 |
Jul 18, 2007 03:01 pm, edited Mar 19, 2008 01:14 PM
by TenderIsOurMight
TenderIsOurMight wrote:
Hi Mike, So sorry for all you have gone through, and so admiring of your determination. I have a close male friend in Virginia with our history, and would be happy to call him should you wish a male to directly talk with. He's easy to talk with. If so, please don't hesitate to send me a PM. Tender IBC, Stage 2, s/p mastectomy, rads, chemo, on Arimidex. |
|
MREanes Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 86 |
Jul 19, 2007 09:34 am
MREanes wrote:
Tender, Thank you for your message. Actually the cancer has been the easier part of the last couple of years. My wife, of almost 20 years, left me for an ex-friend one week after I completed my original radiation. I was completely unaware and total devastated. By far, the worst experience of my life. However, on the positive side, the support that I have received from family, friends, co-workers and people in general has been unbelievable! The incredible support and the new appreciation for each and every new day have been the good things that cancer has given to me. It seems that every few days something will happen to re-energize me; a smile, a kind act, an e-mail. Thanks again for your support! Have a wonderful day, Mike |
|
tammy1964 Joined: May 2007 Posts: 11 |
Jul 20, 2007 05:47 am tammy1964 wrote: Hi Mike, you sure have been given a hand full. Staying strong mentally gives us the power to get through the beast. Donald and I were wondering why they took you off the Tamoxifen and put you on Femera? Donald has been having numbness in his leg, he is going to the doctors next week. He too has had years of back problems. Thank you for your suport ans shareing your story. Donald had asked if there are any men out there that there breast cancer hasn't spread??? Thanks everyone. |
|
MREanes Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 86 |
Jul 20, 2007 08:18 am
MREanes wrote:
Tammy, Thanks for your support and please tell Donald hello. I was on Tamoxifen when I finished my first chemo, 6 rounds of TAC, and radiation. When the cancer metatasized to my bones, I guess my onc decided that the Tamoxifen wasn't doing its job. When the mets were discovered, I had a couple of surgeries and radiation. I then went on Xeloda, Zometa and the Tamoxifen was replaced with Femera. Since more spots showed up, I am on Abraxane, Avastin and Zometa. I stopped taking the Femera. I don't know if my onc will put me on something else. I don't know any other men with bc so I can't help you there. I wouldn't expect men to be any more likely than women to develop mets. Sometimes, men are diagnosed at a later stage than women because they don't get tested. They also aren't thinking about bc because it is relatively rare in men. In my case, I had a very stressful situation after my initial bc. I don't know that it led to my mets, but it certainly didn't help. Please tell Donald to keep a positive attitude. I really think that it helps physically and I know that it helps mentally. You don't want to spend your life waiting for the other shoe to drop. However, he should get checked any time he is having lots of physical problems. I developed muscle pain and then pain that felt like it was in my bones. It wasn't the stinging, burning sensation of nerve pain. X-rays didn't show my bone mets. An MRI one week after extensive x-rays indicated that my left femur was ready to shatter and that the bottom vertebre in my spine was 2/3 to 3/4 tumor. I was told after my x-rays that it was minor arthritus. Since I went from no pain to barely being able to walk in 3 months, I didn't believe that the diagnosis was correct. Don't settle for an answer that doesn't make sense. Bone scans, MRIs and CAT scans can all pick up bone mets. Let us know how Donald's test come out. Best wishes, Mike |
|
Larry63 Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 192 |
Jul 20, 2007 09:54 am
Larry63 wrote:
Hi Mike, I have been fortunate so far in not having a recurrence or mets. I just wanted to extend my best wishes to you for successful treatment. There was one study I read where they found that the average time that a man took between finding a lump in his breast and going to the doctor was 18 months. That delay surely did not help the patient's getting successful treatment. |
|
MREanes Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 86 |
Jul 20, 2007 01:31 pm
MREanes wrote:
Hi Gary, I'm glad to hear that you are doing well! I know that my cancer was over 18 months old when I had my diagnosis. When I had my initial surgery, May 05, my surgeon recommended that I try to find some pictures from the previous year to see if the tumor was visible. I found a picture from Easter of 04 when my family and I went to the Keyes on a camping trip. When I looked closely, I could see a difference in my breast size. I had even noticed it in the Fall of 04, but didn't think much about it. Sometimes one leg or arm is a little larger than the other. I just thought that it was a result of my bad golf swing. I hope that more publicity will make men more aware that they can get bc also. I appreciate your support and hope that you continue to do well. Mike |
|
tammy1964 Joined: May 2007 Posts: 11 |
Jul 21, 2007 04:30 am tammy1964 wrote: Hi Guys, Just to let you know Donalds tumor was there for 8 years his Surgeon said. |
|
ValeraKuza Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1 |
Aug 1, 2007 07:20 pm ValeraKuza wrote: Post deleted by Melissa & Tami |
|
denise1962 Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 51 |
Aug 1, 2007 07:53 pm denise1962 wrote: moderator notified |
|
Rosemary44 Joined: May 2004 Posts: 2790 |
Aug 2, 2007 10:38 am Rosemary44 wrote: returning the heading to the original |
|
Fllorik Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 1076 |
Aug 2, 2007 07:30 pm Fllorik wrote: A new member of our support group is joining us this week. I will tell him about this thread on this website. I know he will be glad to know that he is not alone. Please keep fighting! Mets/Cancer sucks! |
|
Snooch1 Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 38 |
Aug 10, 2007 10:03 pm
Snooch1 wrote:
Dear Mike: I was reading your post and I just thought you might like to know that you are not alone in having been abandonned during such a difficult time in your life. Not long after I was diagnosed, my best friend decided to cut off our relationship. I'm not sure what was worse, the fact that she called my sister to explain this and expected my sister to tell me, or that I also lost my relationship with her 12 year old son who I had helped my friend raise since he was five. We were not partners or lovers like you and your wife, but we had established a somewhat unconventional family of sorts over the years. It was simply devastating to lose it when I felt like I was losing everything else in my life. I have come to learn that people with cancer say that you learn very quickly who your real friends are when you get sick. It's so much more distressing to find out that your family are not who you thought they were. You sound like such a courageous person. I am so sorry that you too had to go through all of the loss associated with your diagnosis and lose your family as well. You sound so matter of fact about it, but I know the pain that you must have gone, and still are going through. Stay strong. I was unfortunate enough to have lost many friends to AIDS during the 80's before the cocktail existed. I have always found that when I have lost a friend, god usually provides me with a new one. My old friends could never be "replaced" but there have always been new ones out there waiting for me. I know you will find someone to share your life with again, someone who respects you, loves you and belongs with you. Perhaps, in the end, your loss will turn out to be a blessing in disguise. I hope so. Be well. Snooch |
|
MREanes Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 86 |
Aug 11, 2007 05:44 am
MREanes wrote:
Hi Snooch! I appreciate your support. Life can certainly be tough sometimes, but you have to believe that there are better days ahead. You are absolutely correct about really finding out who your friends are. I was completely devastated by my wife leaving without a thought of trying to work things out. I was also hurt by my ex-friend that she ran away with. I had him over for Thanksgiving with my family for 3 or 4 years after his divorce because he had nowhere else to go. However, the support that I received from other friends and co-workers was tremendous. Many people that I used see from time to time and just say hello in passing seemed very concerned and offered to help in any way possible. I believe that most of those offers were genuine. I do believe that someone else will come along to fill that void in my life. I also believe that I am going to survive this current challenge. I certainly know that I will fight this beast as long as there ways to fight it. Thanks again for your support, Mike |
|
mkurtzman Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 93 |
Aug 19, 2007 12:57 pm
mkurtzman wrote:
I am a two year survivor. I just had my annual mammogram last week and it cam out ok. I had a left mastectomy, 12 weeks of taxol, 12 weeks of FAC (every third week) and 6 weeks of radiation. If any of you men want to chat with another man that has had BC please contact me. Gary is also great for chatting. Mike |
|
Shirlann Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 6152 |
Dec 22, 2007 08:32 pm
Shirlann wrote:
Well my dear guy buddies, I have been on these boards for 5 years and the worst thing I heard was a woman who went home from the doctor's to tell her husband she had breast cancer. They have 3 year old triplets, that, by the way, he wanted the in vitro. When she got home, she told him, and without a word, he went upstairs, packed, and left her. Never to be seen again. (Except in court) She was devastated. This is so awful, no one should ever have the one person they need the most, pull this s**t at a time like this. But what can you do? Just go on, one step at a time. Gentle hugs, Shirlann |