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New member: stopping AI is a greater risk of reoccurrence?
Breast Cancer | Last Active: 2 days ago | Replies (27)Comment receiving replies
Hi! eleanorrigby:
My heart aches and my prayer goes out for you upon reading your post... Life truly threw curve balls at us from time to time, and sometimes it seemed to be even cruel, isn't it?
I admire your perseverance of dealing with various cancers bravely over the years; indeed, I sympathize with you for trying to avoid surgery. However, I am no medical expert and I had already gone through my surgery to get rid of my IDC tumor on 12/26/2023, for as far as I understand surgery is the most effective way to get rid of cancerous cells from our body. I pray that when you finally meet the expert in a week, you'll get the best advice to make your informed decision with a peace of mind. In the meantime, if you haven't done genetic testing for cancer risk yet, please consider discussing it with your physician. I feel this is beneficial for our blood relatives, because early detection is the key to successfully treat any kinds of cancers. I am also encouraged by your taking Anastrozole for 2 years, and it apparently shrinks your cancerous cells significantly that the breast cancer went into hiding:) Wow! If I understand you correctly, your last MRI, US, Mammo done in June showed no sign of any cancerous cells, right? What great news to share with us! Thank you!
Best wishes for all on the journey ahead!
Replies to "Hi! eleanorrigby: My heart aches and my prayer goes out for you upon reading your post......"
@lifetraveler At my surgery in November, and up to now, the cancer never showed it's face again. It was gone before surgery. There is only one scar on my breast and that is under the breast. There was hardly any tissue removed. I had radiation for 5 days. I had been on anastrozole for 2 1/2 years by the time I had surgery. My oncologist wants me to continue it for 2 1/2 years, the full 5 years. Just FYI - I had those really ugly MRIs where you lay on your belly and your boobs hang down outside the table. I HATE THOSE...so uncomfortable and you have to be so still. But yes, also US, Mammo done all along and no cancer for about the last 6 or 8 months. The lung cancer is in remission; nothing happening in the last 6 years. Ovarian hasn't come back.
We'll see what answers I get from her regarding percentages, recurrence, possibility of the other breast, etc. Then I will make my decision. I am an inch away from stopping anastrozole right now but I will try to use my head and follow the research.
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That's very sweet of you! Yes, it appears that the Anastrozole shrunk the cancers into oblivion but I have several doctors that say "it's unlikely to get rid of the cancer." And I have several doctors who have said, "Well! Great news! It is possible that they won't come back!" So that's why I'm confused all the time since I am always getting different answers...surgeons, oncologists, etc. So I am really laying my hopes on the wonderful doc I am going to see in about 10 days. I just want her to clarify and I want percentages, etc.
I did do the genetic thing already. MD Anderson does them for people like me, if not every breast cancer patient. Can't speak to whether or not everyone gets the genetic testing. Mine was negative on all counts...there is no genetic link, nothing for my relatives to be concerned about in that regard. You are correct that my latest tests in June showed no sign...we simply see no cancer...but some doctors have stated that AI won't kill the cancer all together, but some say it can. So who knows?
Thanks so much for your kind comments! I'm glad you had your surgery and it turned out well! Thanks for your support.