Thread: Good Advice?
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Old 10-12-2009, 09:53 PM   #56
StephN
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Re: Good Advice?

Dear Debbie -
You are so right on many counts. Thanks for the update from the ASCO/Breast meeting.

I think what many of us (including Joe) are reacting to is the following statement cited by Joe:

"In reality, there is no scientific evidence to prove this is true. In fact, the studies that have been done show an increase in potential harm from monthly, regimented BSE including elevated anxiety, more frequent physician visits and unnecessary biopsies of benign lumps."

Then there is the exhortation at the end of the bit to "get out of the shower" and try to make a difference in other ways.

The fact that they are ending their program of printing materials to foster self exams IS self indulgent and reactionary. Perhaps it does lead to a lot of unnecessary testing, BUT if you are a person who has breast cancer - in my mind there is no test that is unnecessary whether it confirms or rules out a cancer.

I did not do a self exam on the dot each month - maybe every 3 months, but I was familiar with my own breasts from having done that.

If we are not proactive and wait 5 years or more for a mammogram (in the case of women under the age of 45 or 50), what alternative to they have?

Marching around with signs like uppitty women will not find those cancers.
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Found suspicious lump 9/2000
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Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR -
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2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava
2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec.
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STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer
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Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED
2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED.
Same news for 2016 and all of 2017.
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Last edited by StephN; 10-13-2009 at 10:55 AM..
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