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Ladies in their 30s

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  • Skittlegirl
    Skittlegirl Member Posts: 138
    edited October 2015

    I had a PET scan prior to chemo starting to make sure there weren't any areas. Some other unrelated stuff popped up, so more appointments, but it's secondary to the cancer treatment .

  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 391
    edited October 2015

    I had an mri and a CT scan befor chemo to make sure cancer hadn't spread. No PET though.

  • StefLove
    StefLove Member Posts: 201
    edited October 2015

    I didn't have a PET either, just MRI and CT scan but a few of my friends are telling me to push for a PET. :(

  • LillieRose
    LillieRose Member Posts: 46
    edited October 2015

    maxdog- I'm not a big poster.. More of a lurker! Haha but I wanted to tell you that I have never had ANY scans.... Just Mamos and ultrasounds. I am 30 and just finished treatment for TNBC. I am in Boston at Dana-Farber and I also got a second opinion at MGH with the head of breast oncology. I've always had a really hard time with no scans but they all have explained it to me like this... We are all different and our tumor size, location, node status Ect... All play into a scan descison. My doc said that scans can bring up B9 things that delay treatment or cause more harm to your body if they biopsy. She told me that people get clear scans and still comes back OR no scans and they are fine... It's all a crap shoot! She told me to listen to my body and should anything come up they will of course scan. So for me I'm hoping to never get one! Good luck 💛

  • maxdog
    maxdog Member Posts: 47
    edited October 2015

    Thanks for the replies ladies!


  • cajunqueen15
    cajunqueen15 Member Posts: 689
    edited October 2015

    I had a PET scan after my bilateral when they found cancer in the sentinel nodes. They wouldn't do it before that. Praise God it was negative.

  • molly1976
    molly1976 Member Posts: 78
    edited October 2015

    No scans for me, either. My MO said they only do PET scans for stage III. I want one anyway!

  • 27heart
    27heart Member Posts: 83
    edited October 2015

    I got a PET scan as my cancer is rather advanced. My ovaries lit up so I had to go for some gynae checkups to clear my ovaries. Ovaries were cleared and that was a great peace of mind.

  • Ddsmomma
    Ddsmomma Member Posts: 2
    edited October 2015

    Hi everyone! Is anyone else on an aromatase inhibitor with Lupron shots and experiencing joint pain. I started this combo 4 moths ago and for the past month have had significant pain in my left hip. Despite ibuprofen it still wakes me up at night.

  • cajunqueen15
    cajunqueen15 Member Posts: 689
    edited October 2015

    hi 27hearts. Your signature line made me giggle.

    I am not, but will be starting one in the summer after my ooph. Is that a common side effect? How is early menopause? I have no idea what to expect.


  • Ddsmomma
    Ddsmomma Member Posts: 2
    edited October 2015

    Joint and bone pain is listed as a side effect but my pain seems to only be in the one hip. I haven't had too much trouble with the other side effects- a few hot flashes. The worst part of the joint pain is worrying that it might be metastases. If I knew it was just the meds I would probably be able to sleep better!

  • aggiemegs
    aggiemegs Member Posts: 86
    edited October 2015

    Ddsmomma - I have read a lot that says the pain from Neulasta can often be the worst in areas where you've had problems before. For me, mine settled in to my lower back and right hip, both places I've had previous trouble. I also had a few hours of left knee pain; again, an area I've had problems with in the past.

  • Alibeths
    Alibeths Member Posts: 167
    edited October 2015

    we are all so young. ;

  • suzer
    suzer Member Posts: 4
    edited October 2015

    Hi all,

    I have a PET today. My oncologist told me this is standard for anyone starting chemo, regardless of staging (which I do Wednesday), but I'm sure every facility is different. I can't wait to eat all the carbs after.

    Neoadjuvant chemo starts Wednesday. Going for my port tomorrow. I'm glad it's all moving quickly!

  • maxdog
    maxdog Member Posts: 47
    edited October 2015

    Ddsmomma-within 2 days of starting Arimidex my knee was so painful, I could barely walk up stairs. It is a very common side effect. I used to not be able to sleep b/c of elbow pain-of all things! 600mg of ibuprofen took care of that, even though I shouldn't take it as i am on a blood thinner form post op dvt. I am almost crippled getting out of bed in the am and after sitting. It does work out enough for me run a couple of miles a few days a week. Yoga seems to help quite a bit as well. I am now having some big issues with my neck which I believe is related to meds. I have oncology follow up next week and will discuss.

  • Stephmoen
    Stephmoen Member Posts: 184
    edited October 2015

    had a pet scan pre and post chemo very thankful I did gives me a piece of mind although I had a spot on my liver slightly light up that drs were convinced wasnothing and I had another pet to prove this so it can cause anxiety!

  • Stephmoen
    Stephmoen Member Posts: 184
    edited October 2015

    I also asked for a brain mri for myself that turned put good as well I think it's important for baseline scans

  • 27heart
    27heart Member Posts: 83
    edited October 2015

    Well there seems to be too little of us in the 20s thread, so I thought I would chime in on the 30s since I'm in my late 20s. We shouldn't lose our humour, even without our health, right? ;)

    This is random, but my neuropathy is making me think I'm going to faint anytime because numb extremes were always what I experienced before blacking out.

  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 391
    edited October 2015

    Dang it now I want a PET scan. Wonder if its a toss up-n tumor markers or PET? My onc likes tumor markers..

  • Stephmoen
    Stephmoen Member Posts: 184
    edited October 2015

    and my dr won't do tumor markers but easily gave me scans so you might be right littleblue

  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 391
    edited October 2015

    He seems to think there's no reason to scan unless I have symptoms. I guess by the time you have symptoms, you would be stage 4 anyway....

  • cajunqueen15
    cajunqueen15 Member Posts: 689
    edited October 2015

    we are young, but we are strong! I am feeling great, hoping my young age helps me to manage the chemo SE better. I am also channeling my inner Sade today!

  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 391
    edited October 2015

    Cajun, it will. You will bounce back fast after chemo too. Also, being strong helps us handle tougher treatment that might not be an option if we were older.

  • rhp268
    rhp268 Member Posts: 15
    edited December 2015

    PET scans are really only helpful to detect things like bone mets. MRIs are used for soft tissue (organs). Pet scans are also limited in that they only pick up uptake/ tumors greater than 1cm. Not to mention that they're harmful. Unless you are concerned about bone mets, MRIs are the test to seek for follow up scans.

  • StefLove
    StefLove Member Posts: 201
    edited December 2015

    thanks rhp! I didn't know all the details but was always wondering why I didn't get a PET scan

  • rhp268
    rhp268 Member Posts: 15
    edited December 2015

    anytime :)

  • inks
    inks Member Posts: 57
    edited December 2015

    I got the results of my bone density test today and the T-score of my femur is at -1.1. The electronic system says low bone density and mild risk of fracture. FRAX is for 40yo and up but I still ran it and it puts me at only 2% risk of fracture which in my opinion is great. I was on exemestane for almost a year but swithched to generic Arimidex due to side effects (I don't think it's any better). So at this point I don't even know what to think- exemestane is supposed to be slightly better for bones than the other AIs. And how dense are the bones of 39yo supposed to be anyways? The test was ordered by my MO but I have an appointment with the PC next week and I wonder what she thinks about the results.

    Anyone else under 40 on AI and had the DEXA scan yet?

  • LM070917
    LM070917 Member Posts: 68
    edited December 2015

    I recently got diagnosed with stage 3, grade 3 BC at 34 yrs old. Mine is 90% ER positive, so i guess thats something with good treatment responses. Had surgery and currently undergoing dose dense (every 2 weeks for 4 months) TAC chemo. Side effects not too bad, just horrible metal taste in mouth and a bit of fatigue. Scheduled for rads in march, once chemo has finished.

    I have no children, but underwent IVF and ended up with two frozen embryos :) Just wondering if anyone else has gone down the IVF route prior to chemo.. I know its miles off for me, but has anyone on here had children after BC which is estrogen receptive and how long did they wait?

  • cajunqueen15
    cajunqueen15 Member Posts: 689
    edited December 2015

    hi inks... Not yet, but coming soon. I start rads in 6-7 weeks, bone scan to follow, then ooph and AIs

  • Stephmoen
    Stephmoen Member Posts: 184
    edited December 2015

    Cajun I'm interested in evervolimos trial how did you get into it

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