CALLING ALL STAGE I SISTERS
Comments
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I am so sorry, jp. What a bummer. I guess you need to gather all the info and weigh the pros and cons. Best wishes with this difficult decision.
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I would ask your BS. I think I would probably go for the 3rd surgery. I had DCIS also that was not seen on the mam. I went for a re-excision and got clean margins. No lymphatic invasion and no nodes involved. If your breast later on just doesn't look right you can always talk about reconstruction.
But that is up to you.
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Wow! I just hopped on to check in quickly and I will write in detail later, but I have to say thank you for all the words of encouragement from so many of you as I get minded for the start of treatment. You all are wonderful and amazing. I feel very blessed.
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jp so sorry about the unclear margins... I had DCIS to that didn't show up on my mammo. I was so glad that I only had to do surgery once and my breast surgeon was able to get clear margins. I can only imagine having to make the decision you are facing. My plastic surgeon was very concerned with the 39 rads txts I had my breast would become a hard brick and he has recommended a mast for me all year, but I wouldn't give in and now my breast is softening up. Like several have said it is a very personal decision. I will be saying a prayer for you.
Valjean you are so right... I am one busy lady. It seems all I do is work and come home and cook and clean up the mess. On the weekends I am so tired but laundry has to be done. LOL! My house has a very cluttered look going on right now. I have so many baby things that need storing or gotten rid of. I just gave away a pile of baby clothes that were my granddaughters.
onestep good luck and continued prayers as you get ready to start your treatrment
Renee
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jp- So sorry you did not get clear margins. That sucks! Load up on information and then weigh the pros and cons. It's a personal decision and you will do what is best for you. We have enough on our plates without something else getting pushed on it.
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as always this thread is sooo busy.as you see i missed the reunion.damn.im sick and tired of being sick and tired.hope i make the next one.this year was the worst year of my life.cannot wait for it to end.
thank God for my sistas on BCO.I dont know where i would have been if it wasnt for all of your support,love,prayers and PM.Thank you and God bless.
Ray im sayin an extra prayer for your DD.breathe,,,
to all my other sistas I love all of you...hugggggggggs K
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I don't know if anyone has tried it yet but there is a chat room here on BCO, I joined it before I came on the boards. In 2008 we all decided to have a meet and greet and since the girls are all over the US and Canada we met in Las Vegas. Met 27 of the most awesome gals from the chat room it is a time to remember. We have lost 3 of them and I think about those ANGELS often and wonder how their families are doing without them.
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raincity - a couple of weeks ago you mentioned that you were going to talk to your onco about staying with chemo or not. I know I'm prying, but did you have that converstation and if so how did it go?
to all: I am still waiting for my onco test results. At my first meeting with the onco he told me that my rate of recurrence is the same if I do chemo or just tamox. Today I heard through the nurse that "becuase I'm so young" he is leaning towards chemo. She said it was the idea of throwing everything at it as possible because "we like to keep our patients around as long as possible". I haven't talked to the doctor again and as I said I don't have the onco test results. I feel lost and overwhelmed again. Any advice out there? Should we just hang tight till the onco results and go with whatever that says? Should I get a second opinion? Am I missing something?
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jp sorry to hear the news. Way the pros and cons and read all you can. It is a personal decision that only you can make. You will make the right decision for you.
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boatergrl I will PM you about that convo....
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OK - thanks!
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Deb - I have tried to get into the chat room and just can't figure it out!
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Hi,
Raj, I just was reading back a few pages and came upon your post. I find your attitude amazing. I am happy you are coming up to your five years soon. It is super.
Rae, I am praying each day for your DD.
Grannydukes, I hope you feel better soon. I know you will. Hang in there. You are great and as always thanks for your words.
Jo, You're so almost done! You hang in there. You are in a good place with only a couple more rads left. You can do it. I know you can. I can hear it in your posts that you write.
Seyla, Thank you for all your support that is at the right time and from the heart. In answer to your question treatment is at a hospital.
Boatergirls and Oakley, I am thinking of you both and praying as you make the right decisions. I know you will do what is right for you. We have some similarities in type of cancer, but I am her2+ and I can say that I chose the treatment (chemo and herceptin) because of this. It is great that you do not have the her2+. As long as the onc agrees that you do not have to rush the treatment then take your time with this decision. The right thing to do will come as you talk to a couple opinions.
raincity,Thank you for helping me the list of things to bring to treatment. I will do that.
mimi, Sounds like you did well shopping on Black Friday. I got a couple items, but I mostly shop that day for fun.
Catbill, Thanks for your additional recommendations for my list.
Meece, Thanks for your tips and item to add to the bag.
Valjean-Start listening because I am going with your motto, "I am woman, hear me roar."
Donna-You are inspirational in your posts. Congrats on completing your recon. Yeah!
jp3-I am praying for you as you decide what is best for you. I have to tell you I had a reexcision and then a mx, but I did not know what to do. It takes a little time. One thing I remember thinking that someone told me to do was to think how great it is that it is not in the lymph nodes and that is great. Keep your mind open. You will get there and know the right choice.
I am falling asleep! Good night.
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(((((jp))))) I had a bmx so I don't have any words of wisdom just wanted to send some hugs
boatgirl - I hated hearing 'but your just so young'... I guess was blessed with being HER2+++ because that meant automatic chemo. I wish you the best and am praying for LOW onco score.
((((onestep))))
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RCG...Im not a chat person but I was there once or twice. Follow the instro...
The top of the page where it says chat room click on that.
On the next page put your screen name and password and click.
You are already on the chat page.
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jp....Im sorry about the result. My re excision had clear margins. I don't know what I would've done but BS said I was a good candidate for lumpectomy because the size of my breast. He had plenty of room to work on it.
That is a choice unfortunately that you have to make.
We are all behind you.
Hugs
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onestep...The reason I asked for the location was because I also chose my local Hospital's Infusion Room. My Oncologist was also given chemo in the office. i found it to be very lonely.
I was provided by pillows, blankets. juices and lunch time we were included to get lunch or later dinner.
The experience emotionally was very satisfactory. i knew one of the nurses.
You'll be fine. Hugs
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(((Michelle))) (((granny)))
(((Hugs)))
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{{{{{{ jp3 ~ boatergrl }}}}} I am so sorry you are in the position of having to wrestle with a decision of this enormity. Sending you tons of strength to get through it. ♥
grannyD ~ Oh, my dear sister, you have had quite a year ~ Sending you loads of hugs. You are strong, you always have such a positive, "we will get through this" attitude, you will get through this god-awful time yourself. Lean on us! ♥
onestep ~ So very thoughtful of you to comment on all of our posts, that is so sweet! {hugs} ♥
(((Michelle ~ How are you healing? Is the swelling going down?)))
(((Sheila)))
(((Renee)))
Strength & Hope to all of you.
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Good morning,
Thanks Seyla. I just checked the appointment card and it does say infusion room. I am happy about that given what you mentioned. Have a good day. Peace of mind to you with the eye spots. I have to admit that I had to laugh with the post that had the description of thinking it was a bird coming at you while playing tennis. All I could think of was... It's a bird, it's a plane, no, it's white (black) spots on the eye!
Laughter can be the best medicine.Michelle, How are you? I hope you are taking it slow. Talk to you soon. Strength to you. Hugs!
I second, Valjean on this morn, Strength and Hope to all!
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Ladies - thanks for your concern for my DD. I haven't heard from her again so she is obviously not panicking about it so I have managed to calm down somewhat and am in wait mode. Will be relieved when we have gone to the doctor though.
jp - this is an unexpected bump in the road but don't let it slow you down. You need to get that BC out of you as soon as possible. Best of luck with your pros and cons and throw in some gut feeling for good measure. I followed my gut feeling and chose bmx although BS recommended lumpectomy and am glad I did because post op path report showed extensive LCIS outside the main tumour so I would have had to have mx anyway.
onestep - will be thinking of you on Friday, well it will be Saturday for me, but I will be thinking of you and hoping the reality if your first treatment is not as bad as you expect.
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RCG, I have gone into the chat rooms many times, but there has never been anyone there. When you log in, you are out of the threads. Just follow the instructions at the top of this page, maybe we could schedule a time and see how it works since I have never actually chatted. Guess i could have, but would have to reply to myself.
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rae, I just read back about your daughter. It is very unlikely to be cancer. It IS very likely to be a fibroadenoma. That is common for the young. Especially young and on The Pill. They can show up "overnight" or what seems like it anyway, and they can be painful too. They used to do excisional biopsies and remove them, but now sometimes they are just watched, or biopsied with a needle if needed.
It's not too long after we get breasts than we find out all the things that can go "wrong" with them. Sheeeeesh!
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onestep...My hospital provided all. I didn't want to misinform you that every Hospital does.
Good Morning everyone
To Be Cont........................
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Sheila - thanks so much for the Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah pics - so much nicer than the generic 'happy holidays'
Sorry for those wrestling with margins - my 1st lumpectomy wasn't clear either and doc told me no guarantees the 2nd time around. So did a lot of research & chose mastectomy. Good thing - there were tiny little foci scattered around - some as small as 1mm that would have been missed even if margins of the 1st mass were clear. I suppose rads are supposed to zap the leftovers, but for me the mastectomy gave me peace of mind. My path was IDC with 'lobular features' and probably why it never showed up on mammos (gyn thought he felt thickening after clear mammo & sent for US).
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Janet, good thing your Gyno was on top of things.
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Eli - thank you for your info!!! She said it came up really quickly, was hard and was sore when she squeezed it but that it is not so sore now. Hmmmm... she is very careful and proud of her slim, athletic body - will be interesting to see how she reacts if she has to have surgery or on going screening.0
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Oh to be young again and get the chance to experience vanity, I just take for granted what I have left and hope it stays there.
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((((Onestep))))
Hugs for tomorrow. We will be in the room with you.
And its okay to be nervous.
♥
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Hi all, Thanks for all your reassuring words. I've been in the "swamp" all day, I'm sure you know the feeling, heavy weight, zero motivation. Finally rallied long enough to do a little research on mastectomy with vs without reconstruction. Leaning toward simple mastectomy as reconstruction looks like a major ordeal. If I miss "her" too much I can always have reconstruction in the future after completing treatment. I'll know more after meeting my onc.
Thanks again to all of you who've gone before me; your knowledge, experience and wisdom are priceless. Reminds me of my time working in labor and delivery assisting and supporting women through the fear and pain of child birth.
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