I am 75 and have carcinoid tumors NET in lungs

@jhhaas
As my interventional radiologist always says, “With DIPNECH we can walk not run..” It’s so slow to change, it’s good to watch and wait. 😊

@nannybb
Good that you know your family history so you at least know what to look for. Hope the breast NETs never happens.

@californiazebra I lived it, especially with my mom. My parents took care of my grandmother for years with dementia. When her breast cancer showed up, it was a sore on the nipple. My ever watchful loving mother was on it with my grandmother's doctor right away. He said because she was elderly, just let her die of it. We got together as a family and decided to have her get a double mastectomy. I wish I had known sooner about my mother having it as well. She only had one breast removed, and did not tell me until after. The cancer came back when my father passed away. Mom was so sad. I think your emotions play a big role in the outcome of any illness. My GP wants me to go for counseling. I'm kinda fighting it.

@nannybb
Sorry to hear your history. Lots of cancer in my family too with a fools dying way too young. I think stress certainly impacts our health. Hoping you’ll have a negative mammogram that will bring you some peace of mind.

@californiazebra Thank you so much. I try not to worry until things are found and confirmed. To live any other way can drive a person nuts.

@californiazebra I find it interesting the various ways cancer can present itself. Not many people have heard of Paget's as well as few people know that a male can get breast cancer. Just read an article where a gentleman did not know, and it had already metastasized to his brain. Cancer is of the devil.

@nannybb
I’m aware of male breast cancer because I knew a young man who died from it. And my son inherited the BRCA2 mutation from me so he is now at risk for male breast cancer among other cancers. CHEK2 as well.

@californiazebra Zebra, did you have DNA markers done, and if so, by what category of medicine? Endocrinologist?

@nannybb thanks, yes, always a relief. I have my follow up video appointment tomorrow with my surgeons PA. At my last visit six months ago they wanted to put me on CT scan yearly instead of twice a year, but I asked to continue with the six months. We’ll see what happens tomorrow. So sorry you have that history in your family, you should be diligent on staying on top of it. It often travels to Gastro system, but from what I understand, it’s more likely to happen when the biopsies show they are “atypical“ nets rather than “typical“. Mine were typical, thankfully, so my doctor says I’m very fortunate and I agree. But I also know that on occasion, it can still go other places so always good to be vigilant. Best wishes!

Yes, definitely. I wasn’t comfortable driving till about eight weeks, but I do think the worst of the pain was the first two or three weeks. I started paying attention and realized every so many days that I was feeling better that I was a couple days before. So that was helpful to at least know that it gets better. I still have some numbness under my ribs, and I had robotic surgery so I think maybe it’s worse if they have to open you up. Someone told me it takes the body a full year to completely heal, so that made me a little easier on myself. I kept thinking what’s wrong with Me that I was still feeling pain. Took close to three months before I was comfortable wearing a bra again, though! Ugh. Lol