Class of 2009 - Sisters in the same time frame
Comments
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I had the oncotype DX and my recurrence chances are 18% and chemo was not recommended for me because: I am 63, 99% ER+, and low mitosis rate (means sluggish cell activity which does not benefit from chemo much). So it is complicated by more than just the "number."
Crossing my fingers......
pam
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Hi Ladies,
I am freaking out a little bit today. I wonder if any of you taking Tamoxifen have had any issues with your peroid? I have been having heavy bleeding and this month I am experiencing dizziness and also pretty bad cramping. I have called my GYN doctor, the one that did the D & C on me in Feb. I am waiting for her to call me back. I am thinking she will want to see me. The dizziness scares me, I feel like I have had a couple drinks whenever I walk or if I move too fast. It has been going on since yesterday.
Any words of wisdom are welcome
Hugs
Jen0 -
Jen -- I have not taken Tamoxifen so can't advise but just wanted to send you hugs and say good for you for calling your doctor... that is the right thing to do. Did the office say she would call you back today? Did you tell the nurse there what you were experiencing? Sounds unpleasant to be sure...
Hugs,
Lilah
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Jen ~ sounds like your heavy period is taking a toll on you. I have only been on tamoxifen for 3 weeks so I have no words of wisdom. I haven't gotten my period back since chemo ~ Hoping you get seen by your gyno asap. Thinking of you.
Alicia
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Hi ladies - I haven't posted here in a bit because I tagged this thread as a favourite and it somehow got removed from the list. I'm done my 16 full breast radiation treatments and have only three more boosts left. I'm done next Wedneday. That's interesting that the Oncotype testing is now available in Ontario. Not sure if it applies to hormone negatives like me. I don't qualify for BRCA testing either. I haven't had a period since January so I'm thinking perhaps chemo has put me into menopause.
I've now re-added this thread to my favourite topics so I can continue to keep up to date on what's going on with this terrific bunch of ladies!!
Sherri
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Hey Jen, I've been on Tamox since Nov. and dizziness has been one of my SE's. It's not all the time but there were a few episodes that made me feel like I was going to full out faint and had to sit down for a few minutes, then it passed.
Regarding periods. Mine stopped from chemo and have never returned. Checking in with the doc would be the best plan of action. Take care, Mary
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Jen, don't blame you for freaking out-dizziness is not a favorite feeling of mine. Just one of my demented thoughts--perhaps if did take on a couple good stiff drinks it would counterbalance you? Maybe a Singapore Sling or 2???????????
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Could you be anemic from the heavy bleeding? That might explain the dizziness.
Cyber hugs,
pam
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Lilah I had 1 positive node and both of my oncs told me I should have rads. I was under the impresion that since I had a mast that I wouldn't need it but in the end the recommendation was made to do it so I did..
My rad onc told me that my chance of recurrence would be reduced by 2/3 with rads and I'd have a 10% better chance at survival (can't remember over what term).
I actually have a recording of my rad onc session and after listening to it several times I made the decision to do rads.
There was a lot more pros than cons for me and so I went for it.
But every treatment plan is different since every cancer is different and just because I did it doesn't mean that any of you that didn't shouldn't second guess yourselves.
We have to go by the advice that is given to us by the people that are trained to help us.
That's what I think anyway...
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I have had light headedness/dizziness and headaches since Jan 24 (I finished chemo Jan 19 and didn't have this after any of the previous 5 sessions).
I am not anemic and my blood pressure is fine. The doctor I saw looked in my eyes to determine if I was anemic and then he took my blood pressure sitting down and then asked me to stand to see if it made a difference.
I believe that chemo has somehow affected my equillibrium/eyes and that is what is causing it.
I've also suffered from ongoing headaches but the ones I'm getting now are from sinus congestion due to allergies.
If I take my Ativan religiously and have a good night's sleep the symptoms are pretty much gone.
Today when I was watching the ticker tape of stock prices today on tv then looked at something (that was still) it was seeming to float.
I had trouble after watching Avatar in 3D with focus.
Also, if I move my head around too fast I feel lightheaded. BUT if I do it with my eyes closed I'm fine.
I really do believe it is a focus thing for me and will add a visit to my optometrist to my list of drs in the near future.
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Jen keep us posted as to how you are doing.
I am heading to the pharmacy tonight to get my T. I will start tomorrow.....AAAAHHHH.
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Jen are you dehydrated? I also get dizziness from dehydration. Let us know what the doctor says....
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Hi ladies
I'm also from the class of 2009 but haven't posted before....although I do read your thread. Just wanted to add a comment to the Canadian women about BRCA testing. Michele and Sherri ~ I thought that in Ontario you qualify for BRCA testing if you have a personal history with breast or ovarian cancer (which you do) or if you have a strong family history of the disease. I would think that you would both qualify for the test??
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Mich_M - unfortunately I don't fit the criteria for testing. I don't have a known family history. And, if I was under 35, I would qualify but I'm 45. FYI...I just did a Google search and found this link outlning the critera, which might be of interest to other Ontario ladies:0
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I thought it was available to anyone with BC....that's disappointing.
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Good evening ladies, sorry I haven't posted much lately, but have been working many many long hours. I normally only work 4 days a week, but this is a very busy time where I work and it will be about 2 weeks before it is over. I am so ready, I hate working 6 days a week and some of the days have been 15 and 16 hour days. I get tired just writing about it.
I am caught up on all the reading on this thread, but am very behind on all the others that I normally post to.
I am doing great and have started my Arimidex and so far have not noticed any SEs. I sure there is plenty of time for those to hit.
Alica, you look beautiful, love the new picture.
JoJo, glad you are getting on with life. Congrats on coming to the end of rads. You are almost there and I know you are ready to get this over with.
Well, I better call it a night and get to bed, it has been a really long day. Too many decisions for me to make at work and it just wears my brain down and I do believe that I have lost a few brain cells in the last year.
Hugs to all and hope everyone has a great and relaxing weekend.
Juannelle
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Jen:
Hope you are feeling better, dizziness has been affecting me as well and not sure whether to blame it on chemo, tamoxifen, or something else. I actually wobble into walls/furniture and even DH when he is walking beside me! Good ideas that some ladies questioned as to whether you could be anemic and/or dehydrated. I haven't had a period since my 1st chemo in Nov 09, but with the Tamoxifen, I have noticed a crampy feeling occaisonally...very similar to PMS, but still no periods.
Praying for you to feel better and get answers to your concerns, friend.
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Mich, I too have no family history of cancer. I am the one and only in my family, how special I am...such a ground breaking woman. I will just have to make sure that my daughter is good about checking and testing.
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Jaunnelle glad to hear from you and hope your busy time is over soon.
I had the Onco test and it was a 21. My Onc told me I had a 13% chance recurrence with out Chemo and 10% with so I opted out of chemo and my Onc was in agreement. It was discussed that the possible side effects from chemo out weighed the 3% gain. It is a tough decision but I am good with it. It would not have helped with the thyroid cancer either.
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Juanelle ~ Nice to hear from you ! Hope you get a break from your long work days really soon. I am tired just reading about the hours you are putting in. Hoping you are feeling good!
Michele ~ I too am the first woman in my family to get breast cancer. My mom is 74 and pretty healthy, my sister is 53 and fine. I worry for her she has HUGE boobies, they are about a 44 J (for JUGS). LOL
Hope everyone has a good weekend.
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Always nice to hear from Juanelle! This is too nice a time of year to be locked inside at work! Break out! I know you have a good job so have to put up with this but hope you soon have long weekends to enjoy.
pam
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Sugar77: re the BRCA testing... I think there is some discretion that health care professionals can take. At Sunnybrook, I was offered the option of testing even though I didn't completely fit the criteria (sister diagnosed with BC at age 54, me at age 52, only other BC case was an aunt diagnosed at age 88). My test turned out negative.0
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LOL Alicia re: J for Jugs
Your hair looks GREAT!0 -
HI ALL SWEET THINGS
JUANELLE
Hi there glad you popped in for a chat i carnt wait till things slow down a little for you at work just reading all that you have to do is making me feel very tired dont know how you do it, ah yes i do i forgot your our wonder women lol but please don't over do it your body is still recovering from those special cocktails
MY body is aching all the time i feel like im 100 yrs old and full of arthritis since chemo and it feels like its getting worse i wonder if its the side affects from the chemo i mentioned it to the nurse at rads and they recon it prob is, and i find i bleed so easy and a lot from just a small cut . My skin is just a faint shade of pink from rads they said im doing really well yeh for jojo
I to am the only one in my family for generations with B/C i guess were the special ones !!!!!!
Keep smiling ladies love lots JOJO
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JOJO,
I don't think you can rule out radiation as a source of your feeling bad. I don't know if it was stress or actual rads, but I felt achy from the get-go and did not have chemo to blame it on. You're getting the full monty! Take life easy! Let others do for you. Easy to say :-)
I am the only one in a huge family to get BC. We are special!
pam
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JoJo -- I too feel achy and like I have arthritis since the chemo.... I haven't asked but I assume that's what it is because I did not have rads. Though I have to laugh since Pam says the opposite. Maybe it's just the stress of dealing with all of this? (As Pam also suggested).
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Good eveing ladies,
I have another weekend and into the next week for this to be over at work. I am so ready for it to be over. But the end is in site and I can start to enjoy all the beautiful weekends here in Texas, because it will be 100 degs before long.
I too am achy and hurting, but I don't think it is from any BC treatment. It just goes to show how out of shape I am. Baseball season started this weekend here in town and my grandson is playing. They had a little parade for the baseball teams and he was riding in a float. My mission, as directed by him, was to go to the parade and pick up candy, since he wouldn't be able to, since he was riding in the parade. So MAW MAW and PAW PAW went to the parade and picked up candy. OMG, I am so sore today, I can hardly move. You would think that I had done hundreds of squats and all I did was bend over. I really need to get to the gym.
It is so good to hear from all of you also. I miss getting out here every day and keeping up with everyone. It does sound like we are all beginning to move on into other parts of our lives and BC is not keeping us so busy.
Love to all, alicia, lilah, pam, jojo, carollynn, psalm121 and michele and anyone else that I may have missed.
Juannelle
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Jaunelle,
Next time... go to Dollar General and BUY a 1.00 bag of mixed candy. Save your back!
pam
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Juannelle:
I've missed hearing from you and realize you are working really long hours....please take care of yourself and I will be happy for you when your extended work days are over and you are back here with us!
Thinking of all you wonderful ladies, tonight....rest well and talk to you soon!
Hugs!
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I am so excited...I applied to a program offered here in Ontario. It is a program that matches up cancer patients who have completed treatment, with people who donate a week at their cottages...I have been accepted and will be getting a cottage for a week. I am not sure where or when, but I don't care...just the idea of getting away for a week is amazing. We asked for this beautiful beach area a couple of hours away from here. We went there last year and loved the area. The only bummer was that I was diagnosed a week before we went. I was a bit of a downer. And then we had to tell our families when we got back. This will be my do over...Boy do I need a do over.
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