Aa
Please help me, I am desperate
How can all this be possible?
May 2009: I was diagnosed with cervical cancer though I do not meet the criteria for such a diagnosis, ... [More] but had it all the same. I received chemotherapy and radiotherapy in 30 simultaneous sessions. Then in 15 days I had 2 brachytherapies one after the other .
October 19th. 2009: I went to my oncologist for a post therapy follow up, he said there was no cancer any more. I know I have to keep in mind my follow ups for 5 years. Never the less.......
The oncologist practiced a clinical breast exam nothing was found to be wrong. He ordered a mammogram and an image test, the image tests were clean but the mammogram showed multiple microcalsifications in one of my breasts. The radiologist said a biopsy was necessary so he then referred me to a breast surgeon. Tomorrow Thursday I am having a surgical removal for a biopsy.
I am very anxious and scared to death about this procedure as the surgeon told me there are 3 alternatives:
1] 1/3 of the breast would be surgically removed for the biopsy, if nothing bad showed up in the results then end of subject. 2] 1/3+ a few inches of the breast would be surgically removed, for the biopsy, again if nothing bad showed up end of subject. 3] If there was an invasive issue, he would remove the same as in item 2 + the Sentinel Lymph Node, then wait for the results and possibly require surgery to withdraw the whole breast + chemo and radiotherapy.
No. 3 means I may have a second cancer issue. I wonder is it worth the pain and suffering?
There is NO cancer history in any of the two sides of my family. Cancer has never been an issue and has not ever been in the picture every one died of old age or heart problems. I never had any issues with my breasts, never a discharge, pain or any other.
I have never been: overweight or consumed alcohol not even a glass of wine. I have always: exercised, eaten healthy I'm a vegetarian, breast feed my two sons for a year each so I don't understand a thing.
Please help me understand, will I be condemned to this for whatever time I have left in my life? I can still back out of tomorrow's procedure what should I do?
Thanks a lot and regards.
May 2009: I was diagnosed with cervical cancer though I do not meet the criteria for such a diagnosis, ... [More] but had it all the same. I received chemotherapy and radiotherapy in 30 simultaneous sessions. Then in 15 days I had 2 brachytherapies one after the other .
October 19th. 2009: I went to my oncologist for a post therapy follow up, he said there was no cancer any more. I know I have to keep in mind my follow ups for 5 years. Never the less.......
The oncologist practiced a clinical breast exam nothing was found to be wrong. He ordered a mammogram and an image test, the image tests were clean but the mammogram showed multiple microcalsifications in one of my breasts. The radiologist said a biopsy was necessary so he then referred me to a breast surgeon. Tomorrow Thursday I am having a surgical removal for a biopsy.
I am very anxious and scared to death about this procedure as the surgeon told me there are 3 alternatives:
1] 1/3 of the breast would be surgically removed for the biopsy, if nothing bad showed up in the results then end of subject. 2] 1/3+ a few inches of the breast would be surgically removed, for the biopsy, again if nothing bad showed up end of subject. 3] If there was an invasive issue, he would remove the same as in item 2 + the Sentinel Lymph Node, then wait for the results and possibly require surgery to withdraw the whole breast + chemo and radiotherapy.
No. 3 means I may have a second cancer issue. I wonder is it worth the pain and suffering?
There is NO cancer history in any of the two sides of my family. Cancer has never been an issue and has not ever been in the picture every one died of old age or heart problems. I never had any issues with my breasts, never a discharge, pain or any other.
I have never been: overweight or consumed alcohol not even a glass of wine. I have always: exercised, eaten healthy I'm a vegetarian, breast feed my two sons for a year each so I don't understand a thing.
Please help me understand, will I be condemned to this for whatever time I have left in my life? I can still back out of tomorrow's procedure what should I do?
Thanks a lot and regards.
Breast Cancer Treatment Outcome Calculator
Hi my dear, how have you been? I sincerely hope you are doing real well and beginning to feel better and less tired.
Can you help me? I am trying to fill the under mentioned form to find my survival rate according to the info in my biopsy report, but I must be quite dumb because I don't know what info to place in each box but you know my full info, with your "cancer career" are you up to helping me?
I still don't know if I will have chemo and/or radiation and what type may be used on me for my BC. All I know is that I will not use Hormonal Therapy that is a done deal! My Lymph Nodes were all clean or so I understand. I am scared to post a link in here, but please Google "Breast Cancer Treatment Outcome Calculator" the form is in http://www.lifemath.net/cancer/breastcancer/therapy/index.php#.
I found this very interesting and good to get further info!
Regards.
Hi my dear, how have you been? I sincerely hope you are doing real well and beginning to feel better and less tired.
Can you help me? I am trying to fill the under mentioned form to find my survival rate according to the info in my biopsy report, but I must be quite dumb because I don't know what info to place in each box but you know my full info, with your "cancer career" are you up to helping me?
I still don't know if I will have chemo and/or radiation and what type may be used on me for my BC. All I know is that I will not use Hormonal Therapy that is a done deal! My Lymph Nodes were all clean or so I understand. I am scared to post a link in here, but please Google "Breast Cancer Treatment Outcome Calculator" the form is in http://www.lifemath.net/cancer/breastcancer/therapy/index.php#.
I found this very interesting and good to get further info!
Regards.
PS: My 'cancer career' really has not been all that painful at all, I must say. (which is not to say that it isn't the worst for many, or for me maybe still to come)
To me the ' sole point' for such is that cancer cannot and will not kill your soul, but other things can, or severely hurt your soul.
And for me, after such an experience that happened to me prior to getting cancer, and also the reason why I got this in the first place, the cancer itself was much more of a positive and healing experience. (I am not saying that cancer is psychological but only talking about my own experience)
The only really painful thing was the osteonecrosis and the trigger finger thing. It also I believe is so often the case that the non-seious stuff, like nausea, is much worse, or are much worse, than the much more serious conditions?
There is more to tell but I am too tired now...Katrin
To me the ' sole point' for such is that cancer cannot and will not kill your soul, but other things can, or severely hurt your soul.
And for me, after such an experience that happened to me prior to getting cancer, and also the reason why I got this in the first place, the cancer itself was much more of a positive and healing experience. (I am not saying that cancer is psychological but only talking about my own experience)
The only really painful thing was the osteonecrosis and the trigger finger thing. It also I believe is so often the case that the non-seious stuff, like nausea, is much worse, or are much worse, than the much more serious conditions?
There is more to tell but I am too tired now...Katrin
I am not so sure you will die of your breast cancer at all, Marylou_II, after reading back through your pathology information. Most women no longer die of bc these days, my Gynecologist told me. Actually, he said women no longer die..which I thought may be a little too much of the good news, but he is among the most respected physicians in my town and chief of surgery , etc.. at the main hospital.
My own diagnosis was very, very severe with a very bad prognosis from the beginning, so I would not call my own bc one to be average. I think you have very good chances for a long life yet to come? Or did your oncologist tell you otherwise?
Also, it is not true that because you had only one or two lymph nodes removed that you are at less risk for developing lymphedema. My PT told me that some of the worst cases she has treated had only one lymph node removed.
So much for now, Katrin
My own diagnosis was very, very severe with a very bad prognosis from the beginning, so I would not call my own bc one to be average. I think you have very good chances for a long life yet to come? Or did your oncologist tell you otherwise?
Also, it is not true that because you had only one or two lymph nodes removed that you are at less risk for developing lymphedema. My PT told me that some of the worst cases she has treated had only one lymph node removed.
So much for now, Katrin
I too think that Hormonal Therapy may in the best case scenario only delay recurrence if so much beauty is true. I don’t think that any of the oral meds cure cancer more so I don’t believe that cancer can be cured at all, delayed yes but not cured. I believe it is the cruelest thing that can be done to women who may still have children and hopes to live & see her kids through in order to die in peace.
It is not my intention to depress you, but let’s think with our brains instead of feeling with our hearts, if necessary let’s get real angry instead of being sad and keep in mind that anger strengthens but sadness weakens us. This is what I firmly believe is the best I can do for myself: after the mastectomy + 5 or so rounds of chemo + 5 or so rounds of radiotherapy, then a 2/3 month rest with timely checkups and repeat this while I can, plus holistic medicine, a good anticancer diet, lots of fluids, around 9/10 hours nightly sleep, calcium + D + E + K12 vitamin supplements + Yoga + Taichi, and daily light exercises. Following said routine it would be very unfortunate for a metastasis to occur out of the blue, after all, chemo and radio are supposed to kill the cancer cells so why not give it a try and help out with the rest? I don’t think that those horrible pills will do a better job than chemo + radio. The issue here is that I believe doctors get excellent treats from the labs to get as many patients as possible on their stupid and poisonous pills.
I was reading the Survivors Web, most of them have been battling the illness for 5 to 10 years and after such suffering and pain many of them passed. If the pills are so efficient why does this happen? Now the labs have a new scam to display, they say that 5 years of Tamoxifen + 5 years of Arimidex = 10 years in all is the perfect treatment – How about this new brilliant idea? Pure BS!
I know we are not supposed to get a metastasis until about 2 years after the mastectomy, but we can keep the cancer cells away with the above mentioned intermittent treatments. So how much more can we live? Let’s say 2 initial years + 3 with intermittent treatments which in all would mean 5 or 6 years from the time we got the mastectomy but feeling well and without the horrible side effects. Do you think that gaining 3 additional years is worth all the pain and side effects? I don’t think so I was not born for martyrdom and don’t intend to become a saint.
About the FASLODEX Drug you are taking, I found a good link which I can not post due to site rules but look it up under drugs.com faslodex-side effects.
These guys who publish the Web pages are very silly & say “if you feel bad side effects report them to the FDA” What for? Will the FDA cure us? Will the FDA help us in any way? Of course not, we would be further serving them as guinea pigs and that is all they care about. Your oncologist said that Faslodex “actually kills cancer cells” then is it not that same thing as what chemo and radio do?
Regarding the steroid issue and bodybuilders here is the info I found about Aromatase Inhibitors, Exemestane, Arimidex, Femara and Tamoxifen, these are all Anabolic Steroids. Most of these people take them to lower their estrogen and boost their testosterone, makes sense right? If you want to read it for yourself look it up under discussbodybuilding.com 378398 =Estrogen + Inhibitors and the other one is forum.bodybuilding.com/archive/index.php/t-5012043.html.
Read the med names on those two sites and check with the text under this: Both steroidal and nonsteroidal inhibitors of Aromatase have been developed for clinical uses. A novel class of steroidal irreversible anti Aromatase agents demonstrates a high degree of specificity for the Aromatase enzyme and exhibits a unique pharmacokinetic profile. The ability of these agents to inactivate Aromatase may explain their high degree of potency and lengthy duration of action. Exemestane, an orally active Aromatase in activator, has demonstrated excellent selectivity and tolerability and broad-based efficacy in the treatment of postmenopausal breast cancer. Current findings suggest that Exemestane will be a valuable alternative for women with breast cancer, not only for those progressing on other hormonal therapies but in earlier stages of the disease and prevention.
I will search for a good holistic cancer treatment and post back when I have it.
Take care and regards.
It is not my intention to depress you, but let’s think with our brains instead of feeling with our hearts, if necessary let’s get real angry instead of being sad and keep in mind that anger strengthens but sadness weakens us. This is what I firmly believe is the best I can do for myself: after the mastectomy + 5 or so rounds of chemo + 5 or so rounds of radiotherapy, then a 2/3 month rest with timely checkups and repeat this while I can, plus holistic medicine, a good anticancer diet, lots of fluids, around 9/10 hours nightly sleep, calcium + D + E + K12 vitamin supplements + Yoga + Taichi, and daily light exercises. Following said routine it would be very unfortunate for a metastasis to occur out of the blue, after all, chemo and radio are supposed to kill the cancer cells so why not give it a try and help out with the rest? I don’t think that those horrible pills will do a better job than chemo + radio. The issue here is that I believe doctors get excellent treats from the labs to get as many patients as possible on their stupid and poisonous pills.
I was reading the Survivors Web, most of them have been battling the illness for 5 to 10 years and after such suffering and pain many of them passed. If the pills are so efficient why does this happen? Now the labs have a new scam to display, they say that 5 years of Tamoxifen + 5 years of Arimidex = 10 years in all is the perfect treatment – How about this new brilliant idea? Pure BS!
I know we are not supposed to get a metastasis until about 2 years after the mastectomy, but we can keep the cancer cells away with the above mentioned intermittent treatments. So how much more can we live? Let’s say 2 initial years + 3 with intermittent treatments which in all would mean 5 or 6 years from the time we got the mastectomy but feeling well and without the horrible side effects. Do you think that gaining 3 additional years is worth all the pain and side effects? I don’t think so I was not born for martyrdom and don’t intend to become a saint.
About the FASLODEX Drug you are taking, I found a good link which I can not post due to site rules but look it up under drugs.com faslodex-side effects.
These guys who publish the Web pages are very silly & say “if you feel bad side effects report them to the FDA” What for? Will the FDA cure us? Will the FDA help us in any way? Of course not, we would be further serving them as guinea pigs and that is all they care about. Your oncologist said that Faslodex “actually kills cancer cells” then is it not that same thing as what chemo and radio do?
Regarding the steroid issue and bodybuilders here is the info I found about Aromatase Inhibitors, Exemestane, Arimidex, Femara and Tamoxifen, these are all Anabolic Steroids. Most of these people take them to lower their estrogen and boost their testosterone, makes sense right? If you want to read it for yourself look it up under discussbodybuilding.com 378398 =Estrogen + Inhibitors and the other one is forum.bodybuilding.com/archive/index.php/t-5012043.html.
Read the med names on those two sites and check with the text under this: Both steroidal and nonsteroidal inhibitors of Aromatase have been developed for clinical uses. A novel class of steroidal irreversible anti Aromatase agents demonstrates a high degree of specificity for the Aromatase enzyme and exhibits a unique pharmacokinetic profile. The ability of these agents to inactivate Aromatase may explain their high degree of potency and lengthy duration of action. Exemestane, an orally active Aromatase in activator, has demonstrated excellent selectivity and tolerability and broad-based efficacy in the treatment of postmenopausal breast cancer. Current findings suggest that Exemestane will be a valuable alternative for women with breast cancer, not only for those progressing on other hormonal therapies but in earlier stages of the disease and prevention.
I will search for a good holistic cancer treatment and post back when I have it.
Take care and regards.
If possible, you might want to look up a New York Times article, "Medicine to Deter Some Cancers Not Taken," Gina Kolata, 11/13/09.
Toward the latter part, there are comments about tamoxifen (studies finding that tamoxifen cut the breast cancer rate by 50% in high-risk women who had not had cancer, and helped prevent new cancers in in the opposite breast in breast cancer pts), and raloxifene (similar results re preventing breast cancer, with fewer side effects, but higher cost).
You may have your mind made up by now, but perhaps the information will interest some other people, esp. high risk older women.
Toward the latter part, there are comments about tamoxifen (studies finding that tamoxifen cut the breast cancer rate by 50% in high-risk women who had not had cancer, and helped prevent new cancers in in the opposite breast in breast cancer pts), and raloxifene (similar results re preventing breast cancer, with fewer side effects, but higher cost).
You may have your mind made up by now, but perhaps the information will interest some other people, esp. high risk older women.
I think the main purpose of those hormones is to delay recurrence, rather than cure the cancer. (So, if your cancer is meant to come back or spread in 4 years, it may with these drugs be 7?) At least that was what my first oncologist suggested. (He has since died in a mountain climbing accident)
The drug I am taking is called FASLODEX. (once a month IM injection) It is very slow to start working. I am in my third month and only now getting pretty bad side effects, especially pretty severe and quite bothersome hot flashes and nausea. (which may of course also be from mets)
Unlike Taxomixen that interferes with estrogen getting into cancer cells, (and do not take this literally as I may not be totally on top of the exact workings) the Faslodex actually kills cancer cells. (my oncologist told me this)
I agree with a lot you say; I also have boys.
I didn't know Arimidex was a steroid! wow!
Katrin
The drug I am taking is called FASLODEX. (once a month IM injection) It is very slow to start working. I am in my third month and only now getting pretty bad side effects, especially pretty severe and quite bothersome hot flashes and nausea. (which may of course also be from mets)
Unlike Taxomixen that interferes with estrogen getting into cancer cells, (and do not take this literally as I may not be totally on top of the exact workings) the Faslodex actually kills cancer cells. (my oncologist told me this)
I agree with a lot you say; I also have boys.
I didn't know Arimidex was a steroid! wow!
Katrin
WOW and OUCH.....for your description about your knee and trigger finger issues, you have truly been through a lot of pain and suffering. I am sure glad you are not taking Tamoxifen and will anxiously wait for the name of the drug you are now taking PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO POST IT!
I too believe that your recurrence would have been the same with or without Tamoxifen though I would have been so happy if you did not have it, you are too young. I don't trust these meds nor the BIG MONEY labs. Believe it or not i don't even trust the idea & hope that cancer can be cured it is a huge business and I am dead sure it is related to environmental contamination. I think they just drag us through time with these horrible meds and sometime between 5 to 10 years we are gone.
I am a firm believer that we should look forward to quality and not quantity of life. I am absolutely sure that with the mastectomy I just had, plus chemo and radiotherapy I can live well around 5 more years without pain or unnecessary sufferings this is why I want to have a long talk with my chemotherapist. I have not told anyone about this, but I am fixing my papers, my will and the rest that are necessary for my boys to inherit whatever I have in due time. I will continue to eat healthy, take my calcium and vitamin D + E supplements, exercise all I can, continue my Yoga meditation and Tai-chi exercises. Like I have always said: I was born in God's hands, lived a good life in His hands and it will be so till he decides it is time for me to go.
I will post back tomorrow with some curious information I have found about the Hormone Therapy meds & Aromatase Inhibitors, do you know who takes them? Bodybuilders!! Interesting right?
Have a good night and God bless you.
I too believe that your recurrence would have been the same with or without Tamoxifen though I would have been so happy if you did not have it, you are too young. I don't trust these meds nor the BIG MONEY labs. Believe it or not i don't even trust the idea & hope that cancer can be cured it is a huge business and I am dead sure it is related to environmental contamination. I think they just drag us through time with these horrible meds and sometime between 5 to 10 years we are gone.
I am a firm believer that we should look forward to quality and not quantity of life. I am absolutely sure that with the mastectomy I just had, plus chemo and radiotherapy I can live well around 5 more years without pain or unnecessary sufferings this is why I want to have a long talk with my chemotherapist. I have not told anyone about this, but I am fixing my papers, my will and the rest that are necessary for my boys to inherit whatever I have in due time. I will continue to eat healthy, take my calcium and vitamin D + E supplements, exercise all I can, continue my Yoga meditation and Tai-chi exercises. Like I have always said: I was born in God's hands, lived a good life in His hands and it will be so till he decides it is time for me to go.
I will post back tomorrow with some curious information I have found about the Hormone Therapy meds & Aromatase Inhibitors, do you know who takes them? Bodybuilders!! Interesting right?
Have a good night and God bless you.
PS: Oh, and I am no longer on the Tamoxifen...and, my cancer came back after I got off those hormone pills. (although I cannot be sure it would not have with the drugs) butterfly222 was concerned all the time I was off it, too.
Now I am on a drug and I am too lazy to look it up this minutel it's also an estrogen antagonist and given in a shot IM once a month.
I may post it later! Kat
Now I am on a drug and I am too lazy to look it up this minutel it's also an estrogen antagonist and given in a shot IM once a month.
I may post it later! Kat
The most common side effects from Tamoxifen are weight gain, hot flashes, nausea, joint problems and also Depression. Many women are helped by anti-depressants, also for the hot flashes and which can be severe as was for me but did get better over time. Not all ant-depressants can be used as some interfere with the action of the Tamoxifen. (I myself did not suffer from Depression except for that first week which I describes as feeling 'catatonic')
I am sure it was not as severe as in what you posted but I just wanted for you to get the sense. Depression, just sitting and staring, not feeling anything, unable to function.
The aromatase inhibitors are more known to cause bone and joint problems, anywhere from mild to severe, but not everyone has problems although they are very common and generally worse with the latter than with Tamoxifen. (Tamoxifen is also much cheaper)
After being on Tamoxifen for about six weeks, one day my right leg collapsed without injury and it was the most severe pain I ever had in my life and it lasted for weeks during which I was unable to walk and if, only limp with horrible pain. Just touching the knee was like another injury.
I was of course sure these were bone mets. (but my oncologist did not think so because the pain I was describing was too severe)
My doctor (PCP) then did an x-ray finally, and a test to see if there were blood clots in my leg, as blood clots can happen with this drug.
This was both times followed by a note with a smiley face about how lucky I should feel that it's nothing. (except, every moment was so severe...it was ridiculous to tell me it was 'nothing')
Finally , after begging, a bone scan was ordered, and I told the technician that the very worse that could happen would be that nothing showed up on the scan. luckily it did; a huge light bulb type thing around the knee and from there I got an MRI.
It turned out that my femur (major bone from hip to knee) towards the knee was dying and the bone marrow all swollen and pieces of bone chipping off and falling into the knee cavity. (Osteonecrosis)
Which reminds me, make sure your Vit. D. levels is checked and good and otherwise you need a supplement. I think that made the biggest difference. My thing went away as suddenly as it came on but I had to be on heavy pain meds for a while.
Then I got something called trigger finger and which happens a lot with us I think on both types of medicines. Your fingers, or one) get bent and stuck in a bent position and you cannot release them. it's really scary and hurts like hell to have someone release them with force. So I had to have surgery to widen the cavity through which the tendon goes in the hand.
PS: The orthopedist said I may have to have a knee replacement if it doesn't go away with conservative treatment like casting, etc, but it did. On my last bone scan everything was gone.
I am sure it was not as severe as in what you posted but I just wanted for you to get the sense. Depression, just sitting and staring, not feeling anything, unable to function.
The aromatase inhibitors are more known to cause bone and joint problems, anywhere from mild to severe, but not everyone has problems although they are very common and generally worse with the latter than with Tamoxifen. (Tamoxifen is also much cheaper)
After being on Tamoxifen for about six weeks, one day my right leg collapsed without injury and it was the most severe pain I ever had in my life and it lasted for weeks during which I was unable to walk and if, only limp with horrible pain. Just touching the knee was like another injury.
I was of course sure these were bone mets. (but my oncologist did not think so because the pain I was describing was too severe)
My doctor (PCP) then did an x-ray finally, and a test to see if there were blood clots in my leg, as blood clots can happen with this drug.
This was both times followed by a note with a smiley face about how lucky I should feel that it's nothing. (except, every moment was so severe...it was ridiculous to tell me it was 'nothing')
Finally , after begging, a bone scan was ordered, and I told the technician that the very worse that could happen would be that nothing showed up on the scan. luckily it did; a huge light bulb type thing around the knee and from there I got an MRI.
It turned out that my femur (major bone from hip to knee) towards the knee was dying and the bone marrow all swollen and pieces of bone chipping off and falling into the knee cavity. (Osteonecrosis)
Which reminds me, make sure your Vit. D. levels is checked and good and otherwise you need a supplement. I think that made the biggest difference. My thing went away as suddenly as it came on but I had to be on heavy pain meds for a while.
Then I got something called trigger finger and which happens a lot with us I think on both types of medicines. Your fingers, or one) get bent and stuck in a bent position and you cannot release them. it's really scary and hurts like hell to have someone release them with force. So I had to have surgery to widen the cavity through which the tendon goes in the hand.
PS: The orthopedist said I may have to have a knee replacement if it doesn't go away with conservative treatment like casting, etc, but it did. On my last bone scan everything was gone.
Hi Kat:
By Catatonia do you mean this: Catatonia is a condition characterized by psycho motor disturbance, an interruption of normal movement. Catatonic features can occur with major depression may also be an extreme side effect of a medication.
Possible Presentations:
* Stupor - lack of response to external stimuli, e.g., no response to being spoken to or prodded
* Catalepsy - muscular rigidity, so that the limbs remain in whatever position they are placed.
* Excessive motor activity with no purpose
* Extreme negativism - resistance to movement or instruction
* Mutism - being unable or unwilling to speak
* Inappropriate postures and grimacing [What is this?]
* Echolalia - parrot-like repetition of a word or phrase just spoken by another person
* Echopraxia - repetitive imitation of the movements of another person
Complications caused by this condition:
* Malnutrition
* Exhaustion
* Self-inflicted injury
This info is really horrible, did you live alone? did you have someone to take care of you? were you in hospital? I don't understand why you needed surgery relating to your joints, bobes and connective tissue, why surgery?
Regarding all the other Aromatase inhibitors and your description on what you felt, goodness God it must have been horrible and it is very scary. If you had to take the Tamoxifen again would you take it?
I don't get it, if these meds are supposed to help cure people why the hell are we supposed to go through so much pain and discomfort to avoid a metastasis? " I hate LABS" !
Please reply my questions, I will keep checking for your reply.
Regards.
By Catatonia do you mean this: Catatonia is a condition characterized by psycho motor disturbance, an interruption of normal movement. Catatonic features can occur with major depression may also be an extreme side effect of a medication.
Possible Presentations:
* Stupor - lack of response to external stimuli, e.g., no response to being spoken to or prodded
* Catalepsy - muscular rigidity, so that the limbs remain in whatever position they are placed.
* Excessive motor activity with no purpose
* Extreme negativism - resistance to movement or instruction
* Mutism - being unable or unwilling to speak
* Inappropriate postures and grimacing [What is this?]
* Echolalia - parrot-like repetition of a word or phrase just spoken by another person
* Echopraxia - repetitive imitation of the movements of another person
Complications caused by this condition:
* Malnutrition
* Exhaustion
* Self-inflicted injury
This info is really horrible, did you live alone? did you have someone to take care of you? were you in hospital? I don't understand why you needed surgery relating to your joints, bobes and connective tissue, why surgery?
Regarding all the other Aromatase inhibitors and your description on what you felt, goodness God it must have been horrible and it is very scary. If you had to take the Tamoxifen again would you take it?
I don't get it, if these meds are supposed to help cure people why the hell are we supposed to go through so much pain and discomfort to avoid a metastasis? " I hate LABS" !
Please reply my questions, I will keep checking for your reply.
Regards.
Chemotherapy and hormonal therapy are two categories of 'Systemic therapy', meaning, they treat the whole body/system.
on the other hand, both surgery and radiation are considered to be 'local therapy', as they are not systemic but local treatment. (limited to one place..i.e. the breast)
Some women respond better, and get more help from hormonal treatment than from chemotherapy.
(and it is is therefore a good thing to be ES/PR positive because you have a whole new and different systemic treatment available to treat which you do not have when you are not positive for hormones)
You cannot go by all the book information you posted because it ultimately comes down to your own experience only. (So if you tell you doctor your leg is hurting like hell from tamoxifen, (example) he is likely to deny that tamoxifen causes this, when all we women who have had this symptom know very well that it was the tamoxifen.
I had some initial side effects from the tamoxifen, mostly catatonia, that went away after a week. Then I had some horribly serious other stuff relating to my joints, bobes and connective tissue that reqiured surgery. after that I was able to tolerate the drug and it got better.
With Arimidex and all the other Aromatase inhibitos I tried it was more like this. (both metaphorically and literally)After about two hours of taking the medicine, I was placed in a small cage and transferred to hell. (I could not take any of them, they ate my soul)..when Tamoxifen only broke my body.
KAT
on the other hand, both surgery and radiation are considered to be 'local therapy', as they are not systemic but local treatment. (limited to one place..i.e. the breast)
Some women respond better, and get more help from hormonal treatment than from chemotherapy.
(and it is is therefore a good thing to be ES/PR positive because you have a whole new and different systemic treatment available to treat which you do not have when you are not positive for hormones)
You cannot go by all the book information you posted because it ultimately comes down to your own experience only. (So if you tell you doctor your leg is hurting like hell from tamoxifen, (example) he is likely to deny that tamoxifen causes this, when all we women who have had this symptom know very well that it was the tamoxifen.
I had some initial side effects from the tamoxifen, mostly catatonia, that went away after a week. Then I had some horribly serious other stuff relating to my joints, bobes and connective tissue that reqiured surgery. after that I was able to tolerate the drug and it got better.
With Arimidex and all the other Aromatase inhibitos I tried it was more like this. (both metaphorically and literally)After about two hours of taking the medicine, I was placed in a small cage and transferred to hell. (I could not take any of them, they ate my soul)..when Tamoxifen only broke my body.
KAT
"Chemotherapy" in the broadest sense is just the use of chemicals as therapy.
It has become most closely associated in the lay person's mind with chemotherapies for cancer (which, by the way, include IV meds, injections, and pills), but is also used in regard to chemical (medication) treatment of other disorders.
The POSSIBLE side effects for the medications you have been studying can be alarming, but please remember that not everyone gets all, or even very many, of them. (For example, as zouzi mentioned in her post, her side effects from Arimidex have been minor and manageable.) The possible side effects of the intense chemotherapy protocols that many of the members of this community are going through, or have been through, are also alarming, but when you weigh the potential "cost" (side effects) againt the potential "benefit" (survival), for most people the decision is a "no-brainer."
Another thing to keep in mind is that if most people read the complete PDR entries, FDA-required disclosures by the drug manufacturers, and "prescribing information" on common products like aspirin or ibupropen, few would want to take them, either!
I'm sure your chemotherapist/oncologist will be able to answer all your questions, and perhaps to some extent, allay your fears. I would not presume to make any recommendations, when you already have a treatment team that knows all the specifics of your med. hx and current health status.
Best wishes...
It has become most closely associated in the lay person's mind with chemotherapies for cancer (which, by the way, include IV meds, injections, and pills), but is also used in regard to chemical (medication) treatment of other disorders.
The POSSIBLE side effects for the medications you have been studying can be alarming, but please remember that not everyone gets all, or even very many, of them. (For example, as zouzi mentioned in her post, her side effects from Arimidex have been minor and manageable.) The possible side effects of the intense chemotherapy protocols that many of the members of this community are going through, or have been through, are also alarming, but when you weigh the potential "cost" (side effects) againt the potential "benefit" (survival), for most people the decision is a "no-brainer."
Another thing to keep in mind is that if most people read the complete PDR entries, FDA-required disclosures by the drug manufacturers, and "prescribing information" on common products like aspirin or ibupropen, few would want to take them, either!
I'm sure your chemotherapist/oncologist will be able to answer all your questions, and perhaps to some extent, allay your fears. I would not presume to make any recommendations, when you already have a treatment team that knows all the specifics of your med. hx and current health status.
Best wishes...
Continued........
AROMATASE INHIBITORS
A number of studies have compared Aromatase Inhibitors with Tamoxifen to see which type of medicine was more effective in treating early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer in post-menopausal women. Based on the results, most doctors recommend that after initial treatment (surgery and possibly chemotherapy and radiation therapy):
• An Aromatase inhibitor is the best hormonal therapy to start with. When treating early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, Aromatase inhibitors have more benefits and fewer serious side effects than Tamoxifen.
• Switching to an Aromatase Inhibitor after taking Tamoxifen for 2 to 3 years (for a total of 5 years of hormonal therapy) offers more benefits than 5 years of Tamoxifen.
• Taking an Aromatase inhibitor for 5 years after taking Tamoxifen for 5 years continues to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back, compared to no treatment after Tamoxifen.
Aromatase inhibitors tend to cause fewer serious side effects than Tamoxifen, such as blood clots, stroke, and Endometrial cancer. But Aromatase inhibitors can cause more heart problems, more bone loss (osteoporosis), and more broken bones than Tamoxifen, at least for the first few years of treatment. If you and your doctor are considering an Aromatase inhibitor as part of your treatment plan, you may want to ask your doctor about having a bone density test [had it and I have osteoporosis] to see if a bone strengthening medicine might be necessary while you're taking the Aromatase Inhibitor.
The most common side effects of Aromatase Inhibitors are joint stiffness or joint pain.
Joint pain from taking an Aromatase inhibitor can be troubling. But a 2008 British study suggests that women who experienced joint pain while taking hormonal therapy medicine were less likely to have the breast cancer come back (recur). Knowing that this side effect might indicate a reduced risk of the cancer coming back may help some people stick with treatment despite the side effects.
If you're experiencing side effects from taking one Aromatase Inhibitor medicine, tell your doctor. You may be able to take a different medicine. Arimidex and Femara have similar chemical structures, while Aromasin has a different structure.
TAMOXIFEN:
Tamoxifen may cause cancer of the uterus (womb), strokes, and blood clots in the lungs. These conditions may be serious or fatal. Tell your doctor if you have ever had a blood clot in the lungs or legs, a stroke, or a heart attack. Also tell your doctor if you smoke, if you have high blood pressure or diabetes, if your ability to move around during your waking hours is limited, or if you are taking anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin). If you experience any of the following symptoms during or after your treatment, call your doctor immediately: abnormal vaginal bleeding; irregular menstrual periods; changes in vaginal discharge, especially if the discharge becomes bloody, brown, or rusty; pain or pressure in the pelvis (the stomach area below the belly button); leg swelling or tenderness; chest pain; shortness of breath; coughing up blood; sudden weakness, tingling, or numbness in your face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of your body; sudden confusion; difficulty speaking or understanding; sudden difficulty seeing in one or both eyes; sudden difficulty walking; dizziness; loss of balance or coordination; or sudden severe headache.
Keep all appointments with your doctor. You will need to have gynecological examinations (examinations of the female organs) regularly to find early signs of cancer of the uterus.
If you are thinking about taking Tamoxifen to reduce the chance that you will develop breast cancer, you should talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of this treatment. You and your doctor will decide whether the possible benefit of Tamoxifen treatment is worth the risks of taking the medication. If you need to take Tamoxifen to treat breast cancer, the benefits of Tamoxifen outweigh the risks.
-----------------------------------------------
bluebutterfly2222:
If after reading the enclosed info there still is one of the mentioned medicines that you would recommend for me to take, then please for heavens sake say so......... If this junk is chemotherapy which I hope my chemotherapist will clarify then why take it in pills if it can be applied like any chemotherapy? What I don't understand is if I am to take one of the above to avoid a recurrence why do I have to be almost dying during 5 years to avoid a recurrence or get another cancer? Would it not be better not to take anything and simply die after 5 years? Please feel free to explain yourself to the best of your knowledge, I will be highly thank full.
Regards.
AROMATASE INHIBITORS
A number of studies have compared Aromatase Inhibitors with Tamoxifen to see which type of medicine was more effective in treating early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer in post-menopausal women. Based on the results, most doctors recommend that after initial treatment (surgery and possibly chemotherapy and radiation therapy):
• An Aromatase inhibitor is the best hormonal therapy to start with. When treating early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, Aromatase inhibitors have more benefits and fewer serious side effects than Tamoxifen.
• Switching to an Aromatase Inhibitor after taking Tamoxifen for 2 to 3 years (for a total of 5 years of hormonal therapy) offers more benefits than 5 years of Tamoxifen.
• Taking an Aromatase inhibitor for 5 years after taking Tamoxifen for 5 years continues to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back, compared to no treatment after Tamoxifen.
Aromatase inhibitors tend to cause fewer serious side effects than Tamoxifen, such as blood clots, stroke, and Endometrial cancer. But Aromatase inhibitors can cause more heart problems, more bone loss (osteoporosis), and more broken bones than Tamoxifen, at least for the first few years of treatment. If you and your doctor are considering an Aromatase inhibitor as part of your treatment plan, you may want to ask your doctor about having a bone density test [had it and I have osteoporosis] to see if a bone strengthening medicine might be necessary while you're taking the Aromatase Inhibitor.
The most common side effects of Aromatase Inhibitors are joint stiffness or joint pain.
Joint pain from taking an Aromatase inhibitor can be troubling. But a 2008 British study suggests that women who experienced joint pain while taking hormonal therapy medicine were less likely to have the breast cancer come back (recur). Knowing that this side effect might indicate a reduced risk of the cancer coming back may help some people stick with treatment despite the side effects.
If you're experiencing side effects from taking one Aromatase Inhibitor medicine, tell your doctor. You may be able to take a different medicine. Arimidex and Femara have similar chemical structures, while Aromasin has a different structure.
TAMOXIFEN:
Tamoxifen may cause cancer of the uterus (womb), strokes, and blood clots in the lungs. These conditions may be serious or fatal. Tell your doctor if you have ever had a blood clot in the lungs or legs, a stroke, or a heart attack. Also tell your doctor if you smoke, if you have high blood pressure or diabetes, if your ability to move around during your waking hours is limited, or if you are taking anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin). If you experience any of the following symptoms during or after your treatment, call your doctor immediately: abnormal vaginal bleeding; irregular menstrual periods; changes in vaginal discharge, especially if the discharge becomes bloody, brown, or rusty; pain or pressure in the pelvis (the stomach area below the belly button); leg swelling or tenderness; chest pain; shortness of breath; coughing up blood; sudden weakness, tingling, or numbness in your face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of your body; sudden confusion; difficulty speaking or understanding; sudden difficulty seeing in one or both eyes; sudden difficulty walking; dizziness; loss of balance or coordination; or sudden severe headache.
Keep all appointments with your doctor. You will need to have gynecological examinations (examinations of the female organs) regularly to find early signs of cancer of the uterus.
If you are thinking about taking Tamoxifen to reduce the chance that you will develop breast cancer, you should talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of this treatment. You and your doctor will decide whether the possible benefit of Tamoxifen treatment is worth the risks of taking the medication. If you need to take Tamoxifen to treat breast cancer, the benefits of Tamoxifen outweigh the risks.
-----------------------------------------------
bluebutterfly2222:
If after reading the enclosed info there still is one of the mentioned medicines that you would recommend for me to take, then please for heavens sake say so......... If this junk is chemotherapy which I hope my chemotherapist will clarify then why take it in pills if it can be applied like any chemotherapy? What I don't understand is if I am to take one of the above to avoid a recurrence why do I have to be almost dying during 5 years to avoid a recurrence or get another cancer? Would it not be better not to take anything and simply die after 5 years? Please feel free to explain yourself to the best of your knowledge, I will be highly thank full.
Regards.
Thanks for your reply and the link to zouzi's post. I have been reading all possible links to the medicines mentioned in both your and zouzi's post. I have noticed a peculiar issue, all these medicines are included in Chemotherapy sites, do you know why that is so? Are these medicines oral chemotherapy?
I have send my chemotherapist the same information I am posting here and now, I want his opinion on this issue. The side effects are not even acceptable, they are bad and dangerous, please read on:
I am post menopausal, so the other meds for younger women don't apply in my case. I had my last menstruation on September 05 1991, the same day my mother passed so I will never forget that date. Here is the info for each of the meds:
I understand that hormone therapy is dangerous because it can cause cancer, reason why I never took them after my menopause lets take into consideration I first had Cervical Cancer and then BC.
ARIMIDEX: Generic name Anastrozol
• Not all women experience the same side effects while using ARIMIDEX.
• Side effects are usually predictable as to when they will appear, how long they will last and severity.
• The side effects are reversible and will disappear when treatment is over.
• Many options exist to help minimize or prevent the side effects.
• There is no relation between the presence and severity of side effects and Arimidex effectiveness.
Common side effects of Arimidex:
* Back pain
* Cough
* Difficulty breathing
* Osteoporosis [ I already have it]
* Accidental injury
* Broken bones
* Insomnia (see Arimidex and Insomnia)
* Swelling or water retention in the arms or legs
* Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
* Constipation
* Diarrhea
* High cholesterol (see Arimidex and High Cholesterol)
* Infections
* Weight gain (see Arimidex and Weight Gain)
* Breast pain
* Dizziness
* Urinary tract infection (bladder infection or UTI)
* Loss of appetite.
* Depression (see Arimidex and Depression)
* Anxiety
* High blood pressure (hypertension)
* Difficulty breathing
* Unusual or unexplained vaginal bleeding
* Increase in tumor size or appearance of new tumors
* Signs of a heart attack, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and jaw or arm pain
* Signs of a blood clot, such as:
* Pain
* Swelling
* Tenderness (especially in the legs)
* Signs of an allergic reaction, including:
* Unexplained rash
* Hives
* Itching
* Unexplained swelling.
Rare Arimidex Side Effects
Rare side effects of Arimidex occur in 3 to 7 percent of people taking the drug. Because these side effects are so uncommon, it can be difficult to tell whether they are actually caused by Arimidex or by factors unrelated to the medication.
Some of these rare side effects include but are not limited to:
* Flu-like symptoms (such as fever or chills)
* Indigestion or heartburn
* Unusual sensations, such as burning or tingling
* Pelvic pain
* Muscle pain
* Sinus infection
* Vaginal infection or inflammation
* Cataracts
* Dry mouth
* Bronchitis
* Sweating
* Anemia
* Thick, white vaginal discharge.
continues.......
I have send my chemotherapist the same information I am posting here and now, I want his opinion on this issue. The side effects are not even acceptable, they are bad and dangerous, please read on:
I am post menopausal, so the other meds for younger women don't apply in my case. I had my last menstruation on September 05 1991, the same day my mother passed so I will never forget that date. Here is the info for each of the meds:
I understand that hormone therapy is dangerous because it can cause cancer, reason why I never took them after my menopause lets take into consideration I first had Cervical Cancer and then BC.
ARIMIDEX: Generic name Anastrozol
• Not all women experience the same side effects while using ARIMIDEX.
• Side effects are usually predictable as to when they will appear, how long they will last and severity.
• The side effects are reversible and will disappear when treatment is over.
• Many options exist to help minimize or prevent the side effects.
• There is no relation between the presence and severity of side effects and Arimidex effectiveness.
Common side effects of Arimidex:
* Back pain
* Cough
* Difficulty breathing
* Osteoporosis [ I already have it]
* Accidental injury
* Broken bones
* Insomnia (see Arimidex and Insomnia)
* Swelling or water retention in the arms or legs
* Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
* Constipation
* Diarrhea
* High cholesterol (see Arimidex and High Cholesterol)
* Infections
* Weight gain (see Arimidex and Weight Gain)
* Breast pain
* Dizziness
* Urinary tract infection (bladder infection or UTI)
* Loss of appetite.
* Depression (see Arimidex and Depression)
* Anxiety
* High blood pressure (hypertension)
* Difficulty breathing
* Unusual or unexplained vaginal bleeding
* Increase in tumor size or appearance of new tumors
* Signs of a heart attack, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and jaw or arm pain
* Signs of a blood clot, such as:
* Pain
* Swelling
* Tenderness (especially in the legs)
* Signs of an allergic reaction, including:
* Unexplained rash
* Hives
* Itching
* Unexplained swelling.
Rare Arimidex Side Effects
Rare side effects of Arimidex occur in 3 to 7 percent of people taking the drug. Because these side effects are so uncommon, it can be difficult to tell whether they are actually caused by Arimidex or by factors unrelated to the medication.
Some of these rare side effects include but are not limited to:
* Flu-like symptoms (such as fever or chills)
* Indigestion or heartburn
* Unusual sensations, such as burning or tingling
* Pelvic pain
* Muscle pain
* Sinus infection
* Vaginal infection or inflammation
* Cataracts
* Dry mouth
* Bronchitis
* Sweating
* Anemia
* Thick, white vaginal discharge.
continues.......
p.s. For info about Arimidex (Arimidex vs tamoxifen study), see the reply by zouzi to the question, "Recurrence of breast cancer," posted by cristy1973, Jan. 23, 2010.
Thanks for sharing your favorable results!
Your question is one that many women are now asking. In December 2004, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) issued new guidelines on hormonal therapy. ASCO now recommends that most postmenopausal women be treated with an aromatase inhibitor. This means that tamoxifen, which first began to be used in the adjuvant setting in the 1980s, is no longer the standard of care for postmenopausal women.
One other thing to consider: There is evidence that there are benefits to starting on tamoxifen for two or three years and then switching to an aromatase inhibitor for the remainder of the five years of hormonal therapy. As a result, in October 2005, the FDA approved the use of exemestane inhibitor as adjuvant treatment in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer who had already had two to three years of tamoxifen to complete five years of hormone therapy. Starting on tamoxifen and then switching to exemestane may not only reduce the recurrence but may also be a way to minimize the side effects of both drugs.
You should consult with your clinician and determine how the specific risks associated with an aromatase inhibitor may affect you. You should then assess the risks and benefits of taking an aromatase inhibitor for five years as compared with starting on tamoxifen and then switching to an aromatase inhibitor after two or three years.
Actually the aromatase drugs include both aromatase inhibitors (such af Femara and Arimidex) and aromatose inactivators (such as Aromasin). The difference is that the inactivators permanently stop the aromatase emzyme's production.
Women on Aromasin were more likely to have fractures, joint pain, osteoporosis, visual disturbances, and diarrhea, while women on tamoxifen were more likely to report vaginal bleeding, muscle cramps, and blood clots.
Femara has been found to have less impact on cognitive functioning that tamoxifen. (I don't know if that would be the case with other aromatase inhibitors/inactivators though.)
I hope this information will be helpful to you.
Best wishes...
Your question is one that many women are now asking. In December 2004, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) issued new guidelines on hormonal therapy. ASCO now recommends that most postmenopausal women be treated with an aromatase inhibitor. This means that tamoxifen, which first began to be used in the adjuvant setting in the 1980s, is no longer the standard of care for postmenopausal women.
One other thing to consider: There is evidence that there are benefits to starting on tamoxifen for two or three years and then switching to an aromatase inhibitor for the remainder of the five years of hormonal therapy. As a result, in October 2005, the FDA approved the use of exemestane inhibitor as adjuvant treatment in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer who had already had two to three years of tamoxifen to complete five years of hormone therapy. Starting on tamoxifen and then switching to exemestane may not only reduce the recurrence but may also be a way to minimize the side effects of both drugs.
You should consult with your clinician and determine how the specific risks associated with an aromatase inhibitor may affect you. You should then assess the risks and benefits of taking an aromatase inhibitor for five years as compared with starting on tamoxifen and then switching to an aromatase inhibitor after two or three years.
Actually the aromatase drugs include both aromatase inhibitors (such af Femara and Arimidex) and aromatose inactivators (such as Aromasin). The difference is that the inactivators permanently stop the aromatase emzyme's production.
Women on Aromasin were more likely to have fractures, joint pain, osteoporosis, visual disturbances, and diarrhea, while women on tamoxifen were more likely to report vaginal bleeding, muscle cramps, and blood clots.
Femara has been found to have less impact on cognitive functioning that tamoxifen. (I don't know if that would be the case with other aromatase inhibitors/inactivators though.)
I hope this information will be helpful to you.
Best wishes...
Thanks for your post, I just got back from the doctor and have my tumor marker results.
The pathology report says:
E.R. Intense Positive 90% Allred Craig [8]
P.R; Negative
E - Caherin; Negative
C - erB2 ; Negative
These results are what my surgeon expected, he was happy with them and my Oncology Team will have a meeting tomorrow to decide if I will have chemotherapy or not. I gave him my opinion and told him I believe it would be good and save to receive chemo according to what my Chemotherapist may say, the last thing I need is a metastasis or similar he then said I should also take Tamoxifen, I told him I will not take it, but he said I could take Aromatase and that will also be discussed tomorrow with the rest of the team. Check these links and perhaps you will understand my bad will towards Tamoxifen and why I prefer Aromatase:
http://www.all-natural.com/tamox.html
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Aromatase_Inhibitor_Anastrozole_Beats_Tamoxifen.asp
If you can give me some advice regarding these medicines, please drop me a line.
See you and thanks a lot.
Regards.
The pathology report says:
E.R. Intense Positive 90% Allred Craig [8]
P.R; Negative
E - Caherin; Negative
C - erB2 ; Negative
These results are what my surgeon expected, he was happy with them and my Oncology Team will have a meeting tomorrow to decide if I will have chemotherapy or not. I gave him my opinion and told him I believe it would be good and save to receive chemo according to what my Chemotherapist may say, the last thing I need is a metastasis or similar he then said I should also take Tamoxifen, I told him I will not take it, but he said I could take Aromatase and that will also be discussed tomorrow with the rest of the team. Check these links and perhaps you will understand my bad will towards Tamoxifen and why I prefer Aromatase:
http://www.all-natural.com/tamox.html
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Aromatase_Inhibitor_Anastrozole_Beats_Tamoxifen.asp
If you can give me some advice regarding these medicines, please drop me a line.
See you and thanks a lot.
Regards.
Thanks for updating us on you surgery and recovery process.
I had been wonering how you were doing, as the last I'd heard was your laptop communication to Katarina while you were in the hosp. waiting for your surgery.
I hope the path report will show neg. nodes and other good news!
Best wishes...
I had been wonering how you were doing, as the last I'd heard was your laptop communication to Katarina while you were in the hosp. waiting for your surgery.
I hope the path report will show neg. nodes and other good news!
Best wishes...
Hi you all:
I am back home since yesterday, God willing still alive and getting better by the day. My mastectomy went as planned, the surgeon removed three lymph nodes which is good as the removal of more lymph nodes could have meant I would have had a Lymphedema which I understand is painful, but fortunately it will not be my case. I am still waiting for the pathology results of the four tumor markers on the rest of the gland and the three lymph nodes, that result will determine what further treatment I may need meaning if chemotherapy will be required and if so how many rounds I will require. I love my chemotherapist, he is so nice and kind that I trust him with my life. So if chemo is or not required it truly does not worry me though I personally believe some rounds of chemo would be a safe way to avoid the cancer from spreading, I have so told my oncology team thus I must now wait and see what comes up.
I must admit the pain is now pretty bad, I am taking strong doses of pain killers and antibiotics so I will heal sooner and avoid infections. I sleep very well, eat great and I am now home which is comforting. I have a nurse who is staying with me as I have a drain that pops out of my armpit which needs to be cleaned and measured at 07.00 & 19.00 daily, that thing is what hurts the most but will be taken out when the fluids are gone I prefer the nurse to do that as I find it disgusting.
I will get back to you all once I have my pathology results as they are taking too long and that does not make me confident.
Regards and take care.
I am back home since yesterday, God willing still alive and getting better by the day. My mastectomy went as planned, the surgeon removed three lymph nodes which is good as the removal of more lymph nodes could have meant I would have had a Lymphedema which I understand is painful, but fortunately it will not be my case. I am still waiting for the pathology results of the four tumor markers on the rest of the gland and the three lymph nodes, that result will determine what further treatment I may need meaning if chemotherapy will be required and if so how many rounds I will require. I love my chemotherapist, he is so nice and kind that I trust him with my life. So if chemo is or not required it truly does not worry me though I personally believe some rounds of chemo would be a safe way to avoid the cancer from spreading, I have so told my oncology team thus I must now wait and see what comes up.
I must admit the pain is now pretty bad, I am taking strong doses of pain killers and antibiotics so I will heal sooner and avoid infections. I sleep very well, eat great and I am now home which is comforting. I have a nurse who is staying with me as I have a drain that pops out of my armpit which needs to be cleaned and measured at 07.00 & 19.00 daily, that thing is what hurts the most but will be taken out when the fluids are gone I prefer the nurse to do that as I find it disgusting.
I will get back to you all once I have my pathology results as they are taking too long and that does not make me confident.
Regards and take care.
Hi Katrin:
I am using my laptop because the nurses are busy and won't catch me. My operation has been delayed for a couple of hours so it will now be at 11am ET.
I guess the mastectomy will hurt but my oncology team never allows their patients to suffer if they can avoid it, so pain killers will be it. I must be some kind of a weird one I am not scared, sad or depressed. I need to be OK as soon as possible with/without Chemotherapy because my first grandchild will be born on the 25th of this month & I also need to help the 80+ women who are in the cancer support group I founded with a BC friend. I had chemo with my previous issue, I did just fine and never got sick, that is why I adore my chemotherapist doctor and trust him with my life.
As the days go by I find more women who did not opt for a reconstruction, it is silly to suffer that much more to have a breast that no one will ever see and which may in future not be helpful, after all we women are not worth because of breasts but for who we are and what we do in life. I am happy with my decision too.
My team told me that it is necessary to use a prosthesis, this to avoid neck, shoulder and back pain because the body is not balanced. Mind you this is the only reason I will use it. I am very glad your breast does not look bad, I suppose that will also be my case.
I can hear the nurses they are getting near so I better just go now. I will post again as soon as I go home in about 8 days.
Best regards.
I am using my laptop because the nurses are busy and won't catch me. My operation has been delayed for a couple of hours so it will now be at 11am ET.
I guess the mastectomy will hurt but my oncology team never allows their patients to suffer if they can avoid it, so pain killers will be it. I must be some kind of a weird one I am not scared, sad or depressed. I need to be OK as soon as possible with/without Chemotherapy because my first grandchild will be born on the 25th of this month & I also need to help the 80+ women who are in the cancer support group I founded with a BC friend. I had chemo with my previous issue, I did just fine and never got sick, that is why I adore my chemotherapist doctor and trust him with my life.
As the days go by I find more women who did not opt for a reconstruction, it is silly to suffer that much more to have a breast that no one will ever see and which may in future not be helpful, after all we women are not worth because of breasts but for who we are and what we do in life. I am happy with my decision too.
My team told me that it is necessary to use a prosthesis, this to avoid neck, shoulder and back pain because the body is not balanced. Mind you this is the only reason I will use it. I am very glad your breast does not look bad, I suppose that will also be my case.
I can hear the nurses they are getting near so I better just go now. I will post again as soon as I go home in about 8 days.
Best regards.
I am sorry to hear that your biopsy has resulted in the dx of BC.
Two fairly positive things I got from the part of the path report that you translated, if I am reading it correctly, is that the tumor is grade 2 (moderately aggressive), rather than 3 (highly aggressive), and that it is relatively small (less than a centimeter).
I hope your mastectomy goes well, and that there will be clear magins and neg. lymph nodes!
I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers...
Two fairly positive things I got from the part of the path report that you translated, if I am reading it correctly, is that the tumor is grade 2 (moderately aggressive), rather than 3 (highly aggressive), and that it is relatively small (less than a centimeter).
I hope your mastectomy goes well, and that there will be clear magins and neg. lymph nodes!
I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers...
Thank you for sharing all this information with us and I really hope all will go well. The mastectomy should not be very painful as scary as it may sound. They will also get a more complete picture of the pathology during the operation.
I, as you, also didn't have reconstruction and am really happy with that decision. Also never wore a wig but mostly soft caps and hats.
I don't even use a prosthesis but cover up with scarfs and loose clothes. Most of all, The place where my breast was does not look the least bit ugly and I hope that will also be the case with you.
I don't know about chemotherapy and if this applies to you, but it really is tolerable these days and no longer crouching in-front of the toilet all day long.
I wish you the very best, Marylou_II, and please keep us updated.
I understand why you feel better now, the unknown and the waiting is the worst.
Katrin
I, as you, also didn't have reconstruction and am really happy with that decision. Also never wore a wig but mostly soft caps and hats.
I don't even use a prosthesis but cover up with scarfs and loose clothes. Most of all, The place where my breast was does not look the least bit ugly and I hope that will also be the case with you.
I don't know about chemotherapy and if this applies to you, but it really is tolerable these days and no longer crouching in-front of the toilet all day long.
I wish you the very best, Marylou_II, and please keep us updated.
I understand why you feel better now, the unknown and the waiting is the worst.
Katrin
Hello Doc and Ginger 7771:
I got my biopsy results and was not good at all. It was in Spanish so it was explained to me by my breast surgeon. I have done all possible to translate it into English but I am so busy that I could not do it. This is the most important part:
DIAGNOSIS:
INVASIVE (infiltrating) MAMMARY CARCINOMA HISTOLOGICAL GRADE 2
[Elston & Ellis: 3/2/1] “Lobular type” pT1C
Tumor size: 12,0mm.
The pathologist is examining the rest of the mammary tissue taken in the surgical biopsy with these four: R.E; R.P; Cerb B2; E – Cadherina
The mentioned results are needed in order to determine many issues, but the things that interest me are, if Chemotherapy will be necessary and whether cancer cells have spread further than the Sentinel Lymph to the other lymph nodes under my arm or elsewhere.
I will be operated on January 15th, tomorrow, it will first be a cut under my arm to remove the Sentinel Lymph Node and once analyzed right there and then some other Lymph Nodes will also be removed, then the radical mastectomy of the right breast. I did not want radiotherapy, I hate it. I will not have a breast reconstruction it is too much of a hustle, a second operation and then the reconstruction so no way.
I truly don’t want to know if the rest of the tissue has cancer, I don’t care if I need chemotherapy I will assume it and I know I will not be sick, I truly trust my chemotherapist. While I have the chemo I will also take a pill for a year, what pill? Who knows and who cares but I know it does not have side effects!
I got in touch with my brother in Europe to buy and send me things that are special for those who have had a mastectomy and chemo. I will need special bras, the external prosthesis, scarves, hats, a wig and several others. I have assumed this and will go all the way but in my own terms. This will probably be my last post in about 12 days, I am being hospitalized this afternoon.
Believe it or not I am not scared, sad or depressed I have this terrible anger but it makes me much stronger. I went to church this morning, confession and communion so now I am in peace with God, I am and have always been in His hands and whatever is to happen will be His will and I accept it.
I wish you both all the best and God willing I will be back soon.
Regards
I got my biopsy results and was not good at all. It was in Spanish so it was explained to me by my breast surgeon. I have done all possible to translate it into English but I am so busy that I could not do it. This is the most important part:
DIAGNOSIS:
INVASIVE (infiltrating) MAMMARY CARCINOMA HISTOLOGICAL GRADE 2
[Elston & Ellis: 3/2/1] “Lobular type” pT1C
Tumor size: 12,0mm.
The pathologist is examining the rest of the mammary tissue taken in the surgical biopsy with these four: R.E; R.P; Cerb B2; E – Cadherina
The mentioned results are needed in order to determine many issues, but the things that interest me are, if Chemotherapy will be necessary and whether cancer cells have spread further than the Sentinel Lymph to the other lymph nodes under my arm or elsewhere.
I will be operated on January 15th, tomorrow, it will first be a cut under my arm to remove the Sentinel Lymph Node and once analyzed right there and then some other Lymph Nodes will also be removed, then the radical mastectomy of the right breast. I did not want radiotherapy, I hate it. I will not have a breast reconstruction it is too much of a hustle, a second operation and then the reconstruction so no way.
I truly don’t want to know if the rest of the tissue has cancer, I don’t care if I need chemotherapy I will assume it and I know I will not be sick, I truly trust my chemotherapist. While I have the chemo I will also take a pill for a year, what pill? Who knows and who cares but I know it does not have side effects!
I got in touch with my brother in Europe to buy and send me things that are special for those who have had a mastectomy and chemo. I will need special bras, the external prosthesis, scarves, hats, a wig and several others. I have assumed this and will go all the way but in my own terms. This will probably be my last post in about 12 days, I am being hospitalized this afternoon.
Believe it or not I am not scared, sad or depressed I have this terrible anger but it makes me much stronger. I went to church this morning, confession and communion so now I am in peace with God, I am and have always been in His hands and whatever is to happen will be His will and I accept it.
I wish you both all the best and God willing I will be back soon.
Regards
Hello and thanks for the duplicate info. I did as you told me and send the MEDHELP staff an email asking for help and providing my personal info once again. I hope it has been solved by now.
I am so sorry I made such a mistake but I was very nervous so I guess I did not pay too much attention to my profile.
Thanks and regards.
I am so sorry I made such a mistake but I was very nervous so I guess I did not pay too much attention to my profile.
Thanks and regards.
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