CALLING ALL STAGE I SISTERS
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Sheila, where are you? I haven't seen you any of the other threads you & I frequent....what's up?
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Joan - I am anemic too. I wan't before all this started.
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Soooooooo Sheila is missing.thats not the norm.Did anyone hear from her?
Joan---I would like to wait to hear from Sheila and Lauren before we set a date.13-18th is not good for me either.
Lets give it till next week.Surely they will be around.If not ill make some phone calls.Or if you want to that ok too.i just want this thing to happen.
When I went to the NJ reunion I met this wonderful sista who lives in the next town from me...She has been just wonderful and I would love to bring her with me so all of you can meet her.Her name is Proudto spin.
Oh AyaAya-Im not takin the poison BUT im 71.If i was younger I would hit it with everything i could.This is such a hard decision and no one can make it but you...I wish you luck.
huggggggs to all my Stage1 sistas.K
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I have an Rx for Tamox sitting next to me. I've spent most of the afternoon Vacilating between tears and anger. My MO tells me that even at stage one I have an 11% chance or recurrence with Tamox and double that without it. He basiscally said if it metasticizes it will be just a matter of when not if it takes my life. But when you look at the Tamox data the you find a small but real increase in uterine and endometrial cancer. Add to that if you get uterine or endometrial cancer while on Tamox it is likely that it will be in a much later and viralent stage and would require radiation, chemo, and/or surgery. Likely all three. Really? To keep one cancer at bay I have to risk getting two others; these are my choices??? CANCER SUCKS.
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Mini1 I'm on half a dose and so far so good...no SE's other than hot flashes and those are getting better now. The only other issue was vaginal dryness and I got some suppositories that work wonders. No more pain;)
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Thank you, auntie
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S-H-E-I-L-A
missing ya!
Granny, so glad you got to meet with NJ ladies. It must have been great to find someone so close by. I have met another Long Island lady I met here and it's a good thing.
A word about the hormone drugs...
Nobody wants to change body chemistry, especially female hormones. I am on AIs for less than one year and I do wonder who I would be if I were not taking them. But I have read the stats and I know my body can and did present invasive BC cells. I know it can happen at any time so I take the pills. For post menopausal women, since estrogen is naturally lower, the method of choice is to suppress the production of estrogen. For premenopausal women, the method is to suppress the uptake of estrogen, as with Tamoxifen.
Ohaye, mini, I am so sorry for the stressful decisions you face. The studies on the risk of uterine cancer are ongoing...but I agree that anything that may cause an increased risk of any cancer could be called a "poison"....it is a dilemma with no easy answer. For me, at 63, it is worth the 5 year of AI drugs. If I were older, I might take a chance. If I were younger, I'd want to take something.... There are alternatives to Tamox but they have to be carefully considered.
For me, the pills are my insurance policy...and I know there are SEs and risks.
I hate BC too, especially for what it does to younger women. It is brutally indiscriminate.
I hope you can find peace within your decisions. Have you met with more than one MO? Informed decisions are usually good ones.
Sending hugs and positive thoughts....
Joan
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I am 99% ER/PR positive. Onc said tamoxifen is very important to stop a reoccurence or to kill any nasty cell that may have wandered. Not a question in my mind. For me, if this nasty stuff comes back will I regret not taking it? I certainly will. I want to at least know I did all I could.
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Already have Lymphedema from the BMX and SNB surgery back in April. This is a worsening of it from this recent reconstruction attempt. Less than 10cc's were extracted when it was drained this past week.
The OT at my VA hospital that does the LE program wrapped me up since the work we'd been doing on it hadn't made much of a dent in the size. Wrapping made a big difference. Both the muscle area above the breast and the low outter area next to my side are significantly smaller.
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Sheila is playing in the game thread this morning. I wonder if this thread fell off her favs, I have them fall off once in awhile.
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I'll probably end up taking it if the side effects allow. The SE's were bad enough on the AI's that they put it down as a severe intolerence. I will have to take my chances with BC if the SE's are the same. It just sucks that we have to make these kinds of decisions. I wasn't angry before. I am now. I know it will pass, but right now I am royally pissed off. I pity the the store that displays some assinine bottle of wine, or kitchen appliance for "BC awareness" come October. I will not be blessed and chances are pretty good I will inform them of this. lol
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Mini - I, too, could not handle the Al's and was switched to Tamoxifen. I can't be sure how much the number of years post menopause makes a difference, but my SE's have been much milder than those of some but they have definitely been doable. I've been on it 21 months. So far minor aggravation of joint pain, mostly in joints already affected by arthritis so that could be just aging--I' am 70, well, will be Wednesday. Mild neuopathy in hands, lower legs and feet. Some trouble sleeping but that has been helped by the use of Melatonin. We're monitoring for problems with the reproductive system--so far so good. One thing I do like, My ongoing loss of bone density has stopped.
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Hi ladies I've been missing all of you... sorry I don't come here much anymore.
but working nights all I do is sleep and work unless I'm off. Ugh!! I do so hate 3rd shift. Keep me in your prayers that a day shift job will open up soon for me and I can have some time with my family. I miss you all!@!Sheila loved your pics from the wedding... you looked really great and hair was beautiful!!
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Chabba - Thanks for the positive input. I have osteoarthris too and will probably experience some joint pain as well. Right now the AI still has an old injury to my ankle inflammed and I'm gimping around. Thankfully my regular doc is great and will keep a good eye on my between MO and RO appts. I'm just relishing these last pain free, SE-free, days.
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Hi MIMI..welcome home.....prayin you get a day job.....and soon.we miss ya.
It seems like some sistas drift in and out BUT im glad to see every once in a while they do stop by to say hello....
We came a long way baby!!!!
hugggggggs every K
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Hi Mini1,
I am new to this board; please keep us updated on whether or not you take the Tamoxifen. My surgery was 5 weeks ago and I see the Ongologist this Wednesday. From everything I've read, I am dreading the possibility of Tamox. I need to hear and absorb things before making any decisions....I always come to the right conclusion.
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(((Mimi))) miss you!
Mini, I am with you on the BC promotions....
walks and runs have started in september because october is getting clogged.
what about spending money on new research!!!!Sheila, stop "playing games" and come say hi!!!!
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My friends niece is doin the komen bc walk.grrrrrr.she posted it on fb and someone put a link about it(well the link doesnt work)anyway of course i had to put my 2 cents in and i politely asked how much $$$ is goin for research
someone who is runnin this thing jumps on with this 75% goees to research and the other 25% goes for education etc.100% is being used to find the cure.
I really wanted to ask WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BIG SALARIES? I didnt answer cause i didnt want to get thrown off fb....could this really be possible?
why dont i believe them?
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Hi....Meece, Joan. Renee. granny, Joni and all the rest who missed me...♥
i'm taking a short vacation from the boards....sorry i didn't say anything and gone MIA.....that wasn't very polite and thoughtful
Welcome all the newbies and thank you for the oldbies for still posting we are like a second family here
I love you all....
and i like to play the games the easy ones
My computer was messed up since yesterday and i was on the phone almost 4 hours try to fix it....this nice guy from India who should be a Saint with all his patience with me... we were able to do it........
I missed a beautiful day outside...
since some of us are working or coming from far whenever it's convenient to you.....you let me know..towards the end of September.....
((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))♥
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Welcome home Shiela.
Miss your calming words
Miss talkin to you
just miss you period.
huggggggggs K
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Laurie - when you make tht right decision, please let me know. I've been back and forth so many tmes I feel like I"m a seesaw. For every reason I find to take it I find one not to. I hate this disease.
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Hi Mini1, Somehow, it's warming to know we feel the same way. Two more days until I meet with an Oncologist.
I know Tomox will be suggested, but there are so many side effects. Most recently, I read of the liver damage done by this medicine. Some might say, it's worth the tradeoff.
Maybe put the bottle away for a few days. Seeing the bottle at your every turn will just remind you.
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Also, here is another board which may interest you.....
Topic: Bottle 'o Tamoxifen
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(((Sheila))) Take your time....we know you are here!
About the drugs and SEs, I know these drugs are tough. I have to believe that I am not going to get debilitating SEs. Most of the drugs we take, if we were to read the inserts, have SEs that could potentially cause serious damage. But we have to look at the statistics for the serious SEs. Many of the women who are not getting SEs are not posting about their wellness.
I think there are many sources on the web that have verifiable information that we can use. I was almost tormented by whether or not to have chemo. My MO would not weigh in. I got the onco test and researched the stats then got 2 more MOs to give opinions. I was able to make a decision and had peace about it. I wish the same for everyone here.
One year ago today, I had taken a coach bus into a hotel in New York City because I had BC surgery scheduled 8/30 and the mayor was shutting down everything due to hurricane Irene. We rode out the storm on a high floor and then walked around NY when it cleared. It was a ghost town. Even GCS was closed! It was DH's birthday and we found a little bistro and had a great meal. In the midst of BC and a hurricane, we managed to make a memory. The next day I got my tracer shot in my breast...lots of wine that day....then surgery day....the best day because I got to go home right after.
It has been quite a year and more and more I think about the people who made a difference in my life this year....and that includes all of you.
Well, it is DH's BD again and I have to wrap gifts and get a few hours sleep before work starts over again.
Nite all,
Joan
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The bottle is put is put away and I'm trying not to think about it for a few days. I did read about a test that shows if you will metabolize the Tamox well. It's not totally conclusive, but I would feel better knowing that I am not subjecting myself to medicine that has SE's w/o gaining any benefet from it. I'm going to call my MO and ask him to order it. If he won't, I'll call my MD. She will.
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anyone see WALLY?????another missing sista....
someone mentioned her name today...
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Good luck and peace for you, Mini.
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Sounds like you are doing your homework, Mini. Keep up the good work!
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Mini 1, so sorry about your struggle with that #$% Tamoxifen decision. To take it or not to take it . . . It is so hard to be so torn about it while you already have enough to handle as it is. You know your body and what you can live with, and we don't have to accept all that is offered. You do what is right for you.
Tamoxifen also came my way in the beginning of August when chemo and rads were finished. I was so rebellious because of the possible SE's that I would have to endure once again. My onc really had to convince me that the greatest benefit in my fight against cancer would come from this drug. So I gave in on Aug. 1, and started taking it every night before bed. I was expecting the worst, and surprise, surprise, all I have is a few hot flushes every day. One thing I decided then is to stay away from the Tamoxifen threads. Don't wanna read those horror stories anymore. Maybe it is ostrich politics, but it works for me. Breast cancer is scary enough already. I am taking this pill every night, I trust that it will do what it is supposed to, and I am at peace with that.
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Thank you for the encouragement ladies. It helps more than you know. I figure it took 5-7 years for my first cancer to show up. A few more weeks or months this early in the game isn't going to hurt, IMHO. If I make an error in my decision, it won't be from lack of trying to learn all I can. :-)
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