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CALLING ALL STAGE I SISTERS

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Comments

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

    I also want to welcome several new sisters to our group:

    Carrol2 ~ Here's hoping for a low Oncotype Dx score, so you will not have to do chemo. I had a 14, so it would not have benefited me much.

    ishobie ~ I am glad your tx is almost over. I commend your strength.

    albertha ~ Congrats on being a bit more than 3 years out! Laughing

    theresap60 ~ Sometimes I still get into the "information overload" phase & I have to pull myself back a bit. I am sure you will have much to share here with this supportive group of lovely ladies. "Survival mode", yeah, I didn't think of calling it that, but you're right.

    {{a big welcome hug to all ♥}}

  • inthepink49
    inthepink49 Member Posts: 49
    edited August 2010

    elimar - you are so right I feel the same way. I haven't found out my treatment yet. Most likely rads and tamox . As soon as the family hears probably no chemo they change their tune. As if this is going to be easy. Easier ,maybe yeas but easy no! I am so thankful for these boards because they do help to have others in our shoes to relate and "talk" to.

    Its nice to be busy to keep our minds off BC for awhile here and there but it doesn't change the fact that when we wake up each day(that is even if we can sleep) and it is still there.As tme goes on my family has adjusted to it but maybe too much.I kinda liked the added help and attention. I guess we have to look the part of a cancer patient to get the attention.Sometimes it just plain sucks.

    Ok thats enough of my negative thoughts but just knowing I'm not alone feeling this way helps.

    I wish everyone great energy for the day and upcoming days:)

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

    ((((albertha))))   ((((theresap60))))

    Smile

  • onestep
    onestep Member Posts: 106
    edited August 2010

    I am new to the site and it is very informative and comforting to read so many great perspectives. I have recently been diagnosed with IDC, 1cm, stage 1, grade 2, er+, pr-, her2+. I have had a lumpectomy which did not get all clear margins (2 of the 6 sides needed to get clearer margins as they showed DCIS). Last week I had surgery to try to clear the 2 margins, but the pathology came back with DCIS and a small amount of IDCIS. I am trying to decide if I should go for the mastectomy, double mastectomy or surgery to try to clear the margins again. 

  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 10,618
    edited August 2010

    Onestep, welcome.  As we say, we are sorry that you have to join us, but glad you have.  You have a lot to consider and discuss with your treatment team.  I cannot say what you should do, but we are here to support you as you make your decision.

    Meece

  • onestep
    onestep Member Posts: 106
    edited August 2010

    Thanks Meece. Any support is very appreciated. Has anyone experienced this similar step in the process? I am also wondering if others have had a PET scan at this point or not as well.

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

    Welcome onestep....Our DX are kind of similar, I also had a lumpectomy and re excision but the second one gave me clear margins.

    Its difficult when you have to make a choice between treatments.

    I wish you the best for whatever you decide.

    One more thing you can only post 5 times in 24 hours until you reach 50 posts.

    You can Private message as many times as you need by clicking on antibody's name or avatar and follow the instructions.

    Good Luck to you♥

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

    today is world cancer day.i just saw this on facebook

    I PRAY FOR A CURE FOR CANCER.AMEN.

    im posting it everywhere.God bless us all.

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

    onestep - I have a similar dx...IDC and DCIS, ER+ PR- HER2+

    I never even considered a lumpectomy and went straight for the bilateral mx with recon (TE to Implants).   Do you know what your treatment plan is going to be yet??? Feel free to PM (private message me) if you want to chat.

    Best Wishes and ((((HUGS))))

  • seasheleyes
    seasheleyes Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2010

    I hesitate to add my note... because I'm a Stage 1 sister that may be launched into Stage 4 next week. I'm hoping with my whole being that it isn't so- I'm very frightened. I had everything going for me in the cancer battle- no nodes, low grade, minimal invasion. I fell a month ago and injured a vertabrae. The MRI of my back said "High possibility of bone metastasis"... So now I have a PET scan scheduled for next Tuesday in SF. I was so sure that I'd never face this. I hate this cancer...

    Julia in California

  • ladysingstheblues
    ladysingstheblues Member Posts: 2
    edited August 2010

    Hello everyone

    I am stage 1 and just finished 4 cycles of TCH. I was supposed to do six but my onkologist advised me to stop at 4 due to the fact that i was having a hard time on it and that the last 2 would carry too much toxicity for little benefit. Any one of you out there had the same experience. I will continue with herceptin for the next year.  i had a double mastectomy as i had DCIS in my right breast and DCIS plus an invasive component in the left breast.  would love to hear if any of you had similar circumstance and how you feel.

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

    seasheleyes....Welcome and I hope they are wrong about your could me mets DX.

    Until they tell you for sure you are stage I. Waiting is so difficult.

    Good Luck and please report back.

    ladysingstheblues...welcome I don't have similar circ with your treatment. But I also am triple+ and our DX are also very similar. I did A/C and Taxol with Herceptin.

    I'm here if you have any questions.

    Sheila

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

    good morning sistas

    i see 2 more newbees.DEAR GOD THIS TURNS MY STOMACH.

    God bless all of you.We will beat this thing.Lets have a group hugggggggggggggg.I need it too.

    K

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

    Yes granny I agree with you.

  • elimar
    elimar Member Posts: 5,890
    edited August 2010

    seashelleyes, we all carry that fear around with us.  It can get pushed back, way back into the far corner of our minds but I think even the so-called "cured" Stage 1s have it with them for the rest of their lives. We 100% understand your fright.

    On the hopeful side, those MRIs are pretty sensitive and so many ladies have had something "light up" that turned out to be nothing at all.  I hope that is the case for you. 
  • don23
    don23 Member Posts: 213
    edited August 2010

    seashelleyes - I think we all fear the same thing. Everyone thinks because we are early stagers we have nothing to worry about. It is always in the back of our minds. I am hoping that this turns out to be nothing at all! I will keep you in my thoughts. Do let us know how things go.

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

    Julia (seasheleyes) ~ I feel your fear.....I didn't join this group right after it was started because I was waiting for test results of a bone scan due to an MRI that had "two areas of abnormal signal within the sternum (that) may indicate metastatic bone disease." I was so damn scared. The bone scan showed no evidence of the SFBC.

    Please know that you have been in my thoughts today & I am crossing every finger & toe that the results will show nothing as well. Please be sure to let us know, we are here for you no matter what.

    {{love & hugs}}

    Valerie  ♥ 

  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 925
    edited August 2010

    Julia~ I hope your bone scan shows nothing....

    So I haven't checked in a while and figured that I should.  I am getting ready to have to go thru a bone scan because I came off of the bone trial.  I HATE that test :(  The wait is horrible :(.....and the wait afterwards is just as bad....:(

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

    Jaimieh...Nice to see you. What is bone trial?

  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 10,618
    edited August 2010

    Onestep, I had lumpectomy the went through the gammut of tests, EKG, CTs, PET, and I can't even remember what else.  It was a whirlwind week of tests.  Then I started chemo. 

    Seasheleyes, this is a great place to yell "I HATE THIS CANCER!!"  We all do, and we all understand the fear you are experiencing.

    Ladysingstheblues, sorry to meet you under these circumstances.

    Winnie the Pooh Group Hug Pictures, Images and Photos

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

    Welcome Julia and Ladysings... - well, maybe not 'welcome' in the usual sense but you are among a great set of ladies.  Julia, we are all waiting for your tests/results so you are definitely not alone.  Hugs.

  • jmorrow
    jmorrow Member Posts: 6
    edited September 2010

    Hello! I am 45 and stage 1 BC. I dont know alot of the terms and abbreviations yet. In fact I just wrote on the wrong post...I guess it was like stage 4 or 5 and got told about it. I am so sorry. I was just wondering if you girls have a hard time with the whole eating thing? I have only had 1 chemo treatment so far(last week) I dont feel terrible but wonder if this will get worse as I have more treatments? Im scared to death ...have been reading these posts for about a month and finally got the nerve to post. Thanks for listening!

  • jmorrow
    jmorrow Member Posts: 6
    edited September 2010

    Hello! I am 45 and stage 1 BC. I dont know alot of the terms and abbreviations yet. In fact I just wrote on the wrong post...I guess it was like stage 4 or 5 and got told about it. I am so sorry. I was just wondering if you girls have a hard time with the whole eating thing? I have only had 1 chemo treatment so far(last week) I dont feel terrible but wonder if this will get worse as I have more treatments? Im scared to death ...have been reading these posts for about a month and finally got the nerve to post. Thanks for listening!

  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 10,618
    edited September 2010

    Welcome, jmorrow.  You found the right place.  Unfortunately it may get worse as the tx goes on.  I am going to post a link to the abbreviations thread.  It is a great resource when you are new...and even when you aren't.  We banter around there but the info at the top of the page is wonderful.

    I didn't feel bad all of the time, usually after a couple of days post chemo, and definietly after my Nuelasta injection.  As I have said before, I wish I had known about BCOrg back then.

  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 10,618
    edited September 2010
  • jmorrow
    jmorrow Member Posts: 6
    edited September 2010

    Oh wow thank you so much...that really helps. I just learned that my treatment is AC. I have papers here with drug names but didnt really get it...sounds dumb huh? anyway thanks again!

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

    Welcome jmorrow....Even tho everybody reacts differently I was on AC and I got sick by day 4.

    Few days later I was feeling better just in time for to get another round.

    If you get mouth sores thats when eating became almost impossible so I lived on high calorie shakes .

    It will pass.

    Are you getting a different chemo when you are done with this one?

    how about HER2 status?

    We are here to answer most of your questions if we have an answer for it.

    One more thing you can only post 5 times a day until you reach 50 posts. You can Private Message by clicking on anybody's name or avatar and follow instructions very easy..

    Good Luck to you.

  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 10,618
    edited September 2010

    jmorrow, A hint.  Ask if you can have a popsicle when you are getting the "A" of your AC.  It is supposed to help prevent mouth sores, and I had a popsicle every time and did not get a single mouth sore.

    Seyla's is correct.  PMs help save your ability for general posts to gather info.  If you have a specific question to a specific member PM is the way to go until you get your 50 posts in.

  • chabba
    chabba Member Posts: 3,600
    edited September 2010

    jmorrow,

    welcome.  Here you will find a group of loving sisters who are great at answering each others questions and just being here for eachother.  I can't help you with your question on chemo as I am rads only.

    As for terms and abreviations, there is a topic here called Abbreviations for newbies.  You can find it under active topics or you can search for htttp://community.breastcancer.org/forum/62/topic/735716?page=46

  • jmorrow
    jmorrow Member Posts: 6
    edited September 2010

    Thanks so much for your replies...I so appeciate it. No mouth sores yet. After 4 AC treatments.. I start Paclitaxel(not sure if theres an abbreviation) Just going by the papers my onc gave me. I didnt seem to have any SE from the nulasta shot the day after. I read that some people have alot of pain. My diet pepsi and coffee taste terrible...mostly drinking water now. Milkshakes taste good too. I took some time off from work...not sure if thats a good thing or not really. But I work in a hot factory and thought a break might be a good thing til I get used to this. Itrs so nice to talk to people with the same issues. Thanks again!