Best Of
Re: Diagnosed 1 mnth+ ago, deciding on treatment
Hi @mollybocil, Sorry that you have to join us here. The information provided by the oncotype is based on statistics which looks at the rate of recurrence for a large population. It can't predict what will happen to you but gives an indication of the likelihood. It is reported in percentages which makes imagining a room of 100 women an easy way of understanding the data. In your case 3 people in the room would have a recurrence in 9 years. There would be no way of knowing if you would be one of the three. I like to look at it backwards and say that 97 of the women in the room would not have a recurence since it is a more positive interpretation of the data. The confidence interval is a statistical measure of the range of values used to calculate a population mean (average). 1 - 7 % tells you that the recurrence number could actually be anywere between 1 to 7 people if your particular room of 100 people were followed for your lifetimes.
Since you had a mastectomy and no nodal involvement there is no benefit for radiation. Both radiation and chemo are toxic to kill the cancer cells but can cause lasting side effects like neuropathy. These treatments are only done when the benefit outweighs those risks. As someone with permanent radiation side effects I can attest to that.
Statistically (not an assurance for you) aromatase inhibitors reduce the risk of recurrence by 50% while tamoxifen reduces it by 40%. For a recurrence percentage of 6% AIs would make the risk of recurrence 3% while tamoxifen would make it 3.6%, not much of a difference. I personally can't attest to ovary supperession/removal but from what I have read on this site it can be difficult to live with. You can read up on that by using the search bar at the top of the page.
Positive lifestyle changes or continuing your healthy lifestyle can also reduce the risk of recurrence by 50%. A healthy diet, aiming for a normal BMI, avoiding alcohol and exercising at least 150 minutes a week are recommended to get this benefit.
Unfortunately there is no guarantee that the cancer will not recur but your numbers make it unlikely. I hope your appointment with your onco goes well.
maggie15
Re: Birads 5 with calcification
@lisat8228 Ive been checking for your update and while it sucks, you do have some answers and that’s better than not knowing.
I hope you don’t mind me making a few points but I just feel like it needs to be said. First, I don’t know if the chest wall is considered stage 4 but a CT body and or bone scan will provide the info. It’s best not to go there, mentally, if you can help it. Second, since your lump appeared so suddenly, I suspect it will be HER2+. But, these days and being ER/PR-, this is actually a good thing. Anti HER2 treatments have changed the cancer game and many more are currently in trials. Finally, you didn’t “let it get this far”, it can happen without symptoms. It’s bullshit and unfair. Be shocked, sad, angry but not guilty. Please know that I don’t mean to sound like I know it all, I don’t but what your going through is just nearly identical to my diagnosis, your post takes me right back and I feel it so hard. No words make any of this better but I’m thinking of you and your family. Things are going get hard but you can get through it.
illimae
Re: Diagnosed 1 mnth+ ago, deciding on treatment
Hi @maggie15 thank you for the explanation! And i'm so sorry that you have side effect from the radiation
There's a dna test called CYP2D6 that will tell the effectiveness of tamoxifen on you. I'm planning to take that test too.
I will discuss this with my oncologist later.
I had anxiety disorder before my diagnosis, now my anxiety is getting out of hand 😢 i'm currently on escitalopram to ease my depression
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
Regan is our 5th Dalmatian and I had one growing up. Always have loved them though the original was a classic black and white whereas our 5 are the Liver and white ones each of the "liver" ones had a varying shade of brown ranging from an almost dark auburn to a chocolate shade. Regan has a few black spots but is predominantly liver so she is classified as a liver and white tricolor.
Yes, they are not for everyone one, but they were relatively easy to housebreak and aren't as bullheaded as some of the terrier breeds.
betrayal
Re: This piece is for anyone navigating loss.
@olivesbay - Vanessa. Thank you for sharing your story. We’re sure it will bring comfort to others walking a similar path. We’re here with you 💗
The Mods
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
Taco - yes… I too worry about the unhoused and those with medical problems and limited income. Yes, and the backward climate control steps. Hard to not to just sit & cry about what is happening.
minustwo
Re: Bone Mets Thread
Hi all - Guess the last 6 months have more than made up for the mostly easy first 4 years of my MBC diagnosis. Not only did my cells develop a resistance to Letrozole and I had progression, the 3 months on Faslodex resulted in more progression. My progression has almost 100% been to bone.
So now I am 9 days since my first Enhertu infusion. Am glad to report that I still don't have any real se to speak about. Next infusion 7/15.
Started the radiation to my mandible on Monday 6/30. 3 treatments done and 7 to go. With the holiday and weekends will complete those on 7/14. Interestingly, my MO cancelled my Xgeva shot that had been scheduled for 7/1 after I raised the question about whether it was advisable to have along with the radiation treatment.
Regarding the extensive mets (and now a lytic tumor) in my T12 vertebrae, the progression first showed up on the MRI done in March (when I had to have the lumbar tap for the lesion on the spinal cord at T10 to rule out meningeal disease) and showed more progression on my PET in May. My RO mentioned to me that she wanted me to see a Vascular Interventional Radiologist to determine if radiation should be done first or if it might be better to have kyphoplasty done first. This morning, I received a video call from the Vascular Interventional Radiologist who my RO sent a referral to yesterday. He explained in detail the procedure (needles are inserted into the vertebrae to ablate (remove/destroy) the tumor and then cement is inserted to stabilize the area) and said I could either do this procedure first and then have radiation, or do the radiation first and then the kyphoplasty. He said to talk with my RO as to how she wanted to proceed. I told him that I thought she was waiting to hear his recommendation of the order to do both in. After discussing it with him and hearing the pros and cons (doing his procedure would cause me less issues since radiating first made it harder to insert the needles}, I decided to do the kyphoplasty first (in 2 weeks) and then have radiation to destroy anything the ablation might not have.
On the way home from my radiation treatment, we stopped by the facility where my port was put in last week. With the long weekend, I wanted to make sure it was healing ok. I happened to mention to the Vascular Surgeon there that I was going to have kyphoplasty in 2 weeks. He said he also performs kyphoplasty (figured he did since they are both Vascular surgeons). We had a conversation about why I needed it and he asked who would be doing it. When I told him who, he not only said he knows the doctor, he also said that he was a great doctor and agreed that he would do the procedure first for the same reasons the doctor at my cancer center had enumerated. So, I now have my second opinion! 🙂
On the way home, I realized that I had another question for the Vascular Interventional Radiologist and put a call into his MA. Not even 15 minutes, I received a video call back from the doctor himself. This, to me, confirmed that I am going to be in good hands.
Sorry for the long post but wanted to give you all the facts.
Has anyone on this thread had kyphoplasty done to a vertebrae? Did you do it before or after radiation? What did you experience during your recovery and how long before you felt "back to normal"?
Thanks for "listening". Happy 4th of July! 🌟💥
Re: I’m on hospice - anyone else?
@moderators @tougholdcrow @chicagoan
Thank you all so much. You are so sweet.
kbl
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
Mara Your break is well deserved thanks for keeping this thread alive daily. Hugs.
Tanya Wow your mom is quite amazing, love it!
Chicagoan Glad to hear you wound up enjoying yourself. Hope PT and acupuncture start helping your hip soon.
DH and I went boating today and the weather was nice. Humidity has left for now and there was a breeze to keep us cool. Buster came along and played with 4 other retrievers on the beach. He is living his best rescue dog life!
Happy July 4th! Sending strength and hugs to all here❤️
cookie54