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How to forgive family/friends who disappeared during cancer....
Hello, I would love advice on how to forgive and move on in family/friend relationships. I was diag. with bc for the second time Oct. 5. Had a double mastec. 10/26 and am having the expander reconstr. now. It was such a shock to have bc a second time when I was nearly to my 5 yr. mark! It is amazing to me that friends I…
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Radial Scar - Observe or Take Out?
I'm recently diagnosed with a benign radial scar. First seen on a screening mammogram as an area of "focal distortion." Called back for diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound. It persisted on the diagnostic mammogram as architectural distortion and a 0.7cm irregular mass was found on the ultrasound. The radiologist came in…
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Letrozole and Digestive Problems
Hello All - I would greatly appreciate hearing from any and all regarding any digestive problems they have had that can likely be attributed to letrozole/Femara. The long list of side effects for this drug includes "digestive problems", but I cannot seem to find any more detail as to what those "digestive problems" might…
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What were your Pagets symptoms?
Hi everyone, Just searching for advice- I’ve been worrying about Pagets for a few months but primary care doctor and OB does not seem to believe anything is wrong. It started last August when my left nipple was scabbing- it was yellow/whitish tinge and wouldn’t actively discharge but when I looked at my nipple it just…
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PREDICT BREAST CANCER CALCULATOR : NEW VERSION V.3
Hi Everyone ! Just thought I'd share this here. Predict Breast Online has released a newer version of their survival calculator. This new version is based on women diagnosed between 2000 and 2017, vs. 1999 and 2003 for the former version. It now includes more details such as PR receptor status, radiation treatments, etc.…
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Night sweats - any practical tips on how to manage?
Hi all, I've just started the Taxol phase of AC-T chemo and am suffering night sweats, sometimes three times a night. I went into menopause 20 years ago following my first episode of breast cancer, so I've been post-menopausal for a long time. No night sweats at all then. I'm not on any anti-hormone Rx - just the Taxol.…
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Accidentally took extra tamoxifen
Ack! I've skipped it before but never done this. I really wasn't thinking. Will it cause any harm?
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Exercise "Better than drugs" New ASCO Research from Other than BCO
Just came across this today and found it interesting. The study was done on colon cancer patients, but they note that there is no reason not to think that similar findings would hold for other cancers. The actual percentages of benefit can seem low, as with drugs, and other "major breakthroughs, e.g. 35%, etc., but as my…
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In the Awful Waiting Period Between a BIRADS 4 Mammogram and a Biopsy
Hi folks… As the title suggests, I'm in the dreaded limbo-land between tests. I have dense breasts, and this was not my first time being called back for a follow-up mammogram. It was, however, the first time I was called back for something other than the density mucking up the images. This time, it was for tightly grouped…
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Radial Scar
Hi All, Just looking to connect with people who may have had similar experiences or diagnosis. I went for my first breast check, age 32 due to a concern on my right side. This was clear on imaging, however the ultrasound found architectual distortion on the left. This lead to a mammogram, mri, core biopsy and lumpectomy.…
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Does Breast Cancer Hurt - honest truth from bc patients
Answer::: yes. I started a topic yesterday, Breast Cancer Symptoms, link live, and half the women mentioned their mass DID hurt before dx, biopsy and surgery. Still, we are being told by so very many of our MDs and breast surgeons (bs), in online searches and lists in magazines false information, them saying that the good…
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Stopped Letrozole for One Month
I am curious if anyone has taken a break from hormone inhibitors for a month. I had surgery in January 2023 for invasive lobular cancer of the left breast and had a mastectomy. My oncotype was 13% and I had radiation therapy for 5 weeks. One lymph node was positive. I have been on and off hormone inhibitors since last…
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Setting off Airport TSA scanners
This is an out there question but has anyone’s cancer ever been flagged on the airport tsa scanners. In the last year I have flown about 6 times and every airport to/from my trip highlights my abdomen. I have to get my stomach patted down. I finished treatment for triple negative in 2016 but every ache and pain still makes…
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When you're all done.........but still undone by cancer
I'm just wondering if anyone else feels like me. I was diagnosed in 2018, had the DMX, followed by chemo, and then monoclonal antibodies, finishing up in September, 2019. I'm still on letrozole and trying to get my feet on the ground after pretty much shutting my career down while I was in treatment. During 2019 I was…
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CBD and Tamoxifen
Hi There Fellow Survivors, I will have been taking Tamoxifen for 4 years this coming September. I have been very fortunate in that my side effects are within my tolerance level. However, the main SE I have are 24 hour twitching of my legs. I can tolerate this until I get painful contractions which can make my entire leg…
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What to expect from Kisqali (side effects)?
Hi, I'm a caregiver to my mom, who was diagnosed de novo with metastatic breast cancer just last month in August 2024. She has metastases to the bones, liver, and lungs, and she's scheduled for a brain MRI next week. She's started on Letrozole, which was paused while she's been undergoing palliative radiation therapy to…
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Two-month wait for callback mammogram
Hi, all: I am 44 and just had my first screening mammogram. I've been called back for a diagnostic mammogram (BiRADS 0). Neither the radiologist nor the PCP has shared the reasons; I've tried reading the radiology report myself and have gathered that my right breast looks different from my left breast. I've been told that…
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Old Mastectomy Scar Itching
I'm wondering if anyone else has had to deal with intense itching of an old mastectomy scar. I had my first mastectomy (right) in March 2010 (the prophylactic second one in December of the same year). The past couple of days, the end of the scar under my right armpit has really started itching like CRAZY. Can anyone…
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Asymmetry on first screening mammogram. Scared. Please help.
I'm 40 and got my first screening mammogram (3D) a few days ago. They found a "small lateral asymmetry best seen on CC tomosynthesis" on my left breast. They didn't see any microcalcifications. They captured a few extra images, so I'm guessing they saw it on multiple ones. The BIRADS score is 0, which means they need…
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Focal Asymmetry - Feeling Anxious
Hello all, I am 8 years out from a stage 1 IDC diagnosis, and I don’t think about breast cancer much anymore. It took me a very long time to get to this point. I do get nervous every year though as my annual mammogram gets nearer. I feel the stress and anxiety but have always been fortunate to have clear mammograms.…
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How high is high for the CA27/29?
I know there is a lot of controversy re tumor markers....some of you don't have the test done, some oncos don't use it as a test because it is not always an accurate diagnostic tool However, in my case, they have ALWAYS been very accurate and when they go up, I have always had either an increase in tumor size or a new…
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If you ONLY received 12 week taxol did you lose your hair?
Good morning, My oncologist said I’d have hair thinning but the nurse said I’d likely lose my hair. Wondering if you only received taxol over 12 weeks (no dose dense or AC first) if you still lost your hair? If so, what week? I tried looking in the weekly taxol group but it’s so many post to weed through. Thank you!
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Long hard ridge in breast
Hi all I really can use some words of encouragement right now. I'm 32 and I've convinced myself I have breast cancer. I am currently breastfeeding my 2 year old. However I have a large hard ridge like line in my breast. It extends almost from my nipple to my outer breast tissue and recently you can see it through my skin,…
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pain after port placement
Im starting chemo next week, and last wednesday "the port" was placed on the left side of my chest. Since it was placed, Ive been having some fairly bothersome left shoulder and neck pain (almost all the way from the port thru my upper back, and from the neck to the shuolder.) The placement site also hurts, mostly when I…
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Vaginal Atrophy solution that is working for me!
Hello all! Ive been a member for quite some time now and wanted to post about my sexual side effects of my treatment and what Ive been doing to combat them. I was diagnosed with my ER/PR+ breast cancer and have chosen to take an aromatase inhibitior along with Lupron (ovarian suppression ) injects for the next 5-10 years.…
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Okay to get a breast ultrasound during or right before period?
Besides breast pain and tenderness I mean. I know that you should get mammograms at the beginning of your cycle because near the end of you cycle your breasts are denser. But I know that ultrasounds see through dense breast tissue better. So is there any reason why one should schedule a breast ultrasound at a particular…
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Ca 27-29 Tumor Markers increasing
I am freaking out! My oncologist does tumors markers as part of my regular bloodwork every 6 months or so. I have always been in a range of 12.5 to 17.5 on my CA 27-29 for the last 6 years. But my numbers have been increasing over the last 4 times (about a year and a half) from 13.6 to 20.6 on September 14. It jumped from…
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Extra pics on left side, so worried
Hello, I had my yearly mammon and ultrasound today. But this year, I had to get extra pic on my left side both for the mammo on ultrasound. For the mammo the tech said there was a skin fold. For the ultrasound the tech (different one) said she needed pictures to compare possible changes in my left breast from last year. I…
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WHAT did YOUR lump FEEL like?
For those who have been diagnosed, can you answer my questions? 1. Did you find your lump on your own or did a mammogram pick it up? 2. Please describe to me what exactly your lump felt like to you or your doctor. 3. Is there a family history? I'll start with me. I found a lump during my own exam last week. It is about…
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All the vague symptoms of fibrocystic breasts.
Hey all, Hope everyone here is having a great week. I'm mostly having one, but I have fibrocystic breasts, and I've entered the PMS phase of my cycle, so I'm dealing with all the fun that comes with that. Last year around June or July I found a lump, got a benign fibroadenoma diagnosis and was told I have fibrocystic…