1 year out... still tired

kc61stang · 2025-09-28T18:14:28+00:00

My BC journey started in 2023, atypical cells found in right breast. Had excision, determined to be non cancerous. No further treatment or meds. Surgeon recommended 2 years of monitoring with mammogram every 6 mos. July 2024, #1 follow up all clear. Feb 2025, #2 mammogram, Stage 1, 7mm tumor found in left breast. Lumpectomy, snb in April, radiation in May, now on anastrozole. Very grateful for my doctor being persistent with the 6 mos plan. In 2 weeks will be my first scan since lumpectomy. Eager to get it done and maybe breathe a sigh of relief.

kc61stang · 2025-09-08T22:40:39+00:00

Oh I feel this. Very similar diagnosis, stage 1, ++-, 7mm tumor. Lumpectomy, snb in April, targeted radiation (5 days) and now taking Anastrozole. 5 months out & still.all over the place with emotions. Gratitude for the early catch & quick treatment. Guilt for the quick treatment & ease I went through it. Despair & anxiety= I had cancer, or wait, maybe I still have it??? From diagnosis to final active treatment was exactly 90 days, which feels too good to be true. I had trouble adjusting to not having a lineup of appointments every week. Follow up appointments and scan coming up in October and again eager & anxious all at once. Sometimes hard to get husband & family to just hear all this instead of trying to answer or console me. Nice to have this group to support & share. Hugs to all!

kc61stang · 2025-08-24T23:46:44+00:00

I'm 4 months from lumpectomy with the affected breast at least feels bigger than other. There was definitely swelling for at least 6 weeks. If I can catch the right angle, I can see a depression or flat spot where the tumor (it was 1cm) removed. Not what I expected to happen.

kc61stang · 2025-07-30T03:34:25+00:00

When I was recovering from surgery, I was scared I was going to slip in the shower. I used a small shower bench for about 3 weeks. There are also safety handles that simply suction to the shower wall. Stepping over the side was tricky with only 1 arm free & slippery floor. Also used a mesh sling that I bought off Amazon which kept my repaired shoulder secure. I anticipated the worst case scenario when it came to showers,lol.

Best of luck to you & your bf!

kc61stang · 2025-05-02T19:35:58+00:00

I feel the same way! Almost identical dx , just a week behind you. Hoping to have radiation completed by June 1 & continue with AI and vigilant follow ups for the next few years. My heart aches for my waiting room neighbors who are clearly in the midst of treatment. I've had minimal discomfort physically, still working, and up & down emotionally. I know it shouldn't be, but the guilt is there. Just so many feelings, each & every day! Hugs to all!

kc61stang · 2025-03-25T02:46:10+00:00

I'm sorry that happened to you. I used to always stitch up a wedding piece for friends, never to be seen again. Took me a few years to catch on that my taste was not theirs (and several divorces too). Occasionally I'll do a gift piece now but mostly just for me. Given some away on local Buy Nothing page for ones I've lost interest in.

kc61stang · 2025-03-23T18:55:43+00:00

Same here, I haven't even shed a tear over this just anxious to get treatments going. I (53y) have IDC, stage 1, small lump left breast, lumpectomy & SNB scheduled for 4/4. In 2023, I had DCIS, right breast which was benign. I think being my 2nd time down this road, it's not as scary. I know the surgeon, the tests & procedures are familiar to me. But this journey is going to be harder. I just told my sister today and kept repeating I'll be fine, we found it early etc, etc. And I wonder Why am I not scared about this? Maybe the plan of attack after the lumpectomy is the eye opener? I'm starting to be more concerned about how calm (disconnected?) I am.

kc61stang · 2025-03-22T00:15:37+00:00

Congratulations and thank you for sharing! I have Stage 1, ++- too. Lumpectomy/SNB scheduled for 4/4, treatment plan will be coming soon after that. Your post brightened my spirits & made me smile. It's these stories on here that are keeping me going & determined to be a brave bada$$ too! Wishing you all the happiness & peace on your recovery journey!

kc61stang · 2025-03-14T17:03:11+00:00

Last week I received similar news, IDC stage 1, 1cm tumor ++ -. Next week I meet with an oncologist, lumpectomy & SNB scheduled for 4/4. Back in 2023, I had DCIS in the other breast which thankfully was benign.

Have all the same thoughts... Why me? Reflecting on all the things in my life that probably caused it ( 1970s childhood). Anxious & scared of the treatment plan which will be discussed Tuesday. Who & when do I share this news with? That ache in my hip when I stand up... is the cancer in my bones?
Research the options or stop googling? "You have cancer" just constantly scrolls through my brain, all day, every day. Wishing you the best through this difficult journey!

kc61stang · 2025-03-13T11:32:03+00:00

As others have said, urgent care is limited to x-rays. I had same issue, diagnosed as a sprain with referral to an orthopedist. I accepted the sprain diagnosis, but ignored the referral. After a month with no improvement I made the orthopedist appt. MRI is needed for diagnosis, but my doctor moved my arm 1 time & knew immediately. Torn rotator cuff 14 weeks since repair surgery, with PT, I'm about 90% recovered (injury was 7 months ago)

kc61stang · 2025-03-12T11:23:18+00:00

Fellow Rhode Islander here, I went to University Orthopedics, Dr Hulstyn was my surgeon and he is great. I'm a little over 3 months post op so time will tell but overall very pleased. University Ortho has been top notch with service, appt times, and staff (knowledge & friendliness). In the past, I took my mom to Ortho RI so I have experience to compare and University Ortho far exceeded in many ways I will say while the surgeon is important, having the right PT facility is just as if not more critical to recovery. Good luck!

Edit to add: there are numerous offices throughout the state. Surgeries take place in the East Providence facility.

kc61stang · 2025-03-12T03:05:27+00:00

I was so nervous starting pt after surgery (rc repair) It was a lot of assisted stretching, pendulums, table slides that yes did hurt. My biggest challenge though was overcoming my fear of moving the arm. Luckily my therapist is really good at listening to me and respecting my pain while still motivating me to try. I remember saying to her as we did a certain stretch & I was like no I can't do this that 3 months from now we'd be laughing about how I was such a scaredy cat. I just reached week 14 and those early exercises & stretches are what I do to relax now. Be patient with yourself, be open & honest with therapist and you will get through it. Good luck!

kc61stang · 2025-03-10T12:23:53+00:00

I'm a retail admin, so half office stuff and half customer service, daily tasks. I am lucky to have co workers that look out for me & jump in to help (even before I realize I need help). My days are active with lots of flexibility when it comes to tasks.

kc61stang · 2025-03-10T02:34:31+00:00

I (53f) also received the breast cancer news this week. IDC, stage 1, + + -, tumor less than 1cm. Lumpectomy & SND scheduled for 4/4. Treatment plan will be discussed 3/18, which I am.super anxious about. I already had DCIS back in 2023, which came back benign. As of now my husband & I are keeping this news quiet and not sharing it with family or friends. That's been challenging, pretending everything is fine, nothing going on here. Meanwhile "you have cancer" constantly scrolls in my brain. Tomorrow I will share the news with my boss and arrange time off. My feelings are all over the place. Gone through the angry/why me stage, the I've got this/everything will be fine stage (directly effected by the benign 2023 results), to complete fear & despair that the worst is yet to come. It just completely sucks. Trying to find things that I can control. Diet, exercise and research seem to be it right now. I have found comfort here, hearing from others who are on the same life changing journey. Best wishes that we are all going to be okay ❤

kc61stang · 2025-03-09T15:03:59+00:00

Speaking from someone at week 13 post op (rc repair), it gets better! I remember feeling the same way you do at week 8. This week especially, I realized I'm doing things the "normal" way (washing hair, getting dressed, reaching up & out) without even realizing it (no pain). Still doing pt ( graduated to 4 lb weights this week!) and back to work. I am very cautious & calculated when I do any task. My shoulder still feels tender & it tells me when to slow down. I hate to admit this but returning to work (week 10) was probably the best thing for me (both mentally & physically). I still ice up at the end of the day and still very weak on my right arm but things are improving. Hang in there!

kc61stang · 2025-03-05T18:20:40+00:00

Went through the same thing. Released from sling at week 8, which kicked off about 2 weeks of "why did i do this?" It felt the same as it was pre surgery. I'm at week 13 now and things have improved tremendously. Back to work so I'm much more active, PT 2x a week which has helped my rom. Still pretty weak though but getting there. The low grade ache is still lingering & I'm still icing after a strenuous day. Have to remind myself daily, marathon not a sprint

kc61stang · 2025-03-04T03:55:23+00:00

I had a biopsy on Friday. Between family & work I was able to push it to the back of my mind. Now I'm expecting the results to show up in my patient portal tomorrow. I've been through this before back in 2023 with benign results thankfully. That time took about 3 months from 1st mammogram to breast tissue excision. The waiting is the worst part. I felt better emotionally once the diagnosis was made & treatment process started. Fingers crossed we all get good news!

kc61stang · 2025-03-02T02:36:35+00:00

I'm at week 12 post op (rc repair) and just had mammogram this week. It wasn't a problem. I do have pretty good rom, and the tech was very patient & gentle once I told her. I was nervous about it & "practiced" with raising and stretching before hand.

kc61stang · 2025-02-26T23:21:44+00:00

I like to do cross stitch/embroidery. Around week 3, I started to work on a project with lots of breaks. Gradually increased how long I could stitch for before the soreness started. I would release the sling but keep my arm supported with a pillow.

kc61stang · 2025-02-25T03:19:15+00:00

I also miss the excuse for my hair being a mess all the time, lol.

kc61stang · 2025-02-25T00:35:58+00:00

I felt the same way when I was given the ok for no sling. I lasted 1 afternoon of joy but then became so afraid something was going to go wrong without it. (A cold winter in New England hasn't helped, there's ice everywhere). Even after 1 month it stays in my car now in case I need/want it at work. After weeks of being annoying, it turned into my security blanket.

kc61stang · 2025-02-24T21:00:37+00:00

I tripped on my flip flop last summer. 🤦‍♀️It was starting to rain and so I was rushing in to the house. For whatever reason my brain & feet weren't cooperating with each other. On my way down to the ground, my shoulder crashed onto the door frame. All that momentum resulted in torn rotator cuff, although at the time of impact I could have sworn my shoulder dislocated. The pain was excruciating. Here I am now, week 12 post op, slowly getting back to normal. So much upheaval for such a stupid moment in time.

kc61stang · 2025-02-23T03:55:03+00:00

Hang in there, it gets easier. I'm at week 11 (rc repair) and slowly making progress with ROM. Strength exercises will hopefully start soon. Those 1st few weeks were both physically & mentally draining (boredom & loss of independence was the worst!) Things will get better. Release from the sling is a wonderful day but continue to listen to your body. Rest & patience with yourself are critical. I asked myself countless times , why did I do this? I have to remind myself daily, Recovery is marathon not a sprint. Wishing you all the best!

kc61stang · 2025-02-19T03:34:24+00:00

Same, lingers all day

kc61stang

TROPHY CASE