2006 in Review

[Guest guest]

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