HonCode

Go Back   HER2 Support Group Forums > her2group
Register Gallery FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-05-2011, 02:11 PM   #1
KirisMum
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 186
Help - Talk me down!

Kiri has been doing so wonderfully lately--through her chemo and radiation and on Herceptin every three weeks and very active and happy, getting her life back, traveling - and I was just starting to let my guard down and relax. We are set to go on a family cruise in January to celebrate. Then today she called me and casually mentioned during our conversation that she is going in on Thursday for her annual mammogram (on her other breast, which was absolutely clean at the time of her initial diagnosis last October (2010), and she may have to do an MRI because now her (good) right breast is very lumpy and there are at least a few definite lumps. She blames it on the tamoxifen but nowhere can I find any connection between tamoxifen and increased breast lumps. I am so scared she is going to have to deal with a new cancer. I know I really can't do anything but wait until she gets a better idea on Thursday after her mammo/MRI, but I feel like I've been catapulted right back into that awful limbo of waiting we went through last October.

Does anyone have any experience with or knowledge of tamoxifen CAUSING lumps? Surely with all the chemo and stuff she has been through in the last year she could not have developed cancer in her good breast so quickly? Unfortunately I know all too well that cancer's real threat is its unpredictability. :-((

I will keep you all posted when I find out more. Prayers appreciated in the meantime...
KirisMum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2011, 04:56 PM   #2
Profbee
Member
 
Profbee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 11
Re: Help - Talk me down!

I have no idea about Tamoxifen causing lumps, but I couldn't leave you hanging out here. I was just searching this site getting myself all unnecessarily amped up about possible recurrences instead of living in the now and being happy that I'm doing so well. Yes, every time we do the tests again (well, I've had a BMX, so no mammograms for me, but other tests), we'll always have more fear than we did pre-cancer. Better to know now though that they may order an MRI and it doesn't "mean" anything, so you're prepped for it, and don't read into it. Hang in there. I can't wait to hear she's fine.
__________________
Diagnosis: 3/1/2011, IDC, 2cm, Stage II, Grade 3, ER+/PR-, HER2+

16 weeks of Taxol/Lapatinib 4/2011-8/2011 (trial)

BMX with TEs 8/23/2011
4 rounds of AC ended 11/10/11
Tamoxifen started 11/25/11
Herceptin starting 11/28/11
Exchange surgery 12/19/11
Nipples in May!
Profbee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2011, 05:01 PM   #3
tricia keegan
Senior Member
 
tricia keegan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
Re: Help - Talk me down!

Most breast lumps are benign and although I've never heard of tamox causing any Kiri may have fibrocystic breasts as many women do. Given the past history its of course best to have this checked sooner rather than later and I hope it's nothing sinister and all results will be B9!!!
__________________
Tricia
Dx July '05 IDC 1.9cm Triple positive 3/9 nodes positive
A/C X 4 ..Taxol/Herceptin x 12 wks then herceptin 1 yr
Rads x 36 ..oophorectomy August '06
Currently taking Arimidex..
June 2011 osteopenia/ zometa x1 yearly- stopped Zometa 2015 as Dexa show normal bone density.
Stopped Arimidex July 2014- Restarted Arimidex 2015 for a further two years on the advice of my Onc.
2014 Normal Dexa scan
2018 Mammo all clear, still NED!
tricia keegan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2011, 05:10 PM   #4
KirisMum
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 186
Re: Help - Talk me down!

Thanks, girls. I heartily appreciate the sanity! ProfBee, DON'T tell her I posted here!! She gets furious when I "spread her name all over the internet" - LOLOL. How are you doing?? You look GREAT.

Tricia, I don't think she's had fibrocystic breasts in the past--she does have very dense breast tissue--but you never know. I did find some evidence that chemo can cause changes in breast tissue, so it could be that and not the tamoxifen. I just thank God every day she is at such a fabulous treatment center, and I know she'll get the very best of care. I really need to learn to calm down and deal with this ongoing uncertainty in a less stressful manner. What is it they say--that we keep getting certain lessons until we learn them? ;-)

Will definitely let you all know when I know something more. Thanks again for chiming in. :-)
KirisMum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2011, 05:11 PM   #5
KirisMum
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 186
Re: Help - Talk me down!

P.S.Tricia, where in Ireland are you? My family is from Ballsbridge and Belfast.
KirisMum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2011, 05:28 PM   #6
Profbee
Member
 
Profbee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 11
Re: Help - Talk me down!

Hey, love. I'm doing really well--complete pathological response by the time of surgery! So, I'm on Herceptin and Tamoxifin, and hoping things stay this good. I won't say a word--we haven't chatted since the beginning of my journey (when you were both so kind to me). You're so right--she's in great hands.
__________________
Diagnosis: 3/1/2011, IDC, 2cm, Stage II, Grade 3, ER+/PR-, HER2+

16 weeks of Taxol/Lapatinib 4/2011-8/2011 (trial)

BMX with TEs 8/23/2011
4 rounds of AC ended 11/10/11
Tamoxifen started 11/25/11
Herceptin starting 11/28/11
Exchange surgery 12/19/11
Nipples in May!
Profbee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2011, 05:31 PM   #7
BonnieR
Senior Member
 
BonnieR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,210
Re: Help - Talk me down!

Just wanting to chime in and tell you to come in off the ledge! We all know how you are feeling, of course. But it just isn't productive to worry until we have concrete reason. The waiting is worst, isn't it?
You know my mantra, keep the faith.
__________________
Bonnie

Post menopause
May 2007 Core biopsy, Rt breast
ER+, Pr-, HER2 +++, Grade 3
Ki-67: 90%
"suspicious area" left breast
Bilateral mastectomy, (NED on left) May 2007
Sentinel Node Neg
Stage 1, DCIS with microinvasion, 3 mm, mostly removed during the biopsy....
Femara (discontinued 7/07) Resumed 10/07
OncoType score 36 (July 07)
Began THC 7/26/07 (d/c taxol and carboplatin 10/07)
Began Herceptin alone 10/07
Finished Herceptin July /08
D/C Femara 4/10 (joint pain/trigger thumb!)
5/10 mistakenly dx with lung cancer. Middle rt lobe removed!
Aromasin started 5/10
BonnieR is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 11:19 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright HER2 Support Group 2007 - 2021
free webpage hit counter