-
tamoxifen and hair loss
Hello, I am over 65 & was diagnosed with breast cancer in Aug 2024, followed by a mastectomy, removal of 9 lymph nodes, radiation & hormone therapy. Even though I am post-menopause I was given Tamoxifen for hormone therapy because of my severe osteoporosis. 4 months into using Tamoxifen I find my hair is thinning rapidly,…
-
Brachial Plexopathy
Hello Has anyone sufffered with brachial plexopathy? Im really struggling with the effects and sometimes feel like im going mad! Husband sick of me talking about the range of actually quite bizarre sensations i get. Would love to compare symptoms with someone if only to know im not going insane Thanks
-
"The Ultimate Guide to Fashion for Women with a Single Mastectomy"
"The Ultimate Guide to Fashion for Women with a Single Mastectomy" Here is a fantastic article encouraging single-breasted women to embrace their new body and leverage it to create their own unique style. Anna Robinett, @closetladyflatfashion on Insta and double-mastectomy breast cancer warrior, offers advice on textures,…
-
Help with Lupron, or Alternatives to Hormone Suppression Therapy?
Hello! Grateful to have found this forum! Questions are at the bottom if you want to skip the backstory. I promise I searched the site before asking questions 😉… so if there is a thread that might help me, please share. I'm 54 y/o, diagnosed in March with Invasive Ductile Carcinoma, Progesterone/Estrogen positive, HER2-.…
-
Struggling
How do you handle the constant loss of hope? I have only been dx a year and a few months. A lot of drs missed the lymph nodes and said it was related to an autoimmune disorder. I am still angry but just cannot believe my time is going so quickly. I have not responded to the traditional treatments for less than a few months…
-
Cancer subtype switch
Hello all - I was diagnosed with stage II triple positive breast cancer in 2020. Had lumpectomy, chemo TCHP and 11 additional rounds of HP and 33 rounds of radiation. In 2022, had a prophylactic hysterectomy. In 2024, cancer came back as hormone negative and her2 positive. This time it had spread to one spot in the liver.…
-
Collagen, Creatine & Supplements
Hi everyone, My first post on here ;-) I had single mastectomy in 2023 DCIS stage 0 and reconstruction in 2024. I thought I was doing ok but lately I’m becoming super anxious about what I can and can’t take. Everything I research contradicts from site to site (Google!) . Prior to diagnosis I’d been on HRT and taking marine…
-
Join us: Younger with MBC Zoom Meetup
Hi all! Join us for a Zoom meetup for those who are Younger with MBC discussing the unique experiences that a stage IV diagnosis brings at a younger age. We'd love if you could join us on Thursdays bi-weekly at 1pm ET. Register in advance for this meeting: After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing…
-
Prophylactic Mastectomy
Looking for anyone with shared experience. From my 1st mammogram 15 years ago at 40, I have had issues. Multiple biopsies and lumpectomies, tons of scar tissue as a result. I have extremely dense breast tissue, complex cysts, breast disease, multiple bilateral papillomas and just recently diagnosed with LCIS. I do not have…
-
Likely to be diagnosed with bone mets and need some advice in the interim
Nearly 14 years after my initial diagnosis, I'm back at the rodeo. My tumor markers are up, and some pain in my leg that I thought was due to gait issues or sciatica is likely bone pain. I saw my MO today, and she said that the description of the pain is consistent with bone mets. Tomorrow, I will get called about when my…
-
Life on aromasin
Just starting aromasin after being on tamoxifen for 1.5 years. I am also on effexor so did not experience hot flashes with tamoxifen and my other side effects were mild. Am curious how others have done on Aromasin. Thanks ray Edited by Mods to add content from our main Breastcancer.org site on Aromasin: Benefits, Side…
-
New diagnosis x 2 within 3 weeks!
Hi, New here, started looking around after 1st diagnosis, but am "biting the bullet" so to speak with the 2nd. (FYI, melanoma, stage 1, survivor, 24 yrs.) May 21st, 2025 received full detail of diagnosis 1 from surgerical oncologist = left breast, invasive breast carcinoma, triple negative (TNBC), stage 1a, grade 3, 1cm…
-
Didn’t achieve pCR. Next steps for TNBC?
I didn’t achieve pCR after DMX. My oncologist doesn’t feel like Xeloda is aggressive enough for my next line of treatment for my TNBC. Trodelvy is on the table, but she’s also looking for drug trials I might be eligible for. Looking for others in a similar situation - what are you taking and what side effects are you…
-
Grey area here! 5mm tumor- chemo or no chemo?
hi everyone, first time posting here. I am struggling to make a decision as my oncologist, even after a second opinion, is saying it is my choice if I want to do chemo or not! I am 54 years old. I am “borderline they tell me, I’m the grey area”. I am T1a, ER +, PR-, Her2+, DCIS I had a lumpectomy 5 weeks ago, all went…
-
Enhertu start
Hi everyone, I'm starting a low dose of Enhertu today, been resisting for a while as I'm more than done with hair loss and any more reduction in quality of life. Side effects don't seem to be consistent with most patients I've observed from research, am very trepidatious. Any thoughts? Thanks
-
What can I expect post-lumpectomy?
Hello, My lumpectomy is finally happening next week and I'm not sure what to expect as far as the healing/post surgery journey. (So far diagnosis is Grade 1a, 8mm tumor) I was thinking of planning a trip (flying overseas) after my two week check up. Is this unreasonable? How soon after the lumpectomy do they typically want…
-
Insurance denial
Hi everyone, I am a 2 time survivor In 2003 I had a lumpectomy, radiation, chemo and aromatase inhibitor for 10 years. Recurrence in 2012 in same left breast and opted for masc with reconstruction ( I had lost my husband a month later so wasn’t thinking too clearly) Anyways now finally looking for symmetry. Having a…
-
Need help anyone else had anything else come back on their pet scan
Hi I am 37 years old I have recently been diagnosed with IDC triple negative and went for a pet scan the scan come back and said that the area hasn't spread anywhere else but the scan did pic up something in my colon area they weren't concerned at all really but now I have to wait yet again before I even see oncology to…
-
Hormone suppression
So I was curious of anyone chose to have chemo instead of the hormone suppressor? Or if that is even an option. All the aise effects of that are just as scary as chemo. So is this something I should speak to my oncologist about ?
-
The party’s over…
13 years was a good run but all good things must come to an end. Will be heading to see my mo in about an hour to review latest PET scan, which was not posted in the patient portal ☹️. Yes, I have been having pain/soreness in my back and the CT I had during my kidney stone episode showed a healing fractured rib as well as…
-
Mucinous Carcinoma of the breast
On April 21st I had a core biopsy and today I was told that I have mucinous carcinoma of the breast. When I investigated on this website, the information given was that this is a rare type of cancer, about 2-3% of all breast cancers and usually occurs in post-menopausal women over the age of 60. I am neither. I am 51 years…
-
Remember When!!
Friends and I recently started talking about things in the "good old days." I thought it might be fun to try here and see what people of all ages remember from different eras of their lives! Just add to the thread with a brief post and we'll all enjoy remembering when!!
-
Having difficulty feeling 100% certain that I want a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy
Hello and thank you for the existence of this resource I'm a 40 year old, triple positive, stage 2. I am awaiting my last chemo round on the TCH regimen. I decided to first start with a lumpectomy, as I was hoping at the beginning of my cancer journey that I would not need chemo. I also chose surgery first because it was…
-
Lymph Node Positive Survivors
Hey all, Just wondering how many lymph node positive survivors there are out there and how many years out? Also have many of you experienced recurrence during that time? Or if you haven't what have you changed in terms of lifestyle, diet, exercise etc..
-
Verzenio
Hello - My cancer recurrence (since 2010-2011 lumpectomy/chemo/radiation/tamoxifen/arimidex 6 yrs) is now MBC+bone metastisis diagnosed the end of January 2025. I have been on 100 mg Verzenio pills since February 2025 (along with monthly Faslodex injections and 3-month Zometa infusions). I keep hearing from the oncologist…
-
Oncotype vs mammaprint
I have: 2.2cm idc Er 40%, pr >90% (surgical pathology) single gene score of 9.5 er and 8.9 pr on the Oncotype DX (strong positive) Her 2 +2 ihc, fish negative, oncotype her 2 gene score 9.1 (negative) Grade 1 (mitotic rate 1) Ki67 5-7% Node negative, snlb took out 6 No lvi (mastectomy) Dcis present Oncotype 11 with 3%…
-
I'm looking for advice re: my lumpectomy on Monday next week
I'll try to keep the background as short as possible—unfortunately, it is a bit of a twisted tale. I had a screening breast MRI in Sept. last year. It came back BI-RADS 5 (greater than 95% likely cancer). The targeted US showed a rather benign-looking nodule that was presumed to be the one seen on the MRI. An US-guided…
-
Saline implants
Hi, Anyone here who has or had saline implants? I am having my surgery next week monday Aug 18,2025 and will be doing reconstruction after the bilateral mastectomy. Any info would be appreciated. my bra size is A
-
August 2025 Surgery support thread
Add to the discussion below to share your scheduled surgery date, type of surgery, what you're doing to prepare, ask any questions you have about what to expect, share your experience after surgery, how you're recovering, tips to help others recover, products and other practical advice for those coming after you. We're all…
-
Starting Chemo June 2025? Let's support each other here!
Join together to share experiences. Discuss your chemo regimen, how to prep, what to expect, how you're feeling, side effects you're having and tips to alleviate them. We're all here to support you - you've got this!