TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP

Hi Cypher,   I haven't gone and announced the cancer, but I haven't kept it a secret either.  I had to tell my students because I didn't know when my surgery would be and I wanted them to turn in their assignments early.  And I told people I work with, because I am not teaching the course I planned to teach in the summer, and people had to know why.  I am amazed at how kind people have been - so supportive - and people genuinely offering to help.  I am very lucky to have a very supportive work place - I know this isn't always the case.

And I am always happy to hear about you and others who have gone through the chemo and/or radiation without major problems.  I know it isn't a walk in the park, but some of you make it sound not too bad.

In terms of the conversations about food and diet - ever since my diagnosis I've been very scared to eat a lot of things, so now I'm not eating meat, sugar, alcohol, most carbs unless they are green... I'm going to start working with a nutritionist, I need to know what I can take in terms of supplements and what to avoid during chemo and radiation - the doctor's don't seem to know a lot about nutrition.

In terms of what made me or us get the cancer in the first place.....  so many possibilities, we will never know.  In my case, I had a fibroadenoma removed from my left breast at age 23, so at the time I was told that I should get yearly mammograms, so I did.  I had another fibroadenoma removed from the same breast in 1998.  During all those years I got mammograms, and sometimes the films were iconclusive since I have dense breasts, and they would ask for additional films.  I probably have had 50+ mammograms in my life... and radiation is one of the known causes of breast cancer...... add that to a chest x-ray as a child (back in the day, radiation levels in x-rays were much higher)... add that to the atomic tests in the 50's in Nevada, etc., and Fukushima.... coupled with the hormones in our meat and water supplies... coupled with pesticides, herbicides.....  In my case I blame the radiation because I have lived in the country for the last 35 years, drink my own tested well water (no plastic bottles with bisphenolA that causes breast cancer) being an organic gardener, eating only organic food and meat..... I can't blame my food.... unless it is what I ate when I was young.... 

Sorry for babbling on.....

ang7894 they don't really know why people get breast cancer they just know some of the risk factors. My onc says that smoking doesn't cause breast cancer (but does cause cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, throat cancer, etc.) I still think stress is one of the huge understudied factors for cancer and a bunch of other diseases. This is part of why exercise is important. Stress relief.

Ashla I was not high risk at all for breast cancer. When I was diagnosed at 49, with all my known risk factors I had less than a 2% chance of getting the disease at that time. Both my mom & sister don't have it. Actually I am the family history. I do believe I live a healthier lifestyle than my sister. She did have kids but she was over 30 when she had them, no breast feeding. Who knows.

PBrain, Special K, Bren, congrats to all!



On 12/31/99 I was a front seat passenger in a head-on collision. No serious injuries, but I got a very, very deep bruise on the inner part of my left breast, from the seat belt. I saw a chiropractor a bit later (against my better judgment) and when he saw the still-awful bruise he said I would need to watch it, because an injury like that might end up as breast cancer. Twelve years later, that is the EXACT spot where my breast cancer was. Coincidence? maybe. I did ask my oncologist about it and he was noncommittal, but it does seem logical to me that some cell changes might have resulted from the blow.

Yes, that stupefying question, "Why did any of us get cancer?" Other factors that may trigger BC, for example, are being exposed to products known as endocrine disruptors, i.e., oxybenzone, which is found in a lot of sunscreens, scented creams and lotions; presence of synthetic estrogens such as BPA, a synthetic estrogen found in the linings of canned goods and in some plastic water bottles; low Vitamin D levels; exposure to chronic, sustained stress for a lengthy period of time; and, of course, all the other possible triggers identified by some of you ladies, i.e., exposure to pesticides, exposure to toxins in our air and water, radiation exposure, etc.  If you want to be better informed, for example, about what cosmetics are better for you than others, there is a great website called the Environmental Working Group (EWG):  It contains so much valuable information for consumers of meat, veggies, fruits, sunscreens, cosmetics, water, etc.  Here is a link:

http://www.ewg.org/

Epigenetics is a burgeoning field in science which explores why some protein molecules turn genes on or off, hence causing diseases either to stay dormant or to flourish. Just because one has inherited particular genes does not mean that diseases associated with that gene/those genes will manifest themselves in a visible manner. . . and therein lies the mystery, ladies, why, why, why??? 

PBrain - there is a very good book called 'Picking up the Pieces' that one of breast cancer support agencies uses. I have found it very useful for the post active treatment anxieties. I also wrote a post on my blog (link below) with the same title that may be helpful for you. Another useful book is called 'Dancing in Limbo', the Survivors 2013 thread has a picture of it on the initial post.

You are normal

Thank you Websister.  I'll buy the book.  I need to really sort through this because I really have been getting hives this week.  The last time I had them was when my father died so I suspect they have to do with stress or fear...

Pbrain, that tech was WAY out of line telling you that story! How insensitive. One thing that I have learned is that even though we all have BC, we don't all have the same dx, SE's or outcomes. Remember that her dx and outcome were hers, not yours. What happens to others may never happen to me. And what happens to me may not happen to someone else. Just because something is possible it does not mean that it will necessarily happen. I had 12 years between dx1 and dx2, I am glad I didn't waste all that time worrying about what might happen. Sure I knew it was a possiblity, but I had to choose not to dwell on it. Once again, I am NED. Will I have another recurrence or get mets? Maybe, but I will deal with it then and not let it rob me of my joy today. So back away from the ledge and take a deep breath. You're doing everything you can to destroy the evil BC monster. Celebrate the fact that you have successfully completed surgery and chemo and rads!

pbrain, I have hives and you have my sincere sympathy!!! I just saw my PCP about them Monday, and in my case he suggested using Eucerin cream for dry skin immediately after drying off from bathing... and I've done that for 2 days without relief. You can try and see if that suggestion helps you though.

My anxiety is in regard to things completely unrelated to cancer that are on hold while I wait to travel because of having jury duty all this month.

TonLee, as promised I had my 10+ years out echocardiogram because of the 6 doses of
Adriamycin I had in 2002. (I never had any trastuzumab.) So here is the result: At diagnosis my pre-treatment echo was 76, and yesterday it was 70, with a BP running around 118/60 and pulse in the 50's.

A.A.

TonLee.....are you familiar with "Bravelets"? They just came out with a bracelet for human trafficking.....check this out.....



http://bravelets.com/product/stophumantrafficking/

Pbrain I had my liver scanned for 2 years because of some lesions. After 2 years 1 went away and the other's were stable. Assumed they are cysts. No more scanning. As far as finding a huge tumor on an ovary… well it does happen to some people. Some people win the lottery and become millionaires too but do you really think that's going to happen to you? Shit happens. Sometimes good shit, sometimes bad shit, but most of the time shit doesn't happen. Don't assume shit is going to happen to you.

Hmmm is this my new speech called the "shit lecture?"

Like Bren is saying… you're not surviving if you are worring about something that might never happen. It's not ucommon to be concerned but over time it gets better. It really does.

Bren, when I was talking to doctors, my BS said no rads if I was doing mastectomy. I talked with a RO, who agreed unless it was in my nodes. Then he would recommend it.



In the last couple of years, they have changed rad recommendations and it seems like they are more heavily recommending it, even with a mastectomy. Long term outcomes are better. And, my hospital has recently acquired the machine that allows them to do something radiation wise during the surgery. Sounds really cool, and made me wonder if they would have recommended it.

Patin:  I too had an injury to my breast with the bc.  I too asked my breast surgeon about it and she said they are doing studies to see if there is a connection.

AA:  Great information and I think most of us have been exposed!

Lago:  Thanks for the great chuckle tonight!

On injury to breast Me too about 5 or 6 months before diagnosis. And it is the one that had the cancer in it.

I'm sitting in the chair getting Herceptin right now. I saw the oncologist this morning and mentioned I had pain in one hip, for the last two or three weeks. Not the joint, but the hip bone itself. So he's sending me for an xray as soon as I finish Herceptin today. PBrain and cypher, it's my turn for paranoia now! I'm hoping it's something related to old age...



I asked the onc about the test for metabolization of tamoxifen (discussion here from a couple months ago). He said it's not predictive of effectiveness of tamoxifen and showed me study results - poor metabolizers had slightly better statistics on recurrence than excellent metabolizers. So he says the test is not helpful.

LeslieVilla welcome. I know one gal that did the penguin ice caps. She said she held on to most of her hair but it is $$ and a lot of work. If you want to contact her: linky

I did get some neuropathy but started using Acetyl-L-Caritine. Ended up with only some nueropathy in my left heel and at times my feet would burn if I walked a lot (like 2-3 hours of walking). My left heel is still a little numb but not too bad. It's mostly noticeable when its raining, snowing or humid. I'm really good at predicting weather now. Seriously not a huge deal.

If your neuropathy is that bad your onc should reduce your dose. I know my told me if it got any worse she would. The calculate chemo amounts based on your height & weight (skin surface area). It's not an exact science so sometimes they do have to reduce if your SE are too strong. And if they are really too strong they would put you on a different chemo all together. Oncs don't want to damage you.

Everyone was petrified of chemo. We went to our first tx and waited for something to happen. For most of us it never did. Just a long day.

We on this site will get you through it.