Asking for positive thoughts....

15 years ago

Hi Everyone! I know not everyone knows who I am, but I am an 'oldie' of the Kitchen Table. I don't post often, but I usually check in once a day and read what's going on with everyone.

OK, to make a long story as short as I possibly can, about a month ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I have had a biopsy, and partial mastectomy, and next week I will have a total mastectomy as I had more than one spot of cancer. However, I am SO lucky and I have the best Dr. anyone could have. And here's why. The symptoms I went in with are in and of themselves all benign. My mammo was clear and has been for years, I had no lumps or masses. The only 'odd' symptom I had was a bloody discharge, which in the majority of cases(without the lumps, mass or irregular mammo, is usually a benign treatable condition. PTL that this Dr. didn't dismiss it as such. I will have the mastectomy and he will do a sentinel node biopsy and if all is clear, I will not have to have radiation or chemo. Just take tamoxofin(sp?)for 5 years. Here's why I need the positive thoughts. Please pray that the nodes are clear. The surgeries are starting to 'get to me' and I need this one the be the last one. And please if anyone has any experience with tamoxofin, please share, good or bad. I have heard not so good things about this drug!And PLEASE if you notice anything abnormal for your body, don't dismiss it!! Get thy self to the Dr. It just may save your life!!

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Comments (27)

socks
15 years ago
Thank you for sharing your experience as we can all learn from it. I'm so sorry you have to have another surgery and will definitely hope and pray for the best outcome for you. Yes, you are lucky to have a good doctor. Do let us know how it goes for you. Hugs hugs hugs!
Charlee_MO
15 years ago
Sending thoughts and prayers your way, (((Dea))). That is an awful lot to be dealing with.

I'm glad your doctor listened to you, too.

I'm sure someone here knows about the tamoxifin.

Please update us when you can.

Charlee
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Oh jeeze Emily, I know exactly how you feel! You're in a big boat. I am teaching two college classes (don't even get me started on my doctoral quest), and one is on a completely new subject for me. And the other is a new class, even though the subject is not new. It's been two years since I taught college, and I feel like a total wreck! I have a student in my horticulture class who knows WAY more than me, it was sooooo embarassing. Luckily he didn't take too much sadistic pleasure in playing "Stump the professor!!" I am working day and night and every weekend, everything else in my life is falling by the wayside. But WE are not alone, I had a student talk to me for quite a while after class because he is a mid-life career changer and feeling pretty nervous. Luckily our class is about half and half, so everyone is pretty supportive of everyone else, they bring a lot of maturity to the table. The "back to school" boat is getting bigger and bigger. My assistant today was telling me how fried she is trying to balance school, work, and family and an internship. I think something happened today, everyone in the world just had a panic attack!! All you can do is all you can do, one step at a time. You will not win every battle, but you will win the war!! As I told one of my students today--don't get discouraged and don't quit, just keep going!! She said there are some days she doesn't even want to get out of bed. I said, "On those days you'll just have to pretend you are someone else who does! I do it all the time!" I'm rooting for you and praying for you. You too Lee!! Find some colleagues who are supportive. There are certain people in academia who have too much insecurity and they make other feel small. Luckily there is another universe of folks who are not like that. Find them, they are there if you look. Today I had one colleague giving me a hard time and making me feel like a looser about using the printer when he wanted to, and another colleague (a award winning one) quietly handing me instructions for just what I needed to help the student I was meeting with, and telling me not to worry, that she forgets these things too, so much is on her mind. Look for those types, they've been where you are and are secure enough to be only too happy to help those on the way up.
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I had surgery the day before you posted and just saw this. I have to chuckle because I was killing time at the computer screen before hand too. Mine wasn't "major"except that it was mine and it was a first. I'm on the mend now and hope you are too -- with a smooth recovery. Hope we hear from you soon.
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At the following url is a whole PDF file on Kerdi and its installation, as well as a streaming video on an installation. The only difference between what you'll see in the video and what I'd want to do is that I'd much rather make my own curb and mud my own shower pan, rather than using the preformed ones that they have. As for why Kerdi-- First, in any steam shower you MUST have a completely enveloping waterproof barrier-- not just in the shower pan. Up until the kerdi came along, I usually used a trowel applied membrane, being that sheetmembranes have seams to them, where leaks can occur. However, with the Kerdi, although it has seams, I was willing to try it due to the fact that Schluter is one of the most reputable companies in the industry, and they wouldn't market a product unless there'd been extensive r&d done on it, as well as testing to make sure it was a top notch product. They're one of those companies that you here about every so often that if there's a problem with their product, they'll replace the whole installation as well as anything that their failure might ruin. So I tried it, and I've got to say, I've done about a dozen or so kerdi showers, better than half of those being steam showers, and I've yet to have a single problem. The best thing I like about them is the integral drain that goes along with the system. Whereas most waterproofing systems are just like normal showers where the pan is concerned-- first the preslope, then the pan membrane, then the mud, and then the tile-- the Kerdi system has taken the mud right out of the pan, and put it UNDER it. The membrane actually attaches to the TOP of the drain, so there's NO chance of water sitting in the pan under the tile and having problems down the road with all the lovely things associated with that, like mold, mildew, bacteria, etc..The tile is thinsetted directly to the membrane, so that it (the tile) is the only thing between the water and the membrane, and it's that much easier for all the water to either drain out of the pan, or evaporate into the air. There aren't many products in this industry that I'd give a 10 to, but Kerdi is no doubt, one of them. One of the most innovative products to come down the pyke in a long time. Here is a link that might be useful: Schluter Kerdi
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gardenspice
15 years ago
Best thoughts for an all clear and a speedy recovery.
Go into to surgery tomorrow knowing that a lot of people are thinking of you.
nanny98
15 years ago
Hoping that the surgery goes really well and am sending lots of good thoughts and prayers your way. Back to "red shirt Thursdays", right????
cheryl_ok
15 years ago
I'm sending positive thoughts and prayers to you.
socks
15 years ago
I forgot to say that my dear mother took tamoxifen for some number of years after her surgery, and she did not have any ill effects from it. In just a quick look at the side effects, I noticed blood clots. Maybe you should ask your doctor if you should be taking a blood thinner to help prevent any blood clots. Just a thought.
joann23456
15 years ago
I hope and pray that this is it, and no more treatment is necessary.
chloecat
15 years ago
I took Tamoxifen for six weeks before developing a life-threatening blood clot.

However, my mother took it for five years with no problems (other than thinning hair, extreme weight gain, and mental fuzziness).

Good luck! Hope the nodes are clear!
tami_ohio
15 years ago
Of course you have my thoughts and prayers! Tho I am sorry to hear from you about this, it's good to see you posting! I was thinking about you the other day.

Tami
heather_on
15 years ago
Sending you a cyber hug. I had Inflammatory Breast Cancer 11 years ago....woke up literally to a red swollen breast. I took Tamoxifen for 5 years and Femara for 6 years with no real side effects. As a side note, blood clots run in my birth family, my birth mom and three of my half siblings have had blood clots, one of them a few times. I escaped this even on the Tamoxifen.

I am in the same boat as you are in though because now I have to have a mastectomy on my other breast as I have DCIS, pre-cancerous areas in that breast as well. I have gone from having the most aggressive cancer in one breast to the best type of cancer in the other. Still waiting on my surgery date...once they do the pathology I will find out if more treatment is needed.

YIPPEEE I will finally be able to burn the bra. I didn't find the modified radical mastectomy that I had the first time too bad, so I'm sure I will be fine with the simple one.

I'm glad that your doctor was on top of it and caught the cancer very early.
lynn_d
15 years ago
You are absolutely going to the top of my prayers. I have no personal experience with Tamoxifen but my mom took it after her mastectomy. She was on a blood thinner but she also had to have liver checks every 4 months and they kept a very close eye on her for uterine cancer.

Take good care of yourself and please keep us posted!
Jamie_LA
15 years ago
OMG Dea, I'm having the same exact symptom--the bloody discharge. I was scheduled to have an "open biopsy" because they wanted to remove the duct. They can't do it cause my heart attack and stints are only 5 months old. And, they would need me to stop the blood thinner for a week. They said NO WAY to stopping the thinners this early after the heart attack. SOOO, I'm just waiting to hear what they will do.
Sorry, enuf about me---I'm wishing the best for you! Good luck!!!
Marilyn Sue
15 years ago
I am so sorry to hear of your health problems but know that you are getting good thoughts and prayers from me.

Sue
phyllis__mn
15 years ago
I have been thinking of you lately and wondering how you were, as I haven't seen a posting of yours for so long. I'm sending all the caring thoughts possible at this time, Dea, and hope all goes well with you.
hayjud_mn
15 years ago
Dea, It's so good to hear from you, but I wish it was with better news.

I'm so glad you have a wise and cautious Dr.
We will remember you in prayer for clear nodes and quick healing.

Hugs to you and DH!
juellie1962
15 years ago
You don't know me, but do know this; you will be on my daily prayer list for healing. And thank you for sharing your story and opening the eyes of all of us! I don't have any "symptoms", but I have put off my yearly physical for over two years now. Guess it's time to make an appointment! Thank you...and best of luck to you!
deamn
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you everyone for your kind words. I will definitely let you all know the outcome.
Heather, DCIS is what I have. That is another reason why I feel so lucky as I was told, if I have to have breast cancer, this is the kind to have.
Jamie, please ask your Dr. if there is something, someway to get this checked. Waiting may not be the right thing to do at this point.
Juellie, thanks so much for healing prayers and please don't delay getting that checkup. It maybe the most important thing you do today. You are worth it!
glenda_al
15 years ago
Will be thinking about you and sending positive thoughts with a big HUG!
nodakgal
15 years ago
Sending my very best to you Dea!!!!
dianamo_1
15 years ago
Sending good thoughts and prayers your way...
lydia1959
15 years ago
Good thoughts and prayers coming your way!! Keep us updated please.
Kathsgrdn
15 years ago
Good thoughts and prayers. I'm sorry you have to go through this.
wanda_va
15 years ago
Dea, it's good to see you here, but I'm sorry you are having trouble. You will certainly be in my prayers for a good report and a speedy and complete recovery from the surgery. You were lucky to have a competent and caring doctor, as many doctors take a "wait and see" approach.

I hope everyone will pay attention to your message about bloody discharge. I had a bloody discharge in one breast when I was 23 years old--it was from an intraductal papilloma (benign), which was surgically removed. When I was 26 years old, I had bloody discharge from both breasts (enough that I had to wear pads in my bras). My beloved doctor sent me to the National Institutes of Health, where I had a complete ductal excision of both breasts in 1975. I was fortunate--there was no malignancy; however, the doctors at NIH said that there was a good chance that it would have eventually become malignant. Brings to mind that old adage, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Needless to say, I get them checked regularly, and don't let things go.
OklaMoni
15 years ago
Dea, sending the best thoughts to you. Glad to see you posting, but sorry it is under these circumstances. Wishing you the B E S T.

Moni
Granlan_TX
15 years ago
Hi Dea,

I do remember you and hate to hear what you're dealing with.

Sending many positive thoughts your way.

(((((Dea)))))

Lana
kathi_mdgd
15 years ago
Hi Dea,
Sorry to hear this,but glad you caught it early enough.

2 of my sisters were on tamoxafin,one developed a blood clot and had to go off,then again she has a problem with a lot of meds as she's an epileptic.The other sister stayed on it for the 5 years and had radiation,and she,in fact both of them are doing well,and it's been 12 and 15 years for them.

Medicine has come so far since even then.
You will be in my thoughts and prayers.As my dr told me,the thing you want to hear me say when you come out of surgery is "The margins are clear",Best words i ever heard.
I did have to do 6 sessions of chemo,but it's all very doable,and a good attitude is 1/2 the battle.

Hang in there and keep positive thoughts.PBS in S.Calif.
kathi
Georgysmom
15 years ago
I'm sorry you are having to go through this. How lucky you are to have such a GREAT doctor. Too many of them would have not followed through. I always say, don't be afraid of what the doctor might find, be afraid he won't find it! I want you to know you've been an inspiration to me. I've been remiss in getting a mammogram and promise you I'll be getting one as soon as they can take me. Thank you for your post and good thoughts and prayers coming your way for the best possible outcome.

Asking for positive thoughts....

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socks

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Asking for positive thoughts....

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