Please help me, I am desperate

[Marylou_II]

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.  

[Marylou_II]

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.
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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.  

[Marylou_II]

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.......

[bluebutterfly2222]

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.

[bluebutterfly2222]

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...

[Marylou_II]

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.      

[bluebutterfly2222]

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...