Re: Hello...new and decisions

October 4, 2006

The drs say there is no difference in reoccurance but I know a lot of ladies

that would totally disagree with that. I have known several that have had

lumpectomies only for the cancer to reoccur and then they have to have a

mastectomy.

Hugs

nne

Breast Cancer Patients Soul Mates for Life

http://www.geocities.com/chucky5741/breastcancerpatients.html

BreastCancerStories.com

http://www.breastcancerstories.com/content/view/433/161/

Angel Feather Loomer

www.angelfeatherloomer.blogspot.com

Check out my other ornaments at

www.geocities.com/chucky5741/bcornament.html

Lots of info and gifts at:

www.cancerclub.com

Re: Hello...new and decisions

Hi lyn,

Glad to hear the chemo is working to shrink that tumor!

Lumpectomy & radiation vs. mastectomy is a big decision. There are alot

of factors to weigh. There is no difference in recurrence rates

regardless which you choose. For some women, they have more peace of

mind with a mastectomy.

I had a lumpectomy first, but margins weren't clean. Because of where

the tumor was (under my nipple) the doctor couldn't guarantee clean

margins if I did a re-excision. I ended up with a mastectomy and I feel

good about that decision. They found more DCIS. Also, because of where

my tumor was, the radiation would have been very close to my heart.

Let us know how your Nov. 1st appt goes and what your doctor recommends.

I think the statistic is over 80% of women diagnosed with bc have no

family history. I'm one of those 80% women.

take care,

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No virus found in this incoming message.

Checked by AVG Free Edition.

Version: 7.1.407 / Virus Database: 268.12.12/462 - Release Date: 10/3/2006

October 4, 2006

Its a hard choice but remember even if you have a mastectomy, depending on your

individual case, you could still need radiation.

I had a mastectomy and in the beginning the onc was talking radiation but then

changed his mind.

Hugs

nne

Breast Cancer Patients Soul Mates for Life

http://www.geocities.com/chucky5741/breastcancerpatients.html

BreastCancerStories.com

http://www.breastcancerstories.com/content/view/433/161/

Angel Feather Loomer

www.angelfeatherloomer.blogspot.com

Check out my other ornaments at

www.geocities.com/chucky5741/bcornament.html

Lots of info and gifts at:

www.cancerclub.com

Hello...new and decisions

Hello,

My name is lyn and I was diagnosed with IDC on July 13th 2006.

I am having chemo 1st (AC+T) and have just completed my 4th of 6

treatments.

By the MRI the tumor was 4.8CM and growing quickly. I am Estrogren

and Progesterone Positive (+3) but Her2/neu negative. Nodes were

swollen but shrank to normal a few days after the 1st chemo.

The tumor is shrinking dramatically (almost undetectable by feel) so

my oncologist feels I should be good for a lumpectomy.

I am most concerned about radiation. I meet with the surgeon on

November 1st to discuss options.

If it is a lumpectomy and radiation vs a mastectomy and

reconstruction but no radiation I am not sure what I will do.

I am 42 with no risk factors and no family history. This has been

quite a shock.

Thanks

lyn

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No virus found in this incoming message.

Checked by AVG Free Edition.

Version: 7.1.407 / Virus Database: 268.12.12/462 - Release Date: 10/3/2006

October 4, 2006

Hello, lyn,

I had 11 months of chemo first, until my my oncologist said the lump was

small enough for a lumpectomy (from 10cms down to 2.75cms). Then my surgeon

said if the lumpectomy didn't get clean margins he'd have to go in again ...

so I had a mastectomy. And radiation - we are treating this thing

aggressively! And now I'm on chemo tablets and Arimidex.

Compared with chemo I found that radiation was easy. It made my skin a

little red, but they gave me nice aquaeous cream to put on it, and I got

tired, but not as much as with the chemo. I didn't consider reconstruction

was anything I wanted - I'm 63 and don't want any avoidable surgery.

You'll make your own decisions, I know, but I wanted to let you know

radiation can be easy.

Love,

Margery.

============================================

margery@... in North Herts, UK

============================================

> Hello...new and decisions

>

> Hello,

>

> My name is lyn and I was diagnosed with IDC on July 13th 2006.

> I am having chemo 1st (AC+T) and have just completed my 4th of 6

> treatments.

>

> By the MRI the tumor was 4.8CM and growing quickly. I am Estrogren

> and Progesterone Positive (+3) but Her2/neu negative. Nodes were

> swollen but shrank to normal a few days after the 1st chemo.

>

> The tumor is shrinking dramatically (almost undetectable by feel) so

> my oncologist feels I should be good for a lumpectomy.

>

> I am most concerned about radiation. I meet with the surgeon on

> November 1st to discuss options.

>

> If it is a lumpectomy and radiation vs a mastectomy and

> reconstruction but no radiation I am not sure what I will do.

>

> I am 42 with no risk factors and no family history. This has been

> quite a shock.

>

> Thanks

>

> lyn

>

October 4, 2006

I didn't have any family history either, and according to statistics, almost

70 percent of breast cancers don't have any family history.

Radiation can make you tired, but they do provide topical creams to keep the

burning to a minimum. I had bilateral mastectomy due to the fact I had

lobular carcinoma in one breast and atypical ductal hyperplasia in the

other. It would have been a matter of time...There are many options

following a mastectomy regarding reconstruction. Check out s Hopkins

website, which is where I had my surgery and reconstruction.

Katharine

_____

From: breastcancer2 [mailto:breastcancer2 ]

On Behalf Of r18252000

Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2006 12:19 PM

To: breastcancer2

Subject: Hello...new and decisions

Hello,

My name is lyn and I was diagnosed with IDC on July 13th 2006.

I am having chemo 1st (AC+T) and have just completed my 4th of 6

treatments.

By the MRI the tumor was 4.8CM and growing quickly. I am Estrogren

and Progesterone Positive (+3) but Her2/neu negative. Nodes were

swollen but shrank to normal a few days after the 1st chemo.

The tumor is shrinking dramatically (almost undetectable by feel) so

my oncologist feels I should be good for a lumpectomy.

I am most concerned about radiation. I meet with the surgeon on

November 1st to discuss options.

If it is a lumpectomy and radiation vs a mastectomy and

reconstruction but no radiation I am not sure what I will do.

I am 42 with no risk factors and no family history. This has been

quite a shock.

Thanks

lyn

October 4, 2006

I didn't have any family history either, and according to statistics, almost

70 percent of breast cancers don't have any family history.

Radiation can make you tired, but they do provide topical creams to keep the

burning to a minimum. I had bilateral mastectomy due to the fact I had

lobular carcinoma in one breast and atypical ductal hyperplasia in the

other. It would have been a matter of time...There are many options

following a mastectomy regarding reconstruction. Check out s Hopkins

website, which is where I had my surgery and reconstruction.

Katharine

_____

From: breastcancer2 [mailto:breastcancer2 ]

On Behalf Of r18252000

Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2006 12:19 PM

To: breastcancer2

Subject: Hello...new and decisions

Hello,

My name is lyn and I was diagnosed with IDC on July 13th 2006.

I am having chemo 1st (AC+T) and have just completed my 4th of 6

treatments.

By the MRI the tumor was 4.8CM and growing quickly. I am Estrogren

and Progesterone Positive (+3) but Her2/neu negative. Nodes were

swollen but shrank to normal a few days after the 1st chemo.

The tumor is shrinking dramatically (almost undetectable by feel) so

my oncologist feels I should be good for a lumpectomy.

I am most concerned about radiation. I meet with the surgeon on

November 1st to discuss options.

If it is a lumpectomy and radiation vs a mastectomy and

reconstruction but no radiation I am not sure what I will do.

I am 42 with no risk factors and no family history. This has been

quite a shock.

Thanks

lyn

October 4, 2006

Hi lyn. Great news about the tumor shrinking . I had the choice a year ago

between lumpectomy or masectomy . I chose the lumpectomy,then had chemo and

radiation. Radiation was a piece of cake compared to the chemo,I went back to

work during the radiation. However if I had to do it all over again I would have

a double masectomy because now I worry about it coming back and I don't want to

have to go through everything all over again. I chose that way because I didn't

think I could handle losing my breasts along with everything else I was going to

have to deal with - mainly losing my hair. It was hard,but I'm a much stronger

person than I thought and I could have handled it. Good luck to you with

whatever decision you make. Stay strong and laugh as much as you can. Sheri

---------------------------------

Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+

countries) for 2¢/min or less.

October 4, 2006

Hi lyn,

As nne said, there are other factors that determine whether you

need radiation. You may need radiation on your lymph node area if you

had positive nodes. After your surgery your doctors will make a

recommendation.

take care,

October 4, 2006

Thanks. I wish I could know ahead of time and if I could avoid

radiation with a mastectomy I am seriously considering that option.

Then I have to decide if I want to go thru reconstruction or not.

The early decisions were pretty easy. Since the tumor was so large

and growing so fast I started heavy chemo quickly. 12 days after

being diagnosed was my first chemo, and it reversed the growth very

quickly but now facing decisions again.

Ah for a crystal ball that worked.

Thanks

lyn

>

> Hi lyn,

>

> As nne said, there are other factors that determine whether you

> need radiation. You may need radiation on your lymph node area if

you

> had positive nodes. After your surgery your doctors will make a

> recommendation.

>

> take care,

>

October 4, 2006

Thanks. My hair has not been a big deal for me. I had long red

hair and had a party (beer, bbq and a hair trimmer) with my buddies

and we took it down to about 1/4 inch. I am not doing a wig and go

without a hat or scarf everywhere but work.

Losing a breast to a mastectomy is not a huge concern for me. I am

not sure if my fear of radiation is completely rational but it

scares me more than a mastectomy and more than chemo.

Part of the equation for me is what my breast will look like after a

lumpectomy since it is on the top part of my breat near the nipple

and they may need to remove a section since it was spread out. If I

am going to have to have plastic surgery anyway why not just take

the damn thing off anyway.

>

> Hi lyn. Great news about the tumor shrinking . I had the

choice a year ago between lumpectomy or masectomy . I chose the

lumpectomy,then had chemo and radiation. Radiation was a piece of

cake compared to the chemo,I went back to work during the radiation.

However if I had to do it all over again I would have a double

masectomy because now I worry about it coming back and I don't want

to have to go through everything all over again. I chose that way

because I didn't think I could handle losing my breasts along with

everything else I was going to have to deal with - mainly losing my

hair. It was hard,but I'm a much stronger person than I thought and

I could have handled it. Good luck to you with whatever decision you

make. Stay strong and laugh as much as you can. Sheri

>

> ---------------------------------

> Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and

30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less.

>

October 4, 2006

Thanks Margery,

I am trying to work thru and understand what my fears about

radiation are. I know that some comes from a friend of mine that is

a two times breast cancer survivor that was recently diagnosed with

lung cancer that the docs believe is due to the radiation she had in

the early 80's. I know that it is better and more localized now but

I can't shake the fear.

We shall see...

Thanks

>

> Hello, lyn,

>

> I had 11 months of chemo first, until my my oncologist said the

lump was

> small enough for a lumpectomy (from 10cms down to 2.75cms). Then

my surgeon

> said if the lumpectomy didn't get clean margins he'd have to go in

again ...

> so I had a mastectomy. And radiation - we are treating this thing

> aggressively! And now I'm on chemo tablets and Arimidex.

>

> Compared with chemo I found that radiation was easy. It made my

skin a

> little red, but they gave me nice aquaeous cream to put on it, and

I got

> tired, but not as much as with the chemo. I didn't consider

reconstruction

> was anything I wanted - I'm 63 and don't want any avoidable

surgery.

>

> You'll make your own decisions, I know, but I wanted to let you

know

> radiation can be easy.

>

> Love,

> Margery.

> ============================================

> margery@... in North Herts, UK

> ============================================

>

> > Hello...new and decisions

> >

> > Hello,

> >

> > My name is lyn and I was diagnosed with IDC on July 13th

2006.

> > I am having chemo 1st (AC+T) and have just completed my 4th of 6

> > treatments.

> >

> > By the MRI the tumor was 4.8CM and growing quickly. I am

Estrogren

> > and Progesterone Positive (+3) but Her2/neu negative. Nodes

were

> > swollen but shrank to normal a few days after the 1st chemo.

> >

> > The tumor is shrinking dramatically (almost undetectable by

feel) so

> > my oncologist feels I should be good for a lumpectomy.

> >

> > I am most concerned about radiation. I meet with the surgeon on

> > November 1st to discuss options.

> >

> > If it is a lumpectomy and radiation vs a mastectomy and

> > reconstruction but no radiation I am not sure what I will do.

> >

> > I am 42 with no risk factors and no family history. This has

been

> > quite a shock.

> >

> > Thanks

> >

> > lyn

> >

October 5, 2006

I will be facing radiation also( had a lumpectomy in August) and from

what I have read and the things that I have heard from others is that

it can be compared with a bad sunburn but that there are creams that

you are given that wil help some of the burning situation. ne---

In breastcancer2 , " r18252000 " wrote:

>

> Hello,

>

> My name is lyn and I was diagnosed with IDC on July 13th 2006.

> I am having chemo 1st (AC+T) and have just completed my 4th of 6

> treatments.

>

> By the MRI the tumor was 4.8CM and growing quickly. I am Estrogren

> and Progesterone Positive (+3) but Her2/neu negative. Nodes were

> swollen but shrank to normal a few days after the 1st chemo.

>

> The tumor is shrinking dramatically (almost undetectable by feel)

so

> my oncologist feels I should be good for a lumpectomy.

>

> I am most concerned about radiation. I meet with the surgeon on

> November 1st to discuss options.

>

> If it is a lumpectomy and radiation vs a mastectomy and

> reconstruction but no radiation I am not sure what I will do.

>

> I am 42 with no risk factors and no family history. This has been

> quite a shock.

>

> Thanks

>

> lyn

>

October 5, 2006

Hi, I had a lumpectomy followed by radiation last year. Radiation was a

piece of cake. Yes, there was some " burning " of the skin, but nothing worse

than exposing skin to the sun for too long. The toughest part of the

radiation was the preparation. It took about an hour to set up all of the

templates so that only the cancerous area would be irradiated. They were

very careful to protect my heart, lungs, etc. I just hate laying on those

darn, cold tables. :-)

I am in Arizona and had the sweetest and best radiology center possible.

Maya

_____

From: breastcancer2 [mailto:breastcancer2 ]

On Behalf Of adrianne222000

Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 9:30 AM

To: breastcancer2

Subject: Re: Hello...new and decisions

I will be facing radiation also( had a lumpectomy in August) and from

what I have read and the things that I have heard from others is that

it can be compared with a bad sunburn but that there are creams that

you are given that wil help some of the burning situation. ne---

In breastcancer2@ <mailto:breastcancer2%40yahoogroups.com> yahoogroups.com,

" r18252000 " wrote:

>

> Hello,

>

> My name is lyn and I was diagnosed with IDC on July 13th 2006.

> I am having chemo 1st (AC+T) and have just completed my 4th of 6

> treatments.

>

> By the MRI the tumor was 4.8CM and growing quickly. I am Estrogren

> and Progesterone Positive (+3) but Her2/neu negative. Nodes were

> swollen but shrank to normal a few days after the 1st chemo.

>

> The tumor is shrinking dramatically (almost undetectable by feel)

so

> my oncologist feels I should be good for a lumpectomy.

>

> I am most concerned about radiation. I meet with the surgeon on

> November 1st to discuss options.

>

> If it is a lumpectomy and radiation vs a mastectomy and

> reconstruction but no radiation I am not sure what I will do.

>

> I am 42 with no risk factors and no family history. This has been

> quite a shock.

>

> Thanks

>

> lyn

>

October 5, 2006

> >

> > Hello,

> >

> > My name is lyn and I was diagnosed with IDC on July 13th

2006.

> > I am having chemo 1st (AC+T) and have just completed my 4th of 6

> > treatments.

> >

> > By the MRI the tumor was 4.8CM and growing quickly. I am

Estrogren

> > and Progesterone Positive (+3) but Her2/neu negative. Nodes

were

> > swollen but shrank to normal a few days after the 1st chemo.

> >

> > The tumor is shrinking dramatically (almost undetectable by

feel)

> so

> > my oncologist feels I should be good for a lumpectomy.

> >

> > I am most concerned about radiation. I meet with the surgeon on

> > November 1st to discuss options.

> >

> > If it is a lumpectomy and radiation vs a mastectomy and

> > reconstruction but no radiation I am not sure what I will do.

> >

> > I am 42 with no risk factors and no family history. This has

been

> > quite a shock.

> >

> > Thanks

> >

> > lyn

> >

Hi lyn. My name is Diane. I just turned 53. I had a right

radical mastectomy August 1. I am stage III-B. I had one node

positive out of thirteen. I am in my next to the last week of

radiation therapy. It's really not so bad. I have one spot that

really has burned quite a bit, but my physician prescribed come

medication to use three times a day. My only other problem with the

radiation is the tiredness, but my physician assures me that after

the radiation is completed that, too, will resolve.

I understand totally your feelings of confusion. I went to my

surgeon one Friday, had ultrasound and biopsies that same day, saw

him the following Monday and had my surgery that Tuesday....talk

about a whirlwind of activity. Then it was off to the oncologist,

who was determined I was going to undergo chemo, no ifs, ands or

buts about it.......however, I had other thoughts. I talked with my

family, my minister and I prayed more than I believe I have ever

prayed before. My decision was to turn down chemo and opt for the

radiation. I had worked in a hematology-oncology group before and I

just couldn't see me putting not only myself, but my family,

especially my two young grandchildren who are in my life every day,

through the effects of chemotherapy. My family backed my decision

100%. They understand that I opted for quality of life over

quantity....I'm not saying that I don't want to live to be 103, but

we are such as active family, we are constantly on the go and I feel

if I had taken the chemo. we would not have been able to share and

do all we normally do.

There are so many decisions that we as breast cancer patients must

face. Decisions that are very much life altering not only for us

but for our family. I pray that your radiation goes as easily for

you as mine has for me. I am so happy to hear that your tumor and

nodes are shrinking, that is such a good sign. Just be sure to make

the decision that YOU want to make, not what EVERYONE else feels you

should. I do not regret one bit having my mastectomy nor opting for

the radiation over the chemo. I am back to work full time. I'm

still able to go and do with my family (maybe just not as much right

now) and I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel as

far as my radiation goes. What happens next, I don't know, but GOD

does and he is looking out for you just as he is for me.

I wish you the best in whatever decision you make. Good luck and

Good health!

Best Wishes!

Diane

>

October 5, 2006