Jan 22, 2021 07:28PM blue22 wrote:

Hi LW,

Yes I did have DCIS in my right, and IBC in my left, but we did not know it was DCIS going into surgery, just abnormal cells (I can look up the exact terminology, don't remember it off the top of my head thanks to chemo brain...). I had a left mastectomy and lymph node dissection. Right side was only lumpectomy, no lymph nodes removed there. All my margins were clear.

I did have targeted therapy too - after surgery - one year of herceptin/perjetta. For part of that time I had Xeloda. Yes, I did have side effects, but honestly, you really just get through it all. It is not fun, but it is tolerable.

My medical team tends to not get into the nitty gritty details until it is time to deal with them. In other words, we didn't get into too much details of side effects and what to expect for treatment weeks or months off. It is much easier that way to take each treatment as it comes. That being said, I did have a general idea of what to expect. Once we were closer to treatment everything was covered in depth. My MO is amazing.

I highly recommend trying to focus on one treatment at a time Don't think about what is coming months from now, just what you have to do each day, or each week. It is manageable, and not as overwhelming that way. Honestly, the hardest part is psychological.

I'm also glad you are scheduled for the port - I loved having mine.

Hoping the best for the PET scan results. For me it was such a whirlwind and shock that I wasn't really thinking about them either. I think my mammogram/ultrasound was on a Thursday and the PET scan maybe the following Tuesday.

Hopefully the weather will cooperate and you can get outside this weekend? Taking walks etc is so important! Maybe you can do some shopping for head coverings or wigs, whatever you decide you want to do. Have fun with those. (I didn't really mind losing my hair... it is just hair, it grows back)

Take Care,

Blue

Jan 22, 2021 07:47PM - edited Jan 22, 2021 07:47PM by lw422

Astrid, I'm certain you sound just like Crocodile Dundee, but in a higher pitch. Amirite???

Jan 22, 2021 08:49PM blue22 wrote:

I didn't have problems with the punch biopsies that I remember... but the MRI guided biopsy (right breast) was NOT fun. They didn't give me enough lidocaine and while they were digging in there they hit a nerve or something and it hurt, and I moved, not good.

After one of the core biopsies (I had multiple) I started bleeding again and had blood all over the bathroom counter and floor (sounds worse than it was) and my daughter nearly passed out.

I had one punch biopsy in the IBC breast before diagnosis, and one after I finished chemo.

I've become so numb to all of this at this point. I think I've had every possible biopsy at this point... I feel like I should have one of those punch cards for every possible medication, biopsy type, scan type, surgery type etc!

My left breast was a mess after the multiple biopsies. But I didn't really care since I knew they were going to chop it off anyway. My poor right breast (the remaining one) has had the MRI guided biopsy, the lumpectomy, and then after all that another type of biopsy that is similar to how they do the MRI guided one. That breast is now funny looking and kind of sad looking too.

I'm so glad I am not attached to the appearance of my chest... I get kind of mad sometimes at how the media etc. make women so self conscious about their breasts. It is so detrimental...

Jan 22, 2021 09:45PM Astrid wrote:

Oh Blue!

What a prolonged and awful ride you have been on. I so hope everything works well and keeps the beast at bay. Also glad you improved your mobility at least a bit. Yes I'm sure the imbalance would bring issues to keep an eye on.

LW....whelllllll!!! Crocodile Dundee up an octave? I almost spat out my tea!🤣

Oh dear Lord I hope not!!

I'd rather sound like Mary Poppins....no....no....Benedict Cumberbatch if he was female. If you don't know who he is, I recommend downloading the Sherlock Holmes series with him in it. (I hope folks don't mind us bringing a little light relief to these truly awful dx's)

Jan 23, 2021 11:58AM lw422 wrote:

LOL, Astrid. I was trying to come up with a famous Aussie and suddenly Crocodile Dundee popped into my head. I'm sure no one objects to a little fun on these threads; we can't all be morose and playing funeral music in the background all the time. Have a great weekend.