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05-04-2010, 12:09 PM
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#21
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Canada
Posts: 128
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Re: Breast pain and strange lumps?
I am wondering if you have had your portacath out as I have experienced a real drop in the tightness of that side, since its removal. I have read that the pain in our breast is sometimes nerves trying to regenerate so sometimes the pain is a good thing. I agree with many of those above though, think a biopsy will put your mind at ease. I admire your positive outlook and your aggressive action plan re your diet etc. I have just finished my last Herceptin and have to say I am not up to doing all that much yet, still feel pretty fragile and wear out after what I once considered minimal exercise. I have been told it takes almost a year to get back to "normal". Keep us posted and take care.
__________________
12/17/08 biopsy after two 6 mos mammo recalls
12/30/08 diagnosed high grade IDC & DCIS ER/PR +, Her2 (+++) post menopausal/age 57
1/15/09 double mastectomy/skin sparing; no evidence of vascular/lymphatic invasion, 8neg/8 nodes (tumor 8.0mm)
2/16/09 given portacath/removed 4/30/10
2/18/09 "surprise" 2.0mm tumor/positive borders~completed 28 rads 10/09.
2/23/09 until 4/19/10~treatments every 3wks (4 Cytoxan + Adriamycin, 4 Taxol + Herceptin, 13 Herceptin alone)
8/09 osteoporosis diagnosis/Zometa 3 yrs of 1x/6 months
Chemo side effects; Deafness, kidney function loss
11/09 began Aromatase Inhibitor (Femara)/Feb2014, stopped Femara early/after 3 mos began Tamoxifen for 8 mos to complete 5 years
11/10 Reconstruction, directly to silicone implants
12/11 nipples by skin graft/Right breast size reduced
I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind
Some come from ahead and some come from behind.
But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see.
Now my troubles are going to have trouble with me!
Dr. Seuss
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05-21-2010, 11:11 AM
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#22
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Sardegna, Italy
Posts: 362
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Re: Breast pain and strange lumps?
All - I just wanted to send a quick update ---
Bone scan was clean last week! YES!
This next week I have my MRI and ultrasounds for abdomen and lung x-rays... so half way thru my 2nd round of tests.
:-) Karen
__________________
Karen Wheelhouse Age: 46
Facebook id: Karen Wheel
2-09 – Age 44 -Biopsy-Cancer
3-09 – Right Quadrantectomy. Clear margins.
3 lymph nodes taken - all clear
Tumor results: Stage 1, 1.5 cm, Her2 +++
Est positive 80% - Prog 10% - Ki67 postive 30%
4-09 – Became a vegan! pH balance of body - cancer can't grow in neutral pH!
4-09 Started Herceptin & Chemo (9 weeks of Navelbine *)
* FYI - when coupled with Herceptin has the same results as more toxic chemo. No brainer!
8-09 - 30 RADS
9-09 - Said NO to hormone therapy
4-10 Finished Herceptin!!!!
7-10 PET Scan & other exams .... All clear! YIPPEE!!!!
11-10 Breast, organ Ultrasounds and lung x-rays all clear no changes ... NED!
2-25-2011 --- 2 years from surgery and NED!!!!!!
7-2011 Clear bone scan and full body and head MRI! NED! NED! NED! ;-)[/SIZE]
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06-03-2010, 02:47 PM
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#23
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Sardegna, Italy
Posts: 362
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Re: Breast pain and strange lumps?
An update for you all ---
Didn't get my MRI --- ugh! Long story - but they are now going to order a PET scan as I don't want to go thru the "prevention" the day before and morning of the MRI with taking cortizone. They said I didn't have to take it anymore for my treatments with Herceptin (6 months ago!) as we determined it appeared I was allergic to the steroid and not the Herceptin. So, of course putting two and two together --- Herceptin with steroids creates a reaction. Herceptin without steroids --- no reaction. Hummm.... to me that means = allergic to steroids!? Well, they said that I should have known that I had to take the steroid for the MRI ---ugh! So, no test. I'm actually more afraid to have the MRI with the steroids as I might have a worse reaction than I did last time (had a MRI in Nov. and did feel crappy for a week or two after!) so.... no MRI. Still waiting on a date for the new PET scan.
However, bone scan, ultrasound to the abdomen were clear. So, I think things are ok.
Oh, had a follow up for the radiation and they said the pain could be still coming from the effects of radiation - so you all were right on with the advise (as usual!).
Thanks again - I'll let you know how the PET goes when I get it scheduled.
:-) Karen
__________________
Karen Wheelhouse Age: 46
Facebook id: Karen Wheel
2-09 – Age 44 -Biopsy-Cancer
3-09 – Right Quadrantectomy. Clear margins.
3 lymph nodes taken - all clear
Tumor results: Stage 1, 1.5 cm, Her2 +++
Est positive 80% - Prog 10% - Ki67 postive 30%
4-09 – Became a vegan! pH balance of body - cancer can't grow in neutral pH!
4-09 Started Herceptin & Chemo (9 weeks of Navelbine *)
* FYI - when coupled with Herceptin has the same results as more toxic chemo. No brainer!
8-09 - 30 RADS
9-09 - Said NO to hormone therapy
4-10 Finished Herceptin!!!!
7-10 PET Scan & other exams .... All clear! YIPPEE!!!!
11-10 Breast, organ Ultrasounds and lung x-rays all clear no changes ... NED!
2-25-2011 --- 2 years from surgery and NED!!!!!!
7-2011 Clear bone scan and full body and head MRI! NED! NED! NED! ;-)[/SIZE]
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06-03-2010, 03:25 PM
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#24
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 253
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Re: Breast pain and strange lumps?
Thanks for letting us know Karen!
__________________
4/09 suspicious lump in left breast
5/09 biopsi lead to diagnosis ER/PR -
Her2+.Grade 3,full masectomy left breast,sentinel nodes clear,Stage 1
6/09 Adriamycin + Cytoxan 4 treatments (every 3 weeks) followed by Taxol + Herceptin, 1 treatment weekly for 12 weeks, followed by Herceptin for 40 weeks
MRI Brain 4/10 clear
CT Body 4/10 clear
PET Body 2/11 clear
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06-04-2010, 11:58 PM
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#25
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 343
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Re: Breast pain and strange lumps?
So glad to hear things have turned out well so far!
__________________
Vicky
Age 47, TN, Diagnosed 05/09
Her2+, ER/PR-, Stage III, 2 tumors = 1 8cm tumor
Grade 3
Sentinel Node Biopsy-speck present in 1 node
Completed 3 month clinical trial of weekly Herceptin and 1000mg Tykerb daily
Tumor no longer present
Right mastectomy and lymph node removal 09/25/09
No cancer present at time of surgery, none in lymph nodes
Start TCH 10/15, every 3 weeks for 4 months followed by radiation
Finished chemo 01/28/10-YEAH!
Herceptin every 3 wks until end of June
Radiation begins 03/01, 6 1/2 weeks
Radiation complete--Yeah!!
Developed lymphedema after radiation
In hospital for 4 days with pneumonia:(
Herceptin done! 06/24/10
Port Removed 07/08/10
Still in PT for lymphedema and mobility issues
DIEP Reconstruction 05/11
I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it~~Maya Angelou
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06-05-2010, 12:41 AM
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#26
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,014
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Re: Breast pain and strange lumps?
I understand completely about the breast pain and strange lumps. At 4-1/2 years out I still have them, sometimes worse than others. Mine are due to scar tissue, some has attached itself to the pectoral muscles and I still have nerve pain from the lymph nodes that were removed and I just had a lumpectomy. I was very active before my diagnosis and am back to being just as active as I was..but it took time. For me, almost 2 years. I did also have residual nerve pain from a case of shingles that lasted 9 months. I am now back to playing tennis at least 4 times a week, when there was a time I couldn't lift my arm from scar tissue pain and nerve pain. I wouldn't gage your recovery by anyone elses, everyone is individual. I do find that having deep massages on the scar tissue helps to ease the pain and helps break it up. sherryg
__________________
Sherry
Diagnosed: December , 2005 at age 44
13+ positive lymph nodes
Stage IV , Her2+, 2 small mets to lungsChemo Started: Jan, 2006
4 months Taxotere, Xeloda, Hercepin
NED since April 2006!!
36 Rads to follow with weekly Herceptin indefinately
8 years NED now
Scans every year
Life is not about avoiding the thunderstorms, it's about learning to dance in the rain!
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06-08-2010, 07:39 AM
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#27
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Sardegna, Italy
Posts: 362
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Re: Breast pain and strange lumps?
Thank you for more feedback - and yah, it sucks being sore. I have felt better the last two weeks now that the Herceptin side effects seem to be wearing off a bit - and have less headaches. Also I started swimming a week ago in the sea --- so swimming 20-30 minutes a day and it feels great! I cheat a bit and use my fins and snorkel so I can keep up with my man but it feels great to do freestyle and really stretch that right side out --- I can really feel is stretch but I'm not really that sore - so I think it is working!
Exciting stuff! I was hoping to try to start running again, but still hurts so might try a double "jogging" bra and strap the girls in and see if that works??? :-) I know that the movement will help - if only my mind! :-)
Thanks again! Karen
__________________
Karen Wheelhouse Age: 46
Facebook id: Karen Wheel
2-09 – Age 44 -Biopsy-Cancer
3-09 – Right Quadrantectomy. Clear margins.
3 lymph nodes taken - all clear
Tumor results: Stage 1, 1.5 cm, Her2 +++
Est positive 80% - Prog 10% - Ki67 postive 30%
4-09 – Became a vegan! pH balance of body - cancer can't grow in neutral pH!
4-09 Started Herceptin & Chemo (9 weeks of Navelbine *)
* FYI - when coupled with Herceptin has the same results as more toxic chemo. No brainer!
8-09 - 30 RADS
9-09 - Said NO to hormone therapy
4-10 Finished Herceptin!!!!
7-10 PET Scan & other exams .... All clear! YIPPEE!!!!
11-10 Breast, organ Ultrasounds and lung x-rays all clear no changes ... NED!
2-25-2011 --- 2 years from surgery and NED!!!!!!
7-2011 Clear bone scan and full body and head MRI! NED! NED! NED! ;-)[/SIZE]
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06-08-2010, 09:30 AM
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#28
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: South East Wisconsin
Posts: 3,431
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Re: Breast pain and strange lumps?
You said:
" It is low on the ribs and it actually feels like the first lump I found (I found it not the doctors or the mammogram). "
"had an MRI back in November and they only were concerned with a big line on the liver, but they thought after seeing my recent ultrasound of the liver it was an error in the film"
Onc says:
"doesn't look anything like the last tumor"
Realizing this is extremely likely to be nothing. The above makes me think going Cathya's route with a biopsy might be good for peace of mind.
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