Beyond The Shock(R)

I had a lumpectomy 2 years ago, followed by 4 rounds of chemotherapy, and 6 weeks of radiation. There were no cancer cells in my lymph nodes, by the way. I'm on my third aromatase inhibitor, and I'm miserable. I'm thinking of stopping. Any thoughts?

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  anonymous

  Survivor since 2013

  Have you discussed your concerns with your doctor? I was on an AI for 5 years (what they ordered at the time of my diagnosis) and thankfully had no issues. I had a special test done after the 5 years and it indicated another 5 years would not benefit me (my friends were told 10 years at their...

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  Have you discussed your concerns with your doctor? I was on an AI for 5 years (what they ordered at the time of my diagnosis) and thankfully had no issues. I had a special test done after the 5 years and it indicated another 5 years would not benefit me (my friends were told 10 years at their diagnosis). It said I only had about a 5% chance of recurrence and like my Oncologist told me it's not a guarantee it won't return and I pray it doesn't. The only thing the AI got me was when I needed a tooth extraction my general dentist wouldn't do it and referred me to an Oral Surgeon.

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  anonymous

  stage_1 Patient

  I spoke with my doctor yesterday. He told me to take a month off, and then try Tamoxifen. It's not exactly like Aromasin, Femara, etc. He finds that people that get the body aches do better. So, we'll see. Thank you for your answer.

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gf.me/u/v8suzi please feel free to read my story. I just want to know if it gets easier. Is the diagnosis process suppose to take the long?

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  anonymous

  Survivor since 2013

  I'm not sure what you mean by taking so long. There are numerous factors based on your diagnosis and at times things may seem to take a long period of time but know it will get better. I had my mammogram in December, waited to do a biopsy until January due to my insurance, and had surgery in...

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  I'm not sure what you mean by taking so long. There are numerous factors based on your diagnosis and at times things may seem to take a long period of time but know it will get better. I had my mammogram in December, waited to do a biopsy until January due to my insurance, and had surgery in February about 8 weeks or so after my mammogram. I then had chemotherapy followed by radiation which was completed in August, so not even a year after the mammogram I was done with my treatments. I did have to take an Estrogen blocker for the next 5 years but have since finished that also.

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I have Qi have invasive ductal cancer and diabetes? Has anyone had the whole thing off or just the lump removal

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  anonymous

  Survivor since 2013

  I had 2 areas next to each other of 2 types of cancer and elected to remove the entire breast. The surgical pathology showed 2 other areas in the breast that had never been mentioned so was glad I chose that option. My surgeon indicated due to the size of the 2 areas we knew about doing a...

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  I had 2 areas next to each other of 2 types of cancer and elected to remove the entire breast. The surgical pathology showed 2 other areas in the breast that had never been mentioned so was glad I chose that option. My surgeon indicated due to the size of the 2 areas we knew about doing a lumpectomy would have left me disfigured and probably not much tissue anyway. Weigh all your options-pro and con and decide what you would be most comfortable with.

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Essential thrombocytopenic i have it taking 500mg hydrea. Could it be from?.Chemo.stage 3 ducal carcinoma breast cancer. Osteomyelitis reaction fron provia.

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  anonymous

  Survivor since 2013

  Have you discussed your concerns with your doctor(s)? That is where I would start.

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Does frequent self-examination and pressure on breast lumps help spread cancer in it.. because I notice a lump on my breast and I keep examining it and touch since 3 day and today when I wake up I feel its smaller !!

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  anonymous

  Survivor since 2013

  Have you seen your doctor about it? I've never heard of spreading cancer by doing a self exam. Perhaps it's a cyst that will come and go (from my experience but don't think it was doing that from self exams). Make an appointment with your doctor as some testing may be needed to determine what...

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  Have you seen your doctor about it? I've never heard of spreading cancer by doing a self exam. Perhaps it's a cyst that will come and go (from my experience but don't think it was doing that from self exams). Make an appointment with your doctor as some testing may be needed to determine what it may be.

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Did anyone refuse radiation told chemo not needed so I want to skip radiation I had double mastectomy stage2 1 lymph node

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  anonymous

  Survivor since 2013

  I don't want to worry you but just because it was all removed tissue can be left behind. I used to do Mammograms and did a study on a lady who had a mastectomy and developed cancer in the area next to where her breast had been. What does your doctor recommend as there may be a reason he/she is...

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  I don't want to worry you but just because it was all removed tissue can be left behind. I used to do Mammograms and did a study on a lady who had a mastectomy and developed cancer in the area next to where her breast had been. What does your doctor recommend as there may be a reason he/she is telling you that you need radiation? I had a mastectomy and lymph node removal (8 even though they looked fine on the MRI). All 8 were negative but they radiated my underarm also as well as my chest wall. I wish you well no matter what you do as it is your decision.

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  anonymous

  Survivor since 2013

  I did everything my doctors recommended; surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation as I wanted to do what I could to battle this cruel disease. I'm an almost 7 year survivor and feel good. Is there some reason you don't want to do radiation?

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Did anyone refuse radiation

Just diagnosed with DCIS and haven’t met with surgeon yet. That’s coming up this Wednesday. Feeling scared and a little depressed . Any thoughts on lumpectomy vs mastectomy?

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  anonymous

  Survivor since 2013

  I had an area of IDC with an area of DCIS right next to it and decided at my age (62) I was going to do a mastectomy and my Surgeon agreed that was my best choice. In the surgical specimen was a 2nd area of IDC and 1 of LCIS so am glad I went that route as neither of those had been mentioned. ...

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  I had an area of IDC with an area of DCIS right next to it and decided at my age (62) I was going to do a mastectomy and my Surgeon agreed that was my best choice. In the surgical specimen was a 2nd area of IDC and 1 of LCIS so am glad I went that route as neither of those had been mentioned. Also, in reading the operative report the Surgeon said due to the 2 areas we knew about I would have been disfigured with a lumpectomy due to the size. Work with the Surgeon and see what he/she recommend, but that final decision is yours.

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How do you know if your cancer spreads to another part of your body? Im having memory issues.

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  anonymous

  Survivor since 2013

  Have you discussed your concerns with your doctor(s)? Some chemotherapy medications cause what they call "chemo brain" and short term memory loss is basically what it is-is my understanding.

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I had a double mastectomy with a dflap(?) for the reconstruction. It is now October and i still have pain in my chest bone. Meds do not help, have been seeing a hypnotist for the pain butnothing is helping. Did anyone else have this pain?

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  anonymous

  Learning About Breast Cancer

  I had the double mastectomy in December 2018, sorry that i forgot to mention that before.

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