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Dealing with the IBC rash
Hello! I am new here, and I am glad I found this place… I am in the middle of the diagnosis process, it has already been clarified that I have BC but there is not a diagnosis yet for IBC. But there are still PET and a biopsy etc. to do… Meanwhile, I have a huge rash (covering the whole right breast and stretching from…
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Why would people not return for their 6 month follow-up mammogram?
Hi, I just went through a 3-D mammogram, then a call-back mammogram and US and then a 6-month follow-up mammogram. The 6-month follow-up was normal—BI-RADS 1 negative. So, I was very, very relieved. But I was extemely anxious before the normal findings on the 6-monht follow-up. The tech mentioned in passing that many…
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Feelings about breast cancer awareness month
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, which can be an overwhelming time for many women and men affected by breast cancer, but could also be seen as a month of hope and progress against the disease. We want to hear from you about what you think and feel approaching this month.
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Vent about Permanent Neuropathy
I'm interested in hearing from those with long term this isn't going to get better neuropathy. Too often when I bring this up I'm told...It will get better...it is temporary...mine got better....take glutamine it works.....have you tried gabapentin....lyrica.... I know there are many here going through worse, including a…
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Refusing AI Treatment
I I have decided that I'm going to quit taking my AI medicines. I became suicidal, depressed, full of anxiety, feel like I'm going crazy, legs aching in pain. I am diagnosed with stage 1 ER positive invasive ductal carcinoma. I've had a lumpectomy and one month of radiation. I have dense breasts. I have decided that the…
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Post bilateral mastectomy hypersensitivity nerve pain in chest and axilla
Hi, I am new here. Recent dx of R sided ER+, PR+, HER2 - breast cancer at 40 years old. Chose B mastectomy and immediate reconstruction. Just had drains removed at nearly 4 weeks post (sx was 8/12/25). I have been dealing with a lot of hypersensitivity to my chest/axilla region. I am a physical therapist by trade and plan…
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Getting needle biopsy on Oct 7 2025 in Phoenix/Mesa AZ, would like oncology and surgeon recommen...
My maternal grandmother survived breast cancer back in the 1970s. (She died at 106 yrs about 15 yrs ago) . My sister is a breast cancer survivor (over 10 years now). It didn't happen to my mom. My father's half sister never got it. Mammogram found two somethings suspicious in my left breast, follow up ultrasound confirmed…
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Is titanium marker safe after biopsy?
I keep reading that the markers 'can stay in the body indefinitely'. Does anyone reallly know if there are safety issues involved? Can they migrate further into the tissue after a period of time? Can they cause infections down the road? After all it's a foreign object in the body I would think it would cause a reaction…
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Starting Radiation October 2019
Is anyone else starting radiation in October? I was supposed to start today but it took them so long to do the x-rays and more markings that they mercifully postponed the treatment until tomorrow--which is October. I will be having 30 treatments over six weeks.
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I WANT MY MOJO BACK!
Hey girls, You know, this loss of libido thing is just unnacceptable. I was in the chat room earlier today and mentioned it and man, you should've heard how many of us are experiencing this problem. I promised the ladies I'd post my rant, so here it comes (or....doesn't ). If bc were a man's disease, not only would there…
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Tumor Markers Rising
I'm back after a long respite. I was initially diagnosed nearly 14 years ago with ILC Stage IIIC. I did 10 years of Letrazole. I've moved around a bit and am currently living in a place where I get tumor marker testing. My CA 15.3 went from the top of the range ~29 in February to 89 currently. I've been having pain in my…
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God’s grace
a year ago I was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast cancer that metastasized to my bones. It was all over in my bones. I had just the removal of tumor in breast and they removed 6 lymph nodes (3 were cancerous and 3 weren’t). During the last year I broke my elbow which was like an eggshell and I am still doing physical therapy…
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Anyone 5+ years with liver mets and ER+ Her2-?
I just have to ask. If you had liver mets at diagnosis of mbc, and you are ER positive and Her2 negative, and have reached five years already, please raise your hand. Most of the 5+ years women I see here on BCO are either Her2+ (the Her2 drugs are quite successful), or they started with, and may still have, only bone…
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Fat grafting for reconstruction after implant loss
Hi, I am looking to find more recent experience of fat grafting for reconstruction. ie using only liposuction obtained fat, not the DIEP procedure. My surgeon has suggested this for me. It would result in a very small cup, possibly further procedures to "top up" with. He mentioned downtime and pain was "minimal". I was…
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AC - T or TC chemo
Hi, My name is Julie and I am 51 years old. I was diagnosed in July 2025 with invasive ductal carcinoma in my left breast. I am ER + and PR+ HER2 -Through an MRI, we discovered I had a primary tumor that was 1.7 cm and then a smaller nodule of cancer beside it. I opted for a double mastectomy and they found cancer in 2 out…
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Tamoxifen, acne, and otherwise dry aging skin
Hi all, new to the forums and posting for the first time. I'm Medicare-aged and started my final treatment phase of 3 years of 5mg daily "baby" tamoxifen a few months ago, and I'm now dealing with new persistent pimples which I'm convinced are related. I've been post-menopausal for over a decade now, so my primary skin…
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Diagnosed with Stage I Breast Cancer - Start Here!
To learn more about Breast Cancer Stages visit our main site and check out this resource: Breast Cancer Stage I Treatment Options by Cancer Stage: Stage IA and IB To connect with other members who are also diagnosed with Stage I Breast Cancer check out this topic: Calling All Stage 1 Sisters The Mods
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Need advice on ice/cold caps and ice gloves/ socks
my wife is about to start chemotherapy next week for her triple negative b.c. Trying to find cold caps and ice gloves / socks for the procedure. Seems like insurance companies has no idea about these. We can only see those items on Amazon but not sure what to pick. Any suggestions or recommendations?
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20 years cancer free and and now recurrence
Hi Friends, I spent a lot of time on this board in 2004-2005. I was 37 years old, stage II invasive ductal carcinoma. I did the lumpectomy, FEC chemo cocktail, Taxol, radiation a year of Herceptin and Tamoxifen. My life was rolling along and I finally put cancer in my rearview window until this past March when I started…
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Possible round 2 with cancer and scared
10 years ago I had idc stage 1 grade 2 in my right breast. Hormone receptor positive her- brca 1/2 negative Had lumpectomy, 25 rounds radiation and 5 boosts. 5 years of tamoxifen. Hysterectomy and oopherectomy in 2020 after issues with ovarian cysts and heavy bleeding. Had more genetic testing and nothing showed. Could not…
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FDA Approves Imlunestrant (Inluriyo) for Certain Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancers
Imlunestrant is a hormonal therapy medicine used to treat advanced-stage hormone receptor-positive breast cancer that grew during treatment with other hormonal therapy medicines. Read our breaking news article.
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Scheduled for Surgery in September 2025? Gather here to support one another!
Are you scheduled to have a lumpectomy or mastectomy in the month of September? Join us here where we support each other as we prepare for our surgeries, ask questions about what to expect, share reservations and fears, and support one another through preparation and recovery. And, we encourage others who've "been there"…
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My Update—6 years post diagnosis
Hi Friends: I thought I’d post a update on myself 6 1/2 years after my stage 1, grade 1 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma diagnosis. I chose to only have surgery. I did not go on hormone blocking drugs. I chose not to have radiation. I’m doing very well! What was my treatment plan post cancer? I try to eat as plant based as I can.…
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Xgeva concerns about whitening my teeth
I’ve gone down the rabbit hole so many times trying to find answers on my own and then I stumbled upon this group. Maybe someone is in my situation and can help? I was diagnosed with PE+ and HER- breast cancer in 2014. I had 3 months of Adryimician/Cytoxin followed by 3 months of Taxotere. I am one of the many that my hair…
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TNBC Can Change Hormone Receptor Status If It Comes Back
Sep 23, 2025 Triple-negative breast cancer may come back as hormone receptor-positive disease about a third of the time. Triple-negative breast cancer is negative for both estrogen and progesterone receptors. So, it’s hormone receptor-negative. People diagnosed with this type of breast cancer aren’t offered hormonal…
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Managing Hormonal Therapy Side Effects
Jun 11, 2025 World-renowned breast cancer expert Dr. Hope Rugo offers strategies for the most troubling side effects. At the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, Hope Rugo, MD, chaired a session on managing the side effects of new breast cancer treatments and also presented information on how to…
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Aromatase inhibitors versus tamoxifen
I had a double mastectomy in October of 2023, radiation, fortunately no chemo. I began an aromatase inhibitor, Anastrozole, in January of 2024. At about five months in, I began to experience joint pain. It wasn't bad, just a little annoying. As the months passed, it got a bit worse, so my doctor switched me to another AI,…
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Had my first chemo
I started chemo treatments after getting cancer again in the other breast. I have a gene mutation that has caused my cancer which is why I agreed to chemo. My sleep is inconsistent, but I am staying positive. I pray a lot!
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Follow up imaging after having radial scars
if you have had radial scars diagnosed and removed what was the ongoing follow up monitoring recommended by your surgeon? 12 months ago I had two radial scars removed at age 32. I had an ultrasound 1 yr post surgery and imaging was all ok - BIRADS 2. I am meant to follow up with my surgeon for the post 1yr mark. However,…
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Stomach pain post Diep flap
I’m nearly three years out from DIEP flap surgery. Since the very beginning I’ve had issues with extreme muscle cramping in one spot of my left lower abdomen. I even get hard charley horses there! Any ab workouts or heavy lifting triggers this. Has anyone else experienced this, and did you find any treatments or solutions?