I was lucky in that my former PCP's practice was still a mess last year, fewer doctors and near-zero support staff, so I called a major medical facility (Cleveland Clinic) and had a new PCP within a day. As bad luck would have it, a routine mammogram 10 days later found a small tumor. I had biopsies and surgery within 2 weeks.
Had I waited for some future appointment with my former PCP, and then weeks to have mammo and ultrasound, at least another week[s] for a biopsy...then referrals to surgeon's and oncologists, I once calculated that the surgery would have taken at least three more months to get done. I never again want medical care parceled out over multiple independent medical practices. At places like Mayo and CC, once one is a patient, i.e., in the system, I feel that there's an institutional commitment to one's care that never would have occurred to me until I was in real trouble.
When I found out I had breast cancer, I wanted to know my plan and get immediate surgery/care. I was diagnosed at the end of August and did not get my treatment plan until the first of October. I had PET scans, CT scans, MRI, Mammoprint testing, a tumor biopsy, and lymph node biopsy. Then a node on my clavicle that showed up in one test wasn’t apparent on another. They did more tests to find out for sure. It seemed like a long time filled with extreme anxiety.
When I got my ‘cancer plan’ in October, it was for six months of aromatase inhibitors to see if my tumor and lymph nodes would shrink for a better outcome with surgery. I was not happy. But all my doctors stressed it was the best plan, so I went with it. I said I would do what was best, but May, June, and July were busy and sacred to me, and I didn’t want to jeopardize them. Well… the joke was on me. I had a partial lumpectomy and lymph node dissection on May 6. I followed with 28 regular radiation treatments with 5 boosts. I just finished those on July 22. Today I started taking Verzenio that has a new set of side effects. This was NOT the course I wanted!!!
However, my tumor and lymph nodes shrank by a third with the AIs before surgery, my surgery was 8 hours and had good margins and outcome, my oncologist has been my biggest cheerleader, and the radiation therapist and doctor were the most wonderful people I know. I drove 45 minutes each way to get to my treatments and they were painful and extremely fatiguing. But, they made the unbearable into a ‘good’ situation.
I learned that I can’t always have things my way. I feel like there were so many stumbling blocks between what I wanted and what was decided was best for me. Even though it was exactly not what I wanted and definitely wasn’t quick enough for me, it did end up being the best. I’m the person that wants immediate results and that was NOT the plan. I found I really had to step back and let the professionals decide what was best. It was a long process (almost a total year) but the worst is behind me.
Hang in there and have faith in the professionals. I’m glad you started on medication while you are waiting for surgery. I’ve learned so much from my journey but the main one is to have faith and be patient. Good luck!
When I found out I had breast cancer, I wanted to know my plan and get immediate surgery/care. I was diagnosed at the end of August and did not get my treatment plan until the first of October. I had PET scans, CT scans, MRI, Mammoprint testing, a tumor biopsy, and lymph node biopsy. Then a node on my clavicle that showed up in one test wasn’t apparent on another. They did more tests to find out for sure. It seemed like a long time filled with extreme anxiety.
When I got my ‘cancer plan’ in October, it was for six months of aromatase inhibitors to see if my tumor and lymph nodes would shrink for a better outcome with surgery. I was not happy. But all my doctors stressed it was the best plan, so I went with it. I said I would do what was best, but May, June, and July were busy and sacred to me, and I didn’t want to jeopardize them. Well… the joke was on me. I had a partial lumpectomy and lymph node dissection on May 6. I followed with 28 regular radiation treatments with 5 boosts. I just finished those on July 22. Today I started taking Verzenio that has a new set of side effects. This was NOT the course I wanted!!!
However, my tumor and lymph nodes shrank by a third with the AIs before surgery, my surgery was 8 hours and had good margins and outcome, my oncologist has been my biggest cheerleader, and the radiation therapist and doctor were the most wonderful people I know. I drove 45 minutes each way to get to my treatments and they were painful and extremely fatiguing. But, they made the unbearable into a ‘good’ situation.
I learned that I can’t always have things my way. I feel like there were so many stumbling blocks between what I wanted and what was decided was best for me. Even though it was exactly not what I wanted and definitely wasn’t quick enough for me, it did end up being the best. I’m the person that wants immediate results and that was NOT the plan. I found I really had to step back and let the professionals decide what was best. It was a long process (almost a total year) but the worst is behind me.
Hang in there and have faith in the professionals. I’m glad you started on medication while you are waiting for surgery. I’ve learned so much from my journey but the main one is to have faith and be patient. Good luck!
There are times when trying to shrink a tumor first is definitely the best protocol and it sounds as if your great team saw your situation as one of them and acted on that. Great results speak for themselves and kudos to your team.
I had a lumpectomy with 2 lymph nodes removed that were clear. I am a grade 1-2 and will see radologist next tues. They have sent the tissue away for the oncotype Dx test. Will be a couple weeks before we hear from it. I am seeking all info, I had lumpectomy on my left breast 8 years ago, and things have changed so much since then. This is my right breast, both were found with a mamagram.
Hi Beautybldr (intriguing username. I'd like to hear the story behind being a beauty builder.)
I'd also like to underline @kiki92's question. Do you have a HER2 negative and ER/PR postive diagnosis? We aren't sure is the hyphen is a negative symbol or a hyphen. (Ah, the problems with text communication.)
@ssalget and @nlb122 also have a HER2 negative and ER/PR postive diagnosis, which would be a different treatment plan that for a HER positive and ER/PR positive.
How did the consult with the radiation oncologist go?
Hi Beautybldr (intriguing username. I'd like to hear the story behind being a beauty builder.)
I'd also like to underline @kiki92's question. Do you have a HER2 negative and ER/PR postive diagnosis? We aren't sure is the hyphen is a negative symbol or a hyphen. (Ah, the problems with text communication.)
@ssalget and @nlb122 also have a HER2 negative and ER/PR postive diagnosis, which would be a different treatment plan that for a HER positive and ER/PR positive.
How did the consult with the radiation oncologist go?
yes i have ER/PR+ AND HER2- The radiation dr. recommends 20 radiation treatments. I had to cancel my apt with oncologist , i have covid and am in quaratine. As for my user name, i am a hairdresser and my oldest son set up my email and he suggested that name. He said it fit.
yes i have ER/PR+ AND HER2- The radiation dr. recommends 20 radiation treatments. I had to cancel my apt with oncologist , i have covid and am in quaratine. As for my user name, i am a hairdresser and my oldest son set up my email and he suggested that name. He said it fit.
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When I found out I had breast cancer, I wanted to know my plan and get immediate surgery/care. I was diagnosed at the end of August and did not get my treatment plan until the first of October. I had PET scans, CT scans, MRI, Mammoprint testing, a tumor biopsy, and lymph node biopsy. Then a node on my clavicle that showed up in one test wasn’t apparent on another. They did more tests to find out for sure. It seemed like a long time filled with extreme anxiety.
When I got my ‘cancer plan’ in October, it was for six months of aromatase inhibitors to see if my tumor and lymph nodes would shrink for a better outcome with surgery. I was not happy. But all my doctors stressed it was the best plan, so I went with it. I said I would do what was best, but May, June, and July were busy and sacred to me, and I didn’t want to jeopardize them. Well… the joke was on me. I had a partial lumpectomy and lymph node dissection on May 6. I followed with 28 regular radiation treatments with 5 boosts. I just finished those on July 22. Today I started taking Verzenio that has a new set of side effects. This was NOT the course I wanted!!!
However, my tumor and lymph nodes shrank by a third with the AIs before surgery, my surgery was 8 hours and had good margins and outcome, my oncologist has been my biggest cheerleader, and the radiation therapist and doctor were the most wonderful people I know. I drove 45 minutes each way to get to my treatments and they were painful and extremely fatiguing. But, they made the unbearable into a ‘good’ situation.
I learned that I can’t always have things my way. I feel like there were so many stumbling blocks between what I wanted and what was decided was best for me. Even though it was exactly not what I wanted and definitely wasn’t quick enough for me, it did end up being the best. I’m the person that wants immediate results and that was NOT the plan. I found I really had to step back and let the professionals decide what was best. It was a long process (almost a total year) but the worst is behind me.
Hang in there and have faith in the professionals. I’m glad you started on medication while you are waiting for surgery. I’ve learned so much from my journey but the main one is to have faith and be patient. Good luck!
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7 ReactionsIs your diagnosis "Triple positive?" Or does the dash mean "Her2 negative, and ER/PR+?"
The treatments are different; that's why I ask.
There are times when trying to shrink a tumor first is definitely the best protocol and it sounds as if your great team saw your situation as one of them and acted on that. Great results speak for themselves and kudos to your team.
I'm assuming the dash means HER2 negative. It just looks questionable as the dash was on the line below. Hope that helps.
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1 ReactionHi Beautybldr (intriguing username. I'd like to hear the story behind being a beauty builder.)
I'd also like to underline @kiki92's question. Do you have a HER2 negative and ER/PR postive diagnosis? We aren't sure is the hyphen is a negative symbol or a hyphen. (Ah, the problems with text communication.)
@ssalget and @nlb122 also have a HER2 negative and ER/PR postive diagnosis, which would be a different treatment plan that for a HER positive and ER/PR positive.
How did the consult with the radiation oncologist go?
yes i have ER/PR+ AND HER2- The radiation dr. recommends 20 radiation treatments. I had to cancel my apt with oncologist , i have covid and am in quaratine. As for my user name, i am a hairdresser and my oldest son set up my email and he suggested that name. He said it fit.
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3 ReactionsOh no! I hope that you have only a mild case of Covid. Do you have any symptoms currently?
I love the username.
sore throat, some coughing. Just don't have a lot of energy.
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1 ReactionHow are you feeling? How was the lumpectomy?
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