If you are not Stage IV but have questions, you may post here
Comments
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reesie,
I must sound like a crazy person. I used to work at a cancer center for 10 years. I don't know if that's good or bad sometimes. All we can do is pray on it. Thanks
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I don't think you sound crazy. You can't help but worry. Were all that way. My DH has banned me from reading anything anymore (blood work, scans, etc) before the doc gets a chance to go over it with me.
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With that amount of light up, you would have constant miserable pain if it was cancer. I have psoarstic arthritis that lights up mine.
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My thyroid lit up, and there's nothing there except a fizzled out thyroid. Light ups don't always mean worse case scenario, they are just an indicator of something that needs to be explored.
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Hello Friends ~
Received good news yesterday....bone scan was good, no new issues. Pain is attributed to scoliosis and overdoing it with housework and exercise. Probably I should not move furniture when I'm cleaning house
I have to exercise though and was happy that I impressed my Onc nurse with my 6 lb. weight loss. Had left breast mammogram yesterday, which led to an ultrasound and US-guided core biopsy. Fingers crossed...should know results by the end of this week. Thanks for any prayers and support, I can definitely use them!
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Psalm that's great news on your scan! You really do need to not move furniture unless you have a couple of strong men on hand......let them do the shifting of heavy things. I do understand that it is very easy to overdo sometimes and then pay for it big time.
Good luck with your biopsies.....here's hoping they are B9.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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Hi there...I had a bit of disturbing news at my MO visit today. I am a little over halfway through neoadjuvant chemo (A/C x 4) (Taxotere x 4). Was diagnosed, had PET/CT combo at diagnosis which was clear. I started having some rib discomfort (not pain) and had a clear xray since chemo was started.
Anyway, after my MO examined me and had left the room and my nurse was going over upcoming appts she just said "I am going to make a note to myslelf that your calcium level is a little high". And I just immediately thought - and SAID - oh no, that could mean bone mets. Then she started trying to reassure me, telling me it wasn't that high, it could be diet related, etc...but it was too late. The worry train has left the station. I think she said it was 10.6 and high level of normal is 10.2.
So here I sit. I don't take any calcium supplements or anything and I can't imagine anything in my horrible diet could be to blame. I know there is nothing to do but wait and see but was hoping to hear of others that might have had this issue....
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Such a low level of increase is very, very minimal. Don't stress about such things-have had much worse than this!
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Thanks Elaine...I didn't even think to ask her what my levels were before to compare to the 10.6. And now I am scared to ask.
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Ok, well, I am not going to delete my post because I hate it when that happens but I just called back to the drs office - I thought I would ask what my levels were before so I could compare them/see how much they had risen. Got a different nurse and I guess they had been talking about me
because she didn't even pull my chart she just said "oh honey, she repeated the test and they were within normal levels." 9.something? So I am relieved but at the same time, how could they repeat the test with no more blood? Oh well, I am not going to worry about it right now. Thanks for listening.0 -
They just repeated the test with the blood they had and got a different result. A lot of things can interfer with getting a good result so it's a good idea to repeat a test if there's an abnormal result on something important. I was once told I had antibodies to Hepatitis B so I must have had it at some point even I didn't think so. Fortunately, they repeated the test and the original result was wrong, or a false positive. I'm glad you got a normal result the second time so you can relax. i have bone mets but have never had abnormal calcium levels. It is not very common and mets are much more likely to be discovered in another way. Good luck with the rest of your treatment.
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kitb04, labs routinely repeat tests that are abnormal - any single test and the same sample can give a different number that is slightly different if repeated several times. Also, calcium can be slightly (or more) elevated when cancer cells are being killed - more likely in leukemia, but I think it might also happen with other cancers. And there are dozens of other things that can cause slightly elevated calcium. And then there is the "normal variant" which means there are a certain number of people whose values are going to be outside the "bell shaped curve" of "normal" anyway. And on top of that, different labs can have different "normal range" reference values. So bottom line, don't stress too much about it - too many docs and nurses pay way too much attention to the actual numbers rather than what the numbers mean in relation to the patient, the situation, the environment in the lab that day, etc etc etc. So I hope you can relax a little for right now.
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Hello,
My sister was diagnosed 2 months ago with BC. She has had both breast removed and reconstructive surgery. They found cancer in her lymph nodes and in her spine and ribs. She is 33 years of age and a mother of two (youngest 5 years). They are going to only give her a total of 4 chemo treatments and a lifetime of herceptin; hopefully to slow the cancer down? They told her that if she was only stage 3 they would treat her more aggressively. I guess im just wondering if there is a place to seek out clinical trials? I am having a hard time understanding how the risks out weigh the benifits here, having never experienced first hand.
Thanks,
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Before you jump into clinical trials for your sister, perhaps she might simply seek a second opinion at an NCI cancer center. For now with mets only in her bones she is in a great place for systemic treatment.
Without the specifics of her pathology it's hard to suggest anything other than a good second opinion. Herceptin does indicate that she is HER2+.
You will also find a forum on here for family members and caregivers that you may find helpful for your own anxious moments. There is also a forum for clinical trials with lots of good suggestions. Her medical,team can also input her information and see if she matches any trials if that is something she wants. .0 -
I was on a vaccine and that is the only reason I am still walking and talking. This site will provide a lot of information for you. http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/search0
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Thank you Chickadee and Ma111 for your reply. You have provided me with some helpful information.
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Thanks to all who replied to my question and Sarassiser, I am sorry to hear about your sister but she is lucky to have someone like you to advocate and seek out information for her. Best of luck to her.
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Ok Im not sure where to post this......I am having some sharp pains in my rt upper area of my belly...I am wondering could this be my liver? will mets to the liver cause pain? and if so what kind of pain? I am so scared and holding back the tears right now. The pain started yesterday while I was on a long flight back form Hawaii but its been 24 hrs now and its still there. Please someone respond to this I am so worried!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I have liver mets but have never experienced any pain. What about your appendix? I don't know if that's near the liver but it could be something else. Call your doctor or visit emergency if you think it's worth that.
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Found this website that might help you:
http://www.abdopain.com/right-side-abdominal-pain.html0 -
Is it possible that you're dehydrated from your long flight and it's kidney pain? Just a thought since it's so easy to become dehydrated while flying.
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I never felt anything from my liver mets.
However, about halfway through chemo I started getting a cramp-like pain in my right side about in between the bottom two ribs.
I get it when I drink cold liquid, guzzle any liquid too quickly or eat too much.
I've told my MO, PS, BS and RO: they all say it is "referred pain". Maybe caused by some gastrointestinal issue from chemo. None of my docs are concerned as my PET/CT scans show no current evidence of metastasis.
So, I drink tepid drinks...slowly. And I don't overeat.
And I try not to worry about it.
That last bit is the most difficult.0 -
It could be your gallbladder, pulled muscle or a lot of different things. Go to your family doctor. This is a good place to post your question.
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I agree with ma111. If it is still troubling you, see your GP or go to the ER. It could be totally unrelated to cancer. I hope it is.
Let us know.0 -
Janie-bug, I just sent you a private message. It sounds just like a benign condition I experienced recently. Sorry I didn't see your post sooner, but I sent more details to you privately.0
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I do not have cancer but my mother does. She had breast cancer in her 40s and had a full masectomy and lymph nodes removed and went through a very tough round of chemo and radiation. In 2010, she was diagnosed with bone cancer in her femur (sp?), spots on her rib cage and now she has two masses on her liver. She has underwent chemo and tried different things but instead of the cancer shrinking..it actually grew. She is stage 4 and hasn't been able to have treatment for the past 4 weeks. Her last pat scan came back negative because the tumors continue to grow and now is causing issues with her diaphram where she is having trouble breathing. Her doctor sent her to another group of doctors last week to see if they could come up with anything that could be done and there isn't really anything but she did make a match for a research group. She told me today she doesn't want to do it and I totally respect that. My mom has become angry and feels cheated and it breaks my heart that I can't do anything to make this go away for her. I was also told that they are giving her 14 months. I don't believe in time frames and I'm trying to stay optimistic. She is not just my mother but she is my best friend. She will be 54 next week and we are getting the family together for a dinner. I'm just so frustrated. I'm hoping that someone can tell me something that could work for her because she is not done fighting. She does not deserve to be in pain. For all of you who have/or had cancer - my heart goes out to all of you.
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Hi Copper and welcome. Can you tell us a little more about your mom's cancer? Is she ER/PR+ or - and is she Her2+ or -? These things are important as they will help us to know how to advise you. Also can you tell us the name of the chemos she has had.
I'm really sorry that your mom has to go through this again. You are a good loving daughter to reach out to try to help her and I hope we can help even if it is as support only. This journey is a tough one not just for the one with cancer but for all who love them.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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Copper, can your mother travel to a research center? Sloan Kettering, Dana Farber, MDAnderson, Cancer Treatment centers? Will her insurance support that?
She is fortunate to have you.0 -
Copper333, I can so understand the anger and feeling cheated that your mother has. I look at my own mother who had BC 18 years ago, went through surgery & chemo, and has done well, enjoyed her retirement. I had every expectation I would follow the same path when I was diagnosed, but this has not been the case.
I have lived my life with the best I could do with eating, exercising, regular mammograms... had first diagnosis in June 2010, did surgery & chemo, recurrence in July 2011, more surgery & treatment. Have not felt well since first chemo in Oct. 2010, and am angry and jealous when I see other women and men who are 80-90 who have had 20-30 years of retirement, no responsibilities, time for fun and social activities, while I have struggled to work through treatment with no time off and fearful I will never get time to "enjoy life." And then it occurs to me, every time I think this way, NOW is the only moment I have, and I can choose to enjoy it or waste it being angry and unhappy.
I have multiple SEs from treatment, including pain & fatigue that prevent me from doing things I once did for enjoyment, but I am now finding other things to enjoy, things I would never have even checked out before. It took a lot of loved ones around me, supporting me, listening to my anger when it poured out of me, hugging me anyway (even when I was being unlovable), helping me to see "moments of grace" in moments that I might otherwise have missed. I also sought out a primary care provider who is also a palliative care specialist. Your mother may benefit from a palliative care consultation (notice I did NOT say "hospice" - although she may want to consider that in the future as well, but palliative care addresses the "whole" person, based on the patient's values, what their goals and fears are, etc., and try to find ways to make life better, even if the patient is going through aggressive treatment or even if they are not). If your mom is still ready to fight the BC beast, a palliative care specialist can help make that fight a little easier by keeping her more comfortable.
Your mom is so lucky to have a daughter who cares so much. Peace and healing to you both, and to your family.
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Hi. I apologize for the fact that I haven't read all the responses on here so if this is similar to what anyone else has asked, I am sorry.
I found out in May that I have stage 3a breast cancer and the doctor had me get a pet scan where they didn't find anything else. Since then I have had some major changes in my menstrual cycle, I am having a period almost constantly. Even though they pet scan didn't find anything else besides the breast cancer, my doctor is having me get an ultrasound of my uterus just to be sure nothing is wrong.
This is my question. Have any of you had breast cancer spread to your uterus? I am trying not to worry but it's hard not to. I really hate cancer! Most days I have a pretty good attitude about having cancer, but I am human and I will be honest that today is not one of those days!
Thanks in advance for any insight. I just don't know if it's common to have it spread to your uterus.
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