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Unilateral or Bilateral Mastectomy - Pros & Cons for ILC
Hi, I learned on April 12th that both biopsies taken from my left breast on March 26th have ILC. The MRI showed at least three more (Stage 1a). They are all very small, but given there are now at least five, the surgeon's recommendation is unilateral mastectomy. I am about 95% certain I'd like to just go for the bilateral,…
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Medicare coverage of post-reconstruction MRI
I had bilateral mastectomy with silicone implant reconstruction when I was in my 50’s, and had private insurance. As recommended by my plastic surgeon, I’ve had surveillance MRIs every 3 years to evaluate the stability of the implants. This year I had my first with Medicare, and I received a notice of potential nonpayment…
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HRT after Breast Cancer? Maybe!
I just wanted to share this information I've found. The first is a book cowritten by an oncologist, Dr Bluming, called Estrogen Matters. The second is an article he just had published in Cancer Journal entitled 'HRT after Breast Cancer - It Is Time.' I would be happy to send a copy of the article to anyone as he was kind…
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27-29 at 48
My tumor marker is 48 after Kisqali and Letrozole. Is that high
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Advice new diagnosed
Close family member in her 80s dx with breast cancer two weeks ago. Struggling to get breast surgeon consult and medical oncologist scheduled. Expecting urgency but response has been poor. What is reasonable expectation? Am I being un reasonable to expect things to be scheduled within days not week of Dx? Thxs
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Doctors said it is a cancer before biopsy.
Hi all, I had a lump under my arm upper my right breast it started as a tiny one hardly seen or felt. I left the UK had so many issues that affected my psychological side, this lump started appearing the same month my period stopped I was about 51 years old. the lump starts growing and growing and I war treating it as…
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Surgery date
hi, I’ve triple negative, stage 2, nodes seem clear, surgery 7th July for lumpectomy. Nervous but need my life back, and my hair 😊
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Just diagnosed with IDC ER+ PR+ HER2+
I just was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma ER+ PR+ HER2+ on Dec 23rd, 2023 but still do not have an oncologist. I do not know what is normal for being diagnosed with cancer as I have never had cancer in my life before. I do not know the Stage or Grade of the tumour yet. I am in Canada. When looking up anything…
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MRI screening results.
Hello. New To the group here. I do have a healthy dose of health anxiety and my recent breast MRI results are not helping. I am a 41-year-old female with very depressed tissue and my mother had breast cancer at age 62. It was recommended due to my dense breast tissue to have the MRI. I had it done yesterday. With contrast,…
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Tamoxifen treatment for endocrine cancer survivors
Hello. I was diagnosed in April, and finally got a surgery date for July 6th. My prognostic report said my cancer was estrogen and progesterone positive and moderately invasive. My surgeon has told me I will be put on Tamoxifen after surgery. I am concerned because I am an Endometrial Cancer Survivor and had a total…
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Chemo next cycle
Hello all you other warriors! It still blows my mind that this is happening, this diagnosis and I am now in the fight. Diagnosed in April stage 2 palpable lump and positive in auxiliary lymph, high oncotype, grade 3, E+P+ and BRCA1 (got hit with all the things) 😑 But, I am going for weekly treatment #9 on Monday of the…
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💛 June 2026 Chemo Check-In — Come On In, We Saved You a Seat 💛
Starting chemotherapy this June? We're glad you're here. Whether you're preparing for your first infusion, counting down to treatment day, or already a few appointments in, this thread is a place to connect with others who understand what you're going through. Chemo can bring a mix of emotions—questions, worries,…
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BCO In Memoriam thread, Part 2
(The original BCO In Memoriam thread started by Milica has gotten too long and is difficult to load or make additions. We need to start Part 2 of this thread, starting 5/3, 2023 to make it easier to load in this new platform. The Original thread (Part 1) will remain and can be accessed for viewing but will not allow for…
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Share Your TNBC Story
Hello, everyone! Share your triple-negative breast cancer story here to give hope to others recently diagnosed.Thank you for contributing! --The Mods
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Premenopausal and Starting Tamoxifen -- Looking for an Ongoing Chat
I took my first dose of tamoxifen last night and am feeling so much dread around it. I put it off due to avoidance and confusion around the small impact that taking it has on my future recurrence rate (4% vs 8%). Looking to find peace in this journey and am wondering how others have figuratively 'swallowed the pill' of…
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Tingling hand after lymph nodes removed
Hello, I had a few lymph nodes removed at the end of February, as well as a single mastectomy. I'm experiencing intermittent hand tingling and numbness. Can anyone relate and what have you done to relieve or eliminate the symptoms? Thank you for sharing your insights!
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Nervous about switch from Letrozole to Exemestane
Hi - I have been on Letrozole for 2 years (invasive ductal carcinoma, node positive, did chemo and radiation, double mastectomy and oophorectomy...was diagnosed right after my 46th bday). Recently I've had neuropathy for the first time (it moves around/switches which limbs it affects...strangest thing). Ruled out…
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Zoom Meet-Up Bonded by Breast Cancer: Place to Keep Chatting
Hey Everyone, Here is a place to keep sharing between meetups. Warmly, The Mods
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recently diagnosed-looking for info on nerve-preserving (or sensation-preserving) mastectomy
Hello All- I was diagnosed a few weeks ago- Stage 1, triple negative breast cancer . I will be having my nipple sparing mastectomy in a week and was leaning towards bilateral until the PS casually mentioned the loss of sensation. I'm like "what!?!? you need to START with that in our convo, not end with it!" he said they is…
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Ribociclib/Kisqali with Letrozole - Any one on this combo?
I am starting this new forum for all those who are on this newly approved drug combo. I started on Kisqali/Letrozole combo 6 weeks ago and so far it has been tolerable. Letrozole gives me joint pain and low back pain. My oncologist has asked me to take this on alternate days. Would love to hear from others about their…
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Cancer Markers Confusion
Hello. I am 8 years out from my breast cancer. It was small and found early but it was in the high range for recurrence, so I had both chemo and radiation and took an aromatase inhibitor for five years. At the end of five years, my risk assessment was a 6.7% chance of recurrence. However, my last blood test showed my…
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ILC stage 1a
I’m 73 and was recently diagnosed with ILC. I had a lumpectomy along with 4 sentinel nodes; 2 of which were positive. I see my surgeon next week and will be starting 4 weeks of radiation followed by an estrogen blocker along with a second drug. I would like to connect to others with a similar diagnosis.
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Scan anxiety
Hi. I have a scan tomorrow to see if my cancer has shrunk. Since I'm ER/PR+ with a low oncotype I've been doing endocrine therapy. Tamoxifen did not work and it grew 2mm. Switched to ovarian suppression therapy with letrozole. If this hasn't helped I think it's straight to surgery. My MO said there's a low chance chemo…
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lymph node removal
I am 79 years old and have lobullar ILC breast cancer, stage 1 in both breasts. They are doing a lympectomy in a couple of weeks and also removing lymph nodes that are not cancerous, just for safety sake. Also have to do radiation for 3-6 weeks. How is the recovery for this type of surgeries? And the likely hood it will…
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My daughter has breast cancer.
I want help knowing how I can support her and help her through this difficult time
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Implant advice
After Discussing my options with my Dr prior to surgery, I wanted to have the DIEP Flap procedure. I had CT scan done and my blood vessels are weak so I need to get implants- I have researched so much I’m now confused. I am 5 weeks post op double mastectomy, i was a double DD before and want to go smaller Reconstructive…
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💛 May 2026 Chemo Check-In — Pull Up a Chair, You’re Not Doing This Alone 💛
Starting chemo this May? We’re really glad you found your way here. This isn’t just a post to read—it’s a space to land, to talk, and to be understood by people who truly get it. 💛 Chemo brings a lot with it—the build-up, the questions, the unknowns, the strength it takes to keep showing up. However you’re walking into…
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Post surgery medication need
I've just had a lumpectomy that was diagnosed 5 years ago. I was afraid of surgery because I didn't want radiation which I was lead to believe would have been necessary so I relied on estrogen blocking Letrozole and Kisqali. The y finally stopped working so I had a lumpectomy and 18 lymphnodes removed. The surgery was a…
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Weird black bumps on prosthesis
I have a silicon? prosthesis. All of a sudden today I discovered these weird little black bumps on it bumping up from under the surface. It's not on the side close to the chest, it on the side furthest from the body. This is a really bad time for this to happen. Has anyone ever seen something like this? Does anyone have…
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Implant vs Diep Flap Reconstruction.
I had a lumpectomy on right breast followed by radiation last year 2018 for DCIS and was diagnosed with another DCIS by biopsy Oct 21, 2019 post MRI same on right breast. I am a BRCA2 mutation gene carrier so I decided to go for double mastectomy this time as all medical team had advised me since they found I was a gene…