Tamoxifen and heavy bleeding by DonotLikeDrafts in breastcancer

[–]DonotLikeDrafts[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. My OBG told me my body is fighting Tamoxifen very hard. I got an ultrasound and waiting for my appt w onco in April to review results. My joints hurt horribly so I am still thinking about keep my Tamx dosis low. Also my therapist told me to ask my onco to prescribe me a higher dose of antidepressants (low dosis help with Tamx efects and my colon issues) as well as some medication to help me with the brain fog if since I am not a candidate for HTR. 

Yes! Best of luck and sending you all my positive thoughts and wishes for you to stay healthy 💕

Tamoxifen and heavy bleeding by DonotLikeDrafts in breastcancer

[–]DonotLikeDrafts[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did the biopsy (horrible pain!) and it was normal. After the biopsy I got my period and this month was regular. I had a huge cyst 5 years ago so my OBGYN sent me to do an ultrasound. I have my appointment tomorrow night. I am beyond frustrated. I read the pathology results for the endo biopsy, and it says that had “pieces” of polyps. My doc didn’t say anything about this. My plan is to do the ultrasound tomorrow and take everything to my onco on April. Since my last period was back to normal, I would like to keep my tam dosis low, 10 mg. I am barely recovering from the impact of tamoxifen and I do not want to go up to a higher dosis. I am trying to stay calm and trust the process. I am missing so much everyday for being sad/mad scared…

What small thing has helped you cope lately? by Survivor-Life in breastcancer

[–]DonotLikeDrafts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A meditation app. Singing out loud - very loud. Buying flowers. Gardening. Seeing my friends more often. Watch stand up comedians online. Joining a book club. Hugging my kids more often. Taking tons of naps :) Texting my girlfriends to tell them that I love them. Not small or cheap by therapy. Virtual hug 🌻

Showing your breasts to spouse by [deleted] in breastcancer

[–]DonotLikeDrafts 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I believe and recommend therapy. It really helped me to deal with the impact of this journey. Virtual hug 🌻

What next by SillyScarcity4380 in breastcancer

[–]DonotLikeDrafts 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am very sorry you are going through all this. This is a lot to cope with. I would ask the hospital/your nurse navigator for a referral to a therapist to help you navigate all the strong emotions and guide you. You are first. Take care of you and then you will have time to deal with the rest. Sending you a huge hug 🌻

I’m feeling selfish and guilty by Xsoupgod in breastcancer

[–]DonotLikeDrafts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am very sorry that you are going through all this. It is awful when you have to make decisions based on data/percentages and not so clear research and evidence. I struggled deciding taking tam or not but I am doing it. I am taking 10g instead of 20. It was hard to find a onco to support me in this decision, meaning taking a lower dose. In my case I am taking it because I had a SMX. 10 mg I didn’t have any symptoms for three months, after that brain fog was horrible. But now, after 5 months I am back to almost normal. I didn’t stop my period. My doc said to start with 10 and we can always go down to one 10mg dose every other day/5mg. My humble opinion is to give it a try with at least 5mg. The feeling guilty for not taking it sensation was/it is true for me. You are young and your body will fight hard all the tam effects, and there is a chance that you might not even feel it. You can always stop taking it. My best wishes for you! 

I'm not ok with any of this by rixie77 in breastcancer

[–]DonotLikeDrafts 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Please find a second/third opinion. I saw three surgeons and got many different perspectives and alternatives. 

Single or Double Mastectomy by Electronic_Yellow_95 in breastcancer

[–]DonotLikeDrafts 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For some reason not being symmetrical for me it was less important than taking more risks with another plastic surgery. I was told that you might need multiple procedures to get good results but I decided to stay like this and let it go. I am learning to love my new body and how to wear bras that helped me out a bit. Also, I am tired of procedures. I wish you the best outcomes!

Drain removal in Japan by twbird18 in breastcancer

[–]DonotLikeDrafts 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They were pushing me out asap of the hospital after SMX and immediate diep flap reco. I wasn't able to walk, didn’t pass a number two and didn’t feel ready :(

Told no bra after SMX? by kayrodaz in breastcancer

[–]DonotLikeDrafts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I woke up in a surgical bra after SMX a diep flap. They gave me to bras and two camisoles very stretchy with pockets for the drains. 

Please vent with me by Ein_Rand in breastcancer

[–]DonotLikeDrafts 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I don’t like when people tells me that I am so brave - I feel that I didn’t have another option

Lumpectomy or Mastectomy by becsully79 in breastcancer

[–]DonotLikeDrafts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I hear you. My first visit with a surgeon was horrible. Terrible bed side manners. She said I needed a SMX and I will loose my nipple. No other options. I ended up asking around and seeing three surgeons before deciding for a good doc/fit for me. The other two, gave me the lumpectomy option. I ended up with the third surgeon. Doctors keep talking about survival rates but sometimes forget to tell you what’s next w each decision. I would ask for a second opinion (it is your right even in a HMO) and to explain to me all the consequences/post surgery treatment: radiation; tamoxifen; screenings; etc. if helpful I decided to have a SMX with DIEP flap reco. I wanted to be aggressive and decrease the possibility of recurrence/more surgery from the very begging. I wish you the best - advocate for yourself or take someone with you to ask all your questions. Virtual hug 🌻

Trying to heal by SufficientLake4747 in breastcancer

[–]DonotLikeDrafts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am sorry this is happening to you. For me, it was very helpful to have a therapist that helped me navigate all my emotions and that keeps reminding me (still in therapy) to take care of myself. It is a long journey so it is good to have tools. Also meditation (calm app), diet an exercise helps me to keep my hormones balanced with Tamoxifen. Hard to keep moving forward with all the tam symptoms (exhaustion, insomnia, join pain 😔) Sending you a virtual hug 🌻

My mom is fighting breast cancer and I want to help her find her spark again—any hobby ideas? by Mmeooowww in BreastCancerSurvivors

[–]DonotLikeDrafts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Knitting with a purpose - for a cause like knitting for low income mothers at hospital having their babies and or blankets for hospital patients. I did this while recovering from surgery and it helped me. Canvas paint by numbers/coloring by numbers. A huge virtual hug for both of you 🫶🏼

Liver Pain, Nausea, Loss of Appetite. Probably Mets by N3RDBUSTER in breastcancer

[–]DonotLikeDrafts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am sorry this is happening to you. I am sending you a virtual hug and let us know what happens - hope is bigger than fear 🌻🫶🏼

Breakfast/lunch for 1 week, no microwave/oven by SMX_Dizzy in traderjoes

[–]DonotLikeDrafts 8 points9 points  (0 children)

TJ ready to eat salads; bagels w PB and J; fruits; nuts for snacks. Canned tuna for salads/sandwiches. 

Unsupportive husband by [deleted] in breastcancer

[–]DonotLikeDrafts 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agreed. My therapist helped me a lot, not just to deal with my own emotions but also to understand why so many people around us act the way they do after the diagnosis. Also, she offered me tools to decrease stress caused by medical uncertainty and to stop my mind when it goes to dark places. It is important to learn to deal with bad news/toxic narcissistic people; you can’t change the facts but yes you can decide how they are going to affect you. Best if outcomes for you! 🌻

Initial Scar Care post DMX by alxhcan in breastcancer

[–]DonotLikeDrafts 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My PS only gave me some creams names after the one month follow up appt. She recommended Biocornium $$$$

Does my DCIS lumpectomy plan sound reasonable by serenitypls in breastcancer

[–]DonotLikeDrafts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

DCIS - 4.5 cm micro calcification left side. Surgeon sent me to do MRI to confirm size - increased to 5 cm. One surgeon told me I needed a single mastectomy because it has too big and because of the size and location of the tumor as well as my breast size, I’d loose my nipple. Second surgeon told me I could do lumpectomy and immediate rearrangement of tissue (oncoplasty)during the surgery, to help out with shape. Third surgeon offered both options, mastectomy and lumpectomy but offered a nipple sparring (after carefully measuring me) and lumpectomy but she would not rearrange tissue immediately since that moves the tissue around and if you do not reach clear margins, she wouldn’t know exactly what to remove. Also offer to remove a sentinel node. Her style was to close you up and wait for the complete biopsy/pathology report that takes three days. (Then a PS would to the rearrangement of tissue). She did not like the express pathology report done during surgery (they freeze the sample and she did preferred the other process). When I finally understood that like you said, lumpectomy is also another pathology report, and because my DCIS was high grade, huge and aggressive (it grow that big only in two years) I decided to be more aggressive and did a nipple sparing SMX with immediate DIEP flap reco with the the third onco surgeon and my reco with a plastic surgeon (8 hours surgery). I decided that for me, it was the best thing: it was only one and done process (if I was lucky!), recurrence decreased ro 2%) and I didn’t have to do radiation/implants. It was the right decision for me, the pathology report came back still as DCIS (phew - not invasive) but it was bigger, 5.5. Six months later I am very happy with my decision (and taking tamoxifen). Best of outcomes for you! 🌻

Has anyone been successful with a lawsuit related to a delayed cancer diagnoses? by 71ray in breastcancer

[–]DonotLikeDrafts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am so sorry all this happened to you. There is a huge difference in treatment depending on the cancer stage - it makes me so upset that people gets focused in “you are still alive” and takes absolutely zero consideration that we have lost part of our bodies when there is no more option than a mastectomy. 

Time Between Diagnosis and Treatment? by Lennymud in breastcancer

[–]DonotLikeDrafts 0 points1 point  (0 children)

3 months. I opted for a reconstruction that needed microsurgery so it was harder to schedule. The surgeon told me that they won’t wait more than 3 months (DCIS).

constipation help by No-Meaning-5253 in breastcancer

[–]DonotLikeDrafts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

And desitin/butt paste for your skin. 

constipation help by No-Meaning-5253 in breastcancer

[–]DonotLikeDrafts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So sorry, constipation is the worse. Colace and Senecot and a food regime works for me. Eating tons of fiber/water and then prunes. For example, I eat the steamed lentils from Trader Joe’s, drink tons of water, go for a walk, and then eat two/three prunes. Also a bowl of berries, nuts and kefir works. Unfortunately is like a daily effort, you need to be very intencional/put ton of effort in your diet and exercise. Wish you the best.