TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP
Comments
-
Yes, you have to have contributed to qualify for Medicare. However, it is still a pay-as-you-go program. My payroll and income taxes help pay for your Medicare. My daughter's payroll and income taxes will (hopefully) help pay for mine.
0 -
https://www.medicare.gov/about-us/how-medicare-is-funded/medicare-funding.html
Both Medicare Trust funds rely on taxes paid by current taxpayers. HI relies on payroll taxes; SMI relies on income taxes (funds authorized by Congress).
Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund
How is it funded?
Payroll taxes paid by most employees, employers, and people who are self-employed
Other sources, like income taxes paid on Social Security benefits, interest earned on the trust fund investments, and Medicare Part A premiums from people who aren't eligible for premium-free Part A.
Supplementary Medical Insurance (SMI) Trust Fund
How is it funded?
Funds authorized by Congress
Premiums from people enrolled in Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) and Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D)
Other sources, like interest earned on the trust fund investments
0 -
Elainetherese you beat me to it. I found something from the Kaiser Family Foundation: https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/the-facts-on-medicare-spending-and-financing/
If you scroll down a ways to How is Medicare Financed there are charts and graphs and explanatory text explaining basically what Elainetherese says above, but with percentages.
0 -
Just to set the record straight, we pay the standard amount for Part B. No subsidy, no government handouts. Ever.
According to the Part B tables, we would have to have a very large chunk of change in our portfolio to raise our yearly income to 85K, which is when any additional premium would kick in
0 -
Hi, I too am HR+ and Her2+. I have been reading and I can't seem to figure out what the EC abbreviation means. Can anyone help?
I am currently on Herceptin and perjeta every 3 weeks for a year to end in July. They did stop the perjeta during my radiation treatments and the plan is to stop it again in April for my reconstruction DIEP surgery, but I might decline that surgery, not sure yet.
My tag says I am Estrogen + and Progesterone - but I have bilateral cancer
left breast is E+ P+ Her2-
right breast is E+,P very weak (biopsy was 20% but surgical path was only .5%)and Her2+
0 -
carmstr835, I'm definitely not an expert here, but I'm awake, so I thought I'd give it a shot. There is a chemo regimen that is epirubicin and cyclophosphamide - could that be it?
0 -
carmstr835, welcome to this thread, I am sorry you had to join it but you will find a lot valuable info and support here. I know I have been mentioning EC a lot because I am on it right now, I am not in the US, I live in Europe and here they very seldon use AC but use instead EC which as Lita said epirubicin and cyclophosphamide, the grug names Ellence and Cytoxan, if I remember correctly, or they can use FEC where F stands for fluoracil.
0 -
Greetings all! My first time posting, although I have been reading and following along with your journeys. Sorry to finally be wading in over the holiday, but I am facing a difficult decision at the moment, and was hoping you amazing ladies might have some HER2+ specific info that would help guide the decision.
In September I had a 1cm triple+ tumor removed (node-negative). 2 margins showed DCIS. Had a 2nd excision which still had DCIS at one margin. Surgeon recommended that I do chemo (i just finished #8 of 12 weekly taxol/herceptin), and then return for either a 2nd re-excision or a mastectomy (at my option). He does not want me to have a mastectomy (although he will do it). He is strongly recommending a re-excision.
I finish chemo next month, and need to make this decision, but I am having a very difficult time. I thought it would be an easy decision...I am an older (single) mom of a young child, so I need to live a long time! And yet I have serious concerns about potential complications and chronic pain and discomfort. And time off work (I work for myself so it will be difficult). And replacement of the implants eventually, even if all goes well. (tissue transfer surgery is not likely going to be an option, for a variety of reasons). And of course I've been quoted all the stats which say that I am not likely to live longer with a BMX than without one.
I've been quoted all the standard stats for 10 year recurrence (5% vs 2% for mastectomy) and survival (equal), but they seem so generalized. Are there Her2 specific stats? The taxol/herceptin study, while reassuring, doesn't break down lumpectomy vs. mastectomy stats. Also, does the fact that I have diffuse DCIS around the tumor site increase my risk for recurrence? These are the things literally keeping me up at night, which can't be good for me during treatment.
Thanks in advance for any BTDT advice or cold hard numbers that could be useful here.
And may 2018 be a happier and healthier one for us all!
0 -
red332, welcome to this thread, sorry you had to join us but I assure you will receive the answers to any of your questions. I have similar stats although my tumor was slightly larger, 1,5 cm surrounded by DCIS so they removed all together menar 8 cm3. My marginal were clean after the surgery, my tumor was not located in the breast but above it, apparently there is duct tissue even there. Mastectomy was not an option for me due to the tumor location, my genetic testing came back negative so lumpectomy, chemo, rads and Herceptin, later Tamoxifen is ny treatment plan. The research shows that mastectomy and lumpectomy plus rads are equal are equal in trrms of survival. I live in Europe and the latest trend here is to preserve as much breast tissue as possible, the mastectomy is performed only when the breast cannot be saved due to dispersed DCIS like it seems to be in your case, or a multifocal tumor, either way there must be very good reasons to remove even one breast and there must be bilateral bc so they will go on doing double mastectomy. One of our prominent BS even argues for no performing any profilactical mastectomy because the majority of women who test positive for bc genes still do not get any bc. I cannot tell much about the BMX surgery but those who went through it complained a lot about both the expanders and exchange but on the other hand they feel that they have done everything to prevent it from coming back which gives them peace of mind and no one can argue about it not being important. I hope you will comfortable with your decision when you are ready to make it, take your time, listen to all the ladies here. Cherry
0 -
Red. Is this what you are asking for? This link might help. http://predict.nhs.uk/predict_v1.2.html they ask for tumor size in mm. or http://lifemath.net/cancer/ *They do ask about HER2 and following therapies etc.
Difficult decision for sure, so sorry that you are in the BC club. Let us know if we can help any further.
Melanie
0 -
red332, I had margins that included DCIS that fell within the bounds of acceptable, but my radiologist is uncomfortable with any size of margins so he did 8 sessions of focused radiation to the site of the tumor itself after the whole breast radiation. He was confident that that the radiation would zap both the margins and anything else that might have taken up shop in that breast.
The decision to have a lumpectomy vs. mastectomy, with or without reconstruction, is possibly the most personal decision one has to make in this journey. I don't think there is right or wrong decision. Many of us had a lumpectomy but some opted for reconstruction with very satisfying results. For me, it was a no-brainer as I hate being laid-up for any reason. Plus the risk of loss of sensation was a downer for both of us. Finally being able to fill out a bra adequately would have been nice, but I don't have enough extra fat to make more breasts, so it would have been whatever foreign substance they use these days.
Being a single parent of a young child must make this more difficult for you. I really hate it when BC hits younger women. It just seems so damnably unfair.
0 -
Welcome, Red332, to the club you never wanted to join. I am sad to read your story. I know that this community of women will be loving and supportive to you.
You seem very well versed on your cancer and statistics.
Here is what I offer:
1. See if the Mammaprint and Blueprint tests are available to you. You can research these on BCO. These test (or tests like them) may be the specifics for you that you want instead of generalizations.
2. Get a big sheet of paper (really big ... like trainers' use) and tape it to a wall that you will see often. Make 2 columns. Title 1 column mastectomy and the other column re-excision.
3. Under each list every thought / concern / feeling you have about a mastectomy and re-excision. Please take you time to do this. List everything ... no filters. This may take a couple of days to complete. Take your time.
4. Once you are satisfied your lists are complete, review each entry. Use a + if the entry is a positive. Use a - if the entry is a negative.
5. This exercise can give you a rational approach to your decision.
6. Then ask yourself, a year from today which decision will give you the most peace? Mastectomy? Re-excision?
7. If you decide on a mastectomy, meet with a Plastic Surgeon. This must be great relationship. Review your decision based on what the Plastic Surgeon shares.
8. Whatever you decide, have your Surgeon and Plastic Surgeon (if involved) mark EXACTLY where your incisions will be.
9. Whatever you decide, have pretty pictures made of your breasts before any additional surgery. Put them away until the day comes when you want to see them.
I hope this will be helpful for you. It was for me. I tend to stay in my head wanting facts, figures, rational pros and cons to a decision. Emotionally, I got the the point that I hated my breasts and how "they" had changed my life, my husband's life, my work. My decision became easy at that point. My decision also became easier when a different cancer was discovered in the second breast. My Surgeon said he would do whatever I wanted. That gave me control. Your Surgeon reads open to what you want as well.
I have shared before that I am very happy with my new breasts. I am fortunate that I have feeling and sensation as well as the most perky boobs of any of my friends. If it wasn't for the cancer, this outcome was great. LOL.
I will also share that whatever you decide, you will get through it and you will be stronger on the other side. My last treatment was 14 August. I take the Prolia shot every six months and Arimidex daily for 4 years, 4 months. I would not wish a cancer journey on anyone and I would not take back my cancer journey. Today, I am in a much better place because of this journey. It took a long time and a lot of snot-sobbing to get to this peace.
Best wishes. Please let me and any one else in the community know how else we can help.
Vicky
0 -
carmstr835 and red332 - sorry you have to be here but this group of women are the best. You will find tons of information and support that you can't get anywhere else because we're all in this journey together.
red332 - coachvicky nailed it, you have a tough decision to make but it is YOUR decision. I had to have a mastectomy because I had 2 tumors and enhancements on the outer side. I didn't have to make a choice between lumpectomy vs. mastectomy so I feel your angst in having to make that decision. My advice would be to ask questions, lots of questions to address all your concerns. I met with my breast and plastic surgeons multiple times with lots of questions and went back and forth between removing one or both breasts. They were very patient with me, provided a vast amount of information on single vs double and fully supported whatever decision I made. Both doctors also made sure my husband's questions were all answered as he was very hesitant initially and had his own set of concerns. I greatly appreciated the extra time they spent with him.
I am very blessed to have a PS that is extremely talented and caring. This made it easier for me to fully trust him and today I am grateful for how well my body turned out. It actually looks better than it did before and I have peace knowing the diseased breast is gone. As individuals, we must all decide what is best for us. Our bodies, tumors, response and many other factors are all so very different which requires us to seek out as much information as possible to make the right decision for ourselves.
I wish you all the best in making your decision. We are here for you so please let us know how we can help.0 -
Hi Red, I thought I would chime in my reason for bilateral mastectomy. I had bilateral idc. There were many other mri focus spits that would need to be biopsies if I chose lumpectomies. I opted for the mastectomies mostly because I did not want the radiation treatments that are required for lumpectomies, however I had lymph node involvement on the right side so I still needed the radiation. Good luck to you!
Cind
0 -
HapB, what are your ER and PR percentages? My ER was 26% and I ended up stopping tamoxifen after a year. My MO showed me info and graphs indicating the estrogen blockers are of less value for low ER percentages.
0 -
HapB - I havn't started my Anti-Estrogen pills as yet - but I wonder, do they have labwork that shows how much estrogen is in the body, and with those results, how much Anti-estrogen should one take? Are people who are on Anti_Estrogen Pills monitored for their Estrogen? Or is this a mute point/ or Am i misunderstanding the point of taking Estrogen blockers?
Also, is there a time limit of taking the Blockers? If your this uncomfortable, maybe wait and get a second/third opinion? Just my opinion. Your going to have to make the decision. Best of luck finding your answers.
0 -
I’ve been on Anastrozole for 45 days now and I have no side effects at all from it. I’ve had 1 infusion of Herceptin and my food taste is going away again, it says altered food taste can happen.
I’ve been in menapause for 4 years now and am 56. My BP is ~140 now, I was on bp meds for a few years but while on chemo my bp was 90/45so they had me to stop the meds unless it starts to get high again.0 -
Even after the ovaries stop producing estrogen, the adrenal glands and fat tissue continue to contribute to estrogen production. Personally, I would try the Anastrozole as I was 95% ER+. But, I never had such awful SEs from any of my breast cancer treatments.
That said, the only time I ever called 911 (acute pancreatitis), my insurance company gave me a really hard time when it came for paying for the ambulance. I'm not sure your MO's advice was super helpful!
0 -
Happy New Year ladies!
0 -
Happy New Year, everybody
0 -
Happy New Year 🎊. May 2018 be better.
0 -
HapB - Can you get a 3rd opinion? I know its such a hassle. I live alone and whenever my pain specialist gave me new medication, I felt the same way as you - I would stare at the bottle, read the side effects and be terrified I would have such a severe reaction I would have to call 911. And there were a few times I should have. I can't make the decision for you, and I don't know the whole story, but if it was me - I wouldn't take the new pills until I got more information. Quality of life. What kind of life would you have terrified your going to have a stroke or heart attack? Research! Best to you HapB. Thinking of you.
0 -
Hapb, based on the stats you provided it seems the benefit in your case is not worth the risk. The small percentage for all the SEs and anxiety it is causing seems overwhelming. The decision is yours to make as our bodies and how we each respond to the drugs is so unique. We are all faced with these difficult decisions at some point when diagnosed and all I can offer is that I chose to skip chemo in favor of limiting damage to my body. I worry that was a risky decision since there are no hard facts for survival with just HP but I am happy I did the trial if it leads to better treatment in the future. I am on Letrazole now and my SEs are not as bad as they were on Arimidix - another example of how our bodies respond differently. Aches and pains are tolerable if they don't hinder you too much from quality of life but damage to your heart and the potential for a heart attack or stroke is pretty scary.
I'm sorry you are faced with such a tough decision. Your faith will lead you in the right direction. I pray you find peace with whatever you decide. You deserve to continue feeling better and moving forward to happiness.
Happy New Year everyone, may we all be cancer free and healthy in 2018!0 -
Happy New Year All.
When I got the "news" in June 2016, I didn't know if I would see another New Year.
New Year 2017, I didn't know if I had the strength to finish treatment nor how I would be on the other side.
This morning, I awake alive, healthy, grateful and blessed.
Stay strong.
Vicky
0 -
I am coming up on my 1 year "anniversary " and i am such an emotional wreck. How about you ladies you have reached that milestone? I have so many feelings and i know i am not the same women i was before. My husband does bit understand.
I am scheduled for a survivor counselor at my cancer center. Anyone have this type of appointment?
0 -
Thanks, CoachVicky and everyone who responded to my post. Hope everyone had a peaceful new year. This decision is causing me more stress than the chemo, quite frankly. At the moment, I am inclined to do the re-excision, if only bc that will give more more information/certainty. I tolerated and recovered from the first two surgeries very well. If the margin is still not clear, then mastectomy would be an easy choice. And if it turns out that pathology turns up nothing at all, then it's an indication that the chemo/herceptin is doing its job.
Tomorrow I'm sure I will change my mind again. But I'm seeing my oncologist and hoping she can help me with more info/clearer statistics (she had been deferring to the surgeon up to this point).
0 -
Happy New Year, everyone...
Hapb, I can Completely understand your terror of triggering any issues with your heart that is going through so much. I definitely concur with you and others here that taking a break at the very least is a good idea. Let your heart have a 'normal' back. And in that timeframe, if there is a way to get further expert advice on this, that would be good.
Shelabela, you are completely normal. I am 1.5 years out and I still struggle. Christmas was very hard last year, and apparently that is normal (not to mention it being your one year). Just this morning I explained to my husband that I am no longer the same, that I always feel close to the edge, that I know my anxiety is up...he is a highly supportive husband, but I know that my quickness to meltdown is starting to get hard for him. We are all different to begin with, so how we cope with a trauma is different too. What you are feeling is to be expected. I believe I need help, and you might need it too. Many outside our experience think that once treatment is done, that we will 'come back to normal'. I understand why they think this...they too want to move on and they so badly want us to feel better. So they see hair regrowth and a nice sweater and your smile, and so badly want to say "yesssss!!! Wahoo!!!"...so I don't hate this in others; it's human nature. But the reality of this is that we've been fundamentally affected in a manner that's is so far beyond the physical. We not only have to heal our souls, but learn a new way of living. How can we expect to "nail" it in a year? God Bless those who can. My New Year's resolution? Get help, love myself, go easy on me. Cradle yourself like a baby. Sorry for the dramatic statement, but you writing this was poignant. I hear you, and wish I could group hug you and everyone here. You deserve every blessing xox
0 -
Yes, AIs are associated with mood swings and HapB said it best -- after a few weeks on Aromasin, I felt like I had PMS! But, with the help of Celexa, I feel better.
I anticipated that Aromasin would probably make me moody because I suffered from extreme moodiness while PMSsed and pregnant. Hormonal changes just do that to me.
0 -
shelabela, I had it all in mind and red what Posey wrote and I have nothing to add, I will second every word. The link coachvicky shared a couple of months ago, the one called Dear cancer patient, I am sorry I dis not get it... I sent it to my cancer rehab councelor, to my manager, I forced my husband to read it, well, because he does not want to read anything that is bc-related, he says he has enough of it already and I just think well, yes, he gets enough, what about me? But Posey is right, everybody gets tired. My dad is not a people person and when I got this diagnosis and he once asked me how I was doing when I was doing awful, and I answered, well, dad, how am I doing? I got cancer. He felt offended, we communicated through my mom who has been staying with us, he told my mom, what shall I tell her? I tried, she snapped at me that she had cancer. So he chose not to talk to me at all. My mom said, honey, you know how he is, like what is here to talk about? So my dad has just been diagnosed with prostata cancer, they are not even sure about staging yet, poor mom flew home at once.Now he wants to talk and he appreciates me calling and writing, he is proud his friends are not leaving him in limbo. Now he gets me, or us all who has been living with a diagnosis. Yesterday I called them to wish a happy New Year and asked him how he is holding up and he was sad and said that everything is still uncertain and now he got this cancer. And I thought isn't it ironic, nobody gets us unless.. You should tell it to your husband and your councelor to everybody that it lingers on, you are on the mens not only on the outside but on the inside as well. You are so tough, shelabela, you will get through it, just make yourself a priority right now. You know, these anti-depressives helped me a lot. But yesterday I did not take it because I had half of bottle of champagne, oh, how I missed it)))) Hugs,Cherry
0 -
I was diagnosed with stage 2b bc last year. Had surgery, 6 rounds tchp, radiation and continuing herceptin. I havehad 13 herceptin infusions but heart and lung function are down. I have to decide whether to complete the last 5 infusions or stop and begin neratinib. Anyone had to make this decision?
0
