Best Of
Re: Looking for others with low risk, less than 2cm, IDC stage 1 grade 1HR+ HER2- on endocrine therapy
@jons_girl It does sound like we have had a similar early stage situation.
Prior to my 2009 diagnosis, I had been seeing a breast specialist for 6 years with annual mammograms and 6 month sonograms. They had been watching a spot all that time (unbeknownst to me) that never changed—until 2009 after going on Seasonique birth control pills due to issues with my period. After only being on the pill for 3 months it was time for my mammogram (nothing seen) followed a few weeks later by my ultrasound (margins no longer looked smooth). So I had a needle biopsy and was diagnosed with ER+/PR+/HER2- Breast Cancer. It was determined that the cancer had been growing for about 10 years. Interestingly enough, the last time I had been on birth control pills was for 12 months about 10 years prior to the 2009 diagnosis. I strongly feel (in my case) that the estrogen in the pill caused the BC to start when I was on it for 12 months. Then I didn't take it again until 10 years later and the 3 months of estrogen caused it to break through the duct. Just my theory….
Following my 2009 diagnosis I continued seeing my breast specialist for 8 more years with annual chest x-rays, biannual MRIs, cancer marker tests, etc. Everything was super clean.
Now, to answer your question regarding tests vs. pain: I wasn't having any sort of tests after 2018. However, in January of 2024 I started to have some pain in my upper sternum that radiated to the right side. It lasted about a week and then was gone. I thought it was some type of rib muscle pain due to a chronic cough I had. In February it happened again for a week. Finally, in May, I had a chest CT and it stated "highly suspicious for metastatic breast cancer." Did I freak out, or what? A week later I had cancer antigen tests. They were slightly elevated. Had I had those tests 6 months earlier they would have been normal.
And, since I have been struggling with long Covid since 2020 and had so many strange symptoms from that, it was difficult to determine what was what. Since 2020 I have been tested and scanned for so many things. I even had a chest CT in January of 2023 when I went to the emergency room because I thought I was having a heart attack. So, when I started to complain to my PCP in 2023 about chest issues, he ordered upper GI tests and a PFT, etc. He didn't think to order another chest CT since I had just had one. But, in looking back at the January 2023 chest CT, if a radiologist looks very closely, he can see that the cancer was just starting in my sternum. However, it was so negligible that it wasn't noticed (they we looking for heart problems).
So, that's my story!
I've read that approximately 30% of early stage HR+ breast cancers return in 10, 20, even 30 years. I guess that's me. However, 70% never have a recurrence. I hope and pray that's you!
I do believe that the Signatera (ctDNA) test, which is quite new, is a good monitoring tool. They didn't have that back when I was first diagnosed. There are a lot more options for monitoring these days.
Right now I am in remission and my last two PET scans were great and my last two Signatera tests were negative. Treatments today are so much more sophisticated than even 10 years ago.
I wish you a life free of any more cancer!
Hugs, Pam 💗
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
I have friends in Twin Cities who have a medical transportation company. They are all Catholic naturalized citizens from Africa. Good men. Praying for them. We have talked aout the possibility that it might extend to them.
mcbaker
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
Betrayal, good quote. Very positive.
Cindy, your sea photos made me think of Jackie. She would have loved them. I don't doubt tariffs are behind the prices.
We had a stressful day yesterday. Drove 30 minutes in downpours of rain to an oral surgeon's office for dh's surgical procedure to remove a cyst in his mouth. It was infected and required a lot of drainage. DH paid $200 for a time-released pain injection but it didn't seem to do much to prevent pain. He took the dosages of ibuprofen and tylenol, as instructed but was soon searching through our stash of prescription painkillers when we arrived home. He was a miserable patient and that means a miserable caregiver. He was up during the night for more pain med but said he still got some restorative sleep.
This morning he seems to be on the mend. The oral surgeon assured dh that he will be able to resume wearing his partial when the surgery site heals. One of us has to venture out in another rainy day to pick up a prescribed antibiotic.
We have been in drought conditions so the rainy days we're having should reduce the rain deficit. I haven't decided whether I will go to the 11:30 senior exercise class. I probably will.
It definitely is not a good pre-Christmas time for the immigrants in New Orleans. The Border Patrol have arrived and are doing their thing. A lot of coverage in the news.
Happy Friday to everyone.
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
@irishlove So glad DH is out of heart failure status, great news! Ugh sorry you’re now dealing with possible strep, agree with the others , be careful. You don’t need any lingering infections! Yikes what a pia to have such issues with antibiotics, that's rough. I always admire the way you are able to deal with multiple issues yet put your game face on and cook!I know we all try our hardest to keep it "normal". Guess it’s best to travel in the Spring as I’m sure you’re disappointed. Sending hugs and get well wishes.
@chicagoan Glad to hear the new hip is treating you well. Nice to be able to get out with friends and have some fun! May you have continued peace of mind as you wait on scans and tissue biopsy.
@shanagirl Ugh rough night on sleep,it's awful! Hope you were able to settle and get a couple hours in. I started using Natrol melatonin gummies and it's been giving me a couple steady hours of sleep. Yipee for last Rads , I hope the fatigue doesn't linger much longer. I love the twinkle soft Christmas lights too, it makes the house so cozy.
@mara51506 How are ya? Sounds like your enjoying your air fryer. How was the electric cleaning brush you bought? Did I miss that review lol?
So great news, DH heart catheterization is good! Stent looked good and all else clear. No improvement in his heart failure but as he says "he is ok with keeping his old broken self" and grateful no new issues. Big sigh of relief …Thanks for all the well wishes for him❤️Now Echo for me today since I haven't had on since the start of chemo. I'm not expecting anything just following doctors orders and ending this year of tests🤞
Happy Friday and I hope everyone has a good day ❣️
cookie54
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
Well, I’m still awake at 2:24 AM and just am not feeling sleep, so I thought I would read along and catch up on you all. I haven’t been posting for the 10 days of palliative radiation on my acetabulum and hip groin area. My last rad was Black Friday,….totally feel wiped out but it's helped in some ways.Wishing you al a belated Happy Thanksgiving. DH & I spent the weekend putting the tree up and he did the lights outside the house. I love Christmas lights.
@threetree I'm thinking of you and praying for you that things become clearer for you and you get what you need from your care team as far as treatment and what’s going on with your cancer status. I know you’ve been a little down in the dumps and under the weather. You feel you and I always seem to mirror certain issues together. I went for treatment Monday for the XGeva Fasoldex injections., my metabolics always have some highs and lows, never perfect. My calcium is always high. So Hoping all is well with you @chicagoan., @cookie54. @candy-678 @irishlove I’m also bad about morning doctor visits before 12. It’s har getting out in the mornings for me too. And please let your doctor know about your sore throat that is strep so he can prescribe the proper medication for you.
So now I’m being too much of a nightmare owl so I’m going to close this IPad and go to sleep🥱😴🩵
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
Hello midnight and any late night owls still around? I absolutely can not do mornings anymore. Not sure what I can do to change that, so I just schedule afternoon doctor appts.
Thanks all for input on what might be strep throat? Maybe I should mention that I have a UTI, courtesy of MS and am on Cephalexen. Hoping that will clean up this throat and UTI. I say strep but it hasn't been tested. Not sure about how each of you react to antibiotics, but I do have problems with them. The Z-pak, doxicycline and amoxa-clavin and sulfa-based drugs, create severe nausea and vomiting. Even taken with food. Cipro is a huge NO. Tendonitis tore my poor feet up . Side effects have reported ruptured tendons from Cipro. Cephalexen is my go to. Grandma had us swish one part warm water to one part hydrogen peroxide for sore throats when we were kids. I promise I will see PCP if I develop fever or this does not clear.
DD and DGD are here since Thanksgiving. So I put on my I feel fine face, and cooked some crock pot meals for the whole crew. DD's hubby came by (they've separated) after work, so had enough for him, too. Nothing like a roast with carrots and small baby potatoes and with leftovers I would add diced tomatoes, chop up the beef and add beef broth and Dales low sodium seasoning. Don't forget frozen mixed veggies and it's a good soup.
Not to make anyone jealous, but DH turned the pool heater on and I got out of my sick bed to climb in. It was lovely. I miss my family terribly at Christmas time, but not the ice and bitterly cold temps. A little snow is lovely.
We had laid peel on/off wallpaper on the one bedroom wall. It looks so pretty. But…. ever remembering calling Grandma and ask what she was doing? Well she would say "Just sitting here watching the wallpaper peel". And fast forward 50 years later and that's what I'm doing. I think I'm gonna just take it down. The walls must have some dampness to them or humidity might be the problem.
In pockets for all your needs.
Laurel
Re: How are people with liver mets doing?
i need some help please.
wife (mid 50s) started on ibrance + letrozole as first line about 16 months ago. she had bone only metastatic disease. done a tomography 8-9 days ago, multiple small liver mets and progression in bones. seeing the onc tomorrow. im guessing he will say start on xeloda. the thing is she is v v tired. as in knackered. she went downhill rapidly in the last cpl of days. i dont even know why im posting this. my mind is all over the shop. i guess i wanna know if xeloda would give us some extra time. also wanna know if any of you experienced similar tiredness when first diagnosed with liver mets. ty in advance.
nixie
Re: Side effects from aromatase inhibitor other than joint pain.
Update on Anastrozole
I changed oncologists, and she started me on Extremesene in August. By September, I was crying for no real reason, and by October, I was trying to figure out how to commit suicide without anyone guessing that that's what I did. Finally, in early November, one of my pastors noticed something and had a chat with me. During the conversation, he asked if I was on any new medications. He said I immediately needed to contact my doctor, and I did. I looked up the side effect sheet- guess what is listed first?
Everyone goes ballistic when someone says suicide. But what if it's the medication that messes with your brain? Within 2 days of not taking the drug, I was feeling less depressed. Within a week, days without crying. After 2 weeks, I forgot about all the sadness. When I looked into my health chart, I have a new diagnosis: Adjustment Disorder. Not given the wrong medication, Adjustment Disorder.
After being drug-free for 6 weeks, I met with the oncologist today.
jan2802
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
I second others' comments about getting the right meds for strep. I know it's exhausting. I am finally on the way to recovery after a 5 month bout with diverticulitis that included 4 emergency room visits, multiple doctor visits and 14 days of IV antibiotics to finally resolve it.
So sorry you had to cancel your trip, but glad you're already planning the next one. I find that having something to look forward to greatly improves my state of mind. Congrats on your husband's improvement.
eleanora
Re: Who's starting Radiation in November 2025? Let's gather here to share!
hi@nope123
Okay!! I had my restart today and I DID IT!!
Yay!! I felt such a sense of relief when she said.. all done
Tiny hiccup, tech had to restart the computer and I had to stay in the same position and completely still. Which I managed to do.. I just cleared my mind and kept repeating a mantra and imagined being in the forest amongst trees (I have a great hiking trail close by)
I was able to reach my baseline and hold my breath. It was still “work” but I managed. And I’m sure once I get more comfortable with the process I’ll be a pro.. just in time for me NOT having to hold breath for my last 4 boosters.
So I am hoping that all goes smoothly until my last day which will be Dec 15!!
But wanted to ask.. I know to expect fatigue.. did you just want to sleep?? And did you have any arm pain/discomfort.. that made it difficult to lift things using that arm?
Oh yes.. I now know what the volunteers meant when they said.. do what you wish with scrub top
I will be so over it!! And will never want to see it again!!
Thanks again 😊