Re: 2006 in Review

January 2, 2007

Carol,

I had CMF in 1990 but didn't have any side effects. I didn't have radiation

though.

Hugs

nne

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2006 in Review

Hi all, some of you may remember me from last year! I am sorry I

haven't posted in quite a while but I try and read your posts as much

as possible.

First, I want to wish everyone here a very happy new year. I,

personally was thrilled to see 2006 come to an end, as it was the

most difficult one of my 49 years. I started chemotherapy treatment

on Jan 5, 2006. I had 6 rounds of cytoxin, 5FU and epirubicin

administered every 3 weeks. Then beginning in May, I had 35 rounds of

radiation. My cancer was 1.1 cm, invasive ductal carcinoma. I had a

lumpectomy done the previous Oct. ('05) and additional surgery to

remove sentinal nodes in November '05. Luckily, there was no sign of

the cancer spreading.

I have a strong history of breast cancer in the maternal side of

my family: mother died of breast cacner at age 33, her sister had

breast cancer, but later in life, and my grandmother also had it. So,

I decided to have the gene testing done for BRCA1 and BRCA2. I was

found to carry the gene mutation for BRCA1. I got the results of this

test about midway through my chemotherapy treatments. Why I say this

is, had I know that I was a carrier, I may have thought more about a

mastectomy. Actually, after the biopsy was done, the surgeon told me

that I would need to see an oncologist to set up chemo. He never even

gave me an option for a mastectomy. Nor did the oncologist. Or the

radiology oncologist.

I came through the chemo pretty well. I didn't really notice any

lasting side effects at the end of it, but half way through the

radiation, I started noticing strange things happening. I began to

have numbness in both hands, mostly affecting my thumbs and next 2

fingers (was told I had carpal tunnel). I also noticed that I was

beginning to ache all over in my joints, especially my arms, fingers,

knees, and hips. I was told I may have fibromyalgia. However none of

the doctors who treated me would admit that the chemo and/or the

radiation would cause this! I guess it was just a coincidence that I

began to have these symptoms at the same time as the treatments! I

have to say, though, that finally the numbness is almost gone. I only

get it occasionally. I still don't understand why the inner side of

both elbow joints hurt when I apply the least bit of pressure or even

just rest my arm on the arm of a chair. I am praying that maybe it

has to " run it's course " as well.

I guess the reason I wrote this post is that I wanted to hear back

from all you chemo/radiation veterans out there and whether you have

any of these things I mentioned. Also, do you think I made a mistake

in not having a mastectomy given my history and BRCA status? I know I

could still have a prophylactic mastectomy in the future, and have

decided if ANY other tumors are found that is what I am going to do.

I am going to have a prophylactic hysterectomy on Jan. 22nd because

of the gene mutation I carry, as the oncologist and 2 other doctors

told me that I am at higher risk of ovarian cancer as well.

Thanks for reading, I know this was rather lengthy. Good luck in

your treatments to all newcomers here and God bless all in this New

Year!

Carol from E. Ohio

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January 2, 2007

>

Hi Carol. I agree with the decision for the total hysterectomy because of the

BRCA1 gene. I

also agree with you that you should have been offered the option of the

prophylactic

double mastectomy for the same reason. You were lucky to catch your recent BC

very

early. But why live your life waiting to dodge another bullet? Your strong

family history and

genetic status give you a strong reason for concern. Since your nodes were

negative, and

if you had been offered the mastectomy (instead of the lumpectomy) you might

have

avoided the radiation, but probably not the chemo. I believe the musculoskeletal

pain you

describe is probably associated with the chemo and hormonal changes after

treatment.

Hope it gets better soon. Best wishes, Anne V.

> Hi all, some of you may remember me from last year! I am sorry I

> haven't posted in quite a while but I try and read your posts as much

> as possible.

> First, I want to wish everyone here a very happy new year. I,

> personally was thrilled to see 2006 come to an end, as it was the

> most difficult one of my 49 years. I started chemotherapy treatment

> on Jan 5, 2006. I had 6 rounds of cytoxin, 5FU and epirubicin

> administered every 3 weeks. Then beginning in May, I had 35 rounds of

> radiation. My cancer was 1.1 cm, invasive ductal carcinoma. I had a

> lumpectomy done the previous Oct. ('05) and additional surgery to

> remove sentinal nodes in November '05. Luckily, there was no sign of

> the cancer spreading.

> I have a strong history of breast cancer in the maternal side of

> my family: mother died of breast cacner at age 33, her sister had

> breast cancer, but later in life, and my grandmother also had it. So,

> I decided to have the gene testing done for BRCA1 and BRCA2. I was

> found to carry the gene mutation for BRCA1. I got the results of this

> test about midway through my chemotherapy treatments. Why I say this

> is, had I know that I was a carrier, I may have thought more about a

> mastectomy. Actually, after the biopsy was done, the surgeon told me

> that I would need to see an oncologist to set up chemo. He never even

> gave me an option for a mastectomy. Nor did the oncologist. Or the

> radiology oncologist.

> I came through the chemo pretty well. I didn't really notice any

> lasting side effects at the end of it, but half way through the

> radiation, I started noticing strange things happening. I began to

> have numbness in both hands, mostly affecting my thumbs and next 2

> fingers (was told I had carpal tunnel). I also noticed that I was

> beginning to ache all over in my joints, especially my arms, fingers,

> knees, and hips. I was told I may have fibromyalgia. However none of

> the doctors who treated me would admit that the chemo and/or the

> radiation would cause this! I guess it was just a coincidence that I

> began to have these symptoms at the same time as the treatments! I

> have to say, though, that finally the numbness is almost gone. I only

> get it occasionally. I still don't understand why the inner side of

> both elbow joints hurt when I apply the least bit of pressure or even

> just rest my arm on the arm of a chair. I am praying that maybe it

> has to " run it's course " as well.

> I guess the reason I wrote this post is that I wanted to hear back

> from all you chemo/radiation veterans out there and whether you have

> any of these things I mentioned. Also, do you think I made a mistake

> in not having a mastectomy given my history and BRCA status? I know I

> could still have a prophylactic mastectomy in the future, and have

> decided if ANY other tumors are found that is what I am going to do.

> I am going to have a prophylactic hysterectomy on Jan. 22nd because

> of the gene mutation I carry, as the oncologist and 2 other doctors

> told me that I am at higher risk of ovarian cancer as well.

> Thanks for reading, I know this was rather lengthy. Good luck in

> your treatments to all newcomers here and God bless all in this New

> Year!

> Carol from E. Ohio

>

January 3, 2007

Hi Carol,

I was wondering why you had radiation in addition to chemo. I'm going for

double mastectomy next week, but I was under impression that I'll have chemo and

no radiation. I'm in stage II, it's ductal carcinoma. I was told that only if I

choose lampectomy radiation will be required. ??

& nne Svihlik moochie1@...> wrote: