Pray for me and donate to this site and to cancer research if you can.
I really had no symptoms that I noticed. I accidentally found the first lump in 1994 myself. The second one in 2005 was detected during my annual mammogram. I would never have found this one because it was in the center of the breast at the back wall.
January 1994 – Stage 2 – Lump was 2.4 cm. – A second 0.3 cm lump found in breast after surgery. Left modified radical mastectomy with removal of 9 lymph nodes…1 (3cm) lymph node positive. ER/PR both positive.
November 2005 – Stage 1 – Lump was 1.6 cm. Right modified radical mastectomy with lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy. 2 lymph nodes removed…both clear of cancer. ER negative(1%) and PR positive(7%).
None either time.
6 treatments from March 3, 1994 to June 29, 1994. Started with Taxol Study. Received high-dose Cytoxan 3980 mg and Adriamycin 74.6 mg for 2 cycles. Except for the 1st and the last, blood transfusions were required after every treatment due to low hemoglobin. I developed a blood clot in my right arm shortly after the first blood transfusion in April and had to be hospitalized and put on coumadin for 3 months. Had to be taken off Taxol Study because I could not take high-dose Cytoxan/Adriamycin and Coumadin. I was given Cytoxan 995 mg, 5-FU 995 mg and Adriamycin 99.5 mg for the next 4 treatments. Other side effects were nausea, some vomiting, sores in mouth, diarrhea, heartburn, fatigue and complete loss of all hair.
6 treatments from January 20, 2006, to June 2, 2006. I was given a CMF combination of 1200 mg of Cytoxan (Cyclophosphamide), 80 mg of Methotrexate and 1200 mg of Fluorouracil (5-FU). This bout with chemo was much easier than the first. I also had a blood clot in my lung in February, 2006, and was hospitalized for 7 days and put on coumadin for 18 months. Only other side effects were minor nausea, fatigue, sore mouth, minor diarrhea and only thinning of my hair.
The worst thing to happen was the death of my husband and my boston terrier dog in May during this bout of chemo.
Tamoxifen – July 1994 through July 1999
Hot flashes were the only side effect I remember.
Arimidex – June 2006 through January 2007
No side effects that I noticed. I was taken off Arimidex because my oncologist was concerned with damage to my bones. I was diagnosed with low bone mass or osteopenia on 02/20/06
None
Injections of G-CSF 10 mcg/kg until my ANC recovered. No side effects that I remember.
Boy, you guys sure have me pegged….LOL….LOL….LOL. That is right. I would be telling everyone to go to the doctor. I should take my own advice, shouldn’t I?...LOL.
I love all of you. THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL, SWEET COMMENTS. YOU ALL ARE THE BEST…..
Jill, I will be waiting to hear the results of your doctor’s visit. My prayers will be with you.
The rest of this is an answer to Kathleen’s comment.
Kathleen, I have had back problems 30+ years. When my twins were small I had problems for several years with the sciatic nerve with the pain going down my leg. I have never had back surgery. During this time I have had 2 WONDERFUL CHIROPRACTORS that always helped me tremendously each time I had problems. One of them died a few years ago and the other one is in Goldsboro, NC, which is about 65 miles away from where I live now. When I was seeing the one in Goldsboro I was working and living there and it was very convenient to see him. Yes, my body is out of condition because my heart muscle was damaged by the chemo drug, Adriamycin, in 1994. The left ventricular ejection fraction is 40% as of my last HEART ECHO on 03-06-08 and I am very short of breath. I had to go on disability in July 1995. I was diagnosed with Low Bone Mass or Osteopenia from a Bone Density test done in South Carolina in February 2006. In August 2007 when I had another Bone Density test done here in North Carolina my Endocrinologist said I only had Borderline Osteopenia in my wrists. I don’t really know which Bone Density test is correct. One of the tests has to be wrong unless Low Bone Mass can improve. The only thing they gave me for the Osteopenia was 1800 mg. of Calcium. The Endocrinologist did find that my Vitamin D level was too low and I now take 800 IU of Vitamin D daily. I don’t hurt when I first stand and start to walk. The longer I stand or the longer I walk, the more it hurts until it hurts so much I just have to sit down. If I bend slightly forward, it helps decrease the pain slightly. Pushing a grocery cart or using a cane helps me be able to walk a little longer and farther. Anyway, thank you for your suggestions and comment. I appreciate it very much.
Everyone take care and may God Bless you all.
Hugs, Joyce In NC
Hi Joyce,
I sure hope your back gets to feeling better. My husband has had back pain for years. He refuses to have surgery, but has tried everything suggested by his doctor otherwise. He has had physical therapy many times & medications, which didn’t help much for him. The last couple years he has been getting back injections, I believe it is steroids. He gets tremendous relief for about 4 months & then he knows it’s time to go and get it done again. It’s a band-aid really, just temporary relief, but it works for him.
I know what works for one, doesn’t always work for another. Like the others said, you should really go see your doctor. :o)
Luckily, I have never had back pain. Except, for back labor. My kids are 18 & 15 and I still remember the pain! I
Take care & hope you get to feeling better real soon.
Blessings Galore!
Monica
Dear Joyce,
After all of our texts back and forth I never really realized just how close how lives were so similar in raising our kids being sick.. I think that truly only a Mother knows what it feels like to be told you may not be there to see your children grow up. WOW, what a powerful punch in the gut that is. I do hope that your eyes do get better and you stay well, my friend.
Always,
Patty
P.S. Thanks for all of the nice comments
Blog for a Cure spends about $200 a month to keep this site up and running.
If you wish to become an advertiser or want to read more about the company please see our advertising page.
All proceeds, if we ever have any, will go back into building a better system.
Thanks for your support - Jill, Founder, Cancer Survivor
p.s. If you have any suggestions on how to improve Blog for a Cure, please send me some feedback. The last thing I want to do is offend anyone with too many ads. Please keep in touch & let me know how I can make this the best system possible for you.
jmhinnant41
Thanks for your support -
Hi Joyce,
I sure hope your back gets to feeling better. My husband has had back pain for years. He refuses to have surgery, but has tried everything suggested by his doctor otherwise. He has had physical therapy many times & medications, which didn’t help much for him. The last couple years he has been getting back injections, I believe it is steroids. He gets tremendous relief for about 4 months & then he knows it’s time to go and get it done again. It’s a band-aid really, just temporary relief, but it works for him.
I know what works for one, doesn’t always work for another. Like the others said, you should really go see your doctor. :o)
Luckily, I have never had back pain. Except, for back labor. My kids are 18 & 15 and I still remember the pain! I
Take care & hope you get to feeling better real soon.
Blessings Galore!
Monica
Dear Joyce,
After all of our texts back and forth I never really realized just how close how lives were so similar in raising our kids being sick.. I think that truly only a Mother knows what it feels like to be told you may not be there to see your children grow up. WOW, what a powerful punch in the gut that is. I do hope that your eyes do get better and you stay well, my friend.
Always,
Patty
P.S. Thanks for all of the nice comments