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DIEP FLAP SURGERY AND RECOVERY SUGGESTIONS
I will be having DIEP flap surgery in February. I am 13 years out from ILC/ bilateral masectomy w/ silicone implants. I have struggled with BII for 4-5 years. Exhausting many specialists, knowing it was silicone toxicity I was struggling with the last 2 years, I finally had Explant surgery last October.i was scheduled for…
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Breast pain
I had IDC at the end of 2019 with lumpectomy and reduction surgery. This past week and a half, I've had uncomfortable pain in the same surgical spot that comes and goes. It's like a burning feeling. I'm FREAKED OUT! I have an appointment with my oncologist next week and am due for my yearly mammogram. Has anyone had…
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Was fat grafting worth it?
Hello, seeking feedback from those who had fat grafting with their exchange from TEs to implants. All input appreciated, with particular interest in results on those carrying a moderate/lower amount of fat. Was the resultant appearance of your breasts worth the extra procedure and recovery? How did the sites from which the…
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How to Ease Stress
How to Ease Stress Apr 12, 2024 Dr. Pamela Ginsberg offers tools and tips on how to ease stress and anxiety after a breast cancer diagnosis. That being diagnosed with breast cancer is stressful is an understatement. It may be difficult to accept the diagnosis. You may feel overwhelmed by making so many decisions at once:…
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Combat dry skin on face
This is not a huge problem, but I thought I’d throw it out to the community. As one of the side effects from the faslodex and/or Kisqali is dry skin, I’m curious to see if anyone has anything that has worked well for them? My face, in particular, is extremely dry and if you look up close (which I hope no one does), it…
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Kisqali/ribociclib, Faslodex/fluvestrant & Xgeva combo - Anyone?
I've been on this combo since Nov 2019. Since all treatment combos seem to offer their own side effects and challenges, I'd like to hear from others taking these drugs. Especially your experiences, duration of success and how you deal with the fatigue, itchiness, etc that goes along with this treatment.
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Primary endocrine resistance
hello. I was dx with stage IV de novo in July 2023. ER/PR+, Her2 - small Mets to pelvis Treatment was Letrozole with Ribociclib. First scan after 4 months showed reduction. Second scan 3 months later showed bone mets reduced but small spots on liver. Told I was primary endocrine resistant. Moved on to capacetabine. On…
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Questions List for 1st Onc Appt
Please jump in and help me craft a list of questions for my first oncology appointment tomorrow? Here is what I’ve got so far: Can you explain my pathology report findings in detail, including the grade, stage, and subtype of my breast cancer? Based on my cancer characteristics (IDC, HER2+, ER-, PR-, grade 3 / Bloomberg 9,…
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Stage IIb and 5+ years out, anyone?
I am quickly approaching the one year mark here and have my first round of scans post treatment in a couple of weeks. However, the local newspaper has been running stories left and right this month in which the focus is young women like myself (I was 37 at dx). In both stories today the women were stageIIb and eventually…
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Tissue Expanders- I hate them!!
I had surgery on Monday and they put in tissue expanders and down the road plan to do the DEIP flap. I’m really starting to regret my decision on the TE’s. Do they ever get more comfortable? The one on the right feels like it’s over too far and affecting my right arm mobility. And have constant aches and pains associated…
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If you are not Stage IV but have questions, you may post here
This thread is for those people who are not stage IV but are having concerns or questions regarding stage IV.
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Stage IV MBC Fitness
Hello! Welcome! We are done with Stage IV, moving on and planning to staying healthy for a long time. We're Stage V (Which is not dead. We're doing fine, ready to live with this beast.) This is the American Cancer Society/NCI consensus on exercise for cancer patients. * 150 minutes/week moderate-intense aerobic exercise or…
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Newly diagnosed. Stage 3 and grade 2. Anyone?
my preliminary biopsy results came back yesterday. IDC, locally advanced to one confirmed lymph node completed replaced with cancer. They said moderately differentiated (grade 2?). I feel this is overall stage 3, as my tumor is 3.5cm, but the disease in my breast extends to 5.3cm. I guess that means it’s spread to the…
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Newly-dX'ed today
Hi everyone. I received my biopsy results this afternoon. I don't have the full picture yet, but I'm looking for some guidance and support from others who may have had a similar experience. Here are my details: 50-yo, possibly newly post-menopausal Diagnosis: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) HER2 Status: Positive Hormone…
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Stage III Cancer Survivors ...Five + Years and Out.
A place to post hope for those who are stage 3. Please posts your stories of HOPE for those just starting this journey.
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Radiation Before Mastectomy: Switching Treatment Order Allows for Immediate Reconstruction
Radiation Before Mastectomy: Switching Treatment Order Allows for Immediate Reconstruction Apr 26, 2024 Dr. Benjamin Smith discusses his research on giving radiation before mastectomy, which allows for immediate reconstruction during mastectomy surgery. If early-stage breast cancer has a high risk of recurrence – coming…
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Bi Rads 4 Suspicious Hypoechoic Lesion
Hello everyone, I had a lump pop up out of no where back in December. Reached out to my doctor a month later to let him know I was feeling a possible lump. At this point still thinking it was period related or a cyst or something like that. Two months later the lump had not gone away so I went into the doctors to get his…
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Multiple MRI's w/varied BIRADS
I am higher risk due to family history and I have had a total of 4 biopsies, 2 in each breast (needle x1, needle core x2, and wire guided surgical x1) within the past 8 years (architectural distortion, masses, & cysts). Thankfully all have been benign. My last mammogram was the first normal mammogram I've had, BRIAD2, July…
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How often you do PET scan
I am writing this post on behalf my mother, who has breast cancer and is undergoing hormonal treatment. Her doctor performs a PET scan every year. There were nodules on her lung and a lymph node, but with treatment, there has been significant improvement, and the tumor has reduced in size considerably. Today, she had her…
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Waiting for Surgery- what’s next? Ugh!
I was recently diagnosed with early stage grade 2 or 3 (there were two looks) IDC with DCIS characteristics (whatever that means) HR positive, HER2 negative, ki-67 40% high. back in 2021 they saw a spot, did a second mammogram to conclude it was benign breast tissue. 2022 same spot noted but disregarded because previous…
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Neoadjuvant EC Regimen precautions
Posting this on behalf of my wife (aged 34) who had been diagnosed with TNBC in October 2023. She had recently completed her weekly 12 sessions of TC regimen : Paclitaxel (120mg) and Carboplatin (200mg). Although there was Hair Loss and slight nail discoloration from 3rd week onwards, she had Nausea from Day 1-4 post every…
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Tamoxifen & pigmentation
Does anybody had seen a changes in skin pigmentation. I am considering to do face laser treatment to get rid, but at the moment am still taking tamoxifen. Wonder if there's any side effect or its safe to go for laser?
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Nipple-sparing double mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction
Hello, I apologize if this is not the place to ask or if I could have found this answer elsewhere. I am new to the forum and was a little confused trying to navigate. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at 47 years old. She is the first in her family to get breast cancer. My father was diagnosed with prostate cancer…
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I am between tests..
I was just diagnosed with breast cancer from a biopsy and waiting for full pathology report The ultrasound found the following 1.6cm longest side of tumor “No enlarged or suspicious appearing lymph nodes in the right axilla” if my tumor is less than 2cm and lymph nodes appear to be clear I would be Stage 1A…. I know more…
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Left breast cancer 15 years ago now cancerous axillary mass - treatment recommendations?
I was treated for left sided breast cancer 15 years ago (mastectomy and 4 courses of cytoxan and taxotere). Now have 2.3 cm axillary mass (cancer: ER+ PR+ HER2- grade 2 invasive ductal carcinoma and moderately high KI-67 score. I live in Chicago area. MD Anderson cannot see me for two months. I am waiting to hear back from…
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MRI Guided Biopsies
I've had 3 BIRADS 4 on ultrasound over time in the past 3 years and each time resulted in a biopsies. All came back benign (thank God). I'm considered as high risk with LCIS and family history so I have to do MRI once in a year. I did MRI for the first time and it showed multiple BIRADS 4 areas(4 in total) in my both…
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ER & PR +, HER 2 - just had lumpectomy and sentinol lymph node biopsy
I was diagnosed with ER & PR +, HER 2 - breast cancer (tumour less than 1cm) in March. I just had a lumpectomy and sentinol lymph node biopsy. 4 lymph nodes removed, the one closest to the tumour was attached to it. What treatment paths are others on for the same scenario?
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Wait times and alternative clinics
hi all, I was diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma last week. I’ve been feeling this spot for almost 2 years. I was told 18 months ago by the breast clinic in Halifax nova Scotia that it was just a part of my rib bone I was feeling. Anyway now it’s a month before I can get a consult and unknown waits beyond for…
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Chest Wall Recurrence worry after Mastectomy for grade 3 DCIS
Hello all, It's been a while since I've posted. Looking through the forum I'm finding a lot of comfort knowing I'm not alone! I had a giant 8cm Grade 3 ER-/PR- DCIS back in 2015 that was treated with Uni Mastectomy. No chemo or radiation. After 8 1/2 years of everything clear on MRI every year, I have now discovered an…
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Bi Rads 4 - Suspicious Hypoechoic Lesion
Hello everyone, I had a lump pop up out of no where back in December. Reached out to my doctor a month later to let him know I was feeling a possible lump. At this point still thinking it was period related or a cyst or something like that. Two months later the lump had not gone away so I went into the doctors to get his…