2017 Diagnosed-- A Place To Share "Whats Next"
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jo6359_ thanks for the 'no judgement'! lol...I DO have a wonderful support system...both of my grown children and 3 grandkids live within walking distance, and my dad and brother! It's still pretty lonely in this big ole' house...but, I'm doing ok. It is what it is...as Clint would say. I am a business owner so spend many hours on the computer...hence the "how the hell do I quit smoking????" An evil 'friend'...but always there for a seretonin kick.
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UTJoy—. I started to post here this afternoon to see how you were doing but phone rang so closed BCO and didn’t return til now....and what did I see? An update from you!
Really glad to hear from you. So sorry to learn about your mom’s passing and always hope you are managing after losing your DH.
My docs don’t scan my mastectomy side either except when I found 2 small lumps on that side.
Tomorrow is my next 3 mo MO visit plus visit with my clinical trial nurse. No scans scheduled. Just bloodwork and office visit. Scale will NOT be my friend tomorrow after spending the last 2 weeks on vacation.
Hard to believe that the end of 2018 is a few weeks away.
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Had a quick follow-up visit with my opthamologist. He said I could start stair-climbing today and running 5Ks on Saturday. Yes. So I did 16 flights of stairs this morning. On March 9th, I am registered to climb 49 flights of stairs for the American Lung Association. Last year was the only time I missed participating in The Climb because I was in the middle of chemo. I have to start getting my butt in gear for stair climbing. Even though I run a lot, different sets of muscles are used for climbing.
Utjoy- I don't envy you having to spend hours at a time working on the computer. I have a love-hate relationship with my Computer mostly hate. I personally prefer encouragement over judgement any day. Now I have to head to work. Have a wonderful day
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jo6359–. 16 flights of stairs....good for you!! You will be ready to tackle those 49 flights of stairs in March!!!
My MO visit went well. Next visit in 3 months.
Saw my dermatologist this week. She was checking to see how my arm was healing after a biopsy in Sept. Skin on top is still flaky but incision is healed. She wanted to take some more tissue to make sure she had gotten all the skin cancer. I was expecting a really short doctor visit but instead I had a small procedure which won me a return visit in 6 months.
If all goes well, my next doctor visit is in Feb with PCP for annual checkup
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a friend of mine lost her battle with MBC. She was diagnosed over 20 years ago. At that time, she received a cutting edge stem cell transplant treatment. That process nearly killed her but she fought and fought to make it through. Process worked. She no longer had to see an oncologist. Cured.
I always could look to her success at kicking cancer’s butt. Sure reassuring.
Last year, as I was going thru rads, found out her cancer was back and she was doing rads, too. Mets in bones. Required rods to keep from breaking bones. Found cancer in the liquid found in her lungs. Then tumors in the lungs despite chemo and rads.
She became as angel last week.
Cancer is evil and can return at any time.
Just a reminder to enjoy TODAY. Tomorrow is not promised. Enjoy friends and family. Stop and smell the roses. Each day is precious.
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dodgersgirl- I am so sorry for the loss of your friend. And you are so right. Cancer is nasty. None of us knows what tomorrow will bring so each day should be lived to the fullest. Thanks for that reminder
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Oh DodgersGirl, I'm so sorry for your loss. You're absolutely right that each day is a gift. Some will be painful for sure, but there's always an opportunity to reach out to others and plan for a brighter time ahead.
I feel lucky to be NED and to be enjoying Christmas eve with my husband, niece, friends and godsons. After putting so much on hold last year I'm determined to make 2019 a great one. Wishing all of you a wonderful New Year as well.
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Georgia1— enjoy your Christmas Eve with family and friends.
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georgia- enjoy your holidays with your family and friends.
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20 years ago? Heartbreaking. We aren’t promised tomorrow. So sorry.
Diane
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Happy New Year!
May 2019 return more of our normal lives and less worry about BC side effects and recurrence.
We have traveled a LONG way since original DX. We endured procedures, drugs, and radiation. We made it through. We are strong amazing people. May we continue to get stronger
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Happy New Year, all!
Flipping the calendar to 2019 was a real joy - It felt like adding more distance from 2017, and all that year threw at us. In the process, I counted up all the dr appointments starting two years ago tomorrow through all of 2018 that related to BC, and was blown away by the total: 104!! You lose track when you tackle the beast one day at a time, but to me, it spoke volumes about our resilience - and to what a time suck BC treatment is, along with everything else we dealt with! Here's to a healthy and happy 2019 for all of us in the 2017 group - and to continuing to get our lives back Onward!!
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Happy New Year's Dodgersgirl and all. And I absolutely agree - flipping the calendar felt especially good this year.
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scottie-WOW! I never realized we all had so many appointments. I guess some of us had more and some of us had less depending on treatment. I was diagnosed December 12th and I can easily count 8 appointments within 2 weeks. I began 2019 with food poisoning but it still felt good to flip the Calendar. What a year! Speaking for myself, this forum helped me get through this past 12 months of highs and lows . Thanks to all of you wonderful ladies for your support.
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jo6359—. Food poisoning.... oh so sorry you had to endure that. Hope you are feeling better??
Georgia1–. Hope 2019 is a good year, for sure!
Scottie719–. Don’t think I want to count appointments... 104. Ouch. I counted surgeries in 2017. Had 4. That’s too many. Hope that I don’t make my insurance deductible in 2019!! So far, have 6 appointments slated in 2019.
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Cheers to all of us! Yes putting distance between us and 2017 feels great!
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I was thinking the same thing. It feels so much better to be able to say I was diagnosed 2 years ago instead of last year. Congrats to all of us!!
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Hi Oceanbum,
I have a question for you please. My Oncologist wants to start me on Arimidex, and I see that you take it. Was there any specific reason why you changed from Tamoxifin? Any Side Effects? I have an appt tomorrow with the pharmacist Oncologist to go over any questions I might have.
Anybody else taking Arimidex, I see Scotie719 that you are... any SE's that you would share? Thx! Rj0 -
Other than the well-documented joint soreness [my knees hate me...], I'm doing well on Arimidex. My MO prescribed anastrozole, but I found [through these boards] that Eagle Pharmacy in FL will fill the script as Arimidex [90 days for $90] and it seems I've benefited from taking the brand name. Or maybe I've just adjusted to it after 1.5 years. Just had a bone density test, and am pretty much holding my own, compared with a year ago, but my "mild" osteopenia predates my BC tx. I was just thrilled that I hadn't lost any height - Funny the things that can take on outsize importance!
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Hi rljes,
My doctor switched me from Tamoxifen to Arimidex. I was pre menopausal when I was diagnosed. Chemo threw me into menopause. I started taking Tamoxifen shortly after I finished chemo. My breast surgeon told me in Aug that she expected he would change my meds at my next visit. She said after you have gone through menopause and had no period for 2 years they typically switch you to Arimidex. So when I saw him in late Nov he did in fact switch me at that time. He did bloodwork and confirmed that I was post menopausal and switched me.
I haven't really noticed any major side effects. My joints ached with Tamoxifen and they still continue to ache with Arimidex. I do seem to notice a slight bit of nausea in the morning after I take it until I eat something. I usually take it around 6:00 when I get up and don't manage to eat something until I get oats at work around 9:00. It's not bad nausea like I had with chemo but it's something I didn't have with Tamoxifen.
Good luck with your appointment. I'm sorry I didn't see this until you were probably already at your appointment or until it was already over. Hugs to you!
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I was diagnosed with osteoporosis a few years before my breast cancer diagnosis in 2017. I was never placed on any medication. After a year of chemo and h&p my doctor wants a bone density test. I told him if I had osteoporosis prior to breast cancer it has worsened by now with chemo. So I'm sort of preparing myself he will place me on some type of medication. Fortunately, I don't have any increased joint or bone pain. Most of my aches and pains I had tribute to running. LOL
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I had a baseline bone scan done before starting Arimidex. It came back within normal range. Now I am taking the Xgeva shot every 6 months to prevent bone loss. He also has me taking 600mg of Calcium + Vitamin D.
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oceanbum- I hope I don't offend you by asking this question. Are you pre or post menopausal?
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Not offended at all, jo6359. I'm post menopausal.
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I was just wondering if being pre or post menopausal affected the type of medication prescribed? I have four sisters and all of us were diagnosed with osteoporosis in our early 40s , including my mother. We were always at high risk for osteoporosis. We all have fair skin, light eyes and small stature. I never thought to question my primary as to why I was never prescribed medication. Since being diagnosed with cancer, sometimes I feel I question everything.
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It's my understanding you are prescribed Tamoxifen if you are pre menopausal. If you are post menopausal you are prescribed Arimidex. My oncologist is also giving me Xgeva injections to prevent bone loss. Arimidex can cause bone loss so that's the reason for it. He also has me taking Calcium plus Vitamin D.
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oceanbum- I am hormone negative. I need to start doing some research on medications. Thank you so much
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I see that now. Both of mine were ER+, PR + with one side Her2- and the other side Her2+. So I'm not sure how hormone negative cancer treatments differ. I wish I could help you. I wish you luck with your research. Hugs to you!
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Happy New Year ladies.
I proclaim again that all you ladies stay the hell away from hospital stuff other than regular check ups.
I am grateful that this BC thing changed me for the better because 8DD chemos changed my brain chemical for sure I take shit from no one.
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castigame- let's all try to stay away from hospitals. I too find myself having less patience with people who I have a lot of negativity.
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