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Lymph node recurrence
Hi I am 9 years out from Invasive Carcinoma Moderately defeminated Grade II Stage 2B with 1 lymph node involved. I underwent a radical mastectomy followed by 6 rounds of chemotherapy and 5 years of Femara. I had a mamo followed by an ultrasound where they saw abnormal lymph node that was watched for 6 months. When I went…
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Rib Fractures = metastases?
Hi there, I am 3.5 years post diagnosis. Stage 3A, HER2/ER positive. After experiencing back and rib pain, I had a bone scan done. Results came back clear, however did pick up 2 rib fractures. As a next step, oncologist is recommending an xray. I can’t get a hold of her, are they doing the X-ray as the next step to rule…
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Finishing Anastrozole (7yrs) and considering breast reduction on non-Lumpectomy side
Hi everyone. I am finally going to be finished with Anastrozole (with my Oncologist's agreement after Breast Cancer Index test) this October. Here's my 1st question to the women who stopped taking the med after 5, 7, or 10 years: Did you feel or see any difference, in what way and how long did it take to be noticeable? Did…
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Issues with mastectomy site
Hello everyone, Been awhile since I've been here. I had a mastectomy in May 2015 on my left breast for DCIS. Over the years I have pain to come amd go but lately it has been this constant, seering, throbbing pain at the surgical site. Sometimes when I am walking I have to press it to ease the pain. Sometimes it appears to…
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Anastrozole for DCIS and colon cancer?
Hello, I am newly diagnosed with DCIS. Stage 0, Grade 2 and hormone positive. I am about to start my radiation journey soon and with the advise of my breast surgeon, see a medical oncologist after radiation to talk about hormone blockers. I am not a candidate for tamoxifen so it would most likely be Anastrozole (or…
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Starting year 18
For those who remember me, when I first got here and was out-of-my-mind-afraid, thought I would update. 17 years has gone by…time flies. Cannot believe I'll be starting year 18…lots of other stuff to deal with (myself and DH) but so far, no BC recurrence that I am aware of. I mostly post on the what's for dinner or the…
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Post Surgery Recovery
I'm writing for help concerning my Thai 30+ year old friend who just had a radical double mastectomy, her second cancer surgery in 6 years. She is not getting any help from her surgeon on what she can or cannot, and what she should or should not do. This is especially important since she has children 1, 6, 10. First…
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Ottawa ladies?
Hi all, I`d really like to chat with other women from the Nepean/Barrhaven area who are dealing with BC. I m from out of town and don't see my family too often so it would be nice to find support in the area! Carolyne
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right pubic parasymphyseal fracture
I have Stage IV MBC with bone Mets to my pelvis. I have been suffering with R leg, hip, inner thigh, and abdominal pain for 3 months. Nothing showed on MRI or x-ray in Feb. I had a CT yesterday and it shows a incompletely healed R pubic Fx. I’m waiting for an appt with Ortho. Anyone out there have any advice. Rhonda
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How long have you been Stage IV?
We have a thread of what age you were diagnosed at Stage IV, so how about "How long have you lived with Stage IV". Also please state if you were Stage IV from the get go. I'm asking for this information in hoping to have MANY more years than the 2-3 I was given and to give hope to those newly diagnosed with Stage IV. 1…
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Treatment options/what to choose
I was presented with two options today. First option is chemotherapy for 4 sessions, once every 3 weeks followed by radiation and tamoxifen. Second option is radiation followed by ovarian suppression and an aromatase inhibitor. They both obviously come with their own challenges. I’m looking for anyone who chose the ovarian…
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Winter/Spring 2024 Radiation Thread
Gather here to share experiences, ask questions, get encouragement, and support others who are going through radiation therapy along with you. Please share your diagnosis, any previous treatment you've had, and your scheduled start date along with your radiation schedule. We're all here for you!
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Do pet scans detect chest wall recurrence
I know pet scans aren’t super accurate for cancer recurrence in breast tissue. But are they as good or better than an oncologist manually examining a breast after mastectomy?
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March 2011 chemo-lounge
OK ladies...I am starting chemo on March 2nd. Anyone joining me this month? I wanted to give the March thread a fun name..you know like we are all hanging out having a cocktail or something :) I need some lounge buddies, anyone? I will have 4 cycles of taxotere and cytoxan and will be doing cold caps to save the hair. Will…
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polyurethane foam cups
I would like to share with everyone my concern regarding a terrible experience I recently had with polyurethane foam bra cups. I need help getting this information into the hands of individuals that can help get this subject out into the public eye and hopefully promote legislation to prevent the sale of these products. We…
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Anyone Heard of the SWIM Breast Reconstruction Technique?
SWIM stands for skin-sparing wise-pattern internal mammary perforator. The procedure combines a nipple-sparing mastectomy with a breast reduction. Blood flow to the nipple is preserved, all breast mammary tissue is removed, and the leftover skin and fat from the original breast and surrounding area is folded to create a…
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I just had THE call
I knew what my doctor was going to tell me. So I was not surprised when she basically confirmed the worst. Cancer took my mom - ovarian. My sister is currently in treatment - fallopian. I ignored my breast lump for a year. My husband made me go have it checked up. I was ordered to have a diagnostic ultrasound and…
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Pain and side effects with estrogen blockers post treatment
Hello All Is anyone having severe side effects post chemo and radiation while taking estrogen blockers? Since treatment I have not been able to get back to pre cancer life style. I am in chronic pain with fatigue and insomnia and cognitive issues. Weight gain as well. I don't feel like I can work let alone do many things…
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Er/pr/her2 + IIIA stage IDC
Hi, my 68 year old mother was diagnosed with hr+ pr+ and her2/neu breast cancer (score 2+ currently being verified with fish method), last week. she underwent a tumorectomy with an axillary dissection. the pathological analysis showed the following results: - infiltrating ductal carcinoma of 18 mm, grade SBR 3 according to…
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Tamoxifen 5mg side effects
Hi I am wondering if anyone else on here his post menopausal and on tamoxifen. I started last week and have had debilitating headaches every afternoon and brain fog. My doctor said it should taper off in 6 weeks seriously. I am taking at dinner wondering if it would be better to switch it to mornings interested to hear…
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Allergy due to Tamoxifen?
I have developed a few allergies symptoms since last year. I really believe it's due to taking tamoxifen (for 3 years) that changed my body (gut health maybe). I want to see if anyone experiences something similar…. In the beginning of few months when i started to take the tamoxifen, i had night sweats but that was gone…
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Birads 4 with some oval lumps and axillary lymph node with thick cortex
Mammo and US show 2 lumps in right breast. Both are less than 1 cm and oval shaped and well circumscrimed margins and hypoechoic, parallel to chest. They were told as "probably benign" There is also an axillary lymph node with central fatty vascular hilum, but with a thickened cortex upto 8mm. The radiologist said, masses…
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MBC and working
Hello sisters I’m new here and just diagnosed stageIV. Has anyone with this stage and still working?? I am a RN and single mother and I have to take care of my 11 years old daughter😭😭
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Covid Vaccine - Lymph node swelling
I have LE in my right arm. I had my first Covid vaccine shot in my left arm January 15. My arm was quite sore and a couple of days later I had a swollen lymph nodes under my arm. One was quite large and frightening. The swelling has gone down a lot but still there. I'm scheduled to have the second vaccine next week. I…
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Self Care--All things MLD
Edited since LE diagnosis confirmed... I have seen a LANA-certified PT and gotten my fist full of handouts, plus advised to buy a low-compression sleeve "just in case." I had an hour of hands-on instruction for self Manual Lymph Drainage but I still feel like somehow I'm not doing it right. I get more confused by the…
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Just Diagnosed and Confused
Hello all, my name is Tetiana and I’m 37 years old. I was diagnosed with breast cancer on April 30th, 2024. The initial biopsy returned as DCIS stage 0 both ER+and PR+ in two spots in my right breast. One spot was grade 2 and the other was grade 3. I met with the breast surgeon that same week and we chose double mastectomy…
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Flap versus implant reconstruction
Hi Everyone, My sister had a double mastectomy back in January of this year. Her surgeon advised against immediate reconstruction because she needed radiation after surgery. She is now considering her options for reconstruction and trying to decide between Flap versus Implant. I appreciate it if those who had…
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Tumor found during reconstruction
I had skin-sparing BMX with direct to implant reconstruction in October 2021. Eventually I decided implants weren't for me, so I explanted and had a DIEP in February 2024. My radiated side didn't heal well, and I've had four surgeries since for debridement, skin grafts, etc. All that work resulted in my left breast being…
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Tumor Marker Increases Within Normal Range
Has anyone had experience with tumor markers increasing within the normal range? Since completing chemo/rads/mx after stage IV diagnosis (one unconfirmed met to the sacrum) I had been staying in the 13-14 range on the CA 15-3. I just had it increase to 19.6. I know that's a "normal" range, but it is still concerning to me.…