Eva,
I had a lumpectomy on April 11th. It was an Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of the left breast. This cancer too is Estrogen Positive/driven. The cancerous mass was small; but the cells were already invasive and Estrogen fed. The biopsy shows the results of the surgery margins were clear. I see the Oncologist this Tuesday, May 15th. The surgeon said I will need either Tamoxifen or Arimidex.

The Arimidex is often for those who are post menopausal (I had a complete hysterectomy some years ago)and the Tamoxifen usually for premenopausal. The surgeon said our body /tissue still produces Estrogen even after menopause so I will still need either one of them. I am concerned since I already have so many of the problems these two medications side effects cause which both are very similar.

Really hope and pray Corissa will get herself to be the best person we know she can be. The diploma is the first step.

Gerry

Gerry, I’m so sad to read this, I’ve not been active much on the boards, just too tired, but this news made me wish I’d made more effort. Thinking of you dear friend.

Eva, friends and family who have been on tamoxifen (many I know of) have been in for 5 years only. I think perhaps it may differ from one country to another sometimes.

Gerry, I am sorry to read that.

A post-menopausal friend of mine got Arimidex post-surgery.

That was six years ago and her check-ups have been fine. I hope that will be true for you as well.

Pam, the surgeon said the time is usually 5 years; but I have read articles that encourage a longer period of time. I'm also suppose to make an appointment with a Radiation doctor which I have not yet done. I will ask the Oncologist to suggest someone when I see her on Tuesday.

She was the Oncologist I originally saw when I had surgery for rectal cancer in 2012. I had declined chemo treatment at that time but the surgeon that did that surgery said he would accept my declining his recommendation only if I was well informed and and saw the Oncologist he recommended before my next follow-up appointment with him. The Oncologist did agree that chemo would most likely cause my PN to worsen. She wanted me to be sure to have a CEA test every 6 months which would most likely show the next area the cancer would turn up; which I have been doing. So far it has not appeared to progress.

I had not previously mentioned on NT until my 5/11 post to Eva that I had been diagnosed with breast cancer which was actually located on my annual mammogram in 2016. The radiologist said it was small and appeared to be benign. As a result he suggested I get mammograms and Ultrasounds ever 6 months to keep watch. Which I had been doing.

This past February, the radiologist suggested that I should have a biopsy done because the mass appeared to be changing. The biopsy was done at the end of February (my gynecologist said he could not feel anything there); so I was caught by surprise when I received a call the next day after the biopsy that I had Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.

My children urged me to go to Northwestern Medical Center in Chicago rather than see the surgeon in my area the gyny suggested.

Northwestern Medical Center is where I had the surgery. Even the surgeon at the Medical Center could not feel the mass so I had to have a pre-wire inserted thru Ultrasound just prior to surgery to locate the mass which was small and on the back wall of breast. Afterwards was transferred to the hospital across the street where surgery took place.

.....Had I not been getting annual mammograms; by the time this would be something the doctors could feel, it most likely would have been much worse. This is a good reason to keep up with annual mammograms for women usually starting at 40 - 50 yrs. old.

Gerry

Going for another internal ultrasound
This just won’t stop
Having all that is happening
Or should I say
Trying to keep up with my health has become like a job
It taking my real job from me is one thing
Preventive health practices show something is always up
Keeping up has become a full time thing
So many doctors
Just so many
Still need to see the vascular after the tests he ordered
Went to obgyn for routine pap just three weeks ago
My bleed began four days ago
I’m floored
Just floored
Having my breast taken
As it is driven by estrogen
Takeing me off the tamoxifen that I have been on a little over six years because of the vein problem and the vaginal bleeds damned if you do or don’t
Just so tired of it all
Seen the eye doctor
Having to go to a Reyna specialist all just s**ks
Had my mammogram done ultrasound
Seeing a dermatologist today
Come on already

Gerry thinking of you
I know you understand being tired of it all
But like you said
Can’t just let things go
What kind of an example would that be to my children
So doing what I must
Just sick of it all
Me

Well having seen the dermatologist
All looks good
This was great with all that going on
Me

Begun to deflate
It be the last thing I deal with
Just so much going on with this body
My days feel outnumbered
Where has all the time gone
Just let it go
I keep telling myself

Make the appointment with the plastic surgeon
It’s the last of things to do for this body
On the 11th with the cardiologist
Oh how exhausting it is for us who have so much going on with ones body
Don’t know if I’m coming or going
Just had MRI of right shoulder and my bloodwork for my cancer
This still has a hold on me
So many doctors so many bills
On a much better note
My son has gone into a long term facility six months to a year for his recovery
Hope
Still something I hold on to
Keep putting one foot in front of the other
My granddaughter needs her Mimma
Heavenly Father did not bring me this far to throw it away
I will continue to do his work
Amen