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Needle Core Biopsy earlier today

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Posted 3/9/2011 11:40 PM (GMT 0)
Well, Daisy, you have convinced even me! LOL I know you and the doctors will keep a close eye on things. Let us know how things went with the medical oncologist...

BEV
Posted 3/11/2011 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
Wednesday's visit with my oncologist was not as good as I had hoped it would be.
First of all he insisted that I should go back to do another surgery, and have the area of surface skin removed to get a wider anterior margin.
That shouldn't be a big deal and my surgeon reassured me on Monday, he would do it if it needed to be done, and it would be a breeze -in and out, nothing at all like the lumpectomy. OK I'll do that.

He's not at all happy with my decision to not have radiation, but this is one thing I'm not budging on. I finally had to tell in no uncertain terms that he was upsetting me about the radiation and that I wasnt getting it and why. He saw I was quite upset and said he wasnt going to push me to it anymore, I'll get lots followups and we'll be watching me closely.
My liver functions were a little "weird" so we're using that as an excuse to get a full CT and also a lung x ray -just so we have a clear picture of everything, he's not really concerned that something is wrong. He said "Did you go on a drinking binge?" and I said uh no way I never drink. Maybe a single beer once a month! Then he asked me if I took cholesterol lowering drugs and I said no. I have no idea why my liver function would be messed up ?

He presented me with my future drug therapy options, so I'm trying to decide whether I want to take shots of Luprin every 4 months + a daily Arimidex pill for 5 years, or just take Tamoxifen pill for 5 years. Each has their drawbacks and side effects. The Luprin would be to shut down my ovaries (instead of surgical ovary removal) which are still going full steam ahead right now, cranking out estrogen like I was 30! There is no telling how long until I reach menopause so I've got an appointment next week with my GYN and see if she can run some more complex hormonal tests to see how many more years I have before I'm menopausal, to help me in my decision to try and determine which course of meds I should go with. I need to weigh side effects of both, do my research and make the right decision for me.
Not an easy task.

We registered on ajuvant therapy and looked at my recurrence chances and to be honest, I'm more likely to die of other causes than of the BC, and that's not taking any ajuvant at all!

Today I'm leaning toward trying tamoxifen first, and seeing how I get on with it. I've read that AI's are much better as a treatment, but very difficult to do because of the side effects, most women hate being tired and achy.
Posted 3/12/2011 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
So much! and your head is spinning too. I'm no dr., but I totally agree with the extra surgery; I think it's a good thing and would cement certain opinions for me. My onco score was quite low and that played a part in my decision to take/not to take AI. My liver values have jumped up and down for years; if, in 3 to 6 months, they're still high, and I mean high, then get yourself to a good GI; having the CT and and lung is good...why isn't he running a PET scan instead? oh well. If you're really concerned about the liver function, go to a GI now.

You're pre-menopausal, Tamoxifen is a proven winner on that front; is the duplication of effort (luprin + Tamox) necessary...I have no idea. (I may have read that wrong)..yeah I did... I really didn't want to take arimidex; I tried it for a month or two..stopped it... but everyone is different.

Oh, and just in case..I did not like my first oncologist; not at all, and I asked my family dr. (whom I trust implicitly) for an onco...he sent me to his and I love her. She listened to me, she understood me and she gave me options that made sense.

You're doing your homework, talk to your dr.'s, get the opinions and knowledge you need to take control of your situation.

with you! ♥
Janice
Posted 3/12/2011 3:07 AM (GMT 0)
Not much to add to Janice's suggestions. Sorry it didn't go as well as you had hoped. It is a lot to take in, but you'll figure it out. I've never taken ai's, but I know lots of women who have. Some people have side effects that are intolerable, but most women I know find them to be little more than an annoyance.

Consider Janice's advice to get a second opinion if you're uncomfortable with the onco you saw. Take care.

Hugs...
BEV
Posted 3/12/2011 4:46 PM (GMT 0)
Bev and Janice,

Thanks for your replies. The more we investigate the easier the answers come. I'm leaning towards the tamoxifen. The only thing that freaks me out about it is the blood clots. We are going to take a trip to England in July, because my husband is British, and we like to go every 2 years to visit family. 10 to 13 hours on a plane.
A long flight means I'll be cramped in a seat for many hours without being able to move around much. And that means blood can't flow through the body and back to the heart the way it needs to, which could possibly cause a dangerous blood clot.
Terrific rolleyes

I spoke with a woman yesterday that I used to work with. She had stage III trip neg BC (BRCA gene positive)
she also refused radiation. She is a phd and specializes in statistics. She read every paper, every study about radiation therapy and was convinced it was not right for her either. It was good to have her on my side!! She had a lumpectomy and chemo. She said her chemo treatments were absolute hell, and that it shut her ovaries down for good. She went through 3 years of hot flashes and sleepless nights. But that is all over for her now and she hopes the BC never ever comes back!

If I choose Tamox hubby and the dr would like me to start right away. I guess I will start it and give it a good shot, I'm hoping that I'm one of those people who the side effects are bearable, but if it ruins my QOL I'll stop taking it. I can't deal with depression, period end of story. I can tolerate hot flashes, and minor crap like that!

I'm wondering what the deal is with my liver function, guess I'll find out soon enough.

onward... ;)
Posted 3/14/2011 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
Did you just say hot flashes are minor crap??? Oh, dear. You talk about something that changed my QOL! I was like the woman you work with. Chemo shut down the ovaries and they never came back online. Worst part of chemo. Losing the hair? Piece of cake. Wasn't too thrilled about losing the eyelashes. But the hot flashes were unbearable.
Posted 3/14/2011 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
Oh I'm sorry Bev!
Last summer I started having hot flashes which I agree are pretty bad. I started taking wild yam root and they went away. I had so many other horrible symptoms that my hormones were out of wack and I just rated the flashes lowest on the list compared to everything else I was going through. ;)
Posted 3/14/2011 11:58 PM (GMT 0)
They hit everyone differently. My step-mom went through menopause and just didn't have them at all. Never even considered hrt because there was no down-side for her! For me, it was gosh-awful. And for my poor husband, too!
Posted 3/19/2011 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
Yesterday I had the surgery to remove the remaining skin that would have been above the tumor site, just so we could get a nice wide margin.
I was more sore than I was expecting aterward, but today is much more tolerable. It was probably overkill, but what the heck it only cost me a few hundred extra bucks, and now I can say I got wide clear margins all the way around!

I'm meeting with a naturopathic dr on monday and then seeing an accupuncturist on tuesday. My GYN referred me to the accupuncturist, adn said she was fantastic in as far as treating for any pain or unpleasant side effects that I might get with the meds.

I sure don't want to take Tamoxifen, but that's the way my decision is leaning right now. My onc told me I had to decide before I see him on thursday. So I guess I'm going to give tamo a try, and see if I can handle it.

How are you doing Janice? How about you Bev?
Posted 3/22/2011 10:03 PM (GMT 0)
Glad you went for the clean margins... maybe it doesn't make you feel better, but Janice and I sure feel better about it! LOL

It's funny... I've had people swear they would never even consider going off tamoxifen unless they could go on Arimidex or something like it instead! LOL And it is always such a big decision to go on it. I hope it goes well for you.

Hugs...
BEV
Posted 3/25/2011 2:12 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah but Bev you have to remember that I'm stage one and have very favorable conditions! Even my surgeon, who was an MD Anderson cancer surgeon, has told me to give it a try but if I don't get on with it, not to be too worried.

I met with my med onco yesterday concerning my CT scan. Uterus is enlarged and causes me continual cramping, an dno wonder with a very large fibroid on it, so I'm going to see my GYN April 6, I might talk about a hysterectomy (just uterus, -keeping ovaries and cervix)
Also the Abdomen CT showed some density in my lower lung lobe, so I have to go back on Monday and get a Chest CT! Everything else was in great shape. I'm not worried about the lungs just yet.

He gave me printouts of the Tamoxifen studies and wanted me to read them before he gives me a script. I suppose he's covering his butt! LOL

I went to see a Acupuncturist earlier this week because I was feeling so drained and "not myself" She did wonders for me after spending about an hour gathering my history. I left there feeling balanced and very very calm and relaxed. I was kind of super surprised of the effects later, because at the time I was thinking, oh right this is not doing anything... She recomended some chinese pills specifically formulated for my symptoms, but safe for anyone diagnosed with estrogen receptor positive BC. So I picked them up from the special chinese pharmacy and started taking them 2 days ago. It may take a week or so to start feeling some benefit from them but so far so good.

-Daisy
Posted 3/25/2011 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
Daisy, just be sure to mention to the doctors that you are taking the Chinese pills if you do go on the tamoxifen. Hope things go well with the gyn visit and the chest ct, as well. Let us know, okay?

BEV
Posted 3/30/2011 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
Bev,

Oh yes, of course I told my onc the day I started taking them, I brought in the information sheet on them so they wouldn't look at me funny! I did start feeling some benifits from them about 3 days ago, so I'm very hopeful.

Had my chest CT and there are 3 tiny nodules in different locations in my lungs. My onc said not to worry they are very common and are more than likely benign. They are too small to do anything about anyway, so I'll get another CT scan in 6 months to monitor them. My heart and other stuff looked great :)

GYN next week for counsel about a possible hysterectomy...

and so it goes...

-Daisy
Posted 3/30/2011 11:10 PM (GMT 0)
Happy to hear that you are getting some benefits from the Chinese meds.

Good luck at the gyn.

BEV
Posted 6/10/2011 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
You can rant, cry, rave, pray, whatever brings you relief. Nothing is out of bounds. But keep in mind that although you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, this is most likely not at all a death sentence. Cancer today is very treatable. Hope you are doing well and you haven't had much pain with the test.

Post Edited By Moderator (barkyboys) : 6/14/2011 8:23:39 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/15/2011 2:24 AM (GMT 0)
Previous post edited for ad link.
BEV
Posted 6/15/2011 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
Sandy... the problem is, none of us know which one of us it will be a death sentence for. Sometimes the cancers that seem garden variety, "very treatable," low risk, are the ones that kill our best friends, while others, with ominous diagnoses, live long and healthy lives. There is no cure for breast cancer. There is only hope and prayer that it won't be someone we know and love.

BEV
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