CALLING ALL STAGE I SISTERS
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vhshea ~ That would be a wonderful thing to do for your friend, to cook a meal or two per week during her tx. I'm sure she will appreciate it very much. (I would have!)
Jo & rohanna ~ I have said it before, I also think HRT is what caused my bc. I'd have to have solid proof that it didn't in order for me to believe it was caused by something else.
(((((sandee))))) I'm so sorry you have to go through this stress again. I'm keeping you in my prayers for a B9 result. Hugs.
Hi Annette!
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Thanks, Annette and O2b, most people bite my head off when I say I don't want the gadasil for my daughter. There are NO long term studies on this stuff. Look what happened with HRT. Two of my friends got their daughters vaccinated and one has irregular periods now and the other has irregular periods and thyroid problems.
I heard about them trying to make it mandatory in Texas. You know MEN pushed that! Damn, it makes me mad when the government can't fix the major problems but they want to futz around with our bodies and those of our children!
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hi val:)
Roh- you know what really chaps me? The origin of the research is usually motivated by good. I truly believe this. But then after so much is spent to develop a drug and test it- it can approach a billion from the time it is first researched until it makes through FDA approval and launch-the bean counters come in and say how can we maximize our profits on this. Off label use is one way of doing this and another is pushing the FDA to approve it for everyone. (Back to my pet analogy-pets now are prescribed Prozac, along with toddlers).
It is not that the drug in question is necessarily bad, but drugs are approved and precscribed long before anyone really knows their impact. Clinical trials help, but are so limited in scope and size, time is the only true test.
Once it is let loose on tens of thousands of people of all different kinds, rather than the target group for which it was developed, it becomes challenging to monitor and report the true side effects and long term impact of a drug. It would be relatively easy to track a specfic group and catch any untoward side effects, whole different story when everybody is taking it- the details get lost in the profits.
It is like what is going on with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) now and in the past years. It is somewhat easier to connect the dots because the group that takes it is women, and further more, women of a certain age. They can even break it down to economic profiles, race etc because of the nature of the drug and the prescribing patterns. They start seeing commonalities in problems and once everything else is taken into consideration, it becomes obvious or more obvious what may be the cause. These problems with HRT didn't begin to rear their ugly heads for decades after women were taking them. First they thought it was heart attacks, then they went to something else, then they said nothing, now they are linking breast cancer- at least the ER+ strain. The fact is they knew something was wrong, they weren't sure what, so they kept prescribing it albeit with "caution". Were the docs bad docs who prescribed it? I don't think so. It is hard to buck the system so to speak and it is often a case of "well, if they were sure it was bad, surely the FDA would pull it". It so obviously helped so many women with what they were initially being treated for (i.e menopause-decline of estrogen-) and for many, none had side effects that we know of, or their genetic makeup was such that it did not spur the other problems. ACH- sorry, i tend to go and on. Anyway, I go back to what is considered gospel within the drug industry among the actual scientists- if it is not a drug that could perhaps offer a terminal patient true hope or is a "life-saving" drug- better off not taking it for at least five years after it hits the market, best to wait 10 years. As ten years offers the body a chance to react, mutate, etc from the drug. It was and is difficult to monitor this even with a specific target group- never mind everybody and their brother.
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{{{SANDEEE}}}
I would never allow my daughter (my step daughter is now 41) to have gardisil. Until more long term studies are done, no way. I believe my BC was caused by being on the pill from 1969 until 1985. Back then the dosage was very high and lo and behold I have ER+ BC.
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raincitygirl, right you are! Ha-ha-ha!
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Just got back from my gyn appt and the news is NOT good. My uterine lining is very thick and I have a 1.5 cm fibroid the doctor wants to biopsy. Gonna have it done on Saturday. When it rains it pours - just when I thought I would get my life back together after the B9 mammo - here is another setback. When does this crap end?
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(((jo))) Cancer the gift that keeps on giving...
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Damn Jo, let's all pray for good news
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Jo ((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))) So sorry for your news. Wear those cargo pants on Saturday so I can go with you.
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Jo - I'll be with you too and also praying for you.
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Yea! Seems like I just got the rest of you ladies out of my pockets and here we go again. LOL!
I have to try and look on the bright side of this. That is just me. I will start making you for you gals so get ready.
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I'm sorry you're having to go through even more. We'll all be jumping in those pockets.
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TinaT, SusanHG, and Jo1955
thanks ladies! you rock, just having someone tell me they are going through the same things as me really helps. Looks like the wait for the oncotype is going to be another week! they just called and said they still didn't have the specimen. Do they do this to make us crazy?
I just found 2 other oncologists, and have made an appt. at a homeopathic clinic that specializes in cancer. They help support the immune system, and show you ways to build healthy cells, white blood count numbers etc to help make treatment as easy as possible. Not to mention cancer fighting supplements. I've always done acupuncture so this works for me. I'll check out the cancer math and see what i come up with.
thanks for being here for me
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jo1955 so sorry for your news, I'll think good thoughts
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{{{JO}}} so sorry! One thing after another. Hugs and prayers going up.
Clyn, waiting is the pits but one never knows. You are younger. I was 58 and my score was 17 and I was a high grade 2 but my onc said that chemo carried a 2-3% benefit versus a 5% possibilty of permanent side effects. Decision made.
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Annette-You are right....no point in trying to read her especially as for most of it, I was looking away from her and trying to keep the tears from landing on my being-xrayed-boobs!..and I am the same as you...if it has not been on the market for a period of time I think is acceptable, I am NOT INTERESTED> My cardiologist was talking about my heart meds ( you know I asked when I can come off the damn things) and she said essentially, "you will be on th easpirin for life..the plavix for a year and the blood pressure and cholesterol pills for life..if not these then something they come up with that is better in the future" (and my thought was....and I will NOt be a guinea pig for new meds so they will have to have been tried out for some time before I switch over!)
Jo- I am jumping back into a pocket bu tI will wait on Friday as th eweather is finally nice in Halifax..I will be there for sure Saturday though!
Gardisil, the pill...my old gP had told me it was safe for me to be on the pill until I stopped having my periods....really? I went to a naturopath to get me off of everything as in the end, I could not tell if I was perimenopausal or had stopped because of the pill....now I wonder...will not get any answer but the wondering continues
Valerie- thank you....thought I was fine with it..trying not to read into anything and assume she is the consummate professional giving nothing away either way...not her job....must be a hard job sinc emost of us in there are on tender hooks!
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Clyn: I don't know if this is correct, but I read on another forum that the verbage on your report might mean that the tumor had vascular invasion, not that the cancer invaded further into your system. Let us know what your onco says. And great report back otherwise!!! Here we go to the next step. One day at a time, right?
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If I haven't said so before... welcome to all the new ladies. Sorry you have to go thru this BC but everyone is so helpful when the questions and doubt start to mount.
Jo will be in one of those pockets! Let us know how it's going. Will they take you off the tamox?
Ducky you should be about done the the 3 day extension! Yeah.... is it time to celebrate???
About the HRT theory... I didn't have it.. But, I do have thyroid issues and had a tumor in the thyroid removed about 8 yrs ago. Always had problems with FSBD and poly-cystic ovaries. I'm probably classified in the thyroid didn't get it right category.
Saw that the weather in the NE was really hot... hope those that are there are keeping cool inside. Sandee, would love to go to NS... friends are in August and I am soooo jealous!
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samsue - I don't know if I will be taken off Tamox. If that happens, I am out of options. I struck out with Arimidex and Femara. I am going to talk to the doctor about just going ahead and having a hysterectomy and be done with this crap. Then I don't think it would make much of a difference if I am reading the information right. Who knows? I am just go stressed right now - not really able to focus on any one thing.0
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(((((jo)))) That's a tough decision.... remember to breathe... it helps release stress!
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samsue - Thank you - I am going back to living by the 24 hour rule.
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I am with you Jo...24 hour rule....We need to get tshirts made up!we can get through 24 hours....we can! Hugging you and sending you lots of positive thoughts...I am going to go and row tomorrow night and let some of my fear out..until then, icing my hip (as opposed to icing the cake I iced this am!) and going to bed!
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Jo I think I would talk to the Dr about a hysterctomy and then you could stay on Tamox. You are already in menapaus so your ovaries are working anyway. I had my hysterctomy in 1994 and kept my ovaries. I was 32 at the time. Best decision I ever made. I was so miserable before. When I was to start tamox the one thing the onco said was since I had had a hystectomy it was one less thing to worry about and watch. I'll be praying for you but I am believing good results.
Sandee you too, I am believing that you will have good results. There is power in possitive thinking.
Welcome to all the newbies. Kept getting inturrupted reading this thread and now can't remember all the names. Sorry you ladies had to join us here but it is a great place for support. Come anytime and ask questions as someone can help.
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HUGGING YOU JO WITH ALL MY HEART.....dammit, i hate that you are going through any of this stress....make way, I am coming with you buddy.
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Hi annette are things any better for you? Been thinking about you,
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Jo ~ Awww, damn - well, I'll be with you on Sat, leave room for me. Keeping you in my prayers. ♥
Clyn ~ Hoping for a low oncotype score for you & then you can move forward with a tx plan. Good news on the clear margins & nodes.
Hugs to all. I keep all of you in my prayers.
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Thanks Sherry....in an odd way, yes they are although I am not sure what the final path will be. Spent the afternoon with hubby at the beach in Galveston and did nothing much more than play in the waves. No deep talking no nothing but relaxing. I laughed-which is no small thing.
Hope all is well with all this emerging day:)
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Now that I am over the shock of this latest development and have had time to think things through, I have decided to push for the hysterectomy. I may have to wait until the first part of July but that is okay. I have several medical appts this month and really don't want to reschedule those. This is not something I have to rush into - it can wait a few more weeks. Will talk with my onc tomorrow afternoon and let everyone what will happen.
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Jo, I had many fibroids in my uterus prior to BC and lived with the pain. After chemo my periods came back with a vengence and I had what they called menorrhagia. I had a procedure to help with that and somehow the fibroids also disappeared. Strangly, my Gyno never wanted to bx any of the fibroids. Maybe yours is being cautious because you now have a history.
I'll jump in one of your pockets Saturday. Poop! You shouldn't have to use your weekend for this...you need to have a nice relaxing day. We'll keep your mind off of things by chatting.
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Jo-so sorry about the bad news. I'll be praying for you.
Dexxy-glad my story and advice could be of help. I know those first few weeks of decisions are hard.
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