Best Of
Re: CT and Lung Nodules
Hi @orknitter, I'm sorry you were got by rads. The treatment for early stage RIPF (radiation induced pulmonary fibrosis) is a course of steroids. Your MO or RO can probably manage it at the early stage. If things get worse instead of remaining stable you should get a referral to an ILD (interstitial lung disease) pulmonologist.
RIPF usually shows up 6 - 12 months after finishing radiation. If treated it usually remains stable after two years. Sometimes other lung issues can cause it to progress. The healing process goes rogue and lung tissue is scarred because of a TGF-B1 (transforming growth factor beta 1) dysfunction.
I ended up at my PCP with a horrible dry cough, extreme anemia and fatigue five months after finishing rads. I was treated with several different antibiotics and iron. The consolidation that showed up on x-rays was thought to be pneumonia but continued to get worse. As time went on I also had shortness of breath and low O2 when moving, a low grade fever and weight loss. An NP finally ordered a chest CT since she thought it might be lung cancer. The radiologist at my small rural hospital described the scarring pattern and lung damage but didn't know what it was so I used the radiopaedia website to figure it out. I sent a copy of the CT to my RO at a big city hospital who got me a stat appointment with an ILD specialist.
I was started on oral steroids and oxygen. After five months I was able to ditch the O2 and go on a steroid inhaler. The fibrosis did get worse with a bout of covid a couple of years ago. I was hospitalized with flu at the new year so I won't know how my lungs are dong until my next pulmonary function tests and chest CT. So far only my right lung is affected. I have to mask and be careful of where I go to prevent respiratory infections.
It sounds like your RIPF was caught early. I hope everything goes well.
maggie15
Re: how about drinking?
Jazzy,
I was pleased for Breezy! Also, like the name Breezy.
Lindsey is now on the mend.
teka
Re: Zoom Meet-up for Those With MBC: Place to keep chatting
Greetings and best wishes to ALL. I was grateful to be able to make it to group again today (Wednesday) after so many moths of struggling with some serious health complications.
Because of my fluctuating schedule, I wonder if I could try joining on other days of the week. Are we allowed to participate in more than one of the three groups? If so, how do I sign up? When I click on the link for a different time/date the webpage is asking me to create a NEW login. I don't see a place to use my current login, and I would not want to create duplicate accounts.
Any assistance with this technical issue would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Warriorboomer
Re: Am I being under-treated?
Hello @moderators thank you for weighing in. Thankfully, I am at a large university hospital with a dedicated breast cancer clinic. My MO just called on phone to say that she has shared my treatment plan with the rest of the team and they all agree on the proposed treatment plan. Would this be considered a second opinion?
amerli
Re: 🌟 February 2026 Radiation Roll Call—You’re Not Walking This Alone 🌟
Hello. I will be starting radiation soon. I had my simulation appointment and will have a two week wait to get started, which gives me plenty of time to worry about it. Cosun10, I hope your cold-like symptoms get better quickly. Here’s hoping for a good week and better days ahead!
graceyk
Re: Stage 3A
Dear Starbridge,
I was diagnosed with ER Positive, HER 2 Negative, bilateral Breast Cancer on February 1, 2012. I was 55 years-old. At time of diagnosis, I had a 2.5 cm tumor in the right breast, Nottingham Grade II, and a 6.5 cm tumor in the left breast, Nottingham Grade 1. When I had my bilateral mastectomy, it was discovered that I had 9 positive lymph nodes on the left side as well. Final tumor stage was II A in the right breast and III A in the left breast. There was concern when I had my breast MRI that the right breast tumor may have already attached itself to one of my ribs, but the view in the mastectomy surgery showed a slim, but critical gap between them. Otherwise I would have been Stage IV.
I was treated with the dose dense regimen of AC for four rounds, then Taxol for four rounds. Both were full strength. I struggled mightily through all that. The AC made me sicker than I could have possibly imagined, and I was one of 1-2% of people who experienced extreme pain with Taxol. The fallout after Taxol was peripheral neuropathy, which caused me to lose feeling in my legs from my toes to just below my knees, and from my fingers to just below my elbows. And, the peripheral neuropathy attacks, which have continued steadily all this time, are insanely painful.
I did 6.5 weeks of radiation on the left side, three times a week. They gave me a "diploma" when I finished on 12/12/12. I decided all those 12's were lucky.
My reconstructive surgery was a DIEP procedure in 2013 (if you don't know about DIEP, I'm happy to send more info). I was unable to tolerate any of the aromatase inhibitors on follow-up (I have a crazy sensitive system) but did discover a couple of years later that Metformin, a Type II diabetes drug, had been found to have an anti-tumor effect on breast cancer. I took it for as long as I could tolerate it, which was about 2 1/2 years. I have a research abstract on the Metformin effect which I'm also happy to send if you're interested.
And, here I am, 14 years later, living the life I wasn't sure I would see. It's all a little miracle.
Sorry this got lengthy. I haven't talked about this for a long time, and it all came tumbling out.
All the best to you,
Elizabeth
Re: Anyone starting chemo August 2016?
A blast from the past, I hope some of you will check in with an update about you and yours!
Life is rather challenging here as my $#&@$# congenital scoliosis has progressed. My best friend of 35 years has been critically ill for the past 2 1/2 months. On the way home from taking care of her pets one day, an inexperienced driver mixed up the gas and brake pedals and plowed into my minivan as I sat at a stoplight. I'm OK, but my minivan was totaled so had to deal with car shopping, something I find incredibly stressful. My friend has finally been discharged, but I'm still very worried about her falling.. I hope to hear from you.
Hugs to All, Lyn
vlhvlh
Re: STEAM ROOM FOR ANGER
@chicagoan Thanks for the thoughtful response. Your point about allowing myself to fell rather than question really struck a chord with me. I hadn’t thought of it that way. It made me realize that I still have a tendency to question the validity of my own feelings rather than accepting that the relationship with the sisters is irreconcilable. You are correct about accepting my feeling. I can be grateful that getting my parents into a facility now is happening. I didn’t have to be one of the “bad guys”. Assuming they feel that way. Thank you for helping me see this.
I do have a long-arm now. My best girlfriend’s husband bought one for us to share. It lives at my house. He is the most generous person I know. I love them dearly. Her brother is pretty cool too. :)
