CALLING ALL STAGE I SISTERS
Comments
-
Am I crazy in just wanting to forget about all this? Its been 6 months since diagnosis and I've done lumpectomy and rads with 6 month follow up and want to put it out of my mind. There is a bigger health issue *looming.* I think that with my diagnosis, this will probably not affect my survival time.. Maybe, maybe not the other one will, I just want to forget about all of it and live out the next 10, 20, 30 years without worry. Am I crazy? Or in denial. I will keep my follow ups, but plan to move forward and forget about it unless a symptom comes up. . I am sorry if this offends anyone. I am wishing the best of continuing health to all my stage 1 sisters.
0 -
bedo - You are not crazy or in denial. That is what we all want. It does get better and you do have days that you don't think about all this crap. I am 17 months out from dx and still have some issues from rads - specifically permanent nerve damage and still trying to get that under contro. Other than that, I refuse to let BC control me. I don't think you will offend anyone.
0 -
Joan: Hope you feel better...take care of yourself!
0 -
bedo: That's the only way to live...moving forward. This quote was on something I read recently.
We can do anything about the past, and if we continue to worry about the future, we will spoil the present!
Live your life!
0 -
0 -
(((Bedo))) ♥(((Sisters)))♥
0 -
bedo you are not crazy, bc is crazy but we all want to get to the point where we can put it behind us and move on. I think all the close followups we have the first few years makes it really hard to not think about it because every time we turn around we are going to the Dr or getting some kind of test.j
0 -
Wow, it's been busy here! I've been trying to be on the computer less and walk, yoga, exercise, and focus on some other non-BC things which need attending to! But, doesn't mean I'm not thinking of you all and I've been here in spirit. Good luck for all with upcoming tests. I've got a lineup of tests and appointment over the upcoming month. It sure was nice to have a little break in the action, if only for a while
.Nighty night!
0 -
just wanted to say hello to you all...i'm glad i came across this group since it's for stage 1ers (and some 2). BC is definitely something i never thought would come at the end my 2011. i still have one more round of surgery (3rd to be exact) in a few days so that my radiation dosages (which start mid-feb) won't be so high. i'm glad i don't need chemo. good luck to those who have upcoming tests and surgeries, treatments, etc.
0 -
bedo-my thoughts exactly! wish we could just forget. Maybe one more doctor to give us a BC amnesia pill? Every ache and pain I have now (and I have a lot!!) Iworry that it is cancer, even though I had them before diagnosis...
Susan
0 -
Wanted to share some info. I had read a new study that came out at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in Dec that the new studies show that Zometa is good for lowering recurrence rates on early stage pre menopausal women. So I asked my onco about it last Friday and he said yes that it is very promising. So he requested approval from my insurance company and they approved it in one day. Some insurance takes up to 7 weeks and some are not approving it yet because the studies are new. I feel like I did not do chemo and I want all the help I can get. It is an IV infusion that I will get every 6 months for three years. There is a thread on here if anyone wants to read about the study. It is called Zometa, News from San Antonio. But basically the thought on it is that the Zometa helps to make your bones extremely strong so if there are any BC cells floating around they will not invade in your bones because your bones are not weak. That is the simple version. Of course it is a biophosonate and there are risk with that as well but my MO already had me on a oral biophosonate for this very reason anyway so I knew what the risk are. Hope someone finds this helpful
0 -
bedo, There is a time for everything...and it's time for you to move to a place that is best for you.
Wishing you good health and peace.Joan
0 -
♥ ♥ ♥
0 -
Since we are discussing follow-up appointments, I am coming up on my first 3 month med onc appt on Monday. Any insight on what to expect at this appointment? I am nervous not knowing what to expect...
0 -
odie, my first MO appointment, and all the rest thereafter, just consist of bloodwork, and an exam by my MO. Nothing major. I will see her every three months for 2 years, then I'm sure she'll cut it back to every 4 or even 6 months. Not sure. My next appointment in Feburary, she has me scheduled for a routine chest x-ray in addition to the usual stuff. The MO appointments are pretty easy.
0 -
Hi all, I am jumping in here. I have been hanging with the "older" ladies on other threads. My BS has never gone over my path report with me since my lump right before Christmas, post op appt and 1st meeting with MO is on Monday. I got a very grudging, putting her on the spot, stage 1 from the nurse on the phone. She told me everything looked good in the report. I'm having a hard time shaking the feeling they are not telling me everything. (actually much of anything) I shot off an email and still no response. I had to see my pcp because I developed a respiratory infection 2 weeks ago and he could not pull up the report on his computer. The hospitals are in partnership so I thought I could get answers from him. sigh! Anyway trying to have faith and just hang on.
0 -
Macatacmv - You have every right to get a copy of your path report. You BS should fax it to you on your insistance. My MO did do a thorough job of reviewing the path report with me as well though. Prayers that them not saying "much of anything" means that thre is not much else to tell.
SherryC - thanks for sharing the Zometa news. I'm asking for it at my next MO appt. as well.
Sheila888 - Beautiful picture.
0 -
Maca: Ditto what hawk wrote! My BS went over my report in detail, both over the phone, and in person when I went for my check up. If he had not, I would have thrown a fit. I don't know where these docs get off thinking they don't have to share info with patients who are scared out of their wits. "Everything looks good" is not an acceptable answer to your question. Walk into the office and demand a copy...it is your right. You need peace of mind. Many on this site could interpret it for you.
0 -
Hi Everyone,
New to this blog as my Stage Changed...I found this out after seeing my second Oncologist...Originally told Stage IIa due to micrometastatic (N1mi .47mm) carcinoma. I was told by Cancer Surgeon and another Oncologist...I'm seeing two Oncologist (another story). The stage has now changed to Stage Ib due to the micrometastatic finding... I asked why such sites such as breastcancer.org do not show this. I was told this is fairly new within the last two years. Of course, when I got home and started my research I found documentation. She did show me documentation in her office too. However, I needed to find it for myself as well. One place was www.cancer.org - How is Breast Cancer Staged.
So here I am
I'm waiting on OncoType DX to determine my treatment plan.
0 -
Macatacmv - My BS was very hesitant about going over my pathology report too. I went to the hospital and got a copy of the report myself from the health records department. I didn't see the MO until after the surgery results and what a night and day difference about information. He went on and on covering every aspect of the report, everything about treatment, etc. My surgeon was a good surgeon and covered her area well but when it came to anything beyond that, the MO was the person to talk to.
0 -
Bonnie welcome but sorry you are joining us here. This is a great place for support so come anytime and ask questions
Hawk you are welcome I get my first infusion Feb 8th. We will see how it goes.
0 -
Hi everybody, I am new here. I had my surgery on Dec. 21st, and I was apparently one of the very lucky ones. My tumor was approx. 6 mm, no spread to the sentinels, the margins on the lump were totally clean and my healing process has been uneventful and rapid. I still have bruising but that should fade soon. I do have numbness and a "raw" sensation from nerve damage in the arm, but I am hoping that it will fade in time. I was lucky because I had a very talented, friendly and forthcoming female breast surgeon who outlined my path report very carefully for me. My MO didn't have a lot to add to the initial report, other than to suggest an Oncotype test to check for the outside chance that there was a "wolf in sheep's clothing" in the form of aggressively expressing genes that could indicate a more aggressive tumor type with a higher incidence of recurrence. I am waiting for those results now, as I prepare for radiation. If it comes back positive, it will mean that chemo is probably a good option for me, to prevent recurrence. I will be starting on a course of Arimidex soon, that will last for 5 years. I will also be having genetic counselling, as I had endometrial cancer, stage 2B, three years ago that meant the loss of my uterus, ovaries, cervix and 13 lymph nodes. I was very fortunate then, as there was no apparent spread to any other organs, but I had high dose brachytherapy as an insurance policy. The MO feels that it is moderately possible that I could have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation ( I have had 2 of the big 3 seen with this mutation), as could my husband, who lost his mother at age 41 from a breast cancer she fought for 6 years, and nearly lost his cousin who was diagnosed in her 40s. We have two daughters who need to be alert to the potential dangers they could face if either of us is positive.
Having already been through the gauntlet of cancer and its assault on the mind and body once before, I can safely say that this time my reaction to diagnosis was not one of shock and horror, it was more one of angry resignation. I no longer have that "How could this happen to me?!?!" reaction, it is more of a "NOT AGAIN!!". The fact that the body can mutiny silently and insidiously in such a manner seems to be the ultimate betrayal. I have no notion of ever putting this behind me. It is going to be a perpetual shadow, but one that will always whisper to me "Live your life, enjoy your time here, because you don't know when it will be over". I do not want cancer to turn me into a sour old woman. I want it to help me to be the wise, vigilant crone who has learned that life is more than just superficial enjoyment, it is for doing meaningful things to improve the lives of the ones we love.
When I see the ads on TV for the Walk for the Cure, etc., it makes me feel surreal when it strikes in that I am now a part of that ever growing community of victims and survivors of the most common form of cancer in women. It also makes me feel grateful to those who have gone before me, who have contributed to the body of research that has made my likelihood for survival and cure a possibility. I weep for those we have lost, and I thank them with all my heart for their courage, their sacrifice and their dignity in the face of eternity.
0 -
Mooserella -- Very well said! Sorry you have joined the club, but glad you have joined our thread.
0 -
macatacmv......mooserella........Maja2213....... A big Welcome to our sisterhood.
It's not that I'm happy to see you here but I'm glad you found us for support or anything else.
As you see we do everything here from venting,,,crying....jokes.
HUGS♥
0 -
Mooserella & A_Fighter: Welcome and hope you both have the best possible outcomes. You will get a lot of comfort and support here. Sending you both positive energy!
0 -
0 -
Hi ladies, a big Welcome to mooserella and fighter! and any others I may have missed. Everyones already said but such a great bunch of ladies here to help out with whatever your need is.
I got my lab reports back from the Rad Oncs today. My CEA 27.29 was 24.9 (normal), all other labs normal except Hgb and it was 11.1 (so a little anemic) and they didn't tell me he wanted to treat it, so I guess I need to eat more red meat. We eat a lot of chicken at our house and not so much red. I definitely don't do liver. LOL! He also put me on Effexor for the night sweats and hot flashes that the Arimidex has been so wonderful to give me as a side effect. Ugh... another pill!! Yippee!!! but it does seem to be helping some from the first dose I took. The bad thing is I already feel like at 46 I take an arsenal of pills (though I really don't), but 4 or 5 is too many for someone my age. O.k. I've complained and now I'm done.
0 -
Hello ladies!
I'm soon 34 years old and already fighting cancer
.
I'm waiting for my Oncotype test's results.I want to ask you if Chemo at this stage has bad side effects. How did you feel? How about radiotherapy's side effects?
Thank you!
0 -
isa - so sorry. Cancer sucks and so does chemo. I've done 2 out of 6 treatments. I had a high oncotype dx score so chemo was recommended and I want to do everything I can to keep it from coming back. Everyone is different with their side effects, some have almost none and some people really feel awful. I don't feel good for the week after, but it's doable. So far I've had a couple of days of aches and pains from the Neulasta shot they give you the day after your chemo tx to build the white cells back up followed by a couple of days of stomach issues. No nausea or vomiting, they have a lot of great meds that prevent/control that now. You will find a lot of good info on these threads and you might want to check out the Jan 2012 chemo thread. I did a BMX and did not have to have rads.
Welcome to the club none of us wanted to join filled with some of the strongest women you will find anywere. (((HUGS))) Judy
0
