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Cannon · 10-30-2008, 07:43 PM

Of course you belong here. Your problem is a serious one, and so frustrating that you don't have answers.

There is no doubt that this can be a side effect of chemo, and that there still might be no physical evidence of damage.

I don't know that much about disability, but it seems to me that you should go on disability leave instead of part-time and being demoted - this is not your choice, you are NOT ABLE to do your work - that's what disability insurance and/or SSI is for!

I actually have "extensive white matter disease" (no idea if it's from chemo, never had a brain MRI til after all my treatment) to the extent that my neurologist says it's miraculous that I am functioning, and some days I don't feel like I am, but so far holding on.

Please find a friend or advocate (perhaps your husband, perhaps not) who can help you decide what to do to best take care of yourself. If you can't even remember what the testing said, how you can make good decisions on your own?

I am sending you love and prayers, please let me know if I can help in some way.

Rebecca
aka

10-30-2008, 07:43 PM	#3
Cannon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 203	Of course you belong here. Your problem is a serious one, and so frustrating that you don't have answers. There is no doubt that this can be a side effect of chemo, and that there still might be no physical evidence of damage. I don't know that much about disability, but it seems to me that you should go on disability leave instead of part-time and being demoted - this is not your choice, you are NOT ABLE to do your work - that's what disability insurance and/or SSI is for! I actually have "extensive white matter disease" (no idea if it's from chemo, never had a brain MRI til after all my treatment) to the extent that my neurologist says it's miraculous that I am functioning, and some days I don't feel like I am, but so far holding on. Please find a friend or advocate (perhaps your husband, perhaps not) who can help you decide what to do to best take care of yourself. If you can't even remember what the testing said, how you can make good decisions on your own? I am sending you love and prayers, please let me know if I can help in some way. Rebecca aka __________________ Dx 8/06 Age 43 Stage IIIA multifocal throughout breast, largest tumor 5 cm, grade 3, comedo, ER+PR+HER+++ Neoadjuvant A/C 4X Dose Dense 11/06 Bilateral Mastectomy (no choice on the right, my choice on the left) Taxol+Herceptin weekly x12, continuing with Herceptin, finished one year in 12/07 33 Rads Femara for 5+ years, staying on (started with Arimidex, switched after about a month, much happier) Abnormal brain MRI shows no cancer, but "extensive white matter diease" - unknown cause BRCA negative - lots of cancer in my family survivor of thyroid cancer also have Crohn's disease CT and bone scan say NED as of 5/13 dx with severe cardiomyopathy 5/12 (likely due to chemo and Herceptin), ejection fraction in low 20's, now up to 40, went to 50, latest read 12/13 is back down to 35 1/13 Acute pancreatitis - are you kidding me? 9/13 started Humira for Crohn's. starting to have some energy again B12 and Vit D both needed supplementation Cataracts in both eyes noted 6/12 - surgery in the next 2-4 years? 4/14 Kidney stones/blockage/infection - related to Crohn's Disease 5/14 My aunt passed away - she was diagnosed after I was with Stage I - not Her2+, then Stage 4 for about one year 6/14 Scans - still NED, thank God. However, broken rib (I didn't notice) lots of bone degeneration osteopenia/osteoporosis. I also still have cardiomyopathy secondary to chemo.