Class of 2009 - Sisters in the same time frame
Comments
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hi michele, my son of 11 is pretty much the same, daughter has been more of a fretter/worrier, always has been plus we have had some hard times as a family this year too with my mum in law being ill, uncles dying and another aunt of hubby's with bc...then she had her school exams and first serious boyfriend that she thought the world of split with her, bless her....all built up and she's been quite depressed recently, luckily our GP is great and very supportive and things seem to be improving.....mary x
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Beggy, welcome. regarding treatment. I have had an easy time of it..no problems so far, other than three days a cycle which am pooped. The long term effects I can't say. But I think it is worth the risk. I have young kids and they need me around, i want to be around. Like I said it has been easy on me so far...
Michele
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Beggy, my Oncoscore is 21 and decided against the Chemo, risk did not out weigh the benifits, I was told had a 13% chance of recurrence but adding chemo would only reduce it to 10%. It is a decision only you can make. I am content with mine. I did enter the TailorX study but made it clear if chosen for the chemo arm would back out.
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Welcome Mary/bongomummy - by the way I like your name it's cool!
Michele - your daughter sounds like such a sweetheart. I love that she has her class say a prayer for you every day. Also, you crack me up about wearing your hair to pick up DH at the airport. Heeheeheee!!!! That would be a serious riot... wish I could be a fly on the wall so to speak and see how he reacts.
Renee
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I am having #3 today...check in later
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Good luck girls going for treatment today.
Hoping all goes smoothly and your SE (side effects) stay to a minimum.
Alicia0 -
Hi everyone. I start chemo on Tuesday (12/1). When my nodes came back clear I thought I was going to avoid the chemo route. However my oncotype was 33 (high). I also had 3 tumors -- the original IDC (1.9 cm) which was found right away on the mammo, then the mri found a DCIS on the other side, and the final pathology after the mastectomy discovered another DCIS. The two DCIS popped up rather quickly which scared me but I was still not planning on doing chemo. The oncotype score changed my decision. My oldest brother died from cancer when he was 46 so my family is a little freaked out about this, with good reason.
Well I hope everyone has recovered from Thanksgiving and going to enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Carolyn
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I hope everyone had a great day yesterday. I'm getting to like Thanksgiving more than Christmas. Seems like it has been commercialized less. Anyway, it was great. Had kids, steps, neighbors... and great food.
Beggy,
Can you find out if you will be a good metabolizer of Tamoxifen before your decide on chemo? I think that would be a big factor. Also, your age. If you are close to menopause your could be switched over to an AI which are thought to be more effective than tamoxifen. Also how ER+ are you? If it's a high percentage than tamoxifen or an AI might be enough, if a low % then maybe chemo would be indicated.
I just read oncology is moving away from so much chemotherapy toward the hormonal drugs. Still it definitely has its place. How about a second opinion?
For those brave enough to go out today... HAPPY SHOPPING.
pam
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Hello all. I haven't been posting for awhile, but do read the posts from time to time. I had lumpectomy re-excision this past Tuesday, and am in the house for a few days recuperating, so catching up on BCO. I'd like to add my two cents to Beggy's post: our dx's are nearly identical, even our oncotype is the same at 17. My onc didn't even offer chemo to me, said definitely not needed with that low score. And I'm not asking for chemo. I took into consideration my age (I'm 56), and that Tamox or AI's would likely be enough tx for my ER+ bc. I'm not suggesting you do as I did, it's your personal decision, but there may be other treatments besides chemo that would be just fine for your situation. Another thought: if it wasn't for the oncotype results, say we didn't have that test available, would you still have considered chemo? Or it is just this score of 17 causing you to consider it?
Best wishes with whatever you decide.
Debbie
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Welcome Carolyn,
I am thinking OHMIGOSH...who would ever have imagined your onco score would be as high as it is. I don't mean to say it is way high, just that your stats are otherwise so benign. Best wishes Tuesday. We are all in your corner and some of our group know what you are going through. We're here if you just want some good listeners.
pam
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Hi Beggy, I agree with Debbie. My diagnosis is very similar to both of yours and my oncologist did not recommend chemo for me. He said RADS and AI's would take care me and give me the same benefits as chemo, and I was actually in a gray area because of the size of my tumor. He also did not suggest an Oncotype test for me which I was surprised about. I am going to ask though when I go back in Feb. if my insurance will pay for it. Not really sure it will be of benefit then since I will have already had RADS.
Beggy - Good Luck with whatever decision you make. I will be praying for you to have peace of mind.
By the way I was one of the crazies that got up this morning and went Black Friday shopping. I got some great deals, but most of all I had some great quality time with my sister and my daughter that I seldom get. Hope all that went shopping had a great time!
Renee
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Debbie
I'm so glad to have your input. Regarding your question about the oncotype: No, I wouldn't have even been offered chemo because it would have had no benefit. It's ONLY because of the oncotype that I've been given the chemo option. Also, did you have rads yet?
Renee I don't think every doctor routinely sends these tumors off for oncotypes yet--the technology has only been around for about 3 years, according to my doc.
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My Dr's leaned away from the oncoscore test. They said that chemo was not optional due to the size and aggressiveness of my tumor. At my age chemo was a necessity to live a long life.
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The way I understand it is that in some cases, like Alicia, chemo is a given so the onco test is redundant. In other cases, like Juanelle, no one was thinking chemo but good thing she had it as her recurrence risk was higher than they found acceptable.
pam
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Beggy: I haven't had rads yet. Lumpectomy was Oct 14. End of Oct I developed a seroma, and infection in the SNB site. Also, pathologist decided not enough clean margin was taken, so I had a re-excision lumpectomy Nov 24th. Now just waiting for the path report to know what the next step is (another re-excision, mx, or move on to rads). Have been reading every post about radiation, as that is the part of tx I'm looking forward to the least!
When do you have to decide about chemo?
Debbie
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Debbie, I like your picture. I work in a tack shop. I it is a great place to work...Lots of happy people. I don't work in that tack department, but work in the clothing section.
Michele
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Michele... I love your pic.. I need to get me a wig like that ~ I think it would be good to wear to chemo treatment.
And I love horses. I have went on trail rides a few times on vacations. I am far from a rider ~ but when this is all over and done it is on my bucket list !!!Alicia
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Good evening ladies:
I have had such a busy weekend. Big Thanksgiving dinner at my house with about 25 people. We had way too much food, but we always do and they wouldn't let me do much. I cooked the turkey, ham and sweet potatoes. We had a great time, it is always fun to visit with family. It was about half and half, half my family and half my DH's family. It is nice to be able to have both families together, then we are not subjected to going to other dinners. One meal and it is done.
Hope everyone has a nice and relaxing Sunday.
Juannelle
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Debbie--sorry to hear about your repeat excision and I hope it's the last one you'll have to endure; I'm dreading the rads, too. At a party tonight, I had the chance to talk to 4 wonderful friends who are nurses as well as a med school grad. to get some more input. This week I see my surgeon to ask a few more questions before I decide.
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Alicia & Michele - you two are to funny, but I do like the pink wig! And there's something we have in common... I absolutely love, love horses. I use to ride a lot, but not so much lately. When I was much younger my dad and I did horse shows together. LOL! We have owned everything from a Thoroghbred race horse to a common quarter horse (which is what we have now).
Juanelle - Glad you had all your family in one place for Thanksgiving and it was a great family time. Hope you are enjoying a nice, relaxing Sunday afternoon.
Beggy & Debbie - I'm there with you both in dreading the RADS! I see my Rads Onc on Weds for the first time to find out how many treatments I will have to have and when it will start. :=(
On a much happier note... my hubby and son-in-law are putting down my new wood floor today! But when they are done I have to clean my house and decorate for Christmas!! :=)
Renee
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Renee,
A new wood floor in one day! WOW, keep those guys around.
You have such a good attitude, you should be fine in rads. I found t-shirts at Target called Tissue T's. The material is very soft and the shirt is very stretchy and fitted. When and if you reach a point during radiation that you can't wear a bra they are great as an undershirt with a button up shirt over top. Also great to sleep in.
About a radiation schedule... don't mark the end date on your calendar. I had several delays so my finish up day turned out to be a week farther out than I had thought.
Good luck!
pam
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Pam I have a question though... I work in the public and I am not small chested, I'm a 34 D. I really don't think going without a bra would be an option for me. Unless the Tissue T's fit very snuggly and offer some sort of support. I tend to wear sweaters a lot in the winter to work, I don't own many button ups if I own one. LOL! And unfortunately right now buying new clothing is not in my budget. Any suggestions would be appreciated from any of you ladies. Or did any of you not have any problems and continue to be able to wear a bra throughout treatment?
Renee
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Renee,
I NEVER go without a bra. I wear a 36DD so really need one. I wore bras most of the way through radiation but towards the end I had to stop. When one is heavy breasted the skin gets more raw where it touches, like underneath when the heavy breast lays against the rib skin. At first I rolled up a soft thin sock and tucked under my breast to protect it from the bra elastic band. That worked for a while. I bought several tank tops with built in bras and could not wear them at all... they gave no support and the elastic was right where it needed not to be. I had two spandex camisoles that fit snugly and I wore them at the end, again with something rolled up and tucked under my breast to keep skin from rubbing skin. Finally at about day 26 of 36 treatments I had to give up. What happens is the blisters in the creases open up or separate and you just can't have something rubbing the open sores. So my entire breast was not a problem, just the crease or fold below and out toward the armpit. Aquaphor, which I hated, sealed the blisters and helped heal them quickly. But I did end up braless for about 10-14 days. You are younger than I am so might not be as saggy a problem
but I was not working so that made it easier for me. Since you will be in treatment while it is cold you might be able to wear cardigan sweaters or jackets and no one will notice. One thing I was embarrassed to ask about was post-TX cosmetic appearance. Seemed so shallow to be worry about how I would look. But I was. I thought my treated breast would be smaller.... so far, at almost 6 months post rads, it is not smaller. If anything it is fuller but no problem wearing my pre- treatment bras, just one side is a little more filled out. My lumpectomy wound is still darker but much less drawn or dimpled. That side is still more tan but not a lot. My nipple on treated breast is much paler but pretty much back to normal ... it got to looking pretty weird toward the end of TX. My breast has gone through quite a metamorphasis (sp?) in all of this... got very firm, almost hard a couple months post rad but is softening up to more normal now. I think the recovery is slow, maybe fully settled down a year after even.
Finally, no matter what I complained about to my radiologist he would never allow it was due to rads.
pam
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Beggy, have you made up your mind about chemo yet?
When I read your post I got to thinking about the 6 percent you mentioned. Is that a difference in chance of recurrence or difference in survival rate? My oncologist presented my options to me in terms of ten year survival rates.
I'm not sure if this is accurate or not, but if the six percent represents six women out of a hundred, does it mean that whether or not those six are around in ten years depends on whether or not they chose chemo? I may be confused, but you might want to ask your onc to clarify the meaning of the six percent. Good luck with whatever you decide!
Becky
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Ivorymom- I actually have already joined a Dec. 2009 RADS support group. I expect I will be getting started in the next 2 wks since I am seeing the RAD onc on this Weds. It seems that there is a lot to getting RADs started like CT and simulation, etc. Then actually starting the RADS itself.
Pam - LOL! I'm not that young and unfortunately with wt gains and losses over the years I do have the saggy probs with the breasts. I wish I could have that fixed and it has always been my intention to get a lift by the time I was 50, but that may never happen now that I have had BC. Not sure any doc would do it for one and the other I'm not sure my Onc would say o.k. but then again there are women that have things done for symmetry after surgery? I know after my partial mast they are a little uneven as far as the direction goes, one is more south and the one that had surgery is now a little more northwest. Kinda funny. :=) And the surgical breast has always been a little smaller so if RADS makes it any smaller I definitely will be oddly misshapen (sp). LOL!!! Thanks for all the info about the T-shirts and padding the bra I hope I don't have to use it. I have not recently done it but I have tanned in tanning beds before and I always blister a little but not much and then tan right up. We have olive skin and Indian ancestory. My blistering usually is worse between my breasts, not under, so we shall see.
Renee
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Becky--I'm not sure myself anymore, but I'm seeing my surgeon this week and hopefully she can explain everything more clearly than the other docs did.0
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I too had to quit wearing a bra (40 D). Not something I thought I would EVER do, but just couldn't take the pain where the skin was opened up (underneath and around the nipple). I did use the silver sulphadiazine cream that worked - but what helped speed up the healing was lying in bed and letting the whole area "air" a couple times a day! Started having skin problems at #23 of 30 and bought some soft sports bras that gave a little support - any breast movement was uncomfortable, but it will pass by pretty quickly. Within 10 days of treatment, I was able to start wearing an old stretched out un-wired bra again. Good luck all those who are starting treatments soon. Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers!
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Alicia, Love your new picture, so cute.
Renee, send you handy men to my place to put in our new floors...we are planning to start over the xmas holidays...yah we are nuts..but that is when my Dh is off..My house rocks with the tree and all the decor and boxes of hardwood all over...faaa laaa laaa laaa. Perhaps I will drape table cloths on the boxes and decorate those as well..
Carolyn, welcome...I a may have already said hello, but my mind is a bit off today...forgive me..this is a great supportive group.
Bongo, My daughter is a sweetie...although she can turn on a dime..one minute sweet the next, watch out..hormones I guess..She can get a bit weepy since my diagnoses...she worries about me..
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Beggy,
Hi and welcome
My DX is similar to yours. My Oncotype score was a 16 and I chose no chemo. The percentage of no recurrance with it just didn't outweigh the risks for me. I do not regret that decision at all. I also have gone thru rads and I am done with them. My skin held up quite well and I healed fine. I started Tamox last Monday 11/23. My docs left the decision up to me, as I was in basically your same situation, it was a hard decision to make, but I feel I made the right one. You will too. If you want to PM me to discuss further I would be happy to
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Renee,
I am also bigger chested 34DD, and I wore a bra throughout rads, I had to, even to bed, up until the last couple weeks of it. I had to stop wearing the bra to bed, I was getting swollen and tender due to my period and was getting bruising from the underwire. I did not have the problems with blisters that Pam had, everyone is different. My skin held up really well. I bought a big bottle of Citaphil lotion and lugged it with me everyday to treatment and applied it right after treatment and again before bedtime. As my skin got redder, especially in the cleavage area, I started using the Aquaphor. That helped tremendously! I am 2 1/2 weeks out of rads and I am still tan on one side, but my skin is not peeling anymore.
Good luck to you! Let us know when you start.
Hope everyone is doing well!
Jen
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