Exchange City
Comments
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TinaT,
I forgot to mention that I was at state 0 in DCIS.
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TinaT and wasin - I was the same. I had DCIS in my left breast and the protocol was to have a lumepectomy, radiation and tamoxifen. I was ER/PR+. Since I opted for a BMX, nodes were clear, biospy clean my onocologist said I didn't have to take tamoxifen.
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Me too, Dawne Hope.
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I am confused too. I had a bilateral mastectomy and I was ER PR+ and was told over and over to take Tamoxifen. I had IDC no lymph node involvement. The pathology showed that the focal point of my cancer was only 1.2 cm grade three stage 1. My only family history is my mom had breast cancer tiwice.
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Carrol2,
What stage were you before BM? Also, since you had a family history I think that's probably why you have been advised to take tamoxifen. So I think it's really case by case situation..
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Carrol -- those women advised not to take Tamoxifen were diagnosed with DCIS and had BMX. You were diagnosed with IDC. I think (and I'm just guessing but it's an educated guess) that since your cancer was invasive -- even though you did not have positive nodes -- you have a greater risk than someone whose cancer was NOT (and DCIS is by definition not invasive). Since your nodes were clear your risk is lower than someone whose nodes were not, though, so that is the good part! I encourage you of course to bring this question to your oncologist... who will probably give you a far more educated and "specific to your case" answer.
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Carrol2: You had IDC, not DCIS, and are a higher grade (Grade 3) so that probably comes into play. And if your mother had breast cancer twice that is probably actually considered a strong family history.
wasin: I'm still a little confused about why a radiologist was counseling you on hormone therapy and why he/she said if the ER/PR was negative that would indicate FOR Tamoxifen. I thought the hormone therapies were only useful if ER/PR was positive. I guess I've got a little research to do
Yikes, all the different parameters are confusing. Thank goodness treatment has become so personalized and we're not all just automatically getting everything thrown at us.
Thanks, all - hang in there!!!
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Tina -- I agree that is confusing!
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Tina,
About my radiologist advising me against tamoxifen came up when I called her to get some information on pathology report from the biopsy which she performed.
Lilah had mentioned while ago that I should be able to tell from my pathology report from BMX if my estrogen was + or -. (I wasn't sure at that point if I should take tamoxifen to block cancer from possibly coming back.) So I took the BMX report and asked my breast surgeon when I had to go in for my 6 month follow up visit. She then told me that Sloan K. do not do estrogen test on patients with DCIS case, unless the patient makes a request. She said the doctor(radiologist) who did the biopsy should have that information. So then that's when I called her to ask about if the estrogen test was done(which she did.). That's when she explained to me that positive doesn't mean that it's bad, it's actually good. (I assumed that it was bad when she told me that it's ER/PR +) She's also a friend so she fills me in when I have questions because she knows her stuff. It was confusing for me too because you would naturally think that if test result comes out positive, it's supposed to be bad news but it's not.
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They did not give me a stage for my cancer until after the bmx after they reviewed the pathology. Makes sense to me now that i had grade 3 invasive cancer putting me at higher risk. SO it's a good thing I am ER PR + so that I can reduce that risk.
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Wasin -- something still confusing about that (to me). Have you talked to an oncologist? I was told -- prior to the biopsy -- that ER/PR+ is good BECAUSE you can take tamoxifen (and not have to do chemo). That said, since others here with DCIS say they did not have to take Tamoxifen (or the other one) even though ER/PR+... maybe what your doctor meant was it's good because you don't have triple negative? I don't know. Anyway, as long as you feel confident that your specific case is being treated properly, that is what matters. Final answer on all of this is always with the oncologist, though, so make sure that's what your oncologist recommends.
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Yes I had DCIS and was told if I had IDC the conversation would be very different...I was offered TX but it was my choice. I didnt feel the risk reduction FOR ME was great enough to warrant the possible side effects - but again my choice. But Onc told me that if it was IDC I wouldnt be given a choice.
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Back on exchanging.....dang I still dont have a date!!!! Today was my last fill but my PS is moving in a little more than a month and is not sure he can procure OR time for me!!!! DARN DARN DARN....so I go back in a week to see if there is anything he can do for me.....otherwise I have to wait until the new PS arrives, inprocesses, gets up to speed and can fit me in (late July???) I am VERY VERY frustrated today!!!!! Plus this fill hurts like a B****!!!!!
Im at 495ccs now and we are going for a 450 on the MX side and a 350 on the natural side. If youre on the photo forum, check out the new photos. Thanks
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wasin: OK, I think we're on the wrong thread for this discussion
. I had both invasive lobular (main and largest) and DCIS. I do seem to recall my BS telling me that they didn't do ER/PR evaluation on the DCIS. My ER/PR + was on the lobular cancer. The ER/PR "positive" thing is actually a double-edged sword. For me, it means that my course of hormone replacement therapy after early-onset menopause very possibly contributed to my BC. On the other hand, it allows me now to try to prevent recurrence of my ILC by blocking estrogen with Arimidex. And....the radiologist is a friend of yours - that part of it makes sense now. Typically, I don't think a radiologist would talk to a patient about drug treatment options.
Thanks for your patience with my questions - sorry for being so nosy!!!
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Sue -- that sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I will be having my exchage later this summer. Today I went to the Alergan web site, if I read correctly each style/projection height of silicone implant has a fixed volume? I believe this is the brand my PS uses, does this sound right?
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hillck, thanks, I thought I was missing something. Is there much difference between the Allergan and Mentor products? Has anyone done the extra-high profile? I like the projection of my TEs, so afraid I will loose this with the implants. I will be sharing my stats with wippetmom and everyone, but don't have my TE info, so will need to wait until my next PS visit to get this. I am so ready for exchange, these TEs seem harder and more uncomfortable everyday.
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greytcruise,
How many days did you have your drains in? I am having my exchange surgery on 6/17/2011 and need to travel for business on 6/27. I know everyone is different but I am really hoping the drains are out by then or I will have to cancel. I am taking the whole week after surgery off so hope the rest will do me good.
To all,
What exercise/weight restricitions did your doctors require? Wondering if I will be able to carry my own bag on the plane!
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Thanks guys....Ill keep you posted for sure.
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Sue- that SUCKS...bt in retrospect it will pass quickly...i promise:) I have found on this whole journey that things have a way of working out for the best- I don't mean to sound lalalalala but it is true. It might not seem that way at times though.
Congrats on the exchange Cindy!
TIna- I got the danskin at Walmart- you have to go in the stores to look for it...i have it on in the pic forum- I LOVE IT and wear it still
Although this is the exchange thread if anyone wants a copy of the NCCN treatment guidelines I will be happy to send em on- you can download the patient version on the nccn.org website...i snagged a copy of the doctor version which literally lays out from start to finish the most current treatment guidelines based on your particular type of BC down to the size grade hormone status etc....it really helped me make my choices...it is from Feb 2011.
HHzah- I traveled to NYC for a conference two weeks after my exchange this past March- I took it easy and it was fine...if anything I walked too much. I did not have drains- and even if you do, it is doubtful you would have them in for two weeks...check with your PS...I told mine ahead of time and he simply had me come in the Monday before I was scheduled to go and gave me an exam...as far as lifting----not so much over 5-10 pounds...but that proved to be no problem- for the first time in my life I told people what was gong on and everyone went out of their way to be kind-from the airline to the hotel, etc. Good luck
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christine47: It is misleading if you go to the Allergan/Natrelle site. However, as someone else mentioned you can pull up the catalog which gives more specifics:
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Can anyone tell me if you have experienced severe itching in your foob? it is maddening, I cannot scratch it as everything is numb
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Rnjules: I've had itching and it drove me crazy! I tried to scratch but was numb. The scratching didn't help at all. Anyway, the itching comes and goes--mostly at night for me. It's been 7 weeks since my exchange and the itching started pretty much from the beginning (after exchange). I haven't had any itching for about 2 weeks now but like I said earlier, it comes and goes.
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Annette - Thanks. I feel a little better today...more in perspective. It would be another month wait overall....the swimming thing will hurt the most, but I can do this. Ive come this far, right?
RnJules - I have had itching episodes....I thought it was a good sign? I havent had one in a while now but there was about a week I felt like I was itching non stop....I tried not to go too hard because I couldnt feel much....more like a very light scratch....it didnt help the itch but I didnt do damage either.
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Ok, I am so nervous , had my exchange 4/27 last night I noticed a blood stain on my sports bra it came from the incision, it looks like there is a small hole in the skin, has anyone experienced this before, is this the start of something bad? I have a call into ps waiting to hear from them, i am scheduled for nips 6/8, not sure it thats going to happen now, which is fine i just don't want to lose the implant.
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Hey Pegs---I had that with my surgical biopsy and again with my incision last week (my exchange surgery was 4-15)...in my case- both times-a stitch didn't dissolve and my body was essentially trying to spit it out thru the incision. Look closely with a magnifying miirror--do you see anything that looks like a tiny black (or purple) thread? I went to PS and he just pulled a minuscule piece if stitch out (said I could have done it myself with a tweezer) and covered with Bacitracin and a band aid. It popped out of a just a bit larger than pin size hole in the incision. Hope that's what it is...
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I had something similar happen - it was when I did too much. A check with your PS is in order but it sounds like nothing that cant be handled. I didnt have stitches so what happened to Takeadeepbreath wasnt what was going on with me. My incision was just slow to heal in one spot.
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