CALLING ALL STAGE I SISTERS
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Thanks Seyla!
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Joni and Michelle I remember the July chemo group. Feels like such a long time ago.
Joni how is Femara treating you, any SE.
I AM SO GRATEFUL TO ALL MY SISTERS DROPPING BY AND FEELING COMFORTABLE.
WE FORMED SUCH A FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE HERE. WE ARE SISTERS FOR DIFFICULT TIMES AND GOOD TIMES.
♥♥SHEILA♥♥
Edited to correct a line
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Welcome back Valerie.
Nicole..HI I'm always missing your posts at night time because of the time difference.
You're Welcome joyjeva if you don't find the right thread to join
you can always come and join us.
Good Night Ladies!
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Hi stage 1 sisters
I have not posted for awhile on this thread but want to ask if any of you are struggling through hormone therapy and if any of you have decided to forego the treatment.
I had chemo and Herceptin, no nodes, no LVI, and my estrogen was 16% borderline.
I have been through the ringer with treatments and one Onc feels Herceptin for me trumps everything and hormone treatment is just a precaustion, but another feels a positive is a positive.
I have been on Femara and Zoladex injections, but really feel the crappy effects of no estrogen.
Tamox is not an option.
Any other thoughts out there? I know there is a Hormones thread but thought I would pose it to any Stage 1 gals with lower risk of recurr. and especially Her2 positive that has Herceptin as well.
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swimangel172
Hello ladies. My name is Gina Carter and I chose to have a mastectomy. I was stage2 grade 1. I chose that option because my cancer was directly over my heart. I was concerned about the effects. I met with the radiologist, plastic surgeon and the general surgeon before I came to my decision. When my surgeon told me I would loose everything I was not on board. My decison came after I spoke with my plasic surgeon. He explained everything that he could do if I chose a masectomy. I saw pictures and that made me feel like I could do this. The radiologist sat with me for a long time but, he really did not give enough information about the SE. I did alot of research and found out that my situation was different because my cancer was so high near my collarbone(I actually thought I had a swollen gland) Rads were right over my heart. I used to joke with some coworkers that by the time I was fifty I want the top half of my boobs back. Little did I know that my journey with BC brought me that because of my decsion to have a unilateral.
I am so glad to see this stage 1 thread because I was feeling a little guilty about my outcomb. Do not get me wrong I am forever grateful to have not done rads or chemo (onco score 18). I went through 1/3 of what women endured. My friend has not been so lucky she started her chemo last month and we were diagnosed 2 weeks apart. Somewhere in the back of my head that voice says my expierence was so positive. I have endured.
I recently joined a breastcancer org at Gilda club in RO. MI. I was planning on attending and hoping to find how people coped with everything. This was before I found out what my treatment was. After I joined I met with my onc. and I did not need chemo. I am on Tamox. I am also in a clinical trial for the bishoshantes. After my meeting with him. I felt kinda funny going to the gildas club. I felt like I was so positive all along and I believe that has helped a great deal. But, for the people at the meetings I felt like they would feel like "of course she is positive...no chemo...no rads. So, to say the least I never went. Some body close to me said. You have lost something and sometimes people need to see how positive you are so they can feel that their journey can be more of a positive expierence, too. Well...still have not gone.
I felt like I needed to respond to this thread because I need to belong somewhere. Thank you for making a place for me and allowing me to vent.
Tommorro is my BDay and yesterday was my last day of work. My final reconstruction is Tuesday. I am so nervous. I am more nervous about this then I was about my mastectomy surgery.
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Happy Birthday, Gina!
((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))
Glad you have found a home. Best of luck on Tuesday. Be sure to check back in with us.
Linda
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I think I am going to have a drink or two...ha! Thanks for the bday wishes.
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I'll have one for you too!
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I'll have three or four with ya
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Happy B-Day! and best of luck on Tuesday.
I can understand being nervous, my exchange is on Dec 16th.0 -
Happy Birthday Gina! and Welcome. I almost joined Gilda's Club myself. I heard its a good place to be for us. Go have your drink, high calorie dinner , and a big huge size of cake, pie whatever your heart desires.
Good Luck on Tuesday. Please stop by and let us now how everything is going for you. Including your Birthday dinner LOL
Hugs
Sheila
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Thanks for the bday wishes. I plan on celebrating alot. I will stop by sunday. Ha!!
Thanks for this place.
Gcarter
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Hi, I'm Kelley, 44, and new to this. It seems like it has been forever since I was told my mammogram was suspicious, had microcalcifications. (July 2009) Was taken off my estradiol right away, had been on since July 2001. Anyway, all testing showed DCIS in right breast but in multiple areas so had mastectomy with tissue expander Sept. 2. Of course, after surgery I find out ther was a 7 mm tumor in the mix, so it put me stage 1. Hard to believe that all the mammos, ultrasound, and MRI didn't see the tumor!
All along, Dr. kept saying I wouldn't need chemo, then, wham, the oncotypedx came back at 27. she said she was really surprised by this and wanted me to do ATC and then Femara. Radiation was out of the question since I already had the TE in. My hubby and I talked for days about what to do and decided to get a second opinion. Well, same recommendation to start but after talking with me a while Dr. said I could just do the TC regimen and then Femara. Going over the chart from the oncotypedx test I had a 17% chance of distant recurrence. This was the number using Tamoxifen vs chemo. When I questioned about Femara supposedly being better and to give me numbers for that, the chance went down to 8%. Adding chemo would take it down to 4%.
After a lot of thinking, writing lists of pros and cons, reading, and discussing I decided not to do the chemo and take the Femara. Have been on that for about 3 weeks now. Will have my final reconstruction surgery on the 15th. YEAH! Have been keeping positive attitude and I think it really does help recovery. Looking forward to 2010(and my new chest).
Thanks for letting me vent here. Have to go to work now.
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gcarter - I have the same feelings as you do with guilt on your outcome. I had a BMX with TE's. No chemo for me either (oncotype score of 11). I did attend a bc support group but felt like I didn't belong there. Hearing the women talk about chemo, etc. made me feel guilty for being there because I did not have to go through any of that. I left the meeting feeling very guilty and sad. Hence, I never went back. I have since found a support group for mastectomy patients and am going to give that one a try. Maybe I will fit in there.
I, too, was more nervous about my exchange surgery than the BMX but everything went smoothly and honestly I really didn't have much pain. It was a piece of cake compared to the BMX. I am now four weeks out from my exchange and have to say things are starting to soften up and taking shape. Happy Birthday to you and good luck on Tuesday.
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Dear Friends
Let's show our appreciation for BCO and the wonderful work they do in providing us this place of information and support. Chase is giving $5 MILLION dollars to a charity and all you have to do is vote for BCO.
Here is a link to the Chase Community Giving site on Facebook. Simply become a fan of Chase Community Giving and then 'allow' the voting applications and then VOTE FOR BCO!
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Welcome Gina and Kelley - and all new Stage 1 Sisters - I'm so sorry I haven't been on this thread in a while. Gina I just had my final reconstruction on Monday and I was also extremely nervous. I suppose the thought of anesthesia and infections never leave our minds..........but I'm happy to report that I woke up in the recovery room without any nauseousness, and very little pain. A bit of a twinge where they put in the drain, but otherwise, nada! Extra-strength Tylenol was all I needed after the first night..........and I think to myself, but of course, all my nerve endings were removed during the mastectomy! You could put ice on my foob and I wouldn't feel it similar to Mrs. Doubtfire, lol. I'm not allowed to get my bandages wet - my sweet plastic surgeon will perform my "unveiling" this coming Friday - so I'm looking forward to seeing the fipple and areola. It's been a long long journey, but I've been blessed with a wonderful supportive DH who makes me laugh every day - fantastic kids - and a job I love (with women there who have been through worse cancers than myself). I never joined a support group other than bc.org - like you Gina, I felt a bit guilty that my BC was "only" a Stage 1. Still I hope to convey messages of optimism and caution with my writings here - especially with surgeries that put all of us at risk for mrsa. Once again, everyone please check out www.hospitalinfection.org to better prepare yourself to avoid mrsa or c-diff. I will never ever again take hospitalization or surgeries lightly........no matter for what reason! I was a wreck when one of our teachers' needed surgery to repair his hip.......at the same hospital where I got mrsa............thank God he came through with flying colors!
Now - I must admit - my worst pain these days is no longer my hip (that cortisone shot REALLY did the trick!) It's my upper neck.........and I know why it bothers me so much..........because I spend way too much time writing on my computer, lol! Have a wonderful day my sweet sisters!
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Seyla888, Thanks for reminding me to get my holiday decorations up early!
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Hi Stage 1 Sisters,
Just wanted to catch up a bit and check in after being gone last week.
I've joined a bc support group locally and it's been a good experience, but I find that at age 45 I am the youngest one in the room. No matter what the treatment - lumpectomy, surgery, radiation, chemo - we have all been touched by this horrible disease and should lift each other up and support each other. I actually had someone on this website who was stage 2 write that she would gladly trade diagnoses with me when I expressed concern about my chances of recurrence with my aggressive type of bc. It upset me for a while, but then I had to let it go and realize that she was just dealing with her own fears.
And yes, some days I do cry, even though I am almost a year out from diagnosis. But it does get better with time and I'm finding that I think about bc less and less. Hang in there and know that we are here for each other.
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don23
Thank you for response. I am so happy to have someone elses experience a reflection of mine. I am having a lift and implant on my real side. Of course all my nerves are there..most anxious about that and symetry of course. Can not wait til 2010 summer. I have goals to meet and bikinis to wear!!! HA! O.K. so its sounds good.....
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gcarter - sounds like a good plan to me. I can't wait to put this year behind me too! I will definitely be celebrating on New Years Eve. Anyone care to join me?
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Reading over all the posts and just wanted to comment... Oh, my, yes I still cry sometimes too... seems to be when I hear about a recurrence or death in a fellow "sister" is the hardest, but also when something good happens and it reminds me how lucky I am to still be here on earth. I sobbed at my oldest child getting on the bus for kindergarten last year, and often when I peek in on my youngest one sleeping and remember how I used to breastfeed him each night. Boy do I sound like an emotional one, huh?
As for the comments/questions about recon. I had the expander (hated it), but the exchange was a breeze. I was so happy to get that damn coconut-shell-of-an-expander out I just about skipped down the hall to the OR. I had both new boobs in and "topped" by Xmas that year (think "all I want for Xmas is my two new boobs!). I neede nothing other than Tylenol after the exhange. And I was awake for the nipples and tattooing... it's not as bad as that sounds, I really didn't feel a thing. My PS did an augmentation on the opposite side of my mx, which wasn't bad either. I remember that the hardest part was the drain. Now that thing hurt! I just counted down the days until it could come out and learned how to handle it carefully.
And lastly, I get MRIs every year for 5 years, mainly b/c of my age at dx (36) and the fact that I have dense breasts which makes mammos not as accurate. I have to fight my insurance co each year b/c they deny payment, stating MRIs are "not medically necessary"... I'd like for them to go thru what we've all done and see if they still think that! But so far I've had the first two covered after my surgeon fights back. Bless her! I hate the MRIs b/c I'm so claustrophobic, but Xanax has helped. And I have had one biopsy since my dx for a suspiscious area which turned out to be B9, but I'd rather go through that than not be checking.
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Hi all, I too was advised by my friends and family to join the support group at the cancer center at hospital,but felt guilty that I managed to come out of this nighmare with no chemo or radiation, just the masectomy and breast reconstruction of my right breast. I did not want the others to get upset with me and ask why was I there, so I investigated and found this site. Nothing beats it.
This is a great site and a learning experience as well. God Bless.
Ronna
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Gina, hope it was fun. For you gals that had mast w/recon, I hope your tata's come out looking good. I had a lumpectomy twice to get clear margins, so the ticking time bombs are still here.
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To all my new friends and sisters,
Thanks for all the support. I think I needed it. I was just given a prescription for zanax, too. I finally took my first one (whole) on my way to my onoclogist. I have a biopsy on my good side tommorro. My birthday present shoulb be B9!!! Ha! Little nervous but, am ready to move on. \I am grateful today for I have another place. Thanks Ladies it means alot.
Gcarter
Ps Deboreye
Cute stuff. How do you do that?
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If you click on the smiley face it will ask you if you want it in your toolbar.
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Welcome Kelley (KAC) glad you choose to post first time in our thread.
I'm also on Femara for over 3 years now. Are you having any SE.
Good luck with your surgery and please stay in touch. You can vent or laugh or whatever makes you feel good.
(((((Hugs)))))
Sheila
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Good Night Ladies!
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I welcome all the newbies! And I have a question to all, again may sound ignorant but I'm throwing it out there, What is the difference between Femara and Tamoxifen? Does it depend on your age which drug you receive? I am on Tamox and curious why not Femara? One bc survivor said Femara is the cadillac of drugs, but my dr never discussed that one with me...
Also, do you ladies get racing anxiety late at night, I swear it drives me crazy! I have truncal lymphedema (fluid in my back) and I SWEAR at night I always think the worst like IT as come back in my bones... drives me crazy. Okay, off to take an Ativan, should do the job
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Nicole.. I was just turning the computer off. I saw your name.
I can answer that question for you. .....you have to be post menopausal to take Femara.
Night Nicole
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Thans Seyla!
You are a wealth of knowledge!
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Clarification about New Mammogram Screening Age.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/12/03/panel_clarifies_mammogram_advice/
UPDATED ON DECEMBER 3RD
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