Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part IV - GAGWTA

[Pea-n-Me]

that is good to know! I would certainly rather continue check ups and be on top of things, to catch anything early than to put my head in the sand and pretend I am cured!! Right now being still so early in this game, I easily go into full blown panic attack mode thinking about things and reading online, so I try not to as much as I can, just hear the positive stuff and keep that in the forefront, worrying isn't going to do any good and probably does harm. But yes, vigilance is the key. Maybe he was just trying to pacify me because he could see how upset I was

I sure know that feeling! A friend of mine is going through another type of cancer treatment and getting ready to have a stem cell transplant- doing heavy duty chemo now. She is in that awful terrified/shock/grief/exhausted stage. I saw her yesterday and my heart went out to her. The "statistics" (which I hate, cause none of us are numbers) are concerning, and she is afraid. I wished I could take it away for her, or at least fast forward her through a few years from now when hopefully she will be recovered and looking forward to a long, healthy life. It's just that none of us have that crystal ball, and have no choice but to take one day at a time and hope we are one of the lucky ones. Truly why, at the time, I needed to talk about that aspect of having cancer, which is how this thread came about in my mind in the first place. Just a place to safely talk about the fears and frustrations that we all go through as cancer survivors and patients. I'm glad that people can still discuss those things here. Thanks to all of you for being there for all of us.

 

[fortwildernessishome]

Hi all!

Thanks for the good thoughts and prayers.

I have excellent news. Only clear fluid was extracted today, which ended up deflating what was a harmless cyst. There was no need to even send anything to pathology, so I don't even have to wait for results! I truly couldn't be happier tonight and am so filled with relief.

I just couldn't imagine dealing with another cancer.

So, that is behind me. In two weeks I have my six month appt. with one (I have two) of my oncologists. Its always nerve-wracking, but I can deal with it.

I read in the above posts about dental issues and I can relate. I finished chemo in Feb. 2012 and have had six cavities filled since then. My mouth is still very dry and the dentist thinks that is the cause of the decay.

Hoping to see the Red Sox win it all tonight, but either way, I am going to bed with a BIG smile on my face!

Thanks again for the prayers and good thoughts.

 

[smiley_face2]

Hi all!

Thanks for the good thoughts and prayers.

I have excellent news. Only clear fluid was extracted today, which ended up deflating what was a harmless cyst. There was no need to even send anything to pathology, so I don't even have to wait for results! I truly couldn't be happier tonight and am so filled with relief.

I just couldn't imagine dealing with another cancer.

So, that is behind me. In two weeks I have my six month appt. with one (I have two) of my oncologists. Its always nerve-wracking, but I can deal with it.

I read in the above posts about dental issues and I can relate. I finished chemo in Feb. 2012 and have had six cavities filled since then. My mouth is still very dry and the dentist thinks that is the cause of the decay.

Hoping to see the Red Sox win it all tonight, but either way, I am going to bed with a BIG smile on my face!

Thanks again for the prayers and good thoughts.

I am sooooo happy for you!! that is awesome! I know the feeling I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow and slept like a log after my onc visit!!
Games starting now.... everyone send their good vibes that way!

 

[Feralpeg]

fortwildernessishome, Yippee! So happy to hear this! Good news is always welcomed here! Have a terrific evening and a good night's rest!

 

[kofslinky]

fortwilderness- that's great news! I'm quite happy for you!!

My update:

The wound vac really seems to be working. I'm still quite tired of carrying this vac around all the time, but the wound looks a lot better and everyone is quite happy with it (except for me- it's still there, so I'm not nearly as happy). I saw the surgeon for another post-op on it yesterday, and he debrided the wound again, which REALLY HURT. He numbed the area some with novocaine, but it still hurt. The worst part is that it hurts more today than it did for the past couple days. I'd love to be at home, on the couch, with ice and a Percocet, but c'est la vie! Work calls, so here I am. (Which is doubly hard today since I was up so late watching my Red Sox win the World Series! ) Here's hoping the pain goes down quickly so I can function happily again.

I'm glad to hear how well people are doing! GAGWTA!

 

[jillyb]

fortwildernessishome that is wonderful news!

Felt much better yesterday...worked a full day. Today I'm at work and ready to fall asleep. My boss hasn't even come in and I have no idea where he is. Thinking I'll leave early so I can get a nap so I'll be well rested for all the trick-or-treaters tonight.

Hope everyone else is doing well! GAGWTA!

 

[smiley_face2]

Kofslinky, I am sorry you are in so much pain pain sucks!!! I have become a total wimp and have so much admiration for you being able to be at work, I hope you don't have a physically demanding job.
JillyB glad you are feeling a bit better! again, kudos to you for getting to your job! I hope you can leave early today too, maybe catch a nap before trick or treat time!
Pretty exciting about the Sox.... local newspaper will be doing a feature on Ryan for this next week, I would imagine they will have some sort of parade or something when he gets back home. It would be pretty cool to be able to go see him and the world series ring!

 

[annrae]

I was almost 8 years out when I was diagnosed a second time in the same breast but with a different type of cancer. The first time I had a lumpectomy followed by radiation but this time I needed to have a mastectomy as they do not like to radiate a second time. After 5 years, I really felt I was "cured" and everyone I met in the office who worked there and knew me congratulated me and for 8 years I did not even give it a thought except to be vigilant about mammograms. Then this happened but I had a feeling when I went in that day that something was not right and I don't know why I felt that way. When I had the mastectomy in July, I gave a lot of thought to having the left breast removed also but the doctor explained to me that with the medication I'm on (Aromacin) the chances were about 7% that this type of cancer could show up in the other breast and he concurred that I made a decision that he was comfortable with. We shall see. Some days I feel I should have had it removed and other days I'm ok with my original decision.

Take care everyone and have a very Happy Thanksgiving. I really have so much to be grateful for this year.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

My MRI is scheduled for Monday. Surgery for 11/12. He didn't say what kind of surgery and I didn't ask. I'm assuming it's a lumpectomy but all he said was he needs to remove more of the area to make sure it's clean. Don't know what the next step will be -- 6 month check ups, radiation, Tamoxifan? Guess it's a need to know basis and at this moment I don't need to know. One step at a time.

I have to admit I'm a little freaked at the frankness and information you all have shared. But it's better to know the truth (good, bad and otherwise) than to blindly trudge along. So thank you for sharing your very personal stories and experiences, your words of encouragement and your pep talks.

Luvmarypoppins -- nice to see another Jersey girl (ex or current). I'm in Hudson County. Was just at Rutgers for a marching band competition a few weeks ago. Beautiful area.

Wishing you all good results, easy treatments, a cancer-free future and most of all, peace of mind and body.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Back from my MRI. Wow, that was an experience. I couldn't imagine how hard it was going to be to not move for 30 minutes. Grateful it wasn't any longer. But I was happy to be face down and have that face/head rest. I think it would have been worse had I been on my back in the tube. And hard to control my breathing. At one point I started to feel a little nauseous and panicked, but I got myself together and just concentrated on my breathing. I was glad to see they did a bilateral. I was afraid I would be going through all this again in April/May when I go for my yearly. Next step, surgery on the 12th.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Glad you got that over with, PrincessKsMom. I do them yearly and it's my least favorite day of the year, truly. I wanted to say before I'm sorry some of the info here scared you a bit. I read back two pages and you were right, it happened to be a time many of us were talking about scary stuff. But unfortunately, it's our reality, and you can imagine it's not always easy to talk to our friends and family about it, so it's important we can share it here with eachother so we have an outlet to vent, get info and express our deepest fears. This has always been a place we can do that together. it's not everyone's cup of tea, but for those who need it, we're here for them.

 

[robinb]

My MRI is scheduled for Monday. Surgery for 11/12. He didn't say what kind of surgery and I didn't ask. I'm assuming it's a lumpectomy but all he said was he needs to remove more of the area to make sure it's clean. Don't know what the next step will be -- 6 month check ups, radiation, Tamoxifan? Guess it's a need to know basis and at this moment I don't need to know. One step at a time.

Back from my MRI. Wow, that was an experience. I couldn't imagine how hard it was going to be to not move for 30 minutes. Grateful it wasn't any longer. But I was happy to be face down and have that face/head rest. I think it would have been worse had I been on my back in the tube. And hard to control my breathing. At one point I started to feel a little nauseous and panicked, but I got myself together and just concentrated on my breathing. I was glad to see they did a bilateral. I was afraid I would be going through all this again in April/May when I go for my yearly. Next step, surgery on the 12th.

Ugh. I *hated* my MRI. It was the worst part of my whole journey though breast cancer. From my reading, you and I are very similar. I has a very early Stage 0 "pre-cancer". I ended up having 2 lumpectomies (the first's margins were too 'close') and I am in week 4 of radiation with just 12 more treatments until I am done. I am not going to take Tamoxifen because for me the side effects are not worth the couple percent reduction in a risk of recurrence. My risk is very small to begin with. I am considering an alternative to Tamoxifen (I can't remember the name right now) that has fewer side effects but I would have to be postmenopausal. My oncologist will test my hormone levels when I'm done with radiation to see if I'm over the menopause hump.

Good luck with your upcoming surgery .

 

[Dancind]

I hope there are no more MRI's in my future. Ranks right up there with the punch biopsy. The technician told me how long it was supposed to take (it took longer) and I started counting down the seconds to keep sane.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Glad you got that over with, PrincessKsMom. I do them yearly and it's my least favorite day of the year, truly. I wanted to say before I'm sorry some of the info here scared you a bit. I read back two pages and you were right, it happened to be a time many of us were talking about scary stuff. But unfortunately, it's our reality, and you can imagine it's not always easy to talk to our friends and family about it, so it's important we can share it here with eachother so we have an outlet to vent, get info and express our deepest fears. This has always been a place we can do that together. it's not everyone's cup of tea, but for those who need it, we're here for them.

Please don't apologize. Of course this is a place where you should all feel comfortable sharing the best and worst of your journey. That's why I came here. I wanted to hear from those who were taking this journey, not everyone me telling me "oh, I'm sure it's nothing". It may very well be, and then again, maybe not. Don't sugar coat it, don't patronize me. Give it to me straight, let me have my meltdown, and then I'm ready to kick some butt!

Ugh. I *hated* my MRI. It was the worst part of my whole journey though breast cancer. From my reading, you and I are very similar. I has a very early Stage 0 "pre-cancer". I ended up having 2 lumpectomies (the first's margins were too 'close') and I am in week 4 of radiation with just 12 more treatments until I am done. I am not going to take Tamoxifen because for me the side effects are not worth the couple percent reduction in a risk of recurrence. My risk is very small to begin with. I am considering an alternative to Tamoxifen (I can't remember the name right now) that has fewer side effects but I would have to be postmenopausal. My oncologist will test my hormone levels when I'm done with radiation to see if I'm over the menopause hump.

Good luck with your upcoming surgery .

Robin, I guess I was ignorantly hoping after surgery I'd be done, but it seems that might not be the case. Whatever it is, I'll deal with it as it comes. Would you mind telling me about your treatments, i.e., how long, what they do, etc. and if you can work during these treatments. If not, I completely understand that this is a personal issue and I may be asking much too personal of a question.

If anyone else would be willing to share their radiation experiences or experiences with Tamoxifan I would appreciate it.

Best to you all for a good day and a better tomorrow.

 

[robinb]

Robin, I guess I was ignorantly hoping after surgery I'd be done, but it seems that might not be the case. Whatever it is, I'll deal with it as it comes. Would you mind telling me about your treatments, i.e., how long, what they do, etc. and if you can work during these treatments. If not, I completely understand that this is a personal issue and I may be asking much too personal of a question.

I was hoping to skip radiation, but they found more abnormalities when they went in the second time so I figured I would just irradiate the hell out of it "just in case" (and I am NOT a "just in case" kind of person ). My treatments are easy-peasy. They are every day M-F and they only take about 5 minutes. I see my radiologist once a week, a nurse to check on my skin once a week and X-rays on the same machine once a week. That adds another 5-20 minutes 3 times a week. I am doing very well. I am not fatigued, I am not in pain, and my skin is just starting to get red. *knock wood* my good luck continues.

Speaking of the nurse, I met with her for the first time last week. She came in while I was still lying on the machine and she looked at my skin and started to talk to me. I realized part way though that my literal position was that of deference and sat right up! I certainly respect the medical professionals that are working with me, but I consider myself to be an equal in my medical care. That means that I assert myself and speak to them from a sitting position, eye to eye, if possible.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I was hoping to skip radiation, but they found more abnormalities when they went in the second time so I figured I would just irradiate the hell out of it "just in case" (and I am NOT a "just in case" kind of person ). My treatments are easy-peasy. They are every day M-F and they only take about 5 minutes. I see my radiologist once a week, a nurse to check on my skin once a week and X-rays on the same machine once a week. That adds another 5-20 minutes 3 times a week. I am doing very well. I am not fatigued, I am not in pain, and my skin is just starting to get red. *knock wood* my good luck continues.

Speaking of the nurse, I met with her for the first time last week. She came in while I was still lying on the machine and she looked at my skin and started to talk to me. I realized part way though that my literal position was that of deference and sat right up! I certainly respect the medical professionals that are working with me, but I consider myself to be an equal in my medical care. That means that I assert myself and speak to them from a sitting position, eye to eye, if possible.

Thank you Robin. Praying for your continued comfort during your treatments.

I have been very proactive so far and I think that's why things are moving along as quickly as they are. My first six-month follow-up mammo was 10/8 and my surgery is 11/12. I'm going to advocate for myself and make sure I'm an active participant, not a passive patient. I've done some internet research and it has helped me be better prepared for what is going to happen at each appointment or procedure.

One further question: I have read that they think there's a possibility that a lack of Vitamin D can contribute to a breast cancer diagnosis. Is anyone familiar with this? Has anyone's doctor mentioned it? I just had bloodwork done recently and my Vitamin D is deficient so I'm wondering if I should be taking supplements. Of course I will speak to my doctor but I won't see him until the surgery next week. Thanks.

 

[Feralpeg]

Robin, I totally agree that the MRI is not a fun experience. I'd had a breast MRI when I found out my implants had ruptured. It wasn't fun then, but it was worse this time around. I had my last one less than a month after having a chest wall resection and having my port put in. I was still very sore. Laying on my chest that long was very hard. I was so glad when it was over!

Hang in there ladies!

 

[jillyb]

Round 1 of chemo is finished!!! Round 2 starts on the 18th...almost there!!!

Breast MRI on Monday, appointment with surgeon on Wednesday and appointment with oncologist on Friday. UTI is all cleared up. I've lost 13 lbs. Had crazy night sweats Monday after my treatment. Had to change my pjs and covers 4 times! I'm at work today but probably going to be a short day. Already feel the need for a nap.

Lots of pixie dust to those who are waiting for tests or going through tests or getting ready for surgery.

 

[smiley_face2]

PrincessKsMom....yes...without googling and giving you links to look up, they have shown that vitamin d has something to do with breast cancer. It is the one thing I try to make sure and take every day!! I had no problem with the MRI itself or the laying still, but I have had previous surgery on my esophagus and the part of the table you lay on between the two holes for the girls to hang into, presses on that area and causes a lot of pain, so I have learned to take a strong pain killer before I go in.
JillyB.... you are such a trooper!! I seriously hope your employers know what a star they have in their midst! I also dropped weight extremely fast during my chemo, I took the opportunity to buy some nice clothes I had not been able to wear in a long time, and enjoyed that one aspect of the experience.... even in this my vanity prevailed!! sadly I have gained it back again but I figure it's my insurance policy, like hubby said, if I had been at that weight when I started on chemo, I probably would have been in bad shape at the end of it.
I hope you get out of where ever it is you are early today!!
Robinb.... you will find the effects of the radiation take a while to show up, and keep showing up for several weeks after you are done, then eventually start to go away. I had some breakdown of the skin, but not too bad. the skin is now much closer in color to the other one now after 2 years, but you can still really see the difference, but there's not many people who get to see it so that's ok!!
and.....OMGoodness!! we leave next Saturday on our trip!! only 8 more days to get through....I am soooo excited!! I managed to get us reservations at The Tonga Room, in the Fairmont on Nobb Hill in San Francisco for Thanksgiving dinner.... we are water side and the band will be playing on the pool.... they are doing a turduckin dinner and I'm even excited about that! Lol.... We are going to a place called Bourban and Branch before for drinks, it's an authentic speakeasy with a secret entrance.... back during the prohibition they used to get their alcohol from right up here in Vancouver BC from us naughty Canadians! Lol.....
We have reservations made for the Blue Bayou, Ariels Grotto, and Carthay Circle Theater Restaurants at Disneyland so far, it's not as intense as WDW and you can usually get seating the same day at most places, but those are the ones we want to be sure not to miss so I always reserve them anyway.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Jilly, hang in there! Hope your appointments go well and your treatments quickly.

Smiley, thanks for the info. I will have to add it to my list of questions to ask my doctor about.

Two things I've been wondering about though: do I need an oncologist if there is any stage cancer or even pre-cancer, which I think is a given in that point? Should I choose mastectomy, do I need a plastic surgeon? I'm not really sure what the difference is, if any, between my doctor and these two types of doctors?

This is what his website says about him:

Dr. ______ is on staff at _______ Medical Center in ______, New Jersey where he is Vice Chairman of the Department of Surgery and operates five days a week. Dr. __________ has been in practice at _________ Medical Center for twenty years. .... (about the office)

Dr. __________ prides himself in taking into consideration each of his patient's individual needs when caring for them. Although a significant part of Dr. Mandel's practice concerns surgical oncology of the breast and abdominal organs, he performs a wide variety of general surgical procedures ranging from abdominal wall repair (hernias) to typical laparoscopic gallbladder procedures and appendectomies. Dr. __________ approaches cases with a background that is based in both minimally invasive (laparoscopic) as well as traditional (open) techniques. This offers the patient who requires complex procedures an advantage as he can blend the two together to optimize outcomes. Dr. __________ utilizes Oncoplastic techniques when indicated to provide the best possible cosmetic result. Dr. ______________'s knowledge and experience, as well as his caring demeanor will provide you with comfort and confidence during your surgical care.


I've only met the doctor 2x and they've been very quick visits. When my first mammo came back that something was wrong (6-7 months ago) the hospital told me I would need a consult with a breast doctor. They gave me a list of doctors they recommend. I took that list to my gyno's office and asked who they would recommend. He was one of 3 they recommended. I called my insurance and he was in-network and conveniently located in the same buildings as the Breast Center, my gyno and the in-network hospital so I went with him. I know, not a great way to pick a doctor but I didn't think this was going to lead anywhere.

So how do you check someone's credentials? And again, do I need a separate oncologist, do I need a plastic surgeon? I guess these are all questions I can/will ask him/his office but I'm hoping someone here can guide me as to what I should be looking for/asking.

Thank you again for all your guidance and good wishes.