I have been plaqued with allergy/sinus trouble beginning with chemo and sinus infections one right after the other while on herceptin. I will finish this up in December so hopefully the sinus problem will go away.

I am sorry you feel disillusioned with elements of the system. I am certain doctors also wish they had more time for a `heads up` on wider issues. The problem is there is a limit to what is humanly possible from a single persons perspective.

Maybe we should all be better educated at school as to how we work so we can also be more a part of the process.

RB

Allergies disappeared when tumour was growing quickly
 

I found the lump in the beginning of May. From the beginning of May to the beginning of July the tumour grew from about 2 cm to over 10 cm I had a systemic rash for 2 years (no diagnosis) prior that exhibited on legs and arms. I have always suffered from spring allergies. When the strawberries bloom I sneeze. I had no allergies and the rash disappeared during the spring of my diagnosis. After mastectomy I was rash free for 3 months. Have not gone through an allergy season on Herceptin but will find out in a few months. Maybe I can eat crab again! Just one more perk for HER2
I have always considered the rash a precursor or indicator that something was going on (inflammatory state) I believe that there are common symtoms of cancer other than fatigue and and in our case lumps, tissue thickening etc.
I have designed a survey for cancer patients on pre diagnosis symptoms to try to figure out whether this is true or not. I would like to put it out to all of you but not sure if I am allowed to do that here. I will ask moderator and post it as Pre Diagnosis Survey if I can.

I REMEMBER Reading about pre-cancerous skin conditions and rashes
 

that dermatologists, if alert, could suspect that cancer might appear later.

There are also rare neurologic conditions called paraneoplastic conditions, which presage cancer.

Usually "discovered" in afterthought.

Cancer deranges the immune system and may perhaps be the result of a deranged immune system.

Thanks everyone for your input on this.

Lani,

I don't know if this has anything to do with the discussion; but for three months prior to me realizing I had BC every time in the morning when I took a bath I had a certain mole itch. I have thought about that often since finding the BC. What was so strange it was on the side I had the BC. I have not really notice about my allergies in the spring, but I will watch this time to see if I notice a change.

When I went to the dentist in October before my diagnoses, the woman who cleans my teeth made a comment about something going on in my mouth. She said, "I am not saying you have cancer, but you have so and so." I can not remember the name of what she said. When I started taking chemo my mouth cleared up.

Amelia

My allergies have definately improved since getting breast cancer. They used to be really bad but I have had no problems the last two years.