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Comments

  • barsco1963
    barsco1963 Member Posts: 879
    edited June 2013

    Paula - sounds like good news to me! Praying the surgeon finds nothing but arthritis!

  • kathyrnn
    kathyrnn Member Posts: 366
    edited June 2013

    Hi Ladies,



    My name is Kathyrnn and I'm in the Triple Negative thread. I have come to your group for help with a specific question for anyone with Triple Negative BC:



    I have recently been diagnosed with a regional recurrence. (3 nodes found in Level ll). I have to make some chemo decisions.



    My question is for any TN who had a local or regional recurrence.



    My question is: what chemo did you receive when you were first diagnosed....and what chemo did you receive for your recurrence and how effective was it?



    I thank you all for your help and if there is another more relevant thread to ask this on I'd appreciate any suggestions.

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited June 2013

    Hi Kathyrnn, sorry I can't help with your questions but I'm sure one of the TN ladies with pop in with an answer soon.



    Love n hugs. Chrissy

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Member Posts: 942
    edited June 2013

    Awesome News!!!!



    I'm at the oncologist's right now, waiting on release from the R.N.

    The bone surgeon looked over all my scans...bone scan, MRI, and pet scan. He said, no need for a bone biopsy. Everything looks good.



    I never thought I'd be thankful for arthritis, but I am.



    Blessings

    Paula

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited June 2013

    Yay Paula!!!  That's fantatic news!!!  but awful that your arthritis gives you so much pain........here's hoping that can be gotten under control asap.

    Love n hugs.   Chrissy

  • Michele2013
    Michele2013 Member Posts: 232
    edited June 2013

    That's great Paula!!!

  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 930
    edited June 2013

    Yay Paula!

  • barsco1963
    barsco1963 Member Posts: 879
    edited June 2013

    Good news Paula! Hopefully you can find something to control the pain from the arthritis though.

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Member Posts: 942
    edited June 2013

    You know the arthritis isn't really painful most of the time. Fatigue and weather causes flare ups sometimes, but it can usually be controlled with Tylenol or ibuprofen.



    She said the cancer is still stage IIIc and they will repeat the bone scan in 4 months.



    I have my first rads appt. Friday June 21.



    Thanks for all your prayers, well wishes, and encouragement.



    God Bless You All

    Paula

  • macyhen111
    macyhen111 Member Posts: 402
    edited June 2013

    Yay Paula, what wonderful news.It's so good to hear of someone winning in this battle we are fighting. You give me hope for our futures.

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Member Posts: 942
    edited June 2013

    Macy~~I've kept track of you all through this journey. I had mx the same month you were diagnosed. My heart broke when you posted that you were stage IV. But, God is able to do more than we could ever ask of him.



    I have a friend who has been in this battle for 11 years, stage IV. To look at Holly you would never know she's ever had a sick day in her life.



    FIGHT ON GIRLS!!!

    Paula

  • Marie50
    Marie50 Member Posts: 2
    edited June 2013

    Does anyone know if Osteoporosis can contribute to bone mets?  Correlation or risk for?  Any studies out there?

    Thx.

    M.

  • macyhen111
    macyhen111 Member Posts: 402
    edited June 2013

    Thanks Paula for the encouragement, it really helps to hear stories of long term survival with being dx Stage 4.

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited June 2013

    Marie, everything that I have found warns of the risk of osteoporosis due to BC treatment but nothing that says you are at higher risk of bone mets with osteoporosis.



    Love n hugs. Chrissy

  • kathyrnn
    kathyrnn Member Posts: 366
    edited June 2013

    Thank you for posting about your friend Paula. Good news like that is always uplifting. Also, sorry about the arthritis, but glad that's what the pains from

  • Alyson
    Alyson Member Posts: 3,737
    edited June 2013

    Paula it is funny isn't it when arthritis is great news. Have similar stats to you and I too have severe arthritis- rheumatoid as well so know what the pain is like/ Sending special hugs. My docs are very good about checking up on new painand making sure its the arthritis.

  • Marie50
    Marie50 Member Posts: 2
    edited June 2013

    Chrissy,

    Thanks for your input.  Is anyone smart enough to read abstracts from pubmed and are able find out if there has been any results?  See the link below.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20675058

    Thx

    M.

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited June 2013

    Although current evidence suggested that the therapies to the underlying malignancy bone metastasis might result in bone loss leading to osteoporosis, no studies have shown direct evidence the successful seeding of bone metastases of cancer cells is the part played by osteoporosis.



    Marie, the above is taken directly from the article..............the important part for you to take on board is the " no studies have shown direct evidence etc". Thie article was in hypothesis possibility not fact.



    I know all these things go through our minds and are very concerning but until it has been proven there really is no use worrying about a maybe........I think there is enough to worry about.



    Love n hugs. Chrissy

  • Papillon1
    Papillon1 Member Posts: 85
    edited June 2013

    Hi all. Me again, with another question for anyone with brain mets...if you start to have memory issues due to the brain mets, or indeed radiotherapy itself, do you know about it? My mother seemed to get dates mixed. She left a pan on I am told.

    These could be due to the tiredness I am sure, but I can't help but worry. I am wondering how to deal with memory issues...like, should I even point out her glaring errors? Would it embarrass her? Perhaps its kinder to just let it go? The old me would have said "good god mother, that wasnt five years ago!.." And laughed and joked with her. I am not sure that would be kind now.

    It's not a major issue I guess....I just wasnt sure what to say once. And it got me to wondering about wether sufferers are aware of the mental changes that occur as they occur...wether it is not only frustrating but embarrassing. Or if they just feel confused and foggy.

    mum seems to like to get on with things as much as possible. I don't want up conversations to always be about how she is feeling....and I am scared to ask. It's all so hard.
    So I ask you ladies instead..

    Sorry, rambling...feel like I am on a scary journey in the dark. Never know what could be coming next...



    She just stopped chemo, carrying on hereptin and tamoxifen. What happens now?!

  • julz4
    julz4 Member Posts: 1,373
    edited June 2013

    Papillon....first off Big Hugs as this is not easy on so many levels.  I am not stage IV but read here sometimes & just happen to read your post.  I am a CNA in nursing/rehab.  I have taken care of patients in the past year with brain cancer & also BC brain mets in the past.  I also have a niece who has been battling a brain cancerous tumor for almost 20 years now.  As with Alzheimer's cancer eats at the brain slowly or fast.  Agitation can be a big problem as they know something is wrong but then as it progresses they can loose the reasoning to know why where & how.  All depending on the part of the brain that is being effected.  They can forget words to communicate effectively with us & thus creating agitation.  Pointing out this albeit with love & humor can increase this agitation on many levels & for many reasons.  I try & remain calm.  Some of the biggest points to remember as the memory fades is taking care of their daily needs as their ability to communicate their need fades.  Our daily activities....Food is she hungry?, thirsty?, does she have to go to the bathroom?, does she have pain?   Try to remain calm, use diversion, change the subject, too much noise, boredom.  It's like taking care of a baby/young child as they can't tell us anything & we have go through a list of things to figure out the right key!  Except this happens in the reverse in cancer patients at different levels.   We treat them as adults & I try to ignore the mix ups & guide where it is needed because humor & reasoning may be lost to them at some point but still can be used.  Frustration that they can't do for themselves let alone the ability to communicate what, why, where, & how!  Maybe a support group for caregivers can help lead you in the right direction.  Her Dr's office should be able to help.  Infections & pain can cause changes also in the ability to communicate effectively & mental abilities.  All the while YOU are dealing with the loss on many levels!!!!  Please PM me if you have any ?'s  I will try & help where I can.  Just remember there is No right or Wrong!  Only Love!  I hope this helps!

  • Papillon1
    Papillon1 Member Posts: 85
    edited June 2013

    Thank you so much xx

  • Alicethecat
    Alicethecat Member Posts: 77
    edited June 2013

    Hello ladies

    I had a bit of a shock yesterday.

    Went for an MRI scan of my orbits (eyes) and brain to look at a small cyst attached to the lacrimal (tear) gland in my eye. The technician asked me if I had had any metal implanted in my body and I said no. He said that he could see what he thought looked like metal in my brain. I think he may have meant mineral deposits. He said that the ophthalmologist might ask for a CT scan.

    When I tried to find out more, he said he couldn't comment as he wasn't a doctor but would do the report as soon as he could and also send a copy to my oncologist.

    I looked up mineral deposits and saw that they can be an indication of anything from MS to cysts to tumours to polyps to water spots. Don't seem to have any of the symptoms listed for these challenges apart from an ear infection that seems to come and go.

    Has anybody else been through anything like this please?

    Best wishes

    Alice

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited June 2013

    Alice, as you have found with your research, what the tech is seeing could be anything. The best thing to do, even though I know it's the hardest, is to wait and see the ophthalmologist and see what he says.



    Hoping its nothing to worry about.



    Love n hugs. Chrissy

  • Alicethecat
    Alicethecat Member Posts: 77
    edited June 2013

    Chrissy

    You are magnificent.

    Thanks so much for taking the trouble to respond to me and the many other people I've seen you helping who are worried sick and need someone to talk to who understands. Really appreciated.

    Don't want to worry my family or friends before I know something definite but had to get the worry out of my system.

    You're absolutely right, of course. Will just have to wait and see the ophthomologist.

    Just getting this worry out of my system has helped.

    Hope you are having a nice time in that wonderful country of yours.

    Best wishes and thanks

    Alice

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited June 2013

    Alice I'm glad the writing made you feel a bit better, and yeah, I get the not wanting to worry the family.



    Good luck with your appointment!



    Love n hugs. Chrissy

  • Alicethecat
    Alicethecat Member Posts: 77
    edited June 2013

    Hi Chrissy

    I've just come across an article online that will keep me going - and anyone else going through the same thing  - until I've seen the oph:

    Incidental Findings Common with Brain MRI

    http://www.medpagetoday.com/Neurology/GeneralNeurology/7164

    Fingers crossed!

    Best wishes

    Alice

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited June 2013

    Alice, great article and backs up what I said earlier........it could be anything.  The thing that jumped out at me was that most of what they found was all benign.

    Keeping my fingers crossed.

    Love n hugs.   Chrissy

  • barsco1963
    barsco1963 Member Posts: 879
    edited June 2013

    Alice - we will all be waiting with you hoping for nothing but B9 results from your scan.  

  • Alicethecat
    Alicethecat Member Posts: 77
    edited June 2013

    Barsco

    The generosity of spirt exemplified by you and Chrissy makes me want to cry.

    Thank you!

    Alice

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited June 2013

    (((((((((Alice))))))))). Still hanging with you and hoping for good news.



    Love n hugs. Chrissy

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