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~* The Waiting Room *~

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Comments

  • debbie6122
    debbie6122 Member Posts: 2,935
    edited October 2010

    Cat- You are not alone, you have all of us ladies here for you, to listen so you can vent anytime and to hopfully calm your fears and to just lend support when you need it. Im sorry you are having to go thru this again, i will be thinking of you tomorrow and hope and pray for b9 results for you. Hopefully you will get the resutls asap i know the waiting is the hardest. ((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))

  • CAtharsis
    CAtharsis Member Posts: 6
    edited August 2013

    B9, B9, B9!!!!!

    Mammogram yesterday: immediate u/s (instead of waiting Tuesday for an u/s guided biopsy...). The mammogram tech was so confident that this was normal healing process and scar tissue that she immediately talked  to the radiologist who performed the u/s kind of wondering what was the "panic" about... :)

    However, I came out of the hospital with an unexpected good news: Have a great w-e gals and yes, scar tissue can be mistaken with a breast cancer tumor by an untrained radiologist and/or when it suffers inflammation...

  • debbie6122
    debbie6122 Member Posts: 2,935
    edited October 2010

    Yay!!! great news catharsis!!!! Your right, i watched dr.oz the other day and he had some experts on that said always ask who will be reviewing your mammos,exrays and biopsy's she said to ask how qualified they are in reading them. good luck!!!

  • PiscesMoon
    PiscesMoon Member Posts: 17
    edited November 2010

    well today i go for a diagnostic mammogram.  lucky me i don't get screenings anymore cuz of bc.  um, thanks, bc?  Undecided  so hopefully i'll know by the end of the day what it says.  i have an insider who can tell me my results before i get to my doctor - basically what the radiologist is suggesting.  and this place will drop my results in the mail to me if i ask them after my doctor has been notified.  i feel so speshul.  :: sigh ::  i hate waiting.

    ~M

  • dsgirl
    dsgirl Member Posts: 193
    edited November 2010

    PiscesMoon,

    Good luck and best wishes for a clean mammo, I have my second one, post treatment, coming up middle of Nov, it's always another thing to worry about for me too, I always have the mammo first, yes diagnostic, and am told the results right away. Then I go to the surgeon, same building, carrying the mammo and results, she does a breast exam and check me over as well as look at the mammogram, she is the one that schedules most of my after b/c screening, check-ups etc, except for the bloodwork the Onc.does.  I have to travel quite a distance to the surgeons office, but the peace of mind knowing I am taken well care of is worth it. I had no pain associated with my first post surgery mammo, (I was really worried about pain and swelling), I suffer on and off with truncal and arm LE, but this time I am a little less stressed, lol.

    Best wishes, and post when you can.

    dsgirl

  • PiscesMoon
    PiscesMoon Member Posts: 17
    edited November 2010

    dsgirl - thank you!

    the tech came out and said the radiologist read my mammogram and she said, 'all clear see you next year.'  i'm relieved but i still want to see a copy of that report.  i also have my follow up with my breast surgeon in a couple of weeks.  i'm wondering why they didn't want to do an ultra sound on my remaining girl this year.  last year they called for an ultra sound to confirm cysts.  so i'm still sitting here wondering if i'll get a letter asking for me to come back for one or if my breast surgeon will ask for one.  could my cysts have dissappeared in a year?  i know they come and go.  oh well.  tomorrow i should have some more answers and i'll be phoning them to get them to send me a copy of my mammo results in the mail.

    ~M

  • sherrypl
    sherrypl Member Posts: 4
    edited November 2010

    Thought my 3rd diagnostic mammogram was all good until I got the letter stating that there was a spot but radiologist thought it was B9 and advised to wait 6 month and have another mammogram.  My surgeon said get an MRI in the next two week. I am glad he is aggressive but it really bring up the anxioty level again.  Hoping to get all this behind me by Thanksgiving so I can enjoy the Holidays without this weighing me down.

  • dsgirl
    dsgirl Member Posts: 193
    edited November 2010

    Sherrypl.

    So sorry a new worry popped up, but do remember the radiologist thought it was b-9.

    It is absolutely impossible for most of us to not worry, I know I do myself, although I have been told often enough worrying does not help at all, it just adds stress to our lives.

    I hope someday to learn to cope with the "what if it comes back", and hope to be able to look at going for a mammo is nothing more than a regular checkup.

    I noticed you were diagnosed a month before I was so we are only 1 1/2 years away from diagnosis, so maybe we are just not far enough away from it.

    Keep your chin up and know you are not alone, there are many of us here at the discussions boards that worry too, both for ourselves and for others.

    Wishing you the best results with the MRI as well,

    dsgirl

  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 277
    edited November 2010

    I've joined the Waiting Room. Can't believe I'm here. Actually, during this year I've had 2 biopsies that have come up negative..both initiated by doctors..one by the radiologist and one by the oncologist.

    As a follow up for the last biopsy which was in July, I had a breast MRI less than a month ago and yesterday i got my results. They found nothing in my breasts but a spot on the rib underneath my "cancered" breast lit up.

     HUH??????? In the letter (oh..no call from the doctor...a LETTER IN THE MAIL!!!!)  she asked if I had had a fracture in that rib. No fracture that I know of. She is recommending a CT. I faxed the letter to my onc and the secy said the onc will get it today and she will call me.

    So, I sit with you all in the Waiting Room. When I got that letter I entered panic mode. I know that MRI's can show all kinds of benign things. But I am still in panic mode. Had a glass of wine last night and did work on my music to calm my nerves. Not helping as I wait for the doctor to call me and tell me what this all means.

  • sherrypl
    sherrypl Member Posts: 4
    edited November 2010

    Thank you dsgirl for the encouraging words.  I have a founded mistrust for the disease which I am trying to overcome.Today I found the quote I attached below and  I will try to live by it during my time in the "waiting room"

    George Asaf
    What's the use of worrying? It never was worth while, so pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag, and smile, smile, smile.

  • dsgirl
    dsgirl Member Posts: 193
    edited November 2010

    Sherrypl

    I have heard that in a song years ago, can only remember the "so pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag, and smile, smile smile," except I thought it was knit-bag lol.

    I hear you about the mistrust reagarding this disease. How can we help not to have that mistrust, everything suggested for curing us does not come with any GUARANTEES, people endure surgery, chemo, radiation, hormone therapy with awful side effect, yet many have recurrences anyway, besides many life altering sideeffects that does not go away. God I do hate cancer and pray a cure is found soon.

    So we will just lean on each other while we are in the waiting room

    best wishes

    dsgirl

  • PiscesMoon
    PiscesMoon Member Posts: 17
    edited November 2010

    i got the copy of my report.  birads 2.  now, of course, i have the follow up with my breast surgeon in a couple of weeks and she may say get an ultrasound or something but i seriously doubt it.

    ~M

  • lrm216
    lrm216 Member Posts: 534
    edited August 2013

    Just want each of you to know that I am wishing nothing to show up in any of your test results and that each of you are in my thoughts.  The fear and anxiety are just such extra cruel blows to us with all that we have already endured.  Is there ever any peace for us?  I hate this "effing" disease with a passion.

    Linda

  • TriciaK
    TriciaK Member Posts: 124
    edited December 2010

    Just thought I'd bump this up as I was glad of the support given by all in the waiting room last year as I had a mets scare and hope other's will use it:)

    Tricia xx

  • karen1
    karen1 Member Posts: 3
    edited December 2010

    I was dx in july 07 went thru lumpectomy, mammosite radiation and 4 rds of T&C.  I have had normal mammograms since.  Yesterday I went to Onc and he felt what he said was a lump in the same breast at the original site.  He has oday ordered Dx Mammo and Ultrasound today in one hour 1pm.  SCARED!!! I take Aromasin and have endured all the side effects that come with it.  I just hope this is not happening over again. Just needed to vent.

  • kira1234
    kira1234 Member Posts: 754
    edited December 2010

    karen I'm so sorry about this. I'm hoping the tests show noting. let us know how it goes.

  • lrm216
    lrm216 Member Posts: 534
    edited December 2010

    Karen -

    Fingers crossed that it will all be nothing cancer related.

  • debbie6122
    debbie6122 Member Posts: 2,935
    edited December 2010

    I'm also keeping my fingers crossed it is nothing cancer related hopfully it is just scar tissue keeping you in my prayers. (((hugs))

  • karen1
    karen1 Member Posts: 3
    edited December 2010

    Thanks for the response, wow!  I just got back after 4 hours of mammograms and ultrasound, the ultrasound machine shut down while they were doing my exam.  The Radiologist said it looked like on both mammo and ultrasound like fat necrosis in the tumor bed from the original surgery in 07.  I go to Breast Surgeon on Tuesday for followup, but it looks Ok for now.  Thanks again for response. 

  • kira1234
    kira1234 Member Posts: 754
    edited December 2010

    Glad things went so well. Keep us informed.

    Karen

  • TriciaK
    TriciaK Member Posts: 124
    edited January 2011

    This is very normal Karen and scar tissue can be a factor for many of us from rads/surgery!

    Good luck:)

    Tricia x

  • wyattsmom
    wyattsmom Member Posts: 11
    edited January 2011

    I am 1 year past diagnosis and have 2 infusions of Herceptin left before I'm "done".

    A few weeks ago I felt a lump on my rib on half way down my side on same side as lumpectomy. (Actually the whole rib hurts, my scapula as well) Onc felt the lump too. Sent me for US. Tech couldn't see it. Radiologist took a "quick peek" at pics and didn't see anything. That was on Monday the 3rd. On Friday at 5pm, I got a letter (dated Wed. the 5th) from the radiologist saying they need imaging on BOTH breasts and call to schedule appt. First, why can't they time those letters to come during the week? Nothing like a dose of anxiety for the weekend. Can't even ASK what's going on.

    And secondly, wondering how often someone has mets while still taking Herceptin. I thought that might keep things at bay til we're done....?

    Waiting....

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited January 2011

    I'm in the waiting room too - had an ultrasound done on a very small but enlarged lymph node that I found behind my collarbone last week.  I finished chemo on Nov 22.  No results yet - I made an app't with my breast surgeon for tomorrow night (a follow up but i want HER opinion on this too!) and now it looks like we're getting a massive blizzared.  So it will be even more waiting.  :(  I'm a mess - really wanted to put this all behind me.  My oncologlist says it' s not a recurrence this soon after chemo ended, but I'm afraid it's an affected node that was there from the beginning and we didn't find. Something has to be .5cm before it can be detected on ct.................. :( 

  • wyattsmom
    wyattsmom Member Posts: 11
    edited January 2011

    Update... some info but still waiting...

    The "letter" was just because they needed an updated mammo. Thanks for the scare. 

    The nice woman who was doing my mammo came back and forth, back and forth, many times... "oh, the radiologist wants a closer view of this one... two more of this one... a couple more over here..." Results: left breast where the cancer was looks clear. right breast shows "calcs". My original treatment facility provided all of my records EXCEPT my first mammogram. So I have to wait here until they can get the records and compare the film. If the "calcs" were there and are the same, we keep an eye on them. If the "calcs" are new or larger, I'll have to have biopsies.

    Have a doctor offering me BRCA testing for little to no cost! What say you girls? Have you had it done, did it make a difference in your choice of treatment?

  • TriciaK
    TriciaK Member Posts: 124
    edited January 2011

    I was'nt offered the choice of BRCA testing but would do it for sure as it helps us make informed decisions:)

    My good wishes to both of you right now for good results, sadly a recurrance can happen while still on chemo/herceptin but is usually down to a missed diagnosis on earlier screenings but hope all will be good news:)

    Love

    Tricia xx

  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 250
    edited January 2011

    Okay, so here I am, sitting in a waiting room again, for the 100th time I think.  :D  My MRI to determine if that spot on my humerus is anything is Saturday.  I plan to call and find out the news by Monday if he doesn't call me. :)

    I am pretty sure it's nothing.  I only finished herceptin seven weeks ago and am on tamoxifen.  But, it is nerve-wracking nonetheless.

  • mmm5
    mmm5 Member Posts: 797
    edited January 2011

    cool breeze I will bet its nothing pretty rare right after treatment according to my Oncologists.

  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 250
    edited January 2011

    Yeah, I'm sure.  I am only seven weeks out of herceptin.  But, then, I just realized - I'm 10 months out of chemo.  Relapse is highest for HER2+ in the first two years, and for some people - herceptin doesn't work.  So, I'd be right on target.

    See, this is more fun that a horror movie.  :)

  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 250
    edited January 2011

    As usual, alone in the room.  :)  I got a call this morning that a radiologist had to be there for my MRi and could I do it today.  I asked my boss, he said go, so I had it.

    The reasons the radiologist had to be there was the test was ordered without contrast and then with contrast - and the films had to be read to determine if contrast was necessary.

    None was.  But, they refused to tell me what conditions would require contrast or not, so I have no clues.

    The nurse said the doctor had written URGENT on my paperwork so the radiologist is going to call him today.  It's possible I won't be in this waiting room long - maybe by today I'll know.

  • debbie6122
    debbie6122 Member Posts: 2,935
    edited January 2011

    Coolbreeze- I hope you wont be in the waiting room long because of good news, i will be thinking good thoughts and some prayers for you, we will be anxiously waiting with you for results

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