Best Of
Re: Anyone starting brand drug, Enhertu?
@thairpist. I, too, was concerned about looking sick for the first time in my 5.5 year Stage 4 life. I have never had major side effects except for osteonecrosis of the jaw. I did need to get my port replaced. So far, I haven't been treated differently due to my baldness. I was called "sir" in a checkout line recently. Whatever. I warn people ahead of time that I will look more cancer-y than the last time they saw me and then they roll with it. My energy and digestion is generally good. Two-three days of fatigue per cycle. When that happens, I read in bed all day and eat several small meals. Reading in bed all day - not a hardship. I have two plane trips planned this year and I don't see any reason why they would cause any problems. I'm hoping I can stay on Enhertu for the long haul and I hope you have a similar experience to mine. Except for the port failure. But that's in my rearview mirror!
Decisions
Hi - new here - my yearly mammogram this year was inconclusive, so I returned for additional imaging and an ultrasound, which led to a biopsy, which led to a diagnosis of infiltrating ductal carcinoma. All this took about a month. It is a stage I and small (5mm) tumor. I know I need surgery - either lumpectomy w/ radiation or mastectomy. How do I choose???? If I chose mastectomy, I’d want both breasts removed. But if that’s the case, do I want reconstructive surgery or not? At the initial surgeon visit I was told lumpectomy surgery could be 1 1/2 to 2 hrs, but total mastectomy w/ reconstruction could be 6-10 hrs, as the plastic surgeon would be there too. Isn’t it dangerous to be under anesthesia for so long? Also, we live about 1 1/2 hrs from the hospital so having radiation 5x/wk for 2,3,4 (?) wks would be a hardship. I’m feeling so confused and indecisive, but I have to chose soon. Anyone have a lumpectomy that they regret? Anyone having total mastectomy with regrets? Anyone having a total mastectomy without reconstruction have regrets? I’d love to hear from you.
june25
Re: How long have you been Stage IV?
Yes, ssales13, I am NEAD on Kisqali and letrozole, which are relatively easy drugs to take. There are options, and new drugs coming quickly down the pipeline. So yes, may we live a long long time.
Re: Were you diagnosed young (under 45) with breast cancer? We'd love to hear from you!
Welcome, @hopingforgood! We're so sorry you find yourself here, but we're so glad you've joined our community and hope it can serve as a source of support and encouragement. We know this is a very scary time with so many unknowns and uncertainties, but you are not alone! We're all here for you.
It may also be helpful to connect in real time with others who have been where you are right now. We offer free, professionally led Zoom support groups, and we hope you'll consider joining one when you are ready.
The Mods
Re: Kisqali for prevention
Thank you so much for your response. I was 2 (not sure about the letter), one node on armpit, low oncoscore. Removed breast because of an aesthetic surgery I did in the past to reduce breast size. No chemo as well.
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
Mae wow those are nice pictures. Sad to hear the flooding news. I’m glad you’re safe.
Mara I dont know about the ramen thing. I went with my friend and her daughters to a ramen place and the kids liked it bc its basically do it yourself with hot water and then they can choose whatever they want to put in. I didnt eat it. My memories of ramen were of my kids (my son will be 50) always wanting it for a quick snack. It certainly is quite the rage now.
Take care all
Tanya
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
@illimae I’m so happy to hear your good. news & glad to hear from you. I’m always in your pocket. Hope you enjoyed 4thofjuly 🧨and have a good rest of the summer😉
@micmel I’m thinking of you and your daughter as she navigates her recovery from the double mastectomy. I’m in youpockets and sending prayers and calming peaceful vibes..💕
Ladies,
I went for the 8 injections on the facets in my cervical spine. My Neursurgeon will do 8 more in two weeks and then schedule me for the Radiofreuency ablation. He wanted me to keep a daily diary on how the epedurals were working. it was so wonderful to be so painfree for the week after. I had the 8 injections at the surgical center under mild anesthesia. He said my pain would come back but If I remained painfree for a number of days it tells him the prcodure was sucessful and means the radiofrecuecy ablation will definitely be a good option for keeping the pain away for at least a year or so. My DH says that he may not even do the next 8 injections and just schedule the RF ablation that would be wonderful.
Hi to everyone here, I have some other things going on right now that are litrally freaking me out. I saw my dentist for pain in my upper back molar. I had already mentioned it to my onc during last month treatment appointment and he took me off Xgeva until he knows what’s going on with my tooth, and recommended I see his dental collegue who is a specialist. I just have been so weary of seeing so many doctors. and procedures, I chose to just go to my normal dentist who knows me and I’m comfortable with. He read the exray and told me it looks like I have a fracture @illimae I’m so happy to hear your good. news & glad to hear from you. I’m always in your pocket. Hope you enjoyed 4thofjuly 🧨and have a good rest of the summer😉
@micmel I’m thinking of you and your daughter as she navigates her recovery from the double mastectomy. I’m in youpockets and sending prayers and calming peaceful vibes..💕
Ladies,
I went for the 8 injections on the facets in my cervical spine. My Neursurgeon will do 8 more in two weeks and then schedule me for the Radiofreuency ablation. He wanted me to keep a daily diary on how the epedurals were working. it was so wonderful to be so painfree for the week after. I had the 8 injections at the surgical center under mild anesthesia. He said my pain would come back but If I remained painfree for a number of days it tells him the prcodure was sucessful and means the radiofrecuecy ablation will definitely be a good option for keeping the pain away for at least a year or so. My DH says that he may not even do the next 8 injections and just schedule the RF ablation that would be wonderful.
Hi to everyone here, I have some other things going on right now that are litrally freaking me out. I saw my dentist for pain in my upper back molar. I had already mentioned it to my onc during last month treatment appointment and he took me off Xgeva until he knows what’s going on with my tooth, and recommended I see his dental collegue who is a specialist. I just have been so weary of seeing so many doctors. and procedures, I chose to just go to my normal dentist who knows me and I’m comfortable with. He read the exray and told me it looks like I have a fracture in my upper jaw and didn’t look like an abcess. The fracture is behind a bridge, and he wants me to see theother dentist in the practice who is usually the one who does rootcanal, etractions etc. but he knows I can’t do these procedures because I’m on the Xgeva and would risk jaw necrosis. Now I’m pannicking because why is ther a fracture in my jaw, and could it be necrosis or worse could it be bone mets prgression to my jaw. I have an appt with my Onc. on Teusday after 12, so I know I won’t get the Xgeva again this month either because I have to consult with the Dental specialist to see how to deal with it🙁 in my upper jaw and didn’t look like an abcess. The fracture is behind a bridge, and he wants me to see the other dentist in the practice whois. usually the. one who does rootcanal, etractions etc. but. he knows I cant do these procedures because I’m on the Xgeva an would risk jaw necrosis. now I’m pannicking because why is ther a fracture in my jaw, and could it be necrosis or worse could it be bone mets prgression to my. jaw. I have an appt with my Onc. on Teusday after 12, so I know I won’t get the xgeva again this month either because I hve to. consult with the Dental specialist to see how to deal with it🙁
Does anyone heree know of information on jaw mets?
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
I was able to go on an overnight trip to silver Creek. Garden flowers and pie cherries. I've been picking them and freezing for many future pies. I hope all have a good weekend. I've been having more nausea than usual and feeling down but walk at the park and putter in the garden.
mkestrel
Re: Birads 5 with calcification
@maggie15 Interesting! I wonder if something similar happened to me. As I mentioned in my original post, there are two tumors: one is a cluster of calcifications, and the other (the main concern) is a tumor with its own blood supply. The biopsy results show that the cluster of calcifications is DCIS, while the other tumor, the one they were more worried about, is IDC. According to the report, both tumors have originated from the same cancer.
I hope I’m explaining this clearly. I still have a lot of unanswered questions, though. I haven’t had a thorough discussion with my breast surgeon about the biopsy results yet. just a brief phone call when he shared the news, which I had already partially received by prematurely opening my report online. I have an appointment on Tuesday, so I’m hoping to get more clarity then.