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Waiting for biopsy 8/7 and anxious
@adrock73 wrote: I am going to have a biopsy 8-7. Very very scared. One radiologist says it is for sure IDC. How do you manage severe anxiety and constantly worry about this. Can’t sleep can’t work can’t do anything. I am on a tranquilizer but it makes me dopey.
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Any POSITIVE stories about AIs or Tamoxifen?
I am seeing a lot of posts seem to indicate that AIs are frequently stopped due to side effects that are not bearable. I am on Tamoxifen and expect my onco to recommend me changing to an AI. I have gained at least 10 lbs since starting T just shy of 2 years ago. I do have joint pain (specific to the hip area) but am sure…
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Dimpling in left breast at 26, worsened over time, ultrasound scheduled
Hello, Thank you for providing this space. I am 26 years old with no history of trauma or surgery to the breast. I also have no children and have never breastfed. As I am in between insurance during the midst of all this (recently lost my job), I do not have a PCP and paid out of pocket to be seen as soon as possible. The…
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Tumor marker vs Signatera ?
Metastatic BC. In hormonal treatment with Verzinio for 6 months. Signatera test came back negative and 0 yesterday and at the same time, CA2729 came back at 300. What could cause the specific test to show 0 Circulatiing tumor cells and the non specific test to show a fair amount of CTC?
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Nonpalpable Mammographic Findings
From the American College of Radiology "With improved imaging techniques, screening mammograms enable early detection of smaller cancers. Most lesions detected mammographically are benign. Noncalcified lesions of concern on screening mammograms include masses, bilateral masses, focal asymmetries, and architectural…
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"What Should I Ask My Doctor?"
I am hoping to kill more than one bird with this post. Many posts ask this question. "I am going to see the ________ doctor, what questions should I ask?". Many other posts ask ""I am reading the report of my imaging and I don't understand it". Also "These are my results and recommendations should I get a second opinion?"…
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Breast Pain
From the American College of Radiology "The etiology of breast pain is not well understood and is probably multifactorial. Several possible causes have been studied, particularly for cyclical mastalgia, including a disturbance of hypothalamic control, abnormal hormonal response to stimuli, abnormal end-organ sensitivity,…
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How much time the Radiologist spends with you
"But the radiologist was only in the room for a few minutes, how can they make a decision that quickly?" “They hardly looked at the screen! They didn't even examine me" I have heard and read this enough that I feel an explanation is warranted. The veterans here know these facts well enough but there may be some new to…
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Breast Imaging Information / Resources
In addition to the wonderful information available here at BreastCancer.Org, the following sites are recommended by the American College of Radiology for patient information on breast imaging and breast related procedures: http://www.mammographysaveslives.org http://www.breastdensity.info/…
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How to Read a Mammogram Part 2
Since I issued Part 1 of this topic I have seen member's posts where they have drawn conclusions regarding their reports based on only one or two of an abnormality's features listed in the report. There are a finite number of features we look for in mammography and US to evaluate a mass. These include but are not limited…
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Benign and Malignant Causes of Nipple Changes
For those of you who enjoy reading the more lengthy technical articles. This covers many topics related to nipple changes and includes embryology and normal anatomy. It is from the RSNA so it has some emphasis on imaging. It may touch on terms you find in your reports. It is fairly comprehensive. Click Here. Edited by Mods…
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What type of imaging is most accurate?
In my experience, the problems with sensitivity and specificity in breast imaging is that on the spectrum from definitely benign to definitely malignant, there is a broad area of overlap of these findings in the center that could go either way. This is where the value of combining several imaging modalities becomes clear.…
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Common Benign Causes of Breast Pain
Articles dealing with breast pain in patients that have already had a complete workup and breast cancer has been definitively excluded as a cause of the breast pain. 1) A fairly complete non-medical article on the subject: 7 Annoying Causes of Breast Pain and Soreness 2) From ClinicalAdvisor.Com: Managing Breast Pain…
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collagen for bone health?
Has anyone taken or done research on collagen peptides for bone health? I found a few studies on PubMed, like this one, which suggest that collagen may stabilize or improve bone density in post-meno women. Specific Collagen Peptides Improve Bone Mineral Density and Bone Markers in Postmenopausal Women—A Randomized…
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'Ironbra' syndrome 15 years after surgery
Hi all, I'm experiencing what I have discovered is called 'Ironbra' syndrome. Didn't know it was a thing until I started researching these past few months. I had my mastectomy in 2006 and reconstruction 12 months later. I had lymph nodes removed which showed no spread so no other treatment necessary other than 5 years of…
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Parkview Cancer Center - Fort Wayne, IN
Hello, I'm wondering if any of the ladies in the group have gone through chemo and/or radiation at Parkview Cancer Center. If so, what was your experience like? My oncologist is Dr. Szwed. Thanks, Linda
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Resources for Caregivers
We hope you find the following links helpful! Learn: Caring for Someone With Breast Cancer Podcast: Support Services for Caregivers Podcast: Caring for Men Who Are Cancer Caregivers Podcast: Supporting a Partner With Breast Cancer Podcast: How Therapy Can Help People Affected By Breast Cancer Personal Stories: Caregivers…
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Newly Diagnosed liver/bones LOOKING FOR LONG TERM SURVIVORS/HOPE!
Hello there, After 10 years of stage 2 breast cancer, 3 months ago I discovered it has returned stage4 to my bones/liver. I thought it was all behind me… I am finding it so hard to cope & terrified of my future, especially being a mother of a young child. I am hormone positive, Her2- I would love to hear from others with…
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…7 Years later
question: it’s been seven years since my mastectomy; is it normal, to have feelings of “aching” or soreness on the cancer side every now & then? It’s not a debilitating feeling but, just uncomfortable and, if I may, kind of “scary…”
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Seeking input-pathologist sent sample out for second opinion
New to this. I‘ve conditioned myself to be ready for a dx at some point in my life due to family history, but hoping it’s not this year. Any input appreciated… I have extremely dense breasts and previous biopsies dx’d as fibroadenomas and benign cysts. Last biopsy was a radial scar that they did a lumpectomy for last week…
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HER2 negative but actually a low positive and neratinib
I'm making a list of questions for my oncologist appointment coming up and in looking at posts relative to metformin I came across neratinib. I realize the metformin trial ended up demonstrating that it was not beneficial in lessening recurrence rates. But apparently neratinib trials were because it was approved by the FDA…
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Any one triple neg with weakly positive HER2 (FISH)
Hi, I have very weakly positive HER2, so MO says I have both triple neg and HER2 positive ( weak)clones. I’m finishing neoadjuvent with TC and Herceptin tomorrow. Any one has similar path report and like to know how you are treated. Thanks
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Creepy feelings on my numb chest
It's time for my 6th month check up, again. It's been 3 yrs since my BMX. The chest wall used to be very numb. Didn't feel much when touched. 3 yrs past, and some sensory is coming back. I have some feelings now, creepy feelings when touched by someone else. My last check up in January was traumatizing. I left my check up…
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Tyrer--Cuzick Risk calculator
Hello - on the Tyrer-cuzick risk calculator, does a 10 year risk of 7.3% for breast cancer. And a lifetime risk of 11.2% mean a high risk? Thank you
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Really Scared--Bilateral Pleural Effusions
I am coming on year 3 since my diagnosis, and I have been feeling pressure and discomfort (primarily at night) on the ribs under my breast--yes, cancer side. It has been a few weeks. I had an X-Ray done and it showed bilateral pleural effusions. Of course, I googled it and now I am freaked out. Is this a clear sign that…
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Emotionally and mentally accepting mastectomy
Hi. Looking for some support and suggestions on accepting getting a mastectomy. I was recently diagnosed with DCIS after a biopsy. The plan at that point was lumpectomy and radiation. I had an MRI and received the results today. The MRI indicated a much larger area of DCIS (mammogram indicated 5cm; MRI indicated 14.5 x 4.1…
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Arimidex and permanent damage
HI, all. Looking for some guidance as I am struggling with the decision to take it or not. I am 58 post-menopausal I do not have the BRCA gene mutations. My risk of recurrence with AI is 4% and 8% without. All in all, I've got it pretty good. My lumpectomy was easy. Radiation not too bad. I don't have to do chemo. I feel…
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Surgery after “horse is out of the barn
This may be addressed somewhere else but I can't find it. Original bc 2013 with lumpectomy in left followed by 30 radiation. 8 years later shocked to learn MBC in liver. Been treated 19 months and lesions have shrunk and now CT shows some increased activity in that breast and I have been referred now to a breast surgeon…
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Neoadjuvant vs adjuvant treatment for local recurrence triple positive
Hi, everyone — I've just been diagnosed with a local recurrence of my original breast cancer — in 3 axillary lymph nodes. Petscan indicates no other cancer. ER+ PR+ HER2+ My original breast cancer was diagnosed in November of 2014. I am the kind of person who wants it out now and that's what I did originally - with…
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Paget's Disease and Punch/Wedge Biopsy
As attempting to do some research online, there are not too many resources that discuss paget's. Thus, if anyone is willing to share, I was wondering about experiences regarding it, and particularly how the punch/wedge biopsy is. I am kind of scared of doing the biopsy and I was just wondering how it works, since I…