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Well this sucks.
A few days ago I posted this in another thread: “I'm just feeling f'ing ripped off. My tumor was 2.1 cm so barely into stage 2, with clean margins and no lymph node involvement. I took the nuclear option of BMX followed by chemo, because I was only 40 and wanted to minimize risk. I have taken tamoxifen every day. After 5…
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Joining the club - is my back pain/sciatica bone mets?
I am just over 2 years out from stage 3C diagnosis. I had the whole shebang -- chemo, rads, tamox and now AI and zometa. A few months ago I started having pain down my right leg and some numbness as well. Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago and it has become excruciating. I have been doing gentle yoga, heat, NSAIDs, but…
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Intermittent hip pain, worried.
Hello, I have been having intermittent hip pain since the middle of October. It is not triggered by anything specific, I don’t typically wake with the pain but it presents itself as the day wears on. I can go some days with very mild pain that I probably wouldn’t recognize if I wasn’t hyper aware due to my history. Other…
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Should I be worried? Anyone with a similar experience?
Hello my bc sisters, I'm almost 4 months post bilateral mastectomy, and have found two lumps close to my sternum on my non cancer (right) side. My onco sent me for an ultrasound, and it showed what looks like fat necrosis encapsulating calcifications. My breast surgeon is aware (my onco wants them removed and sent to…
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New lump under ear
Scared to death. Again. Never ends. I reached up to rub a place under my ear on my cancer side because it hur a little, and there’s a palpable lump there. I happened to be on the way to the dermatologist at the time. He checked it and said it’s moveable, but referred me to my onco. Don’t know what I’m looking for, but just…
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Pleural Effusion Concern
Folks, I thought I would reach out to the forum for some input on behalf of my mom. She is almost at the end of her treatment for breast cancer (ER- PR-HER2+. She started with chemotherapy last January (AC + T), surgery (lumpectomy) followed by radiation therapy. She has had a dry cough for a couple of months now and…
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Elevated ALP
Can somebody talk me off the cliff again? In Feb my ALP was 88. In jun, it was at the upper end of normal 114, but my MO said the difference was likely due to the fact that the Feb one was done by a different lab. Now, last week my pre-chemo labs done at the same lab as the Feb test, show an ALP of 118, which is over the…
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Slightly elevated ALT/AST: talk me off the cliff
First time I've been terrified in a long time, but I guess it comes with the fear of recurrence territory. I'm weeping, not sleeping, having nightmares. I have a telemed appt tomorrow with my new oncologist (I've only seen him once before in November for a check up-everything was fine-all labs normal, nothing to worry…
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recurrence in the skin after a mastectomy
Can anyone describe what a recurrence in the skin would look like? I had a mastectomy 11/2018 and exchange surgery 11/2019. My scars looked great up until a few weeks ago. I used to have just a scar that was a straight line and it was getting lighter and lighter over time. Now it looks like the scar is Y shaped, as there…
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Fear of Mets is RUINING my life
As you can see from my diagnosis, I could not be more of a high-risk patient in terms of chance of mets! A part of me has actually accepted that I will likely die of BC, but what I cannot accept is that this could be soon, before age 35 or 40. (I am 32 now). I am thoroughly paralyzed with fear, and it has gotten worse, not…
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underarm odor on my surgery side
I was diagnosed with stage 2A breast cancer in February 2009. I had surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy and I'm currently taking Tamoxifen. A few months ago I noticed a pain in my underarm on my surgery side. I've been checked and the pain was due to a rib fracture. I also had two more rib fractures. I had a CT…
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Stiff Neck
I'm not even sure if this is a concern for bc recurrence or not but here goes. Around December or January I awoke with a stiff neck on the right side. Ordinarily it should have gone away within a couple of days. I still have it. This past saturday I awoke with a headache on that side that seemed to be agrivated every time…
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neck pain- not mets?
Hi Just wondering if there are stories out there of neck pain that turned out to be--- arthritis? Stress? Too much computer use? Anyone experience burning at the nape of the neck & btw shoulder blades? Stiffness. Obviously- quite worried. ok. No terrified. The crying/irrational kind. Trying to remember there can be other…
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Mets to GI tract?
I have to schedule an endoscopic biopsy due to symptoms of concern to my oncologist that have not resolved. Anyone experienced Mets to the GI tract? I’ve read that the main primaries that metastasize to the GI tract are melanoma and breast. My onc said she has seen a few of her past triple negative patients metastasize to…
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Possible Bone Mets——how do I prepare?
At this point….I'm trying to stay positive but I will not be shocked if it has spread to my bones, specifically lower back area. I CAN NOT and WILL NOT see a doctor until January 7th, the appointment has been made for a few weeks. I have no insurance until Jan 1st and my Critical Care coverage does not start until the 1st…
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Is it back or not? My gut says yes....
Background: 52 yr female, bilateral IDC 2012,++-, no lymph node involvement, bilateral mastectomy, chemotherapy, Tamoxifen, and reconstruction. Recurrence left side 2017, radiation and Exemestane. Positive for ATM mutation. Now I have 2 suspicious non mass-like stippled enhancements BiRads4a (MRI w/wo contrast) in same…
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Bad Patient--or just a woman who wants a diagnosis?
Ladies, I have been reading posts from so many brave, smart, funny, and caring women out here all summer, but haven't posted myself. Maybe I am afraid to make it real. But here goes... Completed surgery, chemo, and radiation for ILC in 2010 at age 55. Quit Armidex after 4 months because of unbearable side effects. Onc told…
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Occipital neuralgia?
Has anyone experienced this? I have been having what I thought to be recurrent ear infections for the past few months. I did have fluid in my middle ear for several months that would not stay gone, but would clear up with antibiotics and steroids. I also have had severe allergy attacks -- congestion, earache, sneezing,…
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Anyone have a pain in the buttock.
it's 13 years since my diagnosis of stage II her2 pos er/ pr neg with one lymph node pos. I've been having a pain on one buttock that seems to come from the “sit" bone (the ischium part of the pelvis) near my inner thigh.I had all the treatments that were available at that time. The pain is always there, but i'm no in…
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Vertebral Hemangioma vs. bone mets
Turning once again to this wonderful community for advice/support. I have been experiencing numbness in my left cheek, arm, and hand for about 3 mos. Onco sent me for a brain MRI, which was clean., so he sent me to a neurologist, who ordered an MRI of my cervical spine. Neuro called me to give me the results (always wonder…
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Do you know anyone who NEVER had a recurrence?
I just engaged in fb post (mistake!) where the group agreed that cancer always comes back...even if years later. I just finished chemo and surgery (50 hrs old, triple neg and brca2) and was told I have a great prognosis so was disagreeing with group. Then I started trying to think if I know anyone who has had cancer but…
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To those with implants: Does the flashlight trick show lumps?
I am with implants. I had a check by MO last week (palpation) and everything was ok according to him but after that I felt something like an edge (about 3 cm long) with a lump at the end. Small and movable that is not visible and raising the skin. I can feel it only if I push the breast with my finger at that place. I…
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Found a lump on rib. Hate worrying so much!
I just found a small lump-type of thing on my left lower rib (cancer side). I had my husband see if he could feel it, and he can, too. I called my PCP and will be going in th morning to have it checked out. I hate starting rounds of testing; I hate it so much, but I think it needs to be checked. Has anyone had anything…
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Lymph Node Positive Survivors
Hey all, Just wondering how many lymph node positive survivors there are out there and how many years out? Also have many of you experienced recurrence during that time? Or if you haven't what have you changed in terms of lifestyle, diet, exercise etc..
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Now I am worried about hives and itching all over
So my cough left. Then I started to itch. I thought at first it was mosquito bites. I would say to my husband in the morning, " I am covered in mosquito bites on my legs and arms. Itchy, swollen bumps. My husband would say he didn't have any. So I thought maybe the odd mosquito that got in loved my estrogen -less blood.…
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Extreme Hip Pain - can Stage II metastasize to hip?
Hi - I've been having extreme hip pain for about a month and I have had no injury, twist or stretch to explain it. It just started out of the blue and it's a constant extremely sharp pain that really nothing helps. I talked to my onco's nurse to see if it could be the Tamoxifen but they want me to check with my orthopedic…
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Worried about rib pain being mets
I am 4 years out of double mastectomy and chemo. Just last week I developed severe rib pain and don't know of anything I may have done to cause it. It is below my right breast and is a spot about 3-4 inches long. It hurts when I touch it, when I stretch, twist, or when I bend over. It also hurts more lying down. From what…
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Arthritis vs. Bone Mets
I am really confused...I have read many, many posts from girls who were originally told they had Arthritis and now have bone mets. Maybe this is ridiculous, but... I can't help but wonder if some are being treated for bone mets when it's actually just Arthritis or vice versa. How do they know the difference between the…
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Is this a skin met?
hey sisters. So I just finished chemo a couple weeks ago. I had a spot appear on my leg and I noticed it January 28. These two photos are from January 29 and then today (2/15). It doesn't really itch (just a little). Does not hurt. Blanchable. Not a bruise. No clue what to think. Anyone ever see anything like this? The…
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Sharp pain in left breast near nipple
Hi ladies! I am getting really worried. I am 54 years old and almost 10 yrs out from cancer diagnosis. I still have periods although they are getting farther and farther apart and much lighter. A week ago I had a very itchy breast (it has been itchy off and on since rads). I itched it like crazy and the next day my nipple…