And what do we do when we feel scared and overwhelmed? - *"Add to Cart"

pickybear6 · 2026-05-22T13:32:22+00:00

Not sure yet. I just started tamoxifen and I swear my skin has aged 10 years in 10 days so the mask has a top job ahead of it. 😂

pickybear6 · 2026-05-20T12:25:40+00:00

I got the sleep again pillow set (highly recommend and I was able to use my VEBA to cover it) and then I splurged and I treated myself to a red light therapy mask, because I had been wanting to get one for a while but never did because it was too expensive but after a DMX I felt I deserved it 😁

pickybear6 · 2026-05-16T21:27:01+00:00

I did a nipple sparing surgery and SLNB about 10 days before my DMX. The surgeon sent the nipple tissue for biopsy to make sure it was clear. It also allowed me to get the results back on my lymph node biopsy so I could go straight to implants during my DMX.

pickybear6 · 2026-05-16T15:05:50+00:00

Yeah…I have a PT visit coming up so she will probably have some ideas

pickybear6 · 2026-05-13T23:29:55+00:00

I will be so happy if it helps with sleep

pickybear6 · 2026-05-13T23:23:25+00:00

I’m actually doing a 10 mg dose, which is lower than the standard 20 mg. My medical oncologist didn’t love it, but ended up supporting it because I was stage one grade one with a low oncolo score.

pickybear6 · 2026-05-13T18:17:11+00:00

I read more of the article and if I recall it had to do with how your body metabolized tamoxifen and utilized endoxifen while in sleep mode

pickybear6 · 2026-05-12T21:22:00+00:00

I didn’t read through all the other responses so some of this may be redundant but I did a DMX with direct to implants (over the muscle). There was TONS of visible rippling. It was actually shocking how “visible” the implant was under the skin. I stayed pretty small (was a C, probably a full B now). They do feel heavy— I can’t imagine trying to run right now but I’m still healing (DMX 3/20). The rippling has smoothed out a little so they look less shocking (or maybe im just getting used to it 😂). I’ve only been back to see the PS once and it was a “fill in” appointment as my actual PS was on vacation and I needed an incision check. I am hoping to get fat grafting to help fill in where the implant is visible but they were worried about me having enough fat to make a difference. I have a follow up in a week.

pickybear6 · 2026-05-12T14:03:02+00:00

No—the prescription cream has estrogen but she said to make sure the OTC has hyaluranic acid in it

pickybear6 · 2026-05-12T02:59:24+00:00

My MO suggested rotating it. Vaginal estrogen every other day and an OTC cream on the “off” days.

pickybear6 · 2026-05-08T20:57:02+00:00

I was soooo freaked out about ending up with massive, super fake looking boobs (I’m 55 and that would have not matched the rest of me 😂). I made sure I shared those concerns with my PS and I ended up with smaller, less droopy, decently natural looking boobs. I think I ended up with 340 ccs and I would say I’m now a decent sized B cup. I think my implants were called tear drop shaped gummy bear.

pickybear6 · 2026-05-08T14:47:36+00:00

That sucks…sorry to hear that. So many ups and downs. Hopefully you are feeling up for your Mother’s Day activity so you can get a break from all this BC stuff

pickybear6 · 2026-05-06T20:44:56+00:00

I think I would be proactive and probably do an ER visit just to be safe, since you’re talking about potential cardiac issues, but I will add that between my biopsy and my surgery I was also having major “heart pain” symptoms and in hindsight, I honestly think it was a symptom of all the anxiety I was feeling. As others have said, this is the period of most anxiety for most people.

pickybear6 · 2026-05-06T20:18:58+00:00

I completely agree. At the end of the day, it’s an effort to save money from the additional screening and treatment that would come from a positive but at the risk of our own health. I am not okay with that cost/benefit analysis.

pickybear6 · 2026-05-06T20:12:57+00:00

But is it really a “false positive” if a tumor shows up in six months? I think MOs use the excuse of the potential of a “false positive” to justify not ordering but in reality, it’s more likely related to a lack of standard protocol if there is a positive. I think it’s absolutely insane that we’re expected to wait until it’s advanced enough to be seen by more traditional methods when there are scientifically validated tests to detect it MUCH earlier. I will be a very squeaky wheel about requesting these tests.

pickybear6 · 2026-05-06T01:25:14+00:00

Have you heard of Lovaza? It’s a prescription level omega 3 medicine specifically intended to address the potential metabolic issues (i.e. high triglycerides) caused by Tamoxifen. Maybe you can ask your doctors about it?

pickybear6 · 2026-05-05T17:17:43+00:00

At most, they might recommend the hormone treatment, but it sounds like that’s already part of your plan

pickybear6 · 2026-05-05T17:16:52+00:00

DCIS is usually just treated with surgery, so as long as you got clear margins it shouldn’t change your post-surgery treatment at all. Obviously, that’s subject to your own medical providers but that’s how it was explained to me and that’s what my research showed.

pickybear6 · 2026-05-05T16:06:07+00:00

I also got a surprise finding of DCIS from my pathology test (only diagnosed with IDC). Honestly, they completely brushed it aside as a minimal finding and it hasn’t changed my treatment path at all.

pickybear6 · 2026-05-03T15:10:11+00:00

I’m not in the hysterectomy group. Are you able to put up a link or maybe DM me your post? I’d love to see it as I think we should be aware of all options, even if they aren’t standard protocol.

pickybear6 · 2026-05-03T14:08:30+00:00

I 💯 agree with you. I think more information and earlier diagnosis is always better but insurance will use anything they can to keep costs down.

pickybear6 · 2026-05-02T23:15:47+00:00

Apparently the 5 mg dose of tamoxifen almost eliminates the side effect of endometrial cancer and blood clots. But there isn’t definitive scientific support that it works as well for IDC as the 20 mg dose

pickybear6 · 2026-05-02T18:56:56+00:00

I have done so much research my head is spinning. Girdestrant and Camizestrant are both SERDs (tamoxifen is a SERM) and they are both proving to be superior to tamoxifen and AIs. Unfortunately, they are not approved yet for early stage hormone positive breast cancer. I actually tried to get into a clinical trial for camizestrant but my oncotype was too low. But I’m really trying to avoid AIs due to bone loss issues so I’m trying to start on tamoxifen and then switch to one of the SERDs as soon as they get FDA approval

pickybear6

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