jardinera25
I had a dble but 2 years ago. I ready of people getting different things to shrink it, but for me it was 12 rounds of 2 chemo's weekly, and it went 5cm to 2.7. Only 1/2. I am on letrozole to help lower estrogen. Did you say they checked it at 4 months?
Hi there, I had bc spread locally in the skin and in my axilla, not lymph nodes, 10 years after mastectomy, had radiotherapy for it a year ago. Now a year later I have collateral damage from it. A lot more nodules, fibroses all over my shoulder, chest wall and neck. Also the ulnar nerve has been damaged causing me numbness in my little finger and ring finger. I also can’t raise my arm any more due to all these fibrosis in my axilla and arm. My breathing is laboured as the skin on my chest wall is so tight, like paper it doesn’t give at all. I also have cancer in my other breast now which they are reluctant to operate on. They want to start me on Letrozol or Tamoxyfen. I am very concerned about the side effects as the radiation side effects has really impacted on the quality of my life. What are your experiences with these drugs? How do you feel in your daily life? I have a friend who has been on Tamoxifen and she suffered broken broken, hair loss, serious problems with her eyes. Very difficult for her.
jardinera25
I had a dble but 2 years ago. I ready of people getting different things to shrink it, but for me it was 12 rounds of 2 chemo's weekly, and it went 5cm to 2.7. Only 1/2. I am on letrozole to help lower estrogen. Did you say they checked it at 4 months?
The Doc has said 'no chemo' this time, maybe because I had the whopping CAF combo when I was 43, OR because I now have heart palpitations at times and high BP that I treat. It's now about 4 months out from starting the AI hormone blocker, Letrozole, and will get a CT scan soon. I told her I don't want the breast MRI with the usual Gadolinium because it's a heavy metal and I had symptoms last time of brain fog, tiredness and confused thinking for 2 days after. It can stay in your system/brain.
Hi there, I had bc spread locally in the skin and in my axilla, not lymph nodes, 10 years after mastectomy, had radiotherapy for it a year ago. Now a year later I have collateral damage from it. A lot more nodules, fibroses all over my shoulder, chest wall and neck. Also the ulnar nerve has been damaged causing me numbness in my little finger and ring finger. I also can’t raise my arm any more due to all these fibrosis in my axilla and arm. My breathing is laboured as the skin on my chest wall is so tight, like paper it doesn’t give at all. I also have cancer in my other breast now which they are reluctant to operate on. They want to start me on Letrozol or Tamoxyfen. I am very concerned about the side effects as the radiation side effects has really impacted on the quality of my life. What are your experiences with these drugs? How do you feel in your daily life? I have a friend who has been on Tamoxifen and she suffered broken broken, hair loss, serious problems with her eyes. Very difficult for her.
Gosh, I can understand why you don't want any more side effects. I too had a very small breast tumor appear in the opposite breast last year, but that was taken out with a lumpectomy and didn't require any chemo or radiation. 4 months ago I started on Anastrozole, but it increased my blood pressure too much, so she switched me to Letrozole. It's affecting my blood pressure very little, so will continue with it, hoping it shrinks the present tumor. The only side effect I have is a couple of hot flushes during the night that wake me up, but then I go right back to sleep. Not bothered by those during the day really. They say it may cause more bone thinning.....I already have osteroporosis at age 75, so may go on Zometa to reduce bone loss; not sure about whether I want to do that though.
This year I've had what the doctor is calling a "recurrence" of breast cancer within my chest wall, inside the ribs, since I'd had BC 31 years ago on that side and underwent a modified radical mastectomy plus 6 mo. of chemo, no radiation, no lymph node involvement (Both times, HR+ and HR2 -). Who knew cells could recur even with no breast tissue left! That tumor at age 43 was laying on the muscle wall, as I remember my doc saying then. They are saying at this point it's largish, about 5cm, and is unresectable for now. But fortunately the recent scan showed no metastasis anywhere. So I'm on my 4th month of Letrozol to try to shrink it.....maybe at that time a surgeon or radiologist can treat it. I'd like to hear from anyone else who has had this peculiar situation, and if they were able to shrink the tumor for treatment. Thanks.
I'm curious how you are doing now. I'm in a nearly identical situation. I finished chemo in early January and was getting ready to start radiation when we found a recurrence in the chest wall that may be in the intercostal area of my ribs. I've been referred to a surgeon who specializes in breast surgery, just yesterday, so I haven't seen her yet. I'm freaking out!
I'm curious how you are doing now. I'm in a nearly identical situation. I finished chemo in early January and was getting ready to start radiation when we found a recurrence in the chest wall that may be in the intercostal area of my ribs. I've been referred to a surgeon who specializes in breast surgery, just yesterday, so I haven't seen her yet. I'm freaking out!
I had a somewhat similar situation recurrence to my skin and to my chest wall. One surgeon wanted to operate on me, the others on the tumor board recommended medication and watching and waiting. I went with the very radical and invasive surgery. That was about 18 years ago. I have had recurrences in lymph nodes and surrounding areas that were either radiated again, using CyberKnife or removed from under my arm with surgery. The surgery left me with a great amount of scar tissue and tightening of my skin and underlying muscles, I’ve had both breasts removed. However no matter how difficult it is I am still alive and credit that one surgeon who recommended the surgery with saving my life. I am currently on Ibrance and Aromasin which both have side effects too. All of us have unfortunately, live with the side effects of the surgery, chemo, radiation or medication’s that are keeping us alive but quality of life some days is difficult.
Connect
Connect
Like
Helpful
Hug
jardinera25
I had a dble but 2 years ago. I ready of people getting different things to shrink it, but for me it was 12 rounds of 2 chemo's weekly, and it went 5cm to 2.7. Only 1/2. I am on letrozole to help lower estrogen. Did you say they checked it at 4 months?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsHi there, I had bc spread locally in the skin and in my axilla, not lymph nodes, 10 years after mastectomy, had radiotherapy for it a year ago. Now a year later I have collateral damage from it. A lot more nodules, fibroses all over my shoulder, chest wall and neck. Also the ulnar nerve has been damaged causing me numbness in my little finger and ring finger. I also can’t raise my arm any more due to all these fibrosis in my axilla and arm. My breathing is laboured as the skin on my chest wall is so tight, like paper it doesn’t give at all. I also have cancer in my other breast now which they are reluctant to operate on. They want to start me on Letrozol or Tamoxyfen. I am very concerned about the side effects as the radiation side effects has really impacted on the quality of my life. What are your experiences with these drugs? How do you feel in your daily life? I have a friend who has been on Tamoxifen and she suffered broken broken, hair loss, serious problems with her eyes. Very difficult for her.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 ReactionsThe Doc has said 'no chemo' this time, maybe because I had the whopping CAF combo when I was 43, OR because I now have heart palpitations at times and high BP that I treat. It's now about 4 months out from starting the AI hormone blocker, Letrozole, and will get a CT scan soon. I told her I don't want the breast MRI with the usual Gadolinium because it's a heavy metal and I had symptoms last time of brain fog, tiredness and confused thinking for 2 days after. It can stay in your system/brain.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionGosh, I can understand why you don't want any more side effects. I too had a very small breast tumor appear in the opposite breast last year, but that was taken out with a lumpectomy and didn't require any chemo or radiation. 4 months ago I started on Anastrozole, but it increased my blood pressure too much, so she switched me to Letrozole. It's affecting my blood pressure very little, so will continue with it, hoping it shrinks the present tumor. The only side effect I have is a couple of hot flushes during the night that wake me up, but then I go right back to sleep. Not bothered by those during the day really. They say it may cause more bone thinning.....I already have osteroporosis at age 75, so may go on Zometa to reduce bone loss; not sure about whether I want to do that though.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI'm curious how you are doing now. I'm in a nearly identical situation. I finished chemo in early January and was getting ready to start radiation when we found a recurrence in the chest wall that may be in the intercostal area of my ribs. I've been referred to a surgeon who specializes in breast surgery, just yesterday, so I haven't seen her yet. I'm freaking out!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI had a somewhat similar situation recurrence to my skin and to my chest wall. One surgeon wanted to operate on me, the others on the tumor board recommended medication and watching and waiting. I went with the very radical and invasive surgery. That was about 18 years ago. I have had recurrences in lymph nodes and surrounding areas that were either radiated again, using CyberKnife or removed from under my arm with surgery. The surgery left me with a great amount of scar tissue and tightening of my skin and underlying muscles, I’ve had both breasts removed. However no matter how difficult it is I am still alive and credit that one surgeon who recommended the surgery with saving my life. I am currently on Ibrance and Aromasin which both have side effects too. All of us have unfortunately, live with the side effects of the surgery, chemo, radiation or medication’s that are keeping us alive but quality of life some days is difficult.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction