CALLING ALL STAGE I SISTERS
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Oh Michelle, I am sending you warm, virtual (((HUGS))) and want you to know I am there with you holding your hand anytime you need me. And so are all your sisters here.
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Michelle - I am so sorry to hear that news. You know that there are many woman here to help you get through it and support you. What is the next step?
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I am not sure what the next steps are...I know I will have to meet with a surgeon to decide on what type of surgery (remove all the thyroid or partial), then it is most likely on to iodine radiation (an oral radiation) then synthetic thyroid hormones... Luckily this is a very slow growing cancer since my co-worker is at this minute waking up from her bariatric (?sp) surgery and will be gone for two weeks at the minimum. I need to research more and find the best surgeon possible...I am already tired and we haven't even begun this fight...ughhhhhhhhhhhhh
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Michelle, my prayers are with you. The others who have spoken before me have expressed my feelings and my wishes for you so well that all I can do is echo them. We are all here for each other.
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Just more {{{HUGS}}} for you Michelle. You need all you can get. And I have plenty.
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Michelle I am so very sorry to hear about the fact that you have thyroid cancer, but know that you are in my prayers and this is a very treatable condition. I am believing with you that you are going to do fine. I only have 1/2 of my thyroid and take a thyroid supplement everyday. It stinks to have to always take pills but if it keeps us ticking then do it we must.
Grannydukes and Sheila I'm very glad to hear about your wonderful news now chemo and good lab values are always a plus.
Tomorrow is my one year cancerversary... Woo Hoo!!! What a year it has been. I can't believe it's been a whole year since I had my partial mastectomy, where has the time gone? Without the love and support of you wonderful ladies on here I honestly wouldn't have made it through this ordeal. You have been such a source of inspiration and knowledge to me and held my hand via cyber space when I needed and cried with me when I was feeling blue and Sheila and Val... Oh my gosh what can I say about you two! Ya'll are just two of best friends anyone could ever ask for. Thanks so much Ladies for being there through thick and think for all of us.
Renee
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thank you my friends/sistas for all your kind words and support through this long year.without all of your help i dont think i would have done this well.i luv all of you.
michelle...all i can say is IM SORRY.we are here for you 24/7.Thank God its not Mets.Thyroid cancer is very treatable....will be prayin for you daily..God bless
BTW the dr called and offered me rads.5x a week for 6 weeks.i told her are you kidding me.NO.NO NO. the aromasin is enough if i even do that which i probably have to.
hugggggggggggggs to everyone.all my love
K
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Oh Renee...Your words touched my soul.
I love you too my sister/friend ♥
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(((Michelle))))
((((granny))))
Hugs and more hugs to each and everyone of you.
Good Night
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Big hugs for you, Michelle! One step at a time.....you can do this! I have a friend that had thyroid cancer several years ago and she's doing fine! She had breast cancer after the thyroid cancer! It's not your choice, I know, but you can be sure we'll be here for you.
Go granny! So glad for no chemo for you! It's do-able, but better to not need it!
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Renee, my dear sister/friend,
You have touched my heart. ♥
I am so proud of you, you have come so far. You give so much to your family & friends, you work so hard. (slow down a bit, girlfriend, you're making me look bad.
Love & hugs,
Val
♥ ♥ ♥
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Renee ~
on your one year cancerversary! Wow, what a year, huh?
May you have many, many more!
{{{{{ ♥hugs♥}}}}}
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grannyD ~
I'm on Aromasin, so if you decide to go ahead with that, maybe I can answer any questions you may have.
{{hugs}}
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Michelle - I had thyroid papillary cancer when I was 20!! Now I'm in late 50s! It is one of the least aggressive & easiest cancers to treat. I only had surgery and take thyroid replacement pills each day.
There appears to be a genetic link or predisposition - thyroid/breast cancer. Cleveland Clinic is doing a study and you can get the PTEN test free that checks for that gene (no matter where you live). If you have a genetic counseling/testing service at your hospital or cancer center, you should ask. If you do have the gene and have children, they should be monitored more closely for thyroid and avoid Xrays - even at dentist office. And, EVERYONE - when you do have Xrays, ask for a thyroid guard. Radiologists never offer that - you have to ask. It's like a lead collar that protects the thyroid from radiation.
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Hello, ladies I think I am stage 1, but am not sure...had a 1.5 cm, don't know the grade, they called it "garden variety" cancer. ER+ HER2-, 0/2 nodes, no invasion
Second time around, both times node negative and tho this one was invasive type, it had not gone anywhere. They speculate that since it was only found by MRI, (did not have one in 2001), that it was a tiny piece they missed that first go round that was held in check by the tamoxifen. One year later, it had grown, and the MRI found it, tho the mammo was still negative.
Since I had had rads 1st time at bat, they gave me CMF chemo this time, 8 txtmnts, lupron shots to let me have arimidex,since I'd already had 5 years of tamoxifen 1st time, then I opted for an ooph/hys and stopped the Lupron.
So far, so good, 3 years out from diagnosis, but two times weary of this....had a skin sparing mastectomy w/recon this time (same boob, and PS fixed some issues with the previous lumpectomy) and now I am gearing myself up as I want to do a prophy. I sure wish I'd done both of them the first time!
So I think I belong here..........??
Good luck to all of you.
xoxo
annie
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Hi, ladies.
I was recently diagnosed with Grade 1 IDC. I had a lumpectomy Wednesday, and at the time of surgery, the sentinel node appeared clear. Pathology today confirmed removal of a 8mm tumor with clear margins, ER/PR +, HER2 -, but also showed a .04 "micromet" in the sentinel node. I was so happy til that last bit - now it has me down and worried about how much more extensive treatment will be, plus the odds of distant mets. Surgeon said stage 1b. Will be meeting with two different oncologists over the next two weeks, but would love to hear encouragement from those of you who have dealt with similar diagnoses.
Thanks!
Julie
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Hi Annie and hi Julie! Welcome to our little place. Wish none of us were here but we are so hugs all around! Julie, I am in the same boat as you, my tumor was 1.8 cm with a micromet in one node. I had the oncotype and it came in 17 so I chose no chemo. I did rads and the onc wants me on Arimidex but I am dragging my feet. Feeling fine with a new diet and tons of great supplements.
Ask for the Oncotype test.
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Thanks, Barbara - that's the kind of stuff I need to hear. I'm interested in diet, too, if you have any time to share recommendations. I will ask for the Oncotype test. As you say, not a club I wanted to join, but am confident of wonderful company here.
Julie
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Hi Annie and Julie,
Glad you found us, but sorry for the reason. I agree with Barbara get the Oncotype test. I had a very small tumor, but my test came in at 24 not what was expected. I will be starting one of the AL's in the next few weeks. I am also trying to do a better diet, but was unable to do chemo for health reasons, so feel I must do the AL's.
Karen
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Hi Julie.... Sorry you had to join us but this site has been such a help and these ladies have become people i lean on everyday. You can't help someone if you don't understand what they are going thru!! Do the onco....it's so helpful!
xoxo
Betsy
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Hi Julie,
As the girls mentioned ask for your oncotype test.
My tumour was similiar to yours. 7mm. got clear margins and one node was given the all clear at surgery. When the node came back from more testing showed an isolated tumour cell. My onc said 4 rounds of chemo. He didn't give me an oncotype test. When I asked him on a future visit why I didn't get an oncotype he said that they don't test tiny tumours. I had the 4 rounds of chemo (played competitive golf throughout the ordeal), followed by radiation. When it came to taking the 5 year pill, I had serious problems after 6 months, so looking back it was probably wise for me to have done chemo.
Regards,
Glenis
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painterly,
My tumor was 5mm, and my BS ran the Oncotype test. Wish I had been able to do chemo, had to stop after the first reatment. I'm hoping the 5year pill works for me.
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To All New Sisters.
Sheila
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Thanks, Glenis - your situation does sound very similar to mine. I will ask for the test, and obviously talk over everything with two oncologists in about two weeks. I'm comforted to hear that you played golf at all - much less competitive golf - during chemo. Chemo is much more frightening to me than radiation, for some reason.
Thanks for the feedback.
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Thanks, Betsy!
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Hi ladies ,thank you for the warm welcome, right back at you!!!
I had node negative and an oncotype of 17, but my onc (a VERY conservative guy) gave me chemo, anyway. This was also due to having had rads already, you can't do it twice in the same boob (or foob as the case may be
; it looks alot better than the original girl did anyway)the onc test isn't infallible, but as with all things, it's a helpful indicator of chemo/no chemo. My onc said I was in a grey area (I'm actually not, I'm on the high range of the low scale, which stops at 17) but all things being equal, with node negative and an oncotype of 17, that's pretty good. My tumor was 1.4 cm or something, I wasn't really listening :0.
Hope you all stay v well and it's nice to be here.! I had a lat flap, so if anyone considers that option, I can help with that.
Take care all.
Annie
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oops: I should have added..I was TERRIFIED of chemo..just the name scared me, and I had CMF, a very, very doable regime.
I never got sick even once. I never needed the drugs to help with nausea. I would stay up all the whole night the day of, as the steroids to help with nausea wired me, and then crash the next day. I was a little off for the next day or so, but then felt fine.
I went to a wedding, took a bunch of teenagers on a family vacation, held an open house and grocery shopped. I did not exercise except for small walks and my stationery bike, but everyone tells me that would have actually helped.
I WISH I had had chemo the first time as I am convinced if I had, maybe it wouldn't have come back at me. The only SE I really had was some slight hair thinning unnoticeable to anyone but me, and some heartburn for which I took Prilosec the week of chemo and three days after. Worked like a charm.
I can help anyone with that if they get the CMF. It's an oldie but a proven goodie.
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Hello to Annie and Julie - I am fairly new here myself. I also was not expecting chemo with my findings, but the post surgical path showed a little leg that put me at 1.5cm instead of the 8mm. We did an oncotype and because of the score of 24, I am on CMF. I want to say that Annie is right, CMF is doable, not delightful, but doable. I had my first round on Oct 4/11 and stayed mostly functional, expect the day after. Had some nausea but didn't continue with zofran because it's side effects were not worth it. I turned down steroids on Oct 11 and did fine without. I go back Monday, Nov 1, bummer, but I have to say the last 10 days in particular I have felt quite normal and well.
Like you, I was more afraid of the chemo but the anxiety is actually worse than reality.
Best wishes and may you not need it :
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I turned down the zofran also, I filled the prescription, but I didn't want the SEs. People said it worked wonderfully tho.
My onc also highly reccomended ativan during chemo.
It's only once a month, otherwise, no one knew and life continued as usual. If you can schedule it on a friday afternoon, you will be fine by Monday, most likely.
Best wishes! It will go just fine and you'll be done and on the other side.
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I didn't have a onco score done. Makes me wonder. Too late now.
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