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Whether to have a sentinel node biopsy
Hi Everyone, Glad to be here. I am 59 yr old diagnosed recently. Stage 1 ER/PR +, HER- tumor is .8 cm. No evidence of spread to nodes based on ultrasound and MRI. Lumpectomy to be scheduled for 5 days from today with sentinel node biopsy. Surgeon is saying that I can skip the sentinel node biopsy safely based on SOUND…
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The Weight of Constant Vigilance in Caregiving
The hardest part of caregiving for me was the constant vigilance and helplessness. Loving someone so deeply while watching their body fail, knowing you can’t fix it, changes you in ways that are hard to explain unless you’ve lived it. With Stage IV disease, I felt like I had to stay alert at all times — listening to…
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Capecitabine or ctDNA Monitoring with TNBC
Hi. I had TNBC in one breast. I underwent chemo and had a successful lumpectomy. The surgeon and oncologist have confirmed the cancer is gone. I start radiation on March 16 to reduce the risk of recurrence in the breast. The oncologist recommends I take the oral chemo drug, capecitabine, for 6 months to reduce the…
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Honoring Our Caregivers: Share your appreciation!
In the U.S., November is National Family Caregivers Month. We're taking a moment to recognize those friends, family, and loved ones who provide us support. Share your caregiver story, praise, or tips for caregivers here. This will help caregivers know they aren't alone, to honor them, and provide them some helpful insight…
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Webinar video: What to Eat After a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Learn which foods to eat and which to limit to gain strength and ease side breast cancer effects, plus get tips to make healthy eating feel simple. Watch now or read the transcript.
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News: Rare Genetic Mutations May Increase Severe Taxotere Side Effects
https://www.breastcancer.org/news/genetic-mutation-taxotere-side-effects
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News: Lynparza may be able to treat more breast cancers
Lynparza is a PARP inhibitor used to treat breast cancer in people with an inherited BRCA mutation. A small study found that Lynparza could also treat metastatic breast cancer in people with an inherited PALB2 mutation or who have breast cancer that has developed a BRCA mutation over time. This means that many more people…
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Alternative medicine
For Cancer Survivability, Alternative Medicine Is The Same As Doing Nothing A new analysis using 2,000,000 women in the National Cancer Database diagnosed with breast cancer from 2011-2021 found that not only do alternatives to medicine not improve anything, they are as bad as doing nothing at all.
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Enhertu as preventative for recurrence
Hello all. Hope this finds you well. I was diagnosed with stage IIB HER2+ breast cancer in two masses and a lymph node left side, by FISH back in September, was put on TCHP, dropping the P after the first 2 treatments after severe, crippling GI side effects that landed me in the ER. I finished treatment the first week of…
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In treatment for TNBC stage 2. Feeling sad after losing my hair
Hi. I was diagnosed on Jan 20, 2026 with TNBC. Since then I’ve been through multiple scans, Dr.’s appts., biopsies, port placement and 3 (21 to go) chemo infusions. I have a positive attitude about it but the hair loss is really hard. I know it’s just hair to many but it has been how I see myself for 65 years now. Like all…
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Side effects from aromatase inhibitor other than joint pain.
I started on Anastozole (Arimidex) a little over a month ago. I know there are two others that are often given to post-menopausal HR+ women, Aromasin (exemestane) and Famara (letrozole). The joint pain and menopause like symptoms are what are mentioned most in articles. Although I've had some wrist pain, which I understand…
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COVID and Flu May Activate Breast Cancer Cells in Lungs
COVID and Flu May Activate Breast Cancer Cells in Lungs Aug 20, 2025 People with a history of breast cancer may want to consider COVID and flu vaccinations, according to the researchers. Read more…
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15 years out with new finding
I will be 16 years out from diagnosis on 5/13/26 and had my annual diagnostic mammogram yesterday. Radiologist told me there was a new finding on my non cancer side so he did an ultrasound. It is less than a cm and he stated it appears to be in a duct. Given my history, he wants to do a biopsy which isn’t scheduled unto…
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Medicare Advantage Enrollment Ends 3/31 - Is it right for you? Learn the risks and benefits.
Are Medicare Advantage Plans Bad for People with Cancer? Check out our coverage.
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Why I chose to go flat after my single mastectomy
It's been a year since I had my single mastectomy for Stage 3 IBC. I decided to commemorate the occasion by sharing (a) what I learnt from a plastic surgeon regarding my reconstruction options and (b) why I chose to go flat. Hope my essay helps those who are thinking about foregoing reconstruction! Link to my essay:…
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🌟 February 2026 Radiation Roll Call—You’re Not Walking This Alone 🌟
If radiation is part of your plan this February, you’ve found a place to land. This thread is for everyone on the radiation road—whether you’re still waiting on your start date, in the middle of daily sessions, or already looking back on the experience. This is a space for connection, honesty, encouragement, and the kind…
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Stage III Cancer Survivors...15+ years and out
Let's just see what happens here...This is a "build it and they will come" experiment. It's time. If you are not a 15 year survivor but know the story of someone who is, please join in.
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Breast recon/implants -Successful Stories after Radiation
I wanted to find out if there were any success stories on this topic/procedure: Recentently I went to a PS . 4.5 years ago I had a lumpectomy, chemo and radiation. Although, my radiated breast is pretty much the same size, I have always wanted to get the fullness back in my breasts after having kids..etc... I'd always…
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Lumpectomy
Hi, I have IDC and I just had my lumpectomy. Surgery went well, the surgeon said he only took one lymph node. I do believe he also said that the tissue wasn’t enough to get a pathology report. But it looked normal when he removed it. I have my follow-up appt. Next week to find out more about the next steps. I would like to…
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What do you do for joint pain?
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HERCEPTIN and/or PERJETA Threads
I am currently on Herceptin and Perjeta with Zometa every three weeks. Would love to hear from others who have been on this targeted therapy and how well the treatments have been working for you..
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Hormone Therapy - this counts as hard!
Shared with gratitude to the original author, Kylie Dahl. Expressing what so many of us feel but aren’t always able to put into words. “No one warned me that this part could hurt like hell. I’m on Herceptin and a hormone blocker, and the joint pain is relentless. Hands, hips, knees, shoulders, back, feet stiff, aching,…
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Joint pain on Trastuzamab (Kanjinti)
Hi everyone, I completed 12 weeks of Taxol + Kanjinti at the end of January. Since then I have received 2 Kanjinti infusions, and will continue with these every 3 weeks until November. I am wondering if anyone has experienced joint pain in their elbows related to this treatment? Both of mine ache, especially after sleeping…
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💛 February 2026 Chemo Check-In—This Is Your Circle 💛
If chemo begins for you this February, you don’t have to walk into it alone. This space is here so you can land somewhere soft, honest, and understanding—surrounded by people who truly know what this chapter can feel like. Come as you are. Brave, anxious, exhausted, hopeful, unsure. All of it belongs here. We invite you to…
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Cats, cats, cats
a thread for crazy cat ladies! I thought maybe just pics of your own cats, and if there's not enough then just any old cat you can find! I have 8. Technically only 5 are mine, the others think they live here. Mostly because I feed them with everybody else and they never seem to leave!
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Seeking Advice After Being Newly Diagnosed with DCIS
Greetings y'all, I learned on Thursday that the pathologist found DCIS in two biopsy samples taken from a clumped 3.6 cm lesion in my left breast (which was discovered via a MRI scan). The radiologist was unable to biopsy an additional 0.9 cm area of nonmass enhancement noted posterior along the pectoralis muscle 1.1 cm…
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Post radiation skin reaction
I’m 3 weeks post radiation treatment. Last week, my right breast (treated area) turned bright pink and itchy. I was given a topical steroid and have seen my radiation oncologist twice this week. He’s hoping the cream will start to do its job. Next step is an oral steroid. The need to want to itch is horrible. The more I…
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Occult Primary with Lymph Node Metastases
Does anyone else out there have experience with an Occult Primary Breast Cancer? I was diagnosed this week with Breast Cancer in a Left Axillary Lymph Node but they can't find any cancer in my breast - I've had whole breast US, breast MRI, and biopsy of two small lesions in my breast that they didn't think looked like…
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HER2 Positive-anyone 10 years out?
Hi ladies, I was wondering if there are any women out there who are 10 years or longer with her2 positive breast cancer? When I was diagnosed in 2008, my prognosis said '80% chance of no recurrence in 10 years'. Wondered what they based this on, as I have yet to talk to anyone past 6-8 years and they seem to have had…
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Very ill newbie asks about long term use of perjeta
Hi, first I'm very sorry that these things might have been adressed already, but I am very ill with ME and after had perjeta/herceptin treatment for more than 9 years now, my body and brain feels like it is breaking down and I have a hard time thinking, searching for info etc. I'm bed bound from ME, and have been so prior…