Canadians in British Columbia
Comments
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Doldieone1: I felt the lump (turned out to be a 1.8 cm tumor) 4 months after my screening mammogram. I even asked the lady who performed the mammo if what I suspected was a lump. She touched the area and said no. Since the result came back "normal", I did not think about it again.
The person who broke my biopsy result/cancer diagnosis to me turned out to be my surgeon. I was also suggested to have a lumpectomy plus radiation. I only learned later that there is a chance of positive margin (% depending on which stats to look at), in which case re-excision is needed. That was what happened in my case tthough the second surgery was simpler. To decide on lumpectomy vs mastectomy was not easy going into the second surgery, the former means more extensive surgery w/reconstruction, while the latter would mean no radiation. Something I also learned later that left breast radiation carries more risk to the heart that the right side, esp when the tumor is in the lower part. Several of my friends have done radiation after mastectomy on the left side and told me they are fine after RT so far though.
Best of luck to you!Hope your treatment is uncomplicated.
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Hello everyone!
I haven't been on the site for a while.....I feel extremely sad to see so many ladies joining the BC club. Please know that we are here for you !
Welcome home Marian- so glad to hear that your trip was uneventful & you made it safely back home. It's so nice of you to host the 3rd annual potluck on Nov.21. Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend this year as my daughter's wedding shower is on the same day. I am just recovering from my last surgery (stage 2 breast reconstruction) I will be in touch soon.
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Thanks BeachLife for telling me your story. It is scary when you get the diagnosis and talking to people like you has helped me a bit. My surgery has now been set for November 10, so hopefully everything goes well.
Take care you all!!
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Goldieone1 That's pretty fast. Hope it goes well for you! If you are taking supplements, breast cancer patients normally need vitamins B, C, D among other things. Take care!
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wendy3 sorry I did not respond earlier but I am looking forward to meeting you. Election kind of got in my way for the past week.
Annecy I was trying to find your # on my phone and sorry about the reunion but great to hear about the shower. How did the surgery go? My trip was hardly uneventful though yes I did get home safely! It was one of the hardest treks of my life!
Goldieone, are you going for a lumpectomy revision on Nov. 10? I find it hard sometimes going up and back to see the previous posts so sorry if I missed something!
BeachLife, am also confused as to what is next for you? Maybe both you and Goldieone could post your pathology and procedures? It has been a while since I added to mine but I think it is under your profile.
She, if you check here, I can't fine your # on my cell phone as I think Rogers deletes history after a while so call me again~~my number is in the PM
Also, the potluck for old and new BCO sisters is still on~~November 21 at my house in Vancouver at noon. PM me for address etc. and I will try to find the list from last year to email everyone from then.
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I did finally write a new post on my blog and reading it myself after posting, for me the big positive was that after 3 years, I am actually forgetting "anniversaries". I remembered that my wedding anniversary was Oct. 15 but forgot it was also the day for my first chemo 3 years ago. Wow.
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Marianlisa Thank you for mentioning me. My next treatment includes radiation and Tamoxifen. I have put both off for a little while due to concern about side effects (tumor left side 5 clock). Really want to know how others handle similar situations.0
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Hi Ladies
Unfortunately, I won't be attending this lovely lunch in November, as it will be right after my 4th AC treatment. Maybe next year!
Beachlife, from what I understand, the recommendation is at least one positive node gets radiation - I just met with my radiation oncologist this week, and that is what he said. 5 years ago, this was not standard of care, which then was 4 nodes positive and less did not get radiation - some studies have come back and they say now there are great benefits to all with at least one positive node to receive radiation.
So I don't know your situation, if you have nodes positive, but please consider it. My Rad Onc gave me an actual cross section of a CT scan of a woman's body showing the "mapping" of the radiation waves and how they would potentially affect heart, lungs, ribs, etc. He was confident that due to my strong and healthy lung/heart, etc. that there would be only minimal risk and the benefits far outweight the risks. He also said that any affects from radiation won't show up for 20 years at least. I again, don't know your situation, but something to think about.
Have a great weekend!
Kim
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Kimmer33: Thank you very much for the very helpful info, it is greatly appreciated, esp. I can see that based on yr DX, you have more BC to deal with now than me. My sentinel node is negative, and there is no lymph-vascular invasion found on the path report. 9 out of 10 chance I do not need RT; no need for RT if I have a mastectomy (I only had a lumpectomy). I am more concerned abou distant recurrence, which is higher based on my oncoType (Really appreciate the test so I do not need to worry about chemo!). Some women I know had mastectomy or lumpectomy followed by RT (some plus chemo), most are doing well w/o obvious s/e, one coughs; one (2mm DCIS, 2 lumpectomies + radiation) has a new stage IV lung cancer (with brain mat) many years later, another (don't know her DX, 2 lumpectomies, then mastectomy + reconstruction +chemo, RT) has stage IV mat (bone, lung, etc. ) 4 years later even on hormone treatment. There are also women I know who do well but for one reason or another w/o completing all standard recommended treatments, but they really changed their life style, stopped working long hours, let go of emotional baggages, got active (dance seems to be a very good activity), eat healthy, all the things we are supposed do do, but got pushed aside in our modern life of stress. With each choice, you gain something, and lose something else, there is no win-win in cancer treatment, just have to weigh and balance, which is easier said than done.
I wish you the best of luck in yr journey!
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Hey Beachlife
Good thing you don't need to worry about it then, with negative nodes. Lucky!
My oncotype came back super low, 9, but still decided with chemo because of that stupid positive node. So I do already have a low-risk of recurrence, and will hold onto that forever.
I do believe after all the reading I've done, that altering what you eat (eliminating those darned sugars & processed food especially) can really help prevent recurrence, as well as exercise, exercise, exercise, which is something I really have to work on.
All the best!
Kim
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Hi Marian,
On November 9 I go for Sentinel Node Biopsy and on November 10 I go for the Lumpectomy. I guess I will have to wait about 14 days for the results. The waiting will be worst I guess. I was told by my surgeon that I will go then for radiation but I guess we will find out more after the results come in.
But one step at a time.
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Goldieone, I had the sentinel node biopsy done at the same time as my lumpectomy~~with the dye injected at St. Paul's a few hours prior to my lumpectomy which was at Mt. St. Joseph's Hospital. Where are your procedures being done and if you don't mind saying, who is your breast surgeon? You may have said earlier but just catching up here. The waiting game I called it each time and indeed that is hard. Try to stay active and busy even though that is easier said than done! I had to wait for pathology too before the next steps. As you say, one step at a time.
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Kimmer33 I agree Excerise exercise exercise. I still have my lovely Tumour they will not be removing it so I notice a huge difference after working out at the gym in the morning in just the way it feels. Also no sugar for me no omega 6 oils ( canola, safflower, vegetable) no pork no beef no red meat of any kind. No processed sausage. Diet completely changed over the last few months.
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wendy3, I think I forgot to respond to your post about the get-together potluck~~I think that is a better name than reunion as it may be that for some but we hope to welcome new sisters too and anyone from BC too with BC!
Just bring anything you like~~that seems to have worked well in the past. Send me a PM and I will give you address etc.
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wendy3, why arent they removing the tumour? What stage are you, i am not able to see your profile...
Kim
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Kimmer33
I'm stage four because a bone met was detected on my rib and C2. They told me at the Bc cancer agency Dr. Chia who I have since changed to another doctor as well as Dr. Noelle Davies they want to use the tumour as a marker to see if treatment is working. Wow that was a sentence anyway I feel right from the onset I have had some of the worst care imaginable. My blind trust in doctors is gone forever.
Wendy
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Wren they didn't want to remove it. Davis took my case to a discussion board of surgeons in July also (I think to back her up a bit) they agreed it would not be beneficial at this time. Having said that the tumour has shrunk from four and a half cm to two so my oncologist reaction is you are doing something right. She has me on tamoxifen but I have cut my dose in half over the last few days and I think I will stop it completely eventually. Never wanted to take it and now that I learn all I have about it I REALLY don't want to take it. But I need to make that plunge.
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Good morning Wendy3 - Are you on any other hormonal treatment other than Tamoxifen?
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Nope nothing else Dr. Simmons did offer some bone medication that would have been given intravenously but I said no thank you after reading about it online. I feel amazing lately the tumour is a lot smaller and I have lots of energy and appetite which was a big problem in June and July. So something is working getting used to organic vegan cooking is a whole another ball of wax. Lots to learn. Mikarae get yourself some CDB capsules they contain no THC at all so you wouldn't get high just better. I may come to eat my words one day but as I've learnt in the world of cancer it's all about the now. I'm sad to see that so many people are so against alternative medicine. Why not do everything?
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Mikarae there is a place in Kelowna where you can get them if you are interested. PM me if you want that info.
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Goldieone 1 Like Marian, I also had my sentinel node done the same day as the lumpectomy. It is interesting to learn a variation, I am wondering why there have to be two surgeries one day apart.0
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Wendy3 Glad to learn that Tam works for you and you can tell it does. I guess for most people it is hard to tell if it works. Do you have s/e? Exercise, nutrition and other life style changes not only provide us with a healthy foundation, but also give a sense of control. Excuse my ignorance, what is CBD? I am also interested in natural healing methods, I have seen two natural path doctors and a Chinese acupuncturist/herbalist. Take care!0
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BeachLife CDB are cannabinoids that are in the hemp plant more commonly referred to as pot. One can purchase the capsules without the THC so no funny business. Or you can also purchase the Phoenix tears which is hemp oil. The main thing is to get the CDBs from the indica plant. The other strain is a setiva which is the plant that makes you all goofy you don't want this one. I really believe there is something to this I was taking the oil all summer didn't notice much difference but with these pills I do. I may be proved wrong during the next scan ....we shall see I'll let you ladies know how it turns out for sure. I agree I have to be involved in this I need to be contactless doing something to fight this. Makes me happy knowing I'm giving my cancer a hard time lol.
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Hi Marian and BeachLife,
I don't know why they are doing the sentinel node biopsy the day before. I have to go on November 9 to VGH to the Nuclear Medicine department to get the dye. Then the next day I have to go to the BCCA to get a needle inserted because my surgeon, who is Dr. Noelle Davis, can't feel the lump. From there they will take me to VGH to have the surgery. I find all these so overwhelming. So many things happening.
I would love to go to the pot luck but I will be staying for 2 weeks at my daughter's place in Maple Ridge where she will be taking care of me and I will be able to see my granddaughter every day. I live in downtown Vancouver. Hopefully next time I might be able to attend.
I used to be active. Walking, exercising, biking etc, but since I got diagnosed I feel that I don't have any energy for anything. I even stopped cooking which is a passion of mine, but started cooking again this past weekend and I felt good.
Will keep you all posted once I have the surgery in two weeks. Take care everybody.
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Wendy3,
Can you get CDB everywhere? do you need a prescription from your doctor? What is THC? I have been reading a lot about hemp oil and stuff and thought that I should try it also as part of treatment.
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Goldieone, in fact they may do the sentinel node biopsy at the same time as the lumpectomy. What have they said will happen after the dye injection as I don't see you saying there will be a surgery after the injection? Maybe the dye will still be there next day?
The whole waiting game and trying to understand so much information in short order is exhausting. But do try to get even a bit of the exercise you used to get as it helps with fatigue. It sounds as though you will be getting good care after surgery which is so important.
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Goldieone1: Apparently your surgeon has access to a different hospital from that of Marian's and mine. I am curious if the 2-day plan is due to technical reasons or clinical needs. Like you and others, I was also shocked with my diagnosis--I have been exercising and eating healthy (incl. lots of organic foods and supplements). But BC makes me to re-evaluate my life, for example, to work more on stress reduction, cardio exercise. Diet and exercise are very important in BC. I also live in D/T, can meet one day.
You are lucky to have the love and care of your daughter. Take care and good luck!
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Goldieone1
CDB are the cannabinoids in marijuana plant and there are many types. The THC is the part of the plant that makes people high. They are making the capsules without the THC so people can reap the benefit without the high part. What you will need is some paper work from your doctor that states what you have, your diagnosis and some ID. Because it still is not regulated by the government there are big differences in quality of the product and the type of stores where you can get it. You are in Vancouver so there are many stores...too many. Some of which are pretty shady unfortunately let's hope this changes with the new government we have now. If you are interested to know where I go private message me . I agree we need to try everything. Enjoy your daughter and granddaughter I envy you. My daughter is twenty and studying at UBCO no grandchildren for me for awhile I'd think. I plan on being there when it does happen though.
I wish all a peaceful night😊
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Goldieone1 (Sorry my post above was deleted by accident) I am still curious if the two-day plan can be fit into one so you do not have to go through some of the things twice, one day after another. Exercise and diet are very important to BC, I was also walking and eating healthy (lots of organic foods and supplements) before my diagnosis, but have since re-evaluated my life style, and made adjustments incl. a new water filter, no more non-stick cookware, more stress reduction, cardio, and eating the right foods for my system (no wheat family, dairy, shell fish etc. for now).
You are very lucky to have the love and care of your daughter (and your granddaughter!). I also live in d/t, can meet ou easily. Take care!
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Marian, What I have been told is that I do have to go to the date before the surgery to nuclear medicine to get the dye. The next day I have to go and have this fine-wire localization inserted and then they take to the do the surgery. I guess that is when I will have both, the lumpectomy and the sentinel node done. I think I was a bit confused about all these names, but this is more likely what will happen. During surgery they will also inject me with a blue dye as well.
I'm happy that I started exercising again this morning. It was only 20 minutes but at least was something. It felt so good. I will continue this. I think it is the only way that I can get my mind out of this whole thing in the mornings when I'm getting ready for work and stuff.
Wendy3, I will PM you if I can figure out how to do it. If you don't hear from me is because I didn't.
BeachLife, it would be awesome to meet and share experiences. I think after the surgery and recovery will be good for me. Let me know if you want to go for a coffee after November 23.
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