CALLING ALL STAGE I SISTERS
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Just a quick drive by to say "helllloooo" and "good night"!
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Nice new pic, o2bhealthy.
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Hi sisters. I'm new to this thread. I'm stage 1, 0 nodes;100% ER and 98% PR, post menop and somewhere between grade 1 &2 (because two masses). I posted similar note in 2010 sisters then found the Stage 1 group and thought you may have had this discussion with your oncologists
Today was first visit to the Onc. I was expecting her to say with my pathology that I need to take hormone blocker (chemo not indicated). I was correct on that count - no surprises. But here is what is completely different. Both the surgeon who did my excisional biopsy and the breast surgeon who did my mastectomy gave me the same recurrence figures when I was making surgery decision. Survival rate is the same whether you choose lumpec/rads or a mastectomy. Recurrence somewhat lower in mastectomy (about 1%) than lump/rads (anywhere 5 - 10%). So, that has been my understanding about recurrence rates. Today, Onc. said recurrence rate after lump/rads OR mastectomy WITHOUT hormone blocker is 20-30%. WITH hormone blocker, it would be half or 10-15%.
These recurrence rates seem to be moving targets. Anybody have a clearer picture?
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Hi Cookie
Did you have the oncotype dx test? That seems to help make the chemo decision. Our dx are close but not exact and my bs said before my surgery no way would i need chemo but after the surgery they did the onco test and my number was 24. That is a middle of the road number. Higher than my oncologist expected so i choose chemo. For me i wanted to know that i did everything i could to prevent reacurance. I did tcx4 and now i start rads on Tuesday that will go until December (35x's). It is a very personal decision and the onco test really helped me.
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Betsy - see, that's what worries me! My onc said it would be 'highly unlikely' that I would score high on oncotype test. If they don't do the test, then how do they know!!! I think I'll go for a second onc opinion on all of this.
I asked her how the cancer could come back if it had not spread to nodes and no lymph-vascular invasion. She said even if sentinal node(s) are clear and no LVI - there are other nodes scattered around the chest where it could have spread or into blood stream. That's the very scary part.
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I would want the test..If your insurance does'nt cover it the onco website has info on them helping with the fee.You have to do what is right for you but if the test is available why not do it? Like i said in my other post we expect my score to be around 13 and it was 24. Good luck and let me know what your Dr has to say....
xoxo
Betsy
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Hi Betsy P
I see that you are from Plymouth ma so am I. Are you receiving treatment at Jordan Hospital. We have very similar dx and I was told the exact same thing by my bs.I was told my onco dx would be most likely 0. I am currently doing TC x 4-6. then 35 rads and tamoxifan.
would love to hear more from you.
Pink hugs
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Janet - I felt like it was all a mixed bag of percentages and when each doctor gave me their prognosis, it was nothing but confusing to me. If it would rest your mind better, then go for that second opinion. My onc did not do the oncotype test b/c of my family history he advised not "wasting money" on the test when his opinion was to have chemo and kill those rogue cells ... even if the nodes that were removed were clear, others could have escaped. My new onc (since I moved from NJ to VA) told me she would have done the oncotype test. So who knows? I don't regret the chemo (she says bravely now that it's over). I did TC 4 times every two weeks.
You're in my prayers for this discernment!
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Statistics can be so confusing. My last visit with my Onc's NP she said that she could just about say I was back in the 1 in 8 catagory. (See chart below) Well, the way I see it, the one in eight is for a lifetime and I have already had my dance with it, so I am going to say I am done! So hard to discern what statistics reall mean. I would rather go with comparing which tx has better success, and not go by the numbers themselves.
Probability of Developing Breast Cancer Within the Next 10 years
By age 20 1 out of 1,760
By age 30 1 out of 229
By age 40 1 out of 69
By age 50 1 out of 42
By age 60 1 out of 29
By age 70 1 out of 27
Lifetime 1 out of 80 -
Hi I am doing my treatment at the jordan...maybe we have run across each other. I alway's did my chemo on monday's but went in every other day for hydration. I had Dr.Tito for my bs and Dr.geurivich as my onco. I love her!! I love everyone there... They are all so awesome. I live in Manomet. My Son goes to South and my oldest graduated from there. Tell me about you...Maybe we can get together. I am doing the Making strides walk tommorow down the Cape with my team "Betsy's Bitches". I look forward to hearing from you. Hope all is well!
xoxo
Betsy
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BetsyP - We have same diagnosis and score. Here is what I understand about the percentages - most of those charts assume you are doing hormone blockers. I just looked at ALL my printed percentages and they do assume a hormone blocker and without mastectomy, they do assume radiation....I think this is the same thing you would find ify ou tried cancermath.net, that they assume certain things....
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Hi Betsy
wow who knows we probably have passed each other considering i feel like I live at the Jordan.I have Dr. Tito also.Not sure how I feel about her. She is the one that always seems so sure about herself and dx and then disappoints me and my family. I like her well enough to stay with her just have to know ahead of time that she is not always right.
As for my onco I had Dr. Hochstin.I saw him once and he is out with a back injury so I had to meet with Dr koomey the day before chemo began. It has been a little bit of an upset for me at Jordan.I do love all the nurses and the breast center.
Have you already finished your chemo.I just had number 2. I have hopefully only 2 more. Dr. hochstin said 6 but Dr. koomey says 4. I want to get it done before Hochstin comes back so its only 4.I have my next one on the 26th which is a monday. I am not looking forward to it I'm just starting to feel better. UGH I really hate the chemo,it makes me feel 100 years old.
That walk sounds great. Im looking to do the avon 2 dayin Boston in May but it depends how I feel. have to have another MRI after chemo to review some other issues I may have.It seems it never ends.
I am going to the Pink PJ party at the Radisson in Plymouth in a couple weeks how about you?
Lets stay in touch.
Vickie
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Welcome Vickie and Betsey! Hope all goes well with your treatments. Ask the questions away!! I personally can't answer regarding chemo and breast cancer. I had chemo back when I was 16 and took 8 rounds that was 30 yrs ago and it is so much different now. I know I was sick everyday... Yuck! There are many ladies on here that have recently gone through chemo and taxol with their breast cancer and are very knowledgeable. I did have radiation though and hated every moment of it. But I guess I would do it again in a heart beat to be here for my family, just like all of you. So big HUGS!!!
Hey Michelle (O2 be healthy) I love your new pic!!
Sheila and Val jean missed you again
Maybe one of these days I'll catch you girls. Love to you all and by the way... "Roll Tide Roll"!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Renee
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Renee and Val...Lets make an appt tonight at 10 or 11 I will be closely watcing the thread.
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Michelle as usual another angelic photo of yours.
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To All New Sisters.
Hugs and Good Luck with your ongoing treatments.
Sheila♥
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Betsy
Did you ever go to the cancer society look good feel good program at jordan?
Vickie
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onestep......Good Luck on your surgery Monday.
I will be thinking of you.
((((♥HUGS♥))))
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Its 10 o'clock I kept my appointment.
((Renee and Val))
Are you thereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
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Can you see me now? Its 5 after 10............
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Hi Vickie...Yes i did do it...it was sometime in July, it was great because i needed all the help i could get with the make up thing anyway!! I don't know if you meet the girl with the red wig and glasses in your comings and goings at the cancer center but she was in the class. I also got some help from the Ellie fund, they bring me food that is allready prepared and all i have to do is cook it. They also give me stop and shop cards. The people at the Ellie fund are great. I pick the food off this great menu and they deliver it once a month. I am a single parent with two teenage boy's and they can eat and most of the time the last thing i wanted to do was make dinner and now i just have to put it in the oven. You know i kinda feel the same about Dr.Tito....promising no chemo then oh well you need the chemo. How do you like the Dr who took over from Dr. Hochstein? My brother-in-law see's him for a blood disorder and is pissed that he kinda just left although i think people were prepared for this to come sooner or later. Hope all is well....talk to you soon
Betsy
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Vickie Yes i did finish my chemo and i start rads on Tuesday morning.
Betsy
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Thanks for the avatar kudos...it is one of my favorite post treatment mother/daughter pictures.
Have a GREAT night everyone!!!
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11:23PM nobody showed up.
Maybe tomorrow night?????
Hugs♥
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Hi Michelle...Its always nice to see you.
♥
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It is really a wonderful feeling when we love our doctors. I know I love mine. All my doctors were on the same page with each other and agreed with all the decisions they made and I 100% trust them. I don't see my rad onc anymore, I stopped soon after rads that was my onc decision.
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Sorry I missed you, Sheila. Didn't see your post about it until just now. Was not on today. Still getting caught up from my trip. I'll be on tomorrow night at 11:00 or a bit after. Hope to see you!
Welcome Betsy ~ hope your upcoming Rads goes smoothly for you - it really does go by quickly. Be sure to use whatever creams the Rads Onc &/or nurse suggests - I swear by 100% Aloe Vera that I got at Meijer, Wal-Mart also has. I put some on before I got dressed to leave the Hospital right after each TX. When I started to burn near the end during the boosts, I used the Silvadeen (prescription) they gave me. Really helps.
Welcome Janet & Vickie.
{{hugs}}
♥
edited to add for Michelle ~ I really like your new avatar. It's a beautiful picture!
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Good Morning Ladies...
well i'm off to the cape for the making strides walk and my team mates are dropping like flies....(sorry if innapropriate)lol...Everyone is getting sick and i"m the one with cancer! Oh well.....It's 4 miles and i'm lucky i can walk to the mail box on a good day. Wish me luck and i will let you all know how it goes.. Have a good day all.
Betsy
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Betsy
I was at that class. I sat next eo the girl with the red wig. I sat right across from you I think. My daughter was with me. Leslie is a fried of mine. I had just had my surgery a few days before and felt akward cause I hadn't started any treatment yet and at that moment thought chemo was not in the cards for me. I f that was you then we also have passed a few times at the hospital. You were also getting fluids in the chair next to me with one of your sons one day. i think I was there for my first treatment.
What are the odds we would find each other on these boards. I have to tell you my docs don't approve of these boards but I like going on them I think it helps to hear from others in our same world.
I'm glad I'm not alone about Tito. She is taking over for Zazz and heading the center. I have to have a 3rd MRI when I'm done with chemo because the radiologiss and an outside source sees something they feel needs to be biosied and Tito is so sure its nothing.that worries me a little. I would have had a MX but she never gve me an option other than lumpectomy then found a second nodule and there was a question on a dirty margain and she insisted it wasn't. I hope this is a time when being so sure of herself pays off.
I was told Dr. Hochstin has a back injury and will be coming back but not sure when. To be honest I like Dr. Koomey better.They said I would go back to doc Hochstin when he comes back but I told them why would I when Koomey has seen me through all this.
Who is your rad onco? I won't start r ads till december.
I am going to be at the hospital on tuesday for blood work How about you?I hope to run into you soon. Lets stay in touch.
Have a great walk!
Vickie
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