Class of 2009 - Sisters in the same time frame
Comments
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Thanks everyone for your prayers for my brother. I really appreciate it! It will be comforting to him to know that others are praying for him as well. This is such a great group and it's nice knowing all of us can lean on one another and provide prayer, support, and encouragement to one another. Thanks again to all of you wonderful ladies!
I got the results from my Oncotype test today. It was a 10, so NO CHEMO for me.... yeah!!! I got my prescription for Tamoxifen today, but haven't started it yet. My husband will pick it up for me tomorrow on his way home from work. I'm not sure if I will start it tomorrow or wait until Monday. I think I may just wait.
Alicia - Good news about your husband!! I will be praying that all other tests come back good as well.
Mary - My prayers are with you. I know this must be hard for you. You can lean on us any time.
Jen - Great job on getting your Avon Walk going.! It looks like you're off to a good start. I'm from IL also (the heart of IL). The weather wasn't too bad here, up near 35 I believe. I'm really looking forward to much warmer weather though.
Ainm - prayers for you that the pain will lessen for you and that doctors will be able to figure out what is causing it, and that it is nothing serious.
Hugs to all ~ Debbie
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Debbie - Sending prayers and hugs to your brother and family... May Gods grace gently blow his way and provide him with peace, rest and comfort. May he have spiritual and physical healing whether it is here on this earth or in God's heavnly home. :=)
Mary - Sending prayers and hugs to you as well. Praying for negative/benign test results on those areas on your hip.
Alicia - Woo HOO!! Great news on your DH!!!
Michele - I hope you feel better soon. I know that chemo can really knock the socks off you and make you feel lousy. Remember, this to shall pass and will become a distant memory. Here's to brighter and happier chemo free days! :=)
I completed #24 rads today and will start my boosts next week... Yeah!! The first 5 boosts will be to the tumor bed and my RAD Onc called them compression boosts (I think they are the same as something called AccuBoosts, that I looked up on the net). Then the last 5 boosts will be to the incision site and I will be done. I'm kinda dreading the boosts, I think some ladies have their incisions in a different area than exactly where the tumor was directily located, unfortunately for me my incision is right on the rounded side of my aerola and my tumor was right under that by my nipple. Praying it doesn't get scorched!! Owweee!!! I may ask my Med Onc about the Oncotype when I go back but I'm not sure my insurance will pay for it if it is not medically necessary. Who knows with United Healthcare...
Has anyone heard from Juanelle lately? Just wondering how she is doing...
Renee
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Renee,
Thank you so much for the nice prayers for my brother. It means so much. I will pass on all the prayers to him.
Congratulations on finishing your first 24 rounds of rads! I pray your boosts go well and that you do not have any complications from them, and no burning.
The company that does the Oncotype/dx test, Genomic Health, has a grant to pay for whatever insurance does not pick up. Visit www.oncotypedx.com to read up on it. I was fortunate that my insurance paid for mine. I'll be praying that yours does also, if not that you qualify for Genomic Health's grant.
Blessings and good night, Debbie
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Mary ~ Hope you are hanging in there. Thinking of you and praying.
Renee ~ Congrats on 24 rads down ! You are almost done ~
Michele ~ Pathetic, NEVER !!! Strong, awesome, warrior ~ Glad you are feeling good.
Jen, Pam, Lilah, Debbie, Ainm, Hannahsbear, and everyone ~ wishing you all a good day.
Alicia
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Debbie~ Congrats on no chemo for you!! That is great news! Continued prayers for your brother, wishing you strength and peace to get thru this.
Renee~ I have United Healthcare too and they paid for my Oncotype test. Talk to you onc about it, if he strongly recommends it, they should foot the bill. Good luck in continuing your rads. You are almost done! My incision site is way high up on my chest, as was my tumor, I still have a little round tan patch where my boosts were done. The nipple area is so much more tender, hopefully it won't be too bad for you. Hugs to you
Michele~ Next year when you have kicked this BC in its ass, I would love to be able to meet you and do the walk with you! I hope each day finds you feeling better and stronger.
Mary, Alicia, Pam, Juannelle and anyone else I missed- hope you are all having a great day!
Hugs to you all
Jen
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PJ, thanks!
Not that I'm aware. But far be it from me to let go of a trend easy!
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Especially a good one!
pam
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Hi All,
I called and scheduled my 3 month post surgery follow up with my Breast Surgeon today. I will be seeing him the same day I see my Med Onc, on Feb. 23rd. I also talked with the Med Assistant and told her that the Rad Onc said I have a Seroma. She told me if it was causing me a lot of pain to come on in and they would drain it, otherwise I could wait and he would look at it on the 23rd and if it needs draining he would do it then. It does hurt but I'm gonna tough it out another month since I don't have any swelling. It just hurts if you mash on it or lie on it wrong. I really don't relish the idea of having another needle stuck in my boob, but I also don't want to continue hurting indefinitely either.
Have any of you ever had a Seroma drained?
Renee
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Sorry you are having this complication, Renee. I have heard of draining seromas but I also think there is a risk of infection when you do it. I think. You might want to do a little research. I think there is also a chance the fluid will absorb. I haven't had one so may not know enough to have a good opinion. Good luck.
pam
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Mary - My prayers are out there for you. I agree with Alicia---take the anxiety pills. You deserve any kind of relief you can get.
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Mary, hope you can have a relaxing weekend. I know you have a lot on your plate, but try to take it easy.
michele, you are so brave. Can't believe that you went out topless and no makeup. I don't think I will ever be able to do that.
debbie, congrats on your low Oncotype DX score. That has to be a big relief, no chemo. woohoo.
Renee, I have not dropped off the face of the earth. I am just having trouble keeping up these days. I have United Health care and they paid for my Oncotype test. Didn't even question it. I hope you make it through rads with no big problems. I start next week.
Chris, Pam, Jen, Alicia, ezscriiibe, ainm, hannabearsmom, groundhog, sherri, musiclovermom and lilah, hope everyone has a relaxing and peaceful weekend planned.
I am gong to the movies with my DH and plan on a restful weekend. I am getting ready to start my rads next week, so that is the next part of my journey. It is just one step at a time.
Juannelle
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Hi mimi1964, You might want to look up djd on the search engine above, she had problems when they drained hers and read about her experience. I have been using the pm option with her and discussing our seromas. I also have one from the mammosite radiation I had done. I have not had it drained and hope I do not have to have it done.
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Hugs Ladies! Hoping you all have a wonderful weekend
Cheers,
Lilah
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Edited to redact a post with personal information.
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Groundhog, you will do great..you will give me something different to think about on groundhog day other than that cute little creature...love those guys...we lived in Saskatchewan for a few years and we had them running all over the place..they pop up on the sides of the roads here as well I see them when I drive to work all the time.
Juannelle, I was not brave going out like that, I was just exhausted
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Renee- I had a Seroma drained, it was actually no big deal at all. It felt much better once it was drained. I didn;t feel the needle at all since it was still numbe there from surgery. Do whatever you are comfortable with, but it was fine for me.
Hope everyone else is having a good day!
Jen
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Groundhog -- You are going to do GREAT and I will definitely say special prayers for you on Groundhog day
I was really emotional in the weeks leading up to my UMX and then about a week before I settled into a state of mind that was what I called denial at the time (because I stopped crying about it and just relaxed) but I think was probably just a practical sort of acceptance that it would be okay. Since I woke up in the OR on December 9 I have been, simply, relieved to have it behind me and hopeful about the end result. I hope you have the same.Cheers,
Lilah
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groundhog, may your days ahead be restful and peaceful. There are no words that I can say to ease the anxiety leading up to 2/2. Just know that we are all here for you.
Juannelle
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Hi All,
I did post this on another thread but wanted to let all those that have welcomed me here know what is going on. I would love your feedback. I was supposed to have mast this thurs but went for a second opinion to MD Andersen Cancer Institute where I saw a surgeon, who by the way was also recommended to me by a friend who had a double. He said a mast would at this point be the most severe surgery option and that would not protect me from the cells in my body finding a home and causing more cancer. It would delay life saving chemo. Said noone ever died of breast cancer, it is where the cancer goes that causes the problems. My abdomen cat and chest xray came back negative. The tumor seems to measure 7cm by 4cm. It is very large. This doctor conferred with the oncologist and came back to the room and told me that my doctor was "dead wrong" calling for a mast at this point. He said her view of getting the "smoking gun" didn't even make sense. Said they want to give me chemo right away to get the cells in my body and that would shrink the tumor to a size that might permit breast saving surgery. I have a cat of my chest and bone scan scheduled for next week. Having a port put in on Thursday. Has anyone else had chemo first? He said it looks like the cancer has not spread but there are inevitably cells in my body and that some lymph nodes seem swollen. Is it true that if you have chemo first they cannot tell if the lymph nodes had cancer as the chemo will kill the cells and the later removal of sentinel nodes at the time of surgery will not be accurate? My fiancee has been doing a lot of reading
Finally, the doctor said that not only would I be able to see my grandchild grow up but that I would be able to see her get married. He said they will cure this. Please give me your feedback. Third opinion? I don't think so as this is renowned cancer institute and this thing seems to be getting bigger every time I have an exam. think I need to get this underway. Thank you all and God bless..Sharon0 -
Hi Rerun,
It is hard to argue with anything M D Anderson does. This doctor does sound on the optimistic side ("cure this") but his advice sounds modern and solid. I would like the idea of treating the whole body right away, neoadjuvant chemo. My situation was quite different but my doctor, too, talked me out of mastectomy. And, as he said, it is always an option down the road.
I am half way between MD Anderson and Mayo Clinic (75 miles in opposite directions) and really thought about going to one of them but knew I would have to have radiation and did not want to make that trip daily. But my neighbor, who has a more advanced stage IV situation, does go to MD Anderson and swears by them!
You are fortunate to have them as a resource. Good luck on your journey and peace with your decision, whatever it is.
pam
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sharon, there are many women who have chemo first. Luckily I was not one of them. I have no advice for you, just want you to know that I am thinking of you. I know these decisions are not easy to make and I am sorry you are having to make them. Prayers and a hug coming your way.
Juannelle
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Rerun ~ I think based on the size of your tumor - chemo first sounds good. GET it started and shrink that tumor down. At that point you can decide based on how the tumor responds to chemo to do a masectomy or a lumpectomy. That is a decision that only you and your doctors can make. I wish you well on your journey and hope you have a great outcome. Stick with us along the way.
Hugs ~
Alicia
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Rerun -- I had two lumpectomies (second with SNB) and then chemo and then RMX (unilateral). I have read extensively about neoadjuvant therapy (chemo before surgery, basically) and from what I've read there is no difference in terms of outcome whether you start with chemo or start with surgery... and have also read that in the case of a large tumor chemo can shrink it (which means you might be able to have a lumpectomy and radiation instead of MX when you are done with chemo). It is also especially beneficial to start with chemo if you are HER2 positive (which I am). I don't know about the lymph nodes. Ultimately, it's a choice that only YOU can make. In my case, after finishing chemo I went for the right MX (because after second lumpctomy 1 margin was still "close," so I had to do more surgery regardless and I decided to do the MX instead of a third lumpectomy after being advised by doctors that it would reduce my chance of recurrence to 1 - 3% (from 8 - 15%)... also frankly would give me better cosmetic results at that point (after 2 lumpectomies my breast was kinda messed up looking). As it happens, the pathology of the breast removed showed absolutely no cancer. Don't know if it was the chemo or if the second lumpectomy really did get it all. I am not sorry, though, because I have the peace of mind of knowing it is gone. And still on Herceptin til next summer (for extra added peace of mind). I will say this: if I was seeing a doctor in a reputable place like MD Anderson and he advised a course of action... I would give that suggestion high consideration. What doctor told you to have an MX?
Cheers,
Lilah
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Rerun: Given the size of your tumour and possible lymph node involvement, it makes sense to me to get started on chemo right away too. By doing it first, your doctors can see whether the chemo cocktail is working on your tunour and adjust as needed. (Do you know your hormone receptor status? If by any chance you are triple negative, chemo is even more urgent as the only systemic weapon.)
The doctor is right: no one dies of cancer in the breast; it's the mets that can kill. But on the other hand, no one with invasive breast cancer can ever be said to be absolutely "cured." All we can do is hope for as many disease free years as we can get!
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Luah -- can you elaborate on your statement "no one with invasive breast cancer can ever be said to be absolutely cured" --- I had not heard that before.
Thanks,
Lilah
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Thank you all. I am hanging on every word.
The doctor that told me to have the mastectomy is Dr. Shenin Sachedina of the Central Florida Breast Center. She is the one that did the needle biopsy of this very spot 2 yrs ago and promised to watch me very carefully. She said the only reason to get a second opinion would be to see if I should have mast or lumpectomy, so it wasn't necessary because I clearly needed a mast. Imagine my surprise when Dr. Marc DeMers of MD Andersen (this branch of the institute is here in Orlando, FL) said she was dead wrong and I should have chemo first. He consulted with the oncologist who concurred. Dr. Sachedina consulted with no one. I don't know my hormone receptor status. Is that something they know at this point from the biopsy? I am meeting with both the oncologist and the radiologist on the 27th. My port is being put in this Thursday.
Thanks,
Sharon
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Lilah - my doctor said the same thing, we can't be "cured". He said the reason why is that cancer can recur and he doesn't want to give false hope by saying it's cured, but rather it's in remission. He went on to say it can recur at anytime, 1 month, 1 year, 5 years, 20 years, but the longer we go the better the chances of non- recurrance. Maybe that's what Luah's doctor was saying too.
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Everything I have read indicates there is no "cure" for breast cancer. That doesn't mean you will definitely recur... only that modern medical science cannot do anything to guarantee it will not recur. Most of us will not face breast cancer in any form again. Hooray!!! But we must now be vigilant and never let our guard down. Do your part, do your treatment, live a healthy life style, keep in contact with your doctors, trust in the Lord, reduce stress in your life, seize the moments, take your medicine
, and focus on the non-recurrence stats not the recurrence risk!pam
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Edited to redact a post with personal information.
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BIG HUGS AND GOOD VIBES FOR MARY THIS WEEK. WE ARE WITH YOU.
pam
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