Apr 4, 2022 09:25AM 1982m wrote:

Thanks SpecialK,

Honestly I feel (mostly) really positive about my outlook. I am definitely more inquisitive then anxious about any of it any more.

I have so far felt really good on tamoxifen expect maybe my mood- but I can’t tell if it’s situational or from the meds. I guess only time will tell. I had a few hot flashes the first week but going into week three, seems fine so far. Hips feel a wee bit achy but I couldn’t just blame tamoxifen- that’s been an issue on and off for a while.

Apr 11, 2022 09:45PM gamzu710 wrote:

I have a similar question! I met with my surgeon today for my first follow-up since active treatment. I was referred for a 6-month MRI due to a couple of BIRADS 3 things identified at my post-diagnosis MRI in August (ok, 6 months give or take). I have that on May 1. My MO and my surgeon both referred me for another diagnostic mammo in August, which will be 1 year after diagnosis. My surgeon said that pending these upcoming MRI results, the survivorship plan from here on out is to continue with OS + AI and then have a diagnostic mammo every year and a clinical breast exam every 6 months in coordination with my PCP. I asked if it wasn't supposed to be imaging every 6 months, and she said no. Her hedge was that this depends on these upcoming MRI results, and also if the mammograms identify too much dense tissue, then maybe we talk about more MRIs, but that's not the base plan.

I was surprised by this, though I guess I can see it. My real fear is distant metastasis anyway and a mammogram is not going to catch that, nor is a breast MRI.

Apr 12, 2022 04:47PM - edited Apr 12, 2022 04:48PM by 1982m

Hi Gamzu and cardplayer,

My survivorship plan is yearly MRI's and yearly mammograms alternating. I think I get the yearly MRI's bc of my breast density and probably my family history of cancer/breast cancer. So every 6 months they will check out my left breast and once a year MRI both. I don't think my variant of unknown significance played into it, but maybe it did.

I hope my breast density decreases with tamoxifen and I can let go of all the intense testing.

Apr 14, 2022 12:34PM 1982m wrote:

Cardplayer- I have little faith in the mammogram. I got a mammogram bc of symptoms but they never saw anything on the mammogram. Actually the mri wasn’t great either- it was ultrasound that was best at visualizing my tumour.

I’m hoping the tamoxifen and aging decreases my breast density.

Apr 15, 2022 09:51AM specialk wrote:

phelps - I understand your fears - we all do. Did you have residual tumor in addition to the micromets in the node? Keep in mind that the majority of those with a TP diagnosis do not get a pcr with neoadjuvent chemo - it just doesn't happen for the majority, so you are not alone there. That said, it is important to maintain perspective on what that really means - while there is a DFS and OS advantage, the studies that indicate this include patients across stages I/II/III, so that represents a lot of different tumor sizes and nodal statuses, subtypes and hormonal receptor types. If you are strongly ER+ you still have anti-hormonals to count on, and, at a minimum, continued Herceptin for the balance of the year. Has there been any discussion of adding post-surgical targeted therapies like Kadcyla or Nerlynx?