@Beth Gallagher I am sitting here with tears rolling down my face reading this. Really at a loss for words hun. I have been through most of those tests and feel for you. The hardest ones for me were the scans requiring the sodium flushes. I was pending vertigo but somehow found the strength to fight it off. My life depended on it. Yes, there is so much to learn about breast cancer, and also a good point that even mammograms don't reveal everything. The surgery and recovery for me were actually the easiest part of the entire ordeal. What gave me the most strength was visiting the kid's cancer center. In time you will probably do the genetic testing. If they don't suggest it, ask them about it. It is important to find out what cancers are genetic. This info may help your children get an early diagnosis and treatment. Breast cancer in mothers shows up as prostate cancer in their sons. Genetic testing shows I am at high risk for vaginal cancer but a specialist that deals with removing such based solely on genetics before cancer is actually detected, is backlogged for a year due to the Portland riots that destroyed the area his office was located and after relocating then this invasion from Wuhan shuts him down. This last fall test shows no cancer yet, but I am still worried about it and would like to have things removed and avoid chemo. Thanks for sharing how you felt after getting the diagnosis. When I went to the cancer group, I was amazed at how different everyone reacted after they got their diagnosis. I was numb for a few minutes after the dx but then became strong the entire time and never once felt down or shed a tear until a month after the surgery. It was when I was telling my story at the group and how before surgery I saw the surgeon's smiling confident face and knew everything was going to be alright, that I broke down. Cried like a baby with an overripe diaper. Good point about breast cancer in men also. Another good point is being a small breast female doesn't decrease your chances of getting breast cancer. Breast size has nothing to do with it. Did your mother, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, or female cousins have breast cancer? Also what about prostate cancer in your family? I am very interested in if genetics was involved. I do hope you get the genetic testing. It is easy, all you do is spit in a vial and may save your children and grandchildren's lives if genetics is involved. Sending you hugs and positive energy.
I did the genetics test since I have 3 daughters. I didn't spit in a vial... instead they took blood samples and I am thankful to say that the tests came back negative for passing breast and many other cancers to my children. That's when I cried tears of joy. On March 19th it will 2 years since my diagnosis and though the first few months were a rollcoaster ride...once I did the research, weighed the pros and cons of the treatments out there and prayed for peace, wisdom and discernment about the decision I should make... well it has been the right decision for me and I have total peace and no second guessing about that decision. I pray the same for you Beth and anymore else going through something like this. I still have had no real pain. In fact the only major thing from the start has been not having as much energy as before. God is with me every step of this journey and I know He will be there with you too.
Hi Faye, and thanks. I guess you could say there is not an emotion I haven't had in the past 2 months. It has totally upended my life. I'm not even sure whether there has been genetic testing; Lord knows they have done every other type of test. There is no breast or prostate cancer in my family that I know of. My father had melanoma and colon cancer, and my brother died of lung cancer but he was a lifetime smoker. Both of them were diagnosed late in life (70's) so there has never been mention of a genetic link.
I'm glad you are feeling OK, Babs. I appreciate the prayers and good wishes very much, and I certainly wish the best outcome for you. Since I have inflammatory BC, there was no option to have surgery without chemo first, since IBC is so aggressive it has to be knocked back ASAP.
It was OK, TC. I've been having a fast pulse that is bothersome; I need to speak with my oncologist about that. I'm feeling pretty good, considering. Due to the winter storm that hit Houston, my treatment for today was canceled but has been rescheduled for Friday. Thanks for checking on me.
As long as the pulse rate is steady and not skipping around, you should be OK, but do check it out, Beth. Did you ever read Eric Larsen's book about the hurricane that destroyed Galveston in 1900? I thought of it when I saw the pictures of the snow on the beach there yesterday. We had an ice storm, but it's gone as temps are up in low 40s. Keep the faith.
Yes, I've read Isaac's Storm, TC. This winter storm has certainly been a mess. I wish the dang water would come back on, even though we are under a "boil water" order. So annoying.
I hear you Beth. I heard from my Pulmonologist a couple of minutes ago and he is ordering another CT scan with tracers, as he spoke with an Oncologist who looked at my last scan. She feels that a shot of radiation therapy will remove the node now and that we should not wait another 6 months. But, she also wants to be certain that she is dealing with a cancer and not a benign node.
My best wishes to you, Terry. How worrisome to have to deal with this, but hopefully the node will be benign. Radiation doesn't sound like much fun, but it beats cancer! Let me know what happens, and try not to worry until you have to.
I just got a text that my rescheduled chemo treatment (from yesterday to Friday) has also been canceled. The lack of power and water at the Medical Center is really causing a problem with outpatient appointments. Not sure right now when I will be rescheduled but I suppose early next week. I'm feeling pretty good considering the stupid ice storm and no power. I had really severe muscle cramps last night so I'm trying to drink more water today. I HATE muscle cramps. Any tips on dealing with them will be appreciated.
I get muscle cramps frequently and I just walk them off or do some mild exercise, Beth. That really helps me overcome them. So, when does your treatment begin again?
I have cramping everywhere, Terry. If I yawn, I get a cramp in my jaw muscle, or if I stretch, I get a cramp in my torso. Plus for the past couple of days my degenerated disks in my neck have decided to flare up, so I am a walking glob of misery. I wish the damn water would come on so I could soak in the tub. I don't know when my next chemo is; I'm sure MDA is scrambling to get thousands of people rescheduled. They have been good at keeping me updated.
Beth, my son swears by mustard for cramps. He says if he gets one, he takes a teaspoon of mustard and it goes away. My hubby took fluid pills. He started getting terrible leg cramps at night. Doc checked his potassium and it was low. He prescribed potassium pills and they stopped the cramps. You might want your doc to check your potassium.
The printed (in the pharmacology books) side effects of many drugs including chemo include dehydration, cramps, and death. Dehydration and cramps can be alleviated naturally.