CALLING ALL STAGE I SISTERS
Comments
-
Congrats GrannyD- here's to all of us with lots of emotion-that is a good thing-means we are alive;)
Charmaine....that has me stumped. It owuld seem to be from your treatment somehow. Is there any pain? I know that one shot I had with arimidex hurt as well as locked my joints up. I don't know if your tamox...or maybe something from the sentinel nodes...I would call your BS and ask them. I have heard of people getting problems a couple of years out following any lymph node removal. I know both sides where I had the SNB were the last areas to heal and the most painful part of the BMX. Keep us posted on what is going on. (Hugging you with my softer new implants!)
0 -
I am on Tamoxifen. Yes I will also approach my surgeon of the possibility of my having frozen shoulder from a sentinel node biopsy. I think first I am going to try and google for some articles re sentinel node biopsy and frozen shoulder that I can take with me to the doctor.
Thanks ladies, Charmaine
0 -
GrannyDukes...How exciting!! Congratulations to you and your family!
Charmaine...think maybe it's rotator cuff issues? My mother had an issue with that that really limited her range of motion and her strength in one arm. Just a thought...hope you find a resolution soon!
I think my GP may have a possible explanation for the yellow-brown discoloration issue. Still hoping it's temporary (a bit freaked out by the NP's comment that it may be permanent) but it may be "post-inflammatory hyperpigmenation."
I have my annual appointment with my dermatologist at the end of the month (lucky me...I've previously had two basal cell carcinoma instances and now the BC
) so I'll talk to her about it and see what she says!0 -
ajtina:
How can it be found out if one has a rotator cuff injury?
Thanks so much.
0 -
Charmaine: A doctor would diagnose I presume; perhaps a GP might be better to talk to?
That said, I was researching the post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and came across a wikipedia article that listed some BC studies and I noticed this in the section on CALGB 9343:
Side effects:
Physicians: cosmesis, breast pain, edema, hyperpigmentation worse at 1 year; no differences at 4 years
Patients: breast pain, fibrosis worse at 1 year; breast pain, arm/shoulder stiffness worse at 4 years
Not sure that's helpful...but I thought of you!
0 -
ajtina:
Thank you so much for your research findings.
0 -
Charm - Ann aka CoolBreeze is having shoulder issues too. She hasn't been on BC.org in several weeks but has a blog where she has posted about her recent issues and dx http://butdoctorihatepink.blogspot.com I cannot remember the details but look for the first week of March blog. Hope that helps!0
-
Charmain I would talk to them again or your PCP and ask for a referral to PT. I finished rads Jan 24 and yesterday starting feeling a tightness in my breast muscle that goes from my breast to my arm. I do a yoga class twice a week so thought I was getting plenty of stretching in. But last night at class a young lady who is graduating from PT school next month noticed I was rubbing my muscle alot and asked me about it. She said it def can happen from rads they see it all the time and she gave me stretching exercises that I can do during the day at work. She said keep on top of it because if your muscle contracts you will have lots of problems down the road. She also said they are seeing lots of muscle contractures from lumpectomies as well.
0 -
Congratulations granny for becoming granny again
Charmaine i hope you get the bottom of this. Thinking of you.
(((Michelle)))♥
ajtina...They lifted the 5 post a day restriction
(((Hugs to all my sisters)))
♥ ♥ ♥
0 -
Hope all went well with Baby Leah's delivery, and that you got a good visit in today, Granny.0
-
Congrats Granny!
0 -
I am going to see my breast surgeon next week and bring up the problem of my arm with him again since neither of my oncological team felt it had to do with radiation, as well will make an appt with my PCP. I will keep you all updated as to what happens.
Thank you all for being so helpful with possibilities to look into.
Charmaine
0 -
Charmaine ~ I truly hope you find the answer soon. You must be so frustrated. ((hugs))
grannyD ~ How lovely~a new grandbaby! God's little Blessing! I am so happy for you & your family. ♥
0 -
Baby Leah was born last nite.Still didnt get to see her as everyone around me is havin a work crisis.This is the only time i miss my car.I hate to drive and when i retired i quit drivin....the baby is waitin for me....ill have her all to myself.
about that rotary cuff.i had one.honey if you have a torn rotary cuff you will know it.I HAD TO CUT MY BRA OFF BECAUSE I COULD NOT TURN MY ARM TO OPEN THE HOOK. Please go have that checked out ASAP.OUCH.
0 -
I was wondering....
Why we always relate everything to BC and treatment
And The Doctors think nothing is related to this DX and treatment.
Am I making any sense?
Sometimes they make us to feel like we are making it everything up
Good Night♥
0 -
A friend was diagnosed on Wednesday with Rectal/Vaginal Cancer. She had had a colonoscopy two years ago and hey said she had hemorrhoids, but this week they said the hemorrhoids were cancer. i asked my Onc if i should be concerned that my colonoscopy said hemorrhoids, could they turn to cancer. She told me that is way far down on my list of things to worry about. That my friend fell through the cracks.
I wonder if they just don't want to have to follow another symptom or concern.
0 -
That is such a good point Sheila...it is understadable that we would relate every new thing that goes wrong to bc for obvious reasons...especially if it something we have never had felt before...
As for the docs on the other side....it is just a sad truth. Not sure why and it is not all docs...but a large majority of them...like we are all a bunch of hypochondriacs and just need to calm down. It ticks me beyond belief....
I had a great surprise. my hubby brought my mom over and made me so happy! I have missed her but didn't want to freak her out past couple of weeks as I have been so nuts...I cried like a baby when I saw her and as always, she made "me mo bettah good"-we had a wonderful evening...hubby cooked dinner...Here is her pic after she plucked an azaela and stuck it in her hair- I wanna share her for I know if she saw all of you she would give you the best hugs ever while telling you it will be allright...
From Recently Updated" mce_src="
" alt="Mom" border="" hspace="" vspace="" width="400" height="369" align="" />From Recently Updated 0 -
Oh, Annette, you are so blessed.....
I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes as I write this, for she is so lovely. I lost my best friend, my Mother, 33 years ago last week & I often wonder how she would look at the age of 78, which she would be on April 12. I would really love to have my Mother hold me & tell me everything will be all right.
Sorry for the downer here.... I am surprised I have gotten so emotional.
Anyway, I am happy to "meet" your Mother. Please give her my best.
It is an absolutely lovely picture.
♥
0 -
Charmaine, a good massage therapist can also help with the arm issues especially if you have a frozen shoulder. I would definitely bring this up with the PCP if your BS doesn't want to listen. And as granny said if you have a torn rotator you will definitely know when it's gotten bad enough for surgery. Lots of people go about with a tear, but when it gets bad you're not able to lift your fork or drink with that arm.
Granny... congrads on the new Gbaby! What a great blessing.
((((hugs))))) to all. It's taken me a while to catch up.... you're very talkative.
0 -
Oh Valjean- that kind of love and tears are never a downer. Never...you see, in my mind I think that is how we keep those we love alive after they are gone. I lost my dad in 1988 and miss him so very much. I cry at the oddest times when something makes me think of him.
I do not take mom for granted for I am very blessed to have her indeed. She is magic to most whom she meets-she adopts everyone unless they adopt her first:) I just think she is the most beautiful person on the planet.
84 years old...and I still crawled up on her lap tonight.
0 -
Hello all.
had my first Radiation consult today and start Monday...happy this too shall be done with and sad at another invasion of my body... its not just the drugs and the radiation, side effects and fear, its the constant exposure...strip down..lie down.. hands on top... click camera... needle pricks...stay still...dont move..is it just me? sometimes I just want to curl up and say to hell with it...tired of the stats, the numbers and the research info...anyway what it all comes down to is the roll of the dice, random picking.
I know I need to stay positive, but today I want to vent ... why me???
0 -
bombaygal: I hear you. Most days since my diagnosis 3 months ago I have felt "lucky" - that my cancers were found early, that I "only" have Stage 1, Grade 1 disease, negative nodes, and that my medical team has been outstanding. However, some mornings I wake up and feel like I've had a bad dream; then the reality sets in again. Sometimes I can't believe I'm actually doing this. We do our research, make our difficult decisions, and then have to give ourselves up to the experts. Scary stuff.
I try to take each step and each day as it comes. I give myself permission to have a lousy day once in a while. My very wise breast surgeon has told me a number of times that this is a huge thing right now, but down the road it will be a "blip" on my radar. I keep hoping she's right.
Hang in there, you're not alone!!!
0 -
Vent away gals. I am nearing my one year cancerversary and I still have days when I rant and rave "WHY ME??" Things really do get better though. A nice bonus for me was that I quit smoking and now I don't stink anymore!! Hold onto the small victories and they will carry you on!
0 -
tina,
hi you seem to have a good attitude. I have the same diagnosis as you have and treatement. When I received my oncotype result score of 1... the surgeons 1st response was that seals the deal but did not say much more except consult my onco.
Are you done with treatment?
It would be nice to think of this as a blip in life but it sure does not feel that way yet.
Do others see this as a blip? My surgery was at the end of January and I am not in the blip arena.
thanks all
Chocolate
0 -
For me it does seem like a blip on the radar now that I am done with treatment and I don't have any appts until June. I finally have my energy back and try to focus on doing those things I really enjoy. I hated it that I did not do much sewing which I love to do - it relaxes me. I approach each day differerently now. But I do still have an occasional day when I rant and rave and ask "Why Me?"
Chocolate & Bombaygal - Hang in there - it really does get better llike BarbaraA said.
0 -
Granny: Congrats on the new grand baby! Oh brand new little ones smell so good!
Annette: So glad you are getting to spend time with your mother and get lots of hugs. Thanks for sharing with us! What a wonderful hubby you have!
Barbara A: Happy Cancerversary! Congrats on a year of survival and quitting smoking, too! That's huge!
Charmaine: So sorry it sounds like you're getting the run around with your shoulder. Regardless of why, it's there and real and needs to be dealt with. I hope someone refers you to an orthopedist to check it out and then work with a physical therapist if necessary.
Sheila: Yes, that makes perfect sense! I think sometimes our specialists have tunnel vision and if it isn't in their area they don't deal with it. So frustrating!
Tina: Permission to have a lousy day once in a while--love it!
Bombaygal: Good luck with rads on Monday. I'm right behind you. I have my dry run next Thursday and start on Friday. I just posted to the triple positive list about not having any modesty left after having the girls looked at and handled so much over the past few months--that soon I'll be expecting dollars in my panties.
0 -
vickisam;
I'm in the L.A. area too and am trying to get a ball park figure on radiation. I know it is higher in CA and I was figuring about $60,000. Do you mind telling me what you paid? Since I have to pay 20 percent I am really concerned. Thanks!
0 -
yeh...he has his moments....I am pretty tough on him at times as when I am scared, I am a beast
0 -
Ilovechocolate: My oncologist used the Adjuvent! Online database and I'm currently awaiting insurance authorization for the Oncotype DX test. So I don't understand yet what the "1" means. Why did the surgeon say "that seals the deal"....was that good or bad???
No, I'm just getting started on this journey. Had my NSBXM with tissue expanders on Feb 16. I go next week for my first outpatient expansion fill and likely won't get my implants for 2-3 months. I've had my baseline bone density test and will start Arimidex in two weeks (oncologist told me to heal for 6 weeks post surgery before starting it). So far, no plans for chemo and I'm hoping the Oncotype DX will not change that decision.
Honestly, I attribute much of my good attitude to the fact that I was able to have nipple-sparing surgery. Also, I cannot believe how wonderful and kind all my doctors have been...my breast surgeon, plastic surgeon, oncologist, and all their staffs have been unbelievable. It has made my journey pretty smooth so far.
Take care, everyone!!!
0 -
Ilovechocolate - If your oncotype score is 1, you should be singing from the rooftop. It is very good. I am just guessing when your surgeon said "that seals the deal" that he is saying you won't have to go to chemo. If the 1 referred to either stage or grade instead of oncotype, that is also very good.0
