TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP
Comments
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Kathec - so sorry you are dealing with that. Cancer sucks.....there are days when I would like to just bury my head back in the sand. Not to be unaware of cancer in general, but to be unaware of mine. This makes our heads spin, and some days it is really difficult, if not impossible, to talk ourselves back down. There are also those days when we wish we didn't have to talk ourselves down in the first place. Peaceful, calming thoughts headed your way.
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Ahh, thanks guys. I'm sure I'm ok. I just have been having a ton of anxiety and hot flashes today. I have never gotten those and they are small, short, but annoying. I spent the day in a freezing cold hotel conference room at a statistics conference, and I was still sweating here and there.
I think it is rrhoids. I've been a mess down there since chemo. It was absolutely my very worst symptom of the whole thing and I used to wish I could ice my butt during taxol, but knew that wasn't the problem. What toxin goes in, must come out. But this evening I did Dr. Google and they kept saying I should be able to get rid of them after some brief home treatment. They did really wane for awhile, but are back in full force. Sorry for the TMI.
I'll call my BS and see if I can get a diagnostic mammo in a few weeks (on the 23rd). I had a breast exam by my NP at the end of March...she's good at it. I think I'm just being an anxiety ridden nut. Can you tell? I'm up a 1 a.m. with a full day tomorrow. Cancer suxs.
Hang in there Kathec. You are too wonderful for all of this sh!t from your ex-BS. My Mom is always telling me to consider the source and you know, I think I am finally going to try to do that. There are miserable people everywhere. We don't deserve them and you had the right to kick that one to the curb!
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thanks lago. i learned from you how to not let them bully, but it for sure is not my first nature.
pbrain, i will for sure be thinking of you on that date, and there is no such thing here amongst friends, as TMI! i am sorry, that has to be very uncomfortable. love you guys, and night to all. i am sooo glad we have each other to learn from, and to talk to.
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U gals know I don't pop in often but I read everyday and PBrain and Kath I feel so bad for both of u for u'r worry. Of course I agree with everyone do whatever it takes to have the tests to relieve u'rself of all this anxiety and who cares if u think u'r Dr thinks u. ask to many questions , they're their for the answers and to care for u, not to judge u. And if they don't understand the feelings u have tough they need to learn how to deal with how u feel not just disease alone/ They should know once cancer invades our bodies all other concerns that anyone has should be addressed with respect. That doesn't mean anything comes back but their patients are in their hands and need emotional support too. So don't back down with what u want to say or what tests u feel u need. I think that this rotten disease not only affects our bodies in so many ways, it likes to play mind games too. And u'r Drs. should know that. I really feel like everything is OK for u two, but u need to feel that.
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Keeping Robin, katthec and pbrain in my thoughts and sending all positive outcome waves your way. Btw Robin - I love how your hair is coming in - looks so cute!!
Pbrain - I had my daughter when I was 27 and developed hemorrhoids when I was pregnant - along with a fissure. I had them for 27 years and i would have years that they would bleed and be painful and I would see it. The fissure was painful and it finally went away ( had it for about a year) and stopped hurting but the hemorrhoids remained I went to doctors about it a number of times and they told me if it wasn't very painful or blocking my bowel movements that they wouldn't do anything - so I had them until 2 years ago when one of them became inflamed and actually did block my bowel movement somewhat. I ended up with surgery to have them removed. Point being is that alot of people that have hemorrhoids have ones that periodically bleed and most peoples don't just go away as they are always being irritated. Talk to your doctor about getting them banded or removed. My hubby had them also and had periodic bleeding - they sent him for a colonoscopy and while they were in there the doc removed the hemorrhoids and now he doesn't see blood anymore but his went on for months and months and he had normal bowel movements during this time. They just are not located in a place that makes them easy to heal. Get them and your breast checked and stay away from ledges unless you have one of those propeller beanie hats on.
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pbrain, apparently there is an office procedure that can be done for hemorrhoids. We found out about this when DH was prepping for colonoscopy and developed some rather large ones. The gastro doc that did the colonoscopy said if they didn't get better with at home remedies he could take care of them at his office, quick and easy. They did resolve on their own, but they gave us a pamphlet on it. Unfortunately I can find it right now.
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"I used to wish I could ice my butt during taxol"
OK that's my crack up for the day. Too funny. Pbrain. Like Linda says you can get them removed but these days they don't rush to do that. I had a really huge one before chemo that I couldn't get rid of. My PCP told me to soak in a tub with warm water. It actually worked but I had the damn thing for over a month. I guess there is some kind of "flappy skin" there because my gastroenterologist noticed it when I had my colonsocopy 3 years ago. Now is that TMI. BTW I have not had a hemorrhoid since my first chemo. So you may get this under control. Prep H gave some relief but never helped get rid of that big one.kathec most people in general don't question their doctors. Over the years I've had a few asshole doctors (that I fired). I learned.
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good news - no uptake on petscan anywhere
Bad news - not scar tissue, it is a lymph node, and throw in another one above my clavicle for good measure. So fine needle biopsy turned into 2 separate core biopsies. The axillary LN had no flow to it, however the one above the clavicle did.
Should find out more in a few days. So freakin' frustrated...
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robin - hate that good news, bad news, thing! Hoping this is nothing.
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Dammit Robin! I really wanted to hear good news. But they still don't know if it's cancer right.
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In my thoughts Robin - I am hoping that since nothing lit up that means that the nodes are just inflamed due to some infection or something?
Got the taxotere twitchy eye today - comes and goes - sometimes it twitches really fast. Also - hairs are dropping starting about an hour ago- otherwise doing good - had my 14 day bloodwork today - WBC and RBC ANC all normal or slightly high.
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Robin, hopin it is nothing, and maybe just angry nodes, angry about taking up the work of the surgically removed nodes! no uptake is great!
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Have at least a 2 day wait on the biopsies. The lower node was 8mm x 8mm. No idea if cancerous. Hoping if they find cells, they are dead from all my chemo, and other therapies. I am only 4 weeks PFC tomorrow. Still on weekly Herceptin and taking tamoxifen. The upper node was only slightly larger than normal according to the radiologist. However, it was big enough that he felt I would be sent back if he did not do biopsy today. So he got my consent and called RO for an order.... The RO discussed 2 options for me to think about when he called me about the scans and biopsy. Surgery and rads, or just a rad boost to the affected area. So I have some thinking to do.....
New mantra... NO UPTAKE, NO UPTAKE
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robin I'm sending u positive vibes!!!!
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NO UPTAKE! NO UPTAKE! MMMMMMMMMMMMM
i have been having inflammed nodes, too, Robin, and they did biopsy. mine were only 3mm apeice, and i cant believe they could even biopsy them. Man who did it said it's like trying to catch a grain of rice in a bag of jello. but he said,That's why HE was the one doing it, because he was very good at it. and he was so sweet and funny. he never callled it my breast, he was like east indian, and kept calling it my milk producing unit! but he was great, they were benign, and he took me into his darkened office, and showed me all the pics. And gave me his cell phone #, to call, he said if i became uncertain again, or had any more questions. no other dr of mine has given me there #. and i did resist, for a whole day and a half until i did become uncertain and had more questions. what a great guy. All this was about 2 months ago. of course, i DO think that they are bigger than that now, but i did see rad onc today, and he assured me all was well. that works with me for a little while, but WHY is my big question.
So, with all you had going on in there, thats why you had lumpectomy first, and then mastectomy? and i do love your fuzzy head, it fits you well.
havent forgotten you, either, Pbrain, i could see your smiling shiny blue-headed avatar pic in my minds eye all day!
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Thanks about the hair! It looks blonde but is really a wild silver color. Reminds me of Billy Idol.
Margins were clear with LX and ALND, but less than 1mm so not wide enough. I did not have enough breast tissue left for re-excision, so MX it was.... I pretty much wanted a BMX but my BS is very into breast conservation. My left breast is clean and has been throughout all of this. If BRCA comes back + "lefty" will be joining "righty" along with my ovaries. Really thinking BRCA will be negative, but there is always a "person zero" in a family history. My daughter is 23, so it is important to find out. The outcome could change her whole screening procedure.
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i can't believe you have a 23 yr old daughter!
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thats what mine said, too! proof that i am too, and i go everyday too! too funny! i just wonder if everybody is like that? before treatment they never mentioned it.
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Thanks you guys for all of your support, but first I have to say this ROBIN, YOU ARE 50????? HOLY CRAP! YOU LOOK LIKE 22!!
Ok, very reassuring about the rroids. I'm so done with them and they really are so much better than during chemo. I used to cry when I felt the urge to go, which was so often because of the big D. I did talk to my NP about them many times and she said she felt I should just keep on going, didn't think surgery or office procedures were necessary and she gave me a steroidal cream which I'm sure I probably have many refills on. I think my problem is that voodoo from my coworker who thinks I should have died instead of her sister. Her sister had rectal cancer, so I guess I'm worrying about her sticking pins in my voodoo doll butt and wishing for my death.
So sweet, my brother called me tonight and said if I needed him, he'd come out from Philly to go to the BS appt I have. It warmed my heart. I told him no, I'm not that freaked. But I am going to call tomorrow, confirm my appt and ask for a diagnostic mammo on the right breast.
Robin, many prayers, but I just know you are a-ok. With all of that treatment, you are ok.
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Pbrain. A statistics conference! Seriously. No wonder you have the 'rrhoids!
I have had IBS forever, birthed 4 babies (3 really close together), @$#%#% chemo, and crap. Have you bought a tub of Tucks and tucked one in your tushie added the thickest pantie liner to your drawers and then gone for the day? Might help the pain. Going with no uptake for others, good outcomes, and kick the dumb asses to the curb.
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Robin I too thought you were in your 20's. What the hell are you eating? I want some
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Iago - rofl....all the wrong stuff according to my PCP.... I think no makeup, minimal tanning and Dove soap, along with genetics....
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restarted my tamoxifen after my break for my exchange surgery, and holy bizarre SE, batman!
My thermostat and internal clock are all wonky. I'm not really having hot flashes per se, but I'm hot for about 2-3 hours every night as I'm trying to go to sleep. ( my husband keeps rolling over and going, " you're only this warm when you're pregnant - what's wrong?" I'm not pregnant btw, because I finally got a period again after it taking a 3 month hiatus).
Aaaaaand, I can't go to sleep no matter how tired I am. Granted, last week I was still taking a Valium before bed to prevent the overnight/ first thing in the morning aches. Anyone else have a difficult re-entry into the world of Tamoxifen after taking a break for surgery?
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McKatherine I don't remember. Did you try Luprin (ovary suppression) with one of the AIs? I know many have said the SE from AI isn't as bad as Tamoxifen. Granted being younger it seems the hot flashes seem to be a bit more intense.
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oh boy have I missed a lot here!
Gonna forget to address some very important posts but ...
Special K
You are one fierce , brave gal! You were already one of our foremost experts on this entire process ... Almost all of your knowledge gained the hard way and now more issues! Your attitude is an incredible inspiration.
Bren
Sooo sorry about your mom and what you both are facing at this time!
PBrain, Robin & kathec
Important to remember that since I've been in this forum over 2 years we have faced hundreds of anxiety filled tests for our ladies and most have been benign issues.
Also important not to bash yourselves for your anxieties about side effects and physical changes. That is our JOB as survivors. We must be alert to changes in our bodies. Routine md visits & tests only go so far.
Recent studies show fully 25%... I personally believe more.... Of breast cancer survivors suffer some form of PTSD. This is a real problem for us survivors. Don't feel guilty. Talk to someone about it but don't ignore stuff that worries you!
Thanks all for being there for each other!
We get by with a lot of help from our friends.
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ashla - thanks!
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Back from BS...surgery tomorrow. Not BC, but not sure what one of the areas is. The lymph on clavicle is okay. Not BC either, still waiting on lymphoma testing. BS does not feel that is what we are dealing with. RO is not happy about surgery, wanted to rad boost area. BS said no because of LE risk being too high of inflaming it. BS won. RO has now scheduled another sim on Monday to make sure surgery didn't change anything. MO is trying to reschedule Herceptin from tomorrow to Friday, but echo is smack in the middle of the day in a different city. Daughter arrives at airport tomorrow night. Head spinning a bit.
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robin thinking of u and wishing u all the best!!!!
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Wow Robin - so much going on - wishing you all the best and so far mostly good news - just keep it coming!!
I got buzzed tonight and developed a new SE - a second head
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