I had a bilateral mastectomy 7 weeks ago and am in the midst of a troublesome reconstruction. I have not seen the final path report but have an appt. with the oncologist next Thursday. I have many questions for her. But also one for you reluctant experts.
I think my path report will say I had DCIS in one breast and microcaclifications in the other.
I am trying to recover now and eat well and exercise, etc.
I've even set myself up for counseling and have joined a local support group. I use Breast Cancer Survivor's fitness book by Caroline Kaelin.
But when there is diet advice from people or books, I hear that we should not eat red meat, excessive soy, etc. I understand that these things carry estrogen or mimic estrogen. Now, is estrogen just a problem for breast cancer, or is it a problem for all cancer? Would staying thin and avoiding estrogen like products minimize my chances of re-currence. Or, once the breasts are gone gone gone, as well as the ovaries and the uterus, is estrogen still a problem?
Also, dear veterans, what questions did you ask you oncologist? What questions do you suggest I ask?
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wahine Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 341 |
May 15, 2008 10:43 pm
wahine wrote:
Hi morning, I also had a bilat mast, but just 8 days ago. I had immediate recon with alloderm and expanders, but I already have my path report. It showed I had the DCIS in one breast and microcalcifications in the other breast (like you think you may have). I was wondering why they have not given you the path report yet? And I also wondered why you are seeing an oncologist? There is so much I have not yet learned about this cancer beast, but when I saw the oncologist before deciding on my surgery, he told me he would not need to see me any more if my nodes were clear and I only had the DCIS. He told me that I wouldn't have any cancer left. I can't answer you about the estrogen,as I have no idea--hopefully someone will answer that. What troubles are you having with your reconstruction? I hope things will start going better on the reconstruction, esp since you are so many weeks postop. Best of luck to you, and (((HUGS))), Kathy |
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gabbygail Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 108 |
May 15, 2008 10:46 pm
gabbygail wrote:
Newbie- Do you know yet whether your cancer was ER/PR positive? If your cancer was fed by estrogen then you will probably be put on tamoxifen or one of the aromatase inhibitors if you are post-menopausal. These drugs block estrogen from attaching to your cells. Even with the removal of all your "female" parts, your body will still produce some estrogen from your adrenal glands. Not a significant amount I don't think but there all the same. I questioned my oncologist about the whole soy factor and at that time (2004/2005) she didn't feel the correlation between breast cancer and soy was significant enough to merit excluding soy. I don't really eat that much of it anyway (that I know of!). I was very thin when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Go figure. I have seen numerous reports lately showing that weight gain and being overweight does have a bearing on breast cancer diagnosis. Of course I often wonder what other underlying issues there could be and whether or not you can blame "all" of it on being overweight. The most important thing you need to know from your oncologist is an accurate and explicit explanation of your pathology report. This should tell you whether you are estrogen/progesterone receptor positive, whether you are her2 positive (cancers of this type tend to be more aggressive), you should know your proliferation rate (how fast the cancer is multiplying), whether the cancer had spread to the surrounding breast tissue (invasive), the size of the tumor. All of these things will help determine your stage and grade. Your oncologist should be able to tell you your individualized statistics for recurrence and survival based on different treatment options and then you can determine what additional treatment you wish to pursue. Hope this helps in some small way, God Bless, Abby "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23
Dx 6/10/2004, ILC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 1, 0/2 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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wahine Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 341 |
May 16, 2008 12:55 am
wahine wrote:
Wow, Abby, that is great information! I am so glad there are ladies that have knowledge to share; I still have much to learn. This is such a great forum, and when I received my dx, the ladies here helped me tremendously! Many thanks to Abby, and the many other caring ladies here....You all are great, Kathy |
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sam408 Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 1094 |
May 16, 2008 08:26 am, edited May 16, 2008 08:29 AM
by sam408
sam408 wrote:
Morning - I agree with what Abby is saying above. You only need to worry about estrogen if your cancer is ER/PR+, otherwise I don't think it's an issue. I had DCIS in my right breast and had a lumpectomy last year followed by a unilateral mast last month. My cancer is ER/PR+ and I was put on tamoxifen for 5 years (one year down already!). When I found I was going to have a mast on my cancer side, I seriously considered bi-lateral and my onc told me if I had bi-lateral that I would no longer need to take the tamoxifen because basically the risk of recurrance or a new primary would be gone. Yes, there is still a very slight risk of recurrance when you have a mast, but not enough to warrant the risk of taking tamoxifen (or any of the AIs). Good luck and let us know how you're doing. Hugs Sheila . . .Never regret something that made you smile.
Dx 2/16/2007, DCIS, <1cm, Stage 0, Grade 3, 0/4 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+ |
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sandyk Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 419 |
May 16, 2008 10:23 am
sandyk wrote:
I had a small ER/PR+ cancer, and decided on bilateral mastectomy to avoid radiation. My oncologist insists on two years Tamoxifen followed by three years of an AI, but my surgical oncologist told me that if I have the hysterectomy I am hoping for later this year, she felt that I could quit the Tamoxifen. I can't do anything until the swelling in my abdomen from DIEP subsides, and since my incision was just opened up again two weeks ago, and may require another surgery within a few months (I have a pocket of fluid in my upper abdomen that has scar tissue growing around it), I don't know if the hysterectomy can be done this year. I'll definitely be on Tamoxifen until that that is done. Dx 5/22/2007, IDC, <1cm, Stage I, Grade 3, 0/1 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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