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CALLING ALL STAGE I SISTERS

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Comments

  • Nicole112
    Nicole112 Member Posts: 130
    edited March 2010

    I got my haircut last week, first time I actually had enough hair to cut!!! And, I got it highlighted, starting to really feel good, thank goodness!

    I will have to take a pic of the "current" hair, it is almost as long as my avatar pic... that pic was the last pic I took of my real hair (right after my first chemo and prior to me shaving my head) with my baby... it is one of my favorites...!!

  • mimi1964
    mimi1964 Member Posts: 851
    edited March 2010

    Nicole I bet it looks great!!! I'm all about getting the hair done I have been having mine highlighted for years.  I have a lot of natural red highlights in mine and in the south since we are in the sun a lot it naturally comes out.  I don't really like it on me and now with some "gray" creeping in I really don't like it so blonde it is.  LOL!! It keeps me feeling young.  I can't wait to see your new pic!!!

    Renee

  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 10,618
    edited March 2010

    Nicole, pose with that adorable baby again for your avatar.  I am sure she's grwon a bunch, but that little pucker looker so cute!

  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 925
    edited March 2010

    Thanks for looking up my BMI Sheila.  I can not imagine being 132 again I was SOOO weak and sick. 

  • mari65
    mari65 Member Posts: 22
    edited March 2010

    Hi All, New to this sight. Is it a benefit to get the Oncotype dx test at this stage? My doctor said that if I did get the test I would most likely fall in the gray area. Don't understand the gray area. 

    Diagnosis: 2/09/2010, IDC, 1.8cm, Stage I, Grade 2, 0/2 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 9,611
    edited March 2010

    Welcome mari.....I didnt have oncotype dx test. But someone will come alone with answers.

    Sheila

  • mari65
    mari65 Member Posts: 22
    edited March 2010

    I hope sooo..........................

  • valjean
    valjean Member Posts: 1,110
    edited March 2010

    Mari ~  My dx is similiar to yours & I had the Oncotype dx test. I was a 14, which is low, so I did not need chemo. If it had been higher, high teens, twenties and up, my Onc would have recommended chemo & I would have done it. The gray area is those high teens, low twenties. So, I believe it was a benefit to me to have the test. Of course, it in no way suggests I will never have a recurrence, it just shows my chance is less. I am 58.

    Feel free to ask me anything. Hang in there.

    {{hugs}} 

  • Nicole112
    Nicole112 Member Posts: 130
    edited March 2010

    Mari65- I too, did not have the oncotype... with this said, my drs always said I would do chemo, rads and tamoxifen... I always wondered "how" it was so easy for them to determine as I have seen women posting here and asking which way to go... chemo, no chemo, mastectomy/lumpectomy... what I learned later is this thing called LVI = lymphvascular invasion... it appreas this is in my path report and makes a difference on treatment options..you may want to look at your path report and see if you have this... if you do, it means it "potentialy" got into your bloodstream...as I understand it... So, oncotype aside, I believe, there are other factors which should be weighed prior to making a decision which is right for you. AS you will see on these boards, we all have our own journey... and the second thing I learned, there are so many variations to BC.

    I hope this makes sense and helps a little... ask questions, these women are a wealth of knowledge!

  • MBCR
    MBCR Member Posts: 51
    edited March 2010

    Good Luck to you Krissy. We are all praying for you. Glad to see you are going for other opinions.

  • don23
    don23 Member Posts: 213
    edited March 2010
    Mari65 - How do they know that by doing the oncotype test that it would fall into the gray area? My diagnosis matches yours exactly - my tumor was 1.8cm as well grade 2, 0/2 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-. I did have the oncotype test done and it came back with a score of 11 which meant no chemo for me. I decided that if it came back 18 or above that I would do chemo. I did get a 2nd opinion to be sure I was doing the right thing and that 2nd opinion is the one that told me that chemo would not benefit me. I would ask your doc to do this test so you have all the information to make an informed decision.
  • eph3_12
    eph3_12 Member Posts: 2,704
    edited March 2010

    Mari65-my tumor was 1.2cm, 0/2nodes, ER+, PR+, HER2-.  My oncotype result was 42--I'd recommend gettin the test.

    (My new avatar picture is of my EXTREMELY curly back of my head.  I wish the pictures could be a little bigger so we could see more detail-for instance in front of me is a computer on which rests a frontal head shot of my curly hair; so you see me looking at me! But you don't cause it's so small!) 

  • Happypersonallaround
    Happypersonallaround Member Posts: 3
    edited March 2010

    HI, I'm Mary and I'm stage 1.  I had a lumpectomy and sentinel nodes removed; all clear.  I was wondering if anyone has had their breast (mine are dense and large) start to cave in like a line.  It's very strange.  I called the doctor but have not had a reply yet.  I think it's just the swelling gone down and normal, but who knows?  Thanks.  I'm so glad to be a part of this thread. Also I'm awaiting results on the Oncotype.  I'm 45 and premenopausal.  I would not like to have chemo but only the radiation,  I'm hoping for a very low score.

  • musiclovermom
    musiclovermom Member Posts: 245
    edited March 2010

    Hi Happy!

    I am 44 and pre menopausal too! I can't answer your question about the cave in because I chose a bilateral mastectomy but got to skip rads and chemo. My 2 Oncotype scores were 13 and 9.

    Hoping that your score is low too!

    I have been on Tamoxifen since October and doing great on it.

    Let me know if there is anything I can help with.

    Kimberly

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 9,611
    edited March 2010

    Hi Mary...I had a lumpectomy. I'm also big 38DD.

    My right breast has a empty area. is that what you mean by cave in?

    MY BS must have taken a big chunk out. It wasn't clear so I had to have re excision again.

    Is your bras size still the same on both breasts?

    Sheila

  • carolinachick
    carolinachick Member Posts: 135
    edited March 2010

    I had a lumpectomy and have a "divot" where the tumor was taken out.  Fortunately it's not noticeable when I'm dressed, but that side (my right) is somewhat smaller than my left.  Some of the area has filled in with fluid, so that has helped the lopsidedness a little.

  • Happypersonallaround
    Happypersonallaround Member Posts: 3
    edited March 2010

    Hi, thanks for responding.  It's not a divot or empty area.  It's more like a crease or line when I put my arm up.  Kind of like a long verticle valley.  Probably nothing.  I talked to my surgeon earlier.  She said it's probably fine, but she is going to look at it on Friday.  I'm grateful to have this thread to ask questions.  My bra size is still the same 36D.  It just looks wierd lately.  I'll find out Monday about chemo and radiation.,  I pray it's only radiation.  The oncotype test will hopefully be low.  Thanks again for all this support.

  • Happypersonallaround
    Happypersonallaround Member Posts: 3
    edited March 2010

    Hi Kimberly.  I just wonder why you were stage II and not one.  Your results sound so similar to mine.  Mary

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 9,611
    edited March 2010

    Mary....You can only post 5 times a day until you reach 50 posts.

    You can PM any one of us by clicking our names then click on the upper right hand side where it says  <Send member a Private message>there is no limitation on that. When you see a pink number on the Private Messages on the top of the page it means person applied to your PM

    Sheila

  • cakeisgreat
    cakeisgreat Member Posts: 188
    edited March 2010

    Hi, All!  I am finally clearheaded enough to jump on the site and say I'm so happy to "hear" all your voices again.  This was a very hard surgery, but now that I am getting a teensy bit better and a teensy bit less pain, I am so glad I did it.

    KC71579/Krissy--I live in Jackson, not far from you.  There is an INCREDIBLE Oncology team at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch.  I have great oncologists there also... Dr. Rosemary Fiore is who I have been using for my TWO cancers...bc and melanoma...for 5 years.  Very thorough.  There is also a GREAT woman breast surgeon in Monmouth who I would have used if she took my insurance, but she did give me the 2nd opinion and was AWESOME.  If interested, I'll get up and get her name for you.  Lots of other info I can give you in our area if you need.  I have done it all.  My current breast surgeon is in NYC...top doctor.  Hugs to you.

    Nicole112--how are ya!  My new boobs are actually bigger than my old ones, LOL!  The DIEP surgery was reeeeeeaaaalllyyyyy tough, but I think in the end I'll be so happy.  They look great so far, even with fresh scars!

    Seyla888--How are ya!  Hawaii her you come!  I am glad your reports came back clear!

    Once I feel better, I'm jumping on the bandwagon with y'all for losing weight.  I want to be a BABE at Disney!

  • KC71579
    KC71579 Member Posts: 8
    edited March 2010

    OMG!  YES!  PM me the info for the oncologists in Monmouth.  I went to Cancer Institute of NJ the other day and met a medical oncologist Dr. Sirena Wong.  She was awesome!  Very nice.  Unfortunately, it is the same spiel I already know though.  No one knows what to do with T1a chicks like me.  They extrapolated data from past cases, yadda yadda.  Chemo and Herceptin is an option, but it could do more damage than good for someone like me.  She was meeting with their team of doctors yesterday and re-checking all of my slides so I am waiting to hear back on their final recommendation.  One thing she told me was that if I do or don't do chemo, there is no wrong decision since we're working with the unknown.  That made me feel better, though I wish we had a "right decision" with evidence to prove it.  Data on people like me is 4-5 years out still.  Tamoxifen is a definite because of my ER/PR, and possible putting my ovaries to sleep with Lupron (so I will have lots of questions when that time comes). Checking out another oncologist tomorrow down in Forked River who is supposedly very good, Dr. Sara McGee.  She worked with a group of guys in Spring Lake that were Sloan-Kettering trained, so she's top notch too.  Shopping around ;)  Knowledge is power.  I have an amazing breast surgeon in Monmouth County, Dr. Adams in Neptune.  LOVE HIM!!  Very knowledgable and thorough, plus his bedside manner is incredible.  He operates out of Jersey Shore and his own Center for Advanced Surgery.  Let me know if you ever need his number.  Or, PM me just because you're my neighbor  :) 

    Oh, and Dr. Wong says I am one SHARP cookie that knows my stuff.  She was asking me if I had someone in the family in medicine.  I laughed and told her I had all my BC.org ladies (especially the ladies on this board and Beesie) who have my back :)  Plus, I have researched my situation nonstop for weeks since I've been home from work.  Good thing I hopefully get to go back to work Monday.  I miss my students :(  And just being around people in general.  My re-excision yesterday was a SINCH!  Except my lymph node area from the lumpectomy is all swollen and filled up with fluid again (he drained it yesterday).  BOOO! 

    Hugs to my girls :)  Thanks for all of your support.  I'm actually happy, but it could be the anxiety pill that I caved and took for the first time ever today.  No tears since :)

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 9,611
    edited March 2010

    cake.. So happy you were able to write. We missed you. Tomorrow is your one week anniversary right? You have plenty of time to look your best until OctoberWink.

    Krissy....Its funny when you said "no one knows what to do with me" I was in the same place few years ago when they just started giving Herceptin for early stage BC. I was one of the first patients to receive it. And nobody knew how I was going to react and they were watching me....

    I didn't mean funny as funny. You are young, I'm glad you are educating yourself.

    Good luck to You

    Hugs

    Sheila

  • C130sunshine
    C130sunshine Member Posts: 47
    edited March 2010

    Cake....it was good to hear from you.....((((HUGS))))

    Mari65....I agree with EPH3_12.  I was only 1 cm and my provider stated that I would not need chemo and my Oncotype DX will most likely be low.  I still got the test....it came back at 42!  You need to decide what is best for you.  Good luck and let us know.

  • LauraM
    LauraM Member Posts: 41
    edited March 2010

    I think that Chemo depends on a couple of different things, onc score is one, but now like me, they have found 3 spots of invasive, all small,  that makes mine multi-focal and the onc score doesn't matter anymore.  I am now pretty much guaranteed Chemo.  I am just praying that when they do the surgery on Monday to take out the rest of the nodes and the fatty tissue around them that they don't find anything else and I can finally start healing and fighting all this mess.  Off to the ps tomorrow and hopefully all is good there.

    Have a good night!

  • Nicole112
    Nicole112 Member Posts: 130
    edited March 2010

    CAKE, CAKE, CAKE- SO HAPPY TO HEAR YOUR VOICE, yes I really HEAR you :)

    Okay, so I want to hear all about the procedure... and I am happy that the results are GOOD! Some pain for the lifelong benefit, you are GOOD!

    Krissy- I know you are in the "throws" of this... but once you know your "plan" you will come to peace and life gets easier! Don't worry if you need some anti anxiety, can you think of any other reason why they made the drug to begin with??? You truly have reason, I still take one nightly to go to sleep... since they have shot me into menopause, with the Lupron, I have insomnia... or so I blame it on the drug!

    All, have a good night!

  • valjean
    valjean Member Posts: 1,110
    edited March 2010

    I'm off to bed, but had to stop & say HEY, CAKE, SO DANG GOOD TO SEE YOU !!

    Each day will be better than the day before.

    {{hugs to all}} 

  • mimi1964
    mimi1964 Member Posts: 851
    edited March 2010

    Hey Cake good to hear from you!!!

    So seyla888 and Pauldingmom and anyone else that is an Idol fan... what did you think the top 12?  Short and sweet... I was disappointed the Caitlin Epperly went home and that Didi stayed (don't like her, everything she sings sound the same).  Guys... thought Toddrick should have went and he did, was torn between Alex going and the guy that sang the Christina Aguillera song.  It really didn't matter because I don't like either one.  

    Renee

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 9,611
    edited March 2010

    hey Renee....I usually watch the DVR but when is elimination night Id like to watch it live.

    I cant remember all the names yet.

    But I have a feeling Crystal and big Mike will be the top 2. I feel a connection to them.

    Things might change. I watched AI from season 1 and I always voted for my favor.

    Carrie Underwood 2005 winner was the year and the same time I was DX, came home from surgery and voted.

    Wink

  • eph3_12
    eph3_12 Member Posts: 2,704
    edited March 2010

    Tim or Aaron should have gone home NOT Alex!!  And Paige should have not Caitlin!  That's my 2 cents.

  • Nicole112
    Nicole112 Member Posts: 130
    edited March 2010

    I LOVE CRYSTAL!

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