If you are not Stage IV but have questions, you may post here
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YAY Scar Tissue!
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Soteria205,
I get that too. It feels a little lumpy around my armpits. It's scar tissue.
Oceana
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Hi Oceana, in answer to your question, it really depends on what the nodule is. If it is a Granuloma then it is definitely benign and won't change but if it is a suspicious node it will be watched carefully as the possibility is always there. The growth rate of your node is extremely slow and that measurement could be marginally out so the 1 - 2mm that has been reported can also be human error.
I think I would be taking my cue on the worry scale from both my doc and the radiologist and if they are not worried then neither would I.
Deep breath and try to relax, I know it's hard as there are always these nagging worries but life is far too short to allow them to keep us down.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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Soteria, that is good news indeed! You can let that breath you've been holding out now and try to relax a little.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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I have had a dry cough, off and on for a few months, maybe 6 times in 24 hours for 30 seconds or so. Could this be lung mets??? Has anyone else with lung mets had this symptom?
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Hi Racy, so sorry you have had the dry cough. It is known that a dry cough that won't quit can be one of the symptoms of lung mets..........the difference is the 'won't quit'. What you are describing sounds more intermittent.
I did see you asked this same question a little while back.........have you seen your doc since then and posed the question to him/her? We are having such a hot, dry summer that you may find that the cough is from irritation caused by the dust.
Racy if it is playing on your mind so much even a visit to your GP may ease your mind.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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Chrissy, yes have been to docs and had chest xray. Cough went but has come back without the tickle that I had earlier.
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Racy with this dry dusty weather your lungs are more than likely very irritated which will cause that cough .........no tickle as the irritation would be lower into your lungs not your throat. I was told quite a few years ago by my doc that if I got that sort of cough to take panadeine (double normal dose) as the codeine in them will help stop the urge to cough. This works particularly at night when you are trying to sleep.
If it continues go back to your doc as you may need an anti inflammatory to calm the irritation. Have you tried an anti histamine? That may also give you some relief. If you've had X-rays and nothing has shown up, I wouldn't be worrying too much about mets.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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thanks Chrisdy, I'll be going back to doctor.
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I was diagnosed stage 2a grade 3 ER+ / PR+ in May of 2013 with two involved lymph nodes. I had a lumpectomy, rexcision, Oncoplasty with left side reduction, still no clear margins, Mastectomy of the right side (which showed Cancer was all removed finally). I went through Chemo and radiation. In December I had DIEP Flap reconstruction and a revision surgery. I was finally feeling like 2014 would be the year I try to get things a little back to normal. Last week I went for follow up with Oncologist and she called saying my Tumor Markers are now elevated. She wants to wait two weeks and check it again. She said waiting won't hurt me that Cancer doesn't move that quickly. I am feeling really stressed now and my mind is racing. I have had very mild upper back pain since my surgery. My Oncologist said it could be from the surgery and the fact that it isn't getting worse means it probably isn't Cancer. Anyway, I called my Oncologist yesterday as I looked at my test results and saw some other elevated levels (i.e. Bun ratio, Homocysteine). She said I shouldn't worry about it and sometimes when they do a recheck of the blood the numbers can come back normal. Has anyone else experienced this? Is there any advice anyone can give me to get through the next two weeks?
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Hi KarenSusan, sorry you are feeling this stress but I really wouldn't worry at this point as there are other things such as inflammation or infection that can push the markers up besides cancer and your onc is right, sometimes follow up bloods have those markers right back where they belong, in the normal range.
It's not necessarily the small rises or the up and down movement of markers that make an onc worry its consistent rises that would promo them to do further investigation.
Breathe easy, relax and remember it's not just cancer that can change the levels of markers as strange as that may sound.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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Dear Karensusan! Chrissy is so right, so many things can elevate them!! I am 9 years out, on my 4th oncologist (moved a lot because of husbands transfer with job), and never had my turmor markers checked because previous oncs did not believe in testing them, because they tend to be unreliable!! Well, my onc here is very thorough and wants to test them every 3 months!! Needless to say, my markers have been up and down for the last 2 years!! I have had a bone and pet scan, and everything appears to be fine!! Conclusion: my onc said my blood work may always show that tendency , and not to worry!! But of course we do worry! I even read that caffeine and over the counter meds can cause elevation!! I knew you were worried as I always am, so I had to reply here!! In fact, Chrissy replied to me immediately when I posted the same question here almost 2 years ago!! Chrissy is wonderful!! Try not to worry, and know that whatever happens, there is an arsenal of meds out there to help!!! But , most likely everything is fine!! God Bless You, and lots of hugs!!!!
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Racy, I've had my intermittant cough for over a year. Somethimes I wake up and can't stop coughing, other times it comes on all of a sudden when I haven't coughed in a day or 2.. This is why my onc did the CT Chest Scan.
Chrissy, thanks for your words. I thought my nodule that had grown from 3mm to 4-5 mm was scary and didn't think of it as being slow growing. But you are right, I'm not going to worry if my onc and radiologist are not worried. Does anyone know just how large 4-5 mm is for a lung nodule? Also, Chrissy, I was wondering if a nodule like mine that does not worry them, can suddenly become worrisome for mets?
Oceana
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Chrissy, you've responded to many questions for me and I just want to let you know that I am grateful. Thank you! V
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Is it possible to have mets and not have node involvement? A support group member mentioned her situation and it surprised me. I feel that no matter how well you try to educate yourself about bc there is always something more to learn and understand about what is happening to you and/or your friends.
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Oceana, your docs will monitor the nodule for any changes so nothing should "suddenly" happen. From what I've read, a lot of docs don't worry until the node is measuring around the 1cm, more appear and or other symptoms start to happen.
Sometimes when these questions keep us awake it pays to have a conversation with the appropriate doc........go armed with all the things that are really worrying you and make sure your doc is aware that you need honest answers.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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HVV and all the other ladies who have periodically thanked me for this thread I just want to say I do this because there was a time when I needed answers and couldn't get any. I am, with this thread, trying to help enough that others never need to feel the fear and uncertainty that I felt.
You are all more than welcome and if I have helped then that is a really good thing.
Love n hugs to all. Chrissy
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Hi. I had chemo, then a left side mastectomy in July 2013, followed by radiation. I am now having pain across the left side of my back. It feels almost bruised, very tender. this has been bothering me for a few weeks at least. My physical therapist thinks it is not unusual, but my breast surgeon is sending me for a bone scan next week. Is this how bone Mets can present? Thanks for the feedback.
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Hi Zennurse bone mets can and do present with pain very similar to a deep bruise but there are also other reasons for pain such as you are describing.
A question for you.........did you have recon or not? Why I ask is because if you didn't, your pain could also be muscle/skeletal pain. I didn't have recon and had a pain similar and it started about six months after the mastectomy. It was my body adjusting to the fact that the weight of the breast was gone and hung around for a good few months. If you stand in front of a mirror look at your shoulders.........is one (the mastectomy side) presenting slightly higher than the other? Is your posture different to what it was prior to mastectomy? If you are answering yes, it is very possible that your pain is muscle/skeletal related.
I am a firm believer that these sort of things get checked out if for no other reason than peace of mind. Your doc sounds like he is on the ball and is keeping a close eye on you so that's a really good thing.
Good luck with your scans and please let me know how you get on.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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I currently have tissue expander in place. Was hoping to get my reconstruction date at my appt today, but my plastic surgeon doesn't want to schedule anything until after my scan is done. I will pay attention to my posture and are if I notice anything with that.
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Zennurse your body has gone and is going through so much at the moment and is trying to make adjustments to it's new normal and even the slightest thing is going to upset the balance of things. I would have to agree with your PT but applaud your surgeon for being vigilant.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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Can someone tell me side effects and effectiveness of chemo pill Xeloda. My friend has mets to bones, liver and lung, she is tnbc
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Lindacam Xeloda is a very effective drug and has gotten many women to NED but because we are all different we all react differently. Here's hoping your friend has a good response to it.
Like all of these drugs the SE's are varying but the main ones seem to be nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, irritation or mouth sores, hand/foot syndrome and or fever/infection.
Some women get all and others none of these but the one I hear most is the hand/foot syndrome.
Hope this helps.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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Hi ladies, just coming back to say that I had a CT scan which was clear for lung/chest mets
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Yay Racy!!! That's great news!!!
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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thanks, Chrissy
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Thank you for your reply. I have been trying not to worry but can't help it. I had a CT scan done before my DIEP reconstruction Surgery in early December it was only abdominal but report said left ovary, kidney and liver looked good. My friend who works at a Breast Cancer Support Center. Said it would be natural to worry and if Dr were really concerned would have me come back earlier than three weeks. I am having my Blood retested next Thursday. I will keep you posted.
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Oh HVV, I'm so sorry I missed your question re mets with out node involvement on the ninth, please forgive me.
The answer is definitely yes and I am proof positive of that as I had no node involvement. When I read my original path report I noticed that there was lymphatic vascular involvement (LVI) and for me that was the key to the travel and mets.
It was never mentioned by my doc or my oncologist but I'm sure that was one of the factors that they used to calculate if I should do chemo or not.
Hope this helps.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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KarenSusan, your friend is right, if your doc was at all concerned he would definitely have you come in a lot earlier. Here's hoping your bloods come back good.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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I have terrible lower back pain to the point I can't walk at times. I have had an ex-ray on my lower back which was all clear. My question is can you see mets on an ex-ray or should I ask for some kind of scan.
Thanks Alison xx
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