Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part II -GAGWTA!

[Pea-n-Me]

Interesting article out today. I wonder if the delay is due to waiting for doctor's appointments! And of course getting second opinions, waiting for tests, adjusting to news, making arrangements for work, childcare, etc. I think it's overly simplifying saying it's waiting for MRI. I think of my old friend, Annie, who had one mastectomy, then another three weeks later 20 yrs ago. Had she had an MRI, she would have known she had cancer in both breasts and had bilateral masts at the same time. Thoughts, ladies?

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/09/07/mris_may_delay_breast_cancer_care/'

CHICAGO - Women with newly diagnosed breast cancer who get an MRI scan wait about three weeks longer before their surgery and are far more likely to get a mastectomy than women who have only a mammogram, US researchers said yesterday.

"MRI may not be as good as we think it is," said Dr. Richard Bleicher of the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, who presented his findings at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's Breast Cancer Symposium in Washington. "Those who received an MRI had a three-week delay in the start of their treatment."

"In addition to the treatment delay, we're concerned that the well-documented false-positive rate with MRIs may be leading - or misleading - women into choosing mastectomies," he said.

Bleicher said many women with newly diagnosed breast cancer, including younger women, are getting MRI exams in addition to mammograms. He and colleagues wanted to see whether the tests had any impact on care.

They reviewed the records of 577 breast cancer patients who had been evaluated by a radiologist, pathologist, and a surgical, radiation, and medical oncologist. Of these patients, 130 had MRIs before surgery to remove their tumors, and 27.7 percent of these had a mastectomy. In the non-MRI group, 19.5 percent had a mastectomy.

After adjusting for tumor size, they said women who had gotten an MRI were 80 percent more likely to get a mastectomy.

Bleicher said it is not clear why these women had mastectomies rather than lumpectomies, but it may be related to the higher sensitivity of the MRIs, which are known to have a high number of false-positive findings.

"Rather than having a biopsy to see if those findings are real, women and their doctors may choose mastectomy out of an abundance of caution," Bleicher said.

These findings reinforce a study earlier this year that also found that MRIs increase the chances that a woman would have her breast removed.

The research team looked at the time from diagnosis to cancer treatment and found the women who got MRIs waited 22.4 days longer to have their surgeries.

"I can't tell you that a three-week delay will influence her survival, but I can tell you a three-week delay will increase the anxiety on her part," Bleicher said in a telephone interview.

And they looked to see whether the MRI exams did a better job of helping doctors predict which women could have lumpectomies, in which only the tumor is removed. They found that MRIs were no better than conventional mammograms at this.

 

[snappy]

This confuses me.

Are they talking about an MRI before the biopsy or after?

If after, I guess I would have hoped that the MRI would be followed up with another biopsy if a suspicious area in another quadrant is found.

If before, I would hope that every area showing up as suspicious on the MRI would be biopsied independently.

Are the docs or even insurance companies trying to rush the women through this?

Are the MRI's used more with younger women where it is easier for cancer cells to hide due to the density of the tissue?

Are they saying that women are going straight from the MRI to mastectomy with no biopsy? That is just nuts, no matter what the MRI says.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I spoke to Mom about an hour ago and she says she feels "much better". She is going to try to go to work tomorrow if she is still feeling OK.

Linda - Did you have 4 AC followed by 4 Taxol? Mom is supposed to have 12 Taxol infusions. They have her scheduled every Thursday starting 9/18. They did tell her she can skip a week if she wants to.
I hope you and your cousin can coordinate something fun with your families!

Mom is planning to drive down here for Thanksgiving. She said they would leave when school gets out on that Tuesday, which means they would get to my middle sister's house around midnight.
The reason she is so intent on being here at Thanksgiving is so she can babysit for my middle sister's kids on Black Friday while my sister goes out shopping with her in-laws. Of course that infuriates me. My sister can't ever do anything for Mom, but Mom should come babysit. Right. I seem to have won the lottery of selfish and immature sisters.

I saw the article on MRIs. I am not quite sure what their point is? Obviously you have to know what all is involved before you have any treatment! I think an MRI is a good thing. If a mastectomy was a better course of action for me than a lumpectomy I would prefer to have the mastectomy to start with, not go back and have it later!

Laurie, it does sound like they are doing the surgery WITHOUT additional biopsies.

 

[Amy]

That is profound, Amy. And what a special person you are not to say that to your Mom. I know, there's a lot of misinformation out there, some of it based in fact, or theory, I guess. I guess I try to sort out why people are saying things to me. If they're doing it out of genuine caring and concern, then I'm ok with it.

Linda - don't make me out to be some kind of saint because I kept my mouth shut around my mom when she was diagnosed with lung cancer! Believe me, I thought of telling her "I told you so" many, many, many times, esp. since there's tons of evidence that smoking leads to cancer. But what was the point? I am NOT a "special person", not by a long shot!

 

[Amy]

As for the MRI article, don't most doctors/hospitals have a set procedure for diagnosing anything, not just cancer? For instance, step 1 would be your annual mammogram. If something looks suspicious/questionable, then step 2 would be a sonogram. Step 3 would then be biopsy or MRI, I guess. Most of this is ruled by the insurance companies - they won't pay for the most expensive testing and/or surgery unless it's warranted. Mastectomy is big-time surgery, so of course most patients would have the more expensive testing before to be sure the surgery is warranted. So to me, this is one of those "duh" articles - yes, most women have a mastectomy after an MRI because their cancer is more advanced.

Cripes, when I had a root canal, my dentist had to take x-rays before and after to send to the insurance company to prove that yes, I did need the root canal and yes, he did in fact DO the root canal, just so insurance would pay for it!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Just wanted to say...

Happy Birthday, Laurie!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Is it Laurie's birthday?
Happy Birthday, Laurie!!

 

[snappy]

Thank you thank you.

Getting some rest. . . I started this day early as I took a shift starting before 6 am at the State Emergency Operations center since our little non-profit is a member of a group of voluntary agencies during disasters. The command center was a cool place to hang out for awhile but I sure would not want to live there.

After I finished payroll I came home to crash.

Thank goodness Ike is not coming here.

No nice dinner tonight, everything is still topsy turvy in town, curfew still in effect, and you don't want to be making any extra trips anywhere.

Maybe this weekend we'll celebrate my 55th and hopefully mom being clear of cancer (biopsy rescheduled for tomorrow).

One section of our debris got picked up, the cleanup crew stopped halfway through. I am happy they started. Having so many potential missiles during another hurricane was haunting me.

Looks like no Shreveport evacuation trip in my future.

JSK, I sure hope you don't get a visit from IKE.

 

[snappy]

Wait a minute. . . you crazy nut, Linda isn't today your birthday too?????

And tomorrow your DH's?????

Calls for some serious celebrating!!!

Back to reality. Laura, how is your DH?

 

[Dan Murphy]

Good afternoon to all you wonderful ladies. You all are such an inspiration to so many, and each other.

Hoping you all are doing well in your own individual ways.

I thought I would stop by here also, to share an anniversary of sorts. Back 10 years ago, DW, Marie, was finished with her 9 months of treatment and has since been in remission. I wrote a few words in this thread here. And thought I would post a link here for those here who might be down a bit at the moment, in the past, or in the future, to realize there is lots of progress and success stories out there. Hope it can be of help to some or all of you ladies.

Love you all.

Dan

 

[Sha]

Happy Birthday Laurie!!!!! I had forgotten it this morning and I got to work and said something to a co-worker that I forgot a birthday. I hope it was still possible for you have a good day today! And Linda, if it is your birthday today... Happy Birthday!

Dan I think it is wonderful that you posted that link! How wonderful! congrats!

I learned that there is a 1st year Build a Bear for Breast Cancer coming out.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Thank you! My my DH's was Monday, I'm Wednesday and my mother's is Thursday (83). (My best friend's is also Monday - I'm a Virgo surrounded by other Virgos - what a neurotic bunch! )

We had a great dinner in the North End of Boston on Sunday night, DH's choice (we both cherish our Italian roots.) What fun! We sat next to the window on the street - except in good weather, there is no window, it's just open. We sat next to a great family from Texas and everyone sang Happy BDay to DH, even people passing by on the street! You would not believe the mound of food they give you. Chicken and eggplant parmigiana, anyone? (Took more than half of it home.) I finished my meal with a chilled Limoncello - last time I had one of those was in World Showcase's Italy so I enjoyed that memory too.

Tonight, friends took us out for Japanese Hibachi, that was fun too, kids got a kick out of it. Tomorrow I'm going to meet a good friend for lunch, and tomorrow night I haven't decided what I want to do. Kind of strange being a school night. I might want to see Mamma Mia again (for the 3rd time - have you guys seen that yet??), or go take pictures at sunset somewhere. I'll decide tomorrow. Thursday night we'll take my mother out to her favorite local restaurant right next to the ocean. So much for eating healthy this week.

Laurie, thinking good thoughts for your mother this week.

Dan, thanks for stopping by!

 

[annrae]

Happy Birthday Laurie - I've been away for over a week so I'm just catching up on the boards. So glad you are all ok after Gustav. I hope Ike will also be kind to you and to the people in Texas. We were on the Disney Magic between Hanna and Gustav and it was a 5day cruise with 2 stops at Castaway Cay; however, the hurricanes prevented us from the second stop so we had a day at sea. It was a bit rough one night and walking and sleeping were difficult!

A Happy Birthday to you also Linda. Happy to hear you and your DD are feeling better.

Oh Laura - I was so sorry to read about your DH and I hope he is well on his way to recovery and they are able to find out what the problem is. Sometimes, the electrical (bear with me - I'm a layperson) - part of the heart goes off kilter and it happens so quickly. It is almost like a short circuit. It happened to me as I was putting the turkey in the oven two years ago on Thanksgiving Day - ended up in the hospital for 2 days and my family teased me and said I just did not want to cook dinner for everyone so decided to spend Thanksgiving in the ER!! I'm on medication now and have had one other episode and I'm fine now that they have increased the med dosage.

So nice to read your post Dan - remember we met at the Poly? I hope that will happen again some year.

To all of you I send hugs and please know I'm thinking of you. I am so grateful I found you. Barbara

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Thanks, Barbara. And wow, tell me more about the cruise! I don't think I've ever experienced anything but super calm waters on our cruises. What was it like? Were you or other passengers sea sick? Too bad you missed the second CC day.

 

[MerryPoppins]

I might want to see Mamma Mia again (for the 3rd time - have you guys seen that yet??)

I've seen Mamma Mia twice. DD and I love it! Wish I could go with you.

Happy birthday to all our birthday folk. Hope you've had or will have great days. You deserve them.

Feel better to those of us feeling down.

I've got some news to share, but it has to wait until Friday, I believe. We've been told we have to wait until we have permission to spill the beans. I don't keep secrets well, so it's killing me.

GAGWTA all. Hope everyone is out of harms way with the recent storms. Looks like the latest is headed for Texas or Mexico, right? Sorry it'll plague someone, but glad it's not destined for NOLA again.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I would love to go with you too, Merry. Wouldn't it be fun if we all could see it together?

I've got some news to share, but it has to wait until Friday, I believe. We've been told we have to wait until we have permission to spill the beans. I don't keep secrets well, so it's killing me.

Oh no!! I'm terrible at waiting!! Hmm, what could it be?

 

[snappy]

Linda, Happy birthday WEEK!!

Enjoy those special meals this week. I know it has been a difficult year for your family. I hope these good family times make all the difference, and bring y'all together for a good reason this time.

Thanks, Sha and Barbara. My sweet DD12 had made all the beds I had stripped after everyone left. She also vacuumed and mopped everywhere. What a sweetie. She had an overnight with one of her friends last night so DH and I had a quiet night just the two of us for a change.

Haven't seen Momma Mia, you guys who have seen it, can I bring my Dd who will be 13 Nov 1st?

Can't wait till Friday now, Merry.

Barbara, I am sorry your cruise was impacted by Gustav. I had a rough cruise once when we cruised in March, haven't been back since.

Hi, Dan!! Always love seeing a post from you here. What a great idea to celebrate 10 yours of survivorhood at WDW!!
GAGWTA everyone!!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

GAGWTA, Ladies!

Happy Birthday, Linda!!

Looks like we may get a little soggy from Ike. Not sure if it will be worse than that.

Merry - Can't wait to hear your news!

 

[Sha]

Good morning everyone, and Linda (officially) Happy Birthday!

Did you hear there is a sing along version of Mamma Mia. Has the words going across the bottom.

 

[snappy]

Uh oh, looks like Ike might be changing his little ole mind and heading back to the east so that the western edge of Louisiana might still get it. We did get a lot of wind when Rita headed that way in 2005.

I am going to go get more supplies later. Glad my sister is still holding reservations for all of us in Shreveport. It is like an insurance policy.

Good news here, the % without power around here is down to around 30%. Bad news for them, some will take til Oct 1st. a few more traffic lights are working. And they reopened the Walmart!!!!!!

More bad news. . . they opened two locations in our parish (like your counties) for people to apply for food stamps. . . thousands are waiting for hours and then being turned away. This is not a good situation. They need more locations quick.

Seeing this is really making me count my blessings and not my lost trees.

It sounds like the problem is getting a little more attention, most national media turned off the cameras when the levees in N.O. did not breach.

Our gov is hammering the utility companies, making demands that they "harden" the system. Not sure what that means, maybe burying more lines underground.

This is gonna cost us taxpayers a fortune. YIKES!!!