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CALLING ALL STAGE I SISTERS

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  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 9,611
    edited August 2010

    granny...Very happy for you.

    I had the port for a long time after finishing the Herceptin but nobody used that for blood draw I believe the lab technician doesnt do it. As long as i can use my left arm I do it that way.

    I hated it when they took blood from my hand. It hurts.

  • deborye
    deborye Member Posts: 2,441
    edited August 2010

    So far my vein in my right arm is keeping up.  My doctors said if it was an emergency that blood can be drawn from my left side.  I only had 3 nodes removed. It's a risk of infection.  I have had sooo many cuts and scratches on my left arm so far from gardening and nothing has happened.(knock on wood)

  • taranebraska
    taranebraska Member Posts: 18
    edited August 2010

    Hi all - I see many of you have very similar diagnosis and hormone status as I.  I could really use some weighing in on what were all the options we have for treatment.  I had BMX Aug. 10.  I have 2 indpendent tumors with same receptor status - triple positive.  I'm scheduled to get a port on Tuesday, and have been told that I need to have 4 months of chemo with taxotere and carboplatin, and a full year of herceptin.  I would love to find reasons to not do chemo, but I think my life long goal of not having chemo is over.  I had Hodgkins in 1997, chest and abdomen radiation, and lumpectomy for DCIS last year.  Please let me know your experiences. 

    Thanks in advance.  I'm still exhausted from surgery but I have these tough decisions to make fast, and I know this is the place to get lots of perspectives.

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 9,611
    edited August 2010

    Hi Tara..We almost have the same DX.

    I had a lumpectomy and re excision. My chemo was 4 rounds A/C and 4 rounds Taxol with one year of Herceptin.

    I'm here to tell you this after 5 years.

    If you have any specific question about Triple+ there are only few of us in this thread and we try to answer your questions.

    Good Luck.

  • inthepink49
    inthepink49 Member Posts: 49
    edited August 2010

    met my onco today. Hes very nice compassionate and seemed really knowledgable about it all.We couldn't make any decisions without the onco dx results but he said if the test comes back low he doesnt recommend chemo.if it comes back intermediate or above he will want me to have it.He does say though that he would say no chemo if the test didn't exist.Although it is totally up to me. If I want chemo he will do it.

    He did bring up another choice if I was interested. I could think about a dble MX with recon then I wouldnt need to worry about the chemo decision. That just added to my stress.Now I have more to think about.Im not sure I want another surgery.

    I am going to wait for the onco score and see him again to talk.meanwhile I will go see the radiation onco to learn about that.

    2 weeks ago I knew nothing about BC and now Im a walking book on it. Im sure you all feel the same way.I think once I have a treatment plan in place i will feel better.

    Im going away for a few days and hoping i can get through it without talking cancer.It seems that thats all there is lately. 

    Hope  everyone has a wonderful weekend coming up.

     

  • Char2010
    Char2010 Member Posts: 362
    edited August 2010

    inthepink - I did not think surgery type had anything to do with a chemo/no chemo decision.  At least that is what my doctors told me.  Radiation is usually not required with mx though. 

  • inthepink49
    inthepink49 Member Posts: 49
    edited August 2010

    char2010

    HI We have similar diagnosis what kind of treatment and surgery did you Have?

  • don23
    don23 Member Posts: 213
    edited August 2010

    inthepink - I have a similar diagnosis except mine was Grade 2. I had a BMX with reconstruction. My BS said I only needed a lumpectomy but I decided on the BMX. Long story short - my right breast was always the lumpy one and it turns out I got cancer in my left one. I would have driven myself crazy wondering if the lumps I felt were cancer or not so I decided on the BMX for peace of mind. I did not have to do radiation or chemo. I had the oncotype test done and it came back with a score of 11 which is considered low.  I did get two opinions on the chemo thing and one told me I could do if I want and the other one said chemo would not benefit me. I trusted the advice of the 2nd opinion because she specializes in breast cancer oncology. I was then put on tamoxifen for 11 months. Had a hyster/ooph in May and just started on Arimidex July 1st. So far so good. I also don't think the type of surgery you get depends on if you get chemo or not. Hope your oncotype score comes back low and maybe that decision will be made for you. Good luck!

  • charmainejensenvoisine
    charmainejensenvoisine Member Posts: 210
    edited August 2010

    don23: I am just wondering why the doctor only has you taking tamoxifen for 11 months.

    I was dx with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma and Infiltrating Lobular Carcinoma Stage 1b and Grade 2, 3 nodes removed and ER+.

    I had 2 lumpectomies...

    My Medical Oncologist had me take 4 chemo treatments (texatere and cyxotan sp?) and I also had 28 rounds of radiation therapy.

    Charmaine

  • don23
    don23 Member Posts: 213
    edited August 2010

    Charmaine - I started taking the tamoxifen soon after my BMX. I was only on Tamoxifen for 11 months when I had a hyster/ooph which put me in instant menopause. Then my onc put me on Arimidex. If I didn't have the hyster/oophy I would still have been on Tamoxifen.

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 9,611
    edited August 2010
  • raeinnz
    raeinnz Member Posts: 553
    edited August 2010

    sheila - I love Tweety! Sleep tight!

  • Char2010
    Char2010 Member Posts: 362
    edited August 2010

    inthepink - I had a lumpectomy, followed by chemo (due to the oncotype score being 20) and now am almost done with 33 radiation treatments

  • imjstsayin
    imjstsayin Member Posts: 2
    edited August 2010

    I see it takes a while to get noticed..new here..hope everyone is having a good day.

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 9,611
    edited August 2010

    So Sorry imjstsaying......We all support each other here and this never happened before.

    A Big Welcome to our Thread.

    I am on Femara since March 2006 and I'm fine with it except some bone loss could also be age related. I hope you will be as lucky as I was with almost no Side Effects.

    On the weekends gets little quieter here.

    Hope you join our group.

    ♥

    (((HUGS)))

  • patoo
    patoo Member Posts: 5,243
    edited August 2010

    Sorry imjstsaying - ditto Seyla - weekend gets quiet and I must admit this is the first I'm on since Friday I think and it seems to have been quieter then usual even for a weekend.  I did see your original post but since you asked a question about Femara and I don't have that experience I did not respond.  I believe there might be a Femare thread that can be of benefit as well.  If you enter 'Femera" in the search field you will probably get tons of info. 

    Please visit here often for the support.  All your emotions are normal but you will find it gets better as you continue your treatments and beyond.  That's why these threads are so valuable because everyone here understands and, believe me, those cyberhugs really work!

    Again, sorry if you didn't "feel the love" originally - it was unintentional and, actually, out of the ordinary.

  • charmainejensenvoisine
    charmainejensenvoisine Member Posts: 210
    edited August 2010

    don23: Thank you for the explanation!

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 9,611
    edited August 2010

    Tomorrow I see my BS for my yearly check up.

  • o2bhealthy
    o2bhealthy Member Posts: 1,089
    edited August 2010

    ((((Shelia)))) for tomorrow!

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 9,611
    edited August 2010

    Thanks Michelle♥

    I like my BS. If I have any questions he takes his time I feel like home.

    He is a very caring man. He did surgery for a woman who didnt have insurance and no other DR wanted to help.

  • valjean
    valjean Member Posts: 1,110
    edited August 2010

    imjstsayin ~ Welcome! I am on Aromasin, a sister drug to Femara, & am doing well. Almost no SE's & I feel lucky for that. I was on Prempro when I was dx 1yr-9 1/2 months ago & was told to immediately stop. I am 100% ER+/PR+ so have tons of that great (sarc. ha!)estrogen in me. I do get the hot flashes that is for sure. Since I'm post-meno, I still have ovaries. So probably not quite what you were looking for in answer to your question that is why I did not reply to your post. I apologize for not welcoming you sooner, you are most welcome here sista!

    I did do rads & I had a bad burn near the very end but healed very quickly. I still use 100% pure Aloe Vera lotion (big bottle from Meijer, smaller tubes in Wal-Mart) on my affected breast. It is a great healer. My Oncotype dx score was 14 so chemo would have been no benefit to me.

    I hope you find all your answers here & tons of support as well. These sister/friends here are a godsend. I still have my moments where fear grips me & I struggle to let go of it. Most days are better than others though. That is why I still come here....

    {{hugs}}

    Valerie  ♥

  • valjean
    valjean Member Posts: 1,110
    edited August 2010

    I will be with you tomorrow, Sheila.

    I actually like my BS more than my onc. And I loved my Rads-onc. Smile  I don't see my BS anymore, & I will see my Rads-onc this Nov for my 2-yr ck-up & probably not again after that. I don't see my onc much; I prefer to see the NP, they give me the choice. She's really great & I feel as long as I'm not having any problems, I don't need to see the onc anyway.

    ♥hugs Sheila♥

    {{{{{{{{{{ ♥hugs♥ }}}}}}}}}}

  • raeinnz
    raeinnz Member Posts: 553
    edited August 2010

    imjustsaying - sorry Frown you had to remind us but so glad you gave us another chance WELCOME!  Smile I have been on Femara for 16 months now.  There is a 'Femara' thread on the 'Hormone treatment - before, during and after' forum.  Lots of posts so you will get a lot of info there.  Feel free to Private Message me if you have any questions

    Rae

  • inthepink49
    inthepink49 Member Posts: 49
    edited August 2010

    char2010

    Hi so sorry for the delay...I was away for a few days thought it would get my mind off things for awhile and it did but then back to reality.

    Thanks for your imfo.  I have yet to get my onco score that will help so with my decision.It helps to see what others have done. I find that if you are not experiencing anything similiar you cant really help. I keep getting advice from so many that don' t have a clue.

    I hope all goes well with you.

  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 5,858
    edited August 2010

    I guess we were all busy this weekend not welcoming our newbee.sorry welcome.we are on call 24/7 usually weekends too..come and visit us often.we have pros on this thread.you are gonna love them.I do

    I wish the best to all of you who are waiting for results&,not feeling to good...I pray for all of you

    God bless.We are the sistas who fight together

    huggggggggggs

    K

  • patoo
    patoo Member Posts: 5,243
    edited August 2010

    Hi granny - how's everything going for you?

  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 5,858
    edited August 2010

    HI PATOO

    I think its finally all coming together thanks to everyone on these boards especially YOU with the 2nd.3rd opinion..its a long story but im straight.goin for surgery sept20th for the rest of the nodes to be removed.I am having it done at the Jacqueline Wiletz breast center in Long branch NJ.All my drs are connected there and they all know each other.

    IM glad to see your face again.You make me smile

    God bless.

    sending you a giant huggggggggggggggggggg

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 9,611
    edited August 2010

    Hi granny..Im so glad all the confusion is coming to an end.

    And you know where you stand.

    Hugs

  • o2bhealthy
    o2bhealthy Member Posts: 1,089
    edited August 2010

    Sheila - how was your appt today?

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 9,611
    edited August 2010

    Michelle...thanks for asking it was fine and again I wasn't really expecting anything.

    He examined me (my 5th breast exam since the beginning of the year with different Doctors. Since Self exam gives me so much anxiety especially When I'm not even sure what I'm suppose to feel.... between oncologist, Gyn, GP, BS I get a professional exam.

    How are you?

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