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Lupron Vs Ovary Removal
I was diagnosed with Stage 2A invasive lobular carcinoma. I had a lumpectomy and radiation which I completed in January 2025. I am currently getting monthly Lupron injections to put me into menopause and also taking letrozole. I am having significant mood swings with the lupin injections and I am considering having my…
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Reconstruction after Lumpectomy
I have read a lot on this wonderful site about reconstruction and lumpectomy vs mastectomy. Wondering what experience others have had with reconstruction after lumpectomy. My situation is that the lump is bulging right next to nipple in areola. Lumpectomy would take less than 1/4 of breast off the top, scar would be…
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Lilly's "Oncology On Canvas": Share Your Art, Share Your Story
STRENGTH, COURAGE, DETERMINATION Help us support those with breast cancer Breast cancer tries to define the lives of those diagnosed with the disease, but it doesn’t count on its opponents’ strength and profound determination. After all, breast cancer patients are known for challenging the disease head-on with their own…
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Calling all SCUBA divers!
it seems that there aremany of us out there! Share your trips, tips, favorite dive sites, hotels, and any other dive stuff! Cheers, Midgie
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Xeloda mouth sores
Hello Everyone. I am wondering what people who are on Xeloda do when they develop mouth sores? I have been on it for months, but only recently have I started to have trouble with mouth sores. I thought I had burned my mouth on something hot but couldn't recall any incident. The back of my gums and the top of my mouth are…
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MIL just diagnosed with TNBC
Hello again, five years ago (at 52), I joined breastcancer.org for support during my DCIS diagnosis and subsequent bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction journey. Now I am back looking for insight on TNBC treatment to provide support to my husband and MIL. Some context, my MIL is 82 years old in moderate health; main…
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Reoccurrence after DMX
First dx in 2022. Had lumpectomy and revision of positive margins. Followed with chemo ac-tx16 Followed with partial breast radiation. Reoccurrence dcis 2023, then DMX w recon and implants May 2025 dx with 2 spots in scar tissue and a new lump close to the tissue. I took all the meds, shots ext. Anyone else been through…
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This article may explain why we don't have blood tests to check our estrogen and many other things.
I've asked AI to do a summary in educated layman's terms of the article and have included the link. It's an old article, but from what I understand, it's explaining basic facts that I didn't know. Detailed Summary of the Article: "Tissue-Bound Estrogen in Aging" by Ray Peat The article challenges the mainstream belief that…
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High Risk, Strong Family History, +PASH?
Hi there. I have a very strong family history of BC (gene negative). Grandmother twice, Mother twice, 1st cousin at age 31… Anyways, because of this I alternate Mammos and MRIs. Just had an MRI biopsy (not my first one) that came back benign with a foci of PASH. I'm reading all I can about this but I'm curious if anyone…
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Sudden seroma
Hi, I did my double mastectomy on June 5 and my doctor chose not to insert drains. Three days later, seroma got very bad. I’m in a place where access to health care is not great. I'm supposed to see the surgeon in one month. Any tips, reassurance, info to share about this matter. I would love to get rid of it without…
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What Has Helped You Feel Seen and Supported as an LGBTQ+ Person Facing Breast Cancer?
We’d love to hear about the people, resources, communities, or moments that made a difference—big or small—in helping you feel affirmed, valued, and uplifted during your experience.
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What Do You Wish You’d Known Earlier in Your Breast Cancer Journey?
We’ve all had those “I wish someone had told me…” moments — whether it was about treatment, emotional health, relationships, body image, or navigating the healthcare system. What’s something you learned along the way that you wish you’d known earlier?
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How often do you get an MRI to check on the integrity of your implants (if at all)?
Today I went in for my final 6-month visit. They offered to order an MRI to check on the integrity of the implants, even though there are no signs of trouble with them. Is it normal to get an MRI on my implants just because they are five years old?
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Fasting and chemo
I have to do an urgent chemo, Caelyx ( I will explain more in the "metastasis to liver" section). I have an urgent question: I read many studies that state it is better to fast before and after chemo. Is that correct? Thank you
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Stage IV bone meets- challenge with biopsy
Hi folks, its my 1st post here. Felt a bit positive after reading some of the long time mets survivors. I was diagnosed with triple positive (high 90%) in 2020, stage 2. Did the full paclitaxel+herceptin and RT cycle. Have been on tamoxifen for last 5 years. In Jan this year started feeling bone pain and MRI showed…
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Exercise to prepare for surgery
I would like to start a thread, if anyone is interested, to record our efforts to exercise in order to prepare for surgery. I was inspired by a report online of a young woman who exercised a lot to prepare for her surgery. "I wasn’t thinking about the surgery or worrying about the surgery—I was focused on getting my body…
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Kisqali side effects
hi I have stage 2 invasive lobular breast cancer; have had 2 surgeries & radiation Now have started arimidex & kisqali. I have flu symptoms usually everyday with low grade fever & body aches. Has anyone else felt like this & how long does it last
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MRI guided Biopsy BI-RADS 4
Hi All, I recently went for my yearly Breast MRI and they found 2 new foci, 1.8cm apart in my left reconstructed breast (DIEP). They have classified it as BI-RADS 4, and are sending me to get a surgeon to do an MRI guided biopsy. I'm obviously afraid it's back. Wondering if anybody has had a recurrence after DIEP in that…
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Now brain mets
I’ve been gone a while… after 12 years my er+ pr+ her2- cancer showed up in my brain. I had been getting more unsteady, but figured I really needed to work on muscle strength since I’m getting older (63). Qi was having headaches which I repeatedly complained about to my primary care - nothing was helping. But then I…
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Large Lump in Armpit
Hi everyone....I'm a nervous wreck. Woke up in the middle of the night on Thursday and for some reason felt the need to touch my right armpit...I felt a huge lump. Got up and went to the bathroom to find my period had arrived. The lump feels hard to me, and deep in my armpit unless I am holding my arm upright. You can…
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Awaiting Biopsy- Birads 4A
Hello everyone! I'm glad I've found this group. I am in Ontario, Canada and in the high risk category for breast cancer and so get an annual MRI/Mammogram. I am 37. My mother was diagnosed at 59 with stage IIIb E+ PR+ HER2- and is two years in remission. She is in the US and being treated by the Cleveland Clinic. My mother…
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Does Tamoxifen affect your skin?
Hello girls, I have been on Tamoxifen for 2 years and was wondering does it make you age? For the past few months when I look in the mirror I say "what happened to my face!"? I have always looked 10 years younger than what I am and use to get carded! Now I look older than my age. I feel and look so old. What can I take to…
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Does Fibrocystic Breasts cause back pain?
Hi, my name is Mary and I have had fibrocystic breast (mainly left) for a few years now. I am 37 years old. I was just wondering if any of you experienced upper back pain (between the shoulder blade and spine) in regards to your fibrocystic breast? I have daily pain in the left breast, along with left rib pain, and armpit…
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FDA Approves Kisqali for Early-Stage Breast Cancer
FDA Approves Kisqali for Early-Stage Breast Cancer September 17, 2024 Kisqali (chemical name: ribociclib) can now be used after surgery in combination with an aromatase inhibitor to treat stage II or stage III hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer with a high risk of recurrence. Read more…
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Tamoxifen and bleeding
I am 44 years old and premenopausal. I have been taking Tamoxifen for 8 months. I stopped getting my period in December right after starting the Tamoxifen and have not had a period for 8 months, not even spotting. This week I was at work and started what I thought was my period but after a couple hours turned into…
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Mammogram - recall severe anxiety and depression
I’m terrified ..I was recalled after my mammogram for the results below.. I’m going for a diagnostic mammogram/ultrasound .. can’t eat or sleep … I need information because Google has me in panic mode….any help would be appreciated… I’m 67 with dense breasts
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Palpable area of thickening but negative mammogram/ultrasound
Hi all, I recently discovered a weird, thickened area in my right breast that is totally different from the same area on my left breast. I went to my ob/gyn who was unable to find a specific lump but did say she felt an area of dense tissue/thickening so she sent me away with a script for a mammogram and ultrasound. I had…
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Segmental Calcifications (BI-RADS 4) & Biopsy Questions
Hello! I (40F, no family history, no children, no symptoms) got my first mammogram in December and was called back to do another one two weeks ago. I was recommended a stereotactic biopsy because they found calcifications in my left breast. Like a lot of people, I googled my findings and started to have a lot of worries…
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Radiologist told me I have breast cancer without a biopsy.
To start a few months ago I found a lump on my breast. I waited to see if it would go away. It did not so I made an appointment with my OBGYN and sure enough she felt the lump too. This was last week. Today I had a 3-D mammogram with an ultra sound directly after. Neither techs would give me any information about my…
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Terrible pain from tissue expanders
Hi there, Last week I had a skin sparing double mastectomy/sentinel node removal with the placement of tissue expanders (300 cc's put in the left expander and 240 in the right). I am experiencing terrible pain/burning sensation along the bottom of the implant (top of rib cage area). I was in the hospital one night and was…