Chat on Sunday, April 23 - Anxiety/Worry about Recurrence

[Cathya]

Shawn;

I don't understand why you are stage 3 if your tumors were confined to the breast and one positive lymph node. However, we all worry about recurrences. I think this Sunday's chat should be excellent as everyone will have the opportunity to talk about these fears and deal with them in a group with support. My understanding is that the longer you go until a recurrence (and hopefully never have one)..... the better. I am over a year and look forward to many more. We have both received very aggressive treatment with the newest chemo's, radiation and herceptin. If you look over the site you will see a number of recent posts from Lani that state the odds are now thought to be better for us over Her2-'s which is amazing!! Also, there are other drugs (like lapatinib (Tykerb) for one example) currently in late trials which could even be better than herceptin. I have also come to realize that even if I do recur there is hope. Read Steph's latest scan results and you will see one of many amazing survivor stories from her2support.com. I am now trying to focus myself on diet, exercise (now the weather is so nice) and finding the right supplements..... things that I CAN control. I guess we can never go back to the way it was pre-diagnosis but we can have long, happy lives.

[Shawn]

Cathy,

Sorry if I sound negative! I am stage 3 because of the internal mammary gland-its is in your chest under the muscle, like you having the subclavicular it means cancer has been on the "superhighway" of your vascular system. I have been losing hope lately due to continued pain all over my body and alot of dizziness.
I am a vegetarian (for over 20 years) and had been training for a 5k run when I was diagnosed. I am at a loss for what to do and I guess it shows. Thank you for the response, this has been really my first time to talk to someone.

Shawn

[Cathya]

Shawn;

Have you discussed your dizziness and aches with your oncologist? If you have any symptoms which last a couple of weeks he/she would want to know about them. Are you getting enough protein? Start a new thread about this and bring in others to the conversation. Just cut and paste your original comments or this last one and start a new thread. Many on this site and very knowledgeable about nutrition and the effects on our bodies from the chemo and radiation. Also, many of us ache. There are so many nerve endings which have been cut and need to heal. This process goes on a very long time. We must ask some long term survivors if they still ache or if it ever totally heals. You are obviously used to having a well oiled machine of a body. Perhaps you are pushing yourself too much in an attempt to get back into physical shape again. Don't lose hope. Search out Gina's posts online. She is also ER/PR- and was diagnosed in her early 30's. Although she had mets she has totally controlled her disease for the past 6 years I believe by using herceptin, supplements, diet and monitoring her tumor markers. If her markers start rising indicating active disease she gets a booster of herceptin to knock them down. I am very much over simplifying here but she has taken control of her disease and empowered herself. Others on the site have done the same thing using means that work for them. Read posts by Lani, RB, Rhonda on diet and many others. Take heart and don't lose hope. We are all here for you.

Cathy

[Cathya]

Shawn;

Also, some on this site who are stage 3 are taking herceptin for 2 years instead of one. There are trials going on now about this. Being off herceptin would be very scarey....actually it is scarey (I've just been taking off)... but you could develop a plan using tumor markers to monitor yourself.....or you could join one of the vaccine trials as some on this site have done. Lolly has had the vaccine... do a search for her posts and you will learn about it. Also, go to the clinical trials page. We do not have to sit around waiting for a recurrence.

Cathy